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Internet Movie Database
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04 Jan

Gran Torino

Grade: A

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.
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04 Jan

Good Night and Good Luck

Grade: A-

Good Night and Good Luck is the true story of Edward R. Murrow and all that was going on with the McCarthy hearings around that time. David Straithern is totally Edward R. Murrow – you forget he’s acting! George Clooney directs, and plays Murrow’s producer, Fred Friendly. Clooney’s character definitely takes a back seat to Murrow, who is up front and on the air during the whole controversy, but he is no less involved. The movie plays more like a documentary than a feature film. It is shot in black and white, without a soundtrack. Wonderful supporting performances from Patricia Clarkson and Robert Downey Jr. There is lots of authentic footage from news at the time. It’s really a history lesson. So although it is an amazing movie, it’s not for everyone – it’s definitely for the true film fan.
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04 Jan

Going the Distance

Grade: B

Romantic Comedy about a long distance romance.  Drew Barrymore is 31 years old and finishing up grad school and a 6 week summer internship in New York City when she meets dream boat Justin Long (Drew’s real life boyfriend!) Even though they promise nothing serious, they fall in love, and agree to try the long distance thing while she finishes school in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Time goes by, and they overcome all kinds of challenges, and characters that threaten to break them up, until too much time goes by and they’re at a cross-roads.

Christina Applegate plays Drew’s big sister and the two of them are really darling together.  Justin has two obnoxious roommates who serve as comic relief whenever things get too intense, they’re the kind of guys who just don’t grow up, the kind of guy that Justin decides he doesn’t want to be.

Sweet movie, nice take on modern day relationships. Rated R for a butt shot, sexual innuendo, language.
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04 Jan

Glory Road

Grade: A

Based on a true story, Glory Road is set in the world of college basketball. Josh Lucas stars as Don Haskins, who is hired away from a high school girl’s basketball team to coach Texas Western. Emily Deschanel, from the TV show “Bones” plays his wife. The only other name actors in the whole movie are Jon Voight, as an opposing team’s coach, and Derek Luke, as one of the players on the team. I love true stories, and underdog stories, and make-a-difference stories, and Glory Road just has it all. It’s eye-opening to see the kind of discrimination that these young men faced as they were really changing the whole game of basketball. There are lots of great game scenes, and I found myself cheering out loud, I couldn’t help it! And there are great relationships – people learn and grow and that’s always great to see in a movie. This is a take the kids (probably 10 and up they’ll understand it) movie, that everyone in the family will really enjoy. There’s a lot to talk about afterwards, too. A little bit of violence, so be prepared. This isn’t a sticky sweet Disney movie, it just has a really happy ending. Be sure to stay through the credits. At the very end there are interviews with current players and people involved in the big game, including Don Haskins and Pat Riley – yes, that Pat Riley! It’s fascinating.
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04 Jan

Ghost Town

Grade: B+
“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.
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04 Jan

Get Smart

Grade: B-

This movie version of Get Smart lacks a lot of the charm and quirkiness of the old television series.  Steve Carrell steps into the role of Maxwell Smart, rookie agent 86.  The part seems tailor made for Carrell, it’s not a big stretch for him acting-wise given the other characters he has played so well. Max is also a little dry, a little clueless, a little overconfident.  Dwayne Johnson (who dropped the nickname “Rock” for this movie) is suave, experienced agent 23.  Anne Hathaway is charming as the love interest, agent 99.  Max and 99 get set up on a case, Max is inept, but smarter than the bad guys.  99 falls for him, but doesn’t have confidence in his abilities.  Misunderstandings and hilarity ensue, and all’s well that ends well… of course!
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04 Jan

Get On Up

Grade: B

Get On Up is the biography of James Brown – a super talented performer, who also happened to be brilliant and savvy about the music business.  He was able to rise from extreme poverty to become one of the most recognized and revered talents in the industry. This is also a history lesson as to what was going on in the country during the 60’s. Amazing performances – a must-see if you love music.
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04 Jan

Fun With Dick and Jane

Grade: C+

I need to go back and watch the original of “Fun With Dick and Jane” and see what I think of it. For some reason someone thought this was worth remaking. I guess the idea behind it could be funny – parents desperate enough to resort to a life of crime to feed the family? Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni certainly make it funny. The comedy is plenty physical with broad strokes – and there are lots of laughs to go around. but then you get to thinking about it and it’s all rather sad. These characters are good people, who are in a terrible situation. Alec Baldwin is the bad guy who eventually gets his come-uppance, but then again… is it enough of one? Basically the movie is kind of like junk food – good for a few bites, but ultimately unsatisfying.
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04 Jan

Frozen

Grade: A

Frozen, based on the classic tale “The Snow Queen” by Hans Christian Anderson, is another beautiful animated film from Disney.  But this one is a bit different – there’s no wedding at the end – the girls don’t need a guy to “save” them – and the love story is about sisterly love!  Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel voice the sisters.  There’s lots of humor, and the artwork is spectacular. Definitely a must-see for Disney fans.
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04 Jan

Frost/Nixon

Grade: B

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.

 
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