filmland / By Charlie Myers

Bye Bye Bernie

The late Mr. Mac is in full effect in Soul Men. Plus: Katrina, behind the scenes.

(Nov. 13, 2008) Previews

Opening Friday, Nov. 14 is Quantum of Solace, the 22nd James Bond film and the second to star Daniel Craig in the title role. I was a big fan of 2006’s Casino Royale, which brought a fresh perspective to the series, not to mention the best “Bond girl” ever in Eva Green. At least Bond is out for revenge for her untimely death while battling Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), who intends to control the water supply in Bolivia. Say what? Olga Kurylenko attempts to fill Green’s, uh, shoes. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and some sexual content. 106m. At the Broadway, Fortuna, Mill Creek and Minor.

GALLERY >

Spike Lee’s Miracle at St. Anna focuses on four black “Buffalo Soldiers” fighting in WWII Tuscany. James McBride adapts his own novel. Starring Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso and Omar Benson Miller. Rated R for strong war violence, language and some sexual content/nudity. 160m. At the Broadway.

Director Guy Ritchie returns to familiar territory in RocknRolla, set in London and involving real estate and the Russian mob. Fill in the blanks. Starring Gerard Butler, Thandie Newton, Tom Wilkinson and Idris Elba. Rated R for pervasive language, violence, drug use and brief sexuality. 114m. At the Broadway.

Check out a midnight sneak peak of the teen vampire romance, Twilight, on November 20. The film is based on Stephenie Meyers’ novels and features the traditional suave vampire type, played by Robert Pattinson. The vamp finds his soul mate in a young woman, but then must ultimately battle to resist his urge to devour her. Rated PG-13 for some violence and a scene of sensuality. 120m. At Fortuna.

Reviews

SOUL MEN: Even had Bernie Mac not died following the shooting of Soul Men, it would be hard not to see this comedy as a tribute to his particular talents. His extended comic riffs on the f-word, for example, and his generally raucous approach to humor are plainly on display in the film, with Samuel L. Jackson generally taking the position of the comic straight man.

The plot is unoriginal. Two former backup singers for Marcus Hooks (John Legend), Louis Hinds (Jackson) and Floyd Henderson (Mac), were forced to go it alone when Hooks decided to strike out on his own. But a dispute involving Louis’ wife ends their collaboration on a very bitter note and, we discover, they haven’t spoken to each other for 20 years.

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