Movies

Updated July 17,, 2010

The Kids Are All Right

This will be one of the more talked about films of the summer, an R- Rated dramedy about a lesbian couple(Julianne Moore and Annete Benning) whose two grown up kids are anxious to find their sperm-donor dad ( Mark Rufalo). After they  meet him and he, the family what was a somewhat ordinary routine turns sour.Relationships change, harmony goes out the window and life becomes far from routine. Writer Director Lisa Cholodenko has given us a warm and close-up look at family values. The acting  is suberb, the story is intense and you'll be sorry if you don't put this one on your must-see list. Start dusting off the Oscar for this one.

Joan Rivers: A Piece Of Work

She's 77 and Joan Rivers is still working, and does not plan to retire...This new documentary  covering her daily up and down career fills you in on the cultural phenomnon she  has become . Whether you're a fan of her noholds  barred humor or not, you have to admit she has staying power. And theis protrait has you rooting for her to keep on going.    All she cares about is her next gig and her cult-like following  keep cheering her on, depsite the endless cosmetic makeovers and her age, she keeps her calendar full and will perform in decdadent dumps or classy Vegas showplaces.  She's at her best while performing on stage. Her life(this documentary, warts and all ,covers the year 2008 to the present and documentarians Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg have given us  a look at this hard working comic that includes some of her performances and also some of the heartbreak she has gone through to remain a viable performer.One of the best documentaries of the year hands down.

Solitary Man

Chalk up another brilliant portrait by Michael Douglas of an agin car dealer who lives a lifestyle way beyond his means and eventually has to deal with the consequences  that wreak havod on his work and his family. Douglas thrives on these kinds of roles and is aided in this human comedy drama but a rich cast that includes Susan Sarandon, Danny Devito and Mary-LouisParker. Stong ,unrelenting, mesmerizing .

Get Him To the Greek

Not my usual movie fare, but I must admit I actually enjoyed this story that stars Jonah Hill whose assignment is to personally escort London-based rock star Russell Brand back to L.A for a huge come-back concert at  L.A's Greek Theatre  that will be a boon for the record label he is working for. The trip from London back to LA is frought with unscheduled stops, wild parties and love and drug trysts that make his job unespectedly hazardous.  Directed by Judd Apatow , expect some crude moments , but it really is a fun ride.