Friday, Dec. 19, 1997 | 9:55 a.m.
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* Grades: Jeff, A; Dave, A.
* Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Frances Fisher, Kathy Bates, David Warner, Bill Paxton and Gloria Stuart.
* Screenplay: James Cameron.
* Director: James Cameron.
* Rated: R for profanity, sexual situations, violence, nudity.
* Running Time: 194 minutes.
* Playing at: Century Orleans 12, UA Showcase Mall, UA Rainbow Promenade, ACT III Sunset Station, ACT III Texas Station, Century Desert 16, Cinedome 12 Henderson, Las Vegas Drive-In.
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Synopsis: Passengers board the legendary ship on its maiden voyage. Their stories include a cross-class love affair between Rose (Winslet), a first-class aristocrat, and Jack (DiCaprio), a young third-class drifter who opens her eyes to the possibilities of a world beyond her gilded cage. This love story plays out against the Titanic's four-and-a-half-day journey and spectacular demise.
Jeff: It has finally set sail: "Titanic," the movie with the estimated $200 million budget. The movie with a director obsessed with perfection, who missed the summer of '97 release date. The movie with rumors of a crew, pushed to the brink of exhaustion, spiking the catering table with LSD, sending several cast members to the emergency room. The movie that has two studio big shots crossing their fingers, hoping that their film doesn't sink at the box office, like the Titanic itself.
Director James Cameron hasn't produced "Titanic," the big budget, special effects-laden Hollywood epic, but "Titanic: The Love Story."
Dave: As over-dramatic as this sounds, I cannot even begin to express the impact this film had on me. I was speechless, and, at times, even breathless. Cameron has proven himself as an action auteur, but with his new grand epic that is driven not by special effects, but by a sincere love story, he may have everyone looking back at his filmography and noticing his ability for conveying love's passion and spirited strength.
Jeff: You took the words right out of my mouth, Dave. The press coverage concerning "Titanic" only focuses on the film's enormous price tag and the three-hour-plus running time. As I sat there in the dark, I was so captured by the romance of Jack Dawson and Rose Dewitt that I totally forgot that it took place on the most famously doomed ship ever to sail the seven seas.
The passion they convey with every heartfelt gaze certifies that DiCaprio and Winslet are two of the most talented and magnetic young actors of our time. The romance -- structured by a current event, where Rose, now 101, narrates her story to Brock Lovett (Paxton), the head of a Titanic salvage team -- is spellbinding from beginning to end. And the movie seemed so short, despite its actual running time.
Dave: DiCaprio continues to show his versatility. His magnetic talent draws you in to his honest, good-natured character, who lives life as if every day were his last. He's a perfect match with the beautiful Winslet (from 1995's "Sense and Sensibility"), who adds a distinct independence and unique quality that allows the trust between Jack and Rose to overcome any obstacle -- including the "unsinkable" Titanic. They are truly spectacular together!
As the camera soars from the sky and glides around our two stars, exposing their vulnerability and the ship's enormous size, Cameron captures some of the most amazing shots in film history.
Jeff: Well Dave, we've gushed over the mushy stuff long enough, so let's remind our readers that this is also a disaster pic, too! We all know the Titanic goes down in the end, and boy, when she goes, she really goes. Cameron's attention to historical detail has made the ship itself a starring attraction: the dazzling reproduction of the ship's luxurious adornments, the costumes, and its sinking in real time.
The foundering ship is the most amazing spectacle put on film, and the magical score of composer James Horner flawlessly mixes tension and chaos, while adding to Cameron's flashes of personal insight among the crew and passengers in their final moments. After the ship sinks out of sight, our lovers have one final time together, which overshadows the disaster itself and concludes the year's best love story.
Dave: You're right. I almost forgot that the ship goes down. It's an incredible accomplishment when you are so absorbed by the story that the sinking of the ship becomes secondary. The cinematography by Russell Carpenter is brilliant and adds to the various aesthetics, allowing for smooth transitions from present to past.
As for the ensemble cast, the standouts include Billy Zane as Cal Hockley, Rose's pompous fiance and heir to millions; Kathy Bates as the rich, colorful and "unsinkable" Molly Brown; and Gloria Stuart, the beautiful veteran actress who portrays the elderly Rose. To say that "Titanic" is anything other than pure art on film is to acknowledge either a distaste for Cameron's tendency toward big budgets or a complete dislike for epics.
Jeff: Hey Dave, don't forget the sinister performance of David Warner as Spicer Lovejoy, valet to Cal Hockley, or the comical presence of British comedian Bernard Fox. Most movie-goers will swarm to see "Titanic" just to find out what a $200 million motion picture epic looks like -- and it's astounding. Cameron uses the screen as would a painter. He creates a cinematic portrait, using full and delicate brush strokes. With every dash, he illustrates a historical tragedy blended with a powerful love story. There won't be a dry eye in the theater when it's over.
"Titanic" is the most impressive movie of the year, if not the decade. You won't remember it because of how it looks, but because of how it felt. It has soul and heart. That is something that you can't put a price on.
MOVIE BUZZ
* 'Star Trek' 9: Some info about the plot of the next "Trek" film has leaked. According to various sources, in the next film, Capt. Picard (Patrick Stewart) has to make a moral decision about saving a group of 600 settlers, whose lives and culture are at risk. The settlers are being relocated to a planet that apparently provides eternal life. Several Starfleet officers go renegade and try to take over the planet, with the help of Data (Brent Spiner)!
Ultimately, Picard decides to come to their defense and stand up for their right to exist even though it is not really in the best interests of the Federation or its allies. The plotline of the film is said to mirror the Joseph Conrad novel "Heart of Darkness," which was the basis for "Apocalypse Now." It would seem that Data takes the Brando role ("the horror... the horror") and Picard is the Martin Sheen character, sent in to "terminate with extreme prejudice." As Data himself would say: "Intriguing..."
* 'Tis the season to get sued: Steven Spielberg has been hit with another lawsuit. The movie man is already locked in a legal battle with author Barbara Chase-Riboud over the origins of his new movie "Amistad." Now he has been slapped with a second lawsuit, this time from an unemployed video-maker who claims that Spielberg ripped off his work for the 1994 film "Pagemaster." Jay L. Rapport alleges in the suit, filed at the U.S. District Court in New Jersey, that "Pagemaster," which starred celeb-in-hiding Macaulay Culkin, lifted scenes from his 1992 video "Critical Scrunity." In both projects, characters from classic novels come to life.
* Finale for film?: Spielberg's buddy George Lucas will film the second part of his "Star Wars" trilogy with technology from the next millennium. Lucas has scrapped celluloid film for digital video, which he thinks will save 40 percent on production costs. Spielberg's studio, DreamWorks SKG, is also interested in employing the new technology, which will be launched next year by British Telecom.
HOLIDAY VIDEOS
After opening presents and stuffing yourselves on the traditional holiday trimmings, Mom and Dad need a rest. So, what better time to fire up the VCR and curl up by the fire with one of these classic videos of the yuletide season. Here are our list of suggestions, in ascending order, for a post-Xmas video party. (Did anyone get socks this year?)
"Miracle on 34th Street" (1947; Fox Home Video; not rated; VHS/ Laserdisc): Macy's department store has hired the actual Santa Claus (Oscar-winner Edmund Gwen) for the annual Thanksgiving Parade, but Mr. Kringle has trouble convincing everyone he's the real thing. The boss's daughter, (played by a young Natalie Wood) also refuses to believe, so Kringle goes to great lengths to convince her. This is a classic that is a equal to "It's a Wonderful Life." This is always a winner. But take some Movie Guy advice: Don't rent the colorized version or the John Hughes remake. The original will do just fine.
4: "Holiday Affair" (1949; RKO Home Video; not rated; VHS): Robert Mitchum stars in this yuletide delight about a widow being courted by two very different men. Based on the short story "A Christmas Gift," the film has a charm all it own and has a touching scene in which a little boy returns a set of toy trains to the department store in order to get his money back to give to his family. One of my favorites.
3: "Scrooge" (1970; Fox Home Video; Rated G; VHS/Laserdisc): It wouldn't be Christmas without a musical, now would it? "Scrooge" is a tale of the world's most unpleasant miser. This is a tale we have all seen before, but not with the uplifting songs by Oscar-winning composer Leslie Bricusse. Albert Finney's portrayal of the title tightwad will have yo hissing at the television. Family fun all the way.
2: "The Apartment" (1960; MGM/UA Home Video; not rated; VHS/Laserdisc): Jack Lemmon stars as a lonely insurance clerk who loans out his apartment to group of company executives and discovers that one of them is after his own girl. You won't believe your eyes when you see Fred MacMurray, who plays evil boss Mr. Sheldrake, and you'll never forget the performance by Shirley MacLaine. And Jack Lemmon is hilarious! Billy Wilder's cynical comedy was named best picture of 1960. So what does this have to do with Christmas? The movie takes place during Christmas, so it counts (my rules!). I've seen "The Apartment" about, oh, 100 times.
1: "The Bishop's Wife" (1947; Goldwyn Home Video; not rated; VHS/ Laserdisc): An angel is sent down to help to reform a bishop whose obsession with the construction of a new cathedral has caused some tension in his marriage and left him out of touch with his parishioners. This is a light comedy, old Hollywood style, in glorious black and white. It has romance, music, enchanting cinematography and the stars, some of the most beloved actors of our time: Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven. Yes, it was a dismal remake with Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston last year. That was the worst. This is the best. Why do they always have to mess with perfection?
"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" (1989; Warner Home Video; Rated PG-13; VHS/Laserdisc): Instead of traveling the country to visit Wally World or spreading havoc throughout Europe, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and his family stay home to enjoy "the most fun-filled, old-fashioned, family Christmas ever!" Uptight neighbors, bickering grandparents, an unwelcome visit from cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) and a few ca-jillion Xmas lights are a few of the holiday treats in store for the Griswolds' festive season. Mixed with slapstick comedy, humorous dialogue by John Hughes and a touch of Christmas spirit, you can be certain there are plenty of laughs for everyone.
4: "The Ref" (1994; Touchstone Home Video; Rated R; VHS/Laserdisc): This sharp comedy centered around a dysfunctional family on Christmas Eve is hysterical. Lloyd and Caroline (Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis) are a quarreling couple returning home from a marriage counselor when a bad-tempered jewel thief (Denis Leary), on the run after a failed heist, kidnaps them and hides out in their home until his partner calls with an escape plan. With the entire family showing up for a holiday dinner and the police hot on his trail, Leary has no choice but to share in and "ref" the family festivities. Genuine chemistry and quick-witted, mean-spirited humor make for a black Xmas comedy.
3: "Scrooged" (1988; Paramount Home Video; Rated PG-13; VHS/Laserdisc): In a slanted version of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," Bill Murray plays TV exec Frank Cross, a latter-day Ebeneezer Scrooge. After a few ghostly visits (which include those from Carol Kane and David Johansen), Cross 20learns that Christmas is not about money and ratings, but about spreading joy and hope and Christmas bonuses! Surrounded by a wonderful cast, Murray is comically brilliant, and equally sincere when he interrupts the network's live broadcast of the Dickens' classic to share the message: "The miracle of Christmas can happen every day, you just have to believe in that miracle." Trust me kids: Yule love it!
2: "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (1993; Touchstone Home Video; Rated PG; VHS/Laserdisc): In the tradition of stop-motion animation, filmmaker Tim Burton produces an adventurous tale -- a world in which every holiday is identified by its own land, including Halloweentown, where the Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington, learns of the neighboring Christmastown and decides on a joyous change of holidays. Director Henry Selick ("James and the Giant Peach") blends imaginative characters with creative lyrics and music (provided by the innovative Danny Elfman) to make a twisted, yet entertaining delight for the entire family.
1: "A Christmas Story" (1983; MGM/UA Home Video; Rated PG; VHS/ Laserdisc): Reminiscent to the holiday films of yesteryear, "A Christmas Story" captures the innocence and excitement that Christmas holds for every child. Set in the '40s, young Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) celebrates the holiday season by wanting nothing more than "a Genuine Red Ryder Carbine Action Two-Hundred Shot Lightning Loader Range Model Air Rifle" under the Xmas tree. Not only does Christmas feel like an eternity away, but he is always told by either his endearing parents (Darren McGavin and Melinda Dillon) or by the local Santa Claus himself that "you'll shoot your eye out!" Through an amusing narration by author/co-screenwriter Jean Shepherd, director Bob Clark delivers a heartfelt tale through a child's perspective about obtaining his ultimate Christmas dream.
VIEWPOINT
To keep with the theme of "Titanic," we discovered some interesting facts about the R.M.S. Titanic: There were only enough lifeboats to accommodate half of Titanic's passengers; Titanic cost approximately $7.5 million in 1912; As Titanic sank, the band played on-deck in an effort to calm passengers awaiting rescue; Even as the boat was sinking, many passengers still refused to believe that the superliner would actually go under; Crewmen were blocking the exits from the third-class area to prevent men from gaining access to the deck; After Titanic hit the iceberg, people were out on the decks playing with chunks of ice; Only 32 percent of the passengers and crew on Titanic survived; R.M.S. stands for Royal Mail Steamer; Titanic broke in two shortly before sinking into the Atlantic.
So, you know what all this means? Take a plane.
NAME THAT FLICK
OK -- so we made last week's quote too hard. The quote was: "You got eggs on my uniform. I hate eggs." Everyone who called guessed "Animal House." Wrong! Don't we have any Steven Spielberg fans out there? The quote was from the movie "1941" and was spoken by actor Treat Williams.
So, this week we won't be so tough. It's Christmas, after all: Who sang the following, and in what film: "Kidnap the Sandy Claws, beat him with a stick. Lock him up for 90 years, see what makes him tick"?
Be the first to ID the quote correctly and we will print your name right here in our column. You can reach us at 225-9026 or at [email protected]. Please leave, spell your name and give us your daytime phone number. Now, that wasn't so hard, was it? Happy Holidays from The Movie Guys.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
Next week on The Movie Guys, Jeff and Dave open fire with both barrels on Quentin Tarantino's latest gunfest, "Jackie Brown." Plus, more video reviews, witty (we hope) commentary and movie news. See you next Friday!
THE MOVIE GUYS, starring Jeff Howard and Dave Neil, appears every Friday in the SUN (additional material provided by Thomas Feeney). You can also read their capsule reviews of movies in Scope magazine; listen to their reviews and commentary every Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. on their radio show "Quiet on the Set" on KVBC 105.1-FM; and watch their reviews every Friday on Channel 3's 11 p.m. newscast. Plus, check them out online at: www.lasvegassun.com/sun/sunlife/ movies.
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