The mating call of lawyers in love
Laws of Attraction proves a totally disarming and charming comedy, thanks
in large part to genuine chemistry between its two stars, aging sex symbol Pierce
Brosnan and classic beauty Julianne Moore. Playing the roles of two successful
New York divorce lawyers, Brosnan and Moore provide the sparks necessary to
turn a pedestrian affair into an engaging and romantic battle of the sexes.
Daniel Rafferty (Brosnan) and Audrey Miller (Moore) are legal eagles with markedly different styles: Rafferty is a rumpled character with sloppy work habits; Miller is a meticulous control freak. Of course, these two can’t help but be intrigued by each other. Before you know it, they’re engaged in verbal foreplay in the courtroom. When one case concerns the disposition of an ancient castle, the two sparring lawyers must set off to Ireland to depose the locals. Will a trip to Emerald Isle lead to romance? If you’ve lived under a rock your whole life, there’s a chance you’ll be surprised by the outcome.
Thankfully, director Peter Howitt knows he’s covering familiar territory and
wisely wastes little time lingering over obvious situations. Similarly, his
two stars exceed expectations: Brosnan is devilishly charming; Moore is equally
appealing. These two film veterans belong on the screen together just as their
characters belong in each other’s arms. (CK)
Creative violence marks latest revenge
flick
Creasy (Denzel Washington) is a down-on-his-luck ex-military counter-terrorism expert, which is a flowery name for a government assassin. Death is his art, and he is a master at killing. With nothing going on in his life, except for alcohol, he takes a thankless job guarding the young daughter (Dakota Fanning) of a rich industrialist in Mexico City, a city plagued by a wave of kidnappings. The story line does follow a predictable formula. Pita, the young girl, wants to be Creasy’s friend, but he initially views her as just a job. He is annoyed by her prying questions, but her persistence eventually breaks down his reserve. The bonding is necessary to prepare for the inevitable kidnapping and Creasy’s relentless need for revenge. This is where his skills come into play, and the retribution is brutal.
Washington is one of very few actors who is comfortable in both serious drama and action films. He can be mesmerizing as charismatic personages (Steven Biko, Malcolm X), and he can project quiet strength in the Clint Eastwood mold, as he does here. Creasy is ruthless and unflinching, but in Washington’s hands he never comes across as evil. Fanning is quite good for an 8-year-old, and she helps develop a genuine chemistry with Washington. The extremely somber tone of the film prevents her cuteness from becoming too cloying. The rest of the cast is also good, particularly Radha Mitchell and Marc Anthony as Pita’s parents, and Christopher Walken, in a rare non-creepy role, as an old friend of Creasy’s.
The material is hardly original; in fact it is a remake of a little-seen Scott
Glenn film; and there are a few plotholes along the way. Director Tony Scott
(Top Gun, True Romance) covers these flaws and the film’s slight
overlength with hyper-kinetic pacing and jagged editing. Visuals have always
been Scott’s strong suit, and the mixing of film styles is reminiscent of Natural
Born Killers. Revenge movies are in this year, and Man on Fire is
a good addition to the genre. Audiences need to be aware that the violence is
intense, but also very creative. (MS)
What other critics are saying. . .
The Alamo [PG-13] Santa’s coming, and you better watch out. Tells the
story of the 1836 standoff between a group of Texans, including Davy Crockett
and Jim Bowie, and the Mexican army, led by General Santa Ana.“The filmmakers
have obviously decided to use as their model those educational films. . .that
are inflicted on soon to be history-hating students at the middle school level”
(Andrea Chase, Killer Movie Reviews) ShowPlace West
Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius [PG] The life story of Bobby Jones (James
Caviezel), the golf legend who retired from competition at the tender age of
28. Parkway Pointe
Connie and Carla [PG-13] After they witness a mob mix-up, two girls
go deep undercover, posing as drag queens on the dinner theater-cabaret circuit.
Parkway Pointe
Ella Enchanted [PG] Ella is a young woman who was given the “gift”
of obedience by a fairy named Lucinda. After her mother dies, Ella is cared
for by her thoughtless, greedy father who remarries a loathsome woman. A variation
on the Cinderalla theme based on Gail Carson Levine’s award-winning novel. Parkway Pointe
Envy [PG-13] When Nick (Jack Black) becomes filthy rich off of his
ridiculous invention, his best friend Tim (Ben Stiller) turns into his archenemy.
“If you’ve been following the recent box office success both Stiller
and Black have enjoyed, this is a match made in box office heaven.” (Ed Gonzalez,
Slant magazine) ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
Godsend [PG-13] The Duncans (Greg Kinnear and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos)
consult with an expert in cell regeneration (Robert De Niro), hoping to clone
their son, who died tragically. ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
Hellboy [PG-13] A demon, rescued during infancy from the Nazis, becomes
a defender against the forces of evil. “The sheer ingenuity and obvious joy
[Guillermo] del Toro puts into the major action sequences lifts the movie out
of the mundane.” (Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter) ShowPlace West
Home on the Range [PG] When an eviction notice is posted on the Patch of Heaven dairy farm, the cows decide to raise money by collecting a bounty on a notorious yodeling cattle rustler. ShowPlace West
Johnson Family Vacation [PG-13] A family takes a road trip from hell,
with the inevitable wrong turns, car problems and trouble with the law. Stars
Cedric the Entertainer. “This movie is a flat, unfunny mess.” (Willie Waffle,
Wafflemovies.com) Parkway Pointe, ShowPlace East
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 [R] The Bride continues her vengeance quest against
her ex-boss, Bill, and his associates. “What Quentin Tarantino started with
a wham he finishes with a bang in Kill Bill Vol. 2.” (Todd McCarthy,
Variety) ShowPlace West
The Ladykillers [R] A professor assembles a group of thieves for a
casino heist. After they hole up in a sweet old woman’s home, they find that
she’s the biggest threat to their plans. Stars Tom Hanks. “The Coens’ remake
of a comedy classic flounders amid extreme caricatures and stained humor. (Kirk
Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter) Parkway Pointe
Mean Girls [PG-13]Cady Heron is a hit with The Plastics, the
A-list girl clique at her new school, until she makes the mistake of falling
for the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic. ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
The Passion of the Christ [R] Mel Gibson’s version of the last 12 hours
of Jesus Christ’s life. Parkway Pointe
The Prince and Me [PG] Fairy tale about a college student who meets
a prince in Wisconsin. “Fitful corny one-liners and an ambiguous climax can
be overlooked due to fresh scripting and the vast appeal of Julia Stiles and
newcomer Luke Mably.” (Jeanne Aufmuth, Palo Alto Weekly) Parkway Pointe
The Punisher [R] Based on a bad-ass Marvel Comics hero, FBI agent Frank
Castle takes it upon himself to rid America of crime after his wife and family
are killed. “Laudably exposes the dark core of the human heart.” (Peter Travers,
Rolling Stone) ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed [PG] The gang must contend with a
masked villain who unleashes scary monsters in an attempt to take over Coolsville.
ShowPlace West
13 Going on 30 [PG-13] A 13-year-old girl plays a game on her 13th
birthday and wakes up the next day as a 30-year-old woman [Jennifer Garner].
ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
Walking Tall [PG-13] A former member of U.S. Army Special Forces (Dwayne
“The Rock” Johnson) returns to his small Washington State home to revive his
family’s lumber business. The town’s overrun with corruption; the ex-soldier
fixes things with a two-by-four. ShowPlace East
This article appears in Apr 29 – May 5, 2004.
