Ray Pride

Bad Boys II

Michael Bay follows up "Pearl Harbor" with a kinder, gentler, smaller picture, the $170 million-plus sequel to "Bad Boys." The loud trailers promise less than the reputations of the credited screenwriters, Ron Shelton, in his third cop release this year; "Permanent Midnight's Jerry Stahl and John Lee Hancock, who wrote Clint Eastwood's "A Perfect World." With Martin Lawrence, Will Smith, Jordi Molla, Gabrielle.

Buffalo Soldiers

Miramax bought this black, "M*A*S*H"-like comedy at the Toronto Film Festival on September 10, 2001; its depiction of corruption at an Army base may finally be released. With Joaquin Phoenix, Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Anna Paquin.

Camp

Writer-director Todd Graff bases his "Fame"-like musical comedy about musical comedy kids at summer camp on a real institution called "Stagedoor Manor"; the young `uns include Daniel Letterle, Joanna Chilcoat, Robin de Jesus.

Catch the Kids

Kristen Stewart ("Panic Room") stars with Jennifer Beals, Sam Robards and James LeGros in a story about three kids who rob a state-of-the-art bank, based on a Danish film. From the director of "World Traveler" and husband of Julianne Moore.

Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary

Fractured fairytale: Zhang Wei-Qian, Tara Birtwhistle, Dave Moroni star in Guy Maddin's adaptation of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet's interpretation of the blood-soaked tale. It's a delirious hoot; Maddin repeats with some of the same collaborators, like cinematographer-editor Deco Dawson from his mini-masterpiece, "Hearts of the World." (Music Box, July 18)

Garage Days

Loopy comedy about a piss-poor aspiring Australian garage band alternates between giddy special effects and lame-ass jokes. It's a likable hodgepodge from Alex Proyas, director of "The Crow" and "Dark City."

How to Deal

More Mandy Moore, in an angry-teen drama based on a series of popular teen novels, adapted by "Daria"'s Neena Beber. With Trent Ford, Allison Janney, Peter Gallagher, Dylan Baker.

I Capture the Castle

Brit director Tim Fywell gives us the spectacle of a rich American family being courted by down-and-out English family in their castle in distant Suffolk where they move so the husband can finish his novel. Does he? Riiiiiight.

Johnny English

"Mr. Bean"'s Rowan Atkinson tries to recapture the Crown Jewels from a French thug. Big hit in England. Vicious reviews, though. From the director of "Sliding Doors." With Natalie Imbruglia, Ben Miller, John Malkovich.

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life

Failed action director Jan de Bont ("Speed 2: Cruise Control") takes up the reins of another less-than-intriguing vehicle for the multiple talents and curves of Angelina Jolie. With Gerard Butler, Noah Taylor, Ciaran Hinds.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

More comix: Sean Connery, Shane West, Stuart Townsend and Peta Wilson star in a turn-of-the-century tale where Captain Nemo, the Invisible Man, Dr. Jekyll and Dorian Gray try to save the world. "Mystery Men II"?

Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde

Among the writers, the duo who brought you "Down With Love"; from the director of "Kissing Jessica Stein" and the editor of "Charlie's Angels." Plus Reese Witherspoon and that damn Chihuahua in D.C.'s political circus. With Sally Field, Bob Newhart, Luke Wilson.

Legend of Suriyothai

Thailand's Crown Prince Chatri Chalerm Yukol directs an epic from a Thai saga about murderous mayhem in the courts of sixteenth century Siam; Francis Coppola re-edited (and shortened) for American sensibilities. (It's still looooooong.)

Lucia, Lucia

First released as "The Cannibal's Daughter," this Mexican hit is about a woman who reinvents herself after her husband's disappearance.

Madame Sata

Lush 1930s set musical bio of Joao Francisco dos Santo, a slave-descended drag performer who becomes a star in Brazil.

The Magdalene Sisters

Controversial drama from actor-director Peter Mullan about the Irish Catholic Church's decades-long enslavement of "fallen women."

Northfork

A dam is about to flood a Montana town; the locals say no. The magical miserabilism includes stuff about orphans, and a peculiar cast that includes Peter Coyote, Anthony Edwards, James Woods, Daryl Hannah, Kyle MacLachlan and Claire Forlani.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Johnny Depp wanted to make a film his kiddo could see; Jerry Bruckheimer made his wish possible in this swashbuckler from the writers of "Zorro" and the director of "The Ring"; based on a Disneyland ride. With Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley and Jonathan Pryce.

Seabiscuit

Tobey Maguire as the jockey of the most inspiring, um, horse of the Depression era. With Jeff Bridges, a silver-haired Chris Cooper, Gary Stevens. From Gary Ross, the director of "Pleasantville."

Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over

The scrappy little spies find themselves inside an angry 3-D video game. With Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, Ricardo Montalban, and the once-popular Sylvester Stallone.

Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator

Helen Stickler's cool doc about the dark side of 1980s skate culture, focusing on the murder conviction against former star Mark "Gator" Rogowski.

Swimming Pool

Francois Ozon continues his skein of women-centric dramas; this one's English-language. "Swimming Pool" stars Charlotte Rampling, Ludivine Sagnier, and Charles Dance in a story about what happens when a mystery writer visits her publisher's home in France.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

The new thriller killer from the post-human machine age: it's a girl! Schwarzenegger slouches toward the California governorship. With Nick Stahl, Kristanna Loken, Clare Danes. A big fat deal if no big deal. $150 million

A Woman Is a Woman

Jean-Luc Godard's hard-candy-colored romantic drama of widescreen 1961 Parisian anomie, with then-amour Anna Karina as a stripper. Also, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean-Claude Brialy. (Music Box, July 25)

(2003-05-21)

Also by Ray Pride

Quibbles and bits
We are talking up the matrix and "The Matrix Unloaded" and how not to talk about it while talking about it.
(2003-05-14)

Tip of the Week
Chris Hegedus and D. A. Pennebaker take a look at life after Stax Records for several 1960s Memphis music stars.
(2003-05-07)

Short Runs
This week's limited screenings
(2003-05-07)

Members only
After Neil LaBute's detour into post-Tarantino comic brutality ("Nurse Betty") and then tony literary adaptation ("Possession"), he's back to plumbing his vein of deepest inspiration: theatrically derived misanthropy that masquerades as romping misogyny.
(2003-05-07)

Innocence unprotected
(2003-05-07)

Tip of the Week
(2003-04-30)

Short Runs
(2003-04-30)

X appeal
(2003-04-30)

Terror's isms
(2003-04-30)

Tip of the Week
(2003-04-22)

Short Runs
(2003-04-22)

For Peet's sake
(2003-04-22)

about Newcitychicago | about Newcity magazine | advertising | privacy policy | FAQ | employment