They Came to Play (1:31) 2010

 For the last five years pianists arrive in Forth Worth, Texas to compete in the International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs. This competition is hosted by the Van Cliburn Foundation. Seventy-five pianists have met the criteria of being at least thirty-five years old, are considered to be amateurs, and have submitted a recording. The group is diverse in age, training, profession, culture, and location. The documentary interviews roughly a dozen of the competitors at home, during the three day first round, the semi-finals, and then the finals where the field has been narrowed to six pianists.. Even though I'm not a big fan of classical music, I enjoyed listening to parts of each performance as much as I enjoyed the interviews. It was interesting to see the results of each round, I felt bad for some of the people who were "kicked off the island" so to speak, and was happy for some who continue on to the finals. This is a must see for classical music lovers.

Congratulations to The King's Speech

The King's Speech took home the big prizes:  Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Original Screenplay. These are well deserved honors - it was a regal effort by all. I just read last night that The King's Speech was originally written as a play, primarily a two man play. Is anyone else wondering as to why Geoffrey Rush was overlooked for Best Supporting Actor nomination? I'll never understand that snub.
As everyone expected, Natalie Portman won Best Actress for her role in The Black Swan.
I highly recommend The King's Speech to everyone, it is a movie that you can take your daughter, sister, mother and grandmother for a royal treat. The Black Swan is also a good movie but it is a psycho sexual thriller - think long and hard as to whom you will be taking to see it. It isn't exactly everyone's cup of tea.

Congratulations to Melissa Leo & Christian Bale

As expected, Melissa Leo and Christian Bale walk away with Oscars tonight. They portrayed mother and son in The Fighter a dramatization of a real life  Lowell, MA dysfunctional Irish Catholic family. As I was walking out of the theater after watching The Fighter I turned to my friend Judy and said "Christian Bale will be nominated and will win an Oscar for his performance."

The Lost Thing Won an Oscar

Unbelievable, The Lost Thing was my least favorite animated short. Toy Story3 is taking an Oscar home for Best Animated Feature. It was a shoe-in for the start. Congratulations to both animations.

Ben X (1:33) 2007

My movie buddy recommended Ben X today and fortunately I was able to stream it. Ben X was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Film as an entry from Belgium. Ben is a high school student who spends much of his free time playing online games and is currently at level 80 in his favorite fantasy game. His school life is not successful, he is target of two bullies who are unrelenting in making fun of him in front of his classmates.
There is a sickening scene where Ben is lifted onto a student desk and then is depantsed while everyone is filming him and calling him a loser. After this event, Ben is at the breaking point, he can't take it anymore. He is at the crossroads, will he commit suicide or will he fight back? This is a riveting story, it captured my attention that entire time. It also did a great job showing how Ben, a student with Asperger's Syndrome, is not the cause of  problems in school. It is the others' insensitive and mean spirited reactions to him that are the problem. This is a must see for all those who work in education. The dialogue is Flemish with English subtitles.

The Cow Who Wanted to be a Hamburger (0:10) 2010

This short film animation was given a "highly commended" and not a nomination for an Oscar. A calf sees an advertisement for Happy Hamburger and wants to go with the other cows as they are loaded onto the truck. The calf is too little so he begins to "bulking up by exercising, eating tremendous amounts of food. Eventually, the calf weighs enough to go with the other cows. He exits the truck and walks up the ramp and to his terror he is in line for the slaughter house. Will he save himself or will he be saved? I wasn't crazy about the animation style but did enjoy the story especially the scene when the calf is working hard to put on weight. Actually, he could have had some of mine.

Urs (0:10) Germany

Urs was not nominated for an Oscar for Short Films - Animation but did receive a "highly commended". Urs is a man with an elderly mother living an isolated life in the mountains. He decides that they should have a better life and carries his mother on an arduous journey to village on the other side of the mountain. The problem - his mother does not wish to leave her home. The story is told effectively without using dialogue.

The Gruffalo (0:27) United States/Germany

The Gruffalo is based on an absolutely charming children's book. A mouse is on a journey to a tree to gather falling nuts. Along the way, he encounters three animals who would like to have him for dinner. Literally. The mouse tricks the fox, the owl and the snake by telling them he can't have supper with them because he is meeting a gruffalo, an animal he makes up on the spot. He describes the gruffalo in a way that scares each one of them away. As nears the end of his journey, he unexpectedly encounters a .  . .  gruffalo.
The mouse again has to rely on his wits to escape being the gruffalo's dinner. This is my favorite and predict this as tonight's winner for Short Film Animation. Win or lose, do a young child a favor. When The
Gruffalo becomes available, either buy it or rent it and see it with them.

Madagascar, Carnet De Voyage (0:11) France

I liked this animation very much. It was created as if it was a series of animated picture postcards. Some of the scenes were in pastel watercolors, some were pencil drawings and some were oil portraits. The story shows a visitor's trip by bush taxi to a small town that was having a celebration. We were introduced to the sights and culture of this island complete with its unique animals. Madagascar was visually beautiful. Although I am not predicting it to be the winner tonight, it may well surprise me by taking home an Oscar. And that would be fine.

The Lost Thing (015) 2010 Australia/Great Britian

I have to admit this was my least favorite. A boy, a bottle top collector, finds an unusual lost thing on the beach. He is faced with indifference when he inquires to the possible owners. He is finally given an address to bring the lost thing. The boy takes the lost thing to a place labeled Utopia and leave the object with other lost things. This animation just wasn't my cup of tea.

Let's Pollute (0:06) 2010

Let's Pollute was made in the style of the animations popular in the school days of the 50s and the 60s. This public serve announcement promotes the benefits of polluting, wasting natural resources and living a consumer driven lifestyle. It is really funny, the audience and I were laughing during this short. It takes the all rules of reduce and recycle and turns them on their head. It really gets the message about taking care of our environment in a most ingenious way. I really enjoyed this short.

Day and Night (0:06) 2010

I believe Day and Night was shown with ToyStory3 because this was not new to me. The two characters, Day and Night avoid each other like the plague. Slowly, they come to realize that each has its own advantages, Night sees Day's girls sunning themselves at the beach and Day sees the colorful Las Vegas night life. Over time, their relationship grows into a friendship that is mutually beneficial. This animation is very clever.

Oscar Nominated Short Films - Animation 2011

The Academy Awards are tonight so I went to the Criterion to see the last of the Oscar Short Films - Animation. I am pleased to report that this year I thought that each one deserved a nomination, and not only that, choosing the winner would be difficult. I will review each of the five separately with the last one being the one I predict to win tonight.

Toy Story3 (1:49) 2010

In 1995, I took my six and nine year old nephews, Connor and Paul, to see Toy Story. Four years later, we went to see ToyStory2. We all thoroughly enjoyed both movies and thought the sequel was just as good as the original, which is a rarity. My nephews and I were at the movies about a year ago when we saw the trailer for ToyStory3. It was their suggestion that we all see it together. Of course, they are now men in their twenties. So off we went to see ToyStory3. I was prepared to cry at the end as Andy is all grown up and going off to college. It was especially emotional for me as I was sitting with my two nephews who not too long ago, it seemed, were playing with Legos, Buzz Lightyear and other action figures of the time. This is a wonderful family movie. Buzz and Woody and all their friends have been given away to daycare center where the top toy is an evil tyrant. Andy's toys hatch a plan to return to their home. And the adventure begins as the escape plot is hatched.

Winter's Bone (1:40) 2010

Winter's Bone received a lot of good press at Sundance 2010. As soon as it came to the big screen last spring, two of my movie buddies and I went to see it. Winter's Bone lived up to all the good buzz. In this coming of age movie, Rhee is determined to find her father to save the family home. Rhee faces huge challenges. Her father put the home up to cover his bail after his arrest for cooking meth and has disappeared. The even bigger challenge is her location. The saying is "location, location is everything." Rhee and her family live in the rural, dirt poor Ozarks where everyone is related to each other, her extended family are all involved in the drug trade, and there is a absolute code of silence. Rhee's uncle, Teardrop, helps her knowing this will cause problems for both of them. But she is his kin. Rhee is a bulldog and will not let go, she challenges the most powerful man in the area. She is beaten up but not by him. Their code of ethics is men never hit women but his women kinfolk will.
Rhee is running out of time - will she find her father or his remains? Jennifer Lawrence has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress, a nomination richly deserved. John Hawkes, Teardrop, won a Spirit Award, for Best Supporting Actor and Dale Dickey for Best Supporting Actress. This is a very somber drama that let's up peek into a culture so different than most of America's. Winter's Bone is extremely well done and is a must see.

Congratulations to the Spirit Award Winners

Black Swan received four awards yesterday - Best Feature, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Cinematography. While it was no surprise that Natalie Portman won for Best Actress I had thought that 127 Hours would have shared more of the honors. Congratulations to James Franco for his award for Best Actor. Anyone that is so convincing that you really believe he is amputating his arm deserves the win. Although I didn't predict any winners for Winter's Bone I am happy with their awards the Best Supporting Actress and Actor received. Winter's Bone is a gem of an independent film. Again, it was no surprise that The King's Speech was awarded Best Foreign Feature, Exit Through the Gift Shop for Best Documentary and Get Low for Best First Feature. It will be interesting to see how this translates to the Academy Awards later tonight. Black Swan may again be the be winner.

Exit Through the Gift Shop (1:27) 2010

I think Exit Though the Gift Shop may win the Oscar for Best Documentary. And I am surprising myself in writing this. I watched this film in December and my first thought was what an odd topic and what unusual characters. This is a documentary about street art as filmed by a French store owner, Thierry Guetta. Thiery films hours and hours of street art and artists. Along the way, he hooks up with the very illusive Banksy, a street artist who refuses to be seen on screen. As time goes on, Thierry is pressured into editing his work and makes an awful documentary. After his failure at film making, Thierry decides to become a street artist and throws himself into his work. I'm kind of speechless as to what to say about this oddball documentary, it normally wouldn't be my cup of tea but I was drawn to it and was fascinated both by the artwork and by the artists.

Restrepo (1:33) 2010

Restrepo is a documentary that has been nominated for an Oscar and for Spirit Award for Best Documentary . It may well win tonight or tomorrow. The documentary follows 15 troops who have been assigned to a remote outpost in Afghanistan's Kornegal Valley. To be deployed in this valley to be assigned  to one of the most deadliest locations. The outpost Restrepo is named for a medic that was killed there. The camera crew is embedded with the platoon for the entire year. The film shows the boredom, the isolation, the fear, the lonely and the brotherhood of the troops. The only troops interviewed are those on assignment at the outpost. Restrepo shows it like really is and every American should see how it really is for this brave young men.
And for any military or their families reading this, thank you for all your sacrifices. It is greatly appreciated.

Gasland (1:47) 2010

I haven't seen all the Oscar nominated documentary to date but Gasland is one that I saw last April. Gasland was shown at the 2nd Annual Yale Environmental Film Festival in New Haven, CT. The director spoke with the audience after the viewing and participated in a Q & A. Gasland focuses on "fracking" which is a hydraulic drilling technique developed by Halliburton to release natural gas. The problem with fracking is residents' drinking supply smells funny after fracking has taken place. The film shows people turning on their kitchen faucets, running the water, lighting a match and the water turns to fire. Naturally, no one wants to drink water that they can ignite.
Josh Fox, the director, is touring the film festival circuit calling attention in order to prevent fracking in watershed areas. I don't think that Gasland will win tomorrow night but I wish it would - Fox is fighting the good fight.

Lost Son of Havana (1:42) 2009

The lost son of Havana is Luis Tiant, my favorite pitcher of all time. This documentary begins with Looie traveling back to Cuba for the first time in 46 years. Inter dispersed with scenes of reunions with family and friends, is the story of both Looie and that of his father, Luis Senior. Luis Senior played in the Negro League during the 1930s, he was Cuban and had too dark of a skin color to play in the Major Leagues. Luis Senior was a very talented left handed pitcher. His son, and only child, was signed by the Indians in 1961. While Looie was in Cleveland, the Bay of Pigs occurred and his father told him not to come back to Cuba. The documentary retraces Looie's career in the majors with his time with the Red Sox highlighted. Looie was reunited with his parents are a fourteen year separation. As a member of the Red Sox nation, this was a great documentary. The scenes of Looie's reunion with his aunts, cousins and friends were very emotional as we come to understand the hardship of separation from family has over time. GO SOX!

St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is March 17th. Being of Irish descent, I enjoy celebrating my heritage every day. Starting on March 1st, each day I will be posting a review of some of my favorite movies about Ireland, the Irish and Irish-Americans. Some of the movies will be comedies, some historically based dramas, and of course, many will be about the "Troubles" past and present. The movies will be in no particular order except for the posting of March 17th, that film is my all time favorite. Erin Go Bragh.

A Lawyer Walks into a Bar (1:31) 2007

I stumbled across this film in the Netflix documentary section and thought why not see what it is about. The documentary follows six prospective lawyers as they are studying for the California Bar Exam. The Bar Exam is the toughest one in the nation with a 36% pass rate. The six law students were diverse, one was Hispanic and had attended The People's Law Center. One student was being sponsored by her Native American clan, one was a man who was taking the bar exam for the 41st time. The film makers really show the stress and anxiety leading up to the exam, the total concentration of time and attention it takes in preparation. The film shows the exam takers on the three exam days and films them as they read whether they have passed or failed. The documentary discusses the general attitudes to the legal profession and interviews well known attorneys. This film was more interesting than I expected and I really was rooting for the six people to pass. The ending shows the joy of victory and the agony of defeat.

How To Train Your Dragon (1:38) 2010

Hiccup Haddock is a scrawny teenage Viking and heir to the throne. Hiccup's dream is to fight and slay dragons. His father keeps him inside for safety reasons, he knows that Hiccup is different. Hiccup does sneak off in hopes of catching a dragon and sets his sights on the fieriest one of all. He eventually captures one and intends to cut out his heart. After looking the dragon, Toothless, in the eye, he loses his desire to slay dragons. The pair earns each other's trust and become friends. When his father, the chieftain, learns that Hiccup is a dragon lover instead of a dragon slayer, he disowns him. When the Viking clan plan on attacking the largest dragon of them all, the plan goes awry. Hiccup, along with his buddy Astrid and other Vikings in trainee, come to the rescue. How To Train Your Dragon has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Animation. I don't think it will beat Toy Story3 but it is a fun, entertaining movie. This is definitely a movie to see with children!

The Social Network (2:00) 2010

The Social Network may end up with the Oscar for Best Picture Sunday night. I do think it most likely be edged out by The King's Speech. The Social Network is based founding of Facebook by Mark Zuckerberg and his Harvard friends. Mark is a computer whiz and believes there is a need for college students on the same campus to connect. This idea works and then is expanded so college students can connect to other college campuses. Facebook quickly becomes popular, Mark drops out of school and moves to California to devote all his time to improving Facebook. Along the way, he makes friends and business connections. He also loses friends and business connections. This movie paints, at times, a unflattering portrait of Zuckerburg. At the very beginning, he is vindictive with his girlfriend after she breaks off the relationship. He cuts out Harvard brothers who originally had the idea for social connectedness. This is a very good movie, Jesse Eisenberg is very convincing as Zuckerburg. I knew Eisenberg would receive an Oscar nomination and originally thought he may win - but not this year the momentum is for The King's Speech. If you haven't seen The Social Network, please do.

The Swedish Trilogy

The Swedish Trilogy is based Stieg Larsson's Millennium book series. The three movies in order are: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2:28)  2009, The Girl Who Played with Fire (2:09) 2009, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2:28) 2009. The stories center around a young computer hacker, Lisbeth Salander. Lisbeth has a history of violent antisocial behavior and has been institutionalized until recently. Lisbeth encounters Mikael Blomkvist when they cross paths investigating a murder that happen forty years ago. They solve the murder mystery but without making some enemies. The second movie picks up exactly where the first movie has ended. And in each of the movies, Lisbeth has to clear her name for crimes that she hasn't committed. Each movie is graphically violent, be prepared for the rape scene in the first movie that is sickening. Two of the movies are long, each two and a half hours but the viewer is engaged the entire time.
I didn't read the books, my friend thought I might have trouble following the movie but that wasn't the case. The trilogy was a very popular book series and the movies followed suit. It is hard to believe that the American remake will be better than the original.

Ghosts of Machu Piccu - Nova (0:52) 2010

Ghosts of Machu Piccu is a Nova: National  Geographic Special that examines the reason(s) why and how the Incas built Machu Piccu. The Incas didn't have a written language nor did they leave art work so Machu Piccu is a huge puzzle. The stone buildings were built without the use of the wheel, the brick work was so precise that mortar was not needed. Besides being builders, the Incas had an elaborate aqueduct system for water delivery and had many terraces used in food production. Yet, the Incas at Machu Piccu lasted for about a hundred years. The next puzzle is uncovering the reasons for their demise. Nova with National Geographic did a marvelous job filming Macchu Piccu and its surroundings. There are explanations for some of the puzzles but the jigsaw puzzle is not completely assembled. This is a very interesting documentary. This would be a good video for any Middle or High School student who is working on an Incan project.

Symphony of the Soil (1:15) 2011

Symphony of the Soil was shown tonight at the Whitney Humanities Center in New Haven, CT. This documentary was shown as a work in progress or a rough cut.  The free showing was sponsored by Yale Environmental Film Festival, Yale Sustainable Food Project, and Films at the Whitney. Tonight I realized I was dirt poor in my knowledge of soil, which is a very complex subject. The first fifteen minutes was rather technical about what soil is, what materials make up soil, how soil is formed and the numerous types of soil. The documentary changed focus to the benefits of organic farming or no till farming. Did you know that the "poop loop" is very important to making good soil? The documentary showed farms in Wales, India, Virginia and Washington State. The scenery and the background music were great additions. Symphony of the Soil turned out to be an quite interesting film. The Director of the film, Deborah Koons Garcia, was present and answered audience questions after a brief discussion about the making of the film.

Did You Hear about the Morgans? (1:47) 2009

Did you hear about all the awful reviews this movie received? I did and started the movie thinking I may not finish it. And lo and behold, it turned out to be a cute movie, very predictable, but cute. The Morgans are a successful professional couple living in New York and separated. Meryl and Paul witness a murder and are immediately put in protective custody and sent to a very rural, very small town Ray, Wyoming to live with the sheriff and his wife. During the week, with little distractions, the Morgans begin to discover what they thought they had lost. Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant have some funny lines, I laughed out loud several times. Sam Elliot is wonderful as the sheriff, the quiet no nonsense Western man. Mary Steenburgen rounds out the foursome as the sheriff's wife, a kind woman, handy with rifles, who wants to help the Morgans. This is a movie that is typical of a romantic comedy that is made for television. While it is not a great work of art, there was something about it that I found very charming. It is also a movie that a family could see together some night when everyone is low energy or housebound due to weather.

The Film Independent Spirit Awards

The Spirit Awards will be announced Saturday, February 26. These awards are given to those films that are considered to be exclusively independent by having met specific criteria as set by Film Independent. The award ceremony is informal and  is being held in a Santa Monica beachfront tent. The awards will be broadcast by the IFC Channel.
Best Feature is a toss up. I predict either 127 Hours or Winter's Bone. Best Female Lead will be given to Natalie Portman and James Franco as Best Male Lead. The Best Supporting Male will be Bill Murray for his role in Get Low. Best Director Award will be given to Danny Boyle for 127 Hours.
The disadvantage for the average moviegoer is that many of the nominated films have not been released to the public, either on the big screen or by rental. I will be spending most of the year catching up with the nominees and winners and will see them as they come available. The ones that I am most looking forward to are Of Gods and Men and Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives both nominated for Best Foreign Film.

If the Oscars Were Mine to Give

The Oscar winners will be announced this Sunday night, February 27, 2011. Here are the predictions of the winners as picked by the Academy:

Best Picture:                      The Social Network  
Best Actor:                        Colin Firth
Best Actress:                     Annette Bening
Best Supporting Actor:      Christian Bale
Best Supporting Actress:    Melissa Leo
Best Animated Feature:      Toy Story 3
Best Director:                    Joel and Ethan Coen

I've seen all of the nominated movies, so here are my picks.  And my Oscar goes to:
                                                      
The King's Speech
Colin Firth
Natalie Portman
Christian Bale
Jackie Weaver
Toy Stoy3
David Fincher

Megamind (1:35) 2010

Megamind is a tall, slender, big headed, blue villainous genius voiced by Will Farrell. Megamind spends his days battling Metro Man for control of Metro City. Finally, Megamind defeats Metro Man once and for all. Much to Megmind's surprise, life becomes routinely boring. To enliven up Metro City, Megamind creates a new villain, Titan, to engage in battle. Megamind is now becomes the superhero. Naturally, every superhero has a love interest and she is Roxanne Ritchi, a news reporter. Will Megamind become the good guy? Will he end up with his true love? This is an entertaining animation that kids of multiple ages will enjoy. There are some witty lines, lots of action and an ending with a positive social message. It will be out this Friday, view it with your children this weekend for a fun activity.

American Experience: Robert E. Lee (1:23) 2011

This is a PBS documentary that I stumbled upon while searching Netflix. It turned out to be great discovery. Having grown up in Maryland, I was a frequent visitor to Antiem, Harper's Ferry and Gettysburg. I thought I knew a lot about Robert E. Lee. This documentary was chock full of information  that was new to me. The documentary discusses Lee early life and his success at West Point. Lee had a personality and disposition for military life as well as a drive to be successful as his father had ended up in debtor's prison. The documentary focuses a lot of time on Lee as Commander of the Confederate forces, both his strengths and weaknesses. This is definitely a documentary for anyone who has an interest in the Civil War or in military history in general.

Unknown (1:49) 2011

Unknown stars Liam Neeson as Dr. Martin Harris. Harris arrives in Berlin with his wife, Elizabeth. As he is unloading his bags from the taxi, Harris realizes he has left his briefcase with his passport at the airport. While on the return trip to the airport, his taxi is in an accident and lands in the river. Harris wakes up in the hospital with no identification and fractured memories. He leaves the hospital, greets his wife at the hotel to discover she doesn't know him and there is an other Dr. Martin Harris (Aidan Quinn) complete with proper identification. Harris questions if he gone crazy or suffering with an incomplete memory. He starts to track down the truth with the help of a former East German spy. There are car chases, car crashes, killings, and other acts of violence. Along the way, there are twists and turns in the plot. Neeson is very good as Harris but the movie drags in a few places and the story line gets technical, far fetched and confusing. Unknown held my attention but it definitely not one of my favorite Neeson movies.

The Code (1:43) (2008)

The Code is a heist movie starring Morgan Freeman and Antonio Banderas. Ripley, Freeman, is a master art thief indebted to the Russian mob. In order to square the debt, Ripley needs to steal two Faberge eggs worth forty million. The eggs are held in a high security vault at Romanov's. To be successful, Ripley needs a partner and enlists Gabby, a young, high energy thief. This heist has many twists and turns making for an entertaining movie. Morgan Freeman is one of my favorite actors, he plays his part of con man/art thief very convincingly. If you are a fan of heist movies, this is a good choice.

The Eagle (1:54) 2011

I liked this movie plain and simple. I hadn't planned on seeing it but had the incorrect time for the Oscar Shorts - Animation. The Eagle is based on a novel for teens titled "Eagle of the Ninth." It is the story of a young Centurion Marcus who volunteers for duty in Britain in 140AD. Marcus wants to restore the family honor, his father was the commander of the lost Ninth Legion. While under no illusion that his father is still alive, Marcus wishes to serve Rome honorably and bring back the Eagle, the golden emblem of the Legion. Marcus, later honorably discharged due to battle injuries, heads north with his slave, Esca, a member of one of the northern Briton tribes. Esca and Marcus form an alliance and travel in search of the Eagle. As they travel, they battle rogue warriors, meet a Ninth Legionnaire who ran from the final battle and lastly, the tribe holding the Eagle.
The movie was filmed in Hungary and in the Scottish Highlands so that alone makes it worth seeing on the big screen. The native language is Gaelic and the soundtrack is that of native Irish/Scottish music. The casting was off, Donald Sutherland, Tatum Channing and others would not have been my first choice of lead actors.
But all in all, I'm glad I saw the movie and certainly would recommend it to its target audience teenage boys and young men who enjoy military dramas. I am also happy to say that it wasn't bloody and gory, the battle scenes showed closeups of soldiers running towards each other, we heard the sounds of metal clanking but the wounds resulting from the hand to hand combat was left to one's imagination.

Kicking It (1:38) 2008

Kicking It is a documentary about the multi national street soccer tournament. Players from forty eight countries compete for the Homeless World Cup. The film follows players and teams from Ireland, Kenya, Afghanistan, Spain and Russia. The players have become  homeless for various reasons, Irish players are homeless due to heroin epidemic, Afghanistan to the war, Kenya to abject poverty. The Russian players face an unusual challenge, the players who come from the rural areas are not recognized as citizens in St. Petersburg unless they have documents reporting they are employed and have homes. The United States has a team based out of North Carolina. Minimal statistics were given but the one that struck me is that our own country has three million homeless. The Homeless World Cup is played in South Africa on the very spot that Nelson Mandela was released from prison. Mandela has called  homelessness is the new apartheid. This is an inspirational, and at times, emotional movie. It is thrilling to see men who are considered invisible celebrating their victories by dancing around the field in their countries' colors.

Casino Jack and the United States of Money (1:59) 2010

Jack Abramoff, a Washington, D.C. lobbyist, is serving four years in prison. Wanting power and money, Casino Jack along with well known politicians became corrupt. Bob Ney and Tom DeLay are probably the best known of the group. The documentary starts off with Jack and friends becoming involved as conservative College Republicans laying the groundwork to have eventually having access to politicians like George W. Bush. The documentary exams the sweat shops in Saipan, tribal gaming and other issues. I'm not a political junkie and freely admit that a lot of this was new information for me. What I took away from this film is that in order to be elected to the Presidency, the Senate or the House, it takes a lot of money. Lobbyist and special interests have the money to make contributions to political campaigns. Any politician taking money from lobbyists now has to decide as to whose interest will they represent. Should it be special interests or the people of their district? Hmmm, let me think. I think that the people will probably continue to get the short end of the stick as long as this system is allowed to continue. People, it's not looking so good for us. .

Waiting for Superman (1:42) 2010

New on DVD

Right out of the gate, I am a public school teacher and a member of a teachers' union holding office in my local. A group of twenty of us from the district got together and went to see Waiting for Superman. The film primarily focused on four or five families who are entering lotteries for charter schools. Most of the families live in poor urban areas where the neighborhood schools are failing. Parents, students, administrators including Margaret Rhee are interviewed as to what the problems and solutions are for public education. So, who is responsible for the failure? Well, politicians, administrators, teachers, teacher unions and parents all share in the blame. At the end of the movie the lotteries are shown and students are winning or nowinning a place in the school they have chosen.  Expect to be in tears,I was and I wasn't the only one. There is plenty of blame to go around, shame on us Americans for allowing this to happen. We all need to dialogue.

Unstoppable (1:38) 2010

New on DVD

I saw Unstoppable on the big screen and didn't move a muscle the entire time. The time in the theater whizzes by as fast as the runaway train. Denzel Washington is my favorite actor and the reason I went to see the movie. He was his usual excellent self and the movie was spellbinding. Through a series of mishaps, a runaway train carrying toxic chemicals is barreling down the tracks and all the safety settings are off. As far fetched as this seems, the movie is based on true events. Washington and a new employee, Chris Pine, risk their lives to bring the train to a halt. The scenes go back and forth between the train and the control center which is a bee hive of activity in clearing the tracks of passenger trains. If you want an intense, totally absorbing hour and half of nonstop suspense, then "All Aboard."

Get Low (1:40) 2010

New on DVD

Get Low is one of the best movies of 2010. I had fully expected to see Robert Duvall, Bill Murray or Sissy Spacek receive an Oscar nomination. Robert Duvall is Frank, a crotchety hermit, who visits Bill Murray, the undertaker to plan his funeral. The catch is Frank wants her funeral to take place now while he is still alive. Murray and his assistant now must plan the services and entice the town residents to attend. Get Low takes place in rural Tennessee during the 1930s. There is a reason that Frank is a hermit and spurns and is spurned by the towns people. Get Low is entertaining and a fascinating look at the time period full of prejudices and judgements. Duvall, as Frank, captures the essence of an isolated man. Murray is very convincing as the undertaker, a calm and quiet man who sees an opportunity to make some money in an unusual way. Get Low is being released tomorrow, the 22nd. Run, do not walk, to the rental store or box for this gem of a film.

The Last Song (1:47) 2010

Ladies, get your box of tissues ready! Ronnie and her younger brother Jonah are visiting their father for the summer. Ronnie doesn't want to  be there. She is angry because her Dad had returned home to Georgia after his divorce three years ago. Dad lives right on the beach of a small coastal town so Ronnie meets her boyfriend, Will, as he bumps into her during a volleyball game. Based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks, this tearjerker examines the angst of being a teenager. Naturally, there are secrets being kept, relationships that are broken or fractured. And Ronnie finds out sometimes there aren't always happy endings. The Last Song
received terrible reviews, and yet, I certainly could understand why this would be popular with the teenage crowd. If you are looking for something to watch with your teenage daughter, especially if she is a fan of Miley Cyrus, this is worth considering.

The Proposal (1:48) 2009

The Proposal is a romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. The movie is very predictable, Margaret will be deported to Canada unless she gets married. Andrew is her assistant and agrees to become engaged to further his career. They travel to Sitka, Alaska to celebrate Gammie's (Betty White) 90th birthday. Although they hate each other, they begin to fall in love during their time together. This is a lighthearted, entertaining movie. If you are in the movie for a mindless romp, this is the ticket!

Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky (1:59) 2009

Igor Stravinsky and his family were invited to live with Coco Chanel for a period of time in the 1920s. Stravinsky, a Russian, was a penniless refugee. Chanel was becoming successful, had money and was generous. Chanel knew that Stravinsky's wife had consumption and the country air would be helpful. While staying with Chanel, it is thought the two had an affair, in this movie there is no doubt about it.
The movie has a lot going for it, the acting is very good, the costumes especially Chanel's are gorgeous. There is plenty of Stravinsky's music with the emphasis on The Rites of Spring as the soundtrack. There is an interesting section about the development of Chanel Number 5. Unfortunately, this movie lacks dialogue. Stravinsky was a man of few words, so his interactions with his wife and Chanel are limited, I never knew as to what he was thinking or feeling. It was a long movie, it didn't really move along and while the characters were interesting, I was left with a sense of "so what."

Blue Gold: World Water Wars (1:34) 2008

Water is the new blue gold. And countries, with in the next fifty years, will be going to war over the acquisition of potable drinking water. Large corporations like Nestle, Coke and many others are privatizing water. Water is now being viewed as a commodity and not a basic human right. I learned a lot for this documentary. The movie Even the Rain while fiction is based on the riots in Bolivia that happened when the government privatized water, even the rain water.This documentary reports on grass root organizations that spring up (no pun intended) to do battle with companies like Ice Mountain and Poland Springs. Residents do not want their towns' drinking water being pumped and shipped away. This is a good companion piece to Tapped but much more global in examining the issue of access to clean water. This is a documentary which gives lots of information. And again, no pun intended, but the beginning tends to be a little dry. What I liked the most was the filmmakers interviewed ordinary citizens including young students who have stood up to the large corporations. The end of film gave concrete examples as to what we can do to help conserve water and promote access to clean water as a basic right.

Cedar Rapids (1:26) 2011

Tim Lippie is a quiet man who leads a sheltered life, he has not done much nor has much happened to him. Then  his boss sends him to Cedar Rapids to represent his insurance company at the annual meeting. Tim's job is to bring home the coveted Double Diamond award. Tim's roommates are veterans and take naive Tim under their wing. Ron and Dean, played by John C. Reilly, encourage Tim to walk on the wild side. Tim, Ron, and Joan are very likable characters. Dean is a very vulgar and crude man, he comes across as a pig. Tim has encounters with different people including the president of association and  a prostitute as he is introduced to a night of binge drinking and doing drugs. This comedy does show character development as Tim becomes more wise in  the ways of the world. Dean, beneath the all the bravado, knows how to be a friend in a time of need. I have mixed feelings about the movie, I liked Tim's character, he was a sweet and gentle man. Dean was just over the top with his language, the dialogue that is always in the gutter becomes old fast.My opinion is that a movie can be really funny without relying on crude humor but with amusing, snappy dialogue. Cedar Rapids hit the target but missed the bulls eye.

Centurion (1:37) 2010

Centurion is a movie about the 9th Roman legion lost in northern Britain during the time the Empire was battling the Picts. The bad news is I saw this movie streamed to my laptop. The movie was filmed in the English forests and the Scottish Highlands. I would have loved to see this movie on the big screen for the scenery. The good news is I didn't because this was one of the bloody, goriest movies I have ever seen. It ranks right up there with Gladiator. The actual story is starts with a  small band of Romans surviving a battle against the Picts. The leader of the band believes it is their duty to rescue their general. While attempting a rescue, the Picts king's son is killed. Now the Picts are out for revenge. A small band of Picts pursue the Romans. As the Romans are hunted, the band grows smaller and smaller. Will anyone survive? This movie would appeal to a lot of young men who like action and adventure. The movie, leaving out the blood and guts, kept me involved. If you decide to view it, be prepared for the violence.

Freakonomics (1:33) 2010

I didn't read the book. Based on the movie segments, I most likely will put this on my summer reading list.  Freakonomics is a fun movie. It is divided into six fast moving segments. The segments contain a range of topics like: does the name you give your baby determine his/her success in life, is there corruption in sumo wrestling, and can a 9th grader be bribed with money to earn passing grades. The segments were written and directed by different documentary makers with interviews with economists Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner inter disbursed. Levitt shares a very entertaining story about using an incentive in toilet training his three year old daughter. This is an amusing, interesting, unusual look at the world of cause and effect. If you are in the mood for a light hearted, entertaining movie this certainly fits the bill.

The Yes Men Fix the World (1:26) 2008

Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno are the Yes Men. They play elaborate hoaxes at conferences, meetings, conventions and expos. They started posting fake but very convincing web sites on the internet, sat back and waited for invitations to speak at conferences around the world. This movie is a sequel to The Yes Men which was released in 2005. This time, the pair wants big corporations to take responsiblity for their actions. Andy is usually the speaker, he gives an interview at the BBC office in France as a representative of Dow Corporation announcing that Dow will take full responsiblity for environmental disaster in Bhopal twenty years ago. Andy then speaks at a New Orleans conference as a H.U.D. official stating the Exxon will be rebuilding the coastal wetlands. The duo, along with many friends, print a "special edition" of the New York Times stating all the news that we would like to read like the war is ended and other news items of that year.
I throughly enjoyed the first The Yes Men, as it was a very clever and entertaining movie and  do recommend. This sequel seemed mean spirited and although understanding the points they were trying to make, seemed to antagonize the targeted audience. How they think they are going to bring about change by alienating people is something I don't quite understand.

Even the Rain - Tambien La Lluvia (1:45) 2011

Even the Rain opens Friday in New York but thanks to the Yale Humanities Center there was a screening of this fantastic movie tonight. Even the Rain is a film about making a film. Sebastian, the director and Costas, the producer arrive in Bolivia to shoot a movie about Christopher Columbus as seen through the eyes of the missionaries that accompanied him on his voyages. The movie about Columbus is a retelling, one in which the exploitation of the natives is highlighted. Yet, the producer has chosen Bolivia since they can hire extras willing to work long hours for two dollars a day. When the cast is not shooting, the natives are protesting a water tax of 450 dollars per year. Since most families earn 40 dollars a month, the element that is required to sustain life will become be cost prehibitative. The protest becomes violent and there is property destruction and injury to the locals. The crew as onlookers who are torn by the protest, they understand that access to water is a basic right but the filming of the movie is endangered by the desruption happening all around them. Does the crew stay or do they leave? Do they help or ignore those in need? This is a must see movie - I beleive at this time next year, Even the Rain will be in contention for an Oscar for Best Foreign Picture.

The Only Good Indian (1:44) 2009

The Only Good Indian opens with a Kickapoo teenager being forcibly taken from his family and transported to a distant Indian boarding school located in Kansas. Charlie, as he is renamed, does not conform to the rules of the school and runs away. He is captured by a Cherokee bounty hunter played by Wes Studi. While they are returning to the school, the pair encounter three white bounty hunters who will force the Cherokee to give up Charlie so they will get the reward. There is a skirmish and Charlie and Sam, the bounty hunter, are now both on the run. The rest of the movie entails the pair trying to keep ahead of the sheriff, the well known McCoy. The movie is filmed entirely in Kansas so there is plenty of interesting scenery. The Only Good Indian is set in the early 1900s so the first cars, motorcycles, and silent movies are shown. This is an unusual time period which adds novelty to the film. I would have preferred for the movie to stay focused on Charlie's life at the boarding school and the lengths the school went to assimilate Charlie and the other students. During the movie, all I could do is shake my head at the terrible wrongs that has been done to our native people. Shame on us.

The Crush (0:15)

This is also one of my favorites. Ardel is an Irish eight year old who has a crush on his teacher, Miss Purdy. Miss Purdy is a wonderfully sensitive teacher and all is well in Ardel's life. Until. . . he and his mother run into Miss Purdy and her finance. Ardel doesn't think the boyfriend is good enough for his teacher. Ardel takes action by challenging the boyfriend to a duel after school. And it's a duel to the death. This is an absolutely charming short story. It is well written, Ardel is just wonderful as the smitten boy who cleverly comes to the rescue.

Na WeWe (0:19)

Na WeWe was one of my favorites. There is a civil war in an African country near Rwanda. A group traveling in a jeep is stopped by a rebel force. The group is forced to get out of the van and divide themselves into two groups, Tutsis and Hutus. Easier said then done, nobody is whom they seemed to be at first glance. Who will survive?

The Confession (0:26)

Sam and Jacob are preparing to make their First Communion. They are faced with having to make their First Confessions. Sam has a big problem - he really doesn't have anything to confess. Jacob comes up with a plan that will give Sam something to confess. The plan goes awry, a tragedy happens which causes another tragedy. Will Sam be forgiven?

Wish 143 (0:24)

David is fifteen and in the hospital receiving treatment for a grapefruit size tumor. Dreamscape Charity will grant him a wish, a trip or a meeting a celebrity. David has an unusual wish - his wish is to lose his virginity.
Sometimes help comes from the most unexpected people.

God of Love (0:18)

Raymond Goodfellow sings in a New York lounge with his band. While he is singing, he throws darts always hitting the bulls eye. Raymond is in love with Kelly, the drummer, but Kelly is in love with his best friend, the guitarist. One day a box from Olympus arrives. In the box are love darts, which will work for six hours. Will Raymond use one on Kelly? What will happen when the six hours have elapsed? Raymond is a very likable man in a charming tale or unrequited love.

Oscar Nominated Live Action Short Films

Tonight I went to the Criterion to view the five live action short films. I'll write about each one individually but as a group they were all enjoyable. It is difficult to choose the best one and actually at this point I have a tie.

The Secret in Their Eyes - El Secreto de Sus Ojos (2:07) 2009

Argentina's The Secret in Their Eyes last year took home the Oscar for Best Foreign film. It is very deserving of this honor. The movie centers around Benjamin Esposito who is haunted by an unsolved murder and also by not pursuing the woman he loves. After he retires, he begins to write a novel based on the Morales homicide and reconnects with Irene, the woman he has always loved. The movie is told in flashbacks with Benjamin and his alcoholic friend, Pablo working on the investigation. There is a twist that I did not see coming at all.  I started watching the movie thinking I would watch the first half tonight and finish it tomorrow. It was so riveting I didn't move from the screen until it was finished. I green light this movie.

Dad's in Heaven with Nixon (1:25) 2010

Dad's in Heaven with Nixon is an absolutely wonderful documentary which hopefully will be watched by many. It is the story of Chris Murray, an artist with special needs. Chris lives independently in New Haven, CT and works two part time jobs. Chris also creates huge colored pencil drawings of detailed NYC skylines. Chris, being on the autism spectrum, has highly developed visual skills, his cityscapes include buildings with precision details. This movie is also about a family's struggle with members that suffer from mental illness (Chris's grandfather and father). The Murray brothers and sister shares how their large Catholic family has been greatly impacted by the suffering of their father's battle with his demons. This is a mesmerizing, emotional documentary. Please see it and then spread the word. (I streamed it through Netflix.)

Death at a Funeral (1:32) 2010

Death at a Funeral is a comedy that really isn't very funny. Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence portray two brothers with a host of family members who have gathered at the deceased father's  home for the service. All kinds of zany events take place, each one delaying the funeral. The movie does show when families come together there are all types of interesting facets to familial relationships; the insecurities, the jealousies, and the competitions. If you are in the mood for a movie that will make you laugh Death at a Funeral just doesn't fit the bill, its humor is just deadly.

Strangers No More (0:40)

Strangers No More is definitely my favorite short film documentary. This is probably a result of my being a teacher. And some really cute kids. Strangers No More is a year in the life of refugee students attending a Tel Aviv school. The students are from South Africa, Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia and many other countries. More than 40 different languages are spoken at this school. Since they are refugees, the children have all experienced trauma. Some have lost one or both parents, either by violence or through separation. Being refugees, the families are struggling financially as they await work visas. The staff is extremely caring, they really do give a 110 percent. The staff knows that some of the students have never been to school even at the age of 12. Both the staff and students work hard to make up for lost time. This documentary shows again and again the triumph of the human spirit. This is a must see documentary.

Poster Girl (0:38)

Robynn Murray, a New York high school cheerleader and National Merit Scholar, enlists in the Army at the age of 19. She is deployed to Iraq for a tour of duty. Upon her return, Robynn has difficulty adjusting to civilian life. She has a hip and back injuries that leave her in constant pain, suffers panic attacks, stomach problems, PSTD and a sleep disorder. Robynn has applied for disability through the VA and the VA has lost her file. This is an intense look of Robynn's journey back to recovery. Some of the photos taken in Iraq turned my stomach, I can't imagine being 19 and seeing this up close in person. Some of the her interviews are gut wrenching - I was in tears listening to the agony of her feelings. Anyone seeing this films certainly will be rooting for Robynn and for all the returning troops.

Killing In the Name (0:39)

The documentary opens with photos of  Ashraf Al-Khaled and his wife at their wedding reception being held at a Jordanian hotel. The bride and groom look so very happy. Then a suicide bombers walks into the hotel, the resulting explosion kills twenty seven of their guests including three of their parents. Ashraf now speak out against terrorist acts. This is an act of bravery as his culture perceives him as breaking the code of silence. Killing In the Name films Ashraf traveling to Bali to speak with students at a school known as being a breeding ground for terrorism. There are also interviews with jihadists and a father of the suicide bomber responsible for the hotel bombing. This is very moving story of a courageous man.
As an aside, Rory Kennedy, the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, is one of the producers of this film. This is an excellent documentary.

Sun Come Up (0:38)

Near Papua/New Guinea lies the Carteret Islands. Beautiful islands that are sinking in the ocean due to the rising sea levels caused by global warming. The natives of the Islands need to find new homes and soon. One of the immediate problems is that a king tide swamped their farm land with salt water killing their crops.
The islanders are on their own - they can't call their insurance companies because there are none. There doesn't seem to be a centralized government that can or knows how to assist them with relocation. The villagers have one solution, they send a delegation to the nearest nearby island and travel village to village asking for a plot of land that can be donated for the resettlement of  their people. And the Carteret Islanders are not exactly welcomed with open arms. Fascinating first look at an environmental problem that many regions will be soon be facing .

The Warriors of Qiugang (0:39)

A small village in the Qiugang province in Central district has a chemical plant in its backyard, really. The plant manufactures pesticides and dyes. And you can guess what comes next. The river and streams are polluted, the air quality is poor, crops are grown but the locals really don't want to eat the harvest. Then, people begin not feeling well and cancer rates rise. The 1,476 residents organize and begin to call attention to their plight. Although many of the residents are illiterate but they do have assistance of a local environment group. A leader arises from their midst and Zhang represents them in Beijing. Can local residents bring about change? Will the government help them against big business? A very familiar story in America - will the Chinese version have a happy ending?

Oscar Nominations for Short Films - Documentary

Every year, the Oscars are given for three categories of short films - documentary, live action and animation. And every year I have the same thought, wouldn't have been nice to have an opportunity to have seen  them. And then a year later, these short films are released on DVD. Of course by that time, the awards for short films have long been forgotten. I'm happy to report that the Criterion Cinemas in New Haven are showing the short films this week. I have just gotten back from watching the five films in the documentary category - each film is 40 minutes or less so I took just about three hours to watch all five. I will be blogging a review of each of the shorts in the order of my preference starting with my least favorite.

Easy A (1:32) 2010

Emma Stone plays Olive, a high school girl, who is rumored to be the school slut. In this comedy, Olive is the person who starts the rumor hoping her popularity will increase. Stone is wonderful as the teenager who needs to come to terms with the ramifications of her new lifestyle. The movie effectively uses the method of Stone speaking directly to the audience. Friends of mine saw Easy A when it was released this past summer and recommended it. I certainly agree that this is a very good movie about teenagers and the issues they face in today's world. The movie has the benefit of a good support class including her parents, Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci. If you like movies like Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Clueless, you will enjoy Easy A.

The Company Men (1:55) 2010

The Company Men focuses on the lives of three executives whose jobs are eliminated when their corporation downsides. Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper and Tommy Lee Jones face both the emotional, psychological, and financial stresses of being unemployed. The movie really does a good job of showing how losing a job due to "redundancy" or losing a job at age 60 is literally having the rug pulled out from under. It also shows the tension employees live with daily when their company is looking to increase profits in a recession. Not to use another idiom, but viewing this movie was like waiting for the other shoe to drop. Chris Cooper is an excellent actor and really conveys the trauma of a sudden job loss. Cooper was also very convincing in the scenes when he is expressing anger at the company where he worked for thirty years cuts him loose. The members of the audience made comments during some of scenes when large CEO salaries and bonuses, were mentioned, we shared  his anger. This is a movie worth seeing especially in these difficult economic times.

No One Killed Jessica (2:17) 2010

No One Killed Jessica is a movie based on true events in Delhi, India. Jessica, beautiful college age model, was shot and killed by a politician's son after she refused to serve him a drink. 300 people were in the nightclub and seven people were in the smaller room at the time of the shooting. And yet, the shooter was found not guilty. The wealthy politician father bought off the seven that were testifying against his son. When Jessica was denied justice, Meera, a well known journalist began investigating the corruption of the police and legal systems leading to an overhaul of India's judicial system.
This movie is in Hindi with a considerable amount of English intermingled. It was interesting to see the translations for our English swear words as both the Hindi and English were subtitled. It's a long movie but it does move along at a good pace. There is a Bollywood aspect - no dancing but there are several songs which I felt enhanced the movie. I was also surprised as to how emotional the ending scenes were and I cried several times. This is an inspiring story as to how one seemingly ordinary person can become an agent of change.

Big River (0:26) 2009

Big River is the companion piece to King Corn. King Corn is a documentary which follows the two directors as they plant and harvest an acre of corn in Greene, Iowa. Big River follows the same two directors as they follow the run-off from their farm into the local river, then to the Mississippi, and finally into the Gulf of Mexico. The directors are examining how the herbicides and pesticides are changing the quality of the drinking water and then the fishing industry in the Gulf. This is a short documentary with information about our environment that we should be paying heed. Farmers in Iowa are showing increased cancer rates and there is a fish dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Maybe we should be thinking of ways we can more safely increase food production without harming man and the environment. I viewed this documentary through Netflix streaming.

Sun Behind the Clouds (1:17) 2010

Sun Behind the Clouds is a documentary that exams the Tibetan uprising of  March 2008. The Dalai Lama is interviewed and explains his philosophy of the Middle Path. This is a proposal to China which will allow for Tibetan autonomy, religious freedom and protection of the rich Tibetan culture. Sun Behind the Clouds details the four month long march of the Tibetan exiles across India to the Tibetan border in hopes of bringing awareness and support of independence of Tibet. This a very concise, clear look at the Tibetan struggles. This is an excellent documentary. I wish I could see Sun Behind the Clouds because the Indian and Tibetan scenery is awesome. If you are a Netflix member, this is a documentary belongs at the top of the queue.

The Mighty Celt (1:14) 2005

The Mighty Celt is the story of a West Belfast boy's love of and devotion to dogs. Donal works for Good Joe, a greyhound trainer and racer. Donal, a teenager, has a talent working with the pups and dogs especially his favorite, Mighty Celt. Donal's mother, Kate, is single and Donal has never known his father. One day, O (played by Robert Carlyle) returns to town. O has been gone for a long time, he is now a former IRA member. What is the secret that Kate is holding? Will the Mighty Celt win three races and belong to Donal? This is a predictable and charming story of a boy and his dog. I do caution that there is a scene of animal cruelty that was upsetting and would not want young children to view. Gillian Anderson, of X-Files fame, is Kate and has a very convincing Irish brogue.

The Tillman Story (1:34) 2010

Ladies, get your tissues! The documentary begins with scenes of the funeral and memorial services of Corporal Patrick Tillman.  The Tillman Story is a documentary which focuses on  the military cover up of the death of the former pro football player. Pat Tillman was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan but the military, within minutes after his death, attribute his death to the Taliban. And the cover up went through the highest chain of command. Pat's mother and father worked very intensely to uncover the truth. Pat Tillman sacrificed his life for our country, he is a hero. The Tillman family are also heroes - it is important that our country's military and government offices are honest in dealing with the families of the fallen. And the American people.

Thank you Pat! Thank you Tillman family for bringing this story to the forefront.

Dogtooth - Kynodontas (1:34) 2009

Would someone explain to me how Dogtooth was nominated for Best Foreign Picture this year? This is the creepiest movie ever. It is about three teenage siblings who are kept away from all society in their fenced in  family estate. And they act and do weird things. I watched thirty minutes of this Greek film and I shut it off. This is definitely not my cup of tea or, more accurately, ouzo.

Nowhere Boy (1:38) 2009

Nowhere Boy is the story of the young John Lennon in 1955 Liverpool. The movie begins with John in high school and living with his Aunt Mimi and Uncle George. Uncle George dies unexpectedly and his mother reenters his life. His mother and aunt battle for his affections with John unhappily caught in the middle. John starts a band "The Quarrymen" and meets Paul and then George. Aaron Johnson is very convincing as a young John, Paul and George less so. Kristen Scott Thomas and Anne-Marie Duff are excellent as the aunt and mum. John and his mum have very emotional scenes, John wants to know why his mother abandoned him. Scott is a very reserved Englishwomen, she cares deeply for her nephew but shows little warmth but does keep the family secret. The truth eventually comes out. This is an excellent movie for Beatle and non Beatle fans.  Nowhere Boy has just been released on DVD, it certainly is worth viewing. This is a film that I definitely green light.

Hofshat Kaits - My Father My Lord (1:13) 2008

Set in modern day Israel, this is a story of an Orthodox family. The father is a older,well respected Rabbi with a wife and  roughly nine year old son. The Rabbi is devoted to but distant with his young son as his religious observances are his priority. On a family vacation to the Dead Sea, the unthinkable occurs.
This is a very quiet movie and very interestingly shows aspects of a  very different culture. But human emotions and reactions to tragedy are universal. The movie is in Hebrew with English subtitles. This is a gem of a foreign film. I give this film a green light.

Biutiful (2:28) 2010

Biutiful is a very long and depressing film. Javier Bardem, a wonderful actor, portrays Uxbal the dying father of two young children. Uxbal is separated from his wife who has a bipolar disorder.Uxbal and his children live in the poor section of Barcelona where Uxbal earns a living by helping illegal immigrants, Chinese and Asians, get work. He always gets his cut from the employers and he also pays the police to look the other way. Bardem has been nominated for a Best Actor award and he deserves the nomination but I predict he won't take Oscar home. I really don't care for this film, it's not my cup of tea. It is also too long, a good fifteen minutes could have been edited to assist the pace of the movie. Bardem is still one of my favorite actors. The young actress who plays his ten year old daughter also deserves recognition. This film is in Spanish with English subtitles.

Flame and Citron - Flammen & Citronen (2:16) 2008

Flame and Citron is based on two Danish resistance fighters. The film, which uses Flame's voice over, follows them and others as they fight the Nazis. At the beginning, they are assassinating their own countrymen who are working for or collaborating with the Nazis. Later on, Flame and Citron decide to eliminate the key Nazi leaders stationed in and around Copenhagen. This is a rather lengthy movie and movies along fairly well. About midpoint, there is a lag of roughly fifteen minutes, then the movie  picks up and moves quickly to the conclusion. The director shot this movie in the film noir style, the main female character, Ketty, is a beautiful blond. Is Ketty working for the resistance, the Nazis, or  a double agent?  Flame and Citron is the largest Danish production ever filmed and the scenery adds to the movie. This is a nice companion piece to Army of Crime.

Army of Crime (L'Armée du Crime) (2:13) 2009

Army of Crime is an excellent movie about the beginning days of the French Resistance against the occupying Nazis. I appreciated this movie having just finished reading two books with my 8th graders: The Cage and Parallel Journeys. This movie added to my background knowledge, I learned that many foreigners were involved with the Resistance from the start. The star of the movie is Simon Abkarian who portrays the Armenian poet Missak Manouchian. Missak had lost his entire family in the Soviet overtake of Armenia and was ethically opposed to killing. Over time, he eventually becomes a leader in the Resistance. There are scenes of torture as the "terrorists" as the Germans call them are rounded up and brought in by the French police. It is a lengthy movie but well worth the time. For viewers who are interested in this time period, this is a must see. I green light this movie. This movie is in French with English subtitles.

Food Matters (1:17) 2008

Food Matters is a documentary that begins explaining that plant food is the most nutritious when eaten soon after harvesting and also eaten raw - in the case of fruits and vegetables. The more food is processed the less nutritious it becomes. This is hardly new information - although some of the names of super foods were unfamiliar. The scientists that are interviewed speak to the benefits of vitamins especially Vitamin C. Again, really not new information. Food Matters than takes an twist and the scientists speak as to how intravenous doses of mega vitamins are a viable treatment for cancer patients. I'm not sure that I bought into all this. One of the doctors lives in California but his office is in Mexico. But what I am taking away is this - eat more fruits and vegetables, less processed foods, exercise and drink more water. But not water in a plastic bottle.

Night Catches Us (1:30) 2010

Night Catches Us was nominated for an American Spirit Award in the Best First Feature category. The movie is set in 1976 Philadelphia . The main character Marcus returns to his neighborhood for his father's funeral. He reunites with his friend Patty, a lawyer and Iris, her daughter. A former Black Panther, Marcus is unwelcome in the old neighborhood  because he is consider a "snitch". Is Marcus really a snitch or is he carrying a secret? I was confused in a little bit at the beginning of the movie but events do fall in place. Night Catches Us is certainly deserving of a Best First Feature nomination. Jamara Griffin, the nine year old actress, does a fine job in a supporting role.

Another Year (2:09) 2010

Another Year is an English drama starring Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen as a married couple with a thirty old single son. Tom and Jerri have a happy marriage but are surrounded by family, coworkers and friends that are struggling with life issues. The movie is segmented into four scenes, each scene being one season. Lesley Manville has the biggest part, Mary is Gerri's friend and coworker who drinks too much and has had romantic relationships which have ended badly. In other words, she is a mess.  Another Year's cast is strong, they are all excellent in their parts. Being English,the viewer doesn't see a lot of emotion. Keeping a stiff upper lip probably is more difficult to portray. This is definitely a movie for the older crowd. Being a women with adult children, I identified with many of the life issues  Tom and Gerri were experiencing. My only criticism of this film is that Tom and Gerri's marriage is not the focus and by the end of the movie the viewer really doesn't know more about them individually or as a couple. All and all, the final words for the cast is "Well done."

Tapped (1:15) Release: 2009

Tapped is a documentary that looks at the high demand and use of bottled water. It takes a look at how  big corporations are making 700 billions dollars a year by turning water into a commodity rather than a basic human right. The documentary moves on and examines the world of the plastic bottle. These bottles are made using petrochemicals. About five minutes into listening to residents living near oil refineries, I began thinking how my household will be sticking to tap water, glass bottles or aluminum cans from now on. Tapped ends by examining how plastic bottles are ending up on beaches and in the ocean. Each one of our oceans has a section twice the size of Texas called a Garbage Patch or Grye. As the plastic breaks down, fish are eating the plastic. In these ocean areas, there is more plastic then plankton. I learned a lot from this documentary. Granted, it tells a one sided story as Nestle, Coke and Pepsi declined to be interviewed for this film. My suggestion is see it for yourself, it is eye opening. To learn more about bottled water follow this link: http://www.tappedthefilm.com/

Soul Kitchen (1:39) Year of Release: 2009

Soul Kitchen is a comedy set in Hamburg, Germany. Zinos, a Greek German, has a dumpy restaurant which caters to the locals. He does have dreams of improving his restaurant but has to deal with some roadblocks first. Zinos has a bad back, a tax collector on his back, a brother who is on a day release program from prison, and a girlfriend who has flown to Shanghai for her job. On top of all this, a former classmate is trying to buy his building and then flip it. I'm a fan of German films and this one doesn't disappoint. Some of the cooking scenes are familiar and found in films like What's Cooking. Soul Kitchen has a lively soundtrack that adds to the sense of fun. I definitely give this film a green light.

The Ugly Truth (1:36)

The ugly truth is that this movie is vulgar and crude. The main character Mike is a pig. But Gerard Butler is very handsome. The opening scenes remind me of the recent movie Morning Glory then it is all downhill from there. I do have to admit there are some funny one liners and the last fifteen minutes are the best part of the movie. And why did I watch The Ugly Truth? Well, I'm housebound for the second day with the ugly truth of terrible icy New England weather. I was hoping for something rather lighthearted and this didn't fit the bill. I had a better time shoveling the ice covered snow from my driveway.

Nursery University (1:31)

Have you experienced tough college competition? Well, hold on to your hats, you haven't seen anything yet. Nursery University looks at the competition of well-to-do parents living in New York City in enrolling their child/ren into highly regarded private nursery schools. Parents actually hire preschool admission consultants to help them navigate through the selection process. The cost of using a consultant is roughly $4,000 for seven sessions. Of course, parents are willing to pay up to $20,000 a year for preschool. Okay, this a world that I'm so far removed from that I just sat amazed at the interviews. The nice surprise was the families who were highlighted were very nice people. Some of the parents grew up in ordinary families, have become successful and wanted to make life easier for their children. The other hopeful sign was that these parents wanted a preschool program that would meet their child's needs, academically, emotionally and socially. They wanted their children to be happy as well as giving them a leg up in the world.. So if you would like to see how the top crust lives, this is a enlightening film.

The Runaways (1:46)

The Runaways looks at the early days of Joan Jett and her all girl rock band. The film begins in 1972 with Cherie Curry, then 15, joining the band as the lead singer. Dakota Fanning is Cherie and is excellent as a strung out performer. This was a hard movie to watch because of the many scenes of  drug taking and heavy drinking, especially since the girls are all teenagers. Michael Shannon portrays Kim Fowley a foul mouth sleazy band promoter.This is a no nonsense, realistic look at the inner world of rock stars and popular bands, and it is not a glamorous life. This was not my cup of tea but I do recommend it for followers of Joan Jett. Kristen Stewart portrays Joan and shows Joan's unwavering devotion to the first girl rock band and her  craft.

Titanic Town (1:41)

This is an excellent film about "The Troubles" as the Irish would say. Titanic Town is based on real events in 1972 Belfast. The residents of Andersontown are literally caught in the crossfire between the Provisional Army and the IRA. When a good friend is shot and killed, Bernie McPhelimy stands up and promotes peace. She meets with both sides of the aisle to have them engage in the peace process. Bernie and her committee start a peace petition and collect 25,000 signatures. Difficulty arises for Bernie and her family because her neighbors view Bernie as anti-IRA, therefore a traitor. Bernie and her teenage daughter Annie are at odds, and her son is seriously injured by the neighbors. Julie Walters is excellent as Bernie. Titanic Town is unusual because it gives the viewpoint of the innocent victims of daily violence. Put this movie in your queue and for those Irish-Americans, move Titanic Town to the top.
Please note that the one disadvantage of seeing this movie streamed is the inability to turn on English subtitles, I missed a lot of dialogue due to the brogues. I wholeheartedly give this movie a green light.

Crash of Flight 447 (0:52)

Crash of Flight 447 is a documentary told as a mystery. Flight 447, a French Airbus, crashed into the Atlantic, on route from Brazil to Paris. What caused the crash? Some of the wreckage was located and recovered. The black box, the flight recorder, wasn't. A team of air crash investigator gather the information and try to put a jigsaw puzzle together - with most of the pieces missing.  This is an interesting look at the autopsy of a doomed flight. The documentary examines aviation and the intricacies involved when trying to overcome the laws of gravity. Of course, we pause to remember the crew and passengers who lost their lives. Our thoughts are with their  families.

Bottle Shock (1:48)

What a fun movie! Bottle Shock is a movie that I had intended to see when it was first released. Good movies sometimes are in and out the theaters so quickly, they are missed. My immediate reaction to the opening scene, the panoramic view of Nappa Valley, was oh, I wished I had seen this on the big screen. Bottle Shock is based on the French-Nappa Valley wine judging contest of 1976. The California wine industry was considered, by France, to be in its infancy and producing far inferior wines. Then the "kids from the sticks" did well. Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman and Chris Pine are the main characters and are based on real life people. It is a fictionalized account, Hollywood takes liberties with dialogue and events. One key element was the developing relationship between the Barrett father and son. Cheers!