A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Holes

Date of original theatrical release: 2003

Details:

Sigourney Weaver

Jon Voight

Tim Blake Nelson

Shia LaBeouf

Khleo Thomas

Director: Andrew Davis

Screenplay: Louis Sachar

Score: 1/2

The Review: Alas, I am too old to have known Holes as an insanely popular children's novel (by Louis Sachar), and was introduced to it first as this video. The story of an (alleged) youthful misdemeanor, grossly disproportionate punishment, and the clandestine search for buried treasure -- all wrapped up with flashbacks and recursive tales-within-tales. This is an odd, strangely-paced movie with a quirky sense of humor that starts with irony & coincidence, progresses through slapstick and deprecation of (alleged) maturity, all the while relying on fate and the power of century-old curses. Pay attention to character names.

A large number of "name" stars pepper the villainy of the plot; the majority of the young actors are unknowns. Cute pig.

(11-Oct-04)

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