Blue Valentine

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: The two halves of a married couple (Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams) reminisce about how great their relationship used to be, as it quietly falls apart.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, Mike Vogel, John Doman, Ben Shenkman, Faith Wladyka, Jen Jones

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. If you've ever been in a marriage, you probably already know how this one goes. And if you haven't ever been in a marriage, it's probably because you think this is how it will go.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: They go to a motel for a sexy weekend and book the "Future Room," which is about the most depressingly funny place to try to make romance that I've ever seen.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: The great thing about not being in a marriage is that you don't have to cry about how lonely it's making you feel. Hey, I'm not the one writing these movies. I'm just picking up what they're dishing out!

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Michelle Williams is up for an Independent Spirit Awards, but Ryan Gosling is the one who would've had a chance of winning.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: The performances are the main reason to see this film. Both Gosling and Williams show complexity and depth as they display their youthful joie-de-vivre in the scenes when they first meet and fall in love, and contrast that with their tired, worn-down married sides, in all the rest.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: It almost looks like they shot on film and then tried to make it look like poor quality video. That seems a little moronic to me, but the only other possibility is that they shot on video and then used special effects to make the "print" look scratched. Which, I'm sorry, is equally moronic.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The story somehow manages to hold your attention despite the nagging feeling that it won't ever amount to anything more than one random couple's rise and fall from love. Which it doesn't.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

Blue Valentine Trailer

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Casino Jack

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: The true story of what happened behind the scenes in the Jack Abramoff scandal, as well as an examination of what it was about his psyche that continually allowed him to think he was doing the right thing, while screwing people over and making himself rich.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Kevin Spacey, Barry Pepper, Kelly Preston, Rachel Lefevre, Jon Lovitz, Yannick Bisson, Eric Schweig, Christian Campbell, Spencer Garrett, Maury Chaykin, Ruth Marshall, Jeffrey R. Smith, Graham Greene, Jeff Pustil, Damir Andrei, John David Whelan

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! It’s totally hateable. But maybe this one will help you understand exactly how corrupt and wrong-minded American Democracy (i.e. capital imperialism) has become. I hope you get mad!

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Did you know that Kevin Spacey does impersonations? They’re surprisingly good. Unfortunately, that doesn’t prevent them from being totally annoying—and I’m not trying to single him out, I’m talking to all of you fools who think movie impersonations are cute. Maybe it’s just me.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Yes!!! But not in your eyes, in your heart.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Biggest wattle ever to be shown in a movie. Thank you Maury Chaykin! I will never be able to look at spaghetti the same.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Kevin Spacey is God. Barry Pepper is just the right kind of smarmy. And Jon Lovitz surprised me, in a role that shows that despite the fact that he has no range, there is a range that his one character can play.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: I saw this movie a few months ago, and wrote down some snide remarks about some of George Hickenlooper's shot choices. Since then, George Hickenlooper has died, so I no longer see the point in trying to help him improve his craft. It's a great movie, let's leave it at that.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: If you don’t know or remember much about the Jack Abramoff scandal (trust me, we’ve all tried to put the Bush years out of our minds), the beginning may be a little much to take in, and it may even make you feel stupid. But be patient, before long you will be able to follow the convoluted logic of these trickster super-lobbyists’ thinking and justifications.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: When we do finally decide to rework our democracy, a good place to start might be getting rid of the laws that allow lobbyists to bribe and manipulate every politician we elect. Maybe then politicians will be forced, once again, to look into their hearts and decide what’s right for the people before making a decision that affects all of us.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Casino Jack Trailer

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Barney's Version

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Based on a book by Mordecai Richler, Barney's Version is the story of some guy named Barney (Paul Giamatti), as he partakes in life, loves, and possibly the murder of his best friend. It's a character piece.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Paul Giamatti, Rosamund Pike, Dustin Hoffman, Scott Speedman, Minnie Driver, Bruce Greenwood, Rachelle Lefevre, Saul Rubinek, Mark Addy, Jake Hoffman, Anna Hopkins, Macha Grenon

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. The first two hours are very compelling, even though the final extraneous 20 minutes, meanders around until it became clear that the rest of the movie isn't really about anything either.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Paul Giamatti plays his usual slightly lovable curmudgeon, so there are a fair number of laughs from that, but my favorite humor comes simply from the names of the places. You see, he works at Totally Unnecessary Productions, and drinks at Grumpy's bar. And you even believe these locations are real, because the movie takes place in Canada... Oh, those silly Canadians!

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: The extraneous 20 minutes at the end are pretty sad, but I would've rather just cut that part altogether. Why? Because it's extraneous.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: It's currently in a one week Oscar qualifying release in Los Angeles, so that it can be considered for Academy Awards even though it's really coming out in a month, after it's too late to be considered for 2010. So obviously they think they have something.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Dustin Hoffman is fantabulous. His son, Jake, while much better looking than his father, seems poised to follow in the footsteps of John Ritter's and Tom Hanks' sons, by not even deserving to carry the same last name as a man whose shoes he will never come close to filling. Minnie Driver plays the most annoying character in the world, and yet, this may be the most attractive she's ever looked on screen. (Kristen Bell may want to take some pointers from her.) And Rosamund Pike, when her hair is dyed brown, looks indisputably half-Asian.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Most of the time it is fast-paced and engaging, and then suddenly, in just one or two places, it slips into photographic montages that don't match the style of the rest, and therefore come off like fixes to parts of the film that probably weren't working.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: If you've been reading along with me, you already know my feelings about why biopics rarely work. So what kind of person makes a biopic about a made-up person who's not even real or famous?

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OBd5jPBzOI

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Love and Other Drugs

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A heartless pharmaceutical rep (Jake Gyllenhaal) falls in love with a Parkinson's patient (Anne Hathaway).

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Oliver Platt, Hank Azaria, Josh Gad, Gabriel Macht, Judy Greer, George Segal, Jill Clayburgh, Kate Jennings Grant, Katheryn Winnick, Kimberly Scott

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. When making your decision about whether or not to see this movie, there's really only one question you need to ask yourself: do you want to see Anne Hathaway's boobs? If it's any help, I can advise you that they are very nice looking.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Parkinson's disease is the one that gives you the shakes, so it goes without saying that it has been the source of much laughter through the ages. And if you're one of those a-holes who thinks that's funny, then yes.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Not really, but I'm still sad that Parkinson's sent Michael J. Fox into early retirement. I miss his comedic genius almost as much as I miss Leslie Nielsen's.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Did you hear? Anne Hathaway is hosting the Academy Awards this year, along with James Franco? This raises a lot of questions for me, like: What is the Academy thinking? And, why would Anne Hathaway and James Franco want to take that much time out of their schedules during the height of their careers, just to host a self-indulgent Awards show that no one will remember one week after it has passed? And mostly, how much time will each of them have to spend rehearsing their reaction to the moment when someone else takes home the statue they had hoped to win in the Best Actor and Best Actress categories... Awkward.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Jake Gyllenhaal gives his most convincing sexy-love face since the gay-cowboy movie. Anne Hathaway gives her most convincing I'm-screwy-so-don't-mess-with-me act since the got-out-of-rehab-right-on-time-to-mess-up-my-sister's wedding movie. And Hank Azaria pretends to be someone with a heart... Kinda.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: It looks like it was a lot of fun. Ed Zwick goes from multiple angles of making out to multiple angles of naked bodies and back. It was probably a closed set 50% of the time, and it's hard to imagine how anybody was able to focus on work.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The more I think about it, the more I think that Ed Zwick wrote this piece (with Charles Randolph) just so that he could spend the next few months filming two sexy, naked twenty-somethings doing it. Perv.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/love-and-other-drugs/10022018/trailers

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Tiny Furniture

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: After graduating from college, Aura (Lena Dunham) moves back in with her mom and tries to find herself.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Lena Dunham, Laurie Simmons, Grace Dunhan, Jemima Kirke, Alex Karpovsky, David Call, Merritt Wever, Amy Seimetz

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Stop! This film has been all the rage at Sundance and on the indy scene, even to the point where Judd Apatow hand-picked the writer-director, Lena Denham, to develop a television pilot with him, because he was such a big fan. You can imagine my curiosity about a movie that could draw the attention of the most important comedic auteur of my generation... but if I'm honest, I have to say that I totally didn't get it.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: It's supposed to, but it didn't make me.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: It makes me want to cry to see such acclaim go to a film that has a few redeeming qualities, and a few interesting turns of phrase, but ultimately is about nothing and goes nowhere.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Don't ask me, I'm out of the loop on this one.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: I was unable to take my eyes off of Jemima Kirke when she was on screen. She is talented and beautiful enough to claw herself all the way to the A-List. Lena Dunham, on the other hand, who stars in her own film, has my mind in a pickle. Due to the dialogue that she herself wrote, her friends in the movie constantly tell her that she looks great and is so pretty, but the girl I was looking at was borderline homely, and hadn't even brushed her thin, matted hair in the back. Normally, I might give her a pass for that because she can't see it in the mirror, but on movie sets you have a hair person, who can see the back of your head, so there's really no excuse besides that she wanted to look ugly with bad hair. Worst of all, her character isn't particularly good-looking on the inside either. She is whiny and selfish, entitled, and manipulative. All I can say is she never would've gotten this role if she weren't sleeping with the director.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Some of the shots are interesting. Especially the extraneous ones Dunham shows of herself getting dressed in see-through clothing, showering naked doggy-style, and walking around with no underwear on. Why she thinks anyone wants to see that is just further proof of how much I don't get this movie.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The one thing this movie does well is capture that after-college angst of being lost and aimless and living at home like a big loser. But at some point I found myself desperately wanting to leave the theater. Maybe it was too cold in there, maybe I had realized the movie was going nowhere, or maybe I had simply realized that I didn't care whether the movie was going anywhere. I stuck it out, though, just so I could tell you with certainty that the ending does not make the rest of the viewing experience feel worthwhile.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: If anyone has seen this and got it, please share your insights. I really would like to know what's so great about this story.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/tiny-furniture/10033725/trailers

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Tangled 3D

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Disney's animated version of Rapunzel, about a lost princess, who longs to get out of her tower and visit the world. Is it just me, or does anyone else not remember her hair being magical in any previous versions?

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy, Ron Perlman, M.C. Gainey, Jeffrey Tambor, Brad Garrett, Paul F. Tompkins

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. It's very cute, but not the most original or funny animated Disney movie of the bunch. Most disappointing are the songs, which seem like rehashes of better songs from more remarkable Disney musicals. I guess the bottom line is that now that they've spoofed themselves in Enchanted, it's very hard to go back to making these princess musicals in a non-joking way. They just seem like some old-fashioned thing trying desperately to make a comeback, and you find yourself thinking of Amy Adams and laughing when you're not supposed to.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Aside from when you're imagining Amy Adams, not so much. But I find Dan Fogelman to be a comedy writer whose forte isn't really humor.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Your small children might cry at the blood, and the multiple frightening falls from high places that seem to pollute these films, which are supposedly made for kids, but clearly only exist to teach them what their nightmares should be about.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Probably not Best Animated Picture of the year. It's a small category, but the competition is thick this year, and this isn't the best one.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: The chameleon is right on hue, but the horse chews up the scenery.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: On the plus side, there is a beautiful shot of lanterns floating in the sky that both parallels and exceeds the beauty of the flying balloons of Up. On the minus side, the prince and the horse each take several falls that they shouldn't have survived, which jolts you right out of the reality of this fantasy film. That's why when the prince dies at the end, it almost makes up for all the times he didn't... Come on, that's not really a spoiler, this is a Disney movie, the Prince couldn't possibly die!

Q: How is the story/script?

A: There's not nearly enough of a fish out of water moments for a girl who has never seen anything besides the view from her window. The love story is only thinly developed. And the ending seems like a cheat... I mean, sure I'll buy that it could work, but it's not set up and it's hardly justified.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: Did you ever notice that the bad guys always get the most powerful songs?

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/tangled/33552/trailers

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Burlesque

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A small town Iowa girl (Christina Aguilera) has medium-sized Hollywood dreams and discovers a Burlesque Club on Sunset Strip that I personally have never heard of, seen there, or found on Google Maps. She quickly falls in love with Burlesque dancing and singing, and instantly realizes that she absolutely has to be a part of it.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Christina Aguilera, Cher, Cam Gigandet, Eric Dane, Kristen Bell, Stanley Tucci, Julianne Hough, Alan Cumming, Peter Gallagher, Dianna Agron, Chelsea Traille

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. Fun dancing and singing, with a plot as thin and predictably delicious as the caramel coating of a candied apple means you'll get exactly what you came for.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Even though you will get your fill of laughs simply by sitting through the often-times horrendous dialogue, the filmmakers are also kind enough to throw in a bit of deliberate humor as well, which comes in the form of sexy clown contortionists. Yes, I said sexy clown contortionists.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Doesn't Christina's singing voice always? It's the reason I never listen to her music before a business meeting and always listen to it before I show up unannounced at some guy's house who I want to make feel sorry for me, because my mascara is running down my face, and I look pathetic and helpless.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: If this movie doesn't get nominated for Best Costume Design, I will seriously be offended by the whole process. These Burlesque outfits are not only more inventive than anything that King George and Queen Elizabeth wore, they're also sexier.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Christina Aguilera can act. Cam Gigandet wearing only a box of cookies is one of the highlights of the film (trust me, girls the world over will watch this movie more than once just for that reason). And Kristen Bell should fire her agents, as she finds herself in yet another role that makes her look like she would do better to stick to TV. She has no charisma or charm, and the entire subplot revolving around her antagonist character is poorly defined and uninteresting to follow... That said, her outfits are good.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: While some of the numbers are slightly over-lit for my taste, the angles on the dance sequences are dynamic and energetic. Unfortunately, there are several scenes without dancing and music in the beginning and middle, that lack in energy and bounce. And the requisite solo ballad at the end of the 2nd act is flying its boring-flag high and proud... As the late 2nd act ballad always seems to do in these movies.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: One good thing I can say about the writer of this script is that he clearly knows how predictable his plot and dialogue are, and uses it to fake the audience into thinking he's giving them good writing by having characters point out when the others have just said something cliché. I imagine him now, sitting at his desk writing something terrible, and rather than trying to finesse it and make it better, he just has one of his other characters say what he really thinks of the line he's just written, like, "That's so cheesy." Strangely enough, this technique actually works because once the audience thinks you're in on the cheesiness, they are more than willing to forgive you for it. And that's a hot tip to all you aspiring screenwriters out there... especially those of you who hope to achieve mediocrity.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/burlesque/38474/trailers

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Made in Dagenham

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: In 1968, Ford Automotive's female factory workers in Dagenham, England went on strike to try to get equal pay for women, and in the process shut down the whole plant, putting their own husbands out of work, and pissing everybody off.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Sally Hawkins, Bob Hoskins, Geraldine James, Daniel Mays, Andrea Riseborough, Miranda Richardson, Jaime Winstone, Rosamund Pike, Kenneth Cranham, Richard Schiff, Rupert Graves, Marcus Hutton, Roger Lloyd-Pack

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! Anything worth having is worth fighting for. But in this day and age, we've all grown so entitled about what we think we deserve that we don't think we still have to fight to get it, and sometimes I wonder if any of us will ever have anything worth having again.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: I finally understand why I'm reading so much about Andrea Riseborough in all the Hollywood trade magazines. In this movie, she looks like Angelina Jolie with a potty-mouth and a low class British accent. So as you can imagine, she has all the good lines.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Most of the time... then again, women's lib has been my issue since elementary school, where I used to pick fist-fights with the boys just to prove that a girl could beat them up, so maybe it's just me.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: I can't imagine any of the British Awards will overlook this Norma Rae for Limeys.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: The British don't ever seem to put actors in their movies who can't act. Can you think of anyone in any British movie that was less than excellent?

Q: How is the Directing?

A: I'm trying to figure out what it is about Nigel Cole that attracts him to so many projects about the plight of women. In Calendar Girls he fought against ageism geared at women by telling the story of a group of women over 50 who put together a nude calendar, and here he follows that up with what can only be described as part two of a natural trilogy. I'm thinking the final installment should be about a group of women who figure out how to get their husbands to do housework.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: You know this script is British because nothing gets overly dramatic or in your face, and right when you think of the obvious comeback for a character, they say something much more subtle, and possibly more effective than the obvious.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/made-in-dagenham/51718/video/made-in-dagenham-trailer-no-1/648405641001

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The Company Men

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A multi-million dollar company lays off 1000s of people to please their rich board without touching their own higher-ups' multi-million dollar bonuses. This is the story of what happens to some of the people who are made redundant to protect their fortunes.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper, Kevin Costner, Maria Bello, Craig T. Nelson, Rosemarie DeWitt, Eamonn Walker

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Stop! This movie is so depressing that any ending these characters might arrive at would feel happy... including death.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: It's kind of funny how much this movie made me want to take my own life.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: No, it doesn't even let you do that! There really is no hope. Why do I even keep going?

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Just in case voters feel obliged to fulfill their "fairness" responsibilities by watching this film, despite my warnings, here is the number for the suicide hotline: 1-800-273-TALK.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Many of the Boston accents are distractingly inconsistent, often sounding more like they're from Long Island. Also, when Ben Affleck first arrives at the unemployment placement center, there is a large Black man (Eamonn Walker) who instantly notices him, and looks at him throughout the film like he's planning to seduce the hell out of him. The weird thing is he doesn't. That's like introducing a gay gun in the first act, and not shooting it in the third act! You can't do that! Since the gay innuendo turns out to be unintended, I'm forced to deduce that it's simply bad acting.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Boring directing tries to redeem itself with an overbearing score and soundtrack.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: My friend Lisa is one of those people who is very careful about how she phrases things, often avoiding saying anything negative or controversial, but when this movie ended, she went on a tirade about how it was redundant, pedantic, and trivializes what all the laid-off people in America must actually be going through. Personally, I thought it was a decent enough movie, but I couldn't send anyone to go see it, unless I was trying to convince them that life just isn't worth it, and they should take action against themselves immediately. Which actually gives this movie a huge upside, because it would be cheaper than taking a contract out on my enemies, and in these hard times, any penny pinched is a penny saved!

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: Speaking of not giving up on things that are pointless, this is our 400th review! Just my luck that it would be a red light... where did I put that suicide hotline number again?

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-company-men/1429932/trailers

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The King's Speech

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: King George VI of England, né Prince Albert Duke of York (Colin Firth), had all the makings of a great King except for the fact that he stuttered. This is the story of the unconventional methods he learned from Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) to overcome his impediment.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Derek Jacobi, Timothy Spall, Michael Gambon, Jennifer Ehle, Eve Best

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! When you come out of this movie you realize that the filmmakers only had one thing in mind when they made it: The Academy Awards. It’s a deliberate attempt at prestige recognition, and likely to accomplish at least a small part of its goal.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: A high-falutin’ prince, a wife who stands on ceremony, and an upstart speech therapist who doesn’t take anybody’s—f*@k, bugger, balls—crap, what’s not to laugh at?

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: A litt-tt-tt-tt-tt…le bit. Don't get all PC on me, I'm crying, not stuttering.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: A Single Man proved that that Academy wants to give Colin Firth an Oscar, The King’s Speech proves that he can win one. From what I’ve seen, (and I've seen most of it), this is looking like his year.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Geoffrey Rush reminds me of my uncle, so that's warm and cozy. Guy Pearce shows a side of his character we haven’t seen before, which broadens his depth as an actor. And it’s nice to see Helena Bonham Carter going back to playing dignified rich people, rather than some freak in one of her husband’s wacky concoctions.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Gorgeous and inventive wide-angle shots are highlighted by beautiful lighting, elegant sets, and an emotional classical score.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The story of Prince Albert’s minor handicap is small and almost not worth telling, but the dialogue and characters draw you in, sometimes even enough to take your mind off wondering why the penis ring was named after him.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-kings-speech/10034251/trailers

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All Good Things

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Inspired by the true story of the wealthy Durst New York real estate family, and using the fictional Marks family to stand-in, All Good Things speculates about the unsolved 1982 missing persons case of Katie Marks (Kristen Dunst), wife of heir David Marks (Ryan Gosling).

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Ryan Gosling, Kristen Dunst, Frank Langella, Philip Baker Hall, Lily Rabe, Kristen Wiig, Nick Offerman, Diane Venora, Liz Stauber, Maggie Kiley, David Margulies, Trini Alvarado, Michael Esper

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. While it's well acted, interestingly structured, and compelling, it may be too dark for some audience members who are seeking escapism in these trying times.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Yes, but don't go to this if you're looking for a funny time.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If you were any number of characters in the movie it should have, but seeing as how cold, self-centered, and entitled most of the members of this wealthy family are, I'm not sure they would even know how.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: I'd like to nominate the make-up... I know, it's a totally boring award and it shouldn't even be in the televised show, no less my blog.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Frank Langella is a complex and versatile actor who has continually proven that he can be frightening. Kristen Dunst is a complex and versatile actor who has continually proven that she can be romantic. And Ryan Gosling is a complex and versatile actor who has continually proven that he can be both frightening and romantic, which is the worst kind of romance a man can provide.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Andrew Jarecki, who brought us the most disturbing documentary I have ever seen, Capturing the Friedmans, tries to disturb us some more. This time with murder rather than pedophilia. But I don't know, as far as disturbingness goes, I'm slightly more partial to pedophilia.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The story cuts back and forth between a murder trial that took place in the 2000s and the story of love and loss that took place in the 70s and 80s, focusing primarily on the later. While it's not hard to follow, I can tell from some of the momentarily confusing directing choices that some of the transitions could have been written more smoothly. On the other hand, trying to span three decades-- that aren't even next to each other-- is a huge challenge for any screenwriter, and at no point does the passage of time make the movie feel too long.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: While the title's implication that all good things come to an end is somewhat clever, I have found this title impossible to remember. So, if you're interested in seeing it, you should write the title on your kid's hand, or some other place where it's equally unlikely to ever get washed off.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/all-good-things/36342/trailers

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Morning Glory

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: An up-and-coming morning show producer (Rachel McAdams) gets hired way out of her league on a show that's tanking in the ratings, has a majority of difficult personalities working on it, and the morale of a prison camp.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton, Patrick Wilson, Jeff Goldblum, John Pankow, Matt Malloy, Ty Burrell, J. Elaine Marcos, Arden Myrin

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! It's predictable and fluffy, but considering its main point is to validate the very fluffiness we all seem to give our attention to when asked to choose between things that are mindless and things that are intellectual, it's almost impossible to judge it adversely for ultimately being trite.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Physical morning show comedy from a particularly untalented weather caster will have you belly laughing for a good minute and a half.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: No, but it might get you banging your head against a wall about how often Rachel McAdams' character purposely bangs her head against a wall, or her hand, or whatever may happen to be in her proximity. Personally, I haven't banged my head against a wall since I was 9, and I found out that Ronald Reagan had just won the Presidency. Shortly thereafter, I found out that banging your head against cement hurts, and when something has just made you feel bad, the bruises and scratches on your forehead will only make you feel worse. By the end of the movie, McAdams actually has a line of dialogue where she says, "I feel like I'm banging my head against the wall." Which for me only aggravated my aggravation, because as a nine-year-old I knew that yes, banging your head against the wall does make you feel like you're banging your head against the wall.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: This movie is being compared to an update of Broadcast News, which was nominated for 7 Academy Awards. But this movie is not Broadcast News, this movie is the fluffication of Broadcast News if you were to fast-forward Broadcast News 23 years into a future society where nobody has the intellectual capacity anymore to care about real news. Welcome to today, and just remember, when you choose to watch junk, you cause the ratings of junk to go up, which leads to being served more junk. But that's what you want, right?

Q: How is the Acting?

A: The acting is the one aspect of this movie that truly is comparable to Broadcast News. Rachel McAdams has a scene where she goes from excited to depressed in one stagnant shot, and the only thing that changes on her entire smiling face are the tears that suddenly, almost imperceptibly show up in her eyes. Diane Keaton gets hotter and funnier with age. And I'm not mentioning Harrison Ford because I'm too busy wondering how a man who over-acts, under-acts, and has virtually no comic timing, has a career... Oh yeah, he was Han Solo, 33 years ago. Lucky for him.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: One shot, when she finds out she gets the job, is overly showy and obvious, but in the rest of the film, Roger Michell finds ways to work around difficult transitions and even add laughs.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Aline Brosh McKenna has a way of making it all look so easy. The dialogue is cute, though not often laugh out loud. The happy Hollywood ending, on the other hand, has a few elements to it that made me very uncomfortable about how things are going to be for these people about two months after the movie ends. Once you've seen it, let me know if you felt that, too.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/morning-glory/31567/trailers

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Megamind 3D

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Megamind (Will Ferrell) was born evil, so it's his moral obligation to conquer good. But when he finally succeeds, he goes into full-fledged identity-crisis mode.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, David Cross, Brad Pitt, Ben Stiller, J.K. Simmons

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. It's cute, but the superhero movie has been so overdone, that there's not much left to imagine about it that's fresh or original.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: The superhero movie has been so overdone, that it's easy to make jokes out of all the cliches that aren't fresh or original, and that can be quite original.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Your kids might cry when one of the characters announces that there's no Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy. I suggest you prepare a comeback (read: lie) to tell them, if you want to keep the myth alive after they see this. Hey, maybe that's why it's rated PG, so you don't bring kids who are too young to find out that their stupid old teeth aren't really worth money to anybody, and the brown egg-shaped things that comes out of a rabbit's butt aren't really chocolate.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Prettiest Eyes... Or is it Giantest Eyes?

Q: How is the Acting?

A: It's animated, so it's weird that they were able to come up with characters who fit Tina Fey, Will Ferrell, and Jonah Hill's shtick so perfectly... It's also weird that they're all so much better looking in this movie.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: What I love about 3D is that after you pay a $4 surcharge, you get confused and a headache for about 5 minutes, and then you totally forget that you're watching 3D. It's worth it... Okay, I obviously have a vendetta against this whole trend, but for those of you who like 3D (read: idiots), I should tell you that director, Tom McGrath, uses it very well. By the way, no offense. (Did that work? Are you not offended now?)

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Will Ferrell's evil character is so sweet that you sort of know right from the start where the story's gonna go, so the only question you're left asking yourself is "how?" In this case, the how gets somewhat convoluted with a body switch scenario that goes in 3 Directions. Yet another example of one too many Ds.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: Prepare to introduce your children to the smooth vocal stylings of Ozzy Osborne and AC/DC.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/megamind/33136/trailers

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Due Date

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: On the way to his baby's birth, an angry man (Robert Downey Jr.) has the misfortune of crossing paths with a blissfully unaware idiot (Zach Galifianakis), and before they know it, their paths to Los Angeles become inexorably linked.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis, Michelle Monaghan, Jamie Foxx, Juliette Lewis, Danny McBride, RZA, Matt Walsh, Todd Phillips, and Sunny the Dog in the part of Sonny the Dog.

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. While there are enough laughs and emotion to satisfy most comedy fans, the story's forward motion relies on your suspension of disbelief, not once but about 10 times. And sometimes, when you have to suspend disbelief that much, it can snap you right out of the movie.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Enough. But not at the line from the trailer, "Chiggety-check yourself before you wreck yourself," because that stopped being either funny or original circa 1994, when you, I, and everyone we know used it so much that we wore out its welcome.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If you're afraid of heights, there's a long scene that will probably make you a little queasy.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: To me this is the Best Zombie Movie of the year, because there are several incidents where the characters could only have come out alive if they were living dead.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: This a-hole character is not flattering to RDJ, and I found myself actively missing Tony Stark. Zach Galifianakis though, actually has a few surprisingly powerful dramatic moments. Based on this performance, I would consider casting him in a serious dramatic role. I'm not joking.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Todd Phillips gave himself a role in this movie, and nailed the tone of the character perfectly. Which is especially impressive when you consider that he didn't really nail the tone of the movie itself. The tone of the movie is trying to be broad-- which would've forgiven the frequent suspension of disbelief moments-- but aside from a few of the jokes, it's not.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The hardest thing about writing a movie in the vein of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, is figuring out how you're going to justify keeping the two characters together, despite the fact that they're not getting along. Some writers come up with solid justifications. These writers did that a few times, and then just got bored with logic... Then again, who needs logic when you can fall back on suspension of disbelief.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: The Soundtrack. I turned to the person next to me at least three times to mention how much I liked a song that was playing. I know what you're thinking, "Shame on you, Monique, for talking during a movie!" And I agree with you. I'm ashamed.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/due-date/38944/trailers

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The Next Three Days

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: When a man's (Russell Crowe) wife (Elizabeth Banks) is incarcerated for a crime he knows she didn't commit, he constructs a plan to break her out of jail himself.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks, Ty Simpkins, Olivia Wilde, Lennie James, Liam Neeson, Brian Dennehy, Helen Carey, Jason Beghe, Aisha Hinds, Allan Steele, Michael Buie, Moran Atias, RZA, Daniel Stern, Kevin Corrigan, Peyton Grace Allen

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! Both the good guys and the bad guys are so many steps ahead of each other, that you get to a point where you're not sure if the good guys are bad or the bad guys are good.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: There's not a lot of room for humor when you're trying to keep the tension high.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Not really, but things sure can get awkward when your mom is in prison. And sometimes, it's really hard not to take it out on her.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Paul Haggis, Russell Crowe, and a November 19th release date... probably.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: I love Elizabeth Banks, especially in comedies, but as hard as she tries in some of her difficult dramatic moments, you never forget that she's acting opposite Russell Crowe, and she's just not on his level.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: It starts out dull and boring, much like the lives of the protagonists, and it ratchets up as the suspense builds.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Paul Haggis is an Academy Award winning screenwriter, and yet there's something about this French remake of Pour Elle that feels like it's simply a translation of the original screenplay. Though, to be clear, that's not an insult to the original film... Which, to be even more clear, I didn't see.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-next-three-days/1441492/trailers

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