Crazy Heart

Starring:  Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal

Rated: R

Currently: On DVD

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Reason: Story, Acting, Music

Comments: Everyone should see this movie, or at least everyone with a heart.  Jeff Bridges was great, Maggie was captivating, and I want to marry her.  The original songs were delightful.

Preview: Trailer, Clip, Interview

Movie Home: Crazy Heart

The Last Song

Starring: Greg Kinnear

Rated: PG

Currently: In Theatres

Rating: 2.5/5.0

Reason: Casting

Comments: Great story, great scenery, beautiful music, and Greg Kinnear make it worth seeing. Kinnear is a great actor with amazing range and talent.  Unfortunately, for all involved, the folks that cast this movie did not surround him with actors equal to his abilities.  The young man that plays his son was cute enough, but the rest were, at best, pedestrian.  This movie is filmed well, and the town, or officially island, where it is filmed is absolutely beautiful.  Plus, the music in the movie is as expected, beautiful as well.

Preview: Trailer, Music Video, Clip

Movie
Home: The Last Song

Pirate Radio

Starring:  Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Michael Hadley, Chris O'Dowd,

Rated:  R

Currently:  Available on DVD

Rating:  4.0/5.0

Reason:  Entertaining

Comments:  Great story, great music, great acting.  Loads of fun.

Preview:  Trailer 1, Clip

Movie
Home:  N/A

Mystic River

Starring: Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Laura Linney, Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden

Director: Clint Eastwood

Rated: R

Currently: Available on DVD

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Reason: Authentic, Gripping

Comments: If you do not know what it was like to grow up in the "neighborhoods" of Southern New England you will after watching Mystic River.  Strong performances throughout from a stellar cast.  Visually captures the textures, grit, and grime of generations of living.  Beautifully directed, one of Clint Eastwood's best performances as a director.

Preview: Trailer 1, Trailer 2

Movie
Home: Not Available

Edge of Darkness

Starring: Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone, Danny Huston

Rated: R

Currently: Still in Smaller Theatres, Available on DVD

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Reason: Intensity, Acting

Comments: This is an edge of your seat thriller where you can't wait for the good guy to get the bad guy.  Mel Gibson was extraordinary from start to finish.  Ray Winstone built a very likable character given that he was not a nice man.

Preview: Trailer 1, Trailer 2

Movie
Home: Edge of Darkness

Recommendation: If you can find this in a theatre see it right away, if not rent it as soon as it comes out.

The Book of Eli

Starring: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Jennifer Beals, Mila Kunis

Rated: R

Currently: Still in Smaller Theatres, Available on DVD

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Reason: Intensity, Acting

Comments: Riveting from start to finish.  Exquisite acting throughout.  Best Denzel in a very long time.

Preview: Trailer 2

Movie
Home: The Book of Eli

Invictus

Starring: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon

Rated: R

Currently: Awaiting DVD May 2010

Rating: 2.5/5.0

Reason: Pace, Casting, Directing (sorry Clint)

Comments: This is an enjoyable movie because Morgan Freeman is an amazing actor, Matt Damon holds his own with Freeman, and the story was interesting.  This is not a good movie because it was not cast well relative to the story being told, and because the story is told from the perspective of Mandela, not from the perspective of the coach, or players, or team.  This should have been a sports movie with a political message, not a political movie with a sports fascination.

Preview: Trailer 1

Movie
Home: Invictus

The Bounty Hunter

Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Gerard Butler

Rated: R

Currently: In Theatres

Rating: 3.0/5.0

Reason: Pace

Comments: If the first half of the movie had been as interesting or moved as well as the second half this would have been a very enjoyable movie, that and if Butler had actually been attracted to Aniston. The chemistry just was not there for these two.

Preview: Trailer 1

Movie

Home: Bounty Hunter