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Caché Steve Gadd   DVD   21 October 2006 Much like "Lost Highway," but, being French, deprives the viewer of any satisfaction in the end.

Caddie Woodlawn Julie Gephart   Mysteriously Free HBO   07 March 2003 A hundred times better than Pippi Longstocking, but I think from now on I had better stick with just reading the childhood classics. Jolly Uncle Edmond was transformed into a goofy boob played by Parker Stevenson, and good old Robert Ireton was reduced to nothing more than a rabid pit bull whose only character trait seemed to be that he really, really, really wanted to kill some Injuns.

Cape Fear (1962) Ray Hunley   Netflix DVD   25 June 2005 Continuing the original/remake comparison series. For the first time, I think I have to give the barest of nods to the remake version. Bob Mitchum and Gregory Peck give nothing up to Deniro and Nolte, but Scorsese's direction makes the difference in the 1991 version. The original, the story of ex-con Mitchum seeking revenge on the man who put him away, remains a chilling bit of genius nevertheless.

Capote Tony Pisarenkov   Loews Cineplex Dupont Circle, Washington, DC   03 December 2005 Very impressive. I can only assume that Philip Seymour Hoffman's portrayal of Truman Capote was reasonably true to life, which makes Capote the most un-human, if not quite inhuman, personality in the history of American letters. Highly recommended.

Capote Steve Gadd   DVD   08 April 2006 Seymour does some good work, but I found the pace a touch slow.

Capturing the Friedmans Jaqi Ross   DVD   04 April 2004 Documentary on the Friedmans, a seemingly typical, upper-middleclass Jewish family whose world is instantly transformed when the father and his youngest son are arrested and charged with shocking and horrible crimes.

Casablanca Kristin Schrock   VHS   31 January 2003 Not that you really need me to tell you this is a great movie. However, ABennett and I figured something out while watching it. Although everyone smokes pretty much constantly throughout the entire movie, we are only shown a cigarrette being lit 4 times. I can now add that bit of trivia to the one about the Little Peole in the background at the end.

Casablanca Tony Pisarenkov   DVD   26 April 2003 A classic that requires no introduction and the source of more cliches than you can count on the fingers of both hands. And some people even came over to watch it with us!

Casablanca (1942) A Bennett   owned VHS   31 January 2003 There is a reason this film has the reputation it has. Not only is it possibly the MOST QUOTABLE film I've ever seen, it also continues to be a great viewing experience each and every time I watch it (and that would be--at this point--many times). This film has enough well-drawn characters that any viewer could find at least one to like and identify with. This review may be cliched, but only if you've never taken the chance to give this film that should never have worked, let alone survived, a fair chance as a viewer. You know, either that, or you're an idiotic boor.

Casino Royale Tony Pisarenkov   DVD at home   17 March 2007 Eh...

Castaway Mike Gadd   Borrowed video from somebody (don't remember who)   24 January 2004 A little late to the game on this one. I got it from someone about 2 years ago but we were just a month away from flying to Florida and I had heard about how realistic the plane crash scene was so we held off. Quite the plane crash too. As lifelike as the train crash in 'The Fugitive'. You certainly have to be in the Tom Hanks fan club to enjoy this movie. I kept thinking of the dude in the book 'Adrift' who floated across the Atlantic. He could have been Tom's body double.

Catch Me If You Can Steve Gadd   DVD   03 June 2003 What could be an interesting hourlong documentary becomes a bore in this slow-paced non-drama.

Celeste in the City A Bennett   TiVo'd from ABC Family   28 March 2004 Proposed Death Match: Ethan Embry's Signature 'Troubled' Look vs. Michael Vartan's Signature 'Concerned' Look. A film that re-inforced every stereotype I'd ever heard about gay men--including the one about how sometimes they are listed in the credits as; 'Deborah Gibson'.

Central Station Steve Gadd   DVD   30 May 2005 An unloved retired teacher makes ends meet by writing letters for illiterate passers-by in Rio de Janeiro's train station. She connects with a bratty orphan, and the story of her trying to reconnect him to family is quite touching.

Changing Lanes Steve Gadd   DVD   04 July 2003 Not an action movie as expected, but a meandering story about two guys getting really angry at each other and then working it out. Second movie in two days to feature a grey Toyota Corolla.

Changking Express Tony Pisarenkov   DVD chez G&N   18 August 2006 Absorbing and well done, but multiple independent stories touching at a single point work better in threes rather than twos like here.

Charlie Wilson's War Steve Gadd   DVD   03 March 2009

Charlotte Gray A Bennett   Hollywood Video VHS   06 April 2003 When this picture came out, I remember reading a review or two of it. They weren't very positive, so when I rented it I had some pretty low expectations (and I was coming to it on the heels of the befouled Affair of the Necklace). Well, what was wrong with those people? How could a film about an ordinary Scotswoman, recruited in WWII as a British courier to be air dropped into Vichy France NOT interest just about anyone? Cate Blanchett rocks, and though some parts of the plot might be a bit "soapy," it's a good time. I _will_ see this film a second time. A film about doing the right things for the wrong reasons, about doing evil--though not by direct choice--and about learning that sometimes the only thing one can do in such troubled times is not grand, or patriotic, or even courageous--it is rather the smallest, human-est thing that she realizes is worth the price of her own life.

Chasing Papi A Bennett   Hollywood Video DVD   22 February 2004 Thanks to an overdose of tranquilizers, the 'papi' in question is passed out (a la Bernie) for 90% of this comedy, in which the three women he's dating in NY, Miami, and Chicago respectively convene (unwittingly) at his house in LA. They become witting soon enough, and what follows is an unremarkable (but pleasant enough) plot about three very different women finding strengths and worth within, and ultimately realizing that they don't need their 'papi'. Nice that the comedy did not come from one long, unrelenting cat fight over the hunk of beef. Nice that the [mythical] "universal tribe of women" motif was not as tacky and unbelieveable as it often is portrayed.

Chicago A Bennett   AMC Newport on the Levee   11 January 2003 This film was *everything* Moulin Rouge both should have been and wanted to be. I found myself grinning from ear to ear, and wanting to applaud after each number. Also (and I never would have in my life thought I would _ever_ say this), Richard Gere deserves a major award.

Chicago Kristin Schrock   Theatre   11 January 2003 I am not a big fan of the musical. But this one was fun with good dance numbers, and much better than Moulin Rouge. I kept waiting for the tap number which did not disappoint--even without jazz hands. And, Richard Gere, can belt it out.

Chicago Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   24 January 2003 It's definitely a musical, but more watchable than that sensation from last year, even with Richard Gere.

Chicago Tony Pisarenkov   Harkins Arizona Mills   21 April 2003 Mildly Entertaining. But Oscar material?!?!

Chicago (Second Viewing) A Bennett   AMC 20 Newport-on-the-Levee   10 February 2003 How a film about a miscarriage of the judicial system can both make you revel in it, and, in tandem, disgust you by it, is nothing short of cinematic genius--particularly keeping in mind that the film is 90% song and dance. Again, Richard Gere, please come up to accept your MAJOR AWARD. **If you have the chance to see this film before it leaves the theatre, I urge you to do so. I do not doubt it will play well on TV, only, it's a big-theatre show, and it deserves to be experienced that way.

Children of Men Steve Gadd   DVD   04 April 2007 An action flick that stood up pretty well to what I feared were exaggerated claims of "Blade Runner for this generation." I liked the intense action sequences (without action hero cliches), the dystopian futurism (without heavy-handed commentary), and layered story (without unduly cerebral connect-the-dots plot-twisting).

Children of the Corn: Revelation Julie Gephart   Rental   12 October 2002 Watched in honor of having gone through a corn maze earlier in the day. Instead of fear, it prompted a great deal of "What?" with a little "huh?" on the side. I still have no idea if the corn itself was somehow evil, or why there was blood in it, or what, in fact, was happening to the various dead people, some of whom seemed to emerge again as children and some of whom did not. Maybe I needed to see the first movie in order to understand this one.

Children Underground Tony Pisarenkov   DVD chez J.&C.   01 February 2008 A documentary about the infamous orphans of Bucharest, who found themselves on the streets when the orphanages closed after the fall of Causescu. A little hard to evaluate -- the subject matter is so foreign to an average American viewer that the footage doesn't seem real a lot of the time. The minimally produced, fly-on-the-wall style, and a complete lack of polemics doesn't help. Still, powerful and very sad.

Chinatown Tony Pisarenkov   DVD at home (Film Night #2 at Jenn & Tony's)   07 June 2003 Unlike many "classics," this one deserves every bit of its status. I suppose Jack Nicholson has not had a role like this in at least fifteen years for the same reason that the ending would never fly in Hollywood today (and barely did in 1975). See it -- no one's film experience is complete without seeing "Chinatown."

Chocolat Mike Gadd   borrowed dvd   11 April 2003 What a delightful movie. Filled with familiar faces to boot. Everyone from the 'bad dates' dude from Indiana Jones to Trinity from The Matrix. It didn't hurt that some Ben and Jerry's Whoopie Pie was being consumed at the time.

Cinderella Liberty Julie Gephart   Basic cable   26 June 2004 “I happen to be one of those incurable romantics. Every time I meet a girl, I expect to hear a clap of thunder. I never heard the thunder, but occasionally I did get the clap.” James Caan is a Navy sailor looking for love in all the wrong places (Seattle).

City By the Sea Kristin Schrock   DVD   03 August 2003 Part of my "I shun society" movie-fest. This one has the pretty-pretty James Franco as the junkie son of cop, Robert Dinero. This movie wanted to say something about fathers and sons--and it comes close--but it's not quite there. James Franco does a lovely job, though, and Eliza Dushku appears as his ex-junkie girlfriend.

City of God Steve Gadd   Cinema Arts Theatre   14 March 2003 Captivating drama/documentary on the brutally violent streets of a Rio slum. The epic narrative follows a band of kids who inherit the rampant drug business. The amateur performances are compelling, the cinematography stunning.

City of God Jaqi Ross   Loews Dupont   06 March 2004 This pyrotechnic Brazilian slumland epic gallops through two decades, handguns and rifles matching the flamboyant camerawork nearly shot for shot.

Cleopatra (1963) Julie Gephart   Basic cable   09 May 2004 Five hours long, and there weren't even any elves.

Closer Steve Gadd   DVD   31 July 2005 This film is populated with movie characters, a species of creature so interesting that it can make major life-altering decisions based on another person's appearance, or having been told a lie, or pure whim. If you see one of these individuals, hang around. They are likely to buy you an expensive drink, or tip you with a diamond ring, or break down in tears and tell you a story.

Coach Carter Steve Gadd   DVD   30 July 2005 Brought back memories of "White Shadow," plus Samuel L. Jackson has the Jaime Escalante thing going on.

Coffee and Cigarettes Ray Hunley   Netflix DVD   27 June 2005 Stupid people having insipid conversations while acting like idiots. The best thing director Jim Jarmusch ever did remains playing the Frostee Cream Boy in Sling Blade. Or maybe Ghost Dog. Maybe. One bonus point for putting Tom Waits in the cast.

Coffee and Cigarrettes Kristin Schrock   DVD   02 October 2004 A bunch of actors improvise in various, seemingly unrelated vignettes. I confess, I did doze off in the middle, but I especially enjoyed Bill Murray's bit and Cate Blanchette's.

Cold Mountain Mike Gadd   Standard theater with 7 other people in it.   26 January 2004 It's hard for me to judge this as a movie. The book is my favorite so I've seen it play out in my head many times. It was interesting to see someone else's point of view. There could be major plot holes that I'm just not going to notice. Some things were done quite well (Ruby, Stobrod and Pangle, the scene with the widow girl and her baby). Others, not so well (Inman on the beach? when did that happen? Ada looking freshly made up after a full day of labor, Teague's character was too close to Ada...) Some of the dialogue I recognized straight from the pages. It remained true enough to the book, which I appreciated. This certainly could have been done a lot worse. Bonus feature- I saw a preview of the next M. Night movie. I'll be there.

Cold Mountain Steve Gadd   DVD   03 April 2005 Strangely, I don't know if I would have enjoyed this movie more or less without having read the book. A lot of the appeal was in revisiting the scenes of Inman's long journey home, but I missed the rustic prose. At two and a half hours, it sometimes seemed slow and sometimes seemed like a rushed highlights reel, with major scenes boiled down to their basic elements.

Collateral Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   07 August 2004 Michael Mann plays to his strengths in this cool crime thriller. Count the trademarks: a steely, calculating bad guy (sprinting in a suit with gun in hand, but never breaking a sweat); cool blues and warm reds in handpicked art deco city scenes; a knack for setting the mood with music; great camera work. The story is little more than what you would expect from a good Miami Vice episode, but impressive star talent and the director's mature touch make this a masterpiece on the big screen.

Collateral Mike Gadd   dvd rental   05 January 2005 Michael Mann with another visual spectacle. A city drama done right. Nobody does it better. Tom Cruise didn't ruin it either, even with the goofy gray hair.

Company Town Jaqi Ross   National Gallery of Art, D.C.   21 February 2004 The abandoned coal town of Widen in central West Virginia is the subject of a portrayal quite different from An Injury to One. Said filmmaker Richard Leacock, "Company Town manages to avoid the obvious political clichés but causes one to wonder 'why do they stay?'...and at the same time to understand that this place, with all its limitations, is still unique and wonderful..."

Conan the Barbarian Julie Gephart   Basic cable   31 May 2003 Laugh if you must, but I stand by it as a good movie. And no, I'm not just distracted by all the shiny muscles.

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind Kristin Schrock   DVD   13 September 2003 I love me some Sam Rockwell. Even his bum--which we get to see naked again and again. This movie loved Sam Rockwell's bum. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but still--there's a lot of naked Sam Rockwell in just a 2 hour movie.

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind Steve Gadd   DVD   17 September 2003 Not to be confused with "Dangerous Minds," this is an edgy blend of "Grosse Pointe Blank" and "Network." The cool camera work and saturated colors contrast with the dark theme: based on a possibly true story, a classic game show creator has a second life as a CIA hit man. Great performances all around.

Constantine Kristin Schrock   DVD   26 August 2005 The story is compelling--Constantine is trying to buy his way back into heaven by sending demons back to hell (the short-lived TV series Brimstone had a similar premise). He's reluctant, angry, and damned. Unfortunately, he's played by Keanu Reeves (who is clearly channeling Clint Eastwood). The best part--Tilda Swinton shows up as Gabriel.

Control Room Tony Pisarenkov   Landmark E Street Theatre, Washington, DC   22 July 2004 A documentary that provides a look into the workings of Al-Jazeera television that mainstream Western media probably never will, makes a point, effectively for the most part, that as mass news outlets go, Al Jazeera may have a greater claim to objectivity than most of the ones we're familiar with and, more importantly, that any news outlet plays to a specific audience and that in this day and age, an argument can be made that no reporter is truly objective. Nice to see a documentary with some real insight and analysis for a change.

Control Room Jaqi Ross   E Street Theater   22 July 2004 This documentary, shot in Qatar, takes a behind-the-scenes look at Al-Jazeera, the Arab world’s most popular news network, and Central Command, where the international media were headquartered in the run-up and start of the Iraq war. Without being didactic, “Control Room” raises important issues about objectivity and news bias.

Coogan's Bluff Ray Hunley   Netflix DVD   12 November 2005 Clint Eastwood is a lawman from Arizona assigned to bring back a fugitive from New York City. That most of the humor in the film comes from people mistaking his origin as Texas tells you pretty much all you need to know. Lee J. Cobb, at least, should have known to stay away from this stinker.

Coyote Waits A Bennett   TiVo'd from PBS' Mystery!   20 November 2003 Never tangle with an historian on the road to fame, glory, and academic immortality. You just might end up dead. In this adaptation of a Tony Hillerman novel, a professor (and Bodhi--Mr. Jenna--Elfman) attempts to prove Butch Cassidy lived beyond the Bolivian stand-off to return to the US and ultimately die on a rez. Is it weird that a film executive produced by Robert Redford freely references his film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"? Any film mystery is only as good as its characters and the actors playing them. Thanks to Adam Beach, Wes Studi, and others in the predominantly First Nations (but widely multi-racial) cast, this one is pretty good. Not to mention that you can't really go wrong starting your film out with a Patsy Cline tune, followed by a Conway Twitty chaser. Also, points for a discussion of fractals.

Crash Steve Gadd   Regal Countryside   20 May 2005 Don't be put off by Sandra Bullock, she is just one of many mixed-up colorful characters whose stories cross one day in Los Angeles. Compare to "Dirty Pretty Things."

Criminal Ray Hunley   Netflix DVD   10 October 2005 I might have rated it higher if I hadn't already seen the original. John C. Reilly and Diego Luna try to con each other - one of them succeeds.

Crimson Gold Jaqi Ross   Visions Cinema   11 February 2004 "As much a warning about the dangers of self-containment as it is an expose of a dysfunctional society." -L.A. Daily News

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Mike Gadd   dvd at home   08 May 2003 Only the second subtitled movie I've seen; 'Life is Beautiful' being the first (and worth a ten spot, if anything is), so it took a little while to get used to constantly looking down to read. Sometimes you didn't want to tear your eyes away from the action. I don't know how they kept from lopping off ears and noses with all the swordplay. I can't say I completely understand the end though. Why'd she jump?

Cyborg 2 Julie Gephart   Basic cable   01 November 2003 Haiku review: See young teen robot / Angelina Jolie and / teeth of Jack Palance.