The Master

In theaters now.  A heavy drinking loner named Freddie finds some semblance of a family when he stumbles onto the ship of Lancaster Dodd, the charismatic leader of a new "religion"--some say cult--he forms after World War II.  It stars Joaquin Phoenix, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams.  This is a movie that the professional movie goers love because it "runs deep" and it isn't a Chevy.  The acting is superb and I predict Academy Award nominations for cast and movie.  It is definitely a drama and can be very disturbing but portrays how cults can take hold of people.  Especially in this case, someone who has deep emotional and mental problems.

Trouble With The Curve

In Theaters now.  Slowed by age and failing eyesight,  crack baseball scout Gus Lobel checks out the final prospect of his career.  Lawyer daughter Mickey joins him uninvited on the trip.  Along the way,  the two renew their bond, and she catches the eye of a young player-turned-scout.  Stars Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake.  I loved the movie but I am not objective.  Amy Adams is one of my favorite actresses.  Clint Eastwood is an icon in the movie business.  Both do an excellent job.  Justin isn't so bad either, actually he is really believable.  Learned more about baseball than I ever wanted to know.  Great entertainment, put it on your "to see" list.

The Guard

2011 movie now in DVD format.  When tightly wound FBI agent Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle) invades an Irish village in pursuit of international drug dealers, wisecracking local copper Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleeson) does his best to annoy the American and get on with his circumscribed life.  But soon there's a murder, and Boyle finds himself swept up in detective work way beyond his pay grade.  At first, I was distracted by the heavy Irish accents but as the film progressed it got better.  Subtittles would have enhanced the enjoyment of this film and made for less guess work on the dialogue.  Now I know why theaters have the volume so high--If you blast out your eardrums, there's a better chance to understand thick accents.

One Day

2011 film now on DVD.  After a romantic tryst on college graduation night, Emma and Dexter pursue separate dreams.  This romantic drama based on a novel of the same name checks in with them each year on the same date, tracking their personal and professional progress.  Stars Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess.  This is the ultimate tear jerker.  If you had a bad day and are in need of a Pity Party, this is the DVD for you.  It is soppy, soppy emotional, just bring your tissue box.  My major complaint was the mumbled dialogue with heavy English accents that were not understandable.  Truly a foreign film sans subtittles.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

In theaters now.  When Cindy and Jim Green are told they can't have a baby, they bury a box filled with wishes for their dream child.  That night, a mysterious boy appears who brings magic to their lives--and the entire town of Stanleyville.  Stars Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgeton, C J Adams, Dianne Wiest.  While deep down you know the movie is a fantasy, it still keeps your attention.  It does put a spin on the mistakes Cindy and Jim make in their parenting skills--especially when it comes to sports and winning. It is still an entertaining and feel good movie.  It is not meant for children under seven.  I had to sit next to a cranky 4 year old who just wanted to go home.

Circumstance

Iranian teens Atafeh and Shireen explore their forbidden attraction to one another against the backdrop of modern-day Tehran.  Atafeh's brother, Mehran, returns home after drug rehab and is soon dismayed by his sister's new found sense of liberation.   This 2011 film is now a DVD.  Half-way into the movie, you realize the girls' are forming a lesbian relationship.  This is set among the strict rules enforced on females and their role in Tehran society.  The movie can be disturbing especially the scenes the reflect the cruel behavior to women.  It is a real eye opener to the situation women face in the Iranian culture. 

The Secret World of Arrietty

I waited for this to come to DVD and that was a good choice.  When a time "borrower" named Arrietty makes friends with a young boy many time her size, she must also shield her family from his towering elders.  But trouble brews when a curious maid starts asking questions.  Animation is great but it is still a kid's movie.  Get it to entertain visiting kids under eight.

Arbitrage

This high finance crime thriller is playing in theaters now.  Billionaire Robert Miller struggles to divest his empire before his fraud is discovered, but fate takes a nasty turn and he must trust an unlikely source.  Tim Roth, Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon star in the movie.  Arbitrage in economics and finance is the practice of a price difference between two or more markets--striking a combination of matching.  I can't give you more details without giving away the ending.  It is fast paced with lots of of twists and turns.  Morale of the story is that money talks and can move mountains.

Bourne Legacy

In theaters now.  This action packed thriller follows the Jason Bourne debacle.  The CIA finds itself dealing with a familiar threat when another estranged operative surfaces.  Jeremy Renner stars with Edward Norton, Rachel Weisz, and Joan Allen.  It would be helpful if you had a PHD in biology, chemistry  or medicine.  It took half the movie to understand this very technical plot.  A lot of filling viles with blood, syringes, etc. so not for those that are faint at the sight of blood or needles.  After an hour, I figured out that CIA was messing with the operatives blood and genetics.  Or maybe not.  It did not put the CIA or FBI in very good light.  I liked the previous Bourne movies better.

Expendables 2

In theaters now.  In this high octane thriller, Mr. Church brings the Expendables back together for an easy job--but things go wrong and one of the mercenaries is brutally murdered.  Now the band of hired guns goes on a mission of revenge in hostile territory.  I am not an action thriller movie seeker, however you have to love both Expendables movies.  I totally get it now.  This is what the guys love and there is none of that relationship/emotional stuff to think about.  Filled with unbelievable action (we know it is a fantasy), I even found myself rooting the Expendables on to victory.  Better than the NFL.  Simple story and with lots of action and bang, bang is a great break from reality.  I found myself imagining that I was Wonder Woman and going after the bade guys.  There is something to be said for a break from reality.  Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger star in the movie.

Expendables

I saw this 210 DVD recently and loved it.  Mercenary Barney Ross leads a ragtag band of hired guns charged with overthrowing a South American despot.  No job a military unit is willing to touch.    But, on the ground, the team learns there is more to the mission then what they are told.  Unbelievable action scenes that are really a fantasy.  Stars Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Doph Lundgren, Jet Li, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Little White Lies

It's French and complicated but in a good way.  When Max and Vero's friend is seriously injured in an accident, they chose to go ahead with a planned birthday celebration at their beach house--an event that draws a convivial and happy crowd of friends.  My major complaint was the sub tittles often faded when they appeared white on white.  This happens more and more in foreign flicks these days.  This is the ultimate Beach House story.  The house is located on the Med in Southern France and is huge and beautiful.  The wine flows as does the food.  You will find yourself hungry and thirsty.  They actually have wine for breakfast.  The plot evolves around a number of relationship situations.  Actually, the Game of Thrones was easier to keep the characters separated.  For this reason, I am keeping it on my DVD list because it is worth seeing again.  Great scenery, fun party scenes, and great acting.  It stars Francois Cluzet (Untouchables), Marion Cotillard, Benoit Magimel, Gilles Lellouche, Valarie Bonneton.  It is playing in the theaters now.

 

Love Carrot 3

Now playing at Shirlington (haven't seen it anywhere else).  It is a Russian comedy--who knew they had a sense of humor.  Basic story is a Russian couple (he is a lawyer and she is an museum curator) are cutting a deal for three Faberge' eggs to go on a world wide exhibit.  He has a General for a father and she has the mother from hell.  Grandmazilla is living with them and grandpa comes to visit for two weeks.  Grandmazilla and grandpa can't stand each other and fight constantly.  A friend visits and breaks out a bottle of cognac.  All drink.  Grandmazilla and grandpa end up in bed with each other.  Everyone freaks out and during this trauma,  the couple's personalities switch with their respective parents.  The Faberge' Eggs are really part of a bigger scam which includes an unknown Tchaikovsky musical piece.  It was somewhere between vaudeville and the 3 Stooges.  All in all it was entertaining and I found myself laughing at the antics.  Nobody you have ever heard of starred in this movie.

The Change-Up

This 2011 DVD is a contemporary reality-warp comedy, single playboy Mitch and responsible husband-father Dave are best buddies who want each other's life-- and they get the chance when they magically swap bodies after a night of drunken revelry.  Stars Jason Bateman; Ryan Reynolds; Olivia Wilde; Leslie Mann; and Alan Arkin.  I am not sorry that I missed it in the theaters but the DVD was mildly entertaining for a rainy afternoon.