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CINDERELLA MAN (PG-13) Dmg.
ding. ding. Round 2. In this comer.
Academy Awa/d Winners Russell
Crovw. Renee Zellweger and Ron
Howard look to uplift the nations spirits
with this Depression-era tale of boxer
Jim BraddocK, who returned from retire
ment to defeat heavyweight *cham-
peen* Max Baer in 15 grueling rounds.
Their opponent a slew of summer (licks
fleeter of foot and that pesky little
bugger called historical accuracy
(nrtxse absence plagued Howard and
Crowe's previous team-up A Beautiful
Mink Whereas fcfc Mm feels quite out-
of-place amongst the summer block
busters. ks potential to bring out the otd
folks in droves could give ft the legs
needed to outlast its more youth-ori
ented competition The trailers show
Crowe to be in fine form, especially wfth
Paul Giamatii in his comer, and ft
anyone knows how to fashion quality
patriotic, feel-good daptrap. it is Opie.
Co-written by Akiva GoWsman. who
Oscar or no, I can never forgive for
Batman & Robin. Opens Friday (Call
theatres for information.)
CRASH (R) With a strong, improbable
ensemble and a script balancing
acerbic wit devastating loss and
prickly racism, Paul Haggis’ Crash
generates more sizzle than the heat of
early summer. The crash ot the title,
vehicular, tasks a rich Brentwood
couple (Brendan Fraser and Sandra
Bullock), two philosophical carjackers
(Larenz Tate and Chris Tudacris*
Bodges), an African-American televi
sion director and his wile (Terrance
Howard and Thandie Newton), a racist
policeman (Matt Dillon) and his rookie
partner (Ryan Philippe), a Hispanic
working father (Michael Pete), and a
police detective (Don Cheadle) with
answering the query of why anything at
all happens to anyone at all. especially
peoole as imperfect as these. The
inhabitants of Crash act like real
people, creating a filmic world that
though possibly too real lor some, is
bracing with so much escapism on the
horizon. (Beechwood. Carmike)
OAMCEMAKER (NR) 199a Matthew
Diamonds Academy Award-nominated
film charts the course of tamed choreo
grapher Paul Taylor from solitary child
hood to his crowning as the workfs
greatest living choreographer (Busby
Berkeley being dead and all). Looking
behind toe scenes of the Paul Taylor
Dance Company, Dancemaker allows
audiences to see the hard work, deter
mination. and drama that goes into the
perfection soaring across the stage.
Interviews with present and former
troupe members delve Into not orty the
physical nature of (his profession, but
also the motivations that drive these
men and women to devote their entire
lives to such a demanding art Shows
Thursday, (V2 (ACC Library)
HITCH (PG-13) Will Smith stars as a
super-smooth pfayerefttostumbles on
meeting the gat oi no dreams, niton
works in a sputtering tashion, mainly
due to the former Fiesh Prince's charm
(Georoia Sauare 5)
HOUSE OF WAX (R) Horror is not
always solely about being scared wit
less. something at which House otVt'ax.
yet another remake, occasionally suc
ceeds. The true strength ot this Paris
Hilton shocker is that trait common to
’70s exploitation and its progeny; being
mean as hell to its characters. What with
ail the injuries, bondage and the painful
waxing of Padalecki's facial hair, one
gets the impression director Jaume
Col let-Serra must have a huge SAM
fetish. (Carmtke)
HOSTAGE (R) Bruce Willis returns in
fine form in this edge-of-your-sea!
action flick about a burned out cop wftn
must save his own family after a robbery
gone wrong (Georgia Square 5)
KICKING & SCREAMING (PG) Of
‘Saturday Night Live's new guard. Will
Ferrell is by tar the most appealing. The
tall, furry tub ot a man, unafraid to use
his flab tor a laugh If his manchild brim
ming with suppressed rage fails Nm,
has even demonstrated decent dramatic
chops (Woody Alton* Melinda and
Meiind$. I can be amused by any tick
in which he appears, even a family
soccer comedy not quite as funny as an
MLS game between the MetroStars aid
Chivas USA. When Phil Yfeston (Ferrell)
takes over the Tigers, his son* team ot
lovable losers, he becomes that which
he hates most, his father (a not even
remotely likable, and frighteningly
cotfted. Robert Duvall). Third-billed
Mike Ditka, horrible actor, intimidating
man, generates a genial spark with
Ferrell, and acquits himself better than I
would have believed. (Have you seen
his Levitra commercials?) But with pro
ducer Judd Apatow ('The Ben Stiller
Show,' the sorely missed "Freaks and
Geeks') attached, the film could have
been so much more. The transformation
ot the loser Tigers'parents, freaks and
geeks themselves, into winners has a
nice little kick, butthe screaming pum
mels the laughing like the underdog it
should not be. (Beechwood. Carmtke)
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (R) See Flick
Skinny. Director Ridley Scott* take on
yet another historical epoch delivers the
goods even if they are a bit familiar.
Btacksmittvtumbd-knight Baiian (a
manlier than usual Orlando Bloom)
must defend Jerusalem from \tengeM
Muslim warriors after the Knights
Templar go on a bloody rampage.
Kingdom of Hum has toe look and
feel of historical veracity. Then again,
that look belongs to bears last ancient
epic, Gladiator. (Beechwood)
KUNG HI HUSTLE (R) While Stephen
Chow* latest (Urn tails to fly as high as
twft Mila I 111 ■ inirfln nmn ntehI■ *
n0 MB, ros enemas MOOW, 9
wend of MN arts, musicals, and
slapstick comedy, lands enough
punches and kicks to bring a doory-
smile to even the most staunch realist
The Looney Tunes wito a black be# style
is very nearly ruined by a reliance on
poor CGI In lieu of wires and stunt-
work. Shoes Wednesday. 6/1 &
Monday, 6/5 (Georgia Theatre)
THE LONGEST YARD (PG-13) See
Movie Pick. Adam Sandler, Burt
Reynolds, Chris Rock star in this
remake of the 1974 gridiron classic See
movie pick this week for whal made the
original so great. (Beechwood. Carmike,
Highway 17 Theatres)
< LORDS OF DOGTOWN (PG-13)
Director Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen)
and writer Stacy Peralta, who also hap
pens to figure pretty heavily into the
proceedings, conspired on this feature
film wsion of the skateboarding rise
and fall parable already told in the
acclaimed 2001 documentary Dogtown
and ZSoys. Tony A>va (Victor Has**.
Raising Victor Vargadi. Peralta (John
Robinson, Elephant), and Jay Adams
(Emile Hirsch. The Girl Next Door) an
the Z-floys who make like those man-
eating fish from Piranha 2: The
Spawning, flying from the ocean to
empty swimming pools in March of
tame, fortune and the next big thrill.
(Okay, the piranha had no desire for
tame or fortune) The Boys are led on
their journey through those stating days
and boogieing 70s nights by mentor
Skip Engblom (Heato Ledger). Writer
Peralta treaded these waters tour years
ago in his doc. If remains to be seen
whether he has enough momentum left
to carry him through this trick again.
Mitch Hedberg fans might wanf to check
out the flick in order to catch the late
comedian* final film appearance. Opens
Friday (CaH theatres tor times.)
MADAGASCAR (PG) Alter this past
year (ahem... Stertr Fate). I have grown
leery of Hollywood* computer-animated
features, and white Madagascar pedi
gree (Sen Stiller, Chris Rock, David
Schwimmer and Cedric the Entertainer
lend their voices; the flick comes from
the Shrek Shack, DreamWorks)
impresses, is its tale of lour animals, a
lion (Stiller), a zebra (Rock), a hippo
(Jada Pinked Smith), and a giraffe
(Schwimmer), bom in captivity, strug
gling to make it in the wild, funny and
poignant enough? If the previews are
any indication, watch for the militant
penguins (including Andy Richter) to
steal the show. (Beechwood. Carmike.
Highway 17 Theatres)
MISS CONGENIALITY 2: ARMED
AND FABULOUS (PG-13) Sandra
Bullock stars in this pointless sequel
about Agent Grade Hart discovering her
inner girtiness. (Georgia Square 5)
MONSTER-IN-LAW (PG-13) When
Charlie (a de-ethnicized Jennifer Lopez)
becomes engaged to perfect Dr. Kevin
(tasteless slab of Hollywood beefcake,
Michael Vartan from ‘Alias'), she tails
to realize how tar his overprotective
mother, recently fired newswoman Viola
Fields (Jane Fonda in her first film role
in 15 years), will go to stop what she
deems to be an unsuitable match. The
movie survives for a bft on Fonda*
gameness. She looks great frying every
unefigniffed method dreamt about by
serpentine mothers worldwide, from
steep deprivation to attempted murder
by way of nut allergy, yet toe comedy*
malicious glee eventually bogs down in
repetitive maniacal scheming. Viola
does something evil, uianie gets
revwge. Viola perpetrates more evil.
Considering the entire charade is pre
destined to end at the altar, I was ready
to say 1 give* before this XX-chromo-
wmed Meet the Parents {fas time with
more generic romance AND comedy)
would say 1 do.’ Wanda Sytes enlivens
Ws WASP-y afiair wfth her ethnic
humor, and an early scene between
Charlie and the modem single woman*
must-have accouterments, the gay best
friend and the bitter arty goth chick
counterpart, amuses By the end credits
though, Monsfer-rn-Lawleft me like
most vreddings do - looking tor the bar.
(Beechwood. Carmike)
THE PACIFIER (PG) Vine Diesel has
no fun in this comedy about a Navy
Seal who has to baby-sit, so why
should the audience? (Georgia
Square 5)
ROBOTS (PG) Smalltime inventor
Rodney Copperbottom (Ewan
McGregor) is w the run from cutthroat
executive Phineas 1. Ratchet (Greg
Kinnear) and his evil mother, Madame
Gasket (Jim Broadbert). Rodney must
find Bigweid (Mel Brooks), the world*
greatest robot White the narrative is not
so grand, the awesome instances of
computer animated wow can make it
appear so. (Georgia Square 5)
A SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAV
ELING PANTS (PG) TV vet Ken
Kwapis brings Arm Brashere* chick lit
bestseller with the same arduous name
to the big screen. Four girts of varying
shapes and sizes share one magical
pair of jeans over a sunmer spent
everywhere from Greece to Sodh
Carolina. Lena (Alexis "Rory Gilmore*
Btodd) goes to Greece and tails in love
Bridget (Blake Lively) goes to a
Mexican soccer camp and (alls in love.
Camen (America Ferrara, who made
quitea splash in 2002* Real Women
Have Curved travels down South only
to discover a shocking secret about her
dad, while poor littie Tibby (Amber the
former ‘Joan of Arcadia* Tambtyn)
stays home. This chick flick, written by
Del ia Ephron, sister of Sleepless in
Sepfflds Nora, and Elizabeth Chandler,
will iikefy fit its target demo like those
magical denims. Opens Friday (Call
theatres tor information.)
STAR WARS: EPISODE III—
REVENGE OF THE SITH (PG-13)
The long-awaited concluding chapter
to George Lucas* epic Star Warssarja
succeeds where the first two prequels
did not. Episode ///meets original fans
at the age they are now, as opposed to
the age they were when Luke Skywaiker
first trod the sands ot Tatooinc. Dark
and violent (this is the first Star Wars
film to merit a PG-13 rating/), the per
formances and dialogue improve upon
Episodes land II. as do toe special
effects. The film is by no means perfect
nor does it surpass any of the three
eider Trims. The romance between
Padme (Natalie Portman) and Anakin
(Hayden Christensen) remains painful
and forced, and the CG cityscapes lack
engagement A choesy CG barking
iguana is unveiled to sell toys, and
despfte their preview prominence, we
just do not get enough Wookiee action.
Yet the film truly excels in its excellent
and plentiful lightsaber duels and
space battles In addition, after years of
btack-doaked anonymity, Ian
McDiarmid (the Emperor) finally gets to
let loose, supplying the abject black
ness at the heart of this dark finale.
(Beechwood, Carmike)
UNLEASHED (R) Jet Li* heart
warming. contemplative Unleashed also
kicks major ass. Director Louis
leterrier* highly-stylized camerawork
did subjective aural soundscapes
(including Massive Attack* atmos-
and screenwriter Luc Besson* return to
the source of his best work, the vio
lence seeping through the cracks of
domesticity, reinvigorates his writing.
Trained to be a killer activated by the
removal of his collar. Danny (U) knows
nothing but the brutality and degrada
tion his master Bart (Bob Hoskins) has
used as tools of dehumanization . When
an accident releases Danny into the
world, he meets Sam (Morgan
Freeman) and Victoria (Kerry Condon),
whose love of music removes the figu
rative and literal collar from around
Darvty* neck. Li externalizes Danny*
transformation from unassurhing sub
servience to sett-possession through
walk, talk and taaal tics, yet the small,
whirling dervish of fists and fury has
not gone soft. He chops, socks, kicks
and bludgeons his way through small
armies of interchangeable thugs. Yet it
is the engagement with Unleashed*
characters, where you actually dread
the rex! call to action even though you
know it will satisfy your own inner
Danny, that makes the film a most sur
prising and satisfying cinematic experi
ence. (Carmike)
Drew Wheeler
MOVIE LISTINGS
Theater schedules often change after our deadline Please call ahead.
Due to the Memorial Day holiday,
times listed below are good through
Thursday, June 2 ONLY. Call theatres
for more information.
ACC UMAIY (613-3650)
Dancemaker (NR) 7.-00 (Th. 6/2)
BSSCHWOOO (546-1011)
Cntch (R) 2:15. 4:45, 7:15, 9:45
KIddng and Screaming (PG) 1:00. 3:10, 5:20, 7JO,
9:40
Kingdom of Keaton (R) 2:00. 5:00. 8:00
The Longest Yard (PG-13) 11:30,12:15, 2:00, 2:50,
4:45, 5:40, 7JO, 8:15, KfcOO)
Madagascar (PG) 11:30.12:30. 1:45. 2:35, 4:10, 5:05,
6:30, 7:15, 8:45, 9:35 .
Monster-In-Law (PG-13) 2:00, 4:30. 7:00, 9:30
Star Wars: Episode m—Revenge of the Stth (PG-13)
11:15. 12:00,12:45. 2:20, 3:05, 3:55, 5:25, 6:15, 7:00.
8:30. 9:20, 10:15
CARMIK1 12 (354-0016)
Crash (R) 4:30. 9:30
Housa of Wax (R) 1:45,4:30, 7.-05,9:40
Kicking and Screaming (PG) 12:30, 2*5, 5:00, 7:15.
9:30
The Longest Y5n! (PG-13) 11:30,12.-00, 2:05, 2J5.
4:40, 5:10, 7:15, 7:45, 9:50,10:20
Madagascar (PG) 12:30, 1:00, 2:40, 3:10, 4:50. 5JO.
7:00, 7:30, 9:10, 9:40
Monster-te-Law (PG-13) 1:00.4.-00, 7:00, 9:25
Star Ware Episode ID Revenge of the Stth (PG-13)
12:00,12:45. 1:15,1:45, 3:00, 3:50.4:15, 4:45. 6:00.
7:00, 7:20, 7:45, 9:00, lOtoO, 10:30
Unleashed (R) 1:30, 7.-00
OIOMU SOU ASS 8 (544-3426)
Wtdi (PG-13) 1:45,4J5, 7:10, 9:50
Hostage (R) 1:30,4:10. 7:05, 9:45
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed end Fabulous (PG-13)
2:00,4:30. 7:00, 9:30
The Padfler (PG) 1.-05, 3:20, 5:35, 7:50.KkOO
Robots (PG) 1:00, 3:10, 5 JO. 7 JO, 9:40
a
MOMMA THKAT88 (549-9918)
King Fu Hustle (R) 7.-00,10:00 (W. 6/11 M. 6/6)
HWY 17 DMVB-IM THKATiltS (213-7693)
Madagascar (PG) 8:45 (Screen 2)
The Longest Yard (PG-13) 8:45 (Screen 1)
Will someone read this to me?
pheric score) never obscure Li* talents.
Enough about my pants, okay?
16 FLAGPOLE.COM • JUNE 1, 2005