Sunshine Cleaning

Can you handle a movie about overcoming dysfunction? Can you handle a story about suicide? Can you deal with a movie that is about dealing with the messes left behind by departed loved ones? If not, don't watch this movie. Among other things, these are the central themes of this movie.

Amy Adams and Emily Blunt are very good as sisters who try to work together in a crime scene cleaning business. Toss into that mix of a well-intended but seldom successful entrepreneur father played by Alan Arkin. All are very likable characters but deeply flawed and scarred by a common occurrence.

Additional characters are also very strong. Steve Zahn and Clifton Collins Jr. are wonderful as the men next most involved in the sisters lives. These two veterans rarely get top billing but are masters at their craft.

A very young Jason Spevack is a very interesting side story here. While he is the son of the main character, his plot line is not a main story line but makes for very good entertainment. I'll wager we see more of this kid in future productions.

This movie is about very normal people who try very hard to lead happy lives. And despite their best efforts have a very hard time of things. You may or may not relate to these people, but hopefully you will find some respect for their trials. No everyone has it as easy as some of us.

Watch this movie with someone who knows what it means to struggle for just some of the basics.

The Golden Boys

Depth of cast alone attracted me to this movie. The storyline even looked good. Bad acting spoiled the party however. But, it is still worth a watch under certain circumstances.

David Carradine, Bruce Dern, and Rip Torn play 3 retired sea captain bachelors. They advertise for a bride/housekeeper in 1905 Cape Cod, and Mariel Hemingway applies and get the job. Charles Durning plays a cranky old religious zealot neighbor.

This is a cute story of small town romance. All the main characters are likable. What little music there is feels awkward and the scenery could have been better for having been shot in such spectacular place.

Watch this with your grandparents or with people who don't critique movies.

I Love You, Man

Bromance? Okay, I was skeptical when I first heard that term. But, this movie is a bit more than that. It is more than just another romantic comedy slash buddy movie. If used properly this movie could be a good reality check for soon-to-wed-couples.

Why are YOU getting married, and what role will your old friends play in the new relationship and your new life? Think about it. Talk about it.

Paul Rudd does an amazing job playing the guy who is great with his male/female relationships, but is terrible when it comes to having guy-friends. After a series of man-dates he learns what it means to have a best friend.

Sidney Segal does an equally amazing job as a guy also searching for a replacement for his friends who have moved on with their lives. In many ways this character reminds me of the Encino Man character Link. We should all have a friend like this to help us be a better friend ourselves.

This movie however is not for everyone. There are many awkward scenes where normally taboo subjects are discussed openly, much to the chagrin of the main character. There are many good belly laughs and even a few thought provoking moments which may cause a bit of self-examination. Maybe.

Watch this movie with your BFF and see if it changes your relationship.

Shoot on Sight

Shortly after the July 2005 bombings in London a police procedure was activated that authorized local police to shoot suspected suicide bombers on sight. This movie the a fictional account of one such incident.

It basically raises the question - Is it a crime to be Muslim?

Naseeruddin Shah whom most of us have never heard of is brilliant as a mid-level police official who is given the responsibility to investigate the subway shooting of a Muslim student by London police. Shah's character also happens to be Muslim.

The story evolves around what is going on with his mixed-culture family and inside the Pakistani Muslim community in London at the time. Very thought provoking.

The roles of good guys and bad guys flip flop a time or two before the end of the movie. This is a very interesting story, told in a very professional and, I believe respectful, way. I will surely hear from some of you if that is not the case.

Watch this movie with someone who will understand the choice presented to the main character by his nemesis towards the end of the movie.

The Punisher

One of you recently suggested to me that I check out this series given my taste for graphic comics made into movies. I had never heard of The Punisher comic so I had no interest in the movie. Thank you for the tip however. This movie has all the features of a classic comic gone action movie.

You have over-acting. You have comic relief. You have a central hero who is likable. You have a wealth of events Mythbusters can prove impossible. So if that is not your thing, don't watch this movie. On the other hand...

Thomas Jane, who was great as Mickey Mantle in 61*, is enjoyable in this role as the tragically heroic central character. He is just human enough, just vulnerable enough, and certainly buff enough to pull the role off.

There are some great names in the supporting cast too: John Travolta as the uber bad guy target of this episode's punishments, Roy Scheider as the gunsmitthing father of our hero, Rebecca Romijn as the sexy neighbor angel, Will Patton as the main bad guy's doer-of-dirty-deeds, with Ben Foster and John Pinette as the goofy but loyal neighbors.

This movie is admittedly not for everyone, but for those who like a good graphic comic brought to life this is a worthy effort. Thank you again for the suggestion.

Watch this with plenty of popcorn and a friend to enjoy the ride.

Inkheart

Fictional license can be a very fun thing. Based on a Cornelia Funke novel, this movie intertwines characters and events from some very famous stories. From Hook's ticking croc to Dorothy's Toto, you should find at something familiar in this movie.

Brendan Fraser plays a "Silvertongue" who brings story characters and events to life when he reads the words aloud. Something goes wrong early in the story and he spends the rest of the movie trying to set things right. As usual the main character needs help from several friends.

In this case the friends come in the form of Eliza Bennett who plays his equally gifted daughter and Paul Bettany who plays one of the story characters. Both do a wonderful job of character evolution and winning the audience over.

Helen Mirren and Rafi Gavron are also essential supporting characters as sister-in-law and story character respectively. Because this story is so rich with characters you have your choice of which to like and which to boo. There is someone here for all ages and all genders.

This is for sure a family movie but mind the PG rating. Some of the conjured-up characters might be a little too scary for the younger crowd especially considering how they are brought to life. We don't want to prevent anyone from reading aloud or wanting to be read to for fear of what might or might not happen.

Watch this movie on a dark and stormy night to enhance the ambiance.

The Soloist

Every once in a while a good story comes along that reminds us how we could and maybe should treat each other. I think this movie is one of those.

Jamie Foxx is a genius. How does one prep for this job? Here we find a great craftsman at the top of his game. Any comparisons to Rainman characters are completely founded. Foxx does as well with his portrayal of mental illness as Dustin Hoffman or Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets. As I look back at the excellent role choices Foxx has made over the last 5 years I'm sure he has a lock on more in the future.

Not since Chaplin has Robert Downey Jr. turned in such a great dramatic performance. I foresee more nominations on the way; for both these actors. I'm glad Downey's recent successes as fictional super heroes has allowed him the chance to take on roles like this one.

This story answers a great question which may apply in many other situations. Sometimes all someone needs is a friend. We don't need to rearrange their whole world to match ours. Sometimes all we need to do is validate their existence with a smile and a kind word.

Watch this movie with someone who loves Beethoven.

Seven Pounds

This is an amazing story. Director Gabriele Muccino, who also directed The Pursuit of Happiness with Will Smith, does an incredible job here telling a complex story in a slowly unfolding way. We are told what we need to know just when we need to know it, and no sooner.

While this movie is a tear-jerker, the tears may not come until 90 minutes into this 120 minute masterpiece. And, it also has what may become one of the best on-screen kisses of the year, if not the decade, maybe even all time.

Will Smith seeks redemption for contributing to the accident that kills his wife and 6 other innocent victims. His method is unique, moving, and a little bit creepy. His soul-searching mingled with repentance is at the very least thought provoking. I don't believe I will think of others the same way again for a long time.

Rosario Dawson delivers a powerful performance as on of Smith's benefactors. She has been around awhile but I think this is the first time I really noticed her. Wow. More please?

Woody Harrelson and Barry Pepper both turn in moving performances as well.

Watch this movie with someone who wants to learn about true repentance. Don't get me wrong, I do not condone his final solution, but one has to admit he makes amends very well.