12 Years A Slave

This is the autobiography of Solomon Northup, a free black man who was abducted from New York state and sold in the mid-1800s as a slave in the South.  The trauma of going from a free man to a slave is appalling.  It was hard to focus on the quality of the movie because I was so angry.  A real ugly part of American history is slavery and their treatment.  The movie was slow at times but worth seeing.  I give it a 7.  Stars Chiwetel Ejiofor; Brad Pitt; Michael Fassbender; Paul Giamatti.

Captain Phillips

Another heart stopper suspense story.  This exciting adventure  story is based on true events that made international headlines.  Ton Hanks portrays Captain Richard Phillips who is taken hostage by Somali pirates after they hijack his cargo ship.  The U.S. Navy's efforts to rescue him will keep you on the edge of your seat.  It is hard to take a breath  the entire movie because of the suspense.  I give it a solid 9.  Don't miss it unless you have a heart condition.  Stars Tom Hanks, Catherine Keener, John Margo, Max Martini.

Gravity

As a medical engineer on her first shuttle mission embarks on a space walk with a seasoned astronaut, debris strikes their craft and destroys it leaving the two to float through space tethered together with no connection to Earth.  This is an awesome technological day dream of a movie.  It is a must to see it in 3D since it is the best 3D movie that I have ever seen.  You will feel like you are floating in space.  The movie keeps you on the edge of your seat. I was exhausted by the end.  I give it a 10 and think it will win the Academy.  Stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney.

Don Jon

Jon Martello's romantic exploits are legendary among his friends, but his obsession with online porn is starting to sap his enthusiasm for real sex.  As he tries to regain his hunger for intimacy, Jon meets two women with vital lessons to teach him.  No doubt that this is a 20/30 something movie.  So it is hard to rate since I could not relate.  Go if you are in that age group or wait for the DVD.  I give it a seven.  Stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson,; Julianne Moore.

Enough Said

A charming comedy about a divorced woman venturing into a relationship with a sweet man.  But things get tricky  when she discovers the man she is dating is the hated ex-husband of her new best friend.  It is funny and very entertaining with some great lines. I give an eight.  Stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener , Toni Collette

Wadjda

Persistent 10-year-old Wadjda would like nothing more than a new bicycle so she can beat her friend (a boy) in a race.  But it is going to take some ingenuity to get one--especially in her culture, which sees bikes as a threat to a girl's virtue.  Hard to sit through a movie when all you want to do is smack some male faces (and some females too) for their archaic view of females to include children and the impression that females are of no value.  While Wadjda schemes for her bicycle, mom has problems of her own with a disrespectful and absent husband.  It is amazing how many ways there are to treat women and girls badly.  I give it a 10 and think it should be required viewing in all political science and American History classes.  You leave the theater knowing and thankful you are an American and can walk or drive freely down a street.  Stars Reem Abdullah, Waad Mohammed, Sulton Al Assaf.