Ruby Sparks 2012

     Calvin had a best selling novel, he still does interviews and book signings but he has crippling writer’s block.  He’s seeing a therapist who gives him an assignment;  write one page about a woman who likes your dog just as he is.  He has a major breakthrough and words begin to pour out on the page.  Then, unusual things begin to happen, he dreams about the girl he’s writing about.  A woman’s shoe appears in his home, then underwear that his brother finds?  He must be seeing things but his brother saw them too?  It’s back to the therapist!  He shows what he has written and this breakthrough is very encouraging except for the unusual clothing.

     This is good and different.  Calvin has such swings of mood and angst.  For a while you are forced to wonder what is going on and for another while you still wonder what is real.  Sneaks up on you with different questions and insights.  His mother and her boyfriend are a real surprise.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)  

104 min, Comedy directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris with Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Chris Messina, Annette Bening, Antonio Banderas, Steve Coogan, Toni Trucks.

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imdb 7.2 out of 10, 79% critic 79% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Dark Shadows 2012

     The year is 1752, young Barnabas Collins is living in Liverpool, England with his parents, Joshua and Naomi.  His parents decide to set sail on a voyage to America.  They establish a seashore town and name in Collinsport.  Their business is the sea and they have many fishing boats, this allows them to build their house, Collinwood.  In 1776, Barnabus refuses the affections of his maid Angelique Bouchard.  Everything changes, his parents are killed, his beloved Josette du Pres jumps off Widows Hill into the pounding surf below.  Barnabus also jumps off the cliff but he doesn’t die, Angelique turns him into a vampire instead.  She has him buried in a coffin until he is dug up during construction in 1972.

     I wasn’t expecting very much from this film but it really delivers.  It’s really funny, you don’t know where it’s going or what’s going to happen to the people.  Barnabus doesn’t know anything about 1972.  Cars, electricity and the family business is nearly gone since Angelique is the competition.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

113 min, Comedy directed by Tim Burton with Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Eva Green, Helena Bonham Carter, Jackie Earle Haley, Gulliver McGrath.

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imdb 6.4 out of 10, 38% critic 46% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Elena 2011

     Elena and Vladimir have been married a little over two years.  They have different backgrounds.  Elena has a family, her son, his wife, his 17-year-old son and young son.  Vladimir is wealthy with an adult daughter who only cares about herself and her father’s money.   Elena would like Vladimir to help the 17-year-old with money for college but he thinks the teen’s father should help his own son.  Vladimir is generous with his daughter but not with Elena’s family.

      This is a Russian movie and everything must be included, a nurse changing the sheets of a hospital bed, traveling on the train, having tea.  A very slow pace and not very much is happening, slightly unexpected conclusion.  3* (This movie is OK)

109 min, Drama directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev with Nadezhada Markina, Andrey Smirnov, Elene Lyadova, Aleksey Rozin, Evgeniya Konushkina, Igor Ogurtsov.

Note:  imdb 7.2 out of 10, 93% critic 73% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Blue like Jazz 2012

      Don is nineteen-year-old sophomore in college; he lives in Texas and has had a strict religious background.  His father is divorced from his mother but his father decides his son needs to go to a liberal college in Portland, Oregon.  Don drives his beat up car and belongings to a new beginning.  Creativity and impulsiveness as the main subjects are the new norm.

     Watch this film if you have other things to do, change the oil in the car, iron 50 business shirts, vacuum the carpet with a hand vacuum!  Not worth the time to watch and not a comedy.  Are these really grammar school children pictured as college students?  2* (I didn’t like this movie)

108 min, Comedy directed by Steve Taylor with Marshall Allman, Claire Holt, Tania Raymonde, Justin Welborn, Eric Lange, Jason Marsden, William McKinney.

Note:  Blockbuster 2 ½*, imdb 5.7 out of 10, 41% critic 73% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Goodbye First Love 2011

     Camile is a 15 year old living in Paris.  She falls in love with Sullivan who is 19 years old.  She wants to spend the rest of her life with Sullivan but he has already planned to spend 10 months exploring South America.  Camile initially follows his every move with pins on a map but she finally decides she has to get on with some kind of life.  Sullivan doesn’t return after 10 months and Camile spends years on her own.  She does pursue education and a degree in architecture.

     It’s obvious in the beginning Camile and Sullivan are both immature.  The biggest problem is that Camile is unable to move beyond her love for Sullivan.  This film is different with wonderful scenery in France and interesting aspects of relationships.  3 ½* (I liked this movie.

110 in, Drama directed by Mia Hansen-Love with Lola Creton, Sebastian Urzendowsky, Magne Harvard Brekke, Valerie Bonneton,Serge Renko, Ozay Fecht.

Note:  Blockbuster 4 ½*, imdb 6.2 out of 10, 80% critic 61% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Magic of Belle Isle 2012

     Monte is a famous author but since he became wheelchair-bound, he has become a curmudgeon.  He goes to the island of Belle Isle for a couple of months to drink and soak in his own juices.  The family next door is the opposite of Monte, a single mom with three daughters.  Gradually a friendship develops between Monte and the family.

     Very quiet, smoothly goes along unfolding the story.  No surprises but enjoyable.   Slightly into Hallmark country.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

109 min, Drama directed by Rob Reiner with Morgan Freeman, Virginia Madsen, Kenan Thompson, Emma Fuhrmann, Madeline Carroll, Nicolette Pierini, C.J. Wilson, Ash Christian.

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imdb 6.6 out of 10, 29% critic 56% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Match Point 2005

     Chris Wilton was on the professional tennis circuit but he felt he wasn’t skilled enough to be a winner.  He has the good looks and charm plus the references to become an instructor at a posh London tennis club.  This is a good opportunity for him to improve his game but not tennis.  He’s looking to meet wealthy men and women to improve his social and financial status.  Tom Hewett begins taking lessons, Chris thoroughly charms Tom and he introduces him to his family.  Chloe, Tom’s sister is also very taken with Chris.  The stepping-stones are beginning to line up with only one snag.  Tom is engaged to aspiring actress Nola Rice.  There aren’t enough adjectives to describe the beauty of Nola.

     Chris is making all the right decisions except for Nola, will he be willing to jeopardize all his work and plans for her?  What about her engagement to Tom?  How can he get around that fact?  Very interesting, unexpected developments, keeps your interest entirely until the end.  4* (I really liked this movie)

124 min, Drama directed by Woody Allen with Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Emily Mortimer, Matthew Goode, Brian Cox, Penelope Wilton, Ewen Bremner, James Nesbitt, Rupert Penny-Jones.

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imdb 7.7 out of 10, 77% critic 78% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Special Note:  This is my second viewing and this film was just as good or better this time.  I knew a lot of the details but some I had forgotten.