Human Nature (2003-)

Movie Review

"Human Nature" comes from the creative mind of the Academy Award-nominated screenwriter, Charlie Kaufman ("Being John Malkovich"). Equally as outlandish and innovative as "Being John Malkovich," "Human Nature" features what could possibly be the strangest cast of leading characters in recent film history.
Tim Robbins narrates the story as the recently deceased behaviorist, Nathan Bronfman. With a tidy bullet hole in his forehead from which only a small trail of blood is still visible, Nathan recalls his recent past while seated in a blindingly white room. In life, Nathan's strict childhood with his adopted parents led him to become a behaviorist who attempted to teach table manners to mice. Seriously - that's what he did. Watch all about it.

The Human Stain (2003-)

Movie Review

Two fine actors – Nicole Kidman and Anthony Hopkins – try to generate a little sexual chemistry in “The Human Stain,” directed by Robert Benton and based on the Philip Roth novel.

Adapted from Pulitzer Prize-winner Roth’s critically acclaimed work, “The Human Stain” is the emotionally wrenching story of Professor Coleman Silk (Hopkins), a tormented man who lives in a self-imposed state of denial. After decades of teaching, Silk makes an unfortunate comment that’s taken as a racial slur. Forced from his job by the powers that be, a lonely and dejected Silk turns to writer Nathan Zuckerman (Gary Sinise) for help with a novel. A companionable relationship quickly forms between the two men, with Silk opening up far more with Zuckerman than with most of the people he’s encountered in his life. Yet the one big secret he fights to protect stays concealed, even from this man who becomes his closest friend and confidante.

I Spy (2003-)

Movie Review

“I Spy” took me by surprise. The pacing was fast, the jokes hit their marks (at least the majority of them did) and though the plot was convoluted, the script allowed Owen Wilson and Eddie Murphy to play around and have fun with the project. Wilson and Murphy scored solid laughs with the preview audience and the film fairly flew by, being just slightly over an hour and a half in length. The chemistry was dynamite, much better than I anticipated, with Wilson playing the perfect straight man to Murphy's over-the-top, narcissistic character. Wilson has that great every man type of aura that makes you believe he is whoever he plays - the basically normal guy who gets caught up in abnormal situations and then wonders how the heck to get himself out of trouble. Murphy recaptures that spark he had before the “Dr. Doolittle” films.

In the Cut (2003-)

Movie Review

Meg Ryan and Mark Ruffalo get down and dirty in the whodunit, "In the Cut." Showing off more than their acting skills, Ryan and Ruffalo attempt to generate a lot of heat for director Jane Campion in this big screen adaptation of Susanna Moore’s novel.

The Italian Job (2003-)

Movie Review

“The Italian Job” is smart, sophisticated, funny, and completely entertaining. Between hot action sequences featuring wild boat rides through the canals of Venice, chase scenes involving the coolest little cars on wheels, and an intricately planned act of revenge lies a film filled with snappy dialogue and smart acting.

Jeepers Creepers 2 (2003-)

Movie Review

The sequel benefits from a bigger budget, which amounts to a larger cast, many more effects, and more of what most horror freaks demand – gore, and lots of it. And this time around the Creeper (again played by Jonathan Breck) gets to let loose with a grisly assortment of lethal weapons chiseled from bone and covered with flesh. Fine fun for the whole family (if you’re a member of the Manson Family).

Kate and Leopold (2003-)

Movie Review

Meg Ryan can add another notch to her romantic comedy belt with the delightfully fun, though thoroughly implausible, "Kate and Leopold." Moviegoers should check reason and logic at the door, and prepare for a thoroughly enchanting romp with two dynamic leading actors. The onscreen teaming of Meg Ryan (Kate) and Hugh Jackman (Leopold) pulsates with electricity, their performances perfectly complimenting each other and guiding the film smoothly above its rocky premise.

Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003-)

Movie Review

“Kill Bill Vol. 1” - Quentin Tarantino’s reverential tribute to martial arts films and samurai movies - rocks. It’s contemporary Tarantino out Tarantino-ing classic Tarantino. He leaves no stone unturned visually, jumping from black & white to Day-Glo, to a breathtakingly violent anime sequence, and finally landing in a sumptuous battle bathed in blue.