Starting Out in the Evening (2007)
Bottomline: Extremely slow character study.
Pros: Terrifically measured performance by Frank Langella. Opportunity to see Lili Taylor act. Focuses on the intricacies of writing (something that is near and dear to my heart).
Cons: Extremely -- EXTREMELY -- slow. Nothing ever really happens. And what happens is completely and unfortunately predictable. Nothing overly suprising.
Where Can I See This? It is available for rent.
QMR Opinion: Frank Langella plays a famous intellectual novelist who has been working on his fifth novel for more than a decade. His daughter is played by Lili Taylor and is dealing with issues of her own. Lauren Ambrose plays a precocious and aggressive graduate student who has decided to do her thesis on Langella. Initially he rebuffs Ambrose, but then Langella succumbs to Ambrose's charms both in her physical and intellectual seduction. You can see what is going to happen almost from the outset of the film but it is truly a joy to watch Langella. He is masterful here. Lili Taylor is one of my favorite actresses and I enjoyed her. Ambrose is good but we get introduced to some odd side story that was a waste of time. Need a film to rent? Rent something else.
Duplicity (2009)
Bottomline: Should be a super cool caper flick but falls flat.
Pros: Get to see Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti at work (always pleasureable). Story is strong early on.
Cons: Story unravels and gets too clever for its own good. Given the great cast, movie is a disappointment.
Where Can I See This Movie? You can rent it on DVD.
What's a Better Caper Movie that You Would Recommend? Actually, I would recommend two -- The Sting (1973) and The Usual Suspects (1995)
QMR Opinion: This movie should have been way better than it was. Clive Owen. Julia Roberts. Tom Wilkinson. Paul Giamatti. It's a killer line-up. And, frankly, the best performance was turned in by Carrie Preston as an unwitting accomplice to Owen's charms. The story actually started out strong but then went off the rails quickly -- collapsing under the weight of trying to be incredibly clever. By the time the "twist" is revealed, you are extremely happy the movie is over.
Paper Clips (2004)
Bottomline: An absolutely terrific documentary that is well worth your time and your children's time.
Pros: It's a documentary that allows the story to tell itself without overt interference of the filmmakers.
Cons: Can't think of any.
Where Can I See This Documentary? It is available for rent on DVD.
QMR Opinion: The Whitwell, Tennessee, Middle School decided to develop a curriculum on diversity. The topic they chose was the Holocaust. When the students learned that there were six million Jews exterminated by the Nazis during World War II, a natural question was: What does six million look like? The students discovered that many people showed their solidarity with the Jews in the 1940s by wearing paper clips. So the students began collecting paper clips -- six million of them. This story is proof positive that truth is stranger than fiction. Get the tissues and pop this documentary in your DVD player. It is fantastic and is an excellent film for all ages.
Tooth Fairy (2010)
Bottomline: Cute film that is appropriate for any age child.
Pros: It's January. It's cold. It's rainy. The kids want to invite some friends to see a cute movie. This one fits the bill.
Cons: Cliche. Billy Crystal and Julie Andrews cashing paychecks.
Where Can I See This Movie? It is showing in theaters across the country.
QMR Opinion: Look, sometimes you just need to take the kids to a cute, uncomplicated movie that makes no pretense about what it is. That's Tooth Fairy. It's cute. There are some funny moments. It delivers a good message. Everything gets wrapped up nice and neat at the end. And, yes, it's an opportunity to see Ashley Judd (always a plus). The Rock does yeoman's work continuing to play off his physicality as contrasted with some outrageous plot device. In this case, you get to see The Rock in tights. Should you wait to rent this movie? Yes, probably. But if you're looking to get out of the house with a child under the age of 13, then this one will do the job.
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