capsule movie reviews

Capsule Movie Reviews (updated Nov. 14, 2002)

By Catholic News Service

NEW YORK — Following are recent capsule reviews issued by the U.S. Catholic Conference Office for Film and Broadcasting.

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (Warner Bros.)

Less-involving sequel in which the young wizard (Daniel Radcliffe), suspected of being behind a nefarious plot that has been turning his fellow students into stone, must identify the true evildoer and face down a monstrous serpent. It is adapted from the second J.K. Rowling novel in the "Harry Potter" series; director Chris Columbus turns in a darker, uneven fantasy that alternates plodding exposition with clever special effects, a few of which may be too frightening for young children. Some scary fantasy menace, fleeting violence and a crude expression. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

"The Crime of Father Amaro" (Goldwyn)

Corrosive Mexican drama in which an initially idealistic rural priest (Gael Garcia Bernal), after realizing his complacent pastor (Sancho Garcia) is sleeping with the cook, begins a passionate affair with the cook's teen-age daughter (Ana Claudia Talancon), impregnates her and then pressures her to have a disastrous abortion. Director Carlos Carrera paints a vicious portrait of rampant priestly corruption including a mendacious bishop who excommunicates an earnest priest working with peasants and rebels, but the shallow characterizations only underline the film's biased perspective. Subtitles. Desecration of the Eucharist, depiction of priests breaking vows of chastity and accepting drug monies, a sexual encounter with fleeting nudity, an abortion, brief violence and intermittent rough language. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"8 Mile" (Universal)

Raw foray into the high-stakes world of Detroit's hip-hop subculture in which a volatile young rapper (Eminem) navigates turbulent personal relations while struggling to rise above his dead-end existence. Despite a strong debut performance by the controversial rap star, director Curtis Hanson's "Rocky"-with-rap drama suffers from a hackneyed storyline and predictable plot. Excessive violence, graphic sexual encounters, crude sexual references and continual rough language and profanity. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Far From Heaven" (Focus)

Poignant melodrama set in 1957 Connecticut where the prosperous life of a sweetly contented housewife (Julianne Moore) is completely upended when she discovers her husband (Dennis Quaid) in a homosexual embrace and she is scorned by the town for befriending her black gardener (Dennis Haysbert). Director Todd Haynes' lushly photographed period piece thoughtfully explores issues of racism, sexual identity and the role of women with delicacy, sensitivity and a focus on the humanity of all the characters. A brief homosexual kiss and implied affair, fleeting violence, alcohol abuse, some profanity and an instance of rough language. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Femme Fatale" (Warner Bros.)

Twisty, Hitchcockian film-noir thriller set in Cannes and Paris in which a former jewel thief (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) involves a photographer (Antonio Banderas) in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. Writer-director Brian De Palma stylishly ponders whether no good deed goes unpunished, but mostly showcases the leading lady's sinewy physique with and without naughty lingerie. An extended lesbian encounter with nudity, a crude lap dance and striptease, stylized violence and some rough language. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Half Past Dead" (Screen Gems)

Joyless actionfest pitting two imprisoned convicts (Steven Segal and rapper Ja Rule) against a gang of criminal commandos who invade Alcatraz in order to force a death-row inmate to reveal the location of his big score. While writer-director Don Michael Paul's debut film muses about God, justice and the afterlife, it is more interested in endless gunfire and explosions, to numbing rather than gripping effect. Constant, often deadly, action violence, some rough language, sexual references and a positive depiction of a suicide bombing. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Secret Ballot" (Sony Classics)

Savvy political satire about democratic elections in Iran, which follows an eager female election official and a bored male solider as they travel around a desert island in search of voters. By juxtaposing the barren landscape of his native country with the political opinions of different Iranians, writer-director Babak Payami questions if democracy in Iran is pointless for rural, tradition-bound peasants who doubt any central government will understand their local problems. Subtitles. Complicated political themes. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences.

"Frida" (Miramax)

Visually stunning but morally troubling biography of Mexican surrealist artist Frida Kahlo (Salma Hayek) centers on not only how she painted her painful life experiences but on her enduring love for her husband, famed muralist Diego Rivera (Alfred Molina), whose flagrant promiscuity prompted her to engage in meaningless affairs with both sexes during their 25-year marriage. Directed with theatrical flair by Julie Taymor, the bold sexual content belies a theme of harmful infidelity and the couple's hard-won unconditional love despite considering themselves as artists unconcerned with traditional morality. Heterosexual and homosexual encounters with nudity, sporadic rough language and fleeting violence. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-IV -- adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"I Spy" (Columbia)

Noisy, charmless action-comedy in which a government spy (Owen Wilson) is forced to team with a cocky boxing champ (Eddie Murphy) in Budapest to recover a stolen U.S. superaircraft about to fall into enemy hands. As directed by Betty Thomas, motormouth Murphy and wimpy Wilson exemplify the tired odd-couple buddy formula movie routinely punctuated by a blur of crazed chases and stale shootouts. Frequent stylized violence, a sexually suggestive scene, some crude expressions and an instance of profanity. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Jackass The Movie" (Paramount)

Sophomoric, repulsive series of vignettes in which a group of failed frat-boy wannabes videorecords pranks and various acts of self-abuse, humiliation and violence. As directed by Jeff Tremaine, the plotless movie revels in people getting hurt with their pain considered hilarious to their friends. Vulgar body fluid humor, language, violent acts of mutilation and torture, some nudity and recurring rough language. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"The Santa Clause 2" (Disney)

Superficial, but moderately enjoyable, live-action fantasy in which Santa (Tim Allen) must tend to his misbehaving 16-year-old son (Eric Lloyd) and satisfy a contract to marry by Christmas Eve. A sequel to 1994's "The Santa Clause," it presumes a familiarity with the original movie and features five of the same major characters. Minor menace. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences.

"The Weight of Water" (Lions Gate)

Moody drama in which a contemporary photojournalist (Catherine McCormack) investigating a brutal 1873 double murder begins to suspect a sexual relationship between her poet husband (Sean Penn) and a seductive fan (Elizabeth Hurley) as they share a weekend boat near the century-old murder site. Kathryn Bigelow directs a murky tale of troubled romantic and familial relationships which constantly crosscuts from the present to the dark doings in the 19th-century bludgeoning but fails to gather emotional momentum. Recurring shadowy violence, a discreet sexual encounter and other sexual situations, brief nudity, minor profanity and an instance of rough language. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-IV -- adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Formula 51" (Screen Gems)

Crass combination of pulp-crime potboiler and screwball comedy in which a greedy American chemist (Samuel L. Jackson) in England is caught in a web of double-crosses over his formula for a blue concoction promising unparalleled ecstasy. While action director Ronny Yu's action sequences are impressive, much of the violent mayhem is gratuitous and his frequent resorting to toilet humor is more than a bit off-putting. Excessive violence, recurring drug abuse, a sexual encounter and much rough language. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Red Dragon" (Universal)

Chilling tale of an ex-FBI profiler (Edward Norton) who risks using calculated tips from imprisoned murderer "Hannibal the Cannibal" Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) to hunt down a serial killer (Ralph Fiennes). A prequel to 1991's "The Silence of the Lambs" and remake of 1986's "Manhunter," director Brett Ratner's ice-cold thriller is anchored by Norton's finely nuanced performance but its methodical pace at times undermines suspense. Recurring intense violence, some nudity, implied sexual encounter, occasional profanity and several instances of rough language. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-IV -- adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Welcome to Collinwood" (Warner Bros.)

Passable crime comedy set in a Cleveland working-class neighborhood where several petty crooks (including William H. Macy, Sam Rockwell and Michael Jeter) plot a big robbery that goes entirely awry. Written and directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, the film's clueless characters are mostly lovable losers but the jaunty tone can't fully compensate for the skimpy narrative. Brief violence, recurring profanity, minor sexual innuendo, fleeting rear nudity and much rough language. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-III--adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R--restricted.

"The Four Feathers" (Paramount)

Set in 1894 England and Sudan, a disgraced soldier (Heath Ledger) in search of redemption faces his fear of death head on and risks losing everything that is important to him in an epic drama of love, honor and courage. Directed by Shekhar Kapur, the film often loses sight of its themes as its main character laboriously treks across the rugged desert terrain. Fierce, action-style battle sequences. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Barbershop" (MGM)

Set in Chicago's South Side, the enjoyable ensemble comedy has the owner (Ice Cube) of a local barbershop selling it to a sinister loan shark (Keith David), but then trying to buy it back once he realizes the shop's worth as a gathering place for the community. As directed by Tim Story, the film is flawed by silly stereotypes and predictability, but manages to be endearing as it touches on racism, the black man's place in society and the importance of fellowship. Some sexual innuendo, fleeting drug content and sporadic crass expressions and profanity with an instance of rough language. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

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