■ MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD Russell Crowe makes a strong case for a fourth consecutive Oscar nomination in a thinking person’s action-adventure movie. ■ SHATTERED GLASS Strong film that meticulously connects the dots of the real events surrounding New Republic writer Stephen Glass’ incredible fall from grace. ■ ELF A fantastic early Christmas present for movie-goers of all ages. Will Ferrell is one of the very best comedic actors working today. ■ THE MATRIX: REVOLUTIONS You’ll stagger out of the theater feeling as though you just failed a calculus exam. ■ LOVE ACTUALLY Ten different storylines running concurrently is too hard to follow, especially when only half of them are all that interesting. ■ THE HUMAN STAIN Everyone in the film is dreadfully miscast, and the film fails to live up to anything but the most modest expectations. ■ IN THE CUT Fuzzy as the visuals and performances are, one thing is crystal clear: This crime thriller fails, at every shadowy turn, to thrill. ■ ALIEN: THE DIRECTOR’S CUT Still scarier than all hell, and the digital restoration and new six-track stereo mix make the film look and sound better than it did back in ’79. ■ SYLVIA Surely the tragic love affair upon which the film is based was a lot more complex (and interesting) than the one the makers of this plodding biopic conjured up. ■ SCARY MOVIE 3 Isn’t as funny as the original, but it’s a major step up from the lowly first sequel. ■ PIECES OF APRIL Inspired performances help make this an engaging dramedy that has a little something for everybody. ■ RUNAWAY JURY This is, arguably, the best adaptation of a Grisham novel yet. Astellar cast carries the day.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 21, 2003. Read the original PDF.