Cast: Amanda Peet (Phoenix) & Dermot Mulroney (Griffin)
For complete info, see IMDb's Griffin & Phoenix page.
I liked the actors playing the two main characters and figured I couldn't go wrong renting Griffin & Phoenix. I was right. It's not the typical romantic comedy, since the two main characters are both facing their deaths due to terminal illness and don't tell each other about their situations. That definitely puts a slightly different spin on the typical romantic comedy (even counting the ones with one terminally ill character). There are a lot of hilarious moments in this movie and (clearly) a quite a few times when those who get emotionally involved might tear up a bit.
I highly recommend renting Griffin & Phoenix if you didn't see it in a theatre.
Grade: B
Labels: 2006, Amanda Peet, comedy, Dermot Mulroney, drama, movie, romance
Reviewed by Kat at the 8:15 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: John Cusack (David), Bobby Coleman (Dennis aka the Martian Child), Amanda Peet (Harlee), Sophie Okonedo (Sophie), Joan Cusack (Liz)
For complete info, see IMDb's Martian Child page.
I didn't really know what to expect from this movie, since Ic try not to watch many previews once I know I want to see a movie and I'll watch anything with John Cusack. I didn't realize that the movie was based on a book, but I've added it to my long list of books I want to read.
Martian Child is a touching story about a boy who believes he's from Mars and the man who adopts him. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, in spite of the one glaring error they made when they made the movie and were trying to give Dennis some more characteristics that set him apart from the typical child. It bothered me throughout the movie that this boy who was extremely intelligent (as they mention and demonstrate several times in the movie) and who thinks he is from Mars (perhaps he is, I won't spoil that for you) would think he needs a weight belt on Earth to hold him down, since the gravitational pull on Earth isn't strong enough. They got the sun part right (he always wore his sunglasses and sunblock and said the sun was too bright), but the last time I checked the reason the Earth has a brighter sun than Mars is that it's closer to the sun. Earth's mass is also greater and when you combine these two things together, they mean that the gravitational pull is stronger on Earth than Mars. If the gravitational pull on Mars were stronger, you'd weigh more on Mars. You weigh more on Mars than you would on the Moon, but you still weigh significantly less on Mars. I know they kicked Pluto out of the planet list, but I'm pretty sure Mars is still closer to the Sun than the Earth.
I definitely recommend renting this movie if you missed it in theatres. It deals very well with the obstacles faced when a child is abandoned and has to cope with foster homes and the idea of being left behind.
Grade: B+
Labels: 2007, Amanda Peet, Bobby Coleman, drama, family, Joan Cusack, John Cusack, movie, sci-fi
Reviewed by Kat at the 9:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Zach Braff (Tom Reilly), Amanda Peet (Sofia Kowalski), Jason Bateman (Chip Sanders)
For complete info, see IMDb's Fast Track page.
It seems that The Ex is like the movie Satisfaction which they later renamed The Girls of Summer thinking it would make it more popular. I never heard of it as Fast Track, but thought that it was worth renting when I saw something about it this time around.
It's definitely not the funniest movie in the world, but The Ex is worth renting. The cast is really good and the story is entertaining. Nothing stellar or amazing in this fairly standard romantic comedy, but it's entertaining and that's all I really ask of movies that I rent.
Grade: C+
Labels: 2007, Amanda Peet, comedy, Jason Bateman, movie, romance, Zach Braff
Reviewed by Kat at the 4:30 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Jack Nicholson (Harry Sanborn), Diane Keaton (Erica Jane Barry), Keanu Reaves (Dr. Julian Mercer), Amanda Peet (Marin)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Something's Gotta Give page.
This is honestly the first time I've seen Keanu Reaves act where I've honestly thought, "Hey, he can really act. He's not just the goofball in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure." I was pleasantly surprised to see that the entire cast did a wonderful job with this great story.
The previews for Something's Gotta Give didn't do it justice. This is a great, quirky romantic comedy about love and coping with age.
Grade: A
Labels: 2003, Amanda Peet, comedy, Diane Keaton, drama, Jack Nicholson, Keanu Reeves, movie, romance
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: John Cusack (Ed), Ray Liotta (Rhodes), Amanda Peet (Paris)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Identity page.
I really enjoyed this movie. It was interesting till the end, even though I had figured it out by then. The cast is great and the story twists around enough to keep you wondering why all these strangers have been brought together at this one motel.
John Cusack is always a great actor, but I thought this showcased his talents very well.
Grade: B+
Labels: 2003, Amanda Peet, drama, horror, John Cusack, movie, mystery, thriller
Reviewed by Kat at the 1:00 PM show | 0 screams