Sunday, March 27, 2005

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (book review)

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (2004) by David Sedaris. Amusing collection of autobiographical essays from the author of "Me Talk Pretty One Day." Sedaris has a truly unique point of view, the world seen from inside his particular dysfunctional family. Grade: B+

Saturday, March 26, 2005

The Sure Thing (DVD review)

The Sure Thing (1985) starring John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga, with appearances by Anthony Edwards, Tim Robbins and Nicollette Sheridan. A romantic comedy directed at the teen demographic that works rather well. The commentary and trivia tracks are also rather interesting as they give insight into the making of the movie and some of the compromises which were necessary because of the low budget. Cusack is excellent as the glib but shy Gib, who is having trouble getting laid. Zuniga is beautiful and smart as his reluctant love interest. The only problem I had with this movie was two extreme coincidences which throw the two together. Grade: B

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Finding Neverland (DVD review)

Finding Neverland (2004) starring Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet. Rarely does a movie capture and hold my attention the way this one did. Much of the credit must go to Johnny Depp, who is pitch-perfect in the role of J.M. Barrie, writer of the play "Peter Pan." Set in 1904 London, the movie is both magical and sad, funny and tragic. Although it may not be historically accurate, it works as a self-contained universe. Grade: A-

Friday Night Lights (DVD review)

Friday Night Lights (2004) starring Billy Bob Thornton, Lucas Black, Connie Britton. If you're one of those many people, mostly female, who couldn't care less about football, this movie is not for you. There's just too much football in it. For those who like sports movies, it will be a treat -- the rare film about sports that deals more with the people who play, the coaches and their families, and which doesn't have a typical Hollywood ending. Grade: B+

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Dating Dead Men (book review)

Dating Dead Men (2004) by Harley Jane Kozak. Engaging and often very funny mixture of detective tale and romance, with a lot of odds and ends thrown in. A richly imagined, light-hearted book. Also an easy read. Grade: B+

Monday, March 21, 2005

My Sister's Keeper (book review)

My Sister's Keeper (2004) by Jodi Picoult. Two sisters, Anna and Kate, have a predestined relationship. Anna was conceived purposely to be a donor (cord blood, bone marrow, etc.) for her older sister Kate, who has leukemia. But what happens when Kate needs a kidney, and Anna doesn't want to be a donor anymore? The drama plays out from several different points of view, and it raises questions of ethics and family relationships that just don't have any easy answers. It is also emotionally moving. Grade: A-

Sunday, March 20, 2005

Alfie (DVD review)

Alfie (2004) Jude Law, Susan Sarandon, et. al. In 1966, when the original "Alfie" was made, the story of womanizing Alfie rang true. His bed-hopping antics were accepted or at least expected practice then. Now, though, we live in an uptight era with the specter of AIDS haunting every sexual act. And there is nary a mention of a condom in this whole film. The movie has other problems; you'd probably be better off just renting the original version with Michael Caine. Grade: C

Saturday, March 19, 2005

The Incredibles (DVD review)

The Incredibles (2004). The animated story from Pixar about a family of superheros called out of retirement for one last adventure. Until the sequel. Cool. Grade: A-

Saturday, March 12, 2005

A Widow for One Year (book review)

A Widow for One Year (1998) by John Irving. By the author of "The World According to Garp" and "The Cider House Rules." Intriguing premise set in 1958: Sixteen-year-old Eddie has an affair with the beautiful Marion, 39. Forever after, he has a thing for older women. The novel drifts for quite a while in its middle section, however, as Ruth, Marion's daughter, goes on an adventure in Amsterdam that involves research in the red-light district. Toward the end, the novel gets back on track, but it has taken an awful long time to get there. Grade: B

Friday, March 11, 2005

I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (DVD review)

I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (2003) starring Clive Owen, Charlotte Rampling, Malcolm McDowell. Owen, a former gangster, comes back to the city when his brother commits suicide. He spends the entire movie searching for answers, and it's just downright boring and senseless. I kept thinking there was going to be some action to resolve the plot, but it never came. By far the worst movie I've seen in a long time. Grade: F

Thursday, March 10, 2005

Intimate Strangers (DVD review)

Intimate Strangers (2004) in French with English subtitles. Starring Sandrine Bonnaire, Fabrice Luchini. Of course you've never heard of the stars of this film, and why should you? It starts with an intriguing premise: A woman, seeking psychiatric help, accidentally goes to the office of a tax accountant instead of the psychiatrist. She starts telling him her secrets and he, perhaps intrigued by her beauty, listens without telling her of her mistake. The movie goes downhill from there, however, as the drama gets muddled, the plot seems predictable and the ending is disappointing. I usually like foreign films more than this. Grade: B-

Sunday, March 06, 2005

What Was She Thinking? (book review)

What Was She Thinking? [Notes on a Scandal] (2003) by Zoe Heller. Seemingly based on the true story of Mary Kay Letourneau, this book tells the story of a female teacher who has an affair with one of her students, age 15. It is also, maybe more so, the story of her friend, another teacher who knows her secret and fails to keep it. For such a sensational topic, the book is not the interesting, especially the first half. It does pick up interest when the affair becomes public and the repercussions for all concerned become clear. Grade: B

Saturday, March 05, 2005

The Silence of the Lambs (DVD review)

The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn. Winner of the Oscar for best picture, this movie is at times gruesome but has a strong story that drives through to the end. There is one scene where the director takes liberties with the audience, but otherwise an excellent thriller. Strong performances by Foster and Hopkins. Grade: B+

Friday, March 04, 2005

Howards End (DVD review)

Howards End (1992) Emma Thompson, Anthony Hopkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Helena Bonham Carter. This is one of those rare times when my review includes not only the movie itself, but the DVD it appears on. The movie is a delight, but the DVD is a bit of a disappointment. The picture is splendid and the sound is fine, but there are none of those extras which we have become accustomed to. Most especially, there are no subtitles available, a lack which I felt strongly since everyone speaks in a very British accent and words and phrases tend to escape me ears from time to time. The film itself is excellent. Grade: A-

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

Bleachy-Haired Honky Bitch (book review)

Bleachy-Haired Honky Bitch (2004) by Hollis Gillespie. Amusing collection of essays by Gillespie, who is (or was) a flight attendant, German interpreter and writer. She lives in Atlanta, and these writings are mostly autobiographical tales of her quest to join the middle class and own a house. Grade: B+