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L.A. Times Archives

June 14, 2001 12 AM PT

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. With Helen Hunt and Nick Searcy. Fox: no list price; DVD: 29.98; (CC); PG-13, for some intense images and action sequences.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000). An eccentric, picaresque Southern period comedy, rife with the kinds of genial madness only writer-director Joel Coen and writer-producer Ethan Coen can come up with. “O Brother’s” music is a living presence and, apologies to an excellent cast, just about the star of the picture. With George Clooney, John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson. Buena Vista: no list price; $32.99; (CC); (1:43) PG-13, for some violence and language.

Venus Beauty Institute (2000). Nathalie Baye’s tour de force performance and director Tonie Marshall’s ability to convince us that this story has never been told quite this way before are a powerful combination. The sophistication about affairs of the heart is more than quintessentially French. It’s irresistible. Winstar: no list price; DVD: $24.98; (CC); Unrated.

What’s Hot

* Last week’s Top 5 VHS rentals:1. 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. With Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones. R, for pervasive drug content, strong language, violence and some sexuality.

2. What Women Want (2000). A vaguely amusing formulaic comedy with a premise--chauvinist male gets the ability to hear what women are thinking--that is more discomforting than endearing. You have to be a Mel Gibson-aholic to fully enjoy the proceedings. Directed by Nancy Meyers. PG-13, for sexual content and language.

3. Vertical Limit (2000). Nail-biting mountaintop peril characterizes this old-fashioned tale. The plot and dialogue are by the numbers. Directed by Martin Campbell. Chris O’Donnell, Bill Paxton and Robin Tunney star. PG-13, for intense life-or-death situations and brief strong language.

4. Miss Congeniality (2000). Sandra Bullock plays a drab FBI agent made over by Michael Caine to go undercover as Miss New Jersey in a beauty pageant menaced by a terrorist threat. With Benjamin Bratt, Candice Bergen and William Shatner. PG-13, for sexual references and a scene of violence.

5. Pay It Forward (2000). Strong acting by Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment and restrained writing and direction (Leslie Dixon and Mimi Leder) win us over to this sentimental fantasy. PG-13, for mature thematic elements, including substance abuse recovery, some sexual situations, language and brief violence.

* Last week’s Top 5 DVD rentals:

1. Traffic

2. Vertical Limit

3. What Women Want

4. Miss Congeniality

5. Pay It Forward

* Last week’s Top 5 VHS sellers:

1. The Emperor’s New Groove (2000). A lighthearted animated adventure-morality tale for youngsters yet conceived with a wit that will be appreciated by parents. This story of a spoiled Incan ruler (voice of David Spade) turned into a llama features the also splendidly cast voices of John Goodman, Eartha Kitt, Patrick Warburton and Wendie Malick. G.

2. Miss Congeniality

3. Gone in 60 Seconds (2000). Remake of H.B. “Toby” Halicki’s 1974 cult classic about a legendary car thief (Nicolas Cage) drawn out of retirement to save the life of his brother (Giovanni Ribisi). The movie, which co-stars Angelina Jolie, features some fine driving, but the problem is how it maneuvers through those hard-to-handle character curves. PG-13, for violence, sexuality and language.

4. Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970). Richard Fleischer’s epic about Pearl Harbor stars Martin Balsam, E.G. Marshall and Jason Robards.

5. DBZ: World Tournament Jr. Division (Edited)

* Last week’s Top 5 DVD sellers:

1. Traffic

2. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). One of the most rapt and awestruck of American films: Steven Spielberg’s parable about mankind’s first contact with extraterrestrials. With Richard Dreyfuss, Francois Truffaut, Teri Garr and Melinda Dillon.

3. Vertical Limit

5. Miss Congeniality

5. What Women Want

What’s Coming

Tuesday: “The Pledge,” “Proof of Life,” “Save the Last Dance,” “State and Main.”

June 26: “The Claim,” “Dude, Where’s My Car?,” “Unbreakable,” “You Can Count on Me.”

July 3: “The Body,” “Dracula 2000,” “Head Over Heels,” “Snatch,” “The Wedding Planner.”

July 10: “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,” “The Trumpet of the Swan.”

Aug. 7: “Chocolat,” “An Everlasting Piece,” “The Mexican,” “Recess: School’s Out.”