New Layout

I'm going with a different template for the second half of 2009. I'm removing the image of the DVD box as well as all ad-like widgets. I decided to bump up the trailer from the bottom to the top of the review so you'd be able to see a bit of the movie before you started reading. Other than that, it's all the same for now. Thanks for stopping by!

The Boondock Saints

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: December 17, 1999 (Denmark) / January 21, 2000 (USA)

DVD Release Date: May 21, 2002

Plot 411: Two Irish brothers become vigilantes and go on a killing spree to rid South Boston of evil doers.

Review: I thought this movie was very successful in weaving together a thoughtful plot while still managing to provide action and humor. Conner (Sean Patrick Flanery) and Murphy (Norman Reedus) are two regular guys working at a meatpacking plant. When the Russian mob tries to strongarm the owner of their favorite watering hole, they and the rest of the patrons set things straight. However, when the mobsters come for revenge, the brothers end up killing them in self defense. After this innocent altercation, they hear the voice of God telling them to clean up the bad streets of Boston. They proceed to work their way through Boston's Russian and Italian organized crime while trying to evade capture by FBI agent Paul Smecker (Willem Dafoe). I gotta tell you. There's nothing sexier than a gun-wielding guy with an accent, brains and a streak of do-gooder in him. Flanery and Reedus are captivating and so funny at times. Dafoe is great in this role as a homosexual FBI agent. He's eccentric and unorthodox CSI-style is pure entertainment at times. It's also interesting how religion, ethics and morals are tied into the movie. Like Smecker, the audience must choose between a lawful and unlawful method of dealing with crime. One is sometimes more effective than the other in eliminating bad components within society, however, is it justifiable to circumvent the law for your own purpose?

Watch It: For a good amount of action (read killing) and laughs or for the sexy Irish brogue.

Skip It: If you're shy about violence. This movie was once cut as NC-17 but recut to an R. I didn't think it was all that violent or bloody when compared to more recent films.

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Harold and Maude

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: December 20, 1971

DVD Release Date: June 27, 2000

Plot 411: A young boy obsessed with death meets an older woman full of life who opens up his world and helps him to live for the first time.

Review: This was weirdly moving in a way that I find very difficult to describe. Harold (Bud Cort) comes from an aristocratic world to which he doesn't seem to relate. He is constantly acting out suicides using different methods. This practice is so common that his mother no longer reacts to them. It seems his behavior is merely a ploy for his mother's attention. She tries her best to engage him in the world (by signing him up for a dating service or requesting that his uncle, a military man, recruit him), but obviously this isn't fruitful. Harold continues to foster an obsession with death and attends funerals for the joy of it. He meets Maude (Ruth Gordon) at several funerals and she becomes his first real friend. Maude, who is going on 80 years old, lives life to its fullest and with no regrets. Her outlook captivates Harold and as their friendship develops, he slowly opens up to the idea of life. Maude teaches him that life, love and attachments are transient and to make the best of everything by doing whatever it is you want to do. Don't let society's rules prevent you from feeling joy through whatever means necessary. In addition to that nice little message, there are tons of funny moments throughout the film that are definitely worthwhile to see. Gordon is like a lively sprite, singing and dancing her way into your heart.

Watch It: For an amazing and memorable performance by Ruth Gordon.

Skip It: If the idea of an octogenarian and a twentysomething in bed together makes you retch.

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The Quiet

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: August 25, 2006

DVD Release Date: February 13, 2007

Plot 411: When her father dies, Dot moves in with her godparents and discovers that there's more going on under the surface of this suburban family.

Review: This is definitely a thriller chiller. Dot (Camilla Belle) is a deaf teen who moves in with her godparents when her father dies. Their teen daughter immediately ostracizes her. Nina (Elisha Cuthbert) is cheer popular and part of the in-crowd while Dot remains quiet and alone. At first look, this movie seems to be about the perfect suburban family and everyone's high school nightmare. But as you watch further, it's actually the family unit that is sick and twisted. The guts of this movie are really gut-wrenching. The things going on in the home before and during Dot's stay are horrific, but you still feel sympathy for each character. Secrets abound and you realize there are definitely behavioral quirks that have resulted from these secrets and the keeping of them. Even Dot is keeping a secret, and because she's deaf, everyone thinks they can confide in her. Everyone purges their desires and problems on her but she is unable to reciprocate. This movie gives you a peek at the horrors that can happen behind closed doors. Everyone has secrets and everyone is secretive. Double lives aren't only for government spies. They could be for your next door neighbor too.

Watch It: For a look at how far people will go to keep their secrets and the defense mechanisms they develop in order to blend in with the crowd.

Skip It: If you're expecting one of those cheer happy teen movies because while this one contains some of that, it really goes to deeper and darker places.

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Butterflies Are Free

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: July 6, 1972

DVD Release Date: April 23, 2002

Plot 411: When wild child Jill moves in next door to a blind man, her eyes are opened to love.

Review: Goldie Hawn plays Jill Tanner, a flighty actress who recently moved from L.A. to San Francisco. Her new neighbor is Don Baker (Edward Albert), a blind guy trying to prove to his mother that he is capable of living independently. Hawn does a great job, as usual, at playing the blonde bimbo. Tanner does not claim to be a genius and openly admits her flaws and makes good use of her beauty. However, underneath it all she is quite astute. She plays it off as though she's a bimbo, but there's really a caring individual under the facade. It's really interesting how both the character and Hawn pull off the dichotomy. Albert's character is also struggling with his identity. Emotionally he's a handicapped boy who has yet to become a man. Physically he is man enough to fall into bed with his neighbor. The growth in this character is evident and marvelous from beginning to end. At some points he really does sound like a whining teenager throwing a tantrum or purposely digging into his mother. Eileen Heckart plays Mrs. Baker, a strong-willed woman who is at first quite overbearing and annoying. You feel Don's frustration as she encourages him to remain dependent on her. However, you also see her love and devotion to her only son. Her own vulnerability is revealed and you see she's just a lonely woman afraid she won't be loved or needed anymore. The relationship between the three characters is interesting and always vacilating. There are also some great comedic moments between Hawn and Albert.

Watch It: A Goldie Hawn gem and rom-com that's got a little more soul to it.

Skip It: If you prefer more complicated plots that involve lots of characters and twists and turns. This one's pretty straightforward and has a small cast.

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Shooter

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: March 22, 2007

DVD Release Date: June 26, 2007

Plot 411: A retired Marine Corps sniper is recruited to prevent a presidential assassination only to be framed for the killing of an international representative.

Review: Now this is the type of movie that Mark Wahlberg should really continue to do (screw movies like The Happening). The void in the macho, action-oriented genre is almost depressing. In the '80s and early '90s, the market was swimming with these man's man-type movies usually starring the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Charles Bronson, Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme. In the 2000s, it's as if these movies are an endangered species. Every once in a while someone will grow a dude 'tude and put out a bust 'em up, shoot 'em up flick, but their dominance in the market is definitely minimal. In this film, Wahlberg plays a retired sniper who must evade capture and prove his innocence in a conspiracy plot that goes very high up into the government. Guys will appreciate it for some very good kills sequences, large explosions, proliferation of guns and a me vs. the world fantasy they can live through Wahlberg's character. Girls will likely enjoy this for the mere presence of the former Calvin Klein model. Note: There is one scene where he reprises this role as underwear model and the boy's still got it. Also in this movie area Danny Glover, Michael Pena and Elias Koteas.

Watch It: For a good military/government conspiracy flick sandwiched between slices of action.

Skip It: If kill shots with brain splatter makes you squeamish.

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Close Your Eyes / Doctor Sleep

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: August 16, 2002 (Israel) / April 23, 2004 (USA)

DVD Release Date: September 14, 2004

Plot 411: A reluctant hypnotist consults with police to find a serial killer who has killed a number of children.

Review: This movie just made me feel uji for some reason. It wasn't the most psychotic, graphic or twisted religous cult film I've seen. I'm just not sure what it was. A serial killer is kidnapping children to fulfill some kind of demented religious pursuit. Goran Visnjic plays Michael, a hypnotist who has recently moved his family to London. He helps Janet Losey (Shirley Henderson), a cop who plays by her own rules, and hides it from his wife (Miranda Otto) and daughter. The camera work and score did a really good job at enhancing the fear factor. Some dark scenes were highlighted with great mood music that made you wiggle in your seat. You just know something's not right and the anticipation kills you. Perhaps it is the idea that your child could be snatched right from underneath you that makes the threat real? Perhaps the idea that you're vulnerable to attack, even within your own home, is the chiller? I'm not sure. But the subtle nuances of all of these things put together was really effective in this one. The pacing of the plot was also well done. You're never left wanting more or too overwhelmed with details to understand what's happening.

Watch It: For a good creep out that'll have you looking over your shoulder just to make sure there's no one there.

Skip It: If you're really looking for an extreme - horror, thriller or religious freaks. You just get a peek at all of these but not the full-blown experience that other films bring to the table.

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The Corruptor

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: February 11, 1999 (Hong Kong) / March 12, 1999 (USA)

DVD Release Date: September 14, 1999

Plot 411: A green cop joins the Asian Gang Unit to stop the trafficking of humans and drugs but finds out that he might be in over his head.

Review: This is a gritty action thriller set in the heart of Chinatown where illegal immigrants, prostitution and drugs abound. Danny Wallace (Mark Wahlberg) joins a unit led by Nick Chen (Chow Yun-Fat) when a feud between two Asian gangs makes headlines. He quickly learns that problems within Chinatown are deeper than they appear and it is no longer easy to determine who is good and who is bad. The themes in this movie are probably out of the normal scope for the general public but are no doubt serious problems in many cities. The criminal underworld is only thinly veiled at best, which leaves you to question how far cops will go in order to enforce the law. Even good law enforcement is susceptible to bribes and corruptions when they must pick the lesser of two evils. The movie excellently portrays how the legal and illegal live side-by-side and, in some cases, must work together for both to succeed. The movie is fast-paced with lots of action sequences (gun fights) and special effects (car chase and explosion). Chow and Wahlberg are good in their roles as teacher/student.

Watch It: If you enjoy tough-guy movies with some whoop ass on the side.

Skip It: If you think this movie will pull any punches. At one point it was NC-17 but was re-cut for the R rating.

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The Quiet Man

Rating: Not rated

Movie Release Date: August 14, 1952

DVD Release Date: October 22, 2002

Plot 411: Sean Thornton returns from America to his Irish roots to claim the land of his forefathers and finds a bit of love in the process.

Review: This was an enjoyable non-Western John Wayne movie that was still able to portray him as a powerful man's man. Wayne plays Sean, an American who returns to Innisfree to purchase his family's homestead. He meets the lovely Mary Kate (Maureen O'Hara) and instantly falls for the red-haired siren with a temper. It was a little difficult for me to follow all the cultural and generational going's on in this movie. I found certain sayings and actions puzzling, and I think that is the sign of the times. But if even Sean was having difficulties understanding the Irish's strict dating protocol, I imagine modern audiences would also to an even larger extent. A couple of things I personally found disturbing about this film was how the Irish were portrayed as a drinking, fighting and singing lot. Can you say stereotype or what? Another aspect of the film that bothered me was Sean's man-handling of Mary Kate. I'm indecisive as to how 1950s audiences would've taken the gesture. Would they think Wayne was strong and dashing? Was it a thrill to be yanked around and into his arms? I thought it was a little excessive to the point of being barbaric in some scenes. I know this is just a generational difference though. I thought the idea of a babhdóir or matchmaker was charming and believe they still have festivals that continue this practice (at least in theory). One of the greatest assets of this film is the Irish countryside with its green grasses, bubbling streams and stone walls.

Watch It: For a rare moment when John Wayne is out of his element and transported across the pond. He almost seems human.

Skip It: If you prefer classic John Wayne as in Fort Apache or Rio Bravo.

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Diner

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: March 5, 1982

DVD Release Date: April 4, 1999

Plot 411: Six best friends grow up and around the diner sharing experiences and memories to last a lifetime.

Review: This film featured a great ensemble cast of Mickey Rourke, Daniel Stern, Kevin Bacon, Paul Reiser, Tim Daly and Steve Guttenberg. The guys were so great in this film, which is about the lives of six twentysomethings in 1959. The group is so funny when they're together at the diner all squeezed into the booth. But, my favorite scene occurs when Daly's character lets loose at a strip club. It's awesome and not what you think. What I love most about this movie is that you can imagine these characters are still meeting up at that diner in 2009, 50 years after this snapshot of their lives was filmed. The bond between the guys is really touching - sort of the 50s version of a bromance. Rourke plays Boogie, a gambling playboy trying to find a way to pay off a $2,000 bet. He is really great in this role and how I'd like to remember him always. He makes Boogie charming and charismatic, with a voice that could convince you to do anything, yet still extremely likable and not conniving. Stern plays Shrevie, the first guy in the group to get married. Every group's got one and Stern does a good job at portraying the dichotomy between being single and married. Bacon plays a gross underacheiver, who seems embarrassed by his wealth and intelligence. His angst and desire to be independent from his family perhaps foreshadows his transformation into a 60s hippie. Reiser plays the comedian in the group, Daly the lovelorn college boy and Guttenberg the groom-to-be. This is definitely a must-see, especially because I think it really does a good job at showing us the time period. The score is filled with music selections from that era that help to really set the mood and take you back. I'm happy to say I knew more than 90% of the music played and enjoyed singing along. As a side note, I was shocked at how Reiser hasn't changed a bit since this film and how Daly seems to have gotten better looking with age.

Watch It: For a blast from the past, the soundtrack of your lives and great casting selection. The actors really fit their characters well and they all seemed so natural in them.

Skip It: If you're looking for something with a definite resolution. This movie depicts the lives of these guys between December 24, 1959 and January 1, 1960. You won't find a definite answer to some of the problems they face because they're still in the process of figuring it out. That's part of the genius of this film.

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City Of Men / Cidade dos Homens

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: August 31, 2007 (Brazil) / February 29, 2008 (USA)

DVD Release Date: July 1, 2008

Plot 411: Two boys must become men in the midst of a gang war in their hometown, which forces them to choose sides and causes a rift in their friendship.

Review: Two best friends, Ace (Douglas Silva) and Wallace (Darlan Cunha), come of age in this very raw look at life on the streets of one of Brazil's ghettos. The boys confront life, death, guns, gangs, sex and fatherhood as they struggle to discover who they are. Ace is an orphan who has long stopped thinking about his father, but Wallace can't think of anything else. As Wallace's 18th birthday approaches, Ace helps him track down his dad. This uncovers a sordid past that threatens to break the boys' long-standing friendship. The setting and set design of all the houses on a hill is really remarkable. You feel the dirt and grime of a place that is packed so tightly together. You see how poor the people are and how they seem to struggle to realize their dreams. You also see how this hill has shaped people's lives and what they sacrifice when they live there. The gangs are filled with young men and women who seek status and power through violence. It is through these gangs that they earn respect. Sadly, this is a theme that affects many urban areas where kids run the streets and civilians are afraid to leave their homes. The only bad part of the movie for me was the English-dubbed voices. Unfortunately I watched this online at Netflix and wasn't given the choice of using subtitles. If you do get a chance to watch this, definitely opt for subtitles and hear the lines in its original form. The English translations sounded awkward and the voices didn't match the actors.

Watch It: For a realistic snapshot of gang violence and poverty as it affects people just trying to survive.

Skip It: If you want to watch City of Gods first as I've read this is a spin off and takes place in the same area and has some of the same actors.

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Valkyrie

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: December 25, 2008

DVD Release Date: May 19, 2009

Plot 411: During World War II, a group of politicians and military officials plot to kill Adolf Hitler and save Germany.

Review: Not being a history or war buff, I hadn't known prior to watching this movie that there were actually 15 assassination attempts on Hitler and that he survived them all. I don't know if that was due to his own luck, cunning or tight inner circle who protected him. Despite the failures, it's truly amazing that men within Hitler's camp would be brave enough to commit such treason knowing that he was simply nuts. I suppose difficult times bring out the best in people, and WWII was definitely more than a difficult time. Still, there is no guarantee that someone would be willing to risk his life and that of his family's for the greater good. The fact that these men did just that is a testament to the human spirit. The movie focuses on Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise) and a group of men trying to save what is left of "sacred Germany." It's based on a true story, which makes their actions even more unbelievable. One problem I had with this movie was simply being able to distinguish the characters from one another. There were so many uniformed men in kahoots that it was hard to keep track who was supposed to do what. Is he a good guy? Bad guy? Involved? Doesn't have a clue? This is definitely one of those flicks you need to watch more than once with the subtitles on. I was concentrating so hard on trying to ID everyone that I didn't even notice the costume, set dressing or landscape at all. The cast also includes Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branagh and Tom Wilkinson.

Watch It: For an easy access to history and what seems like a long overdue curtain call for unsung hero von Stauffenberg.

Skip It: If you watch movies as a means to escape real life. This movie gives you a cold hard look at life's brutal realities.

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A Little Romance

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: April 27, 1979

DVD Release Date: January 7, 2003

Plot 411: An intelligent, young American finds her soulmate in a young Frenchman and falls in love forever.

Review: This is a great little movie about young love starring Diane Lane as Lauren and Thelonious Bernard as Daniel. Lauren is an American student living in France with her mother and third step father. She feels isolated and alone because she has nothing in common with her mother or her world. Her mother is beautiful and flighty. She's obsessed with material things and status (and is a very Knots Landing-ish woman). Lauren is extremely intelligent and has no one she can confide in. She hides who she really is so that she doesn't attract attention to herself and to avoid being labeled as different. When she meets Daniel, she realizes that she's not alone and the two embark on a journey of self-discovery and first love. Along the way they meet Julius (Laurence Olivier), who inspires Lauren as he spins beautiful tales. Olivier is great in this role and is so funny. I enjoyed watching Lane and Bernard together onscreen. The innocence they shared is endearing and pure. It makes you think of simpler times and wonder when did those times end. Lane radiates and is so beautiful onscreen. This is a perfect little story about the marvelous experience of first love.

Watch It: To shed your cynical views of love and reintroduce yourself to something magical.

Skip It: If you need to watch things with deep significance. Even as rom-coms go, this one isn't as full bodied as others are. It's a light picture and doesn't tread to deeply into emotional entanglements.

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The Hangover

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: June 5, 2009

DVD Release Date: October 5, 2009

Plot 411: Four guys make the trek to Vegas to celebrate an impending marriage, get unbelievably drunk and must find the groom they lost on the day of his wedding.

Review: Any movie with Ken Jeong is probably worth seeing and this one doesn't disappoint. He plays a Las Vegas mobster who is locked in a car by four drunk dudes. The dudes are actually Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), Alan (Zach Galifianakis) and Doug (Justin Bartha) who have snuck away to Vegas for a night of debauchery to celebrate Doug's impending marriage. Things get buck wild and three of the four wake up the next morning with the hangover from hell and complete memory loss. Doug is missing and they need to get him back home before his wedding that afternoon. This is an over-the-top comedy that includes pretty much any kind of gross gag, drug humor and sex quip that most guys would find hysterical. The last movie I can think of that is of a similar vein is Wedding Crashers. It's like boy's night out to the Nth degree captured on film. I found it to be crazy funny and definitely recommend it if you're in a buckaloose mood. As far as any critique on the wardrobe (I do believe they wore the same tore-up stuff the entire time they're in Vegas) and setting (Vegas, with and without lights), I can't really say I noticed much. I was too busy bustin' a gut.

Watch It: For the rockin' good time that most dudes probably dream of experiencing once in their lives.

Skip It: If you're in any way modest or prudish because there's a full male frontal in addition to a bunch of other offensive jokes, gestures and references.

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The Tale of Despereaux

Rating: G

Movie Release Date: December 19, 2008

DVD Release Date: April 7, 2009

Plot 411: This is the tale of a courageous mouse who isn't afraid to be different.

Review: This wasn't exactly what I expected but it was watchable (probably only the one time). What animated film isn't, right? Like most fairy tales, there's a narrator who does the whole, "Once upon a time" thing. I actually found her (Sigouney Weaver) to be quite boring and unnecessary. But for all I know, they're just copying an effect from the original book. I thought the main idea of a heroic mouse had so much potential but was left waiting for more. To me, the movie seemed pretty flat throughout. There was never really a moment where I felt like I was rooting for Despereaux. In fact, the movie didn't even really seem to be about Despereaux as much as I'd have liked it to be. I really enjoyed the animation techniques though. It really had that storybook feel to it with its warm tones and lighting. It's as if I was watching the pages of a book come to life. Definitely a great effect. The scenes had the ability to pull you into their world. Big time names helped out with the vocal talent - Matthew Broderick, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Watson, Tracey Ullman, Kevin Kline, William H. Macy and Stanley Tucci.

Watch It: With the kids because they'll get a kick out of Despereaux's huge ears.

Skip It: If you don't have to watch it. It's not one of those cool kid films made for adults.

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Baghead

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: July 25, 2008

DVD Release Date: December 27, 2008

Plot 411: Four frustrated B-movie actors retreat to a cabin in the woods to write their masterpiece but are confronted with a mysterious bagheaded man.

Review: I honestly didn't know what to expect before I popped this one in. It's written and directed by the Duplass brothers (Jay and Mark) who are slowly making it into the mainstream but are primarily indie movie makers. They're a part of a movement called mumblecore (read here for a good article on it from "The New Yorker"). I watched their flick The Puffy Chair a while back and can't really even remember the details of it. I know I didn't really like it. Baghead is way, way better. It still had their style of long, single camera takes. It still made use of very little screen talent (and crew as well). It still had that shaky-handed camera technique and whipped the camera back and forth between people. But, in addition to focusing on character development, it had a decent plot to it. There was a suspense and horror about it that was truly mainstream, even if the techniques they used were minimalist to the point of documentary film making. Even the acting performances are subtle and emotions are conveyed with a look, a sneer or a verbal jab. It was able to capture real, true emotions perfectly. There are some humorous moments and some scary moments, but through it all the reactions of the characters to their situation is very real. I did notice some not-so-smart things that they did, but it didn't really affect my fondness of them. Those little bumps in the plot can be ignored only if you have really believable characters.

Watch It: If you liked The Strangers with Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman. Despite the vast differences in budget, I think Baghead is a lot more effect at getting its message across. The emotions feel more real because the characters could be one of our friends.

Skip It: If you're looking for blood and guts. This one is effective without those extras.

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Bulletproof Monk

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: April 16, 2003

DVD Release Date: September 15, 2003

Plot 411: An immortal monk must find a successor to protect a scroll that is the key to unlimited power.

Review: This was a pretty good movie if you don't take offense to commercialized Buddhism and martial arts. Basically a monk with no name (Chow Yun-Fat) has protected a magical scroll for 60 years from a power-hungry Nazi set on world domination. The monk is in search for a new protector and meets a pick-pocketing thief (Seann William Scott) who just might fit the bill. When you throw in a mafia princess (Jaime King) leading a double life, you've got yourself a unique plot. Scott doesn't use this film to deviate from his tried and true comedic slacker roles. However, the obnoxious characters he normally plays is tempered with a good heart in this one. (I'm still waiting for this guy to mature and play some dramatic roles. But, at this rate, that might take a lifetime of waiting. Have you seen Role Models?) There are several hand-to-hand battles between the good and bad guys, but it's nothing we've never seen before. In fact, for the most part, this movie looks and feels like it's just another mass-produced action/comedy flick. Except for some wire work, most of the effects aren't really great. The makeup could use some work as well.

Watch It: For Hollywood's attempt to commandeer and contemporize Asian martial arts movies or if you like Chow Yun Fat.

Skip It: Because it doesn't bring anything new to the genre and just seems like an attempt by Hollywood to make money.

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Magnolia

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: January 7, 2000

DVD Release Date: August 29, 2000

Plot 411: A small snippet of the lives of several people who experience love, loss, death, regret, loneliness and a number of other human emotions.

Review: This was a tough one to sit through. It's over three hours long and is basically a collage of people's lives. You have to watch till the end to even figure out what the hell is going on or where the movie is going. I'll sum it up for you: The movie is preaching forgiveness. This movie has an all-star cast of great actors, including Julianne Moore, Tom Cruise, William H. Macy, John C. Reilly, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Alfred Molina. Cruise's character is especially interesting in an obnoxious, chauvinist way. He's as over-the-top as he was in Tropic Thunder. It is difficult for me to reconcile this image of him with the Scientologist version of himself. Very difficult indeed. I can't say that'd I'd recommend this one to most people. It'd probably fit well with the arthouse crowd, film students and maybe the indie flick watchers. The mainstream moviegoer will probably find it too slow going. There is a tremendous amount of character development, although it's splotchy with all the vignettes. It's one that focuses on the people and dialogue, and I think it really stretches the emotive capacities of the actors. There are a lot of close-up shots where they really need to show emotion on their faces and in their eyes.

Watch It: If you're one of the groups I've mentioned above.

Skip It: If you think you could fit two blockbusters into the same timeframe.

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The Wrestler

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: December 17, 2008

DVD Release Date: April 21, 2009

Plot 411: An over-the-hill wrestler forced into retirement faces it head on with a headbutt and dropkick, but he is the one that is beaten into submission when he realizes life outside the ring isn't what it's cracked up to be.

Review: Whoa, Mickey Rourke gives us a stellar performance as Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a wrestler whose prime has passed him by. Stuck at a job working for a boss that doesn't give him any respect and living a solitary life disconnected from his only daughter, Robinson retreats to the world of wrestling. Here he is a hero to the fans and other, much younger, wrestlers. Here he gains his sense of self-worth and struggles desperately to keep ahold of it. The movie left me with a heavy heart as Robinson's life seemed to fall all around him. Despite trying to leave the ring behind him, have fresh start with his estranged daughter and begin a romantic relationship with a stripper friend (played wonderfully by Marissa Tomei), he seems to get the timing all wrong. His slip ups or theirs makes it difficult to get off on the right foot. It's as if all the fates are against him. Everyone can relate to a time in their life when they've felt the exact same thing. The movie is gritty and raw. It's the real life that we all know exists but which never seems to be captured by Hollywood. This time they've done it up right.

Watch It: For a good portrayal of people just trying to survive in this world, find the meaning of their existence and make their dreams happen.

Skip It: If naked boobies offends you. There's a lot of that going on.

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Spartacus

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: October 7, 1960

DVD Release Date: March 31, 1998

Plot 411: A slave raises an army of slaves to fight against Rome for their freedom.

Review: This was one of those classics that I'd never seen before so that was the main reason I watched it. However, I ended up liking it a lot. The movie was restored from its original form so the color had that weird orange tint, but other than that it was fine. The plot, of course, is an epic and I can understand why it won so many awards. The struggle of one man with little education who influenced thousands is inspiring. This is one of the greatest stories that highlights the struggle of the poor (in this case, slaves). It's a real underdog-type movie. Needless to say, the acting is wonderful. Kirk Douglas plays the lead while his supporting crew includes Laurence Olivier, Tony Curtis and Jean Simmons. There are huge battle scenes with hundreds of extras and as you know, this is one of the main reasons I like watching these older films. No CGI extras needed. Each extra is decked out in his wardrobe and is an individual whether or not he is directly in front of the camera. The amount of technique and skill involved to shoot these types of scenes must be enormous, especially without the aid of modern computer technology. It makes this movie that much more incredible.

Watch It: For a look at classic film-making techniques telling an epic story on an epic stage.

Skip It: If your idea of a Roman battle is Troy (2004). If that's the case, just forget about it.

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Fast & Furious

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: April 3, 2009

DVD Release Date: July 28, 2009

Plot 411: Dom left the States when the law was closing in. Now he's back for revenge.

Review: The original cast is finally back together in this fourth movie about fast cars. Interestingly, I think this movie actually pushed the beautiful cars into the background and allowed the plot to take over. Perhaps the kiddies are growing up? Still, you can't escape the vroom vroom of modified vehicles when the movie is called Fast & Furious, so there's still plenty of burning rubber for Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. I think this movie just showed a little bit more heart than the others. As always, the soundtrack is not lacking any in the bass department. Neither is the movie lacking in scantily clad females. Well, it's good to know that some things never change.

Watch It: If you're a big fan of the first movie but hated the second and third films.

Skip It: If you liked Tyrese Gibson in number two or the drifting in number three. None of that going on here.

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Carandiru

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: March 21, 2003 (Brazil) / May 14, 2004 (USA)

DVD Release Date: September 21, 2004

Plot 411: The largest prison in Latin America and its inmates seen through the eyes of a doctor who screens for and treats the prisoners for HIV and gets to know them as people.

Review: Based on the real-life experiences of Dr. Drauzio Varella, who worked in Carandiru Penitentiary, this film gives the audience a different perspective of life in jail. It humanizes the inmates despite the violence that they have lived throughout their lives. The setting and jail life reminded me of Prison Break's Sona seen in season 3 - similarly decorated walls and cells, hierarchy of prisoners, abundant drugs, gang wars, etc. - only this time it is real. The doctor develops a relationship with the prisoners that is based on trust and many speak to him as a friend or seek him for advice. Through their conversations we learn the how's and why's of their imprisonment. They all have reasons for doing what they did to get them convicted - some are more noble than other. Many are waiting for a judge's decision and must pass the time in prison. Others are there with little hope of ever seeing the outside world. In both cases, life in prison must be lived and it has its own rules that must be followed. The film culminates in a riot and the Carandiru Massacre. Authorities entered the prison with guns blazing and killed over 100 inmates despite the fact that they were surrendering. In this scene we see that cruelty and violence can be perpetrated just as easily and equally by both the supposedly good and supposedly bad.

Watch It: If you need a dose of reality and want to be inspired to fight for social reform within the prisons or if you just need a Prison Break patch to help ease the pain of the series' cancellation.

Skip It: If you're the type who prefers The Matrix's red pill and do not want to deal with life in the pen in any country.

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Marty

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: April 11, 1955

DVD Release Date: June 19, 2001

Plot 411: A neighborhood butcher and eldest son in an Italian family is constantly pestered with the question, "When will you get married?"

Review: This movie, starring Ernest Borgnine, flips the script on the regular old maid's tale. This time the main character is not a woman but a man who is past his expiration date per society's rules. Borgnine plays Marty, the eldest son in an Italian family who lives with his mother. The rest of his siblings are happily married off, but he's found it difficult to attract women. This has caused him great heartache and low self-esteem throughout the years, and he has conceded to being a bachelor his entire life. Borgnine is very likable and believable in this character, and the audience is sucked in by his caring nature. Most of the characters are self-absorbed and one dimensional, content to remain on their current path. Marty, on the other hand, desires more out of life but lacks the confidence to take the leap. Many of us live our lives in the same manner. We have big dreams but fail to pursue them. Despite a simple plot, this film is worth seeing as it teaches us that you don't have to be a superhero to achieve your dreams. An ordinary person with confidence in him/herself can do just as well.

Watch It: For a little bit of "rah-rah, go team" for your ego.

Skip It: If big names and big effects are your thing.

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Marley & Me

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: December 25, 2008

DVD Release Date: March 31, 2009

Plot 411: A couple's life is turned upside down when they bring a rowdy little puppy home.

Review: Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson reunite in this movie as Jennifer and John Grogan, two newspaper reporters who bring a yellow lab puppy home as a pre-baby test. Marley soon squirms his way into many things, causing a ruckus and creating a mess. He also manages to thoroughly get into their minds and hearts. While he's a challenge to live with, he also enriches their lives. This movie is such a heart-warming film with a great message. It teaches you to embrace the unexpected and to be flexible in life, love and career choices. The devotion and unquestioning love Marley gives his family is a lesson from which everyone can learn. Also in this film are Eric Dane (playing John's man-whore buddy, what else?) and Alan Arkin (playing John's editor). Arkin really puts on a great performance.

Watch It: If you're an animal lover and expect many laughs and a few tears.

Skip It: If you're looking for a movie with more edge and grit. This is all puppies and chocolate chip cookies.

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Shall We Dansu? / Shall We Dance?

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: January 27, 1996 (Japan) / July 11, 1997 (USA)

DVD Release Date: February 1, 2005

Plot 411: A Japanese accountant takes dance lessons to meet a girl he sees from the train but discovers a whole new world.

Review: This movie was recommended back in January in a comment to my review of the 1937 Shall We Dance? I finally got a chance to watch this movie and thought it was great. The plot is completely different from the 1937 version though. There was a remake of this 1996 Japanese version in 2004 with Jennifer Lopez, Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon. The movie is about a guy who basically is a walking zombie. Despite achieving all that he desired, he still feels unfulfilled. On his way home every night, he sees a beautiful but extremely sad woman looking out of her dance studio window. He wants to meet her and finally gets the courage to go to the studio. He signs up for lessons so he can be near her (like many other students do), but when she calls him on it he decides to prove her wrong by continuing to dance. As he struggles to learn, he discovers that he is really passionate about it and it revitalizes him. Between the 1996 and the 2004 versions, I prefer the 1996 Japanese take on things. I think there's more of a personal struggle when the plot is set in the Japanese culture. It is more rigid and conforming in Japan than it is in America so it's a bigger deal for a man to break social and cultural tradition there.

Watch It: For a story about self-discovery and self-fulfillment.

Skip It: If you're looking for a lot of dancing. There's some but they aren't huge numbers like in the 1937 movie.

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All The Days Before Tomorrow

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: While the movie seems to have been released in 2007, I can't find a release date.

DVD Release Date: May 26, 2009

Plot 411: A look at the complex friendship between a girl and a guy, unrequited feelings and the ever present question of "What if?"

Review: This was a weird little indie flick about a friendship between two people, Wes (Joey Kern) and Alison (Alexandra Holden). It's about their everyday lives as they go on adventures and the little moments that add up to a lifetime shared between friends. Alison is like a butterfly who flits to and fro without a care in the world. Wes is taken by Alison's free spirit and they quickly become friends. While most of their friendship is spent just as friends, there is a deep undercurrent that things can be more. The friendship is revealed one memory at a time by Wes as he and Alison reminisce one night before she flits out of his life again. This creates a non-linear dream-like way of seeing the couple's relationship. What is a little puzzling are these dream sequences that Wes has. It's almost like watching two separate films. Richard Roundtree plays a god-like figure, an all-knowing being that is trying to help Wes see the truth at the heart of the matter. Despite the weird dreams, I enjoyed this movie because the main plot was simple and relatable to everyone. It's like a lesson to us all to take action before life slips away from us when we're not looking. Another thing I enjoyed was the score and how it was worked into the scenes. Some scenes are totally dialogue free with the music washing over several minutes of film and telling the story.

Watch It: If you want a little bit of romance with the quirkiness of an indie.

Skip It: If you want all your questions answered when the credits roll.

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Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: January 23, 2009

DVD Release Date: May 12, 2009

Plot 411: A prequel to the other Underworld movies that explains where the rivalry all began.

Review: Personally, I didn't like this film as much as the others. In this flick, we go back hundreds of years to see the beginning of the vampire/lycan feud. These events have been hinted at in the other films but are fully explained here. Because it's a prequel, Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman aren't in this one. However, Bill Nighy and Michael Sheen reprise their roles. Unlike the past two movies, there's a lot more focus on the lycans in this one. Unfortunately, the CGI is way worse than the other flicks. How can that be? I don't know. The lycans all look fake and there's a definite disconnect in certain scenes. You can obviously tell what's CGI and what's not. Also, I didn't feel drawn in by the love story that sparks the battle of ages. I'd think you'd want the audience to empathize with the chracters, but I found this very difficult to do. If you're looking for action though, there's plenty of it. There are some great kill shots as well, with CGI blood splattering all over.

Watch It: If you're hooked on the franchise and love the gothic castle look.

Skip It: If you're only a casual fan. This won't win you over.

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Brideshead Revisited

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: July 25, 2008

DVD Release Date: January 13, 2009

Plot 411: A tale of forbidden love and lost innocence and the power of faith, fate and destiny.

Review: This film was about the eye-opening experience a middle class boy has when he goes away to Oxford. It's about the people he meets and falls in love with, the power of religion and the separation of the classes. It's difficult to describe as a whole because it's so layered. At times the movie focuses on lost innocence and this film becomes a coming of age story in the early 1900s. At other times the theme is focused tightly on class differences and the lure that aristocracy has on those who aren't born into it. Still other points of the film questions the idea of faith and religion and how it can overwhelm you if you let it become your sole focus in life. Even more powerful is the psychological analysis of how a family is affected when its matriarch is single-minded in her pursuit to teach her children religion. The family dynamic is completely strained and the children resent and almost hate their mother. She is controlling and overpowering but does it all with good intentions. Both sides suffer yet don't see that they too cause suffering in the other. In addition to all this complexity there is, of course, the wonderful English countryside and a gigantic mansion of a home. There is beautiful artwork and the costumes are really superb. Starring in this film are Matthew Goode, Ben Whishaw, Hayley Atwell, Emma Thompson and Michael Gambon.

Watch It: For a highly complex drama about friendship, love and family.

Skip It: If you're already balking at the idea of another period piece set in Britain.

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Body Of Lies

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: October 10, 2008

DVD Release Date: February 17, 2009

Plot 411: A CIA agent uses all methods to uncover a terrorist cell and capture its leader.

Review: You've got to be a certain type of audience member to watch this type of film. It's one of those spy flicks with people double-crossing other people and you never know who is good and who is bad. For me it was tough to follow and keep my attention. That's not to say there's no action and suspense in this movie. It's just that I guess this is not my favorite genre so it only takes a little to distract me. The movie is very current as the conflict in the Middle East continues. What's scary about it is that you know this is the type of stuff going on as we, normal Americans, go about our regular day. That's really disturbing. Leonardo DiCaprio plays the CIA agent stationed in Iraq and later in Jordan and Russell Crowe plays his D.C. boss. The relationship between the two men is interesting as DiCaprio's character is firmly entrenched in the Middle East and interacts with and lives among the people. Crowe, who is planted in D.C., is so far removed from the chaos and the realities of war that he has no compassion for the innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.

Watch It: If you're a closeted (or not so closeted) warmonger, government conspiracy theorist or political science junkie.

Skip It: If complicated plots and subterfuge confuses you.

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Duel In The Sun

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: December 31, 1946

DVD Release Date: May 25, 2004

Plot 411: When an orphaned teen comes to live at the McCanles Ranch, she really shakes the place up and is torn between loving two brothers.

Review: When Pearl's (Jennifer Jones) parents are killed, she goes to live with her father's first love Laura Belle (Lillian Gish). The woman greets her with open arms, perhaps because she is the daughter of a past lover or because she is the daughter she never had. Pearl is met with extreme hostility from the Senator (Lionel Barrymore), Laura Belle's husband, because she's half white and half Native American. Almost instantly upon her arrival, Pearl is drawn to their sons - Jesse (Joseph Cotten) and Lewton (Gregory Peck). Already on shaky ground, the family becomes more unstable with her pressence and slowly falls apart. I enjoyed this movie because everything was so real. If you saw 300 cowboys ride down a hill, it was actually 300 men on horseback and not some CGI/green screen action. The wide, sweeping shots of the open fields and prairies also brought its own kind of beauty. One thing that completely annoyed me was the way Pearl is portrayed. She's seen as an uneducated and uncultured girl and is a wild animal that needs taming. This is why she draws Lewt's attention. She is a challenge and something to be conquered like a wild stallion. Living off emotions, she continually makes bad choices, even when the right choice is standing in front of her. Yet somehow we are to believe that these choices are made because there is a love so powerful that it overshadows all reason (ala Romeo and Juliet). Yeah, ok.

Watch It: For Romeo and Juliet in chaps, cowboy boots and hat.

Skip It: If you're firmly entrenched in women's lib. This will make you steaming mad.

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Quarantine

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: October 10, 2008

DVD Release Date: February 17, 2009

Plot 411: A reporter and cameraman shadowing firefighters responding to a call become victims with everyone else when the apartment building is locked from the outside and deadly force is used to keep them in.

Review: This is like a tribute to The Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield because it is shot with the same hand-held shakiness and documentary feel. Technically speaking, I think it's pretty awesome how the cast and crew are able to shoot long takes using one camera angle. As a viewer though, it's really disorienting and frustrating because you can't see what's happening. I guess you're supposed to feel as though you're stuck in the building with the characters. Personally, it's annoying when you can't see around a big fat head and the focus of the camera wavers in and out. Jennifer Carpenter, who I thought did pretty well in The Exorcism of Emily Rose, was also good in this one. Lots of screaming, running and shaky hands. Jay Hernandez and Johnathon Schaech play the firefighters. Basically the building's residents call 911 because an old lady in the building is screaming bloody murder. When the cops and firefighters enter the woman's apartment, the lady is foaming at the mouth and bites a cop in the neck. At some point, the entire building is locked up from the outside. Confusion ensues and people start dying.

Watch It: If you can stomach the wobbly camera without puking.

Skip It: If you don't like these faux documentaries and like your movies wrapped up in a nice package.

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