Nothing lucky about it

Lucky Numbers is a bit of an embarrassment to its stars, John Travolta and Lisa Kudrow.

By STEVE PERSALL

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 22, 2001

NEW RELEASES

Lucky Numbers

Photo: Paramount Pictures] Lisa Kudrow is one of the few bright spots in Lucky Numbers.

(R) John Travolta's next comeback (from the debris of Battlefield Earth) was delayed by this dismal comedy about a meteorologist rigging a local lottery to pay for his ego-driven lifestyle. Lisa Kudrow adds a few amusing moments as his ditzy girlfriend, but the only feeling left behind by Nora Ephron's film is chilled disappointment.

First impressions: "Lucky Numbers is supposed to be a comedy, judging from the actors' broad gestures and glib dialogue. Yet, its characters are so callous and/or dumb that it's tough to laugh with, or at, them. The movie just idles in a mean-spirited mode, never offering anyone to pull for or against, even temporarily. Ephron's film lacks the one thing no movie can afford to miss: personality."

Second thoughts: Even Travolta bit his lip at a ShoWest luncheon when Lucky Numbers and Battlefield Earth were listed among his best films.

Rental audience: Extremely devoted Travolta fans; Pennsylvania transplants who'll enjoy recognizing the locales.

Rent it if you enjoy: Checking lottery tickets and finding no matching numbers.

Dancer in the Dark

(R) A factory worker going blind (pop singer Bjork) retreats into fantasies based on her obsession with old-fashioned Hollywood musicals. Director Lars von Trier (Breaking the Waves) keeps the mood bleak, but fascinating, even in its most raggedly improvised moments. The exceptions are those musical numbers, forged from ambient sounds and conveyed with Bjork's singular -- and possibly irritating -- style.

First impressions: "(The film) has much in common with . . . Breaking the Waves, in which another naive woman in pain finds dementia her only salvation. Shaky hand-held cameras, rambling improvisation and hopscotch editing are still part of (von Trier's) demand for immediacy and realism. Neither is pleasant to watch, but even feeling annoyed is more response than most films arouse these days . . .

"Bjork is the reason viewers will either love or hate Dancer in the Dark. . . . At times, it's hard to tell where Selma's inadequacies end and Bjork's begin. The performance has a cumulative effect of sorrow."

Second thoughts: The novelty fades on second viewing and plot holes widen, but von Trier's gall sustains fascination.

Rental audience: Art-film aficionados.

Rent it if you enjoy: Breaking the Waves, Pennies from Heaven.

The Tao of Steve

(R) Low-budget romantic comedy about an unlikely ladies' man named Dex (Donal Logue) and his methods of seduction, based on the aloof charisma of famous Steves, especially McQueen, Austin and McGarrett. Logue's performance won a special jury prize at last year's Sundance Film Festival. Directed by Jenniphr Goodman.

First impressions: "In the reel world of cinematic romance, Dex would be more likely to be a wacky sidekick to handsome stars named Mel or Kevin or Brad. (The film) places him front and center, a veritable "chick magnet' with a philosopher's insight and a slacker's ambition. Dex will be an inspiration to many, especially with Logue being so relentlessly cuddlesome. And that's why Goodman's camouflaged feminist tack impresses."

Second thoughts: Loses comedic steam on second viewing, but still better than most studio-driven romances.

Rental audience: First-daters, so they can judge new partners by what they laugh about.

Rent it if you enjoy: Reruns of Northern Exposure and Seinfeld.

DVD

New and noteworthy for digital players

"Titans" is easy to guess, hard to dismiss

Remember the Titans

(PG) Remember the Titans was a crowd-pleaser in theaters, blending nearly every sports cliche in the playbook with a message of racial tolerance that could choke up even the most cynical viewer. The fact that the story is based on fact makes the moralizing even more effective.

Denzel Washington stars as T.C. Williams High School head football coach Herman Boone, thrust into the position ahead of popular (and white) coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton). Integration has merged two schools into one. Racial divisions remain until Boone and Yoast proved to players and fans the importance of teamwork.

Yes, there are big games turning out exactly as expected. Yes, there are overwrought exchanges about the value of humans, no matter what color. Unlikely friendships emerge, tragedy is unavoidable and inspiring. Remember the Titans is easy to guess and hard to dismiss with its sentimental performances and rah-rah spirit.

The DVD version of Boaz Yakin's movie contains the usual extras: audio commentary by the director, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and screenwriter Gregory Allen Howard, plus a half-dozen scenes edited from the theatrical release. Two featurettes produced for home video -- profiling Washington's performance and the real-life Titans -- are notable bonuses.

Best of all, the DVD offers yet another audio commentary track to hear in sync with the movie. This one features the real Boone and Yoast talking about how Remember the Titans gets their story right and where it takes dramatic license. Their nostalgic memories of this championship season and social unrest surrounding it are priceless testimonies to a sadly historic era.

REWIND

Videos worth another look

And the winner is . . .

All eyes will be on Hollywood Sunday night when the 73rd annual Academy Awards are presented before a worldwide television audience.

Funny that nobody ever made a great movie about the film industry's most glamorous night of the year. A documentary would cut too close to the bone and a comedy wouldn't do it justice. Perhaps Kevin Costner can give it a shot; he's accustomed to lengthy running times.

Skip Joan Rivers' preshow blathering on E! and settle in with these video treasures dealing with the Academy Awards show. In some cases, the award name has been changed to avoid offending voters the filmmakers may have wanted to impress.

The envelope, please . . .

The Oscar -- One of the cheesiest show-bix melodramas ever made. Stephen Boyd plays Frankie Fane, an ego-driven nominee as best actor. Tony Bennett plays his best pal recalling in flashbacks all the people Frankie stepped on during his rise to the top. What a cast: Milton Berle, Elke Sommer, Jill St. John, Joseph Cotten and plenty of star cameos. Boyd's reaction when the winner is announced is a marvel of bad acting.

In & Out -- Kevin Kline plays a high school drama teacher mistakenly "outed" as a homosexual during an Oscar acceptance speech by a former student (Matt Dillon). Tom Selleck co-stars in a funny role as a TV reporter sorting out the truth. Joan Cusack was nominated by the Academy for her turn as Kline's insecure fiancee.

Naked Gun 33 and 1/3: The Final Insult -- . . . and it was aimed directly at the Academy. Dotty detective Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) pursues a terrorist plot to the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium. Pia Zadora's production number is a hoot and the bogus best supporting actress nominees include Florence Henderson, Shannen Doherty, Morgan Fairchild and Mary Lou Retton.

The Lonely Lady -- Speaking of Pia Zadora, you haven't seen a truly bad movie until you're seen The Lonely Lady. Zadora plays a screenwriter sleeping her way to an Oscar, known here simply as "The Awards." We never believe for a instant that she can even spell. Tawdry sex, turgid dialogue and Ray Liotta's screen debut, doing something nasty with a garden hose.

California Suite -- Maggie Smith won an Oscar playing an actor losing an Oscar and drinking away her troubles at a posh spa. Michael Caine is a sharp foil as her gay escort ducking her advances in Neil Simon's screenplay. Co-stars Jane Fonda, Alan Alda, Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor and Walter Matthau.

The Looney, Looney, Looney Bugs Bunny Movie -- Essentially an excuse for Warner Bros. to recycle classic Looney Tunes short subjects for profit. Part 3 of the trilogy is set at an Academy-style program called the Oswald Awards. One winner is Friz Freleng's jazzy fairy tale, The Three Little Bops.

A Star Is Born -- Both the 1937 and 1954 versions hinge on starlets (Janet Gaynor and Judy Garland, respectively) winning Academy Awards and having their acceptance speeches interrupted by drunken, washed-up husbands (Fredric March, James Mason). Barbra Streisand changed the setting to the Grammys for her 1976 version.

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