JayFlix

Starring Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell, and Robert Duvall Directed by Scott Cooper Rated R for language and brief sexuality 1 hour 51 minutes Jeff Bridges won the best actor Oscar for this performance as Bad Blake, a washed-up alcoholic country singer who is struggling to put his life together.  While on the road [...]

Starring Max Records and Catherine Keener Directed by Spike Jonze Rated PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure action and brief language 1 hour 41 minutes I’m not really sure how to classify this movie about a child who runs away to a fantasy land.  I wanted to say “family”, but it’s too dark for [...]

Documentary Directed by Anders Ostergaard Not Rated, but likely PG-13 for violence 1 hour 29 minutes A corrupt government holds its people hostage and doesn’t want the world to know about it, so they cut off all media outlets.  Foreign news reporters are banned and the Internet is shut down.  The only way the news [...]

Starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon Directed by Clint Eastwood Rated PG-13 for brief strong language 2 hours 14 minutes It’s hard to imagine not liking this sports-themed historical drama about Nelson Mandela and the 1995 South Africa world cup rugby team. It’s got all of the ingredients for greatness, but comes up a little [...]

Starring Nireen Faour, Melkar, Muallem, Hiam Abbass, and Alla Shawkat Directed by Cherien Dabis Rated PG-13 for brief drug use involving teens and some language 1 hour 35 minutes Entertainment Weekly and Cannes both thought this was a good film, so I ended up renting it.   That was a bit of a mistake.  Sure, this [...]

Starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Land, Michelle Rodriguez, and Sigourney Weaver Directed by James Cameron Rated PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language, and some smoking 2 hours, 42 minutes I think I was about the last person on earth to see this movie.  I really wanted to see it in [...]

Starring Carey Mulligan and Peter Sarsgaard Directed by Lone Scherfig Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving sexual content, and for smoking 1 hour 40 minutes This coming of age movie set in 1960s London is not one I would typically see, but in my quest to view all ten of the 2010 Best Picture nominees, [...]

Starring Michael Stuhlbarg Directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen Rated R for language, some sexuality/nudity, and brief violence 1 hour 46 minutes This one is about a middle-aged Jewish man and his struggles with his family, career, and faith.  It’s obviously well-acted and directed, but the story goes nowhere and ends disappointingly.  I actually think [...]

Animated Featuring the voices of Cate Blanchett, Noah Cyrus, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Frankie Jonas, Cloris Leachman, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin, and Betty White Directed by Hayao Miyazaki Rated G 1 hour 43 minutes I have always admired Japanese animation from afar, but my experience (Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away  and Howl’s Moving Castle) has always [...]

Starring George Clooney (Best Actor Nominee), Vera Farmiga (Best Supporting Actress Nominee), and Anna Kendrick (Best Supporting Actress Nominee), Directed by Jason Reitman (Best Director Nominee) Rated R for language and sexual content 1 hour 49 minutes It’s hard not to enjoy George Clooney when he’s acting cool and confident. He begins this movie at [...]