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I am Sam Steve Gadd   VHS at home   22 October 2002 Sean Penn redeems his reputation in my book with this sentimental Rain Man variant. Well over two hours, but it didn't seem that long. I did get a bit tired of the shakycam and blue filter techniques.

I Want to Marry Ryan Banks A Bennett   TiVo'd from ABC Family   19 January 2004 Probably due to Willage, Anya, and Brandon Walsh (and a script that constantly subverted my expectations) this film was half-again better than any romantic comedies I've seen in the theatre recently (or on DVD for that matter). Also, extra points for actually hot kisses--on ABC Family!

I, Robot Kristin Schrock   Borrowed DVD   23 May 2005 It was a lot like Short Circuit, really. With more guns and CGI.

I, Robot Ray Hunley   Netflix DVD   23 September 2005 Not nearly as bad as I expected. Will Smith does a workmanlike job, and the story, while cliched and silly, held my interest pretty well.

Ice Age Mike Gadd   DVD at home   27 December 2002 Fun for the whole family. We saw it at the theater and the dvd was a christmas present. After the movie was over don't you know we had to watch every minute of bonus material we could squeeze out of disk 2. I enjoyed watching the actors read the parts as much as it did watching the show.

Ice Harvest Kristin Schrock   Showcase Cinemas Norwood (Bargain Tuesdays)   29 November 2005 I was playing hooky from work, so I was pretty much going to enjoy anything. This one is a darker Gross-Pointe Blank that doesn't quite work, but John Cusack can pretty much sell me on anything.

Identity Steve Gadd   DVD   24 November 2004 This movie gets an extra point for saving us from "The Transporter," which was great in concept but awful in execution. John "Bad Tipper" Cusack plays an ex-cop having a very bad day, a nightmare in fact. You don't have much chance at guessing who the killer is, but the result is satisfying.

If You Added Up Everything You Are Afraid Of Kristin Schrock   DVD (My Brother's House)   30 November 2002 If you forget this is a Jack Ryan movie, it's not that bad. It wants to be soemthing like Fail Safe with the Americans and Russians posturing, both not wanting to appear weak yet not wanting to start a nuclear war. But Ben Affleck isn't really believable as the Jack Ryan we know.

Il Postino (The Postman) Tony Pisarenkov   DC Visions, Washington, DC   24 October 2003 The tragic ending and Philippe Noiret's subtle performance save this film from being a hokey, feel-good romantic comedy cum saga of discovering a higher purpose with the help of a mentor. Not worth all the hype it generated when it was first released a decade ago, but not a complete waste.

I'll Be Seeing You (1944) A Bennett   VHS   28 July 2003 An intensely shell-shocked WWII soldier (Joseph Cotten) and (curiously) holiday-paroled convict (Ginger Rogers) from 'State Women's Prison' meet on a train. Each has a 10-day Christmas/New Year's furlough from the tragedy their lives have become. And, each has a complicated, shameful secret to spend 10-days keeping from each other. Oh yes, in between falling in love and attending holiday parties at the Y. Merlin's Beard, but Joseph Cotten is about as swell an actor as you'll ever encounter, lending a grace and nobility to his damaged veteran that the story would never have worked without.

I'll Sleep When I'm Dead Kristin Schrock   DVD   07 August 2005 From the guy who did the excellent Croupier, this is a bit too slow to be recommended. But, as alwasy, Clive Hot Clive Owen delivers a subtle and compelling performance. The story seemed more suited towards a short-story rather than a movie, though.

Im toten Winkel - Hitlers Sekretärin (Blind Spot: Hitler's Secretary) Jaqi Ross   Hollywood Video rental   15 August 2004 A static documentary (talking head interview). Traudl Junge was Adolf Hitler's private secretary, from Autumn 1942 until the collapse of the Nazi regime. She worked for him at the Wolfsschanze in Obersalzberg, on his private train and, finally, in his bunker in the besieged capital. It was Traudl Junge to whom Hitler dictated his final testament. In her first ever on-camera interview, 81-year-old Junge talks about her unique life. In the spring of 2001, Andre Heller succeeded in convincing Traudl Junge how valuable it is to record her unique memories. Fifty-six years after the end of the Second World War, an important eyewitness reveals her experiences to us. What she saw and heard turned her into an furious opponent of National Socialism; an opponent, moreover, who is still painfully aware and seems incapable of forgiving the young girl she once was--for her naivete, ignorance, and her liking for Hitler.

Imitation of Life Julie Gephart   Basic cable   17 April 2004 Lana Turner totally falls in love with her maid, except somehow the movie keeps pretending instead that she’s in love with Handsome Jerk, who repeatedly sulks off when she has the nerve to have career success. Actually a surprisingly thought-provoking movie for 1959 Hollywood, as it is largely about the black maid’s daughter who appears white and constantly struggles to disassociate herself from her mother.

In America A Bennett   Hollywood Video DVD   31 May 2004 It's not an Irish story, but an American one, see? With some cutie wee bairns and a (supposedly) ill Djimon Hounsou that looks more like carnal (yet angelic) perfection. Samantha Morton,--who rocks as an actress--has yet to win me over to her chemo-survivor haircut. Paddy Considine looks like the Independent Film Channel's version of TV's Ed.

In America Kristin Schrock   DVD   01 June 2004 I think I used to hate Samantha Morton--possibly because she played Jane Eyre in that A&E adaptation. But she's got some chops that will rock your world. This wasn't really what I expected, but a pleasant reprieve from the schlock I normally force upon myself.

In Good Company Kristin Schrock   DVD   17 July 2005 Charming movie that's really a romance between Dennis Quaid and Topher Grace. And, for the most part, it works. My biggest beef--the film used a lot of montages (not a bad thing) which made it seem like a lot of time was passing--but it's unclear how much.

In July Steve Gadd   DVD   24 September 2005 Remember Manni, the hapless thug from Run Lola Run? Here he is a hapless physics teacher whose bedroom Einstein poster and planet models do nothing for his love life. He gets a break when a secret admirer invites him to a party, but he goes home with the wrong woman, then chases her on a road trip from Hamburg, through the Balkans, to Istanbul. Love conquers all, of course, and this film shows that nothing is as reliable as a classic formula. Also has lots of German swearing.

In Rwanda We Say: The Family that Does Not Speak, Dies Tony Pisarenkov   DC Visions, Washington, DC   08 April 2004 Released for the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, this documentary chronicles the return of released "genocidaires" to their villages and the reactions of their former neighbors and victims to their return. Obviously a sensitive topic of enormous importance that needs to be covered, but the film itself offered nothing beyond basic, fly-on-the-wall reporting of events.

In the Bedroom Kristin Schrock   VHS--Ben's Living Room   30 December 2002 This is a slow (in a good way) movie, depicting the aftermath of a son's violent death. Not for the faint of heart as I was in tears for a good portion of it. Tom Wilkinson will just break your heart. Not predictable with a nice, "Independent Film" ending--you know, the kind where I say, "if this is the end, I'm going to kill you." Although I am wondering, are all affluent mothers depicted as being controlling and lacking in physical display of affection?

Indiscreet Julie Gephart   Basic cable   28 July 2003 This may be the very first truly grown-up romance I’ve ever seen on film, and I didn’t even realize I was missing such a thing until I saw it. It was a lovely and delightful movie until Cary Grant turned out to be a cad, which just goes to prove I should have trusted my instincts all along. Nobody with that crazy fake accent could be an honest man.

Inner Senses Jaqi Ross   Meyer Auditorium, Freer Museum of Art   16 July 2004 Though it starts out as an obvious Sixth Sense ripoff, Law Chi-Leung and Derek Yee's cerebral horror-thriller is an entertaining and worthy effort. They manage to tell an interesting story with just the right cinematic touch. For a Hong Kong film, this is easily above average work.

Inside Man Steve Gadd   DVD   29 September 2006 Men rob a new way in NYC, but the cop is hip to the MO by the end. Not bad, Mr. Lee.

Insomnia Steve Gadd   Sterling Cinema and Drafthouse   25 August 2002 From Christopher Nolan ('Memento'), a cool thriller set in the nightless and starkly beautiful landscape of Alaska. Al Pacino appears to have given up sleep entirely for this role.

Insomnia Mike Gadd   dvd at home   27 April 2003 I don't know if Al Pacino got his facelift before or after the filming of this movie but he certainly needed something by the time it was over. Visually stunning and enjoyable throughout. Robin Williams still in his 'I can act serious' mode.

Intermezzo: A Love Story (1939) A Bennett   TiVo'd from WPTD, PBS station   30 June 2003 A violinist abandons his wife and two children, and a piano student (also his daughter's instructor) abandons her prestigious scholarship to run away together--but always with the shadow of what they have done, and the other lives they have ruined, lurking at every turn. A love story where the lovers are amorous not only toward one another, but also toward their music. As Holger, Leslie Howard performs his role with undisguised egoism, and a frustrated anger I kept expecting to boil over. Ingrid Bergman (Anita), as always, is beyond enchanting. A film (like Waterloo Bridge) where the word 'lover' or any mention of what is actually taking place between the leads is never spoken; yet the audience is left in no doubt. Amazing to me, watching current films, that this entire piece reaches completion in 70 minutes. Hollywood: take note!

Intimate Strangers Tony Pisarenkov   Landmark Bethesda Row, Bethesda, MD   04 September 2004 The story of a woman who wonders into a tax lawyer's office instead of a psychologist's by mistake, and the peculiar relationship that develops between them when she tells him about her marital problems and he is too much of a chicken to tell her she has the wrong guy. Less hokey than the concept might suggest and more engaging than I expected. A relatively pleasant surprise.

Intolerable Cruelty Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   14 October 2003 The brothers Coen score again with a clever comedy, spiced with the usual offbeat scenes. George Clooney carries the entire movie, not as well as Jeff Bridges carried The Big Lebowski, but well enough.

Intolerable Cruelty Kristin Schrock   DVD   07 March 2004 Clooney is trying his darnedest to make this comedy work. The script is tryin' real hard to be screwball. But despite a few chuckles, it doesn't work, and I haven't been able to put my finger on why. It could be the strange turn it takes in the third act with a hit man. It could be that Catherine Zeta-Jones is a bit blank next to the charisma that naturally emanates from George. Watchable, I guess, if you happen to catch it on cable.

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge Julie Gephart   Mysteriously free HBO   25 March 2003 Halle Berry portrays the singer and actress who was the first black woman nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award. Naturally, she self-destructs, because otherwise she'd just be a regular old important actress, and who would bother to make a movie about that?

Invincible Ray Hunley   Netflix DVD   25 July 2005 Real-life strongman Jouko Ahola plays real-life strongman Zishe Breitbart, a Jewish blacksmith who gets recruited to work as a side attraction in Tim Roth's "Palace of the Occult" in Berlin. A modest offering from Werner Herzog.

Iron Jawed Angels (2004) A Bennett   Pre-viewed VHS bought from Hollywood Video   22 March 2005 Despite an entirely unnecessary scene of autoeroticism between Hilary Swank and a claw-footed tub (done to make this film fit the HBO niche it occupies?), this film was entertaining and informative as it detailed the National Women's Party's attempt to gain universal sufferage. Its depiction of a variety of female characters greatfully steered clear of stereotyping and over-simplification. Also starring the lovely wonder known as Vera Farmiga.

It Might Get Loud Tony Pisarenkov   Landmark E St. Theatre, Washington, DC   14 September 2009 Had its moments, but on the whole couldn't decide whether it wanted to be about How To Communicate Your Great Art To The World Through Music or a guitar geek-fest. It also had more than a whiff of an ego trip for jack White about it.

It Should Happen to You (1954) Kristin Schrock   Turner Classic Movies (31 Days of Oscar)   20 February 2005 Gladys Glover (played by the excellent Judy Holliday) wants to make a name for herself. So she rents a billboard and puts her name on it. She then becomes famous for being famous--which seemed strangely pertinent to trends today. Pete (Jack Lemmon) tries to convince her that it's more important for your name to MEAN something, and doesn't understand her quest for fame. Entertaining, but I was a bit peeved. Pete wants to marry Gladys, but can't do that if she's concentrating on her "fame"--which translates into a career in advertising. I kept wanting to yell at him--she's a single woman in New York, she needs to support herself! But she decides to chuck it all to marry Pete and live happily ever after (naturally).

It Started in Naples Julie Gephart   Basic cable   21 February 2004 Fairly ridiculous movie starring a fat and grumpy Clark Gable arguing with Sophia Loren over the custody of an adorable little Italian boy. If it teaches us one thing, it’s how much Italians hate the rich Americanos.

It's A Wonderful Life A Bennett   DVD on a couch down the street   19 December 2003 Thank you, DVD, for excellent pause-ability to note the skull on Potter's desk, and the same photos (redressed) of both Peter Bailey and Uncle Billy's dead wife Laura scattered about like Easter Egg points in a driking game for repeat-viewing eyes. Also, why are everyone's names changed in the French audio track? Must Bert become Marcel, and Mary become Madeline? And in the Spanish track, why is it still George and not Jorje? Doubtless, timeless questions to ponder until next year.

It's a Wonderful Life Julie Gephart   VHS   25 December 2003 Every year I dread the fact that my brother is going to make us watch this, and every year I end up enjoying it.