Karma
Final retribution.
NEVER DIE ALONE: Directed by Ernest R.
Dickerson. Written by James Gibson, based on the novel
by Donald Goines. Produced by Alessandro Camon, Earl
Simmons. Executive producers, Cameron Casey, Angelo
Ellerebee, Dion Fearon, Marc Gerald, Edward R.
Pressman, Rudy ‘Kato’ Rangel, John Schmidt. Original
music by Damon ‘Grease’ Blackman, DMX, George Duke.
Cinematography, Matthew Libatique. Editor, Stephen
Lovejoy. Production design, Christiaan Wagener.
Costumes, Marie France. Starring David Arquette, DMX,
Clifton Powell, Reagan Gomez-Preston and Michael
Ealy. Fox Searchlight Films, 2004. R. 90 minutes.
G
iven that the genre calls for gun
fights, stabbings and other forms of
terminal violence; an abundance of
attitude; lots of hard drugs, pimps and
whores; as well as loud hip-hop and gangsta’
rap, Never Die Alone diverges only slightly
from the predictable path, primarily because
the storytelling is strong, personal and told in
an authentic voice.
Credit the compelling, cinematic quality
of the film to director Ernest Dickerson
(Juice, Bones), cinematographer for Spike
Lee’s earlier films and a former fellow stu-
dent at NYU film school. Dickerson was
drawn to the popular novels of African
American writer Donald Goines, whose
books are the most-requested among prison-
ers across the country. When he learned
Goines’ work had never been adapted to the
screen, Dickerson knew what he wanted to
do for his sixth feature film: the tale of the
rise and fall of a street gangster called King
OPENING OR RETURNING:
Dream Factory, The: Chinese film direct-
ed by Feng Xiaogang. At 4 pm on 04/07 in
115 Pacific Hall, UO campus. Free.
Dreamers, The: Bernardo Bertolucci’s
film, set during the Paris uprising of 1968,
stars Michael Pitt, Eva Green and Louis
Garrel as three young cineastes who hole
up in their apartment and play sex and
movie games. It’s a beautiful reminder that
youthful dreams may not change the ways
of the world, but they may forever alter the
dreamers. Very highest recommendations.
NC-17. Bijou. See review this issue.
Emerald Forest, The (1985): Young boy
is taken by Amazon natives. Directed by
John Boorman, it stars his son, Charley, as
the boy. Based on a true story, film is
beautifully shot in the jungles of Brazil.
Stirring portrait of vanishing tribes. R. At 7
pm on 04/07 in 100 Willamette Hall, UO
campus. Free.
Faust Faustus in Deptford: This 15-
minute digital video, which has been shown
at international independent film festivals,
will be shown as part of a lecture by UO art
professor Leon Johnson. Free. At 8 pm on
04/08 in 115 Lawrence Hall, UO campus.
Hellboy: Based on Mike Mignola’s Dark
Horse Comics series, this supernatural
action adventure stars Ron Perlman, John
Hut, Selma Blain and Doug Jones and is
directed by Guillermo del Toro. PG-13.
Cinema World. Cinemark.
Home on the Range: Disney animated
feature features voices by Roseanne Barr,
Judi Dench, Jennifer Tilly, Cuba Gooding
Jr., Randy Quaid, Steve Buscemi, Carole
Cook and Governor Ann Richards., while
singing comes from k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt,
Tim McGraw and The Beau Sisters. PG.
Cinemark.
Miracle: The: 1980 US Ice Hockey team
beat the greatest team in the world, the
Russians, at the Olympics. Stars Kurt
Russell as the coach of this inspiring tale
of a sports-world miracle. PG. Movies 12.
Prince and Me, The: Stars Julia Stiles,
Luke Mably. She’s a pre-med student. He’s
the Crown Prince of Denmark. Also stars
James Fox and Miranda Richardson. PG.
Cinemark. Cinema World.
Road to Life: At 8:45 pm on 04/06 in 115
Pacific Hall, UO campus. In Russian with
English subtitles. Free.
Statement, The: Brian Moore’s novel
about a WWII war crime, directed by
Norman Jewison, stars Michael Caine,
Tilda Swinton, Jeremy Northam, and the
late Alan Bates. The New York Times says:
“As much as these wonderful actors invest
their performances with psychological
nuance, their efforts go mostly for naught
in a movie that gives character develop-
ment a distant back seat to the grinding
mechanics of its formulaic plot.” R. Bijou.
Walking Tall: Dwayne “The Rock”
Johnson returns home after military
career to find his hometown overrun with
crime, drugs and violence. He’s elected
sheriff to shut down his former rival’s
David (DMX), written by Goines in 1974.
Goines was a stylist and a natural story-
teller. He lived the life, as they say. Once
while in prison, he tried writing Westerns,
which didn’t work for him. But the urban LA
street scene of the 1970s, bingo! Goines
turned out 16 pulp novels in five years,
including Dopefiend (’71), about a middle-
class woman who becomes a drug abuser;
Black Girl Lost (’73), about a teenage girl
who sells drugs; and Daddy Cool (’74), about
a man trying to keep his daughter from pros-
titution. The last is the basis for the next film
Dickerson wants to make.
King David has come back to LA to make
up for his past. First order of business is to set-
tle his debt to Moon (Clifton Powell), the drug
kingpin whose thugs enforce his orders. King
David’s sleek pimpmobile takes him to one of
Moon’s clubs, where the bartender, Juanita
(Reagan Gomez-Preston), remembers David
too well to be glad to see him. Mike (Michael
Ealy) also remembers him without fondness.
And sitting at Juanita’s bar the day King
David comes by is Paul (David Arquette), a
white writer, who yearns to become an inves-
tigative journalist. Paul’s living in the neigh-
borhood to soak up local color, and he is fas-
cinated by King David, who talks to Moon
and sets up an appointment for later. Paul
overhears the deal and comes back to the bar
that night to see for himself King David’s
meeting with Moon’s men.
The players are set in motion, and the
drama begins to play out in interesting and
surprising ways. Moon picks Mike and his
criminal biz. Directed by Kevin Bray. PG-13.
Cinema World. Cinemark.
Weather Underground: To be shown as
part of “Social Movements Then and
Now” program, documentary directed by
Sam Green and Bill Siegel looks back at
the 1960s and ‘70s when young activists
such as Bill Ayers, Bernadine Dohrn, Mark
Rudd and others tried to bring the
Vietnam War home to the streets of this
country. Learn what these people discov-
ered about the use of violence and what
they have to say today. Highly recom-
mended. NR. At 7 pm on 04/02 in 180
PLC, UO campus. Free. Online archives.
Films open the Friday following EW
publication date unless otherwise
noted. See archived reviews at
www.eugeneweekly.com
CONTINUING:
Agent Cody Banks 2 Destination
London: Frankie Muniz returns as spy
Cody Banks, this time he’s undercover in
London as a student at an elite boarding
school. PG. Cinemark.
Along Came Polly: Ben Stiller plays
Reuben, a hapless husband whose bride
dumps him. Then he meets up with a
childhood friend, Polly (Jennifer Aniston).
Also stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Hank
Azaria, Bryan Brown and Alec Baldwin.
John Hamburg directs. PG-13. Movies 12.
Butterfly Effect: The trailer is about a
young man (Ashton Kutcher) who time
travels back to the past to fix the broken
lives of a childhood girlfriend (Amy Smart)
and his friends, Lenny (Eldoen Henson) and
Tommy (William Lee Scott). R. Movies 12.
Calendar Girls: Spunky members of a
woman’s club in Yorkshire, England poses
naked to raise money for medical research
after one’s husband gets leukemia. Stars
Helen Mirren, Julie Walters and John
Alderton. Based on a true story. Nigel Cole
directs. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives.
Cheaper by the Dozen: Steve Martin and
Bonnie Hunt play the parents of 12 chil-
dren, including Piper Perabo, Hilary Duff
and Tom Welling. Directed by Shawn Levy.
PG. Movies 12.
Company, The: Robert Altman’s dream of
a dance movie stars the Joffrey Ballet of
Chicago, Neve Campbell, Malcolm
MacDowell. One of Altman’s most relaxed
yet highly observant films. He “gets” dance,
and The Company shows it. Highly recom-
mended. PG-13. Bijou. Online archives.
Dawn of the Dead: Remake of George
Romero’s 1978 cult classic about a shop-
ping mall taken over by those trying to sur-
vive a zombie plague. Unlikely stars: the
excellent Sarah Polley (My Life Without
Me) and Ving Rhames. R. Cinemark.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind:
Highly acclaimed film directed by Michel
Gondry from screenplay by Charlie
Kaufman (Adaptation). Stars Jim Carrey,
Kate Winslet, Tom Wilkinson, with Mark
Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, Kirsten Dunst. Carrey
discovers Winslet had memories of their
relationship erased. Now he wants to do the
same. Or does he? The best new film of ’04.
Very highest recommendations. R. Cinema
World. Cinemark. Online archives.
Haunted Mansion: Eddie Murphy stars in
Rob Minkoff’s (Stuart Little) ghost come-
dy, with Jennifer Tilly, Don Knotts, Terence
Stamp PG. Movies 12.
Hidalgo: Based on autobiography of dis-
tance rider Frank T. Hopkins, played by
Viggo Mortensen, this epic action-adven-
ture takes place during a 3,000 mile sur-
vival race across the Arabian Desert in
1890. PG-13. Cinemark.
House of Sand and Fog: Vadim
Perelman’s adaptation of Andre Dubus III’s
novel loses something essential in the
process. Jennifer Connelly stars. 2004
Academy Award contender for actor, Ben
Kingsley; supporting actress, Iranian star
Shohreh Aghdashloo; original score, James
Horner. Despite its flaws, the film is worth
seeing. R. Movies 12. Online archives.
Jersey Girl: Written and directed by
Kevin Smith, film’s about a music publicist
(Ben Affleck) trying to balance work and
fatherhood as a single parent. Also stars
Jennifer Lopes, George Carlin, Liv Tyler,
Jason Biggs. Raquel Castro is his inde-
pendent daughter. PG-13. Cinemark.
Cinema World.
Ladykillers, The: Based on the 1955
British comedy starring Peter Sellers and
Alec Guiness, Ethan and Joel Coen’s adap-
tation stars Tom Hanks and Marlon
Wayons. When these bank robbers move
into “no hip-hop” house of a Southern
FOX SEARCHLIGHT FILMS, 2004.
BY LOIS WADSWORTH
Mike (Michael Ealy) with his
trouble-making partner, Blue
(Antwon Tanner).
scattershot partner, Blue (Antwon Tanner), to
pick up the money. Afterward, Paul finds his
part in the encounter surprising, while Mike
mostly surprises himself. But Mike also
knows the white guy at the bar saw every-
thing. And maybe Moon knows, too.
I’m not persuaded that Never Die Alone
breaks much new ground, but it enlarges the
genre by adding a new voice: Donald Goines.
Narrowly, Goines’ point of view reminds me
of Walter Mosley’s authorial voice in the
1995 film directed by Carl Franklin, Devil in
a Blue Dress, who was a new voice to me.
But don’t get the idea Goines’ voice is like
Mosley’s, or that there’s any similarity
between Denzel Washington’s character,
church-going woman, anything goes. R.
Cinema World. Cinemark.
Last Samurai, The: Edward Zwick directs
this action-adventure starring Tom Cruise
as a bitter Civil War vet in China to train
emperor’s troops to defeat samurais.
Captured by warrior Katsumoto (Ken
Watanabe), he learns Samurai traditions
and code of honor.2003 Academy Award
noms: Watanabe, Supporting Actor; art
direction; sound mixing; costume design.
R.. Movies 12. Online archives.
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King:
Peter Jackson’s stunning work stars Elijah
Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Ian
McKellen, Billy Boyd, Orlando Bloom, Liv
Tyler, Cate Blanchett. Frodo and Sam make
it to Mount Doom as Aragorn leads the
warriors of Middle Earth in the final battle
against Sauron. 2003 Academy Award
sweeps for Best Picture; Director, Peter
Jackson; adapted screenplay; art direction;
sound mixing; original score; original song;
costume design; film editing; makeup; and
visual effects. Very highest recommenda-
tions. Movies 12. Online archives.
Master and Commander The Far side of
the World: Peter Weir brings Patrick
O’Brian’s best-selling nautical adventures
during the Napoleonic era to the screen,
with Russell Crowe as Captain Jack
Aubrey and Paul Bettany as Dr. Stephen
Maturin, ship surgeon and naturalist.
Very
highest
recommendations.
Academy Awards for cinematography,
sound editing; nominated for picture;
director; art direction; sound mixing; cos-
tume design; film editing; makeup; visual
Easy Rawlins, and any character in Never
Die Alone.
Although, come to think of it, Easy’s kill-
happy buddy, played by the seriously under-
rated Don Cheadle, might find affinity with
some of Goines’ thugs, even though they
aren’t as smart as he is. Except for Mike,
played with an Easy-like deliberation and
reserve by the talented and complicated Ealy,
the real star of both Barbershops But the per-
ceived similarity is most likely LA itself. In
the city of discontents, dope-dealers will go
to great lengths to hold on to the comforts
they’ve acquired. It’s a material world.
Never Die Alone is probably a short-timer.
Catch it at Cinemark.
ew
effects. PG-13. Movies 12. Online
archives.
Never Die Alone: Ernest Dickerson’s new
film stars DMX as King David, a criminal
seeking redemption who finds death, and
David Arquette as the journalist who
learns his whole story. Also stars Michael
Ealy, Reagan Preston-Gomez. R.
Cinemark. See review this issue.
Nirvana: Concert 1994: LateNite Bijou.
Passion of Christ, The (2004): Mel
Gibson film opens amid charges (denied)
of anti-Semitism. A..O. Scott of The New
York Times writes, “‘The Passion of the
Christ’ is so relentlessly focused on the
savagery of Jesus’ final hours that this
film seems to arise less from love than
from wrath, and to succeed more in
assaulting the spirit than in uplifting it..”
Others call the graphic torture unwatch-
able. R. Cinemark. Cinema World.
Peter Pan: Directed by P.J. Hogan, movie
stars Jason Isaacs, Jeremy Sumpter,
Richard Briers, Olivia Williams, Lyn
Redgrave, Ludivine Sagnier and Rachel
Hurd-Wood. PG. Movies 12.
Scooby Doo 2 Monsters Unleashed:
Some scary action, rude humor and lan-
guage. PG. Cinemark. Cinema World.
Secret Window: Psychotic (John Turturro)
stalks writer (Johnny Depp), accusing him
of stealing the ending to his story. David
Koepp directs, story by Stephen King. Also
stars Maria Bello, timothy Hutton, Charles
S. Dutton. PG-13. Cinemark.
Something’s Gotta Give: Directed by
Nancy Meyers. Harry Sanborn (Jack
Nicholson) is a New York music mogul
with a young libido, while Diane Keaton is
a writer with more on her mind than sex.
With Amanda Peet, Frances McDormand
and Keanu Reeves. 2003 Academy Award
nomination for Keaton. PG-13. Movies 12.
Online archives.
Starsky and Hutch: Ben Stiller is uptight
Starsky, while Owen Wilson is laid back
Ken “Hutch” Hutchinson in this remake of
TV’s undercover crime-fighters. With
Vince Vaughn, Snoop Dogg, Juliette
Lewis. PG-13. Cinemark.
Taking Lives: All-star cast includes
Angelina Jolie, Ethan Hawke, Keifer
Sutherland, Olivier Martinez and Jean-
Hughes Anglade. Directed by D.J.
Caruso, this thriller is about a serial killer
who steals his victims’ identities. R.
Cinemark.
Two Thousand One 2001: A Space
Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick’s classic futur-
istic film from 1968 follows astronauts on
a space voyage to Jupiter that’s been
taken over by a computer, HAL 9000,
which they must stop. Beautiful special
effects and Kubrick’s choice of music add
to film’s mystical appeal. Not rated.
LateNite Bijou.
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton: Kate
Bosworth, Topher Grace and Josh
Duhamel star in this teen romance come-
dy directed by Robert Luketic. PG-13.
Movies 12..
Bijou Art Cinemas (686-2458)
Cinema World 8 (342-6536)
Cinemark 17 (746-5202)c
Movies 12 (741-1231)
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
Cheaper by the Dozen: Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt play the parents of 12 children, including Piper Perabo, Hilary Duff and Tom Welling. Directed by Shawn Levy. PG.
Movies 12.
Grapes of Wrath (1940): John Ford’s Depression Era classic based on John Steinbeck’s novel stars Henry Fonda, John Carradine Jane Darwell as members of the Joad
family, who leave their Dust Bowl farm for California. Digitally enhanced and restored. DVD extras: Restoration comparison and commentary by film scholar and Steinbeck
scholar; original theatrical trailer, still gallery, Movie Tone News footage. (Fox Studio Classics).
Hope Springs (2003) Stars Colin Firth, Minnie Driver, Mary Steenburgen, Heather Graham, Oliver Platt.
Kristin Lavransdatter (Norway, 1995): Based on best-selling trilogy about life in medieval Norway, film is directed by Liv Ulmann. Norwegian, with English subtitles. DVD
interview with Ulmann.
Matrix Revolutions (2003): Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss are back for the third (and final?) Matrix episode. Written and directed by the
Wachowski Brothers. Produced by Joel Silver. R.
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944): Part of DVD release of Vincente Minnelli films, this beauty stars Judy Garland, Margaret O’Brien, Mary Astor in a great musical celebration of
the 1903 World’s Fair. National Film Registry, 1994, NR,
My Family (1994): Gregory Nava directs Jimmy Smits, Esai Morales, Eduardo Lopez Vargas, Lupe Ontiveros, Jennifer Lopez, Edward James Olmos, Michael De Lorenzo,
Mary Steenburgen in this multigenerational saga of an LA family over 60 years. R.
Passionada: Set in the Portuguese-American community of New Dedford, Mass., film stars Sophia Milos, Emmy Rossum, Lupe Ontiveros, Teresa Russell, Seymour Cassel.
Happy ending. PG-13.
Room with a View (1986): Merhant-Ivory-Jhbvala adaptation of E.M. Forster’s novel star Daniel Day Lewis, Julian Sands, Helena Bonham Carter, Maggie Smith, Judi Dench,
Denhold Elliot, Simon Callow, Rupert Graves. Very highest recommendations. DVD extras include commentary by Ivory, Callow, Merchant, cinematographer; interviews with
Day-Lewis and Callow; 30th anniversary Merchant-Ivory tribute.
Sherman’s March (1986): Documentary of Ross McElwee’s unintentionally autobiographical film follows what Videohound calls “his disastrous quest for love.” His family
meddles, the women he meets are melodramatic, and he’s unflinchingly neurotic. Wonderful.
Next week: Booty Call, Casa de los Babys, Kill Bill I, Tokyo Godfathers and The Velocity of Gary.
APRIL 1, 2004 25