Go With the Flow
Make a splash with Nemo.
FINDING NEMO : Directed by Andrew Stanton. Co-di-
rected by Lee Unkrich. Written by Stanton, Bob Peterson, David
Reynolds. Original story, Stanton. Produced by Graham Walters.
Executive producer, John Lasseter. Music, Thomas Newman.
Production design, Ralph Eggleston. Cinematography, Sharon
Calahan, Jeremy Lasky. Supervising animator, Dylan Brown.
Story supervisors, Ronnie del Carmen, Dan Jeup, Jason Katz.
Supervising technical director, Ralph Eggleston. Voices, Albert
Books, Ellen DeGeneres and Alexander Gould, with Willem Dafoe,
Geoffrey Rush, Barrie Humphries, Austin Pendleton, Allison
Janney, John Ratzenberger, Stephen Root, Joe Ranft, Brad
Garrett., Vicki Lewis, Andrew Stanton, Elizabeth Perkins, Eric
Bana and Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar Animation Studios, 2003.
G. 104 minutes.
O
nce again, Pixar’s brilliance is illumi-
nated by taking a story that is famil-
iar to all kids and parents — like Toy
Story, my favorite American animated film
— and turning it into an adventure story pop-
ulated by exotic, interesting characters with
real emotions. In this case, the story is about
a dad and his only son on the first day of
school. They are fish, brightly colored
Clownfish, to be precise. And what happens
to them does not happen to all kids and dads:
They get separated from each other that day.
And the rest of the story is how they both
struggle to get back together again.
Dad is Marlin (Albert Brooks), an overpro-
tective dad who worries about his son starting
school and would consider putting it off for a
year or two. Son is Nemo (Alexander Gould),
who’s ready to have a little adventure of his
own. They have lived peacefully and safely
inside the waving fronds of a large sea
anemone on the Australian Great Barrier Reef.
OPENING OR RETURNING:
Core, The: Jon Amiel directs this
adventure to the center of the
earth. Scientists played by Aaron
Eckhart, Hilary Swank and Bruce
Greenwood journey deep into the
earth to detonate a device to reacti-
vate the planet’s core. An uninten-
tional comedy, it’s a great break
from reality. PG-13. Movies 12.
Online archives.
Frida: Salma Hayak plays Frida
Kahlo, the feminist painter and wife
of Mexico’s great muralist and
painter Diego Rivera (Alfred Molina)
and lover of Leon Trotsky (Geoffrey
Rush). Directed by Julie Taymor.
2002 Academy Award to the late
Elliot Goldenthal for original score
and for makeup. Underrated film is
one of the most visually lush films
of 2002. R. Movies 12.
Good Thief, The: Neil Jordan
directs the great Nick Nolte in this
remake of a French heist movie that
incorporates some amazing charac-
ters and a smart double plot that
sneaks right past you if you don’t
pay close attention. Highly recom-
mended. Bijou. See review this
issue.
Hollywood Homicide: Fast-paced
action comedy directed by Ron
Shelton stars Harrison Ford and
Josh Hartnett as cops, with Isaiah
Washington, Lena Olin, Bruce
Greenwood, Master P., Lolita
Davidovich, Dwight Yoakum, Keith
David and Martin Landau. PG-13.
Sneak 6/7 at 7:30 pm. Cinemark.
House of a 1000 Corpses, The:
Think this might be a horror film? R.
LateNite Bijou.
Malibu’s Most Wanted: Jamie
Kennedy, Taye Diggs and Anthony
Anderson in an urban comedy
about hip-hop culture. PG-13. Movies
12.
Two Fast, Two Furious: John
Singleton directs this sequel action
adventure about street racing. Stars
Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson, Cole
Hauser, Eva Mendes. PG-13. Cinema
World. Cinemark.
What It Takes: A 13-minute docu-
mentary film subtitled “A Ride with
the Prime Alliance Cycling Team,”
was made by UO graduating student
Jim Anderson, a racer himself.
Anderson shot the picture in Bend
at the Cascade Cycling Classic and
in LA at the team’s training camp. At
3:30 pm on 6/11 at the Bijou. Free.
World is Not Enough, The:
Directed by Michael Apted (42 Up,
Thunderheart), the 19th episode in
this lucrative franchise stars Pierce
Nemo, born with one fin smaller than the
other, is not a great swimmer. But egged on
by his school friends, he swims out to a boat
at anchor — past the reef’s dramatic “drop-
off” point to the deep sea waters. Suddenly
Nemo is hauled up to the boat in a net. The
boat’s powerful motor kicks in, and Nemo is
taken away from his father, teacher and
friends. Gone.
Marlin pursues the boat but loses it. He
connects with a Regal Blue Tang named Dory
(Ellen DeGeneres), who talks a lot, forgets
everything, and is relentlessly upbeat and
cheerful. Dory wants a friend like Marlin and
immediately chooses to go on his quest to find
Nemo. Dory can read, and through her Marlin
learns the address of the boat owner in Sydney.
Dory takes Marlin to meet her new pals, a
group of sharks that includes an enormous
white shark named Bruce (Barry Humphries),
a hammerhead named Anchor (Eric Bana)
and a mako named Chum (Bruce Spence).
They hold 12-step meetings where Bruce tries
hard to remember that “Fish are friends, not
food.” The movie is full of such monsters of
the deep, and the ocean itself holds peril for
Marlin and Dory.
Meanwhile, Nemo finds himself in a fish
tank in a dentist’s office, doomed to be a birth-
day present to the dentist’s horrible little niece,
Darla. Whenever Darla’s picture or presence is
evoked, the shrieking timbres of “Psycho (The
Brosnan as 007 here playing securi-
ty guard to a mega-rich heiress,
Elektra King (Sophie Marceau).
Bond must keep the villain (Robert
Carlyle) from jamming up the oil
supply, while also finding time for
other things. With Robbie Coltrane
and Judi Dench. PG-13.
Shows at 7 pm on June 6 in
International Lounge, EMU, UO cam-
pus. Free.
Films open the FRIDAY following
date of E W publication unless oth-
erwise noted. See archived reviews
at www.eugeneweekly.com.
CONTINUING:
Adaptation: Director Spike Jonze
and writer Charlie Kaufman blur
boundaries between reality and fic-
tional representation. Nicolas Cage
plays Charlie Kaufman, stuck while
writing a screenplay of Susan
Orlean’s book, The Orchid Thief.
Meryl Streep gives a fabulous,
comic turn as Orleans, and Chris
Cooper’s an avid orchid collector.
2002 Academy Award to Cooper.
Very highest recommendations. R.
Movies 12. Online archives.
Bend It Like Beckham: Soccer-
crazy girls in London suburb drive
their respective families crazy
because they’d rather play soccer
than think about marriage and
shopping. Warm-hearted, generous
film is likely to be a big hit. Get
onboard early and enjoy!. Highly
recommended. PG-13. Bijou. Online
archives.
Bringing Down the House:
Domestic comedy starring Steve
Martin and Queen Latifa is directed
by Adam Shankman. PG-13. Movies
12.
Bruce Almighty: Jim Carrey,
Morgan Freeman and Jennifer
Aniston star in this tale of a at TV
reporter, who has a really bad day,
rages against God and receives
more than he expected. PG-13.
Cinema World. Cinemark.
Daddy Day Care: Eddie Murphy
and Jeff Garlin lose their jobs and
can’t afford day care for their sons,
so they open their own facility.
Comedy directed by Steve Carr also
stars Anjelica Huston, Steve Zahn
and Regina King. PG. Cinemark. PG.
Down With Love: Peyton Reed re-
invents the look and feel of a 1962-
era Doris Day, Rock Hudson musical
with Renee Zellwegger and Ewan
McGregor. Also stars David Hyde
Pierce, Tony Randall and Sarah
Paulson. Entertaining froth. PG-13.
Cinemark. Online archives.
Finding Nemo: Pixar (Toy Story)
presents this computer-animated
fantasy of two Clownfish, Marlin and
his son Nemo, who get separated in
the Great Barrier Reef. Written and
directed by Andrew Stanton (A
Bug’s Life), with voices by Albert
Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Willem
Dafoe, Geoffrey Rush, Allison
Janney. Very highly recommended.
G. Cinema World. Cinemark. See
review this issue.
Gangs of New York: Martin
Scorsese’s bloody epic set in mid-
1800s N.Y. stars Leonard DiCaprio
and Daniel Day-Lewis as rival gang
leaders. Co-stars Cameron Diaz,
John C. Reilly and Jim Broadbent.
One of 2002’s great films, with
many Academy Award nominations.
Very highest recommendations. R.
Movies 12. Online archives.
Head of State: Chris Rock directs,
co-writes and stars in this tale of a
D.C. alderman who runs for the
presidency. Also stars Bernie Mac,
Dylan Baker, Robin Givens, James
Rebhorn. PG-13. Movies 12.
Holes: Adventures digging holes at
Camp Green Lake for Stanley, who
comes from a strange family that’s
been cursed for generations.
Embarrassingly, Jon Voight,
Sigourney Weaver and Tim Blake
Nelson co-star. PG. Cinema World.
Cinemark. Online archives.
How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days:
Magazine columnist Kate Hudson
and ad agency professional
WALT DISNEY PICTURES, PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS, 2003
BY LOIS WADSWORTH
Marlin (Albert Brooks),
an orange-striped Clownfish
and Dory (Ellen DeGeneres),
a regal blue Tang, swim
the warm waters near
Australia.
Murder)” by Bernard Herrmann resound.
Gill (Willem Dafoe), a black-and-white-
striped Moorish Idol, also longs to be back in
the ocean again. Gill comes up with an escape
plan that puts Nemo in great danger. Their
unwitting savior is a gossipy pelican, Nigel
(Willem Dafoe).
One way these stories work is: move one
step closer to the goal; meet an overpowering
enemy or a physical obstacle; take two steps
backward. It requires great patience for chil-
dren 4-years and under to remain interested
for the film’s 104-minute duration, despite
the gradual building of suspense that older
kids and adults expect.
Matthew McConaughey try to get
the other to fall in love, but things
go awry. High-energy romantic com-
edy. PG-13. Movies 12.
In-Laws, The: Andrew Fleming
directs Michael Douglas and Albert
Brooks as the reluctant fathers of
the bride and groom. PG-13. Cinema
World.
Italian Job, The: Mark Wahlberg
leads a heist that’s double-crossed
by one of his crew. Charlize Theron
plays a safecracker in this cool
revenge movie. Also stars Edward
Norton, Mos Def and Donald
Sutherland. Highly recommended
for its pure entertainment value.
PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World.
Online archives.
Kangaroo Jack: Taking mob money
to Australia, two New York doofuses
loose it to a kangaroo. Stars Jerry
O’Connell, Anthony Anderson,
Christopher Walken and Dyan
Cannon. David McNally directs. PG.
Movies 12.
Lord of the Rings: The Two
Towers: Directed and re-imagined
by Peter Jackson, part two of J.R.R.
Tolkien’s trilogy continues. New
characters, a surprise return and
great battles. Director Peter
Jackson’s second masterpiece. Very
highest recommendations. 2002
Academy Awards for sound editing,
visual effects. PG-13. Movies 12.
Online archives.
Matrix Reloaded: Second chapter
brings Neo (Keanu Reeve), Trinity
NEW RELEASES ON VIDEO
Releases subject to change. Available the Tuesday following date of EW
publication, sometimes sooner. See archived movie reviews at
www.eugeneweekly.com
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 4 on DVD, a 6-disc set with all 22
episodes and lots of extras.
Frida: Salma Hayak plays Frida Kahlo, the feminist painter and wife of
Mexico’s great muralist and painter Diego Rivera (Alfred Molina) and lover
of Leon Trotsky (Geoffrey Rush). Directed by Julie Taymor. 2002 Academy
Award to the late Elliot Goldenthal for original score and for makeup.
Underrated film is one of the most visually lush films of 2002. R.
Giant (1956): George Steven directed a dream cast of teen heart-throb
James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, Carroll Baker, Mercedes
McCambridge and Dennis Hopper in this stylish adaptation of Edna
Ferber’s runaway best seller. Texas cattle rancher Hudson and wildcat oil-
man Dean fall out in a big way, and it isn’t all about land and money. Or is
it? Dean’s last picture. DVD 2-disc special edition, with all the extras.
Jungle Book 2: Same song, second verse from Disney. Voices include
John Goodman, Haley Joel Osment, Phil Collins. G. Movies 12.
Medea: Lars von Trier’s critically acclaimed, experimental 1987 film made
for Danish television was adapted from Euripides via Carl Dreyer’s never-
made screenplay. Stars Kirsten Olesen as the scorned and furious Medea,
One of the film’s most enjoyable experi-
ences is when Marlin and Dory meet up with
a giant green sea turtle, Crush (Andrew
Stanton), who helps Marlin learn to relax.
Crush may be an old dude — he’s 150, after
all — but he’s picked up the jive talk of the
young’uns and made it his own. Have fun is
Crush’s message, and traveling with him and
his entourage through the wild rush of the
East Australian Current is a blast.
The whole film is quite beautiful and a
memorable achievement in computer anima-
tion. Highly recommended, Finding Nemo is
now playing at Cinemark and Cinema
World.
ew
(Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity
(Carrie-Anne Moss) closer to solving
the enigma but also puts them in
greater danger. Written and directed
by Andy and Larry Wachowski, it
also stars Hugo Weaving, Jada
Pinkett Smith and Gloria Foster. R.
Cinemark. Cinema World. See
review this issue.
Mighty Wind, A: Christopher
Guest’s (Best in Show) pseudo-doc-
umentary narrative about a folk
music reunion show of folk is one
of his craftiest satirical offerings,
critics say. Stars the usual suspects:
Eugene Levy, Parker Posey, Bob
Balaban. Harry Shearer, Michael
McKean and Guest himself. PG-13.
Cinema World. Online archives.
Old School: From Road Trip, Luke
Wilson, Will Ferrell and Vince
Vaughn try to recapture the fun of
their college years by starting their
own off-campus frat house. R.
Movies 12.
Russian Ark (Russia, 2001):
Cineastes who have heard about
this film for months now have the
opportunity to enjoy Alexander
Sokurov’s cinematic achievement —
one 96-minute, uninterrupted shot
— a tour of the Hermitage in St.
Petersburg, long the repository of
Russian (and European) art and his-
tory. NR. Bijou. Online Archives.
Shanghai Knights: Jackie Chan
and Owen Wilson are out to settle a
score in Victorian London in this
comedy directed by David Dobkin.
PG-13. Movies 12.
Spun: Eugene premiere of film co-
written by former UO student
Creighton Vero and former Eugene
resident, William De Los Santos.
Stars Jason Schwartzman, who
plays a meth freak, and Mickey
Rourke, who plays a meth dealer.
Other stars include John
Leguizamo, Mena Suvari, Patrick
Fugit and more. NR. LateNite Bijou.
What a Girl Wants: Teen Amanda
Bynes is “trying to fit in, born to
stand out.” She wants a fairy tale
relationship with her absent dad
and is tired of living with her uncon-
ventional mom, played by Colin
Firth and Kelly Preston. Oliver
James plays her love interest. PG.
Movies 12.
Wrong Turn: Jeremy Sisto, Eliza
Dushku, Desmond Harrington and
Emmanuelle Chriqui are trapped in
the West Virginia wilderness and
pursued by cannibalistic mountain
men. Help! R. Cinema World.
Cinemark.
X-Men 2: The next link in the evo-
lutionary chain? Directed by Bryan
Singer, stars Patrick Stewart, Hugh
Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry,
Famke Janssen, James Marsden
and more, lots more. PG-13.
Cinemark.
Bijou Art Cinemas (686-2458)
Cinema World 8 (342-6536)
Cinemark 17 (746-5202)
Movies 12 (741-1231)
Udo Kier as the adventurer, Jason, who abandons her. Hell hath no fury.
It’s a must-see for von Trier fans. NR. Released by Facets Video.
Old School: From Road Trip, Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn
try to recapture the fun of their college years by starting their own off-
campus frat house. R. Cinemark.
Once Upon a Time in America (1984): Sergio Leone’s saga of five young
men growing up in Brooklyn in the 1920s who become mobsters.
Videohound says it’s “told with a sweeping and violent elegance.” Stars
Robert DeNiro, James Wood, Treat Williams, Joe Pesci, Danny Aiello,
Elizabeth McGovern, Tuesday Weld and Jennifer Connelly. R. DVD 2-disc
special edition, with all the extras.
Right Stuff, The (1983): Philip Kaufman’s compelling adaptation of Tom
Wolfe’s best-seller. The film spans the US space program from breaking the
sound barrier through the Mercury space missions. Stars Ed Harris, Dennis
Quaid, Sam Shepard, Scott Glenn. Fred Ward, Kathy Baker, Levon Helm,
Charles Frank and Kim Stanley. DVD 2-disc special edition, with all the
extras.
Tears of the Sun: Bruce Willis is a Navy SEAL sent to rescue a US citizen
who runs a mission, but she (Monica Bellucci) won’t leave her charges.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua. R. Movies 12.
Next week: The Chinese Box, The Erich von Stroheim Collection,
Happiness, Pipe Dream, Sebastiane, Songcatcher and What’s Cooking?
JUNE 5, 2003 17