Screen Scene

  Winstar Cinema Lu Yi-Ching portrays a
constantly praying widow in "What Time Is It There?"

“What Time is it There?” Starring Lee Kang
Sheng and Chen Shiang Chyi Directed by Tsai Ming Liang

Opening the film is an elderly man smoking a cigarette, making
lunch, moving a potted plant, yelling at his son to wake up, and
sitting down with a cynical look on his face. All this is done in
one take and without any camera movement. The rest of the film
perpetuates this feeling of loneliness combined with the mundane
details of big-city life (Taipei and Paris). Auteur Tsai Ming Liang
captures this sense of loneliness through a small cast of actors
who are never completely revealed, allowing each viewer to imagine
their thoughts. In fact, the film seems to be an unedited study of
space and time, save for a few punctuated moments of action. Far
from being boring or even trite as it inevitably sounds, the film
has a vitality not present in most of the Hollywood films. The
inner life and emotions of the characters dominate the viewer
without needing explanation. Those afraid of foreign language films
should reconsider this modern classic, in which the actions of the
characters speak louder than their words. The few pieces of
dialogue (Mandarin Chinese with English subtitles) and action feel
not only honest to universal human experience, but are also
uniquely humorous without resorting to gross-out jokes. The film
triumphs most because it gives a candid portrayal of life and
reminds us why we watch movies to begin with.

Howard Ho

“The Shipping News” Starring Kevin Spacey,
Julianne Moore, Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench Directed by Lasse
Hallstrom

“The Shipping News” is a touching tale of personal
discovery adapted from an original Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by
Annie Proulx. Director Lasse Hallstrom should have left it alone.
It is the story of an outsider who has struggled all his life to
fit in and goes searching for the key to happiness while trying to
come to grips with his troubled past. Kevin Spacey plays Quoyle,
the socially inept loner who is unappreciated first by his family,
and eventually by his wife Petal, played by Cate Blanchett. The
only positive results ever yielded from their hasty union is their
daughter, Bunny, a precocious 6-year-old. Bunny provides Quoyle
with a reason for persevering through a life that has thus far
brought him nothing but mediocrity. After an unfulfilling marriage
and an unexpected tragedy, Quoyle and his family find themselves in
the hands of his Aunt Agnis Hamm, played by Judi Dench. Dench
proceeds to bring them across the sea to Newfoundland, the land of
Quoyle’s people. It is there, amid the desolate rocks and icy
waves, that Quoyle is finally able to create for himself the family
he always deserved. A feat, he discovers, that delves deep into a
family history that includes piracy, murder and incest. Spacey
delivers yet another stellar performance in this role ““ a
loner whose brilliance lies in the simplicity of his love for life,
strong adherence to integrity, and genuine belief in the power of
the human spirit. Dench and Moore deserve acclaim for their
supporting roles as well, as figures who are the catalysts for
Quoyle’s quest to rise above obscurity and turmoil. Although
this film is rumored already to be an Oscar contender, it would
have been better left between the pages of a book than displayed on
the big screen. The story is moving, and the actors’
performances are admirable, but the main action involved in this
film lies in the tugging of the audience’s heart strings. At
times, the film falls flat and overall, it fails to live up to its
potential. In short, sometimes a great story just isn’t
enough. Fans of the actors, however, will find seeing the film
worthwhile. In the role of Quoyle, Spacey brilliantly uses his
talent for bringing depth and likability to characters. But if
you’re looking for an action-packed adventure to accompany a
touching tale of personal courage and success, look elsewhere.

Katie Leff