'Phoenix' casts so-so spell
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
The magic may be starting to fade from the "Harry Potter" franchise.
Fans are likely to find the fifth film in the series perfectly serviceable and reasonably satisfactory, but "The Order of the Phoenix" lacks the especially wondrous and humorous and spectacular moments that have elevated previous "Potter" movies at their best.
What you get instead is plot -- a whole lot of plot -- as J.K. Rowling's epic saga grinds its gears on the uphill climb toward the climactic confrontation (still two movies away), between our hero and the noseless dark lord Voldemort.
Even if young Harry (Daniel Radcliffe, starting to look considerably more mature than the 15-year-old boy wizard) were not beginning to bog down in sullen adolescence, he could be excused for believing the whole world is against him. After his previous battle with Voldemort, the Ministry of Magic is trying to expel him from Hogwarts, his schoolmates are shunning him, the evil He Who Must Not Be Named is beginning to invade his mind and his father-figure, headmaster Albus Dumbledore, is acting like he doesn't exist. Add acne to the package and his torment would be complete. Meanwhile, the wizard world is moving toward a war between good and evil, complicated by the efforts of the Minister of Magic to clamp down on what he sees as a rebellious uprising at the school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"The Order of the Phoenix" is a dark and joyless film (even Harry's first kiss is a surprisingly lackluster event), with the ironic exception of the introduction of Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor Dolores Umbridge (scene stealer Imelda Staunton). Installed by the Ministry to restore order at Hogwarts, she provides the only splash of color as a prim, poodle-brooch wearing, gleefully repressive fascist field marshall in pink -- and provides Harry with an authority figure worth rebelling against.
British TV director David Yates ("The Girl in the Cafe") and screenwriter Michael Goldenberg (replacing series regular Steven Kloves) do a workman-like job of condensing Rowling's longest book, but don't expect much in the way of spellcasting -- even when sorcery is center-screen.
The fourth film by actress-turned-director Kasi Lemmons ("Eve's Bayou") has a lot going for it, including a spectacular performance by Don Cheadle. Just about the time you get caught up in the momentum, though, and "Talk to Me" seems sure to be one of the best films of the year, it runs off the rails. Well worth a look for its fascinating recreation of the life and career of a minor deity of late '60s urban radio, TV and comedy, but be prepared for disappointment.
"Talk to Me" is at its best when it chronicles the rise of Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene from small-time thief, hustler, heroin addict and ex-con (who started deejaying on the prison intercom system) to Washington, D.C. media star. Greene was a funny, fast-talking, street-wise, early-model shock jock (during his first shift on the respectable R&B station WOR-AM he called Motown Records mogul Barry Gordy a pimp), who was in precisely the right place at the right time to capitalize on the social unrest of the late '60s.
Lemmon's film does a fine job illustrating how Greene went very far, very quickly on sheer nerve and talent, but it loses the thread as soon as it begins to portray him as a tortured soul who takes his role as "prophet of the people" seriously. Fortunately, the performances by Cheadle, Chiwetel "Kinky Boots" Ejiofor as his over-ambitious manager and Taraji P. Henson (continuing to impress after her breakthrough role in "Hustle and Flow") as Greene's loyal girlfriend maintain interest throughout. The soundtrack's not bad either -- featuring a dozen classic '60s soul hits.