CJGlowacki

Before I begin, let me say that I am not, nor have I ever been, a Communi...I mean, Christian. Okay, that is not necessarily true. I was raised a Catholic, but that was a long time ago and I have since ceased such practices. So just to make everything abundantly clear - I am not a Christian nor do I play one on TV. I have known, however, quite a few of them, and yes, I have even called some of them "friend". A brave and difficult admission for me to make in this century.

After all, being a Christian is not what it used to be. Just look at how "The Passion of the Christ" failed to gross a billion dollars or how our own President George W. Bush - a devout Christian - only mentions God in about 99.9% of his speeches. It appears the end may very well be in sight for Christianity. How else could you explain the decision of the studio heads to release Brian Dannelly's "Saved!" in only a few hundred theaters? If it had opened in any more [like other films starring Mandy Moore], it would have only poisoned the minds of the youth and finally toppled this most sacred religion. This film must be feared or, at least, that is what many Christians would lead you to believe.

For those too blinded by their own faith to simply denounce the film without seeing it, let me say that you just don't know what you're missing. In fact, 'Saved!' could very well be more enjoyable for Christians than for those who are not. While some of the jokes are pretty broad, there are quite a few subtle jabs at humor that only those intimately familiar with Christian life could appreciate. Take for the example the entire character of Pastor Skip, wonderfully played by Hal Hartley fave Martin Donovan, and his fundamental need to connect with people on a variety of different levels. His use of outdated slang with his students, while an obvious play for laughs, is never overdone to the point of buffoonery like in countless other comedies. Here Pastor Skip is as real as any religious leader you might find in an affluent suburban community.

It becomes abundantly clear by the end of the first act that 'Saved!' is not actually poking fun at Christianity itself, but the actions its followers take in the name of God. Look at how our heroine Mary [Jena Malone] uses Jesus as an excuse to lose her virginity to her recently outed gay boyfriend [Chad Faust]. Or how Hilary Faye [Mandy Moore] uses Jesus to form a clique as popular and as exclusive as any high school cheerleading squad. The end result of these actions could be interchangeable with any other teenage comedy/drama, but here it is the selfish misinterpretation of Christianity that drives them.

By the end of 'Saved!', I began to get the feeling that the film was just as much another teen movie as it was a biting satire. A combination I haven't seen since the likes of Michael Lehmann's 'Heathers'.

Rating [on a 5 star system] : 3 1/2 stars

Watching Chris Eyre's "Skins", I couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. Here I was watching a seemingly realistic film about modern Native Americans made by a director of Native American descent and all I kept thinking about was how poorly structured it was. For years, I have waited for an important Native American filmmaker to emerge and take his place next to Spike Lee as the voice of his people. A filmmaker who would give us an honest and heartfelt view of his world while at the same time destroying the stereotypes perpetuated by Hollywood for the better part of a century. So it is with deep regret that I inform you that such a filmmaker has yet to show his face.

Going into the film, I was absolutely confident I was going to walk away praising it to everyone within earshot. After all, it is not everyday, or year for that matter, that you get to sit down and watch a film with such a unique point of view. Color me surprised then when I sulked off with a completely opposite reaction. A reaction as angry and depressing as the film itself.

With the indie success of "Smoke Signals", one would think that director Eyre would've been in an easier position to finance and film this sophomore effort. And, if that is indeed the case, why is it that "Skins" feels even more amateurish than his first film? From the lighting to the editing to the incredibly poor storytelling, the film fails to meet even the most modest expectations for a low budget production. Even the proven talent of actor Graham Greene is wasted in scenes staged with pathetic attempts at humor and pathos. The perfect example being the shot of his final goodbye, which has all the subtlety of a ten ton nuclear blast.

But, amid all of the clichés and shameless manipulation of emotion, the film does have one saving grace and that is the performance of lead Eric Schweig.

As police officer Rudy Yellow Lodge, Schweig moves through the story with both authority and vulnerability. Two conflicting traits that add some much needed credibility to his little foray into vigilantism and his reactions afterwards.

By the end of "Skins", I couldn't help but wonder if the novel by Adrian C. Louis was somehow misinterpreted here. If I was to hazard a guess, I would have to go with yes - because why waste your time turning bad literature into an even worse movie.

Ration [on a 5 star system] : 2 stars

Regardless of what you think of the film, you have to give Gary Oldman credit for not only wanting to play a dwarf, but actually getting to do it. In this age of warped political correctness, even the greatest actors working today are limited to roles within their own race, age, gender, and overall physical appearance. Gone are the days when actors like Paul Muni and Marlon Brando applied some make-up and transformed themselves into strong, sympathetic characters from the East. And lest we forget the great Jose Ferrer who played diminutive French artist Toulouse-Lautrec in John Huston's "Moulin Rouge". A film that I am sure provided some pointers on how to make a 5' 11" actor look half that size.

In "Tiptoes", Oldman plays Rolfe, twin brother to Steven played by Matthew McConaughey. Not only do these twins look nothing alike, but Rolfe also happens to be a dwarf while Steven appears to be perfectly normal young man - on the outside at least. As twins go, Rolfe and Steven are not very close. In early scenes of them together, you can't help but sense an underlying current of envy and guilt in their relationship. A feeling that only dumb luck made one more normal than the other. And when Steven's girlfriend Carol, played by the always lovely Kate Beckinsale, announces her unplanned pregnancy, the issue is once again raised as there is a chance their child may be born a dwarf.

For what it's worth, "Tiptoes" has its heart in the right place. There are moments in the film where it tries to break new ground and show us not only what it would be like to be a dwarf, but also what it would be like to simply be in their social circle. The film also gives us a look at three very different romantic relationships - Steven & Carol [of normal size], Rolfe & Sally [dwarfs], and Maurice & Lucy [dwarf & of normal size]. And while each one appears physically unique, we soon find out that the problems that rip them apart are not.

But it doesn't take long for all these seemingly sincere moments to take on the semblance of an ABC Afterschool Special entitled "Dwarfs are People Too." Take the scene in which Carol meets Rolfe for the first time. We can't exactly be sure what her reaction is going to be, and Beckinsale plays it beautifully. When Rolfe asks her who she is, she answers as her hand unconsciously moves over her stomach. A motion used to both identify her relationship with Steven and the fear for what her baby may become. All in all, an excellent scene. But moments later, the whole sequence ends on a incredibly manipulative note of false sympathy and sentimentality with Carol caring for an exhausted Rolfe. Even the score milks the sequence for everything its got.

As for the performances, only actors Gary Oldman and Peter Dinklage really provide anything worthwhile here. Despite some poor direction, Oldman brings in a quiet and subtle performance, while Dinklage - complete with a phony French accent - gives us a character completely different than the one he played in "The Station Agent". I will say, however, that Oldman's performance is undercut by some truly awful special effects created to maintain the illusion of dwarfism. You can't help but laugh when you see him obviously sitting inside a couch with fake legs propped up near his waist.

Overall, the film is to be commended for trying something new, even if it failed miserably. And it is aptly named as it does tend to "tiptoe" around every important point it is trying to make.

Rating [on a 5 star system] : 2 1/2 stars