This Divided State (2005) NR - 3½ Stars

Being a big fan or most of Michael Moore's work, I had to see yet another controversial documentary, this time about him. The best thing for me about Michael Moore is he gets people excited possibly in a negative way but he sparks a reaction in people that would normally go about "status quo." Stimulating one's mind for thought keeps it rich and alive. My favorite part was the foreign student from Togo, West Africa, who spoke about how blessed we are to have freedom of speech.

It's no secret that the state of Utah is the headquarters to the Mormons and their Church of Latter-Day Saints. The entire state of Utah is pretty much Republican and conservative and when two college students, Joe Vogel, the student body vice-president and Jim Bassey, invite Michael Moore to speak at Utah Valley State College in Orem, UT., the state is changed forever. Kay Anderson, an outspoken Community leaders, is willing to pick up the tab the school would lose if the event would be canceled. He believes his city, aka The Family City, should not be exposed to any different opinion, or "evil influence", that anti-American, immoral Michael Moore can bring. As he puts it, he lives inside of Utah away from the rest of the United States. Kay even goes as far as bringing forth a law suit against Vogel and Bassey.
All for the sake of stopping Michael Moore from influencing any of the State of Utah into a more liberal way of thinking.

Minority Films, LLC.
Director: Steven Greenstreet
Producer: Steven Greenstreet

I viewed 3/09

Nothing to Lose (1997) R - 3 Stars

I love both Tim Robbins and Martin Lawrence, but this not be one of the bests. To me, the movie gets almost predictable and not all that funny, though it does have it's moments. The message is good at the end so I'm giving it a 3.

Nick Beame (Tim Robbins) is not having a good day at all. Returning home, he hears his wife Ann (Kelly Preston), having sex with his boss, Phillip Barrow (Michael McKean). Needing to get some air, he takes a drive with no destination in mind. While stopped at a light, T. Paul (Martin Lawrence), jumps in his car and holds Nick's at gun point, demanding his car. But Nick, with his life hanging by a string, decides to take the thief on the ride of his life. Not wanting to die, T. Paul tells of his hard times trying to support his wife and children without a job. The two form an unlikely bond of friendship which takes them on a journey in search of their lives.

Touchstone Pictures, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Director: Steve Oedekerk
Writer: Steve Oedekerk
Producers: Michael S. Bregman, Dan Jinks, Martin Bregman

I viewed 2/09

Frozen River (2008) R - 3½ Stars

While I liked the movie, I was expecting a little more from it. I thought for sure someone was going to die in the frozen river and I guess I was a little let down when they didn't. Obviously not the point of the movie, just my expectations a few times in the movie. The acting was great especially from the new up and coming stars.

Ray Eddy (Melissa Leo) has just found out she is now a single woman. Her husband left and never returned with their life savings that was to be used for their new dream double wide trailer they've been waiting for. Now just days before Christmas, she's desperate to find some reasoning behind her husbands disappearance so she can explain to her two young sons. Ray traces the steps of the places her husband frequented until finally she finds his car in the parking lot of the local bingo hall. But he is no where to be found and instead, a Mohawk Indian girl Lila Littlewolf (Misty Upham), gets into the car and drives it away. In anger, Ray chases the car to the young woman's home where she confronts her as Lila offers to buy the car. She had people willing to pay a lot of money to use it for smuggle people from the Canadian border.

Ray thinks of all the Tang and popcorn dinners she has fed to her sons and decides Lila may have something to offer. With no other option present, she agrees to help Lila traffic illegal aliens into the U.S. The plan is fool proof, as Lila shows her the St. Lawrence River is frozen solid at this time of year, and you can save time be driving right across, rather than to attract more attention by going around.

Lila also is a economically challenged woman. She has a one year old son that has been taken away from her. The tribal elders disagree with any involvement in the wrong doing at the border and have banned auto dealers in town from selling Lila a car, to keep her clean. Both in desperate situations off they go in Ray's nonchalant Dodge Spirit heading towards the frozen icy pathway. Though there are some complications, eventually they agree to pull off a few more runs so both their troubles will be over. But when their forced to deal with a different trafficker, things go terribly wrong and Ray must choose who pays the price.

Awards include:
2008 - Frozen River - Independent Spirit Awards - Best Actress
2008 - Frozen River - American Film Institute - Best Picture
2008 - Frozen River - National Board of Review - Best Independent Film
2008 - Frozen River - Women Film Critics Circle - Best Movie By a Woman

Sony Pictures Classics
Director: Courtney Hunt
Writer: Courtney Hunt
Producers: Chip Hourihan, Heather Rae

I viewed 2/09

Death by Engagement (2006) NR - 2 Stars

Pretty silly concept and the acting is pretty cheesy and bad but I made it all the way through. An engagement ring wants to be returned to it's owner but keeps making it's way to other couple, always ending in death. It's not even that nice of a ring. Pretty unbelievable story line and low rate acting but I've seen worse.

Det. Cade Hamilton (Aaron MacPherson) and Det. Rikki Moore (Sascha Knopf) are investigating a murder where it appears the groom murdered his bride to be and then was shot by a policeman called to the scene. Officer Mallar (Brian Patrick Wade) sees a huge engagement ring on the brides finger and and exchanges it for the one he's bought his bride to be.

Spencer Starkington (Brandon Largent) is the psychopathic groom, now brain dead but his mother Mrs. Starkington (P.J. Soles), refuses to say goodbye. Instead, she keeps her sons body in his room hooked up to monitors that keep him alive. The detectives have their hands full when more murders keep happening and every time there is a ring involved. It would appear that our brain dead groom Spencer, comes to life and murders anyone that has any involvement in his blessed ring.

Maverick Entertainment Group
Director: Philip Creager
Writer: Philip Creager
Producer: Pennie Orcutt

I viewed 2/09

Transsiberian (2008) R - 3½ Stars

If you watch the coming attractions for this movie you will think you have watched a different movie. I have not noticed this before, but I don't think the trailer does the movies justice. I thought it took a much different turn than the trailer suggested. Plus I like the fact that it's one of those movies, at least at the beginning when you think you know what's going to happen and something different entirely does.

Roy (Woody Harrelson) and Jessie (Emily Mortimer) are an American couple traveling from Beijing, China to Moscow, Russia via the Transsiberian railway. It's the first time Jessie has ever done this type of traveling so she is a bit uneasy about who to trust and not understanding the language. The two meet up with another couple on the train Abby (Kate Mara) and Carlos (Eduardo Noriega) traveling the same route. Though Jessie doesn't seam to trust their new friends, Roy thinks it's exactly what they need to share the experience of a life time.

At the first stop, everyone gets to leave the train and sight see a bit before re boarding. Jessie and the new companions board the train for it's next destination while Roy manages to miss the call. Panicked and alone, her only choice is to stop at the next town and stay the night to await for Roy on the next train. But that's when the trouble begins as Carlos convinces Jessie to go on a private tour with her. She learns that Carlos is a drug smuggler and has stashed his nesting dolls into Jessie's bag. When Roy finally meets up with Jessie again, they are joined by Roy's new friends, Russian detective Grinko (Ben Kingsley)and Kolzak (Thomas Kretschmann). The ride now becomes an "E ticket" into the twilight zone while the couple is terrorize on their unforgettable journey.

First Look Studios
Director: Brad Anderson
Writers: Will Conroy, Brad Anderson
Producer: Julio Fernández

I viewed 2/09

W. (2008) PG13 - 3 Stars

I was hoping to get more from this movie and I was somewhat disappointed in it. Perhaps I was just looking to dig up the dirt on our ex president to make more sense of the world he left us with. I don't know how much liberty was taken with the story, but I didn't know just how much George W. struggled with alcoholism. I must say, if I closed my eyes and listened, Josh Brolin really sounded a lot like his character. A born again Christian, George W. found that religion was his drive behind his running for office.

Condoleezza Rice (Thandie Newton), was as annoying as I remember her voice to be and also starring Colin Powell (Jeffrey Wright), Donald Rumsfeld (Scott Glenn), George Herbert Walker Bush (James Cromwell), Barbara Bush (Ellen Burstyn), Laura Bush (Elizabeth Banks), Dick Cheney (Richard Dreyfuss).

Lionsgate
Director: Oliver Stone
Writers: Oliver Stone, Stanley G. Weiser
Producers: Eric Kopeloff, Paul Hanson, Jon Kilik

I viewed 2/09

Snow Falling on Cedars (1999) PG13 - 4 Stars

Great movie about the risks one takes at love. Set in the beautiful landscape of Washington and British Colombia, I fell in love with the young couple hopelessly hiding away their feelings for each other. But the time period would never allow their controversal affair and no matter how strong the feeling, it had to be ended.

In 1950, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Asian American people were hurdled together and put into camps on San Piedro Island in Washington. When land owner Carl Heine (Eric Thal), is found dead in the frozen icy waters of the island, Kazuo Miyamoto (Rick Yune) who was working for him, is accused of his murder. The case is in court and Nels Gudmundsson (Max Von Sydow) is trying to defend his Kazuo's fate while Alvin Hooks (James Rebhorn), the prosecuting attorney, wants him put away.

Ishmael Chambers (Ethan Hawke) covers the proceedings and reports on the findings in the local newspaper. But it's hard for him to watch the wife of the accused, Hatsue (Youki Kudoh), suffer through the hearings, as Ishmael once was, and still is, in love with her.

As children, Ishmael and Hatsue used to secretly meet in the snow covered forest hiding in the hollow of the Cedar tree. It was forbidden for the two to have contact with each other as she was Japanese. No matter how painful to hide, Ishmael can not get her out of his mind and even today remembers their great love. Now he must struggle with the fact he could give the jury motive for the murder by exposing the fact, Kazuo was promised a portion of the land and then reneged upon by the Carl's mother, the new owners of the property.

1999 - Snow Falling on Cedars - Chicago Film Critics Association - Best Cinematography

Universal Pictures
Director: Scott Hicks
Writers: Scott Hicks, Ronald Bass
Producers: Harry Ufland, Ronald Bass, Kathleen Kennedy

I viewed 2/09

Connie and Carla (2004) - 3½ Stars

What a fun and cute movie full of exuberance, side step, song and dance. Nia and Toni are the perfect duo and easy to relate to their situation. I'm placing this one in musicals as there are many numbers through the show.

Ever since they can remember, best friends Connie (Nia Vardalos) and Carla (Toni Collette) have dreamed of making it big in show biz. The two, as girls in school, preformed in the cafeteria at lunch and finally ended up singing in an airport lounge between passengers flights. It's not the big time, but it makes the girls happy doing what comes naturally for them. Their dream is to some day meet Debbie Reynolds.

One night at the lounge at the end of their show, two men appear looking for their boss Frank (Michael Roberds). As Frank slips out the back door, the two girls are encountered by the thugs. As they get away, they go looking for their boss on the roof top only to witness him murdered by a policeman working with the men. As they scream, the thugs now turn their attention to the girls as they are witnesses to their crime. With out knowing what to do, the girls jump in their car and head to California to blend in. They find a shabby apartment to rent and audition for a song and dance show at a local bar. The only problem is, the bar is for gay men and drag queens and Connie and Carla must convince everyone they are men with good voices. They finally start to relax and find there new happiness staring on stage every night with the other Drag Queens, who absolutely adore them.

Business is good and as they help the bar expand to a full serve restaurant, the past will catch up with them. When Connie falls for the brother of one of the boys in her act, they have to decide to keep going on as they are or blow their cover in order to find true love.

Spyglass Entertainment Holdings, LLC, Universal Pictures
Director: Michael Lembeck
Writer: Nia Vardalos
Producers: Roger Birnbaum, Gary Barber, Jonathan Glickman

I viewed 2/09

Imprint (2007) PG13 - 3 Stars

Not your typical haunting, this one revolves around a native Indian reservation after a young boy is found guilty of murder than takes his own life. To me, this is more of a believable haunting as I have much respect for the beliefs and culture of our native Indian ancestors. The story does however, have a lot of gaps in it thus the 3 rating. Great casting for the mother and daughter as one would think they truly are family.

Shayla Stonefeather (Tonantzin Carmelo), is a North American Indian who's moved away from the reservation to become an attorney. One of the local Lakota boy found standing over the body of a murdered woman. It sounds like a cut and dry case and she easily gets her conviction. After the case, she heads home to the reservation to be with her mother Rebecca (Carla-Rae Holland) and ailing father Sam (Charlie White Buffalo), to celebrate his birthday. As soon as she arrives, she starts to see strange images and hears unexplained noises. As a wolf follows her every move, she anxiously looks for the right sign from the land. She must now choose between the believes of her people and her boyfriend who wants her to return to her city life.

2007 Imprint - Best Picture - American Indian Film Festival
2007 Imprint - Best Feature - South Dakota Film Festival

Linn Productions
Director: Michael Linn
Writers: Keith Davenport, Michael Linn
Producers: Michael Linn, Chris Eyre, Chris Eve

I viewed 2/09

Hoot (2006) PG - 3½ Stars

Definitely a great family movie for all ages. Plus it sends a message to the young children of the importance of conservation and protecting wildlife for future generations. It does it in a fun caring manor that's a good watch for the entire family. About as close to a "G" rated movie as your ever going to get again.

Roy Eberhardt (Logan Lerman) 14, is beginning to feel like a pin ball game as he is bumped around from town to town as his family make so many moves. It makes it hard for one kid to make friends in school but this last move from Montana to the Gulf of Florida will change the way he sees the world.

At school, Dana Matherson (Eric Phillips), sees Roy as the new kid on the block and bullies him constantly on the bus to school. Beatrice Leep (Brie Larson), is the tom boyish type girl that befriends Roy by standing up to the bully. The two become close as there is safety in numbers. Beatrice notices on their daily rides together that Roy has become fascinated watching a young boy running at the speed of light, Mullet Fingers (Cody Linley), along the side of the bus. Beatrice will finally have to confide in Roy that the boy is her brother and he is hiding something very important in the trees. As Roy is allowed into the small group, he finds what all the fuss is about. Mullet has been responsible for all the pranks that have been pulled around town lately. There's a new birth of tiny owls that are nesting all over the ground where construction work is about to take place building the next Mother Paula's Pancake House. Mullet has been trying to sabotage the project in order to save the owls. When these three put there heads together, they take top executive Chuck Muckle (Clark Gregg), at the ground breaking ceremony. Here, along with a gathering of anxiously awaiting pancake lovers, the expose the tiny creatures to the world via television coverage, in turn saving the land for a sanctuary.

New Line Cinema
Director: Wil Shriner
Writers: Rob Lieber, Wil Shriner
Producers: Jimmy Buffett, Frank Marshall

I viewed 1/09

Choke (2008) R - 2½ Stars

Now here is where I disagree with the critics once again. I didn't get into this movie much and found no connection with most the characters and I found it hard to follow. A little boy has grown up with a half crazy mom, who now as an adult, can't find love or a purpose in his life because he doesn't know where he came from and his mom is too far gone to tell him about his father. His mother, now in an expensive medical facility, doesn't remember him an he sleeps with every woman in the place to feel cared for. Lots of boobs so maybe this is a "Guy Flick."

Victor Mancini (Sam Rockwell) and his best friend Denny (Brad Henke) are sex addicts. While they should be in therapy for their affliction, instead they're loose on the street to envision their perversion on anyone available. Victor, once on his way to becoming a promising doctor, has given up his career to keep his mother Ida (Anjelica Huston) alive, suffering from dementia, in an expensive mental care hospital, until he can learn the secrets of who his father is. Maybe that will bring him some guidance as to why he is who he is today. No mater where Victor goes, sex is all he thinks about. He imagines the woman he meets topless. This includes all the elderly women housed with his mother. But the hospital is expensive and Victor resorts to con games in order to collect money to pay the bill.

When he was a child, he learned the art of choking in public in order to collect support checks from the honorable citizens who saved his life and now feel the need to donate checks to for whatever so called procedures needed he says he needs. He uses the techniques regularly in order to pay for his mothers care. When he's not running his scam or visiting his mother, he and Denny colonizes at a Renaissance theme park. What's not expected is Denny falling for a bad girl gone good and Victor falling for his mothers nurse Paige Marshall (Kelly MacDonald), however Victor has no idea how to fall in love especially when Paige relates him to the next coming of Christ.

2008 - Choke - Women Film Critics Circle - Most Offensive Male Characters

Fox Searchlight Pictures
Director: Clark Gregg
Writer: Clark Gregg
Producers: Tripp Vinson, Beau Flynn, Johnathan Dorfman

I viewed 2/09