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THE SCREENING
ROOM
By Kelley
Lyne
The Matrix Reloaded ***1/2 Rated R Neo, Trinity
and Morpheus are back, and the Wachowski brothers (Assassins,
Bound) haven’t let anyone down with the recent release of this
second part of their Matrix trilogy. It contains all of the interesting,
mind-bending quirks of the first installment, along with better
and more complex special effects. Not an easy task to be sure.
These movies are for the thinking sci-fi fan and have proven to
win over even the most anti-sci-fi movie goers, and that includes
yours truly!
Daddy
Day Care **(reluctantly) PG One can only expect that
the creative forces and we use that term loosely in this sense
behind Daddy Day Care were in this solely for the paycheck.
This film fails on almost every level. Most glaringly, its watchability
starts and stops with the seven and under crowd. Eddie Murphy
(Dr. Doolittle, The Nutty Professor) stars as an out-of-work dad
who starts an in-home day care with his lumpy friend to make ends
meet. The studio rated it PG to lure older viewers, but beware.
This is a total bait and switch - a movie filled with jokes only
a kindergartner will love.
Confidence
*** Rated R The con in Confidence is the real star in
this tightly woven tale by director James Foley. It’s a natural
follow-up to one of his earliest films, the cult-fave Glengarry
Glenross. We won’t dispense with the convoluted story and subsequent
sting here, but Dustin Hoffman’s (Tootsie, The Graduate) brilliant
portrayal of a quirky but evil crime lord named Mr. King is worth
the ticket price alone.
The
Good Thief**** Rated R The Good Thief is the kind of
movie that redeems all of the Hollywood tripe you’ve sat through
for the last couple of years. Beautifully written and directed
by Neil Jordan (Michael Collins, The Crying Game), The Good Thief
stars Nick Nolte (Down and Out in Beverly Hills, The Prince of
Tides) as a fatally flawed gambler in the French Riviera. Reeking
with style, grace and the most satisfying ending in recent history,
do yourself a favor and seek this gem of a film out.
The
Screening Room’s Top Ten Summer 2003 Must Sees
#1 The Matrix Reloaded - Top billing for its “most anticipated”
status. In theaters now.
#2 Finding Nemo- Sure to be first-rate family entertainment from
the folks who brought you Toy Story, A Bugs Life and Monsters,
Inc. Opens May 30.
#3 Gigli - This is the film set that spawned the whole Ben Affleck/J.
Lo shebang. Number three for the curiosity factor alone. Opens
August 1.
#4 Seabiscuit - Great word-of-mouth for this Toby Maguire vehicle
about the most famous race horse that ever was. Opens July 25.
#5 The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - Based on a comic book,
the storyline could be described as a Victorian X-Men. Cool factor
upped because it stars Sean Connery.
#6 Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde - The first installment
was frothy fun that scored big at the box office. Plus you gotta
love Reese! Opens July 2.
#7 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl - Based
on the Disneyland ride (!), but don’t be mistaken, this Curse,
starring Johnny Depp is not for the kiddies. Opens July 9.
#8 28 Days Later - Super scary follow-up film for brit director
Danny Boyle (Trainspotting). It’s about an unstoppable virus that
turns its victims into bloodthirsty maniacs. Yikes!
#9 Uptown Girls - Perfect mom/daughter fare about a reluctant
nanny and her precocious charge. Opens August 15.
#10 Spy Kids 3-D - Game Over - What could be cooler than a 3-D
follow-up to the first two successful installments? Opens July
25.
So now you
should be all set to enjoy those rainy summer days at the movies!
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