Friday, November 22, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Opening this week

DIE ANOTHER DAY

Brosnan, Pierce Brosnan, returns to Bondage for the fourth time as Agent 007 chases an enigmatic diamond mogul ("Possession's" Toby Stephens) plotting a high-tech device that could change the world for better -- or worse. Along the way, Bond enjoys close encounters with, among others, the intriguing Jinx (Halle Berry). Also joining 007 on his 20th big-screen assignment: returnees Judi Dench (as M) and John Cleese, who takes over from the late Desmond Llewelyn as gadget maven Q. (129 min.) PG-13; action violence, sexual situations. (Reviewed in this edition.)

THE EMPEROR'S CLUB

A classics instructor (Kevin Kline) at a prestigious prep school who bends the rules to help a rebellious senator's son (Emile Hirsch) excel learns a few life lessons himself in the latest in a long line of "inspirational teacher" dramas, this one inspired by writer Ethan Canin's story "The Palace Thief." Embeth Davidtz, "Northern Exposure's" Rob Morrow, Edward Herrmann and Harris Yulin co-star for director Michael Hoffman, whose credits range from "Soapdish" to "A Midsummer Night's Dream" -- both of which also starred Kline. (109 min.) PG-13; sexual situations.

FAR FROM HEAVEN

In 1950s Connecticut, a devoted homemaker (Julianne Moore) finds her well-ordered life collapsing when unexpected forces threaten her seemingly perfect marriage to a successful sales executive (Dennis Quaid), prompting her to turn to the family's gardener (Dennis Haysbert) for friendship. Writer-director Todd Haynes (who also directed Moore to an acclaimed performance in "Safe") pays tribute to the work of '50s director Douglas Sirk ("All That Heaven Allows," "Magnificent Obsession") with this acclaimed melodrama. (107 min.) PG-13; mature themes, sexual situations, brief violence, profanity.

FRIDAY AFTER NEXT

The "Friday" comedy franchise rolls into its third installment, returning to the neighborhood where it all began, as cousins Craig (Ice Cube, who also scripted) and Day-Day (Mike Epps) move into a rundown apartment, where a ghetto Santa Claus rips them off, prompting a desperate attempt to score some quick cash as strip-mall security guards. John Witherspoon, Don "D.C." Curry and Anna Maria Horsford co-star for video director Marcus Raboy, who makes his feature debut. (82 min.) R; profanity, sexual situations, drug use.

HIS SECRET LIFE

Turkish filmmaker Ferzan Ozpetek follows his debut feature "Steam: The Turkish Bath" with another perceptive probe into the complexities and ambiguities of sexual identity, this time focusing on the 40-something widow (Margherita Buy) who discovers that her handsome husband (Andrea Renzi) wasn't quite what he seemed. In Italian with English subtitles. (109 min.) NR; sexual situations, mature themes.

STANDING IN

THE SHADOWS

OF MOTOWN

The hidden history of the Funk Brothers -- the instrumental team that helped power the Motown sound -- inspires a documentary tribute that reunites seven surviving members for a reunion concert teaming them with hitmakers past (Chaka Khan) and present (Joan Osborne) for reinterpretations of Motown classics. (108 min.) PG; profanity, mature themes.

By CAROL CLING