Cast: Elle Fanning (Phoebe Lichten), Felicity Huffman (Hillary Lichten), Patricia Clarkson (Miss Dodger), Bill Pullman (Peter Lichten)
For complete info see IMDb's Phoebe in Wonderland page.
I didn't know much about this movie other than the title and the cast before seeing it. I figured it was about a child fascinated by Alice in Wonderland who ends up getting the part of Alice in the school play. That's all definitely true, but it's only a small portion of the movie. Phoebe seems to suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder and perhaps Tourette's syndrom. The focus of the movie is on how Phoebe and her family cope with her disease and how being a part of the play may help Phoebe focus.
The movie is very well done and Elle Fanning has again shown that she's a great actor like her sister. Clearly, acting talent runs in the family.
If you missed it in theatres, I recommend renting Phoebe in Wonderland.
Grade: B+
Labels: 2009, Bill Pullman, drama, Elle Fanning, fantasy, Felicity Huffman, movie, Patricia Clarkson
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:30 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: David Strathairn (Edward R. Murrow), Robert Downey Jr. (Joe Wershba), Patricia Clarkson (Shirley Wershba), Jeff Daniels (Sig Mickelson), George Clooney (Fred Friendly)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Good Night, and Good Luck. page.
Perhaps I expected more from Good Night, and Good Luck., since it was nominated for best picture. Maybe if I'd seen it before I knew that, I would have been more impressed. Since I didn't, I only have my perceptions from after the nomination and I wasn't really that impressed. It was a good movie, but not one of my favorite 5 that I've seen from 2005 and I haven't seen Capote or Munich yet. I think Match Point was a much better movie. But, they never ask me...
I'd say Good Night, and Good Luck. is worth renting, but I'm glad I didn't bother to see it in a movie theater.
Grade: B-
Labels: 2005, drama, George Clooney, history, movie, Patricia Clarkson, Robert Downey Jr.
Reviewed by Kat at the 9:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Kurt Russell (Herb Brooks), Patricia Clarkson (Patty Brooks), Noah Emmerich (Craig Patrick)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Miracle page.
I love the Olympics and hockey, so I was very excited about the making of Miracle. I remember the Olympics of 1980, though I wasn't a fan of hockey yet. I was already a big fan of the Olympics.
I've never met Herb Brooks, but from what I have seen on screen, Kurt Russell did an amazing job of portraying him. Noah Emmerich did a great job of portraying a young Craig Patrick, too. I didn't meet Craig Patrick till I became a big hockey fan in Pittsburgh, where I went to high school, but Noah Emmerich really had it down.
I was amazed by how many new faces they used to make this movie, using many hockey players who had never acted before. I think this helped the movie look more authentic. There was actually cheering going on in the movie theater for the different games the US played in on screen. I haven't been to many movies that move an audience to cheer for a game happening within a movie.
The beginning of the movie, where it set up the cold war feel of the late 70's and early 80's was great. The ending, telling us what happened to each of the players from the 1980 team was really well done, too.
I'm so happy that Miracle was well done. I can't wait to see all the extras they put on the DVD we'll definitely own.
Grade: A+
Labels: 2004, drama, family, history, movie, Patricia Clarkson, sports
Reviewed by Kat at the 4:15 PM show | 0 screams