Men In Black 3

       If you're going to make a totally unnecessary 3rd film in a series, at least cast it well. "Men In Black" succeeds on the brilliant casting of Josh Brolin as a younger version of the Tommy Lee Jones character, Agent K. Mr. Brolin completely captures Mr. Jones's mannerism, vocal pattern and facial expressions. It's the best special effect in a movie full of them and the only one not CGI.

       Of course Will Smith is back as Agent J and he continues to be one of Hollywood's most engaging actors. There's not much effort here when you've done this twice before but he's still fun to watch and his chemistry with Mr. Brolin is terrific.  Tommy Lee Jones gets less screen time due to the plot but still has some good scenes bookmarking the film and is as gruff as ever.  Jemaine Clement plays the villain "Boris the Animal" but is buried under tons of makeup and CGI effects and replacing Rip Torn is Emma Thompson as Director O. A welcome addition is the wonderful actor Michael Stuhlbarg as an alien who can predict alternate futures.

        There's not much new to the "Men in Black" world but watching the film is like visiting an old friend and Rick Baker's old fashioned creature effects are still fun. Using time travel to journey back to 1969 is the clever twist and allows for some fun "period" humor but there is  a quick racial profiling scene that doesn't really work and seems uncomfortably out of place.

         "Men In Black 3" is simply a silly summer diversion quickly forgotten as we move to the next "summer blockbuster".

         

The Dictator

       Be afraid. Be very afraid. Sasha Baron Cohen is back. After giving the world Ali G, Borat and Bruno, Mr Cohen adds Admiral General Aladeen to his rogue's gallery of outrageous characters. Mr. Cohen's brand of comedy is not for everyone but if you are a fan, you will definitely be amused by "The Dictator".

       There are plenty of sight gags and topical jokes abound. Many fall flat but others hit the mark and there are scenes that will have you laughing out loud as well as cringing at their offensiveness. The reason Mr. Cohen can get away with offensive material as well as the 911 references, is that, as with his other films, he makes it clear from the start that his character is an idiot and that he is clearly making fun of himself. Although the 911 reference does push the limit and while funny in the context of the film will certainly offend many.

       Aladeen's love interest is played by Anna Ferris, who for once is the "straight man" rather than the fool she has played in other films. And while she is the voice of reason here, she also gets some of the best lines. Also starring is Sir Ben Kingsley which at first is remarkable to consider. This is the man who played Gandhi but then again he also starred in "Sexy Beast" so playing the villain in "The Dictator" isn't such a stretch. When Aladeen is kidnapped and replaced by a body double,  Jason Mantzoukas, a character actor by trade, has his biggest role to date as Alladeen's conspirator in his plans to return to power.

       The "fish out of water" plot is not new but Mr. Cohen milks (literally at one point) plenty of laughs out of a powerful dictator working in a grocery co-op in Brooklyn. Many of the funniest bits you've already seen in the trailer or in the TV ads but some of them have had lines altered which makes me wonder if somebody lost their nerve. Mr. Cohen's "Borat" was truly an original. With "The Dictator", the joke's still funny but it's starting to wear thin.

Dark Shadows

           Johnny Depp's undead vampire has more life in him then this disappointing take on the late sixties TV show. While Mr. Depp is terrific, biting the scenery as Barnabas Collins, the rest of the cast suffer in very poorly underwritten roles. Director Tim Burton does a great job recreating the look and sounds of the early seventies (the musical choices, in particular, are pure pleasure) but he can only do so much with a top notch cast working with a weak script.

            The original show which ran from 1966 until 1971 was a daytime soap opera disguised as a Gothic horror story. It put a new twist on an old genre and was a cult sensation. The new film borrows the basic idea of the show but strives for a more comedic approach. Mr. Depp never plays a false note and gives a wonderful performance and of course, gets all the good lines. Michele Pfeiffer is wasted with nothing to do as the current matriarch of the Collins family. The same can be said for Helena Bonham Carter as the family's live-in psychiatrist. Her character is supposed to be treating young Mr. David Collins, who believes his mother haunts the mansion.  We never see them in scenes together and David himself has very little to do until the film's climax. Chloe Grace Moretz plays the teen daughter of Ms. Pfeiffer and while her role has more depth, it also has a twist that comes ridiculously out of nowhere. Johnny Lee Miller plays another Collins family looking as bored as the audience. At least Jackie Jackie Earle Haley has some fun as the boozy family caretaker.

           The best scenes are between Mr. Depp and Eva Green, who plays his adversary, Angelique. It is Angelique, a very wicked witch, who first turns Mr. Depp into a vampire and has him buried alive when he spurns her love. When he returns 200 years later to 1972, she has ruined his family by a series of curses and by becoming a successful business rival. Their renewed love/hate relationship adds a desperate spark of life to the film.

            Mr. Burton is famous for his unique visual style and storytelling but here he gets lazy using an idea from "Death Becomes Her" for a big scene involving Ms. Green and a final shot that we've all seen way too many times. Both he and Mr. Depp have shared their love of the old series and strive to do it justice in their own fashion but unlike Mr. Depp's character, the script should have remained dead and buried.

The Avengers

      Comic book geeks assemble. This is the superhero movie you've been waiting for. The good news is that even an average film fan will enjoy  "The Avengers". A long time in the making, Marvel's master plan was to release individual superhero films  to eventually come together in this super group made up of Nick Fury, Iron Man, The Mighty Thor, The Hulk, Captain America, The Black Widow and Hawkeye. Anyone familiar with these characters will undoubtedly have a great time for two and half hours. Everyone else can still enjoy the escapist good time the film provides. 

        Directed with love and written for the screen by Joss Whedon, the film brings every hero together to defeat a common foe, Loki (the Asgardian God of Mischief) first introduced in "Thor" and played by Tom Hiddleston. The film takes it 's time to get going as too much dialog sets up the master plot, presumably for the audience living under a rock. But once it kicks into high gear it never looks back and provides plenty of action and some great one liners (delivered in majority by Robert Downy Jr. as Iron Man/Tony Stark).

         The special effects range from good to great at various points in the film. Case in point, The CGI Hulk who seems to constantly be changing size and bulk. His human side, Bruce Banner is played by Mark Ruffalo and he  spends most of the film moping about and trying to contain "the other guy". The CGI destruction of Midtown Manhattan is very well done although why is it always Manhattan? The film is in 3-D and actually works well in the medium. The colors and details really "pop".

          Screen time is divided pretty evenly so everyone can get their action spotlight although Scarlett Johansson as The Black Widow, seems to have just a little bit more than everyone else. Although in her skintight suit, who can really complain? Male eye candy gets it's share in the presence of Chris Evans as Captain America and Chris Hemsworth as Thor. Also returning is superspy Nick Fury played by Samuel Jackson and master archer, Hawkeye played by Jeremy Renner (also first introduced in Thor).

           In between battling Loki and his Alien army, there are verbal and physical sparring matches among the group which humanize the comic characters as well as provide lots of entertainment. It's hard to walk out disappointed and the good news, of course, is  the table is set for the inevitable sequel with the very brief appearance of a major Marvel villain.

Headhunters

This is a new Norwegian thriller from bestselling author Jo Nesbo. I believe it's the first time one of his books has made the transition to film and it's a welcome relief to the fairly dull film choices out there now. While Hollywood is waiting for "The Avengers" to kick off the official "summer Blockbuster" season, this little foreign film sneaks in early and does it's best to entertain (in a very "R" rated sexy and violent way).

 It's an engaging story that begins when a corporate headhunter (who moonlights as an art thief) ends up with the wrong client. Roger Brown is a smug executive who lives well beyond his means (to keep his trophy wife happy) and after meeting Claus Greve, his neat little life takes a wild and unexpected turn. Roger becomes a hunted man and the film turns up the violence as his situation becomes more and more outrageous. There are moments of absurd black comedy as well as much bloodshed (and one nasty act of violence against an attack dog) as the film twists and turns it's way to a neatly wrapped up ending.

 Askel Hennie stars as Roger and he endures quite a bit in a physically demanding role. Also starring as the cool and calculating Claus Greve, is Nicolaj Coster-Waldau (currently on "Game of Thrones" as Jamie Lannister). The plot continues to thicken and twist as the two stars play a dangerous game of cat and mouse. See it before the inevitable American remake... starring James Spader (if the casting agent has any good sense).

The Cabin in The Woods

Five stereotyped friends go for a weekend at a cabin deep in the woods and mayhem ensues. Think you've seen this before? Think again. From the opening moments, you will realize this is not your typical horror film but rather a cross between "The Truman Show" and "Evil Dead". The entire "horror" experience is being controlled by a group of scientists led by Bradley Whitford and Richard Jenkins. And just when you think you know where the film might be headed, it veers of course and surprises you.

Directed by Drew Goddard and written by Mr. Goddard and Joss Whedon, "Cabin" is a fun puzzle of genres that stays true to the source but playfully mixes things up. Mr. Goddard and Mr. Whedon manipulate their audience just as the characters themselves are manipulated. At times, the script is too smart for it's own good. Scattered throughout are sly references to other films (blatantly even a character named Truman).

There is horror (but not that scary) and cast members do die bloody deaths but there is also humor (mostly the witty banter of Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Whitford) and many suspenseful moments. The friends are played by Chris Hemsworth (pre-Thor), Jesse Williams, Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchison and Fran Kranz. Each one inhabits their stereotype admirably. There is even a surprise guest star who is very appropriate.

I originally wrote it off as just another "kids in the woods bloodbath" but when other critics became so divided about the film, I had to see it for myself. Despite the "aren't we clever moments", and even if you do feel manipulated, you'll still enjoy the ride.

The Raid: Redemption

This simple premise of police raiding a drug lord's apartment complex turns into a masterful choreography of bullets and bodies in this new Indonesian action fest. While the film is in subtitles, the story is really all visual. A heavily armed police squad enter the building and have to fight their way to the 15th floor through an army of thugs. Non-stop use of machine guns, handguns, machetes, knives, fists and feet all combine into 100 minutes of action packed violence that will leave you breathless.

This is certainly not a film for everyone but fans of the genre will enjoy themselves very much. Hollywood will probably remake this film but will be hard pressed to recreate the suspense and action as the police fight their way up through the building, their numbers dwindling floor by floor. The martial art fight scenes are remarkable and directors Gareth Evans and Iko Uwais perform movie magic keeping the body count high but maintaining a human element in the form of the hero cop, Rama, played by Mr. Uwais.

It's an all out war played out in the urban landscape of the apartment complex and the claustrophobic camera work puts the viewer directly into the action from the very beginning. The stunt work is exceptional and watching the end credits made me laugh when I saw the long list of names for the on set medical team. Leaving the theater, I could swear I had new bruises myself.

Goon

The best hockey film since "Slapshot". Come to think of it, have there actually been any others? This is based on the true story of Doug Smith (Doug Glatt in the film), a boxer who becomes a hockey enforcer. Doug is not a very good hockey player but he is an excellent fighter and every hockey team needs an enforcer to do the dirty work against the other team.

Doug is play by Seann William Scott in his best role to date. When he isn't punching someone's lights out, he shows some real range as the mild mannered and dim witted Doug (who comes alive only when he's doing what he does best...hitting people). He is joined by Jay Baruchel (who also produced and co-wrote the film) as his best friend Pat. Mr. Baruchel captures the Boston hockey fan stereotype perfectly and is very funny in the film. Also starring are Alison Pill as Doug's love interest, Kim Coates as the coach of the team and Liv Schreiber as a rival enforcer.

The movie has lots of hockey action, intense fight scenes on the ice, and some very funny scenes off the ice thanks to a clever script with memorable dialogue. It's full of colorful characters and while brutal at times, it is also very touching.

Hockey is far from my favorite sport but "Goon" keeps things interesting and fun. It's a lot better than watching an actual hockey game.

The Hunger Games

"The Hunger Games"

I have not read the bestselling novel this film is based on so I can't use it as a reference point. I can only judge the film on it's own merit. So for those of who have read the book, you may have an entirely different viewpoint. I found the film interesting and exciting at times but the central plot left a bad taste in my mouth.

Do we really want to watch a film where the entire second half is about a group of youngsters trying to kill each other for the enjoyment of adults? The premise is distasteful but at least most of the slaughter is quick or off screen. I suppose it could have been worse as the film is rated PG-13 to attract it's legions of teenage fans.

Jennifer Lawrence stars as Katniss, the plucky heroine who volunteers to take her younger sister's place at the "games". Ms. Lawrence is a very talented actress who truly breathes life to Katniss. There is not one false note in her performance and I would imagine she does the character proud. She's an exciting talent who carries the film on her young shoulders. She was terrific in "Winter's Bone", "The X-Men: First Class" and now, the first of a Hunger Games trilogy. Co-starring are Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, Wes Bently, Donald Sutherland and Lenny Kravitz. Apparently everyone in the future has horrible hairstyles.

There are elements of "The Truman Show" and certainly "Battle Royale" (a Japanese film from 2000 that basically used the same plot first) found throughout the film and when it tends to lose steam, Ms. Lawrence keeps everything ramped up until the grand finale (which technically isn't a finale at all but a bookmark until the next installment).

Fans of the series will hunger for more but I was satisfied with the first course.

John Carter

I had to see for myself why this film has been getting so much bad press. Sometimes critics are just too critical. Yes, it's a bad hybrid of "Star Wars" meets "Avatar" with terrible dialog and some wooden acting but....it does hold a certain appeal for the 12-year old boy in all of us.

If you are a fan of Science fiction action films, you can certainly do worse than "John Carter". If you do decide to see it, see it in IMAX 3-D where you can at least appreciate the exciting visuals. Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote a whole series of stories about John Carter so there is plenty of appeal of the character in literature. Translating it properly to the screen is the issue. The story is sloppy and unoriginal, blatantly stealing chunks of ideas from the earlier mentioned sci-fi giants.

The film stars Taylor Kitsch as the title hero. Mr. Kitsch has the looks but lacks the skill to pull off the role. He takes everything much too seriously and tries too hard to please. His love interest, played by Lynn Collins is attractive and handy with a sword but has little personality. Ciaran Hinds and Dominic West add some acting weight to the proceedings but this is a far cry from "Rome" or "The Wire".

The story is confusing enough transplanting a confederate soldier to Mars via a sliver medallion but once John Carter arrives he finds himself in the middle of a Martian Civil War involving humanoid Martians. At the same time, totally CGI alien looking Martians co-exist peacefully but for some reason get caught up in the war. Director Andrew Stanton has made a ton of hits for Pixar and has no problem directing his CGI Martians. It's his approach to human interaction that needs work.

The action sequences are fun and the film does look great in IMAX 3-D. Sometimes, a movie is just a movie and if escapist entertainment is all you seek, then consider John Carter. Your inner child may thank you...or throw a tantrum for wasting his allowance.

21 Jump Street

This new comedy borrows the concept from the original TV show (that launched the career of Johnny Depp) but only in a very broad sense. The film is sophomoric, raunchy, very funny and surprisingly entertaining. What could have been just a lame re-make filled with genital jokes is actually a very smart script constantly making fun of itself and keeping the audience in on the gag. Oh, and lots of genital jokes.

Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum have great chemistry together and going undercover at high school presents all kinds of sub-plots. A bathroom scene where he and Mr. Tatum try to regurgitate drugs they had swallowed had me roaring with laughter. More than just an action comedy, the film is a "bromance" and plays upon role reversals of high school stereotypes. Mr. Hill co-wrote the story but is generous enough to share the spotlight with his cast mates.. Rob Riggle and Ice Cube co-star and both are given ample screen time to provide laughs. Brie Larson provides the love interest and Dave Franco (younger brother of James) rounds out the cast as the ecology minded high school drug dealer.

Give credit to the studio for making a trailer that, for once, doesn't give away ALL the funny parts. There are plenty of verbal and visuals gags that you don't see coming. Chase scenes are constructed in an unconventional way as well as other typical "action" scenes making the film fresh even while it makes fun of it's origin. There is also an unbilled cameo that comes as a pleasant surprise.

The film's rated R for a reason but there is intelligence beyond the raunchy humor and it's an address you'll want to visit. And if you do enjoy it, don't worry...the end practically screams sequel.

Wanderlust

A bright spot during a winter of bad B movies, this new comedy has many laugh out loud moments. Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston star as George and Linda, unemployed New Yorkers on their way to start again in Atlanta Georgia. On the way to live with George's brother, they get sidetracked at Elysium, a commune of free spirits that offer them a new lifestyle.

This is a reverse "Out of Towners" where the laughs come fast as the NY couple try to adjust to the easy going lifestyle of the commune where nudity, free love and vegan diets are the order of the day. Paul Rudd is the king of sarcasm and double takes. He is just hilarious throughout the film and the scene where he is talking to himself in the mirror will have you rolling in the aisles. Ms. Aniston plays to her comedic strength and has good chemistry with Mr. Rudd.

The film co-stars Justin Theroux co-stars as Seth, the magnetic leader of the commune and Alan Alda as the founder of Elysium. Ken Marino, who co-wrote the script with director David Wain, is also very funny as George's obnoxious older brother.

It's a silly (rated R for a reason) comedy but a good escape from the winter blues.

A Separation

Nominated for Best Foreign Film this year, "A Separation" should be the frontrunner to win. This is an intimate story of an Iranian couple who's separation sets off a chain of complex events neither of them could possibly imagine.

What starts out as a domestic difference of opinion soon grows more intricate when Simin decides to leave her husband Nader and daughter Termeh for a better life. Nader refuses to leave the country because of his elderly and Alzheimer's stricken father and when forced to get a caretaker for the old man, the plot (as they say) thickens.

The acting is terrific, especially Peyman Moadi as Nader and Sareh Bayat as Razieh, the caretaker. The complexity of the situation they all find themselves in, is all the more fascinating because of the cultural differences of Iran's justice system. Even after revelations and resolutions, the lives of two families are forever changed and the audience is left to debate the final moments.

"A Separation" is a compelling drama worthy of your time.

The Innkeepers

Filmed on location at The Yankee Pedler Inn (rumored to actually be haunted), this is an old fashioned ghost story done very effectively. Relying heavily on atmosphere with little to no violence or gore, the tension mounts leading from goose bumps to truly scary moments.

Director Ti West does a great job building the suspense and his cast do an excellent job selling the belief of spirits in the night. The film stars Sara Paxton as Claire and Pat Healy as Luke, the innkeepers of the title, who are keeping watch on the last remaining days of the inn before it closes for good. There are just a few guests remaining and one in particular, played by Kelly McGillis, plays an important role in what is to come.

Ms. Paxton and Mr. Healy don't seem to act as much as just play themselves and it's very effective as things get stranger as the film goes on. Everything appears very natural and Mr. West goes out of his way to keep things minimalistic so when the scares come, they are genuinely frightening.

There are a few stretches where nothing much happens but the payoff is worth the wait. With so many films violent and gory that pass as today's "horror" films, it's refreshing to see how a light touch can still scare the pants off you.

Kill List

Looking for something completely different? The second feature from director and co-writer Ben Wheatley fits the bill and then some. What starts out as a domestic British drama cleverly slips into something much more as a former hitman takes one last job to support his wife and young son. You're probably thinking "I've seen this movie before". Nothing will prepare you for what comes next.

As Jay's money troubles mount, his former partner, Gal comes around with an offer for one last job. A mysterious man offers a huge payout for three assassinations . At this point the film's become a typical British crime thriller but with each kill, Jay's growing paranoia escalates the violence, and then the story takes a very sharp turn into "Twilight Zone" territory.

Similar to the way the Japanese thriller, "Audition" changed genres in the middle of the film, "Kill List" becomes a totally different movie in the last act and yet still links itself to everything you've just seen. Brace yourself for an unforgettable ending.

Rampart

A searing and powerful performance by Woody Harrelson anchors this new drama from director Oren Moverman (who also co-wrote the screenplay with James Ellroy). Mr. Harrelson and Mr. Moverman have teamed up before in the excellent film, "The Messenger". This new film could not be any different but still delivers an emotional knockout.

Mr. Harrelson is Dave Brown, a policeman and Vietnam vet, patrolling the streets of 1999 Los Angeles. Officer Brown live by his own moral code and blurs the line between right and wrong. As we meet him, circumstances from his past are colliding with events of the present and his life is crashing down around him.

Dave lives with two sisters and the two daughters he fathered between them. Cynthia Nixon and Anne Heche play the sisters. Brie Larson plays the older teenage daughter, Helen. This unusual arrangement is taking it's toll and Dave is forced to move out. His emotional scenes with Helen depict their strained relationship as they try to find a common bond between them.

While his family life is unraveling, Dave's professional life is also in crisis. Under fire for beating a suspect (among other things), he 's under investigation by Sigourney Weaver, Steve Buscemi, and Ice Cube ( a terrific IA officer). At the same time, he gets involved with a number of women, most prominently, Robin Wright. Drinking, taking drugs and abusing everyone around him, Dave sinks lower and lower into despair, his internal anger at the world threatening to explode at any moment.

The film has a terrific score and wonderfully inventive camerawork. The camera is a living character, giving us point of view angles from everywhere. There are also some gems of small scenes with co-stars Ned Beatty and Ben Foster. Mr. Harrelson is not quite Harvey Keitel in "Bad Lieutenant" but he does share some similar qualities. While that film went way over the top, "Rampart" plays it all too real and Mr. Harrelson is just mesmerizing.

We Need To Talk About Kevin

Despite a gripping performance by Tilda Swinton, this is a contrived story of what happens when your child is growing up an obvious sociopath with violent tendencies and there's nothing you can do about it. Of course the title is ironic because no one actually talks about Kevin, which is the key point.

Ms. Swinton plays Eve, married to Franklin, played by a miscast John C. Reilly. When Kevin is born, it's apparent only to Eve that something is not right about the boy. Whenever she brings up her concerns, Franklin brushes them off as normal growing pains and "fawns" over his son. As Kevin grows, a second child is born, a daughter they name Celia. From the outside, all seems normal but Eve's growing dread about her son soon proves all too right and tragedy ensues.

The story is seen only through Eve's point of view and director Lynne Ramsay opts to tell the story in a fragmented time line. We move back and forth in Eve's life with each scene a puzzle piece that eventually all connect. Ms. Swinton immerses herself in the part trying early on to raise Kevin and then coping with the aftermath of violence she has been sensing all along but never tried to prevent.

Three boys play Kevin. Rocky Duer plays the toddler, Jasper Newell, the young Kevin to age eight and then Ezra Miller, the teen Kevin. Young Mr. Newell is a revelation as he is asked to play a very difficult part of a troubled little boy. Mr. Miller is electric as the teenage Kevin revealing his psychotic nature in subtle yet terrifying ways.

It's a tragedy that unfortunately this country has actually endured (and may again). It's too bad the story never takes an objective outside look at "the how or why" instead just focusing on "the what" because that ultimately lessens the emotional impact of the film.

Safe House

A "by the book" espionage thriller starring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds borrows heavily from "Three Days of The Condor" and manages to hold your attention with some exciting action sequences. Mr. Reynolds (known mostly as "eye candy") has been improving his acting (ok, forget Green Lantern) and does a decent job as the rookie CIA agent overseeing a safe house when CIA traitor Tobin Frost (Mr. Washington) is brought in as a prisoner. Of course circumstances find them on the run together and back at Langley, not all is what it seems.

The film co-stars Sam Shepard, Vera Farminga, and Brendan Gleeson as top level CIA brass trying to decide how to best handle their missing agent dilemma. There is nothing special here but writer David Guggenheim has obviously seen plenty of these spy genre films so he knows how to keep things moving. Credit director Daniel Espinosa for staging a terrific car chase and some first rate fight scenes to keep the audience involved and not thinking too much about the plethora of plot holes.

Mr. Washington along with Mr. Reynolds work hard, with minimal dialogue, for your enjoyment and the film succeeds as crowd pleasing entertainment if you like lots of gunplay, explosions and car crashes.

The Iron Lady

Meryl Streep doesn't just star in this biography of Prime Minister Margret Thatcher, she explodes. As she does with most of her film, Ms. Streep disappears so completely into her character that you forget the actress and imagine the real Mrs. Thatcher. It is a towering performance.

The film itself is interesting enough if you care at all about England during the late 70's and 80's. What will hold your attention is Mrs. Thatcher's personal history and her rise to political power which ultimately leads to England's first female Prime Minister. What makes the film so unique is the bold choice to start with Mrs. Thatcher as an old, feeble woman prone to hallucinations of her dead husband and slowly reveal her story in flashbacks. Much of the film has Ms. Streep playing the elderly version of "MT" (as her husband referred to her) and yet there are plenty of striking moments of "MT" in her prime (no pun intended).

Jim Broadbent co-stars as husband, Dennis Thatcher and there is wonderful chemistry between the two stars. A major contribution to Ms. Streep's success is the wonderful makeup that even in the many close-ups is flawless. As Margret and Dennis age, the make-up never falters and is well deserved of it's Oscar nomination.

This is a remarkable story of a woman who refused to compromise and always believed one's life must have purpose and I can't think of a better actress today than Meryl Streep who honors Mrs. Thatcher, in one more shining performance.

One for The Money

More like "nothing for the money". This is a TV show disguised as a feature film. It would probably make a good one hour show. What can you expect when a film features four TV "stars" in the major roles. Katherine Heigl is a good fit for Janet Evanovich's plucky heroine, Stephanie Plum, but the lifeless script doesn't do her any justice. Ms. Evanovich has written at least 18 books based on the adventures of Ms. Plum so obviously there is an audience for this genre. A better script, director and choice of actors would have made a world of difference.

The film co-stars Jason O'Mara and Daniel Sunjata (two "hunk" actors better know for television roles), John Leguizamo (sleep walking through his role), Sherri Shepherd (as a ridiculous hooker), Debra Monk, and Debbie Reynolds. Everyone does bad New Jersey accents and I was particularly embarrassed for Ms. Reynolds.

Lionsgate should seriously consider turning the franchise into a weekly TV show. Ms. Heigl is far more comfortable on the small screen and bring in Ms. Evanovich as a producer. That might work. The film doesn't.