I really do like this show but it will remain to be seen where it will go this year now that Rory is off to college. Women write better scripts than the men and these guys (characters) all drink too much caffeine, the situation is postcard perfect, but it’s nice to see a prime time program with young women who don’t jump into a sexual relationship every chance they get (not so mama). This is really adolescent fare, and somewhat... Read more

Did you happen to notice how many films about Los Angeles use the same locations? Hollywood Homicide and S.W.A.T. both used several of the same as The Italian Job. I thought other heist movies were better – The Thomas Crown Affair (original and remake) for example, and Ocean’s Eleven (remake) was a hoot. Honor and dishonor among thieves. In The Italian Job it’s easy to note a new filmmaking technique – the gorgeous stars stop, pose and sparkle for the camera... Read more

Great movie about the little horse that could … the book made me laugh more, but for a 2 hour version of a book, the film was just fine. Loved the acting… Gosh this past summer had a lot of guy movies. At least this one was based on fact… Will receive the Catholics in Media Award this coming Sunday at the Beverly Hilton. Well deserved (though Bruce Almighty gets my #1 vote!) Read more

Le Divorce is a comedy of manners and cultural contrast from Merchant Ivory. From the first scene at the Paris Airport, when a Franch and US airliner are shown side by side, we know this is a set-up. This is an artsy film – watch the red handbag. I enjoyed it, it made me chuckle and it offered my sister and I something to talk about. My niece, who is a junior in college, didn’t get it and didn’t like... Read more

The Magadalene Sisters is a sad, terrible tale based on facts. Irish girls and young women assumed to be “sinners” because they were raped, sexually active or even suspected of being so, were sent to work in laundries run by nuns and the Irish government. These laundries were in existence until the 1990’s when the last one was closed. The film does not show even one sympathetic nun – and this is too bad because there had to have been at... Read more

Luther begins with a tortured young man pleading with God for forgiveness. He enters a monastery, probably for the wrong reasons. But he studies and learns and knows heresy when he sees it. I liked this telling of Luther’s life, especially because in its two-hour life span it brought in Luther’s personality and character, the Catholic Church at that time – almost 500 years ago, and how the “princes” played into Luther’s calling the truth as he saw it. This... Read more

This film about a mother and daughter who exchange bodies/identites for twenty-four hours was a lot of fun. It’s always a good thing to walk in another person’s shoes and see life from adifferent perspective, especially a loved one. Rather than a preachy family movie, it reinforced the idea and value of family. What a difference a day makes. Read more

And the plot was about… studly LAPD characters doing the action thing. Even with a Latina as a token female lead, there was not enough there to impress me. I imagine there will be a sequel. Why? Read more

This feature-length documentary is opening this weekend in Los Angeles, and I must say, I liked it very much. Bonhoeffer’s story is fascinating on its own merits. This documentary adds photos, context, theology, history – and ecclesiolgy to his life (1906-1945) that ended when he was executed by the Nazi’s for participating in the conspiracy to assassinate Hitler. His decision to take an active role (however quiet) in the conspiracy was rooted in his contemplation of the Sermon on the... Read more

I wish someone could explain to me why this film did so well. I saw it on an August afternoon soon after it opened in suburban Sacramento and I was the youngest person in the theater (+50). Three people rode in sitting in wheel chairs and a couple walked with canes. There were only white people in a theater almost 3/4 full. They clapped at the end. Aside from the forced, deliberate cinematography and Annette Bening really playing her age, I... Read more