Little Fockers

Not really a Christmas movie. But, still fun to watch with friends when you're home for the holidays. Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro are hilarious together. Whoever cast the first movie was a genius! I liked this film almost as much as the first one - the second one was just OK. And, I loved all the Chicago scenes in this one- shout out to Lincoln Park! My only complaint would be Jessica Alba's character. She just annoyed me. Rating: You'll find it in everyone's DVD collection 10 years from now. See it on the big screen now anyway.

Eat Pray Love

Ok, full disclosure. I only read 20 pages of the book. So, sue me. I'm better at movie watching than book reading these days. And folks told me the film doesn't do the book justice so why bother reading the book first anyway. I agree with the Eat Pray Love haters (you know who you are!) - the film is painfully slow. But, I'm a Julia Roberts fan, so who cares. She's wonderful in this role. Who wouldn't want to be her in this film, getting to fly all around the world for a year to "find yourself." I could watch scenes from Bali all day long and not get tired of such a beautiful place. I particularly loved whoever scored this film (Sly, Josh Rouse, Eddie Vedder, etc). And, Anthony Bourdain, I mean Javier Bardem - I don't know why I keep mixing those two up, but I do - is the epitome of a ruggadly handsome man. Well casted! Rating - I'd recommend it, maybe as an airline movie...perhaps on your way to Bali.

Unstoppable

Let's be clear. The only reason I wanted to see this movie was to watch Denzel Washington and Chris Pine on the big screen. It didn't matter what the plot was about. Seeing these fine gentelmen act was enough for me. But, sadly, I wanted my money back! This movie was just rubbish. There's an unstoppable train. Fine. But, make it interesting, Mr. Tony Scott. Don't have me wishing the train actually rammed through that school bus filled of children so there could finally be drama in a mediocre plot with an anti-climatic ending. I mean, come on Mr. Scott! I expected more from the man who directed Enemy of the State, Spy Game, and Deja Vu. I wasn't thrilled. I wasn't even impressed with Denzel or Chris' performances...sad, but true. Rating - Unstoppably bad. Don't waste your money. Wait til it comes on TV and even then only have it on as background noise while folding your laundry.

Passing Strange

Spike Lee directed a film that used to be a broadway play? What?! I must see this. And, thankfully I did over the Thanksgiving break...sorry for the delayed posting. I love performance art, especially spoken word. It's like going to a concert for me. And, this film felt just like that - a concert. Spike Lee does a great job of capturing raw talent on stage and making it easily digestible through film. The storyline is funny, drama-filled, and told with rhyme and sass. The only downside was me being too sleepy to watch the whole thing through in one sitting. I finished it in two sittings...Thanksgiving wore me out! Rating - rent it from the library and enjoy!