Say Never
The summer cinema season is almost upon us. Which makes this a good time to remind ourselves that life doesn't imitate movie schlock -- ever. [2]
Stacey Richter

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Burial Detail
Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami's "Taste of Cherry" provides one of the most harrowing, luminous, and ultimately uplifting depictions of the human spirit in extremis on film. [7]
Peter Keough

"Four Days in September"
Faces beneath the masks. [8]
Devin D. O'Leary

Two-Fisted Tales
The Movie Guru is struck by "The Big Hit." [9]
Zak Weisfeld

Parallel Lives
"Sliding Doors" makes it through with elegance; "The Big One" is dragged down by a big jerk. [10]
Rick Barton

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"Sliding Doors"
An interview with "Sliding Doors" director Peter Howitt. [3]
Devin D. O'Leary

Accidental Purist
A conversation with Wayne Wang. [4]
Ray Pride

Breathing Lessons
An interview with "Still Breathing" writer-director James F. Robinson. [5]
Marc Savlov

Waiting to Exhale
A talk with writer-director James Robinson and composer Paul Mills about "Still Breathing"; Noel Murray ices "The Big Hit"; Donna Bowman praises "Mrs. Dalloway." [6]
Jim Ridley, Noel Murray, and Donna Bowman

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Scanlines
The dope stylings of "Parappa the Rapper"; and reviews of "Caveman" (laserdisc) and "Boogie Nights" (video). [15]

Videos a Go-Go
Everything you never wanted to know about the lives of hit men. [16]
Jesse Fox Mayshark

Now What?
What's the matter, couldn't find a review of that blockbuster film you're excited about? We certainly don't want to leave you disappointed -- why not try some of these larger-than-life movie links? [17]

few quick reviews before I discuss the week's stories:

"The Big Hit" was about as funny as a whimpering doberman that mauls babies. "The Winter Guest" left me cold. "Sliding Doors" was well-done, Gwyneth Paltrow looked great, but the fact that her two possible lives came down to a question of which man she'd end up with made the film seem trite. "The Spanish Prisoner" was taut, clever and always kept me watching, but I'd have liked it more if the hero actually got the chance to do something heroic. (Stay tuned next week for my review of "3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain," starring Hulk Hogan and Loni Anderson!)

So you want to know what's good and readable in this week's film section, huh? Take my advice: Go to "Say Never" for a sobering essay about the unreality of the movie world. Then sit back and choose among four different interviews: one with the director of "Sliding Doors," one with the director of "Chinese Box," and two with the director of "Still Breathing." Yes, these are all artistic, independent types of movies, but I promise an interview with some big stupid action star at some point in the future.

Then, scroll down and pick the movie reviews you want. And if you don't like what you see, head over to the Film Vault for options, options, options. If the Film Vault isn't the best movie-review resource on the Web, then my name isn't...

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Chicago NewcityNet

• The Big Hit
• Dancer, Texas Pop. 81
• Deja Vu
• He Got Game

Boston Phoenix

• Les Miserables
• The Big Hit
• TwentyFourSeven
• He Got Game
• Deja Vu
• The Truce
• Tarzan and the Lost City

Austin Chronicle

• The Big Hit
• He Got Game
• Major League: Back to the Minors
• No Looking Back
• The Spanish Prisoner
• Still Breathing
• Tarzan and the Lost City

Tucson Weekly

• He Got Game
• Men With Guns
• Tarzan and the Lost City
• Two Girls and a Guy

Curious about a particular director's work? Not sure what to rent at the video store? Enjoy reading several contrasting opinions of the same film? This is the place for you. One of the all-time best film-review resources on the Web. Sort alphabetically or by publication, genre, director, or date. Check it out!

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