A Perfect Murder

Micheal Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, Viggo Mortensen -- A darn near perfect copy of Hitchcock's "Dial 'M' for Murder". Watch for David Eigenberg (Miranda's husband in "Sex in the City"). I liked Hitchcock's version better. I would rate it 3 3/4 out of 5 stars. (1998-R)

Transylmania

Jennifer Lyons, Oren Skoog, Musetta Vander -- Oren Skoog? Musetta Vander? I couldn't find one actor that I knew about. Horrible! I think that 15 year olds would like the movie - but that's it. I wanted it to end less than five minutes after I started watching it. I gave it a 1 out of 5 stars but actually it would be 0. (2009-UR)

Defendor

Woody Harrelson, Sandra Oh, Clark Johnson, Kat Dennings -- As the "Not Quite Right" superhero (Woody Harrelson) and his crack-addicted girlfriend (Kat Dennings). Sandra Oh plays his psychiatrist. I rather liked it! I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars. (2009-R)

Funny Games

Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, Michael Pitt, Brady Corbet-- A really, really disturbing tale. A couple of young men show up at a family's vacation home. It doesn't end like you think it's going to end. Like the German film from 1997 (same title) . Most of you will not like it. I, however, gave it a 5 out of 5 stars. (2007-R)

The Road

Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Robert Duvall, Charlize Theron -- A journey taken by a father and son in post-apocalyptic world. I didn't get it. It was darn near two hours long. I am glad I didn't watch it in the theater. I would rate it a 2 out of 5 stars. (2009-R)

Disgrace

John Malkovich, Jessica Haines, Eriq Ebouaney -- It takes place South Africa. A professor gets in to an inappropriate relationship with a student. He is forced to resign. So he goes and spends some time with his daughter, who is growing an herb farm. Very depressing. I would rate it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. (2008-R)

Genlemen Broncos

Sam Rockwell, Michael Angarano, Jemaine Clement-- a young writer (Michael Angarano) is the victim of plagiarism by an older, more experienced writer (Jemaine Clement). Kind of like "Napoleon Dynamite". A bunch of "I saw him/her in....." including Jennifer Coolidge (Legally Blonde, American Pie), Halley Feiffer (The Messenger, The Squid and the Whale), Josh Pais (A Beautiful Mind, Assassination of a High School President) and, of coarse, Michael Angarano (Sky High, Seabiscuit) and Jemaine Clement (The Flight of the Concords, Eagle Vs. Shark). Sam Rockwell is the only actor of note. I liked it, but it is not for everybody. I would rate it 3 out of 5 stars. (2009-PG-13)

Extraordinary Measures

Harrison Ford, Brendan Fraser, Keri Rurrell, Courtney Vance -- A real tearjerker. About the doctor (Harrison Ford) that came up with a cure for Pompe Disease. A good two-hanky movie. I would give it a 4 out of 5 stars. (2010-PG)

Good Hair

Chris Rock, Ice-T, Rev. Al Sharpton -- Chris Rock's irreverent look at Black women's hair. I'm glad that I only have do cut mine once a month! I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars. (2009-PG-13)

The Midnight Meat Train

Bradley Cooper, Vinnie Jones, Brooke Shields, Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson -- Fast-forward to the last five minutes of the thing. They have to keep some kind of lower life forms alive. They eat meat. Despite all the stars in it, I don't think you would want to see it. I'd rate it a 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. I can watch anything. (2008-UR)

The Box

Cameron Diaz, James Mersden, Frank Langella -- A stranger (Frank Langella) shows up with a button in a box. The only thing the married couple (Cameron Diaz and James Mersden) need to do is push the button. They get $1 million but somewhere in the world any person dies. It reminds me of a psychology experiment that took place in the 50s. I would rate it a 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. I wanted it to turn out better than it did. (2009-PG-13)

Dog Park

Luke Wilson, Janeane Garofalo -- To many actors, not enough plot. Not one of Luke Wilson's best. I would rate it 2 1/2 out of 5 stars. (1999-R)

Crazy on the Outside

Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, J.K. Simmons, Ray Liotta, Kelsey Grammer -- A guy (Tim Allen) gets out of prison. His sister (Sigourney Weaver) tells his mother that he has been in France instead of the slammer. J.K. Simmons is her husband. Further hijinks ensue. It went straight to video. No wonder. J.K Simmons is great! I would rate it as 3 out of 5 stars. (2009-PG-13)

Malice in Wonderland

Maggie Grace, Danny Dyer -- Alice (Maggie Grace) and Whitey (Danny Dyer) piece together her memories, in order for her to make it back to the real world. WEIRD! All of the characters from Lewis Carroll's book. Not good, but not that bad either. I would rate it 2 3/4 out of 5 stars. (2009-R)

Five Minutes of Heaven

Liam Neeson, James Nesbitt -- The trouble between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. I don't get it! I would rate it 3 out of 5 stars. (2009-NR)

The Ramen Girl

Brittany Murphy, Toshiyuki Nishida, Sohee Park -- A girl goes to Tokyo to live with her boyfriend. As soon as she gets there, he dumps her. She goes to a Ramen shop. She convinces the owner to take her on as an apprentice. She discovers that when she cries in the soup, it tastes better. Kind of like "Like Water for Chocolate" (only without the good acting). I would rate it 3 3/4 out of 5 stars. (2008-PG-13)

Mother Night

Nick Nolte, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Kirsten Dunst -- A man (Nick Nolte) is a spy during World War II. He is one of Hitler's Propaganda Minister's but he is sending intelligence to the Americans. I liked Vonnegut's book better. I would rate it 3 out of 5 stars. (1996-R)

Georgia O'Keeffe

Joan Allen, Jeremy Irons, Ed Begley, Jr., Tyne Daly -- Joan Allen and the title role. Jeremy Irons as her husband. It concentrates on her life from 1918 in till the mid-30s. Although I guess it was informative. I would rate it 3 out of 5 stars. (2009-NR)

The Vicious Kind

J.K. Simmons, Brittany Snow, Adam Scott, Alex Frost -- It said "Comedy" in the trailer, but once I got into it, this was a "Drama". Alex Frost and Brittany Snow go to see his father (J.K. Simmons) during the Thanksgiving holidays. J.K. Simmons was, as usual, great. The rest of the cast was so-so. I would give it a 3 out of 5 stars. (2008-R)

YouTube - PARKOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YouTube - PARKOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

District 13: Ultimatum

Cyril Raffaell, David Belle -- Both the actors are black belts in Parkour (surmounting obstacles such as walls and railings and leaping across open spaces). The only problem, was there was not enough Parkour in it. It takes place about five years in the future. Paris is divided into districts. The poorest district is District 13. I have included a video clip of Parkour. I would rate it a 2 1/2 out of 5 stars. (2009-R)