The Human Stain - 3 stars

The Human Stain is not at all what I thought. The name made me think it would be a disturbing psycho thriller, somthing difficult to watch about a scourge on humanity. In reality, the movie is about ordinary people with difficult pasts who are trying to make their way in the world. Each of them has some past life that's difficult to face which impairs their ability to be close to others. Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman are, as always, consistently good. It's a treat to watch Ed Harris and Wentworth Miller is almost erie in his portrayal of a young Anthony Hopkins. His intonation and timing are perfect impersonations of Hopkins while he still owns the character he's playing.

The movie is disappointing because it doesn't come to much of a climax after pulling you along a well told story of several characters' struggle with their past. It's a pretty good watch, but probably not worth seeing twice.

The Believer - 3 stars

The Believer is a story of a Jewish 20-something who becomes a neo-Nazi. The subject is obviously intriguing, and the acting is compelling, but the writing leaves something to be desired. The lead confronts his various beliefs, but not for any clear reasons. His convictions are so strong that you would expect major events to force change. His evolution is anti-climactic, and thus a disappointment. The best movie I've ever seen in this genre, and one of my all time favorites, is American History X, starring the amazing Edward Norton. Any film buff with a strong stomach should watch it.

Crash - 4.5 stars

Jim & I just watched Crash, written and directed by Paul Haggis. I was really excited about this because Haggis was one of my Environment California donors. He's a great guy and was working on this project when I knew him and was working in L.A.

This is a beautifully written and acted film about Angelenos confronting their own racism. There are a wide range of characters from all walks of life who randomly come in contact with each other under various circumstances. The tension runs high and parts are hard to watch, but it's well worth the watch.

Another bonus is the amazing ensemble cast - Sandra Bullock (who I usually HATE) was perfectly cast, Don Cheadle is always good, Tony Danza makes a small cameo, Matt Dillon gives a stunning performance, plus newcomer Ludacris all star in the film.

And the Band Played On - 4 stars

And the Band Played On is the history of the AIDS epidemic. I was looking forward to watching this because I now work for an HIV/AIDS organization, but don't know a heck of a lot about the disease. The historical movie chronicles the early story of the disease, focusing on the outbreak's impact in San Francisco and the CDC's response. It's so well done that it feels like a feature film.

Team America: Wold Police - 1 star

Team America is made by the creators of South Park, some of the funniest and most offensive material to be put on a screen. Plus, everyone said it was hilarious.

15 minutes in to it and I not only hadn't laughed, but couldn't stand watching it any more. It's only redeeming factor is it's made with marionettes. They are inherently funny.