The Ghost Writer

— Saw "The Ghost Writer" last night. Really well written, acted, directed. The story's somewhat anti-American (and anti-Bush and anti-Blair), but I hope even those on the right can appreciate Polanski's filmmaking skill.

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[2010. 128 min. Directed Roman Polanski. Starring Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Williams, and Kim Cattrall.]

A Serious Man

— I finally watched "A Serious Man." I liked it a lot, but I need to reread Job and get a Jewish dictionary!

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[2009. 106 min. Directed Ethan Coen and Joel Coen. Starring Michael Stuhlbarg, Ricahrd Kind, and Sari Lennick.]

The Last Station

— I loved "The Last Station". Helen Mirren and Christopher Plumber are unbelievable. Definitely makes me want to know more about Tolstoy's last years to get a better feeling for what's truth and what's fiction. At its heart is a love story, of love evolving and changing but remaining, and its hard not to be captivated by that thread.

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[2009. 112 min. Directed Michael Hoffman. Starring Helen Mirren, James McAvoy, and Christopher Plummer.]

Waste Land

— "Waste Land" was absolutely wonderful on so many levels. I wish everyone could see it. Lucy Walker is my new hero!

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[2010. 99 min. Directed Lucy Walker, Karen Harley, and Joao Jardim. With Vik Muniz.]

The Red Chapel

— "The Red Chapel" was wonderful...much better than I'd hoped. Still evaluating my stamina for the day...

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[2009. 88 min. Directed Mads Brugger.]

Waking Sleeping Beauty

— Just saw "Waking Sleeping Beauty" and was fascinated. Q&A with Peter Schneider was great. It opens in NY, LA and Chicago later in March.

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[2009. 86 min. Directed Don Hahn. With Roy Edward Disney, John Lasseter, and Michael Eisner.]

The Hurt Locker

— Finally saw "The Hurt Locker". Wow! Really, really good. Felt more like a documentary than some documentaries I've seen. Very intimate story, unfolding at a perfect pace.

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[2008. 131 min. Directed Kathryn Bigelow. Starring Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Guy Pearce, and Ralph Fiennes.]

Crazy Heart

— After seeing "Crazy Heart", I now know what all the Jeff Bridges hubbub is about!

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[2009. 112 min. Directed Scott Cooper. Starring Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Colin Farrell.]