Love the Hard Way. Peter Sehr. Opens Friday, August 8, at the Tivoli. Reviewed this issue.
Lucia, Lucia. The latest surprise from Mexico's talented new wave of filmmakers is a multilayered drama of personal identity enclosed in the conventions of a thriller. Writer-director Antonio Serrano (Sex, Shame and Tears) has transplanted a Rosa Montero novel from Spain to Mexico (no complaints from the author), where a settled writer of children's books (Pedro Almodóvar's leading lady, Cecilia Roth) must take on the role of amateur detective when her husband vanishes at the Mexico City airport. In the frenzy of the ensuing search -- drug dealers! Dutch gun runners! corrupt government bureaucrats! -- she finds a way to find her true self. Lucía's unlikely assistants include a pleasant codger (Carlos Álvarez Novoa) who has a dramatic secret past and a fresh-faced young singer (Kuno Becker) who has a thing for her. Labored in places, but good fun. Opens Friday, August 8, at the Plaza Frontenac. (Bill Gallo)
S.W.A.T. Clark Johnson. Drug kingpin offers large reward to anyone who can break him out of prison. Stars Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, LL Cool J. Opens Friday, August 8, at multiple locations. NR
