thur
remi
heim
He k
Boy
acro
on a
with
infe
Tha
erim
low
hay
Sm
Mil
neth
get
fille
sar
gale
laur
this
hur
bee
en
tran
wh
will
hei
Mi
at yo
yo fil th
th A i
ite er at So an co H aq so m o re w m a la S
20 joyplay
Al PG
thursday monus) 21.2003
NOW SHOWING
reviews in bric.
contributed shut
Lubvine, Sagueri stars as June, the daughter of a publisher, in Swimmin' Pool at Liberty Hall.
SWIMMING POOL
R. 102 minutes, Liberty Hall
When Christopher McQuarrel wrote The Usual Suspects in 1995, a new way to make a mystery movie materialized. Suddenly the points of view of a film's characters were not necessarily to be trusted. People have things to hide, and they'll keep them from you as long as they can. Or maybe they don't know they have things to hide, or they can remember them, as David Fincher theorized in 1999's Fight Club.
Swimming Pool offers a new perspective on this game of shifting identities and doubling realities. It's clever enough not to completely reveal the plot, but keep the game in mind during the film's measured opening scenes — a greater purpose is at play.
Mystery author Sarah Morton (Charlotte Rampling) arrive at her publisher's secluded French villa to write a book and lounge around the swimming pool. Here, she can indulge in
small pleasures others don't have time for. The ideas for the book never come; but privacy is enough for now.
A handsome waiter named Franck (jean-Marie Lamour) becomes an object of desire for both women. Julie returns home one night with a black eye apparently from an altercation with one of her men. Sarah learns of the mysterious death of the publisher's wife. And so on. The firm's revelations are in keeping with the director whose work *Swimming Poot* most closely resembles Brian De Palma. Like De Palma's masterful suspense shockers such as *Dressed to Kill* and *Biwout*, this playful French thriller introduces twists too meiodramatic to believe, but treats them too
Then the publisher's daughter, Julie (Ludivine Sagner), shows up like a wildcat at a tea party. Sarah wants her to leave, but Julie is too willing to give in. She stays and proceeds to bring home new lovers each night to have rude sex with, as Sarah listens from the upstairs bedroom but there's more, or maybe not.
ports to explain the film's engi-
matic double images
seriously to dismiss
Also like De Palma, the film's rampant sexuality adds a steamy layer of evotion to the lead performances. Sagmar acts made through roughly half her scenes but her emotions are equally exposed. She's like a wounded kitten as little hegs to be forgiven for crimes she barely understands. Sarah's physical exposure comes much later, after kampling has expertly peeled back every strip of the woman's urininess to reveal an alter ego real? imagined?) more out of control thanJulie's
After a single viewing, *Nunnimg Pool* ultimately leaves too many unanswered questions, but it's important to note a few cities given by the director, Francois Ozon, and his co-screenwriter, Emmanuel Berheim. Notice the window out of which Sarah first sees Julie. This window frame may represent a kind of screen onto which Sarah can project manipulated images. A sequence by the pool reveals that Sarah has access to Julie's dreams. And the ending is the most important shot, which pur-
Swimming Pool is an ingeniously designed piece of work a thriller from a young director that gets you excited in a way that recalls Christopher Nolan's Memento. The dialogue is in English, accompanied by a brilliant Hitchecockian suspense score from composer Philippe Romhl. Take a dip and wash away the mentory of a mediocre movie summer.
Stephen Shum
Grade A
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL PG-13-143 minutes South Wind 12
A summer movie has three primary goals. One, give the audience an escape from the ambearably hot weather. Two allow them to travel to some far off place for the price of a movie ticket. Three make them laugh, swoon, stare in amazement and have fun all in one sitting
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl surprisingly succeeds on all accounts, delivering a fun summer movie worthy of recognition.
Johnny Depp is undoubtedly the star As Captain Jack Sparrow Depp swaggers and swindles his way into a character that no one thought he had in him. This movie proves that Depp's name makes money and that he has the talent to back it up. Orlando Bloom, Ketra Knightly and Geoffrey Rush round out the fantastic cast in this tale complete with lost medallions, cursed pirates and young love.
Directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by blockbuster king kerry Bridgeland. Pirates of the Caribbean does have its share of cheesy moments. However, it is best to tolerate these moments to enjoy the thrilling and often bizarre ride that brings a welcome relief from the regular summer movie full.
- Lindsey Ramsey
Grade B*
FREDDY VS. JASON
R. 98 minutes South Wind 12
During the late 80s' many a teen-aged boy wondered who would win in the fight between Freddy Krueger and Jason Woothes?
All those boys finally get their answer with the new horror film Freddy vs. Jason, which is the 11th Jason movie and 8th. Freddy movie and possibly the most entertaining of all 19 films.
In this encounter, the children of Elm Street have forgotten about Freddy Krueger because their parents have wiped his existence out off all memories, databases and files in the town. For some reason this renders Freddy powerless. Freddy begins haunting lison Voorhies, taking the form of his mother, convincing the hockey-masked killer to go to Elm Street to kill people so they will remember the mayhem Freddy once maintained. Once they remember this mayhem Freddy will get his power back.
While the plot is ridiculous, and the acting sub par, the movie still works for one reason. It's not really a horror film. it's an extremely dark comedy that almost mocks the previous 18 films. Various "teen" actors through out the film drop several clever lines.
The action scenes are quite entertaining. Each pore has delivers both high-flying special effects and high body counts that leave the audience delightfully nauseated.
Cat Creek
Grande B
BAD BOYS II
R 143 minutes South Wind 12
There are movies in this world that are made to fit a specific audience. We all gone to see them — chick flicks, nendo intellectual films and testosterone-infused explosion tests — the latter being the main concern of Bad Boys 11.
The return of the Will Smith Martin Lawrence team will be hailed as an unwelcome