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• Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Le... 10/10

  2006-06-15 20:25

  

  Simply called "Amelie" here in the states, this is one of my all time favorite movies. Amelie is a young, naive Parisian woman who changes the world, her own especially, by deciding to help those around her. It is superbly shot with cinematography that perfectly creates the mystical and whimsical world of Amelie.

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• Young at Heart (2007) 9/10

  2008-05-17 20:00

  

  Young@Heart is an absolute must see movie. It is the moving and endearing story of a group of 70, 80, and 90 year olds who sing and perform their hearts out to the tunes of a variety of popular artists such as Coldplay, James Brown, and the Ramones. The movie documents the group’s preparation for their first big concert of the performing year. As the story unfolds we are given an up close and personal look at the lives of a variety of the group’s members. Some of the more touching and moving moments of this film detail the struggle to hold on to life and the frailty that often comes with old age, while other moments show that character and dignity do not fade in the face of it.

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• Lars and the Real Girl (2007) 9/10

  2008-04-16 20:39

  

  You might ask why on earth would someone want to watch a movie about a guy and his “girlfriend” who just so happens to be an anatomically correct mail order doll? That certainly can’t be anything but trouble. Well, in this case it’s not. In fact, Lars and the Real Girl just happens to be one of the smartest, most moving, and spiritually significant films I’ve seen in a long time. Lars is a good but painfully awkward and shy man. The limit of his social activity is his office job, attending church on Sunday morning, and being dragged off to dinner by his caring but overly pushy sister-in-law. Lars keeps to himself in a room off the side of the family garage while his brother and sister-in-law have moved into the home not long after the death of their father. One day a large package arrives for Lars, and later that evening he shows up at the door of his brother’s home introducing his new girlfriend, Bianca, whom he says has arrived after serving as a missionary in Brazil. But of course she is nothing more than a full sized life like doll. His brother and sister-in-law think he’s gone nuts but eventually decide to heed the advice of the family doctor and to play along with Lars’ delusion until he no longer needs it. What unfolds is an incredibly moving modern parable of the power of love and community, as first the church and then the rest of the town make the choice to wrap their arms around Lars and to accept his new friend, Bianca, as one of them. Their acceptance helps Lars push past the many barriers that have kept him trapped for years. It also helps him to take note of his office co-worker and fellow church member, Margo, the ‘real girl’ who really loves and cares for him.

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• No Country for Old Men (2007) 9/10

  2008-02-01 16:40

  

  It's the summer of 1980 in west Texas and sheriff Ed Tom Bell feels unmatched by the evil of the times and the sorts of crimes he encounters. He is baffled by it all and is not entirely sure what to do about it. Llewelyn Moss is a poor welder living with his wife in a trailer court. One day while out hunting in the desolate country side Moss stumbles upon a failed drug deal and walks away with the case of cash. Anton Chigurh is a pathological killer who uses a compressed air cattle-gun to kill his victims. Somehow Chigurh gets connected to the failed drug deal and eventually ends up in pursuit of Moss. The movie and its tale of these three is as intricately and tightly woven as it is engaging and compelling. But perhaps even more importantly, we are masterfully engaged in Bell's struggle to understand and cope with a world gone wrong and that holds very few answers for the many questions it raises.

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• Juno (2007) 9/10

  2008-01-04 19:45

  

  The more I think about this movie the more I love it; Juno is an incredibly witty movie with lots of punchy dialog about a pregnant 16 year old high school student. Juno may be confused about who she is and about what she will become, but then so are a few of the other kids and adults in this movie. One of the supposed adults in particular comes off as much more confused and immature than Juno, showing us that this young woman is in a much better place than we might otherwise assume. Along the way Juno discovers more about herself and makes good, wise and brave choices. We come away from the movie with a sense that life is going to be alright for this plucky young woman. The movie deals with its sensitive subject matter in a way that is not preachy and yet leaves you feeling that redemption is possible in the midst of less than desirable circumstances.

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• Iron Man (2008) 8/10

  2008-05-15 20:25

  

  When Tony Stark discovers first hand the incredible harm and mayhem that his inventions in weaponry and armament have created, he turns to use his technology in order to fight against evil. You don't have to love comic books in order to enjoy this movie. Iron Man is a smart, witty movie and one of the best I've seen so far this year.

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• Pieces of April (2003) 8/10

  2008-03-06 20:00

  

  April, the black sheep of her family, is living in New York City in a tenement apartment with her boyfriend. Back in suburbia her mom is dying of cancer and it may be her last Thanksgiving alive. Mom, Dad and the rest of the family head into the big city for a thanksgiving dinner to be hosted by April. All they can imagine is that it will be a complete disaster. As April gets ready for the meal it looks like its going to be a disaster to her as well, since the stove won't light and it seems that she has no where to turn. What unfolds over the course of a day comes as a complete surprise to everyone.

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• The Great Debaters (2007) 8/10

  2007-12-31 14:30

  

  The Great Debaters is based on a true story set in the 1930s. It follows the great success of the debate team at historic Wiley College; a school for African-Americans located in Texas. Denzel Washington directs this movie and stars in its leading role as professor Melvin Tolson, the founder of the school's debate team who also happens to be a covert organizer of share croppers. For most of the year the debate team, formed of four students, goes undefeated. Due to the aggressive promotion by their instructor they are given the opportunity to debate Harvard University. This is an inspiring movie with a great story as each one of the four students overcome the odds to become a success in the courts of debate.

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• Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red... 8/10

  2007-11-18 20:00

  

  This documentary is a firsthand look into the life of children in Calcutta India born to women whose primary occupation is prostitution. A photo journalist works with these young children, giving them cameras and teaching them the art of photography. She also ends up working on behalf of the children to find places where they can get an education in an effort to help end the vicious cycle these particular children find themselves a part of. The imagination and creativity on display by these children and their photographs is as inspiring as each of their stories is heartbreaking.

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• 3:10 to Yuma (2007) 8/10

  2007-10-14 20:28

  

  I'm only a little embarrassed that I went to see "3:10 to Yuma," after leading an adult Sunday school class earlier in the day where I said something like "our culture glorifies violence so much, I'm not sure the church should take part in condoning violent video games." Having offered an apology, I will now say that this is an excellent, engrossing - but violent - movie with a well honed tale. This is definitely the Hollywood western at its best. The movie follows the tale of crossing paths between a small time troubled rancher and a big time hardened criminal by the name of Ben Wade. Following a stage coach robbery Wade is captured by the law and the rancher becomes part of a group of men who must transport him 80 or so miles to the town of Contention where he will be placed on the 3:10 to Yuma to be brought to justice. The rancher's young teen age son sees his father as a small time coward but through a strange and somewhat convoluted plot twist at the end of the movie, the stature of the father has grown immensely in this young man's eyes. Both of the leading actors are absolutely perfect for their roles. And even though the plot move at the end will leave you scratching your head for sometime you will still come away satisfied having seen an excellent and worthwhile movie.

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• Ratatouille (2007) 8/10

  2007-09-11 18:31

  

  This is a fine, fine movie; especially if you enjoy good food (and who doesn't?) The animation is amazing and far superior in quality to anything I've seen to this point. It is funny as well, though not in a rolling in your seat with laughter sort of way. The movie follows the adventures of Remy a misfit rat who unlike the rest of his clan truly cares about what he eats. After an unfortunate mishap in the kitchen of the home their colony inhabits, Remy finds himself alone in Paris at the restaurant of his favorite but recently deceased chef whose book is entitled "Anyone Can Cook." Remy finds away to apply his cooking skills in the restaurant through an alliance with a young unskilled boy who turns out to be the grandson of the famous chef. Remy turns out to be an overnight sensation and a savior to the flagging restaurant but no one except the young boy knows about it! I can't say much more except that the movie is full of some surprising plot twists, especially its ending which I never saw coming.

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• The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) 8/10

  2007-08-03 20:00

  

  In short: this movie is sheer summer movie fun! With an excellent story line, this movie is packed with all sorts of great action. Jason Bourne is back and is still trying to figure out just who he is before the CIA kills him off. Elusive as ever, does he have enough in him to complete his quest?

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• The Dark Knight (2008) 7/10

  2008-07-24 08:39

  

  As noted by just about everyone the strength of this movie is Heath Ledger as he excels in his performance as the Joker. He is superbly maniacal, eerily wicked, and effectively plays evil personified. The movie deals with both Batman's and society's moral dilemma of figuring out what exactly is at his disposal and how to use those means in order to combat and defeat his foe. For a comic book movie, this is a surprisingly effective and engaging movie (2.5 hours and only once did I look at my watch...) and a great success to "Batman Begins"

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• The Savages (2007) 7/10

  2008-07-24 08:12

  

  This movie features stellar performances by two of Hollywood's best actors - Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney. It sensitively and, I think, pretty effectively deals with some of the issues surrounding care of an aging father in the last months of his life. The situation in this movie is further complicated by a father, who was a less than a stellar parent, and siblings who as a result have been estranged from him. The result is a movie that is funny, sad, compassionate, and moving all at the same time.

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• WALL·E (2008) 7/10

  2008-07-02 20:01

  

  Incredible animation, an inventive and unique storyline, and compelling social commentary all work together to make WALL-E a great animated movie. This is a movie that adults will thoroughly enjoy watching along with kids who are old enough to "get it."

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• The Kite Runner (2007) 7/10

  2008-04-03 19:33

  

  This is a really powerful and moving story of redemption...be sure to have a box of Kleenexes handy if you watch it. I loved the book and thought this adaptation did a pretty decent job of capturing the overall story line of the novel. I wonder though if someone were watching this movie without having read the book if they would think it was all that great. The movie tells the story straight up and seems to lack the nuances that made the book so good; such as the nuanced picture of Islamic faith and the life and culture of Afghanistan unlike what we see portrayed in our media today.

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• Michael Clayton (2007) 7/10

  2008-02-21 20:33

  

  Michael Clayton, played by George Clooney, cleans up messes for his law firm. He is a brilliant, engaging fellow with a knack for getting things done and making stubborn legal problems go away, or at least minimizing them the best he can. But now he faces the mess of his life, one that even he may not be able to fix. One of the firm’s attorneys, assigned to a multi-billion dollar case in defense of a giant agricultural chemical company, has a bipolar nervous breakdown that threatens to completely blow apart the case. It’s Michael’s job to get him back on his medicine and to do all he can to insure that the case doesn’t completely implode. A battle ensues as Michael is vexed by the top level attorney for the chemical company, played by Tilda Swinton. She has different ideas about Michael’s ability to handle the problem and decides to complicate things by taking matters in her own hands. While this is an engaging, compelling, and suspenseful thriller its not quite up to the level of the academy award nomination which it received. I rate this movie a 7 out of 10.

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• The Assassination of Jesse James by the... 7/10

  2007-11-04 18:30

  

  This is a fascinating and incredibly layered movie exploring the murder of outlaw Jesse James at the hand of Robert Ford, a twenty year old kid who has idolized James since his childhood. Ford gets close to James and vacillates between despising and worshiping his hero. Ford eventually kills James, hoping to become as much of a hero as James himself was to him as well as to the rest of the nation. The cinematography in this movie is bleak and stunning. The acting is stellar and I would not be in the least bit surprised if both Brad Pitt (James) and Casey Affleck (Ford) both win Academy Awards for their performances.

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• Becoming Jane (2007) 7/10

  2007-08-19 20:00

  

  This movie is the story of Jane Austen before she became one of the most famous novelists England has ever produced. This is the classic story of a young woman who is determined to only marry for 'affection' and the price she pays for that commitment. Even though I went to this movie because my wife begged me to go, I found it very enjoyable. Anne Hathaway is a superb Jane Austin and the rest of the cast is great.

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• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix... 7/10

  2007-07-15 19:30

  

  I've not read any of the books, but I have seen all of the movies so far in this series. While it is by far the darkest, it is also the best and most compelling movie of the four. The story line grabs you from the beginning and keeps you in its grasp the entire time. In this movie Harry Potter grows up and finds that there is strength in numbers rather than going it alone. He also finds the power of love to banish his foe (for a little while anyway.)

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• Ocean's Thirteen (2007) 7/10

  2007-06-24 17:00

  

  I may be the only person in America who hasn't seen the previous 2 Oceans movies, but I still enjoyed this one a lot. It was witty and smart though not uproariously funny. It of course has a great core of actors. I know I missed a few inside jokes or two from previous movies, but it didn't really affect my enjoying it.

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• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the... 6/10

  2008-05-22 20:14

  

  This movie started off way too slow, but once it gained its momentum it took off like a rocket and was great fun. While not the best of the Indy movie series, it was still great fun to see him off on an adventure and back to his old tricks. It's simply what you might expect from an Indy flick.

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• The Station Agent (2003) 6/10

  2008-03-16 20:32

  

  Fin is a dawrf, a bit of a recluse, and a lover of trains. He inherits a train station in rural New Jersey and moves in. Big changes are in store as he gets to know some of the locals who invade his private and secret world. This quirky little movie certainly has its bright spots and is overall a compelling movie about the battle against loneliness.

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• In the Valley of Elah (2007) 6/10

  2008-02-28 20:00

  

  In the Valley of Elah opens with Hank Deerfield receiving a phone call notifying him that his son has gone AWOL while on leave from duty in Iraq. Hank is surprised at this news as his son hadn’t even told him they were home. A former military man himself, Hank drives across country to the military base to see if he can locate his missing son, but not long after his arrival the body of his son is uncovered. Lots of questions are asked but the answers given are neither forthcoming nor plausible. With the help of a civilian police detective, played by Charlize Theron, Hank is able to get to the heart of the mystery of his son’s disappearance and death. The strength of this movie lies in the incredible and heartbreaking performance of Tommy Lee Jones who portrays Hank Deerfield with restraint and spare emotion in the face of his son’s death. His lack of tenderness is especially heartbreaking as it plays out in the relationship with his wife, played superbly by Susan Sarandon. The movie’s weakness lies in the fact that we are never sure why it is titled “In the Valley of Elah,” the biblical location where David slays Goliath. The ancient biblical story is told twice, but no real connection is made between it and this modern day military story. This lack of connection is indicative of the movie’s overall failure to help us grasp its underlying message.

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• There Will Be Blood (2007) 6/10

  2008-02-10 16:05

  

  There Will Be Blood is the tale of two men battling one another in oil rich California at the beginning of the 1900s. Daniel Plainview is an oil prospector and a fierce competitor. He talks confidently and self-assuredly, seemingly never answering a single question asked of him. Eli Sunday is the young charismatic preacher of The Church of the Third Revelation. He covers the weakness of his character with the piety of his office. Following a lead from Eli's brother Paul, Daniel convinces the Sunday family to lease him the rights to prospect oil from their ranch. Daniel also leases the rights from all ranches in the area except for one. When the derrick is ready to begin operating, Eli asks Daniel to public acknowledge him and to allow him to say a blessing for the derrick. Daniel rebuffs him and the battle is on. The brilliance of this movie comes from the battle of two men able to find a way to get the other to admit what he truly is. The failure of the movie is that this is as far as it goes. There is no redemption to be found, just two men whose poor souls descend into very pits of hell.

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• Dreamgirls (2006) 6/10

  2007-12-31 22:00

  

  While I knew there would be lots of music in this movie, I wasn't clear it was actually a musical! (which just goes to show you how much I follow what happens on Broadway....not much at all!) The movie started out way too slow for me causing me to almost lose my interest, but eventually an actual plot emerged. This fictional story, based loosely on the lives of actual people (think Diana Ross and the Supremes), follows the rise of three young women in the R&B music industry in the late 60s. As evidenced by her Oscar Award, Jennifer Hudson is stellar, offering outstanding musical performances as the spurned Effe. Beyonce's performance, as her promoted replacement, is less so. Eddie Murphy also offers a fine performance as James "Thunder" Early who is trying to cope with his plummeting popularity.

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• Enchanted (2007) 6/10

  2007-11-25 19:50

  

  I’m not sure what possessed me to agree to see Enchanted. Maybe it was because we were looking for a movie for a Sunday afternoon and noticed that Rotten Tomatoes had this one listed as a surprisingly 93% fresh movie! Disney’s latest movie begins in the land of Andalasia where Princess Giselle meets her true love Prince Edward. On the day of their wedding the evil Queen (Edward’s step-mother) casts Giselle to the place where there are no happily ever afters: New York City! Giselle meets a divorced NYC lawyer and father who ends up taking her into his home to help her out, and together they both learn about the real nature of ‘true love.’ While there is lots of cheese in this movie, an endearing message emerges that perhaps a bit of innocence can go along way in this cold, cynical world.

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• Dan in Real Life (2007) 6/10

  2007-10-28 08:00

  

  I never thought I'd see the day when Steve Carell and Juliette Binoche would play in the same movie. But this combination actually worked out pretty well for "Dan in Real Life." This is an interesting little romantic comedy that is sometimes very funny and other times, as it often is with comedies of this nature, simply annoying. Dan is a writer of an advice column. He lost his wife four years prior, so now he is doing what is takes to raise his three girls alone. As anyone who has done that alone knows, this is hard work! Dan hasn't met anyone since he lost his wife, until his mother sends him off to the bookstore while the entire family is gathering for a vacation together on the shore. There he discovers Marie. Dan is smitten, only to find out later in the day that there is one slight hitch: his new love arrives at his parent's cabin where it is revealed that she his in fact his brother's girlfriend! This of course makes for some fascinating tension throughout the rest of the movie. However it also makes for some bad behavior on Dan's part, which leads me to the film's one major flaw: Why is Dan's bad behavior seemingly overlooked by Marie? Regardless, love blooms and the girls love her to boot! In the end it all works out so that everyone is happy. Sounds like real life doesn’t it!?!

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• The Good Shepherd (2006) 6/10

  2007-06-15 17:33

  

  This is a long, slow plodding movie, but it did manage to keep my interest and is one of the best spy movies out in a long time. The story is complex and full of surprises.

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• Atonement (2007) 5/10

  2008-01-26 20:30

  

  This movie makes its point well: Sometimes you just can't make up for the things you've done. This is the story of a well-to-do family in pre World War II Britain. Briony is a 13 year old precocious girl who witnesses from a far an exchange between her sister, Cecilia, and their housekeeper's son, Robbie. It's true that Robbie and Cecilia do love each other, but Briony - either out of jealousy or some other unexpressed motive - interprets the exchange and the various events that follow that evening in the worst possible light. Eventually she tells a lie that ruins all three of their young lives. Briony grows up to be a successful author, but is haunted throughout her life by the deceit she has played in the demise of Cecilia and Robbie. The only way she can set things right is through an act of imagination as it is portrayed in her final book. From the beginning, I was not captivated by this movie and throughout found myself bored by it. Both its bleakness and obscurity of message are things this movie ought to atone for.

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• Superbad (2007) 5/10

  2007-08-20 20:00

  

  This movie's opening 20 minutes is far too crass for my personal taste. But once it settles in and the shock wears off, it has some some pretty funny and even some rather enduring moments. Facing the end of their senior year, two good high school friends are struggling with the reality that their ways will soon separate. They also have their eyes on girls they hope to 'score' but different ideas about how they should get there. But don't worry, in spite all of the super bad and crazy antics, it all works out in the end. The best part? This movie will be source of one-liners for today's teens for years to come. Too bad though its not as smart and witty as Napoleon Dynamite.

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• Volver (2006/I) 4/10

  2007-10-05 20:33

  

  In English the Spanish title of this movie, "Volver," is translated 'to return.' The title adequately expresses my sentiments toward this movie; I was quite glad 'to return' it to the folks at Netflix. The plot of 'To Return' plays out in an excruciatingly slow, plodding fashion the Old Testament biblical statement; "the sins of one generation are visited upon the third and fourth generations." The particular sins on display in this movie are adultery, incest, and murder. Yet, unlike the biblical narrative which always holds out the hope for redemption, there is little redemption to be found as the narrative of this movie unfolds. Part of my problem may be due to Penelope Cruz, whose acting reminds me of my other favorite 'wooden' actor Kenau Reeves. Perhaps my least favorite of today's heralded female actors, she comes across as cold and sterile; one particular scene where she sings in a cafe seems completely contrived, as does most of the movie.

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• Violon rouge, Le (1998) 4/10

  2007-08-16 18:00

  

  I recommended that my wife and I watch The Red Violin because I remembered enjoying it the first time around a number of years ago. That was a big mistake, and now she thinks my judgment is really bad! The second time around this movie, which follows the 400 year history of a famous violin, seemed a bit hokey and parts of it where way over the top. What could have been an interesting story line was ruined by inconsistency in the plot that keeps this movie from being a real gem.

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• The Cooler (2003) 3/10

  2007-06-17 16:00

  

  What this movie lacks in subtlety it more than makes up for in violence and cruelty. I always like WH Macy's acting and he does another good job here as well, but that's about all the good I can say about this movie.

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List generated by WP Movie Ratings.