Thirteen Days "This is not a blockade," Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara (Dylan Baker) screams at an Admiral who’s defending his adherence to the so-called rules of engagement. "This is a language, a language that the President is trying to speak with Khruschev." This statement encapsulates the essence of this cerebral political thriller: when diplomatic…
Read moreTrifle with delicious sauce
Chocolat In an age when mainstream films like Family Man are promoting staid conservative family values, Chocolat is as deliciously naughty, sweet and magical as, well, chocolate. Sensuous, whimsical and just a little bit subversive, Chocolat will lift you up and make you see the world from a different angle; it will make you rethink…
Read moreBlokey but brilliant
Snatch This is a bloke’s film through and through, but if you can get past the tired old fact that no decent role goes to a woman, this is a sharp piece of film-making that will leave you gasping for breath. Strike two is the fact that Snatch is unashamedly a recycled version of Lock,…
Read moreDoin’ the time warp
What Women Want What Women Want is premised on two flawed assumptions. Firstly, that women don’t already tell men what they want. And secondly, that men aren’t already listening. By managing to insult the intelligence of both sexes early on, it doesn’t give itself much of a chance. Mel Gibson plays Nick Marshall, a proudly…
Read moreLove (of dancing) in the time of striking
Billy Elliot The underdog overcoming great adversity, David cutting Goliath down to size, the weakling showing courageous strength – great films are made when they celebrate such victories (Erin Brokovich, Muriel’s Wedding, The Full Monty), but many a weak film has failed when it hasn’t done justice to or has over-sentimentalized these wins. Billy Elliot,…
Read moreKorean thriller, Hollywood style
Shiri A blockbuster in the best (or worst) of Hollywood traditions, Shiri is a fast-paced thriller with plenty of style, intrigue and explosions. While the plot is at best erratic and at worst occasionally indecipherable, there are enough solid scenes and emotional drama to maintain a momentum of tension and air of mystery. The film…
Read moreEyes half-closed look at yesteryear
The Legend of Bagger Vance Director Robert Redford has created a cinematic oil painting with The Legend of Bagger Vance. Reminiscent of Redford’s previous film The Horse Whisperer in terms of style – and unfortunately, vacuous content – the lush film attempts to portray an inspirational if obvious message that transcends golf: that every person…
Read moreSubtle, not profound
Castaway It’s ambitious and daring by Hollywood standards, but Castaway doesn’t push itself too far beyond what you would expect from a film featuring mainstream stars Tom Hanks and Helen Hunt. Chuck Noland (Hanks) is a troubleshooter for FedEx, and his life is run almost desperately by the clock. It’s high-pressure, day-in, day-out, as he…
Read moreThe horror of sequels
Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 Of course it’s going to be difficult to follow up with something as good as the original $30,000 Blair Witch Project, but it must have been even harder to consciously make it this bad. Were other forces at work? The $10 million sequel, Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2,…
Read moreChan puts the moves into movies
The Accidental Spy There’s just something about Jackie Chan’s graceful moves that make any movie of his worth watching. The balletic kicks, the perfectly-executed somersaults and the inventive use of the most mundane of things – from medical equipment to doorways to straw brooms – are simply breathtaking. These are action scenes worth watching. Jackie…
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