Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (A) is an epic fantasy that transports viewers to Middle Earth where a band of Hobbits, dwarves, elves and more must transport and destroy an enchanted ring that brings great power to those who wear it before it falls into the hands of dark villains. Elijah Wood is charming as Frodo the Hobbit and Viggo Mortensen dashing as human Aragorn in this adventure that starts the epic journey. Jackson is reverent to J.R.R. Tolkien fans but adds his own twists and turns to make the work more muscular. Sir Ian McKellen is towering as Gandolf, the wizard who provides a touchstone for the film’s characters and clarification for their mission. The effects are great and leave you ready for the continuing saga to come.
“Hedwig and the Angry Inch” is a Fabulous Gender-Bending Musical Extravaganza
John Cameron Mitchell directs and stars in Hedwig and the Angry Inch (A), a raucous rock musical about a transsexual lounge singer brought to America by a military man and given a botched sex change operation. Abandoned and left with the “angry inch” of the musical’s title, Hedwig sings about finding her other half in some incredible rock ballads such as “Origin of Love.” Up-tempo punk rock numbers take on a Ziggy Stardust quality as Hedwig starts to follow her muse on a concert tour, singing her pop hits “Wig in a Box,” “Midnight Radio,” and many more. The film is campy fun as karaoke bouncing balls and animated sequences dot the music sequences so viewers can sing along or participate. Part backstage musical, part poignant portrait of broken hearts and part love letter to that special someone, the film is a tender take on how you can make the most of the pieces you’ve got and rock out with the rest!
“Moulin Rouge!” is a Glorious Mash-Up of Tragic Romance Tropes and Full-Throated Creativity
Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! (A-) is a spellbinding romantic musical featuring modern-day songs by The Beatles, Elton John, Whitney Houston and more at the service of a fantasy Parisian-based story about a poet (Ewan McGregor) who falls in love with a courtesan (Nicole Kidman). Luhrmann’s bouncing-off-the-walls visuals slow down occasionally to feast eyes on the stunning central couple who is fully committed to its acting performances. It’s a splendid let’s-put-on-a-show production with surprises in store at every turn.
“Y Tu Mamá También” a Great Film on Growing Up
Alfonso Cuarón’s Mexican coming-of-age film Y Tu Mamá También (A) features Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna who take Maribel Verdú on a road trip that leads to a variety of surprising discoveries. Frank in its sexual content, bawdy and bold in its humor and choices and nostalgic in its glimpses at a nation in transition, it’s an amazing journey and a rejuvenating cinematic experience.
Related link: Learn about the deluxe DVD edition of this film at Criterion Blues.
“Unbreakable” Twists and Turns
Bruce Willis plays a security guard who discovers he has supernatural powers after a traumatic accident in M. Night Shyamalan’s Unbreakable (B). Willis is charismatic and emotive opposite a mesmerizing Samuel L. Jackson as a mysterious mentor. The writer/director’s trademark twists and turns are not quite as revelatory as his Sixth Sense, but he vanquishes himself nicely with judiciously paced thrills and intrigue.
“Gladiator” (2000) a Rousing Action Melodrama
Enter the coliseum ready for action-filled melodrama and a leading-man-is-born performance by Russell Crowe as Ridley Scott’s Gladiator (B). This rousing historical epic traces the title character, a former general rising from slavery through the ranks of the arena, determined to avenge the murders of his family and the emperor. Crowe is born for the role, with commanding and believable swagger and swelling speeches and pecs, and he faces a fantastic foil in an outrageous, power-hungry villain played with juicy relish by Joaquin Phoenix. The story gets additional gravitas with the presence of a cadre of veteran actors Richard Harris, Oliver Reed and Derek Jacobi, and Dijmon Hounsou and Connie Nielsen give good performances as allies. While not all that original, the story is a welcome throwback to swords-and-sandals epics of bygone Hollywood. Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard’s score adds to the power of the picture, but some of the special effects work appears too artificial in the ancient world. All in all, it’s a winner.
“X-Men” is an Epic of Marvelous Superhero Misfits
Bryan Singer’s X-Men (B+) is an epic superhero film and apt allegory for outsiders as so-called “mutants” find their way to a special academy for people with special powers and prepare for a clash between good and evil. Patrick Stewart plays the protagonist professor versus Ian McKellan as the sinister mutant with the ability to control metals, who has a disturbing past from WWII. Hugh Jackman is the breakout star as the wily, claw-bearing Wolverine, and Halle Barry and Anna Paquin are among the female warriors in the ensemble. Singer orchestrates quite a streamlined story given the overstuffed number of characters and continually impresses with his bag of tricks. This clearly marks the spot of a fresh new franchise.
Christopher Nolan Imprints Short-Term Memory Thriller “Memento” with Panic and Panache
Telling its story backwards, Christopher Nolan’s Memento (A) may be the only logical way to get to the central mystery of a man with short-term memory who knows his wife is dead but doesn’t know who killed her. As played by Guy Pearce, the lead character is a fascinating enigma. Nolan shows his penchant for a puzzle with a spectacular through-line of storytelling and a most excellent payoff.
“Requiem for a Dream” is a Haunting and Hypnotic Interlaced Anthology of Addiction
Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream (A) is a haunting look at the effect of addiction through three interlocking stories. Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto and Jennifer Connelly are among the amazing actors headlining this ensemble. Shocking and mesmerizing visuals mark this audacious director’s wicked and direct style.
“A Walk On The Moon” is a Watch with a Swoon
Tony Goldwyn’s A Walk on the Moon (B+) is an unexpected sleeper of a melodrama and a highly recommended movie of 1999. An unfulfilled homemaker, played beautifully by Diane Lane, quietly suffers as the tumultuous events of the summer of 1969 unfold on the surface of her TV screen. But, when she invites a dashing traveling salesman (Viggo Mortensen) into the safety of her living room for the live broadcast of the historic moon landing, they begin a passionate affair that threatens to destroy her marriage to her by-the-books high school sweetheart, sturdily played by Liev Schreiber. Goldwyn does a great job working with the actors, including Anna Paquin as the wise family daughter, who give lived-in qualities to the characters. The film is also a superb depiction of a time period in transition, with Woodstock and Vietnam era references and songs such as “Purple Haze” on the soundtrack. It’s sexy, symbolic and pulls you in.
“Toy Story 2” Adds More Poignancy to the Playroom
John Lasseter’s Toy Story 2 (B) expands the emotional landscapes of Pixar’s playscapes. The animation is stronger and the story more expansive, but the novelty isn’t quite as nifty. The energetic ensemble faces displacement due to Woody’s discovery of his origins in a televised Western puppet show, and adventure ensues. Woody gets a countrified love interest in Jessie, accompanied by plaintiff music. This series has a habit of piling on new characters to mixed effect. All in all, it’s a fun sequel.
“Phantom Menace” Values FX Over “Star Wars” Story
It’s the prequel turkey that will live in infamy: George Lucas’ Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (D). Presenting virtually no interesting characters that inhabit early galactic life and a storyline about tax disputes, the film sends two Jedi knights (Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson) with mullets and rat-tails and their piercingly annoying CGI sidekick Jar-Jar Binks to pick up a bratty kid (Jake Lloyd) and an inexpressive queen (Natalie Portman). It’s not clear what they’re supposed to do then except bide time between now and when this moppet becomes an angsty teenager. Meanwhile, there’s an interminable pod race, a cool double-edge lightsaber battle and some revisionist history about how you activate the Force in your bloodstream. Lucas’ clunky direction and dialogue miss the mark in each and every way in this very embarrassing opening salvo to the prequel trilogy.