Cinema In Focus

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3 Stars – Challenging

The obvious agenda in Thomas McCarthy’s film “The Visitor” is critiquing the United States government’s immigration policy and practice. As both director and writer, McCarthy weaves a depressing tale that grieves over a constellation of sorrows, from the inhumanity with which illegal aliens are treated to the emptiness the death of a spouse can create. In an attempt to find redemption and hope, little is offered except for the rhythmic beat of the drum and the fleeting moments of human connection. >>More

YOUNG @ HEART

4 Stars – Inspiring

From the opening note to the final moments of a chorus member’s life, this documentary by Stephen Walker is masterfully presented. Using the repetitive symbol of vehicles on all types of Massachusetts roads, Walker allows us to travel with the “Young @ Heart” chorus not only through the seven weeks of preparation for their next concert, but through the winding turns of some of the member’s final miles as well. >>More

The Counterfeiter - Die Fälscher

3 Stars – Disturbing

The moral issues of real life are far more disturbing than those of a fictional tale. Thus, when a film portrays an actual event in human history, we know that the actors are not being forced to face fabricated circumstances but rather re-enacting events that have actually occurred. This adds an additional level of identification with the story as we wonder how we would have dealt with such circumstances, especially when the events involve the systemic evil of genocidal racism perpetrated by the Nazi party during World War II. Winner of the Academy Award for best foreign film, “Die Fälscher” or “The Counterfeiter” is a German film directed by Stefan Ruzowitsky. >>More

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

3 Stars – Thought-provoking

Only time will tell whether the type of “docuganda” this film represents is going to be helpful or harmful to the pursuit of truth. Joining the ranks of films like Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11,” Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth,” or Ewing and Grady’s “Jesus Camp,” Ben Stein’s “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” will be appreciated primarily by those who already hold the beliefs espoused by the film. If you believe that science and religion should have no wall between them and if you find your faith being supported by scientific inquiry as it discovers how God’s creation operates, then you will agree with Stein’s premise. But even if you agree with that premise, you may be uncomfortable with the lengths he goes to in making his point. >>More

Leatherheads

3 Stars - Challenging

The manner in which George Clooney directs and stars in “Leatherheads” is endearing as well as entertaining. Casting himself as Jimmy “Dodge” Connelly, the partial owner of the fledgling professional football team called the Duluth Bulldogs, Dodge is struggling to keep the team and the league alive in 1925. Defeated, Dodge has the idea of recruiting a college football star and World War I hero, Carter Rutherford (John Krasinski from the sitcom “The Office”). When he succeeds, his life and the league are changed forever. >>More

3 Stars - Troubling

The temptation to use our abilities for selfish or illegal gain is always before us as human beings. We are most often able to withstand this temptation when we are mentored by honest and honorable people. But when a person of influence, such as a professor or coach, encourages us to use our intellectual or athletic gifts for selfish or even illegal purposes, then it is difficult to stand against such pressure. This is the lesson presented by Robert Luketic’s film “21.” >>More

And Now For The Winners ...

4 Stars - 2007

Recognizing the power that films have to influence and reflect the human condition, on the eve of the Academy Awards we present our own 2007 CINEMA IN FOCUS 4-STAR AWARDS >>More

Horton Hears a Who!

Opening a child’s imagination to the possibilities of life is the responsibility not only of artists but of all of us as well. True to this goal, Theodor Seuss Geisel wrote intriguing children’s stories under the name of Dr. Seuss. In 1954, he wrote a second book about a lovable Elephant named Horton (voice by Jim Carey), which he titled “Horton Hears a Who!” Bringing this tale to the screen are directors Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino whose collective experience includes animation and art direction on such films as “Finding Nemo” and “Robots.” >>More

10,000 BC

According to the trailers for Roland Emmerich’s film “10,000 BC,” this is; “a prehistoric epic that follows a young mammoth hunter's journey through uncharted territory to secure the future of his tribe.” More accurately, it is a cheesy Saturday matinee cartoon-like extravaganza with lots of computer-generated animals in less-than-believable fight scenes. >>More

The Bank Job

The actual event on which Roger Donaldson’s film “The Bank Job” is based is itself debasing. From the sexual immorality of a member of England’s royal family which created the need for the heist, to the police and government corruption which was uncovered, to the subsequently covered-up of the entire event by the government, this event provides a disturbing look at the underside of humanity. Since it is a true story about sex and violence, its nudity and bloodshed is a necessary part of the film, but it easily deserves its “R” rating. >>More

The Other Boleyn Girl

Few people have caused as many historical debates as has Anne Boleyn (Natalie Portman). Considered by some to be one of the most significant queens in British history, Anne’s motives and the accusations against her of adultery, incest and treason have long been topics of debate. Some believe she was deeply religious and a protestant reformer whose influence on Henry the VIII (Eric Bana) caused him to break with Rome and establish the Church of England. Other historians present her as an ambitious and manipulative woman who used her charm to beguile the King but did not allow him to have her until he annulled his marriage to Queen Katherine of Aragon (Ana Torrent) and made Anne his queen. Since the Pope would not annul the marriage, Anne convinced Henry to break with Rome and make himself head of the Church of England. >>More

Persepolis

For the people of Iran, the last few decades have been devastating politically, socially and religiously. Understanding this experience through the eyes of a young Iranian girl as she comes of age gives an insider’s view not usually available for those of us so far removed. But Marjane Satrapi invites us into her life through her Oscar-nominated animation film “Persepolis.” >>More

Jumper

The relativity of time was once a fantasy. But as science has progressed, many once-fictional ideas have proven themselves to be true. That is what makes the premise of Doug Liman’s “Jumper” intriguing. The thought that a human being could, in a moment of extreme stress, control space and “jump” from one location to another is an interesting thought. The difficulty is that this film is less interested in the science and more interested in an artificial struggle between those who have the ability to jump and those who, for “religious” reasons, do not want them to do so. The problem is that this is not a war between good and evil, but rather one of self-righteous brutality against lawless-extravagance expressed in a vicious hatred that is neither understandable nor necessary, and the two group’s murderous indifference toward one another is disquieting. >>More

Charlie Bartlett

When a child is given responsibility to take care of a parent, their roles become reversed with the parent becoming child-like and the child becoming “parentified.” The advantage of such a shift in roles is that the child acquires abilities and insights far beyond that which their chronological age would imply. The disadvantage is that the child misses out on the care-free days of childhood under parental guidance and protection. That experience is insightfully presented in Jon Poll’s “Charlie Bartlett.” >>More

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Masterfully presented by director Julian Schnabel and adapted for film by writer Ronald Harwood, this is “the true story of Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby who suffers a stroke and has to live with an almost totally paralyzed body; only his left eye isn't paralyzed.” Experiencing the world from inside Jean-Dominique as he tediously dictates his experience by blinking to a patient stenographer, the camera shows the world through his eye, his thoughts through voice-overs, and his imagination and memories through fantasies and flashbacks. It is a sad and moving experience as Jean-Dominique experiences life as though being lived in a diving bell. >>More

Definitely Maybe

How do you tell your children that love is forever if they have lived through a divorce? Where do they get the confidence that a commitment of the heart is more than just a fairy tale? Such is the dilemma that faces Will Hayes (Ryan Reynolds) as he tries to explain his life to his 11-year-old daughter Maya (Abigail Breslin). Will has been through three adult relationships which he thought would lead to “happiness ever after.” Having grown up with the usual adolescent longings for a “Prince Charming,” Maya wants to know why fairytale romances don’t always last. “Definitely, Maybe” chronicles their conversation as she peppers him with questions about the choices he made hoping to understand who she is in relationship with the most important man in her own life. >>More

Atonement

When we destroy another person’s life by our lies it is difficult to atone for our sins. This is due in part because we are incapable of giving back the days and years stolen from them because of our transgression. But it is also difficult because of the universal experience of needing divine assistance in finding forgiveness, not only in receiving it from the person we wronged but also in extending it to ourselves. This is the message of Joe Wright’s Oscar-nominated film “Atonement.” >>More

There Will Be Blood

What does it take to make you happy? Most people would list either family, financial security, a job that brings fulfillment, or love. “There Will Be Blood,” reminds us that we can pay a steep price if we are trying to achieve a self-centered happiness. >>More

Saving Sarah Cain

It is easy to find the novelty of the Amish Christians as only an interesting divergence of both American and Christian cultures. Having chosen to reject the modern culture with its gasoline vehicles and electronic devices, we often don’t stop to ask the question of whether they have chosen the better way. As our vehicles pollute the air and our electronics distract our souls, we often collapse into the unwanted consequences of modern life. Would it be better if we took the time to be families and communities in shared life with simple values of honesty and simplicity where love and souls blossom? That is the theme of Michael Landon Jr.’s film “Saving Sarah Cain.” >>More

27 Dresses

It would seem reasonable to expect that a person who is always trying to please others would be loved and respected. But the truth is that such a person is often used by those around her or him. Not knowing how to say “no” to the many requests of others, such a person loses the connection with their own needs and desires that helps create reciprocal and equal relationships. Such a person could repeatedly become a bridesmaid but never a bride. That is the truth in Anne Fletcher's "27 Dresses".>>More

The Bucket List

It is often said that “money is the root of all evil.” That is not true. It is the “love of money” that causes a person to do evil and especially to lose their ability to love people. Becoming a person who has less and less compassion for others because that would interfere with their financial pursuits, a lover of money can become increasingly isolated and joyless even as their wealth accumulates. But it is not only the wealthy who can lose their joy. A self-sacrificing person can have mounting resentments due to repeatedly setting aside their own goals and dreams and miss out on the joy their sacrificial acts typically create. Taking a life-time to realize, many do not take the opportunity to evaluate their lives and choices until it is too late. But for a lucky few, there is just such an opportunity for change. That is the compelling message of Rob Reiner’s “The Bucket List.”. >>More

The Great Debaters

There are few films which match the level of art and excellence achieved by the creators of “The Great Debaters.” It is a visual masterpiece as the camera presents dream-like images at times and stark realism at others. The dialogue not only moves the story but also inspires the audience. The acting is exquisite and the directing superb. But what makes this film a true work of art is its moral and spiritual content. Based on a true story of a young professor of an all-black college in Marshall, Texas in 1935, we are able to experience history as first-hand observers in a little-known event that was foundational to the civil rights movement. >>More

Charlie Wilsons War

There are many things about the warring madness of humanity that are disturbing. But one of the most disquieting is the way that roles quickly shift as our allies become our enemies. For reasons that should be obvious, joining together with a portion of humanity to fight some other group of humans has proven itself ineffective in producing lasting peace. The exponential result of using evil to fight evil is that evil turns on those who use it with increasing strength until the good that was hoped for is even further removed from reach. That is the lesson in Mike Nichol’s film “Charlie Wilson’s War.” >>More

Juno

For those who love authentic, well-written dialogue with straightforward honesty that is presented by engaging actors with nuanced directing, then Jason Reitman’s “Juno” is a film not to be missed. Written by the brilliant if incorrigible Diablo Cody (whose real name is Brook Busey, the author of Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper in which she chronicles her year in “the sleaziest” of Minneapolis strip clubs), the lead character of the film embodies her wit and frank approach to life within an engagingly eccentric personality. >>More

The Kite Runner

Based on the best-selling book by Khaled Hosseini, “The Kite Runner” takes us into the world of Afghanistan through the eyes of two young boys whose friendship is tested. Set in the years prior to, during, and following the Russian invasion of Afghanistan 25 years ago, Amir (Zekeria Ebrahimi as a child and Khalid Abdalla as an adult) and Hassan (Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada) are two friends from different racial backgrounds who enjoy each other’s company and loyalty, as well as a passion for flying kites. >>More

I Am Legend

The fear of unexpected consequences with genetic engineering has permeated modern life. Recognizing the good intentions of the scientists who are working diligently to create cures for the maladies that plague us, we are nevertheless aware that some cures may unexpectedly destroy us. That is the premise of Francis Lawrence’s film “I Am Legend.” >>More

The Golden Compass

Having never read “His Dark Materials” trilogy by Philip Pullman which he supposedly wrote for the children of atheists, it is difficult to know whether those books are effective. It is very clear that the film version of the first book “The Golden Compass” is not. It is convoluted and boring. >>More

This Christmas

Our relationships within our families are complex. We are not only stuck with the family into which we were born, and we are not only formed by our place within that family system, but we are also privileged to have a group of people who accept us and love us as we are. In families where honesty and unconditional love are present there is a healing power at work in our lives. That is the message of writer and director Preston A. Whitmore’s film on a family’s reunion at Christmas entitled “This Christmas.” >>More

Enchanted

Fairytales seem to be going through a metamorphosis. If Disney is any indication of the change, the romantic fantasies of Walt’s early films, rejected by this generation of story-tellers, has come back around with a significant difference: We would rather have reality than fantasy. The cartoon characters of a make-believe world may promise a happily-ever-after life, but “true-love’s kiss” in the real world, even with the possibility that something could go wrong, is to be preferred. This is the theme of director Kevin Lima’s “Enchanted.” >>More

August Rush

The bond between parents and children is difficult to describe. Perhaps the best we can do is to create an analogy in which both share not only the same love for music but also the same ability to hear the harmonic sounds of nature itself – what the ancient Greeks called the music of the spheres or musica universalis. And perhaps if parents and child were separated from birth due to a horrendous betrayal, their shared experience could draw them miraculously back together. That is the solution Kirsten Sheridan presents in her magical film “August Rush.” >>More

Beowulf

The classic poem of “Beowulf” is only a reference point for Robert Zemeckis’ film of the same name. Weaving a different tale with the familiar characters of this 6th century setting and 10th century poem, the film’s plot morphs into a dark and deliberate tale about the curse that comes upon a person, family and nation who makes their bed with evil. We see the deformed monstrous Grendel (Crispen Glover) who is the offspring of a demonic mother (Angelina Jolie) and a man she seduced. We see their hideous offspring wreak havoc upon the man’s life as he attempts to enjoy the spoils of the wealth, power and fame her evil power granted him. We see the hero come from across the sea, Beowulf (Ray Winstone), whose courage helps him to defeat one form of evil only to have his ambition and pride cause him to become seduced by another. We see loyal friends and manipulative advisors, as well as the usual sea monsters and dragons of mythological fame. >>More

Bella

We all know that when a child is accidentally killed, the grief of the mother is inconsolable. But we often don’t stop to think about what happens to the person responsible for the accident. How do they live with their guilt and remorse? The weight of what they have done - even if it was an accident – is crushing. How do they make up for such a loss? Those are the questions that fuel the award-winning film by Alejandro Gomez Monteverde entitled “Bella.” >>More

Bee Movie

Jerry Seinfeld’s “Bee Movie” doesn’t really work. It’s not funny enough to be a comedy. It’s not deep enough to be a drama. It’s not coherent enough to be a message film. And it is not interesting enough to draw the audience that once flocked to Seinfeld’s sitcom. It is a cute film that has the appearance of being a Seinfeld joke about “a ‘B’ movie” with a full length punch line that it really is about “bees.” Directed by Steve Hickner and Simon J. Smith, “Bee Movie” would probably get a grade of “C”. >>More

Michael Clayton

One of the struggles of professional life is keeping our sanity in the face of incredible pressures. This is true not only of our mental and emotional sanity, but in keeping morally sane as well. Though this is true of all the professions, it seems to be especially true of the legal profession. As hired lawyers who are at times called to represent people they may not like, let alone respect, there can become an increasing sense that one has sold his soul for financial gain. This is true of Michael Clayton (George Clooney) and his long-time associate Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson) who are both lawyers for an internationally prestigious law firm. Written and directed by Tony Gilroy (Bourne Identity), “Michael Clayton” walks through a week in which both Michael and Arthur are forced to confront who they really are. >>More

Gone, Baby, Gone

For a parent the loss of a child is beyond comprehension. We all accept the fact that, like it or not, our parents are likely to die before us. But, the thought of loosing a cherished innocent young one would shake almost any mother or father to their core. >>More

What Would Jesus Buy

Addressing the materialism in Western culture is not easy. It is not just that people have strong denial when confronted with incongruent behavior, but our rampant consumption out of all proportion to our actual need is also a fact about which many Americans and Europeans already feel guilty. Breaking through the denial and giving a solution to the guilt requires a new approach. Reverend Billy (Billy Talen) and his “Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir” is an attempt at such redemption. Recording this effort is Rob VanAlkemade in his intriguing documentary “What Would Jesus Buy?” >>More

Thou Shalt Laugh II (The Deuce)

Very different from the films we usually review are the two films titled “Thou Shalt Laugh” and “Thou Shalt Laugh II (The Deuce).” Both are presentations of a comedy show and both films are set within the Christian community, filmed at Faith Community Church in Los Angeles. >>More

Lars and the Real Girl

Grief is an unpredictable experience. When experienced by an infant whose mother has died giving birth, grief can become a time-bomb waiting to explode later in life. But when this primal grief is compounded by a father who goes into secluded depression and never provides that child with the loving touch necessary for his growth into a healthy and mature human being, then it can be debilitating. That is the premise of this quirky but endearing film in which a whole church and town participates in the healing of this grown-up grieving child. >>More

Dan in Real Life

Real life is seldom planned. That’s not to say we couldn’t or shouldn’t make plans toward our preferred future, but that we should be ready to change those plans when real life breaks in. That’s the lesson Dan Burns (Steve Carell) learns in this film. Having found true love and marriage and family, Dan speaks from his experience in his newspaper column titled “Dan in Real Life.” But when his wife becomes ill and dies and his daughters grow into young women with minds of their own and he serendipitously meets a woman for whom his heart opens, he soon discovers that real life can seldom be defined in a column. >>More

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Like the first in our series of films on Elizabeth, “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” assumes that the viewer knows English history. Giving us scant information at both the beginning and the end, the film picks up where the first film left off and focuses on the years 1585 to 1588. Though Elizabeth (played by Cate Blanchett in both films) would have been 50 years old and settled into her “virgin” single life, this film brings in a love interest that, though historically inaccurate, adds the dramatic elements of jealousy and longing to this portrayal of her life. >>More

Into the Wild

When we want to find ourselves, we often set off on a geographical journey. Our instinctive thought is that a dangerous quest into far away lands without the support of family or material resources will reveal to us who we really are. This is the belief of Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch) in his true-life adventure of 1990 to 1992. Directed with an eye for beauty and passion by Sean Penn, “Into the Wild” not only allows us to experience his odyssey but ours as well. >>More

The Kingdom

H. L. Mencken, the articulate American newspaperman from the mid-20th century, once said, “For every human condition, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong.” There is no place where this assessment is more accurate than when applied to the solutions being given for bringing peace to the Middle East. >>More

3:10 to Yuma

James Mangold’s remake of Elmore Leonard’s classic western “3:10 to Yuma” is a morality play. As in all such plays, at a climactic moment in this tale, the villain is invited to change the direction of his life. But unlike most such stories in which the good are good and the evil are evil, the characters of this story are presented with such nuanced personal and moral complexity that good and evil themselves are part of the journey. This is seen when we first meet the notorious, Bible-quoting outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crow) who passes the time before his stage coach robbery by noticing and drawing the beauty of a hawk. But moments later, when one of his men is taken hostage by a stage coach deputy, Wade quickly kills both of them and blames his own gang member for forcing him to take such action, noting that his ineptitude at not making sure all the deputies were dead put them all in danger. >>More

Eastern Promises

Modern mysteries and classic spy stories combine both good and evil. What happens, though, when the hero of the story becomes evil in the pursuit of the good? Does this redeem the evil or does evil destroy everything and everyone? >>More

Talk To Me

Understanding the leadership of the civil rights movement of the 1960’s requires a multifaceted approach. From the guidance of Christian pastors like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rev. Jesse Jackson, to the confrontation of Black Muslim leaders Malcolm X and Elijah Mohammed, to the comedic or dramatic activism of Dick Gregory and Sidney Poitier, the leaders were many and varied. In Kasi Lemmon’s “Talk To Me” we meet two lesser known leaders: Ralph Waldo “Petey” Green (Don Cheadle) and Dewey Hughes (Chiwetel Ejiofor). >>More

The Nanny Diaries

“The Nanny Diaries” creatively presents its story as an anthropological research paper exploring the child-rearing experiences of nannies working for the wealthy families in upper Eastside Manhattan. That it has the ring of authenticity is most probably because the authors of the book on which it is based lived the life they are depicting on screen. Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus were both nannies while attending New York University where Emma studied art education and Nicola studied child psychology. Putting their eight years of nanny experience together, they weave an insightful tale told with wit and humor. Directed in a simple and straightforward manner by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, “The Nanny Diaries” presents a valuable message about the importance of each child in a world where they are more accessories than cherished children. >>More

The Bourne Ultimatum

After viewing the most recent installment in this series, we now know that the Bourne trilogy is ultimately a David and Goliath tale. Unsure of his true identity throughout the first two films, in this third film Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) finally discovers that his real name is David and that his life has become a struggle against a secret government agency of gargantuan evil, demonstrating a cruel and immoral arrogance. >>More

Resurrecting the Champ

It is proven time after time that a sons relationship with his father determines the trajectory of his life. What is not as obvious is that a father looks back to his son for validation and worth. What makes this mutual dependence so universally difficult is that neither father nor son usually plays their part very well and the subsequent wounds of these father-son bonds bleed profusely throughout our culture and our world. That truth is graphically shown in Rod Luries Resurrecting the Champ. >>More

Becoming Jane

Watching the life story of Jane Austen is like watching one of her novels put onto film. Her personal struggle with the class stratification and the subservience of women is not only a theme of her writing but of her life as well. But her life story has one major difference. In her novels, as Jane (Anne Hathaway) explains in this film, she can give her characters a happy ending. In her short life of 41 years, Jane never experienced the joy of marriage or the fulfillment of her longing heart. >>More

A Mighty Heart

In the midst of the mind-numbing news about civilian and military deaths in Iraq, it is sometimes lost in the shuffle that since the start of fighting in March 2003, 191 journalists and media assistants have lost their lives. When you add to this the deaths of reporters in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the loss is staggering. >>More

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

The fifth Harry Potter film is growing a little old along with the actors. With the same characters, villains and spells, the battle between good and evil is once more waged in the magical world at Hogwarts’ School. As was true in the other films, the power of love to beat the forces of darkness is still paramount, yet in this film, there is the nuanced explanation that “there are not so much good and bad people as good and bad within all of us, and we must choose which to express.” This truth is a valuable lesson author J.K. Rowling repeatedly teaching Harry and the viewers of her films. >>More

Hairspray

“Hairspray” is a wacky and satirical look at the life of a pudgy Tracy Turnblad (played by Nikki Blonsky who had never been in a movie before). Tracy’s life dream is to dance on the Corny Collins Show, a local TV program patterned after American Bandstand. Everyone on the show, naturally sponsored by a hairspray company, has had their lives plastered into social status categories. >>More

The Ultimate Gift

It is easy to imagine a world in which everyone always makes the right choices and our children and grandchildren live responsible, blessed lives. Yet the truth is that no one lives such an ideal life. Instead, we try to make up for the mistakes we make in a multitude of ways with some of us even using our wills as last resort instruments of healing or manipulation after we have died. That is the case for Red Stevens (James Garner) in the film version of the national best-seller, “The Ultimate Gift.” >>More

Evening

At the end of our life when we face death, we are flooded with memories. The emotions that surround those past experiences can bring feelings of joy, or feelings of regret. When regret predominates, it can be a time of healing if we so choose. Such is the circumstance of Ann Grant Lord (Venessa Redgrave) as she faces the last few days before her death. In “Evening,” an all-star cast brings the stories of a variety of friends and family to life. >>More

Transformers

Sometimes the formula makes the film. Although Michael Bay’s film “Transformers” offers little that is novel or unexpected and instead follows the tried-and-true formula of the comic book genre, the end result is a very exciting, entertaining, endearing and enjoyable journey into the world of sentient machines. In addition to the obvious battle between good and evil, there is romance and danger, self-sacrifice and courage, with the future of Earth resting in the hands of a teenage boy and girl. There are government secrets of alien life and daring soldiers whose abilities can protect us from any threats. There is teenage angst with the usual insensitive handsome jock and the misunderstood beauty who is “more than meets the eye” with her skills and troubled past. >>More

Waitress

With exaggerated caricatures creating a quirky yet engaging comedy, Adrienne Shelley’s “Waitress,” is an entertaining film. As both writer and director, Shelley casts herself in one of the supporting roles and gives an endearing performance. The film does, however, share the same shortcoming as films such as “Little Miss Sunshine” and “The Break Up.” However entertaining such comedies may be on a superficial level, the moral and spiritual lives of the characters are empty. There is no spiritual presence within the film and the moral guidance is vacuous. >>More

Evan Almighty

“Evan Almighty” is a simple, silly comedy with a spiritual message. Although this is not a sequel to its earlier predecessor, “Bruce Almighty,” is does include some of the same comic images and simple spiritual messages. >>More

Ratatouille

What happens in your life when no one around you believes in you? How do you feel when you know you are born with a gift, or talent, and your immediate family laughs at you as a dreamer? Such is the story of Remy the rat in the very creative new film, “Ratatouille,” by Disney Pictures and Pixar Entertainment. >>More

Ocean's Thirteen

As trilogies go, Steven Soderbergh’s third film is strong. Having created a merry band of thieves in “Ocean’s 11,” and having disappointed their fans in “Ocean’s 12,” “Ocean’s Thirteen” restores our interest. Not only is the caper they are pulling complex but we find their motivation to be one of loyalty rather than greed, with the usual touch of vengeance. >>More

Miss Potter

Understanding the creative genius of our artists and writers is not easy. Some ingredients of that genius obviously come from their family - both genetically and socially, but others are the product of circumstances and choices made by the person themselves. These choices, though impacted by their larger cultural and social environment, become defining moments in their lives with implications both for their art and for their personal lives. When seen as a whole, the pattern is uniquely inspiring. These truths are beautifully explored in Chris Noonan’s biography of the famed Victorian children’s storybook author Beatrix Potter (Renee Zellweger).
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Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

2007 is the summer of the trilogies. From “SpiderMan 3” to “Shrek the Third” and now “Pirates of the Caribbean: at World’s End,” the theatres have hooked us into the continuing tales of familiar characters. This is both a joy and a disappointment. The joy comes from our desire to see the continuing adventures of characters we’ve come to love, but the magic of the first films is seldom matched by their sequels, and it is easy for our artists to perform caricatures of their original creations. This is true of Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) in this third film of Pirates of the Caribbean. Where his eccentric mannerisms and serendipitous genius caught us delightfully off-guard in the first film, he must now become multiple clones of himself in order to try unsuccessfully to achieve the same effect. And his former genius is not only expected but also makes his present capers hard to exceed his previous schemes. >>More

Mr. Brooks

All of us have addictions in our life. Some are harmless, like an addiction to chocol