'The Visitor' (2011)

This is a beautiful, touching film about a widower who discovers that 'illegal immigrants' are squatting in his city apartment after leaving it empty for a long time. I loved this film especially when the professor learns the drums. Highly recommended. 

Leaves of Grass

This film was funny and dark. I enjoyed it.

The Intouchables

The Intouchables is one of the funniest films I've seen in a long time. It's irreverent and uplifting and I highly recommend it. The version I watched is French with English subtitles and it was worth putting aside all distractions to watch and enjoy. This film is my favourite so far this year.

Snow White and the Huntsman

I love the retelling of faery tales. Recently I began watching the TV Series 'Once Upon a Time'. All retellings are not equal, yet the retelling continues and the story is familiar, yet with a different perspective. This is another one. Too scary for children.

Snow White and the Huntsman held a few surprises for me. One of the big improvements I saw was no stepmother relationship and no happily ever after wedding.

I am yet to see 'Mirror, Mirror', also made last year.
 

The Soloist

I loved this film. It touched me in many ways. It is a great story that reveals lots of human themes such as friendship, judgement, values, commitment and love. It gives insight into homelessness and mental health. I watched it last night and I want to see it again. The music was precious as were the characters. All of them. This film is good.

The Reader

'The Reader' was full of surprises for me. Films can really challenge you sometimes and this was full of challenges for me. My favourite review was from Peter Galvin on Filmink. I'm not sure what I was expecting but it was an experience to watch.

Martian Child

John Cusack is great in this film. I expected more comedy, it was funny, but not in the way I expected. It was a touching story about a science fiction writer, grieving for his wife, who adopts a kid who thinks he's from Mars. A perfect match. It's also a great story that questions 'Is it good to be like everyone else?'. Just what I needed today.



There are many beautiful moments in this film. I loved it.

August Rush

If you want to be totally transported by a modern fairytale, pick this. Sure it's a huge suspension of reality, but just the kind I love. The music connects the orphan with his talented musician parents, comparisons can be made to the Oliver Twist tale. I really enjoyed it.

I must also confess I find Jonathon Rhys Meyers quite attractive.
As with many films of this nature, critics weren't impressed, but viewers rated it higher.

A suspension of reality in the opposite direction to last night's movie. Balanced me out!

In Bruges

This black comedy was a very hilarious watch. It is definately for a mature audience, with lots of swearing, killing, drugs and a little sex. It's funny and dark and I really found myself feeling a lot of affection for the child murderer, which is the last thing I would expect from myself. It was full of random little amusing surprises, even if predictible in it's plot at times. I'm really not even sure what it was that endeared him to me....

My favourite review is by Tasha Robinson.

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

This was a dark and facinating film. The characters, all despicable strangely sad due to their desperation. They made a bigger mess than you could see a way out of. The actors were great and the film well made. Not for the kiddies I might add.

The Painted Veil

This film was the kind of love story you can believe, complete with human frailties and errors. I want to read all W.Somerset Maugham's books now. It was so beautiful. The setting was great. It was set in China. The political and historical background was interesting. I loved the scene where the Nationalist soldier was negotiating/interpreting with the local warlord. It was clever.

I read 'The Moon and Sixpence' a couple of years ago and found it so rich in it's characters and their transformations and I found this story to be similar. They are very authentic....touching, human and moving.

I recommend this film. I totally enjoyed it.

The Kite Runner

I loved the book 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini, it was a great insight into human nature and the changes that have occured in Afghanistan. The film adaptation was great. I expected it to be more visually stunning though to be honest. The scenes I was looking forward to, the Kite festival and the Pomegranate tree, were not as vivid as I had imagined them, yet isn't that always the way when you read a book and furnish it with your imagination, the film usually disappoints in some way.
It has subtitles and was in all very enjoyable. I found the book illustrated more depth in the relationships as well.

Juno

I enjoyed Juno. The characterisations were refreshing. I liked seeing the Paulie character, shy and railroaded by a stronger Juno. It was realistic of many young men at that age. The characters were well written.

The relationships were lovely and not stereotypic, yet more real than many screen relationships we've viewed.

For example the following dialogue:

Ultrasound Technician: I'm an ultrasound technician, maam.
Bren: Well, I'm a nail technician and I think we both ought to just stick to what we know.
Ultrasound Technician: Excuse me?
Bren: Oh, you think you're so special because you get to play Picture Pages up there? Well, my five year old daughter could do that and let me tell you, she's not the brightest bulb in the tanning bed. So why don't you go back to night school in Mantino and learn a real trade.
Juno MacGuff: Bren! You's a dick! I love it!

For once a step mother that doesn't suck!

For more great dialogue IMDB

Little Children

I'd heard nothing about this film, yet from the opening scene, I felt drawn into it. The thoughts of this mother and the narrators summation of the situations were effective in creating a remarkable clarity of storytelling. It was at once emotionally engaging and quite human.

I recommend 'Little Children' and I imagine this film will stay with me for quite a duration. It was quite an experience.

Rotten Tomatoes has a range of reviews.