Reviews [Lady in the Water]

It will capture your imagination though it will take some time to let it sink in. There is too much talking in this film which is unlike M. Night Shyamalan films. And though this may be somewhat of a giveaway, there is no twist ending.

Lady tells the story of a narf who comes upon Paul Giammati's character who is a super of The Cove apartment building. With the help of a woman who has heard of a fairy tale regarding narfs from a very young age, Giammati tries to uncover the secrets of this sea-nymph creature. As we begin to meet all the different characters living inside of the apartment complex, some of them seem like they should have been eliminated. (brief spoiler alert) The critic character delivers lines like a zombie-robot on anti-depressants. One can understand that this is done in order to make a point, but it is truly just a poorly played out joke.

There are hair-raising moments in the film though not where one would expect them in an M. Night movie. The film works best when the dialogue is not cheesy or too convoluted. In a few scenes you have characters deliver messages through another person. The reasoning becomes a bit more clear once you leave the movie but keeps you annoyed while you're watching.

There are some acting snafus here and there, but M. Night surprisingly pulls his biggest role off well. How much you like the movie will dependent very much on what is left to your imagination. Usually M. Night is successfully able to grab our attention from the very first frame, in this one it takes a bit longer.

The music is perfectly chosen, the CG is very well done, and the fairy-tale film definitely creates a world all its own with a set of morals which are easy to appreciate. The film will haunt you in a good way and with all its faults still will keep you interested.

3 out of 5.

Reviews [Dave Chappelle's Block Party]

Do not expect this to be a comedy or a plot-driven film. Block Party draws attention by way of making us realize the power that good hip hop music can have on several people. It was director Michel Gondry's idea to actually bring the music acts back to a gritty part of Brooklyn (Bed-Stuy) and just give the people what they wanted. Awesome hip hop music.

The Roots crew serves as the band for nearly all the performers and features Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Erykah Badu, (the lady) Jill Scott, Common, Dead Prez, the Fugees, Kanye West and a couple of other soulful, meaningful, beautiful and vivacious acts in hip hop today. The best part of the documentary are the performances and the one-on-one conversations that Chappelle has with many of them.

It's a very relaxed experience and some great jokes are peppered in with positive messages. The film succeeds because you're given both sides of the people involved; you see them as down to earth, personable, friendly individuals and also as talented individuals who are very cognizant of their skills and know just how to use them in order to uplift a crowd. It's truly wonderful to witness the artistic culture which is not so mainstream be represented in an accurate and entertaining way.

4 out of 5.

Reviews [M]

Fritz Lang's first talkie is a widely regarded classic. There is a murderer about town and he's killing little girls. This causes wide panic and disarray. There is absolute fear in the hearts of the general mob-like public. It is so intense that if anyone so much as walks next to a girl on the street, he becomes a suspected murderer.

A well-thought out thriller with elements of social commentary that could only exist and thrive under the hands of genius. It is a timeless story with a great deal of suspense, drama, and sometimes unexpected comedy.

3.5 out of 5.

Reviews [The Greatest Game Ever Played]

Directed by Bill Paxton, there are two protagonists in this wonderfully vibrant golf movie. One is a young American who comes from a poor family and the other is an older (but not too old) poor British man who despite his multiple championships in golf is unable to ascend the British social ladder. Those goddamned British have always treated people like crap. They imperialized the world and in this film they pulverize the older gentleman's cottage when he was a young lad in order to make way for a golf course. "What's golf?" he asks the devilish looking man in the top hat, "It's a gentleman's game" he responds.

And there you have it, the setting for a film with two underdogs trying to make it. The opening sequence alone is enough to give those with a thirst for great imagery more than they could have asked for. There are moments of pure originality and brilliance in the cinematography and direction. Special effects are used to create an otherwise boring game of golf into an invigorating tale of chasing a dream while living in reality. A definite crowd-pleaser.

3.5 out of 5.

Reviews [Oliver Twist]

Please sir, can I have some more? Yes you freaking may! Roman Polanski's take on the Charles Dicken classic is a delightful watch. Despite negative or ambivalent reviews; the movie is perfectly directed and recreates the world of Oliver Twist with great care and beauty. The story is well-known; Oliver Twist is an orphan who has a streak of bad luck ever since his parents die.

The 10-year-old has seen more trouble in most likely a year or two than the rest of us would ever see in an entire lifetime. He leaves a Christian slavehouse for a funeral owner's home. From here he decides to run to London where he hopes to find a better life; and that he does . . . in a strange way. Oliver runs into the artful dodger, a boy who is most likely a year or two older than Twist, but acts as his godfather. Stealing a loaf of bread and guaranteeing a space to live; Dodger takes Twist into his wing - which is the senile thief-master, (don't know a better term for him) Fagin's headquarters. Fagin is a kind-hearted man who refers to his entire crew of boys with "dear" and is a strange sort of father figure. Played admirably well by Sir Ben Kingsley; Fagin represents both good and bad for Oliver's future.

As they run into different street crime sort of ordeals, Twist encounters a few unruly characters from the underworld and also has his run-ins with the well-to-do London folk. We watch Oliver as if he was our own and care for the outcome till the very end. Polanski has captured the imagination of the novel very well and translated it into beautiful images that are likely to leave you with a delightful taste.

4 out of 5.

Reviews [Superman Returns]

Superman returns after much hype and a Tuesday night (Wednesday) early opening. The Man of Steel returns to the big screen and Brandon Routh for all you doubters was the perfect choice to play the iconic role. The cast was solid, the music was superb, the story was interesting though not intricate. After landing on Earth 5 years after he disappears, everyone greets the return of the great hero as if he was reborn.

Lois Lane with boyfriend and son is very unavailable to Clark let alone Superman. Her Pulitzer Prize winning article, "Why the World Does Not Need Superman," is the talk of the town until of course you know who returns. Luthor and Kittie (Parker Posey) make a nice pair on screen and some antics are laughworthy while others are a miss. The antics at the Daily Planet are not too intricate, the relationship of the super-couple is what takes center stage in Bryan Singer's baby. The minor rescue and crime-stopping adventures are still shown, but very mildly. Luthor's plan in this one is similar to Costa del Lex from the original version - but just like the rest of the movie, bigger & special effects heavy.

There are a few interesting action sequences, a lot of flying sequences which is particularly nice since the problem with many superhero movies is that they don't give you more than a mere glimpse at who you want to see the most. In this case, Singer nails it by giving us a generously large dose of Superman flying shots. A movie that won't get boring even after the fourth or 40th watch just for the pure spectacle and reminiscence factor.

3 of 5.

Reviews [A Prairie Home Companion]

It is hard to dismiss Garrison Keiller's slow moving, folky, never kitschy, always entertaining and always genuinely American radio program A Prairie Home Companion. So why not attach Robert Altman to this radio show and have it acted out entirely on stage with great actors and entertaining music? No reason not to. A very entertaining film, Prairie is best when dirty, quick-witted, and funny. The parts that lag are when Virginia Madsen's white-clad Dangerous Woman character float about the stage as the shows characters interact with each other discussing the final episode.

Meryl Streep is by far the most outstanding performer out of the entire bunch and it's hard to pick out of this group of talented individuals. She plays a hippie-like mother who does not really have it all figured out but knows one thing; making music is her passion. Opposite Lindsay Lohan's young and confused teen who has a questionable need to express herself through suicide poetry; Streep shines as she has never before. She holds that Prairie home charm; something you cannot learn but always just have inherent within you.

Garrison Keiller is entertaining to watch on the stage as we see that the show is very much an extension of himself. He does not need to worry about missing a beat because the program is his existence. Quite an interesting and entertaining movie.

3 out of 5.

Reviews [Wedding Crashers]

The trailer for this film tells you that Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn are two guys who really love crashing weddings to meet women. It's practically all they do for about the first half hour of the movie and most of it is carried out in one single montage. The rest of the film, we follow Owen Wilson's character who falls for a Senator's very attached daughter.

As he tries to leave his crashing ways, Vaughn finds himself a victim of the youngest daughter of the same senator. A cast of other colorful characters are present on the screen making the film outrageous at times. But there are parts which are just plain and simple difficult to understand (their words, not necessarily their actions). But this is not a movie you watch to gain something in your life. Watch it to laugh and it will pretty much accomplish that goal with ease.

2.8 out of 5.

Reviews [Mission Impossible III]

Quick paced with little character development great explosions, hectic aerial shots and some truly incredible stunts. An action movie with little heart but one that continues to thrill and excite. A non-stop rollercoaster ride and much better than Mission Impossible II. The acting with Tom Cruise progressively seems to get worst with each film he does, he has lost the ability to differentiate between real life and acting. It always seems like you're watching Tom Cruise the personality more than anything else.

Philip Seymour Hoffman does not get much of a chance to explore his villainous character in the film. Supposedly a man who provides the world's terrorists with weaponry and other destructive devices. There are holes in the plot, but when Maggie Q (pictured above) is on the screen no one seems to really care for anything else. The film is packed with big names like Laurence Fishburne, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and Ving Rhames. Again though, do not go to this film looking for depth or the meaning of life. Some great shots were taken in Shanghai and most of the stunts or all were performed by Cruise himself. Some cool gadgetry is involved too. No brilliant plot, but it's very quick, does not allow you the chance to breathe. It's not that bad.

3 out of 5.

Reviews [An Inconvenient Truth]

Al Gore presents this film which really should not be a film for the world to ingest. The movie is 1 really informative Powerpoint presentation mixed in with a few minutes here and there of Gore sitting behind his computer in a car, in a hotel room, or on the phone giving bits and pieces of personal narration.

The movie is basically the presentation of global warming which Al Gore has given literally thousands of times on tape. He's on a stage surrounded by an attentive audience talking about how our world is getting really hot and that by the time our children grow older, much of what used to be will not be. The scary aspects of the film show the world's sealevels rising 20 feet within a really quick time period.

Though the information is riveting and the content is provocative, the film really is not that entertaining. Wait for it on video and watch it along with those who care to learn about how to slow down the negative effects we already have caused.

2.5 out of 5.

Reviews [The Bicycle Thief]

This classic 1948 Italian film won several awards at the Oscars when a category for best foreign film did not yet exist. The film showcases poverty in post-war Italy through a small family whose entire means for survival is represented through a bicycle. The man of the house needs a bicycle for his new job of gluing posters in various parts of the city. So the good wife sells off their bedsheets and receives enough money to get him a bicycle and save 100 lire. As the film's title would suggest the bicycle gets stolen. And it is really heart wrenching to watch the struggle of the man and his son go out on the town trying to find the bicycle around town.

They run into the thief or suspected accomplice initially and wave through churches, psychics, and the generally angry and hostile public. The picturesque piazzas that we see in Italian postcards and travel ads are nowhere to be found in this film. Instead we see a gritty, dark, and overall disturbed environment. A non-stop and tiring journey, we really do feel like we're looking for the thief along with the protagonists in the film.

An interesting watch. 3 out of 5.

Reviews [Nobody Knows]

A really long and depressing film, Nobody Knows revolves around four children of the same mother who discreetly leads the life of a prostitute/escort of sorts. We never see any particularly egregious behavior displayed the mother in full light but the subtle hints are as obvious as the poverty these children live under.

The claustrophobia does not bother the children in the film, but it will leave you with an accurate idea of what it is to live a life in secrecy. The film starts with the mother moving into a new apartment with two visible children and two suitcases. When she enters the apartment a young boy and young girl pop out of their individual suitcases. Clutching a tiny doll and a smile, the young girl who emerges is proud to have kept silent and accomplished this covert operation. They now can live in peace and only in peace - they are forbidden to go outside the apartment or onto the balcony which overlooks a quiet Japanese neighborhood. The oldest son is given the responsibility of watching over the children while the immature and apparently selfish mother goes to earn money.

The children do not go to school. Their daily lives consist of eating, playing games with each other, and going to sleep. There is no type of interaction the only one who is educated is the oldest son and that through a book called "Beginner Level Japanese" As the film continues we see the son take on more responsibility and face monumental decision making. The film is shot mostly in the same neighborhood through its entirety leaving images of sadness that will linger for a while. A well composed film with gripping reality and minimalistic tones.

4.5 out of 5.

Reviews [Al Gore Documentary]

Spike Jonze's short 13 minute Al Gore Documentary surfaced first on the Wholphin DVD periodical by McSweeney's. Shot more like a home video than a documentary, the doc goes through Al Gore's family farm where we get a chance to see the man behind the madness. A calm introspective look before the storm. It's more casual than anything I expected because in the doc the former vice president of the United States says that he goes to the farm to be calm before prepping for the Democratic National Convention. He just goes with the flow sort of and it's damn relaxing and home-like to watch.

Politicial documentaries are always one of two things controversial or agreeable. I think it's simply because of the reason that if any politician is worth his/her weight in gold they know how to gain people's confidence and make themselves seem like they are more right than the other candidate. What better way to do that then show Gore at his most comfortable, most calm, most uninhibited self. He is really funny, charming, sweet, endearing, intelligent, rich in content and everything else we never thought he was. There is no controversy in this political documentary because there are no opponents; only clear, concise, and well presented opinions.

The documentary starts out by Spike Jonze going out to the former presidential candidate's home. There we are introduced to Gore through his parents, his wife, and his daughters. Gore seems like a down-to-earth man with an extensive collection of VHS tapes. In one scene we see him deciding along with his daughters which movie to watch for the evening. Like any good documentary we see the human side of the subject; a side that we had not seen before. Gore seems interesting and captivating. His knowledge of the world seems to be sound and he seems to be a genuinely good person. A very refreshing watch and one that will convince you that Al Gore is supposed to lead this country out of depression and into glory.

4 out of 5.

Reviews [Nine Lives]

Nine Lives is a brilliantly and logically titled film which has managed to get the best performances out of each of its cast members. Each performance is what acting students could cling onto as their guiding light and resource for how to draw something out of very little. The film's focus is telling 9 painful and emotionally driven character stories. It feels like something will interconnect all these stories but that never really hapen aside from some characters appearing in more than one storyline. This is where Nine Lives gets annoying.

To pool together such a rich cast with heart-wrenching, cold, and often times compelling stories and not have them connect into at least a minimalistic plot ruins the film experience for the audience. There is not a single strand of information or satisfaction that you receive. You're constantly rewarded with moments of different characters who are in pain and suffering due to imprisonment, abandonment, sex, drugs, sickness, and death. But at the end you're sitting there and mulling over why the hell you had to be put through such misery for no purpose. What was the underyling theme? Aside from the first tenant of Buddhism; Life is Suffering, not much else. Nine Lives stops at just this first introducing us to pain and various forms of it. This results in a depressing after-taste with no therapeutic elements. I would advise for those who were thinking of watching this film to just stop and not bother; unless of course you're in need of a great acting lesson from masters of the art.

2.5 out of 5.

Reviews [Brazil]

Brazil is the explosion of Terry Gilliam's thoughts onto film. He does not hold back. Everything and anything he has thought of in his lifetime is jam packed into this 2 hour and 22 minute film. It's an absolute crazy combination of a world and place that is beyond strange and yet it still somehow is very applicable to current political and social issues.

We do not know why the film is called Brazil although Mr. Gilliam does start rambling on in the DVD's commentary about why - though he never completely does. The film was originally supposed to start with a rainforest where a beatle is flying in the air and all of a sudden a machine comes and uproots the rainforest in Brazil and the beatle flees the horrible mess. Then we see those trees transferred into a plant where they're turned into paper. The next scene, according to Gilliam is the one that is included in the film where a ton of bureaucratic paperwork spews out of a machine and as one man begins to do his daily drone-like duties a beatle comes into his room fluttering about and making some noise. This, in turn, causes the man to stand up with that stack of paper in hand and kill the beatle. Hence, Brazil.

From here we are transported into one of the only sensible or easily recognizable plot-portions of the film. A man is mistaken to be another man and arrested. This false arrest is witnessed by a woman who lives in the apartment above that man's family. Incidentally the folks who arrest people in Brazil - the bureaucratic enforcers of the Ministry of Information - do so by breaking down every possible escape route and also sometimes drill holes in surfaces above the place of attack to penetrate. So this arrest is the beginning of the world we see Gilliam set up. It resembles a machine infested city similar to that of the Martian terrain portrayed in Total Recall, but not as organized. Large ducts invade the entire land and this is how information and other things are transported. The team of bureaucrats also have warned society about "terrorists" but whether or not they truly exist is questioned by a handful including Jonathan Pryce's character.

Jonathan Pryce plays the son of a great bureaucrat whose mother insists on using their connections to get him a position higher within the bureaucracy. Pryce is a smart man but one who does not like the society he lives in. He primarily lives in a dream world where he's constantly flying and meeting with a beautiful woman - the ubiquitous woman of his dreams. He also fights monsters made up of unrecognizable machine parts and while in reality is constantly trying to get normal answers out of everyone who seems to be incapable of the task. We follow his adventures along with others as he battles bureaucracy and has trouble keeping sanity.

The film is weird. Beyond weird. Beyond the weirdest thing you have ever watched in your life. It's truly abstract. You think that abstract film is impossible? Watch this film and you will change your mind. Though there is a definite message encompassed within the film, its texture, images, timeline, organization, methods, and anything else that usually has some order are either non-existent or beautifully twisted. A hell of an experience. One that every person alive should indulge in at least once. A philosophical piece of art with cathartic over-the-top delivery. I am not going to give this film a rating, to do so would be an act in lunacy.

Reviews [Akeelah and the Bee]

Akeelah is a smart young woman from Crenshaw. She has a lot going for her but is afraid to stand out in a place where such a thing could lead to seriously negative repercussions. We see Akeelah face challenges of being smarter than the other kids at school with reluctance at first. When she receives coaching and guidance through a semi-broken down professor is when Akeelah realizes that she was meant for greater things. The great thing in this case happens to be the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition.

A series of cliched circumstances including death of her father, a single mother with no free time, a juvy bound brother and bullies at school are at the base of the plot of Akeelah. But what makes them interesting is that the film never dwells on one part for too long. The lack of depth is clear in the film, but being that it is the story of the underdog, you will find yourself holding back tears at portions of the film. It's a well-acted and sometimes even bold testament to reality in the life of an 11-year old at school. Best when it keeps to the spelling bee competition and away from cliches. 3 out of 5.

Reviews [Dial M for Murder]

The reason Alfred Hitchcock is still respected and admired today is because he never gives you the entire story until he feels the audience has been challenged enough. Dial M for Murder will keep those who are not used to unlocking puzzles clueless until the very end. For those with a knack for puzzle, murder, and mystery solving prowess, you may figure it out a little bit before he gives you the answers, but you will still enjoy the unraveling plot very much.

A very nice watch, Dial M for Murder is based on a play. The tale is that of conspiring deceipt and planning the perfect murder. The tale is that of an adulterous woman, a jealous husband and a lover. When the wheels start turning and the murder is ordered, you never realize the surprise and fun that lies ahead of you. The story is just the perfect length with brilliant direction and often hilarious dark moments. We see new characters introduced into the picture just when we think everything has been said and done. A very unorthodox yet palatable structure makes M a very juicy film. The kissing does not hurt the luscious factor of the film either. Though very discreet and from modern standards conservative kisses are exchanged in the movie; they leave a sense of indulgence that Cinemax could not come close to relaying. The kisses require almost an essay of their own.

The film must be watched. 4 out of 5.

Reviews [Down in the Valley]

Edward Norton is back and he has not lost his touch. Mr. Norton plays a very complicated character in this still unrated film. Evan Rachel Woods is what else but Lolita once again. She's really got this role down, I'd like to see Ms. Woods expand her on her excellent acting abilities to other roles. Nevertheless, both Norton & Woods' characters are at the center of the film. A well-directed and twist-filled plot leaves you biting your nails and uneasy throughout its entirety.

Norton plays a man who may or may not be slightly off-key. He walks into the valley where Woods and her brother live with a corrections officer who is rarely home to do any parenting. The problems are clear from the beginning - there is a constant struggle between the father and the children due to generational and emotional gaps. They lack love with each other and therefore have issues to deal with.

Norton befriends Woods while he is working at a gas station. The two of them hit it off and begin a loving relationship that is forbidden by Woods' father. Though we see clearly what is going on, the movie unfolds to reveal a few twists and turns that keep it interesting. A bit over the top in some cases and even a bit unbelievable. But, overall the film keeps your attention.

2.9 out of 5.

Reviews [Criminal]

John C. Reilly as a lead character is difficult to get used to considering he plays mainly "you know who I'm talking about . . . that guy" in every movie you've ever watched. But the plot of Criminal though a bit bland at times works just well enough to make Reilly believable as the lead. The dialogue delivered in the film tries hard to have an edge like that of Quentin Tarantino, but they do not flow very naturally. Same could be said for the camera movement which tries to be fluid but ends up just looking disturbed.

Diego Luna is very convincing and likable in the film. Maggie Gyllenhaal is next to invisible though the small part she has, she plays well just like any other that she has in the past. There is not too much originality at play in Criminal, especially since it's the remake of a Spanish film called "Nuevas Reinas." But on a night when you don't have much to do, eh why not. 2.3 out of 5.

Reviews [Notorious]

Alfred Hitchcock's non-mystery masterpiece. So what's the intrigue? It's Alfred Hitchcock, stupid! Do you expect this guy to make movies that don't suck you in from the first moment you set your eyes on the screen? Notorious is the story of a woman hired to uncover the secrets of a group of Nazi friends in Rio. It helps the story that the woman is an alcoholic with a history and knack for depression. It also helps that Cary Grant is a cigarette smoking charmer.

A group of U.S. spies with Grant as one of their point people ask Ingrid Bergman's character to spy on the Commies in South America. But when love conquers Grant & Bergman as any South American getaway would a most unlikely love triangle falls into place. The kissing scenes are something that will leave you interested in the film, as well. They are very up close and extremely personal. And not in a gross way.

The directing is masterful and though not a mystery, Notorious is still curiosity driven. You are always nibbling your nails waiting in anticipation for what happens next. Notorious is short, interesting, and will definitely leave you satisfied. 4 out of 5.

Reviews [Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit]

Claymation at its finest. Voice acting is superb. A great family film, Wallace & Gromit is about a cheese-loving English inventor and his clever dog, Gromit. The two run Anti-Pesto, a veggie-protecting organization that fights rabbit infestation. When a mysterious monster, the Were-Rabbit, is seen by the town's minister and his menace of ravaged veggies experienced by the townspeople, it's up to Wallace & Gromit to solve the case. A beautifully made film with unique techniques and super-cute rabbits. 3 out of 5.

Reviews [Brokeback Mountain]

There is no doubt that Ang Lee is a gifted director; he is one of the best. Brokeback Mountain as we all know by now is a movie about gay cowboys. Just how gay are these cowboys is in question though. The two men love each other and yet carry on different lives in which they seem content, as well. I honestly felt at junctures in the film that they were not really in love with each other. But that changed when I realized that the film takes place in 1963 and that the men had no other option. Still, there is a slight miss between the pain that is supposed to be perceived by the audience and the actualization of this distress through the film. To the same point, however, the first encounter that the two men; Jack & Ennis have is just as mysterious if not utterly disturbing.

We do not see the love affair that is about to take place coming until it does - and that only because we've been bombarded with the huge marketing campaign behind this film. But then you realize that the hints were there the entire time; subtlety in the acting is a part of the reason that Brokeback Mountain is a captivating film.

Should you watch this film? Definitely. It is very slowly paced and allows for the scenery to leave you in awe of shepherding, Wyoming, and quiet depression and just how cool it looks on screen. The music is poignant to a degree which if it was missing, the film would lot of its character and value. A perfect blend of great talent and a subversive plot made the film popular. The end results were satisfactory and watchable. That they were cowboys and expressed their love for each other differently than one would anticipate might have been a part of the reason the film was not that emotional for me.

The truth is that better love stories have been told many times over. But because of the haunting direction, a mesmerizing soundtrack, and good acting, Brokeback will leave you thinking you've just experienced a revolutionary picture. 3.5 out of 5.

Reviews [Water]

A carefully created film, Water is one of Deepa Mehta's most powerful films to date. This is the third and second-to-last in her series of "matter" pictures - she has already made Earth & Fire, Wind is next. In any event, the film revolves around 1938 pre-independence India. It's about widowed women who are forced to live in solitude; away from normal society; without any pleasures or indulgence in life - at least that is what is prescribed.

The show-stealing character is a 7-year-old girl named Chunia. Her equally adolescent husband meets death at a young age and she is forced to leave home, family, and relatives and go into this Ashram for widows. A quiet place run by a widow that looks like an aged-man at first; she is miserable here. The story then goes into a forbidden meeting between one of the other widows (Lisa Ray) with a revolutionary who has just begun to hear buzz about Mohandas Gandhi - a principled man whose only religion is Satya or truth.

The film's rich character is derived through a dreamy journey back into a monsoon season India. Water plays the symbolic matter with which life, love, devotion, and revolution begin and end. A very moving film. 4 out of 5.

Reviews [Inside Man]

A sonorous and familiar voice to Bollywood movie watchers claims stylish authority over New York City's well-filmed structures from the minute the movie begins. Working with AR Rahaman's amazing melodies, the song is "Chhaiya Chhaiya" performed by Sukhwinder Singh. A playful, entertaining, and head bopping tune the song truly sets the flow of the film off on the perfectly inclined notes. A thriller with minor flaws and some confusion, but a movie in a class all its own. One like it has not been released in quite a while.

Spike Lee with the assistance of first time big screen scribe Russell Gewirtz tells the story of a perfect bank robbery. A perfect bank robbery as Clive Owen's determined face and accented English tells us. The detective to stop him is Denzel Washington; a man with little work and who is put up to the challenge due to his senior being out. A laid back yet cunning man, he also has the dubious rumors floating about him, a coke deal, and some $140K.

Jodie Foster plays what I am going to call a facilitator. She facilitates the impossible and gets paid large sums of money for it. Her stake in the film comes into play because the owner of the bank has something he does not want to be taken from the vault. These minor conflicts all come together when a hostage situation begins in the bank and each character's roles play out in a stylish, entertaining, and comedic ways.

You will find yourself rolling off the floor laughing and also just trying to figure out the meaning behind the actions in the film. Again, a movie with New York style that no other director could pull off but Spike, he truly has created one of his best films. There is great chemistry with the camera and each one of the stars; hats off to Spike for an entertaining night. 4 out of 5.

Reviews [Serenity]

A television turned into a film and it shows in the acting. But a television show turned into film also translates pretty well for the plot of Serenity. Sci-fi fans have gathered around this movie as if it were the second coming. Seriously, there's a huge cult following.

Sometime in the very distant future where people just hang out on ships and the universe is just a flight's question away a group of intergalactic thieves have a ship; Serenity. They have a rebel leader of a ship that floats around space robbing people, but also is in the bad habit of having a conscience. He has some love story unresolved with a woman from another planet. The rest of his crew is filled with a horny female techie, an idiot jock with not many lines, a nerdy yet devoted brother and a 17 year old assassin who was created this way by the government. The girl's powers are displayed only when there is a code word that when uttered, she loses all control and becomes a machine bent on killing or disabling every person on sight.

In the film, we follow the crew as they slowly unravel why exactly it is that they are chasing the girl. It's not just the fact that she's been created by them to destroy in a universe that is focused primarily on spreading the message of peace. The villain in the film is by far the strongest actor and intriguging character to explore. He has all of his faith put into the government's system of peace. He acknowledges that he himself is a sinner, but that he is committing actions that are necessary to protect the overall plan of peace. It rings themes that we can connect with and overall is executed well.

There isn't always a nice gelling between scenes in the film and the fact that the screenwriter had to pack 3 or 4 season's writing into one film probably had something to do with it. 3 out of 5.

Reviews [The Ice Storm]

An American Graffiti of sorts, The Ice Storm is directed by Ang Lee and stars Kevin Kline, Tobey Maguire, Elijah Wood, Sigourney Weaver, Christina Ricci, and Katie Holmes. An ensemble cast that could almost never occur now; The Ice Storm is cinematic opera at its best. Two neighboring families in suburban Connecticut deal with their marital and family dysfunction in various ways. The main out being drugs, infidelity, and alcoholism.

In a time when Richard Nixon was under great scrutiny through the Watergate scandal, we witness the very personal scandals of these two families in their anti-establishment ways. The film delivers a message about imperfection, tackling a point of view of social drift between mainstream and subversive cultures and how equally unstable they are. There is quite a bit of controversial material in the film in that the children of these neighbors do not act any differently than their adult counterparts. In no other part is this clearer than when Christina Ricci's teen character is found with Elijah Wood - sans pants by Kevin Kline's character. The reaction by Kline, "look, I'm not angry . . . I just don't think he's right for you."

There are ironic twists and hereditary symptoms shown in the film like no other I have watched before. There is a cause and effect for every action and a deep sense of discomfort by the end of the film. Through its dark analogous tone, The Ice Storm reaches its conclusion with the help of its titular natural disaster and it connects effectively with the audience. A silent and depressing film. 5 out of 5.

Reviews [Tsotsi]

Tsotsi, we quickly find out, is the South African word for "thug." The lead character is known by no other name by his peers and fellow thugs other than Tsotsi. He's often quiet and conveys emotion mainly through his facial expressions and actions. Many times though, there seems to be a not so clear indication of his mood or why he's compelled to do certain things, which leaves you frustrated.

Tsotsi starts out in a very gritty manner; we see the gang orchestrate a somewhat designed attack to rob a man of his cash. It seems they have practiced this routine before because each of them has his role perfectly executed, until something goes wrong. They go too far. This kickstarts Tsotsi's arch of change. In haste after an altercation with one of his gang members who utters the value of decency, Tsotsi seems scared or maybe he's angry, or perhaps he regrets his actions. Whatever he feels, his uncertainty leads him to carjack a woman and half way through his haphazard drive away, Tsotsi realizes that the woman's baby is in the car.

Tsotsi's discovery of the baby is what we follow now throughout the film, as he finds ways to take care of it. There are some graphically disgusting and sad scenes portrayed as the baby is kept inside of a paper bag cuddled with blankets. He is incapable of taking care of the baby, but tries very hard to do so. There is little sympathy in Tsotsi but his journey is somewhat interesting to watch.

There is an amazing soundtrack in the film. But the primary problem is the lack of coherence between the violence and grittiness with the plot of the film. There is severe violence, an ordinary plot, and no compelling emotional connection developed with the characters. 2 out of 5.

Reviews [The Squid and the Whale]

1986 Park Slope, Brooklyn is the setting for this domestic dramedy about separation and divorce. There's a greater focus in the film on the children's viewpoints about the separation and that's what makes it enjoyable. The dialogue is truthful, constant, and wild. The greatest character is the younger son who favors the mother; his reaction to the separation is in support of his mother and her new beau (William Baldwin). The older son is a little more favorable towards his arrogant, has-been father (Jeff Daniels). And Laura Linney gives one of her best performances as the mother and wife who is constantly seeking growth in her career and personal relationships.

Between the two new houses, a new girlfriend, and problems at school, the two young boys are directly impressed upon by the events and people around them. Noah Baumbach (writer/director) is successful in creating a perfect cause & effect scenario with as we watch the actions of the children. Some very memorable shots of Park Slope, Brooklyn add credibility to the home video like cinematography of the film.

The Squid and the Whale is often times laugh out loud funny - epsecially when we're watching the younger son rebel in his own way to the situation. There is a lot of sexual tension that develops between the older son and his father's live-in student/girlfriend. We also watch him deal with his own relationship with a first-time girlfriend as the distance between his parents grows and as his father constantly bad-mouths the mother. A varied stream of actions combine to make each individual character in the film very unique and complex. There is no traditional hero present, but that's exactly the reality we're longing for. 4 out of 5.

Reviews [Rififi]

A classic French film noir, Rififi is based on a novel that concentrates on the fighting between Nazi Germany and Arabic & North African men. The film, however, is very loosely based on the book. The heist that a few skilled thieves pull is almost a throwaway in the novel - according to the film's production notes - and that heist and everything leading up to it and after is the film's focus. And with good intention and a heartwarming eye to detail in the production design. Just what is Rififi? Well, it's not exactly clear still to me, but I think it means that urge to do something evil. And the film revolves around a group of hoods.

The crew's members consist of a playful Frenchman, an old and serious thief who has just finished doing time and been betrayed by a woman he probably once cared for, a family man with a child, and an Italian who is a lover of women. Each has their own specialty and their target is a jewelry store. When they first meet inside of a coffee shop to discuss the target, it is impossible to miss the tiny details of their meeting. The way they drink their coffee, the subtlety with which they maintain themselves in a public space while discussing what will end up being one of the biggest thefts to date in France.

There is a nice melee of suspense, finesse, and noir beauty in Rififi that is hard to resist. It seems like we are actually on the job itself since the job itself moves in Kubrick like pace. It raises the stake for the audience and is nothing like a modern heist movie which usually moves pretty fast. One would t hink, as well, that security systems would not be a match for today's Las Vegas styled casinos, but one would be very wrong in making that assumption. The alarm which occupies the jewelry store matches the intense sensitivity of modern-day security systems.

Rififi's title makes it seem that we will wind up rooting for the bad guy and we do. We want the thieves to succeed as we do in any good film or story about robbers. But Rififi adds a few tiny scenes that assure you that it is undoubtedly wrong to steal, but if you, for some reason are not paying attention, you may miss them. 4 out of 5.

Reviews [Mrs. Henderson Presents]

Judi Dench's best comedic performance is sometimes deflated by the script which tumbles in and out of cheesiness. The wife of a deceased general, Mrs. Henderson is forced to find something to pass her time after two of the most important men in her life have passed; her son being the other. Unlike her friends, Mrs. Henderson, in 1937 England does not have the taste for jewelry and purchasing items for herself. Instead, the absolutely eccentric 70-something purchases a theater in which to show a combination of a Revue and Vaudeville.

Since Mrs. Henderson does not quite know how to tackle the creative ends of running a stage, she hires Vivian Van Dam, a legend in the England theater world who just happens to be out of work. The two hit it off on the wrong foot from the beginning and their opposing viewpoints are laugh out loud exchanges. The humor is dry - often racist and imperialistic in its tones - and the delivery by Dench is beyond perfect. She is Mrs. Henderson in the film.

The problem Mrs. Henderson Presents encounters is not in anything except that it is very difficult to make patriotism be backed up through nudity. The film tries very hard to justify certain unmentionable actions as giving to the greater good, but ultimately it fails in convincing. There are great laughs, but also, a huge slowdown right from the middle up until the unremarkable ending. 2.8 out of 5.

Reviews [Match Point]

A film that literally had people talking before, through, and after the screening; Match Point is a very entertaining movie. A Woody Allen expert, I am not, but what Match Point offers is a mixture of good conversational writing, subversive plot twist, and a classic look and feel to the entire piece.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays a social climber who comes from a poor background. But, with the ability he has with a tennis racket, he is able to get a teaching position at an upper class tennis club. From here, he enters the life of a very wealthy family who, as a visual treat, manages to own prime real estate spots around London and the countryside. Scarlett Johannson is amazing as the to-be sister-in-law who tries her hardest to resist the charm of her evil, ladder climbing counterpart, but simply fails.

Woody Allen properly allows the characters and plot to saturate in your mind before carrying out one of the spookiest endings out of any other love triangle film I have seen. The sound and music in the film are superbly orchestrated and compliment the overall classic tragedy feel of this wonderful film. 5 out of 5.

Reviews [Born into Brothels]

A photojournalism project of sorts, this documentary follows the lives of children photographers learning the techniques and art of the photograph while trying to take a step out of their daily lives in the red light district in Calcutta, India. We travel through narrow alleyways and filthy backyard stones. The life of an Indian slum dweller is by no stretch of the imagination glamorous or artistic - it is very sickening - yet these children manage to smile daily as they take photographs.

There is real hope and talent possessed in the group of children we watch and the subjects of their photographs range from their family members to the people on the streets. A few of the kids stand out and it's great to see their faces light up with excitement when they are watching their work being hung at a Sotheby's gallery. All the photographs were auctioned off to pay for the childrens' educations.

The film is well edited and there are truly grand qualities in the emotions and depth of what we are shown on screen. There is plenty of great light in India and the film captures it well. The music matches up well with the film, as well as we are treated to primarily religious hymns and even some Bollywood tunes.

What stands out about this documentary is the care the filmmakers take to actually do something positive with the childrens' lives. They do not merely teach them photography - they give them an out. A chance at something they would have never otherwise come in cotact with. Rarely do we see the journalist get involved in their story in such a positive way. It's delightful to watch yet also heartbreaking because not all the children are able to take advantage of a better life, some by choice others because of their parents or guardians. An absolutely touching film. The DVD is a great rental because it follows the children's progress since the documentary was released and won an Oscar. You also get to see what the kids plan on doing with their lives and even their reactions to the documentary. 4 out of 5.

Reviews [King Kong]

From the beginning, King Kong sets a path of expectations. Peter Jackson clarifies that we are not living in modern times by scoping New York City from a vaudevillian perspective. We see street performers, beggars, and middle class America. Poverty is so rampant that actors and actresses do not get paid and once her theater closes, Naomi Watts is left with no choice but to beg a producer for a gig. We do not see Kong until well into this 3 hour and 22 minute Peter Jackson remake.

Jack Black is possibly the worst choice to play the Orson Wellsish character of a no holds barred filmmaker who will go through illegal means to get his picture shot. He tricks the screenwriter, Adrien Brody, to stay on the boat and writes fake checks to set sail on his excursion to find Skull Island - the undiscovered land where his film will take place. Upon discovery of the island, immediately there is havoc as the natives are not welcoming of the newcomers. They take Anne Darrow, played very well by Naomi Watts, as prisoner/food for Kong. And even if you have not watched the film you know that this film is about a love between Kong and Anne and the protection that Kong develops for Anne.

The film does touch a couple of emotionally true points but mostly it loses credit in Jack Black's acting, the poorly written script, and the overhyped but sub-par special effects. The entire film is practically shot on green screen and a few enormous soundstages. Though these elements could be used to the advantage of the film; Kong fails in creating anything remotely realistic save some Andy Serkis magic via Kong's facial expressions. Production notes from the film indicate that Serkis stayed on set even when he was not needed to help Watts and the rest of the crew to get the right reactions to Kong, but Andy Serkis cannot do everything. The film will leave you extremely bored if you are not willing to accept the fake effects as real. 2.5 out of 5.

Reviews [Munich]

By far Steven Spielberg's most complete, thrilling, frightening, and absolutely painful work to date. Munich is based on the real events of the 1972 Olympics hostage crisis when Israeli athletes were taken as hostages and subsequently murdered by a group of Arabic men. Munich is based on the book Vengeance by George Jonas and written for the screen by Tony Kushner and Eric Roth, with a score by John Williams. An all-star team put together the film and it shows. There are rarely moments of lightheartedness in the film and that is with good reason. You are not given a chance to blink an eye in the film due to the constant action.

Lynn Cohen plays an amazingly written Golda Meir, Kushner who penned Angels in America seems to know exactly how the mind of a politician operates. After the events of the Olympics, the Israeli Prime Minister calls in one of her favorite old bodyguards, Eric Bana to carry out a mission to assassinate every single Arab that was responsible for the Olympics event.

Bana transforms from a loyal, almost cherubic and innocent do-gooder into one of the most wanted assassins on international grounds. But every person besides the typical innocent bystander in the film is a sniper; with the tongue or with a weapon. There is absolute disloyalty, cruelty, and a lost sense of purpose amongst the ranks of international espionage and terrorism, according to what Spielberg shows us. No man or woman is innocent in the war between Israel and Palestine - and those who are not directly involved, somehow stand to profit from the mess.

There is no doubt in my mind that this is the best movie of 2005, no matter how depressing or realistic it is. Spielberg takes us behind the rifle and makes us feel the pain of an assassin through his quick paced directing and up close look at war. A brilliant movie; one of Spielberg's greatest accomplishments. 5 out of 5.

Reviews [March of the Penguins]

A lot of squabbling, mating calls, and baby chirps of penguins are heard in March of the Penguins. This definitely is not a feel good film; there is too much reality involved for it to be any more uplifting.

We are taken through the ancient mating rituals of the Emperor Penguins in Anatarctica begin. Above ground, they are one of the only animals to survive in sub-zero temperatures without food for sometimes over four months. The documentary takes us through how they pick a mate, the nurturing of their egg, and finally the birth of a new batch of penguins. Through it all the penguins face very real enemies in predators as well as survival in the cold. An interesting question many will no doubt find themselves asking is why the penguins continue to mate even though the chances of survival of their offspring is so little. And as you're taken in by the white frozen mass and the brotherhood shared by these cute animals, you'll find yourself asking a bunch of other questions as they relate to survival.

Although very entertaining; the documentary is often times lacking in the scientific data you would hope for it to issue. The DVD features an even better documentary on how the two French filmmakers made it through 9 months of filming the penguins in their natural habitat. 3 out of 5.

Reviews [The Big Empty]

Directed and adapted from novel form by Lisa Chang and Newton Thomas Sigel; The Big Empty is an insightful, often times hilarious, and a cozy 20 minute short film. It starts out with several doctors inspecting Selma Blair (Alice) from a lower vantage point. The Big Empty refers to her vagina. One gynecologist thinks that it is a rash, another offers no solution, still others think a prescription is in order. Finally, what better way to solve a problem than to broadcast it nationally on a television talk show studio - in front of a live audience. The height of excitement in this film is the amazing job that the duo of Chang and Sigel have done in directing the film. An absolutely beautiful 20 minutes of film of 2005. The Big Empty, when explored, reveals a tundra, a chilling place that many enter and then are spit out at any given time. Many enter, all come out, except for 1 that is. To find out what happens, you'll have to watch the film. It is currently available in Wholphin; a DVD periodical. 5 out of 5.

Reviews [Syriana]

There are a lot of plot lines in this film and they cover political and newsworthy topics that we are all familiar with. Big oil, big government, big terrorists, and big lawyers. It's difficult to gauge the film-related topics of Syriana because of it's extremely political and almost documentary like nature.

We travel the globe following individuals involved in every single aspect of the circle that is involved in forming our daily lives - knowingly or otherwise. There is the big oil company who wants to merge with another to make oil cheaper for Americans to consume. There is no more oil left in the United States, so we go to Iran. In Iran we encounter an old king and two sons. One son wants to reform his country and actually create opportunities for the citizens in the Middle East. He wants to give women the right to vote, he wants to see expansion within his own society - an idealist. The other prince wants to be rich and powerful. Then we have members of the CIA who are given orders to keep them in trouble, there are investors who turn into economic advisors, and a law firm that seems to be controlling everything.

Though a bit convoluted, the film captures the process of how it sees why there is currently a war in Iraq and why past wars existed. It is stated clearly as day that the events are fictional, but the absolute logic of it will leave you trembling at the possibilities. An uneasy film to swallow, Syriana is engaging, thought provoking, and well acted. And in the end, things do make sense, but you will find yourself being lost at moments.

An outstanding score helps the film's subtlety remain its course. It is never didactic and therefore easier to watch than if it were just a rant of sorts. There is a reason behind terrorists, the birth of one is seen in the film. There is a reason for joint ventures, the dealmaking is seen in this film, there are corrupt politicians, government officials, and powerful lawyers. We see these people carrying out actions that become a part of the headlines and we see what they were doing before they made it next to your morning coffee. It brings you full circle. 4 out of 5.

Reviews [The Shape of Things]

A play first and then a film, Neil Labute's The Shape of Things is a defining moment in screenwriting. The power of the film comes from its ability to portray realistically a world which has never until the play been captured on screen. We start out with 4 main characters, a bullying best friend, a new girlfriend, and a former love interest who is now engaged to the bullying best friend. Then we have the perceived main character - a nerdy security guard at a museum who falls hard and madly in love with the liberal art grad student.

Rachel Weisz plays Evelyn Ann Thompson; a whimsical free spirit who completely transforms and brings about huge change in Paul Rudd's Adam. The film lacks seriously in the proper use of the medium. There is nothing spectacular about the actual movie; if it weren't for Weisz and Rudd, and one of the best screenplays ever written, the film would fall flat.

The screenplay is a twisting love story. A love of things, a power struggle, and the ultimate question of morality is addressed. The film does not go back like a Sixth Sense or similar fare to show you the twists; you simply understand it at the very last moment. You are left stunned and your heart sinks. It is well carried out, with questionable execution in the direction as well as some casting snafus. A flawed masterpiece. 2.5 out of 5.

Reviews [Sea of Love]

Al Pacino, John Goodman, Ellen Parkin and a lively script make this sea of love a smooth ride to sail on. A great rental, you get a defining feel of the 1980s through this 80s crime drama that takes place in New York City. A killer is on the loose and all the victims are men who enter personal ads. John Goodman and Al Pacino as good detectives decide that setting themselves up on dates with half of New York is the way to catch the female assailant.

The conversations are so immersed in the colloquial and big on minor details that you get lost in the eighties. A couple of steamy scenes and off-beat allusions also make the script a viable one. The film dares to cross a few lines and does not worry about being politically correct.

Al Pacino is superb and this is one of the few movies in which he does not have his now trademark soliloquies. John Goodman has to date be in a movie that is not entertaining. The man is a great film picking genius. He is superb, as well. As we creep into the dates and the alcoholism and New York City in 1989, the movie has a lot of tension going for it. There is a lot of fun to be had while on a murder case and even more interesting are the little wrongdoings of otherwise good men. 3 out of 5.

Reviews [Merchant of Venice]

The anti-semitism is strong in the canals of a spotless Venice city. Jews are treated like scum but are necessary to carry on daily business. Oh come now, you've all read the Shakespearean classic in high school or a humanities class somewhere, have you not? Well the story goes that being in the business of loaning money is dirty and it's only meant for people who aren't very good people at all - and that is in this case - the Jews. Al Pacino plays Shylock, the man who has only one thing on his mind - interest with a side dish of vengeance. He feels that he has been betrayed long enough and that he should take a man's flesh pound for pound, for the money he is owed.

A nice journey through Venice with incantations of sweetness mingling with filthy racist slurs make for a nice jambalaya of dialogue. And of course, as is the case with any film based on Shakespeare's work, many times you will hear the dialogue rhyming but at other times, it will not make any sense.

A lowly man with a rich noble of a friend asks for money from Shylock. With this money, he plans on courting a beautiful princess, whom he must win only with his pure heart and not the gold he used to impress her in the first place. For those of you who this is getting confusing for - think of Aladdin when he pretends to be Prince Abubu to win the hand of princess Jasmine in marriage. And just like Princess Jasmine, the princess in Merchant is a wise one (much wiser as you see towards the end) and cares not for all the riches in the world, but a heart pure and a love true. Things of that sort.

In the midst of the romance comes a slap back to reality; that being the merchant's conquests on the seas have failed and Shylock wants a piece of his flesh. Definitely a crescendo of a film. 3 out of 5.

Reviews [Walk the Line]

Enigmatic from front to start, the man in black captures us all. That was intentional rhyming. Johnny Cash is portrayed as the original bad boy. His antics - however "un-Christian" are fun to watch and his love affair with June Carter is the sweetest when acknowledged and violent when unrequited. "Ring of Fire" the song Cash sings and the one that is written by June Carter Cash - a twice divorced Country Hall of Fame Superstar (The Carter Family) - explains their love affair perfectly. They fall deeper and deeper into the ring of fire and the flames keep getting higher.

What many will be surprised by is the amazing job with which Reese Witherspoon has captured the essence of June; a truly Oscar worthy performance. Joaquin Phoenix delivers Cash with utmost sincerity from the moment we see him waiting to go on stage at Folsom prison to the crowd of adoring convicts.

The film covers several songs - all which are sung by Phoenix & Witherspoon - and add a bit of "Behind the Scenes" feel to it all. Undoubtedly a great watch. 4 out of 5.

Reviews [Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]

Director Mike Newell's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire brings to the audience the darkest film yet in the series. A seriously terrifying adventure ride that will leave you in the center of the conflicts Harry faces in the fourth year. We get a good glimpse of the tournament and everything else takes second place.

The Triwizard tournament is a competition that guarantees "eternal glory" in the Wizarding world. The contestants face challenges such as fire breathing dragons and various sea creatures. Harry Potter who does not meet the age-requirements of the tournament finds out that his name has been entered into the Goblet. In a rare moment we see Harry actually frightened when his name is pulled from the Goblet.

The year at Hogwart's also features a bunch of romantic developments amongst our favorite wizards and witches. There are priceless and quite charming moments of innuendo exchanged between several of the usually more conserved characters. Ron, Harry, & Hermione all have their shares of crushes & first encounters with love in quite entertaining form. The Goblet gets a 4 out of 5.

Reviews [Capote]

The reason art exists is mainly for two reasons, the audience's demand and the artist's burning desire to create. Capote was a writer who worked to achieve greatness, who wrote to keep his ego burning. Philip Seymour Hoffman as Capote shows us an author who worked by having a cognizance of self better than most of his closes critics, friends, and admirers. It was his massive self centered nature - during the premiere party of the film "To Kill a Mockingbird" penned by his close friend Nelle Harper Lee (Catherine Keener), Capote says "frankly I don't know what the fuss is all about" while wasting away in another gin and tonic.

A quiet and mostly unevenful biographical motion picture event, Capote reaches few points of absolute chilling climaxes which make the rest of the film seem like the quiet before the storm.

The film takes place at the juncture of Capote's life as he embarks on writing his most famous novel, "In Cold Blood." A creative non-fiction - many say he popularized or even invented the genre - about a small town murder. In order to get close to the murderers, Capote goes as far as hiring a new lawyer to delay the death sentence on the heads of the two men accused of the gruesome murder. Capote befriends one of the criminals (Clifton Collins Jr.) who at a point thinks his friend Truman is there to save his life. As the story unravels the friendship fades into a grey area which is one of the most interesting dynamics in the film to watch.

The film sheds light on the selfish nature of the process of creation. And we are given an Oscar-worthy performance by both Philip Seymour Hoffman and Clifton Collins Jr. Capote is not a cursory look at an author, but an honest stare at a man creating his career defining piece. 3 out of 5.

Reviews [The Ballad of Jack and Rose]

There's a touch of realism in this film that cannot be faked. It is a truly daring movie in the subjects it addresses and a very difficult one to swallow at times. But portrayed absolutely beautifully, the two main characters are a daughter and a sick father (Daniel Day Lewis) who live on what used to be a commune of idealists. A touching yet sometimes disagreeable piece about a man and his daughter who live on the memories of a commune.

The memories that remain are the only good things left for these two, being that their mother and wife are dead and their commune is now almost non-existent. A truly revolutionary couple, they take on villains in the form of developers who plan on building land around their picture perfect coastal habitat. But the heart of the conflict comes when someone tears in between their love; in the face of a woman and her two sons.

A very isolated life has made the daughter into what you could see the father have being at a younger age, when he was still a stronger man and one with support on his side. But she is strong, luminous, and also cunning. These traits combined with childlike innocence and unquestioned determination bring a very aggressive and never before seen presence to the screen. A well written and thought out emotional conundrum. 4 out of 5.

Reviews [Good Night, and Good Luck.]

George Clooney as director shows that he is very eager to get his hands behind the camera, but he also shows the telltale signs of a kid let loose in a candy store. In this, a beautiful black and white film, Clooney takes us to an era where television had not become yet become one of the most trusted sources of news for the world. A time when Edward R. Murrow was seen as someone who would talk to puffy guests such as Liberace and other Hollywood celebrities, but not someone with substance.

David Strathairn plays the bold hero at the center of this documentary like film and he does so with an inspirational force. The film see-saws between fact, excitement, and poor excuses to show plumes of cigarette smoke in a black & white picture. Clooney goes out of his way to give us close-ups of television screens and to make the film raw and inspired, but in doing so, comes away with a script that could leave the average filmgoer in yawns.

The film is about the emergence of the junior senator from Wisconsin, McCarthy. It's about McCarthy's lies and his power. We are witness to his campaign to find Communists living in the United States and holding Congressional hearings to denigrate and punish them for their rumored acts of treason. While many in that era stood up against McCarthy, Edward R. Murrow is credited, at least according to this picture, as the man who really lights the match to McCarthy's downfall. The film, while great for historians and those who enjoy black and white films can be extremely boring if not interested in the subject matter to begin with. An unenthusiastic 3 out of 5.

Reviews [Oldboy]

A stylistic, violent, psychological thriller, Oldboy is one of the most disturbing movies I have seen to date. The content which cannot be disclosed without revealing some plotline is a combination of a daytime talk show and something ancient Greece could produce. The film starts out with our very comedic protagonist locked up in a drunk tank. Cursing the police officers, talking to them indignantly, flipping them off, and trying to physically harm them. Finally, a friend helps him get out of this mess and he phones home to his daughter whose 3rd birthday it is that Daddy's on his way home. We turn around and he has vanished. On a rainy night, he is gone and the next we see him, he is imprisoned in an apartment, hypnotized perhaps, and has his life snatched away from him for a period of 15 years, when he is finally released.

Who? Why? These questions are answered through the remainder of the film and are done satisfactorily enough - though a bit of stretching maybe required for certain viewers. The sequences of fights is very naturally done, it's reminiscent of Mean Streets - though the protagonist is always seen as the strongest - the fighting is believable and nothing like Asian cinema of the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon type.

The film truly works every muscle in your mind by not revealing everything, but slowly unfolding into what finally turns out to be an uncomfortable denoument. The acting is of the finest degree and the editing and direction take you through a warped world filled with elements you do not want to have revealed. A beautifully composed nightmare. 4 out of 5.

Reviews [House of D]

David Duchovny's first film as a director is a flashback story with some great highlights and interesting moments. The film has more bicycles in a movie than a documentary about Lance Armstrong, and appropriately starts out on a Paris night. The struggle of a man who has a hidden past and the excitement of finally being able to share his secrets with those he cares about is clearly portrayed in that first bike ride. As the book opens on Tommy, played by Duchovny as an older man, and played even better by Anton Yelchin in the flashback, we start to learn about life in Greenwich Village in the 70s.

A series of cold events in Tommy's life lead to his eventual breakdown, but with the help of his friend Pappas, a retarded janitor (Robin Williams) & a woman who speaks to Tommy from her prison cell (Erykah Badu), Tommy learns about love and life. It is definitely not a typical film about the popular subjects that movies tend to be about, but sometimes it feels like we're given a gloss coat with an empty shell. The film does not delve as deeply into the soul of conflict as it could.

But, Duchovny does a fine job of showing us the Village in 1970s and a good feel for why the story needs to be told now. 3 out of 5.

Reviews [3 Iron]

Korean writer and director Ki-duk Kim presents us with one of the most original pieces of storytelling in cinema since his last Western success, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter And . . . Spring. 3 Iron revolves around a young post modernist, humane, and symbolic man who makes himself a guest in strangers' homes while they are away on vacation.

Obviously he encounters a multitude of different experiences, and to add to the innocuous nature of his breaking and entering, he washes the clothes of all those whose houses he inhabits. Staying in this course, he winds up befriending a lovely young woman and she becomes his accomplice. The only problem - she is married.

Truly engaging sequences of adventure and intrigue will infect your mind as you watch the film. The directing is charming and haunting. The protagonist is faced with some harsh challenges but the way in which he handles his conflicts is one of the most inventive and sublime manners of attacking a problem to date in any film I have watched.

I realized that I loved this movie when the following became clear; 3 Iron will make you think that you, personally, as a human being can accomplish much more than you may have tried to; and maybe even inspire you to become more agile. When a film can convince you to get up off your ass and do something (very similar to SSFWAS), then it's definitely worth a peek. 5 out of 5.

Reviews [Les Choristes]

A beautiful French countryside and a plot similar to a combo of Heaven Help Us & Sister Act 2 make Les Choristes, while entertaining and enchanting, overall nothing thrilling. We follow the story of a group of boys in boarding school with a strict headmaster. Strict, but often times, extremely hilarious in his hatred and dismissal of all things pure and sweet.

To the rescue is a kind old man who has an interest in singing. Through songs and an organized chorus, he is able to shake up the establishment's misguided entirehe is able to manipulate French countryside who all have parents that pretty much want to distance themselves from their children - or in some cases - just no parents at all. The singing is especially beautiful and some of the conflicts that these boys deal with are very simple, but make it all the more fun to watch. For once, you're not expecting grave tragedy to fall upon your favorite characters. But, while mostly generic and predictable in plot, there are still some surprises and laughs that make Les Choristes very enjoyable. 3 out of 5.

Reviews [A History of Violence]

Tom Stalls is your average heartland citizen. He owns a diner, knows everyone around town, and likes to live the quiet life. David Cronenberg's documentary-like title is appropriate for the film because while you feel for the characters, the title constantly jabs at your skull - reminding you that a tremendous act of violence will be followed by the intervals of conversation. Everything leads up to the violence in the film and it is interesting to watch. But from the first cruel death in the scene to the gruesome and gory ones - one reaction was common - laughter.

When Tom Stalls is attacked by two "badmen" at his diner, he commits serious acts of violence by killing them both; in turn protecting the patrons and employees of the establishments and also ruining his entire life.

The film will have you laughing throughout because it is so intense at points, that it will be the only reaction you can draw upon. Though it is common for one to leave reality behind when entering the movie theater, the scene that is painted is so normal and Partridge family like, that you cannot but help laugh when the mob comes to town and wants Tom Stalls to admit to a past life he wants to leave in his past.

Viggo Mortenson and Maria Bello do a tremendous job of acting, but the script sometimes lends itself to be completely ridiculous. When Tom's son finds out that he may have used to be a part of the mob, he asks him, something along the lines of "Oh, what are you going to wack me if I tell [sister] that you're in the mob?" Though it's there for obviously comedic reasons, parts of the film just become unintentionally hilarious.

The movement of the film is in a very late 80s, early 90s feel, though it revolves around the characters, it's almost as if these characters are big symbols walking around trying to prove Cronenberg's point that violence has a cause and effect. It is painful to watch the acts of violence being committed, but you also will just be thankful that the film had some resolution to it. 2.7 out of 5.

Reviews [Proof]

This John Madden film about mathematicians and their tendencies to be a bit off the rocker is a silent triumph. It weaves intricate plot with questions of trust and sanity. We are taken into the life of a man who constantly claims that intelligence, as it relates to the scholarly world of mathematics peaks at 23 and everything is down hill from there. Anthony Hopkins does a tremendous job but it is Gwyneth Paltrow, who plays Hopkins' daughter in the movie, whose issues the film revolves around.

A brilliant, passionate, and deeply caring person, Gwyneth's character has a tremendous amount of conflict within her and that's what makes it intense. She has to ward off her own sister and prove her sanity to those around her. Many also doubt her credibility since she has lived for 5 years with her insane and dying father.

The city of Chicago is shot in way that has not been seen before. In order to get all the math proofs that are discussed, a lot of angular, quick-paced, pans in motion take place. It leaves you with a complete feeling of engaging inside the world of Gwyneth Paltrow's mind. She takes on her role with great accuracy as we see a fragile, unstable, post-graduate genius trying to maintain a balance between academia and the world. We see her at her most vulnerable stage in life and it is endearing. 3 out of 5.

Reviews [Junebug]

Junebug is a sweet film with great heart and has a homegrown feel to it. Director Phil Morrison's film revolves around a newly married couple who go to visit the husband's family down south. George seems a bit more refined than his hillbilly family down south and his art-gallery owner wife, Madeline is ironically the reason of their visit back to his home in North Carolina. While Madeline is down scoping a new emerging artist, deep rooted family troubles that have never quite been resolved emerge - all capped with a very pregnant and about to burst Ashley (Amy Adams).

Amy Adams is wonderful in the film. Ashley is a neurotic, hyper, talkative, self-doubting, and incredibly sweet and understanding woman. She talks like a teenager in love and has the innocence of one. Ashley's purity is shown through her actions and selfless acts. And you realize that you're watching a film only when you realize that we all wish we were like Ashley but somewhere along the way, we grew older, and our values fell apart.

The film is filled with great music too - an original score by Yo La Tengo and Christian hymns portrayed in a non-sarcastic manner. Junebug makes you feel like you're sitting down south, sipping a glass of sweet iced tea while watching life from an old creaky chair on the front porch. 4 out of 5.

Reviews [The Constant Gardener]

After the success of City of God, director Fernando Meirelles brings to life an authentic thriller with The Constant Gardener. There is a global conspiracy that has caused many deaths and plaguing the African content. The film gains its momentum through the journey of Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes) who will stop at nothing to expose the dirt that becomes the reason for his wife's (Rachel Weisz) murder.

The sound and music of the film throb as we are taken through African slums and vast desert planes. The shooting style Fernando Meirelles uses is very similar to City of God and we are left questioning whether what is on screen is a documentary or a film. Add to that an extremely fine-tuned group of actors, and you have an intelligent thriller. 3 out of 5.

Reviews [The Brothers Grimm]

The genre of a movie is something that should be paid close attention to, because if you're not sticking to it in a certain graded fashion, chances are you'll come out with an array of different genres all working against one another. The Brothers Grimm has a specatcular