the brothers bloom

a story of two con men that is slightly larger and more lavish than life. Rinko Kikuchi stole the show.

ping pong playa

formulaic 'sports' movie with a twist - the hero is a slacker Chinese kid who resists stereotyping and short shorts with equal vigor. amusing and forgettable.

extras (the series)

I fell in love with Ricky Gervais all over again watching this subtle, brilliant comedy about an aspiring artiste and his unambitious sidekick. each episode brilliantly mocks at least one celebrity and finds the two protagonists in some humiliating situation of their own making. great characters, and very bittersweet.

away we go

this movie about a pregnant couple trying to find the right place to raise their baby hit home in so many ways, it both scared and delighted me. Maggie Gyllenhaal stole the show, but everyone was great. watch for the oh-so-obvious-but-it-never-occurred-to-me ending.

easy virtue

this noel coward play didn't really work as a movie - it was far too breezy and dated, the shocking revelation was not at all shocking and the mother-in-law/new wife conflict is all played out. it was an effort to watch the whole thing, and it wasn't long.