OPENING

28 DAYS -- Various theaters

AMERICAN PSYCHO -- Various theaters

EAST-WEST -- Harvard Exit

JOE GOULD'S SECRET -- Broadway Market

KEEPING THE FAITH -- Meridian, Northgate, Metro

ME MYSELF I -- Guild 45th

WHERE THE MONEY IS -- Meridian, Metro


REPERTORY & REVIVAL

THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO -- Grand Illusion

THE CITY OF LOST CHILDREN -- Egyptian

THE EDGE OF THE WORLD -- Egyptian

THE FILMS OF JIRĂŤ MENZEL -- Grand Illusion

THE FILMS OF LUIS BU--UEL -- Seattle Art Museum

FLAME -- Little Theatre

FLICKER SUPER-8 & 16MM FILM FESTIVAL -- Sit & Spin

FROM THE PAGE TO THE SCREEN -- Consolidated Works

HOU HSIAO-HSIEN'S SADNESS TRILOGY -- Grand Illusion

HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES -- Grand Illusion

MONEY BUYS HAPPINESS -- Little Theatre

NEW VOICES II -- 911 Media Arts

SHOOTING GALLERY FILM SERIES -- Uptown

SOUTH -- Egyptian

SPIKE AND MIKE'S SICK & TWISTED FESTIVAL OF ANIMATION -- Varsity Calendar

TAAFE FANGA (SKIRT POWER) -- Seattle Asian Art Museum

VIDEO SHORTS 19 -- 911 Media Arts


COMING SOON

April 21 -- Love and Basketball, U-571, Cotton Mary, East Is East, The Color of Paradise, Trash, Chac, Croupier, Gossip

April 28 -- Frequency, Flistones in Viva Rock Vegas, Where the Heart Is, The Filth and the Fury, Time Code, Winter Sleepers


MOVIES & EVENTS

28 Days
Sandra Bullock goes into rehab. Unfortunately, it's only for 28 days. Various theaters

*All About My Mother
Pedro Almodovar's highly acclaimed new film, a mature look at women (with the obligatory drag queen). Broadway Market

Amazon
An IMAX examination of the lush forests and exotic animals of the Amazon river basin. Omnidome

American Beauty
Entertaining fluff. Take your typical suburban satire (midlife crisis, bitchy wife, disaffected youth), throw in some admittedly excellent performances, and what you get is the an Oscar-winning film, for better or worse. (Andy Spletzer) Aurora Cinema Grill, Factoria, Grand Alderwood, Pacific Place 11, Redmond Town Center, Seven Gables

American Psycho
A comedy about a serial killer, based on the much-reviled book by Bret Easton Ellis. Reviewed this issue. Various theaters

*Being John Malkovich
It's the best film of 1999, and it has a monkey in it. Coincidence? We don't think so. Uptown, Varsity

Black and White
Imagine a movie that purports to be about race, in which all of the black men are pussy-chasing rapper-gangsters, all the young white men are wimpy wiggers or gay, and all the old white men are crooked cops or dirty lawyers; a movie where all the white women have blatant jungle fever, and the only black female character with a speaking part is hysterical about all the interracial coupling. Well, there's no need to imagine anymore because that's just the movie James Toback made. Robert Downey Jr., Ben Stiller, Bijou Phillips, Mike Tyson, Claudia Schiffer, Brooke Shields, and most of the Wu-Tang Clan star. (Erin Franzman) City Centre, Factoria, Lewis & Clark, Redmond Town Center, Varsity

*Boys Don't Cry
Bellingham native Hilary Swank deserves every accolade she's received for her portrayal of Brandon Teena, a boy born in a girl's body, who was killed by hateful people who couldn't, or just wouldn't, understand. Broadway Market

*The Castle of Cagliostro
Hayao Miyazaki's Castle of Cagliostro puts the Japanese animation master's ecological and spiritual concerns on the back burner in favor of a silly but undeniably rousing adventure. It may not be as sublimely delirious as Porco Rosso, but it's good fun all the same. Thurs April 13 at 5, 7, 9. (Bruce Reid) Grand Illusion

The Cider House Rules
Based on the John Irving novel, a period piece about life and abortion. Aurora Cinema Grill, Guild 45th, Uptown

*The City of Lost Children
Hands down, one of the most visually stunning, heartbreaking, surreal films ever made. Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro's (Delicatessen) compelling, sympathetic tale of a little girl named Miette (and other scraggly orphans) who must face a nightmarish world of creepy adults and frightening villains who have lost the ability to dream. A must-see on the big screen, especially if you're slightly tipsy. Fri-Sat April 14-15 at midnight. Egyptian

Dolphins
Those who've read Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker novels already know that dolphins are the smartest animals on the planet, and Dolphins proves that they're the coolest as well. (Gillian G. Gaar) Pacific Science Center IMAX

East-West
A married couple is torn asunder by Stalin's oppressive tactics after World War II. Darn that Stalin, anyway. Reviewed this issue. Harvard Exit

*The Edge of the World
This little-seen 1937 gem by pre-Godhead Michael Powell offers yet more evidence of Powell's untarnished righteousness as a chronicler of all things Brit; it's a moral folktale of the depopulation of the Scottish Isles, and one in particular. As progress and civilization encroach on the old ways and the population declines steadily, two hotheaded young men (one of whom advocates abandoning the dying island and petitioning the government for land grants, while the other says things like "you've gone over to the other side, Robbie Manson") decide that the best way to settle the debate is a climbing race, up the steepest cliff on the island without ropes. Someone falls and nothing is ever the same. Naturally, a girl is involved, the black and white cinematography is astounding, and everyone speaks in charming Scots accents. But in much the same way John Ford allowed the rich humanity of his simple characters provide the real meat of his pictures, Powell knew that the historical and human gravity under the melodrama were what would really make the movie go. Fri-Sun April 14-16 at (Sat-Sun 1:20, 3:10), 5, 7, 9. (Sean Nelson) Egyptian

Erin Brockovich
Despite having been directed by indie superstar Steven Soderbergh,Erin Brockovich is just what it is: another big-budget Hollywood film starring Julia Roberts. In fact, because this is a Hollywood film, we suddenly notice aspects of Soderbergh's filmmaking that are harder to detect when he has complete control over his material: Namely, how brilliant he is working with supporting actors, most notably men. In this case, it's Aaron Eckhart and Albert Finney. Without this, all you have left is a stupid plot and the dentiglorious spectacle that is Julia Roberts. (Charles Mudede) Factoria, Guild 45th, Lewis & Clark, Meridian 16, Oak Tree, Redmond Town Center

The Eruption of Mount St. Helens
The mountain blew up in 1980, and has been blowing up on film ever since. Omnidome

Fantasia 2000
The latest Walt Disney sweeping-animation-and-classical-music extravaganza. Bring your own mind-altering substances. Ends April 30! Pacific Science Center

The FILMS OF JIRĂŤ MENZEL
Six glorious weeks of weekend screenings, showcasing the works of humorist/humanist Czech new wave filmmaker JirĂ­ Menzel. This week, it's My Sweet Little Village, in which the residents of a small, simple Czechoslovakian village fumble and blunder aimlessly with the trappings of their Hicksville existence, while the daring modernism of America and the Western world beckons. Sat-Sun April 15-16 at noon. Grand Illusion

*The FILMS OF LUIS BUĂ‘UEL
A thoughtful retrospective of the sensitive and satirical European/Spanish filmmaker's works. This week, it's Illusion Travels by Streetcar (1953), with Lilia Prado and Fernando Soto. Thurs April 20 at 7:30; call 625-8900 for details. Seattle Art Museum

Final Destination
Okay, so when a boy has a vision of the plane he's about to take crashing in a big fiery ball, he freaks out and gets kicked off the plane, along with several other people. Then the plane crashes. Spooky. But you can't cheat death, and so the survivors start dying, one by one. That's the point of the movie. You can't cheat death. It never gets any more clever or complex than that. If you must cheat, then sneak into a screening without paying. That'll show 'em. (Andy Spletzer) Grand Alderwood, Pacific Place 11

Flame
Ingrid Sinclair's controversial feminist film about Zimbabwe's struggle for political freedom and independence from white rule. Sinclair also exposes the sexism and violence that modern women in Zimbabwe still face. Thurs-Sun April 13-16 at 5:30, 7:30, 9:30. See Stranger Suggests. Little Theatre

*Flicker Super-8 & 16mm Film Festival
Join the Flicker folks and Emerald Reels in praising the efforts of local Super-8 and 16mm filmmakers, at this touring showcase for auteurs who still believe in doin' it old school. Screenings are informal, and there is no entry fee for film entries; plus, a $100 "Flicker Grant" will be awarded at the event. Indie director Doug Lane's new flick will be screened, as well as the "best of" films from Flicker's L.A. chapter. And, as always (since Emerald Reels is involved), live DJ music will be featured. Don't miss it. Wed April 19 at 9 (doors at 8:15), $5. Sit & Spin

*FROM THE PAGE TO THE SCREEN
Film expert-about-town Robert Graves starts his reign at Consolidated Works with this collection of adapted films. His series continues with The Borges Quartet (2000), a group of four brand-new short films (including ones by Graves himself and The Stranger's own Andy Spletzer) based on the stories of Argentine literary/intellectual giant Jorge Luis Borges. World premiere!

This weekend series runs until May 14; $7, call 860-5245 for more info, or see Stranger Suggests. Consolidated Works

*Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
When he was young, Ghost Dog (Forest Whitaker) was saved from a group of street thugs by Louie (John Tormey), a low-level Mafioso who just happened to be passing by. In thanks, Ghost Dog pledged to serve Louie for the rest of his life, as faithful to him as any ancient samurai was to his master. But the movie isn't all guns and bloodshed. Thanks to a relatively simple story, Jarmusch has room to play with some of the characters and situations, often for comedic effect, giving Ghost Dog the same deadpan humor of his earliest films. (Andy Spletzer) Neptune

Here on Earth
Another stoopid teen romantic blunder, this time starring the jock from American Pie and Ms. Joan of Arc. Meridian 16

*High Fidelity
A romantic comedy for guys. John Cusack plays the cynically introspective Rob Gordon, the owner of a small record store who, for various reasons, has shit luck with women. He's a jerk, basically, but he's not altogether clueless about his jerkiness. He struggles and obsesses and makes lists that he thinks define his life, but he's no closer to understanding women than he was in the fifth grade -- which happens to be when he got dumped for the first time. Based on the popular novel of the same name. (Kathleen Wilson) Harvard Exit, Lewis & Clark, Metro, Redmond Town Center

*Holy Smoke
Ruth (Kate Winslet), on vacation in India, attends the religious service of a guru and falls head over heels into it. Her family fears she's been brainwashed, so they force Ruth into meeting with cult deprogrammer P. J. Waters (Harvey Keitel). Inevitably, sex becomes a way to balance their power relationship. Director Jane Campion once again pushes everything to its bitter conclusion and then, surprisingly but coherently, goes past even that. (Bruce Reid) Broadway Market

*HOU HSIAO-HSIEN'S SADNESS TRILOGY
Gentle, stylistic Taiwanese film director Hou Hsiao-Hsien's Sadness Trilogy returns to the Grand Illusion. The films -- A City of Sadness, The Puppetmaster, and Good Men, Good Women -- illustrate the cultural, emotional, and artistic experiences of Taiwan citizens (who have endured years of political unrest, Japanese and Communist occupation, societal upheaval, and attempts to "modernize"). Fri-Thurs April 14-20. See Movie Times for details. Grand Illusion

Hound of the Baskervilles
Dudley Moore and Peter Cook wrote and star in Paul Morrisey's 1978 spoof of Sherlock Holmes, featuring French nuns, one-legged people, and a phony spiritualist mom. The movie never got a proper release in the States, and is not available on video. A must-see for fans of British comedy. Fri-Sat April 14-15 at 11. Grand Illusion

Island of the Sharks
Them there's SHARKS on the IMAX screen! Swim with the fishes at your peril. Pacific Science Center

Joe Gould's Secret
A crazy bum who talks to seagulls has a secret. SPOILER ALERT: He's writing a book. Reviewed this issue. Broadway Market

Keeping the Faith
A priest (Edward Norton) and a rabbi (Ben Stiller) both want to have sex with Jenna Elfman. Oy! Reviewed this issue. Meridian, Metro, Northgate

Me Myself I
Rachel Griffiths stars in this remake of Sliding Doors. And not a moment too soon. Reviewed this issue. Guild 45th

Mission to Mars
One thing I don't need -- nor, frankly, ever thought I would see -- is a feel-good Brian De Palma film, yet the director's latest hired-gun assignment proves just that: an attempt to show off De Palma's soft and tender side. Guess what? He doesn't have one, and that lack is precisely what gives his best films their unique, demented kick. Without it, Mission to Mars is exactly what the ads look like: a misty-eyed and misty-headed sci-fi tale so proud of its naive, half-baked ideas about heroism, honor, and The Meaning of It All, it never realizes what a thoroughly dull and predictable mess it is. (This, instead of what I had hoped the ads were hinting at; namely, a vicious satire/rip-off of Kubrick's 2001!) De Palma, the professional, can't help but pull off the suspense scenes with flair, and they offer the few lively moments; but De Palma, the cynic -- the one I'm more fond of -- should've used his slasher expertise to eviscerate the script. (Bruce Reid) Aurora Cinema Grill, Cinerama, Pacific Place 11, Southcenter

Money Buys Happiness
Alternately down-to-earth and theatrical, Gregg Lachow's third feature follows a married couple on the verge of breaking up. He's thinking about simplifying his life for the millennium, she's thinking about a postcard she got 10 years ago from an anonymous person professing his undying love. Things are put on hold when they inherit a piano from a dead friend and decide to push it home. Peppered with gags (not all of which work), Money Buys Happiness nevertheless maintains a smart, reflective tone, thanks in part to the great cast. Gala reception Wed April 19 at 8, $25, benefit for Gregg Lachow's film project, Silence; Thurs-Sun April 20-23 at 5:30, 7:30, 9:30. See Stranger Suggests. (Andy Spletzer) Little Theatre

Mysteries of Egypt
Find out what the heck's going on over in Egypt, anyway. Omnidome

New Voices II
911 Media Arts and KCTS, "The Public Network," have teamed up to produce and support a series of short, "cutting edge" documentaries. (Filmmakers include Doug Ing, Dave Hanagan, Stephanie Zimmerman, and Seth Gordon.) See these new and innovative works before they are broadcast on TV, and mingle with these talented documentarians over food and drinks. Also a 911 Media "Members Social." Fri April 14 at 7, donation (free for 911 members). 911 Media Arts

The Price of Glory
Jimmy Smits is Arturo Ortega, the frustrated patriarch to three hurting sons. He's raised them to follow in his boxing footsteps to be the champion he never was. Aurora Cinema Grill

Ready to Rumble
David Arquette, the annoying collect call huckster and husband of Courteney Cox, stars in this movie about professional wrestling. Factoria, Grand Alderwood, Metro, Oak Tree, Pacific Place 11

Return to Me
A guy (David Duchovny) falls for a girl (Minnie Driver) who has received his dead wife's heart in a transplant. No, really. Factoria, Grand Alderwood, Metro, Oak Tree, Pacific Place 11

The Road to El Dorado
The Road to El Dorado is very adventurous and also very funny. It is similar to Journey to the Center of the Earth because it is about trying to get somewhere that is hard to get to. Two partners, Tulio and Miguel, are trying to reach El Dorado, the city of gold. When they get there, everybody thinks they're lords, so Tulio and Miguel have to pretend to be lords to get the gold. When they get what they want, Tulio wants to leave to Spain with the gold and live like a king, but Miguel starts to have fun in El Dorado and wants to stay. What are they going to do? Is Tulio going to go to Spain by himself, or are they going to stay together? (Sam Lachow) Factoria, Grand Alderwood, Lewis & Clark, Meridian 16, Metro, Oak Tree, Redmond Town Center

Romeo Must Die
Romeo Must Die is pretty dumb, even for an action film. The storyline's a snooze: Two families, one Asian, one black, are duking it out to control Oakland's waterfront. "Romeo" is Han (Jet Li), who busts out of a Hong Kong jail to avenge his brother's death, while "Juliet" is Trish (pop singer Aaliyah), seeking to avenge her brother's death. But who cares about the plot as long as we have enough cool fight scenes, right? Li doesn't disappoint. (Gillian G. Gaar) Lewis & Clark, Meridian 16, Metro, Oak Tree, Redmond Town Center

Rules of Engagement
When a movie is titled Rules of Engagement, I'm there. William "The Exorcist" Friedkin directed this tale of a great and dedicated solider (Samuel L. Jackson) who is sent out to rescue Americans in an embassy besieged by Arab protesters. When he and his soldiers arrive at the embassy in Yemen, the situation has deteriorated considerably, and so to protect American lives he orders his rescue squad to fire into the hostile crowd. At the end of the shoot-out, 80 civilians are dead and the American State Department has an international incident on its hands. The movie has a promising start but soon implodes like a giant star, and the performances of Jackson, Tommy Lee Jones, Blair Underwood, Guy Pearce, and Anne Archer are sucked into the resulting black hole. In the end, we are left with nothing -- absolutely nothing. (Charles Mudede) Factoria, Grand Alderwood, Meridian 16, Metro, Oak Tree

SHOOTING GALLERY FILM SERIES
Indie film studio the Shooting Gallery presents a six-week film series, featuring movies that were well-received at various international film festivals. Monday night is "club night," where you can pay a little extra to see the next film in the series and hear local critics moderate a discussion afterward. This week it's Mike Hodges' Croupier, an excellent thriller about the underbelly of the London gambling world. Mon April 17 at 7, $15. Call 877-905-3456 for more info. Uptown

The Skulls
Joshua Jackson (Pacey from Dawson's Creek) plays an ambitious working-class kid who's not only gotten into an Ivy League school, he's captain of their crew team. When he joins the secretest secret society on campus, the Skulls, he thinks all his troubles will be over. They'll pay all his debts, get him into the best law school, and will guarantee him a life of wealth and success. All he's gotta do is help them cover up the murder of his best friend. Well, that's too much, so Pacey starts fighting the corrupt secret society, and about this time the movie spins into insanity. Really, how can you take a modern day movie seriously when it ends with an old-fashioned duel? (Andy Spletzer) Factoria, Lewis & Clark, Metro, Northgate, Pacific Place 11, Redmond Town Center

*South
This recently restored documentary (new 35mm print) of the legendary Antarctica expedition by Ernest Shackleton and his crew is eerie. Eerie not because it is so old (the journey took place between 1914 and 1916) or distant (who believes Antarctica exists? It is a fantastic country made of icebergs), but because it captures the slow and ugly death of a great empire. This expedition was Great Britain's final voyage, its farewell to 400 years of domination. This documentary, filmed by Frank Hurley, shows the Endurance's (the ship's name) terrible demise in this world of ice and penguins. For those seeking a survival epic, this is not the film. For those who love to see the sad and sorry end of great things, this is a must-see. Mon-Thurs April 17-20 at 5, 7, 9. (Charles Mudede) Egyptian

Southpaw
Left-handed people are the true nature of evil. They have bad handwriting and they can't use a can opener! Um, this movie is about boxing. Uptown

Spike and Mike's Sick & Twisted Festival of Animation
The impresarios of independent animation return with "a whole shitload of new films" that, unfortunately, struggle to provide even a quarter-shitload of humor beyond the same old sex, drug, and grandparent gags that dominate this year's offerings. As always, if you're really, really high, it will undoubtedly be the funniest shit you've seen all night. Rare highlights include Billy's Balloon (Don Hertzfeldt), a holdover from the Classic Festival and a simple display of gratuitous comedic violence; the fancypants graphics of Bowlin' Fer Souls (SuperGenius); and the utter weirdness of Chicken Coup (Johnny Turco). Until Thurs April 20 at (Sat-Sun 2), 4:30, 7, 9:30, (Fri-Sat midnight). (Jason Pagano) Varsity Calendar

Taafe Fanga (Skirt Power)
Don't miss this important, political film, directed and produced by Adam Drabo. Part of the "Five Weeks of African Films" series at the Little Theatre and the Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park. Thurs April 20 at 6:30, $7. Seattle Asian Art Museum

Video Shorts 19
Winners of this year's video shorts contest get to be in the spotlight tonight, as their short video narratives are screened. Thurs April 13 at 8, $4; for details, visit www.videoshorts.com. 911 Media Arts

Where the Money Is
Poor Paul Newman. We're not trying to imply this movie looks bad, but, jeez. This movie sure looks bad. Meridian, Metro

Wonder Boys
Any film that can make an audience stomach Michael Douglas is a minor accomplishment. Curtis Hanson's film does more than that -- this is Douglas' finest performance in years. Vulnerability is far from his forte (and so is likability, for that matter), but somehow Douglas relaxes into a casual, harried weakness, and it's actually his reserve that allows you to believe that so much of what happens could unfold so naturally. Hanson, fresh from the success of L.A. Confidential, wisely stays cool and lets his camera pick up the quirks as they come. There's an appealing looseness to the dialogue, yet when Douglas says he has to save Tobey Maguire because "sometimes people just need to be rescued," like the film around it, the scene has a gentle gravity. (Steve Wiecking) Metro, Pacific Place 11