3:10 to Yuma

This remake of a spaghetti western is excellent. Christian Bale delivers a typically excellent performance as a down on his luck rancher. Russell Crowe also delivers a solid performance as the romantic bad guy.
The plot has all of the stock western elements. The pacing was a little slow in places, but overall excellent. The cinematography was also great.
It would have done much better had it not been released in the same year as No Country for Old Men and There Will be Blood. It was just of the same caliber.

There Will Be Blood

Daniel Day Lewis is an amazing actor. His portray of a megalomaniacal oil man is the best performance I've seen in years. It is up there with Philip Seymore Hoffman's Capote.
The long opening sequence with out dialog sets up the character perfectly.
The foil is well chosen and well played by a young actor.
The ending is brutally perfect.

Just see the movie!!

In the Valley of Ellah

In the Valley of Ellah is a political movie. Its catalyst is the horror of the Iraq war. At several points in the movie it states that what is happening in Iraq is worse than any previous war. It also hints that the military is more than willing to cover up bad behavior.
If this message is contrary to your politics, you will hate this movie.
If you can swallow the message, the movie has a lot to offer. Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron both put in solid performances. The pacing is excellent. The story is moving. The suspense is well maintained.
Jones plays a father trying to find out how his son is killed. He refuses to accept the easy answer offered up by the military and pushes Theron's character to investigate further. He does an excellent job of playing the regimented ex-MP. He is tough, but you can see the depth running bellow the surface.
Theron's single mom, run down, possibly sleeping with the boss, disrespected detective is well done. Theron seems to do her best work when she is playing a rundown everywoman. Perhaps we just give her a pass because that character is so far away from the scary hot reality that is Charlize Theron.

Michael Clayton

Goerge Clooney's '07 vehicle is a good suspense movie. The plot is tight, if predictable. The acting is solid, if average. The story is interesting, if uninspired.
Clayton struggles to decide between doing the right thing and doing what he is expected to do. He struggles to be better than the man he has become. The ending is Hollywood, but the struggle is there.

Eastern Standard

The group did an early dinner at Eastern Standard this weekend. After taking a cocktail class with the bartender, Joe and Mistress Hopington renewed the groups desire to attend this trendy downtown enclave of the "cafe class." Earlier attempts were frustrated by poor planning and lack of reservations. Only the tres chique get seats without reservations.
The atmosphere was excellent with bright, but subtle lighting, dark woods offset by white linens, and well appointed wait staff. Our waiter was charming, informed, and attentive without being too attentive. The presentation of the food and drink was pleasant.
All was not perfect however. The cocktail menu, while full of clever names and descriptions, was devoid of useful content. The waiter spent many minutes explaining what was in the drinks.
The drinks, once we figured out what was in them, were good.
The food was OK. I got the short rib entre and it was superb. The meat was juicy and melted in my mouth. I could have done without the grits, but if you like that sort of thing... Most of the others reported that the food was good, but not great.
Given the price, Eastern Standard is a disappointing dinner venue. For cocktails, it is great.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" is a visual interesting movie. Many of the scenes are shot from the point of view of the main character who has limited movement of his head and eye. This trick succeeds in conveying the issolation of the character. The use of flashbacks reinforces the tragidy by contrasting his current life with the vivaciousness left behind.
The performances are top notch. The ex-wife's pain and dedication are poignant. The father's performance, although brief, is one of the most touching I've seen.

Movie Physics

Why is it that science must always comment on the impossibility of movie magic? Does anyone really think that people can simply jump through space like a quantum particle? I don't, but it is a nice fantasy.
I just read an article that went through several movies and showed how, based on physics, they could never happen. I think the authors must be miserably lacking in imagination and hope. They feel crushed by the "Laws of Physics" and want us to be equally as crushed.
Maybe a man will never be faster than a speeding bullet, but maybe he can....