Armed only with his mysterious mental connection to the feral minds of studio executives, the Movie Guru reveals just how good or bad this week's new releases will be:

A Cinderella Story (PG)
This modern-day twist on an old fairy tale even has a wicked stepmother (Jennifer Coolidge) and two evil stepsisters. Sam (Hillary Duff) is a high schooler lacking a social life until she meets her prince at the Halloween Dance. Replace a glass slipper with a cell phone, and, well, you can see where this is going.
Now Showing: Farragut Towne Square, Carmike 10, Halls Cinema 7, West Town Mall, Foothills 12

I, Robot (PG-13)
Loosely based on stories by Isaac Asimov, this futuristic sci-fi murder mystery takes place in a world completely dependent on androids that might be too smart for their own good. Del Spooner (Will Smith) is a skeptical detective investigating the murder of a scientist, and his top suspect is a robot named Sonny (Alan Tudyk).
Now Showing: Knoxville Center, Farragut Towne Square, Wynnsong 16, Halls Cinema 7, Foothills 12

Before Sunset (R)
When Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) first met in 1995 (in Before Sunrise), they spent one special night walking the streets of Vienna. Despite an intense attraction, they decided to not pursue romance. Now nine years older, still single and showing actual wrinkles, they reconnect for another chance—at least until nightfall—to find out if they are each other’s one true love. And if they don’t, there’s always another sequel, like Before Baldness and Menopause. Written by Hawke, Delpy and director Richard Linklater.
Now Showing: Downtown West

Coffee and Cigarettes (R)
Ahh, sweet vices. This collection of comical short stories by Jim Jarmusch (Smoke, Dead Man) approaches life from an obscure angle and snowballs into something about the joy that exists in the addictions and obsessions in life. Talk about a cast of characters: there’s Steve Buscemi, Steven Wright, Iggy Pop and Tom Waits, just to name a few.
Now Showing: Downtown West

Napoleon Dynamite (PG)
Depending on your tolerance for nerdy teenagers, Napoleon Dynamite could be this year’s Rushmore or another painfully awkward visit to adolescence like Welcome to the Dollhouse. Napoleon (Jon Heder) lives in rural Idaho with his grandmother and older brother. When Grandma leaves, Uncle Rico shows up and meddles with their lives while Napoleon helps his pal Pedro run for class president. The directorial debut of 24-year-old Jared Hess was a hit at Sundance.
Now Showing: Downtown West

The Mother (R)
Rather than lapse into the role of a mourning widow upon the sudden death of her husband, May (Anne Reid) launches into an affair with the married handyman half her age who’s also boffing her daughter. The odd couple finds comfort in each other but not much sympathy from their own families or the rest of society. Roger Michell directs this cool British drama written by Hanif Kureishi.
Now Showing: Downtown West

Waiting for a Train

Scottish heroin junkies aren’t the only ones who enjoy trainspotting. A dwarf from Hoboken, N.J., shares a similar interest.

The Station Agent (R, 2003) is a splendidly simple film that makes you appreciate being of average height, but it also reveals the double-edged sword for those seemingly protected by the loathed “politically correct” movement.

Fin (Peter Dinklage) is a “vertically challenged” man who loves trains and solitude. But there seems to be no escape from wandering eyes and jeering children, who offer daily reminders of his appearance. Fin’s destiny seems within reach when he inherits an old train depot in rural New Jersey.

Even in a small town, Fin cannot avoid uncomfortable stares. In one scene Fin tries to buy water and beef jerky when the clerk at the convenience store snaps a shot of him.

He soon meets up with the lovely loner Olivia (Patricia Clarkson) and an attention-starved Cuban-American Joe (Bobby Cannavale). The unusual pairing of these characters keeps you engaged, with their friendship feeling fated, not forced. The intimate and crafted dialogue between the three truly feels genuine.

Dinklage is a wonderfully subtle performer. His facial expressions and grunts complement his continual defiance against all those trying to break his bubble of solitude.

Cleo (Raven Goodwin) is a young girl who befriends Fin and, like any child, doesn’t censor her questions. She is a stunning little performer and adds a great deal to the movie.

The casting was faultless and, without a doubt, made the film what it is—fantastic.

Along with the wonderful cast, every scene, every frame is exactly how you want it. The story and the cinematography force you to quickly realize that there is something special, something familiar about this movie.

Admittedly the premise of the story is strange: a dwarf seeking privacy continually finds himself being hounded by a few of the locals.

And just when you get comfortable and content with the speed and feel of the film, it comes to an end, one that’s seemingly abrupt but altogether satisfying. The Station Agent makes you want to sit back and wait for your train to come in.

—Rosemary Nottoli

July 15, 2004 * Vol. 14, No. 29
© 2003 Metro Pulse