Star Tribune from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page 60

PAGE E10 STAR TRIBUNE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17 1997 MOVIES Pacino puts fire in 'DeviPs Advocate' 1 1 Review BSBSBSS Devirs Advocate Out of a possible Ave stars Starring: Al Pacino, Keanu Reeves, Charlize Theron and Craig T.Nelson Director Taylor Hackford Review: A mix of courtroom thriller and gory horror, which don't always blend smoothly. But Pacino lets loose with a dandy performance as the ultimate bad guy. Rating: violence, sex Where: Apache, Brookdale Square, Buffalo, Burnsville II, Centennial Lakes, Eagan, East Bethel, Eden Prairie West, Elk River, Har Mar, Hastings, Highland, Mall of America, Maple Grove, Maplewood Northtown, Rosemount, Shakopee, Signal Hills, St. Anthony Main, St. Louis Park, Waconia, White Bear, Willow Creek and Woodbury my hi v'.

mm i jL aatodsJ imwwMIlt JJL he has a ball, aided by some great lines. "Everyone and I mean everyone," he says, pointing skyward, "admits that the 20th Century is mine. I'm peaking!" Reeves, whose last two movies "Chain Reaction" and the locally made "Feeling Minnesota" made a beeline to the discount shelf at the video stores, is smart enough to hop on Pacino's coat-tails. Though he has much more screen time, Reeves' function is to set up the scenes for Pacino to deliver the dramatic slam-dunk. The movie takes some pokes at the legal profession.

But the targets are so broad where else is there a code of "ethics" mandating that even if you know your client is guilty you try every trick in the book to get him off the hook? that these are just sucker punches. The problem faced by any hybrid is that in trying to reach out to two audiences, a film can wind up falling into the crack. Fans of Pacino's intense dramas may be put off by the gory horror scenes, while hard-core horror buffs might fidget through all the courtroom jousting. There is one thing about which there is no doubt: Pacino turns in a devilishly good By Jeff Strlckler Star Tribune Staff Writer Try to envision John Gris-ham's "The Firm as rewritten by Stephen King and you'll have a pretty good feel for "Devil's Advocate," an unusual blend of courtroom thriller and horror movie. Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves) is a hotshot country lawyer lured to New York City by a powerful law Firm.

He's swept off his feet by his new boss, John Milton (Al Pacino), and his fiery personality. Kevin has some nagging doubts about Milton, but he's blind-sided by the perks that rush his way: A fancy office, a tony apartment and a fat salary. He's also flattered to be handed a high-profile case: A murder charge facing a wealthy real-estate developer (Craig T. Nelson, returning to the drama he played in "The Killing Fields' and "Silk-wood" before he become a TV sitcom star in Kevin's wife, Mary Ann (Char-lize Theron, "2 Days in the has time to ponder the situation. She doesn't like what she sees and she is seeing some very strange things.

Directed by Taylor Hackford Officer and a nm $-315' PER GALLON LOIVEST PRICE IN THE CITlESli 0pen To The PuBLid INDOOR TENNIS RACQUETBALL AO MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED 'As Inexpensive as per person, per hour (Kate Dura on doubles playing dining mnprinw lime.) aytQna couijrydub 14730 Lawndale Lane, Dayton 427-6110 Sunday, Oct 19 9:00 to 3:00) COURTYARD by MARRIOTT 1352 Northland MENDOTA HEIGHTS From 1-494, Exit 71 (Cty. Rd. 31Pilot Knob Rd. SAVE Admission is Free INUIT IMAGES OF BOSTON P.O. Box 2501, Quincy, MA 02269 (617) 471-2626 111 i 1 Know What You Did' Autumn is aBfaze in this faCC reCease 6y award-winning artist, the movie takes too long to get going.

If you've seen a preview or TV ad or if you' ve thought about the title for more than three Review of self-absorbed, gorgeous teenagers along the way. It's July 4th, and a melancholy young man sits in moonlight on the cliffs above the North Carolina surf, apparendy contemplating suicide. Meanwhile, Julie (Jennifer Love Hewitt of TVs "Party of Helen (Sarah Michelle Gel-lar of TVs "Buffy the Vampire and their boyfriends, Ray and Barry (played by Freddie Prinze Jr. and Ryan Phillipe), are -telling ghost stories, feeling each other up and getting progressively drunker on the shores below. Then they get into a car.

They hit a man crossing the road. They're too scared and stupid to call the police. They bury the victim in a watery grave. But, aha! The body opens its eyes as it nestles amid the algae in croaker-infested waters. "Let's just agree that this will be the only savior of 'Playing Gocf Photo provided by Warner Bros.

The devi made him do It Al Pacino In "The Devil's Advocate." seconds it's obvious what role Pacino is playing. Nonetheless, Hackford and screenwriters Jonatham Lemkin (TVs "Tales from the and Tony Gilroy (who worked with Hackrord on "Dolores try to pretend that it's a secret. Once the secret finally is out in the open, Pacino takes charge of the movie. From "The Godfather" to "Scarface," he's played some powerful bad guys, but this is thebaddestofthebunch.And but who a big future therapy bill," says Barry, as the quartet vows never to speak of their heinous crime again. Then, a year later, Julie gets a letter that says, "I Know What You Did Last Summer." Not only does the person know, but he is out for revenge.

One by one, somebody starts picking off the coastal town's teens with a big meat hook, the likes of which we haven't seen used so brutally since "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." And it doesn't matter if the victims had any direct involvement with the original crime or not. Even though the murders are gruesome, the film is not scary, nor is it clever. We've seen this many times before, but with different titles and different stars. And Williamson's near-end plot twist is out of nowhere, There is no tension, save for the run-for-her-life scene between Helen and The Fisherman. Alas, that scene provides the movie's only bubble.

breakthrough, he constantly seemed like he was going to shatter into a million pieces, but here, he holds together too well for the role. When he finally shows signs of cracking, it's too late, and too sudden, as if someone flipped his go-loony switch. Despite their disparate backgrounds, Eugene and Raymond form an uneasy friendship. It's complicated not only by Raymond's criminal activities (which form a muddled subplot about smuggling "merchandise" to Chinese gangsters), but by Eugene's attraction to Raymond's cool-as-a-cucumber girlfriend, Claire (Angelina Jolie, The movie begins to fold under its own weight. All of Eugene's talk about choices and fate indicates that something deeper might be going on, but first-time director Andy Wilson best-known for directing the British TV series "Cracker" appears to be making a TV movie with extra violence and drugs.

Cheadle in a Blue Too many hats? The humor revolves around Jack's dream of making a movie in which people actually pay at-' tendon to the story. Nonetheless, he spends more time thinking up the names for the actors than laying out the plots. As they get ready to shoot, his assistant (William H. Macy, an Oscar nominee for asks, "Are we going to use a script this time?" The movie starts to wobble at about the midpoint. Anderson tries to switch gears from a satire to a cautionary tale: Heady with his success, Eddie now calling himself Dirk Diggler wallows in booze and drugs.

His abuse Gerald Hjelm Join us ancCCjeraCcffor a gdmpse into Minnesota's sjectacu(dr seasons and save 20 on your custom framing. October 18, 1997 from 1:00 to 4:00 jrm Leisure Lane Center 71 01 France Avenue South, Edina 929-5432 cares? I Know What You Did Last Summer Out of a possible five stars Starring: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Ryan Phillipe Director: Jim Gillespie Review: In this warmed-over formula piece, teens are stalked by a guy they left for dead. Rating: violence, profanity Where: Apache, Brookdale, Buffalo, Burnsville Centennial Lakes, Cina, Delano, Eagan, East Bethel, Eden Prairie East, Elk River, Har Mar, Hastings, Mall of America, Maple Grove, Maplewood II, Monticello, Rosemount, Shakopee, Sky- 1 way, St. Louis Park, White Bear, Willow Creek, Woodbury. Photo by Richard Cartvwight David Duchovny stars as a disgraced doctor who Is lured Into the underground world of a mobster.

comes back to haunt him when he loses the ability to perform in front of a camera; without that, he's of no use to Jack. The notion of a young person tripping over instant success is hardly revolutionary (these days it seems to be the stuff of daily news reports involving young athletes) Anderson initially makes his points well, but then goes overboard, rubbing Eddie's nose and, by extension, the viewer's into his demise. This isn't quantum physics; we get the point the first time. The problem might originate with Anderson's multiple duties. As the writer, director and producer, he maintained control of the movie's vision but in the process he sacrificed the valuable insight that can come from a variety of perspectives.

There's a reason for the separation of powers in filmmaking, and "Boogie Nights" inadvertently underscores that reason, i' I i t. 1 "i r'" By Rosalind Bentley Star Tribune Staff Writer Watching "I Know What You Did Last Summer" is a lot like shaking a liter of flat soda. Try as you might to create some fizz, only one or two bubbles rise to the top. In the end, you're left with something you might as well pour down the drain and forget. We keep watching because I Know" was written by Kevin Williamson, the same guy who penned the enormously successful and frightening teen horror flick "Scream." That was a film with genuine innovation, one that breathed life into a burnt-out genre of the late 1970s and early '80Sby using films from that era as reference points throughout the movie.

"I Know" simply warms over the formula, giving us something we've seen many times before the mysterious guy who won stay dead and who kills a bunch Duchovny By Robert Philpot Fort Worth Star- Telegram "Playing God" would go straight to video if not for the presence ot David Duchovny. Think of the irony: a TV actor en suring a movie theatrical release. There is time to ponder such things because there is little else in this film noir thriller to distract the viewer. Duchovny might sound like Philip Marlowe, but the movie looks like "Starsky and Hutch." Duchovny is Eugene Sands, a disgraced doctor whose drug addiction led to a patient's death and his own downfall. Through the haze, he retains enough expertise to save a gunshot victim at a seedy bar and attract the attention of a beach-boy mobster who needs someone to make house calls when associates take bullets.

If Duchovny is perfectly cast as someone whose fatalism has caused him to numb his pain and Photo provided by New Line Cinema Burt Reynolds plays a sleazy pornographic filmmaker In "Boogie Nights." I 1 Review Playing God Out of a possible five stars Starring: David Duchovny, Timothy Hutton and Angelina Jolie Director: Andy Wilson Review: Your basic TV movie dressed up with extra violence and drugs Rating: violence, drug abuse Where: Brookdale Cinema, Burnsville II, Chaska, Eagan, East Bethel, Eden Prairie West, Edina, Elk River, Har Mar, Mall of America, Maple Grove, Maplewood II, Shelard Park, Signal Hills, St. Anthony Main, White Bear and Woodbury go through life on cruise control, Timothy Hutton is all wrong as Raymond Blossom, the peroxided villain. In his "Ordinary People" C3runcJi The Country House, 10715 S. Shore Drive, Medicine Lake 546-4655 Family Style Branch 12-undcr $2.95 10am-2pm. Fine Line Cafe, 318 1st Ave Minneapolis 338-8100 HandClapping, Fool-Stomping, House Shaking Gospel Music! S15.95person, $5.

50A-iinder. Sidney's, 2120 Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis 870-7000 Sat Sun 10-1 Scrambled egg pastas. Belgian waffles, calzones more! Sidney's, Hwy 7, Minnetonka 933-1000 Sat Sun 10-2. Fresh fruit crepes, heuvos rancheros.

omelettes more! California Cafe, Mau of America, Bloomincton 854-2233 Great Brunch, fresh California Cuisine in an open-air setting. Terrace over-looking Gimp Snoopy. Caspers Cherokee Sirloin Room, 4625 Nichols Rd, Eagan 454-6744 Champagne All-you-caiveat Brunch. Over 2 dozen entrees. Special Prices for Adults, Kids, Seniors.

1 0-2, if lii 435-6624 445-2245 379-4444 BOOGIE NiGHTSrom El Film loses punch when it turns from satire to cautionary tale Dakota County Steakhouse, At The Holiday Inn, Burnsville Full AJI-you-carveat Brunch. Special Pnce tor Adults, Kids, Seniors 9am-2pm. Dangerfield's, 1 583 First Avenue East, Shakopee Fabulous Buftet Feast. 2 Dozen selections, 10am-2pm. $9.99.

Cocktails. Jensen's SuctfR Club, Hwy. 13, Eagan 688-7969 Sunday Brunch Bullet! Served Adults $11. 95, Children 6-10 $6.95, Under 6 Free. tONE Oak Cafe Holiday Inn Select Mpls Airport494 4 Pilot Knob Rd, 454-3434 Sunday Prime Time Champagne Brunch: Prime Rib Carving, Brunch Breakfast Buffet.

Beverages Included, 9:00 $12.95 Adult. Senior $6.95 (8-12) $3.95 (4-7) Napa Valley Grille, Mali of America, Bloomincton 858-9934 Cdlilomia Vista 1 Family, 1 Brunch, No let Lag! 11am-3pm. Sidney's, Galleria, 70th Franc Ave. Edina 925-2002 Sal Sun 10-2. Apple puffed pancakes, breaklast pizzas.

Signature caramel rolls more! The ANCHORAGE, 1330 Industrial Blvd, Mpls Indeed, the most impressive part of Wahlberg's performance is his ability to become a terrible actor the instant the porno cameras start running. Wahlberg plays Eddie Adams, an aspiring actor who has an unusual how should we put it? talent: He's extremely well-endowed and has the ability to perform on demand as frequendy as is needed for his work. Reynolds plays sleazy filmmaker JackHomer. So oily that you expect him to slide right off the screen, Jack sees himself as the Hugh Hefner of porn, using his mansion as a clubhouse for his cadre of actors, among them Julianne Moore (also appearing in "The Myth of and Don voted iNumoer i iwm cmes aeaiooa restaurant, unering a iooi tnampagne oruncn. Edinburgh, USA, 8700 edinbrook Crossing, Brooklyn Park 424-9444 Relax and ir.alugt our buna including a carving station, omelette station, salads, galore, pastries and desserts.

10:00 a.m. 2 p.m. The Seasons Restaurant, Hwy 242 Foley Blvd. 755-4444 Sunday Brunch Bullet featuring Strolling Musicians. 10am-1pm Every Sunday.

$9.95 Adults $3.95 Children (under 10) Afton House InnAeton Cruise Iines, Afton, mn 436-8883 Sunday Brunch 10am to 2pm. Over 50 items. Sidney's, 91 7 Grand St. Paul 227-5000 Sat Sun 10-2. Smoked salmon cream cheese, hornemade granola, yogurt smoothies more!.