The White Countess

Human drama period piece - Shanghai before World War II and the Japanese invasion. Russian countess must care for her daughter as well as her displaced and extended family by dishonorable means. She befriends a wealthy but blind diplomat who rescues her from some of her hardships. Slow-paced and high-budgeted film finally pays off in the end.

You Can Count On Me

Fun and fine light comedy drama! Characters are lovable, with a witty script. Lots of character development and some surprises too. Plot - Single mom works in a small town bank and has an affair with her manager. Meanwhile her brother is teaching her 8 year old kid the ways of the adult world. Sparks and fireworks as the siblings clash personalities. Fine acting with Laura Linney, Mark Ruffalo, and Matthew Broderick. Worth seeing !

To Kill a Mockingbird

Classic - human drama in black & white. Gregory Peck is the impeccable citizen and defense lawyer for a black man falsely accused of rape. It all takes place in a small town in the South in the 1930's. Acting is profound, including the childhood actors. Movie-making the old-fashioned way, and it still entertains!

Freedom Writers

Educational drama based on a true story of a new and idealistic high school teacher (played by Hillary Swank) who manages to motivate a really tough bunch of "unteachable kids". It took place at Woodrow Wilson High in Long Beach in 1994-1996. Erin Gruel (real teacher's name) uses journal writing, sharing, classic and contemporary readings, field trips, and guest speakers to motivate her students to self-expression. The result is a powerful family-like educational unit of power. This is an authentic and uplifting movie.

The Merchant of Venice

Shakespeare's excellence captured on screen. Actors Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, Joseph Fiennes, and Lynn Collins bring so much to this film. Despite difficulty in understanding every bit of what Shakespeare is saying with dialogue, actor's emotions crash through to make this a lovely tale to watch. Plot - Jewish money lender (Pacino) lends money to nobleman (Irons) in exchange for a bond that if not paid in money by a certain date, will be paid for by extraction of a pound of the debtor's flesh. In a climactic court room scene, a brilliant lawyer (Lynn Collins dressed in drag) intervenes with a different type of justice. I found this movie slow in some places, but brilliant in others.

Winter Solstice

Quiet introspective human drama - Father and two teenage sons live alone together after the death of the mother in an automobile accident five years ago. Dad is a landscaper, older son works at a restaurant, younger son is struggling (but not very hard) to finish high school. The story pokes along to the strumming of a guitar soundtrack with picturesque shots of a New Jersey suburb (had no idea New Jersey could be so rural looking) Acting is right on. Character development is very subtle. The ending was quite sudden and leaving many unanswered questions.

Me and You and Everyone We Know

What a freaky movie! Oddball low key comedy focuses on a few members of a suburban neighborhood. A dad with two kids who won't talk to him, an aspiring female artist in search of love, a pre-teen boy obsessed with Internet chat, two teenage girls in search of their first sexual adventure, and a few more. No real plot here, mostly a snapshot of characters - but entertaining.

Tortilla Soup

Light Comedy Drama about a Mexican American family in Los Angeles. Hector Elizondo stars as the father, chef and single parent with three daughters. Many scenes around the dinner table, discussions and drama, as the lives of the three girls unfold around careers, religion, boyfriends and husbands. Acting is top notch. Lots of great close-ups. Very warm movie.

The Secret LIfe of Words

Drama set on an oil rig - slow and methodical. Burn victim (Tim Robbins) is nursed to health by part-time nurse (Sarah Polley). Over a series of days the two form an unusual bond and friendship. Both have been wounded seriously in their secret pasts. Robbin's character deals with it by joking and profanity, Polley's character by introversion and silence. They are opposites and they attract. Starts off slow, but finishes well.

Unbearable Lightness of Being

Romantic Drama based on a story by Czech writer Milan Kindera. Lovely shots of Prague and surrounding countryside. Great performances by Daniel Day-Lewis and Juliette Binoche. They are wonderful together playing the young and struggling Czechoslovakian newly-wed couple during the Russian invasion of 1968. The man, an intelligent doctor with a weakness for women, the wife incredibly sensitive and devoted. Nearly 3 hours long but entertaining and with messages and character development. The ending is a bit of a shock, but that is often a good novel.

Transamerica

Unusual road comedy/drama! Transsexual guy wanting to be a woman (acted by Felicity Huffman from Desperate Housewives) saves her (his) son from prostitution by befriending and driving him across country to Los Angeles from New York. Most unusual incidents follow flashing insights on family, image, love and sexuality. What a bold movie to make. I found myself glued to it.

Georgia Rule

Comedy drama chick-flick - really well acted by Lindsay Lohan, Jane Fonda, and Felicity Huffman. Deals with family dysfunction, child molestation and alcoholism. Lovely shots of Idaho. Entertaining and well worth a see.

The Third Miracle

Religious theme Drama - Doubting Catholic priest (Ed Harris) is called upon to investigate the possibility of canonizing a saint. Tempted by seduction, self-doubt, and powerful adversaries in the church, he investigates and argues for the admission of another saint to the Catholic church. Acting is fine, and the story moves along nicely - pointing up interesting facets about man's belief, God, and the Catholic church. A good watch.

A Good Year

Light and airy comedy/drama filmed in a lovely location in Southern France. The plot is simple - workaholic British stock trader is forced to reconnect with his childhood home when his uncle dies and leaves him vineyards and a lovely chatel. Add some local French peasants, a pretty childhood girlfriend, and you have the makings of a light-hearted rom/com. Russell Crowe is a fine actor, and/but some might argue this is not his best venue. Still, enjoyable film, but predictable.

Wordplay

Wordplay is about crossword puzzlers all over the USA. Talk about geeks, nerds and propeller heads! These guys are freaks for words and puzzles. Movie focuses on interviewing the puzzlers (including Bill Clinton) and puzzle makers (including New York Times Crossword puzzle editor), and climaxes with the national crossword puzzle finals. A good documentary.

Good Night and Good Luck

Television's early days! Documentary of CBS News in the early 1950's when famed reporter Edward Murrow attacks right wing Senator McCarthy for going overboard on purging leftist activity in America. Intense drama filmed in black and white. The subject mater is all business and no play. Well done, but stark. Educational more than entertaining. Like a true reporter journalist would have it.

The Greatest Game Ever Played

Golf Drama Sports Period Piece by Walt Disney - celebrates showmanship and sportsmanship during the 1913 U.S. Open. Add a variety of struggles: Pro versus rookie, Britain versus America, rich versus poor. Very well acted and thought out. And/but formulatic - you just know what is going to happen. Still, very entertaining.

Little Children

Human drama explores the lives of a neighborhood. A sex pervert, a zealous ex-cop, and a romantic involvement of man and woman (each with kid) who are both married to someone else. Acting is intense but believable, and/but the story is a bit over the top. An oral commentary accompanies each scene to help us in understanding the bizarre actions of the characters, but often I wished it would shut up. Unusual flick with a lot to say about beliefs, morals and dull marriages.

Passion Fish

Fine Human Drama set in the Louisiana Bayou! Successful New York soap-star actress (Mary McDonnell) is hit by a taxi and paralyzed waist down. Bitter and beaten, she returns to her hometown in Louisiana, resigning herself to drinking and television. When she hires a live-in nurse (Alfre Woodard),a most fascinating battle begins as the women share their "issues". Talk about character development! Acting is riveting, direction is superb. Each scene speaks a world. One of the best human dramas I have ever seen.

Music and Lyrics

Hugh Grant Rom-Com with Drew Barrymore... Pop singer from the 80's (Grant) meets up with plant caretaker (Barrymore) to write some revivifying music for the singer's career. Gee, do you think they might fall in love? Formulatic, but fun to watch nonetheless, with fine performances by the cast. Upbeat.

Changing Times

French drama - Two first-loves attempt to reunite after a 30 year separation. Working woman radio celebrity (Catherine Deneuve) is pursued by her first love and now successful engineer (Gerard Depardieu) whom she has not met for 30 years. Problem is, she already has her hands full with her doctor husband and lawyer bisexual son with his own problems. This movie raises many issues and flows somewhat unevenly, but the acting is very real. All in French, can you keep up with the subtitles?

The Painted Veil

1920's drama based on Somerset Maughan's novel. English doctor (Ed Norton) marries reluctant lovely (Naomi Watts). Marriage off to a rocky start as the bored wife has an affair. The couple moves on to China to help fight off a cholera epidemic, and somehow find feelings for each other. Long and slow, but powerful, lovely to look at. Photography is fine. Acting is great.

The Queen

Wow, the English CAN make fine movies. All about the week after the death of Princess Diana - How the masses and the media forced the Queen to a public mourning in London for world celebrity Diana. English pomp, pretense, and protocol are observed scene by scene. Photography is superb. Actors are fabulous. A lovely and enlightening film to watch.