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A -------- | PORT PERRY "WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2000-9 After the nominations, the dumping begins & SCREENING c¥ ROOM By John Foote The first three months of the year are used by the major and minor studios for two reasons, the first being to dump films they know to be bad into general release to make a fast buck, the second being to release films they are unsure of. What hap- pens is that in December, major Oscar con- tenders are unleashed, continuing to play well in January, and after the coveted nomi- nations are announced. Therefore, with high profile films in release from the previous year (1999), the companies will not risk los- ing money on new films of quality, therefore the pictures released early this year have been, as all January through March released are, in a word, dreadful. Rush to see American Beauty (1999), and the other major Oscar contenders while they are still in re-release. I promise the experi- ence of seeing any of the major Academy Award contenders a second or third time is vastly superior than having to sit through some of the dreck currently on screen. Sorting through the current crop of releases is like re-bagging a broken garbage bag. One does not see the Bette Midler film Isn't She Great (BOMB!), one endures the expe- rience like a root canal without freezing and gas. Scream 3 (BOMB!) was the same film as the first two, and the only surprise would have been knocking off Neve Campbell in the picture's opening minutes (they didn't). The Tigger Movie (3X) was just a cheesy rip- off by Disney to make a fast buck in a sea- son when their big budget kids' film, Bicentennial Man (1999), flopped. So what's left? Read on: THE WHOLE NINE YARDS (BOMB!) Has this film not been done before? Remember My Blue Heaven (1998) with Steve Martin and Rick Moranis, a goofy com- edy about a Mafia turncoat in the witness re- location program, struggling with life in the suburbs. Never heard of it? For good rea- son; it flopped. So why would a film featur- ing two lesser talents than Martin and Moranis be made about basically the same story? Bruce Willis has, in recent years, done a great deal of strong work in films such as Twelve Monkeys (1995) and the recent box office smash The Sixth Sense (1999). Though I may be alone among critics who admire his work, that is a stand 1 am willing to take alone. I admire much of the work Bruce Willis has done, but in this pic- ture he fails miserably, overacting to the point of being just short of a buffoon. His co- star, Matthew Perry of Friends fame, fares worse, adding fuel to the argument that the cast of that popular sitcom should not be allowed to make films. Willis is a former hit- man who moves to suburbia where of course, chaos ensues. What a shame not one moment of it is funny. HANGING UP (BOMB!) ... in recent press interviews, Oscar winning actress Diane Keaton has discussed her passion for the craft of directing. Ms Keaton feels that her work with such world class directors as Francis Ford Coppola, Woody Allen, Richard Brooks and Alan Parker has provided her with the tools to be a fine director. Keaton claims to have learned much from the afore- mentioned legends of film making. Watching Hanging Up, the new film in which she directs and stars, | wonder exactly what it was she learned. This atrocious film is not about people but outfits, hair, and Walter Matthau looking cute. Once one of the great comic actors of all time, the elderly Matthau has been placed in the category once held by George Burns: daffy, oversexed old man who cusses and insults with the best of them. Burns at least did such roles with a degree of dignity; Matthau looks foolish and untalented. Worse are the performances of " Keaton, Lisa Kudrow (another Friends star), and the ever perky Meg Ryan as three sis- ters trying to deal with ornery, horny dear old dad, who has a penchant for pinching bottoms and bedding gentle old women. It was funny once, but how many films of this type do we need to see? Keaton may have worked with the greatest directors in the history of the movies, but she missed out on one important fact that they recognized ... work from a decent script. THE BEACH (PP) While watching The Beach, a reasonably -entertaining adventure film featuring heart- throb Leonardo de Caprio, 1 was struck by the lack of energy in the film. This picture was directed by the brilliant young film maker Danny Boyle, responsible for the har- rowing black comedy Trainspotting (1996), easily the finest film ever made about hero- in addiction. Here Boyle is working with a superior talent, but the film never really gets going where we think, and hope, it should. De Caprio is a prodigy actor, who at his tender age seems incapable of a false moment on screen. Perhaps the greatest testament to his formidable talent was the life he gave his character Jack in James Cameron's overwrought, underwritten film Titanic (1997). Speaking ridiculous dialogue written by Cameron, the young actor breathed life into the role and enabled us to care about the young man doomed to die aboard the great ship. Here in The Beach, he is well cast as a free-spirited back packer who stumbles onto a eutopian society living on a lush tropical island. The problem, of course, is that nothing is as it seems. De Caprio gives a strong physical performance, but the screenplay lacks any real depth to it, and the film becomes a sort of The Island meets The Lord of the Flies without the bite and rage of either film. SNOW DAY (BOMB) Remember when Chevy Chase had a career? This is where he has ended up. And puh-lease, do not get me started on this inane, insulting film that exists to annoy the audience seeing it. PITCH BLACK (PP) Despite a pretty nifty idea for a science fiction horror film, a vicious killer that can exist only in the dark, this film fizzles out as quickly as the lights and torches within the picture. What does the film in are the terri- ble performances of the cast, in particular the over loud Vin Diesel, who seems to have taken acting lessons from Al Pacino. Despite the awful acting of the principles, the film is strangely watchable, and despite the mis- givings I have about the cast, | found myself entranced by the idea and execution of the plot. Stylishly directed, with superb visual effects, the film has a haunting power as it hones in on fears of the unknown in the dark. After a strong opening, the movie weakens considerably after the first 30 min- utes, becoming an all too familiar re-hashing of various science fiction and horror films, namely Alien (1979). Still, good gruesome fun. CAN You GUESS LAKE ScuUuGoG'Ss VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Cadillac Corp. (705) 324-3533 1 Fax: HEATHER JONES (705) 328-2657 SALES & LEASING REPRESENTATIVE RES. (905) 986-4690 IT'S WORTH THE DRIVE UP HWY. 35 QILEF®S IDEN OPEAN CRAFTS & GIFTS After 30 years in business the WOLF'S DEN is having a final closing sale. 3 Fine European Gifts & Crafts. d H NG MUST GO! THREE WEEKENDS LE ame = 5 pm ad [of Jo 100 Bagh 0 74 J Enter to WIN our 50/50 Draw Tickets %2.% each or 3 for 35.% available at The Port Perry Star 188 Mary Street, Port Perry All Proceeds to Scugog Shores Museum. Lottery Licence #M144039 The Scugog Chamber of Commerce is actively seeking volunteers to help with Summerfest at the Port Perry Fairgrounds July 6-9 /2000 Please call 985-4971 to volunteer Together, we can make it happen! RIS Tiq GO Cc Since 1987 Na Presented by Scugog Christian School Featuring: oe i-Witness e Jubilation e Emmanuel Praise and more!!! Where: Emmanuel Pentecostal Church 1680 Reach Road, Port Perry, ON March 4, 2000 @ 7:00 pm $15 per person, $50 per family BENEFIT CONCERT When: Cost: Tickets can be purchased at the following locations: Scugog Christian School (985-3741) or Hanks Pastries (985-2172) Tickets available at the Door 3 - - THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION (&z Branch 419 SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2000 $5.00 Entry Fee Plus a non-perishable food item Registration Time 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Start Time 12:30 p.m. ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO OPERATION SCUGOG Food Available / So Come Out And Have Some Fun And Help Your Community At The Same Time!