The Buddy Holly Story - 8 stars out of 10

The Buddy Holly Story - 8 stars out of 10

I respect The Buddy Holly Story above most other musician biopics because all of the music was performed live during the filming.  Gary Busey is amazing as Buddy Holly, bringing his famous songs to life.  This film really highlights the 50's worldview that rock 'n' roll was devil music and the challenge presented to musicians in creating their new brand of music.  Perhaps the most poignant scene is one in which Holly walks away from a recording contract as the producer tries to force his band to adopt a country sound.  It has been cited with inaccuracies (like changing the names of his bandmembers for legal reasons) but offers a great perspective into Holly's career.  From the opening scene at the skating rink to composing Peggy Sue in the car to the infamous performance at the Apollo Theater, this movie is a wonderful tribute to Buddy Holly's life.

Miracle at St. Anna - 7 stars out of 10

Miracle at St. Anna - 7 stars out of 10

I am usually put off when I see that a movie is more than 2 1/2 hours long, but I was pleased with Miracle at St. Anna because SO MUCH happened throughout the movie. The first 15 minutes of the movie was perfectly written, grabbing the audience's attention for the remainder of the film and leaving your jaw in the dropped position, wondering why the murder takes place. I found that the movie intensely engaged my emotions toward the Nazis as they graphically killed women and children. Although the acting was average, the story was excellent as it explored racism within the US army. This film has been controversial but is definitely worth watching

Prime - 1 star out of 10

Prime - 1 star out of 10


I love Meryl Streep... but hate this movie.  With the exception of Kill Bill, I never enjoy Uma Thurman and watching her in the plot of a high school drama strengthened these feelings.  If you feel like watching Thurman pursue a much younger guy and get into lots of overdramatic arguments, be my guest.  But you have been warned.

Jaws (1975) - 9 stars out of 10

Jaws (1975) - 9 stars out of 10

"We're gonna need a bigger boat."  "Jaws is one of the most iconic films ever made.  While it is often stereotyped and parodied as a silly movie with a fake-looking shark, it is actually a masterclass in building suspense and offers great performances by its three male leads.  Robert Shaw steals the show with his monologue about the war, while Roy Scheider provides the main character transformation and Richard Dreyfuss perfectly embodies his nerdy-yet-bold character.  We don't get to know any of the other characters very well but let's face it: this movie is all about the shark and 3 men's journey to kill it.  Steven Spielberg perfectly uses the unseen to create images in our imagination that are far more terrifying than anything that he could create onscreen.  Hitchcock would have been very proud.  I had seen the entire movie several times in segments on tv throughout my life and found the movie to be okay, but I was amazed at how great this movie is when you watch it as a whole.  It is hard to believe that you don't actually see the shark until an hour into the film because the film makes perfect use of  John Williams' aural representation of the villain.  We always know when Jaws is lurking around (and when he isn't even though we think that he is) by simply listening for the music.  Like the film, the theme is often stereotyped but in actuality is a masterpiece.  Williams' musical character fittingly earned him his first Oscar for an original score.  The technical wonder of the film is reflected in its Oscar wins for Best Film Editing and Best Sound, and it certainly would have won an award for Best Visual Effects if there was one in 1976.  As far the shark is concerned, its realism still holds up in modern times and continues to make viewers second-guess their upcoming beach vacations.  Don't underestimate "Jaws" - it is a classic and should be on everybody's list.  Just don't watch it right before a trip to the beach.

[Pictured: We make a lot of assumptions about "Jaws" because it is so often stereotyped, but once you view the entire film in context you will never think of it in the same way again.]

Extraordinary Measures - 8 stars out of 10

Extraordinary Measures - 8 stars out of 10

"Extraordinary Measures" is a clean-cut drama sporting Fraser's best performance since "School Ties."  Through a lot of highs and lows, it is very inspiring to realize that this is a true story.  Harrison Ford plays another gritty role (perfect for his personality) and Keri Russell brings a lot of emotion to the screen.  This awesome film shows that dramas do not need language and sex to draw in an audience and keep you on the edge of your seat.

Grumpy Old Men - 8 stars out of 10

Grumpy Old Men - 8 stars out of 10

How could anybody resist this classic comedy? There are few things in life more entertaining than two old guys picking on each other for an hour and 45 minutes.  In addition to the masterful acting of Matthau and Lemmon, Ann-Margret is the perfect temptation to increase their feuding and Burgess Meredith is hilarious as Grandpa Gustafson. The entire film is very well written, never taking the pranks to the point that we feel bad for a character but keeping things edgy enough to catch us off-guard, even up to the final scene.

Green Zone - 5 stars out of 10

Green Zone - 5 stars out of 10

It is not The Bourne trilogy but manages deliver some decent action sequences; however, "Green Zone" just turns out to be another attempt to make our country's administration look devious and corrupt.  While its plot is fictional, several characters are based on real political personalities.  I agree with the critics' negative response to this film.  The story is okay and the action is excellent, but it does not make it worth the attempt to empathize with static characters.