August 2000 Volume 81 Number 8 "serving the protectors"
By Mike Horsfall

AT THE CINEMA

WONDER BOYS

(Reviewed by Tim and Linda Mitchell)

“A Wonder Boy is someone who’s had great success early in life, then has to face the fear of always living up to himself.”

Grady Tripp (Michael Douglas) is an English Professor who hasn’t had a thing published in years. To ensure the continued success - following his previous masterpiece - the one-time wonder boy is trying to write another book. But writer’s block, and a fear of failure, is causing him serious concern.

To add to his troubles, Grady is also in love with Sarah (Frances McDormand), the wife of the head of the English Department. She is having Grady’s baby, and can’t decide whether to keep it.

Wonder Boys centres on a literary festival in Pennsylvania and the peculiar behaviour of new wonder boy, James Leer (Tobey Maguire). James was Grady’s most gifted student, and their reunion launches the professor on a picturesque odyssey of self-discovery - and a journey into hell.

Wonder Boys is funny and poignant at the same time, with good performances by all actors. Robert Downey Jnr does well as Grady’s editor, Terry Crabtree, who despite his air of confidence is desperately hoping Grady’s new novel will shore up his own shaky career.

Nicely photographed and well worth seeing, Wonder Boys has attracted some outstanding reviews, with most critics citing it as Douglas’s best role in years. Sony Music will also release a soundtrack CD (with a special track - Things Have Changed - recorded by Bob Dylan).

For the chance to win a double pass and a Sony soundtrack CD, send an entry to: Wonder Comp, SA Police Journal (168).

RETURN TO ME

Starring David Duchovny (The X-Files) and Minnie Driver (Circle of Friends, Good Will Hunting), Return to Me is cited as, “A comedy straight from the heart”. But our sources claim it is more aptly described as a tale of romance and adventure.

The setting for this tale is whimsical Chicago, which is where Bob Rueland (Duchovny) has led a blessedly ordinary life as an architect. One nightmarish night, the life of his loving wife is sadly taken. Haunted by her memory and still desperately in love, Bob buries himself in his work. Nearly a year after her death, Bob is still not ready to start all over again.

Meanwhile, across town, Grace Briggs (Driver) - who has been waiting her entire life to start all over again - has finally got her chance. After a long-awaited heart transplant, Grace is exhilarated and sees a whole new world before her.

Into her weird and wonderful world stumbles Bob, whose brief and random encounter with Grace leaves him bewildered - and feeling somewhat confused - as long-hidden emotions re-emerge. What follows is a funny and touching tale of hard-won union.

For the chance to win a double pass send an entry to: Return to Me Comp, Police Journal (168).

ROAD TRIP

In what the promoters claim to be an outrageous comedy, Ivan Reitman - the producer of National Lampoon’s Animals House - brings the tradition of the college road trip back to the ’90s.

Road Trip stars an array of actors, including Seann William Scott (American Pie) and Amy Smart (Outside Providence and Varsity Blues), and others who are probably more notable in America than here.

After cheating on his girlfriend, Josh embarks on a raucous 1,800-mile road trip from New York to Texas, in a quest to save his lifelong romance. Throughout the journey, Josh tows two of his college buddies - and one not so happy kid who happens to own the car - on what will become one of life’s most memorable incidents.

The greatest college tradition of all, Road Trip, opens in cinemas this month. For the chance to win a double pass, send an entry to: Road Trip Comp, Police Journal (168).

NEW ON VIDEO

DOUBLE JEOPARDY

Framed for the murder of her husband, a woman (Ashley Judd) is released from prison only to find that the memories of the past still haunt her. After a short taste of freedom she again finds herself in confinement, but the need to see justice delivered is too great. Her subsequent escape from prison plunges her into a desperate fight for justice, survival and revenge, one that her half-way house manager (Tommy Lee Jones) is unable to avoid. Double Jeopardy is easily the pick of the crop this month.

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