The movie has a sequence that revolves around the head gangster in church; religious music is the predominant sound as scenes flash from violence involving the gang, then back to their leader in church. Is this THE GODFATHER? No, it’s AMERICAN GANGSTER, where Ridley Scott blatantly rips off this concept. Too bad, because this film has strong performances by Russell Crowe as Detective Richie Roberts, and Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas.

Other actors are impressive in small parts. Ruby Dee had an Oscar nomination for her role as Mama Lucas. Cuba Gooding Jr., Josh Brolin and Armand Assante enrich the supporting cast. Then there’s the dog, which proves that an animal lover can’t be all bad.

The story is loosely based on the true story. Detective Roberts is notoriously known as an honest cop, and he’s devoted to ending Lucas’s rule in Harlem. The surprise is who becomes his greatest asset, and the person who ends up being the gangster’s trusted and true friend. The fascinating view we are shown into Lucas’s involved drug trade, policemen on the take, and restricted lives of the players make the movie well worth watching.

Just saw a picture on CNN of Bobby Cutts, Jr. He’s the police officer who murdered his pregnant girlfriend. My first though was that he looked like an actor from AMERICAN GANGSTER. Seems to validate the authentic feel of the movie. If you don’t mind the violence, this is a movie that keeps you involved throughout. Even when you think it’s over, it continues to astonish.

The opening scene of WAITRESS is deliciously seductive. I longed to be a part of it. I wanted to dip into each pie for a taste. Jenna (Keri Russell) is a pie artist who seduces the other characters with her plucky charm and scrumptious pies, and uses her new menu creations to help tell the story.

The plot’s main ingredients are:

-the unhappy marriage between Jenna and Earl (Jeremy Sisto), who is insecure and super-controlling

-Jenna’s unwanted pregnancy

-her new and unsuspecting doctor, Dr. Pommater (Nathan Fillion)

-and Old Joe (Andy Griffith), the pie diner’s crusty,

sour-cherry-pie owner

But the pies are the crème fraiche folded into the chocolate mousse plot poured into the whole story crust.

The story is sweetened with two other waitresses at the diner, Becky (Cherly Hines) and Dawn (Adrienne Shelly), and Ogie (Eddie Jimison). They all add their problems, support, and comedy to the movie.

Keri Russell carries the movie with her amazing character. Her interaction with Andy Griffith is especially endearing. He plays the almost opposite of any other role I’ve ever seen him in, and he plays it very convincingly.

It’s a story with turns that are all worth taking. After watching it once, I immediately watched it again. Everyone should try it the first time. Just make sure you aren’t hungry.

I haven’t seen Cabin Fever or Hostel, so it might seem a little strange that the first Eli Roth film I saw was Hostel Part II.  Until now I have to admit that I was influenced by the venom that Roth provokes from some people, such as one of my favorite bloggers Nikki Finke (see here, here, here, here, and here) who personally named Roth "Enemy No. 1". So on a lazy Sunday afternoon, with no other options I reluctantly agreed to watch the recently released sequel. To my surprise, I found the film well written and well made - not the typical mind numbing horror film that’s come out during the ‘horror renaissance’ Hollywood has gone through over the past few years. Apparently Roth plans on expanding out from the horror genre and it’ll be interesting to see what this solid director and writer will produce. In the short term, though, Roth is slated to helm one more scary send-up with the Stephen King penned ‘Cell’.

Oh boy! Another video game adaptation! This time its Eidos Interactive’s Hitman, a video game franchise that produced four games in the series. While gamers have enjoyed Hitman, movie reviewers are widely panning the film - its script, its visuals, its casting. Taking a page from numerous predecessors Hitman, directed by Xavier Gens, follows an assassin known only as “agent 47″ played by the respected, but miscast, Timothy Olyphant. Agent 47 is tasked with assassinating the Russian President but is double crossed. He spends the bulk of the film trying to track down who crossed him while simultaneously being hunted down by other assassins and Interpol. Not exactly a genre shattering plot and to all accounts a poor script (penned by Skip Woods) to boot. Though its bloody violence and gratuitous boob shoots, courtesy of co-star Olga Kurylenko, will appeal to preteen boys, its R rating will keep them out of theatres. Visit the Hitman offical website.

Why didn’t I hear more about The Painted Veil?  After keeping it at the bottom of my Neflix queue, I finally moved it up, not thinking it would be anything special.  To my delight, I was mistaken! This story by W. Somerset Maugham, starts in London, then moves to China during the 1920’s.

First, the excellent photography captured the breathtaking scenery.  Second, the story keeps you fascinated, wondering what the next turn will be.  (Not surprising, since it’s based on such a wonderful author’s book.) Third, the acting is above the usual performance by all, but especially by Edward Norton.  Yes, I’m an avid fan, but he rose above my expectations.  For the first part of the movie he seems a background player, there for contrast with Naomi Watts.  But when he goes to rural China to help with a cholera epidemic his strength emerges.  Norton plays this part with such depth and sensitivity!

If you missed this one, go back and rent it.  It won several awards, but should have won more.  If only for the scenery it’s worth seeing, but its value is in the story and acting.

It was embarrassing seeing Diane Keeton in Because I Said So. Every actress seems to have her bombs, but how could this even be the same person who did Annie Hall, Reds, The Godfather, Something’s Gotta Give, etc?

The story was also so unbelievable. No mother who was that controlling would have been so close to her daughters. They would have stopped speaking to her long ago! And would an architect and a musician, who were both good looking, really need to ‘apply’ to find a woman?

Now, is there anything good I can say about this movie? It would be good to save your money and time by not renting or buying it.

Guillermo del Toro not only wrote this story, but also directed it with crisscross patterns of creative fantasy and harsh reality. The animation is nothing like Disney. The sometimes crude and frightening fairies and faun serve his purpose well. His creatures are reminiscent of Return to Oz when they evolve from rocks and insects.

In this dark fairy tale, only for adults, the strength of women is uplifting. The young lady, Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), from her first meeting with Capitán Vidal (Sergi López), exhibits an unconquerable spirit. Her mother (Ariadna Gil) and Mercedes (Maribel Verdú) all show a shadowed optimism in this 1944 Franco Spain setting. All three exhibit outstanding performances that captivate the audience’s empathy.

The exact opposite is the Fascist Capitán Vidal. From the first words about his wife’s arrival being fifteen minutes late, you know he is evil. His handsome charm betrays his sinister obsession with cruelty. His military genius gives him many opportunities to exhibit this side. He exploits his wife and those who care for her only to gain a son, not for love but to extend his military heritage. López gives a performance that should be rated with the renowned villains of all time.

This historic fiction enriches the viewer’s knowledge of the emotions during WWII in Spain. The fantasy, like del Toro’s Book of Crossroads, gives the mind an imaginative blank book, ready to be filled with challenges. Watch it at least once.

Not often do I enjoy the movie more than the book, but this is one of the exceptions. My age says I’m an adult, but still enjoy movies aimed at children. This one should have an advisory that younger children should wait until they are older to see this classic.

The Disney animation, mixed with charismatic child actors, brings the viewer an escape from the predictable. You feel their frustrations as bullies rule their lives, and their joy as they build their fantasy in the woods. Family life is a strong force, but friendship is their salvation, only to come back to family bonding when tragedy strikes. Villains and heroes come in unexpected forms, and switch roles. An all too perfect world come crashing down.

Anna Sophia Robb is an actress to watch. She is refreshing as the misfit newcomer who refuses to conform. Her quirky charm grows on her two friends, as well as the viewers. No doubt she was captivating as the little girl who loved Winn-Dixie, and the perfect smart aleck Violet she was supposed to be in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. But as Leslie Burke she radiates in a role made for her. The fantasy all becomes believable. Can’t wait to see her next film!