Short Versions, Take 4

I Witness, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Black Books, Ju-On-The Grudge, Bartleby, My Life without me, The West Wing 4.

	I WITNESS Hollywood hack Rowdy Herrington (“Road House”, 1989, “Striking Distance”, 1993) finally came to his senses with this tight political thriller. Jeff Daniels plays a human rights activist who has to investigate the deaths of 27 people in Tijuana, Mexico. A lot of plot twists, good performances, and Herrington's style that is reminiscent of director Costa-Gavras (“Z”, 1969 and “Mad City”, 1997) make this one a very pleasant surprise.
	ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND Another unhinged comedy by Charlie Kaufman. Jim Carrey pays a sinister corporation to remove his memories of his ex-girlfriend Kate Winslet. When the doctors start poking around in his brain he immediately starts to rediscover his earlier passion for her. Pop-video genius Michel Gondry directed this wonderful brain-flip with great performances by the entire cast. Definitely one of this year's highlights.
	BLACK BOOKS PART 1-3 Two foul mouthed drunkards and a mad spinster (that's not us, by the way!) run a bookstore, insulting customers, humiliating themselves and each other, and stumble from self-inflicted crisis into self-inflicted crisis. If you're grooming yourself of a career of being anti-social AND funny check out this beautifully grumpy BBC comedy series.
	JU-ON: THE GRUDGE According to the legend the Ju-On is an evil curse generated by someone who dies in the grip of powerful anger. This vengeful spirit seems to linger upon a house where the horrific murder of a woman and child took place and anyone who sets foot inside the house is pretty much doomed. An eerie little movie that will actually scare you. And yes, like “The Ring” there is already a Hollywood remake (with Sarah Michelle Gellar), but we don't expect too much from that, even if it's made by the same director.
	BARTLEBY “I would prefer not to,” says excentric (and perhaps certifiably insane) nonconformist and office employeé Bartleby (Crispin Glover) everytime his boss gives him an order, driving everyone to the verge of a nervous breakdown with his refusals of duty. Herman Melville's indictment aimed against the dehumanizing effect of the business world's bureaucratic structure receives a charming adaptation with great performances, especially by Glover and David Paymer as his boss.
	MY LIFE WITHOUT ME Ann (Sarah Polley) is diagnosed with cancer that will end her life in about two months. She compiles a list of things she wants to do before her death, and that includes, of course, falling in love. Instead of producing another whiny, manipulative tearjerker, writer/director Isabel Coixet comes up with a deeply touching insight about a life cut short. Marvelous and utterly devoid of cheap sentimentality.
	THE WEST WING, SEASON 4 It's out. We have it. Enjoy.