Nanny Diaries

First Hit: What a waste of celluloid. This is barely a video for rent movie.

What were these highly skilled actors doing in a film like this?

Look at Laura Linney’s, Paul Giamatti’s, or Scarlett Johansson's previous work and then watch this film. It isn’t that their acting was that bad, in fact Paul was good as a non-caring corporate hustler. It was their choice to do this film that I cannot understand.

The premise was poor, not enough of a setup to believe the initial choice to take a nanny position was credible. The umbrella scenes were hokey. The moments where Laura was suppose to not see and believe her husband’s indiscretions weren’t believable. The whole thing wasn’t worth any price to see it in a theater.

Overall: Don’t waste your money. If you must see it wait for the video release, it won’t be a long wait.

Resurrecting the Champ

First Hit: Overall, in spots, this was a reasonably OK film in other spots it was barely mediocre.

What I liked was Samuel L. Jackson as the former down on his luck boxer.

His homelessness was fit because the choice as to why he was homeless was presented. His anxiety about going into the home of his wife was very plausible. He learned to move like a boxer for this role and he presented a believable former boxer.

Josh Hartnett, however didn’t strike me as a reporter and his character seemed unreal. I couldn’t “get” his path or his struggle and I never really got at a deep level why his wife separated from him. What drove them apart?

There were other unclear aspects of this film like how he got close to the young girl doing research for him. There was chemistry and... Was this a source of his wife’s separating from him? And I didn’t get the connection between him and his boss either, was it good, bad, indifferent?

Overall: Maybe a video film, but certainly not what this film could have been. I think the premise was ripe for a good film.

Talk To Me

First Hit: A great story which took place in an era of strife and change. It veered off course when the focus was taken off of Petey Greene.

Don Cheadle is a dynamic actor and he does not disappoint in this film.

As Petey Greene, when he is on the screen, it is him you are watching no one else. It is unfortunate that the story is also about the station program director played by Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Although a strong actor and good in his early scenes with Petey, his character does not hold the film up to the standard set by Cheadle and therefore the film falls a bit as it hits the 2/3 mark. I loved how the film reflected the time of the civil rights movement.

To be reminded of a great man, Martin Luther King, is always welcomed and in this film you sense his power in an straightforward way.

Petey Greene’s girlfriend is great in her role as someone who knows, loves and wants to ride with Petey.

Martin Sheen is perfect as the Station Owner and holds his part in the film admirably.

Overall it was a really good film with some great moments.

Goya's Ghosts (Los Fantasmas de Goya)

First Hit: I learned something about the Spanish Inquisition and I thought Natalie Portman was good, but this film ended up being a ghost.

I didn’t understand whose eyes we were looking through while the film played.

At times it seem that we were looking through Goya's and other times, I don't know. Goya’s work is not featured very well and as the film progresses it becomes clear it isn’t about Goya’s art but more about his good deeds. He is reluctant helper at first, and after that hurdle is made, his helping becomes the core of Goya in this film.

I knew virtually nothing about the Spanish Inquisition and the film made me interested to look up some of the events of this time.

I liked Natalie Portman in this film as well and she did a good job in her two roles.

Everything else was mediocre – oh well it happens.