august 2. 2002 »
'
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T he
B ourne
I dentity
Director Doug Liman (Swingers, Go) con
tinues his winning streak with this old-
schtxil spy thriller starring yummy Matt
Damon as an amnesiac on the nin from the
CIA. He and Franka Potente (Run Lola Run)
show strong chemistry, hut Julia Stiles is
wasted in a thankless supporting role.
—Jim Radosta
I nsomnia
strong-willed adopted daughter. Issues of race,
gender and sex are deftly, humorously handled;
it’s a quiet hut strong achievement.
—Christopher M cQuain
M inority R eport
Steven Spielberg further explores his darker
side in this innovative sci-fi thriller based on a
short story by Philip K. Dick. Unfortunately,
he can’t help hut insert several sequences that
are either overly precious or downright silly.
The Big Brother storyline has great potential
that seems just beyond his grasp.
-JR
What's popped
and what's flopped,
in a theater near you
Simple farmer Mel Gibson (and his super-cute
brother Joaquin Phoenix) battle alien forces
in Signs
S igns
M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense ) adds
another unsettling hlcxkhuster to his credit
with this study of what it would really he like if
<£^> < ^ > only if you’re really hungry
< ^ > <£§> <*£> good effort, pass the salt
< £ > <% > < g >
Spouting off French philosophy while inexplic
ably drooling over his stepmother (Sigourney
Weaver), Oscar Gmbman (Aaron Stanford) is one
of cinema’s most contradictory, detestable charac
ters ever. The ugly cinematography, poor acting
and shallow writing don’t help, either. Critics
somehow have been fooled into thinking this
piece of shit belongs in the same category as The
Graduate; don’t believe the hype.
-JR
L ovely & A mazing
dud, bottom of the bag
0 > < £ > < £ > < £ » mmmm, tasty!
T adpole
Director Christopher Nolan follows up
Memento with a less original hut equally
absorbing tale about how the mind can play
tricks on you. A1 Pacino is outstanding as a
far-from-perfect cop who cuts a deal with a
killer (Robin Williams) to cover his unethi
cal behind. Hilary Swank (Boys Don’t Cry) is
miscast once again as his wide-eyed sidekick.
-JR
Nicole Holofcener’s nicely understated
writing/directing sophomore effort explores
the personal and career challenges of three
modem women— two sisters (Catherine
Keener and Emily Mortimer) and their
mother (Brenda Blethyn). The hilariously
acerbic Keener has some great romantic (!)
scenes with the adorable, much younger Jake
Gyllenhaal (Donnie Darlco), while child actor
Raven Gtxxlwin astounds as Blethyn’s
hostile aliens
invaded planet
Earth. Sans
fiery explo
sions and overt
patriotism, it’s
more about a for
mer priest (Mel Gib
son) struggling with his faith
in the face of unending tragedy than an
interplanetary war. Unfortunately, Shyamalan
feels the need to be sappy, and his usual ultra-twist
ending has turned into complete predictability.
— Lisa Bradshaw
13 C onversations
A bout O ne T hing
An ensemble cast— including John Turturro
and Amy Irving as an unhappily married couple,
Matthew McConaughey as a cocky attorney, Clea
Duvall as an optimist who has her illusions shat
tered and Alan Ark in as a curmudgeonly work
aholic— survive life crises and creeping futility
<C%> <&>
get the big tub o’ com
in this wonderful new film. Writer/director Jill
Sprecher (Clockwatchers) maintains perfect
compassionate realism in both storytelling and
visuals, making 13 Conversations effortlessly
moving and honestly life-affirming.
M
<g> WlNDTALKERS
John Woo directed this awful war story about
the Navajos who helped create a code that could
not be broken. Unfortunately, it’s told from the
perspective of paleface Nicolas Cage, whose tor
mented overacting is totally incompatible with
the wannabe-vintage style, the obvious dialogue
and the shamelessly vague treatment given
to this fascinating chapter of U.S. histo- . \ \
ry. An early candidate for Worst Film
'
^
of 2002.
—JR
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