Mr. Brooks - 2007 - Kevin Costner - Demi Moore.  Mr. Brooks has a real 
problem - he likes to commit murder.  Aside from that he is a real nice
guy.  This is a mystery/thriller that is well acted and directed.  It
is not really my kind of movie but I enjoyed it anyway. 8

Juno - Ellen Page - 2007.  This is a fun, quirky, excellent film that once
again shows what can come of a good script, a good cast, and a good
director.  It is different in all of the right ways.  Sure to win many
honors. 10

Griffen & Phoenix - 2006 - Dermot Mulroney - Amanda Peet.  Griffen is
diagnosed with inoperable cancer and becomes disconnected from his two
sons as their mother plans her new marriage.  Phoenix turns up in a
class that Griffen is sitting in on and they fall into a very strange
relationship that turns into a romance that changes their lives.  This
is not a "happy" movie but it is well done and meaningful. 8

Definitely, Maybe - 2008 - Ryan Reynolds.  A very easy to watch romantic 
comedy with actors and actresses that I have, for the most part, not heard 
of, but who do a very nice job in their roles. 8
 
Becoming Jane - Anne Hathaway - 2007.  A period piece about the life of
Jane Austen.  Is is beautiful to watch but it is slow in parts - well, 
actually, it is slow in all of its parts.  But worthwhile. 8

The Bucket List - Jack Nicholson - Morgan Freeman - 2007.  This was very
close to the "perfect" movie - at least so far as I am concerned.  It was
very well written and directed.  The story moved very well and the message
was universal.  10

Glory Road - Josh Lucas - 2006. The story of Don Haskins who became the
coach of the Texas Western Miners basketball team and led them to the 
NCAA Championship in his first year (1966).  The movie speaks to the 
state of race relations in this country in the 60's and is an important
film to see. 9

Michael Clayton - George Clooney - 2007.  This movie was given a great
deal of acclaim including a number of Oscar nominations and a couple of
wins but I thought it was pretty mediocre and even though the performances
were good, they were not exceptional.  6

Enchanted - Amy Adams - Patrick Dempsey - 2008.  A very nice Disney movie
that is another take off on Cinderella.  Partially animated and very cute.
One scary scene but otherwise perfectly done for children and adults. 9

Rocky Balboa - 2007 - Sylvestor Stallone.  Rocky comes back for what one 
would hope is the final movie in this series = and while the story is very 
worn, the movie was remarkably watchable. 9

Flags of our Fathers - 2007.  This war movie about the battle for Iwo Jima
during the end of WWII was directed by Clint Eastwood.  While it is a good
movie it is not for the squeamish.  The battle scenes are very realistic
and the storyline about the servicemen who raised the flag on that island,
giving birth to a very famous photo, is all to accurate.  What became of 
those brave men is not the stuff that dreams are made of. 8

27 Dresses - Katherine Heigl - 2007.  I was disappointed in the romantic
comedy.  The ending was sweet but the bulk of the movie was slow and 
plodding.  There were some funny scenes and Heigl is absolutely beautiful,
but that can only carry it for so long.  7

Evan Almighty - Morgan Freeman - Steve Carrol - 2007.  A very well done
comedy with a message that is fun to watch and is actually good entertainment.
The ability to integrate animals into the scenes is incredible.  Children
will love it if only for this. 9

Catch and Release - Jennifer Garner - 2006.  Garner plays a girl who is 
getting ready for her wedding day when her husband to be dies in an 
accident.  Coping with her loss and then learning that the deceased
was not the person that she thought he was make the biggest part of
this movie.  It has a sweet ending in that everything ends well - but
it is not an "up" film and is easily forgotten. 7

August Rush - Keri Russell - Robin Williams - 2007.  This is not the 
easiest movie to watch.  The character played by Robin Williams is
very out of character for him but he does a good job.  If you like
music this will entrance you - but you have to stay with it.  9
 
In The Land Of Women - Adam Brody - Meg Ryan - 2006.  A young man
travels to a Detroit suburb to spend some time with his aging grand-
mother after his beautiful, famous girlfriend breaks up with him.
I thought this was a nice movie with an interesting story which is
watchable but not memorable. 8
 
The Interpreter - Nicole Kidman - Sean Penn - 2005. This is an extremely 
well done movie about the turmoil in a fictious African country.  The
story is fiction but the reality is that this country exists in many 
other names.  Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman, along with a tremendous cast,
were wonderful.  This is a drama - it is intense - but it is a very 
good movie. 10

I.Q. - Tim Robbins - Meg Ryan - Walter Matthau - 1994. A cute romantic
comedy about Albert Einstein trying to inflence the romantic affairs 
of his niece.  Well acted and fun to watch. 8

Freedom Writers - Hilary Swank - 2007.  This is a true story about a
teacher who finds a way to reach her at-risk high school students.
It is not always easy to watch but the end is worth the time. 9

Astonaut Farmer - Billy Bob Thornton - 2006.  Charlie Farmer was
in the space program when his father died.  He left the program 
to run the family farm but he never lost his dream of taking a
rocket ride into orbit.  The story of how he does it makes for 
a very good movie. 9

The Last Mimzy - Timothy Hutton - Joely Richardson - 2007.  Life
in the future is about to become extinct when The Last Mimzy is 
sent to the past to attempt to find what is missing from their
DNA and bring it forward to save humanity.  It is very mild
science fiction and very family oriented. 9

Fool's Gold - Kate Hudson - Matthew McConaughey - 2008.  A good
idea for a story with an attractive cast is ruined by a slow,
plodding screenplay.  Some of the underwater scenes are very 
pretty but it is not a good flick. 5

Mamma Mia - Meryl Streep - Pierce Brosnan - 2008.  This is an
enjoyable movie but it is not all that it is cracked up to be.
In my opinion, while the performers did a decent job, the movie
was miscast.  There seems to have been a time warp.  The main
players should have been in their 40's but appeared to be in 
their middle 50's or more.  Plus, while they had decent voices,
they really didn't have the vocal skills to carry the movie.
Still a fun show but a tad disappointing. 8

The Final Season - Sean Astin - 2007.  The true story of the
Norway High School baseball team which played it's final
season in 1991.  A very well done, family oriented movie
that is enjoyable to watch. 9