Unbreakable (2000)

Still really love this movie…but as this was the fourth viewing, I realized that the mood is nearly suffocating. I was in sore need of sun when it was over (unfortunately -- it was night). Everyone speaks in hushed monotones and there are few smiles. This isn't necessarily a bad thing (and, indeed, it fits the film and hadn't bothered me in the first three viewings), but it's somewhat stifling.

A

Narc (2002)

Extremely well-done cop film. I hadn't seen this story before, and I was interested from start to finish. Strong performances all around.

A-

Center Stage (2000)

Entertaining, though fairly predictable. Biggest problems are the poor acting by a couple of the dancers (Cooper & Charlie) and the poor dancing by the star of the show…I mean, she's alright -- but she's so far below the others on the stage that it's hard not to mark it. Still - some beautiful dance sequences and a not-bad plot to hang on them.

B

My Life Without Me (2003)

Extremely moving -- though not maudlin -- film chronicling the last weeks in a young mother's life. She knows she's dying, but she's not burdening anyone else with the information. She instead chooses to live out her remaining days to the best of her ability while loving those around her by sparing them worry. There is some unfortunately distracting camera work, but otherwise this is a gem.

A-

Big Fish (2003)

Last 10 minutes disappoint…and, actually, the whole device of having the disbelieving and angry son just didn't work for me. It was the fantastical remembrances that really worked -- to have someone intruding with skepticism hurt the procedure. Even though he finally gets on board (almost too late), by that time I felt he didn't really deserve to and I would've been happy with him kept out of the loop.

It's always a shame when a fantastic movie is let down by its ending. That's the sad case here.

B

Kotch (1971)

I think there's a touching story here, but it just kind of ambles along without any urgency. The girl (Erica) is darling and I enjoyed her scenes. I think Matthau modeled his gait on a marionette. It's really weird.

C+

National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)

Simply doesn't hold up. There are a few funny one-liners, but it's slow going and some of the acting (Coca's in particular) is truly bad.

B

Joe Dirt (2001)

Aggressively stupid -- but successful enough in its grossly idiotic quest to make me laugh that I didn't hate it.

C+

The Barbarian Invasions (2003)

Let me just get this out of the way first: the son looks like a cross between Guy Pearce and Kevin Spacey.

Alright - now on the movie itself...in a word: terrific. So many levels going on here and done so well, but without being self-conscious about what they're doing. Some of the scenes are so exquisite that they nearly stand alone.

A

Predator (1987)

Rented in anticipation of the upcoming Alien vs. Predator film. Despite some wooden acting, this film is a triumph of fear. What's scarier than a chameleonic skinning, laser-beam shooting unknown?

We're rooting for Predator - the gentleman killer - in the upcoming confrontation!

C+

Alien (1979)

We rented this in anticipation of the upcoming Alien vs. Predator film. Prediction: Predator will kick ass. There was a bit too much of the "let's split up so it can kill us more easily" strategy employed. Just felt tired...and the "baby alien" looked like a finger-puppet. Going off my memories (this being my second viewing), I was concerned that this may be too intense for the boys. I needn't have worried - neither were scared in the least.

C+

Miracle (2004)

Squarely told yet inspiring underdog story. Kurt Russell is great as the coach and all of the boys do a nice job (though it's apparent that most are skaters first, actors second). It's hard to do too much when the outcome is well-known, but I enjoyed this film anyway.

I was unhappy, however, with the subplot of the coach's life...which was not shown enough to have any impact except to waste time in an already long movie. Why not a shot of the mom alone at the child's program she describes to the husband over the phone? Or a decorating-the-tree-without-daddy scene instead of an ineffective note that forces us to fill in blanks? The sacrifice of this man was implied rather than felt -- and why bother with subtlety in a story like this?

B-

Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)

Moore's screen presence is kept to a minimum - but he can't refrain from a continual snarky voice-over. The images are damning enough - adding sarcastic comments only makes Moore look petty.

Still, Moore has made a powerful movie which makes it pretty difficult to think of George W. Bush with anything but fear. This is a man with too much to gain from a country in chaos...and I'm not convinced he's playing with a full deck.

B

Osama (2004)

My reaction to this film was "that would really suck," which I doubt is the reaction the filmmakers were hoping for. It's not that I demand sensationalism or filmed, graphic horrors in a film about oppression -- but I do need to identify with the people being portrayed.

Watching the film was a bit like reading a textbook on the subject: "and then this happened...then this...and then this...the end." Even near the end of the film, when the wives were talking with the main character about their ruined lives -- it was as though they were reciting memorized speeches rather than sharing their hearts. There was talk of pain, but no conveyance of the pain.

Interesting, but distant -- and I hate that it's this way because I almost feel guilty for NOT being moved more. But it's the filmmaker's job to get me there -- I was willing to go.

C+

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

This film contained the funniest sequence I've seen in a movie all year (the "Raindrops" montage). I was quite impressed by the leaps made in the effects since in the two years since the first Spider-man. The "bendy-doll moments" I experienced a couple of years ago were gone this time and it allowed me to simply immerse myself in the story - and what a great story it was. This is how family nights at the movies should go. Wonderful fun.

B+

Last Night (1999)

The end of the world is quite near…what will you do with the time left? I really got into this film and the stories of the few people we were allowed to follow. I didn't feel that much here was false - and I really enjoyed the lack of panic (which is what I would assume to be the case if the scenario were actually occurring in life) and that there was no fakey love-fest as, even at final countdown, family is still irrritating.

A-

May (2003)

Creates a fantastic mood - my building dread forced me to take several "calm down" breaks while watching. I just had to pause the movie and leave the room for a few minutes. Why go to all the trouble of crafting a truly original character only to have her fall into cliché in the last act? With a different ending, this could have been a classic.

D+

Billy Madison (1995)

What a pile. Sometimes stupid, sometimes offensive, sometimes flat-out weird. The best scene is the out-of-nowhere musical number (and even that's only sorta OK).

D+

Fright Night (1985)

Vampire moves in next door to a nosy teen who quickly figures out what's going on -- which isn't too surprising since the vampire has no qualms about biting the necks of female guests in a lit room with the shade up. I can't believe he stayed undead for as long as he did!

Horribly acted and stupidly scripted...it just has nothing going for it.

D+

City by the Sea (2002)

This really worked. Everything - mood, directing, photography - just came together to form an effective whole. Kinda wobbled some at the end (a bit too much catharsis), but still more thumbs up than down.

B-

City of God (2003)

Knocked me out. I can't believe so much story was crammed into just a couple of hours.

A

Antwone Fisher (2002)

Antwone's childhood was hard -- but it certainly wasn't so remarkable that we needed to hear it. A non-spectacular story squarely told.

C-