8B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN FOOTBALL
SPORTS
THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2005
Saw Movie (♦)
DVD (♦♦)
R, 100 minutes. Now available on DVD
If Saw was a turkey, it stayed in the oven about an hour too long — almost every thing about it feels overdone and the film is at times illogical to the point of hilarity.
the times illogical to the pa-
remise is interesting: two strang-ers (Carey Elwes, Leigh Whannell) wake up chained on opposite sides of a dilapidated bathroom. In the center of a room lies a body, apparently killed by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The two men discover that they were put in this room by a serial killer named "Jigsaw" who likes to torture his victims in
ironic and disguiting ways so they'll appreciate life again. It's impossible explaining the plot from this point on because one plot point can't be explained without the plot twist for it five minutes later.
The film distracts from itself with too many plottwists and flashbacks that are repeated three or four times. A movie
four time like this would work as a short film, about 45 minutes to an hour long, because it seems like the director and writer kept plot twist after plot twist on top of each other to fill time. Some are clever. Most don't work. The acting is less than satisfactory, but that's because it's nearly impossible to care about any of the characters. I watched this movie with my roommate, and neither of us cared if the main characters got out of their dire situation alive.
The DVD special features are slim. The director and writer provide commentary, in addition to a brief and unsatisfying behind-the-scenes feature about the making of the film and another feature about the making of a music video.
Jon Ralston
Stage Beauty Movie (★★★)
DVD (★★)
R 110 minutes. Now available on DVD
I don't care what the synopsis for Stage Beauty says: Claire Danes makes a much better woman than Billy Crudup. Both are pretty in their own right, but Danes just has something that makes her a better woman, or rather, a lack of a certain something. Stage Beauty is all about gender bending, and bears a few similarities with Shakespeare in Love. While not as good as that Oscar winner, Stage Beauty is still enjoyable, funny and well-acted.
century, the film focuses on a time where only men were allowed by law to play women's parts on stage. Ned Kynaston (Billy Crudup) is the best at it. He is so good, in fact, that girls place bets on what actually lies between his legs, and fat lords confuse him for a good lay. His assistant, Maria (Danes), is an aspiring
actress and also has a crush on Kynaston. The acting world is turned upside down when King Charles (Rupert Everett) declares that women, and only women, can play women's roles. This of course leaves Kynaston out of a job and gives Maria the opportunity she has been looking for.
The supporting cast is excellent, particularly Everett's deadpan and ridiculous king. But this is Crudup's movie. Stage Beauty would not have worked if his Kynaston had not made a convincing woman, but he seems to pull it off easily.
woman, but he seems to perk up.
The DVD special features are light and include a director's commentary and the usual behind-the-scenes featurette.
Jon Ralston
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