Jun 20, 2011
rated PG13, 87 mins.)
Unfolding in a world of fashion and foul play where the real crime is wearing the wrong thing or chasing the wrong guy, Amanda Pierce (Monica Potter) is a normal single girl in Manhattan sharing a loft with four supermodels. Never content to let ordinary exist, the models immediately enlist Amanda as their experiment in makeover magic. Afterall, she’s a successful art restorer not a cover girl. Things really begin to look up as Amanda falls for Jim Winston (Freddie Prinze Jr), the charming, hunky fashion exec who loves babies, coaches little league and that flashy frat-boy grin, (but if he wants to be taken seriously needs to stop making pretty boy movies.) In line with the recent and profitable string of lame teen films like “Dude, Where’s My Car?” and “Save The Last Dance”, Heels works mainly because it will attract the same audience that jumps up and down for Back Street Boy tickets. But, Director Mark Waters, who teamed with Prinze for “The House of Yes,” manages to stay on top with a few twists and heartstring moments. (Two of his scriptwriters are Ed Decter and John J. Strauss, who collaborated with the Farrelly brothers on “There’s Something About Mary.”)
Jun 20, 2011
(rated PG-13, 95 mins.)
Chris Rock’s directorial debut in which he co-wrote and stars is the tale of a Washington DC Alderman who loses his job and his girlfriend (Robin Givens), then finds himself plucked from obscurity for nominee as President of the United States, after the party front-runner dies. If it sounds like a far-fetched stretch, it is. Rock seems to desperately want to be a leading man and continues in a string of flops post (his “Heaven Can Wait” remake) “Down to Earth” and last year’s Anthony Hopkins teaming “Bad Company.” He should stick to his day job as a fine comic. Rap artist Nate Dogg appears throughout the film as musical narrator, but the one refreshing surprise comes from Bernie Mac as Rock’s running mate, whose lines seem fresh and fun compared to Rock’s chalkboard-scratching usual annoyances. And, the story line? I mean, c’mon — President of the United States?
Jun 20, 2011
(rated R)
It’s Paris 1924, and a fortune teller sees a young girl, Gilda Besse’s fortune ‘in her 34th year”. As Gilda grows into a woman (Charlize Theron) she is a socialite, a rich billionaire’s daughter, who happens upon the room of a Cambridge (London) student named Guy (Stuart Townsend). And so the tumultuous relationship follows years of mixing characters, history, war and art, all from the eyes of Guy and from the body of a very notoriously bad-girl Gilda, who sexes men and discards them like yesterday’s news. Enter Penelope Cruz who takes a backseat to Theron’s Oscar crown, in a gypsy supporting role as Mia, a Spanish-refugee-burlesque-show-has-been who Gilda has taken under her wing. Their relationships are intriguing and curious but even within their avant-garde clicks, the story never really kicks in or manages to convince us. Guy’s love for Gilda is perpetual and one sided while Gilda goes from her moments of care-free to caring, only because the war begins. An elder audience will most relate with the all too familiar cold memories of world war. But for the rest of us, despite its glamour and showy moments, it’s nothing but fluff.
Jun 20, 2011
(rated R, 125 mins.)
Just when you thought you’d seen enough war movies come a refreshing “A Few Good Men” style appeal. It’s Belgium 1944 and Lt. Tommy Hart (Colin Farrell) is held in a German POW camp. Like “Platoon” or “Deer Hunter” we actually get to know the American soldiers in his barracks through the fear in their eyes and the cold of their frost-bitten feet. Led by Col. William McNamara (Bruce Willis), one day he adds two black pilots to the all-white barracks causing what will begin a chain of prejudices, attitudes and intentional murder. When one of the men, Lieutenant Scott (Terrence Dashon Howard) is framed for the latest crime, Hart, a second year Yale law student is called upon to defend him. Major Wilhelm Visser (Marcel Iures), though German, bonds and mentors the young Hart for his own set of reasons. The story twists in a complicated yet smart movie that shows a lesson in honor and courage should prevail over justice. Excellent performances by all.
Jun 20, 2011
(Rated PG, 152 mins.)
From the J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels, Potter finally flies into theatres, destined to become America’s largest franchise ever. And you don’t have to be a bookworm of the series or partial to chocolate frogs to love it! It’s the story of the bespectacled orphan kid, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), condemned to a life under the stairs in his aunt’s home until he learns that he is in fact a wizard. Soon off to Hogarts School, Harry begins to unravel the mysteries of his parents’ death with the help of two pals Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson). The cast is rounded out by veterans Richard Harris, John Cleese, Dame Maggie Smith and Fiona Shaw. The child actors are adorable and delicious, special effects pure wizardry, tantalizing suspense, magnificent soundtrack, with a hypnotic storyline consuming every long fly-by-152-magical-minutes, leaving big kids (parents) and their little kids hungry for more. Age gage? If they’re old enough to read the book they’re old enough to see this. The violence is captivating but not Tim Burton style gore. This will be this century’s “Wizard of Oz” meets “Willie Wonka” with much more sophistication and grandeur. (side note: story of the cast/crew is as magical as the movie. Nobody thought they’d get the roles and director Chris “Home Alone” Columbus only landed it when several heavy weights including Spielberg passed to direct “A.I.” Big mistake.) Warner Brothers is sending out 6500 prints this week to theaters, the largest release since “Godzilla” and they’ll need everyone of them as this movie is destined to sink even “Titanic.” Now that’s power, but not of the magic sort.
