The Bourne Ultimatum (Short)

director: Paul Greengrass
writer: Tony Gilroy, Scott Z. Burns, George Nolfi

My name is Jason Bourne.
Or not.
Who needs a name when you can kick ass and look hot doing it?

rating: ****/***** (a fun flick)

recommendations: The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, Casino Royale (2006)

Check It Out: Music Edition 1

Introducing a new section - I will occasionally list things (artists, songs, shows, sites, etc.) I think are worth checking out.

And in this entry - music.
Now, I'm no music reviewer (in truth, I'm not all that qualified to be a movie reviewer besides the fact that I watch movies, so in that respect, I listen to music) but I like to think I have some taste in it. So...

Check Out:
The Perishers ~ Let There Be Morning (album)
Shout Out Louds ~ Howl Howl Gaff Gaff (album)
Oppenheimer ~ Oppenheimer (album)

*If you like these, you might also like
Kings of Convenience
Ok Go
The Blow
The Submarines

Conversations with Other Women DVD (Short)

director: Hans Camosa
writer: Gabrielle Zevin

A work in split screen makes for unique view of a couple with more to them than it first seems.

Special features include audio commentary, interviews, and technical featurettes.

rating: ***1/2/***** (interesting indie)

recommendations: Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Sliding Doors

Sherrybaby DVD (Short)

director: Laurie Collyer
writer: Laurie Collyer

Happy endings are good for films (or at least for box offices).
But sometimes people need to know that things just don't end with people becoming better - sometimes the best we can do is to hope to change because sometimes we can't change at all. Those are just circumstances, that's just life.
People are very flawed - don't expect them to be unflawed by the end.

There are no special features.

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

recommendations: Secretary, Thirteen, Mysterious Skin, The Station Agent

Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno) (Short)

director: Guillermo del Toro
writer: Guillermo del Toro

Touted as an "adult fairytale," this dark and violent Spanish film lives up to its description.

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

recommendations: Finding Neverland, The Devil's Backbone, MirrorMask, Grave of the Fireflies

The Prestige (Short)

director: Christopher Nolan
writer: Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan

This magical mystery is more sophisticated and complex than the recent The Illusionist. The comparison is inevitable due to the proximity of release dates and themes.
While I found The Illusionist completely predictable, The Prestige had me wrapped around the tale, guessing and curious. This film is filled with hints and foreshadowing, along with ambiguous characters and real acting, especially from the reliable Christian Bale. The film draws in the audience not just with a twist ending, which it does contain, but with a depth in storytelling worthy of not just a simple magic trick, but a magical illusion.

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

recommendations: Memento, One Hour Photo, Insomnia

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.