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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 6, 2005)
36 jUSt OUt • may 6.2005 FILM Double Dare Wonder Woman and Xena: Warrior Princess—the heroine dream team of every les bian on the planet. This brilliant documentary from director Amanda Micheli tells the story of stuntwomen Jeannie Epper and Zoe Bell, the anonymous heroines behind Lynda Carter and Bradley Beesley compiled 1 5 years of stun Lucy Lawless and many others in film and tele ningly frank footage—including band mem vision, as they face the challenges of a danger- j her Steven Drozd shooting heroin on cam- ous and male-dominated profession tn Hollywood. Jeannie, a grandmother who refuses to retire at 64, starts to mentor Zoe, giving us a glimpse at two strong, dedicated women who pursue tough careers taking the hits that make actors into stars. Now playing at I iollywood Theatre. A —Yvonne P. Behrens The Interpreter REVIEWS Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the cinema, along comes another explosive documentary to remind you of the corruption on Pennsylvania Avenue. This time, we learn that President Bush is not only in bed with rhe Saudi royal fami ly, lie’s sleeping around with Ken Lay, too. Forsaking a focus on finance, the film delves into rhe tragic human flaws that eventually exposed these corporate crrxiks. Now playing at Cinema 21 A —Jim Radosta -JR The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Making a film out of a beloved and quirky science fiction novel can bring huge expecta tion of disappointment, so it’s best that this was co-written by the original author. Those who loved the b<x>k should heed the phrase “Don’t Panic,” as rhe film is a close and funny adapta tion. For those coming to it new, it’s similar to Monty Python in space, but with better special effects and less drag. Sam Rockwell steals rhe show as two-faced galaxy President Zaphod Beeblebrox. A —Andy Mangels House of Wax The Fearless Freaks Playing May 1 3 to 15 at Hollywood Theatre, this rockumentary takes us on an acid trip with The Flaming Lips. Director era—to bring us into the minds of these musical mystics. B Chad Michael Montgomery makes House of IVax a little less intolerable. » SpiritOne There’s a special rix>m in hell reserved for Paris Hilton, and one imagines that her role in this film takes her one step closer. In a plot that drags interminably, five young adults are pulled into a wax museum with tcxi-realistic figures and a pair of killers. Only two things make this tolerable: Hilton’s death scene (which set the audience cheering) and about one minute of a shirtless (.had Michael Mont gomery. Hell yawns, Paris, and so d<x?s rhe audience D- —AM Icy Nicole Kidman meets bad boy Sean Penn in this solid but uninspired thriller from director Sydney Pollack (Out of Africa). Kid man plays a South African (J.N. interpreter who gets embroiled in murderous politics when she overhears a plan to assassinate a genocidal president. Penn, the federal agent assigned to rhe case, exhibits agonized facial contortions that suggest he’s having a tricky bowel movement. The movie dodges main stream conventions by not forcing a tawdry romance on the two leads. In all other areas it is far less surprising. B- —Stephen Blair Monsieur N. Enjoyed reading The Da Vinci Code! Then you’ll appreciate Monsieur N., which offers a fictitious mystery in the retelling of Napoleon Bonaparte’s (Philippe Torreton) final year. What if rhe emperor had escaped from exile after faking his own death? Using a combina tion of historical record and creative specula tion, director Antoine de Cannes has created a fascinating portrait of the emperor’s exile on a remote island. Opens May 13 at Hollywixxl Theatre. B+ —YPB Monster-in-Law It’s J-Lo vs. J-Fo as two-time Oscar winner Jane Fonda makes her (dare I say it?) trium phant return to the silver screen for the first time since 1990’s Stanley and Iris. Of course, she is cast as rhe evil title character to Jennifer Lopez’s likable fiancee, but the smart, queer savvy script (along with a cameo from Broad- Do you want to TALK ABOUT how to STAY HEALTHY and protect your partners from HIV? INTERNET SERVICES Call KURT or MARIA at 503-230-1202 or 1-877-795-7700 (toll-free) www.SpiritOne.com Dial-Up Internet High-Speed DSL and Web Hosting Serving Greater Oregon and SW Washington F Monday - Friday, 9-5 or by appointment. Includes 6 confidential sessions with incentives if eligible, k A Program of OHSU/Partnership Project
