Italian for Beginners (2002)

Romantic Comedy from Denmark (subtitled) - Lonely adults attend a community college Italian class. Students are an embittered retired soccer player, a temporary pastor, a hairdresser, a clumsy baker, a young Italian waitress, a hotel manager, and others. Romance flourishes among several of the members and when one of the students comes into an inheritance she sponsors the class for a trip to Italy. Fine acting and warm story - one of the most fun movies I have seen.

Premonition 2007

Drama Suspense - Sandra Bullock can see the future, including her husband's death and her children's accidents. At first she thinks she is going crazy, but then she learns that what she sees is actually the future. The interesting thing is that if she tries real hard, she can alter the scenario somewhat. Not my favorite genre of movie, and this movie could have been better written perhaps. It was enjoyable to watch this actress do something deeper and more meaningful than comedy. 110 minutes.

I Dreamed of Africa (2000)

Human Drama - lovely photography ! True story of a woman's struggle with survival on a ranch in the remote plains of Africa as she faces threats of lion attacks, poisonous snakes, storms, and evil poachers encroaching on her land. Her family is with her, but the husband is off hunting much of the time, and her son must go to boarding school. Kim Basinger does a fine job in this role. Other movie reviewers have panned this film saying it lacks edge but I found it entertaining and thought provoking.

Imagine Me and You

Romantic Drama Comedy - Man and woman marry after being long time best friends and lovers. Then trouble starts - at the wedding they meet a charming female florist who ignites fires of emotion in the bride. Woman to woman love complicates the couple's marriage. Well-acted, and moves along nicely. Explores issues of sexuality and marriage. Entertaining, but not as moving as it could be. 2005, 94 minutes.

In America

Human Drama - Immigrant family to the US from Ireland, their struggles and misadventures as a family of four in New York. Father tries to land an acting job, but ends up driving cab. Mother starts off at an ice cream store, but becomes pregnant. Despite a terribly rough neighborhood, the two little girls attend Catholic school. The acting here is so authentic, and the story painfully truthful. This was a very well done movie. Based on a true story. Released 2002, 103 minutes. Recommended !

Unbreakable

Drama Supernatural Suspense - Black man (Samuel Jackson) is born with a rare disease causing very brittle bones. He is raised by his mother and spends days reading action hero comic books. As an adult he searches for a real life super hero, the opposite of himself in terms of strength and vulnerability. When there is a major train crash near New Jersey ONE MAN survives (Bruce Willis). The brittle man contacts the survivor and a story begins... Weird movie, filmed in New Jersey, unusual characters. I often wondered what this movie was trying to say.
107 min, year 2000

Boiler Room

Stock Market Drama - Fairly high-paced drama with fine script and performances. Son of a federal court judge just can't seem to make a living legally. The kid is talented, but in the wrong ways. Somehow he works his way into an apprenticeship at a stock trading firm and earns a broker's license. Problem is, the firm is corrupt. Interesting character studies - this movie really held my attention. 2 hour movie released in 2000.

CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON

Martial Arts Drama filmed in China - great special effects, stunts and lovely photography. Wicked and powerful witch-like villain steals a sword of power, and trouble starts. The princess in the palace is secretly a martial artist and apprentice to the witch. There is some romance between fight scenes. Fine acting, and tons of action. Starring Zhang Zi-Yi. 2 hour movie released in the year 2000.

Apocalypto

Action Drama from the Mayan era - Apocalypto - perhaps how the Mayans would pronounce Apocalypse (secret knowledge and/or the coming end of the world) Lots of violence here and a brutal portrayal of the Mayan's using neighboring jungle tribesman for slavery and human sacrifice. The real story is in the grand chase. One exceptionally lucky and resourceful jungle village warrior escapes from the Mayans and leads them over waterfalls, quicksand, poison frog darts, and jungle ambushes. Fascinating movie, the actors are all native Americans and appear in fearsome costume with native adornments. English is subtitled for the spoken Yucatec language, and it sounds awesome. Scary, dramatic and very real. Mel Gibson directed.

Fracture

Drama Courtroom Suspense - Anthony Hopkins plays an intelligent cold killer who murders his wife and her lover for revenge. So well does he plan the crime that it seems he will get away with it. Ambitious and young prosecuting lawyer (Ryan Gosling) takes on the case and throws his whole mind/body/and soul into it. Very interesting match of wits with unpredictable results. Fine dialog, fine acting, excellent story. Recommended! 2007

Woman on Top

Romantic Comedy (but not that funny) - Lovely Brazilian girl (played by Penelope Cruz) is cursed with motion sickness and/but a fine ability to cook. Because of her motion sickness, she needs to take charge to fight it. She cannot ride in a car, but she can drive one. And when having sex, she needs to be on top (hence the movie title). Her husband feels emasculated by always being underneath and causes their breakup. Most of the movie is about him chasing her to San Francisco where she lands a spot on a TV cooking show and becomes a media sensation. Nice photography and costumes, but the plot is kind of dumb. This movie would sink were it not for the magic of Penelope Cruz.

"American History X"

Drama with some violence - American Nazi Party member (Edward Norton) goes to prison for killing black gang members. On return, he reforms and mellows but finds his younger brother going down the same dangerous hateful path. Fine acting all around and real rightist sounding dialog and racism exposed. Worth seeing.

American Splendor

Documentary on living comic book legend Harvey Pekar (played by Paul Giamatti) with appearances of the author himself. Pekar was perhaps the first American underground comic book author to write stories about real life in comic book form. The author himself is the hero! Because Pekar cannot draw, he uses artist R. Crumb and staff to illustrate his comics. Pekar makes very little from the publications and works as a file clerk in a hospital to pay his bills. Very unusual movie and a mix of Cleveland, comic books, the author and the actor that plays him. Hope Davis plays the nerdy wife. Fun and different.

Danny Deckchair

Comedy with some romance - lovely little flick with fine performances (in a funny way). Danny (Rhys Ifans) is a bit stifled in his live-in relationship with long-term girlfriend who wishes for more excitement in her life and a bit of fame. Danny is desperate for his own kind of adventure and devises a flying device out of helium-filled balloons and a deckchair. He takes off a bit too soon and soars uncontrollably into a rainstorm and then across much of Australia. The adventure takes off further when he lands in the backyard of a small town and meets all new people. Worth a see, amusing and pleasing.

Swimming Pool

Drama Mystery Thriller - examines the creative process of a writer vacationing in southern France. We meet the writer, her publisher, the publisher's daughter, and the publisher's fine country home. There is a conflict with the writer and the publisher's daughter as they deal with staying in the same house with different motives. The writer wishes to finish her book. The younger girl wants to have noisy fun with her several boyfriends. Lovely views of nature and some nude photography with fine acting. The ending is an upsetting surprise.

Little Fish

Drama - Ex-druggie (Cate Blanchett) tries to sort out her life and go straight. She runs a video shop wanting to expand but is turned down a business loan from the bank. Her druggie boyfriend is back in town and her step dad is very sick coming down from heroin. Lots of conflict with mom at home and a brother who is just getting into selling drugs - such a dysfunctional family. Powerful performances but I wondered what this movie was really trying to show (other than confusion)...

The Score

Action Suspense Grand Theft - Finely tuned story, tense and full of surprises. Professional thief/safe cracker (Robert Deniro) must do "one last job" for his buddy (Marlon Brando) and they rely on the expertise knowledge of an outsider (Edward Norton), whom they do not trust completely. Deniro's character wants to quit work and settle down with airline stewardess (Angela Bassett) but is begged into this risky job to raise money to save his friend's life. 2 hours of intense fun and intrigue, well-acted and filmed in beautiful Montreal. 2001

Dick

Comedy Spoof on the Watergate burglaries and the Nixon Administration. Two crazy 15 year old girls (Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams) discover the incriminating tapes of the White House and deliver the goods to the Washington Post, resulting in the resignation of the President. Fun characters and cast, the sound track is entertaining as well - lots of oldies. Goofy movie but I enjoyed it.

Clerks

Amateur comedy with lots of profanity. Filmed in black and white with non-professional actors with very limited budget. Some interesting pokes at sexual morals and the retail business. Mostly dialog and not well-delivered at that. I was disappointed.

ELF

Goofy Comedy - Neglected baby ends up in Santa's bag and is raised by elves at the North Pole. He is large for an elf (being human) and doesn't quite fit in. Years later the elf (Will Ferrell) travels to New York in search of his long lost father (James Caan). The Elf is hopelessly out of place in New York and this is the absurdity and source of comedy. Somehow the elf manages to make a girlfriend and to get along with his dad and mom and younger brother. The cast is talented and some parts of this movie are really funny, and other parts are just plain dumb, the risk of comedy. 2003

Bee Season

Human Drama - Religion Professor's daughter has unique ability and wins spelling bees, capturing the interest of her father. Problem is, the wife and son become jealous of his over indulgence teaching and tutoring his daughter. Interesting character developments, as each of the family members seeks to find God/the Light/Peace in their own respective ways. The father is forced to let go of family control and respect individual approaches to the truth. Stars Richard Gere and Juliette Binoche. The child actors are excellent as well. (2005)

Primal Fear

Mystery/Court Room Drama - 2 hours of intrigue, who killed the archbishop? Was it the emotionally disturbed altar boy, Aaron (brilliantly played by Edward Norton)? Or was it the wealthy investors frustrated by the archbishop's poor investment decisions? Richard Gere plays the sharp-witted lawyer for the accused altar boy, Laura Linney plays the prosecuting attorney for the state. The plot twists and turns frequently, very fun to watch. The cast is excellent. 1996.

Elizabeth

Historical Drama, England 1545, Who shall succeed Queen Mary? Elizabeth (Cate Blanchett) is her half sister of an illegitimate marriage AND not Catholic, but Protestant. Great historical information presented in a format of romance, conspiracy, and violence. Can a woman rule England alone? Or must she marry a King from France or Spain to bridge strength and protection? Fine production here, wonderful costumes, props, settings, and lighting. Supporting actors (Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Eccleston, Richard Attenborough) are great, especially Geoffrey Rush as the Queen's only truly loyal advisor. Fun movie and at times complex. Excellent if you like historical dramas. (movie released in 1998)

Bulworth

Over the top black Political Comedy - FUN and Crazy spoof on what would happen if a politician spoke gut level truth. A conservative Senator (Warren Beatty) has some kind of mental breakdown and hires a professional killer to take his life over the coming weekend. During the course of the weekend the Senator changes his mind, and decides he wants to live, but cannot call the hit man off. This leads to a bizarre psychological state... He drinks, smokes marijuana, adds music and lyrics to his political campaign speeches, intimately fraternizes with young black women, neglects to shave, wears shorts and sunglasses to his TV debates, and drives his own limousine recklessly, trying to avoid the killer on his tail. Also directed by Warren Beatty and co-starring Halle Berry. Fine acting by supporting actors - the Senator's campaign manager (Oliver Platt). What a fun movie!

Dukes of Hazzard

Action movie - lots of car chases. Corrupt Sheriff wants to strip mine the farmer's town. Fun jokes and slap stick fighting. Comedy exaggeration style. Shallow entertainment but kind of fun. I found it hard to stop watching it. The actors are good at what they do. Based on a TV show popular 20 years ago.

A Foreign Affair (2 Brothers and a Bride)

Romantic Comedy - but not so funny, and the first 30 minutes are very slow. Two brothers living on a farm with their mom panic when their mom dies. In search of someone to cook and clean for them they find a dating service featuring Russian women desiring green cards. They plane for St. Petersburg and meet dozens of women, the younger brother looking for beauty, the older brother looking for a woman who can cook and clean. There are some moments in this movie, and the actors are likable. But there are many movies out there that are better.

Flirting With Disaster

Comedy - crazy mishap of adventures - Neurotic entomologist (Ben Stiller) seeks to find his real parents after being brought up by his two step-parents in New York. The adoption agency promises to reunite him to his DNA parents BUT makes several mistakes leading to an exhausting search across America and meeting up with a whole host of unusual characters. This is a comedy of surprises, the script is clever and it really is a pleasure to watch. Actors included greats such as Lilly Tomlinson, Alan Alda, Mary Tyler Moore, and all did a fine job.

The Woodsman

Human Drama in 87 minutes - child molester (Kevin Bacon) does 12 years of prison time and finds it hard to readjust to society. He faces challenges at work when coworkers find out his past. Fortunately, one woman befriends him and they become lovers. Lots of character development here as the psychologically dented ex-convict challenges his illness and readjusts to the "normal" working world full of prejudices. Fine acting all around (lover/girlfriend is played by Kyra Sedgwick - Kevin Bacon's wife), and there is a very tight and/but moving sequence of events.

Tender Mercies

Moving Human Drama - filmed in Texas? Country-western singer is burnt out and drinking heavily when he meets his 2nd love, a woman running the motel he is staying at. Predictable, but well-acted and finely photographed. Duvall is great as the singer and Actress Tess Harper is fine and lovely as the new wife. Her kid (Allan Hubbard) is a fun boy to watch. Entertaining and warm-hearted movie.

The Emperor’s Club

Educational Drama - prep school history professor (Kevin Kline) struggles to impress his students with the importance of morality. Interestingly, the one student he fails to impress rises to great economic stature and influence. Due to Kline's charisma this movie is interesting to watch.