dreamgirls

as musicals go, this is a great one, although it glosses over major political events and the protagonists' struggles against racism. Eddie Murphy was a sheer pleasure to watch, Jamie Foxx was very cool as a low-life producer, and damn that Jennifer Hudson can sing!

the painted veil

I'm a sucker for period pieces and adaptations of the works of great writers because they always have fantastic lines, even if they're not delivered quite as well as they could be. I like Edward Norton but I was a bit disappointed with his performances in both this and The Illusionist, mostly because they're one note: Edward Norton being shy, serious, earnest, or angry all kind of look the same. the most interesting things about the movie were the Chinese resistance against colonialism and the clash between tradition and modern medicine, and the whole thing would have benefited from a greater emphasis on these issues and less on the inconsequential and unbelievable human dramas. Naomi Watts wasn't quite up to the part, but she wasn't absolutely awful either. unfortunately, I missed the significance of the title. anyone know what it means?

children of men

this movie had the potential to be really cool but fell short in plot and character development. of course, I can watch Clive Owen in anything, ditto with Julianne Moore but I wished she had a bigger part. Chiwetel Ejiofor was also underused but Michael Caine was brilliant as a grey-haired hippy. I couldn't help thinking the book was probably better.

notes on a scandal

this movie reminded me of a Patricia Highsmith novel with its amoral centre, complex characters, and wit. Judi Dench so convincingly drew me into her petty, vicious world that I started cheering for Cate Blanchett, the wicked adulterer pedophile who seemed utterly innocent and pure in comparison. Great performances by both ladies, Bill Nighy and the irresistable Andrew Simpson. totally and intelligently fun.

the pursuit of happyness

Will Smith and his adorable son Jalen did a brilliant job in this 80s period piece set in San Francisco, chronicling one man's plunge into poverty and his miraculous escape. Thandie Smith was also excellent as the put upon wife and mother. almost unbearably sad, the movie had my companion weeping and served as a harsh reminder that, in most cases, there is no way out. an excellent Christmas movie.

marie antoinette

I throoughly enjoyed this portrait of the young queen of france indulging in sheer decadence. it was a combination Devil Wears Prada/The Queen, but didn't seem to take itself as seriously as either. Jason Schwartzman was brilliant as the completely clueless young king and even though her performance was way over the top, I loved watching Rose Byrne as a luminescent whore. there could have been a bit more history and substance to the whole thing, but it worked for me as a fairly mindless but fascinating character study.

little children

Kate Winslet redeems herself in this movie about the disappointments of self and marriage and the power of children to guide adults' lives, for better or for worse. Patrick Wilson does a great job of being hot and Jennifer Connelly is beautiful and aloof as a successful working mother. It was a relief to see this at the Angelika in New York, where no one answered their cell phone during the movie and there were only previews, not commercials, before it started.

the holiday

I really wanted to like this one but it was too cutesy, even for me. Cameron Diaz and Jack Black engaged in their usual mugging, Kate Winslet put aside her extraordinary talent to play an uncomplicated, far too earnest, English girl and Jude Law just looked gorgeous through the whole thing. the plot was unbearably simplistic and the storybook ending made me a bit nauseous. maybe because I skipped lunch. then again, the tickets were only $3.90 and I was supposed to be working, so I probably should stop complaining now.

the queen

it simply would not have been possible for this movie to live up to the anticipation of two long months of waiting to see it. nonetheless, I enjoyed this character study of one of the most famous people on earth, the queen of england. all the hype around diana led to an interesting post-movie discussion about the role and morality of celebrities in our lives: is it cathartic or delusional to imagine a bond with larger-than-life human beings we have never actually met? I say it enriches our imaginative lives and no harm done. will Helen Mirren win the oscar? I'd say very likely.

the fountain

surprisingly linear for Darren Aronofsky, this film is also surprisingly experimental for an almost mainstream movie. I took 3 unsuspecting people to see it and they didn't know quite what to think. it was beautiful, mesmerizing, depressing, shocking and sad. go with an open mind.

the last king of scotland

deep breath in as I relax and settle into watching a truly good movie, here in puerto rico. I was on edge most of the film waiting for scenes of innocent people being massacred, but MacDonald kept the violence well-placed and affecting. I still covered my eyes though. Uganda through the eyes of a white man is not as interesting as Uganda through the eyes of a Ugandan, but for what it is, the story of an impulsive Scottish kid caught up in dramatic historical events of which he is completely ignorant, it is moving. anyone else who hasn't seen it yet should go.

trust the man

it was fun watching some of my favorites (Julianne Moore, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Billy Crudup, James LeGros) act like idiots, but there's not much else I can say to commend this movie, except that it's playing at the fine arts cafe, and every movie goes better with a plastic cup of Marques Caceres.

idlewild

I've been looking forward to this one for a while, so I was sorely disappointed to encounter this very cliched tale of gangsters and a saloon in Idlewild, Georgia. it has a great cast, including Andre Benjamin, Terrence Howard, and Ving Rhames, some beautiful dance sequences and great music by Outkast, but sadly, I didn't make it all the way to the end. maybe it gets better?

casino royale

this is a pretty good Bond film, although my eyes tended to glaze over in both the action scenes and the swooning romance ones. also, I forgot how violent Bond could be. I like Daniel Craig, I like Eva Green, it was good to see Jeffrey Wright, and the scenery and the cars were amazing. solid entertainment.