Wow…who is this fantastic actor that just embodies the character that he is?
In The Evening, he is a broken hearted soul, torn between his feelings for his best male and female friend, struggling to find a life with meaning, to be...
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Wow…who is this fantastic actor that just embodies the character that he is?
In The Evening, he is a broken hearted soul, torn between his feelings for his best male and female friend, struggling to find a life with meaning, to be immortal. He was Buddy and my heart was broken with each swallow of alcohol he took, with each pained expression he delivered, with each line he exchanged.
In Jane Austen's Book Club, a decidedly much lighter fare, he shines as well, playing the "nice" guy, biding his time as he tries to woo a reluctant friend. Hugh Dancy, admittedly attractive, can play the role of a charismatic, loving, broken, persistent man well and time will only tell how much more versatile he can get. He's already bloody fantastic!

You've got an actor's powerhouse, featuring Streep, Keaton, and DiCaprio. All have proven that they can emote on screen, that they have the ability to take the words on a page and make you believe their struggle with a look, a sigh, whatever....
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You've got an actor's powerhouse, featuring Streep, Keaton, and DiCaprio. All have proven that they can emote on screen, that they have the ability to take the words on a page and make you believe their struggle with a look, a sigh, whatever. They can at times be overrated but, in this film, they do make it work. There are awkward pauses, distressed looks, real laughs, real fear/desperation, real happiness. Two sisters fail to keep in touch for twenty years because one decides to stay with her ailing father and aunt while the other decides to live her own life. Neither is wrong or bad for their choices and each finds love, not romantic, with their parents and children but each has also found difficulties, frail elderlies and troublesome children. With the introduction of leukemia, the two are brought together again. Streep's character learns to be a little less hard, a bit less selfish (which in my opinion is a natural and normal attribute) and Keaton's a bit more forgiving. It's a sad tale but I suppose human. It's not my favorite film of any of the three but it's interesting nonetheless. I suppose the title is apropos if one realizes how central the father is to these two girls division and then reunion, how Streep's return to the room with medication is a symbol that she will take the baton and "grow" up, face life and her responsibilities. I would have liked to have seen Eve (Keaton's character) be the title but such but there it is.

Formulaic though it may be, it was still a heartfelt, feel good/sad movie. I am a Costner fan despite the "bad" films I have to sit through, despite the pretentious air he takes in interviews, and despite the fact that in many of his...
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Formulaic though it may be, it was still a heartfelt, feel good/sad movie. I am a Costner fan despite the "bad" films I have to sit through, despite the pretentious air he takes in interviews, and despite the fact that in many of his movies he winds up alone or dead, emphasizing the self-sacrificing tone of his characters. This movie is no different. There is the older man, teaching the younger generation, teaching them about sacrifice, maturity, bravery, etc., and getting occasionally frustrated in doing it. The older man also has little ties that bind him as his work has encompassed his life and pushed his wife to wayside. A wonderfully raw and honest scene comes when he witnesses a man trying to drown his wife in order to survive. It was natural, human, and so completely "wrong." And yet, you wonder what you would do...would you be willing to sacrifice your life for a loved one, let alone a stranger, in a situation like that. Hence, the purupose of the film. It was an homage to the Coast Guard, to the very people willing to sacrifice simply so "that others may live." It was that scene that packed a powerful punch for the viewer and Costner's character. In a way, he redeems all by sacrificing his own life for his prodigee. Bittersweet for the viewer but heartfelt as well if not completely contrived to evoke just that reaction in the viewer. The DVD extras shows alternate endings but this seems to fit. How else could it end? No wife, no life...I suppose this was the way he would end. But, in true fashion, it wasn't his "end" because, if you believe in said legends (I don't), the legend of him lives on. "There's a legend of a man who lives beneath the sea. He's a fisher of men, a last hope for all those who have been left behind. He is known as the Guardian." As for Ashton's character...he goes off into the sunset with his girlfriend, realizing that love and his own personal life were more important than his career. The acting was fine, on par with their usual work, though it was nice to see Ashton play something other than a goofball. Fine film but make sure to have a few tissues...just in case.

The shots and sounds are beautiful and raw. The color of the film relates to the physical place and emotional place of the characters. It connects with the music that follows the same course. The acting is heartfelt as well, really emotional,...
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The shots and sounds are beautiful and raw. The color of the film relates to the physical place and emotional place of the characters. It connects with the music that follows the same course. The acting is heartfelt as well, really emotional, though I felt that there was a lack of chemistry between Holly Hunter and her male counterparts. Nonetheless, the story is a beautiful one. Holly plays the part of Ada, an unmarried mother of a little girl, who lives and breathes by her piano. Her father marries her away, like a piece of luggage and consistent with the times, and she moves to live with her daughter on a New Zealand colony. She strikes the viewer as very serious, melancholy, and yet devoted to two things, playing the piano and ensuring her daughter's happiness/safety/life. Upon arriving in the new land, however, she loses her piano and it is George (Keital) who manipulates the situation in order to spend more time with her. It really is a rouse to sleep with her and, though he loves her, it's still a bit underhanded and despicable. What a selfish man! I'm not saying one must live one's life according to social customs. Quite the contrary, I'm merely saying you don't intentionally set out to mess up someone's situation. But then, the viewer will quickly change allegiances and root for the pair as Ada makes it clear she does love him and her cuckolded husband literally chops off her finger! I get he's frustrated. He's been married for quite some time and has yet to consummate the marriage but the sheer brutality of it was too much. Yet another selfish man. She doesn't love you. Move on! Anyway, when she leaves with George, daugther in tow, she has a moment where she must choose between life and death and her will, ever strong throughout the film, chooses to break away from the piano, and all its moorings, and choose life, a life with brightness, mimicked by the shots, and vitality and love. The end is the happy ending you yearn for but beautiful nonetheless. It's a great movie and, if nothing else, there many a gratuitious shot of Harvey Keitel looking fit and cellulite free!

I picked up this film because it was a musical and set in Ireland...two pluses for me. The film did not disappoint in either regard. The filming was very natural, hectic at times, voyeuristic at times as well. It felt like you were there,...
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I picked up this film because it was a musical and set in Ireland...two pluses for me. The film did not disappoint in either regard. The filming was very natural, hectic at times, voyeuristic at times as well. It felt like you were there, walking down the street, or playing music, simply like you were there in little Dublin town. To boot, they got some really got shots of the surrounding landscape. As for the music, it was just great. They call it songwriter music but I look at it as soothing, coffeehouse music. It's whimsical, poetic, intelligent, honest and I love it. I've already got my music on order. As for the actual story, I love the honesty in this as well. Both are still nursing old hurts while discovering an interest/love in each other. However, like real life, you don't always end up spending the rest of your life with that person and that doesn't mean it's a failure or a waste of time. Clearly, by merely meeting each other, they affected a change and, though this change wasn't "happily ever after", it was good and true.

If you loved the feel and excitement of The Mummy and enjoyed the intellectualism of The Da Vinci Code, then you should like this National Treasure sequel. It may be lighter fare but it's delicious nonetheless. Of course, one must suspend...
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If you loved the feel and excitement of The Mummy and enjoyed the intellectualism of The Da Vinci Code, then you should like this National Treasure sequel. It may be lighter fare but it's delicious nonetheless. Of course, one must suspend reality while watching but that's the case with many movies. Enjoy the citywide shots, the hilarious sidekick comments, the hidden U.S. secrets, the story.

I love the original that much more. The rat's song at the fairgrounds was just too funny and is sorely missing here. However, I still enjoyed this 2006 update. Julia Roberts' voice is whimsical, dreamy, just soothing, and fit the role of...
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I love the original that much more. The rat's song at the fairgrounds was just too funny and is sorely missing here. However, I still enjoyed this 2006 update. Julia Roberts' voice is whimsical, dreamy, just soothing, and fit the role of Charlotte perfectly. The voice of Wilber had the perfect sound of childhood innocence and joy. It was fun watching the DVD extras and catching just how this child recorded his lines. The movie felt real and the CGI just added to it. It was well done. As for the story, it's timeless. It's a tale of love, friendship, devotion, sacrifice, life, death, truth...great story, great movie.

Where was Tim Allen? Haha...I know...overused joke. Anyway, it was a fine addition to the campy holiday films that come out. I suppose it has its funny moments. I, for the most part, just thought it was sad. DeVito's character is...
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Where was Tim Allen? Haha...I know...overused joke. Anyway, it was a fine addition to the campy holiday films that come out. I suppose it has its funny moments. I, for the most part, just thought it was sad. DeVito's character is manipulative, vindictive, and all in the name of fame. Obviously he learns his lesson and realizes that his family is the most important thing but, in his quest, he drives a neighbor, who is admittedly much too anal retentive and controlled (that's saying a lot coming from me), slowly off his own rocker. Each commits their own share of immature and dangerous acts until both lose their families and, in true Hollywood fashion, have to do something grandiose to apologize and redeem themselves. It's fine...just don't expect Miracle on 34th Street. It's light holiday fare.

I like Hilary Duff but I haven't seen her play anyone but Lizzie Maguire and, though not versatile, it is a fun character that she can stick with. This movie is Hilary Duff, fluffy, fun, and teeny bopper cute. The adult and teen love story, teen...
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I like Hilary Duff but I haven't seen her play anyone but Lizzie Maguire and, though not versatile, it is a fun character that she can stick with. This movie is Hilary Duff, fluffy, fun, and teeny bopper cute. The adult and teen love story, teen angst, teen shenanigans: all were part of the formula. In all of this cookie cutter fun, though, is a kernal of wisdom. Find happiness and confidence within yourself and things will fall into place...primarily because if you choose to be happy, you just will be. When single mothers have to deal with the stress of parenthood, of bill paying, of loneliness, it is hard to make that choice but consciously doing so will help wonders.

I do enjoy my country music and I liked the occasional Dixie Chicks song. I wasn't a fan, however, until they exploited, rightly so, their newfound notoreity after Natalie made a flippant comment about the president. This documents the...
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I do enjoy my country music and I liked the occasional Dixie Chicks song. I wasn't a fan, however, until they exploited, rightly so, their newfound notoreity after Natalie made a flippant comment about the president. This documents the controversy and aftermath and how they handled their comeback. Regardless of political stance, everyone can learn from this. The hatred and threats that the Dixie Chicks had to contend with, all because they disagreed with the politics of the president, was disgusting. After 9/11, anything anti-war was dubbed as unpatriotic, as "evil", as with "them." Whoever spun this really did a disservice to this country because it's free speech that is our cornerstone. In any event, whether it's in vogue to argue with your government or not, it's always a right, always a perogative that we have. Noone should feel threatened for exercising it.

What the heck was that? I respect CGI for the limited times it should be used but there is something to be said for the realism of costumes and makeup. The original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies were just 80s awesome. For all CGI fans,...
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What the heck was that? I respect CGI for the limited times it should be used but there is something to be said for the realism of costumes and makeup. The original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies were just 80s awesome. For all CGI fans, they may prefer the newer version, may enjoy what this new installment has to offer but I for one did not. The originals were "real" and I felt like they were human. These cartoonish figures just disappoint.

In a movie year of unplanned pregnancies, this film fits right in. It is a tale of waitress trapped in a loveless, somewhat violent, certainly demeaning marriage. Into this already depressing life, she then must add a child as she learns of her...
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In a movie year of unplanned pregnancies, this film fits right in. It is a tale of waitress trapped in a loveless, somewhat violent, certainly demeaning marriage. Into this already depressing life, she then must add a child as she learns of her pregnancy. For the majority of the film, it feels like this movie is going down the traditional route of the damsel in distress/knight in shining armor. Indeed it feels like Russell will be saved from her mundane life and now impending eternal servitude to a child by her doctor whom she begins an affair with. Thankfully, that is not where this story is going. It is a love story to be true but not of romantic love. Rather, it is a tale familial love. While I support a woman's right to choose, this movie shows just how rewarding the birth of a child can be. Russell found her peace, her strength, her happiness in her daughter. Of course, this movie wouldn't be complete though without the schmaltzy happy ending. It wouldn't be enough to give her this opportunity. We also see her inherit millions from her favorite diner, the owner. It would have been nice to see her work her way to a small shop, to see her be content in her life without the money but such is Hollywood endings. Nonetheless, it was a beautiful story with some great acting.

I would give this a "0" if I could. It's not even craptastic. It's just crap. I thought the title sounded interesting...the horrors of slowly suffocating to death. I know it's been done in some French film I have yet to find but this...
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I would give this a "0" if I could. It's not even craptastic. It's just crap. I thought the title sounded interesting...the horrors of slowly suffocating to death. I know it's been done in some French film I have yet to find but this is a perversion of what could have been a great story. It's the typical teen slasher film in which teens find themselves in some cabin far off, sharing space with a murdering ghost, and being hacked to bits person by person. Sometimes, horror movies are written so well that gore may be added for stylistic reasons but really isn't necessary. And then there are movies like this that rely on that gore to make a film viewer worthy. In the latter attempt, it has failed. It is just that bad.

What would you do if someone told you when you would die? Pearce enjoys a nice life, great job, nice home, great girlfriend. Everything seems perfect until he sees a fortune teller on a whim. He learns that he won't live past the first snow....
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What would you do if someone told you when you would die? Pearce enjoys a nice life, great job, nice home, great girlfriend. Everything seems perfect until he sees a fortune teller on a whim. He learns that he won't live past the first snow. So, with this news, his life slowly unravels as he does everything in his power to avoid this death...and essentially creates the situation that makes his death inevitable. It's a modern day Macbeth. The story is intriguing and I suppose Pearce, if you like him, takes his turn fine.

Honestly, I like psychological thrillers much more than those in which the answer is revealed to be anything but the mind playing tricks. Since that is what happened here, I was disappointed. Two parents have a daughter. She is kidnapped and...
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Honestly, I like psychological thrillers much more than those in which the answer is revealed to be anything but the mind playing tricks. Since that is what happened here, I was disappointed. Two parents have a daughter. She is kidnapped and then "found." This nuDaughter continually explains that she is not who they think. Flashbacks seem to support this but the viewer could still very well believe it is her mind, her split personality. It's not until she speaks with her father who admits to buying a twin from a druggie and passing it off as his own (who died in childbirth). At this point, he and nuDaugther seek the kidnapped twin. Apparently, she can feel her twin and also experience every physical thing that her twin feels. We have to swallow this psychic twin connection. I still don't understand why Lohan is such a hot commodity in Hollywood. She's just there on screen. Sure I liked her in Parent Trap but I haven't seen her in anything that makes me go, "Wow, that girl can act." If anything, this movie fit her party girl persona to a T and wasn't acting at all. If it was, it was dry, blank, mediocre at best. Supporting actors didn't really add much to the pot either. Overall, mediocre pic. Perfect for a popcorn movie night with friends and ample distractions but not for any real, in depth movie viewing.

Peter O'Toole...need I say more...it's funny and musical...perfect blend. A man who mind has turned his reality into a Don Quixote story. He travels, telling tales of his exploits and expressing his love to Dulcinea (a name that I know love)....
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Peter O'Toole...need I say more...it's funny and musical...perfect blend. A man who mind has turned his reality into a Don Quixote story. He travels, telling tales of his exploits and expressing his love to Dulcinea (a name that I know love). He is finally cured but finds that real life is not quite as exciting as his alternate world. Just before death, he slips back in upon viewing his Dulcinea, really a local prostitute, and dies happy. A bit long and the music can be a bit tiresome but that depends on your tastes and mood while viewing.

Wow! There are many adjectives that can describe this movie but they all seem inadequate...honest, raw, depressing, all of the above. Because Daniel Pearl's kidnapping and murder really captured our hearts the first time around, you knew this...
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Wow! There are many adjectives that can describe this movie but they all seem inadequate...honest, raw, depressing, all of the above. Because Daniel Pearl's kidnapping and murder really captured our hearts the first time around, you knew this film was going to be heart wrenching but, like an accident, you can't help watching it. The film portrays how Pearl's wife and entourage deal with his kidnapping and death. It's well-written, story is not exploitative, dialogue is well-delivered, natural chemistry exists between the actors who also did extensive research for their roles, and shots are jumpy, erratic, real...reflective of the emotions and feelings of uncertainty. It really is a wonderfully done film but extremely sad. It should be.

Robert Downey Jr. is always great on screen but that doesn't always mean that he picks the best movies. The film is about a writer who suffers from a skin/muscle disease and, during his psychological and physical recovery, writes/narrates a...
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Robert Downey Jr. is always great on screen but that doesn't always mean that he picks the best movies. The film is about a writer who suffers from a skin/muscle disease and, during his psychological and physical recovery, writes/narrates a novel. He deals with the blurring of his two realities and with his meandering wife. The most interesting part of the film comes when the two worlds meet and he realizes just how much of his childhood and adult life are in his literature. It really is an interesting film just not my favorite and definitely not worthy of a rewatch.

Ruth Etting, famous singer from the early twentieth century, takes center stage in this biopic and is aptly played by the talented Hollywood darling Doris Day. James Cagney, the American gangster, plays that role yet again and does it well....
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Ruth Etting, famous singer from the early twentieth century, takes center stage in this biopic and is aptly played by the talented Hollywood darling Doris Day. James Cagney, the American gangster, plays that role yet again and does it well. Etting aspires to a successful music career and Cagney gives her just that by using his contacts to manage her career. His obsessive love and jealous streak affect their relationship and that, coupled with her lack of love for him, creates a marriage of convenience. Their is a mutual friendship and feeling of obligation but nothing more. Jealousy, murder, divorce, and music: great blend for another great 1950s film.

Cringe, Cringe, Cringe. I'm a teacher so any story featuring an inappropriate teacher/student relationship makes me cringe. Anyway, I have been wanting to watch this movie since the Oscars when the film was nominated in several categories. I...
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Cringe, Cringe, Cringe. I'm a teacher so any story featuring an inappropriate teacher/student relationship makes me cringe. Anyway, I have been wanting to watch this movie since the Oscars when the film was nominated in several categories. I figured it would be worth a watch. It certainly was despite my cringing. Lesbian older mentor befriends younger, vulnerable women in hopes of finding that one true life long partner. Younger, vulnerable woman has an affair because of her feelings of mediocrity, of stalemate, of depression...but she has an affair with a high school student. In any event, Judi Dench plays the part of this obsessive woman to a tee. I could feel the frustration of husband and children as they tire of her presence. I could even feel the annoyance and dependence, at the same time, from Blanchett as she had to manuever all three of her worlds, the mother, the friend, and the lover. It's beautifully written, beautifully played, and a great watch.

I'm not familiar with many Biblical tales but I do know a bit about the Persian empire and Cyrus, Darius, and Xerxes. So, to learn about a historical connection to the Biblical Esther was interesting. The story plays like a love story between...
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I'm not familiar with many Biblical tales but I do know a bit about the Persian empire and Cyrus, Darius, and Xerxes. So, to learn about a historical connection to the Biblical Esther was interesting. The story plays like a love story between Xerxes and Esther, all very cutsy, wrought with miscommunication and passion (between two attractive lead pics). It also reads of a story of courage and sacrifice as Mordecai stands for his beliefs and Esther declares herself and begs her king/husband to save the Jews from extermination. I suppose it could be real, depending on how much stock you put into the bible and into which historian you prefer to believe. So, historical accuracy aside, onto to the film. It was a bit too cutesy but uplifting. I did have to rewatch the first few scenes because I wasn't well versed in the story of Saul and Agag, etc. I thought those first few scenes provided a nice historical background but not enough for those ignorant of the story. In any event, Peter O'Toole was a welcome glimpse at the beginning...isn't he in any film? So, the pacing, the story, the actors, dialogue...all were fine, mediocre. Honestly, what stood out for me, though, were the costumes. I don't know quite how realistic they were but utterly beautiful they were. The clothing, the crowns, the sets, the makeup...perhaps over the top but rich nonetheless.

I promised myself I wouldn't watch craptastic films and I keep doing it. Thanks BB! Brendan Fraser took a turn as a drug dealing, violent pimp in this film. So, it wasn't awful in terms of acting. Fraser was interesting playing out of type and...
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I promised myself I wouldn't watch craptastic films and I keep doing it. Thanks BB! Brendan Fraser took a turn as a drug dealing, violent pimp in this film. So, it wasn't awful in terms of acting. Fraser was interesting playing out of type and Mos Def took a turn. It's nice to see him on screen. The storyline played out, interweaving different character's lives, and playing it up to one big defining moment where just about everyone you've been disliking throughout the film dies. Nice little red bow so that the damsel in distress, prostitute turned wife, can take the millions and run. Honestly, I can't pinpoint exactly what I didn't like...seedy setting, jumping from bit to bit, lack of onscreen chemistry between certain characters...well, I guess those are reasons enough. Again, this mostly stems from personal preference.

I can always appreciate certain film qualities. I'm not a big gore fan so that of course will influence my opinion of a film but, nonetheless, I enjoyed this for what it was. The camera shots supported the feeling of chaos and fear that the film...
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I can always appreciate certain film qualities. I'm not a big gore fan so that of course will influence my opinion of a film but, nonetheless, I enjoyed this for what it was. The camera shots supported the feeling of chaos and fear that the film was essentially all about. I also loved what actually transpired. The breakup of the family was heartbreaking but the question answered at the very beginning of the movie is a question from 1984. When faced with your greatest fear, i.e. death, who are you willing to sacrifice in order to save yourself. Clearly, this man had to save himself. I don't blame him. I thought it was an honest portrayal. As for the sister's later sacrifice, natural but unfortunate. The desperation of the government to eliminate this virus (that it created), the humanity of the soldiers as their guilt (in one heroic symbol) got the best of them. In post apocalyptic London, it was a great commentary on mankind. My only wish...the doctor had told the sister what the meaning of her and her brother was. If she could shoot her father, she might have been willing to shoot her brother just to save humanity. Great setup for sequel or merely as the anti-ending. Something like that will spread, mutate, and exterminate. Either way, if you liked the first one, you'll enjoy this.

I picked up this book at a train station in Siena, Italy. I had run out of books to read and I needed something for the train rides while i was traveling. This wasn't the last book I read on that trip but it was one of the most entertaining. The...
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I picked up this book at a train station in Siena, Italy. I had run out of books to read and I needed something for the train rides while i was traveling. This wasn't the last book I read on that trip but it was one of the most entertaining. The story is meant to provide socio political commentary on the burgeoning gap between the rich and the poor. In telling that tale, the story also revolves around one woman's journey away from the gentile society she lives in and towards a more visceral relationship with a gamekeeper. It's explicit and poignant at times and a great read. Because of that, I wanted to see the film. The film itself, with the FF at the ready, was just as entertaining. I watch even American films with closed captioning so subtitles are normal for me. The pastoral shots were incredible though a bit excessive and a large reason for the 2 1/2 hour running time. The commentary on social classes was a bit light as most scenes focus on the sexual relationship between the two, on her growing alertness as a "natural" woman, and on her physical surroundings. Nonetheless, it was a good watch if you can ff through the multiple natural shots and maybe, given your tastes, the, how shall I put this, "intimate" scenes. Remember...this is a french film...