Looper

Looper (2012) starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Jeff Daniels. The setting is 2044 Kansas, and Gordon-Levitt plays a looper -- a hit man who kills people sent back from the future to be disposed of. Problem is, his own future self (Willis) is sent back to be killed, and he can't quite bring himself to follow through. The logical flaw becomes obvious when you consider: Why send loopers back to be killed by their own past selves? Why not send them back to be killed by someone else? This point is glossed over in the movie, but of course there are always going to be logical flaws in a time-travel film. In general, I'd say that this one is pretty well done. For those with a taste for sci-fi, this will prove to be an entertaining movie. I'm already wanting to see it again. (Closed captions are not included, but the disc has good English subtitles for the hearing-impaired.) Grade: B

Tucker: The Man and His Dream

Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988) starring Jeff Bridges, Joan Allen, Martin Landau, Frederic Forrest, Mako, Dean Stockwell. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Preston Tucker (Bridges) wants to build the "car of the future" in the 1940s, only to be crushed by the Big Three and their political cronies. Tucker is an historical figure who really did build cars in the 1940s, and many of the innovations he envisioned for the Tucker automobile have become standard or optional features of cars today. In fact, he built a car that was "too good": The Big Three saw that it would cost them billions of dollars to keep up, and they exerted all of their political muscle to stop Tucker Motors from ever becoming a viable company. At least, that's the version of the story presented by this movie.  It's a rousing story and very entertaining to watch, thanks to strong writing, direction and acting. (Closed captions are provided for the hard of hearing, as well as English subtitles.) Grade: B+

The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises (2012) starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Batman (Bale) comes out of retirement to fight the ultra-evil Bane (Hardy). Bane seems to have the best of him early on, but who knows how this will turn out? This movie is the end of a Batman trilogy, so anything is possible. I found Bane's mask to be a bit of a distraction -- and it made everything he said hard to understand. I'm not a big Batman fan, so there was some mythology from earlier films that I wasn't clear on. This is a big, rousing superhero movie, and fans of the Batman will be pleased. (Closed captions are not offered, but English subtitles are.) Grade: B+

Arbitrage

Arbitrage (2012) starring Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Tim Roth, Brit Marling, Laetitia Casta. Robert Miller (Gere), a big-time Wall Street money manager, is facing fraud charges over $400 million he's lost for an investor. This is not a good time for him to get in a car wreck with his mistress (Casta) in the car, killing her, and leave the scene of the accident. But that's what he does. A persistent homicide detective (Roth) quickly gets hold of the case and won't let go. Can Miller maneuver and buy his way out of trouble? He gives it his best effort, but his daughter (Marling) and his wife (Sarandon) are on to him. This is a pretty strong  movie, but it lacks a satisfying ending -- even though Miller manages to avoid getting arrested, his life seems to be falling apart; and then the film just abruptly ... ends. The flick didn't do much at the box office, and you can see why -- there's really nobody to root for. More than anything, this movie made me sad. (English subtitles are offered, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B

Little Man Tate

Little Man Tate (1991) starring Jodie Foster, Dianne Wiest, Adam Hann-Byrd, Harry Connick, Jr., David Hyde-Pierce, Debi Mazar. Directed by Jodie Foster. Fred Tate (Hann-Byrd) is a seven-year-old prodigy, but his mother Dede (Foster) lacks the resources -- emotional and intellectual -- to help him realize his potential. He is discovered by the professor (Wiest) who runs a special school for geniuses, but really all Fred wants is to have friends like a normal kid. This movie was Foster's first-time effort as a director, and it shows. The film has a nice feel to it, but it meanders a bit, and the ending seems overly sudden. Still, it's a flick that will stick with me for a while, and I won't soon forget about little man Tate. (Subtitles in English are not offered, but closed captions make up the lack.) Grade: B 

The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane

The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1976) starring Jodie Foster, Martin Sheen, Scott Jacoby. Foster stars as a thirteen-year-old named Rynn who lives, apparently, alone in a house in a small town. Sheen plays a surprisingly creepy role as Mr. Hallet, the son of Rynn's landlord -- a young man who takes an overly personal interest in the girl who rents from his mother. What has happened to Rynn's parents, and can Rynn really take care of herself? This is a quirky little film that offers plenty of rewards. Very entertaining. Foster, as always, is very good. (English subtitles and closed captions are both available.) Grade: B+  

Freaky Friday

Freaky Friday (2003) starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Mark Harmon. Directed by Mark Waters. Lohan has become a Hollywood pariah, and I don't care much for Curtis, but this movie really worked for me. Curtis and Lohan play a mother and daughter who magically switch bodies, then must deal with the confusions, misunderstandings, and general hassles of being each other. Both actresses do an excellent job of acting like someone of a different age. Harmon, in the role of Curtis's fiance, brings gravitas and solidity to the film as well. The script deserves credit, because there are no wasted scenes or unbelievable happenings -- it all just flows so well. It's hard for me to understand why an old fart like myself likes this movie so much, but I do. This is that rare case when a remake (the original came out in 1977) is better than the original film. (Subtitles are available for the hearing-impaired, as well as closed captions.) Grade: A-

A Walk in the Clouds

A Walk in the Clouds (1995) starring Keanu Reeves, Aitana Sanchez-Gijon, Anthony Quinn, Giancarlo Giannini, Debra Messing. Paul Sutton (Reeves) returns from World War II to find that the wife he has been pining for (Messing) is a bimbo, and that he has a bad case of PTSD. When he goes on the road to "find himself," he meets a young woman (Sanchez-Gijon) on the train, and she proceeds to throw up on him. Naturally, he falls in love with her. This movie is nothing more than a high-grade romance novel brought to the screen -- an art form for which, unfortunately, Reeves is ill-suited. It's a good entertainment, but not great art. (The DVD offers subtitles in English, and also closed captions.) Grade: B-

Village of the Damned

Village of the Damned (1960) starring George Sanders, Barbara Shelley. In the village of Midwich, England, every animal -- humans, dogs, cattle -- passes out at the same time and stays unconscious for a couple of hours. Much to the consternation of many in the village, a group of children are conceived during this period. The children are unusually quick to gestate, and to mature after birth (all born on the same day, by the by). Soon, the people of the village realize that the children have amazing powers of mind -- but no compensating emotions. This is an eerily effective movie which takes a simple premise and develops it to its logical conclusion. Very entertaining. (Subtitles are offered, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B+

It Came from Outer Space

It Came from Outer Space (1953) starring Richard Carlson, Barbara Rush. A spaceship crashes in the desert, leaving a giant crater, and soon aliens start taking the form of humans in order to effect repairs to their ship. One man (Carlson) is enlisted by the aliens to help them, but he can't get anyone human to believe him. Based on a story by Ray Bradbury, this movie is primitive by any standards. The special effects are poor and the acting is amateurish. Even by my standards, this is one sci-fi film that I wouldn't have minded not seeing. Grade: C

Waking Sleeping Beauty

Waking Sleeping Beauty (2010) -- Documentary. Directed by Don Hahn. Disney veteran Hahn takes a look at the studio's revival, from its nadir in the 1970s, through the '80s and '90s, during which were produced such animation successes as The Little Mermaid, Aladdin,  Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King. This documentary takes a look behind the scene, showing such honchos as Roy Disney, Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg as they struggled behind the scenes to control the direction the studio would go -- and who would get credit for the successes. For Disney fans who are curious about the nuts and bolts of animated film making, it's a great movie to see. (Subtitles in English are available, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B 

Wait Until Dark

Wait Until Dark (1967) starring Audrey Hepburn, Alan Arkin, Richard Crenna, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Jack Weston. Three criminals (Arkin, Crenna and Weston) expend an incredible amount of energy trying to find a doll filled with heroin. They suspect that Susy Hendrix (Hepburn) knows where it is, and (since she is blind) they think it will be easy to con her into giving it to them. But she turns out to be one smart blind woman, and their plot goes awry. It all leads up to a very scary climax, in which Mr. Roat (Arkin) terrorizes Susy in her darkened apartment. Hepburn was nominated for an Oscar for her work in this film, which was a box-office success. The doll, of course, is a MacGuffin, and a little doll filled with packets of heroin would scarcely seem to merit all the intensity that the three crooks focus on it. Nevertheless, this is a very entertaining movie, well produced with good acting all around. (English subtitles are available, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B+ 

Waitress

Waitress (2007) starring Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Cheryl Hines, Adrienne Shelly, Jeremy Sisto, Andy Griffith. Written and directed by Adrienne Shelly.  Russell plays Jenna, the waitress of the title, who is not just a waitress but a wizard with pies. She's trapped in a loveless marriage and pregnant, but her pregnancy leads to her meeting the dreamy new ob-gyn in town (Fillion), whom she promptly falls madly in love with. The movie does not go in the direction you expect it to, and that's a good thing. In its own way, this is a perfect little movie, and certainly deserves to be enjoyed. Sadly, Shelly was murdered after the movie was made and before it hit theaters. When you see this film, you'll realize how great a loss that was. (English subtitles are available, but the closed captions are better.) Grade: A-

The Wages of Fear

The Wages of Fear (1953) starring Yves Montand, Charles Vanel. In an impoverished village somewhere in Latin America, four desperate men are hired by an American oil company to drive two trucks loaded with nitroglycerin. If they hit a bad bump or if the nitro gets too hot (from the sun), boom! They're goners. The tension builds as the unpaved road gets rougher and rougher. The setup seems to call for one of the trucks to blow up, but which one will it be? For $2,000 each, the men are risking their lives -- and their sanity. I rather enjoyed this movie, although it was a bit long at two and a half hours. (The film is in French with English subtitles. There were several occasions when English was spoken and the subtitles were dropped, making it hard for me to follow.) Grade: B   

Dante's Peak

Dante's Peak (1997) starring Pierce Brosnan, Linda Hamilton. Vulcanologist Harry Dalton (Brosnan) is the only one who believes that the dormant volcano Dante's Peak is about to blow, and he gets in trouble for alarming the townfolk. The mayor (Hamilton) of the town of Dante's Peak seems attracted to him, but before they get a chance to kiss, the mountain starts erupting. From that point on, all is chaos. I wanted to compare this movie to Volcano, the other flick that erupted in 1997, and it seems to boil down to whom you prefer -- Tommy Lee Jones and Anne Heche, from Volcano, or Brosnan and Hamilton.  On that basis, I'd have to say I preferred Dante's Peak. It's really kind of a toss-up though, otherwise. Neither one is a great film. (This DVD includes English subtitles for the hearing-impaired, which is fortunate because it lacks closed captions.) Grade: B

The Wackness

The Wackness (2008) starring Ben Kingsley, Josh Peck, Famke Janssen, Olivia Thirlby. In the summer of 1994, young Luke Shapiro (Peck) is selling pot in New York City, getting ready to go off to college. Life isn't great for Luke, whose parents are constantly bickering, and who is still a virgin. Then he meets his psychiatrist's (Kingsley) stepdaughter (Thirlby), and romance, or at least friendship, blooms. This is an odd little movie, with quite a few original turns. Unfortunately, in my opinion, Peck is less than compelling in the film's lead role. I kind of enjoyed the movie, but it was uneven. (Subtitles are lacking, though closed captions come to the rescue.) Grade: B

Volcano

Volcano (1997) starring Tommy Lee Jones, Anne Heche, Gaby Hoffman, Don Cheadle. The La Brea Tar Pits erupt into a volcano spewing lava, and all of Los Angeles is threatened with annihilation in this exciting disaster movie. Luckily, Tommy Lee Jones and Anne Heche are on the scene, as a disaster official and a geologist, to save the day and divert the lava into the sea -- and maybe, just maybe, fall in love. The special effects are very good. (English subtitles for the hearing-impaired are included, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B   

The Wackiest Ship in the Army

The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1960) starring Jack Lemmon, Ricky Nelson. Set in 1943, this World War II tale involves Lt. Rip Crandall (Lemmon), who is assigned to take over a "ship" dubbed the Echo. Crandall has experience sailing yachts, which qualifies him to captain the Echo from Australia to a small island in the Pacific Ocean. From there he has to transport an Australian ship spotter into enemy territory in New Guinea. This movie is a fairly light-hearted story about sailors on a special mission during World War II. Nelson, as Crandall's second-in-command, even sings a song in the Officers' Club. I found the film to be fairly entertaining. (Subtitles in English are available, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B  

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) starring Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Maggie Smith, Dev Patel. Several British seniors at or past retirement age decide that they can live more cheaply in India, and can't afford to live in Britain, so they engage rooms at the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in Jaipur. Naturally, the hotel proves to be less than advertised. Each of the senior guests has his or her own story, a reason why they were let down, why they couldn't afford to stay in England. And once they reach India, each follows his or her own story line. One thing that is most remarkable about this movie is that all the stories are wrapped up nicely (and none too believably) in the final 10 or 15 minutes. It has a contrived feel to it that I found none too pleasing. But if you must know, it has many happy endings. (Subtitles for the hearing impaired are available, also closed captions.) Grade: B 

Radio Days

Radio Days (1987) starring Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Seth Green, Julie Kavner. Directed by Woody Allen. Woody conjurs up what one must assume is a nostalgic version of his own boyhood, growing up in New York in the days when radio was king. The movie has some nice touches and some humorous moments, plus a  lot of great old music that played on the radio back in those days. The subtitles are adequate. Grade: B

The Great Buck Howard

The Great Buck Howard (2008) starring Colin Hanks, John Malkovich, Emily Blunt, Tom Hanks. Malkovich plays "The Great Buck Howard," a mentalist whose career has been in decline for many years. Colin Hanks stars and narrates as a law student named Troy who quits school to work as road manager for Howard. This movie was reminiscent of "My Favorite Year," another film in which a young protagonist learns life lessons from interacting with a difficult older star who is trying to regain his lost glory. The movie is funny and ultimately moving, with Blunt supplying the romantic interest and Tom Hanks, Colin's real-life father, playing his disapproving film father. The Great Buck Howard is modeled on a real mentalist, Kreskin, who performed many of the same tricks and whose secrets were never uncovered. (The DVD does not offer subtitles in English, but closed captions make up the loss.) Grade: B+  

Volver

Volver (2006) starring Penelope Cruz. Directed by Pedro Almodovar. A woman named Raimunda (Cruz) journeys back to her home village in La Mancha. Mysterious goings-on are eventually explained by the appearance of what appears to be the ghost of her mother. Meanwhile, her daughter accuses her husband of trying to rape her -- which explains why she killed him. Raimunda decides to dispose of the body without telling the authorities. All the strange events are eventually explained, but it takes some real story-weaving to accomplish it. The bottom line is that I really enjoyed this movie, even though it is in Spanish with English subtitles. The subtitles, by the way, are very good -- highly legible. Grade: A-  

Visions of Light

Visions of Light: The Art of Cinematography (1993); documentary. Cinematographers discuss the art of shooting film for motion pictures, and many films are sampled to show examples of different kinds of cinematography. This is a tantalizing movie, because it shows so many brief clips from so many great films, and I wanted to see all the films discussed. Visions of Light got me all jazzed again about motion pictures, and I found it tremendously stimulating. On the other hand, it's a bare-bones production, with no Extras, and no subtitles or closed captions. I'd like to see a movie like this done really well, with more and longer clips from even more great films. Grade: B+     

Vincent & Theo

Vincent & Theo (1990) starring Tim Roth, Paul Rhys. Directed by Robert Altman. The relationship between painter Vincent van Gogh (Roth) and his brother Theo (Rhys) is at the center of this biopic. Vincent can't sell any of his paintings (he only sold one during his lifetime), and Theo (who works in an art gallery) can't sell any of Vincent's paintings either. The two brothers both have problems in their relationships with women, and neither is prosperous (Vincent depends on an allowance from Theo for his living). The movie tries to breath life into their relationship, but never quite achieves its aim. They have a symbiotic relationship, that much is clear. But why do they care so much about one another? The film never really shows us what they like about each other, besides the fact that they are brothers. Still, Vincent's art, the greatness we know will be his after his death, makes the movie inherently interesting. (Subtitles for hearing-impaired are available, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B

Vincent: The Life and Death of Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent: The Life and Death of Vincent Van Gogh (1988); documentary. I found this documentary of Van Gogh's life rather disappointing. The filmmakers used images of nature, and pictures of Van Gogh's works, as illustration, and over these images the actor John Hurt read some  of Vincent's letters to his brother Theo. If you don't already know Van Gogh's life story, it may prove difficult to get anything out of the movie. Even Vincent's suicide is illustrated with footage of a country lane, and no explanatory text. Plus, the DVD lacks any sort of subtitles for the hearing-impaired. Although in this case Hurt's reading of the letters was clear and understandable, there might be some viewers who would profit from subtitles or closed captions. The sole redeeming feature of this film for me were the shots of Van Gogh's artistic works, some of which are just astonishing. Grade: B

Ruby Sparks

Ruby Sparks (2012) starring Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Chris Messina, Annette Bening, Antonio Banderas, Steve Coogan, Elliot Gould. A novelist named Calvin (Dano), starved for inspiration, starts writing about his dream girl, Ruby Sparks (Kazan). When she shows up in his apartment, he freaks out. He soon realizes, however, that she is real. She is his perfect mate -- until she starts pulling away from him. Then he can't resist the urge to rewrite her so she'll stay with him. And then things get really weird. This movie is a tour de force for Kazan, who wrote the script, produced, and stars. Although the film has its dark moments, it has a satisfying ending, and the more I think about it, the more I like it. The one "flaw" in the script that I noticed was that Calvin never took Ruby to meet his psychiatrist (Gould). I think that would have offered exquisite opportunities for plot development. (The disc offers subtitles for the hearing-impaired, as well as closed captions.) Grade: A-

Shane

Shane (1953) starring Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Van Heflin, Jack Palance. A mysterious stranger named Shane (Ladd) rides into a valley in Wyoming and gets mixed up in the battle between ranchers and homesteaders. The ranchers are the bad guys, and they're trying to drive the farmers out. They even go so far as to hire a gunslinger (Palance) to come in and scare them off. But they don't count on Shane, who is a retired gunman himself. This movie is one of the great Westerns, with all the necessary elements in place. It's good vs. evil, plain and simple, and good wins out, with a little help from a six-gun. Great soundtrack, too. (Subtitles for the hearing-impaired and closed captions are both included on the DVD.)  Grade: A

The Bridges at Toko-Ri

The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954) starring William Holden, Grace Kelly, Fredric March, Mickey Rooney. Naval officer Harry Brubaker (Holden) is called back to duty aboard an aircraft carrier during the Korean War. His assignment: To take out five strategically crucial bridges located at Toko-Ri. Surprisingly, the movie is free of false patriotism and makes it clear that it doesn't approve of the war. I can't really say how realistic it is, but it had the right feel for a war film, and a convincingly downbeat ending. (Both subtitles on the disc and closed captions are available for the hearing-impaired.) Grade: B+

Nobody Else But You

Nobody Else But You (2011) starring Jean-Paul Rouve, Sophie Quinton. A local beauty's death is ruled suicide, but detective writer Rousseau (Rouve) suspects a possible homicide. When he starts investigating, he finds his own life in danger. My biggest problem with this movie is that it is in French, and the subtitles are at times impossible to read because they are white against a white background. At any rate, I was not able to become immersed in this film, and my enjoyment of it was vastly reduced. (In French, with English subtitles.) Grade: C

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012) starring Steve Carell, Keira Knightley, Connie Britton, Adam Brody. An asteroid is hurtling toward Earth, with three weeks to go before Armageddon. Dodge (Carell) and Penny (Knightley), newly thrown together by circumstances, go on a road trip to try to find lost loves and say goodbye to family. Along the way (of course) they fall in love with each other. This movie has some pretty funny bits having to do with impending doom, and also some pretty alarming bits. Ultimately, though, I found the ending to be a little downbeat. It's not a feel-good film. It sends mixed messages, which may explain why it did rather poorly at the box office. (The subtitles are good, but closed captions aren't offered as an option.) Grade: B-

Victor/Victoria

Victor/Victoria (1982) starring Julie Andrews, James Garner, Robert Preston. Directed by Blake Edwards. In 1934 Paris, a starving singer named Victoria Grant (Andrews) decides to try playing a transvestite performer named Victor. In other words, she's a woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman. But not fooled is King Marchan (Garner), an American visiting Paris who believes that "Victor" is really a woman. Problem is, Victoria Grant is a huge success (the "toast of Paris") as a female impersonator, and she doesn't want to give it up. The movie deals amusingly with gay themes, but I didn't buy Andrews' portrayal of a "man." She wouldn't have fooled me, and I don't think she would have fooled all of Paris. The musical numbers, although they won an Oscar, don't strike me as top-notch, nor particularly memorable. Andrews and Garner are charming in the lead roles, and the movie is entertaining, but it's just not first rate. Andrews was married to director Edwards. (Subtitles are available, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B

Moonrise Kingdom

Moonrise Kingdom (2012) starring Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand. Directed by Wes Anderson. A young boy and girl (Gilman, Hayward) "fall in love" and run away together in 1965 in New England. They are pursued by their families, the authorities and the Khaki Scouts, but they do succeed in spending one night together, camped in a remote cove. This movie has all the quirkiness one would expect from a Wes Anderson movie, and it has a sweet ending. It's quite a likable film. (English subtitles are included, but not closed captions.) Grade: B+

The Blob

The Blob (1958) starring "Steven" McQueen. A meteorite crashes to Earth and inside the hollow rock is a gelatinous substance that turns out to be carnivorous. It looks like a big blob of cherry Jell-o, which may not be far from the truth. Only a group of teenagers, led by young Steve (McQueen), suspect the danger their town is in. They can't get the authorities to believe them, so they have to contain the monster by themselves. Unintentionally campy movie is quite a hoot, with McQueen giving a laughable performance in his first leading role. When I was a kid, in 1958, this film gave me nightmares. This time around, even though it is not a great movie, I thoroughly enjoyed it. (Subtitles in English are available, but not closed captions.) Grade: B 

Freaky Friday

Freaky Friday (1977) starring Barbara Harris, Jodie Foster. A mother (Harris) and daughter (Foster) wish simultaneously on Friday the 13th that they could trade places, and like magic, they do. Naturally, when they're both experiencing the other's life, everything goes wrong. This is basically a movie for young girls, who can enjoy the fantasy of switching places with their mothers without being put off by the many loose ends and lack of believability of the script. For adults, it's just plain silly. There are numerous instances of, "That would never happen in real life." The film lacks verisimilitude. It really didn't work for me. (The DVD includes legible subtitles, and closed captions, which are preferable.) Grade: C+

The Amazing Spider-Man

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) starring Andrew Garfield, Rhys Ifans, Emma Stone, Denis Leary, Sally Field, Martin Sheen. Bitten by a genetically modified spider, Peter Parker (Garfield) suddenly finds that he has amazing strength and the ability to climb things. He starts by battling petty crime, but soon finds himself clashing with the archvillain The Lizard (Ifans). Meanwhile, he falls in love with a girl from school (Stone) and reveals to her that he is Spider-Man. As superhero movies go, this one is not bad. Many elements are familiar from earlier Spider-Man films, but it brings enough fresh ideas to the mix to make it work. It will help if you like this type of movie. (The furnished subtitles are very good, although closed captions are not offered.) Grade: B+ 

Vice Versa

Vice Versa (1988) starring Judge Reinhold, Fred Savage. A father (Reinhold) and son (Savage) accidentally switch bodies (by wishing on a magical artifact), and each gets to find out what it's like living in the other's world. Similar movies like Freaky Friday and Big have treated the same theme, and done it a little better, but this one is not bad. There's a silly subplot about a couple of crooks who want to steal the magic artifact, but of course it all works out in the end. (English subtitles are available, and not bad. Closed captions are also offered.) Grade: B- 

The Blob

The Blob (1988) starring Kevin Dillon, Shawnee Smith. High school kids battle a gelatinous mass from outer space; the blob feeds on flesh, and it grows rapidly as it finds victims. Then government agents show up and (spoiler alert!) it turns out that the blob is in reality a biological weapon. The big disappointment in this movie, aside from the script, is the special effects. The blob is not well rendered, and it does not move in a convincing way. This is a truly awful film, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. (To its credit, the DVD has subtitles in several languages, including English. It also has closed captions, which are my first choice.) Grade: D 

Your Sister's Sister

Your Sister's Sister (2011) starring Emily Blunt, Mark Duplass, Rosemarie DeWitt. Jack (Duplass), who is mourning his brother, goes to an island for some alone time. The cabin on the island belongs to Iris (Blunt) and Hannah (DeWitt), who are sisters. Jack and Iris are best friends. When Jack gets there, Hannah is there alone. The next morning, Iris arrives unexpectedly. These three people, who care about one another, get tangled up in each other's lives in ways that come as quite a total surprise to the viewer. It makes for an interesting little indie experience that you won't soon forget. (The DVD features subtitles for the hearing-impaired. Closed captions are not offered.) Grade: B+

Vertigo

Vertigo (1958) starring James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Stewart stars as a retired San Francisco police detective who suffers from a severe fear of heights. He is hired by an old friend to spy on the friend's wife, and of course ends up falling in love with her -- and she with him. This is one of Hitchcock's most twisty-turny thriller-mysteries, and has been beautifully restored. I won't give away any more of the  plot, but I definitely recommend this film. (Subtitles for the hearing-impaired are provided, but not closed captions.) Grade: A-

The Verdict

The Verdict (1982) starring Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, Jack Warden, James Mason. Directed by Sidney Lumet.  "Ambulance chaser" attorney Frank Galvin (Newman) gets a chance at redemption when his friend (Warden) scares up a case for him that should be an easy win. But Galvin passes up a chance to settle out of court in favor of trying the case, and the opposing lawyer (Mason) is "the Devil incarnate." Rampling plays Galvin's love interest, but also turns out to be playing a double role. The movie has complexities which surpass the simple courtroom drama it might have been. (The DVD includes English subtitles, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B+

Safety Not Guaranteed

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012) starring Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, Jake M. Johnson, Karan Soni. Safety Not Guaranteed is a flawed but very entertaining romantic comedy about an intern at a magazine (Plaza) who, as part of an assignment, meets and gets involved with a guy (Duplass) who claims to be able to time-travel. For the viewer, it as a puzzle -- is this guy crazy or is he a true visionary? The director provides the answer at the end of the movie, and it wasn't quite what I expected -- but it was very satisfying. The film is filled with problems, both small and large, which detract from its overall impact, but in the end it delivers. (English subtitles for the hearing impaired are provided, and are very good; closed captions are not offered.) Grade: B

Up the Down Staircase

Up the Down Staircase (1967) starring Sandy Dennis. Sylvia Barrett (Dennis) is a new teacher at an inner-city school who struggles to get through to her students. Sound familiar? It seems that the high-school teaching environment is a rich one for book and movie plots. Maybe this one was original in 1967, but it seems all too dated and hackneyed now. Dennis is appealing in the starring role, and I was pleased to see Jean Stapleton in a supporting role. The film is memorable most of all for a scene in which a student, having sent a love note to one of her teachers, is made to stand and listen while he corrects the grammar of the note, without responding to its content. (The student, Alice, then jumps out of a window. What finally happens to her, we never find out.) (The movie has English subtitles for the hearing impaired, but they are a bit hard to read.) Grade: B

Up Close and Personal

Up Close and Personal (1996) starring Robert Redford, Michelle Pfeiffer. A young woman named Sally Atwater (Pfeiffer) seeks a career in television news, and an old hand named Warren Justice (Redford) takes on the task of training her up from an assistant to an on-air reporter. Naturally, they fall in love. It's a pet peeve of mine, but Redford was 60 when the film was made, and Pfeiffer was 38. I didn't believe the chemistry between them, although toward the end they almost had me convinced. The script for this movie was awfully hackneyed, and it all seemed like an excuse to get the two stars together on screen. (The film offers English subtitles, as well as closed captions.) Grade: C

An Unreasonable Man

An Unreasonable Man (Ralph Nader) (2007) Documentary. Ralph Nader's lifelong battle to protect consumers is chronicled, along with his controversial decision to run for president in 2000 and 2004. For those who don't remember, Nader came to prominence in the '60s with the publication of his book, Unsafe at Any Speed. The movie clearly delineates his contributions to the safety of Americans in a number of areas, including car safety, food safety and drug safety. About half of the film is devoted to the controversy surrounding his runs for the presidency in '00 and '04, which some blame for George W. Bush's election and re-election to office. I found the movie to be an important, informative document of the life of a great American. (Subtitles for the hearing-impaired are provided, but are hard to read.) Grade: A 

The Untouchables

The Untouchables (1987) starring Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Charles Martin Smith, Andy Garcia, Robert De Niro. Directed by Brian De Palma. Crusading federal treasury agent Eliot Ness (Kostner) arrives in Chicago in 1930 to "get" Al Capone (De Niro). With the help of a small group of "untouchables" (Smith, Garcia and Connery), Ness has some early success at disrupting the illegal liquor trade -- and at arousing Capone's ire. The movie has plenty of action, with several notable shootouts and a rooftop pursuit. The only criticism I have is that De Palma has a bit too much of a taste for blood. Connery won a well deserved Oscar for his portrayal of Jimmy Malone, the honest cop who shows Ness how laws are enforced "the Chicago way."  I saw this film in a theater in 1987, and have seen it on video a couple of times since. It holds up rather well. (English subtitles are available, as well as closed captions.) Grade: A-

Unforgiven

Unforgiven (1992) starring Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris. Directed by Clint Eastwood. In the 1870s, long-retired gunman William Munny (Eastwood) takes one last job because he needs the money. Together with his partner Ned (Freeman) he rides into the town of Big Whiskey, which is ruled by the sadistic hand of sheriff Little Bill (Hackman). In the end, Munny proves that he is still the killing machine he was years ago, before he cleaned up his act. This is a great movie, and a great Western, although it has been referred to as an anti-Western by some. There is certainly no glory in the killing. The film won four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. (English subtitles are available, but better are the closed captions.) Grade: A 

An Unmarried Woman

An Unmarried Woman (1978) starring Jill Clayburgh, Alan Bates, Michael Murphy. Clayburgh stars as Erica, who discovers one day that her husband Martin (Murphy) is in love with someone else. She goes through a transition period of grief, then falls in love with Saul (Bates), an artist at the gallery where she works. The movie was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress (for Clayburgh). It was considered groundbreaking in its day, and still provides a comfortable quantity of entertainment, although there are few surprises to be found. Clayburgh is winning in the title role. The most amazing thing about the film to me was the prices. Two people ate lunch in a New York eatery for $3.95. Another couple bought ice cream on the street for twenty cents apiece. Incredible. (The movie has English subtitles; closed captions are also available.) Grade: B

Under the Volcano

Under the Volcano (1984) starring Albert Finney, Jacqueline Bisset, Anthony Andrews. Directed by John Huston. Former diplomat Geoffrey Firmin (Finney) is a raging alcoholic, living in Mexico just before World War II, whose wife Yvonne (Bisset) has just returned after divorcing him. She begs to be his wife again, but he chooses the bottle over her. That's an oversimplification, of course, but that's the skeleton of the plot. The movie is beautifully conceived and photographed, and although it doesn't have a happy ending, the ending seems inevitable in hindsight. (The subtitles are very hard to find -- you can only access them through the remote -- and there are no closed captions.) Grade: B+  

Head

Head (1968) starring the Monkees. An hour and a half of silliness, with no subtitles and no closed captions. Grade: D

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988) starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Juliette Binoche, Lena Olin. Set in 1968 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, The Unbearable Lightness of Being tells the story of a doctor named Tomas (Day-Lewis) who has a way with women. (His favorite seduction line is, "Take off your clothes.") It comes as something of a surprise when he decides to marry Tereza (Binoche). Then, the Soviet tanks roll in, and the film switches temporarily to black-and-white so that documentary footage can be mixed in. Tomas and Tereza flee to Switzerland, and things are never the same. This is an unusual and wonderful motion picture that tells a human story and mixes it in with historical events. Very enjoyable and sexy. (Subtitles in English are provided for the hard of hearing.) Grade: A 

Unfaithfully Yours

Unfaithfully Yours (1948) starring Rex Harrison, Linda Darnell. Directed by Preston Sturges. Harrison stars as a famous conductor named Alfred in this comedy; Darnell plays his devoted younger wife whom he mistakenly suspects of cheating on him. While conducting a concert one night, he fantasizes about how he will deal with her -- first killing her, then forgiving her, then challenging her "lover" to a game of Russian roulette. When he goes home and starts trying to act out his fantasies, a slapstick bonanza ensues. This is a pretty masterful comedy, for 1948. It will certainly satisfy and amuse viewers who enjoy old movies. I found the humor predictable but still entertaining. (English subtitles are available, and can only be accessed via the remote control of your DVD  player. No closed captions.) Grade: B      

My Afternoons with Margueritte

My Afternoons with Margueritte (2010) starring Gerard Depardieu, Gisele Casadesus. An illiterate handyman named Germain (Depardieu) meets an old woman (Casadesus) in the park. The two, though far apart in age and education, fall in love. She reads to him and he learns to appreciate books. But more than that, he finds in her the maternal affection that he never received from his own mother. It's a lovely story, efficiently told and nicely  photographed. It's in French, with English subtitles. Grade: A-

Ulee's Gold

Ulee's Gold (1997) starring Peter Fonda, Patricia Richardson, Jessica Biel. Fonda stars as Ulee Jackson, a taciturn Florida beekeeper whose son is in prison and whose daughter-in-law is on drugs. Ulee's two granddaughters are living with him. Trouble arises when it comes to light that two of his son's criminal associates have learned that there is $100,000 from a previous robbery hidden on Ulee's property. They want the money, and only Ulee can talk to his son and find out where it is. Finely crafted movie earned Fonda an Academy Award nomination. Good script with believable dialogue. (Subtitles in English are available on the disc, trumped by closed captions.) Grade: B     

Ugetsu

Ugetsu (1953) starring Machiko Kyo, Masayuki Mori, Kinuyo Tanaka. Japanese movie, set during the 16th century during a time of war. Two friends go separate ways, lost in the chaos of war, and both leave wives behind. One man seeks riches selling his pottery, the other wants to become a samurai. They both get what they desire, but at great cost. In Japanese, with English subtitles. Grade: B+    

2010

2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984) starring Roy Scheider, John Lithgow, Helen Mirren, Bob Balaban, Keir Dullea. Three American scientists (Scheider, Lithgow and Balaban) travel aboard a Russian space ship to visit the Discovery from 2001: A Space Odyssey, to try and figure out what went wrong. Meanwhile, back on Earth, an international crisis is playing out, with war breaking out between the U.S. and Soviet Union. Obviously, this presents a problem to present-day viewers of this movie, since we know that the Soviet Union will not exist in 2010. Dave Bowman (Dullea), from 2001, makes an appearance, with important news for Earth. This film is not a total success, but for sci-fi fans it will be sufficient as a followup to 2001. (Closed captions are available.) Grade: B    

2001: A Space Odyssey

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) starring Keir Dullea, William Sylvester, Gary Lockwood. Directed by Stanley Kubrick. Arguably Kubrick's masterpiece, 2001 traces the development of mankind from the Dawn of Man four million years ago until the near future (now past), when humans are exploring space and discover a mysterious monolith on the Moon. An expedition is mounted to Jupiter, manned by five men and the HAL-9000 computer. The special effects are really special in this movie, and Kubrick makes great used of music (especially Strauss' "Thus Spoke Zarathustra"). Main flaw is some rather stiff acting and dialogue at certain points. (English subtitles are offered, but trumped by closed captions.) Grade: A-

Two Lovers

Two Lovers (2009) starring Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw. Bipolar schmuck named Leonard (Phoenix) lives with his parents, carries on doomed relationships with two women at the same time. Michelle (Paltrow) is a troubled woman who is dating a married man. Sandra (Shaw) is the sensible choice, the daughter of Leonard's father's business associate, and a lovely young woman. Naturally, Leonard makes plans to run away with Michelle to San Francisco. The movie is anything but boring, and manages to maintain suspense up until the closing scene. I liked it. (English subtitles are not offered, but closed captions save the day.) Grade: B+  

The Two of Us

The Two of Us (1968) starring Michel Simon, Alain Cohen, Luce Fabiole. During World War II in France, a young Jewish boy (Cohen) is sent to live in the country with an older couple. His parents instruct him to pretend to be Catholic, and he calls the older couple Grandpa and Grandma. The twist is that Grandpa (Simon) is an anti-Semite and tells the young boy all kinds of rubbish about Jews. The boy takes it in good  spirit, though, and forms a close and loving relationship with "Grandpa." The movie is based on the director's real-life boyhood during WWII, and that gives the film all the more poignancy. I liked it. (In French, with English subtitles.) Grade: A-   

2 Days in the Valley

2 Days in the Valley (1996) starring Danny Aiello, James Spader, Eric Stoltz, Greg Cruttwell, Jeff Daniels, Terry Hatcher, Charlize Theron. Tangled crime comedy throws together a variety of lesser-known actors who would later become famous. The cops are incompetent and the crooks are incompetent, so it all makes for a dark comedy of errors, with lots of blood. For a low-budget movie, it's surprisingly entertaining. (Subtitles in English are offered on the disc, as well as closed captions.)Grade: B+

The Avengers

The Avengers (2012) starring a large ensemble cast including Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Cobie Smulders.  Loki and his evil army are invading Earth, and it's up to the Avengers to save it. Included in the mix are Iron Man, Captain America, the Hawk, Black Widow, the Incredible Hulk, and Thor, who all team up (eventually) to fight. It's a hyperkinetic movie, with nearly non-stop action and lots and lots of special effects. It would best be seen on a big screen in a theater, with theater-quality sound and preferably in 3D. On my little 22-inch TV it sometimes seemed like there was just too much going on. Still, it's a pretty cool movie, especially if you like superheroes. (Subtitles for the hearing-impaired are available, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B+  

Two Mules for Sister Sara

Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970) starring Clint Eastwood, Shirley MacLaine. In Mexico after the American Civil War, a gunman (Eastwood) meets up with a nun (MacLaine). They end up traveling together and helping the Mexican patriots to fight the French would-be colonizers. The movie is mildly amusing and features a lot of stunts that Eastwood made famous in the spaghetti Westerns. It's interesting to see MacLaine and Eastwood together on screen, but otherwise this film has little to recommend it. The DVD does feature subtitles for the hearing-impaired. Grade: B  

Hysteria

Hysteria (2011) starring Hugh Dancy, Maggie Gyllenhaal. Basically, this is a movie about the invention of the vibrator. In the 1880s in England, a doctor (Dancy) takes a job as a "women's doctor" which involves treating women for "hysteria" by manually stimulating them to orgasm. He finds the job hard on his hand, and with the help of his roommate, comes up with an electrical device for stimulating the clitoris (though that word is never mentioned in the film). The movie works surprisingly well, though it is by no means a great work of art. It does make for an entertaining evening at the movies. (With subtitles and closed captions). Grade: B+  

Two for the Road

Two for the Road (1967) starring Audrey Hepburn, Albert Finney. Hepburn and Finney play a married couple who are taking a road trip through Europe as part of the process of deciding whether they want to stay married or not. The movie jumps back and forth in time, showing their relationship in different stages, both before and after their marriage, and after the birth of their daughter. In every case, they are on a road trip -- hitchhiking when they are young and poor, driving various vehicles when they are older and better off. It's a pretty entertaining film, although I didn't find the chemistry between the two stars very convincing. Hepburn was almost 40 when the movie was made, and can't really pass as much younger. Finney was several years younger, and looks it. As films go, it's not a bad way to pass an evening. The European flavor of the locales appealed to me. (Subtitles in English are available, as are closed captions.) Grade: B

Titanic

Titanic (1997) starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Frances Fisher, Kathy Bates. Directed by James Cameron. Jack and Rose (DiCaprio and Winslet), though they come from different strata of society, fall in love as they travel across the Atlantic on the doomed passenger ship Titanic. Rose's mother (Fisher) and fiance (Zane) do not approve, to put it mildly. We see the story in flashback as Rose, who still lives at the time the movie is made, hears about explorers who have found the sunken ship and contacts them. The film is a romantic, epic disaster movie with fine acting and great special effects. It won 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. Although, at over three hours, it's a little long for my tastes, I enjoyed it immensely. (The DVD features English subtitles as well as closed captions.) Grade: A

Two-Family House

Two-Family House (2000). A loser buys a house in the hopes of turning it into a residence upstairs and a bar downstairs. But this DVD is not indexed. This means that every time you stop the movie to take a break for any reason, the movie starts over again from the beginning when you press Play again. This makes the movie unwatchable. Grade: F

Total Recall

Total Recall (1990) starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone, Ronny Cox, Michael Ironside. Directed by Paul Verhoeven. Sci-fi film set in the distant future has Schwarzenegger playing Douglas Quaid, a construction worker who feels he is meant for bigger things. When he goes to Rekall, a company that specializes in memory implants, he discovers that his memory has already been tampered with and sets out to find out why. The search for his past ends with him journeying to Mars, where he encounters strange happenings. My main impressions of this film are that the sets looked flimsy, the special effects look cheesy, and that Schwarzenegger can't act. Also, this is an ultraviolent movie, with constant hand-to-hand combat and shootouts, accompanied by lots of blood. Did I enjoy it? Yes, but I'm a sci-fi nut and an irrational fan of Ahnuld. I saw the film back in 1990, when it came out, and I had the same objections then as I have now. (English subtitles are available, as are closed captions.) Grade: B-

The Deep Blue Sea

The Deep Blue Sea (2011) starring Rachel Weisz, Tom Hiddleston, Simon Russell Beale. Hester (Weisz), married to the somewhat older William (Beale), falls in love with a younger man (Hiddleston). But Freddie, the younger man, doesn't love Hester the way that she loves him. Hester has left a stable marriage for an abusive relationship, all in the name of love. The story is set around 1950 in London, so the mores of the time do not take kindly to behavior such as she has indulged in. Plus, the movie takes place in the wake of World War II, and there is the consideration that Freddie fought the Krauts as an RAF pilot -- a fact which he does not hesitate to throw in Hester's face when he wants to make a point in an argument. The way the movie plays it, Freddie is a real prick. In the Extras, the actors make a case for Hester as a real radical, for the times. I can't say that this film didn't have an impact, it did. But if you're looking for a romance with a happy ending, you should look elsewhere; this one is a real downer. The title comes from Hester's insight that she is caught between the Devil and the deep blue sea. (English subtitles are provided, but not closed captions.) Grade: A-

How Green Was My Valley

How Green Was My Valley (1941) starring Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara, Donald Crisp, Anna Lee, Roddy McDowall. Directed by John Ford. The trials and tribulations of a Welsh coal-mining family form the spine of the plot in this movie made as World War II was breaking out. The story is told in backflash fashion, as an older version of McDowall makes preparations to leave the valley -- a beginning to the story that is never followed through in the end. The title refers to the fact that the valley was green and unspoiled at the beginning of the narrator's life, but became choked with black coal sludge by the time of his leaving, 50 years later. This film won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. It's been hailed as a great movie, but I don't think it holds up all that well after all this time. It's certainly a very good film, but "great" may be stretching it. The movie has been beautifully restored. (English subtitles are available, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B+

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) starring Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Paul Lukas, Peter Lorre. In 1860s, giant "sea monster" which preys on shipping is discovered to be an atomic-powered submarine under the command of megalomaniacal Captain Nemo (Mason). Seaman Ned Land (Douglas) ends up a prisoner on board the submarine and bears witness to Nemo's crazed reasoning. The movie Disney-fies the Jules Verne novel, and while it did a good job of bringing it to screen for 1954, it now seems quite dated. (The subtitles provided on the disc are quite adequate, and closed captions are available as an option.) Grade: B

Twist and Shout

Twist and Shout (1984) starring Adam Tonsberg, Lars Simonsen. Two high school friends in Denmark, Bjorn (Tonsberg) and Erik (Simonsen), go through the era of Beatlemania together. Erik is in love with Kirsten, who loves Bjorn, who loves Anna. Erik must deal with his psychotic parents, while Bjorn must deal with Kirsten after he loses Anna. Contrary to what I hoped, the movie has very little to do with the Beatles music. The music is used to set the scene (1963), and that's about it. The drama is still good, but doesn't scale the heights one might wish. It doesn't really have a "happy" ending, but the ending could perhaps be described as appropriate. The film is in Danish, with available English subtitles. Grade: B+

20 Million Miles to Earth

20 Million Miles to Earth (1957) starring William Hopper, Joan Taylor. Creature feature in which space ship returns from Venus, crashes in the Mediterranean. Aboard the ship only one man lives -- and a creature from Venus that the explorers have brought back to Earth. The creature hatches and grows into a reptilian beast that rampages through the streets of Rome. The special effects are courtesy of legendary FX wizard Ray Harryhausen; highlights include a fight between the creature and an elephant, and the finale at the Roman Colisseum. The script and the acting are definitely of poor quality. The DVD offers a choice of watching the movie in black-and-white or in the colorized version, which I thought was a plus. The English subtitles are very legible, as are the closed captions. Grade: C+

12 Angry Men

12 Angry Men (1957) starring Henry Fonda and a galaxy of character actors. Directed by Sidney Lumet. It's hard to believe that a movie about twelve men shut up in a room together to deliberate a jury verdict could make a compelling film, but in this case it works. A clever script keeps things moving, and strong acting and vivid characters make this a very watchable movie. Fonda plays the lone dissenting juror in the murder trial of a young man, a trial which, if a guilty verdict is reached, will end in the execution of the suspect. All twelve men aren't really angry -- there are just a few hotheads in the room. But there is enough drama in that room to keep any viewer interested. (Subtitles are not available, but closed captions save the day.) Grade: A-

Tunes of Glory

Tunes of Glory (1960) starring Alec Guinness, John Mills, Susannah York. The popular colonel commanding a Scottish peacetime regiment (Guinness) is replaced by another colonel who is a stickler for detail and discipline (Mills). The new colonel tries to whip the regiment into shape, but is stymied by the men's resistance. The plot becomes complicated when the old Colonel, Guinness, strikes an enlisted man he finds with his daughter (York). This movie marked York's first appearance on-screen. (The film has English subtitles and closed captions, and they are very much needed, as the actors talk with a strong Scottish brogue and use many colloquialisms.) Grade: B

Gentleman's Agreement

Gentlemen's Agreement (1947) starring Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, John Garfield. Phil Green (Peck), a professional writer, gets an assignment to do a series on anti-Semitism. The angle he chooses is to pretend that he is Jewish, and he soon runs into prejudice. It's probably important to remember that this movie came out in 1947, just a couple of years after the Holocaust was revealed to a shocked world. But the film itself, which was probably rather daring in '47, seems tame by today's standards. The message is good, but the script contains more than a few clinkers. (The DVD offers both English subtitles and closed captions.) Grade: B

Young Goethe in Love

Young Goethe in Love (2010) starring Alexander Fehling, Miriam Stein. Young Goethe (Fehling) is a failure at literature, and at law school, so his father sends him away to the boondocks to serve an apprenticeship as a lawyer. While there, Goethe falls in love with Charlotte (Stein) and has an ardent romance with her. But her father promises her to another man, because the family needs the money the other can provide. In the end, Goethe produces his first, immensely popular novel but loses the girl. The movie, as it turns out, is largely fictional -- not a true biopic at all. It takes it till the halfway point to get interesting, and even then it is only marginally involving for American tastes. It's a German film, after all, and it is in Germany that Goethe has a literary reputation second only to Shakespeare. To me, the movie seemed rather stiff and Germanic. It's in German, with English subtitles. Grade: B-

Monsieur Lazhar

Monsieur Lazhar (2011) starring Fellag, Sophie Nelisse, Danielle Proulx. Canadian film about a classroom full of kids who are bereft when their teacher kills herself, and the replacement teacher (Fellag) who comes to take her place. Big problem, as it turns out, is that Monsieur Lazhar, although he is a good teacher, does not have a teaching credential, nor teaching experience. In Algeria, where he came from, he ran a restaurant. He is a political refugee, who came to Canada to escape persecution, and applied for the teaching job opportunistically. Most of the drama takes place in the classroom, however, and it's handled well. The film is in French (mostly), with English subtitles. It was nominated for an Academy Award in the Foreign Language category. Grade: B

Barefoot in the Park

Barefoot in the Park (1967) starring Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Charles Boyer, Mildred Natwick. Redford and Fonda play Paul and Corie, a newly married couple who take up residence in a 5th-floor walkup in New York. She's a free spirit, he's a stuffed-shirt lawyer. They fight and make up. That's basically the plot. This is a trifle of a movie, scripted by Neil Simon from his Broadway play of the same title. It's nice to see a young Redford and a young Fonda together on the screen, and the side plot with Boyer and Natwick is charming. (The disc offers English subtitles for the hearing-impaired, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B

Troy

Troy (2004) starring Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, Eric Bana, Rose Byrne, Peter O'Toole, Sean Bean. "Inspired by" Homer's Iliad, Troy tells a story that will be familiar to anyone who was paying attention in school. Prince Paris of Troy (Bloom) steals Helen (Kruger), the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta, and takes her back to Troy with him. The furious Menelaus gathers the forces of Greece to sail across the Aegean Sea and attack Troy, a city whose walls have withstood all assaults for untold hundreds of years. Pitt plays Achilles, the nearly invulnerable warrior who fights for the Greeks, and Bana plays Hector, elder prince of Troy, who ends up fighting Achilles. It's an epic movie told on a grand scale, and as I recall it lost money at the box office. I found it pretty entertaining, though a little long at two hours and forty-three minutes. (English subtitles are furnished on the disc, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B+

In Darkness

In Darkness (2011) starring Socha Wieckiewicz, Mundek Furmann, Klara Grochowska. In the Polish city of Lvov, during the dark days of World War II, a group of Jews hide from the Nazis in the city's sewers. Based on a true story, the movie tells of how they are assisted by a Polish sewer worker who is just in it for the money -- at first. Unfortunately, most of the movie takes place, literally, in darkness. The only light is from flashlights, and much of the time the viewer is left to squint and try to make out what's going on. I found the movie both oppressive and depressing to watch, but in the end inspiring. The film was nominated for an Oscar in the Foreign Language movie category. It's in Polish and Yiddish, with English subtitles. The subtitles are very readable. Grade: B

A Separation

A Separation (2011) starring Leila Hatami, Peyman Moadi. When an Iranian husband and wife (Hatami and Moadi) ask for a divorce, the judge refuses on the grounds that they don't agree on everything. The wife wants to emigrate from Iran and take their daughter, while the husband insists that he must stay in Iran and care for his father, who has Alzheimer's. So they separate, but both stay in Iran. The husband has to work during the day, so must hire someone to take care of his father while he is at work. This goes disastrously bad when he comes home one day to find his father on the floor, one hand tied to the bedpost. He fires the caregiver, and shoves her out the door. She (claims) to fall down the stairs, causing a miscarriage. The husband is then charged with murder because the fetus was 19 weeks old. This movie clearly illustrates how the backward social conventions and legal system of Iran can lead to terrible consequences. It's like an Iranian Kramer vs. Kramer. This film won the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. The movie is in (I believe) Farsi, with English subtitles. The subtitles are very legible. Grade: A-

Woman in the Dunes

Woman in the Dunes (1964) starring Eiji Okada, Kyoko Kishida. Entomologist (Okada), gathering insects in the sand near the shore, misses the last bus home and is invited to stay in a house with a woman (Kishida) who lives in a sand pit. He soon learns that he is a captive, and tries desperately to escape. A short time later, he finds himself making love to the woman. Always, the sand encroaches. Will he ultimately escape? Or will he be held captive forever? Or, alternatively, will he accept his fate, fall in love with the woman, and decide to stay? We are left wondering until the very end. The DVD includes a "video essay" which discusses all the analysis of the film, which I'd rather not go into. The simple question: Did I like the movie? I have trouble answering. It was awfully gritty. But it did win the jury prize at Cannes and two Oscar nominations. (In Japanese, with English subtitles.) Grade: B-

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games (2012) starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Stanley Tucci. In a dystopian future, the United States has been replaced by Panem, a country made up of 12 districts and the Capitol. Every year, two "tributes" from each district are chosen to come to the Capitol and engage in the Hunger Games, which involve fighting to the death until only one Victor is left. Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) volunteers to be District 12's tribute to save her little sister from having to go. It's the ultimate extension of today's reality TV shows, and it illustrates the questionable nature of these shows. It makes for a pretty entertaining movie, although the director's choice to use a shaky camera during fight scenes feels like somewhat of a cop-out. It may have been done to downplay the violence and keep the movie's PG-13 rating, since the contestants in the Hunger Games are all teenagers. (The film features available English subtitles, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B+

Triumph of the Will

Triumph of the Will (1935) directed by Leni Riefenstahl. Fascinating, yet scary, propaganda film shot by Riefenstahl on Adolf Hitler's orders in 1934. The movie is almost two hours long, and shows the gigantic Nazi party rally held in Nuremburg in that year. Riefenstahl is a masterful filmmaker, and this film really packs a wallop. I tried to imagine what it might have been like to see it in 1934, before we knew what a monster Hitler would become. It shows the Fuhrer only in the best light, and would surely have been inspiring to any patriotic German. The night rally features lighting effects designed by Hitler's architect, Albert Speer, and is truly inspired in its mania. The joy on the faces of the common German citizens who greet Hitler is enough to convince the viewer that he will be, perhaps already is, the supreme power in Germany. I couldn't help but think, if he had only not been a psychopath, how differently things would all have turned out. Hitler, of course, gets an F, but the film gets a Grade: A.

Tropic of Cancer

Tropic of Cancer (1970) starring Rip Torn. Henry Miller's 1936 novel about an American in Paris in the '20s is brought to the screen, with Torn pretty good as Miller. Only problem with this disc is, it has no English subtitles and no closed captions. Grade: F

The Trip to Bountiful

The Trip to Bountiful (1985) starring Geraldine Page, John Heard, Carlin Glynn, Rebecca De Mornay. Set in 1947, The Trip to Bountiful tells the story of elderly Mrs. Watts (Page), who longs to take one more trip to her home town of Bountiful, Texas before she goes back to living with her son and daughter-in-law in Houston. Only trouble is, the daughter-in-law (Glynn) wears the pants in the family, and she rides herd remorselessly on Mrs. Watts. Finally, Mrs. Watts manages to sneak out and run away, headed for Bountiful. The story takes its time, but I didn't mind, as I found myself caught up in the lives of these mid-century Texans. This is an entertaining, if low-key, movie. (Subtitles are provided, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B+

The Tree of Wooden Clogs

The Tree of Wooden Clogs (1978) starring Luigi Ornaghi, Francesca Moriggi. A year in the lives of four Italian peasant families at the turn of the century -- the 20th century. The film encompasses a birth, a marriage, a harvest, and numerous details from the lives of the peasants. At the historical time, they were tenant farmers, and the landowner was not a pleasant man. The central story of the movie involves a boy who is privileged to go to school, and his grandfather, who cuts down a tree to make a clog to replace the boy's broken clog. The film, which spans an entire year, also has a running time of three hours, which is way too long for my taste. It's in Italian, with English subtitles. The subtitles are quite good. Grade: B+

My Man Godfrey

My Man Godfrey (1936) starring William Powell, Carole Lombard. This disc is a total disaster. The sound and picture quality are poor. The disc is meant to have subtitles, but they don't work, and it doesn't have closed captions, either. Worst of all, it is not indexed, so that if you stop the disc to take a break, when you come back you can't find the place where you left off. Grade: F

21 Jump Street

21 Jump Street (2012) starring Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum. Seven years after high school, two diametrically opposed men (Hill, Tatum) go to the Police Academy and become friends. After they screw up their first arrest, they are placed in an undercover unit trying to bust a drug ring at a local high school. The movie tries an interesting role-reversal trick where the nerd (Hill) has to become the cool guy and the cool guy (Tatum) has to become a nerd, and it kind of works. There's plenty of comic action -- perhaps too much. The film feels a bit over-stuffed. But for an evening's entertainment, it's not bad. (The subtitles included on the disc are excellent, but there are no closed captions.) Grade: B

Divorce, Italian Style

Divorce, Italian Style (1961) starring Marcello Mastroianni, Daniela Rocca, Stefania Sandrelli. Italian comedy about a man (Mastroianni) who, weary of his clinging wife (Rocca), plots to catch her in an infidelity so that he can kill her "to protect his honor." He's in love with his lovely niece (Sandrelli), and somewhat surprisingly, she's in love with him. The only way for them to be together is to get his wife out of the way, and since Italy is a Catholic country, divorce is not allowed under any conditions. This is a clever film, full of in-jokes and irony, and ends with a wicked twist. (In Italian, with English subtitles.) Grade: A-

Trekkies

Trekkies (1999) hosted by Denise Crosby. Crosby, who played Tasha Yar briefly on Star Trek: The Next Generation, conducts a tour of the fan phenomenon. Some Trekkies, by the way, prefer to be called Trekkers. It's a whole controversy which a lot of fans just avoid by saying, "I'm a Star Trek fan." The depth and breadth of the Trek movement, as shown in the film, is surprisingly great. What the movie barely touches on, but what I feel to be central to the phenomenon, is that all versions of Star Trek portray a future in which hunger and poverty have been eliminated, and in which humans are treated humanely by the authorities at all times. The Trekkie movement gets an "A" from me, but not the film. (Hard-to-read subtitles are available, but the preferable closed captions are also offered.) Grade: B+

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) starring Humphrey Bogart, Tim Holt, Walter Huston. Directed by John Huston. Morality tale in which three men go prospecting for gold in Mexico, only to find that one of them (Bogart) goes mad with greed and paranoia. Walter Huston won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor, and his son John won for Best Director and Best Screenplay. For the record, the three prospectors ended up with $105,000 worth of gold dust, at a time when that was a lot of money. (The movie is set in 1925.) But of course, they don't get to keep it. (The disc comes with English subtitles, as well as closed captions.) Grade: A-

The Train

The Train (1964) starring Burt Lancaster, Paul Scofield, Jeanne Moreau. In the waning days of World War II, French resistance fighters try to stop a train laden with precious art works from getting to Germany from Paris. Exciting film gains momentum as it goes along, with Lancaster starring as the French engineer who single-handedly prevents the train from making it the final few miles. Luckily, he doesn't even try to put on a French accent. In fact, everyone in this film speaks English, except for the occasional German. (With subtitles and closed captions both.) Grade: B+

Treasure Island

Treasure Island (1950) starring Bobby Driscoll, Robert Newton, Basil Sydney, Walter Fitzgerald. Disney takes a shot at the Robert Louis Stevenson classic, turning it into a pretty good family entertainment -- probably enjoyed most by young boys. In 1765, young Jim Hawkins (Driscoll) is recruited to be cabin boy on a voyage in search of buried treasure. The cook on the voyage is Long John Silver (Newton), who turns out to be capable of both loyalty and treachery. Many dramatic events take place on the voyage, most of them faithful to the book. Only the ending is changed drastically, but not badly enough to ruin the movie. This is one Disney movie that has aged well. (The English subtitles supplied on the disc are quite good, and closed captions are also available.) Grade: B

Trancers

Trancers (1985) starring Tim Thomerson, Helen Hunt. Low-budget sci-fi has future cop traveling back in time 300 years to 1985 to chase a time-traveling crook. Only trouble is, this movie has no subtitles, and no closed captions. Not that that would improve things much. Grade: F

Tous les Matins du Monde

Tous les Matins du Monde (1991) starring Jean-Pierre Marielle, Gerard Depardieu, Anne Brochet, Guillaume Depardieu. French film (in French, with English subtitles) about the relationship between two 17th-century musicians who specialized in playing the viol. The movie was a smash hit in France, but I fear it loses somewhat in the translation. Plus, the only music on the soundtrack is cello music, which I've never particularly cared for. It's a very well made film, about a subject that doesn't much interest me. If you love cello music and don't mind reading subtitles, this movie may very well be for you. Grade: B

To Sir, with Love

To Sir, with Love (1966) starring Sidney Poitier. Mr. Thackery (Poitier) takes over a teaching position in an unruly East London high school, gradually wins the respect and love of his students. Poitier, of course, is outstanding, but the script leaves a little to be desired in terms of believability. Title song is repeated three times, to great effect. (English subtitles are offered, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B+

Torrid Zone

Torrid Zone (1940) starring James Cagney, Ann Sheridan, Pat O'Brien, Andy Devine. Light-hearted, lightweight movie takes place in the tropics, where Cagney plays a banana plantation manager who desperately wants to go back to the states, while Sheridan stars as a nightclub singer who wants to continue traveling south to try her luck in South America. Naturally, they fall in love. While Cagney tries to move bananas, an outlaw named Rosario tries to push the plantation off the land and reclaim it for the original inhabitants. The film doesn't take much of anything seriously, and gives the impression of having been tossed off in a couple of weeks in 1940 to fulfill the need for movies to play in the theaters. It's not bad. (Subtitles in English are available, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B

Torment

Torment (1944) starring Mai Zetterling, Stig Jarrel, Alf Kjellin. Strange Swedish film which has as its chief recommendation the fact that the screenplay marked Ingmar Bergman's debut. In the movie, a schoolboy (Kjellin) gets involved with a tobacco-shop girl (Zetterling), and somehow his sadistic Latin teacher (Jarrel) is involved with her. I found the film very odd, with a Swedish sensibility which didn't translate very well into English. (It's in Swedish, of course, with English subtitles.) Grade: B

Footnote

Footnote (2011) starring Schlomo Bar-Abba, Lior Ashkenazi, Alisa Rosen, Alma Zak. Israeli film, nominated for best foreign language Academy Award, involves a father and son who both work in an extremely narrow field of Talmudic scholarship. The father does obscure and extremely detailed research, while the son writes popular books and has been very successful. The crux of the film comes when the father is accidentally informed that he has won a prestigious award which, in fact, should have been awarded to his son. The movie is both a drama and a comedy, since it has moments of high humor, and at the same time plumbs the depths of the human soul. I felt that there was some loss due to translation from Hebrew to English, but when it was over I felt as if I had seen a masterpiece. (The film is in Hebrew with English subtitles.) Grade: A

Tora! Tora! Tora!

Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) starring Martin Balsam, Soh Yamamura, Jason Robards, Joseph Cotten, Tatsuya Mihashi, E. G. Marshall, James Whitmore. The events leading up to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 are told from both the American and Japanese points of view. Mistakes both large and small made by both sides are shown, and the tension builds very effectively. The attack itself is shown at length and with Oscar-winning special effects. This is a deeply affecting, very well made motion picture. (Subtitles in English are available, as well as closed captions.) Grade: A-

Topsy-Turvy

Topsy-Turvy (2000) starring Jim Broadbent, Allan Corduner, Lesley Manville, Eleanor David, Ron Cook, Timothy Spall. In 1884, famed composers Gilbert and Sullivan (Broadbent and Corduner) come to a creative impasse. The logjam is broken when the idea for The Mikado comes to Gilbert. This movie is a delight to watch, with many fine small touches that make the Victorian setting come alive. It brings to life two men who were great celebrities in their time, and whose work is still performed. It shows us a very thin slice of Victorian life and times, and what it might have been like to live during that time and perhaps go to the theater. (The English subtitles are good, although they are hard to find and at times hard to read.) Grade: A-

Topkapi

Topkapi (1964) starring Melina Mercouri, Maximilian Schell, Peter Ustinov. A ragtag band of would-be thieves plot to steal the Topkapi emerald, which is set in a dagger in a museum in Turkey. Their criminal plan is meticulously planned and executed, but of course there is a catch. Ustinov won a Supporting Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Arthur Simpson, a "schmo" who is recruited into the plan at the last minute. The whole movie is kept light and funny, and the actual caper is very entertaining. (No subtitles, but closed captions are available.) Grade: B+

Friends with Kids

Friends with Kids (2011) starring Adam Scott, Jennifer Westfeldt, Kristen Wiig, Megan Fox, John Hamm, Maya Rudolph, Chris O'Dowd. Two platonic friends (Scott, Westfeldt) see what being parents has done to their married friends, and decide to have a baby together -- but without the commitment of marriage. They both go on to date other people, but are obviously in love with each other. This movie, which should be funny, has few laughs -- in fact I don't remember cracking a smile. It's all so earnest, the nastiness between their friends is so hurtful, the confrontation with their married friend (Hamm) on the skiing trip is so vicious, that it's really hard to like this film. Though I admit I was moved when they finally got together (oops, hope I didn't spoil the ending!), the romance of the moment was somewhat spoiled when he declared his love by saying "I want to fuck the shit out of you." Does that pass for love talk these days? It didn't turn me on. (The disc offers optional English subtitles and closed captions.) Grade: B-

Topaz

Topaz (1969) starring John Forsythe, Frederick Stafford, Dany Robin, John Vernon. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Pretty lame entry from Hitchcock has Forsythe as American spy and Stafford as French spy; they uncover early indications of Cuban missile crisis in 1962. A lot of the action takes place in France, as Stafford tries to sniff out upper-level Soviet spy ring called Topaz. Unfortunately, Hitchcock makes no effort to make us feel like the French speak French, and it gives the film an inauthentic feel. That, plus the weak script and wishy-washy ending left me feeling cheated. (The film on disc has good subtitles for the hearing-impaired.) Grade: C+

Tootsie

Tootsie (1982) starring Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr, Dabney Coleman, Bill Murray. Brilliant comedy in which an unemployed actor (Hoffman) finds that he becomes a better man after he poses as a woman to get a role. Lange is radiant as the actress he falls in love with, and Garr is hilarious as his longtime friend who doesn't know that he's playing a woman on TV. The acting is uniformly good and the script is full of great dialogue. This movie is a winner from beginning to end. (Subtitles in English are available, and closed captions are also offered.) Grade: A

Tom Brown's Schooldays

Tom Brown's Schooldays (1951) starring John Howard Davies. In Victorian England, young Tom Brown (Davies) is sent off to boarding school, where he soon learns he must deal with the bully Flashman. Other stuff goes on in the movie, but the confrontation and ultimate showdown with Flashman is the central story line. It's a rather well directed and acted film, for all its being somewhat dated. (Closed captions are included, but are at times very hard to read.) Grade: B

Tomorrow

Tomorrow (1972) starring Robert Duvall, Olga Bellin. Simple Mississippi handyman (Duvall) meets an abandoned pregnant woman (Bellin), takes her in and falls in love with her. After her baby is born, he vows to her that he will raise it as his own. Based on a Faulkner story, this is a movie that tells a quiet tale, building slowly to a highly impactful finale. Even though it has no subtitles or closed captions, I was able to follow it closely and found it sadly moving. Spoiler alert: There is no happy ending. Grade: B+

To Live

To Live (1994) starring Ge You, Gong Li. Spanning three decades -- the '40s, '50s and '60s -- this movie tells the story on one family in China and how they cope with continuous historic changes. First comes the Communist revolution in 1949, then the Great Leap Forward in 1958, then the Cultural Revolution in 1969. Always in the background is Mao Zedong, their beloved leader. I found the film quite moving, especially Gong Li's performance, although it was Ge You who won the Best Actor laurels at Cannes. (In Chinese, with English subtitles.) Grade: A-

Together

Together (2002) starring an all-Chinese cast. A teenage boy and his father travel to Beijing, where the father is determined that his son Chun will become a violin prodigy. But the boy, who has become interested in girls, can't decide whether he wants to be truly serious about the violin or not. (In Chinese, with English subtitles.) Grade: B+

Tokyo Story

Tokyo Story (1953) starring Chisu Ryu, Chisko Higashiyama. An elderly Japanese couple go to visit their grown children in Tokyo. All of the children have busy lives, and can spare little time to entertain their parents, who soon decide to leave and go back home. This is a sad movie, but a great example of the art of filmmaking. The commentary included on the disc states that it is one of the greatest films of all time, but you will have to judge that for yourself. (In Japanese with English subtitles. The subtitles are very hard to read at times.) Grade: B+

To Hell and Back

To Hell and Back (1955) starring Audie Murphy. Based on his autobiography, this movie tells the story of U.S. war hero Audie Murphy, who plays himself. Murphy served in World War II, and was the most decorated soldier in American history, winning every medal the United States could bestow, including the Congressional Medal of Honor. Amazingly enough, his Army career ended when he was wounded at the age of 19. He later went on to star in a series of B-grade Westerns, even though he was not much of an actor. The combat scenes in this film are interesting, and it shows commendable respect for Murphy's comrades who died while fighting alongside him. (English subtitles for the hearing-impaired are offered on the DVD, but not closed captions.) Grade: B

To Have and Have Not

To Have and Have Not (1944) starring Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Walter Brennan. Directed by Howard Hawks. Casablanca wanna-be is notable as Bacall's film debut. Bacall and Bogie fell in love both on- and off-screen in this wartime drama, which has Bogart playing boat owner Harry Morgan, who gets involved with the Free French in Martinique in 1940. Brennan is a standout as Morgan's always-drunk friend, Eddie, a good man in spite of himself. (The DVD offers English subtitles, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B

To Catch a Thief

To Catch a Thief (1955) starring Cary Grant, Grace Kelly. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Interesting Hitchcock concoction, set on the French Riviera, with Grant as a reformed jewel thief formerly known as "The Cat," and Kelly as a rich American visiting France with her mother. Naturally, they fall in love. At the time of filming, Grant was about 50, Kelly 26. The dialogue is a bit stilted at times, but the movie still has that Hitchcock touch, which makes it worth watching. The French scenery is a big plus. (Subtitles in English are available, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B+

Sophie Scholl: The Final Days

Sophie Scholl: The Final Days (2005) starring Julia Jentsch, Fabian Hinrichs, Gerald Alexander Held. In 1943, Sophie Scholl (Jentsch), a member of the White Rose resistance group in Nazi Germany, is caught after distributing anti-Hitler leaflets. The movie shows her interrogation by a Nazi official (amazingly, she is not beaten or otherwise physically abused), her show trial and inevitable execution. Other members of the White Rose are executed and otherwise punished, but this movie focuses on Sophie. Although it is somewhat static with relatively little action, I found it spellbinding. It is really well written in the way it presents the ravings of Nazi officials who can't see that they are losing the war. The film is in German with English subtitles. Grade: A-

Shutter Island

Shutter Island (2010) starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer, Max von Sydow. Two U.S. marshals (DiCaprio, Ruffalo) arrive on an island in 1954 to investigate the disappearance of a patient from the hospital for the criminally insane. Gradually, reality shifts, as one of the marshals (DiCaprio) is haunted by memories of past events in World War II and the death of his wife (Williams). By the end of the movie, the big build-up pays off in a wicked twist that, in retrospect, makes perfect sense. I found DiCaprio less than convincing in the lead role, and all the switch-backs in the plot were rather wearying. (Subtitles in English are available, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B-

The Artist

The Artist (2011) starring Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell. In 1927, aging silent film star George Valentin (Dujardin) happens to meet rising starlet Peppy Miller (Bejo). His career craters in 1929 when talking pictures make their debut, while she becomes the darling of the talkies and a big star. But she remains a true and faithful fan of Valentin, even as he spirals downward. This is a silent film (for the most part), and there's a lot more to it than the bare-bones description would suggest. The movie won the Oscar for Best Picture, and Dujardin won for Best Actor. It's a French production, but it's all in English. Grand fun to watch. No subtitles are needed. Grade: A-

War Horse

War Horse (2011) starring Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, David Thewlis. Directed by Steven Spielberg. A British man buys a horse, paying far too much. His son, Albert (Irvine), takes on the training of the horse, which he names Joey. But World War I intervenes, and Albert's father sells Joey to a cavalry officer. Will Joey survive the war? Will Albert and Joey be reunited? I can't help but describe this movie as "Spielberg Lite." Compared to his other wartime dramas, like "Saving Private Ryan" and "Schindler's List," he really plays down the violence and the horror of war. Based on a children's book, I would venture to say that this is a children's movie. Maybe not for young children, but for those tweens who love horses, this would be a great movie. For adults, it is somewhat lacking in depth and realism. (The supplied subtitles are good, and closed captions are also available.) Grade: B

The Tin Drum

The Tin Drum (1979) starring David Bennent. At three years of age, disgusted with adults, young Oskar (Bennent) decides not to grow anymore. He lives in Danzig, and his decision coincides with the beginning of the rise of Nazism. He is inseperable from his tin drum, and when someone tries to take it away, he screams, breaking things made of glass. As Oskar grows older, Nazi influence becomes ever more pervasive, until he is caught in a battle between Germans and Poles, reckoned to be the first battle of World War II. This remarkable motion picture, part history, part fantasy, won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film. (In German, with English subtitles.) Grade: B+

A Time to Kill

A Time to Kill (1996) starring Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew McConaughey, Kevin Spacey. When his ten-year-old daughter is raped by two rednecks, a black man (Jackson) takes the law into his own hands, killing the two rapists and injuring a sheriff's deputy. He hires a lawyer (McConaughey) to defend him from the murder charges, but the deck is stacked against him in the Mississippi town where the trial takes place. At two hours, thirty minutes, this movie is a bit long, but it is stuffed full of action and never drags. Based on a John Grisham novel, it suffers all the flaws of Grisham's writing. It tends toward the melodramatic and oversimplified -- but its heart is in the right place. It's stuffed full of actors who already were or would become big names. (English subtitles for the hearing impaired are available on the disc, as well as closed captions.) Grade: B

The Times of Harvey Milk

The Times of Harvey Milk (1984), documentary. Moving documentary about Harvey Milk, the first gay supervisor elected in San Francisco, and his assassination (along with mayor George Moscone) by clean-cut, respectable supervisor Dan White. In the aftermath of the killings, the documentary follows White's trial; he was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and served only five and a half years in prison. Although this bare-bones DVD has no subtitles and no closed captions, I was able to hear everything clearly. This movie won the Oscar for Best Documentary in 1984. Grade: B+

Time Out

Time Out (2001). The cast is all French. French movie about a man who becomes suddenly unemployed and tries to hide the fact from his family and friends by pretending he has a new, prestigious job. He sets up his own little Ponzi scheme, borrowing money from family and friends to keep up the illusion that he is employed. Pretty good movie, but I found the ending a bit confusing and disappointing. (In French, with English subtitles.) Grade: B-

Tomboy

Tomboy (2011) starring Zoe Heran, Sophie Cattani, Mathieu Demy, Malonn Levana. When her family moves to a new town, ten-year-old Laure (Heran) takes the opportunity to rename herself Mikael -- a boy's name. She lives the summer as a boy. But when she gets found out, first by her sister and then by her mother, the excrement hits the fan. Her mother reacts violently to learning that her daughter has been passing herself off as a boy. She really overreacts, in my opinion. But in any case, Laure is forced to own up to being a girl, and her "friends" react predictably, as kids will, by turning against her. It's not really some big melodrama, however, just a passage in a young girl's life. The movie is no great shakes either, just a small drama to keep you entertained for 80 minutes. It's ... adequate -- not destined for greatness. (In French, with English subtitles.) Grade: B

Throne of Blood

Throne of Blood (1957) starring Toshiro Mifune, Isuzu Yamada. Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Shakespeare's Macbeth in a samurai setting. In medieval Japan, two generals are traveling through a forest by horseback when a spirit appears to them and prophesies their futures. The prophesy comes true, but of course there's a catch. This is a well mounted movie, with good production values and atmospherics. The acting at times is a bit over the top, and it has the feel of a filmed stage play, but in a Japanese film these things seem par for the course. The movie is in Japanese, with English subtitles. Grade: B+

Time Bandits

Time Bandits (1981) starring John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, Katherine Helmond, Ian Holm, Michael Palin. Directed by Terry Gilliam. Six dwarves appear one night in the bedroom of a boy named Kevin, and take him on an odyssey through time courtesy of a special map they have in their possession, which shows all the time portals left when the universe was created. In his travels, Kevin encounters Napoleon (Holm), Robin Hood (Cleese), and King Agamemnon (Connery). The movie veers off in some crazy directions, and some are amusing, but ultimately it's not as funny or as entertaining as it should be. The script, by Gilliam and Palin, gives it a nice Monty Python-esque feel, but too many of the jokes fall flat. (Subtitles in English are provided, but not closed captions.) Grade: B

3 Women

3 Women (1977) starring Sissy Spacek, Shelley Duvall, Janice Rule. Directed by Robert Altman. Two kooky gals named Pinky (Spacek) and Millie (Duvall) become roommates after they meet on the job. After she konks her head while attempting suicide, Pinky undergoes a weird personality change. Then, in the last 10 minutes, the movie veers off in a totally new and strange direction. What a terrible movie. (Subtitles, provided, are OK.) Grade: C-