Bright Star

Starring: Abbie Cornish, Ben Whishaw
Drama: 2008, Rated PG


This is a period drama set in 1800's london and is the true story of Fannie Brawne (Cornish) who falls in love with writer John Keats (Whishaw). Initially, John thinks not much of her kindness to him while his brother is dying and her subsequent interest in poetry piques his interest. John's friend and Fannie have an utter dislike for each other but despite this John is smitten. Their love can go no further because Keats does not make an income and therefore does not have the money it would take to marrie Fannie.

• I got this movie because Abbie Cornish is in it. I think she is beautiful and quite a talented actress. I also like love stories.
• She did a great job in this movie but nothing much could help the fact that the movie was dry and quite boring for the most part.
• It just went on and on and to be honest I shut it off probably missing the last 10 minutes or so because something was coming on TV that I wanted to watch. Instead of finishing it later I just figured I wasn't missing much and called it a day.

2 Stars

Motherhood

Starring: Uma Thurman, Anthony Avery and Minnie Driver
Drama (Rated PG 13)


A stressed out frustrated mother of 2 who splits time with her husband between two rent controlled apartments in New York ponders the meaning of Motherhood as she tries to find time in her busy schedule to write an essay about that topic to enter into a contest. She is a stay at home mom who obviously loves her children but also mourns the loss of putting her dreams on hold and feels conflicted about how her life has turned out.

• This movie does a good job of showing the reality of being a mother. You are supposed to love it and it's supposed to be the most fulflling thing in the world but sometimes at the expense of yourself which seems to be the way it's supposed to be.
• Thurman does an excellent job as usual. I am used to seeing her play a glamorous or beautiful professional type lately so it was interesting to see her playing such a "drab" role.
• The movie was a little slow at times.

2 Stars

Ice Castles

Drama, 2010 (Rated PG)

A young skater who skates for fun on her pond in Iowa is discovered by a big time figure skating coach who wants to coach her to the World and Olympic level. She agrees to go to Boston and train risking her relationship with her boyfriend who is a Collegiate hockey player at Michigan State. Her life is changing faster then she ever imagined and the exceptional talent she didn't know she had takes her to the top of her sport when disaster threatens to take it all away from her.

• Needless to say I was super excited at the prospect of a remake. I loved the music and the amazing images from the original 1979 version with a passion.
• a lof the the details felt really phony and flimsy. The figure skating club attached to the hotel. The photo shoots. I am not a figure skating insider but even I know that a lot of this was fluff.
• In typical fashion this re make fell extremely short of the original. The acting wasn't the greatest and the drama and passion of the original film just wasn't there.
• They did not use any body doubles. The ice skater that played Lexi was actually acting for the very first time and while I think she did a decent job you could really tell she was new.
• I loved figure skating so really enjoyed the story and the performance of the whole thing but it really just wasn't the same.

2 Stars

Whatever Works

Starring: Larry David and Evan Rachel Wood

Comedy, 2009

A caustic eccentric man recounts his tales of marriage and attempted suicide. He leaves his well to do lifestyle in favor of a meager existence and this is the story of what happens along the way.

• The opening "monologue" was way too long for me.
• I got this movie basically because I like Evan Rachel Wood. She was good as usual for some reason but for some reason her accent wasn't that convincing to me.
• The actors actually addressed the audience which was different.
• This movie felt more like a theatrical play to me.

2 Stars

Gigantic

Romantic Comedy, 2008 (Rated R)
Starring: Paul Dano and Zooey Deschanel

A man in his late 20's who is still finding himself and just so happens to have an obsession with adopting a baby from China falls for the daughter of one of the customers at a mattress shop where he works.

• Cute movie but it was dry and very slow.
• Classic Deschanel type indie movie. I watched it because she's in it.
• I still can't quite figure out what the deal is with the homeless man who routinely attacks Brian (Dano).

2 Stars

The Poker House

Drama, 2009 (Rated R)

Starring: Selma Blair, Jennifer Lawrence, Bokeem Woodbine

Shows a day in the life of a 14 year old girl with two younger sisters and a strung out alcoholic drug addicted mother who hosts a nightly poker night/party. Among the guest who attend are prostitutes and pimps. The girls are pretty much left to fend for themselves on a day to day basis with no supervision from mom. Based on a true story, this movie was written and directed by the lead character Agnes. Takes place back in the 60's.

• Great acting.
• Good although very sad story.
• Didn't really hold my attention too much.

2 Stars

Guns

Drama, 2008

Starring: Elisha Cuthbert, Colm Feore

This movie weaves together a series of connected stories that are all related to the illegal gun trade in Canada. It starts out with a tragic event that claims the life of a little girl and the series of events that occur after it. The moral of the story is clearly that gun are bad.

• It's a good story but the way the movie is put together did not hold my attention too well.
• Gets a little more interesting as the story progresses...if you can make it that long,
• I was surprised to see Cuthbert in this. It seems like she is usually in better quality movies.
• This is a long one! The first half is 1 1/2 hours long so just when I am ready for the movie to be over I realize I am only half way through. It's good enough for me to want to see what happens but not bad enough for me to shut off.
• The acting is pretty good.

2 Stars

Push

Mystery/Suspense, 2009 (PG13)

Starring: Dakota Fanning, Chris Evans

• Way too much going on in this movie for it to be any good.
• Watchers, pushers, it went on and on but not in a good way.
• Fanning is a great little actress though. Even in this bizarre almost senseless movie she managed to deliver a great performance. I was surprised to see her in this. She's way better then this movie.

2 STARS