The Ledge (2011)

Are you willing to die for your beliefs?  Charlie Hunnam (of Sons of Anarchy fame) and Patrick Wilson face off over both religious differences and the love of Liv Tyler's character.  The great Terrance Howard is trying to keep his world from spinning out of control and his target from jumping from a ledge.  Twisted and odd as this story seems to some, it's all very plausible.

The characters are compelling and the story works even though it may feel way off base to many of us.  Hunnam's character may have been played by an older guy but Charlie makes it work, and makes us like him.

Although this movie was shot in Baton Rouge, Louisiana there are not discernible southern or creole accents.  Perhaps that made it an easier sell on the coasts?

Watch this movie with someone who needs to learn to tell stories faster.

Hævnen (In a Better World) 2010

Well deserving of the "foreign film" Oscar, this Danish story of two struggling families covers multiple current topical problems.  Sewn together in ways you won't expect, the smart and touching script may speak to you directly one way or another.

If you have dealt with the loss of a loved one, bullies, a broken family, braces, teen angst, or children with emotional problems, you will find someone in this story to relate to.

Mikael Persbrandt and Ulrich Thomsen play successful men with troubled sons.  The sons are played by Willian Nielson and Markus Rygaard in their first big screen performances.  All are very intense and enjoyable to watch. Trine Dyrholm plays the main Mom in the story and has a range of emotion that may have been played by Streep had this been an American production.

I will be very surprised if you find you heart does not go out to both these families in one way or another.

Watch this movie with someone who felt they had a troubled childhood.

Jane Eyre (2011)

Far less mellow-dramatic and soapy that previous versions I've seen.  Characters were more realistic and easier to relate too.  This and some great cinematography made for a very enjoyable DVD.

Mia Wasikowska is again great in this classic role.  Michael Fassbender matches her with a magnificently manic performance.  The rest of the cast is period perfect and included Dame Judi Dench as all English dramas should.

What was missing here was all the things that made other versions overly long and occasionally painful to watch.  It is also obvious the director here, Cary Fukunaga, is also a great cinematographer.  This movie is as pretty to watch as it is to listen too.

Watch this movie with less tissues that you used in previous versions.

Paul (2011)

Need a good spoof of Spielberg sci-fi movies like Close Encounters, Star Wars, and ET?  This movie was as much fun as Fan Boys.  So if you enjoyed that one, you will most likely "get" this one too.  The fun part is recognizing all the connections.  If you miss them, the story is more or less just average.

Simone Pegg and Nick Frost are goofy comedy geniuses.  Either that or they are the UK's version of Jack Black.  I prefer the first observation.

The other fun surprises here are the great performances from some very familiar faces like Jane Lynch, Jason Bateman, Sigourney Weaver, and Seth Rogen.  These are not the only ones of course.  The entire cast was clearly having a good time.

Don't watch this movie with high sci-fi expectations.  Instead, have a bunch of popcorn and your sense of humor completely intact.  And I do recommend the unrated version for the out of control language and "alien behavior".

Ready (2011)

Here is your Bollywood romantic comedy.  Stunning settings. Big scale spontaneous dance numbers.  Clear good guys and bad guys.  A happy ending.  What more could you want?  From a B-wood romcom; nothing.  From a good story well told, much is left wanting.

Stars Salman Khan and Asin and great as they are cast.  The story is set - mistaken identity leads to love and happiness after tricking the bad guys into agreement, sort of.

Where this story is weak in plausibility and realism it is strong on soundtrack.  That said, this is a fun watch if you don't want more than a happy ending with beautiful people in lovely places.

Watch this movie, if you want, with someone who wont mind all the silly tangents the story takes.

Buck (2011)

If you love horses, you will probably love this movie.  If you love pop-psychology you will probably enjoy the many levels of lessons here.

This movie is about helping people and their horses get along better.

Buck Brannaman was brought in as a consultant for the movie Horse Whisperer.  The movie ended up more about Buck, by Buck, and with Buck in several scenes, than anyone expected, including Robert Redford.  Redord appears briefly to tell that part of the story.

Watch this movie with someone who may not be aware that California has more cowboys than beach boys.

X-Men: First Class (2011)

Not sure why it is, but prequels are often more interesting than sequels.  No?  Okay, maybe not.  Maybe only when it comes to super heroes?  This one ranks up there with Batman Begins in my opinion.  In fact, I like this one better than most the other X-men installments.

James McAvoy as a young and emerging Dr. X is great.  We learn how he becomes who he is.  We also learn what a haunted soul Magneto is and how he arrives at his situation.  Michael Fassbender does a great job giving us a multidimensional character.

In fact, the entire cast is well suited.  I especially enjoyed Kevin Bacon as the bad guy.  This movie will make playing the Kevin Bacon game even easier.

Watch this movie with someone who might not be previously familiar with the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.

Chalo Dilli (2011)

This is not your usual Bollywood romantic comedy with spontaneous music numbers.  There is very little romance and only 1 or 2 music numbers which made little or no sense.  Not that any spontaneous numbers do.

There is however a good deal of wacky, offbeat, comedy.  I am often of fan of "theater of the absurd", this story go a little off the reservation.

Lara Dutta, a former Miss Universe, is stunning and convincing in this piece.  Maybe a little too convincing?  I never really warmed up to her like I'm sure the audience was intended to.  Vinay Pathak plays the John Candy to her Steve Martin in this Indian version of Planes, Trains & Automobiles.

If nothing else for us Americans, this is an interesting look into Indian culture we've not seen since Slumdog Millionaire.  The mix of Hindi and English combined with good subtitles makes it easy to keep up.

Watch this with someone who is planning a trip to or through India.

Joueuse (2009)

Marketed in the US as "Queen to Play" on DVD, this French film is a variety of things.  Part girl-power story.  Part chess "sports" story.  Part feel-good success comedy.  Depending on who you are and where you are in your life or your journey, this movie could mean different things to different people.

Kevin Kline plays a mysterious American doctor, "hiding out" in Corsica an island off the coast of France.  His cleaning lady is played by Sandrine Bonnaire who is obsessed with learning to play chess after seeing an America couple playing a very loving game at a hotel.

You do not need to know how to play chess to enjoy this movie, but it will help.  You can absolutely NOT be a male chauvinist however.  If nothing else however, this can be a great little visit to Corsica.

Watch this movie with someone who's passion or talent is greater than their confidence.