Eagle Vs. Shark

This is New Zealand's Napolean Dynamite, an odd love story between two social misfits, Jarrod, played by Jemaine Clement, and a girl named Lily. There were so many funny scenes, all very well executed. Jarrod is a hilariously nebbish guy who has many idiosyncratic characteristics. Lilly and Jarrod are older and socially awkward. While Jarrod could be a bit of a "pill", Lily was always kind and clearly too "good" for him. The special effects were unexpected and simple they added to the unique feel of the story. The whole cast was abysmally unattractive and, therefore, created a dose of charm. I am smiling as I write this because there were countless ridiculous scenes! My favorite scene is Jarrod's homely daughter dancing to his brother's electric guitar solo... priceless... If you enjoy off beat characters, you will love this story.

I give it a 7 out of 10.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xVMkqaOUS0

Somersault

This is an Australian film with Abbie Cornish as Heidi, a confused 16 year old who gets caught by her mom kissing her mom's boyfriend. Heidi runs away to a mountain town to escape the hurt and finds herself lonely, scared and sad. She uses her feminine wiles to attract a local young man with his own issues. The man doesn't know anything about her but knows she is out of sorts and comes and goes as he is unable to really connect with anyone. Heidi is quiet and sweet but finds herself in dangerous predicaments that she brings upon herself by drinking alone in bars and picking up strange men. One gets the sense that she isn't a bad person, but she makes foolish mistakes due to her youth. You wind up liking her but quite disturbed by her choices. It is a slow moving film without a lot of dialogue. You can tell what the characters are thinking with out them saying much. The direction was good, and the film garnered several awards in Australia. While it wasn't a great film to me, it was cleverly executed.

I give it a 5 out of 10.
http://www.fandango.com/somersaultmovietrailer/1_919125/v307664

The House of Yes

Parker Posey plays Jackie O, and Josh Hamilton plays her brother, Marty, in this dark comedy that explores their dysfunctional family. Freddie Prinze Jr. plays their dumb younger brother Andrew and Tori Spelling plays Marty's fiancee who he brings home for Thanksgiving. Parker Posey plays the witty yet insane twin of Marty who is quite funny. Jackie O is memorable and has so many great lines. The mother is a great mix of creepy and snobby. The interaction between Marty and Jackie O is silly and disturbing at the same time. Parker is called Jackie O due to an ides of March party she attended dressed as Jackie O and she hilariously describes her costume a couple times in the story. Jackie O goes crazy after her father is killed on the day John Kennedy was assassinated, hence her fascination with being called Jackie O --- and her unusual sense of fashion. I liked this movie as it was entertaining, shocking and very much a black comedy.

I give it 7 out of 10.

http://www.reelzchannel.com/movie/201342/the-house-of-yes

Gross Pointe Blank

Martin Blank, played by Jon Cusak is a hitman in this witty and 80s music laden comedy. With a star cast including Jeremy Piven, Minnie Driver, Joan Cusak, Jenna Elfman, and Dan Akroyd, this movie delivers clever rapport throughout. It is a love story mixed with humorous action as Martin is back in his home town to deliver a hit on someone and attends his 10th class reunion. He finds Debbie, played by Minnie Driver, the girl he left on her doorstep prom night 10 years ago. She still has feelings for him and Martin rethinks his "career" as a result. There are a couple sub plots going on and it makes this comedy more complex. The music is SOOOOO good! It brings one back... When random people ask Martin what he has been doing for the last 10 years, he blankly says he is a professional killer. I forgot how amusing this film is! It captures all the "reunion" fears and cliches beautifully. Jeremy Piven's character describes the reunion as a "festival of pain." The scene where Martin tells Debbie he is in love with her while shooting and killing people is hilarious!

I give this a 8 out of 10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRrZ7CRpcw4

2 Days in Paris

Marion, played by Julia Delpy, is a free spirited artistic woman who is in a committed relationship with Jack, played by Adam Goldberg. They go to Paris to visit Marion's family and Jack sees a side of her that he had not known. Each time they stepped out, they would run into an ex of Marion's and Jack would grow increasingly annoyed and question her. This is a neurotic romantic comedy which is amusing at times. It reeks of art school charm and moves slowly.

I give it a 3 out of 10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8raqLzb3rQ

Just Friends

This is one of my all time favorite comedies! Ryan Reynolds as Chris Brander is hilarious, and his relationship with his younger brother is even more funny... Chris was a fat kid in high school who was in love with his best friend Jamie Palomino, played by Amy Smart. Chris comes back after living in LA on a stopover from going to Paris with Samantha James, played by Anna Faris who is equally amusing. Chris Brander tries to win back his high school crush and has a rival in Dusty Dinkleman, played by Chris Klein. Each scene is funnier than the last! I have seen this movie at least 6 times and each time I watch it I laugh more and more. The writing and the acting is brilliant and this dvd should be part of everyone's collection. If you enjoy sophmoric humor and like a dose of nostalgia, this film is for you! It is extremely difficult to make a funny movie from start to end and have a meaningful story to tell through out! Anna Faris, Ryan Reynolds, Chris Klein and Amy Smart make a great cast.

I highly recommend this film!

I give it a 10 out of 10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cY4V6d6L9A

The Changeling

This film was based on a true story and Angelina Jolie was perfectly cast and did a stupendous job portraying Christine Collins. It is unbelieveable that the LAPD was so corrupt! The torture and torment that Christine goes through is unimagineable and heart wrenching. Christine Collins was a woman of unmatched strength and depth and held composure within the worst imagineable situations. She never signed the "document" forced upon her to release her from the wrongful imprisonment from the Psychiatric Hospital of LA. If she had, she would have never been able to accomplish what she had. This is a story of depth, courage and hope. I highly recommend it, but set aside 2 hours and change as it is a long one!

I give it a 6 out of 10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57_t2BFZaK8

The Brown Bunny

To begin with, Vince Gallo is quite unusual and this film only seemed to enforce that... it read like a personal handy cam cross country trip rife with dirty windshields throughout... if anyone has driven cross country, and I have twice, the windsheild takes a beating. At first, I found the silence and the road a bit mesmerizing. I felt like a voyeur on a road trip with a hipster with great hair and piercing blue eyes. Those feelings changed as Bud Clay, played by Vince Gallo pulled up to a gas station and begged this homely girl to drive to California with him. He ditched the girl at her house when she was inside her home getting her things. His dialogue, although quite sparse, confirmed the weirdness of his character and I quickly became unenthralled. The script, if there was one, was probably 3 pages. The entire film was based on a recollection of his love for Daisy, played by Chloe Sevigny, after a tragedy. I guess I have to respect the fact that Vince's ego was big enough for him to think that he could carry this story based on his high opinion of himself and betting that he is interesting enough to keep the viewer watching through the silence and sometimes music that accompanied his travels. I have to admit, I liked his Levis, cool belt and occassional leather jacket but found myself fast forwarding through the long and windy roads of silence. There is a controversial scene with him and Daisy towards the end of this film as well as a scene with Cheryl Tiegs that is absurd. Need I say more?

I give this film a 0 out of 10.
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3851354393/

The Squid and the Whale

This is a story of an intellectual couple, both with Ph.D.'s and writers, with 2 young male children whose divorce reeks havoc... The Squid and the Whale chronicles the lives of Bernard Berkman, the father (played by Jeff Daniels), and the mother, Joan Berkman (played by Laura Linney) and captures the stale relationship beautifully. Joan had affairs while in the marriage, while Bernard remained faithful as he worked to save the relationship. The emotional wreckage occured as a result of the parents, who are over intellectual and shared too much with their children. This disallowed the boys to have a true "childhood." The younger boy, about 10 years old, begins to drink beer alone, curses openly in front of the parents, and becomes a social misfit partaking in questionable behavior at school. The older boy, about 15, has a nice girlfriend but dumps her because he feels he might be able to do better after his father tells him he should be playing the field. The parents give bad advice, disclose their sexuality, and date all the wrong people creating emotional upheavel within the boys. This is an honest portrayal of parents who didn't shield much from their children. I found it interesting and thought provoking. The use of the Pink Floyd song, Hey You, added a great component to the film. The comment from Bernard to his younger son while playing ping pong about being a Philistine is amusing.

I give it a 6 out of 10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIMv-UqZ4Ds

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Javier Bardem plays Juan Antonio, a painter who loves women and finds himself attracted to Vicki and Cristina (played by Scarlett Johansson) and persues both of them at the same time during their two month visit to Barcelona. Vicki becomes married, and Cristina falls into a love affair with Juan and his eccentric ex wife Maria Elena (played by Penelope Cruz). While the love affair works perfectly for the Spanish couple, Cristina tires of it and eventually leaves it. Maria Elena and Juan cannot make it work without Cristina and they eventually part due to the vitriol that was their undoing initially... I had a hard time believing Juan Antonio and Cristina as their chemistry was not apparent. She seemed clumsy and unsophisticated compared to the ego centric Maria Elena. Vicki has a secret tryst with Juan Antonio and holds a quiet torch for him as she goes through the banality of her marriage and life with her husband who comes to Barcelona to marry her there in a romantic, surprise ceremony. The chemistry was more believeable between Vicki and Juan Antonio, as they were opposites. The ending came too soon and left me hanging.. but I did enjoy the honesty between Vicki, Cristina, Maria Elena and Juan Antonio. Cristina moved on easily from the experience, while Vicki remained tortured and dissatisfied. The trip caused turmoil for Vicki but was another notch in Cristina's belt of conquests. Penelope Cruz's character was entertaining and humorous.

I give it a 7 out of 10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zKbFS8Hzo4

Outside Providence

Sean Hatosy plays Tim Dunphy, a working class Irish kid from Pawtucket, Rhode Island in this humorous story where he finds himself crashed into a cop car with his stoner friends and winds up having to go to Cornwall Boarding school through his blue collar father's connections. Tim's little brother is in a wheelchair due to a touch football game on the roof and Tim treats him like every other kid and shows his integrity early in the film despite his partying ways. Tim (affectionally called "Dildo" by his father, played by Alec Baldwin) meets Jane Weston (played by Amy Smart) away at school and she makes him realize that working hard towards something earns one a sense of pride, although it doesn't stop him from partaking in pot smoking and drinking at school. Tim is the unexpected hero of this film as he brings "Jizz", or Irving out of his geeky shell and allows him to hang out with the cooler kids at Cornwall and his hard partying friends in Pawtucket. Tim is a loveable screw-up who consistently grows throughout the story showing integrity and character underneath his tough exterior. Alec Baldwin as his seeming unsensitive father earns more than a few laughs with his tough guy persona throughout the film and comes around in his own way to show Tim his love. A funny scene was when Alec Baldwin asks his son about his relations with Jane and let's Tim know that "making sex is like chinese food, it's not over until both get their cookies." This film flew under the radar and definitely deserves some props for a great script and characters for a classic coming of age film. I recommend this film as it has some good music and a cool edgy quality to it-- you will laugh quite a bit.

I give it a 6 out of 10. (def watch this clip of the head of Cornwall reading a letter to Tim from his friend Drugs. It is great for a few laughs!
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/drugs-delaney-letter-outside-providence/2032696762

Dirty Mary Crazy Larry

Susan George plays Mary, who has a one night stand with Larry, played by Peter Fonda. Larry thinks he ditches her, but she shows up at the end of a store robbery and winds up shotgun in the car in a eventful police chase in various hot rod cars. Larry dreams of being a race car driver and outruns the cops repeatedly, leaving destruction in his path. The tension between Mary and Larry lasts throughout this film, and many colloquialisms are thrown about that are rather funny. Larry often referred to Mary as "Dingleberry" and once told her he was going to "braid her t_ts." This is a cult classic that isn't long on great writing but many of the lines are sort of funny. Peter Fonda looks terrible without his glasses. I would recommend this film if you like the 70s, as I do, and want to be reminded why bad boys are alluring. The ending is quite ironic.

I give it a 3 out of 10.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0xE-68P4ao

Nights in Rodanthe

Since Unfaithful, I have wanted to see Diane Lane and Richard Gere in Nights in Rodanthe. I am a huge Diane Lane fan, and knew I wanted to see the film although it didn't get rave reviews... Adrienne (played by Lane) is a woman who's husband cheated on her and, of course, asked to return to the marriage, and she goes to an island for a long weekend to watch her best friend's Inn. Paul (played by Gere) is a man who is a guest at the Inn while Adrienne is there watching the place and going through his own turmoil for other reasons. The story takes a while to get to where it goes, but it is necessary for character development. Needless to say, they fall in love, and learn from eachother. The ending is so sad. It totally broke me up.. I didn't expect it, and neither will you. I highly recommend this movie, although if you like happy endings, you will be disappointed, but that is what tear jerkers are for..... great love story, tragic ending...

I give it a 6 out of 10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wABFdUIIxlw

Harold and Maude

An unconventional love story that contains two very unlikey candidates for partnership; Harold and Maude delivers such unique characters who find each other in a most unusual way. This was, to me, one of the first true black comedies. The film begins with a scene where the viewer is unsure if it actually is what it seems and "that" happens quite a few times throughout the movie. The suicide enacting fetish of Harold is disturbing but sort of amusing as well. Harold would be called EMO by today's standards as he drives a hearse and loves to pretend to kill himself. His favorite past time is attending funerals which is where he meets Maude; a fun loving 79 year old woman who steals cars, drives them recklessly and teaches Harold to start living. There is a huge ironic twist at the end of the storyregarding Maude and her philosophy. I highly recommend this movie, which to me was ahead of its time. It is The Graduate on acid-- sort of... IT featured the music of one artist, Cat Stevens throughout, much like Simon and Garfunkel in The Graduate. I laughed out loud at a couple junctures. Harold's mother was quite funny as well.
I give it a 7 out of 10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZfCft4wVt8

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Guilty as charged, I love Michael Cera, except that the space between his nose and his upper lip is rather expansive... I can live with it because he is a sleeper/hipster nerd. I enjoy a teen movie once inwhile and this one was okay. I liked that it centered around music and Nick's yellow Yugo. Some parts were amusing although it was rather slow. I liked the drunken Caroline at Penn Station talking about "turkey sandwiches". It the the classic boy loves girl who doesn't love him back and tries to win him back because she sees him with someone else. If you are down for that sort of thing, you could watch this. Oh-- the gay guys in the band ( The Jerk Offs) were a funny ancillary treat! Some parts were original...otherwise, not a super duper killer movie...

I give it a 2 1/2 out of 10.
http://www.unblockall.net/index.php?q=687474703a2f2f7777772e796f75747562652e636f6d2f77617463683f763d594e7a7a434e3464564641

He's Just Not That Into You

Honestly, I am embarrassed to admit I saw this film. Chalk it up to a girl's afternoon... But now that I have put on my Replacements CD I thought I would review this monstrosity of a film, with no story line and every actress looks absolutely TERRIBLE! The coolest thing about this film was one song by the Replacements, Can't Hardly Wait, a truly GREAT SONG! The film should have focused on the perils of dating, not on 4 girls in different situations including marriage, a long-term relationship, and two daters. I wonder how a book was written on the subject. One line could have been written, "If he doesn't call you, he's just not that into you." In reality, that isn't the truth because ALL situations are different for different reasons! I don't like to focus on looks entirely but Jennifer Anniston looks so unattractive, as does Drew Barrymore (forgive me, I love her too) and Jennifer Connelly (will someone please show her how to use tweezers for god sake!) and Scarlett Johanson looks like a doof ... My friend pointed out that Ben Affleck had his teeth done..I mean we were actually so bored by the story we talked about how the actors looked!! ...ok, ok..done, it was AWFUL, pathetic, and boring. Don't bother!!! If nothing else, download The Replacements' song.. Can't Hardly Wait.. that will not disappoint...

I give it a 0 out of 1o.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IeXqvFR6HI

The Rocker

This is a story about a washed up rocker, Fish (Rain Wilson), who grew on me throughout the film. Fish was kicked out of his original band, Visuvious, and spent 20 years trying to live the 9-5 life and gets fired for attacking a co-worker who played a Visuvious cd at work. I actually liked watching this as it was silly in a sad sort of way, but wound up being FUN! While it wasn't the best writing, and didn't make me think much at all, I did enjoy the rocker stereotypes. ADD is a highschooler's (Fish's nephew) band joined by the middle-aged Fish on the drums and was fronted by a sweet and heartbroken emo kid who's dad left him when he was a baby. Christina Applegate plays the boy's mom. I thought the record manager should have been played by Dane Cook, you will see why IF you rent the movie. I liked the innocent corniness of the film because it was about being in a band and about getting to live your dream, no matter how ridiculous it is. I turned it off singing, "Don't need nothing but a good time" with the credit roll and was in a great mood. Sometimes you need a bad movie to be good....

I give it a 4 out of 10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJgicorhpWc

The Oh in Ohio

I love me some Parker Posey and not since Party Girl have I loved her more. Priscilla Chase (Parker) is a young professional woman who has never let go and has lived her life of control to the point of never having had an orgasm. While the premise of this film is her dilemma, it manifested in many facets of her life. Paul Rudd plays her husband, Jack. I like Paul Rudd as well but found his character annoying. He blamed his depressional rut on Priscilla's inability to orgasm but the real crux of his pain was his own insecurity. Only when he left Priscilla for one of his teenaged students (Mischa Barton) did Priscilla really begin to live life. Heather Graham played Justine, a lesbian interested in Priscilla and her "problem". This was a delightful story told with an exuberance that kept me interested despite it's simplicity. I enjoyed it and walked away loving Parker Posey even more, if that is possible. I recommend it for a light hour or so of escape. A girl's film, no doubt.

I give it a 4 out of 10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crREojXXKgM

Juno

Not like Alaska, like Zeus' wife JUNO... Ellen Page as Juno was the perfect blend of snark and hipster. I loved her "accoutremental" pipe.. in combination with her zeal, quick wit, and articulate-ness GENIUS... Juno is one of my all time favorite characters. She listens to punk rock, dresses down her cuteness, and likes the "sleeper" guy in school. The "sleeper" is the guy who is tre-cool in an intellectual and odd way who doesn't flirt incessantly and isn't trying to garner attention constantly (So refreshing)... Michael Cera as Paulie Bleecker was perfect casting, however, he does play the same humorous character with "great timing" in most every film he does. It is like Ben Stiller, he is always playing some variation of the same character in every film. If you do something well, keep doing it. Juno's wise-cracking father is also great and endearing. If for nothing else, I would watch this film for the all the "wise acre" glory, because I don't think ever in one film being a wise ass, clever and witty has been done so consistently and well. The story line is ok too. "He was good in "chair" was quite hilarious.

I give it a 7 out of 10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0SKf0K3bxg

Ghost Town

Ricky Gervais (of the original Office series fame, UK) flexes his leading man skills in a predictable film about being able to see and talk with the dead. Bertram Pincus (Ricky Gervais) is a loner who separates himself from humanity in various ways including being unusually rude. He winds his way through the movie being clumsily witty and humorous-- purely by accident--which makes the film funny at times. Greg Kinnear plays the ghost most present in the film and talks with Dr. Pincus regularly. Pincus' interactions with Kinnear brings him to an epiphany and he changes his ways towards the end of the film. He learns that he is not much different than Kinnear's character, but redeems himself.

I give this film a 5 out of 10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpkN4CbxYYg

The Virgin Suicides

Kirsten Dunst as the character Lux in this provocative film shows the audience what can go horribly wrong when you guard your children ad nauseum from the outside world. A family of 5 daughters with a unrelentingly strict upbringing breeds a general unhappiness and is manifested through the taking of their own lives. This film provides an intimate view into the world of the Lisbon family and how an over-protective mother damages her daughter's psyches. The sheltered lives of the girls creates a shroud of mystery for the neighborhood boys and creates in them intense curiosity and yearning for the girls. James Woods is the nebbish math teacher father who complies with his wife's demands and does little to free the girls from the mother's unrealistic discipline. The result is tragedy of the highest order. This film has a great musical score filled with 70s love songs and a great generational feel. Josh Hartnett is masterful as Trip, the hot football player in school who mistreats Lux despite his true feelings for her. I liked this film and highly recommend it as it is thought provoking.

I give it a 7 out of 10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ6cvgIGfH4

9 1/2 Weeks

I admit it, after seeing The Wrestler, I wanted to see Mickey Rourke younger and on screen for an entire movie so I could remember him the right way. Music from the 80s can swing either way, great or absurdly corny. This film opted for the latter.. This was an interesting film because there was very little dialogue. Showing everything visually is a tall order, but the message was achieved. Kim Bassinger's character, Elizabeth, is beautiful and vulnerable. Mickey Rourke's character, John, is incapable of real intimacy and requires dramatic humiliation at times to remain interested. Elizabeth likes the games most of the time, but grows tired. It is a cat and mouse game between Elizabeth and John. If you have not watched this prior you might remain amused by curiosity regarding what stunt John will pull next. The control he asserts over her and the way she accepts it is believeable. If you are bored and want to check out the young studlier Mickey, you should watch it. Old movies are fun to rewatch in another decade!

I give it a 2 out of 10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Mu8fxPwLkU