Cast: Meryl Streep (Jane), Steve Martin (Adam), Alec Baldwin (Jake)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's It's Complicated page.
I really enjoyed this movie. It was definitely not one that needed to be seen on a big screen, since it's story driven and doesn't have any special effects, but now that it's out on Blu-ray & DVD, I highly recommend renting It's Complicated.
The cast is great and the story is entertaining. When you're looking for a good romantic comedy, what else do you need?
Grade: B+
Labels: 2009, Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep, movie, Steve Martin
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Abigail Breslin (Andromeda 'Anna' Fitzgerald), Sofia Vassilieva (Kate Fitzgerald), Cameron Diaz (Sara Fitzgerald), Jason Patric (Brian Fitzgerald), Evan Ellingson (Jesse Fitzgerald), Alec Baldwin (Campbell Alexander), Joan Cusack (Judge De Salvo)
For complete info see IMDb's My Sister's Keeper page.
If I hadn't read the book, I probably would have enjoyed the movie a lot more. Don't get me wrong - the movie is very moving and still worth seeing. I think they did a wonderful job with the cast and addressing most of the issues in the book. Like all good books that become movies, a lot of the story from the book is missing in the movie version of My Sister's Keeper. Some of that is barely missed. I think they did a great job with the movie (overall) until near the end of the story when they totally butchered the ending.
Since I don't want to spoil the movie for anyone (whether you have or haven't read the book), I'll simply say this. The ending is drastically different in the movie and doesn't have even close to the same powerful impact as the ending in Jodi Picoult's book.
If you're interested in the story and love to read, pick up a copy of My Sister's Keeper. The movie is decent, but not as good as the book. Definitely worth renting from Netflix.
Grade: B
Labels: 2009, Abigail Breslin, Alec Baldwin, book, Cameron Diaz, drama, Jason Patric, Joan Cusack, movie, tear jerker
Reviewed by Kat at the 2:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast:Matt Damon (Edward Wilson), Angelina Jolie (Clover/Margaret Russell), Alec Baldwin (Sam Murach), Tammy Blanchard (Laura), Billy Crudup (Arch Cummings), Robert De Niro (General Bill Sullivan, Director, Producer)
For complete information, see IMDb's The Good Shepherd site.
When you see people like Angelina Jolie take supporting roles in a movie, it's normally a good sign. The fact that Robert De Niro is producing, directing, and acting in a movie never hurts, either. The cast of The Good Shepherd is amazing. This story of how the CIA was formed is very well told. It's intriguing and kept me interested throughout the movie. Had it not been for the people who left (some to never come back), I wouldn't have noticed the length of this film.
I definitely recommend seeing The Good Shepherd in a movie theatre, even though it's definitely not a special effects laden movie.
Grade: B+
Labels: 2006, Alec Baldwin, Angelina Jolie, Billy Crudup, drama, Matt Damon, Robert DeNiro, thriller
Reviewed by Kat at the 3:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: William H. Macy (Bernie Lootz), Alec Baldwin (Shelly Kaplow), Maria Bello (Natalie Belisario), Shawn Hatosy (Mikey)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's The Cooler page.
This movie about an unlucky man (Bernie Lootz) repaying a debt by capitalizing on his lack of luck at an classic Las Vegas casino run by Shelly Kaplow is very interesting. Seeing Bernie deal with the idea of not always being a jinx and the potential of happinness in his own life kept me interested throughout the movie. The cast is amazing and the story is well told.
The Cooler combines drama, romance, comedy, and life in Las Vegas casinos very well. I definitely recommend renting or Tivoing The Cooler if you didn't get around to seeing it in a theatre.
Grade: B
Labels: 2003, Alec Baldwin, comedy, drama, Maria Bello, movie, romance, William H. Macy
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:50 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Jim Carrey (Dick Harper), Tea Leoni (Jane Harper), Alec Baldwin (Jack McCallister)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Fun with Dick and Jane page.
Definitely glad we rented this, rather than seeing it in the theatres. It's a typical Jim Carrey flick. Very funny, but nothing that special about it. I recommend it as a rental (or you can wait till it makes it to HBO, which shouldn't be too long now).
It's a funny story about how a couple learns to steal when they're beyond desperate and then ends up managing to get the guy who caused then managed to take money from the man who caused the whole disaster in the first place. Amusing enough to hold my interest through the whole movie, but not Jim Carrey's best.
Grade: B-
Labels: 2005, Alec Baldwin, comedy, crime, movie
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:30 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Orlando Bloom (Drew Baylor), Kirsten Dunst (Claire Colburn), Susan Sarandon (Hollie Baylor), Alec Baldwin (Phil DeVoss)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Elizabethtown page.
The soundtrack alone is worth watching Elizabethtown. Cameron Crowe did a great job selecting music, as always. His story telling in this one wasn't as great as some of his others, but it's still a very sweet story about a young man who's having a lot of problems in his life who finds exactly the right girl on the way to his father's memorial with the family they've been estranged from for years.
I always enjoy Kirsten Dunst and Orlando Bloom and Elizabethtown was no exception. I'm not sure I'd recommend seeing it in the theater like I did, but it's definitely worth renting! There are no special effects, so you won't miss anything on the smaller screen.
I know the reviews trash this movie, but I thought it was a great story with a wonderful soundtrack and definitely recommend it.
Grade: B+
Labels: 2005, Alec Baldwin, comedy, drama, Kirsten Dunst, movie, Orlando Bloom, romance, Susan Sarandon
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Ben Stiller (Reuben Feffer), Jennifer Aniston (Polly Prince), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Sandy Lyle), Debra Messing (Lisa Kramer), Alec Baldwin (Stan Indursky), Hank Azaria (Claude)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Along Came Polly page.
This was a much funnier movie than I anticipated from the previews. Of course, I'm glad that they didn't give away everything. Hank Azaria was completely hilarious as Claude and the rest of the cast was good, too. The story about a risk analyst whose perfect life gets turned upside down when his wife leaves him on their honeymoon for another guy and he meets up with an old classmate who's totally wild and free is funny and enjoyable to watch.
Grade: B+
Labels: 2004, Alec Baldwin, comedy, Debra Messing, Jennifer Aniston, Philip Seymour Hoffman, romance
Reviewed by Kat at the 5:00 PM show | 0 screams