Film Talk With Rita Kempley Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, February 26, 1999

By Craig Cola/ washingtonpost.com

Rita will talk flicks with you, whether they're ones she likes (get her top 10 of 1998) like "A Civil Action" and "The Waterboy," or ones she loathes, like "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and "Meet Joe Black."

Before entering the world of the movie critic, Rita worked as a police reporter for a number of Los Angeles dailies and served at the managing editor of the Washington Dossier.

Here is a transcript of today's Film Talk:

Miami, FL (former Washingtonian):
I've been a Rita Kempley fan for years! And wanted to ask her about "Shakes. in Love."
Just want to say that I hope she will have time to say something about the film.

It was good, but I don't know why it's on many Ten Best lists, including hers. It has some wonderful stuff going for it, but I don't think it jelled.

Thanks, Joe Coleman
72203.1257@compuserve.com

Rita Kempley: Hi Joe. A coworker from down there says there are only two seasons: January and everything else. I had a great time at "Shakespeare in Love." And that increasingly rare these days. Loved the writing, enjoyed the chemistry between the leads, liked the supporting cast, and it wasn't the same old thing. It was on lots of 10 Best Lists, including mine, because folks liked it. Now if this were a great year in film history, which it isn't, it might have been number 11. As it was, it was hard enough to come up with 10. Thanks for caring.

Los Angeles, CA: Rita my friend,
I respect your opinion on cinematic matters highly and agree with you most times but "Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas" worst picture of 1998? The first third was hilarious, the last third a true mess. Still, nothing can compare to that WOFTAM "The Avengers" as worst picture. I couldn't even sit through the trailer.
Take care,
Miriam Wolin

Rita Kempley: Hi Miriam, here's you've become a real fox. It was a difficult choice, but there was a lot more vomiting in "Fear & Loathing." That swayed me.

Washington, DC: Hi Rita, just wondering what your opinion of the new Nicolas (sigh) Cage movie - "8MM" - is. It couldn't be any worse than your colleagues, or could it?

Rita Kempley: Totally vile. Too bad Nicolas wound up in this atrocity

College Park, Md.: Ms. Kempley,

This question has nothing to do with a recent film (or any film for that matter) but is instead a bit of a personal question. I am majoring in journalism right now and would like to someday be an entertainment critic (preferably movies) for a newspaper or magazine. Do you have any advice for me and do you like your job?

Rita Kempley: There aren't a lot of jobs for critics and increasingly there are fewer movies worth saying anything about. But if you really want to join our miserable ranks, try to get an internship on a paper, start a web site or try selling some freelance articles about entertainment.

Arlington, Va.: Rita,

How's the new De Niro movie, "Analyze This"? The trailers didn't look so great. Are we going to see him in anything interesting this year?

Rita Kempley: Sorry, but I haven't seen it yet. And buzz is that it's not a great movie, but that he and Billy Crystal are good together.

Miami FL, again: Thanks. Need a new computer. This one's too slow!

I liked it too ("Shakespeare") but it turned out to be "only" a fun movie - and I was some POed by the script several times. I've got a Big Thing about overly intellectual movies, too much in the head: and I thought this was one, mostly because of the script, playful Tom Stoppard! I gave a lot of credit to the director, who I know very little of, for keeping the thing moving when there was so much Intelligence going on in amongst the storytelling.

Rita Kempley: I think it's great that you got so darned mad at it. Nice to be different sometimes.

Miami again (s): Did you see the trailer for "Shakespeare" (says he, still beating on what he thinks was a some sick horse)?

One of the worst I've seen in a long time! I wouldn't have known the movie was any good at all from looking at it.

It looked like it would be just another hunk movie, but with a princess, too!

Rita Kempley: dear dead horse beater. There's nothing wrong with hunk movies. Sorry I didn't get back to you earlier, but aol dissed me.

Laurel, Md.: Rita, do you see any young American actors -- other than Leo -- who will fill the void in upcoming years? Nicholson, Hoffman, Pacino and De Niro aren't getting any younger.

Rita Kempley: hi laurel,
Ed Norton is terrific and already nominated, Ben Affleck, Daniel Day Lewis' baby brother. There are lots of up and comers, up and coming ...

College Park, Md.: What have you heard about "200 Cigarettes"?

Rita Kempley: kind of lame. Lots of actors in search of a screenplay

Vienna, Va.: I also have a question about "8MM" - due to the subject matter, why didn't it rate an NC-17? And why does it seem so prevalent in movies that women keep getting brutalized and raped? And what was it you didn't like about this film? I admit, I'm intrugued, but I think it's one of those movies I ought to skip. I don't have the stomach for that kind of thing

Rita Kempley: If it had been a cheapie from an independent studio, it would have gotten an NC-17 and it deserves. Why are women brutalized and raped? If I knew,I would personally have put a stop to it by now. This movie pretends to condemn such behavior while simultaneously wallowing in the material. I suspect it's hatred for women. But we'd have to ask Jole Schumacher, the director, about that.

Suitland, Md.: Hi Rita!
Have you heard any "buzz" on the new "Star Wars" prequel? And can you name a few movies and films you're looking forward to seeing this year.
Thanks!

Rita Kempley: Not a peep about the prequel, which I am dying to see. Otherwise, the only thing that I'm looking forward to in the next couple of months is "EdTV" -- lots of good buzz on that.

Washington D.C.: I like foreign movies. Besides "Life Is Beautiful," can you recommend any others that are relatively new I should see?

Rita Kempley: Have you seen "Waking Ned Divine"? It's in English, but it's definitely still foreign. There's also "Central Station," one of the Oscar nominees. "Children of Heaven," a sweet film from Iran. Lots of kids with big chocolate pie eyes.

Mt. Rainier Md.: Saw a description of the new release "Cruel Intentions" and wondered what kind of low-life thought this should be aimed at teenagers. Is it as awful as the description in Newsweek portrays it? The "aesthetic" excuse for the producers is that it's a re-make of a French film which I thought was fairly debased but at least was aimed at adults.

Rita Kempley: It's "Dangerous Liaisons" for teenagers. At least that's what I've heard. The lowlife: some producer.

Alexandria, Va.: Do you ever read "the book" a movie was based on, either before or after seeing the movie? For example, did you read "A Civil Action?" I ask this because I just rented "The Sweet Hereafter" and felt that the director wasn't 100 percent successful in conveying how the town changed before and after the accident. BUT it was good enough to want to read the book advertised in the trailers.
Thank you!

Rita Kempley: If I haven't read it before I see the movie, I don't. You know how you cast the thing in your mind, have your own ideas about what a place looks like. Plus you know the story and most of us will sit through most anything to see how it all comes out. Movies rarely live up to adaptations..

Washington, D.C.: Well I'm a little slow but I finally saw "Saving Private Ryan" & thought it movie of the year. Rita, i know you didn't like it too much. Does Spielberg's stuff put you off? thank you

Rita Kempley: Some Spielberg stuff puts me off: "Color Purple" was a mess in some ways. I've never hated anything that he's made. I just felt that Ryan was overhyped. Every critic and columnist went on about how it wasn't a John Wayne movie. But I though it was very much like a lot of old combat movies, some of them with John Wayne. But I liked it. Just didn't here bells.

Falls Church, Va.: What are your thoughts on "Rushmore"? Is this a new start for Bill Murray or just one good show among a decade of duds?

Rita Kempley: I like Bill Murray in "Groundhog Day." Didn't you? Maybe he was just trying too hard to be funny in all those duds. I liked "Rushmore" immensely. Reminded me a lot of the Graduate.

Annandale, Va.: Hi Rita,
My wife and I enjoyed "Shakespeare in Love" as well, but like Miami, I was upset by the obvious gaff in script writing (i.e. the repeated reference to the Virginia Colony, which didn't actually exist in the 1590s). For all the trouble that film studios put in to capturing the authentic appearance, couldn't they afford $100 for a historian to read the script and catch such errors?

Rita Kempley: There all kinds of historical inaccuracies in Elizabeth as well. But I don't think the filmmakers of either really much carried about reality. Just telling a good story. There are inaccuracies in Schindler's List, English Patient and Civil Action, the list goes on and on..

Washington DC: You seem to disparage the overall quality of 1998 films, yet you omitted "The Celebration" ("Festen") from your top 10. Doesn't a film capable of simultaneously evoking Bergman, Hitchcock and Richard Lester ("A Hard Day's Night") merit at least a mention?

Rita Kempley: I don't care who or what is invoked when choosing a top 10 list. I just pick movies that i loved, liked or found interesting. Sorry, Celebration didn't do it for me. Though I appreciate the effort..

DC: How did you like "Hillary & Jackie"?

Rita Kempley: Liked it, but didn't love it. Good performances. It had a docudramatic feel about it..

Arlington, Va: What's your take on the Kazan Oscar controversy?

Rita Kempley: I think the Academy should make it clear that they're honoring the work and not the man..

Fairfax, Va.: Rita - what do you think about "October Sky"? Saw it last weekend and thought it was wonderful...

Rita Kempley: Loved it, too..

Reston Va.: Hey, Rita! Enjoy reading your work. What hope can you give me, a mom with a 2- and a 5-year-old, that there will be some good kids' movies coming out soon?

Rita Kempley: Anna and the King and the King and I are both due this year. And they're both animated..

Reston,Va.: What do you think about the new movie "Office Space"?

Rita Kempley: As a cubicle dweller these past 20 years, it sure hit home. It was a mess,but a funny one.

Rockville, Md.: Are there any good film schools in the area? I'm looking for free advice and pointers.

Rita Kempley: I was trying to answer you, Rocky, but I'm not sure if the message got through. NYU if you want to do funky independent stuff. AU is geared toward documentaries. NOrth Carolina has expanded its film school and appears to have a state-of-tyhe arts facility..

Washington, D.C.: Rita, any fond memory or story of Gene Siskel?

Rita Kempley: Actually, yes. I met Gene and his wife at Cannes. Gene had just limoed into the town for a screening from the Hotel du Cap when he ran into Roger in front of Palais, where they screen the films. Roger was appalled that Gene was staying in such a fancy place. He said he could buy a car for what his costar was paying to stay there. Gene siad, Maybe. But only a volkswagen..

Arlington, Va.: Rita, just curious.

What are your top 5 movies of all time? And what did you think of the AFI list? I believe I read that you were on the voting committee?

Rita Kempley: .I've never really figured that out. But I though the AFI 100 was absolutely nuts. Yes I was on the voting committee. It was screwy, they suggested we vote for only a few films per decade, try to vote for a variety of genres and consider historical impact. In other words, they didn't want you to pick your top 100 films, just pick 100 films given those criteria.. Top 100 actors is next. I threw my ballot in the trash.

Germantown, Md.: I absolutely loved "Elizabeth." Thought nothing compared although I haven't seen "Life Is Beautiful" yet. I looked at a movie preview site today and it looked as if there are no decent movies coming out all for the rest of the year. What have you heard? Anything of Oscar caliber? Thanks.

Rita Kempley: I had problems with both Elizabeth and Life Is Beautiful, but liked Liz best. As for Oscar contenders, well those probably aren't even in post production yet. Let's talk again in Nov. Thanks for asking though.

And thanks to all of you for joining in. Come back reel soon..