Swing Vote

Jacket: "Bud Johnson's (Costner) is an ordinary dad drifting through life, caring about nothing except his overachieving daughter Molly. Trying to encourage him to get involved, Molly accidentally sets off a chain of events on Election Day that ends with the presidential race coming down to one vote - Bud's. Comedic chaos ensues as Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane, Stanley Tucci and George Lopez give all star support in a witty and uplifting film ..."

Rating: C+. Molly steals the show. All the rest is election fluff.

Miracle at St. Anna

Damn, this was good. This film reminds you that in life there are hard decisions to make, especially in war, but you must do what is right ... no matter the cost.

Jacket: "... Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee. Stationed in Tuscany, Italy, four members of the U.S. Army's all-black 92nd Infantry Division, the Buffalo Soldiers, are trapped behind enemy lines after one of them risks his life to save a traumatized Italian boy. Separated from their unit, they find themselves in a remote Tuscan village where they experience the tragedy and the triumph of war. Based on the highly praised novel by James McBride, and filled with exceptional battle scenes and action, it's a gripping and inspiring story that will touch the goodness within us all and never let it go."

Changeling

Jacket: [Based on a true story], "Los Angeles, 1928. When single mother Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie) leaves for work, her son vanishes without a trace. Five months later, the police reunite mother and son; but he isn't her boy. Driven by one woman's relentless quest for the truth, the case exposes a world of corruption, captivates the public and changes Los Angeles forever.

This emotionally gripping story illustrates the profound power of a mother's love in "a mesmerizing film that burns in the memory" (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone)."

This is a very moving story, so keep the tissues handy.

Body of Lies

Trust no one. Deceive everyone.

Yahoo! Movies: "A CIA operative attempts to uncover a major terrorist operation in Jordan, but he doesn't know which of his allies he can fully trust."

With all the lies, they could have weaved a storyline in there for us.

A Flash of Genius

Jacket: "... Greg Kinnear stars in this inspiring true story about an ordinary man and his extraordinary fight against one of the most powerful corporations in the country. Dr. Robert Kearns (Kinnear) and his family are on their way to achieving the American Dream when he invents a device that can be used in every car in the world. But when an auto giant steals his idea, Robert does the unthinkable: He takes on the corporate titan in a battle no one believes he can win."

Cheer for the underdog.

The Riches: Seasons 1 & 2

This is such a great show. I can't believe they cancelled it in the middle of the second season. Watch them all on hulu.com!!!


Amazon: "British comedian Eddie Izzard (Dressed to Kill) brings his raffish charisma to The Riches, a sneaky satirical drama about a family of con artists who lie their way into a wealthy gated community. Wayne and Dahlia Malloy (Izzard and Minnie Driver) are travelers--a kind of American gypsies--who get in trouble with their clan and have to hit the road with their three kids. When a confrontation with other travelers causes a deadly car accident, the Malloys take over the dead couple's brand-new home--a mansion bought over the Internet--and assume the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Rich. The premise stretches plausibility, but that's part of the fun; any successful con game forces the mark to accept something absurd, because why would anyone tell such a preposterous lie? The pleasure of trickery drives the show. Wayne weasels his way into a job as lawyer to an obnoxious real estate developer; Dahlia persuades a private school to admit her kids after the admission deadline; and the kids find their skills serve them well in the surface-obsessed suburban world. But over the course of the thirteen-episode season, the Malloys' wily architecture of lies grows increasingly precarious, constantly threatened by fear of exposure and vengeful travelers. The final episode builds to a nerve-wracking crisis as someone who actually knows the dead couple comes to visit. Ironically, some of the most compelling moments are flashes of honesty--in an early episode, oldest son Cael realizes that the traveler girl he loves has set him up, and the two stare at each other across a diner table, wordlessly brokenhearted. But The Riches rests on Izzard's shoulders; though Driver's acting chops are more polished (and her Southern accent is more consistent), Izzard captures the soul of a man who lives by his wits, a man who navigates the world with a wink and a stream of beguiling words."

Igor

Jacket: "This hilarious animated twist on the classic monster movie ... Determined to prove he can create his own diabolical invention, a mad scientist's (John Cleese) nice-guy assistant Igor (John Cusack) creates a female Franken-monster. But his creation, Eva (Molly Shannon), is sweet and sings show tunes! That is, until she falls into the clutches of Dr. Schadenfreude (Eddie Izzard) and his shape-shifting girlfriend. Now it's up to Igor and his sidekicks to save Eva - and their country - from real evildoers ..."

I fell asleep during this one if that says anything.

Righteous Kill

IMDb: "Two veteran New York City detectives work to identify the possible connection between a recent murder and a case they believe they solved years ago; is there a serial killer on the loose, and did they perhaps put the wrong person behind bars?"


Such a weak and predictable story for such great actors!

Death Race on DVD

Jacket: "Welcome to the Death Race, where hardened convicts and smoking-hot navigators race tricked-out cars in the most twisted spectator sport on Earth! Sentenced to the world's most dangerous prison for a murder he did not commit, Jensen Ames (Jason Statham) has only one chance to get out alive - win the ultimate race to the death ... Death Race is a "supercharged, sick and satisfying" (Nathan Lee, The New York Times) ride that will keep you pinned to your seat all the way to its insane, metal-crushing end!"

Uh, weak remake! As much as I like looking at Jason Statham, even this was tough to do for this one.

Frozen River on DVD

Yahoo! Movies: "Ray Eddy, an upstate New York trailer mom, is lured into the world of illegal immigrant smuggling when she meets a Mohawk girl who lives on a reservation that straddles the US-Canadian border. Broke after her husband takes off with the down payment for their new doublewide, Ray reluctantly teams up with Lila, a smuggler, and the two begin making runs across the frozen St. Lawrence River carrying illegal Chinese and Pakistani immigrants in the trunk of Ray's Dodge Spirit."

This is one heavy film. Melissa Leo gives a strong performance as Ray Eddy and makes you believe her hardships and her world. It's rare to witness acting that seamless.

Soul Men on DVD

Yahoo! Movies: "The two remaining members of the popular soul band, The Real Deal, from the 1970's, Floyd Henderson, now a retired businessman, and ne'er-do-well, ex-convict, Louis Hinds, take a road trip to the Apollo Theater for a musical tribute to their recently deceased front man, Marcus Hook."

Unfortunately, this is last time we get to see Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes on the big screen. Check out the bonus features to see Bernie Mac's improv. Had it been kept in the film, it would've been a whole lot funnier.

Choke on DVD

Jacket: "Based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club), Choke is a dark and wickedly funny joyride from the depths of sexual compulsion to the heights of the Second Coming! Besides working at a colonial reenactment theme park and trying to hook up with everything on two legs, sex addict Victor Mancini (Sam Rockwell) courts the love and money of complete strangers via a demented con that just might kill him. But first, Victor must save his dying, delusional mother by seducing and impregnating her comely physician, a task easier said than done, in this gleefully twisted tale of dysfunction, salvation, love and libido."

This is vintage Chuck Palahniuk! And as usual, at the end of the story, the unexpected twist leaves you with your jaw dropped.

Check it out.

Lakeview Terrace

Wikipedia: "[Samuel] Jackson plays a hard-as-nails racist LAPD police officer who terrorizes his new next-door neighbors because they are an interracially married couple.

Talk about your neighbors from hell!

Art School Confidential (2006)

Jacket: "Art School Confidential follows talented young artist Jerome Platz as he escapes from high school to the tiny East Coast art school. Here the boyish freshman's ambition is to become the world's greatest artist like his hero Picasso. Unfortunately, the beauty and craft of Jerome's portraiture are not appreciated in an anything-goes art class. Neither his harsh judgements of his classmates' efforts nor his later attempts to create pseudo-art of his own win him any admirers. But Jerome does attract the attentions of his dream girl, the stunning and sophisticated Audrey, an artists' model and daughter of a celebrated artist. Rejecting the affectations of the local art scene, Audrey is drawn to Jerome's sincerity. When Audrey shifts her attention to Jonah, a hunky painter who becomes the school's latest art star, Jerome is heartbroken. Desperate, he concocts a risky plan to make a name for himself and win her back."

This is hilarious and completely reminds me of most of the art students with whom I went to school.

IMAX Under the Sea 3D

Yahoo! Movies: " This new IMAX adventure transports moviegoers to some of the most exotic and isolated undersea locations on Earth, including Southern Australia, New Guinea and others in the Indo-Pacific region, allowing them to experience face-to-face encounters with some of the most mysterious and stunning creatures of the sea. It offers a uniquely inspirational and entertaining way to explore the beauty and natural wonder of the oceans, as well as the impact of global climate change. In IMAX 3D, the images will literally leap off the screen and float around the theatre, putting the audience in the movie."

This is a neat experience, but way too short. Running time: 40 minutes.

W. on DVD

Jacket: "Whether you love him or hate him, there is no question that George W. Bush is one of the most controversial public figures in recent memory. In an unprecedented undertaking, acclaimed director Oliver Stone brings the life of our 43rd President to the big screen as only he can. W. takes viewers through Bush's eventful life - his struggles and triumphs, how he found both his wife and his faith, and of course the critical days leading up to Bush's decision to invade Iraq."

Interesting , but not captivating.

Brideshead Revisted on DVD

Wikipedia: "Although he aspires to be an artist, middle class Charles Ryder is studying history at the University of Oxford, where he befriends wealthy Lord Sebastian Flyte, a flamboyant homosexual and alcoholic. His family, the noble Marchmains, strongly disapprove of both proclivities. When Sebastian takes him home to visit his nanny, Charles is enthralled by the grandeur of the Marchmain family estate, known as Brideshead, and he is entranced by its residents, including the pathologically devout Lady Marchmain and her other children, Sebastian's elder brother Bridey and his younger sisters Julia and Cordelia."

"Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times observed, "While elegantly mounted and well acted, the movie is not the equal of the TV production, in part because so much material had to be compressed into such a shorter time. It is also not the equal of the recent film Atonement, which in an oblique way touches on similar issues. But it is a good, sound example of the British period drama; mid-range Merchant-Ivory, you could say." ^[3]

Nights in Rodanthe on DVD

Jacket: "Richard Gere is Paul, a surgeon who long ago unwittingly traded family for career. Diane Lane is Adrienne, a devoted mother trying to move on after her husband's infidelity and struggling with his desire to return to their marriage. At a remote inn on the Outer Banks, Paul and Adrienne expect to do some serious soul-searching. But an approaching storm forces each to turn to the other for strength, setting the stage for a life-reasonating romance."

This is your formulaic Nicholas Sparks story, you may need to follow with a comedic chaser.

Chocolate on DVD

Jacket: "A young girl learns to fight from watching TV and the fighters from the boxing school next door. When she finds a list of debtors in her ailing mother's diary, she sets upon a violent quest to collect payment for medical expenses. Her request is a dangerous one that ultimately leads her to her father, a mafia member of the Yakuza."

Uh, a child-fighter savant I can handle, but drag queen assassins? At least they provided comic relief. Be prepared for a slow start, but it picks up with the fight sequences.

Check out Sony's "Girls' Night In" Sweepstakes

Here are some promos from "Girls' Night In" Sweepstakes:


ICE.COM:

For your exclusive 20% discount at ICE.com, please enter the promotion code "GNIN1" at checkout.*

*Offer valid only on purchases made at ICE.com. Offer expires 6/30/09 and excludes sale items, engagement rings, and watches.

DELIGHT:

As a big THANK YOU! please take 20% off your next purchase of $40 or more on Delight.com. Use the promotion code "SonyDelight09" during checkout. Offer expires on 3/15/09. Happy Shopping!

CAKE BEAUTY:

Enter the promotion code "GIRLSNIGHT" at checkout and receive 15% off your purchase at CakeBeauty.com Offer expires on 3/12/09.

Bottle Shock on DVD

Wikipedia: "Sommelier and wine shop owner Steven Spurrier, a British expatriate living in Paris, concocts a plan to hold a blind taste-test intended to introduce Parisians to the quality wines coming from elsewhere in the world (and save his business in the process). He travels to the not-yet-famous Napa Valley in search of contestants for his Judgment of Paris taste test, where a chance meeting introduces him to floundering vintner Jim Barrett of Chateau Montelena. This twist of fate and the resultant oenological epiphany forever change their lives, the fortunes of the Napa Valley wineries, and the global wine industry as a whole.<sup>[1]"

This will have you cheering for the underdog.</sup>

The Secret Life of Bees on DVD

Jacket: "To escape her cruel, angry father - and discover the truth about her late mother's past - 14-year-old Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning) flees with her caregiver and friend Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson) to a South Carolina town where she's taken in by the bee-keeping Boatwright sisters (Latifah, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo). Surrounded by the unexpected love, grace and spirituality she encounters there, Lily forms a bond with each of these uniquely gifted women and discovers that sometimes you must leave home in order to find it."

This is an endearing and moving film. Have a hankie handy.

he's just not that into you

Wikipedia: "The plot chronicles the romantic misadventures of nine individuals in their twenties and thirties. Set in Baltimore, the common thread of the story is that one person in each relationship is more enamored with the other person and vice versa. At the core of these multiple stories is Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin), a young woman who repeatedly misinterprets the signs that men give her about their level of interest in her. After a rejection from Conor (Kevin Connolly), Gigi begins getting dating advice from the sexually promiscuous Alex (Justin Long), the manager of a bar and a friend of Conor's.

Gigi's sister Janine (Jennifer Connelly) is having difficulties in her marriage. Her husband, Ben (Bradley Cooper), begins cheating on her with Anna (Scarlett Johansson), a yoga instructor and aspiring singer. Anna, in turn, is dating Conor, but isn't as interested in him as he is in her. Anna receives romantic advice from Mary (Drew Barrymore), a newspaper editor who also helps Conor promote his real-estate business. Gigi's co-worker, Beth (Jennifer Aniston), is living with her boyfriend Neil (Ben Affleck), who she has been dating for seven years. Beth is upset that Neil refuses to marry her which prompts a breakup."

This is just the right film for a girls'-night-out. You'll get a good laugh when you recognize some the trials and tribulations of dating.

Kusturica sets Pancho Villa movie

BERLIN -- Serbian helmer Emir Kusturica is preparing to make a biopic about Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa.

The iconoclastic filmmaker, whose last project was a free-wheeling docu about the epic rise and fall of Argentinian soccer legend Diego Maradona, is currently working on the screenplay for "Seven Friends of Pancho Villa and the Woman With Six Fingers."

Click link for full article.

'Sex and the City' sequel on the way

"Sex and the City 2" has moved closer to the starting line with Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis signed for the sequel along with writer-director-producer Michael Patrick King.

No start date's set for shooting and no script's been written. New Line president Toby Emmerich has been aiming to fast-track the project in hopes of a summer 2010 release.

Click link for full article.

Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger

Amazon.com: "Chris Rock in 3-D? That’s more or less what you get with Kill the Messenger. Recorded in 2008, the 79-minute show is actually a compilation of three different gigs (in London, New York, and Johannesburg, South Africa) deftly edited into a single performance, presumably drawing on the best takes from each. It’s an effective technique, as it sustains visual interest (i.e., Rock’s wardrobe changes) and reveals the comedian’s gift for making his act seem spontaneous when in fact it’s basically the same every night during a given tour. As for the content, it’s what you’d expect from Rock: rude (f-bombs fall like acid rain, the "n word" flows freely, and the sexual references are extremely graphic), incisive, and hilarious. Some of the material has already passed its sell-by date; jokes about the ’08 presidential election, while funny (John McCain is "so old, he used to own Sidney Poitier"), are obviously no longer current. Elsewhere, Rock riffs on the difference between "career" and "job," gay fans, ringtones, and even Gwen Stefani, but it’s his observations about race that are central to the performance--and they never lose their bite, especially when it comes to black-white relations (on black men’s predilection for, uh, larger women: "A black man’ll drop-kick Keira Knightley to get to Rosie O’Donnell"). On the whole, he seems optimistic, if somewhat bemused ("All my black friends have a bunch of white friends. All my white friends have one black friend"), even as he remains acutely aware of the persistence of racism and inequality. If you’re easily offended, steer clear of Kill the Messenger. Otherwise, get ready to laugh." --Sam Graham

Vicky Cristina Barcelona on DVD

Wikipedia: "Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a 2008 Golden Globe Award-winning/Academy Award-nominated film written and directed by Woody Allen. This is Allen's fourth film in a row shot outside of the United States. The plot centers around two American women, Vicky and Cristina, spending a summer in Barcelona. There, the women meet an artist, who is attracted to both yet still enamored of his unstable ex-wife."

Penelope Cruz is crazy good in this! Emphasis on the crazy. If anything, check it out for her performance. Penelope's Oscar nod is well-deserved.

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron

Wikipedia: "Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World is a best-selling non-fiction book published in September 2008. The book covers the life and times of Dewey Readmore Books, the cat in residence at the Spencer Public Library in Spencer, Iowa. In addition to discussing Dewey's life from his discovery in the library drop bin on a cold winter's night, to his unlikely fame, to his death in 2006, the book also talks about the life of his caretaker, Vicki Myron, including her early life and struggles with illness and single <sup>"

This was such an endearing and special book to read.</sup>

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist on DVD

Jacket: "After a chance encounter, Nick and Norah embark on a journey through New York's indie rock scene on a quest to find the secret show of a legendary band, and wind up finding each other."

This was a bit of a snoozer.

Zack and Miri make a porno on DVD

Jacket: "Get ready for the wild comedy that goes where no movie has dared to go before! Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks star as two cash-strapped roommates who try to get out of debt by making an adult film. Once the cameras start rolling, things quickly get complicated ... and hilarious!"

This is a crack-up and worth adding to your DVD collection.

Sukiyaki Western Django (2007)

WIKIPEDIA: "Sukiyaki Western: Django (スキヤキ・ウエスタン ジャンゴ, Sukiyaki Uesutan Jango^?) is a 2007 Japanese film by Takashi Miike. The title of this English language western refers to the Japanese dish, sukiyaki, which rhymes with the word spaghetti, as well as Sergio Corbucci's spaghetti western film, Django. It also takes inspiration from"Man with No Name" stock character, variously used in Western genre but most notably in Akira Kurosawa's Yojinbo."


Unlike some haters, I enjoyed this film. You have to love Asian cinema and have an appreciation for the old westerns to really get into it.