Lou Diamond Phillips
courtesy of Columbia Home Video
"The Multi-faceted Career of Lou Diamond Phillips"

It would appear that Lou Diamond Phillips has been around such a long time that he must be at least sixty years old by now. Not so. The man is only forty-one years old and in the prime years of his career.

"Yeah people do have a tendency to think I am older," he said in a recent telephone interview. "'La Bamba' was my debut film and it was released in 1987."

In that film he played legendary singer Richie Valens and the role shot him to stardom. I asked him if he did his own singing in that movie. "No," he answered. "I was cast late so when I got to the set the soundtrack had already been recorded."

Later Lou did get to use his vocal talents when he starred on Broadway in 1996 in a revival of "The King and I." His co-star was the fabulous Donna Murphy and the show played to great reviews and enthusiastic audiences.

His next film is "Hollywood Homicide" which stars Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett. "I play an undercover cop who dresses as a prostitute," he said. "I am not a transsexual or anything. I am just undercover. But it does mean I spend the entire film in female clothes."

Phillips has a three DVD set of movies coming out this month. The three featured films are "La Bamba," "Bats" and "The Big Hit." These are three highly different movies and ones which show Lou's versatility. "I am proud of each of these movies for different reasons. And they all found a different audience," he said.

So have yourself a Lou Diamond Phillips' night at home by watching all three of these movies. You can go from the music and romance of "La Bamba" to the thrills and fun of "The Big Hit" to the chills and suspense of "Bats." Everything you want in a movie can be found in one or more of these three.

Another fine actor has a video out this week. Kevin Kline stars in "The Emperor's Club," a story about a man who is a professor at an all boys school.. One of his new students (Emile Hirsch) seems to be having trouble adjusting to the rules and such. Kline's character takes a personal interest in him and thinks he has made a difference in the young man's life. But things are not always what they seem.

Kline is very good in his role but the movie seems to be too much of a "Good-bye Mr. Chips" or "The Dead Poets Society" repeat. It is sweetly sentimental but we have all traveled this road before.

The new film "Identity" has caused John Cusack's stock as an actor to rise. Perhaps it will bring about a new appreciation for his talent as displayed in a film like "Max." In this movie he plays a German artist who has been wounded in World War I. Unable to paint he opens an art gallery. There he meets the young Adolph Hitler (Noah Taylor) who shows some promise as artist.

The film only deals with Hitler's younger years but the tyrant who he is exists even at an early age. Soon politics takes over his life and the artist is left behind.

Cusack and Taylor do well in defining their roles. Leelee Sobieski is the female lead.

You can go from the past to the future when you move from "Max" to "Equilibrium." This futuristic film deals with a world where all things that incite the emotions have been banned. This includes art, literature, etc.

Christian Bayle stars as a police type who has second thoughts about the laws he is enforcing. Emily Watson, Taye Diggs and Sean Bean also star in this movie which is on the same order as "The Minority Report."

If you are a fan of comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock you will want to see the documentary type video "Comedian." This film deals with how different comics treat the problems inherent in performing stand up routines. You get a new perspective on how comedy can be hard work, and the pressure there is to make the audience laugh - constantly.

This is an enjoyable look at the world of comedy in a way that you have rarely seen. It is entertaining and enlightening.

Finally there is "Sabertooth" which is a good old fashioned thriller about a sabertooth tiger which is regenerated by a group of scientists. Once it is back, it is hungry - for humans!

David Keith and Vanessa Angel star in this silly but scary movie that doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is - a B grade scare flick. Enjoy!

If after reading this review you are interested in ordering any of these movies,
please click on the provided links.

 

 

 

 

 

©2003 Jackie K. Cooper

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