Race To Witch Mountain
Dwayne Johnson stars in this terrific science-fiction movie from the Walt Disney Studios. Dwayne plays a Las Vegas cab driver, who finds himself with two extraterrestrial teenage passengers in his taxi. They convince Dwayne to drive them across country for a rendezvous with their spaceship at Witch Mountain. Meanwhile, a secret government agency, and an extraterrestrial terminator, are determined the two teenagers will not keep their date with destiny. The Walt Disney Studio is famous for its animation, and the computer-animated special effects in this movie are just fantastic. The movie is basically for kids, but, adults will get a kick out of it as well.
The Hottest State
Actor Ethan Hawk turns his hand to directing, in this screen adaptation of his novel ‘The Hottest State’. It is a rather simple story about an actor and his romance with a budding female singer, but, the movie has a freshness and innocence which makes it rather appealing. Ethan Hawk also manages, in many subtle ways, to make ingenious screen references to his cinematic influences, which makes the movie particularly interesting for movie buffs. It is a competent movie, which indicates Ethan could also have a successful career as a screenwriter and director, apart from being a very talented actor.
Starting Out In The Evening
Recent Oscar Nominee Frank Langella stars in this movie as an aging, widowed, and stoic writer, who gains a new lease on life when a young grad student wishes to write her master’s thesis on his long out-of-print novels. This relationship, let’s not call it a romance, soon sends the writer into a rather depressing bout of self reflection, much to the detriment of his current work-in-progress. Meanwhile, his 40 year old and still single daughter cannot make head nor tale of the relationship, and wonders where it is all heading. Eventually, jealousy will play a role in all the daughter’s decisions. The movie also stars Lili Taylor and TV Sex Siren Lauren Ambrose, from ‘Six Foot Under’ fame. The acting is superb. Directed by Andrew Wagner, the movie is ‘heavy going’, and it should not be approached lightheartedly!
The Caller
Frank Langella also stars in this esoteric mystery. Written and directed by Richard Ledes, the movie is an ‘art house’ private detective story, in which Frank Langella, through impersonal telephone calls, hires a private eye to investigate himself. For a long while the reasons are not clear why Frank Langella would want to put himself under surveillance, but, finally things become more apparent, if perhaps a bit muddled. The movie is all about atmosphere and ambiance, rather than common sense. Elliot Gould, who has had his fair share of ‘private dick’ roles, is excellent as the confused private investigator. No doubt he is not the only person to be confused by the movie.
The Ramen Girl
There can be no denying that this movie is a romantic fantasy. Abandoned by her boyfriend, Brittany Murphy decides that the real reason she came to Tokyo was to learn and master the subtle intricacies of Japanese cooking. In particular, the fragrances and composition of traditional Ramen Soup. How she manages to do this, without a word of Japanese, along with the guidance of a Japanese chef, who doesn’t speak a word of English, defies description. All-the-same, Brittany’s blonde bimbo skills are suitably honed for this task at hand, and her clashes with Japanese culture shock are highly entertaining.
Newcastle
A group of young Australian surfers are in training for an upcoming junior pro surfing competition. They go away for a wild weekend of sun and surf, but, a terrible tragedy occurs. That’s about it. The surfing and underwater photography is spectacular. The movie is full of fresh faced, handsome, and, young, new Australian actors. There is lots of nudity and male bonding. But, after a while, you start to get the impression that you are watching some form of soft-core homosexual pornography. The movie is pretty blatant about Australian male bonding rituals. I don’t think ‘real’ surfers are going to be at all impressed by the movie, and what it seems to be suggesting.
Twin Rivers
This is another Australian movie about male bonding, but, of a distinctly heterosexual slant. Set in 1939, just prior to the outbreak of WW2, two brothers, attempting to escape their repressive life in the mining town of Broken Hill, pack their ‘swags’ and head out onto the road, seeking their fortune where ever they may find it! Eventually, they end up in a little hick country town, and, of course a woman, damn them all, comes between them. The movie is a gentle, low-keyed drama about brotherly love and betrayal.
Gardens of the Night
If young girls have not got the message by now that it is not wise to accept rides from strangers in their cars, then this movie should well and truly get that point across. When a seven year old girl accepts a ride from a man claiming to be her father’s friend, she spends the next ten years of her life in absolute degradation. When she is eventually reunited with her parents, she finds they have little in common, and prefers life on the streets. The movie is a shocking story about a young life totally corrupted and wasted. Comedian Tom Arnold, in a complete change of pace, is superb as the creepy abductor.
