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 | Sold for 3.5 million dollars, Pieces of April was this year's financial success story at Sundance. Katie Holmes plays an estranged daughter, April, who invites the family together for Thanksgiving dinner as a sort of goodbye to her mother (Patricia Clarkson) dying of breast cancer. Despite the somber premise, there are plenty of lighthearted moments listening to the family members bicker on the car ride up and watching April's clumsy preparation of the turkey. Unfortunately, an abrupt ending gives the film an uneven pace, seemingly cutting off when there should still be twenty minutes left.More |  | Joel and Ethan Coen take a full-handed swipe at melodramatic and pompous Hollywood productions (see Jerry Maguire) in their latest film Intolerable Cruelty. George Clooney delivers a charismatic performance as a fast-talking divorce lawyer, Miles Massey, who falls for Marylin Rexroth (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a charming yet gold-digging divorcče. There are times that Intolerable itself is guilty of taking things too far, but all is forgiven because the movie is so damn funny. The film is at its most effective in the more subdued scenes where we can appreciate the Coen brothers' witty dialogue to the fullest.More |  | Denzel Washington stars as police chief Matt Whitlock, who has been swindled out of half a million dollars and framed for murder by double-crossing lover Sanaa Lathan.More |  | There are two ways to phrase something: the way a regular person would, and the way David Mamet would. One of the prominent playwrights of our era, he has carved an entire career out of writing conversations the way he wishes they were as opposed to how they actually are. With his propensity for answering questions with more questions, characters repeating what another has just said, and the inevitable appearance of expletive-laden monologues, one can take a clear stand with Mamet; you either love him or hate him.More |  | 7th Annual Madcat International Film Festival Now entering its seventh year, the Madcat International Film Festival continues to expand on all fronts. Over 850 submissions were received this year, allowing the festival to construct twelve short programs each organized by a common theme. A dozen countries, including faraway places such as Argentina, Sweden, and Korea, have films on display at the 2003 edition of the festival, solidifying Madcat's reputation as the premiere showcase for women's independent film. A look at this year's program will give you a glimpse into the variety of material women directors are covering today.More |  | Triumph of the underdog As I am sure you can surmise, [i]Seabiscuit[/i], based on Laura Hillenbrand's best selling novel, is about a horse that wins many races. That was the extent of my knowledge going into the film, and it is all you want to know. I believe my ignorance, in this case, enhanced my enjoyment, as the events that unfolded were new to me. Surely Hollywood spruced it up, but the tail of Seabiscuit is truly a remarkable tale. Like clockwork, as one obstacle is overcome, another springs into place.More |  | The Curse of the Black Pearl Fun. Ultimately, that is why movies exist. Sure, there is the occasional film that educates or provides social commentary, but generally people look to film to provide relief from the monotony of their everyday lives. It is a fact sometimes forgotten when movies strive to be artistic. Perhaps the summer's best example of this is Ang Lee's Hulk, as his attempt at a smart action movie results in a boring one. Pirates of the Caribbean marks the return of Jerry Bruckheimer, the grizzled veteran of action extravaganzas, who has carved out an entire career of producing pictures whose sole purpose is audience entertainment...More |  | A fun stroll to the yellow brick road It's been one hundred three years since L. Frank Baum penned his storied fable [i]The Wonderful Wizard of Oz[/i], and more than sixty years since Victor Fleming immortalized the tale in film. What allows [i]The Wizard of Oz[/i] to endure as a classic are the universal themes that people of all ages can relate to. Children appreciate the story at face value, a scared child simply wanting to return to the safe haven of her home, while adults can see the symbolic meanings behind each of the characters. Fast forward to 2003, and we now look at the times leading up to Dorothy...More |  | Guy Maddin re-examines a classic A quick look at any mainstream release this summer illustrates the vast resources that filmmakers today have at their disposal. Computer generated images and visual effects have become so ingrained in current day films, that we no longer even take notice of their use. So when a director makes a decision to create a silent black and white film, this is not done for practicality, but rather as an exercise in creativity. Dracula, Pages From A Virgin's Diary, the newest feature from cult director Guy Maddin (Archangel, Twilight of the Ice Nymphs), is more than anything such an exercise.More |  | All you need is love Though romance and comedy are certainly elements of the film Intermission, this isn't the type of romantic comedy that Meg Ryan built her career on. The film concedes that love is the single most important part of one's life, but it also makes a compelling argument that, in fact, it is more a curse than a blessing. Still, in a world where ninety-percent of the people are stuck in low-paying, dead-end jobs such as stocking shelves at a supermarket or driving a bus on the same circular route, what other way is there to deal with the ennui of life- other than drinking, which they do plenty of as well- than love?More |
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