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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

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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

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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

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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

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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