Pick of the Week and New Releases for 6/15/2004
Pick of the Week: Spartan
One of the best movies you haven't seen this year. A suspense thriller from writer/director David Mamet and starring Val Kilmer. I think that Kilmer has given one of the best performances of his career. Mamet on the other hand has crafted a film with a plot so thick it will take multiple viewings just to get through it. I only saw it once, and I will not claim to know everything that went on, much less remember the intricate plot, but it is a great ride. The dialogue is masterful as the characters define themselves, when they could have become cutouts from so many other military thrillers of recent years. I don't want to get into much more until I get to watch it again, but this is a movie not to be missed.
There are a number of other excellent releases this week. The Station Agent, a wonderfully touching drama about 3 diverse people trying to redefine themselves. 50 First Dates, the sweeter side of Adam Sandler, he may be growing after all. Touching the Void, the excellent if impersonal documentary/recreation of a mountain climb gone wrong. Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 2, the dry sardonic wit of Seinfeld co-creator Larry David lives on. Dead Like Me Season 1, I only saw one episode, but this looks like a droll comic look at the afterlife. Monk Season 1, Tony Shalhoub's excellent series about an obsessive-compulsive detective. And of course, The Simpsons Season 4, I wish these were coming out faster! Plus one music release of note: The Beastie Boys: To the Five Boroughs, a long wait since Intergalactic, I hope it's worth it.
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