Arthur

April 12.

I can’t imagine a world where if I was a poor woman scraping money together to pay for a one bedroom apartment in Queens where I lived with my sick father and a billionaire offered me a million dollars as a sorry I lied to you I wouldn’t take it. I know we’re all supposed to pretend we are above money and that integrity is more important, but come on.

This wasn’t the only false part of the Russell Brand reboot of Arthur, but I have to admit, I didn’t hate it like I thought I was going to. It is too sad to really be a comedy and too silly to really be a drama but I found Brand and his nanny, played by Helen Mirren, to be a great team and enjoyed his antics and seeing some beautiful New York scenery.

I saw the original Dudley Moore version but I was a kid and don’t really remember it, actually maybe I only saw part two. Either way, I did think a few times that Brand was trying to imitate Moore, but then I found out that they are from the same area of England. So maybe they just sound the same when they are pretending to be drunk.

Rating: Like

Source Code

April 9.

Source Code is Groundhog Day meets Inception meets Avatar ... kind of.

Jake Gyllenhaal plays a disoriented soldier who gets to take over the body of a man who is on a train outside of Chicago that is about to blow up. He has eight minutes until the bomb explodes and everyone on board dies. Eight minutes. Over and over again until he can figure out where the bomb is and who planted it. He’s not supposed to be trying to save the people, only learn about the bomber to stop a future attack. This isn’t, as they say, time travel.

There’s a lot of to figure out in the movie – like where is Jake once he’s off the train and in his own body, who are the people who are instructing him in his mission, who’s the bomber, etc., etc.

Source Code is well made and acted and pulled me in from the start. There’s a question I have about Jake and then end, but I don’t want to ruin it for you. So let me know when you’ve seen it and we discuss the ending.

Rating: Like

Certified Copy

March 26.

I had really high expectations for Certified Copy. The French movie set in Tuscany starring Juliette Binoche got rave reviews everywhere I looked. So as the main characters - Binoche, an apparent single mother running an antique shop in small town Italy and William Shimell an art historian and author - have an uncomfortable meeting, full of strange bickering, I wasn't sure what I thought of it.

And then, when the pair started acted as a married couple, but not in a cute, fun way - in a strange sad way, I was actually less uncomfortable but still confused. This couple seemed to truly be married ... I think.

So in the end I wasn't sure what I thought. The conversation was interesting, the scenery and camera angles were gorgeous and interesting. But the story. What had happened? Were they married? Were they strangers? I don't know.

A few days later, I was talking to a coworker about the film and we had similar reactions. But as we talked about it, we both began to appreciate what we saw more and more. There are so many questions. About what happened, sure, but also about the way people speak to each other and why. And there's no denying that the storytelling was like nothing I've ever seen before. So, now I feel like I need to watch this movie again, and that it could be a movie I love, but for now ...

Rating: Like

Limitless

March 19.

Limitless is stylish and sexy with sweeping, gorgeous views of New York City and Bradley Cooper. Sure the story of a disheveled man with a serious case of writer's block who takes a miracle pill that lets him unlock his full potential has a few holes, but it's fun to watch anyway.

The actors, Cooper, Abbie Cornish, and Robert DeNiro were all really good, even if DeNiro wasn't used enough. There's never a slow or dull moment in Limitless, but this is not the Inception of 2011. The story tries to throw in some twists, but I wasn't shocked and could kind of guess what was coming up.

Still, sometimes fun is all a movie needs to be.

Although, Limitless did make me think a little. If given the power of no limitations would I, or would any of us, do more than Cooper's character Eddie did, which was pretty much impress people with his intelligence like a parlor trick, get girls, and make money? Is Limitless trying to point out the sad state of our society? Or maybe this is just a movie trying to tell an amusing story and not a lesson in morals.

While watching the movie it seemed that the writer, Alan Glynn, of the book, The Dark Fields, which the film was based, was trying to make a statement about illegal drugs. You take them to get you through, feel invincible, can't live with out them, then can't live with them. But I can't find anything to back that up. So I should probably stop trying to read so much into this and focus on what really matters: Bradley Cooper's hot.

Rating: Like

Cedar Rapids

March 5.

Ed Helms should never stop singing. I love all his nerdy songs. And in Cedar Rapids he belted out the perfect Christmas tune about insurance.

There were other really funny moments in this movie about a sheltered insurance salesman who goes to a conference in the big city - Cedar Rapids. He makes new friends including the bad boy of insurance, John C. Reilly, and a hooker played by Maybe from Arrested Development, which was weird.

Even though I did really like this movie, I laughed a lot, cared about the characters, and was interested the whole way through, I kind of expected more. It got such good reviews and won film fest awards. So I thought I was in for more than a solid comedy.

Rating: Like

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium

February 19.

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium isn't a great movie, but it made me laugh a few times. And I liked seeing familiar faces of the 60s and 70s traveling around Europe together on a bus.

The bus brought me back to the time I spent traveling around Europe  on the Plummet Coach. You haven't seen Europe until you've driven it on a bus. Although I never went as far as this group of Americans on a tour of nine countries in 18 days.

The group, led by a cute British tour guide (Ian McShane) starts in London and ends in Rome. All the annoying American stereotypes are there. Suzanne Pleshette (of Oh, God!) plays a single woman on one last jaunt before marrying a man she doesn't love, Norman Fell plays a married man whose wife accidentally gets on the wrong bus and is with a Japanese tour group for most of the trip, there's a bickering married couple, a single man who comes with empty suitcases an steals everything that isn't nailed down, and on and on.

The movie was filmed on location in 1968, and it's awesome to see Amsterdam, Brussels, London, Germany, Venice, and Rome, especially with all the late-60s garb. I visited almost every city the movie does 30 years later, and besides the mini skirts and bell bottoms everything looks exactly the same.

Rating: Like

Gnomeo & Juliet

February 13.

Awwwe. Gnomeo & Juliet is so cute. These angry little garden gnomes live in neighboring English gardens and come to life whenever their owners disappear.

Just like in the original Romeo & Juliet, the two families are feuding but we don't really know why. Gnomeo is a blue and Juliet is a red but when they first see each other they miss the color of the others hat and fall in love.

Things get complicated when they find out who the other is, but anyone who knows Shakespeare's story knows what's coming. Of course this is a cartoon about Gnomes so there isn't as much sex or death, but the general components of the classic tragedy are there.

The story isn't the only thing that's cute. The animation is also unique and creative. The gnomes are all a little scratched and dented, which make them look lifelike.

I should admit, I boycotted the 3D version for the old-fashioned 2D, so I can't comment there. But I don't know that any movie needs 3D, let alone Gnomeo & Juliet.

Rating: Like

Marie Antoinette

January 28.

As a lot of you know, I am obsessed with the British Royals and France. So when I came across this PBS documentary about the last queen of France, Marie Antoinette, I couldn’t resist.

The queen, who famously did or did not tell the starving people of France to eat cake, is such an interesting historical character I can’t believe there aren’t more movies about her. Of course there’s the Sofia Coppola film, and although that movie is pretty and deals with the lavish lifestyle the queen had it doesn’t get to the parts that I was excited to learn about in this documentary.

It explains the affair with the necklace, which was turned into a bad movie a few years ago and was the turning point for the French revolution. It appeared that the queen was sneaking around buying a ridiculously expensive necklace while her people were starving. Whether that’s true or not, no one really knows.

Another aspect of her life the movie looks at is the years after she was taken from Versailles until she was beheaded. I guess I always thought she was killed the same night, but that’s not the case.

This documentary makes me wish there were some great movies about the queen and the French Royals. I guess I’ll just have to find a good book.

Rating: Like

Blue Valentine

January 15.

Well, now I'm depressed.

There are a lot of movies that tell the story of the beginning of a relationship or the end of a relationship. Some even show both, War of the Roses was brutal. But the way Blue Valentine shows snapshots of this married couples start and finish, moving from happy moment to sad, it's wrenching.

Michelle Williams, who was nominated for an Oscar for this role, and Ryan Gosling do an excellent job of playing the young smitten couple as well as the broken married pair.

Usually I agree with one person more than the other, most stories are written that way, but in Blue Valentine it's hard to say who is right and who is wrong. It's just a real, raw marriage that's over.

Rating: Like

Made in Dagenham

January 15.

I love movies set in places – and times – I want to visit, so a film about England in the 1960’s is perfect for me. Made in Dagenham centers on Rita, a wife, mother, and seamstress at the Ford factory in Daggenham, just outside London. She, along with about 200 other women working for Ford, goes on strike to fight for equal pay for women.

Everyone who works at the factory also seems to live with their families in a sort of dorm right on the property. All the women’s husbands also work at the factory, making a lot more money. So with the help of a union rep, played by Bob Hoskins, Rita becomes the face and voice of the Ford women.

 As the strike drags on, and with no seat covers, the factory comes to a halt. No covers, no cars. Rita travels around England to other Ford factories and gets more seamstresses to strike making waves with Ford in the U.S., until she finally gets the attention of national politicians and sets world-wide changes in motion.

Made in Dagenham has great performances, an engaging story, and the music and costumes are fun.

Rating: Like

Date Night

April 29.

A day of shopping at Town Square seemed like a great idea when LeSportsac arrived from the East Coast, but when the temperature went to 50 and the wind picked up the day turned into a take cover operation. So, after polishing off a pitcher of Sake Sangria at Kabuki, we ducked into Rave for "Date Night" with Steve Carell and Tina Fey.

Although, I love both actors separately I wasn't sure about this movie. These kind of comedies always seem forced and watered down. "Date Night" was a lot better than I expected but still fell on the ridiculous side of reality.

But, as long as you don't take it too seriously, it is fun and there are plenty of scenes with Marky Mark without a shirt.

The Princess and The Frog

April 25.

I heard mixed reviews of "The Princess and The Frog" and wasn't expecting much. But, there's something about an animated Disney film – I feel like I'm obligated to see them all. So, Netflix sent the movie and I watched. Maybe it was because I didn't have much hope but I really liked the it.

The music was my favorite part of the film set in Jazz-age era New Orleans. But, the story and characters are all classic Disney. There is a bit of a "Shrek" feel when Tiana kisses the frog and instead of him turning into a prince she also turns into a frog. But, Tiana isn't a princess and it's a great way to show off the Louisiana swamps and focus on some black magic.

Sunshine Cleaning

April 9.

"Sunshine Cleaning" was billed as a comedy and a drama and although there are some funny scenes this is not is comedy. I think it's mostly about accepting the life you've been dealt and dealing with the decisions you make. There's a lot of disappointment and coming to terms with life. But there's also a lot about being there for the people in your life.

I love the flawed characters in this story about two sisters who start a bio hazard cleaning company.

Amy Adams is cute and perky even as she cleans up blood and body fluids. Emily blunt is perfect as her angsty sister and Alan Arkin never disappoints. He steals a number of scenes as he makes plans with his grandson. (Very little miss sunshine with his inappropriate grandfatherly advice.)

Although there are dark themes, not to mention all the crime scenes, in the end "Sunshine Cleaning" is uplifting.

Hot Tub Time Machine

April 4.

In an interview, John Cusack said while filming "Hot Tub Time Machine" anytime anyone suggested something really stupid they just went with it. I think it shows, but in a good way. This movie is completely dumb, but fun. As long as you don't take it too seriously, don't try to figure out how a hot tub mixed with Russian Red Bull could send you back in time, it's a solid comedy.

The cast, including Cusack, Clark Duke, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry, Crispin Glover, and Chevy Chase, were perfect. Cusack in the 80s on a ski mountain takes me right back to "Better Off Dead," a perfect 80s movie!

And, this is definitely a flask movie.

Buffalo '66

March 20.

"Buffalo 66" begins as Billy (played by the writer-director Vincent Gallo) is released from prison and needs to pee. I think that sets the tone for the whole movie. It's weird and great. There are so many scenes worth repeating and re-watching.
The quirky movie follows Billy as he kidnaps a woman (Christina Ricci) to pose as his wife for his parents. It makes no sense why she goes along with him and I expected to learn more about her, but why ruin a good thing.
I don't know which character I liked best. Billy is crazy. The photo booth scene proves that. Ricci has an awesome tap dance scene in a bowling alley. Billy's parents are obsessed with the Buffalo Bills. His mother is still mad at her son for making her go into labor and miss the 1966 Super Bowl. And his father is kinda creepy and has another great scene where he sings to Ricci.
It's too bad Gallo hasn't made more movies, but there are a few I will have to see.

The Ghost Writer

March 6.

I definitely felt weird about going to see "The Ghost Writer," which was edited in 2009 by the writer-director of the film, Roman Polanski, while he was in a Swiss prison waiting to hear if he would be brought back to the U.S. to stand trial for raping a 13 year old in 1977. Should I have boycotted, I still don't know. But, since I'm just sharing my thoughts on movies I have to say, I loved this political thriller about the ghost writer of the former British Prime Minister.

It's set in Martha's Vineyard during the winter (although it was shot in Germany). The cold, deserted beach town is a creepy backdrop for the story, which starts with the first ghost writer washing up on the small island's shore. Prime Minister Adam Lang, played by Pierce Brosnan, is in hiding trying to finish the book and Ewan McGregor is hired as the new ghost. There are a lot of twists and turns and, you'll see as you read my blog that I never see the end coming.

You've Got Mail

February 20.

"You've Got Mail" is one of those movies I always stop at when flipping channels. It represents a surreal New York that doesn't exist. It's all good weather and smart people living in beautiful, spacious apartments. Oh well, I still like it.

If you're an old movie fan check out the pre-email versions that I also liked. There is the 1940 version, "Shop Around the Corner," starring James Stewart, where two shop employees in Budapest who hate each other fall in love through anonymous letters. And the 1959 version, "In the Good Old Summertime," starring Judy Garland. The musical take on the story is set in turn-of-the-century America and follows the same formula: Man and woman hate each other but fall in love through letters.

The Blind Side

February 13.

With a Valentine's Day gift bag full of fruity Boba drinks in hand, my friend, who I call Boba, and I went to see "The Blind Side." She wanted to see the movie about a wealthy family who opens their home to a homeless teen because of the football and I wanted to see it because Sandra Bullock, who plays the mother of the family, Leigh Anne Tuohy, has been winning all kinds of awards and is nominated for an Oscar for the performance.

So, although this is a "football movie" because it follows the true story of the Baltimore Ravens' Michael Oher's life before becoming a pro player, there isn't much football in the movie – which was fine by me because I don't understand football anyway.

Boba and I agreed the movie was good but it was a little predictable (and not just because we knew Michael was going to become a professional football player and because his real-life adoptive family has been on numerous talk shows since the movie came out telling their story). It just laid it all on a bit thick. Still, the performances were good and I guess warm and fuzzy can be nice sometimes.

Crazy Heart

February 6.

Jeff Bridges will always be The Dude to me, but I have to admit he was great as Bad Blake, the faded country star. He's probably going to win an Oscar for the role, and he should. The character lived a hard, selfish life and now at 57 he's on the road playing small bars and bowling alleys (I was looking for Donnie and Walter while he was there) to a handful of people.

In addition to an amazing performance, he sang all his own songs, as did Colin Farrell who plays Bad's former touring partner Tommy Sweet. Tommy is hot (obviously), successful, and famous, which makes Bad look even more depressed.

Maggie Gyllenhaal (one of my favorite actresses), who played Bad's love interest, gave me hope for Bad's future. He seemed to want to change to be with her and was great with her son, Buddy.

I don't think there are any big twists, you can probably guess how the chain-smoking alcoholic turns out, but the performances are amazing. Robert Duvall, who plays Bad's father, only has a few scenes but they are full of wisdom.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

January 31.

I really don't think I would have seen this "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" if Heath Ledger hadn't died, it didn't really seem like my type of movie – weird, gypsies running around London and then morphing into some alter-universe. But, when he died while filming the movie and director Terry Gilliam hired three actors to play Tony in the imaginarium I had to see it. And I'm so glad I did!

I would have loved the movie even if Jude Law, Johnny Depp, and Colin Farrell didn't step into Ledger's role. The movie was visually interesting and the story of this family make-shift family was great. I was engrossed in the fantasy of Doctor Parnassus, played by Christopher Plummer and his daughter Valentina, Lily Cole.

It was disturbing to see Ledger hanging from a noose in his first scene and I did think about how the movie might have be different had Ledger lived ( was he cut out of scenes? there was one where you heard him but didn't see him) but mostly I was entertained and and lost in the imaginarium.