Hard Candy DVD

director: David Slade
writer: Brian Nelson

You may know her as Kitty Pryde in X-Men: The Last Stand, but behind Ellen Page's sweet exterior lies Hard Candy.

Visually, the film looks like candy: bright, vivid colors in the background and stark color contrasts change with the mood and tone and accentuate the angelic face of the young protagonist.

Many will think the word protagonist should be used loosely, even though older, male action hero counterparts who masquerade around in the night and slay "bad" men are considered heroes.

Whether you sympathize with the 14-year-old vigilante and condone her "extreme" actions or not, this is a fascinating look into the psychology of two disturbed people. Controversial to the candy core, the sheer audacity and balls of this film should draw viewers.

Special features include crew and cast commentary, extensive behind-the-scenes featurettes, and extended scenes.

rating: ****/***** (a definite-see)

recommendations: American Psycho, Leon (The Professional), Brick, Sin City

Don't Move (Non ti muovere) DVD

director: Sergio Castellitto
writer: Sergio Castellitto, Margaret Mazzantini (novel)

We want moments of joy to last forever, we want loved ones to stay. If only it was as simple as commanding one to "Don't Move."

A strange and wonderful Italian film starring, adapted, and directed by Sergio Castellitto, Don't Move is about love and passion, and the heartbreaking reality of grasping onto such fleeting ideas.

I didn't know much about this film before delving in, and I'm glad that was the case. This film had me expecting something completely different in the beginning and had me fascinated and consumed in the relationship by the end.

I was quite surprised by the care and attention paid to the film. Another surprise was Penelope Cruz. You'll see what I mean. I think the less you know about Don't Move before viewing, the better.

Special features include behind-the-scenes and author featurettes, Penelope Cruz screen tests, and a trailer that doesn't do the film justice.

rating: ****/***** (a definite-see)

recommendations: The Constant Gardener, Shopgirl

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (Short)

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is the stuff television dreams are made of.

What The West Wing did for the White House, Studio 60 will do for television shows. This hour-long dramedy takes a faux (or not so faux) look at the backstage ongoings of a Saturday Night Live-esque show and sees the return of Aaron Sorkin, much needed by NBC.

This intelligent show doesn't pander down to audiences. It's all about quality: quality of the actors and quality of the words. As he did with The West Wing, Aaron Sorkin assembles the best in talent and script and lets the audience soak up yummy TV goodness. Okay, okay. So that wasn't smart. But you don't have to be smart to appreciate smartness. That's the beauty of television. So sit back, relax, and smile at being able to appreciate brilliance.

The Last Kiss

director: Tony Goldwyn
writer: Paul Haggis

Babies are the new marriage and marriage is the new relationship. And relationships suck. Call me cynical.

People strive to build stability and a foundation, yet fear permanence and routine. There's just no satisfying some people.

I don't believe humans are meant to be monogamous creatures; most animals aren't. That's the beauty, and perhaps the cruelty, of nature. But that doesn't mean I'd forgive my partner's trespasses.

With divorce rates higher than ever and our role models, namely our parents, not really helping us with good examples, what chance do we have? And does that mean the next generation has less of a chance?

These are just some observations about relationships that are called to mind while watching this film. The Last Kiss is mostly a comedy dealing in heavy subject matter. Zach Braff, facing fatherhood with the "perfect" woman, Jacinda Barrett, has a freak-out and treads into dangerous territory with "this tiny brunette," Rachel Bilson. Meanwhile, his three male friends illustrate the different stages of relationships. One is a noncommittal player, another pines for his lost "perfect" woman, and yet another is married with child but miserable. Are those his choices? No wonder he falters. But there's hope on the horizon. His girlfriend's parents, played by the wonderful Blythe Danner and Tom Wilkinson, seem to be happy, until they don't.

Relationships are hard. Some work, most don't. You don't need a movie to tell you that. And don't expect any great insights in this one. It has some truthfulness, but I expected more from Paul Haggis (who wrote Crash and Million Dollar Baby), although in fairness, it is a remake of an Italian film, which I have not seen. And, as a warning, the film sort of ends abruptly, with which many of the viewers I sat in with were not happy. And is it bad that I would rather have seen the road trip part of this film than the relationship part? But as I say, you always want what you can't have.

rating: ***/***** (wait for the DVD)

recommendations: Alfie, Happily Ever After

Victor Garber Serves Up Some Justice

Justice

Good news - My favorite secret agent dad from Alias, Victor Garber is back doing what he does best, playing an expressionless professional. This time, as a lawyer on Fox's law drama, Justice.

The new series from Jerry Bruckheimer, which is three episodes in, has a typical episodic, or fomulaic, format, à la CSI or Cold Case. But it does feature a new twist at the end of each episode - a peek into the real circumstances of the crime, meaning the viewers get to see the truth of the guilt or, so far, the innocence of the defendant after the verdict. And besides the stellar partners, Dawson's Creek's Kerr Smith, Rebecca Mader, and especially Oz's Eamonn Walker, the fictional law offices of TNT & G house the latest and greatest in technological gadgetry to simulate and demonstrate for the jury (and the mock test jury) their client's innocence.

One hitch - Garber is sorely underused as an egotistical spin doctor. It's all well and good, but one-dimensional. If Victor Garber was going to be playing a lawyer, I can't help but feel that his talents might have been better utilized on the highly quirky Boston Legal. I would have loved to have seen him run wild with the other looney lawyers, develop a real character, and deliver intelligent David E. Kelly dialogue/monologues. If you don't know Boston Legal, get to know it. Denny Crane.

But I guess as long as Victor Garber's in a suit, I'm happy.

EW's High School Movies List

Entertainment Weekly's September 15th issue features an article on the 50 best high school movies. Now, I don't want to claim ownership on the idea, but I did previously post a teen angst DVD list in August (I totally had an I-told-you-so moment, sadly to no one in particular). On my list, I posted 15 high school movies, 10 of which appear on the EW spread, including all films in the Old School/Classics category. I came up with my list on the spot, whereas the EW writers and staff probably took a tad more time than I and had more resources, so naturally there are some mentionable films that I missed. Included are Rushmore, Risky Business, Donnie Darko, Napoleon Dynamite, and The Virgin Suicides. Plus, I think EW's list is, and rightly should be, reader-friendly, and therefore lacks certain darker, less well-known movies such as Welcome to the Dollhouse. But overall, it's nice to know the "experts" agree with me.

House Season 3

House, M.D.

An all new season of House has kicked off to an early start. The medical drama starring the incredibly talented and Emmy nomination-robbed Hugh Laurie as the misanthropic title character premiered its third season's first episode Meaning this past Tuesday. As we last left the dour doc, he had been shot twice by the husband of a former patient (if House wasn't so good at what he does, this probably would've happened sooner) and had asked for the ketamine treatment to reboot his system - painfree.

And as the season promos promised, we see House doing something we've never seen him do before - running (and riding a skateboard). And as if that wasn't enough, House admits he is happy. What have they done to the unlovably lovable House? Don't fret, folks. If the season premiere is any indication (House was seen grabbing his thigh and stealing a prescription for Vicodin from Wilson), House will be back to his old deprecating self, and perhaps even worse off after experiencing a taste of a cane-free life once again.

For the purists out there, turn away from possible season spoilers. Promised in the new season is a story arc featuring a policeman, David Morse, out to get our favorite pill-popping doc. And a possible episode with an incarcerated House. And for those of you who are against Cameron (Jennifer Morrison) mooning over her much older superior, House will encounter an even younger admirer.

Can't wait to collect more Houseisms on the ever growing list.

Dot the i DVD

director: Matthew Parkhill
writer: Matthew Parkhill

Dot the i starts one way and ends another. It leads you down one path only to sideswipe you before you hit the exit.

Gael Garcia Bernal stars as a poor but passionate man who woos the saucy Natalia Verbeke, fittingly named Carmen, from the rich and seemingly stable James D'Arcy. But let me tell you, he is no Mr. Darcy.

All is not as it seems in this film about... love? Dot the i begins sweetly enough, mainly because of the charms of the star-crossed lovers, but then veers sharply into kitschy territory. The viewer can sense all is not right and that someone, or perhaps all three parties are keeping secrets. But this secret was ironically unrealistic. The film puts in a twist for the sake of having a twist, and it inevitably feels forced.

Twist endings are fun if done correctly and believably, and the viewer was taken along for the ride instead of being thrown off. They are not so fun if trite and the common viewer is able to predict the outcome, or, as in this case, the viewer is hit from left field and feels cheated because of a lack of plausibility.

I may have completely turned you off to this film or have made you super curious. If you are going to watch this film - viewer beware.

Special features include commentary and deleted scenes.

rating: ***/***** (for Bernal and Verbeke)

recommendations: Read My Lips, Run Lola Run

Friends with Money DVD

director: Nicole Holofcener
writer: Nicole Holofcener

Friends with Money is about that, friends with money. Well, not exactly all the friends. Jennifer Aniston is a single maid and the black sheep of the group .

Can you believe Jennifer Aniston as a maid? Yeah, neither can I. The production people could have at least attempted to make her look a bit homely. Messy hair? Baggy clothes? No? Nothing? Okay. Nevertheless, she does have her moments as an actress. Like, take a look at her expressions as Scott Caan asks for his cuts.

The wonderfully cast friends with money are Joan Cusack, Catherine Keener, and Frances McDormand. Of special note is Catherine Keener, a staple of Nicole Holofcener's films, including the indie gem Walking and Talking. Keener is definitely an underrated actress. She can portray messed-up everyday women, as well as the object of affection of the 40-Year-Old Virgin and Being John Malkovich. And it doesn't hurt she has a cute hubby.

Special features include commentary and featurettes.

rating: ***1/2/***** (an indie find)

recommendations: Walking and Talking, Lovely and Amazing