Viewed in April

Desk Set– always a fun one, especially for a librarian like me

Sin City – ultra violent, but well done, really captured Frank Miller’s work

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow – re-run but enjoyed it again – love the final scene with the camera

King Arthur – hadn’t seen this one in the theatre, not too awful, an interesting take on Arthur’s identity, and well, you know, Clive Owen

2046 – Wow. Recent Wong-Kar Wai, picks up after In the Mood for Love, one of my all time favorites. This one is denser and more difficult to follow, with some circularity or repetition of time and motifs.

Raging Bull – missed the beginning, so still have never seen it all the way through. Fascinating piece of work, though.

Strayed – hmmm, didn’t finish

Melinda & Melinda – see post below

Eros – see post below

Seventh Heaven – see post below

Code 46 – a science fiction/dystopia piece of dreary with Tim Robbins and Samantha Morton, could have been so interesting, was so lacking

Being Julia – didn’t know quite what to expect, was quite good. Annette Bening was really good in this. The revenge scene at the end is priceless.

Kansas City – one of Altman’s better works, although quite dark, not a happy ending to be sure

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – only the second time we’ve seen this, unusual given how much we loved it. The second time was different – it will never quite be like the first time, when you don’t know what’s going on yet. Knowing the deal, though, allowed me to pick up more of the nuances – was able to pay more attention because I wasn’t speculating wildly about the plot

The Incredibles – not as incredible as I’d been led to believe, but enjoyable.

Vera Drake – dreary, dreary, and lacking something important that just never materializes.

Strange Days – wow, how 90s. Didn’t remember it being so bad. As Shawn said, well, it’s an artifact. Of what, I’m not sure. Our copy is for sale – cheap! bargain! - at half.com if you’re curious or masochistic…

A Very Long Engagement – aaaah. What a treat to finally see this wonderful film. An engaging story with good characters, Audrey Tautou is just so good, and Jeanot gives us a very sensitive yet brutal portrayal of what has always struck me as one of the stupidest, most wasteful wars ever (World War I).

Spanglish – I really liked this, even with all its flaws and even with Adam Sandler once again playing the downtrodden guy. At least it’s an adult, responsible downtrodden version this time out. There’s that moment where he confronts Tea Leoni about the affair and she’s prevaricating like mad and he just insists that she answer the question with a simple yes or no. Finally, she blurts out yes, and he looks truly stunned. “Really?” he asks in the most plaintive voice. That scene seemed so real. Among others that were not all that realistic, that one stood out.

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – what a fun one. Ebert & Roeper trashed it (yes, the same Roeper who recently gave thumbs up to House of Wax, for god’s sake, said this was just too British. What a snob.) but it’s great fun.

Key Largo – a golden oldie, with Bacall looking so young and Bogie so dapper

Betty Blue – a disturbing tale of a couple who vie for the I’m the Most Screwed Up Person in This Relationship Award

Love and Death – vintage Woody, quite hilarious, a good way to end the month (wheat, wheat, wheat, and so very appropriate as the Palouse begins its season of wheat)