* * *
The Squid and the Whale – nf – A poignant story of a family breaking up by Noah Brambach. Well acted, somewhat engrossing and multilayered.

* * * *
The Wrecking Crew – sp – If you are an aficionado of music between the 50s and late 80s early 90s you will find this a fascinating documentary. It is the story of studio musicians who did most of the playing for the recordings of some of the great groups of this time period. The film is lovingly put together by Denny Tedesco and includes a particular focus on Tommy Tedesco who is his father and who recently died after having participated in interviews for this film with many other of these great musicians. You probably did not know that just about all the music of Beach Boys was not recorded by them but was played for the records by the musicians affectionately self named ” The Wrecking Crew ” The film also features Carol Bass who is obviously a great guitar player and is only really known by people in the music business as these musicians did not get any recognition on the albums they recorded. They were financially well paid during this time and have no regrets for their anonymity. There are film clips from many recording sessions including one with Frank Sinatra. Apparently potential distributors have been skeptical that the producer would be able to get the rights to include all the great music that is in this film but he did it as people recognized the historic value of this documentary. The soundtrack is unbelievable and is a concert in to itself and will make a great CD. 2008

* * *
The Wrestler –sp – Marisa Tomei plays a pole dancer with a heart of gold and Mickey Rourke plays a washed up wrestler with a broken heart. No doubt that the movie was very well directed and acted. Rourke, a former boxer, bulked up 40 pounds to realistically play this role and Tomei learned how to pole dance without her clothes. However the script was very predictable and the story failed to give us the depth of understanding of the characters that might have made this a great movie. 2008

* * * *
Transsiberian – sp – Shades of the Orient Express. If you like train movies and really good mysteries you will love this film. Woody Harrelson does an excellent job in one of the lead characters. The female leads(Emily Mortimer and Kate Mara) are even better and the story and the director deserves credit for a top notch movie. Ben Kingsley is outstanding as a Russian policeman. No dull moments here. It will hold your interest every minute. 2008

* *
Me and You and Everyone We Know – nf – This is a slice of life with characters who have problems communicating in the everyday modern world. It includes a divorced shoe salesman and father of two children( John Hawkes ) and a young performance artist( Miranda July) who is drawn to him. We thought this was a movie we wanted to see but we couldn’t relate very well to the characters. Although it was well performed particularly by the child actors we would suggest a pass on this one. 2005

* * * *
Young Victoria – sp – This film is about the romance and early reign of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. It is the story of a young women who once she realized that at age 18 she was about to become perhaps the most powerful women in the world in the 1830s, rises to the occasion and should be regarded as a wonderful feminist model. It is also the story of the behind scene intrigue and power struggles which was known to happen in the royal court. Emily Blunt, who is fast becoming a very popular young actress, is perfect in the leading role as is Rupert Friend as a young Prince Albert. They have great chemistry. The remaining cast is also outstanding. The screenplay written by Julian Fellowes was very well researched. We found out that Princess Sarah Ferguson actually suggested the story idea. Martin Scorsese enthusiastically signed on as a co-producer and Queen Elizabeth has already screened the film and thinks it is outstanding. The film won’t be released in the U.S. until November 2009 but keep it in mind. You will enjoy it much more than you might think. 2009

* * *
Visual Acoustics – sp – This is a documentary about the life and work of Julius Shulman who is a well known photographer of great architecture particularly in the Los Angeles area. He is a remarkable man now in his 90s who actually was present and answered questions at the screening we attended. The film includes discussions with many of the great architects who are still alive and were filmed visiting and discussing some of their great accomplishments with Mr. Shulman. There are some breathtaking scenes of homes in the hills of Los Angeles. Do not miss this film if you are interested in Southern California architecture. 2008

* * * *
Vicky Cristina Barcelona – rm – This is a recent Woody Allen movie. He is not on screen and doesn’t even narrate it but you can hear his voice in it throughout. Those of us who have appreciated his films throughout the years will enjoy seeing where his sexual fantasies have taken him. It isn’t much further than his earlier films except his characters are closer to acting them out but some of them still struggle with their guilt ridden neurosis. The setting is Barcelona which is great bonus. If you enjoy Woody’s films you won’t be disappointed. 2008

* * * *
Whatever Works – rm – People who like Woody Allen usually like Larry David. Allen chooses David to speak his words and act out his state of mind which basically is “what really matters, we are all going to die “. Thus we see a divorced, could have been a Nobel Prize winning physics professor, after a botched suicide attempt decides to live on his own in Manhattan. Along comes a pretty young girl from Mississippi who ends up living with the good professor. Allen’s current views on love, sex, relationships, death and everything else are seemingly demonstrated through the characters who inhabit this film. Everyone seems to be in an incongruous situation which makes for good comedy at the same time as we get insight into the struggle of the characters and of Woody Allen sitting at his typewriter or ultimately directing his actors. As expected the directing, production and acting by Larry David, Ed Begley Jr. Patricia Clarkson, and Evan Rachel Wood are on target and move this film into the higher level of a must see rating ( unless of course you don’t like Woody Allen ) 2009

* * * *
The Bank Job – nf – Apparently based on a 1972 true story of a real bank robbery in London. A group of small time crooks led by a character played by Jason Statham gets the opportunity to pull off a big time bank robbery of safe deposit boxes. They had no idea that they would become involved in scandal and corruption at all levels from the police to royalty. The movie gets off to a slow start but you will be drawn into it and as the pace picks up, it becomes quite suspenseful and intriguing. These thieves are an interesting and believable group of characters as are all the people trying to catch them. It is well done and worth seeing. 2008