Eastwood’s latest is brave, uncompromising
Clint Eastwood’s Mystic River is a film of profound
sadness, a meditation on the irrevocable consequences of violence and how a
single act of cruelty affects not only its victim but also its witnesses. The
film explored three troubled souls: one thirsting for vengeance, another searching
for absolution and a third seeking peace within a life that has been forever
arrested because of the events of a single tragic day.
The childhood tragedy that occurs to Dave (Tim Robbins) and continues to haunt
him and his friends Jimmy (Sean Penn) and Sean (Kevin Bacon) is all-consuming,
causing them to behave in ways they do not understand, often with tragic results.
As young teens, they were accosted by two men who abducted Dave and kept him
captive for four days until he escaped. Now in their late 30s, the three men
are brought back together when Jimmy’s 19-year-old daughter is found murdered.
Sean, now a Boston cop, is assigned to find her killer and Dave emerges as the
prime suspect.
As Sean and his partner, Whitey (Laurence Fishburne) hunt the killer, Jimmy’s
thirst for vengeance prompts him to employ neighborhood thugs to dispense street
justice. Meanwhile, Dave is forced to reexamine the events of that youth while
his wife, Celeste (Marcia Gay Harden), begins to suspect him of murder.
Much has been made of Eastwood’s laid-back style and how his cast responds
to the organic environment he creates on the sets of his films. It’s never been
more in evidence than in this film. Bacon’s refreshingly introspective, Robbins
delivers a heartbreaking performance and Penn inhabits Jimmy’s rage and remorse
with equal passion.
With its honest and complex look at human behavior, Mystic River emerges
as a rare American classic, a film that insists we look at the dark side of
what drives us. It is a brave, uncompromising work that ranks with Eastwood’s
finest.
Chainsaw leaves too little to the imagination
The genius of Tobe Hopper’s original The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
stemmed from its power of suggestion and its seemingly organic aesthetic. A
grainy look and erratic camera movements gave the film a documentary style that
made horror immediate and threatening. This year’s remake, by first-time director
Marcus Nispel, recreates the eerie atmosphere of the original, which tells the
story an in-bred cannibalistic family that slices and dices five unfortunate
teens.
The house where Leatherface (Andrew Bryniarski) and his mad family reside
is rendered as a Gothic monstrosity; the lighting casting a sober hue on its
exterior, while well-placed beams of light allow the carnage the charnel house
contains to emerge from the shadows. But Nispel and cinematographer Daniel Pearl
take Chainsaw a step beyond the original, favoring graphic depictions
of violence over merely suggesting them. For example, during the movie’s first
ten minutes, Nispel employs a shot that has his camera traveling through a gaping
hole in the skull of a young woman who has just committed suicide by shooting
herself in the head. The graphic violence dulls the shock of severed limbs and
impaled bodies that show up later in the film.
Though this Chainsaw looks better than most recent horror fare, its
obvious scare tactics ensure it lacks the distinctiveness and power of Hopper’s
classic. In the end, Nispel’s effort proves to be redundant and pointless.
What other critics are saying…
Dirty Pretty Things [R]
Illegal immigrants discover the unsavory side of London life. Features riveting
performances by Chiwetel Ejiofor and Audrey Tautou.”A suspenseful, entertaining movie.” (John Anderson,
Newsday) Parkway Pointe
Finding Nemo [G] Animated underwater tale. “An upbeat, sentimental
fable about a fearful father fish and a rebellious son.” (Stephen Holden, New
York Times) Chuck’s grade: A. White Oaks
Good Boy![PG]
An intergalatic dog from the dog star Sirius visits Earth to verify the rumors
that dogs have failed to take over the planet “Occasional laughs try hard but
can’t salvage the tired storyline and pat conclusion.” (Jeanne Aufmuth, Palo
Alto Weekly). ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
The House of the Dead [R] Teens arrive on an island for a rave — only
to discover the island has been taken over by zombies. They try to survive the
night. Parkway Pointe
Intolerable Cruelty [PG-13] A revenge-seeking gold digger (Catherine
Zeta-Jones) marries a womanizing Beverly Hills lawyer (George Clooney) with
the intention of making a killing in the divorce. Directed by Joel and Ethan
Coen. “A thoroughly entertaining comedy about love, lawyers and fat divorce
settlements.” (David Rooney, Variety). Parkway Pointe, ShowPlace East
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 [R] A female assassin (Uma Thurman) attacked on her
wedding day by her group leader, Bill (David Carradine), wakes up from a coma
and seeks revenge. Directed by Quentin Tarantino. “This is the ultimate movie
for kung-fu drive-in geeks.” (Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper).ShowPlace
West, ShowPlace East
Lost in Translation [R] Bill Murray is a down-and-out actor who travels
to Tokyo to film a whiskey commercial. “It’s a wonderful film, all subtlety
and grace.”(Bill Muller, Arizona Republic) Parkway Pointe
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl [PG-13] “The
most high-flying, jaw-dropping special effect of the summer is . . . Johnny
Depp.” (Ty Burr, Boston Globe) Chuck’s grade: B+. Parkway Pointe
Runaway Jury [PG-13] A juror (John Cusack) and a
woman on the outside (Rachel Weisz) try to manipulate a trial involving a major
gun manufacturer.”Taut
suspense, keen twists and a smart, careful disclosure of the plot.” (Ross Anthony,
Hollywood Report Card). ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
The Rundown [PG-13] L.A. street toughs must travel to Brazil to clean
up some underworld business. “The wildly asinine crack-up derby that XXX
should have been.” (Scott Brown, Entertainment Weekly) Parkway Pointe
School of Rock [PG-13] Jack Black gets kicked out of a band and starts
substitute teaching. “Funnyman Jack Black was born for this role.” (Jeanne Aufmuth,
Palo Alto Weekly) ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
Seabiscuit [PG-13] The horse, its jockey, and the men who made them
famous. “Standout alternative . . . to an oft-deadly sequel summer.” (Mike Clark,
USA Today) Chuck’s grade: A. White Oaks
Under the Tuscan Sun [PG-13] An American writer battles writer’s block
by moving to Italy. “It purports to make love all over us, but not without laying
down lots of paper towels first.” (Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com) “It may be
a fairy tale, but it’s one worth believing in.” (Terry Lawson, Detroit Free
Press) ShowPlace West
Veronica Guerin [R] Based on a true story, an Irish journalist (Cate
Blanchett) risks her life to expose Dublin’s underworld drug dealers. “Well-meaning
but by-the-numbers biopic.” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone). ShowPlace
West
This article appears in Oct 16-22, 2003.
