Cate Blanchett in "The Missing"
courtesy of Columbia Home Entertainment
"You Need To Find 'The Missing'"

A few years ago Ron Howard won the Oscar for Best Director and Best Picture for "A Beautiful Mind." This year he should have been nominated for his movie "The Missing." Somehow this film slipped through the cracks and never received the attention it deserved. Now that it is out on video/DVD perhaps it will find its audience.

Cate Blanchett and Tommy Lee Jones star in this western drama which concerns the abduction of a girl (Evan Rachel Wood) from her family. She has been taken by a pack of renegade Indians who intend to sell her into slavery. Her mother (Blanchett) enlists the aid of her estranged father (Jones) and the chase is on.

The film is very reminiscent of the John Wayne classic "The Searchers" and could also become a classic in a few years. The acting, the scenery, the music, and the photography combine to make this an above average movie in every way.

So search it out and don't let "The Missing" go missing from your DVD entertainment. It was included in my "ten best list" of last year. I stand by that choice.

I was hoping for comic delight in "Looney Tunes: Back In Action" but I didn't get it. This film combines animation and real life in much the same way "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" did, but somehow the effect is much less. Oh its fun to see Bugs and Daffy in the movies again but the real life stars such as Brendan Fraser, Jenna Elfman and Steve Martin get in the way of the fun.

Kids will love this movie but adults who were excited about seeing it will be disappointed. Count me as one of those.

Shemar Moore and Viveca A Fox star in the drama "Motives." It is about life among the rich, famous and powerful. Moore plays a man who has it all and he risks it by indulging in an affair that he tries to keep secret. When a murder is uncovered it becomes harder and harder to keep things from his wife (Fox).

Moore and Fox create fascinating characters in this film, and the plot keeps you on edge from beginning to end. "Motives" is a movie that will entertain you while also making your brain work.

Fox is also one of the stars of "Hustle and Heat," a movie about the death of a rapper. The plot is not the draw to this film. It is all about the actors who in addition to the foxy Fox, includes Duane Martin, Jadakiss, and Sticky Fingaz. With a cast like that, there is a built in audience.

Robert Rodriguez keeps the "Spy Kids" franchise going strong with "Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over." Juni and Carmen (Daryl Sabara and Alexa Vega) are on the job again. This time they are investigating a wild video game. When they enter the game everything occurs in 3-D. These effects were not very good when the film was on the big screen, but somehow it works better when you are in your own home.

Sylvester Stallone is on hand for a trio of roles, and Ricardo Montalban has a large role as the grandfather. Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino are barely visible throughout the entire movie.

This is a movie made for the kids and they are the ones who will enjoy it. Adults will find it bearable.

Women will be the main fans of the documentary "Searching For Debra Winger." This film was created by Rosanna Arquette and consists of interviews with a variety of actresses who discuss the role of women in movies today. They also talk about "having it all" as well as the price women pay for fame.

At the end of the movie there is an actual interview with Debra Winger, the actress who gave it all up in order to raise her family. There are insights here but mostly it is just a chance for women to get some things off their chests.

'My Life Without Me" is a movie that could easily have been maudlin but somehow becomes a positive ode to living life to the fullest. It is the story of a young woman named Ann who has a hum drum life. Then one day she learns that she has only a few months to live and that is what makes her start really living.

Sarah Polley, Scott Speedman, Mark Rufalo, Amanda Plummer, Alfred Molina and Deborah Harry are part of a strong ensemble cast. They give the movie meaning and purpose and let us see how characters can grow and change before our eyes.

Don't let the subject matter of "My Life Without Me" scare you off. This is a positive movie that you ought to see.

For the kids there is a new "Angelina Ballerina" movie titled "Lights, Camera, Action." My four-year-old granddaughter loves this dancing mouse and so do all her little girl friends. So make sure your little ballerina gets a chance to watch it.

 

 

 

 

 

©2004 Jackie K. Cooper

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