Dallas Buyers Club 3.5 Stars

This is a very good, tough film to watch. It is long (nearly 2 hours) and is a story about AIDS and HIV in the 1980's.

The acting is excellent: Matthew McConaughey has 'upped his game' (and is realizing the potential shown in Contact); Jennifer Garner (The Odd Life of Timothy Green) plays her usual role; but it is Jared Leto (who apparently was in The American Quilt) who is absolutely spectacular. His performance is wide-ranging and riveting and the movie is much stronger because of him.

There is a scene in a grocery store that epitomizes the attitudes of the '80's that I believe society still holds today. While the Academy rewarded Tom Hanks in Philadelphia 20 years ago, I'd be surprised if it did so in 2014.

Nevertheless, I highly recommend this movie.

The Monument Men 2 Stars

Well, this is as the critics say - too long (112 min and could be 96 min easily) and not focused.

Interesting story but the script fails to do it justice. Enjoyable acting by Matt Damon (The Adjustment Bureau), George Clooney (Gravity), John Goodman (Argo), Cate Blanchett (Robin Hood), and Bill Murray (Ground Hog Day).

Enjoyable rental.

Oldies

Saw four oldies that I recommend:

African Queen (1952) with Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. Excellent acting. Drags a little but worth seeing. 3.5*
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) with Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman and Burl Ives. Again, excellent acting and great dialogue. I've decided Scarlett Johannson has Taylor's pouty lips. 4*
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) with Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn and Sidney Poitier. Excellent acting, still relevant today. Apparently Tracy died about 10 days after completion. 3.5*
Big Chill (1983). Great cast including Glenn Close and Kevin Kline. Very introspective for 30-somethings at that time, great soundtrack. Saw this in the theatre (which is always better). 3*

Philip Seymour Hoffman

I admired Philip Seymour Hoffman's work and talent immensely. I saw him in Twister, Pirate Radio, Patch Adams, Charlie Wilson's War, Moneyball, The Ides of March, and Hunger Games 2 (and I expect in 3 & 4?).

I thought he played his characters believably well and often with an 'edginess'. In some ways he was similar to Meryl Streep - very versatile and you could always rely on seeing a quality performance.

That he succumbed to an addiction, even after being 'clean' for more than two decades, shows the crippling and ever lingering power of addictions.

My thoughts are with his wife and young family. We shall miss him on the screen.

Saving Mr. Banks, 3 Stars

This is an uneven film. Some parts are very good, others are not. And it's too long and drags in places.

It's not a spoiler to say that the story jumps around from the present day (1961) to P. L. Travers past as she reminisces on her childhood. These flashbacks are what 'make' the movie - they are beautifully shot with a compelling story.  Colin Farrell (whom I have not seen previously) is very good as P. L's father. Annie Rose Buckley (new to the screen) plays a young P. L. nicknamed 'Ginty' and is very credible. And Ruth Wilson (whom I also have not seen) is effective as the mother (and one wishes had a larger role).

Emma Thompson (Sense and Sensibility) and Tom Hanks (Cast Away) give stilted performances (deliberately?). Paul Giamatti (The Truman Show), who I appreciate for his skill but I cannot warm to, is very good.

In spite of this, I would see this again, to drink in the flashbacks, enjoy the music, and to see if the film grows on me the second time.