film
Bobby
Emilio Estevez wrote and directed this excellent
film about 22 extraordinary characters (portrayed by
a stellar cast including Anthony Hopkins, Helen
Hunt, Laurence Fishbume, William H. Macy and
Sharon Stone) 16 hours before the assassination of
U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy on June 6,1968, mixed
in with historical footage. People believed Kennedy
was going to do some great things, and we’ll never
know if he would have, but the saddest thing is that
40 years later, the United States is still struggling and
fighting for equal rights for all. B
—Yvonne P. Behrens
Casino Royale
Does the new blond James Bond (Daniel Craig)
hold up to the ones who came before? Certainly!
With a breathtaking opening scene, we are intro
duced to 007 before he got his license to kill.
Director Martin Campbell (The Mask of Zorro)
sends us on an action-packed journey set, as usual,
in exotic places around the world while Bond
pursues a banker to the world’s terrorist organiza
tions. The audience can relax a little in between
the thrills when the movie slows down to focus on
his romance with Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) before
the final showdown at a poker game. One thing
that did not live up to expectations was the sound
track, but that is just a minor quibble. A
—YPB
Encounter Point
A nonviolent approach to peace is at the heart
of this touching yet unsentimental documentary
about reconciliation between grieving Israelis and
Palestinians. Hardened animosity, rooted in holy
Scripture for millennia, seems poised to bend as
directors Ronit Avni and Julia Bacha highlight
grassroots efforts by organizations like the Bereaved
Families Forum. A mother who lost her son, an
Israeli soldier guarding a settlement against his will,
states the activists’ aims succinctly: “We are not
pro-lsraeli or pro-Palestinian. We’re pro-solution.”
Opens Dec. 1 at Hollywood Theatre. A
—Malka Geffen
Fast Food Nation
A failed departure from the 2001 Eric Schlosser
book by the same name, Fast Food Nation missteps
with interwoven narrative in the spirit of Steven
Soderbergh’s dazzlingly complex Traffic. The film—
featuring an ensemble cast composed of Greg
Kinnear, Ethan Hawke, Luis Guzman, Patricia
Arquette, Kris Kristofferson, Lou Taylor Pucci,
Wilmer Valderrama, Bruce Willis and Avril
Lavigne—peaks at an unflinching slaughterhouse
scene that omnivores should see with eyes wide
open. C-
—Jaymee R. Cuti
For Your Consideration
Christopher Guest (Waiting for Guffman, Best m
Show) again proves he’s among the funniest directors
working today. Moving away from his customary
mockumentary style, he turns his satiric attention
toward Hollywood itself as he tells the tale of a
faded star who believes a rumor that her comeback
performance is Oscar-worthy. Aided by his usual
troupe of actors (including the wonderful Parker
Posey playing an actress cast as a lesbian), Guest
skewers filmmaking and its assorted vain characters
with wit and intelligence. B +
—Floyd Sklaver
A Good Year
Based on Peter Mayle’s book, this romantic
comedy by director Ridley Scott (Thelma & Louise)
stars Russell Crowe as Max, a British stockbroker
who inherits a vineyard in Provence, France. After
his arrival there, he needs to decide if his life so far
is what he wants or if he has to make changes. The
cinematography beautifully captures the region’s
natural charm. Don’t dismiss this as a chick flick; it
sure makes a great date movie! B
—YPB
Happy Feet
Since last year’s hit documentary March of the
Penguins, we have been swamped with penguins—
in commercials, in toys and now in this really cute
animated musical by director George Miller (Babe:
Pig in the City). A talented cast (Robin Williams,
Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and Elijah Wood)
provides voices for the story of a young Emperor
Penguin who faces the huge challenge of finding
his soulmate even though he cannot sing. A rare
film for the whole family. A-
—YPB
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For Your Consideration stars Parker Posey (right) as an actress cast as a lesbian in the fictional
drama Home for Purim.