Show CN O O CN A taut thriller rC ost movie critics come from a subgenus of jourk D nalists I like to call n idiotus” They evolve E into a herd of clones by for$ 0 getting the simple reason they 0) to chose to be movie critics — a love of movies- o Sometimes it seems easier for nationally and U CN “stu-pid- us s 0)' u0 3 0 —1 s2 a X V £ I O' O' CD O known film critics to trash on every movie that doesn't meet the Oscar checklist of excellence I think they forget that movies come in every shape size and color films should be appreciated for what they are trying to accomplish not how well they mirrored last year’s award winners “Trapped” is a cinematic clay pigeon flung in the air by some hopeful filmmakers designed not to win best picture but to frighten scare and boost adrenaline Most critics blasted this flick labeling it as inane boring and redundant I think they are l of it The film is quite timely and the tension created in the film is pea soup thick which caused me to bite my fingernails and grow large sweaty underarms My guess is the other critics felt the same way but it takes a real man to admit he’s darkened his pits The stqry focuses on a trio of miscreants who abduct children fromwealthy families When the movie opens the group has just finished their third successful kidnapping and somewhat reluctantly agrees to pursue a fourth Of course the last will be different blit I can’t tell you how or I will spoil the roller coaster ride Enter Will (Stuart Townsend) Karen (Charlize Theron) and Abby Joinings (Dakota Fanning) as the next unsuspecting targets for evil ringleader Joe (Kevin Bacon) his Lenny-esqu- e cousin Marvin (Pruitt Taylor Vince) and his nasty hooker-esqu- e wife Cheryl (Courtney Love) If the kidnappers can successfully arrange Abby’s ransom they’ll have a cool million and from there some tropical paradise However unbeknownst to Cheryl and Marvin Joe has other ideas the least of which is toying with Karen and lusting over her supermodel frame Either way the pulse of the film is ragged and One moment I had the all-ful- ever-changi- isSfUuga fcdtfisJ&ycaestiL m Superb directing m acting and writing The type of film you want to pay fufl price for and see again and again 3935 story figured the next I was clueless To me that’s the key to a thriller — a constant fluctuation of knowing and not-knowi- ng 't As for the directing and writing Luis Mandoki (“Message in a Bottle”) and Greg Isles (who also wrote the novel “24 Hours”) hold their own Mandoki doesn't try anything over the top and Isles’ dialogue never officially steps fully into the unoriginal zone However the acting is a different story and probably the main reason I can’t quite give this film more than a passing grade Kevin Bacon's acting is as bad as it gets and Charlize Theron isn’t far off Bacon will never shed that “Footloose” taint he’s been cariying ever since the ’80s Plus he seems to now have a fondness for asking for nude scenes in his contract On the other hand Theron ' does well displaying anguish fear and hate But she flips back and forth between actress and supermodel too often to be truly effective in her role And Stuart Townsend must' just cry each time he watches a “Lord of the Rings” trailer ' made the bonehead Townsend ‘ the of year when play down the role of semi-talent- ed ed Good enough for the ful price ticket but not quite supereized enough to make you want to go again 555 - s A Discount movie night — if you’re bored sin- gfe and' have no fife V One moment I had the start Awed We next I was clueless Tone thafsttie 55 ’ Stay home watch the stat-icon the television and pretend ifs the end of the world You1! have more fun j v: w 1 A pubBc flogging would be a happy alternative S Zen Holywood should pay you ot knowing and Aragorn (now done by Viggo Mortenson) He must have been thinking “Queen of the Damned” had more potential The real star is Dakota Fanning (“I am Sam”) Each time she cried I felt my heartstrings pull and I thought of my own daughter I also thought of all the other little girls who were kidnapped or murdered over the last year and it made me ache In a state where Elizabeth Smart’s photo is in every window this film hits home Be advised this is not for the kiddies There is foul lan- - not-knowln- g” guage galore sexual situations violence and so much turbulence that young viewers might go into a coma Andy Morgan is a graduate student of journalism at Utah State University He is among a number of freelance writers whose columns appear in The Herald Journal as part of an effort to expose readers to a Baffd'witln best-sellin- variety of community voices He is not an employee of the newspaper Feedback at lordofthejazzOhotmaiicom: NO EXCUSE 111 FOR ABUSE Call — Bma naaUaaliJ kai hJL - - ranwunnmBmjiwnoonMBWNncB novel by Jack Weyland g FLAT TIRE REPAIR Reg 12® " mnuoiEiiiminiiiHaw ilMIUK 41 U ES D'AYY&TLH U R S D'AYi Most Passenger Cars & Light Trucks Offer Good on Tuesday or Thursday Only Logan 685 North Main 7532412 Discount wrw iMssuioManvi Providence S Hwy 165 110 787-18- 44 IN HHH HI BKWsHMMwHWnilMHUnHriliU andEIIH On or Off The Vehicle UHlaniiMIIKHBa urns BHUTansHTHn HKHUB hhhrH W msHBIOHDO nndBKIi " BrOiHHBHnlillEninfnBHWIlB IEljk HSH STA RTS TO DAY MMMtyuMnMUMI Main |