It is hard to deny what you are. At the same time, it is nobody’s business but your own. How do you cope with events when someone finally says something that most folks have been thinking but are too polite to voice? That is the conundrum facing Howard Brackett (Kevin Kline). He doesn’t think he is but he hasn’t thought much about it while he hasn’t been able to evade all of the stereotypes that most people associate with being gay—his love of show tunes, his theatrical mannerisms and his waiting until his wedding to sleep with his fiancee. And then there is his attempt to absorb the rules on a motivational tape, “Be a Man,” while compulsively and frantically cleaning house to the music of ABBA.

Director:  Frank Oz Writer:  Paul Rudnick Cast:
Kevin Kline -  Howard Brackett Joan Cusack -  Emily Montgomery Matt Dillon -  Cameron Drake Debbie Reynolds -  Berniece Brackett Wilford Brimley -  Frank Brackett Bob Newhart -  Tom Halliwell Tom Selleck -  Peter Malloy Deborah Rush -  Ava Blazer		Lewis J. Stadlen -  Ed Kenrow Gregory Jbara -  Walter Brackett Shalom Harlow -  Sonya J. Smith-Cameron -  Trina Paxton Kate McGregor-Stewart -  Aunt Becky Shawn Hatosy -  Jack Zak Orth -  Mike Lauren Ambrose -  Vicky

Rod McCain (Kevin Kline) is a blustering billionaire who buys and sells just for the buzz it gives him. Management of one of his recent acquisitions, a British zoo, is in the hands of Rollo Lee (John Cleese), who is tasked to squeeze a 20 percent profit from the place or else. His idea to succeed is to posit the theory that violence is the only thing that sells and decides to purge the zoo of all but the dangerous animals.

His approach is complicated by the arrival of two Americans; newly hired marketing expert Willa Weston (Jamie Lee Curtis) and McCain’s lout of a son Vince (Kevin Kline redux) who plans to transform the zoo into a corporate and celebrity sponsored theme park. Toss into the mix, Adrian ‘Bugsy’ Malone (Michael Palin), a zoo employee who is an obsessive walking encyclopedia chattering incessantly. Along for the ride are the staff who try to save their charges by convincing Rollo that the animals are dangerous, leading to some very creative misdirection.

I was quite taken by this movie once I realized that the reviews it got were undeserved and any salaciousness should have been reserved for the film editing.

Director:  Fred Schepisi; Robert Young Writer:  John Cleese; Iain Johnstone; William Goldman Cast:
John Cleese -  Rollo Lee Jamie Lee Curtis -  Willa Weston Kevin Kline -  Vince McCain/Rod McCain Robert Lindsay -  Sydney Lotterby Michael Palin -  Adrian ‘Bugsy’ Malone Ronnie Corbett -  Reggie Sea Lions Carey Lowell -  Cub Felines Bille Brown -  Neville		Derek Griffiths -  Garry Ungulates Cynthia Cleese -  Pip Small Mammals Richard Ridings -  Hugh Primates Maria Aitken -  Di Harding Michael Percival -  Ant Keeper Fred Evans -  Flamingo Keeper Lisa Hogan -  Sea lion Keeper Choy-Ling Man -  Parrot Keeper

A friend of mine convinced me that we should attend our high school reunion. Although we went to the same high school and knew one another by name, we didn’t become chums until we were in university. We didn’t see anyone we knew from high school except maybe in passing. All our high school buds seemed to have drifted off to other parts of town, other jobs, other schools or other cities and contact with them waned. There was no email in those days and guys don’t write letters except under protest. So we thought it might be interesting to see how those we knew and those who ran the school had fared. One of us decided we needed some stuff not sold on street corners, at least in our neighbourhoods. So, slightly tight and somewhat buzzed, we strolled into high school and found out that reunions portrayed in movies did emulate life. Maybe it was not as bizzare as that of Martin Blank (John Cusack) but then I’ve never been a freelance hit man, yet. I did see my high school sweetie and she hadn’t fared as well as Debi Newberry ( Minnie Driver ), Martin’s girl. Mine seemed happy with her three kids, her louse of a husband so we got along that evening as best as possible. But then I didn’t stand her up on prom night like Martin did. Debi is not a happy camper but maybe if Martin can prevent her dad from being taken out by another button man, she’ll come around.

Director:  George Armitage Writer:  Tom Jankiewicz; D.V. DeVincentis; Steve Pink; John Cusack Cast:
John Cusack -  Martin Q. Blank Minnie Driver -  Debi Newberry Alan Arkin -  Dr. Oatman Dan Aykroyd -  Grocer Joan Cusack -  Marcella Hank Azaria -  Steven Lardner K. Todd Freeman -  Kenneth McCullers Jeremy Piven -  Paul Spericki		Mitchell Ryan -  Mr. Bart Newberry Michael Cudlitz -  Bob Destepello Benny Urquidez -  Felix La PuBelle Duffy Taylor -  Ultimart Carl Audrey Kissel -  Arlene Carlos Jacott -  Ken Brian Powell -  Husky Man Ann Cusack -  Amy

Denial in the face of overwhelming evidence is not a smart position to take, particularly when it could affect whether you die. Barry Cox (Ryan Phillippe) gets run down by a Beamer late one night and a guy wearing a sou’wester with a hook pops out and stands over him with murderous intent in his demeanour. The next day in hospital with his co-conspirators Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt), Helen Shivers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Ray Bronson (Freddie Prinze, Jr.), Barry is still denying that someone or something is out for revenge. He may want to rethink that position.

Director:  Jim Gillespie Writer:  Lois Duncan; Kevin Williamson Cast:
Jennifer Love Hewitt -  Julie James Sarah Michelle Gellar -  Helen Shivers Ryan Phillippe -  Barry William Cox Freddie Prinze Jr. -  Ray Bronson Bridgette Wilson -  Elsa Shivers Anne Heche -  Melissa ‘Missy’ Egan Johnny Galecki -  Max Neurick Muse Watson -  Benjamin Willis		Stuart Greer -  Officer David Caporizo J. Don Ferguson -  Emcee Deborah Hobart -  Mrs. James Mary McMillan -  Mrs. Cox Rasool J’Han -  Deb Dan Albright -  Sheriff Lynda Clark -  Pageant Official Shea Broom -  Contestant #1

Simon Templar (Val Kilmer) is a bold master thief and impersonator who sells his services to the highest bidder. When he is offered $8 million to steal the formula for cold fusion, he doesn’t hesitate. Off to Russia to turn it over to his employer, he is confronted in a Moscow bar by Dr. Emma Russell (Elisabeth Shue), the formula inventor who has followed him. He is gobsmacked to discover that she would have given it to him if only he had asked for it. What he doesn’t seem to understand is her view that science should be free for everybody and one shouldn’t hoard such secrets. Too much time spent in the foggy corridors of spies and evil-doers? It seems likely.

Director:  Phillip Noyce; Philip Noyce Writer:  Leslie Charteris; Jonathan Hensleigh; Wesley Strick Cast:
Val Kilmer -  Simon Templar Elisabeth Shue -  Dr. Emma Russell Rade Serbedzija -  Ivan Tretiak Valery Nikolaev -  Ilya Tretiak Henry Goodman -  Dr. Lev Botvin Alun Armstrong -  Inspector Teal Michael Byrne -  Vereshagin, Tretiak’s Aide Evgeny Lazarev -  President Karpov		Irina Apeximova -  Frankie Lev Prigunov -  General Sklarov Charlotte Cornwell -  Inspector Rabineau Emily Mortimer -  Woman on Plane Lucija Serbedzija -  Russian Prostitute Velibor Topic -  Skinhead Tommy Flanagan -  Scarface Yegor Pozenko -  Scratchface