THE GOLDEN COMPASS ***½

Based on the fantasy novel by Philip Pullman and directed by Chris Weitz, the film stars: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Dakota Blue Richards, Eva Green, and Sam Elliott. Rated PG-13 for sequences of fantasy violence, the film is two hours long.

Set in a parallel world which looks like 18th century England but with energy sources and methods of transportation never seen in this world, the story is about a young girl, Lyra Belacqua (Richards), who is considered an orphan and who lives with the Scholars. When some of her friends start disappearing and she is befriended by Mrs. Coulter (Kidman), she begins to realize she is to play an important part in a battle between the rulers of her world and those who would like to be free of rulers. She is given the last Alethiometer. a device which tells her what is true or not true, because she is the only person in her world who can use it. Her search for her missing friends takes her to the ends of her world and introduces her to new acquaintances (Green and Elliott plus a large polar bear) who will help her attain the tasks she must complete.

I watched this with individuals who had read this book and with others who hadn't (that includes me). Those who had read the book were less satisfied than those of us who hadn't, mainly because they felt a lot had been left out. That's usually the case when you're transferring a book to the screen. I'd hate to think how long this film would have been if the entire book had been filmed in detail. Since I didn't realize what was missing, I was perfectly satisfied with what I saw and found it highly entertaining. There are terrific CGI effects and the production values are superb. Dakota Blue Richards is very, very good and I look forward to seeing her again. Small children might be frightened by the violence, although I don't remember any blood, but everyone else should be fine. Since this film represents less than one third of the written material, I think it's safe to say we can expect sequels. This should definitely be seen on a big screen and with good surround sound.

I've seen some emails about this film urging people not to attend because the feature promotes an atheist agenda. Well, bunk. While the author is an atheist I certainly saw nothing in the film that would denigrate religion. In fact, I don't recall anything that even alluded to religion, either pro or con (perhaps that's what bothers those urging you to boycott this feature). There is one reference to "free will", but that's in a political context as in the American patriots wanted free will vs. British rule. There is the fact that in this alternate reality human souls are outside the body in the form of an animal, but that's simply a fantasy ploy and I saw no religious connotation whatever. This film isn't going to affect religious beliefs one way or the other so enjoy it for the superb fantasy it is.

Opening 11/30/07

For showtimes select your theatre under the SHOWIMES AT: header in the left column. Weekend times normally start appearing on Wednesday.

AWAKE [R] 1 hr. 25 min. Psychological Thriller Trailer Cast: Hayden Christensen, Jessica Alba, Lena Olin, Terrence Howard, Steven Hinkle, Jennifer Pedersen, Sam Robards, Poorna Jagannathan, Court Young. Plot: a man suffers "anesthetic awareness" and finds himself awake and aware, but paralyzed, during heart surgery. Showing at: Derby Plaza, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD [R] 1 hr. 55 min. Drama/Thriller Trailer Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney, Marisa Tomei, Rosemary Harris, Michael Shannon, Amy Ryan, Brian O'Byrne, Aleksa Palladino. Plot: an overextended broker lures his younger brother into a scheme to rob a suburban mom-and-pop jewelry store. The store owners are the brothers' parents, and when the seemingly perfect crime goes awry, the damage lands right at their doorstep. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

Sneak Preview Saturday 12/1

THE GOLDEN COMPASS [PG] 2 hrs. Adventure/Drama/Fantasy Trailer Cast: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Sam Elliott, Eva Green, Dakota Blue Richards, Ian McKellen, Ian McShane, Freddy Highmore, Kathy Bates, Tom Courtenay, Ben Walker, Adam Godley, Simon McBurney, Nonso Anozie, Jim Carter, Clare Higgins, Jack Shepherd, Magda Szubanski. Plot: Philip Pullman's bestselling and award-winning novel, "The Golden Compass" tells the first story in Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy. It is an exciting fantasy adventure, set in an alternative world where people's souls manifest themselves as animals, talking bears fight wars, and Gyptians and witches co-exist. At the center of the story is Lyra, a 12-year-old girl who starts out trying to rescue a friend who's been kidnapped by a mysterious organization known as the Gobblers - and winds up on an epic quest to save not only her world, but ours as well. Regular engagement starts 12/7. Sneaks at: 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren (both at 7:00 PM).

Leaving 11/29/2007

Derby Plaza - The Gameplan
Movie Machine - nothing
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - The Heartbreak Kid, Hairspray
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring
Warren East 13th - Love In The Time Of Cholera
Warren Old Town - nothing
Warren West 21st - Love In The Time Of Cholera

ENCHANTED ***½

Directed by Kevin Lima, this Disney family film stars: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Idina Menzel, Rachel Covey, and Susan Sarandon. Rated PG for some scary images and mild innuendo, it is one hour and fifty-five minutes long.

Starting out in an animated fairytale, we meet a Princess (Adams) and her Prince Charming (Marsden). Their decision to immediately get married and live happily ever after upsets the Prince's mother (Sarandon) who pushes the Princess into a well that takes her to New York, where she becomes a real person in live action. The Prince soon follows and the Queen sends a toady (Spall) to give the Princess a poison apple in order to get rid of her permanently. Before the Prince can find her, the Princess meets a divorced lawyer (Dempsey), his daughter (Covey), and his girlfriend (Menzel). The course of true love takes a detour and the plot continues its predictable path.

This film has something for everyone. Cartoon fantasy, live action comedy, talking animals, musical numbers and a wicked stepmother as the villain. The pic never takes itself seriously and is a great deal of fun to watch. Young and teenaged girls will absolutely love this movie which means a lot of parents and dates will be brought to see it also. This is a solid holiday attraction for virtually everyone.

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN ***

Directed by brothers Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, this thriller stars Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, and Kelly Macdonald. Rated R for strong graphic violence and some language, it is one hour and fifty minutes long.

After a brief into to Bardem and his murderous skill set the plot really commences when Brolin comes across a drug buy gone bad, leaving behind several dead bodies, a lot of coke and two million dollars. He decides to take the money and sends his wife, Macdonald, to her mother's home for safety while he uses his hunter's skills to to take care of anyone sent to get the money back. Two are sent, Bardem and later Harrelson. In the meantime Jones, the sheriff, is trying to find Brolin and the money to head off what he feels will be a potential blood bath. The paths of these characters repeatedly criss cross in an ever tightening spiral of violence and death.

Virtually every major critic has raved about this film, which has been in limited release for a couple of weeks. I can see why they would. The acting, production values and pacing of this two hour film are superb. It will hold your attention right up until the end. But I'll bet the average movie patron, out for an evening's entertainment, will not be as enthused. This isn't really meant to entertain. What it does is present a set of character studies; beautifully done, but certainly not what you're expecting once the film gets started. And the resolution of the film, or lack thereof, will leave many frustrated. Fans of art movies and those interested in film craft will be ecstatic. The rest of the audience...not so much.

Opening 11/21/07

For showtimes select your theatre under the SHOWIMES AT: header in the left column. Weekend times normally start appearing on Wednesday.

AUGUST RUSH [PG] 1 hr. 55 min. Drama/Music Trailer Cast: Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard, Robin Williams. Plot: A charismatic young Irish guitarist and a sheltered young cellist have a chance encounter resulting in an baby, orphaned by circumstance. Years later, performing on the streets of New York and cared for by a mysterious stranger who gives him the name August Rush, the child uses his remarkable musical talent to seek his parents. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

BELLA [PG-13] 1 hr. 45 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Eduardo Verástegui, Tammy Blanchard, Manny Perez, Ali Landry, Angélica Aragón, Jaime Tirelli, Ramon Rodriguez. Plot: a once a famous athlete recognizes something in Nina, a young waitress, and reaches out to her. In the course of a single day, he not only confronts his past but shows her how the healing power of a family can help her embrace the future. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

ENCHANTED [PG] 1 hr. 45 min. Comedy/Family Trailer Cast: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Idina Menzel, Rachel Covey, Susan Sarandon. Plot: a fairytale princess from the past is thrust into present-day by an evil queen. Soon after her arrival, Princess Giselle begins to change her views on life and love after meeting a handsome lawyer. Can a storybook view of romance survive in the real world? Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

HITMAN [R] 1 hr. 40 min. Action/Thriller Trailer Cast: Timothy Olyphant, Dougray Scott, Olga Kurylenko, Robert Knepper, Ulrich Thomsen, Michael Offei. Plot: Agent 47 has been educated to become a professional assassin for hire. His most powerful weapons are his nerve and a resolute pride in his work. 47 is both the last two digits of the barcode tattooed on the nape of his neck, and his only name. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN [R] 1 hr. 40 min. Thriller Trailer Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald. Plot: when Llewelyn Moss finds a pickup truck surrounded by a sentry of dead men, a load of heroin and two million dollars in cash are still in the back. When he takes the money, he sets off a chain reaction of catastrophic violence that not even the law - in the person of an aging, disillusioned Sheriff - can contain. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

STEPHEN KING'S THE MIST [R] 2 hrs. 5 min. Horror Trailer Cast: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Andre Braugher, Laurie Holden, Toby Jones, William Sadler, Frances Sternhagen, Jeffrey DeMunn. Plot: following a violent thunderstorm a small town community comes under vicious attack from creatures prowling in a thick and unnatural mist. Retreating to a local supermarket the survivors must face-off against each other before taking a united stand against an enemy they cannot even see! Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

THIS CHRISTMAS [PG] 2 hrs. Holiday drama Trailer Cast: Delroy Lindo, Idris Elba, Loretta Devine, Chris Brown, Keith Robinson, Laz Alonso, Columbus Short, Sharon Leal, Lauren London, Mekhi Phifer, Regina King. Plot: this year, Christmas with the Whitfield's promises to be one they will never forget. All the siblings have come home for the first time in years and they've brought plenty of baggage with them. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 11/20/2007

Derby Plaza - American Gangster, The Comebacks
Movie Machine - American Gangster
Northrock 14 - P2, Saw IV, T.P.'s Why Did I Get Married, The Game Plan
Palace West - Superbad, Halloween
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring
Warren East 13th - Across The Universe, Saw IV, T.P.'s Why Did I Get Married, Horrorfest, P2, Martian Child
Warren Old Town - The Darjeeling Limited
Warren West 21st - Saw IV, 30 Days of Night, P2, The Comebacks, Martian Child

Worthwhile (or not) 11/16/07

As far as Metacritic is concerned only one of this weekend's offerings is worth a visit. Beowulf gets 65/100, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium gets 47/100 and Love in the Time of Cholera follows with 42/100.

If that seems a little skimpy, not to worry. This Wednesday the holiday movie season starts in earnest with a scheduled seven new films including: Enchanted, The Mist, This Christmas, August Rush, Hit Man, Bella and No Country For Old Men.

MR. MAGORIUM'S WONDER EMPORIUM **½

This family fantasy stars: Dustin Hoffman (Mr. Magorium), Natalie Portman (Molly Mahoney), Zach Mills (Eric Applebaum), and Jason Bateman (Henry Weston). Written and directed by Zach Helm, it is rated G for general audiences and is one hour and forty-five minutes long.

Mr. Magorium decides after 243 years it's time to hang it up and tells his toy store manager, Molly, he's giving her the store. She's overwhelmed because she understands the store is magic and Mr. Magorium's presence is necessary for the magic to continue. But he's determined and hires an accountant, Henry, to determine the value of the store. Eric, a store regular and Henry set out to convince Molly she'll do just fine as the store's owner once Mr. Magorium is gone.

This is very interesting visually and the cast is obviously top notch, but there's just not much here for adults. Children who see the film will learn you have to really believe in yourself before success can be achieved and that death is painful for those left behind. These are no doubt important concepts for children to learn but families looking for a holiday laugh fest may be disappointed with this storyline. I think you'll be happier waiting for this to show up on DVD, and partaking instead in the more traditional holiday fare that's just around the corner.

BEOWULF ***

This epic adventure stars: Ray Winstone (Beowulf), Angelina Jolie (Grendel's mother), Anthony Hopkins (Hrothgar), Crispin Glover Grendel), John Malkovich (Unferth), Robin Wright Penn (Wealthow), Brendan Gleeson (Wiglaf), and Alison Lohman (Ursula). The director is Robert Zemeckis. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence including disturbing images, some sexual material and nudity; one hour and fifty-three minutes long.

Fortunately, the plot of the film spins a much more coherent story than the one I remember from High School and College English classes. Grendel is a monster whose acute hearing causes him to suffer when the Danes in King Hrothgar's mead hall party too heartily. In retribution he tears a goodly number of them limb from limb which causes Hrothgar to offer half the kingdom's gold to anyone who can slay Grendel. That attracts Beowulf and his band of men, including his right hand man, Wiglaf, and before long Grendel and Beowulf meet resulting in Grendel's death and Beowulf receiving the gold, the crown of the kingdom and Hrothgar's Queen, Wealthow. Then we learn the identities of Grendel's mother and father when Beowulf makes the same mistake Grendel's father did decades before, which estranges him from Wealthow, leaving him to seek solace in the arms of Ursula. After a few decades, it's time to start over again.

I saw the 3D version of the film (it's only in two auditoriums at the 13th Avenue Warren) and I would recommend you do the same, if only to see what state of the art equipment has done for 3D. The 3D effect is intrusive at times but it is more of a plus than a minus. The live/animation process Zemeckis uses has also improved, with the characters appearing more realistic than in earlier presentations using this process. The production and acting is fine and most will find this entertaining, especially since the pace of the film moves right along. While there is nudity, the film is surprisingly sexless and I doubt many will be offended. Little children will be scared by Grendel, however.

Opening 11/16/07

For showtimes select your theatre under the SHOWIMES AT: header in the left column. Weekend times normally start appearing on Wednesday.

BEOWULF [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Action/Animated/War Trailer Cast: Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins, Ray Winstone, John Malkovich, Brendan Gleeson, Dominic Keating, Alison Lohman, Robin Wright Penn. Plot: in a time of heroes, the mighty warrior Beowulf slays the demon Grendel and incurs the wrath of its monstrous yet seductive mother, in a conflict that transforms a king into a legend. Presented in Digital 3D only at the 13th Avenue Warren. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA [R] 2 hrs. 10 min. Drama/Romance Trailer Cast: Javier Bardem, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Benjamin Bratt, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Hector Elizondo, Liev Schreiber, Fernanda Motenegro, Laura Harring, John Leguizamo. Plot: based on Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel Garcia Marquez' novel which traces the Job-like vigil of Florentino Ariza, who waits for more than half a century to claim the hand of Fermina Daza, the woman he loves. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

MR. MAGORIUM'S WONDER EMPORIUM [G] 1 hr. 35 min. Comedy/Fantasy Trailer Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Jason Bateman. Plot: at this magic toy store everything comes to life - including the store itself. The Emporium only asks one thing of its customers; you must believe it to see it. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Sneak Preview, Saturday November 17

AUGUST RUSH [PG] 1 hr. 55 min. Drama/Music Trailer Cast: Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard, Robin Williams. Plot: A charismatic young Irish guitarist and a sheltered young cellist have a chance encounter resulting in an baby, orphaned by circumstance. Years later, performing on the streets of New York and cared for by a mysterious stranger who gives him the name August Rush, the child uses his remarkable musical talent to seek his parents. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren at 7:15 PM (replaces 6:30 Fred Claus).

Leaving 11/15/2007

Derby Plaza - Saw IV, Michael Clayton
Movie Machine - Saw IV, The Game Plan
Northrock 14 - Martian Child
Palace West - The Kingdom, The Brave One, Harry Potter/Order of Phoenix, The Nanny Diaries
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring
Warren East 13th - The Assassination of Jesse James, 30 Days Of Night, The Game Plan, The Comebacks, Michael Clayton
Warren Old Town - Saw IV
Warren West 21st - The Game Plan, Michael Clayton

Worthwhile (or not) 11/9/07

None of this week's films is proving exciting to the critics and the Metacritic ratings are a virtual dead heat. LIONS FOR LAMBS comes in first with 46/100. Closely behind is P2 with 45/100. FRED CLAUS is last with 42/100.

Next week looks a little more exciting with BEOWULF making it's appearance in Wichita in Digital 3D as well as in the normal 35mm film format.

FRED CLAUS **½

Directed by David Dobkin, this holiday family film stars Paul Giamatti, Vince Vaughn, and Kevin Spacey in the main roles. Rated PG for mild language and some rude humor, it is one hour and fifty-six minutes long.

The basic story is that Fred Claus (Vaughn) has always been in the shadow of his perfect younger brother (Giamatti), and as a consequence turned to a life of crime. When he's thrown in jail, Santa agrees to bail him out if he'll come to the North Pole and help with the seasonal rush. While he's there, an efficiency expert (Spacey) is also lurking, threatening to close the whole operation down.

The acting and production values are fine but, oh, is this a formula plot. Absolutely nothing happens that isn't completely predictable. Still, there is the occasional laugh and small children should be entertained. This is in the same league as the Tim Allen Santa pics. It's never going to be on the "classic" list and you'll be just as happy renting the DVD when it's available.

LIONS FOR LAMBS **

Directed by and starring Robert Redford, this preachy political drama also stars Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep. Rated R for some war violence and language, it's one hour and 28 minutes long.

Examining the current political/military situation from three vantage points the pic has Redford as a college professor trying to convince a student to become more involved in political activity. Cruise is a neocon Republican senator with Presidential ambition presenting the current administration viewpoint to Streep, a reporter who really isn't buying it and who feels guilty about aiding in the selling of the Iraq War. The third view is that of two of Redford's former students, now in the military, injured on a mountain plateau in Afghanistan, awaiting rescue.

The acting and production values are fine but this is more educational than entertaining. Both sides of the current political positions are presented as they pertain to the middle East conflict but it's highly unlikely anyone's opinion is going to be changed by this film. If you don't want to spend the money to see these actors tell you about current events, just turn on the evening national news a couple of times. The end result will be about the same.

Opening 11/9/07

For showtimes select your theatre under the SHOWIMES AT: header in the left column. Weekend times normally start appearing on Wednesday.

AFTER DARK HORROR FEST 2007 Trailer A group of 8 horror films consisting of: "Crazy Eights," "Lake Dead," "Borderland," "The Deaths of Ian Stone," "Mulberry Street," "Nightmare Man," "Tooth and Nail" and "Unearthed". Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren.

FRED CLAUS [PG] 1 hr. 55 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Miranda Richardson, Elizabeth Banks, John Michael Higgins, Rachel Weisz, Kathy Bates, Kevin Spacey. Plot: having lived almost his entire life in his little brother's very large shadow, Fred Claus has grown up to be a repo man...who steals what he repossesses, landing him in jail. Over Mrs. Claus's objections, Nicholas agrees to bail his big brother out on one condition: that he come to the North Pole and work off his debt making toys. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

LIONS FOR LAMBS [R] 1 hr. 30 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Michael Pena, Derek Luke, Andrew Garfield, Peter Berg. Plot: a powerful and gripping story that digs behind the news, the politics and a nation divided to explore the human consequences of a complicated war. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

P2 [R] 1 hr 30 min. Horror/Thriller Trailer Cast: Rachel Nichols, Wes Bentley, Simon Reynolds, Grace Lynn Kung, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee. Plot: on Christmas Eve. an ambitious young executive works late before she leaves for her family's holiday party. But, a friendly security guard has other plans for her. If she wants to live to see Christmas morning, she must find a way to escape from level P2 of the parking garage. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 11/8/2007

Derby Plaza - 30 Days Of Night
Movie Machine - 30 Days Of Night
Northrock 14 - We Own The Night, The Seeker, 30 Days Of Night, Michael Clayton
Palace West - Balls Of Fury, Transformers
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until Spring
Warren East 13th - Gone Baby Gone, Things We Lost In The Fire, The Darjeeling Limited
Warren Old Town - Michael Clayton, The Heartbreak Kid, We Own The Night
Warren West 21st - Gone Baby Gone, Things We Lost In The Fire, We Own The Night, Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married

Worthwhile (or not) 10/2/07

The Metacritic numbers show a clear winner this week; AMERICAN GANGSTER with 77/100. The other two are closely rated with BEE MOVIE with 54/100 and MARTIAN CHILD with 49/100.

MARTIAN CHILD **½

Directed by a relatively new director, Menno Meyjes, this film stars John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Sophie Okonedo, Bobby Coleman, and Joan Cusack. The film is one hour and fifty minutes long and is rated PG for thematic elements and mild language.

Cusack is a lonely, widowed sci-fi writer who, against the wishes of his practical sister, Joan Cusack, decides to adopt a little boy, Coleman, who thinks he's a Martian. Having been a strange loner as a child, Cusack is more understanding than most and soon bonds with the child. He's helped in this task by his sister and by Peet, a friend of his as well as his late wife. During this time he's trying to finish another novel, encouraged by his friend and agent, Platt, and making sure he has the approval of the social workers who must approve the adoption.

This is a film some will love and some will hate. The plot is weak and contrived but has a sweetness to it many will appreciate, especially women. The acting is first rate, especially John Cusack and Bobby Coleman, although the role Coleman must play makes him hard to relate to. The rest of the cast doesn't have that much to do which is especially unfortunate in the case of Peet, who lights up the screen in her woefully few appearances. Families who attend with their children may find the film sparks some inter family dialog but most others will find the proceedings a little too strange to be enjoyable.

AMERICAN GANGSTER ***

This crime/police drama directed by Ridley Scott shows us a crime organization where family values are practiced. Starring are: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, and Josh Brolin among a large and varied cast. The film is two hours and 35 minutes long and is rated R for violence, pervasive drug content and language, nudity and sexuality.

Washington is the driver and enforcer of a Harlem black crime boss. He is treated well and when the boss dies, he builds a new organization utilizing family members and a new source of drugs; heroin imported in the coffins of dead servicemen from the Viet Nam war. Because he can sell higher quantity for a lower price, and because only family members are in key positions, he flies under the radar of the legitimate drug police, led by Crowe. The crooked police, led by Brolin, know who he is and collect their kickbacks, but do nothing to stop him. He finally is noticed by attending a Las Vegas fight in an expensive fur coat his new wife has bought him, and the chase is finally on.

This is an interesting but not riveting film. Washington is the dominant actor but Crowe is excellent as usual. It would have been better had it been edited more tightly. For example, there's a whole time-consuming subplot about Crowe's ex-wife and her legal battle to take their child and move to Las Vegas. It adds nothing to the plot but several unnecessary minutes. And there's another subplot about a partner that's meant to show us how incorruptible Crowe is, but that was made perfectly clear when he turned in a million dollars in unmarked bills at the beginning of the pic, knowing dishonest cops would just take it for themselves. At a hour and a half to two hours, this would have been a terrific picture. As it is, it's just very good.