The Notorious Bettie Page

The Notorious Bettie Page (2006) starring Gretchen Mol as Bettie Page. Although she longed to be an actress, an unassuming girl from Nashville would ultimately become the nation's first bona fide bondage queen. Mary Harron directed this biopic about 1950s pinup girl Page, who innocently posed for sadomasochistic photos and movies before becoming the target of a U.S. Senate investigation and later retreating back into Christianity. Not as sensational as you might fear (or hope). Mol delivers a great performance. Grade: B

Wings of Desire (DVD)

Wings of Desire (1987). Wim Wenders won Best Director at the 1987 Cannes film festival for this vision about an angel (Bruno Ganz) who falls in love with a beautiful circus performer while drifting unnoticed through West Berlin. Overcome by the girl's beauty, the angel decides he wants to become human. Peter Falk co-stars as himself, and aids the angel in his decision-making process. At two hours plus, the movie is way too long. (In German and English, with English subtitles.) Grade: B-

Hope Floats (DVD)

Hope Floats (1998) starring Sandra Bullock, Harry Connick Jr. A woman (Bullock) finds out on a Jerry Springer-like talk show that her husband has been having an affair with her best friend. The movie is all about her return to her home town and her recovery from the devastating news. Except for the opening scene, the film is relatively formless, with no real narrative drive. Grade: B-

Hard Candy (DVD)

Hard Candy (2006). Newcomer Ellen Page stars in this story about the encounter between an online predator and the 14-year-old girl who agrees to meet with him. After meeting in a cafe, he convinces her to come to his house, where she proceeds to turn the tables on him. It's a pretty interesting movie, but tends to get repetitive. Grade: B-

Friends with Money (DVD)

Friends with Money (2006) starring Jennifer Aniston, Joan Cusack, Catherine Keener, Frances McDormand. Slice-of-life drama about four women who have remained friends into adulthood even though one (played by Aniston) has failed to prosper and is working as a maid. The movie is interesting to watch but has an incomplete feel to it. Grade: B-

United 93

United 93 (2006). A cast of unknown actors stars in the harrowing story of the flight in which the passengers rose up against their Muslim hijackers. A well told and affecting film. Grade: B