Sarah Michelle Geller and Grace Zabriskie in "The Grudge"
courtesy of Columbia Home Video
"Buffy's Career Roars On"

Sarah Michelle Geller is one smart little cookie. First she roars on to daytime television in the hit soap Opera "All My Children." Then she picks an unlikely nighttime series called "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Then she acts on the big screen in the "Scooby-Doo" franchise (picking up hubby Freddie Prinze, Jr. along the way). And now she has a monster hit in the horror flick "The Grudge."

You can see how good Sarah Michelle is in "The Grudge" as it is now out on video. This movie was based on a Japanese horror film and is set in Japan. Geller is the main character in the film but the fun of the movie comes in the creepy atmosphere that covers everything. In a lot of ways it reminds me of "The Ring" and I guess that puts Geller in the league with Naomi Watts.

"The Grudge" is a psychological horror film that will stay with you for some time after you have watched it. And to be sure there will probably be a "Grudge 2" with Geller back in the lead. I think she has found herself another franchise.

With the Academy Awards being presented on February 27, a lot of attention is going to the DVD/video release of "Ray." This homage to the life of Ray Charles features Jamie Foxx in the performance of a lifetime. He is the man to beat at the Oscars and this role solidly places him at the front of any list of Hollywood's best actors.

The movie takes a look at Charles' life, warts and all, and is stunning in its delivery. Keep an eye out for Regina King's stunning performance as one of the Ray-ettes, plus a beautiful performance by an unknown actress (Sharon Warren) as Ray Charles mother.

Watch it for the performances, the story and the music but be sure to watch it. It is great!

Bernie Mac doesn't deliver an award winning performance in "Mr. 3000" but he does insure that viewers of this movie have a good time. In the film he plays an egotistical ball player who had 3000 hits during his career and then retired. That is all he wanted from the game and when he got it, he retired - leaving his team high and dry. But several years later he finds there was an error on his record and he only it 2997. Now he has to go back and get these other three hits.

Angela Bassett co-stars as a love interest for him and the two of them make a dynamic pair. In fact all the actors in the film are good and make this a really enjoyable comedy. You will enjoy it so rent it today.

Not so enjoyable is "Vanity Fair." Reese Witherspoon stars in this latest version of Willam Makepeace Thackery's classic novel. It is the tale of a young woman, Becky Sharpe, living in England who is a social climber. She uses people, especially men, to advance her social position.

Witherspoon was miscast in this film and never gives the sharpness to Becky Sharpe that the character deserves. The supporting cast which includes Jim Broadbent, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Rhys Ifans and Eileen Atkins are much better.

This is a film to see for the costumes and the settings rather than the story and acting. Overall I would have to rank it as a disappointment.

Witherspoon had one of her biggest successes with "Sweet Home Alabama." Now Julia Stiles tries to convey southern families and southern humor in the film "Carolina." Her co-stars include Shirley MacLaine and Jennifer Coolidge.

Stiles plays a girl looking for true love but one obstacle she faces is her wacky southern family. The course of true love doesn't run smoothly in this over the top look at love southern style.

Much more enjoyable in my book, and also with a strong heroine, is "Mulan II." Ming Na is back as the voice of Mulan, and she is joined by the voices of Lucy Liu and Michelle Kwan. There are more adventures for this warrior girl and more songs. Once again Lea Salonga is back as the singing voice of Mulan.

This is a well done sequel to one of Disney's brightest animated features. Your children and you will have a thrilling time watching it.

Spike Lee hit a low spot in his career with the non-entertaining "She Hate Me." The film stars the very talented Anthony Mackie as a man who is a walking sperm bank. He hires out to impregnate women and that is putting it as nicely as possible.

The cast is full of good actors such as Woody Harrelson, Ellen Barkin, Monica Belucci, Kerry Washington and on and on, but they can't make this movie any better than it is. Spike Lee had a goal in mind when he made this film but it wasn't entertainment.

Finally there is "3 Steps To Heaven." This is a film about a woman whose boyfriend dies and she determines to find out why. She turns into an amateur detective to track down any and all who had anything to do with his death. With each step she takes she comes closer and closer to the truth and each success makes her more and more determined.

Karin Cartlidge stars in the film and she manages to convey the desperation this woman feels. This is a very thrilling, very solid film. Watch it!

 

 

 

 

 

©2005 Jackie K. Cooper

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