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Starring: Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Kim Raver, Owen Wilson, Carla Gugino, Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, Bill Cobbs, Jake Cherry.

Director: Shawn Levy

I am not Ben Stiller’s biggest fan. His stuff is generally too silly for me. This was a monster hit upon release, and I found it to be better than his usual fare. This is an original idea and allows for a full,fast moving feature.

Ben Stiller is Larry Daley, an unsuccessful inventor who has to find a job or risk losing custody of his son. He is given a night watchman job at the local museum, by security head, Cecil (Dick Van Dyke) but it turns out to be a little more than he bargained for when he discovers that everything in the museum comes to life after hours, including a T-Rex skeleton, hundreds of little miniature soldiers of different eras, and, of course, Teddy Roosevelt, played by Robin Williams! There is limitless material here and it gets thrown at the viewer fast and furious. All of this makes for alot of out-of-control action without enough humour or story to back it up.

Stiller fans (and there are plenty of them) will appreciate this effort. Kids and action fans will enjoy for the high-energy lark that it is.

Director: Henry Selick

Starring: Chris Sarandon, Danny Elfman, Catherine O’Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix, Paul Reubens, Ken Page.

Now, Tim Burton has more fans than the New York Rangers. I know this and I know that most of them love this clever, animated musical with a simple story set in a wonderfully, unique world. So, I guess Mr. Burton will be fine without my support. I didn’t like the dark, offbeat look of this film, nor did I enjoy the operatic, musical style and the childish, fable-style story did not hold my interest.

Jack Skellington, the King of Halloween Town, sets out on walk on one restless day and discovers Christmas Town. Enthralled and excited by this new idea, he sets out to create Christmas in Halloween Town. He finds supporters and resistors, but when he decides to have Santa Claus kidnapped to help his understanding of this special day, soon things get out of control and go to pieces on him.

I understand and appreciate that many people adore this effort as one of their favorite films, but I can’t share their opinions. Perhaps my sense of wonder and playful imaginativeness was beaten out of me as a child, but while, I recognize, and appreciate, the fine craftsmanship and creativity that went into making this much beloved feature, it holds no appeal for me. Now, please stop booing and throwing things.

Starring: Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, Andrew Simpson, Bill Nighy

Director: Richard Eyre

The Academy nominated this edgy drama for four Oscars, but didn’t see fit to give it any. I was very impressed by this film and thought Dench and screenwriters Marber and Heller deserved statuettes for their mantelpieces from this quality work.

Judi Dench is Barbara Covett, a lonely, older teacher living a life of isolation who becomes infatuated with a lovely new teacher, Sheba Hart, played by Cate Blanchett. When Covett discovers that Hart is having an affair with one of her students, she uses this information to manipulate the younger woman. This relationship develops in unusual ways, but I will say no more than that.

This is a top notch drama that is well worth viewing for those who don’t need narrowly-escaped explosions and poorly-aimed enemy gunfire for their cinematic enjoyment.

Starring: Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand, Sissy Spacek, Woody Harrelson

Director: Niki Caro

Charlize Therron is becoming an almost spooky kind of Michelle Pfeiffer clone. Besides a physical resemblance, she is now getting all the kinds of roles that Pfeiffer once did. But joking aside, Therron is developing into an excellent, and versatile, actress.
This drama tells the story of an important case in the battle against sexual harassment in the workplace. Theron plays Josey Aimes, a single mother who takes a job in a male-dominated iron mine. Josey’s life has all kinds of challenges already as she deals with her non-supportive father and her own confused children. The last thing she needs is the harassment that she and her fellow female miners face at every turn. This is an awful work situation but the story keeps an authentic feel by not going too far. There is a star-studded cast here playing well-developed characters, and they don’t disappoint, but the price of this is that too many subplots interfere with the movie’s main story.
The acting is rock solid throughout this movie, but, the pacing is too slow and the script lacks the punch that we often look for in a true story. This is a good movie, but not a great one. Drama fans and those with an interest in the subject matter will find it to their taste. Others may find it too slow and dry.

Director: Joel Schumacher

Starring: Jim Carrey, Virginia Madsen, Logan Lerman, Danny Huston, Rhona Mitra, Lynn Collins, Mark Pellegrino

Jim Carrey didn’t give us too many chuckles in this relentlessly dark and creepy thriller. The story is plodding, but engaging and the performances are fine. The first half has extensive narration and is reminiscent of American Psycho in that regard. The comparison ends there, however, since this feature has none of the dark, over-the-top humor of the latter. The look is often surreal, and there is no color used that is brighter than blood red.

Jim Carrey is Walter Sparrow, an animal control officer who is given a used gift as a birthday gift by his wife, Agatha (Virginia Madsen). The name of the book is 23 and the writer, whose story we see acted out through Walter’s eyes, is obsessed with coincidences around the number 23. This leads to some horrifying moments for the book’s hero and soon Walter is also seeing the number 23 everywhere. I glanced at the digital clock nearby and luckily the digits didn’t add up to 23 in any way that my little brain could come up with before my ADD kicked in and sent me to the kitchen for a snack. Whew, that was close. Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, the movie! So, from here, Walter becomes equally obsessed with the number 23 and the author of the book and begins investigations, as his wife and son look on with some concern.

I enjoy thrillers that are well thought out and executed, so this is right up my alley. If you enjoyed features like Frailty and Stir of Echoes, then this will be to your taste. Some will find it too slow and dark and will lose interest before the overly long ending begins. The movie was out of the theater before ticket buyers could get to their seats with popcorn and it didn’t deserve a fate like that. It is a well-done thriller and if you enjoy the genre, then this should make good viewing, but if you are more discriminating, there are better choices out there.