"The Girl In The Book"

Interesting movie. It's difficult to describe without giving away too much of the plot. A middle-aged editor is given an assignment to edit and publish a book by an author. It turns out he was an influence on her life in a bad way when she was young. So she decides to write a book about her experiences just as he tries to re-enter her life. It has it's squeamish moments, but in the end, she gets her revenge.

Who's Driving Doug"

If the movie description says, "Road Trip," I'm all over it. I'm a total sucker for road films. This is one that's a bit different. It stars an actor who has a non-progressive form of MS, (RJ Mitte, from "Breaking Bad"), who's smart and sarcastic as hell. He has a control-freak mom who still talks to her deceased husband. Doug's driver quits and he takes on a fun-loving, witty, new driver who convinces him and a female college student to take a road trip to Vegas. This movie is well written, acted, and will leave you thinking about life. There are plenty of laughs and serious moments to this wonderful movie.
4.5 out of 5 stars

"Run Boy Run"

The story of a young Jewish boy set during WWII. As the Nazis attack Warsaw, his father helps him escape the Jewish Ghetto and tells him to be brave and never give up. He also tells him to make up a fake identity, however to never forget who he really is. He roams the countryside, just a step ahead of the Nazis, and works for a series of farmers, moving on just as he is about to be captured. He is taken in and nurtured by several families. The young actor gives an amazing performance. What was refreshing about this movie is that although there are many harrowing moments, it has very little physical violence. And the countryside of Poland is quite beautiful.
4 out of 5 stars

"December Boys"

Four young boys, in 1960s Australia, are faced with the possibility that they'll never get adopted. Then they're sent on a summer holiday to the shore where they vie for the attention of a young couple who are interesting in adopting one of them. It's a sweet movie about their summer adventures. Danial Radcliffe stars along with three other relatively unknown, yet talented young actors. Well worth a watch. A good family movie to boot.
4 out of 5 stars

"Just Like a Woman"

I'm a huge fan of road movies, especially female road movies. So the premise of this film is that two women , who are casual friends, are both in terrible marriages. One is a redneck, married to an unemployed loser, and the other is married to an Egyptian husband with a horrible mother-in-law. The two escape by hitting the road where they discover both themselves and the world. What a wonderful film!
4 1/2 stars out of 5

"We Need to Talk About Kevin"

Absolutely one of the creepiest movies I've ever seen. It's about a boy, Kevin, who is pure evil. It begins with his arrest, without explaining what he did. The story unfolds, jumping back and forth in time. Kevin is the personification of evil from birth. He cries incessantly as a baby, soils his pants as a toddler who's too old to do so, and, well, he just keeps getting worse and worse as he grows. Watching this movie is sort of like seeing a gruesome accident on the side of the road. You don't want to look, but you just can't help yourself. There isn't a lot of gore or violence in the movie, but it's painful to watch. Tilda Swinton is perfectly cast as the mom, and Jasper Newell who plays the toddler Kevin, and Ezra Miller who plays the teenaged Kevin are both great. There isn't one thing likable about them and you're pretty sure you could strangle either one to death.
3.5 out of 5 stars

"Pee-wee's Big Holiday"

If you're a fan of Pee-wee, you're going to love this movie. It's Pee-wee at his best. He hasn't done anything in a long while, but I think it's been worth the wait. He's not as goofy as he was, and his story actually has a plot. Either you like Pee-wee or you don't. I'm a fan and I thought this movie was a lot of fun.
4 stars out of 5