Includes my personal ratings.
Recommended DVDs in bold.
Underlined titles are direct links to reviews.
Monarch of the Glen 5:1 06/27/08 (B)
Heroes 06/25/08 (C)
Definitely, Maybe 06/24/08 (B-)
In Bruges 06/23/08 (B+)
All Hat 06/22/08 (B-)
Swimmers 06/21/08 (C)
Rails & Ties 06/20/08 (C)
The Young Visiters 06/19/08 (A-)
Niagra Motel 06/18/08 (C-)
Lawless Heart 06/17/08 (D)
The Nines 06/16/08 (B)
Monarch of the Glen 4:3 06/15/08 (B)
Night on Earth 06/14/08 (B-)
The Girl in the Cafe 06/14/08 (B)
Flawless 06/13/08 (B)
I Love You to Death 06/12/08 (B-)
Talk to Me 06/11/08 (B-)
The Bucket List 06/10/08 (B)
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium 06/09/08 (B)
Monarch of the Glen 4:2 06/08/08 (B)
Numb 06/06/08 (B)
Moondance Alexander 06/05/08 (C+)
The Walker 06/04/08 (C+)
A River Runs Through It 06/02/08 (B+)
The Air I Breathe 06/01/08 (B-)
6/30/2008
6/23/2008
In Bruges (2008)
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"After I killed him, I dropped the gun in the Thames, washed the residue off me hands in the bathroom of a Burger King, and walked home to await instructions. Shortly thereafter the instructions came through -- 'Get the f*** out of London, you dumb f****s. Get to Bruges.' I didn't even know where Bruges f***ing was."
Irish hit-men Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) must flee to Bruges, Belgium, when a job they were doing for London mobster Harry Waters (Ralph Fiennes) goes sour. While the paternal Ken enjoys the holiday atmosphere of the quaint town with its cobbled streets and ancient architecture, Ray is restless, hates Bruges, and is disturbed by what happened during the hit attempt that caused Harry to send them off to hide in another country.
During their time in Bruges, they become involved with Dutch prostitutes, an American dwarf (Jordan Prentice) who is cast in a film being shot in Bruges, and Ken falls in love with the beautiful Chloë (Clémence Poésy) who is a small time drug dealer.
A very, very dark comedy with twists and turns that surprise.
While In Bruges original screenplay writer Martin McDonagh won numerous international awards for this script -- including the Oscar -- this was his feature film directorial debut and he won several international awards for directing this film and his only other movie, the short film Six Shooter.
Run time: 1 hour, 47 minutes
Rated R for strong bloody violence, pervasive language and some drug use.
My personal rating: A
Irish hit-men Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) must flee to Bruges, Belgium, when a job they were doing for London mobster Harry Waters (Ralph Fiennes) goes sour. While the paternal Ken enjoys the holiday atmosphere of the quaint town with its cobbled streets and ancient architecture, Ray is restless, hates Bruges, and is disturbed by what happened during the hit attempt that caused Harry to send them off to hide in another country.
During their time in Bruges, they become involved with Dutch prostitutes, an American dwarf (Jordan Prentice) who is cast in a film being shot in Bruges, and Ken falls in love with the beautiful Chloë (Clémence Poésy) who is a small time drug dealer.
A very, very dark comedy with twists and turns that surprise.
While In Bruges original screenplay writer Martin McDonagh won numerous international awards for this script -- including the Oscar -- this was his feature film directorial debut and he won several international awards for directing this film and his only other movie, the short film Six Shooter.
Run time: 1 hour, 47 minutes
Rated R for strong bloody violence, pervasive language and some drug use.
My personal rating: A
6/21/2008
Swimmers (2005)
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Will Tyler (Robert Knott) is a waterman -- a harvester of oysters and clams -- along Maryland's shore. Due to financial woes and his drinking problem, he and his wife Julia (Cherry Jones) are having trouble raising the money for expensive ear surgery for their 11-year-old daughter Emma (Tara Devon Gallagher).
Will Tyler (Robert Knott) is a waterman -- a harvester of oysters and clams -- along Maryland's shore. Due to financial woes and his drinking problem, he and his wife Julia (Cherry Jones) are having trouble raising the money for expensive ear surgery for their 11-year-old daughter Emma (Tara Devon Gallagher).
Emma is wise beyond her years and yet still a child who blames herself for her family's dilemma. She watches as the stress digs into the family, including her adult brothers Clyde (Shawn Hatosy), who is a cop, and Mike (Michael Mosley), who is a waterman like his father.
Enter the melancholy young woman Merrill (Sarah Paulson) who has returned to the village to try to reclaim her late mother's house from her aunt Shellie (Kate Goehring). Sarah has dark secrets involving her mother's death and has spent time institutionalized as a result, but she befriends young Emma and becomes a balance point for the child.
Written and directed by Doug Sadler.
My personal rating: C
6/20/2008
Rails & Ties (2007)
Preteen Davey Danner (Miles Heizer) and Tom Stark (Kevin Bacon) share a passion for trains. Davey is thrilled when his deeply depressed mother (Bonnie Root) tells him they are taking a car ride to watch the trains. It seems like a good outing to Davey who is basically the sole caretaker of his otherwise immobilized and emotionally remote mother.
While waiting for the train through Simi Valley, Davey is shocked when his mother suddenly pulls the car onto the tracks with the train within sight. He tries desperately to pull her from the vehicle in time but fails and can only save himself.
Tom Stark is the engineer of that train and is unable to stop the train in time without the possibility of derailment which would jeopardize many passengers. At the scene, Davey screams at Stark, blaming him for his mother's death and Stark, stunned and reeling from his own challenges, tries to make the boy understand that his mother took her own life and there was nothing he could do to stop it from happening.
Returning home to his wife Megan (Marcia Gay Harden), who is dying of cancer, Stark withdraws further into himself with the guilt of the accident, the grief of losing his wife and being part of the death of another woman.
Davey, sent to a foster home by social worker Renee (Marin Hinkle), escapes from the rigid and mean foster mother with every intent of hunting down Stark. The clever boy finds out where Stark lives and goes there. Despite his initial rage, Davey is comforted tenderly by the childless Megan and remains with the Starks.
Together, the man and the boy come to terms with their grief and forge an unusual friendship.
The directorial debut of Alison Eastwood, daughter of Clint Eastwood.
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, an accident scene, brief nudity and momentary strong language.
My personal rating: C
While waiting for the train through Simi Valley, Davey is shocked when his mother suddenly pulls the car onto the tracks with the train within sight. He tries desperately to pull her from the vehicle in time but fails and can only save himself.
Tom Stark is the engineer of that train and is unable to stop the train in time without the possibility of derailment which would jeopardize many passengers. At the scene, Davey screams at Stark, blaming him for his mother's death and Stark, stunned and reeling from his own challenges, tries to make the boy understand that his mother took her own life and there was nothing he could do to stop it from happening.
Returning home to his wife Megan (Marcia Gay Harden), who is dying of cancer, Stark withdraws further into himself with the guilt of the accident, the grief of losing his wife and being part of the death of another woman.
Davey, sent to a foster home by social worker Renee (Marin Hinkle), escapes from the rigid and mean foster mother with every intent of hunting down Stark. The clever boy finds out where Stark lives and goes there. Despite his initial rage, Davey is comforted tenderly by the childless Megan and remains with the Starks.
Together, the man and the boy come to terms with their grief and forge an unusual friendship.
The directorial debut of Alison Eastwood, daughter of Clint Eastwood.
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, an accident scene, brief nudity and momentary strong language.
My personal rating: C
6/19/2008
The Young Visiters (2003)
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In 1890, the nine-year-old Daisy Ashford wrote a novella titled The Young Visiters, or Mister Salteena's Plan, a parody of the British upper class written with perception far belying Ashford's tender age.
The novella was published 29 years later and the BBC wisely made it into this charmingly funny film 112 years after it was written.
Mr. Alfred Salteena (Jim Broadbent), a bumbling ironmonger, is a lonely soul with ambitions of finding a lovely and cultured wife. When, by chance, he first sees the delightful Ethel Montecue (Lyndsey Marshal) aboard a train with her mother (Anne Reid), Salteena is immediately smitten. Ethel's mother, an unabashed social climber who thinks Salteena really could introduce Ethel to London society, allows Ethel to visit Salteena -- and she arrives with full steamer trunk, baggage and hat boxes for a what is presumed to be a whirlwind of parties and gaieties.
The awkward and naive Salteena, in the meantime, has made contact with someone he had only just met briefly some time ago -- a certain Lord Bernard Clark (Hugh Laurie) -- and weasels an invitation for himself and Ethel to visit Clark at his distant castle. Salteena is hoping to therefore impress and win over the lovely Ethel as he shows her how well connected he is.
After long train and carriage rides, Salteena and Ethel arrive to find that Clark is basically a recluse with no real social connections, but in the process, Salteena realizes how oafish he is and seeks counsel from Clark about becoming well mannered and aristocratic so he can propose to Ethel properly and assure that he will be deemed worthy of her.
Clark assures Salteena that he will look after Ethel whilst Salteena goes off to The Crystal Palace, somewhat of a warehouse-hotel-castle for the idle gentry, to learn cultured manners from the Earl of Clincham (Bill Nighy), a pompous sot. Salteena takes classes on hat doffing, managing menials, correct cutlery, and all things aristocratic, and also has the opportunity to meet the Prince of "Whales," bonnie Prince Charles (Simon Russell Beale) with a wee teeny-tiny crown on his big fat head.
Meanwhile, the flirtatious Ethel, who really wants to be a duchess, is wooed by the lusting Clark who seeks to impress her with a whirlwind of London society events.
Geoffrey Palmer is rich in his role as Clark's butler Minnit. Sally Hawkins is perfect as Salteena's long-suffering maid Rosalind. Procuro (Adam Godley) and maid Bessy Topp (Sophie Thompson, Emma's sister) are menials at The Crystal Palace.
Directed with great humor by David Yates.
My personal rating: A-
The novella was published 29 years later and the BBC wisely made it into this charmingly funny film 112 years after it was written.
Mr. Alfred Salteena (Jim Broadbent), a bumbling ironmonger, is a lonely soul with ambitions of finding a lovely and cultured wife. When, by chance, he first sees the delightful Ethel Montecue (Lyndsey Marshal) aboard a train with her mother (Anne Reid), Salteena is immediately smitten. Ethel's mother, an unabashed social climber who thinks Salteena really could introduce Ethel to London society, allows Ethel to visit Salteena -- and she arrives with full steamer trunk, baggage and hat boxes for a what is presumed to be a whirlwind of parties and gaieties.
The awkward and naive Salteena, in the meantime, has made contact with someone he had only just met briefly some time ago -- a certain Lord Bernard Clark (Hugh Laurie) -- and weasels an invitation for himself and Ethel to visit Clark at his distant castle. Salteena is hoping to therefore impress and win over the lovely Ethel as he shows her how well connected he is.
After long train and carriage rides, Salteena and Ethel arrive to find that Clark is basically a recluse with no real social connections, but in the process, Salteena realizes how oafish he is and seeks counsel from Clark about becoming well mannered and aristocratic so he can propose to Ethel properly and assure that he will be deemed worthy of her.
Clark assures Salteena that he will look after Ethel whilst Salteena goes off to The Crystal Palace, somewhat of a warehouse-hotel-castle for the idle gentry, to learn cultured manners from the Earl of Clincham (Bill Nighy), a pompous sot. Salteena takes classes on hat doffing, managing menials, correct cutlery, and all things aristocratic, and also has the opportunity to meet the Prince of "Whales," bonnie Prince Charles (Simon Russell Beale) with a wee teeny-tiny crown on his big fat head.
Meanwhile, the flirtatious Ethel, who really wants to be a duchess, is wooed by the lusting Clark who seeks to impress her with a whirlwind of London society events.
Geoffrey Palmer is rich in his role as Clark's butler Minnit. Sally Hawkins is perfect as Salteena's long-suffering maid Rosalind. Procuro (Adam Godley) and maid Bessy Topp (Sophie Thompson, Emma's sister) are menials at The Crystal Palace.
Directed with great humor by David Yates.
My personal rating: A-
6/18/2008
Niagra Motel (2006)
Several people, each with their own griefs and challenges, cross paths at a seedy motel in Niagra Falls.
Phillie (Craig Ferguson) reels with guilt because he accidentally caused his bride's death as they honeymooned in Niagra Falls. He's become a sullen alcoholic and works as a janitor at the motel in exchange for his lodging.
Loretta (Caroline Dhavernas) is a sweet waitress who entertains the idea of becoming a porn star when the sleazy Michael (Kevin Pollak) tells her how much money she could make.
Denise (Anna Friel) an addict struggling to recover, is trying to reclaim her child who is in foster care.
Lily (Wendy Crewson), who has been very judgemental about the prostitute who lives next door, finds the woman is really pretty nice.
Directed by Gary Yates.
Rated R for language and some sexual content/nudity.
My personal rating: C-6/17/2008
Lawless Heart (2001)
The deceased's brother-in-law, Dan (Bill Nighy), is a faithful husband to Judy (Ellie Haddington) -- until he meets the buxom Corrine (Clémentine Célarié), the florist who arranged the flowers for the funeral. Dan is so smitten that he wonders what's he's missed in life.
Nick (Tom Hollander), the deceased man's lover, takes up with an affair with a spontaneous young woman, Charlie (Sukie Smith), and then is troubled by his feelings.
The charismatic Tim (Douglas Henshall) returns for home for his friend's funeral after eight years of carefree living and hooks up with a boutique owner, his past girlfriend Leah (Josephine Butler). But he most confront his future whilst trying to find out more about her past.
Though this film won numerous awards and I've read favorable reviews of it, I guess I just didn't get it or was having an Excedrin day when I saw it. It felt to much like a soap opera to me. I wasn't impressed and Bill Nighy, who I normally enjoy, walked through it in a particular daze that only Nighy can pull off. He looked as bored with the whole thing as I felt with the whole thing.
Written and directed by Tom Hunsinger and Neil Hunter.
Run Time: 1 hour, 39 minutes
Rated R for strong sexuality/nudity and language.
My personal rating: D6/16/2008
The Nines (2007)
"Everything is what it is.
You're not who you think you are."
"On a scale of one to ten,
you belong with the nines."
You're not who you think you are."
"On a scale of one to ten,
you belong with the nines."
Three different stories, three different main characters, three actors interwine in this thought provoking film that has characters involved in one way or another with characters in the other stories. Confused? Well, let's say, this is the story of living on alternate plains. To give too many details here would give away important elements that would better be seen by the viewer.
Ryan Reynolds plays actor Gary, scriptwriter Gavin, and happily married family man Gabriel. Melissa McCarthy is the PR rep Margaret who is trying to save Gary's career, Melissa who encourages Gavin, and Mary who is married to Gabriel. And Hope Davis is Susan who teases and seduces Gary, studio producer Susan who jerks Gavin around like a puppet, and Sierra.who is set on punishing Gabriel.
Elle Fanning plays the little mute girl who weaves through each story. Dahlia Salem, Ben Falcone and Octavia Spencer also appear.
This film is so different that it's probably a love-it-or-hate-it experience.
Written and directed by John August.
Rated R for language, some drug content and sexuality.
My personal rating: B
6/14/2008
The Girl in the Café (2005)
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"We get into the habit of compromising and therefore we are always compromised."
Shy and awkward Lawrence (Bill Nighy), a senior researcher for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, can't find a table at the café where he stopped for a spot of tea, so he asks an equally shy and awkward young woman, Gina (Kelley Macdonald), if he can share her table for a bit. Gina agrees and an odd little conversation ensues.
Lawrence musters the courage to invite Gina to have dinner with him and after a few casual dates, he invites her to go with him to Reykjavik, Iceland, where he must participate in the annual G8 Summit where the world's major countries discuss their plans for financial assistance to less fortunate countries.
Once in Iceland, the pair find that others are murmuring that this May-December relationship is quite odd and Gina tries to fit in as best she can while Lawrence seeks to make her feel comfortable.
In the long hours that Lawrence is either sleeping or in meetings, Gina finds out a great deal about the purpose of the G8 Summit and ends up urging the world leaders for compassionate care for the children dying of poverty.
Favorite quote:
Lawrence: "We have a pair of unfortunate situations here. A man who has nothing in his life except his work, that is unfortunate. And then by a stroke of bizarre chance, he finds someone who makes that not true for a day or two. But then, suddenly, it seems as though the price that has to be paid for that ray of light is some kind of... disgrace. It doesn't seem quite fair."
Directed for BBC-TV by David Yates. This film was shown in the USA on HBO.
My personal rating: BNight on Earth (1991)
Five vignettes revolving around nighttime passengers and drivers in taxis in five cities.
A stylish film casting agent (Gena Rowlands) encounters a street savvy yet beautiful young gypsy cab driver (Winona Ryder) in an evening drive from a LA executive airport to the agent's posh home.
YoYo (Giancarlo Esposito) tries to teach a recent German immigrant, Helmut Grokenberger (Armin Mueller-Stahl) how to drive a taxi in NYC and navigate to Brooklyn when they encounter YoYo's slutty sister-in-law (Rosie Perez) on a rough street.
A black Parisian cabbie (Isaach De Bankolé) from the Ivory Coast learns about prejudice from a brash blind passenger (Béatrice Dalle).
A cab driver in Rome (Roberto Benigni) picks up a priest (Paolo Bonacelli) after a bit of playful but irritating shenanigans and then launches into a confession despite the priest's protests. Is it possible to talk someone to death? If so, Benigni is the one to try!
Mika (Matti Pellonpää) picks up three late night Helsinki drunks (Kari Väänänen, Sakari Kuosmanen, Tomi Salmela) and gives the men a lesson in problems.
There's a poignency in some of the stories while others are disarmingly funny.
Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch.
My personal rating: B-
A stylish film casting agent (Gena Rowlands) encounters a street savvy yet beautiful young gypsy cab driver (Winona Ryder) in an evening drive from a LA executive airport to the agent's posh home.
YoYo (Giancarlo Esposito) tries to teach a recent German immigrant, Helmut Grokenberger (Armin Mueller-Stahl) how to drive a taxi in NYC and navigate to Brooklyn when they encounter YoYo's slutty sister-in-law (Rosie Perez) on a rough street.
A black Parisian cabbie (Isaach De Bankolé) from the Ivory Coast learns about prejudice from a brash blind passenger (Béatrice Dalle).
A cab driver in Rome (Roberto Benigni) picks up a priest (Paolo Bonacelli) after a bit of playful but irritating shenanigans and then launches into a confession despite the priest's protests. Is it possible to talk someone to death? If so, Benigni is the one to try!
Mika (Matti Pellonpää) picks up three late night Helsinki drunks (Kari Väänänen, Sakari Kuosmanen, Tomi Salmela) and gives the men a lesson in problems.
There's a poignency in some of the stories while others are disarmingly funny.
Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch.
My personal rating: B-
6/13/2008
Flawless (2007)
Settling Scores
Laura Quinn (Demi Moore) is an ambitious executive at the prestigious London Diamond -- LonDi -- yet she is frustrated and angered by the 1960s-era glass ceiling that prohibits her from rising further in the company. Mr. Hobbs (Michael Caine), a crippled night janitor at LonDi, has been pretty much ignored by LonDi's management except for Quinn who has always been friendly to him.
Sensing her unhappiness with the company, Hobbs lets her in on the heist plan he has been developing for some time as he observes the workings of the company. He convinces her that the two of them can steal a handful of diamonds that could assure each of them financial security and yet hardly be missed at all by the company. Disgrunted enough to agree to work with Hobbs, Quinn becomes emeshed in the biggest diamond hiest ever -- the scope of which and Hobbs' reason for transcend what Quinn thought she was becoming involved in.
Several interesting twists and turns in this well-played drama and always a delight to see the master Caine at his best.
Lambert Wilson plays Finch, the private detective hired by LonDi's insurance company to unravel the details.
Directed by Michael Radford.
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.
My personal rating: B6/12/2008
I Love You to Death (1990)
Based on a true story -- hard to believe, but true!
Joey Boca (Kevin Kline, with an incredibly fractured Italian accent) and his wife Rosalie (Tracey Ullman) own and operate a Tacoma pizzeria. While Joey is a major philanderer with several girlfriends (including Victoria Jackson, Heather Graham, Michelle Joyner), one of his employees, Devo Nod (River Phoenix) is trying to convince Rosalie that she's a dreamer to think she's got a good marriage. Both Devo and Rosalie's mother Nadja (Joan Plowright) know Rosalie can do much better without Joey.
Rosalie finally finds evidence that Joey's been unfaithful and with her mother and Devo, they hatch a plot to murder Joey. With the help of discount-priced hired murderers and potheads Harlan James (William Hurt) and Marlon James (Keanu Reeves) the plan is launched.
But before long, pizzeria regulars Police Lt. Larry Schooner (James Gammon) and Sgt. Carlos Wiley (Jack Kehler) bumble through disclosure of the plot -- but not before several riotously funny attempts have been made on Joey's life.
Miriam Margolyes appears as Joey's mother,
If you're a fan of A Fish Called Wanda, this one might be fun for you. Thanks to VR for recommending this film that I'd never heard of before.
Directed by Lawrence Kasdan.
My personal rating: B6/11/2008
Talk to Me (2007)
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After visiting his brother Milo (Mike Epps) in prison, Washington, D.C. radio station executive Dewey Hughes (Chiwetel Ejiofor) has a chance meeting with an arrogant inmate named Petey Greene (Don Cheadle). Hughes makes no bones about his distaste for the convict Greene even though Greene's made a name for himself around prison because he started and hosted a prison radio station playing 58 records his family sent to him. Greene tells Hughes that he'll look him up for a job when he's released from prison but Hughes scoffs.
Upon his release, Greene is true to his word and appears at WOL-AM for a job. He makes a poor impression as he appears tardy with his gum-popping, booty-swinging girlfriend Vernell Watson (Taraji P. Henson). But he's given a second chance because the station is encountering schedule problems and seeks to change their demographic from the beltway computer to the actual residents in the core of 1960s D.C.
This film is based on the real Petey Greene who became the voice of the people in D.C., became a social justice activist and quelled the violence in D.C. after Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination.
Cedric the Entertainer appears as the legendary d.j. Bob "Nighthawk" Terry and Martin Sheen plays the station owner E.G. Sonderling.
Directed by Kasi Lemmons.
Rated R for pervasive language and some sexual content.
My personal rating: B-
After visiting his brother Milo (Mike Epps) in prison, Washington, D.C. radio station executive Dewey Hughes (Chiwetel Ejiofor) has a chance meeting with an arrogant inmate named Petey Greene (Don Cheadle). Hughes makes no bones about his distaste for the convict Greene even though Greene's made a name for himself around prison because he started and hosted a prison radio station playing 58 records his family sent to him. Greene tells Hughes that he'll look him up for a job when he's released from prison but Hughes scoffs.
Upon his release, Greene is true to his word and appears at WOL-AM for a job. He makes a poor impression as he appears tardy with his gum-popping, booty-swinging girlfriend Vernell Watson (Taraji P. Henson). But he's given a second chance because the station is encountering schedule problems and seeks to change their demographic from the beltway computer to the actual residents in the core of 1960s D.C.
This film is based on the real Petey Greene who became the voice of the people in D.C., became a social justice activist and quelled the violence in D.C. after Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination.
Cedric the Entertainer appears as the legendary d.j. Bob "Nighthawk" Terry and Martin Sheen plays the station owner E.G. Sonderling.
Directed by Kasi Lemmons.
Rated R for pervasive language and some sexual content.
My personal rating: B-
6/10/2008
The Bucket List (2007)
When businessman Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) meets former cop Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) it's only because they share a room in a hospital's cancer ward where both are undergoing treatment.
In time, the strained relationship grows and the men both realize they are terminally ill and yet still have so many things they want to do. Together they make a list of all the things they want to do before they kick the bucket and then escape from the hospital on a worldwide romp -- thanks to Edward's wealth, private jet, and smart-mouthed assistant Thomas (Sean Hayes).
Visiting the Taj Mahal and pyramids, parachuting, having a magnificent view, kissing the most beautiful girl in the world, and mountain climbing are only a few of the adventures they check off their list.
While I originally thought this was a straight-out comedy -- and it certainly does have rich humor -- it's really a poignant story about what's really important in life.
Beverly Todd plays Chambers' patient wife. Freeman's own son, Alfonso Freeman, plays Chambers' son Roger and Rob Morrow appears as the doctor.
Directed by Rob Reiner.
Rated PG-13 for language, including a sexual reference.
My personal rating: B
In time, the strained relationship grows and the men both realize they are terminally ill and yet still have so many things they want to do. Together they make a list of all the things they want to do before they kick the bucket and then escape from the hospital on a worldwide romp -- thanks to Edward's wealth, private jet, and smart-mouthed assistant Thomas (Sean Hayes).
Visiting the Taj Mahal and pyramids, parachuting, having a magnificent view, kissing the most beautiful girl in the world, and mountain climbing are only a few of the adventures they check off their list.
While I originally thought this was a straight-out comedy -- and it certainly does have rich humor -- it's really a poignant story about what's really important in life.
Beverly Todd plays Chambers' patient wife. Freeman's own son, Alfonso Freeman, plays Chambers' son Roger and Rob Morrow appears as the doctor.
Directed by Rob Reiner.
Rated PG-13 for language, including a sexual reference.
My personal rating: B
6/09/2008
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007)
At age 243, ecentric Edward Magorium (Dustin Hoffman), zebra owner and avid shoe wearer, is proprietor of a fantasmagorically amazing toy story where toys come alive and a magic book provides anything a customer asks for and children spend hours just playing and Bellini (Ted Ludzik) builds books in the basement.
Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman) has worked at the Emporium since she was 14 years old and now, as a young woman, classically trained pianist and composer, she continues to work for Mr. Magorium because she is frozen in her composing work and fearful of moving ahead with her life. Her assistant in the store is the adorable young Eric Applebaum (Zack Mills), the hat collector -- who steals every scene he's in!
The time has come when Mr. Magorium has completed everything he's wanted to do in his lifetime and he's ready to pass on and leave the Emporium to Molly. He hires an accountant -- that's a cross between a counter and a mutant, therefore referred to as The Mutant -- named Henry (Jason Bateman).
Molly is not at all happy about this turn of events and her ability to cope with owning the store, but with the help of the sage Magorium, the wise Eric, and the encouraging Mutant, she finally begins to believe in herself.
A charming tale, a fun and wild romp, but perhaps a bit too convoluted and hectic for the youngest viewers, but otherwise, a decent family flick.
Written and directed by Zach Helm.
My personal rating: B
Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman) has worked at the Emporium since she was 14 years old and now, as a young woman, classically trained pianist and composer, she continues to work for Mr. Magorium because she is frozen in her composing work and fearful of moving ahead with her life. Her assistant in the store is the adorable young Eric Applebaum (Zack Mills), the hat collector -- who steals every scene he's in!
The time has come when Mr. Magorium has completed everything he's wanted to do in his lifetime and he's ready to pass on and leave the Emporium to Molly. He hires an accountant -- that's a cross between a counter and a mutant, therefore referred to as The Mutant -- named Henry (Jason Bateman).
Molly is not at all happy about this turn of events and her ability to cope with owning the store, but with the help of the sage Magorium, the wise Eric, and the encouraging Mutant, she finally begins to believe in herself.
A charming tale, a fun and wild romp, but perhaps a bit too convoluted and hectic for the youngest viewers, but otherwise, a decent family flick.
Written and directed by Zach Helm.
My personal rating: B
6/06/2008
Numb (2007)
Hudson: I watched the golf channel for 23 hours yesterday.
Dr. Townsend: Why golf?
Hudson: I don't know. I find it comforting. It's green. People are whispering.
Screenwriter Hudson Milbank (Matthew Perry) suffers from acute, long-term depersonalization. He can't feel his own emotions and has a flatline affect. His writing partner Tom (Kevin Pollak) urges Hudson to seek psychological help and so Hudson launches onto the circuit of California shrinks who range from bored to pompous to judgmental to oversexed and hot for his body (Mary Steenburgen).
None of the therapy helps and he gets through life by watching the golf channel, taking a lesbian exercise class, shoplifting to try to get a rush, and consuming huge quantities of prescription drugs. But when he meets the quirky Sara (Lynn Collins), Hudson decides he has to work harder at conquering his illness.
This is a most unusual sort of love story and a fascinating view at the angst of mental illness. I was impressed at Perry's ability to handle such a complex role.
Written and directed by Harris Goldberg.
Rated R for language, some drug use and sexual content/nudity.
My personal rating: B
6/05/2008
Moondance Alexander (2007)
Teenage Moondance Alexander (Kay Panabaker) lives in a small town in Colorado with her somewhat eccentric and widowed mother Gelsey (Lori Loughlin). Moondance doesn't fit in at school and is regularly taunted by the uppity girls lead by Fiona Hughes (Sasha Cohen) and Megan Montgomery (Whitney Sloan).
As summer begins, Moondance finds a stunning black and white pinto horse and tries to find his owner. The horse's owner is the terse and gruff Dante (Don Johnson) but Moondance is able to sway him over to allow her to do barn chores each day in exchange for riding the horse she has named Checkers.
Seeing talent in the young rider, Dante encourages her, coaches her, and urges her to enter a prestigous competition at the end of summer. Moondance works hard toward that goal even though she discovers that Fiona and Megan are also competing -- and Fiona had been the winner the previous year. Of course Fiona and Megan scoff at Moondance's pinto as their horses are sleek Thoroughbreds.
In the process of the training and competition, Dante helps Moondance overcome her lack of confidence and accept herself as the unique individual she is. Moondance, in discovering that Dante had been a high level equestrian at one time, helps him heal the old wounds that have caused him to isolate himself. Moondance also comes to terms with her beloved father's death and learns to accept her mother's new suitor (Joe Norman Shaw) and his teenage son (Aedan Tomney).
While the acting was rather sappy at times and I had some problems with some of the horse scenes and the thought that a girl can go from a non-rider to a skilled rider in less than three months, this is still a decent family film and one sure to be fun for horse crazy preteen girls.
Directed by Michael Damian who also wrote the script with his wife Janeen Damian.
My personal rating: C+
6/04/2008
The Walker (2007)
"Whatever 'ruth' there was in this town,
He also gossips with the women -- Natalie Van Miter (Lauren Bacall), Lynn Lockner (Kristin Scott Thomas), Abigail Delorean (Lily Tomlin) -- and spews appropriate lines from Tennessee Williams when needed while playing canasta with them regularly at the club.
When Robbie Kononsberg (Steven Hartley), Lynn Lockner's lover, is found murdered in his home, Carter Page is drawn into the drama to help protect Lynn as her husband (Willem Dafoe) is a powerful senator and revelation of her affair would cause big problems.
Police Detective Dixon (Geff Francis) is determined to get to the bottom of this case and all leads point toward Carter Page III. Page and his lover Emek Yoglu (Moritz Bleibtreu) must solve the case before Page is arrested.
Ned Beatty and Mary Beth Hurt also appear.
Written and directed by Paul Schrader.
Rated R for language, some violent material and nude images.
My personal rating: C+
6/02/2008
A River Runs Through It (1992)
It is those we live with and love
and should know who elude us."
Based on the memoir of Norman Maclean, this is the story of two brothers -- the reserved Norman Maclean (Craig Sheffer) and the rebellious Paul Maclean (Brad Pitt) -- sons of a Montana preacher (Tom Skerritt) and his wife (Brenda Blethyn).
Fly-fishing is clearly the family's second religion and much of the film centers around fishing. Despite this, there is much here for those who don't fish to admire. Not the least of which is Brad Pitt.
Other cast members include Nicole Burdette and Susan Traylor as two of Paul's unconventional women friends: Emily Lloyd as Norman's girlfriend Jessie; Edie McClurg as Jessie's mother; and Stephen Shellen as Emily's Hollywood brother.
Directed by Robert Redford, who also narrates.
Rated PG for momentary nudity, and some language in a family drama.
My personal rating: B+
6/01/2008
The Air I Breathe (2007)
"Sometimes the things you can't change
end up changing you."
Ancient Chinese philosophy breaks life down into four emotional cornerstones: happiness, pleasure, sorrow and love. Writer/director Jieho Lee presents the interconnectedness of these emotions in four intertwined stories.
Happiness (Forest Whitaker) is a little fish in a big ocean -- a meek and lowly stockbroker who longs for the wealth of his clients. When he overhears coworkers talking about a fixed horse race, he sets about to bet more money than he has on the horse Butterfly who is supposed to win. In the process, Happiness becomes indebted to mob kingpin Fingers (Andy Garcia).
Sorrow (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is a young pop music star who suddenly and unhappily finds her contract under the control of Fingers. Love (Kevin Bacon) is a doctor who has never stopped loving the "love of his life" (Julie Delpy) even though she is now married. All he feels he can do now is everything within his power to save her life after she is involved in a serious accident.
Pleasure (Brendan Fraser) is clairvoyant and has always managed to save himself from disaster because he can see ahead to prevent it. As Fingers' henchman, Pleasure not only has contact with Happiness, Sorrow and Love, but must also take Fingers' visiting nephew Tony (Emile Hirsch) along with him to learn all about thugdom.
Also appearing are Clark Gregg, Kelly Hu, Evan Parke, and Cecilia Suárez.
Rated R for violence, language and some sexual content/nudity.
My personal rating: B-
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