"The Contender" is what New Yorker magazine calls "good, juicy fun," and what others have hailed as the best political thriller in years. It's even said Dreamworks may be looking for a little gold statuette with this one.
President Jackson Evans ( Jeff Bridges) has a problem. It's the end of his second term, and his vice-president has suddenly died in office. Worried about his political legacy, he nominates a liberal woman senator to take the job. So far, so good. But this is politics, and Washington politics, at that.
His nominee, Laine Hanson (Joan Allen), was elected as a Republican, but she switched parties, earning the hostility of moralizing Representative Shelly Runyon (Gary Oldman) R-Illinois. To make matters worse, Runyon is also a dedicated enemy of the president.
Runyon digs up some old dirt about Hanson's sexual behavior in her salad days in college and offers it up for political fodder. Hanson refuses to play his game and steadfastly clings to her principles.
The acting from all three stars is reputedly at least stellar. Oldman is in rare form as the canny old politico, and Bridges "pivots like a Baptist preacher in mid-sermon, runs his large hands through his hair, then lays those meat hooks on anyone who comes within 10 feet of him," according to "The New Yorker."
Allen is said to be up to her performance as Pat Nixon in Oliver Stone's "Nixon," where she won Best Supporting Actress. A former journalist and critic, director Rod Lurie is said to have written fine roles for his first-rate cast, which also included Christian Slater as an opportunistic, young congressman. "There isn't a dull scene in the movie," the New Yorker concluded. What more could you ask?
It is rated R for strong sexual content and language.
It starts Thursday at Market Square East.

"The Contender" is what The New Yorker magazine calls "good, juicy fun," and what others have hailed as the best political thriller in years. It's even said Dreamworks may be looking for a little gold statuette with this one.
President Jackson Evans ( Jeff Bridges) has a problem. It's the end of his second term, and his vice-president has suddenly died in office. Worried about his political legacy, he nominates a liberal woman senator to take the job. So far, so good. But this is politics, and Washington politics, at that.
His nominee Laine Hanson (Joan Allen) was elected as a Republican, but she switched parties, earning the hostility of moralizing Rep. Shelly Runyon (Gary Oldman). To make matters worse, Runyon is also a dedicated enemy of the President.
Runyon digs up some old dirt about Hanson's sexual behavior in her salad days in college and offers it up for political fodder. Hanson refuses to play his game and steadfastly clings to her principles.
The acting from all three stars is reputedly at least stellar. Oldman is in rare form as the canny old politico, and Bridges "pivots like a Baptist preacher in mid-sermon, runs his large hands through his hair, then lays those meat hooks on anyone who comes within 10 feet of him," according to the New Yorker.
Allen is said to be up to her performance as Pat Nixon in Oliver Stone's "Nixon," for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (and was nominated again the following year, 1997, for "The Crucible").
A former journalist and critic, director Rod Lurie is said to have written fine roles for his first-rate cast, which also includes Christian Slater as an opportunistic young congressman. "There isn't a dull scene in the movie," the New Yorker concluded. What more could you ask?
It is rated R for strong sexual content and language and starts Thursday at Market Square East.

Dear Source:
Although you're doing a great job on the St. Thomas Source and St. Croix Source, I think that maintaining two different Web sites can potentially be a disservice to the Territory. In particular, it was disturbing to check the St. Thomas Source this morning for the election returns and find that it did not carry the St. Croix results, and vice versa for the St. Croix Source. For the last several decades, we've watched the islands become more and more estranged from one another. The problems inherent in a multi-insular territory have been exacerbated by the deterioration and increased cost of inter-island travel. As a responsible and excellent publication, you ought to do what you can to counteract the increasing balkanization of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
George S. Eltman

It looks like "Lucky Numbers" will need more than luck to help it through what has been called a "really dim-witted plot," but with a remarkably undimwitted cast. Let's see.
Russ Richards (John Travolta) is a popular Los Angeles weatherman, ( a smog monitor presumably), who, down on his luck, persuades the lovely Lotto Lady Crystal Leroy (Lisa Kudrow), to rig some numbers in his behalf.
Now, this doesn't sound like the worst plot Glittertown has come up with. But, alas, it is handled with neither sufficient grace nor humor, according to the critical community. Director and novelist Nora Ephron is a very clever lady, but some say she lost her touch with this one.
Richards hails from Harrisburg, Penn, where he even has his own table at Denny's, but that doesn't really cut it in LA. However, it begins to look like his foolish scheme just might work when one of his patsies equally foolishly, turns up dead. Now, that really muddies the waters, as the patsy held the winning ticket.
We're in a fine pickle now, Ollie. However, stay tuned, eat your popcorn, watch Kudrow and Travolta, and chill, man.
It is directed by Nora Ephron and John Lindley and is rated R for language, sexuality, drugs and brief violence.
It is playing at Sunny Isle Theaters.

"Charlie's Angels" appear to have lost none of their appeal or momentum from the '70's TV series, though the ladies now rely on physical instead of metal weapons, a smart move.
Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu are Bill Murray's little darlings this time around, and if that cast doesn't knock your socks off, you'd be better off at the bowling alley, or updating your stamp collection.
The angels are called into action to intervene in the kidnaping of a famous millionaire. According to one sage reviewer, "If you're willing to check your brain at the door and accept that Drew Barrymore can take out five men with her bare hands, while tied to a chair . . . ," well, this is your cup of tea or Gator Aid. Another wag noted, "This version of the 'bod-squad' is smart enough not to take itself too seriously." There's nary an ill comment about the movie, as the girls track down some high-tech thieves, and are backed by the well-known crime fighter, LL Cool J.
The movie is directed by Joseph McGinty and McG, music-video director, and rated PG-13 for action violence, innuendo and some sensuality and nudity.
It starts Thursday at Sunny Isle Theaters.

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With the droll rating of "PG for some mild peril," how far can a kid's movie go? Well, "The Little Vampire" goes all the way to Scotland to launch a (kiddie) plot to sink your teeth into.
Tony (Jonathan Lipnicki) is a nine-year-old in a remote area of Scotland where his parents have just moved from America. Isolated from the cruel local Scottish kids, Tony develops an avid interest in vampires which does nothing to dissipate the isolation from his new would-be peers.
One night while perusing his vampire books, Tony looks up to find, what? a real and slightly bedraggled kid vampire Rudolph (Rollo Weeks) in his room. Hot dog!
The two become fast friends, flying all over the place on Rudolph's cape, as kids are prone to do.
However, all isn't beer and chittels. Vampire killers are after Rudolph and his family of blood-suckers, whose only fervent desire is to become human, which they claim there were – once. Help! Call Transylvania 6-5000, quick!
You may remember Lipnicki from "Jerry Maguire," four years ago. Some say he doesn't appear to have aged, though all those vampire rides should add something, one would think.
The movie was written by Karey Kirkpatrick and Larry Wilson, and directed by Uli Edel.
It is playing at Sunny Isle Theaters.

"The Legend of Bagger Vance" is about a game played on trimmed, green grass with a small, white ball, lots of holes in the ground, and a large variety of things with which to hit the small, white ball.
This game has interested politicians and other celebrities for some time, almost the entire 20th century, for instance. So, certainly, movies should be made about it. Well, maybe.
Bagger Vance, in this latest entry, is a supernatural caddy, i.e., bagger, get it? (Will Smith), who is sent from heaven above to help hapless, Rannulph Junuh ( Matt Damon) an extraordinary golf talent, until World War 1 leaves him a nervous wreck, a former shell of his old self. With that name, it's surprising he survived childhood, let alone World War 1.
Anyhow, Junuh's ex-girlfriend Adele (Charlize Theron), trying to promote a resort she inherited from her father, organizes a golf exhibition featuring Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen, but the tournament needs a local player, as well, and guess who? Director Robert Redford really likes to pile it on, it would seem.
But, all isn't lost. The mysterious Bagger enters the fable. According to one reviewer, "the authentically likeable Will Smith saves the day," and perhaps the movie.
It is written by Jeremy Leven and Richard LaGravenese, and is rated PG-13 for some sexual content.
It starts Thursday at Sunny Isle Theaters.

James O'Bryan went with him.

"The Legend of Bagger Vance" is about a game played on trimmed, green grass with a small, white ball, lots of holes in the ground, and a large variety of things with which to hit the small, white ball.
This game has interested politicians and other celebrities for some time, almost the entire 20th century, for instance. So, certainly, movies should be made about it. Well, maybe.
Bagger Vance, in this latest entry, is a supernatural caddy, i.e., bagger, get it? (Will Smith), who is sent from heaven above to help hapless, Rannulph Junuh ( Matt Damon) an extraordinary golf talent, until World War 1 leaves him a nervous wreck, a former shell of his old self. With that name, it's surprising he survived childhood, let alone World War 1.
Anyhow, Junuh's ex-girlfriend Adele (Charlize Theron), trying to promote a resort she inherited from her father, organizes a golf exhibition featuring Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen, but the tournament needs a local player, as well, and guess who? Director Robert Redford really likes to pile it on, it would seem.
But, all isn't lost. The mysterious Bagger enters the fable. According to one reviewer, "the authentically likeable Will Smith saves the day," and perhaps the movie.
It is written by Jeremy Leven and Richard LaGravenese, and is rated PG-13 for some sexual content.
It starts Thursday at Market Square East.