Features 2002
12/30/02
- Nicholas Nickleby
Director
Douglas McGrath, best known for the Victorian adaptation "Emma," pushes
his Victorian luck with "Nicholas Nickleby." An all-star cast can't
save this bland, bloated film.
12/26/02
- Marcy's Top Ten Films of 2002
She
loved the smaller of the small movies this year. No epic stories, no big budget
productions, just compelling characters, beautiful faces, well-told stories,
and for the most part, happy endings.
12/24/02
- Jurgen's Top Ten Films of 2002
Regardless
of what they say, every year is a good year for movies. Here are ten films you
don't want to miss. They all teeter on the edge between pure lush escapist entertainments
and topical, political films.
12/21/02
- Morvern Callar
The
pre-cog is out of the bag: Samantha Morton constantly amazes and never takes
off the headphones in Lynne Ramsey's first film since "Ratcatcher."
12/20/02
- DVD Review: Contempt
Brigitte
Bardot shares the screen with Fritz Lang and Jack Palance in Jean-Luc Godard's
absorbing 1963 film about love and the movies.
12/14/02
- The Ghost of Cinema Past: Solaris
Steven
Soderbergh reinvents Andrei Tarkovsky's classic "Solaris" for the
multiplex screen, and audiences everywhere are scratching their heads.
12/13/02
- Independent Spirit Award Nominees 2002
It's
a party: John Waters, the Santa Monica beach, and shiny awards. "Lovely
& Amazing" leads in the nominations...
12/13/02
- Russian Ark
Alexander
Sokurov's entrancing one-shot flight through the Hermitage in St. Petersburg
is a bravura filmmaking stunt that leaves the audience hypnotized.
12/1/02
- My Neighbor Totoro
Hayao
Miyazaki's classic animation, now out on DVD, is gentle enough to appeal to
the youngest demographic, but anybody with open eyes and heart will find plenty
to love.
11/30/02
- The Lord of the Rings: Extended Edition
Did
we really need another DVD version of "The Fellowship of the Ring"?
Jürgen says: of course we did!
11/22/02
- Talk to Her
Pedro
Almodovar's first film since his Oscar-winning "All About My Mother"
is a marvel of melodrama.
11/22/02
- Parker's Velocity
Marcy
talks to indie queen Parker Posey about her new movie "Personal Velocity."
11/11/02
- DVD Review: A Hard Day's Night
Finally!
The Fab Four's first feature film! The Beatles' superbly entertaining, irreverent
first film comes with all the special features a fan could wish for.
11/7/02
- At the Table with Dylan Kidd
Marcy
talks to the director of "Roger Dodger" about making his first movie,
directing Campbell Scott and Isabella Rossellini, and the untapped potential
of Natalie Portman.
10/23/02
- DVD Review: Italian for Beginners
The
handheld camera aesthetics of Dogme 95 look terrible on DVD, but the warm humor
of Lone Scherfig's Danish comedy still convinces.
10/22/02
- DVD Review: The Specialist
A
haunting portrait of Adolf Eichmann during the 1960 trial in Jerusalem, Eyal
Sivan's documentary offers profound insights into the mechanics of the Holocaust.
10/13/02
- Naqoyqatsi
Visually
dazzling and with a powerful soundtrack by Philip Glass and Yo-Yo Ma, Godfrey
Reggio's final entry in the "qatsi" trilogy ultimately disappoints.
10/12/02
- DVD Review: CQ
Roman
Coppola's debut, a superstylish confection about a young artist in Paris working
on a film much like "Barbarella" is first-rate fluffy fun.
10/11/02
- Festival Review: Friday Night
Get
stuck in Paris traffic and hop under the covers with Valerie Lemercier in Claire
Denis' hypnotic new film.
10/10/02
- Bowling for Columbine
Muckraker
Michael Moore's scathing documentary about gun violence in America is opening
this weekend.
10/09/02
- Festival Review: Divine Intervention
Palestinian
writer-director Elia Suleiman paints a personal and absurd picture of the Middle
East conflict in this controversial film.
10/08/02
- Festival Review: Safe Conduct
Bertrand
Tavernier crams his fascinating three-hour tapestry of filmmaker's lives in
occupied Paris full of details, stories, and anecdotes.
10/07/02
- Festival Review: Blind Spot - Hitler's Secretary
The
woman who took down Hitler's testament in the Führerbunker shares her story
with the camera in Andre Heller's gripping documentary.
10/05/02
- Festival Review: Punch-Drunk Love
Harmoniums,
pudding, and blue suits don't make a movie: P.T. Anderson's latest, starring
Adam Sandler, is a half-baked grab-bag of gimmicks in search for a heart and
a soul.
10/04/02
- Grave of the Fireflies
One
of the most devastating war movies ever made, this animated Japanese classic
tells the fate of two orphans after their city is firebombed.
10/03/02
- Festival Review: Springtime in a Small Town
Tian
Zhuanghzhuang's remake of a classic Chinese melodrama is reminiscent of Zhang
Yimou's "Raise the Red Lentern."
10/01/02
- Festival Update: Kaurismäki's Letter
The
full text of Aki Kaurismäki's statement regarding his decision to cancel
his appearance at the 40th New York Film Festival out of sympathy for Abbas
Kiastorami.
10/01/02
- Festival Update
Aki
Kaurismäki's "The Man Without a Past," "Views from the Avant-Garde,"
and Nicolas Philibert's schoolhouse documentary "Etre et Avoir."
10/01/02
- Festival Review: Bloody Sunday
Peter
Greengrass's reenactment of the Irish Trouble's worst day is a masterpiece of
rare immediacy and power.
09/30/02
- Festival Review: The Uncertainty Principle
The
action in Portuguese director Manuel di Oliviera's stylized film happens mostly
off-screen.
09/29/02
- Festival Review: Autofocus
Hogan's
Ho's: Paul Schrader tells the true story about Bob "Hogan" Crane,
the TV star that went down in a blaze of Nazi comedy, tawdry sex, and ancient
betamax equipment.
09/28/02
- Festival Review: About Schmidt
Alexander
Payne's new film, which opened the 2002 New York Film Festival, looks into the
tormented soul of a retired actuary, masterfully played by Jack Nicholson.
09/28/02
- The 40th New York Film Festival
The
Film Society of Lincoln Center celebrates the 40th anniversary of its highly
selective festival with new films by PT Anderson, Alexander Payne, Aki Karuismäki,
Pedro Almodovar, Abbas Kiarostami and many others.
09/27/02
- Wasabi
Jean
Reno goes to Japan in this very silly international crime story. Pop phenomenon
Ryoko Hirosue plays the tough cop's bouncy daughter.
09/20/02
- Das Experiment
Moritz
Bleibtreu, Germany's hottest leading man, stars in a powerful blend of action
thriller, psychological drama, and cautionary tale about the monster in all
of us.
09/13/02
- Igby Goes Down
Like
Holden Caulfield before him, Kieran Culkin goes on the lam in New York in this
appealing film. The A-list cast includes Claire Danes, Jeff Goldblum, Susan
Sarandon, and Amanda Peet.
09/02/02
- Top Ten Anti-War Movies
With
the world once again poised at the brink of war, films can help to remind us
of the pain, horror and waste of war. By emphasizing our common humanity, they
make us reexamine what is worth fighting for--and what isn't.
08/20/02
- DVD Review: À nous la liberté
Rene Clair's 1931 comedy about the fate of two escaped convicts looks
fresh and clean in this new DVD transfer courtesy of the Criterion Collection.
08/19/02
- DVD Review: Iris
The
true story of Iris Murdoch's decline from Alzheimer's, with remarkable performances
by Kate Winslet and Judi Dench, works better on the small screen.
08/18/02
- DVD Review: The Business of Strangers
This
is no feel good women's movie: tough talk between Julia Stiles and Stockard
Channing will grip your attention in this small, edgy film.
08/12/02
- Mostly Martha
Sandra
Nettelbeck's romantic comedy "Mostly Martha" about a world-famous
chef who finds the recipe for love will turn your stomach.
08/08/02
- Top Picks: Peter Jackson Films
Before
he directed Frodo, Gandalf, and Sauron, the New Zealand auteur was known for
twisted and unique cult movies.
07/30/02
- Happy Times
Chinese
director Zhang Yimou has a gift when it comes to discovering actresses. Joining
an esteemed list including Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi comes Jie Dong. Her shining
presence is reason enough to see this formula-driven tragi-comedy.
07/15/02
- What To Do in Case of Fire
The
word "blockbuster" gains a whole new meaning in this German comedy
about a bunch of Berlin anarchists who reunite after fifteen years to deal with
their bomb-throwing past. Light summer fare, German style.
07/01/02
- Me Without You
Michelle
Williams of 'Dawson Creek' fame goes British, insecure, intellectual and absolutely
lovely in Sandra Golbacher's second film about a tumultuous friendship during
1970s and 80s England.
07/01/02
- Blue Velvet DVD
It's
still a strange world: Kyle MacLachlan, Laura Dern, Isabella Rossellini and
Dennis Hopper will still creep you out in David Lynch's classic freak-fest.
06/25/02
- Maelstrom
First
time director Denis Villenueve brings us a brilliant morality tale as told by
a bloody, chopped-up fish.
06/18/02
- Sunshine State
John
Sayles returns with the most satisfying ensemble drama in a long time, featuring
Angela Bassett, Edie Falco, and Timothy Hutton. Read why Marcy considers it
one of the highlights of the year so far.
06/16/02
- Aberdeen DVD
Lena
Headey and Stellan Skarsgård are on a substance-addled road trip to reach
Charlotte Rampling on her death bed. Oscar winner Nick Cage has a thing or two
to learn about drunks on film.
06/06/02
- "Kaaterskill Falls" Interview
Ever
wonder what it would be like to shoot an improvised Indie movie in the wilderness
without a permit? Guerilla filmmakers Peter Olsen and Josh Apter talk about
the making of their acclaimed Indie thriller "Kaaterskill Falls,"
the problem with DV, and why they love New York.
05/27/02
- Idi Amin Dada
A
new Criterion DVD unearthes this first-hand portrait of the Ugandan dictator
by French filmmaker Barbet Schroeder. This eye-opening document should not be
missed by anybody with an interest in the human capacity for evil.
05/26/02
- Elling
Petter
Næss's Oscar-nominated comedy about two dysfunctional characters in Oslo
would make a wonderful double-feature with Lars Van Trier's "The Idiots."
05/15/02
- Waking Life DVD
How
do you know you're not dead yet? Richard Linklater's stunning animated feature
presents a series of philosophical conundrums in fascinating rotoscope color.
04/24/02
- Triumph of Love
Who
knew costume drama could be so much fun? Come on down to the Italian villa to
see "Sexy Beast" Ben Kinglsey turn into a pussy cat. Only the title
is a misnomer--the triumph is Mira Sorvino's.
04/23/02
- The Top New DVDs
A
very subjective round-up of the latest world and independent releases, carefully
gleaned from the stacks of review discs piling up by Jurgen's door.
04/23/02
- Blue Vinyl
Judith
Helfand and Daniel Gold's documentary about toxic siding just won the Audience
Award for Best Documentary at the Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema.
04/22/02
- Devil's Playground
Lucy
Walker's debut about the Amish rite of passage called rumspringa follows
one young man into crank addiction and back.
04/21/02
- Dogtown and Z-Boys
What
do you get when you cross juvenile delinquent wannabe surfers with a city full
of concrete? According to "Dogtown and Z-Boys," the new documentary
by former skater Stacy Peralta, you get a revolution.
04/15/02
- At the "Human Nature" Press Day
Marcy
wings her interviews with Patricia Arquette, Tim Robbins, Charlie Kaufman, Michel
Gondry, Rhys Ifans, and Rosie Perez -- and still manages to get interesting
answers!
04/12/02
- Human Nature
Trained
mice, hairy women, humping ape-men. Who cares? "Being John Malkovich"
screenwriter Charlie Kaufman has cooked up a pointless plot full of eccentricities
and devoid of laughs.
04/01/02
- No Such Thing
Hal
Hartley's "No Such Thing" asks the question: Are there really monsters?
I say: who cares when Sarah Polley is back on the screen, asking the questions.
Also starring Helen Mirren, Julie Christie, and Hartley regular Robert John
Burke as the Monster.
03/28/02
- DVD Review: The New Waterford Girl
This
quirky coming of age story marks the emergence of interesting new actress Liane
Balaban. Sadly, the film never reaches it potential, falling into Miramax trap
of cute small town baffoonery.
3/20/02
- Daisies
The
return of Vera Chytilova's 1966 free-wheeling feminist romp marks the rerelease
of a series of Czech New Wave films. Join the revolution with two naughty girls
named Marie in our guest reviewer's new favorite film.
3/19/02
- 2001 Best Foreign Film Oscar Preview
Perhaps
you've seen crowd-pleasing French entry, Jean Pierre Jeunet's "Amelie",
but the field is much wider. Nominated films include entries from Argentina,
Norway, and for the first time in Academy history, Bosnia.
3/18/02
- DVD Review: Ghost World
One of the the best films of 2001. Terry Zwigoff adaptation of Daiel Clowe's
comic book breathes genuine teenage ennui.
3/09/02
- DVD Review: George Washington
David
Gordon Green's acclaimed debut is the latest film to get the royal Criterion
treatment.
2/22/02
- Big Bad Love
Debra
Winger returns to the screen in husband Arliss Howard's directorial debut based
on the short stories of Mississippi writer Larry Brown. This artsy excercise
in filmmaking makes you wish you'd stayed at home with a book.
2/21/02
- Belle De Jour
The
French classic finds new life on DVD. Ice cold beauty Catherine Deneuve lures
you in; insightful commentary offers clarity to surrealist Bunuel's inscrutable
intentions.
2/19/02
- Monsoon Wedding
Mina Nair's exuberant "Bollywood" film won the Golden Lion Award at
Venice. But five plots lines, sixty-eight actors, and three languages finally
add up to a likeable TV melodrama.
2/18/02
- DVD Review: "O"
The cast is red-hot: Julia Stiles, Joshnett Harnett, and Mekhi Phifer, but Tim
Blake Nelson's controversial adaptation of Shakespeare's "Othello"
sheds no new light on the American teen scene.
2/13/02
- Deer Hunter
Don't go out in the woods tonight: Larry
Fessenden's art house horror "Wendigo," now in theaters, is likely
to disappoint both horror and art house audiences.
2/12/02
- Iris: Sailing Into Darkness (With Lots of Theme Music)
Just in time to bask in the Academy Award nominations for Judi Dench, Kate Winslet,
and Jim Broadbent comes the release of "Iris." Oscar caliber performances,
however, are not enough to save this sentimental story of love and Alzheimer's.
2/7/02
- Take the Party Home
Jennifer Jason Leigh and Alan Cummings direct themselves, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin
Kline, Parker Posey, Jennifer Beals and Phoebe Cates in this smart, witty drama
that was much overlooked by both critics and box office. See what you missed
on DVD.
1/30/02
- Children of Paradise
Marcel Carné's poetic 1945 classic lives up to the hype it has received
over the years, and with Criterion's restored DVD, it looks as good as it hasn't
in decades: this film might just be perfect.
1/29/02
- Dancing at the Blue Iguana
Daryl
Hannah, Sandra Oh, Charlotte Ayanna, and Jennifer Tilly shake their booties
in Michael Radford's unsentimental look at strip club performers.
1/28/02
- Queer as Folk
The
first season of this groundbreaking TV series, now out on DVD, offers a compelling
panorama of urban gay life, including daring sex scenes couched in solid soap
opera plots.
1/14/02
- Other People's Video Games
"Shadow
Skill," an anime action-adventure now out on DVD, offers impressive fight
sequences but not much else. It feels a bit like looking over someone else's
shoulder at the arcade.
1/13/02
- Loners Find Love, Dogme Style
Lone
Scherfig's "Italian for Beginners" is an unlikely success: a romantic
comedy from Denmark, filmed with handheld cameras and without swelling theme
music. The result is an honest and touching film.
1/12/02
- Free-Form Freak-Out at Prague Castle
The
story of the Czech rock band "The Plastic People of the Universe"
as told in Jana Chytlova's new documentary, is
a fascinating account of repression, subversion, and rock music as revolutionary
force.
1/11/02
- Rape, Murder, And Other Teenage Past Times
"Kids"
director Larry Clark returns to his disturbing world of underage sex and violence
with "Bully," now out on DVD. It's an unsettling look at a true story
of high school revenge that is hard to watch and even harder to forget.
1/10/02
- Sundance 2002
It's Sundance time. Robert Redford's little festival
for the small filmmaker has morphed into the industry's biggest showcase for
independent films. Here are the highlights.
1/7/02
- Marcy's Top Picks of 2001
Forget
"Lord of the Rings," "Black Hawk Down," and "Ocean's
Eleven." Roger Ebert has it all wrong. Here are Marcy's favorite films
of the last twelve months.
1/6/02
- Glam-Rocking in the Free World
After
stage and the movie theaters, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" comes to
rock your home entertainment system. John Cameron Mitchell's rousing transexual
rock musical is out on an oh-so-fabulous DVD.
1/4/02
- Pre-Industrial Light and Magic
Before
George Lucas, there was George Melies, the pioneer of fantasy film. Facets Video's
DVD release "Melies the Magician" combines a documentary about Melies'
career with fifteen short films in restored splendor.
