Ladykillers

To say that I am a Coen brothers fan is not nearly enough. I've seen all the movies, own all the DVDs and have collected most of the original posters and trailers. I've read Ethan Coen's book and I threw a Big Lebowski-themed party for New Years Eve.* In other words, I think the Coens are some of the most talented filmmakers working today.

What I like most about their films is the dazzling originality. Whether it's a shot from the inside of a bowling ball, or a man meeting making his unfortunate end in a wood chipper, I look forward to a truly unique experience in each film. But what happens when their latest film is a remake?

The original Ladykillers was set in England and starred Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers. Joel and Ethan have relocated the story to modern day Mississippi and assigned Guinness' role as the group's leader to Tom Hanks. The plot remains ess...Read the entire review

Big Fish

Once upon a time there was an amazing man who told fascinating stories that delighted everyone who heard them. The stories were populated with bizarre and wonderful characters who were impossibly strange yet described with such clarity you could almost believe they were real. One day, this man made a film called Mars Attacks! and everyone questioned his sanity. Then he did a re-make of Planet of the Apes and all the people who had loved him for many years began to wonder if he had lost his touch.

Tim Burton's latest film, Big Fish is neither a return to the genius of his films from the late 80's/ early 90's, nor is it as disappointing as Apes or Sleepy Hollow. Big Fish brings the audience a kinder, gentler Burton who delivers his usual spectacle in a warm and fuzzy way. It is entertaining from start to finish, but may leave longtime...Read the entire review

Peter Pan

A search on IMDB for "Peter Pan" brings up nine distinct films, and that doesn't include Hook. While the Mary Martin version will always be the standard for me, this new version is a worthwhile update for kids who have never seen Peter Pan. If you're the sort of parent who loves their children and wants their child to live a life free of terror, disease and musicals, then by all means take them to see Peter Pan this holiday season. If you don't have kids, don't bother with this film. The best of the special effects were shown in the trailer and the actor who plays Pan is abominable. He's Hayden Christensen bad.

The film follows the basic Peter Pan story. Little Wendy Darling, age twelve is faced with the horrific prospect of growing up. The night before she is to be turned over to her aunt for training in how to be a proper young lady, Wendy and her brothe...Read the entire review

Paycheck

If I taught a class on acting, I would take them to see Paycheck because it clearly illustrates how an otherwise interesting movie can fail based on a bad performance by the lead actor. The premise of Paycheck is great, and this movie could have been a quasi-comeback for director John Woo if he had a better star and a better script. Instead, we get Ben Affleck looking completely awkward as he battles bad guys with a stick, and Uma Thurman slugging through horrible dialogue about second chances. You can almost see her suppressing her gag reflex.

The plot of Paycheck bears some resemblance to Total Recall, and though you may be saying, "Wait! Arnold Schwartzenegger is a terrible actor too!" I'd like to point out that Arnold at least looks the part of an action hero and is a bad actor in an interesting sort of way. Arnold actually punches up the...Read the entire review

Cold Mountain

Considering the source material (a national book award winner) and the genre (quest for love), Cold Mountain should have been a slam dunk. Instead, the conceit of the filmmakers and lack of chemistry between the main characters has resulted in a laborious film that is more fartsy than artsy.

The basic story is simple. In the small town of Cold Mountain North Carolina, live a hardworking young man named Inman and a pampered young beauty named Ada. After exchanging a few furtive glances and one awkward kiss, Inman gets shipped off to fight for The South in the civil war. Four years later, after being shot in the neck, Inman decides to quit the war and return home to Ada. Though the fighting is nearly over, Inman is technically a deserter and subject to punishment if he is caught by the Home Guard. Inman's journey back to Cold Mountain constitutes the major...Read the entire review

Fog of War

The latest film from documentarian Errol Morris is, without question, the most important film of the year. While there are other films that are more entertaining, The Fog of War is hands-down the most fascinating and most compelling. Even if you're not a history buff, even if you don't know anything about the military or the history of war, it doesn't matter, The Fog of War is just that interesting of a film. Anyone who considers themselves to be an intelligent person should see this film, and share its messages with those who pride themselves on their stupidity.

Though the film is broken into eleven "lessons" from McNamara such as, "Rationality will not save us," and, "Never say never," Fog of War essentially chronicles the major events of McNamara's career from the firebombing of Japan to his work with Ford to his participation in the Vietnam war under pr...Read the entire review

Return of the King

"The board is set and the pieces are moving,"
-Gandalf

Best. Epic. Ever.

It was with mixed emotion that I sat down to view Return of the King. Feelings of great anticipation and excitement were interrupted by feelings of sadness and loss: What will I have to look forward to next December? Is this the last good film that my longtime favorite director Peter Jackson is ever going to make? But the moment the title card appeared on screen I knew I was about to have the best movie experiences I've had in a long time. Unlike every other third film in an epic series I can think of, Return of the King lives up to the quality and intensity of its predecessors and delivers a satisfying conclusion to its epic story.

It is essential to have seen The Two Towers at some point in order to understand and enjoy Return of the King. The f...Read the entire review

Mona Lisa Smile

What would Julia Roberts be like if she lived in the 1950's? Well, for one thing, her name would be Katherine Watson and she'd be an art history professor. But by and large, she'd be the exact same Julia with the charming smile, and everyone she meets will eventually fall in love with her.

Yes, it's true, Mona Lisa Smile is a rubber stamp role for Julia Roberts, but I'm going to stick my neck out here and actually recommend this picture. It's not a perfect film, it's formulaic, and it's a film that lesser critics would call a "chick flick." What makes me recommend Mona Lisa Smile is the characters. The film presents a group of strong, intelligent, multi-dimensional female characters and that is something I can get behind in a big way.

It's all-too-easy to accuse Mona Lisa Smile of being a female version of Dead Poet's Society and the...Read the entire review

Stuck on You

Stuck on You isn't the funniest Farrelly Brothers movie ever, not by a long shot. It's not the worst either, I guess I should say it's the...cutest? Stuck on You is a genuinely nice film about brotherhood and family.

Bob and Walt Tenor are conjoined twins who have spent the entire thirty-two years of their lives on Martha's Vineyard. They are the best of friends and have sworn to be together forever. The pair work at the Quickee Burger as the fastest fry cook(s) the world has ever seen and seem to lead a very happy life unhindered by what some would consider a disability. Their future seems set, until one day, Walt expresses a desire to move to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career. Bob, not wanting to hold Walt back, agrees to make the move.

Though Bob and Walt are twins, their personalities are quite different. Walt is outgoing and gregarious, b...Read the entire review

Girl with a Pearl Earring

Scarlett Johansson knocks my socks off, but her latest film does not. Her performance in Girl with a Pearl Earring is excellent, as always, but Johansson's character, Griet, is nowhere near as interesting as Charlotte from Lost in Translation. Additionally, Girl with a Pearl Earring fails to live up to the ad campaign's claim that it is a sizzling drama about forbidden passion. In truth, the sparks are few and far between.

I suspect that those who have read the novel Girl with a Pearl Earring is based on will enjoy this film ten times more than everyone else. Novels have a way of providing many emotional details which were simply reduced to gestures in the film. If you haven't read the novel, and you're not a devout follower of Scarlett Johansson's film career, I recommend passing on Girl with a Pearl Earring entirely.

I...Read the entire review

Honey

I saw Glitter, and I saw Crossroads, so, I figured seeing Honey would complete the trilogy. Unfortunately, Honey did not live up to the "so bad it's good" non-standards of its predecessors.

For one thing, Jessica Alba is too darn cute and likeable. For my money, I want at least one good tantrum scene with streaming mascara.

Alas, the film is as sweet and pure as its namesake. Honey is a well-mannered and hard-working New York girl who dreams of becoming a dancer in a music video. Her dreams are realized with unconvincing speed when she is "discovered" by a video director named Michael Ellis. With Michael's success she skyrockets to success, but soon is forced to decide between her personal ethics and her dream.

Once Honey begins her music video career, the next half hour is no different than an MTV video block. Honey appears videos for hip ho...Read the entire review

The Barbarian Invasions

I was lucky enough to attend a screening of Barbarian Invasions where writer/ director Denys Arcand was present. His looks reminded me of a younger John Hurt and his demeanor was that of a wise college professor. His film is a quiet work of art that will continue to sneak into your thoughts in the days after you see it.

There are so many aspects of Barbarian Invasions that might wrongfully scare people away from seeing it. First of all, the title, "Barbarian Invasions." It brings to mind a mob of people dressed in animal skins destroying a city, and the film couldn't be more different. Barbarian Invasions has more in common with a Michael Winterbottom film than a Michael Bay one.

Then there's the subject matter of the film: a dying man brings together his friends, family and former lovers for one last goodbye. It sounds depressing, but I...Read the entire review

In America

Based on experiences from writer/ director Jim Sheridan's own immigration experience, In America is a hallmark card of a film. It is sincere, emotional, and deeply affecting without ever being depressing.

In the opening moments of the film we are introduced to Johnny, Sarah and their two daughters: pensive Christy and chatty Ariel. As the family approaches the border to the U.S. it is revealed that the family is light one member, a little boy named Frankie who passed away. Christy, the narrator of the film, informs us that Frankie has bestowed upon her three wishes. She uses her first wish to get the family through the border crossing and on their way to New York City. The film is supposed to be set in the present day, however, music such as The Byrds, "Turn, Turn, Turn" and other cultural references remind the audience that this story is based on real events from Sher...Read the entire review

The Missing

What elements really make a western? A setting somewhere west of the Mississippi river, of course. A cast that includes cowboys, Indians, and a mysterious stranger. Shootouts, chases across the desert, ineffective law enforcement, and some kind of female in danger. I think that's about everything. The Missing has all of these elements in spades but it didn't really feel like a western to me. Despite being, basically, a feminist, pro-Nartive American take on The Searchers the film lacked grit. I'm not saying The Missing is a bad movie, it just wasn't a western in the way I usually think of westerns. It's more like all the ingredients of a western poured into the Ron Howard formula.

In 19th century New Mexico, Maggie Gilkeson lives on a ranch with her two daughters and a hired man. The hired man is not her husband, but he performs h...Read the entire review

21 Grams

21 Grams is the story of three lives linked by death. Told in a circuitous way (the scenes are not arranged chronologically), the film allows the viewer to experience the disorientation of the three main characters as they cope with the aftermath of a hit and run car accident. Intense, dark, and powered by three fantastic performances, 21 Grams is one more step towards greatness for director Alejandro González Iñárritu.

I have mixed feelings about Iñárritu. I thought Amores Perros was an outstanding debut film, but I don't think the director cared about his characters and the film lacked a definitive message or thesis. After seeing Iñárritu's appalling contribution to the 11'09'01' shorts, I was convinced he was one of the most callous, immature filmmakers I had ever been exposed to (his short was nothing more than long stretches of black in...Read the entire review

Timeline

Timeline is based on the novel by Michael Crichton and, in terms of quality, it is on par with The 13th Warrior and Jurassic Park 3. In other words, it bites. The writers of Timeline are just about as clueless as the film's star Paul Walker. The story is full of holes and completely butchers the novel it was originally based upon. Time travel is a great topic for a film, but when it goes wrong, it goes terribly wrong.

In present day France, two young archeologists discover a chamber which hasn't been opened in over 600 years. Inside the chamber they make a startling find: a lens from a pair of eyeglasses (which the film incorrectly claims hadn't been invented in 1400), as well as a note signed by their present day professor. When the professor turns up missing, the archeologists and the professor's son demand answers from ITC, the corporation spons...Read the entire review

The Cat in the Hat

Children's movies are a toughie. I want all of them to be as good as Harry Potter or Finding Nemo: full of wonderment for both kids and adults, but so many of them are just completely trite. The Cat in the Hat is unfortunately more of the same. It's uninspiring and fairly banal especially when compared to the children's films back when I was a kid (The Neverending Story, The Last Unicorn, The Dark Crystal, etc.). Compared to these films, The Cat in the Hat plays like an episode of any Saturday morning cartoon show stretched out to fill an 80 minute runtime. Sure, everyone says "Back when I was a kid, things were better." Truly though, things were better.

With films like The Cat in the Hat, brightly-colored sets and CG designs take the place of a good story and the film feels kind of empty (see also Read the entire review

Bad Santa

When I first learned that Bad Santa was produced by the Coen Brothers, and directed by Terry Zwigoff, my exact thoughts were, "This could be a great movie as long as it doesn't end with all the characters learning the true meaning of Christmas."

Well, my cynical friends, let nothing you dismay. The more you hate Christmas, the more you will enjoy this film.

From the opening sequence where our anti-hero Willie pisses himself while posing as Old St. Nick, it is quite clear that Bad Santa has more in common with Shakes the Clown than Elf. At one point, after a young boy describes his hopes for a Christmas gift, Willie advises the child to "wish in one hand and s#*t in the other and see which one fills up first." Rare moments where Bad Santa tries to show a little compassion are bracketed by alcohol abuse, swearing and generally crude behavior.

The...Read the entire review

TuPac Resurrection

TuPac Resurrection tells TuPac's life story from birth through his murder in 1996. To call it a "Behind the Music" style documentary wouldn't exactly be correct because the film isn't particularly objective. As the tagline says, the film is "TuPac, in his own words." Using interviews from sources such as MTV and The Arsenio Hall show, TuPac's home movies and family photographs, the film creates a portrait of a young man who had a tough life but truly wanted to make life better for people from poor communities. TuPac Resurrection is unlikely to interest someone who has no familiarity with TuPac Shakur, but it's worth a matinee admission or rental for a fan or someone with a slight amount of curiosity.

I only knew a little bit about TuPac going into the film and while I wouldn't consider myself a big fan, I certainly recognize that TuPac was a talented indi...Read the entire review

Love, Actually

Followers of The Aisle View know my feelings on romantic comedies: I loathe them. But for some reason, Love, Actually did not make me want to vomit like all the others.

Typically, when viewing a romantic comedy, the predictable scenarios and contrived dialogue make me feel like my soul is being sucked from my corporeal body. Love, Actually opens with scenes of people hugging and I began to mentally compose my will; but after the first ten minutes, the film began to win me over.

With no fewer than twelve different stories of love and relationships, Love, Actually doesn't have time for redundant jokes or insipid smarminess. The writing is very smart and it sparkles with tongue-in-cheek creativity. In the first scene of the actual film, Bill Nighly grudgingly records a Christmas-themed cover of ...Read the entire review

Master and Commander

Am I alone in thinking that Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is just about the worst movie title this year? The film itself isn't bad, but it's not the Oscar contender the studios would like it to be.

Master and Commander is based on one novel in a series of twenty books written by Patrick O'Brian. Master and Commander is the name of the first book in the series, and The Far Side of the World is the name of one of the later books. But what's wrong with The Far Side of the World by itself? I know! It doesn't imply a franchise.

The studios responsible for releasing Master and Commander originally had it slated for a summer release but reconsidered at the last minute. It's a good thing too because between Pirates of the Caribbean and a dozen other wall-to-wall action films, Master and Commander...Read the entire review

Matrix Revolutions

Since The Matrix phenomenon first took off, the Wachowski Brothers have sworn up and down that they always planned The Matrix as a trilogy. Revolutions proves that they were either a) fudging the truth or b) they are not very good at planning.

Okay, so, Reloaded and Revolutions were originally supposed to be one movie. But even if there is, god forbid, a third/ fourth movie in the works, Revolutions makes it clear the Wachowski's brains have been pumped dry of ideas.

The level of incoherent mumbo-jumbo in Revolutions is astonishing. It reminded me of high school when I tried to answer a test question on material I hadn't studied. If I were to grade the script of Revolutions I'd give it a big, fat F with a note in red ink that says, "Vague answers and incoherent responses don't fool anyone."

So, the script tota...Read the entire review

Elephant

Winner of both the coveted Palm D'or and the Best Director award at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival this spring, Elephant has been drumming up controversy ever since. Critics have accused Van Sant of taking an irresponsible stance on school shootings by neither explaining nor condemning the actions of the killers in Elephant. I find these critics to be wrong on both counts. For one thing, I don't need a film to tell me that kids shooting other kids isn't right. Moreover, even if Van Sant had chosen to put the blame on someone (parents, the gun industry, video games) he would be in almost exactly the same situation. So good for Gus for choosing to make a film that inspires open dialogue instead of self-serving debate.

Elephant suggests a few influences on the killers' behavior. The boys play a Doom-esque video game, watch a film about Hitler and...Read the entire review

In the Cut

I have just about had it with these arthouse films starring A-list actors that are more fartsy than artsy. Just because an actress dies her hair brown and shows her breasts does not make her able to handle a complex role. It didn't work for Nicole in Human Stain and it doesn't work for Meg Ryan in In the Cut.

I don't have a problem with brown hair or breasts (I love foreign film which happens to have both of these items in spades). Nor do I have a problem with Nicole Kidman or Meg Ryan. What I do have a problem with is the idea that filmmakers are under the impression that we as audience members will be so titillated by the shot of boobies that we lose our ability to know a crap film when we see one.

In the Cut was so bad that, had I not been a professional film reviewer, I would have walked out. It's as though Campion was drunk when she wrote the scrip...Read the entire review

The Human Stain

It's that time of year again. The time when arthouse cinemas across the nation stink to high heaven with A-list actors doing the Oscar dance in cinematic garbage.

The novel The Human Stain is based on was described as "un-filmable." Which, of course, means someone had to make a film out of it. Disorganized, badly written and poorly cast, I can only hope this film hobbles away quickly in order to make room for something better.

The film opens with a car accident and then goes back in time to explain the events which lead up to the crash. The scene manages to rip off both The English Patient and The Sweet Hereafter and that was just the beginning of 106 minutes of blatant and disgusting Oscar pandering.

Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins plays a college professor named Coleman Silk. After being fired from his position as dean of a Massachusetts college...Read the entire review

Alien

I think it's only fair to say, upfront, that I love Alien. I've seen it at least a dozen times and even though I know what's coming, I still get a little fright every time. I should also warn you that in order to discuss the new footage, I have to reveal some plot elements of act three, in other words, this review contains spoilers.

I was a little concerned when I heard about the "digitally enhanced re-release" of Alien. In my opinion, the film works really, really well as-is. What if they put it a crappy CG Alien? What if they digitally replace the crew member's flame throwers with walkie-talkies? What if I have to sit through a boring plantation sequence?!?! Lucky for me and thousands of other Alien fans, the "director's cut" is almost indistinguishable from the version released in 1979. Even the running time is virtually the same.

Here's a brief plot...Read the entire review

Scary Movie 3

After the abysmal Scary Movie 2 the original creators, the Wayans brothers, jumped ship. The crew to replace them includes the director/ writer of the Naked Gun films and Airplane! as well as Kevin Smith. While 3 is much funnier than 2 it is not quite as funny or clever as the original Scary Movie.

The delightful Anna Faris returns as Cindy Campbell. A Naomi Watts-esque news anchor in Washington D.C., Cindy is responsible for looking after her pale nephew Cody who spews prophecies at everyone he sees. One night, she attends an MC contest with her friend Brenda. After the show, Brenda tells Cindy about a video tape that kills the viewer seven days after they see it. While Cindy is in the other room, Brenda scuffles with the creepy girl from The Ring video and eventually dies. Cindy is alarmed by the event and wonders if it could ...Read the entire review

Beyond Borders

There is a fine line to be walked when it comes to a politically-themed dramatic film. On the one hand, the filmmakers have made the admirable decision to educate as well as entertain, but they can't beat the audience to death with the injustices of the world. So, the writer will often throw in a love story and use the political situation as a kind of backdrop. At this point, they run the risk of creating the film with two brains that will ultimately destroy itself.
...welcome to Beyond Borders.

Angelina Jolie plays Sarah, the wife of a wealthy Englishman. After an impassioned political demonstration, she is inspired to pursue relief work as a career. She travels to Africa where she meets a doctor named Nick Callahan (played by Clive Owen). Nick ridicules Sarah and calls her naïve, but her determination only grows. She returns to England and eventually assu...Read the entire review

Pieces of April

In a movie-going world filled with star vehicles and directors doing crap films for the paycheck, Pieces of April shines through as an indie gem made with a shoestring budget and a lot of heart.

Pieces of April is the directorial debut of screenwriter Peter Hedges. In addition to directing, Hedges penned the script. Though Pieces of April does not outshine his previous writing efforts (About A Boy and What's Eating Gilbert Grape?), it wins huge points for its sincerity.

April is the self-described "first pancake" (the one you throw out) in her family. After a rocky adolescence, 20-something April decides to make good with "the fam" by inviting the straight-laced group for Thanksgiving dinner at her Manhattan apartment. Reluctantly, the family agrees to her invitation and the film begins on Thanksgiving morning.

As Mom, Dad, brothe...Read the entire review

Bubba Ho-Tep

Recipe for a cult film:

Start with a main character who appears to be a total loser, but is actually a cool guy with an arsenal of catchy one-liners. Step Two: assign the main character the task of saving humankind as we know it. Throw in a some kind of supernatural element and at least one supporting character who is completely insane and, Voila! In the case of Bubba Ho-Tep, our loveable loser is a septuagenarian Elvis fighting an angry mummy with the help of his buddy J. F. K.

It turns out the real Elvis didn't die 26 years ago. Tired of fame and lonesome for his family, the real Elvis switched places with an Elvis impersonator named Sebastian Haff. Unfortunately, before Haff and the real Elvis could switch back, Haff died. So the real Elvis, posing as Sebastian Haff, carried out the rest of his days as a nobody and eventually landed in a rest home in Texas.

...Read the entire review

Runaway Jury

The good thing about a movie based on a John Grisham novel is that it's pretty much guaranteed to be interesting. There are always plenty of twists and turns and as long as the filmmakers don't try anything too fancy, the film is a slam-dunk. This is exactly the case with Runaway Jury. There is plenty of stuff to keep you interested, not one dull scene, and the film's subject matter (gun control) provides plenty of fodder for a post-film discussion. Moreover, the story seems like it could actually happen.

Runaway Jury is based around a fictional civil case of a widow suing the manufacturer of the gun that killed her husband. She alleges that the manufacturer was negligent in their marketing and distribution policy and is seeking damages in the millions of dollars. The outcome of the case is important to the gun manufacturers who are concerned that, if they los...Read the entire review

Kill Bill

Kill Bill is about two things: blood-soaked action and cinematic style. No quasi-profound plot, no fancy dialogue, just check your kids at the door.

The story is very simple. A group of five assassins crash a wedding party and kill everyone... or so they think. One person, The Bride, survives. After four years in a coma, The Bride picks up some cutlery and seeks revenge.

First let's talk about the action. Kill Bill is an homage to the Kung Fu films Tarantino loves so very much. The hours he spent as a chump working at a video store really pay off in this film (and I hope I can one day say the same about my hours in the projection booth). Assisting Tarantino with the action scenes are: fight choreographer Yuen Wo Ping who also worked on Crouching Tiger and the Matrix films, and veteran Samurai film actor Sonny Chiba (Chiba also appears in f...Read the entire review

Wonderland

Wonderland is self-described as, "The story of what happened once the legend was over." The legend is porn star John C. Holmes and what happened is the brutal murder of four people on Wonderland Avenue in 1982. Was Holmes involved? No one knows. In a Rashomon-like fashion, Wonderland presents three different accounts of the events surrounding the killings and invites the audience to draw their own conclusions.

From the very beginning Wonderland is mediocre and it never really vacillates. Writer/ Director James Cox seemed to be trying so hard to NOT make Boogie Nights that he overlooks some important aspects of filmmaking like: ADR and story arc. There are significant moments in this film where I had no idea what was going on because I could barely see the characters and I couldn't understand their mumbled dialogue at all. When the film was...Read the entire review

School of Rock

Dewey Finn is a down-and-out aspiring rockstar who is having the worst day of his life. First his roommate Ned threatens him with eviction if he doesn't pay rent, then he is kicked out of his own band. But everything changes with just one phone call. Dewey, impersonating his roommate Ned, accepts a position as a substitute teacher.

His pupils turn out to be a class of 5th graders at Horrace Green elementary, the top school in the state. The class is full of overachievers who are more interested in math and history than all-day recess. When the kids fail to be inspired by Dewey's lecture on "The Man," and grouse that they aren't receiving an education in return for the pricey tuition, it seems Dewey's scam will soon be revealed. Luckily, the class turns out to be full of musical prodigies.

Under the pretenses of a "state-wide band competition," Dewey assembles the kids...Read the entire review

Casa de Los Babys

As with nearly every Sayles film, Casa de Los Babys is simply a snapshot of a short period in the broad lives of its characters. The audience arrives in the middle of the story lingers for awhile, and then the characters depart. With his latest film, Sayles drops his audience off at the "Casa de los Babys," a hotel where six Caucasian women wait to adopt a Mexican baby.

Each woman has decided on adoption for a different reason, and each one has a different opinion on children and parenting. Some would clearly make better mothers than others, but Sayles leaves that up to the audience to decide.

The back story of each woman is revealed a little at a time, and though no one character is given more than ten minutes to explain herself, Sayles' group of actresses do an outstanding job of distinctly defining their characters. Nan (Marcia Gay Harden) is catty and jud...Read the entire review