The Danville News from Danville, Pennsylvania • 13

1 THE DANVILLE NEWS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2000 PAGE 13 Entertainment WEDNESDAY! Boogie Nights actors shine in Magnolia Movie Review By CHRISTY LEMIRE Associated Press Writer versatility, conveying a great deal of feeling with a subtle gesture. Hall as an aging game show host, adored by millions nationwide but hated by his only daughter. Walters, filled with a raw intensity as his coke-fiend daughter in desperate need of selfesteem. In many ways, she is the heart of this movie. Macy as an electronics salesman, still trying to milk his celebrity as a quiz show whiz kid 30 years ago.

Hes full of sweaty desperation and longing. Jeremy Blackman as the new generation of kid genius. He shows tremendous poise and presence behind his big blue eyes, and its hard to believe this is his first major film role. Reilly, who rmvides comic relief as a bumbling L.A. poin.

officer who falls in love with Walters character. And then theres Tom Cruise as Robards estranged son, who has changed his name and become a famous self-help guru who teaches men how to seduce and abandon women. With Robbins of sex. Hes completely offensive and misogynistic and impossible to stop watching. This is perhaps the best weve ever seen him infinitely better than his work earlier this year in Eyes Wide Shut Although the characters lives are intertwined and they live in one of the biggest cities in the world, theres a sense of isolation about all of them.

They are surrounded by people and yet they are hopelessly alone. Keeping these numerous and varied characters in synch with one another is one of the most impressive aspects of Andersons craft. They follow a pattern of highs and lows everyone is manic at the same time, everyone is despondent at the same time, everyone reaches a moment of truth at the same time. The films structure is complicated, yet Anderson makes it look effortless. Completing the films emotional impact is the soundtrack of original songs by Aimee Mann, formerly of Til Tuesday.

They will stay with you long after youve risen stiffly from your seat, stretched and staggered in an writing is a joy. The film takes place during one day in Los Angeles San Fernando Valley, where Anderson grew up during the 1970s and where he also set Boogie Nights. His Valley is not that of Valley Girl or Fast Times at Ridgemont High. There are no montages of fabulous-looking blondes shopping, popping their gum and cruising in convertibles. Instead, the settings and characters, all seem very real and often bleak, and Anderson has developed them expertly.

The performances are all so strong, its hard to single out just a few. Theres: A man on his death bed, played with poignancy and heart by Jason Robards. A powerful, emotional Moore as his much younger wife, both high-strung and strung out as she copes with the l. nicer that quickly consumes him. Hoffman with a quietly moving performance as his at-home nurse.

After playing a It seems impossible that Paul Thomas Anderson could follow up Boogie Nights with a movie as stirring and memorable. But just watch him. Magnolia is over- whelming and easily one of the best films of the year. Yes, it is long, clocking in at about three hours, and the story line meanders. Trying to describe the plot wouldnt do it justice and would steal the surprises in store.

Lets just say Magnolia is about people how their lives intersect, how they treat each other and how they cannot escape their pasts, no matter how hard they try. Much of what makes the film so enjoyable is that Anderson has brought back many of the actors from Boogie Nights, including Julianne Moore, William H. Macy, Philip Seymour Hoffman, John C. Reilly, Melora Walters, Philip Baker Hall and Luis Guzman. Watching them interact again in different roles under Andersons same deft direction and drag queen in Flawless, here he shows real his infomercials and seminars, hes the Tony awestruck daze from the theater.

i Annette Bening to take acting break for fourth child 'f'-Zt'Afci hrr From wire reports Movie Review LOS ANGELES Actor Tim make some home ivements of his own impro1 aifUl' i ed, she said. She said shes working with a therapist on several issues. vAilen, who stare in the comedy-adventure movie Galaxy Quest and is the voice of toy astronaut Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 2, bought the Hollywood Hills home of actor Christian Slater for $2.2 million, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday. The home built in 1990 has three bedrooms, a pool and views of the city. In a recently-taped episode of Pamela Anderson-Lees syndicated TV senes V.I.P., Witt played a.

villain. Im in this knock-down, drag-out fight with Pam and I get flattened, Witt said in Sundays New York Daily News. So when we finish shooting, the whole cast comes out holding these little signs saying 10.0 9.8. It was so sweet but I kept thinking, Who gave me a 9.8? Witt, 33, won Olympic gold in 1984 and 1988. Shes gone on to appear in movies like Ronin, to pose for Playboy and promote her own line of jewelry.

returned. LONDON Scary he? husband of little more than a year have split. The former Spice Girl, whose real name is Melanie Gulzar, took the couples 1 0-month-old daughter with her to her fathers home after a New Years Day breakup with husband Jimmy Gulzar, the singers spokesman said Monday. A statement said the couple have arrived at this conclusion after a considerable amount of discussions and attempts to make the relationship, work. They intend to remain good friends.

NEW YORK Olympic gold medal figure skater Katarina Witt always strives for that perfect 10 even when shes acting. Stuart Little squeaks past The Green Mile From wire reports W' LOS ANGELES You cant keep a good mouse down. Stuart Little, with Michael J. Fox supplying the voice of the plucky rodent, reclaimed the top -spot at the weekend box office with $16 million, according to industry estimates Sunday. 'I A combination of computer animation and live action, Stuart Little pushed its total gross to million in 17 days of i releak.

The movie, based on E.B.1 Whites childrens tale, debuted as the No, 1 film two weeks ago i I before dropping to third over Christmas weekend; I''V'- With Christmas Eve falling on a Friday, thats i notoriously rougher, on family films, said Ed Russell, executive vice president for publicity at Sony Pictures, which, released Stuart Little. This past week is where kids cameback WithlHelf Dreen ilile was Nol 2 1 with $13.2 million. Last week- ends, top film, Any Given I Sunday, was a close third with $13.1 million, Toy Story 2 fourth with $12.2. million and The Thlented Mr. Ripley was fifth with $12 million.

The films were bunched so closely that rankings could change when studios release final weekend numbers today. Toy Story 2 climbed to $208.6 million 'since its Thanksgiving, passing i Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me as the No. 3 movie released in 1999. Wars; Episode: I --The Phantom Menace is first with $430.5 mil-; i lion and The. Sixth Sense" is second with $276 million.

--The Star Wars prequel, which reopened on Christmas for a three-week domestic run, moved into second place last week on the all-time worldwide list with $922 1 I about $2 million more I I than Jurassic Park, according to Star Wars distributor 20th I Century Fox; The biggest weekend premiere 1 was Disneys Fantasia2000, an update of the 1940 animated clas-Z sic that opened Saturday. At 46 of those theaters in the United States and Canada, the, movie did an average of $22,060 a screen bn Saturday, about $1 mil- lion overall i Stuiart Littles three-day average was $5,517 in 2,900 the- aters. Opening in limited release for Oscar consideration The "Hurricane, which" grossed $295,000 in 11 theaters for a $26,818 average. Based on a true story, the movie stare Denzel Washington Tas boxer Rubin i Carter, who spent decades fighting for release, from prison on a trumped-up murder i Estimated ticket sales'; for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

Final tfigures are to be released today. I f. Stuart Little, $16 million: 2. The Green Mile, $13.2 million. If 3, Any Given $13.1 2 million.

4. Toy Story 2, $12.2 mil- 1 i 5. The Talented Mr. Ripley, i $12 million. NEW YORK Pregnant with her fourth child, Annette Bening has decided to take a break from acting.

The star of American Beauty told More magazine that pregnancy suits her well. I feel exhilarated, she said in its February issue. Kind of Bening, who is married to Warren Beatty, said her decision to take at least 1 12 years off from acting comes on the heels of an intense year. After finishing American Beauty she headed immediately to Los Angeles for a month of- stage work in Ibsens Hedda Gabler. The movie What Planet Are You From? was next, and is due out this spring.

I was just overacted, Bening said. If I had to come up with one more emotional moment, I was going to kill myself. Bening, who was thrust into the limelight following her 1991 role in Bugsy, said she is glad fame came later in life. I had never considered myself glamorous, she said. Thank God it didnt happen to me until I was 30.

By then I had some coping 3 i wl latest in LOS ANGELES Jack Klugmans former girlfriend is seeking a new palimony trial, contending jurors at her first one reached the wrong verdict when they ruled in favor of the actor. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge will hear a petition by lawyers representing Barbara Neugass on Jan. 18. Her attorneys contend Neugass should get a new trial because of irregularity in orders of the court and abuse of discretion and verdict and decision contrary to the evidence. On.

Dec. 1, a jury rejected the 57-year-old womans claim that Klugman, who starred in televisions Quincy and The Odd Couple, had promised her lifetime support. The jurors decided Klugman never had an express contract with her. Judge Kurt Lewin also ruled that Neugass had no claim to proceeds from the sale of the 77-year-old actors thoroughbred horse farm or personal property she allegedly left there. Klugman testified during the trial that although he had a 20-year relationship with Neugass, he never loved her.

Their relationship ended in 1992. A message left with Neugass attorney, William Glucksman, after business hours on Monday was not Visit the state of Iowa Read about healthcare; S' s- -s i I-1 every issue of Trends. The monthly edition of Trends brings readers the latest medical news from the Penn State Geisinger Health System. From tips on ways to keep seasonal fun healthful and safej to an article on work-related, mental and physical well-being, Trends carries the news you'll want to read. Articles offer updates on treatments, regular columns on nutrition and science, and profiles of Penn State Geisinger employees.

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WASHINGTON Focusing on her new role as a weight-loss spokeswoman, Monica Lewinsky said she hopes her involvement in the scandal that led to President Clintons impeachment trial becomes a shrinking historical footnote. In an appearance Monday on CNNs Larry King Live, the former-White House intern said she bears some responsibility for what happened to Clinton, but now wants to put that part of her life behind her. Lewinsky, 26, steered away from questions concerning fter feelings about former friend Linda Tripp, but did mention first lady Hillary Clinton. I have a lot of personal remorse for what shes gone through and Im sure what their daughter, what Chelsea, has gone through, she said. When asked about her lawyers and her remaining legal bills, Lewinsky became visibly uncomfortable, but said she was thankful for their work to obtain her immunity.

I am terribly, terribly grateful for all of the hard work that everybody put into this, and there isnt a feeling that people shouldnt be compensat- TM REfslDS by Betty Pebnam Appearing in your newspaper on 1600 from The MM Page by Betty Debman Cl 999 The MM Page Pubttshtng Company Inc. A M6uf ii I.