Crazy Heart (2009)

This is perhaps the last movie my brother really praised too me. Jeff Bridges finally won his Oscar for this character study of a drunken, has-been country-western singer and his long road to redemption. The movie doesn't take you any place you haven't already been, its really just a slight variation on the arc story of most musical bio-pics, but it takes you there gracefully. I know not everybody thinks she's beautiful, but Maggie Gyllenhaal is really attractive in this.

The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973)

Massachusetts based crime drama that gets increasingly impressive the longer it goes, you can see in it a lot of inspiration for later films of a similar type. Robert Mitchum plays Eddie Coyle, a middle-aged husband and father of three who is simultaneously playing arms dealer for the mob, and reluctant informant for Uncle Sam. The movie has a number of solid caper scenes, a fair amount of brooding, and a lot of intriguing characters, with Eddie Coyle serving largely as a hub for there interrelated stories. It's engaging and exudes a refreshingly understated sense moral ambiguity, loved the ending. 4.5 out of 5.

Androcles and the Lion (1952)

In his autobiography actor Alan Young laments that this work of his is not more widely seen. Young plays Androcles, a tailor, Christian, and animal lover living in the Roman Empire 2nd century AD. Androcles is taken to be scarified in the games or too the Lions and is even mistaken as a sorcerer. This is an adaptation of the George Bernard Shaw play, it has more of a sense of humor and is more honest about the human weakness of the faithful then most of the pious works of the 'Christan's and Romans' sub-genera. However ones not entirely sure how to take the proceedings, on some level its seems mocking and satirical, on another a somewhat comic though almost erudite ode to simple faith. Young's performance grows on you, though it remains very childlike. Jean Simmons wears form fitting robes, and Victor Mature plays yet another Roman receptive to Christains (see The Robe). The rest of the cast sprinkled with surprisingly big (but now largely forgotten) names. More or less satisfying.

Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story (2008)

Before there was Karl Rove (or even James Carville) there was Lee Atwater. The South Carolina reared Atwater was a force in the national organization of College Republicans in the 1970's, and even ran Vietnam War General William Westmoreland's campaign for governor of that state at the age of 23. He worked his way up in the Reagen White house and ran George H. W. Bush's 1988 presidential campaign, and is widely considered responsible for the infamous Willie Horton ad. After that election and not yet 40 Atwater was named chairman of the RNC, he used that position to continue his strong arm political tactics, hob nob with celebrities, and even record a Grammy nominated blues album with B.B. King. A brain tumor took Atwater's life in 1991 and perhaps most fascinating of all was the mans reported change of heart and regret for his actions late in life, though whether he really meant any of his apologies or was just hedging his beats for the afterlife is left an open question. A sad, strange life, but not quite as fascinating of a documentary as I had hopped. Three out of Five. Film was released in Sweden under the title America's Evilest Man.

8: The Mormon Proposition (2010)

Documentary centering around the role of the LDS Church in the passage of Proposition 8, a 2008 referendum amending the California state constitution so as to bar the legal recognition of same sex marriages in that state. Some may dispute the use of the term documentary in describing this production, as it is in fact an expose on Mormon involvement in Prop 8, as well as of a general and continuing history of anti homosexual teaching, feeling and action in said religious body. The film references the Church's involvement in efforts to prevent the legal recognition of same sex marriage in Hawaii in the 1990's as a sort of template upon which subsequent anti-homosexual marriage rights campaigns (such as Prop 8) were based, surprisingly Mormon involvement in defeating the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970's and 80's is never mentioned. The film does make the point that Mormon opposition to same sex marriage has certain distinctive theological implications lacking in say Catholic or Evangelical religious objections to the practice. The film dose a good job of using the words of church leaders, both public and in a vast collection of internal memos, emails, ect. obtained by an investigative reporter featured in the film. It is pointed out that the Church intentionally sought to emphasis its self as only part of a wider organized coalition opposed to same sex marriage, despite its members shouldering most of the leadership and financial commitment to the efforts in California. The end of the film loses some of its primary focus and ventures into related side issues of homeless gay Mormon teens in Utah, electro-shock aversion therapy practiced on gay BYU students in the 1970's, and some rather 'indelicately phrased' rhetoric from a Mormon anti-gay activist, a Utah state senator, and of course the late Bruce R. McConkie. Film is one sided, but informative, and a good compact presentation given the breadth of material it covers in 80 minutes. Film could spawn many an interesting conversation, so recommended.

Toy Story 3 (2010)

Finale entire in the 'Toy Story Trilogy' does a rare thing, it's better then its predecessors. Film chronicles what happens to a core group of 'Andy's Toys' as the now 17 year old prepares to go to college. The film took some unexpected twists and turns, was darker then you might expect, but also very poignant, creative, and the best adventure film of the year. Ned Beatty hasn't been this Machiavellian since Network (1976), film also contains a nice (I suppose you'd call it a cameo) for Miyazaki fans. I was really impressed, and honestly moved in places. My triumphant return to movies in theaters.