The Killer Inside Me

If you like "cinema noir," you'll love this creepy masterpiece! In fact, the word "noir" might take on a whole new meaning!

I won't be a spoiler, but I will give the reader a few hints about the nature of this very offbeat, twisted, bizarre thriller.

Casey Afflueck plays the cop, a seemingly sweet, well-spoken, polite young man with more than a few mental issues to handle! Jessica Alba is the small-town prostitute, who falls heads over heels in love with the troubled cop. Kate Hudson is the cop's girlfriend, who wants to marry her sweetheart and live happily ever after.

The stars are each perfect in their roles. My favorite? Jessica Alba...not just because she's so pretty, but because she adds nice shades to her character.

There's just one small hitch.... A deeply psychotic murderer is on the loose, and the body count keeps rising, and somehow the killer keeps getting away with it!

Now add to this delightful menu a very real, southern flavor, and place the film back in the early 50's, and you've got the makings of a unique drama.

When you least expect it, violence abounds, and so do plot twists. This flick is a must for those who enjoy dark thrillers with unexpected turns. If you enter this scary labyrinth, you'll want to watch Mary Poppins afterward just to avoid nightmares!

Brooklyn's Finest

Not since Serpico has a film hit police work so squarely on the nose. Get ready for grit, tough streets, undercover cops, mean gangsters, dirty cops, and more!

In Brooklyn's Finest, we get the finest actors: Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes, Richard Gere, and Don Cheadle. Each of the actors plays a character who is perfectly drawn...full of deep emotion, many dimensions, and heart-rending conflicts.

Without being a spoiler, this reviewer can safely say that this flick focuses on three different aspects of police work: poor pay and the resultant temptation to take illegal money, infiltration of gangs that becomes so troubling officers lose their way, and a lifetime of grief that creates depression and despair.

Who's my favorite? Ethan Hawke, hands down. Ethan has done some incredible film work over the years, and this time he should be recognized with an Oscar nomination. The actor takes us into the mind of a desperate man, who, shield in hand, cannot seem to reconcile his family dreams with his ethics.

A grade of A for astonishingly good... Worth seeing.

The Expendables

Can you say "testosterone?" Son and I enjoyed a lovely, sentimental family romp last weekend, titled, The Expendables. I'll see just about any movie to spend time with son, but I actually wanted to see this flick. And therein lies the value of such a film; ya gotta simply be in the mood for what you know it will be. Sylvester Stallone wrote, produced, directed and stars in this meglomanic display (Rocky deja vu). The movie is enjoying the typical bad reviews and blockbuster attendance. I honestly enjoyed it! (So did son, who is most particular)

ALERT: SLIGHT SPOILERS HERE

Here I will enumerate reasons for this guilty pleasure:

1. The cast. Where else can you see Sly, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Jason Statham (long a fan since Snatch), Steve Austin, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, AND Governor Arnold S. in one movie?!

2. Sly wisely does all this with tongue lightly in cheek, not taking himself too seriously anymore. I swore I almost caught him winking at us from time to time, especially when in one scene these five guys take out about 300. Brother. Stallone is not pretty boy and does not end up with the girl 40 years his junior. But for a guy in his 60s, he's damn somethin'.

3. He gives the audience what the guys came for: plenty of Hollywood violence, some stunts of which were truly new to this viewer and the whole audience was given to collectively gasp. Wow. There were actually moments when I almost shouted, "Get him!! Kill him!!"

4. Stallone's script and directing actually manage to send the message: mercenaries are people too! When Statham's character says to his girlfriend, "See, that's what I do for a living. But I'm still worth it," it's said with humility. Rourke's got a scene of downright pathos as the aging mercenary confronts his soul-selling profession. Beautifully lit and paced.

5. There is plenty of humor in this. Scenes are heavy-handed to please the no-necks in the audience, yet the overall tone was light, acknowledging the audience's intelligence that yea - I know you know this is a movie. Let's just have a little fun.

6. Arnie's walk-on is hilarious.

Biggest criticism: Last action scene is ridiculously too long and redundant.

So there you have it. Hormonally, every female has a slight level of testosterone in her. Guess this movie appealed to mine. Either that, or it was the estrogen that it appealed to. -wink-

Once Upon a Time in Rio

The "favelas", or ghettos of Rio de Janeiro, are among the most miserable and dangerous in the world. Once Upon a Time... takes us inside the world of poverty, where gangs rule the streets and drug kingpins are lords.

But the film does more than portray human misery. It follows the life of a young man who sells hot dogs on the beach. Through an extensive flashback, we learn just how tough life is for kids who grow up in the slums...and how, no matter what, they will eventually get caught up in the vortex of violence.

The hero, who witnesses one brother getting shot and another going to jail, falls for a rich girl who lives near his hot dog stand in a high rise apartment that looks out over the ocean. The story, at once Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story, is engaging. We root for the lovestruck teens as they teeter on the edge of tragedy and do a cross-cultural dance.

The outcome? No spoiler, of course! But suffice it to say that it is darn tough for anyone, black or white, rich or poor, to stay clear of the battles in the streets.

Want to get inside another cuture? Watch this engaging flick! It's the safest way to visit Rio...no one in his right mind goes there in person.

Northern Lights (LMN)

Is it manly to admit to watching (and enjoying) Lifetime Movie Network films? This reviewer bravely admits to being an LMN supporter...at the risk of sacrificing his male ego and image!

A word on LMN....Yes, the channel is mostly for women, and the "chick flicks" are sometimes very mediocre! Here's the catch: The channel offers outstanding mysteries, probably the best on TV! I avoid the usual LMN fare: abused wives, beaten kids, carousing husbands, terrible families, divorcees seeking their prince charming, and more. But when it's a question of a good ol' fashioned mystery with some romance thrown in, I'm a fan!

Northern Lights is a nearly-perfect LMN mystery thriller. Based on Nora Robert's novel, the story takes place in Lunacy, Alaska. No, the town is not full of lunatics! But the setting is pure snow, woods, and country. The small-town flavor is very, very well done.

Now take a handsome hunk in the form of Eddie Cibrian, his real-life girlfriend, country-singer Leann Rimes...make him a cop, and make her the daughter of a guy found murdered, and you've got the makings of a fine tale! As the plot unfolds, we meet a variety of unique characters--a banker, a teacher, a mayor--any of whom might be the killers.

This movie is for everyone who seeks a well-woven mystery with fine character development.

A for Excellent! Catch it when it loops on LMN!

Public Enemies

Johnny Depp has done some wonderful films. In my mind, his best ever was Edward Scissorshands. He acts well in Public Enemies. But the film script does not do him justice.

John Dillinger was the gangster who was like a cat with nine lives. He somehow evaded the local police and later the FBI by almost sheer luck. As Public Enemy #1, he captured the imagination of a generation in need of heroes...even lawless heroes.

Given such historical fodder, we might expect a really fascinating, in-depth look at the guy who was probably as well known as FDR himself. Sorry, gangster fans, not to be had here. The portrait of Dillinger remains in the realm of the superficial.

Who was Dillinger? What made him a gangster? What drove him to rob banks a la Jesse James and leave money for the downtrodden?

A contrarian would argue that the focus was on JD as an adult. But what about flashbacks? Or even better, a little disclosure to his lady (well played by Marion Cotillard)? And let's learn a bit more about Melvin Purvis too...after all, with Christian Bale playing the famous FBI man, more depth was possible.

Grade of B- for a somewhat entertaining flick, with some good gunfire scenes and unidimensional characterizations.

Mad Men 8/22/10

How wonderful that MM is back to its former creativity! This episode was fantastic. I'll strive to elaborate why.

The 60's were a time of change....how great it is that we are getting glimpses of the New World. In the 50's, it was "spare the rod, spoil the child." In the 60's, Don gets mad when his kid is slapped. In the 50's, you could go blind from masturbation. In the 60's, it's really no big deal! In the 50's, Japan turned out crap. In the 60's, it's just entering the U.S. car markets.

And so much more....

Of course, our favorite folks are doing some changing for the better as well:

Don...He's coming out of his depressed shell...thank goodness! Back to flirting with a pretty secretary, which is much more in character. He's sympathetic standing up to his wife on behalf of his daughter. He's downright clever playing the "honor" card to get the Japanese account.

Betty...quite bitchy, which is just right for her. Her prudish style contrasts nicely with the changing mores. She has a bit too much anger toward Don, which is rather nasty for further plot developments...I'm worried about the future of her character.

Betty's kid...ah, the little girl who discovers SELF! (hahaha) This kid-actor has grown up over the years and might just be a real player on the set in future years. I like how the writers are focusing on the next generation.

Roger....right on, you WWII vet! When I was growing up in the 50's and 60's, I recall many adults who hated the Japanese, much more than the Germans. They would not buy a thing from the Orient. So Roger is a good portrait of a man struggling with change.

Joanie: When the Japanese visitors asked why she does not fall over, we broke out laughing. Very spot-on humor, since there is still little awareness of women's issues back then. Great how she's now organizing the meetings and running them. And really nice how she stands up to Roger re her husband. Wish the writers would do even more with her.

All in all, a very moving, thought-provoking show. A+....let's hope they keep it up.

Zombieland

Not every "zombie" movie is alike. Sometimes the zombies are evil little madmen, as they were in Children of the Corn. Sometimes the zombies are ghoulish, wandering things that seem to meander in the direction of the sane. And sometimes, zombies are vampires, bloodthirsty creatures who have a hearty appetite for human flesh! In Zombieland, the evil folks drip blood and gore from open mouths!

The creativity of your average zombie film lies not, however, in the character of the undead, but rather in the character of the heroes fighting them. In Zombieland, we've got four very likable, and somewhat offbeat, battlers for truth, justice, and the American way.

Woody Harrelson plays the lead, as a gun-totin', zombie-killin', fearless warrior whose only real weakness lies in his love for...Twinkies! Just recall Woody playing the stone-cold killer in Natural Born Killers, and you can imagine how well he plays the shooter.

His protege, a young nerd, has evolved a neat little set of rules to help him stay alive. Jesse Eisenberg does the geek role well, and his humor, wry at best, keeps the spirit of the film light.

Jesse's love interest, Wichita, played by Emma Stone, is a pretty teen whose sweet smile hides a wily, deceptive manipulator. Emma was impressive in House Bunny, but she shines in her role as the self-centered survivor.

The fourth of the heroes is young Abigail Breslin, whom we've seen grow up in films. Now around eleven, she is very believable as little sis who is learning the ropes from her very able sib. She can only shake her head at the romance between big sis and the young man.

Now add some incredible one-liners, and you've got the makings of solid zombie fare! For example, we get a look into the young man's past, particularly his first girl friend. When she turns out to be a ghoul with salivating chops, the young man says, "The first girl I let into my life and she tries to eat me!"

Grade of B. Good scenes, some good lines. Light on character development. Solid fun, for those who can enjoy a film with little redeeming value!

Spread

Guess I'm hitting the lesser known gems. This film, financed by Ashton Kutcher, is a real standout. Made in 2009, it is one of the best portraits ever of a male hustler.

The theme of gigolos is not new to Hollywood. Back in '69, Jon Voight made his name playing the hustlin' cowboy from Texas, with the big grin and stupid good-heartedness. The portrait was muddied by a lot of vague sexual/bisexual inuendo, and lots of focus on Dustin Hoffman as the ailing Ratso. Another attempt was the comedic Deuce Bigolow, Male Gigolo, a major misfire that made the whole gigolo thing rather stupid.

Then came Ashton. Since he's married in real life to a woman twice his age, did he need to play this role to somehow resolve his situation in real life? Who knows? Suffice it say that Demi's man does a fantastic job of depicting the guy whose good looks and charm allow him to live off rich, older women.

Anne Heche is perfect as the somewhat sleazy, somewhat loving victim, who discovers to her dismay that her young man is a bit of a wanderer! Watch out for some very hot, pushing-the-R-rated scenes!

Then there is Ashton's true love interest, a fellow hustler in young female form, played by the attractive and little known Margarita Levieva. She proves to be quite a match for the young man who thinks he knows it all about women! She is prettier than most Hollywood starlets, as evidenced by the picture above.

Why is this film so stunning? Because not since Paul Newman portrayed the pool shark in the Hustler has the theme of the charming con artist been so well done. Ashton, Anne, and Margarita perform film magic in a triangular plot that is hard to forget.

A+ Not a very nice film, but quite a cinematic wonder. Not to be missed.

Don McKay

Thomas Haden Church dazzled as an oddball in Sideways. For pure wry, dry humor, Church is the man. He is thus ideally cast as the quiet, spooky, amoral janitor who visits his old love interest.

Elizabeth Shue is best known for her great work in Leaving Las Vegas. She is always outstanding when cast in offbeat roles, where her sly, pretty grin works wonders on less-than-savory men.

So the cast is perfect for a film that is remarkably close in flavor to a blend of Hitchcock and Coen Brothers...scary and bizarre combined! Throughout most of the film, the magic potion works.

It is doubtful that many viewers have seen this little gem, so this reviewer will not be a spoiler. But suffice it to say that from the moment the plot begins, we are gripped in a who-dunnit, gee what-next frame of mind that does not quit. With twists and turns, and bodies here and there, the story is reminiscent of No Country for Old Men.

The only real weakness in the film is the resolution, which occurs in the last ten minutes. Until that point, this voyage into weirdness gets A+!

So sit back and enjoy a real sleeper. You won't be disappointed... perhaps until the very last scenes.

The Losers

Based on a comic book, this stylized violence-with-no-redeeming-value macho flick is actually entertaining. My esteemed colleague once noted that she can enjoy wanton destruction in a film now and then, if it's done right. For some strange reason, this film makes all the violence work.

Start with a group of burly soldiers playing cards as they await a mission. Then listen as their leader calls them "losers"...only to learn that these guys are not losers at all. They are heroes who refuse orders to destroy a village when they deem children present.

The professional hires are betrayed, as they usually are in flicks of this type. But the bad guy is a true mad man...and not since Gary Oldman played BAD-MAD in The Professional have we seen evil so wonderfully depicted. That would be due to Jason Patric's super acting and unique lines.

Now add to this unlikely plot a femme fatale who's one mean bitch, sexy too of course, and you've got the making of a nice pot boiler. Zoe Saldana plays the wicked lady perfectly.

Guns blaze and the good guys survive in this shoot-em-upper. Expect to see lots of deadly face-offs, super weapons, and more than a hundred villains slain! You'll think STUPID! as you watch the first fifteen minutes, but strangely you'll keep on watching!

Lots of mindless fun.

Mad Men 8-15

Now, THAT'S what I'm talkin' about!

I loved this episode. So much going on here and not all about drippy Don (never thought I'd call him that).

The focus group of women I found both poignant and hilarious. While we had that brief historical Age of Aquarius with women shunning bras, make-up and shaving, our culture is really right back to what is probably primordial to females: the search for a mate and self-esteem through beauty. Like it or not.

The Pete Campbell chicken shit to chicken salad was brilliant. Loved how, with enough time, he thought like a winner, not a whiner. I am beginning to actually like the twerp.

Scene with Allison the secretary showed Don as many men would be. Truly clueless, yet capable of enlightenment. I loathe bosses who say, "Write your own recommendation and I'll sign it." I've gone through that, as have my kids, and it (to repeat a phrase) is a chicken-shit cop-out. And yet, the scene with him trying to write an apology gave viewers a peek into his humanity.

I continue to enjoy the show's sprinkling of our history and culture undergoing change. New rules for tobacco advertising, Underground artists breaking boundaries. Slightly more open lesbianism. There were also hints about NYC during this era. "Afraid of the subway?" "...how dirty the city is." Mayor Giuliani has been rightfully credited with cleaning up NYC, both literally and behaviorally in recent years (9-11 was also an influence). But these mid-60s were a time when the city was beginning to feel the woes of its size.

New/old secretary is hilarious and much needed comic relief. Frankly, I hope she stays.

The (almost) final scene of eye contact between Peggy and Pete almost brought me to tears. Their painful secret of having had their own love child together, and subtle tenderness in their expressions toward each other moved me. I felt Peggy's pain in seeing the contrast of her life to Trudy's.

Lastly, the ending scene of the old couple in the hall intrigued me. That is a true gesture of film as art. Not sure how I should interpret it, however. What do YOU think, reader?

Date Night

Tina Fey is a comic genius. She has the magic of Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett. Remember when she parodied Sarah Palin and won every liberal American's heart? She is in top form in Date Night.

With Steve Carrell, who pales by comparison to her enormous talent, Tina leads the way in a delightful romp that brings constant laughs. The pair are a riot. What should have been a romantic night out becomes a series of disasters. It's all there: a bit of slapstick, unlikely situations, and witty dialog.

Behind the comedy is a rather haunting theme: Is the couple still in love or simply bored with modern life? As Tina notes in her role as busy mother/wage earner, it's tough to light up like a lamppost at night after a hard day as "modern" woman.

Mark Wahlberg adds some comic moments as the hunk who never wears a shirt. And other sundry characters keep the mood light and frothy.

The only real weakness in the flick is a very slow start. The first fifteen minutes aside, once the couple begins their "date," the real fun begins. This reviewer would have preferred another male lead to replace Steve Carrell, who is just not quite there. Jim Carrey might have been perfect.

I'm not big on comedy, and one person's laugh is sometimes another person's woe. But this comedy works. So it's a grade of A for a very, very funny film experience.

Make a DATE with your significant other to see a light-hearted, spirited tale.

Eat Pray Love

Three verbs. Eleven letters. These are what sustain us. (I might have also added Work.) Elizabeth Gilbert's poetically written international hit memoir takes film form through Julia Roberts. First, book: I have a nasty tendency, like my daughter, to avoid over-hyped, over- promoted, over-endorsed books. but this I finally read. Let's just say, it is one of the few books from which I have bothered to capture several quotes on my laptop so I wouldn't forget them. It speaks to me on so many levels - too many to detail here. Esssentially, it chronicles the transformative journey of being human - learning, changing, evolving. So that takes us to the movie.

This is a lot of story to tell, three, really, from New York to Italy to India to Bali. I felt everything in the movie was faithful to the book, but of course, so much has to be left out. A major omission: a pivotal, climactic moment in book comes after E. has spent interminable hours on a roof in the night in deep soul meditation. It leads to her breakthrough. I felt movie needed that.

I've never been a Julia Roberts fan, but I think this is her best work. No glam, lots of camera close-ups that catch subtle, yet deep emotion. Carrying the weight of being in every single frame, (my favorite scenes were the ones in which she said almost nothing), she truly begins to resemble the real E. Gilbert. Nice job, Julia.

Overall, really nice casting. However, Javier Bardem is too young and irresistible. His character in the book is markedly older than Elizabeth and they have many differences, which leads to real love over lust or ego.

My biggest approval of this film lies with the men in it. This is NOT just a woman's journey. Starting as early and minor as the translator in Italy, he bravely admits to fear in losing his new love. Richard Jenkins breaks my heart as the tough Texan who reveals the pathos-filled pain underneath his crusty exterior. And Bardem's character reveals his emotional divorce baggage as well as his poignant devotion to his children (you, David) and longing when they leave again. These men are what gave the film balance. I loved them!

The film's conclusion was sappy and Hollywood-esque. It diminished the deeply philosophical, spiritual theme of Gilbert's experience. But, oh well.

I thoroughly enjoyed the sensual and sensory banquet this movie provided. When it ended, my sister remarked, "I feel like I just had a delicious, satisfying meal." Me, too, but only because I knew the book.

I offer you, here, just one of my favorite quotes from Gilbert's book: "We don’t realize that somewhere within us all, there does exist a supreme Self who is eternally at peace. That supreme Self is our true identity, universal and divine."

The Sixties

I recently had the pleasure of viewing again a masterpiece made back in 1999 called The Sixties. It is a four hour movie that strives to give the flavor and basic strife of a whole decade. In my view, it succeeds.

We meet a family and follow the kids and parents through the years, from the naive days of The Twist to the drug-laden culture of the late 60's. Dad is an ex-marine. Mom is a dutiful, husband-serving wife. One son wants to please dad and goes off to war. Another son joins the anti-war protests, and the daughter, pregnant, hits the streets of San Francisco.

We revisit the music, mores, and history as we move through the decade. What a fantastic picture of a generation in transformation! We feel for each character: Dad, the strict, conservative patriarch, alienates his kids as he tries to stay attached to the old ways. Mom grows and develops a feminist spirit that allows her to express her real self. The warrior son returns from Nam, emotionally scarred and battered. Protester son returns to the fold, after years of chasing liberal causes. Daughter comes home after begging in the streets. Great film stuff!

Then there's a very touching love story too, where the protester son pursues a sensitive, caring girl who's out there on the fringes with the bombers. Jordana Brewster, who plays the girl, is touching and believable.

So, history buffs, if you want to learn all about the 60's once again, catch this flick when it recycles. You'll be moved and re-educated.

A+ grade. Not to be missed.

Remember the Alamo!

Born and reproduced in Austin, Texas, and named Best Theatre in America by Entertainment Weekly, the Alamo Draft House may just be enough to make me move to Austin! Below, my top ten reasons:

10. Never run ads before movie. Instead, as we waited to see The Other Guys, they ran a string of funny Will Ferrell clips and interviews to pump us up.

9. Vigilant about no talking or texting with severe reminders before show, and they’ll boot your ass if you are an offender.

8. Offer the diversity of old classics (The Thin Man), guilty pleasures (Best Worst Movie), Sing-Alongs (Lady Gaga) and even vintage T.V. shows.

7. Known to have celebrity guests, such as directors, actors, like Quentin Tarantino.

6. Master Pancake Theatre, modeled after Science Mystery Theatre, where 3 comedians sit in the front row and provide hilarious commentary during a “serious” movie.

5. Music Mondays. This week, a tribute to Dusty Springfield.

4. Weird Wednesday dollar days - ‘nuff said.

3. The lobby (while definitely not hoity-toity) offers a full bar of beer and wine!

2. Space between you and the row in front of you is WIDE allowing for a long counter where your ordered FOOD is brought to you. And I mean a broad menu of burgers, etc, then items like…”Peaches poached in Shiraz filled with honey ricotta topped with basil leaf in a pool of Shiraz peach reduction.” Would I make this stuff up?

1. Within walking distance from my son’s home. YES!

And, as soon as I earn my first million dollars from my book, I am bringing the franchise to Tempe and Greg will run it! This Valley badly needs such a place!

Mad Men 8-8-10

This shall be brief.

I still love this show. I love stopping what I am doing and focusing on their world. BUT, if there is one more episode as lethargic, pointless, and devoid of balance or interest as this one was, I may have to write a letter and set Mr. Weiner straight.

One redeeming line: "Everyone else knows what's wrong with us when we can't see it." Hmmm, yea.

Patricia Neal

We lost a great actress today. Patricia Neal's crowning glory was her work in Hud. Back in 1964, she starred as the sassy, tough, gritty housekeeper who fought hard to keep the young buck Hud, played by Paul Newman, at bay. She won a well-deserved Academy Award for her effort. At age 31, she had a stroke, which interfered with an amazing up and coming career. She will be missed. The best homage we can pay to the late star is to watch Hud again. It was an amazing piece of work.

The Time Traveler's Wife

I wanted my dear spouse to view an unusual (and in my mind somewhat flawed) time travel film, so I put The Time Traveler's Wife in the DVD player and viewed the film for the second time. My spouse is a very astute, verbal person, whose reviews of films are usually far more detailed and insightful than mine. When this particular film ended, however, and I asked her for her views, she simply said "STUPID!" and, tired from a long day, would not deign to elaborate further.

Now in deference to the film, I must be a bit more explanatory. First, the acting is great. Eric Bana, who was brilliant in Munich, is a very sensitive Henry, a very believable protagonist who adores his wife and regrets leaving her to "travel." Rachel McAdams, whom we've discussed in another post, is equally as good as the wife who is left behind. They make a very handsome couple.

More positives lie in the apparent deeper messages. First, many men fade in and out of relationships, almost involuntarily. That's because us guys are hunters, not gatherers, and our inner world of emotions is more scary than jungles or caves. We are raised not to cry, to be macho men on the playing field, so that thing called intimacy that we create as adults does not come so easily. Better to flee now and then, just as Henry does.

Second, one of the most romantic of themes for women is love over time. While the guys are busy taking a breather from too much closeness, the gals fantasize a love that is so deep it includes friendship and trust and lasts an eternity. So basically the flick appeals to the ladies who find the idea of loving someone forever (and more) no doubt moving.

Another positive is pure originality. Time travel is not a new genre. Going back to H.G. Wells, it has been done many a time. But Audrey Niffenegger, an unknown author prior to the 2003 publication of her book, took the concept to a whole new level. Instead of focusing on the usual themes, the author gave the genre a love spin, a whole new view of what can be done with mingling romance and time travel.

YET: So many negatives. The scenes with the little girl and the naked adult male visitor are simply creepy. The whole last quarter of the movie, a melodrama about death and loss, are equality as vapid. Worse: We just don't go very deeply into the minds of our characters. We know very little about them and find it hard to care.

In summary, no viewer should miss the flick. It adds a wonderful new perspective to the time travel genre. But don't expect perfection. You won't find it here.

Hot Tub Time Machine

This reviewer loves time travel movies, so he absolutely had to see Hot Tub Time Machine. Starring John Cusack and three other lesser known stars, the film is an often funny romp that makes us smile at times. Mostly, however, it is too sophomoric in nature to really bring home the laughs.

When four buddies who are 40 something, hopelessly arrested at twenty in maturity, go back in time to the 80's, the stage is set for some good fun. At first, the guys respect the ol' time paradox and try not to mess with the past. But as they learn, the past happens...which is another way of saying shit happens (excuse my French). The four stooges somehow cannot succeed any better in the past than they once did.

Of course the entire film is created for gags. We must remove our adult personas to get into the swing of things. Remember John Belushi's toga party? Remember Dumb and Dumber? Remember the fools in this author's book, Idiots' Delight? (hahaha, Valerie, think I would not plug my own work?) Take every portrait of immature fools you've seen, add a little time travel twist, and you've got Hot Tub Time Machine.

So having admitted that we must get childish and silly and suspend our adult selves to enjoy the film, is it worth seeing? Sadly not. It just does not entertain as it should. It's not just that it is way beyond stupid, which, as noted above, is not always bad. It's just that stupid is not so well done in this flick.

Sorry, wannabe frat boys and sorority girls. This film gets a D. Not very viewable.

The Amy Adams Opus

Amy Adams reminds me of Audrey Hepburn in her prime: pert, cute, and lovable. A quick look at her work proves that she is more than a pretty face.

This reviewer first noticed the star as the sweet, innocent girl with braces and a healthy libido in Catch Me if You Can. When she sits on Leo's lap in the office and grins up a storm, she wins our hearts. She plays the teen-ish victim of the scoundrel with impish delight.

Earlier, she had played in a slightly raunchy film, Cruel Intentions Two, with amazing aplomb. In the continuation of the Reese Witherspoon classic, Amy portrayed Kathryn Merteuil with a brilliant devilish spin. She is perfect as the private school brat who manipulates the uninitiated into her world of power and corruption.

Soon, we find her charmingly disarming as the cartoon princess in search of her prince charming in Enchanted. When Amy ends up in the real world, and meets up with the dashing Patrick Dempsey, she is as sachrine and divine as could be....what a contrast to her mean-girl role in Cruel Intentions Two.

On to Doubt. Opposite the extraordinary Meryl Streep, Amy acts the naive nun with perfection. She is at once shocked by her superior's findings yet generous of heart when it comes to condemning the accused. Meryl got the Academy Award nomination, but it should have gone to Amy.

In Sunshine Cleaners, she plays the ghoulish entrepreneur with poise and grace. Once again, she dazzles as she creates a very real and believable crime scene purifier. She worked excellently with Emily Blunt, whose talents are noted in another discussion.

Problem: How in the world will she become Janis Joplin? We'll see. Somehow, we have to assume she'll pull it off, just as the dazzling Charlize Theron became a monster in the film by that name.

In summary, Amy is a shining light. This reviewer is convinced that if she gets the right role, she will win an Oscar for Best Actress. Meanwhile, go back and watch her in the films she's already done...you won't be disappointed.

The Young Victoria

The beauty of film is that it can take you fully into other worlds through dance, music, settings, and stories. If you enjoy wonderful costumes, beautiful waltzes, and delightful scenes of royalty, you will find Young Victoria entrancing.

This viewer was transported indeed. Emily Blunt glimmered as the young queen, full of spunk, zest, and life. Rupert Friend offered a fine, subtle portrait of the man she married. The last quarter of the movie, which was a moving love story, dazzled.

Politics of the times did not. The writers, no doubt up on British history, assumed that viewers would know each and every politician, subordinate, servant, and count. A lexicon of names and political orientations might have helped.

Another problem was that we never really got to "know" the main characters. Yes, Victoria was sensitive and at times lost. Yes, she had issues with her mother. And yes, she had to be wary of those who would seek her favor for political gain. But do we ever really get inside her mind? Do we really care if/when she struggles as queen?

Grade of B-. This is not a must-see film. If you like Emily Blunt, watch her shine as the bitch in The Devil Wears Prada. If you like British History, read a book, where you'll learn who's who. If you like entertainment, check out the films that we rave about in this blog. The Young Victoria is hard work.

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Film critics have been raving about this flick and I must join them. NO spoiler here, and my comments are going to be brief, but let me offer two reasons why this film really hits home.

First, it offers the most original type of female heroine in the history of the big screen. We've enjoyed our pretty ladies as they muscle up and win the day: Jodie Foster in The Brave One, Jennifer Lopez in Enough, Linda Hamilton in Terminator Two, Sondra Locke in Sudden Impact, and many others. Your average female revenge monger is always feminine at heart, for Hollywood wants us to remember that the lady who rises up and fights must still be attractive. Not so with our tattooed star! She is a wicked little thing, abused, inked, scarred, sparse of word, sexually bizarre, indeed somewhat ugly...but watch her go!

Second, many "mysteries" are rather simple in nature. I refer the reader to The Perfect Getaway, where one or two simple plot twists unravel the "whodunnit" question. Again, not so with this wondrous film. The search for the truth takes us into a complex labyrinth of past events. When all is said and done, many, many paths have been taken, and all the paths tie together and make sense at the end.

So, set aside three hours (yes, viewers, quite long indeed), be wide awake, and revel at a very special screen event. Oh, and by the way, you might be shocked by a few scenes....not for the faint of heart!

American Idol Conundrums

Since we sometimes include TV in our blog, this reviewer wishes to throw out a few thoughts on Idol. I've loved the show from the start. Great singing, weird personalities, fun interplay between the judges....and the big question, who will win the competition?

Then things started going awry. Were the votes impartial or did the studio simply decide who should win? When Adam Lambert, the most talented singer ever to appear on Idol, lost to an unknown, we began to wonder. Seems the studio did not feel an obviously and overtly gay singer should bear the title. Then the judging panel changed. They added Kara DioGuardi, an expert in music with the personality of a fish. They canned Paula Abdul, a charming dim-wit who created screen magic with well-spoken and bright Simon. They brought on Ellen DeGeneris, a talented comedian who knew nothing about song. Then alas, the anchor himself, the famous Brit Simon Cowell, said adios amigos.

And now? Who will be the next judges? Will the votes be fair? Will there be any fun left? The only real hope lies in Ryan Secrest, the most magnanimous of hosts, whose presence is the last potential salvation for the show.

The future will tell. Will American Idol survive? Some will say, who cares? Others like this reviewer hope that the wondrous formula for lightweight TV fare will live on in perpetuity.

Mad Men 2010

I'm a Mad Man enthusiast, so my negative comments today come with some difficulty.

When the show hit TV, I found it imaginative, creative, historically fascinating, and simply fantastic. I think my esteemed colleague Valerie joins me in this view. We have gotten glimpses of life in the office in the 60's, enjoyed the dress and mores of the innocent days, watched as the dashing Don bedded women here and there, and marveled at the punchy dialog and quaint office politics.

This season makes me wonder where the fine writing has gone. Last week, the opener was mostly a dour look at divorce. OK, we get the idea that Don is off his game, so he's screwing up at the office and drinking too much. But must we watch as he and his ex, or soon to be ex, snipe at each other for most of the hour?

Last night, the bar fell further. We got to witness some disturbed, horny pre-adolescent boy "chase"Don's little girl (nearly obscene, in my mind). We saw Don drink too much and act all lonely. We watched Don's ex's house get vandalized. We saw a totally unreal client "bully" the ad guys. In fact, stupidly, we witnessed a Christmas-themed show in the middle of summer! In short, we saw little that reminded us of the show's magic.

Exceptions: The office gang did the "bunny hop" in a classic view of old times. Peggy struggled with love...or the lack thereof. Don demeaned his secretary without meaning to. And there were maybe a few other bright spots.

Grade: C I suggest the writers get the show back in the office, back where the standards of behavior in the 60's grabbed us and made us think, "Gee, that's how it really was!"

Back to you, Valerie, for some much-needed hope and your usual thoughtful insights.