APRIL SCREENINGS

Publisher's Note: These films were screened in April, it's now mid-June; I've got to learn to take notes during my screenings...

Alfie - **1/2 This remake with Jude Law in the title role is a tamer version than it's original predecessor with Michael Cane. I remember little of this film other than another good, not great, performance by Jude Law. I mostly watched it because Jane Karakowski had a (too) small role. Better than most playboy-searching-for-themselves-fighting-adulthood-while-having-sex-with-lots-of-gorgeous-women movies.

Bridge Jones: The Edge of Reason - * Horrible film. Just awful. The cast seemed to loathe every moment. If there's another Bridget Jones film with this cast, they were obviously brainwashed and/or aliens have taken over their body.

Closer - **** What a wonder this film is! Truly great performances by it's cast--yes, even Julia Roberts (though I'd have rather seen someone like Catherine Zeta Jones cast instead). I can't recommend this film enough.

Fat Albert - **1/2 A standard live-action verion of a famous cartoon with a little 80's John Hughes teen adolescence thrown in. I rewatched some of the original cartoons and they're much funnier. I do think that Kenan Thompson is pretty funny (and embarrassingly underused on SNL).

Ladder 49 - *** Wait, I liked a non-musical John Travolta movie not directed by Quentin Tarantino? Huh. This films follows the carreer of a young fireman (Juaquin Phoenix) and the dangers he faces everyday. A solid film.

Finding Neverland - ***1/2 A great film. A wonder to watch and I envy anyone with kids old enough to understand and enjoy this film. Destined to be a classic.

The Station Agent - *** This is how I remember "independant films" when screening them in college. Small budget, no plot, great performances. The kind of film that, when it's over, you miss the characters and the world they live in.

Spanglish - *** Pos Vega will be star, if nothing than for sure in my dreams. What a stunning find this girl is. Sandler's most subtle role since "Punch Drunk Love" and again proves he can handle drama. Tea Leoni is also great - why doesn't she act more? Not my favorite among James L. Brooks' films, but when your resume has "Broadcast News" and "As Good As It Gets" that's no small accomplishment.

The Blue Collar Comedy Tour - *** A guilty pleasure for anyone without a Master's Degree.

Friday Night Lights *** - Anyone involved in High School sports can identify with this film. It doesn't have the payoff "Rudy" or "Hoosiers" does, but a fine film about sports and the pressure put on kids to perform and how their life is affected long after they leave the field.

Sideways *** - See review for "The Station Agent" above. Another great performance by Paul Giamatti; you'll get the Oscar someday Paul, I can assure you.

Elektra ** - My expectations were high for this film as I had hand-picked Jennifer Garner to play Elektra in the Daredevil film, and I felt she wasn't given enough to do in that film to really show her stuff. In "Elektra" she brings her game, which I enjoy every week on "Alias", unfortunately, someone forgot to bring a script.

The Karate Kid Series:
The Karate Kid - ***1/2 Classic story, classic film, classic karate move.
The Karate Kid Part II - ** Remake of The Karate Kid, but in Japan.
The Karate Kid Part III - ** Remake of The Karate Kid Part II, but back in L.A.
The Next Karate Kid - ** Remake of... well, all of them, but this time with a girl and no Ralph Macchio.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - *** Not one of those "funny ha-ha" films, but you find yourself quoting it often. Now a Tony award winning musical! Really? Yes, really. What happened to Glenn Headly? Last I saw she was on ER...