Happy, Texas (1999) PG13 - 3 Stars

I just love the versatility of William H. Macy acting. Here he plays a goofy, coming out of the closet, gay sheriff and he's great as usual. The story line is pretty silly but none the less it does have some funny moments. The acting is pretty good which helps make up.

Harry (Jeremy Northam) and Wayne Wayne Wayne Jr. (Steve Zahn) are two escaped prisoners who steal a motorhome only to find out it belongs to two gay male judges who are late getting to a beauty pageant. When they arrive in the town of Happy, Texas, Sheriff Chappy Dent (William H. Macy) gets them into the bank right away to collect half their pageant money. Being the con men they are, Harry and Wayne decide to take on the roles of two gay beauty pageant judges but are highly disappointed when they discover the girls are only 8 years old.

Harry has his eye on "Joe" Josephine McLintock (Ally Walker) the owner of the local bank. In a small town like hers, business is conducted with a hand shake and keys to vaults are left in top desk drawers. Harry makes quick note of that while he plans in his head how to rob the bank leaving Wayne to train the girls for the pageant. Wayne has no idea what to do with the girls and their teacher, Ms. Schaefer (Ally Walker), patiently tries to grasp the new techniques of his training.

Wayne and Harry are seen fighting many times which brings Sheriff Dent back into the picture as he asks Harry for a date. Staying true to character, he must accept. Wayne does start seeing a light at the end of his tunnel when he and Ms. Schaefer have wild sex.

With day of the bank robbery, the "Little Miss Fresh Squeezed" pageant event and the cops are hot on Wayne and Harry's tail, what could go wrong?

1999 - Happy, Texas - Independent Spirit Award - Best Supporting Actor.

Miramax Films
Director: Mark Illsley
Writers: Ed Stone, Mark Illsley, Phil Reeves
Producer: Mark Illsley

I viewed 5/08

In Bruges (2008) R - 3½ Stars

The movie takes some time to get used to their accents so you can understand what they are saying and catch everything. You may want to play with closed caption just so you don't miss some of the dialect. I liked the movie in it's quirky form. It's not really a comedy but more a "dramedy." Two assassins are on vacation while awaiting further orders from the boss, in Bruges, Belgium. They are sent there because the boss thinks it's a fairytale land that everyone should see at least one time in their lives.

Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) have just completed a routine hit. Routine that is until Ray accidentally kills a child in the process. It seems there was a small boy standing behind his target and Ray has not come to terms with killing a child. When Ken tries to relax and await the new orders, by touring the countryside, Ray is distracted and becomes a real kill joy for Ken. When boss man Harry (Ralph Fiennes) calls and tells Ken he wants him to ace Ray for killing a kid, Ken decides to carry out the plans. Ray is actually thinking of taking his own life and Ken arrives to save Ray from himself rather than shoot him.

But Ray meets a girl in Belgium Chloë (Clémence Poésy), and thinks that his life may have just gotten some new meaning. Along with Ken's help, Ray makes his escape to another land to carry on his new life. Harry is not pleased and comes to Bruges to take matter into his own hands. When he finds Ken has helped Ray escape, he wants his revenge on Ken. But Ray, who's supposed to be long gone, is returned to Bruges just in time to be delivered to Harry on a plate. It's show down time and who will come out on top?

Focus Features
Director: Martin McDonagh
Writer: Martin McDonagh
Producers: Peter Czernin, Graham Broadbent

I viewed 8/19

Mamma Mia! (2008) PG13 - 3½ Stars

Okay men are going to definitely label this one a chick flick but it really is a fun musical for all. It's playful, Meryl Streep is very good and the movie is done quite nicely. The music is all enjoyable with many good songs I hadn't heard in a while. Sure it's hammy in parts, but it's a musical so everything is over exaggerated. It's not going to make it to my personal collection, but still an enjoyable watch.

Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), is getting married and yearns to have her father walk her down the isle and give her away. Problem is, her mother Donna (Meryl Streep) was a free loving yet rebellious teenager and three different men could fit this bill. Sophie secretly invites the three men, Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Harry (Colin Firth), and Bill (Stellan Skarsgård), to her wedding as guests of her mother. The three arrive and Sophie must hide them, while trying to uncover her true roots, before her mother knows there here. Too late, the cat is out of the bag and Mamma is having to do some double stepping. But eventually all will work out and Donna will learn it's never too late for love.

Universal Pictures
Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Writer: Catherine R. Johnson
Producers: Gary Goetzman, Judy Craymer

I viewed 1/19

Hancock (2008) PG13 - 3½ Stars

I was a bit disappointed in the concept of this movie. Not like "Superman" or "Spiderman" seems like reality to me, however this idea was borderline silly. I just loved Will Smith, in his powerful performance in "I Am Legend" but to me this was plain silly. To me, it's more of a comedy than a believable drama but still a decent rental.

Hancock (Will Smith), is not your average superhero. He wants to do good, but the fact that he is an alcoholic, clouds his judgement when it comes to properly addressing a problem. He's sarcastic, crude and doesn't really care much what the public thinks of him. As he saves the life of Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), from being hit by an oncoming train, it costs the tax payers of Los Angeles plenty from all the damage he causes, trying to protect. The people have finally had enough of his shenanigans and Ray, feeling indebted to the Superhero, takes on the mission of giving Hancock a new public image.

Public Realtions is Ray's job and he is sure he can change Hancock's perception by the public. On the other hand, Ray's wife Mary (Charlize Theron) is not pleased when Ray is brought home and literally dropped off, with his car, in the front yard. But there's a close bond between them all that put's Hancock back on track, to becoming the greatest Superhero the world has ever seen.

Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Pictures
Director: Peter Berg
Writers: Vy Vincent Ngo, Vince Gilligan
Producers: Will Smith, James Lassiter, Akiva Goldsman

I viewed 11/08

1408 (2007) PG13 - 3½ Stars

Mike Enslin (John Cusack) is writing a book "Ten Nights in Haunted Hotel Rooms." He mostly writes about disproving paranormal events. If he can't see it for himself, he'll let his audience know. Room 1408 at the Dolphin hotel is he next challenge to take on. The hotel manager, Gerald Olin (Samuel L. Jackson), insists the room is not available but Mike finds a convincing argument to allow him to stay in 1408. Things just keep getting stranger till Mike is actually getting scared. He thinks to himself if he can last the night, he will finally have something to write about sending his book to the top of the best seller list.

In the room he can no longer escape from he's being driven mad from and angry crowd of "dead" beats. Even when he finally thinks he has survived the night and escaped the room, he wakes up finding himself still there.

Dimension Films/MGM
Director: Mikael Håfström
Writers: Larry Karaszewski, Scott Alexander, Matt Greenberg
Producer: Lorenzo Di Bonaventura

I viewed 11/07

Gates of Heaven (1978) NR - 3 Stars

Roger Ebert placed this documentary, by filmmaker Errol Morris, on his Top Ten Movies of All Time list. I thought it was an honest look at a sensitive subject regarding the pet cementary business. Since I work at an animal hospital, I have to deal with people who have lost their pets and for some it can't be any worse then if they had lost their child. I had never heard of "rendering a pet" before I worked at the hospital. Now, I could never consider dispoing of my pet in this way. However, I am not sure why this movie made Ebert's top ten list? While I found it informative and compassionate, it's just a decent documentary, made in the 70's, and I didn't walk away with some moment in awe that would find it on my top ten.

Foothill Memorial Gardens pet cemetery, located north of San Francisco, was started when the owner lost his own dog and could not stand the though of his pet being "rendered" rather than having a nice place to rest. And the need was great, as many animal lovers were eager to give their trusted friends some dignity after they've left this earth. But when the cemetery was forced to shut down, Bubbling Well Pet Memorial Park, in Petaluma, California, was where 450 pets needed to be moved to. The documentary focuses on with the families who have dedicated their lives and time to the preservation of the beloved family pet. The sons have joined with their mother and father and one, a rock guitar player, stands on the hill top playing to the pets below. The family has focused on death which has brought new life within them all.

Cremation is big at my hospital as no one wants to see their beloved pet, end up as a rendered pet. I don't want to gross you out but, many of you might have never given a thought to what they do with dead animal bodies. Every part of the animal is used for something including cement, lip stick and even pet food. Here are a few places to have a peek at if you really want to know. Corpse disposal is one place as well as sign a petition to Stop Rendering Our Pets Into Pet Foods and from Wikipedia.

New Yorker Films
Director: Errol Morris
Producer: Errol Morris

I viewed 7/08

RV (2006) PG - 3½ Stars

Bob Munro (Robin Williams) is married to Jamie (Cheryl Hines) and they have two children Cassie (Joanna 'Jojo' Levesque) 15 and Carl (Josh Hutcherson) 12. The family is scheduled to go to Hawaii for a vacation till Bob gets in his mind a road trip in an RV that will really help the family bond and spend some quality time together.

The kids are not into this trip and had their hearts set on Hawaii, but Bob convinces everyone this trip is just what the family needs. One thing Bob forgets to tell everyone is his job depends upon it. He's needed in Colorado for a business meeting he neglects to mention.

Along the way they meet the Gornicke family, a gun-ho happy camping family of well trained RVer's. But it seems everywhere they go, the keep running into the Gornicke's. The family has a high, wet and bumpy ride to their destination but find their way back to each other.

Sony Pictures
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Writer: Geoff Rodkey
Producers: Lucy Fisher, Doug Wick, Matthias Deyle

I viewed 9/06

Randy and the Mob (2007) PG - 2 Stars

I've seen worse movies and I have to admit this movie did have me laugh a couple of times but seriously folks, I think you can pass this one up. The plot is predictable with a loan shark demanding his money and the character development is weak as people just sort of show up to complicate the story line. Maybe I missed some inside humor somewhere as other reviews I read depict a funnier scenario. The quaintness of a small Georgia town separates it from your other mob movies, but I was hoping for more laughs.

Randy Pearson (Ray McKinnon), is your typical middle class American guy living the American dream. He lives with his depressed wife Charlotte (Lisa Blount) who suffers from carpal tunnel syndrome as she teaches baton class. Randy's into just about every business in town but most of them aren't making any money. He soon finds himself faced with Italian mobster Franco (Paul Ben-Victor), demanding he makes good on his loan. Randy must turn to his wife and estranged gay twin brother Cecil (Ray McKinnon), for help. Now that he's in over his head with the Franco, Tino Armani (Walton Goggins), finds a way to start producing profits.

Capricorn Pictures, Ginny Mule Pictures, Timbergrove Entertainment
Director: Ray McKinnon
Writer: Ray McKinnon
Producers: David Koplan, Walton Goggins, Lisa Blount

I viewed 8/11

Particles of Truth (2004) NR - 3½ Stars

The story of a germ freak and a dysfunctional girl who become good friends and help each other out of their funk. The movie takes a little while to get going and the kids seem to put all the blame of their dysfunctionality on their parents, but eventually it all comes into place. Decent movie once you see where it's going.

(Jennifer Elster), wrote, directed and stars in this film as Lilli. (That's gotta be tough) but she pulls it off fairly well. An artist, living in New York City, she's pretty negative about most everything in life. She has issues with her drug addicted parents as her father (Alan Samulski) is dying now and it doesn't seem to trouble her, on the surface, at all. Her mother (Susan Floyd), is a psycho who tells herself he's left town a long time ago. It's all too much for her to deal with and has effected her self esteem and just dealing with life. Even given the opportunity to show her work at the opening at a major gallery, has her questioning if art is even something she wants to pursue.

Morrison (Gale Harold), is sitting in his car when he sees Lilli walking by. The two sort of start a conversation but Morrison is too obsessed with germs to get out of his car and approach her. Eventually she enters the car with him and the two talk about their problems with each other. Both extremely attracted to each other, it's going to take a lot of work for these two to have any kind of a moderately healthy relationship together. "In 48 hours, some fall apart, some piece themselves together."

Matter Productions LLC
Director: Jennifer Elster
Writer: Jennifer Elster
Producer: Jennifer Elster

I Viewed 11/07

Winter's Bone (2010) R - 3½ Stars

I love Lionsgate films especially when they use a cast of unknowns. Jennifer Lawrence is one hell of a young actor. She's cast perfectly as Ree and she totally sales the role as does everyone. You really get that "Deliverance" type of feeling peeking into the lives of "white trash" living deep in the Ozark woods. Lawrence touches your heart in her desperate situation to take care of her family.

Sheriff Baskin (Garret Dillahunt), just told 17 year old Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) , that her house is about to be taken away. Apparently her father put the house up against a bails bond and now he's skipped out on a court date. Ree's grown up in this extremely poor part of the Ozark woods and has no idea where her strung out mom Victoria (Cinnamon Schultz), younger brother Sonny (Isaiah Stone), and little sister Ashlee (Ashlee Thompson), will end up. She determined to track her drug addicted father down before they take away the land.

Others living in the Ozark woods, including kin, are not pleased with Ree coming around asking questions. You know they know something but they aren't going to tell. None of them including Gail (Lauren Sweetser), Merab (Dale Dickey) and Sonya (Shelley Waggener), want to have her snooping around. Ree takes a beating and the only reason she's not dead, is she's family. Uncle Teardop (John Hawkes), comes to her rescue and tires to convince Ree her father's blown up in a one of the many methamphetamine labs in the woods. Ree doesn't want to accept that answer and needs to learn her own truth.

Awards include:
2010 - L.A. Film Critics Association - Best Actress - Runner-up
2010 - National Board of Review - Breakthrough Performance

Roadside Attractions
Director: Debra Granik
Writers: Anne Rosellini, Debra Granik
Producers: Anne Rosellini, Alix Madigan-Yorkin

I viewed 12/10

The Syrian Bride (2004) NR - 3 Stars

Living my whole life in the United States and growing up with traditional American customs, it always enlightens me to watch movies that take me out of my comfort zone. The Syrian Bride is a reality check on my traditional values of what marriage means to me. The thought of an arranged marriage to someone you've never met, I just can't see how that is done. But here, it happens all the time. The problem for this Syrian bride is once she crosses the border to wed her husband, politics will never allow her to return home to her family. Her small village of Majdial Shame, has been under Israelie occupation since the 60's and the border is highly protected. Good movie at giving one an insight into living in the Middle East.

Hammed (Makram J. Khoury) is a leading political figure in the small Palestinian town of Majdal Shams. A while back, he arranged the marriage of his daughter Mona (Clara Khoury), to the now famous actor, Tallel (Derar Sliman), from Syria. The family is getting together to tend to Mona's needs. Hammed's youngest son Marwan (Ashraf Barhoum), works in Italy and is visiting for the wedding, Hammed's oldest son, Hattem (Eyad Sheety), has come from Russia with his Russian wife and son but has been out casted by his father for leaving his home land and marrying out of the culture. Another daughter Amal (Hiam Abbass), helps Mona prepare for her big day. Marwan dates a woman named Jeanne (Julie-Anne Roth), who works for the American United Nations and will help with the passport arrangement between the countries to transport Mona across the border. But much red tape comes along with this simple task and Mona is not allowed to cross over to her matrimonial destination unless the countries can reach some sort of agreement.

Arte France Cinéma, Eran Riklis Productions (ERP)
Director: Eran Riklis
Writers: Suha Arraf, Eran Riklis
Producers: Bettina Brokemper, Michael Eckelt, Eran Riklis

I viewed 7/11