My May 2008 Viewings

sIncludes my personal ratings.
Recommended DVDs in bold.
Underlined titles are direct links to reviews.

Living Out Loud 05/30/08 (B-)
Tell Me a Riddle 05/29/08 (B)
Monarch of the Glen 4:1 05/28/08 (B)
I Witness 05/27/08 (B-)
The Last Request 05/27/08 (F-)
El Cortez 05/26/08 (B-)
Speakeasy 05/25/08 (C+)
The Italian 05/24/08 (B)
Broken English 05/23/08 (C+)
2 Days in Paris 05/22/08 (C-)
Everyday People 05/21/08 (C)
Employee of the Month 05/20/08 (C)
Mad Money 05/19/08 (D)
The Namesake 05/18/08 (B)
Monarch of the Glen 3:3 05/17/08 (B)
In Her Shoes 05/16/08 (B-)
Starting Out in the Evening 05/14/08 (B)
Vitus 05/13/08 (B)
Diggers 05/12/08 (C+)
We Own the Night 05/12/08 (B)
The Jane Austen Book Club 05/11/08 (B)
Monarch of the Glen 3:2 05/10/08 (B)
Charlie Wilson's War 05/09/08 (B+)
The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton 05/07/08 (C+)
Griffin & Phoenix 05/05/08 (B-)
Molière 05/03/08 (C)
Still Crazy 05/02/08 (C)
The Wedding Date 05/01/08 (C+)
28

Living Out Loud (1998)

Judith Nelson (Holly Hunter) is sinking in her own depression. She'd given up medical school nearly 20 years prior to marry the man of her dreams. But now Martin (Robert Donovan) has left her for a younger woman, a pediatrician, who is pregnant -- a pregnancy denied Judith because Robert didn't want children even though she did.

Judith wallows in her bitterness as she goes through the routine of daily life and tries to cope with it by partying and drinking too much.

Pat Francato (Danny DeVito) is depressed, too. He's really a very sweet and earnest man who lost his marriage due to his gambling and inability to fulfill his goals for a decent future for his family. He's in trouble with the mob for gambling debts, but worst of all, he's reeling from the tragic death of his teenaged daughter.

Two needy people in deep pain come together when Pat takes a job as elevator man at Judith's NYC luxury apartment. Their tentative friendship begins to grow, with fits and starts and great fragility, as both learn how to trust again and move forward.

Judith introduces Pat to Liz Bailey (Queen Latifah), a marvelous jazz singer at a lounge Judith frequents. Liz is facing her own issues with her boyfriend Gary (Clark Anderson) who may only be using her to advance his own singing career.

Richard Schiff appears as Pat's brother, a barkeep who tries to help Pat get out of debt, and Eddie Cibrian is a masseur who helps Judith set her feelings free.

Some really wonderful jazz and blues song permeate the soundtrack giving another dimension to the entire film.

Written and directed by Richard LaGravenese.

Rated R for language, and for some drug content and sexuality.

My personal rating: B-

Tell Me a Riddle (1980)

Eva (Lila Kedrova) and David (Melvyn Douglas) came to the USA from Russia when they were young to escape the pogrames. They established their lives here and raised a family but Eva spent a lifetime reflecting on the past when she and David (played by Nora Heflin and Peter Coyote) were young, what had happened to them, and the consolation she'd found in books.

Now, as an elderly couple, they differ on what they want for the future. David can't maintain their big family home any longer and wants to move to a community for retired members of his union where he'll have many friends and activities. But Eva wants nothing more than the familiarity of the home where they raised their children and her own desired isolation from others.

When Eva is diagnosed with a terminal illness, David decides they should go to visit their children and grandchildren -- but secretly he hopes their family home will sell while they are away, even though Eva knows nothing of his plans.

They end up in San Francisco living in a small apartment in the Latino district with their granddaughter Jeannie (Brooke Adams), a nurse who is particularly sensitive to the needs of both her Nana and Papa and who tries to help them through this life transition.

Lili Valenty appears as Mrs. Mays, a former Detroit neighbor of Eva and David's who now lives alone in a room with shared bathroom in a hovel of an apartment building near Jeannie's.

Lovingly directed by Lee Grant. Based on Tillie Olsen's O.Henry award-winning novella.

My personal rating: B

The Last Request (2006)

This one ranks right down there among the worst films I've ever seen. Pity since there's some talent there. Makes me wonder how any of them could have thought this was a viable prospect.

Pop (Danny Aiello) a comedian, is dying and his deathbed wish is that one of his two sons gives him "a brat" of a grandchild. Playboy son Tom (Nick Scotti) is the one likely to succeed but he dies in the effort. So the second son, Jeff (T.R. Knight), a seminarian, is pressed into action. But first he must get passed the head of the seminary, Father Patton (Vincent Pastore), who runs the operation like a boot camp.

Jeff's ditzy mother (Barbara Feldman) takes every opportunity to degrade him while she waxes poetic about her beloved and now deceased son Tom.

Jeff goes to work in a nursing home where he teaches acting to the residents with Mr. Oliver (Mario Cantone) and sets about to find the eventual mother of his child. He seeks professional advice from psychiatrist/cobbler Angelos (Joe Piscopo).

In a particularly hideous scene Jeff courts co-joined twins (Kim and Misty Ormiston). An on-going tasteless "gag" is that Grandma (Irma St. Paule) fell down a flight of stairs and even days later, still lays there in her pretty pink suit and in good humor.

Others who make appearances in this stupid film include Frank Vincent, Sabrina Lloyd, Tony Lo Bianco, Gilbert Gottfried (who was appropriately cast as a bum).

Written and directed by John DeBellis.

Rated R for sexual content.

My personal rating: F-

I Witness (2003)

Human rights activist James Rhodes (Jeff Daniels) is set to oversee union elections in Tijuana in a factory owned by an American company. He is frustrated to see that a US Federal Trade Commission representative, Emily Thompson (Portia de Rossi), is also present and Rhodes suspects there's a set up by the American company to assure that the union doesn't get a hold of the factory employees.

Meantime, 27 Mexicans, men, women and children, are found dead in a tunnel across to the USA and two young American men have disappeard. While many suspect it's the work of a drug cartel, Rhodes wonders if it has to do with the union vote.

Despite protests from Tijuana police Detective Claudio Castillo (Clifton Collins Jr.), Rhodes becomes deeply involved in the investigation. Douglas Draper (James Spader), who is with the US consulate in Mexico City and is an old friend of both Rhoades and Thompson, also investigates.

Lots of turns, twists and suspense as the story unfolds, and what are Police Captain Madrid's (Jordi Caballero) motives, anyhow?

Directed by Rowdy Herrington.

Unrated; apparently this film went straight to DVD and did not have a theatrical release.

My personal rating: B-

El Cortez (2006)

Neo-Noir Pulp

Manny DeSilva (Lou Diamond Phillips), an mildly autistic man recently released from a prison for the criminally insane, finds work as the desk clerk at Hotel El Cortez, a seedy dive in Reno.

He's really an innocent, pure of heart, but he gets sucked into the lives of Theda (Tracy Middendorf), a seductive blonde, and her insanely jealous heroin dealer boyfriend Jack (Glenn Plummer); Popcorn (Bruce Weitz), a wheelchair-bound wheeler dealer who wants to cut Manny in on his gold mine deal; Carlo Russo (Peter Onorati, who also wrote the script) Popcorn's investor target; and Arnie (James McDaniel), a no-holds-barred cop trying to get enough evidence on Jack to put him away.

Several interesting twists and turns kept me guessing.

The soundtrack is pretty much terrific funky blues guitar licks that really set the right tone.

Directed by Stephen Purvis.

Rated R for language, sexuality, some violence and drug content.

My personal rating: B-

Speakeasy (2002)

.
"We are immortal
until our work is done."

When Bruce Hickman (David Strathairn) and Frank Marnikov (Nicky Katt, who seems to be trying to channel Cantiflas) literally bump into each other -- a minor car accident -- they form a curious friendship which actually runs deeper than either suspect or may ever know.

Stacy Edwards and Lake Bell appear as their wives; Arthur Hiller is Bruce's cantankerous, deaf father-in-law; and Christopher McDonald plays the man who may be stealing the heart of Bruce's wife.

Written and directed by Brendan Murphy. This film was the first winner of the HBO Green Light Project which was the brainchild of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon to develop new filmmakers.

Rated PG-13 for some language.

My personal rating: C+

The Italian (2005)

Italianetz

This is the touching tale of six-year-old Vanya Solntsev (Kolya Spiridonov) who lives in a Russian orphanage. When Madam (Mariya Kuznetsova), the adoption broker, and her driver Grisha (Nikolai Reutov) bring an Italian couple to meet Vanya, the wheels are set in motion between Madam and the orphanage headmaster (Yuri Itskov) to make handsome profits from the adoption.

But in the two months of wait time until the adoption is completed and the Italians return to take Vanya home, the little boy thinks deeply about his birthmother and whether or not she is alive, if she was forced to give up her child, or if she'd abandoned Vanya. He is driven to find out and the resourceful child must suffer the slings of the older bully orphans and entrapment by the headmaster, while getting aid from the charming teenager Irka (Olga Shuvalova).

Can Vanya find the truth despite all odds and a long journey, mostly on his own?

What a fascinating and well done little film. And young Kolya Spiridonov has all the acting smarts of a seasoned pro.

Directed by Andrei Kravchuk.

Subtitles.

My personal rating: B

Broken English (2007)

Attractive and successful in her career as a concierge in a top NYC hotel, Nora Wilder (Parker Posey) is left with a lingering emptiness. She longs for what her friend Audrey (Drea de Matteo) has -- a husband (Tim Guinee).

Nora's pushy mother (Gena Rowlands) desperately wants grandchildren and nags Nora to settle down already as Nora's step-father (Peter Bogdanovich) watches on benignly.

But Nora's life is a series of disappointments and one-night stands, punctuated with a huge exclamation point in the form of an actor, Nick Gable (Justin Theroux) who makes Nora feel that this could really be "the one." But again, her hopes are dashed when she realizes she's been used.

Finally, a French charmer, Julien (Melvil Poupaud) comes into her life but Nora is so gun-shy, she has trouble trusting and the thought of this relationship being real sends her into high anxiety. Though he seems sincere, Nora can't trust enough and is, once again, alone.

With friend Audrey's marriage crumbling, Nora and Audrey head off for a holiday in Paris. Can this be the adventure Nora needs to muster herself to accept who she is and have the confidence to follow up the previous "French connection"?

Roy Thinnes, Dana Ivey and William Wise have small roles.

Written and directed by Zoe R. Cassavetes. who follows in her father's footsteps in independent filmmaking.

Rated PG-13 for some sexual content, brief drug use and language.

My personal rating: C+

2 Days in Paris (2007)

"This isn't Paris.
This is hell!"

Parisian photographer Marion (Julie Delpy) and her long-term boyfriend Jack (Adam Goldberg) decide to take a European holiday to try to refresh their romance. While Venice was a bust due to tummy woes, they hoped that visiting Marion's beloved Paris would be just what they needed.

But Jack is soon left mystifed and frustrated due to Marion's French-only conversations with her parents Anna and Jeannot (Marie Pillet, Albert Delpy) but especially when he realizes that Paris is full of Marion's former lovers who all seem to still hold her in high esteem and she remains more than cordial to them.

Can this relationship be saved? Do we care? I didn't.

Written and directed by Julie Delpy.

My personal rating: C-

Everyday People (2004)

Shock, Denial, Resentment

When Raskin's, a classic Brooklyn restaurant and neighborhood anchor, is sold to developers, owner Ira (Jordan Gelber) leaves it to manager Arthur (Stephen McKinley Henderson) to inform the staff.

The ensemble cast ranges from playing waiters and kitchen staff staff to a representative of the developer to a curbside Black rights prophet to others in the 'hood who will be affected by this serious change in their lives.

Cast members include: Steve Axelrod, Bridget Barkan, Ron Ben Israel, David Brummel, Reg E. Cathey, Billoah Greene, and Ramon Fernandez.

An interesting study of what community means.

Written and directed by Jim McKay.

My personal rating: C

Employee of the Month (2004)

All is not as it seems

David Walsh (Matt Dillon) is not having a good day. Thinking he's called to his bank supervisor's office to hear that he's been named Employee of the Month, I finds out instead that he's been fired for poor performance. Hoping for consolation from his fiancée Sara (Christina Applegate), instead she informs him that she's dumping him because she's discoverd that he's apparently having an affair with Wendy (Andrea Bendewald), one of his co-workers and a good friend of Sara's.

David's unlikey friend, the very hinky Jack (Steve Zahn) assures David that there's a reason for everything, but when, the next day, David is taken hostage during a bank robber, it's hard to imagine what reason there would be for such a stretch of rotten luck. Or is it rotten luck?

Paul Dooley plays Sara's father, the Reverend Goodwin. Dave Foley also has a small role.

By the way, after seeing Christina Applegate in this film, I realized that she and Jennifer Aniston need to pair up as sisters in a future film!

Written and directed by Mitch Raush.

Rated R for strong violence, sexuality and language.

My personal rating: C

Mad Money (2008)

Don Cardigan (Ted Danson) has been downsized from his high level job and despite a year of job hunting, he and his wife Bridget (Diane Keaton) are facing foreclosure on their home.

After decades out of the work force, Bridget takes a job a housekeeper at the Federal Reserve. When she realizes that a million dollars are shredded every day right there where she works, she hatching the idea to simply recycle the unshredded bills. She unites with single mom Nina Brewer (Queen Latifah) and ditzy young Jackie Truman (Katie Holmes) to form the most unlikely trio of heisters ever known.

While they may succeed with stealing the loot, they fail to deliver characters that could evoke empathy and also failed to deliver laughs in what is billed as a comedy. Deadly boring stuff here, folks. No wonder it was released in January and went to DVD in near record time.

Directed by Callie Khouri.

Rated PG-13 for sexual material and language, and brief drug references.

My personal rating: D

The Namesake (2006)

Bengali Ashoke Ganguli (Irrfan Khan), a graduate student in NYC, returns to his native India to take his arranged bride, aspiring singer Ashima (Tabu) in all the tradition of their culture. He returns to the USA with his bride and they settle into to raising a family and his pursuit of professorship. Their first born, a son, Gogol (Kal Penn), is named for Russian author Nikolai Gogol, Shortly after, their daughter Sonia (Sahira Nair) is born.

Gogol and Sonia grow up as rather indulged, securely middle class Americans and, in the process, reject much of the tradition of their parents and their parents Bengali friends who live nearby. Gogol, in pretty much typical American teen/young adult fashion, grows distainful of his "odd" name and critical of his parents' choices. He wants nothing to do with the old ways and even has a blonde, blue-eyed American girlfriend, Maxine (Jacinda Barrett) and takes the name Nikhil, or Nicky to his friends.

Nicky continues to distance himself from his parents and their Old World ways -- until tragedy strikes and he must come to terms with his culture and heritage like a man.

Such a tender and well done film spanning several decades of a family. Superb acting and a wonderful insight into the culture of India.

Directed by Mira Nair.

Rated PG-13 for sexuality/nudity, a scene of drug use, some disturbing images and brief language.

My personal rating: B

In Her Shoes (2005)

Beautiful airhead Maggie (Cameron Diaz) and plain, stable Rose (Toni Collette) are the most unlikely of sisters. Maggie's goal in life is to have fun and invade on her sister's life as much as possible while level-headed, responsible Rose, the older sister, feels the need to constantly bail out and help Maggie because the pattern was established when they were young and their mother died.

Their father (Richard Burgi) was emotionally distant from the girls and their jealous step-mother Sydell (Candice Azzara) never really liked Rose and Maggie. There were no other apparent relatives to help so young Rose took on all the duties of mothering little Maggie and buffering her from the reality of the family secrets.

When Rose finds Maggie having sex with Rose's boyfriend, Rose has finally had enough and throws Maggie out. Maggie, with nowhere else to go, finds the long-lost and presumed dead or uninterested maternal grandmother, Ella Hirsch (Shirley McClaine), living in a retirement community in Florida. Through Ella, Maggie learns about the family drama and, in time, grows to be a more responsible person and appreciate all that Rose has done for her.

I really wasn't prepared to enjoy this film beyond just being "another ditzy Diaz comedy" but once the film got going, there was much more depth and complexity than I expected.

Directed by Curtis Hanson and based on a novel by Jennifer Weiner.

Rated PG-13 for thematic material, language and some sexual content.

My personal rating: B-

Starting Out in the Evening

Grad student Heather Wolfe (Lauren Ambrose) has selected aging novelist Leonard Schiller (Frank Langella) as the subject of her thesis. While all of Schiller's novels are out-of-print and he struggles to write just one more before he dies, Heather is certain that her thesis will get him the attention he deserves.

Heather becomes so obsessed with Schiller that she pretty much demands his attentions much of the time to answer her questions which means he grows even more frustrated in his attempts to write. She also managed to have him give her a key to his NYC apartment so she can come and go at will. Her presence also interfers with his writing time. Meanwhile, Schiller's daughter Ariel (Lily Taylor), who is dealing with her own personal drama, is guarded and jealous of the time Heather demands of Schiller.

Directed by Andrew Wagner. Based on a novel by Brian Morton.

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, language and brief nudity.

My personal rating: B

Vitus (2006)

.
Six-year-old Vitus Von Holzen (Fabrizio Borsani) is a brilliant protegy with an astonishing ability as a pianist. By age 12, Vitus (Teo Gheorghiu) is internationally reknown. But he rebels against the strict schedule and demands his parents (Julika Jenkins, Urs Jucker) have imposed on him and that rule out any other opportunity for his self expression and new experiences.

Ultimately, Vitus uses his musical talent to finance the life expanding dreams inspired by his beloved Grandfather (Bruno Ganz)

This Swiss-made film was written and directed by Fredi M. Murer.

Subtitles.

Rated PG for mild thematic elements and language.

My personal rating: B

Diggers (2006)

Life, Love, Death

and Growing Up

Long Island. 1976. Four friend Hunt (Paul Rudd), Lozo (Ken Marino), Jack (Ron Eldard) and Cons (Josh Hamilton) continue their family tradition as clam diggers. But times are changing and big corporations are taking over the clamming business leaving little room for the family run operations.

The men are drawn even closer together when Hunt's father dies and the friends are left pondering their own futures.

Can Hunt make something of his life by pursuing his passion for photography and what is to become of his new-found relationship with Zoey (Lauren Ambrose), a wealthy young woman who is "slumming" out on the island?

Can Lozo get other work to support his wife (Sarah Paulson) and many children? Will womanizing Jack settle down with Hunt's sister Gina (Maura Tierney)? And what is to become of Cons, who deals drugs?

Directed by Katherine Dieckmann.

Rated R for language, drug use and some sexual content.

My personal rating: C+

We Own the Night (2007)

1988 NYC

Who Owns the Night

Bobby Green (Joaquin Phoenix), who adopted his mother's maiden name because "it's easier to pronounce," goes from being a bartender to managing one of the hottest clubs in NYC. Joe's father, Deputy Police Chief Albert 'Bert' Grusinsky (Robert Duvall) and brother Police Capt. Joseph 'Joe' Grusinsky (Mark Wahlberg) are disgusted with Joe because the club is owned by the kingpin of the Russian Mafia and the club is also the den of major drug distribution.

Bert informs Bobby that the cops are cracking down on drug trafficing and are going after the Russian Mafia to "take back the night" so Bobby needs to make a choice.

When his club is busted, Bobby is hauled to jail but is released soon after due to his father's intervention. But when brother Joe is shot point blank by the Mafia and Bobby is informed by the gangster's the Bert is next, Bobby's loyalty is tested -- and the war is on..

Eva Mendes plays Bobby's girlfriend.

Written and directed by James Gray.

Rated R for strong violence, drug material, language, some sexual content and brief nudity.

My personal rating: B

The Jane Austen Book Club (2007)

What Would Jane Do?

When Sylvia's (Amy Brenneman) marriage breaks apart, her friends Jocelyn (Maria Bello) and Bernadette (Kathy Baker) organize a Jane Austen book club to distract her. Sylvia's young adult daughter Allegra (Maggie Grace) joins as do two strangers: Prudie (Emily Blunt) who is feed up with her selfish husband and contemplating an affair with one of her high school students (Kevin Zegers) and Grigg (Hugh Dancy), who is smitten with Jocelyn.

Each member is assigned a book they will all read and discuss at their montly meetings and in so doing, each members' foibles are exposed in Jane Austen's six novels.

Prudie's hippie mother, Mama Sky (Lynn Redgrave) and husband Dean (Marc Blucas), and Sylvia's philandering husband Daniel (Jimmy Smits) weave throughout the film.

One doesn't need to know the Jane Austen novels to appreciate this fine ensemble film -- but it might inspire some to read them.

Screenplay and directed by Robin Swicord; based on a novel by Karen Joy Fowler.

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, sexual content, brief strong language and some drug use.

My personal rating: B

Charlie Wilson's War (2007)

A rogue socialite inspires a rogue congressman to secure, with the help of a rogue CIA agent, extensive USA assistance -- and unusual world aid, too -- to help the Afghanis roust out the communists which resulted in the ultimate demise of the Soviet Republic.

Based on the true story of Congressman Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks), a fun-loving womanizer and minor representative who happened to have seats on a couple of powerful House committees, including the one overseeing covert operations.

In the 1980s, the Soviets were actively brutalizing Afghanistan -- and winning. Texas socialite Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts) took an interest in the plight of the Afghanis and called upon Wilson to do something about it. When Wilson called on the CIA for information from a high level officer, he was sent a CIA outcast, Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who ends up sharing Wilson and Herring's passion for justice.

Wilson's able-bodied executive assistant, Bonnie Bach, is played by Amy Adam. Emily Blunt and Ned Beatty have minor roles.

Directed by Mike Nichols

Rated R for strong language, nudity/sexual content and some drug use.

My personal rating: B+

The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton (2006)

In Victorian England, housewives came to rely on Mrs. Isabella Beeton's (Maureen Bennett) books and columns about domestic management and cookbooks. The irony was that Mrs. Beeton wasn't able to manage her own household and couldn't cook.

But an early marriage to book and magazine publisher Sam Beeton (JJ Feild) meant she went to work in his publishing house, first as an editor and then as a writer.

This made-for-tv movie takes a lighthearted approach to Mrs. Beeton's career but also tells the tragedy of the publishing company's bankruptcy, Mrs. Beeton's several miscarriages, and finally her death from puerperal fever before she was 30.

Directed for BBC by Jon Jones.

Run Time: 1 hour, 25 minutes

My personal rating: C+

Griffin & Phoenix (2006)

.

Bittersweet Love

Griffin (Dermot Mulroney) has received devastating news. The multiple tumors in his chest are inoperable and he has perhaps a year to live. While taking a Death and Dying class at a university, he meets Phoenix (Amanda Peet), an assistant dean at the university, who is auditing the class.

Griffin is intrigued by her and flirts. Phoenix is also intrigued by him but keeps her distance, warming to him slowly. In time, as they have unusual adventures together, they fall in love. But then Phoenix learns the truth about Griffin and Griffin discovers something he never expected about Phoenix.

A touching love story, though sappy at times.

Blair Brown has a minor role as the wife of a hospitalized man who gives Phoenix and Griffin some insight into love.

Directed by Ed Stone. This film was produced for Lifetime TV.

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, some thematic elements, and brief strong language.

My personal rating: B-

Molière (2007)

Jean-Baptist Poquelin (Romain Duris), later know to the world as Molière, spent time in debtors' prison as a young man when his fledgling theatre company went bankrupt. According to this film, Molière was bailed out by the wealthy Monsieur Jourdain (Fabrice Luchini) who has a plan.

M. Jourdain brings Molière into his home disguised as Tartuffe, an austere priest, but actually Molière must redeem himself by helping Jourdain seduce the beautiful young widow, Marquise Célimène (Ludivine Sagnier) with a one-act play. Of course, since Jourdain is married to Elmire (Laura Morante), everything must be kept hush-hush, and so the guise of the priest.

But things turn even more complicated when the young Molière and Elmire fall in love. And then there's the scheming Count Dorante (Edouard Baer) who conspires to marry his son Thomas (Gillian Petrovsky) to Jourdain's daughter Henriette (Fanny Valette) even though Henriette is in love with her music teacher Valere (Gonzague Requillart).

Directed by Laurent Tirard.

Subtitles.

My personal rating: B

Still Crazy (1998)

.

Rock On!

Once upon a time, Strange Fruit was one of the hippest rock bands around. When lead singer Keith Lovell died of a drug overdose, his brother, guitarist Brian Lovell (Bruce Robinson), and the rest of the band -- Tony Costello (Stephen Rea), bassist Les Wickes (Jimmy Nail) and drummer Beano Baggot (Timothy Spall) -- plod on and replace Keith with Ray Simms (Bill Nighy).

Bad blood runs hot among the band members and after a major lightening strike onstage during their open air performance at the Wisbech Rock Festival, the band takes it as a sign to disband and each goes off their own way to assume lives outside of music.

Twenty years later, Tony, who services condom machines at a resort, is approached by the Wisbech organizers who want to have a reunion concert. Tony recruits the assistance of the band's former manager Karen (Juliet Aubrey) to track down the other band members: Les, now a roofer, Beano, who lives in a trailer on his mother's farm, and Ray, a struggling solo singer who lives in grandious style he can't afford with his wife, Astrid (Helena Bergström).

They tentatively agree to reassemble the band and see if they can get a second chance, but Tony and Karen have some evidence leading to the conclusion that Brian, who had always been the love of Karen's heart, is dead. With their old road dog Hughie (Billy Connolly) and a big tour bus, the crew sets out built a fan base across Europe and see if they can do it before the big reunion show at Wisbech.

Directed by Brian Gibson.

Rated R for language, sexuality and drug content.

My personal rating: C+

The Wedding Date (2005)

Kat Ellis (Debra Messing) doesn't really want to travel from her NYC home to England but she really has to go -- family matters.

Her sister Amy (Amy Adams) is getting married and Kat's pushy mother Bunny (Holland Taylor) wouldn't hear of Kat missing all the events leading up to the wedding even though Kat's ex-fiance Jeffrey (Jeremy Sheffield), who dumped Kat nearly at the altar, will be the best man when his best friend Jack Davenport (Edward Fletcher-Wooten) marries Amy.

So Kat liquidates part of her 401(K) to pay $6,000 for a professional escort to be her wedding date and make Jeffrey wildly jealous. She can hardly believe her eyes when she meets her date, Nick Mercer (Dermot Mulroney), on the plane heading to England.

Once there, Kat is nervous and the air is tense between the competitive sisters and the mother who yammers on to Nick about how Kat was abandoned by her former fiancee. And Kat finds herself thrust into uncomfortable situations she hadn't anticipated with Nick. Her only comfort is the sanity of her step-father Victor Ellis (Peter Egan).

Directed by Clare Kilner. Based on a book by Elizabeth Young.

Rated PG-13 for sexual content including dialogue.

My personal rating: C+