Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert review five new movies. Two thumbs up for
Gattaca (1997), a futuristic thriller that seems all too plausible, and which Siskel, who usually dislikes this sub-genre, was surprised to enjoy. Two thumbs down for the contrived black comedy,
The House of Yes (1997), although Siskel was more put off than Ebert by the "tired" idea of a character with a Jackie O fixation. Two more thumbs down for the stupid fantasy comedy,
A Life Less Ordinary (1997), which the critics take to be Danny Boyle's misguided attempt to make something more commercial than usual. Two thumbs up for
FairyTale: A True Story (1997), based on a real-life hoax that involved Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini, although Ebert notes that the title is a lie. Two more thumbs up for Sundance Festival winner,
Sunday (1997), with "its subtle and touching performances." Roger Ebert's "Video Pick of the Week" is the controversial
Crash (1996).
—J. Spurlin