Into the Wild (2007)

Wilderness Drama and Documentary - based on the nonfiction novel by Jon Krakauer - middle class Chris McCandless graduates college and disappears from his hometown, hitchhiking across America with the goal of living in the wilds of Alaska. Entertaining journey with fine photography of lovely scenes from nature and interspersed with existential philosophy. Fun character study, this kid is a deep thinker and probably should have lived longer. Directed by Sean Penn. 2 hrs. 28 min.

The Bucket List (2007)

Thoughtful Comedy - two strangers sharing a hospital room are both diagnosed with terminal cancer. Sharing the horrors of surgery and chemotherapy, they become friends. One is a corporate billionaire (Jack Nicholson) and the other a retiring auto mechanic (Morgan Freeman). Together they forge the ultimate "To Do List" - must dos before they "kick the bucket".  Against the wishes of doctors and family, they flee the hospital for world wide travel including skydiving, hiking in Nepal, African safari, and dining in the most expensive restaurants in Europe. Fun scenery and some rich philosophy. 1 hr 37 min

The Misfits (1961)

Cowboy Western Drama Romance- Reno, Nevada - aging cowboy (Clark Gable) falls in love with out-of-town visitor (Marylyn Monroe). Lots of drama as city girl meets the wild west, loneliness and occasional violence part of the deal and the beautiful visitor balks dramatically. Fine performances all around (Cliff Montgomery plays a rodeo rider) and an interesting story to watch, even now. Scripted by Arthur Miller and directed by John Huston. 2 hrs. 10 min.

No Country for Old Men (2007)

Western Drama Thriller - based on Cormic McCarthy's novel. Violence and suspense combine for a very absorbing run and hide story. Our hero stumbles on a foiled drug deal and 2 million dollars in cash and/but a psychopathic killer is looking for it... Good use of silence, lovely photography and fine performances. (Tommy Lee Jones plays sheriff) Too bad the author didn't think of a more satisfying ending ! 2 hrs.

Blades of Glory (2007)

Sports Comedy Farce - Ice Skating - Two former rival skaters team up to be the first male-male figure skating pair to compete Internationally. Excellent stunts and over the top exaggeration as this movie pokes fun at the modern world of competitive figure skating. Comics Will Ferrell and John Heder team up for this challenge. Fine performances, flashy costuming, and computer graphics make this a fun visual feast. Impressive ! 93 min.

Old Joy (2006)

Independent film drama - very slow-paced and meditative... Two friends reunite for a weekend camping trip to the Cascades east of Portland Oregon. Lovely scenery, though the plot is very simple and almost boring at times. The two eventually make it to the hot springs and bathe in deep contemplation. There is a suggestion that they share a sexual experience but it is left to the viewer to decide. The photography is subtle and insightful. 83 min.
 

August Rush (2007)

Music/Drama/Fantasy-Extremely musically gifted boy escapes from an orphanage with the dream of finding his parents through his music. Landing in New York, he learns guitar and organ within months and wins a scholarship to Julliard School of Music. What a great actor Freddie Highmore is ! Excellent musical score and fine performances make this a joy to see. Very, very upbeat ! 1hr.53 min.

Nine Months (1995)

Romantic comedy starring Hugh Grant and Julianne Moore. San Francisco couple of several years accidentally get pregnant. The guy can't handle it and the girl can't handle the guy not handling it. Interesting character developments and with some intense comedy. Some may object to the mixed Drama-Comedy genre, but I found it very watchable thanks to the actors extreme skill and flexibility. 1hr.55min.

Imaginary Crimes (1994)

Drama - set in the 1950's - widowed man with two teenage daughters struggles to hold things together. Hustler, dreamer and borderline con artist, his daughters are gradually becoming disillusioned with him. Interesting story, starring Harvey Keitel as the father. 107 min.

Under the Sand (2001)

French Drama - Woman loses her life-long mate while on vacation at a beach resort. Did he drown, or did he simply disappear? The wife refuses to believe that he is dead and creates a make-believe world where he still exists. What makes this film interesting is the utter believability of the actress Charlotte Rampling who never appears to be acting but simply being. 95 min.

Places in the Heart (1984)

Drama - set in the 1930's in a small Texas town - Widow on a farm struggles valiantly to hold on to her land and family after her husband is accidentally shot down. Fine cinematography, heart-filled acting, and interesting story make this a wonderfully entertaining film. Starring Sally Field, Danny Glover, John Malkovich, Ed Harris. Recommended. 112 min.

Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005)

Western/Drama - directed by Tommy Lee Jones - takes place in Western Texas and Northern Mexico. Careless border guard shoots an illegal Mexican (named Melquiades Estrada) and looks as if he will get away with it. But the Mexican has a good friend in Pete (Tommy Lee Jones) who calmly and deliberately arranges for proper revenge and a kind of atonement. Action involves Pete kidnapping the border patrol man - forcing him to carry Estrada's dead body into Mexico all the way to Estrada's hometown for proper burial. Much adventure on the way as border patrolman attempts multiple escapes, gets bit by a rattlesnake, faces hunger and thirst, sunburn, etc. Lovely photography of the scenery in Northern Mexico, and fine acting by Tommy Lee and border patrolman (Pete Perkins) - we see gradual transformations in character. 2 hrs.

Eat Drink Man Woman (1994)

Taiwanese Drama - Chef Chu prepares elaborate dinners for his three lovely daughters who still live at home. One by one his daughters are finding boyfriends and husbands and leaving the household a bit more empty and lonely. Fine, subtle acting and the Taiwanese scenery make this a fun movie. Surprise ending too, as Chef Chu has an important announcement to make. I highly recommend this movie - it is so human. 2 hrs. 4 min.

Fanaa (2006)

Indian - Bollywood thriller-romance - Powerful and dramatic with music and dance - blind girl falls in love with her tour guide in Delhi. Feelings are mutual but the tour guide is secretly a member of a violent terrorist organization working counter to the Indian government to create an independent Kashmir. Lots of twists and turns here as the couple fall in love, separate and reunite. Tear-jerking scenes abound with powerful music and scenery. Predictable in parts but still entertaining, but don't expect a happy ending. 2 hrs. 48 min.

Nine Lives (2005)

Human Drama - an exploration of individual experiences of nine women. A woman in prison, a lady married to a paraplegic man, a pregnant woman in love with her former boyfriend, a lady awaiting a mastectomy, among a few of the stories. Some characters appear in each other's stories. Fine actors (Kathy Baker, Glen Close, Dakota Fanning, Holly Hunter, Sissy Spacek, Joe Mantegna and more) keep the scenes moving, but the film lacks unity. I found myself wondering why they made this movie, what were they trying to say? Perhaps that human beings all suffer but in different ways? 9 lives was a lot to keep up with. 115 min.

Clara Et Moi (2004)

French Romantic Drama - man and woman meet on a subway and fall in love immediately. A lovely relationship ensues but one partner turns out is HIV positive. Major problems in acceptance. And how does this movie really end, anyway? Fine acting and winsome actors. Very entertaining though the ending left me unsatisfied. 86 min.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)

French Drama - this is the true story of journalist Jean-Dominique Bauby who suffered a massive stroke that left him paralyzed. Maintaining only the ability to move his head and blink his right eye, he (with the help of a transcriber) dictated a book from his hospital bed chronicling his life before and after the accident. This film is shot from the perspective of the paraplegic Bauby showing grim hospital realities along with flashbacks to his former life and his vivid imaginative dreams as well. Fine acting. This film packs a message. We have much to be thankful for... 1 hr. 52 min.

Guru (2007)

Drama from India (not to be confused with The Guru 2002) Plot - son of a school teacher in a small village of Gujarat, India moves to Turkey to learn the art of business. With great resolve he returns to Bombay, India with a dream to take over the garment business by selling polyester. Battling innumerable odds he establishes himself as owner/director of Shakti Corporation, the largest company in India. Purely fictional story but with fine actors, a truly powerful musical score and excellent photography. 3 hours of emotional ride.