Inception

Grade: B

Premise: A group of super smart people enter people’s dreams and steal top secret corporate information.

Recommend: Yep – but selectively.  I thought this movie was super cool but it took me the first 45 minutes to figure out what the heck I was watching.  I thought that Leo DiCaprio and Ellen Page were great.  It’s longish – 2.5 hours – so set aside a while to watch.

The Soloist

Go to IMDb page

Information © IMDb.com

Grade:  A

Premise:  A journalist from the LA Times finds inspiration from a homeless, mentally ill, street musician.

Recommend:  Yes, this is a wonderful movie with excellent acting from Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr.  True story.  Gives a glimpse inside the homeless situation in Los Angeles.

Technorati Tags: The Soloist,Robert Downey Jr.,Jamie Foxx

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Grade:  B

Premise:  Tells the tale of how Wolverine from X-Men came to be.

Recommend:  If you like the X-Men movies, you will probably like this one as well.  It was a bit campy in some parts but I enjoyed it.  Some cool action scenes.

Technorati Tags: Wolverine,X-Men,Hugh Jackman

A Single Man

Go to IMDb page

Information © IMDb.com

 Grade:  A

Premise:  George Falconer, a 50something professor, has lost his partner of 16 years to a traffic accident.  This movie takes place on a day eight months later where he finally decides to stop living in the past.

Recommend:  Oh Yes!  This is a fantastic, intense, heartbreaking movie from start to finish.  It showcases Colin Firth’s amazing acting ability.  While the movie is centered around a gay couple, it really is about grief.  I can’t say enough good things about it.

Technorati Tags: A Single Man,Colin Firth,Julianne Moore,Tom Ford

It’s Complicated

Grade: A

Premise: Jane has been divorced from Jack for ten years.  In a moment of weakness, she sleeps with Jack.  This leads to her having an affair with her ex-husband.  In the middle of this, she meets Adam, her architect who falls for her.  It’s complicated indeed.

Recommend: Oh heck yeah!  Definitely for the late-30′s and older crowd and good for men and women.  It takes a few minutes to get going but then it is HILARIOUS!!! Alec Baldwin is a scream.  The best supporting part goes to John Krasinski’s character, Harley.  Definitely worth seeing in a theater.

Actor(s): Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin, John Krasinski, Lake Bell

Did You Hear About the Morgans?

Grade: C-

Premise: A separated, New York, power couple has witnessed a high profile murder.  They must enter the witness protection program and end up in Wyoming.

Recommend: As a rental only and even then, only if you really really really wanted to see it in the theater and missed it.  This is your typical “fish out of water” movie and it isn’t done particularly well.  There are a few laugh out loud moments.  The two leads are incredibly miscast.  “See it from a mile away” ending.  Gave it a C- because Sam Elliot and Mary Steenburgen were good.

Actor(s): Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker, Elisabeth Moss, Sam Elliot, Mary Steenburgen

My Life in Ruins

Grade:  B

Premise: Georgia is an academic who loses her job at a Greek university.  She takes a job as a tour operator and learns to relax a bit.

Recommend: Yes.  This isn’t a laugh out loud funny movie but it is cute.  Total chick movie.  The tourist stereotypes get a little old.

Actor(s): Nia Vardalos, Richard Dreyfuss, Alexis Georgoulis

Avenue Montaigne

Grade: C

Premise: A young woman with no place to live, gets a job at a bar.  She soon meets a cast of characters that include actresses, pianists and art collectors.

Recommend: With reservation.  I liked it, but it is a talky, subtitled type movie.  There really isn’t much of a story.

Peter’s Friends

Grade: B+

Premise: Ten years after graduation, a group of college friends decide to spend New Year’s weekend together.

Recommend: Yes.  The drama between the couples, non-couples and soon-to-be couples is really good.  Enjoyable movie.

Actor(s): Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, Rita Rudner, Kenneth Branagh, Hugh Laurie, Imelda Staunton, Phylida Law

The Ramen Girl

Grade: B

Premise: A woman follows her boyfriend to Japan, only to have him break up with her.  In a fit of “what is my life about?”, she seeks to gain wisdom by learning how to make traditional Ramen from a crusty, Japanese ramen chef.

Recommend: Yes.  I thought this was really good.  The interaction between Abby and the ramen chef was great.

Actor(s): Brittany Murphy