July 5, 2005
"Bride
and Prejudice"
Directed by Gurinder Chadha ("Bend It Like Beckham")
and starring the beautiful Aishwarya Rai, this film features Bollywood-like musical
numbers. Set in the 21st century, the movie is loosely based on Jane Austen's
"Pride and Prejudice" with Austen's Lizzie Bennet renamed Lalita Bakshi
(Rai). Although Lalita and wealthy American businessman Will Darcy (Martin Henderson)
clash at first, they eventually gradually fall for each other.
"Dear
Frankie"
Set in Glasgow, this drama centers around a nine-year-old
deaf boy named Frankie. Frankie's mom (Emily Mortimer) fled the boy's abusive
father years ago and led her son to believe his dad is always away at sea. When
Frankie learns the Accra, the ship his father is supposed to be aboard, will call
at Glasgow, the boy begs to see his dad. Frankie's mom arranges for a stranger
(Gerard Butler) to pose as the boy's father, and the film chronicles how things
work out.
July
12, 2005
"Million
Dollar Baby"
This drama won four Oscars: Best Picture, Best Actress
(Hilary Swank), Best Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman), and Best Director (Clint
Eastwood). Eastwood also stars as Frankie, the owner of a gym that's seen better
days. There Scrap (Freeman) ekes out a living, and Frankie takes on the task of
training Maggie (Swank), a waitress who sees boxing as her only hope for making
something of her life. The movie achieves great emotional power through close
observation of these three characters and their world.
"A
Very Long Engagement"
This French-language drama stars the same lead
actress and has the same director as "Amélie" (2001). "A
Very Long Engagement" is set in 1920 France. Mathilde (Audrey Tautou) has
been told her boyfriend died in World War I, but information comes to light that
leads her to believe he may still be alive. She embarks upon a quest to find out
what happened to him and doggedly pursues her investigation, refusing to give
up hope they can be reunited.
July
19, 2005
No
recommendations for this week.
July
26, 2005
"The
Upside of Anger"
Joan Allen and Kevin Costner star in this unconventional
drama. Allen plays Terry Wolfmeyer, who is angry because her husband has run off
with a younger woman, leaving her alone to deal with their four daughters. Terry's
neighbor is Denny Davies (Costner), a former baseball star who is none too happy
these days as the host of a radio show. Terry and Denny start out as nothing more
than drinking buddies, but as time goes by, they become lovers.
