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A Night at the Roxbury (1998) --> Just as Bring It On (2000) spoofed the world of Cheerleading, this John Fortenberry directed and Lorne Michaels produced film takes on club life with equal aplomb. Following the rise of two lovable losers (Chris Kattan and Will Ferrell (who also wrote the screenplay)) who go from nightclub rejects to nightclub owners, the film is both funny and charming. Ferrell and Kattan will crack you up as they blunder from one scene to the next fooling themselves that they can be as cool and sophisticated all the people who, unlike them, never have to wait in line at the trendiest bars. Their unbridled enthusiasm grabs you and makes you cheer them on as not all of us are as cool and hip as Richard Grieco (who stars as himself in the film).


Full Spectrum Staff

The Italian Job (2003) --> A remake of the 1969 film of the same name, The Italian Job stars Mark Walberg and Ed Norton. When Steve (Norton) double-crosses Charlie (Walberg) after a successful gold bullion heist killing Charlie's mentor and leaving the rest of the team to drown in a river, Charlie enlists safe cracker Stella (Charlize Theron) to help him get the gold back. Although Walberg can't act, the film has enough excitement, highlighted by an Austin Mini car chase through the subway tunnels of L.A., to forego the detriment of his contribution. The film does justice to the original but does not surpass it. F. Gary Gray directs and does a nice job but his 1998 film The Negotiator is his best and the one to watch first.


Full Spectrum Staff

Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) --> Losing out to Sean Penn for the Best Actor Award at the Oscars does not diminish Johnny Depp's stellar performance as Jack Sparrow in this Disney released standout. The cinematography and special effects are top-notch and the story leaves nothing to be desired. It tells of a group of pirates who were cursed by treasure (Cortez's bounty of gold coins). After spending the loot across the Caribbean, they realize that they have been turned into the undead, normal in appearance except under the shine of the moon (where they change into walking skeletons). After a ten year hunt they retrieve all the coins except one. Once they place the treasure back in its chest on the Island of Death (Isla de Muerta) and anoint it with the blood of the original thief (the first man to touch the treasure) the curse will be lifted. I will not ruin the whole story but the pirates must both find the last coin and a descendant of the original thief (as he! is dead at the bottom of the sea) and battle the British Navy, a lovesick blacksmith, and their original captain (who they betrayed) in order to do it.


Full Spectrum Staff

The Whole Nine Yards (2000) --> A black comedy that will tickle your funny bone even if some of the acting leaves a bit to be desired, The Whole Nine Yards stars Bruce Willis and Matthew Perry. Perry plays Nicholas 'Oz' Oseransky, an American dentist working in Montreal. When he tells his French-Canadian harlot wife (played dismally by Rosanna Arquette) that a hit-man on the run from his boss has moved in next door she convinces him to fly to Chicago to rat him out and collect the reward money. Willis plays Jimmy 'The Tulip' Tudeski (the hit-man in question). Moving to Montreal to escape his past and try to start a new life, Jimmy is drawn back into the game when Yanni (the mob boss) comes after him. The humour is deliciously dark. Mitchell Kapner, the script writer, and Jonathan Lynn, the director, create a world where you laugh at things you would normally cr! inge from. Amanda Peet merits special attention as her performance as a hired killer new to the profession is hilarious.


Full Spectrum Staff

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