brucekluger.com

    Us Weekly, 2000

    Home Video & DVD Reviews: 2000 (F through M)
    (See A-E, N-S, T-Z)

    By Bruce Kluger


    Fantasia 2000: As per Walt Disney’s original wishes, his landmark 1940 animated
    symphony has been updated and refreshed with vibrant new segments, including
    an eye-popping spin on Noah’s ark (set to Beethoven’s Fifth) and a valentine to
    jazz-era New York, backed by—what else?—Gershwin’s "Rhapsody in Blue." Purists
    can breathe easy: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice remains intact. A masterpiece. G; 90
    minutes (Buena Vista)

    Felicia’s Journey: Irish country lass travels to England to find the boy who got her
    pregnant—then split; Bob Hoskins is the mysterious factory chef she meets along
    the way. Another intimate thriller from Atom Egoyan (The Sweet Hereafter). PG-13;
    111 minutes (Artisan)

    Fight Club: Bored yuppie Edward Norton and modern-day rebel Brad Pitt form
    bare-knuckle fist-fight clique. Peculiarly conceived testosterone fest, mainly for
    those who like to see stars with their shirts off. R; 139 minutes (Fox)

    Flawless: Surly stroke victim Robert De Niro takes singing therapy from drag
    queen neighbor Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Smart and well meaning, though script
    never rises to meet the stellar performances. R; 120 minutes (MGM)

    Fleischer Studios: This first installment of a planned “Great Animation Studios”
    series replays the innovative and popular works of Max Fleischer, whose pioneering
    techniques and well-oiled studio (taken over by Paramount in 1942) churned out
    such pen-and-ink classics as, among others, Betty Boop, Koko the Clown,
    Superman, and Popeye the Sailor Man. A collectors’ dream tape. NR; 100 minutes
    (Winstar)

    The Flip Wilson Show: He was the first black performer to headline a hit variety
    show, renowned for its top guests (from the Muppets to Muhammed Ali), cultural
    slogans (“the devil made me do it”) and Flip’s brilliantly conceived alter-egos
    (notably the sassy, mini-skirted Geraldine Jones). Here are the first two volumes
    four episodes eachof a hopefully continuing collection. NR; 200 minutes (Rhino)

    The Florentine: Done-to-death story of life-long buddies and the titular
    neighborhood bar. The usual trappings—schemes, jilted brides, bookies and
    boxers—saved at the bell by nice turns from Michael Madsen and Jim Belushi. R;
    104 minutes (Monarch)

    For Love of the Game: Costner does baseball—again. Aging Detroit fastballer
    flashes back through life and loves during last-hurrah against the Yanks. Nice
    effort, but like a rain-delay: overlong and soggy. PG-13; 137 minutes (Universal)

    Galaxy Quest: Former stars of Trek-type TV show are beamed into cosmos by
    real aliens fighting an intergalactic battle. Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver and Alan
    Rickman helm this sharp, breezy satire, with nifty f/x by IL&M. PG; 102 minutes
    (DreamWorks)

    Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: The good news: martial arts master and
    trained assassin Forest Whitaker is the best in the biz, offing targets for the mob
    with cool exactitude and a Zen head. The bad news? Now the boss wants him deep-
    sixed. Director Jim Jarmusch pumps fresh blood into an old premise, as Whitaker
    chalks up yet another weird role. R; 116 minutes (Artisan)

    Girl, Interrupted: Angelina Jolie stole the reviews and copped an Oscar for Best
    Supporting Actress as an unhinged in-patient, but it’s Winona Ryder who ultimately
    triumphs in this true tale of a not-so-crazy wild child of the Sixties, who comes of
    age in a mental institution. Whoopie Goldberg co-stars as the ward’s tough-love
    woman in white. R; 127 minutes (Columbia TriStar)

    Gladiator: Testosterone maximus. Russell Crowe dons armor and attitude as the
    beleaguered Roman general (and potential tiger chow) forced to headline at the
    Coliseum. Director Ridley Scott blends old-fashioned epic with modern-day action
    flick, tossing in a chariot load of head-lopping fight-scenes for good measure.
    Joaquin Phoenix is effectively creepy as Commodus, heir to the throne of Emperor
    Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). R; 154 minutes (DreamWorks)

    Gone in 60 Seconds: Former car thief Nicolas Cage emerges from retirement for
    one last gig: to pinch 50 luxury vehicles in one night to save his screw-up brother
    (Giovanni Ribisi) from a murderous stolen auto broker. The souped-up action
    occasionally sputters and stalls, but for the most part it’s a wild ride. Angelina Jolie
    and Robert Duvall ride shotgun as Cage’s larcenous cronies. PG-13; 117 minutes
    (Touchstone)

    The Grandfather: In this 1998 Academy Award-nominee for Best Foreign
    Language Film, a poor, nearly blind Spanish Count becomes caught up in his family’
    s past secrets and betrayals, only to be redeemed by an improbable angel bearing
    an important lesson. A simple but rich allegory, directed by José Luis Garci (whose
    To Begin Again won the 1983 Best Foreign Film Oscar). PG; 146 minutes (Miramax)

    Great Blunders of World War II: Riveting four-tape study reveals how Axis errors
    helped propel the Allies to victory. Included: the Germans botch Dunkirk, the
    Japanese lose Midway, and Hitler can’t finish off the Russians. Fascinating. NR; 200
    minutes (History Channel)

    The Green Mile: Humane death row guard Tom Hanks (in another interesting just-
    one-of-the-gang role) discovers that gentle giant inmate, Oscar nominee Michael
    Clarke Duncan, has healing powers. The long but worth it screen adaptation of
    Stephen King’s novel features imaginative special effects and top-notch
    performances, down to the dancing mouse. R; 189 minutes (Warner)

    Guns of Navarone: Slick, digitally-restored reissue of the Oscar-nominated WWII
    classic finds Gregory Peck, Anthony Quinn and David Niven prepping to storm Nazi
    encampment on Greek isle in order to destroy long-range artillery. Still holds up.
    NR; 167 minutes (Columbia TriStar)

    Hamlet: To rent or not to rent. Director Michael Almereyda’s modern day spin on
    Shakespeare’s famously twisted soap opera stars Ethan Hawke as the tortured
    dreamer, here a young filmmaker suffering the slings and arrows of corporate
    intrigue—and a seriously dysfunctional family. Inventive, if just a bit silly, and co-
    starring Sam Shepard as the ghost of Hamlet’s dad, and Bill Murray as Polonius. R;
    111 minutes (Miramax)

    Hanging Up: Beleaguered party-planner Meg Ryan fends off her dying but
    boundary-busting dad (Walter Matthau) and oppressively meddling sisters (Diane
    Keaton and Lisa Kudrow) while attempting to sort out her own life. Engaging but
    predictable doings, with stand-out Ryan. Nora and Delia Ephron wrote the
    screenplay, adapted from Delia’s novel, and Keaton directed. PG-13; 95 minutes
    (Columbia TriStar)

    Happy, Texas: Escaped cons hide out in small town posing as gay beauty pageant
    consultants. Original, funny romp that wowed at Sundance but faded at the box
    office. With Steve Zahn and William H. Macy. PG-13; 104 minutes (Miramax)

    Heavy Metal 2000: Animated with killer metal soundtrack; animation tests, photo
    gallery, featurettes, isolated music score. (Columbia TriStar)

    Here on Earth: Small town sweethearts Chris Klein (Election) and Leelee Sobieski
    (TV’s Joan of Arc) watch their world cave in when she’s diagnosed with a terminal
    illness the summer before they head off to college. Earnestly acted, but a bit too
    TVfrom the disease-of-the-week premise to the soapy script. Annette O’Toole,
    once a screen teen herself, plays Sobieski’s mom. PG-13; 96 minutes (Fox)

    Hide and Seek: Happy couple’s happy life goes to hell when wife is kidnapped by
    a pair of whackos. B-movie premise pulls off an A-minus thanks to nice turns by
    Daryl Hannah and a delectably deranged Jennifer Tilly. R; 100 minutes (Trimark)

    High Fidelity: Unfulfilled Chicago record store owner John Cusack (in top form
    here) spins through an identity crisis as he obsessively replays his love-life’s
    greatest hits. Clever script (based on Nick Hornby’s best-seller), great soundtrack
    and a breakout performance by Jack Black as a geeky vinyl fanatic make this one a
    chart-topper. Joan Cusack, Lisa Bonet and Tim Robbins co-star. R; 113 minutes
    (Touchstone)

    The History of Sex: Four-volume crash course on mankind’s libido tracks
    anthropological naughtiness throughout history—from Roman orgies to Kama Sutra
    to Viagra. Not very sexy, but a nice personality. NR; 240 minutes (History Channel)

    Hollow Man: Screw-loose defense department scientist Kevin Bacon turns himself
    invisible with an experimental potion, then spends the rest of the movie tormenting
    his research team with gooses, gropes—and much worse. Superior special effects
    and nudity like you’ve never seen it (courtesy of Kevin) bedeck an otherwise dumb
    and predictable outing. Elisabeth Shue goes through the paces as Bacon’s ex-lover-
    turned-lab mate. R; 113 minutes (Columbia TriStar)

    The Hollywood Collection: Move over A&E Biography. MPI’s comprehensive
    library of show biz bios—from Marilyn Monroe and Cary Grant to Gary Cooper and
    Shirley Temple—now adds 14 new celebrities to the star-studded roll call, with tell-
    all  profiles that include rare archival footage and exclusive interviews. Included in
    the latest batch: Joan Crawford and Lassie. No bitch jokes, thank you. (MPI)

    The Hollywood Knights (1980): On vid for the first time, this 1965 Halloween night
    joyride through Beverly Hills stars Tony Danza (in his film debut), Michelle Pfeiffer
    and Fran Drescher. Think American Grafitti with less style, more grease. R; 91
    minutes (Columbia TriStar)

    Holy Smoke!: After rescuing their daughter (Kate Winslet) from a spiritual cult in
    India, an Australian couple hires an unorthodox American deprogrammer (Harvey
    Keitel) to get her thinking straight again. Mission accomplishedbut then he
    becomes obsessed with her. Another exploration of tangled sex roles by director
    Jane Campion, and another chance to see more of Harvey than we need to. R; 114
    minutes (Miramax)

    House on Haunted Hill: Six strangers are offered a million bucks each to survive
    one night in the titular spook shack. Geoffrey Rush headlines this frighteningly bad
    remake of the 1958 Vincent Price chiller. Pass. (Warner)

    How the Grinch Stole Christmas!: Before Jim Carrey’s fuzzy green incarnation
    came the animated TV sleeper (1966), bundled here with a stocking full of extras,
    including interviews, making-of documentary, pencil sketches, and bonus feature,
    Horton Hears a Who. G; (Warner)

    Hullabaloo: seven episodes from the 1965-66 TV show: Herman’s Hermits, Sammy
    Davis, Jr., and the Supremes, The Moody Blues, The Byrds, Frankie Avalon, The
    Mamas and the Papas, Dusty Springfield, many more. (MPI)

    The Hurricane: Denzel Washington soars as real-life boxer Rubin “Hurricane”
    Carter—wrongfully accused of murder and sentenced to life—whose jailhouse
    memoir convinced a Brooklyn teen (Vicellous Reon Shannon) and three do-gooder
    Canadians (Deborah Kara Unger, John  Hannah, Liev Schreiber) to campaign for
    his release. Forget the hubbub about the story’s accuracy—it’s convincing,
    compelling and downright inspirational. R; 146 minutes (Universal)

    I Dreamed of Africa: Kim Basinger is real life conservationist Kuki Gallman, who
    returns to the Africa of her childhood with her husband and son in order to reunite
    with the land. Alas, director Hugh Hudson (Chariots of Fire) unspools more of a
    benign travelogue than riveting biopic—but it sure is a pretty one. Vincent Perez co-
    stars. PG-13; 115 minutes (Columbia TriStar)

    The Insider: 60 Minutes vs. big tobacco as corporate giants do battle over fired
    whistle-blower. Al Pacino and Russell Crowe smoke, as director Michael Mann’s
    verite camera pulls you right into the fray. Riveting. R; 157 minutes (Buena Vista)

    Intimate Strangers: Unseen Life on Earth: You’ll never look at a germ the same
    again. This four-volume crash course on the billions of single-celled creatures that
    blanket the planet includes all the biotechnological nitty gritty—from the magic of
    DNA to the havoc wrought by the Hanta virus. Best performance: the protozoa
    (though the fungi chew the scenery pretty nicely, too). NR; 200 minutes (A&E)

    Isn’t She Great: Bette Midler headlines as shlock-shock author Jacqueline Susann
    (Valley of the Dolls), whose knack for depicting the sex-and-drug lifestyles of
    Hollywood stars—and marriage to publicist/manager/fan Irving Mansfield (Nathan
    Lane)—made her a household name. Not the tongue-in-cheek skewering you’d
    expect, but some nice stylings from director Andrew Bergman (The Freshman). R;
    95 minutes (Universal)

    It’s the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown: After cutting a deal with the Mayor for a year’
    s supply of dog food, a concertina-toting Snoopy escorts an army of mice from town
    in this never-before-seen Peanuts special, developed under the supervision of the
    late Charles M. Schulz. Magical and charming, as always, with a special 11-minute
    retrospective featurette honoring the legendary cartoonist. NR 24 minutes
    (Paramount)

    It’s the Rage: Seven conflicted soulsfrom a shut-in computer company mogul
    (Gary Sinese) to a foul-mouthed street brat (Anna Paquin)come together in a
    complex tangle of personal drama, whose only common element is a handgun. High
    on energy, low on preachiness, director James Stern’s modern allegory hits the
    target dead-on. David Schwimmer shines as a cuckolded gay lover. R; 97 minutes
    (Columbia TriStar)

    Jackie: Behind the Myth: Susan Bauman’s deft and informative portrait of
    Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis—from society’s child to presidential widow to New
    York book editor—eschews tabloid hyperbole for good, solid reporting. Includes
    interviews with Isaac Stern and Pierre Salinger. NR; 120 minutes (PBS/Warner)

    Jakob the Liar: WWII: Poor Jewish cafe owner Robin Williams fabricates Allied
    victories to lift spirits in Polish ghetto. Despite Williams’ earnest turn, heavy-handed
    script—and long shadow of Life is Beautiful—dull impact. PG-13; 120 minutes
    (Columbia TriStar)

    Jazz: Louis and Billie and Duke highlight this ten-tape tour of the music that defined
    America, courtesy of gifted documentarist Ken Burns (The Civil War, Baseball).
    Jammed with more than 4000 photos and film clips—and featuring 500 hot and cool
    compositions—it swings and sings as sweetly as a tenor sax in a smoke-filled
    speakeasy. The entire program will air on PBS in January. NR; 18 hours
    (PBS/Warner)

    Jesus: You know the story, right? This retelling of the birth of Christianity (originally
    aired on CBS as a miniseries) focuses on the compelling relationships Jesus
    fostered on the way to the heavenly kingdom—with his virgin mother, devoted
    disciples and political enemies in Rome. Jeremy Sisto brings a refreshing humanity
    to the role of roles. NR; 173 minutes (Trimark)

    Joe Gould’s Secret: Ian Holm and Stanley Tucci co-star in the humorously
    melancholy true tale of a New York journalist who discovers of a mysterious
    Greenwich Village bohemian claiming to have compiled a 25-year oral history of the
    times. One-man-band Tucci (he also co-wrote and directed) gives quiet immediacy
    to an old story, while Hope Davis and Susan Sarandon lend solid support. R; 104
    minutes (USA)

    Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat: Donny Osmond headlines first-ever
    filmed version of Webber-Rice’s 1968 Biblical rock opera. Great gobs of glitz and
    unstoppable Donny compensate for show’s big weakness: rinky-dink tunes and
    dumb lyrics. Joan Collins co-stars. NR; 118 minutes (Universal)

    Jurassic Park and The Lost World: Collectors’ editions—behind-the-scenes,
    making-of, storyboards, models, dinosaur encyclopedia. (Universal)

    Keeping the Faith: The premise is promising enough: boyhood pals grow up to
    become men of the cloth—a priest (Ed Norton) and a rabbi (Ben Stiller)—only to
    lose grip when they reunite with their now-alluring school chum (Jenna Elfman).
    Alas, it rambles on like an overlong sermon, brightening only when Elfman shows
    up. Still, worth a look. PG-13; 127 minutes (Touchstone)

    La Cucaracha: Unfulfilled Jersey office worker (Eric Roberts) flees to the inspiring
    climes of Santiago, Mexico, to write the great American novel—but becomes a hit
    man instead. The only problem: he’s not very good at it. More sophisticated than it
    sounds, with Roberts summoning up just the right amount of emotional instability.
    Joaquim De Almeida co-stars. R; 104 minutes (Paramount)

    Last Night: With just hours until the world’s end, Toronto urbanites plan their last
    hurrahs—including suicide, debauchery and existential reckoning. Bittersweet
    parable racked up a dozen Genie nominations (Canada’s Oscars). R ; 96 minutes  
    (Universal)

    Leila (1997): When a newlywed discovers that she is infertile, her mother-in-law
    demands that her son take a second wife to produce an heir. Iranian director
    Dariush Mehrjui blends domestic drama with modern social commentary in a
    sleeper that captured hearts at festivals from Rotterdam to Vancouver. (In Farsi,
    with subtitles.) PG; 129 minutes (First Run)

    Leon, the Professional: Twelve-year-old New Yorker Natalie Portman solicits hit
    man neighbor to help her exact revenge on the thugs who offed her family. Down-
    shifted to cult status since its 1994 premiere (alternately under the titles The
    Professional and Leon), this Director’s Cut features 24 additional minutes, an
    isolated music score and talent files on Portman, co-stars Jean Reno and Gary
    Oldman, and director Luc Besson. NR; $29.95 (Columbia TriStar)

    Leprechaun in the Hood: The creepy little psycho-in-green returns, this time
    chasing down three wannabe rappers who swiped a music tycoon’s magic flute. Ice-
    T headlines a St. Patty’s Day special as off-putting as green beer. Pass. R; 91
    minutes (Trimark )

    Les Bonnes Femmes (1960): Four Parisian shop girls sell kitchen appliances by
    day, then comb the club scene by night, in search of romance. French new wave
    pioneer Claude Chabrol’s passionate though dated portrait of friendship and love—
    one of his personal favorites—makes its tape debut as part of the “Rare Treasures
    of European Cinema” series. In B&W and subtitled. NR; 95 minutes (Kino)

    Liberty Heights: Director-writer Barry Levinson’s latest spin through Fifties
    Baltimore tracks a middle class Jewish clan as it confronts racism, racketeering and
    post-war ennui. Joe Mantegna is a strip joint owner running a numbers racket on
    the side; Bebe Neuwirth is his wife—but the new young faces steal it. Another solid
    family portrait, a la Diner. R; 127 minutes (Warner)

    The Long Night: Anatole Litvak’s moody rumination on crimes of passion isn’t one
    of Henry Fonda’s most memorable gigs, but it embodies all the eerie beauty of film
    noir. Fonda is a distraught factory worker hiding out in his apartment after
    murdering an oily dapper dan (Vincent Price). Remastered from the original 35mm
    negative and co-starring Barbara Bel Geddes. NR; 101 minutes (Kino)

    Love and Basketball: Childhood sweethearts and hoop fanatics Omar Epps and
    Sanaa Lathan find themselves all elbows when it comes to playing one-on-one off
    the court. Writer-director Gina Prince-Blythewood—whose fast-break debut here
    brought the audience to its feet at Sundance—upends the by-the-playbook
    basketball flick with a refreshingly distaff spin. Spike Lee produced. PG-13; 127
    minutes (New Line)

    The Magnificent Seven: Peaceful Indian tribe calls on Michael Biehn’s rag-tag
    posse to help protect them from gold-digging outlaws. Straight-shooting pilot for
    former TV series, based on Sturges’ 1960 big-screen classic. NR; 90 minutes
    (MGM)

    Magnolia: Director P.T. Anderson (Boogie Nights) assembles a vivid, unsettling
    collage of nine different interpersonal dramas set against the backdrop of balmy
    Southern California. A keen-eyed script, Biblical finale and Oscar-nominated turn
    by Tom Cruise as a TV sex guru make this one to remember. But, boy, is it long. R;
    188 minutes (New Line)

    Make Someone Happy & Other Thomas Adventures: When a serious thespian
    like Alec Baldwin narrates a children’s tape, you know it’s not just kids’ stuff. Here
    are six new Thomas the Tank Engine episodes, in which the cheerful choo-choo
    and friends dodge calamities left and right—including runaway freight cars and an
    icky mudslide. NR; 35 minutes (Anchor Bay)

    Man on the Moon: The good news: Jim Carrey hits a bullseye as notorious ‘70s
    anti-comic Andy Kaufman. The bad: Milos Forman’s sketchy biopic skates the
    surface, keeping Andy the mystery he always was. Fun cameos by the former cast
    of Taxi. R; 119 minutes (Universal)

    Mansfield Park: Impoverished parents of Nineteenth Century English country girl
    ship her off to the titular family estate to live with her dysfunctional family, which
    includes a drug-addicted aunt, a slave-trading uncle and an alcoholic cousin. Star-
    crossed romances ensue, as our heroine becomes a horsewoman and author.
    Adapted with sass from Jane Austen’s novel. PG-13; 110 minutes (Miramax)

    Meeting Daddy: Bona fide southern belle (Alexandra Wentworth) summons her
    Jewish writer boyfriend (Josh Charles) from Los Angeles to Georgia to help her
    care for her ailing—and crazy—father (Lloyd Bridges). A charming if boiler-plate
    culture clash, that manages to trot out a hit list of stereotypes without offending.
    Lloyd’s son (Beau) plays Lloyd’s son. R; 92 minutes (Paramount)

    The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc: Director Luc Besson’s lush spin on
    the legendary French warrior. The real battle: Milla Jovovich’s fine titular turn vs.
    scene-stealing co-stars Faye Dunaway and John Malkovich. R; 148 minutes
    (Columbia TriStar)

    Mifune: Summoned from his bed with the news of his father’s death, a
    beleaguered newlywed heads to the Copenhagen countryside to cope with family
    mattersincluding a mentally handicapped brother and a hooker-turned-
    housekeeper who’s on the lam. Cheeky and clever, this offbeat romp captured
    trophies at several European film fests. In Danish, with subtitles. R; 102 minutes
    (Columbia TriStar)

    The Miracle Maker: Ralph Fiennes, Miranda Richardson, William Hurt and Julie
    Christie provide the voices for this warm and thoughtful interpretation of the story of
    Jesus of Nazareth, as seen through the eyes of a young girl. The program, which
    combines traditional cell animation and cutting-edge 3D-model technology,
    originally aired on ABC-TV last Easter. Inspiring. G; 91 minutes (Family Home
    Entertainment)

    Miss Julie: Impetuous 19th Century English noblewoman Saffron Burrow initiates
    lusty liaison with her father’s footman (Peter Mullen), then pays the consequences.
    Director Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas) puts a passionately proper spin on the
    Strindberg classic. R; 120 minutes (MGM)

    Mission to Mars: Think Apollo 13. Think Close Encounters. Now, can you say
    “not!”? Gary Sinese and Tim Robbins command a bumpy-ride rescue mission to the
    red planet, only to encounter lame special effects and a strained story line along
    the way. You know you’re in trouble when you start rooting for the aliens, just to get
    it over with. PG; 113 minutes (Touchstone)

    Mission: Impossible 2: The plot is instantly forgettable—something about
    stopping a whacked-out international rogue—but Tom Cruise’s slick, high-tech
    follow-up to his ‘96 blockbuster is a blast to watch, if only for John Woo’s razor-
    sharp direction and Thandie Newton’s cool turn as a gorgeous jewel thief. The
    movie raked in half a billion at the b.o. (Yes, you read that correctly.) PG-13; 124
    minutes (Paramount)

    Molly: Beautiful, autistic Elisabeth Shue awakens to world after experimental
    procedure. Aaron Eckhart’s turn as the caretaker brother (Rain Man, anyone?) and
    Shue’s spirited spin save it from disease-of-the-week demise. PG-13; 100 minutes
    (MGM)

    Moon Over Broadway: D.A. Pennebaker’s behind-the-curtain expose tracks the
    titular stage play (starring Carol Burnett), from optimistic early run-throughs to
    shaky Boston tryout to nail-biting opening on the Great White Way. Fly-on-the-wall
    brilliance, a la Pennebaker’s earlier peeks at politics (The War Room) and pop
    stardom (Bob Dylan: Don’t Look Back). NR; 98 minutes (Docurama)

    Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr.: Stylish, unsettling
    documentary about the nerdy, coffee-guzzling electric chair and gas chamber
    designer who built a career on death, then became an international pariah when he
    was enlisted by revisionists to disprove the mass murders of the Holocaust. A
    critics’ favorite—and deservedly. PG-13; 92 minutes (Universal)

    Mumford: Supershrink Loren Dean saves small town from rampant neuroses. Only
    problem: He’s a fraud. Neat polemic on love and therapy from writer-director
    Lawrence Kasdan. Co-stars Hope Davis and Martin Short. R; 96 minutes (Buena
    Vista)

    Music of the Heart: Hard-knocks music teacher Meryl Streep brings violin to
    Harlem school kids. True story nicely captured by Elm Street director Wes Craven
    in breakaway gig. Gloria Estefan and Angela Bassett lend solid support. (Based on
    a 1995 documentary, alternately titled Fiddlefest and Small Wonders.) PG; 124
    minutes (Miramax)

    My Dog Skip: Jay Russell’s sapless, charming coming-of-ager (based on Willie
    Morris’ best-selling memoir) follows a boy’s triumphant journey from shy kid to self-
    assured young manand all because of the pooch that stood by him. The perfect
    kids-and-their-folks VCR date, starring  Frankie Muniz (Malcolm in the Middle),
    Diane Lane (A Walk on the Moon) and Kevin Bacon (everything). PG; 93 minutes
    (Warner)

    Mystery, Alaska: A small Alaskan town sweats it out in the national spotlight when
    its amateur hockey team faces off with the New York Rangers. Stinging satire on
    instant celebrity (and dirty secrets) from Austin Powers director Jay Roach. Russell
    Crowe stars. R; 115 minutes (Buena Vista)


    (See Bruce Kluger's 2000 Us Weekly video/DVD reviews, A-E, N-S, T-Z)