Posted on: Saturday, December 21, 2002

Maui Film Festival takes on big-buzz, Oscar-caliber movies

Advertiser Staff

If movies are your thing, then Maui is the place to be this holiday season. The Maui Film Festival's First Light 2002 lineup of movies reads like a who's-who, what's-big-and-bigger roll call of films that are likely Academy Award nominees.

Here's a sample:

• "Chicago," based on the Broadway musical hit, stars Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Richard Gere. 7:30 p.m. today.

• "25th Hour," directed by Spike Lee, stars Edward Norton as a man about to enter prison. 7:30 p.m. tomorrow.

• "The Quiet American" stars Michael Caine and Brendan Fraser and is based on the Graham Greene novel. 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

• "Adaptation," another wild outing by director Spike Jonze, stars Nicholas Cage in two roles and Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper. 7:30 p.m. Friday.

• "About Schmidt" has been hailed as Jack Nicholson's best role and performance in years. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 28.

We could go on and on (the festival continues through Jan. 5) but that would only deepen our envy, since many of the festival's films have yet to open on O'ahu.

Screenings are at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theater. Tickets are $10 each screening, $5 for kids younger than 12; available at the box office an hour before showtime. Four-film VIP FastPasses, at $40 each, are also available. (808) 572-3456, mauifilmfestival.com.