C.P. Funaro
Clearwater, FL

Tom Cruise gives a very good performance as Claus von Stauffenberg, the mastermind of the plot. But the screenplay never delves into the complexities and psyches of its main characters. The end result is a low-grade drama with a low-keyed Tom Cruise that makes for an entertaining, but unspectacular movie.

Paulette Dobrovolskis
Pittsburgh, PA

However, the burden of generating silliness and hilarity isn't confined to just these two morons. The director of the mentorship program, Gayle Sweeny (Jane Lynch), is an ex-druggie who delights in repeatedly confessing her addictions in an egotistical manner. Her zany character is an unforgettable one that rivals all the others. This film is an entertaining comedy with hardcore, gritty material that will appeal to the younger crowd.

Ignacy Manko
Pittsburgh, PA

Regrettably, the entire cast seems undeveloped and unfulfilled. The irritating quarreling of Dr. Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly) with her stepson, Jason Benson (Jaden Smith), is a time-wasting annoyance that reveals Smith's unnatural and unrealistic character portrayal. Kathy Bates' performance is hollow, uninspiring, and lacks conviction. Keanu Reeves as the alien Klaatu is a stoic, expressionless figure who is too disconnected from the charisma of a superior alien.

Stanley F. Niziol
Pittsburgh, PA

Martha Agnew
Milwaukee, WI

Patti Blount
Durand, WI

Christine Finer
Hamilton, OH

Christine Finer
Hamilton, OH

While the plot is weak and flimsy, the car chases, brawls, martial arts fights, and machine gun-riddled escape scenes compensate for those deficiencies. This is a roaring, action-packed film with implausible and far-fetched stunts that surprising does entertain the audience. Jason Stratham excels in his role as the Transporter. Sadly, Natalya Rudakova, his love interest, fails miserably in her role. Her lifeless, vapid acting conjures up the image of an airy Space Cadet waiting listlessly at a transit stop for the Mother Ship to beam her up. What a disappointment!

As usual, Jason Statham's suave mystique complements his seductive charisma on the screen. Both are accentuated by his meticulously attired appearance. As a martial arts combatant, he alone can enter a room with ten thugs, and after using his designer shirt as a convincing weapon, walk out amidst ten bodies on the floor — and not a bead of sweat on his brow! He is the ultimate cool man with the cool car. James Bond, beware!

Mike Dawida
Pittsburgh, PA

The blustering Vince Vaughn can wheedle his way out of anything, as well as get a good laugh out of any line. Reese Witherspoon is just wonderful as his supportive partner. Granted that this film will never become a classic, it does offer enough belly laughs and entertainment value to make it worth seeing.

Sandy Fischer
Pittsburgh, PA

Sharon Watt
Baltimore, MD

I would recommend this movie to all young and not so young to see the movie.

Meredith Collins
Niceville, FL

Tammy Reeves
Pensacola, FL

Terry Sutton
Florence, KY

Melanie Huscusson
Hendersonville, NC

Rich Pallotta
Pittsburgh, PA

Stacy Butler
Baltimore, MD

I was impressed by how Hathaway's intense performance breathed life and emotion into the story line. The film was shot with a handheld camera – just like a home movie – giving it a realistic and somewhat personal touch. I really thought that I was one of the guests in the wedding party! If you want to get an intimate look at sibling rivalries and at a fascinating dysfunctional family, then this is your movie. It gave me a lot to think about.

Doug Frazier
Sewickley, PA

Clint Eastwood portrays masterfully the social, political, and moral climate that existed during this era: a time when women were viewed as too emotional, and often subject to bouts of hysteria; a time when women were expected to keep their mouth shut and do as they were told; a time when the unbridled police abused and expanded their power. Eastwood's artistic unfolding of the central elements of the plot allows this dark film to cast a defining shadow over the political culture of the day. The result is an enlightening and dramatic film that is well worth seeing.

Scorecard: Clint Eastwood — two Oscars; Angelina Jolie — one Oscar.

Ronald Niziol
Pittsburgh, PA

This crooked cop movie is a brutal and bloody drama that exposes police corruption in the NYPD. In that respect it just like the other films in this genre and seems to borrow similar plot lines from them. However, it does go one step further by weaving police family relationships (father, son, son-in-law) into the movie action. It also illustrates the psychological stress, self-destructive behavior, and temptation and greed that result from this type of work. But these added perspectives don't counterbalance the mundane and trite story line.

I always enjoy the presence of Edward Norton on the big screen. He is terrific. And Colin Ferrell does a great job playing the hotheaded Jimmy, a veteran police officer like his brother and father. But let's face it, this is just another ordinary good cop vs. bad cop movie that is excessively violent, a bit too long, and plagued by a confusing plot. Nothing special.

Paulette Dobrovolskis
Pittsburgh, PA

Oliver Stone's movie W. is a reasonable and plausible psychological analysis of George Dubya Bush's life and presidency. Stone handles his material honestly and even-handedly, and takes special care to present a fair, unbiased picture of Bush's character. His decision as a director to err on the safe side is necessary in order to make this quasi-documentary credible. But that balanced and ultraconservative approach makes the film stiff and a little boring at times.

The movie plays itself out as a strained father-son relationship through the use of flashbacks. We see a famous father who misunderstands his wayward son, and a son who agonizes over his failure to live up to his father's expectations. It is a story of a reborn Christian trying to redeem himself and achieve success in the field of politics, an arena that he is ill-suited for.

Josh Brolin's impersonation of George W. is generally excellent, though up close he doesn't quite flesh out the real essence of Dubya. Richard Dreyfuss is right on as Dick Cheney; Thandie Newton's role as Condoleezza Rice is a bit underdeveloped. Although this movie sports a great cast, some viewers may be disappointed with the way it ends. At any rate, Stone's implied message –voters should objectively evaluate the candidates and pick the most qualified one—is sheer common sense.

Jean Miksic
Pittsburgh, PA

I hate to say it, but this movie was boring. You have to be really into politics to possibly enjoy it.

I felt the intended humor wasn't even funny.

Terry Sutton
Florence, KY

What a horrible movie… This movie was hard to sit through and so predictable. I do not care for the way movies are shot as if someone is filming the whole scenario. It is too dark during most of the movie and the cameraman moves the camera around a lot. The entire movie is pretty predictable. The ending was the best part of the movie.

Melissa Ballard
Niceville, FL

The Secret Life of Bees is a touching and uplifting coming-of-age drama that takes place during the Civil Rights period in South Carolina in 1964. The fourteen year old Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning) and the housekeeper Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson) escape from the home of Lily's father. The depressed Lily flees the physically abusive relationship with her father, T. Ray. The housekeeper Rosaleen, who was beaten by some local bigots on her way to register to vote, is convinced by Lily that now is the time to search for a new home. They travel to the small town of Tiburon where they seek refuge in a “Pepto-Bismol” colored pink house that catches their fancy.

The eccentric Boatwright sisters, named May, June, and August, welcome the twosome into their unique home. August Boatwright (Queen Latifah), the matriarch of the family, comforts and supports Lily and makes her an apprentice in the family's bee farm and honey business. The lonely and unloved Lily finally finds the blessed home and loving family she has always yearned for. This idyllic setting allows Lily to peacefully enjoy the simple things in life and to explore her need for a sense of belonging. “I can't think of something I'd rather have more than someone loving me”, she remarks about sister June's boy friend problems.

The cast is excellent, the scenery is beautiful, and Dakota Fanning is marvelous. The script is well written, the handling of the Civil Rights issues is not oppressive, and the meandering quest for true love and true family is heartwarming. An enjoyable movie that deserves to be seen twice!

Ignacy Manko
Pittsburgh, PA

Body of Lies is an intriguing spy thriller that is packed with fast-paced action set in the turbulent areas of Iraq and Jordan. Leonardo DiCaprio plays an undercover CIA agent, Roger Ferris, a frantic and arrogant person who is hunting down a rising terrorist leader. The versatile Russell Crowe plays Ed Hoffman who is Ferris' low-keyed boss at CIA headquarters. With his headset and laptop Hoffman orchestrates the field strategies and moves the pawn-like Ferris deceptively from one square to the next.

Unfortunately, the stellar acting ability of Russell Crowe seems so wasted in this undemanding and mundane role that one must question the logic of the director's casting. Also the budding romance of the American Ferris and the Muslim nurse Aisha seems a bit contrived and awkward. It is only the suave Hani Salaam (Mark Strong), the head of Jordanian intelligence, who captures your attention with his smooth and manipulative moves and ruthless behavior.

Although this movie seems like a replay of other foreign terrorist films, its view of the Middle East environment is quite impressionable and unforgettable. It paints a grim picture of lies and deceit that fosters a general sense of paranoia. It depicts bloody violence, unsettling and confusing behavior, and a hopeless existence punctuated with life or death situations. The portrayal of this daily fear and horror separates this film from all its predecessors. It's well worth checking out.

Neil Miksic
Pittsburgh, PA