Elizabeth I/ 2005/biographical drama/HBO miniseries.
Helen Mirren has a strong portrayal of the queen who spent her entire life serving the English people. The miniseries covers the later half of her reign, mostly the incident with Mary Queen of Scots and the difficulties with Spain. Jeremy Irons is Earl of Leicester a close confidant and friend.
The [...]
The Pursuit of Happiness/2006/Drama/Biography.
This movie is based on a difficult time in the life Chris Gardner; Will Smith, who was struggling to make a living as in medical equipment sales. It documents the year or so that he tries to turn his life around and become an investment broker.
His son Jaden Smith is his son [...]
The Aviator, 2004, drama/biographical.
The bio-sketch of Howard Hughes depicting the genius and insanity of the wealthy businessman.
This was an interesting, but long movie touching on the business dealings and loves of Hughes as he fights to maintain these plus his sanity. I thought this was DiCaprio’s strongest performance and one of his best films.
This movie [...]
The Queen/2006/birography/drama.
This movie is a recap of the days following the death of Princess Diana up to her funeral. It depicts the conflicts in the Royal Family as how to handle the surge of public love and mourning.
The Queen played by Helen Mirren and her family, Prince Phillip played by James Cromwell are vested in [...]
Eleanor & Franklin: The White House Years, 1976, Historical Drama based on the book by Joseph P. Lash.
I don’t know how accurate the movie was historically, but it was an interesting look at the lives of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt from his time in the White House. There were flashbacks to earlier times throughout the [...]
Babel/2206/drama.
The story of four families from different countries and how their lives touch.
Three of the four families plots are given in subtitles. Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett play the English speaking family. I have to admit I only got through 45 minutes of this movie and couldn’t watch anymore.
I should have known I wouldn’t like [...]
Freedom Writers, 2007/ Drama starring Hilary Swank as Erin Gruwell, Patrick Dempsey stars as her husband Scott Casey, and her father is played by Scott Glenn.
Following in the steps of “To Sir With Love”, “Stand and Deliver”, and the “Gridiron Gang”, this movie is the hope filled story of a teacher who has the desire [...]
Alpha Dog is coming to DVD on May 1st!
This movie was a big surprise. Very interesting especially knowing that the movie was based on true events surrounding the life of Jesse James Hollywood. The acting was much better than expected, and writer/director Nick Cassavetes (The Notebook) does an outstanding job in bringing this story to [...]
My Father, The Genius is a documentary that has a different feel to it.
When estranged father, dreamer, and visionary architect Glen Howard Small bequeaths his daughter the task of writing his biography, she answers instead with a provocative film about his precarious career and thorny private life. At 31, Glen Small, founder and faculty member [...]
Flags of Our Fathers, 2006, historical/drama/action. Ryan Phillippe is “Doc” Bradley one of the three men the movie is based around. The other two Jesse Bradford of “Swimfan” plays Rene Gaynor and Adam Beach of “Windtalkers” plays Ira Hayes.
The three men a pivotal in the flag raising during the Battle of Iwo Jima in WWII. [...]