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| MAIN REVIEWS: The Life And Times Of No One In Particular Starring: Samantha Morton, Jason Flemyng Directed by Brian Ending Rated PG After a plane crash kills her family but leaves her unscathed, Suzie (Samantha Morton - 'Minority Report', 'Sweet And Lowdown') moves to a small English town to try and rebuild her life, turning to writing for solace. Five years later and she has become the local eccentric, reclusive and secretive whilst her two novels, both written under a pen-name, have become hugely popular. But now Suzie is suffering from writer's block, unable to even type the next word of her novel. That is, until Will Millar (Jason Flemyng - 'Snatch' and soon to be seen in 'The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen') shows up in town. This brash, abrasive and recently divorced reporter from London has found out the identity of this best-selling author and is determined to interview her. And so begins a battle of wills leading to a journey of discovery, understanding and eventually healing. 5/5 We say: The talent of Samantha Morton once again shines through in this beautiful little movie which manages to overcome the director's relative inexperience in the chair to create a treat. To Run Again Starring: Laura Prepon, Sylvestor McCoy Directed by Suri Krishnamma Rated PG Helena Czajinski (Laura Prepon of TV series 'That 70s Show') once had it all. Athletic, popular and with a basketball scholarship to Boston College set for her future, things were looking bright. She'd even fallen in love with a talented young artist who swore to stick with her through thick and thin. However, during her senior year, the routine x-ray results for an oncourt collision reveals that Helena has a malignant, inoperable tumor on her left femur. Opting for a rarely performed sugical procedure named the Van Nes rotationplasty, the infected bone is removed but requires the shortening of her affected leg and the rotating of her bones so that her foot, pointing backwards, can fit into a special prothesis. Following the precedure, we watch as Helena's life falls apart - her scholarship is now unusable, her boyfriend leaves her (in an excellently played scene, he tells her: "I don't know how I can cope with someone who's missing something everyone else takes for granted.") It is now that she meets Ian Fordyce (played by Sylvestor McCoy of the TV series Doctor Who), an elderly Scottish man who lost his right leg in a car accident in 1968 yet copes with his disability. And so a friendship is formed between the two as Fordyce strives to help Helena. But can he give her the strength to continue - to run again? 4/5 We say: Although the storyline is slow-building, this is a touching movie with the two actors complimenting each other perfectly. Definitely worth a look. The Girl Next Door Starring: Freddie Prinze Jnr, Natalie Portman Directed by Steve Barron Rated PG Gilbert "Steamer" Rogers (Freddie Prinze Jnr - 'Down To You', 'Scooby Doo') is out of high school... or is he? You see, Gilbert makes his living by working as a waiter in the local restaurant, doomed to watch others celebrate the important events in their lives, whilst attending the local community college with others who can't afford a better education. After work he sees the same people and goes to the same parties. His life is going nowhere. But now he's fallen in love with the girl who moved in next door. Angela Lindsey (Natalie Portman - 'Star Wars: Episode 2 - Attack Of The Clones') seems nice enough and she even agrees to go out with Gilbert. But what Gilbert doesn't realise is that Angela is a con-artist with a Mob boss after her because of a small matter of $2 million, her ex-boyfriend is a hit man who just won't take "No" for an answer and the Feds want her either in jail or testifying against organised crime! Will Gilbert survive the night? Will he get a kiss? 3/5 We say: This screwball romantic comedy hits all of the right spots. A great date flick! OTHER RELEASES: William Shakespeare's Othelo Starring: Andre Braugher, John Turturro Directed by Mike Hodges Rated PG-13 Classic drama with Braugher ('Frequency') as Othelo and Turturro (from 'O Brother, Where Art Thou') as Iago. Filmed on digital video, this movie utilises the beaches and mountains of Malibu for many of its exterior shots. Braugher impresses here, giving one of the greatest performances of his career. Hodges works the magic as usual. 4/5 New York Giant Starring: Ice Cube, Sarah Michelle Gellar Directed by Tom Green Rated PG-13 Ice Cube (rapper and star of 'Friday' and 'Barbershop') plays a hot headed linebacker for the NY Giants who is forced to deal with an uptight female etiquette expert, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar (of TV's 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer') or risk losing his starting position and lucrative contract. Ice Cube phones in his performance in this flick but Sarah Michelle Gellar manages to hold the film together. 3/5 Diner Of The Living Dead! Starring: Michelle Williams, Milla Jovovich Directed by John Carpenter Rated R Down and out waitress Dotty (of TV's 'Dawnson's Creek') toils away at the Body Shoppe Diner and Truck Stop. One night, a mysterious black truck sideswipes the car of Marine Lieutenant Jamie Maxwell (Milla Jovovich - 'Fifth Element', 'Resident Evil') crashing into the Ceder Grove cemetary and spilling its contents over the graves. As the dead return to walk again, can Dotty and Maxwell save both the town and the diner from these flesh eating zombies? Excellent return to form by Carpenter with Williams and Jovovich joining together to provide a likeable pair of characters. Even the special effects are fairly good. 4/5 Mars And Beyond Starring: Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Stuart Masterson Directed by Thomas Lomax Rated PG-13 When a lunar probe detects changes on the surface of Mars and strobe lights are seen emanating from deep space,The Scientific Research For Life Beyond Earth launch two astronauts (played by Sutherland and Masterson) to investigate. Although the film twists and turns until its final shocking revelation, the low budget is painfully obvious (especially in the scenes of space travel) and serve only to damage enjoyment. Sutherland does, however, prove to be quite watchable. 2/5 The Mentor Starring: Frank Langella, Selma Blair Directed by Todd Solandz Rated R An aging, bed-ridden former-gangster (Langella - ''Stardom', 'The Ninth Gate') is visited by his illegitimate daughter (Blair - 'Cruel Intentions', 'Down To You'). The young woman attempts to blackmail him into using his connections to swindle money from an Albanian crime syndicate. Along the way, the old man turns his daughter into a protege, using her help to rebuild his business. The two develop a love/hate relationship but, despite needing each other for their plan to work, are quite willing to betray each other at any time. A fast paced drama with comedy elements as the two characters cross then double cross one another. Langella's stunning performance and the shockingly violent ending makes this film a must-see. 4/5 Diplomatic Immunity Starring: Bill Paxton, Catherine Deneuve Directed by Sarah Fallows Rated PG-13 FBI Agent James Cavatt (Bill Paxton - 'Titanic') is investigating the death of French diplomat Benoit Arsenault when he finds himself up against a ring of rogue ex-KGB agents and Russian gangsters who are stealing American military secrets and selling them on the black market. When Arsenault's widow Jaqueline (Deneuve - 'The Musketeer') comes to Cavatt after recieving a threat against her life, Cavatt offers to protect her. But is Jaqueline all that she seems? And is it Cavatt who is really in danger? An enjoyable thriller which plays on Paxton's easy-going nature to keep the audience interested as the plot twists and twists. 4/5 |
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