Film capsules -- 1997-2001

The Jackal (R) 125 min. Garner's rating: 8 Review · Clips
An espionage thriller with Bruce Willis and Richard Gere which offers the best of two cinematic worlds -- the old-fashioned cerebral plotting of the original 1973 Day of the Jackal and the stylized and highly visceral violence of a top-quality, 1990s action film. Director Michael Caton-Jones updates the original with high-tech thrills as a world-class assassin schemes to kill a U.S. government official. Sidney Poitier and Diane Venora co-star. Universal. Rated R, with strong violence, profanity.

Jack Frost (PG) 95 min. Garner's rating: 3 Review · Clips
A well-intentioned but silly seasonal saga about a deceased father who comes back as a snowman to try to make things up with his son. Michael Keaton stars for director Troy Miller. Warner Bros. Rated PG, with modest profanity.

Jackie Brown (R) 154 min. Garner's rating: 9 Review
A leisurely paced, but effervescent crime tale in which Quentin Tarantino's trademark dialogue, camera work, and musical choices all blend marvelously with the well-defined characters and goof-ball plotting of novelist Elmore Leonard. Pam Grier, Robert Forster, Samuel L. Jackson and Robert De Niro co-star. Rated R, with strong profanity, violence, sex, and frequent racial epithets.

Jackpot (R) 95 min. Our rating: 5 Review · Clips
The Polish brothers (of Twin Falls, Idaho fame), direct this traveling salesman joke grafted onto the world of karaoke. It asks the musical question, "Did you hear the one about the rangy, raw-voiced George Jones wannabe, played by Jon Gries, and his power-of-positive-thinking "manager," played by Garrett Morris? Rated R, with rough language and sexuality.

Jakob the Liar (PG-13) 114 min. Garner's rating: 8 Review · Clips
A poignant tragi-comedy about a former pancake maker in a Polish ghetto who discovers he can generate hope with a few well-placed lies. But he knows his lies can also get him killed. Robin Williams is superb as the title character. Peter Kassovitz directs. Columbia Pictures. Rated PG-13, with violence.

Jawbreaker (R) 89 min. Our rating: 4 Review · Clips
A lame, mean-spirited attempt at a dark teen comedy, about three popular high-schoolers who accidentally kill one of their friends, then try to cover it up. A couple of problems: lousy acting and a lousier script. Starring Rose McGowan and Rebecca Gayheart. Directed by Darren Stein. TriStar Pictures. Rated R with profanity, violence and sexual content.

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (R) 104 min. Garner's rating: 4 Review · Clips
A slapdash Clerks sequel by the earlier film's Greek chorus elevated to lead status, on a mission to Hollywood where they're supposedly filming their life stories. Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith co-star, with Ben Affleck, Chris Rock and others. Smith writes and directs. Dimension Films. Rated R, with profanity and sex references galore.

Jesus' Son (R) 110 min. Garner's rating: 8 Review · Clips
A refreshingly atypical drug-addict adventure, with Billy Crudup as a sweet innocent tripping through the horrors of heroin, yet somehow stumbling into hope. Samantha Morton co-stars for director Alison Maclean. Lions Gate Films. Rated R, with strong profanity, drug use, sex and brief violence.

Jeepers Creepers (R) 92 min. Garner's rating: 6 Review · Clips
A fabulous first half and strong final punch make this a worthwhile fright flick, despite some second-half stumbling. A young brother and sister are pursued down country lanes by a monstrous, flesh-eating figure. Gina Philips and Justin Long co-star for writer-director Victor Salva. United Artists. Rated R, with strong and frequent gore.

Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius (R) 90 min. Our rating: 8 Review · Clips
In this animated adventure, our boy hero must help construct a homemade space armada to rescue the town's parents, who have been kidnapped by aliens. It's cheerfully innocuous with plenty of gags for both children and parents without resorting to potty humor. 90 minutes. Rated G.

Joe Gould's Secret (R) 108 min. Garner's rating: 10 Review · Clips
Stanley Tucci's biographical drama about an eccentric 1940s New Yorker. Although he is unemployed and homeless, he survives by becoming an oral historian. Starring Ian Holm, Steve Martin, Glenn Close and Susan Sarandon. Rated R, with profanity and brief nudity.

Joe Somebody (PG-13) 100 min. Our rating: 3 Review · Clips
A meek, unhappy man decides to stand up to the office bully in this weak, lifeless comedy that barely has enough oomph to pass muster as a TV movie. Starring Tim Allen and Jim Belushi. 100 minutes. Rated PG-13 for profanity, violence.

Josie and the Pussycats (PG-13) 95 min. Critic's rating: 6 Review · Clips
Mindful of its comic-book and TV roots, Josie and the Pussycats avoids seriousness. The result is a frothy but irresistible movie that brims with bubbly spirit, wicked wit and punk-flavored pop tunes. Starring Rachael Leigh Cook, Rosario Dawson and Tara Reid. Directed by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont. Universal Pictures, Rated PG-13, with sensuality and some rough language.

Joy Ride (R) 96 min. Garner's rating: 7 Review · Clips
A entertaining, modern-day Duel, about a psychotic truck driver, trying to run three young folks (Paul Walker, Steve Zahn and Leelee Sobieski) off the highway after they trick him with an impractical joke. John Dahl directs. Twentieth Century Fox. Rated R, with violence and profanity.

Judy Berlin (Not rated) 97 min. Our rating: 6 Review · Clips
Writer/director Eric Mendelsohn's at least semiprecocious debut feature is a mood-over-matter suburban drama about the repressed romantic entanglements of a middle-aged teacher, school principal and principal's wife that life has passed by, and two relatively young people on the verge of being passed by themselves. Starring Bob Dishy, Barbara Barrie, Edie Falco, Madeline Kahn and Julie Kavner. Not rated.

Jump Tomorrow (PG) 97 min. Not rated.
While travelling to Niagara Falls with his arranged wedding, a quiet Nigerian man meets an outspoken and heartbroken French man. After stopping the French man's suicide attempt, the two buddies hit the road and chase true love. Rated PG, with thematical material, mild sensuality and adult language.

Jungle 2 Jungle (PG) 105 min. Our rating: 5 Review
Tim Allen brings his patent wiseguy charm to a cluttered comedy about a harried New Yorker who finds he has a 13-year-old son in the South American wilderness. Some of the cross-cultural humor has an unpleasant edge (the boy's name translates to "cat urine"), but when it hits farce pitch, the gags are honest and big. Martin Short is fine as Allen's manic second banana. Disney. Rated PG.

Jurassic Park III (PG-13) 92 min. Garner's rating: 6 Review · Clips
A modest, less-imaginative sequel to the blockbuster dinosaur thrillers, but with creatures galore, including a few impressive new threats. Sam Neill returns, as a reluctant guide for Tea Leoni and the always-watchable William H. Macy. Joe Johnston directs. Universal, 92 min. Rated PG-13, with dino chomping and stomping.

Just Visiting (PG-13) 88 min. Our rating: 6 Review · Clips
A 12th century French knight and his servant are accidentally sent into the future, leading to a lot of fish-out-of water amusement. Starring Jean Reno, Christian Clavier and Christina Applegate for director Jean-Marie Poire. Buena Vista Pictures. Rated PG-13, with violence and crude humor.