BY LOIS WADSWORTH
Will Smith in a robotic future
I, ROBOT:
Directed by Alex Proyas. Written by
Jeff Vintar and Akiva Goldsman, from a screen story
by Vintar, suggested by Isaac Asimov’s 1950 science
fiction stories. Produced by Laurence Mark, John
Davis, Topher Dow, Wyck Godfrey. Executive produc-
ers Will Smith, James Lassiter, Michel Shane, Anthony
Romano. Cinematography, Simon Duggan. Production
design, Patrick Tatopoulos. Editors, Richard Learoyd,
Armen Minasian, William Hoy. Music, Marco Beltrami.
Visual effects supervisor, John Nelson. Costumes,
Elizabeth Keogh Palmer. Starring Will Smith, with
Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Greenwood, James
Cromwell, Chi McBride and Alan Tudyk. Twentieth
Century Fox, 2004. PG-13. 110 minutes.
P
roduction
designer
Patrick
Tatopoulos worked with director
Alex Proyas on his creepy 1998
sci-fi film, Dark City, where a bleak future
cityscape dominated whatever the charac-
ters were trying to accomplish, which was
annoyingly murky. In this collaboration, the
director and Tatopoulos imagine a more
light-filled urban environment for 2035,
one both closer to our own time and alien in
a delicious, forbidden sense. Genderless
human-like robots nearly outnumber peo-
ple, and automobiles have become sleek,
omnidirectional machines that speed
through claustrophobic tunnels.
Homicide detective Del Spooner (Will
Smith) doesn’t like robots. He doesn’t trust
them, and his strong feelings border on
racism. While investigating the suspicious
suicide of scientist Dr. Alfred Lanning
(James Cromwell), Spooner thinks one of
Lanning’s experimental robots murdered
the good doctor. But when he tries to follow
OPENING OR RETURNING:
Bourne Supremacy, The: Paul
Greengrass (writer, director of
Bloody Sunday) directs Matt Damon
as assassin Jason Bourne in the
second installment of Robert
Ludlum’s espionage thrillers Also
stars Joan Allen, Brian Cox, Julia
Stiles, Kurt Urban and Franka
Potente.PG-13. Cinema World.
Cinemark.
Catwoman: Halle Berry makes her
action debut as a stunning looking
action figure, Catwoman, with
Frances Conroy, Benjamin Bratt,
Lambert Wilson and Sharon Stone.
PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World.
Dead or Alive 2: Takashi Milke’s
sequel to his explicitly violent paro-
dy of Hong Kong gangster movies
also embraces black humor but
moves into a more sentimental
action film, giving the major charac-
ter a chance to reflect on what went
wrong in their lives. NR. Adults only.
LateNite Bijou.
De-Lovely: Songsmith Cole Porter
is played by Kevin Kline, with Ashley
Judd as his wife. Said to be more
honest in its look at Porter’s homo-
sexuality, the film also features per-
formances by Elvis Costello, Alanis
Morissete and Sheryl Crow. PG-13.
Cinema World.
Harry and Kumar Go to White
Castle: Summer sleeper, this road
film has some critics smiling. R.
Sneak 7/22 at 10 pm. Cinemark.
Jaws (1975): Early Steven
Spielberg film has lost some of its
shock value as Richard Dreyfuss,
Roy Schneider and others try to kill
a giant renegade whale terrorizing
Amity Island.. PG. At 8 pm on 7/23.
Broadway Plaza outside. $2 dona-
tion requested.
Napoleon Dynamite: Jared Hess’
indie comedy stars Jon Heder as a
high schooler who lives in Idaho
with his grandmother. The Village
Voice says “the film is an epic, mag-
isterially observed pastiche on all-
American geekhood, flooring the
competition with a petulant shove.”
his hunch, he runs into Lawrence Robertson
(Bruce Greenwood), chairman of USR,
United States Robotics, for whom Dr.
Lanning worked. USR is about to roll out a
new line of robots that will place a personal
robot in every home in the country, and a
killer robot would mean very bad press.
Spooner also meets Lanning’s colleague,
Dr. Susan Calvin (Bridget Moynahan), a
specialist in humanizing robots. She’s all
business until Spooner’s convictions begin
to make sense. Spooner’s boss, Lt. John
Bergin (Chi McBride) also doubts the prem-
ise that robots can kill,
but he, too, respects the
detective’s position.
Sonny (Alan Tudyk), a
feeling robot, comes to
Spooner’s aid in unex-
pected ways.
The sight of row
after row of silent
robots is both frighten-
ing and thrilling. Such
visuals are the film’s
strongest attraction.
Maybe because I read
Isaac Asimov and
scads of other science
fiction writers at an
impressionable age, the
spectacle satisfies some
long-held expectation
— oh, that’s what it
PG. Cinema World. Cinemark.
No Choice: An action-packed
drama about a woman accused of a
murder is a locally produced film by
Joseph Mungra, a filmmaker and
screenwriter from India now living
in Eugene. Actress Linda Burden
Williams stars. Actors, crew and
locations all Eugene. .Reception
5:30 pm. Feature at 6:30 pm on
7/23 in McDonald Theatre. $10.
Raising Helen: Directed by Garry
Marshall, starring Kate Hudson,
John Corbett, Joan Cusack. After
her sister and brother-in-law die in
a car accident, a young woman
(Hudson) becomes the guardian of
their three children. Recommended.
PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives.
Refrigerator Mothers: Now known
to be a neurological disorder, autism
was thought to be the result of bad
mothering from the 1950s through
the 1970s. David E. Simpson, J.J.
Hanley and Gordon Quinn take a
look at one of today’s fastest grow-
ing disorders, affecting 1 in 500
people. On “POV” at 11 pm on 7/27
on OPB, but check listings.
Stevie: Steve James (Hoop
Dreams) has made a compelling
documentary about a troubled
young man he mentored as a
youngster. When James returned to
see Stevie after 10 years, he saw
the heartbreaking results of pover-
ty, neglect, and abuse. At 7:30 pm
on 7/27, repeats on 8/10 on
Cinemax. Check listings for time.
Troy: Wofgang Petersen directs
ancient Greek tale of great warrior
Achilles (Brad Pitt) and the lovers
Paris (Orlando), Prince of Troy, and
Helen (Diane Kruger), Queen of
Sparta, whose passions ignite a war
that destroys a civilization. Also
with Brendan Gleeson, Brian Cox,
Peter O’Toole and Eric Bana. R.
Movies 12. Online archives.
Films open the Friday following
EW publication date unless other-
wise noted. See archived reviews
at www.eugeneweekly.com
CONTINUING:
Anchorman: Subtitled “The Legend
of Ron Burgundy,” this comedy
stars Will Ferrell as an unctuous,
untalented newscaster who’s a leg-
end only in his own mind. PG-13.
Cinema World. Cinemark.
Chronicles of Riddick, The:
Riddick (Vin Diesel) ends up on a
multicultural planet invaded by a
despot planning to subjugate every-
one 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.
Cinderella Story, A: Teen romance
comedy stars Hilary Duff, Jennifer
Coolidge, Chad Michael Murray and
Regina King. Mark Rosman directs.
PG. Cinema World. Cinemark.
Clearing, The: First-time director
Pieter Jan Brugge takes a minimal-
ist approach to the difficult human
situation three fallible people find
themselves in. Stars Robert Redford
and Helen Mirren as a successful
couple and Willem Dafoe as the kid-
napper who changes their lives.
Highly recommended. R. Bijou.
Online archives.
Day After Tomorrow, The:
Directed by Roland Emmerich, star-
ring Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal,
Emmy Rossum, Sela Ward. A clima-
tologist (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. Cinemark.
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,
would feel like to walk down a city side-
walk with robots. I’ve read psychological
reports that people do not want to live with
robots that look like humans, but from the
more innocent era of belief in flying
saucers, the sexless, metallic, robot shape
seems just right for useful household ser-
vants. Jeeves, you might call your butler.
In part, the violence in the film is also
less disturbing than usual because robots
don’t bleed, they just fall apart. Like the far
superior AI, which approaches understand-
ing one of the most profound human-robot
questions, I, Robot attempts to close the gap
between our antipathy toward intelligent
machines and our desire to create an ethical
simulacrum to carry out tasks we no longer
want to do.
Asimov introduced the idea of robot ethics
in his many stories. His “Three Laws of
Robotics” is as thoughtful now as it was then,
and his stories were about robots hardwired
with these fixed laws: 1. A robot may not
injure a human being, or through inaction,
allow a human being to come to harm. 2. A
robot must obey orders given it by human
beings except where such orders would con-
flict with the first law. 3. A robot must protects
its own existence as long as such protection
does not conflict with the first or second law.
But in each of Asimov’s stories, the laws
are challenged by a robot’s actions, giving
rise to unforeseen difficulties. So it is here.
I, Robot is now playing at Cinemark and
Cinema World. Recommended for your sci-
ew
fi summer fix.
Homicide detective Del Spooner (Will Smith) on the trail of a renegade robot.
AVA GERLITZ. TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX, 2004.
The Man Who Saw It
moving and informative, as well as
opinionated and occasionally heavy
handed. Don’t miss. Highest recom-
mendations. R. Bijou. Cinemark.
Online archives.
Garfield, The Movie: The poster
promises “frisky business” as
Garfield, the smarty pants kitty,
makes his film debut. PG. Movies
12.
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 recom-
mended. PG. Cinemark. 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 ani-
mated 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.
I, Robot: Alex Proyas (Dark City,
The Crow) directs Will Smith as a
police detective investigating a
crime thought to be perpetrated by
a robot. Also stars Bruce
Greenwood, James Cromwell, Chi
McBride and Bridget Moynahan.
Based on Isaac Asimov’s classic sci-
fi stories. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema
World.
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.
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 histo-
ry, action adventure is not your
great-great grandpa’s Arthurian
tales. PG-13. Cinemark. Online
archives.
Mayor of Sunset Strip: George
Hickenlooper’s profile of Rodney
Bingenheimer, formerly an LA night-
club owner and influential deejay.
As a self-made social icon, B. made
friends with celebrities such as
David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Cher,
Sonny Bono, Courtney Love, Brian
Wilson and the Doors. NR. LateNite
Bijou.
Mean Girls: Lindsay Lohan plays a
high-school student raised by zoolo-
gist parents in the African bush,
who falls for a popular girl’s ex-
boyfriend. PG-13. 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. Online archives.
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 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.
Sleepover: Teen comedy adventure
pits two rival groups of girls against
each other in an all-night scavenger
hunt. PG. Movies 12.
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 neme-
sis, Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina).
Sam Raimi directs. Looks great! PG-
13. Cinema World. 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 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. Online
archives.
Thirteen Going On 30: Jennifer
Garner goes to bed 13, wishing she
were older. Wakes up 17 years later,
and she is. Directed by Gary
Winnick, also stars the always
excellent Mark Ruffalo, Andy Serkis
and Kathy Baker. High recommen-
dations. PG-13. Movies 12. 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. Movies 12.
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.
Bijou Art Cinemas (686-2458)
Cinema World 8 (342-6536)
Cinemark 17 (746-5202)c
Movies 12 (741-1231)
JULY 22, 2004 21