North Country - 4 stars

This is a wonderful story of the first sexual harrassment class action suit in the US. Charlize Theron provides a fine performance, but the reason the film is a winner is because of the whole package. The story is believable - she struggles against opponents and potential allies, plus I appreciate the omission of the obligitory love scene. The acting is nuanced - Woody Harrelson provides some wonderful moments, plus we get to see the always rockin' Frances McDormand (check her out in Laurel Canyon!). There's something for everyone in this film.

Capote - 4 stars

Capote was chilling. This is the story of Truman Capote, writer for the New Yorker, as he researches and writes In Cold Blood, the story of 3 murders in Kansas. The murders are creepy, and murderers were frighteningly calm, but it's Capote's reaction and manipulation of the killers that is chilling. I recommend watching it during the day, so you have time to digest all of the creepy maniuplations and killings before going to bed.

Capote was played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman is one of the best actors of my generation. He transforms himself into Capote, just as he transformed himself into the slimy reporter in Red Dragon, Mr. Lebowski's weenie assistant in The Big Lebowski, depressed divorcee Wilson in Love Liza, drag queen Rusty in Flawless, shy writer Joseph Turner White in State & Main, and so on. I recommend any of his films.

Hoffman is the center of the film, but is ably backed by Catherine Keener, paying Harper Lee, and several newcomers. The only knock against the movie is it was a bit long.

Andrew Jenks, Room 335 - 4.5 stars

Andrew Jenks, Room 335 is an original. This is a documentary shot by 19 year old Andrew and his 2 buddies from NYU. They take up residence in a nursing home to see what life is like there and to learn from old people. It's adorable, warm, funny, touching, and excellent. You fall in love with Andrew, he's adorable, and many of the residents of Harbor Place. I was really amazed that he wasn't condescending or presumptuous.

My only problem with the film is that it was all done with hand-held camera, making it impossible for someone who is prone to motion-sickness to watch on a big screen. I missed a good quarter of the visuals. I saw it at the SB International Film Festival, so hopefully one day it will come to DVD. Since you might not get a chance to see it, you may want to check out his website.

Keep an eye out for Andrew, he's got an amazing career ahead of him. He says his next project will be following a friend on a cross-country bike trip to take the temperature of our politically fractured society.

Rush - 2.5 stars

Rush is a mediocre drug/cop movie starring the usually beautiful and creepy Jason Patric and the usually creepy and interesting Jennifer Jason Leigh. He's a street-wise narcotics officer in need of a new partner. She young, cute, and female. Normally this would add up to a nuanced relationship of him trying to keep his distance but eventually falling for the girl. However, he kisses her on the head a few minutes after they meet. Besides their pathetic relationship, the rest of it lives up to the genre. Sam Elliott, best known as the cowboy in The Big Lebowski, is a delight. In summary, it's not worth watching unless you want a basic education on street drugs.

Out of Africa - 3 stars

Out of Africa is a classic from 1985 starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Those two are always a delight to watch, so you can't go wrong. The scenery is beautiful and the story is good. She is breaking out of her rigid upbringing and he is learning that freedom isn't all it's cracked up to be.

It's a lovely film, but not brilliant. At 2.5 hours long, it's perfect for a rainy Sunday afternoon on the couch with popcorn.

Rabbit-Proof Fence - 4 stars

Rabbit-Proof Fence was a delight to watch. It's a true story of 3 Aboriginal children who were stolen from their families by the Australian government in the 1930s. The Aussie government thought they were "improving" these "half-cast" children by taking them from their "savage" Aboriginal families and training them in camps to be white. The DVD has a special feature documentary about the film-making, which is worth watching. The 3 children that star in the film were Aboriginal bush kids who were picked in part for their native culture. A surprisingly good film.

Capturing the Friedmans - ? Stars

Capturing the Friedmans (yes, it's spelled correctly) is truly bizzare. It's a documentary about a father and son accused of sending child porn through the mail plus something like 100 counts of molestation and rape. It's like watching a car accident - it's gross, but you keep watching anyway. I think it was a good film, but it's hard to separate the subject from the object. I guess that makes it great? The parts about the molestation aren't as repulsive as you would think, rather what's gross is how the family reacts to the situation. Most of them are out of their minds. For example, one of the kids is actually filming the family as the charges unfold - that's where most of the footage comes from. It's worth watching to the end as the story continues to evolve through the final scenes.

Wedding Crashers - 1 star

I can't believe how bad Wedding Crashers was. I love Owen Wilson. I think he's hilarious and kind of hot. I love Vince Vaughn. I think he's charming in a dumb kind of way. It's possible that the "uncorked" version I saw was worse than the theatrical release, but it couldn't have been that different. There was one funny moment (balloon animals). I only watched the whole thing because I thought I must be missing something. I wasn't.

Good Night, and Good Luck - 4 stars

George Cloony is doing a brilliant job of sticking it to the Man. He has just produced and starred in two anti-Bush movies without being labelled liberal and unpatriotic. Syriana is a bit more obvious than Good Night and Good Luck, but the later is a better film. Good Night is the story of Edward R. Murrow's brave defeat of Senator Joe McCarthy's attack on the First Ammendment. The Senator accused anyone who stood up to the government as "Communist" and had them stand trial. It is beautifully shot in black and white, making you feel the time. The film was slow and a bit boring, but still quite good. Kudos to Clooney for bashing the Republican establishment for calling people who disagree with the Administration as unpatriotic.

Syriana & The Constant Gardener - 4 & 3 stars

I'm reviewing these movies together because they are basically the same film. However, The Constant Gardener - (4 stars) was much better. Both movies illustrate the evils of mega-corporations and mega-governments. Syriana (3 stars) as the story of big oil and Gardener was the story of big pharma. Syriana had dozens of characters with several different story lines involving bad governments, bad corporations, bad people, and a couple of good guys. Gardener had very few characters, one story line, and was easier to follow. It was also more scenic, compelling, and a better film. The movie posters above give you a hint to their different tones.