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Internet Movie Database
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04 Jan

Deja Vu

Grade: B

Deja Vu is a thriller with a little sci-fi element to it.  Denzel Washington is our hero, handsome and gutsy as ever in this role.  He’s trying to solve a case in typical detective fashion, and he finds out about some very cool time-warping device the government is working on.  Val Kilmer is in charge of it, and Adam Goldberg is the brains behind the operation.  Cool premise, and Denzel is drawn in even though he doesn’t understand it.  We’re right there with him, and soon we’re rooting for him to save the day.  Jim Caviezel is the bad guy – and he’s pretty creepy.  I wasn’t expecting much from this movie, but I liked it.  It’s fast-paced, action, guessing game, date night fare.
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04 Jan

Defiance

Grade: B

Defiance is based on the true story about three Jewish brothers in Poland who managed to help hundreds of Jews hide from the Nazis during the time of the Holocaust.  Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber play the two older brothers.  Their father is killed and they are forced to flee into the forest.  Over time, more and more people join them, and they end up forming a community working to keep each other alive.  The two brothers collide, and one goes off to serve in the Russian army while the other maintains the community.  The group ends up facing many obstacles, including hunger, animals, freezing cold, and even divisiveness.  How they come together during these crises is remarkable, and inspirational.

There is a lot of violence in the movie, and it is difficult to watch people suffer.  Well written and strong performances.

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04 Jan

Date Night

Grade: B+

Finally a comedy for adults, starring adults, written by adults!  Can we have more of these, please?  My husband and I went to see Date Night on our own date night and we laughed out loud!  Tina Fey and Steve Carrell play a “boring married couple from Jersey” who venture out to Manhattan for a rare evening in the city.  This is supposed to be their “date night,” a time to re-connect and cut loose from the daily routine of life in suburbia.  In a case of mistaken identity, they end up flung into high crime, being pursued by both the bad guys and the police.  One of the funniest car chases I’ve seen is involved.  Of course, this is a comedy, so all’s well that end’s well – but in this case, the journey is much more fun than the destination.  I hope to see more from these two!
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04 Jan

Dark Shadows

Grade: B

Dark Shadows was on my “must see” list because I love the whole Tim Burton/Johnny Depp combo.  Dark Shadows is based on the TV series from the 1960’s – and the movie version is full of camp and humor and nods to the past.  Johnny Depp is one of the best character actors of our generation, and he doesn’t disappoint as the lead character, Barnabas Collins.  Barnabas may be a vampire, but he’s endearing.  Eva Greene is the witch who still pines away for Barnabas throughout the centuries, and reigns havoc over his home and family.  Helena Bonham Carter is the psychiatrist who has become a permanent resident at the Collins mansion.  And Michelle Pfeiffer is the lady of the house, elegant and mysterious.  The series continued, and it’s clear the movie intends to become a franchise, we are left open-ended for a sequel… or two!
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04 Jan

Dan in Real Life

Grade: A-

Steve Carell stars in the title role in “Dan in Real Life,” an adult romantic comedy, emphasis on the comedy.  This is not a teen comedy, with bathroom jokes and lowball humor.  This one is smart, and witty and sweet and off-beat all at the same time.  Dan is a widower, on a weekend visit to the parents lake home with his whole family – brothers, sisters, assorted nieces and nephews and his 3 daughters.  Many of the laughs come from daughter number 2, a typical drama queen teen in love.  Juliette Binoche plays Marie, Dan’s love interest, who also happens to be his brother’s girlfriend.  A nice little conflict that plays on different levels.

The audience was a mix of date night couples and older teens who are Steve Carell fans.  The movie actually got applause at the end.  I loved it!  No sex scenes, no violence, no swearing, just lots of good writing and acting – quite refreshing!

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04 Jan

Dallas Buyers Club

Grade: B

Dallas Buyers Club is based on the true story of Ron Woodroof, a small time rodeo rider.  It’s 1985 and Ron is a hard partying red-neck.  When he winds up in the hospital he gets diagnosed as HIV positive and is given 60 days to live.  At first  he goes about living those last days partying harder, but on the 59th day he finds a desire to live, and goes on a mission to recover.  He winds up in Mexico, on a regime of vitamins and drugs that are unapproved in the US.

When he starts improving, he comes up with the idea of selling these drugs back in the US by setting up a “club.”  Since he’s selling memberships rather than drugs he’s found a loophole.

Ron starts living the high life with all this new money.  He takes on a partner, a transsexual named Rayon played by Jared Leto.

At some point Ron is more about the cause than the money.  His life changes, and he changes.

Matthew McConaughey plays Woodroof, and there’s talk of an Oscar nomination for him. He lost a lot of weight for this role, he looks the part physically and it’s kind of creepy to see such a fit, healthy actor look so strung out and sick.

Good movie.  Worth seeing.  Some drug and sex scenes, not for the faint of heart.

 

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04 Jan

Crazy Stupid Love

Grade: B+

What an amazing cast in Crazy Stupid Love – a romantic comedy that is timely and hilarious!  Steve Carrell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei – wow!  They’re all fantastic.  The writing is very clever – lots of laughs, and also some pulling of the heartstrings.  Something for each of us to relate to.

Emily and Cal (Moore and Carrell) are long-time marrieds out to dinner when she springs on him that she wants a divorce.  Life as they knew it changes dramatically as they each struggle to find their footing in their new situations.  Cal gets some mentoring from a younger womanizer who ends up changing his life in more ways than one.  A few surprise twists keeps things interesting.

Highly recommended.

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04 Jan

Crash

Grade: A-

Crash is one of the five Academy Award nominees for Best Picture 2005. And deservedly so. This movie is well written, well produced, and well acted. But it’s not for everyone. This is one of the most intense movies I’ve ever seen. And it certainly doesn’t do anything for the tourism industry in Los Angeles. It is incredibly dark and complicated, and definitely makes a statement or two. Terence Howard is amazing as a TV director, Thandie Newton is outstanding as his pampered yet put-upon wife. Sandra Bullock is a big surprise as an angry, spoiled housewife. Don Cheadle is excellent, as always, as the detective who seems to tie the whole story together. Matt Dillon got a nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a biased cop. Ryan Phillippe is brilliant as his rookie partner. The movie is just remarkable, extremely thought-provoking. It stays with you days later. It’s rated R – lots of violence, language. OK for older teens, may even open some discussion in the household.
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04 Jan

Country Strong

Grade: B

Country Strong is set in the world of country music.  We start out meeting country star Kelly (Gwyneth Paltrow) in rehab.  Her husband (Tim McGraw) is ready to check her out, even though one of her caretakers, Beau (Garrett Hedlund), thinks she’s not ready.  Beau is also a country singer, so the husband hires him to come on the road and keep an eye on Kelly, not knowing that the two had been involved.  They also bring along Chiles Stanton, an up and coming singer (Leighton Meester) and life on the road gets interesting.  Kelly is fighting her demons, and the relationships play out like a soap opera.

The music is wonderful – and the story is heartbreaking, like a good country song.  Keep an eye out for Garrett Hedlund, he’s going to be a big star.  Those eyes, that voice… we’ll be seeing a lot more of him for sure.

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04 Jan

Coraline

Grade: B
Charming, quirky and utterly original animated movie, Coraline is a true work of art.  Interesting storyline about a young girl with workaholic parents who discovers a doorway to another reality in her new home.  In this alternate universe, her “other mother” starts out as a dream, but ends up a nightmare.  Coraline learns what a real home and family is all about.  The same kind of style as The Nightmare Before Christmas.  Very well done – I expect Coraline to be nominated in the best animated feature category.
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