Jun 20, 2011
When “Bruce Almighty’s” Jim Carrey said “no” to a sequel, Steve Carell, said ‘yes” and so the story continues about the kooky newscaster, Evan Baxter, possessed by God from the first installment, with his tongue twister news reports. This time Evan has become a congressman promising to “Change the world” when he gets the message from God (Morgan Freeman) to build an Ark (a la Noah in the Bible) and change the world God’s way. Evan’s wife (Lauren Graham) thinks he’s crazy; but so does his boss (John Goodman) not to mention his realtor (Molly Shannon) and then there’s his secretary (Wanda Sykes) who really thinks he’s crazy. After sitting through forty minutes of the movie, the audience will find it a bit crazy that the humor never quite kicks in. While the sequel is softer and furrier with pairs of cute critters aimed toward more family viewing and small kids, I can’t help imagine if the political jokes won’t bore them. Never the less, it’s a safe family bet on a rainy summer day. Two Tiaras
Jun 20, 2011
(rated R)
Charlie Kaufman, who brought us “Adaptation” and “Being John Malkovich” is at it again. But this time he goes full circle without derailing off-track in the third act. In this latest twisted tale, Jim Carrey plays Joel Barish a man who is in love and then isn’t and then is again, with Kate Winslet as Clementine. Fed up with Joel, Clementine decides to go to a funky clinic, run by Tom Wilkinson, capable of erasing memories. Pretty soon Joel decides to do the same. Running the entire story in rewind (and someplace inside Joel’s brain) all sort of journeys take place — making this movie more than complicated, but also flawless. Kaufman has achieved the one thing he could never get right: A romantic premise. Carrey comes off more concerned than convincing, and Winslet is outrageous as the spitfire who has serious relationship issues. Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood and Kirsten Dunst play the perfectly cast kooky medical team, behind all the unexpected shenanigans, in this sci-fi comedy craziness.
Jun 20, 2011
(rated R, 132 mins.)
Opens March 17th
Think the heroism of “Norma Rae”, think last year’s “Civil Action” (sans Travolta, with a girl lawyer), think all the charm of Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman” (this time with big cleavage) plus a heroic attitude, and you’ve got a fabulously, witty, drama in “Erin Brockovich.”
In a far superior role than her all time hit as a hooker, Robert’s character plunges into a sympathetic, twice divorced, unemployed mother of three small children, with a heart of gold.
The story opens with Brockovich (Roberts) struggling to find a job to supplement the $84 left in her bank account. Through a fluke car accident and one of those 1-800 lawyers, Brockovich ends up as a file clerk for an attorney (Albert Finney) and happens upon a file with blood samples in a real estate deal. As the story unfolds about highly contaminated water and innocent families poisoned by chemicals, Brockovich finds herself delving into uncovering the truth behind a $28 billion dollar utility company.
Fortunately, while busy nosing around places she shouldn’t be, she finds a babysitter, in her new Harley Davidson neighbor, George,(Aaron Eckhart) for her three kids patiently waiting at home. Of course she clearly tells him “this isn’t gonna get you laid.” But, that all changes as he wins her trust and keeps life settled on the homefront allowing Brockovich to rip through a cover-up that will lead to a pay-off in the tune of $333 million in damages. Her brash manner and ability to relate to simple folk wins everybody over including her boss who asks “What makes you think you can just waltz in there (the water dept.) and find what you need?” Her reply “they’re called boobs, Ed!”
The movie’s dynamics work because Roberts grows (self-taught, no law degree) and expands herself at the expense of three kids at home, chronically missing their mom. She’s got that guilt trip thing going. Should kids or work come first. But, it’s her humane tactics less the usual brains needed in a lawsuit, that make for a fabulous, uplifting conclusion delivering one more success for the $20 million a movie, Julia Roberts. And, she’s worth every penny. Julia rules in this movie! When the studios barked at the title, it was clear that it’s the Julia Roberts name that was going to sell it. The name stayed.
Jun 20, 2011
(rated PG 13, 115 mins.)
Jennifer Lopez is a working class waitress named Slim who finds her life transformed when she marries a wealthy contractor Mitch (Billy Campbell, Once and Again TV fame). Settling into lovely suburbia with a 5 year old daughter named Gracie would be fine until hubby turns into a cheating, control freak maniac (out of nowhere and never quite sure why). Like any “I will survive” woman, J Lo takes off thanks to the help of her underground gal pal (Juliette Lewis). But like a scary game of cat and mouse, Mitch keeps showing up “Sleeping With The Enemy” style (remember that early 90s Julia Roberts movie?). So, when the going gets tough, the tough J Lo uses Krav Maga (contact combat). Putting Gracie in a safe place she mentally and physically transforms herself (including a new hair do) to say “Enough” (even though Mitch is over 6 feet tall). This movie may seem like been there done that, but quite the contrary, despite its lack of plot logic, will give sad housewives something to wish for, as they watch J Lo kick her bad boy husband all over his split-level condo. Not sure what other type audience-draw it will have but the adventure of the final scenes will keep the viewer from saying “enough” already.
Jun 20, 2011
(rated TBD, 117 mins.)
Enigma is based on the thrilled by Robert Harris and blessed with a smart script. Mick Jagger (yeah, that one) and Lorne Michaels produce a story about the code breakers at Bletchley Park, Britain’s top secret Station X in 1943, facing their worst nightmare: Nazi U boats have unexpectedly changed the code by which they communicate with each other and German High Command. An Allied merchant shipping convoy crossing the Atlantic with 10,000 passengers and vital supplies is in danger of attack. The authorities turn for help to Tom Jericho, (Dougray Scott) a tortured mathematical genius for help. Unbeknownst to his colleagues, Jericho has another equally baffling enigma to unravel: Claire (Saffron Burrows), the woman with whom he has fallen in love that has disappeared. Enlisting the help of Hester, Claire’s best friend (Kate Winslet), to find her they get to the bottom of all kinds of juicy stuff. The movie is not your typical Hollywood style picture but the acting carries it and manages to keep us guessing. Burrows is very sexy as the femme fatale that gets the plot rolling and Winslet as always, is at home in these “Titanic” style films. For this she comes off part Nancy Drew and part Florence Nightengale and seeming to enjoy both.
