December 31, 2007

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Director: Amy Heckerling
Writer: Cameron Crowe
Starring: Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Judge Reinhold
Co-Starring: Robert Romanus, Brian Backer, and Phoebe Cates
Description: Follows a group of high school students growing up in southern California, based on the real-life adventures chronicled by Cameron Crowe. Stacy Hamilton and Mark Ratner are looking for a love interest, and are helped along by their older classmates, Linda Barrett and Mike Damone, respectively. The center of the film is held by Jeff Spicoli, a perpetually stoned surfer dude who faces off with the resolute Mr. Hand, who is convinced that everyone is on dope.
Rating: B
In a word... duuuuuude.

December 31, 2007

Juno (2007)
Director: Jason Reitman
Writer: Diablo Cody
Starring: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, and Jennifer Garner
Co-Starring: Jason Bateman, Allison Janney, and J.K. Simmons
Description: Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, an offbeat young woman makes an unusual decision regarding her unborn child.
Rating: A
In a word... reassuring.

December 25, 2007

Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
Director: Peter Godfrey
Writer: Aileen Hamilton, Lionel Houser, and Adele Comandini
Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, and Sydney Greenstreet
Co-Starring: Reginald Gardener, S.Z. Sakall, and Robert Shayne
Description: Journalist Elizabeth Lane is one of the country's most famous food writer. In her columns, she describes herself as a hard working farm woman, taking care of her children and being an excellent cook. But this is all lies. In reality she is an umarried New Yorker who can't even boil an egg. The recipes come from her good friend Felix. The owner of the magazine she works for has decided that a heroic sailor will spend his christmas on *her* farm. Miss Lane knows that her career is over if the truth comes out, but what can she do?
Rating: B+
In a word... underappreciated.

December 25, 2007

A Christmas Story (1983)
Director: Bob Clark
Writer: Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown, and Bob Clark
Starring: Melinda Dillon, Darin McGavin, and Peter Billingsley
Co-Starring: Ian Petrella, Scott Schwartz, and R.D. Robb
Description: Ralphie, a young boy growing up in the '40's, dreams of owning a Red Rider BB gun. He sets out to convince the world this is the perfect gift. But along the way, he runs into opposition from his parents, his teacher, and even good 'ol Santa Claus himself.
Rating: B-
In a word... tradition?

December 25, 2007

The Gold Rush (1925)
Director: Charles Chaplin
Writer: Charles Chaplin
Starring: Charles Chaplin, Mack Swain, and Tom Murray
Co-Starring: Henry Bergman, Malcolm Waite, and Georgia Hale
Description: A lone prospector ventures into Alaska looking for gold. He gets mixed up with some burly characters and falls in love with the beautiful Georgia. He tries to win her heart with his singular charm.
Rating: B+
In a word... charming.

December 24, 2007

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Director: Frank Capra
Writer: Philip Van Doren Stern, Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra, Jo Swerling, and Michael Wilson
Starring: James Stewart, Donna Reed, and Lionel Barrymore
Co-Starring: Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, and Beulah Bondi
Description: George Bailey has spent his entire life giving of himself to the people of Bedford Falls. He has always longed to travel but never had the opportunity in order to prevent rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town. All that prevents him from doing so is George's modest building and loan company, which was founded by his generous father. But on Christmas Eve, George's Uncle Billy loses the business's $8,000 while intending to deposit it in the bank. Potter finds the misplaced money and hides it from Billy. When the bank examiner discovers the shortage later that night, George realizes that he will be held responsible and sent to jail and the company will collapse, finally allowing Potter to take over the town. Thinking of his wife, their young children, and others he loves will be better off with him dead, he contemplates suicide. But the prayers of his loved ones result in a gentle angel named Clarence coming to earth to help George, with the promise of earning his wings. He shows George what things would have been like if he had never been born. In a nightmarish vision in which the Potter-controlled town is sunk in sex and sin, those George loves are either dead, ruined, or miserable. He realizes that he has touched many people in a positive way and that his life has truly been a wonderful one.
Rating: B+
In a word... classic...?

December 24, 2007

Jumanji (1995)
Director: Joe Johnston
Writer: Chris Van Allsburg, Greg Taylor, Jim Strain, and Jonathan Hensleigh
Starring: Robin Wiliams, Jonathan Hyde, and Kirsten Dunst
Co-Starring: Bradley Pierce, Bonnie Hunt, and Bebe Neuwirth
Description: When young Alan Parrish discovers a mysterious board game, he doesn't realize its unimaginable powers until he is magically transported--before the startled eyes of his friend Sarah--into the untamed jungles of Jumanji! There he remains for 26 years until he is freed from the game's spell by two unsuspecting children. Now a grown man, Alan reunites with Sarah and, together with Judy and Peter, tries to outwit the game's powerful forces.
Rating: B-
In a word... corny.

December 21, 2007

A Christmas Carol (1938)
Director: Edwin L. Marin
Writer: Charles Dickens and Hugo Butler
Starring: Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart, and Kathleen Lockhart
Co-Starring: Terry Kilburn, Barry MacKay, and Lynne Carver
Description: The timeworn Dickens' story about the old merchant Scrooge and how his own disappointments in life shape his view that both life and men are not worthy of his notice or concern. He displays no charity to mankind generally, and in particular, to his employee Bob Cratchett and his unfortunate son, Tiny Tim. But the dessicated gent is about to get his comeuppance when he imagines he is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future.
Rating: B+
In a word... suprising.