"Slacker"

Wow! Reviewers either loved or hated this movie. And I can see why. It's considered a classic and it's one of the first movies Richard Linklater made. The whole movie is a continuing dialogue by a bunch of pretentious college students. I thought it was a bunch of fun.

"Twice Born"

This movie features Penelope Cruz at her best. I don't know why she isn't cast in more movies and isn't recognized as the great actor that she is. Anyway, this movie is about an Italian woman who returns to Bosnia with her son, 16 years after she lived there during the war. It brings up numerous memories and the movie jumps back and forth in time. Ms. Cruz does an amazing job and while the movie is pretty depressing, it is also quite powerful. Well worth watching.
4.5 stars out of 5

"Mr. Nobody"

Choices. That's what this movie is all about. The story centers around a 118-yearl old mortal in a world of immortals. Nemo Nobody, played by, Jared Leto, is the last human being who's lived naturally. The story jumps back and forth continuously as he tells his story. His parents divorced when he was young and a pivotal scene shows him deciding wether to follow his mother at the train station, or stay behind with his dad. As the movie progresses, we see the hundreds of choices he could have made through is life and their consequences. It's confusing at first, but it makes total scenes in the end. The movie is brilliantly shot--to the point where you could watch it with the sound off and still be mesmerized by the visuals. I don't understand why it never made it big in the United States. Actually, I don't know why nobody's ever even heard of this film.

4 1/2 stars out of 5

Breakfast With Curtis

This is another shining example of what Indie films are all about. The basic plot is a nerdy, home-schooled (not fundy-Christian) kid has a run in with his hippy neighbor. Five years later, the old hippy hires him to film a blog about him. Eventually, the hippy compound and the nerdy kids family reunite. This is one of those non-formulaic films (Happy beginning, tragedy strikes, happy ending). It's a funny, chaotic romp that's fun to watch all the way through. If you were a teen in the late 60s and early 70s, I guarantee you'll enjoy this flick.
4.5 out of 5 stars

Short Term 12

This is not an easy film to watch. It's about a group of young social workers who work with kids who are are working their way back into society. They relate to the kids because they've experienced similar problems. There are many humorous moments as well as some very emotional ones as well. A very powerful movie, with some outstanding performances. A movie worth watching more than once.
4 out of 5 stars.

"How I Live Now"

What a wonderful film but dark film. It's about a young American girl who goes to England just as WWIII is starting. She stays with her quirky English cousins out in the country. At first she's pouty, angry and aloof. Eventually things unravel as the war begins and she opens up to life's experiences and joins in with her cousins. This movie definitely exceeded my expectations and worth watching! Saoirse Ronan, who plays the young girl Daisy was magnificent.
4 out of 5 stars.




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"An insignificant Harvey"

What an amazing indie film. It basically has no plot, and is pretty subtle, which my daughters hate. I love what I call "subtle" films. This movie is about a "Little person" who lives in an Alaska type environment. He really has no friends until a dog befriends him. Then several people befriend him. This movie is not unlike "The Station Agent" although the "little person" theme has nothing in common with the movies.