Producer-director-screenwriter Sofia Coppola's story of a declining American movie star's visit to Japan fails to entertain. "Lost in Translation" is typical art house cinema material that is slow-moving and dull and falls short in the storyline department. Bill Murray stars in the [..]
Hollywood Homicide (2003)
Producer-director-screenwriter Ron Shelton ("Bull Durham" 1988) put together a witty comedy called "Hollywood Homicide." It is the humorous story of an LAPD homicide detective who moonlights as a real estate agent. The script that Shelton co-wrote with Robert Souza is full of laughs and funny situations. [..]
The Mother (2003)
"The Mother" is a superior soap opera about a middle-aged English woman who moves in with her daughter after the death of her husband. Some of the ups and downs prove quite interesting, thanks to expert direction by Roger Mitchell ("Notting Hill" 1999) and the lean screenplay [..]
Something’s Gotta Give (2003)
"Something's Gotta Give" is typical Nancy Meyers formula romantic comedy fare. There are all of the expected laughs for the big stars of the show, starting with Jack Nicholson, who is in his usual form as a 60-something dating 29-year-old Amanda Peet. They go to her [..]
Paycheck (2003)
"Paycheck" is a fast-moving science fiction action film about a reverse engineer who performs work on sensitive projects, and undergoes a memory wipe to protect his clients' intellectual property. Producer-director John Woo ("Windtalkers" 2002) and screenwriter Dean Georgaris deserve credit for making an evenly paced movie with [..]
Mafia Doctor (2003)
"Mafia Doctor" is a superior mob picture, starring Danny Nucci as a doctor whose education was paid for by a Mafia don, played by Paul Sorvino. In exchange, he is expected to take care of the medical needs of the mobsters. Nucci's character has a crisis [..]
Mambo Italiano (2003)
"Mambo Italiano" is a comedy-drama film from Canadian director Emile Gaudreault that tells the story of a young man revealing to his traditional Italian parents that he is gay. The screenplay, written by Gaudreault with Steve Galluccio, is the basis of this predicable culture clash movie that [..]
Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune (2003)
"Frank Herbert's Children of Dune" is a worthy sequel to 2000's "Frank Herbert's Dune." Both miniseries were broadcast on the SciFi Channel, among the highest rated shows ever on that cable television network. Director Greg Yaitanes and teleplay author John Harrison continue the high-quality production values [..]
Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt (2003)
Adam West, Burt Ward, and some of the cast of the original "Batman" television series reunite in "Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt." This made-for-television movie, aired on CBS in March, 2003, has West and Ward going in search of the stolen Batmobile, [..]
DC 9/11: Time of Crisis (2003)
"DC 9/11: Time of Crisis" is a comprehensive look at the behind-the-scenes goings-on in the George W. Bush Administration during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Producer-screenwriter Lionel Chetwynd and director Brian Trenchard-Smith put together this well-paced 127 minute made-for-television movie that aired on Showtime on September [..]