Apocalypto

Apocalypto: Mel Gibson directs this look at the decline of the Mayan empire. The film is violent, but has plenty of heart. No “name actors” are in the film and the dialogue is entirely in Mayan with English subtitles. This does not however mean the film is not an action packed, “edge of your seat” drama, because it is just that. The attention to detail in this movie is simply stunning – the costumes, makeup, jewelry, piercings, and tattoos are so meticulous. It would be fun to just watch the people on screen even if there was no story – that is how real it all felt. Nevertheless the film has an excellent story with superb action sequences. At the beginning of the film, we are introduced to a Mayan tribe and given a glimpse of their lives. The main characters are introduced and then further developed allowing the audience to identify with these villagers. All is good until their village is raided by another tribe. The story then takes us through the forests and on to the Mayan temples, giving us a fascinating look at this past civilization. Some of the scenes are jaw dropping for both their violence and just the scope of the film itself. The film then turns into a heart pounding chase / survival story. Mel Gibson has really given us an authentic look at a civilization gone "bye". The only part of the film I found out of place was when one of the Mayans called another Mayan a Jew – then started to point and laugh at him………strange. Seriously, Gibson gives a film on the scale of his award winning Braveheart, it was just missing some of the emotion William Wallace brought to the screen.
* * * and a ½ or Grade: A-

If this movie had parents they would be: Last of the Mohicans & Rambo, First Blood part 2

With a running time of 135 minutes
This film is rated R

Blood Diamond

Blood Diamond: An action packed drama starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou. The topic is one that needed to be brought to the big screen to make people aware of the devastation the diamond trade is causing in Africa. Set in the country of Sierra Leone during the 1990s - DiCaprio plays Danny Archer, a diamond smuggler who while in prison learns of a rare diamond that was found and hidden in the diamond fields. Solomon (Hounsou) plays a poor fisherman who hid the rare stone which he found while being forced to work in the diamond fields. He agrees to lead Danny Archer to the diamond, in return he wants Archer's help to find his family which was torn apart when his village was raided. The movie is filled with action, more so than I expected (but that was a good thing). The film also opens our eyes to the blood being shed over the diamond trade in Africa. Villages are raided by warlords who steal their children to join their militia. These children learn to kill at around the age of 10 – very disturbing. This is all done so they can smuggle diamonds and help finance the purchase of weapons to fuel the ongoing civil war. The acting by both DiCaprio and Hounsou is exceptional. The story drives home its point and may actually go a little over the top in the final scenes. Stories about these kinds of topics need to be made – having the film be as entertaining and powerful as it is ….is a bonus. Note: Guys if you are thinking of popping the question this Christmas consider seeing this movie before buying an overpriced and surprisingly common diamond.
* * * and ½ or Grade: A-

If this movie had parents they would be: The Constant Gardner & Romancing the Stone

With a running time of 128 minutes
This film is rated R

Bobby

Bobby: A new film written and directed by Emilio Estevez……I can’t believe I just typed that, let me try that again. A new film written and directed by……...….Emilio Estevez -still feels strange. Even stranger – I really liked this movie. The film centers around 22 people who were at the Ambassador Hotel the night Bobby Kennedy was killed. There are a number of storylines in the film, all of which are meant to show you the state of mind people were in back in 1968. The cast is exceptional; it stars more big names than I think any other movie I have seen. The only role void of a big name actor is the role of Bobby Kennedy. For Kennedy, Estevez chose to use actual footage of the senator to increase the impact of the moment. As the film weaves between storylines we see and hear some of Kennedy’s great speeches leading up to that dreadful night of his assassination. Also, throughout the movie we see the hope building in people for the change they believed Kennedy would bring to the country if elected. The ending sees all that hope wiped away with a couple of loud bullet shots in a hotel kitchen. Emilio dips into the music of the time and lays it over the actions on the screen for an exceptionally powerful finish. I think this is another top 10 movie of the year for me…….Back to the cast for a moment, have a look for yourself at the names involved in this movie – CAST

* * * and ½ or a Grade: B+

If this movie had parents they would be: Crash & JFK

With a running time of 120 minutes
This film is rated R

Little Children

Little Children: Kate Winslet stars in this small film dealing with young married couples living in everyday “American suburbia”. The story opens up with us finding out that a man who exposes himself to little kids is out of jail and living back at home. This has the whole neighborhood up in arms and worried for their children. What we see is a lot of finger pointing by everyone, but what we learn is that everyone has their own evils inside. Winslet’s character finds out that her husband is addicted to internet pornography. This leads her to seek out something or someone new to satisfy her hunger and not just sit there and deal with the hand that has been dealt to her. Enter Patrick, a father who stays at home with his son while his wife works….you see where this is going. There are another four or so storylines going on in the neighborhood that all come to a head on the same night - (Think American Beauty). The film succeeds in getting its message across, however I thought it took to many “winding roads” to get there. The film is blessed with 2 great performances – one by Kate Winslet and the other by Jackie Earle Hailey who plays the best creep I have seen on the screen in some time. Not sure if my expectations for this movie were too high or if it was the fact that it had some misplaced humorous scenes that hurt the serious message being conveyed. I walked out of the theater wanting something better. As I let this film marinate some more I find myself wanting to discuss some of its ideas. Summed up: A very interesting film, which could have been carried out better.
* * and a ½ or Grade: B-


If this movie had parents they would be: American Beauty & Magnolia

With a running time of 130 minutes
This film is rated R

The Indie Incubator Film Fest III

Indie Incubator Film Fest III: Creativity filled the back room at Mothers along with many spectators - all there to be part of this unique film festival. This was in fact the biggest Incubator to date. All those in attendance were treated to some astonishing short films by various filmmakers. The festival, organized by Matt Kubinski and Charles Klein, started off with a documentary about the rock band – The Ramones, the film had a style that reminded me very much of a Michael Moore doc. The next highlight was the extremely funny movie – Evil, which told the story of a possessed little dog – a Pomeranian to be precise. Speaking of funny, Chad Vader was in the house. The Chad Vader film series (4 parts) by Blame Society Productions has been sweeping Youtube by storm with over 5 million hits. Basically we see what it would be like if Darth Vader's younger brother "Chad" worked as a day shift manager at a local grocery store. The production of these films are outstanding and I look forward to seeing this series grow. Chad Vader may have had my vote for “Best in Show”, but it was one upped by the dazzling little film – Never: brought to us by T.O.E. productions. Bravo to all involved in the making of Never – you guys truly made a spectacular little movie. Best described as a twist on Peter Pan, we have a lady dressed as Tinker Bell that kills everyone she comes close to. The ending has her find a little girl that breathes life into the story before the shocking end. From start to finish the Incubator film fest delivered quality films such as the Stork and KillBilly. KillBilly came courtesy of Infinite Entertainment Productions – the same team that brought us the crowd pleaser Numbers are Down from the last Incubator. For those of you that missed out on the fest, you missed a great time. This is a film fest worth checking out!!!!!

Best in Show – Never by T.O.E. (That scene in the hallway with the young girl clapping is the reason I love movies)

If you want to check out Chad Vader go to - http://splu.net/chadvader.htm

The Queen

The Queen: An extraordinary look inside the royal family during a time of turmoil. The story centers around the death of Princess Diana which happened just a few days after Tony Blair was elected as the new Prime Minister. Helen Mirren plays Queen Elizabeth II and does a tremendous job. Her acting performance is why this film works so well, we truly get to see a glimpse of how the royal family must have felt during these events. Michael Sheen also turns in an excellent performance as Tony Blair, who helps the royal family see how they were truly being viewed by the public. Actual footage of Princess Diana and other events that took place around that time are mixed in reminding us how real this terrible event was. The movie’s timeline is basically the week between Princess Diana’s death and her royal funeral seen by millions around the world. Although the script is not based on actual events, the idea of what transpired that week between the Queen and the Prime Minister is compelling. I personally love when films go back in time and visit an event, tragic or joyful, and show us their take on what might have happened behind closed doors. The movie also gives multilayered messages about public leaders' responsibilities and how they are viewed in the public’s eye. This is one of the best films I have seen this year and I believe it will be mentioned a lot come award season. Bravo!
* * * * or A-

If this movie had parents they would be: JFK & Elizabeth

With a running time of 97 minutes
This film is rated PG-13

Babel

Babel: Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett headline this latest effort from acclaimed director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. Like the last 2 films Alejandro directed, Babel tells multiple stories that are somehow all intertwined. Babel is by far his most ambitious movie –as the storylines are taking place all around the world – from Tokyo, to Morocco, to San Diego. There are 4 storylines that the movie jumps between and like his past movies, it takes time to see how everything is linked together – in the beginning it is hard to believe they even could be. We start out with a married couple (Pitt, Blanchett) facing a most tragic event while on vacation in Morocco. Secondly, we have a deaf-mute teenage Japanese girl struggling with her sexual feelings. Also in the mix is a nanny who brings 2 kids over to Mexico from the U.S. so she can attend her son’s wedding. And finally we have two brothers in Morocco who are told to look over their cattle while their father is gone. Seeing them all come together is the beauty of the film. Still on their own each storyline tells the same message but in a different way. Unfortunately Babel failed to draw this viewer in emotionally. I think a lot of this has to do with not feeling that sorry for the parties involved – because in a strange way they were all to fault for what happens to them. I give credit to Alejandro for the idea of the film. Also for trying to bring it all together to show us that we, as people from around the world, are really not that different.
* * * or a Grade: B
Want to see a Alejandro masterpiece, rent Amores Perros

If this movie had parents they would be – Traffic & 21 Grams

With a running time of 142 minutes
This film is rated R

Flags of Our Fathers

Flags of Our Fathers: Clint Eastwood’s latest directorial effort is the highly anticipated adaptation of the best selling novel of the same name. Flags tells the story of the famous picture taken of the six marines who raised the American flag on top of Iwo Jima. The picture became famous instantly back home in the states and was used everywhere to show US victory. It also was a way of drawing up more support for the war, thus selling more war bonds to keep the fire burning. Wanting to put faces to the picture, the army and US government flew the 3 surviving marines from the picture back to the states. Once home they did a city to city publicity tour for the army to raise money. Problem is, were these 3 marines even in the picture? Were there multiple pictures taken?
The film is shown in three different aspects – One, we see the 3 marines making the publicity tour around the country. Secondly we have the marines when they are older telling their story. Finally, we have flashbacks to the invasion of Iwo Jima. The war scenes here are up to par with Saving Private Ryan, showing the brutality of war and the sacrifices made. The movie jumps back and forth between the different aspects, which I felt hurt the emotional impact of the movie. I also found the musical score which was also written by Eastwood, not up to par with the epic story. The acting is adequate, nothing noteworthy, but not distracting either - which is good when we have Ryan Phillippe in the cast. Coincidently the film stays away from that “one emotional peak in the story” that will really draw you in. Instead the movie plays out like the message it tells, that there is no “one” or “six” heroes that should be singled out and celebrated when it comes to the horror of war.
* * * or Grade: B

If this movie had parents they would be: Saving Private Ryan & Born on the 4th of July

With a running time of 132 minutes
This film is rated R

The Departed

The Departed: Martin Scorsese returns to the gangster movie genre with style. He brings with him a cast that only includes the names DiCaprio, Damen, Nicholson, Wahlberg, Baldwin and Sheen…….he’s not messing around. The movie is actually a remake of the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs. We have two cops working undercover -infiltrating both aspects of the Irish mob scene in Boston. One cop was raised by the mob since he was a young kid and worked his way into the police force, basically working undercover for mob boss Frank Costello (Nicholson). The other undercover cop is working for the police force and is part of Frank Costello’s mob. Suspicion arises on both sides that there is a rat in the house….but finding out who it is, is not that easy. As for the cast mentioned above = OUTSTANDING! All the actors stepped up to the plate for this movie. I can’t say enough about the acting – I wish all movies could have this high of caliber. The writing has to be mentioned next – I have not seen a movie with this crisp of screenplay since………....... Goodfellas – “A real F*cking shame” it’s been that long. The story gets you involved early and keeps you there the whole time. Tense moments throughout the entire film will keep you glued to the screen. The violence that takes place seems so naturally placed….never forced just for shock value – that is the sign of a good gangster movie. The only aspect keeping this movie from a perfect rating is the core of the story…..it seems way more is going on than should be for what is at stake. On the whole, The Departed is a stellar film (top 10 of the year) that will only get better after a few spins in the DVD player!
* * * and ½ stars or Grade: A-

If this movie had parents they would be: Infernal Affairs & Goodfellas - a lay up

With a run time of 149 minutes
This film is rated R

Stranger Than Fiction (opens Nov 10th)

Stranger Than Fiction: Will Ferrell makes the transition from comedy to ……heartfelt dramedy in Marc Foster’s new movie. The story is very imaginative – Ferrell plays Harold Crick, a lonely tax auditor who one day starts to hear a voice of a narrator, who is actually narrating his life. He is the only one who can hear her and everything the narrator says is right on. The comedy scenes here are played perfectly by Ferrell. The film jumps to more of a drama when the narrator hints at what is about to happen to Harold Crick’s life. This leads Harold to seek out a literary theorist, played by Dustin Hoffman. Also in the mix is a love interest that Harold is in the middle of auditing – Plus we are introduced to the Narrator of Harold Crick's life (Emma Thompson) who is actually a living author writing a book whose main character is named……..Harold Crick. Shake all this together and you pour out one hell of an entertaining movie. The film works on all levels, from well written comedy to bizarre comedy to plain silly comedy – it is all there. We also see Ferrell move up to a new level in some of the more dramatic scenes in the film, which might be hard for some fans of Will Ferrell’s Anchorman type movies to understand. I could feel people wanted to laugh at everything Ferrell does even when it is not appropriate – (also known as the Jim Carrey Factor). This film will not only make you laugh, but it will tug at your heart and will also make you think – Bravo
* * * and ½

If this movie had parents they would be: Adaptation and 12 Monkeys

With a running time of 113 minutes
This film is rated R

The Lake House - (On DVD as of this review)

The Lake House: Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock team up for the first time since Speed…..the result = Who Cares? The premise for the movie is what made me give this a spin. Reeves’ plays Alex, an architect living in the year 2004. Bullock plays Kate, a doctor who is living in the year 2006. She just moved out of the lake house and left a letter for the next tenant (very common I’m sure), supernaturally the letter goes to Alex in the year 2004 who is currently living in the same lake house. Does he just throw the letter out and never think of it again like most guys would do…..of course not – he writes a very thoughtful letter back(very common I’m sure). Again supernaturally it goes to Kate in 2006. They become the best pen pals ever – falling in love in fact. Even though they are 2 years apart Kate can remember where she was on certain days in the year 2004 and so Alex actually comes into contact with the 2004 Kate, who is unaware of the 2006 Kate who is writing these letters (has not happened to her yet, but has for him). Whenever you have a time travel / supernatural premise you are opening a huge can of worms. I mean why wasn’t Kate in 2006 giving Alex in 2004 sports scores of games about to happen in 2004 - duh? Seriously – there are always flaws with the time travel premise and the Lake house has plenty of them. The other major flaw the movie has is Keanu Reeves; I mean who is the genius that says “Lets cast Keanu in a role where he is not wearing a black trench coat and does not say "whoa" – people will think he is a real actor”. Even though the movie was full of flaws I still give it credit on the creativity side – in the right hands this movie could have been outstanding.
* *
If this movie had parents they would be: Frequency & Back to the Future 2

With a run time of 105 minutes
This film is rated PG

Brick - (On DVD as of this review)

Brick: Film noir meets high school movie in this HIGHLY creative motion picture. Written and directed by new comer Rian Johnson comes a movie that has really never been done before. The story revolves around Brendan, a high school student who is trying to solve the mystery of who killed his ex-girlfriend and why. The reality the characters are living in is what sets this movie apart from the norm. It is a corrupt reality filled with crime, fighting, drug dealers, and murders….yet the kids are preppy high school students who live at home with their parents. The mix of the 2 genres is done perfectly – it is not over the top humorous like a Wes Anderson film, but has subtle humor while keeping it a realistic mystery at the same time. The challenging aspect for most viewers will be the dialogue. The characters speak fast, in slang, and use words and names that they never point blank explain……you have to give it time and pay attention to follow along. Midway through you will find that you understand it all and you will be immersed in the story. The cinematography and music is outstanding – truly lets the audience believe in this strange reality. The acting by lead Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock form the Sun) is right on, balancing both aspects of the film flawlessly. I love seeing such imagination lit up on the screen, if you give this film a chance….you will enjoy!!!!
* * * and ½

If this movie had parents they would be: L.A. Confidential & Beverly Hills 90210

With a running time of 110 minutes
This film is rated R

Half Nelson

Half Nelson: A very powerful and painful look at a junior-high school teacher’s addiction to drugs. Ryan Gosling(the Notebook) plays Mr. Dunne, a History teacher who works at an inner-city school in Brooklyn – this is the best performance of his career and the best acting by far that I have seen this year. One of the great aspects of the story is seeing how Mr. Dunne really does care about teaching his students about history – even though he hits the crack pipe at night. But the aspect that makes this movie stand out the most is the friendship he has with Drey -one of his female students in his class. She is also affected by the world of drugs – her brother is in jail for dealing and her family is friends with the neighborhood drug dealer. On paper you might think that true friendship between a teacher and a 12 year old girl is far fetched, but the actors bring it to life. What we see develop is both characters give in to the evil world around them until their worlds collide. The climax of the movie is one of the more stirring, haunting and beautiful moments I have seen in film in a long time. This is all done by the performance of the 2 actors, but mainly by Ryan Gosling. Like all great acting performances everything is said in expressions – no words are needed. As Mr. Dunne teaches in his History class = History is made when there is conflict from 2 opposing forces, we see that all happen on screen and it is truly brilliant!
* * * and ½

If this movie had parents they would be: Dead Poets Society & Boyz N the Hood

With a run time of 106 minutes
This film is rated R

Little Miss Sunshine

Little Miss Sunshine: A small independent film about a dysfunctional family brings a BIG breath of fresh air to theaters. The story seems basic at first glance – A family must drive cross country to get their 7 year old daughter to the “Little Miss Sunshine” beauty pageant. Enter the crazy characters that make up this family. This is one of the best cast ensembles I have ever seen. Each character is cast, written, and acted perfectly. 5 minutes into the film you have a hilarious dinner table scene which introduces us to each member of the family. The dad is played by Greg Kinnear, he is a motivational speaker. His brother-in-law played by Steve Carell, has to live with them because he is depressed and just tried to commit suicide. Rounding out the family is a son who does not speak, a grandpa who does drugs and says whatever is on his mind, a mother who is trying to make the family work and a daughter fixated on winning a beauty pageant. The laughs keep coming as the whole family jumps into a VW van to drive to California. The movie actually stays away from the typical “family traveling” humor and instead gets into some outrageous circumstances – most of which would be far-fetched if it were not for us believing in the characters so much. Indeed this was the funniest movie I have seen this year, but the whole time there was also this real, sad, and important message beaming across the screen. The film definitely works as a comedy, but it also works as an off-beat drama. As of today - August, 15 – it is the best movie I have seen this year!!!! Check it out!

* * * and ½

If this movie had Parents they would be: The Royal Tenenbaums & Vacation

With run time of 101 minutes
This film is rated R

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang: Strange, Silly, violent……very entertaining. The film stars Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. Kilmer plays Gay Perry, a gay private detective who also works with actors in Hollywood to help their acting performance as detectives. Downey plays a thief turned actor who is working with Gay Perry to prepare for an audition. On a night out they witness two hit men disposing of a body and the plot thickens from there. The movie has many strange and just silly plot lines and the story keeps getting deeper and more bizarre, yet it all works as a whole - For one Klimer’s character is hilarious and the best role he has had in 10 years and second, the writing of the film is brilliant. Downey narrates the story and even that is done in a creative way, with him rewinding the movie or explaining to you why he is telling you something. I do not like either of these actors normally, but in this film they are a great on screen duo. I have a feeling watching this a second time would open up even more laughs – it is just that kind of movie. A very funny, film noir!

* * *

If this movie had parents they would be: The Whole Nine Yards & The Boondock Saints

With a run time of 103 minutes
This film is rated R

The Devil Wears Prada

The Devil Wears Prada: This film starring Meryl Streep was adopted from the novel written by Lauren Weisberger. The story revolves around a naïve young woman – Andy, who comes to New York looking to write for a major publication. The job Andy lands is 2nd assistant to the most powerful women in the fashion world – Editor and Chief of “Runway” magazine Miranda Priestly (played by Streep). Andy(Anne Hathaway) knows nothing of the fashion world or of the magazine “Runway” – which is where she will be working. The reason the story works …..Better yet – the reason to see this movie is the performance by Meryl Streep. I have not seen a better, stronger character on screen in a long time. Her strong performance brings comedy with it as everyone is so scared/intimidated by her…..reminds me of a certain boss I use to have. Andy is determined not to quit and slowly gives in and embraces the world of fashion to the extreme. The rest of her life begins to crumble as she has no time for anything else but her job. The plot twists around in a funny way until we get to the age old question – What do we really want out of life? The story, the characters (especially Streep) are all fantastic. This is a grown up comedy that works…….try that on for size.

* * * and a ½

If this movie had parents they would be: 13 going on 30 & Clueless – Not good parents

With a run time of 109 minutes
This film is rated PG-13

Lady In the Water

Lady In the Water: Basic summary - A bedtime story by M. Night Shyamalan. Paul Giamatti stars as Cleveland, a superintendent at an apartment complex. One night he hears someone swimming in the pool after “pool hours”, but this someone is not human. After coming into contact and housing this mythical being -“a narf”, he begins to believe her myth about where she is from and why she is here. From there Cleveland talks to an elder Asian lady in the complex who knows of the story to hear more of this myth’s lore. What would a M. Night Shyamalan movie be without a suppose-to-be-scary-but-really-isn’t monster of some sort? The monster lurks in the grass around the complex waiting to strike the Narf….not very scary at all. Something different with this M. Night movie….no plot twist/surprise ending – it is a pretty straight forward story. The plot is told to the viewers by the characters during the movie and then we see it play out, with a couple bumps in the road of course. Saving the movie is the emotional scene near the end that sort of comes out on nowhere, but gives the story some much needed meaning. The Characters in the apartment complex were also well thought out and interesting. In the end I can’t really recommend as I felt the movie was flat, original yes, but lacking that spark that made M. Night Shyamalan a house hold name.

* *
If this movie had parents they would be: Splash & The Never ending Story

With a running time of 110 minutes
This film is rated PG-13

Superman Returns

Superman Returns: It has been 19 years since the last time we saw the man of steel on the big screen. The year was 1987 and we were on Superman #4 – still played by the late Christopher Reeve (the True Superman). All would agree the series went WAY down hill after the second installment. So director Bryan Singer picks up the story after the 2nd superman – acting as if the other 2 never happened. It is important that one knows this going in, because the story revolves around the love between Superman and Lois Lane from the past movie. I am glad to report that the series is back to the level it should be at. Lately the trend in superhero movies is to make them darker and in an odd way – more realistic. This superman instead pays tribute to, and glorifies the rich history of past superman episodes. There is a little nod to the comic books, to smallville, and the 1st two superman movies…..I found all this fantastic. As for the new actors – Brandon Routh is our new man in the red cape, he does an excellent job as both Clark and superman…..although he pulls off a much better superman than the clumsy Clark Kent. Kate Bosworth plays Lois Lane and is nothing outstanding, but serviceable. Kevin Spacey comes in to play an excellent Lex Luther, he is evil, but has enough fun with the role to give it the perfect balance. The Action sequences are all on a grand scale especially the 1st in which superman makes his return known. Yes I knew I would get see some great action, but what I was surprised by the most was how this film is much more a drama than anything else. Prepare yourself for a longer…more in depth superman. A dramatic and stunning moment near the end of the film gives all the reason this series should have returned. An undertone of the movie is why the world needs superman, as a fan of movies….I sure am glad he is back!!!!

* * *
If this movie had parents they would be: Superman II and Spiderman II

With a running time of 154 minutes
This film is rated PG-13

The 3 Burials of Melquiades Estrada: Tommy Lee Jones makes his directorial debut in this very weak drama. Jones actually pulls double duty as he stars in the film along side Barry Pepper. The Story takes place near the Texas/Mexico boarder. Jones plays Pete - a ranch hand who works with his friend Melquiades, a man who crossed over the Mexican boarder illegally. When Melquiades shows up dead, Pete keeps a promise to his friend and returns his body to Mexico to be buried near his family and in the land he loves. The who, what, and why Melquiades was killed is answered early in the second act and the film goes down hill from there. Talk about slow moving, the pace of the film is on course with the long horseback ride down to Mexico…….in real time. The film failed to create any drama or suspense; plus there was no reason to care about the characters. The only thing Jones did right was create such a mysterious world down around the boarder. I recommend you stay away from this rental.

* and ½ stars

If this movie had Parents they would be: The Missing & Open Range

With a running time of 121 minutes
This film is rated R

Cars

Cars: The newest animated feature from Pixar/Disney is a roaring success. The greatness of the movie starts with the idea – a whole world of cars with certain personalities. The personalities shine through with the actor voicing it, but also through the make/model/year of the car. Big Thumbs up to the creativity team over at Pixar, they think of it all. Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, and Larry the Cable guy and many others all lend their voices to give character to particular cars. Wilson plays Lightening McQueen, a young race car who is a rookie on the circuit. He has one race left out in L.A. to win the Piston Cup. On his way out to L.A. he gets lost and comes to the Town of Radiator Springs, an old rundown town off route 66 that use to be thriving before the days of the interstate. It is in this town he meets other cars…..from old pick-up trucks to a Porsche. They all have a different outlook on life than the young hotrod. It is here Lightening McQueen learns what it is like to have true friends. It is not a mystery how the story is going to end, but the joy of it is watching it all unfold. The animation is pushed to a new level, there are some shots I would actually describe as beautiful. My only semi-complaint is the idea of finding these funny, corky friends is getting a little worn out by these cartoons. Back to the positives – The cartoons always have a point or message and this one may just be the best of the bunch. Because it is not simplified down like Nemo _”Family is important”, but rather makes you reflect on the speed of life. Make sure you don’t hop out of your chair when the credits come up, because the film keeps rolling and actually has some of the funniest moments right at the end. I love when movies have something during the credits!
* * * and ½

If this movie had parents they would be: Days of Thunder and Toy Story

With a running time of 121 minutes
This film is rated G

The New World

The New World: Going into this film I already did not like Colin Farrell and this movie did nothing to change that opinion. This is an epic dud. The story centers around John smith and his conflict with Native Americans including the famed Pocahontas. For starters I could not take Farrell serious in the role (Alexander anyone?)…. he just does not fit a 17th century solider. After that we have an extremely slooooow moving film that never draws the viewer in. Director Terrence Malick use a lot of voiceovers to bring drama to the story – Did not work! I would speak of the action, but there was none to speak of. The editing of the film should also be noted – feels like a rock skipping on water, does not flow well at all. The only positive the movie possesses is the marvelous score and the cinematography which was beautiful to look at. I would stay away from this movie unless you are looking to catch up on your sleep.

*
If this movie had parents they would be: Dances with Wolves & Pocahontas

With a running time of 125 minutes
This film is rated PG-13

The Da Vinci Code

The Da Vinci Code: Good God where to begin; Having read Dan Brown’s novel like most everyone else, I have been eagerly awaiting this film. After reading the book your 1st assumption is – that would make a great movie. After thinking about it more, it is a difficult movie to make since most the “action” and “great discovery” are done with the characters talking and looking at paintings. – Not the most exciting visual, but works magnificently in the book. That being said….The Da Vinci Code is an excellent adaptation of the book. Director Ron Howard did a brilliant job with putting in visuals to help tell the story and have it make sense to those who did not read the book. We have flash backs to the days of Christ – which help make the plot feel that much more real or possible. The key moment, when we observe Da Vinci’s painting of The Last Supper was done superbly. Howard used enough time and changed things a little from the book to make it that much easier to highlight and understand. Tom Hanks plays Robert Langdon – We can all agree he is not the best choice for Langdon. However we are talking about Tom Hanks….he was not going to mess up the part – he did the best he could for not fitting into the Langdon character. Audrey Tautou did a fine job as Sophie Neveu, but the 2 that stole the show were Ian Mckellen as Teabing and Paul Bettany as Silas. Also enhancing the story was the score laid down my Hans Zimmer – I thought the music fit the movie so well….gave you the feeling of great discovery. As they say: the book is almost always better than the movie and that holds true for this adaptation, but that does not mean the movie did not succeed, because it did. The Da Vinci code is so much better than your typical summer fare at the theater. This is an easy film to recommend.
* * *
If this movie had parents they would be: Raiders of the lost Ark & National Treasure

With a running time of 142 minutes
This film is rated PG-13

The Family Stone

The Family Stone: Not the most original idea for a movie – The Stone Family all come together for their Christmas celebration every year, this time the oldest son is bringing his uptight girlfriend played by Sarah Jessica Parker. What surprised me the most was the script was much more serious than the previews led you to believe. The movie opens with almost all comedy, but slowly turns into a drama. The movie has a huge cast -besides SJP, we have Luke Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Claire Danes, Craig T Nelson and Diane Keaton as the mother. The highlight of the afore mentioned is Luke Wilson, who plays a sort of hippie, care free brother -> Wilson doing what he does best. The characters, as much as they are cliché – actually work! - Thumbs up to the casting director (Mindy Marin). Unfortunately the movie could not avoid the “Oh So Typical, Everything Works Out” movie making premise. I would have like to see a few changes/surprises in the script which would have made the movie that much stronger.

* * *

If this movie had parents they would be: Home for the Holidays & Pieces of April

With a running time of 113 minutes
This film is rated PG-13

United 93

United 93: A very powerful film by director Paul Greengrass. How powerful? – I saw this on Sunday and could not bring myself to write a review of it till now. I still am not going to go into my typical review, but will just let you know that the film is done extremely well. No known actors are used and I think that is for the best. Most the air traffic controllers and military personnel is played by the actual people that were working that terrible day in September 2001. The movie works in real time – so we see how fast things happened. The movie also stays away from over the top, Hollywoodized emotional/heroic moments. The story is powerful enough. The whole story is shown from 3 areas. The passengers on United 93, air traffic controllers, and military personnel in VA. If Hollywood is going to make a movie about this day – this is how I want to see it done -> There was no political message, no Bruce Willis superhero character, just an inside look at the courage and bravery of the passengers that fought back. I recommend seeing this for the simple fact, that as painful as it was to visit that day again, we should never FORGET.

* * * and ½ stars
No parents for this movie

With a running time of 111 minutes
This Film is rated R

Indie Incubator Film Fest II

Indie Incubator Film Fest II: The Incubator film fest is something unique, it is a small film fest dedicated to young film makers and their short films. To steal a line from their poster - In order for us to have Peter Jacksons and Steven Spielbergs they need that tender loving care to develop and hone their skills, an incubation period if you will. This was my 1st appearance at the festival and I was not sure what to expect, I am happy to say I was pleased to the highest degree. It was great to see such creativeness lit up on the screen. The fest opened up with The Week, directed by Chris Lane – this film is about a salesman confronting his guilt for trying to sell Diamonds made from ashes of loved ones that have died…..he gets his leads from the obituary. The laughs kept coming when Abba and Me rolled on. Directed by Steve Delahoyde & Wakiza Gamez, we have a faux documentary about a man driving in a car for 10 hours listening to one song over and over – Dancing Queen. A few trailers for upcoming short films also appeared, the highlight of those being for The Bleakest 3 – a Charles Klein Film. I had a chance to sit down with Charles after the event – Simply put: expect the unexpected. The Fest’s second half had 2 gems. 1st up we had Sign Me Up by Justin McClain – a hilarious look at a crazed video store employee. Finally the movie that brought the house down was Numbers are Down by Alex Krochman & Jerrid Neal. Here we see a salesman from hell in a conference with 6 serial killers, giving them a beat down about their numbers being down. The Films ran anywhere from 30 seconds to 15 minutes in length. The production of these films is superb, given the fact that these young film makers are out there making movies for nonexistent budgets. It is not money that makes these movies but rather it is the passion for film inside these young directors. These guys love to make movies and it shows. Word on the street is the next Incubator is going to be in November, I know I will be there for sure and I suggest you check it out as well. An excellent time!!

* * * and 1/2
<> Award for best production value - Rock on Wesley - Directed by Erika Valenciana
<> Award for best film - Numbers are Down

Everything is Illuminated

Everything is Illuminated: Elijah Wood stars as a young Jewish American who is obsessed with finding out everything he can about his grandparents past. After seeing his grandmother die, Jonathan (Wood) sets out on a trip to the Ukraine and tours the villages his grandparents lived during World War II. It was in these villages in the Ukraine that a young woman helped Jonathan’s Grandpa escape the Nazis. Overall the movie has a serious tone, but is also filled with quirkiness. The 2 characters that take Jonathan on the tour are odd balls. I see what the filmmakers were trying to do, but it just did not fit. They use these unusual characters in the film to bring plenty of humor early on, but later it does not seem to work. The acting by Wood is minimal and hurt the emotion of the movie. It is a shame too, because the idea for the movie is strong, could have been soo much better with a few tweaks here and there.

* *
If this movie had parents they would be: Big Fish & The Pianist

With a running time of 102 minutes
This film is rated PG-13

Wallace and Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit: Winner of the Academy Award for best animated movie in 2005, this movie is fully worth a spin in the DVD player. The movie is not as “adult oriented” as some of the other animated movies we have seen lately, but still has jokes and references that only older views will get. Clay animation is used to bring this story to life and it really is the star of the movie. Wallace and his sidekick Gromit (a dog) own a pest control company which helps the neighboring farmers control the rabbit problem they are having. Each year the town has a contest / festival for the largest vegetable grown. This year we have a very BIG problem as a giant rabbit is on the loose eating every vegetable in sight. The mysterious giant rabbit proves to be a tough catch for Wallace and Gromit, to help catch him they may just have to look into a mirror. Voicing some of the characters are Ralph Fiennes, Helen Bonham Carter and Peter Sallis. A great movie for kids that adults will like as well!!

* * * and ½

If this movie had parents they would be: Thriller (Michael Jackson Video) & Who Framed Roger Rabbit

With a run time of 84 minutes
This movie is rated G

Jarhead

Jarhead: Many movies have been done about soldiers in the Vietnam War and World War II, but Jarhead is one of the first to be done about the ground troops involved in the 1st Gulf War. As we know the ground troops did not see much action on the battlefield, so do not expect big “war scenes” ala Private Ryan (not much action at all). What we do see is the psyche of the marines that went to the gulf and how they are trained both physically and mentally for the experience. Marines are one of the toughest trained groups around…..second only to the Cobra Kai karate group. Based on the writings of real life Marine Anthony Swofford, we have a very authentic look at the experience. The acting job by Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, and Jamie Foxx are all good and believable. It is not a traditional story – we do not have a hero overcoming obstacles to solve a problem or reach a dream. Instead the story just reflects the time and the situation without much resolved. I thought it was a very fascinating insight, but for a movie as a whole I would only slightly recommend.

* * and ½ stars

If this movie had parents they would be: Full Metal Jacket and Three Kings

With a running time of 123 minutes
This movie is rated R

Just Like Heaven

Just Like Heaven: Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo star in this romantic comedy. The movie starts out like all romantic comedies. - We see the main character in their busy life and in about 5 minutes of screen time we know everything we need to know about them. In this case Witherspoon plays Elizabeth, a doctor who spends all her time at the hospital and has no social life. One night on her way home she has an accident, tragic I guess, as she may die from it. What happens next is an out of body experience. The only person that can see her and talk to her is David (Ruffalo) who is currently living in her apartment. Guess what happens next???...……I am not going to tell you, because it is absolutely impossible to figure out…….…..heavy sarcasm there. The movie is saved by some very funny scenes from Ruffalo. Plus we have an appearance from Napoleon Dynamite actor Jon Heder – he plays a book store guy into witch craft. Overall, a very lite film with a couple laughs.

* *
If this movie had parents they would be: City of Angels & While you were sleeping

With a running time of 93 minutes
This film is rated PG-13

Thank You for Smoking

Thank you for Smoking: A satire about lobbyist Nick Naylor played by Aaron Eckhart, who works for the Tobacco industry. Eckhart was perfect for this role as a cocky, know-it-all guy who can’t lose an argument……even if the argument is about smoking and health related problems. With in the first 10 minutes of the movie you know what kind of Comedy you are in store for. They have the Lobbyist on a talk show with a cancer patient and he explains to the audience that of coarse the tobacco industry does not want this “Cancer Boy” to die………because this would be one less smoker and how could they possibly profit off that. William H Macy plays a Senator who is really looking to crack down on cigarette companies……which leads to a debate with the lobbyist. Also appearing in the film is Katie Holmes as a reporter, Robert Duvall as the “Captain” and Sam Elliot as the Marlboro Man – perfect casting. The movie has many funny elements including get together dinners with the lobbyists from the Alcohol and fire arm industries – they argue which industry kills more. The end of the film does play the moral card, but held true to what the character would really do and not a total fake Hollywood ending.

* * and ½

If this movie had parents they would be: Bulworth & Wag the Dog

With a running time of 92 minutes
This film is rated R

V for Vendetta

V for Vendetta: This movie is based on a graphic novel where Britain is a totalitarian society. We are introduced to a masked “freedom fighter”/”terrorist” known only as V. His philosophy is that people should not be afraid of their government, but that a government should be afraid of their people. To get his “revolution” started he initiates Terrorist activity of blowing up symbolic buildings and statues while also killing certain individuals involved in the government. Along the way he befriends Evey (played by Natalie Portman), her parents both died when she was young standing up to the government and their totalitarian ways. It takes time for Evey to buy into V’s way of thinking and how he gets his point across, but finally she does. The movie is filled with messages. It is also filled with some nifty special effects, although if that is what you are going in for you may be disappointed as the action scenes are spread out and scarce. The movie does a lot right – Mainly, opening up the story right away and then slowly peeling away more to show even deeper meaning. The Wachowski brothers have done “good” again. I must note that this film does have the second best usage of the 1812 Overture, second of course to the ending of Caddyshack.
* * *

If this movie had parents they would be: Fight Club & Phantom of the Opera – minus the singing.

With a run time of 132 minutes
This film is rated R

Proof

Proof: Gwyneth Paltrow plays Catherine the daughter of a great mathematician played by Anthony Hopkins in this drama about family and the potential inside yourself. The story picks up when Catherine’s father (Hopkins) passes away. He had been a brilliant mathematician, but became mentally unstable the last 20 years of his life. He needed to be looked after everyday the last 3 years by Catherine. Her worry is that she inherited some of his mental illness ……but did she also inherit his genius? Complicating the situation is her sister who comes into town and a former math student of her dad, played by Jake Gyllenhaal. They dig through all her dad’s papers and scraps to learn more, but what they find is more out about themselves than him. The acting by Paltrow is outstanding and the story is deep and touching. To me Gyllenhaal looked out of place, but the rest of the cast was perfect. 1+1+1 = 3 stars
* * *
If this movie had Parents they would be: Good Will Hunting & A Beautiful Mind

With a running time of 99 minutes
This film is rated PG

Flight Plan

Flight Plan: Jodie Foster plays Kyle who gets on a plane she helped design and her 6 year old daughter vanishes during the flight. Nobody on board seems to have ever seen the child get on board and Kyle does not have a boarding pass for her daughter. Kyle had just lost her husband very traumatically and was coming back to the states with his casket for the funeral. The thought of the flight captain and the air marshal on board is that she is hallucinating that she even has a daughter. The plot then takes a turn, then a twist, then jumps over the line of believability before turning around so they can wave back at the viewers - thanking them for the cash they just blew on this movie. To top off the already BAD ending to the movie we are treated to one of the most laughable scenes in some time. As Foster gets out of the plane - dramatic smoke all around her, the people on the runway stunned at what they are seeing deliver a very corny line…….this was something out of a cheesy 80’s movie. I am shocked all involved let that scene make it to the final cut. Coming from a big Jodie Foster fan – boooooo

* and a ½

If this movie had Parents they would be: Panic Room and The Forgotten

With a running time of 98 minutes
This film is rated PG-13

Thumbsucker

THUMBSUCKER: An interesting story with fascinating characters, what is there not to like. The central character is Justin Cobb, a senior in high school who still sucks his thumb. On the surface the movie is funny – the story strange, but it really is about so much more….so much deeper. We see the challenges of growing up, in school and in your family. Even deeper we see the struggle to let something go and reach for your dream. The movie has a great cast – Vince Vaughn and Keanu Reeves play his speech teacher and hippie dentist respectfully, both are small but great roles. Tilda Swinton plays his mother and we even get a sighting of Benjamin Bratt as a Hollywood drug addict. The story may take a little time to warm up to, but when Vince Vaughn’s character pops up the ice should be broken. So dive in, because this film gets a Thumbs up…….suck on that!

* * *
If this movie had Parents they would be: Rushmore & Imaginary Heroes

With a run time of 93 minutes
This film is rated R

Lord of War

Lord of War: A look into the world of selling illegal firearms. Nic Cage stars as a gun-runner. He gets into the business very easily and slowly just selling a couple guns to people here in the states. He realizes the big money comes when you deal arms to other countries, especially in Africa. The film uses some dark and sarcastic humor to get it’s point across – mildly funny at best. The drama of the movie was just enough to keep me watching, in the end I really did not care what happened to the characters. The element that saved the film from failure for me was the subject matter and just how big of a problem it is. The film ends telling us it was based on a true story and that makes you think just how real the situation is……..much more real than Nic Cage’s hair.

* *
If this movie had parents they would be: Buffalo Soldiers & Matchstick Men

With a running time of 121 minutes
This film is rated R

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

Corpse Bride: Computer animation who? Tim Burton returns to his love of Stop Motion Animation to create a truly remarkable and dark world. The film stars Johnny Depp and Helen Bonham Carter who voice Victor and the Corpse Bride. The story is something different as well as we follow Victor (Depp) into the world of the dead when he accidentally practices his wedding vows on a dead bride. The animation is in full gear as we see everything from skeletons to maggots to dead dogs. The music is the other highlight of the film, bringing a richness and liveliness to the story. The Characters and the way they are animated bring humor to the movie, but we are sort of rushed through all the introductions as the film’s length is just over an hour. Short run time indeed, but not short on quality.
* * *
If this movie had parents they would be: The Nightmare Before Christmas and Sleeping Beauty

With a run time of 77 minutes
This film is rated PG

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room: A documentary that takes an inside look at the sham we now know as Enron. The movie is made up mostly of actual footage from hearings, board meeting, and interviews of all the real people involved. The film makers do a good job of explaining all the dealings and all the business (smoke & mirrors) that took place in the Enron scandal. The film supplies some humor as we look back and see what a joke the whole thing was, but I could have used more. Without enough humor it came off as more a special investigation than a motion picture. Granted it is a documentary, but I felt the entertainment value was not that high. Still I felt it was a good watch as I really did not know many details about the subject matter. The more interested you are in the Enron scandal the more you will enjoy.

* * and ½
If this movie had Parents they would be: Wall Street and Roger & Me

With a running time of 110 minutes
This film is rated R

Transamerica

Transamerica: Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives) stars as a transsexual man who is only a week away from having a sex change surgery to change over to a woman. She/He already looks and talks and dresses like a woman. Then a bombshell comes in the way of a phone call. She/He (Sabrina) finds out that she has a son who is 17, this was the result of his only sexual encounter with a women back when he was in college. Before doctors can approve of the surgery they want Sabrina to go out to NY and make sure his/her son is taken care of. Problem is the son’s mother has died and the only one to care for him is Sabrina. Not knowing this is his dad the comedy situations come in handfuls, but over all the film is a drama – We see the reason why we should be truthful to others and to yourself. The main reason to see this film is the performance of Huffman, playing man who is acting like a women........ it was exceptional!!
* * *
If this movie had parents they would be – Boys Don’t Cry & Dutch

With a running time of 105 minutes
This film is rated R

Hustle & Flow

Hustle & Flow: An outstanding movie about a pimp in north Memphis trying to fulfill his dream of being a rapper. DJay the pimp, is played excellently by Terrence Howard. In fact the whole cast is worth noting as they all bring a richness and realism to the characters. Although they are playing pimps and hookers, they make them likeable. The story picks up with DJay living in a run down house with 3 women who he pimps out on the street to make his money. When he finds out that a successful rapper who grew up in the area is coming back into town he figures this is his shot to show he can make music as well. What we see next is a man give his everything to something believes he can do. Very inspirational! The music acts as almost another character in the film. The songs are good and sound like something that would actually be written by a pimp. Overall…..A Must Rent!!!!!

* * * and ½
If this movie had parents they would be: 8 Mile + Boyz in the Hood

With a running time of 115 minutes
This film is rated R

Red Eye

Red Eye: From horror/suspense artist Wes Craven, we have a movie with more holes in the plot than Swiss cheese. The story takes place on a red eye flight from Texas back to Florida. Rachel McAdams (the new It girl) works at a high end hotel in Florida. For some reason terrorists decide to target her - because she has so much power over where the guests of the hotel stay. The terrorists are after one of the high profile guests staying at her hotel. The film should have opened with a warning to the viewers = please Dumb yourself down so you can properly enjoy the following film. Truth be told, if I did not think too much about the hokey story line…..the film was entertaining and a bit suspenseful. Cillian Murphy turns in a good role as the creepy terrorist that is on the flight with McAdams. Overall, if you are looking for an easy watch, nothing to think about that much ………this is OK

* *
If this Film had Parents they would be – Air force One + Hostage

With a running time of 87 minutes
This film is rated PG-13

Ry's Top 10 of 2005

This ended up being a great year for movies. We may not have had one "big, must see," movie, but we had plenty of great films. It was actually tough to narrow it down to just 10, but I did my best. Below you will see the 10 movies and next to it a quick reason why it made this list. Every movie I have seen this year, I saw with my partner in crime....so I thought it only far to include her list as well. it will follow my list.
Top 10 of 05
10. Cinderella Man -A powerful story, that is very inspirational
9. North Country - Charlize Theron turns out another great performance
8. King Kong - Big action movie with heart
7. Walk the line - Best musical bio I have seen
6. Munich - Not just a great story but a lesson we need to learn
5. Syriana - a timely, poignant look at the Oil business
4. The Squid and the Whale – Funny, creative, Quirky……REAL
3. Match Point - A well told thriller from Woody Allen
2. Brokeback Mountain - a haunting story that will stay with you long after you see it
1. Crash - The best written film of the year, brings us a powerful look at society

A Second Opinion...... Jen's list
10. Syriana
9. Shopgirl
8. Walk the Line
7. Melinda & Melinda
6. Match Point
5. The Squid & the Whale
4. Brokeback Mountain
3. North Country
2. Crash
1. Munich

The Island

The Island: A Sci-fi, futuristic action film starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson. Both of them are clones who live in a secure society, where they think the rest of the world has been contaminated. Truth is these clones where made solely for their body parts and organs of the humans who had them made. The concept is actually really cool and intriguing. At about the half way mark the movie starts to slide down hill…..and fast. The ending could have made us think morally about the subject matter…..instead they rush through it like they were running out of money. The action overall was ok, and the movie supplies some humor – “*action movie humor”. The story starts out well and finishes poorly. - Overall it was a guilty pleasure for me, as I would recommend for a rental.
*Note: Action Movie Humor: most commonly comes in the form of 1 liners that are a play on words. Example – Schwarzenegger in Commando, he drops Sully over a cliff – killing him, when he walks back to the car they ask him “What happen to Sully? “I let him go” – cue the laughter.

* *
With a running time of 139 minutes
This film is rated PG-13

Match Point

Match Point: Woody Allen turns to drama, suspense, and the city of London for his latest masterpiece. The plot involves love, lust and a little luck. Chris Wilton a former Tennis pro marries Chloe Hewett and with that marries into a very, very….very wealthy family. His life seems set……until he meets Nola Rice (Scarlett Johansson), she is dating his wife’s brother and is set to be his future sister-in-law. His feelings for her get him in an awful situation and the tension rises. The story is so captivating; it had me on the edge of my seat for the last 45 minutes. Just when you think it is bad….it gets worse. Woody Allen took a simple story line and turns it into one of the best films of the year! – And one of the more suspenseful movies to come along in some time. I walked out of the theater and my body was racing, nervous for what I just saw. The acting, story, and directing all are excellent. A fantastic film!!!

* * * *
With a running time of 124 minutes
This film is rated R

Grizzly Man

Grizzly Man: Not even sure how to review this film. I really think it is up to the viewer to decide how to take this movie……it is strange, but one thing is for sure – you will want to talk about it. It is a documentary about the life of Timothy Treadwell – who spent 13 years of his life living among wild grizzly bears in Alaska. He brings along video equipment and really does achieve some amazing visuals….walking up to the bears without fear. He did this for 13 years and then was eaten by one of the bears…..who also went on to devour Timothy’s girlfriend. It is a true story, no joke! Director Werner Herzog got a hold of all the footage Timothy shot and made this film for all to see. In between we have clips of people in Timothy’s life talking about him, some good – some bad. Timothy Treadwell is a very strange character….almost mentally disturbed. He actually wants to be a bear. His strange behavior will split your emotions on whether to laugh or to feel sorry for him. This is a must see.

* * and ½

With a running time of 104 minutes
This film is rated R

Munich

Munich: Another Steven Spielberg masterpiece. The story starts out with the 1972 Olympics that were held in Munich Germany. 11 Israeli athletes were taken hostage and killed by Palestinian terrorists. Israel then wanted to have their revenge and take out all the men responsible for the Munich horror. We follow along a hit squad as they make their way all over Europe hunting down their targets. Eric Bana plays Avner – who heads up the group, he is the key to the film getting its message across…..he does an excellent job. Things do not go perfect for the Israeli group, taking out their targets is much harder than expected. The message of the film is how getting revenge only leads to more revenge form the other side……when will it all end? - We are still waiting for it. The beauty is seeing Avner realize that no good is being done on either side. Spielberg then uses the last shot of the film to drive the message home -done to perfection. Only thing keeping this from a perfect score was I felt it ran a little too long.

* * * and ½

With a run time of 174 minutes
This film is rated R

Walk the Line

Walk The Line: Another biography of a famous singer/song writer…..this time it’s Johnny Cash. Cash is played excellently by Joaquin Phoenix, but even more impressive is the job Reese Witherspoon does playing June Carter (show stealing)! Not only do both give great acting performances, but they sing all the vocals in the movie – outstanding job!!!! The story is also a notch above most movies dealing with musicians in that the moral of it can relate to almost everyone. We start out with Johnny Cash as a young kid and some of the heartbreak he and his family went through. The story follows Cash through his time in the service and on to the beginning of his career. He soon meets June Carter and a special kind of relationship begins. Cash’s early career was not without trouble, but he was given a second chance - something he feels everyone should be entitled to. This is a great movie for all!

* * * and ½

With a running time of 132 minutes
This film is rated PG-13