Words speak louder than action
Wonder Boys***
The Eye of the Beholder*
Judd dud
When his family walks out on him, British agent “Eye” (Ewan McGregor) turns into a recluse, surrounded by surveillance equipment and electronic gadgetry. His only human contact is Hilary (k.d. lang), who feeds him assignments via videophone. His latest case takes an unexpected turn when he witnesses the murder of his surveillance target. The perpetrator turns out to be a rare breed: a female serial killer (Ashley Judd). Instantly smitten by this woman, Eye follows her around, at first just shadowing her, but eventually helping her to evade the police. Together yet separate, they zigzag across the country. The more involved Eye becomes in the killer’s life, the more aware she is that someone is on her trail. Eye of the Beholder is possibly the worst psychological thriller in recent memory. McGregor and Judd can’t act their way out of a paper bag. This eyesore gets a thumbs down.
Light it Up**
Snuff it Out<7i>
When a popular teacher is suspended at Queens’ Lincoln High School, students organize a sit-in. The arrival of a police officer (Forest Whitaker) escalates an already tense situation. After a scuffle, the cop is accidentally shot in the leg and the school is evacuated. Six students remain behind to hold him hostage: the artist (Robert Ri’chard), the basketball player (Usher Raymond), the brain (Rosario Dawson), the pothead (Clifton Collins, Jr.), the thug (Fredro Starr), and the pregnant girl with a bad reputation (Sara Gilbert). As police and a crowd gather outside, the kids begin to realize the enormity of their situation, and the list of demands they present to the negotiator (Vanessa L. Williams) surprises nearly everyone. Written and directed by Craig Bolotin, this would have been better suited as a television movie of the week, maybe a millennial Breakfast Club. The direction tends to over-amp so much of what happens that we are exhausted at the end. By that point, Light It Up has long since blown a fuse.
The Art of War**
Lost art
Neil Shaw (Wesley Snipes) is a special agent who becomes embroiled in international intrigue when the Chinese ambassador to the United Nations is assassinated. Shaw gets caught in the middle and ends up as the fall guy. He is forced to unravel the conspiracy and save his neck, all on his own. Also along for the ride is UN Chinese translator Julia (Marie Matiko), the only witness who can clear Shaw’s name. The Art of War is a pretentiously slick and stylish thriller that is as sporadically entertaining as it is preposterous. It relies upon that old stand-by “accused innocent man” plot device and lots of gratuitously arty cinematography. When the film works, it’s because of the tight pacing and expertly choreographed action scenes. The surprise twists in the plot are nothing of the sort. Anyone who doesn’t foresee what unfolds here hasn’t seen many movies. Even the Matrix-like ending is bad. Director Christian Duguay should have been more concerned with the art of filmmaking. <<<
FILMS IN ENGLISH CAN BE VIEWED AT:
Cinema 55 52 55 Nymphenburger Str. 31 (U1 Stiglmaierplatz), sneak preview Friday nights.
IMAX Cinema 21 12 50, in the Forum der Technik. A five-story-high screen.
Lupe 2 34 76 51 Ungererstr. 19 (U3/6 Dietlindenstr.).
Filmmuseum 23 32 41 50, St.-Jakobs-Platz 1 (S & U Marienplatz)
Museum-Lichtspiele 48 24 03, Lilienstr. 2, Ludwigsbrücke (S Rosenheimerplatz).
Neues Arena 260 32 65, Hans-Sachs-Str. 7 (U1/2 Fraunhoferstr.; Tram 18, 20, 25, 27).
Neues Rottmann 52 16 83, Rottmannstr. 15 (U1 Stiglmaierplatz).
Theatiner Filmkunst 22 31 83, Theatinerstr. 32 (U3/6, U4/5 Odeonsplatz).
Türkendolch 28 99 66 99, Türkenstr. 74 (U3/6 Universität).
