Vantage Point

Excellent cast, great concept, but the execution of that concept is inconsistent. Some sections were exciting & thrilling - other sections were a little dull. Plus, it didn't help to have my friend whispering "Run Forest, Run!" every time Forest Whitaker ran down the street!! Overall, a decent flick, just not a great one.

Beowulf: Director's Cut

it's the essence of Beowulf, but for the A.D.D. sensibilities of the 21st century. The graphics are amazing, the performances are great, & it's very violent. Watch the making-of features - they're really cool and interesting!

The Darjeeling Limited

It's one of those movies that, when you're watching you think, "Nothing at all is happening!" Then you get to the end and realize, "Wow, a lot happened!!" Quirky & touching.

Becoming Jane

A lovely & bittersweet story of Jane Austen's early life & love. Ironically, had Austen had a happy ending & married - we probably wouldn't have heard of her!! Both Ann Hathaway & James McAvoy are fantastic in this. Great supporting cast too.

Gone Baby Gone

The story is a great surprise, much deeper than I expected. Ben Affleck is a very talented director - he also co-wrote the script. The movie asks some hard questions too - for example, when is "doing the right thing," the wrong thing to do? Amazing performances, especially by Casey Affleck & Amy Ryan.

The Jane Austen Book Club

A rare example of the movie being better than the book. The characters were more fleshed-out, less cliche, and far more human. I liked and identified with each book club member.
You don't have to like Jane Austen to like the movie (I love Austen's books), but it helps.

Across The Universe

The good: Fantastic music, great performances, acid-trippy visuals.
The bad: no plot, waytoo long.
Look for Joe Cocker, Bono & Salma Hayak in small roles

2 Days in Paris

Loved it! It felt so natural that at times, you felt like you were eavesdropping. Some laugh-out-loud moments. Both Delpy & Goldberg were great! I could completely relate to the fish out of water experience. Plus, the father (played by Delpy's real Dad) is hilarious!

The Nines

Just the kind of f@cked up storytelling I love. Interwoven (sort of) stories that pay off at the end nicely. I'm liking Reynolds the more I see him stretch as an actor. Plus, it's got the magnificent Hope Davis as well as Melissa McCarthy, who I loved in Gilmore Girls.

A Mighty Heart

Extremely well done portrayal of truly horrific events. Jolie is the best I've ever seen her as Mariane Pearl. I can't imagine how horrible these events must have been to experience. I used the subtitles because some of the accents were thick and I wanted to make sure I got the whole story.

The Man from Earth

While I liked the movie and loved the premise, I can't help but think that the book is so much better. I'll have to hunt to book down so I can be sure... This might offend some fundamentalist Christians, but that's part of the reason I liked it!

Michael Clayton

Develops slowly & methodically and you're never really sure where the story is taking you until the end. Great performances all around but especially by Clooney & Wilkinson.

Untraceable

Decent thriller - but I found it a little predicatable and heavy handed with the social commentary. Lane, as always, is great and rises above the average script.

Cloverfield

A good old-fashined monster flick. Shot with a hand-held camera, documentary style, you are in the middle of the action and see & experience only what our cameraman does. There were moments (like in the Subway) where I was genuinely frightened. Cool Monster+Expendable Actors=Fun Movie. I liked it!

Black Book

Magnificent film!! A fantastic story where people change allegiances like they change their underwear and you are never really sure who's on which side until the very end.

Sweeney Todd

Loaded with gallows humor, great singing, & washed out colors that accentuate the gallons of bright red blood, this is a fantastic film and another great pairing of Burton & Depp. I loved it!!!

I Am Legend

Great performance by Smith as he's mostly alone on screen for 2 hrs. 28 Days Later does the socio-political stuff better, but this has more emotional resonance. If you love animals, bring a kleenex.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

Loads of fun, never dull, ridiculous plot, and great humor - everything a mindless popcorn flick should be. Not as good as the first movie, but still entertains. Plus, Mirren does an American accent!

Juno

Fabulous! The humor is biting, but not crass. The performances are wonderful - especially Page & Garner. The script is touching without being cloying. I loved it!!

Shoot 'Em Up

What a blast (pun intended)! Ridiculously violent, outrageous, outlandish, hilarious, cartoonish (lots of Bugs Bunny references), and a whole lot of fun!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

While it was still fun, I didn't think it was as good as the prior movies. Concentrated too much on the horrid Ms. Umbridge and there weren't any Quidditch matches.

Sunshine

As a fan of Danny Boyle, I knew to expect great visuals, interesting philosophical questions, & some really wacked-out insane people. I got it all & more-visuals are stunning & the acting is great!

3:10 To Yuma

To say that the performances by Bale & Crowe are terrific is redundant, so I'll just say that everything about this movie was fantastic - story, cinematography, and yes, the acting.

Happy New Year

My resolution this year is to remember to post to my own blog.
Enjoy!
Bette