Movie Reviews

by Karin Leonard & Daniel Robin

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I Heart Huckabees

With Jude Law, Naomi Watts, Mark Wahlberg, Dustin Hoffman, Lily Tomlin

Entertainment: 4 Message: 4

In the screwball existential playground called life, all the dots connect and collide. The results are at once hilarious and thought provoking. Is the universe essentially random and empty or are we all made of the same fabric? As insightful as “What the Bleep” but done with a wild, zany spirit and an absolutely delightful cast. Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin play a married couple practicing some bizarre form of “extreme” coaching, as they “accidentally on purpose” help clients figure out why their life isn’t working. It’s the spontaneity of reality TV meets psychotherapy-with-an-attitude. An odd yet reassuring portrait of liberal-left despair, captured with piercing accuracy and a fierce imagination. Why do liberal progressives have such a hard time coping with the realities of modern life and our warped culture? Is there hope for our species? We felt like cultural voyeurs witnessing this curious combination of nonsense and substance – all the right ingredients for a healthy and fascinating soup of goofy idealism … you simply must see it (1 hr 46 min).

Ice Princess

With Michelle Trachtenberg, Joan Cusack, Kim Cattrall

Entertainment: 3.5 Message: 4

Modern romantic fairytale of finding your passion and making dreams come true, but with a twist or two. While there is a plethora of Hallmark moments (hey, its Disney), this film also offers genuine depth of characters and themes, unlike most films of the genre (intended for teenage girls). Here the characters actually change and gain something of substance, providing a story worth watching, even if you are not particularly a fan of the sport (1 hr 38 min).

Ice Age: The Meltdown

Voices by Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah

Entertainment: 4 Message: 4

This animated comedy is absolutely wonderful, just like the first installment. Beautiful animation, great humor and a clear “green” message to care for the environment “as if” it’s key to our success and survival. Queen Latifah as the lady mammoth is a blast, and many “good old friends” (like Scrat, the crazy acorn-obsessed, demented squirrel) are back to delight us. Good, clean fun for the entire family; go see it before the waters rise (1 hr 30 min).

The Incredibles

Voices by Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L Jackson, Jason Lee, Elizabeth Peña

Entertainment: 4 Message: 3.5 Stylized animated violence (no bloodshed)

Great fun is unleashed, in animated superhero form, to the delight of both kids and adults in this latest accomplishment from Disney/Pixar. On first take, this seems like a superhero spoof about life in the American suburbs, with hilarious portrayal of everyday challenges in your not-so-average family. On closer look, a wonderful tale about being true to one’s nature, playing on several juicy metaphors. Given that modern-day parents are asked to be superheroes anyway, providing the matching wardrobe and “special” powers seems only natural; at the same time, the story humanizes and brings comic book heroes down to earth. Great fun and therapeutic value for the whole family (1 hr 45 min).

The Inside Man

With Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Willem Dafoe

Entertainment: 4.5 Message: 3.5

Sophisticated, intelligent plot, brilliantly executed with a stellar cast and grand performances throughout. Not just another heist movie, but quite spectacular entertainment with surprising twists and turns. Spiced just right with social commentary, Spike Lee succeeds in making a statement of tremendous impact without getting too preachy. Jodi Foster is in her power as master manipulator Madeline White, while Denzel Washington, Clive Owen and Christopher Plummer inhabit their characters with apparent ease and masterful depth (2 hrs 9 min).

The Interpreter

With Nicole Kidman, Sean Penn, Catherine Keener

Entertainment: 4 Message: 3.5

Contemporary, difficult themes of ethnic cleansing and international terrorism make this intelligent thriller an effective vehicle for top actors Kidman and Penn, who create an atmosphere of mystery and intrigue through elegant, sophisticated performances. Rather than over-the-top violence, the film delivers emotional depth. Truly gripping, a complex story unfolds and character is revealed, made quite engaging through high-stakes and edge-of-the-seat suspense (2 hrs 8 min).

The Island

With Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansson, Djimon Hounsou, Sean Bean

Entertainment: 4 Message: 3.5 Warning: graphic and disturbing imagery

Get ready for at-the-edge of your seat entertainment, a gripping, intelligent storyline and an excellent, if not expensive, car chase scene in this sci-fi thriller, set in the mid-21st century. Ewan Mc.Gregor and Scarlett Johansson are great on their danger-filled escape from a nightmarish utopian constructed world. We hope it is not misunderstood as portending the dangers of stem cell research, but serves as a reminder of the consequences of unethical cloning. It is a fascinating ride, with elements of The Truman Show, and sci-fi fans will be pleased (2 hrs 18 min).