October movie reviews

APPALOOSA. In 1882 New Mexico territory, Virgil and Everett (Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen) arrive in a small town to become lawmen. They apparently make their living going town to town and using their guns to intimidate bad guys (one way or another). In this particular town, the bad guy scaring all the townsfolk (with many lackeys also behaving badly) is Jeremy Irons. Into this mix comes widow Allie (Renee Zellwegger), who catches Virgil's eye. He is quite smitten. Meanwhile, Virgil and Everett need to arrest Jeremy for killing the town's sheriff. This sounds like a traditional western, but it's not quite. Allie is a character you don't often see in westerns, and the movie is more about male friendship than good guys vs. bad guys. So although it is a bit slow, I liked it quite a bit.

RELIGULOUS. Bill Maher interviews a wide variety of people in an attempt to understand why they are religious. Of course, getting people to rationalize faith is a losing proposition, because by definition, faith can't be proved or disproved. On one hand, the movie is laugh out loud in parts, but on the other hand, I think Bill goes too far in blaming religion for all the ills of the world (I think Bill has a real mean streak in him). Still, if you can leave whatever beliefs you have at the door and not be offended, it is very funny stuff.

NICK AND NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST. Nick (Michael Cera) is broken-hearted after his hottie girlfriend dumps him. He makes endless mix tapes (OK, CDs) for her, but she just callously throws them away. Another girl at school picks them up; it turns out they have identical tastes in music and love indie bands. But Nick and Norah don't go to the same school, so they don't know each other. But one night they both independently go out in search of a favorite band appearing in Manhattan, and they end up traveling together. They don't hit it off immediately, but they do share that taste in music... cute little movie, with some good laughs, and great supporting characters. Worth seeing.

FLASH OF GENIUS. Robert Kearns (Greg Kinnear) had a PhD in engineering, and was a college professor. One day, he has an inspiration, and invents the intermittent windshield wiper. He patented it, and tried to get Ford to buy his product. Instead, they told him they weren't interested, and then stole his idea. He spent years fighting them in court so he could get credit for his invention (the money was not his primary goal). He was so obsessed, he lost his wife and had a nervous breakdown. Now you might think a movie about the guy who invents a windshield wiper would be a tad boring. And you'd be right. On the other hand, it is always fun to watch the little guy go up against a big corporation and win. And the acting so good. So the movie is OK.

THE DUCHESS. In 1774 England, 16-year-old Georgiana (Keira Knightly) becomes engaged to the Duke of Devonshire (Ralph Fiennes). She is educated, vivacious, and pretty. But the Duke is really only interested in her ability to give him a male heir - he doesn't even bother to talk to her. And things get worse when she only gives birth to daughters. She becomes quite a social icon and the center of the "jet set" of the time, but it is said that her husband is the only man in England that isn't madly in love with her. He has affairs; she falls in love with another. Now, I am sympathetic to women trapped in loveless marriages, but it doesn't make for an inherently interesting story. I think this only got made because there are some parallels to Princess Diana (a descendant of the Duchess' family). Pretty costumes and settings, but just not riveting stuff.



FRONTRUNNERS. Documentary on kids from New York's prestigious Stuyvesant High School (only 3% of applicants get in). It's about four students running for President of their student union. There is the cheerleader/actress, the politics geek, a current popular SU member, and a basketball player. A review said this was an exciting look at how competitive a race can get in a cutthroat school (little man standing on chair!), but other than the kids having an on-air debate, the campaign wasn't that much different than I remember from my middle-class high school. A disappointment.