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Also opening
By Times staff
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 14, 2002
Zombie fans, look sharp
Too much time has passed since we've seen a decent zombie movie. Maybe Resident Evil can end that losing streak. The film stars Milla Jovovich (The Fifth Element) and Michelle Rodriguez (Girlfight) as leaders of a military commando unit assigned to contain an escaped virus that turns living creatures into undead flesh chompers. Before you get excited that any filmmaker would promote female characters to such positions of authority, remember that Resident Evil is based upon a popular series of violent home video games designed to stoke the fantasies of guys who can't get dates. Think back to the vague eroticism of Lara Croft (Tomb Raider) and Dr. Aki Ross (Final Fantasy) to get the general, hormone-driven idea. Resident Evil is directed by Paul Anderson, not to be confused with Paul Thomas Anderson, who makes fine films such as Boogie Nights and Magnolia. Of course, if you don't agree that Boogie Nights and Magnolia are fine films, then Resident Evil may be just what you deserve.
Quest amid the carnage
Harrison's Flowers stars cosmetics model/actor Andie MacDowell as Sarah Floyd, wife of a Newsweek photographer (David Strathairn) who disappeared on assignment in wartorn Yugoslavia circa 1990. Sarah is also the photo editor who gave him that assignment, so there's a measure of guilt in her grief. Sarah decides to search for her husband, becoming familiar with grisly war violence and political puzzles that American news reports seldom addressed. Production of Harrison's Flowers was completed more than two years ago by director Elie Chouraqui, whose screenplay is based on a popular novel by Isabel Ellsen. The filmed was screened too late by Universal Focus distributors for Weekend review.
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