REEL CRITICS
No ‘Fears,’ Jack Ryan’s back again
Are terrorists any match for Ben Affleck and Morgan Freeman? There has
been much controversy surrounding the new film “Sum of All Fears.” In
light of recent events, the studios aren’t sure if moviegoers are ready
or willing to see films involving terrorism and bombs.
I went in with a positive outlook, thinking that Hollywood would put a
light touch to things, the terrorists will have a plan, but Affleck and
Freeman will be smarter, faster and get the job done with a bit of style
and panache. Boy, was I wrong. “Sum of All Fears” is engrossing,
turbulent and definitely high impact. The heart races and nerves are
tight.
Jack Ryan (Ben Affleck) is back, younger this time and bumbling. But a
rogue nuclear bomb is out and about. The president’s men are quick to
blame the Russians. It’s up to Ryan and his boss William Cabot (Morgan
Freeman) to figure out what’s really going on before disaster strikes.
The beginning of the movie takes its time setting up the characters
and events, which does get a bit confusing and twisted. Freeman is fun as
the meddling Cabot, boss and bad-advice giver. It is unfortunate and
amusing that Ryan listens to Cabot. Yet, the characters are quickly
upstaged by the action, and the story line rambles a bit. United States’
relations with Russia break down and the tone switches almost instantly
from light to tense. Then it’s time to hold on tight for a bumpy ride.
Affleck does an admirable job with the heavy job of playing Jack Ryan,
although it was a bit hard to accept characters addressing him as “Dr.
Ryan”; he just doesn’t seem old enough. Freeman, who is always a gem,
should have been used more.
It is comforting that “Sum of All Fears” was not as graphic as it
could have been. It would have been nice if the plot was a bit fuller and
more clearly explained, but such is the regret with most action films.
There is a heaviness to this film that hasn’t been seen for a long
time. At the same time, though, it is very interesting. It doesn’t have
the bubble-gum nature of “Spider-Man,” or the fantasy aspect that “Attack
of the Clones” does, but it is worthwhile. I highly recommend it. It’s
disturbing and unsettling, but very good.
* MELISSA RICHARDSON is a Costa Mesa resident and a junior at UC
Irvine.
‘The Importance’ of not messing with Wilde
Now I love British comedy, and “The Importance of Being Earnest”
amused me at times, but for the most part when I go to the theater and
spend $9 I want to be “wowed.” This film just did not do it for me.
Our story follows two thirtysomething gentlemen (Colin Firth and
Rupert Everett) living in 1890s England who use the same false name,
“Earnest.” However, when they both fall in love with women (Frances
O’Connor and Reese Witherspoon) who seem to be more obsessed with the
name, it is hard for them to pull away from the cover.
Aside from being completely removed from the original Oscar Wilde play
and butchering the more amusing dialogue, certain aspects of the story
came out of nowhere. For instance, one of our upper-class ladies gets the
name “Earnest” tattooed on her hind end. Can this be more random for 19th
century high society?
Halfway through the film, I just wanted to go home -- and it’s only an
hour and a half long. Maybe if the characters had been played less
typical, it would have improved the experience.
Everett made me wonder if he had stepped off the set of “An Ideal
Husband” to meet Witherspoon at the Salon -- I mean Country Manor.
O’Connor defined melodramatic to a bland Firth, and as for Dame Judi
Dench, although comical and wonderfully played, I have seen the same
character in a million other British comedies.
Perhaps if director Oliver Parker had been more respectful to Wilde’s
original writing, the actors would have had more to work with. Overall,
it seems “The Importance of Being Earnest” is for a Sunday afternoon when
you have nothing better to do. If you want to be “wowed,” go see
“Spider-Man” or “Star Wars” a second time.
* DEANDRA RICH is a novice screenplay writer in Costa Mesa who hopes
to one day turn Ebert and Roeper into Ebert and Rich.
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