Friday, October 24, 2003
·.....
eNS, video reviews NEW YORK (CNS) - The children under 13. (Warner following are video capsule re- Home Video) views from the Office for Film "Nowhere in Africa" (2003) Absorbing drama set in 1938 & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. about a Jewish couple (Merab "Hollywood Homicide" Ninidze and Juliane Kohler) and (2003) their young daughter (Lea Jumbled pastiche of a buddy- Kurka) who are forced to flee cop action movie in which two their home in Germany and remoonlighting Los Angeles de- . locate to aremote farm in Kenya tectives (Harrison Ford and Josh to escape Nazi persecution. Hartnett) juggle solving a qua- Beautifully filmed, writer-direcdruple murder in the hip-hop tor Caroline Link's period piece world while pursuing real estate weaves together various events deals and acting opportunities. in the self-exiled family's lives Co-writer-director Ron Shelton as each character" struggles with' glosses over character develop- . 'questions of identity, love and ment and coherent story line in a loyalty to each other and counmad rush to highlight lame c()mic try. Subtitles. Some sexual endialogue. drawn-out chases and counters, an implied affair, fleetextended shoot-' em-ups. Inter- ing nudity, a few disturbing moCATE BLANCHETT, center, stars as a tenacious seeker of truth in a scene from the mittent violence, implied casual ments and an instance of crass movie "Veronica Guerin." For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. affairs. a few racial epithets, fre- language. The USCCB Office (CNS photo from Buena Vista Pictures) quent profanity and an instance for Film & Broadcasting c1assiof rough language. The USCCB fication is A-III - adults. Not nudity, lewd humor, pervasive ents are strongly cautioned. Some Office for Film & Broadcasting rated by the Motion Picture Asrough and crude language. The material may be inappropriate for· classification is A-IV - adults sociation ofAmerica. (Columbia USCCB Office for Film & Broad- children under 13. with reservations. The Motion ,TriStar) casting classification is 0 - mor"Veronica Guerin" Picture Association of America "Real Women Have Curves" ally offensive. The Motion Pic(Touchstone) rating is PG-13 - parents are (2003) ture Association of America ratTruth-based story about an strongly cautioned. Some mateCredible coming-of-age story ing is R - restricted. Irish investigative journalist (Cate rial may be inappropriate for set in East Los Angeles where a "Pieces of April" (MGM) Blanchett) whose murder in 1996 children under 13. (Columbia heavyset 18-year-old Latina Tender drama about a young for exposing high-level organized TriStar) (America Ferrera) who is conwoman (Katie Holmes) who, at crime made her a national hero "Malibu's Most Wanted" stantly criticized by her mother· tC~S the promptings of her live-in boy- and helped turn the tide in (2003) (Lupe Ontiveros) is torn between friend (Derek Luke), tries to mend Ireland's war on drugs. While An overprivileged, white kid accepting a dista~t university the tattered relationship with her Guerin's real-life martyrdom from Malibu who fancies himself scholarship or helping her older cancer-stricken mother (Patricia makes for compelling drama, the as a self-styled hip-hop rapper sister (Ingrid Oliu) keep her NEW YORK (CNS) - The. Clarkson) by hosting Thanksgivo; biopic, directed by Joel gets a dose of urban reality in this' struggling sewing fac10ry afloat. following are capsule revi,ews of ing dinner at her dilapidated New Schumacher, fails to offer any mindless satire. Directed by John Director Patricia Cardoso capmovies recently reviewed by the York City tenement, only to dis- meaningful insights into what fuWhitesell, the film, a vapid tures the hardscrabble lives of a Office for Film & Broadcasting cover that her oven is not work- eled its subject's passion, focusjumble of mildly amusing com- close-knit Mexican-American of the U.S. Conference of Catho- ing. While at first glance the ing almost entirely on a superfiedy sketches, is a misguided at- family and the half-dozen factory lic Bishops. simple premise appears not to cial documenting of the dangers tempt to comment on the puz- women who come to accept and "House of the Dead" . have enough narrative stuffing to she faced, hedging awkwardly zling sociological phenomenon find solidarity in their less-than(Artisan) prove engaging, director Peter between grittiness and gloss, and of silver-spoon youths' fascina- svelte figures. Some subtitles. An Relentlessly ridiculous Hedges serves up an emotionally resulting in a stylistically schizotion with the subculture of off-screen sexual encounter and gorefest about a group of party- satisfying meal, imparting a posi- phrenic - yet ultimately engaggangsta rap. An instance of an instance of rough language. seeking college coeds trapped on tive message about family and ing - portrait of heroism. Recurrough language, recurring ob- The USCCB Office for Film & an island infested with flesh-eat- forgiveness. Some rough and ring graphic violence and drug scenities and lewd sexual humor Broadcasting classification is Aing zombies and, luckily for them, crude language, a few instances abuse, an implied sexual encounand violence. The USCCB Of- III - adults. The Motion Picture stockpiled with lots of ammo. It of profanity, a scene involving ter, as well as much rough and fice for Film & Broadcasting AssoCiation of America rating is is based on a popular video game. marijuana, as well as some im- crude language and profanity. classification is A-III - adults. PG-13 - parents are strongly Director Ewe Boll ignores plot ages of nudity. The USCCB Of- The USCCB Office for Film & The Motion Picture Association cautioned. Some material may be altogether in favor of protracted, fice for Film & Broadcasting clas- Broadcasting classification is Aof America rating is PG-13 inappropriate for children under ultraviolent scenes, as tedious as sification is A-III - adults. The III - adults. The Motion Picture parents are strongly cautioned. 13. (HBO) they are gratuitous. Excessive Motion Picture Association of Association of America rating is "2 Fast 2 Furious" (2003) Some material may be inapprographic carnage, extended topless America rating is PG-13 - par- R - restricted. priatefor children under 13. Lackluster sequel in which a (Warner Home Video) . disgraced cop (Paul Walker) and "A Mighty Wind" (2003) his childhood friend (Tyrese) are Modest, mock-documentary- recruited by the feds to put their BLOOMINGDALE, Ohio (CNS) - With three Coronado won the award for international artist style comedy about three street car racing smarts to work awards, Donna Lee was the biggest winner at the or group, and her album ''Tu Magnifico Amor" won washed-up folk groups whose to corner a money-laund~ring 2003 Unity Awards, given annually by the Iowa- for best international album. aging members are reunited af- businessman (Cole Hauser). With based United Catholic Music and Video Association. Scallon, the Irish singer, won the female vocalist ter decades for a hootenanny plot holes wide enough to drive a In .ceremonies held October 12 at Catholic of the year award, and shared an award with her concert to commemorate the man Mack truck through, director John Familyland in Bloomingdale, Lee was named brother, Father Kevin Scallon, for spoken word rewho shepherded them to near . Singleton's inane action film songwriter of the year and won the awards for pop/ cording of the year with "The Luminous Mysteries stardom. Director Christopher stalls and sputters as the amateur .contemporary song of the year for "Jesus I Trust in of the Rosary." Guest plays impresario to a hi- effort with a large budget uses You," and for pop/contemporary album of the year "Tantum Ergo" won awards for album packaging lariously talented ensemble, in- fancy car races to dress up a shell for "The Grace of God." and for sacramental album of the year. c1uding Bob Balaban, Eugene of a script. Brief violence and Other multiple winners, each with two awards, The organization's 2003 inspirational awards were Levy, Michael McKean and fisticuffs, dangerous illegal street were Tom Kendzia, Jesse Manibusan, the David given to Leonardo Defilippis of St. Luke Productions, Catherine O'Hara, proving that car racing, a few passing sexual Vogel Band, Irene Coronado, Dana Scallon and the who has performed one-man shows on great Cathofunny bones need not be of- references, a flash of rear nudity album "Tantum Ergo." lic saints for more than a decade, and to Rob Rowe fended to be tickled. Some sex- and some crass language. The Kendzia, who has been recording liturgical music of Renaissance Enterprises. related humor. The USCCB Of- USCCB Office for Film & Broad- since the 1970s, won for liturgical song of the year In all, 36 music and video awards were conferred fice for Film & Broadcasting casting classification is A-III with "The Eyes and Hands of Christ" and liturgical in addition to the inspirational awards. Winners in classification is A-II - adults adults. The Motion Picture Asso- album of the year with "Clothed in Love." other major categories were: and adolescents. The Motion ciation of America rating is PGManibusan won the award for artist of the year - Song of the year: "Fatima Call" by Gerry Picture Association of America 13 - parents are strongly cau- plus rap/hip-hop song of the year for "MC God." Brown and Susanna. rating is PG-13 - parents are tioned. Some material may be inThe David Vogel Band won for rock song of the - Male vocalist of the year: Rick Elias. strongly cautioned. Some mate- appropriate for children under 13. year for "Returning Home," and in the rock/modern - Group of the year: Ceili Rain. rial may be inappropriate for (Universal) rocklrap/hip-hop category for "Calling Us Home II." - New artist of the year: Matt Maher.
MI()vle
ICClIJ)§U••te§
--~
Music and video association presents Unity Awards