Breaking & Entering - 3 stars

Breakin & Entering is a strong film, but not extraordinary. There are too many movies out there to waste your time on average. Jude Law has the same inhuman quality from his other films, which works well in B&E. Juliette Binoche and Robin Wright Penn are radiant, as always. It's a very nice story of people trying to find their way through relationships while still being true to their hearts. It's subtle and enjoyable, but lacks a strong ending. Little Children had the same problem with the characters changing old patterns without a realistic catalyst. Bad pattern.

Opens mid-December.

Stranger than Fiction - 4.5 stars

Stranger Than Fiction is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. It's inventive, thoughtful, and poetic. At it's core, it's a love story. Not really a romantic love story, but a story about love. It plays with reality like Adaptation or Being John Malkovich, and does it as skillfully. Will Ferrell is lovely in this serious role. Maggie Gyllenhaal, a favorite of mine, is magnetic. Dustin Hoffman is adorable, but he's re-playing the same role he's been doing for a while (a la Meet the Parents). Emma Thompson and Queen Latifa are also good. In the words of Frances McDormand's Jane in Laurel Canyon, "it pulled me across the room." Go see this one.

Happy Feet - 2.5 stars

The Film Fest director described Happy Feet as a combination of March of the Penguins and Moulin Rouge. I have to agree, but not in the way he intended. It doesn't combine those great elements, it copies them. The story starts out exactly like March. The penguins are walking across the ice trying to protect their eggs and find their eggs. However, they are singing. It's very cute for about 3 minutes. Then you realize that the songs are uninventive ripoffs or just songs by the artists themselves. The story has too many elements shoved together, none of which really engage. It tries to be the story of the kid who doesn't fit in, the environmental story, the cross-cultural story. It's fine, but not nearly as original as it could and should have been. Brittany Murphy has an incredible voice, and Robin Williams never ceases to amaze as 3 different characters.

Kids will love it. There are a few scary moments with the big, mean seal. Opens Nov 17th.

Closer - 2.5 stars

Starring Natalie Portman, Jud Law, Julia Roberts, and Clive Owens this one's about a love triangle with a fourth (Portman). The acting is good, with Portman stealing the show, the story on the other hand floats around ambiguously most of the time. The writer does a great job taking you through emotions in each of the individual break-ups that litter this film, with a masterful portrayal of those intimate moments when you realize a break-up is for real. Roberts, Law and Owens hold their own (with Roberts leading that pack) but don't quite have it in this one. The characters seem to wafer between sadism and stupidity in their choices about love and their partnership, making want to roll your eyes.
- Jim

Mean Creek - 4 stars

Starring Rory Culkin, Ryan Kelley, Scott Mechlowicz, Trevor Morgan and Carly Schroder and a group of friends and family who take Josh Peck (the local bully) into the back country to exact a little revenge. When all goes awry they find out who they and their friends really are. George (Peck's character) turns out to be a bit more human than they think, until his poor judgement and lack of social skills reminds the group why they came in the first place. Well acted and doesn't take the easy outs when the opportunity is provided. The similarity of the mannerisms between Mechlowicz and Brad Pitt are almost creepy, his character is the most predictable. I highly recommend this movie, don't watch it too late at night it has a piercing quality that will follow you into your dreams.
- Jim