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Release Date: November 15, 2002
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Harry Potter has not had a good summer. Not only has he had to put up with his overbearing Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon Dursley and their dread of his magical abilities, but also it seems as if Harry's best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger have forgotten him, as they haven't replied to a single one of his letters. Then, suddenly and mysteriously, house-elf Dobby appears in Harry's bedroom and warns him of great danger if he should attempt to return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But despite the elf's mischievous efforts to thwart Harry's return to school, the ever-determined Harry is rescued from the Dursley's dreary clutches by Ron and his brothers and whisked into the warmth of the Weasley household. Upon arriving at Hogwarts, Harry finds that his first year heroics have caused him to become the center of much unwanted attention. His new fans include Ron's little sister Ginny; first year would-be photographer Colin Creevey; and most irritatingly, the New Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, Gilderoy Lockhart. Outshone only by his own vanity, Lockhart craves the attention that Harry shuns. But not even Lockhart can offer an explanation for the sinister new terror that is gripping the school.
Starring:
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Kenneth Branagh, Richard Harris
Directed by:
Chris Columbus
Rating: PG (for scary moments, some creature violence and mild language)
Genre: Family
Runtime: 161 min
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Up in the Air
From director Jason Reitman, who has brought us both Juno and Thank You For Not Smoking, an outstanding third outing with a cast that features three actors all Oscar-nominated for their roles here. George Clooney plays a “downsizing expert,” a man who has no real roots as he constantly flys all around the country firing people from their jobs. He meets his match in Vera Famiga, also a downsizing expert. Hot on their heels is the up & coming young Anna Kendrick, who wants to do the same job via video conferencing rather than racking up all of the frequent flier miles. The movie manages to capture perfectly our current economic crisis – a film for our time.
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March 9th, 2010
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Saphire
Two major Academy Awards nominations for the lead actresses here. The film takes an unsparing look at the life of a Harlem teenager, circa 1987, played by newcomer Gabourey Sidibe. She’s illiterate, overweight, and pregnant for the second time by her own father. This is tough stuff. Her monster of a mother is played by Mo'Nique in an electrifying, Oscar-winning performance. Also included in the film is Mariah Carey as a social worker and Lenny Kravitz as a male nurse. An interesting variety in the cast and we see the same eclectic variety in the way the story is told. Director Lee Daniels has made a strong film that is at times dramatic, humorous, and warm – a film of many emotions. Nonetheless, a film that, as Oprah Winfrey has said, people might not “enjoy” but would “appreciate this experience.” An Oscar also went to Geoffrey Fletcher for his adapted screenplay.
Old Dogs
John Travolta and Robin Williams star in this tired comedy about two business partners whose lives are turned upside down when one of them discovers they have two 7-year-old twin kids they didn’t know about. Seth Green co-stars in this unfunny comedy.
Planet 51
Light animated fare that is very much in the classic, 1950s Hollywood movie tradition where an alien ship lands on the home planet. However, in this case, the home planet is inhabited by little green men and a human is the invading alien! Dwayne Johnson, Justin Long, and Jessica Biel are among the voice talents.
Capitalism: A Love Affair
Light animated fare that is very much in the classic, 1950s Hollywood movie tradition where an alien ship lands on the home planet. However, in this case, the home planet is inhabited by little green men and a human is the invading alien! Dwayne Johnson, Justin Long, and Jessica Biel are among the voice talents.
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© 2010
