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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 15, 2005)
jUlx 15.2ÛQ5 • just QUt 39 FILM ......... ▼.......... Dark Water REVIEWS Jennifer Connelly plays a just-divorced mother who moves into a slum apartment with her daughter, whereupon they’re haunted by a dead girl’s ghost and lots of brown water stains. Yet another American remake of yet another Japanese thriller about a yet another dead child haunting people who had nothing to do with their death, Dark Water barely has any pulse of its own. D- —Andy Mangels always engaging and empa- thetically executed plot. Happy Endings is rife with lives waiting to intersect and secrets with loose lids, includ ing infidelities, children given up for adoption, even some characters’ actual parentage or sexual orientation. Roos’ script is earthy and humane, and the film’s kxxse, casual style makes its small A sequel to House of 1000 Corpses, gaffes—a maudlin moment this film revels in violence in a way that here, a flat joke there—seem recalls Natural Bom Killers, but with more entirely forgivable. But, if for rednecks and no annoying Juliette Lewis. no other reason, see Happy Even the most tinnd-hearted will likely Endings for the cast: Al Laura Dern (left) and Sarah Clarke are among the multidimensional find themselves rixiting for the sheriff to though Roos gives Kudrow queer characters in Happy Endings. take some nasty revenge upon the title the best lines and Gyllenhaal killers. Nary a’scare to be found here, but your the best character, his aversion to one-dimen pulse may race with the relentless brutality. C- sionality evidently inspired an all-around —AM After Bounce, gay writer/director Don Rixis’ enthusiasm and energy, which the audience is bound to find very’ contagious. B tepid last film, 1998’s sharp The Opposite of Sex —Christopher McQuain seemed like a fluke. I’m happy to report that his latest, Happy Endings, is welcome evidence Take it from a longtime fan: The Fantastic to the contrary. Four comic was always about a dysfunctional Rix)s’ many characters—including a preg family of superhertxis who bickered, fought nancy counselor (Lisa Kudrow), her gay step Morgan Freeman narrates this beautiful crime and were adored by the public. That’s brother (Steve Coogan), his partner (David documentary about an annual trek taken by exactly what’s delivered in this film, which is a Sutcliffe), their lesbian friends Pam (Laura these flightless birds across hundreds of miles of brightly shot, family-friendly flick. Its story and Dem) and Diane (Sarah Clarke), a blackmailer treacherous Antarctica in a heroic struggle to internal logic might not hold up under scruti and aspiring filmmaker (Jesse Bradford), a find the perfect mate and start a family. It’s ny, but it’s a fun romp among the summer gold-digger (Maggie Gyllenhaal), her prospect inspiring and lovable...but subtly anti-choice, angst, and there is some piping-hot male flesh (the surprisingly endearing Tom Arnold) and twice referring to an unhatched egg as “life.” on display in many scenes. B his gay son (Jason Ritter)—have their lives Opens July 15 at Cinema 21. B —AM —Jim Radosta turned upside down in a slightly sudsy but The Devil’s Rejects Happy Endings Fantastic Four March of the Penguins Girls On Gay, Inc. Tell Them Who You Are Mark Wexler’s brilliant dixrumentary about his father, two-time Oscar winner, cinematog rapher and political activist Haskell Wexler (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf!), is spiced up with anecdotes and great interviews as well as the touching story of a difficult father-son relationship. While Mark is shixiting the film completely from his point of view, his complex father tries to interfere to tell his son what to do. By the end, we learn that the father taught his son better than either one of them realizes. Opens July 15 at Hollywixxl Theatre. A —Yvonne P. Behrens Wedding Crashers Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn show some Matthau-Lemmon potential in this raunchy comedy about a couple of womanizers who get what’s coming to them when they hook up with the wacky daughters of a Cabinet secretary (Christopher Walken). T< k > bad the juvenile script spoils the party with a vile depiction of an introverted, predatory homo. C -JR Yes Sally Potter—director of the wonderful, gender-bending Orlando —channels Shake speare and Dr. Seuss to dramatize the r<x:ky romance between an Irish scientist (Joan Allen) and a fetching Lebanese chef (Simon Abkarian). Everyone speaks in iambic pen tameter and rhymed couplets, a device that is altematingly ponderous and rapturous. B- —Stephen Blair JH presents August 27th at The Crystal Ballroom Doors open at 5:30pm Dress is Black White Open to the Whole Queer Community K Our Allies (21 & over only please) A portionof the proceeds go to Basic Rights Oregon. Tickets $55.00 available at www.girisongay.com, crystal ballroom or through Ticket Master. A brief presentation by Basic Rights Oregon Enjoy a Gourmet food fare catered by McMe- namins and while dining, listen to the high-ener gy, low-volume, acoustic fusion stylings of Sneakin' Out! After dinner, dance the night away with DJ Crystal Satisfy your need for speed and your sense of adventure uuith an Outrayeous excursion to one of three destinations: ÏKWW STYLE" We had so much fun the first time we're doing it again. Our next Event will be at Vitis Enoteca Sunday, August 7 at 4pm To Historic Astoria - Enjoy a colorful account of Lewis 6 Clark's push to the Pacific as your travel to beautiful Astoria, the "San Francisco of the Northwest." To Bonneville Dam 6 Columbia Gorge - Multnomah Falls, Beacon Rock, Bonneville Dam and more. No other stretch of waterway in the world offers so much grandeur. To Kelly Point - This convergence of the tranquil Willamette and mighty Columbia is steeped in frontier history and folklore. Pre-registration Required Register & purchase tickets online www.glrlsongay.com For more information call 360-260 7900 or 877-630-7900 For information and reservations: OUTRAGEOUS Columbia River Adventuret 503-224-3900 • 800-224-3901 www.outrageousjetboat.com
