The Nines - 4 stars

The Nines is a very good small film. It accomplishes what many independent films try to do, which is tell an unusual story in an unusual way, on a small budget. It's a trio of short stories, starring the same small cast, which end up un-neatly tying together at the end. The (almost) perfect-looking Ryan Reynolds plays Gary/Gavin/Gabriel. You have to watch the movie to find out why he's almost perfect... This performance puts demonstrates that the guy has chops. Hope Davis is one of the other leads and is always enjoyable. Melissa McCarthy of Gilmore Girls is able to play completely different kinds of characters with complete believability (is that a word?). Be sure to check out the short film on the DVD that she made 10 years ago with one of these characters. Elle Fanning, little sister of Dakota Fanning, does a stellar job as a mute girl.

It's hard to explain the film without giving it away. It's very complicated, touching on life's unanswerable questions. A lot is left to the imagination. This is NOT a linear film. I recommend watching the special features or reading some user comments on imdb to help sort out all that has happened. If you like independent films, this may be the one for you.

Mini's First Time - 3 stars

Mini's First Time stars the young Nikki Reed, who I've never seen before, the always fabulous Alec Baldwin and surprisingly different Carrie-Ann Moss (Trinity in the Matrix) with support from Jeff Goldblum and Luke Wilson. Carrie-Ann makes this film - it's always fun to watch outrageously bad mothers in film. The story is that thrill-seeking Mini is trying to accomplish as many "firsts" in her life. She has no fear and finds her way into crazy situations, duping adults along the way. It's entertaining until the end, although the surprises aren't exactly a surprise.

Good Will Hunting - 4 stars

Good Will Hunting deserves all of the acclaim that it got. First-time writers Ben Affleck and Matt Damon won an Oscar for the script. Matt is the star of the show as a genius having trouble facing his past, which in turn makes it hard for him to engage in what he values most. He's forced to see a therapist played by a thoughtful and non-spastic Robin Williams. Minnie Driver is perfectly cast as his love interest. It's brilliantly written and perfectly executed. You feel Boston, you know these characters and you root for them all the way. The only reason I don't rate it higher is that Good Will Hunting is not a ground-breaking film. Also, as a 10 year old movie starring my peers, it makes me feel old...

He Was a Quiet Man - 4 stars

He Was a Quiet Man stars Christian Slater as a 40-something loser balancing on the edge. It's similar to Falling Down, but much more enjoyable. This premise is familiar, but the film is very unusual. It's told in a unique way, the story is creative, and it's superbly acted. Overall, it's a very good movie. Elisha Cuthbert is convincing as a head-strong coworker. Definitely worth a watch.

No Country for Old Men - 2 stars

No Country for Old Men is the latest Coen brothers film. I enjoy their comedies - Big Lebowski and Raising Arizona were hilarious and very clever. However, I haven't enjoyed their dramas. This film is no exception. No Country is s-l-o-w and absolutely nothing happens. In fact, here's the whole story - guy finds money, bad guy who wants the money chases the guy who has the money. Only, there is no car (as in car chase). That's it. The acting is very good and the direction is excellent. Woody Harrelson has a small and entertaining role. Jim hated it too, but everyone else I've talked to has enjoyed it. So, watch at your own risk.

3:10 to Yuma - 3 stars

3:10 to Yuma is the story of a man who joins a posse to bring in a notorious thief. The film has a punch from the very beginning. It has a very interesting pace and the acting is excellent. You can't go wrong with Christian Bale and Russell Crowe. Plus, it's beautifully shot. However, the last quarter of the film is ridiculous. The plot turns implausible which delegitimizes the rest of the story. It's really frustrating. Don't waste your time.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age - 4 stars

Elizabeth: The Golden Age is the sequel to Elizabeth, both starring Cate Blanchett. It's the story of Queen Elizabeth I, who is in a unique position as an unmarried queen with no heirs during the height of the British Empire. In her position, everyone wants a piece of her. She has to be astute to protect her position, and her life, while balancing the need to have meaningful human contact. The stakes are great in this excellent historical film. Blanchett is superb as Elizabeth. This is a sequel that I actually recommend. However, I will qualify it by saying it's more of part II of the story instead of rehashing the same old plot, which is my definition of a sequel.

Dexter (TV) - 5 stars

I'm riveted by this show. It's VERY creepy, so not for the faint-hearted. I also don't recommend watching it before you go to bed, which I do.

Dexter is a TV series about a sociopathic serial killer. The characters are complex and there are surprises around every corner. It stars Michael C. Hall, who played the younger brother in 6 Feet Under. Dexter is as high quality as 6 Feet Under was in the early years. Supporting cast is all great. The direction is absolutely brilliant. I especially love the opening sequence, which is almost sensory overload. I'm completely riveted by the storyline and can't wait to see what these crazy characters do next.

UPDATE (1/24/08)- I've just upgraded this show from 4.5 stars to 5 stars. Season 2 is even better than Season 1. In fact, I'm obsessed. If you want to get started, Season One will be airing on CBS starting Sunday, Feb. 17 at 10PM ET. If you can handle the anxiety, you MUST watch.
You can also rent Season One at your favorite DVD rental establishment. Let me know what you think!

Last King of Scotland - 4 stars

We just watched the Last King of Scotland about the rise and rule of the brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin's regime as seen by his idealistic personal physician during the 1970s. It gets its name from the homeland of the physician and Amin's affection for the country.

Forest Whitaker is excellent in the film as Amin, along with James McAvoy as the young doc. The film is quite graphic, certainly the end is not for the faint of heart.

It's one of the better biopics I have seen, a very good film in its own right.

Charlie Wilson's War - 4 stars

It's lots of fun being off work and getting to see movies!

Today Jim & I saw Charlie Wilson's War, starring Tom Hanks. Since Joe Versus the Volcano, I can't remember Hanks making a bad movie. This one is certainly worth watching. It's a very well told story of the US involvement in removing the Russians from Afghanistan. It's very easy to follow and very entertaining. The characters are all a lot of fun. Philip Seymour Hoffman is brilliant, as always, playing a spy with no manners. Julia Roberts is again miscast as a southern debutaunt-power broker.