Shutter Island

This movie is not nearly as scary and the previews would lead you to believe. But it is much weirder than you might expect. Without giving too much away, this is another one of those stories where you think you know who the good guys and bad guys are until the end of the movie when you are surprised by who really is whom.

Leonardo DiCaprio does another great job playing a Boston-based cop. The range of emotions on display here are wonderful. Mark Ruffalo plays a very cool opposite to DiCaprio's overwrought character. Nice pairing of contrasts.

The supporting cast is very impressive and deserves much of the credit for the thrill in this crime thriller. Ben Kingsley and Max von Sydow are the biggest but by no means the best. I loved Ted Levine in the one scene he had with lines. Powerful stuff. Patricia Clarkson, Michelle Williams, John Carol Lynch, Elias Koteas, and Jackie Earle Haley all had pivotal roles played well.

The r-rating is for disturbing violent scenes although you never actually see much violence. What is implied however is very disturbing. Director Martin Scorsese does an amazing job of letting the audience's mind think it's knows whats going on. His continuity team really let him down however. The list of goofs is long and does not appear to include my favorite. A female patient who is given a glass of water to drink while being interviewed, raises an obviously empty right hand to drink and sets an empty glass down on the table with her left. What?

Watch this movie with someone who enjoys a good psycho-thriller with more psychos than thrillers.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

It's a little bit Aladdin, and a little bit Conan the Barbarian. A little bit Kingdom of Heaven, and little bit Indiana Jones. It is also a little bit Tea Party. It's UK and American actors portraying Persians. Were there no good Persian actors to be found? No middle eastern talent? I find that hard to believe.

That said, it was a fun movie to watch. And yes, I saw it in a theater. Another rare trip for me, but this one had none of the usual downfalls. Theater owners have found a who new way to keep me away. Commercials. Before the movie starts, there are what feels like 30 minutes of commercials, only a few of which would be traditional previews.

Jake Gyllenhaal, and LA native, plays the title role with just the hint of an accent. All other cast members with a significant role are from the UK. Gemma Arterton and Ben Kingsley along with Alfred Molina for comic relief, are all wonderful.

Watch this movie with someone who can remember why we like movies in the first place - to suspend belief and escape our own realities.

War, Inc.

There is an awful lot to NOT like about this movie. But when added all up they still don't equal a bad movie. This is political satire in a very high form. No doubt in many countries this sort of thing would be banned or outlawed, and the makers flogged and banished. But, this is America and we hold some truths to be self-evident. One of those is the right of fools and scholars alike to to behave badly in the name of art.

Stepping down from MY soapbox now, let me address the soapbox that is this film. If you are from a "red state" you may not like this movie much. If you voted for Bush or McCain, you probably won't like it either. If however, you can accept and digest some very sharp barbs pointed at the current, and soon to be future, administration's perceived policies and relationships, you may have a very good time watching it.

Here are a few of the minor things I didn't like about the movie:
John Cusack in an action, tough-guy role
Ben Kingsley with a strong southern accent
Joan Cusack as herself (yes editorial liberties taken here)
American soldiers portrayed as confused and addicted, trigger-happy idiots

Here are a few things that make those other things insignificant:
Marisa Tomei - full stop - enough said
Hillary Duff as the exploited pop-singer who I didn't even recognize
Joan Cusak as herself (yes, this counts twice because she is so funny)
The soundtrack is diverse and wonderful

Add to the above items that I truly enjoy good satire even about things I hold dear. Some say it is the lowest form of comedy. Maybe that's true, but I laughed plenty in this movie.

Watch it with someone who gets whats right and wrong about this movie.

Sneakers

What would attract 7 superstars, all who have either been nominated for or won Oscars, to work together on a comedy thriller? The budget and salaries is still, ironically, a secret, so we can't say it was the money. I'm guessing it was the story. This movie is an excellent example of what my little rant is all about - a good story well told.

If you did not see this movie back "in the day", I highly recommend renting it. Here's why in decreasing order of importance.

Oscar-winner Sidney Poitier (Blackboard Jungle, A Raisin in the Sun, and They Call Me Mister Tibbs) is not known as a comic actor. This is a rare performance and well worth watching.

Oscar-nominee River Phoenix (Running on Empty, Indiana Jones Last Crusade, and I Love You To Death) knew comedy and knew drama. His skills were beyond his age. This movie was one of his last before his death in 1993.

Oscar-winner Robert Redford (too many to list) plays a good guy who does bad things. Or is he a bad guy that does good things.? You decide.

Oscar-winner Ben Kingsley (Gandhi, House of Sand and Fog, and The Last Legion) is a wonderful bad guy. This role helped me totally see Kingley as someone other than Gandhi.

Oscar-nominee Dan Aykroyd (Blues Brothers series, Ghostbusters series, and Driving Miss Daisy) turns on his uber-geek conspiracy theorist side and never steals a scene, but "makes" every one he is in.

Oscar-nominee Mary McDonnell (Dances With Wolves, Independence Day, and Battlestar Gallactica series) plays well opposite all the above big boys. She is perfect.

There are too many other fun performances here to mention.

Watch this movie with someone who likes playing Scrabble.

The Last Legion

If you like Arthurian lore (I do), you will love how this movie ends. If you enjoy Roman history (I don't), you will appreciate how this movie begins. In between, this fun plot draws imaginary lines between the historical dots that were the last Caesar and King Arthur.

"The Last Legion" spins a story as interesting as it is fictional. Romulus Augustus, played unemotionally by Thomas Sangster, is traditionally known as the last of the Roman Emperors who, as a child, was deposed by a Germanic Chieftain named Odoacer. After that, the main character is never heard from again in traditional history, and as such, is a perfect subject for modern cinema.

This movie takes us from the banishment of young Romulus to his grandson, Arthur. The common thread that does keep the story together is a very clever Ben Kingsley.

Odoacer and his merry band of Goths look like they came directly from the set of "Braveheart". In fact, many faces are recognizable. Bad make-up and too many CG backgrounds could detract from this movie, but they are not on the screen long, and I beg you to not dwell on them. Instead enjoy the mechanical performance of the lovely Aishawarya Rai. Her eyes to ALL her best work in this movie. John Hannah plays basically the same character he did in "Four Weddings and a Funeral"and the "Mummy" movies, but don't hold that against him. He gets what's coming to him.

Since this movie was billed as a action/last-battle adventure, the Arthurian connection was a very welcome surprise. With it, I would not have enjoyed the movie so much. It would have been a weak imitation of "Gladiator" meets "LOTR".

It is worth the rental however, and is not so graphic as to earn it an R-rating. It is a good date movie. It has romance, action, girl-power, comedy, and beautiful scenery. Watch it with someone you like to hug.