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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 7, 2003)
mai ch 7. 2003 ■ A rarat The uniquely talented Atom Egoyan created cool yet moving studies of inter personal relationships and environment— encompassing queer characters with a rare sensitivity and subtlety— in 1991s The Adjuster and 1994’s Exotica. He attempts the same in Ararat, a sprawling ensemble piece involving the prcxluction of a film about Turkey’s genocide of its Armenian citizens in the early 20th century. Sadly, despite occa sional glimmers of inspiration, Egoyan’s reach exceeds his grasp here; the film’s overcrowd ed, incoherent feel renders it a noble failure. — Christopher McQuain (Cg><g> B ringing D own the H ouse What a shame Queen Latifah follows her Oscar-nominated turn in Chicago by portray ing a convict who loosens up a white lawyer (Steve Martin) while he tries to clear her record. Meanwhile, she has to deal with his filthy colleague (Eugene Levy), racist neigh bor (Betty W hite) and conservative client (Joan Plowright, who gets stoned in one of the film’s few amusing moments). —Jim Radosta & < & < £ > < & C onfessions of a D angerous M ind George Clcxiney makes a strong directorial debut with this Lx>py biography of Gong Show host Chuck Barris (Sam Rockwell), who says the CIA reemited him as an assassin during the 1970s. This far-fetched claim is handled with brilliant ambivalence by ultra-creative screenwriter Charlie Kaufman ( Adaptation). —JR T he G uru This campy comedy— about an Indian immigrant who poses as a spiritual sexpert— has plenty of queer appeal: Adorable star Jimi Mistrv played a gay dix:tor on the U.K. soap EastEnders, it was directed by Daisy von Scher- ler Mayer of Party Girl fame, and the musical sequences are jubilantly choreographed. Still, the formulaic script fails to consistently chan nel all of the potential talent on hand. -JR art and the spirit of a long-buried empire’s tragic, resilient peo ple. Moving fluidly through time and space to an elegiac conclusion, Russian Ark was, with its huge cast and constantly mobile camera, shot in one single, amazing 90-m inute take. —C M <£$> <^> <^>> <££> What's popped and what's flopped, in a theater near you. T he S afety of O bjects Queer viewers will be tempted to read the latest from dyke direc tor Rose Troche (Go Fish, Bedrooms and Hall ways) as a cautionary tale about the horrors of heterosexuality. Such a parade o f bitter sub urban families and their godawful lives you’ve never seen. Still, the film’s episodic style, mostly solid acting and some edgy touches— a T he gorgeous R ussian A rk was shot in one amazing 90-minute take boy in love with a doll and a disturbing quasi- < & < & < £& < & ) R ussian A rk molester angle— keep it consistently watch- able, even when it’s sliding into bathos. Director Alexander Sokurov takes us on — Gary Morris a dreamy journey through Russian history, T H R E E f r ie n d s c o f f e C o n v e rtin g P o rtlan d O n e C u p At A T im e l O PEN © D A Y S Open until lOpm 201 S E 1 2 th only it you’re really hungry good effort, pass the salt <?£> <&> <£%> mmmm, tasty! <g> <gi < & <£> <&> 8et <£%> (&> S pirited A way T his instant classic by visionary anim a tion director Hayao Miyazaki (Princess M on on oke) follows a young girl who stum bles upon a portal that pulls her into a fan tasy world filled with spirits, ghosts and other indescribable creatures. 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