My October 2007 Viewings

Includes my personal ratings.
Recommended DVDs in bold.

Greenfingers 10/29/07 (C)
The Mudge Boy 10/29/07 (B-)
Crash (1984) 10/25/07 (C-)
The TV Set 10/24/07
Freedom Writers 10/22/07 (B)
Ballykissangel 2:2 10/17/07 (B)
Miss Potter 10/12/07 (B+)
Wild Hogs 10/12/07 (C-)
Boston Legal 3:4 10/09/07 (B)
Lonely Hearts 10/08/07 (B)
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia 1&2:3 10/05/07 (C+)
Ballykissangel 2:1 10/02/07 (B)
Boston Legal 3:3 10/02/07 (B)

Miss Potter (2007)

A bread and blackberry dinner with chamomile tea . . .

Despite a few inaccuracies, Miss Potter tells the true story of the talented artist and storyteller, Beatrix Potter (Renée Zellweger) as she rises from the Victorian era to be a strong, independent, self-suffient yet genteel single woman who leaves her parents' city home for life in her beloved Lake District.

I've been a big fan of Potter for over 40 years now and have probably read every biography available on her life and many articles, too.

Beatrix turned down the opportunity for romance for many years, much to the exasperation of her parents Rupert (Bill Paterson) and Helen (Barbara Flynn). She preferred to spend hours studying nature, observing her many wild pets, and drawing them. In time, she begins to write little stories about the animals she's drawn.

In time she determined that these would make fine books and set about to get them published. While in truth, Beatrix self-published several books prior to finding a publisher, the film moves her right to the offices of Warne & Co. who assign the untested new brother in the firm to watch over publication of Potter's "little stories."

What develops is not only one of publishing's most successful stories but also the development of mature love and companionship between Beatrix and Norman Warne (Ewan McGregor).

A charming family film and inspiration, directed by Chris Noonan.

Rated PG brief mild language.

My personal rating: B

Lonely Hearts (2007)

Bonnie and Clyde of the 1940s

Raymond Fernandez (Jared Leto), a con man who meets single, rich women through personal ads, joins forces with Martha Beck (Salma Hayek) in both a romance and in killing at least 12 women across the country who responded to their lonely hearts ads.

Detective Elmer C. Robinson (John Travolta) and Detective Charles Hildebrandt (James Gandolfini) are assigned to bring the couple to justice.

Co-stars include Laura Dern and Scott Caan.

This film is based on a true story and writer/director Todd Robinson is the grandson of Elmer C. Robinson (Travolta's role).

A caution for the squeamish: Lots of violence, but I think this was a very well done story.

Rated R for strong violence and sexual content, nudity and language.