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    Whiteout

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September 15, 2009

No heat in this South Pole thriller



 

“Whiteout”

Warner Brothers Pictures

Directed by Dominic Sena

Starring Kate Beckinsale, Gabriel Macht, Tom Skerritt, Columbus Short, Alex O'Loughlin and Shawn Doyle

Rated PG-13

 

1 Star       

 

Despite the presence of an A-list cast and a critically acclaimed graphic novel as source material, the Antarctic-based thriller “Whiteout” fails to deliver any heat. The plot is predictable, the acting and screenplay are sub-par, and there are crucial moments in the movie where the filmmakers are so concerned with living up to the film’s title that it’s almost impossible to see what’s happening up on the screen.

I found myself wishing that the movie had been called “Black Out.” That way, I might at least have enjoyed a short nap.

Kate Beckinsale stars in the film as U.S. Marshall Carrie Stetko, the woman who provides law and order for an Antarctic base. She’s just days away from the end of her tour of duty when she is confronted with the death of a geologist — the first South Pole homicide ever! Stetko springs into action, and quickly finds herself facing off against a maniac with an ice axe, dealing with some personal demons of an arrest gone bad back in Florida, and ultimately, delving into the rather mediocre mystery of a Soviet plane that crash-landed nearby some 50 years earlier.

Yawn.

I suppose that there’s something new and interesting about the film’s South Pole setting, but the rest of “Whiteout” is pretty mediocre. The filmmakers throw in a steamy shower scene to catch the interest of Beckinsale’s male fans, but it just feels gratuitous and is quickly forgotten as the actors rush about in their over-stuffed coats, spouting bad dialogue and trying to look like they care while the story whimpers to a conclusion.

“Whiteout” has no more urgency of thrills than an episode of “CSI: Patagonia.” Sometimes a bad movie is just a bad movie, and “Whiteout” is pretty much a total wipe out.

Movie reviews by Sean, “The Movie Guy,” are published bi-weekly in “The Port Arthur News” and weekly on KFDM-TV. You can also follow Seanthemovie guy on Twitter. Sean welcomes your comments via email at smcbride@kbcitv.com.

 

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The Central Middle School Band capped off a successful year by competing in the Solo and Ensemble Contest on May 5th. Forty-eight students brought home 66 medals.  Band members who won honors are: Danny Abdullah, Syrina Akbari, Abigail Albright, Max Barclay, Joel Bardwell, Jordan Bardwell, Brandon Baumgardner, Anthony Bennett, James Brindza, Cullen Cessna, Vanessa Daigle, Collin Elliott ,Dyan Emerson, Cyle Hubbard, Colin Jackson, Jennifer Jones, Jordan Jones, Jase Keel, Jessica Koons, Marissa Licatino, Todd Luke, Kade McCorvy, Jordan Mitchell, Kelby Myers, Mason Ouzts, Sara Pierce, Kayla Prestridge, Daniela Rodriguez, Noah Ross, Shae Sanders, Chandler Smith, Brian Speight, Erin Stilley, Arriana Torres and Tommy Truong Central's Band Directors are Joe Vargas and Michelle Melancon. On May 15th, the Band will hold its final performances of the year. They will play in Central's auditorium at 9 AM. Later that evening, they will be part of the Nederland ISD Band Pageant at the Performing Arts Center.  

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