Based on the life of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, this film follows his mercurial career from homeless teen to Andy Warhol's inner-circle, and to his untimely death. Mission Theater
* Beau Travail
Claire Denis' latest film about men in the French Foreign Legion performing rituals in the desert. Loosely based on Herman Melville's Billy Budd. Laurelhurst Theater
* Before Night Falls
The real life story of Cuban writer Reynaldo Arenas from his childhood in Cuba to joining Fidel Castro's revolutionaries to later being persecuted for homosexuality. A politcal film which centers on one man's loneliness. Fox Tower 10
* Best In Show
Christopher Guest's latest with Eugene Levy follows several dog owners on their quest for the blue ribbon at the 2000 Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show. A well-executed, ridiculous little film lovingly mining ridiculous little people's ridiculous little lives. Cinemagic, Lloyd Mall
Billy Elliot
An ADORABLE film about a SWEET boy who wants to DANCE instead of mine coal. Koin Center, Lloyd Mall
Bomba-Dancing the Drum
The rich history of Afro-Latino drumming tradition as seen through a family of its practitioners in Puerto Rico. Northwest Film Center at Whitsell Auditorium
Cast Away
Have you seen the trailer for this movie? Then you have seen the ENTIRE movie, from opening to final shot. Admittedly, there are some engrossing moments (which interestingly involve Tom Hanks writhing in pain), but other than watching its main character puzzling through dire predictaments, there is little reason to care if this guy gets off his island or not. Plus, Helen Hunt is in it. Ughhh!! (Wm. Steven Humphrey) Century Eastport 16, Cinema 99, City Center 12, Clackamas Town Center, Division Street, Evergreen Parkway, Hilltop, Lloyd Cinemas, Movies on TV, Oak Grove 8 Theater, St. John's Theater, Tigard Cinemas, Vancouver Plaza, Westgate, Wilsonville
Charlie "Bird" Parker-1920-1955
Jan Horne's definitive documentary about the life of this jazz great. Northwest Film Center at The Guild Theater
Chocolat
Today I'm not weak. The film critic in me has control over my emotions; it can and will repress my wolflike desire to fill this review with hungry words that praise the celestial beauty of Juliette Binoche. That being said, the movie itself is unremarkable, and has absolutely nothing new to offer: Yes, organized religion is oppressive; yes, uncouth village drunks beat their wives; yes, Gypsies love to play Duke Ellington's "Caravan" on their guitars. As for South America, of course it has many mysteries, and Europe, senescent and dreary Europe, has no mysteries at all. Finally, women are more spirited, more earthy, than men. These are not new themes. We have seen them in one form or another in movies ranging from Like Water for Chocolate to Pleasantville. (Charles Mudede) Century Eastport 16, City Center 12, Evergreen Parkway, Fox Tower 10, Lake Twin Cinema, Lloyd Cinemas, Movies on TV, Tigard Cinemas
* Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Legendary warrior Chow Yun Fat can never declare his love for fellow martial-arts expert Michelle Yeoh. Instead, he entrusts her with Green Destiny, his nearly magical sword. But in the dark of night a hooded thief steals it, which leads to a fight held mostly in midair. An attempt to wed emotionally reticent drama with the exhilarating freedom of Hong Kong-genre filmmaking, but director Ang Lee can't quite pull off the combination; for too long a time, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon's shifting gears only jam. The film finds its rhythm and earns the accolades it has received once it leaves the stars behind and gives its heart over to the young and engaging Zhang Ziyi, as the aristocratic daughter of privilege who opts instead for the dangerous yet thrilling occupation of thief. (Bruce Reid) Century Eastport 16, City Center 12, Division Street, Evergreen Parkway, Fox Tower 10, Lake Twin Cinema, Lloyd Cinemas, Oak Grove 8 Theater, Tigard Cinemas
* Dennis Nyback's Secret Cinema
Former Clinton Street impresario Dennis Nyback returns with an all-star lineup of rare films that will get him in deep doo-doo if anybody finds out what he's playing! We are SO there! Cinema 21
* The Edge of the World
This little-seen 1937 gem by pre-Godhead Michael Powell offers yet more evidence of Powell's untarnished righteousness as a chronicler of all things Brit; it's a moral folktale of the depopulation of the Scottish Isles, and one in particular. As progress and civilization encroach on the old ways and the population declines steadily, two hotheaded young men (one of whom advocates abandoning the dying island and petitioning the government for land grants, while the other says things like "you've gone over to the other side, Robbie Manson") decide that the best way to settle the debate is a climbing race, up the steepest cliff on the island without ropes. Someone falls and nothing is ever the same. Naturally, a girl is involved, the black and white cinematography is astounding, and everyone speaks in those charming Scots accents. But in much the same way John Ford allowed the rich humanity of his simple characters provide the real meat of his pictures, Powell knew that the historical and human gravity under the melodrama were what would really make the movie go. (Sean Nelson) Cinema 21
Finding Forrester
A kid from the Bronx excels at both basketball and composition, befriends a hermit writer, undergoes a crisis from which the writer must extract him, thereby helping the writer overcome his own reclusive blah blah blah. Broadway Metroplex, Century Eastport 16, Cinema 99, Division Street, Evergreen Parkway, Hilltop, Lloyd Cinemas, Moreland Theater, Movies on TV, Oak Grove 8 Theater, St. John's Theater, Tigard Cinemas, Vancouver Plaza, Wilsonville
The Gift
The Gift is about a woman, Annie Wilson (Cate Blanchett), who has a special and unusual gift: She's psychic. She uses this gift to help the community. Then! She starts seeing bad stuff. A murder occurs. She uses her gift to solve the murder. It's just plain weird that Blanchett took this role; she's a beautiful lead in any film, but she does not save films. And she especially can't save this one. (Paula Gilovich) 82nd Avenue, Division Street, Koin Center, Lloyd Cinemas, Movies on TV, Vancouver Plaza , Washington Square Center
* A Hard Day's Night
A Film Review for Those Who Love the Beatles: Of course you're going to go see A Hard Day's Night, the wonderful movie about the Beatles made by Richard Lester in 1964 and rereleased in a glorious new print, as crisp and tasty as fresh lettuce--you'd be daft not to. (Barley Blair) A Film Review for Those Who Hate the Beatles: Look. If you want to keep encouraging corporate America to keep beating the dead horse that is the Beatles, thereby forcing the rest of us to endure countless hours of radio air-time devoted to these barely passable musical hacks, then by all means do so. But may I invite you to rot in hell. (Wm. Steven Humphrey) Hollywood Theatre, Laurelhurst Theater, Mission Theater
Head Over Heels
Yet another Freddie Prinze Jr. movie. This time co-starring Monica Potter, the actress who got offed in Patch Adams (how's that for a claim to fame?). Cinema 99, City Center 12, Division Street, Evergreen Parkway, Hilltop, Lloyd Mall, Movies on TV, Oak Grove 8 Theater, Tigard Cinemas, Vancouver Plaza , Westgate, Wilsonville
* The Homosexuals
Don't miss this unintentionally heee-larious 1967 TV special hosted by Mike Wallace about the homosexual "problem." Clinton Street Theatre
Horace Parlan by Horace Parlan
The fascinating life of Horace Parlan, best known for overcoming adversity to compose alongside Charles Mingus, Dexter Gordon and Roland Kirk. Northwest Film Center at The Guild Theater
Jewish Film Festival
More love, laughter and pain with the Jewish Film Fest. On Saturday, February 3rd the Hollywood will be showing Divided We Fall at 7, followed by The Fifth Commandment and As If Nothing Happened at 9:15. On Sunday at 2 pm, Walter Rosenblum: In Search of Pitt Street and Pleasures of Urban Decay followed by Jewish Reflections: A Program of Shorts at 4:00, and Divided We Fall at 7:00. Hollywood Theatre
John Lee Hooker: That's My Story
Did you know that John Lee Hooker is 84 now? Geez, you should probably see this documentary on one of the great blues musicians before he dies. Northwest Film Center at The Guild Theater
Left Behind
Kirk Cameron stars in this straight-to-Christian-video flick about a man whose family and friends are whisked away by a vengeful God who apparently didn't like Growing Pains. 82nd Avenue, Lloyd Mall, Movies on TV
* O Brother, Where Art Thou?
O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a road movie, and in acknowledgment of that, the Coen brothers claim it was based on the granddaddy of all road pictures, The Odyssey, by Homer. But the true inspiration for the movie is the music. T-Bone Burnett has collected all sorts of music from the era and from the region, and it's a joy to hear so much bluegrass in a major motion picture. The buoyant music and ham-handed performances are enough to lift anyone's spirits. (Andy Spletzer) Century Eastport 16, City Center 12, Evergreen Parkway, Fox Tower 10, Tigard Cinemas
Panic
Nothing is particularly revolutionary about this movie. But it's more effective than previous movies with the same notion. It is deeply disturbing because it rings so true to real life. Panic demonstrates how easy it is to brainwash people into apathy, and echoes the same messages brought up in all those Death-by-Suburbia movies like Fight Club and The Virgin Suicides, except it doesn't hit you over the head. Panic is Fight Club on a much smaller, more poignant scale: one person's intimate psychology. Hollywood Theatre
The Pledge
Sean Penn's third directorial effort stars Jack Nicholson as a retiring police detective obsessed with solving the rape-murder of a seven-year-old girl. I've always hated those people that obsess over a band's first album or an artist's early years, but I must admit, neither of Penn's recent works have been able to live up to his first film, The Indian Runner. Nicholson gives a better-than-average "Jack Nicholson" performance, but he has become so much of a caricature of himself that it's hard to enjoy his acting anymore. A cast of lesser-known actors make The Pledge far more sincere and engrossing as a narrative; it even has Charles Bronson acting . . . who knew? I'd go track down a copy of The Indian Runner. (Pablo de Ocampo) Cinema 99, Division Street, Eastgate, Koin Center, Lloyd Mall, Milwaukie 3 Theater, Movies on TV, Oak Grove 8 Theater, Tigard Cinemas, Westgate, Wilsonville
* The Prisoner
The Mission will be spotlighting this terrific cult television series starring Patrick McGoohan as a retired spy who finds himself imprisoned in a very mysterious village. A guaranteed marijuana freakout! Mission Theater
Rhythm 'N' Bayous: A Road Map to Louisiana Music
The varied musical flavors of Lousiana music is spotlighted in this road-trip documentary. Northwest Film Center at The Guild Theater
Save the Last Dance
Finally! A multi-racial Dirty Dancing! A midwestern honky moves to the big city, and hooks up with a smooth talking brutha from the South Side. Are we all clear on this? Great. EVERYBODY DANCE! Century Eastport 16, Cinema 99, City Center 12, Clackamas Town Center, Division Street, Evergreen Parkway, Hilltop, Lloyd Mall, Movies on TV, Oak Grove 8 Theater, Tigard Cinemas, Vancouver Plaza , Wilsonville
Shadow of the Vampire
John Malkovich and Willem Dafoe star as director F.W. Murnau and actor Max Schreck in this piece about the filming of the classic silent horror flick Nosferatu. The plot is as complicated as a Berenstein Bear book, and except for Dafoe's inspired and hilarious performance, you should probably wait to see it until it's at the cheap seats. (Julianne Shepherd) 82nd Avenue, Fox Tower 10, Lloyd Mall
Snatch
Unfortunately, once you wipe away the glitter, there isn't much left. The Guy Ritchie technique is clear: heaps of colorful characters walking around in nicely lit areas doing nasty things, throw in a few twists, pile on a few more characters and a lot more nasty things, a couple more twists, and then you're done. Along the way, Ritchie forgot about substance, and he certainly forgot about anything like redemption. This is a dangerously nihilistic film where people are merely amusing, never good, where one may survive, but only by stepping over the bodies. Broadway Metroplex, Century Eastport 16, City Center 12, Evergreen Parkway, Hilltop, Lloyd Cinemas, Movies on TV
* South
This recently restored documentary (new 35mm print) of the legendary Antarctica expedition by Ernest Shackleton and his crew is eerie. Eerie not because it is so old (the journey took place between 1914 and 1916) or distant (who believes Antarctica exists? It is a fantastic country made of icebergs), but because it captured the slow and ugly death of a great empire. This expedition was Great Britain's final voyage, its farewell to 400 years of domination. This documentary, filmed by Frank Hurley, shows the Endurance's (the ship's name) terrible demise in this world of ice and penguins. For those seeking a survival epic, this is not the film. For those who love to see the sad and sorry end of great things, this is a must-see. (Charles Mudede) Northwest Film Center at Whitsell Auditorium
* State and Main
Alec Baldwin, William H. Macy, Sarah Jessica Parker, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and David Paymer descend on a small Vermont town to make a movie, bringing their sophisticated mores with them. The town end is held down by Charles Durning, Clark Gregg, Ricky Jay, Patti LuPone, Matt Malloy, Rebecca Pidgeon, and Julia Stiles... Do you begin to see a problem here? The cast is as fixedly big-city as a traffic jam. Though to tell you the truth, I was laughing too hard to worry about small inaccuracies. David Mamet has said that he was thinking of Preston Sturges when he put this film together, and it's a worthy successor to the Master. (Barley Blair) Century Eastport 16, Koin Center
Sugar and Spice
Oh. my. gawd. The star cheerleader gets pregnant with the quaterback's baby! What WILL she do? Well, she's not gonna get an abortion, that's for damn sure! See review this issue. Cinema 99, City Center 12, Clackamas Town Center, Division Street, Eastgate, Hilltop, Lloyd Mall, Movies on TV, Vancouver Plaza , Washington Square Center, Wilsonville
* The Target Shoots First
In 1993, 22-year-old Christopher Wilcha was hired by Columbia House because they needed a "Generation X-er" to educate corporate bigwigs on how to be grungy and alterna-cool. Armed with a hidden camera (and fascinated disgust), Wilcha made a documentary about his experiences in the offices of a music giant trying to "get with it." A funny look at the "shameless commodification of youth culture." Also playing: Russ Forster's (So Wrong They're Right) tribute to tribute bands, Tributary. Northwest Film Center at The Guild Theater
* Texas Skatepunk Scrapbook
Short clips from the Texas skatepunk culture, circa 1983! See review this issue. Disjecta
Thirteen Days
You may enjoy this movie about the Cuban Missle Crisis, and that's OK, but I want you to hate it too. Here's what's to enjoy: Bruce Greenwood as Jack Kennedy and Steven Culp as Bobby. Dylan Baker as Robert McNamara, rolling his eyes like a cow whose foot's just been run over by a tractor. That's pretty much it for the enjoyment. And why should you hate such an innocuous piece of fluff? You should hate anything--any work of art, any literature, any fiction, any history--that pretends there is an obvious answer to any serious question. David Self's script tries to fool us into thinking there's some serious moral reckoning at work by providing St. Jack with not one but two bad guys to slay: Curtis LeMay and Adlai Stevenson. Both parts are so glaringly, grotesquely unshaded as to amount to character assassination.(Barley Blair) Century Eastport 16, Cinema 99, City Center 12, Division Street, Evergreen Parkway, Lloyd Mall, Movies on TV, Tigard-Joy Theater, Washington Square Center, Wilsonville
Traffic
Like a search engine laboring for information on "drug trade," "Mexican cartel," and "survival," Traffic pulls together three remotely connected stories about users and dealers, both in high and low places. What makes Traffic the most sophisticated narrative structure so far in this new genre of storytelling is that it does not bother to link stories with overlapping characters, or even around seminal events. Instead, the characters gravitate around keywords: greed, loyalty, self-preservation. The result is a jumpy, yet broad-based, essay on drugs in North America. (Phil Busse) 82nd Avenue, Broadway Metroplex, City Center 12, Division Street, Lloyd Cinemas, Movies on TV, Oak Grove 8 Theater, Tigard Cinemas
Valentine
Another holiday is ruined by turning it into fodder for a slasher flick. What's next? Lincoln's birthday?? 82nd Avenue, Cinema 99, City Center 12, Division Street, Evergreen Parkway, Hilltop, Lloyd Cinemas, Movies on TV, Oak Grove 8 Theater, Tigard Cinemas, Vancouver Plaza , Wilsonville
