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.