Movie #275 ........................."The Baxter"

Movie #275 "The Baxter" is like an old fashioned warm fuzzy of a movie ---- slow moving, where humor comes from the characters. It's likeable and whimsical, but not very funny ---- just a smiling kind of film, and for my money Michelle Williams steals the film ------ Elizabeth Banks and Paul Rudd and Michael Ian Black get their share of laughs, as well, but that's about it. The maine character, Elliot, is such a schmoo that it's hard to root for him ---- I didn't find much likable about him, but I guess it's okay to root for the girl, right? However, it would have been better if the couple together were more winning, that's all. A nig irony is that today, we spent a several hours driving in to Chicago to see Steppenwolf's play "Parallellogram," and the narrator in that show, whom we saw live today, was in this film ---- had a bit part but it went on for a good 10 minutes, so she was very noticeable. Good for her! But so ironic!





Average rating: 3.227
I'd give ir 3.5
The Baxter
(2005) PG-13
Elliot Sherman (writer-director Michael Showalter) is a nice guy who's tired of finishing last, but he's at a loss to explain his bad luck with the ladies. His most recent heartbreak at the hands of a pretty magazine editor (Elizabeth Banks) has helped him swear off women forever and declare himself a bona fide "Baxter." But advice from a plain-talking girl (Michelle Williams) could be just the thing he needs to become a marriageable leading man.

Movie #274........................."Proof"

Movie #274 "Proof" still has a socko high point like the one in the stage play, but in everything else, I preferred the play ever so much more -- esp. Mary Louise Parker (the Weeds girl) who gets across the manicness of the devoted daughter ever so much better ---- Anthony Hopkins is a good dad and Hope Davis plays a wonderful evil sister, but I remember the show only allows her two scenes to get that across and the girl who played her in the play did wonderfully showing that underneath she wasn't that evil --- all around I was moved so much more by the play, but that could be that the play was live. And that's what I would always prefer. I recommend this for those who never get to see the stage version. Good story told in a powerful way. Oh, gotta say this is one of the best performances I've seen Jake Gyllenhaal in (October Sky beats it, of course) and better hands down than the guy I saw on stage. This was a memorable performance by Jake!






Average rating: 3.262
I'd give it a 3.3
Proof
(2005) PG-13
A devoted daughter (Gwyneth Paltrow) comes to terms with the death of her father (Anthony Hopkins), a brilliant mathematician whose genius was crippled by mental instability, in this John Madden-directed drama based on a Tony-winning play. Along the way, she's forced to face her own dark fears. But she has help from one of her father's former students (Jake Gyllenhaal), who searches through the dead man's papers for the source of his brilliance.

Movie #273 ........................."Synecdoche, New York

Movie #273 "Synecdoche, New York is one of those non-linear type of movies, quirky, surprising in parts, laughable in others; it lumbers from one scene to another, but there's something about it that gets my interest. The subject matter? maybe, it's death, and the director makes that plain to all his cast members by telling them at their first meeting that we are all hurdling towards death, so we might as well put a play on about it. That got my attention. Maybe it's the goofiness of the characters, like his ex-wife whose artistry requires magnifying glasses to view; Maybe it's the richness of acting with Samantha Morton, Hope Davis, Michelle Williams, Diane Wiest, and Emma Watson, to name just a few women in his life. How about the ironic tone? when the director can't even play himself --- Diane Wiest plays him better, so he settles for being the maid. The reasons go on, and I'm sure I'll be thinking about this movie for a long time, but I can't really recommend it to many people. It wasn't a "fun" watch, just a cerebral one ---- but then again, he isn't telling us anything new --- but it is original in the way it is told. That's due to Charlie Kaufman. Eager to see more of his work!


You rated this movie: 3.0
Synecdoche, New York
(2008) R
After his painter wife (Catherine Keener) leaves him and takes their daughter to Berlin, theater director Caden Cotard (Philip Seymour Hoffman) stages an autobiographical play in a massive New York City warehouse amid a life-size replica of Manhattan. Meanwhile, Caden must contend with the many women in his life -- including a box-office worker, an actress and a shrink -- in this beguiling directorial debut from screenwriter Charlie Kaufman.

Movie #272 ........................."Shorts"

Movie #272 "Shorts" is a Rodriguez Kids' flick (he did Spy Kids) so it's quickly edited, quirky, and hyberbolic & full of energy. The characters are one-dimensional, and by the time you get to the high point, it's going so fast, it very lightly stops and smells the roses; i.e. the theme is said through the narrator at the very end, so catch it if you can! It was way too silly for this viewer, but I'm not in the 10-14 range and think watching boogers is fun any more (come to think of it, I never did --go figure) Anyway, it fits its demographic, and it is clean, fun, but not very memorable. Except for the BIG BOOGER!





Average rating: 3.127
I give it a 2
Shorts
Shorts: The Adventures of the Wishing Book
(2009) PG
When the residents of a tight-knit community learn that 11-year-old Toe Thompson (Jimmy Bennett) has discovered a mysterious multicolored rock that grants the wishes of whomever possesses it, chaos ensues. Directed by Robert Rodriguez (Spy Kids), this family-friendly tale also stars Jon Cryer and Leslie Mann as Toe's parents, Kat Dennings as his sister Stacey, James Spader as the town mogul and William H. Macy as Dr. Noseworthy.

Movie #271 ........................."All the Real Girls"

Movie #271 "All the Real Girls" has two of my favorite people in it and it still drags from one scene to the other. Paul Schneider (the brother in "Lars" ) and "Zoey Deschanel ("100 Days of Summer") are so real, but the story just lags from one scene to the next. Better Director? Better director? Once Again Patricia Clarkson makes her presence know; in fact, her scenes come alive, but the rest -----nope I watched it twice actually, just to be sure..




Average rating: 2.999
I gave it 3 stars
All the Real Girls
(2003) R
Paul (Paul Schneider) lives large in a small Southern town, where he's made a sexual conquest of nearly every single, eligible female. Every one, that is, except for his best friend's sister, Noel (Zooey Deschanel), a committed virgin. When Paul falls unexpectedly for Noel, he swears he's not out for sex and seeks to prove it to her with his actions. But Paul finds love much harder to manage than plain old-fashioned lust.

Movie #270 ........................."Amelie"

Movie #270 "Amelie" is one of a kind --- blissfully funny, creative, romantic comedy. Quirky is the key word to this delightful tale that has sets that I think inspired t.v. show "Pushing Daisies.": If you don't fall in love with Audrey Tatou here, I don't know when it would be --- she's utterly charming and it is her movie. And what a cast of one-of-a-kind characters. This is a can't miss, esp. if you don't usually like foreign films.






You rated this movie: 5.0
Amelie
Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain
(2001) R
When impish gamine Amélie (Audrey Tautou), who lives alone, finds a long-hidden trove of toys behind a baseboard in her apartment, she's inspired to repatriate the items, an impulse of generosity that sparks more benevolent acts. A celebration of life and love, French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Oscar-nominated charmer stresses the importance of small wonders that surround us, if only we paused to look.

Movie #269 ........................."Bedtime Stories"

Movie #269 "Bedtime Stories" was really cute, and I esp. recommend it for the kids. Cute idea, cute kids, pretty funny parts, and Adam Sandler is actually watchable. He has no chemistry with Keri Russell, but she's so delightful to watch, it doesn't really matter. Guy Pearce does a dance bit in here reminiscent of "Priscilla" (if you haven't seen that, you should), Russel Briand does his thing and Courtney Cox is fun to watch, too. All around a good pick for the kiddies.





Average rating: 3.69
Bedtime Stories
(2008) PG
Skeeter Bronson (Adam Sandler) is a down-on-his-luck guy who's always telling bedtime stories to his niece and nephew. But his life is turned upside down when the fantastical stories he makes up for entertainment inexplicably turn into reality. Can a bewildered Skeeter manage his own unruly fantasies now that the outrageous characters and situations from his mind have morphed into actual people and events?

Movie #268 ........................."American Gun"

Movie #268 "American Gun" I have been waiting to see since I heard its name at the Spirit Awards last year. The opening hour was very powerful in this film, with some excellent acting on everyone's part. It was kind of like "Crash" with all these stories going on about guns, and then it fizzled out --- a couple of the stories came to an end; others didn't. It was a bit disappointing, but I'll never forget the Forest Whitaker story with the backpack. So some of it stuck, but overall I wouldn't recommend it. Good idea, but not really well executed.

Average rating: 2.941
I gave it 3 stars
American Gun
(2005) R
Nominated for Best Feature for the Independent Spirit Awards, director Aric Avelino's ambitious drama tackles the controversial issue of gun ownership by weaving disparate story lines into one cohesive narrative. Characters include a gun store owner (Donald Sutherland) and his granddaughter (Linda Cardellini) in Virginia, a beleaguered high school principal (Forest Whitaker) in Chicago and a grieving single mother (Marcia Gay Harden) in Oregon.

Movie #267 ........................."THX 1138"

Movie #267 "THX 1138" was a disappointment.............slow m-o-v-i-n-g, not much in explanations, dark and glum. It needed a better way to introduce the society because things happened way too quick and we were treated as onlookers and just got more confused as scene after scene crept slowly and deliberately by. I did like the visuals and the sound, though. And it's a prestar wars film of George Lucas, so that's worth something. I don't recommend it, though, unless you LOVE sci fi and want to see Lucas' visuals and sound at work. But I'd take his other pics any time over this one.






Average rating: 3.191
I gave it 3 stars
THX 1138
(1971) R
In a dystopian future that mandates drug use and outlaws sex, THX 1138 (Robert Duvall) and LUH 3417 (Maggie McOmie) rebel against the status quo. But when LUH winds up pregnant and THX is jailed, only a fellow prisoner (Donald Pleasence) can help THX escape. George Lucas based this futuristic love story -- his first feature film -- on an award-winning short he lensed while he was still in college.

Movie #266........................."Sleepwalking"

Movie #266 "Sleepwalking" is probably the worst scored movie on rottentomatoes I've ever seen because it scored an 18%. One critic even said "this is a lifeless movie about uninteresting characters." I don't agree at all. I read through the negative comments and most said that they didn't like the glumness of the situation and the melodramatic ending. On the contrary, I thought it was very intriguing to see the action unfold --- these seemed real characters, and they were very well played by all the leads., esp. Nick Stahl. What a challenging part --- and the little girl was amazing! Theron could be in it more, but I don't agree with the critics that said the movie got worse in her absence --- it was just different. I DO agree with the critics that said that they had seen this movie before because I have, too, just with a litle variation, but not as well acted. And yes, it IS glum, but sometimes life is for some people, and the ending works for me because it's a realistic one --- no more, no less, and I appreciated that and the great acting in the film. But it's not for everyone to see!


Average rating: 2.847
I give it 3.4 stars
Sleepwalking
(2008) R
When James's (Nick Stahl) sister, Joleen (Charlize Theron), shows up with her 11-year-old daughter, Tara (AnnaSophia Robb), he doesn't think twice about welcoming them into his home. But when Joleen skips town without her daughter, James is thrust into a role he's grossly unprepared for. At risk of losing Tara to foster care, James hits the road with his niece. Along the way, the pair develop a genuine bond and discover a true sense of family.

Movie #265 ........................."I Am Love"

Movie #265 "I Am Love" with Tilda Swinton is very stylish but for nought, in my opinion. It's the typical story of a repressed female wife who seems to have everything except her sexual freedom, until she meets "the one" who can change her life --- in this one it's Tony, the chef. She falls in love with the food that he makes, the way that he cooks and finally the man himself, an act that brings the downfall of her family ---- the movie is beautiful but pretentious --- it's so detailed that you keep thinking that it's building to something great, but it never does. So then when you think back, it just seems to be a movie devoid of a good story, but full of beautiful filmic moments. Some critics are raving about this one --- I'd rave about Tilda's acting, but not the film. There are other movies as stylish that have a better story --- say, like "Atonement" --- rent that one, instead.





I gave it 3 stars
I Am Love
Io Sono L'Amore
(2009) R
Oscar winner Tilda Swinton shows off her multilingual skills in this Italian melodrama, in which family dissension, unbidden desire and other tensions bubble to the surface during the patriarch's birthday party. When the seemingly picture-perfect Recchi family gathers at the family manse to celebrate the great old man, the veneer of civility falls quickly away in director Luca Guadagnino's lush, atmospheric film.

Movie #264 ........................."First Do No Harm"

Movie #264 "First Do No Harm" was a made for t.v. movie that I have wanted to see for a long time. First, because it had Meryl Streep, and for her to do a t.v. film, she must have believed in it a lot, and second because of the subject matter, epilepsy. I didn't know much about the subject, but boy is this enlightening --- it not only deals with the disease, but more importantly how doctors have difficulty treating it, how parents have to fight for their rights and the rights of their child, how a family can quickly disintegrate without health insurance, etc. It's all handled here and it was intriguing to watch. But it is made for t.v. so it's a bit on the melodramatic side. But because it was well acted, I hardly noticed.





Average rating: 3.735
I gave it 3.6
First Do No Harm
(1997) PG-13
Meryl Streep stars as a mother who goes to extraordinary lengths to help find treatment for her epileptic son. When insurance coverage runs out, she immerses herself in medical research in a last-ditch effort to discover a cure. She learns of a controversial diet that could reduce seizures, but she forges ahead even in the face of intense disapproval. Jim Abrahams directs this inspirational tale based on a true story.

Movie #263 ........................."Cosi"

Movie #263 "Cosi" is my kind of movie --- but it isn't for everyone. I liken it to "Boys Next Door, " "The Dream Team" or "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" in that most of the humor involves mentally disabled people ---- but an immature viewer would laugh AT those characters ----- but we are supposed to find the characters endearing and to gain some insight into what makes them tick, and to only laugh at the situations that their thinking gets them into. This time it doesn't take place in a hospital per se. Yes, they retreat to it at night, but the film is mostly on stage, and that's what I liked most about it. How these people who would be shunned in the outside world find their place on a stage. And there's one moment toward the end of this film that captures so well that feeling all thespians have gotten when you are on this high --- that you've accomplished something so great on stage that night, something TOGETHER, and you have to say goodbye to it , so you are also so sad. And you know that things will never be the same, you will never be able to inhabit that world again, and you won't ever feel that close to your fellow castmembers/tech crew again. You can't ever get the feeling totally back --- it's like "one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot" --- and you gotta love this film for capturing that moment.





Average rating: 3.339
I would give it 4 stars
Cosi
(1996) R
An unemployed drama director jumps at the chance to stage Mozart's "Cosi Fan Tutte," except for one small detail -- his actors are the residents of a psychiatric hospital. But the show must go on, even as the prima donna lead tries to thwart his directorial expertise and his personal life falls apart.

Movie #262 ........................"In the Mood for Love"

Movie #262 "In the Mood for Love" gets a thumbs up for being different. It's about requited love, but with an edge --- it's two people who are neighbors and discover that their partners are having an affair, but they don't fall into the trap of "what the heck" why don't we just have one, too! They take the high road, and it's pretty cool to watch the other side of the story --- we usually watch the illicit lovers, but the camera this time is on the victim's of the other relationship and it is quite telling. This is such a quiet, uncomfrotable film, but that tone makes this viewer watch it even more intently. It's very stylish and claustrophobic. Taking place in Hong Kong, the sets I found interesting to see, and they were filmed quite well.




Average rating: 3.803
I'd give it 3.5
In the Mood for Love
Hua yang nian hua / In the Mood for Love: Disc 1
(2001) PG
In director Kar Wai Wong's delicately mannered tale of platonic romance set in 1962 Hong Kong, neighboring married apartment-dwellers Chow Mo-wan (Tony Leung, who won Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival for his role) and Su Li-zhen (Maggie Cheung) discover that their often-absent spouses are having an affair. The two spend much of their free time together and find they have much in common, but vow never to behave like their unfaithful mates.

Movie #261 .........................."Despicable Me"

Movie #261 "Despicable Me" doesn't quite measure up to "Toy Story 3" (or 1 or 2, for that matter), but it is fun entertainment, thanks to Steve Carell and the three little girls: Margot, Edith and Agnes --------they stole the movie from the bad guy ( a just okay Jason Segel).Yes, the characters are great, but the script is nothing to boast about --- it's just so-so. In fact, a bit too much fighting and stupidity for me (that's why I never watched cartoons when I was a kid --- I figured the Anvil would fall on the bad guy and in the next frame he shook his head and continued his dastardly deeds ---- stupid! Anyway, there are lots of moments like that here, and the story gets bogged down, but Carell and the three little ones are great fun! We recommend it for summer fare.





Average rating: 4.186
I give it 3.8
Despicable Me
(2010) PG
Villainous Gru (Steve Carell) lives up to his reputation as a despicable, deplorable and downright unlikable guy when he hatches a plan to steal the moon from the sky. But he has a tough time staying on task after three orphans land in his care. Julie Andrews voices the role of Gru's malevolent mother in this comical, animated tale with Jason Segel, Kristen Wiig, Will Arnett and Danny McBride rounding out the ensemble cast.

Movie #260 ........................."The Razor's Edge"

Movie #260 "The Razor's Edge" was a mess ---- a beautifully photographed film, but a mess as far as focus, acting, script and directing. This was the first movie we streamed from Netflix to our t.v., so it was kind of cool to be able to do that, but this was a let down. Let's just say Bill Murray didn't have the dramatic tension it took to do this film ---- and he's too modern acting to get across the time period. He just was miscast. So was Theresa Russell ---- her acting was uneven in the film. And speaking of uneven, so is the script ------- dialogue was up and down in intensity and there were several clunker moments. This overall made me want to read the book more. It's kind of like Brideshead Revisited in scope, but doesn't near measure up to that film.





Average rating: 3.448
I gave it 2 stars
The Razor's Edge
(1984) PG-13
Based on W. Somerset Maugham's classic novel. Larry Darrell (Bill Murray) returns from the battlefields of World War I a changed man. His fiancée, Isabel (Catherine Hicks) resigns herself to a delayed wedding when Larry heads to Paris to find meaning in his life. He's then inspired to travel to Nepal, where he receives guidance from a lama. But while he's off globetrotting, the life he leaves behind changes dramatically. …

Movie #259 ........................."Two Brothers"

Movie #259 "Two Brothers" is an unbelievable film --- unbelievable in how it was filmed, how it captures these two "wild" animals doing such tender things --- you'd swear they took acting lessons, the way they are beautifully filmed. And the scenery is astounding --- hats off t0 the director. And such a beautiful ending with an equally beautiful message --- I'm not quite convinced that kids would sit through the length of this movie ---- and some of the scenes are challenging, with little dialogue, but once Freddie Highmore comes in to the picture, then the film takes off. I highly recommend it, and I own it so it will be in my collection for kids who have the patience to sit and watch a beautiful film that takes its time to develop two distinct characters, two brothers ----------this time they are tigers, though, and that's what is so amazing!!!!





Average rating: 3.508
I'd give it 3.5 stars
Two Brothers
(2004) PG
French director Jean-Jacques Annaud (The Bear) again trains his camera lens on animals -- adorable animals. This time, it's twin tiger cubs separated by fate. The bold brother is sold off to a circus, where living in a cage robs him of his spirit. Meanwhile, the shy cub becomes the much-loved companion of the governor's lonely son -- until his family gives the little tiger away to a man who plans to turn him into a fighter for sport.

Movie #258 ........................."The Valley of Decision"

Movie #258 "The Valley of Decision" was another Peck offering on TCM's Tribute to Gregory Peck day, and this time he is paired with Greer Garson who was really 12 years his senior. Anyway, she is a poor Irish immigrant's daughter living in Pittsburgh, with a dad (Lionel Barrymore --- Mr. Potter in "Wonderful Life" the same year, 1945) who hates the owner of the steel mills because he blames him for his wheelchair condition. Meanwhile, Mary (Greer) needs a job so she takes one as a maid in the owner's household, the Scotts. Paul Scott (Peck) falls in love with her, while the rest of the family likes her being around and she becomes one of the family ----- but she is worried that if they married, both families would never forgive them --- she's not good enough for him, her father hates him, etc. So she follows the daughter in the family to England and helps her in her new marriage. Back at the mill, Peck starts to deal with the uprising of the workers in the mill --- they are on strike ---- Mary comes back so that she and Paul can work on the strike --- tragedy strikes again, so that when they are just about to come together, they no longer can.........but for the romantics, there's a nice ending so it keeps you watching to the end. All the actors are very capable, and it's a nice epic love story, so I would give it 3.8 stars. Oh, almost forgot that one of the best things about the movie is seeing Jessica Tandy as a very young girl --- we so much know her better in stuff like "Driving Miss Daisy," and we forget that she started when she was so much younger. So I recommend it for a good black and white film.

Movie #257 ........................."Designing Woman"

Movie $257 "Designing Woman" I watched on TCM this a.m. when I couldn't sleep and found it quite enjoyable. Rarely do we see Gregory Peck getting laughs, but I was almost on the floor in a scene where he was surreptitiously trying to retrieve his shoe from a dog's mouth! Lauren Bacall is kind of stiff (so is Peck, usually), but she sure can wear fashionable clothes well, and since she is a fashion designer (and Audrey Hepburn wasn't available, I assume), Bacall is okay. They have a cute courtship, the conflict is there but needs a little help with the mafia who is after Peck threatening to kill him (such trauma is rarely found in a light romantic comedy), but it has a rip roaring fight scene at its highpoint that ends up with a dancer creaming them all! You have to see the movie just for that moment! hah! It's fun, it's Peck, so I recommend it.





Average rating: 3.157
I gave it 4 stars
Designing Woman
(1957) NR
Sports writer Mike (Gregory Peck) and fashion designer Marilla (Lauren Bacall) meet while traveling, fall for each other and quickly get married. But the honeymoon comes to an abrupt end when they return to New York and must contend with their exes, angry mobsters … and the fact that they're practically strangers. This nuanced comedy, directed by Vincente Minelli, earned an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

Movie #256 ........................."Priceless"

Movie #256 "Priceless" is a delightful French comedy that hooked me from the first minute. It's full of good humor, smart, tongue-in-cheek dialogue, farcical situations, con artist main characters, all together a fun film. With surprises along the way, the film offers everything and more in a delicious romantic comedy. I highly recommend it. And I think the film hinges on the charm of the two main characters, esp. the delicious Audrey Tatou. I have never been disappointed by her in a French film!





Average rating: 3.54
I rated it a 4
Priceless
Hors de prix
(2006) R
Irène (Audrey Tautou), who makes a fortune sweet-talking rich men, puts the moves on klutzy Jean (Gad Elmaleh), unaware that he's just a hotel bartender. But by the time Irène realizes her mistake, Jean is hopelessly smitten with her. Letting men down easy has never been Irène's strong suit, but she finds a way to mend Jean's broken heart that ensures he'll never have to mix cocktails again. Vernon Dobtcheff co-stars in this wacky French farce.

Movie #255 ........................."Y tu Mama Tambien"

Movie #255 "Y Tu Mama Tambien" is a movie I have heard about and wanted to see for a long time. Now that I have seen it, I can say that it is a movie that is a bit over-rated, in my opinion. It is a little better than average road picture --- three people go on a trip and for a variety of reasons are all vulnerable ----- and they learn a lot about themselves, their sexuality (lots of nudity and sex scenes), and the meaning of true friendship. The acting is better than average, the filming is really good, the script makes it seem a slice of life, and there's a poignant ending. But as far as road pictures, it is just okay. I DID like that we got into the souls of these people, and I found them interesting, but at times I felt I was invading their privacy --- like i was put in the position of a voyeur of their exploration into their sexuality -----there seemed to be a bit too much of it for me, and I wanted the film to delve deeper into their psyche ---- but perhaps that would be another film. So, if you plan to see this one, please know there's quite a few sex scenes ---- and the language is raw, but it is a better than average road trip, and I'm glad I finally saw it.





Average rating: 3.779
I gave it 3.4
Our best guess for DONNA: 3.3 stars
Average of 980,440 ratings: 3.8 stars
Y Tu Mamá También(And Your Mama Too)
2001UR105 minutes
When rich teenagers Tenoch (Diego Luna) and Julio (Gael Garcia Bernal) meet the alluring, older Luisa (Maribel Verdu) at a wedding, they try to impress her with stories of a road trip to a secret beach, and ultimately convince her to come with them. What follows in director Alfonso Cuaron's Oscar-nominated film -- one of the most talked-about pics of 2002 -- is an escapade involving seduction, conflict and the harsh realities of poverty.

Movie #254 ........................."Color of Freedom"

Movie #254 "Color of Freedom" is an excellent film if you are interested in what happened the 20+ years while Mandella was in prison --- this is from the point of view of James Gregory (played by mighty fine Joe Fiennes) who went 360 degrees from his position about apartheid while in charge of the day to day business of keeping watch on Mandela and censuring his mail. This was well acted, and though a bit melodramatic at times, it told a good story --- one that needs to be told.







Average rating: 3.807
I gave it a 4
The Color of Freedom
Goodbye Bafana
(2007) R
Dennis Haysbert and Joseph Fiennes co-star in this remarkable drama based on the controversial memoirs of James Gregory, the white South African who guarded Nelson Mandela during more than 20 years of imprisonment under apartheid. As Mandela (Haysbert) seeks freedom for himself and his people, Gregory (Fiennes) gradually begins to renounce his militant racism, thanks to his unlikely but powerful relationship with the political prisoner.

Movie #253 ........................."A Very Long Engagement"

Movie #253 "A Very Long Engagement" is another Audrey Tautou film that works. In fact, it gathers together some more-than-capable actors (Jody Foster speaking French impeccably & Marion Cotillard) to get across 5 stories ---- it's a few too many names and girlfriend's names and best friends' names to remember (and that's the reason it isn't a 5) but the 5 soldiers have something in common --- they all were sent to the front by the French to be sent out first and TO BE KILLED because they tried to self mutilate themselves to get back home to their families. Audrey (Mathilde) has a strong feeling her fiance is still alive so she goes on this journey to find out the truth -------it's like a mystery and she has to go through all different ways to get her info (interview, letter,etc.) so it takes quite a while to get to the end, but it's a nice ending scene --- it's just that the story is a bit convoluted in parts and the film is a tad long. Otherwise, a very good WWI film --- disclaimer: very violent at times, since it's a war picture in parts. There's an esp. powerful scene with bombs dropping in a hospital that's tough to watch.

Average rating: 3.681
I gave it 4 stars
A Very Long Engagement
Un long dimanche de fiancailles
(2004) R
Amelie's Audrey Tautou stars as Mathilde, a young Frenchwoman who vows to find out what happened to her missing fiancé (Gaspard Ulliel) during World War I. He appears to have died after a court-martial, but she needs to know for sure. As she looks for the truth, she discovers unexpected things about herself and the people she meets along the way. Jean-Pierre Jeunet directs this foreign-language adaptation of Sebastien Japrisot's novel.

Movie #252........................."Departures"

Movie #252 "Departures" is a movie I've wanted to see for a long time. In fact, way back in February, my in-laws, Dave and I drove over to the rec center in Boca, Florida so that we could see this movie. When we got there, they couldn't get the apparatus to work, so we went home disappointed. Had I known what a good movie it was, I would have been VERY disappointed. I had skipped it several times because of the time length of the movie (131 minutes), and that is really the only reason I'm giving it a 4 instead of a 5 ----its length. I really don't think it needed to be as long as it was. It is quiet and slowly paced, and I get that, but it was a bit too much, I felt. The casketing that he does in the movie, I got the first time --- so by the end of the movie, I felt I could go to Japan and do it myself, it was so detailed. However, I felt I learned quite a bit about how they prepare their dead in this culture, and how positive they are about death even though their bodies are prepped extensively to be cremated!!!! Unbelievable the care they take ---- now, if this were a documentary, I would have still enjoyed and learned from it, but to also have a script that takes the married couple on a journey to discovery, well that's what makes the film rating so high for me. Also, I appreciated all the supporting actors/characters that helped to make this film a rich find. I recommend it ------ but it is dark in its subject matters. It isn't about a travel agency (when you see the movie, you'll laugh at that comment!)




Average rating: 4.15
I gave it 4.
Our best guess for DONNA: 4.1 stars
Average of 109,569 ratings: 4.2 stars
Departures(Okuribito)
131 minutes
Freshly unemployed, young cellist Daigo (Masahiro Motoki) has an epiphany in which he realizes he's been heading down the wrong career path. Retreating to his hometown, he trains for a new professional role as a nakanshi, or one who prepares the dead for burial. Tsutomu Yamazaki provides comic relief as Daigo's eccentric mentor in director Yojiro Takita's Oscar-winning, richly detailed -- if unlikely -- drama about finding your bliss.

Cast:Masahiro Motoki, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Ryoko Hirosue, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Kimiko Yo, Takashi Sasano, Tôru Minegishi, Tetta Sugimoto, Yukiko Tachibana, Tatsuo YamadaDirector:Yojiro TakitaGenres:Foreign, Foreign Dramas, Japan, Japanese LanguageLanguage:JapaneseThis movie is:Understated, Sentimental, EmotionalFormat:DVD and streaming (HD

Movie #251........................."Shrink"

Movie #251 "Shrink" is still another film about grief ---- a psychiatrist is trying to dole out help to others when he is grief stricken himself over a death in his family. He's numb and moves around his house as if he's not even there ---- he half listens to his patients, he drinks, smokes, takes drugs..........this is not a happy film. but then............he comes across someone, a young girl, who has the same kind of grief, and then the film starts to get a bit more upbeat. Otherwise, for most of this, it's very sad and dark. It's a tough watch, but Kevin Spacey, as usual, is terrific as this damaged "shrink" whose life has shrunk to almost nothing and he know he should cope, and he probably knows how (because he's taken people through it so many times) but does he want to? Is he willing to take his own advice?





Average rating: 3.421
I gave it 3 stars
Shrink
(2009) R
In the wake of a personal tragedy, Hollywood's psychiatrist to the stars (Kevin Spacey) devolves into a slovenly pothead and worries he's become incapable of helping his patients in this sharp indie drama that premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. Saffron Burrows, Robin Williams, Jack Huston, Griffin Dunne, Gore Vidal, Robert Loggia, Dallas Roberts and Mark Webber co-star as the shrink's diverse brood of showbiz clientele.

Movie #250 ........................."Georgia O'keeffe"

Movie #250 "Georgia O'Keeffe" is a well acted study of the relationship of Georgia O'keeffe, the painter, and Alfred Stieglitz, the photographer, and how much influence he had in building her career, but how they just couldn't live with each other for long periods of time. The film is beautifully filmed and the characters are very complex as we watch her career build, then come to a screeching halt, and then rebuild again, this time in New Mexico. I highly recommend this quiet, but well done film biography of a very complex, creative individual ---Georgia O'Keeffe --- made me want to look her up more.












Average rating: 3.371
I gave it 4 stars
Georgia O'Keeffe
(2009) NR
Joan Allen stars as 20th-century painter Georgia O'Keeffe in this Golden Globe-nominated biopic that follows the artist's tempestuous relationship with her lover and eventual husband, Alfred Steiglitz (Jeremy Irons), a New York photographer and art promoter. Though their marriage weathers long absences and extramarital affairs, O'Keeffe prefers solitude in New Mexico, where she creates her greatest work. Bob Balaban directs.

Movie #249........................."Nothing to Lose"

Movie #249 "Nothing to Lose" has lots of funny moments that I found myself laughing out loud. I have never seen a Martin Lawrence film all the way through, and though he's no Eddie Murphy, he's pretty funny when he "cops" an attitude, and working off of the very skilled straight man (who is funny himself) Tim Robbins, they make a good pair, which propels this film to the end (which I guessed, but liked anyway). It's a comedy with heart and some very funny moments and a most capable cast --- put that together with an amazing bunch of songs in the background, and I'd recommend it. Very amusing!



Average rating: 3.648
I'd give it 3.8 stars
Nothing to Lose
(1997) R
Nick Beame (Tim Robbins), an advertising executive, thinks he's having a bad day when he discovers his wife Ann (Kelly Preston) in bed with his boss (Michael McKean). But Nick's day goes from bad to worse when he drives around aimlessly and soon finds himself in a poor neighborhood, staring at the barrel of a gun. Carjacker T. Paul (Martin Lawrence) gets taken on the ride of his life in this odd-couple buddy flick.