Sherlock Holmes

Holmes and Watson have become phyical brutes as they tackle crime. Very entertaining and great special effects help with just an average acting job by Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law. See it when you have a couple of hours to spare. Not going to win anything but it's fun. The recreated London Bridge backdrop of its construction is well worth seeing the movie. 2 1/2 bananas

Did You Hear about the Morgans

Sara Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant can't save this listless comedy of a separated New York City couple who witness a murder and are put into the witness protection in Wyoming. About 5 minutes of laughs and the rest is dead air. Don't waste your money. 1 banana

Did You Hear About the Morgans

Sara Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant can't save this lame comedy of a separated couple who witness a murder and are put into the witness protection program. About 5 minutes of laughs and 11/2 hours of dead air. Don't waste your money 1 banana

Avatar

3 hours of tall blue people battling against the bad guys from a burned out earth who seek a precious metal. Beautiful scenery and terrific special effects. See it for the entertainment as it is quite a mass production. 2 1/2 bananas

Brothers

Captured, tortured and presumed dead in Afganistan one brother returns unexpectedly to his family who has been taken under the wing of the other brother. Deeply disturbing story of the unfortunate toils of war and its affects. See it for a reality check. 3 bananas

Invictus

Didn't think I'd like this Mandella movie but I loved it. Morgan Freeman gives a great performance as the newly elected president of South Africa. Interesting true story as to how Mandella trys to bring his country together under the banner of the National Rugby team and its pursuit of a world title. Rugby scenes might be a bit long but well done. Definite contender for best movie and best actor awards. 3 1/2 bananas

Up In The Air

George Clooney is terrific in this mildly funny, mildly depressing movie as a guy so into himself that the most important thing in his life is the accumulation of free air miles as he sets about his job as a Corporate Jobs Termination manager. As he crisscrosses the country firing people Clooney breaks in a new hire who believes his job can be done better through the Internet. Right up there as one of the best of 2009! 3 1/2 bananas

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Well done animated cartoon of a fox who just can't avoid being a fox. George Clooney and Meryl Streep add their voices to this enjoyable 1 1/2 movie. Perfect for kids or even ole kids. 3 bananas

Everybodys Fine

Robert Niro gives an Emmy performance as the widowed father who decides to visit his 4 grown children after they all canceled a group visit at home. What he finds as he sets out on a cross country bus/rail tour is not what he was expecting in this mildly depressing but terrifically cast movie. See it but be warned many heart breaking moments. 3 1/2 bananas

Armored

Group of guards working for a bank collection armored truck service come up with plan to steal 4o million dollars with no down side; soon however things go terribly wrong with diasterous consequences. Good cast, fairly entertaining but same ole same ole plot. 1/1/2 bananas

Old Dogs

Better than what the critiques said it was. Robin Williams and John Travolta become "grandparents" for 2 weeks as Williams finds that he fathered 2 kids 7 years ago and the mother is going to jail for two weeks, thus requiring his attention. Some very funny scenes. See it it when you need some light hearted entertainment. 2 1/2 bananas

Ninja Assassin

Blood, blood and more blood. Decent movie if you can get through the body parts flying around. Ninjas are trained from an early age to become killing machines. One decides to leave the group and is hunted by the rest, while an international agency is hot on the trail of the apparently for hire ninjas. Mass mayhem ensues! Definitely guy flick. 2 bananas

The Road

Very Dark, figureatively and literally, depiction of a father and son struggling to survive after a nuclear halocast as they walk through the devastion to the left coast hoping for something more. Very powerful movie that holds nothing back. Should be seen by everyone as a warning as to what could happen after bad choices are made. 3 1/2 bananas

Twilight Saga: New Moon

2nd in a 3 part book/movie series has Bella torn between Vampires or Werewolfs as to were her loyalty should lie. Not as interesting as the 1st movie. Movie starts very slow but finishes with mulitple questions that will drag you back for the 3rd installment. More a chick flick--guys go see Bad Lieutenant. 2 1/2 bananas

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

Nicholas Cage at his best. Cage is cop in NO just after Katrina and seems to make every bad decision that a cop could make. Eventually he has everyone looking to take him out. Cage is perfect for this sleaszy role. Action packed and a lot fun. See it for entertainment. 3 bananas

Blind Side

True story of Michael Oher's rise from poverty to a first round pick in the NFL. White Memphis family finds "Big Mike" wandering the streets as teenage with no family or home. Taken in by Sandra Bullock, Mike, becomes one of the family as well as a great football player. Bullock gives a great performance as the Southern wife with a big heart. Don't miss this very touching movie. Take some kleenex. Probably won't win any awards but should. 31/2 bananas

Pirate Radio

Hilarious, true story, of a group of disc jockeys who live and work 24 hours a day aboard an old freighter in the late 60's stationed off the coast of England broadcasting Rock and Roll much to the displeasure of the Government who does everything to try and shut them down. One of the best movies this year. I loved it. Great music. Cast is exceptional. Don't miss this gem. 4 bananas

Pirate Radio

Racuous, Hilarious, one of the best movies of the year. Terrific music background. Band of free spirited

Boon Docks 2

The boys are back and there is little left of the Boston Mafia when they get done avenging a priest who is executed! Action packed with a pretty good story attached. Also a great looking FBI babe makes looking at this movie a PLEASURE! I'm already looking forward to the 3rd installment. 3 bananas

The Fourth Kind

Title refers to Alien obduction. Supposedly true story of a Pyschology Dr living in Nome Alaska who has more than one terrifying and deadly encounter with the unknown. Interesting part of the story is that the FBI has spent numerous hours investigating people missing people in Nome--much more so that any other place per capita wise. Movie was sequenced around actual footage of the Psy Dr. and events in her life. 2 bananas

2012

WOW! Terrific special effects makes this above average saga of the world ending a real blast to see. With the earths core temperature increasing the worlds leaders devise a plan to save a selected few. John Cusack gives a somewhat hokey performance but is still entertaining. 21/2 hours fly by as there are some fantastic destruction scenes. See it for fun. 3 bananas

The Box

Apparently a NASA scientist is hit by a lighting bolt at the precise moment a deep space vehicle lands on Mars, thus conferring on him extraordinary powers that are known but concealed by NSA and NASA. One of the powers is to give to selected people one million dollars if they willingly push a button in THE BOX which in turn will cause someones death. Up to this point I could follow this movie, then it really gets bizarre. If you can follow it good luck. 11/2 bananas

Men who Stare at Goats

George Clooney, Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges are part of a newly formed psy-ops Army corps during the Iraq war. First half of movie is very funny with the group looking more like a 70's hippy group. Second half of movie somewhat dark with many swipes taken at the current Administration. Seems like the Writer/Director couldn't decide what kind of movie this should be. See it for the some laughs but comes up short. 21/2 bananas

Coco before Chanel

Audrey Taetau stars as the French fashion hat and clothes designer. Beautifully filmed movie shows us how she was able to reach the peaks she did. Interesting story of how she was able to work the French male system, long before women were considered equals. With sub titles but well worth it as this could go down as a classic! I loved it--31/2 bananas

An Education

16 year old English school girl , who sets her sights on going to Oxford, get romantically involved with an older con man with diasterous results. Well done but at times uncomfortable, I could not figure how this was going to end. Only playing in the artsy theaters but worth seeing. 3 bananas

Cirque Du Freak--Vampires Assistant

Fairly funny Vampire movie. John C Reily is the good Vampire battling the bad ones in order to save his newly blooded assistant vampire. 2 bananas

Saw VI

If you like, literally, lots of blood and guts mixed in a fairly entertaining plot see this. Senior manager in a health insurance company rejects the wrong person; manager finds himself with 90 minutes in make decisions that affect the lives of people associated with him. Not for the squeamish of heart. Helps to have seen previous Saws as there is a lot of looking back, but not absolutely necesary. I liked it. Not going to win an Emmy but for It's creativity- 3 bananas

Amelia

Soapy some what boring depiction of later years in Earharts life ending with her disappearance over Howell Island. Swank is a drop dead ringer for the famous woman flyer; and Richard Gere portrays her husband who owned Putnam publishing and was her marketing manager. Turns out Amelia wasn't as pure as people thought. 2 bananas

Where the Wild Things Are

Is the story of a boy who feels repressed by his family so he escapes to a fairy tale land inhabited by giant weird looking animals where he is appointed King only to find that the same kind of problems exist there . Movie is adapted and directed by Spike Jonze from supposedly very famous childrens book. I could not get into the movie, maybe it is just for kids. 2 bananas

The Stepfather

Pyschotic(?) Dad just can't seem to keep the family together. Guy prys on young divorced mothers with multiple kids, he loves them, kills them and moves on. Fairly suspenseful but seems like it will never end. Remake of an earlier movie. Worth seeing if only to see the great looking chick in the bikini. 11/2 bananas

Julie and Julia

Cute, smart comedy with Meryl Streep as Julia Childs who publishes her cook book but not without years of turmoil and rejection. Years later Amy Adams decides to cook each of the receipts in the Childs cookbook in 365 days. Both plots weave back and forth between each other. Well done! 31/2 bananas

Couples Retreat

Just another dumb Vince Vaughn comedy!! 4 couples go to a fantasy island to find themselves. They should have stayed home! Hard to laugh with; easy to laugh at. 1/2 banana

Julie & Julia

Cute, fun and more or less true movie of Julia Child's(Meryl Streep)

Law Abiding citizen

If you want action from start to finish, this is your kind of movie. Jamie Foxx stars as a District Attorney who is more obsessed with keeping a near perfect conviction record than pursuing justice. Gerrard Butler sees his family killed and feels the system failed him, thus takes matters into his own hands with spectacular results. A disappointing ending but still kept me guessing. 3 bananas

Paranormal Activity

Fairly interesting movie shot through one of the featured actors own camera. Strange goings on are recorded nightly as apparently someone is being haunted/hunted. 2 bananas

A Serious Man

The Coen brothers at it again. Very dark comedy takes place in the 60's. Professor in a Jewish high school can't catch a break at home or while teaching. His family continually dumps him while at school he is being harrased not only by the faculty but by the Columbia Record Club. Well worth viewing, some very funny scenes. 3 bananas

Zombieland

Apparently the world has been taken over by Zombies looking for the last tasty morsels who haven't as yet been infected. Woody Harrelson stars as one of few left. He with the help of a few sidekicks proceed to kill, kill, kill! Stupid movie with plenty of blood and gore! 1 banana

Pandorum

If you like SiFi mixed with horror this lost in space movie is for you. The crew of a space ship wakes after many years to find most of the ship either gone or transformed into weird looking creatures; The crew also can't remember who they are or what their mission is. The ending is the best part, fooled me! 11/2 bananas

Capitalism

Another Michael Moore movie, this time taking it to the Fiancial community big boys. Some very funny situations. See it for laughs, though he does hit on some very good issuses. 21/2 bananas

Surrogates

Willis has hair, well at least his surrogate does. Interesting Sci-Fi that has Bruce Willis playing an FBI agent who is looking for the reason why when surrogates(robots) die, the actual people controling them die as well. Surrogates(you can have one in any shape/style/looks/etc.) have taken over all the controllers functions by design. Once again Bruce saves the day! 21/2 bananas

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

This series is getting long in the tooth. Great special effects, plot just average. Harry again battling evil in the Hogwart kingdom. Time for Harry to dump the magic and get some loving! 2 bananas

Extract

Owner of an extract bottling company, who's not getting any nookie at home, decides that in order for him to be able to put it to one of his employees without feeling gulity, pays a supposed pool boy to service his wife. Well everything that can, goes wrong. Sometimes funny, sometimes just stupid. 11/2 bananas

The Informant

Loosely based on the ADM price fixing scandal of the early 1990s, Matt Damon plays the nerdy Bio-Tech VP who blows the whisle on ADM but continues to dig himself deeper into the situation with all his lies. Very funny and Damon gives an Oscar performance. Don't miss it! 31/2 bananas

The Final Destination

If you liked the first 3 Final Destinations, you'll like more of the same in this. Again one person has premonition of impending death/diaster only to find that the people who were saved can not cheat death. Some terrific gory death scenes. 11/2 bananas

District 9

You'll either love it or hate it! I loved it. If you like sci-fi mixed with creepy looking aliens and tons of gore this is for you. A disabled space ship finds itself parked over Johannsburg for 20 years. The aliens are powerless thus are herded into camps which soon become gettos. The South African government decides to move the gettos further out of town and this is when the fun starts. 31/2 bananas

Whiteout

Kate Beckinsale is a U S Marshall stationed in an Antartic Scientific station and has 72 hours(last plane leaves for 6 months) to figure out a murder tied into events that happened 50 some years ago. Terrific opening but somewhat lack luster after. 2 bananas

Inglorious Basterds

Tarantino at his Best. Entertaining, gruesome and sometimes comical adaptation of how WWII could have have played out. 2 different sub plots come together with dramatic and surprising endings. Brad Pitt leads a group of Jewish American soliders into France to create havic among the Germans by all sorts of VERY unusual means; meanwhile a cinema owner has her own plans for justice. Definitely a guys flick, not so sure about the ladies. 31/2 bananas

Public Enemy

Johnny Depp and Christian Bale not at their best. Both give uninspiring performances in this remake of John Dillinger's banking robbing days. To much time spent on Dillingers love life and not enough on his bad life. Rent it. 1 1/2 bananas

Taking of Pelham 123

Fabulous remake by Tony Scott-- that says it all. Denzel Washington and bad John Travolta shine in this action packed subway hostage thriller. Shot in Manhattan the photography is spectacular. James Gandolfini and John Tuturro co-staring only adds to the enjoyment. Best action movie of the summer. 31/2 bananas

Hangover

Funniest, raunchiest movie in years. Don't miss the ending credits. 4 guys head to Vegas for a one night bachelor party and then all hell breaks loose. Everything imagineable happens to the four who can't seem to remember anything until they start tracking back what they did the night before. Language and nudity just add to the fun. Definitely a see it! 4 bananas

StarTrek

The prequel to all startreks. James Kirk as a boy and then how he becomes the ships captain. Another one of these movies that jumps between time periods. Spock at one point in the movie is a young Commander and the Ole Spock at the same time--confusing?. Good special effects, can't say that I like the new young Kirk much! 2 bananas

The Brothers Bloom

Quirky, sometimes funny, somtimes confusing. Set in the 1920s, two con men set up a sting against a very wealthy young lady played by Rachael Weitz. Beautiful filmed in europe, plot jumps back and forth between countries as you are never really sure who is conning who. Great ending. 21/2 bananas

Terminator Salvation

Non-stop action and terrific special effects makes for a most enjoyable no brainer movie. Sit back and watch Christian Bale as John Conners blow up the bad boy machines. It's 2018 and it's still man against the dreaded Skynet Machine network. 3 bananas

Angels and Demons

The prequel to The DaVinci Code. Tom Hanks as Dr. Langford is summoned to the Vatican to help find 4 kidnapped Cardinals and a bomb. Movie does not do the book justice. Plot and acting performances are only so so. Somewhat entertaining if you can keep up with the convoluted plot. 2 bananas

Merry Gentleman

Engrossing, well acted, some what slow story of a despondent hitman(Michael Keaton), an abused runaway wife and a policeman who all become intertwined when Kelly McDonald(abused wife) interrupts Keatons suicide attempt. 3 bananas

Is Anyone There

Delightful, funny and sometimes a bit sad is the story of Michael Caine, a retired Magician, moving into a senior citizens home that has a wacky group of inhabitants. The homes' owners 12 year old son befriends Caine and the two of them create all kinds of trouble but in the process help each other to find what they both were missing--friendship. A must see. 4 bananas

X-Men Origins:Wolverine

Well now we know how Wolverine got his name and super power. Nifty, fun movie with terrific special effects. Prequel to the X-Men series pits Wolverine against his brother and the Government higher ups who redesigned him. See it for great entertainment! 3 bananas

Gommorah

Apparent factual account of how the mob operates in Italy. Done with sub titles and all Italian actors but fascinating view of how the Made takes care of themselves as well as outsiders. Filmed in and around what we would consider ghettos.Hard to get a handle on what's happening but stay with it and you'll be rewarded. Most of the plot centers around how the young adjust in the awful elements that surround them. Definitely worth seeing. 31/2 bananas

The Informers

Great cast, terrible movie. Kim Bassinger, Billy Bob Thornton and Mickey Rourke can't get this dog off the ground. No central plot. Movie centers around a group of young people who somehow are all intertwined by their work or building they live in. Every kind of sex possible, extreme nudity, child kidnapping, dope, and I'm sure I missed something else all make for a movie that you can miss! 1/2 banana(for some great looking hooters)

The Soloist

A factual dark disturbing glimpse of mental illness and homelessness portrayed by Jamie Foxx. Robert Downey Jr, a newspaper reporter, befriends Foxx who is living on the streets of LA and who has a gift for music but is haunted by demons from his past. Not a feel good movie but superbly acted by both men who are able to draw from each other. A movie with Foxx and Downey has to be seen. 31/2 bananas.

Obsessed

Delusional female temp at a private money firm conjures up visions of the top stud in the firm dumping his wife for her. Things lead from bad to worse as she plots the ruination of the guy's marriage. First half of movie boring but second half picks up with a great bitch fight at the end. 11/2 bananas.

Earth

If you see one movie this year, see this. Spectacularly beautiful photography presents a year in the life of the earth and its many animals; and how they fight to survive ever changing nature. Time lapse sequences will blow your mind. . Don't miss the entire run of credits at the end. Mother Earth and Mother Nature collide for an unforgettable show of what we all to often either take for granted or don't take time to understand! See it!! 4+ bananas

Crank: High Voltage

Dumb, stupid, funny, unbelieveable but a thrill a minute. Man falls from helicopter and LIVES only to have his heart stolen when he awakes. He escapes from hospital with one hour battery pack attached to his implanted machine heart to find the person who has his heart. His only way to keep living is to continually recharge his body, you won't believe the ways he does. Car chases, gun fights and mayhem! So bad it is a blast to watch, but be prepared for some VERY bad language and nudity! 11/2 bananas

State of Play

Terrific suspense/intrigue movie starring Russel Crowe, Ben Affleck and Robin Wright Penn. All give great performances. Crowe a newspaper reporter and Affleck a congressman find they have a lot more in common than being old college roommates when bodies strart piling up and a multinational company seems to be behind a plot to take over homeland security. Many twists and turns in this super thriller. See it. 4 bananas!!

Observe and Report

How do you spell stupid, SETH ROGAN! Rogan, a dillusional, pyschotic mall cop who wants to be a real cop and who spends the entire movie looking for a flasher(the ending is actually the only funny part) gives his usual idiotic performance. Not much comedy and actually a pretty dark movie! 1 banana.

Adventureland

College grads spend their summer(before joining corp. america) smoking weed and working in a amusement park(Adventureland). Drinking, sex, virginity, boners; sometimes funny but hard to take seriously. 2 bananas.

Fast and the Furious

Typical Vin Diezel movie, lots of muscle. Vin sets out to break up a Mexican drug smuggling ring as retribution for them killing his girlfriend.Good car racing scenes some pretty bad acting but if you are looking for a rainy date no brainer, see it. 11/2 bananas.

Sunshine Cleaning

Cute, kooky,offbeat and sometimes a ltttle weird but definitely a must see movie. Two sisters get into the CSI cleanup business with diasterous results. Amy Adams is great as are all the supporting cast. Also any movie with Zoe(from 24) has be to good--she still has that look! Many little sub-plots add to a very pleasing movie. See it. 31/2 bananas!

Duplicity

This movie has more twists than a pretzel. If you can keep up with the going back and forth in time, and all the sub plots, you'll enjoy. Clive Owen and Julia Roberts work well together as corporate espionage agents trying to steal each others products. I didn't see the ending coming! 21/2 bananas

Knowing

Typical Nicholas Cage movie. Alot of great special effects but not very good. Movie centers around a mysterious list of numbers left for a grade school class 50 years in the future. Interesting first 3/4s of movie and then it jumps the tracks. See it for the FX. 11/2 bananas.

Last House on the Left

Killing, rape, blood and mayhem make for a decent slasher movie. Family is victimized by brutal bad guys. Not for the faint of heart. Worth watching if only for the ending. 'R' 11/2 bananas.

Echelon Consipracy

Grade B actors, Grade B movie but still fun to watch if you are looking for some light entertainment. NSA Super computer has mind of its own creating world wide intrigue and panic inside NSA. 2 bananas.

Pink Panther 2

Why Steve Martin? No one can replace Peter Sellers; and Steve has tried twice. Dim witted Inspector Clousteau again solves the mystery with about 30 seconds of laughter. Better than the first but that's all. Don't bother. 1 banana.

Friday 13th

Jason lives again in this updated slasher movie from the 70's. More bodies, more blood and some nice hooters make for a scrary no brainer. See it if you've got nothing else to do. 1 1/2 bananas.

The Class

Absorbing portrayal of a French high school teacher in how he teaches a hodge podge of lower class ethnic students. A terrific movie that I'm guessing makes teachers ask themselves "why". Sub Titles. Fast pace for taking place almost entirely in the classroom. 4 bananas.

VickyChristina Barcelona

It's a Woody Allen movie folks! 2 American girls summer in Spain where they have, at different times, an affair with the same artist who has recently divorced his wife for trying to kill him but still loves her. The ex wife moves in and the twosome becomes a threesome. Typical screwy Allen movie. Not sure why the Oscar buzz is on. Great cast! 2 bananas.

The International

See this movie if only to see the NYC Guggenheim Museum(full mock-up) get totally shot up. Clive Owen gives his usaual great acting job; Naomi Watts isn't bad either. Owens/Watts on the trail of an International Bank that runs worldly operations outside the law. First rate thriller but pay attention to the details. 3 bananas

New in Town

Sappy, funny, stupid movie set in, Fargo like, Minnesota winter. Renee Zellwegger, what a GREAt little body, gets sent to shake up small town industry only to fall in love with town and Harry Connick jr.. Predictable ending but did I mention it's worth seeing cute Renee! 2 bananas

Hotel for Dogs

Dogs rule in this enjoyable flick that has dogs, that are supposedly headed for the after life, doing all sorts of tricks as they live in an abandoned hotel. It's amazing how so many dogs could be so controled. Don Cheadle co-stars but Dogs are the real stars. 3 bananas!

Last Chance Harry

Emma Thompson and Dustin Hooffman give sweet, funny ,dramatic performances that at times will bring a tear as well. Both Hoffman and Thompson are lost soles slowly drowning in their own personnel lives. They meet by chance and find happiness in each other as they wander London. Thompson's Mum steals the show as she is relentless on the phone and is convinced her neighbor is a murderer. See it! 3 bananas.

Traitor

Just out on DVD. Stars Don Cheadle as a terroist(?). Interesting point of view looks at how a terrorist becomes one. Over two hours but worth viewing. Many scenes of Chicago from different views than I've seen before. Also stars Guy Richie as the FBI agent trying to stop terrorism. 3 bananas.

Taken

If you like action see this. Large body count piles up as Liam Neeson, ex spook, looks for his kidnapped daughter. Starts slowly but don't give up. More a guy flick. 2 1/2 bananas

Defiance

Good cast, well acted but slow moving movie of 3 brothers who during WW11 take it upon themselves to hide and protect a large group of Jews in the forests of BellaRussia for over 4 years. Action scenes are few, with most in the last 20 minutes. I liked it but I thought the Movie Previews were deceiving. 2 1/2 bananas.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Interesting, smart, well acted but a little long. Brad Pitt is great as he goes from an aged baby to a youthful elder. Movie moves quickly through the reverse aging process of Brad's life. Full of warm fuzzy movements and a few sad as well. Great supporting cast. Special effects are terrific. 3 1/2 bananas!

The Wrestler

Not sure why everyone is so excited about this movie. If you like staples shot into your body, and watching Marisa Tomei pole dance, nice bodies, then this is for you. Typical plot of an over age wrestler who can't give it up. Good performance by O'rouke and some interesting views of what goes on behind the wrestling scene. I don't like wrestling or boxing movie so maybe I'm not looking at this properly. 2 out of 4 bananas.

Handicapped a documentary about bad golf

Glenview's own G.R " Crash" Kearney put together this DVD on awful golf. 10 of the worst golfers compete for 9 holes, thankfully it wasn't 18! "It's over thank god" might be the best words spoken in this fairly funny spoof on golf. G.R.'s dad steals the show with his pants and he wasn't even trying to be funny. Go to www.badgolfmovie.com for how to purchase. I refuse to rate as some of the characters are friends!

Frost/Nixon

Fascinating events that lead up to and through the 4 interviews in 1976 dealing with the Watergate scandal and Nixon's subsequent resignation. Highly entertaining with some very funny moments. Definitely a see for all, particularly for those who either don't remember or for those who weren't yet around in that turbulent era. 3 1/2 bananas!

The Edge of Heaven

Terrific 2007 foreign film available on DVD with easy to follow sub-titles. Filmed mainly in Turkey. Plot revolves around a father accidentally killing a prostitute and the following tale of his son trying to find her daughter to make amends. Movie travels between Turkey and Germany and back in forth in time. Best screenplay at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. Full of twists and turns. Rent it but let it play out. 3 bananas out of 4.

Pineapple Express

If you like stupid this is for you. Just out on DVD, definitely a four drink (before seeing) rental. 2 hours of pot smoking, swearing and moronic acting. So bad, actually some funny parts.
Seth Rogen, a process server, witnesses a drug killing and the rest of the movie is of him and his buddies trying not to get killed, too bad he survives. Hard to believe this is up for a Golden Globe. I'm giving it a JULIAN, that's a minus 1 banana!

Marley and Me

I liked this movie a lot better than the book. Funny, sweet movie of a young couple coping with an out of control dog and the responsibilities of what goes into being a parent. Jennifer Aniston is hot and Marley is a riot. See it for laughs but take a few kleenex with you. Well acted, but Marley rules. 3 bananas out of 4.

Doubt

Powerful performances given by Streep and Hoffman in this highly charged emotional drama set in the early 60's. Movie skates around the Catholic Church's stance on the issue of gay priests. Is he or isn't he is what Meryl Streep decides she has to weed out. 3 out of 4 bananas!

Yes Man

Jim Carrey at his best. One of his funnier movies. Carrey, a negative person naturally, is convinced he should be more positive, thus say yes to everyone and everything. This leads to a lot of laughs. See it for a quick pick me upper. 2 out of 4 bananas

Slumdog Millionaire

Best movie of the year, either foreign or from the USA! Takes place in present India and shows all the warts of the current country. Funny, moving, brutal movie that depicks a young boy who is on the verge of winning a hugh jackpot and the police who believe that the show is rigged and try to extract how, from the boy. My favorite of 2008. 4 out of 4 bananas

The Reader

Two of the best, Kate Winslett and Ralph Finnes give a terrific performance in this somewhat slow but dramatic movie. Movie jumps back and forth in time as Ralph Finnes relives his youthful fling with Kate who has a couple of secrets that come back to haunt her and him. Another of the many movies this year that deals with the halocaust and its fallout.
Could be a Best Actor or Actress in this movie, definitely worth seeing. 3 out of 4 bananas!