“Paparazzi”

Attempting to answer what price fame might bring, the new film
“Paparazzi” is the tale of the horrors that stardom
could hold.

The film is about rising movie star Bo Laramie (Cole Hauser) who
is hounded by vicious newspaper photographers led by Rex (Tom
Sizemore). When this group of paparazzi force Laramie in a wreck
that puts his family in the hospital, he begins to take revenge on
the people who ruined is life.

With a plotline like this, it is very hard for a movie not to
fall into a pattern of a cheap exploitation flick, with the good
guys extracting sweet revenge against the nefarious bad guys.

Sizemore’s Rex and the rest of the photographers seem to
be too sadistically evil to be taken seriously, and Hauser looks to
be playing Laramie between wide-eye happiness and deadly revenge
robot.

The film was also produced by famous film star Mel Gibson, who
certainly parlayed his own paparazzi experience into the film.

While the cast and crew in the studio press releases have played
up the “What price is fame?” aspect, this cannot hide
the revenge flick nature of “Paparazzi”. While not
looking to be bad on a “Catwoman” level, one must have
his or her tongue planted firmly in cheek to enjoy the film.

 

“Vanity Fair”

Opening last Wednesday, “Vanity Fair” is the 10th
movie or television adaptation of William Makepeace
Thackeray’s novel about high society in nineteenth century
London.

The movie, according to the IMDB, follows poor matchgirl Becky
Sharp (Reece Witherspoon) who, through her intelligence and
perseverance, defies her poverty background to climb in to high
society against the desires of the London elite.

Besides Ms. Witherspoon, “Vanity Fair” also features
the acting talents of Gabriel Byrne (’End of Days”),
Jim Broadbent (”Moulin Rouge!”), Bob Hopskin
(”Enemy at the Gates”), and Eileen Atkins (”Cold
Mountain”), and is directed by Mira Nair (”Monsoon
Wedding”).

“Vanity Fair” is sure to be one of the better films
at theaters this weekend, and the studio seems to have opened the
Oscars race early this year with “Vanity”’s
September release.

Yet, it is hard to get excited about this new version of
“Vanity Fair.”

It snuck up on audiences with little advance press, and does not
seem to have the breakout potential to make it a sleeper hit
against the revenge and comedy flicks also opening this weekend.
The September opening, while close enough to January for Oscar
consideration, implies the studio did not have much faith in its
product.

 

“The Cookout”

Everyone loves a cookout! There is the food: the grilled
hamburgers, hotdogs, barbecue, and your friend’s famous
potato salad. There are also all the old friends that you
haven’t seen in ages, able to make you laugh and be
entertained like only they can.

In that respect, the new comedy “The Cookout” is
just like its namesake. The cast includes Tim Meadows, Queen
Latifah, Eve, Ja Rule, Danny Glover, Jenifer Lewis, and Farrah
Fawcett. The film also marks the feature debut of Quran Pender.

Having just been signed by the New York Nets for $30 million,
basketball player Todd Anderson believes that he is losing touch
with his roots. So, he invites all his family and friends over to
his posh new house for a cookout. Of course, hilarity ensues.

Hoping to capitalize on the success of such comedies like
“Barbershop” and its sequel, “The Cookout”
provides many of the same elements that made those earlier such
hits, including the cameos by Queen Latifah and young hip-hop
singers.

Zachary Privott/The Daily

 

“Wicker Park”

Wicker Park drifts its way to theaters today twisting a unique
tale of drama and romance for viewers to become enthralled in.

Starring Josh Hartnett, the movie is a psychological drama about
a man (Hartnett) who is dedicatedly caught in a quest for a woman
he’s fallen in love with, Lisa.

She whimsically disappeared years ago, and the movie picks up
where Hartnett has rebuilt his life—back in Wicker Park. Just
when everything has settled for him he catches a glimpse of Lisa
and decides to turn his life upside down to find her.

With flashbacks and innovative filming, the mystery of their
broken relationship is slowly unveiled revealing many unexpected
complications that make this a dramatic love story.

Jennifer Rickard/The Daily
hello there & you too