"The Island on Bird Street"

What a gem of a movie!  It's the story of a young Polish Jew who has to fend for himself after his father is taken away by the Nazis. He manages to survive in the bombed out Ghetto in Warsaw. The movie reminds me of several post-Apocalyptic movies I've seen in that, for long periods of the film, there is no dialog and the young boy is the only person on camera. The story is both bleak and full of subtle optimism. The actor, Jordan Kiziuk won several awards for his performance and you can easily see why. It's a shame that this is the only movie he's made. What a powerful film. This one will stick with you for a long time!
4 1/2 stars out of 5.

"The Safety of Objects"

It's complicated. That's the best way to describe this interesting movie. The story involves the lives of four suburban families The movie starts out jumping back and forth among the families through the course of a day. Then it jumps back and forth in time. I know it sounds confusing, but in the end, it all makes sense. The connecting event involves Glen Close's son who is in a coma as the result of a car accident. The movie reminds me a little of an Altman film. It's not an uplifting movie, but it will definitely stick with you. 3 1/2 stars.

"The Music Never Stopped"

What a great little film. It's about a boy who ran away while in high school. When his parents reconnect with him 29 years later, he has a brain tumor which makes it impossible to form new memories. He shows some improvement when he undergoes untested music therapy. The acting is excellent and the story is quite good. It's based on a true story. A heartwarming tearjerker. 4 1/2 stars out of 5.

"The Caveman's Valentine"

Samuel L. Jackson stars in this underrated thriller. He plays a former piano prodigy who is delusional and lives in a makeshift cave in New York City. When a body turns up outside his dwelling, he begins to investigate what he believes is a murder. Jackson gives a remarkable performance and the story takes some unique plot turns. It's a wild ride at times, but this offbeat murder mystery is well worth watching. I'd never heard about this movie and don't understand why it wasn't promoted more when it came out.
4 out of 5 stars.

"The Way"

This is one of the best movies I've seen in ages. Totally blew me away. The story is about a father who travels to France to retrieve the remains of his son who died on a pilgrimage. While there, he decides to make the pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago himself. Along the way he hooks up with three other trekkers. The performance by Martin Sheen as well as his companions was nothing short of brilliant. The writing and the scenery were both great as well. A movie that deserves repeat viewings. 5 out of 5 stars.

"A Simple Curve"

This film takes place in a small town in British Columbia. It's the story of Caleb, who's in his late 20s and his father, Jim, who own a high end woodworking shop. Their business is in trouble until hope arrives in the form of an old friend of Jim's. There's isn't a lot of action but the movie is well written and acted, especially Michael Hogan who plays the eccentric, old hippie Jim. The scenery is absolutely stunning. If you're looking for a sweet, feel good movie, this one's for you!
4 stars.