Title: Any Given Sunday MPAA Rating: Rated R for pervasive strong language, sexuality, and nudity Genre: Drama Starring: Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, Jamie Foxx, Lauren Holly, James Woods, Matthew Modine, LL Cool J, Aaron Eckhart, Ann-Margret, and Bill Bellamy Rating & Review: Wow, what a movie!! Two words: very intense. Any Given Sunday is defintely the greatest football movie I have ever seen. Another powerful performance by the great Al Pacino. He is so talented and believable. Incredibly, Jamie Foxx is great, he finally has proved that he's more than just 'that funny guy'. Oliver Stone did a wonderful job, also. He made sure that every single camera shot was perfect. During the action on the field, the camera close-ups, angles, panning, slow-mos, and the booming bass made the movie so much more exciting. It was like you were playing with them! Some low points were the very coarse content. And the big, nude football players WAS NOT a pretty site. But behind all that stuff, Any Given Sunday is a powerful, intense, dramatic, exciting movie. If you can handle it, go see it. Best Part of the Movie: Greatest football movie ever made. Worst Part of the Movie: Big naked guys. Web Site: www.anygivensunday.net Title: The Bachelor MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for language Genre: Romance/Comedy Starring: Chris O'Donnell, Renée Zellweger, Artie Lange, James Cromwell, Hal Holbrook, Edward Asner, Marley Shelton, and Peter Ustinov Rating & Review: This movie is adapted from the 1925 flim, Seven Chances, intresting little fact for you. Chris O'Donnell produced and stars in this nice little love story about a guy that will inhreit 100 million dollars if he gets married before his 30th birthday, which is tomorrow! His girlfriend is the lovely Renée Zellweger, who does a nice job. It's a humorous look that says to you, love and marriage is actually a good thing. The "Running of the Brides" scence is a scream. Everyone will enjoy this one, and I recommend it. Best Part of the Movie: It's just a little, funny love story. Worst Part of the Movie: The story is too stretched out which makes it even more unbelievable. Web Site: www.bachelormovie.com Title: Being John Malkovich MPAA Rating: Rated R for language and sexuality Genre: Comedy/Fantasy Starring: John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, Orson Bean, John Malkovich, and Charlie Sheen Rating & Review: Weird! Very Strange. There are high points and low points. It's confusing yet at times brilliant. Definitely the weirdest movie of the year. Is there an award for that? Let's face it, John Cusack has been in some bombs in that last few years, but now's he's back in his most powerful performance ever. You wouldn't believe it, but this is a comedy, and it is funny! Cameron Diaz plays a great foil character. It's definitely a breakthrough for her. This mysterious movie has many internal conflicts with the characters...which brings me to the star of the show, John Malkovich! Malkovich is wonderful (did you expect any less?) The explanation of the story makes you think if someone's looking through your eyes.... Only if you like weird movies, you would like this one. If you enjoyed this satire comedy, then I highly recommend "Breakfast of Champions", which stars Bruce Willis and Nick Nolte. Both movies have the same interesting "weirdness". Best Part of the Movie: A differnet and unique comedy. Worst Part of the Movie: Some unneeded objectionable material. And the beautiful Cameron Diaz made ugly! Ahhhhhhh! Web Site: www.beingjohnmalkovich.com Title: Beyond the Mat MPAA Rating: Rated R for language and violent content Genre: Documentary Starring: Terry Funk, Mick Foley, Jake Roberts, Vince McMahon, and Duane Johnson Rating & Review: Just what I have been waiting for. I did not give Beyond the Mat four stars because I am a wrestling fan. I gave it four stars because it is a honest, eye-opening, interesting, compelling documentary. It's more of an insight than a raw exposure. Judging a documentary is hard - there's not scripts or actors, but nevertheless it's obviously well done. The main subjects are: Terry Funk, Mick Foley, and Jake Roberts. If you think you have a rough life, then take a look at Jake Roberts' struggle. His story is terribly sad (and disturbing). It shows wrestling from the major, money-making corporation to the small independent local show. I liked how it wasn't just interviews, it was like you were in the room with them listening in on their stories and conversations. To fully appreciate this film it helps to already be a wrestling fan, but if you're not...then you might just become one. Best Part of the Movie: It's about time they made a documentary on wrestling. Worst Part of the Movie: The appearance of wrestling's fans. Web Site: www.beyondthemat.net Title: Bicentennial Man MPAA Rating: Rated PG for language and some sexual content Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Romance Starring: Robin Williams, Embeth Davidtz, Sam Neill, Oliver Platt, and Hallie Kate Eisenberg Rating & Review: The movie theater I went to was packed! This was Bicentennial Man's third week and every single seat was filled with kids. Other than all of the little kiddies talking through the whole thing, this movie was just okay but could have been better. On one hand you have a director behind Home Alone and Mrs. Doubtfire (two great movies), Chris Columbus, and then you have one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood, Robin Williams. Robin can play adult roles, such as The Fisher King or Good Will Hunting, and he can play family roles, like Aladdin, Flubber, or Hook. So that's why you think this would be a very good movie. Pretty much all of the beginning is just slapstick. But then, after awhile, it gets into more of a drama. If you're looking for another family film for the season, I think the little kids will like it. One more thing, it's more than two hours long (that's a lot for children's movie). All in all, it's just ok. Best Part of the Movie: Robin Williams is perfect for the part. Worst Part of the Movie: It could have been a lot better. Web Site: movies.go.com/bicentennialman Title: The Bone Collector MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong violent content including grisly images, and for language Genre: Thriller/Suspense Starring: Denzel Washington, Angelina Jolie, Queen Latifah, Ed O'Neill, Michael Rooker, and Mike McGlone Rating & Review: Denzel Washington was great, even with being bed-ridden through the whole movie. Just because he's paralyzed in the first 30 seconds of the movie doesn't mean he can't put on a quite believable proformance. This is an entertaining guessing game of "who's the killer" that will keep you on the ball. Not only because of plenty of sometimes-unnecessary language, this is rated R because of the gory, imbrued bodies. The murders themselves are not shown, instead, the "Seven"-like bloody aftermaths are displayed. Overall, I liked the mystery and the brief comedic dialogue, but some missing holes in the story didn't give it the final punch. So if you want a big thriller - this one's for you. Best Part of the Movie: A fun, thrilling guessing game. Worst Part of the Movie: If you have a weak stomach, this might be too much. Web Site: www.thebonecollector.com Title: Bowfinger MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for sex-related material and language Genre: Comedy Starring: Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin, Heather Graham, Christine Baranski, and Terrence Stamp Rating & Review: Now this is why Eddie Murphy is one of my favorite actors. He can play any kind of character, and in this hysterical film he plays two completely different people - which are both laugh-out-loud-funny. And with Steve Martin, you can't lose! Heather Graham is extremely hot, of course. And the last sence of this movie will have you rolling out of the theather laughing your head off. Recommended for the non-serious moviegoer. Best Part of the Movie: Eddie Murphy as "Jiff" Worst Part of the Movie: Steve Martin trying to "get it on". Web Site: www.bowfinger.com Title: Chicken Run MPAA Rating: Rated G Genre: Animation/Family Starring: Julia Sawalha, Mel Gibson, Miranda Richardson, Tony Haygarth, Imelda Staunton, Benjamin Whitrow, and Jane Horrocks Rating & Review: Mel Gibson has been a busy boy. Chicken Run and The Patriot back to back weeks. The two movies couldn't be any more far apart. Something draws you to Chicken Run, is it the cute little clay chickens? Is it Mel? Whatever it is, this movie is very entertaining. Some of the most taleted animators in the world teamed with director/writer Nick Park took three straight years making this film! On average, they would complete about three to six seconds a day. Painfully incredible work ethic, and it shows. Each chicken has it's unique hand-crafted traits. Ginger (voice of Julia Sawalha) and her friends are sentenced to certain death when Mrs. Tweedy orders a chicken pie contraption. Now with help of Rocky, these chickens might have a chance of escaping the farm. With a good script and witty diologue, this is a charming wonder that the entire family will enjoy. Best Part of the Movie: Everyone can enjoy it. Worst Part of the Movie: The idea of chicken pies...yuck! Web Site: www.chickenrun.co.uk Title: The Cider House Rules MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexuality, nudity, substance abuse and some violence Genre: Drama Starring: Tobey Maguire, Charlize Theron, Michael Caine, Delroy Lindo, Paul Rudd, Jane Alexander, and Kathy Baker Rating & Review: After winning two Oscars®, I decided it was time to see The Cider House Rules. I am very glad I did. The plot is surrounded by abortions, incest, and overdosing...yet the raw emotion and intimate bonds between each character is enough to get you beyond all that. I was thinking, if I was ever to be an actor, out of every role in every movie, I would want to play Tobey Maguire's part. His character is everything I what to see in myself. I loved his friendship with the children and I loved his simple kindess to every event. At the beginning of the movie, Maguire's and Michael Caine's bond is strong and beautiful. Michael Caine is really wonderful - he brought life when there was none. However, for best supporting actor, my pick was Haley Joel Osment. Like The Green Mile, this is another sad story with a happy ending. The children of the orphanage were excellent little actors and actresses, they really were princes of Maine and kings of New England. Best Part of the Movie: Excellent story. Worst Part of the Movie: I hate to do this, but - it should have been rated R. Web Site: www.miramax1999.com/ciderhouse

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