Freeze Frames: The Monitor Movie Guide

Here are the week's reviews of both the latest releases and current films, rated according to the key below (''o'' for forget it). The capsule reviews are by Monitor film critic David Sterritt; the one liners from a panel of at least three other Monitor reviewers. Movies containing violence (V), sexual situations (S), nudity (N), and profanity (P) are noted.

o Forget it

* Only if it's free

** Maybe a matinee

*** Worth full price

**** Wait in line

New Releases

ANACONDA (PG-13)

*** Coil up with a tub of popcorn, get a stranglehold on your soda - this is a creepy, action-packed boat ride down a jungle river with lots of huge snakes dropping by for man-sized snacks. Filmmakers in search of tribal footage let an anaconda hunter (Jon Voight) slither into their midst, and the trouble begins. Not for the squeamish or those in a cerebral mood, but the film packs many thrills. P V By Katherine Dillin

** Gripping, predictable, a no-brainer.

CHASING AMY (R)

** A young man discovers his new girlfriend is a lesbian. The filmmaking technique of writer-director Kevin Smith has matured since the raunchy "Clerks," his popular debut movie; but although his dialogue is often witty, he still relies on blunt sexual humor to get his point across. S P V By Chas Sabatine

** Vulgar, original, probing.

8 HEADS IN A DUFFEL BAG (R)

*A hit man chases a medical student who accidentally picked up the grisly package he was delivering to a mob chief. Joe Pesci is funny as the bumbling crook, and David Spade has a few amusing moments. The rest is so stupid you'll wish you'd brought a duffel bag of your own. Written and directed by Tom Schulman. V P S

GRIND (Not rated)

*** Romantic rivalry complicates the relationship of two brothers who want to build better lives than the underpaid mediocrity they inherited from their father. The story and characters don't get beyond fashionable "suburban chic," but filmmaker Chris Kentis captures a surprising amount of working-class truth through his imaginative, understated approach. Billy Crudup and Adrienne Shelley star. V P S

GROSSE POINTE BLANK (R)

*** John Cusak plays a hit man who returns to his hometown for his 10-year high school reunion. Along the way he rekindles an old romantic flame and dodges a few attacks on his life. This clever and original movie is like a John Hughes comedy for the '90s, with a jukebox of a soundtrack that plays one great song after another. People who don't really want to attend their own reunions should consider seeing this movie instead. Contains several violent scenes. V P By Chas Sabatine

*** Unconventional, hilarious, quirky.

THE HOTEL MANOR INN (Not rated)

*Investigating a possible murder case, a TV reporter moves into a one-time insane asylum being converted to a resort hotel. John Randolph has a couple of convincing scenes as the hotel's feisty old manager, but most of Wayne Chesler's dark comedy is dull, contrived, and hopelessly unconvincing. V S P

KISSED (Not rated)

*A young woman develops an erotic fascination with death. Lynne Stopkewich's highly unconventional drama gets only one star not because it's poorly made - quite the contrary - but because most moviegoers will find the subject repellent no matter how it's treated. Molly Parker stars. Contains a great deal of explicit sexual deviance. S V P N

MURDER AT 1600 (R)

** A homicide cop tries to find out who murdered a young woman after a sexual rendezvous in the White House, and gets temporarily stymied when government insiders block his path. Wesley Snipes is terrific as the hero. Diane Lane and Alan Alda back him up as a Secret Service agent and a White House operative, respectively. Dwight Little directed. V P S N

PARADISE ROAD (R)

** Held under horrific conditions in a Japanese prison camp during World War II, a diverse group of women form a "vocal orchestra" and elevate their spirits through the inspiring power of great music. The story has charming and uplifting moments as well as strong performances by an impressive cast. Moviegoers interested in the film's music may be put off by its scenes of harrowing and explicit violence, though. Glenn Close and Frances McDormand star. V N P

SCHIZOPOLIS (Not rated)

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