Monthly Archives: September 1999

Jakob the Liar - * * 1/2*

Posted on September 24, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Nearly a year after Life is Beautiful graced the movie screens, Hollywood serves up its own version of a Holocaust comedy. But where Life is Beautiful made all the right moves, Jakob the Liar goes a few steps too far … Continue reading →

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Double Jeopardy - * 1/2*

Posted on September 24, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Double Jeopardy is a routine thriller that has an interesting, if somewhat implausible, premise mixed with a heavy dose of The Fugitive deja vu. We’re left with a half baked concoction that is more perplexing than thrilling. When we’re introduced … Continue reading →

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Mumford - * *

Posted on September 18, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Lawrence Kasdan writes and directs Loren Dean as a young psychiatrist named Mumford, who arrives in a town with the same name. A rival psychiatrist (David Paymer) questions his credibility and his identity. Ted Danson, Mary McDonnell, Alfre Woodard, Zooey … Continue reading →

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American Beauty - * * * *

Posted on September 15, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

What is normal? What is ordinary? What is beautiful? American Beauty proposes that appearances are nearly always deceiving, and there’s always more to see if you just look closer. Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) is burnt out. At forty-two years old, … Continue reading →

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For Love of the Game - * * 1/2*

Posted on September 11, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Kevin Costner and baseball…for some reason the two just seem to go together. Costner has only made two prior baseball films (Bull Durham and Field of Dreams), but they rank among the best in his filmography. So seeing Kevin Costner … Continue reading →

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Blue Streak - * * 1/2*

Posted on September 11, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Blue Streak is the merging of two movie staples: the buddy cop movie and the mistaken identity farce. A showcase for Martin Lawrence, the movie wisely keeps him under control. He’s allowed to be humorous and edgy without going over … Continue reading →

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Stir of Echoes - * * 1/2*

Posted on September 10, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Riding the current wave of supernatural thrillers, Stir of Echoes is one of the better of the bunch. Though much in the film seems familiar, it still is intriguing to watch. Tom Witzky (Kevin Bacon) is a blue-collar lineman living … Continue reading →

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Stigmata - *

Posted on September 10, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Stigmata is a tale of two films. One involves a serious criticism of the Catholic Church as an institution that may interfere with true faith. The other is a flashy, MTV-style remake of The Exorcist. Neither one makes much sense, … Continue reading →

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Chill Factor - 1/2*

Posted on September 1, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Five years after Speed, the train-wreck movie clones just keep on coming. The latest down the pike is Chill Factor, an utterly unmemorable piece of dreck that centers on an explosive substance nearly as toxic as this movie. Dr. Richard … Continue reading →

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