Aniston Sidetracked in 'Derailed'

Nov. 10, 2005 — -- Now in theaters: "Derailed"; "Get Rich or Die Tryin'"; "Pride & Prejudice" and "Zathura."

Derailed
Jennifer Aniston and Clive Owen are married, but not to each other. Still, there's a palpable attraction, and very good acting. At first, I thought this was a love story. Then, "Derailed" goes off the tracks. I was sandbagged. I love when that happens. Half hour later, another twist, and I was sandbagged once again.

But here's a hint: Aniston isn't Owen's friend. Why am I giving this away? Because after I saw the movie, I saw the film's commercial. They give it away. In thirty seconds. Grade: C+

Get Rich or Die Tryin'
It's "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" for 50 Cent. Most of us settle for something in between, but not rap stars. This is pretty much his real-life story. His mamma's a drug dealer. She's murdered, and he's raised by loving grandparents. He becomes a drug dealer who leaves prison, takes nine bullets, and becomes a huge, bigger-than-life, rap star.

Talk about miscast, Curtis Jackson is miscast as 50 Cent, and Curtis Jackson is 50 Cent. He may be the biggest rap star in the country but he short-changes us as an actor.

Rap stars have been an amazing pool of talent for Hollywood. Will Smith and Queen Latifah deserve to be movie stars. Ludacris and LL Cool J -- both good actors. This movie will make money. It's carried by Jim Sheridan's direction and a very strong supporting cast. It'll be the No. 1 movie this week. 50 Cent has so many fans he'll be 75 Cent by Tuesday. But, put it this way, lucky for him, he didn't have an Oscar tattooed on one of his arms. And lucky for me, he's not in the room. Grade: C+

Pride & Prejudice
This is more a movie about the great Jane Austen novel than a movie of the great Jane Austen novel. But the attitude is there. And the dialogue is still arch, still funny after 200 years. Though Matthew MacFadyen is miscast as Darcy (Shouldn't the guy be played with at least one redeeming feature?) Keira Knightley gives an Oscar-worthy performance. Grade: B+ Grade: B+

Zathura
"Zathura" is the best family film so far this year. Two kids find a board game, and what comes up on the game cards … comes true. OK, it's like "Jumanji," but Chris Van Allsburg wrote the books that became both movies, and you can't get arrested for stealing from yourself. Von Allsburg also wrote the book that became the instant Christmas classic, "Polar Express." Now comes "Zathura" and it's the best of the bunch. Grade: B+