This week's premieres
photo: SPI International
Sin City(Mesto hriechu) - Crime by Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller. Certainly the most faithful rendering of a graphic novel ever put to screen, this movie bleeds mood and menace in every meticulously constructed frame. The look and feel are stunning: a new benchmark for movies taken from the pages of comics. Unfortunately, the three storylines of prostitutes, exotic dancers, crooks, and even more crooked cops fail to fully meld, leaving a film that is disjointed and sometimes tedious. The string that involves Mickey Rourke's vengeful and heartbroken lug, however, evokes the dread and pathos of the best film noir. It and Rodriguez's and Miller's impressive visuals are well worth the price of admission.
photo: Magic Box Slovakia
Cursed (Prekliatie) - Horror by Wes Craven. Craven and screenwriter Kevin Williamson return to the teen horror/comedy formula that worked so well for Scream in this tale of a sister and brother (Christina Ricci and Jesse Eisenberg, respectively) who must fight a werewolf after it attacks and infects them with its monster blood.
Other movies playing
Batman Begins(Batman začína) - Fantasy by Christopher Nolan. The director of Memento gives the Batman saga a more realistic treatment in this latest instalment, a drastic improvement over the previous couple. More than anything, the story focuses on how and why billionaire Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) becomes Batman - from his early childhood trauma to intense training amid snow capped mountains. The strong cast also features Katie Holmes, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, and Morgan Freeman. A bit too dull at times, but overall a solid addition to the franchise.
photo: Tatrafilm
Melinda and Melinda(Melinda a Melinda) - Comedy drama by Woody Allen. Supposedly a return-to-form for Allen, this film jumps between two renderings of the same basic story - one humorous, one tragic. Melinda (Radha Mitchell) divorces her husband and loses custody of her children, a scenario then shown in two very different ways: one destructive and one amusing. Also starring Will Ferrell, Chloe Sevigny, and Amanda Peet.
Prepared by Jonathan Knapp
