The Dresser (1983)

This is probably, like, I don't know…a really important movie about actors and the hell through which they put themselves for their art and blah blah blah. But I don't care. When I hate the characters, it's quite difficult for me to love the movie. I tend to be repulsed by the narcissism necessary to be a good actor. The way I feel is that if you can't be bothered to be a decent person...I don't give a rat's ass how convincing a King Lear you make.

D+

Ghosts of the Abyss (2003)

(Refers to 90 minutes DVD version)

The underwater visuals of Titanic were stunning - and Cameron did a great job orienting us with still photographs, reenactments, and computer generated graphics when necessary. However, Cameron seems not to realize that we're watching this documentary to see the ship...not him and his silly "rescue" of one of his cam-bots. I found him to be every bit as annoying and charmless as I'd thought he was; but Bill Paxton came off as down-to-earth and I liked him. I'm glad I saw this -- actually viewing the inside of the wreck was beautifully spooky.

B

Zoolander (2001)

This film is so dumb, dumb, dumb, that I can't believe I enjoyed it; though my enjoyment had more to do with Stiller & Wilson than the material. Even so, I only managed mild chuckles and will neither recommend it nor watch it again.

C

House of Sand and Fog (2003)

I was trying to watch this as I was folding clothes, but more often than not I found myself just standing there grasping a shirt -- the images were so beautiful, I just couldn't bear to look away for very long. Just a wonderful piece of moviemaking: there's no villain nor hero; just circumstances conspiring and people trapped therein. Amazing.

A

Boys Town (1938)

Heartwarming but predictable. Father Flanagan is an incredible character - Muelleresque - but the story's a bit too by-the-numbers.

B

Cube (1998)

Effective mindgame of a movie. Moves along quickly and is rather tense. No big complaints, really -- except for Holloway's acting (really stiff) and the huge "WHY" that's impossible not to ask. Still…really cool.

I know they made a sequel, but I think I'd have to employ a much larger font-type for the "why" on that one.

B

Secondhand Lions (2003)

Wonderful feel-good film. Duvall & Caine are perfect as crotchety loners and Osment (though not the cutie he was) still shows why he's always the right casting choice.

B+

Dirty Pretty Things (2003)

Starts off wonderfully - I immediately liked the lead guy as he was just so sincere and serious. Unfortunately, though, things went the way of predictability. It became a standard "this is the way it is, but you refuse to accept it" story. Nice tone & peformances...but the script's a letdown.

B-