Factual chiller, offbeat importto brighten video stores in May
A factual chiller (“From Hell”), a global smash (“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”), a buddy picture (“Ocean’s Eleven”), a family comedy (“Snow Dogs”), a ghostly tale (“The Others”), a hit remake (“Vanilla Sky”) and an offbeat import (“Audition”) will brighten video stores during May. The following capsule reviews, listed alphabetically, will give you an idea of the caliber of films coming soon to a video store near you. The films are graded as follows: Very Good, (A); Good, (B); Fair, (C); Poor, (D); Turkey (F). Those with (NP) have not been previewed.
AUDITION (Ventura; $29.99, tape; $24.99 unrated DVD; May 7; B for fans of offbeat cinema only): During this edgy import from Japan, a middle-aged widower decides to remarry and agrees to meet women through a buddy, who works in the motion-picture industry and invites young actresses to a bogus casting call so that his friend can be introduced. That crass approach turns deadly when the single guy becomes involved with a psychologically unbalanced performer who tortures and destroys manipulative men. The picture has generated controversy due to its climactic scenes of extreme violence. Sexual elements, very strong violence. (R and Unrated)
CORKY ROMANO (Touchstone; $99.99, tape; $29.99, DVD; May 14; NP) A gentle veterinarian (Chris Kattan of TV’s “Saturday Night Live’) learns that his long-absent father (Peter Falk of TV’s “Columbo’) has been accused of being a mobster by the FBI. The parent then asks his son to infiltrate a federal building and find evidence that will prove his innocence. Rob Pitts makes his directing debut with the comedy. Profanity, drug and sex-related humor. (PG-13)
DARK BLUE WORLD (Columbia TriStar; $99.99, tape; $29.99, DVD; May 28; C): During this expensive import, two pilots (Ondrej Vetchy) and (Krystof Hadek) escape from Czechoslovakia during World War II and join England’s Royal Air Force to fight the Nazis. Their close friendship shatters when both fall in love with the same British woman (Tara Fitzgerald of “Hear My Song’). Jan Sverak (“Kolya’) directed the potentially interesting tale, which suffers by copying the cliched love-triangles in “Titanic’ and “Pearl Harbor.’ The romantic angle grounds this tale about two brave fliers. Violence, sex, brief nudity, adult themes. (R)
FROM HELL (Fox; $99.99, tape; $29.99, DVD; May 15; B): A widowed inspector (Johnny Depp of “Blow’) with a taste for opium and a fondness for a beautiful prostitute (Heather Graham of “Sidewalks of New York’) vows to track down Jack the Ripper. He soon finds himself investigating a crime spree with implications that could rock the British throne. Set in London during 1888, this $35 million chiller, based on the graphic novel by Allan Moore and Eddie Campbell, borrows the colorful production designs from the vintage chillers created by England’s Hammer Films during the 1950s, 60s, and 70s and combines it with the conspiracy elements from “The X-Files.’ Filmmaking brothers Allen and Albert Hughes (“Menace II Society’) co-directed and give the picture an edge by inserting a theme about a class system that tolerated the brutal deaths of prostitutes at the bloody hands of Jack the Ripper. Strong violence, sex, nudity, harsh four-letter profanity, drug use. (R)
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE (Warner; $24.99, tape; $26.99, DVD; May 28; A-): Fans of J.K. Rowling’s incredibly successful book series should applaud this visually stunning, emotionally uplifting $126 million fantasy about an 11-year-old boy (Daniel Radcliffe) who possesses magical powers and attends the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In these very uncertain times, the film tells youngsters that bravery is required to survive in a dangerous world and fighting for truth, justice and friendship truly makes life worth living. The strong supporting cast includes John Cleese (“Rat Race’), Maggie Smith (“A Room With a View’), Richard Harris (“Gladiator’), Alan Rickman (“Die Hard’) and Julie Walters (“Billy Elliot’). Director Chris Columbus (“Home Alone’) takes viewers on a cinematic flight of fantasy, one almost guaranteed to make viewers of all ages wild about “Harry.’ Violence, some very intense moments for young children. (PG)
HOW HIGH (Universal; $99.99, tape; $26.99, DVD; May 21; NP): During this comedy cut from the Cheech and Chong mold, a couple of city slickers (rappers-turned-actors Redman and Method Man) smoke something magical, ace their college entrance exams and end up as the star students at Harvard University. They remain at the head of the class until their magic substance disappears and they must suddenly depend on their own academic skills to make the grade. To avoid marketing problems in this just-say-no era, Universal Pictures is selling the picture as a fish-out-of-water tale rather than a stoner comedy. Music-video specialist Jesse Dylan (the son of musician Bob Dylan) makes his directing debut. Non-stop drug use, harsh four-letter profanity, sexual elements. (R)
LANTANA (Lions Gate; $99.99, tape; $24.99, DVD; May 21; B+): During this involving Australian import, a murder mystery plot is used to study the failed and unhappy lives of a number of people involved in the police investigation. The script was written by Andrew Bovell and expanded from his play, “Speaking in Tongues.’ Anthony LaPaglia (“Bulletproof Heart’), Barbara Hershey (“Portrait of a Lady’) and Geoffrey Rush (“Quills’) co-star in the multi-layered tale. Harsh four-letter profanity, sexual elements. (R)
THE LAST WALTZ (MGM; $24.99, DVD only; May 7; B+): Director Martin Scorsese guided this 1978 rock documentary about the final concert by The Band – composed of musicians Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Rick Danko and Richard Manuel _ on Thanksgiving 1976 at Winterland in San Francisco. Performers who joined the fun included Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Neil Young, Neil Diamond, Joni Mitchell and Ron Wood. (PG)
OCEAN’S ELEVEN (Warner; $22.99, tape; $26.99, DVD; May 7; B): The cinematic dream team cast of George Clooney (“Out of Sight’), Brad Pitt (“Spy Game’), Julia Roberts (“America’s Sweethearts’), Matt Damon (“The Talented Mr. Ripley’), Don Cheadle (“Boogie Nights’) and Andy Garcia (“The Godfather III’) agreed to work together for scale in this romantic thriller. The easy-on-the-eyes, star-driven caper picture is a remake of The Rat Pack favorite (1960) about an attempt to steal more than $150 million from three Las Vegas casinos in one night. Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh (“Traffic’) gives it a stylishly cool tone, one that sometimes works against the material, which could use some sizzle. Harsh four-letter profanity, sexual innuendo. (PG-13)
THE OTHERS (Dimension; $99.99, tape; $29.99, DVD; May 14; B): A staunchly religious British woman (Nicole Kidman of “Moulin Rouge’), who’s living on a secluded island in the final days of World War II and waiting for her husband to return home from the front, fears that ghosts are threatening her two young children (newcomers James Bentley and Alakina Mann). The highly atmospheric picture marks the American directing debut of Spanish filmmaker, Alejandro Amenabar (“Open Your Eyes’), who creates a threatening mood but fails to deliver a knockout ending. Adult themes, frightening elements. (PG-13)
SIDEWALKS OF NEW YORK (Paramount; $99.99, tape; $29.99, DVD; May 21; B-): Six unlucky-in-love New Yorkers (including Edward Burns of “Life or Something Like It,’ Heather Graham of “From Hell’ and Stanley Tucci of “America’s Sweethearts’) endure tough emotional periods during this uneven, but pleasant relationship picture. Burns (“She’s the One’) also wrote and directed the ensemble tale in which the lives of the characters romantically, erotically and neurotically intertwine. Strong sexual elements, harsh four-letter profanity. (R)
SLACKERS (Columbia TriStar; $99.99, tape; $27.99, DVD; May 28; D+): A nerdish student (Jason Schwartzman of “Rushmore’) discovers that three extremely popular classmates (Devon Sawa of “Final Destination’, Jason Segel of TV’s “Freaks and Geeks’ and Michael C. Maronna of TV’s “Wonderland’) are cheating their way through college and not doing any work. He blackmails the trio by insisting they get him a date with the most popular coed (James King of “Pearl Harbor’) on campus if they don’t want him to report their actions. Dewey Nicks makes his directing debut with the gross, sexist and unfunny comedy, which features one male character turning his private part into a singing sock puppet. Strong sexual elements, nudity, harsh four-letter profanity, gross gags, drug and alcohol use. (R)
SNOW DOGS (Disney; $22.99, tape; $29.99, DVD; May 14; B): Oscar winners Cuba Gooding Jr. and James Coburn, who won Academy Awards as best supporting actor for “Jerry Maguire’ and “Affliction,’ respectively, team in this feel-good Walt Disney comedy adventure. In the surprisingly uplifting picture, an adopted city-slicker dentist (Gooding) travels from Florida to Alaska after his biological mother dies and decides to honor her spirit by using her beloved huskies in the 112th Arctic Challenge, a grueling dog-sled competition. Coburn portrays a salty racer who knows the answers to secrets about the doctor’s family ties. Brian Levant (“The Flintstones’) directed the colorful tale, which features animatronic canines created by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and provides some touching messages about what’s really important in life. Abundant alcohol consumption, mild crude humor. (PG)
VANILLA SKY (Paramount; $99.99, tape; $29.99, DVD; May 21; B+): A 33-year-old publishing magnate (Tom Cruise of “Eyes Wide Shut’) is physically and emotionally shattered after an accident caused by a psychologically unbalanced girlfriend (Cameron Diaz of “The Sweetest Thing’) unhappy with his skirt-chasing ways. Haunted by the incident, the deeply troubled man embarks on a new life and comes under the spell of a beautiful foreign woman (Penelope Cruz of “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’). Kurt Russell (“3000 Miles to Graceland’) and Jason Lee (“Almost Famous’) co-star in this absorbing remake of Alejandro Amenabar’s 1998 Spanish picture, “Open Your Eyes (Abre Los Ojos).’ Cameron Crowe, who previously worked with Cruise on “Jerry Maguire,’ directed the challenging film, which emphasizes the fragile nature of existence and stresses that failures, disappointments and setbacks are a precious part of a life worth living. Strong sexual elements, harsh four-letter profanity, unsettling images, adult themes. (R)
WAKING LIFE (Fox; $99.99, tape; $29.99, DVD; May 7; B-): Numerous actors – including Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, who previously co-starred in “Before Sunrise” – delivered their performances and then were animated via a computer-rotoscoping process for this eccentric, often pretentious tale. It deals with a wandering character caught in a dream state and seeking the answers to complicated philosophical questions about life, love and personal identity. Richard Linklater, a Texas filmmaker whose credits include “Slacker,’ “Dazed and Confused’ and “Before Sunrise,’ directed. Violence, harsh four-letter profanity. (R)