Babylon A. D.

Is this Mad Max meets Snow Dogs? Is it Minority Report meets Sound of Music? Or is it Terminator meets Frankenstein? You decide.

The best part about this movie is all the "new technology". It used to be one had to watch a Bond movie to see this many new gadgets. This movie has more than one can keep track of. It's fun to watch.

And just when you think it's over it kicks into another gear. Make sure you check out the deleted scene AFTER you have watched the movie. The rest of the Special Features are quite good. I recommend watching the Prequel before the movie if you have not read the book.

Vin Diesel does what he does best. Tough guy with a soft heart. Michelle Yeoh does a great job here acting both sides of her religious fence. French woman-child star Mélanie Thierry makes a very good impression in her first real US film with lines.

The supporting cast are all well-placed and many are recognizable.

If you like sci-fi action thrillers with car chases, fight scenes, muted romance, and uncertain bad guys, you will probably like this one.

Watch this movie with one fist in the popcorn and the other gripping your partner's hand.

The Rocker

What would happen if the big dopey guy from TV's The Office (Rainn Wilson) came out of the closet to admit he had been the original drummer for a mega-metal band. Would you buy it? That is actually the premise for this movie - more or less. And don't tell me it's like that rumor about Chevy Chase being the original drummer for Steely Dan. Not the same thing.

If you grew up dancing to, or imitating or lusting after, the big hair bands of the 70's and 80's, you may actually like this movie. I didn't. If you are a fan of Wilson's playing the ever-awkward-uber-geek, you may enjoy this story.

Christina Applegate plays a single mom who is sort of almost kinda like a love-interest to Wilson's character. Thank goodness that is not a major part of the story.

I have to admit the music to this is very good. But don't let anyone tell you this is a "That Thing You Do" for the current generation of rockers. Not even close.

Watch this with someone who has a high tolerance for over-acting by the main character. If not, they probably won't finish the movie.

Dinner Rush

Family. Food. Drama. A little comedy. Music. Art. And gangsters. Sounds like a recipe for a good movie to me. Like a perfectly written and played concertina, this story is entertaining, satisfying, and short enough to leave you just a little disappointed because it's over.

Director Bob Giraldi is more known for his work with musicians, so the above comes as no surprise. Nothing is wasted. Every shot, every note, means something. And in the end you are left smiling a how well it all came together.

Danny Aiello was perfect in this role. A father. A businessman. A planner. His character conducts the events of one evening with smooth skill. I loved it.

Edoardo Ballerini plays the master chef son of Aiello's character. Foodies should love this movie. The restaurant's menu is actually as much a character in this movie as anyone else.

Other faces you will no doubt recognize are John Rothman, Polly Draper, Sandra Berhard, and John Corbett. I loved how they depicted the waitstaff and the kitchen workers. Too many movies don't give a proper representation of how small restaurant kitchens get, nor how crazy. If you have not worked in a restaurant before, this is a good example what it's like.

This is not your typical gangster movie. There is a minimal amount of bloodshed. The worst violence is what happens to chicken and lobsters. Don't get me wrong. People get shot. There is blood. But I bet this movie sets a record for the fewer number of dead wiseguys.

Watch this movie with someone who can appreciate that the father and the son both pull off the perfect evening without being aware of what the other was doing.

The Visitor

If you play drums, or any other percussion instrument, you should see this movie. If you were born in a country other than the United States you should see this movie. If you were born here and you don't see this movie, you have NO clue as to whats going on in the immigration debate. Regardless of your perspective, I recommend this movie to everyone.

There is something here for everyone. Good writing, good acting, good music, and a very real New York City. If you are able to sit still during this movie I suggest you have someone check for a pulse.

Richard Jenkins well-deserved his Oscar nomination for his work here. As I've said many times, sometimes good acting is more than delivering a good line. Jenkins, like Redford, Ford, and many other great actors who don't talk as a big part of their acting mojo. The rest of the cast is wonderful too.

Some sites have this movie listed as a crime drama. Really? To me this is much more of a romance, and a comedic one at that. I'm not saying its a romantic comedy. But it certainly has some good honest laughs. It may also make you cry however. Anyone who is a parent will be touched by this story. And if your kids are older, you may totally relate to the Mom is this story played perfectly by Hiam Abbass.

Watch this movie with a kind thought for the nearly invisible folks who mow, wash, fold, trim, cook, clean, scrape, gather, pick, package, deliver, serve, buy, sell, or otherwise deal with the stuff we need every day. I can't imagine it's worth the trouble, but they all say it is.

Everybody Wants to Be Italian

You will probably wince at how bad some of the characters behave in this movie. You may also wince at how bad some of the lines are. But I'm guessing you will also laugh at some of the funnier scenes, lines, and situations. This movie is very much a mixed bag of good and bad.

Cerina Vincent does a wonderful job. This was the first time I've seen her on screen, and I hope to see more. Not bad for the woman who got her start in the business as the Yellow Power Ranger.

Jay Jablonski is hopefully acting. I know plenty of guys who are just like this character so I'm not sure. Women either love this kind of guy or hate them. Either way the passions are raised.

The true stars of this movie however are the guys who work in the fish shop with Jablonski's character. Unlike the other two title characters, these 3 guys never fall out of character. They are perfect. John Kapelos, John Enos (III), and Richard Libertini are very funny as the main character's alto ego, mentors, shrink, and coaches. With friends like these...

If any one really likes this movie it will be for the "awwwwwwh" factor. It might even be a good date movie, but certianly not a first date. Altough it could make for some very interesting conversation afterewards.

Watch this movie with someone who has a good sense of humor about gender stereotypes.

The Replacement Killers

A friend lent me this from his personal library. He knows my taste in movies and thought I might like it.

There is not much dialogue in this movie. Lots of suspenseful music. Several stylistic shots of characters doing things and going places. What few lines are delivered come straight from a graphic novel text.

Yun-Fat Chow (or Chow Yun-Fat) and Mira Sorvino are an interesting paring. The odd part is that it works. And it's not until about 50 minutes into the story that the two actually gel. Almost formula. This was made the same year as the Jackie Chan classic Rush Hour. A few similarities are obvious.

More thoughtful and poignant than your average buddy movie, watch this movie with someone for a high tolerance for story and character development as well as evolution. Oh yes, and a high threshold for bullet-induced tissue damage.

The Lucky Ones

Wounded but lucky to be alive, 3 U.S. Army soldiers return from Iraq to find the lives they thought they had completely gone, if not totally imaginary. Don't you hate when that happens? We all do it though. We project our wishes and fantacies onto our, and other's, realities.

This touching and occasionally funny story takes these troops from the flight home to the flight back. In between they learn much about each other and themselves. This interesting journey of discovery, or cleansing, and of reinvention is critical for each character. We should all do the same.

As one who has driven every mile of the route they take, I can highly recommend watching the film and then making the trip. Virtually if not in reality.

Tim Robbins, Michael Peña, and Rachel McAdams all do a great job as the wandering soldiers. Peña reinforces my opinion that he can do it all - drama, comedy, and action. Yes, I think this guy is a real deal movie star.

Watch this movie with a great deal of self introspection.

Pride and Glory

If you can't stand the thought of Colin Farrell being a bad guy, you may want to skip this movie. On the other hand, if you like the line he tip-toed in Miami Vice (the movie) then you may enjoy how he comes down on this one. I did.

Edward Norton does his usual excellent job of playing complex characters. However, I did see a bit of Bruce Banner here as well as his Red Dragon character, Will Graham. But as a guy who likes playing characters with as many personalities as possible this should not surprise us. I would really like to see Norton do a comedy one of these days to see how well he departs from his norm.

Jon Voight rounds out this family-of-cops story with great relish. I think he actually enjoyed playing this role unlike some of his more recent outings. Noah Emmerich plays the brother caught between two impossible choices here. Well written and well played.

Who do you cheer for when bad cops do bad things to bad guys? This is a common issue in our society and several of those points are raised in this story. But they are so subtle you may not even recognize them.

Watch this movie with someone who has a strong sense of right and wrong.

Milk

This movie will both entertain and make you feel uncomfortable regardless of how you feel about the subtext. This is not a movie promoting any particular lifestyle. It is about a fight for human rights in a turbulent time of our nation's history, California's history, and in particular San Francisco. This movie is about political and personal struggle.

First let me congratulate Dustin Lance Black who wrote a very smart screen play and won an Oscar and 8 other awards for it worthily. This is an excellent example of how to tell a compelling story when everyone already knows all the details from beginning to end.

Then, I want to commend director Gus Van Sant for making a picture with old footage blended with new footage and threaded together so well we sometimes can't tell the difference. To say the least, he does quirky but powerful movies. If you have seen his work, you will remember the movie for years.

Finally we should acknowledge the genius of Sean Penn. He has come a long way since his humble beginnings in Little House on the Prairie. He chooses iconic roles from Spicoli in Fast Times to this current masterpiece. I look forward to seeing him a Larry in The Three Stooges soon.

As a native San Franciscan I appreciated this movie even more. But, you don't need to be from there, or gay, or political, to enjoy it. You just need to empathise with the human struggle.

Watch this movie with an open mind.

Henry Poole Is Here

Luke Wilson has the eyes of a dog. I don't mean that is a bad way. I mean you know what he is thinking and feeling just by looking at his eyes. As the Producer put it, Wilson acts more with his eyes than most actors do with their whole body.

If you think you have invasive neighbors, check out this movie and compare. Adriana Barraza plays a neighbor who sees the face of Christ in the stained stucco of Wilson's house. A house he buys to give up in and live out his final few days. Nobody will leave him alone and let him die in peace.

George Lopez shows he can really act. He plays a soft-spoken padre from the local church. I very much enjoyed his work here. No attempts to steal the show. No loud jokes. He plays his character very very well.

If this is a comedy it is a dark one indeed. Maybe more of a drama with funny bits. This movie is slow-moving but well organized. Nothing is wasted or unnecessary. I do like how this story unfolds like a blanket of unsure size.

The music is perfect and should make a good addition to anyone's collection. The use of color is brilliant, and the play of light and shadow is very smart. Forgive me if I wax all glowy here, but so often I see movies that are just not paying attention to everything going on behind the characters. This movie does that very well. No image is wasted.

Watch this movie with someone who you like to be squeezed by.

Humboldt County

If you think you know California, think again. If you don't know why some people support the concept that California should be two different states, this movie might give you an idea. Northern California is as different from Southern California as hiking boots are from flips flops.

Jeremy Strong does a great job as the lone straight man in this comic cast. And in his first movie on the action side of the camera he gives us hope that more will be coming soon.

The real stars of the show however are Frances Conroy and Brad Dourif. I love their chemistry and what their characters represent to the rest of us. Brad Dourif is the type of Californian we locals meet every now and then. We would not be California without them.

If you don't mind the near constant peeing in the woods, you may enjoy the beautiful scenery. If nothing else, this film and a very loving portrait of a part of California few ever see. Enjoy it.

Watch this with someone who is dead set against counterculture types and see if they squirm a little.

The Other End of the Line

If cross-cultural romantic comedies is your thing, this one is worth the watch. It follows form. High-strung New York ad man falls for a voice on the phone. He makes a date to meet the woman with the voice. Wires get crossed and they don't actually meet as planned, but they do meet. They fall together then fall apart and everyone lives happily ever after. Sort of.

Jesse Metcalfe does a pretty good job here. His Desperate Housewives fame got him the part but no doubt his performance here with get him more. He plays opposite the very lovely and funny Bollywood star Shriya. She is wonderful and I hope we see more of her.

This will not make anyone's Top 10 list but it is cute and funny enough to be a good date movie. The music is eclectic and fun to sing along with. The scenes of San Francisco, New York, and Mumbai are pretty good too.

Watch this movie with someone who thinks a weekend fling in San Francisco might be fun.

Mistress of Spices

If you are in the mood for a good old fashioned romantic tragedy, this might be a good choice. It is heavy on the mystical with a solid dose of forbidden love. If however you are looking for a cross-cultural romantic comedy, this is NOT it. For that you should see The Other End Of The Line.

Aishwarya Rai is intoxicating to watch on screen, but I never quite bought the heat between her and Dylan McDermott. He comes across as almost bored and awkward in this role. Perhaps her was directed that way?

If you are fan of Indian cinema you will see several familiar faces, and I have to admit I enjoy watching them work.

Watch this movie with someone who knows a little bit about holistic health care.

All Roads Lead Home

If someone in your family loves animals, they should love this movie. If you have kids between the ages of 9 and maybe 15, especially daughters, they should enjoy this movie. If a parent has been lost, for whatever reason, this movie has a pretty good message.

Peter Coyote is the biggest name on the cast, but he is not the star. His roll is prominent, and and his character makes the needed evolution. Vivian Cardone, in her first feature since Beautiful Mind does an outstanding job here.

Another Peter makes his last big screen appearance in this film. Peter Boyle plays a delightful old hotel owner. His character should be familiar to anyone who has family of that generation.

This story leaves a few questions unanswered, but for the most part it meets it's overall goal of telling a worthy story as well as possible.

Watch this movie with the whole family.

A Good Year

Can Russell Crowe do comedy? Watch this movie and let me know what you think. I think this 2006 story about wine and maturing, is very fun, and very funny. It is not an unfamiliar story, but is so well told you forget you've heard it before.

Albert Finney does the type of role he does best. He plays the grandfather of Crowe's character who has passed away and left a wine-producing property in Provence, France. Crowe sees this unexpected "gift" as a burden to be quickly liquidated.

As Crowe prepares the property for sale he remembers his childhood there and begins to discover the charm of the locals and the value of what he has inherited. Of particular interest is the realtionships Crowe develops with everyone around him. Character evolution is what this story is all about.

Watch this movie with someone who knows a thing or two about wine.