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THE AR r OF WAR (R) In a stale role
he previously mastered in such politi
cize] ‘agenl* thrillers as Murder At
1600and U.S. Marshals, Wesley
Snipes bounds through this aggra
vating action-thriller mess is an elite
coven agent working for the UN (do
these people actually exist?) who must
uncover an international plot on the
eve of an historic summit with China.
Director Christian Duguay (The
Assignment, Screamers) definitely
goes for style over substance and dis
misses logic with every step. Whate
with Donald Sutherland^ ridiculous
mustache? How about them mean old
Chinese guys? Can the soundtrack get
any more obnoxious? With Anne
Archer. Michael Biehn and Cary-
Hiroyuki Tagawa. (Beechwood)
AUTUMN IN NEW YORK (PG-13) A
decidedly sapp u . Big Apple tear-jerker
from director Joan Chen. This romantic
drama follows an aging womanizer
with a Charlie Rich haircut (Richard
Gere) as he falls in love with a sweet,
sparkly young woman (Winona Ryder)
who happens to be less than hall his
agt She can tell when he's lying
simply by putting her hand on his heart
(and tears up every time) He continu
ally paces back forth coming up with
such zi n gers as. “Can you let me love
you?!” The two seem perfect for each
other, but not for 'ong. With Anthony
LaPaglia and Elaine Stritch.
(Beechwood. Carmike)
BLESS THE CHILD (R) Kim Basinger
confronts The Devil and his cronies in
this tiresome, poorly made “supernat
ural thriller’ from director Chuck
Russell. She's a psychiatric nurse
living in New York trying to raise a
young girl who has “special’ talents.
When a powerful, wicked cult leader
(Rufus Sewell) shows up. the hooey
gets thick. This basically attempts to
rip off previous, better crafted ecu
menical dramas, but ifs dumber than
Stigmata and Fallen put together. Ends
Thursday. (Beechwood, Carmike)
BRING IT ON (PG-12) See Movie
Pick. (Beechwood. Carmike)
THE CELL (R) Video and TV ad
director Tarsem's visually-stunning
linematic debut is a wild crime thriller
t rat makes weird use of science fiction,
serial murders, virtual reality, and
spotty psychology in an attempt to
create a decidedly modernistic cine
matic journey. The results, unfortu
nately. are varied. Catherine (Jennifer
Lopez) is an L.A. child psychologist
heavily involved in a project in which
experimental technology is used to
establish a link between her mind and
others. Meanwhile, the local FBI is
chasing a seriously schizophrenic
murderer (Vincent D’Onofrio) who tor
tures his female captives, then recon
structs them to look like dolls. One
agent (Vince Vaughn) somehow deci
phers the killer's ritual and figures out
that the latest victim has only 40 hours
to live before a cluckwork mechanism
brings about her death. Untortunatefy.
the killer is in a coma, so they enlist
Catherine and the scientists, of course.
Enter the endless. Marilyn
Manson/NIN-style freak show video
montages. Tarsem pumps things up
with wild imagery in the first couple of
“mindtrips“ using slow and fast pho
tography. bizarre sets and costumes,
and a running S&M-in-Oz theme. As
the heroes venture into the killer's sub
conscious, however, the film loses its
grip on the plot and blasts its viewers
with relentless, frightening flashbacks.
With Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Dylan
Baker and James Gammon.
(Beechwood. Carmike)
COYOTE UGLY (PG-13) Producer
Jerry Bruckheimer's mindless comedy
of tackiness follows a 21-year-old.
small-town New Jersey girl (Piper
Perabo) as she descends into
Manhattan in hopes of a songwriting
career. She takes a cheap apartment in
Chinatown and gets a job at Coyote
Ugly, a wild tavern in the East Village
where bartenders dump buckets of ice
water over their breasts, light the bar
on fire and lap dance for tips.
Ridiculous. With Adam Garcia. Mana
Bello. Tyra Banks and John Goodman.
(Beechwood, Carmike)
A THE CREW (PG-13) ft's back to a
life of crime for four retired gangsters
(Richard Dreyfuss, Burt Reynolds. Dan
Hedaya and Seymour CassJ) who
nope to to save their dilapidated resi
dence hotel in South Beach. Miami.
The grating wiseguys hatch a seem
ingly nonsensical crime scheme
involving a corpse, a phony execution
and an angry gang of drug runners.*
Director Michael Dinner (Heaven Help
Us) keeps things all tangled up with
weird plot twists and strange dialogue.
There's hardly anything plausible or
about any of the weak story or surly
characters. Despite the occasionally
funny one-liner (spoken with an exag
gerated “New Joizy accent’), there's too
little to laugh at. Jennifer Tilly and her
cleavage co-star. These actors know
how to play up the geezer bit. but it's all
too ugly and overdone. Not recom
mended (Carmike)
“FLICKER" (NR) This week’s program
features the classic sci-fi flick Purple
Death From Outer Space (1939), a
Flash Gordon picture shot in black and
white that originally aired on television
in 1940 and was released cinematically
in 1966. The story follows Flash
Gordon as Ire contents the villainous
Ming The Merciless and struggles to
find the antidote to a mysterious,
deadly “purple plague" on Earth.
Starring Buster Crabbe and Charles
Middleton. Showing nightly at 8:30
p.m. from Thursday. 8/31 through
Wednesday. 9/6. Call 546-0039 for
more information. (Ricker Theatre)
GODZILLA 2000 (PG) This 23rd
entry in the long-running Godzilla
monster series is choppy, cheap-
looking and loads of fun... for those
already initiated into the whole so&ne.
Veteran Japanese filmmaker T ?kao
Okawara. who worked on a hall-dozen
Godzilla projects prior to this one.
stays loyal to the legend and lore of the
famed monster and pits the lumbering
lizard against a modern foe—a
Gigantic alien creature named Orga.
The flick wastes no time: a village and
a highway outside of Tokyo get flat
tened within the first five minutes. The
battle between those who wish to study
and analyze the rooster (the “Godzilla
Prediction Network’ resembles the
crew from Twister) and those who wish
to destroy it makes for a somewhat
interesting twist, especially for fans. In
badly-dubbed English. (Beechwood,
Carmike. Commerce Drive-In)
HIGHLANDER: ENDGAME (R) The
immortal. 16th century Scottish warrior
Connor MacLeod (Christopher
Lambert) returns in this fourth and
(hopefully) final installment of the fan
tasy-adventure series. “For centuries,
we've been told there can be only
one“—most wish it were true. With
Adrian Paul. AKA Duncan MacLeod,
from the “Highland^ TV series.
Directed by Douglas Aamiokoski.
Opens Friday (Beechwood, Carmine)
HOLLOW MAN (R) A tedious, poorly-
scripted suspense-thriller from director
Paul Verb''even (Basic Instinct) about a
“brilliant’ group of young scientists at
a dingy, top-secret military lab who
have just unlocked the secret of ‘invis
ibility.’ The team* cocky leader.
Sebastian Caine (Kevin Bacon).
ignores the risks, defies orders from
his boss (William Devane) and tests
the dangerous procedure on himself.
For some unexplained reason, he
immediately becomes a psycho stalker
and goes about raping, molesting and
murdering his colleagues and neigh
bors. Although some special effects
depicting the gruesome transformation
from visible state to ‘invisibility’ are
genuinely impressive, the story goes
nowhere With
Elizabeth Shue
and Josh Brolin.
Avoid this.
(Beechwood.
Carmike.
Commerce Drive-
In)
McCABE AND
MRS. MILLER
(R) 1971.
Directed and co
written by Robert
Altman, one of
this country's
most brilliant
filmmakers
(known best per
haps tor such
work* as
M'A'S'H,
Nashvihe and Short Cuts), this quirky
Western follows boastful entrepreneur
John McCabe (Warren Beatty) as he
attempts to open and run a brothel in a
wintry northwestern tow| Luctok Mrs.
Miller (Julie Christie) is a MadMie
who knows how to run the show...
until the two confront a gang of
gunmen. With William Devane, John
Schuck. Shelley Duvall and Keith
Carrsdme. fate)
NUTTY PROFESSOR II: THE
KLUMPS (PG-13) In a fellow-up to
his breakthrough performance in the
1996 hit The Nutty Professor Eddie
Murohy re-proves his comic capabili
ties and delivers an uncharacteristically
sensitive take on real family characters.
Unfortunately, the storylines lead
nowhere and the script goes for the
vulgar rather the charming. With Janet
Jackson. (Beechwood. Carmike,
Commerce Drive-In)
A THE OPIGINAL KINGS OF
COMEDY (R) Director Spike Lee* rau
cous concert documentary highlights
some of the sharpest, raunchiest and
funniest commentary and cultural criti
cism coming out of the African-
American comedy scene. Shot during a
show in a packed arena in Charlotte.
NC, the film captures the on-stag* and
backstage action during the phenome-
. Jly successful “Kings Of Comedy’
tour last winter. Comedians Steve
Harvey. D. L. Hughley. Cedric The
Entertainer, and Bemie “Somumabitch’
Mac crack on everything—contempo
rary hip hup culture, the use and
misuse ol profanity, typically ’black’
family misadventures the battle of the
sexes and class warfare. Much of this
is inspired by Richard Pryor's and
Eddie Murphy's concert films. Spike
Leels camera shots pay as much atten
tion to the audience's facial expres
sions and reactions as they do to he
performers. Poignant, highly enter
taining, and full of brilliantly executed
cuss words. (Carmike)
THE REPLACEMENTS (PG-13) This
big. dumb sports comedy lakes a
blurry loo. at pro football as it follows
a gang ol “never-been" misfits on their
way to gridiron glory during a player's
strike The result is little more than a
clumsy pile ol macho nonsense... but
that's all it aims for. Jack Warden and
Gene Hackman have fun with their
roles as crusty football sergeants.
Keanu Reeves looks and acts as dim as
ever. There’s nothing surprising or
inventive about The Replacements, but
it's amusing and easy to watch—which
is more than can be said for the rest of
the crud in the multiplexes at the
moment. With Orlando Jones. Rhys
Hans, John Madden and Brooke
Langton. (Beechwood, Carmike)
SAVING GRACE (R) A dry. British
dramady about a working class woman
(the brilliant Brenda Blelhyn of Secrets
And Lies and Little Voice) who. with
some help from her gardener (Scottish
comic-actor Craig Ferguson), embarks
on a scheme to grow and sell mari
juana to raise funds tor an ailing rela
tive. Her introduction to the under
ground drug world is inevitably quite
strange. Directed by Nigel Cole and
written by Mark Crowdy and Craig
Ferguson. Opens Friday. (Carmike)
SCARY MOVIE (R) Director Keenen
Ivory Wayans' over-the-top. disgusting
comedy skewers scenes from recent
slasher flicks—Scream and / Know
What You Did Last Summer, in partic
ular—and makes satirical attacks on
some of the catch-phrases and cliches
produced recently by American
cinema. Most of the comedy is rau
cous. disgusting and hit-or-m'ss. With
Shawn Wayans. Marlon Wayans and
Cheri Oteri. Ends Thursday. (Carmike)
SPACE COWBOYS (PG-13) After
ovei 30 years away from duty, four vet
eran astronauts (Clint Eastwood.
Donald Sutherland. Tommy Lee Jones
and James
Garner) accept a
dangerous
assignment to
return to space
one last time on a
secret mission
involving a
Russian “satel
lite’-gone-hay
wire. The story
uniolds in two
parts: the first few
acts int.oduce the
four guys and all
of their old rival
ries, grudges and
love interests: the
. Ia*ter halt
involves a myste
rious government
scheme. Expect
plenty of running
jokes involving
sexually-charged zingers and one-
liners. some decent speciol effects and
a loose final act. Directed by Clint
Eastwood (Beechwood, Carmike,
Commerce Drive-In)
“UNITED STATES OF POETRY"
(NR) The last installment of a month
long series of documentaries on
MOVIE LISTINGS
Theater schedules often change after our deadline. Please call ahead.
ACC LIBRARY (613-3660)
United States Of Poetry Parts 4-5 (NR) 7:00 (Th.
8/31)
BEKCHWOOD (646-1011)
The Art Of War (R) 2:15, 4:45, 7:15, 9:45
Autumn In New York (PG-13) 2:00, 4:15, 7:00, 9:15
Bless The Child (R) 2:25, 4:50, 7:15, 9:35 (ends Th.
8/31)
Bring It On (PG-13) 2:05, 4:25, 7:05, 9:25
The Cell (R) 2:10, 4:35, 7:10, 9:30
Coyote Ugly (PG-13) 3:20. 5:20, 7:35, 9:50 (qew times
F. 9/1: 3:10, 5:10, 7:35, 9:50) (add! time F. 9/1-M. 9/4:
1:10)
GodriUa 2000 (PG) 2:30, 4:50 (ends Th. 8/31)
Highlander. Endgame (R) 3:00, 5:00, 7:40, 9:55 (add!
time F. 9/1-M. 9/4:1:00) (opens F. 9/1)
hollow Man (R) 7:20, 9:55 (ends Th. 8/31)
The Nutty Professor Ik The Klumps (PG-13) 3:00,
5:15, 7:30, 9:45 (add! time F. 9/1-M. 9/4: 12:45 p.m.)
The Replacements (PG-13) 4:20, 7:25, 9:50 (new times
F. 9/1: 2:20, 4:40, 7:20, 9:40)
Space Cowboys (PG-13) 4:30, 7:10, 9:40 (new times F.
9/1: 2:05, 4:30, 7:05. 9:30)
What lies Beneath (PG-13) 4:10, 7:00, 9:35 (new
times F. 9/1: 2:00. 4:35, 7:10. 9:50)
Whipped (R) 3:20, 5:20, 7:20, 9:20 (add! time F. 9/1-
M. 9/4: 1:20) (opens F. 9/1)
CARMMCI 12 (364-0016)
Autumn In New York (PG-13) 2:15, 4:35, 7:10 (ends
Th. 8/31)
Men The Child (R) 9:40 (ends Th. 8/31)
Bring It On (PG-13) 1:35, 4:00, 7:05, 9:20
The Cell (R) 1:45, 4:20, 7:20, 9:40
Coyote Ugly (PG-13) 220. 4:40. 7:30, 9:*5 (new times
F. 9/1: 2:20, 7:30)
The Crew (PG-13) 2:30, 4:45, 7:15, 9:15
Godzilla 2000 (PG) 2:05, 4:25, 7:25 (new time F. 9/1:
2:05)
Highlander Endgame (R) 2:00, 4:10, 7:10, 9:10 (opens
F. 9/1)
Hollow Man (R) 1:50, 4:35, 7:00, 9:30 (new times F.
9/1: No 1:50 showing)
The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (PG-13) 2:10.
4:30, 7:00, 9:30
The Original Kings Of Comedy (R) 1:30, 4:15, 7:05,
9:35
The Replacements (PG-13) 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30 (new
tiroes F. 9/1:4:30, 9:30)
Saving Grace (R) 1:50, 4:05, 7:10, 9:25 (opens F. 9/1)
Scary Movie (R) C:25 (ends Th. 8/31)
Space Cowboys (PG-13) 1:40, 4:20. 7:00, 9:30
What Lies Beneath (PG-13) 1:30, 4:15, 7:00, 9:45
Whipped (R) 2:15, 4:25, 7:15, 9:35 (opens F. 9/1)
COMMERCE DRIVE-IN (336-2486)
AU shows begin at dork. Monday through Sunday
The Nutty Professor The Klumps (PG-13) Screen 1
Hollow Man (R) Screen 2
Godzilla 2000 (PG) Screen 3 (ends Th. 8/31)
Space Cowboys (PG-13) Screen 3 (starts F. 9/1)
PUCKER THEATRE (646-0039)
Purple Death From Outer Space (NR) 8:30 (Th. 8/31-W.
9/6)
TATE CENTER (642-8646)
McCabe t Mrs. Miller (R) 3:00, 5:15, 7:30. 9:45 (Th.
8/31)
Virgin Suicides (R) 3:00, 5:15, 730, 9:45 (F. 9/1, Su.
9/3) (adfl showing F. 9/1: Midnight)
m FLAGPOLE AUGUST 30, 2000