OnVideo: 1999 Catalog of Releases

1999 Catalog of Releases

Movies are rated on a scale of one to five, with five denoting a classic. For more information on how we rate, check out our
Rentability Index.

'60s, The NBC miniseries that purported to accurately reflect the turbulence of the 1960s but instead boiled down the decade's events into a series of facile visual and sound bites. Stars: Jerry O'Connell, Josh Hamilton, Jordana Brewster, Bill Smitrovich. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, Drama, Trimark, $19.99 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
10 Things I Hate About You Teen high-school comedy about a high school newcomer who can't date the girl of his dreams until her older, ill-tempered sister, a social outcast, has her first date -- which may never come. He hatches a complicated plot that ends up in mating confusion. Director: Gil Junger. Stars: Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, David Krumholtz, Larry Miller. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 97 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $37.741 million, Buena Vista. DVD: Day & Date.
20 Dates Debut film of Myles Berkowitz, an indie filmmaker who decided to make his first movie a document of his search for love by filming his outings on 20 dates. Gently hilarious, this is the perfect voyuer film for the video generation. Director: Myles Berkowitz. Stars: Myles Berkowitz. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 92 min., Docu-Comedy, Box office gross: $0.536 million, Fox.
200 Cigarettes Ensemble comedy set on New Year's Eve 1981, about the planning and events leading up to a big party in Manhattan, with requisite jousting for bed partners, party crashers from Long island, yuppies, artists and more. Despite a talented cast, the dialogue and situations smother the actors, leaving viewers to care less about their various treks -- and problems -- leading up to the party. Director: Risa Bramon Garcia. Stars: Martha Plimpton, Christina Ricci, Courtney Love, Gaby Hoffman, Kate Hudson, Dave Chappelle, Janeane Garofalo, Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, Jay Mohr. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 101 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $6.851 million, Paramount. DVD: Day & Date.
54 Life and love set against the backdrop of famed New York 1980s nightclub Studio 54. Throbbing disco soundtrack. Director: Mark Christopher. Stars: Mike Myers, Salma Hayek, Ryan Phillippe, Neve Campbell, Sela Ward. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 93 min., Drama, Box office gross: $16.574 million, Miramax.
Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, The Disney's 11th animated feature, here restored to its original length with two tales: Kenneth Grahame's "The Wind in the Willows" and Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." 1949, MPAA rating: G, 68 min., Animated, Disney, $22.99 SRP.
Affliction Hard hitting drama about the dysfunctional relationship between an alcoholic, hot-tempered father and his son, a police officer in a small town in New Hampshire. The set piece is an investigation of a hunting death, but it's merely the background for the disintegration of the cop's life, filled with tragedy and violence. Director: Paul Schrader. Stars: Nick Nolte, Sissy Spacek, James Coburn, Willem Dafoe, Mary Beth Hurt, Jim True. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 114 min., Drama, Box office gross: $5.612 million, Universal. DVD: Day & Date.
Alarmist, The Home security systems salesman finds success (both in selling systems and in seducing one of his clients) but gets in over his head when he discovers that his boss is robbing the homes he's supposed to be protecting. Director: Evan Dunsky. Stars: David Arquette, Stanley Tucci, Kate Capshaw, Mary McCormick. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 93 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $0.085 million, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
Alice in Wonderland Great cast, stunning visual effects, rather slow-paced TV retelling of Lewis Carroll's children's classic. Director: Nick Willinag. Stars: Robbie Coltrane, Whoopi Goldberg, Ben Kingsley, Christopher Lloyd, Miranda Richardson, Martin Short. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: NR, 129 min., Fantasy, Family Home Ent./Hallmark, $19.98 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein First direct-to-video feature for Alvin and the Chipmunks. While working at a world-famous movie studio tour, the gang wreak havoc in their usual fashion -- but also get involved with the Frankenstein monster when the park's castle attraction is taken over by the original Dr. Frankenstein. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: G, 78 min., Children, Universal, $19.98 SRP.
American History X Two brothers become involved in the neo-Nazi movement in this disturbing look at hate, racisim, anti-Semitism. Stirring performances by Norton and Furlong, with fine supporting cast, but the film's topic makes for heady going. Director: Tony Kaye. Stars: Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D'Angeleo, Fairuza Balk, Avery Brooks, Stacy Keach. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 119 min., Drama, Box office gross: $6.314 million, New Line. DVD: Day & Date.
American Pie Ribald teen comedy about a quartet of high school buddies who vow to lose their virginity before graduation. For the 18-24 demographic. Director: Paul Weitz. Stars: Natasha Lyonne, Jason Biggs, Tara Reid, Jennifer Coolidge, Shannon Elizabeth. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 95 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $101.502 million, Universal. DVD: Day & Date.
Among Giants Offbeat romance between the foreman (Pete Postlethwaite) of a rag-tag crew hired to paint electrical towers and a sexy Australian backpacker (Rachel Griffiths) in search of adventure. Stars: Rachel Griffiths, Pete Postlethwaite. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 90 min., Romance, Fox. DVD: Day & Date.
Analyze This Very funny film about a powerful New York crimelord having trouble with emotional outbursts and the hapless psychiatrist recruited to turn him back into a happy-go-lucky gangster. Great chemistry between Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal; wonderful sight gags. Director: Harold Ramis. Stars: Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal, Lisa Kudrow, Chazz Palminteri. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 103 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $104.000 million, Warner. DVD: Day & Date.
Another Day in Paradise Absorbing road picture about a pair of wired, dysfunctional teens (Wagner and Kartheiser) about to hit bottom who find the mostly unlikely of guardian angels: a pair of peripatetic dope dealers (Woods and Griffith). Director: Larry Clark. Stars: James Woods, Melanie Griffith, Vincent Kartheiser, Natasha Gregson Wagner. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 101 min., Drama, Box office gross: $0.193 million, Trimark. DVD: Day & Date.
Antz Animated feature about a neurotic and self-absorbed ant whose discontent with conformity leads to a subversion of authority in a typical military-run ant nest (a parable for an attack on fascism and totalitarianism, you say?). Great CGI and story. Director: Eric Darnell, Tim Johnson. Voices of Woody Allen, Dan Aykroyd, Anne Bancroft, Jane Curtin, Jennifer Lopez, Danny Glover, Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone, Christopher Walken. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 83 min., Animated, Box office gross: $90.000 million, DreamWorks, $26.99 SRP.
Apt Pupil Honor high school student discovers that a Nazi war criminal has been quietly living in his hometown and, obsessed with the atrocities of the Holocaust, he blackmails the old man, opening up a riveting game of cat and mouse. Director: Bryan Singer. Stars: Brad Renfro, Sir Ian McKellen, David Schwimmer. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 112 min., Drama, Box office gross: $8.838 million, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
Arlington Road Widowed when his FBI agent wife is killed by a right-wing group, a college professor becomes obsessed with the culture of extremists, especially when his new, All-American neighbors begin to act suspiciously. Is there a conspiracy afoot -- or paranoia? Director: Mark Pellington. Stars: Jeff Bridges, Tim Robbins, Joan Cusack, Hope Davis. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 117 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $23.800 million, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
At First Sight A story of faith, hope and love about a blind young man whose sight is restored by a remarkable operation. Val Kilmer is a blind masseur whose hands heal stressed out Manhattanite Mira Sorvino, and they promptly fall in love. But their burgeoning romance is put to the test after the surgery when he has to learn to see the world for the first time. Director: Irwin Winkler. Stars: Val Kilmer, Mira Sorvino, Kelly McGillis, Steven Weber, Bruce Davison, Nathan Lane. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 126 min., Romantic Drama, Box office gross: $21.825 million, MGM. DVD: Day & Date.
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me The further adventures of that throwback to the 1960s, photographer-spy Austin Powers, with more really really really bad and stupid jokes and gags, but people love it. Dr. Evil time travels to the 1960s to steal Powers' power -- his mojo. Naturally Powers journeys after the evil Evil, encountering the swingin' London scene and super- sexy spy Felicity Shagwell. Director: Jay Roach. Stars: Mike Myers, Heather Graham, Michael York, Robert Wagner, Rob Lowe, Seth Green, Mindy Sterling. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 95 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $205.000 million, New Line, $22.98 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Autumn Tale Last chapter in director Eric Rohmer's "Tale of Four Seasons" series. In the autumn of her life, a winegrower in the South of France resists all attempts by her best friend and her son's girlfriend to find her companionship. An elegant tale of love. Director: Eric Rohmer. Stars: Beatrice Roman. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 110 min., Drama, Box office gross: $1.300 million, USA Home Entertainment.
Babe: Pig in the City This sequel to the highly successful "Babe" got blindsided by bad pre-release buzz and poor opening week positioning by Universal. It's a brilliant film, almost surreal in its telling, that follows the weird adventures of pig "Babe," lost in a big city and at the mercy of a group of mean chimps and humans. It's a tad dark for most kids but still a wonderful fable, kind of a modern "Animal Farm." Director: George Miller. Stars: Magda Szubanski, Mary Stein, Mickey Rooney, James Cromwell. Voices of E.G. Daily, Danny Mann, Glenne Headly, Steven Wright. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: G, 88 min., Family, Box office gross: $17.000 million, Universal, $22.98 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Baby Geniuses Insipid comedy aimed at the under 10 crowd, built on the premise that babies know the secrets of universe, as well as having their own language, but lose it all at the age of 2, when they "cross-over" and use grown-up language. The plot revolves around a sinister scientist, some superintelligent kids, and sight gags with babies mimicking adult actions. Director: Bob Clark. Stars: Kathleen Turner, Christopher Lloyd, Peter MacNicol, Dom DeLuise, Kim Catrell. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 95 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $24.455 million, Columbia TriStar, $23.95 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Baby Huey"s Great Easter Adventure Direct-to-video live action musical about the giant diapered duck of Harvey Comics fame (since 1950), here with the innocent character becoming the darling of Bitzville but also running afoul of a coniving impresario who has shady ideas about Huey. Duracase packaging. Stars: Joseph Bologna, Maureen McCormick, Harvey Korman, David Lander, David Leisure. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: NR, 89 min., Children, Columbia TriStar, SRP estimated at $14.95.
Bartok the Magnificent Direct-to-video sequel to 1997's "Anastasia," with the loveable but nasty bat Bartok attempting to prove himself a hero when young Prince Ivan is kidnapped by the evil Russian witch Baba Yaga. Voices of Hank Azaria, Kelsey Grammer, Jennifer Tilly, Tim Curry, Catherine O'Hara. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: G, 71 min., Animated, Fox, $19.98 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Belly Controversial ultra-violent urban drama that had difficulty getting booked in theatres, including those in urban neighborhoods. Director: Hype Williams. Stars: Nas, DMX, Taral Hicks, Tionne T-Boz Watkins, Method Man. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 95 min., Drama, Box office gross: $9.630 million, Artisan. DVD: Day & Date.
Beloved Based on Toni Morrison's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, this over-long melodrama centers on the tribulations of a former slave tortured by the ghosts of her horrific past, marring her attempts to free herself emotionally and spiritually. Director: Jonathan Demme. Stars: Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, Thandie Newton, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Beah Richards. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 172 min., Melodrama, Box office gross: $22.746 million, Touchstone.
Bent Follows the story of gay men during the rise of Hitler and their interment at Dachau during WWII. Originally rated NC-17. Director: Sean Mathias. Stars: Clive Owen, Lothaire Bluteau, Ian McKellen, Mick Jagger, Jude Law. 1997, CC, MPAA rating: R, 107 min., Drama, Box office gross: $0.450 million, Orion.
Besieged Acclaimed director Bernardo Bertolucci weaves his cinematic magic with this luscious tale of an affair between an expatriate African and her employer, an eccentric recluse living in an enchanting villa in Rome. The pair find themselves in a web of attraction and denial, with new awakenings and discoveries. Director: Bernardo Bertolucci. Stars: Thandie Newton, David Thewlis. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 92 min., Drama, Box office gross: $2.032 million, New Line. DVD: Day & Date.
Best Man, The This Italian drama takes place at the turn of the 19th century and concerns two passionate lovers kept apart by one minor reason -- she's the bride and he's the best man. Italian with English subtitles. 1997 Golden Globe winner. Director: Pupi Avati. Stars: Diego Abatantuono, Ines Sastre, Dario Cantarelli. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 99 min., Foreign, Universal.
Better Than Chocolate Sexy romp about a secret affair between two women. Director: Anne Wheeler. Stars: Karyn Dryer, Christina Cox. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 101 min., Drama, Box office gross: $1.968 million, Trimark.
Beyond Silence Unusual story follows emotional growth of hearing daughter of deaf parents from childhood through teen years as she leaves the world of silence (where she translates sounds into signs for her parents) to the world of music, where she becomes a clarinet prodigy. Director: Caroline Link. Stars: Sylvie Testud, Tatjana Trieb, Howie Seago, Emmanuelle Laborit, Sibylle Canonica, Matthias Habich. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 107 min., Drama (German), Box office gross: $0.171 million, Miramax.
Big Chill, The 15th anniversary reissue of the ensemble film that made careers for a host of actors as well as introducing the rock soundtrack to mainstream filmmaking. Follows the reunion of a group of 1960s college ex-radicals on the event of the funeral of one of their friends. Widescreen and pan-and-scan versions. Director: Lawrence Kasdan. Stars: Glenn Close, Kevin Kline, William Hurt, Jeff Goldblum, Tom Berenger, JoBeth Williams, Mary Kay Place. 1983, CC, MPAA rating: R, 105 min., Drama, Columbia TriStar, $14.95 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Big Daddy Flaky law school graduate who eschews career and marriage adopts a five-year-old boy to impress his girlfriend with his new found responsibility, becoming a reluctant dad when the boy steals his heart. Bathroom humor comedy. Director: Dennis Dugan. Stars: Adam Sandler, Joey Lauren Adams, Rob Schneider, Jon Stewart, Kristy Swanson, Cole and Dylan Sprouse. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 93 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $158.700 million, Columbia TriStar, $21.96 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Black Mask (Hak hap) Fast-paced Hong Kong 1996 actioner released in the States this year to capitalize on cachet of Jet Li after his great appearance in "Lethal Weapon 4." Story revolves around a gang of genetically engineered humans who go after cops and bad guys alike. Li, of course, is fabulous as one of the androids who hasn't turned bad and must fight them single-handedly. Showcase for Li's wonderful martial arts expertise. Director: Daniel Lee. Stars: Jet Li, Karen Mok, Ching Wan Lau. 1996, CC, MPAA rating: R, 89 min., Action, Box office gross: $12.491 million, Artisan. DVD: Day & Date.
Black & White Not to be confused with the recently released James Toback study of American pop culture, "Black and White," this thriller follows a rookie cop and his sexy partner's passionate affair as they hunt for a serial killer. Director: Yuri Zeitser. Stars: Gina Gershon, Ron Silver, Allison Eastwood. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 97 min., Thriller, Columbia TriStar. DVD: December 7.
Blair Witch Project, The Very scary mock documentary about three students who travel to the remote hills of Maryland to investigate the legend of a witch who has plagued the community for two centuries. Made on a shoestring budget ($50,000), the film has captured the public consciousness and from the Sundance film festival has gone on to "murder" the boxoffice. Directors: Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez. Stars: Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, Michael Williams. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 88 min., Horror, Box office gross: $36.140 million and rising, Artisan, $22.98 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Blast From the Past Comedy about a young man (Brendan Fraser), raised in a bomb shelter since the 1960s -- his father thought WWIII had started -- and what happens when he resurfaces in 1999 and meets up with modern culture, including a hip Eve (Alicia Silverstone). Despite poor reviews and a weak boxoffice, give this one a good look. You'll be pleased and surprised with the sweet performances and story line. Director: Hugh Wilson. Stars: Brendan Fraser, Alicia Silverstone, Christopher Walken, Sissy Spacek. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 106 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $26.494 million, New Line. DVD: Day & Date.
Blood Guts Bullets & Octane Low budget indie about a pair of down-and-out used car dealers paid $250,000 to store a 1963 Pontiac LeMans on their lot for two days with the proviso that if they touch it, they die. Naturally they take off with it on the road, littering the highway with corpses. It seems that every sleazeball in the world wants this Pontiac, and they'll kill to get it. Told in weird flashback sequences, with such disjointed dialogue (and some monologues that just go on endlessly) that the film crashes and burns before it picks up any momentum. Gratuitous, nonsensical action and violence. Weak. Director: Joe Carnahan. Stars: Joe Carnahan, Dan Leis, Hugh McChord, Mark S. Allen. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 87 min., Action comedy, Box office gross: $0.013 million, Universal.
Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue, The Second direct-to-video sequel about the brave toaster and his appliance friends -- lampy, radio, blanky, kirby -- here thwarting a plot by their master's sinister lab assistant to sell animals to a lab for experimentation. Voices of Alfre Woodard, Eddie Bracken, Jay Mohr. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: NR, 74 min., Animated, Disney, $22.99 SRP.
Bride of Chucky With the teaser line "Chucky Gets Lucky," you know this third sequel to 1988's "Child's Play," about an evil spirit inhabiting a doll, is sheer gore fun. Chucky comes back to life and gets back together with old flame Tiffany for another round of gruesome mayhem. Director: Ronny Yu. Stars: Jennifer Tilly, Brad Dourif, Alexis Arquette. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 89 min., Horror, Box office gross: $32.368 million, Universal. DVD: Day & Date.
Buena Vista Social Club Spellbinding documentary on guitarist Ry Cooder that explores his music, craftsmanship, culture and roots as the musician tours New York and Europe. Director: Wim Wenders. Stars: Ry Cooder, Ruben Gonzalez, Compay Segundo. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: NR, Documentary, Box office gross: $5.669 million, Artisan. DVD: Day & Date.
Buffalo '66 Surreal, off-beat story of yet another loser (Vincent Gallo) who gets out of prison, quickly kidnaps a young woman (Christina Ricci) and takes her home to his parents where he forces her to play the role of his wife. Naturally the pair bond. Written, directed by Gallo. Director: Vincent Gallo. Stars: Vincent Gallo, Christina Ricci, Anjelica Huston, Ben Gazzara. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 110 min., Drama, Box office gross: $2.365 million, Universal.
Bug's Life, A Delicious story and fabulous 3-D computer animation made this family feature a smash hit. A group of ants - toiling for their grasshopper overlords - enlist the aid of an out-of-work bug circus to save their society from oppression. Spirited and goofy. Director: John Lasseter. Stars: Voices of Dave Foley, Kevin Spacey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Phyllis Diller, David Hyde Pierce. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: G, 94 min., Animated, Box office gross: $155.000 million, Buena Vista, 26.99 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Bulworth Brilliant political satire about burned-out California Senator who flips out on the last weekend before election day, starts telling the truth about big money, government and how special interests buy politicians, hangs with Compton "homies," starts speaking in hip-hop rhyme, and starts to win over more and more of his constituents for his straight talk. All the while he's dodging an assassin that he contracted for (in a fit of depression) to get insurance money for his daughter. Director: Warren Beatty. Stars: Warren Beatty, Halle Berry, Oliver Platt, Don Cheadle, Paul Sorvino, Jack Warden. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 107 min., Satire, Box office gross: $26.525 million, Fox. DVD: Day & Date.
Car, The A demonic, indestructible black sedan with a life of its own -- and no driver -- appears from nowhere and terrorizes a small town in New Mexico, killing people at random. It's up to the town Sheriff to stop it at all costs. Director: Elliot Silverstein. Stars: James Brolin, Ronny Cox, Kathleen Lloyd. 1977, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 96 min., Thriller, Anchor Bay, $9.99 pan-and- scan, widescreen Collector's Edition $14.98. DVD: Day & Date.
Carla's Song Lower-class Glasgow bus driver becomes infatuated with Nicaraguan refugee, finds out she's suffering from post-traumatic stress, and accompanies her to her homeland to help her come to terms with her past. Moving love story of passion and politics. Released in France and Italy only. Director: Ken Loach. Stars: Robert Carlyle, Scott Glenn, Oyenka Cabezas. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: NR, 127 min., Drama, Fox Lorber. DVD: Day & Date.
Celebrity Woody Allen's latest, a black & white diatribe that skewers our culture's fascination with fame and infamy, starring Kenneth Branagh as a writer going through a mid-life crisis and leaving his wife (Judy Davis) to pursue greener pastures among the cultural elite. Allen skewers supermodels, action movies, literary stars, actors, writers and just about everyone with pretensions to culture. Director: Woody Allen. Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Judy Davis, Melanie Griffith, Michael Lerner, Winona Ryder, Joe Mantegna. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 112 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $5.032 million, Miramax. DVD: Day & Date.
Central Station Captivating film about a lonely older woman, who makes a living scamming commuters in Rio de Janeiro's Central Station, and a young boy she takes under her wings when his mother is killed; together the pair set off on eventually heartwarming search for the boy's dad. Director: Walter Salles. Stars: Fernanda Montenegro, Vinicius de Oliveira. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 106 min., Drama, Box office gross: $5.444 million, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
Chambermaid on the Titanic, The Set in 1912, about a French factory worker who wins a ticket to attend the launch of the Titanic in Southhampton, shares a hotel room with a chambermaid set to join the voyage the next day. Though nothing happens, after the ship sinks and he can't find her name on the list of survivors, he begins to tell his tale, embellishing it as a romance, eventually becoming a prominent storyteller ... until the chambermaid shows up. Director: Bigas Luna. Stars: Olivier Martinez, Romance Bohringer, Aitana Sanchez. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: NR, 99 min., Drama, New Yorker.
Children of Heaven, The Wonderful film from Iran about a pair of kids -- a teenage boy and his younger sister -- living in poor economic conditions who come up with a unique solution to a difficult problem: After losing his sister's shoes, the brother shares his sneakers with here, creating all sorts of new problems. Director: Majid Majidi. Stars: Mir Farrokh Hashemian, Bahareh Seddiqi, Amir Naji, Fereshteh Sarabandi. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 88 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $0.925 million, Miramax.
Civil Action, A Based on actual events, this gripping courtroom drama follows the trials and tribulations of a personal injury attorney (John Travolta) who sues giant corporation W.R. Grace/Beatrice Foods on behalf of families who claimed the company caused the death of their children by contaminating the town's water. Director: Steve Zaillian. Stars: John Travolta, Robert Duvall, William H. Macy, John Lithgow, Kathleen Quinlan, Tony Shalhoub. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 118 min., Drama, Box office gross: $56.615 million, Buena Vista. DVD: Day & Date.
Clay Pigeons Music video director David Dobkin helms this thriller, set in Montana, that revolves around suicide, infidelity, and the disappearance of a number of the town's women, with the finger pointing to a hapless loser played by Joaquin Phoenix. Darkly amusing. Director: David Dobkin. Stars: Vince Vaughn, Janeane Garofalo, Joaquin Phoenix, Georgina Cates, Scott Wilson. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 104 min., Comic-Thriller, Box office gross: $1.789 million, PolyGram. DVD: Day & Date.
Cleopatra TV miniseries Stars: Billy Zane, Timothy Dalton, Leonor Varela. 1999, CC, Historical drama, Hallmark.
Cookie's Fortune Down-home comedy from Robert Altman about seemingly placid Southern town of Holly Springs, shaken by the death of Camille Dixon's aunt. Things get stirred up when Camille -- to avoid the stigma of her aunt's suicide -- decides that the death should look like a murder -- and events in the town soon spin out of control. Director: Robert Altman. Stars: Glenn Close, Julianne Moore, Liv Tyler, Chris O'Donnell, Charles S. Dutton, Ned Beatty. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 117 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $10.799 million, USA Home Entertainment. DVD: Day & Date.
Cool, Dry Place, A Handsome young attorney is caught in a romantic triangle, forced to choose between his estranged wife and sexy young girlfriend. Limited theatrical run. Stars: Vince Vaughn, Monica Potter, Joey Lauren Adams. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 120 min., Drama, Fox.
Corruptor, The Moody, convoluted actioner set in New York's Chinatown pitting bad cops against nasty villains. Feeble attempt at mimicking Hong Kong action flicks, with Mark Wahlberg all too bland and Chow Yun-Fat wasted. Director: James Foley. Stars: Chow Yun-Fat, Mark Wahlberg, Ric Young, Paul Ben-Victor, Elizabeth Lindsey. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 100 min., Action, Box office gross: $15.156 million, New Line. DVD: Day & Date.
Crow, The: Stairway to Heaven Pilot for the TV series. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: NR, min., Horror, USA Home Entertainment.
Cruel Intentions Another modern updating of classic novel of sexual deception and betrayal, "Les Liaisons Dangereuses," here with hip young cast featuring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe as bored rich kids who get their kicks manipulating others. Sexy and wicked. Director: Roger Kumble. Stars: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, Selma Blair. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 97 min., Drama, Box office gross: $37.623 million, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
Dame Edna's Neighbourhood Watch Dame Edna is the British housewife's worst enemy -- a wacky middle-aged, purple-haired matron who skewers British morals and morale with outrageous humor and wardrobe (the kindly Dame is played by Dr. Barry Humphries, who introduced her in the mid-1970s at his one- man show -- "Housewife Superstar!" -- in London). This three volume set features the wild lady -- sporting a wardrobe that Cher and RuPaul would envy -- hosting a make-believe game show, "Neighbourhood Watch," that selects three contestants from an all-female audience and then takes viewers on a journey that hilariously violates the nooks and crannies of one woman's house. Delightful, biting and witty British humor. Stars: Barry Humphries. 1999, MPAA rating: NR, 60 min., Comedy, Culture Q Connection.
Dance With Me Handsome Cuban handyman (Latin American pop star Chayanne) sweeps a professional dance instructor off her feet with his unschooled footwork and charm in this passionate dancing yarn set to sizzling salsa. With music by Gloria Estefan, Jon Secada, Ruben Blades. Director: Randa Haines. Stars: Vanessa L. Williams, Chayanne, Kris Kristofferson, Joan Plowright. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 126 min., Musical drama, Box office gross: $15.814 million, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
Dancing at Lughnasa Memory piece set in rural Ireland in 1936, about five unmarried sisters who live near a small village and their life that summer -- revolving around the arrival of two men and leading up to the yearly dance in honor of the harvest deity Lugh. The play of the same doesn't translate all that well to the big screen. Director: Pat O'Connor. Stars: Meryl Streep, Michael Gambon, Catherine McCormack, Kathy Burke, Sophie Thompson. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 94 min., Drama, Box office gross: $2.285 million, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
Dark Crystal, The This first fully-animatronic feature film from Jim Henson and friends is a wonderful tale about two Gelflings who must return a shard of glass to the Dark Crystal in order to prevent the evil Skeksis from bringing devastation to their world. Imaginative adventure for the entire family. With behind the scenes featurette, never-before-seen footage. Director: Jim Henson, Frank Oz. 1982, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 93 min., Children, Columbia TriStar, $14.95 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Dark Romances Vol. 2 Anthology of weird vignettes of horror, death and destruction, sleazily shot with off-kilter production values that will titillate fans of cheap tabloid video thrillers. This is the second volume in the series and offers up five revolting tales of evil, malevolence and bizarre revenge, with the appearance of the icon Diana ("the beautiful and deadly Diana born of pure evil whose goal in life is to destroy lives") as a connecting thread through it all. Episodes include "She's Bad, She's Blonde, She's Lunch," about a pair of killers who get their just deserts; "Cardinal Sin," about a young man who gets even with his mom; and "What Goes Around," about an art collector who literally takes a piece of the artists she sponsors. These are so disgusting and bad that they're good. 1999, MPAA rating: NR, 99 min., Horror, Salt City, $39.95.
Dead Man on Campus Very dumb comedy about two flunking college students who unearth an obscure regulation that offers straight A's to any student whose roommate commits suicide. Now the pair hunt for the university's most suicidal student so they can move in and knock him off. Ugh! Director: Alan Cohn. Stars: Tom Everett Scott, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Alyson Hannigan. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 94 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $15.062 million, Paramount.
Deep End of the Ocean, The Tear-jerker about a family torn apart, first when their 3-year-old boy is kidnapped, and then again nine years later when he mysteriously reappears. Director: Ulu Grosbard. Stars: Michelle Pfeiffer, Treat Williams, Jonathan Jackson, Ryan Merriman, Whoopi Goldberg. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 109 min., Drama, Box office gross: $13.376 million, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
Deep Crimson Mexican director Arturo Ripstein's take on the classic Lonely Hearts murder case, set in 1949, about an obese nurse and a balding lothario who pose as brother and sister to seduce and rob women, ending up in a murder spree. Dark and evil. In Spanish with English subtitles. Director: Arturo Ripstein. Stars: Regina Orozco, Daniel Gimenez Cacho, Marisa Paredes. 1997, CC, MPAA rating: NR, 109 min., Drama, New Yorker.
Deep Blue Sea Genetically altered 25-foot-long mako sharks make sushi of scientists in this ho-hum modern-day "Jaws." Naturally there's the beleaguered well-meaning scientists and the nasty suits who want to cut budgets, all fodder for the proceedings. Director: Renny Harlin. Stars: Thomas Jane, Saffron Burrows, LL Cool J, Samuel L. Jackson, Jacqueline McKenzie, Stellan Skarsgard. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 105 min., Horror Thriller, Box office gross: $12.100 million, Warner. DVD: Day & Date.
Deja Vu Love story about a woman travelling abroad to meet her fiance and the men and women she encounters, particularly one artist with whom she has an instant attraction. There's plenty of lost-love, free spirits, and philosophizing. Director: Henry Jaglom. Stars: Stephen Dillane, Victoria Foyt, Vanessa Redgrave. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 117 min., Romantic drama, Box office gross: $1.086 million, Warner.
Desert Heat Direct-to-video Jean-Claude Van Damme revenge actioner about a man, bent on suicide, who rides to the last outpost of an abandoned desert highway ready to end it all. When he's attacked by a savage gang, he figures life is worth living -- to get even. Director: Danny Mulroon. Stars: Jean-Claude Van Damme. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 95 min., Action, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
Desert Blue Off-beat comedy set in small town in Eastern Calif. (Pop. 89) involving a professor of cultural studies (and his daughter) touring the backroads of America and the kooks and oddballs he encounters. Throw in an accident involving a truck carrying soda pop ingredients and an investigation by the FBI and the EPA , and you have a loony look at modern life. Director: Morgan J. Freeman. Stars: Brendan Sexton III, Kate Hudson, Christina Ricci, Casey Affleck, Sarah Gilbert, John Heard. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: NR, 92 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $0.099 million, Samuel Goldwyn. DVD: Day & Date
Detroit 9000 Re-issued theatrically in January 1999, this blaxploitation film follows the bloody adventures of a pair of cops tracking down armed bandits who held up a fund-raising banquet for a black candidate. Released on Quentin Tarantino's Rolling Thunder imprint. Director: Arthur Marks. Stars: Alex Rocco, Hari Rhoades, Vonetta McGee, Scatman Crothers. 1973, CC, MPAA rating: R, 106 min., Action, Miramax.
Dick Two 15-year-old ditzy girls accidently stumble upon the Watergate break-in and President Nixon's plumber squad in this revisionist-history comedy of life in the White House in the early 1970s. When Nixon appoints them official dog-walkers to keep tabs on them, they change the course of history by persuading Nixon to pull out from Vietnam, inspire a U.S.- Soviet treaty with spiked cookies, and become the "Deep Throats" of the Washington Post's Woodward and Bernstein. Director: Andrew Fleming. Stars: Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams, Dan Hedaya, Teri Garr, Harry Shearer, Saul Rubinek. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 90 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $6.200 million, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
Digging to China Timothy Hutton's first time at directing produced this absorbing tale of the friendship between a mentally disabled young man and a young girl set in the 1960s, with fine turns by Kevin Bacon, Evan Rachel Wood as the mismatched friends. Director: Timothy Hutton. Stars: Kevin Bacon, Evan Rachel Wood, Mary Stuart Masterson, Cathy Moriarty. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: , 100 min., Drama, Box office gross: $0.041 million, BMG.
Disturbing Behavior Unsatisfying thriller about high school kids scientifically conditioned to behave well who eventually go ballistic when the programming goes awry. Cross between "A Clockwork Orange" and "Stepford Wives" with hot teen stars. Director: David Nutter. Stars: James Marsden, Katie Holmes, Nick Stahl, Bruce Greenwood, William Sadler, Steve Railsback. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 83 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $17.494 million, MGM. DVD: Day & Date.
Double Platinum ABC Sunday Night Movie about international singing star reunited with the daughter she gave up for success. Director: Robert Alan Ackerman. Stars: Diana Ross, Brandy, Harvey Fierstein. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 91 min., Musical Drama, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
Doug's 1st Movie Animated adventures of "Disney's Doug" (originally a Nick staple) comes to the big screen, with Doug and friend Skeeter discovering that Bluffington's mythical monster of Lucky Duck Lake is for real, but is in danger due to pollution in the lake. For kid fans of show. Director: Maurice Joyce. Voices of Thomas McHugh, Fred Newman, Chris Phillips, Constance Shulman. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: G, 84 min., Animated, Box office gross: $18.550 million, Buena Vista, $22.99 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Down in the Delta Story of black family's rebirth, centering on a self-destructive addicted mother and her kids, bogged down in a Chicago ghetto of violence and drugs, who are offered salvation when the woman's mother moves the family back to their ancestral home in the South. Director: Maya Angelou. Stars: Alfre Woodard, Al Freeman Jr., Esther Rolle, Mary Alice, Wesley Snipes. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, min., Drama, Box office gross: $5.662 million, Miramax.
Dracula New scored version of the classic with an original musical score composed by Philip Glass and performed by the Kronos Quartet. Director: Tod Browning. Stars: Bela Lugosi, David Manners, Helen Chandler. 1931, CC, MPAA rating: NR, 75 min., Horror, Universal, $14.98 SRP.
Dreamlife of Angels, The Two 20-year-old women, living on the fringes of society, form an intense emotional bond in Lille, France. Winner of the Cesar Award for Best Film, Actress. French with English subtitles. Director: Erick Zonca. Stars: Elodie Bouchez, Natacha Regnier. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 113 min., Drama, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
Drop Dead Gorgeous Unfunny comedy look at beauty pageants in the heartland of America -- with the cameras of a documentary film crew looking on -- where treachery and cheating come to the fore. Two moms (an ex-teenqueen, played by Kirstie Alley, and a "trailer trash" mom, Ellen Barkin) and their girls (Denise Richards and Kirsten Dunst) battle for the crown. Director: Michael Patrick Jann. Stars: Kirstie Alley, Ellen Barkin, Kirsten Dunst, Brittany Murphy. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 96 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $10.291 million, New Line. DVD: Day & Date.
Dudley Do-Right Silly attempt to transfer Jay Ward's classic cartoon character to the big screen in live-action form, with Brendan Fraser as hapless Canadian Mountie Dudley Do-Right trying to outwit evil villain Snidely Whiplash. For the kids only. Director: Hugh Wilson. Stars: Brendan Fraser, Sarah Jessica Parker, Alfred Molina, Robert Prosky, Eric Idle. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 76 min., Family, Box office gross: $9.694 million, Universal, priced for rental. DVD: Day & Date.
Earthly Possessions An older woman meets up with a younger man and gets involved in romance, car chases and bank robberies. An HBO telefilm. Director: James Lapine. Stars: Susan Sarandon, Stephen Dorff. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 103 min., Drama, HBO. DVD: Day & Date.
EDtv In order to offset a ratings slide, a local cable channel comes up with the idea of putting one ordinary person's life -- a video store clerk (Matthew McConaughey) on TV 24 hours a day. What first seems like a good idea becomes a national obsession, messing up the young man's life. Director: Ron Howard. Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Jenna Elfman, Woody Harrelson, Ellen Degeneres, Sally Kirkland. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 123 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $22.362 million, Universal. DVD: Day & Date.
Eight Days a Week A recent high school graduate, hopelessly in love with his next door neighbor, camps in her front yard for an entire summer and witnesses the activities of his crazy neighbors, helping him grow to learn more about life and love. Weak comedy. Stars: Keri Russell, Josh Shaefer. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 92 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $0.011 million, Warner. DVD: Day & Date.
Eight Millimeter Nicolas Cage plays a skilled surveillance expert hired by the estate of a powerful industrialist to track down the truth behind an apparent snuff film, becoming obsessed with the girl in the film and being drawn into a sleazy world that takes him to the underbelly of life in N.Y. and L.A. Director: Joel Schumacher. Stars: Nicolas Cage, Joaquin Phoenix, James Gandolfini, Peter Stormare, Catherine Keener. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 123 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $36.283 million, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
Election Very funny high school teen satire about overachieving co-ed (Reese Witherspoon) who has her sights set on the student government presidency and the teacher (Matthew Broderick) who opposes her run for the office: it turns out she's been seducing her teachers. Director: Alexander Payne. Stars: Reese Witherspoon, Matthew Broderick, Chris Klein, Jessica Campbell, Delaney Driscoll, Colleen Camp. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 104 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $14.813 million, Paramount. DVD: Day & Date.
Elizabeth A sweeping, full-bodied depiction of the ascendancy to the throne of Queen Elizabeth in 1558. There's family intrigue, political machinations, geopolitical warring and, of course, the fine turns by Blanchett, Rush and Fiennes. Director: Shekhar Kapur. Stars: Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Joseph Fiennes, Richard Attenborough, James Fain, Christopher Eccleston. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 124 min., Biodrama, Box office gross: $27.000 million, PolyGram. DVD: May 25.
Elmo in Grouchland Loveable Sesame Street character Elmo loves his fuzzy blanket more than anything else in the world. So when a tug-of-war with Zoe sends the blanket into a faraway land, Elmo heads after it on an action-packed adventure into Grouchland. Director: Gary Halvorson. Voices of Vanessa Williams, Mandy Patinkin. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: G, 73 min., Children, Box office gross: $11.180 million, Columbia TriStar, $21.96 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Enemy of the State Successful attorney unwittingly comes into possession of filmed evidence that implicates a National Security Agency official in the slaying of a Congressman and is thrown into a terrible high-tech game of cat and mouse, with his life at stake. Fast-paced action-thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat. Director: Tony Scott. Stars: Will Smith, Gene Hackman, Jon Voight, Lisa Bonet. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 127 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $110.887 million, Buena Vista. DVD: Day & Date.
Entrapment Exciting game of cat and mouse as a hot-shot insurance investigator (Catherine Zeta-Jones) goes after a master thief (Sean Connery), joining him in a series of gambits over three continents leading up to a multi-billion dollar heist tied to a millennium celebration in Kuala Lampur. Director: Jon Amiel. Stars: Sean Connery, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Ving Rhames, Will Patton. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 130 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $87.600 million, Fox. DVD: Day & Date.
Ever After Updating of Cinderella fairy tale with '90s sensibility has 16th century Danielle (Drew Barrymore) placed at the mercy of evil stepmother (Anjelica Huston) when her father dies. Fabulous sleeper hit has all the right elements in all the right places. Director: Andy Tennant. Stars: Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston, Dougray Scott, Megan Dodds, Melanie Lynskey. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 121 min., Melodrama, Box office gross: $65.644 million, Fox, $19.98 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
eXistenZ A computer game creator (Jennifer Jason Leigh) develops a virtual reality system that gets her in big trouble with unknown assassins. When she convinces a corporate friend to escape with her in the alternate world, they enter a universe of espionage, duplicity and double agents as the film shifts between different realities and fictions. A return to sci-fi roots for David Cronenberg, who here embellishes on one of his recurrent -- and powerful -- themes: the transcendence of the flesh and the desire to be made into machine. Director: David Cronenberg. Stars: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jude Law, Ian Holm. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 110 min., Science Fiction, Box office gross: $2.840 million, Miramax. DVD: Day & Date.
Facade Thriller about a pair of entrepreneurs who kill off everyone who gets in the way of their scheme to build an extravagant hotel in Malibu, Calif., and the surreal turn of events when one of them discovers it's an elaborate fantasy concocted by escaped mental inmates. Director: Carl-Jan Colpaert. Stars: Eric Roberts. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 93 min., Thriller, Columbia TriStar.
Faculty, The High school-set take on "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," with being from outer space slowly taking over faculty and students, with only a handful of students realizing what's going on and trying to stop it. Written by Kevin Williamson, and like "Scream," which Williamson also wrote, the film pokes grisly fun at itself and horror films in general, with the protagonists mapping their actions according to the sci-fi films they've seen. Director: Robert Rodriguez. Stars: Jordana Brewster, Clea Duvall, Salma Hayek, Famke Janssen, Piper Laurie, Robert Patrick, Bebe Neuwirth. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 104 min., Sci-fi Horror, Box office gross: $34.840 million, Miramax. DVD: Day & Date.
Finding Graceland Road picture about a young man (Jonathan Schaech) leaving his past behind who picks up a drifter (Harvey Keitel) who believes he's Elvis on his way home to Graceland. There's a Marilyn Monroe look-a-like (Bridget Fonda) thrown in for good measure. Director: David Winkler. Stars: Jonathon Schaech, Harvey Keitel, Bridget Fonda. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 97 min., Drama, Columbia TriStar.
Firelight Period romance set in the mid-19th century, about a Swiss governess who has a brief liaison with an English landowner, bears his child, is forced to leave, and returns seven years later as the child's governess. A real romantic tear-jerker. Director: William Nicholson. Stars: Stephen Dillane, Sophie Marceau, Kevin Anderson. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 103 min., Melodrama, Box office gross: $0.775 million, Buena Vista. DVD: 2.
Fitzcarraldo Digitally remastered edition of Herzog's classic, about an obsessed man and his dream of bringing a grand opera up the Amazon River in Peru. Amazing jungle cinematography as natives literally bring a boat up the river by hand. German with English subtitles. Director: Werner Herzog. Stars: Klaus Kinski, Claudia Cardinale. 1982, CC, MPAA rating: NR, 157 min., Drama, Anchor Bay, widescreen, $19.98 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Foolish Rauncy comedy about brothers trying to make it big in the comedy business. Stars funnyman Eddie Griffin and hip-hop man Master P. Director: Dave Meyers. Stars: Eddie Griffin, Master P, Amy Petersen, Frank Sivero, Marla Gibbs. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 84 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $6.026 million, Artisan Entertainment. DVD: Day & Date.
Forces of Nature Everything seems to be getting in way of button-down book-sleeve copy writer Ben Affleck's road to marriage: first his grandfather suffers a heart attack at the groom's bachelor party, his airplane flight to the wedding crashes, and then he gets teamed up with a free-spirited woman (Sandra Bullock), making his trek to the altar that more difficult. Will romance blossom or will he get to the church on time? Pleasant, if not remarkable, comedy outing. Director: Bronwen Hughes. Stars: Sandra Bullock, Ben Affleck, Maura Tierney, Blythe Danner, Steve Zahn, Ronny Cox. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 102 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $52.9 million, DreamWorks. DVD: Day & Date.
Free Enterprise Low-budget comedy about pair of twentysomething Star Trek fanatics worried about turning 30 and their encounter with the hero of their dreams, William Shatner himself, who turns out to be just a run-of-the-mill person, hooked on alcoholic beverages. Director: Robert Meyer Burnett. Stars: Rafer Weigel, Eric McCormack, Audie England, William Shatner, Patrick Van Horn. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 108 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $0.030 million, Pioneer. DVD: Day & Date.
Friends and Lovers Loose romantic comedy about six friends who spend a ski weekend together in Utah, with requisite sex, romance and dumb jokes. Director: George Haas. Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Stephen Baldwin, Alison Eastwood, Claudia Schiffer, Danny Nucci, Suzanne Cryer. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 93 min., Romantic comedy, Box office gross: $0.094 million, Universal.
General, The Based on the story of Martin Cahill, a notorious Dublin gangster who was the mastermind behind a series of dazzling robberies that stunned Ireland in the 1980s, and the policeman determined to bring him down. The film won John Boorman the best director award at the 1998 Cannes International Film Festival. Director: John Boorman. Stars: Brendan Gleeson, Jon Voight, Adrian Dunbar, Sean McGinley. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 125 min., Drama, Box office gross: $1.211 million, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
General's Daughter, The Routine detective thriller set on an Army base has Army dick John Travolta investigating the rape and murder of a General's daughter, uncovering a lot of dirt and transgressions along the way. Madeleine Stowe plays his Army sleuth partner and old flame. Director: Simon West. Stars: John Travolta, Madeleine Stowe, James Cromwell, Timothy Hutton, James Woods, Clarence Williams III. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 116 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $102.000 million, Paramount. DVD: Day & Date.
Gloria Director Sidney Lumet has fallen on hard times. This weak remake of John Cassavete's 1980 classic -- about an ex-mob mistress who risks everything to save the life of a young boy orphaned when his family is rubbed out by her criminal cohorts -- is merely a star vehicle for Sharon Stone, who fails mightily in filling the shoes worn by Gena Rowlands in the original. Spruced up for the 1990s, this Gloria doesn't age well. Rent the original before watching this one. Director: Sidney Lumet. Stars: Sharon Stone, Jeremy Northam, Jean-Luke Figueroa, Cathy Moriarty, George C. Scott, Mike Starr. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 108 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $4.155 million, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
Go Edgy comedy about group of young Los Angelenos whose lives collide in one 24-hour period surrounding a botched drug deal; misadventures involve sex, partying, multi-level marketing, all told using overlapping time frames. An interesting black comedy. Director: Doug Liman. Stars: Scott Wolf, Katie Holmes, Sarah Polley, Jay Mohr, Desmond Askew, Taye Diggs. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 102 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $16.551 million, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
God Said, Ha! Julia Sweeney's (of Saturday Night Live) one-woman performance piece that recounts the trials and tribulations of one year in her life when, after buying a new home, her terminally ill brother moves in with her, as do her parents, only to discover that she has cancer. Director: Julia Sweeney. Stars: Julia Sweeney. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 87 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $0.052 million, Miramax.
Gods and Monsters Breathtaking story of director James Whale -- "Frankenstein" and "Bride of Frankenstein" -- and his days of glory in early Hollywood, told from the perspective of his memories in 1957 -- at age 67 -- after years of obscurity and in frail health after a stroke. Director: Bill Condon. Stars: Ian McKellen, Brendan Fraser, Lynn Redgrave, Lolita Davidovich, David Dukes. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: NR, 105 min., Drama, Box office gross: $5.541 million, Universal. DVD: Day & Date.
Goodbye, Lover Talented cast and director couldn't save this muddled affair about pair of ad-agency brothers (Don Johnson and Dermot Mulroney), the younger brother's wife (Patricia Arquette), murder, sex, double and triple crosses and a serial killer named The Doctor. Ellen DeGeneres is terrific as a cop investigating murders. Director: Roland Joffe. Stars: Patricia Arquette, Dermot Mulroney, Don Johnson, Mary-Louise Parker, Ellen DeGeneres. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 102 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $1.923 million, Warner. DVD: Day & Date.
Governess, The Sweeping story of a young Jewish woman in mid-19th century England who leaves her London life and reinvents herself as a governess in Scotland when her father is murdered and her family dissolves. In this new environment, she blossoms, returning to London years later a new woman. Director: Sandra Goldbacher. Stars: Minnie Driver, Tom Wilkinson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 114 min., Drama, Box office gross: $3.708 million, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
Great Mouse Detective, The Re-issue of the Disney animated adventure about super mouse sleuth Basil of Baker Street who matches wits with notorious villain Professor Ratigan. Score by Henry Mancini. Director: John Musker & Ron Clements. Voices of Vincent Price, Alan Young, Barrie Ingham. 1986, CC, MPAA rating: G, 80 min., Animated, Disney, $26.99 SRP.
Happiest Millionaire, The Disney musical about the wild goings-on in the house of an eccentric millionaire (Fred MacMurray). Tommy Steele is a recently arrived butler who has to put up with all sorts of nonsense; Greer Garson is mom; Lesley Ann Warren is the young daughter. Available in roadshow widescreen (with overture and intermission music), widescreen and full frame editions. Director: Norman Tokar. Stars: Fred MacMurray, Tommy Steele, Greer Garson, Geraldine Page, Lesley Ann Warren, John Davidson. 1967, CC, MPAA rating: NR, 144 min., Musical, Anchor Bay, $14.98 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Happiness Exploration into the unhappy lives of a variety of very unhappy denizens of New Jersey, with a black and bleakly comedic look at sexual mores, fantasies and failures -- a decidedly downer of a film but brilliant in its descent into hell. Director: Todd Solondz. Stars: Jane Adams, Lara Flynn Boyle, Cynthia Stevenson, Dylan Baker, Ben Gazzara, Camryn Manheim. 1998, CC, MPAA Rating: NC-17, 134 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $2.746 million, Trimark. DVD: Day & Date.
Harmonists, The True story of German a capella group in 1920s Germany and their rise to fame and fall in the shadow of the ascendancy of the Nazi. Director: Joseph Vilsmaier. Stars: Ben Becker, Heino Ferch, Ulrich Noethen, Heinrich Schafmeister, Max Tidof. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 114 min., Drama, Box office gross: $0.479 million, Miramax. DVD: Day & Date.
Haunting, The Lackluster remake of classic Robert Wise 1963 film, based on Shirley Jackson's book, about people investigating an evil house that comes alive and terrorizes them. The original was truly scary in its subtlety; here there's a muddled plot, overdone special effects. Director: Jan De Bont. Stars: Lili Taylor, Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bruce Dern, Virginia Madsen. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 117 min., Horror, Box office gross: $89.600 million, DreamWorks. DVD: Day & Date.
Heaven or Vegas Romantic drama about Vegas call-girl and high-class gigolo who meet and fall and love, take off for a fairy tale existence in Montana, along the way getting involved with psychotic strangers. Director: Gregory C. Haynes. Stars: Richard Grieco, Yasmine Bleeth. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 110 min., Drama, Columbia TriStar.
Henry Fool Art-house critical success about unassuming garbage man who supports his depressed mother and oversexed sister who overcomes low self-esteem when he's tutored by a degenerate, would-be intellectual/novelist who takes up residence in the family basement. Naturally the garbage man's subsequent book-length poem outshines the work of his mentor. Director: Hal Hartley. Stars: Parker Posey, James Urbaniak, Kevin Corrigan, Maria Porter. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 137 min., Drama, Box office gross: $1.334 million, Columbia TriStar.
Hi-Lo Country, The Modern Western about two brothers who return to New Mexico after WWII and try to build a life as cowboys raising cattle. But their womanizing, drinking and brawling ignites a powderkeg of anger and violence. Director: Stephen Frears. Stars: Billy Crudup, Woody Harrelson, Cole Hauser, Patricia Arquette, Sam Elliott. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 115 min., Drama, Box office gross: $0.163 million, PolyGram. DVD: Day & Date.
Hideous Kinky A young mother and her two daughters escape gray London for exotic adventures in Morocco. Director: Gillies Mackinnon. Stars: Kate Winslet, Said Taghmaoui. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 99 min., Drama, Box office gross: $1.262 million, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
Hilary and Jackie Touching, insightful story of Jacqueline and Hilary du Pre, gifted musical sisters who grew up in England in the 1950s. Treated as musical royalty, the constant touring eventually took a toll on their lives. Director: Anand Tucker. Stars: Emily Watson, Rachel Griffiths, David Morrissey. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 124 min., Bio-Drama, Box office gross: $4.874 million, PolyGram. DVD: Day & Date.
Holy Man Lackluster comedy has Eddie Murphy star as an inspirational guru who moves from the streets to television to become an over-the-top marketing genius, taking a home shopping network -- and the country -- by storm. Stars: Eddie Murphy, Jeff Goldblum, Kelly Preston. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: PG, min., Comedy, Box office gross: $12.065 million, Buena Vista. DVD: Day & Date.
Home Fries Dark comedy that takes a satirical (but affectionate) look at middle America. Plot revolves around a pregnant fast-food worker who's lover is "murdered" by his wronged wife and stepsons. Afraid she knows that they did dad in, one son infiltrates the burger stand to find out what she knows, but instead of getting rid of her he starts to fall for her. Director: Dean Parisot. Stars: Drew Barrymore, Catherine O'Hara, Luke Wilson, Jake Busey, Shelley Duvall. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 94 min., Black comedy, Box office gross: $10.307 million, Warner. DVD: Day & Date.
How Stella Got Her Groove Back Spicey, touching romance about a 40-year-old black woman's (Angela Bassett) middle-life crisis and her trip to Jamaica with her best friend (Whoopi Goldberg) to rekindle her love life. Based on the best-selling Terry McMillan novel. Director: Kevin Rodney Sullivan. Stars: Angela Bassett, Whoopi Goldberg, Taye Diggs, Regina King, Suzzanne Douglas. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 125 min., Drama, Box office gross: $37.279 million, Fox. DVD: January 26.
HurlyBurly Sean Penn and Kevin Spacey play a pair of cynical and malicious casting agents whose fractured lives affect all those around them in this acerbic play by David Rabe. Director: Anthony Drazan. Stars: Sean Penn, Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright Penn, Meg Ryan, Anna Paquin, Chazz Palminteri, Garry Shandling. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 126 min., Drama, Box office gross: $1.796 million, New Line. DVD: Day & Date.
Husbands John Cassavetes' involving look at three middle-aged men who take a vacation from their routine suburban lives following the death of a mutual friend. A brilliant, though oftimes slow-paced, study of mid-life angst and renewal. Director: John Cassavetes. Stars: John Cassavetes, Ben Gazzara, Peter Falk. 1970, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 140 min., Drama, Columbia TriStar, $19.95 SRP.
I Still Know What You Did Last Summer Weak sequel to the smash horror hit of 1997, this one has the survivor of the original's bloodbath taking a holiday to the Bahamas with some friends a year later, only to be confronted again by the crazed murderer. Way, way derivative. Director: Danny Cannon. Stars: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Freddie Prinze Jr., Brandy, Muse Watson, Mekhi Phifer. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 100 min., Horror, Box office gross: $39.842 million, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
I Want You Desolate drama about a young boy and his sister lured into one man's obsessive pursuit of his former lover. Director: Michael Winterbottom. Stars: Rachel Weisz, Alessandro Nivola, Luka Petrusic, Labina Mitevska. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 87 min., Drama, USA Home Entertainment.
Idle Hands Teen horror comedy about a channel-surfing, junk food-munching slacker whose hand is possessed by the devil. Director: Rodman Flender. Stars: Devon Sawa, Seth Green, Jessica Alba, Elden Henson, Vivaca A. Fox. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 92 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $4.002 million, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
Impostors, The Two out of work actors end up becomming stowaways on an an ocean liner bound for Europe, wreaking havoc with crew and passengers alike as they evade the authorities and foil the bomb plot of a deranged crewman in this Marx Bros.-type slapstick. Director: Stanley Tucci. Stars: Stanley Tucci, Oliver Platt, Alfred Molina, Campbell Scott, Tony Shalhoub, Lily Taylor. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 101 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $2.197 million, Fox. DVD: Day & Date.
In Dreams Misfired thriller about a woman who has prescient dreams foreshadowing the murder of her daughter and somehow has her mind melded with the serial killer. Seemingly off the deep end, she's thrown into the exact same loony bin that housed the killer years earlier and -- well, there's too much coincidental action here to make this outing very involving. Director: Neil Jordan. Stars: Annette Bening, Robert Downey Jr., Stephen Rea, Aidan Quinn, Paul Guilfoyle. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 100 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $11.347 million, DreamWorks.
Insomnia Brooding, absorbing police thriller about a brilliant but arrogant detective sent to remote Northern Norway to solve a murder. When he tries to cover-up the accidental shooting of his partner, he comes under scrutiny by a suspicious female detective. As the case progresses, he falls deeper and deeper in a torturous world of guilt and insomnia. Director: Erik Skjoldbjaerg. Stars: Stellan Skarsgard, Sverre Anker Ousdal, Bjorn Floberg. 1997, CC, MPAA rating: NR, 97 min., Thriller, Home Vision, $29.95 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Inspector Gadget Based on the 1980s cartoon series, this kiddy comedy revolves around the transformation of a bumbling security guard into a super-scientific police robot, Inspector Gadget, whose hands and head sprout utensils (helicopter blades). For kids only. Director: David Kellogg. Stars: Matthew Broderick, Joely Fisher, Rupert Everett, Michelle Trachtenberg, Andy Dick, Dabney Coleman. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 78 min., Family, Box office gross: $87.554 million, Disney, $24.99 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Instinct Weird thriller about the attempt at rehabilitating a brilliant primatologist who ostensibly went mad after living in the wild with mountain gorillas. Anthony Hopkins puts in a chilling turn as the caged scientist and Cuba Gooding Jr. plays the shrink who tries to cure him. Director: Jon Turteltaub. Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Cuba Gooding Jr., Donald Sutherland, Maura Tierney, George Dzundza, John Ashton. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 123 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $33.648 million, Buena Vista. DVD: Day & Date.
Invasion Earth Three volume set of the big budget Sci-Fi Channel miniseries, which aired in December, about the Earth caught in the crossfire of an interplanetary war. Stars: Fred Ward, Vincent Regan, Maggie O'Neill, Phyllis Logan. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: NR, 207 min., Science Fiction, BBC Video, $39.98 SRP.
Iron Giant, The Well-executed, fanciful adaptation of British poet laureate Ted Hughes' children's book about a metal giant from outer space who is befriended by a young boy, set in 1957 during the height of the cold war. Director: Brad Bird. Voices of Eli Marienthal, Vin Diesel, Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick Jr., Christopher McDonald. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 86 min., Animated, Box office gross: $20.700 million, Warner, $22.95 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Jack Frost Sentimental, affectionate family film about an up-and-coming rock star who juggles career and fatherhood and doesn't spend as much time with his boy as he should. When he's killed in a car accident, he comes back as a snowman, nurturing his wife and son. Director: Troy Miller. Stars: Michael Keaton, Kelly Preston, Joseph Cross, Mark Addy. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 108 min., Family, Box office gross: $34.600 million, Warner, $19.96 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Jackie Chan's Who Am I? Hong Kong actioner with Jackie Chan as sole survivor of commando raid on a secret high tech weapons research lab in the African jungle. With total amnesia, Chan must return to civilization to answer the question, Who Am I? Director: Jackie Chan and Benny Chan. Stars: Jackie Chan 1998, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 108 min., Action, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
Jawbreaker Dark comedy about the plight of the most popular girls at Reagan High as they try to cover up the death of the sweetest member of the clique when she's accidently killed as part of an innocent birthday party prank. Like wow, for party girls only. Director: Darren Stein. Stars: Rose McGowan, Rebecca Gayheart, Julie Benz, Pam Grier, Carol Kane, Judy Greer. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 87 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $3.071 million, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
John Carpenter's Vampires Violent modern day vampire saga about a contingent of "religious" mercenaries who hunt down the nightstalkers with modern weapons to stop 600-year-old Master Vamp Valek from implementing a ritual which will give the ghouls omnipotent daylight power. Director: John Carpenter. Stars: James Woods, Daniel Baldwin, Sheryl Lee. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 108 min., Horror, Box office gross: $19.915 million, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
Judas Kiss A police investigation into the kidnapping of a computer mogul that ended with the accidental murder of the wife of a powerful senator uncovers not-so accidental motives in high political places. Director: Sebastian Gutirrez. Stars: Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Hal Holbrook. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 108 min., Thriller, Columbia TriStar.
Just the Ticket Mangled comedy about a streetwise New York ticket scalper whose girlfriend dumps him because she sees no future in their relationship and his lifestyle. Trying to make one big score, he tries to sew up tickets to the Pope's Easter Mass visit, but gets stymied when his archival beats him to it. Now he must struggle to make his score and get his girl back. Director: Richard Wenk. Stars: Andy Garcia, Andie MacDowell, Richard Bradford, Elizabeth Ashley, Andre Blake. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 105 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $0.427 million, MGM. DVD: Day & Date.
King and I, The Animated version of Rodgers and Hammerstein classic about an attractive English widow who travels to Siam in 1862 to become the proper governess for the king's royal children. Great songs: "Shall We Dance" and "Getting to Know You" among them. Stars: Voices of Miranda Richardson, Martin Vidnovic, Ian Richardson, Darrell Hammond. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: G, 87 min., Animated, Box office gross: $11.000 million, Warner, $22.95 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Knocks at My Door Venezuelan political thriller about a pair of nuns who harbor a rebel fugitive and who become pawns in the rivalry between Church and State when they're found out. Tense and stirring. In Spanish with English subtitles. Director: Alejandro Saderman. 1993, CC, MPAA rating: NR, 105 min., Foreign, Fox Lorber.
Kurt and Courtney Disturbing, lurid documentary that probes the life and death of alternative rock group Nirvana's Kurt Cobain. Did he really commit suicide or was there something more sinister involved? Director: Nick Broomfield. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 95 min., Documentary, Box office gross: $0.600 million, BMG.
La Sentinelle Psychological thriller about a medical student on his way to Paris who discovers a shrunken human head in one of his bags. He doesn't know how it got there, but he becomes fascinated and obsessed with it until it takes over his life. In French with English subtitles. Director: Arnaud Desplechin. Stars: Emmanuel Salinger, Marianne Denicourt, Thibault De Montalembert. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: NR, 144 min., Thriller, Fox Lorber. DVD: Day & Date.
La Separation Intense French drama about the breakup of a stale marriage. Pierre illustrates a children's book at home while Anne goes to work each day. When Anne suddenly announces she loves another, Pierre suffers a quiet breakdown, losing his wife and their beloved 15-month-old son. Director: Christian Vincent. Stars: Isabelle Huppert, Daniel Auteuil. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: NR, 85 min., Drama, Box office gross: $.010 million, Fox Lorber. DVD: Day & Date.
Labyrinth Story of a young girl (Jennifer Connelly) who must enter the remarkable world of the Labyrinth to rescue her baby brother who was kidnapped by Jareth the Goblin King (David Bowie). Though there's an imaginative plot and great creatures, the movie bogs down in its story telling. With behind-the-scenes featurette, never-before-seen footage. Director: Jim Henson. Stars: Jennifer Connelly, David Bowie 1986, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 102 min., Children, Columbia TriStar, $14.95 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Lansky HBO dramatization of the life of Meyer Lansky, the mastermind behind Murder Inc. and the man who put the organization into organized crime. Director: John McNaughton. Stars: Richard Dreyfuss, Eric Roberts, Illeana Douglas, Beverly D'Angelo, Anthony LaPaglia. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, Drama, HBO Video.
Last Days, The Academy Award-winning documentary presented by Steven Spielberg and the Shoah Foundation about victims of the Holocaust. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 87 min., Documentary, PolyGram.
Last Rites TV thriller about a serial killer who gains lifesaving psychic powers after being spared the electric chair by a freak accident, and the shrink who fights for his freedom. Stars: Randy Quaid, Embeth Davidtz. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 88 min., Thriller, Universal.
Legionnaire This direct-to-video big budget Jean-Claude Van Damme starrer follows the adventures of a French boxer when he enlists in the French Foreign Legion and fights tribesmen in Morocco in the 1920s. Director: Peter MacDonald. Stars: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Steven Berkoff, Jim Carter, Nicolas Farrell. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: NR, 99 min., Action-Adventure, Sterling Home Entertainment. DVD: Day & Date.
Life Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence play a pair of losers -- Murphy a small-time hustler, Lawrence an aspiring bank teller -- who get involved in bootlegging in 1932 Mississippi and are wrongly convicted of murder. The film follows their 60-year jail sentence and their never-ceasing friendship. Director: Ted Demme. Stars: Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 108 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $63.844 million, Universal. DVD: Day & Date.
Life Is Beautiful (La Vita e Bella) Academy Award-winning (Best Actor, Foreign Film, Score) comedy-drama about the Holocaust with Robert Benigni directing and starring as a bookshop owner who must use his bold imagination and spirit to save the ones he loves. Director: Roberto Benigni. Stars: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 114 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $50.013 million, Miramax. Subtitled and dubbed versions. DVD: Day & Date.
Limbo Moody John Sayles exploration about losers in Alaska whose desolate lives correspond to the wilds of that beautiful Northern country, revolving around a fisherman traumatized by a boat accident years before and an unlucky-at-love bar singer. Director: John Sayles. Stars: Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, David Strathairn, Vanessa Martinez, Kris Kristofferson, Casey Siemaszko. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 127 min., Drama, Box office gross: $1.997 million, Columbia TriStar. DVD: Day & Date.
Little Voice Pleasing comedy about a working class girl who barely talks but can sing up a storm, recapturing the personas of Garland, Dietrich, Bassey and Monroe, and the effect on her life and her boozy mother's life when she's discovered by a sleazy agent. Director: Mark Herman. Stars: Michael Caine, Brenda Blethyn, Ewan McGregor, Jane Horrocks. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 99 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $4.464 million, Miramax.
Living Out Loud Pair of losers -- Holly Hunter as the spurned/divorced wife of philandering surgeon, Danny DeVito a schlub of an apartment doorman -- move through post-marriage life rudderless, isolated and alone, until the unlikely lovers come together. Thoughtful, mature relationship film. Director: Richard LaGravenese. Stars: Danny DeVito, Holly Hunter, Queen Latifah, Richard Schiff, Elias Koteas. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 103 min., Romantic comedy, Box office gross: $12.708 million, New Line. DVD: Day & Date.
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels Kind of a "Reservoir Dogs" meets "Trainspotting" in the East End of London, about four mates who get set up in a card game and lose $800,000 to local mobster. Plenty of sleaze, blastings, venalties and bloodshed, all in an almost incomprehensible East End dialect. Director: Guy Ritchie. Stars: Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran, Jason Statham. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 108 min., Comedy-Thriller, Box office gross: $3.714 million, PolyGram. DVD: Day & Date.
Lolita Showtime's reworking of Nabokov's classic novel (and a classic film by Stanley Kubrick). Director: Adrian Lyne. Stars: Jeremy Irons, Melanie Griffith, Frank Langella, Dominique Swain. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 137 min., Drama, Trimark, $14.99 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Loss of Sexual Innocence, The Interconnected short stories that form a sexual/psychological portrait of a man, from his earliest experiences at age 5, through his adolescence (12), teen years (16) and then finally as a grown man. An idiosyncratic outing by director Mike Figgis. Director: Mike Figgis. Stars: Julian Sands, Saffron Burrows, Stefano Dionisi, Kelly McDonald. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 101 min., Drama, Box office gross: $0.299 million, Columbia TriStar. DVD: December 7.
Lost and Found Dumb, adolescent comedy about goofball (David Spade) who tries to win the affection of his attractive neighbor (Sophie Marceau) by kidnapping her dog. Director: Jeff Pollack. Stars: David Spade, Sophie Marceau, Patrick Bruel, Artie Lange. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 99 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $6.545 million, Warner. DVD: Day & Date.
Love Letter, The A mysterious unsigned love letter upsets the status quo in a sleepy New England town, unlocking startling secrets and changing the lives of everyone it touches. American debut of Hong Kong director Peter Ho-sun Chan. Director: Peter Ho-Sun Chan. Stars: Kate Capshaw, Blythe Danner, Ellen DeGeneres, Tom Selleck, Tom Everett Scott. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, min., Drama, Box office gross: $8.300 million, DreamWorks. DVD: Day & Date.
Lulu on the Bridge Off-beat thriller about hip jazz saxophonist Izzy Maurer (Harvey Keitel) and the weird world he enters when he's hit by a stray bullet, ending his musical career. After he recovers, Izzy stumbles upon a murdered man in an ally and finds a strange stone that glows in the dark and brings intense pleasure to whomever holds it. A phone number on a napkin leads him to Celia (Mira Sorvino), who becomes his true love. Soon events get more bizarre as a group of ruthless murderers come after the pair, demanding the stone back. Worth a peek. Director: Paul Auster. Stars: Harvey Keitel, Mira Sorvino, Willem Dafoe, Gina Gershon, Mandy Patinkin, Vanessa Redgrave. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 103 min., Thriller, Trimark. DVD: Day & Date.
Madeline: Lost in Paris Direct-to-video original production based on Ludwig Bemelman's endearing character; here Madeline is whisked away from Miss Clavell's school by a "long-lost uncle" who turns out to be a henchman for the evil Miss La Croque, who forces orphan girls to make lace in a factory. Voices of Jason Alexander, Lauren Bacall, Christopher Plummer. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: NR, Animated, Disney, $22.99 SRP.
Mafia Typical Jim ("Hot Shots") Abrahams spoof, this time taking pot shots at the Mafia in a rough take-off "The Godfather." Swan song for the late-Lloyd Bridges. Director: Jim Abrahams. Stars: Lloyd Bridges, Olympia Dukakis, Christina Applegate, Jay Mohr. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 87 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $19.847 million, Buena Vista. DVD: Feb. 9.
Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human Mock documentary, "filmed" by extraterrestrials, that examines the mating habits of Earthlings as exemplified by the relationship between one human man (MacKenzie Astin) and one human female (Carmen Electra). Narrated by David Hyde Pierce. Director: Jeff Abugov. Stars: MacKenzie Astin, Carmen Electra, Lucy Liu. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 90 min., Comedy, Columbia TriStar.
Matrix, The Bizarre and totally absorbing virtual reality thriller about humans being manipulated by a future machine intelligence to believe they are living in the late-20th century -- when they are in fact bred in vats as batteries to create the energy of the Matrix, the computer net that strings the world together. Story revolves around a group of revolutionaries who chose computer geek Neo (Keanu Reeves) as the "one" to overthrow the machines and break down the veil of the Matrix's virtual reality. Astounding special effects and believable story line makes this one of the best sci-fi films to come down the pike in years (despite Reeves' acting). In widescreen and pan-and- scan. Sell-through edition available December 7 for $14.98. Director: The Wachowski Brothers. Stars: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 136 min., Science Fiction, Box office gross: $170.00 million, Warner. DVD: Day & Date.
Meet Joe Black Loose remake of "Death Takes a Holiday," with Pitt as the personification of death come to visit a media tycoon (Hopkins), who's on the verge of a heart attack. The otherworldly presence sticks around to savor life, while giving the businessman a sense of his importance. Matters become even more complicated when Death falls for the mogul's daughter. Way too long, way too overblown. In widescreen and pan-and-scan. Director: Martin Brest. Stars: Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Jeffrey Tambor, Claire Forlani, Marcia Gay Harden. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 180 min., Drama, Box office gross: $44.522 million, Universal. DVD: Day & Date.
Mercenary 2: Thick and Thin Pair of mercenaries discover they've been set up when they agree to rescue a captured man from the jungles of Central America. Stars: Robert Townsend, Nicholas Turturro, Olivier Gruner. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, Action, Buena Vista.
Message in a Bottle Lackluster romance about a lovelorn journalist (Robin Wright Penn) who tracks down the writer (Kevin Costner) of a romantic note she finds in a bottle washed up on the beach, setting off a long-distance romance. Director: Luis Mandoki. Stars: Kevin Costner, Robin Wright Penn, Paul Newman, John Savage, Illeana Douglas, Robbie Coltrane. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 126 min., Romance, Box office gross: $52.799 million, Warner. DVD: Day & Date.
Metroland Spurred on by the '60s, boyhood friends escape the dull life of their hometown Metroland. But nine years later, one returns to find the other living the life they dreaded -- married and settled. His goal -- do anything to free his friend from the Metroland existence. Director: Philip Saville. Stars: Christian Bale, Emily Watson, Lee Ross. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 105 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $0.299 million, Universal.
Mickey Blue Eyes When an Englishman who runs a New York auction house (the likeable Hugh Grant) proposes marriage to his girlfriend of three months, he discovers that he'll be marrying into the mob. From there on out its downhill for this faltering comedy. Director: Kelly Makin. Stars: Hugh Grant, James Caan, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Burt Young, James Fox. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 103 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $32.100 million, Warner. DVD: Day & Date.
William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream The Bard's comedy about star-crossed lovers, feuding sprites and a love potion gone awry, shifted to Tuscany at the end of the 19th century, with an all-star cast. Director: Michael Hoffman. Stars: Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Everett, Stanley Tucci, Calista Flockhart. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 115 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $16.000 million, Fox. DVD: Day & Date.
Mighty, The Story revolves around the friendship between two teen boys -- one a big, quiet, slow learner, the other bright but physically handicapped -- and how they pool their strengths to achieve self-esteem and popularity in spite of their outcast status. Director: Peter Chelsolm. Stars: Elden Henson, Kieran Culkin, Sharon Stone, Gena Rowlands, Gillian Anderson. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 100 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $2.643 million, Miramax.
Mighty Joe Young Remake of the 1949 classic about a giant but kindly, friendly gorilla who's brought from Africa to the States to be put on display by greedy entrepreneurs. This version is updated to include nasty poachers, a theme park where Joe is supposed to be on exhibit, and the delightful Charlize Theron as Joe's companion. Director: Ron Underwood. Stars: Charlize Theron, Bill Paxton, Rade Sherbedgia, Peter Firth, David Paymer. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 115 min., Adventure, Box office gross: $45.000 million, Buena Vista, $24.99 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Mod Squad, The Updating of 1960s-70s TV cop drama about group of hip teens in trouble with the law who are given the opportunity to escape their sentences by working as undercover cops. Wasn't very cool then and certainly isn't cool now. Director: Scott Silver. Stars: Claire Danes, Giovanni Ribisi, Omar Epps, Denis Farina. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 92 min., Action, Box office gross: $13.249 million, MGM. DVD: Day & Date.
Monument Avenue Depressing tale of petty Irish criminals in the working class section of Boston. Director: Ted Demme. Stars: Denis Leary, Martin Sheen, Billy Crudup, Colm Meany, Famke Janssen. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: R, 94 min., Drama, Box office gross: $0.332 million, Miramax.
Mother and the Whore, The Classic of latter-day New Wave filmmaking about a self-indulgent student and his relationships with both his lover and another woman who enters his bed; a lengthy but masterful diatribe on how power (sexual and political) emanates in society. Director: Jean Eustache. Stars: Bernadette LaFont, Jean-Pierre Leaud, Francoise Lebrun. 1973, MPAA rating: NR, 210 min., Drama, New Yorker.
Mulan Disney's best animated musical since "The Lion King," this one clicks for all the right reasons: fine songs, luscious animation, luminous story (about a Chinese girl who saves her kingdom from invading Huns) and characters you can care about. Director: Barry Cook, Tony Bancroft. Voices of Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, B.D. Wong, Donny Osmond, Harvey Fierstein, Gedde Watanabe. 1998, CC, MPAA rating: G, 82 min., Animated, Box office gross: $120.387 million, Walt Disney, $26.99 SRP. DVD: no.
Mummy, The Boris Karloff plays Im-Ho-Tepp, a 3,700-year-old Egyptian mummy accidentally brought back to life when a British archaeology team discovers an ancient tomb in the desert. Digitally remastered with original trailer to tie-in with this summer's remake starring Brendan Fraser. Director: Karl Freud. Stars: Boris Karloff, Zita Johann, David Manners, Edward Van Sloan. 1932, CC, MPAA rating: NR, 74 min., Horror, Universal, $14.98 SRP.
Mummy, The Delightfully entertaining horror adventure thriller (with great touches of comedy/whimsy) about a beautiful librarian (radiant Rachel Weisz) who searches for the Egyptian City of Dead with a reluctant hero (Brendan Fraser). Great effects, a thrill-every-minute. Widescreen and pan-and- scan. Director: Stephen Sommers. Stars: Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, Arnold Vosloo, John Hannah, Kevin J. O'Connor. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 125 min., Horror, Box office gross: $154.000 million, Universal, $22.98 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Muppets From Space Latest installment in Muppet adventures (can it really be 20 years since The Muppet Movie?) has Muppet Gonzo believing aliens like himself are bent on invading the Earth. Live appearances by Jeffrey Tambor, Andie MacDowell, F. Murray Abraham, David Arquette and Ray Liotta. Director: Tim Hill. Stars: Voices of Dave Goelz, Steve Witmire, Bill Barretta, Frank Oz. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: G, 88 min., Children, Box office gross: $16.000 million, Columbia TriStar, $21.95 SRP. DVD: Day & Date.
Murder of Crows, A A disbarred lawyer (Cuba Gooding Jr.) in Key West comes across a dead man's manuscript -- a murder novel -- submits it as his own, and becomes a celebrity -- until it turns out that the murders depicted in the story are real, and he must prove his innocence. Direct-to-video. Stars: Cuba Gooding Jr., Tom Berenger, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Eric Stoltz. 1999, CC, MPAA rating: R, 102 min., Thriller, Sterling Home Entertainment. DVD: Day & Date. <