THE NEGOTIATOR

2 of Hollywood's finest actors meet in an intelligent and original picture about police corruption and conspiracy. Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction) plays a morally-upright high-flying negotiator who gets framed for a murder for knowing about an existing high profile corruption in the police force. Kevin Spacey (The Usual Suspects) plays a smart negotiator negotiating for Jackson's character who keeps a bunch of people in the office hostage. The 2 negotiators, best in their field, tangos in a game of truth-or-dare as the officials behind the corruption tries desparately to cover-up the truth.

Taking a little longer than necessary to build up the plot, the pace picks up and never siezes to amaze. The clever interplay of action and twists draws the film to a neat climax successfully. The flaw lies in several loopholes in the script in the form of unjustifiable accounts of the lead's (Samuel L. Jackson) actions. Nevertheless, one should be able to appreciated this film of outstanding acting-talents.

A PERFECT MURDER

Based on the legendary Alfred Hitchcock's Dial M For Murder, this is the 1st of several Hitchcock modern remakes released in the coming year. Michael Douglas (Fatal Attraction), a wealthy businessman facing financial trouble, makes a deal with his wife's (Gwyneth Paltrow) lover (Viggo Mortenson) to kill her. She is apparently worth a hundred million bucks and her young hunk is actually a con-man disguised as a typical struggling artist in New York.

Things gets sticky when the murder attempt on her failed and David (her lover) tries to chew more out of the deal through blackmail. The plot continues to unrevel and entwine back and forth cleverly true to Hitchcock-style, churning much anticipation and apprehension throughout the entire film. The distinct lack of violence and action distinguishes this thriller from many other Hollywood productions today.

Gwyneth Paltrow (Sliding Doors) mesmerizes with more than her appearance and Michael Douglas is perfectly cast in one of his best film genres - thrillers. Albeit the at times lengthy dialogues, the storyline is worth the ticket price. If you're too eager for the release of Hitchcock's Pyscho, give A Perfect Murder a shot.



CAN'T HARDLY WAIT

High school's out, graduation's over and college life begins... but not before a final party. Amidst the cast ensemble of nerds, losers, creeps, bimbos, wannabes... this hip romantic comedy speaks of Mike Dexter aka Hottest Hunk On The Block dumping Amanda Beckett (Jennifer Love Hewitt) aka School Belle, getting ready for a college-babe fest. Amanda boldly attends the party despite the news outbreak and shatters after being hit on by her cousin, drunk jerks and horny lechers. After harnessing enough courage, secret admirer of 4 years Preston Meyers (Ethan Embry aka bass player in That Thing You Do!) confronts Amanda to bare his soul...

This light-hearted social drama cheek-tones and teases with its cute sub-plots and cool characters. Dealing with common teen issues of crush, lust, love and fate, Can't Hardly Wait is fresh and made for those craving for or reminiscent of their 1st love. A vibrant and fun(ny) picture about young love and new hope, a remedy for any love ailments. Sleepless In Seattle meets Romy And Michelle's High School Reunion?

Jennifer Love Hewitt's non-breakthrough performance, which her role did not require, lures audiences effortlessly nevertheless. She draws hearts as an assertive and intelligent 'chick' who finds maturity and her true self after getting dump. Latest heart-throb (whose career should go no other way but up after this movie) Ethan Embry plays an honest and straight 'dude' who's more charming than he knows, hopelessly in love with her. The limited camera-sharing moments between them sizzle nonetheless, even more so than Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer's in Friends, with such envious chemical compatibilty unseen since The Wedding Singer.

A nice prelude to Love's upcoming I Still Know... with costar Brandy, and with so much going for this feel-good pic, it should go down your throat and into your heart nicely. Can't Hardly Wait is highly recommended.

BLACK DOG

Patrick Swayze returns to the silver screen after a long overdue hiatus in a disappointing comeback action flick. The Dirty Dancing star stars as Jack Cruise, a former truck driver whose license was revoked after a manslaughter charge resulting from a fatal road accident years ago. He gets entangled in a smuggling enterprise after resorting to illegal truck driving to pay off mounting bills since his jail-days. What follows is a chain of bumper monster truck chase with lots of honkin' and bangin'.

The predictable good-guy-survives and saves-his-family-with-a-chance-to-start-life-afresh plot barely holds the audience's sobriety if not for several sparks of truck chases. A typical weekday late night television movie aimed at filling a network's timeslot. Try another movie this weekend.

WHAT DREAMS MAY COME>

Robin Williams is Chris, soul-mate of Annabella Sciorra's character (The Hand That Rocks The Cradle), who went to paradise while she descends into hell after commiting suicide. Chris forsakes his heavenly world to be with his true love and ...

The beauty in this 2 hour film lies in its breathtaking special visual effects in the portrayal of paradise and its vividly horrifying depiction of hell. An interesting interplay in the chronology of scenes fails to lift this slow and long-drawn picture into a level of both value and entertainment. The combination of gentle music, heavy dialogue and a tedious plot build-up drowses and almost hynoptises.

Credit undoubtedly goes to the fine performances of Oscar winner Williams and especially Sciorra. A pretty peculiar film which views death and life in an unorthodox way. If you are willing to risk boredom for an aesthetic experience, do try... no money back guarantee.

HALLOWEEN H20

2 decades later, Laurie Strode's alias Keri Tate does little to help hide her true identity when her patient serial killer brother returns to get her family. 20 years of paranoia seizes after a final confrontation (accompanied by tonnes of cheesy cheap-thrills) between the siblings.