jUlx 15.2ÛQ5 • just QUt 39
FILM
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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