‘Sense’ And ‘Leaving Las Vegas’ Boring? What Do You Think?

Some interesting messages show up on my phone mail.

And I’m not even talking about those that question my sanity.

No, the messages that I tend to get from moviegoers are personal observations from people who want to share their feelings about some new film they saw, either in the theater or on video.

In fact, I’m thinking of adding a new feature to this column: the reader’s corner. That would be where you, the average reader, would call in and rattle off your opinion of some movie or video.

I would then choose what I considered the most interesting opinion and print a portion of it in this column.

For example, a woman called the other day and cheerfully passed on her opinion of “Sense and Sensibility,” which became available on video this week (see capsule review below).

Her thoughts: She didn’t like it.

“A bunch of us women, ranging in age from 24 to 74, went to see ‘Sense and Sensibility,”’ she said, “and we were never more bored in our entire lives. A couple of us even fell asleep. So we can’t figure out who this movie was supposed to be geared for.”

She didn’t finish there:

“And another thing I wanted to tell you was that some of us went to see ‘Leaving Las Vegas,’ and we thought it was absolutely the most boring movie we’d ever seen in our entire lives because how many times can you see Nicolas Cage take a drink without getting totally bored by it.”

Point well taken.

So if you have an opinion you want to share, call in. The number is 459-5483. Call anytime in the evening, and I’ll review it the next day. Leave your name if you want (the woman above chose not to), and remember to be brief.

The results could be … well, let’s hope not boring.

Sense and Sensibility

****

What with “Pride and Prejudice” having played on television and “Persuasion” and “Clueless” - the teen-oriented update of “Emma” - in Spokane theaters, the Jane Austen craze hit Spokane hard in 1995. (And the real “Emma,” starring Gwyneth Paltrow, is forthcoming.) High on the Austen list was this Ang Lee-directed adaptation of Emma Thompson’s screenplay, which stars Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman. If critical acclaim and Oscar attention (seven nominations, one award) are any indication, it ended up being one of the year’s most heralded successes. Unlike your typical Masterpiece Theatre-type production, this film - especially as interpreted by Thompson and Lee - benefits from its contemporary sense of spirit and upbeat pacing, even if in most other respects the plot ably reflects Austen’s sentiments. It involves, naturally enough, the tortuous paths taken by a pair of sisters in their quest for love, marriage, financial security and ultimate happiness. Thompson and Winslet in particular deserve mention, although they, as well as Lee’s direction, all went wanting on Oscar night. Only Thompson’s screenplay was rewarded with gold.

Dead Man Walking

***-1/2

Based on the non-fiction book by Sister Helen Prejean, this account of a nun’s experience with a condemned killer is riveting throughout because of the powerful acting of Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon and because of the fluid direction of Tim Robbins. Sarandon portrays the Prejean who worked among the poor of New Orleans, and Penn is a belligerent convicted murderer who asks her to be his spiritual adviser. Robbins occasionally resorts to scenes that feel more like movie-wish-fulfillment than real life, and a protracted execution scene goes over the top. But Oscar nominee Penn and Oscar winner Sarandon shepherd him through to the end. Rated R.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: WHAT’S NEW TO VIEW Now available: “Dracula Dead and Loving It” (Columbia TriStar), “Dead Man Walking” (Polygram), “Bed of Roses” (New Line), “Sense and Sensibility” (Columbia TriStar), “White Wolves 2” (New Horizons). Available Tuesday: “Mr. Holland’s Opus” (Touchstone), “Broken Arrow” (Fox), “Naked Souls” (TBA).