Rita Kempley: Hugh Grant has given us some decent romantic comedies too. "All About the Boy," "Four Weddings and a Funeral."

Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.: Don't know if you've addressed this before. I always try to see all the nominees for best picture. This year though, I find myself in a quandary about "The Pianist." Not on the merits of the film, but on Roman Polanski. I have a hard time gearing up to see a movie by someone who has refused to face the consequences for a crime to which he admitted and pled guilty and instead fled the country. I admit I don't know the whole story, though, and was hoping to get your your thoughts. Part of me thinks that the movie was made by a lot more people than Polanski and I should just enjoy it if it's good. But I'm also not sure I want to support anything he's involved in.

Rita Kempley: I understand the dilemma. I feel that way about Elia Kazan, who ratted out other writers and Walt Disney for his involvement with the CIA and Wagner for his nazi sympathies and so on. The art is sometimes better than the artist. Jackson Pollack was no sugar pie either. So I guess you either take the political approach--stay at home--or the artistic one--go and see for yourself.

Mister Jimmy: Rita, so glad to see your byline back in print! Here's one for ya -- Dame Judy Dench is THIS close to signing on with Vin Diesel for a sequel to Pitch Black. Ain't she somethin'?!

Rita Kempley: Mister Jimmy,
I hope she is the romantic interest. Wouldn't that be something?

Sir Synergy: Hey...no gloomy mood here Queen Rita.

This is a safe haven from the absurd outside world.

Don't make me start writing Michael Bay haikus again.

Rita Kempley: Sir Synergy: I was thinking of having a haiku day in coming weeks. But if you want, the non-haikus rule can be flauted today.

Medford, Mass.: Hello Rita. Looking forward to reading your reviews again.

I am one of your younger followers (20) and am more or less out of the loop with the Roman Polanski scandal? I know he is charged with statutory rape, but what were the circumstances? Is he largely considered guilty among Hollywood people and the general public? Or is this a case of persecuting a celebrity when he really didn't do anything? Please appease a reader's bounding curiosity. Thanks.

Rita Kempley: Thanks Medford. Apparently he had consentual sex with a 13 year old. The police say he will be arrested if he enters the country to attend the Oscars. His ex-lover would like to see the charges dismissed.

Roman Polanski: I have that conflict, too, tempered by the knowledge that he also lost his pregnant wife (Sharon Tate) to Charles Manson's gang.

Rita Kempley: Yes, it gets icky. Then there's "China Town."

Waldorf, Md.: "The English Patient" was such a downer; how about "The Mexican" instead? And those golden oldie "date flicks": Zeffarelli's "Romeo and Juliet," and "Un H'omme et un Femme (A Man and a Woman)."

And of course "Shakespeare in Love."

Rita Kempley: Excellent choices, although I for one find "Romeo & Juliet" something of a bummer.

Wagner's a Nazi?: Are you referring to the composer Richard Wagner? He died long before the Nazis came to power. His music was a favorite of Hitler's, who held him up as some kind of artistic ideal.

Rita Kempley: Thank you, yes.

Long Beach, Calif.: One of the biggest plays in London right now is an Anti-Bush play that features him in kid's pajamas asking stupid questions to his chickenhawk advisors. It was written in a few days, and put on in a small theatre. It was S.R.O. until held over and moved into a larger venue. With this in mind, are there any Bush spoof movies in production? There's a gold mine waiting to be tapped, in my opinion.

Rita Kempley: Long Beach: Sounds like it's worth making the trip. Maybe London Callin' would call and give us a critique. No Bush satires that I know of. Actually, he is his own parody and a scary one at that.

Haiku: Daredevil success:
is charisma or just an
appropriate chin?

Rita Kempley: Nuff said.

Herndon, Va.: OUR QUEEN: I'm sorry, "consensual sex" with a 13-year-old makes no sense. A 13-year old is no more capable of consent to that then a baby "deciding" what type of formula it wants.

Rita Kempley: Now, I 've done it. Well, at least, we'll get to the bottom of this travesty.

Ready for Snow, Md.: With this weekend's forcast -- Dr. Zhivago, dudes.

Feel good romance film of recent release:
"Confessions of a Dangerous Mind"

My sweetie and I just loved it. We're sick that way, though.

Rita Kempley: I thought "Iris" was a wonderful love story. Not that it was wildly romantic.

MagnoliaGuy, Alexandria, Va.: Dearest Queen: I cannot reveal how I saw it, but I have seen Zhang Yimou's "Hero" recently and I have to to say it is perhaps the most visually splendid film I've ever seen apart from the wholly different "Umbrellas of Cherbourg." I pray to God or whatever, that Miramax sees the light of day and releases the thing now that it's up for an Oscar nod for best Foreign Language Film. They surely can't be stupid enough to leave it on the shelf until the November release date they have announced, can they?

Rita Kempley: Miramax can be a stubborn outfit ,but I can't believe they'd blow a business opportunity. They're probably waiting for a week without that much competitionf from bombast like "Daredevil."

Farmington Hills, Mich.: Rita-this is the second time you've called poor Hugh's movie "All About the Boy." It's "About a Boy", which just sounds better!

Rita Kempley: Frankly, my dear, I muck up titles all the time. I drove everyone mad calling "The Hours." "The Voices." Lots of times, I just go to a screening without a clue of what I'm about see. So big deal.

Haiku III: Why Kangaroo Jack?
Who the heck is Pluto Nash?
Where did the art go?

Rita Kempley: I admit I'm stumped. The Kangaroo's pouch, maybe.

re: Polanski: Let's clarify the story a bit. He gave a 13-year old champagne with a Quaalude in it and then had sex with her. Hardly consenual.

Catholic priest have gone down for less.

Rita Kempley: Yes. You don't even have to give a priest champagne to get him to go down. (with apologies to all the Catholics who are about to get ticked off).

Sir Synergy: Oscars Haiku

Harvey laughs again.
There's no joy in Hobbiton.
No Quaid nod either?

Rita Kempley: Poor Dennis was robbed.

Herndon, Va.: OUR GREAT QUEEN: Let's rephrase on Wagner -- his anti-semitism, not Nazism, since the Nazis weren't around yet. As far as Polansky is concerned -- I'd put his crime somewhat far above Mr. Kazan's, on the unforgiveable scale. Kazan, after all, was responding to legitimate questions by a house of representatives committee. I'll agree that the committee(s) went way too far in the search for "Commies," but a lot of the people "ratted out," weren't innocent misguided socialists, either.

Rita Kempley: No, they were all Hollywood screenwriters.

Washington, D.C.: "Lady Sings the Blues," "Thoroughly Modern Millie," "The Way We Were," "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner." All good love stories.

Rita Kempley: "When Harry Met Sally," "Sleepless in Seattle," "Annie Hall." And since were talking about directors with a yen for young ladies, how do you feel about Woody Allen movies? Pretty creepy in retrospect.

Hamilton, N.Y.: For a romantic movie, how about "It Rains on Our Love"?

Rita Kempley: I don't know the movie. But it would make a good double feature with "Umbrellas of Cherborg."

Bethesda, Md.: Hey Rita,

What's it like to work with a complete wet mop like Stephen Hunter? Does he like ANY movies? Or at least any movies that don't have a French actress in them? And why did they send him to review the Harry Potter movie when he obviously hadn't read the books?

Rita Kempley: The whims of editors are alwasy beyond me. Steve is more like a scrub brush than a wet mop though.

Netflix Advice?: Greetings.

I am a new DVD-owner and Netflix-subscriber, and am very excited to check out some films not available in my local Blockbuster. Any recommendations for a "Monsoon Wedding," "The Nasty Girl," "Supercop," "Paper Chase" loving viewer?

P.S. I highly endorse "Bend it Like Beckham." I've managed to see it twice already, and it is simply adorable. A great feel-good movie. Any predictions on how it will do in the States?

Rita Kempley: How about "Rushmore." I don't know why, but I think you'd like it.

Somewhere: How about that Richard Gere Oscar snubola? Those Oscar folks must really hate him, as even the on-set coke dealers appear to have been nominated for Chicago.

Rita Kempley: I think he makes a pest of himself. All he ever talks about is the Dali Lama (however it's spelled) and his teachings. He is pretty tedious and self-reverntial, too.

Nani/Texas: I'm Catholic. We're not ticked off at you, Rita, we're pissed at the priests.

Romantic Movie: "An American in Paris." I fell in love at that film and named my first daughter Leslie Caron.

Happy Valentine's Day EraserheadGuy, wherever you are.

Rita Kempley: Nani: Happy Valentine's Day to you, too.
Ah, the lovely Leslie.
This is out of nowereh, but my vote for most romantic couple: Lady and the Tramp.

the return of Haiku: Hmm...in retrospect.
The Oscar to Roberto,
it could be mistake?

Rita Kempley: Yes, but at least he livened up the ceremony with his chair dance.

Washington, D.C.: Oh dear -- that was an odd Valentine's Day movie list. OK, here's a short version of mine:

Rita Kempley: "Truly, Madly, Deeply." That is a lovely choice.

Washington, D.C.: Rita,

I absolutely loved "All About my Mother." Any thoughts on the new Almodovar movie, "Talk to Her?" Have you seen it?

Rita Kempley: You are going to love it too.

Sir Synergy: Shaping up to be a boring Oscar night. I'm sure Harvey and the Chicagoettes have a fine movie, but isn't the Miramax campaigning overkill just hard to condone. I increasingly feel that Oscar wins are being orchestrated more than being earned.

Then again, what can you say about a voting body that nominates Treasure Planet for anything!!!

Rita Kempley: I kind of miss the dumb production numbers. The ceremony goes on just as long anyway, though why that is so I can't imagine.

Northern Virginia: Maybe that Animated Feature category wasn't such a good idea. "Treasure Planet?" I'm sorry, but from the list of winners in past years, the honor truly is the nomination -- and "Treasure Planet" hardly deserves half a star, let alone an Oscar nod.

Rita Kempley: Spirited Away, however, qualifies as one of the year's best films of the year.

Northern Virginia: Most Romantic Movie Couple:
Gomez and Morticia Addams

Rita Kempley: And among the kinkier.

Icebergville, Minn.: Hey Rita,

Saw "Spider" last night. I liked it. The opening scene was very interesting and Miranda Richardson was great, as always.

I didn't know anything about it before the viewing, except that it was a Cronenberg film. It was a nice suprise to see him challenge my expectations. Although disturbing, it was far less disturbing that any previous Cronenberg film I've seen.

Mr C showed up for a brief Q & A. What shcoked me the most was that this guy ALMOST seems normal.

Rita Kempley: I did an interview with him on Wednesday and he looks normal, but he has some rather strange, albeit fascinating ideas. For instance, he thinks that "Dead Ringers" about men's power issues.
That said, "Spider" was a welcome departure from the exploding heads et al.

Peoples' Republic: Good Afternoon Comrade Rita and welcome back to the dead tree pages! Good to see your byline again. I just have a quick question. I must have missed the memo about why Colin Farrell is in EVERY SINGLE MOVIE LATELY. Please explain this otherwise inexplicable omnipresence. Thanks and Happy Valentine's Day.

Rita Kempley: Yo camrade. He's just beloved in Hollywood.

Detroit, Mich.: Who do you think was the most overlooked for the Oscar nominations? (I'll vote for Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor's "About Schmidt" screenplay.)

Rita Kempley: As somebody mentioned earlier, I thought Dennis Quaid's performance was ignored.

Rita Kempley: So long for now. Thanks for dropping by. If we're all still here, let's get together in a couple of weeks. Happy Valentines Day to you all.

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