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Show MAR 2 2 RIO - THE REEL - RED my Leaving nt "Enemy at the Pictures Produced and Directed by Gates-Paramou- the Gates House For atWorth the Jean-lacque- s Annaud Written by Alain Godaid and Jean-Jacque- Annaud s Starring Joseph Fiennes, Jude Lav, Rachel Weisz, Bob Hoskins, and Ed Harris (of four) by Brent Sallay ttention 31 trenches. No, it's not the new Syphon Filter strategy guide. This is real. "Enemy at the Gates" does for sniping what "Field of Dreams" did for baseball, what "The Deer Hunter" did for Russian Roulette, what "Lolita" did for pedophilia. And it does so with all the scope and grace of an epic film. The film follows Vassili Zaitsev (Jude Law, "The Talented Mr. Ripley ""Gattaca"), a young Russian enlisted to defend Stalingrad from the Nazis at a crucial front in World War II. He is introduced to the brutality of war in an opening sequence only too reminiscent of "Saving Private Vas-sili- 's sharp-shootin- g basement-dweller- s alike: Put and shut-indown your .Metal Gear Solid. Unhand your P.ogue Spear. Feed the cat and tell your mother you'll be back in a few hours. Dress for battle. It's time to leave the s . Danilov (Joseph Fiennes, "Shakespeare in Love"), a Soviet political officer who is impressed with marksmanship, and wants to make him a national hero. Danilov pitches his idea to a vulgar Nikita Khrushchev (Bob Hoskins, "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?", who has been sent to Stalingrad to boost morale within the ranks of the weathered Russian army. Danilov has his way, and Vassili is soon cn the front page of every paper alongside a tally of his kills. As expected, Russian spirits go up, bat the Germans are quick to retaliate. They send in an equally skilled sniper, Major Konig (Ed Harris, "The Rock," "The Truman Show"), to do away with Vassili. What ensues is a game between the two snipers. The film is wise to devote most of its time to this plot line. Law and Harris are both consummate actors, and their scenes together are not only the most and satisfying of the film, but they also elevate the material from being just another war movie by shedding light on the human nature of battle. But "Enemy" doesn't end there. The plot is further complicated when a woman named Tarda (Rachel Weisz, "The Mummy") comes between Vassili and Danilov. Compound this with reluctance to remain a national hero, and you have all the elements of an international soap opera. With guns and stuff. The romance is somewhat melodramatic, but nonetheless crucial to the plot and the humanity of the film. Somewhat less satisfactory is the dialogue, which, atits worst, ranges from didactic to contrived. The translation scheme is somewhat problematic as well. In true Hollywood fashion, Russian soldiers promote American values with British accents and translate hieroglyphics for Germans in the universal language of English. Ryan." In the trenches he meets quick-witte- d ul Ed Harris plays Major Kcnig, a sniper pitted against Vassili Zaitsev (Jude IT iFMIPa IIMil 1111 il M Lavs) by Pi is a reluctant national hero caught "Heartbreakers" the Germans. WiHiMM Written by Robert Dunn and Paul Guay & Stephen Mazur Starring Sigoumey Weaver, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ray Liotta, Jason Lee, Gene Hackman (of four) by Brent Sallay strange thing. It can some people to create and mad. It can make the world go 'round, and then five minutes later run off with your sister for a quick one in the tool shed. Love can be someone's middle name. Or it can be a powerful tool of manipulation. "Heartbreakers" takes the latter of these two approaches. Max (Sigour-neWeaver) and Paige (Jennifer is a Love y team with the perfect plan to make it big: Mom months gets hitched (in or your money back) and fills her mother-and-daught- one-to-fou- I and a deadly sniper game. quota for foreplay, only to fall asleep on her wedding night right before climax, inevitably leaving her new husband with a heavy hankering the next day for the character played by Jennifer Love Hew eggck, waaath, hocckt. PG-1- 3 MGM Directed by David Miikin Produced by John Davis 1 in a love triangle r Excuse me. She manages to stick her head and chest in the guy's crotch and face, respectively, just in fame for Mom to walk in on them, act shocked, and cash in on a hefty divorce settlement. A perfect plan until they get mixed up with the likes of Dean Cumano (Ray Liotta, from"Goodfellas"). Unfortunately, liotta is still just a schnook and falls for their scam., losing his car and a large sum of money in the process. Large enough a sum, in fact, that Jenni eck er, the Noxzema girl thinks she can finally make it on her own. But Mom is clingy and doesn't think she's ready. Oh, and the IRS takes all their money. So, for the sake of a film, they decide to go in on one last scam together. They head for Florida and move into action. Weaver starts working lin the Mood For Lov e' Creates Perfect Mood and Atmosphere "In the Mood for Love" Chiu-wai- USA Films Produced, written and directed by Wong Kar-wStarring Tony Leung Chui-waai i, Maggie Cheung (iif font) by Jeremy Mathews w and ) wan (Tony Leung his wife move into an apartment the same day that Mrs. Chan nee Su (Maggie Cheung) and her husband move into the room they're renting. Mr. Chow and Mrs.' Chan are both married, but their spouses are always away on business of some sort, so each spends most of the time alone. Eventually, Mr. Chow figures out that Mr. Chan and his wife are having an affair. Consequently, he and Mrs. Chan begin spending evenings together to keep from being alone. They pretend to be the cheating couple, imagining and acting out scenes of how the affair began. While most films about adultery focus on the cheaters, "In the Mood for Love" is about the victims. Mrs. Chow and Mr. Chan are absent in their spouses' lives, and are never clearly seen in the film. It becomes clear that Mr. Chow have fallen in love and Su with each other, but they refuse to halve an affair. They don't want to sink to the same level as the ones who broke their hearts. Does either of them truly think is a master ong Kar-wof film images. ai When his contemporaries in Hong Kong, like John Woo, focused their cinematic flair on exhibitionist action, Wong looked elsewhere. Focusing on memory and random situations, he referenced past films while making something with a completely-originalook and feel. While his films aren't shown widely in the U.S. "Chungking Express" and "Fallen Angels" are his most popular works Wong's influence has appeared in films by the likes of Quentin Tarantino. "In the Mood for Love," Wong's latest work, is about two people who are in the mood for love but pretend they aren't. l In 1962 Hong Kong, Chow see Mo- - LOVE, page Rll Vas-sili- 's . laittev - 2001 see ENSMy, page Rll an old tobacco enthusiast (Gene Hackman) and, uh, the other one goes in on a local bartender (Jason Lee, from "Almost Famous" and most Kevin Smith movies). And hilarity ensues! But wait, you think, there's something wrong here. Sigoumey should be kicking ass, and Hewitt should be, well, in a Malaysian sweatshop. But instead, they're exploiting men with their cursed, shapely forms. So what would drive anyone with a functioning pair of testicles to watch? An impressive supporting cast, that's what. Hackman embodies his role to perfection. And although Liotta and Lee seem a bit out of place here, they manage to bring their own brands of charm to the film. "Heartbreakers" also features numerous cameos from established talents like Michael Hitchcock ("Best in Show," "Waiting for Guffman"), 1 "In the Maed for Love" follows the yictims put on the back burner to accommodate the female leads. And yes, when you think about it, it's all just a bit silly like a dog serving links at a barbecue, or your grandfather in leotards. But the movie's proceedings are entertaining enough, and the plot twisted enough to keep the audience from dwelling on the absurdity of it all. Director David Mirkin, whose writing credits include "Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion" - -- fE"T r. vf? TvT3 -- & WHS 'fit- - 1 and an episode of "The Simpsons" "Deep Space Homer" knows the funny and dishes it out like so much grade-- meat. And thankfully, he doesn't try to make the film anything more than it wants to be an unpresuming, dark little comedy. In short, "Heartbreakers" is certainly a popcorn movie, but well, worth the price of admission. Just don't take a date. Or ever trust a woman again. A ft. C - Jeffrey Jones ("Beetlejuice," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"), and Sarah Silver- man ("Saturday Night Live"), and a dark yet playful theme by Danny Elfman ("Batman," "The Simpsons"). Unfortunately, the real talent is an affair. n: fJT ' of adultery through 4f I1 Jennifer Lov Hewitt lives up to that middle name cu a opposite Sigoumey Weaver, |