Drama
Hemingway’s Garden of Eden (2008) R
Some authors are honored to have their novels made into movies, but I have a feeling Hemingway is rolling over in his grave over this one. His final novel, published after his death, The Garden of Eden explores a couples vacation through Europe and their sexual experimentation with a third partner, stressing their relationship.
Step Off (2010) R
Looks like Netflix thinks I migh like this movie, but I have to say I probably saw it the first time when it was called 8 Mile. Doubt this one will live up to Marshall Mather’s story.
The Fighter (2010) R
He may have an ego the size of the Titanic, but I always look forward to Christian Bale’s performances. This one is apparently quite good – hence Oscar. Mark Wahlberg, a surprisingly good actor, passed over several times for the golden statue, stages a great performance in this biopic.
Foreign
No One Knows About Persian Cats (2009) NR
The first thing I think of when I see young kids trying to form a rock band is Iran. Iran? Not so much, but apparently Bahman Ghobadi used this vision to create a four star foreign drama. I may just have to add this one to my queue.
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Sharktopus (2010) NR
It looks like Roger Corman still wants to be employed, which is why he directed this fantastic half-shark, half octopus adventure. Really? Sounds like a SyFy channel classic. Needless to say I won’t be adding this one, and may even change the channel when it does come on television. I do have friends who would watch this just to see the campiness of this ridiculously named film.
Action & Adventure
Unstoppable (2010) PG-13
Each time I see the previews for this movie, I think it’s a Michael Bay, or Jerry Bruckheimer productions, but it’s actually Tony Scott, the man who brought us Alien. One thing I can say about Tony Scott is that he’s good at suspense, or he was in the 1970′s. This one is another nailbiter where an out of control train full of dangerous chemicals, are there any others, surges toward derailment threatening to kill tens of thousands of people. Looking forward to see Denzel Washington again, as well as Chris Pine, because he really impressed me as a young James T. Kirk in Star Trek (2009). I’ll have to see if I should have taken time to see this on in the theater.
Children & Family
Barney: Mother Goose Collection (2011) NR
Straight to video purple dinosaur and friends. I am thankful that my neice was not a big fan. At least it’s good for the kids, and what a way to illustrate the Mother Goose stories.
Comedy
The Switch (2010) PG-13
It turns out you don’t need a man to have a baby, but just a nice sample of sperm. Put in the twist that the best friend switches the sample with his own DNA. Would I be upset? I don’t know, but Jason Bateman get’s to plan the man who instigated the switch, and now Jennifer Aniston doesn’t know that her child is actually her friends. Hmmmm…
Documentary
The Parking Lot Movie (2010) NR
The online description makes this sound like a soap opera than a documentary, but you’ve got to wonder how someone can document issues in a parking lot. I know I’ve had my issues. This one’s available for the DVD queue and instant streaming.
The Wildest Dream (2009) PG
Poetic for a couple of reasons; Mountain climber Conrad Acher finds Beorge Mallory’s body on Mount Everest 75 years after Mallory’s death. Had he made it, Mallory would have been the first man to reach the summit. Natasha Richardson does one of her last voice over’s before her death, workinig with her husband Liam Neeson.
Waste Land (2010) NR
I added this one after seeing the synopsis on the Academy Awards. It gives a whole new meaning to from trash to treasure. In this case using actual garbage to create art as Vik Muniz does in this Brazillian documentary.
