Love Is All You Need

Pierce Brosnan stars in this romantic comedy about several people in Sorrento, Italy searching for love and dealing with jealousy, passion, romance and loneliness as they struggle to change their lives for the better.  The event that brings them together is a destination wedding.  This is a romance of the 50-60 generation.  Funny and well done.  I give it a 7.  The scenery is to die for.  Stars Trin Dyrholm, Pierce Brosnan, Kim Bodina, Paprika Steen.

The Great Gatsby

Mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby is obsessed with Daisy Buchanan in this adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel.  Fascinated by the mysterious, affluent Gatsby, his neighbor Nick Caraway bears witness to the man's obsessive love and spiral into tragedy.  Not the epic of the aggressive ad campaign that proceeded the movie, however, it was glitzy and fast paced.  I was never bored even when the movie script deviated from the novel in the end.  Of course, I didn't like either ending. I would rate it a 7.  Toby McGuire and Leonardo DiCaprio carried the movie.  One could save it for DVD.  Stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey McGuire, Carey Mulligan.

 

The Company You Keep

Robert Redford stars as Jim Grant, a lawyer and single dad who has to go on the lam after a reporter identifies him as a long-sought U.S. terrorist.  As the journalist locates more of Grant's old contact, his guilt begins to appear less certain.  The movie was much better than I expected.  It was great to see the "old stars" appearing in such great roles.  This was not a PR piece for the FBI.  I really wanted to smack the agent in charge as being a real douche bag.  The reporter also deserved a smack for being an insensitive idiot.  I rate it a 7.5.  Very entertaining.  Stars Robert Redford, Julie Christi, Sam Elliot, Terrance Howard, Nick Nolte; Susan Sarandon.

The Big Wedding

A long divorced couple pretends years of wedded bliss to please their son's birth mother as she travels to the USA for the nuptials.  As the hoax spins out of control among family and friends, it leaves behind a  poignant and funny tale about ties that bind.  Entertaining and amusing with the senior actor and actresses carrying the weight of the film.  I would rate it a 6.  Stars Robert DeNiro, Diane Keaton, Susan Sarandon, Katherine Heigal.

Mud

Two Mississippi teens, Ellis and Neckbone, meet a mysterious drifter named Mud hiding on a deserted river island and get caught up in his tangled web of tall tales about bounty hunters, crimes of passion, lost love and a perfect woman named Juniper.  The best picture of the new year after many dismal movies in 2013.  Everyone loves sexy Mathew McConaughey even in his scruffy state.  Great entertainment and it keeps you on the edge of your seat.  I give it an eight.  Stars Mathew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Sam Shepard, Sarah Paulson.