October Sky (DVD)

October Sky (1999) starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Laura Dern. It's 1957, and Homer Hickam (Gyllenhaal) lives in the small town of Coalwood, West Virginia. The Russians have just launched Sputnik, and Homer is inspired to build his own rocket. But his father (Cooper), who works in the coal mines, thinks Homer is prone to flights of fancy. In Homer's corner is his teacher, Miss Riley (Dern), who longs to see someone besides a football star escape the fate of working in the mines. She sees an opportunity for Homer to go to a national science fair and win a scholarship. The soundtrack is filled to bursting with popular songs from the '50s, giving the movie a strong undertone of nostalgia. The fact that it's based on a true story, and the Homer Hickam is a real person, only adds to the impact. The subtitles for the hearing-impaired are excellent. Grade: A-

An Education (DVD)

An Education (2008) starring Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Emma Thompson. In 1961 London, 16-year-old, Oxford-bound Jenny (Mulligan) meets the much older, worldly David (Sarsgaard). David proves a master at manipulating Jenny's father (Molina), and she is soon motoring off with David for a weekend at Oxford, then for a visit to Paris; Jenny gets a different sort of education in David's company. Her teachers and headmistress (Thompson) think she is throwing away her future, but of course she sees things differently. Mulligan was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in this, her first film. The subtitles are really very good. Grade: A

Objective: Burma! (DVD)

Objective: Burma! (1945) starring Errol Flynn. World War II actioner in which a group of American commandos, led by Flynn, parachute into Burma to destroy an important Japanese radar installation. The main mission proves to be a piece of cake, but extracting the commandos and getting them back to home base proves a grueling ordeal. Leaving by air proves impossible, so they face a 200-mile hike through Japanese-infested jungle to get home. Not surprisingly, things do not go as planned. Made before the end of WWII, this film has several strong elements of propaganda in it, but nevertheless provides ratcheting tension and serious entertainment. The battle scene toward the end is especially memorable. Subtitles are provided for the hearing-impaired. Grade: B

Nurse Betty (DVD)

Nurse Betty (2000) starring Renee Zellweger, Morgan Freeman, Chris Rock, Greg Kinnear. Betty Sizemore (Zellweger) is in love with a soap opera star (Kinnear) whom she has seen only on TV. When she sees her husband killed while she is watching a tape of the soap, it pushes her over the edge, and she decides she must travel to Los Angeles to find the soap star -- who, she is convinced, is her ex-fiance. But wait, there's more! Due to circumstances beyond her control, she is pursued from Kansas to California by two hit men (Freeman and Rock) who think there are stolen drugs in her car. The script takes unexpected twists and turns, right up until the end. All of the actors deliver very good performances, and the film gets funnier and funnier as it goes along. Main shortcoming is the lack of subtitles for the hearing impaired -- but the DVD does have closed captions, which are adequate. Grade: A-

The Nun's Story (DVD)

The Nun's Story (1959) starring Audrey Hepburn, Peter Finch, Edith Evans, Peggy Ashcroft, Dean Jagger. In 1930, the young nun Sister Luke (Hepburn) works to find her way in her religious order. Her first assignment, because she has shown a lack of humility and obedience, is to a mental hospital in Brussels. But she soon earns a posting to the Congo, which is her true desire. Once there, she continues to struggle with pride and disobedience. Then the true test comes -- she is reassigned to Europe and World War II breaks out. The nuns are not supposed to take sides, but can Sister Luke obey? The answer may surprise you. Good subtitles. Grade: B+

High Noon (DVD)

High Noon (1952) starring Gary Cooper, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado, Grace Kelly. Classic Western has Cooper starring as Will Kane, marshal of a small town. On his wedding (and retirement) day, he learns that Frank Miller, a man he sent to prison for murder, has been released and is returning to town. Cutting short his honeymoon, Kane soon learns that he will have to face the Miller gang alone. Even his wife Amy (Kelly), who is a Quaker, makes plans to leave town because he won't back down from the fight. This is one of the greatest Westerns -- one of the greatest American movies -- ever made. The DVD has no subtitles, but it is saved by closed captions, which can be accessed on most TVs. Grade: A

The Informant! (DVD)

The Informant! (2009) starring Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Joel McHale, Melanie Lynskey. Directed by Steven Soderbergh. An executive with Archer-Daniels Midland (Damon) is prodded by his wife (Lynskey) into telling the FBI about price-fixing in the vast food-processing industry. But the informant turns out to be a schmuck who was taking bribes and kickbacks the whole time he was cooperating with the government. As the story unfolds, we discover lies within lies, until it's hard to know what to believe. I finished the movie with smiling eyes, just purely astonished by the extent and magnitude of the crimes that had been revealed. Although this movie started slowly, it just got better and better as time went by. The subtitles are good. Grade: B+

Seraphine (DVD)

Seraphine (2008) starring Yolande Moreau, Ulrich Tukur. In 1914 France, an uneducated housekeeper (Moreau) is discovered to be a talented painter by visiting German art critic Willhelm Uhde (Tukur). But before Uhde can bring Seraphine's artwork to the attention of the public and other critics, World War I breaks out, and he is forced to flee France and return to Germany. Fast-forward to 1927, and the critic has returned to France to try to rebuild his art collection. He is astonished to find that Seraphine is still alive and still producing art. This movie tells the true story of Seraphine de Senlis, a self-taught French painter who lived from 1864 to 1942. It's truly a revelation -- though not with a happy ending. The subtitles are very good. Grade: A-

The Hangover (DVD)

The Hangover (2009) starring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha. Four friends go to Las Vegas for a bachelor party, and the morning after they find that they have "lost" the groom (Bartha). A variety of circumstances too bizarre to enumerate here generate the comedy as the three remaining friends zoom around Las Vegas looking for him. The principles are distinct enough to each bring something different to the movie, which is intermittently amusing. There are some very funny situations and characters, along with some jokes that didn't quite work for me. If you're looking for a comedy to rent and you're in the mood for something light and not too deep, this could be the film for you. Grade: B

Lawrence of Arabia (DVD)

Lawrence of Arabia (1962) starring Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins, Claude Rains, Anthony Quayle, Arthur Kennedy, Omar Sharif. Directed by David Lean. True-life story of T.E. Lawrence, British officer who helped unite Arab tribes to fight against the Turks during World War I. It was O'Toole's first leading role, and made him an instant star. The film won seven Oscars, including Best Picture. Main shortcoming of the movie is extreme length, at nearly four hours. I had to watch it over two nights. Also, a film of this epic sweep really should be seen on a large screen; TV hardly does it justice. The movie loses focus somewhat during the second half, but is still stirring. The subtitles on the DVD are excellent. Grade: A-

Now, Voyager (DVD)

Now, Voyager (1942) starring Bette Davis, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Gladys Cooper, Bonita Granville, John Loder, Janis Wilson. Unhappy spinster Charlotte Vale (Davis) is brought out of her shell by a psychiatrist (Rains), then falls in love with a handsome married man (Henreid) on a cruise. But will she be able to stand up to her domineering mother? And when she gets a serious proposal of marriage, will she be able to accept, despite the memory of her love affair? I don't really care much for Bette Davis -- can't say why -- but this is still a grand soap opera. The subtitles are adequate to help the hearing-impaired follow the action. Grade: B

Good Hair (DVD)

Good Hair (2009) starring Chris Rock. Actor and stand-up comic Rock explores the weird and wonderful world of African-American hair, including relaxer, perms and weaves. Various celebrities contribute insights on what it means and why black people want to have hair that looks like white-people hair. Rock brings his unique way of looking at things to the exploration, and it's a fun ride. The subtitles are good. Grade: B

Zombieland (DVD)

Zombieland (2009) starring Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Abigail Breslin, Emma Stone. The United States has become Zombieland due to a virus run rampant. Four survivors, two male (Eisenberg and Harrelson) and two female (Breslin and Stone) find themselves teaming up to head west and seek an abandoned amusement park that is supposedly a zombie-free zone. Luckily, the zombies are not too smart. Unfortunately, they're not slow, as they've been in most other zombie movies. This movie is freakin' hilarious -- and it never really drags. The subtitles are good, too. Grade: A-

Broken Embraces (DVD)

Broken Embraces (2009) starring Penelope Cruz, Lluis Homar, Blanca Portillo, Jose Luis Gomez. Basically a Spanish soap opera writ large, this movie manages to entertain without being compelling. The last half hour seems tacked on, and there's a movie-within-the-movie that just confuses things. The subtitles are pretty good. Grade: B-

Nowhere in Africa (DVD)

Nowhere in Africa (2001) starring Juliane Kohler, Merab Ninidze, Matthias Habich, Sidede Onyulo, Karoline Eckertz, Lea Kurka. Directed by Caroline Link. In 1938, a Jewish family -- father, mother and young daughter -- escape Germany in the nick of time, just before the Nazis begin open persecution of the Jews. The family settles in Kenya, and are obliged to start their lives over again from virtually nothing. Things do not go smoothly -- quite the contrary. It's yet another untold story from World War II, and it is told well. The film only lacks a dramatic soundtrack to give it real heft. The movie won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. One quibble: When, occasionally, a character speaks English, there are no subtitles. This has the odd effect that only when English is spoken is the movie hard to follow. Grade: A

Rome Open City (DVD)

Rome Open City (1945) starring Aldo Fabrizi, Anna Magnani. Directed by Roberto Rossellini. During the waning months of World War II, the Italian populace struggles against the German occupation of their homeland. The movie is mostly talk until the halfway mark, when the Germans and the Fascists come and take away all the men in one apartment building. During the transport, Resistance fighters fire on the trucks and the men escape -- only to become fugitives. Naturally, the Germans are shown to be inhuman brutes, and the Italian rebels are brave men who do not break even under torture. Not quite as great as its reputation, this is still a landmark film, especially for those with Italian sympathies. The subtitles are good enough for the task. Grade: B

Great Expectations (DVD)

Great Expectations (1946) starring John Mills, Valerie Hobson, Bernard Miles, Francis L. Sullivan, Alec Guinness, Jean Simmons. Directed by David Lean. The novel by Charles Dickens becomes a movie, and a grand one at that. I confess that I have not read the book, but I get the sense that this is a pretty faithful adaptation -- and that a lot has been left out, of necessity. The film seems a bit dated by now -- it's in black and white, and the actors are for the most part unfamiliar. But it's still a good entertainment, and worth spending an evening with. Simmons, who recently died, appears as the young Estella. The subtitles are hard to find, but they are quite adequate. Grade: B

Capitalism: A Love Story (DVD)

Capitalism: A Love Story (2009) by Michael Moore. The maker of "Sicko" and "Fahrenheit 9/11" is back with a look at America through economic goggles. Surprise! Moore comes to the conclusion that capitalism is evil and should be eliminated. After watching this movie, you may be inclined to agree. What I have no trouble believing is that we live in a plutocracy -- government by the rich, for the rich. Moore says capitalism should be replaced with democracy. It's a nice dream. (His film has adequate subtitles for the hearing-impaired.) Grade: B+

The Stoning of Soraya M. (DVD)

The Stoning of Soraya M. (2008) starring Mozhan Marno, Jim Caviezel, Shohreh Aghdashloo. Set in 1986 Iran during Khomeini's reign, the true story of a man who plots to have his wife falsely accused of adultery, so that he can get rid of her and marry a young girl of 14. The catch? "Getting rid of her" consists of having her stoned to death. A French journalist (Caviezel), passing through the village where they live, finds himself pulled into the story. The film's climax is shocking in its barbarity. The subtitles are rather poor -- hard to read at times. Grade: A-

Moon (DVD)

Moon (2009) starring Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey. Astronaut Sam Bell (Rockwell) is stationed on the far side of the Moon with only Gerty (voice of Spacey), an artificial intelligence, to keep him company. Things soon start to go wrong with the mining equipment, and then Sam is injured. Subsequently, the mysteries begin to mount. Why is there suddenly another copy of Sam running around? Why is there no link for sending messages directly back and forth to Earth? These and other questions are answered fully and satisfyingly before the end of the film. This is, of all things, a serious sci-fi movie. (The subtitles deserve an A+; they could not be improved.) Grade: B+

North Dallas Forty (DVD)

North Dallas Forty (1979) starring Nick Nolte, Mac Davis, Charles Durning. Nolte plays a receiver in the National Football League who can't get with the program. He refuses to toe the line, no matter how hard management comes down on him. He also smokes, drinks, and freely indulges in other drugs. But his talent, and his willingness to play through pain, keeps him in the game -- for now. The subtitles are good. Grade: B+

Cradle Will Rock (DVD)

Cradle Will Rock (1999) starring Hank Azaria, Ruben Blades, Joan Cusack, John Cusack, Cary Elwes, Bill Murray, Vanessa Redgrave, Emily Watson. Written and directed by Tim Robbins. Portrait of the 1930s as seen through the eyes of theater people of the time. A theater troupe is trying to put on a play titled "The Cradle Will Rock," but they run into government opposition because the theme of the play is too "radical." Meanwhile, a WPA clerk (Joan Cusack) goes in front of Congress to testify against Communists and others. Ambitious effort at social commentary doesn't quite make the grade. Good subtitles, though. Grade: B

No Name on the Bullet (DVD)

No Name on the Bullet (1959) starring Audie Murphy, Charles Drake, Joan Evans. Gunman John Gant (Murphy) rides into a small town to kill someone, but only he knows who his target is. Murphy, who went from war hero to actor after World War II, here gives a fine performance as the gentlemanly gunslinger. With a minimum of words and no actions to speak of, Gant by his mere presence has the men of the town at each others' throats. The movie seems more akin to an episode of "Gunsmoke" than to a major motion picture, but it's entertaining enough. It's captioned for the hearing-impaired, and the subtitles are unobtrusive. Grade: B

Look, Up in the Sky! (DVD)

Look, Up in the Sky!: The Amazing Story of Superman (2006), directed by Kevin Burns. Only a kid (like me) who grew up in the '50s, during Superman's heyday, could appreciate the rich history of the Man of Steel as told in this documentary. We see him all the way from his creation in the '30s through several decades, including his emergence in the movies (played by Christopher Reeve) in the '70s, and later struggles by DC Comics to keep Superman relevant in changing times. It really is amazing to see how many incarnations the superhero has had -- and to anticipate what might be coming from him next. (The disc does not include subtitles in English, but it is saved by closed captions.) Grade: A

Ponyo (DVD)

Ponyo (2008). Japanese anime, translated into English, about a boy who captures an enchanted fish which he names Ponyo. Ponyo loves the little boy and wants to become human, but her wishes threaten to upset the balance of nature. I could detect no subtext which would make this movie especially appealing to adults -- it seems like a straight magical tale for children, well and beautifully told. It does have good subtitles, however. Grade: B+

Nobody's Fool (DVD)

Nobody's Fool (1994) starring Paul Newman, Jessica Tandy, Bruce Willis, Melanie Griffith, Dylan Walsh. Newman stars as ne'er-do-well Sully, a 60-year-old who deserted his family years ago, then unexpectedly finds himself spending time with his grown son, Peter (Walsh), and grandson, Will. Tandy plays the elderly lady he rents a room from, and Willis plays the mush-for-brains owner of the construction company Sully works for. The plot of the movie takes many delightful, unexpected turns. Based on a novel by Richard Russo. The subtitles are the best kind -- yellow letters outlined in black. Grade: B+