DON'T JUDGE `BOGUS' BY ITS TITLE.Byline: David Hunter David Hunter (July 21 1802 – February 2 1886) was a Union general in the American Civil War. He achieved fame by his unauthorized 1862 order (immediately rescinded) emancipating slaves in three Southern states and as the president of the military commission trying the Hollywood Reporter Given its humdrum concept of a parentless boy sent to live with a crabby crab·by adj. crab·bi·er, crab·bi·est Informal Grouchy; ill-tempered. crab  bi·ly adv. godmother, ``Bogus'' defies expectations and reveals itself as a charmer charm·er n. 1. One that charms, especially a disarmingly attractive person. 2. One who casts spells; an enchanter or magician. Noun 1. - a sentimental sleight of hand sleight of hand n. pl. sleights of hand 1. A trick or set of tricks performed by a juggler or magician so quickly and deftly that the manner of execution cannot be observed; legerdemain. 2. that's magical and manipulative but altogether inoffensive. Well-executed family fare, director Norman Jewison's best film since ``Moonstruck'' has modest box-office potential if it can avoid getting crunched in the postsummer pileup. A boy of 7 with the perfect mom, Albert (Haley Joel Osment) is enthusiastic about school and magic. Single Lorraine (Nancy Travis) works as a Vegas showgirl and has a special bond with Albert. They are best friends, but she's out of time as the story kills her off early in a car wreck. Brave little rascal Albert pleads with Lorraine's magician boss (Denis Denis, king of Portugal: see Diniz. Mercier) to stay in Vegas as a pint-size illusionist, but the deceased's will requests he be raised by one Harriet Franklin (Whoopi Goldberg Whoopi Goldberg (born November 13, 1955) is an American actress, comedian, radio presenter, and author. Goldberg is one of only ten individuals who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award, counting Daytime Emmy Awards. ). On the way to Newark, N.J., and a very different life with Lorraine's childhood soulmate soulmate n → compañero/a del alma Harriet, Albert creates an imaginary friend and begins to have conversations and adventures with the big, lovable pal only he can see. Strangers, schoolmates and Harriet are mystified mys·ti·fy tr.v. mys·ti·fied, mys·ti·fy·ing, mys·ti·fies 1. To confuse or puzzle mentally. See Synonyms at puzzle. 2. To make obscure or mysterious. by Albert, who comes to rely a great deal on gentle, wise Bogus (Gerard Depardieu), a towering Frenchman with a never-ending stream of advice. Wonderfully underplayed by Depardieu, the idea that Bogus is a facet of Albert's psyche may confuse some young viewers. But many will respond to self-critical Albert's belief in honesty as he tries to control his emotions and go on living. At the center of all the best scenes, the talented Osment (``Forrest Gump,'' ``The Jeff Foxworthy Show'') plays lonely, precocious Albert as an unwilling victim who wins the heart of unmotherly Harriet and every adult who crosses his path. Heartrending scenes of his alienation at school and further rejection by Mercier's character near the conclusion are nicely contrasted with his bold spirit and feisty relationship with Harriet. Goldberg is solid as an honorable screw-up who has a short fuse but a good heart. An orphan herself, which is how she became best friends with Lorraine, Harriet is kindly but self-absorbed, cranky crank·y 1 adj. crank·i·er, crank·i·est 1. Having a bad disposition; peevish. 2. Having eccentric ways; odd. 3. but fair-minded. When the story calls for her to get inside the head of Albert and try to deal with Bogus - by whom she is unthreatened but wants to replace - Harriet sheds some of her modern cynicism. Thankfully, there's no epiphanous moment or childlike devolution to endure. The screenplay by two-time Academy Award winner Alvin Sargent (``Julia,'' ``Ordinary People''), based on a story by co-producer Jeff Rothberg and Francis X. McCarthy, is superior work. The combination of comic interludes with serious emotional battles is free of the usual genre distractions such as a villain or a time constraint linked to a climactic event. ``Bogus'' presents a believable escalation of Albert's pain of loss that does become mighty fanciful. Jewison's direction rivals the artistic sensitivity of 1950s technicolor entertainments by the likes of Vincente Minnelli and Alfred Hitchcock. Even drab East Coast streets and tenements sparkle with life, while the handling of Depardieu's character and the early scenes in Vegas are spectacularly successful. Cinematographer David Watkin (``Out of Africa,'' ``This Boy's Life'') hasn't worked with Jewison since ``Moonstruck moon·struck also moon·strick·en adj. 1. Dazed or distracted with romantic sentiment. 2. Affected by insanity; crazed. [From the belief that the moon caused insanity. .'' Along with the excellent work of production designer Ken Adam (``The Madness of King George'') and costumer Ruth Myers (``How to Make an American Quilt''), ``Bogus'' is classy-looking and memorable. With composer Marc Shaiman (``The American President'') carefully enhancing its many moods, the film is a rare one that lives up to its promise. THE FACTS The film: ``Bogus''(PG; mature themes). The stars: Whoopi Goldberg, Gerard Depardieu, Haley Joel Osment, Denis Mercier, Nancy Travis. Behind the scenes: Directed Norman Jewison. Written by Alvin Sargent. Released by Warner Bros BROS Brothers BROS Benefits and Retirement Operations Section (King County, Washington) BROS Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society (London, UK) . Running time: One hour, 40 minutes. Playing: Citywide. Our rating: Three Stars. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: In ``Bogus,'' Gerard Depardieu plays the imaginary f riend of a boy (Haley Joel Osment) trying to cope with the loss of his mother. |
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