Trouble with the Curve

Another one that is exactly what you expect (fluffy), telegraphs every scene and is good if you like baseball.

Clint Eastwood plays his crusty self (Million Dollar Baby) and Amy Adams is Amy Adams (Enchanted). Justin Timberlake (The Social Network) is awkward - I'm not sure the big screen works for him (or I haven't seen him in the right role...). John Goodman (King Ralph) is also his grinning self.

Some nice little touches throughout (on the tombstone and also on the motel sign). I liked it and would see it again.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

I liked this movie very much, in spite of the critics. It is EXACTLY what you expect and you can see it all coming. I like Jennifer Garner (13 Going on 30) who plays her usual role. CJ Adams is suitably cute as the boy but Odeya Rush is excellent as his friend (both are new).

A pleasant surprise to me was Rosemarie DeWitt who wasn't really on my radar until I looked over her list of films. I thought she was very good in the excellent The Company Men. Here she plays an understated role (which is perhaps her 'lot' in Hollywood). And I don't remember seeing Lois Smith since Twister.

Beautifully shot with lots of fall colours which I love - enjoy it as it rolls over you. I'd see it again.

Hope Springs

We saw this movie a week ago and I'm still not sure what I think. The acting is excellent, as one would expect from the great Meryl Streep (Bridges of Madison County) and the also great Tommy Lee Jones (TV's Mickey Mouse Club, 1960's - 'c u real soon', but really The Fugitive). Steve Carell (Dan in Real Life) was okay. Brief cameo by Elizabeth Shue (The Saint) was nice, as I haven't seen much of her recently.

The theme, initially, is about the sex-life of two fifty- or sixty-somethings, which can be awkward. It turns into more than that, being a commentary on their marriage and relationship. And it's well done, I think.

I'm just not sure I'd like to see it again.

Robin Hood

This is somewhat of a hybrid prequel, made in 2010. Not sure I know the 'traditional' legend by heart but I think they've taken some liberties with the story.

Good performances by Russell Crowe (whom I'm starting to like a lot, see my review on A Good Year), Cate Blanchett (Lord of the Rings trilogy), William Hurt (The Big Chill), Max von Sydow (1970's films: Three Days of the Condor and The Exorcist), and Eileen Atkins (What a Girl Wants). Critics thought there wasn't enough action but Crowe - Blanchett's interaction is fun to watch. And I liked the subtext of a coming Magna Carta (a very important 800 year old document in our western democratic legal system... but I digress).

A good rental that I would watch again.

One Week

Thirty something friends recommended this 2010 film. It is a young man's introspective look at life in general after receiving bad news about his health. Not content to head for treatment immediately, he decides to travel by motorcycle from Toronto to Tofino, Vancouver Island. It's a great travelogue for Canadians, not sure if you can find it outside of Canada.

Canadian Joshua Jackson (Oceans Eleven and... wait for it... The Mighty Ducks!)(picture here by Gage Skidmore) gives a suitably brooding performance. Interesting if you're looking back on your life or want to see parts of Canada.