Rating: NNNNN
New releases
the pledge (2001, WB), dir. Sean Penn w/ Jack Nicholson, Robin Wright Penn. A retired cop (Nicholson) becomes obsessed with finding a child-killer. What begins as a straightforward cop drama evolves into a far more personal tale as elements in detective Jerry Black’s life intertwine with his investigation. It’s no surprise that Penn gets great performances from his cast, but he also shows a knack for creating a feeling of dread. NNNN
Big-screen rating: Nicholson’s best work in 20 years. NNNN (JH)
proof of life (2000,WB), dir. Taylor Hackford w/ Russell Crowe, Meg Ryan. When Ryan’s husband (David Morse) is kidnapped in South America, she hires kidnap-and-ransom expert Crowe to save him. This movie will always be remembered as the one that led to the brief but very public affair between Ryan and Crowe, and that’s just fine, because as a drama it’s forgettable. The real-life lovers hold back so much onscreen, you have to wonder whether the affair was a publicity stunt. NN
Big-screen rating: It feels like Hackford can’t keep his mind on his work. NN (CB)
save the last dance (2001, Paramount), dir. Thomas Carter w/ Julia Stiles, Sean Patrick Thomas. A midwestern white girl (Stiles) transfers to a mostly black Chicago high school, where she falls for Thomas. Duck, here comes another teen/dance movie cliché! Nice thought: interracial love is fine and dandy — but the delivery is lazy. NN
Big-screen rating: Clichés for a new generation. NN (JH)
state and main (2000, Alliance Atlantis), dir. David Mamet w/ William H. Macy, Philip Seymour Hoffman. Mamet hits his stride taking a swipe at the business and sometimes art of moviemaking. A film crew, led by director Macy, arrives in a small town to make a movie, where the unflappable Macy has to deal with a naive writer (Hoffman), a leading man (Alec Baldwin) with a thing for seducing underage girls and a leading lady (Sarah Jessica Parker) who won’t show her breasts. Like all Mamet movies, the guts and glory are in the precise, angry writing, which in turn inspires his actors to give wonderfully deadpan performances. NNNN
Big-screen rating: NNNN (IR)
Also this week
Desire, Disappearing Acts, Forever Mine
Upcoming
June 26
Dude, Where’s My Car?, Maelström, Unbreakable, You Can Count On Me
July 3
Snatch, The Wedding Planner, Wes Craven Presents Dracula 2000DVD pick of the week
sweet smell of success (1957, MGM/UA), dir. Alexander Mackendrick w/ Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis. Working from a searing, bitterly funny script by Clifford Odets and Ernest Lehman (North By Northwest), and shooting on location in New York, Mackendrick turned in a savage satire on the fame machine. Lancaster plays a powerful columnist who uses every means available to him, including a press agent (Curtis) to keep his sister from marrying a jazz musician. Anyone who thinks cynicism was invented in the 90s should watch this movie, followed by Touch Of Evil, which was released a year later. 96 minutes. Extras: trailer, French and Spanish subtitles. NNNNN
CAMERON BAILEY