Bravery and sweetness of men and elves: maritime 'Master and Commander' celebrates ideas of bravery; 'Elf' is a sweet fish-out-of-water tale

National Catholic Reporter, Dec 12, 2003 by Joseph Cunneen

Inevitably, the plot has to give Buddy and Jovie an opportunity to sing "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and to bring all its characters together for Santa's crash landing in Central Park. Before it's over, a threat from the dark-clad Park Rangers has been foiled, Walter has told off his bosses, and all those usually grumpy New Yorkers have found their way into the park to remind each other "to be good for goodness sake." If it's over the top, it's also good fun.

Quick Takes:

"Love Actually" is yet another proof that moviemakers don't know how to make romantic comedy any more. Wasting the talents of such stars as Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson and Rowan Atkinson, it cynically tries to exploit the idea of love without any notion as to what it's about. Hugh Grant, playing a bachelor prime minister supposed to look like Tony Blair, makes one want to run to the nearest video store to take out an old Cary Grant movie.

HBO Films will present "Angels in America," directed by Mike Nichols ("The Graduate," HBO's "Wit") and written by Tony Kushner, based on Kushner's Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Set in mid-1980's New York, "Angels in America" situates its characters in the twilight of the approaching new millennium, struggling with issues of sexual identity, supernatural revelation and the then-new plague of AIDS. Al Pacino (as the real-life Ray Cohn), Meryl Streep and Emma Thompson (as the Angel) lead an all-star cast in this two-part, six-hour movie adaptation. Part One, "Millenium Approaches," airs on Dec. 13 at 9 p.m. EST on HBO 2; Part Two, "Perestroika," airs Dec. 15 and 20 at 9 p.m. on HBO 2. HBO Signature will be running the entire six hours of the film in order starting Jan. 3 at 6 p.m. Check full stings on HBO.com for additional air times.

Joseph Cunneen, NCR's regular movie reviewer, can be contacted at scunn24219@aol.com.