Venus

Romantic Drama - all about age and beauty. Peter O'Toole plays a lecherous old man and former actor. He meets his best friend's young housekeeper and falls in love with her. How far can an 80 year old and a 20 year old go together? Watch the movie and find out. Acting is excellent and so is the photography and script. If you don't mind watching an older man and younger woman falling in love...

Tigerland

Army Drama, Vietnam era - about Louisiana boot camp and then "Tigerland" a simulation spot for Vietnam war fare. Tough stuff, lots of fighting and mental and physical breakdowns, some discharges, along with the usual army stuff. BUT there is a hero here, a leader and a character study of one soldier who thinks a bit differently (Colin Farell). Interesting material here and fine acting. The ending leaves us guessing what will happen to our hero. Recommended if you like army movies.

THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU

Romantic Comedy with Brits and an American. Otherwise known by MARTHA, MEET FRANK, DANIEL AND LAURENCE. American girl meets 3 guys on 3 separate occasions in London, and has some kind of relationship with each. Chance has it these guys are all best friends. Somehow the story is told, but it feels thin. And the characters seem not fully filled out. It just is "uneven" and scenes even seem rushed at times. In other movies the same actors have done wonderfully. I don't recommend this movie.

Mean Girls

High School Comedy - featuring Lindsay Lohan - all the horrors that a girl must face entering a new high school. The cliques, back-biting, gossip, and scheming. Jokes and pranks and unrequited love. Fine cast and clever story make the dark side of high school funny. Great songs and sound effects. I enjoyed this movie a lot.

Being Julia

Romantic drama - based on Somerset Maugham novel of 1937, filmed in England. Aging actress at the height of her career has an affair with a young admirer and loses him to a younger woman. This same younger woman manages to gain audition to her next play and has an affair with her director husband. The accomplished actress has been slighted 3 times by the younger girl and on opening night takes revenge. A most unusual and delightful ending. Slow at times but entertaining nonetheless. Performances are authentic. It is a fun look at the theater.

Pride and Prejudice

Romantic Drama based on a novel of English society 100 plus years ago. A not so wealthy family with 5 daughters tries desperately marry them off to reasonable gentlemen. (The mother is obsessed with this) The elder daughters are radiantly beautiful. And in the course of this movie 4 of the 5 daughters are married off. This movie benefits from lovely scenery of English countryside, fine cinematography, flawless costuming, and great performances from the cast. Most shining is Keira Knightley. One of the more impressive movies I have seen!!

Waiting for Guffman

Comedy Spoof on Community Theater - The small town of Blaine is celebrating it's existence with a community show featuring local talent. Fun casting and unusual characters spice this film. Fine music and enjoyable peeks behind the curtain. A "mockumentary" of small town life in Missouri.

And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself

War Documentary (a film about filming a battle) based on historical fact - in 1913, Pancho Villa, the Mexican revolutionary invites a movie company to capture on film his battles to overtake the corrupt Mexican government and return the land to the poor farmers. American film dollars help finance his revolution and the films help create a favorable image for the questionable bandit hero. Antonio Banderas plays Pancho with total realness and passion. A finely made educational movie! Wow.

"The Emperor’s New Clothes"

Drama Period Piece with Comedy overtones - What if Napoleon Bonaparte DID NOT die in exile as history reports? What if he arranged a double to impersonate him as prisoner on the island while the real Bonaparte escapes to Paris? (This is the premise of the film) And it is more sad than funny what happens. Napoleon escapes but nobody believes it is him. It has been over six years and he appears so normal. People are more likely to think he is crazy than to be Napoleon! Some romance in this film, and lovely costuming. The acting is genuine as well.

OPAL DREAM

Family Drama with a twist... Young girl with vivid imagination loses two of her valuable imaginary playmates. In desperation her father goes searching for them and accidently trespasses on an eccentric miner's valuable territory and is found "ratting" (searching valuable opals on someone else's claimed land). The mining town is furious and a courtcase ensues. Father, brother, and townsfolk battle out what really happened. Simple story shot in Southern Australia desert with a handful of sincere actors. Worth a look.

National Lampoon's Vacation

Family Vacation Comedy! The Griswolds drive from Chicago to Los Angeles in 2 weeks time to see "Walley World" - their favorite amusement park. Unbelievable trials they face - car problems, getting lost, getting stopped by police, lost luggage and credit cards, death of a pet, and death of an in-law. It looks like they will never make it to Walley World. But they do. And they discover it is closed! What a crazy movie this is. And what a fun one. One of the funnier comedies I have seen.

MRS. PALFREY AT THE CLAREMONT

Human Drama - Mrs. Palfrey moves to a retirement hotel when her husband dies. A kind of unusual and severe environment, elderly waiting to die. But "you can't die here" is the fact. No nurses, just everything is served and prepared for you. On a walk Mrs. Palfrey takes a fall and is rescued by a young man who befriends her. This special friendship between youngster and oldster is the theme of this movie. Fine acting and fun scenes of London. Not a real deep character study, just a story, and a fairly entertaining one.

Deliver Us From Evil

Documentary on the Catholic Church and child-molestation. Collection of interviews with molestation victims, one very guilty Catholic priest (O'Grady), police personnel, parents, and families damaged by abuse of their trust in the church. Mercilessly honest accounts. Did all this really happen? Eye-opening. Made me glad I am not Catholic. Well done film.

Before Sunset

Romantic Drama filmed in Paris - 2 former lovers meet again after 9 years of separation. One married with child, the other in a long-distance relationship. So much catching up to do, so little time (80 minutes) before our author has to catch his plane. Lots of dialog (maybe too much) and/but nice scenes of Paris streets, buildings, and the River Seine. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy play the lovers reunited. Strangely enough they don't even kiss or take their clothes off! Unique film.

The Apostle

Religious Drama - about abundantly enthusiastic evangelist (Robert Duvall) who lives a life of passion for the Lord Jesus and for people he loves. This preacher has so much energy it pours out of him like fire. Problem is he has passion for women and passion for combat and this leads to his eventual down fall. Good performances all around (Farrah Facett and Miranda Richardson play women in the preacher's life). This story is a bit long and repetitive. But an interesting look at religious fervor and a real one.

Breach

Documentary Drama. Based on FBI mole Robert Hanssen who gave top secret info to the Soviets for 20 plus years sometimes resulting in deaths to U.S. allies. This is the story of his capture. Fine script and directing moves it right along. A bit dark - I felt like I was watching a black & white film it was so drab. Fine acting all around. So believable. Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillipe and Laura Linney star.

Boynton Beach Club

Romantic Comedy with senior citizens! Florida Boynton Beach Club is for seniors, widows, widowers, divorced people. They need love too. Interesting character studies. And the dating game as played by people over 60. Fine acting keeps this movie fun to watch and worthwhile. Refreshingly different.

Dreamer

Horse and Human Drama ! Lovely Kentucky horse ranch lacks horses. Rancher (Kurt Russel) buys a race horse with a broken leg and nurses it back to health with help of his daughter (Dakota Fanning). Miracles happen. The horse enters contests after being told it will not run again. Based on a true story but this is too good to be true. The actors make this thing alive and real. Kris Kristofferson plays the grandfather crusty on the outside and gold on the inside. Not as good as Seabiscuit but entertaining!

The Legend of Bagger Vance

Golf movie with drama ! Former golfer and war hero (Matt Damon) returns from battle shell-shocked, reclusive, and with a drinking problem. His hometown Savannah is in financial distress and (to raise money) sponsors a golf championship exhibition and forces him to play in it. Dealing with his demons of war memories and broken love affair with southern belle (Charlize Theron), our hero faces the two greatest golfers of the time, Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen. Fine dialogue, awesome photography, and believable acting (Will Smith plays the caddy) put this movie into a well worth seeing category. Directed by Robert Redford.

Novocaine

Dark comedy romance suspense - Dentist gets caught in an affair with a con-artist. Serious consequences. This movie starts very innocent and fun but half way through turns very dark with injuries, arrests, and two murders. I felt betrayed by the sudden turn of plot. Mixing comedy with suspense wasn't funny for me. The cast was pretty good - Steve Martin, Laura Dern, Helena Bonham Carter, Scott Cann and Kevin Bacon.

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio

Drama Documentary with lightness - a sharp and witty housewife (Julianne Moore) in the 1950's who wins thousands and thousands of dollars in TV and radio jingle prize money for her family of ten while her alcoholic husband (Woody Harrelson) manages to drink and gamble most of it away! Great scenes of the 1950's and mid-West America. Super-fine acting. A most unforgettable and fun movie to watch.

Casanova

Enjoyable period piece (1700's) romantic comedy-farce filmed nicely in Venice, Italy. Casanova the famous lover is pursued by women (for romance), the Vatican (for debauchery), and a very intelligent single woman (for true love). Costumes are impressive and so is the acting. Lots of fun.

Memoirs of a Geisha

Lovely period piece melodrama set in pre-world war II Japan. Such photography! Fine acting. Lovely twisty plot - Young fishing family girl is sold off to work as a servant in a geisha house in Kyoto. Separated from mom, dad, and her sister she suffers intense loneliness and confusion in her new world. But destiny serves her another life - a fine gentleman and network of friends work unseen politics to insure she becomes one of the finest geishas in Japan. Very impressive, an epic.

The Last Place on Earth

Light Romantic California Drama with nice scenery of the Sierra Mountains. Youngest son is asked by his mom on her deathbed to deliver her ashes to a national park site. On the way there, he picks up a girl having car trouble and the romance begins. Acting is real even if the characters are not always lovable. Easy to watch as the story line is simple and most scenes are filmed outdoors in nature. No masterpiece but an easy way to spend a couple of hours.

28 Days

Light comedy/drama starring Sandra Bullock as an alcohol and drug abuser sentenced to 28 days of rehab. Fun characters and story line once inside the rehab center. Filmed in North Carolina. Simple, direct, and sweet.

Baptists at our Barbecue

Light religious comedy - small town is split between Mormons and Baptists, when a single mormon guy comes to be the new forest ranger upsets the balance. Some romance and good fun as he sets up a town barbecue and invites both religious camps. Low budget film but with unique cast and fun performances, entertaining.