Greenberg - 2 stars

Ben Stiller plays Roger Greenberg, a 40 year old with anger issues and terrible social skills. He is dog-sitting for his brother's family in Los Angeles and reconnecting with friends form his past. The acting and writing were good, for what it was.

Jim liked Greenberg a lot more than I did. Myself, I can't stand this kind of film - where the point is to beat into you the fact that certain people have terrible judgment and will make the same mistakes over and over and over and over. I got the message 30 minutes into the film.

Jennifer Jason Leigh, who I always like, co-wrote and plays a small part. The other writer is Noah Baumbach, who wrote the Squid and the Whale. It's not nearly as tortured as the Squid, but still depressing.

An Education - 4 stars

An Education is a fictionalized memoir of 16 year old girl in England in the 1960s.  She's smart, and articulate, and beautiful, and socially well adjusted.  Her life revolved around getting accepted at Oxford.  Then she meets David.  Beautifully acted and starring Peter Sarsgaard and Carey Mulligan, with a small part by Emma Thompson.  I have never seen Carey Mulligan before, but look forward to watching her again.  She's magical on screen, with a very Audrey Hepburn grace, style, and manner.  She was perfect in this role.  Peter Sarsgaard continues to enthrall me.  He draws you in as if he is looking you straight in the eye and standing just on the edge of your personal space, finding an intimacy that is comfortable instead of intrusive.

While talking with my co-worker about this film, she told me about a hilarious SNL skit that he did on the "Peter Sarsgaard SARS-guard."  Take 2 minutes to watch this brilliant piece of humor.  I have no idea how he can keep a straight face.

The film tells a familiar, but classic, love story.  It's honest and direct, making it highly enjoyable.

More proof that I'm an expert

I've been asked to join the advisory board of the Gateway Film Center! They want my brilliant advice about how to make the event center the best it can be. Of course, they asked the right person. Actually, I'm not sure that they know what they are getting into. Ask my opinion and I'll give it to you. I have a free pass to unlimited movies for me and a guest (no you can't borrow it) for 2010. We've been averaging about 1 film a year in the theater, so this will force me to get back into non-work, non-baby world.

First order of business is their website. Hopefully the manager will take my advice and talk to Jim. The functionality is pretty minimal, which is certainly hurting their ticket sales.

Tomorrow, Jim & I are going to watch the Secret of Kells while his mom babysits for Violet. We picked it because it's the most highly rated film on Rottentomatoes.com that is playing in the morning when she is available. Rotten Tomatoes pulls all of the movie critic reviews into one site and produces an overall score. The Secret of Kells got an 89%.