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L.A. Times Archives

July 5, 2001 12 AM PT

The Body (2001). Pedestrian thriller trivializes a provocative premise: that a tomb uncovered in Jerusalem seems conclusively to contain the remains of Jesus Christ, which promises cataclysmic religious and political implications for the already strife-torn Middle East. Antonio Banderas is the Vatican’s devout but open-minded investigator. Columbia/TriStar: no list price; DVD: $24.95; (CC); PG-13, for some violent sequences and brief language.

Snatch (2000). A brisk, cheerfully amoral entertainment by Guy Ritchie (“Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”). Back again are the elements that made “Lock, Stock” so engaging: a London underworld setting, a fearsomely complex plot line, hordes of colorful characters, plus the distinctively breezy dialogue that is Ritchie’s trademark. Even if it’s not quite as lighter-than-air as its predecessor, it remains a lethal diversion. With Benicio Del Toro, Dennis Farina and Brad Pitt. Columbia: no list price; DVD: $24.95; (CC); R, for strong violence, language and some nudity.

The Wedding Planner (2001). This romantic comedy starts out promisingly with workaholic wedding planner Jennifer Lopez dazzled by pediatrician Matthew McConaughey only to discover later on that he’s to be the groom at her next event. The film lacks the wit, verve and invention of its vintage predecessors. Columbia: no list price; DVD: $24.95; (CC);PG-13, for some sexuality, brief language and a perilous situation.

Wes Craven Presents Dracula 2000 (2000). A couple of sharp satiric sequences offer fleeting glimpses of the true millennial vampire movie that got away, but at heart it’s a solidly old-fashioned cloak-and-fangs vampire flick honoring the central traditions of the form a lot more often than it skewers them. Directed by Patrick Lussier. With Gerard Butler, Jonny Lee Miller, Justine Waddell, Jennifer Esposito, Omar Epps and Christopher Plummer. Miramax/Buena Vista: no list price; DVD: $29.99; (CC); R for violence/gore, language and some sexuality.

What’s Hot

* Last week’s Top 5 VHS rentals:1. Cast Away (2000). The high-minded picture implied in the title is only sporadically in front of us. The filmmakers--director Robert Zemeckis, writer William Broyles Jr. and producer-star Tom Hanks--got waylaid by what feels like a boyish enthusiasm for the survivalist aspects of a Robinson Crusoe tale of a man shipwrecked on an island, an enthusiasm that does not translate to the viewer. PG-13, for some intense images and action sequences.2. Save the Last Dance (2001). A twist of fate sends a 17-year-old aspiring ballerina (Julia Stiles) from a Norman Rockwell small town to urban Chicago and an interracial romance with a bright youth (Sean Patrick Thomas) hoping to land a premed scholarship. There’s lots of dancing and heart-tugging but a gritty edge of big-city realism as well. The film’s talented young actors include Kerry Washington, Fredro Starr and Bianca Lawson. PG-13, for violence, sexual content, language and a brief drug reference.3. Proof of Life (2000). The real-life romance that developed between stars Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe is the most involving aspect of this tale of a romance that develops between a crack kidnap-and-rescue operative and the wife of the man he’s trying to save. Talk about a conflict. Directed by Taylor Hackford. R, for violence, language and some drug material.4. Traffic (2000). Director Steven Soderbergh has once again opted for a change of pace. As written by Stephen Gaghan (based on a British TV miniseries), the film effortlessly intertwines several complex stories across two countries and several cities. The film’s best performance is by Benicio Del Toro as a Mexican state policeman. With Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones. R, for pervasive drug content, strong language, violence and some sexuality.5. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000). An eccentric, picaresque Southern period comedy, rife with the kinds of genial madness only Joel and Ethan Coen can come up with. With George Clooney, John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson. PG-13, for some violence and language. * Last week’s Top 5 DVD rentals:1. Cast Away2. Save the Last Dance 3. Proof of Life4. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000). A film by Ang Lee that transcends categorization and reminds us--simply, powerfully, indelibly--what we go to the movies for. A delightful martial arts romance in which astounding fight sequences alternate with passionate yet idealistic love duets. “Crouching Tiger” is a fusion film from top to bottom. Starring Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi. In Mandarin, with English subtitles. PG-13 for martial arts violence and some sexuality.5. Traffic

* Last week’s Top 5 VHS sellers:1. The Emperor’s New Groove (2000). A lighthearted animated adventure-morality tale ideal for youngsters yet conceived with a wit and sophistication that will be appreciated by their parents. G.2. Coyote Ugly (2000). It’s a bad movie--but it’s not one of those fiascoes that leaves you in a foul mood. PG-13, for sensuality.

3. Disney’s The Kid (2000). More cloyingly sentimental and unyieldingly cute than it needs to be, the film has more potential interest than might be imagined thanks to Audrey Wells’ script. The concept, that 8-year-old Rusty (Spencer Breslin) is as disappointed in the adult he has become as Russ (Bruce Willis) is in the child he was, is a clever one. It’s a movie we might like to buy into if left to our own devices, but that idea is anathema to director Jon Turteltaub, intent on pushing us so hard that we end up pushing back. PG, for mild language. 4. The Original Kings of Comedy (2000). Spike Lee’s sharp concert film lets us know why black audiences turned the Kings of Comedy show, with Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer and Bernie Mac, into the highest-grossing comedy tour ever. R, for language and sex-related humor.5. Miss Congeniality (2000). Sandra Bullock plays a drab FBI agent made over by suave expert Michael Caine so she can go undercover as Miss New Jersey in a pageant menaced by a terrorist threat. PG-13, for sexual references and a scene of violence.

* Last week’s Top 5 DVD sellers:1. Cast Away 2. Save the Last Dance3. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon4. Proof5. O Brother, Where Art Thou?

What’s Coming

Tuesday: “Down to Earth,” “Malena,” “Monkeybone,” “Thirteen Days.”

July 17: “The Caveman’s Valentine,” “Double Take,” “The Family Man,” “The Gift,” “In the Mood for Love,” “Saving Silverman,” “Sugar & Spice.”

July 24: “Pollock,” “Sweet November,” “Valentine.”

July 31: “The Brothers,” “Head Over Heels,” “The Trumpet of the Swan.”

Aug. 7: “Chocolat,” “An Everlasting Piece,” “The Mexican,” “Recess: School’s Out,” “3,000 Miles to Graceland,” “Vatel.”

Aug. 14: “Blow Dry,” “15 Minutes,” “Get Over It,” “Josie and the Pussycats,” “Tomcats.”

Aug. 21: “Hannibal,” “Say It Isn’t So,” “South of Heaven, West of Hell.”

Aug. 28: “Company Man,” “Joe Dirt,” “See Spot Run.”

Aug. 31: “Exit Wounds,” “The Dish.”

Sept. 4: “Memento.”