Butterfly

Butterfly is a film which catches you without you even noticing. There are moments that it appears nothing interesting is occuring yet you cannot help but remain attached. The ending grabs you unexpectedly as the emotion of the film culminates in a beautifully subtle manner. A large part of this films worth lays in that of it's lead, a child actor able to convey depth and realism to an extraordinairy degree. The premise of this film revolves around him growing up and starting school where he becomes attached to his teachers knowledge through his learning. At the same time he is learning to become a musicican alongside his older brother. There are political moments within the film but it never forces them upon you or preaches any sort of opinion. All in all a stunning piece of subtlety in film making.

Kinamund

This gentle Danish film tells the story of Keld who receives no respect from anyone in his life, including his son. His wife leaves him and wants him to admit to adultery to speed up the process. In lamenting his life he begins eating at the local Chinese grill where he chronologically orders the different meal numbers day by day. Eventually he befriends the owner of this family business, Feng when the pipes burst and he begins work to fix them. Feng is in seach of someone to marry his sister Ling so that she can remain with the family in Denmark. In order to earn the money for his divorce settlement Keld agrees and despite the language barrier they develop a soft presence with each other. This movie offers what appears as a predictable point a to point b story but successfully takes its audience in unexpected directions.

Spring Forward

Spring Forward tells the story of Paul (Liev Schreiber) and Murphy (Ned Beatty) developing a bond as they work together for the parks and recreations department. Paul has just been released from prison and Murphy is an older vet whose son is dying. Through the time they spend with each other they learn from each other and form a close bond. Both Beatty and Schrieber offer admirable performances, neither exceptional but the script does not allow for this. Overall Spring Forward is an enjoyable gentle film.

Scorsese and Depp for Sinatra biopic?

Reports are beginning to roll in of an authorized Sinatra biopic (with his daughter at the helm of making it happen) with Johnny Depp set to star. It definately sounds like an interesting project and will utilize Sinatra recordings rather than attempts to impersonate his singing. The obvious question has to be that if Sinatra was so well known for his blue eyes will Depp be changing that for the role? Even with Depp's undoubted acting ability and breadth of skill he still just doesn't seem imageinable as Sinatra for now. Since its Scorsese you know he must have seen something good to put him there though so for now all trust in this project lies with the man with the most famous eyebrows in the industry.

Deliver Us From Evil

Sadly this documentary highlights just how big a problem child abuse within the church has become. Over 100,000 victims of clergy abuse have come forward in America alone. Father O'Grady was trusted by those around him because of his authority, much like a teacher and on several occasional violated the trust of the families he worked with by molesting their children. The daunting facts which become apparent are how aware the church were made yet their efforts were focused solely on keeping things quiet and moving him onto another parish where nobody would know of his past. Eerily even in testimony he never seems connected to the abuse. In deposition he is even asked if he has ever been told that he may have dissasociative disorder and he replies that he probably has. Even when discussing the specifics of what he did to the children, there seems to be a presence of joy in his voice, although that could just be the jovial sounding Irish accent. Within his eyes you never see any true aknowledgement of what he has done despite the fact he openly discusses it to the camera. Although this documentary could have been crafted slightly better it still plays an important part in raising awareness of the all to common practice of clergy abuse and the churches resistance to deal with the problem, even the Pope is listed as one who has worked to avoid public scandal.

Another Wuthering Heights in the works.....

Wuthering Heights is very much like Pride and Prejudice. They will never stop making new versions of it. Unfortunately the newest Wuthering Heights comes bearing the presence of Gossip Girls Ed Westwick as Heathcliff. Since Heathcliff is supposed to be the rugged type this just doesn't seem like the best possible pairing of actor and character. Natalie Portman was previously linked to the project but left and is said to be being replaced by Bond girl Gemma Arterton.

The Outsider

The Outsider focuses on filmmaker Jim Toback (Black & White, Two Guys and a Girl) as he shoots a film called When Will I be Loved in just twelve days. The initial synopsis forges the impression of a behind the scenes as they mad dash a movie together in such a short space of time. In the end it becomes a mix of shooting the movie and a retrospective on who Toback is from people in the industry who know him. He is definately a film maker with an interesting how I came to make films story. As a Harvard Student he ended up on a drug trip which lasted eight days causing him to insist he was never the same again. This documentary serves more as background watching. You don't need to be fully invested as it never goes so deep in Jim Toback or the Behind the Scenes to fully realize its potential in either direction. A complete focus on one of the other with simple snippets of other elements perhaps could have produced a more interesting view in the end.

Overnight

Overnight is a documentary offering a glimpse into what can become with quick success and how fragile it all is. Troy Duffy was a bartender who all of a sudden was being taken under Harvey Weinstein's wing. Weinstein offered him a deal unlike others that you hear of including purchasing the bar he worked in so they could own it between them. If Harvey did that for every film he made, he would own half the bars in Hollywood by now. Duffy believes Weinstein to be the big bad bully in this movie never realizing that he has been the cause of his own downfall. Anyone who thinks that they will be treated with kid gloves and able to do whatever they want at Miramax because their so great is headed for trouble. His band, who were included in the deal to record the soundtrack are on the verge of also procuring a record contract when things go awry. Troy Duffy relishes in the fact that he doesn't work the same as others in the industry but at the same time his method is far too juxt aposed to have ever sat well with Hollywood. When you scream down the phone at people and ask someone to let William Morris know that you are unhappy and will leave them unless they get things together then clearly you don't realize where you sit in the grand scheme of things. A movie deal is never finalized to be made until the cameras are rolling. The sadness of this documentary is that Duffy's ignorance prevents him from ever realizing that he simply failed to play nice and thought that the studio needed him since he was the new kid in town. In Hollywood, they can make you as fast as they can break you. An interesting hypocricy is his mention of ass kissers growing by the minute, yet early on we see footage of him hanging around Patrick Swayze, Mark Wahlberg and others.
Anyone who has ever heard tales of the Weinstein brothers ought to know never to risk pushing them the wrong way and this will show you exactly why.
Ironically after a proclamation that he doesn't plan to make any more movies, the sequel the Bondock Saints (the focus of this documentary) is currently in production. In watching Overnight though, you do have to question the reasoning behind it, presumably after being offered the too good to be true deal he simply wanted his friends to chronicle his rise to the top.

Manufacturing Dissent

With Michael Moore producing such one sided documentaries he must have known there would be a backlash. This movie is one of those. It doesn't take the same harsh tone and employ the scare tactics that Moore himself has become famous for (ironically at the same time for imploring his enemies for their use of such methods.) The focus begins back in his high school days and pieces together his life up until the time of the 2004 elections in which he was so active. When it becomes apparent that Moore's first documentary, Roger and Me all about trying to secure an interview with Roger based on General Motors in Michigan did actually obtain two interviews which were left on the cutting room floor, it becomes apparent just how far the truth has been stretched over the years. When watching Bowling for Columbine or Fahrenheit 9/11 you can visibly see Moore pulling the audiences strings as if they were marionettes. Yet the fact it is so obvious makes it acceptable, until people uncovered just how far he bent the 'truth.'
Even if it is interesting to see lies and manipulations which weren't obvious in Moore's documentary, you do find yourself in a paradox of questioning if you can fully believe either side. Like the politics he criticizes you can be left not believing that either side is 100% truth.
Manufacturing Dissent gives us the reminder that you must always take a step back from the truth of documentaries to consider its believability, like an episode of Wife Swap the answer usually lies somewhere in the middle.

Piracy and Pirates

Despite the industry recent celebration over Swedish peer to peer site Pirate Bay being found guilty of infringing copyright laws they still see piracy as a huge threat. Unlike the music industry the movie industry's movement to conquer the threat has been faster than the several years it took them. When Napster was the first big file sharing site and was successfully shut down there was no evidence of how to provide consumers with a similar paid service and by the time they created itunes and all the other services now in existence it was too late. Everybody was too well versed on how not to pay for products at this point.
Netflix has gone a long way in servicing consumers who derive their content from online as opposed to through a physical product. Movies have the one advantage that they take much longer to download and with how we allow our computers to fall into disarray as we cram them full of photos and music there sometimes simply isn't the space to add movie files.
The number of movie files accessed online is around the 500 million mark, and that is just in one month. However, the industry needs to consider the types of people who are accessing these files. While the industry looks at this as 500 million physical sales which could have been made, they need to consider those who never intend to purchase any dvd's anyway and if this service were not available would still not be paying for a product.
In a recent panel Richard Linklater referenced a screening abroad of A Scanner Darkly which occured a few years ago. When he questioned the audience on who had already seen the movie prior to its release there almost all of the audience raised their hands. Even though they had all accessed an illegal version of the film, it seeded the desire to experience it on the big screen in the way it was originally intended.
Additionally the recent case of the leaked copy of Wolverine is an interesting one to consider. The industry is still fuming over the extra millions they could have made were it not for those pesky pirates. Considering the leaked copy lacked several special effects yet to be added in post production those viewing it were not able to gain the full experience. Those simply wishing to see the movie without paying will have surely waited for a complete version to be leaked online, which it inevitable will and probably already has. It becomes explicably clear that those consuming this by product were simply eager fans of the franchise unable to contain their anticipation for the next installment who are probably the people taking up the seats at the midnight release screenings.
The dvd industry will never suffer the same way the music industry has until internet connections and computer memory becomes infinate as those not particularly tech savy are still unsure of the world. While there are people costing the industry through these means it may actually be helping with dvd sales in a roundabout way in some cases. The movie industry looks set to stay strong during the current recession despite all of this as we all seek our escape from everything going on around us. What better way to escape than into an entirely different world?

A Jihad For Love

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780046/

This documentary is outstanding. It highlights the extreme segragation experienced by homosexual Muslims. Through a mix of people and a mix of countries the filmmakers allow the subjects to voice their stories in their entirety never covering their words with a voice over artist. It raises the question of religious interpretation of their texts as many scholars disagree so fundamentally with homosexuality through this while others read the text in a different manner. There is never any way to know which side will be considered right at the end of the day but the persecution that these people face is unacceptable. Iranian Mulslims who have moved to Paris face execution if they return. Homosexuality can lead to being stoned to death and for some has already resulted in prison sentences and lashings. Showing their faces in this documentary is just a fraction of the bravery that some of these young people have encountered. Although some do not wish to fully reveal their identity it is stylististically covered through soft focus and views of other images as opposed to crime watch style recreations of altered voices and shadows. Overall an educational experience of just what some people have to go through for love.

Last Resort

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0258761/

Last Resort follows Tanya and her son as they arrive in England to meet her fiance. After he fails to show up she declares herself a refugee to stay in the country and contact him. She encounters Alfie, (Paddy Consadine) an English man who helps her to slowly improve their living situation. Tanya feels lost after she finds out it will take 6-8 months to cancel her asylum request and head home. Last Resort does not try to make any political statements with this film but instead focuses solely on a woman unsure of what direction her life is taking her in. A gentle film well worth watching.

Ping Pong Playa

Chris is a layabout who is only interested in playing basketball with his friends until forced to take over coaching at his parents ping pong academy. Though initially using it as an opportunity to scam money out of children he turns out to have a natural talent but just a bad attitude. He does however, decide to enter the Golden Cock Tournament since his brothers wrist is injured. The movie is comedic and pokes fun at racial stereotypes with quips about Chris being the Asian who talks like a stereotypical black person even referring to his father as 'dog.' Although incredibly predictable and not a laugh a minute still entertaining throughout. Just don't expect to feel enlightened about ping pong by the end.

Warner nabs Primeval

Warner has announced through a six figure deal that they have bought the rights to British Drama (currently showing on BBC America) Primeval. The plan to turn it into a movie will predictably bring about some Jurassic Park elements through the focus of the show being dinosaurs entering the modern world but it has more of a science fiction edge than pure action.

Pictures From the Playhouse

Pictures From the Playhouse is currently rejoicing in its premier at Cannes. Pieced together from nine behind the scenes documentaries from Ingmar Bergman's work as well as new interviews with his collaborators. Hopefully it won't be too long before this is unleashed for the rest of us to continue celebrating the genius that is Bergman. It is satisfying to the world of cinema that his relevance in cinematic history and artistic influence lives on.

The Story of Bonnie and Clyde

Dunaway is well within her rights to ballast this film which begins production shortly. Considering Bonnie and Clyde is such a pinnacle on the time line of movie history there is absolutely no reason to try to re-visit or recreate such a piece of perfection. Hilary Duff understandably wants to continue branching out from her Disney days but it would be impossible to do anything but pale in comparison to Dunaway. The story, the writing, the casting, the violence and the visuals of Bonnie and Clyde was so spot on that I can't imagine this will end up being worth the time let alone the price of a movie ticket.

Please Vote For Me

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1097256/

In China democracy is finally created through a class of young children allowing them the opportunity to vote for their next class monitor. The teacher has already selected three children to be in the running. Not only does this documentary highlight democracy but also simply the behavior of young children. Upon a girl standing in front of the class to perform a song on her flute and give a speech one of her rivals riles the class up into chanting nasty words against her leading to tears in the hallway. Interestingly the children are not the ones focused on winning at first but it is the push from the parents which incites tactical campaigning such as being told to ask people for bad points on their rivals. All in all a fascinating study on human behavior.

Ma Vie En Rose

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119590/

Ma Vie En Rose is cinematic perfection when it comes to tackling the obscure and absurd. Ludovic is a young boy who wants nothing more than to be a girl. He has already decided that he will have a sex change when he is older and marry the son of his fathers boss. His many day dreams including a television character reminiscent of Barbie take him flying through the air into her world but never in a way that seems incomprehensible. George Du Fresne shows incredible maturity through his acting in this lead role. Every moment in this families life delicately portrays the geniune struggle of a family as they figure out the best way to cope with their sons abnormalities.

Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1157705/

Marina Zenovich does a superb job at tackling the now well known case of Polanski's sexual involvement with a minor which led to him fleeing America. Prior media has portrayed it more as him not wanting to serve time but this documentary unearths the real reason. The judge presiding over the case (who is now deceased) was more concerned about his public image and association with celebrity than doing his job properly. The two lawyers working for either side divulge how elements of the trial and sentencing were simply for show. With the recent ongoing fight from Polanski to have his name cleared and this documentary being cited within the case it is now more than simply a look at the past of one of our most revered filmmakers.

Broken Flowers

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0412019/

As a huge Bill Murray fan I have to say this turned out to be a rather disappointing fare. It just never seemed to go anywhere. I must add that films where nothing happens are not a bad thing, take the masterpiece that is Lost in Translation. The tone of Broken Flowers never fluctuates or evolves. A story doesn't necessarily have to have the classic three act structure with an arc but you should learn something about the characters, the people within. Even though we learn a little about Don's (Murray) prior relationships it never teaches us anything about him.

We're Not Married

A classic movie where couples find out that they were never legally married. Some are joyous about this and others don't take it so well. Everything is kept relatively simple with one story concluding before the next taking place. All in all a simple yet enjoyable tale.

Nine

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0875034/

So the trailer of Nine has just been unleashed upon the world and looks more than fantastic. Rob Marshall (Chicago) has put a very strong artistic stamp on it. It looks very Chicago-ish whilst looking entirely different at the same time. It looks well worth th $10-12 (depending on where you live!!!) to see it in the cinema as opposed to the small screen. Not many films are made in this grandeur way anymore, unless you count blowing things up which for some warrants seeing it big. Even if just for what looks like one of the most amazing ensemble casts ever it looks like it will entice a lot of movie goers and award nominations.

Release currently November 25th!

Saving Grace

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0195234/

Saving Grace is a well executed light hearted fare. After the death of her husband, Grace discovers mounting debt which he hid from her. Unable to work out how to even hold onto her house she hatches a plan with her pot smoking gardener played by Craig Ferguson. With Grace's incredible agriculture skills they decide to grow their own marijuana and sell it. With little time to make the money needed they have to aim high and light up the green house right into the sky. There are moments of comedy but don't go into this expecting a fare of constant laugh out loud moments. The ending may not be to everyones taste but it wraps everything up, just with a bit too much of a jump.

Secret Things

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0287963/

Secret Things is undeniably European. If sex scenes during a film make you feel prudish then this is definately one to skip. Nathalie and Sandrine meet working in a club. After being fired Nathalie concocts a plan for them to find their place in business through utilizing their sexual power over men. The story has an interesting focus on human connection but unfortunately loses its voice near the end. Christophe is a handsome young heir to the business awaiting his fathers death and he relishes toying with people more than the two women. The film changes tone to a point of pulling you out of the world it has created. The last scene is fitting however be prepared to ignore the fifteen minutes or so prior to this to enjoy it more.

Nim's Island

Although Nim's Island offers nothing spectacularly new in terms of a childrens movie it is a great vehicle for Abigail Breslin and Jodie Foster. Unfortunately Gerard Butler does not shine in this. Jodie Foster's battle with herself as she leaves her house for the first time in years shows a side of her which we do not often see. Be warned, by the end of this you may want to pack up and move to a remote island.

Step Brothers

Will Ferrell's movies tend to be a bit hit and miss (Anchorman vs Semi Pro, Taladega Nights anybody?) but his pairing with John C Reiley works perfectly. Their comedic skills work wonders side by side suiting the storyline as they forge a relationship. As grown up children their immaturity and behavior is obviously unrealistic for the real world but throughout the movie undeniably believable. In a day and age when most comedies are no longer funny, this one took the time to truly find the laughter.

Land Before Time

I had a brief memory of this movie from my childhood and dug it out to re-watch recently. It was definately worth it. An adorable tale of dinosaurs finding their way imperfectly yet perfectly. The only down side of the Land Before Time is that it could do with a modern day touch up session, but at the same time its classic look simply adds to its charm.

Meet the Robinsons

The best part of this movie is the ending, not because its over but because of the beautiful way it all comes together. Meet the Robinson's isn't a Disney movie aiming for laughs but instead the classic Disney concept of a well told meaningful story. It aims to educate but not in an obvious way like many childrens movies. It never underestimates its audience and is a true gem.

Igby Goes Down

The Culkin family have offered the movie industry something unique. There always seems to be a younger sibling to portray the younger version of their brother!
Igby goes down is an incredibly well written movie. Kieran Culkin shows that he is an incredibly talented actor with a lot of potential and an ability to make interesting choices. What could have easily become a very two dimensional character is fully fleshed out through his portrayal in the moments where emotion boils out of a boy who usually takes delight in simply being irritating.

Tsotsi

Tsotsi means thug and that is the life that he is living. After shooting a woman who tries to stop him from stealing her car he finds out she was desperately trying to protect her baby, who is in the back seat. Tsotsi's life has led him to contain a lot of anger and he doesn't know right from wrong. He is uneducated and lives in a town ship. As he attempts to look after the child this all changes. This is all done marvelously. There is no overnight transformation that would appear unrealistic. Even when he tries to do the right thing he is still incredibly flawed in how he does it. Overall this movie is a piece of excellence in film making and the personal journey of its character.

Paperclips

This documentary goes to show the power that younger generations hold. What began as a class project to learn about the holocaust in rural Tennessee culminated in a project spanning years instead of months but with an outcome of human change well worth it. Teachers in this small school thought that teaching about the Holocaust would give their students a better understanding on prejudice rendering them less likely to judge each other. When students discovered that paperclips were worn as a sign of support for the imprisoned Jews in Poland by those who faced imprisonment themselves if they spoke out a new idea arose. They decided to collect 6 million paperclips to represent the 6 million jews killed during the Holocaust. The results far exceeded expectation with in excess of 24 million being sent with letters from all across the world. The letters they received with many seeing their contributed paperclip as a tribute to those they lost in that time are touching. The element which holds this documentary back from becoming truly great is that that it was made at the end of the project when all the paperclips had been collected so most of it was in retrospect. But seeing students talk about what they learnt and how it has changed them as people makes this film worth while.

Let The Right One In

If vampires are not your thing do not be put off by the fact that this is an offbeat love story between two twelve year olds where one of them happens to be a vampire. The story is so artistically told and delicate that even those without a penchant for blood and fangs will enjoy this. The casting of its two young leads is phenomenal. It never reaches to shock or scare but instead to simply create a relationship between two isolated humans. The only down side of this movie is that Hollywood has already picked up the rights to tarnish what is an outstanding Swedish film.

I've Loved You So Long

Kristen Scott Thomas is absolutely astounding in her silence. After fifteen years in prison she comes to stay with her sister who was too young to have fully known her before. They set about creating a relationship rather than being able to build on foundations. Throughout their time spent together we learn more about the reason for the prison sentence as Scott Thomas's character builds herself a new life and integrates herself into family life with her sisters husband and adopted children. Every moment of this film is beautifully crafted to the point where why she was in prison almost doesn't matter. It wouldn't have been a disappointing movie if this had never been divulged as it is all about the moments between people.

Sex and Lucia

At least the title forewarns, there is a substantial amount of sex in this movie. But nothing shockingly out of the ordinary. Ultimately it is a study of relationships and how small a world we really live in. Sometimes you never realize just how your life has interconnected with others until after the fact. Lucia lives with her boyfriend but he does not know that he has a daughter from a one night stand. As relationships fall apart and new ones are formed the characters intermingle with each other throughout each of their stories, in amongst the sex! For a movie which looks like it may go for the predictable ending with nicely tied endings it veers from this because thankfully it was not made in Hollywood.

Take My Eyes

This Spanish movie tackles the subject of domestic abuse somewhat well and strikingly realistically. Pilar takes her son and leaves her abusive husband in the middle of the night to flee to her sisters, so anxious she doesn't even remember to change out of her slippers. She still loves him however and he works his way back into her life. Even though there is nothing mind blowing in the movie it is worth watching for how it deals with its subject.

Stay

The first thing wrong with this film is Ewan McGregor's attempt at an American accent. In addition he slips into Scottish on more than one occasion. Note to film makers, always let him just be Scottish. The movie has some impressive moments of surrealism as Mcgregor, playing a therapist attempts to help Ryan Gosling who states he plans to kill himself on his 21st Birthday. Just a few days away. It seems as though McGregor is the one losing his mind and he has conversations with people he is later told are dead and sees the same events occuring multiple times. It never successfully finds a groove to maintain the interest and give just enough away that you may figure it out. If you do sit through this movie then you will see why. In addition to this, the 'payoff' at the end is a poor and lazy conclusion.

Separate Lies

Despite a great cast containing Emily Blunt and Rupert Everett this film fails to ever take off. With these two conducting an affair and becoming involved in a hit and run leading to the death of her maids husband for Blunt the storyline contains a great deal of potential. Unfortunately it just never gets there. Her oh so politely English husband appears to just let everything happen and is the one pushing the lies to cover up the fact she was driving. She speaks of how she can't give up Everett yet we never see it, believe it or feel it. There are almost no scenes with the two together so it is almost as if they vanish completely when together. This film never aims very high and falls far to the wayside.

On a Clear Day You Can SeeForever

Now I do have to admit to having become a slight closet Barbara Streisand fan after watching Funny Girl. However, this movie has been the exception to that trend so far. Vincente Minnelli made a musical long after musicals had begun to die out. That may have been blamed for this films failure at the time. But despite his signature beauty and use of color (much like Baz Luhrman's) this film failed to create a world which would cause audiences to care. Barbara plays a woman who is slightly psychic but never knows what will happen to herself andwhen she is hypnotized by a doctor attempting to cure her of her nicotine addiction she regressing into different personalities. Unfortunately for audiences, we are then treated to wailing songs describing what is going on with each one as her mind is living in that moment. Even if you fall for Streisand's movies, keep a safe distance from this one.

Celebrity

As someone who is mildly interested in Woody Allen's work but not bowled over this does appear to be one of his stronger suits. You are never meant to like the characters, never meant to feel what they are feeling. Everyone is focused on success, relationships, and of course celebrity. Allen offers insightful glimpses into different pockets of life for just long enough to learn about the people. Some drift in and out more than others so you're left never knowing if you will see certain people again. A lot like life. Even if Allen's work occassionally fails to pull you in this one is worth watching as one of his stronger suits.

Fast Food Nation

The concept of making a fiction movie from a book which had its Warhol-esque fifteen minutes of fame for detailing the practices of fast food joints is definitely a bizarre one. There are moments within this movie that were enjoyable but a lot of it leaves you wondering why they bothered with the scene. Do we really care is ultimately the problem with the film as a whole. It fails to find it's voice or a particular focus. The story of imigrants crossing the border and working in the meat processing factory could have been a movie in itself but ultimately it becomes lost amongst the other stories, and as do they.

Sleepless in Seattle

This is a movie that needs revisiting even for romantic comedy cynics such as myself (the majority are simply not funny, nor romantic) as this actually executes both well. Watching a weeping woman recall the story line to An Affair to Remember followed by Tom Hanks mockery weeping of a very mannish film is sure to amuse. This is a movie that I hadn't sen since its initial release and so I was entirely unaware of just how well written it actually is.

17 Again

Obviously anyone who enjoys sitting and staring at Zac Efrons face will enjoy this movie but it may draw a slightly larger crowd in for the young star. Although he doesn't shine any new acting skills, the script can't help but even draw in those whose usual choice would not include this movie.

Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession

This documentary for any film buff reflects upon a once existent LA movie channel called Z channel with the most eclectic and fascinating line up of movies. Educating with its wide breadth of films it both educated and entertained until its demise. At the heart of the channel was its programmer Jerry who lived and breathed movies and ultimately caused his own life to destruct. If nothing else this documentary will at least leave you with a long list of movies to watch.

Special

Paul Rappaport who you may just recognize from a brief stint in Friends as Phoebe's cop boyfriend Gary shows that he has more than what it takes to carry a movie by himself. In a definate movie with a message you never feel like this is being thrust down your throat as it truly is a story about a person and that is ultimately what matters. Partaking in a drug test in which he suffers adverse effects believing himself to have super powers, you almost want him to actually have them as everyone around them sees him running into walls while he sees himself running through them. The moment that really makes this movie however is the final minute where it becomes a stronger movie from a single moment.