“End Game”
An assassination whodunit, “End Game” stars Cuba Gooding Jr. as Alex Thomas, a Secret Service agent assigned to protect the president of the United States. When the president is killed during his watch, Alex is wracked with guilt.
Category: Reviews
“Kate & Allie” — Season One
“Kate & Allie: Season One” introduced a new type of nuclear family to the 1980s: a pair of divorced women living with their children together in a somewhat cramped New York brownstone. A mid-season replacement in 1984, the sitcom starring Susan Saint James as Kate McArdle and Jane Curtin as Allie Lowell was both a critical and commercial success. The shoulder pads, clunky answering machine, and hairdon’ts give away the decade, but the storylines of grown-up best friends supporting and, at times, sparring with each other during personal and professional crises are timeless.
“Here Come The Brides” — Season One
If you look at the premise of “Here Come the Brides” on paper, the whole series sounds rather bizarre: three brothers head East to find 100 young women who agree to move to untamed Seattle to marry the single men in town. The potential brides have to remain in Seattle for at least a year. If they don’t, the siblings could lose their family business. But this show isn’t set in a society where there’s a Starbucks on every corner.
“The Facts of Life” — Seasons One and Two
Before “Degrassi Junior High” and “Seventh Heaven,” there was “The Facts of Life”–a feel-good sitcom where a lesson was learned at the end of each episode. Set in an all-girl boarding school, the series spanned nine seasons, countless hairdos, and an array of cast members and guest stars–some of whom (George Clooney, Helen Hunt, Molly Ringwald) would become very, very famous in the future.
“Side Effects”
A well-intentioned film about a young pharmaceutical rep who is torn between earning a good living and living a good life, Side Effects tells the story of Karly Hert, portrayed by Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy, Roswell), who also executive produced the project. Karly works for a company whose motto is “To protect and prolong life.” But what they really mean is prolong their own) lives by making as much money as possible.
“Mind Of Mencia” — Season 1
It’s not easy to balance the fine line between being funny and offensive, but Carlos Mencia manages to make it work on “Mind of Mencia–Uncensored Season 1.” Born in Honduras to a Honduran father and a Mexican mother, Mencia takes glee in mocking uncomfortable stereotypes.
“Sex Is Zero” (색즉시공)
Sex Is Zero is to South Korea what Porky’s, American Pie, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High are to the United States. The Korean film has all the classic elements of a sex comedy: gratuitous breast shots, unusual use of bodily fluids, and a plot that’s secondary to the physical comedic skills of the actors.
“TransGeneration”
Told with compassion and insight, the fascinating eight-episode documentary TransGeneration focuses on the lives of four college students struggling to fit into a society that doesn’t understand why they are the way they are–that is, transgendered young adults trapped in bodies that belie their true selves. Gabbie and Raci deal with their issues in vastly different ways.
“She Spies” — The Complete First Season
Campy, earnest, and (at times) funny, “She Spies: The Complete First Season” is more “VIP” and “Charlie’s Angels” (with a little classic “Batman” thrown in) than “Alias” or “La Femme Nikita.” Showcasing the considerable physical charms of Natasha Henstridge, Kristen Miller, and Natashia Williams, who portray recovering criminals turned sexy she-spies Cassie, D.D., and Shane, respectively, the whodunit series offers a tongue-in-cheek alternative to hardcore crime-solving shows.
“Far Side of the Moon”
A quiet film by French-Canadian Robert Lepage (creator of Cirque du Soleil’s hit “Ka” production), “Far Side of the Moon” is a thoughtful look at a middle-aged man who is lonely, underemployed, and respected by no one–not even his twin brother. Lepage plays the dual roles of outcast Phillippe, a fortysomething telemarketer trying to earn his doctorate, and Andre, a selfish and lazy weatherman.
“Zu Warriors”
A remake of the 1983 film of the same name, “Zu Warriors” is a martial arts drama set in a fantasy world where stoic warriors battle a powerful demon. With each kill, the horrific beast consumes their souls, making himself stronger and more difficult to slay.
“Nick Cannon Presents Wild ‘N Out” — Season One
If you didn’t know better, you’d think that the masterminds behind “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and Chicago’s Second City improv troupe plotted to create “Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out Season One,” one of MTV’s highest-rated shows.
“I Love Your Work”
Filmed like an art-house project, “I Love Your Work” offers thoughtful insight to fame from both the celebrity’s and the fan’s points of view. When you’re a celebrity, every fan is a potential stalker. Or at least that’s how movie star Gray Evans (Giovanni Ribisi) sees it. An A-list actor married to a sex symbol, Gray wants to see things clearly in black and white. But his world is a cloudy haze of gray.
“Action”: The Complete Series
Immoral, politically incorrect, and fiercely funny, “Action: The Complete Series” is a timeless comedy focusing on a group of Hollywood insiders whose moral compass has spun out of control. Led by uber-producer Peter Dragon (Jay Mohr), the series’ first and only season ferociously lampoons the sleaziness of modern-day Hollywood.
“Claire Dolan”
A bittersweet film about an Irish immigrant working as a mid-level prostitute in Manhattan, Claire Dolan tells a darkly intriguing story that is less about sex than trying to attain love. Dolan–portrayed with subtle melancholy by Katrin Cartlidge (who died in 2002 from complications of pneumonia and blood poisoning)–is too pragmatic to think she could ever fall in love with one of her clients. They are merely business transactions.
“Unknown”
Taking a cue from “Memento,” “Unknown” uses flashbacks to tell its story, which is full of intrigue. A group of seemingly unrelated men (played by Greg Kinnear, Joe Pantoliano, Jim Caviezel, Berry Pepper, and Jeremy Sisto) find themselves in an abandoned warehouse, and each one claims he is suffering from amnesia.
‘Laguna Beach’s’ love lessons
Every woman in a relationship should watch at least one episode of “Laguna Beach,” MTV’s reality series about a group of young, beautiful and rich kids from Orange County, Calif. This suggestion isn’t being made for the eye candy elements of the show — though there’s plenty. Rather, the male-female dynamics are something familiar to most women in their 20s, 30s and, yes, even 40s. And sometimes just turning on the TV can give you the dating pointers that your friends aren’t.
“State Property 2”: Watching this sequel is like doing time
“State Property 2” picks up where the first film left off, with Beans (rapper Beanie Sigel) serving hard time in a penitentiary for attempted murder.
Bigger is the name of the game for 2005
With 2005 just one day away, we look ahead to what’s in store for the videogaming industry. It’s going to be a busy year. With the introduction of its PSP, Sony will be making a bold move to break Nintendo’s domination of the handheld market. And fans of popular games such as “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” will be pleased to learn their favorites finally will be available on other platforms.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
While 2004 has been a strong year for video games, it’s one of the latest releases that has truly made an impact on me. Regular readers of this column won’t be surprised to learn that my pick for game of the year is Rockstar’s “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.”