Stir of Echoes - * * 1/2*

Posted on September 10, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Stir of Echoes

Riding the current wave of supernatural thrillers, Stir of Echoes is one of the better of the bunch. Though much in the film seems familiar, it still is intriguing to watch.

Tom Witzky (Kevin Bacon) is a blue-collar lineman living in what seems to be a normal Chicago neighborhood. He and his pregnant wife, Maggie (Kathryn Erbe), barely notice that their son, Jake (Zachary David Cope), has routine chats with the dead.

However, after attending a party where Maggie’s sister, Lisa (Illeana Douglas), hypnotizes him, Tom discovers the paranormal world into which his son has tapped. Tom begins having psychic visions and disturbing thoughts, and has no way to control them.

His psychic abilities become an obsession, and he ignores his job, Maggie, and everything else to figure out why he sees what he sees. In particular, the ghost of a young woman haunts his thoughts, and he struggles to discover what she wants.

Writer-director David Koepp, who worked under Steven Spielberg in the two Jurassic Park films, bestows an oddly Spielbergian flavor to Stir of Echoes. The film feels as if Roy Neary from Close Encounters of the Third Kind has gotten mixed up with the events of Poltergeist.

The supernatural imagery in Stir of Echoes is appropriately creepy, occasionally inspiring a visceral reaction. Unlike the recent film, Stigmata, the disorienting quick cuts are used to highlight the strange events, rather than being liberally sprinkled throughout the movie. The end result is a much more powerful and eerie experience.

It’s difficult to review Stir of Echoes without making reference to the other recent supernatural ghost thriller, The Sixth Sense. Both prominently feature children who can speak to chilly ghosts, and an atmosphere of gloom amid normality. However, it’s difficult to call Stir of Echoes simply a copycat film. Not only were the two produced simultaneously, but Stir of Echoes is based on Richard Matheson’s novel from 1958. The coincidences are just coincidences, and on the whole, though not as meticulously structured, Stir of Echoes is a slightly better film.

The biggest problem with Stir of Echoes is that its scope is not as strong as its premise seems to suggest. We’re given glimpses into a bizarre world of the supernatural, and yet the film shrinks to focus on one event which, while disturbing, is not as compelling. Even the interesting initial focus on Jake is brushed aside as the film becomes the story of Tom.

Kevin Bacon gives amiable performance, even though he drowns it in a thick Chicago accent. As his befuddled wife, Kathryn Erbe wanders through the film as if she’s bitter that she’s being left out of the action.

Stir of Echoes is an interesting supernatural thriller, although, at times, it is a bit derivative. The single-minded focus on the plight of Tom and the ghost, however, limits the effectiveness of the film.

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Stigmata - *

Posted on September 10, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Stigmata

Stigmata is a tale of two films. One involves a serious criticism of the Catholic Church as an institution that may interfere with true faith. The other is a flashy, MTV-style remake of The Exorcist. Neither one makes much sense, and Stigmata isn’t much of a movie.

Father Andrew Kiernan (Gabriel Byrne) is a Catholic priest, dispatched from the Vatican to investigate (and attempt to disprove) miracles. From mysterious images to bleeding statues, the miracles require him to balance his faith with scientific objectivity.

Frankie Paige (Patricia Arquette) is a NY hairdresser, who is also an atheist. Needless to say, she is quite distraught when she begins exhibiting stigmata, the wounds of Christ. Kiernan is sent to investigate and finds himself entranced, both by Frankie, and the appearance of what appears to be a genuine miracle.

As he grows attached to Frankie, Kiernan also becomes increasingly concerned when her wounds continue to grow in number. Meanwhile, Cardinal Daniel Houseman (Jonathan Pryce) at the Vatican exerts great pressure on Kiernan to disprove this miracle. Yet, Frankie’s life, and a great religious secret, hang in the balance.

Watching Stigmata, I couldn’t help but think of the familiar line from Beetlejuice, “I’ve seen The Exorcist about a hundred and sixty-seven times, and it keeps getting funnier every single time I see it!” Director Rupert Wainwright apparently shares this same affinity. The issue of stigmata didn’t appear to be interesting enough, and since every movie can use a little dose of demonic possession, Wainwright lavishly pours it over his movie.

Frankie’s stigmata are accompanied by what are apparently demonic attacks and/or possessions. The usual trappings are there. Flames burst all around. Frankie floats in the air, and chants in a low, guttural voice. Pain, death and destruction are everywhere. Yet, somehow the film seems to portray this as a good thing. It’s one angry, hate-filled message of love.

Rupert Wainwright shoots Stigmata like a hybrid of a rabid music video and the post-JFK work of Oliver Stone. It’s effective in short doses, but, stretched to nearly two hours, the technique becomes monotonous. It’s not so much confusing as irritating.

Patricia Arquette is far from subtle in her role as the afflicted woman. She gets to stumble around like a zombie, float in the air, bleed proliferously (in multiple queasy scenes), throw people around like dolls, and shriek contemptuously. Yet, amid all the action, her character is missing. Aside from the fact that she’s an athiestic hairdresser, we learn little about her.

Gabriel Byrne (who strangely moves from playing a priest here, to playing the devil in this Fall’s End of Days) is overly laconic in his priestly role. Even when a taboo romance is hinted at, he stirs few sparks and less emotion.

Stigmata isn’t a very church-friendly movie, though it is far from being anti-religious. Yet, even thick-skinned audiences will discover that Stigmata just isn’t very good.

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Chill Factor - 1/2*

Posted on September 1, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Five years after Speed, the train-wreck movie clones just keep on coming. The latest down the pike is Chill Factor, an utterly unmemorable piece of dreck that centers on an explosive substance nearly as toxic as this movie.

Dr. Richard Long (David Paymer) has been developing a secret weapon for the U.S. Government: a deadly, temperature-sensitive, biological/chemical explosive thingy, nicknamed “Elvis”. The specifics are unimportant, and are barely glossed over, but whatever “Elvis” is, it detonates with extremely deadly force if its temperature rises to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

When a military test goes awry, Captain Andrew Brynner (Peter Firth), the military commander in charge, is sent to prison for losing the lives of several soldiers. Several years later, he emerges an insane man, who somehow has contacts with an elite group of terrorist mercenaries. His motley gang hunts for “Elvis”, and will stop at nothing to get it. Dr. Long has been devoting his energies to “stabilizing” his formula (despite the fact that, from a military point of view, it seems to work perfectly), and tries to keep “Elvis” out of Brynner’s evil hands.

That’s how “Elvis” falls into the hands of Tim Mason (Skeet Ulrich), a short-order cook who happens to be Dr. Long’s fishing buddy. Tim is given the task to transport “Elvis” to a location that’s actually unimportant to the plot. Suffice it to say, he’s always on the move. To accomplish this, Tim enlists the unwilling aid of Arlo (Cuba Gooding Jr.), an ice cream delivery man, whose refrigerated truck is the only thing that keeps “Elvis” from turning Montana into a desolate wasteland.

You can probably sketch out the rest of the story from there. Of course, Tim and Arlo bicker constantly (but, as the formula dictates, develop a bond as the movie rattles along). However, the two never develop any form of comic banter, and almost seem to be acting in different movies.

Cuba Gooding Jr. is needlessly shrill and irritating in his role as Arlo. He desperately needs to tone down his act, but gets no help from the vacant director, Hugh Johnson. It almost seems worth destroying the entire state of Montana, just to get rid of Arlo.

Skeet Ulrich is, thankfully, more subdued (though, it’s unlikely he could have been less). However, the character of Tim Mason is so entirely bland and boring, that even if “Elvis” detonated, no one would know the difference.

The action sequences are at least bright and loud, if pointless. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to find consolation purely in the action sequences, as the so-called comic dialogue frequently interrupts.

Even those desperate for an action fix would be advised to stay outside a 300-mile radius from Chill Factor. If you ignore this warning, the consequences will be very chilling.

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Dudley Do-Right - 1/2*

Posted on August 29, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Dudley Do-Right

Pity Brendan Fraser. While he occassionally displays his talent by stretching out to unique films such as Still Breathing, Gods and Monsters, or The Twilight of the Golds, like an unerring yo-yo, he always returns to his goofball origins of Encino Man. On rare occasions, his returns prove to be wonderfully hilarious, such as in George of the Jungle, most of the time, they result in duds like Airheads. Dudley Do-Right tries with all its might to be another George. Unfortunately, the film proves to be a 98-lbs. weakling, and its might doesn’t get it very far.

Much like George of the Jungle, Dudley Do-Right is based upon a wacky, somewhat dimwitted cartoon by Jay Ward. While there’s plenty of “dimwitted” on the screen, “wacky” is nowhere to be found. Dudley Do-Right (Fraser), for those not in the know, is a good hearted Canadian Mountie, always at odds with the nefarious Snidley Whiplash (Alfred Molina). Dudley’s true love is Nell Fenwick (Sarah Jessica Parker), who routinely finds herself right in the middle of Snidley’s evil plans.

In the film, Snidley concocts a scheme worthy of Rube Goldberg. He seizes all the property in Semi-Happy Valley, starts rumors of a gold rush, and extracts profit from the gold-crazed masses who swarm to the valley. Dudley is at a loss to stop him, for all of Snidley’s profiteering is seemingly legal.

So, Dudley is faced with an unusual dilemma. How does the good guy fight the bad guy when the bad guy goes good? Must Dudley become the bad guy to beat Snidley at his own game? It’s an ethical dilemma that is a bit too serious for this cartoon fare, and yet too cartoony to be taken seriously. In fact, the whole thing was a bit confusing until it became clear that it was merely an extravagant setup for Dudley to be konked in the head (and other anatomical areas) with various hard objects.

One of the problems with Dudley Do-Right, is the film just doesn’t know when to stop. Having Dudley get hit in the head once with a loose floorboard is mildly amusing at best. By the twentieth time, the effect is simply nauseating. In one of the film’s best jokes, the Kumquat Indians stage a Vegas-style “traditional” dance…then the film presses its luck and plays the exact same joke all over again, except this time it collapses with a resounding “thud”. Dudley Do-Right would have greatly benefited from a little moderation.

Fraser brings his trademark George of the Jungle goofiness to the role, and little else. Alfred Molina at least gets a showier part as Snidely. However, Sarah Jessica Parker gets the worst role of the bunch. Even in the cartoon, Nell was merely a lightweight romantic object for Dudley’s affections. However, the new movie gets rid of her signature scene (being tied to the railroad tracks ala The Perils of Pauline), and proves that it is always possible to make an inconsequential role even more so.

Young children, and those with a severely underdeveloped sense of humor, may find something to chuckle at now and then in Dudley Do-Right. But, Dudley, you’re no George! Somebody stop Brendan Fraser before he ultimately accepts the role of Super Chicken…

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The 13th Warrior - * *

Posted on August 27, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

The 13th Warrior

The Thirteenth Warrior (previously known as Eaters of the Dead) has been collecting dust on the studio shelves for well over a year now. Usually that, combined with the dread end-of-August release date, is a sure sign of a potentially awful movie. However, The Thirteenth Warrior, though riddled with faults, is never a total disaster. Those yearning for a thought-free testosterone-laden action flick will find a welcome diversion here. As for others…well, don’t say you weren’t warned.

In a few moments of backstory which actually had more screen time in the trailer, we learn that Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan (Antonio Banderas) is banished from his home in Baghdad by a jealous noble. Actually, “banished” might not be exactly the appropriate term…he’s forcibly appointed as ambassador to the Northmen, and sent far, far away.

He quickly finds them, as it seems that Scandinavia is just over the hill from Baghdad, and before long Ahmed is surrounded by large, hairy, dirty and violent Vikings. But there’s a twist to his job. An unknown menace threatens, and thirteen warriors are required to go to battle. The thirteenth warrior must not be a Northman…and Ahmed is the only one who fits the bill.

So, it’s off to war with the Vikings, against an enemy of…who knows what? Rumors abound: that their foes are demons, part man, part bear, part lion, all deadly. The deadly part is the only one that has been verified, though, as the bad guys have the habit of beheading their foes and gnawing on the bones of the dead. Will the thirteen men survive numerous battles with a countless enemy? Would there be a movie if they didn’t?

The 13th Warrior is based on Michael Crichton’s novel, Eaters of the Dead, and it stands out from the rest of his work only in the fact that it takes place in the past. The film is a strict adventure tale, with none of the technical speculation that typically riddles Crichton’s works.

As can be expected, character development is virtually ignored in the film. Hmmm, the characters are Vikings…end of character development. The film half-heartedly tries to distinguish them with quick character traits (let’s see, there’s the leader, the archer, the good humored one, the tatoo guy, umm…and the rest). But for the most part…they’re simply Vikings.

The battles start out interesting, but quickly turn into sheer drudgery. The swordplay looks interesting, but John McTiernan’s chaotic direction makes it nearly impossible to tell what’s going on. Of course, the complete anonyminity of the Northmen makes this task much harder still. However, if you’re only looking for the thrill of battle, and could care less about strategy or coherence, you’ll find plenty of it here.

Antonio Banderas nimbly tiptoes through his role with ease. Somehow he makes you believe that his klutzy diplomat and his well-honed swordsman are one and the same character (even though there’s nary a transitional scene). Heck, he’s a fast learner…he even picks up the entire Northman language in a minute or so of film-time. What are a few reflexes?

Subtlety, plot, pacing, characterization…if you can ignore those minor omissions, The Thirteenth Warrior has more than enough swordfighting to satisfy your bloodlust, and then some. If your expectations are low enough, this film might just meet them.

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Fall Preview – 1999

Posted on August 24, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Once again, the best time of year for film lovers has rolled around. The year has been rather unassuming up to this point. However, the final four months of the year are the time when the studios crank out their best bets for award consideration. Looking at the selection, things promise to be more interesting as Y2K approaches! Without more further ado, here are the top thirty films to which I am looking forward this season. As of mid-August, all of these films are scheduled to premiere sometime in the next few months…however, schedules are always subject to change. In addition, I’m sure there are a few good films I have missed (on last year’s list, I omitted my future top-10 entries: Life is Beautiful, Elizabeth and Shakespeare in Love.) But, at this time, the following are the most promising prospects of the fall:

30. Jakob the Liar
Strangely, this Robin Williams led Holocaust drama has been sitting on the shelf for an entire year. Timing is everything, and this one may suffer from comparisions to Life is Beautiful.
29. Flawless
Robert De Niro showed he has great comic chops in this year’s Analyze This. Flawless should allow him room for his dramatic skills as well. Philip Seymour Hoffman has long been a talent worthy of recognition, and he may earn it in this film. However, writer-director Joel Schumacher is the wild card here, having botched most of his recent outings.
28. Breakfast of Champions
A great cast and a great book…but will it make a great movie? Both Bruce Willis and Nick Nolte have been having good streaks lately, and hopefully Breakfast of Champions will continue the trend.
27. Stir of Echoes
Supernatural horror is the ticket right now as millennium fever mounts. While Stir of Echoes borrows a bit too much from Poltergeist and Close Encounters, it manages to be consistently creepy in a way that The Sixth Sense never achieved.
26. Random Hearts
It’s time for Harrison Ford’s yearly project, but no, this isn’t an action-adventure. However, Kristen Scott Thomas may be the one to click with Ford as a romantic lead.
25. Anna and the King
Jodie Foster, Chow Yun Fat, and loads of gorgeous scenery. The story’s overly familiar, but those three factors may help to lift this one.
24. Ride With the Devil
Ang Lee doesn’t seem like the perfect director for a Western, at first. However, he didn’t seem likely for a ’70s coming-of-age film (The Ice Storm, or a Jane Austen adaptation (Sense and Sensibility), and he exceled in both cases.
23. The Insider
Michael Mann has always been a director to watch…but what is he doing directing this TV-movie material? Pacino and Crowe may liven things up, however.
22. Bicentennial Man
This one should please the touchy-feely Robin Williams crowd, but will Robin actually act in this one?
21. Angela’s Ashes
A strong cast, a moving memoir. However, this tale will need a strong marketing push to be heard in the crowded holiday season.
20. End of Days
What’s Arnold Schwarzenegger doing in a supernatural thriller? We can only hope the material will elevate his typical performance, rather than devolving into a Terminator vs. Satan brawl.
19. Toy Story 2
Yes, it’s a sequel. But, it’s a sequel to Toy Story! It will be hard to live up to the original, but at least it looks like better quality than the traditional Disney direct-to-video garbage.
18. Girl Interrupted
Director James Mangold was impressive with Cop Land, and he has a strong cast to work with here.
17. The Messenger
The Joan of Arc story doesn’t seem very fresh, but Luc Besson is a great director, and is gifted with a talented cast.
16. Mystery, Alaska
Finally, a feel-good hockey movie that doesn’t involve The Mighty Ducks!
15. Guinevere
Sarah Polley has been impressive in everything she’s done. Here’s a chance for her to really shine.
14. Dogma
The script is quirky, but not as strong as it should be. However, Kevin Smith’s offbeat casting choices may save the day.
13. Three Kings
Great buzz abounds on this apparently routine Gulf War story. Still, George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube may have a chance to shine.
12. The Story of Us
This one has a moving trailer (that apparently shows all of the key moments, however), a good cast and a strong director.
11. Any Given Sunday
This football drama has a spectacular cast, but can Oliver Stone tone down his headache-inducing editing style?
10. Sleepy Hollow
It seems like the perfect adaptation for Tim Burton to work on (much more suited to Burton than Superman). However, this one has a weak script, and will come under fire for not following the Irving story at all. Still, Burton’s imagery and eccentric cast should still make this one worth a peek.
9. Being John Malkovich
Perhaps the strangest movie of the season. This one looks loopy but fun.
8. The Green Mile
There’s lots of buzz around The Green Mile, and any Tom Hanks film is going to attract attention. Frank Darabont worked wonders with The Shawshank Redemption, but now he’s buttonholed himself as the director of period prison movies based on the works of Stephen King.
7. American Beauty
Advance word has been terrific on this film, which may turn out to be the sleeper hit of the Fall. A great cast can’t hurt.
6. Magnolia
Paul Thomas Anderson moves from Boogie Nights to a strange film in the style of Short Cuts. This one promises to be interesting, if perplexing.
5. Man on the Moon
Jim Carrey may finally get his Oscar nod, according to the buzz surrounding this Andy Kaufman biopic.
4. Cradle Will Rock
In just his third outing as a director, Tim Robbins promises to deliver an interesting (and probably controversial) film. He’s lined up a terrific ensemble, and has a great premise to work with here.
3. Bringing Out the Dead
Martin Scorsese is back on the streets of New York. Nicolas Cage is back in a worthwhile drama. Does any more need to be said?
2. The Talented Mr. Ripley
Director Anthony Minghella has landed a trendy (and talented) cast for his follow up to The English Patient. He’s got good source material here, and may strike gold twice in a row.
1. Fight Club
David Fincher struck gold four years ago with Se7en. Fight Club brings him back to the same bleak style (as well as reuniting him with Brad Pitt). Edward Norton has enlivened every film he’s been in, and it looks like no exception here. But is the world ready for a filmed adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s anarchistic novel? I certainly am…
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Universal Soldier: The Return - [No Tickets]

Posted on August 20, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

After a bad (but watchable) initial movie, Universal Soldier weathered two horrific direct-to-video sequels with the original lead, Jean-Claude Van Damme, noticeably absent. Now, seven years after the original film, Van Damme’s career is struggling. Perhaps reuniting with this flagging movie series will help put Van Damme back on the upslope? Don’t hold your breath. Once again, Van Damme has made a truly horrendous movie that’s not even worth watching for the mindless action.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, the Universal Soldier program reanimates dead soldiers as powerful, nearly unstoppable cyborgs. Formerly a Universal Soldier himself, Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is now a doting single father, who is leading a taskforce to train and perfect the Universal Soldier program.

The new UniSol’s are faster, stronger, and even more unstoppable than their predecessors. They are centrally controlled by a powerful supercomputer named S.E.T.H. (voiced by Michael Jai White), who certainly wouldn’t go berserk and attempt to take over the world with his personal army of UniSol’s…would he?

Well, surprise, surprise, this happens to be the situation that arises when the government threatens to pull the plug on the UniSol program. Now, since the armed forces are powerless against this new breed of soldier (isn’t that just always the case?), it is up to Deveraux to single-handedly defeat S.E.T.H. and save the known world.

Of course, no action hero would be complete without a leading lady. That role is filled by Erin (Heidi Schanz), a TV newswoman who wanders around spouting bon mots like, “I’m not getting killed until I get my story!” Of course, dialogue is never the strong spot in any action film.

But there’s a problem with the action as well. There’s a frequently used cliché wherein the hero comes upon a big, mean opponent. The hero delivers his best blows, but the big meanie just stands there unflinching, until finally delivering a powerful strike of his own that sends the hero reeling. Well, apparently the brilliant minds behind Universal Soldier: The Return, felt that this cliché was so good that every single fight scene in the movie should be like that. While amusing at first, quickly the action sequences become tedious. (See Van Damme. See Van Damme fight. See Van Damme get thrown across the room. Repeat.)

It doesn’t help matters that his opponents in the film aren’t too inspiring. Van Damme’s most frequent fight buddy is wrestler Bill Goldberg (playing a sneering UniSol named Romeo). Of course his fight scenes are always eerily reminiscent of a bad WCW match…you almost expect Romeo to begin trash talking his opponents. Heck, at least that might have made the movie a little amusing.

The plotting on the film is minimal, as can be expected, and contains one major flaw (and countless minor ones). Because Luc has a secret code, S.E.T.H. orders him captured alive (the only way Van Damme survives the numerous one-sided beatings he takes throughout the film). But when S.E.T.H. has the technology to resurrect the dead (and gain complete control over them), why does he bother? It’s a given that most action plots won’t stand up to any serious scrutiny…but they should at least have the decency to remain coherent while the film is running.

However, Universal Soldier: The Return does, sadly, have one memorable feature. The utterly worthless, cringing performance by Brent Hinkley as a revenge-prone hacker named Squid. The fact that his hideous performance is noticeable in this movie is sure to tell you something. But Brent’s half-snivelling, half-sneering presence is so incredibly bad that he has immediately become the front-runner for worst performance of the year.

Universal Soldier: The Return is a perfect candidate for the “what were they thinking?” file. It’s another rung down the ladder for Van Damme…and for anyone unfortunate enough to watch this drivel. (Columbia/TriStar)

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Better Than Chocolate - * *

Posted on August 13, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Anne Wheeler directs this romantic comedy about a woman who desperately tries to hide her lesbian affair from her visiting mother. Wendy Crewson, Karyn Dwyer, Christina Cox, Anne-Marie MacDonald, Peter Outerbridge, Marya Delver and Kevin Mundy star. Previously titled Maggie & Lila. 

Capsule Review: If it weren’t for the relative novelty of having lesbian, bisexual and transsexual characters, Better Than Chocolate would have been just another routine romantic comedy. A few good performances compensate somewhat for the stereotypical LBT characters. The true test: Is it Better Than Chocolate. Unfortunately, not really.

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Detroit Rock City - 1/2*

Posted on August 13, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Detroit Rock City

In 1978, Four teens (Edward Furlong, Guiseppe Andrews, James DeBello and Sam Huntington) will do anything to attend a KISS concert. Natasha Lyonne and Lin Shaye also star. Adam Rifkin directs.

Capsule Review: There’s not much to like in this nostalgia film geared toward KISS fans. It doesn’t help that halfway through, the film loses its focus as its stars literally wander off in four different directions.

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Brokedown Palace - * *

Posted on August 13, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Jonathan Kaplan directs this contemporary drama about two women (Claire Danes and Kate Beckinsale) who are caught up in a series of nightmarish events while travelling in Southeast Asia. Bill Pullman is a lawer who works to free them of drug smuggling charges. Lou Diamond Phillips also stars.

Capsule Review: A depressing (and unrealistic at times) cautionary tale about naive travellers. This story was done better, and with more emotional impact, in last year’s Return to Paradise.

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