Movie Guide

Director: Peter Bogdanovich. With Edward Herrmann, Kirsten Dunst, Cary Elwes, Jennifer Tilly. (112 min.)

Sterritt ** See review, page 15.

Director: Roger Michell. With Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Affleck, Amanda Peet, Sidney Pollack. (96 min.)

Sterritt *** See review, page 15.

Director: Michel Gondry. With Tim Robbins, Patricia Arquette, Robert Forster, Rosie Perez. (96 min.)

Sterritt ** See review, page 15.

Director: Martin Scorsese. With The Band, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Eric Clapton, Dr. John. (117 min.)

Sterritt **** Scorsese directed this legendary concert film in 1976, planning and executing the production with meticulous care – unprecedented for a rock movie at the time – and editing it to fine-tuned perfection. The result is a rousing record of The Band's last full-fledged show, plus appearances by several of the era's most influential pop-music talents. It's never been topped.

Director: Stephen Earnhart. With Beanie Andrew, Annabelle Lea Usher, Larry Parrot, Ricky Lix. (93 min.)

Sterritt *** Earnhart met the residents of a rural trailer park in Florida while shooting a music video, and stayed on to make this documentary about a handful of would-be filmmakers who create a home-grown horror flick starring themselves and friends. The end product is as deliciously eccentric as the real-life characters it chronicles.

Director: Mitch Davis. With Christopher Gorham, Anne Hathaway, Joe Folau, Miriama Smith, Nathaniel Lees.

Staff *** Based on the true story of a young American who travels in the 1950s to the exotic island of Rarotonga to become a missionary. His two assignments: Learn the language and convert the Indians to Christianity. At first, he is mocked by the natives. But they quickly change their tune after he helps heal a dying boy. His faith is then put to the test again and again – a hurricane comes close to wiping out the island's food supply, and he nearly dies at sea. Meanwhile, the missionary corresponds with his love back home in Idaho, hoping they will marry after his 2-1/2 year mission. The film carries a simple, yet meaningful message about the healing power of God and how it can bring people together. By Lisa Leigh Parney

Sex/Nudity: 1 suggestive scene. Violence: 5 scenes. Profanity: None. Drugs: 2 with smoking, 2 with drinking.

Director: Roger Kumble. With Cameron Diaz, Christina Applegate, and Thomas Jane. (87 min.)

Staff * Best friends Christina (Diaz) and Courtney (Applegate) claim to love singlehood and live a life of one-night-stands and unemotional flings. But when Christina finds her true love, the friends abandon their philosophy and chase him down. This not-quite-love story, not-quite-gal-pal movie is an unoriginal comedy that is nothing more than a recitation of platitudes and stereotypes. For fans of "Something About Mary," it is a cliché letdown. By Katie Nesse

Director: Barry Sonnenfeld. With Tim Allen, Rene Russo, Omar Epps, Janeane Garofalo, Jason Lee. (85 min.)

Sterritt * A sleazy businessman acquires a mysterious suitcase in a Miami saloon, confusing all kinds of people including his unhappy wife and daughter, two hitmen hired to whack him, and two idiotic FBI men. The filmmakers wanted to make a comedy about couples, but there's so little chemistry between these pairs that the theme never picks up energy or conviction. Nor does the film offer any meaningful satire of our contemporary world, although it tries awfully hard, complete with gags about nuclear terrorism.

Director: Jonathan Frakes. With: Jesse Bradford, French Stewart, Paula Garcés. (90 min.)

Staff ** Zak Gibbs, a physics professor's son, accidentally gets hold of an experimental wristwatch that slows the world around him almost to a standstill. Evil forces kidnap the prof, hoping to turn this benign invention into a weapon for sale to the highest bidder. Zak and two friends set out to stop them. A fresh cast and delightful effects early on promise something special, but the script quickly shifts out of hypertime into plodding formula. By M.K. Terrell

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