Shaft, Michael Jordan to the MAX, Gone in 60 Seconds, Me, Myself & Irene, Croupier.
by
George Shaw
Shaft
Crooked cops on the take small-time drug lords sleazy informers and sadistic rich kids ready to kill -- for police detective John Shaft, it's just another night in the underbelly of New York City, another shift facing down cops and criminals who want him dead and a legal system that thrives on money, not justice. "Shaft" is a new approach to one of the great film icons of the 1970s. He's tough, he's smart, he's cool just what you'd expect from a man whose uncle and mentor is John Shaft. When spoiled college kid Walter Wade kills a young black student, John Shaft makes the arrest. Walter skips bail and flees the country, and after two years of waiting, Shaft hauls him back into custody as Walter secretly returns to the States. But when Walter's wealthy father posts bail once again, Walter is back out on the streets and looking to put Shaft in a body bag. So are two of Shaft's corrupt colleagues as well as a Dominican drug lord who wants revenge on Shaft for humiliating him in the neighborhood he rules. For backup, Shaft has only his two closest pals: Carmen, a colleague on the police force; and his streetwise confidant, Rasaan. Meanwhile, Shaft has got to track down the one murder witness who can put all of his enemies away for good even as the toughest killers in the city close in on him.
Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Busta Rhymes, Jeffrey Wright, Vanessa Williams, Christian Bale. Directed John Singleton.
Gone in 60 Seconds
Gone in Sixty Seconds is about automobile aficionado Randall "Memphis" Raines, a car thief of legendary proportion. No fancy lock or alarm could stop him; your car would be there, and then suddenly gone in 60 seconds. For years, Memphis eluded the law while boosting every make and model imaginable. When the heat became too intense, he abandoned his life of crime and left everything and everyone he loved to find a different life. Now, when his kid brother tries to follow in his footsteps, only to become dangerously embroiled in a high stakes caper, Memphis is sucked back into his old ways-in order to save his brother's life.
Starring Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Giovanni Ribisi, Scott Caan, James Duval. Directed Dominc Sena.
Me, Myself & Irene
Meet Charlie Baileygates, a 17-year veteran of the Rhode Island police force. Charlie is mild-mannered, hard-working, always helpful, and a devoted and loving father to three sons. Unfortunately, Charlie has Split Personality Disorder, and when he runs out of his medication; meet Hank Baileygates, Charlie's hyper-sensitive alter-ego. Hank's got a filthy mouth, drinks like a fish, breaks skulls and loves dirty, dirty sex. Charlie and Hank have nothing in common with the exception of Irene Waters, a beautiful woman on the lam with whom they have both fallen in love. Now, Hank/Charlie must wage war -with himself-for the confused Irene's affections.
Starring Jim Carey, Jim Carrey, Renee Zellweger, Robert Foster, Robert Forster. Directed Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly.
Croupier
London's gambling world is the setting for this complex thriller, where aspiring writer Jack Manfred, suffering from writer's block, takes a job as a croupier to support his art. Knowing the dangers of the cards, Jack is adamant about remaining a professional outsider, but the temptations of the game inevitably swallow him deeper than he could have ever anticipated.
Starring Clive Owen, Nicholas Ball, Alex Kingston, Gina McKee, Kate Hardie. Directed Mike Hodges.
Michael Jordan to the MAX
A large-format Imax film about the career of Michael Jordan.
Starring Michael Jordan. Directed Dan Kempf, Jim Stern.
Jennifer Lopez has made history, claiming the number one spot with her new album "J.Lo" and her new feature film "The Wedding Planner", in the same week.
