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Terminator Salvation – nf – This is a prequel of the other Terminator movies and stars Christian Bales and Sam Worthington. It is a big budget film with lots of special effects. Early in the film there is some scrolling explanation of the setting which is easy to miss. Basically the world has been taken over by very smart machines which appear to be winning the war against the bands of surviving humans who haven’t given up yet. There is some time travel and a plot for one of the characters to save his father as a young man. There are lots of pyrotechnics, explosions with robots and machines that won’t die. Even Arnold, our Governor makes a fleeting digitalized appearance. If you are drawn to this movie perhaps if you look at this four minute trailer, it will be enough for you.

We think there are some great films out there to see but this is not one of them. 2009

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Tell No One – rm – This is French movie in the best Alfred Hitchcock mystery tradition without any humorous touch. The movie takes it’s time in skillfully weaving the web around the murder in question. The lead actor is low key and outstanding. The movie draws you in and keeps you thinking during the movie and after it is over. (French with subtitles but you will not even realize you are reading them) 2006

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Sunshine Cleaning – rm – We had to miss this movie when it was screened in our film course and we are very glad that we caught up with it. It stars Amy Adams, Emily Blount and Alan Arkin who all turn in outstanding performances. It is a quirky, sweet, very well done movie. The premise is that a single mother figures out that her previous skills in the cleaning business can be put to good use in cleaning up crime scenes. It is about hope, perseverance and family dynamics. Definitely worth seeing. 2008

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Strength and Honor – sp – The movie is set in Ireland. A reluctant boxer goes back to fighting in a bare fisted tournament so he can win money for treatment for his sick child. Another Rockyesque movie. Actor Michael  Madsen does a very good job of playing the hero. Mike Mahon,the first time Director is already planning the sequels II and III which he says will be set in the United States in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. He obviously has talent and if he ratchets it up a notch you might want to look back and see how he started things.(2007)

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Slumdog Millionaire – sp – The movie is set in Mumbai, India and depicts the tremendous poverty among vast numbers of people. It focuses on the lives of two brothers and captures their own relationship while also demonstrating the impact on them and other children who grow up in these dire circumstances. It also contains a beautiful and ongoing love story around and through all the action in the film. The screenplay by Simon Beaufoy weaves an outstanding story. It is ironic that Mumbai has been in the news as the site of new terrorism. Danny Boyle was interviewed at our screening and deserves the accolades he is getting for making this film. (Addendum – Won Oscar for Best Picture) 2008

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Sliding Doors – nf – Did you ever consider what would have happened if you didn’t do one thing, which led to something else, which put your life on a particular path? That is the premise of this movie as it follows two different but parallel universes of the Gweneth Paltrow’s character. We see two paths that her life could follow if she had made a train or just missed it. It is a romantic tale with ups and downs, which is engaging but somewhat fluffy. It is set in England so the autos drive on the “wrong” side of the street, which fits in with the viewer’s task of orienting oneself with the two possible lives of the main character. 1998

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Shorts – rm – Did you ever imagine what it would be like if you had a magic object that would grant you any wish? That is the premise of this children’s movie and the morale of the story is to be careful what you wish for. You could even confront your own nose bugger as a giant monster. This movie follows a young kid who is pushed around a lot in school, especially by a girl his age. He and his friends find away to change things and in doing so have quite an adventure. We saw this movie with our two grandchildren who were the main reviewers of this film especially since we didn’t feel that it had any great appeal to grown ups. We all agreed that it held our interest for most of the time. Events were presented in a unique manner. There is was even an lesson to be learned as that is if we work together, we can accomplish much more than if we just do what we want as individuals. There was a little too much bullying than was needed for the story although there was no serious violence. The magical fantasies were cute but not very imaginative. Compared to some of the other children’s films that come around, this does not stand out very much but many kids will like it. 2009

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Revolutionary Road – sp – Leonardo DeCaprio and Kate Winslet reunite since Titanic but this time they play an almost middle aged couple who have moved to the suburbs and struggle with their identity and the meaning of life. The relationship is not pretty but the acting and directing is outstanding. Unfortunately despite a skillful script by Justin Haythe who was the guest at our film course, we did not care that much about the characters.(2008)

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Rachel Getting Married – rm – Anne Hathaway stars and could win awards for her portrayal of the sister of the bride who has just come out of drug rehab to attend her sister’s wedding. She has the nuances and character of what shrinks may call a Borderline Personality. The writer who is the daughter of famed Director Sidney Lumet has captured the complicated relationship between Hathaway’s character and her sister, the bride and framed it with interesting studies of their parents – the mother being played by Deborah Winger. Unfortunately, in our opinion, the movie is quite remarkable for the first 2/3 of it. After an overly long wedding scene with symbolism we didn’t quite get, the film seems to fade. It needed a film doctor to complete it. However we still think it is worthwhile –if for nothing else to see Ms. Hathaway’s outstanding performance. 2008

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Quinceañera – nf – This film sweetly tells the story of a young girl of Mexican descent just before her “coming out debut” on her 15th birthday. Issues of immigrant families, coming of age, family dynamics, difference and acceptance. 2006