The Calendar Girls is based on the true story of a group of middle-aged ladies in Yorkshire, UK who create a nude calendar (not “naked”) to raise money for the leukemia ward and waiting room of the local hospital. The struggle with the difference between art and non-art (pornography); they struggle with celebrity. They struggle with their personal relationships – all with a sense of droll humor and a sense of loss and empathy for those who lose loved ones... Read more

If you saw the original, this version of Cheaper by the Dozen may not ring your chimes too much. It has some funny parts and it tries very hard. The eventual clash between the parents doesn’t seem authentic because it doesn’t take the time to develop the “family character” enough for us to care – or there are just too many to keep track of. Ashton Kutcher is very funny and his character works well as the true narcissist of... Read more

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, is a lovely story about a motherless young white girl, Lily, in South Carolina in the 1960’s. She thinks she is responsible for her mother’s death, her father is emotionally blank, mean and makes her kneel on dry grits for punishment. She finds a picture of the Black Madonna on a label that belonged to her mother. When she runs away because she has helped a black woman, Rosaleen, break out of jail,... Read more

Have you ever seen a good movie made from a really poor script and conventional plot? Honey-from-the block is not a well-written movie, but I enjoyed every minute of it. (Think thoughts of Jennifer Lopez’ story growing up in the Bronx – even to the choice of Castle Hill Avenue for a dance studio … which is not even close to Hunt’s Point or the South Bronx!) It’s Save the Last Dance, and a little Dirty Dancing rolled into one. Great moves by... Read more

Writer-Director Nancy Meyers has made a fun and very funny movie about the Ashton – Demi celebrity syndrome and its reverse in Something’s Gotta Give. There is a complexity of relationships (but nothing as poorly executed as Love Actually) to be explored and sometimes it’s laugh out loud. Yes, there are implied affairs and some skin (mostly Jack Nicholson’s unimpressive rear) but remember: the play’s the thing. Diane Keaton is Erica, a divorced writer of successful Broadway plays and Keanu Reeves the doctor... Read more

This latest from Tim Burton is warm, off-beat and appealing. It’s themes are very Christian as are the images. Big Fish – remember the one that got away? A young man, Will, (Billy Crudup) goes home because his father (Albert Finney) is dying. They have not spoken for three years. The father is a very social person and has always related to people through fantastic stories. Will scorns his father and regrets every believing him. The strongest feature of this film is... Read more

The Last Samurai is a fine film and arguably Tom Cruise’s best acting so far. It takes place in 1876 when three US soliders go to Japan to turn the Japanese army “western.” And in some ways, this is like a Kurosawa film turned into a western and then woven together. It’s about culture clash, culture colonization through trade and economics. The most appealing thing about it is the integrity of the friendship between Cruise and the main Samurai warrior.... Read more

The Missing is a somber work by director Ron Howard – a western with ideas. Excellent work by Cate Blanchette and the girl who plays her youngest daughter, Dot. Tommy Lee is good, but how Howard got such performances from these two ladies is a wonder. There is always something missing in this film, from the old woman’s teeth at the beginning, to the older daughter who is kidnapped, to the father who deserted Maggie (Blanchette) and returns for his... Read more

Peter Pan is really Wendy’s movie. This new version, directed by Australian PJ Hogan is a delight. He and screenwriters based it on the original 1904 play by J M Barrie – not the Disney version (heaven forbid.) They did add one character, an aunt, played by the wonderful Lynn Redgrave. They also used the book PETER PAN as a reference, but the play’s the thing. So, OK, the actor who plays Peter Pan is a male (for the first... Read more

Last night I got to see this film at a press screening and I am on my way out the door for the press interviews, but I want to let you know that this is a great film. It is very long at 200 minutes, but if you want to experience the entire trilogy, this is a must. More later… I’m back. The Return of the King is really the heart of this cinematic masterpiece. I just learned yesterday that... Read more