Films I Recommend - Showing for the 1st Time in St. Louis in 2000 or late 1999

Below are the films I'd recommend and how I rated'em when I saw them. They are grouped by rating in the order that I saw them in. Only two 4* this year both Foreign Language films, but I can't recommend them enough. As usual I didn't include pictures I'd recommend that are several years old or that I've seen before though several good revivials occurred this year, notably the French film noir Rififi. I also excluded stuff that didn't show in St. Louis on the big screen. My spin on each film follows afterwards. I hope you enjoy the spelling and grammar gaffes, as I haven't gotten any better:

****

4/25 East-West (1999)

12/31 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

***+

01/08 Cider House Rules (1999)

01/14 The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

01/17 Ride with The Devil (1999)

01/19 The Straight Story (1999)

01/23 The Tao of Steve (2000)

3/20 Erin Brocovitch

6/02 Up at the Villa (2000)

06/30 The Gladiator (2000)

09/24 Shower (2000)

10/14 Meet the Parents (2000)

***

01/01 Mansfield Park (1999)

01/20 What's Cooking? (1999)

02/08 Cradle Will Rock (1999)

02/26 Wonder Boys (2000)

4/04 Sleepy Hollow (1999)

4/07 Girl Interrupted (2000)

5/7 Mifune (1999)

5/31 The Virgin Suicides (2000)

6/03 The Big Kahuna (2000)

6/13 The Croupier (2000)

07/02 Sunshine (2000)

07/12 Jesus' Son (1999)

08/09 The Eyes of Tammy Faye (1999)

09/22 Nurse Betty (2000)

11/11 Charlie's Angels (2000)

11/19 Into the Arms of Strangers: Tales of the Kindertransport (2000)

12/03 A Time For Drunken Horses (2000)

12/23 You Can Count on Me (2000)

Best Really Obscure Film that hasn't made it to St. Louis except for the Film Festival

We Married Margo - ***+ very funny

01/01 Mansfield Park (1999)

*** The plot is fairly typical Jane Austen as it centers on the marriage prospects of a bright, and good yet lower class English woman in the early 1800s. Fanny Price (Frances O'Connor) is the poor cousin sent as a pre-teen to live with her relations at Mansfield Park, with the usual intrigue of societal courting, between her, the cousins and the nearby young gentleman and ladies. You know it will turn out happily as the good are matched well and the baddies get their just desserts. Having not read the novel, I wasn't bothered by the modernizations and adaptations emplaced by writer director Patricia Rozema, including using Austen's own letters as Fanny's, hints of lesbianism and the dark secret of the source of the family's wealth (slavery). Good and witting script, typically excellent locations and costumes make it an enjoyable flick ($0.00, Hi-Pointe, Bethany).

01/06 American in Paris (1951)

***+ At the risk of not genuflecting appropriately, this classic from the Arthur Freed production unit of MGM has lost some of its shine over the years. The lark of a plot concerns a former GI with an artistic bent (Gene Kelly) staying in Paris after VE day falling in love with a 19 year old (Leslie Caron), who is secretly engaged to a French showman, who's pals with Kelly and his piano playing buddy Oscar Levant. Add in a subplot of a rich patron who tries to keep Kelly under her wing and you got the whole thing. The plot doesn't stand up on it's own too well or to modern sensibilities (guys in their 30s chasing after teenager). Then again the real stars are the terrific dance routines and Gershwin tunes. Kelly is in fine form particularly the final 10+ minute dance through the works of various artists to the title tune. The film got a gob of Oscars including Best Picture and a special one for Kelly (though it certainly isn't for his mediocre acting ability). It's interesting to compare Oscar Levant's dream symphony sequence to the scene in Being John Malkovich where the character only see himself; technically better but hardly a new concept (Buster Keaton did it also). It's also interesting to compare Kelly's performance here on the MGM back lot with his location work in France 18 years later in Young Girls of Rochefort or the location shots of Gigi ($10.00, Westport, Bethany).

01/08 Cider House Rules (1999)

***+ Interesting tale of secluded Maine orphanage in the 1930s through WWII, where a doctor (Michael Caine) delivers babies or performs abortions (illegally) as asked. One boy who never is adopted, Homer (Toby Maguire) learns all the skills of the trade assisting the doctor as a partner before his misgivings about performing abortions and desires to see the world take him away. A WWII flier and his girlfriend take Homer to their hometown, where he finds work as an apple picker with the migrant workers. The film's title refers to the moronic rules in the migrant workers cabin, metaphorically referring to rules made over others in a vacuum. Reportedly John Irving labored on the screen adaptation of his book for years, and it shows in the loving treatment it receives. Good performances all round in a well-told story ($0.00, Shady Oak, Bethany).

01/14 The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

***+ Very good but dark film starring Matt Damon as the title character sent to Italy in the 1950's to entice a shipping magnet's playboy son to return home. A seemingly simple lie about knowing him from school snowballed into a web of deceit. The plot is unrelenting in its presentation spiraling evil. Gweneth Paltrow also stars and Phillip Seymour Harris and Cate Blanchette have nice supporting roles. Director Anthony Minghella has crafted an excellent film adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's story. Not for all tastes but an excellent film ($7.00, Creve Coeur, Bethany).

01/17 Ride with The Devil (1999)

***+ This is an excellent examination of the Missouri - Kansas border war between the South sympathizing Bushwhackers and Pro-Union Jayhawkers. Told from the view of a band of civilian Bushwhackers, it explores the complexities of the war and why people fought for which side (i.e. generally out of a sense of place and people then out of ideology, which I guess is usually the case no matter how it dresses up). There are acts of clear good and evil, but most of the rest the action is in the murky middle, which is life. Ang Lee gets the scenes right, and it so refreshing to see a film made in what's obviously Missouri during 4 seasons. That and you get to see Jewel's film debut (actually she's not that bad but she shouldn't quit her day job). Fairly violent but a good recreation of the time (I particularly like the wit of the dialogue which I think was more typical of the time). Toby Maguire's low-key delivery is beginning to seem a little one-dimensional but it works here as it did in Cider House Rules ($0.00, Plaza Frontenac, Bethany).

01/19 The Straight Story (1999)

***+ Although the plot of 74 year old Alvin Straight traveling across Iowa and Wisconsin on his riding lawnmower to see his brother sound like a news 30-second humor-human interest story in the hands of veteran actor Richard Farnsworth and director David Lynch, it so much more. It's depiction of a man at the end of his life, reflecting on what's been important as he meets people along the way, is quite moving and contemplative. There's no real action, nudity or foul language, just good story telling. I fear the sweeping vistas of the Iowa cornfields will be lost somewhat on the small screen (the Great Plains really are something to see) ($7.50, Megaplex 17-Jordan Utah).

1/20-25 Sundance Film Festival (6 features and 41 shorts)

01/20 What's Cooking? (1999)

*** Fairly good ensemble piece surrounding Thanksgiving dinner among 4 completely separate families in LA County. An interesting examination of culture and family values in today's society ($0.00, Abravanel Hall-Salt Lake City, Jake and Jasen).

01/21 Shorts Program III

*** Cheerleader Tales, The Wildest Show in the South: The Angola Prison Rodeo, The Bats, This is For Betsy Hall, Reinvention, City Excesses, Gray Matter & Flight of the Stone Fairly good mix of shorts, the standout was the craziness of the prison rodeo (e.g. cowboy poker, 6 bull riders at the same time and grabbing the poker chip on the bull) ($8.00, Prospector-Park City, Jake, etc.).

01/21 Shorts on the Frontier

- Truly annoying group of films (8) that were all about techniques and nothing about plots. The 25-minute wave generated lines and spirals that wouldn't have even make a good screen saver, sums up the self-indulgent imagery with no story or purpose. Even the lesbian S&M film held little interest ($8.00, Yarrow-Park City, Jake, etc.).

01/21 Stranger With A Camera

** Interesting documentary of the murder of documentarian Hugh O'Connor in impoverished Eastern Kentucky in 1967. The overall work is hindered by the need for a 60-minute format and an insistence on the part of the filmmakers to be non-biased and understanding of all viewpoints. No matter what factors instigated the murder, it in no way legitimized a curmudgeonly old man killing somebody ($8.00, Holiday Village-Park City, Jake, etc.).

01/21 Beau Travil

** French movie of present day men in the Foreign Legion in a small compound in East Africa is primarily an image-based exercise with only about 50 lines of dialogue. Visually beautiful but homoerotic imagery of sweaty men exercising in the desert didn't do a lot for me ($8.00, Holiday Village-Park City, lots of folks).

01/23 Voodoo (1998)

**** Excellent 5+ minute film about a first date of suitor, mother and mischievous daughter with a home voodoo kit. Very funny.

Crosswalk (1998)

*** Fairly good short that is being developed into a feature film (saying much more about the plot would diminish the pleasure in watching it unfold).

& Dolphins (1998)

***+ Visually beautiful and poetic forty minute feature of a girl in an asylum who dreams of freedom swimming amongst the dolphins. Original scoring is terrific.

($6.00, Slamdance-Park City, Jake, Kim & Kaddie)

01/23 The Tao of Steve (2000)

***+ Fun story of a oversexed, well educated philosophy/theology major who is a slacking as a part time kindergarten teacher, who finally meets a woman he wants to change his life for, or does he. The film is primarily a character piece based on the true life of one the three screenwriters who are responsible for the movie (Jenniphr Goodman, director; Greer Goodman lead actress; Duncan North, inspiration). The dialogue has moments of greatness that are obviously taken from life and ring with honesty (e.g. the prototypical Steve [McQueen] theory of the title, Don Giovanni comparison). In other places the script is forced and doesn't always ring true . Location work in and around Santa Fe is a definite plus, further giving the film authenticity. Cool and fresh title credits ($8.00, Park City Library, Jake, Marne, Kim, Doug, Jasen, Laura, Scott, Kaddie, Beth, Lori, Rob, Tameran and 4 others).

01/24 Lounge Shorts #1: Bum Spangled Banner, The Last Dance, Legs…

** More experimental stuff with marginal appeal ($0.00, Slamdance festival, Jake and Doug).

01/24 NODANCE

Moses Vs Godzilla

*** + Originally begun for the wrap party of King of Egypt, the short is a trailer that parodies both The Ten Commandants and the Godzilla movies (including the twin fairies from Godzilla vs. Megalon). Very funny.

Lotto Lizards, Studio Notes, Let's Meet Johnny, Bathtub Bully & The Good Heart

Studio Notes stood out for it's wonderful photography as the film parodies the studio system with the Vincent and Theo Van Gogh story.

The Blair Bitch Project

***+ Exceptionally funny parody of the really bad horror film of last year. Linda Blair is a plus but the sense of humor is great. The director passed out cool flashlights with the parodied logo and I bought one of the T-shirts ($0.00, Nodance DVD projected Film Festival, Jake, Doug and Rob)

01/24 Shorts Program I

*** Sunday Afternoon, The Window, Chicken Pox Pal, Friday, Billy Twist, Rick and Steve; The Happiest Gay Couple in the World, Five Feet High and Rising Fairly good round of shorts that were generally even in their quality and enjoy-ability

($8.00, Holiday Village-Park City, Jake and Doug).

01/25 The Target Shoots First (2000) w/ Great Falls (1997)

*** A fine documentary from a Columbia House music service-marketing trainee who drug his camcorder to work everyday for two years. It does a good job of capturing the bureaucracy and pettiness of much of corporate world. The short was an Australia film that looked fabulous but told only a portion of a larger story leaving me wanting more ($6.00, Slamdance festival, Jake and Doug).

01/25 We Married Margo (2000) w/ Troublemaker (1999)

***+ Very funny, mostly true story of writer and stars J. D. Shapiro and William Dozier, who become roommates after both being dumped by the same woman. They make an odd couple with a wacky spin on dating, marriage and friendships. Experience was definitely enriched by the presence J. D. Shapiro, the cast and his Shapiro sister producers who passed out bags of goodies including Devil Dogs snack treats to garner our favor in the festival voting. Great cameos ($6.00, Slamdance festival, Jake and Doug).

01/28 Topsy Turvey (1999)

**+ While a well made, acted and earnest "behind the scenes" look at the creative process of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado, I can't say I enjoyed it all that much. It's needlessly long from a story standpoint, bringing in characters for a scene that while it might be historically accurate, does nothing to move the plot along or develop the main characters. Admittedly I'm not a fan of director Michael Leigh (Secret and Lies) and should simply avoid his stuff in the future. A must for Gilbert and Sullivan but I'm not sure about anyone else ($12.00, Hi-Pointe, Bethany).

01/29 French Kiss (199)

*** Meg Ryan plays a jilted women off to Paris in search of ex-fiancée (Tim Hutton) who meets a roguish Frenchmen thief-winemaker (Kevin Kline) along the way and falls in love in this pleasant romantic comedy. The film gets most of it's charm from its leads, use of locations and soundtrack but hey, whatever works ($0.00, video, Bethany).

02/04 Stuart Little (1999)

**+ Generally ok retelling of the classic E. B. White story, this film gets most of it's charm from the exceptionally well done and convincing computer animation of the mouse Stuart (voice of Michael Keaton). Occasionally the film has its moments where the charm of imagining what fun it would be to a mouse and the adventures you could have is present (e.g. the model old west town and at the wheel of the motor car or boat). Unfortunately too much of the film is spent creating an ineffectual moral on the importance of "family", as it spends great amounts of time on the adoption process, integration with the young boy and the cat. Not overly funny or convincing. The evil cats are fairly ok but the humor there relies way too heavily on flatulence. Why do writers believe that in order to appeal to 3rd graders you make the same jokes you did then? When compared to the far superior Toy Story 2, it's easy to see that good writing is the foundation of good film ($6.00, Galleria, Bethany, Jennifer and Elizabeth Pack).

02/05 Dudley Do-Right (1999)

*+ Although better than I expected, it's an incredibly bad idea, not to mention intellectually insulting, to think that you can take the plot of a couple 5 minute cartoons and make a decent feature length film out of it. Some parts work fairly well, (e.g. they got the original narrator and Snydly's sidekick Homer was well done), but the writing was mediocre relying even more heavily on animals passing gas jokes. Brendan Frazier is mediocre and Sarah Jessica Parker is as forgettable as ever. The whole thing could have been boiled down to a couple rapid-fire shorts and it might have actually worked. Give me the original Jay Ward stuff any day ($0.00, video, Bethany).

02/08 Cradle Will Rock (1999)

*** Tim Robbins penned and directed this ensemble piece that looks at the time, events and people surrounding the New Deal's theatre projects production of the title. Marked by a star studded cast (Bill Murray, John and Joan Cusak, Hank Azaria, Susan Sarandon, etc.) impersonating many of the personalities of the time both famous (Nelson Rockefeller, Diego Garcia, etc) and not. Definitely leans toward the left but worth seeing as an interesting exploration of the place of art funding by the government and privately and its value in monetary and personal terms from the side of the artist and the viewer. Having glanced through a book on the New Deal, The Revolt of the Beavers was an actual production ($26.00, Tivoli, Bethany and Tuesday Talkies).

2/12 In Like Flint

* James Coburn stars in this dated follow-up film as James Bond/super-spy wanna-be, Flint. The plot of a group of women who plot to take over the world is incredibly misogynistic even for a genre not known ever praised by feminist. The one cool bit was the slide rule on the backside of his watchband. Only worth seeing for its cultural significance (negative) and to understand some of the inspiration for the scenes in the second Austin Powers movies ($0.00, TV-Keystone, Kent, Jeff, Cindy and Arnold-sort of).

02/19 The Wedding Singer (1999)

** Adam Sandler plays a sensitive and kind wedding singer who becomes bitter after being ditched at the alter by a bitchily fiancée. His bitterness is eventually dissolved by a sweet co-worker (Drew Barrymore) who fiancée is also a jerk. Fairly predictable plot of two good people originally engaged to bad people who eventually fall in love. Oh and the bad folks get their just deserts. OK but nothing remarkable except maybe the manipulative 1980s soundtrack ($0.00, video, Bethany and the Fosko kids Nick and Nicole).

02/26 Wonder Boys (2000)

*** Michael Douglas stars as a frustrated writer/professor whose day begins by having his wife leave him and gets worse from there. The interesting story and characters that surround him are his talented but disturbed student (Toby McGuire), his mistress/the college president (Frances McDormand) and desperate editor (Robert Downey, Jr.). Not in the same class as director's Curtis Hanson earlier LA Confidential but a good film none the less ($7.00, Shady Oak, Bethany).

3/08 The Whole Nine Yards (2000)

**+ Pretty good hit man living next door, comic romance but the plot never rises to far above typical. The film gets most of its charm from the likable cast of Bruce Willis and Mathew Perry in the leads and a strong supporting cast. Probably better then I'm giving it credit but lately I'm having more trouble enjoying comedies about hit men with hearts of gold killing people ($7.00, AMC Academy 14 - Greenbelt, MD).

3/09 Something About Mary (1998)

***+ Very funny and vulgar romantic comedy highlighting Cameron Diaz's terrific comic talents. Laugh out loud funny throughout ($0.00, HBO-Courtyard Marriott).

3/11 Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

**** Audrey Hepburn shines as the carefree, party going "socialite" drifting from $50 powder room gentlemen to parties. She electrifies the screen in every scene and along with the superb Manci scoring make this film the memorable classic it is. Less successful is Mickey Rooney's obnoxious and racist portrayal of the Japanese neighbor and George Pepard's rather wooden performance (though he looks good as the kept man of Patricia Neal). A joy to watch ($0.00, TMC, Kent and Mark).

3/11 Hud (1963)

**** Excellent acting, writing and B&W cinematography mark this adaptation of Larry McMurtry's contemporary tale of the womanizing, jerk Hud (Paul Newman) in West Texas. It's one of Newman's best performances, which says a lot but he's joined by Patricia Neal, oozing sexuality as the ranch housekeeper and Melvyn Douglas, the proud straight arrow father, who cant abide his son's self absorbed nature. It is very similar to Bogdonvich's later adaptation of McMurtry's The Last Picture Show, another personal favorite ($0.00, TMC, Kent).

3/14 Rear Window (1954)

**** Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly in a Alfred Hitchcock film, pretty much says it all ($0.00 pass #2 &3 of 5, Tivoli, Bethany, Rosemary, Elizabeth and Tuesday Talkies).

3/16 South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut (1999)

**+*? Have little idea about the overall quality of the film as I fell asleep off and on through out. It safe to say, if you like the TV series you'll be happy with it, otherwise avoid it. The musical nature of it appealed to me ($0.00, video, Bethany).

3/19 Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred Leuter (1999)

**+ This is a documentary of a quirky Massachusetts man who becomes an expert on making and repairing execution machines as States starting reinvoking Capital punishment in the 1980s. The first half of the film is a delight as he nonchalantly discusses the details of making humane electric chairs, gallows and lethal injection machines, sincerely believing in doing so for humane reasons. The film slips in the last half, as it tackles the difficult task of explaining how his execution "expertise" is called upon to defend a Holocaust denier on trial. It's not that, that portion of the tale isn't worth telling, it's just that I kept wanting to know more of the specific engineering details of why this naïve man was completely wrong in believing he knew enough about gas chambers to evaluate Auswitch. For example, did he have an engineering degree and in what, from where?. It's a fairly good Errol Morris documentary, but disappointing when compared to his excellent Fast, Cheap and Out of Control, which this was considered for a segment of ($0.00, Tivoli, Mike Mall).

3/20 Erin Brocovitch

***+ Julia Roberts turns in one of her better performances as a foul mouthed, trailer trash dressing legal aid who stumbles on the poisoning of a small community adjacent to a Pacific Gas and Electric transformer plant. The basic story has been done before, but I'm not sure if story's with a good moral you can never get too much of ($7.00, AMC Academy 14 - Greenbelt, MD).

3/23 The Spitfire Grill (1997?)

*** Pleasant tale of young misfit being taken in by an aged restaurateur in a small New England town, with both growing from the interactions ($0.00, TNT-Washington, DC).

3/28 On the Town (1949)

***+ An Arthur Freed MGM musical on the big screen is always a treat, especially with the lively Comden and Green book and Leonard Bernstein score (though many lesser songs were added). The dancing and enthusiasm from the cast carry the film and the handful of location shots, really help set the tone early on (10.00 for 3 movies, Tivoli, Bethany).

3/28 Cabaret (1972)

**** Impressive musical set in pre-WWII Berlin does an impressive job weaving the score plot line together. Probably Liza Minelli's, Michael York and Joel Gray's best work. Was a little lost in my mind, sandwiched in between two other films in one night but a stunning piece of work none-the less ($0.00 for 3 movies, Tivoli, Bethany).

3/28 Three Penny Opera (1931)

* A German version of Kurt Veil's operetta has little to recommend it. The most enjoyable bit was the brief familiarity of Mac the Knife. Bethany proposed the thought that it might be an allegorical statement about German politics of the time with Mac and his thugs representing the Nazis, the Gypsy King the communist, the inept government and the people getting the short end of the stick. While this added something, I wasn't in the mood at 11-12:30 at night ($0.00 for 3 movies, Tivoli, Bethany).

4/04 Sleepy Hollow (1999)

*** Tim Burton and company has done a good job creating another world feel to this telling of the Icabod Crane story (which it is only loosely based). Johnny Depp plays Cranes as late 1700s detective called in to investigate a series of beheadings. There's little chemistry with Christiana Ricci as the love interest but, the visual effects and place creation are worth watching ($3.00, Lindbergh, Bethany).

4/07 Girl Interrupted (2000)

*** Winona Ryder stars as the title character that spent a year in an upscale insane asylum was better than expected. Angela Jolie (?) Oscar nominated performance was good but I tend to be less impressed by portrayals of people over the edge. It seems showy and easier than it looks but I know nothing about acting from a personal perspective ($7.00, Plaza Frontenac, Bethany and Elisabeth).

04/11 Matrix (1999)

*** Despite the wooden acting of Keanu Reaves, this dark sci-fi thriller of a world inside the one we see, is a visual delight and fun to watch ($0.00, HBO-Salt Lake City)

4/22 Keeping the Faith (2000)

** Ed Norton's directorial debut about a lover's triangle is OK but nothing special. The plot surrounds a priest (Norton) and a rabbi (Ben Stiller) both becoming attached to their all grown up childhood pal Jennifer Elfman. It's a bit of a one joke idea and takes a little too much time wrapping it all together in the end, as we all knew where it was going and romantic comedies don't generally need to spend two hours getting there ($4.50, Chase Park Plaza, Bethany)

4/25 East-West (1999)

**** Probably the best film I've seen all year, though I didn't write anything about it at the time. ($0.00-KFUO comp tickets, Plaza Frontenac, Bethany, Elisabeth, Spencer)

4/28 U-571 (2000)

**+ Generally entertaining WWII submarine thriller about the fictional capture of the Enigma coding machine by the US forces (the Brits were the first to get one). The plot hit a couple too many genre clichés for me to completely appreciate it (that and a totally lack of subtlety for the characters, foreshadowing, etc.). At the risk of sounding like a snotty film dude, it's not very sophisticated and I really don't care for the star Mathew McConahey (he reminds me too much of a dislikable co-worker). Most people will probably enjoy it, as I did but don't' expect to think much about it ($13.00, Esquire, Bethany).

5/4 The Bad Seed (1956)

* As a film, but **+ for camp value. Very dated, poorly acted, written and directed film about a perfect blond pigtailed 12 year old who has more than a touch of evil. The girl, Patricia McCormick, won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination, in what has to be a more kid bias time, as it wasn't that strong. The B & W cinematography helps the creepiness and the film is disturbing even though it does so many things wrong. It was fairly enjoyable in the environment of an old theatre converted to a lounge, restaurant with lots of folks and laughing at it ($0.00, Parkway Theatre-Oakland, Jake, Martie, Anna, Doug, Heather, Rob and two others).

5/7 Mifune (1999)

*** Dutch film up for Best Foreign Film Oscar is funny and charming ($8.50, Opera House Plaza Theatre [1 of 32 seats], Jake, Todd Lowe and Renee).

5/23 Small Time Criminals (2000)

*+ Woody Allen wrote and directed this small time movie making fun of a group of idiots who decide to rob a bank and end up rich despite their ineptitude. It isn't really funny or insightful and is probably best forgotten ($13.00, Showplace-South Bend Indiana, Bethany).

5/27 Mission Impossible II (2000)

**+ Although the John Woo direction is a plus, this film is a boringly predictable actioneer requiring suspension of disbelief on practically a constant basis. The cool eye candy visuals of operatic gunplay just aren't worth it. I'm getting too old or mature for this stuff (see comments on last few Bond films) ($14.00, Kenrick, Bethany, Tina and Britt).

5/31 The Virgin Suicides (2000)

*** The clothing, soundtrack and sets are great in this 1970s era setting. I didn't add more than that in my original notes ($0.00, passes #4 and 5, Plaza Frontenac, Bethany).

6/02 Up at the Villa (2000)

***+ Excellent W. Somerset Mamaugh period piece set in pre-war fascist Florence reminded me of last year's lesser Tea with Mussolini. Kristen Scott Thomas stars with Sean Penn, who is also good. Fabulous sets and scenes around the Italian country side ($0.00, Plaza Frontenac, Bethany).

6/03 The Big Kahuna (2000)

*** Incredible performances by Kevin Spacey and Danny Devito aren't enough to push this very talkie film into the great category. It is the most stagy film I can recall in a long time, as all the action takes place in one room with essentially 3 characters. Thoughtful entertainment though ($14.00, Chase Park Plaza Cinemas, Bethany).

06/11 The Lion in the Winter (1968)

***+ An excellent screenplay buttressed and some excellent performances by O'Toole and Hepburn as Henry II and Elinor of Aquitaine were expected going into this but I was surprised the wonderful disfunctionality of the battling boys John, Geoffrey and Richard (Anthony Hopkins) and Timothy Dalton as the King of France. ($0.00, Rhonda's video, Bethany)

6/13 The Croupier (2000)

*** Good independent, low budget film about an English writer who takes a job as a dealer to help write a book. More of an interesting characters study than anything else ($0.00 sneak preview, Tivoli, Bethany, Elizabeth and Tuesday Talkies).

6/19 Say Anything (1988)

*** A good script and some very solid acting from John Cusak raise this above the average teen love story. The scene with Cusak holding the boom box over his head with Peter Gabriel's In Your Eyes blasting to try and win her hack is touching, even as it's become a film icon ($0.00, cable TV Dugway).

06/27 The Birds (1963)

**+ Middle weight Hitchcock film ($0.00-free AMC restoration showing, Tivoli, Bethany).

06/30 The Gladiator (2000)

***+ (0.00, Creve Coeur 12, Bethany)

07/02 Sunshine (2000)

*** Ralph Fiennes stars in epic tale of three generations of a Hungarian family ($0.00-pass #1&2 of 5, Frontenac, Bethany).

07/09 The Kid (2000)

**+ Bruce Willis is enjoyable as a 40 year old to be who is visited by an 8 year old who seems oddly familiar. Schmaltzy, predictable, exceptionally heavy handed scoring, etc. but I liked it. While criticisms may be valid what should you expect from a Disney live action film? ($0.00, Crestwood, Bethany)

07/12 Jesus' Son (1999)

*** Billy Cruddrup stars as a heroin addict in the early 1970's. This is a very well made film and it presented the images that the makers wanted (writing, direction, costumes, acting, soundtrack, filming) but I wasn't all that keen on the subject matter ($0.00, Tivoli, Bethany)

7/13 Muppet Movie (1979)

**+ Fairly charming film about how the Muppets got to Hollywood is OK but not as good as the best of their shows. Part of the trouble is having to showcase all the characters in one plot line, where they interact as opposed to vignettes that made them popular. The cameos were a bit over done and most were distracting as opposed to adding anything, the notable exceptions being Steve Martin's bit as a waiter and Mel Brooks bit as the evil doctor. It was my first viewing and I was touched by the opening of Kermit singing The Rainbow Connection, which I've have become familiar with in the last 20 years. I wonder if I would have found it as endearing if I never heard it before ($0.00, Video-Bethany's, Bethany).

07/25 Sunset Blvd (1950)

*** It was my first time and I was a little disappointed. Gloria Swanson was so over the top (almost), it was hard to take it too seriously. I kept thinking of Madeline Kahn. The indirect allusions of William Holden's status as a kept man seem quaint by today's standards and the whole hard-boiled narration also seemed dated. Still it was nice to see Buster Keaton, even if he only got one line and 2 seconds of footage. A good film, but one that hasn't aged gracefully and one whose stature is less outside of Hollywood, than within the golden ghetto ($0.00, pass #3 and 4, Tivoli, Kent and Bethany)

08/02 But I'm a Cheerleader (1999)

**+ Amusing low budget film about a 17-old girl whose parents and friends send her off to a homosexual deprogramming camp because of her Melissa Etheridge poster, vegetarianism among other reasons. The lead does a good job of playing the naive youngster who discovers her True Direction while at the camp. The production gaffes are rampant but hardly matter. This satire about the sad fact that these places exist and people send their family members there in hopes that homosexuality is all in the mind. The art direction of only a few colors, primarily baby blue for the boys and pink for the girls really worked to emphasize the silliness of the whole endeavor ($7.00, Chase Park Plaza, Bethany).

08/10 Blood Simple (1984)

***+ The first Cohen Brothers film didn't leave as much of an impression as I was expecting in retrospect but it was good ($0.00-5 of 5 pass, Tivoli, Bethany and Tuesday Talkies).

08/09 The Eyes of Tammy Faye (1999)

*** ($0.00 free pass, Tivoli, Bethany)

08/13 Space Cowboys (2000)

**+ Aging astronauts Garner, Eastwood, Sutherland and Jones are tagged for their expertise in this OK actioneer ($9.00, Chase Park Plaza, Bethany).

08/26 Saving Grace (2000)

**+ Straight laced English woman staves off bankruptcy by exercising her gardening skills growing the wacky weed. Charming but exactly what you would expect ($25.00-#1 and 2, Chase Park Plaza, Bethany).

08/30 I Love You Again (1940)

**+The amnesia plot device of a boring straight-laced guy changing with an accident on a boat is weak and dated but William Powell and Myrna Loy are a delight as always. ($0.00, TMC-video-Dugway)

08/30 Stand By Me (1984)

**** ($0.00, AMC-Dugway)

08/30 Babes on Broadway (1941)

**+ Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland are terrific in this "let's put on a show" musical. A few of the songs are pretty good and Rooney's enthusiasm shines, unfortunately the plot is rather tiresome and the minstrel show finale is insultingly dated and racist ($0.00, TMC-video-Dugway).

09/09 Love's Labors Lost (2000)

**+ Interesting adaptation of one of Shakespeare's weaker comedies is placed in pre-WW II Europe and has the cast breaking out in songs from Porter, Berlin, Gershwin, Kern, etc. I really liked the idea and was primed to enjoy it but it only works to a point, ultimately fails to deliver. The musical segues are awkward and forced and in one case completely out of place (i.e. There's No Business Like Show Business). Kenneth Branaugh seems aged in comparison to the young and fresh under 30 cast but he does the Shakespeare well enough. Funny in places and the dancing is good but it doesn't come close to Woody Allen's recent Everybody Says I Love You in paying tribute to the once great genre of Hollywood. I think I'd rather see the 3 Stooges He-Man Women Haters Club, which is all in musical rhyme with a similar plot ($25.00-#3 and 4, Chase Park Plaza, Bethany, Britt and Tina).

09/15 The Tao of Steve (2000)

*** See January listing. It looks like a couple of minutes were shaved off the running time in places since Sundance, as I distinctly remember some scenes running longer and the transitions not being quite so jumpy ($15.00, Tivoli, Bethany).

09/22 Nurse Betty (2000)

*** ($0.00-#5 of 5, Chase Park Plaza Cinemas, Bethany)

09/24 Shower (2000)

***+ Excellent Chinese film about changing culture as it tells the story of an aged keeper of the local bath/steam house and his two sons. It's a quiet film but one of the best of the year ($5.00, Plaza Frontenac).

10/5 Duets (2000)

**+ Karaoke film is OK in places and but some of the characters and lines are a little awkward ($6.50, Galleria, Bethany).

10/10 Dancer in the Dark (2000)

*Incomplete* left after 40 minutes incredibly nauseous from the hand held camera that seemed to go out of its way to be bouncy. ($26.00 #1 of 5, Tivoli, Bethany).

10/13 The Exorcist (1973)

***+ I really liked the Georgetown location shots but the film lost much of it's shock value on me, even though it was my first time seeing it, as most of the scenes have been parodied for years ($13.00, Esquire, Bethany and Rosemary)

10/14 Meet the Parents (2000)

***+ Ben Stiller timing is excellent in this low-key comedy which is probably the funniest film of the year ($0.00, Hi-Pointe, Bethany and Matt Martinez).

10/15 Auntie Mame (195?)

*** Rosalind Russell is terrific but the script is a little uneven in this wonderful tale moralizing living life to its fullest ($0.00, Webster Groves Library video, Bethany).

10/28 La Strada (1956)

***+ It's always great to see Fellini on the big screen and this classic didn't disappoint, particularly the haunting Nina Rota soundtrack ($10.00, Tivoli, Bethany).

10/28 Best in Show (2000)

**+ OK mocu-mentary from the same folks who gave us Waiting for Guffman, which it wasn't as good as ($0.00-free passes from Rhonda, Ronnie's 20, Bethany).

11/11 Charlie's Angels (2000)

*** Much better than expected with the current standard excellent slow-motion martial arts scenes and a tone that never takes itself too serious and doesn't dismiss the original efforts too much. ($-vacation, Showcase Cinemas-Dayton, Bethany and Micah)

11/12 Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1947)

***+ Jimmy Stewart and Myrna Loy are always a joy and they don't disappoint here in this classic how not to build a house story ($1.30, Blockbuster video-Indianapolis, Bethany).

11/12 The Celluloid Closet (1998)

*** ($1.31, Blockbuster video-Indianapolis, Bethany)

11/18 Rififi (1955)

**** Top notch French film noir, 20 minute heist scene is exceptional ($0.00, Tivoli, Bethany).

11/19 Into the Arms of Strangers: Tales of the Kindertransport (2000)

*** Powerful documentary about children sent out of Nazi controlled Europe to Britain during the early days of WWII ($10.00, Plaza Frontenac, Bethany).

11/24 Unbreakable (2000)

**+ A disappointment after last year's The Sixth Sense written, directed and produced by the same guy and also starring Bruce Willis. It would have made a good Twilight Zone episode in a half an hour (9.00, Chase Park Plaza Cinema, Bethany, Justin, Jenny).

11/24 Magnolia (1999)

**+ I saw it on video which certainly hurt my enjoyment of this film, which I would like to discuss with somebody who gets more of it than I did. The Aimee Mann soundtrack is aces ($0.00, Blockbuster video, Bethany).

12/03 A Time For Drunken Horses (2000)

*** Fine neo-realistic story of the harsh living conditions along the Iraq border following the Gulf War ($9.00, Opera House Cinemas-SF, Jake).

12/04 Bounce (2000)

**+ Ben Affleck and Gweneth Paltrow sparkle in this romantic drama that defiantly has its moments but that can't get past it's gimmicky premise ($9.25, Downtown Plaza Cinemas-Sacramento)

12/ 8 Me and Isaac Newton (2000)

*+ Reminiscent of superb Fast Cheap and Out of Control but it doesn't work that well at all for a variety of reasons ($9.00, Opera House Cinemas-SF, Jake and Pooky).

12/12 All About Eve (1950)

**** One of the wittiest scripts ever and one of my favorites of all time. Second time seeing it on the big screen in less than a year and it's still fresh as ever ($26.00 passes #1 & 2 of 5, Tivoli, Bethany and the Tuesday Talkies).

12/16 Jean De Florette (1986)

*** First half of an epic story of murder, greed, deceit, love, revenge and horticulture set in a rural arid hill community where water issues determine all the action. In retrospect portions of the story are obvious but and its second half Mannon of Spring are compelling story telling none-the less ($5.00, Tivoli, Bethany).

12/16 A Christmas Story (1986)

*** Wonderful nostalgic story of a young boy in 1940 who wants a Red Ryder BB gun that is certainly is based on the memories of the writers. Unforgettable scenes and dialogue throughout that lead to laughter among those who've enjoyed it in the past (e.g. "I triple dog dare you", "Fra-gi-le. It must be Italian". ($0.00, Bethany's video, Bethany, Adam, Amanda, Rick, Maria, Rosemary, and Stephanie).

12/17 Mannon of the Spring (1986)

*** see Jean De Florette ($5.00, Tivoli, Bethany)

12/23 You Can Count on Me (2000)

*** A fairly good script with some fresh acting about the bumpy adult relationship of a brother and sister whose approach to life is quite dissimilar. They obviously love and care for each other but it's clear that they wouldn't be friends if it weren't for being related or having grown up together. Matthew Broderick has a nice supporting role as her supervisor at the bank. I saw this when I was very tired so I'm not sure it had the impact it would have during a more alert state ($0.00-passes, Chase Park Plaza Cinema, Bethany, Kent)

12/24 White Christmas (1950)

*** I was very excited at the start as it announced that this was Paramount's first film in VISTA VISION. Unfortunately the available print not only wasn't in the super wide screen format, it wasn't in the standard movie screen aspect ration either. The formatted for your TV screen aspect ratio was disappointing but you can't be a Technicolor, sentimental Hollywood musical on the big screen for relaxing enjoyment. The Berlin score with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera Ellen and Rosemary Clooney singing and huffing it up are a delight. After seeing the stage version at the Muny last summer, I was even more impressed by Ellen's dance sequence for Mandy. The speed of her tapping is truly phenomenal ($10.00, Tivoli Cinema, Bethany, Kent).

12/25 Miss Congeniality (2000)

** Sandra Bullock stars as an FBI agent that goes undercover in a beauty pageant. It meets your expectations of a "B" film but never rises above them. The film depends on her girl next-door charm, while it sails past the impossibilities of the script, characters and dialogue. It's fluff but OK if you like Bullock ($6.25, Kenrick, Bethany)

12/31 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

**** Ang Lee has created a terrific film, that tells an epic tale of loyalty, revenge, generations, power, and several varieties of love (e.g. unrequited, passionate, paternal, maternal, etc). Chow Yon Fat as the battle weary fighter looking to retire and find higher enlightenment is terrific (What a star!), as is the rest of the cast. The martial arts sequences are stunningly staged and are at the incredible state of the art. I could go on but most of the other reviewers that have placed this film among the best of the year have got it right ($0.00, Tivoli, Bethany).

Total Number of Movies Not Seen Before: 72+ 41 shorts at Sundance et al

Total Number of Movies Seen again: 15

Total Money Spent: $461.14

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