"H is for Happiness"

 Another feather in the cap of the Australian film industry, this quirky little indie movie is thoroughly delightful. A precocious12-year old girl (think Anne of Green Gables) befriends a new student who claims to be a visitor from another dimension. Her home life is somewhat unsettled--her mom suffers from depression due to losing her infant daughter and her father is a recluse, because of a fallout with his fabulously rich brother. The story takes a number of amusing twists and turns as she tries to reunite her family.  It's pretty offbeat while remaining just this side of being campy. 

4 out of 5 stars

"The Pier"

A middle-aged Irish American man is called home because his dad is allegedly on his deathbed. When he gets back to the small village where he was raised, he finds out his father had tricked him to get him to visit. As the story unfolds, we discover his mom had died when he was a child and his dad never talked about her. And he and his cantankerous dad haven't gotten along for years. As luck would have it, he meets an American woman who's visiting the village to discover her roots and they strike up a friendship. The story plays out slowly, and some may find it boring. But the scenery is so beautiful, it's worth watching just for that! There were numerous times where I said to myself, "That would make a great painting!" And the Celtic influenced soundtrack is gorgeous as well. 

4 out of 5 stars

  

"Ride Like a Girl"

 If a film has Sam Neill in it, you can bet it'll be worth watching. And this one is no exception. The film, based on a true story is about a widower raising his six children. They raise race horses and all his children train to become jockeys. His youngest daughter, played brilliantly by Teresa Palmer,  is a smart, strong-willed girl who is determined to become the first female jockey to win the coveted Melbourne Cup. We follow her through life trials and tribulations as she strives to reach her goal. Everything about this film is great--the cinematography, acting,  and writing. My only negative comment would be that it seems to skip over parts of the story. I'm sure the director had a hard time deciding what to cut to pare it down to an acceptable viewing length. It could easily have been a three-hour movie. 

"The White Tiger"

I remember thinking while reading "The White Tiger" years ago, "This would make a great movie!" It did. This is one of those epic rags to riches movies that I thoroughly enjoy. It begins with the hero reading his letter to the president of China telling him that now is the time for the Red and Yellow people to conquer the world. Then the story returns to his early days growing up in abject poverty in a poor, rural village. You empathize with him, even though he certainly isn't all good, by any means. But fighting a lingering caste system makes you do things you wouldn't normally have to resort to. If you enjoyed "Slumdog Millionaire" I think you'll like this. 

4 out of 5 stars

"Radium Girls"

I had no idea radium was used in watch faces, and I was particularly shocked to learn that it was used to promote good health and a miracle cure for all sorts of diseases in the 1920s. This movie was a real eye-opener. It's based on the true story of a factory that hired young women to paint watch faces with radium to make them glow. When several of the women get sick and die, they become concerned and decide to take on the company. It's a well written and well acted film, if somewhat predictable. I've seen many social issue movies over the years, but I particularly enjoyed this one. 

"Gimme Shelter"

Not to be confused with the Rolling Stones documentary, this is the true story about Apple, a streetwise teen who runs away from her abusive mother, hoping to be taken in by her wealthy father. She's turned away when his wife learns she's pregnant. Apple is forced to fend for herself on the streets until she's guided to a shelter by a kindly priest (James Earl Jones). I thought Vanessa Hudgens did an absolutely amazing job and while the story is downright painful to watch at times, it certainly will stick with you for quite a while. 

4 9out of 5 stars

"Into the Wild"

This movie has one of those titles that makes you say, "Yea, I think I saw that one." That's what I thought until I decided to "watch it again"! It's based on the best-selling book by Jon Krakauer and stars Emile Hirsch, a recent graduate of Emory University. After graduation, the young man from a wealthy family gives his inheritance away and embarks on his dream--to hitchhike to Alaska where he plans to live out in the wilderness. Along the way, he encounters several characters who impact his life. This true story is fascinating and will keep you glued to your tv right to the end. I loved the story, acting, and most of al, the amazing scenery. It'll make you want to quit everything and start exploring our beautiful country.

4.5 out of 5 stars