‘Return of King’ is engaging; ‘Give’ is a real delight

JOHN DEPKO

This final installment of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy brings all

the incredible events of the first two episodes into resounding final

focus. In the process, director Peter Jackson combines the sweeping

scope of a monumental epic with the intimate story of unlikely heroes

struggling to fulfill a mission of immense importance to the entire

world. The idea of ordinary people fighting valiantly against

monstrous evil has tremendous appeal for all of us.

The screen is filled with superhuman warriors and wizards, good

and evil, fighting for control of Middle Earth. Astounding special

effects bring breathtaking life to thousands of Knights, Elves,

Dwarfs, Orcs, Trolls and many more fantastic creatures never seen in

any other film. But while the apocalyptic war rages, the film gives

equal time to the gritty efforts of the lowly Hobbits entrusted with

the ultimate task in this saga. Country bumpkins Frodo and Sam must

work their way through a hellish landscape to throw the forbidden

Ring of Power into the volcanic fires of Mount Doom and thereby end

Mordor’s reign of terror.

Their task is made all the more difficult by their need to rely on

the scouting services of pitiful Gollum, a bizarre creature deformed

by his past use of the evil Ring. Andy Serkis may be the first actor

to play a half human, half computer generated character to be

nominated for an Oscar. Their intensely personal struggle is in

contrast to the grand adventure of sword and sorcery that takes place

outside of their presence. Ian McKellen is outstanding as the great

wizard Gandalf, who plays equally important roles in both the

personal dramas and the epic battles on the screen. And the battles

are many -- and long and mind-boggling.

Most fans who know the novels will not be disappointed in the

film. But like many epics, it is too long at more than three hours.

It dwells on the plot’s events in the physical world at the expense

of the mystical and spiritual intrigue that took the novels to higher

level. In the end, “The Return of the King” is a great film that

falls just short of true greatness. But as the eminently bigger and

better “Star Wars” of this generation, it’s sure to make a ton of

money and become an American classic.

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

for the Orange County public defender’s office.

A little ditty about

‘Jack and Diane’

I really liked “Something’s Gotta Give” although its stars, Jack

Nicholson and Diane Keaton, may be playing a version of their public

personas. Perhaps it’s special appeal for me is that I can now be

considered a “woman of a certain age” and find a romantic comedy for

the middle-aged set appealing. But more than that, this film touches

on some very fragile, very human points about discovering, or

re-discovering, real happiness and meaning in one’s life just at a

time when you think you’ve got it all figured out.

Harry Sanborn (Nicholson) is a lifelong bachelor, a self-professed

serial dater of beautiful young women because they’re uncomplicated

and unquestioning. He was even profiled in New York Magazine as “The

Escape Artist.”

Harry has been dating Marin Barry and is going to stay with her at

her mother’s house in the Hamptons for the weekend. He is caught, in

his underwear, raiding the refrigerator by Marin’s mother Erica, a

famous playwright (Keaton) and her sister Zoe (Frances McDormand) and

is mistaken for an intruder. When Erica learns Harry is dating her

daughter, she is more rattled at this news than if he’d’ been a

burglar.

There’s some very smart dialogue at a dinner scene where Zoe, who

teaches women’s studies at Columbia, riffs on the enigma of why it’s

perceived as great when older men date young women, but an older

woman is not considered eligible dating material, period. Clearly,

Harry’s reputation and presence in Erica’s house are a major irritant

for her. She can’t wait until her houseguest leaves.

Those plans get shot to hell when Harry experiences a mild heart

attack and must recuperate at Erica’s until his studly doctor Julian

Mercer (Keanu Reeves) decrees him well enough to travel.

Julian is immediately smitten by Erica and asks her out.

Meanwhile, Harry, perhaps because of his sudden confrontation with

his own mortality, turns unexpectedly “soulful” and he and Erica

gradually discover they actually like each other.

Who will Erica wind up with -- the adoring younger man or the

commitment-shy man who “finally gets her?” The pursuit of the

question is a large part of the fun and the dialogue by director

Nancy Meyers (“Baby Boom,” “What Women Want”) packs some real

insights into loneliness, self-discovery and risking your heart for

that elusive chance at having the time of your life with someone.

Diane Keaton looks amazing, not just for her age, but because her

face is a reflection of her experience, knowledge and humor. Her

performance really deserves recognition at Oscar time. Nicholson,

while playing a familiar character, still manages to surprise and

delight. He even proves quite adept at physical comedy.

McDormand is underused but quite effective in her few scenes.

Keanu Reeves is ... well, Keanu Reeves. I also liked the sly

commentary in the costume design. Erica always wears white, but in a

couple of scenes where she is supremely happy, she literally blooms

with color.

If you see “Something’s Gotta Give” I hope you will be as charmed

by it as I was. It’s an unexpected holiday treat.

* SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant

for a financial services company.