When is a Nightingale a turkey?

"Supernova"
Overall Rating: *½


Warning: this review contains information that may spoil the ending, if that's possible.

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Astronomically, a supernova is what happens when a star explodes and dies. In a similar manner, the movie "Supernova" has a plotline that explodes and dies.

Nick Vanzant (James Spader) is a recovering drug addict who is the second in command of the rescue vessel Nightingale. When the ship receives a distress call from Carl Larson, a former lover of ship doctor Kaela Evers (Angela Bassett), they respond immediately. They must use the dimensional shift, however, requiring the crew to take refuge in dimensional stabilization units (referred to as "DSU"s). When they come out of the dimensional shift, the ship is caught in an asteroid field that damages the fuel tank, and Captain Marley dies from the effects of a damaged DSU--leaving Nick in command of the ship. Then Troy Larson (Peter Facinelli) shows up, and things become really chaotic.

"Supernova" is really about gratuitous sex, on screen violence, and special effects. Mostly, the special effects are good--the dimensional shift is dazzling. The spacescapes are wonderful. They have sets that would have been the envy of the original "Star Trek" TV show, then they smash them nicely. Even though the special effects are its main strength, "Supernova" has some special effects gaffes. For instance, a character has different colored eyes in one scene; however, that scene contains a sequence where both his eyes are the same color.

While problems with the special effects are occasional, problems with the logic are omnipresent. The computer allows the villain to eject two crewmembers out of airlocks--but an instant later, when the programmer (who the computer apparently has a crush on) is in mortal danger, it won't allow him to kill the villain, or even open the door and escape. Larson has been waiting for five days for help--but Captain Marley risks his own life using a broken DSU so they can respond immediately. Nick, who doesn't trust Troy, takes his word that there's fuel on the moon, but ignores the possibility of booby traps. Dr. Evers suddenly stops hating Nick, and falls in love with him. The real coup de grace is the ending. Normally, I try not to give it away, but while I like a "lady and the tiger" ending, the computer's announcement that the effects of a phenomenon will either destroy all life on Earth, or make it much better (though the computer doesn't know which) is just a bit too much.

In addition to the overt non-sequiturs, there are also the futuristic trappings that leave the viewer confused. When Dr. Evers says she can't have children, does that mean she's sterile, or that she was denied permission by the government's population control authorities? For that matter, considering that humanity has the ability to travel to worlds beyond our solar system, and hasn't yet found extraterrestrial life, why is overpopulation even a problem? Though the Nightingale is a rescue vessel, and presumably would pick up survivors from distress calls, why does it only have enough DSUs for the crew? Who built the alien artifact? What will the fate of Earth be? Answers to these questions are too much to hope for.

While following the movie is difficult, it's easy to figure out where it's going. I was disappointed when I realized I not only correctly predicted who the villain really was, but which crewmembers would survive the mission. While the computer's bizarre announcement comes out of nowhere, "Supernova" is generally predictable.

"Supernova" is not for children. (It's not for adults, either, but that's another matter.) There is a great deal of often gory violence, frequent nudity including several sex scenes, significant strong language, and a number of references to drug use (though the references are to a futuristic drug called "hazin"). The movie should be rated R.

There is one good line in the film: when Dr. Evers asks Nick when he's been in a more serious situation, he describes what happened a few minutes before. That one line, however, isn't enough to make up for the rest of the movie. In the end, the best thing about "Supernova," is that it's only 90 minutes long, so the viewer doesn't have to suffer for long.


Title: "Supernova"
Release date: January 14, 2000

MPAA rating: PG-13
Overall rating: *½

Aprox. run time: 90 min.
Director: Thomas Lee
Writers: David Campbell Wilson (screenplay), William Malone, Daniel Chuba (story)
Stars: James Spader, Angela Bassett

Original URL: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Mansion/7045/Supernov.htm
Added to blog site: 8/5/09

Category three Hurricane

"The Hurricane"
Overall Rating: ***½


One of the greatest films of the 1960s was "In the Heat of the Night." Much of "The Hurricane" recalls that earlier effort--both were directed by Norman Jewison, both share the theme of overcoming racial prejudice, and "The Hurricane" even has a cameo performance by "In the Heat of the Night" co-star Rod Steiger. The problem with "The Hurricane" is that while it's a fairly good movie, it doesn't come close to living up to its predecessor.

"The Hurricane" is based on the true story of boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter (Denzel Washington). Carter was a top caliber boxer--even winning a welterweight world championship in 1963. Then in 1966, mainly due to the efforts of the vindictive and racist Detective Vincent Della Pesca (Dan Hedaya), he was convicted of a crime he did not commit. While in prison, Carter defends himself the only way he can--he writes a book telling his life's story.

Denzel Washington dominates the film. This is not surprising, since the character of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter dominates the film. Equally unsurprising, Denzel Washington delivers a flawless performance. Having won an Academy Award for "Glory," and then delivering a tour de force performance in "Malcolm X," Washington has a successful history of portraying real people on the big screen. I expected an excellent performance in "The Hurricane" and I wasn't disappointed in the least.

The film also has a compelling story. I had heard what happened to Rubin "Hurricane" Carter before I saw the film--but even knowing that, I wondered how the facts of the case unfolded. Carter must fight a great injustice--his wrongful conviction--that has roots in the even larger injustice of racism. Yet he, and a small group of committed defenders, muster their courage to battle an unjust system.

Between the inspiring story and the talent involved, "The Hurricane" should have been one of the best films of 1999. Sadly, it isn't. Much of the film is told in flashback--sometimes, especially in the first scenes, leading to jumbled results: the first scene is set in 1963, then there's a prison scene in 1973, then after another flashback to Carter's arrest, then there's a scene involving Lesra Martin (Vicellous Reon Shannon), a student activist who was instrumental in getting Carter freed, that takes place in the late '70s or early '80s. While Carter's character is understandable, the other characters' motivations are often more cryptic. Lisa Peters, Sam Chaiton, and Terry Swinton (Deborah Unger, Liev Schreiber, and John Hannah respectively), the social activists caring for Lesra, at first skeptical of Carter's innocence, almost inexplicably, become so convinced that they move from Toronto to New Jersey and investigate his case full time. While Della Pesca's irrational desire to convict Carter is explained by the film, why seemingly every cop and judge in New Jersey goes along with it isn't as clearly depicted. Jumbled flashbacks and mysterious motivations aren't the only elements that left me scratching my head. All of Carter's boxing matches are filmed in black and white, without apparent reason. Also, while in solitary confinement, Carter has a conversation with himself that is at the very least strange.

Parents should be aware that there is significant violence in "The Hurricane," most notably a depiction of the murders of which Carter was convicted. There is also significant strong language, including numerous racial slurs. However, the fact that the film depicts historical events, and Carter's strong, positive character (beyond training as an athlete, Carter educates himself while in prison, and finds the spiritual strength to fight the unjust conviction) are both mitigating factors. The content is definitely strong for young children, but, despite the R rating, is probably better for teens than most PG-13 movies.

Part of the problem may be that the film is based on two different books, and part of the problem may be that the filmmakers weren't looking critically enough at their work (Denzel Washington, for instance, is quoted on the film's website as having wanted to play Hurricane Carter for many years before the film was made). Regardless, while "The Hurricane" is worth seeing, it is far short of the film it should be.


Title:"The Hurricane"
Release date:12/25/99 (limited) / 1/14/00 (nationwide)
MPAA rating: R
Overall rating: ***½

Aprox. run time: 145 min.
Director: Norman Jewison
Writers: Rubin "Hurricane" Carter (book--The Sixteenth Round), Sam Chaiton, Terry Swinton (book--Lazarus and the Hurricane), Armyan Bernstein, Dan Gordon (screenplay)
Stars: Denzel Washington, Vicellous Reon Shannon

Original URL:
Added to blog site: 7/28/09