many good movies....

WRISTCUTTERS: A LOVE STORY is not your typical romantic comedy. However, once you get past the inherent darkness of the framing of the story, you find an incredibly optimistic and sweet film. Patrick Fujit (who didn’t love ALMOST FAMOUS?) plays Zia, our hero. After slitting his wrists, he finds himself in a strange afterlife where those who commit suicide go. He explains it as being like real-life, but slightly worse. While there, he meets some people, and learns that his girlfriend has also committed suicide, and with his new friend, sets out on a road trip to find his lost love. Along the way, he meets Mikal (Shannyn Sossamon) who is looking for the people in charge, as she has been sent to this underworld by mistake. WRISTCUTTERS is a dark film, but is really more of an optimistic film about love. With great laughs, and a fabulous cameo featuring Will Arnett (ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT forever!), this is one of my favorite movies of the year. I hope that Patrick Fujit will continue to work, as I find him such a compelling guy. If you want to see another great movie, besides ALMOST FAMOUS, that he is in, check out SAVED!

Final thoughts: A funny, sweet, and sad romantic journey. One to check out.

MICHAEL CLAYTON is everything a movie should be. It is well-acted, well-directed, incredibly suspenseful, deals with timely issues, and is interesting to boot! Plus, it doesn’t apologize for being a smart movie….expecting the audience to participate on the journey. George Clooney plays clean-up lawyer Michael Clayton, and oh, does he wear his business suits well. What is it about this guy? He is a real movie-star – gorgeous to look at, a good actor, and has this aura about him. Suffice it to say…I have fallen under his spell. Michael Clayton’s colleague and friend, Arthur Edens (played by the always dependable Tom Wilkinson) has a psychotic break while working on a class-action suit that he has been working on for over six years. Brought in to smooth things over with the company council that Edens was representing, Karen Crowder (played by the always fabulous Tilda Swinton), Clayton finds himself involved with something major, that might be bigger than just Edens having a bad day. This movie takes twists and turns all over the place, and is able to balance Clayton’s professional work with the personal issues he is having to deal with as well. It is a great movie, and will resonate with you long after the final credits role.

Final thoughts: Not only a well-made movie, but a good movie. Grab that popcorn and enjoy the ride….

DAN IN REAL LIFE is a movie that I have looked forward to for a couple of reasons. First, I heart Steve Carell, and have been a fan of his since he was a reporter on THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART, and secondly, the cast includes several notable NYC actors. The movie was what I hoped it would be. Sweet and funny, it showed a pretty realistic journey of a man who meets the right woman in the wrong circumstances. Dan (Carell) is a widower with three daughters who is headed up to his parents house for a long weekend. Once again, his family is all over him about getting out there and dating again. He heads out to pick up the papers, and meets a lovely girl played by Juliette Binoche. He heads home with a certain glow, and then meets his brother’s girlfriend….the girl from the bookstore. Is it slightly contrived…yes. Do you still find yourself invested in the situation….yes. Okay…now the game is called: find the Broadway star! Check out Norbert Leo Butz as Carell’s brother. You might know Norbert from WICKED (original Fiyero), or from his Tony-Award winning turn in DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS. Also, make sure to look for Matthew Morrison as the cop. He was the original Link in HAIRSPRAY and the love-interest in THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA.

Final thoughts: Go with a girlfriend, eat some chocolate, have some giggles, and enjoy a pleasant afternoon at the movies.