Leatherheads

Leatherheads was the movie of choice this weekend. Mom has wanted to see this one since she saw the previews; I thought it looked fun too, so off we went...

As 1920s football coach Dodge Connelly (George Clooney) banters for the affections of feisty journalist Lexie (Renee Zellweger) against the all-American youthful charm of his hotshot new player Carter "Bullet" Rutherford (John Krasinski).

Leatherheads is a beautiful recreation of an era when pro American footballers couldn't give up their day jobs and Connelly's beloved team are broke. But hope comes in the lanky form of college footballer Rutherford, cute as pie and a war hero to boot, who draws in the crowds and saves not only the team but the pro game too. Lexie is the journalist dispatched to dig behind Rutherford's hero persona but, as screwball would have it, wreaks a little in-team fighting when both he and Connelly fall head over heels for her.

"Leatherheads" is glib, sophisticated and silly. While a bit too scruffy to be a great comedy, it is enjoyable all the way and written for adults who would like a break from jokes that rely on bodily fluids or reams of profanity.

88 Minutes

This week mom and I went to see 88 Minutes. This suspense thriller starring Al Pacino as a police psychologist/teacher, is a fast paced, entertaining little film, which keeps you gripped all the way to the end.

September 1, 1997. Most of the world is talking about the death of Princess Diana. In rainy Seattle, twin sisters Janie and Joanie Cates are getting ready for bed. Before the morning comes, one of the them will have been brutally murdered, the other tortured. A man is arrested and, with the help of testimony from Forensic Psychiatrist Jack Graham (Al Pacino), is sentenced to die, a sentence that takes nine years before it can be carried out. The killer (Neil McDonough) has always maintained his innocence, claiming that Graham lied and persuaded the jury to convict him. In fact, in of the many plot twists, it appears that the Seattle Slayer (the nickname given the cause of these brutal murders) is still killing nine years later, on the day the alleged killer is due to die. Are these copycat crimes or might Forster, as he convincingly maintains, be innocent?



Forster wins a stay and is about to be released. Then, ominously, Gramm receives mysterious phone messages, punctuated by the words “Tick-tock, Doc,” warning that he has only 88 minutes to live. The story unfolds at breakneck speed as Gramm tears through one frantic morning trying to maintain his routine schedule as he struggles to get answers and dodge the ever-increasing threats.



“88 Minutes” is a fine showcase for the talent that IS Al Pacino.

Nim's Island

This weeks movie choice was Nimm's Island. Every since I saw the previews for this movie, I couldn't wait for the release. We were not disappointed. This is a family entertainment package made for the child in all of us and it was great!

Abigail Breslin is Nim Rusoe, a precocious 11-year-old being raised on a remote South Pacific island by her scientist dad Jack (Gerard Butler) after her mom was apparently swallowed by a whale in the surrounding waters. Proud of her own 'perfect secret world', Nim spends her days exploring nature, reading adventure stories, and socializing with her menagerie of animals - the local wildlife - including her best friend, Fred the Iguana.

But one day when Jack goes out boating and disappears during a violent storm, Nim finds herself home alone. That is, until the San Francisco writer of her favorite books, Alexandra/Alex Rover (Jodie Foster), emails Jack to do some research for her next wilderness tale. While Nim mistakenly believes she's communicating with the brave world explorer Alex, that she's been reading about avidly in Rover's books, Alexandra/Alex for her part thinks she corresponding with Dad.

When Alex finally figures out that Nim is stranded on the island by herself, she's determined to pack her bags and go protect the child. But there's one little problem, Alex is a deeply neurotic borderline agoraphobic, basically fearful of everything, who hasn't left her house in 16 weeks. So her biggest problem in embarking on her journey to the far off Pacific island, is figuring out how to get past her front door.

So full of panic, she has to be literally flung from her safety nest by Alex Rover- the main character in her popular adventure stories (also played by Gerard Butler), her imaginary confidante, creative inspiration, conscience and emotional crutch.

Nim's Island is a wondrous and warmhearted adventure story with some nifty special effects and some first-rate performances. Go see it with your kids or even just to get a laugh, and remember to have fun!

21

Mom and I decided to see 21 this weekend. We had seen the previews and it looked like a fun movie.

Ben Campbell is attending MIT and has been accepted to Harvard Medical School. Unless granted a scholarship he learns that it will cost him $300,000 for tuition, room, and board and sees no possible way of paying the bill.

While studying one night, he is approached by Jason Fisher who invites him into the secret world of Professor Micky Rosa's (Kevin Spacey) card-counting club. With an elaborate system of formulas, buzzwords, and signals, Rosa and his students have been hitting Las Vegas on weekends and winning big. They now want Ben to join their clandestine cabal.

Ben's goal is simple and his motives pure: study the tricks of the trade and work hard enough to generate $300,000, enough to cover tuition and living expenses on the way to becoming Dr. Campbell, then get out.

His best-laid plans begin to sour when a daily diet of vectors and formulas segues into high-roller suites, fantasy clubs and the irresistible lure of teammate Jill Taylor.

There were some unbelievable things throughout the movie, but we enjoyed it.

We were entertained!