Benny & Joon (1993)

I love this feel-good movie! It's a special treat to watch Sam, Johnny Depp's quirky, sweet and child-like character, who makes grilled cheese sandwiches with an iron and entertains at a park with his impressive Buster Keaton-like routines. He looks and acts like someone who walked in from another era, maybe even another planet. Watch Depp's facial expressions -intense and hilarious!

There are heavy moments, such as the bus scene: When the romance between Sam and Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson) is misunderstood, forcing the pair to run away, Sam comes face to face with the reality of mental illness as Joon becomes severely agitated with the voices in her head. But he never gives up on love, finding a way to get to Joon at the mental hospital by dangling acrobatically just outside her room from a window washer's perch (my favorite scene). And yes, there's a happy ending.

I watched this movie with my husband and our children (ages 10 and 12). If you plan to watch Benny & Joon with kids, be aware that bad words are used a couple of times, and there's a romantic scene between Sam and Joon that's slightly steamy but not distasteful. Overall, though, the touching story, dialogue, and humor make this a fine movie to watch with kids over 9 years of age (younger kids would probably find it boring).

Creative story with fun characters! Some of the almost surreal scenes will replay in your mind to make you smile and even laugh out loud.

This is a quirky romantic comedy about two people who, deemed as misfits by society, fall in love with each other. Featuring outstanding performances by the entire cast, this is a film that lets the viewer know that there is, indeed, someone for everyone.

When eccentric Sam (Johnny Depp) enters the lives of a brother and sister, Benny (Aidan Quinn) and Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson), he changes their lives forever. Benny, it seems, is always worried about his sister who seems to be autistic. He treats her like a baby, making sure that she is never left alone. Highly intelligent, creative, and articulate, Joon, however, chafes a bit under the thumb of her protective older brother, but she does have some issues, as there are certain things that act as triggers for some odd behavior on her part.

When Sam begins living with Benny and Joon, acting as a housekeeper-babysitter, Sam treats Joon like a regular person, and before you know it they are falling in love, each accepting the quirks of the other with complete equanimity. Meanwhile, Benny is attracted to Ruthie (Julianne Moore), who owns the local diner. The only thing is that he cannot seem to concentrate on romance, as he is so worried about what the future holds for his sister.

There are some twists and turns in the romances between Sam and Joon, as well as in that of Benny and Ruthie. There are some very funny moments, as well as those filled with genuine pathos. There is also a certain amount of physical comedy reminiscent of that of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. In the hands of the adept Johnny Depp, it works.

This is a film that will be enjoyed by those who love off-beat, beautifully acted films. Bravo!

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using the quriky proclaimers hit, benny and joon is an acomplishment that pulls johnny depp into one of the cutest, most huggably, and yet eerily believable roles he's played. not just for johnny fans, this movie is truly a "romance with a twist" pulling together the impressive talents of multiple noted actors and actresses. this is the ultimate johnny depp movie, but for those who dont buy into the johnny rage, it provides a sweet evening of family entertainment while dealing with the touchy issues of social relationships, family problems, and mental instability in an origanal, touching, and comforting way that you will never forget.

with the quirky chaplin-esque stunts that depp pulls off in style, and the truly believable copncerned brother role of aiden quin, put together with the semi-insane character of Masterson, this movie has the talent to pull of what it tries to doin style.

a must see for all ages.

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"Benny & Joon" ranks high on my list of favorite movies. The storyline is fairly unpretentious: Juniper "Joon" Pearl (Mary Stuart Masterson) is a slightly unbalanced young woman living with her overprotective brother Benny (Aidan Quinn). The two have been on their own since their parents were killed in a car accident years before. Joon requires constant supervision, as she has a tendency to light things on fire, but her sometimes volatile moods drive away one housekeeper after another. Juggling his life between work and looking after his sister, Benny has little time of his own. At last he must face a difficult choice should he continue trying to find a housekeeper who can deal with Joon's eccentricities, or should he consider placing her in a group home, where perhaps others will do a better job of caring for her than he can?

Unable to find someone to look after Joon one night, Benny allows her to accompany him to his weekly poker game. And when Joon loses a hand, Benny suddenly finds himself saddled with an unexpected and not altogether welcome houseguest Sam (Johnny Depp), the strange cousin one of Benny's friends can't wait to get rid of. Little do they realize how drastically this odd newcomer will affect their lives. Sam's quirky ways, particularly his unconventional method of making grilled cheese sandwiches, intrigue Joon as nothing ever has before. And having Sam around to look after Joon frees Benny up to pursue a romantic interest of his own with Ruthie (Julianne Moore), the pretty waitress at the corner restaurant. But as Joon's bond with Sam grows stronger, Benny finds himself torn at the idea that he may no longer be the central figure in his little sister's life.

It's a fun, cute, slightly off-beat romantic comedy, but it isn't all fluff. Unlike many others in the genre, this movie has some substance underneath. The emotions of the characters are genuine, and the brother / sister relationship between Benny and Joon is stressed just as much as the romantic one between Joon and Sam. Though the film contains quite an assortment of oddball characters, it manages to remain rooted in reality and stresses the important things in life. For all the funny, up-beat scenes, like Sam's hilarious physical comedy routines in the park, there are also some serious sequences. The scene on the bus where Sam gets his first real dose of the gravity of Joon's mental illness is probably the heaviest in the film.

We are never told exactly what is wrong with Joon. Seeing the movie for the first time, after hearing the terms "unbalanced" and "mentally ill" used to describe her, I had expected her illness to be more serious and overpowering than it actually appears to be. She's eccentric and moody, to be sure, but for most of the movie she seems to be quite sensible and sane, sometimes even more so than the other characters. However, she does sometimes hear voices, as we see in the aforementioned bus scene. My personal guess would be that Joon is mildly schizophrenic, and perhaps also somewhat manic depressive, to explain the volatile mood swings. But the important thing is that she does not see herself as "odd" or sick. It is the rest of the world, and Benny in particular, that must realize that perhaps Joon is capable of living a more normal, independent life than she has been allowed to so far.

The entire film is very well acted. I cannot think of a single cast member whose performance was not up to par. The stars of the show, of course, are Mary Stuart Masterson as Joon and the incomparable Johnny Depp as Sam. Masterson captures the nuances of Joon's character to perfection. One has no difficulty in believing her complex character to be genuine. And despite her oddities, she remains loveable throughout. Sam is just the kind of quirky character fans of Depp would expect him to play, and he carries it off beautifully as usual, here drawing heavily on the influences of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. His character is slightly more difficult to envision as an actual flesh-and-blood person than Joon's, but in the context of the movie it works. Aidan Quinn and Julianne Moore also turn in great performances, and smaller parts are contributed by Oliver Platt, C.C.H. Pounder, Dan Hedaya, Joe Grifasi, William H. Macy, and Liane Alexandra Curtis.

This is a film I imagine almost anyone could enjoy. It doesn't adhere rigidly to the typical romantic comedy formula, it's believable despite the occasionally far-fetched elements in its plot, and it is genuinely funny and moving by turns. It's also suitable for viewers of just about any age. Again unlike so many modern romantic movies, it does not depend on sex scenes to establish romance. In fact, the physical aspect of Sam and Joon's relationship is limited to just one fairly tame kiss. There's nothing here that parents need be concerned about having their little ones watch. The movie isn't overly long, either, clocking in at only 98 minutes.

The DVD special features are not overly impressive, though there is some worthwhile material. There are two deleted scenes. One is a sequence where Benny, impresed by Sam's physical comedy abilities, has arranged an audition for him with an agent. Unfortunately, there is no option to turn off the director commentary which is placed over the scene, so one can't actually hear the dialogue, which I would have liked. The other sequence is simply a full-size version of the horror movie scene that Benny, Joon, Sam, and Ruthie watch one night. Other special features include an audio commentary, a long series of costume and make-up tests, a stunt reel, the theatrical trailer, and a music video for the theme song "I'm Gonna Be" (a.k.a. "500 Miles") by The Proclaimers. In summary, this is a terrific, fun, feel-good movie with a decent DVD. Definitely worth adding to your collection.

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This is a story about stagnant sibling relationships. Benny (a mechanic) has structured his entire life around 'protecting' his mentally ill sister, Joon. Both are dissatisfied: she in particular has withdrawn from society and broader human interaction, and has an underdeveloped ability to care for herself. The ensuing frustration manifests itself in pyromania.

His need for control and her isolation are tearing their relationship apart, despite the very real and visible love they have for each other. Sam is a much-needed catalyst for change. I suspect that his appeal for Joon, who is immediately drawn to him, lies in the fact that he makes absolutely no assumptions about her on the basis of her condition.

It has been said that this movie is arguing that love conquers all, but I disagree. Romantic love is presented as a mechanism of change and renewal: but the real story lies in a brother's struggle to overcome his own need to protect his sister from society, and in his blindness when it comes to her own requirements as an adult woman. The viewers and Sam himself are made to confront the very real facts of Joon's illness when their attempt to abscond results in a highly traumatic episode.

Essentially, the movie is a humorous and emotional one. While not the most polished movie you'll ever see, 'Benny and Joon' comes across as very sincere, and it isn't afraid to tackle the tough issues. Johnny Depp is as lovely as always, and the film contains moments of incredible wit, warmth, and a quirky kind of humor in its portrait a mentally ill young woman who has absolutely normal needs when it comes to love, sex, and independence.

And it's nicely gritty, too, and highly effective.

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Made in Dagenham (2010)

MADE IN DAGENHAM is sort of a British version of NORMA RAE.

The film, based on a true story, is set in the late 1960s. It tells of a group of English women, employed at the Ford Motor Factory, who took on management and their own union by going out on strike, insisting on equal pay for equal work.

The always charming Sally Hawkins, playing an ordinary working class wife and mother, becomes the unexpected leader of the revolt, encouraged by her sympathetic union representative (Bob Hoskins) and, surprisingly, the attractive wife (Rosamund Pike) of the plant's manager, a highly educated, intelligent woman who, as a female, feels the same lack of respect from the men in her life.

Like the Sally Field classic, MADE IN DAGENHAM is one of those "stand up and cheer" movies that climaxes when the striking women meet with Miranda Richardson, the British Secretary of State. The film has a superb screenplay by William Ivory and was directed by Nigel Cole. Also in the well-chosen cast are Geraldine James, Jamie Winstone, Rupert Graves, Nicola Duffett and Richard Schiff, who plays the tough American Ford representative, sent to the UK to put those striking women in their place.

My only complaint with this otherwise excellent entertainment is the fact that, because England and the United States do not share a common language, some of the dialogue is difficult to understand.

© Michael B. Druxman

MADE IN DAGENHAM is a 'dramatized documentary' in that it is a recreation of a 1968 incident that occurred in Dagenham, a suburb of London. It was the time of Stonewall and the antiwar protests in America and so perhaps too few people appreciated the importance of this rebellion a strike of equal rights, equal pay, and a statement against sexual discrimination at the Ford car factory. The employed women of the town were the ones responsible for creating the upholstery for the cars, but when one Rita O'Grady (Sally Hawkins) took on the inequalities she manage to become the spokeswoman for the female workers and the revolt was successful in settling a longterm problem.

The cast of this quiet little powerhouse of a movie includes the brilliance of Miranda Richardson, Bob Hoskins, Rosamund Pike, Rupert Graves, Andrea Riseborough, Jaime Winstone and many others. The screenplay was written by William Ivory and the understated and subtle direction is by Nigel Cole. This is a brilliant little movie that packs a wallop. Grady Harp, May 11

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"Made in Dagenham" received good buzz from critics and award committes alike, but I wasn't sure if I'd be watching another chick-flick. Rest assured, there's enough guy involvement to make this a generally pleasing true story about equal rights. The delightful Sally Hawkins is on hand to provide a strong and centered heroine, and the always reliable Miranda Richardson scores as hard-as-nails Barbara Castle.

There will be comparisons to "Norma Rae", but this film isn't as character driven; rather, the ensemble excels as a whole to provide insight as well as strong entertainment.

I enjoyed it more than expected; glad I saw it.

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There are a number of movies made that feature the real life stories of situations and people involved in them. It may be true that these stories are a bit embellished in an attempt to compact them into anywhere from 90 to 120 minutes, but the story at the heart always remains the same. And when it's a good story it makes the viewer want to find out more. Such is the case with MADE IN DAGENHAM.

Set in 1968, the ladies at the Ford plant in Dagenham, England, work just as hard as the men there. Their jobs may be different, but its work, it's difficult and they sweat the same as the men do. The problem is they don't get paid the same. When their local union rep Albert (Bob Hoskins) talks to them about it, they decide to go on a 24 hour strike.

The 187 women do so with the support of their fellow workers, the 55,000 men who work there as well at first. They've been told that the reason for the lower pay was the due to the scales established by work performance studies. When they learn the truth, that it is simply because they are female, the women don't take to well to their situation. Instead they decide to continue the strike longer.

The woman leading this charge is Rita O'Grady (Sally Hawkins), a mother and wife who finds herself drawn into the role of leader unwillingly at first. As shop steward she usually drops back to allow her friend to keep things on track. But with the convincing of Albert who sees her as a natural leader, she takes on the job of seeing to it that their grievances are met.

The one thing that's interesting here is that it's not just the factory that chooses to abuse these women. Their own union does so as well, agreeing to put their case on a back burner in an effort to get other grievances dealt with first. And as the film progresses, you see the upper echelon of the union choose to protect his own deals, protecting himself rather than stand up for what's right for his members.

But the strike takes its toll on the members. To being with the loss in pay affects all their way of life. And when the stockpiled goods these women made runs dry, rather than give in the company just lays off everyone. This leads to a great deal of resentment among the workers, mostly the men. They seem to have forgotten the women that stood behind them each time they went on strike, including Rita's husband.

Ford plays hardball with these women, doing their best to break the strike. Their greatest fear is that if they change their rules here, they'll have to do so all over the world. The costs would be high and they aren't willing to do so. So much so that their representative even meets with British Secretary of State Barbara Mason (Miranda Richardson) and basically threatens to pull out all of their factories if she doesn't make this stop.

The struggle seen here is not only interesting but inspiring as well. These women were not striking for some penny ante change 5 years down the line in a contract but for the simple right to be paid what they were worth, exactly what the men were being paid. And the sacrifices they made to get there were astonishing and painful.

Keep in mind, this is the 60s and at the time women were not being paid equally not just here but anywhere. Even though I grew up during this time I was stunned to think it hadn't happened yet. How could it be that equal pay did not equal wages? Even more amazing is to consider the fact that in some cases it hasn't changed.

The film could be one of those drawn out boring biopics that seem to take forever to get to the point. Instead it starts with the discussion of the problem and moves it forward, focusing not just on the strike but how it affects everyone. This makes for an interesting film that holds your attention throughout and never gets boring.

The acting is above par. Sally Hawkins does a great job as Rita, a woman who simply does what's right. She doesn't set out to be a hero, she reluctantly takes on the role of one, but when she sets her mind to it she follows through to the end. The rest of the cast does an equally outstanding job, showing varying examples of the women involved and how they cope with their day to day struggle.

I think the best thing about this film was its showing that there could be wrong on both sides of the coin. Rather than depict the company as only bad guy in the film they offer us a look at the fact that even the union at the time was unwilling at first to help their own members. Its and even handed look at the problem and, as I said, amazing to think that it took until that time for equal pay to be even considered.

The movie is one that does what a film should do. It entertains, it informs and it doesn't put you to sleep while combining both of those items. For something that's a joy to watch and that educates, make sure that you rent this movie. It will be worth your while.

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Great cast, including Miranda Richardson and Sally Hawkins, in a real-life story of 1968 labor dispute. Cannot understand why this film never played in ordinary theatres. We had to buy it in order to see it, but it is well worth the price.

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The Informant! (2009)

In 1992 Mark Whitacre, the President of Bio-Product division of ADM (powerful Fortune 500 company), became the highest ranking executive EVER to turn whistle blower. For three years he helped the FBI gather evidence of a multinational conspiracy to control the price of lysine. As a result, US government collected hundreds of millions of dollars in fines from ADM and foreign corporations, followed by prison sentences for three executives. These are events in real life as well as the movie. However, according to the opening credits, the film is not intended as a documentary and does depart from real life facts... The final, cheeky line of the prologue: "So there!", gives us a hint that, though the topic and the consequences suffered by many in this story are somber, what we are about to see is meant to amuse and entertain, as well as educate...

As promised, the chuckles do come often, but their source is not your typical one liners. Matt Damon is Whitacre, an inspired choice for the role. His plump, mustachioed and toupeed character comes across so harmless and ordinary you never question why his actions go undetected; even as his concealed recording equipment loudly malfunctions during a covert multinational executive meeting! You laugh at the bewilderment of FBI agents and the DA's office as they are led by the nose by Whitacre's increasingly outlandish antics. One could say "The Informant!" has the educational quality of an Aesop's fable: blinded by their desire to swallow a tasty morsel (ADM), the agents cross their fingers and fail to run even the most basic checks on their informant; checks that would immediately reveal inconsistencies in his stories (such as the true nature of his parentage, for example).

The film is not perfect. Based on the way it was being advertised, I expected something in the same category as "The Pink Panther". In reality, one would not be wrong to describe it as a combination of "A Beautiful Mind", "The Insider", and "The Duck Soup" (Marx Brothers). Sadly, "The Informant!" never quite becomes as touching, thrilling and funny as those films were, respectively. The makers allow it to drag on a bit in the second half as Whitacre's behaviour becomes absurd. The logical explanation for it all arrives only after our initial keen interest has already begun to dissipate. I also hear some grumblings about the film's muted lighting. Since most of the action takes place in offices and hotels, I believe the lighting is true to reality. Anyone who has spent at least one work day in a cubicle, understands how oppressive that atmosphere can be. Despite these possible faults, Whitacre's story and Damon's performance make "The Informant!" worthy of at least one theater trip. Depending on your personal approach, you will see a funny thriller or... a thrilling comedy. Either way, expect to be entertained!

PS: BRAVO! to the filmmakers for sticking to a relatively modest budget ($21 mil)! I am sick of paying to see worthless films with budgets that could bankrupt the economy of a small country.

Having grown up just a few miles from where the events of THE INFORMANT! took place (though I was just a kid at the time), I may be rather partial to the film; after all, Matt Damon and much of the supporting cast has the personality down pat, with a few aside-jokes that definitely capture the atmosphere of East-Central Illinois. But you don't have to be from here to appreciate the film's humor; you just have to be patient.

Why? Because THE INFORMANT is a slow burner. It's the story of Mark Whitacre, who decides to blow the lid on some illegal doings at the corn-processing plant where he works. Whitacre, however, is anything but the ideal witness--but it takes about two-thirds of the movie to find that out. Kudus to Joel McHale and Scott Bakula as the FBI agents in charge of Whitacre's case, and Soderbergh for actually making a movie of this; and a tip-of-the-hat to Matt Damon, who turns in a nuanced performance. But the character doesn't really build until the third act, which is the when the movie turns from humor to poignancy, and we realize the real tale here.

The thing is, it's just hard to forgive THE INFORMANT its slow build-up. Real hard. It's worth the effort; a lot of the humor is subtle, and the film progressively gets darker, until you realize this isn't a feel-good comedy after all. But it takes so long getting there, a large part of the audience is bound to stop caring. Thus, THE INFORMANT! is for patient fans of comedy (of which there are painfully few today). If nothing else, see it for Damon's spot-on performance; he and Bakula especially are taking this film and running with it, for better or worse (mainly better).

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Intro: This is a review of the movie as an experience. Look elsewhere if you want an overview of the story, or how well the movie reflects actual events and people.

For those who would be satisfied with a movie that was simply a collection of goofy and absurdist scenes, I expect that the pacing here is much to slow to be satisfying, although in the second half it becomes noticeably less slow.

For those expecting more, the basic problem here is with how the lead character Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon) is portrayed. It is immediately reminiscent of the William H Macy character in Fargo: A doofus in over his head who is flailing about. However, in Fargo there was a progression to that state--here it starts at that point and doesn't change much.

Even without the Fargo baggage, the Whitacre character is too big a goof to be sympathetic or funny. My first impression was that he was an incompetent bottom level manager. When he was identified as a top manager, I couldn't help but think of him as a fraud, thereby undermining everything that was to come. In addition to his being a fraud within the movie, it was a fraud on the audience: Such a personality would never have gotten a PhD (from Cornell), much less risen so high in a major corporation (most people forced to work with such a person would be screaming and throwing things at him before the end of the first day).

The core of the movie's story is the revelation of a series of deceptions and lies. The typical dramatic treatment, whether serious or humorous, is akin to a roller-coaster: It elevates your confidence that you know what is happening, then suddenly puts you into free fall, adding twists and turns to increase your disorientation. You start to climb out of that, only to be hit by additional drops. This movie has no such drama: It just goes gently and slowly round and round, the tone being closer to enumerating the lies than to revealing them. Perhaps Whitacre was intended to be played by an improvisational comic who was expected to fill in such texture?

As a movie, the significant story elements should have been _seen_ and not merely commented on by characters. For example, Whitacre is presented as being maniac-depressive (bipolar), but we never _see_ that roller-coaster of emotions--the portrayal is very flat. At the very end, statements of various characters provide some evidence of this (Nigerian scam, compulsive over-consumption). Additionally, when part of the story is whether his underlying mental problems were triggered or exacerbated by his role as an informant, how could they not show this, but simply comment on it at the end?

The script has characters _saying_ that Whitacre is brilliant, but I remember only a couple of scenes where he _appeared_ even mildly clever.

We are _told_ that even after all the revelations of Whitacre's crimes and lying that some of the Feds (FBI and prosecutors) strongly advocated clemency for him, but from the movie, I couldn't guess why. And during the extended investigation, there is no sense of the passage of time--other than dates being flashed on the screen. Nor do we _see_ the stresses on Whitacre: The script trivializes his risks and sacrifices by consigning them to asides in the disconnected goofy scenes that constitute this movie.

This movie seems to have been intended to be both funny and interesting, but is neither.

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My daughter and I went to see The Informant, staring Matt Damon. We loved it. It was very entertaining. I have to say that we got a lot more out of it because we listened to the episode on NPR's This American Life about Mark Whitacre, the real-life character upon which this movie was based. The movie is not as detailed as the story, for obvious reasons.

The Informant's Executive Producer is George Clooney. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, The movie version of this true story manages to put a somewhat humorous spin on a very serious subject corporate corruption. Matt Damon does such a great job acting here, that you never really think of the character as Damon acting. He even gained a bunch of weight to get a middle aged spread for the role, a common thing for actors to do these days. The rest of the cast was excellent as well, including Scott Bakula and even the Smothers Brothers!

Imagine a corporate executive (Whitacre) who goes to the FBI (because his wife says she will if he doesn't) to turn in his colleagues at Archer Daniels Midland Company for price fixing. Whitacre becomes an informant for several years working magic for the FBI, completely fooling those who work in his company as well as business associates from around the world. But of course there's a twist. Whitacre is not being completely honest with the FBI, his wife or himself. Despite all this he is a brilliant and totally likeable guy.

You'll walk away from this movie saying to yourself, "OMG, this is a true story, and Mark Whitacre is a real person, a sociopath who has no trouble lying to the FBI!" You'll also be thinking about how much we don't know about the companies America relies upon for food and other essentials and just how corrupt corporations can be. Oh yeah, and you'll be pondering just how it is that a man's wife can bear to stand by him through a lifetime of lying and cheating.

So either read the book or listen to the NPR This American Life episode about it, and then go and see the movie. It will make you think a lot about corporate America, the stocks you buy and your hard-working corporate executive friends. Do you really know who they are?

FYI Children under 14 will likely not be too interested in this movie, unless of course they are fascinated by corruption or American business.

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Ever in the mood for some decidedly offbeat entertainment? Sure; we all are, from time to time. How many shoot-'em-ups and car chases and rom-coms can we take to begin with? For an eccentric changeup I recommend the quirky THE INFORMANT!, a (slightly) dark comedy about an "Aw shucks" nerd who helps bring down an international price-fixing cabal (on food derivatives, for cryin' out loud). Based on a true story, this movie quietly entertains while giving the viewer a sound dose of corn pone (pun intended).

THE INFORMANT! is carried delightfully on the pudgy shoulders of Matt Damon, playing ADM junior exec Mark Whitacre. Good ol' Mark looks like someone you would rub elbows with at an ice cream social, and his sophomoric view of the corporate world is matched only by his cluelessness. Cooperating with the FBI (he gets wired) he gathers evidence to put his coworkers away. . .then expects his employer to reward him for his efforts. And Damon does all of this with a quirky, "gee willickers!" delivery that had me in stitches; as the movie grows even darker--with Whitacre growing ever more delusional--the jaw-dropping, disbelieving looks of his FBI cohorts (Scott Bakula and Joel McHale) are priceless. Four stars instead of five, due to needless meandering; THE INFORMANT! indeed proves that quirky can be good for you.

--D. Mikels, Author, The Reckoning

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Calvin Marshall (2010)

This film was exceptional. Calvin Marshall, who is played by actor Alex Frost is a really special character. His endurance and perseverance are unequaled. This film highlights the dedication that many people have in order to achieve their goals. Calvin Marshall is a prime example of someone who is willing to put in a great deal of time and effort in order to fulfill his dreams. Most of all, this is a very accurate depiction of a college junior. Dealing with his lack of talent in baseball as well as a blossoming love life, we see Calvin struggle with the typical issues that most college students deal with. He is positive throughout it, though, and his story is a great one for everyone to see play out. Calvin may be given some false hope by his coach who refuses to cut him, but it only causes him to work more.

Eventually, the truth catches up to Calvin and he has to come to terms with who he really is and what his future holds. By facing failure and overcoming disappointment, he is awakened to the reality that choosing a new and more fitting dream to follow is the most difficult, but ultimately most rewarding, part of the journey. This is a great film if you're looking for an inspirational story that is not sugar-coated.

great story about one of the many young men who had a dream of being a ballplayer and went after it. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone.

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Calvin Marshall is an enchanting, entertaining, evocative, exceptional coming-of-age baseball story that shines a spotlight on small-town life and the death of dreams. My favorite scene is the softball scene near the end. It authentically captures the joy and camaraderie of belonging to such a team. The mellow soundtrack adds to the charm. Rated R for the cynical, dejected coach's expletives and for brief sexuality.

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I came across this movie in search of movies to help get my baseball fix during the offseason and was pleasantly surprised. Calvin Marshall is about baseball and romance in a small junior college town with Calvin's passion for the game at center focus. One of the best things about this film is the duality of the main characters. Calvin Marshall is a square, but exudes charisma. He's also a lousy baseball player, but a softball legend. Tori Jensen is a dominant volleyball player, yet very tender within. Coach Little is a foul-mouthed grinder with a soft heart. The chemistry between the characters is there, and there's no question that director Gary Lundgren nailed it so between Calvin (Alex Frost) and Tori (Michelle Lombardo). This movie spoke to me as one of many who will never know what it's like to play professional ball, yet holds a strong passion for the game. I kinda felt like I was living vicariously thru Calvin as he did all his workouts, booted all those grounders and hammered those softballs. Steve Zahn was very convincing as Coach Little, barking off commands with authority, but also tiptoeing thru his relationship with Calvin. This film does a great job of taking you on an emotional rollercoaster while looking at the flaws and strengths of our humanity. The cinematography is well-done with wonderfully shot perspectives and terrific use of color. The soundtrack lent itself to that mellow, introspective tone. If I had to compare it with a TV show, 'Ed' would probably be the closest in terms of the overall feel. It's hard to think of another great, feel-good baseball movie like this, which makes Calvin Marshall a classic, IMO.

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Calvin Marshall is a charming, funny, independent feature written and directed by Gary Lundgren. I agree with others that this is the best performance of Steve Zahn's career. Absolutely love the soundtrack scored by John Askew and featuring wonderful indie music talent: The National, Rosie Thomas, Jandek, The Church, The Sound, and Tracker. Starring Alex Frost, Michelle Lombardo, Steve Zahn, Jane Adams, Andrew Wilson, Diedrich Bader, Jeremy Sumpter, Abraham Benrubi, Josh Fadem.

A few reviews & headlines:

"A moving portrait of small-town life and the fallout from unrealized dreams." New Yorker

"Steve Zahn gives a career-best performance in this low-key gem." Hollywood Reporter

"Lundgren's light touch gives this classic coming-of-age film its distinctive ring. A scruffy, sweet ode to managing youthful expectations." The Village Voice

"Calvin Marshall is well-supported by cinematography that captures the lure of the baseball diamond, and is a must-see for any baseball movie fan."

"Calvin Marshall Combines Baseball and Indie Rock. (Clearly This is the Best Film Ever.)"

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Raising Arizona (2011)

This movie is much more than an outrageous and unique comedy. One reason for its cult following has been consistently missed by the critics: repeated viewings reveal surprising layers of meaning and an intricate web of symbolism.

At the heart of this film is the timeless debate known as "nature vs. nurture": are we more a product of our genes, or of our environment? How much of an effect does our upbringing have on our likelihood to turn out as either a law-abiding member of society (a society which in this movie is of dubious merit, as represented by Hi's job and his unctuous boss) or as a criminal deviant from its norms?

The symbolism in this film is rich and evocative--while always contributing to the comedy. Note how often the adult characters cry and carry on like infants. Note the way the escaped convicts are "born" into the outside world. Note the marriage of a convict and a police officer, and the difference in their families visible in the brief wedding shot. Note the juxtaposition of milk poured over cereal with the infant's feeding bottle, as Evelle observes, "Ya don't breast feed him, he'll hate you for it later. That's why we wound up in prison." And note the frequent use of phrases such as "that's natural," as opposed to "you're not being true to your nature" or "mother didn't love me." As Hi observes, "maybe it's my upbringing, maybe it's just that my genes got screwed up, I don't know."

The quasi-biblical, poetical and aphorism-laden language the characters use in the-state-adjacent-to-Utah is both touching and funny. Every word of the film is a finely polished gem. Ed's little plan is "the solution to all our problems, and the answer to all our prayers." Her infertile womb is a "rocky place where my seed can find no purchase." And as Hi later writes in a touching letter to his dearest Edwina, "I feel the thunder gathering even now...I cannot tarry...better I should go, send you money, and let you curse my name." On the other hand, the crotchety Arizona characters also have a remarkable literalness of expression. A packet of balloons does not blow up into funny shapes, not "unless round is funny." And as the old codger in the bank robbery points out, "If I freeze, I can't rightly drop, and if I drop, I'm gonna be in motion!"

Even the music in this film is perfectly executed, from the hilarious yodeling and whistling of the main theme to the way the chilling accompaniment of a nightmare is later revealed to be a haunting children's nursery song, and then mutates into an ethereal melody in the film's final scenes. The characters, despite their flaws, are all surprisingly sympathetic. And the film is tightly constructed, without a single unnecessary scene or moment. It ends with a bang, not a whimper, its final words resonating with significance and yet leaving one wanting more, like a swift exit after a great punch line.

At the deepest core of this film lies a mystery wrapped in an enigma: who is the once-orphaned "motorcycle demon from hell," and what is his relation to Herbert I. McDonnough? The answer to this puzzle relates intimately to the "nature vs. nurture" theme. While I think I know the answer, I'll leave it for you to figure out, based on the clues ("show the tattoo!") liberally scattered throughout the film. "Okay then!"

If you've come to be a fan of the Coen brothers by watching Fargo or O Brother Where Art Thou, be sure not to overlook their second movie, Raising Arizona. It's by far their funniest.

H.I. (Nic Cage) is a reformed convenience-store robber who marries Edwina (Holly Hunter), a policewoman. They try to conceive a child, but with no luck. They become bitter and despondent. H.I.'s reformation ends when he and Edwina decide to kidnap one of the many infants of Nathan and Florence Arizona, a couple recently blessed with quintuplets.

Hi's relationship with Edwina takes a turn for the worse when Gayle (John Goodman) and Evell (William Forsythe), freshly escaped from prison, invite him in on one of their schemes, a bank robbery.

The baby's father, Nathan Arizona, then hires a bounty hunter to get the boy back. It's a madcap comedy from start to finish, but the pace just gets wilder and wilder as the movie progresses.

This movie is chock full of hilarious dialogue and crazy action scenes. Absolutely none of it is believable; it's just an hour and a half of magnificent entertainment. All the actors get big laughs from me... possibly Frances McDormand most of all, as Dot, the jabbering lunatic wife of H.I.'s boss.

If you're a fan of Coen Brothers movies at all, and you haven't seen this one, please do watch it.

If you haven't seen any of their movies, Raising Arizona is probably the best place to start.

ken32

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"Raising Arizona" tells the story of an ex-con with a penchant for robbing convenience stores, H.I. McDonnough, played by Nicholas Cage and his new wife Ed, short for Edwina, played by and expressly written for Holly Hunter by the Brothers Coen.

Ed and Hi find themselves together after Ed takes Hi's mugshots and while Hi serves three months in prison then paroled , they marry. The film has some great scenes and one liners galore like the prison scene where a group is receiving counselling:

Prison Counsellor: Why do you say you feel "trapped" in a man's body.

"Trapped" Convict: Well, sometimes I get the menstrual cramps real hard.

After a couple months of wedded bliss the McDonnough's need to concieve a child but with no luck, their failed attempt at adoption and their subsequent kidnapping of Nathan Jr. nathan Jr. is one of the famous Arizona Quintuplets who belong to furniture mogul and owner of all Upainted Arizona stores, Nathan Arizona, Sr.(Trey Wilson) & his wife Florence. The kidnapping highlights the plot.

Enter Hi's prison buddy brothers, Gale and Evelle Snoats, freshly escaped out of the pokey and "the finest pair that ever broke air," according to Hi. The brothers Snoats are played to the hilt by John Goodman and William Forsythe. They have a plan to get Hi back in the business with a bank heist of the local hayseed Farmers and Merchants Bank down the way.

Also in the McDonnough's social circle is Hi's work buddy and swinger, Glen (Sam McMurray) his swinger wife, Dot (an excellent, albeit small part for Frances McDormand)and their bratty passel of kids.

The hunt for the baby Arizona is on with Randall 'Tex' Cobb playing Leonard Smalls, a bounty hunter who is hired by Nathan Sr. to find Nathan Jr and bring him back home to his mamma.

Many hilarious and touching scenes occur in this fine movie from the Coen brothers with some top-notch acting and fleshed out characatures.

Highly Recommended For Multiple Viewings!

Happy Watching!

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I realize that a title like the one above can seem like hyperbole, but this is not overstatement. I have watched hundreds, maybe thousands of movies in my life and this one always stands out.

An offbeat comedy about a childless couple who kidnap one of a set of quintuplets so they can have a complete family, this movie is close to perfect from beginning to end. Much as I enjoy all the Coen brothers works, this one always stands out as their best. It is an early gem of theirs, and stars people who were really at the beginning of their careers: Nicholas Cage, Holly Hunter and John Goodman.

From the courtship of Hi and Ed to the kidnaping of the Arizona baby to a botched convenience store robbery to a confrontation with a bounty hunter from Hell, this movie is filled with great moments. This movie is a modern classic and is one of the all-time best comedies.

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Overall, this movie is great.

But look closely at the first 5-7 minutes, the introduction up to the yodeling and the title credits when the plan is hatched. This intro is perfect filmmaking, ingeniously paced, hilariously written, and oddly very touching. The whistled, bluegrass Beethoven's 9th gets me every time ...

"Raising Arizona" also launched a decade of creativity by the Coen brothers unmatched by any modern directors I can think of. See this, and then see all the others. Great stuff.

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Practical Magic / The Witches of Eastwick (Double Feature) (2010)

I owned both movies on DVD. So the chance to upgrade in quality, plus cut down on shelf space was too good an opportunity to miss out on.

The Witches of Eastwick is an excellent film and looks better than the DVD version (not really difficult to be honest). Given that this, and PM are both based in small towns, with plenty of greenery and water around, Blu-Ray should, in theory, really bring out the colours. I can't really complain too much about Witches, given that the film was made in 1987. Having said that, the Warner releases (double features) of the first 4 Dirty Harry films look AMAZING, and these were made before Witches.

But i have a problem with Practical Magic. This film, if at all possible, looks WORSE on Blu-Ray than on regular DVD. What the hell have Warners done??!! At best, it's an exact copy over from DVD to HD. But it's evident that no cleaning up whatsoever was done.

In my opinion, if studios are going to release older titles on HD format, then they should at least have the courtesy to put the effort in. Blu-Ray discs are certainly not cheap. And whilst i'm delighted to have a better copy of Eastwick, being saddled with a poor copy of PM doesn't make me an entirely satisfied customer.

The 3 stars don't reflect the movies themselves, but if i could give individual stars for quality, it would be 3.5 for Eastwick and 0.5 for Magic.

Love Witches of Eastwick and have never seen Practical Magic but the quality of the transfer is crap. This is not Blu-Ray quality. It is barely a step above DVD quality and that is stretching it. Very disappointed. Have not decided if I will return it. At least it's presented in true widescreen. Be wary of buying a disc with two movies on it. They obviously have to sacrifice quality to fit two movies on one disc. This item was inexpensive but still not worth it.

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I LOVE practical magic but this blu ray transfer is crappy! It's also a little jumpy. Warner bros should try again but seperate them into 2 discs!

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I am a fan of sandra bullock movies and having another one on bluray it is great, clear picture quality and great sound i recomend this movie if you use to have it on dvd it is a great upgrade to have it on bluray.

Adding The Witches of Eastwick perfect combination of 2 classic movies one for Cher and the other for Sandra Bullock

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no sooner did i order this product that i received it in the post. Absolutely love the movie!! Meets my expectations

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Fox Searchlight Spotlight Series, Vol. 1 (2009)

This is a three disc compilation of releases by Fox Studio. Included in this Vol #1 series is Napoleon Dynamite, Little Miss Sunshine and Juno. Not too sure why this information could not have been added to the description by whoever input the initial but sketchy data. It helps to know what is contained in a multi-disc set so one can make an informed decision as to whether to purchase it or not. Or, as in this case, I already own two of the three discs. There are a total of four of these Fox Searchlight Spotlight Series being released, all about the same time. Vol #2 contains The Full Monty, Bend It Like Beckham and Waitress. Vol #3 contains Boys Don't Cry, Antwone Fisher and The Last King Of Scotland. Vol #4 contains Garden State, Sideways and Thank You For Smoking.

Fox Searchlight Spotlight Series, Vol. 1 [Blu-ray]

I highly recommend this blu-ray set! Included are 3 quality movies: Juno, Slumdog Millionaire, and The Wrestler. Each blu-ray comes in a separate case (as they would if you had bought them individually), and the cases are stored in a very nice outer box.

This is a 6-Disc set each movie comes with 2 discs. Disc One is the blu-ray disc with the movie and special features. Disc Two is the Digital Copy disc.

Please note that at the date of this review (October 2011), two of the three digital copies worked. However, I was not able to redeem the digital copy for "The Wrestler".

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