Cast: Robin Williams (Gabriel Noone), Toni Collette (Donna D. Logand), Rory Culkin (Pete D. Logand), Sandra Oh (Anna), Bobby Cannavale (Jess)
For complete info, see IMDb's The Night Listener page.
The Night Listener was an interesting movie. Definitely not up there with the best of Robin Williams, Toni Collette, or Sandra Oh's movies, but it was worth recording. I like watching movies based on real stories and the ones where the mystery involved hasn't been solved are always more entertaining, though they're a bit frustrating.
I recommend renting The Night Listener if you haven't seen it yet or waiting for it to show up on one of the movie channels again.
Grade: C+
Labels: 2006, movie, Robin Williams, Rory Culkin, Sandra Oh, Toni Collette
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast Abigail Breslin (Olive), Greg Kinnear (Richard), Paul Dano (Dwayne), Alan Arkin (Grandpa), Toni Collette (Sheryl), Steve Carell (Frank)
For complete info, see IMDb's Little Miss Sunshine page.
It's easy to see why Little Miss Sunshine was nominated for Best Picture (and the other categories). This movie manages to be hilarious and dramatic at the same time. The cast is amazing. Little Miss Sunshine has an original plot and tells a story about a fairly strange family with a lot of relatively normal problems. In spite of the uniqueness of the family and some of their interactions, it's easy to relate to some of their problems and the way they handle everything life throws at them.
If you missed Little Miss Sunshine in a theatre, it's on DVD now - check it out.
Grade: B+
Labels: Abigail Breslin, comedy, drama, movie, Toni Collette
Reviewed by Kat at the 8:20 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Cameron Diaz (Maggie Feller), Toni Collette (Rose Feller), Mark Feuerstein (Simon Stein), Shirley MacLaine (Ella Hirsch)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's In Her Shoes page.
I loved the book In Her Shoes and was excited about the movie in spite of the fact that I wasn't too happy with the casting of the two main characters (Maggie & Rose). In the book, Maggie was described as someone who's just about the most beautiful creature in the world. Though I think of Cameron Diaz as cute, I'd hardly call her the most beautiful woman ever... And Toni Collette is far from the frumpy and fat woman Rose was in the book. I thought perhaps that they used a fat suit or something in the movie, but they didn't.
In spite of the issues I had with the casting before seeing the movie, after seeing In Her Shoes, I think that the casting was well done, even though Rose wasn't as frumpy as she was in the book and Maggie wasn't as gorgeous, I thought it was a bit more real this way.
Unfortunately, if David is any indication, it's a bit too much of a chick flick... Perhaps it's something that only us women will be interested in, since it definitely concentrates on the women in the story. The cast did a wonderful job. Brooke Smith as Amy, Rose's best friend, was perfect - just like every best friend should be in real life. Not all of us are as lucky as I am to have a best friend as great as she is, but Amy was portrayed perfectly.
I had wanted to see In Her Shoes in the movie theater, but after seeing it, I think it's a bit better on the rental list anyway. Very good after Super Bowl movie.
Grade: B
Labels: 2005, Cameron Diaz, comedy, drama, movie, Toni Collette
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:30 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Hugh Grant (Will), Nicholas Hoult (Marcus Brewer), Toni Collette (Fiona Brewer), Rachel Weisz (Rachel), Sharon Small (Christine)
For complete cast, see IMDb's About a Boy page.
I didn't read the Nick Hornby novel about an immature man who's taught to act like an adult by a little boy, but I enjoyed the movie. I almost always enjoy Hugh Grant, Toni Collette, and Rachel Weisz in movies and About a Boy did not disappoint me. Although the idea of a childish adult meeting a child who teaches them how to act their age is far from unique, the way it is presented is definitely different.
About a Boy is funny, serious at times, and has a lot of heart. I definitely recommend renting it.
Grade: B
Labels: 2002, comedy, drama, Hugh Grant, movie, Rachel Weisz, romance, Toni Collette
Reviewed by Kat at the 2:40 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Gwyneth Paltrow (Emma Woodhouse), James Cosmo (Mr. Weston), Alan Cumming (Rev. Elton), Toni Collette (Harriet Smith)
For complete cast, see IMDb's Emma page.
This movie based on the Austen novel of the same name was surprising to me. I expected to enjoy it more than the modern version (Clueless - 1995) and the period piece wasn't quite as well done. I still highly recommend this movie. The novel is good and the movie has an amazing cast and is very well done with the period. I love period pieces, but in this case if you're not going to see this and Clueless, perhaps you should wait and see Emma in a few years. It's definitely worth renting, though, especially if you like the original story.
Grade: B+
Labels: 1996, comedy, Gwyneth Paltrow, movie, romance, Toni Collette
Reviewed by Kat at the 2:45 PM show | 0 screams