Film

RECENZIJE/REVIEWS

TEN MOST ANTICIPATED MOVIES OF 2001

1. Pearl Harbor

Jerry Bruckheimer at his best. Marketing campaign had the budget of a small country, and it has to pay off, or else. Memorial Day opening day a nice touch of good timing.

2. Tomb Raider

They even got Jon Voight to play Lara Croft's dad. Angelina Jolie jumps back in the fight for the "Coolest Babe in Hollywood" title, armed with a British accent, skimpy clothing and some more conventional weapons.

3. Lord Of The Rings

I've been waiting for this movie ever since I was eleven years old. It will be very interesting to see if the movie projects half the fantasies one has while reading a book.

4. Ocean's Eleven

Nobody can say no to Stephen Soderbergh these days, and this movie boasts one of the most star-studded lineups ever. The movie itself has a pedigree, being a remake of a Rat Pack classic.

5. Gangs Of New York

Let's see what Leonardo di Caprio can do under the guidance of a real director, like Martin Scorsese. Leo needs a hit, Marty needs an Oscar. Is this it?

6. Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone

Star Wars: Episode II has some real stiff competition when it comes to casting total unknowns in the title roles of guaranteed blockbusters. How will the book frenzy transfer to a big screen?

7. A.I.

Original idea was Stanley Kubrick's, but he abandoned the project. Stephen Spielberg took the ball and ran with it. With amazing young Haley Joel Osment starring, this one promises to be a good one.

8. American Pie II

Followers have done it all - chewed on testicles, rolled in dog dung, who knows what else. American Pie franchise will have to find another gross way to stay ahead of the pack.

9. Planet Of The Apes

Even if you haven't seen the original, with Charlton Heston, you have to know how it ends. So, what's the point? Will we have a remake of the TV-series, too? It remains to be seen.

10. Scary Movie II

The audience exists, but will this franchise be exhausted after the first installment? Like Weird Al Yankovic, as long as there is something to make fun of, these movies will have a shot.

Shrek (DreamWorks, May)

Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and John Lihgow head the voice cast of the irreverent comedy "Shrek", from the computer animation wizards at PDI/DreamWorks. Once upon a time, in a far away swamp, there lived an ornery ogre named Shrek (Mike Myers) whose precious solitude is suddenly shattered by an invasion of annoying fairy tale characters, all banished from their kingdom by the evil Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). Shrek goes to rescue the beautiful princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) from the fire-breathing dragon with the help of a wisecracking Donkey (Eddie Murphy). If your kids liked "Mulan" and "Antz" they will be convinced that there is a real movie underneath the cartoon.

Tomb Raider (June 15)

The coolest babe in the world of video games appears on movie screen and she looks a lot like Angelina Jolie, one of the coolest babes in the movie world. She kicks ass, shoots a gun, reveals ancient secrets and looks damn good. Naturally, there shouldn't be too much real movie underneath... the skimpy clothing.

Evolution (DreamWorks, Summer)

This comedy follows the chaos that ensues when a meteor hits the Earth carrying alien life forms that give new meaning to the term "survival of the fittest". David Duchovny and Julianne Moore are among stars trying to stop the aliens from world domination. Movie is directed by Ivan Reitman, director of smash hits "Ghostbusters" and "Ghostbusters II".

A SHORT LOOK AT 1999

An Ideal Husband: Another great performance by the busiest actress of the 1999, Julianne Moore, although smaller in volume than the pivotal role in The End Of The Affair. In this period drama set in early 20^th century London, she is a conniving temptress, blackmailing a Cabinet member. Her intrigues include a bachelor aristocrat, Rupert Everett and a young beauty played by radiant Minnie Driver. Produced in the tradition of English ensemble dramas, this light-hearted movie can even be considered a comedy. Of errors, no less.

Analyze This: A priceless scene in which Robert De Niro sobs like a 5-year-old is just one of many reasons this movie is in my private collection. As many times before, he’s an archetypal mobster, but with a mean streak of panic attacks. He hires a New York psychiatrist, played by Billy Crystal, to help him out, but Paul Viti will not be his typical patient. The pace of the movie is relentless, jokes numerous and crude, and some of the biggest laughs belong to Viti’s sidekick, Jelly. This film will pull you in, and you’ll want to watch it again and again to get all the jokes you missed.: A priceless scene in which Robert De Niro sobs like a 5-year-old is just one of many reasons this movie is in my private collection. As many times before, he’s an archetypal mobster, but with a mean streak of panic attacks. He hires a New York psychiatrist, played by Billy Crystal, to help him out, but Paul Viti will not be his typical patient. The pace of the movie is relentless, jokes numerous and crude, and some of the biggest laughs belong to Viti’s sidekick, Jelly. This film will pull you in, and you’ll want to watch it again and again to get all the jokes you missed.

Dogma: Controversial Kevin Smith debut delivers a lot of good laughs and lifts a few eyebrows, but overall falls just short of the target. Good Will Hunting buddies Matt Damon and Ben Affleck play two angels who just found a loophole in God’s decree of their banishment from Eden. Linda Fiorentino is recruited by Alan Rickman to stop them, and is helped by Salma Hayek and a very funny Chris Rock as Rufus, the 13^th apostle, who happens to be black. Look for the mute appearance by, otherwise very vocal, rock-star Alanis Morissette.

The End Of The Affair: Classic British production of an autobiographical book by Graham Greene, played in the movie by Ralph Fiennes. The affair from the title is between him and a friend’s (Stephen Rea) wife, during World War II. Great atmosphere, patient storytelling and a brilliant performance by Julianne Moore, who portrays the inner struggle of a moral dilemma, a clash between love, devotion and faith.: Classic British production of an autobiographical book by Graham Greene, played in the movie by Ralph Fiennes. The affair from the title is between him and a friend’s (Stephen Rea) wife, during World War II. Great atmosphere, patient storytelling and a brilliant performance by Julianne Moore, who portrays the inner struggle of a moral dilemma, a clash between love, devotion and faith.

Flawless: Again Robert de Niro, this time as the helpless stroke victim. Against his will, he befriends a drag queen neighbour, played superbly by a brilliant Phillip Seymour Hoffman. This movie digs deep into an underbelly of not only human sexuality, but also human society and human relationships. The story of the lost/stolen gang money serves as a background for the profoundly touching friendship between de Niro and Hoffman. One of the most overlooked gems of the year.Flawless: Again Robert de Niro, this time as the helpless stroke victim. Against his will, he befriends a drag queen neighbour, played superbly by a brilliant Phillip Seymour Hoffman. This movie digs deep into an underbelly of not only human sexuality, but also human society and human relationships. The story of the lost/stolen gang money serves as a background for the profoundly touching friendship between de Niro and Hoffman. One of the most overlooked gems of the year.

Galaxy Quest: Another great parody, this time on Star Trek-inspired TV shows and sci-fi movies. Tim Allen plays a TV captain of a star cruiser in a fictional sci-fi show, but, as it turns out to be, the show is not all that fictional. The crew of the show, including Sigourney Weaver in a blond babe role and Alan Rickman as a Dr. Spock-like character, is invited to help some real-life aliens in need. The movie makes senseless fun on "trekkies", but also TV, Hollywood and show-business as a whole.Galaxy Quest: Another great parody, this time on Star Trek-inspired TV shows and sci-fi movies. Tim Allen plays a TV captain of a star cruiser in a fictional sci-fi show, but, as it turns out to be, the show is not all that fictional. The crew of the show, including Sigourney Weaver in a blond babe role and Alan Rickman as a Dr. Spock-like character, is invited to help some real-life aliens in need. The movie makes senseless fun on "trekkies", but also TV, Hollywood and show-business as a whole.

Girl, Interrupted: Of course you cannot compare this movie with One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, but then again, you cannot compare ANY movie with that Forman’s masterpiece. Here, Wynona Ryder gets some company she wasn’t looking for in an institution for psychiatric rehabilitation of women. Apart from the mother figure Whoopi Goldberg, and the grandmother figure Vanessa Redgrave, Ryder would have to deal the most with Angelina Jolie, in an Oscar-winning performance. The movie is not as good as the sum of the performances, but it is well written and worth a look.: Of course you cannot compare this movie with One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, but then again, you cannot compare ANY movie with that Forman’s masterpiece. Here, Wynona Ryder gets some company she wasn’t looking for in an institution for psychiatric rehabilitation of women. Apart from the mother figure Whoopi Goldberg, and the grandmother figure Vanessa Redgrave, Ryder would have to deal the most with Angelina Jolie, in an Oscar-winning performance. The movie is not as good as the sum of the performances, but it is well written and worth a look.

Mickey Blue Eyes: Another mobster comedy, this time with James Caan (Sonny Corleone from The Godfather) reprising his cinematic mafia persona. His daughter, Jeanne Tripplehorn, falls for Hugh Grant, who owns a small auction house. The uptight Englishman will be drawn into the mob clich�s of "offers you cannot refuse", but the movie makes a sour turn when a mob thug gets whacked by Tripplehorn, and Grant takes the fall. The movie becomes mean-spirited, trying to be funny and going way overboard with it. Mickey Blue Eyes: Another mobster comedy, this time with James Caan (Sonny Corleone from The Godfather) reprising his cinematic mafia persona. His daughter, Jeanne Tripplehorn, falls for Hugh Grant, who owns a small auction house. The uptight Englishman will be drawn into the mob clich�s of "offers you cannot refuse", but the movie makes a sour turn when a mob thug gets whacked by Tripplehorn, and Grant takes the fall. The movie becomes mean-spirited, trying to be funny and going way overboard with it.

Molly: Elisabeth Shue stars in this lifeless update on the subject of autism and mental retardation, already explored in movies such as Awakenings and Rain Man. She is a much better actress than the script gives her a chance to show, and relies more on charm than acting. The movie exchanges emotion for sentimentality, and the development of characters and their relationships is rather sloppy. Recommended only for die-hard Shue fans.

Mystery, Alaska: Right after starring in LA Confidential, and just before becoming a star in The Insider, not to mention Gladiator, Russell Crowe chased a puck across a frozen pond against the NHL’s New York Rangers. It’s a movie about a remote town in Alaska that lives and dies with its Saturday hockey game ritual, and an opportunity to play the big game against a pro team. The big game, like in most sports movies, comes down to one final play, but the movie has already won by that time.: Right after starring in LA Confidential, and just before becoming a star in The Insider, not to mention Gladiator, Russell Crowe chased a puck across a frozen pond against the NHL’s New York Rangers. It’s a movie about a remote town in Alaska that lives and dies with its Saturday hockey game ritual, and an opportunity to play the big game against a pro team. The big game, like in most sports movies, comes down to one final play, but the movie has already won by that time.

Mystery Men: This hilarious ensemble parody on super-heroes stars a great comedic cast, headed by Ben Stiller and including his then-girlfriend Jeaneane Garofalo, William H. Macy and Hank Azaria. Geoffrey Rush plays the villain, Casanova Frankenstein, who captures Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear). Stiller and other supposed losers attempt his rescue and discover some super powers of their own.Mystery Men: This hilarious ensemble parody on super-heroes stars a great comedic cast, headed by Ben Stiller and including his then-girlfriend Jeaneane Garofalo, William H. Macy and Hank Azaria. Geoffrey Rush plays the villain, Casanova Frankenstein, who captures Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear). Stiller and other supposed losers attempt his rescue and discover some super powers of their own.