Waitress (2007)

Drama/Comedy/Romance - light hearted drama with some heavy emotions - Waitress becomes pregnant by her despicable husband and wrestles with what to do. On the way she falls in love with her doctor, and has an affair. Complications ! And/but she is extremely creative in baking unusually delicious pies. This flick has a pleasant ending and endearing acting. 1 hr 44 min.

Place Vendome (1998)

French Drama - Man gives his wife stolen diamonds and then he commits suicide. The shock of his death snaps the wife out of prior drunkenness and she determines to sell the jewels at a good price. But the diamonds were stolen from some mafia types and this makes them difficult and dangerous to sell on the market. Lots of twists and turns in this thriller and it is not entirely clear much of the time what is going on. The acting is excellent however and makes a pretty interesting watch, especially Catherine Deneuve. 96 min.

Heavens Fall (2007)

Court Room Drama - based on a true story from Alabama, 9 black men convicted unfairly of raping 2 white girls. A New York lawyer skillfully defends the men, exposes a few lying witnesses, and yet in spite of lack of proper evidence, the black men are convicted anyway. Fine performances by all members of the cast. Though I have seen many a movie with this similar theme... 108 min.

The Safety of Objects (2003)

Drama - based on short stories by A.M. Homes, all about the unusual things in people's lives in the suburbs. 4 separate household dramas from the same neighborhood, each with a tragedy. One couple is divorcing, another keeps a comatose boy in the house hoping he will someday recover, a housewife is on the verge of having a fling, a workaholic lawyer is quitting his job. An adolescent boy sleeps with a Barbie Doll. The problems are unique but the suffering is universal. Great acting (Glenn Close appears as a 52 year old mom) though this film lacks clarity and a sense of purpose. Interesting, but not entirely satisfying. 2 hrs.

A Rumor of Angels (2002)

Family Drama - inspired by a book by Grace Duffie Boylan - exploring the possibility of contact with deceased loved ones. James, a young boy who lost his mother in an automobile accident befriends an older lady who lost her son in the war. The bonding is healing for both of them, but their intimate relationship upsets the young boy's father and step-mom. Lots of growth for each of the characters. The film is sometimes overly melodramatic, and sometimes too predictable. Still, it entertains and inspires. Vanessa Redgrave is fun to watch. 1 hr. 46 min

I Am David (2004)

Adventure/Drama - Young boy spends most of his life in a Bulgarian labor camp. With the help of a friend he is able to escape from the camp and start a long journey to Denmark where his mother (his only surviving parent) is waiting for him. On the way David faces tremendous obstacles and/but with the incredible luck and fortune he has, manages to forge on. Good acting and lovely scenery. The story itself is a bit predictable. 95 min.

Nobody Knows (2005)

Japanese Drama - based on a true story. Mother abandons her 4 children to a small urban apartment not far from Tokyo. Occasionally checking in, sometimes sending them money,the kids are mostly left to fend for themselves in an adult world. Oldest boy is around 11 and hustles up free food from the local convenience store, the younger children stay home drawing with crayons or playing in their balcony-garden. Performances are very real here, the kids are just being kids. But the challenges they face are formidable, and it makes for an interesting watch. Everything in this movie is so very Japanese, except perhaps for the mom who is exceptionally delinquent. Long movie but very educational. 2 hrs. 21 min.

Songcatcher (2001)

Musical Drama - the year is 1907 and Dr. Lily Penleric (our hero) is a musicologist at a University. She takes a leave of absence to research "hillbilly" music in the Appalachian mountains where her sister is teaching in a one room school house. Lots of drama here as city meets country and a mutual distrust at first. Plenty of action too - fights, a shooting, and a major fire. All the while, mountain tunes are a playin. A very well done movie! 1 hour 53 min.

Smile (2005)

Drama - alternates locations between Malibu California and Jingxi China... Two girls born on the same day in opposite parts of the world connect through an organization called Operation Smile. The Chinese girl (Lin) was abandoned by her parents due to a facial deformity. The American girl (Katie) is daughter of a psychiatrist and lives in a large home overlooking the Pacific Ocean. A high school teacher introduces Katie to an outreach program offering cosmetic surgery for deformed kids in China, and somehow Katie becomes fascinated with the idea and travels all the way to Shanghai to participate. A bit Disney-like in its all feel good ending, but the acting is good enough and the scenery fascinating. 1 hr. 47 min.

A Sunday in the Country

One Sunday in 1912 an elderly painter is visited by his son and daughter. Interesting family dynamics as the elder son brings his 3 children, and the old man's daughter is not yet married. The son tries hard to be a good son, but the daughter is the obvious favorite. Such an artsy movie, lovely French estate, fine costuming, and relaxing pace. 94 min.

Love Me If You Dare (2004)

French Romantic Comedy - Such a bizarre couple ! From elementary school, this boy and girl taunt each other with a game of dare which lands them in heaps of trouble. So consuming is their game that they lose sight of reality and their love for each other. Most unusual movie that I have seen in a while. The ending is both upbeat and ambiguous, the viewer can choose how it might have ended. Fine performances, interesting action. 92 min.

The Station Agent (2004)

American Drama/Comedy - Rural New Jersey - 3 characters meet up around an old abandoned train station. An anti-social dwarf, a gregarious Cuban-American, and a reckless driver woman separated from her husband. Fine performances and a slow relaxed pace made this fun to watch. Unusual. There is no real clear-cut ending however. 88 min.

Ushpizin 2005

Israeli Dramedy - Orthodox Jewish couple in Jerusalem struggle to prepare for the holidays. Miraculously they come into some money and then receive two unusual and unexpected guests. The visitors (ex-convicts) are an extreme test for our heroic couple, they are uncouth and disrespectful of religious customs. With great patience and stamina they are accepted. Such a warm and lovely story this is. The actors are so very believable. And well worth the watch!  90 min.

The Son of the Bride (2002)

Argentine Drama (Spanish with English subtitles) 42 year old restaurant owner is too busy to keep up with his family obligations. He is divorced with a small child and a girlfriend who wants to marry him, but he is just too busy. And his father is insisting he wants to remarry his mother who is in an old folks home. When our young but life-crisis hero has a heart attack the story gets real interesting. Fine cast of actors ! Most enjoyable to watch. Heart-warming. 124 min.

The Taste of Others (2001)

French light comedy - mixing of life stories - a wealthy businessman, a body guard, a driver, dissatisfied housewife, an actress, and a cocktail waitress. In various ways they involve themselves with one another. The businessman falls in love with the actress, the driver with the cocktail waitress, and the cocktail waitress with the body guard. Light and/but realistic dealings with situations, fine acting and script. Most entertaining. About 2 hours.

Mystery of the Trinidad (2005)

Latin drama - Wealthy grandfather and enthusiastic seaman creates two families. When the old man dies the descendants squabble about who gets what, especially the boat. Some interesting scenes here, a half-brother and half-sister fall in love and a reconciliation takes place between a father and daughter. Meanwhile, a family searches for a lost treasure the grandfather spent his life searching for. Uneven at times and perhaps not a high budget movie, it was entertaining enough. 95 min.