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ADAPTATION. (R) From director Spike
Jonze and screenwriter Charlie
Kaufman—the team that brought you
Being John Malkovich—comes this
dark comedy about the trials and tribu
lations of a screenwriter, Charlie
Kaufman (Nicolas Cage), who tries to
write a film adaptation of a best-selling
book, The Orchid Thiel, by Susan
Orlean (Meryl Streep) Opens Friday
(Beechwood)
ANTWONE FISHER (PG-13) Denzel
Washington makes his directorial debut
with this drama based on the true story
ol a sailor (Derek Taylor in a stunning
debut) who must wrestle the demons ol
his past and face his future after being
sent to a navy psychiatrist
(Washington) Fisher, who was discov
ered while working the gate at Sony, co
wrote the script. Opens Friday
(Beechwood. Carmike)
BARBERSHOP (PG-13) A wonderfully
entertaining film starring Ice Cube as a
young man who inherits his father's bar
bershop then sells il to a seedy gangster
(Keith David) only to feel immediate
regret in realizing its community worth.
Cedric the Entertainer is hysterical.
(Georgia Square 5)
THE BIG LEBOWSKI (R) 1998 I've
never understood why most people love
this Coen Brothers movie above all
others, but they do. Jell Bridges plays
the Dude, and he's mistaken for another
dude, and as a result gets his carpet
ruined. He seeks restitution with the
help of his buddies. John Goodman.
John Turturro. Julianne Moore, and of
course Steve Buscemi join the cast.
Shows Wednesday. 1/15 (Tate)
THE BREAKFAST CLUB (R) 1985.
“Answer the question. Claire." Ah. the
good ol' days when teen movies were
fresh and rated R. The John Hughes
original set all the standards and stereo
types. Enjoy the brain, the athlete, the
basket case, the princess, and the crim
inal for the eightieth time or the first
time. Shows Friday. 1/10 & Saturday
1/11 (Tate)
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (PG-13) The
true story ol Frank Abignale. Jr. who. in
the 1960s. forged millions of dollars in
checks while impersonating an airline
pilot, a pediatrician, an assistant DA.
and a sociology professor (not in the
movie) all before reaching the age of
twenty Leonardo DiCaprio plays the
wily teen, though he doesn't really get
away with playing a guy who gels away
with looking older. Leo can barely get
away with playing anyone older than
twelve. Nonetheless, his baby face
brings a certain charm to this Spielberg
boyhood fantasy filled with money,
women, and airplanes. Though the
excitement of the movie doesn't extend
beyond the intrigue of the true story,
there is a richness to the supporting
characters that makes it enjoyable.
Christopher Walken plays Frank's opti
mistic father, giving Spielberg's usual
divorced parent sentimentalism new
buoyancy. Torn Hanks, after too many
sappy lead roles, is great as the anal-
retentive but lonely Fed who has
nothing better to do than chase the boy.
(Beechwood, Carmike); Starts Friday
(Highway 17 Theatres)
A CHORUS LINE (PG-13) 1985.
Richard Attenborough's silver screen
treatment of the long-running Broadway
hit’of the same name. A casting director
auditions numerous dancers for a big
production. As the competition narrows,
it gets more intense, and the director
searches for that certain ie rie sais quoi.
Michael Douglas. Alyson Reed, Vicki
Frederick. Shows Thursday, 1/9 (ACC
Library)
DIE ANOTHER DAY (PG-13) The
twentieth installment in the James Bond
franchise is one of the worst in the saga
It’s not a matter of whether the franchise
can be saved (James Bond can always
be reinvented), but whether Pierce
Brosnan can save himself. (Carmike);
Ends Thursday (Beechwood)
DRUMLINE (PG-13) A Harlem street
drummer wins a full scholarship to play
in the marching band at a fictitious
Atlanta college. It's great to see a movie
about marching bands finally. Though it
is pretty formulaic, the sports-like com
petitive nature of these bands is cap
tured well, and the drumline show
downs are a treat. (Beechwood.
Carmike)
8 MILE (R) Eminem's headfirst dive
into film is pretty impressive. In a some
what autobiographical story, he plays an
aspiring rapper struggling to overcome
stage fright, prejudice and poverty. The
plot plays almost like a sports film as an
intense freestyle competition centers the
climax, but victory and its meaning are
never made too clear. Directed by Curtis
Hanson (LA Confidential). (Highway
1 7 Theatres); Shows Wednesday. 1/8 &
Monday. 1/13 (Georgia Theatre)
GANGS OF NEW YORK (R) With
such visually dramatic gestures as
Bibles submersing in water and Daniel
Day Lewis' brutish Bill the Butcher sit
ting in a rocking chair draped with the
American flag, one might confuse this
Scorsese epic for a Brian DePalma
movie. But don't fret, it seems to work
well in this grandiose recognition of the
happy marriage that is America and vio
lence. In New York's infamous five
points, everyone belongs to a gang it
seems, with names that sound more like
underground rock bands (The Dead
Rabbits, etc.). The natives, led by Bill
the Butcher, are violently opposed to the
increasing number of immigrants
coming ashore, especially the Irish,
which include a young man (Leonardo
DiCaprio) seeking revenge for the death
of his father. This is basically an opera
where singing is replaced by the
bashing of skulls Daniel Day Lewis
gives a terrifying performance with
equal parts menace and principle as the
uncompromising xenophobe. With a
condescending De Niro-like cock of the
head and a phlegmatic growl in the
throat he introduces himself to the
vengeful Irish newcomer simply as
“New York." That’s rad. Long and vio
lent. if you dig a man head-butting
another man until his face is completely
red with blood, then you'll dig this. I
did. (Beechwood. Carmike)
GHOST SHIP (R) A spunky salvage
boat crew is led to a mysterious derelict
that turns about to be an Italian luxury
liner missing lor 40 yeais. This movie
fails to rise above the conventions of its
genre, though there's some well exe
cuted gore. (Margaret Moore) (Georgia
Square 5)
HARRY POTTER AND THE
CHAMBER OF SECRETS (PG) I just
don't get this whole phenomenon.
Perhaps the books thrive on pure
escapism and are rich in detail and
imaginary history and that's why the
people dig 'em. but these movies are
just plain boring. To the film's credit,
however, it is darker than the first, and
the giant snakes and spiders are pretty
rad. but I did fall asleep for part of this
very, very long movie. Ends Thursday
(Beechwood)
THE HOT CHICK (PG-13) To what
lows one man can sink simply to make
rent. Poor Rob Schneider doing tired,
embarrassing, gender-bending bits lor
the cameras. (Carmike); Ends Thursday
(Beechwood)
IGBY GOES DOWN (R) 2002.
Writing/directing debut from actor Burr
Steers (Last Days ol Disco) about a
teenage mislit (Kieran Culkin) who's
unable to cope with his bizarre family
and so ventures into the Manhattan
underworld, where he befriends
bohemian artists and pursues romantic
relationships with older women. This
dark tragicomedy, also starring Claire
Danes and Jefl Goldblum among others,
has stirred a lot ol buzz in indie circles.
Go see it while you can. Shows Friday.
1/10-Sunday. 1/11 (Tate)
< JUST MARRIED (PG-13) Britanny
Murphy (Don't Say A Word. 8 Mile) and
Ashton Kutcher (“That 70s Show") play
an awkward couple who get married
against the wishes of the brides friends
and family While on their Honeymoon
in Europe, the family plols to break up
the marriage. Opens Friday
(Beechwood. Carmike)
LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO
TOWERS (PG-13) Peter Jackon's
second installment in the Lord ol the
Rings trilogy is impressive, though not
as exciting or wholly entertaining as the
first. The Fellowship broken, the sepa
rate bands of heroes continue on their
separate missions. The new character
Gollurn is well-conceived, but the com
puter animation is still a little irksome.
What's most disappointing is that so
many ol the most awe-inspiring
moments have to be undercut by Gimli
the Dwarfs one-liners. It's like “Shut up.
dude. Ores are about to fuck shit up."
(Beechwood, Carmike)
MAID IN MANHATTAN (PG-13) It's
curious once in a while why Wayne
Wang seems uninterested in making a
Wayne Wang movie. It's bizarre that he
can jump so easily into making a for
mulaic Hollywood film. Jenniler Lopez
is a hotel maid who suddenly gets fan
cied by a senatorial candidate (Ralph
Fiennes) who mistakes her for a
Manhattan socialite. The film's winning
moments are ones in which the staff at
the hotel mock the pampered socialites,
but you'd do belter to just watch Robert
Altman’s Goslord ParkW you want to
empathize with people who scrub toilets
for a living. (Beechwood. Carmike)
NARC (R) A narcotics officer (Jason
Patric). having been suspended for a
pedestrian casualty, is oflered a reprieve
with an impossibly difficult case. He
teams up with a brash cop to solve the
murder ol a narcotics investigator.
Opens Friday (Carmike)
PINOCCHIO (G) It seems when you
combine the movements of Roberto
Benignini with the voice of Breckin
MOVIE LISTINGS
Theater schedules often change after our deadline. Please call ahead.
ACC LIBRARY (613-3650)
A Chorus Line (PG-13) 7:00 (Th. 1/9)
BEECHWOOD (546-1011)
About Schmidt (R) 4:25. 7:10, 9:50 (add'l times F.
1/10-Su. 1/12: 1:45)
Adaptation. (R) 2:10. 4:30. 7:20, 9:40 (opens F. 1/10)
Antwone Fisher (PG-13) 2:00, 4:35. 7:10. 9:45 (opens
F. 1/10)
Catch Me If You Can (PG-13) 4:00. 7:00, 9:55 (add'l
times F. 1/10-Su. 1/12: 1:00)
Die Another Day (PG-13) 9:35 (ends Th. 1/9)
Drumline (PG-13) 2.15, 4:45, 7:15. 9:45 (new times F.
1/10: 7:10, 9:40)
Gangs Of New York (R) 4:20, 8 00 (new times F. l'lO:
5:00, 8:30) (add’l times F. 1/10-Su. 1/12: 1:30)
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Seoets (PG) 5:00,
8:30 (ends Th. 1/9)
The Hot Chick (PG-13) 2:10 (ends Th. 1/9)
Just Married (PG-13) 3:20. 5:25. 7:30, 9:35 (add’l times
F. 1/10-Su. 1/12: 1:15) (opens F. 1/10)
The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (PG-13) 2:00,
4:40, 5:40, 8:20, 9:20 (new times F. 1/10: 4:40, 8:20)
(add’l times F. 1/10-Su. 1/12: 1:00)
Maid In Manhattan (PG-13) 2:25, 4:50, 7:25, 9:50 (new
times F. 1/10: 2:05, 4:30. 7:05, 9:30)
Star Trek: Nemesis (PG-13) 2:05. 4:35. 7:05, 9:35
(ends Th. 1/9)
The 25th Hour (R) 4:05. 7:05, 9:55 (add'l times F.
1/10-Su. 1/12: 1:05) (opens F. 1/10)
Two Weeks Notice (PG-13) 3:10, 5:20, 7:30, 9:40 (new
times F. 1/10: 2:25, 4:35, 7:25, 9:35)
The Wild Thornberrys Movie (PG) 3:15, 5:15, 7:20 (new
times F. 1/10: 3:10, 5:10) (add’l times F. 1/10-Su. 1/12:
1:10)
CARMIKE 12 (364-0016)
Antwone Fisher (PG-13) 1:35, 4:10, 7:00, 9:35 (opens
F. 1/10)
Catch Me If You Can (PG-13) 12:45, 4:00, 7:00 (new
times F. 1/10: 2:25, 5:25, 8:25)
Die Another Day (PG-13) 4:10. 9:20 (new times F.
1/10: 5:40, 8:35)
Drumline (PG-13) 1:00, 4:20, 7:05, 9:35 (new times F.
1/10: 1:40, 4:15. 7:05, 9:35)
Gangs Of New York (R) 1:30, 5:00, 8:15(new times F.
1/10:2:15, 5:35, 8:55
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (PG) 12:30
(new time F. 1/10: 2:20)
The Hot Chick (PG-13) 1:15, 4:25, 7:15, 9:45 (new
times T. 1/10: 4:25. 9:10)
Just Married (PG-13) 2:05, 4:35, 7:05. 9:15 (opens F.
1/10)
The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (PG-13) 12:00.
1:15. 3:30. 4:15, 5:00. 7:00. 7:45. 8:30 (new times F.
1/10: 1:30. 2:00, 5:00, 5:30, 8:30, 9:00)
Maid In Manhattan (PG-13) 1:15, 4:45. 7:15. 9:30 (new
times F. 1/10: 1:55. 4:30. 7:00, 9:20
Narc (R) 1:50, 4:20, 7:15, 9:35 (opens F. 1/10)
Pinocchio (G) 1:00, 7:05 (ends Th. 1/9)
Star Trek: Nemesis (PG-13) 1:30, 4:00, 7:00, 9:30
(ends Th. 1/9)
Two Weeks Notice (PG-13) 1:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:15 (new
times 1/10: 1:45, 4:05, 7:10, 9:30)
The Wild Thornberrys Movie (PG) 1:30. 4:35, 7:10,
9,10 (new times F. 1/10: 2:10, 7:10)
GEORGIA SQUARE 5 (548-3426)
Barbershop (PG-13) 4:45, 7:20, 9:45 (addl times Sa.
1/11-Su. 1/12: 2:20)
Ghost Ship (R) 4:30. 7:00, 9:30 (addl times Sa. 1/11-
Su. 1/12: 2:00)
Santa Claus 2 (G) 4:40, 7:15, 9:40 (addl times Sa.
1/11-Su. 1/12: 2:15) (starts F. 1/10)
Sweet Home Alabama (PG-13) 4:35, 7:10, 9:35 (Sa.
1/11-Su. 1/12: 2:10)
Transporter (PG-13) 4:40. 7:30, 9:40 (new times F.
1/10: 4:20. 9:20)
Tuck Everlasting (PG) 4:20, 7:05, 9:20 (new times F.
1/10: 7:05) (addl times Sa. 1/11-Su. 1/12: 2:05)
HIGHWAY 17 THEATERS (335-4505)
Star Trek: Nemesis (PG-13) 9:00 (ends. Th. 1/9)
The Wild Thornberrys Movie (PG) 7:00 (ends. Th. 1/9)
8 Mile (R) 7:00 (addl times F. 1/10-Sa. 1/11: 9:00)
Catch Me If You Can (PG-13) 7:00 (add’l times F. 1/10-
Sa. 1/11:9:00 (starts F. 1/10)
TATE CENTER THEATER (542 6396)
The Breakfast Club (R) Midnight (F. 1/10-Sa. 1/11)
Igby Goes Down (R) 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45 (F. 1/10-Su.
1/11)
The Big Lebowski (R) 3:00. 5:15, 7:30, 9:45 (W. 1/15)
GEORGIA THEATRE (549-9918)
8 Mile (R) 7:00, 10:00 (Mon. 1/8 & W. 1/13).
Help, we've fallen and we can't get it up!
Meyer, you somehow get Dana Carvey. I
was hopeful for a darker, more faithful
version of this Italian fairy tale, but was
ultimately disappointed. The look of the
film i: engaging, but each vignette flies
by without resolve or purpose making
the point of this story either lost in
translation or somewhere in Bemgnmi's
large head. And once and for all. dub
bing just cannot work without the
involvement of Shaolin monks. Ends
Thursday (Carmike)
SANTA CLAUSE 2 (6) I love
Christmas movies. The stories are
simple, the themes heart-warming and
usually funny, and the set decoration is
always a visual feast. But sometimes
they play the same old song with the
tinny emptiness of a rusty music box.
Santa Clause 2strives for all those great
elements but does little to strike a
memory. Starring Tim Allen. Starts
Friday (Georgia Square 5)
STAR TREK: NEMESIS (PG-13) This
time, the leader ot the Federation's arch
enemies, the Romulans. wants the
Enterprise and her crew to pay him a
visit and talk peace. But he turns out to
be an evil clone ol Captain Picard
(Patrick Stewart) and a shootout at The
Outerspace O.K. Corral ensues. A pale
remake ot Star Trek II: The Wrath ol
Kahn, right down to the (sort ot) tragic
ending. (Margaret Moore] Ends
Thursday (Beechwood. Carmike.
Highway 17 Theatres)
SWEET HOME ALABAMA (PG-13) A
young woman (Reese Witherspoon)
from the deep South makes it big in Ihe
Big Apple with a marriage proposal
from the Mayor’s son (Patrick
Dempsey). The only problem is that she
is already married, having left her hus
band (Josh Lucas) seven years earlier.
Stereotypes and formulas abound. The
performances, however, are nice, espe
cially Witherspoon's. (Georgia Square 5)
TUCK EVERLASTING (PG) The Tucks
are a family from back in the day who
can't get old because they drank from
some magical spring in the woods
belonging to Ihe Foster family. This sto
rybook lilm has a nice message about
coping with death by living a better life.
(Georgia Square 5)
THE TRANSPORTER (PG-13) So bad
it can be funny. Jason Statham (Snatch)
plays a slick-to-the-rules transporter of
criminal goods who makes the mistake
of getting involved with his latest cargo,
a young woman (Qi Shu) (Georgia
Square 5)
25TH HOUR (R) A drug-dealer
(Edward Norton) facing a seven-year jail
term spends his last n.ght of freedom
re-evaluating his life and his friends
Even after Summer ol Sam didn't do so
hot, director Spike Lee is giving while
people one more chance. Opens Friday
(Beechwood)
TWO WEEKS NOTICE (PG-13)
Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant: two
great tastes that didn't taste great
together. They seemed as il they were on
two separate stages in this romantic
comedy about a wealthy real estate
developer (Grant) who hires his biggest
enemy to be his top advisor, a Harvard
grad hippie lawyer (Bullock). Despite
being the most aloofly charming people
you'd ever want to meet, there was no
reason to believe that these two people
should ever spend that much time
together, much less fall in love.
(Beechwood. Carmike)
THE WILD THORNBERRY > MOVIE
(PG) Big screen treatment ol
Nickelodeon’s animated series about a
young girl who Iravels the world with
her sister and her parents, who are
nature show hosts. The girl. Eliza, also
possesses the ability to talk with ani
mals and. while on an African Salari.
she gets wind of a poacher plot to kill a
herd of elephants.(Beechwood,
Carmike); Ends Thursday (Highway 17
Theatres)
Patrick Franklin
12 FLAGPOLE.COM • JANUARY 8, 2003