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DREAM WITH THE FISHES

Director Finn Taylor brings us what could be the very first suicide attempt fatal disease buddy road picture.

David Arquette plays Terry, a distraught, nerdish young man whose only joy in life is in spying on the tenants across the street from his apartment. Brad Hunt plays Nick, the uncaring boyfriend of one of the women Terry spies on. One night, the two meet on a bridge - Terry is apparently suicidal because of the death of his wife, and Nick seems to be after a bit of particularly wicked larceny. But as the two form a twisted partnership, then gradually become friends, we slowly learn that all is not as it seems.

While Dream with the Fishes contains a many moments of wonder, making pertinent observations about honesty and compassion in a difficult world, the story wears thin in a few places - such as when Terry joins the doomed Nick in a carefree road trip (with a bit of nude bowling and acid tripping along the way). How many movies have we seen where the characters break loose from daily existence and hit the road for some spontaneous adventures, while learning about each other and themselves? Even more grating is the film's portrayal of women. With the exception of Cathy Moriarty's appearance as Nick's aunt, a horny ex-stripper, females are mostly seen as long-suffering accessories, patiently waiting for their men to return from their rowdy explorations. Either that, or they appear as the objects of Terry's voyeurism.

As for the leads, while I was a bit annoyed at Arquette's paralyzed tics, Hunt really shines. He manages to bring complexity to his material even when it doesn't demand any. ½

THE FIFTH ELEMENT

In the year 2214, an ancient prophecy is fulfilled when a dark, devouring planet appears on the edge of the galaxy. It is composed of pure evil and it intends to destroy the Earth, then the rest of the universe. The only thing that can stop it is a legendary secret weapon shared with humankind by an ancient benevolent alien race - a weapon formed when stones containing the energy of the four known natural elements are aligned with an unknown fifth element. The aliens, in alliance with a secret sect of human priests, plans to bring the stones and the fifth element back to Earth - but when the precious cargo is lost en route in a pirate attack, all seems lost.

Bruce Willis stars as a weary ex-warrior turned New York cab driver who is destined to become embroiled in this interplanetary dilemma - twice! The first time when the title character, sent to Earth in the genetically enhanced form of Milla Jovovich, escapes from a government lab and crashes through the roof of his cab - and secondly when top military man Brion James decides he's the only man he can send to recover the stones and save the universe.

Such is the pulpy stew brought to vivid life on the screen by director Luc Besson (La Femme Nikita). Though the plot is extremely clever and well presented, it's a bit much to digest before the real action gets started, and easy to lose track of in the midst of the chase scenes, gun fights, and all manner of other dazzling pyrotechnics that follow. Often getting lost between the complex plot and the roaring circus that surrounds it is any sense of suspense or urgency, as well as an engaging love story.

Though it comes dangerously close to turning into a giant mess by losing its center, The Fifth Element is held together just enough by the combined charisma of its two leads to succeed on its main strength: good old fashioned entertainment value! Every frame of every scene is choked with amusing, amazing details, while the story pushes forward relentlessly. One minute you're gaping in awe at the incredible NYC cityscape, the next you're gaping in awe at Gary Oldman's incredibly eccentric acting. Gunplay, archeology, space cruise ships, campy DJs, explosions, opera, kung fu, cheesecake - don't blink, or you'll might miss something funny, beautiful, or just plain odd happening up on the screen. Though it's easy to write off as just so much Hollywood excess, Besson is really just having a grand time trying to give audiences their money's worth. I may be a cynical bastard, but I can't kick a film that showed me such a good time.

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