Opening Films

by Inlander Staff & r & & r & ILLEGAL TENDER


A kid who worships his mother and never knew his father learns some unsettling secrets about both. His father was killed by a mafia group of some sort and, in order to save his mom (who, wielding dual pistols as in a spaghetti Western, doesn't look like she needs saving), must enter an underworld he's largely ignorant of. (LB) Rated R





INTERVIEW


Just about every journalist's not-so-secret fantasy, Interview is about an old, homely schlub of a political reporter who's asked to interview a film starlet and ends up spending the night talking, interviewing, doing vaguely flirtatious/sexual things with her and maybe -- just maybe -- telling us something vital about the nature of celebrity and why regular folks are so captivated by it. Steve Buscemi and Sienna Miller form the unlikely couple. (LB) Rated R





LEWIS & amp; CLARK


Lewis, Clark and Sacajawea embark on a journey west to discover vast land and indigenous people. Relive the 200-year-old journey that charted the Pacific Northwest and got towns, rivers and schools named in the explorers' honor. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark's grand experience is meticulously recreated on the giant screen. Travel to the beautiful and untainted West and relive the adventure. (TM) Rated G.





MR. BEAN'S HOLIDAY


The idiot is back and more Bean than ever. This time he's taking on France when he wins (by accident of course), a trip on the Riviera. Unfortunately, France isn't idiot-proof and Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) manages to mistakenly kidnap a movie director's son, steal his camcorder and take his place in Cannes where his camcorder images are shown at the festival. (TM) Rated G





THE NANNY DIARIES


A recent college graduate (Scarlett Johansson) is pushed by her suburban mom to go into the business world, even though she prefers anthropology. Instead, opportunity knocks in the form of a nanny position for the wealthy and nasty "X" family (Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney). But it all comes across as a knock-off of The Devil Wears Prada, complete with Linney's boss from hell, and the protagonist's insistence on keeping the dreadful job instead of just walking away. Flat script, acting, and direction. (ES) Rated PG-13





RESURRECTING THE CHAMP


When a struggling sports journalist (Josh Hartnett) discovers a great untold story about a homeless wreck of a former boxer (Samuel L. Jackson), his writing career just could be revived -- or is it resurrected? Great performances from the two guys as they get to know each other, and an interesting take on many sides of father-son relationships. As much as Jackson is almost impossible to find in his character, so too does the mood and spirit of the first half of the film hardly resemble the second half. (ES) Rated PG-13





SEPTEMBER DAWN


On a particular September 11 in the 1850s, a bunch of Mormons killed a bunch of other Mormons in what became called the Mountain Meadows Massacre. September Dawn tells the story of how 120 people died, cloaking it in conspiracy, suspicion and an incredibly dubious Romeo and Juliet-style romance. (LB) Rated R