A MIGHTY HEART

This movie is all about Anjelina Jolie's excellent portrayal of Marianne Pearl, wife of Wall Street Journal bureau chief Daniel Pearl who went missing in Pakistan in 1992. The movie is good...the story is both spellbinding and infuriating...but Jolie is the reason to watch. She is certainly on the short list of possible best actress nominees and deservedly so. Although the film is very good you wish it was better. The direction has a "distant" feel to it, and only Jolie's performance provides attachment for the viewer. 3 of 5 hs

THE LOOKOUT

THE LOOKOUT has its moments...just not enough of them. There are too many times when that "straight to video / B-movie" feel had me rolling my eyes. I'm all for quirky characters...but c'mon...a mentally delayed young guy rooming with a blind middle-aged guy both getting wrapped up in a bank robbery scheme? It's actually not a bad flick, but there's been a heap of critical praise for THE LOOKOUT and I don't get it. A good rental if there's nothing on TV and you want to lose yourself in a off-beat thriller...but that's about it. 2 1/2 of 5 hs

DISTURBIA

I love the premise...a modern day teen-version remake of the Hitchcock classic REAR WINDOW (one of the best thrillers of all-time). And...I loved (well at least liked) the movie too...for about 2/3rds of it. The movies starts out well...builds suspense and interest...gets a fine performance from the young Shia LeBeouf...and then crumbles with a ridiculous last chapter. DISTURBIA frustrated me because it could have been...and should have been...so much better. I've thought about a few different paths this script could have gone, and I can't decide which one is best...but I do know that anything is better than we got. Too bad. 2 1/2 of 5 hs

3:10 TO YUMA

There was one indisputable thought going through my mind as I left the theater after seeing 3:10 TO YUMA...Christian Bale and Russell Crowe are two of the very best actors working today. For Crowe, I submit THE INSIDER, MASTER & COMMANDER, CINDERELLA MAN, and AMERICAN GANGSTER (not too mention his Oscar nominated performances in GLADIATOR and A BEAUTIFUL MIND)...for Bale I submit AMERICAN PSYCHO, THE MACHINIST, THE PRESTIGE, and RESCUE DAWN. You can add 3:10 TO YUMA to both lists - these guys are awesome! This movie is a good one too...full of fine performances including two from Peter Fonda and Ben Foster. I have a few issues with the plot in 3:10 TO YUMA, but overall its a very good movie with a hanful of absolutlely fantastic scenes. 3 1/2 of 5 hs

DAN IN REAL LIFE

Will the filmakers of earlier 2007 releases like CATCH AND RELEASE and FEAST OF LOVE please take notice of DAN IN REAL LIFE...here's a romance/comedy/drama that works. DAN IN REAL LIFE is a funny, heartwarming, tear-jerking, romance with characters that you care about because you can relate to them. Peter Hedges is quitely becoming one of the better writer/directors in Hollywood today. All five of his screenplays are excellent...and his two directorial efforts are both pitch-perfect (check out his first film PIECES OF APRIL). As for DAN IN REAL LIFE...its a winner. Although by no means a perfect movie it sure is an enjoyable one...and full of terrific moments including one of the year's better scenes featuring Steve Carell performing Pete Townsend's "Let My Love Open The Door". If you miss it in theaters do yourself a favor and rent it as soon as its available. 4 of 5 hs

SPIDER MAN 3

My oh my...there sure is a lot going on in Peter Parker's life these days. Mary Jane's mad, Harry's mad, and two new villians are on the loose...Sandman and Scorpio. Of course...its not too much for Spider Man to handle...but it is too much for the viewer. There are four different storylines playing out here...and none of them get enough attention to become interesting. Yeah...the effects are cool as always, and the first two movies keep you interested enough in the characters and the plot - but all in all this one doesn't leave much to love. In fact, despite the abundance of plotlines...the movie actually drags...especially during one virtually unwatchable jazz club scene where spidey turns into a "rebel rousing, crowd pleasing, nightclub performer"...yuck. 2 of 5 hs

THE DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK

I haven't seen but a handful of documentaries this year...but this one is easily the best. This film tells the story of Brian Steidle, a US Marine who accepts an "observers" assignment in the Sudan. That assignment coincides with the rising of conflict in Darfur and changes Brian's life forever. The movie is outstanding in its restraint...there is no need to sensationalize the atrocities that have occurred, and continue to occur, in Darfur and the filmakers are smart enough to understand exactly how to edit their footage. THE DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK will both bring you to tears and fill you with hope. The only failure here is on the part of the Academy who failed to include this film among the 15 finalists for Best Documentary. 4.5 of 5 hs