My Favorite Movies

This may well have been one of the most amazing movies I have ever seen, and I don't know how it happened. A traditional love story, no new twists there, paper-thin characters, melodrama galore... and better yet, everyone will sing pop songs? Not original songs, but *pop* songs. Say, "Like a Virgin" and "The Show Must Go On." Hey, I like musicals, but by all rights that should have been cheesy and stupid and all-around lousy. And yet.. somehow it isn't. I was enthralled with this movie by the time the first dance scene showed up. I have never, ever been a fan of Ewan McGregor, but since all he had to be here was sincere, he was perfect. Nicole Kidman was also fantastic in her (also not-deep) role. And the fact that neither one of them have particularly good voices didn't keep me from enjoying the movie - I *really* don't know how that happened. This movie is all about style over substance, and BOY, does it have style. It's got style overflowing and coming out its ears. Dazzling. Stunning. A spectacular film.

I am going to venture to do something I haven't done in a long time, and that is rate a movie 5 stars. I think it deserves it. The movie completely blew me away.

This movie was absolutely delightful. Two characters who felt very real even in the outrageousness of their neuroses. An ending that appealed to my cynical side with a middle that appealed to my sentimental side. Noteworthy lines and moments all the way through. I'm not sure how well it would stand up to a second or third viewing, but I really very much liked it the first time around. I'm really surprised it isn't rated higher than it is on here.

A friend recommended this movie, and so I decided to check it out. For the first forty minutes, I found myself thinking, "This is fairly entertaining, but not fantastic." By the end of the movie, however, I had changed my mind. This is one of the funniest things I've seen in awhile. The first half of the movie is mostly setup and some mild chuckles, while the last half is hilariously zany and had me laughing out loud several times. Definitely recommended!

Pure delight. I'm a big fan of the movie and show, and this was a nearly-perfect adaptation of it. (Amanda Bynes was my one gripe - she portrays far too much confidence to play Penny. I missed that awkward character... I always sympathize with her.) This movie may not have the most substance of any movie out there, but it's certainly one of the best feel-good flicks I've seen in awhile. You can't help but come out of this with a smile on your face. Special "Yay" goes to James Marsden, who was absolutely perfect in his tiny role. Goodness, can that guy sing!

I can't think of the last movie I enjoyed this much. What a satisfying watch, all the way through. Anton Yelchin plays Charlie with charm and distinctive personality, and Robert Downey Jr. is thoroughly compelling in his role as the principal. The movie unfolds in a way that makes complete sense every step of the way. The dialogue is clever and the humor quiet but entertaining. Definitely a great watch.

This movie was superbly done. Although I didn't connect to it emotionally quite as much as I was expecting to, I was still blown away by how well it was executed. What I probably liked best about it was the characterization. It would have been simple to dumb the characters down - the superheroic Schindler on one side, and the evilpsychodeathkiller Goeth on the other, and that wouldn't have been nearly as interesting. I was fascinated by both of them as characters because they weren't clear-cut, black-and-white good and bad. Made it a much more interesting story. There were a lot of other things that made this movie incredible, but that was the thing that really jumped out at me the most.

This movie is truly incredible. I can't praise it enough. Just a brilliantly done movie, with amazing actors, great music, an interesting plot... Man. I love this movie.

YES! YES YES YES YES! Oh gosh I loved this movie. *grin* I'm a sucker for movies that make me cry... there aren't very many of them, but the few there are, I love. This movie is horribly sad and so very well-done that I was bawling through nearly the whole thing. I cried even more than during Savannah Smiles. Haley Joel Osment is amazing in this movie and was probably one of the most talented child actors EVER out there. (I'm intrigued to see if he stays interesting should he act in more things as a teen/adult.) Simply put, this is QUITE possibly my favorite movie I saw this year, although it horribly depressed both my parents. That scene where he's in the submarine has to be the saddest thing I have EVER seen in a movie. *deep contented sigh* Yes, I loved this movie mucho.

This movie was beautiful. Visually, thematically, plotwise... everything was just gorgeous. It managed to perfectly manage that delicate balance between "Ooh, artsy, visually interesting stuff!" and actually being satisfying as far as a movie story goes. Definitely one of the most stunning movies I've seen in awhile. I highly recommend it.

If there's one thing Richard Linklater can do, it's write dialogue. It was evident in Waking Life and it's evident here. There's not very much plot in Before Sunrise. Basically, two strangers meet on a train and decide to spend the rest of their day/night together. The majority of the movie is spent just listening to their conversations with each other. They're not particularly realistic - these people are witty even when their awkward, and always ready with a profound anecdote that applies to the situation. But even without that realism, the conversations are still FASCINATING. In the first ten minutes, I was hooked, and I stayed interested for the rest of the movie.

I'm never a big fan of the "love me tonight, for tomorrow we part" stories... However, this one redeemed itself in a few ways that I'm not going to mention now because I suppose they might be construed as spoilers. And because it redeemed itself and it stayed so beautifully interesting all the way through, it gets rated quite high.

There are very few musicals done as slickly or as magically as this. Yes, I've decided to use the word "magical" to describe this movie, despite the dismal setting and morbid plot. But there just are very few other words for it. Every musical number captured my attention, despite the fact that I am not crazy about the show in general. THIS is how movie musicals should be made. Take a look, people working on Hairspray. Don't let the movie musical follow down the path of The Producers or Phantom of the Opera as sub-par representations of good shows. The movie musical does NOT have to be dead, not with gems like this just waiting to be made.

I'm a big fan of Nick Hornby's writing, and had already read the High Fidelity book. I was unsure as to how the movie would be - would it keep the same rambling, blog-like conversations about music? Would it transfer as a story from Britan to America? Would it try to Hollywoodize the whole thing instead of keeping it the charming meandering story it was? The answers, by the way, are yes, yes, and no. This was the PERFECT movie adaptation - a great adaptation of a great book. What struck me is that almost every single character was instantly the way I'd imagined them. Those actors just NAILED their character. (The one exception for me was Ian.) This is not your typical romantic comedy. It's slow, it's laidback, it's meandering, it's philosophical, and it's completely charming. There aren't many more good things I can say about this movie. I can't figure out ways to put them all into words. Great stuff.

It's hard not to compare this to Moulin Rouge, another movie musical using pop songs along with creative visuals to enhance the songs. So I'm not going to try to not compare them.

Moulin Rouge was definitely better. Beatles songs actually *are* better, but much of the time it felt like they were hesitant to play much with the actual musicality of it. The visuals, sure, the visuals can be as crazy as you want-- but the music has to stay classic Beatles, at least in tone, or everyone will be angry. Well, unfortunately, that means that many of the vocal performances sound like nothing but decent American Idol performances, lacking much of the musical originality that Moulin Rouge brought to the table.

However! Visually, this works almost as well. Not every scene is pushed quite to the extreme of Moulin Rouge, but there are definitely a lot of scenes that I remember because of the stunning visual effects. My favorite was probably the bizarre twist on "I Want You," where a series of robotic soldiers put several young men through a series of tests to determine draft eligibility.

Although this review is now incredibly long, I just wanted to briefly mention a few of my other favorite moments: "With a Little Help From My Friends" becomes a rollicking, well-natured partying song that conveys a warm fuzzy sense of camaraderie. "I Am the Walrus" is a stunning psychedelic whirlwind. "Strawberry Fields Forever" takes on a dark undertone as an artist furiously struggles to portray his thoughts on canvas. And "Across the Universe" takes place in the middle of a peace-march-turned-riot, as the singer stands amidst the screaming crowd firmly vowing, "Nothing's going to change my world."

Lots of brilliance throughout...and definitely worth rewatching. But all-in-all, it was just slightly disappointing, falls *just* shy of the mark of greatness. So close, Julie Taymor. So close.

Our community college put this on as a play a year or so ago, but I missed it. I wish now I'd been able to see it, because I absolutely loved this movie. When spoofs are done well, I think they can be brilliant, and this one was. It's a spoof of every sci-fi B-movie in existence, and it so perfectly captures what makes them so bad. Several times while watching this, we had to pause the movie because we were laughing so hard we couldn't hear what was going on. I most definitely recommend it.

Wow. What an intriguing movie! This is one intricate chick flick. That's what, eight different plotlines going on here? And yet I came to genuinely care about all of them by the end of the film. Sheesh, most chick flicks can't even get me to care about the main two, let alone a group of twenty. I have to give this movie intense applause just for that. The dialogue was also superbly entertaining. I honestly can't remember the last time I've gotten THIS caught up in a chick flick. Dang. As I think about it more, I really REALLY liked this movie.

After this movie ended, it took some thinking before I decided whether I absolutely loved it or absolutely hated it. (Possible spoilerishness ahead, although nothing specific.) I adored the first 3/4 of the movie... and then the ending took a turn that I wasn't expecting and left me feeling wholly unsatisfied. (Possible spoilerishness is over now.) However, thinking back on the theme of the movie and the ideas behind it, I'm now convinced that not only did I love it, but it was a deeper movie than I was giving it credit for. Woody Allen has a way of mixing sorrow and joy in his movies in a way that I really connect with. My only problem was I initially forgot (emotionally, not for real) that I was watching one of his movies... and started expecting something totally different. This is quite possibly my favorite of his movies, after Annie Hall. Also, this movie has confirmed to me once more that Jeff Daniels is awesome. Both his characters in this movie captured my interest and held it until the end. Just great stuff.

Yesssss!!! My dad informed me that this movie was hilarious, and so I put it on CleanFilms, and finally got the chance to see it. When it opened in documentary format I was a bit wary, but as the story unfolded and the auditions for the show began, I found myself warming to it. By the time it got to the point of the story where the show was ready to go on, I was completely enthralled with this quirky cast of characters and couldn't wait to see the show. I think it hit a special vein in me too, because of my work with my youth group drama team. No, we're not nearly as bad as the people in this movie. :-D But I found myself going, "Hmm. Okay. Yeah. That's a wee little bit familiar." This is also one of those movies that was made even better by running through all the funny parts afterwards with my family. "Remember when...?" "Oh, yeah, and how about...?" "Yeah, that was hilarious!" Definitely a worthwhile watch.

Wow. Just...wow. What else can I say? This movie was utterly brilliant, not only as a whodunnit? style mystery, but also as an emotional drama. It's one of the most tragic movies I've ever seen, as well as one of the most mind-bending mysteries ever. Even my dad had trouble keeping up! :-) The format was perfect, the directing fantastic, and... well, I'll just say it one more time. This movie was UTTERLY brilliant.

The first time I saw this movie, I didn't quite get it. The second time, I thought it was pretty good. This third time I thought it was HILARIOUS! So this is one of those movies that, for me, took viewing a few times. There's just so much in this movie to like! Lots of little things, like the fact that they're never able to sleep because of trains and factory whistles and screech owls... the scene where she's upset with him because he's going deer hunting... the public defense attorney who turns out to be less than stellar... Man. Watch this movie. It's awesome.

Aww, aww, awwwww!! :-D Now THIS is a quality romance movie. Forget the fluffy stuff that ends with sappy happy endings. (Note all the marvelous rhyming in that last sentence.) This was such an amazing movie, in all seriousness. I was intrigued with the story from the beginning and stayed interested all the way through the end. The characters were fascinating just in themselves. Man. I don't know how many more good things I can say about this movie. Everyone go watch it. It's marvelous.

Oh my. This goes on my top 50, probably my top 20. Having seen the musical first, I was delighted at how the characters still closely resembled those I had come to know and love on my CD. William Holden was really a perfect Joe and Gloria Swanson was amazing as Norma. That last scene...wow. Kudos to the musical for keeping so close to the original, because this thing was pretty dang awesome.

Oh, goodness, I liked this movie. It's one of those movies that just manages to tap so nicely into human nature and had so many sweet and touching moments, but none of it was saccharine sweet or unrealistic in the way it portrayed these teens. Even the bit at the end where they realize that probably they're just going back to their normal lives after this works perfectly. I was completely drawn into the story and the characters. Ayup. I liked this movie quite a lot.

One of Disney's greatest children's movies. Mary Poppins is a delightfully cryptic character, and much gentler in the movie than in P.L. Travers' books. Filled with colorful characters and stick-in-your-head musical numbers, this movie is fun for the whole family.

Goodness, what can I say about this movie? It was incredible. Absolutely, truly incredible. I can definitely see why this show has lasted for so long and cultivated so many fans. The story, songs, and cast are all incredibly powerful. I at first begged to go see this just so I could see a few of my Voices on the big screen. But I found myself getting caught up in the stories of characters I hadn't really cared about before this. The funeral, for example, had never really touched me, but it was definitely one of the most moving scenes. What more can I say? Everyone needs to get out there and see it. NOW!

Wow. What a powerful movie about alcoholism. It's got such a sad ending, too. I liked watching how they kept trying to get out of drinking, and then falling back in, and then getting out, and then falling back in, and how finally she just gave up. This is a movie I'd really like to own someday.

It's been awhile since I found a movie I liked this much. It's based on the play, which won six Tonys and intrigued me when it was first put on Broadway. The dialogue is brilliantly written and held my attention from the very beginning. The stories are touching and, although I would have liked to become more familiar with some of the characters, they were all interesting and made me want to know what happened to them at the end. (The ending was wonderfully satisfying.) Overall, an incredibly good movie.

This movie may not be the easiest to understand I've ever seen, but it's certainly one of the most beautiful. Stunning visuals throughout that truly bring to life the beauty of the stories being told. I'm still not entirely sure of the actual plot of the movie, but, surprisingly, that didn't at all detract from my enjoyment of the movie. Hugh Jackman is quite good in his role, Rachel Weisz is very capable in hers. There really are very few words to describe this other than "beautiful." I definitely plan on rewatching this again someday.

If you've seen this, drop me a line and let me know what you thought about it. It's one of those movies you can't just watch on your own, you have to talk it over with others.

I know, it's pretty surprising I hadn't seen this before. This movie is rather incredible. Even knowing all the twists and the premise and all that, it's still a beautiful story done in a simply stunning way. Haley Joel Osment does an amazing job in this flick carrying the weight of his character. It strikes just the right balance between serious drama and supernatural thriller, hitting almost no sour notes at all. Definitely one of the best movies I've seen so far this year.

I'm not going to claim this is a great movie... but I *really* enjoyed it. As far as a romance story by itself, it's not really that interesting. The story hits all the traditional highs and lows of a movie romance, with pretty much all the same conflicts and resolutions as every other romance movie.

What makes this movie interesting is the characters. Josh Hartnett and Radha Mitchell do a superb job of portraying these two people. I really connected to both of the characters, especially his. Although I don't have Asperger's, I am socially awkward and very much connect with movies about people who don't always know the right thing to say and have a zinger for every situation. So even if it wasn't a *fantastic* movie, I connected to it in a superemotional way and therefore give it a high rating. Hehe.

Note, this movie is not The Squid and the Whale. Just in case you thought they were the same movie. *grin*

Wow, this was a fascinating movie. I'm fascinated by multiple personality disorder anyway, and this story just completely engrossed me. Sally Field was absolutely amazing in this role, embodying each one of the personalities in a completely convincing way. I was just blown away by her performance. Although this movie is really long, it didn't feel too long at all. It wound up just exactly when I wanted it to. This movie is really, really interesting - definitely worth watching.

This. Movie. Is. Wonderful. From the opening shots to the closing shots, it was fascinating and beautiful and touching and completely captured my attention. This is one of the best performances I've ever seen from Robert De Niro (of course the last thing I saw him in was Hide and Seek, which, you know, WASN'T his best role). Not overly sappy. Not overly cynical. Just from beginning to end, it's a beautifully crafted movie. I'd definitely recommend it.

Nobody's ever heard of this movie, which is really sad, because it's an absolute treasure. Based on the Tom Stoppard play, it focuses on the characters of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern from Hamlet. The two of them wander around their world, trying to figure out their purpose in life. It ends rather darkly, but there are many funny moments in the film. If you find a copy of this... watch it! Watch it, I say!

I can't decide whether I really really liked this movie or only really liked it. Heh. I really hadn't any idea what to expect as I sat down to watch it. Halfway through I was thinking this was one of the most interesting movies I'd ever seen. There were many moments of sheer brilliance that made me laugh out loud. And then . . . I don't know. It felt like it fizzled. Maybe I'm missing the point (I do that a lot). I'm going to go ahead and give it four and a half stars though, because two thirds of it was SO SO SO good. Definitely a good movie to see.

Edit: Okay, just got done reading some reviews of the movie that explain what this was trying to do. It definitely makes sense now, and, although I won't give away the ending, I give them definite kudos for trying that... even if it didn't particularly work for me. *grin* I may have to just have my dad watch it so I can re-watch it and see if, knowing what point it's making, it makes more sense to me. If so, I'll update this review once again.

How did I not rate this movie before? Anyway, this is one of Disney's best movies. Great story, great execution (er, as in the movie played out well, not "yay people died"... because mostly, they don't), and even great songs. Definitely a classic - I'd recommend it for sure.

I could see why people wouldn't like this, but I thought it was great. As I read the reviews for this, people compared it to Napoleon Dynamite in terms of "weirdness", I guess. But as Napoleon Dynamite was a weird comedy for the non-thinker, I Heart Huckabees is a weird comedy for the thinker. Of course, if you're like me and are just plain weird, then you should like them both. Huckabees remained light even in the midst of all its insane philosophical whatever-the-heck-that-was... and quotes like "You can't deal with my infinite nature, can you?" "That is so not true. Wait, what does that even mean?" keep it from looking like it's taking itself too seriously. Wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but I would recommend it to... um. I'm not sure who. But I'll think about that.

One of the best musicals ever written directly for the movies, and the only one that was any good in the 90's. The story is intriging, the songs are marvelous... If you're at all a fan of movie musicals, check out this gem!

This is such a great movie! This was my second viewing of it but I didn't remember it at all. Then it going going... This is a screwball comedy, but without any panicky characters. It has to be one of the zaniest movies I've ever seen that is played completely straight. The two leading actors were both fabulous in their roles. I wish I had had my notebook while watching so I could have recorded all the awesome quotes. If you ever get a chance to see this movie, do!

What an intriguing movie. I grew up watching this movie with my mom, and then rewatched it about two years ago and suddenly realized what it was actually about. :-) This movie plays out so differently than your typical romantic comedy, where the hero jumps in and sweeps the girl off her feet. This is a quieter, more subtle movie... It took me another viewing to decide I really liked it. Find it. Watch it.

Aaaaah! I had a scary movie craving last night, and after watching this, my craving is definitely fulfilled. This has to be one of the greatest thrillers ever . . . it is quite creepy, and even though this was my second time watching it and I knew what to expect, I still jumped out of my one seat at . . . er, that one really creepy spot -- no spoilers here.

Oooh. Good movie. I knew virtually nothing about Watergate, but now I consider myself well-educated. :-) This movie had some of the most natural dialogue I have ever seen. Somehow it just felt real. Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman were excellent together as the two reporters who broke the story. Definitely a good movie . . . especially considering it's based on a true story. Often that signals "BLAH" loud and clear, but this was a definite exception.

Aside from having awesome music (*grin* okay, so I'm slightly addicted to Dave Grusin's movie music) it was just an all-around good movie. The acting in this is pretty phenomenal - not even the kid is annoying. Well, not any more annoying than he's supposed to be at first. I also came about THIS CLOSE to crying at the end of this one. This definitely deserves to be the classic it is.

It was this movie that first introduced me to the wonderful world of Sondheim. Into the Woods remains my favorite Sondheim show, primarily because its plot is simultaneously charming and tragic. The original cast does a fantastic job reprising their roles in this video. Bernadette Peters, in particular, is awesome as the Witch. This is one of the best movie musicals I've ever seen - everyone go check it out!

This movie rules, it always has. The music is incredible, the dancing is awesome (check out the "Cool" dance sequence . . . very neato), and it gives such a powerful message, driving it home. This is one of the very few movies I have cried in, thus making it an amazing story. The original Shakespeare story wasn't nearly this ruling.(In case you're wondering, the other movies were A Walk to Remember, Savannah Smiles, Casablanca, and Monsters Inc.)

How can anyone NOT like this movie? I know, I know, people who don't like this movie do exist, but I just don't understand how. There is just SO much to love in this movie, so many little moments. It's not just The Knights Who Say Ni, it's also The Monks Who Hit Themselves On The Head With Their Boards. It's not just cutting off the arms and legs of the Black Knight, it's also Lancelot running for several minutes without getting any closer to the castle. This movie is just SO dang silly and SO dang fun and SO dang low-budget . . . I just always get a kick out of it. I recommend this movie to, well, absolutely everyone. Because you simply must love it. So there.

"Awwww! It's POTO!" Well, that was the thought running through my head during most of this movie. It's definitely a bizarre movie, but incredibly moving and very sweet. Definitely goes on my "Top However Many Movies" list that I'm building one of these days.

May I start off by saying that that rabbit is the SINGLE SCARIEST IMAGE I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE. I think I'm going to have nightmares forever from that thing. *shudder* Okay. On to the actual movie. Talk about confusing. I had sort of a vague idea of what was going on but then weird stuff happened and I was like, "Hmm, oh, okay, on second thought, I think this is happening," and then weirder stuff happened and I was like, "Um. Okay. Now I have no clue at all." At the end my dad told me what the official website says happened and, honestly, I have NO IDEA how I was supposed to get that from the movie. However... just because I didn't understand it doesn't mean at all that it wasn't a good movie. I really really liked it. It was entertaining all the way through and I did have fun trying to figure it out even though I didn't come anywhere near it. But let mejust state one more time.... that rabbit is HORRIFYING!!!!!!! Aaaahhhhhh! (My dad pointed out that actually this was the second movie we'd watched this week involving a scary rabbit. The other was Monty Python and the Holy Grail.)

Let me start off by saying I'm a huge fan of Waiting For Guffman, and then someone suggested this to me, so I finally got a chance to see it. I was NOT disappointed. I was a little worried in the first fifteen minutes ago that it wasn't going to live up to expectations, but after about half an hour I was starting to laugh out loud, and by the end I was convinced this movie was wonderful. I plan to watch it again with my family, which I'm looking forward to. There were so many wonderful throwaway lines that I couldn't possibly have found them all the first time. Although with Guffman I had the theater connection to keep me interested, this managed to hold my attention all by itself. Fantastic.

Oooh. This was actually a very interesting movie. I knew next to nothing about it when I rented it except that Anna had recommended it, and as I watched it I realized it was actually quite fascinating to watch. I never got bored with it and just sat there enjoying it all the way through. That's quite an accomplishment for a movie, to keep me watching all the way through without getting bored. Probably my second-favorite Anna-recommended movie, after Benny and Joon.

A film that manages to be both brutal yet (oddly) inspiring. Erik is an extremely likeable main character, and watching his desperate attempt to fix things the right way is heartwrenching. The supporting cast is all excellent, too, particularly Henrik Lundstrom as his roommate Pierre. Captivating.

A bland, soulless retread of the first movie's themes, The Lion King 2 is a packaged lesson about the importance of diversity and not being in feuds with people. And also maybe about fathers not being overprotective, but that subplot kind of disappeared about halfway through. This desperate attempt to be the first movie is best seen in the musical numbers - every one was a pale imitation of one from the original film. However, that failed miserably, as "He Lives In You" is no "Circle of Life," Zira's song is not nearly as threatening as "Be Prepared," and I can barely even remember the bland pop ballad trying to replace "Can You Feel the Love Tonight." On top of that, the whole thing just feels choppily put together - there's underscoring at weird moments, dialogue that cuts off awkwardly, jokes that don't make any sense, an entire series of shots where Kiara seems to be surprised and dismayed to learn she has a reflection... nothing really worth seeing here.

Brilliantly written, terrifying play about a couple's very dark, twisted marriage. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton are unbelievably good in this adaptation of Edward Albee's play. Every moment is interesting, and the ending is

David Fincher has redeemed himself after the disappointing Benjamin Button. With sharp dialogue by Aaron Sorkin and some absolutely phenomenal performances by Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake, and Andrew Garfield, it kept me interested from beginning to end (not to mention sparking multiple conversations about how the Internet has changed relationships). I love movies about nerdy people without friends doing stuff they're good at.

Danny Boyle has taken what could have been a mediocre suspense flick and turned it into a beautifully artistic film. It's not only an edge-of-your-seat thriller, but a beautiful musing on what it's like to realize you are going to die. It's been awhile since a movie built up that much tension in me and let me truly release it at the end... I cried. Wonderfully done.

Darren Aronofsky is the absolute best director for any stories about obsession. He's able to get inside the minds of the obsessed and turn it inside out so we can see it. Black Swan is my favorite of his to date. It features an absolutely breathtaking performance by Natalie Portman and some of the most beautiful and terrifying imagery Aronofsky's ever produced. Amazing, stunning, horrifying... one of my favorites of the year.

Robert Downey, Jr. is phenomenal as Charlie Chaplin. I'm always fascinated when they manage to make screen legends come to life in biopics, and this is one that really strikes me. The movie is never boring. The very opening scene showing him removing his makeup sets the tone for the movie - funny but bittersweet, like Chaplin's films.

A brilliantly acted, brilliantly written drama about loss. It reminds me somewhat of Mystic River, but holds together better. It is quiet and very contained but all fits together perfectly.

Oh, welcome back, Woody Allen. I have liked some of his less popular films these past several years, but this was marvelous. I'd very comfortably categorize it among his best work. I'd never have thought Owen Wilson would ever be an appropriate casting choice for the central Woody Allen character, but somehow it works, and I like Wilson more than I have in anything he's ever done. This is a charming story with a marvelous mixture of fantasy and reality (something found in most of my favorite Woody Allen films). I couldn't help but smile through the whole thing. Wonderfully done.

Aside from the lovely Midnight in Paris, all the Woody Allen movies I've seen recently seemed to be a bit flat. I'm not sure whether it was my response to them or that I was just down to the final not-so-good ones. But Another Woman was marvelous, and made me remember once again why I love him so much as a writer/director. The script was effortless, the characters vivid, and Gena Rowlands in particular deserves so much praise for her acting in this role. She creates a fascinating character who, even with voiceover narration, which I usually find clunky, is a joy to watch on the screen (though her lack of emotion throughout most of it makes "joy" an odd word to use). This is much more uplifting than a lot of Woody Allen's dramatic movies, and it left me feeling wonderful and satisfied. What a great movie.