Picks of the flicks at local theaters
By Stevie Emilia
JAKARTA (JP): Ticket prices may have gone up due to the crisis, but a trip to movie theaters still offers its own special charm.
Yes, waiting in line at the ticket window can bring its hassles. But just think of it as an investment in your sanity and a much-needed escape from all the gloom and doom.
The Assignment. Cast: Aidan Quinn, Donald Sutherland, Ben Kingsley. Director: Christian Duguay
After Bruce Willis starred as Carlos "The Jackal" Sanchez in The Day of The Jackal, here is another film of a gun-for-hire terrorist, this one known as a master of disguise.
Unlike Willis' character, who made detailed preparations for his assignment, Ramirez (Quinn) is a naval officer and family man. He is used by intelligence agents to impersonate a terrorist with identical looks to his in the hope of luring him out of hiding.
Hoodlum. Cast: Laurence Fishburne, Tim Roth, Vanessa Williams, Andy Garcia. Director: Bill Duke.
Scores of Academy Award nominees were involved in this drama chronicling the life of Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson, the crime king of Harlem in the 1930s.
Fresh out of Sing-Sing prison, Bumpy (Fishburne) inherits illegal operations from Stephanie St. Clair (Cicely Tyson) after she is arrested by the police. Working with powerful crime lord Lucky Luciano, Bumpy has blood flowing through Harlem's streets.
Starship Troopers. Cast: Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer. Director: Paul Verhoeven.
Aliens attacked the world in Independence Day, but this time around humans are besieged by giant bugs bent on destroying all.
Incensed after his hometown was wiped off the map, Johnny Rice (Van Dien) gives up his plan to resign as squad leader of a starship fleet and sets off instead to get even with the evil critters.
Air Bud. Cast: Kevin Zeeger, Michael Jeter. Director: Charles Martin Smith.
After his family moved to a small city following his father's death, Josh Framm (Zegers) is friendless in his new school.
But he finds a runaway dog, Buddy, when he is practicing on an abandoned basketball court. Turns out this wonder dog can shoot and even score hoops.
This extraordinary ability eventually leads Framm and Buddy to join the school's basketball team. The game is not over, however, as they fall foul of the cute canine's vicious owner.
Mr. Magoo. Cast: Leslie Nielsen, Kelly Lynch. Director: Stanley Tong. (Coming soon).
After his successful string of Naked Gun spoofs, Neilsen is Quincy Magoo, the bumbling millionaire of cartoon fame, who unwittingly comes into possession of a stolen exotic jewel.
Oblivious to a devious scheme by international jewel thieves to grab the gem, Magoo takes on the bad guys with the help of his nephew Waldo (Matt Keeslar) and his reliable dog, Angus.
Playing God. Cast: David Duchovny, Timothy Hutton, Angelina Jolie. Director: Andy Wilson. (Coming soon).
Cast as a surgeon, Duchovny stays true to his X-Files TV role of saving lives.
Similarities end there. After losing his license because a patient died in surgery, Duchovny helps a mob member and is then introduced to his leader, Raymond Blossom (Hutton), who persuades him to work for him.