July 7, 2001
Quo Vadis (2001) **
Conventional adaptation of Henryk Sienkiewicz's Nobel Prize-winning novel about the persecution of Christians under Nero. Jerzy Kawalerowicz's last film.
The Piano Teacher (2001) **
Disturbing and unpleasant film about a masochistic pianist (Isabelle Huppert).
Sex And Lucia (2001) ***
Before landing a leading role in a big Hollywood movie (James L. Brook's "Spanglish"), beautiful Paz Vega appeared in this sexy Spanish movie, directed by Julio Medem. The plot is quite confusing and the film is far from being a masterpiece, but Paz Vega gets naked a lot, and I mean A LOT. Similar in many respects to ''Jamon Jamon'' and "Huevos de Oro", "Sex and Lucia" is probably the best of the many "Spanish-girls-get-naked-to-arouse-Hollywood's-big-shots" films and Paz Vega follows in the footsteps of Penelope Cruz as the next sex bomb from Spain. Besides Paz Vega , the film also stars beautiful Elena Anaya, while sexy Diana Suarez makes a brief, but memorable appearance as Anaya's mother, sunbathing and arousing herself with a water hose while her fully dressed daughter talks on the phone. Diana Suarez was also Paz Vega's body double during the more sexually explicit scenes.
Dog Days (2001) ***
This is a truly strange Austrian film. Actually most of Austrian films are strange (Götz Spielmann's ''Antares'' and Michael Haneke's ''The Piano Teacher'' also come to mind). Directed by Ulrich Seidl, ''Dog Days'' is set in a middle-class suburb of Vienna during two of the hottest days of the year. There is no plot, only a series of anecdotes illustrating such happy themes as sexual aggression, loneliness, as well as lack of integrity and violation of intimacy.
June 6, 2001
May 5, 2001
Crème glacée, chocolat et autres consolations (2001) **
Charming, but very low-key film about a group of young people.
April 4, 2001
Weapon Of Choice (2001) ****
Cul-de-sac (2001) **
"Cul de sac" is a story about a man who tries to end his life unsuccessfully. Unhappy father of a draining family, he has no control whatsoever over his life. Paul doesn't see any other way but to commit suicide. All the suicide attempts comically bump up against the demands of each family member. He also loses control of his own death. Wishing to free himself more firmly, he locks himself into dependance and a lack of power. A Canadian short film directed by Vincent Egret.
Camping With Camus (2001) **
Lust lands him in trouble. Can philosophy get him out? A New Zealand short directed by Alan D'Arcy Erson.
Una Mujer con panuelo (2001) **
Directed by Isaias R. Jimenez, it's a Spanish short about a refugee from Eastern Eurpoe who talks about the chilling experiences in the "New War".
Killing Time (2001) **
Claudia Ferri and Frank Scorpion star in this enigmatic short film directed by Tara Johns.
Soother (2001) **
Interesting short film about rivalries among young schoolgirls. Directed by Jennifer Kierans.
Give Up Yer Aul Sins (2001) ***
Strange Invaders (2001) ***
Stubble Trouble (2001) **
Entertaining, but weird cartoon about a caveman who tries to impress a cavegirl who rejects him because of his beard. The caveman attempts to shave his face, but his hair grows back instantly. Nominated for an Oscar.
Fifty Percent Grey (2001) *
Irish cartoon about a soldier who finds himself in heaven, in purgatory and finally in hell. Nominated for an Oscar.
March 3, 2001
Kabaret Olgi Lipinskiej: Wielkie otwarcie (2001) ***
"W grudniu" *
"Hold i uwielbienie" ("Don't worry be happy") **
"Byle do wiosny" *
Kabaret Olgi Lipinskiej: Odprawa poslow (2001) ***
"Kozakiewicza gest" ("Bedzie jak byc musi") **
"Puszka z Pandora" ("Kulig w strusich jajach") **
"Wlos stanal na glowie" *
"O wdziekach Maryni" *
Kabaret Olgi Lipinskiej: Sprawa otwarta (2001) ***
"Czerwiec" **
"Geografia" ("Epidemia sukcesu") *
Kabaret Olgi Lipinskiej: Zupa a la kacza (2001) *
"Dwie sierotki" *
"Europa prosze czekac" ("Placowka for ewer") **
"Dziwny kraj" *
"Od Bugu do rzeki Odry" *
Further Tales Of The City (2001) ***
Kabaret Olgi Lipinskiej: Tyle zlego co dobrego (2001) *
"Piknik pod wulkanem" *
"Parawaniki" ("Kabina cieni") **
"Nieslychanie mi przyjemnie" *
"Lustereczko" *
Kabaret Olgi Lipinskiej: Nowe perspektywy (2001) *
"Nie donos na mnie" ("Kto kogo w konia") *
"Przeziebiony apolityczny" *
"Zuzanna w kapieli" ("Skok w Nowy Rok") ***
"Tenorow wielkich trzech" *
Kabaret Olgi Lipinskiej: Popiol i sledzik (2001) ***
"Nasz rzad" ("Zeby jaja byly swieze") *
"Jedna wielka rodzina" ("Dziady na czatach") **
"O zalosnym krolu Stoleczku i o wszetecznej krolewnie Madlence" *
"Pada snieg" ("Epidemia sukcesu") **
"Oddajcie takze mnie" *
Kabaret Olgi Lipinskiej: Karnawałowy przerywnik (2001) ***
"Slunicko" ("Strus") **
"2-aj maturzysci" *
"Karczma na rozstaju" *
February 2, 2001
The Deep End (2001) **
A great performance from Tilda Swinton, but otherwise a routine murder-and-cover-up story set in Lake Tahoe.
Legally Blonde (2001) **
Everything you ever wanted to know about blonde lawyers but were afraid to ask.
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) **
The first film from Wes Anderson's middle (and least interesting) period, to be followed by "The Life Aquatic" (2004) and "The Darjeeling Limited" (2007).
January 1, 2001
Artificial Intelligence A.I. (2001) *
A schizophrenic, but interesting clash of two very different artistic visions: Stanley Kubrick's, who prepared the film shortly before his death (and whose vision clearly dominates the first half) and Steven Spielberg's, who ended up directing it (and whose vision clearly dominates in the second half). The results are quite disappointing.
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