Amelie

Comedy bizarre - French - Magical like tale of a woman who is still very much a child. She lives in a fantasy world and touches out to adults in her own quirky and loving way. But her shyness is killing her, and especially when she meets a man she loves. How can she face him? Interesting and most unusual tale, kept alive by the Audrey Hepburn-like charisma of actress Audrey Tautou. Though I couldn't follow everything in this odd plotted flick, it kept me amused and the ending was worth it.

Chicken Run

Comedy Animation - all about chickens and their keepers who first want their eggs and later their bodies. The chickens revolt and try to escape, many times. Lots of fun here - the chickens are hilarious to look at and the dialog is clever. The story moves right along with lots of fun scenes for kids and adults too.

LA VIE EN ROSE

Epic Drama celebrating famous French singer Edith Piaf - Lots of ups and downs here - childhood in a brothel, singing for coins on the streets, meeting a successful nightclub owner, romance with a boxer, battles with drug addiction, and touring and winning over audiences. Back dropped with voice tracks of the real Edith Piaf, actress Marion Cotillard provides a lively dramatic stage presence. In contrast there are many (too many in my opinion) scenes focusing on her frailty and sickness. Piaf died at 47 having pushed herself beyond the limits of her health. Interesting movie, and/but I had hoped to see a more detailed account of her song-making and rise to fame, and less of her illness and ill-fated childhood.

Rabbit-Proof Fence

Human Drama - based on a true story - 3 aboriginal "half-caste" girls run away after being taken in custody to an Australian government "school/camp" in the 1930's. They travel the desert on foot 1200 miles evading capture. Tremendous determination on the part of the 3 child actors, so very real and compelling. I enjoyed this movie.

A Mighty Wind

Mockumentary - funky spoof on musical documentaries. The lives of former folk song stars, memoirs, interviews, jam sessions, testimonies - all exaggerated and characterized. Some fun scenes, amusing and/but not as great as it could be.

Wah Wah

Human Drama - a kid grows up in Swaziland with his mom having an extramarital affair and his dad drinking too much. Lots of emotional pain here, and fine acting as well. Filmed in the lovely scenery of South East Africa. Engaging.

Lovely and Amazing

Dramedy - human drama basically, funny odd and but not laughably funny. Female neurosis - Mom and two sisters. One sister unemployed and with a bad marriage, other sister breaking into acting and breaking up with her boyfriend, and the mom in love with her plastic surgeon. Believable acting and cute script, the story moves right along. Human fragility and imperfection exposed at each moment. This was a most unusual and/but enjoyable watch.

Normal

Human Drama - Gender Identity Disorder! 50 year old man married for 25 years announces to his wife he wants to change his sex. He is serious and begins dressing and acting like a woman. Lots of challenges to his marriage, relationships to his 2 kids, his/her workplace, the church, and the conservative Illinois town. Fine believable acting by Tom Wilkinson (the guy/girl), Jessica Lange (the wife), and all the cast. Well made and very unusual and sometimes uncomfortable film.

Akeelah and the Bee

Human Drama - Los Angeles ghetto kid goes against all odds to make it to the Scripps National Spelling Bee with the support of new friends and her junior high school principal. Many subtle emotional truths revealed in this film with FINE PERFORMANCES by the cast - Keke Palmer as the 11 year old girl, Angela Basset as her mom, and Lawrence Fishburne as the girl's coach/tutor. One of the BEST movies I have seen in a while. And with no sex or violence. Bravo the casting, the writing, photography, and music too.

Motorcycle Diaries

Road movie human drama - 2 Argentinian guys ride a Norton 500 through Argentina, Chile, and then on to Peru. Facing various hardships (the motorcycle dies) and running out of money, they are forced to depend on their wits and the generosity of the natives. Fortunately both have medical training and meet some of their greatest challenges and rewards serving at a leper colony in Peru. Lovely scenery (probably better on a large screen) and down-to-earth acting and native people make this a good watchable movie.

The Patriot

War drama - Lots of action! The breaking away of the colonies from England. And led by Mel Gibson with vengeance. War at its worst and heroism at its best. Mel Gibson's character loses both of his sons to the war and in the process decides to fight dirty, breaking the "laws of war" by killing officers of the British army in vigilante fashion. If you liked Brave Heart you will like this movie too. But long - almost 3 hours of non-stop violence, but with a few interludes of romance. Well photographed and acted. Definitely engaging.

The U.S. vs. John Lennon

Documentary - biography of John Lennon - 1966 to 1976 - emphasizing the Vietnam years and Nixon with John and Yoko living in New York. Lots of press interviews, real footage, TV spots, radio, and amateur video too. Behind it all is John's music, and with lots of commenting by Yoko Ono, who looks very sweet. On the other side is pictures and interviews with government former FBI agents. Fine mix of elements and very entertaining as well as educational.

Norbit

Comedy - funny! with some romance too - Eddie Murphy plays a huge fat black woman "Rasputia" and lets it all hang out. He also plays a nerdy husband "Norbit" who falls in love with his childhood sweetheart. Fun story with "adorable" characters. Fine makeup, costumes, filming, and acting. Genius, I think.

Cars

Animation for Family Fun. About a race car and his struggle to reach the top. On the way, he is sidelined in a small town somewhere perhaps in Arizona. Lots of fun here - jokes, fun dialog and entertaining voices for these animated cars! The whole movie is cars! Cars with personality, emotions, facial expressions even. A Pixar production, and it is amazing what they have done! Reminds me of The Incredibles, which I also enjoyed.

Once In A Lifetime

Sports Documentary - History of the New York Cosmos Soccer Team and the history of soccer in America. Interesting facts and tidbits, like the recruiting of World's greatest soccer athlete Brazilian Pele to the American Soccer league. Lots of interviews with players, coaches, managers, investors, developers, and media people. This documentary is a bit over the top with information. Film footage of games is interesting but mostly highlights of a few heroes scoring. I think for soccer freaks and people who love documentaries this would be a fine movie. I myself thought it went on a little too long.