Next Friday -- Dredging the bottom of the lake of humor, Next Friday attempts to capitalize on the success of the cult feature Friday (also featuring Ice Cube). Critical differences, however, will ensure that this sequel will not be remembered by fanatics of bizarre films everywhere. Removing most of the humor and clever writing of the first installment, Next Friday replaces it with derogatory race-baiting humor and enough scatological humor to tire even the most steadfast fartophile. Some scenes coming way out of left field are strange enough, but still don't manage to be at all amusing. The only plus is Ice Cube himself, a spot of calm in a sea of inane, zero-dimensional nonentities masquerading as movie characters. Did I mention that the plot is essentially the same as the first, perhaps a little more unbelievable? * + 1/4 / *****

The Hurricane -- Sometimes, ya gotta go for the knockout, rather than pulling your punches. Would that the director of this film had realized this. Instead of showing the Carter case as a microcosm of the larger civil rights issues going on around it, Jewison opts instead to simply tell the story... and that's what he does. Unfortunately, he does not /show/ the story. Anything less significant than a major revelation by one of the main characters (three Canadians, the Hurricane, and the boy who inspires him) is glossed over, if it's even mentioned at all. The end result is a dry retelling of a truly compelling story. In addition to the story itself (which is true), what saves this film is Denzel Washington's better-win-an-Oscar performance. Easily his best role to date, it's Washington's on-screen presence and charisma that ultimately make this one recommendable. *** + 3/4 / *****

Supernova -- With this and next Friday, the faux millennium is really off to a terrible start. The director had his name removed from the credits of this dog, and for good reason. Not since The Mod Squad (1999) have I seen such an impressive talent for ineptitude displayed by so many people in so many different roles. With bridge lurches and more ripped directly from Star Trek (TOS) but without the benefit of a cameraman who isn't on several different kinds of drugs, and special effects that a ten-year-old with a Pentium can whip up, we are guaranteed a painful movie, technically speaking. That, however, is the least of Supernova's problems. Featuring an absolutely talentless, overacting cast (except for James Spader, who is merely asleep), and a script clearly written by a no-talent hack who really liked the Alien series, the only thing this horrific film has going for it is lots of PG-13 sex -- that is to say, nothing. One or two vaguely entertaining sight gags are the only positive things I can think of to say about this film, which has absolutely no excuse for ever being made. 1/2 / *****

Magnolia -- Summarizing a 3.25 hour movie in a paragraph is tough. Summarizing a 3.25 hour movie which jogs back and forth between several storylines, all of which are vaguely connected with each other, is even tougher. Add to the fact that there isn't exactly much of a plot, and the job becomes nigh impossible. Magnolia is less a sequential film and more a series of revelations by its main characters, centered on the golden rule, regret, and sins of the fathers. The filmmaker goes to great lengths to ensure that you realize that the lives of a game show host, a quiz-show kid, an ex-quiz-show kid, a cop, a junkie, a male self-help guru, a dying tycoon, his young wife, and his nurse (and probably several others I've forgotten) are interconnected. Of the main characters, only Julianne Moore as the aforementioned young wife is really terrible (jarringly so), but fortunately there are 20 other characters with whom she must share screen time. Brilliantly conceived and exceptionally well-written and -acted (see above), this extremely pretentious movie is alternately wonderful and frustrating. Despite the quick pacing (for a movie of this length), something needed to be cut; several points are hammered in often enough to get old quickly. One can attribute this to the fact that P.T. Anderson has written and directed only two other films (I think), and thus, I most definitely look forward to his next attempt. Not recommended for those who don't like long, (sometimes melo-)dramatic movies, I still give Magnolia **** + 1/4 / *****.

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