REEL CRITICS

On Sunday, the world will once again tune in to their television sets

to see who will win the little golden man named Oscar. Over the past

year, the Daily Pilot’s Reel Critics have reviewed each of the five

films up for Best Picture -- “Chocolat,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden

Dragon,” “Erin Brockovich,” “Gladiator” and “Traffic.” Here’s a look at

what they said about each of the five films.

‘Chocolat’ leaves reviewer with craving

It is fitting at this time of the year to cast away that

ever-oppressive calorie counter. Hide it in the back of a cluttered

drawer, under last year’s yellowing New Year’s resolutions. Opt for a bit

of indulgence, especially in the form of something rich and luscious --

chocolate.

Chocolate, once thought to be bad for one’s health, now has redeeming

benefits -- in moderation, of course. Chocolate is also the central

ingredient in director Lasse Hallstrom’s most recent fable, “Chocolat.”

Nestled in the beautiful rolling hills of France sits a mythical

cobblestoned village. As in a fairy tale, the village appears timeless,

unaffected by developments of the modern world. The puritanical lives of

its residents are about to be uprooted when a mysterious stranger and her

daughter arrive to open a chocolate shop: a weighty temptation during

Lent.

Adding the unusual ingredient of chili powder to her chocolates and

possessing an intrinsic ability to revitalize others, Vianne (Juliette

Binoche) entices imaginations, mends relationships and spirits, cures

ailments, and even awakens passion in stale marriages.

Viewed as a nonconformist, Vianne poses a threat, especially to Comte

de Reynaud (Alfred Molina), the pompous self-appointed mayor, who

endeavors to run her out of his austere township. Battling immorality

boycotts, Vianne befriends her cranky landlady, played by Judi Dench, and

rescues an abused wife played by Lena Olin.

It’s not until Roux, a gypsy “river rat” played by Johnny Depp, enters

Vianne’s life (an hour into the movie) that she recognizes the changes

she must make for her own growth.

Adapted from Joanne Harris’ novel by Robert Nelson Jacobs, “Chocolat”

is a lighthearted comedy with many humorous, laugh-out-loud vignettes,

but unfortunately it’s missing a few ingredients to be a satisfying,

winning recipe. It may curb the appetite -- and definitely create

cravings for Sees or Godiva -- but it’s not a complete meal.

Hallstrom typically embraces people in all their follies and strengths

as seen in “My Life as a Dog,” “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” and “The

Cider House Rules.” In “Chocolat,” his embrace is fleeting, attributing

to the characters’ lack of depth. A minor aspect or two is revealed when

they are superficially introduced. And then we’re rushed into the next

scene.

The audience, although fond of the characters, doesn’t experience a

strong attachment and fails to embrace them. By using once-upon-a-time

narration, we expect fantasy and not reality. When Vianne and her

daughter arrive in bright red, hooded cloaks, a sharp contrast against

the village’s gray-hued backdrop, we expect them to create pandemonium

and not to conform. “Chocolat,” when accepted as a fairy tale, imparts

the belief that it won’t be believable, and in turn that thin

characterizations should be accepted.

However, we need rich, evolving characters who we can believe in. We

anticipate that the ending will be happy, but we’d enjoy reveling in it

just the same.

Despite enjoying parts of ‘Chocolat,’ it left me craving. Not for

seconds, but to sample something different. The previews to “Crouching

Tiger, Hidden Dragon” were enticing. Dim sum, anyone?

o7 “Chocolat” is rated PG-13 for a scene of sensuality and some

violence.f7 * JULIE LOWRANCE is a Costa Mesa resident who works at a

Newport Beach advertising agency.

‘Crouching Tiger’ offers introduction to Hong Kong film

Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” has been quietly building

momentum since its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May. To date,

it has garnered awards from the National Board of Review, Rolling Stone,

the Los Angeles and New York Film Critics and will probably earn more

accolades with the American Film Institute and the Academy Awards in

coming weeks.

In “Crouching Tiger,” Ang Lee (“The Ice Storm,” “Sense and

Sensibility,” “Eat, Drink, Man, Woman”) has created a world where martial

arts moves are like song and dance numbers in musicals, after a certain

amount of dialogue, people break out into highly choreographed sequences

that propel the story along.

The film stars veteran Hong Kong actors Chow Yun Fat (“Hard Boiled,”

“Anna and the King”) and Michelle Yeoh (“Tomorrow Never Dies,”

“Supercop”) as warriors who have been in love for many years. However,

their personal feelings wait upon vengeance and their attempt to

recapture the Green Destiny, a magical sword (like Excalibur) that once

belonged to Yun Fat’s Li Mu Bai’s master and has recently been sold to a

wealthy district manager.

That brings Yeoh’s Yu Shu Lien into contact with the governor’s

sheltered daughter, Jen Yu (Zhang Ziyi), who has a secret that is

essential to the plot.

The story, as in all genre films, can be simply silly at some levels.

But in the hands of Ang Lee and his collaborators, choreographer Yuen Wo

Ping (“The Matrix”) and screenwriters James Schamus, Wang Hui Ling and

Tsai Kuo Jung, the generic elements are successfully woven into a

tapestry of human emotions and action sequences, all of which highlight

the real chemistry between Yun Fat and Yeoh. There are times when you

will be watching the actions sequences but will enjoy the interaction

between all the characters.

While the film may not be the best martial arts film or Hong Kong film

ever made (rent “Peking Opera Blues,” “Once Upon a Time in China” or

“Chungking Express”), it will serve as a great introduction for the

masses who have not discovered or experienced world cinema.

o7 “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” is rated PG-13. f7

* ROB OROZCO is an attorney who lives in Newport Beach with his wife

and two cats.

Roberts shines in an inspirational story

Can you stand one more review of “Erin Brockovich?”

This is a Julia Roberts whose acting skills are tested in a real-life

circumstance, and she performs superbly. Erin Brockovich is a

down-but-not-out mother of three little kids. She has no husband, no job

and pathetic prospects for a life-altering career.

The likelihood of this direct young woman finding a place in a law

office seems remote. But Albert Finney as Ed, the crusty lawyer,

reluctantly hires Erin. She pursues an investigation of Pacific Gas and

Electric’s cavalier disregard of the community adjacent to its plant and

the health problems arising from contaminants being dumped. Gaining the

trust of the people is not a given.

There is wonderful chemistry between Finney and Roberts as they duel

at windmills.

The insight into the frustrations of single parenting, coupled with

the necessity of providing the food, shelter, care and love for her

children, is a very tough balancing act and well played out.

The straight-talk script is refreshing and saucy. The fact that the

story is true is a bonus.

o7 “Erin Brockovich” is rated R for language.

f7 * ELAINE ENGLAND lives in Newport Beach and owns a gift-basket

business she operates out of her home.

‘Gladiator’ is movie making at its finest

It has taken a long time for a film to take you back to time of

Spartacus, Sampson and Delilah and Ben Hur. But “Gladiator” does it. It

is movie making for the moviegoer. This is entertainment at its best.

Maximus (Russell Crowe) is a good man. He has done his duty as the

general of Rome’s northern armies and wishes to return to his wife and

son. Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome (Richard Harris), however, has one

more chore for Maximus before he retires and it is that Maximus should

assume the role of emperor and return Rome to the status of a republic.

This request delays his retirement but in the right conscience he

cannot refuse. He must now supplant Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), who is

Marcus’ natural son and heir.

Commodus is an adult spoiled child who will go to any lengths to

thwart the wishes of his father and suppress the emperor’s wishes. He

feels the succession is his, even if it means killing his own father and

ordering the deaths of Maximus and his family, which he does.

Maximus is subsequently captured and as a slave he is trained to be a

gladiator for the entertainment of the masses.

This is the basis for some of the finest performances and most

exciting “lions vs. Christians” scenes I have ever seen.

Maximus, whose attributes and virtues are so excellently portrayed,

must be contrasted with equal facility by the despicable and amoral

Commodus.And, they are.

I was alternately caught up in Maximus’ grief and Commodus’s evil. It

is amazing that for a picture of this scope the personalities are so

engrossing. There is also the challenge to the rest of the cast to match

and support the main performances and they are certainly up to the task.

This is one of the few times I have seen the audience get so

thoroughly involved that they cheer during the picture and also at the

end.

o7 “Gladiator” is rated R for intense, graphic combat.

f7 * JOAN ANDRE is Newport Beach resident who does a lot of volunteer

work.

‘Traffic’ tells multiple sides of the drug trade

Few problems in America stir as much debate and controversy as the

government’s endless and seemingly futile war on drugs. With “Traffic,”

director Steven Soderbergh has fashioned a riveting and thought-provoking

film that explores all facets of the drug trade in America.

“Traffic” is really three separate movies filmed in three very

different styles, each with its own characters and subplots.

One story focuses on drug users and dealers at all levels of the

trade, from gritty inner city slums to mansions with ocean views. Another

examines police officers, honest and corrupt, on both sides of the

border. Benicio del Toro is outstanding as Javier Rodriguez, the Mexican

cop bewildered by the moral ambiguities of his job.

The third story line presents the political and personal dilemma of

ultraconservative Judge Wakefield, played well by Michael Douglas. He is

about to become the nation’s new drug czar, even as his teenage daughter

and her wealthy friends fall deeper into their own cocaine and heroin

addictions. Several little-known actors play their roles with depth and

style, adding to the movie’s realistic portrayal of its subject.

Soderbergh deftly weaves the plots of these three overlapping tales

into a unified whole, as the lives of the characters in each story

intertwine and converge. He has created a masterful and intelligent film

that is as complex and compelling as the difficult drug issues he seeks

to illuminate.

A terrific movie that is well-worth seeing and sure to draw attention

at Oscar time.

o7 “Traffic” is rated R for pervasive drug content, strong language,

violence and some sexuality.

f7

* JOHN DEPKO is a Costa Mesa resident and a senior investigator for

the Orange County Public Defender’s Office.

And the nominees are . . .

BEST PICTURE

“Chocolat”

“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”

“Erin Brockovich”

“Gladiator”

“Traffic”

BEST ACTOR

Javier Bardem, “Before Night Falls”

Russell Crowe, “Gladiator”

Tom Hanks, “Cast Away”

Ed Harris, “Pollock”

Geoffrey Rush, “Quills”

BEST ACTRESS

Joan Allen, “The Contender”

Juliette Binoche, “Chocolat”

Ellen Burnstyn, “Requiem for a Dream”

Laura Linney, “You Can Count on Me”

Julia Roberts, “Erin Brockovich”

BEST DIRECTOR

Stephen Daldry, “Billy Elliot”

Ang Lee, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”

Steven Soderberg, “Erin Brockovich”

Ridley Scott, “Gladiator”

Steven Soderberg, “Traffic”

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Cameron Crowe, “Almost Famous”

Lee Hall, “Billy Elliot”

Susannah Grant, “Erin Brockovich”

David Franzoni, John Logan and William Nicholson, “Gladiator”

Kenneth Lonergan, “You Can Count on Me”