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Insidious 2010

    A family moves into an old house, they begin to think it's haunted and their son falls into some type of coma.  Renai becomes too frightened to keep living in the house, she convinces Josh that they need to move.  Moving doesn't help and strange things start to happen in this house, Josh doesn't know what to think until his mother tells him she has seen things in a dream.
    A team is called in to investigate the house, they immediately call Elise who deals in paranormal activities.  The movie begins to derail when the team comes with unusual equipment that they have made themselves?  Elise has theories that are also unusual?  Either you believe all you are being told and shown or you think, what the heck?  3* (This movie is OK)

102 min, Horror, directed by James Wan with Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Lin Shaye, Ty Simpkins, Barbara Hershey.

Note:  Blockbuster 3 1/2*, imdb 6.9 out of 10, 67% both critic and audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

In Therapy (Diva) 2009

    From Brazil, in Portuguese with English subtitles, Mercedes is a housewife of 40 who decides to try therapy.  She not really unhappy but just dissatisfied with life, she is married with two sons.  She has a wonderful friend Monica, they do a lot together.  Mercedes decides on a separation from her husband in order to go in a different direction.  This film requires more attention because of the subtitles but is enjoyable.  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)

93 min, Com/Drama directed by Jose Alvarenga, Jr. with Lilia Cabal, Reynaldo Gianecchini, Alexandra Richter, Jose Mayer, Caua Reymond, Eduardo Lago.

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imdb 6.5 out of 10, 62% listed for Diva and 20% listed for In Therapy on Rotten Tomatoes.




 

The Adjustment Bureau 2011

   David is a congressman but he's defeated in his bid for the senate, he's practicing his speech to concede and he meets Elise in the hallway.  Immediately they both feel a connection.  A month later he meets Elise again on a bus, she gives him her phone number.  Now enters a team called the Adjustment Bureau, they usually don't let people know they are messing with their lives but Elise and David are not supposed to be together.
    David rides the same bus every day for 3 years hoping to see Elise again,
he sees her walking and immediately gets off the bus to talk to her and explain why he didn't call.  Once again they are separated by the Bureau until David sees an announcement in the paper that Elise is getting married.
    The on-screen chemistry between Matt Damon and Emily Blunt is good but the Adjustment Bureau seems so far out there for me that it is like an interruption in the movie instead of a basis.  3* (This movie is OK)

106 min, Sci-Fi directed by George Nolfi with Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Anthony Mackie, John Slattery, Michael Kelly, Terence Stamp.

Note:  Blockbuster 3 1/2*, imdb 7.1 out of 10, 72% critic 68% audience on Rotten Tomatoes

White Irish Drinkers 2010

    This is a tough movie with a lot of drinking, life wasting, family fighting, friend fighting, brother fighting.  Fighting means punching in the face, blooding noses.  It all takes place in Brooklyn in 1975, angry abusive father, what can the mother do, two brother following different paths to get out of the neighborhood.  They have a chance to get some real money when the Rolling Stones book to come live to a local theater, one by working at the theater and one by stealing the money.
    You are rooting for both of the brothers and the mother, will both find the right path without going to jail or getting killed, will their mother ever have peace?  The father has a softer side but is it too late for him to change even just a little for the sake of the family?  3 1/2*  (I liked this movie)

109 min, Drama directed by John Gray with Nick Thurston, Geoffrey Wigdor, Karen Allen, Stephen Lang, Peter Riegert, Leslie Murphy.

Note:  Blockbuster 2 1/2*, imdb 5.7 out of 10, 44% critic 80% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

In Therapy (Diva) 2009

    From Brazil, in Portuguese with English subtitles, Mercedes is a housewife of 40 who decides to try therapy.  She not really unhappy but just dissatisfied with life, she is married with two sons.  She has a wonderful friend Monica, they do a lot together.  Mercedes decides on a separation from her husband in order to go in a different direction.  This film requires more attention because of the subtitles but is enjoyable.  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)

93 min, Com/Drama directed by Jose Alvarenga, Jr. with Lilia Cabal, Reynaldo Gianecchini, Alexandra Richter, Jose Mayer, Caua Reymond, Eduardo Lago.

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imdb 6.5 out of 10, 62% listed for Diva and 20% listed for In Therapy on Rotten Tomatoes.




 

Winter in Wartime (Oorlogswinter) 2008

    The final winter of WWII in Holland, a young man becomes involved in the Dutch resistance.  Michiel and his friend discover a downed British plane in the woods, the Germans are in control of Holland and they quickly surround the scene of the crash.  Michiel's father is the Major of the town, the Germans want to know what Michiel was doing looking at the crash and who was with him? 

       
    Later, Michiel discovers the pilot hiding underground in the woods and he brings his nurse sister to help with the pilot's wounded leg.  This is becoming more involved, more people are getting shot by the Germans and somehow Michiel must get this pilot across the border to safety.

    This is good, you become really involved with the people which leads you to be on the edge of your seat rooting for them to succeed in spite of the Germans.  4*  (I really liked this movie)   

103 min, Drama directed by Martin Koolhoven with Martijn Lakemeier, Yorick van Wageningen, Jamie Campbell Bower, Melody Klaver, Raymond Thiry, Anneke Blok.

 

Note:  Blockbuster 3 1/2*, imdb 7.1, 75% critic 74% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.