Pre-2000 Films

1999 FILMS

ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER: Women are Pedro Almodovar’s favorite film subjects. We remember enjoying one of his earlier films titled Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. He dedicates All About My Mother to women: women who are actors, women who are mothers, women who want to be mothers, and men who want to be women. "The heroines of this story are people who stand outside conventional life and its rules, and yet affirm them." think that sentence sums up this unusual and very interesting movie. We enjoyed the people, the story, and the stylized way in which Almodovar made his film. GRADE B+

AMERICAN BEAUTY: I would call this film a psychological tragicomedy about the darker side of suburbia. In addition to two of my favorite actors, Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening, the cast is brilliantly filled out by strong players such as the "best actor you’ve never heard of," Chris Cooper. I don’t want to reveal too much about the plot. It would be accurate but misleading to say it is about teenage angst, adult depression, and an unusually dim view of a depraved society. Barbara and I found ourselves discussing nearly every scene. GRADE B+/A-

BOWFINGER: Steve Martin is Bobbie Bowfinger, a would-be moviemaker who has one last chance to make his mark before he turns 50, the age of career death in Hollywood. He has a script, written by his accountant, for a science-fiction action film, and he tries to get a hot action star, Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy) to play the lead. When Ramsey refuses, Bowfinger decides to make the film anyway and use Ramsey without his knowing it. He convinces his ragtag film crew that Ramsey doesn’t want to see the cameras or meet the other actors, and then he has his actors walk up to Ramsey on the street and say their lines. Bowfinger hires Jiff, a Ramsey look-a-like for long shots. Jiff (also Eddie Murphy) is a sweet, untalented man who is thrilled with his chance to be in a movie. Murphy is perfect as Kit and endearing as Jiff. Heather Graham is a standout as Daisy, a pretty young thing from Ohio who has given herself one week to make it in the movies. Martin wrote this film and he knows both Los Angeles and the movie industry intimately. He is right on target here and his witty lines and funny situations are filled with gentle irony. We loved it. GRADE B+

THE CIDER HOUSE RULES: Gary and I are both very enthusiastic about this adaptation of the John Irving novel of the same name. Toby McGuire is Homer Wells, a young man who grew up in an orphanage and hospital run by Wilbur Larch (Michael Caine). Dr. Larch all but adopts Homer and teaches him everything he knows about delivering and aborting babies. That is what Dr. Larch does, and does it with no apologies. Eventually, Homer leaves the orphanage to see something of the world. This is a good story, compellingly told, well acted, and beautifully photographed. Caine is wonderful and Delroy Lindo proves once again what a terrific actor he is. GRADE A-

ELECTION: Gary and I laughed frequently at this offbeat comedy. The movie tells the story of a high school student council election. Reese Witherspoon (Pleasantville) is Tracy Flick. She is running unopposed for President, but is still putting her all into her campaign. Tracy is bright, attractive, and determined. Matthew Broderick is a dedicated history teacher who is also the Student Council advisor. Tracy frightens him, and he persuades the most popular boy in the class--played by Chris Klein--to run against Tracy. What follows is funny and frequently unexpected. We went from the theater to the library to get the novel by Tom Perrotta on which the film is based. GRADE B+

AN IDEAL HUSBAND: Oscar Wilde was a master at putting beautifully dressed people in elegant drawing rooms sipping champagne as they trade witty conversation. The play on which this film is based is no exception. Sir Robert Chiltern (Jeremy Northan) and his wife, Gertrude (Cate Blanchett) are the cream of London Society. They are also a loving couple. Sir Robert’s sister, Mabel (Minnie Driver) is searching for a husband, and his best friend, Lord Goring (Rupert Evertt) is earnestly trying to avoid marriage. It is inevitable that Mabel and Lord Goring will get together. It is also inevitable that something will threaten Sir Robert and Gertrude’s happiness. That something is Mrs. Cheveley (Julianne Moore). Mrs. Cheveley has knowledge of an event that will cause a scandal and ruin Sir Robert’s sterling reputation. The plot turns on whether Sir Robert will succumb to Mrs. Cheveley’s blackmail or remain the perfect gentleman he seems to be. The plot twists—scandal, blackmail, etc.—are really incidental to the characters and the dialogue. And the actors are more than up to the challenge. Gary was especially impressed by Moore, whose performance has not one false note: her every word, glance and gesture is perfect. Evertt is a natural as a wry and witty bachelor and Blancett and Driver are their usual sparkling selves. Northam is the essential English gentleman. An altogether delightful experience. How nice to see skilled acting and witty dialogue in place of gun fights and rude language. GRADE A-

NOTTING HILL: We were completely won over by this witty and tender romantic comedy. Julia Roberts is Anna Scott, a world-famous movie star who wanders into a Notting Hill bookstore one day and meets William Thacker played with his usual bumbling and charming style by Hugh Grant. Romantic comedies always have to have a stumbling block: some problem that keeps the lovers apart. In Notting Hill the stumbling block is Anna’s fame. As she says in the film, "Whenever I try to have a normal relationship with a normal person, it turns out badly." William has the usual assortment of amusing friends and family, and they supply much of the comedy. William’s flatmate, Spike, is an unbelievable character, but Rhys Ifans is so good that we become believers. Playing a famous movie star may not be a stretch for Julia Roberts, but here she proves that she has more than just an amazing smile—she also possesses some acting ability. Both actors are appealing primarily because they both have such vulnerability that we like them even when they are misbehaving. GRADE A

OCTOBER SKY: Roger Ebert says that this movie has "deep values," and I agree. It is a wonderful, heartwarming film that tells the real life story of Homer Hickam, a NASA scientist who grew up in Coalwood, W. Va. Doomed to a future in the mines, young men in Coalwood had only one way out--football. But since Homer has no talent for the game, a college scholarship seems out of the question. But on one October night, the Russians launch Sputnik and as Homer watches it move across the sky, he dreams of space. He becomes determined to build his own rocket. Much to the amazement of the entire school lunch room, Homer approaches the resident brainy geek, Quentin, and asks for his help. Homer and Quentin, along with two other friends, work tirelessly on building a rocket. They are supported by a feisty teacher, Miss Riley (Laura Dern) who stands up to the Principal on the boy’s behalf. She proposes that the boys enter the National Science contest. The Rocket Boys, as the townspeople call them, persevere through disappointments and tribulations, and when finally one of their rockets soars into the sky, your heart can’t help but soar with it. How refreshing to see a film where kids using their brains is exciting.. Jake Gyllenhaal, who plays Homer, is excellent, and cute enough to bring all the young girls to the movie. I hope the boys come too. It should be required viewing in every high school. GRADE A-

1998 FILMS

ELIZABETH: I have always thought the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I were the most interesting period of English history, so I was anxious to see this recent version of Elizabeth, The Virgin Queen. I was not disappointed. Cate Blanchett, so luminous in Oscar and Lucinda, is an unforgettable Elizabeth. Gary and I were fascinated by the court intrigues and the religious conflict which characterized the beginning of Elizabeth’s reign. Christopher Eccleston is suitably intense as the Duke of Norfolk. Elizabeth’s most bitter enemy, and Geoffrey Rush is memorable as the sinister, wise and loyal Sir Francis Walsingham. In this version, we first see a young, girlish Elizabeth who flirts outrageously with Robert Dudley (Joseph Fiennes, Ralph’s younger brother.) As the demands of the country weight upon her, we watch Elizabeth grow into the strong leader she became--a woman who proclaimed herself married to England. The film is visually dark: It is filmed in murky light, apparently to simulate the gloom of the 216th century castles. Although I am sometimes irritated by the current vogue of filming in minimal light, I thought here that the lighting added tremendously to the mood.

GOOD WILL HUNTING: A The last time I remember seeing a movie psychiatrist who was a nice human being was in Ordinary People. Robin Williams plays a noble psychiatrist in Good Will Hunting, and he is wonderful. I never care much for him when he is in a comedy role, but always like him in a serious one. In this film he counsels Will Hunting, a mathematical genius with a photographic memory who prefers to work as a janitor and hang out with his rowdy blue-collar South Boston friends. But Will does his janitor work at M.I.T., and secretly solves mathematical puzzles that confound the professors. This eventually brings him to the attention of a renowned professor and ultimately to Robin Williams. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who have been life-long friends, wrote this film and the script is excellent. They have a good ear for dialogue and both acquit themselves admirably in this movie. Minnie Driver plays Will’s love interest. The real love story in this movie, though, is the one we hear about from Williams. The scene where he tells Will about his wife is one of the most moving in the film. This is one very good movie!

OSCAR AND LUCINDA: Our local reviewer called this "A fragile, intricate study of love and destiny," and I think that is a good description. It is the story of the strange romance between Oscar (Ralph Fiennes), an awkward and repressed minister, and Lucinda (Cate Blanchett), an independent woman who finds herself to be a square peg in a world of round holes. They are both compulsive gamblers, and it is their obsession that brings them together. It is not easy to understand the characters and their motivations and the script does not explain much. The film moves in a slow and measured pace, and I suspect this will bother some viewers. I liked the fact that the story was so unpredictable and so ambiguous, and the four of us who saw it together spent some time trying to understand the meaning and metaphors of the film. The film was beautifully photographed and the scenery, especially in Australia, was stunning. I was the only one who graded it as high as B+. Gary was closer to the C+ to B- range. Fiennes is extremely good and I liked his red hair. We especially liked Cate Blanchett and look forward to her next film.

OUT OF SIGHT: The casting of George Clooney as Jack Foley, the charming career bank robber, and Jennifer Lopez as Karen Cisko, the Federal Marshall who falls victim to his charm, was inspired. It’s as if the Elmore Leonard characters came to life directly off the page of his novel. The director gets the Leonard attitude perfectly. The characters are suitably quirky and the caper is carried out with all the lackadaisical wackiness you expect from Leonard. Gene Siskel thought the story was too difficult to follow because of the flashbacks and occasional flashforwards. Ebert thought it was the best film of a Leonard novel to date, and we agree. Clooney and Lopez really connect, and they are very sexy together. Albert Brooks appears in the film as does an un-credited Michael Keaton. Ving Rhames is Buddy, Foley’s friend and partner, and he is always good. We also like Dennis Franz as Lopez’s father. A thoroughly enjoyable movie, if you like comic crime-caper flicks.

RETURN TO PARADISE: The story begins in Malaysia where three young men are having an after college fling before they begin their real lives. For them, Malaysia is a paradise where the rum and hash are as plentiful as the girls. Tony (David Conrad) and Sheriff (Vince Vaughn) leave for home before Lewis (Joaguin Phoenix). Lewis is leaving a few days later for Borneo wherehes will be working to re-acculturate captive orangutans. Tony and Sheriff leave their stash of hash-hish behind as they bid adieu to Lewis. Two years later, Beth (Anne Heche), visits Tony and Sheriff to tell them that Lewis has been in jail for the past two years and has been sentenced to death. He was found with the hash, and the amount was so large that he was charged as a trafficker, not a user. Beth, who is Lewis’s U.S. advocate, tells Tony and Sheriff that if they will agree to return to Malaysia and take some of the responsibility, Lewis death sentence will be set aside, and each of the three will serve three years in prison. If only one of them agrees to return, they will each serve six years each. Tony is now an architect and Sheriff is driving for a limo company. Our emotions were totally engaged as we watched the two young men struggle with this moral dilemma. Most of the screen time is spent with Heche and Vaughn (Swingers) and they are both outstanding. How do you go about persuading a man to give up three years of his life to save a friend? This film has a script that gives depth to all the characters and plausibility to everything that happens. We were very impressed and thought the movie was far superior to the shoot-’em-up thrillers that we’ve been subjected to this summer. We highly recommend this movie.

SAVING PRIVATE RYAN: Spielberg has once again proved that he is the moral consciousness of the world and a filmmaker without peer. He has produced an amazing movie that is arguably the finest and most realistic WWII film ever made. The D Day scenes are stunning. They are harrowing to watch and difficult to forget. (Wendy, our daughter-in-law, had nightmares after seeing it.) Who will every be able to forget the blood red waves lapping on the shore of Omaha beach? What is most remarkable is that Spielberg was able to create a film that shows us both the horror of war and the courage and bravery of the men that fight the battles. Tom Hanks is wonderful--it’s another Oscar performance. You’ve probably read all the rave reviews. What more can I say? Just be sure to see it.

SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE: This movie has everything: love, laughter, tears, sword fights, and even a dog. It captivated me with its creativity and witty dialogue--Tom Stoppard at his very best! Wait until you hear his idea of how the phrase "The show must go on," originated. The film presents a version of how Romeo and Juliet, came to be written. Joseph Fiennes (Elizabeth) plays the famous playwright and he is a compelling screen presence. Gynneth Paltrow is engaging as a young noble woman who longs to be an actor--at a time when no woman ever appeared on stage. Geoffrey Rush (Shine) is the owner of a failing theater, the Rose, and he is depending on young Will to write a play that will save the theater. Judi Dench is a marvelous Queen Elizabeth, and Tom Wilkinson (The Full Monty) is most amusing as a moneylender who gets bitten by the acting bug. My delight in this film lasted for days. I suspect that the film will be most appealing to people who have a theater background. Gary gives it only an A-, but I think that’s partly because he had some difficulty with the accents. This will be at the top of my ten best list.

THE TRUMAN SHOW: Do you remember that old TV show about the Loud family? The Louds allowed hundreds of hours of their daily life to be filmed and the television audience was enthralled. Of course, everyone in the Loud family knew they were being filmed. In The Truman Show, Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey) is the only person on the island of Seahaven who thinks his life is real. Everyone else--family, friends, co-workers and even the people he passes on the street--are actors. From his birth, Truman has lived in a phony, albeit perfect, world created and directed by Christoff (Ed Harris). The television show has become one of the most popular shows in the world. Truman’s life is televised, without commercial interruption, 24 hours a day. (No commercial interruption, but plenty of product placement.) When the movie begins, Truman is married and working as an insurance salesman. As he leaves for work in the morning, one of the TV lights crashes to the street in front of his house, and thus begins his gradual realization that something is not quite right with his world. We totally sympathize with Truman as he tries to figure out what is going on, and we cheer loudly when he tries to leave Seahaven. Carey and Harris are both excellent, and we enjoyed seeing Jim Carrey in a serious role. It is a very clever and provocative film. It raises interesting questions about the nature of reality. Like Truman, don’t we all simply accept as real the reality we are given? Is what we see on TV as real as what we live? Do you suppose our entire planet is simply a TV show for the amusement of some cosmic creator? If so, I wish he/she/it had created a more perfect world for us.

YOU’VE GOT MAIL: If you missed this delightful comedy with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan you'll want to give it a look. From the first sight of the two stars it is obvious that they are made for each other—we just have to wait for them to realize it. The relationship is complicated by the fact that Hanks is the owner of a mega book store that threatens to put Ryan’s small, neighborhood children’s book store out of business. It isn’t until half way through the film that Hanks realizes the woman he’s been avidly e-mailing is the woman whose business he has been trying to ruin. While we wait for them to recognize the inevitability of their happy ending, we are treated to some witty dialogue and interesting characters. Also appearring are Jean Stapelton, Greg Kinnear, and Parker Posey. GRADE B+

AS GOOD AS IT GETS: When it comes to movies, this is as good as it gets. What a marvelous film: smart writing, intriguing characters, fabulous acting, and a story line that is a constant and delightful surprise. It’s impossible to predict what will happen next. You will laugh, maybe shed a tear or two, and totally enjoy every minute of it. Nicholson is at the top of his form as Melvin, a obsessive-compulsive writer who gets drawn into the lives of Carol (Helen Hunt), a waitress and Simon (Greg Kinnear), his gay neighbor. We saw this movie on Christmas day with Martha, and we all loved it! Helen Hunt is, as one critic put it, "luminous," and Kinnear proves that he is an actor who can hold his own with the likes of Jack Nicholson. Don’t miss this one! GRADE A

BRASSED OFF: At last, a good movie to review. It seems as though foreign and independent filmmakers are the only people making good movies. Pete Postlewaite (In The Name Of The Father) is a miner who also leads the colliery brass band. The band is about to embark on a series of competitions and they hope to win the grand prize at the national competition. Although the mine is about to be closed, putting hundreds out of work, Postlewaite is firm in his belief that "music is everything." The band members, however, are ready to disband, knowing they cannot afford to keep the band solvent if the mine closes. When an attractive young trumpet player (Tara Fitzgerald of Hear My Song and The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill, Etc.) moves back to town and joins the band, the men think again. When it is discovered that she works for the mine management, the plot thickens. Ewan McGregor (Trainspotting) plays Fitzgeralds’s love interest. The music is wonderful and the performances sublime. The only sour note is being put in the position of hoping the miners keep their jobs while watching Postlewaite suffer from black lung disease. Sort of like being on the side of the people who make cigarettes. GRADE B+

CONTACT: When Jodie Foster tries to describe the cosmic vision she sees on her trip into deep space, she says, "I can’t describe it. . . I don’t have the words. They should have sent a poet." I feel the same way trying to review this beautiful and awe-inspiring film. I don’t have the words. I can only urge everyone to see this fitting tribute to Dr. Carl Sagan. GRADE A

DONNIE BRASCO: The first time I saw Johnnie Depp I knew he was special. He proves it once again as Joe Pistone, an FBI undercover agent infiltrating the New York Mafia in the late 1970s. His way into the mob is through his friendship with Lefty (Al Pacino) an enforcer and low-level wise guy. This friendship between the two men becomes a father/son relationship that takes precedence in Joe’s life--precedence over his wife and family. When his wife (Anne Hecke), in an emotional scene, accuses him of being just like "them," Joe replies, "I’m not just like them. I am them." We understand the terrible conflict that Joe find himself in, and see why he feels closer to his Mafia friends than his FBI colleagues. Pacino’s performance is flawless. I have been critical of Pacino of late because of films like Scent Of A Woman, where I thought he really hammed up the screen. But in this film, playing a defeated wise guy who is not particularly wise, he attains the power and nobility of his Michael Corleone performances. GRADE A

EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU: When I first heard the idea for this movie--a musical with songs sung by ordinary people, i.e. non-singers--I thought it sounded dumb. But it is definitely not dumb. It is the most creative, innovative and totally delightful movie I have seen in many a year. All the performances are charming: Alan Alda gets a lot of Allen-type quips and he does them very well; Edward Norton proves how versatile he is; Drew Barrymore is funny and believable as a rich girl yearning for an out-of-the ordinary prince charming; and Goldie Hawn is her usual delightful self. Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts, and Tim Roth also appear. Goldie is the only one in the film who can actually sing, and Allen wisely puts her number at the end of the movie. Allen generously gives the other actors plenty of screen time. I still can’t help thinking of him as and old lecher, "but," as Gary says, "he’s a funny old lecher." And that he is. Like Roger Ebert, we started smiling at the beginning of Everyone Says I Love You, and only stopped smiling to laugh. GRADE A

GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI: Gary and I both liked Rob Reiner’s film about the Byron De La Beckwith’s third trial for the murder of Meddgar Evers. Byron De La Beckwith, beautifully played by James Woods, went free after both of his earlier trials resulted in hung juries. Alec Baldwin is Bobby DeLaughter, the Assistant Prosecutor who reopened the case at the behest of Mrylie Evers. He said on the Rosie O"Donnell show that this film shows how far we have come. But the actor who plays DeLaughter’s father may more accurately pinpoint the state of race relations today. He says that although we have legal integration today, we still have emotional segregation. I was appalled at the nastiness DeLaughter had to endure when he re-opened the case against De La Beckwith. It’s the kind of film that makes you want to apologize to every black American you see. I had a little trouble with Whoopie Goldberg (as Myrlie Evers) but thought Baldwin was excellent. Gary was just the opposite. He thought Whoopie was wonderful but wasn’t totally convinced by Baldwin. I wish the filmmakers had told us a bit more about Medgar Evers--this film was more about Bobby DeLaughter. I put it in the B to B+ range while Gary liked it enough to give it an A-. We both think it is a film that everyone should see, particularly those who have no memories of the Civil Right Movement. GRADE A-/B+

GROSSE POINTE BLANK: Gary and I both liked this quirky comedy/romance about, of all things, a hit man. It has received a considerable range of grades from critics: Entertainment Weekly gave it an A-; Siskal a B- and Ebert a C+. Our local critic hated it, but then, when it comes to comedies we never see eye to eye with him. John Cusak is wonderful as the conflicted professional killer who is seeing a therapist (Alan Arkin) who is afraid of him. Minnie Driver plays the high school girlfriend he stood her up on senior prom night. When a contract takes him to Detroit on the weekend of his 10 year high school reunion, Cusak decides to combine business with a visit to the past. He and Driver are very good together. In addition, Joan Cusak plays his secretary. Imagine--a hit man with an office and a secretary! We had the feeling that we missed some of the funny lines--you have to listen closely, but we found plenty to laugh at. Mixed in with the romance and the comedy is a lot of killing. This might trouble some viewers, but even the violence is almost comic in nature. Grosse Pointe Blank may be too gross for some, but we liked it’s offbeat humor. In 1996 we gave the film a grade of B, but now, after several viewings, we say GRADE A.

KOYLA: I saw a film yesterday that forces me to revise my 1996 BEST TEN LIST. The film wasn't showing here before the Academy Awards. Winning the BEST FOREIGN FILM Oscar may have helped getting it booked into a few theaters. KOYLA is the title of the Czechoslovakian film, and I loved it. It is a nicely-paced treasure sans car chases, explosions, and blood. It is funny and heart warmning . It is sexy without the sweating, twisted contortions Hollywood loves to exploit. It is a feel-good film without the usual manipulations. It is a flawless masterpiece in my humble opinion. GRADE A

L.A. CONFIDENTIAL: Fortunately we had been warned that the first 15 or 20 minutes of this movie were somewhat slow, but that ultimately it is a terrific film. It was--and it is. The first part of the movie is necessary to introduce us to the characters and to set the time period--the 1950’s--and to give us the background that’s necessary to appreciate the story. Russell Crowe is excellent here as a violent cop. Crowe is the Australian actor who, as the evil humanoid Sid 6.7, was the only bright spot in Denzell Washington’s disappointing Virtuosity (1995),. Guy Pearce, another Aussie who played a drag queen in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, is also notable as a by-the-book police lieutenant. They say that this movie will put a fire under the career of Kim Basinger, and I believe it will. It should do the same for David Straithairn, who, it seems, can do just about anything. While this movie has some of the standard cop/gangster clichés, such as the hooker with the heart of gold, it is totally believable: We understand the people and why they act the way they do, and we are interested in what happens to them. You can’t ask for much more from a movie. GRADE A

THE RAINMAKER: Although Roger Ebert gave this film thumbs up, he thought it didn’t add anything new to courtroom dramas, and that it was too predictable. It’s true that we can predict the ending in any David & Goliath plot, but so what? The pleasure of this film is the triumph of the individual over the heartless corporation. It’s a familiar and an old-fashioned story, but eminently satisfying. Francis Ford Coppola is a master storyteller. We liked Matt Damon as the idealistic young lawyer, John Voight as the "evil" insurance lawyer, and Mary Kay Place as the mother of the young man dying of leukemia because the insurance company won’t pay for a bone marrow transplant. Danny Glover was the "hero" judge, who did many things that would probably make this case vulnerable to an appeal, but we cheered him nevertheless. I probably would have settled for a B+, but Gary voted for an A-. GRADE A-

SEVEN YEARS IN TIBET: Brad Pitt is Heinrich Harrer, an Austrian mountain climber who spent the first few year of World War II in a prison camp in India. Escaping from the camp to Tibet, he lived there until 1951, becoming a friend of the young Dalai Lama. An arrogant Nazi before the war, his experiences in Tibet transformed and redeemed him. (Yes, it’s another redemption film.) The director, Jean-Jacques Annaud has captured the beauty and serenity of Tibet before the Chinese occupation in 1951. Tibet is a culture where they do not believe in killing any living thing--not even earth worms. Why that worm might have been your mother in a former life. The young man who plays the teenage Dalai Lama is adorable, and it’s because of him and his relationship with Harrer that the second half of the film is the best, but we enjoyed all of it. It reminded me of The Last Emperor as it showed the loneliness of a youngster proclaimed the leader of a country. GRADE B+

SHALL WE DANCE: This Japanese film is delightful and charming and makes you want to run right out and sign up for ballroom dancing lessons. In Japan, dancing is held in low regard, because even husbands and wives do not touch or display affection in public. The story is centered around a workaholic business man who married at 28, had a child at 30, and bought a house at 40. Now he has everything he has been working for, and yet he’s not happy. Like Peggy Lee, he asks himself "Is that all there is?" On his way home on night, he notices a dance instructor looking out the window of her dance studio. Every night after, on his commute home, he looks for her. He finally gets up the courage to enroll in the studio. The rest of the film shows us how dancing changes his life, and the lives of those around him. The lead actor is wonderful: handsome, vulnerable, and thoroughly believable. Don't miss seeing this one. I feel sorry for people who avoid sub-titled films because they miss so many excellent movies. I guarantee you will come out of this movie smiling. GRADE B+

SLING BLADE: Billy Bob Thornton wrote, directed, and stars in this film about a simple, retarded man named Karl Childers. Karl has spent most of his life in what he calls the "nervous hospital" for killing two people when he was only 12 years old. He has served his time and has been told that he is well, and we sympathize with him as he struggles to find a place for himself. Thornton is wonderful in the role and we learn to care for this man who, in spite of his violent past, is sweet natured and has a good heart. Robert Duvall appears in a cameo role and the singer, Dwight Yoakam is excellent in a pivotal role. Thornton gets my vote for best actor. GRADE A

ULEE’S GOLD: Janet Maslin of the N.Y. Times called this film "an oasis of humanity in a season of furious hyperbole." Victor Nunez (Ruby In Paradise) directed and wrote this story of a beekeeper (Peter Fonda) who works hard to produce Tupelo honey and care for his two granddaughters. The hard and solitary work of a beekeeper is a metaphor for his life. He is incapable of accepting help from others and although he loves his grandaughters, he is completely undemostrative. His wife died six years ago and his only child is in prison for robbery and it’s as if those two traumatic events have shut down his heart. When he must bring his drug-addicted daughter-in-law into his home to care for her, he is forced to accept help from a nurse (Patricia Richardson) who lives across the street. I don’t want to spoil the story by telling too much about the plot, so I will simply urge you to see this well-directed and beautifully acted film where "changes are gradual and voices are seldom raised." I was fascinated to learn about the process that produced Tupelo honey. The buzz says that Peter Fonda will probably get an Academy Award nomination for his role as Ulee (short for Ulysses) Jackson and I think he deserves one. GRADE B+

WAITING FOR GUFFMAN: Anyone who has ever been involved with community theater should run right out and see this film. Christopher Guest, who wrote, directed and starred in this wonderful look at a small town sesquicentennial (that’s 150 years, as the Blaine mayor tells us) has done a marvelous job of giving us the most earnest, no-talent theater group in the country. But, ultimately, he gives them a kind a dignity. After all, their audience thinks they are wonderful. Does it really matter what anyone else thinks? Catherine O’Hara, Fred Willard, Parker Posey, Larry Miller, and other talented actors manage to look like locals bitten by the show business bug. I loved this film and give it an enthusiastic B+. We both laughed a lot. GRADE B+

WHEN WE WERE KINGS: I’m sorry that I didn’t appreciate Muhammed Ali, alias Cassius Clay, when he was in his prime. Not being a fight fan, I don’t even have any memory of the fight between Ali and George Foreman that is the subject of this Academy Award winning documentary. I didn’t even remember who won--which probably made the film even more enjoyable for me. It is an extremely well-made documentary and Ali comes across as a national treasure. It’s interesting to see George Foreman as a young man, before his TV sitcom and his 6 or 7 sons all named George. He was huge! He made Ali look small in the ring. James Brown, B.B. King, and Miriam Makeba were part of the festival surrounding this championship prize fight and their music is beautifully woven throughout the film. We recommend it highly. GRADE A

1996 FILMS

BIG NIGHT: Stanley Tucci, who was so good as Richard Cross in last year’s Murder One, and Tony Shalub, who plays the taxi driver in Wings, star in this film about two Italian brothers struggling to make a success of their East coast restaurant. Primo (Shalub) is the gifted chef who refuses to compromise his culinary principles, and Secondo (Tucci) is the businessman who is torn between honoring his brother’s talent, and compromising to please customers who think spaghetti and meatballs is the quintessential Italian cuisine. If you like inspired acting and Italian food you will enjoy this movie. And Campbell Scott college, cooperated to produce this one. Scott plays the part of a car salesman. Ian Holm is the successful owner of a nearby restaurant and Isabella Rosselini is his restless wife. Minnie Driver completes the outstanding cast. But it is Tucci and Shalub who really shine in this movie about food and brotherhood. GRADE B+

DEAD MAN WALKING: How ironic that we kill people as a punishment for killing. This impressive film is not a polemic against the death penalty, though. It is fair to both sides of the issue, showing the victims’ families as sympathetically as it shows the murderer. You go from tears of sympathy for the parents of the murdered teenagers, to tears of pity for the unrepentant killer. You can understand the need for revenge, as well as the need for mercy. And yet, the film does not over sentimentalize. Frequent cuts to the murder scene constantly remind you of the viciousness of the crime. However, you are able to recognize the humanity that exists in even the most monstrous of criminals, and realize that every human being is deserving of love. Sean Penn is awesome. Gary said he might have to vote for him as best actor. We both agree that this movie is one of our top three for 1995. Susan Sarandon is equally magnificent, and we give highest accolades to Tim Robbins for his remarkable adaptation of Sister Helen’s book and the artistry of his direction. This is a must see. GRADE A-

FLIRTING WITH DISASTER: Gary particularly enjoyed this quirky comedy that stars Ben Stiller. Adopted as a baby by Mary Tyler Moore and George Segal, he is a new father with a desire to find his roots by locating his birth parents. Patricia Arquette is his wife who joins him on his quest. Also along for the ride is Tea Leoni, as a social worker who wants to document the reunion. She is on the TV comedy, The Naked Truth and I think she is an outstanding comedian. The movie flirts with a serious issue but settles for comedy. After several "mistakes" the group eventually finds Stiller’s birth parents—Lilly Tomlin and Alan Alda—played as mellow aging hippies Gary voted for an A- because he finds so few good comedies. I would probably give it a B+. GRADE A-/B+ (Note: Gary worked for one day on this film as a stand-in for Allen Alda.)

FARGO: The Coen brothers have given us another comic film noir that has the visual style of their first hit movie, Blood Simple. If you liked it, then you will surely like Fargo. Ethan and Joel Coen wrote the screenplay together and Joel directed the film. They tell us at the beginning of the movie that all the events are true: The names have been changed to protect the living, but the story is exactly as it happened to protect the dead. The story is fairly standard crime material. A husband hires two disreputable characters to kidnap his wife and demand ransom. The ransom will be paid by his rich father-in-law, and he will split the cash with the kidnappers. But a series of bloody and comic events occur. Frances McDormand is a pregnant Police Chief in Brainard, Minnesota. She is very funny and the brightest person in the movie. (She is also Mrs. Joel Coen and appeared in Blood Simple.) W. H. Macy, a Chicago actor, plays the husband and this is his best film role so far. It should do good things for his career. The two hired killers are played by Steve Buscemi, the movie director in Living In Oblivion, and Peter Stormare. Everyone talks with a Minnesota dialect and uses such expressions as, "ah. Jeez," "yah, sure," and "real fine." While the audience found it laughable, I’m afraid some Minnesotans might take offense. We recommend the movie, but only if you like the combination of crime and comedy. GRADE A

LONE STAR: In the opening scene of Lone Star, a skeleton is found buried in the desert outside a small Texas border town. As Sheriff Sam Deeds (Chris Cooper) investigates the 40-year old crime, he uncovers the secrets of many of the townspeople as well. When the body is identified as a former Sheriff, Charlie Wade (Chris Kristoferson), Deeds learns that there were many people who wanted to put a bullet in Wade. The name at the top of the suspect list, however, is Buddy Deeds, Sam’s father, played in flashbacks by Matthew McConaughey, the hot new star Of A Time To Kill. Buddy took over as sheriff when Wade "disappeared, and Sam took over for his father when Buddy died. Their troubled father-son relationship is the motif for the other relationships revealed in the film. We applaud John Sayles for writing characters with such depth and for making a film that works on so many levels. It is beautifully textured: Every character is fully realized, even those only on screen for a few minutes. Sam’s relationship with his high school girlfriend (Elizabeth Pena), now a widow, provides the love interest, and Francis McDormand has a great scene as Sam’s ex-wife. Beautifully interweaving present and past, the film explores not only family secrets, but also the difficult racial relationships in a town that is peopled by Whites, Hispanics, African-Americans, and Native Americans. This is one film we could happily see again. Favorite line: "It’s always nice to see a prejudice defeated by a deeper prejudice." GRADE A

LOOKING FOR RICHARD: Even if you don’t usually like Shakespeare we think you will enjoy this excellent film. Al Pacino and a host of fine actors prepare to mount a filmed production of Richard III. The film is a documentary about the actors and director and how they approach their roles: We see actors discussing the motivation of their characters, Pacino and the director discussing Shakespeare with literary experts, and we see people on the street talking about their view of Shakespeare. Pacino travels to England to visit the Old Globe theater currently being restored. That knowledge makes the actual scenes from Richard III understandable and strikingly dramatic. The film is beautifully edited and both a learning and an emotional experience. GRADE A

MICHAEL: If there is an angel up there watching over me, I hope it’s Michael. Nora Ehpron’s witty writing and perfect casting make this movie a winner. I was never sure where the film was going next, and that is very engaging. When you go to a movie with high expectations like I did, it’s easy to be disappointed, but I was delighted! A little dancing, a little singing, a few small miracles, and John Travolta--what more could you want from a holiday movie. Gary has a natural antipathy for angel movies, but he was charmed enough by this one to give it a B+. Because I enjoyed it so much, it is, for me, an unqualified A. GRADE A/B+

MR. HOLLAND’S OPUS: (1995 Release) Some teachers, the good ones, have the ability to influence young lives for the better. Mr. Holland is one of those teachers. Richard Dreyfuss plays Holland, a man who becomes a high school music teacher because he needs a salary to support his dream of being a great composer. Teaching is his fall-back position, but it becomes the job he was born for. Thirty years of Mr. Holland’s life are covered in this film: both his experiences at school and episodes in his private life. This is, at the very least, a three handkerchief movie! We enjoyed every minute of it. Gary took exception to Holland’s arriving for his first day of teaching along with the students. That would never happen. But it’s a small thing, and not enough to keep the film from being graded an A. I’m sure it would make our top 10 list, maybe even the top five. Dreyfuss, always a favorite of our, is terrific and we were delighted with Steppenwolf’s Glenne Headley has Mrs. Holland. Jay Thomas is perfect in his role as the football coach and Olympia Dukakis shines as the Principal. Another Chicago actor, W. H. Macy plays the vice-principal. GRADE A

PALOOKAVILLE: This funny movie has been adapted from short stories written by Italo Calvino in the late 1940s. Calvino’s characters were struggling to make ends meet in post war Italy, but the modern adaptation by first-time director Alan Taylor puts the characters in modern day New Jersey: Same struggle but a different time and place. Gary said he hadn’t enjoyed an afternoon at the movies this much in quite a while. The three would-be crooks, played by William Forsythe (Raising Arizona), Vincent Gallo, and Adam Trese, are too inept to be successful thieves. They consider their foray into crime as only a "momentary shift in life style" until they can find jobs. The film benevolently follows these three likable losers as they stumble through their lives, and we enjoyed tagging along. Palookaville is a kinder, gentler Mean Streets. Gary gave the film A-, while I settled for a B+. GRADE A-/B+

RANSOM: We both enjoyed this thriller about the kidnapping of a rich man’s son. Mel Gibson is the father, Tom Mullen, a self-made millionaire and Rene Russo is Kate Mullen. Their kidnapped son is played by Brawley Nolte (Nick Nolte’s son), and spends most of the film blindfolded and shackled to a cot. I particularly liked the struggle between the father and the kidnapper for control over the situation. It was absorbing to watch two intelligent adversaries match wits. It reminds me of the Clint Eastwood/John Malkowich conflict in In The Line Of Fire. Interesting that in both films the villain is played by a former Steppenwolf player. Gary Sinise is especially menacing because he can seem so normal and then suddenly explode into violence. Gary rated it a bit higher than I did, but we both recommend it. GRADE A-/B+

SECRETS AND LIES: This British film about a young woman, adopted at birth, who searches for and finds her birth mother, is an excellent film. Brenda Blethyn who plays the mother is marvelous. The director, Mike Leigh, shot some of the scenes in one take with a fixed camera, and that lends great realism to them. At first, the mother is shocked and distraught when the daughter she gave away calls her. However, they meet, and eventaully develop a sweet and loving relationship, despite the fact that the daughter is black and the mother white. The message of the film is that secrets and lies cause people much more hurt than does the truth. Siskel and Ebert both loved this one and I can see why: It is real and true and touching. However, because of a poor sound system and the accents, Gary said he only heard about 40% of it, so he didn’t feel he could give it a grade. It took me a little while to adapt to the accents, but I was able to get almost all of it, so I had no trouble giving it a B+. GRADE B+

SHINE: David Helfgott was a child prodigy at the piano who won most of the awards that Australia had to offer young artists. His father, a Polish concentration camp survivor, was determined to realize his own thwarted musical ambitions through David. He was harsh and demanding and insisted on totally controlling David’s life. David escaped his father’s domination to study at the London Royal Music Academy. However, during his studies, he had a mental breakdown and spent many years in mental institutions. How he survived to peform again is the substance of this remarkable film by Australian director Tony Scott. Goeffrey Rush, a stage actor, who plays the adult David gives an astonishing performance. I fully expect an Academy nomination for him. Armin Mueller-Stahl (the father in Barry Levinson’s Avalon) is equally brilliant in the difficult role of David’s father, Peter. Noah Taylor, who plays the adolescent David was impressive and it was good to see Lynn Redgrave in a sympathetic role. David Helfgott, himself, dubbed most of the piano playing in the film. GRADE A

A TIME TO KILL: This is a taut legal thriller that keeps you engaged from the opening scene through the final moments. This is Grisham’s favorite of all his books, and I imagine he is pleased with the film. Samuel L. Jackson is terrific as Carl Lee: You feel his rage toward the men who raped and tortured his 10 year old daughter. An Academy Award nomination wouldn’t surprise me. Matthew McConaughey plays Carl Lee’s lawyer, Jake Brigance, with the intensity and charm of a young Paul Newman. This 27 year old actor has quite a career ahead of him. Sandra Bullock, as a self-professed "brilliant law student" and Ashley Judd as Jake’s wife are both excellent. Kevin Spacey (the prosecuting D.A.) must have a corner on the market when it comes to slick, charming opportunists--he’s wonderful. We also liked Donald Sutherland as a disbarred lawyer and Jake’s mentor, Keifer Sutherland as a KKK punk, and Oliver Platt as Jake’s wise-cracking lawyer friend. Chris Cooper, who played the sheriff in Lone Star, does a fine job in a minor part. He does a fine job. We probably would have given A Time To Kill an A except for a few formula plot devices. For example, an outcome that depends on a final impassioned closing argument (although it is a pretty good argument). We’re also a bit concerned about a movie that advocates vigilantism. Gary votes for an A-, but I’m not sure I can go higher than B+. GRADE A-/B+

TIN CUP: Whether you play golf or not you’re going to enjoy this romantic sports comedy directed by Ron Shelton of Bull Durham fame. He also did White Men Can’t Jump and seems to have established himself as the best sports film director around. Kevin Costner plays Roy McAvoy, a great ball striker who couldn’t make the tour because he was incapable of playing the percentage shot: he could never settle for a safe par when there was a chance for a spectacular birdie. Instead he runs a beat-up driving range, drinks beer with his buddies, and tries to stay one jump ahead of the bill collector. When an attractive psychiatrist, Dr. Molly Griswold (Rene Russo) shows up for a golf lesson, McAvoy is smitten. To win her heart and to win her away from her boyfriend, former arch golf rival David Simms (Don Johnson), McAvoy decides to play in the US Open. The script is smart and witty and Costner excels as a charming slacker who loves the game of golf.. We liked Cheech Marin as Romeo, McAvoy’s swing doctor and caddy. It was fun to see some of the tour golfers in the film. Did anyone recognize the course where the Open was shot?. Gary thought it looked a bit like Pinehurst. The film’s ending is unpredictable and eminently satisfying. For me, the romance between Costner and Russo doesn’t have the electricity that Costner and Sarandon had in Bull Durham, which is one of my all-time favorite movies, so I couldn’t go higher than a B+. Gary concurs. GRADE B+