Jun 17, 2011
(rated PG-13, 117 mins.) An unexpected year-end razzle-dazzle based on the 1975 Broadway musical, comes the story of Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) who kills a charming, con man, lover who promised to make her a star. When Roxie lands in the slammer, she meets her Warden, Mamma Worton (Queen Latifah pulling off with style, a role fit for Kathy Bates). Roxie also meets Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) a celebrity convict, who like Roxie, vies for the attention of the press and their lawyer Billy Flynn (Richard Gere), the Johnny Cochran of his time. Ruthless ambitions and a hunger for fame drive the two women forward in real and surreal dance numbers drummed up in Roxie’s mind. If Nicole Kidman could do it in “Moulin Rouge” so can this trio. Move over (once considered for this role) Liza, Zeta-Jones can really sing and dance. Zellweger comes off as an innocent Betty Boop floozy with fantastic legs, while Gere, (parading around in strapped knee highs during one scene — a long way since “American Gigolo”) is convincing with his vaudeville style vibe. He got his showbiz start in theatre, including musicals (who knew). The movie allows for inter-cuts and editing that stage doesn’t, making the result pure perfection, entertainment, steam, sex and violence in an enticing delivery.
Jun 17, 2011
In this winky, near-incoherent mess we’re in turn-of-the-century Paris, when courtesans were envied by many. Lea de Lonvell (Michelle Pfeiffer) was the smart one. The one who never fell in love – even now, when she realized she’s becoming a woman of a certain age. Ostracized to an extremely narrow group of friends in their old age, Lea’s best friend is Madame Peloux (Kathy Bates) – and I use the term lightly. Madame Peloux has a promiscuous son, Cheri (Rupert Friend) who spends his days in bed with various women while smoking cigarettes in his free time. We’re never sure why we care about this character from the moment he emerges. But we are aware of his naughty flirtation with Lea and their (not eventual) but instant love and devotion for each other. That too is confusing when later they pine for their romance and we’ve barely gotten over the fact that they’re a couple. But what’s most confusing is that the great director, Stephen Frears could oversee such a mess. What is a feel-good feeling is the fact that Hollywood has teamed an older woman with a younger man. Go Hollywood! Though it’s a shame, she has to look as emaciated as Lindsay Lohan. And while it’s a smart concept – the entire young man/courtesan blues – I never really buy it. Two tiaras for the costumes and the directing
Jun 17, 2011
(PG) Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt are college sweethearts who never got to follow their dreams. Seems their sexual appetite managed to get in the way and produce twelve, count ‘em twelve offspring’s. Birth control is clearly not two words in their vocabulary. Now a dozen kids and years later, Martin has a shot to coach the football team of his dreams. Hunt has published her first novel and is expected on a book-tour. This is when all hell breaks lose in an almighty juggling act. (Of course one has to wonder if she hasn’t two weeks for a book tour, how did she find the time to even write the book in the first place?) And so the movie with lots of fun anecdotes and silly moments gives us a frustrating and vicious cycle of how the parents must put their own needs on hold. It’s cute but at the same time annoying and certainly something all parents can relate to.
Jun 17, 2011
(Rated PG, 90 mins.) Three women. Three cities. Three times the trouble. The story of Papi (Eduardo Verastegui) who is engaged to three geographically challenged women. Talk about racking up frequent flier miles. But when Chicago lawyer (Roselyn Sanchez), a cocktail waitress from Miami (Sofia Vergara) and a New York socialite, Patricia (Jaci Valasquez) discover he’s cheating, things really heat up! Teaming up some of the hottest Latino spicy actors with a tale that includes beauty pageants, vicious gangsters, strong-wills and a crowded dance festival, make for a story as entertaining as last year’s ethnically correct “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”. In the end it’s a lesson in female bonding that obviously will not include a playboy boyfriend.
Jun 17, 2011
a great lesson on barnyard life for kids as told through the eyes of a pig named Wilbur, the runt of the litter destined to be slaughtered in the smoke house, until the farmer’s daughter, Fern (Dakota Fanning) makes him her pet. But when Wilbur is no longer allowed to live in the house, he’s left to cohabitate in a barn with a goose (voice of Oprah Winfrey), Templeton the rat (voice of Steve Buscemi), Samuel the Sheep (John Cleese), Ike the Horse (voice of Robert Redford) and a host of other animals with celebrity voices all too numerous to name. But it’s a philosophical spider named Charlotte (voice of Julia Roberts) that saves Wilbur from being Christmas dinner. A wonderfully inspiring and old-fashioned tale for young and old, but just know that your children will never eat bacon again. Three tiaras
