Limited runs and special events:
@ Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State, 312/846-2600: Ronit Bezalel, Sree Nallamothu and Laurie Little's A Day On The Force,
which chronicles the last home game of the professional women's tackle football team, the Chicago Force, on May 25, 2003. The film
was made in conjunction with the Gene Siskel Film Center's 72 Hour Feature Project. - Jun. 25
In theaters:
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (Columbia) —Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle is all about the full throttle return of Demi Moore. While
the Charlie's Angels sequel might seem like an unusual choice to mark Moore's return to the big screen, the fit-for-fighting actress
makes the most of it as rogue angel Madison Lee, whose tarnished halo leads her to make serious trouble for Dylan (Drew
Barrymore), Natalie (Cameron Diaz) and Alex (Lucy Liu). The plot involves two titanium rings that house the names of people in the
FBI's Witness Protection Program. Lee's plan is to deliver the rings to rival crime mobs so that they can kill off those under the
government's protection. As it turns out, one of the names on the list is Dylan's real name Helen Zass (a name that leads to a
multitude of jokes), since she sent her crazy killer boyfriend Seamus (a beefed up and buffed Justin Theroux) to prison eight years
earlier for killing a man in cold blood. Blaringly bright, bombastic and bursting at the seams with comic book-level violence, unrealistic
fight scenes and smutty sitcom humor, Full Throttle is full throttle summer entertainment whose only redeeming quality is the promise
of more sequels to come. (B-)
Alex and Emma (Warner Brothers)—It's almost incomprehensible that Rob Reiner, director of comedy classics such as This Is
Spinal Tap, The Sure Thing, The Princess Bride and When Harry Met Sally, is responsible for this tepid, chemistry-less romantic
comedy. The titular characters, Alex (Luke Wilson) and Emma (Kate Hudson), are a blocked writer in debt to Cuban loan sharks and a
naïve court stenographer, respectively. Alex cons Emma into helping him by allowing him to dictate his romance novel to her. As
Alex's novel unfolds and Emma becomes more involved in the story, the duo takes on the roles of characters in the book, and an
unfathomable relationship begins to take shape. (D+)
Capturing The Friedmans (HBO Documentary Pictures)—MovieFone co-founder Andrew Jarecki's debut documentary tells the
shocking story of the Friedman family and their downfall centering on a Great Neck, NY, sex abuse scandal during the mid-to-late
1980s. The late Arnold Friedman, husband of Elaine, and father of David, Seth and Jesse, was arrested for possession of child
pornography which led to subsequent allegations that he molested several young boys who were enrolled in a computer class taught
in his home. Moreover, Jesse, the youngest son, was also implicated. In addition to Jarecki's footage, which includes interviews with
David and Jesse (middle brother Seth chose not to be included in the documentary), two of the Friedman's three sons, their mother
Elaine, and Arnold's brother Howard, among others, there is family movie footage as well as video footage that David Friedman shot
himself. Further complications arise when it is discovered in some of Arnold's writings that he, in fact, struggled with his own
homosexual urges and actions. (A-)
On TV
Cinemax (www.cinemax.com): Ruthie and Connie: Every Room In The House is a beautiful and touching documentary about two
women who are celebrating 40 years of friendship and 25 years together as a couple. Both married with families when they first met
as residents of the same housing complex in Brooklyn in the 1960s, Ruthie and Connie are fascinating people you will want to know
more about even after the documentary ends. (B+) - Jun. 25
HBO (www.HBO.Com): Ellen DeGeneres: Here and Now—After taking the stage, at The Beacon Theater in New York, to
thunderous applause Ellen DeGeneres proclaims that it is a 'lovely way to start the show.' In an unprecedented turn, DeGeneres
offers a list of reasons for being in the audience at the show, concluding with 'We're all gay,' which leads to her imitating non-gay
audience members' reactions to that statement. She calls the joke her one obligatory gay reference, otherwise people will think she
abandoned them. Frankly, I was surprised at the amount of recycled material in DeGeneres's set, although her routines on
procrastination, too many TV channels, and 24-hour news remain timely. Cell-phones, call-waiting (which she declared as a 'mini
People's Choice Awards') technology and general laziness were all given the once over. Her movie theater etiquette bit, which
included a hilarious imitation of a person inhaling a box of popcorn, and a lengthy riff on the packing of pickles, were also quite funny.
DeGeneres had a chance to show off her pleasant singing voice when she spoke about misunderstood song lyrics and the
misperception inherent in the song 'If I Had A Hammer' (because once you get a hammer, 'you don't hammer as much as you think
you would'). In reference to the title of the show, DeGeneres talked about multi-tasking, and summed everything up with the final
thought, 'Procrastinate now, don't put it off.' (B-) - Jun. 28 on HBO
(B-) - Jun. 28 on HBO
Sundance Channel (www. Sundancechannel. com for complete schedule): 'Out Loud: Gay Love Under Fire' series: Herr Schmidt
and Herr Friedrich and Princesa Jun. 28; 'Out Loud: Are You Musical?' series: Up in Arms - Jun. 27. Other Sundance highlights
include:
Big Eden (Jour De Fete/Chaiken Films): Even the most jaded viewer can't help but be charmed by this sweet, gentle, big-hearted
story about reluctantly coming home. Painter Henry Hart (Arye Gross) is summoned to his hometown of Big Eden, Montana when his
grandfather Sam (George Coe), his only surviving relative, has a stroke. Much to the dismay of his friend and gallery-owner Mary
Margaret (Veanne Cox), Henry leaves New York just days before his big gallery opening. When he gets to Big Eden, all sorts of old
emotions are dredged up, especially when he learns that Dean (Tim DeKay), the love of his life, has also returned to Big Eden as a
recently divorced father of two young sons. Meanwhile, very shy general store owner Pike Dexter (Eric Schweig) has also taken an
interest in Henry. (A) - Jun. 25, 28
Trembling Before G-d (New Yorker Films) - Sandi Simcha DuBowski's documentary about the conflict of being gay or lesbian and
trying to maintain one's faith as an Orthodox or Hasidic Jew is especially compelling at this time with our heightened awareness
about religious fanaticism. (B) - Jun. 29
E Minha Cara (That's My Face) - Gay African-American filmmaker Thomas Allen Harris captures his personal journey of identity
and spirituality on film in this cinematic journey of self-discovery. (B) - Jun. 30
Lan Yu (Strand Releasing) - With the student protests in Tiananmen Square as the backdrop, Stanley Kwan's complex and
groundbreaking gay love story, Lan Yu, set in Beijing in the late 1980s is a welcome addition to the growing canon of gay cinema. (B)
- Jun. 30
