The Visitor

Title - The Visitor
Rating - PG 13
Actors - Richard Jenkins, Haaz Sleiman, Danai Jekesai Gurira,
Directed By- Thomas McCarthy
Recommendation? Still in theatres. . . you could easily wait for DVD
Length - 1 hour 43 minutes

This movie is getting the independent film critics attention. The story is about a 60'ish boring, old, sad, college professor who lives in CT and owns an apartment in NYC. One day he shows up to his New York City apartment and is surprised by 2 illegal immigrants living in his furnished home. The immigrants had been scammed and led to believe they had legally rented the property. Rather than throw the young immigrant couple into the street, the professor allows them to stay for a short time. They become friends, and the unlikely friends learn that we are all human beings and can easily relate to one another if we only try.

I give this movie 4.5 stars out of 5. I did like the movie. Heartfelt. A little sad. A touching movie about people and their lives. A touch of melancholy with a dash of love.

Title -Baby Mama
Rating - PG 13
Actors - Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Dax Shepard, Greg Kinnear,Steve Martin, Sigourney Weaver

Directed By- Michael McCullers
Recommendation? Good to see in theatre. . . but, you could wait until it's on DVD,too
Length - 1 Hour 39 Minutes

"Baby Mama" features arguably the 2 funniest women in comedy right now, Tina Fey & Amy Poehler.

The movie is about an aging young executive who desperately wants to have a baby. She is unable to conceive, and doesn't want to take the time involved to adopt. She visits a surrogate clinic and is matched with funny, white trashy, Amy Poehler.

The incubator is soon living with the young executive and the wackiness begins. A love storyline also exists between Tina Fey's & Greg Kinnear's characters.

Overall, the movie is fairly short and sweet. Has some funny parts, and is easy to watch no matter how macho or cool you think you are.

Good movie for a date with the wife, or wait until DVD and everyone catch watch.

I give this movie 3.75 stars out of 5

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Title -The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Rating - PG 13
Actors - Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner, Marie-Josee Croze

Directed By- Julian Schnabel
Recommendation? Rent it.
Length - 1 Hour 42 Minutes

This is a French film. Yes, I am now a snobby international film critic. No, not really. This just happens to be a really good movie made in France.

The entire film is in subtitles. So, if you don't like to read at the movies, you are out of luck.

This movie is about a guy who had it all. Based on a true story. He was the big dog editor of 'Elle' magazine in Paris, young 40's, beautiful women surrounded him, money to no end, his life was great. Out of no where, with no warning he has a stroke and is reduced to the batting of one eye in order to communicate.

It's hard to feel sorry for yourself, or not cherish the smallest inconvenience as you watch this guy struggle to communicate with one eye. His mind is 100% in tact, but he is a prisoner in his own body.

The director puts you inside the mind of "Jean-Do" and we listen as he contemplates life, death, his past, present, and future. A very well done movie.

This movie received multiple award nominations and awards. I give this movie 4.75 stars out of 5. RENT THIS MOVIE !

My Heros

Knowledge is one of life’s greatest gifts. But it means nothing unless you do something with it. Knowledge isn’t power—action is power. - Anthony Robbins

Read anything by Anthony Robbins, Joel Osteen, Zig Ziglar, or the book, "The Secret". You will see that these people are here to help. So, if you want help, go get it.

The Savages

Title -Savages
Rating - R - I don't really know why? Maybe an 'F' bomb or 2? Nothing obscene
Actors - Laura Linney, Philip Seymour Hoffman

Directed By- Tamara Jenkins
Recommendation? Rent it.
Length - 1 Hour 44 Minutes

This movie is about siblings. A brother and sister are surprised with news they need to collaborate on the decision of what to do with their dieing father. They struggle with guilt, childhood trauma, and the future. You get the feeling that both left the house the day they turned 18 and hadn't had much to do with 'dad' since. They are pulled from their separate, busy lives to decide what is 'best' for 'dad' before he dies.

Both Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman deliver honest, and genuine performances. The movie is critically acclaimed and deservingly so. A very human drama.

I recommend renting this movie. The kind of movie that is great to watch when the house is absolutely silent, too late for the phone to ring, and the movie pulls you inside.

My favorite kind of movie. I give this movie 4.5 stars out of 5.

Iron Man

Title -Iron Man
Rating - PG 13
Actors - Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow

Directed By- John Favreau
Recommendation? GO SEE THIS MOVIE ! IT IS KILLER!
Length - 2 Hours 6 Minutes

Maybe you think this will be your cliche 'superhero' movie. Maybe it is? If it is, in my opinion Jon Favreau and Robert Downey Jr. have done it THE BEST so far. This is an AWESOME movie!

Robert Downey Jr. plays the rich, arrogant, brilliant, mega zillioniare, perfectly. I haven't been this impressed with movie technology since 'The Matrix' came out in 2000.

I really don't even want to talk about the plot, or acting, or any details. Just GO SEE THIS MOVIE!

I give this movie 4.75 stars out of 5.

Debt & Slavery

This info was in a newsletter, thought you'd find it interesting. . .

One of the most interesting books I’ve come across lately is called The Web of Debt: The Shocking Truth About Our Money System and How We Can Break Free by Ellen Brown, JD. Here are two quotes from the back cover (notice the dates) to give you a flavor of the book:

“The sack of the United States by the Fed is the greatest crime in history. Every effort has been made by the Fed to conceal its powers, but the truth is the Fed has usurped the government.” -- Charles McFadden, Chairman, House Banking and Currency Committee, 1932.

“The real truth is ... that a financial element in the large centers has owned the Government ever since the days of Andrew Jackson” -- President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1932.

The book proposes that big money interests supported the Civil War because it was a chance to drive the United States apart, with both sides in heavy debt. And that was the chance to take control over the country. They considered physical slavery to be obsolete because the slave owners were responsible for the physical care of the slaves. However, debt slavery of a nation is much more efficient because it involves most of the nation and there is no need to care for the slaves. In fact, under ideal conditions the slaves can even prosper.

In addition, according to Brown, even our political process was created by huge money interests so that people would be distracted over politicians who quarreled over issues that were insignificant to what the “debt slave owners” were doing. I think that’s particularly evident this year; that this country is in severe financial difficulties that are hardly mentioned by those running for president.

I think this book is very important reading for anyone who wants to stay on top of the big picture. In addition, I think there is a chance that the whole system might undo itself in the next few years. Overall, that would be great for the United States, but the short term ramifications would turn everything upside down since we’ve come to depend upon the system put in place.