August Rush

After cellist Lyla (Keri Russell) and guitarist Louis (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) share an enchanted night together, circumstances rip them apart, and the child (Freddie Highmore) produced by the union is raised by an opportunistic stranger (Robin Williams) who nurtures the boy's musical talent. Determined to find his parents, the boy -- known as August Rush -- relies on music to draw his mother and father to him. Terrence Howard co-stars.

After watching this film the first time, I could only remember the child prodigy in the story.  I completely missed the love story.  Furthermore, there's the character played by Robin Williams, who is story himself of lost dreams and opportunities.  It's a great story.  The love story is a great one as well, allthough it starts far too unbelievably as a sephisticated young woman spends the night on the roof of a building with a complete stranger and gets pregnant.  From there, the story develops quite well.  The music is original and fun. Kimball ****

Netflix link to August Rush

New in Town

The weather isn't the only drastic change for high-paid consultant Lucy Hill (Renée Zellweger) when she's sent from her home base in South Beach, Fla., to a small Minnesota town to improve the productivity of a local manufacturing plant. The town's residents also take some getting used to, especially the ruggedly handsome union boss (Harry Connick Jr.) who's doing his darnedest to make sure that Lucy doesn't cut any jobs.

Well, not just the greatest chick flick ever, but it was worth a wasted evening. The kind that you watch because you don’t really have much else to do. But in the end you were ok with it. Renee is one of my personal favorites, so I was willing to look past the poorly spoken accents, and typical Union verses Corporate Boss crap. It was fun to see her as a done up corporate big shot in hicktown Montana. The best part of the show was watching the simple people of America transform the high and mighty with love and innocents, something that we could use a lot more of. Kimball ***

Netflix link to New in Town

Just Like Heaven

Shortly after David Abbott (Mark Ruffalo) moves into his new San Francisco digs, he has an unwelcome visitor on his hands: winsome Elizabeth Martinson (Reese Witherspoon), who asserts that the apartment is hers -- and promptly vanishes. When she starts appearing and disappearing at will, David thinks she's a ghost, while Elizabeth is convinced she's alive. Their quest for the truth ultimately leads to love in this spectral romantic comedy.

Well, this is one of those movies that you enjoy and feel dissapointed about at the same time. I really liked the story line and I thought the acting was fairly good. It was funny, it was touching, it was believable. But.....and I mean a big but, there was just too much sexual inuendo and too much normalcy placed on immorality. You'll have to watch this one with fingers in your ears and the fast forward ready. Ok, it's really not that bad as far as what is shown. There's no open nudity or sex scenes, just a lot of talk about it. The story is really cute, and Witherspoon is great. Mark Rufallo is slow getting started but after awhile he's actually enjoyable too, as the almost innocent brokenhearted victim of Witherspoon's need for love. -->Kimball***

Netflix link to Just Like Heaven

Marley and Me

Based on the best-selling memoir, this feature adaptation centers on Jennifer and John Grogan (Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson), who, as newlyweds about to start a family, learn many of life's important lessons from Marley, their lovable yet trouble-seeking canine. This heartwarming story examines the highs and lows of marriage, maturity and confronting ones' own mortality, as seen through the lens of family life with a dog.

I really liked this one. There were some scenes that we could have done without where the love between the Grogans is portrayed with all of it's playfull bedroom humor. But over all this was a great film. I enjoyed the development of family and family relationships. I really appreciated the author and director's developement of the all to common dilemma that women find themselves in today; that of having to make a choice between being moms or career women. Jennifer chooses family with the reasoning that "if working means that I will only be with my children for a few hours in the evening, than I'll stay home with my children." Brovo. And the career changes were made in the interest of opportunity and sacrifice. John sees in the end after meeting up with an old budy, who had taken a different road, that his choice to have a family had brought him the greater happiness. Marley was a wonderful metaphor for sacrifice and love in the face of challenge. Marley did his job. He had raised a family in love for eachother through their love and sacrifice for him. -->Kimball****

Netflix link to Marley and Me

The Inheritance

Years before writing Little Women, Louisa May Alcott penned this "lost novel" chronicling the life of orphan Edith Adelon (Cari Shayne), a girl who's taken in by a wealthy man (Tom Conti) and his wife (Meredith Baxter) to become their daughter's companion. Despite her low status in England's rigid class system, Edith's winsome qualities tend to shine through -- and she soon catches the eye of a handsome, wealthy suitor (Thomas Gibson).

This is a very nice film. A real chick flick, but a good one. Completely clean, and innocent and well acted. A must see for the ladies, and a should see for the guys. Everyone needs a little culture. -->Kimball****

Netflix link to The Inheritance

The Remains of the Day

Dutiful butler Stevens (Anthony Hopkins) dedicates himself wholly to tending Lord Darlington's (James Fox) house, turning a blind eye to Darlington's Nazi sympathies. When housekeeper Miss Kenton (Emma Thompson) tries to coax Stevens out of his staid shell, his reluctance may cost him dearly. He finally seeks out Miss Kenton later in life, but is it too late? This Merchant-Ivory period drama was nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Picture.

Here you have very good actors doing a superb job in a slow film. This picture also has Hugh Grant, and Christopher Reeves. With so much star power you would expect more. Don't get me wrong, it is a good film, just a bit slow. Anthony Hopkins plays Stevens, the butler, who is so committed to his duties that he fails to see the things that are truly important. He loses his chance at love and misses the importance of the events unfolding around him. -->Kimball***

Netflix link to The Remains of the Day

No Reservations

In this remake of the award-winning European romantic comedy Mostly Martha, Catherine Zeta-Jones plays Kate, an emotionally fragile chef whose life is turned upside down when she becomes guardian of her niece (Abigail Breslin). Used to absolute control -- both in her kitchen (which she rules with an iron hand) and at home -- Kate now faces chaos on all fronts, as both the child and her new sous chef (Aaron Eckhart) work their way into her heart.

A very nice film. Well developed story and decent acting. Love and apreciation can penetrate even the coldest of hearts. Sometimes it takes tragedy to help us see that there are more important things in life than personal ambition and recognition. Kate is all work and no play and takes herself so seriously that she has no room for anyone else, and no room for criticism. With the happy-go-lucky sous chef that enters her life she is faced with hating a guy that you can't help but love, and a niece left to her care who needs more attention than Kate wants to give, all of a sudden she finds herself forced into change. But the change is just what the doctor ordered. -->Kimball ****

Netflix link to No Reservations

The Importance of Being Ernest

In this adaptation of Oscar Wilde's witty play about mistaken identities, Algernon Moncrieff (Rupert Everett) and Jack Worthing (Colin Firth) cause trouble as two proper gentlemen in 1890s London who use the same pseudonym. At a country estate, they fall in love with two ladies -- Cecily (Reese Witherspoon) and Gwendolyn (Frances O'Conner) -- but the hilarious confusion that ensues from their deceptions may just sink their chance at romance.

This was OK. It had it's funny moments and at times it was entertaining. The last 15min. made the whole show worth watching. I rented it because of Reese Witherspoon, and was not dissapointed in her performance. It's worth a watch, but not as a main feature. --->Kimball * * *

Netflix link to The Importance of Being Ernest

Always

Directed by Steven Spielberg, this affecting remake of A Guy Named Joe stars Richard Dreyfuss as brash Pete Sandich, a firefighting pilot who dies in the line of duty but returns as a guardian angel to fledgling aviator Ted Baker (Brad Johnson). Pete's task takes an unexpected twist, however, when Ted begins falling for Dorinda Durston (Holly Hunter) -- the girl Pete left behind. Audrey Hepburn plays a seraph in her final big-screen appearance.

This show has a little language problem. I still like it though. I really like flying sequences and there are plenty of those in this one. I also like Richard Dreyfuss who plays a roll that’s perfect for him. John Goodman appears in this, one of his first big rolls. Great love story, and funny. I thought Audrey Hepburn was a real plus for the film, and interestingly, her last. ->Kimball * * * *

Netflix link to Always

I.Q.

Meg Ryan stars as Catherine, the cerebral and perfectly logical niece of scientific genius Albert Einstein (Walter Matthau), in this 1994 romantic comedy. When Catherine and her egghead fiancé (Stephen Fry) stop at a gas station, they meet Ed (Tim Robbins), a mechanic who immediately falls for Catherine. But can a guy who works with his hands win a girl ruled by her brain? With the help of a meddling Einstein, it's "relatively" possible.

I know everyone’s probably seen this movie, but I thought I’d put in my two bits anyway. I like it. I think it’s clever, and funny. Albert Eienstein (Walter Matthau) and his other scientist friends are hilarious. The humor is sometimes a little to quick and hidden but funny. And what can I say about Meg Ryan. I’m in love with her. She’s always been one of my favorites. Aside from a few sexual innuendos this film is pretty innocent. It can’t be classed as one of the "Romantic Comedy Greats" but it’s not bad. ->Kimball * * *

Netflix link to I.Q.

Follow the Stars Home

Produced for television's "Hallmark Hall of Fame" series, this story follows Dianne (Kimberly Williams) in her new marriage to young, successful Mark (Eric Close). A pregnancy follows, but the baby has severe genetic abnormalities, and Mark, unable to cope, walks out. Determined to create a family, Dianne keeps baby Julia and receives love, guidance and assistance from some unexpected sources. Co-stars Campbell Scott and Blair Brown.

This is a pro-life film with a great love story intertwined. I thought the acting was good, and the story well written. People are saved in this film. Good prevails, and goodness is GOOD. The bad guy loses and the good guy wins. What more can you ask for? -->Kimball

Link to Follow the Stars Home