Beerfest ***
Cast: Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter and Erik Stolhanske
Director: Jay Chandrasekhar
Running Length: 1:50
MPAA Classification: R

Jay (Soter) and Todd (Stolhanske) are asked by Great Gam Gam (Leachman) to take their father’s ashes back to Germany and spread them at Oktoberfest. They are all too happy to do this, as it will give them a chance to drink it up with the Germans. Once there though, they end up at a “Fight Club”-style drinking competition called Beerfest. Beerfest is sponsored by Baron Wolfgang von Wolfhausen (Prochnow), their estranged uncle. Attempting to represent America and defend their father’s honor, they enter the competition and are humiliated. Upon returning to the States, they recruit college drinking buddies Fink (lemme), Landfil (Heffernan), and Barry (Chandrasekhar) to back to next year’s Beerfest and bring home the gold for the US.

“Beerfest” is the latest from comedy troupe Broken Lizard, and they have made a raunchy, entertaining film. This film is laugh out loud funny at times, and although it will not win any awards, it does not disappoint. If this movie sounds remotely funny to you, chances are that you will enjoy it. This is definitely one of the funnier movies of the year.

Snakes on a Plane ***
Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Julianna Margulies, Nathan Phillips, Rachel Blanchard, Flex Alexander, Kenan Thompson, Sunny Mabrey
Director: David R. Ellis
Running Length: 1:40
MPAA Classification: R

FBI agent Neville Flynn (Jackson) is accompanying Sean Jones (Phillips) a Federal witness to a mob murder, from Honolulu to Los Angeles. It seems like an easy task, and soon they are on the plane. But, they did not consider that the mobster would smuggle thousands of poisonous snakes aboard, and rig their container to open up at 30,000 feet. Soon, the snakes are slithering, and the passengers are dying, and it is up to Flynn to save the day, if that is at all possible.

Ridiculous and fun is the best way to describe “Snakes on a Plane”. Sure, they try to explain how and why the snakes are on the plane, but it seems overly complicated and unbelieveable. The movie does deliver what it promises though, and soon those snakes are all over the place, biting people, well, all over the place. Samuel L. Jackson is the glue that holds this all together, and without him, this movie would have no life beyond the direct-to-DVD shelves at the rental store. He is in full Samuel L. Jackson mode, and gets all the good lines. No, this movie is not a masterpiece, but it is very entertaining, and sometimes that is all you can ask for. If it sounds interesting to you or you like Samuel L. Jackson, you will probably like this film. Check your brain at the door, and sit back for a wild ride.

World Trade Center ***1/2
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Michael Peña, Jay Hernandez, Armando Riesco, Maria Bello, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Director: Oliver Stone
Running Length: 2:08
MPAA Classification: PG-13

"World Trade Center” is the true story of police officers John McLoughlin (Cage) and Will Jimeno (Peña), who were trapped on the concourse between the North and South Towers, beneath the rubble when the Towers came down. The movie follows them from early morning on 9/11/2001 to their rescue. While trapped, they must rely on each other to survive long enough to be found. A friendship forms in the most awful of places, and neither would have probably survived if it wasn’t for the other. It is also the story of their wives, Donna (Bello) and Allison (Gyllenhaal), and how they had to deal with not knowing what had happened to their husbands.

“World Trade Center” is almost as good as “United 93”, the other 9/11 movie from this year. It has been made tastefully, and shows heroism in a terrible time of national crisis. Cage and Peña do good jobs as the two leads, spending most of their time under rubble where only there faces are shown. They make these people real. Oliver Stone’s direction is good, and he makes the story very compelling. This, along with “United 93” is one of the must see movies of the year. I highly recommend it.

The Night Listener **1/2
Cast: Robin Williams, Toni Collette, Bobby Cannavale, Joe Morton, Rory Culkin, Sandra Oh
Director: Patrick Stettner
Running Length: 1:28
MPAA Classification: R

Radio talk show host Gabriel Noone (Williams) reads an unpublished manuscript by 14-year old Pete Logand (Culkin), and begins a friendship by telephone with the boy. Pete was abused as a child, contracted AIDS, and is dying. Donna (Collette), his foster mom takes care of him all by herself in Wisconsin to avoid Pete’s real parents. Gabriel himself is going through some tough times. His partner Jess (Cannavale) has just broken up with him. Gabriel and Pete for a close friendship, but one day, after hearing a voice message left my Pete and Donna, Jess wonders aloud why the two sound the same. Gabriel begins to wonder if he is the victim of a prank, and sets off to Wisconsin to investigate.

“The Night Listener” is an interesting but slow-moving film. Unfortunately, its slowness drags it down pretty bad. Perhaps a better director could have ratcheted up the tension a little more, and made the movie a little less “talky”. Williams and Collette do good jobs in their respective roles. For some reason, the very funny Williams does better in serious roles. This is no exception. This movie is not for everyone, but does have an interesting story to it. If you are not put off by slower moving films, this one might be for you.

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby ***
Cast: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Leslie Bibb, Amy Adams, Michael Clarke Duncan, Sacha Baron Cohen, Greg Germann, Gary Cole
Director: Adam McKay
Running Length: 1:44
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Ricky Bobby (Ferrell) was always wanted to go fast. That suits him well as a NASCAR driver. He is the #1 driver, with a little help from his best friend Cal Naughten Jr. (Reilly). Everything is going well for Ricky, until Frenchman Jean Girard (Cohen) enters his life. He is everything Ricky is not, and his alternative lifestyle is at odds with everything Ricky believes in. When a race goes bad, Ricky finds himself on the bottom looking up, and he must decide whether to try for a comeback or move on.

“Talladega Nights” is your typical Will Ferrell movie. Take that as you will. Ferrell has just the right amount of goofball charm to make Ricky a likeable character. The always excellent Reilly is great as Cal, and Cohen makes Girard hilarious. There are lots of NASCAR in-jokes, and that will appeal to that section of the audience. Overall, “Talladega Nights” is not a huge step forward for Ferrell, but it is a step in the right direction. His star is getting bigger and bigger with each movie, and he is quickly becoming the new Jim Carrey.

Monster House ***1/2
Cast (voices): Mitchel Musso, Sam Lerner, Spencer Locke, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Steve Buscemi
Director: Gil Kenan
Running Length: 1:25
MPAA Classification: PG

Across the street from DJ’s (Musso) house is a possessed house. It has a tendence to “eat” people and things that venture on to the property. No one believes DJ, except his friends Chowder (Lerner) and Jenny (Locke). When an accident befalls Mr. Nebbercracker (Buscemi), the owner of the house, the house seems to become even more alive. The kids take it upon themselves to rid the neighborhood of the house.

“Monster House” is surprisingly good. It lacks the look of a Pixar film, but has the quality of a Pixar story. The voice talents are all top notch, with the kids being played by relative newcomers and the adults being played by voices you will recognize. The story lends itself well to computer animation, and the monster house looks great as the film progresses to its climax. The PG rating is warranted though, and smaller kids may find some images too frightening. I highly recommend “Monster House.”

Miami Vice ***
Cast: Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Gong Li, Luis Tosar, Naomie Harris, John Ortiz, Barry Shabaka Henley, Ciaran Hinds
Director: Michael Mann
Running Length: 2:10
MPAA Classification: R

A sting gone bad, resulting in many deaths leads to Miami cops Sonny Crockett (Farrell) and Rico Tubbs (Foxx) going undercover to find the leak in the FBI. Under the guise of transportation experts, they meet up with drug smuggler Jose Yero (Ortiz) and his associate Isabella (Li). Crockett and Tubbs want to take over as Yero’s distributors, handling all their shipments to the United States. Yero is suspicious, but takes them on, with Isabella as the go-between.

“Miami Vice” is a movie that probably did not need to be made, but unlike other TV shows that have been made into movies, “Miami Vice” has a quality director that was involved with the original material as a producer. That is what brings the film to the next level. Mann has taken the idea from the TV show and transformed it into a grittier, more realistic version of itself. Indeed, aside from the character names, there is little similarities to the TV show. Farrell and Foxx are good as Crockett and Tubbs, two big sets of shoes to fill. The story is tight and at times very violent. The look is dark, and that suits the film just fine – atmosphere is almost a character itself. I could even see this film spawning a sequel or two. “Miami Vice” is not for everyone, but it is an above average cop film that is worth checking out.

Lady in the Water **
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Bryce Dallas Howard, Bob Balaban, Jeffrey Wright, Sarita Choudhury, Freddy Rodriguez, Bill Irwin, Jared Harris, M. Night Shyamalan
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Running Length: 1:52
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Cleveland Heep (Giamatti) is a superintendent in an apartment complex. He takes pride in his work, and seems to know everyone pretty well. One night, he discovers a stranger swimming in the apartment’s pool. Her name is Story (Howard), and she is a narf. It seems that she has come from the Blue World to provide enlightenment to one man before returning home. Making things difficult is the Scrunt, a grass-covered wolf creature that wants to stop her. According to an Asian fairy tale, there are others who will help her, and Cleveland attempts to locate them in the apartment complex. But, when the Scrunt attacks, it may be too late, and Story might not accomplish her task.

“Lady in the Water” was a bit of a disappointment for me. I found it to be a bit on the silly side, with its narfs, scrunts, and even tartutics. It tries to have a point, but it is somewhat lost amonst the goofiness of the story. Paul Giamatti does the best he can with what he is given, creating a very real character that is likeable. Bryce Dallas Howard’s Story is unremarkable, and even somewhat boring. M. Night Shyamalan does a decent job as an actor, having cast himself in a bigger role in this movie. In the end, it does not quite work for me. Shyamalan has misstepped here, making perhaps his weakest film to date. On the heels of “The Village”, that is not a good thing. He has some serious rebuilding to do with his next film.

Little Man **
Cast: Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Tracy Morgan, Kerry Washington, John Witherspoon
Director: Keenan Ivory Wayans
Running Length: 1:30
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Upon being released from prison, little man Calvin (Marlon Wayans) hooks up with accomplice Percy (Morgan) to steal a large diamond. When the theft goes awry, Calvin stashed the diamond with Darryl (Shawn Wayans) and Vanessa (Washington). Darryl is desperate to have a kid, and Calvin uses his size to his advantage, posing as a baby. Once inside the house, all he has to do is find the diamond, but that task proves to be more difficult than he originally thought.

“Little Man” is mindless, stupid fun. Fans of the Wayans brothers will not be disappointed, and if the previews make you chuckle even a little, you will probably like this film. The special effects are top notch, as Marlon Wayans’ face is digitally superimposed on body doubles every time Calvin is on the screen. The humor is mostly lowbrow, but like I said, it is mindless fun.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest ***
Cast: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Stellan Skarsgård, Jack Davenport, Kevin McNally, Naomie Harris, Jonathan Pryce, Tom Hollander
Director: Gore Verbinski
Running Length: 2:35
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Captain Jack (Depp) is back, and causing trouble for Will Turner (Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Knightley). Their marriage is interrupted when they are arrested for aiding in the escape of Captain Jack. Lord Cutler Beckett (Hollander) does not want to see them die, and wants to make a deal. If they help him get Jack, they will not be put to death. Will finds Jack being worshiped as a god by a bunch of cannibals. After a fashion, they escape to the Black Pearl, where Jacking is looking for a mysterious chest that belongs to Davey Jones (Nighy). Jones is trying to get to the chest before Jack for reasons of his own. Amongst all this, Elizabeth shows up to join the hunt, and finds a new interest in Captain Jack.

“Dead Man’s Chest” delivers all that “Curse of the Black Pearl” delivered, but the difference is that “Black Pearl” was new and fresh, while “Chest” gives off a feeling of “been there, done that.” That is not to say that “Dead Man’s Chest” does not deliver the goods, but it is not as original, and that is a slight drawback. Another negative is the running length. At 155 minutes, it is longer than it needs to be. That being said, it is good to see Captain Jack and the gang back in action again. The action is well done, and the special effects are top notch, especially the squid-faced Davey Jones. A few cliffhangers thrown in at the end assures “Pirates 3” a warm reception come May 2007. If you like the first film, you will like this one. I recommend it, and hope that “Pirates 3” can take it up a notch to end on a high note.

The Lake House ***
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Shoreh Aghdashloo, Scott Elias, Dylan Walsh, Christopher Plummer
Director: Alejandro Agresti
Running Length: 1:38
MPAA Classification: PG

Alex (Reeves) and Kate (Bullock) are two lonely people. They each live in a fancy glass house on the shore of Lake Michigan. The same house, in fact. He lives there in 2004, she lives there in 2006. The house’s mailbox begins delivering letters through time, and the two are able to communicate, and eventually fall in love. They just have to figure out how to meet.

If you can get over the time traveling mailbox, “The Lake House” is an enjoyable movie. Reeves and Bullock are together again for the first time since “Speed”, and one wonders why they have not teamed up again sooner. They have a chemistry that is believable, and you root for the characters to get together in the end. I recommend this film.

The Devil Wears Prada ***
Cast: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Adrian Grenier, Tracie Thoms, Rich Sommer, Simon Baker
Director: David Frankel
Running Length: 1:45
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Andy Sachs (Hathaway) applies for the job of second assistant to Miranda Priestly (Streep), the editor of “Runway” magazine. “Runway” is THE magazine for the fashion industry, and Andy has no fashion sense. Miranda is revered by all who know her. She has the power to make or break people in the industry, and she is not afraid to use this power. Work for her for a year, and countless doors will open. Of course, others like Emily (Blunt), Miranda’s number one assistant and Nigel (Tucci) have become fixtures at the magazine, while waiting for those doors to open.

Miranda hires Andy on a whim, hoping she has what it takes despite her appearance. Andy dislikes the shallowness of her coworkers, but soon finds herself becoming more like them. Will she get sucked into that lifestyle, or will she me able to resist and remain true to herself?

Meryl Streep makes this movie work, and is the prime reason to see it. She dominates every scene she is in. She is both cruel and funny, sometimes at the same time. Hathaway, Tucci, and Blunt are also very good, especially when playing off of each other. This is definitely a “chick flick”, but is entertaining and really funny at times. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but worth giving a shot.

10 Best Movies I Have Seen in the First Half of 2006
This year has had fewer good movies than last year through the first six months. Hopefully, things will pick up.

1. United 93 ****
2. Capote **** (from 2005)
3. X-Men: The Last Stand ***1/2
4. Mission: Impossible III ***1/2
5. Cars ***1/2
6. The Matador *** (from 2005)
7. Thank You For Smoking ***
8. A Prairie Home Companion ***
9. The Da Vinci Code ***
10. Superman Returns ***

Cars ***1/2

Cast (voices): Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy, Cheech Marin, Tony Shalhoub, George Carlin, John Ratzenberger, Michael Keaton, Richard Petty
Director: John Lasseter
Running Length: 1:52
MPAA Classification: G

Lightning McQueen (Wilson) is a rookie in a NASCAR type race called the Piston Cup. When the season ends with him in a tie with his two major rivals, Chick Hicks (Keaton) and The King (Petty), he must head to California for a tie-breaker race. Along the way, he ends up stranded in Radiator Springs, arrested for traffic violations. Doc Hudson (Newman), the town judge, sentences him to repair the road before he can leave. Initially, he just wants to get done and get out, but soon he finds himself making friends with the locals, including Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) and Sally (Hunt). Soon, this cocky race car who had no real friends finds he may not want to leave so fast after all.

When I first saw the trailer for “Cars”, I was worried. It did not look good, and I thought Pixar had its first flop on its hands. Bumping the release date back six months did not ease my worry. That being said, “Cars” is an excellent movie. Pixar, I am sorry that I ever doubted you. The voices are perfect, especially Wilson, Newman, and Larry the Cable Guy. The film looks great, with bright colors kids will love. The story is nice, and like many Pixar movies, focuses on friendship. The only drawback I can find is that it runs a little long. Still, it is worth seeing by kids of all ages.

Superman Returns ***
Cast: Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, James Marsden, Parker Posey, Frank Langella, Sam Huntington, Eva Marie Saint, Marlon Brando, Tristan Leabu
Director: Bryan Singer
Running Length: 2:37
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Superman (Routh) is back, five years after where “Superman II” left off. He returned to Krypton, hoping to find some life still there, but when he found nothing, he returned to Earth. As Clark Kent, he gets his job back at the Daily Planet, and is reunited with Lois Lane (Bosworth). But, people have moved on. Lois has a five year old son, and a boyfriend (Marsden). She has also won a Pulitzer for an article about how the world does not need Superman. Elsewhere, Lex Luthor (Spacey) is free from prison, and up to no good. It seems that he has found Superman’s Fortress of Solitude, and has devised a plan with what he found there that will wipe out most of the United States. Once again, Superman must try to stop Luthor’s evil scheme, and try to win the girl in the process. But things will be a little more difficult this time.

After almost two decades, Superman is finally back. Bryan Singer takes the helm as director after bowing out of the X-Men franchise. Not the wisest move, but it is the opportunity of a lifetime to bring back the Man of Steel. He does a few things right. First, he uses the backstory established in “Superman” and “Superman II”, wisely ignoring “III” and “IV”, and not having to do a complete reboot. He attempts to have a look of continuity and even uses John Williams’ famous themes from those films. This IS the Superman we grew up with, he has just been away for a while. Kevin Spacey is great as Luthor, bring menace and some humor to the role. He even manages to inflict some pain on the hero. On the weak side, Lex’s plan is dumb. For as smart as he is supposed to be, he has not really thought things through. Kate Bosworth is weak as Lois, and James Marsden has the unenviable role of being the other man. Brandon Routh does not bring much to the table as Superman/Clark Kent except a resemblance to Christopher Reeve. Finally, the running time is way too long to support the story. Some trimming could have improved the story’s flow.

Yet, for the most part, it works. It is good to see Superman back after all these years. The effects are top notch, and the movie is mostly fun. I do recommend this movie, but I hope that the filmmakers are able to tighten things up the next time around. A sequel is planned (duh), and could be better than this restart. For now, we can enjoy what we have.

A Prairie Home Companion ***
Cast: Garrison Keillor, Kevin Kline, Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Woody Harrelson, John C. Reilly, Tommy Lee Jones, Virginia Madsen, Lindsay Lohan
Director: Robert Altman
Running Length: 1:45
MPAA Classification: PG-13

“A Prairie Home Companion” is a fictionalized story of the famous radio show’s very last performance. The movie covers the show itself, hosted by Garrison Keillor (playing himself), the goings on backstage, and a little action before and after the show. Besides having to deal with a corporate axeman (Jones) who is there to officially pull the plug, they have to deal with a death mid-show and a mysterious woman (Madsen), who wanders about backstage. On stage, three skit characters from the real radio show come to life: Guy Noir (Kline), and the cowboy singing duo of Dusty (Harrelson) and Lefty (Reilly). Other characters are a combination real and fictional people).

This film is a slightly skewed view into the world of Garrison Keillor (he wrote the screenplay) and his famous radio show. It is a “nice” movie, that will amuse most who see it. Keillor’s and director Robert Altman’s styles seem to be made for each other, and this film works well to give an insight into the radio show. Performances are solid all around, especially Keillor’s. He is the glue that holds this all together. I recommend this film.

The Break-Up **1/2
Cast: Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Aniston, Joey Lauren Adams, Ann-Margret, Vincent D'Onofrio, Cole Hauser, Jon Favreau, Peter Billingsley, Jason Bateman
Director: Peyton Reed
Running Length: 1:45
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Gary (Vaughn) and Brooke (Aniston) are the perfect couple, until one evening when everything falls apart. During the huge fight, we out Brooke thinks Gary is lazy and thoughtless, and Gary thinks Brooke is too controlling and unappreciative. She dumps him, but neither of them want to give up the condo that they own together. They each mark their territory, and set about doing whatever it takes to drive the other out.

Vaughn and Aniston are well cast, and have a chemistry together. Supporting cast, including Jon Favreau and Joey Lauren Adams as their best friends, do good jobs and help keep the movie moving. There are even some really funny scenes. Yet, something is missing. Perhaps the characters are not nasty enough to each other. Anyway, while somewhat entertaining, “The Break-Up” fall a little short of success.

X-Men: The Last Stand ***1/2
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Famke Janssen, Anna Paquin, Shawn Ashmore, Kelsey Grammer, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, Aaron Stanford, Cameron Bright, Vinnie Jones, Ben Foster, Ellen Page, Josef Sommer
Director: Brett Ratner
Running Length: 1:44
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Scientists have discovered a “cure” for the mutant gene. Now, all mutants can choose to become a “normal” human. Division rises amongst the mutant community. Some see this as an opportunity to be something they always wanted to be. Others, like Magneto (McKellan) see this as an attempt at racial cleansing. While Professor X (Stewart) sits on the sidelines, Magneto rallies the troops to rise up against the cure and those who are pushing it. The X-Men must stop Magneto before he causes too much damage, but a former ally has been raised from the ashes of her former self, and she may be the deciding factor in this war.

This X-Men movie is the best yet. Filled with action and an always timely storyline, it does not disappoint. Story-wise, characters die, return from the dead, lose their powers, and are changed significantly before all is said and done. This shake-up introduces doubt into who will survive the final battle, and ratchets up the stakes. Director Brett Ratner is taking over the reins from Bryan Singer, who left this franchise for another (“Superman”). He proves that he is up to the challenge. I highly recommend this film.

The Da Vinci Code ***
Cast: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellan, Jean Reno, Paul Bettany, Alfred Molina
Director: Ron Howard
Running Length: 2:29
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Symbologist Robert Langdon (Hanks) is called to the Louvre to help with a murder investigation. He has been framed for the murder, and with the help of French police officer Sophie Neveu (Tautou), he manages to escape from Captain Fache (Reno), and follow a trail of clues that lead to “the greatest cover-up in human history.” This cover-up involves the Catholic Church, the Holy Grail, Opus Dei, the Knights Templar and more. They seek the help of Grail expert Sir Leigh Teabing (McKellan),, and soon find that they have an albino by the name of Silas (Bettany) on their trail too. And Silas is not working with the police.

Based on the best selling book by Dan Brown, the film manages to remain faithful and give the legions of people that have read it a first class treatment. Hanks, although not the obvious choice for Langdon, fills his shoes well and is believable. The supporting cast are all bigger names, and Ian McKellan stands out among them. He brings humor and wisdom to the role of Teabing. This is an interesting movie that is worth seeing, if only to see what all the controversy is about.

RV **
Cast: Robin Williams, Cheryl Hines, Joanna 'JoJo' Levescue, Josh Hutcherson, Jeff Daniels, Kristin Chenoweth
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Running Length: 1:38
MPAA Classification: PG

When work interferes, Bob Munro (Williams) decides to cancel the family vacation to Hawaii and instead rent a RV and take a road trip to Colorado. His wife Jamie (Hines), daughter Cassie (Levesque), and son Carl (Hutcherson) are not thrilled. Unbeknownst to his family, he needs to be in Colorado for a presentation that his boss expects him to be at. Along the way, the Munros meet the Fornickes – Travis (Daniels) and Jo (Chenoweth), and their kids. They are a homeless family living in their RV, and take a liking to the Munros, much to their dismay. The Munros are on the road trip from hell, and it can only get worse.

Robin Williams is a funny man, and yet I do not think he has ever found a good movie to really showcase his comedic talents. Certainly he has done better than “RV”. While funny in parts, there is not enough humor in this movie to sustain its 98 minute running time. I would imagine that those who have ever traveled in an RV will find more humor than I did, but too much more. “RV” is a rather harmless movie, but not really worth seeing either. Wait for the DVD, people.

An American Haunting **1/2
Cast: Donald Sutherland, Sissy Spacek, Rachel Hurd-Wood, James D’Arcy, Matthew Marsh, Thom Fell, Sam Alexander
Director: Courtney Solomon
Running Length: 1:31
MPAA Classification: PG-13

In 1818, when a land deal between John Bell (Sutherland) and his neighbor Kate Batts (Brown) goes bad, she blames John for her problems. She then curses John and his family. When things start happening, especially to John and his daughter Betsy (Hurd-Wood), religious leader James Johnson (Marsh), and schoolteacher Richard Powell decide to help the family.

“An American Haunting” is based on a true story, but how “true” it is has been called into question. As a movie, it works fairly well, with a twist ending that is only somewhat satisfying. The wraparound story that feels tacked on serves no real purpose and should have been left out. Despite some good actors, the acting is nothing exceptional. Sutherland and Hurd-Wood have to carry the most weight as the haunted, but neither gives stand-out performances. “An American Haunting” is a slightly above average ghost story that is better off waiting for on DVD.

Mission: Impossible III ***1/2

Cast: Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ving Rhames, Billy Crudip, Michelle Monaghan, Laurence Fishburne, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Maggie Q, Simon Pegg
Director: J.J. Abrams
Running Length: 2:08
MPAA Classification: PG-13

When Owen Davian (Hoffman) captures an IMF agent (Russell) who is investigating him, Ethan Hunt (Cruise) comes out of field-retirement to rescue her. This involves some deception on the home front, as his fiancée Julia (Monaghan) does not know what he does for a living. Ethan’s old teammate Luther (Rhames) is back to help him along with Declan (Meyers) and Zhen (Q). Their somewhat successful rescue of the agent reveals that there may be a spy in the leadership of the IMF. To find that spy, they attempt to capture Davian while he is at the Vatican attending a function. Ethan quickly finds out that a job with the IMF is not very contusive to a healthy normal life.

This time around, the “Mission: Impossible” franchise is in the hands of J. J. Abrams, well known for his television shows (Felicity, Lost, Alias), but a rookie when it comes to directing movies. Abrams is up to the challenge, delivering the best M:I movie yet. Filled with the tricks “Alias” fans will recognize from TV, Abrams keeps the movie rolling from action sequence to action sequence, ratcheting up the tension until the showdown between Cruise’s Hunt and Hoffman’s Davian. And Hoffman IS the standout here. Davian is an evil, nasty man who does not make idle threats. Hoffman sinks his teeth into the role, playing his first real bad guy. This movie is worth seeing for him alone. Cruise is good as well. It is a shame that this movie will suffer from his off-screen antics.

This is the first big budget movie of the summer. It is a great popcorn movie that will not disappoint. I highly recommend this film.

American Dreamz **
Cast: Hugh Grant, Dennis Quaid, Mandy Moore, Marcia Gay Harden, Willem Dafoe, Chris Klein, Judy Greer, Sam Golzari, Shoreh Aghdashloo, Jennifer Coolidge
Director: Paul Weitz
Running Length: 1:40
MPAA Classification: PG-13

President Staton (Quaid) has just won a second term in office, and after reading a newspaper, goes into seclusion to catch up on things. When the public begins to question his ability to lead the country, his Chief of Staff (Defoe) gets the president an appearance as a guest judge on the finals of the hit show "American Dreamz".

"American Dreamz" is hosted by Martin Tweed (Grant). He is trapped by the show, hoping for failure just so it will end. Then he sees Sally Kendoo (Moore). In her he sees a like-minded person. He gets her onto the show, and she is easily the best of the bunch. Another notable contestant is Omar (Golzari), a terrorist sent to America to get him out of the more capable terrorist’s way. Of course he is now in a position to do some serious damage, if only he did not like singing so much.

"American Dreamz" has some potential, but never really accomplishes much. Quaid and Grant channel their inner-Bush and inner-Simon Cowell, but it takes more than just two good impersonations to make a movie good. Much of the story falls flat or feels unbelievable. The ending is a prime example of this. I would say that I was disappointed with this movie, but the previews did not exactly get my hopes up. If you must see this movie, wait until it is out on DVD.

United 93 ****
Cast: Cheyenne Jackson, David Alan Basche, Christian Clemenson, JJ Johnson, Polly Adams, Khalid Abdalla, Lewis Alsamari, Omar Berdouni, Jamie Harding, Ben Sliney
Director: Paul Greengrass
Running Length: 1:48
MPAA Classification: R

“United 93” is the first major motion picture to be released since 9/11 to deal with the events of that day. Focusing on the plane that did not reach its target, the film moves in almost real time from take off to the crash landing in Pennsylvania. Writer-Director Paul Greengrass has taken pains to be as accurate as possible, and when the story veers into the unknown, the story told is very plausible.

The actors are mostly unknowns, preventing any one person from distracting the viewer from the story. This was a wise choice by Greengrass, and is successful in keeping the viewer focused on the story. The actors all do good jobs, even though none are developed excessively. This, combined with the hand held camera work gives the film a more intimate feel, as if you are there among them on the plane. Greengrass received 100% support from the families, and a substantial number of the people on the ground play themselves in the movie. That alone should speak of the quality of the film.

“United 93” is a tense, gut-wrenching movie of a group of people and their determination to stop four evil men who wanted to bring America to its knees. Is it too soon? I say no…it is never to soon to remember the heroic things that that the passengers did. They should be remembered and honored as heroes. “United 93” does just that. This is a must see movie.

The Sentinel ***
Cast: Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Longoria, Martin Donovan, Ritchie Coster, Kim Basinger, David Rasche
Director: Clark Johnson
Running Length: 1:50
MPAA Classification: PG-13

President Ballentine (Rasche) has received serious assassination threats, and there just may be an inside man in the Secret Service. David Breckinridge (Sutherland) and a new partner are chosen to investigate the case. After polygraph tests, all signs point to Pete Garrison (Douglas), but the tests are showing false positives for other reasons. Breckinridge and Garrison also used to be best friends until it seemed Garrison was having an affair with Breckinridge’s wife. Garrison now must go on the run to prove his innocence and convince Breckinridge that he is not the guilty party.

“The Sentinel” is a fun, if predictable ride. Douglas and Sutherland are in good form. (Sutherland is channeling Jack Bauer of “24”, and that is just fine). The mystery surrounding the assassination attempt is interesting, but can be figured out fairly easily. Still, there is enough action to keep things rolling smoothly. “The Sentinel” is a good popcorn movie that will entertain.

Ice Age: The Meltdown **1/2
Cast (voices): Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifa, Seann William Scott, Josh Peck
Director: Carlos Saldanha
Running Length: 1:30
MPAA Classification: PG

Manny the Mammoth (Romano), Sid the Sloth (Leguizamo), Diego the Sabertooth Tiger (Leary) and Scrat the sabertooth squirrel are back. The ice is melting, and if they do not get to a “boat” at the other end of the valley, their time will be up. As they mount a trek through the valley, Manny is having trouble accepting the fact that he is the last of his kind. At least until they meet Ellie and her two possum “brothers.” Suddenly, there is hope for mammoths, if Manny can only convince her she is not a possum.

“Ice Age 2” recaptures most of the charm of the original, but falls short mostly due to story. Sure, it is good to see these characters again (especially Scrat), but there is not much to the exodus to higher ground is slow at times. Also, this movie will probably be more popular with kids than adults. 20th Century Fox has not quite mastered the Pixar technique that guarantees enjoyment for all ages. Overall, this film is good but mostly forgettable. That being said, I am sure we will be seeing these characters again in a few years. Hopefully the story will be a little more solid the next time around.

Scary Movie 4 ***
Cast: Anna Faris, Craig Bierko, Regina Hall, Leslie Nielsen, Charlie Sheen, Bill Pullman
Director: David Zucker
Running Length: 1:20
MPAA Classification: PG-13

If you have seen and enjoyed the previous three movies in the “Scary Movie” series, number four will not disappoint. Borrowing heavily from “War of the Worlds”, “The Grudge”, and “The Village”, with other movies and Tom Cruise’s craziness thrown in, “Scary Movie 4” is one of the better installments in the series.

Back again are Anna Faris and Regina Hall, mainstays in the franchise. Death in a previous installment does not even hinder their return. They do what they did before with the safe effectiveness. Added to the mix is Craig Bierko, who channels his inner Tom Cruise to be the leading man. David Zucker (of “Airplane” fame) is back again in the director’s chair, and he continues to throw jokes and gags at the viewer until they cannot help but laugh. There is not much more that can be said about this movie. If you like this type of spoof movie, you will not be disappointed.

Thank You For Smoking ***
Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello, Cameron Bright, Sam Elliott, Katie Holmes, David Koechner, William H. Macy, Robert Duvall, Kim Dickens, Rob Lowe
Director: Jason Reitman
Running Length: 1:38
MPAA Classification: R

Nick Naylor (Eckhart) works for the Academy of Tobacco Studies as a spin doctor. He is their primary weapon in defense of Big Tobacco, and that is not an easy job. Bribing the cancer stricken Marlboro Man (Elliot), making smoking sexy in movies, and spinning an expose about him are all on his agenda. Through it all, he has to baby sit his son (Bright) and show him what dad does for a living.

“Thank You For Smoking” is a funny, edgy movie. Aaron Eckhart is perfect as the somewhat soulless Naylor. His reasoning will make you cringe, but he is hard to argue with. The supporting cast is star studded, and all the actors do a solid job. Those on both sides of the smoking issue can enjoy this movie as well, and that is perhaps the most impressive trick that the movie pulls off. If you are looking for a thought provoking, funny movie, this one is for you.

She's the Man ***
Cast: Amanda Bynes, Channing Tatum, Laura Ramsey, Vinnie Jones, David Cross, Julie Hagerty, Alex Breckenridge, James Kirk
Director: Andy Fickman
Running Length: 1:45
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Soccer-playing Viola (Bynes) is really upset when the girls' soccer team is cut. The boys' team does not want any girls on it, so Viola decides to impersonate her brother Sebastian (Kirk), who conveniently is starting a new school where he is unknown. He is also skipping out of the first weeks of school in order to pursue a musical career in Europe. Being Sebastian, she can play soccer, and maybe even get some revenge on her own school's team.

Everything is going well for Viola until she falls in love with her roommate (Tatum). Of course, he is interested in Olivia (Ramsey), and Olivia has got her eye on Viola. The only thing that could make things more complicated for Viola is if her brother were to come home early. And he does.

"She's the Man" is loosly based on William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night", and works pretty well. The majority of this film's success is due to Amanda Bynes as Viola. While never really looking like a guy, she has the enthusiasm and screen presence to make this an enjoyable film. Although aimed primarily at the teen audience, others will find enjoyment in it too.

V for Vendetta ***
Cast: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt, Tim Pigott-Smith
Director: James McTeigue
Running Length: 2:12
MPAA Classification: R

In the England of 2020, dictator Adam Sutler (Hurt) rules with an iron fist. Citizens live in fear of him and his regime. One man who stands against him in a mysterious figure that goes by the name "V" (Weaving). Hidden behind a Guy Fawkes mask, he seeks to inspire the people. Evey (Portman) is saved by V one night when she is backed into a corner by Sutler's men. Then he invites her to a viewing of a "performance" that he has arranged...the blowing up of the Old Bailey. He gives the government one year before he goes after parliament, and asks the citizens to stand up with him.

"V for Vendetta" is an interesting enough movie that is an attempt to not so subtly mirror current events. This is somewhat of a mistake, as it will alienate some of the audience. Also, the hero is a terrorist, who resorts to torture of an innocent to further his goals. Weaving does a good job as V, especially since you do not see his face throughout the entire movie. Portman does a passable job as Evie, but is nothing spectacular. "V" will give the viewer something to think about, and is not your standard comic book movie. This is definately one of the better movies to come out so far this year though, and that may be reason enough to see it.

The Libertine *1/2
Cast: Johnny Depp, Samantha Morton, John Malkovich, Rosamund Pike
Director: Laurence Dunmore
Running Length: 2:10
MPAA Classification: R

"The Libertine" is the story of John Wilmot, the Second Earl of Rochester. He was a one time hero of the British Navy, and an amusement of King Charles II (Malkovich). Wilmot had a tendency to write obscene satires, and that got him exiled from London. Charles says that he can come back if he lays low for a while, but Wilmot is not one to lay low.

Wilmot is a sex addict, and venerial diseases will be his ultimate downfall. His wife Elizabeth Malet (Pike) puts up with it, but is clearly not happy. When Wilmot meets Elizabeth Barry (Morton), he decides to teach her how to act, since she is horrible. This infatuation leads to love, at least on his part. Unfortunately for him, he is not a likeable guy -- let alone loveable, and he has no chance with her.

There is more to the film, but it all revolves around the downward spiral of Wilmot. It is not an enjoyable movie, and it is not a very good movie. This film sat on the shelves for over a year for a reason, and not even Johnny Depp can save it.

Failure to Launch **1/2
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Zooey Deschanel, Justin Bartha, Kathy Bates, Terry Bradshaw, Bradley Cooper
Director: Tom Dey
Running Length: 1:37
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Trip (McConaughey) is a 35 year old that still lives with Mom (Bates) and Dad (Bradshaw). They do everything for him, and they are his ticket out of serious relationships. One day, Mom and Dad hire Paula (Parker), an "interventionist" who specializes in getting kids out of their parents homes. Her plan: get Trip to fall in love with her which will make him want to break away from his parents. Of course, things do not go smoothly and Paula finds herself falling in love. When Trip's friends find out what she does for a living, things get even worse for Paula.

"Failure to Launch" is a so-so movie. Fans of the romantic comedy will probably like the film, but there is nothing special about it. There is little chemistry between McConaughey and Parker, and the side stories are a bit too silly. The film has an uneven feel to it, almost as if the B-story was added just to pad the running time. There are some genuine laughs, but they are too few and far bewteen. This is for fans of romantic comedies only.

Ultraviolet *
Cast: Milla Jovovich, Cameron Bright, Nick Chinlund, William Fichtner
Director: Kurt Wimmer
Running Length: 1:25
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Violet (Jovovich) is a Hemophage, infected with a blood sickness. Hemophages are exiled from society and actively hunted down. With the disease though comes extraordinary agility, strength, and dexterity. Violet is the Hemophages' best hope to deal with Daxus (Chinlund), the military leader. Violet's job is to find the doomsday weapon he has created, and destroy it. The doomsday weapon is a child named Six (Bright), and when Violet is unable to kill him, her own people set out to find her too.

"Ultraviolet" is a bad movie. The acting is bad, the special effects are bad, the fight scenes are bad, the dialogue is bad, and even the story itself is less than stellar. These are too many stikes for the film to overcome and whet is left is a laughable mess. Sadly, the opening credits are the most engaging part of the film, and seem to hint at the promise of something good. Do not bother with this movie, even on DVD.

Date Movie **
Cast: Alyson Hannigan, Adam Campbell, Jennifer Coolidge, Tony Cox, Fred Willard, Eddie Griffin, Sophie Monk
Directors: Jason Friedberg, Aaron Seltzer
Running Length: 1:23
MPAA Classification: PG-13

"Date Movie" is from two of the six writers of "Scary Movie", and is a spoof of romantic comedies. Apparently, they chose two of the worst writers from "Scary Movie", because the movie falls flat more often than it works. Alyson Hannigan is Julia Jones, the fat girl looking for Mr. Right. Hannigan deserves a better role -- she can be funny, but the material she has to work with is less than stellar. She does what she can, but it is not enough to make "Date Movie" work. The supporting cast of Adam Campbell (the boyfriend), Eddie Griffin (the dad), and Jennifer Coolidge and Fred Willard (the boyfriend's parents do not add much to the film either. "Date Movie" does manage to be pretty gross at times for a PG-13 movie, but that is not really a selling point either. This will be enjoyed by some, but only mildly. It is not awful, but it is far from great. Wait for the DVD if you must see it.

OSCAR WINNERS

Best Picture:
Brokeback Mountain -- WILL WIN
Capote
Crash -- WINNER
Good Night, and Good Luck
Munich -- SHOULD WIN

Actor:
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote -- SHOULD WIN and WILL WIN -- WINNER
Terrence Howard, Hustle & Flow -- DID NOT SEE
Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain
Joaquin Phoenix, Walk the Line
David Strathairn, Good Night, and Good Luck

Actress:
Judi Dench, Mrs. Henderson Presents -- DID NOT SEE
Felicity Huffman, Transamerica -- DID NOT SEE
Keira Knightley, Pride & Prejudice
Charlize Theron, North Country
Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line -- SHOULD WIN AND WILL WIN -- WINNER

Supporting Actor:
George Clooney, Syriana -- SHOULD WIN -- WINNER
Matt Dillon, Crash
Paul Giamatti, Cinderella Man -- WILL WIN
Jake Gyllenhaal, Brokeback Mountain
William Hurt, A History of Violence

Supporting Actress:
Amy Adams, Junebug -- DID NOT SEE
Catherine Keener, Capote
Frances McDormand, North Country
Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener -- WINNER
Michelle Williams, Brokeback Mountain -- SHOULD WIN AND WILL WIN

Director:
Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain -- WILL WIN -- WINNER
Bennett Miller, Capote
Paul Haggis, Crash
George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck
Steven Spielberg, Munich -- SHOULD WIN

Adapted Screenplay:
Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana, Brokeback Mountain -- WINNER
Dan Futterman, Capote -- SHOULD WIN AND WILL WIN
Jeffrey Caine, The Constant Gardener
Josh Olson, A History of Violence
Tony Kushner and Eric Roth, Munich

Original Screenplay:
Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco, Crash -- WINNER
George Clooney and Grant Heslov, Good Night, and Good Luck
Woody Allen, Match Point -- DID NOT SEE
Noah Baumbach, The Squid and the Whale -- DID NOT SEE
Stephen Gaghan, Syriana -- SHOULD WIN AND WILL WIN

Animated Feature Film:
Howl's Moving Castle -- DID NOT SEE
Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit -- SHOULD WIN AND WILL WIN -- WINNER

OSCAR PREDICTIONS REVIEW

Best Picture:
Brokeback Mountain -- WILL WIN
Capote
Crash
Good Night, and Good Luck
Munich -- SHOULD WIN

Actor:
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote -- SHOULD WIN and WILL WIN
Terrence Howard, Hustle & Flow -- DID NOT SEE
Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain
Joaquin Phoenix, Walk the Line
David Strathairn, Good Night, and Good Luck

Actress:
Judi Dench, Mrs. Henderson Presents -- DID NOT SEE
Felicity Huffman, Transamerica -- DID NOT SEE
Keira Knightley, Pride & Prejudice
Charlize Theron, North Country
Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line -- SHOULD WIN AND WILL WIN

Supporting Actor:
George Clooney, Syriana -- SHOULD WIN
Matt Dillon, Crash
Paul Giamatti, Cinderella Man -- WILL WIN
Jake Gyllenhaal, Brokeback Mountain
William Hurt, A History of Violence

Supporting Actress:
Amy Adams, Junebug -- DID NOT SEE
Catherine Keener, Capote
Frances McDormand, North Country
Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener
Michelle Williams, Brokeback Mountain -- SHOULD WIN AND WILL WIN

Director:
Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain -- WILL WIN
Bennett Miller, Capote
Paul Haggis, Crash
George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck
Steven Spielberg, Munich -- SHOULD WIN

Adapted Screenplay:
Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana, Brokeback Mountain
Dan Futterman, Capote -- SHOULD WIN AND WILL WIN
Jeffrey Caine, The Constant Gardener
Josh Olson, A History of Violence
Tony Kushner and Eric Roth, Munich

Original Screenplay:
Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco, Crash
George Clooney and Grant Heslov, Good Night, and Good Luck
Woody Allen, Match Point -- DID NOT SEE
Noah Baumbach, The Squid and the Whale -- DID NOT SEE
Stephen Gaghan, Syriana -- SHOULD WIN AND WILL WIN

Animated Feature Film:
Howl's Moving Castle -- DID NOT SEE
Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit -- SHOULD WIN AND WILL WIN

Nanny McPhee **1/2
Cast: Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Kelly Macdonald, Celia Imrie, Angela Lansbury, Imelda Staunton, Thomas Sangster, Derek Jacobi
Director: Kirk Jones
Running Length: 1:37
MPAA Classification: PG

The Brown children are always misbehaving. They scare away every nanny that their dad, Cedric (Firth), hires. He loves the kids, but does not know what to do. One day, Nanny McPhee (Thompson) shows up at the door, confident that she can restore order to the Brown house. Another problem for Cedric is Great Aunt Adelaide (Lansbury). She supports Cedric's family, and has decided to cut off funds if he does not marry within the month. Despite the obvious choice, Evangeline (Macdonald) - a maid who loves the children, Cedric makes a deal with Selma (Imrie), who will make an excellent Wicked Stepmother.

"Nanny McPhee" is a movie that will be enjoyed by kids. It is mostly harmless and reminiscent of "Mary Poppins." Adults may not be as taken with it, but I do not think they will find it impossible to sit through. I recommend this for DVD viewing.

The Pink Panther **1/2
Cast: Steve Martin, Kevin Kline, Beyoncé Knowles, Jean Reno, Emily Mortimer, Henry Czerny
Director: Shawn Levy
Running Length: 1:35
MPAA Classification: PG

The coach of the French national soccer team is murdered on the field after the game, and someone steals his ring. The ring contains the Pink Panther diamond, a large and valuable pink diamond. Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Kline) decides to put an idiot in charge of the investigation so he can swoop in and solve the crime and gain all the glory. This idiot is Inspector Clouseau (Martin). Of course, Clouseau may just be dumb enough to solve the case in spite of himself.

This is a movie that probably did not need to be made. The character of Inspector Clouseau is so entwined with Peter Sellers that anyone taking on the role has his work cut out for him. Steve Martin is not up to the task, but he does not completely fail either. He does an ok job filling his predacessor's shoe, and does bring some laughs. Kevin Kline and Jean Reno are also OK in supporting roles.

"The Pink Panther" will be enjoyed by many, but it sat on studio shelves for over a year before release, and that is not surprising. This version has a lot to live up to, and I do not think it is successful overall. Check this one out on DVD.

OSCAR PREDICTION
Best Picture:
Brokeback Mountain -- WILL WIN -- overrated, but the awards favorite
Capote -- a great movie, but Hoffman will get all the attention
Crash -- my #2 pick for last year, would not be disappointed if this won
Good Night, and Good Luck -- well made and interesting, this one has the least chance of winning
Munich -- SHOULD WIN -- my pick for the best movie of last year, hands down

OSCAR PREDICTION
Actor:
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote -- SHOULD WIN and WILL WIN -- an amazing performance that made the movie as great as it was
Terrence Howard, Hustle & Flow -- DID NOT SEE
Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain -- a brave choice of roles, but will come up short
Joaquin Phoenix, Walk the Line -- another amazing impersination and great performance
David Strathairn, Good Night, and Good Luck -- solid performance, but does not have the exposure of the other candidates

OSCAR PREDICTION
Actress:
Judi Dench, Mrs. Henderson Presents -- DID NOT SEE
Felicity Huffman, Transamerica -- DID NOT SEE
Keira Knightley, Pride & Prejudice -- a surprise nomination, will not really have a chance despite her good performance
Charlize Theron, North Country -- solid but nothing special
Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line -- SHOULD WIN AND WILL WIN -- great job acting and singing

Firewall ***
Cast: Harrison Ford, Paul Bettany, Virginia Madsen, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Robert Forster, Alan Arkin, Carly Schroeder, Jimmy Bennett, Robert Patrick
Director: Richard Loncraine
Running Length: 1:45
MPAA Classification: R

Jack Stanfield (Ford) is head of bank security at a bank on the brink of a merger. Bill Cox (Bettany) is a businessman that, after a business meeting with JAck, makes Jack an offer. If Jack helps Bill rob the bank of $100 million, Bill will let Jack's family live. He has taken them all hostage, and is pulling Jack's strings to accomplish the task. OF course, Bill is less than trustworthy, and Jack soon finds himself in a no-win situation as the crimes start to point to him.

"Firewall" is an entertaining thriller. Harrison Ford gets the job done as Jack, although the years are starting to show. Paul Bettany is a solid villain, and is believeable for his brains and toughness. Mary Lynn Rajskub and Virginia Madsen are good in supporting roles. This is not a perfect movie, but it will provide a couple hours of solid enjoyment.

OSCAR PREDICTION
Supporting Actor:
George Clooney, Syriana -- SHOULD WIN -- this is the Oscar that he deserves, but will likely be ignored
Matt Dillon, Crash -- great performance
Paul Giamatti, Cinderella Man -- WILL WIN -- he has been passed over in previous years, and the Oscar voters feel they owe him
Jake Gyllenhaal, Brokeback Mountain -- the weakest of the Brokeback Bunch, the honor is in the nomination
William Hurt, A History of Violence -- perfect in his small role, addind some humor to a serious movie

OSCAR PREDICTION
Supporting Actress:
Amy Adams, Junebug -- DID NOT SEE
Catherine Keener, Capote -- solid performance
Frances McDormand, North Country -- Oscar always loves actors playing the disabled, but she has no chance with this field
Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener -- great job with limited screen time
Michelle Williams, Brokeback Mountain -- SHOULD WIN AND WILL WIN -- great performance in a difficult role

OSCAR PREDICTION
Director:
Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain -- WILL WIN -- the momentum for this movie will carry its director to victory
Bennett Miller, Capote
Paul Haggis, Crash
George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck
Steven Spielberg, Munich -- SHOULD WIN

OSCAR PREDICTION
Adapted Screenplay:
Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana, Brokeback Mountain -- first story of its kind
Dan Futterman, Capote -- SHOULD WIN AND WILL WIN -- great telling of the writing of a classic book
Jeffrey Caine, The Constant Gardener -- well done, but a real downer
Josh Olson, A History of Violence -- great story of a man trying to put his past behind him
Tony Kushner and Eric Roth, Munich -- interesting story of a country's retribution

OSCAR PREDICTION
Original Screenplay:
Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco, Crash -- well done script that managed to not be preachy
George Clooney and Grant Heslov, Good Night, and Good Luck -- interesting look at McCarthyism
Woody Allen, Match Point -- DID NOT SEE
Noah Baumbach, The Squid and the Whale -- DID NOT SEE
Stephen Gaghan, Syriana -- SHOULD WIN AND WILL WIN -- complex story that is well put together and challenges the audience

OSCAR PREDICTION
Animated Feature Film:
Howl's Moving Castle -- DID NOT SEE
Tim Burton's Corpse Bride -- well done, but not good enough to beat Wallace & Gromit
Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit -- SHOULD WIN AND WILL WIN -- best children's movie of the year, and a favorite of most critics

Brokeback Mountain **1/2
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway, Randy Quaid, Linda Cardellini, Anna Faris
Director: Ang Lee
Running Length: 2:15
MPAA Classification: R

In the summer of 1963, Jack Twist (Gyllenhaal) and Ennis Del Mar (Ledger) are hired to me sheepherders on Brokeback Mountain. This is the first time they have met, and gradually a friendship forms between the two. One cold night, the friendship turns into something more. They agree to keep things a secret, and really do not expect to see each other again.

Ennis marries Alma (Williams), and Jack marries Lureen (Hathaway). Despite trying to lead normal lives, they cannot forget their time together. Eventually Jack makes contact with Ennis, and their relationship is rekindled.

"Brokeback Mountain" is not a movie for everyone, and I was indifferent to it. The cast all do a good job, especially Ledger and Williams, who deserve the Oscar nominations they received. The story, however, was unremarkable to me. The only thing that makes it "special" is that the two leads are gay, or at least bi-sexual. And that will be the downfall of the movie for many. Finally, the movie feels longer than it is. 135 minutes is a lot to ask for this story, and that hurts the film too. I cannot recommend this movie, but I do think that it will find a appreciative audience with some.

The Matador ***
Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Hope Davis
Director: Richard Shepard
Running Length: 1:36
MPAA Classification: R

Julian Noble (Brosnan) is a hitman who is burned out and trying to get out of the business. In Mexico City, he meets Danny Wright (Kinnear), and makes a poor impression. Determined to make up for it, he takes Danny to a bullfight the next day. There, Julian confesses to Danny that he is a hitman, and tells Danny how to go about making a hit to convince him he is telling the truth. The two part ways, only to meet again months later when Julian shows up at Danny's house in Denver looking for help.

That is a fairly simple description of a very funny movie. Brosnan is doing his best to shed the James Bond image that he has cultivated over the last decade, and he succeeds. Kinnear is the straight man, an average Joe., and is believeable in the role. Danny and Julian's friendship is believeable, and that is what makes the movie work. All in all, "The Matador" is an entertaining buddy film that has a lot of humor. Fans of either of the stars will not be disappointed, and I recommend the film.

List of the 78th annual Oscar nominations
The Associated Press
The Oscar nominations were announced Tuesday in Beverly Hills, Calif., by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Here's a rundown of the nominees:

Best Picture:
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
Crash
Good Night, and Good Luck
Munich

Actor:
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote
Terrence Howard, Hustle & Flow
Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain
Joaquin Phoenix, Walk the Line
David Strathairn, Good Night, and Good Luck

Actress:
Judi Dench, Mrs. Henderson Presents
Felicity Huffman, Transamerica
Keira Knightley, Pride & Prejudice
Charlize Theron, North Country
Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line

Supporting Actor:
George Clooney, Syriana
Matt Dillon, Crash
Paul Giamatti, Cinderella Man
Jake Gyllenhaal, Brokeback Mountain
William Hurt, A History of Violence

Supporting Actress:
Amy Adams, Junebug
Catherine Keener, Capote
Frances McDormand, North Country
Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener
Michelle Williams, Brokeback Mountain

Director:
Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain
Bennett Miller, Capote
Paul Haggis, Crash
George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck
Steven Spielberg, Munich

Foreign Film:
Don't Tell, Italy
Joyeux Noel, France
Paradise Now, Palestine
Sophie Scholl — The Final Days, Germany
Tsotsi, South Africa

Adapted Screenplay:
Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana, Brokeback Mountain
Dan Futterman, Capote
Jeffrey Caine, The Constant Gardener
Josh Olson, A History of Violence
Tony Kushner and Eric Roth, Munich

Original Screenplay:
Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco, Crash
George Clooney and Grant Heslov, Good Night, and Good Luck
Woody Allen, Match Point
Noah Baumbach, The Squid and the Whale
Stephen Gaghan, Syriana

Animated Feature Film:
Howl's Moving Castle
Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Art Direction:
Good Night, and Good Luck
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
King Kong
Memoirs of a Geisha
Pride & Prejudice

Cinematography:
Batman Begins
Brokeback Mountain
Good Night, and Good Luck
Memoirs of a Geisha
The New World

Sound Mixing:
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
King Kong
Memoirs of a Geisha
Walk the Line
War of the Worlds

Sound Editing:
King Kong
Memoirs of a Geisha
War of the Worlds

Original Score:
Brokeback Mountain, Gustavo Santaolalla
The Constant Gardener, Alberto Iglesias
Memoirs of a Geisha, John Williams
Munich, John Williams
Pride & Prejudice, Dario Marianelli

Original Song:
In the Deep from Crash, Kathleen Bird York and Michael Becker
It's Hard out Here for a Pimp from Hustle & Flow, Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman and Paul Beauregard
Travelin' Thru from Transamerica, Dolly Parton

Costume:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Memoirs of a Geisha
Mrs. Henderson Presents
Pride & Prejudice
Walk the Line

Documentary Feature:
Darwin's Nightmare
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
March of the Penguins
Murderball
Street Fight

Documentary (short subject):
The Death of Kevin Carter: Casualty of the Bang Bang Club
God Sleeps in Rwanda
The Mushroom Club
A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin

Film Editing:
Cinderella Man
The Constant Gardener
Crash
Munich
Walk the Line

Makeup:
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Cinderella Man
Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith

Animated Short Film:
Badgered
The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation
The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello
9
One Man Band

Live Action Short Film:
Ausreisser (The Runaway)
Cashback
The Last Farm
Our Time Is Up
Six Shooter

Visual Effects:
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
King Kong
War of the Worlds

Academy Award winners previously announced this year:
Honorary Award (Oscar statuette): Robert Altman.
The Gordon E. Sawyer award (Oscar statuette): Gary Demos.

Capote ****
Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Clifton Collins Jr., Chris Cooper, Bruce Greenwood, Bob Balaban, Amy Ryan, Mark Pellegrino
Director: Bennett Miller
Running Length: 1:50
MPAA Classification: R

In 1959, Truman Capote (Hoffman), an author at the time best known for "Breakfast at Tiffany's", read about the murder of the Clutter family in Kansas. He decided to investigate the four murders for a non-fiction article, having grown tired of writing fiction. He takes his good friend, Nell Harper Lee (Keener), and heads to Kansas. The police chief reluctantly cooperates with themandsoon Capote is interviewing Perry Smith (Collins) and Richard Hickock (Pellingrino). Capote and Perry form a bond of sorts, both using the other to their own benefit. Capote even observes, "It's as if Perry and I grew up in the same house. One day, I went out the front door and he went out the back." Their bond becomes torment for Capote, and he soon finds himself wishing for it all to be over.

"Capote" is an absolutely fascinating film about one of America's most well known authors, and gives an in-depth look in to the writing of his masterwork, "In Cold Blood". Philip Seymour Hoffman is outstanding as the title character, throwing all of himself into the role. This movie is his, and he owns every scene. If he does not win an Oscar for his performance, it will be a crime. Supporting actors Catherine Keener and Chris Cooper, as well ast Clifton Collins, Jr. also give solid performances that make this film gripping. I cannot recommend this movie enough. It is only in limited release, and has been since September 2005, but I highly recommend searching it out.

Underworld: Evolution ***
Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Tony Curran, Derek Jacobi, Bill Nighy
Director: Len Wiseman
Running Length: 1:45
MPAA Classification: R

Picking up where "Underworld" left off, Selena (Beckinsale) and Michael (Speedman) are on the run. They have just killed Viktor (Nighy), and now Marcus (Curran) is after them. He is even older than Viktor, and a twin brother who is the original werewolf. And, while all this is going on, someone else (Jacobi) is plotting something mysterious.

Fans of the original will not be disappointed with the sequel. In addition to the continuing story, some backstory is also given, setting up the action that takes place in the present. Beckinsale and Speedman seem comfortable returning to their roles, and the new cast members do good jobs as well. The special effects are on par with the original, and the action is intense. Fans of the first definately want to check this out, and newcomers will find this movie accessable as well.

Tristan & Isolde ***
Cast: James Franco, Sophia Myles, Rufus Sewell, David O'Hara, Henry Cavill, JB Blanc Jamie King, Bronagh Gallagher
Director: Kevin Reynolds
Running Length: 2:05
MPAA Classification: PG-13

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Ireland has conquered Britain. It seems that they are too busy fighting among themselves to band together and fight the Irish. Lord Marke (Sewell)is the man who may be able to change that. When the Irish arrive there, Marke's men, led by Tristan (Franco) leads the charge against them. After he is apparently killed in battle, his body is sent out to sea on a funeral boat that ends up coming ashore in Ireland. There he is found by the daughter of the king, Isolde (Myles). He is not dead, and she nurses him back to health. They do not know who each other really are, and soon fall in love. Given the situation between their people, they realize that they really have no future. Tristan heads home, but the two will meet again.

"Tristan & Isolde" is based on an old British legend, and may even be the inspiration for Lancelot and Guinevere. The film is well made, and Franco and Myles do good jobs as the star-crossed leads. The action sequences are done well, and the story is interesting. Yes, this is a period romance, but there is plenty of action and story to entertain those who want more than just a love story. This was a pleasant surprise, and I recommend it for all.

Hoodwinked **1/2
Cast (voices): Anne Hathaway, Clenn Close, Patrick Warburton, James Belushi, Xzbit, Anthony Anderson, David Ogden Stiers, Andy Dick
Director: Cory Edwards
Running Length: 1:20
MPAA Classification: PG

You think you know the story of Little Red Riding Hood? Well, forget everything you think you know, because "Hoodwinked" sets the story straight. "Hoodwinked" is the true story of Little Red Riding Hood, told from the points of view of Red Riding Hood (Hathaway), the Big Bad Wolf (Warburton), the Woodsman (Belushi), and Granny (Close). While being questioned by Nicky Flippers (Stiers), the four tell their side of the story, and none are what you will expect. It seems that there is more going on than meets the eye here, and Mr. Flippers is going to get to the bottom of it.

"Hoodwinked" is an interesting twist on a classic story. That classic story is just a jumping point for all that is going on behind the scenes, and that will all come together to give the story that we all know. The voice talents are all good, but not outstanding. The animation is sub-par though, looking like something made for TV. That is the film's biggest downfall. In an age where Pixar has spoiled moviegoing audiences, the animation in this film is at times painful. Kids will probably love it though, and that is all that really matters I suppose, since they are the target audience.

Casanova ***
Cast: Heath Ledger, Sienna Miller, Oliver Platt, Jeremy Irons, Stephen Greif, Natalie Dormer, Lena Olin
Director: Lasse Hallström
Running Length: 1:48
MPAA Classification: R

Casanova (Ledger) is searching for a wife. It seems that, if he cannot show he is living a more respectable life, he will be kicked out of Venice. You see, Casanova is a womanizer with many conquests, and his actions have upset the Church. He is quickly engaged to Victoria (Dormer), a woman with a pure reputation. Of course, as soon as that is arranged, he meets Francesca (Miller), a feminist who hates all he stands for. He pretends to be someone else to get into her good graces, and soon finds out she is engaged to Papprizzio (Platt), a man whom she has never met. Meanwhile, arriving in Venice to find Casanova, is Pucci (Irons), one of the Vatican's most known and feared inquisitors.

"Casanova" is more entertaining than the average romantic comedy, if that is what you would call this movie. Part comedy, part historical piece, "Casanova" has an odd tone that somehow earns is an undeserved R rating. This movie is PG-13 at worst, and the MPAA rating handed down is stupifying. Ledger and Miller are adequate as the leads, getting the job done, but not amazing. The scene stealer in this film is Oliver Platt as the rotund Papprizzio. He is funny every time he is on screen. The story is entertaining, and will be tolerable for men as well as the women who drag them to see it.

Wolf Creek ***
Cast: John Jarratt, Cassandra Magrath, Kestie Morassi, Nathan Phillips
Director: Greg McLean
Running Length: 1:39
MPAA Classification: R

Liz (Magrath), Kristy (Morassi), and Ben (Phillips) are travelling across the Australian outback, on their way to the east coast. Along the way, they stop and do some sightseeing at a crater in Wolf Creek. When they return to their car, it will not start. They are in the middle of nowhere, with no one around for miles. Fortunately for them, one night Mick (Jarratt), a local, comes across them and offers to fix their car and take them back to his place for the night. Unfortunately, Mick has other plans for the three of them as well.

"Wolf Creek" is a genuinely creepy movie. The kids' aloneness is very evident and eerie, and it is easy to believe that this could really happen. (Indeed, the movie is inspired by true events). Jarratt is about as disturbing as you could want in a killer in this type of movie. "Wolf Creek" was a surprise for me, as I enjoyed it more than I anticipated (if "enjoy" is actually the correct word to use for a movie of this type). I recommend this for horror fans only.

The 12 Best Movies I Saw in 2005
Once again...the list is 12 movies long because two of the twelve are actually from 2004. 2005 was a very good year for movies quality-wise, and I hope 2006 is at least as good.

1. Munich ****
2. Crash ****
3. Batman Begins ****
4. Million Dollar Baby **** (from 2004)
5. Hotel Rwanda **** (from 2004)
6. The 40 Year Old Virgin ****
7. Jarhead ****
8. A History of Violence ****
9. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ****
10. Sin City ***1/2
11. Syriana ***1/2
12. March of the Penguins ***1/2

Memoirs of a Geisha **1/2
Cast: Ziyi Zhang, Ken Watanabe, Michelle Yeoh, Kôji Yakusho, Kaori Momoi, Youki Kudoh, Gong Li, Kenneth Tsang, Suzuka Ohgo
Director: Rob Marshall
Running Length: 2:25
MPAA Classification: PG-13

As a child, Chiyo (Zhang) is sold by her father to the owner of a geisha house. A geisha is a "moving work of art" who sells her skills. Her new plans to become one are ended when Hatsumomo (Li) decides she does not like her. She is instead forced to perform chores for the house. After the Chairman (Watanabe) is kind to her, Chiyo decides she will find a way to become a geisha and make him her patron. Mameha (Yeoh), a famous geisha, decides to take Chiyo under her wing, and when she is introduced into society she must compete with Harsumomo for clients.

"Memoirs" is an interesting movie that gives a window into the world of the geisha. Unfortunately, it is not fascinating enough to sustain the movie's 145 minute running time. Zhang and Yeoh give good performances and are likeable in their roles. Li is suitably dislikeable in hers. The film is beautiful to look at and evokes the time frame of the movie very well. This is not a bad movie, but like I said, it runs way too long. Because of this, I cannot recommend it for most theater-goers. Those really interested in the story material and the time, however, may just find a gem of a film.

Munich ****
Cast: Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, Ciaran Hinds, Mathieu Kassovitz, Hanns Zischler, Geoffrey Rush, Ayelet Zurer, Michael Lonsdale, Mathiew Amalric
Director: Steven Spielberg
Running Length: 2:42
MPAA Classification: R

At the 1972 Olympics in Munich, the terrorist group Black September kidnapped and murdered some Israeli atheletes. This is the story of Isreal's response to this horrific event. Avner (Bana) is chosen to lead a five-man team of ex-Mossad agents that are to track down and assassinate the 11 Palestinians responsible for the attack. They are working unofficially for the government, through their handler, Ephraim (Rush), who provides them money and information. For Avner, this is patriotism, and a chance to serve his country.

The team travels the world locating and eliminating their targets. He becomes focused and begins to lose himself with each passing murder. Also, the hunters become the hunted, and soon they are guarding their own lives as well as trying to finish the job. Plus, Black September begins retaliating, forcing Avner to question their actions and if those actions are actually making things better or worse.

"Munich" is an excellent movie, showing a story that is very relevant today. It is thought provoking and engaging. Eric Bana is amazing as the conscience-tortured Avner who just wants to do the right thing. His team (especially the new James Bond, Daniel Craig) are all excellent in their roles. The story is fast paced, and full of action. Director Stephen Speilberg has crafted another masterpiece. "Munich" is an important film that I highly recommend be seen by all.

Fun with Dick and Jane **
Cast: Jim Carrey, Téa Leoni, Alec Baldwin, Richard Jenkins
Director: Dean Parisot
Running Length: 1:30
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Dick Harper (Carrey) has just been named VP of Communications at a corporation that is about to go under. The CEO, Jack McCallister (Baldwin), is leaving with all the money and leaving Frank Bascom (Jenkins), his CFO to take all the blame. Dick has gone from being on top of the world to being jobless. Jane (Leoni) has quit her job after learning Dick had received a promotion, and now the two are unemployed.

Unable to find jobs, the two begin selling off their posessions in order to retain their house. Eventually, when the bank comes for the house, they are forced to take matters into their own hands, becoming criminals and stealing to get by.

"Fun With Dick and Jane" is a disappointment. It is not very funny. Jim Carrey gives his usual over-the-top performance, but that act is going old. Téa Leoni is unremarkable as Jane and adds little to the film. While being far from awful, "Fun With Dick and Jane" is not a movie that I can recommend.

Pride & Prejudice **1/2
Cast: Keira Knightley, Matthew MacFadyen, Donald Sutherland, Brenda Blethyn, Rosamund Pike, Simon Woods, Jena Malone, Judi Dench
Director: Joe Wright
Running Length: 2:10
MPAA Classification: PG

Elizabeth Bennett (Knightley) and Mr. Darcy (MacFadyen) do not impress each other in their first meeting. In fact, they seem alltogether unimpressed with each other. Circumstances continually force their paths to cross, and soon their opinions of each other begin to change. Things are not happily ever after though, as marriage proposals interfere with their possible relationship, but if you know the story, you know how it ends.

Yet another adaptation of Jane Austen's "Pride & Prejudice", and I am told that this is a pretty good one. The story, however, did not hold my interest. I am not a Jane Austen fan, and was probably doomed from the start to be disappointed. Keira Knightley does a good job as Lizzie though, being both playful and vulnerable. MacFayden, as Mr. Darcy, is uninspiring, but Darcy himself is kind of a jerk at times and I found him unlikeable. This is a movie I would recommend for Jane Austen fans only. I think they will enjoy the film, but others will not.

King Kong ***
Cast: Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Andy Serkis, Jamie Bell, Kyle Chandler, Thomas Kretschmann
Director: Peter Jackson
Running Length: 3:07
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Carl Denham (Black) is a filmmaker who wants to get his film made. The problem is that creditors are after him and he is missing a leading lady. Ann Darrow (Watts) is an out of work actress who stumbles across Denham's path. When she agrees, they make a hasty retreat to the "Venture", the ship that will take them to the filming location. In the process, he manages to strand screenwriter Jack Driscoll (Brody) on board. Soon, they ae heading for Skull Island.
Once there, the filming begins, only to be interrupted by the natives, who have a tendency to remove the heads from their victims. Ann is offered up as a sacrifice to the dominant male of the island, a big ape by the name of Kong (Serkis). Instead of killing her, he develops a crush on her. After a long chase on the island, we go back to New York for the fateful ending.

"King Kong" is a good movie, full of action, special effects, and heart. Serkis gives Kong a realness that has not been seen before. The action is tense and unrelenting. Black and Brody do good jobs as their respective characters. Watts shows she can act convincingly with a green screen. The biggest drawback to this film is the running time. At over three hours, "King Kong" is at least an hour too long. This is not an epic tale, despite getting the epic treatment, and the film is hurt by it. Fans of Peter Jackson (and there are many) will no doubt be thrilled by everything in this movie, and for them I recommend this film highly. Otherwise, you may want to wait to DVD so you can have access to a pause button.

Syriana ***1/2
Cast: George Clooney, Jeffrey Wright, Matt Damon, Alexander Siddig, Chris Cooper, Christopher Plummer, Amanda Peet, William Hurt
Director: Stephen Gaghan
Running Length: 2:06
MPAA Classification: R

"Syriana" is a complex film about oil, terrorism, the government, and other related issues. It is so intricate, that it really cannot be described in a way to make it clear. There are, however, three main story lines. First, Bob Barnes (Clooney) is a Middle East CIA operative that is let go after he ceases to be helpful. Second, Connex and Killen are two oil companies that are merging. Third, Prince Nasir Al-Subaai (Siddig) is next in line to become Emir of his unnamed country, and believes that his country should not give in to the United States. These story lines, as well as the others, all come together in the end in a satisfying conclusion.

"Syriana" is a thinking person's movie. If you do not pay attention, you will get lost very quickly. But, if you pay attention, "Syriana" is highly satisfying. Structured like "Traffic" and "Crash", "Syriana" is a movie that makes you think. The cast is excellent all around, all providing their piece of the puzzle. Director Stephen Gaghan weaves the tale skillfully, bringing seemingly unrelated stories together for a fantastic finish. "Syriana" is definately not a movie for everyone, but I highly recommend this film.

The Chronicles of Natnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe ***
Cast: Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Tilda Swinton, James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, Liam Neeson (voice)
Director: Andrew Adamson
Running Length: 2:20
MPAA Classification: PG

During World War II, the Pevensie children - Peter (Moseley), Susan (Popplewell), Edmund (Keynes), and Lucy (Henley) - are sent from London to stay with Professor Kirke (Broadbent). One day, while playing hide and seek, Lucy hides in a wardrobe. She soon finds it is no ordinary wardrobe as it transports her to Narnia, a magical wintery world. She meets Mr. Rumnus (McAvoy), and finds out that it has been winter there for 100 years because of the rule of the Wite Witch (Swinton). After returning to her world, she brings her siblings back with her. Edmund disappears, having been tricked by the White Witch, and the rest must rescue him and save Narnia in the process.

On the heels of "The Lord of the Rings", it is no surprise that this movie has been made. There has been a surge in the popularity of fantasy epics as of late, and "Narnia" is a logical coice for the film treatment. The results are about the same as the "Rings" trilogy. The acting is solid all around. This is impressive since the film is carried by four kids with minimal acting experience. Swinton is menacing as the evil White Witch, and probably the standout performance of the movie. The special effects are good overall. Aslan the lion is impressive, and looks completely real. Some of the scenes look like they were definately filmed in front of a green screen though, and that is distracting. The story is given a good treatment by "Shrek" director Andrew Adamson, but I was not blown away like I hoped to be. The result is an entertaining and good film that falls short of greatness.

Good Night, and Good Luck ***
Cast: David Strathairn, Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Ray Wise, Frank Langella, Jeff Daniels, George Clooney
Director: George Clooney
Running Length: 1:33
MPAA Classification: PG

"Good Night, and Good Luck" is the true story of CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow (Strathairn) and Senator Joseph McCarthy. In 1953 and 1954, Murrow attempted to discredit McCarthy's hunt for communists on his television show. When McCarthy turned on him, Murrow was able to disprove the allegations, and soon the Senate would choose to investigate McCarthy, ending his hunt.

"Good Night, and Good Luck" is a solid movie with a solid cast. Strathairn is impressive as Murrow, portraying him as a man of integrity and a desire to expose the truth. He is not a household name, but he is the core of this movie, and it succeeds mostly because of him. The story itself is very interesting, mostly because it really happened. George Clooney's direction gets the job done, and shows that he has whet it takes to make serious films about important topics. This is not a fun movie, but it is very good and well worth seeing.

Aeon Flux *1/2

Cast: Charlize Theron, Marton Csokas, Jonny Lee Miller, Sophie Okonedo, Frances McDormand, Pete Poslethwaite, Amelia Warner
Director: Karyn Kusama
Running Length: 1:35
MPAA Classification: PG-13

400 years from now, 99% of the world's population has been wiped out by a virus. Those remaining are living in a walled city and led by the Goodchild regime. Five million people survived the plague in 2001, and five million still live in 2415. The Goodchild regime is a totalitarian government, and the Monicans are focused on removing him from power by any means necessary. The most dangerous Monican, Aeon Flux (Theron) accepts a specific mission from the Handler (McDormand) to kill Trevor Goodchild (Csokas). With the help of her sidekick, Sithandra (Okonedo), she ventures into his fortress. When the time comes to pull the trigger, something happens that will change their world forever.

"Aeon Flux" is the film version of some short cartoons aired on MTV in the 1990's, and is a mixed bag, sometimes working and sometimes not -- mostly not. There are a lot of nods to the cartoon, and they seem kind of silly when not in cartoon form. Theron is wrong for the role, and never really feels right to this fan of the cartoon. The story is moderately interesting, but poorly executed for the most part. "Aeon Flux" was a disappointment for me, and I can't help but think that with a different cast and crew, a better job could have been done.

The Ice Harvest **
Cast: John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Platt, Randy Quaid, Mike Starr
Director: Harold Ramis
Running Length: 1:28
MPAA Classification: R

Charlie Arglist (Cusack) and Vic (Thorton) are attorneys who steal $2 million from their boss, Bill Fuerrard (Quaid) on Christmas Eve. They just need to kill some time before meeting up later in the night to split the money. Charlie wants to take stripper Renata (Nielsen) with him, and tries to convince her to leave town with him. As he is doing this, one of Bill's enforcers shows up asking questions about Charlie and Vic. While dealing with this, he is hindered by his drunken buddy Pete (Platt). As things begin to accelerte, Charlie finds that he just might not get out of town alive after all.

"The Ice Harvest" was somewhat disappointing. I expected more, and while the film delivers here and there, overall it is missing something. Cusack, Thorton, and Platt give good performances (especially Platt who steals every scene he is in), but that is not enough to lift this film above average. I can only recommend to wait for the DVD.

Rent *
Cast: Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, Tracie Thoms
Director: Chris Columbus
Running Length: 2:15
MPAA Classification: PG-13

"Rent" is the story of eight New Yorkers from Christmas Eve 1989 to Christmas Eve 1990. Those New Yorkers include Mimi (Dawson), a stripper who got HIV from sharing needles; Tom Collins (Martin), a gay man with HIV; Angel (Heredia), a transvestite with HIV; Roger (Pascal), a musician who also got HIV from sharing needles; and Mark (Rapp), a filmmaker who is trying to catch a break. When old friend Benny (Diggs), the guy who owns the tenement that they all live in, threatens to evict them unless they start paying rent, they begin to worry about what the future holds for them.

"Rent" is based on the popular musical of the same name and stars most of the original Broadway cast. That is probably the greatest thing I can say about this movie, and I applaud the filmmakers for getting the cast to reprise their roles. After all, they are the ones who made the characters what they are. The music is OK, the stand out song being "Seasons of Love". Of course, that is the first song, and the rest of the songs are lesser in comparison, so it is all downhill song-wise from there. The story is maddening, as these lazy people struggle to live rent-free so that they can just enjoy life. While I appreciate their desire to enjoy the time they have, I hated the characters for doing it at the expense of others.

I did not like this movie. I suppose to see it live is more impressive, and that may be enough to overshadow the dumb story, but that does not work in movie form. This is for die hard fans of the musical only. Otherwis, stay away!

Walk the Line ***
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick, Dallas Roberts, Dan John Miller, Larry Bagby, Shelby Lynne
Director: James Mangold
Running Length: 2:16
MPAA Classification: PG-13

"Walk the Line" is the story of Johnny Cash from his childhood in 1944 to the late 1960s. As a child, we see two people that shaped his life: his brother and his father. Skip ahead ten years, and Johnny Cash (Phoenix) is married to his wife, Viv (Goodwin), and has started a band. After getting a record deal, he finds himself on tour with Jerry Lee Lewis and June Carter (Witherspoon). Along the way he finds drugs, which threaten his newfound popularity, and he falls in love with June, which just may save him.

Both Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon give excellent performances, sounding and acting just like the stars that they are portraying. Phoenix is as good, if not better than Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles in last year's "Ray". The story is well told, and it is interesting to see the events that shaped Cash's life, and made him who he is. Whether you are a Johnny Cash fan or not, "Walk the Line" is a highly entertaining and well made movie that is worth seeing.