<![CDATA[CoffeyTalk - Movie Reviews]]> What a surprise!  Star Trek is a really fun movie.  It's sci-fi, but not heavy handed.  It's more of a space themed action/comedy, with lots of nostalgic references for all of us who grew up with the original TV series.  The two leads are wonderful, and have great chemistry, which is essential to carry the film.  Chris Pine plays James Kirk, the young, cocky, impulsive and adventurous new Star Fleet Academy graduate.  Zach Quinto plays Spock, the intellectual, rational, cautious and reserved half of the team.  They balance each other out.  The rest of the crew fills in the gaps - the beautiful and smart Uhura who is able to find Spock's heart - Scotty, the tecchie hero - Bones, loyal to his friend Kirk.  They all end up on the Starship Enterprise, their first mission filled with challenges, including Eric Bana's ruthless Romulan.  Best of all, we get re-acquainted with Leonard Nimoy's Spock, who comes in as a kind of mentor to the young crew.  It all makes sense in the time and space where the movie takes place.  Kudos to director J.J. Abrams on a job well done.

]]> <![CDATA[Star Trek]]> What a surprise!  Star Trek is a really fun movie.  It's sci-fi, but not heavy handed.  It's more of a space themed action/comedy, with lots of nostalgic references for all of us who grew up with the original TV series.  The two leads are wonderful, and have great chemistry, which is essential to carry the film.  Chris Pine plays James Kirk, the young, cocky, impulsive and adventurous new Star Fleet Academy graduate.  Zach Quinto plays Spock, the intellectual, rational, cautious and reserved half of the team.  They balance each other out.  The rest of the crew fills in the gaps - the beautiful and smart Uhura who is able to find Spock's heart - Scotty, the tecchie hero - Bones, loyal to his friend Kirk.  They all end up on the Starship Enterprise, their first mission filled with challenges, including Eric Bana's ruthless Romulan.  Best of all, we get re-acquainted with Leonard Nimoy's Spock, who comes in as a kind of mentor to the young crew.  It all makes sense in the time and space where the movie takes place.  Kudos to director J.J. Abrams on a job well done.

]]> <![CDATA[Earth]]> From Disney Nature, Earth is a magical film in so many ways.  Mostly because it is real.  We live in this amazing, beautiful world, and we rarely have access to see nature up close like this.  i was mesmerized by the polar bears, and taken in by the elephants.  The birds had me in stitches!  We are so blessed to share this planet with these wonderful creatures.  Hopefully this film will have some impact, and get us all to treat Mother Earth more gently and lovingly.  Breathtaking photography.  It's the kind of movie you don't want to end!

]]> <![CDATA[The Soloist]]> In "The Soloist" Robert Downey Jr. plays Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez.  This is a true story based on columns that Lopez wrote about his experience with a homeless man, Nathaniel Anthony Ayers.  The two meet when Lopez follows beautiful violin music in the streets and finds Ayers playing the instrument with just 2 strings.  He finds out that Ayers attended Juliarrd, and becomes intrigued with how this talented musician ended up living this sad lifestyle.  Despite Ayer's mental illness, and Lopez's commitment issues, the two develop an awkward friendship, and grow as a result.  Catherine Keener plays Lopez's boss and ex-wife.  Well done.

]]> <![CDATA[State of Play]]> It would be great if there were more movies like "State of Play."  This is actually a movie for grown-ups.  Smart dialogue, interesting plot, multi-dimensional characters.  This is really Russell Crowe's movie - he plays an old-school investigative journalist who writes for a high profile Washington paper.  His college roommate, Ben Affleck, is now a senator, and when Ben gets caught up in a scandal, he goes to his buddy for help.  Add to the mix Helen Mirren as the newspaper editor, Rachel McAdams as the fresh-faced blogger girl, and Robin Wright Penn as Ben's neglected wife and you've got an amazing cast.  Some nice twists.  Worth seeing.

]]> <![CDATA[The Great Buck Howard]]> The Great Buck Howard is based on the life of The Amazing Kreskin.  This man was quite talented, and quite a character, one of the original mentalists.  John Malkovich plays Howard, who at this point in his life has long passed the peak of his career.  He used to be a guest on Johnny Carson's show, and now he's playing to audiences in half-filled small town theatres.

 Colin Hanks (yes, Tom's son!) plays a law school drop-out who is trying to find his passion.  He takes a job as  Howard's assistant, and learns more about the world of show business, and himself, than he expected.  Emily Blunt is a publicist who comes in as a love interest.  And Tom Hanks has a nice couple of scenes as the concerned dad.

Great cast, great story, really worth seeing.

 

]]> <![CDATA[Sunshine Cleaning]]> Amy Adams and Emily Blunt star as down-on-their-luck sisters who start a hazardous waste cleaning company.  It's pretty gross work, but someone's got to do it, and the girls figure they can make it happen for the money.  They each have their personal issues to work out, and despite the challenges they face, they have that kind of moxie to rise above.  Strong characters, wonderful acting, great story, happy ending.  My kind of movie.

]]> <![CDATA[Coraline]]> Charming, quirky and utterly original animated movie, Coraline is a true work of art.  Interesting storyline about a young girl with workaholic parents who discovers a doorway to another reality in her new home.  In this alternate universe, her "other mother" starts out as a dream, but ends up a nightmare.  Coraline learns what a real home and family is all about.  The same kind of style as The Nightmare Before Christmas.  Very well done - I expect Coraline to be nominated in the best animated feature category.

]]> <![CDATA[Duplicity]]> Duplicity is a strong and smart romantic drama set in the world of corporate espionage.  Julia Roberts and Clive Owen star as former agents out for the big buck in the corporate world.  They meet cute, then team up with a plan.  All the while not quite trusting each other, or anyone around them.  Occupational hazard, or personality quirk?    These two have chemistry, and great dialogue.  The movie keeps us guessing, and shows us some intriguing international sites.  Nice date night flick.

]]> <![CDATA[Knowing]]> Knowing is promoted as a sci-fi thriller, but it's really more of a horror movie.  Scary - creepy scary.  The story starts out in 1958 when an elementary school buries a time capsule.  The kids all draw pictures of what they think the future will look like.  One little girl is compelled to write a series of numbers in a kind of trance-like state.  Fast forward to the present day when the time capsule is unearthed.  One dad, an astrophysicist, gets this sheet of paper and starts analyzing it.  He finds that the numbers correspond to dates and locations of catastrophes where many people died.  Since the little girl who wrote the numbers is dead, he tracks down her daughter, and the two of them try to solve the mystery of what this all means. Their two young children are now very much involved, so the stakes are high.

Nicolas Cage is the dad, and he is badly miscast.  He's too old, too sullen, too removed emotionally from the situation.  I usually like Nic Cage, but this performance just didn't fit.

 Knowing is filled with doom and gloom, armageddon, Christian overtones and undertones throughout.  Heavy handed and dark.

]]> <![CDATA[The International]]> I like Clive Owen, he's dark, intense, and not too bad to look at for 2 hours.  In The International he's a spy-type guy working on a case involving international banking and illegal weapon sales.  It's a sign of the times when the bad guys in the movie are all bankers.  Naomi Watts comes in as his FBI contact, but she's not a love interest.  She's a smart lady with a family who plays by the book.  The movie takes place in various European locations and also New York.  There are two big action sequences, one at the Guggenheim which plays out really bloody and loud.  Other than that it's a lot of talking and exposition - a lot of business language.  Interesting movie, very dissatisfying ending.

]]> <![CDATA[Confessions of a Shopaholic]]> Isla Fisher stars in Confessions of a Shopaholic, based on the best-selling chick-lit novel.  It's light and fluffy, but given the current economic crisis, very timely.  A young girl has her priorities all mixed up, as she finds fulfillment from material things instead of within.    She gets horribly in debt, and loses her job.  Ironically, she ends up working for a financial magazine, writing articles about money.  A debt collector hounds her, and she lies chronically.  She takes advantage of her friends, and she's not a very likeable person - but for some reason her boss is smitten.  Of course at some point she learns her lesson and turns her life around.  Cute movie, great clothes, well styled by the same person who did "Sex and the City."  And Isla Fisher is charming and great at physical comedy. 

]]> <![CDATA[He's Just Not That Into You]]> The title is taken from the bestselling book, but I don't know how much of the advice from that non-fiction book made it into the fictionalized movie.  Stellar cast: Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Connelly, Bradley Cooper, Ginnifer Goodwin, Scarlett Johanssen, and more - must have been a big budget just on the cast.  No special effects or amazing locations - just big name actors. 

While the cast is appealing - the storyline is dismal.  It basically plays out that women are needy and clueless and hopelessly romantic.  And men are insensitive and selfish.  There are several intertwined stories, the characters are all connected in some way or another.  Some of the scenarios play cute and get laughs, they're light and funny.  Other scenes are painful and heartbreaking... and not necessarily meant to be so.  There's a lot to relate to, with so many characters going through typical relationship "stuff."  This time of year, that lull between New Year's and the Oscar's, there's slim pickings at the theatre, and this is just one example.

]]> <![CDATA[Push]]> The best way I can describe "Push" is that it is like the X-Men without costumes.  It seems there are these people who are born with certain supernatural talents among us in this movie, and they can use those talents for good or evil, and the government wants to know who they are and recruit them for their own use.  So they stay under the radar as much as they can, except for when the good ones meet the evil ones and they end up tearing up the place.  The movie takes place in Hong Kong, I guess because it's one of the places they hide out - and because there are lots of markets and places they can crash up in their fights.

 The title "Push" comes from the people who can push thoughts into other people's minds, making them do things they otherwise wouldn't do.  Then there are the Bleeders, who scream until you bleed from your ears.  And there are the Sniffers, who basically sniff people out by their smell.  And Shadows, who can hide people just by hanging around them, and Watchers, who can see the future.

Dakota Fanning is a Watcher, and she's roaming around on her own because the bad guys have her mom.  She goes to a Mover, a guy who can move stuff with his mind, to help save her mom.  They look for an escaped Pusher girl, who just happens to be his old girlfriend, and the three embark upon a kind of mystery and end up in a bunch of fights.

 Dakota Fanning is a good little actress and she's growing up.  Teen boys will probably dig the movie, but I thought it was a bit trite.  They ending was left wide open for a sequel should the movie score big at the box office - but I don't think that's likely.

 

]]> <![CDATA[Taken]]> Liam Neeson gets to play action hero in Taken.  He's a retired CIA kind of guy, trying to make up for lost time with his teenage daughter.  His ex-wife is married to a billionaire, which makes things awkward for him, it's hard to compete.  But the guy loves his daughter, and will do anything for her.  Which is why he relents and allows her to take a trip to Paris with her friend even though he thinks it's a bad idea.  Boy, if he ever has a reason to say "I told you so" this is it!  First day in Paris and the two girls get "Taken."  Liam jumps into action, and pulls out all the stops to save his little girl.  Maggie Grace plays his daughter.  Famke Jansen is the ex.  Lots of action.  I didn't know Liam had it in him, but he does a great job!

]]> <![CDATA[The Reader]]> The Reader is one of the films nominated in the Best Picture category at the Academy Awards.  If it weren't for that nomination, I might not have gone to see it, and that would be too bad.  The Reader is an excellent film.  Kate Winslet is won the Golden Globe and the Screen Actor's Guild Award for her performance, she is nominated for an Academy Award, and I think she's going to win. 

This is the story of a working class woman who befriends and beds a teenage boy.  He is enamoured with her, until the day she mysteriously disappears.  He ends up finding her again by accident when he is a student in law school.  He learns of her past, as a guard for the Nazis during the Holocaust. 

The film is mostly about the relationship between these two people. It is intense, and haunting.  Definitely worth seeing.  Best Director nomination as well.

]]> <![CDATA[Kung Fu Panda]]> Kung Fu Panda is a Dreamworks animated film.  Jack Black is the panda, Po.  We first see Po working in his dad's noodle restaurant.  His dad wants him to take over the business, but Po has other dreams, he loves Kung Fu.  When a big competition comes up, Po ends up on the outside looking in, until he literally falls from the sky into the center of the arena.  This qualifies him to be the next "Dragon Warrior!"  He now must be trained, and mentored in the martial arts, so that he can battle the big bad guy who has just escaped from prison.  Cute story about being true to yourself, finding your inner strength, and making your dreams come true.  Good for all ages.  Very family-friendly.  Angelina Jolie voices the Tiger, Dustin Hoffman is the mouse-type animal, the Kung Fu master.

]]> <![CDATA[Last Chance Harvey]]> Dustin Hoffman plays Harvey, an old-school jingle writer who flies to London for his daughter's wedding, which is being hosted by his ex-wife and her suave new husband, played by the suave James Brolin.  Harvey is struggling to hang on to his job and struggling to fit in with the wedding party when his daughter breaks the news that she has chosen her step-father to walk her down the aisle.  Devastated, he makes a brief appearance at the wedding, then ducks out to fly home.  At the airport, his flight is cancelled, and he's fired by phone. That's when he meets the weary airport employee played by Emma Thompson.  Two lonely people manage to connect, and find a spark of joy amongst the gloom.  It's an interesting relationship, that grows as they learn about each other, and themselves.  A mature romance is refreshing to see at the movies these days.

]]> <![CDATA[Bolt]]> Bolt is an animated feature film from the Walt Disney Studioos and done in digital animation, produced by John Lasseter, who has been so instrumental in Pixar's success.  Unfortunately, Bolt doesn't have the charm of a Pixar movie.  The story is a little cynical.  We meet a cute puppy who is adopted by a cute little girl.  Then it's 5 years later, and the two star in a Hollywood TV show where Bolt, which is the dog's name now, is a kind of super-hero dog who saves the girl on a regular basis.  But the dog doesn't know it's all a show, he thinks it's all real, and he is sheltered from having any knowledge otherwise.  Because of this, he can't be a "real dog."

At one point, the girl is kidnapped on the TV show, and Bolt thinks it happened in real life, and as he's trying to save her, he ends up getting accidentally shipped to New York City. So the bulk of the story is Bolt finding his way back to the girl, and discovering his true identity.  He has the help of two side-kicks, a street-savvy cat named Mittens and a hamster named Rhino.  Cute buddy-flick moments.

Bolt is voiced by John Travolta.  The little girl is voiced by Miley Cyrus.  The story is a negative reflection on Hollywood - and a little mean-spirited. Not sure if kids are going to understand, or just like the little dog.  Nothing special or new, but some clever lines.  Wait for the DVD.

 

]]> <![CDATA[The Spirit]]> Is it too early in 2009 to pick one of the worst movies of the year?  Big star names like Eva Mendes Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johanssen may draw some movie-goers.  But just a few minutes in and you'll be rolling your eyes.  The Spirit is based on the comic book series.  The Spirit is a policeman who died, only to be brought back to life by a bad guy who is kind of a mad scientist.  Now he is impossible to kill, at least for the time being - he doesn't know when the effect will wear off.  Samuel L. Jackson is the bad guy, the Octopuss, and Scarlett Johanssen is his sidekick.  Gabriel Macht is The Spirit and Eva Mendes is his former flame turned jewel thief.  Very campy, over the top.  Interesting graphics, and shots - mostly played for laughs, but overall, just really dumb.

]]> <![CDATA[Revolutionary Road]]> Heart-wrenching story of an unhappy marriage.  Set in the 1950's Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio) and April (Kate Winslet) Wheeler move to the suburbs to raise their two children.  They had always considered themselves young and rebellious but now they feel like they've conformed and are frustrated with their limited lives.  Kathy Bates plays their friend and real estate agent.  While the couple tries to live the suburban lifestyle, they find it tedious, and try to break out.  But there are internal conflicts as well, and those end up coming between the two.  Sam Mendes, who is married to Winslet, directs, and does a fabulous job.  The performances are first rate all around.  But it's hard to watch heartbreak and stress and disillusion and pain for two hours.  There are not many happy moments.  The end result is depressing. 

]]> <![CDATA[Marley and Me]]> Based on the book by columnist John Grogan which is based on his own life experiences with his family and his dog, "Marley and Me" is promoted as a heart-warming comedy.  Though there are funny parts to the movie, it is more accurate to use the term "dramedy."  Drama with comedic elements.  You will cry more than you laugh.  It's all about the dog, Marley.  We meet John (Owen Wilson) and his young wife Jenny (Jennifer Aniston) right when they get married, and start their family with a rambuctious yellow labrador puppy, Marley.

The movie spends the first half showing just how misbehaved Marley can be.  Kathleen Turner (Kathleen, what are you doing in this part?) makes a cameo as a dog trainer who kicks Marley out of school.  This doesn't really endear us to Marley as much as make us wonder why the heck anyone would put up with a dog like this.  I think it's a little overdone.

John goes through a career change, the couple has kids, and Marley adjusts to all of it by just being himself.

Then as the kids grow up, Marley grows older, and the waterworks start.  I cried and I don't even like dogs all that much.

 

]]> <![CDATA[Defiance]]> Defiance is based on the true story about three Jewish brothers in Poland who managed to help hundreds of Jews hide from the Nazis during the time of the Holocaust.  Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber play the two older brothers.  Their father is killed and they are forced to flee into the forest.  Over time, more and more people join them, and they end up forming a community working to keep each other alive.  The two brothers collide, and one goes off to serve in the Russian army while the other maintains the community.  The group ends up facing many obstacles, including hunger, animals, freezing cold, and even divisiveness.  How they come together during these crises is remarkable, and inspirational.

There is a lot of violence in the movie, and it is difficult to watch people suffer.  Well written and strong performances.

]]> <![CDATA[The Wrestler]]> Darren Aronofsky famous for directing The Fountain and Pi directs The Wrestler.  The direction is interesting.  Good shots, good acting, nice pace.  Mickey Rourke stars as "The Ram" - a wrestler who had his glory days in the 1980's.  Now he's old, and broke, and trying to keep up in the wrestling world where he's pretty much a has-been.  Marisa Tomei plays his love interest, a single mother making ends meet as an exotic dancer.  Evan Rachel Wood plays The Ram's estranged daughter.

The movie is well done, but the story is hard to watch.  It's one of those situations where you can't really like the main character.  He makes bad decisions.  He got himself into this mess, and as much as you'd like to see him  turn it around, you know he won't because that's how he is. It's painful.  So although the elements are there - and real film buffs will  appreciate the artistry of the movie - to me it's just not entertainment.  It's one of those "feel bad" movies where you leave a little depressed.

]]> <![CDATA[Milk]]> I grew up in the Bay Area in the 1970's so I remember when Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone were killed.  Milk the movie, goes into the story of how Harvey Milk came into prominence in San Francisco, and the difference that he made in bringing awareness to gay rights.  Sean Penn has the title role, and he is amazing - absolutely fabulous.  So many actors just play themselves, they are the same in every part.  But Sean Penn totally became this character - we don't see any hint of Sean Penn the actor, we just see Harvey Milk.  This is an award-worthy performance.

The story is chilling.  And all the more so because it is true.  James Franco plays Milk's partner, another fine performance.  Josh Brolin plays Dan White, the San Francisco supervisor who was first Milk's friend, and then his assasin.  You know the whole time what is going to happen, but how the events unfold is very interesting.  Gus Van Sant, one of my favorite directors (he did Good Will Hunting) did a great job with this film.  He should be nominated as well. Worth seeing. Recommended.

]]> <![CDATA[The Day the Earth Stood Still]]> In The Day the Earth Stood Still Keanu Reeves stars as Klaatu an alien sent to save the earth from its human inhabitants.  Since humans are destroying the planet, the aliens want to save all life on earth except for the humans, to let everything regenerate.   He says that without the earth, humans would disappear.  But without humans, the earth would thrive.  Klaatu makes a dramatic entrance, and of course, people freak out and the government goes into defense mode, proving the point that humans are destructive.

 Jennifer Connelly plays a scientist who is recruited involuntarily by the government to figure out what is going on.  She has a step-son, played by Jaden Smith, confused and scared by all the activity.  He represents the future of humanity, and she represents the compassion.  So we're not so bad after all.

This is pretty standard sci-fi.  Some good special effects, but for the most part predictable.

]]> <![CDATA[Seven Pounds]]> Seven Pounds is actually a lot heavier than seven pounds - more like fifty.  Will Smith plays a man who has a big weight on his conscience.  He is having a hard time living with himself so he decides to make other people's lives better.  I don't want to give too much away, because the plot unfolds throughout the movie, and you're really not sure exactly what is happening until the very end.  We see Will in yet another super-human type of role, just like Hancock or I Am Legend or even The Pursuit of Happyness where it's kind of Will against the world.  He's good at this, but it's getting a little old.

 Rosario Dawson is the love interest, and she's dying.  Sad.  But she's pretty even when she's sick.  It's her heart.  She has this big dog, and there's all kinds of bonding time with Will and the dog.  And Will fixes her old printing press, very romantic.

Very interesting movie, lots of "what if" conversation afterwards.

]]> <![CDATA[Doubt]]> Doubt was first a play and is very dialogue heavy.  It is set in a Catholic school, and the topic is quite heavy, too.  A nun, the principal of the school, suspects a priest of inappropriate conduct with one of the male students.  Meryl Streep is remarkable in this role - she's unflinching, and cold, filled with suspicion and contempt for this man.  Phillip Seymour Hoffman plays the priest, who is in the awkward position of being cast in suspicion.  We don't know whether he did this or not, hence, the name "Doubt."  Amy Adams is the novice nun caught in the middle.  And Viola Davis is the young boy's mother.  Dramatic, tense scenes - a game of control, of cat and mouse.  Well written, beautifully acted.

]]> <![CDATA[The Curious Case of Benjamin Button]]> The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is truly original.    Brad Pitt stars as a man who is born old in a baby's body.  As the years go by, he grows younger.  The whole theme is about time, and the relativity of time, and how we move through time - or how time moves through us.

We start in a hospital room in New Orleans.  A dying old woman gives her daughter an old journal to read to her.  It's the life story of Benjamin Button.  The movie goes back to this hospital room as the story progresses.

Baby Benjamin is abandoned by his father when his mother dies in childbirth.  But he finds a home in an old-folks home where he fits right in.  It's an untraditional family, but he thrives, learns and grows.  It is here that he meets Daisy, the granddaughter of a resident.  She's a young girl, and they immediately form a connection.  As Daisy gets older, and Benjamin gets younger, their lives come together for a short period of time. Cate Blanchett plays Daisy with much grace.  Daisy is a dancer, an artist who expresses herself unabashedly.  She's curious, and drawn to this mysterious man she can't possibly understand.

The movie is a little bit magical.  We have to suspend disbelief, and put ourselves in Benjamin's world.  But the pace is slow, and the movie runs long - about 2 hours 45 minutes.

 Beautifully filmed, written, and acted.

 

]]> <![CDATA[Gran Torino]]> Clint Eastwood directs and stars as Walt Kowalski in "Gran Torino."  Walt is a crusty old Korean war veteran with two grown sons.  He's just lost his wife and is unhappy about changes to his neighborhood, including the new Hmong family who has moved next door.  Walt's a racist, with a lot of issues, but he's got a solid inner compass.  The family next door ends up becoming his extended family.  This is a time of turmoil in Detroit, and gangs are running rampant.  Walt takes it upon himself to try to correct the situation.  This is a touching, funny, earnest and heart-felt movie.  Brilliantly directed, and beautifully acted.  One of this year's best movies.  Expect many accolades come awards time.

]]> <![CDATA[Cadillac Records]]> Chess Records was a record label named after it's owner and founder and was fondly known as "Cadillac Records" because if you stick around  long enough, everyone gets one.  Adrian Brody plays the record label owner who has an ear for what's up and coming, and signs Muddy Waters as his first artist.  This movie is based on a true story, about the time of racial tension in the U.S., and also the time rock and roll really got its start.  We meet Chuck Berry, Etta James, Little Walter, and many more original characters who helped shape the industry.  Beyonce Knowles plays Etta James.  Beautiful voice, beautiful actress.  I love true stories - I think you can never make up anything as good.  Great music in this one.   Reminiscent of other music/bio pics like Ray and Walk the Line.

]]> <![CDATA[The Boy in the Striped Pajamas]]> The Boy in the Striped Pajamas takes place in Germany during the time of the Concentration Camps.  It looks at one family where the father is assigned to run one of the camps, and he moves his wife and two children out of the city and into the country to be with him during this new job.  The boy is lonely, isolated as he is, and goes exploring.  He stumbles upon the camp, which he perceives to be a farm, and a boy, whose prison uniform he takes to be pajamas.

The German boy is just 8 years old, and doesn't fully comprehend what is going on.  As he starts to piece things together, he makes friends with the boy in the striped pajamas.  Meanwhile, the wife is devastated when she learns just what goes on at the camp, and it causes a strain in the marriage.

This is one of the saddest stories I've ever seen.  It is played out really well, hitting all the right emotional notes.  Just be prepared, there is no happy ending, no neatly wrapped up story.  It's just sad, as it should be.

]]> <![CDATA[Frost/Nixon]]> I was a young child when all of the Nixon Watergate fallout came into being.  It is interesting to take a look back at that time in history with some behind-the-scenes insight.  Frank Langella plays Nixon, and is likely to get a Best Actor nomination for his performance.  This is quite a character study, not an impersonation.  We get to see Nixon the man, with his bravado, and candor, and also his inner turmoil and insecurities.  The story is about how David Frost got the famous interviews with the former President, how they made it onto the air, and how the whole thing affected the American perception of this man, and the events that took place under his leadership.

Of course, since the movie is about an interview, there is a lot of dialogue.  There's no action or adventure, and no sex.  This is a thinking person's film - and one that will have people talking long after the movie is over.

 

]]> <![CDATA[Slumdog Millionaire]]> Danny Boyle directs "Slumdog Millionaire" with a stellar cast of up-until-now unknown actors.  The story is about a boy who grows up in the slums of India, basically living off the street with no education.  When he turns 18 he ends up on the Indian version of the game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" and because he wins, getting some tough questions right, he is suspected of cheating.  As he's in the police station, being grilled (to say the least) his life story comes out, and we learn how he knew the answers.

This boy has lived a tough life.  He and his older brother managed to survive many trials and tribulations.  And in the course of it all, the boy falls in love.

This is a wonderful movie, so original and poignant.  I absolutely loved it.

]]> <![CDATA[Quantum of Solace: 007]]> Daniel Craig stars in his second installment as James Bond, agent 007.  This movie is a sequel, and really a continuation, of the first one, so it does help to have that background.  Lots of action - one chase scene after another.  He's still a rough-around-the-edges James Bond - and there are some scenes that give a wink and a nod to that - like when a bartender teaches him to make a martini "shaken, not stirred."

The Bond girls in this one are particularly strong - score one for the girls!

]]> <![CDATA[Australia]]> Officially my favorite movie of 2008.  I absolutely LOVE "Australia!"  It's like Gone With the Wind - epic and romantic and dramatic.  And it's like The African Queen - campy and funny and sweet.  Nicole Kidman plays a buttoned up British woman who heads to the Outback to check up on her husband's investment.  When she gets there, she finds that her husband has been killed.  Her guide, the Drover, becomes her lifeline in this foreign land, where everything is strange to her.  To try to save her land, and her dignity, she hires the Drover to help her move 1500 head of cattle across the Outback to the port, where she can sell them to the U.S. government. 

 The Drover is played by this year's "Sexiest Man Alive" Hugh Jackman.  Hugh is such a talent - he has been so good in every part he's played - but this role is made to order for him.  Originally he was cast as the villain in the film, but when Russell Crowe dropped out of the lead, Baz Luhrman asked Jackman to fill in.  Good call.  The chemistry between Jackman and Kidman is remarkable.

The story is written by Baz Luhrman, a tribute to Australia, and starring a mostly Australian cast.  The little boy in the movie had never acted before, but his performance will break your heart.  He's a natural.  The backdrop is 1939-41.  That makes for a nice tie-in with the Wizard of Oz, which becomes a recurring theme.  It also gives us the history of Pearl Harbor and the attack on Darwin. 

 The scenery is incredible.  The costumes, by Luhrman's wife and business partner Catherine Martin, are stunning.  The whole movie will just sweep you away.  I loved it!

 

]]> <![CDATA[Rachel Getting Married]]> Rachel Getting Married stars Anne Hathaway as a young woman fresh out of rehab who returns home for her sister's wedding.  Anne Hathaway does a great job in this role, she successfully sheds her "princess" persona and gets really raw and real with her emotions.  Jonathan Demme directs.  The good parts about the movie are the wedding itself, it's not traditional in any way, and the family is not traditional either.  They're an interesting group of people.  But the downside is that the family, and the story, is full of dysfunction.  And that's not a great movie-going experience.  The other problem is the camera work.  It's mostly shot in an informal hand-held style.  It's distracting on the large screen.  And there's a lot of time when the plot is just not moving forward.  It's a very long movie, and if about 15 minutes of this downtime were cut out I think it would have been much better.

]]> <![CDATA[The Secret Life of Bees]]> I read the book: "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd and I loved it.  I loved the movie just as much.  The story is compelling, the acting is marvelous and the setting is beautiful.  Dakota Fanning stars, alongside Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Sofie Okenedo and Alicia Keys.  It's about loss, and family, and strength and the sweetness of life.  The story takes place in the south in the 1960's, so racial tension is a backdrop.  But the main story is Lily's.  She's a young girl who runs away with her nanny to search for the truth - and she ends up finding herself.

The Secret Life of Bees on amazon

]]> <![CDATA[Changeling]]> Changeling is a powerful movie, based on a true story.  Set in Los Angeles in 1928, we meet single working mother Christine Collins, played powerfully by Angelina Jolie.  Christine returns home from work one day to find that her son Walter is missing.  She files a police report, and the search is on.  After months, the police return a boy to her, but she insists this child is not her son.  As the story unfolds, we learn of police corruption, and a mystery comes to light.  Clint Eastwood directs, and he is so good at getting at the real emotional depth of a situation.  We can really feel a mother's love and despair.  I predict lots of nominations this awards season for Changeling.

]]> <![CDATA[Flash of Genius]]> Greg Kinnear stars in "Flash of Genius" based on a true story.  An inventor in Detroit comes up with a way to make the intermittent windshield wiper work.  He takes out a patent, present his idea to the Ford Motor Company, and Ford goes ahead and basically steals it and puts it in cars without him.  So the guy spends most of the following years trying to sue Ford and get his rightful share of the proceeds.  It's David versus Goliath to the nth degree.  In the process of this fight,  his family falls apart, he basically goes crazy, loses his job, and alienates most of the community.  But, in the end, the kids understand their dad and all that he's been through, and they rally around to help him.  It's a nice story, that like many true stories, you just couldn't make up.  Lauren Graham plays the patient yet put-upon wife.

]]> <![CDATA[Body of Lies]]> I can appreciate that "Body of Lies" is an expensive, well-made, well-produced movie with two high-wattage stars in Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio.  But mainly my problem with the movie is that it's too much.  Too much violence, too much confusion, too much cell phone usage, too much flying around all over the place.  This is a movie about deception, and terrorists.  There's not much more to it than that.  The good guys, Russell and Leo, are with the CIA, and Leo is undercover trying to find the leader of a terrorist cell.  Russell is in the USA giving him orders.  Leo is in danger all the time - people shooting at him, bombs going off, but he's out there doing his stuff like some kid with ADD who can't let it go.  He's momentarily distracted by a beautiful nurse, but otherwise he's killing people and saving the day all over the place.  Russell is a little more slick and slimey, but they try to show him as an everyman as he carpools his kids while strategizing on his bluetooth.  I think a little more simple, a little more meat to the story, and a little less time invested and I would have liked it more.

]]> <![CDATA[Religulous]]> Religulous is hilarious, ridiculous, and very clever.  It's also a great conversation starter.  Bill Maher interviews various people from various religions to try to get at some sort of truth.  He is amused by many of the people, and perplexed by some, and downright shocked at what comes from others.  It's all a very interesting mix, presented to give us some food for thought.  In many ways it makes us laugh at ourselves.  If you're easily offended, don't go.  If you have an open mind, you'll love it.

]]> <![CDATA[The Duchess]]> Based on a true story, The Duchess stars Keira Knightley in the title role.  She's still a teenager when she is married off to The Duke of Devonshire, played by Ralph Feinnes.  She has stars in her eyes, and thinks he loves her, but it becomes apparent that all he really wants from her is a male heir.  After two daughters and a couple of miscarriages, the Duke becomes impatient, and goes back to being what we would call today "a player."

Our heroine has a big heart, and she consoles herself with her political interests, and friends.  One friend in particular becomes her rival.  Another becomes her lover.

 This woman had a challenging, and interesting life - and all while being a fashionista!  The costumes are amazing.  Keira Knightley is perfect for this part, and I wouldn't be surprised it she has earned herself an Academy Award nomination.  Ralph Feinnes is excellent as well - debonair, yet cold, and sometimes cruel.  Compelling story - just a little bit long.

]]> <![CDATA[Eagle Eye]]> Eagle Eye is a solid futuristic thriller set in the present.  Shia LeBeouf plays a college drop-out who is "activated" by some unknown person on a cell phone and forced to take extraordinary risks in order to save his life.  Michelle Monaghan is also activated, and follows orders to keep her son safe.  The two strangers embark on a scary adventure where they don't know who is in control or where they will end up.

It's all a little Hitchcock, a little Kubrick, and the two leads make it work.  Good date night movie, escapism and not too much violence given the subject matter, although there are plenty of scary parts where you hold your breath.  PG-13, there were lots of kids in the audience, and they're probably all Shia LeBeouf fans.

]]> <![CDATA[The Women]]> The Women is a re-make of the 1939 movie, and it's updated by Diane English.  Meg Ryan plays Mary, a working mom who discovers that her husband is having an affair with the perfume counter girl at Sax Fifth Avenue.  Eva Mendes is the perfume girl.  Annette Bening is Mary's best friend, an aging magazine editor who sees her vision of an innovative women's magazine slipping away into tabloid territory.  Debra Messing is the other friend, a kind of earth mother who keeps having kids.  And Jada Pinkett Smith is their author friend, who happens to be gay.  Candice Bergen is Mary's advice-giving mother.  The cast is stellar, and they obviously have a great time together.

Even though I love Diane English, I think the weak spot in the movie is the writing.  It is so cliche. When Jada comes in to Mary's party, it's obvious she's gay, and yet another character has to address her as "my gay friend."  We get it already!  Mary confronts the other woman when they're both decked out in lingerie, and the other woman is literally up on a pedestal.  When Mary decides to get her life together, she straightens her hair, and that does it, she's a new woman!

  I wanted to love this movie, but it was just okay.  It is predictible, and sometimes silly.  The women play catty and and each character fits into her mold, which is obvious and stereo-typed.  But the actresses are fun, and the clothes are beautiful.  Definitely a chick flick.  Not a man in one frame of the movie until the very end!

]]> <![CDATA[Ghost Town]]> "Ghost Town" is a sweet romantic comedy that plays off of the "seeing dead people" theme.  Ricky Gervais plays a self-involved, sour-puss dentist who goes in for a routine colonoscopy.  When he comes out or the procedure, he inexplicably can see, and communicate with, the dead.  Of course the dead are thrilled, and start hounding him for favors.  Greg Kinnear plays one of the ghosts who pesters him to  keep his wife away from her new fiance.  Tea Leoni is the wife, who the dentist ultimately falls for.  Lots of laughs, and a warm inspirational message to wrap the whole thing up.  I liked it a lot.

]]> <![CDATA[House Bunny]]> House Bunny is sweet enough, just not meaty enough.  It's a big puff of cotton candy, which makes for a nice little snack, but not a whole meal.  Anna Faris stars as Shelly, a Playboy playmate who is forced to move out of the mansion.  She stumbles upon a sorority house, and becomes house mother and image consultant to a group of misfit girls.  Of course, they have their awkward moments, but Shelly is able to bring out the beauty in each of them.  As their confidence soars, so does their popularity.  Shelly herself gets a bit of a makeover when she falls for the sweet and conservative Colin Hanks (Tom's son!) and finds her inner intellect.  A rivalry with another house puts the chapter in jeopardy, and Shelly must choose between her old life and new one, and of course, there are happy endings all around.  Rumer Willis, daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, is one of the girls.  As is Katharine McPhee of American Idol fame.

]]> <![CDATA[Burn After Reading]]> The Coen Brothers have come up with another dark comedy.  Burn After Reading has an eclectic cast of characters who somehow all have ties to one another.  The interwoven relationships make for a kind of farce that drives the action.  Brad Pitt plays a personal trainer at a gym, and this is the funniest I've ever seen him.  He rides a bike, chomps on gum, nurses a bloody nose, and laughs like a dork.  I wouldn't be surprised to see him get a supporting actor nomination, he's so different than he usually is in films.  Frances MacDormand is his friend and co-worker.  They find a CD in the locker room and assume it is filled with CIA secrets.  They contact John Malkovich, the now fired CIA agent, whose wife, played by Tilda Swinton, is having an affair with George Clooney.  And the antics ensue.  The movie keeps you guessing, and laughing, and cringing.  If you can stomach this kind of humor, you'll really enjoy it.

]]> <![CDATA[Elegy]]> Ben Kingsley and Penelope Cruz star in Elegy, a poignant romance between a professor and his much-younger student.  The professor is divorced, with a grown son, so that relationship very much comes into play in the movie.  He is set in his ways, doesn't want to commit, and is afraid of being hurt.  His student loves him, but he doesn't trust that love, or understand it.  He's more comfortable with the monthly arrangement he has with career-woman Patricia Clarkson, who expects nothing from him.  Elegy is a romance from the male point of view, and as events shape the professor's world, he starts to see things differently.  Ben Kingsley is appropriately stoic and reserved.  Penelope Cruz is sweet and hesitant, but open and loving.  Beautifully done.

]]> <![CDATA[I.O.U.S.A.]]> As far as documentaries go, I.O.U.S.A. is not quite as exciting or funny as one of Michael Moore's films, but the impact is there anyway.  The main point of the movie is that the United States is in debt - big time - to the tune of around 45 TRILLION dollars.  The movie explains just how we got there.  As far as ways to get ourselves out of this mess, we need to be really aware of the leaders we elect, and also not get ourselves personally into debt.  Only spend what you have.  If there is one message that rings out loud and clear it is that: only spend what you have.

 I think this movie should be required viewing for all high school and college students, and they are the ones who are inheriting this huge problem.

]]> <![CDATA[Bottle Shock]]> I guess since I'm from California I'm a little biased, but I really love this movie.  It's set in 1976, when California wine was just being discovered.  We see the beautiful Napa Valley through the eyes of both the people who live and work there, and a Brit from Paris who is quite the wine snob.  He decides to hold a competition to get some publicity for his school and shop, and he heads to California to choose some new wines.  The story is based on real life, and the relationships are well-woven together.  It's charming, and sweet, and inspiring.

]]> <![CDATA[Tell No One]]> Tell No One is a French movie with English subtitles.  It's a thriller, a mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat.  I like it because it's not predictable, you really can't guess what is going to happen. 

We start out with a happy couple, childhood sweethearts, enjoying a romantic getaway at the lake. And suddenly, everything changes.  We fast forward to eight years later.  The wife is dead, the husband is accused of her murder.  But what really happened?  As the police investigate, and the husband tries desperately to prove his innocence, we start to put the pieces together.  Just as you want to go down one path, something else happens that throws you off.  Lots of twists.  This movie is intelligent and really well written, you have to pay close attention to take it all in!

 Mature theme - for adults and older teens.

 

]]> <![CDATA[The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor]]> The first two Mummy movies weren't bad.  They should have just stopped there.  In this third installment the story has been run into the ground.  We start out with Brendan Fraser and Maria Bello (stepping in for Rachel Weisz) newly retired and bored.  Their college aged son has dropped out of school and gone on an archeological dig all on his own.  Then the couple gets called on for one more "mission" and they run into their sun and are surprised that he's uncovered such a big find - the tomb of the dragon emperor.

The story is just like the Hellboy story - the emperor is basically "frozen" because a witch cast a spell on him, and his army is frozen as well.  And the bad guys want to bring him back to life - I say "bad guys" because it's never really clear who these people are or what they really expect to accomplish with all this.  So of course, pandemonium ensues, there are tons of fight scenes, special effects, on and on... yawn.  Then as some forced comic relief, the brother gets into silly scrapes and it's all very slapstick.

Which audience would appreciate this kind of a movie.  I'd guess pre-teen boys.  Any younger and they'd be scared.  Any older and they've seen it done before, and better. 

 

]]> <![CDATA[Henry Poole is Here]]> Henry Poole is Here is one of my favorite movies of this year.  I just loved it.  Luke Wilson has the title role.  We know he's depressed, and as the movie goes on we gradually find out why.  Meanwhile, he's moved into a new neighborhood, and wants to be left alone - but his neighbors have other ideas.  When next door busybody Esperanza sees a deity appear on his new stucco job, she sends over the church to test the wall.  His other neighbor is a single mom (Radha Mitchell) dealing with a young daughter who is traumatized by her father's abandoning her and refusing to speak. 

The stucco wall starts to become important to various people in the community, and Henry is right in the middle of the whole thing, exactly where he doesn't want to be.  But then, as everyone deals with their own issues, they start to learn from each other, and support each other, and discover things about themselves they never would have known.

 This is a new genre for director Mark Pellington, who has done dark movies like Mothman Prophecies.  But the whole movie is so beautifully written, so meaningful, so moving - it's unexpected, and refreshing.  The cast is first-rate. 

The movie was done on a total budget of $7 million - very small by Hollywood standards.  I hope that it finds its audience and becomes a sleeper hit the way Little Miss Sunshine did.  This is the kind of movie that we yearn for.  See it, you'll be so glad you did. 


 

]]> <![CDATA[Swing Vote]]> Swing Vote is all about Kevin Costner.  He stars in it, and he put up the money to get the movie made.  It's a civics lesson for all of us, especially with the upcoming election.  Kevin's character has been described as a lovable loser.  But therein lies the problem with this movie.  I didn't think Bud was lovable at all.  He's a single father, who is a terrible parent.  He drinks too much, can't hold down a job, and his 12 year old daughter is basically raising him.  The daughter, Molly is played by Madeline Carroll, and she's really wonderful.  Smart, funny, savvy, and a darn good little actress.  When Molly needs to get her dad to vote to complete her class project, Bud is passed out drunk.  So she goes to the polls for him, but the electricity goes off and the vote isn't counted.  Then, in an extremely unlikely turn of events, the election is deadlocked, and it's up to Bud to re-cast his vote and elect the president of the United States.

 Of course we're going to see some character arc, as Bud is wooed by the candidates and eventually gets his act together to display some responsible behavior.  But in my book, it's too little too late, he's already come off so badly that I felt his character was irredeemable.  Kelsey Grammer and Dennis Hopper play the opposing candidates.  Paula Patton is an upcoming news reporter who befriends Molly.

 Certainly a conversation generator for families.

 

]]> <![CDATA[Mama Mia]]>
Sophie has read her mother's old diary and discovered that she has three possible fathers.  She decides to secretly invite each of the men to figure out which one is her dad.  And they all show up, all at the same time! Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgaard play the three confused gentlemen who hold their own in the song and dance department.    Also at the hotel for the wedding are Donna's two BFFs, her former back-up singers (Christine Baranski and Julie Walters).

This is fun summer fare, the kind of "take me away" movie we all need given the heavy alternatives we have to deal with.  It's like a little Greek vacation.  You'll walk away with a smile on your face and an ABBA song in your heart!
]]> <![CDATA[Batman: The Dark Knight]]> This new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight" broke all kinds of box office records opening weekend.  And with good reason.  This movie rocks!  It is good on so many levels.  The script is amazing.  Twists and turns and crisp, original dialogue.  The action sequences will blow you away. And the acting is first rate.  I am certain that Heath Ledger will get a nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his role as the Joker.

Christian Bale is Bruce Wayne and his alter ego, Batman.  Batman is described as a vigilante in the film, but he's so much more than that.  He's a conflicted hero, who has everything he could ever want, except for the one thing he wants the most, love.  He knows that he has to give up his crime-fighting ways if he is to be with the woman he loves, Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhall).  But in order to do that, he has to be sure that the city of Gotham is in good hands.  His instincts tell him that Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), the city's district attorney, is the true hero, and the hope that he desperately wants to leave with the people.  But alas, a new villain has arrived, one more dastardly and psychotic than Batman has ever faced: the Joker. 

The Joker tells Batman "you complete me."  He is the antithesis of all that is good and right with Batman.  The Joker gets off on stirring things up and creating chaos, and that's just what he does, gleefully.

I give all the credit to the success of the film to its director, Christopher Nolan.  He gives Batman that "wow" factor.  It's definitely dark, but with interesting messages.  He certainly gives us a lot to talk about.


]]> <![CDATA[Hellboy 2: The Golden Army]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Hancock]]>
Having alienated much of Los Angeles with his antics, in comes savvy PR executive Jason Bateman to save the day, and Hancock's reputation.  An odd, but convenient, friendship is formed as Hancock begins to frequent Jason's home.  Charlize Theron plays Jason Bateman's wife,  who has her own reasons for wanting Hancock to keep his distance.

A fun movie with lots of humor, tons of special effects.  Another blockbuster for Smith, another summer movie for all of us!
]]> <![CDATA[Get Smart]]> ]]> <![CDATA[The Love Guru]]>
I SO wanted to love this movie.  As everyone knows, I am Deepak Chopra's biggest fan.  Deepak is mentioned throughout the movie as the fictional Guru Pitka's (Mike Myers) perceived rival.  Deepak has a small cameo at the end, where he is sweet and genuine and lends some credibility to the circus at hand.  But it's pretty obvious to me that this particular scene, and the other scenes shot with celebrities Mariska Hargitay et al, were shot on green screen - we never see the celebrity and the Guru in the same shot. 

Jessica Alba plays the owner of the Toronto hockey team (Myers is from Canada and a huge jockey fan).  She provides a love interest, by some stretch of the imagination, for the love guru.  She hires him to come out and get her star player back on track by reuniting him with his estranged wife.  Wife in question is having a fling with "The Coq," (Justin Timberlake, showing comedic chops) a goalie for the Los Angeles Kings, who got his name from being so well-endowed.

Ben Kingsley has a role as Guru Pitka's guru - and he teaches him "DRAMA" which is an acronym for some spiritual lesson that doesn't really make sense - it is a tool to move the action - the D being for "Distraction" - all a set up so that we get a glimpse of two elephants humping in the final moments, or shall I say "the climax" or the movie.

Of course, in the end it is Guru Pitka himself who learns the big lesson - and it all ends sweetly and happily with a cute Bollywood dance sequence at the end.  Loved the music throughout.
]]> <![CDATA[Sex and the City]]>
The story begins when Carrie gets engaged to Big (Chris Noth).  Fashion is the fifth star of the movie, designer labels abound.

You don't need to have watched the TV show to pick up on what happens in the movie - it's all explained in exposition.  It is rated R, for some pretty explicit sex scenes.

Friendship is the overall theme.  It helps to be a fan, as the movie runs 2 hours and 20 minutes.
]]> <![CDATA[Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull]]> ]]> <![CDATA[The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian]]> ]]> <![CDATA[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]]>
Four children are sent to stay with a distant relative to get away from their city home during World War I.  They discover a wardrobe that leads them to Narnia, a magical land filled with magical creatures.  All is not sweetness and light there, though.  A war is looming, another good versus evil battle where the kind-hearted lion, Aslan, must fight against the cold-hearted witch.  Tilda Swinton plays the witch, the self-declared Queen of Narnia, to the hilt.  Why Aslan has disappeared for so long and then suddenly shows up again must be better explained in the book, because it wasn't addressed much in the film except to reference "the prophesy" of "two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve" coming to change things for the better.  James McAvoy has a nice role as a faun, a kind of half-man, half-goat who befriends the youngest child.

Lots of Christian undertones, which is to be expected since the book is written by C.S. Lewis.  Charming movie, looking forward to the next one!
]]> <![CDATA[The Visitor]]>
I loved so much about this movie.  It's a sweet story, a wonderful glimpse at an aspect of life we are rarely privy to.  But it's also sad.  It's sad that our system is so ineffective, and that it is so difficult for good people to catch a break.
]]> <![CDATA[Forbidden Kingdom]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Iron Man]]>
Robert Downey Jr. has the title role.  His alter ego, weapons specialist and technological genius Tony Stark is kidnapped by war terrorists and forced to re-create one of his super-weapons.  Smart guy that he is, he makes up an iron suit and explodes his way to freedom.  I have always loved Robert Downey Jr. as an actor and it is so great to see him in a role like this where he can really shine. 

Back home, pretty assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow slumming it in a supporting role) has newfound meaning in Tony's life.  Tony's mentor, a creepy looking bald Jeff Daniels, ends up having ulterior motives.

Great dialog, strong characters and lots of action.  Maybe too much cartoonish action when two Iron Mans get to battling it out.

No surprise that the movie pulled in over $100 million its first weekend and is already slated for a sequel.
]]> <![CDATA[Made of Honor]]>
Chronologically, Michelle Monaghan is just the right age for her character, almost 30.  But I don't buy Patrick Dempsey as 32.  I felt he was a little too old for the role.  But they could have changed the script just a little bit to have it make more sense - I don't know why they didn't.

Anyhow, Hannah goes to Scotland on business for six weeks and during this time Tom wakes up to the fact that they are meant to be together.  Unfortunately for him, Hannah comes back engaged to a handsome, rich, sweet Scottish man who has swept her off her feet.  Since Tom is her best friend, Hannah asks him to be her maid of honor.  He reluctantly accepts, thinking he can win her over in the process.  With the help of his buddies, Tom has a plan.  Hilarity ensues.  Nice location shots in Scotland, some over-the-top humor, and an appropriately happy ending.
]]> <![CDATA[Forgetting Sarah Marshall]]>
What makes the movie so good is that the characters are all really well drawn - they're real people, not caricatures.  The story has depth, we come to understand the circumstances that led our characters to this place, so we have more empathy for them in this situation.

This is not a movie for everyone - it's rated R - there's lots of nudity and lots of sex, both physical and talked about.  And there are also lots of laughs.  It's a very funny movie.
]]> <![CDATA[Leatherheads]]>
Leatherheads works best when it is in romantic comedy mode.  When it gets into slapstick, it feels silly.  Great date movie.  Really fun to watch.
]]> <![CDATA[Smart People]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Priceless]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Stop Loss]]>
Brandon's war buddies are as shaken as he is by their experiences, but they each handle it in a different way. Steve, played by Channing Tatum, actually re-enlists, knowing that the war offers him job security as a sniper, a job he is good at.  His fiance Michele, played by Abbie Cornish, is tired of waiting around for Steve, so she dumps him, and ends up helping Brandon figure out what he is going to do. 

Stop Loss is heartwrenching.  It's a story that needs to be told, and it should be eye-opening for audiences.
]]> <![CDATA[In Bruges]]> ]]> <![CDATA[21]]> Kevin Spacey stars and produces 21, a movie both about the game, and coming of age.  A brilliant MIT student looking to pay the tuition for Harvard Med gets caught up in a team of card-counters led by one of their professors.  During the week he's the nerdy college kid.  On weekends he's the high roller in Vegas.  Based on a true story.  Kate Bosworth plays the love interest and teammate.  Very well done, compelling story, great characters.  And some life lessons thrown in for good measure.  Some violence, some moral dilemmas - good conversation starters for teens.

wh 


what happen ???

]]> <![CDATA[The Bank Job]]> ]]> <![CDATA[10,000 B.C.]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Spiderwick]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day]]> The always-wonderful Frances McDormand plays Miss Pettigrew, a down on her luck nanny without a job.  She stumbles her way into an interview, and ends up spending the day as a social secretary.  Amy Adams, hot off of "Enchanted," plays Delysia LaFosse, an aspiring actress/socialite in London at the beginning of World War 2. The two need each other, and end up helping each other.

Sweet, lovely, fun, whimsical.  Loved it!
]]> <![CDATA[Penelope]]>
Mom hires a matchmaker, and the boys come parading in - Penelope hides, but when the guys catch wind of what's up, they flee quickly.  A crafty journalist smells a story, and the stalking begins.  Max (James McAvoy) becomes a candidate, but does he have what it takes to break the curse?

Reese Witherspoon produced and has a nice role as Penelope's new found friend.  This is a sweet story of love, with wonderful messages.  A must-see for girls of all ages.
]]> <![CDATA[The Other Boleyn Girl]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Step Up 2 The Streets]]>
The funniest line in the movie is when the new crew in town performs and gets heckled - someone in the crowd yells out: "This isn't High School Musical!"

Greg and I were the oldest ones in the audience.  There were a few other parents there probably because they drove their kids.  Mostly young teenagers.  Some great messages about friendship, being true to yourself.
]]> <![CDATA[Jumper]]> ]]> <![CDATA[The Kingdom]]> ]]> <![CDATA[3:10 to Yuma]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Fool's Gold]]>
The setting is awesome.  It's supposed to be the Caribbean but it's actually Queensland, Australia.  It will make you want to take a vacation!  Absolutely beautiful water and beaches.
]]> <![CDATA[The Bucket List]]>
Wonderful performances from two masters of their craft - Nicholson and Freeman have terrific chemistry.  Sad, but sweet, and some nice moments for each of these fine actors.
]]> <![CDATA[Bee Movie]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Mad Money]]> ]]> <![CDATA[There Will Be Blood]]>
It was about ten minutes in before there was any dialogue.  We meet Daniel Day Lewis' character as a young man just getting started in the oil business.  He works hard, and suffers, obviously putting everything he has into making himself and his company a success.  And it finally pays off, big time.  When one of his workers, a single father, dies in his well, he takes the boy as his own.

As the business grows, the man becomes more greedy, and more desperate, and more corrupt.  He buys land in California, and drills like crazy.  He makes promises he can't keep, and gets a whole town to buy into his vision.  Meanwhile a bad accident leaves his son deaf, and a long-lost  half brother comes back into his life.  If there's one thorn in his side, it's the local evangelist.  A real battle between the two, and in the end, no one wins.

This is a dark movie - a real character study.  Interesting, but not for everyone.
]]> <![CDATA[Into the Wild]]>
The movie is about all the adventures and life lessons that Chris encounters on this journey. He soon finds that it's not so much about the trip to Alaska, as it is the journey within. This is a very spiritual movie, one that stays with you long after it's over.

Emile Hirsch stars as Chris. He is absolutely amazing in the role. I'm so surprised he didn't get a nomination. Sean Penn directs. I heard that Sean Penn got the rights to the book, and then he waited until the family was ready before he started working on the project. He was very sensitive to their feelings. Hal Holbrook has a small part as a sage and friend that Chris meets along the way, and he was nominated as Best Supporting Actor for the role.

Rated R - it's heavy, very emotional. A good one to see with your teen. Opens up a lot of questions for discussion.
]]> <![CDATA[27 Dresses]]>
The story is this girl has been a bridesmaid 27 times, and she's secretly in love with her boss, but can't bring herself to tell him.  Meanwhile, her attractive younger sister comes to town, and the boss falls for her.  While all this is going on, a handsome reporter (James Marsden) assigned to the wedding beat, decides to do a story on this perpetual bridesmaid.  There is instant animosity, followed by the requisite getting stuck together and then a hilarious rendition of "Bennie and the Jets" while intoxicated, and the two are a couple.  For about a minute.  She discovers his story, dumps him, and more complications ensue until we have a happy ending and everyone ends up with who they're supposed to be with.

Katherine Heigl is charming - so natural and easy - the camera loves her.  She will likely get lots more of these type of roles.  James Marsden has been around for a long time (X-Men, Spiderman, Enchanted) but now he's coming into his own as leading man material.  They're great together.
]]> <![CDATA[Home Song Stories]]> ]]> <![CDATA[The Savages]]>
Phillip Seymour Hoffman plays John.  He's done great work this year, and a lot of it!
]]> <![CDATA[Charlie Wilson's War]]>
Sassy banter between these two major stars is the highlight of the film.  Aaron Sorkin, who is so good at political comedy, wrote the screenplay.

Another quick history lesson - one that we all wish had ended on a better note, given what we know has happened since then.
]]> <![CDATA[The Kite Runner]]>
The writing is very well done.  The acting is first rate.  It's the emotions that make this movie as good as it is.  Some violence, as this is set in war time - but definitely a movie that teens can see, and learn from.
]]> <![CDATA[The Great Debaters]]> ]]> <![CDATA[No Country For Old Men]]>
The tone is very dark, no music, very sparse settings and dialogue.  Interesting, creative, and  disturbing all at the same time.
]]> <![CDATA[The Waterhorse]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Atonement]]>
The music is mesmerizing, the score so perfect for the action. And the costumes are breathtaking. Atonement has award-winner written all over it. A must-see. Some grizzly war scenes, so be warned.  My only criticism is that I would have liked a little more joy, a little more happy, before the two were thrown into such tragic circumstances.
]]> <![CDATA[Juno]]>
The writing is top-notch.  The characters well drawn and relatable.  This is a terrific movie, that is sure to generate discussion among parents and teens.
]]> <![CDATA[Sweeney Todd]]> ]]> <![CDATA[National Treasure 2]]> ]]> <![CDATA[I am Legend]]> ]]> <![CDATA[The Golden Compass]]>
The movie is wonderful!  It is magical, adventurous, and wild.  And it looks like we're going to see more of it, because the ending left us hanging, ready for a sequel!  Since this is part of a trilogy of books, I expect that the movies will follow the same format.

Great cast - Nicole Kidman is the evil one in the movie.  Daniel Craig is the mysterious good guy.  Dakota Blue Richards is the most amazing little girl!  She is brave and strong and sweet and vulnerable all at the same time.  A true heroine!

Effects are incredible.  I love the armored bear!  The costumes, the setting, the whole vibe is other-worldly.  Tons of great messages about friendship, loyalty, determination, strength, and being true to yourself.
]]> <![CDATA[Margot at the Wedding]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Beowulf]]>
Robin Wright Penn is the Queen. Anthony Hopkins is the King. Ray Winstone is Beowulf, the new guy in town who comes to kill the monster. And, believe it or not, Angelina Jolie is the monster's mother! Beowulf is based on the old Nordic poem, and I wasn't familiar with the story, but I know that it's one of Freddy's favorite books.

For teen boys, they'll probably really love it. Girls, I don't think so. Kids under 10, no way.
]]> <![CDATA[August Rush]]>
When Evan can get away from the home, he heads to New York City, and is taken is by an Oliver Twist type of group of young runaways who play music on the streets and split the money with their self-appointed leader, Pip (Robin Williams).  Pip acts as a kind of surrogate father to the kids, but he doesn't always have their best interest at heart.  He changes Evan's name to "August Rush" to keep the authorities from finding this musical prodigy.

Meanwhile, Lyla's heart is aching, as is the songwriter's.  Her father tells her the truth on his death bed and she goes in search of her son.  The songwriter goes in search for Lyla.  Evan is in search of his parents, and eventually, amazingly, they are all brought together.

The movie pulls at your heartstrings a little too hard - our emotions are literally orchestrated.  Keri Russell is wonderful.  Jonathan Rhys Meyers is a really good singer, and Freddie Highmore is as good as always.  Terrence Howard is the Child Protection Services authority to helps out.  Robin Williams is his usual crazy like a fox self.


]]> <![CDATA[Lust, Caution]]>
The plan centers around a young girl who must go undercover to befriend this man's wife, and then seduce the man to earn his confidence and trust.  The girl is amazingly good at what she does, for being so naive and scared, she is absolutely committed to the cause.

The movie is rated NC-17.  There are lots of graphic, violent sex scenes.  This is not a movie for the faint of heart.  But the story is solid, and compelling.  We care about these people, and we learn a little bit about what was going on during that time in history.  This is more than a drama, it's a tragedy, and it will stay in your mind for days.
]]> <![CDATA[Enchanted]]>
Giselle wastes no time turning Robert's world upside down, while Robert grounds Giselle in this "real" world.  Mix in the evil Queen's stooge, Robert's long-time-with-no-commitment girlfriend and a feisty little chipmunk and you've got a charming cast of characters worthy of a Disney classic.  Susan Sarandon is marvelous as the Queen - clearly relishing the role.  Amy Adams is the new All American romantic comedy girl - you will see a lot of her.  James Marsden is sweet and handsome, a real prince!  And Patrick Dempsey has quite an arc, going from sad and lonely to smitten and hopeful as he falls for this other-worldly girl he can't quite understand.

Nods all over the place to other Disney Princess films - if you've seen them you are sure to appreciate the references.

Great movie for moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, princes and princesses!
]]> <![CDATA[Ratatouille]]>
What we love about Remy right off the bat is that he's got passion.  And he's different from those around him in that he has ambition, as well.  He's curious, and clever, and brave - a great combination for a Disney hero.  And he's confident, even given the most unlikely circumstances under which he must perform, which makes us root for him all the more.

Ratatouille says a lot about friendship, following your dream, and being true to yourself.  It's a wonderful movie for the whole family.
]]> <![CDATA[Lions for Lambs]]>
Three storylines intersect to comment on the current war situation.  The professor brings in a student for a chat - the student is disillusioned and unmotivated, but the professor sees something in him and wants him to achieve more, to step up and care more.  He tells the story of two of his students who did just that, by going against his advice and signing up to serve in the army. 

At the same time, the two soldiers are off to fight this new, secret mission, the bright idea of Cruise's senator.  The soldiers fall out of a helicopter and are left to fend for themselves in enemy territory. 

And simultaneously, the senator is pitching his "save the world" strategy with the reporter, asking for her help in getting the word out that this idea is viable, and the solution that has been long sought to end the war. 

Redford doesn't have to work too hard on the acting end, he's mentoring, which comes naturally.  As the senator, Cruise is smug, snarkily so, not winning over any fans with his transparent smile.  Not much of a stretch.  Meryl Streep stands out, conflicted over her part in this sham, feeling guilty, and used.  Michael Peńa and Derek Luke are amazing - look for leading men roles for both of them in the future.

The movie is very dialogue heavy - lots and lots of talking.  Some war violence.
]]> <![CDATA[Before the Devil Knows You're Dead]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Martian Child]]> ]]> <![CDATA[American Gangster]]>
Much of the movie plays off these two men separately, moving in two different worlds.  When they finally come together the scenes are electrifying.  Two Oscar winners, and you can see why.

The movie clocks in at about 2 1/2 hours, but the pace is quick so it doesn't seem that long.  Very intense, lots of violence.
]]> <![CDATA[Dan in Real Life]]>
The audience was a mix of date night couples and older teens who are Steve Carell fans.  The movie actually got applause at the end.  I loved it!  No sex scenes, no violence, no swearing, just lots of good writing and acting - quite refreshing!
]]> <![CDATA[Lars and the Real Girl]]>
At the psychologist's urging, Gus and Karen go along with Lars' delusion, hoping that whatever triggered the need for such will dissipate.  The whole town ends up participating in the charade, and Lars continues his relationship with this doll, "Bianca."  In the background is Margot, who works with Lars and attends his church.  She's had a crush on Lars, but he can't handle it.  Bianca is his girlfriend.  Just when it seems that this might be a permanent situation, something triggers in Lars, and he makes some changes in his life.

This movie says so much about relationships, and the power of community.  It's about love and healing and getting to know each other, and getting to know ourselves.  I was lucky enough to hear the director, David Gillespie, speak about the movie at a screening.  The whole film was shot in 30 days, and they stuck to the original script without any re-writes. 

Lars and the Real Girl is a very sweet movie, and I know we'll be hearing more about it come awards time.


]]> <![CDATA[Michael Clayton]]> ]]> <![CDATA[The Jane Austen Book Club]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Shadow of the Moon]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Across the Universe]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Elizabeth: The Golden Age]]>
The script is phenomenal.  It's history, after all.  True events are always more compelling to me than something that is merely made up.  Cate Blanchett reprises the role that made her a movie star and she is even better, if that is possible, this time around.  What an amazing actress, and what an amazing character she gets to play!  Elizabeth is definitely larger than life.  In this story, she's a mature queen, confident and cool.  Abbie Cornish is her favorite lady-in-waiting, "Bess," a young lady devoted to her queen.  Clive Owen is the intriguing Sir Walter Raleigh, the one man who catches the attention of both of them.  It's an interesting love triangle.

When I asked Shekhar Kapur about this triangle, he explained that his take on it was that Elizabeth and Bess are actually the same person.  Elizabeth represents the spiritual, the divine.  Bess represents the mortal, the material.  In order to rule England, and lead victoriously in this war against Philip of Spain, she must not be distracted by her mortal self, she must be immortal.  So as Bess ultimately "wins" Sir Walter, Elizabeth is free to serve, to follow her destiny. How insightful, how intense.  I vote for this guy for best director!

The mythology involved in this tale, the imagery, the scenery, the camera work, the costumes - all the absolute best.  Well done.  Brilliant.
]]> <![CDATA[Shoot 'Em Up]]>
This has to be rank right up there with one of the worst movies I've ever seen.  Not just this year, but ever.  The parts that are supposed to be funny, are just not funny at all.  The violence is over the top, in a bad way.  And the sex is pretty bad, too.  How this movie got an "R" rating and not an NC-17 is beyond me.

Clive is a reluctant hero, on a self-proclaimed mission to protect a baby.  Seeing this poor little baby in jeopardy makes my skin crawl.  How could anyone consider this entertainment?

The only reason I'm not giving it an F is because Clive Owen is still a hunk.

Don't see it.
]]> <![CDATA[The 11th Hour]]>
Here the official website for the movie for more information.  This is a must-see.

http://wip.warnerbros.com/11thhour/
]]> <![CDATA[The Nanny Diaries]]>
Cute movie, but nothing amazing or original.
]]> <![CDATA[Marigold]]>
We meet Marigold in the airport, she is late for her flight to Bombay and lies her way onto the plane, yelling at her agent on her cellphone the whole way.  We get the message, she's obnoxious.  It doesn't take much to knock her down a few pegs, as she's stranded in India with no job and no luggage.  Opportunity presents itself in the form of a role in a Bollywood film, and she takes it, even knowing that she is unqualified because she can't dance.  Her handsome choreographer, Prem, rescues her and the two fall in love.

There is a clash of cultures, and a few obstacles to overcome before we can have our happy ending.  Meanwhile we get the requisite Bollywood dance numbers and some broad humor.  The costumes are just beautiful - the whole movie looks like one big fantasy.  And of course the setting is breathtaking.

It's a corny romantic comedy, but I enjoyed it thoroughly!
]]> <![CDATA[Becoming Jane]]> Becoming Jane stars Anne Hathaway in the title role.  Back in the time when women were expected, even required, to marry in order to secure a future for themselves, our dear Miss Austen bucked the trend and determined to make a life for herself "by the pen."  She turns away the attention of young suitors, until she meets her match in one Mr. LaFoy.  The two dislike each other at first, then challenge each other intellectually, then finally give in to their undeniable attraction.  They're good for each other, and yet, it's the challenges of life, rather than love, that inevitably keeps them apart.

The role of Jane suits Anne Hathaway like a glove.  The actress looks like she belongs in this era.  Costumes are beautiful, setting is lush and authentic.  Many would call this a "chick flick" and women definitely will like the movie more than men will.  Partly because we love Jane Austen's books, and are excited to see the author come to life on film.  And partly because we're swept away as a strong, independent young woman experiences romance both with a dashing young man, and a literary calling.  Well written and expertly directed, Becoming Jane is sweet and strong, just like its heroine.


]]> <![CDATA[Stardust]]>
Fairy tales are traditionally violent, so that is the caveat here - this movie is not for young children.  Teens will adore it, but young kids will likely find the scenes too frightening, even though most of the "gore" takes place off-screen, and thus, in our minds.

This is a story of transformation.  A young man goes on a journey to please who he thinks is his true love.  He ends up discovering his real true love, and himself, along the way.  Claire Danes is the star who falls from the sky and is looking for her way "home."  Michelle Pfeiffer is the witch who wants to cut out the star's heart so that she can be immortal.  Robert DeNiro is the in-the-closet pirate who helps the young couple.  They're all really good, and over-the-top in the kind of way that you should be in a fanciful fairy tale.

Truly delightful -  I loved it!
]]> <![CDATA[The Bourne Ultimatum]]>
This part is just so right for Matt Damon.  He doesn't have to say much, all of his acting is in his facial expressions - very intense, deep, and thoughtful.  Julia Stiles plays his de-facto side-kick, and she's great, strong and decisive.  The whole cast is great - Joan Allen, David Strathhairn - terrific performances.

The chase scenes are amazing - so much action, but not too much.  This is a thinker's action movie.  And though we have some resolution at the end, we can hope for a fourth Bourne movie.
]]> <![CDATA[No Reservations]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Hairspray]]>
I had my doubts about John Travolta in the role of Edna Turnblatt, but he is absolutely precious!  And Nikki Blonsky couldn't be better.  Zac Efron, who made a name for himself in High School Musical, is just darling.  Michelle Pfeiffer is a hoot.  James Marsden has the moves, and a GREAT voice - who'd have known?  He's so hot - always my favorite in the X-Men movies, this guy has talent!  And Queen Latifah - LOVE her, as always, she's just awesome.  Everyone is just really good.  The music is wonderful, the choreography is fantastic.  I hope to see this movie have lots and lots of nominations come awards time, because it deserves it.  The best part, you leave the theatre humming and smiling - and SO glad you had the experience.  Go see Hairspray!
]]> <![CDATA[Live Free or Die Hard]]>
The plot is all about a former government employee's plot to take over the world via the internet.  Justin Long is the computer geek who starts out as Bruce's assignment and ends up being his sidekick.  They're a cute team.

Fun movie, a little over the top, a little loud, but a good night's entertainment.
]]> <![CDATA[License to Wed]]>
Weddings are a popular backdrop for romantic comedies, and in any good comedy, you need conflict.  That's where Robin Williiams, or Reverend Frank, comes in.  His course on marriage is a requirement to a wedding at his church, so the young couple goes along with it.  Of course, mayhem ensues, there's the misunderstandings, the over-the-top physical comedy, the misinterpreted intentions - the total formula.  Throw in a few robot babies and poop jokes and you've pretty much got the idea.  Of course, the requisite happy ending makes it all worth it.
]]> <![CDATA[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Evening]]> ]]> <![CDATA[A Mighty Heart]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Sicko]]>
Sicko looks at the American health care system.  It's a system that is dysfunctional at best.  We pay way too high premiums for our health insurance, and still have to pay deductibles and co-pays, and even after all that we're often denied the services we desperately need.  The alternative?  A universal health care system like they have in England, France, Canada - and yes, Cuba!  Moore addresses all the "socialized medicine" fears that the government has instilled into us over the years, and takes us to these other countries to compare.  Wow.  It's a very effective approach.

I think this movie will affect people in one of two ways.  It will either make them want to move to a foreign country - as many Americans have already done, and it's very tempting to do!  Or it will make them want to stand up and fight for what should be a basic human right: affordable health care available to everyone in the U.S.

In California we have a proposal for a Universal Health Care Plan: Senate Bill 840.  Unfortunately, our governor has already vetoed it once - but we're trying again with a grassroots effort.  For more information, go to the website: http://www.OneCareNow.org
]]> <![CDATA[Evan Almighty]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Once]]> ]]> <![CDATA[The Rise of the Silver Surfer: The Fantastic 4 #2]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Ocean's 13]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Mr. Brooks]]>
When the sweet daughter comes home from college, under suspicious circumstances, Mr. Brooks has some hard choices to make.  But, since this is a movie, and the story is propelled by drama, he makes all the wrong choices.

Demi Moore is the detective who is on his trail, but who can't get more than one step behind him.  She's going through a nasty divorce, to another guy who is bad in a different way - makes you wonder if there are any good guys in the movie?  I guess the wife (Marg Helgenberger) is good, but with all this going on behind her back she has to be pretty stupid.

Some very violent scenes - this is a HARD R.  Not for teens... not really even for adults unless you like blood and gore - more a horror movie than a thriller.
]]> <![CDATA[Knocked Up]]>
Knocked Up is from the same people who brought us "The 40 Year Old Virgin" which I also liked, but Knocked Up is sweeter, sunnier.  It's about two people who might never have gotten together if their one-night stand hadn't resulted in a pregnancy.  They are so opposites that they have to work for the attraction, but when they really get to know each other as people they find some common ground.  Meanwhile, the married couple with kids provides the B story, a kind of glimpse into the future for the newly pregnant ones.

Fresh, funny, warm.  I could relate.
]]> <![CDATA[Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End]]>
But the movie has a few things going for it.  It's worth it just to see Johnny Depp.  And then Keith Richards comes in as his pirate dad, hillarious!  And Keira Knightley is such a strong role model for girls - she actually becomes the pirate KING at one point - you go, girl!

There's also the recurring theme that I've seen in a lot of movies where the bad guys are the good guys - the pirates are the ones with the code of honor, whose word means something.

The movie broke all kinds of records opening weekend and they're already talking about #4... what else can they do?
]]> <![CDATA[Shrek the Third]]>
Sweet and funny, the animation is colorful, the action is fast and fun.  A nice early summer escape, an entertaining night at the movies for fans of all ages.
]]> <![CDATA[The Invisible]]>
The story is bizarre - good guy with dead dad meets bad girl with absent mother - bad girl beats up good guy to the point of unconscious and leaves him for dead.  Good guy's "spirit" falls for bad girl, bad girl "saves" good guy, then dies.

There are so many things that don't make sense throughout the whole movie.  I found myself rolling my eyes and making script notes in my head for the writers.

I don't think teens will be interested in this movie - even though it's PG-13 and clearly aimed at that audience.  The teens who were in the theatre with me were the ones who were laughing the most in the inappropriate places.
]]> <![CDATA[Hot Fuzz]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Fracture]]>
Well written.  I usually find holes everywhere but this story is really tight and well constructed.  Loved it!
]]> <![CDATA[Jindabyne]]> Jindabyne at a special pre-release screening. This is a very interesting, thought-provoking, conversation-stimulating movie.  Australian made, and set in the small Australian town of Jindabyne in South-East New South Wales, Jindabyne looks at how a lurking evil infests a community, and the affect that it has on the people and their relationships. 

Gabriel Byrne has the lead role, a gas station owner caught in the midst of mid-life, a strained marriage and an anxious little boy.  His sole source of recreation and decompression is fishing, his passion.  When out on a long-awaited trip with his buddies, he comes across a body.  And that's when his troubles really begin.

Moral dillema, how to handle the situation.  The choices the men make in the moments that follow greatly affect their future and how they are viewed by the people in their town.  It sets up a racial divide, and a gender divide, as each family member experiences the fall-out.

Laura Linney, one of the best actresses of our generation, I really think she is as good as Meryl Streep but she just doesn't get the credit she deserves.

Gabriel Byrne was gracious enough to talk about the filming of Jindabyne.  He is brilliant, and his insights were fascinating.

I can always tell a movie is good when we talk about it all the way home, and with Jindabyne, that's what we did.
]]> <![CDATA[The Hoax]]> ]]> <![CDATA[The Last Mimzy]]> ]]> <![CDATA[The Namesake]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Shooter]]>
Things go awry and poor Mark ends up getting set up for a political assasination.  But he's more clever than these guys bargained for, and the cat and mouse chase is on.  The movie is pretty formulaic, one girl, an unlikely sidekick, and lots of action.  What do you expect when the movie is titled "Shooter?"  I like Mark Wahlberg as an actor, but this isn't an award-winning performance.  His strength is that he's kind of playing a guy much like himself, and that character has worked for him in the past, too.  I liked him in "Invinsible" much more.  And he was nominated for his supporting performance in "The Departed" when he really had to step up his game in scenes with the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Sheen.
]]> <![CDATA[Premonition]]>
Unfortunately, the movie itself is not so hot.  No, it's not confusing - I was able to follow it just fine.  It's just that it's all gimmick, and gimmick only goes so far in a movie.  It's an interesting gimmick, basically Bullock's character experiences days of a particular week out of order, so she has a sort of amnesia certain days of the week, and then a kind of clairvoyance the rest of the time.  The drama is that on one of those days, her husband dies in a car accident.  Can she prevent it from happening?  Is she going crazy?  Is her marriage falling apart?  Or is this all a part of some dark conspiracy?

Julian McMahon plays the husband - a normal guy, a departure from the actor's usually eccentric characters.  Their two kids are darling - and great little actresses.

In the end it's not so complicated.  But the ending is unsatisfying, nothing is really resolved.  We don't know the real "why" or "how"  - there are a lot of questions unanswered and a lot of holes left to be filled.
]]> <![CDATA[The Ultimate Gift]]>
The story is corny, and sweet.  It is something that would have been right at home on Lifetime Television or The Hallmark Channel.  Rich, spoiled slacker is offered an undisclosed inheritance, if he can pass a series of challenges.  Each challenge ends up being a gift - something the young man is supposed to learn to make him a better person, someone worthy of this undisclosed inheritance.  The guy is reluctant to get involved, but his curiosity gets the best of him and he goes along with it.

When it comes to the gift of friendship, he meets Emily (our cute Abigail!) and her young, single mother.  At first he things he can just use them, but as he learns more about their lives, he gets drawn in, and starts to care.  These two women end up changing his life, his attitude, and his perspective.

Drama, sadness, lessons learned and the requisite happy ending prevail.  A little preachy, but if you like an extra lump of sugar this just might be your cup of tea.
]]> <![CDATA[Amazing Grace]]>
At one point, Wilberforce, a young and charismatic politician, comes to a crossroads.  He has discovered God, and is tempted to give up his successful career to join the clergy.  His good friend, with political aspirations to be Prime Minister, invites an eclectic group of people to plead their case to Wilberforce.  They are each dedicated to ending the slave trade in England, and they need his help to do it.  As one woman put it: "We understand that you must decide between serving God, and serving the people.  We suggest a way that you can do both."  He makes this his life's work, and almost gives his life for it when he becomes deathly ill.  But then, he meets a woman, who inspires him, and gives him that second wind he needed to keep going.

There are so many things to love about this movie.  It is empowering, inspiring, and beautifully done.
]]> <![CDATA[Breach]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Little Children]]>
The simultaneous storyline is about a pedophile who has served his time and now lives in the neighborhood with his mother.  Jackie Earle Haley is nominated for his performance in that role.  He's the town pariah, and he knows it, and yet he is not equipped with the tools to better himself or his situation.

There's no good guy in this movie, and no bad guy.  The whole set-up is tragic from the start, the only bright light being the little children everyone is so desperate to protect.

Dark, and thought-provoking.  For adults only.
]]> <![CDATA[Catch and Release]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Letters from Iwo Jima]]> ]]> <![CDATA[The Painted Veil]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Notes on a Scandal]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Freedom Writers]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Miss Potter]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Pan's Labyrinth]]>
The special effects are all animatronic rather than computer generated, giving the fairies and creatures a much more realistic feel to them.  The acting is superb.  The directing, by Guillermo Del Toro, is amazing.  The man is a genius.

Pan's Labyrinth is Mexico's entry as Best Foreign Film in 2006.  It has received numerous critics awards already, and it the best reviewed movie of the year.  I couldn't agree more. Pan's Labyrinth is ambitious and original - something very rare in cinema today.  I loved it!
]]> <![CDATA[Babel]]>
Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett are the big names in Babel, and the ones on all the posters, but they are just part of a much larger ensemble cast.  They're good, but these are not the best or most memorable roles they've played.  There are several actors who could have played these characters.  I think Brad and Cate were hired for their marquee value more than for what they bring to these particular characters.

There are a lot of holes in the story, a lot of questions that leave us hanging.  I just felt unsatisfied, depressed and exhausted after watching it.
]]> <![CDATA[The Queen]]>
I remember that time so well.  Diana was exactly my age, and we both had two boys.  Like a lot of women, I got up early in the morning to watch her fairy tale wedding on TV.  Over the years we all got to know Diana, and could relate to her struggles.  When we got word of her death we were devastated, and we grieved.

That's what this movie is about.  It's about the discrepancy between a world full of people in mourning and the royal family's cool response to the tragedy.  We get a "behind closed doors" look at what the Queen, her husband, her mother, and Prince Charles were all thinking as events unfolded.  And we get to know a newly elected Tony Blair, young, fresh, eager to please, and burdened with the emotions of a country in shock at losing their "People's Princess."

The Queen keeps its focus firmly on Queen Elizabeth, and Helen Mirren so amazingly embodies this woman that it's easy to forget this is a feature film and not a documentary.  Elizabeth is quite a complex woman, and we get to see some of her layers, and some of her thought processes.

If you lived through it, and want a different perspective, The Queen is a good way to get it.  If you're too young to remember everything that went on, The Queen is a good way for you to understand this defining moment in our generation's history.
]]> <![CDATA[Blood Diamond]]>
Leonardo DiCapro proves that he is one of the best actors of this generation.  He pulls off an accent on top of heavy emotional lifting throughout the film.  And he manages to be the likeable bad guy, a smuggler with major rooting factor, strong and smart and charming.  Jennifer Connelly is the American journalist he befriends.  This is a change of pace role for her, she gets to be funny and feisty.  Even in the African heat and dust she is naturally beautiful, and she uses her smile as a passport around the country.  Djimon Hinsou will take your breath away as the African fisherman who is kidnapped and forced to work in the diamond mines.  After his escape, he and Leo become reluctant allies in the quest to find a hidden diamond and his kidnapped son.

Strong story, very moving.  The ending is a bit rushed and tied up too neatly, but it lets you finally exhale.  Better to see this as a matinee, less chance of nightmares!
]]> <![CDATA[The Pursuit of Happyness]]>
But Chris is scrappy, and intelligent and he knows he can do better for himself.  Against all odds he gets chosen for an internship at Dean Witter.  By day he works hard - and in the evenings he works harder, as a dad trying to find shelter for himself and his son, making every penny count.  At times it seems like his luck is so bad that the world is conspiring against him.  It's hard to watch sometimes.  We know he's a good guy, but he's got a really tough life.  What makes this character so likeable is his attitude.  He's a devoted father, and his son loves him, He keeps trying, he keeps hanging in there.  And eventually it all pays off. 

Of course there's about an hour and 40 minutes of struggle for about 10 minutes of payoff at the end, but there is an uplifting message here.  If this guy can do it, any of us can.  Just don't give up.  Follow your dreams, don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it.  This movie makes you count your blessings, and it gives you hope.

Will Smith is in every scene, and this is the best he's ever been.  Jaden Smith is a natural, and we'll be seeing a lot more from this young man.
]]> <![CDATA[The Good Shepherd]]>
Lots of drama, great performances, solid story.
]]> <![CDATA[Dream Girls]]>
Eddie Murphy is James Thunder Early.  My friend Kevin-Anthony played this role on Broadway.  I got a kick out of watching Eddie in the role and picturing Kevin up there.  Flamboyant, eccentric - he was amazing - a great character, and so fun to watch.  Oscar winner Jamie Foxx is Curtis Taylor, the manager who takes the Dreams to the top of the charts.  Great choice, he's got the voice, the presence, the charm... and just the right amount of slick.  The real revelation in the film is Jennifer Hudson, former American Idol contestant, making her movie debut as Effie.  I have never seen a movie where the audience breaks out into applause in the middle of the film - but that's exactly what happened when Jennifer Hudson sings her show-stopping solo.  She literally steals the show.  She is a wonderful actress, and I expect her to get a nomination for Best Supporting Actress come Oscar time.

There are some great laughs in the movie - and some genuine tears.  The music is fantastic - you'll want to get the soundtrack.  Costumes, sets, all first rate.  This is one of my favorite movies of the year - a must-see!
]]> <![CDATA[The Holiday]]>
Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet, whose characters are both suffering from recent break-ups, decide to switch houses for two weeks over the Christmas holiday. At first there's a little bit of culture shock, but they each settle in nicely.  They each meet men, complications ensue, they learn just how great they are as women, and there's a happy ending.  What more could you want?  I loved it!

Cameron Diaz is darling.  She overacts a little, she's got that goofy thing going on, but somehow it works for her.  It's so nice to see Kate Winslet in something light.  She's a wonderful actress, and very good at comedy.  Jude Law is Cameron's love interest, and he's predictably charming.  We expect him to be the cad but he ends up being a really good guy.  Jack Black is sweet and sensitive as a composer who makes friends with Kate.  He's very attractive in this role!

The girls both do a lot of drinking in this movie - but other than that, there's nothing objectionable for young teens.
]]> <![CDATA[Deja Vu]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Bobby]]>
The film takes place at the Ambassador Hotel.  William H. Macy plays the hotel manager, and Sharon Stone is his beautician wife.  Christian Slater runs the restaurant, Freddy Rodriguez is a bus-boy pulling a double shift.  Lindsay Lohan plays a young bride, marrying a school chum to keep him from being sent to Vietnam, Elijah Wood is her grateful groom.  Demi Moore is a boozy lounge singer, and Ashton Kutcher is a hippie drug dealer.  Somehow all of these lives are tied together, and are affected by the presence of Mr. Kennedy at the hotel on one fateful night.

This is another movie that gets us thinking about our own recent history.  Great for teens to see.  The performances are strong, the script is good. 
]]> <![CDATA[Stranger Than Fiction]]>
Hard to peg, is it a comedy or a cdrama?  It's a little of both. Thought provoking, and also fun.  Nice for teens, younger kids probably won't get it.
]]> <![CDATA[Fast Food Nation]]>
The cast is amazing: Wilmer Valderamma is an undocumented worker from Mexico who takes a job cleaning at the meat packing plant.  Patricia Arquette is the single mom of a teen girl who works at a fast food  place.  Greg Kinnear is the whiz kid marketing exec who comes up with the ad campaign for the new "Big One" burger.  Bruce Willis comes in as the meat broker who turns a blind eye to the outrageous practices that the meat packers use to keep their prices down.  Ethan Hawke, Esai Morales, and others all contribute colorful characters.

This is a fictional piece, but it could be a documentary.  The scenes in the meat packing plant were difficult to watch.  Be prepared for lots of blood and guts, that's just what goes on there, and the point of the movie is to show us the truth behind the sterile "happy" packaging that makes up our fast food meals.  It's enough to turn you into a vegetarian.
]]> <![CDATA[Casino Royale]]>
Part of the reason this is so different is because this version of "Casino Royale" is written in part by Paul Haggis, an American.  Haggis is brilliant, and has the awards to prove it.  And his writing helps make the film a really good one! It's just that this is not the James Bond we are accustomed to.  For example, when Bond orders a martini, the bartender asks: "Would you like that shaken or stirred?"  and Bond replies: "Do I look like I give a damn?"  Yet in another scene he orders a very specific cocktail, and names it after his lady love - nice touch.

The Bond women in this film are strong and smart... and of course they're gorgeous, too.  Judi Densch reprises her role as "M" - but there are no fancy gadgets to be had.

Tons of action, a fun chase scene on foot, a couple of great cars.  Let's just call this our first introduction to the new style.  Not bad.
]]> <![CDATA[The Fountain]]>
Hugh Jackman, one of the most versatile actors of this generation, is "Tom" in three different forms, in three different lifetimes... or is it all the same lifetime? The movie opens up so many questions, and really forces the audience to think. Rachel Weisz plays "Izzie," his wife, who in the present-day incarnation is suffering from a brain tumor. Present day Tom, a brain surgeon, struggles to find a cure for her. Rachel Weisz has a wonderful quality about her. In this role she's down-to-earth and real, and yet almost ethereal. She and Hugh Jackman make a beautiful couple, their chemistry is amazing.

Interestingly enough, these two actors weren't the ones originally cast in the film. Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett were set to star, but because of delays in production and Cate's pregnancy, the timing didn't work out. Aronofsky saw Jackman onstage in "The Boy from Oz" and was duly impressed. Backstage he asked the actor what his next project was, and Jackman wryly replied: "An Aronofsky film, I hope!" Jackman pushed for Weisz, Aronofsky's wife, to co-star. The couple had agreed not to work together, but Weisz was enamored with the script and wanted the role. For the duration of filming they lived apart so that they weren't each bringing work home with them. I can't imagine better casting. Hugh Jackman deserves a nomination for his performance. This is his best work yet.

I just love the story, and the ideas that it brings up. These will stimulate many conversations for the car ride home when people leave the theatre. Life, death, youth, survival, love, commitment, time, choices... these are huge issues that aren't often dealt with in the movies these days. I love the art direction, The Fountain is a beautiful movie just to look at! This is definitely a movie worth seeing, and maybe seeing a few times.
]]> <![CDATA[Marie Antoinette]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Man of the Year]]>
Robin Williams plays the comedian in question - and this is the best role he's had in a long time. He's sweet and smart and laugh-out-loud funny. The story is really kind of dark. There's the election, and some "discrepancies" and a cover up, some big questions are raised. This might be considered mandatory viewing before our November elections! Laura Linney is the whistle-blower/love interest - she's always good.

I really liked the movie, I was just a little uncomfortable when I was expecting a comic farce and instead I got something thought-provoking and a little sinister.
]]> <![CDATA[The Prestige]]>
Christian Bale is best known for his role as the new Batman - and he is absolutely mesmerizing as a charming take-chances magician. Hugh Jackman is a modern day renaissance man. I still haven't seen him as anything less than fabulous in anything he's done. Scarlett Johanssen has had much larger roles, but this one is pivotal, and really gives her a chance to show her vulnerability.

This is the kind of story that keeps you guessing. I figured out part of it about halfway through - but there's no way you can anticipate all that happens as events unfold. Pretty amazing.
]]> <![CDATA[The U.S. vs. John Lennon]]> ]]> <![CDATA[The Departed]]>
The story is compelling, we care about the characters, and we are kept guessing every step of the way. Leonardo DiCaprio is the best I've ever seen him. He makes you cry he's so good! Jack Nicholson clearly relishes this role, he's just out there having fun with it, and it shows. Matt Damon has got the smarmy good guy thing down to a science. You love him, but you don't trust him. He looks innocent, but there's so much going on just under the surface it's kind of creepy.

My only criticism about The Departed is that there's really only one female role in the whole movie. It's an awesome part - pivotal, dramatic, and expertly played by Vera Farmiga - I don't remember seeing her in anything else, she's a fresh face and we'll be seeing a lot more from her.

Just be aware that this is a hard "R" - lots of violence, blood, bad language - but that's what you get when you mix cops and the mob, it would be strange it if weren't that way.
]]> <![CDATA[The Illusionist]]> ]]> <![CDATA[The Black Dahlia]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Hollywoodland]]>
The story, about the unsolved mystery of George Reeve's death, is compelling. Lots of rich characters, and a very film noir feel which is cool given the time period. Ben Affleck stars as George Reeves, best known as TV's first Superman. This is definitely a departure from the kinds of roles that he usually plays, and he worked pretty hard to set himself apart here. I think it's difficult for an actor to play another actor, but Affleck did a pretty good job. Diane Lane is so gorgeous and glamorous, and her performance is heart-wrenching. Bob Hoskins is wonderful - he steals every scene he's in. Adrien Brody plays the private investigator who is hired to work the case, and I felt he overacted. His strokes were very broad, very cliche.

I liked the way the story was told part in flashbacks as the clues build up and we start to piece together what might have happened. But ultimately, the pace was way too slow. Hollywood clocked in at just two hours, but it felt much longer. And since the mystery is unsolved, the ending leaves us hanging. Adrien Brody has a character arc, but it resolves much too quickly at the end. I was disappointed. This is one movie I was really looking forward to from the previews and it didn't live up to my expectations. It was just okay.
]]> <![CDATA[Invincible]]>
]]> <![CDATA[Miami Vice]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Little Miss Sunshine]]> ]]> <![CDATA[The Night Listener]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Monster House]]>
The resolution scene is WAY too long - it could have been done in half the time.  I also thought it was WAY too loud.  Is that because I'm WAY too old for this movie?  I hope not!  Anyhow, all's well that ends well - stick around for the end because the kids will see that no one was actually killed by the house so they won't get nightmares about it.  Neat and tidy, all ends tied up and everyone's happy by the closing credits.
]]> <![CDATA[My Super Ex-Girlfriend]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest]]>
I was prepared that there really is no ending to this movie so I wasn't disappointed.  It clearly is a cliff hanger, meant to keep us going until Memorial Day weekend 2007.  It's going to be good, I can't wait!
]]> <![CDATA[Superman]]>
All in all an interesting movie.  At 2 1/2 hours I'd say it was about 1/2 hour too long.  It would have been better to pick up the pace.

Young kids might get antsy sitting still for so long - but the story is compelling enough for pre-teens to follow.
]]> <![CDATA[A Prarie Home Companion]]> <![CDATA[The Lake House]]> <![CDATA[Cars]]> <![CDATA[The Break Up]]> <![CDATA[An Inconvenient Truth]]> <![CDATA[The DaVinci Code]]>
Worth seeing - it's certainly original, and will stir up some interesting conversations!
]]> <![CDATA[Mission Impossible 3]]> ]]> <![CDATA[American Dreamz]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Friends With Money]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Lucky Number Slevin]]>
The whole story reminded me of something Quentin Tarantino would do - you've got two bad guys feuding, and then this Slevin is put in the middle of the action, throw in Bruce Willis' mysterious stranger for more intrigue, and a cute Lucy Liu for love interest.  Not bad, just not totally compelling. Some violence, but more a guessing game than anything.  Appropriately quirky and offbeat.  Teens might like it - especially girls who want to see Josh running around in a towel.
]]> <![CDATA[Thank You For Smoking]]> <![CDATA[Inside Man]]> <![CDATA[Libertine]]> <![CDATA[Failure to Launch]]> <![CDATA[Mrs. Henderson Presents]]> <![CDATA[Capote]]> <![CDATA[16 Blocks]]> <![CDATA[Firewall]]> <![CDATA[The Fastest Indian]]> <![CDATA[Crash]]> <![CDATA[The Matador]]> <![CDATA[Last Holiday]]> <![CDATA[Glory Road]]> <![CDATA[Match Point]]> <![CDATA[Casanova]]> <![CDATA[Brokeback Mountain]]> <![CDATA[Memoirs of a Geisha]]> <![CDATA[Fun With Dick and Jane]]> <![CDATA[The Family Stone]]> <![CDATA[Syriana]]> <![CDATA[King Kong]]> <![CDATA[Aeon Flux]]> <![CDATA[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]> <![CDATA[Kiss Kiss Bang Bang]]> <![CDATA[Gppd Night and Good Luck]]> <![CDATA[Prime]]> <![CDATA[In Her Shoes]]> <![CDATA[Elizabethtown]]> <![CDATA[Proof]]> <![CDATA[The Greatest Game Ever Played]]> <![CDATA[Just Like Heaven]]> <![CDATA[The Constant Gardener]]> <![CDATA[Broken Flowers]]> <![CDATA[March of the Penguins]]> <![CDATA[Must Love Dogs]]> <![CDATA[Stealth]]> <![CDATA[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]]> <![CDATA[The Island]]> <![CDATA[The Fantastic Four]]> <![CDATA[Bewitched]]> <![CDATA[Mr. and Mrs. Smith]]> After all the hype about “Brangelina” I was so curious to see Mr. And Mrs. Smith. And I was not disappointed. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have chemistry to spare! Wow! This is basically a romantic comedy with action sequences – never a dull moment. You’re either laughing or gasping! The dialogue is strong – some of the best lines I’ve heard in the movies this year. And I think you have to be married to appreciate a lot of it! There’s a lot of banter ala Tracy and Hepburn – smart and witty, and totally contemporary – it works. All in all, just a great night’s entertainment. Very fun!]]> <![CDATA[Batman Begins]]> I probably would have not gone to this movie, except Brian and Freddy really wanted to see this new version of Batman, and they rarely want to go to the movies with me anymore so I jumped at the chance! I’ve seen the other Batman movies, and didn’t hold out much hope for reviving the franchise, but I was pleasantly surprised. Christian Bale is a darn good Bruce Wayne, and an even better Batman! There’s actually a storyline that makes sense, and characters that you care about. Katie Holmes (Mrs. Soon-to-be-Tom Cruise) is the love interest, in her first real “adult” role. Liam Neeson, Michael Caine, and Gary Oldham, all have strong character roles. It’s quite a cast! And it’s fun seeing the evolution of the Batcave and the Batmobile, and having that background into how the Batman character came about. Some intense scenes, so it’s rated PG-13 for good reason. But I’d say age 10 and up could generally handle it.]]> <![CDATA[Cinderella Man]]> So far, this is the best movie I’ve seen all year. Russell Crowe plays the title character, in the real life story of boxing champion James Braddock. Set during the depression, Braddock’s story becomes a kind of fairy tale for all those struggling through hard times. There’s a reason why Russell Crowe gets nominated so many times for his performances – he’s a great actor! He doesn’t even have to speak, it’s like you know what he’s thinking, his face is just so darn expressive. There are so many heartbreaking, and heartwarming moments in this film. I just loved it.

Ron Howard directs – he’s a genius. Renee Zellweger plays Braddock’s wife, Mae, sweet and tough at the same time, and fiercely devoted to her husband. Paul Giamatti is Braddock’s boxing manager. He and Braddock have a strong bond, and their loyalty to one another is what seems them through when the chips are down. And Craig Bierko is quite the villain! I think this is Bierko’s big break in the movies. He’s done a ton of television, usually as the handsome cad, but this is totally out of character for him. You hardly even recognize him in the role! I saw Bierko a few years ago when he had the lead in “Music Man” on Broadway. My friend Andre Garner had a small part in the show so I went just to see him. I was surprised at how well Bierko could sing and dance, and he ended up with a Tony nomination! What a great cast.

Cinderella Man is an amazing story, an amazing movie, well written, and well presented. This one is bound to get several nominations come awards season, and it deserves every one!

]]> <![CDATA[Madagascar]]> Madagascar is the new animated feature from Dreamworks SKG Animation. Starring the voices of Ben Stiller as Alex the Lion, Chris Rock as Marty the Zebra, David Schwimmer as Melvin the Giraffe and Jada Pinkett Smith as Gloria the Hippo. This is a buddy movie, a road trip, really, that starts out at the NY zoo and ends up in the wilds of Madagascar. Many of the jokes are sophisticated enough that parents will enjoy the film with their kids. I laughed the most when the group landed in Madagascar and thought they were in San Diego!

The animation is good – not quite as good as Pixar’s. And the story is cute – not nearly as layered or deep as Pixar’s. But it’s a cute movie for a hot afternoon when you need something to do with the kids. I’d say age 5 or 6 and up. There was a little girl sitting next to me, she must have been 3 or 4, and she cried when the lion started to go “bad,” seeing his friends as dinner when he got hungry in the wild. Kids that young don’t understand nuances. They just see this cute and cuddly lion that they’ve grown to love suddenly turn mean and that scares them.

]]> <![CDATA[Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room]]> This is a documentary along the lines of “Fahrenheit 9/11.” And the fact that the Bush family is a key player probably comes as no surprise to people who have followed this story in the news. What’s amazing to me is how truth really is stranger than fiction. You couldn’t possibly make this stuff up! It’s almost a horror movie, it’s so scary. It really happened, which makes it all the more dramatic. The final chapter has yet to be written, these “smartest guys” go to trial in January 2006.]]> <![CDATA[Star Wars 3: Revenge of the Sith]]> I am proud to say that I have now seen every one of the Star Wars movies, in the theatre! There’s a whole new generation of kids who have seen Star Wars on video or DVD, but I remember when the first series hit theatres, and what a huge impact it had on pop culture. And movie-making has never been the same!

And now George Lucas has done it again. This last, and supposedly final film in the Star Wars saga, wraps it all up for us, answers all of our questions, and parades out all of our favorite characters. It’s a classic. What I love so much about this particular movie are the characterizations. We really get to know Anakin, and his motivations, and his fears – what led him to the “dark side.” It’s quite a character study, and Lucas is brilliant in the way that he brings it to life.

One caveat: Star Wars 3 is rated PG-13. It’s the first movie in the series that got that rating, the others are just PG. I’m sure this rating is for the violence. So, just be prepared if you want to bring your kids. I think probably age 10 and up can handle it, especially if they’re already familiar with the Star Wars stories. Younger than that I would think seriously before taking them.

Hayden Christensen is marvelous as Anakin – a role that he’ll be forever associated with. He’s a fine young actor, and I expect we’ll be seeing a lot of him. Natalie Portman already has an Oscar nomination under her belt. She is destined to be one of the most memorable actresses or her generation.

Expect to see a few Oscar nominations for this one – certainly for special effects.

]]> <![CDATA[Millions]]> I was hesitant to go see Millions. I was afraid it was going to be another of those “dead mother” movies where the kid is cute but suffering. There haven’t been many movies I’m dying to see lately, so I finally went to see this one. And I am SO glad I did. I loved it! Sweet story, little boy finds a fortune, has to figure out how to handle it. Tells his big brother, now he’s got a shared secret. The characters are real and warm and remarkably deep. The acting is first rate. There are wonderful, touching, and funny moments throughout – this one is really worth seeing.]]> <![CDATA[Monster in Law]]> It’s worth it to go see Monster in Law just to see Jane Fonda back in action again. This girl can chew scenery with the best of them! And she certainly has fun as the title character in this movie. Jennifer Lopez is her future daughter-in-law/victim. The character is a little too saccharin to be believable – it’s like this girl can do no wrong, she’s perfect in every way, so why would a mom object? But it’s fun watching them tangle with each other. Michael Vartan is pretty much an after thought, a pretty face – it’s really the woman’s movie this time. And Wanda Sykes is excellent as Fonda’s assistant – she’s sassy and smart, an excellent foil for her boss. Requisite happy ending, and a sigh of relief at the end. One big happy family!]]> <![CDATA[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]> I didn’t read the book. I think there’s a small group of fans who read the book and were really looking forward to the movie. Interesting premise: the world ends, and a man is rescued just in time by his friend who happens to be an alien. They tour the galaxy and get in the middle of some kind of alien conflict. There’s a love interest, and a nice little message about being adventurous in life. Other than that, it was all a little too silly for me. Probably best enjoyed by the young teenage male audience.]]> <![CDATA[Kung Fu Hustle]]> This parody takes itself a little too seriously. Gotta give Stephen Chow kudos, though – he wrote, directed and starred in this movie, and the guy has got the moves! Sometimes it goes over the top, and comes off like a live action cartoon. Other times the message is a little heavy handed. For chop-socky aficionados, there are several inside jokes. For the rest of us, we’re left shaking our heads. I think I would have liked Kung Fu Hustle a lot more if it were about half an hour shorter.]]> <![CDATA[The Interpreter]]> Sydney Pollack directs and has a small part in this action-thriller that keeps you guessing. It’s a puzzle, set in the political world of the United Nations, and they actually used the real building to film in! Nicole Kidman has the title role, an interpreter from a fictitious country in South Africa who overhears an assassination threat. Sean Penn is the Secret Service agent assigned to the case. There’s no romance here, but the two characters bond over their personal grief. Catherine Keener is notable as Sean Penn’s partner. This is a smart movie, very well done, though not wholly satisfying.]]> <![CDATA[A Lot Like Love]]> Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet star in this quirky romantic comedy that’s been compared to “When Harry Met Sally.” After the requisite cute meet, these two characters go their separate ways. Life goes on and a few years later they re-connect, and the chemistry is still there, but the timing is off. The characters learn and grow and eventually figure out that they were destined for each other. Peet is a charming actress, and Kutcher has that lost puppy thing going on, they’re a good on-screen combination. It bothered me that Peet’s character smokes throughout – I thought movies had gotten past that trying to make characters “edgy” ploy. Some nice moments, but could have been better.]]> <![CDATA[Fever Pitch]]> Fever Pitch stars Drew Barrymore as the driven career woman facing the big “20-10” without a boyfriend. She opens her horizons, and her heart, to Jimmy Fallon’s school teacher and they enjoy a delightful winter together. When spring arrives, with the Red Sox schedule, Drew discovers just how important the team is to this die-hard fan. Can they get over his obsession and her workaholism? Clever writing by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandell, and some outrageous physical comedy by the directing/producing team of the Farrelly brothers. Most of the “adult” jokes will go over the heads of the younger ones, but remember, this movie is rated PG-13. We had some younger kids sitting behind us at the theatre, and when Drew talked about “missing her period” they started asking “what does THAT mean?”! I heard they had to change the ending of the movie when the Red Sox actually won the world series last year!]]> <![CDATA[Sahara]]> Sahara reminded me of “Romancing the Stone” or “Indiana Jones.” It is fun, adventurous, smart, and funny. Matthew McConaughey and Steve Zahn make a great “buddy” team – and Penelope Cruz comes in as the gutsy doctor out to save the world. There is some violence, and a few gross dead bodies, just so you know what to expect. But overall good for families with older kids.]]> <![CDATA[Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous]]> The sequel to Miss Congeniality, which came out about 3 years ago, actually takes place on screen 3 weeks after the pageant that launched our FBI heroine Gracie into the spotlight. No need to see the first movie to catch on to the background – it’s all pretty much spelled out in the first 10 minutes. This time it’s much more of a buddy movie, and Sandra Bullock’s sidekick is Regina Hall. Of course, the two are mismatched, and reluctant partners, but they end up finding common ground and working together to save the day. Some silly slapstick moments, but it’s still good to see two strong women having such a good time!]]> <![CDATA[Melinda and Melinda]]> Interesting premise: the same story told two ways simultaneously, as a drama and as a comedy. This is very much a Woody Allen movie, and this time Woody stays behind the camera and gives his role to the versatile Will Ferrell. All of Will’s lines are classic Woody! Radha Mitchell plays both Melindas, and she really delineates the characters. She’s one to watch, I know we’ll be seeing a lot of this actress. Amanda Peet is delightful, as always, as Will’s wife, a film director. The comedy version was superior to the drama version. I think it’s more difficult for Woody to play it straight. So many of the lines in the drama were melodramatic – it was a little over the top.]]> <![CDATA[Hostage]]> Bruce Willis is the conflicted hero in this super-intense drama. Lots of action, lots of violence. And a lot of the violence is on an emotional level, not the typical “shoot-em-up” Hollywood violence. It’s a tough movie to watch for this reason, but it’s very well done. When a movie has me gasping the covering my eyes I know they’ve got me hanging on until the end. Bruce Willis’ oldest daughter, Rumer, plays his daughter in this film. It’s a small role, but you can see she’s got lots of potential as an actress!]]> <![CDATA[The Upside of Anger]]> Look for a “Best Actress” nomination for Joan Allen for her role in this family drama. I have seen “The Upside of Anger” billed as a romantic comedy, but I sure wouldn’t call it that. Yes, there are some sweet and funny moments between Joan Allen and Kevin Costner, her would-be paramour, but the emphasis here is on family dynamics, and how a family functions after a crisis. The four daughters in the story are all very rich, layered characters. This is a wonderful film for women! Definitely thought-provoking.]]> <![CDATA[Robots]]> Wonderful voice cast includes Ewan McGregor, Amanda Bynes, Robin Williams and Halle Berry. The theme throughout is “it doesn’t matter what you’re made of, you can shine.” Not quite the sophisticated comedy of “The Incredibles” but fun for the whole family.]]> <![CDATA[Be Cool]]> The sequel to the very popular, money-making Get Shorty. This time John Travolta is paired with the comely Uma Thurman. Lots of great cameos. The Rock shows his funny side in an unusual role. Light-hearted fun, a nice Friday night movie for older teens and adults.]]> <![CDATA[Bride & Prejudice]]> Not for everyone, but I totally loved it! A kooky combination of Hollywood and Bollywood, with characters breaking out into choreographed musical numbers mid-sentence. The love story is corny and predictable, yet sweet and satisfying. Some funny moments, kind of a My Big Fat Indian Wedding feel to it.]]> <![CDATA[Constantine]]> Here’s Keanu Reeves, the only one who seems to get the “tortured soul who has taken on the task of saving the world” roles. This time it’s a battle between heaven and hell, waged right here on earth. Rachel Weisz has the gutsy girl part – the skeptic who comes around and eventually stands by him. Some cool effects, but pretty much by the book writing. Not my kind of movie, but not as bad as I expected it to be.]]> <![CDATA[Hitch]]> Delightful! This is the kind of movie that’s great for a fun night out – where you exit the movie theatre smiling! It’s a romantic comedy that’s actually smart – and we don’t get enough of those anymore. Will Smith is just so cute, and Kevin James is hilarious. Eva Mendez is beautiful, and not afraid to make a fool out of herself for the sake of comedy. A great cast, a charming story.]]> <![CDATA[Coach Carter]]> Samuel L. Jackson is pretty much the only “name” star in this real life story about a high school basketball coach and his team in Northern California. Great messages throughout – a real tribute to conviction and determination. The young actors playing the students are all very good. Debbie Morgan (I remember her from All My Children!) plays Jackson’s love interest. Shows how one person can make a real difference – I love movies like that!]]> <![CDATA[Hide and Seek]]> I’m not one for horror movies, or scary kid movies, so I really didn’t want to go to this one. But you know, this time of year, between the new year and Oscar time, our choices are really limited. Robert DeNiro is the dad, the adorable Dakota Fanning is the daughter. They lose their wife/mother and move to the country where we have to guess if they are living in a haunted house, or if the daughter has an imaginary friend come to life, or if they are being harassed by creepy neighbors. So, it’s a mystery. It’s not really scary – some of the “gotcha” scenes are broadcast pretty loudly so there’s no reaction by the time you get there. Some of the scenes are so cliché that you have to laugh. They set up for a sequel at the end, but I really doubt it will get that far.]]> <![CDATA[Being Julia]]> Would someone please give this girl an Oscar?! Annette Bening is nominated this year for her performance as the title character in Being Julia – a stage actress who certainly knows how to emote! Fun, sophisticated and clever, great dialogue – this is a very adult movie with a huge payoff ending that makes the whole set up just priceless.]]> <![CDATA[The Wedding Date]]> I thought this looked like a cute romantic comedy. I was disappointed. Debra Messing is darling – she’s pretty much doing a character similar to Grace from Will and Grace, but with straight hair – she looks great! And Dermot Mulroney is a looker, that’s for sure. But the premise… didn’t buy it. Not for one minute. He’s a hooker, she hires him to take her to her sister’s wedding in England because her ex-fiance is the best man and she wants everyone to think everything in her life is hunky-dorey. Somewhere along the way – and this must have wound up on the cutting room floor, because I didn’t see it! – the two fall in love. Hmmmm… the whole thing is just so questionable. I mean, he’s a hooker for crying out loud, and she falls into bed with him while she’s drunk, with no thought to “protection?” This is not an intelligent working woman. The movie is just 1 hour and 15 minutes long. I don’t feel like I got my money’s worth. Just plain dumb.]]> <![CDATA[Hotel Rwanda]]> Based on real life events. Don Cheadle stars as a hotel manager owned by a Belgium company in war-torn Rwanda. As turmoil turns to violence in this country, the hotel becomes a reluctant refugee camp. Cheadle gives a career-making performance. There is lots of violence, and some graphic scenes. But at the heart is the strong relationship of husband and wife, and the love that they have for their family and fellow man. Remarkably well done. A tragic, yet triumphant, story that needed to be told.]]> <![CDATA[The House of Flying Daggers]]> Subtitled. Beautiful Chinese movie about a Robin-Hood type of group of criminals who fight against the military. Mei is the gorgeous young martial artist who gets in the middle of it all. The cinematography is breath-taking – the martial arts moves some of the best I’ve seen for this genre. And there’s a love story! Great for a date-night. Good characters, strong story. Some cool girl power, too!]]> <![CDATA[Elektra]]> I had no expectations going in to see “Elektra.” As the mother of two teenage boys, I think I have seen every comic-book-turned-movie that has ever been made. Most of the time I end up leaving and shaking my head “never again.” But this time around I have to say that I was actually surprised. This Elektra is one cool chick! Score one for us girls!

Jennifer Garner, of TV’s “Alias” plays Elektra. She’s a troubled soul, with a shady past, a dark back-story typical of this genre. We first saw this character in another Marvel film, “Daredevil.” She supposedly died, but guess what? She was brought back to life by her Ninja Sensei! Elektra is beautiful (of course) and lives by her own code of conduct, trying to find her own way. She doesn’t fit in to “standard” society – and she doesn’t much mind given her OCD and other quirks. Yet she is emotionally caught off guard when she meets a handsome widower (Goran Visjnic) and his teenage daughter. The relationship that Elektra develops with this family helps her to work out some of her own demons and she ends up fighting some mighty nasty bad-guys in the process.

The special effects are pretty interesting. One of the bad guys has tattoos that comes to life; haven’t seen that one before! And oh, that fiery red costume – a girl can really kick some butt in that outfit!

If this movie does well, expect to see some sequels. I think we’ve seen the last of Ben Affleck’s “Daredevil” but with some decent box office returns, Elektra will live on!

]]> <![CDATA[Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events]]> Very stylized and campy. Jim Carrey chews up the scenery. A little scary for younger kids who might not get the tongue-in-cheek sturm and drang. It’s dark, but it’s supposed to be dark, that’s the gimmick. The kid actors are all darling – we’ll see lots more of them in the future!]]> <![CDATA[The Aviator]]> All I can say is “wow.” Another awesome biopic, this one about the life of Howard Hughes. It’s often been said that there is a fine line between genius and insanity, and I think this sums up Mr. Hughes pretty well. The guy was just plain brilliant, and fearless – and yet strangely paranoid at the same time. Early scenes hint at the source of the neuroses, but I don’t know if anyone really knows for sure what went though the man’s head.

Martin Scorsese directed – I’m a fan, and this is the best I’ve seen from him. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Howard Hughes convincingly – a very strong performance, and he won the Golden Globe for it this year. Cate Blanchett plays Katharine Hepburn. Wasn’t as thrilled with her, seemed kind of caricature-ish. Story is tight, cinematography is beautiful. This is one of my favorites for 2004

]]> <![CDATA[Million Dollar Baby]]> Clint Eastwood is back on my good list. The past few movies of his that I’ve seen have had him cast as the romantic leading man opposite some beautiful, much-younger girl. It was a little unsettling. I kept thinking: this guy needs to act his age! Well, guess what? In “Million Dollar Baby” he does! And he is SO good! Not only does he star in this remarkable film, he directs it, too. And he writes the music! Wow. Good for you, Clint!

Set in the world of professional boxing, this is really a movie about relationships. First you’ve got the bickering husband and wife type of relationship between best buddies Clint and his right-hand-man at the boxing gym, the always-amazing Morgan Freeman. If I have any constructive criticism for these two if would be to enunciate a little more, please. They both have this gruff, kind of under-the-breath mumble that made some of the dialogue difficult to interpret.

Hilary Swank – (gotta love her!) - comes into their lives as a scrappy young thing with ambitions of becoming a professional wrestler. Maybe not so young, at age 31 she is deemed too old to embark on such a career. Clint initially blows her off, but her persistence pays off and she eventually wins him over. They begin a manager/trainee, mentor/mentee, shadowed by a father/daughter type of relationship. They have to trust each other. We’re left wondering why his real daughter keeps returning his letters unopened – and why he goes to mass to pray everyday. This is a man with a past, but his new protégé sees him for who he is today, and that gives new meaning to his life.

It’s no surprise that Hilary Swank won for Best Actress in a drama at the Golden Globes this year. Her performance is riveting. She totally embodies this character, and this is a tough part to play. Physically and emotionally very demanding. And our buddy Clint went home with the Golden Globe for Best Director for a drama! He deserves it. There is definitely a tone set which makes “Million Dollar Baby” a classic. In a time where we are subjected to remakes, sequels, and excessive violence, this movie stands on its own as truly original. It’s a filmmaker’s film. You really care for these people, and get caught up in their lives. Well done.

By the way, Hilary Swank is also nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for this performance, and the cast of “Million Dollar Baby” is nominated for their ensemble performance.

]]> <![CDATA[The Life Aquatic]]> The previews for “The Life Aquatic” make this look like a kooky movie, and guess what? It is! It’s directed by Wes Anderson, the same guy who did “The Royal Tennenbaums.” That wasn’t one of my favorite movies, but I can’t resist Bill Murray, so I thought I’d give this one a shot. Well… I think it’s an acquired taste. I got the feeling that there were so many places where they were trying to be “off-the-wall” – and sometimes they were trying too hard. It didn’t come off as quirky as much as just plain silly to me. Props to Angelica Huston (love her!) and Jeff Goldblum for their contributions. Some nice moments, but overall, I could have missed it and not noticed.]]> <![CDATA[Meet the Fockers]]> “Meet the Fockers” has set all kinds of box office records over the holiday weekends, and with good reason. This movie is hilarious. It’s the kind of movie where you can just laugh – and don’t we all need a laugh around this time of year? Especially with the relatives in town? And it’s not so much that we’re laughing at the movie as it is that we’re laughing at ourselves. We can all relate to these characters, as exaggerated as they are. It’s just a fun time.

Ben Stiller returns in this sequel as Gaylord Focker, engaged to Teri Polo, and still trying to ingratiate himself with his future in-laws Robert DeNiro and Blythe Danner. This time the happy group goes on a road trip to meet his parents, winningly played by a charming Dustin Hoffman and the effervescent Barbra Streisand in a long-overdue return to the big screen. Streisand is a hoot! She has some of the best lines in the movie, and got some of the biggest laughs.

Of course, hilarity ensues and love wins out - but this movie is definitely worth the ride!

]]> <![CDATA[In Good Company]]> I wish there were more movies like this one. Good story, good acting, sweet messages – let’s you leave with a good feeling.

“In Good Company” is a contemporary comedy/family drama which could very well be the story of many of us today. Dennis Quaid, one of my all-time favorite actors, stars as an aging advertising exec demoted to make room for a young corporate upstart. His life is pretty shaken up anyway, so he takes this news as just another challenge to tackle. His wife, the lovely Marg Helgenberger, is pregnant, and his two teenage daughters are going through their own dramas. Scarlett Johanssen is the older daughter, going off to follow her dreams, flying the nest for New York University. So there's the tuition to think about. Scarlett plays her own age for a change, and is just wonderful.

Topher Grace plays the young up-and coming corporate exec who is "being groomed" by the powers-that-be in the conglomerate that has taken over Quaid's firm. These two have wonderful chemistry. I’ve always liked Dennis Quaid, I think he is one of the more underrated actors of our generation, and he does a great job here. Topher is the kid on “That 70’s Show” and he has got the chops! I expect him to be doing some great things in the future. His character is supposed to be the "whiz kid" but he can't get his personal life together. Things get complicated when Topher and Scarlett hook up. But then, life is complicated, anyway, right? I loved this movie!

]]> <![CDATA[The Incredibles]]> Yay, Pixar!!! They’ve done it again. The Incredibles is a real winner. Fun for everyone in the family. This is the kind of movie that you want to see on the big screen to get the full effect, and they you’ll want to buy it on DVD to watch on rainy days as a family. Craig T. Nelson voices the super-dad, Holly Hunter is the mom, “Elastigirl.” Clever writing, great animation – this one is another classic!]]> <![CDATA[The Phantom of the Opera]]> I saw the stage version of Andrew Lloyd Weber's "The Phantom of the Opera" three times in Los Angeles, with three different phantoms: Michael Crawford, Robert Guillaume, and Davis Gaines. So, obviously I liked the show. On the stage I think the Phantom is the one who really drives the show, and needs to be super charismatic. But in the movie, it is much more Christine’s story. Emmy Rossum, a newcomer, just 16 when the movie was filmed, plays the ingénue beautifully. She’s lovely, and innocent, and appropriately naïve. And, of course, her voice is spectacular. If she looks familiar it's because she played Sean Penn's daughter in "Mystic River" - and she was good in that, too!

This particular Phantom certainly has the presence, but I wasn’t impressed with his vocal ability. Minnie Driver gives comic relief as the company prima donna. The staging is beautiful, costumes elaborate. It’s a feast for the eyes. I was swept away with it. It’s a whole different experience seeing the stage production, and I certainly recommend it. But the movie is solid, and I think it would enhance the theatre experience to see it first, as it makes it easier to understand. With the use of close-ups and effects and editing, the story flows, characters are well-defined and emotions made all the more real up close and personal.

]]> <![CDATA[Spanglish]]> James L. Brooks directs – he’s so good. What’s great about Spanglish is that it’s not another one of those “dumb dad” movies. Adam Sandler plays the dad in a pretty straight role, a stretch from his usual slapstick fare. He’s good in this, I liked him a lot. Tea Leoni is the mom, and she just might get a nomination for her performance. Really real, raw, and at the same time relatable. She’s always been one of my favorite actresses, and this is a great role for her. Cloris Leachman is a hoot as her mother. Priceless! Paz Vega is the housekeeper who comes in and exposes the family to another world and forces them to look at themselves more closely.]]> <![CDATA[Ocean's Twelve]]> This is the sequel to the hugely popular “Ocean’s Eleven” with it’s all-star cast headed up by George Clooney. Brad Pitt is back, and Julia Roberts, Don Cheadle, Elliot Gould, Carl Reiner, and the darling Matt Damon. The theme is the same, the bad guys are the good guys, we’re rooting for the criminals. But it’s all in fun. This time around we’re in Europe, rather than Vegas, and we get a glimpse of George Clooney’s house on beautiful Lake Como. Pretty swanky, George!

This is just a fun, caper movie. It’s full of holes, but who cares? You kind of feel like you’re one of the gang, in on their inside secret. It’s light, and funny, a nice contrast to some of the heavier fare that comes out this time of year. I liked it!

]]> <![CDATA[Closer]]> This is an intense relationship drama, rated R for language, mostly talk about sex. Originally a play, Closer is really one dialogue after another. There’s a lot of talking, not a lot of action. The four characters are well developed and interesting – and their lives are unusually interwoven.

We first see Jude Law, a struggling writer, and Natalie Portman, a New York transplant, meet “cute” on the streets of London. Time elapses, they’re a couple, and Jude meets and falls for Julia Roberts, a portrait photographer. Then Clive Owen jumps into the mix, more time elapses, and things change for the couples.

The whole movie is these four people, and how they handle love, desire, and rejection. It’s heavy, and sometimes dark, but somehow intriguing, as if we are privy to their darkest secrets. All of the actors do well with their characters – but Natalie Portman is a stand out. She is this generation’s Audrey Hepburn.

Not for everyone, but worth seeing if you appreciate good acting.

]]> <![CDATA[Alexander]]> Sorry, but this much-anticipated epic movie is a big flop. The sets are spectacular, the costumes and make-up are absolutely gorgeous, the cinematography is amazing. But it’s all frosting and no cake. Gotta give Oliver Stone props for attempting such an ambitious project, you can clearly see all the money spent on the screen. And the little kid they found to play Alexander as a child looks SO much like Colin Farrell as a kid – it was really remarkable. I think that kid was the best actor in the bunch.

Colin Farrell, just couldn’t buy him as Alexander the Great. Especially in scenes where he has to emote – painful to watch. And Angelina Jolie, whom I usually adore, comes off like some kind of Morticia Adams with a gypsy accent. Did Alexander’s mom really collect and play with pet snakes? It was just so gimmicky it was hard to swallow.

I was hoping this would bring some light to history. My son Brian has been studying this whole era. But after reading his text books and sitting through this 3-hour movie, I’m still perplexed. Anthony Hopkins comes in every once in awhile as one of Alexander’s old buddies to give some exposition, but instead of clarifying things, it just slows down the pace. I was looking at my watch every twenty minutes. Not a good sign.

]]> <![CDATA[Kinsey]]> Well, things certainly were different in the 40’s and 50’s. This movie, which takes place during that time, never could have been made back then! And it looks like we owe this “progress” at least in part, to the work of Alfred Kinsey. The movie Kinsey is a fascinating character study. Liam Neeson portrays the title character in this film, based on true events. A really wonderful performance, giving us insight into this man’s persona. Laura Linney plays his wife – this actress has got to be the new Meryl Streep – she is so good in every part she plays.

The theme, of course, is sex. And the characters talk about it, study it, teach it, and actually practice it themselves, amongst themselves. Strong supporting performances by Peter Saarsgard, Timothy Hutton, Chris O’Connell and John Lithgow.

]]> <![CDATA[National Treasure]]> This is one of those fun movies that the whole family will enjoy! I just loved it. It’s an old-fashioned adventure movie, with a hero (played Nicolas Cage) who has his heart in the right place. It reminded me a little of Indiana Jones. There’s never a dull moment, you’re along for the ride all the way. It’s got some light, clean humor to it, which is very refreshing! Some warm messages about family, too. Take the kids. You'll have a good time!]]> <![CDATA[Sideways]]> I really wanted to like this movie. I liked the previews. And I like to support independent film. The story is good – but where the whole thing fell apart for me is that the two lead characters are just so darn unlikable. Paul Giamatti plays this kind of sad-sack loser who just can’t get his life together. You would feel sorry for him except he makes such bad decisions it’s no wonder he’s in his situation. His sidekick is played by Thomas Haden Church (he was the mechanic on the TV series “Wings” years ago), an out of work former soap star with issues of his own. They’re on a road trip, and it’s just not all that fun.

The wine and wineries featured have a co-starring role, but it was a little heavy-handed, making me feel like these characters were alcoholics rather than true connoisseurs.

Interesting premise, but could have been so much better.

]]> <![CDATA[Finding Neverland]]> Wow. There is just so much good about this movie. The acting is wonderful. Johnny Depp is going to be the Marlon Brando of our generation, he’s amazing. Depp plays playwright J.M. Barrie, and the movie is “inspired by true events” that led to the production of his play “Peter Pan.” Kate Winslet is the single mother of 4 boys who comes into Barrie’s life at a time when he needs to get back to the “play” and away from the serious. Julie Christie plays the overly critical grandmother to the hilt.

The set design is spectacular, such a fantasy. The music, everything, is just beautiful.

Although this film is rated PG, the ending might be hard for very young, or very sensitive, children to take. But I think this is a must-see for families with kids ages 10 and up. Or go without the kids and just enjoy it for yourself.

]]> <![CDATA[After the Sunset]]> Pierce Brosnan has cornered the market on the sexy spy/thief roles in our lifetime. He is hotter than ever in this role, cavorting with Salma Hayek on the beach, and strolling around the islands all tanned and tousle-haired – who says he’s too old for James Bond?

I haven’t seen Woody Harrelson in a movie in awhile – and his goofy FBI agent is a nice contrast to our suave diamond thief. These two have great chemistry – you’d think this was one of those “buddy” movies the way they play their scenes together! This could be an ongoing relationship – do I smell a sequel?

Salma Hayek is just too gorgeous – I love her clothes, her attitude, her hair – she plays this role with such ease you just want to be her!

This is a light, fun movie, perfect for date night.

]]> <![CDATA[Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason]]> This sequel stars the original cast, Renee Zellweger as Bridget herself, Colin Firth as her new beau, and Hugh Grant as the same old womanizer. This time around it’s not as much fun. Bridget still has self-esteem issues, and gets caught up in awkward situations of her own making. Firth’s character is still stodgy and stiff, and we wonder what exactly Bridget sees in him other than the fact that he actually pays attention to her sometimes. And Hugh Grant’s character has gone from silly to downright sick. There are some cute comic moments, but overall, there is this kind of low-grade depression which puts a damper on the frivolity. Not a bad movie, just not as good as the original.]]> <![CDATA[Ray]]> I’m a sucker for biographies. Truth is always more interesting to me than fiction. If someone wrote the life of Ray Charles as a novel it would be hard to believe, and yet, this amazing man lived this truly remarkable story. Luckily, someone was smart enough to put it on the big screen for all of us to witness.

The movie is so well done in every way. Jamie Foxx, most recently seen in “Collateral,” is outstanding in the title role. As Ray goes through a plethora of both ages and emotions, Foxx shows his broad range. This is an award-worthy performance from a gifted actor.

The way the scenes move from Ray as an adult, to Ray looking back on his childhood, gives us glimpses into the events that shaped this man’s character.

The music, of course, is awesome – mostly vintage Ray Charles himself.

Well directed, well written, well shot.

Rated R for scenes of drug use and language. I think mature teens 14 and up could handle it.

]]> <![CDATA[Alfie]]> Alfie is billed as a romantic comedy, and while it does have its romantic, and funny, moments, overall it’s just kind of a sad portrait of a contemporary man who can’t seem to get his life together.

Jude Law is Alfie – a confident, self-assured Manhattanite who wants more out of life but doesn’t know how to get it. Like many in his situation, he keeps repeating his behaviors and is disappointed when circumstances don’t change. Jude Law is charming in the role, especially when he addresses the camera, and we quickly feel like we know him. And maybe we do, we each probably have an Alfie somewhere in our lives.

Marisa Tomei as one of Alfie’s lady loves is luminescent. I love this actress, always have. Her scenes are the most real, the most heartfelt in the film. Susan Sarandon looks amazing – sexy as ever. She eats up this role and it’s clear she’s having a good time with it. Perfect casting!

This is a remake of the earlier film, and has been updated for current times. But how much do things really change? There are likely many “Alfie’s” out there, which makes this a poignant commentary on single life in the big city today.

]]> <![CDATA[Shark Tale]]> I was never a Jack Black fan, but “School of Rock” changed all that. Now he’s in another wonderful family-friendly film and I like this guy a lot. Jack Black and Will Smith voice the lead characters in this “fish out of water” story. Black is a vegetarian shark, and Smith is a cocky schemer looking to move up in the world. The two team up to help each other and end up best friends.

Renee Zellweger voices the sweet girl fish and Angelina Jolie is the saucy one. Fun cameos from Robert DeNiro and Martin Scorcese make this film a treat fo accompanying parents. Although my husband and I saw Shark Tale on date night and found it to be perfectly delightful!

Messages about loyalty, and being true to yourself – along with some clever musical numbers.

]]> <![CDATA[I (Heart) Huckabees]]> Offbeat title for an offbeat film – “Huckabees” is the department store that ties several of the characters together. This is an ensemble comedy, and you can never quite tell where it’s going because it’s going places we’ve never quite been to before! It asks the big questions, and looks at the possibilities in a quirky, tongue-in-cheek-kind of way. But the bigger question is, can we sort through all the quirkiness to understand what’s going on here?

It’s a romp, and we’re along for the ride. As long as we don’t take it too seriously, we might just have a good time.

Not for everyone, but if you’re looking for something different, this just might be it. Great to see Lily Tomlin on screen again!

]]> <![CDATA[Birth]]> Certain movies are designed to make you think. Birth is one of them. You can’t help but take notice. It picks you up and drops you into this woman’s life. The “what ifs” keep comning, and when you’re not thinking about what is happening, you’re thinking about what she could be thinking!

Nicole Kidman is the woman in question, a young widow faced with the possible reincarnation of her dead husband. Her life goes from content to tortuous as the events unravel that lead her to question a child’s identity, and her own sanity. Kidman is mesmerizing - when she is lost in thought we’re lost right along with her.

This movie stimulated more conversation in my household afterwards than any movie has in a long time.

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