A Separation (2:03) 2011 Iran

Simin wishes to leave Iran with her husband and eleven year old daughter. Her husband, Nader refuses to leave his father who lives with them and has Alzheimer's. Simin is granted a divorce and leaves to live with her family while the custody of their daughter is settled. Nader hires a pregnant woman to take of his father during the day. He returns home one afternoon to find his father has fallen out of bed and the caretaker has left. When the caretaker returns, an argument ensues setting off an unfortunate chain of events.  This is an interesting look at modern day Iranian life. The Iranian court system is so different from the American judicial system but a divorce is a divorce no matter where one lives. Families, with their strengths and dysfunctions, are universal. A Separation is a very realistic look marriage, divorce, parenting and taking care of an elderly parent. This foreign film should take home an Oscar tonight.

2012 American Spirit Award Winners

The American Spirit Awards have been announced:

Best Feature:  The Artist
Best Male Lead:  Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Best Female Lead: Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn
Best Supporting Male:  Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Best Supporting Female:  Shailene Woodley, The Descendants
Best Foreign Film: A Separation (Iran)

Congratulations to all the winners. Please follow the link for a list of all the winners: http://www.movieline.com/2012/02/25/2012-film-independent-spirit-awards-winners-list-updated/

Wanderlust (1:38) 2012

When George loses his job in Manhattan, he and is wife Linda lose their newly purchased micro loft in the West Village. Without an income or home, they leave NYC to live with George's obnoxious brother in Atlanta. On the way to Atlanta, the couple spends a night at Elysium, an intentional community, often referred to as a hippie commune.  George realizes that he doesn't want to work at his brother's portal bathrooms company or stay with him. Returning to the pot smoking community, George and Linda are free from the stress of modern life. They are enjoying their stay until George learns that the community engage in free love. George finally relents and agrees that they should follow all the community practices until Linda sleeps with Seth, the leader. Hmmm, George is not happy. Wanderlust is a comedy starring Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston. It is very funny, at times. Sometimes, it is crude and vulgar. There is a very funny scene with Rudd talking to himself in front of the mirror. The community is full of colorful characters with humorous lines. Although it is uneven, it is entertaining.

Act of Valor (1:44) 2012

A team of Navy SEALS are sent on a mission to intercept foreign nationals before they scatter to various US cities in order to commit terrorist acts. The team are not actors but real Navy SEALS. The acting isn't very convincing but the action makes up for the lack of dialogue. The audience sees the SEALS jump out of planes, rendezvous with a submarine and other breathtaking stunts, which aren't stunts for them. Although the dialogue was limited, it was interesting to hear their lingo. All boots on the ground was a term used when all the SEALS landed safely. The missions are dangerous, very dangerous and it would be unrealistic to think that none of our troops are ever hurt or killed. It was an interesting look at the inside world of our heroes.

The Secret World of Arrietty (1:34) 2012

Based on the children's book The Borrowers, The Secret World of Arrietty is a wonderfully charming family animation. Arrietty is a borrower, a little person who lives with her parents under the floorboards of a rural cottage/ The borrowers do not steal, they borrow only what they need and won't be missed. Arrietty's parents continually stress that borrowers should not be seen by beings, as they are not trustworthy. One day, a pre-teenage boy comes to stay at the cottage. He is resting before his heart operation. Shawn sees Arrietty one night and they eventually form a friendship. Arrietty and her parents' secret is safe with Shawn but not with the housekeeper, Hara. Hara is bound and determined to catch the little people to prove their existence. Shawn will go to any length to keep the borrowers away from Hara, even if it endangers his own life. Disney Toyko is created a quiet and beautiful animee. The audience of all ages will enjoy this movie.  Highly recommended.

The Vow (1:44) 2012

Leo and Paige are happily married and living in Chicago. Leo owns a small recording studio and Paige is a Chicago Art Institute student working on sculptures for which she has been commissioned. Driving home on a snowy night, the couple are rear ended by a truck. Leo is fine and Paige sustains a brain injury, her recent memory has been lost. She has no memory of meeting, dating and marrying Leo. Leo is patient, hoping that Paige will regain her memory or fall in love with him all over again. Paige's wealthy parents, with whom she had been estranged, take advantage of her memory loss and encourage her to move back home. Will Leo be able to save his marriage?  The Vow is not a great movie but it is enjoyable. Based on true events, Leo and Paige are nice people who have to deal with an unfortunate event in the best way they know how. There are no miracles, just the hard work necessary to make a marriage work.

The Bodyguard (2:09) 1992

Last night, Lifetime Channel broadcast The Bodyguard in memory of Whitney Houston. I remember going to see it ten years ago and really liking it. Watching it again, I liked it just as much and for a different reason - that reason being Whitney Houston. I've always been a big fan of Kevin Costner. He was excellent as a former secret service agent, Frank Farmer, who is brooding over the assassination attempt on President Reagan's life. Rachel Marron (Houston) is receiving death threats and her team hires Farmer to be her bodyguard and head of security. Marron resists his efforts because they infringe on her freedom. Rachel is so resistant that Farmer decides to leave but Rachel receives a threat that shakes her up so much that Farmer stays. Watching Houston again, she was wonderful in her first acting performance. She delivers some prophetic lines, including "When you're time is up, it's up." The Bodyguard received poor critic reviews at the time of its release. It was a popular audience pleaser due to the Houston and Costner connection and the fantastic soundtrack. I assume that The Bodyguard will be rebroadcast frequently in the next several weeks as a tribute to Houston. It truly is worth taking the time and watching.