BY LOIS WADSWORTH
Love over time
THE
NOTEBOOK: Directed by Nick
Cassavetes. Written by Jeremy Leven, based on the
novel by Nicholas Sparks and adaptation by Jan
Sardi. Produced by Mark Johnson, Lynn Harris.
Executive producers, Toby Emmerich and Avram
Butch Kaplan. Cinematography, Robert Fraisse.
Production design, Sarah Knowles. Editor, Alan
Heim. Music, Aaron Zigman. Costumes, Karyn
Wagner. Starring Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams,
James Garner and Gena Rowlands. With James
Marsden, Sam Shepard, Joan Allen, Kevin Connolly,
David Thornton. New Line Cinema, 2004. PG-13. 121
minutes.
N
ick Cassavetes’ The Notebook is
an old-fashioned film about a love
story that begins in the summer of
1940, when Allie (Rachel McAdams)
comes back to Seabrook, N.C., to be with
her family, and meets Noah (Ryan Gosling)
at a carnival. They come from different
backgrounds. Allie’s a 17-year old
Charlestown debutante, while Noah, 19,
works at the local mill. But despite Allie’s
initial reluctance, Noah persuades her that
she’s the girl for him. They fall ferociously,
heedlessly, head-over-heels in love. One
night they’re out really late and have to
answer to Allie’s father, John (David
Thornton), and her mother, Anne (Joan
Allen). Allie returns to South Carolina, and
Noah tries to forget her.
A parallel story is set in the present time
in a nursing facility where an attentive older
man, Duke (James Garner), reads from a
OPENING OR RETURNING:
Alamo, The: The famous 13-day bat-
tle of 1836 in a San Antonio mission
pitted 200 men against an over-
whelming Mexican army. Stars Patrick
Wilson, Jason Patric, Billy Bob
Thornton, Dennis Quaid and Emilio
Echevarria. Directed by John Lee
Hancock as understated drama.
Highly recommended. PG-13. Movies
12. Online archives.
Big Lebowski, The (1997): The
Coen brothers’ bowling flick with a
kidnapping subplot stars the mar-
velous Jeff Bridges, with Coen regu-
lars John Goodman, Steve Buscemi
and John Turturo as assorted bowling
eccentrics. The plot is a thin excuse
for a Coen brothers romp, a laugh-out
loud series of mistaken identities,
dream sequences and chases. With
Julianne Moore, Peter Stormare. R.
LateNite Bijou.
Dizzie’s Dream Band: An all-star
concert recorded in 1981 in which leg-
endary trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie
leads a jazz ensemble composted of
Gerry Mulligan, Max Roach, and 23
other jazz legends. LateNite Bijou.
Kill Bill Vol. 2: The Bride (Uma
Thurman) pursues her next foes,
Budd (Michael Madsen), Ellie Driver
(Daryl Hannah) and finally, Bill (David
Carradine).
Bloody.
Quentin
Tarantino’s epic shows he makes
movies that move and characters who
kill, but to what end, besides his own
self-gratification? R. Movies 12. Online
archives.
Spider Man 2: Peter Parker aka
Spidey (Tobey Maguire) returns as a
college student by day who still loves
Kirsten Dunst and a superhero when
needed against his new nemesis, Otto
Octavius (Alfred Molina). Sam Raimi
directs. Looks great! PG-13. Cinema
World. Cinemark. Opens Wed. 6/30.
War Feels Like War: Un-embedded,
independent journalists cover the war
in Iraq, risking their lives and bucking
the US military all the way. Esteban
Uyarra’s camera follows international
reporters and photojournalists as
they report the “real” war, then return
home to “normal” life. A 2004
Election Issues Special on “POV” at 10
pm on 7/6 on OPB, but check listings
to be sure.
Films open the Friday following EW
Allie (Rachel McAdams)
and Noah (Ryan Gosling)
on the lake near the
plantation.
notebook to a beautiful older
woman,
Allie
(Gena
Rowlands), whose memory
is being claimed by
Alzheimers. Allie seems to
remember parts of the story,
but she can’t hold on to her
recollections.
I know how people read
movie reviews, and with
only this description to go
by, many readers will simply
fail to seriously consider see-
ing the film. Too bad,
because McAdams and
Gosling will make you
believe in first love as real
love, and for all the right rea-
sons. Noah listens when
Allie talks about loving to
paint. Allie looks when Noah
rows her through a lake full of ducks. And
when they disagree, they fight about it,
honestly, fiercely. And they fight a lot. He
doesn’t agree with her to keep her happy,
and she doesn’t let him off the hook when
she needs to know what he means. They are
good for each other. And it is good for us to
see them together, being real, instead of the
teen romance trash Hollywood insists is
how it is.
publication date unless otherwise
noted. See archived reviews at
www.eugeneweekly.com
CONTINUING:
Around the World in 80 Days:
Jackie Chan stars in this remake that
follows an eccentric London inventor,
Phileas Fogg (Steve Coogan) who
makes a very public bet then has to
come through. Also stars Jim
Broadbent, Cecile De France, Arnold
Schwarzenegger, Kathy Bates, Rob
Schneider. PG. Cinemark.
Chronicles of Riddick, The: Riddick
(Vin Diesel) ends up on a multicultur-
al planet invaded by a despot plan-
ning to subjugate everyone with his
non-human
warriors,
the
Necromongers. (Named for a bad
rock band?) Also stars Thandie
Newton, Alexa Davalos, Colm Feore,
Linus Roache and Judi Dench. PG-13.
Cinemark.
Day After Tomorrow, The: Directed
by Roland Emmerich, starring Dennis
Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Emmy
Rossum, Sela Ward. A climatologist
(Quaid) tries to figure out a way to
save the world from abrupt global
warming. He must get to his son
(Gyllenhaal) in New York, which is
being taken over by a new ice age. PG-
13. Movies 12.
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story:
Can social rejects save their small
local gym from gentrification? Only
director Rawson Thurber and his
stars Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn,
Christine Taylor and Rip Torn know
for sure. PG-13. Cinema World.
Cinemark.
Ella Enchanted: Anne Hathaway is a
perfectly obedient girl. She does what
she’s told, literally. Based on
Newberry-winning novel. PG. Movies
12.
Envy: Ben Stiller, Jack Black in Barry
Levinson’s film about kooky inventor
(Black), who suddenly becomes
wealthy from a spray that makes dog
poop disappear. Neighbor (Stiller)
grows
murderously
envious.
Christopher Walken co-stars. PG-13.
Movies 12.
Fahrenheit 9/11: Winner of the
Palme d’Or at Cannes 2004, Michael
Moore’s nonfiction film is more
restrained than his later films and
better for it. The film is respectful,
moving and informative, as well as
opinionated and occasionally heavy
handed. Don’t miss. Highest recom-
mendations. R. Bijou. Cinemark. See
review this issue.
Fifty First Dates: Drew Barrymore
and Adam Sandler in a romance with
a catch: she has no short-term mem-
ory recall, so she forgets him every
night. Also stars Rob Schneider, Sean
Astin and Dan Aykroyd. Directed by
Peter Segal. PG-13. Movies 12. Online
archives.
Garfield, The Movie: The poster
promises “frisky business” as
Garfield, the smarty pants kitty,
makes his film debut. PG. Cinemark.
Harry Potter & the Prisoner of
Azkaban: Alfonso Cuarón directs the
third film based on the series by J.K.
Rowling. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron
(Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma
Watson), now teenagers, return to
Hogwarts, where they face their dark-
est fears. The very best so far. Highly
recommended. PG. Cinemark. Cinema
World. Online archives..
Hellboy: Based on Mike Mignola’s
Dark Horse Comics series, this super-
natural action adventure stars Ron
Perlman, John Hut, Selma Blain and
Doug Jones and is directed by
Guillermo del Toro. Highly entertain-
ing, sweet film. See it. Movies 12. PG-
13. Online archives.
Hidalgo:: Based on autobiography of
distance rider Frank T. Hopkins,
played by Viggo Mortensen, this epic
action-adventure takes place during a
3,000 mile survival race across the
Arabian Desert in 1890. PG-13. Movies
12.
Home on the Range: Disney animat-
ed film 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.
Movies 12.
Ladykillers, The: Based on the 1955
British comedy starring Peter Sellers
and Alec Guiness, Ethan and Joel
Coen’s adaptation stars Tom Hanks
and Marlon Wayons. When these bank
robbers move into “no hip-hop”
house of a Southern church-going
MELISSA MOSELEY. NEW LINE CINEMA, 2004.
Old Familiar Places
As for the older couple, their scenes
take place right at the edge of sentimen-
tality. Age has rendered them fragile, and
illness has weakened both her ability to
know who she is and to recognize others
she has known. These conditions are real.
But tenderness speaks of love as passion
does, and it is equally revealing of the
character of the lover. Rowlands brings
gravitas to her portrayal, while Garner is
woman, anything goes. R. Movies 12.
Notebook, The: Nick Cassavetes
directs Gena Rowlands and James
Garner, Ryan Gosling and Rachel
McAdams in the screen adaptation of
Nicholas Spark’s best-selling romantic
novel. With Sam Shepard and Joan
Allen. Deserves to be seen for its
depiction of real first love, with a
great performance by McAdams.
Recommended. PG-13. Cinemark.
Cinema World. See review this
issue.
Punisher, The: Marvel comic book
character Charles Bronson (Thomas
Jane) pursues with a vengeance after
his family is murdered. Also stars
John Travolta and Laura Harring. R.
Movies 12.
Scooby Doo 2 Monsters Unleashed:
Some scary action, rude humor and
language. PG. Movies 12.
Shrek 2: Mike Myers returns as
Shrek, Cameron Diaz is his new wife,
Princess Fiona, and Eddie Murphy’s
his sidekick, Donkey. Now the newly-
weds face Queen Lillian (Julie
Andrews) and King Harold (John
Cleese). Fairy godmother (Jennifer
Saunders), Prince Charming (Rupert
Everett) and the ferocious Puss in
Boots (Antonio Banderas). So-so
too much the narrator and too little a vul-
nerable participant in this part of the
story.
Stay focused on the young couple.
When they are onscreen, you don’t want to
be anywhere else but with them, in the
moment. Now playing at Cinemark and
Cinema World, The Notebook has more to
offer than most summer romances.
Recommended.
ew
sequel. Cinemark. Online archives.
Starsky & 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. Movies 12.
Stepford Wives, The: Frank Oz
directs Nicole Kidman, Matthew
Broderick, Bette Midler, Christopher
Walken, Faith Hill and Glenn Close in
this updated comedy-thriller about a
perfect, 1950s-era community in
Stepford, Connecticut. PG-13. Cinema
World. Cinemark. Online archives.
Super Size Me: Morgan Spurlock’s
documentary features snappy graph-
ics, talking heads and the slow decline
of Spurlock’s health as he eats only at
McDonalds for three meals a day, 30
days. Highly recommended. NR. Bijou.
Online archives.
Terminal: Steven Spielberg directs
Tom Hanks as a tourist who has to live
at Kennedy airport because his home-
land disappeared in a civil war, so his
passport is no good. He falls in love
with Catherine Zeta-Jones, whose
comic talent is wasted in a dumb-dame
role, while Hanks only works part-time.
Too long and too cute. PG-13. Cinemark.
Cinema World. Online archives.
Two
Brothers:
Jean-Jacques
Annaud (The Bear) directs this adven-
ture story about the power of friend-
ship between twin tiger cubs. Stars
Guy Pearce, Jean-Claude Dreyfus and
Philippine
Leroy-Beaulieu.
PG.
Cinema World. Cinemark.
Van Helsing: Monster killer Van
Helsing (Hugh Jackman) teams up
with Kate Beckinsale in Transylvania
to bring down Count Dracula (Richard
Roxburgh). PG-13. Movies 12.
What the Bleep Do We Know?
Through interviews with cutting-edge
scientists and spiritual teachers, a
brand new way of thinking about con-
sciousness, intentionality and the abil-
ity to make a difference in the world
emerges. But it begins with Amanda
(Marlee Matlin). Highly recommended.
NR. Bijou. Online archives.
White Chicks: Comedy about FBI
agents who go undercover as high
school debutantes to investigate a
kidnapping ring. Stars director
Keenen Ivory Wayans, Shawn and
Marlon Wayans. PG-13. Cinemark.
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
Asphalt Jungle, The (1950): Great director John Huston’s classic noir stars Sterling Hayden, Louis Calhern,
James Whitmore, Jean Hagen, Sam Jaffe and Marilyn Monroe, in her first film role. DVD includes commentary.
Videohound calls it “one of the best crime films ever made.”
Butterfly Effect, The: A young man (Ashton Kutcher) time travels back to the past to fix the broken lives of a
childhood girlfriend (Amy Smart) and his friends, Lenny (Elden Henson) and Tommy (William Lee Scott). R.
Monsieur Ibrahim: Set in 1960s Paris neighborhood, film’s about a boy and a greengrocer who befriends him.
Sweet. Wonderful performance by Omar Sharif and newcomer Pierre Boulanger. NR.. O n li ne a r c hi v es .
My Voyage to Italy: (1999) Martin Scorsese documents a trip to Italy to illustrate the great Italian filmmakers
and how their work influenced his own.
Six Feet Under Second Season: Enough said to those already hooked to this eccentric, deftly layered and
strongly addictive HBO original film series. Newcomers — indulge yourself.
Next Week: The Barbarian Invasions, The Bourne Identity, The Dreamers, The Manchurian Candidate
(1962), A Soldier’s Tale and Vacuuming Completely Nude in Paradise (2001).
JULY 1, 2004 25