Volver
Starring Penelope Cruz & Carmen Maura
This very funny, very touching film by Pedro Almodovar touches base with the traditional Hispanic "magical" movie, but evolves into a superb tale of mothers and the secrets they have. Penelope Cruz, in her Oscar-nominated role, is wonderful as the seductive, broken Raimunda and Carmen Maura brings a brilliant touch of subtle, dark comedy.
Grade: B+
Running With Scissors
Starring Annette Benning, Joseph Cross, & Evan Rachel Wood
With a great cast including Benning, Wood, Alec Baldwin, and Gweneth Paltrow, this movie should have been a nicely done, comical, coming-of-age story. Instead it becomes redundant and revolves in endless circles around Benning's character, Deirdre, and her tail of a son, Augusten. Read the book - it's way better.
Grade: C+
The Last King of Scotland
Starring Forrest Whitaker & James McAvoy
Whitaker deservedly takes home the Oscar (and practically every other award last season) for his picture-perfect interpretation of the blood-monger Idi Amin Dada. Through the eyes of Nicholas Garrigan (McAvoy), we see Amin for the charismatic entertainer he seems to be and the dangerous murderer he really is.
Grade: A-
Little Children
Starring Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson & Jennifer Connelly
Winslet gains another Academy nod for her role as Sarah, the not-so-hot but extremely vulnerable mom who falls for her "Prom King" poolside friend, Brad. Based on the novel by Tom Perrotta, the film fails to dig into the characters' minds, but with beautiful cinematography and a extremely good acting - especially Winslet and Jackie Earle Haley as the neighborhood pedophile - "Little Children" deems worthy of watching.
Grade: B+
Sherrybaby
Starring Maggie Gyllenhaal
In this glued-to-your-seat, character driven film about Sherry Swanson (Gyllenhaal), you are exposed to the life of a former drug addict, a trying mother, and a woman who gets what she wants by lifting up her shirt. It is truly a one man (well, woman) show, which makes it kind of two dimensional, but well worth the canvas.
Grade: B+
Ocean's Twelve
Starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones, & a whole lot of other people
It was bad, real bad. But it was funny. It was ridiculous. But it was well-delivered. It had flaws. But it was entertaining. However, with the Julia Roberts spoof and a plot that is ambagious and stupid, "Ocean's Twelve" falls very short of it's previous number.
Grade: D+
Freedom Writers
Starring Hilary Swank, Imelda Staunton & April L. Hernandez
In this inspiring, true life movie about English teacher, Erin Gruell, who puts her career on the line for her urban, gang-induced 9th graders, we see 1. what it means to love your job 2. why teachers are one of the most important people in our society and 3. that we teachers should be paid a damn lot more mulah.
Grade: B+
Notes on a Scandal
Starring Judi Dench & Cate Blanchett
Both Dench and Blanchett are nominated for the Oscar in this Lifetime-esque opera about two teachers who befriend each other, learn each others secrets, and fall into the pits of their flaws. Dench is chillingly wicked as Barbara Covett and Blanchett is superb as the naive vixen Sheba Hart.
Grade: B+
The Pink Panther
Starring Steve Martin, Beyonce Knowles & Kevin Kline
Martin is very funny as the slapstick, extremely French detective, while Knowles proves once again to be a horrible actress and Kline is just kind of there. The movie is terrible, but the humor is great, particularly the "hamburger" scene.
Grade: C-
Starring Penelope Cruz & Carmen Maura
This very funny, very touching film by Pedro Almodovar touches base with the traditional Hispanic "magical" movie, but evolves into a superb tale of mothers and the secrets they have. Penelope Cruz, in her Oscar-nominated role, is wonderful as the seductive, broken Raimunda and Carmen Maura brings a brilliant touch of subtle, dark comedy.
Grade: B+
Running With Scissors
Starring Annette Benning, Joseph Cross, & Evan Rachel Wood
With a great cast including Benning, Wood, Alec Baldwin, and Gweneth Paltrow, this movie should have been a nicely done, comical, coming-of-age story. Instead it becomes redundant and revolves in endless circles around Benning's character, Deirdre, and her tail of a son, Augusten. Read the book - it's way better.
Grade: C+
The Last King of Scotland
Starring Forrest Whitaker & James McAvoy
Whitaker deservedly takes home the Oscar (and practically every other award last season) for his picture-perfect interpretation of the blood-monger Idi Amin Dada. Through the eyes of Nicholas Garrigan (McAvoy), we see Amin for the charismatic entertainer he seems to be and the dangerous murderer he really is.
Grade: A-
Little ChildrenStarring Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson & Jennifer Connelly
Winslet gains another Academy nod for her role as Sarah, the not-so-hot but extremely vulnerable mom who falls for her "Prom King" poolside friend, Brad. Based on the novel by Tom Perrotta, the film fails to dig into the characters' minds, but with beautiful cinematography and a extremely good acting - especially Winslet and Jackie Earle Haley as the neighborhood pedophile - "Little Children" deems worthy of watching.
Grade: B+
Sherrybaby
Starring Maggie Gyllenhaal
In this glued-to-your-seat, character driven film about Sherry Swanson (Gyllenhaal), you are exposed to the life of a former drug addict, a trying mother, and a woman who gets what she wants by lifting up her shirt. It is truly a one man (well, woman) show, which makes it kind of two dimensional, but well worth the canvas.
Grade: B+
Ocean's Twelve
Starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones, & a whole lot of other people
It was bad, real bad. But it was funny. It was ridiculous. But it was well-delivered. It had flaws. But it was entertaining. However, with the Julia Roberts spoof and a plot that is ambagious and stupid, "Ocean's Twelve" falls very short of it's previous number.
Grade: D+
Freedom Writers
Starring Hilary Swank, Imelda Staunton & April L. Hernandez
In this inspiring, true life movie about English teacher, Erin Gruell, who puts her career on the line for her urban, gang-induced 9th graders, we see 1. what it means to love your job 2. why teachers are one of the most important people in our society and 3. that we teachers should be paid a damn lot more mulah.
Grade: B+
Notes on a ScandalStarring Judi Dench & Cate Blanchett
Both Dench and Blanchett are nominated for the Oscar in this Lifetime-esque opera about two teachers who befriend each other, learn each others secrets, and fall into the pits of their flaws. Dench is chillingly wicked as Barbara Covett and Blanchett is superb as the naive vixen Sheba Hart.
Grade: B+
The Pink Panther
Starring Steve Martin, Beyonce Knowles & Kevin Kline
Martin is very funny as the slapstick, extremely French detective, while Knowles proves once again to be a horrible actress and Kline is just kind of there. The movie is terrible, but the humor is great, particularly the "hamburger" scene.
Grade: C-
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