The Unusual Suspects
With Rita Kempley
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 25, 2003; 2 p.m. ET It's Friday afternoon and you can almost taste the popcorn. Whether you're planning to hit the theater or your local video store, Rita's here to help you wade through the sea of choices. It's also your chance to be a movie critic. Share your picks and pans, and tell us how things would be different if you ran Hollywood. Who would you cast in your movies and why? A transcript follows. Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Arlington, Va.: Rita, is there any way to find out what kind of sunglasses Colin Farrell was wearing in "Phone Booth?" They were snazzy. BTW, "Phone Booth" was an OK movie, but the ending sucked. Rita Kempley: Hi Arlington: They are sure to mention the company who supplied the glasses in the credits toward the end of the end. It's probably Ray-Bans, who provided shades for MIB 1 and 2 and Risky Business.
Peoples' Republic: Rita Regina, two questions today. First, how can anyone review "Confidence" without mentioning the most recent easily comparable film, the very fine "Nine Queens" from Argentina? Both your compadres (I avoid the word peers for obvious reasons) SH and DH managed to do so, although they did cite "House of Games", a personal fave. Secondly, why oh why are we being subjected to Rachel Weisz yet again? I mean, Colin Farrell in every movie, I can understand. The man can't say three words on his own without two of them being "fook", but he can act. But Rachel Weisz? The girl is a young Demi Moore without the depth and talent, and I mean that in the nastiest possible way. Rant over. Have a nice weekend! Rita Kempley: Hi Peoples' Republic:
I wish I knew what went through my compadres' minds -- no, I take that back -- but you have a good point. Rachel Weisz is Demi's replacement. As films get dumber, so does the eye candy. Thanks for the rant.
Ada Bloom at Cold Comfort Farm: I saw something NASTY in the woodshed! Rita Kempley: Ah. Do you think I might something similar if I were to look in my tiny, urban tool shed?
Frederick, Md.: Rita, my daughter dragged me to see "Holes". I thought it would be one of those dreadful Disney family movies. Was I wrong! What a cool film. Interesting story, interesting characters. John Voight was fabulous. He deserves an Oscar nomination. Rita Kempley: Yes, as good as the Iron Giant at the least. Has your daughter read the book? I''m afraid the Academites won't remember anything that comes before December 15.
Mister Jimmy: Rita, we missed you last session. Which summer release are you most looking forward to? Legally Blonde II is at the top of my list. From the trailer, even that loveable Broozer is back. P.S. -- Miss Edie just made my day. She's tending bar tomorrow as a fill-in and she's showing my favorite movie from last year, "About A Boy." It's nice to see that she still cares after all these years! Rita Kempley: Mister Jimmy: I missed you, too. It was just that I couldn't move my right arm--two herniated discs and a pinched nerve. I, too, am looking forward to another brush with the Blonde. It looks as if she'll be solving cases with the help from the stylists at the salon once again.
Miss Edie, what a sweetheart: "About the Boy" is one of my all time favorites. Enjoy.
Tenleytown, Washington, D.C.: Dear Rita: Several sessions ago, someone asked you about a good reading selection to help them understand the craft of movie making. There is a terrific book -- now out of print -- called The Art of Alfred Hitchcock by Donald Spoto that analyzes each one of Hitchcock's films as to how he used all the technical resources at hand to manipulate the viewer. We would watch the film and then read the chapter relating to the film, which many times led us to watch the film all over again. Not only are many of Hitchcock's films wonderful in their own right, but the manner in which the camera angles, music, symbolic images were portrayed is itself a truly astonishing feat. The downside is that it also makes you realize how much pap and crap there is masquerading as movies. Hopefully it is available used. Rita Kempley: Dear Tenleytown: Thanks for the suggestion. Maybe there are still copies available in the library.
Mighty Wind: Yes? No? Maybe? Rita Kempley: Definitely, with a caveat. Most people who are too young to remember the folk era don't really get the movie. I couldn't stop laughing. And my husband and I can't stop singing the Folksman top hit, "Eat at Oes."
Herndon, Va.: OUR GLORIOUS SPRING QUEEN: Your majesty, is a movie ever "held back" because of Oscar considerations? Let's say the producer and director believe they've got something special, and decide to hold off on the release from the spring of the year to at least autumn, if not later. I assume the money folks would go crazy, but maybe a shot at some Oscars would be worth it. Steve Rita Kempley: Yes, it happens all the time. And of course, it depends on the tone and the competition.
Mr. Washington, D.C.: Ms. K -- If Rachel Weisz is talentless eye candy, why did she not offend you into disliking "About A Boy"? I found her more than adequate in that fine, fine film. Rita Kempley: Did I say talentless? I didn't think much was required of her in that picture. Besides, what's wrong with eye candy, Mr. Washington, D.C.
Amazon.com FYI: The Art of Alfred Hitchcock: Fifty Years of His Motion Pictures by Donald Spoto (Paperback -- January 1992) $13.97. Rita Kempley: Thanks for the info.
Sir Synergy: If I'm not mistaken, Gangs of New York was delayed for Oscar consideration. That really really worked out for all involved, huh? Rita Kempley: If memory serves (and it is doing less so these days) there was a fuss over Miramax releasing Gangs and Chicago at the same time.
MagnoliaGuy, Alex., Va.: Queen, any advance buzz from the critics on X-Men 2? Even us Paul Thomas Anderson fans love a good comic book movie now and again. Rita Kempley: MagnoliaGuy: I saw it Tuesday and it is spectacular. I wasn't wild about the first one, but X-2 features so marvelous new characters -- a Wagnerian angel-bat inclined to Biblical quotations -- and the new blue shape-shifter. Pace fleet, effects superb and the plot intriguing.
Miss Edie: Hello Rita! I'll be pouring the drinks at Zack's (613 Penn Ave, SE) tomorrow from 5 till 9. The movie (About a Boy) will start promptly at 5:30. You and all the Unusual Suspects are more than welcome. I'll make a nice pie. Rita Kempley: Hi sweetie. I just might wander over. Is there a dress code? Mumus or have you moved on. Is it an American Pie?
Inglorious Woodbridge, Va.: In my travels, I missed the reviews of "Bend It Like Beckham." Can you give your mini-review? Rita Kempley: I adore this movie. It just plain makes you feel good. you needn't know a thing about soccer, which the heroine plays despite her conservative Indian have forbidden her to do.
Mr. Washington, D.C.: I apologize; you did not say "talentless." "Dumber" than Demi Moore was your assessment. And I admit -- she 'wasn't' asked to do anything in "About A Boy," and my biggest problem with the film was not being able to go on Will's "ride" of falling in love with her character. NEW QUESTION: When was the last time you took that ride and fell in love with a film character right along with the film's protagonist? What film, what character? Thank you. P.S. Eye Candy -- Good. Madonna -- Bad. Rita Kempley: Again, I think I'll have to go with the soccer playing teen in "Bend It Like Beckham." She was in love with soccer, her gorgeous coach, her new best friend and in the end demonstrated that she loved her parents enough to give up her dreams for them. They woke up thank heavens.
Maybe this is not highbrow enough for you: ... but do you recommend anything I can go to with my three-year-old that is also palatable to an adult? We both loved Stuart Little, but family movies like these seem few and far between. Rita Kempley: Pay no attention to the title, HRM is down to earth as dirt. I thought the new Pooh movie was very sweet and it's short enough that even if you loathe the mentally challenged stuffed toys, it shouldn't be a problem.
Re: Bend it like Beckham: Rita, I was just going to write in and say how much I liked this movie. Really very funny and energetic, and not sappy. And I'm pretty picky when it comes to movies. I'd definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a fun time. Rita Kempley: Thanks for the second.
BROOMES ISLAND: Dearest Rita: We miss you when you're gone. Tough news about that darn herniated disc. Wonderful to see you OK today. Looking for a quality movie experience this weekend. "Confidence"? What do you think?
Rita Kempley: Wonderful to hear from you. I think you'll enjoy "Confidence."
Chicago, Ill.: I recently took a film class, and learned about the different roles of people in the film biz. I guess I hadn't really thought about it before, but most films originate with writers -- they write a script, and a director isn't even attached until much later. So why is it that directors get all the attention and we hear things like "A Film By..." when it was really the writer who created the whole world and the characters and everything. Rita Kempley: Hi Chicago:
The screenwriter is the originating artist, but unless he or she is a powerful name writer, the or she will lose control of the project once it's optioned. They may negotiate a first rewrite, a second even. Usually, some script doctor like Robert Towne comes in and fixes what might not need fixing, but the producer, or the director, or the actor wants a change.
The Writer's Guild has been fighting the film by business, which originated with the auteur theory. As I recall. Andrew Sarris originated the idea that the film was ultimately created by the director. He was and is a fan of French films, where that's often the case.
Of course, arrogance counts for a lot.
The District: Have you seen John Malkovich's "The Dancer Upstairs," which is part of the D.C. filmfest? What did you think? I liked it very much. Also, is it true that Malkovich himself plays the revolutionary character billed in the film as "Abel Folk"? I've been unable to confirm this online. Rita Kempley: Yes, I saw and liked "Dancer," but darnit I didn't pick up on the Folk thing. And what's worse I could have asked him about it in an interview I did with him Wednesday. I will get on top of this immediately.
Ballston, Va.: I am inspired to go to the movies! Is Bend It Like Beckam appropriate for an 8-year-old boy? Rita Kempley: Without question.
Northwest: I know S. Hunter won a Pulitzer Prize. But I would just shorten the name of the prize. "Putz" seems about right. I like 'your' reviews, though, baby . . . Rita Kempley: Thanks very much for the kind words.
Malibu's Most Wanted ... : ... is dumb. Rita Kempley: That sums it up.
Sir Synergy: I was reading an article about this year's Cannes lineup. It mentioned a Vincent Gallo film called The Brown Bunny, which was generating buzz because of a graphic scene of ... uh ... (censoring here) a "Lewinsky" between Gallo and Chloe Sevigny. This isn't the first film to include borderline hardcore sex to be released lately (Baise-Moi and Intimacy are two others that come to mind). My question is this: Is this a new wave of films attempting to make hardcore mainstream again, like in the mid 1970's? It seems that graphic scenes like that are really the eternal domain of the Raincoat crowd. I'm not sure why these filmmakers feel this stuff is really that necessary. Rita Kempley: My Dear Sir:
Porno movies of the 70s aren't as graphic as most of this stuff. And how about "Irreversible," a nine-minute anal rape scene followed by a lengthy murder scene in an s-m club called the Rectum. I can't believe the last released. Gross, violent and about as sexy as bathing in cold clam chowder.
The real question is will they make money. The answer is no. And that means, at least I pray it does, that will put an end to such experimentation.
New York, N.Y.: Re: Bend it like Beckham: When I saw it, there were many 8-year-old boys (and girls) in the audience. Several of them fled to the bathroom during the (albeit chaste) kissing scene, but otherwise seemed to enjoy it. Also, you might want to explain beforehand that the British call soccer "football." The little girl sitting behind me seemed confused by that. Rita Kempley: Kissing, yuch.
Castle Shannon, Pa.: Is it just me or do Ed Burns and Ben Affleck look exactly alike? Rita Kempley: I think it's just you.
Nota Nano, Alexandria, Va.: So happy to see you online again! I never write in, but thought I would today. I saw Spirited Away (I'm a big kid) and purchased Princess Mononoke based on that. My question is, it seemed like there was probably a great deal of cultural material left out, in the English voice-overs, which made the plot a little sparse. Did you see Spirited Away, and what did you think? Rita Kempley: Nota Nano: So happy that you wrote in. I thought "Spirited Away" was fascinating. I do wonder if young children would know what was going on. And then there is the business about their turning into hogs.
I know little girls love Mononoke and Disney's doesn't veer far from the storyline.
Chevy Chase, D.C.: Not only do Ed Burns and Ben Affleck look alike, Paul Rudd (from Clueless) looks like both of them. Rita Kempley: Well, all of them are generic, bland guys. Perhaps there is an alien invasion of some kind.
Springfield, Va: Hi Rita, I know this is a bit far-fetched, but what are the chances of a movie theater designating one showing a week to that of "no disractions allowed"? (No talking, no cell phones, no munching of food or slurping of sodas, etc. ...). I bet that if they did this the theater would be packed which would make up for lost concessions. Rita Kempley: Hi Springfield:
Sounds like a great idea to me. But how would you police the audience. Maybe they would have to swear an oath or sign a promisary note.
Re: Castle Shannon, Pa.: : What about Ed Norton and Ed Burns? Do they look alike? Rita Kempley: I though cloning was against the law, but you know how crazy crazy scientists can be.
Arlington, Va.: What is John Malkovich like to interview? I'm a big fan, but I'm afraid I'd find him terribly intimidating. Rita Kempley: He was soft-spoken, thougtful, droll and not in the least intimidating. He is known for kicking down doors and so on, but he claims he has no memory of any such incident. He believes his memory lapses have something to do with his having drunk so much red wine in his life. He is one of the few actors I've interviewed who was not wearing a black T-shirt , sneakers and jeans. A beige suit, carefully selected tie and so forth. He is introducing a clothing line later this year. It will be called "Mrs. Mudd."
Coming Soon to a Theater Near You: Bland Men 2: Blandness United -- Starring Ben Affleck, Ed Burns, Paul Rudd, and Freddie Prinze Jr. Rita Kempley: Sounds like a blockbuster to me.
Peoples' Republic: For those who wish to know about screenwriting, I would recommend State and Main, Sunset Boulevard, and Barton Fink. Not that they are really about writing, but they are all about writers and fine flicks to boot. And Rachel Weisz isn't in any of them!
Rita Kempley: And don't forget about "Adaptation."
Hayao Miyazaki's Movies: If you liked SA, don't forget My Neighbor Totoro or Kiki's Delivery Service. Totoro was my son's FAV as a small child. A Miyazaki fan at work told me he makes these movies for his nephews at an appropriate level for their age -- the films get more complex the older the nephews. Rita Kempley: Thanks very much for your suggestion.
Ben Affleck: During a recent Jay & Silent Bob fest, my friends and I noticed something about Ben Affleck: He had his teeth capped somewhere between "Mallrats" and "Chasing Amy." In my view, he looked a lot less bland pre-dental work. But I suppose J. Lo wouldn't have taken a second glance at him if his mouth weren't pretty. Rita Kempley: I don't know about J.Lo's dental preferences. But look at Steve Buscemi, that child has got some memorable teeth. And is he bland? Not on your life.
A Beckham footnote for you: When the film was made, the women playing the 18-year-olds were 17 (the gorgeous blond best friend) and 27 (the gorgeous Indian lead). I liked the latter's acting even more once I found that out!
Rita Kempley: Yes, I know. It's amazing itsn't it. She definitely looked the part.
Arlington, Va: What do you think of the new Loews' in Georgetown? Does it get the Queen's seal of approval? Rita Kempley: I think it's ugly, especially the lobby. The theaters themselves are fine. I just feel like I'm in a mall instead of a movie house. And in a way, I am.
The District, again: Will you be writing a review of "The Dancer Upstairs," then, and if so, do you know when it will appear? I would love to read more about what you thought. I saw the premiere in D.C. on Wednesday and enjoyed both the film, with its startling violence and brooding protagonist, and the talk by Malkovich afterwards, where he was very witty and charming. Only thing I didn't get was the detective's attraction to the title character -- I didn't understand their connection at all, besides her beauty and his dissatisfaction at home. Sorry for the long question! Do you have any suggestions for other D.C. Film Festival picks? Rita Kempley: In reality, the detective wasn't involved with the piano teacher as Malkovich probably mentioned. The love affair between the two was a dramatic device, added a touch of romance and irony. I was willing to buy the attraction as a unifying device. Then again, there are those pesky pheromones.
Huge Guest/Levy fan in Boston, Mass.: For people considering 'A Mighty Wind,' your decision should be made by the fact that it contains the dumbly said line, "If it weren't for model trains, they never would have had the idea for the big trains!" I think that line got the most reaction out of the audience of any. Absolutely freakin' hilarious movie. Also, not to plug the competition of my beloved Post, but the NY Times magazine had an interview with Eugene Levy on Sunday in which he said he didn't like the term 'mockumentary' to describe these movies. He said something like, "we're opening a world and showing you the characters." Interesting way to look at it, I think. Rita Kempley: Yes, I'm a huge fan, too. Very funny scene. I loved that Levy thought the scenery around the toy train tract would look lovely in the fall.
Re: Georgetown Loew's: Queen Rita -- I work less than a block from this monstrosity. I think it's a product of the Albert Speer school of design ... It would be a great place to see Ian McClellan's "Richard III." Rita Kempley: Actually Speer's work was a bit more amusing, wouldn't you say?
Nani: So disappointed with your and Desson's reviews of Levity. I'm so in the mood for a really good new Billy Bob movie. I've just about worn out my tapes of The Man Who Wasn't There, Sling Blade and Monster's Ball.
(Love to E-Guy). Rita Kempley: Nani: You can go just to see Billy Bob mope about. He looks a bit like Jesus with his shoulder-lengtht locks and troubled, but kindly mien.
Washington, D.C.: Thinking of visiting a friend in LA this summer. Anything I should definitely see? Rita Kempley: Frederick's of Hollywood Lingerie Museum.
Rita Kempley: Thanks for stopping by to chat for a while. Talk to you all again real soon. Bye for now.
washingtonpost.com: That wraps up today's show. Thanks to everyone who joined the discussion.
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