Moonstruck (DVD)

Moonstruck (1987) starring Cher, Nicolas Cage, Danny Aiello, Vincent Gardenia, Olympia Dukakis. Directed by Norman Jewison. Delightful romance set in Little Italy in New York City, with Cher and Cage as a couple who defy logic and follow their hearts. Filled with acutely observed vignettes about Italian-American life. Cher and Dukakis won Oscars for their work. Grade: A

Jarhead (DVD)

Jarhead (2005) starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Jamie Foxx. Directed by Sam Mendes. Based on the book by Anthony Swofford. Gyllenhaal plays Tony Swofford, who wrote the book "Jarhead" about his experiences as a Marine in the Persian Gulf War. It's not really a war movie, though, because the Persian Gulf War was primarily fought from the air. This film is more concerned with the experiences of the grunts who went to the desert and waited, and waited, and waited for the war to start. Once it started, it was over in four days because Saddam's army had been decimated by the bombing campaign. The waiting, though, is made interesting because we see the Marine Corps from an insider's point of view -- and it's pretty weird. Grade: B

King Kong (DVD)

King Kong (2005) starring Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody. Directed by Peter Jackson. Watts stars as Ann Darrow, the woman who wins Kong's heart. Jack Black plays Carl Denham, the showman who conceives the idea of putting Kong on display. Andy Serkis, who inhabited Gollum in the Lord of the Rings movies, here provides the convincing ape-like motion of King Kong. At a running time of three hours, the movie seems overlong, and the climactic scene atop the Empire State Building seems to go on forever. As another reviewer has said, however, this is the definitive version of "King Kong," and there would seem to be no reason to remake it again, ever -- or at least until films go 3-D. The special effects are fantastic, and the acting, especially by Watts, is terrific. Some scenes may be too intense for young children. Grade: A-

Brokeback Mountain (DVD)

Brokeback Mountain (2005) starring Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway. Directed by Ang Lee. Known to late-night comedians everywhere as the "gay cowboy movie," this is, of course, much more. Although some viewers will be uncomfortable with the homosexual-themed love story, the movie is superbly photographed, well acted and tightly scripted. It's interesting to watch and involving. And the theme of intolerance is universal. Grade: B+

Freeway (DVD)

Freeway (1996) starring Reese Witherspoon, Kiefer Sutherland. Written and directed by Matthew Bright. "Freeway" is all about girl power. Within the rough framework of the Little Red Riding Hood story, Oscar-winner Witherspoon plays a white trash teen-ager named Vanessa who rises to the challenge when her mother and stepfather are arrested and taken away. Vanessa ends up hitching a ride with "Bob Wolverton" (get it?), played by Sutherland, who turns out to be the infamous "I-5 Killer." At first she seems to be at his mercy, but she soon turns the tables and the movie is off and running. Grade: B+

Il Postino (The Postman) DVD

Il Postino (The Postman) (1994) featuring an Italian and French cast that will not be familiar to Americans. In Italian with English subtitles. Poignant and unforgettable, the story of a feckless man (Mario) and how delivering mail to a famous poet changes his life. At first, Mario seems at best unintelligent, but later we come to realize he might be a poet himself. Still later, he takes on the dimensions of a tragic hero. Grade: B+

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (DVD)

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) starring a cast of (mostly) unknowns. Although I had mixed feelings while watching this movie, I have good memories about having seen it. While it has obvious flaws, I enjoyed seeing the four children go on their adventure. I have a strong feeling children will love this movie, and most adults who like it will like it because it is something wholesome for their children to watch. I guess the good outweighs the bad. Grade: B

The Long Good Friday (DVD)

The Long Good Friday (1979) starring Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren. British mobster Hoskins is putting together the biggest deal of his life when things start to go wrong. Close associates are killed. Bombs destroy first a car, then a restaurant he owns. Hoskins is under attack, but it takes him most of the movie to figure out where the attack is coming from. When he does figure it out, he decides to fight back, and it is not until the film's final scene that he realizes how heavily the odds are stacked against him. This is a great little gangster movie. Unfortunately, this DVD lacks the all-important (to me) English subtitles which would allow me to understand all the various British accents. On the bonus side: A couple of brief scenes by a very young Pierce Brosnan as an Irish thug. Grade: A-

The New World (DVD)

The New World (2005) starring Colin Farrell, Q'Orianka Kilcher, Christian Bale. The New World is a misnomer, since it leads one to believe that the film is going to be about the struggles of European colonists establishing settlements in the Americas during the 1600s. While that's admittedly part of the narrative, it's not the biggest part. This is really the story of Pocahontas (Kilcher), the Native American princess who provided aid to the settlers of Virginia, fell in love with Captain John Smith (Farrell), was exiled by her father, and became the dutiful wife of tobacconist John Rolfe (Bale). All of this occurs against the backdrop of the uneasy relationship that exists between the tribes of "naturals" and the English interlopers. I'm not a big fan of director Terrence Malick, and this film was no exception. The first half of the film was pretty effective, with Captain Smith being captured by the natives, being captivated by their lifestyle, and falling in love with Pocahontas, the chief's daughter. But it really falls apart after Smith returns to Jamestown and becomes re-involved with his fellow Englishmen and their plight there. There are some exciting scenes when fighting breaks out between the natives and the English, but mostly it's just confusing and boring. Grade: C

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (DVD)

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004) starring Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews. A truly awful movie. The beautiful Anne Hathaway is wasted in this unnecessary sequel to "The Princess Diaries," which was a pretty entertaining film. The only reason this one doesn't get an F is that maybe, just maybe, young girls might enjoy it. Grade: D-

Rumor Has It ... (DVD)

Rumor Has It ... (2005) starring Jennifer Aniston, Mark Ruffalo, Kevin Costner, Shirley MacLaine. I keep waiting for Jennifer Aniston to make a good movie, but this one continues the string of disappointments. It doesn't help that I don't like Mark Ruffalo, or Kevin Costner for that matter. It was really kind of creepy watching Costner seduce Aniston, especially given the plot of the movie that made him (possibly) her father. This one's a real clunker. Grade: C-

Paradise Now (DVD)

Paradise Now (2005). In Arabic, with subtitles. Two best friends, Palestinians, are recruited to be "martyrs" by becoming suicide bombers. What they propose to do is wrong, but this movie gives them human dimensions and makes us sympathize with them as people. Whether that's a good thing or not depends on your point of view. Whether this is a good film or not is a different question entirely. There's a long middle section where the two have gotten separated and are trying to find each other that could've been tightened up a bit. We don't get to see either one of them blow himself up, which some viewers will doubtless find to be a relief. I found the film to be engaging for the most part, with all sides of the moral question examined, and all points of view represented. Interesting. Grade: B-

The Family Stone (DVD)

The Family Stone (2005) starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Dermot Mulroney, Diane Keaton, Craig T. Nelson, Luke Wilson, Rachel McAdams. Parker plays Meredith, the uptight girlfriend of Everett (Mulroney), who goes with him to visit his family at Christmas time. The large Stone family immediately see that Meredith is not right for Everett, and they each react in their individual way. I think this was meant to be a comedy, but it's so intense that any intended jokes get lost (or just aren't funny). The ultimate "happy ending" seems forced and artificial, and didn't add to my enjoyment of the movie at all. Grade: C

Fun with Dick and Jane (DVD)

Fun with Dick and Jane (2005) starring Jim Carrey, Tea Leoni, Alec Baldwin. The thing that's missing in this "comedy" is the fun. Carrey and Leoni are two people capable of being very funny, but the script and direction let them, and the viewer, down. Grade: C

Shopgirl (DVD)

Shopgirl (2005) Steve Martin, Claire Danes, Jason Schwartzman. Based on the novel by Steve Martin, adapted for the screen by Steve Martin. Danes plays a young woman who sells gloves in a ritzy department store, and Martin plays the millionaire who shows up in her life and begins buying her gifts. It's not funny, if that's what you're looking for from Steve Martin. It's a straight-up drama about a May-December "romance." Martin, playing Ray Porter, "makes it clear" that he just wants a roll in the hay. He treats Danes' character very well, but is unable to love her. She -- and this part is a little hard to believe -- wants more from him emotionally. The movie has kind of a happy ending, but is not deeply moving. Grade: B-

Pride and Prejudice (DVD)

Pride and Prejudice (2005) starring Keira Knightley, Matthew MacFadyen, Donald Sutherland, Brenda Blethyn, Rosamund Pike. Beautifully photographed, though at two hours it has no luck including the whole of Jane Austen's novel. Knightley is luminous in the role of Elizabeth Bennet, a young lady blossoming into a woman. MacFadyen is adequate, but uninspired, in the role of Mr. Darcy, her antagonist-turned-love. As so often happens, I found the dialog difficult to understand, especially as it's all spoken with an English accent. I was saved by the subtitle feature of the DVD, however, and was able to enjoy the movie. Other viewers should be cautioned, however, that it is ultimately a romantic fairy tale, and certain men will consider it a "chick flick." Grade: A-

Match Point (DVD)

Match Point (2005) starring Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Scarlett Johansson. Directed by Woody Allen. Allen's latest effort has human drama and suspense, but it fails in the last act. Without giving away too much I can only say that the police give up way too easily when investigating a crime. Haven't they ever watched "Law and Order"? Maybe that's why the movie is set in England. Grade: B-

Breakfast at Tiffany's (DVD)

Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) starring Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard. It's a little dated, but anyone who considers themselves to be a movie fan should see this one. Hepburn is perfectly cast as Holly Golightly, winsome, winning young lady from the sticks who goes mod in New York. Mickey Rooney is laughably miscast as her Japanese landlord. Theme song, "Moon River," won an Oscar. Grade: B+

Magnolia (DVD)

Magnolia (1999). Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Starring Jason Robards, Philip Baker Hall, Tom Cruise, John C. Reilly, Melora Walters, Julianne Moore, William H. Macy, Philip Seymour Hoffman. Indescribable. A movie that has to be seen to be believed. It seems Altman-esque to me, in that Anderson has assembled a large cast who play disparate characters, all inhabiting the same geographical space on a given day. We see the characters go through the day separately as Anderson switches back and forth among their story lines, which sometimes intersect. The characters are all vividly drawn, and even at a playing length of three hours the film has enough forward momentum to carry the viewer on inexorably to the end. Some who see this movie will feel cheated by the ending, which includes an event of Biblical proportions which affects the outcome of the story. But Anderson has laid the groundwork for his ending, and it worked for me. Grade: A-

Memories of Murder (DVD)

Memories of Murder (2003). This Korean film has no stars that American audiences will recognize. Based on a true story, detectives pursue South Korea's first known serial killer. Over a period of six years, the killer murders 10 young women, and is never caught. I think this film wants to be taken seriously, but it has a Keystone Kops quality that I couldn't ignore. The Korean detectives in this movie are so inept it's laughable. Also, I watched it dubbed in English with English subtitles, and the two frequently didn't agree. You'd hear the character say one thing in English and the subtitles would say something else. This effect, also, was humorous. This might be a good movie to watch while stoned. Otherwise, I can't recommend it. Grade: C+

The Godfather (VHS video)

The Godfather (1972) starring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan and a fine supporting cast too large to enumerate. Over thirty years later, this film -- winner of the Oscar for Best Picture -- still holds up well. Brando won an Oscar for his portrayal of the godfather of the Corleone crime family, and Pacino was nominated as Best Supporting Actor as the son who finds himself dragged into the family business. The video copy which I found on my bookshelf lacks the sound and picture quality of a good DVD, but the film still had a sweeping momentum and strong emotional impact. Among the few drawbacks are the three-hour running time and the profusion of violence, which may bother some viewers. Grade: A

Big (video)

Big (1988) starring Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins. Hanks stars as a boy who has graduated to an adult body and is not quite sure what to do with it. Perkins plays the unwitting young woman who falls for him. The scenes after Hanks joins a toy company are priceless, as he impresses the CEO with his knowledge of what kids really want. Hanks' impression of a kid in an adult body is frequently spot-on, with charming, sometimes hilarious results. Grade: A-

Good Night, and Good Luck (DVD)

Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) starring David Strathairn, Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Ray Wise, Frank Langella, Jeff Daniels, George Clooney. Strathairn is masterful in the lead roll as Edward R. Murrow, the CBS newsman who brought down the demagogue Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s. But I suspect most viewers will find this movie rather dry and boring, as it consists mostly of talk about political issues. It is a well made movie, directed by George Clooney, but has limited appeal. Grade: B

Young Frankenstein (DVD)

Young Frankenstein (1974) starring Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Teri Garr, Marty Feldman. I loved this movie when I first saw it, in 1974, and I still harbor an abiding affection for it. But the jokes were fresh then, and have lost their impact now. I'm only speaking for myself, though. I suspect that viewers who are lucky enough to come across this movie for the first time will still reap belly laughs from the outrageous antics of Frederick Frankenstein (Wilder), grandson of Victor Frankenstein. The younger Frankenstein returns to his grandfather's castle for the reading of a will, and ends up replicating his ancestor's work of reanimating dead flesh into a living creature. Everything is played for laughs and there are some unforgettable scenes. Grade: B+

Derailed (DVD)

Derailed (2005) starring Clive Owen, Jennifer Aniston, Vincent Cassel. Let me start by saying I'm glad I didn't pay box-office fare to see this movie. But let me add that, trashy though it is, I still kind of enjoyed it. Owen and Aniston play a man and women who start an affair but end up getting mugged, beaten up and raped. The story has a twist that, no, I did not see coming, and then another twist near the end. They both worked on me, but as the cliche goes, the devil is in the details -- and this movie is soooo bad when it comes to details. Probably at the top of the list is believability -- which it totally lacks. The villain is so evil that he comes across as something out of a horror movie rather than a thriller. I can't recommend this movie, but some viewers will find that they like it in spite of its flaws. Grade: C+

Walk the Line (DVD)

Walk the Line (2005) starring Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon. Witherspoon deserved the Oscar she won for portraying June Carter, the love of singer Johnny Cash's life. But the rest of the movie is too long, with too much attention paid to soap opera and not enough to the music. Phoenix is not bad as Cash, but them's awful big shoes to fill. Grade: B

Proof (DVD)

Proof (2005) starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Anthony Hopkins, Jake Gyllenhaal, Hope Davis. Paltrow plays Catherine, the daughter of a famed mathematician (Hopkins). The story focuses on her as she struggles with memories of her recently deceased father, along with doubts about her own sanity and her own talent as a mathematician. Fortunately, you don't have to know much about math to follow the story, which folds romance into the plot about a mathematical proof and the authenticity of its authorship. I found the movie watchable, but not riveting. Grade: B

Cinderella Man (DVD)

Cinderella Man (2005) starring Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger, Paul Giamatti. Crowe plays Jim Braddock, a real-life boxer of the late 1920s and early 1930s. The story takes place during the Great Depression, and that is what sets it apart from other boxing movies. Braddock starts out as a good boxer whose career is cut short by injuries. Then comes the Depression, and he and his long-suffering wife Mae (Zellweger) must struggle to hold their little family together. After a few desperate years for the family, Braddock's manager (Giamatti) gets him a fight with a decent payday. Braddock is expected to lose, but the fight re-ignites his career. All this is pretty typical stuff for a boxing movie, except for the Depression-era setting. At almost two and a half hours, the film is too long -- even though the fight scenes are exciting, the story that takes place between fights is bit too drawn out. The climactic fight, in which Braddock takes on heavyweight champion Max Baer, is thrilling -- but it's a long journey to get there. Grade: B

A History of Violence (DVD)

A History of Violence (2005) starring Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ed Harris. "A History of Violence" lacks one thing, and that's a protagonist we can root for. Mortensen, as a small-town cafe owner, seems to fill the bill at first, but what the film reveals about his past and about his true nature make him someone undeserving of sympathy. While the unfolding of the film is fascinating and is executed with great skill, there is, ultimately, no one to cheer for. ... On the other hand, the movie has the structure of a classic Western: A man with a violent past tries to go straight, but events transpire which force him to deal with bad guys who won't leave him alone. On that level, it is satisfying. Grade: B-

Bleak House (DVD)

Bleak House (2005) starring Gillian Anderson ("The X Files"), the only cast member likely to be familiar to Americans. There are, however, a number of good performances in this BBC production of the book by Charles Dickens. Furthermore, the actors portray engaging characters, some admirable, some villainous, some comic. Viewing "Bleak House" is no small undertaking, as it takes up eight hours on three discs. I had to stretch it out and watch it over a period of two or three weeks, but I found it to be a rich and rewarding experience. Grade: B+

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (DVD)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson. The fourth installment in the Harry Potter series is a bit of a disappointment. Michael Gambon, as Dumbledore, just lacks the charm and sparkle of the late Richard Harris. Great chunks are missing from the book, an effect not so apparent in the earlier Harry Potter films. The music, too, is less magical. Grade: B-

Capote (DVD)

Capote (2005) starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener. Hoffman won an Oscar for his turn in the title role, but otherwise this movie isn't an especial standout. It tells the story of Truman Capote's writing of his famous book, "In Cold Blood," and of what it costs him to write it. While the movie was intellectually engaging, I didn't find it especially moving emotionally. Neither Capote, nor the killers he writes about, elicit much sympathy. Capote's high, whiny voice, as portrayed by Hoffman, is just plain irritating. Grade: B

The Squid and the Whale (DVD)

The Squid and the Whale (2005) starring Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, Jesse Eisenberg, Owen Kline. Directed by Noah Baumbach. "The Squid and the Whale" is an exquisite miniature, a portrait of a family disintegrating before our eyes. It takes place in 1986 in Brooklyn, and many scenes were filmed on location in Brooklyn. All the characters are interesting, especially Jeff Daniels as the consummate, self-involved jerk, and the father in the family. This is one of the few movies I've seen where I felt it was too short and wanted to see more. There was Oscar buzz about this low-budget indie, and it was well deserved. Grade: A-

The Door in the Floor (DVD)

The Door in the Floor (2004) starring Jeff Bridges, Kim Basinger, Jon Foster, Mimi Rogers, Bijou Phillips, Elle Fanning. Based on John Irving's novel "A Widow for One Year," "The Door in the Floor" tells the story of one summer in the life of a family that is breaking up. Ted, the father, is a famous writer of children's books. Marion, the mother, has been turned to stone by the tragedy of a car accident in which both her sons were killed. Elle Fanning, Dakota's younger sister, plays Ruth, the four-year-old daughter. Eddie, the writer's assistant hired for the summer, is played by unknown Jon Foster. Ted and Marion, played by Bridges and Basinger, are not admirable characters. Both have flaws that make them unlikable. Foster, as Eddie, should be the center of the story, as it is told from his point of view. But his presence on screen is so weak that he seems to fade into the background of nearly every scene he's in. Many viewers will find "The Door in the Floor" unpleasant to watch, as there are no characters to admire. But I found it to be an absorbing study of dysfunctional people, and it was interesting to note the points of connection between the book and the movie. Grade: B

The 40 Year Old Virgin (DVD)

The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005) starring Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks. Some reviewers really liked this movie, but I'm not one of them. It falls into the "OK" category with me -- passable but not transcendent. The basic structure of the movie is good and works rather well, but it is overlong and has a few too many tiresome, tasteless jokes thrown in to fill out the running time. Catherine Keener is a delight as the main love interest of the title character, and the last 10 minutes of the film are enjoyable. It's just a long journey to get there. Grade: B-

The Weather Man (DVD)

The Weather Man (2005) starring Nicolas Cage, Michael Caine, Hope Davis. A relentlessly downbeat movie masquerading as a comedy, "The Weather Man" leaves the viewer feeling slightly let down, despite a (somewhat) happy ending. The running joke in the movie is that Nicolas Cage, as weather man David Spritz, keeps getting hit by items of fast food thrown by "fans." It's not a very funny joke, and it gets old early on. The rest of the movie is consumed by David's campaign to get back together with his ex-wife (Davis), who clearly has no desire to try to make their marriage work again. Grade: C

Welcome to Sarajevo (DVD)

Welcome to Sarajevo (1997) starring Stephen Dillane, Woody Harrelson, Marisa Tomei, Emira Nusevic, Kerry Fox, Goran Visnjic, Emily Lloyd. Directed by Michael Winterbottom. With the present war in Iraq, it is easy to forget the horrors that came about in the 1990s. "Welcome to Sarajevo" reminds us of the tragedy that occurred when Yugoslavia broke up into warring nations, including Bosnia and Serbia. Peoples who had lived side-by-side in peace for centuries turned on one another in savage "ethnic cleansing." This movie tells the story of one journalist (Dillane) who is covering the siege of Sarajevo, and his decision to try to save one orphan from life in the war zone. The film is hard to watch at times, but worth the effort for those who are willing to remember. Grade: B+

Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit (DVD review)

Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005). Animated. Mildly amusing, but mostly aimed at children. Won the Oscar for an animated film. Grade: B

In Her Shoes (DVD review)

In Her Shoes (2005) starring Toni Collette, Cameron Diaz, Shirley MacLaine. Two sisters are polar opposites, except for their shoe size. Collette plays Rose, the button-down lawyer who has her professional life together but her love life not so much. Diaz is Maggie, the ditzy party girl who gets drunk, has sex in the public bathroom, and ends up sleeping on her sister's couch. MacLaine is the long-lost grandmother who ends up bringing the two sisters back together after they have a horrible fight. It's tempting to brush this movie off as a chick flick, but it probably deserves more than that. It didn't quite work for me because the story was told in a herky-jerky fashion wherein big changes take place suddenly without explanation. And at 130 minutes, the movie is long enough to spell things out for us. Collette should get props for her acting. Grade: B

The Best of Youth (DVD review)

The Best of Youth (2003) features a cast that no one in America will recognize. Airing originally as a miniseries on Italian television, it is now available on DVD, in Italian with English subtitles. The six-hour running time will seem forbidding to some, but it is well worth the investment of time. The story follows the lives of two brothers, Matteo and Nicola, from the 1960s to 2003. The sweep of the narrative follows their lives as they mature from youths to men, form relationships with women and have children. Parallel to their individual stories is the development of Italian society and politics over the same period of time. Both of their lives are suffused with love and tragedy, but "The Best of Youth" rises above soap opera. Also notable are numerous scenes featuring beautiful scenery and beautiful Italian actresses. Grade: A

North Country (DVD review)

North Country (2005) starring Charlize Theron. Theron delivers a convincing performance in what is basically a by-the-numbers, "Norma Rae" type movie. One woman who needs her job in a Minnesota mine faces sexual harassment by good ole boys who don't think women should be taking jobs that otherwise would go to men. She fights back, battling not only the men but the other women who work there, her parents, and even her kids, none of whom stand with her at first. The story's arc is pretty much predictable, and the courtroom scenes feel familiar, but the performances are good enough that the viewer can easily get emotionally involved. Grade: B

Zathura (DVD review)

Zathura (2005) starring Tim Robbins as the father and three unknowns as the kids. Two brothers, Danny and Walter, find an old game called Zathura and start playing it. Zathura is a space adventure game, and the conceit of this movie is that what happens in the game really happens to the kids playing it. The game and its workings make for some good fun moments, but what this movie is really about is the relationship between Danny and Walter. At the beginning of the movie Walter is the mean older brother and Danny is the younger, neglected one. But through their adventures playing Zathura and fighting the Zorgons, Danny and Walter move their relationship to a new, more brotherly level. There are some logical inconsistencies that may bother adults, but for the children's audience that is the main target of this film I don't believe there will be any complaints. Grade: B+

Wedding Crashers (DVD review)

Wedding Crashers (2005) starring Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Rachel McAdams, Christopher Walken. What a disappointing mess this movie is. Wilson and Vaughn start out kind of funny as a couple of opportunists who go to weddings to pick up girls -- who they figure will be feeling romantic because of the wedding atmosphere. But the movie veers off into a mixture of raucous comedy and romantic mushiness that just doesn't work. It doesn't help that the chemistry between Wilson and McAdams never achieves liftoff. Grade: C

The Aristocrats

The Aristocrats (2005) A cast of dozens of comedians take turns telling the legendary joke that ends with the punchline "The Aristocrats." The joke has a flexible structure so that it can be as dirty as the comic wants to make it, and some of the versions in this movie are almost unbearably embellished with scatology, incest, bestiality, you name it. And yet the movie, which is essentially a documentary, offers us a peak inside the world of comedians -- and there are a lot of funny people here. Many viewers will find this movie distasteful, and it certainly is tasteless. But I'm glad I saw it. Grade: B-

Broken Flowers (DVD review)

Broken Flowers (2005) starring Bill Murray and an interesting supporting cast. Murray plays Don Johnston, a middle-aged man who retired early after making a fortune "in computers." On the day his girlfriend leaves him, he gets a mysterious letter telling him he may have a 19-year-old son whom he has never met. The movie is about his exploration of his past, through the women he thinks could be the kid's mother. In the process he takes a road trip and goes back to meet these old flames. The disappointment at the end of the film is that the mystery of the son is left unanswered, and thus the point of the movie becomes the journey, not the destination. Some viewers will find this satisfying, while others will be frustrated. Grade: B

8 Women (DVD review)

8 Women (2002) Catherine Deneuve, Ludivine Sagnier. Wacky French film is a murder-mystery-musical in which eight women, most of them related, are isolated in a country house during a snowstorm after the master of the house is murdered. They all have motives to want him dead, but who did the deed? The "mystery" is interspersed with musical numbers in which the women take turns performing songs that reflect their individual personalities. It's good fun if you're in the mood for something light and goofy. Grade: B+

The Notebook (DVD review)

The Notebook (2004) starring Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, James Garner, Gena Rowlands. There's supposed to be a surprise of sorts at the end of this movie, but it's really no mystery. Garner, in the present day, reads to Rowlands from a notebook describing the pre-World War II romance of Gosling and McAdams. The two young stars are appealing and their love story is convincing, but it's not enough to carry a whole movie. The overall plot just doesn't contain enough substance to affect the audience as strongly as it is intended to. Grade: C-

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (DVD review)

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005), based on the radio show and books by Douglas Adams, is a major disappointment. It fails to fully capture the voice or spirit of the original, and adds nothing new that is worthwhile. The costuming and special effects are especially cheap and atrocious, and I found very little in this movie to like. Grade: D

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (DVD review)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and a large supporting cast. This is a faithful reproduction of J.K. Rowling's book, and as such it shares the flaws and virtues of the original. The world of magic that Rowling has created is charming, but the plotting of her books is flimsy. Yet perhaps it is wrong to be overly critical of a book series which targets, principally, children. There's a lot of great fun to be had in the Harry Potter books and films. Grade: B

Raiders of the Lost Ark (DVD review)

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) starring Harrison Ford, Karen Allen. I was never a big fan of this movie, and though it does have its moments, it hasn't aged all that well. Grade: B

Million Dollar Baby (DVD review)

Million Dollar Baby (2004) starring Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman. The story of a young woman (Swank) who wants to be a boxer and the trainer (Eastwood) who takes her on. Swank and Freeman both won Oscars for their performances in this movie, which about two thirds of the way through takes a radical swerve away from what you are expecting. It is always about the on-screen relationship between Eastwood and Swank, however, and the story proves engrossing and tragic. Grade: B+

The Stupidest Angel (book review)

The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror (2004) by Christopher Moore. Although it is set at Christmas time, this story will hold up well throughout the year. It's the story of an angel who is sent to Earth to perform a Christmas miracle, and how everything goes horribly, hilariously wrong. More than anything, this is a book of humor about a group of eccentric people living in a small town in California in the present day. Grade: B+

Four Weddings and a Funeral (DVD review)

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) starring Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell. For the first time I must chastise the DVD of a movie I love. This is one of the great romantic comedies, with many funny and moving lines of dialogue. Unfortunately, for an American, many of them are hard to understand because the movie takes place in England and there's that bloody accent to contend with. No problem, I would usually say, just turn on the subtitles in English. But wait -- this disc has subtitles only in Spanish! How many lovely turns of phrase must have been missed? I, for one, had trouble understanding about a quarter of the dialogue. Movie: A. DVD: C

Bride and Prejudice (DVD review)

Bride and Prejudice (2004) starring a cast of relative unknowns and Indian stars who are famous in their own country. Hollywood meets Bollywood, East meets West, and everything works out in the end. Very loosely based on Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," this film is a romance, it's a musical, it's a drama, it's a comedy. There's a lot of color and joyful music-making in the musical numbers, which pop up regularly for no apparent reason. The movie seems overly simplistic for the most part, but is still is mildly amusing for a couple of hours. Grade: B

Napoleon Dynamite (DVD review)

Napoleon Dynamite (2004). I wasn't expecting much, so I can't say I was really disappointed. For some reason this shapeless film about truly odd high school angst has become hip among a certain (young) crowd. For me it had little to offer, except a few odd moments that squeezed an unwilling chuckle or two out of me. Grade: C

I Dreamed I Married Perry Mason (book review)

I Dreamed I Married Perry Mason (2004) by Susan Kandel. Slightly cheeky chick-lit/mystery about a California biography writer named Cece Caruso, who just can't stay away from an intriguing murder case. Mostly told for humor, but there is quite a bit of interesting information about Erle Stanley Gardner, the writer of the Perry Mason mysteries. Grade: B

Confessions of a Shopaholic (book review)

Confessions of a Shopaholic (2001) by Sophie Kinsella. Highly readable and amusing take on the life of a young woman who cannot control her spending. Our heroine is named Rebecca Bloomwood and she lives and works in London, England. She finds her job as a writer for a financial monthly to be exceedingly boring, and her chief amusement is shopping. Along the way to semi-enlightenment she finds romance and her true calling. Grade: B+

Better Luck Tomorrow (DVD review)

Better Luck Tomorrow (2002). With a cast where all the major characters are young Asian-Americans, there is no one that you will recognize by name. A high-school drama that goes places few teen movies have gone before, this film was picked up at the Sundance Film Festival by MTV Films. Before it's over, it involves drugs, sex and murder. Nothing to write home about, however. Grade: B

Ghost World (DVD review)

Ghost World (2001) starring Thora Birch, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Buscemi. This is a low-budget movie, and it shows, but there are moments that make it worth watching. Birch and Johansson play disaffected teens who have just graduated from high school. They are trying to find their way in the adult world, and though they have been fast friends, they choose different paths. This film is filled with quirky scenes that have stayed with me. Grade: B

The Bourne Identity (DVD review)

The Bourne Identity (2002) starring Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper. For reasons which may not be clear to everyone, I really love this movie. Everything about it works for me -- the suspense, the action, even the romance. Matt Damon has found a niche as an action hero/spy, and Franka Potente ("Run, Lola, Run") is a convincing love interest. This film was followed by a sequel, the not-quite-as-good "The Bourne Supremacy." Grade: A-

Adaptation (DVD review)

Adaptation (2002) starring Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper. Directed by Spike Jonze. Apparently this movie is not for everyone, but it is one of my favorite movies of the past decade. Based on Susan Orlean's book "The Orchid Thief," it is one of those rare films that reflects the screenwriting process in intimate detail. Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman made the script about the process of adapting this plotless book to the movie screen. It is partly about him, partly about Susan Orlean, and partly about the orchid thief himself, a strange character who is definitely the most interesting thing about the book and the movie. Cage, Streep and Cooper all deliver top-notch performances. Grade: A

The Aviator (DVD review)

The Aviator (2004) starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett. Directed by Martin Scorsese. Length: 2 hours 50 minutes. "The Aviator" was nominated for a best-picture Oscar, and Blanchett won Supporting Actress for her turn as Kate Hepburn. Nevertheless, this is a so-so biographical picture about famed billionaire recluse Howard Hughes. DiCaprio, in the title role, doesn't convincingly age over the 20-some years covered by the movie. His portrayal of Hughes's early symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder is a little over-the-top. There are some enjoyable cinematic moments, mostly of airplanes being built or in flight. But overall it's three hours spent in a questionable cause. Grade: B

Nightingales (book review)

Nightingales: The Extraordinary Upbringing and Curious Life of Miss Florence Nightingale (2004) by Gillian Gill. This book's greatest strength is also its weakness. It is so thoroughly researched that reading it becomes a chore. Although the subject is fascinating -- Florence Nightingale and her life in Victorian England, told in great detail -- it's not an easy read. For anyone who is up to it (fast readers have an advantage here), it is rewarding. The section dealing with Miss Nightingale's nursing activities during the Crimean War is of particular interest. Grade: B

Kinsey (DVD review)

Kinsey (2004) starring Liam Neeson, Laura Linney. Interesting, slightly episodic story of Alfred Kinsey, the famed sex researcher, his family and colleagues. Frank treatment of sexual subject matter might make this unsuitable for any but the most mature teens. Grade: B

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (DVD review)

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) starring Ellen Burstyn, Kris Kristofferson. Directed by Martin Scorsese. Burstyn won an Oscar for Best Actress in this well-told tale of a woman trying to make her way in the world after her husband dies. This film might be considered a period piece by now as it portrays the early days of the women's movement. Also features performances in minor roles by a very young Jodie Foster and Harvey Keitel. Grade: B+

In Good Company (DVD review)

In Good Company (2004) starring Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace, Scarlett Johansson. I saw this movie in the theater when it first came out, and I liked it better on second viewing, in the living room. The main relationship in the film, between Quaid and Grace, works well. Grace plays a young hotshot brought in by a mega-corporation to take over the business Quaid works for. It's a nice snapshot of American society and corporate excess. Grace and Johansson are supposed to be a couple in this film, but it's a little hard to believe. He's supposed to be older than her, but she seems by far the more mature member of the pair. It's hard not to think of him as the kid in "That '70s Show." Grade: B+

Lost and Delirious (DVD review)

Lost and Delirious (2001) starring Piper Perabo, Jessica Pare, Mischa Barton. Lesbian melodrama set at a girls' boarding school is notable for Perabo's performance and for early appearances by Pare and Barton, now both starring in popular TV series. Unfortunately the resolution is lacking in impact. Grade: B-

Enduring Love (DVD review)

Enduring Love (2004) starring Daniel Craig, Samantha Morton. Promising opening scene about a runaway hot-air balloon degenerates into tedious thriller involving a madman who pursues the protagonist, sort of remotely like "Fatal Attraction." Grade: C

Closer (DVD review)

Closer (2004) starring Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen. Two men and two women interact with each other over a period of years, coupling and uncoupling and exchanging bodily fluids. They all talk about loving each other, but in the end it seems only a game and all the love is used up. An interesting movie, but not altogether pleasant to sit through. When it was over, I felt a little depressed. Grade: C+

Bring It On (DVD review)

Bring It On (2000) starring Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku et al. Nubile girls in cheerleader outfits. A bikini carwash. Lots of suggestive choreography. There was plenty to ogle in this film, so why did I find it so boring? Probably because the target audience is teenage (or younger) girls. And because, after movies like "Clueless" and "Heathers," it seems a little wan. On the plus side, the lyrics to some of the cheers are amusing, especially in the opening dream sequence. Grade: C+

The House of Flying Daggers (DVD review)

The House of Flying Daggers (2004) in Chinese with English subtitles. Also available on same DVD: dubbed versions in English and French. These epic Chinese romance/adventures ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "Hero") are beginning to have a been there/seen that feeling. This one is done with great art and the actors are attractive, but it all feels a little overblown. Grade: B

Wonderfalls (TV series on DVD)

Wonderfalls, the complete series. I've only partially viewed this wonderfully quirky TV show, but I can recommend it highly. I'll write a more complete review when I've had a chance to see the complete series. Caroline Dhavernas, the star of the show, is a find waiting to be discovered. She had a bit part in "Lost and Delirious," which I recently reviewed. So far: A-

Dating Is Murder (book review)

Dating Is Murder (2005) by Harley Jane Kozak. A clever, funny followup to "Dating Dead Men." Wolley Shelley is a blond bombshell and an amateur sleuth who just cares too much about people and ends up getting involved in solving dangerous crimes. The plot really has little to do with the book's appeal -- what mostly amuses are the many observational asides of the first-person heroine. Grade: A-

Sin City (movie review)

Sin City (2005) starring Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke and a large cast of first-rate actors. Some viewers will be put off by the comic-book violence, and it is pretty gruesome, but this comic-noir is visually stunning, with a marvelous use of color against a black-and-white background. The story is a triptych of tales, each with a hero battling true evil in an alternate universe that is complete unto itself. Adventurous viewers will be rewarded. Grade: B+

The Woodsman (DVD review)

The Woodsman (2004) starring Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick. Bacon turns in a fine performance in a difficult role, that of a pedophile, released from prison, trying to re-enter society and resist his inner demons. Grade: B

Vanity Fair (DVD review)

Vanity Fair (2004) starring Reese Witherspoon as Becky Sharp, with a vast supporting cast of English character actors, some familiar, others not. In watching this movie, one gets the feeling that great swaths of the Thackery novel must have been left out to get it down to acceptable running time. Nevertheless, it makes for interesting viewing, sometimes amusing, sometimes tragic. Becky Sharp is a woman with no money and no title, living in England 200 years ago. She attempts to make her way in society with nothing but her beauty, wit, intelligence and ambition. She nearly succeeds. Reese Witherspoon seems an odd choice to play Becky, but she gets by. Her performance is adequate, not great. But the portrait of a society dominated by money and breeding is good enough to make this a recommended film. There's even a somewhat happy ending. Grade: B+

Ocean's Twelve (DVD review)

Ocean's Twelve (2004) starring George Clooney, Julia Roberts. Can you really review a movie that you didn't watch all the way through? Suffice it to say that I only saw about half an hour of this one before I lost interest. Maybe at another time I would have watched the whole thing just to get my money's worth, but in this case I couldn't be bothered. Grade: ?

Spanglish (DVD review)

Spanglish (2004) starring Adam Sandler, Tea Leoni, Paz Vega. Vega plays Flor, an immigrant Mexican who goes to work in an Anglo household in southern California. Sandler is John Clasky, and Leoni is Deb Clasky, the couple she works for as a nanny. The movie contains one truly hilarious scene, in which Cristina, Flor's daughter, translates from Spanish into English for her mother when Flor is angry with John. Vega is transcendent in her beauty and her acting. But the script is somewhat lacking, and the real sour note of the movie is Leoni's over-the-top performance as an obsessive, crazed housewife. Parts of her performance are funny, but mostly it just grates. Grade: B

Vera Drake (DVD review)

Vera Drake (2004) starring Imelda Staunton. In 1950, abortion was illegal in England. Vera Drake, a cheery working class woman, "helps girls out." She doesn't charge for her service, but that doesn't help when she gets caught. This movie is worthy of viewing mainly for Imelda Staunton's Oscar-nominated performance as Mrs. Drake, a woman who undergoes a total transformation of personality when she has her run-in with the law. Not exactly a feel-good film. Grade: B

Sideways (DVD review)

Sideways (2004) starring Paul Giamatti, Thomas Hayden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh. Two men embark on a road trip to celebrate the last week of freedom for the one who is getting married. They travel up to California wine country, taste wines and along the way meet two women. It's an amusing take on middle-age panic as they both travel their separate paths to enlightenment. Grade: B+

Four Weddings and a Funeral (video)

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) starring Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell. Hugh Grant plays Charles, a commitment phobic, and Andie MacDowell plays Carrie, a woman who just might make him change his ways. By turns hilarious and tragic, this is a great romantic comedy that holds up superbly after 10 years. Grade: A

Truly, Madly, Deeply (DVD review)

Truly, Madly, Deeply (1991) starring Juliet Stevenson, Alan Rickman. A woman is nearly mad with grief over her dead lover when his ghost returns to alleviate her suffering. Trouble is, now that he's back, she finds him kind of irritating. Good premise, but wanders a bit too much. Grade: B

Ray (DVD review)

Ray (2004) starring Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles. The movie is filled with moments of rapture, mostly having to do with Charles' music; it is also filled with moments of despair, having to do with his private life. Jamie Foxx won a well-deserved Oscar for his performance, in which he seems to be Ray Charles. At two and a half hours, however, the movie feels rather long. Yet it feels truncated, because it deals with such a short period in Charles' life. Grade: B

Dummy (DVD review)

Dummy (2002) starring Adrien Brody. Brody plays a slacker whose ambition is to be a ventriloquist. He even buys a creepy ventriloquist's doll and starts practicing. The movie pursues an offbeat course with a variety of interesting characters. But the potential for drama or comedy involving Brody and the dummy is never fully realized, and the film becomes basically a simple, not very believable love story. One suspects that this movie was released mostly on the strength of Brody's Oscar win for "The Piano." Grade: B-

Rushmore (DVD review)

Rushmore (1998) starring Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray. Directed by Wes Anderson, written by Anderson and Owen Wilson. Promising but ultimately disappointing story of Max Fischer (Schwartzman), a student at Rushmore prep school who participates in a multitude of extracurricular activities but neglects his studies. Max is brilliant in his own way, but he gets in emotional trouble when he falls for a teacher (Olivia Williams). Grade: B-

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (book review)

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

The Sure Thing (DVD review)

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

Finding Neverland (DVD review)

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

Friday Night Lights (DVD review)

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

Dating Dead Men (book review)

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

My Sister's Keeper (book review)

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

Alfie (DVD review)

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

The Incredibles (DVD review)

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

A Widow for One Year (book review)

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

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

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

Intimate Strangers (DVD review)

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

What Was She Thinking? (book review)

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

The Silence of the Lambs (DVD review)

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

Howards End (DVD review)

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

Bleachy-Haired Honky Bitch (book review)

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