This week
Shark Tale
Alfie
2046
***** Excellent. Don't miss it!
**** Very good. See it!
*** Good. It's up to you.
** Average. Nothing special.
* Waste of time. Forget it.
Shark Tale
Director: Bibo Bergeron
This movie is no "Finding Nemo" 's not by a long shot. It's not that "Shark Tale" isn't entertaining. This animated feature has a lot of energy, but too bad it lacks the originality and intelligence to go with it. A huge number of A-list actors, such as Will Smith, Robert De Niro, Renee Zellweger and Angelina Jolie, lend their voices to the characters. But when the movie has so little to offer, it just somehow isn't enough listening to a superstar-voice. "Shark Tale" has a cliche-ridden narrative and uninteresting, one-dimensional characters. The use of stereotypes and recycled jokes is aplenty. "Shark Tale" is worth watching, if not for anything else, then for its colorfulness and enthusiasm. We have just come to expect so much more from computer-animated features lately. **1/4 (JuliE Vinten)
Oscar (voice of Will Smith) works in a whale-washing establishment where he is a little fish in a big pond. Through some unfortunate misunderstandings and outright lies, Oscar cons his ocean buddies into thinking that he is a real hero, able to slay sharks. DreamWorks keeps churning out hit after hit after hit to keep the money rolling in. This colorful feature-length cartoon is sure to delight and please many a young tyke. In the meantime, adults will be looking for the nearest and quickest exit. Besides Smith, the stellar voice cast includes Renee Zellweger, Angelina Jolie, Robert De Niro, Jack Black, Ziggy Marley and even director Martin Scorsese among others. The once in a lifetime talent assembled makes "Shark Tale" a fast-paced diversion worth watching at least once. *** (Laimons Juris G)
Alfie
Director: Charles Shyer
The original "Alfie" from 1966 and the 2004 version are in many ways worlds apart. The newest version has taken the Hollywood-way and is terribly toothless and moralizing. Michael Caine's Alfie was a real sunofabitch. Jude Law's Alfie is just a guy who doesn't know how to grow up, a lonely womanizer we feel sorry for. This version has certainly gotten the 21st century treatment. Alfie gets repeatedly slapped hard in the face for his degrading behavior toward women, and the film winds up being something of a feel-good flick for the ladies. Still, the movie is quite funny and basically entertaining all the way through. Jude Law is a perfect choice for Alfie. It's quite believable that women would stand in line to have their heart broken by him. **¾ (JuliE Vinten)
The title role in the original made Michael Caine a big star back in 1966. Almost 40 years later, the remake features the already established Jude Law as Alfie. Instead of London, this time around the action takes place in Manhattan. Alfie doesn't believe in love, he only thrives on lusty sex. The charming rake is a fast talker and monologues directly into the camera. Is he talking to me? Yes, most likely, but maybe a little too much. Is that to hide his basic loneliness? Yes, that's obvious too. Last year the gifted Law appeared in no less than five films plus providing the voice of Lemony Snicket in that macabre children's tome. This is one of the Brit's best caricatures to date and well worth a look. *** (Laimons Juris G)
2046
Director: Wong Kar-Wai
"2046" is a semisequel to director Wong Kar-Wai's passionate movie from 2000,"In the Mood for Love." Chow (Tony Leung) is a writer who lives in a Hong Kong hotel in room 2047. He gets romantically involved with a line of beautiful women that come to live in room 2046 and starts writing a novel, which takes place in 2046. This impressive and wistful piece is, typical for Wong Kar-Wai's movies, about the most beautiful and agonizing thing there is: love. Not overly concerned with plot, this drama is all about the distinctive atmosphere, the lyrical language of the imagery and the inner emotions of the characters. In all, it's a painfully sad love poem. And every frame is like a stunning painting, beautifully composed out of light, shadow and color. **** (JuliE Vinten)
Ten years ago director Wong Kar-Wai's "Chungking Express" took Hong Kong filmmakers to new heights. Previously the British colony churned out formulaic martial arts flicks. Once again Kar-Wai presents a modern tale of love and passion. After a tedious, perplexing start, the movie develops into a masterpiece of visual poetry. It's the simple story of Chow Mo-wan (Tony Leung), a journalist who is writing a novel about the future. He's a Chinese reincarnation of Clark Gable. Without uttering a word, Faye Wong's stunning beauty is mesmerizing. The intimately breathtaking cinematography by Christopher Doyle, Kwan Pun Leung and Yiu-Fai Lai is an integral part of the narrative. A dash of mystery, lots of romantic notions and a streak of brilliance make "2046" an art film not to be missed. ****½ (Laimons Juris G)
