FILM REVIEW

Runaway Jury
Director: Gary Fleder

This thriller is distinctly better than many recent John Grisham adaptations, perhaps because it doesn't pretend to be anything other than it is, namely two hours of solid cinema entertainment with a pleasant amount of suspense and thrills. "Runaway Jury" is packed with famous actors, who between them carry the film. Having too many well-known actors in all the leading parts can destroy a film as they compete to outperform each other, but in this case it works rather well. It's quite a kick to see Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman share the screen for the first time. With slightly more sophistication from the director, this clever little film could perhaps have been more memorabe, but the actors seem to be enjoying themselves, and so do we. III

Julie Vinten

On your way into the movie theater be sure to grab yourself a ton of popcorn for some heavy-duty munching. If you have no qualms about watching a motion picture on the peculiar subject of jury tampering, believe it or not, it works. It is necessary to sit back, relax and enjoy this suspenseful thriller. The star-studded cast fuse their creative energies together to deliver a tense, captivating bit of fast-paced entertainment. A master at his craft, thespian Gene Hackman is a tower of power in the leading role. Dustin Hoffman, John Cusack, Rachel Weisz and a crew of other familiar names and faces join Hackman in the latest screen drama based on a John Grisham novel. III

Laimons Juris G

Monster
Director: Patty Jenkins

"Monster" is a very unpleasant film to watch, and it should be. It is based on the true story of Aileen Wournos, an American prostitute who was given the death penalty at the beginning of the 1990s after killing seven of her clients. Charlize Theron literally carries "Monster" on her shoulders. One can't help feeling astounded by her remarkable (and Oscar-winning) make-over and portrayal of Wournos' insane and abused character. Patty Jenkins' directorial debut lacks both structure and refinement and though it is obvious that the story is close to her heart, the only thing that finally saves it from being just another Friday evening TV drama is Theron's strong performance. I 3/4

Julie Vinten

Charlize Theron is absolutely mind-blowing in an entrancing down-to-earth performance worthy of the highest accolades. The South African actress plays Aileen Wuornos who was a highway prostitute, dubbed "America's first female serial killer" back in the early 1990s. Wuornos robbed and killed seven men while hitchhiking along the Florida Interstate. After spending 12 years in prison she was executed in October 2002. Wuornos' story has inspired two documentaries, an opera, a TV movie and this film. It is remarkable that "Monster" manages to sympathetically portray a human being who just happens to be a murderer. The lovely Christina Ricci is definitely worth mentioning, as she is exceptional, as Wuornos' love interest. Newcomer Patty Jenkins does an amazingly professional job as both writer and director in her debut feature. IIIII

Laimons Juris G

Seabiscuit
Director: Gary Ross

During the American Depression the little horse Seabiscuit, which was about ready for the glue factory, fought its way to racetrack stardom and became the heroic symbol for an otherwise dispirited American nation. These American films about victory against all the odds tend to kill themselves in flag-waving, feel-good emotions. This is also the case with "Seabiscuit." Visually, it's quite a beautiful film, but despite its attractive surface, its (supposed) sense of depth just comes off as sickening pretence. The film enjoys some fairly great acting performances, but not even the star-team of actors can help the race-scene-upon-race-scenes from becoming painfully tedious. The result is a rather pompous film that fails to truly engage its audience. II

Julie Vinten

After all the hype, including seven Oscar nominations, this reviewer was anxiously looking forward to watching the fantastic true story of the horse that won the hearts of Americans in the late 1930s. Unfortunately, director Gary Ross' effort to translate Laura Hillenbrand's novel onto the screen turns out to be a major disappointment of stereotypical proportions. There is an aura of amateurism throughout the entire production. Indeed, "Seabiscuit" gallops pointlessly along at a snail's pace. The documentary-style history lessons between acts are old-fashioned and clumsy. But the horse racing scenes shot at a distance are adrenaline pumping and exciting. However, the close-ups of Tobey Maguire on a contraption called an Equicizer, which resembles a hobbyhorse, are hilarious to the point of being ridiculous. II

Laimons Juris G