DVDs Movies

Julie & Julia
$28.96
2009 has been a tough year for a film-goer like me. i am drawn most strongly to character-driven films such as last year's 'the reader' or 'frozen river' or to film biographies that meticulously researched and star-driven with that type of performance that is likewise so researched, yet so nuanced that a viewer can feel he or she is seeing the personality. right there. no frills. in the recent past, jamie foxx and cate blanchett more than fulfilled my needs with their interpretations of ray charles and katharine hepburn. now meryl streep has done the same in this year's 'julie and julia'. her work is standing alone, though there have been and will be the requisite numbers of film biographies for 2009.

words cannot describe streep's performance but i am going to give it a shot. streep is a zesty, tangible delight as world-famous chef julia child. and i am going to stop there because i cannot go any further without mentioning stanley tucci as child's husband paul or jane lynch as child's garrulous sister dorothy. both offer solid support; i hope tucci's work will get its reward when awards fest begins.

these three actors made such a strong impact on me as an audience member that i found myself getting a little testy waiting for them to come back on screen. child's career beginning as a chef runs parallel to the story of julie powell, played charmingly by amy adams. powell, an overworked city employee, is encouraged to start a blog by her husband eric played by chris messina. so, her blog becomes her day-by-day working through child's first cook book. although her story is an inspiring one, it is not as interesting as child's. and adams and messina are too cute to be believed, even as they squabble. julia and paul's life is portrayed as largely idyllic and you think that would be the boring one. but it isn't.

but at the same exchange, i can live without a film about child. at least right now.

Hocus Pocus
$14.99
This is "old school" Halloween. Perfect to watch every year like any holiday classic. Bette is so fun. Buy this one!

The Secret Life of Bees
$19.98
This is an excellent movie covering subjects such as black/white relationships, coming of age issues and sisterhood. It is a very heartwarming story that will leave you thinking about it for a while.

Marley and Me (Single-Disc Edition)
$29.98
This movie, I thought, was going to be a movie about a dog and his family. Well, not by any means is this a family movie, nor a "DOG" movie. It is more about a man, and his life. It was sad, and through most of the movie if Marley is in it, they are talking about how, "bad" he is. Not recommend.