2012 (2009) [PG-13] ***

Six thousand feet underground in a copper mine in India, particle physicists make a terrifying discovery… neutrinos from a solar flare bombarding the earth are mutating into a microwave-like energy source that is heating the core of the Earth. The predicted results include tectonic plate movements which cause earthquakes, tsunamis and shifting of the Earth's poles. And the predicted date for these events is December 21st, 2012, the ending date of the Mayan Long Count Calendar.

This is the ultimate disaster film, and it includes elements from co-writer/director Roland Emmerich's earlier disaster films, including Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow. In fact, if you have seen those two films, plus Deep Impact and Knowing, then you'll be well prepared for this film, in which virtually all of Earth's nearly seven billion inhabitants perish.

Some of the major characters include: the U.S. President (Danny Glover), his daughter (Thandie Newton), his Chief of Staff (Oliver Platt), his Science Advisor (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a failed author (John Cusack), his ex-wife (Amanda Peet) and an eccentric prophet of doom (Woody Harrelson) who has been trying for years to warn humanity about the danger, but who has been ignored. As we have come to expect in Roland Emmerich's films, there's a straightforward plot without any surprises, frenetic pacing, predictable dialog, poorly developed characters, and heavy-handed moral lessons. But the special effects are incredible, especially the eruption of the Yellowstone caldera, the earthquakes along the San Andreas Fault, and the tsunamis. Be prepared to be entertained but not impressed. 

Labels: action, adventure, drama, sci-fi, thriller   
IMDb 58/100
MetaScore (critics=49, viewers=55)
RottenTomatoes Averages (critics=52, viewers=62)  
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New in Town (2009) [PG] ***

Lucy Hill (Renee Zellweger) is an ambitious young executive for Munck Foods. She loves her upscale Miami, Florida lifestyle including her Jaguar convertible. But, when she has an opportunity to supervise the transformation of the New Ulm, Minnesota processing plant to manufacture the company's new Rocket Bar, she volunteers for the assignment.

When Lucy arrives in New Ulm in early November, she soon begins to understand what freezing Minnesota winters are like, with icy roads and hypothermia. And she quickly gets a taste of New Ulm culture when her secretary Blanche (Siobhan Fallon Hogan) invites her home for a meatloaf dinner, and introduces her to the ruggedly handsome but coarse Ted Mitchell (Harry Connick Jr.).

Of course Lucy and Ted begin fighting over their cultural differences, and it's only the following morning at work that Lucy discovers Ted is also the plant's union representative. Lucy and Ted eventually do warm up to each other, but when the new Rocket Bar fails its test market, and Lucy is at first told to lay off half the New Ulm plant employees, and later to close the plant entirely, a move that will put the entire town out of work, she begins to sympathize with the workers' plight, and soon finds herself reevaluating her personal and professional goals, and trying to find a way to save the plant and the town.

Co-written by C. Jay Cox (Sweet Home Alabama) and Ken Rance, a native of Minnesota, there is nothing original about this fish-out-of-water romantic comedy. The script features juvenile comedy about small-town Minnesota culture, minimal romantic chemistry between Zellweger and Connick, lackluster direction and a non-existent musical score. Filmed in Winnipeg and Selkirk, Canada, and in Los Angeles and Miami, the film feels a bit like Hope Floats set in Fargo-land. Only forgiving fans of Zellweger and Connick, as well as those who enjoyed Sweet Home Alabama, need bother with this one; others will regret the loss of ninety minutes of your lives. 

Labels: comedy, romance  
IMDb 56/100
MetaScore (critics=29, viewers=54) 
RottenTomatoes Averages (critics=44, viewers=60)  
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The Proposal (2009) [PG-13] ***/****

Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) is a high-powered book editor for a Boston publishing firm. She's a cold-hearted, demanding boss who pushes her staff to the limit; she's tormented her assistant Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) for three years without ever expressing an interest in, or concern for, his personal life. Andrew is so terrified of Margaret that, for example, he orders the same designer coffee she orders, so he can give her his coffee if hers should spill.

But Margaret has a problem. She's Canadian, and while her visa renewal application was being processed she went on a business trip to Europe, a no-no that has resulted in her application being rejected. Due to be deported, and unable to work for an American company from Canada, the quick-thinking Margaret decides that Andrew is the solution to her problem, and all they have to do is get married. When Andrew demurs, Margaret tells him if he doesn't play along, her replacement will surely fire him out of spite. Andrew reluctantly agrees to participate in the charade, but when they explain their marriage plans to Margaret's immigration officer (Denis O'Hare) he's instantly suspicious and explains the consequences of immigration fraud, which include prison and a fine for Andrew.

Unwilling to give up an expected promotion, Andrew and Margaret proceed with their plan, which involves jetting off to Sitka, Alaska to tell Andrew's parents (Craig T. Nelson and Mary Steenburgen) the news, and to celebrate flinty Grandma Annie's (Betty White) 90th birthday. However, since Andrew has been complaining about Margaret ever since he started working for her, and since there appears to be little romance in their relationship, Andrew's family is understandably suspicious. Like a fish out of water, city-bred Margaret finds herself in one Alaskan comedic situation after another, and as Andrew's family starts planning an impromptu wedding, the couple is astonished to discover that they might actually be developing feelings for one another.

Directed by Anne Fletcher (27 Dresses) from a script by first-time writer Peter Chiarelli, this is a romantic comedy with precious little romance and barely more comedy, limited chemistry between Bullock and Reynolds and little originality in the screenplay. While Ryan Reynolds at least makes an effort, Sandra Bullock has simply phoned in her lackluster performance; she must have wondered what she was doing in this project. And, although the Alaskan scenery is beautiful, there's no memorable dialogue, the soundtrack is terrible, and the supporting talents of Nelson, Steenburgen, White and O'Hare are totally wasted, The story feels a bit like Green Card meets Two Weeks Notice; if you enjoyed those films, or 27 Dresses, and you are an uncritical fan of Bullock and Reynolds, you might be amused by The Proposal, but others should probably pass. 

Labels: comedy, drama, romance, wedding   
Internet Movie Database 67/100  
MetaScore (critics=48, viewers=68) 
RottenTomatoes Averages (critics=53,viewers=74) 
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My One and Only (2009) [PG-13] ****

It's 1953, and Anne Deveraux (Renee Zellweger) has just caught her husband, New York City band leader Dan Deveraux (Kevin Bacon), cheating on her again. Anne raids their bank safe deposit box, buys a new Cadillac convertible, and then, with her two teenage sons George (Logan Lerman) and Robbie (Mark Rendall) in tow, departs for Boston where she hopes to find a new husband.

Gradually Anne discovers that her former boyfriends have their own agendas, and after exhausting all the possibilities in Boston, and Pittsburgh, Anne heads for her sister's home in St. Louis. Eventually the three find themselves in Hollywood, California where they hope to make it in the movies. And, when George tells us in the final scene that he's changed his name back to the original family name of Hamilton, we understand that this is the story of how the famous actor got his start in films, and how he remembers his mother.

This affable little road trip film isn't really that memorable, but it is a fine showcase for Renee Zellweger's talents, and she gives one of her most relaxed performances in years. Costumes and sets are so accurate that, for those of us who remember that time, the film evokes strong memories of the mid-1950s America often recalled in Norman Rockwell paintings. If you enjoy period dramas set in the 1950s, films like A Summer Place or The Majestic, and you enjoy Renee Zellweger, give this one a try. You might be pleasantly surprised. 

Labels: comedy, drama    
Internet Movie Database    
Metacritic 62/100    
RottenTomatoes Averages (critics=63, viewers=64)

Mother and Child (2009) [R] ****

Karen (Annette Bening) is an unmarried physical therapist who lives in suburban Los Angeles with her invalid mother. Karen is in her early fifties, and the major regret in her life is that she got pregnant when she was fourteen, and gave up her child for adoption. Karen is closed, mistrustful and bitter about life. Her daughter, Elizabeth (Naomi Watts), now thirty-seven, is an attorney - single, self-reliant, cold and calculating. Karen and Elizabeth have never met, although they have spent a lifetime wondering about each other. Their stories intersect with that of Lucy (Kerry Washington), who is married and childless, and who hopes to fulfill her dreams of motherhood through adoption, although her husband is having second thoughts.

Written and directed with insight and sensitivity by Rodrigo Garcia, this bittersweet, character-driven story will most appeal to viewers who are drawn to heartfelt, emotional, female-centered dramas on the themes of adoption, parenting, self-sacrifice, the importance of family, and the fulfillment of potential. Bening, Watts and Washington are all outstanding in their lead roles, and there are excellent supporting performances by Jimmy Smits, Samuel L. Jackson, S. Epatha Merkerson and Shareeka Epps. 

Label: drama, reunion
Internet Movie Database    
Metacritic 64/100    
RottenTomatoes Averages (critics=66, viewers=74)     
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Knowing (2009) [PG-13] ***

Armageddon meets Signs in this apocalyptic sci-fi/fantasy/action thriller starring Nicolas Cage as John Koestler, an MIT astrophysicist whose son Caleb (Chandler Canterbury) brings home a strange document, after the opening of a 50-year-old time capsule at his elementary school. Originally placed in the ground in 1959 at the school's dedication ceremony, the time capsule contained pictures of the future drawn by the young students.

However, one deeply disturbed girl, Lucinda (Lara Robinson), instead filled her sheet of paper with rows of apparently random numbers. Studying the document, Koestler discovers that the numbers include the date, death toll and earth coordinates (longitude and latitude) of every major disaster since 1959. Furthermore, the document predicts three future disasters, the last of which may be a global event, putting at risk the life of every living thing on the Earth.

Koestler tries to interest Phil Beckman (Ben Mendelsohn), an MIT cosmologist, in the theoretical possibility that the prediction could be true, but Beckman derides his fascination with the non-scientific pursuit of numerology. Tracking down Diana Wayland (Rose Byrne), the daughter of the now-deceased Lucinda, Koestler appeals to her for help, and he also tries to alert the authorities. However, he can't get anyone to believe him, and he becomes increasingly desperate as the date of the third event draws closer.

Based on a story by Ryne Douglas Pearson (Mercury Rising) and directed by Alex Proyas (The Crow, Dark City, and I, Robot), the film offers fast-paced adrenalin-pumping action, impressive special effects, a plausible scientific explanation for the world-ending event, and a credible performance by Nicolas Cage. This is not a film with a happy ending, however, and while it has a PG-13 rating it may be profoundly disturbing for innocent viewers of any age. (Why is it that a film depicting two people making love earns an MPAA R Rating, while a film showing horribly maimed people screaming in pain while fleeing an airplane crash or a subway train crash earns a PG-13 rating?) Fans of Nicolas Cage thrillers like Next may be satisfied, but this film will be best appreciated by fans of the films of M. Night Shyamalan and Alex Proyas. 

Labels: action, drama, mystery, sci-fi, thriller, tragedy   
Internet Movie Database  
Metacritic 41/100  
RottenTomatoes Averages (critics=47, viewers=62)  
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Cairo Time (2009) [PG] ****

Juliette Grant (Patricia Clarkson) travels to Cairo, Egypt to meet her husband Mark (Tom McCamus), a U.N. peace worker running a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. When Mark's exit from Gaza is delayed, good friend and former co-worker Tareq (Alexander Siddig) meets Juliette at the airport and escorts her to her hotel. Mark's continued absence provides Tareq with an opportunity to act as Juliette's guide to Cairo, and inevitably a subtle attraction develops between the two.

Writer and director Ruba Nadda may be critically acclaimed, but this is not one of her best efforts. Her screenplay lacks originality, and the film's pacing can generously be described as measured. But the worst flaw is casting. When this film was shot, Patricia Clarkson was fifty, six years older than Alexander Siddig. There is virtually no romantic chemistry between the two leads, so their attraction is not believable (in other words, this is not Julie Christie and Omar Sharif in Dr. Zhivago). We are left with an interesting travelogue of modern-day Cairo, including some lovely photography of the city, the Nile River, the Pyramids at Giza and various marketplaces, mosques and coffee shops, as well as a haunting musical score. If slow-moving, PG-rated, romantic dramas, set in the Middle East appeal to you, then Cairo Time is your kind of film; otherwise I would pass. 

Labels: cross-cultural, drama, romance    
Internet Movie Database    
Metacritic 67/100    
RottenTomatoes Averages (critics=68, viewers=66)    
Blu-ray