Father Geek here finally recovered (barely) from a uber orgy of food and drink held at Texas watercolorist Walter Falk's estate here in Austin every Superbowl weekend for the past 22 years. Its not really about the GAME, its more about excess. There were 6 kegs of heavy flavored brew (import and local micro brewed fare)plus hundreds of individual bottles of beer, stout, etc...; and five hundred pounds of fresh roasted meat (Black Bear, Alligator, Feral Pig, Deer, Turkey, whole Salmon, Lamb, Beef, Homemade sausages, Chicken, etc...); mountains of homebaked pies, cakes, cookies and breads; gallons of Tex-Mex beans, potato salads,and turkey mole; about 50 lbs of brey, feta, and other imported cheeses; and an outdoor Oyster bar (Quint's hangout) stocked with 300 pounds+ of the sea gems prepared every way you can name, plus new this year several trays of Sushi especially for all the white wine drinkers.

Highlights of this years event included the appearance of Sister Satan and Lobo with my Grandson, the 1st third generation party attendee. The kid was a real hit, copping cheap feels right and left, being held, poked, and nuzzled for hours by dozens and dozens of partiers. AICN's Tom Joad won $50 for predicting the halftime score, before the game started. Harry was presented a one-of-a-kind Silver medal to signify his acceptance into the Order of Barons (The exclusive group which provides the meat and drink for this and other like events throughout the year) He is the 1st of the 2nd generation to be excepted into the elite group. This really is a faaaaar cooler honor that you can ever imagine. The group grew out of the legendary Henryck Von Loon Dining Society.

We fired up the 35 foot long iron pit at 6 am Sunday morning and the revelry continued for about 22 hours. The whole feral pig (fresh shot from horseback in the Llano of West Texas) was roasted about 18 hours, the 32 lb beef inside round took about 14, the 2 Bear shoulder roasts from a ranch in the South Dakoda's Black Hills took around 10 hours each, the 3 legs of lamb stuffed with speciality sausages and herbs were on for 7 hours, the 50 young Louisiana farm-raised Alligator legs took only about 4 hours in the smoker(placed near the fire box). Speaking of fire we only use Central Texas Post Oak and South Texas Mesquite wood to stoke the pit.

People come and go starting at dawn (that's when Harry and I arrived); eating, drinking and making merry (when she isn't busy). About 250 attend each year from all over Texas. I didn't actually do a body count, but it sure seemed that there were more females in attendance than guys this year. Anyway all the AICN local staff that showed survived, well I don't know about Annette Kellerman (she was last seen being helped into a car by Johnny Wad and Flesh Gordon), but the rest did, so here's this week's Euro-AICN column... Father Geek out... must crawl back in bed... were is that light switch?

EURO AICN

Hello dear AICN friends... Edgard here with the one and only EURO AICN... You will find here below some cool links for the hopefully cool BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLVES (next week I should be able to review it myself). The success of this film is really important as it could open big the doors of a new wave of popular films here in France (but it could also close the same doors in case of a flop or moderate success... so we will keep an eye on the French box office in the next weeks). Like every week, Ozymandias keeps us updated on different films such as HULK, PHONEBOOTH, GROSSE POINTE BLANK 2,... And to finish you will get the "I disagree" review... This week it's WONDER BOYS who's reviewed negatively by Ethan - and positively by me... You will have just to choose what's your position there...

FRANCE

* The French website "¨Premiere" (www.premiere.fr) is getting better and better with their multimedia coverage for new films... you can already find many cool trailers from up-coming films, but don't miss the "BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLVES" clips, trailers and teasers. Of course as it's a French film, all the clips are in French but still it's the opportunity to see the general look of it... Here's the message we received :

We've started our big coverage of "Le Pacte des loups" (Brotherhood of the wolves). Everyday, you can check new clips from the movie at this adress: Click Right Here Some awesome scenes already: "Le combat" with Mark Dacascos fighting and "L'attaque de la bête" which features a creepy beast... The photo gallery has been updated and features 21 stills from the movie. More to come, and check them out here: Just Click .

And next week, video interviews with the stars of the movie, Mark Dacascos & Samuel LeBihan. Also, the soundtrack composed by Joseph LoDuca (yes, Evil Dead!) will appear on the site, with some audio clips.

Have a nice day,

Mathieu

* French website Allociné reports that Sean Connery will play the greek philosopher Socrate in a biopic from an idea of musician Vangelis (who will make the music but will not direct). Nothing more right now, just need to follow this one.

* For the 6th edition of the "Lumieres" (the French Golden Globes), the winner is LE GOUT DES AUTRES. Best film, best director and best script. Already a huge success at the box-office, the comedy directed by Agnes Jaoui is a favorite for the Cesars (the French Oscars) to be held at the end of February. Other prices include : Daniel Auteuil (best actor for SADE); Isabelle Huppert (best actress for MERCI POUR LE CHOCOLAT) and AMERICAN BEAUTY (best foreign film).

UK

* Some news on Vinnie Jones from www.empireonline.co.uk : Having totally mastered the shotgun-toting thug image in previous films, Vinnie Jones will be opting for a change of character for medieval movie THE FENMAN, according to The Sun. Having recently voiced some reluctance to return to return to British shores, Vinnie seems to have had a change of heart and is reported to have landed a six-figure sum for the role, “I will be playing the lead, which is superb.” The Fenman will, oddly enough, be set in The Fens in East Anglia and the ex-Wimbledon player described the project as a cross between Predator, Braveheart and Last of The Mohicans. No specific plot details were made available. “It’s a really different role for me," Vinnie said of his new image as broadsword-swinging thug. “The character is a bit of a nutter.” Yes, we can see how that might prove something of a stretch. Story is available at : http://www.empireonline.co.uk/news/news.asp?story=2873

* Some "distribution" news on THE MEXICAN, the up-coming blockbuster (??) uniting Brad and Julia : "I heard that dreamworks here in the uk are investigating the site "www.themexican.co.uk", as it reflects very badly on their soon to be released brad pitt/julia roberts movie. i've been told that they've already had many complaints".

love aicn

regards, CC

* From Screendaily, some happy box-office news for CTHD : Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon set yet another box office record Wednesday night as it became the highest-grossing foreign-language film ever released in the UK. The Mandarin-language film, which is still only in its third week on release, has taken $4,483,784 (£3,078,380) to date. The previous record of $4,423,087 (£3,036,708) was held by Oscar winner Life Is Beautiful, which opened in February 1999. The film, distributed in the UK by Columbia TriStar, looks set to build on its record-breaking gross in the weeks to come. Columbia will add a further 15 prints on Friday, taking the total across the UK and Ireland to 120, still fairly limited when compared to current chart toppers Cast Away (on 393 prints) and Columbia's own Vertical Limit (391 prints). Crouching Tiger has held the highest screen average in the UK chart for each of its three weekends on release. Records are also being broken in North America where the film is distributed by Sony Pictures Classics. With a current gross of $37.3m, it has become the biggest Chinese-language film in US history. Its current worldwide gross stands at over $65m. The wuxia pian martial arts film is also likely to benefit from its Golden Globe wins on Sunday night, and anticipated Oscar nominations. Ang took best director and the film won best foreign-language film at the Globes.

TOP TEN FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILMS IN THE UK

Title (Distributor) Country Of Origin (Release Date) Total Gross

1. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Col TriStar) Ch-Tai-US (5-Jan-01) £3,078,380*

2. Life Is Beautiful (BVI) It (12-Feb-99) £3,036,220

3. Cyrano de Bergerac (Artificial Eye) Fr (1-Jan-91) £2,458,175

4. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (Yash Raj Films) Ind (Aug-98) £1,498,006

5. The Lover (Guild) Fr (19-Jun-92) £1,375,697

6. Il Postino (BVI) It (Oct-95) £1,273,708

7. All About My Mother (Pathe) Sp-Fr (27-Aug-99) £1,179,824

8. Farewell My Concubine (Artificial Eye) Ch-HK (7-Jan-94) £1,039,622

9. Cinema Paradiso (Palace) It-Fr (23-Feb-90) £1,022,000

10. Buena Vista Social Club (FilmFour) Ger-US-Fr-Cuba (17-Sep-99) £955,278

OZYMANDIAS CORNER

First off the fledgling (and highly entertaining) new Irish movie site Moviemate has a cool piece this week on Dublin's only horror film festival "Horrorthon!" - well worth checking out at Their Site

In the UK Daddy G has been in contact with details of a major UK flick that's just started shooting this week:

Ozy

I haven't seen this reported so here goes.

Brief background - The Hacienda was a club in the centre of manchester (recently the subject of a CNN report) and holds almost mythical status throughout the world (rather like studio 54).

Here's what was reported in today's manchester metro:

Royle star Ralf hooked on Rock wildman

Former Royle Family star Ralf Little has won the part of New Order wildman Peter Hook in the film about the rise and fall of Manchester's Hacienda nightclub.

The movie '24 Hr Party People' began filming in Manchester this week and also stars comic Steve Coogan as factory records boss and TV presenter Tony Wilson.

Bass player peter Hook was central to the early fortunes of of Factory, playing first with influential band Joy Division and then with New Order.

John Thomson plays a friend of Tony's while New Order singer Bernard Sumner will be played by John Simm who has previosuly worked with the film's director , Michael Winterbottom, on his acclaimed drama Wonderland.

The film is named after a track by another factory records artist 'The Happy Mondays' and will look at the Manchester venue from the late 70's to the early 90's when the label went bust.

I'll keep a look out near the Hacienda for any set photo's.

Cheers daddyG

Empireonline.co.uk have a real doozy! Hadn't heard word of this but given that the lovely Minnie is one of my all time poster girls and GPB one of the recent greats I'm salivating.... No, actually salivating!!!!! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm:

Eighties music, high school sweethearts and contract killing. This is the formula that made 1997’s ridiculously funny Grosse Pointe Blank one of the best comedies of recent years. Rumours of a return for John Cusack’s reluctant hitman have been circulating since the first film hit the screens but Minnie Driver is still enthusiastic to come back for one last job.

“We’ve been talking about it ever since we did the first one,” Driver told Empire. “Whenever John and I and the writers come across each other, as we do quite often, the conversation invariably turns to, ‘So, when are we going to do another one?’ and we start cracking up and coming up with ideas.”

Returning to his home town on business, Grosse Pointe Blank saw Cusack’s hired killer Martin Blank dodging bullets from rival hitmen, wrestling with a crisis of conscience and all the while trying to repair his relationship with his high school girlfriend, played by Driver. But while a sequel does seem on the cards, don’t expect to see Cusack re-attaching his silencer just yet. “It’s very difficult to pin everyone down to write a sequel,” bemoans Driver. “We’re hoping that we will one day.”

To read the full public access interview with Mininie Driver, don't forget to buy the March issue of Empire Magazine, on sale from February 1.

And Crouching Tiger takes over the UK too!

Ang Lee's martial arts epic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has become the most sucessful foreign film ever released in Britian.

The film, which just won two Golden Globes - for best foreign film and best director, has only been on UK release for three weeks, but has already taken £3, 078, 380. It's also broken records in America, becoming the biggest Chinese-language film ever released there.

Crouching Tiger overtakes Roberto Benigni's Oscar-winning Life Is Beautiful in the top spot. Ang Lee's hopes for Oscar success now look very high, in the wake of his Golden Globe wins.

And God bless popcorn.co.uk who have already started squeezing Ang Lee for Hulk details!:

Ang Lee has been talking about his plans for a live-action version of 'Hulk', and has cast doubt over David Hayter's script.

Speaking to Eon magazine, the director says he is currently developing the movie and "we're hoping for a 2003 release. But it is just in the beginning stages."

The project has been stuck in development hell for years, but got a much needed energy boost after 'X-Men' scriptwriter Hayter was brought on board to write a script.

But Hayter's script may not make it into the final cut. "We've got to do so much research and prepare work and just see what's happening," Lee says. "I'm just beginning on the script and will probably be changing it entirely."

The Taiwanese director, who says he knows the comic book character but isn't a fanatic, says his reasons for potential changes are because "I would like to have a new approach to the material. I like to bring drama and character into a pop-entertaining genre."

You can see Lee's current movie, 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon', at cinemas across the UK now.

And this little tidbit too:

MARK ADDY IS thought to have joined the cast of 'The Time Machine'. According to filmforce.com, the British actor is set to play Dr Philby, best friend to the time-travelling Alexander (Guy Pearce). The website says filming will take place at Vassar College in New York as a stand in for a 19th century Columbia University. Jeremy Irons also stars as the stern University dean.

Thanks to Chris for spotting this one - you just HAVE to check the site out, it's a real example of fan power at work!

Hi,

I heard that dreamworks here in the uk are investigating the site "www.themexican.co.uk", as it reflects badly on their soon to be released brad pitt movie.

regards, christopher Clarke

This one I take with a slightly bigger pinch of salt (even though it came from the BB fronted by the DIVINE Amanda Byram (have I mentioned her before?!?!?!?)):

Top o'the mornin' to ye Oz!

Don't know if you saw this yourself but on the Big Breakfast this morning in the sport and show-biz news section they had this little report saying that Catherine Zeta Jones was being hotly tipped as the first female 007 for Bond 20 and is in the running with Robbie Williams (please, God, no...) and Russell Crowe (trying to reprise the George Lazenby angle?).

WiteWulf over and out.......

The occasionally (!) accurate Showbizireland.com has details on a project I'm fascinated by. RTE and the BBC in the UK have financed the filming of all of Beckett's plays for a single season here at the IFC and on TV later this year. Am going to try to catch them and will report back....:

Some of the worlds biggest stars are flocking to Ireland for a series of 19 films by 19 Directors to celebrate the Irish writer Samuel Beckett. Anthony Minghella (The English Patient) Neil Jordan (Michael Collins) and Damien O'Donnell (East is East) have shot some of Beckett's plays for the big screen are all expected to be in Dublin for launch on February 1st which will held in Dublin Castle.

Some of world's most renowned actors will also fly in for the launch according to PR staff of RTE; the state TV station which is hosting the party. "We expected all the directors involved as well some actors who have taken part in Beckett films such as John Hurt, Jeremy Irons, Julianne Moore, Alan Rickman and Kristan Scott Thomas.

A total of 19 of Beckett's works will be shown at the Irish Film Centre (IFC) from February 2nd to 8th and will be aired on RTE later this year.

The Irish President will also attend the party in February 1st for the actors and directors prior to the screening of the first film.

The series is also expected to be sold around the world to a number of TV stations.

And as if we had any doubts we're the biggest moviegoers in Europe again. Like, duh.....:

THE Irish are the keenest cinema-goers in Europe according to figures out yesterday putting us at the head of the box office queue with a yearly average of 3.4 visits per person.

France, where 170 million cinema tickets a year are sold, is the biggest movie market but this averages out at just 2.9 visits per person. Finland and Greece are in the back stalls, with a mere 1.2 visits per person.

More Europeans are going to the cinema these days but most are flocking to see American films. The EU statistics office revealed the cinema audience in Europe grew by 40pc between 1990 and 1998 after declining during the previous four decades.

Despite the increase in cinema ticket sales almost 800 million in 1998 Europeans see less than half as many films as Americans who visit the cinema on average 5.5 times every year.

Ananova.com have a few bits including Cameron in tennis shorts anyone?????:

Hugh Grant may star alongside Cameron Diaz in a love story based on tennis players at Wimbledon. The film is being planned by British company Working Title, maker of Notting Hill and Billy Elliot. The company is hoping to film some of the action at Wimbledon. Scriptwriter Mark Levin told the Sunday Express: "We want to do it while Hugh's still young enough to be comfortable with the athleticism of the role."

A Working Title spokesman said: "It is still very early days. "We have a lot of movies to make before we sit down and start drawing up wish lists about who we want in it."

And Cher's life story..... ;-)

Cher to play blood-thirsty countess in new film

Cher is to star in a film based on the life of a countess who bathed in virgins' blood to stay young.

Hungarian Elisabeth Bathory wanted to live for ever and had dozens of virgins murdered for their blood. She died in prison in 1614.

Czech director Zdenek Troska wants to start filming next winter and aims to cast Gerard Depardieu and Anjelica Houston.

It will be the most expensive Czech film ever made. Production costs are estimated at over £4m.

And Neil's new flick looks like getting underway:

Lock Stock star lands role in Neil Jordan caper

Ryan Philippe and Jason Flemyng are being lined up to co-star in Neil Jordan's new film Double Down.

The £14 million French Riviera conman caper is a re-make of the drama Bob Le Flambeur.

Philippe was in I Know What You Did Last Summer and Cruel Intentions, and Flemyng appeared in both Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch.

Friends of Philippe say he has been waiting for the right European opportunity to come in his direction.

Flemyng - one of the original Brit Pack - is on the verge of making his Hollywood breakthrough.

One friend said: "Ryan is at a similar point in his career to Keanu Reeves and Brad Pitt a couple of years back.

"But he lacks that 'serious' label which a director of Jordan's stature would give him."

Double Down is due to start filming in the spring.

However this has to be a very, very early April Fool:

Matthew McConaughey is now the hot tip to star as Robert Burns in a new biopic.

Alan Sharp has penned the script about the 18th century Scottish poet. The choice of the Texas-born actor will cause major controversy.

Sir Sean Connery may play a cameo role as Burns's father. He is understood to be also showing an interest in financially backing the project. But according to insiders Burns needs interest from Hollywood to make it an international success.

A senior source close to the production told Ananova: "American backing may be vital to secure decent distribution.

"McConaughey is now an established star and as much as the likes of John Hannah and Robert Carlyle are brilliant and Scottish, they don't mean as much over there." McConaughey made his breakthrough in A Time To Kill and has starred in Contact and U571.

Sharp also created Rob Roy and The Osterman Weekend.

Anyone heard anything about this one?

Soderbergh plans Full Monty-style film

Steven Soderbergh is teaming up with George Clooney to give The Full Monty an American twist.

The duo are masterminding the £6 million film called Welcome.

The story focuses on a group of unemployed working-class men from Cleveland in Ohio who make a mess of robbing a pawn shop.

Courtney Love is set to play the female lead in the movie which is due to go into production in Ohio in the spring.

A source close to the production told Ananova: "Nobody strips but there are similarities about guys suddenly finding themselves on the scrapheap and clawing their way back."

Soderbergh is tipped to scoop prizes at the Oscars in late March for both Traffic and Erin Brockovich.

He and Clooney are currently plotting the re-make of Ocean's 11.

BBC Online has this on Johnny Depp's character research:

Actor Johnny Depp has toured the London East End haunts of Jack the Ripper as research for his new film role. The actor went unrecognised by fans on his two-hour tour, and he was accompanied by Ripper expert and ex-policeman Donald Rumbelow.

The pair rounded off the tour with a stop in The Ten Bells Pub, where one of the Ripper's victims used to enjoy a drink.

In the film From Hell, Depp plays Inspector Frederick Abberline, a drug-addicted police inspector desperately trying to catch the killer who terrorised London in 1888.

He's intelligent, easy to get on with, genuinely nice

Donald Rumbelow

"A few people gave us a second look but probably assumed he was a lookalike," Mr Rumbelow told the News of the World magazine.

He said he was impressed by the depth of the actor's knowledge on the subject.

"He's one of the best-informed people I've guided.

"He's intelligent, easy to get on with, genuinely nice. He'd read my book, which was flattering."

The star visited the site of the Frying Pan pub in Brick Lane and asked to see the doorway where the Ripper wrote a message after one of his murders.

A spokesman for The Ten Bells said of Depp: "He was a really nice bloke, very friendly. He had a couple of halves of lager and talked about the Ripper. He knew his stuff."

Daddy G has been in contact with details of a major UK flick that's just started shooting this week:

Ozy

I haven't seen this reported so here goes.

Brief background - The Hacienda was a club in the centre of manchester (recently the subject of a CNN report) and holds almost mythical status throughout the world (rather like studio 54). Here's what was reported in today's manchester metro:

Royle star Ralf hooked on Rock wildman - Former Royle Family star Ralf Little has won the part of New Order wildman Peter Hook in the film about the rise and fall of Manchester's Hacienda nightclub. The movie '24 Hr Party People' began filming in Manchester this week and also stars comic Steve Coogan as factory records boss and TV presenter Tony Wilson. Bass player peter Hook was central to the early fortunes of of Factory, playing first with influential band Joy Division and then with New Order. John Thomson plays a friend of Tony's while New Order singer Bernard Sumner will be played by John Simm who has previosuly worked with the film's director, Michael Winterbottom, on his acclaimed drama Wonderland.

The film is named after a track by another factory records artist 'The Happy Mondays' and will look at the Manchester venue from the late 70's to the early 90's when the label went bust.

I'll keep a look out near the Hacienda for any set photo's.

Cheers daddyG >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Empireonline.co.uk have a real doozy! Hadn't heard word of this but given that the lovely Minnie is one of my all time poster girls and GPB one of the recent greats I'm salivating.... No, actually salivating!!!!! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm:

Eighties music, high school sweethearts and contract killing. This is the formula that made 1997’s ridiculously funny Grosse Pointe Blank one of the best comedies of recent years. Rumours of a return for John Cusack’s reluctant hitman have been circulating since the first film hit the screens but Minnie Driver is still enthusiastic to come back for one last job.

“We’ve been talking about it ever since we did the first one,” Driver told Empire. “Whenever John and I and the writers come across each other, as we do quite often, the conversation invariably turns to, ‘So, when are we going to do another one?’ and we start cracking up and coming up with ideas.” Returning to his home town on business, Grosse Pointe Blank saw Cusack’s hired killer Martin Blank dodging bullets from rival hitmen, wrestling with a crisis of conscience and all the while trying to repair his relationship with his high school girlfriend, played by Driver. But while a sequel does seem on the cards, don’t expect to see Cusack re-attaching his silencer just yet. “It’s very difficult to pin everyone down to write a sequel,” bemoans Driver. “We’re hoping that we will one day.”

To read the full public access interview with Mininie Driver, don't forget to buy the March issue of Empire Magazine, on sale from February 1.

And God bless popcorn.co.uk who have already started squeezing Ang Lee for Hulk details!:

Ang Lee has been talking about his plans for a live-action version of 'Hulk', and has cast doubt over David Hayter's script.

Speaking to Eon magazine, the director says he is currently developing the movie and "we're hoping for a 2003 release. But it is just in the beginning stages." The project has been stuck in development hell for years, but got a much needed energy boost after 'X-Men' scriptwriter Hayter was brought on board to write a script. But Hayter's script may not make it into the final cut. "We've got to do so much research and prepare work and just see what's happening," Lee says. "I'm just beginning on the script and will probably be changing it entirely." The Taiwanese director, who says he knows the comic book character but isn't a fanatic, says his reasons for potential changes are because "I would like to have a new approach to the material. I like to bring drama and character into a pop-entertaining genre." You can see Lee's current movie, 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon', at cinemas across the UK now.

And this little tidbit too:

MARK ADDY IS thought to have joined the cast of 'The Time Machine'. According to filmforce.com, the British actor is set to play Dr Philby, best friend to the time-travelling Alexander (Guy Pearce). The website says filming will take place at Vassar College in New York as a stand in for a 19th century Columbia University. Jeremy Irons also stars as the stern University dean.

And showbizireland.com have the first piccie I've seen of Colin Farrell filming Joel Schumacher's Phone Booth - check it out at Their Site

L8r, Ozymandias

Write me at ozymandias@dublin.com

Ain't It Cool News - Ireland/UK Office, Penthouse Suite, Ozymandias Towers, Dublin, Ireland.

THE "I DISAGREE REVIEW"

This week Ethan looks at WONDER BOYS and doesn't like it. And this week - as I liked WONDER BOYS - I decided to write my own review to propose you an alternate view on this film... Up to you to choose your side, or let us know a different one... Let's hear first from Ethan :

WONDER BOYS by Ethan

A couple of nights ago I`ve rented Mak Kit-tai`s live-manga THE WICKED CITY. Before the movie began I indulged myself in seeing trailers that were attached to this 1995 edition. During the trailer for Peter Hewitt`s TOM AND HUCK I`ve noticed one girl that looks just like young Katie Holmes. When I saw her, I almost dashed to the videostore to rent TOM AND HUCK and see if Katie Holmes really stars there. Since it all happened in the middle of the night, all I could do was checking Maltin`s guide. Since Maltin didn`t credit her I regained my inner peace and watched Kit-tai`s remake of Yoshiaki Kawajiri`s anime masterpiece. I`ve told this story only to describe how dissappointed I felt when Tobey Maguire`s character chose Robert Downey Junior instead of Katie Holmes in WONDER BOYS. Even kinky vet Michael Douglas chooses Frances McDormand instead of her. Thus Katie Holmes is wasted and misunderstood in this movie. Since I regard wasting Katie Holmes as a sin, WONDER BOYS will have to suffer my brutal analysis.

The studio and the critics marketed picture as a `coming-of-age` movie. Who exactly `comes-of-age` in this flick? We can debate on this topic. Even you accept the fact that minor character changes mean `coming-of-age` (e.g. being sodomized by book editor) you realize that the whole process is over by the 15th minute of the picture. In the movies that I like, story must flow and last as long as the movie lasts. This film`s story was completed at the movie`s beginning.

These words are harsh. Maybe because I wanted this movie to be good. As an apt fan and pupil of Curtis Hanson, I praise all of his films. I even like LOSIN` IT on some perverse trashy level. I consider L.A. CONFIDENTIAL as a complete masterpiece and one of the greatest movies ever. You betrayed me, Curtis!!!!!!

Actually what really happens in this movie? Typical character arc usually takes the character from point A to point B. I wonder where are these points in this movie. Obviously, these characters do change as movie goes by but these changes come easy. You feel no emotion, no thrill, no suspense. You care for these characters but their way to equilibrium is smooth. Definitely not dramatic. These characters face no obstacles. Even fake and unrealistic stories about non-existing people who have non-existing problems (like GOOD WILL HUNTING) have more dramatic tissue than this mess. WONDER BOYS simply doesn`t result in catharsis.

Acting is nice. All of the thespians show-off and over-act but Hanson manages to keep them on leash. Atmosphere truly exists but all these well-crafted atmospheric scenes have no function in the story. All of these well-made set-pieces simply don`t take us anyway.

Curtis Hanson`s direction in this movie works on a mechanical level. If you try to analyze it a whole world of flaws can be found. Many of these flaws belong to Steven Kloves` script. His adaptation of Chabon`s book is almost plotless and Hanson fails to develop the tiny strings of dramatic potential. For example, Kloves brings us two intrigues. First one is the stolen Marilyn Monroe jacket. The second one is the dog`s corpse. These two mishaps could have propelled the story in some direction. At least these two intrigues would bring some movement and pace (and function) into this endless, moody, atmospheric chit-chat. But no. The dead dog was placed in Tobey Maguire`s bed and Monroe`s jacket is used for the philospophical touchdown when authors tell us that every waitress in rural America may become Norma Jean one day. Oh, boy I really needed to learn this in the year 2000! How smart!

Another big problem lies in Hanson`s direction itself. However efficient it remains stylistically incoherent. Half of the time, Hanson tells us the story of burnt-out pot smoking college teacher. Been there. Done that. But OK I am rolling with it. On the other hand, Hanson shows some Felliniesque local freaks which belong to some other movie (e.g. character Vernon Hardapple). Not the one about people who wear sweaters, read books and rent rooms to Katie Holmes. By the way this whole Fellini thing is fake, Curtis. Fellini and other neo-realists were sponsored by America to destroy the European cinema. How? Why? Well, while Hollywood made movies about heroes and rich people who do interesting abd wonderful things, Fellini and Co. were making movies about morons and losers who lose their bicycles or something. Curtis, please don`t believe all the hype and things they say about European classics.

When WONDER BOYS` credits rolled I wanted to see the movie again. I felt that the feature I saw wasn`t the one Curtis Hanson made. But it was.

Overall, I can say that WONDER BOYS may pass as a movie that simulates certain pleasantness but its` foundation is rotten and there is absolutely nothing underneath the star aura and it`s a shame. Yet greater shame is the fact that most of the people who saw this think of it as subtle intimate piece. At its` very best WONDER BOYS feels like a simulation of subtle and intimate work.

In any other case I would hype the movie where James Ellroy makes a cameo, but this time I`ll have to serve the justice not my fandom.

Now, I`m off to IMDB to check about Katie Holmes and TOM AND HUCK.

God bless, Ethan

P.S. WONDER BOYS also fits into the avalanche of movies about Tobey Maguire`s characters being deprived of their virginity. Thus Robert Downey Junior joins Charlize Theron, Jewel and all the other actresses that simulated the first sexual experience of Tobey Maguire`s characters.

EDGARD'S REPLY

This week I decided to express my own "I disagree" to the Ethan's "I disagree" review of the week... that means - if you follow me - that I will disagree with Ethan who's himself disagreeing with the general opinion : well yes, I liked and enjoyed WONDER BOYS quite a lot...

From the beginning I didn't watch WONDER BOYS with the same motivation than my friend Ethan. First, there's this Katie Holmes argument. Well I agree with Ethan that I would certainly prefer Katie above Frances McDormand, and definitely above Robert Downey Jr. Still I never thought of WONDER BOYS as a Katie Holmes film so I could live with the way it was. Second - and most important - I don't see WB as a "comes-of-age" movie either... at least not on the Tobey Maguire's perspective. For me it's Michael Douglas' character - Prof Tripp - who faces the "coming-of-age" changes. And in that way, WB is really succesfull (IMHO of course)...

Because for me WB was really about Tripp learning to deal seriously with love, fatherhood, creative work and more generally life. Classic isn't it ? Certainly, but it becomes interesting when you feel that Prof. Tripp and Michael Douglas are really close... WB is then not only about a man learning to deal with his own age and situation, but it's also about an actor who for once plays someone human... Not a horny victim of women (otherwise Katie Holmes would have got it); not a cold and selfish businessman (otherwise he would not be a teacher)... If you except the mistake that was AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT, WB is the first time in 15 years - at least - that you get to see Michael Douglas as a real human being... one with flaws and doubts... one that could be you or me (in a few years)...

Maybe my mistake is to reduce WONDER BOYS as a tribute to Michael Douglas-the-Man; but that's how I watched it, that's how I felt that film... I don't know the book that inspired the movie so I can't judge really the story on that point of view. All I can say is that beside Douglas all actors are wonderful... you don't get to see Frances McDormand and Robert Downey Jr enough in good roles... Tobey and Katie are certainly promising for the futire (although I also feel Katie was under-used and Tobey should start to play not-virgin characters for a change). But yes, basically I disagree with Ethan...

Edgard

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