"Carolina Moon"

Claire Forlani
Oliver Hudson
Josie Davis
Jonathan Scrafe
Chad Willett
Jacqueline Bisset



Unrated           95min           2007



Tory (Claire Forlani) knew coming home wouldn’t be easy, even if she didn’t have a gift for psychic visions. A trip down memory lane means reliving horrific images that flashed through her mind many years before, the night her childhood friend Hope was brutally killed. As though that were not twisted enough, Tory soon discovers that Hope’s death was only the first in a string and the worst part? This sociopath has been waiting patiently for Tory’s return. So now she has two choices: use her supernatural powers to catch this killer or end up his next victim! – from the backcover

Based on the novel of the same name by Nora Robert, "Carolina Moon" had the science fiction that I liked, it does capture the small town Carolina feel, and the characters could be people I know. However, I think the film went over the top in how the killer got away with the murder.

Claire Forlani plays a woman who embraces her paranormal powers but still has to adjust to using them in the real world. Being haunted by how her power can go aright, she does a good job of displaying the emotion of the character. The story shows how complicated its is to use your gift for good and how it can become a curse. Even with it being a big part of the story it doesn’t overpower the story.

Oliver Hudson captures the modern southern farming gentleman, as Josie Davis capture the southern wild child to a tee. The setting of the film could be anywhere in the south and southerners will know someone like most of these characters. "Carolina Moon" also displays so wonderful and open scenes showing off the location, capturing an aspect of small town life in the south.

Where the film has, a flaw is in the killer. The film bends and breaks the rule of Tory’s powers to fit the story. The flaws allow the killer to get away with too. The one thing hurts the film in my opinion taking me out of the film.

I give it 2/5 Gs.

"Art School Confidential"

Max Minghella
Sophia Myles
John Malkovich
Jim Broadbent
Matt Keeslar
Ethan Suplee
Joel David Moore
Anjelica Huston


R           102min           2005


From the director of “Ghost World” and “Bad Santa”, “Art School Confidential” follows talented young artist Jerome Platz (Max Minghella) as he escapes from high school to a tiny East Coast art school. Here the boyish freshman’s ambition is to become the world’s greatest artist, like his hero Picasso. Unfortunately the beauty and craft of Jerome’s portraiture are not appreciated in an anything-goes art class pseudo-art of his own win him any admirers. But Jerome does attract the attentions of his dream girl, the stunning and sophisticated Audrey (Sophia Myles), an artist’s model and daughter of a celebrated artist. Rejecting the affectations of the local art scene, Audrey is drawn to Jerome’s sincerity. When Audrey shifts her attention to Jonah (Matt Keeslar), a hunky painter who becomes the school’s latest art star, Jerome is heartbroken. Desperate, he concocts a risky plan to make a name for himself and win her back.

"Art School Confidential" is a quirky dark comedy. It showcases inspired performances by talented actors. It’s an example of an artist’s neurosis. Finding an artist finding his muse and doing whatever to capture her heart and love.

At the fictional college of Stratham while there is a killer on the loose. I have never been to art school but to me this college is too laid back to even be real. On the behind the scenes featurette the writer says that he went to a school like this. Maybe I’m not creative enough to get this school.

"Art School Confidential" is a dark comedy where students are really laid about a killer on the loose. Many of the students used it as creative inspiration. It does however have a love story at the core of this movie. It’s unique in that for the most part I hoped that he would not get the girl and that is in part to Minghella performance.

Max Minghella, first time ever seeing his works, capture the neurosis of a man obsessed with capturing the real life woman of his dream. She is played by the talented Sophia Myles, previously seen in “Tristan + Isode” and “Underworld”. I liked John Malkovich’s performance as a professor that is teaching this class of artists while trying to relaunch is career.

"Art School Confidential" contains deleted scenes and a blooper reel. There are two featurettes one is a making of and the other is a Sundance featurette. It contains a 16 of movies previews. The most notable previews are “Volver”, The Curse of the Golden Flower”, “The Quiet”, “Friends With Money”, “The Pursuit of Happyness”, “Stranger than Fiction”, “Marie Antoinette” and “The Holiday”.

I give it 3/5 Gs

"Disturbia"

Shia LaBeouf
David Morse
Sarah Roemer
Viola Davis
Carrie-Anne Moss
Aaron Yoo
Jose Pablo Cantillo
Matt Craven
Amanda Walsh






PG13           104min           2007

“Disturbia” is about Kale Brecht (LaBeouf), living under three months’ house arrest, passes his days spying on the neighbors. It’s all fun and games until things take a horrifying turn for the worse. Kale is convinced his neighbor next door is a serial killer, (Morse), but he can’t prove anything, can’t convince anyone and can’t leave his house without triggering an alarm. Enlisting the help of his friends, Kale is determined to expose the truth but have they all taken on more than they bargained for with a cold-blooded murderer on the loose? – from the back cover

Inspired somewhat by Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” this film blends genres perfectly. The film is fast paced and exciting. Shia LaBeouf anchor is a good cast of Hollywood young talent, veteran actors, and recognizable character actors. If you are a film movie watcher then you will enjoy this film.

“Disturbia” is the perfect blend of many genres. It starts out as a drama, then turns into a romantic comedy, all the while being a thriller. The genres never overwhelm each other but complement each other moving from one to the other seamlessly.

The pace of the film gets progressive faster and you become engrossed in the film. By the time the ending comes 104 minutes have pass and you won’t know where the time went. Kale is an instantly likable character and because of that you’re instantly drawn into his life, for the most part you’re seeing the world through his eyes.

Shia LaBeouf, portrays Kale, a juvenile delinquent facing house arrest, with the range that is believable and intense, showing why he’s fast becoming a bankable Hollywood star. David Morse, a great veteran actor makes the antagonist, Robert Turner, menacing yet charming. If you were to see him on the street you would never expect him to be a serial killer.

Sarah Roemer last seen in “The Grudge 2”, play his love interest, the girl next door that excites Kale’s voyeur fantasy. Aaron Yoo plays the best friend with the wicked sense of humor. Carrie-Anne Moss is Kale’s mother trying to figure out a way to reconnect with her son and yet give him the space to grieve after the lost of husband and father. Jose Pablo Cantillo is a police officer and cousin of Kale’s Spanish teacher. Viola Davis (‘Traveller’) is the detective assigned to Kale’s house arrest case.

“Disturbia” has an average amount of bonus features. There is an auto commentary with director DJ Caruso, and actors Shia LaBeouf and Sarah Roemer. A few deleted scenes, outtakes, a photo gallery and a make of featurette. It has a “Serial Pursuit Trivia Pop-Up/Quiz” track and a music video of “Don’t Make Me Wait” by The World Fair. It contains movie previews for “Stardust”, “Blades of Glory”, “Next”, “Beneath”, “Super Sweet 16” and “She’s the Man”.

I give it 5/5 Gs.

"8MM"

Nicholas Cage
Joaquin Phoenix
James Gandolfini
Peter Stormare
Anthony Heald
Chris Bauer
Catherine Keener
Myra Carter
Amy Morton
Jenny Powell



R           123min           1999


“8mm” is about a private investigator (Cage), known for his discretion, is hired by a recent widower to find out if a SNUFF film is real or not.

I could see where this film tried to do, but actually failed to do. It was trying to be edgy, take you on a journey of a taboo subject without giving the user a truly disturbing image. As a viewer you’re asked to imagine that the world of underground fetishes is sold in seedy neighborhoods and other questionable neighborhoods but the real monster are your next-door neighbor.

Joel Schumacher tries to hard to make this world of fetishes seem so “dirty” that “respectable” people would never be caught in this world. This is exactly where this film fails. “Eight Millimeter” tried to stay too mainstream, the visuals come off more like psychological torture film than fetish sex tapes, they are laughable at best, bizarre not taboo. He stylizes this world as being seedy as the drug world.

As a viewer, “8mm” ask you to believe that the journey to film this SNUFF film is skating the dark seedy corner of a hell on earth, a place so seedy that you need a guide into the world. That this journey changes you fundamentally but you never the film never truly accomplish this or it could just have been Nicholas Cage’s acting.

You never really care about the characters and the situation that befall them. Joaquin Phoenix’s character has a line to Cage’s: “When you dance with the devil, the devil don’t change you do.” I never saw the change. Cage’s character has the same deadpan delivery and Catherine Keener seems absurdly irate for no reason. I never believed that this family was a couple and that they had problems seething underneath the surface.

Overall it’s a film that is complete but never full develops. The scope of the film hiders the viewers to the complete depravity of the world that “Eight Millimeters” tried to portray. I film that tried to be shocking and edgy came of as neither and more as a morality tale that miss fired. It came off more as a revenge tale than a tale about justice. For what it tried to do its still an ok film but could have been better.

I give it 3/5 Gs.

"The Quiet"

Elisha Cuthbert
Camilla Belle
Edie Falco
Martin Donovan
Shawn Ashmore
Katy Mixon
David Gallagher






R           96min           2005




“The Quiet” is about a deaf and mute girl Dot (Belle) who is sent to live with her godparents (Falco and Donavan and their daughter Nina (Cuthbert). As she adjusts to her new surroundings she realizes that this idyllic family is not as picture perfect as it would seem.

It does what an indie film is supposed to do. This is a disturbing film yet a compelling movie to watch. Elisha Cuthbert and Camilla Belle are a dynamic duo on screen.

“The Quiet” is one of those films that take a subject matter that is taboo and grays it. Yes he was wrong but was Nina not complicit in the crime too? There wasn’t that much marketing behind the film and it came and disappeared into oblivion much too quickly.

The subject matter is disturbing and it brought many emotions in me, and I think that’s what good films are supposed to due. Many times I who stop the film, because I needed to digest what I had just seen but I was compelled to find out what would happen next. You’re an observer of this family knowing most of the angles even before it begins yet you know its going to be an interesting journey.

Elisha Cuthbert and Camilla Belle as Nina and Dot are compelling to watch. Cuthbert moves from a seductress to a vengeful lover to a mournful child, seamlessly. Belle playing a deaf and mute girl plays it outstanding. There are clues to her secret throughout her performance whether intentional or not they make the character so much richer. That other characters never pick them up makes the betrayal so much more resonating.

For some “The Quiet” will be off putting, for some mildly disturbing and for others another walk in the park, either way it’s an interesting journey to the end. I personal appreciated the film and what Jamie Babbit did with this film, once I made that journey.

I give it 4/5 Gs.

"White Noise"

Michael Keaton
Chandra West
Deborah Kara Unger
Ian McNeice
Keegan Connor Tracy

PG13           101min           2005

“White Noise” is about An architect's (Keaton) desire to speak with his wife (West) from beyond the grave, becomes obsessed and with his obsession starts to break the barrier between life and death leading to supernatural repercussions.

This film is marginal good. I think this film isn’t really scary so much as it plays on peoples paranoia. Most television now a days goes to a blue screen when not signal is picked up or may its just mine. But if I did take something from this film is leave the other side alone.

There is a barrier between life and dead and it should not be cross but people want too anyway. It’s one of the reasons why psychics and shows like ‘Ghost Whisper’ are so popular. People want to know that there is another side and death is not just it.

“White Noise” is a cautionary tale about meddling with the other side. Keaton’s character need to talk to his wife lead to his downfall and were supposed to feel that it was tragic; I felt that it was stupid and he should have pulled back several times in the film.

It became predictable after the architect’s wife’s death. The film maker never showed how he loved her so much that he would become obsessed with talking to her and that’s where the movie lost me. From that point on it was like it was just going through the motion of a scary thriller as I anticipated everything coming.

I give it 2/5 Gs

"The Prestige"

Hugh Jackman
Christian Bale
Michael Caine
Piper Perabo
Samantha Hall
Scarlett Johansson

PG13           128min           2006

“The Prestige” is a story of two magicians in a bitter rivalry of one-up-manship in a race of ‘Who is the Best Magician’.

You hear ‘The Prestige’ and it sounds unremarkable but this movie is a gem in disguise. This is one of the best movies I have ever seen. This is no exaggeration. This movie is compelling and thought provoking. It has so many things happening all the same time. But just as with all magic tricks once its revealed it loses some flare and at the same time keeps you questioning the characters’ motives.

These characters take rivalry and demented to another whole level. The things that they do to each other are some times inhumane and insane. The answers to some of your questions are throughout the entire film. Some are in plain site and other are vaguely alluded to. A smart person will figure out some of the clues early on and others you will never be figured out even in the ending credits.

If you don’t like it is because it left you with too many unanswered question. This is one of the reasons I liked it. Watch again or debate it with a friend and you still will never have all your questions answered. I have never come out of a movie this satisfied and have so many questions unanswered. This is what makes the movie so entertaining.

The way Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale deliver their dialogue and the emotional state of the characters is key in this movie. This is some of the best acting I have seen from Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, and Michael Caine. This is acting at its best.

This one should be seen in the theaters. “The Prestige” should not be missed. If you don’t see this in the theaters you will kick yourself. Only blown up to 16 feet due you catch the clues laid out in front of you. It definitely should be up for some awards. This movie will not disappoint you.

I give it a resounding 5/5 Gs.

"Inside Man"

Denzel Washington
Clive Owen
Jodie Foster
Christopher Plummer
Willem DaFoe
Chiwetel Ejiofor


R 129min 2006

“Inside Man” is about a bank robbery and the cat mouse game played between the owner of the bank, the robbers, and the cops sent in to diffuse the escalating hostage situation.

Inside Man is Denzel Washington and Spike Lee’s fourth collaboration and is a more commercial movie than most expect from Spike Lee. It is an exciting film that puts a turn on the bank heist movie. As I watched this movie I wondered why it was never tried. Once you sit back and think about it so many things were left to risk, that things could have gone wrong and changed the outcome of this film.

This film works because of Spike Lee direction and the cast put together. Inside Man is lead superbly by Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, and Jodie Foster. The supporting cast is just as strong too featuring Christopher Plummer, Willem Dafoe, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, you may not know his name but you’ve seen his face. He was in Serenity, Four Brothers and Love Actually.

It made sense and was suspenseful to the end. It wasn’t black or white but the true color of life… gray. It’s your morality that should tell you who is good and who is bad. Even though Spike Lee clearly defines the good and bad.

Overall “Inside Man” is a good film, with patented Spike shot. It tales a very good story with a bank heist as a backdrop and a stellar cast. If you like and member of this cast you won’t be disappointed. The DVDs has twenty minutes of re-cut or deleted scenes and a nice little interview with Spike Lee and Denzel Washington talking about their 4 collaborations.

I give it a 4/5 Gs

"Brick (2005)"

Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Nora Zehetner
Lukas Haas
Noah Fleiss
Matt O'Leary
Meagan Good
Brian White

R           110min           2005

“Brick” places film noir in the setting of high school. After receiving a note and a phone call from his ex-girlfriend and her subsequent death. Brendan (Gordon-Levitt) sets out to find out who killed and why.

I caught this as a preview during a DVD I was watching and was immediately intrigued. I was not disappointed. Brick is a movie of its own cloth and Film noir is not for everyone and instead of it setting in the 40s and 50s, it set in modern time, in a high school, with a language of its own.

The language maybe off putting at first or put close caption on. The dialogue is key to figuring the mystery and as the movie progress it will come to you. Written and Directed by Rian Johnson, he created a tale of mystery and fil noir that reminds you of something William Shakespeare might write.

As this is his first feature film he set a great foundation to his directing career. This film should not be missed. The DVD is a little bare-bone but the commentary is a funny thing to hear. The commentary runs a talk show host by Rian Johnson, the end is the funniest as Rian Johnson and Noah Segan imitated the producer, instantly a classic DVD commentary.

I give it a 4/5 Gs.

Suspect Zero

Aaron Eckhart
Ben Kingsley
Carrie-Anne Moss
Harry J. Lennix
Kevin Chamberlin
William Mapother

R           99min           2004

“Suspect Zero” is about an FBI agent tracking is tracking a serial killer, who’s victims are more than meets the eyes and that this secret will lead them to finding the serial killer.

This film wasn’t what I suspected. I saw in a preview and picked it up. I was greatly surprised by this movie. Although it’s a slow moving is it a mentally chaotic intense film. The story was there but it felt incomplete and rushed. Ben Kinsley is stellar as a mentally trouble serial killer.

This is a extremely slow moving film. Although the film the agents are dragging their heels or one step behind. Its didn’t leave the FBI in high regards even though they got there man. It is somewhat satisfying, but is a stain on your mental senses.

Suspect Zero throws a lot of information at you through flashbacks, and newspaper clipping. The clues to solving each murder are there. Some clues are there but don’t make sense until the end. Some of the cut scene should have been left in to make some plot points clear and more apparent to the viewer.

For most viewer this may be above their head. Your like an outside observer with both sides and wonder how the FBI would miss so of the blatant clues by, the spot on acting of, Ben Kinsley. When glimpsing his side you see just how tortured he is, the mental restraint and collapse of his character; this one of the high points of ‘Suspect Zero’.

I give it 2/5 Gs.

"Hoodwinked"

PG           80min           2005

“Hoodwinked” is a re-imagining of the ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ tale. It’s the mystery that unfolds as Red is on her way to granny’s house, to protect her secret recipes.

It is imaginative, funny, and funny for all to have. It took a tale we all know and throw against the wall and let the piece fall where they may. Kids will love it for all the action and animation. Parents will love it because of the familiarity with the characters and how they have been re-imagined.

“Little Red Riding Hood” has elements of the original story but its been torn apart and stretched like ‘Play Dough’. It’s a old story told new to a new generation, that the old will find interest and funny too. There are characters added that make the story so funny,

‘Hoodwinked’ has big name star voices that complement their characters and some voices are distinct but you can place the actor. Kids will love the animation because of its bright vibrant colors. The colors are cheery and delight.

This isn’t our ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ this is Red for a new generation. She is a confident young woman who is capable of making to Granny’s house. Granny’s no longer sitting by the fire waiting to die. The re-imaging of all the character is what make this tell funny.

“Hoodwinked” is one of the better-animated movies. This will make most children complacent enough to finish an entire load of laundry. It’s one that you can what it several times and pick up a clue that you didn’t see before.

I give it 3/5 Gs.

The Village

Bryce Dallas Howard
Joaquin Phoenix
Adrien Brody
William Hurt
Sigourney Weaver
Brendan Gleeson

PG13      108m       2004

"The Village" has a slow first half, of nearly an hour. If you make it through the first half then the movie just breezes by. From viewing other movies by Shyamalan movies, this one disappointed me. Friends have told me that they thought it was a waste of time. I wouldn't go that far. If you step into their situations you might understand their thinking, its not that bad. "The Village" is an OK movie as a stand alone movie but when balance against other M. Night Shyamalan's works its left a little lean.

I give it a 2/5 Gs



Has society degraded to the point where it makes you want to start a new society? What be the structure of your society?

Wicker Park

Josh Hartnett
Rose Byrne
Matthew Lillard
Diane Kruger
Christopher Cousins
Jessica Pare
Vlasta Vrana

PG13       90mins       2004

A movie based on "L'Appartement" by Gilles Mimoune. Having never seen "L'Appartement", I found "Wicker Park" a wickly, funny, & twisted love story. Its a movie that should be closely paid attention to. The director uses a lot of flashbacks to tell his story.

I give it 4/5 Gs.

Do you believe in second chance romances?