Taking Chance - Kevin Bacon - September 2

Inspired by the true story of the United States Marine who volunteered to escort the remains of a nineteen year old soldier who was killed in Iraq to his small hometown in remote Wyoming,this is an emtional experience to view.

Foyle's War, Set 5, disc 2 - Kitchen/Weeks - August 29

Julie and I enjoy this mystery series set in the early forties.

The Namesake - Indian cast - August 25

This is a very engrossing story of an Indian family who emigrate to America (the wife somewhat unwillingly) and struggle with mixing eastern and western cultures. Very well done.

The Station Agent - Peter Dinklage, Patricia Clarkson - August 21,

I copied the following from a movie review because he says it better than I. The movie is excellent without sex, CG, car chases and bodies.

"Actor Tom McCarthy (perhaps best remembered for the David Kelley TV series Boston Public) makes an impressive directorial debut with this warm, perceptive drama. The Station Agent deals primarily with the difficulties that emotionally damaged people face in connecting with others; and while the story could easily have turned mawkish, McCarthy (who also wrote the script) admirably resists any such temptation.

Attempting to recover from the death of his only real friend in a recently inherited, though long-abandoned, train station in rural New Jersey, the reclusive dwarf Finbar McBride (Peter Dinklage) finds himself unable to avoid garrulous huckster Joe Oramas (Bobby Cannavale), who is temporarily manning his sick father's food concession. One of the regular customers, Olivia Harris (Patricia Clarkson), who was abandoned by her husband after their child's death, gradually becomes involved in their lives, as does Emily (Michelle Williams), a beautiful young woman who develops what seems to be a romantic interest in the station agent.

The diminutive Dinklage has an oversize dramatic personality and has no difficulty holding the screen as the film’s nominal leading man. Clarkson has the most demanding role, which she pulls off with her customary subtlety. McCarthy’s movie doesn’t offer easy answers or pat resolutions; nobody’s problems are completely solved before the end credits roll. But the characters are carefully drawn and skillfully interpreted by an effective cast, and the story draws to a close much more optimistically than it begins."

Downfall - German actors(good) - August 18

The singular achievement of this masterful film, a chilling fictional account of the Third Reich’s last days, is its portrayal of Adolf Hitler: He’s depicted as not only monstrous and unhinged but also kindly (in fleeting moments, anyway) and more than a little pathetic. Written, produced, and acted by Germans.

The Dark Knight - Christian Bale, Gary Oldman - August 14

Christopher Nolan steps back into the director's chair for this sequel to Batman Begins, which finds the titular superhero coming face to face with his greatest nemesis -- the dreaded Joker. Christian Bale returns to the role of Batman, Maggie Gyllenhaal takes over the role of Rachel Dawes (played by Katie Holmes in Batman Begins), and Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger dons the ghoulishly gleeful Joker makeup previously worn by Jack Nicholson and Cesar Romero. Just as it begins to appear as if Batman, Lt. James Gordon (Gary Oldman), and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) are making headway in their tireless battle against the criminal element, a maniacal, wisecracking fiend plunges the streets of Gotham City into complete chaos. The Dark Knight is a dark movie and LOUD.

Frost/Nixon - Frank Langella, Michael Sheen - August 11

Hollywood heavyweight Ron Howard adapts playwright Peter Morgan's West End hit for the silver screen with this feature focusing on the 1977 television interviews between journalist David Frost (Michael Sheen) and former president Richard Nixon (Frank Langella).

At the time Nixon sat down with Frost to discuss the sordid details that ultimately derailed his presidency, it had been three years since the former commander in chief had been forced out of office. The Watergate scandal was still fresh in everyone's minds, and Nixon had remained notoriously tight-lipped until he agreed to sit down with Frost.

Nixon was certain that he could hold his own opposite the up-and-coming British broadcaster, and even Frost's own people weren't quite sure their boss was ready for such a high-profile interview. When the interview ultimately got under way and each man eschewed the typical posturing in favor of the simple truth, fans and critics on both sides were stunned by what they witnessed.

Instead of Nixon stonewalling the interviewer as expected, or Frost lobbing softballs as the truth-seekers feared, what emerged was an unguardedly honest exchange between a man who had lost everything and another with everything to gain.

In this film, viewers are treated to not only a recreation of that landmark interview, but a behind-the-scenes look at the power struggles that led up to it as well.

Gran Torino - Clint Eastwood - August 7

A racist Korean War veteran living in a crime-ridden Detroit neighborhood is forced to confront his own lingering prejudice when a troubled Hmong teen from his neighborhood attempts to steal his prized Gran Torino. Decades after the Korean War has ended, ageing veteran Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) is still haunted by the horrors he witnessed on the battlefield. The two objects that matter most to Kowalski in life are the classic Gran Torino that represents his happier days working in a Ford assembly plant, and the M-1 rifle that saved his life countless times during combat. When Kowalski's teenage neighbor (Bee Vang) attempts to steal his Gran Torino as part of a gang initiation rite, the old man manages to catch the aspiring thief at the business end of his well-maintained semi-automatic rifle. Later, due to the pride of the Asian group, the boy is forced to return to Kowalski's house and perform an act of penance. Despite the fact that Kowalski wants nothing to do with the young troublemaker, he realizes that the quickest way out of the situation is to simply cooperate. In an effort to set the teen on the right path in life and toughen him up, the reluctant vet sets him up with an old crony who now works in construction. In the process, Kowalski discovers that the only way to lay his many painful memories to rest is to finally face his own blinding prejudice head-on. Great flick!

The Spiderwick Chronicles - live/animation - August 4

Mark S. Waters's adaptation of the popular fantasy novels The Spiderwick Chronicles tells the tale of the Graces, a family who must adapt to their new strange surroundings. As the story begins, twin brothers Jared and Simon, along with their sister Mallory and their mother, move away from the big city to a mansion owned by their uncle. When a series of strange happenings suggest that Jared may be causing a number of disturbances, the siblings band together to figure out what is going on. Soon they discover the magical history of the property. I thought at first that it was a children's movie but soon discovered that it would be too scary. Julie watched it, though.

The Lover - Jane March, Tony Leung - July 30

Set in French Indochina in 1929, the film explores the erotic charge of forbidden love. Jane March plays a French teenager sent to a Saigon boarding school, while Tony Leung is a 32-year Chinese aristocrat. They look at each and they both see it's kismet. He offers her a ride in his limousine and soon they meet in his "bachelor room" where they revel in a wide variety of creative sexual encounters (it's not far from porn). However, they both realize their love is doomed. She comes from a troubled family that includes a mentally-disturbed mother (Frederique Meininger) and drug-addicted brother (Arnaud Giovaninetti). It also appears that her family would not approve of an interracial tryst. But then neither would his family, since in order to inherit his father's wealth, he must not break from a traditional Chinese arranged marriage.

Foyle's War, set 5, disc 1 - Michael Kitchen - July 27

This episode is titled Plan of Attack -- With the Hastings police force suffering attrition and low morale, Foyle comes out of retirement to probe the mysterious death of a cartographer from the Air Ministry.

Unfaithful - Richard Gere, Diane Lane - July 23

In Adrian Lyne's erotic thriller, Diane Lane is Connie, a wife and mother who lives in a beautiful house with her handsome husband, Edward (Richard Gere). But their marriage has lost its sexual spark, and when Connie literally runs into handsome book collector Paul (Olivier Martinez), he sweeps her into an all-consuming affair. But Edward soon becomes suspicious...Diane Lane is HOT in this unusual tale.

The Postman Always Rings Twice - Jack Nicholson, Jessica Lange - July 13

This remake of John Garfield's classic film noir goes where 1940s Hollywood feared to tread: into the realm of explicit sex. Jack Nicholson is a drifter who falls hard for Cora Papadakis (Jessica Lange), the wife of a café owner in Depression-era California. Their love sizzles, but things head south when murder enters the picture. Jack is terrific.

The Seed of Cunning - Nathaniel Parker, Sharon Small - July 9

Back in London, Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley (Nathaniel Parker) and Sgt. Barbara Havers (Sharon Small) investigate the murder of a doorkeeper at the House of Lords, who was discovered floating in the Thames River, brutally beaten, with his hands tied behind his back. At first, the detectives suspect that the victim's gambling debts are to blame, but a second murder prompts them to investigate a possible connection to stolen documents. Time to give this seriees a rest.

Island at War, Disc 3 - unknowns - July 3

Set on St. Gregory's, a make-believe section of the Channel Islands, this fascinating British series examines the lives of three different families caught on the islands at the outbreak of World War II. Catch all the episodes of this groundbreaking show, which captures its characters dealing with the stresses of everyday living as well as the repercussions of global conflict. Stars Felicity Dorr, James Wilby and Louisa Clein. Well done but fortunately this is the end of the series.

Breach - unknowns - June 30

Soon after landing a plum job working for FBI operative Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper), Eric O'Neill (Ryan Phillippe) realizes he's been brought in to spy on his boss, who's suspected of selling secrets to the Soviets. But can O'Neill handle such an important assignment with so little field experience, or will Hanssen get to him first? Laura Linney and Dennis Haysbert also star in director Billy Ray's high-stakes thriller based on a true story. This is really good and riveting.

Frozen River - Melissa Leo - June 26

On a Mohawk reservation on the Canadian border, Ray Eddy (Melissa Leo, in an Oscar-nominated turn) teams with widowed tribe member Lila Littlewolf (Misty Upham) to smuggle illegal immigrants into the United States. Though the work provides the women with much-needed money, each trip puts them in peril. Charlie McDermott and Michael O'Keefe also star in this riveting drama nominated for multiple Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Feature. Well done but not my favorite subject for entertainment.

The Bank Job - unknowns - June 23

Based on a true 1971 event, this thriller tells the story of Terry (Jason Statham), a car dealer who becomes involved in a London bank heist only to find that the contents of the bank vault will draw him deeply and irrevocably into the city's criminal underbelly. Murder and scandal abound in this tale of corruption populated with a surprising mix of offenders, from low-level thugs to government officials and all the way up to the royal family.

Shattered Glass - unknowns - June 19

This fact-based film depicts the rise and fall of disgraced journalist Stephen Glass (Hayden Christensen), who was a staff writer at The New Republic and contributed stories to Rolling Stone and other magazines. Glass fabricated many of his stories, which led to his downfall. Steve Zahn plays the Forbes.com technology reporter who uncovered the truth about Glass's deception. Chloe Sevigny, Hank Azaria and Rosario Dawson also star. Excellent movie and interesting interview of Glass on Sixty Minutes.

Vicky Christina Barcelona - Scarlett Johannsen, Penelpe Cruz - June 16

Javier Bardem stars in the latest effort from legendary filmmaker Woody Allen as a flamboyant painter who finds himself in the middle of a unique relationship with Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Christina (Scarlett Johansson), a pair of American tourists. Penélope Cruz (with her first Oscar win) also stars as Bardem's insanely jealous ex-wife, Maria Elena, in this quirky romantic dramedy (winner of a Best Comedy Golden Globe) set in Barcelona.

In a Catholic elementary school in the Bronx, Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) begins to have doubts about one of the priests, Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who seems to have become overly involved in the life of a young African American pupil. But Flynn isn't the only one she has doubts about. Is she overreacting to the situation or is there a truth that needs to be discovered? John Patrick Shanley's drama was nominated for five Oscars and co-stars Amy Adams and Viola Davis. Good flick.

Fingersmith - Sally Hawkins, Rupert Evans - June 5

Dark deeds and intrigue abound when petty thief Sue Trinder (Sally Hawkins) helps con man Richard Rivers (Rupert Evans) defraud a wealthy heiress, Maud Lilly (Elaine Cassidy), of her inheritance. But Sue's plans are thwarted when she falls in love with Maud. The tale twists as the young women are separated but come to realize the strength of their passion for each other in this BBC adaptation of Sarah Waters Booker's novel.

Island at War, episodes 3&4 - BBC - June 2

Two more well done episodes chronicalling a small island's efforts to put up with German occupation.

Seraphim Falls - Pierce Brosnan, Liam Neeson - May 29

This a post-Civil War era tale of a one man's quest to put his nemesis in the ground, and another man's struggle to survive at any cost. Good flick.

Elegy - Ben Kingsley, Penelope Cruz, Dennis Hopper - May 26

Cultural critic David Kepesh (Ben Kingsley) sits comfortably in his ivory tower, divorced from any romantic or familial entanglements, that is, until a striking 24-year-old daughter (Penélope Cruz) of Cuban exiles reawakens his sense of sexual excitement. Their unlikely bond yields shocking revelations that change David's life forever. Spanish director Isabel Coixet helms this star-studded adaptation of the Philip Roth novel The Dying Animal.

Last Chance Harvey - Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman - May 21

Dustin Hoffman stars in this romantic dramedy as Harvey Shine, a struggling jingle writer who risks losing his job to attend his daughter's London wedding, only to discover he is not exactly welcome at the ceremony. While seeking refuge in the airport bar, Harvey meets a lonely statistician named Kate (Emma Thompson) and soon finds himself happily thrust into an unexpected romance. Hoffman and Thompson both picked up Golden Globe nominations for their roles. Good flick.

Island at War, epoisodes 1&2 - BBC - May 18

Set on St. Gregory's, a make-believe section of the Channel Islands, this fascinating British series examines the lives of three different families caught on the islands at the outbreak of World War II. Catch all the episodes of this groundbreaking show, which captures its characters dealing with the stresses of everyday living as well as the repercussions of global conflict. Stars Felicity Dorr, James Wilby and Louisa Clein.

Slumdog Millionaire - Indian actors - May 14

After coming within one question of winning 20 million rupees on the Indian version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" 18-year-old Mumbai "slumdog" Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is arrested on suspicion of cheating. While in custody, Jamal regales a jaded police inspector (Irfan Khan) with remarkable tales of his life on the streets, as well as the story of Latika (Freida Pinto), the woman he loved and lost. Danny Boyle's film won a Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Picture. Watching poor, miserable kids in the slums of India get beat up is not my idea of entertainment. I stopped watching after twenty minutes.

The Last Detective - BBC - May 8

Unlike the outspoken cops of American police dramas, Detective Constable "Dangerous" Davies (Peter Davison) is a gentleman who just so happens to find himself in ungentlemanly situations. In the first season of this British television series, Davies dodges a strange woman's obsessive affections, suspects a woman of killing her husband, and digs up clues with his partner, Mod (Sean Hughes), to help solve a murder that happened 20 years ago. Kind of boring.

Hopscotch - Walter Matthau, Glenda Jackson - May 5

Miles Kendig (Walter Matthau) knows too much. One of the CIA's top international operatives, he's suddenly relegated to a desk job in an agency power play. Unwilling to go quietly, Kendig, aided by a Viennese widow (Glenda Jackson), begins writing a memoir that exposes the darkest secrets of every major intelligence agency in the world. The CIA wants Kendig dead, but he refuses to cooperate -- he's having too much fun. A 1980 flick but still very funny.

A Walk on the Moon - Dianne Lane, Viggo Mortenson - May 1

The same summer that brings a man to the moon and free love to a small farm in Woodstock, N.Y., shakes up the safe, happy life of vacationing housewife Pearl Kantrowitz (Diane Lane). When a mysterious traveling salesman (Viggo Mortensen) offers her his heart, she's swept up in the passion of newfound love. But as her husband discovers her infidelity, she must choose between the life she's always known and a future with no limits. Good show.

Inspector Lynley - The Word of God - BBC - April 28

The prospect of a divorce causes Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley (Nathaniel Parker) to lose his cool, as he and Sgt. Barbara Havers (Sharon Small) examine a body that was found frozen in a meat truck, along with a forged British passport and a document with Arabic writing. The case leads the detectives into the dark underworld of human trafficking and stolen artifacts, and Lynley gets more bad news: He may be called for a disciplinary hearing.

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead - Phil Hoffman, Ethen Hawke, Marisa Tomei - April 24

The perfect crime goes horribly wrong when Andy and Hank (Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke) botch a robbery of their parents' jewelry store in this wrenching drama from legendary filmmaker Sidney Lumet, who was 82 when he directed the film. Albert Finney and Rosemary Harris co-star as the unsuspecting parents, while Marisa Tomei plays Gina, who cheats on her husband, Andy, with Hank. Well done but gruesome.

No Country for Old Men - Tommy Lee Jones - April 21

A hunter (Josh Brolin) stumbles upon a dead body, $2 million and a stash of heroin in a Texas desert. He absconds with the cash, but brutal thief Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) comes looking for it, with a local sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones) on his trail. The roles of hunter and prey blur as the violent pursuits of money and justice collide. Joel and Ethan Coen direct this dark morality tale, which won four Oscars in 2008, including Best Picture. Good flick.

Evan Almighty - Steve Carroll, Morgan Freeman - April 17

In director Tom Shadyac's raucous follow-up to the 2003 comedy Bruce Almighty (also helmed by Shadyac), God (Morgan Freeman) summons narcissistic newscaster turned congressman Evan Baxter (Steve Carell) to build an enormous ark in preparation for a devastating flood. Unfortunately, Evan's perplexed family interprets his latest hobby as a midlife crisis gone wrong rather than as a divine assignment from the man upstairs.It has its moments but Steve overacts.

Wall-E - Pixar - April 14

In a futuristic world, human beings have destroyed Earth and evacuated the planet, leaving the cleanup to an army of robots they've programmed to do their dirty work. Due to a mishap, the dutiful WALL-E is the only one left. But with the arrival of a female probe named EVE, the monotony of WALL-E's existence is broken -- and he experiences love for the first time. Andrew Stanton directs this Golden Globe- and Oscar-winning Pixar tale with a sci-fi twist.

Eastern Promises - Viggo Mortenson - April 10

Viggo Mortensen (in an Oscar-nominated role) reteams with director David Cronenberg in this intense thriller, starring as Nikolai Luzhin, a notorious London gangster. When Luzhin learns that a midwife named Anna (Naomi Watts) has discovered incriminating evidence against his "family," he finds his normally steely resolve compromised. Vincent Cassel, Armin Mueller-Stahl and Sinéad Cusack co-star. Bloody but good.

Appaloosa - Ed Harris, Viggo Mortrnson - April 7

When a malicious, land-hungry rancher (Jeremy Irons) has the marshal and deputy of Appaloosa killed, two gunmen (Viggo Mortensen and Ed Harris, who also directs) arrive and try to bring law and order back to the frontier town. But when a beautiful widow of uncertain convictions (Renée Zellweger) enters the picture, the stakes are raised and soon the lead flies. Lance Henriksen co-stars in this Western based on the novel by Robert B. Parker.

The Family That Preys - Kathy Bates - April 4

Tyler Perry writes, directs and co-stars in this poignant dramedy centered on a pair of friends -- wealthy socialite Charlotte (Kathy Bates) and working-class Alice (Alfre Woodard) -- whose families stand to be ripped apart by greed and scandal. To prevent the collapse, the two mothers take a road trip to think of how to save their families. The stellar cast also includes Sanaa Lathan, Taraji P. Henson, Kadee Strickland and Robin Givens.

Elizabeth I, disc 1 - Helen Mirren, Jeremy Irons - February 24

Helen Mirren earned an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in this HBO miniseries chronicling the effect of the monarch's public role on her private life. Unable to wed the man she loves, the Earl of Leicester (Jeremy Irons, in an Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning role), Elizabeth flirts with the idea of marrying a French prince and later sets her sights on the earl's stepson. This historical drama scored the Emmy and Golden Globe for Best Miniseries. Good reviews but not my type.

Quinceanera - foreign in L.A. - February 19

This sensitive coming-of-age drama, a 2006 Sundance Film Festival award winner, tells the story of Magdalena Emily Rios), who, on the brink of her 15th birthday, finds her comfortable existence shattered by the discovery that she's pregnant. Cast out by her parents, the once-privileged teen finds safe haven with a great-grand uncle and a gay cousin (Jesse Garcia) who introduce her to a world far different from her gentrified middle -class life. Not bad.

Jindabyne - Laura Linney - February 7

The relationship between Stewart Kane (Gabriel Byrne) and his wife, Claire (Laura Linney), begins to crumble after Stewart finds a corpse while on a fishing excursion with friends but waits to alert authorities until the trip is over. When she learns about Stewart's callous delay, the horrified Claire attempts to atone for her husband. Deborra-Lee Furness and John Howard also star in this pensive drama from Aussie director Ray Lawrence. Fair.

Unaccompanied Minors - unknowns - February 4

Kids stranded in an airport cause havoc. Meh.

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl - somebody - January 31

I can't figure out why we get these.

A Cry for Justice - Insp. Lynley - series - January 27

Another entertaining english mystery.

Battlestar Galactica - season 1, disc 2 - Sci-Fi mini series -
January 22

My apologies to the "trekies" but I find everything about this boring. Well, she's not bad.

Burn After Reading - John Malkovich, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand,
George Clooney - January 17

In this dark comedy from Joel and Ethan Coen, ousted CIA official Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich) loses his recently penned memoir into the hands of a pair of moronic gym employees (Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand, in a Golden Globe-nominated role) who use it to try to turn a profit. George Clooney and Tilda Swinton round out the cast of this irreverent farce, which was nominated for a Best Picture (Comedy) Golden Globe. Funny

Foyle's War set 4, disc 4 - TV series - January 14

Another interesting episode.

The Tudors - season 2, disc 1 - Showtime series - January 10

The drama continues but doesn't get any more interesting. The sex is great, though.

Battlestar Galactica - season 1, disc 1 - Sci-Fi mini series -
January 6

This 2003 series, based on the original TV series from 1978-80, was broadcast on the Sci-Fi Channel and instantly won a legion of admiring fans. Join Adama (Edward James Olmos) and Laura (Mary McDonnell) as they lead a ragtag fleet of human survivors (from the destroyed colonies of Kobol) in search of a mythical planet called Earth. But beware, the robot race of Cylons is in hot pursuit … and it seems nothing will stop them! This may interest the trekkies. I found the acting so-so.

Kidnapped - disc 3 - Hutton, etc. - January 2

The last four episodes on this disc continued the excitement of the first two discs. I spotted what I thought was a mole in the FBI but changed my mind when a bad guy killed him. Now I'm looking for a sequel.

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