SCHOOL OF ROCK One of the funniest, most high-spirited films of the year; combustible comic Jack Black is nothing short of brilliant.
OUT OF TIME Director Carl Franklin’s taut thriller is a steamy whodunit reminiscent of “Body Heat.”
THE RUNDOWN A rollicking, action-adventure tailor-made for Hollywood’s contempo action hero. There is no shortage of high-voltage cinematic action.
UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN A gorgeous, thoroughly enjoyable romantic dramedy about second chances and the healing power of love.
DUPLEX Too predictable and ordinary to merit recommendation — this is a retread that disappoints more than it delivers.
ANYTHING ELSE As Woody Allen flicks go, it ranks in the middle of the pack with the likes of “Mighty Aphrodite” and “Small Time Crooks.”
SECONDHAND LIONS Duvall and Caine try to push this unwieldy family fare along, but the old hands can’t quite advance beyond the ordinary.
MATCHSTICK MEN An evocatively honest look at the dishonest lives of two con men, featuring stellar performances by Nicolas Cage and Sam Rockwell.
ONCE UPON ATIME IN MEXICO There is no shortage of entertaining, eye-popping pyrotechnics and hyper-kinetic fight sequences, but what this film is sorely lacking is a sense of clarity.
DICKIE ROBERTS: FORMER CHILD STAR Has a lot in common with star David Spade’s filmography: It shows early promise, but quickly degenerates into an unfunny mess THIRTEEN Nabbed the top director’s prize at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival and deservedly so. This is one of the most compelling films of the year.
AMERICAN SPLENDOR Based on the cult-classic comic book series of the same name, the film is funny and sad and disheveled and, most of all, it’s us. In his first go as a leading man, Paul Giamatti just flat-out nails it.
STEP INTO LIQUID Whether you’re a SoCal beach bum or a mainlander who doesn’t know a point break from a coffee break, you’ll likely enjoy this exciting, beautifully crafted love letter to surfing.
OPEN RANGE Boasts enough eye-popping scenery and well-choreographed gun battles to make it one of the better westerns in recent memory.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN Without a doubt the best Big Screen adaptation of a theme park ride ever, this film goes a long way toward redeeming Disney for the sin that was “The Country Bears” movie.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 10, 2003. Read the original PDF.