Pictured Angelina Jolie and Jude Law in Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. Steve Sandvoss and Wes Ramsey in Latter Days, on DVD.
In this installment of Jude Law, Movie Star, the golden-haired chameleon ably steps into Harrison Ford/Indiana Jones territory for an episode titled Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. First-time director-writer Kerry Conran's movie is a comic book brought to artificial life (the whole is presented in computer-generated sepia tone) and while it's not quite as rousing as the visuals promise and the story's not particularly original (it's a Raiders of the Lost Ark-style homage to the cliffhanger serials of Hollywood's golden era), it's fun while it lasts.
The visual pyrotechnics afforded by an entire movie created on computer (save the actors) and the mad scientist playing God story naturally lend themselves to scene after scene of the leading characters shown from a bird's eye point of view as specks against the huge looming robots, the skyline, mountains, clouds, and horizons. There is more than a hint of Metropolis and old Speed Racer cartoons here while the retro sepia style and the script's re-invention of the past is diverting—for awhile.
But after the visual panache wears off then what? Well, there's Jude Law, Movie Star. Future episodes of this versatile British variety show as actor include I Heart Huckabees, the remake of Alfie, Closer (with Julia Roberts), the Harry Potter competitor, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, and Scorcese's Howard Hughes bio-pic, The Aviator (in which he plays Errol Flynn). All are due to arrive by the end of the year but unlike other screen hog film stars, Law probably won't wear out his welcome—because, the dazzling leading man looks aside, he's a terrific character actor that's a lot of fun to watch (as Gattaca, A.I., Road to Perdition, and Cold Mountain attest). He offers further proof here as heroic Joe 'Sky Captain' Sullivan.
One of Law's best performances was in The Talented Mr. Ripley and he's re-teamed with his co-star Gwyneth Paltrow from that underrated thriller. It's a re-imagined 1939 as Sky Captain takes off and Paltrow, nice and spunky as Polly Perkins, star reporter (sister under the skin to Lois Lane), meets up with a mysterious scientist at Radio City Music Hall. The scientist fears for his life and hands a briefcase full of Mystery Blueprints to her in the upper balcony (while a clip from The Wizard of Oz plays) but just then the city is attacked by giant robots that bear a striking resemblance to Denslow's original Oz illustrations of the Tin Man and the scientist disappears.
Now it's up to Law and Paltrow to track him down, along with their kidnapped eccentric genius inventor pal Dex, save the world from Total Domination by the stereotypical Madman, and end up back in each other's arms. The pair is aided by Angelina Jolie, dressed in black leather with a matching eye-patch and oozing dark glamour, who commands a British landing strip in the sky (very much in keeping with William Cameron Menzies Things To Come and the Flash Gordon series). After an underwater battle, they end up on an island that isn't on the map (as in so many of the Bond pictures) for a rousing finish.
Sky Captain offers a new technique applied to an old movie formula—an interesting conundrum that alone makes me recommend it. Could it be this generation's version of 3-D or Cinerama? Will it look and feel in 20 years the way Tron, Disney's early '80s attempt at combining computer animation with actors, does now? Like an odd curio, recalled with a mixture of guilty affection and embarrassment? I wonder.
Latter Days
The set-up in Latter Days, just out on DVD from TLA Releasing, is this: Aaron is a Mormon with a fabulous body, sent out on his two-year mission to of all places, West Hollywood. Christian is a waiter with a fabulous body who picks up a different trick every night and by coincidence lives in the apartment complex where Aaron and his brethren are housed. Christian's roommate and fellow waiter, Julie, bets him that he can't bed the cute little future man of the cloth. With $50 at stake, Christian is immediately on a mission for the missionary man.
Through the most contrived of circumstances the two end up in Christian's bedroom, with Christian stripped down to his International Male black jock strap. He knows that Aaron wants sex but it quickly becomes apparent that Aaron only wants it if there's love, too. 'There's nothing to you, you're nothing but a marshmallow Peep,' Aaron says, storming out, when he realizes that Christian is a girl who just wants to have fun.
There are many plot twists and turns that follow in the course of true gay love in this well-acted, terrifically enjoyable little comedy-drama, the first written and directed by Sweet Home Alabama screenwriter C. Jay Cox. Steve Sandvoss brings just the right combination of naiveté, youthful exuberance and conflict to the leading role of Aaron while Wes Ramsey matches him as Chris, the party boy who doesn't want to grow up. Ample support is offered by Hollywood veterans Jacqueline Bisset, as the wise, accepting owner of the restaurant where Chris works, and Mary Kay Place as Aaron's horrified mother.
The DVD offers an interesting 'Making of Featurette,' deleted scenes, music videos (Rebekah Johnson as Chris's roommate is an aspiring singer/songwriter) and a thoughtful commentary by director and stars. A great addition to the gay movie canon, it's easy to see why this has been a big hit on the festival circuit—both gay and straight.
See www.TLAReleasing.com .
Local Screenings
The 16th Onion City Experimental Film and Video Festival kicks off Sept. 23 and continues through the 26th. The fest showcases more than 60 works and includes the world premiere of Luke, a video work by Bruce Conner shot on the set of Cool Hand Luke. Complete schedule and participating venues at www.chicagofilmmakers.org .
