Curtis Hanson’s L.A. Confidential (A+) is a superb detective caper introducing American audiences to a trio of magnificent performers — Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce and Kevin Spacey — as Hollywood cops circa 1953. The myth and illusion of Tinseltown versus the scandals and shakedowns is a wonder to behold. Kim Basinger is a symbol of the town shrouded in mystery. The labyrinthine plot, the knife-sharp camerawork and the epic characterizations make this a spectacular modern classic evocative of Chinatown.
All posts by Stephen Michael Brown
“Waiting for Guffman” a Hometown Hoot
Christopher Guest directs and stars in Waiting for Guffman (B+), an uproarious mockumentary about the denizens of a small town (Blaine, Missouri: the “stool capital of the world”) putting on a production to celebrate its 150th anniversary. Eugene Levy, Parker Posey and Catherine O’Hara are among the hilarious ensemble with each playing a singularly incompetent actor. It’s a must-see for fans of dry, small-town humor.
Double Trouble: Action of “Face/Off” is Great Fun
Director John Woo somehow gives plausibility to the notion of two men who switch faces for an adventure in Face/Off (B), and he does a great job staging the action. John Travolta and Nicolas Cage are effective in their roles as FBI agent and criminal mastermind in this cat and mouse thriller.
“Men in Black” is Style Over Substance
Barry Levinson’s Men in Black (C) is a warmed-over, less-funny Ghostbusters, as two clean-up artists (Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones) rid NYC streets of pesky aliens. Smith has some witty lines, and there’s a cute dog. Not much more to offer!
“Contact” Finds Strong Place in the Universe
Robert Zemeckis’s Contact (A) succeeds on the power of its leads’ Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey’s central debate of science and faith as they explore the notion of finding life outside earth in the universe. The film’s powerful performances and effects are used at the mercy of its central questions and get a nice payoff in the film’s final reel.
“Batman and Robin” Gets the Tone Wrong
Joel Schumacher’s Batman and Robin (D-) is a cluttered cacophony of hardware and hardbodies, of mechanical merchandising mayhem, madness and magnificent men in their flying machines. But there’s nary an ounce of human connection in a comic book adaptation that all of a sudden got too cluttered and silly for its own good.
“Lost World” is Subpar “Jurassic Park” Sequel Despite Spielberg Helming
Steven Spielberg’s The Lost World (C-) unleashes more Jusassic Park dinosaurs but little of the imaginative whimsy for which he is famous. This unfocused action film coasts on a meandering plot with bland characters and a lack of discipline that sometimes results in self-parody.
“My Best Friend’s Wedding” Wins by Casting Roberts Against Type
P.J. Hogan’s My Best Friend’s Wedding (A) gamely casts Julia Roberts as the woman who doesn’t get the guy, and that drives her character crazy. Knocking the Pretty Woman off her pedestal turns out to be a winning formula for a spiteful revenge comedy co-starring Cameron Diaz, Dermot Mulroney and Rupert Everett. It’s cheeky and joyous.
“Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion” Takes You to Hilarious Place
David Mirkin’s film Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (B+) is a surprisingly winning female empowerment comedy with Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino posing as impresario inventors to wow the folks they want to school with as they return to their ten-year get-together. Splashes of neon color, smart flashbacks, spicy writing and a potpourri of whimsical characters blend for an all-out comic joyride.
“Volcano” Provides Little to Lava
No matter how many effects director Mick Jackson pours on in Volcano (D), he can’t disguise the fact that there aren’t any characters to care about as disaster looms. These vapid characters include those played by Tommy Lee Jones and Anne Heche. The lava can’t come quickly enough.
“Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery” a Frivolous Send-Up
Every groovy costume, character and quirk in director Jay Roach’s Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (C+) suggests the film will be a smashing fun-fest. But regardless of the kitschy freeze frames, the spiraling flowers and the lace-lined crushed velvet suits, the film often strikes an empty pose. Mike Myers plays the zany leading character in this 007 spoof and brings a distinctive and bizarre sensibility to the proceedings. It’s a flighty romp that seems more suited for a Saturday Night Live segment than a feature film.
“Lost Highway” is Trippy Lynch
David Lynch’s Lost Highway (C-) is a film noir with Bill Pullman and Patricia Arquette that loses its way with some plotting hokum about characters who drift out of each other’s souls. It’s a jarring, disconnecting ride that starts with promise and goes off the rails. There is one genuine moment of terror on the phone though.