BY LOIS WADSWORTH
Three Films
Archaeology Film Festival 2004
OPENING OR RETURNING:
Afropunk: Director James Spooner
delves into the tensions of race in
America through the eyes of African
American punk rockers in this 70-minute
documentary. Following the film, musi-
cian Vince Black will lead a discussion.
$2-$5. At 9 pm on 7/9 at DIVA, 110 W.
Broadway.
Anchorman: Subtitled “The Legend of
Ron Burgundy,” this comedy stars Will
Ferrell as an unctuous, untalented news-
caster who’s a legend only in his own
mind. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark.
Archaeology Film Festival: Showing 19
juried films selected from 55 entries
from July 13 through July 17 at the
McDonald Theatre, including Iraq’s Lost
Treasure, Sastun: My Apprenticeship
with a Maya Healer, and Kurtal: Snake
Spirit See reviews this issue.
Breakin’ All the Rules: When his
fiancée dumps him, Jamie Foxx writes a
“how to” book on dumping, which
becomes a best seller. Also with Morris
Chestnut and Gabrielle Union. PG-13.
Movies 12. PG-13.
Flesh Gordon (1972): A little soft-core
sex comedy based on the 1930s sci-fi
serial, Flash Gordon. NR. LateNite Bijou.
King Arthur: Excellent cast includes
Clive Owen, Keira Knightley, Stellan
Skarsgard, Stephen Dillane, Ray
Winstone, Ioan Gruffudd. Directed by
Antoine Fuqua and produced by Jerry
Bruckheimer, this revisionist history,
action adventure is not your great-great
grandpa’s Arthurian tales. PG-13.
Cinemark. Cinema World.
Love Me If You Dare (Jeux
d’Enfants): Childhood relationship
between Sophie and Julien persists into
their adult years, when they’ve become
love-hungry but strangely unable to see
their love for each other. Directed by
Yann Samuell, film stars Guillaume
Canet and Marion Cotillard. R. Bijou.
Mean Girls: Lindsay Lohan plays a high-
school student raised by zoologist par-
ents in the African bush, who falls for a
popular girl’s ex-boyfriend. PG-13.
Movies 12. Online archives.
Mother, The: Directed by Roger Michell
and written by Hanif Kureishi, movie
stars Anne Reid as a suburban grand-
mother who gets involved with a much
younger man (Daniel Reed, Sylvia), who
is sleeping with her daughter (Cathryn
Bradshaw). The NYTimes Stephen
Holden: “Neither good nor evil, the char-
acters are complicated, ordinary people
noon Saturday. Thomas is the author of the
critically acclaimed book, Skull Wars:
Kennewick Man, Archaeology, and the
Battle for Native American Identity.
IRAQ’S LOST TREASURE
(USA) by
Jason Williams. National Geographic Film and
Television. 2004, 57 minutes. Plays at 8:45 pm on
July 13.
S
hot during the days following the
U.S. invasion of Iraq, the film
chronicles the efforts of interna-
tional archaeologists to assess the damage
of major looting at the National Museum in
Baghdad, restore order and search for miss-
ing treasures, including priceless solid gold
artifacts discovered in the ruins at Nimrud.
The Nimrud ruins, now guarded by U.S.
troops, had been hit by looters, who
destroyed priceless pieces of world history
and culture. Important antiquities are suc-
cessfully recovered, but the film highlights
the uncertain future of such projects.
KURTAL: SNAKE SPIRIT
(Australia) by
Nicole Ma. Australian Film Commission., 2003. 27
minutes. Plays at 1 pm on July 17.
S
et against the deep red of a spectac-
ular Australian sunset, a single
dancer pounds the earth rhythmi-
cally, his chant the hypnotic summoning of
the snake spirit, Kurtal, who lives in the
waterhole revered by his people. Spider, an
80-year-old Aboriginal elder, has brought
his family across the Great Sandy Desert of
Western Australia, to visit the sacred site.
The family encompasses a wide age-
range, from older and younger women and
men, children and babies. The pilgrimage is
the way for Spider, who was born at Kurtal,
to pass on the ancient ceremonies to the
new generation. A moving testament to the
continent’s original people, Kurtal shows a
community that wants to keep its links to
the past strong and vital. Spider’s dance and
the vivid paintings and colorful weavings
of the people express a spiritual connection
to their unique cultural history.
Under the stunning visuals run the
words of Spider, a man who lives in both
the contemporary world and in the world
invoked by the dreaming song. Kurtal is
Spider’s desire to share the mystery of this
ancient culture with us. It’s a generous, lov-
ew
ing gift.
SASTUN: MY APPRENTICESHIP
WITH A MAYA HEALER (USA, Belize) by
Guido Verweyen and Eva Langsdorff. 2002. 20 min-
utes. Plays at 9 pm on July 15.
T
his documentary follows the quest
of American herbalist Rosita
Arvigo to preserve the ancient wis-
dom of one of the last, great Maya
shamans, Don Elijio Panti of Belize, and to
protect the rain forests where healing plants
grow. Arvigo’s journey is circuitous, yet
coping as best they can with their emo-
tional wounds and fear of the future.” R.
Bijou.
Sleepover: Teen comedy adventure pits
two rival groups of girls against each
other in an all-night scavenger hunt. PG.
Cinemark.
Thirst: Alan Snitow and Deborah
Kaufman’s documentary looks at how
water is becoming the catalyst for
explosive community resistance to
globalization. Activists claim that water
is a human right, while corporations
call it a commodity. On “POV” at 11 pm
on 7/13 on OPB, but check listings to be
sure.
Films open the Friday following EW
publication date unless otherwise
noted. See archived reviews at
www.eugeneweekly.com
CONTINUING:
Alamo, The: The famous 13-day battle
of 1836 in a San Antonio mission pitted
200 men against an overwhelming
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 marvelous Jeff
Bridges, with Coen regulars 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.
Chronicles of Riddick, The: Riddick
(Vin Diesel) ends up on a multicultural
planet invaded by a despot planning 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.
Movies 12.
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 dis-
appear. Neighbor (Stiller) grows murder-
ously 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 rec-
ommendations. R. Bijou. Cinemark.
Online archives.
Garfield, The Movie: The poster prom-
ises “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 darkest
fears. The very best so far. Highly rec-
ommended. PG. Cinemark. Cinema
World. Online archives.
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.
Highly entertaining, sweet film. See it.
Movies 12. PG-13. Online archives.
Hidalgo: Based on autobiography of dis-
tance 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 animated
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
Aboriginal Australian
elder, Spider, summons
the snake spirit, Kurtal.
McGraw and The Beau Sisters. PG.
Movies 12.
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.
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. Online archives.
Scooby Doo 2 Monsters Unleashed:
Some scary action, rude humor and lan-
guage. 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 newlyweds 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
sequel. Cinemark. Online archives.
Spider Man 2: Peter Parker aka Spidey
(Tobey Maguire) returns as a college stu-
dent 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. See
review this issue.
Stepford Wives, The: Frank Oz directs
Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick,
Bette Midler, Christopher Walken, Faith
Hill and Glenn Close in this updated com-
edy-thriller about a perfect, 1950s-era
community in Stepford, Connecticut.
PG-13. Cinemark. Online archives.
Terminal: Steven Spielberg directs Tom
Hanks as a tourist who has to live at
Kennedy airport because his homeland
disappeared in a civil war, so his pass-
port is no good. He falls in love with
Catherine Zeta-Jones, whose comic tal-
ent 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 adventure story
about the power of friendship between
twin tiger cubs. Stars Guy Pearce, Jean-
Claude Dreyfus and Philippine Leroy-
Beaulieu. PG. 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 conscious-
ness, intentionality and the ability 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 kid-
napping 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
Barbarian Invasions, The: Canadian writer director Denys Arcand’s acclaimed 2003 film revisits the generation creat-
ed for The Decline of the American Empire (1987). LA Weekly’s Ella Taylor writes, “The film has the fluid rhythms, the
delight in talk and food, and the nourishing intellectual richness of Renoir, Louis Malle and, in a certain mood,
Bertolucci.” Highest recommendations. R.
Bourne Identity, The: Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper, Clive Owen and Brian Cox star in Doug Liman’s char-
acter-based spy thriller based on Robert Ludlum’s best seller. A man with amnesia (Matt Damon) sets out to discover
who he is and why everyone wants to kill him, and along the way he discovers love (Franka Potente). A subtle skewing of
the genre, it’s highly recommended. PG-13. Online archives.
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 rec-
ommendations. NC-17. Bijou. Online archives.
Manchurian Candidate, The (1962): One of the few Cold War era films to survive with anything like its original punch,
this John Frankenheimer political thriller sports amazing visual imagery and a taut screenplay by George Axelrod that’s
still shocking. Based on Richard Condon’s novel about a brainwashed veteran of the Korean War (Laurence Harvey) and
his buddy (Frank Sinatra). Janet Leigh is the love interest; Angela Lansbury’s his criminally manipulative mother.
Sinatra’s best ever screen roles, Fabulous. Not rated.
Next Week: The Human Stain, Port of Shadows, Stage and Spectacle: Three Films by Jean Renoir, and Starsky
and Hutch.
JULY 8, 2004 25
FROM KURTAL BY NICOLE MA.
F
or the second year, a series of inter-
national films and videos will be
shown at the McDonald Theatre
for five days in July. This year, the
Archaeology Channel presents films from
19 countries. The jury selected these 19
films on ancient cultures, archaeology and
indigenous peoples to be shown from
Tuesday, July 13 through Saturday, July 17
on the big screen. However, all 55 entries
will be available for private viewing in the
video bar in the theater lobby during the
festival. Doors open at 5:45 pm daily
through Friday. On Saturday, doors open at
10:15 am, and the last film plays about 4:30
pm. Prizes for best entries, as determined
by jurists and audience voles, will be
announced at the end of the festival. For
ticket information, call 344-5572 or go to
filmfest@archaeologychannel.org.
Jane Waldbaum, president of the
Archaeological Institute of America (AIA),
is the festival’s first keynote speaker.
Waldman will talk about “Cultural Wars:
Tales from the Trenches” on Tuesday night.
Her illustrated talk is sandwiched between
Guardians of Angkor and Iraq’s Lost
Treasure, two films that detail the looting of
ancient sites and the loss and occasional
recovery of treasures.
David Hurst Thomas, Curator of
Anthropology at the American Museum of
Natural History, delivers a second keynote
address, “Skull Wars Revisited,” mid-after-
Don Elijio hears of her and comes to talk
with her. He makes Arvigo his apprentice,
secured by her promise to save his knowl-
edge to help his people. Arvigo has attract-
ed international attention to the plight of
such plants threatened by deforestation and
to bring science to bear on traditional heal-
ing plants, but much remains to be done.