REIGN OVER ME

Drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Adam Sandler: Charlie Fineman
Don Cheadle: Dr. Alan Johnson, a successful cosmetic dentist in New York City
Jada Pinkett Smith: his wife Janeane
Liv Tyler: Alan’s psychiatrist friend, Dr. Angela Oakhurst
Saffron Burrows: Donna, one of Alan's patients
Paula Newsome: Melanie, receptionist at the dental clinic
Donald Sutherland: Judge Raines

REVIEW
This is a mixed bag; it’s good, but could have been better.

The acting is first-rate, the story is one of some interest and it touches you emotionally.

But it is too long (no need to see Charlie playing the same video game time and time again for example) and requires some serious suspension of belief (the whole Donna-thing).

CLASSIFICATION
for language and some sexual references.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
Alan meets Charlie in a bar and orders a beer that naturally comes full. He speaks with Charlie for a minute or so then turns to take his first swig. Trouble is, the level of beer now is down below the neck of the bottle…must’ve been the bartender that done it!

P.S.
I held off going to see the movie when I saw that Adam Sandler was in it: he’s on my “no-see” list because I no longer am interested in seeing any more of his infantile, silly, child-like performances as a comedian. But this time he plays a more serious role and does a fine job. I have had to re-evaluate my assessment of him.

The movie title comes from the song title seen on the display of Charlie’s iPod called “Love, Reign O’er Me”.

Not only does he write and direct it, Mike Binder plays the part of Charlie’s financial advisor. Now that’s really getting into it.

THE LOOKOUT

Drama, thriller

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Joseph Gordon-Levitt : Chris Pratt, former star high school hockey player
Jeff Daniels: his blind roommate Lewis, a telemarketer
Matthew Goode: Gary, an old high school acquaintance
Isla Fisher: a younger high school acquaintance, Luvlee Lemons
Sergio Di Zio: Chris’ friend, Deputy Ted, the small town cop

REVIEW
As thrillers go, this is a dandy. For fear of giving away anything, I’ll say little except there are some really good performances coupled with an unhurried story development. This is riveting stuff.

CLASSIFICATION
for language, some violence and sexual content.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
After dropping off some donuts, Deputy Ted spends a few minutes chatting with Chris. At one point he turns and looks over his shoulder. The reflection of the cameraman can be seen in the window directly behind him.

MEET THE ROBINSONS

Animated cartoon

WITH THE VOICES OF
Angela Bassett: orphanage caretaker Mildred
Daniel Hansen : Lewis, an orphaned 12-year-old boy-inventor
Matthew Josten: his roommate Michael “Goob” Yagoobian, a baseball player
Stephen Anderson: the wicked Bowler Hat Guy
Ethan Sandler: Doris, his diabolical companion
Wesley Singerman: Wilbur Robinson, a space traveller from the future
Stephen Anderson: his slightly weird Grandpa Bud
Adam West: Uncle Art, the speedy pizza man
Harland Williams: the house robot Carl
Nicole Sullivan: Wilbur’s musical mom Franny

REVIEW
Although Disney Studios have produced many movies that have become classics, this is not going to be one of them. As starters, it doesn’t. Too much time is spent on one of Lewis’ inventions and hardly anything else happens until he gets to the school Science Fair. But that’s one-third of the movie gone already.

Things finally get going when they zoom off into the future to meet a bunch of oddballs and there are some mildly amusing moments. But no real laugh per se.

As expected of any Disney production, there are lessons to be learned. In this case, don’t give up.

CLASSIFICATION

THE NAMESAKE

Drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Irrfan Khan: Ashoke Ganguli, Bengali immigrant to the United States
Tabu: his wife Ashima
Soham Chatterjee: their infant son Gogol
Kal Penn: the adolescent Gogol
Sahira Nair: his sister Sonia
Jacinda Barrett: Gogol’s girlfriend Maxine (aka Max)
Zuleikha Robinson: Moushimi, soon to be an arranged-marriage bride

REVIEW
There have been lots of movies about the generational and cultural conflicts that arise when bringing up children. What sets this one apart is the acting that is first-rate and the time devoted to the story, about 2 hours. But it takes that long to cover 25 years and not do it at a hurried pace.

Consequently it will not appeal to everyone. But anyone interested in a story about love and loyalty is in for a good time.

CLASSIFICATION
for sexuality/nudity, a scene of drug use, some disturbing images and brief language.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
When Ashoke first sees the baby in the hospital nursery, it’s evident that the child is not a newborn, more like a one-year-old?

At the termination of Gogol’s phone call to his mother we hear the dial tone when she hangs up. The dial tone is heard before dialing the number, not at the end of the call.

P.S.
Indian custom dictates that a "good name" be carefully selected as it is the one for public use. Since this process could take years, it is commonplace for Bengali parents to give their children a "pet" name until the more formal “good name” has been decided upon.

Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol (April 1809 - March 1852) was a nineteenth century Ukrainian author who wrote in Russian. The novel Dead Souls, the play Revizor and the short story Overcoat are counted among his masterpieces.

CASHBACK

Fantasy, comedy, romance

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Sean Biggerstaff: Ben Willis, gifted artist and stock clerk
Michelle Ryan: Ben’s girlfriend Suzy
Stuart Goodwin: Jenkins, the boss at Sainsbury's supermarket
Emilia Fox: Sharon, the checkout clerk
Michael Dixon: Barry, fellow employee
Shaun Evans: Ben’s long time friend Sean
Marc Pickering: wannabe kung fu master Brian

REVIEW
Just a quick glance at the poster and you can see why the movie is unconventional and controversial. It is also original and entertaining. Unlike most British productions the humour is not of the cerebral sort, but often funny nevertheless.

CLASSIFICATION
So far the movie has only been released in Quebec and the Régie du cinéma has given it their 13+ rating.

In Canada, theatrical movie ratings are a provincial responsibility and they use different rating systems and descriptors. When released in the rest of Canada later this year it will no doubt get their R rating (Restricted to persons 18 years of age or over) taking into account the visually explicit full frontal nudity. Perhaps the Quebec board missed that part?

P.S.
Many companies have some type of loyalty reward program extended to shoppers either in the form of points that can be redeemed for something or sometimes a discount on the spot which is effectively getting cash back. These reward programs in Britain are referred to as Cashback.

LA VIE EN ROSE

2008 Best Actress in leading role
Best Makeup



Biography
In French with English subtitles

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Jean-Paul Rouve: Louis Gassion, Edith’s father
Marion Cotillard: the adult Edith Piaf
Gerard Depardieu: Paris cabaret owner Louis Leplee
Marc Barbe: her singing coach Raymond Asso
Jean-Pierre Martins: boxing champ Marcel Cerdan

REVIEW
Making extensive use of flashbacks, often with one of her songs playing in the background, this is an in-depth look at the life of a very well-known singer of the 40’s and 50’s.

By and large though, the movie is really a one-woman show as the actress playing the leading role gives a wonderful, believable performance. The rest of the crew are there to fill out the empty space in the picture frame.

Although it runs for 2 hours and 20 minutes, it doesn’t seem quite that long.

CLASSIFICATION
for some sexual content, brief nudity, mild language and some drug references.

P.S.
The title comes from her first big hit released in 1945.
BTW: Piaf is a Parisian colloquiaslism for “sparrow”.

THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY

War Drama

BACKGROUND
Since the 1880's, Irish nationalists had been demanding self-government from Britain. The British eventually granted this demand in 1914, but its enactment was postponed by the outbreak of the First World War. The separatist Sinn Féin party won the 1918 Irish General Election.

The Irish War of Independence began in January 1919 Ireland by the Irish Republican Army as a guerrilla campaign mounted against the British government forces still in. Although there were some large scale encounters between the two groups, most of the casualties were inflicted in assassinations and reprisals on either side.

In 1921 both sides agree to a peace treaty to end the bloodshed stipulating nominal Irish self-governance but continued British occupation. But many Irish were unhappy with the terms of the treaty resulting in the outbreak of a civil war. Families and former friends found themselves fighting each other.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Cillian Murphy: Damien O'Donovan a medical student at University College
Padraic Delaney: his older brother Teddy, leader of a guerrilla squad
Liam Cunningham: Dan, an intellectual he meets in prison
Orla Fitzgerald: Damien’s girlfreind Sinead

REVIEW
Historically accurate but a bit too long as it bogs down in several places, particularly when the townspeople debate the terms of the peace treaty. Although both sides of the argument are presented, we do not need that much detail to follow the ensuing story.

Production values are high and there is some fine acting throughout.

CLASSIFICATION
for crude and sexual humour, language and some drug references.

P.S.
The title comes from the last verse of an Irish ballad written by Robert Dyer Joyce (1836-1883)
As round her grave I wander drear, noon, night and morning early
With breaking heart when e'er I hear the wind that shakes the barley.