3.5 Razors

Doubt

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Doubt
  • IMDB: link

“You haven’t the slightest proof of anything!”
“But I have my certainty.”

At the heart of the film written and directed by John Patrick Shanley, who adapted his play for the screen, is the issue of change vs. the status quo.  Set in the Bronx during the 1960’s the film deals with the conflict between the more liberal priest, Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and the older Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Meryl Streep).

Set between the pair is the good-natured Sister James (Amy Adams) who is the catalyst for the story when her observance of events causes Sister Aloysius to believe, with certainty, that Father Flynn has taken improper advances with a young black student (Joseph Foster).

Is the accusation real, or is it simply an excuse for the traditional nun to get rid of the crazy priest and his new-fangled ideas?  Is there room, for doubt?

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Wanted on DVD

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Wanted
  • IMDb: link

“You know when you have a dream and you’re half-awake, but still in the fringe of your brain?  Then you open you eyes and you’re so damned glad it was a dream?  This was nothing like that.”

Based off Mark Millar’s twisted comic, all-around loser Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) gets tapped to join a secret Fraternity of Assassins after the father he never knew is killed by a rogue member.

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Milk

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Milk
  • IMDB: link

“I’m Harvey Milk and I’m here to recruit you.”

Sean Penn stars as Harvey Milk, a businessman from New York who would struggle for years in an attempt to become San Francisco’s first openly gay elected official.

The film follows the failed campaigns and the process of organizing and entire community into public activism.  Director Gus Van Sant also spends considerable time on Harvey’s friendships and love life, giving us a complete picture of the man from his days before politics to his untimely end.

Penn is terrific as the lead.  Emile Hirsch, James Franco, Diego Luna, and Alison Pill all put in strong performances as the constellations which revolve around Hervey’s world.

Van Sant does a good job in showing us how Harvey related to the rest of the world.  Although the big public moments are meant to get your attention, its the quieter and more intimate ones that are more memorable.  Though those uncomfortable with gay relationships might want to steer clear of this one.

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Bones – Season 3 on DVD

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Bones – The Complete Third Season
  • tv.com: link

“You know, this is our first Christmas as a couple.”

“Aw, too bad Santa’s dead.”

Dr Temperance “Bones” Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and Special Agent Sealy Booth (David Boreanaz) return to solve another season of bone-chlling (pun-intended) mysteries.

I became a quick fan of the show enjoying not only the mystery of the week but the chemistry of the cast.  This season includes the deepening of Hodgins (T.J. Thyne) and Angela’s (Michaela Conlin) relationship, the search for Angela’s long lost husband, a new cannibal serial killer, the murder of Santa Claus, a Halloween adventure with real skeletons, and the poor decision making of Zack (Eric Millegan).

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The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
  • IMDB: link

The lens of childhood innocence is a powerful method to shine light on many subjects.  In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas the son of a Concentration Commandant befriends a young Jew in the “farm” next door.  As events slowly unfold young Bruno (Asa Butterfield) discovers the world isn’t the simple place he once believed.

Bruno is a normal 8 year-old boy with a loving mother (Vera Farmiga), a protective older sister (Amber Beattie), and a father (David Thewlis) who he is proud of.  Oh, did I forget to mention that the film is set in Germany during WWII and Bruno’s father is an SS officer?

When his father takes a promotion the family moves from Berlin to a fortified house in the country, near what Bruno takes for a farm filled with strange people in striped pajamas.  When he inquires about the new neighbors Bruno is ordered to stay far away, which, for a inquisitive, curious 8 year-old, is the perfect temptation.

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