AUSTIN POWERS: THE
SPY WHO SHAGGED ME
The further adventures of that throwback to the 1960s,
photographer-cum-spy Austin Powers, with more really really
really bad and stupid jokes and gags -- but audiences love it.
Powers' nemesis, Dr. Evil, time travels to the 1960s to steal
Powers' power -- his mojo. Naturally Powers journeys after the
evil Evil, encountering the swingin' London scene and super-sexy
spy Felicity Shagwell. Stars Mike Myers, Heather Graham, Michael
York, Robert Wagner, Rob Lowe, Seth Green and Mindy Sterling.
Director: Jay Roach.
Stars: Mike Myers, Heather Graham, Michael York, Robert Wagner,
Rob Lowe, Seth Green, Mindy Sterling. CC, (MPAA rating: PG-13,
95 min.), Comedy, 1999, Box office gross: $205.000 million,
(New Line), $22.98 SRP, Available: 11/16,
DVD: Day & Date.
AUTUMN TALE
Last chapter in director Eric Rohmer's "Tale of Four Seasons"
series. In the autumn of her life, a wine-grower in the South of
France resists all attempts by her best friend and her son's
girlfriend to find her companionship. An elegant tale of love.
Stars Beatrice Roman.
Director: Eric Rohmer. Stars:
Beatrice Roman. CC, (MPAA rating: PG, 110 min.), Drama, 1998, Box office
gross: $1.300 million, (USA Home Entertainment), No SRP, Priced
for rental, Available: 11/23, DVD: No.
BESIEGED
Acclaimed director Bernardo Bertolucci weaves his cinematic
magic with this luscious tale of an affair between an expatriate
African and her employer, an eccentric recluse living in an
enchanting villa in Rome. The pair find themselves in a web of
attraction and denial, with new awakenings and discoveries.
Stars Thandie Newton and David Thewlis.
Director: Bernardo Bertolucci.
Stars: Thandie Newton, David Thewlis. CC, (MPAA rating: R, 92 min.), Drama,
1999, Box office gross: $2.032 million, (New Line), No SRP,
Priced for rentalx Available: 11/9, DVD: Day &
Date.
BIG DADDY
Adam Sandler plays a flaky law school graduate who eschews
career and marriage to live the life of a slacker. When his
girlfriend leaves him for a responsible older man, he decides to
change -- on the surface at least -- and illegally "adopts" the
illegitimate five-year-old son of his roommate. He becomes a
reluctant dad when the boy steals his heart. Not Sandler's best
work: there's too many bathroom jokes and childish humor. Our
respect for Sandler after the gentle humor and warmth of "The
Wedding Singer" has been destroyed by Sandler's reliance here on
potty humor, foul language and downright nastiness toward
others. Co-stars Joey Lauren Adams, Rob Schneider, Jon Stewart,
Kristy Swanson and Cole and Dylan Sprouse.
Director: Dennis
Dugan. Stars: Adam Sandler, Joey Lauren Adams, Rob Schneider, Jon
Stewart, Kristy Swanson, Cole and Dylan Sprouse. CC, (MPAA
rating: PG-13, 93 min.), Comedy, 1999, Box office gross:
$158.700 million, (Columbia TriStar), $21.96 SRP,
Available: 11/2,
DVD: Day & Date.
BLACK MASK (HAK HAP)
Fast-paced Hong Kong actioner released in the States this year
to capitalize on the cachet of Jet Li after his great appearance
in "Lethal Weapon 4." Story revolves around a gang of
genetically engineered humans who go after cops and bad guys
alike. Li, of course, is fabulous as one of the androids who
hasn't turned bad and must fight them single-handedly. Showcase
for Li's wonderful martial arts expertise.
Director: Daniel Lee. Stars: Jet
Li, Karen Mok, Ching Wan Lau. CC, (MPAA rating: R, 89 min.), Action, 1996,
Box office gross: $12.491 million, (Artisan), No SRP, Priced for
rental, Available: 11/9, DVD: Day & Date.
ENTRAPMENT
Sophisticated game of cat and mouse as a hot-shot insurance
investigator (Catherine Zeta-Jones) goes after a master thief
(Sean Connery), joining him in a series of gambits over three
continents leading up to a multi-billion dollar heist tied to a
millennium celebration in Kuala Lampur. There's plenty of time
spent on high-tech preparations, break-ins and double-crosses
and double-dealings, but eventually the film bogs down as the
plot loopholes unravel. Co-stars Ving Rhames and Will Patton.
Directed by Jon Amiel.
Director: Jon Amiel. Stars:
Sean Connery, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Ving Rhames, Will Patton. CC,
(MPAA rating: PG-13, 130 min.), Thriller, 1999, Box office
gross: $87.600 million, (Fox), No SRP, Priced for
rental, Available: 11/23, DVD: Day &
Date.
HAUNTING, THE
Lackluster remake of classic Robert Wise 1963 film, based on
Shirley Jackson's book, about people investigating an evil house
that comes alive and terrorizes them. The original was truly
scary in its subtlety; here there's a muddled plot, overdone
special effects and very few chills. Director Jan De Bont
("Speed") opted for big and noisy when just the opposite was
required: you can't truly scare people when it's too obvious
what's coming. Stars Lili Taylor, Liam Neeson, Catherine
Zeta-Jones, Bruce Dern and Virginia Madsen.
Director: Jan De
Bont. Stars: Lili Taylor, Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones,
Bruce Dern, Virginia Madsen. CC, (MPAA rating: PG-13, 117 min.),
Horror, 1999, Box office gross: $89.600 million, (DreamWorks),
No SRP, Priced for rental, Available:
19991123, DVD: Day & Date.
INSTINCT
Weird thriller about the attempt at rehabilitating a brilliant
primatologist who ostensibly went mad after living in the
African wild with mountain gorillas. Anthony Hopkins puts in a
chilling turn as a scientist -- now caged and brought to America
after killing two Rwandan park rangers. Cuba Gooding Jr. plays
the shrink who tries to cure him. The pair become verbal
sparring partners and their roles often switch as the film
slowly unveils the reasons behind Hopkin's seeming madness --
culminating in a lesson in love and responsibility. Co-stars
Donald Sutherland, Maura Tierney, George Dzundza and John
Ashton.
Director: Jon
Turteltaub. Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Cuba Gooding Jr., Donald
Sutherland, Maura Tierney, George Dzundza, John Ashton. CC, (MPAA
rating: R, 123 min.), Thriller, 1999, Box office gross:
$33.648 million, (Buena Vista), No SRP, Priced for
rental, Available: 11/16, DVD: Day &
Date.
IRON GIANT,
THE
Well-executed, fanciful adaptation of British poet laureate Ted
Hughes' children's book about a metal giant from outer space who
is befriended by a young boy, set in 1957 during the height of
Sputnik and the Cold War. The metal-eating behemoth is a "puppy"
in the hands of young Hogarth Hughes -- stumbling around the
countryside in search of food and playing kids games -- until a
paranoid government investigator brings on the Army for a
fateful denouement. The moral here is love and trust -- as the
boy and monster bond -- and the film imparts a strong
anti-violence, anti-gun message. It's part 1950s Action comic
book, part Frankenstein, all marvelous. One of the best films of
the year.
Director: Brad Bird.
Stars: Voices of Eli Marienthal, Vin Diesel, Jennifer Aniston,
Harry Connick Jr., Christopher McDonald. CC, (MPAA rating: PG,
86 min.), Animated, 1999, Box office gross: $20.700 million,
(Warner), $22.95 SRP, Available: 11/23,
DVD: Day & Date.
JACK FROST
Sentimental, affectionate family film about an up-and-coming
rock star who juggles career and fatherhood and doesn't spend as
much time with his supportive wife and adoring son as he should.
When he's killed in a car accident, he comes back as a snowman,
finally learning how to nurture his wife and son and become the
father/husband that he couldn't in life. Delightful story is
highlighted by the deft camerawork of legendary cinematographer
Laszlo Kovacs. Stars Michael Keaton, Kelly Preston and Joseph
Cross.
Director: Troy
Miller. Stars: Michael Keaton, Kelly Preston, Joseph Cross, Mark
Addy. CC, (MPAA rating: PG, 108 min.), Family, 1998, Box
office gross: $34.600 million, (Warner), $19.96 SRP,
Available: 11/2,
DVD: Day & Date.
LOVE LETTER,
THE
A mysterious unsigned love letter upsets the status quo in a
sleepy New England town, unlocking startling secrets and
changing the lives of everyone it touches. At the center of the
storm is one woman, Kate Capshaw, whose quest to solve the
letter's riddle forces her to open her life to a new chapter
involving two different men, one from her past and one from the
present. American debut of Hong Kong director Peter Ho-sun Chan.
Also stars Blythe Danner, Ellen DeGeneres, Tom Selleck and Tom
Everett Scott.
Director: Peter
Ho-Sun Chan. Stars: Kate Capshaw, Blythe Danner, Ellen DeGeneres,
Tom Selleck, Tom Everett Scott. CC, (MPAA rating: R, min.),
Drama, 1999, Box office gross: $8.300 million, (DreamWorks),
No SRP, Priced for rental, Available:
11/23, DVD: Day & Date.
NOTTING HILL
An American movie superstar (Julia Roberts) and a quiet, British
travel-bookshop owner (Hugh Grant) fall for each other in London
and have to overcome the pressures of her stardom before they
can get together. Much of the film revolves around how normal
people react to a world famous star. The centerpiece of the film
is a delightful scene in which Roberts is Grant's date at a
dinner party held by Grant's friends. The witty, charming and
likeable Grant is at his best. Rhys Ifans is terrific as Grant's
"roommate from hell." Julia Roberts, as usual, is consistently
uninteresting.
Director: Roger
Michell. Stars: Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant. CC, (MPAA rating:
PG-13, 124 min.), Comedy, 1999, Box office gross: $114.701
million, (Universal), No SRP, Priced for
rental, Available: 11/9, DVD: Day &
Date.
SOUTH
PARK: BIGGER, LONGER & UNCUT
Trey Parker and Matt Stone's R-rated animated TV series makes it
to the big screen, nastier and more flamboyant (if that's
possible) than ever. The story line loosely revolves around the
fine folks of South Park, Colorado, whose kids have their minds
warped (as if they needed any extra push) by an R-rated Canadian
movie. In response, a protest movement gets the U.S. into a war
with its neighbor. There are side trips to hell as well as foul
takes on Hollywood celebrities. Audacious and warped; you have
to be a fan of the series to really appreciate this.
Director: Trey
Parker. Stars: Voices of Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Mary Kay
Bergman, Isaac Hayes, George Clooney, Eric Idle. CC, (MPAA
rating: R, 80 min.), Adult animation, 1999, Box office gross:
$51.900 million, (Paramount), No SRP, Priced for
rental, Available: 11/23, DVD: Day &
Date.
TEA WITH MUSSOLINI
Semi-autobiographical film about director Franco Zeffirelli's
(as a child) life with group of expatriate British and American
woman just before, during and after World War II in Italy. Stars
Cher, Maggie Smith, Joan Plowright, Judi Dench, Charlie Lucas,
Baird Wallace and Lily Tomlin.
Director: Franco Zeffirelli. Stars:
Cher, Maggie Smith, Joan Plowright, Judi Dench, Charlie Lucas, Baird Wallace,
Lily Tomlin. CC, (MPAA rating: PG, 116 min.), Drama, 1999, Box office gross:
$13.700 million, (MGM), No SRP, Priced for rental,
Available: 11/16, DVD: Day & Date.
WILD WILD WEST
This special effects laden adaptation of the classic 1960s
Western TV series is overloaded with noise and music (a way-too
anxious score by film great Elmer Bernstein) to the detriment of
story line and logic. Government agent James West (Will Smith)
and U.S. Marshall Artemus Gordon (Kevin Kline) team up to foil
Dr. Arless Loveless (Kenneth Branagh), who has kidnapped the
country's brightest scientists to build the ultimate weapon of
destruction: the Tarantula, a gigantic walking killing machine
he hopes to use to overthrow the U.S. Whereas the original had a
certain suave sophistication about it, this version is all
bluster and puffery. This one is strictly for the boys: the
women (Salma Hayek, Bai Ling) are strictly window-dressing.
Crank up the speakers and let it's inanity wash over you.
Director: Barry
Sonnenfeld. Stars: Will Smith, Kevin Kline, Kenneth Branagh,
Salma Hayek, Bai Ling, Ted Levine, M. Emmet Walsh. CC, (MPAA
rating: PG-13, 107 min.), Western comedy, 1999, Box office
gross: $111.724 million,
(Warner), $22.96 SRP, Available: 11/30,
DVD: Day & Date.
WILLIAM
SHAKESPEARE'S A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
The Bard's comedy about star-crossed lovers, feuding sprites and
a love potion gone awry, shifted to Tuscany at the end of the
19th century, with an all-star cast that includes Kevin Kline,
Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Everett, Stanley Tucci and Calista
Flockhart.
Director: Michael Hoffman. Stars:
Kevin Kline, Miche;;e Pfeiffer, Rupert Everett, Stanley Tucci, Calista
Flockhart. CC, (MPAA rating: PG-13, 115 min.), Comedy, 1999, Box office
gross: $16.000 million, (Fox), No SRP, Priced for rental,
Available: 11/9, DVD: Day & Date.
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