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Internet Movie Database
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04 Jan

Like Dandelion Dust

Grade: C+

Like Dandelion Dust is a small independent film based on Karen Kingsbury’s novel of the same name.  It stars Mira Sorvino as an abused wife who turns her husband in.  While the husband is in jail, she gives birth and puts the baby up for adoption.  Fast forward to 7 years later, the couple is back together again and they want their baby back.  The boy is now living a happy life with his new parents.  Lots of heartache, tears, hard choices.  But luckily a happy ending after all the suffering.
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04 Jan

Life of Pi

Grade: A-

Director Ang Lee’s adaptation of Yann Martel’s novel “Life of Pi” is nothing short of magnificent.


When a young man (played brilliantly by Suraj Sharma) survives a disaster at sea, he is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor: a fearsome Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.

The cinematography is beautiful, and it stands out even more so in 3D.  It’s a simple story, really, and told so well.  Utterly original, and deeply moving.  I loved it!
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04 Jan

License to Wed

Grade: C

License to Wed is a goofy romantic comedy.  Robin Williams is the antagonist, he’s the priest who is supposed to conduct the ceremony for our two lovebird, played by Mandy Moore and John Krazinski.  John Krazinski is best known for his role in the TV show “The Office” and 3 of his co-stars show up in this movie – it’s fun to see them all interact in these new parts.

Weddings are a popular backdrop for romantic comedies, and in any good comedy, you need conflict.  That’s where Robin Williiams, or Reverend Frank, comes in.  His course on marriage is a requirement to a wedding at his church, so the young couple goes along with it.  Of course, mayhem ensues, there’s the misunderstandings, the over-the-top physical comedy, the misinterpreted intentions – the total formula.  Throw in a few robot babies and poop jokes and you’ve pretty much got the idea.  Of course, the requisite happy ending makes it all worth it.
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04 Jan

Libertine

Grade: D

Hated this one. It was pointless, crass, rude, gross and boring. I would love to see Johnny Depp play someone NORMAL the next time he does a movie. This character was just beyond bizarre. And the dialogue was endless. Most of the action was meant for shock value – but… sorry, yawn! I wasted 2 hours watching this movie and I don’t want to waste another minute writing about it. Really bad.
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04 Jan

Letters to Juliet

Grade: B+

What a delight!  Letters to Juliet is sweet and refreshing, perfect for a summer weekend. Amanda Seyfried plays an aspiring writer who jets off to Italy with her workaholic fiance for a pre-wedding honeymoon.  While there, his enthusiasm for all things food and wine for his restaurant leaves her behind to fend for herself.  She stumbles upon a wall where visitors leave “letters to Juliet” (as in Romeo and Juliet) seeking advice for matters of the heart.  She meets and befriends the women who answer these letters and then finds a letter written 50 years ago that she decides to answer herself.

When Vanessa Redgrave and her grandson show up in Italy they seek her out, and the three head off for an adventure to find Vanessa’s first true love.

Of course, the journey is one of self-discovery, and our little Amanda grows up and sees what she is capable of, and what she really wants in life.  After a few obligatory set-backs, we have a happy ending, good news all around.

My bet is that Vanessa Redgrave will get a supporting actress nomination for this role – she is luminous!  If you’ve ever wanted to go to Italy, you will want to see this movie – if you haven’t thought about going to Italy, this movie will make you want to go!
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04 Jan

Letters from Iwo Jima

Grade: B+

Clint Eastwood directed “Letters from Iwo Jima” as a companion piece to “Flags of our Fathers.”  Iwo Jima take the same circumstances and looks at it from the Japanese point of view.  The movie is nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture and Clint Eastwood is nominated as Best Director this year.  Except for a couple of scenes, the whole movie is in Japanese with English subtitles.  But that doesn’t interfere with us getting close to the characters.  The movie is filled with emotions, and is difficult to watch sometimes.  It’s a war movie, so expect the requisite violence and bloodshed, and cold-hearted onscreen behavior.
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04 Jan

Les Miserables

Grade: A

Wow!  Les Miserables totally blew me away.  I loved the stage play – and I had high hopes for the film, and my expectations were exceeded.

Hugh Jackman deserves an award nomination or two or three for his role as Jean Valjean, the former prisoner who turns himself into a model citizen.  This is probably one of the toughest roles in all the musical plays, in part because it’s both physically and vocally challenging.  Hugh doesn’t let us down.  He’s totally amazing!

Russell Crowe is a little out of his league vocally for the part of Javert, the policeman who becomes Valjean’s nemesis.  But his acting works for the part, and the relationship between the two men is intense and believable.

Anne Hathaway takes on the role of Fantine, and she is exquisitely fragile and vulnerable.  And her voice is a huge surprise – just beautiful!  Her rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” is a show stopper.

Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen provide comic relief as the innkeepers who are supposed to be taking care of Fantine’s daughter, Cosette.

The rest of the cast is fantastic – notably Samantha Barks as Eponine – I think we’ll be seeing a lot more from this girl!

Director Tom Hooper had the actors sing in real time on set rather than looping in their voices in post production.  This was a big risk, and it paid off – it makes the movie very gritty and real.  We’re invested in the characters all the more because their emotions show up right there in the moment.  It’s perfect.

All in all, I think Les Mis was one of my very favorite movies of 2012.  A must-see!
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04 Jan

Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events

Grade: B-

Very stylized and campy. Jim Carrey chews up the scenery. A little scary for younger kids who might not get the tongue-in-cheek sturm and drang. It’s dark, but it’s supposed to be dark, that’s the gimmick. The kid actors are all darling – we’ll see lots more of them in the future!
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04 Jan

Leatherheads

Grade: B+

Leatherheads stars George Clooney, Renee Zellweger and John Krasinski.  The name comes from the leather helmets that football players used to wear back in the day before the NFL, when the sport was just getting started.  These are the days when alcohol was illegal and working women were rare.  Renee is a smart and sassy reporter ala Barbara Stanwyk to George’s charming and clever con man/football star.  George wants pro football to enjoy the same success that college football has, so he recruits a college star, the Office’s John Krasinski, to help get ticket sales up.  It works, and maybe too well.  George and Renee have a cute banter going on, a throw-back to those snappy “His Girl Friday” type of movies from the ’40s.

Leatherheads works best when it is in romantic comedy mode.  When it gets into slapstick, it feels silly.  Great date movie.  Really fun to watch.
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04 Jan

Last Holiday

Grade: B

I love Queen Latifah – she’s so fun to watch, she’s so comfortable in her own skin – she’s talented and beautiful and real! This movie must have been written just for her, she’s in every scene and she carries it off with ease. In a way “Last Holiday” is kind of a Cinderella story, where Cinderella romances, and finds, herself. It’s over the top, and silly and fun – there are times when I would love it if she would break out in song! You know there’s a happy ending, so there’s no real conflict… it’s all tied up neatly with a bow.
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