Screen scenes

“X2″ Directed by Bryan Singer 20th Century
FOX

It’s hard to justify giving something three and a half paws
when it’s part of a craze ““ and the recent flurry of
comic book movies is nothing short of the biggest fad since the
hula hoop ““ especially when it’s not outstanding.
“X2″ gets my overwhelmingly positive rating anyway.
This movie about mutants is by no means outstanding ““ there
is no one element here that stands out and blows the audience away
““ but it is consistently entertaining and watchable. Maybe my
standards have been beaten down by Hollywood’s output, but
this movie really works for me. The X-men movies are a far cry
better than the other comic book offerings, such as
“Spider-Man” and “Daredevil.” The writing
and direction is more consistent and less cheesy (though there are
a couple of lines that make you cringe). While the best thing about
these films is that Director Bryan Singer has created the most
believable alterna-world where superheroes can exist for audiences
to escape into. “X2″ sees the franchise veering away
from a more Wolverine-centric structure to true ensemble
storytelling. We get a little of lots of the characters, which
keeps the film from establishing a true emotional center. The
couples surrounding Wolverine though, Cyclops and Jean Grey and the
young Rogue and Iceman, produce some of the film’s nicer
moments when he comes in to shake things up for them. There’s
plenty of action and effects here and an easy-to-follow plot. Fans
of the comic book will notice hints of the beginnings of some
interesting plotlines and anyone looking to zone out for a couple
of hours will find what they need in “X2.” -Anthony
Bromberg

“Owning Mahowny” Starring Philip Seymour
Hoffman, Minnie Driver Sony Pictures Classics

Just because a film’s subject matter is drab doesn’t
mean the filmmaking has to be. Unfortunately, where films like
“Clerks” and “In the Bedroom” succeeded,
“Owning Mahowny” fails miserably. It’s not that
it’s bad; it’s just 104 minutes of vanilla ““
bland and unmemorable. The premise wasn’t too bad. Based on a
true story of one banker’s multi-million gambling habit
fueled by money embezzled from his creditors, “Mahowny”
has some tricks up its sleeve, from the swirling sounds of a
rolling roulette to a clever repeated entrance. But there are only
a few rewarding things about the picture. Aside from those
elements, the story and the cinematography are sloppy, even lazy,
including shots, characters and scenes with no apparent reason or
logic. Director Richard Kwietnowski may have proven himself an able
short film director in the past, but the Berkeley grad shows little
aptitude for feature films here. Doomed from the get-go, it’s
set in early 1980s Toronto, a perfect storm of bleakness and visual
vapidity. There’s a glimmer of hope in the form of Philip
Seymour Hoffman, a reliable standby in many a P.T. Anderson
ensemble, but he proves yet again that he simply cannot carry a
movie alone (“Love Liza,” anyone?). Not that the rest
of the cast was much help. Minnie Driver and Ian Tracy are
perfectly nondescript as Mahowny’s girlfriend and the
detective on Mahowny’s trail, respectively. The only standout
here is John Hurt, right on the money as sleazy casino owner Victor
Foss. “Mahowny” could’ve hit the jackpot, but
there’s no love for the material present, making it
impossible for any audience to warm up to it. “Mahowny”
had all the cards it needed in the story, but still ended up with a
bad hand. -Paul Mendoza