Monday, November 1, 2004

MOVIE - RAY - Review Rating $$$$$ $$$ (OUT OF 10) STARRING - Jamie Foxx (Ray Charles), Kerry Washington (Della Bea Robinson), Regina King (Margie Hendricks), Larenz Tate (Quincy Jones), Bokeem Woodbine (Fathead Newman), Sharon Warren (Aretha Robinson), Curtis Armstrong (Ahmet Ertegun), Warwick Davis (Oberon) & Richard Schiff (Jerry Wexler). DIRECTOR/CO-WRITER - Taylor Hackford Ray Charles's energy and pure talent shine brightly in this moving biographical tribute that is honest enough to document his womanizing and heroin abuse. Honesty isn't the equivalent of depth, however, and after watching "Ray" you may leave the theater feeling you still don't know the man, or those who shared his life, very well. Demons and distrust permeate the story and contradict the public image but they fail to fully convey the person. Ray's harsh coldness, at times, is displayed without being adequately explored. There is an underlying hard done-by bitterness, that runs through a life of otherwise unparalleled success, that is worthy of further retrospection. Jamie Foxx (Collateral), who is a classically trained pianist, gives his second brilliant performance this year and deserves the Oscar for this role. This comedian is a great serious actor. "Ray" the movie isn't as brilliant as Ray the man but its does do him justice. Running time - 152 minutes Alternative Reviews: Roger Ebert's Review Peter Travers / Rolling Stone Review Rotten Tomatoes Reviews 1:52:37 AM     | MOVIE - I HEART HUCKABEES - Review Rating $$$1/2 (OUT OF 10) STARRING - Jason Schwartzman (Albert), Dustin Hoffman (Bernard), Isabelle Huppert (Caterine), Jude Law (Brad Stand), Lily Tomlin (Vivian), Mark Wahlberg (Tommy Corn) & Naomi Watts (Dawn). DIRECTOR/CO-WRITER - David O. Russell This well acted attempt at high brow comedy will have existentialists and philosophy professors rolling in the aisles and everyone else rushing for the exits. Your understanding of infinity, after watching I Heart Huckabees, will be limited to the discovery that, depending on the circumstances, 105 minutes can seem like a lifetime. I Heart Huckabees is a smart comedy that forgets to be funny. Running time - 105 minutes ALTERNATIVE REVIEWS: Roger Ebert's Review Peter Travers / Rolling Stone Review Rotten Tomatoes Reviews 1:02:06 AM     | MOVIE - TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE - Review Rating $$$$$ $$ (OUT OF 10) VOICED BY - Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Kristen Miller and Daran Norris. DIRECTOR/CO-WRITER - Trey Parker The "creative" minds behind South Park produce a crude, rude, grossly oversimplified take on world affairs that is, surprisingly, mildly thought provoking. They deserve kudos for being smart enough, unlike some world leaders, to figure out which tyrant is the greatest threat to world peace and for the funniest sex scene in movie history. World Police would have been much better, however, if Parker et al could have resisted their tendency to rely on gratuitous vulgarity. That being said, World Police is both funny and smart. Running time - 98 minutes Alternative Reviews: Roger Ebert's Review Peter Travers / Rolling Stone Review Rotten Tomatoes Reviews 12:33:13 AM     |

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