MY GIRLFRIEND, THE ARMED ROBBER.Byline: Anita Gates The New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times The best part of ``B. Monkey'' is reveling in the dark side of Rupert Everett. The dissolute dis·so·lute adj. Lacking moral restraint; indulging in sensual pleasures or vices. [Middle English, from Latin dissol Rupert Everett. Rupert Everett, drinking and drugging, destroying his chiseled chis·eled or chis·elled adj. Made or shaped with or as if with a chisel: a finely chiseled nose. Adj. 1. good looks and recklessly putting his life in danger, as Paul, a bisexual London criminal of some sort who owes money to some not very nice people. The filmmakers probably did not intend this emphasis. Director Michael Radford, who also did ``Il Postino,'' and writers Michael Thomas
Early life Meyers was born Jonathan Michael Francis O'Keeffe in Dublin, Ireland to Geraldine Meyers and John O'Keeffe. ) and Paul. B. (as in Bea) Monkey is her street name. One day she suddenly decides to wash the clown-wig-red dye out of her hair. This is how you know she's ready for a major lifestyle change. Which is where the second-best part of ``B. Monkey'' comes in: Jared Harris Jared Harris (b. 24 August 1961, London, United Kingdom) is a British actor. Harris is one of the three acting/directing sons of the late Irish actor Richard Harris and his first wife Welsh actress Elizabeth Rees-Williams. He earned a BFA from Duke University. , who is becoming one of the most fascinating actors around. (Consider his portrayal of Warhol in ``I Shot Andy Warhol'' and his turn as an immoral Russian taxi driver taxi driver n → taxista m/f taxi driver taxi n → chauffeur m de taxi taxi driver taxi n → in Todd Solondz's ``Happiness.'') In ``B. Monkey,'' Harris plays Alan, an elementary-school teacher, the picture of safe, boring middle-classness, whose after-hours job is as a disc jockey at a hospital radio station. When Alan sees Bea in a bar, his safe, boring middle-class heart skips a beat. Soon, after a few dates and a weekend in Paris (during which we observe the aphrodisiacal powers of jazz), they're living together on his shabby little houseboat, the picture of crazed domesticity. Unfortunately, Beatrice - her full name, which she pronounces the Italian way (beh-ah-TREE-chay) - can't seem to leave her past completely behind. Bruno turns up, declaring his love, and moves in with her and Alan. When the couple try to run away, trouble keeps following them. Of course part of this is Beatrice's fault. If Alan admires a car, she steals it for him. She has taken a straight job, but one day she, Bruno and another accomplice rob a bank during her lunch hour. (The fact that she still manages to bring a sandwich back for her boss is, if nothing else, impressive time management.) It's not that Argento does anything wrong. She's gorgeous and sexy, as Beatrice should be, but her character has been either written or directed to be a little too aware of her charming quirkiness. We're supposed to be as smitten with her as Alan, Paul and Bruno are. If you're not, you won't much care what becomes of her. THE FACTS The film: ``B. Monkey'' (R; includes profanity Irreverence towards sacred things; particularly, an irreverent or blasphemous use of the name of God. Vulgar, irreverent, or coarse language. The use of certain profane or obscene language on the radio or television is a federal offense, but in other situations, profanity , nudity and violence). The stars: Asia Argento, Jared Harris, Rupert Everett, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Juliet Wallace and Ian Hart. Behind the scenes: Directed by Michael Radford. Written by Chloe King and Michael Thomas, based on the novel by Andrew Davies. Produced by Stephen Woolley and Colin Vaines. Released by Miramax Films. Running time: One hour, 31 minutes. Playing: Laemmle Sunset 5 in West Hollywood and Landmark's Westside Pavilion Cinemas in West Los Angeles
Our rating: Two stars. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Schoolteacher Alan (Jared Harris) falls in love with robber Beatrice (Asia Argento) in ``B. Monkey.'' |
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