Radio: is a very sweet, sentimental movie based on the true story of a high school football coach who befriends a slow young man, who the town has shunned and mistreated.  Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Ed Harris give good performances in the roles and are given nice support by Debra Winger, in a rare performance as the coach's wife, Sara Drew, as his overlooked daughter, and Alfre Woodward, as the Principal, who reluctantly comes to support the coach's moves to integrate the young man back into life.  An enjoyable movie, but not a fresh or original one.  movie seen 10/25/03    RECOMMEND: Hoosiers is a well-loved Gene Hackman movie about a small town basketball coach who's on his last chance.  Based partly on the true story of a small town team that won its state championship, it has a warm heart combined with solid performances by Hackman, as the tough coach, and Dennis Hopper, as the town drunk he picks as his assistance (in his Oscar-nominated performance).  The small town feel is much like that in "Radio".

Ratatouille: I have to admit the concept rather grossed me out - a rat who loves to cook and frankly there are some scenes of rats en masse that had me and the audience pretty squeamish.  But, the illustrations (especially the beauty of Paris), actions, and humor were very cute, so it was easy to get roped in by its charm.  A winner for all age groups.  Seen 9/01/07

Ray: Is the movie of the season, anchored by a knockout performance by Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles.  It's a warts and all look at Ray from his destitute tragic childhood through his early years creating his music and his fall into drug addiction and eventual redemption.  He is not shown as a saint, but as a man who was taken advantage of because of his blindness and who frequently was not kind to those who were closest to him.  But, in the end he earns our respect for the music he created and how he brought his life around to end on a positive note.  The theater was packed when I saw the movie and there was enormous spontaneous applause at the end, so I know that many were feeling just like me.  This is a not to miss movie!  movie seen 10/29/04   RECOMMEND: Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows is an exceptional TV movie made from Lorna Luft's book about growing up as Judy Garland's daughter.  It is a tough look at Judy's decent into drugs and how she was abused by those who made money from her from MGM to her managers.  Judy Davis morphed so well into Judy, that you felt you were watching her live and Tammy Blanchard nailed the young Judy.  The movie racked up many awards and nominations, especially for Judy Davis.

REMEMBER THE TITANS:  Is a well-done, true story of a Virginia high school team forced to integrate in 1971.   Denzel Washington and Will Patton give solid performances as the coaches who not only bring the team together, but eventually the school and the town.  It is honest without being raw and inspiring without being preachy.  The supporting cast of young actors is wonderful and the audience cheered and applauded at the end.  I think we are talking Oscar time.  movie seen 9/30/00     RECOMMEND: Brian's Song is a well-loved TV 1971 movie that tells the story of Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers (played by James Caan and Billy Dee Williams).  It is a warm, loving story, despite the sad ending.

THE REPLACEMENTS:  Has all the elements of a funny movie, but somehow the whole just doesn't work.  It tells the tale of replacement players during the football strike, who, of course, end up as winners.  There are funny characters and funny scenes, but no big punch lines to make it all work as a whole.  Unfortunately, the previews show all the best parts. movie seen 8/12/00  RECOMMEND: Slap Shot is a funny movie about losers on ice, with Paul Newman as the old player trying to keep the team alive.  It has genuinely funny moments, but the   skate by co-star Michael Ontkean at the movie's end is hysterical and makes the film truly memorable.

RETURN TO ME:  There is so much heart and sincere warmth in this sweet love story that you can't resist it. Bonnie Hunt has made a pleasant directorial entry that takes it time to tell the story of a widower who falls in love with the woman who received his late wife's heart.  David Duchevy and Minnie Driver head the fine cast filled with people so terrific and supportive that you wish you could be adopted by them all.  A chick flick I can recommend.  movie seen 5/26/00    RECOMMEND: It Could Happen to You has a similar feel in that the lead characters are decent, nice people involved in a situation that almost destroys their relationship.   Nicholas Cage plays the kind-hearted cop and Bridgett Fonda is the down on her luck waitress to whom he promises a share of a lottery ticket in lieu of a tip.  He wins, but he's married to the very funny Rosie Perez, who doesn't take kindly to sharing the winnings.

Road to Perdition: Is a tale of how the sins of the father are visited on the child in this story of a 1930's Irish mobster, who finds he has to protect his son after the boy sees something he shouldn't have.  Tom Hanks and Paul Newman are both brilliant, newcomer, Tyler Hoechlin, turns in a solid performance as the son, and Jude Law has a creepy turn as a hit man.  The filming is elegantly visual with sparse dialog.   Sam Mendes has created a memorable film that I will need to see again.  movie seen 7/18/02    RECOMMEND: Bonnie and Clyde was a phenomenon of the late 60's.  At first reviled for its violence, the fresh combination of comedy and social commentary with the violence found its audience in this story of the infamous 30's gangsters and made the film a classic.  Warren Beatty's reputation was solidified, Faye Dunaway was made a star, and Gene Hackman's talent became evident by the movie, though Estelle Parsons was the one who got the Oscar.

RONIN:  This is one of those movies where you sit trying to understand what is happening, and end up not caring in the end. The plot is a lot of people chasing after a metal box, with no clue as to the audience as to what is inside. The dialogue consists of people using cliches like original thoughts and the actors' expressions looking like they are waiting for their ExLax to kick in. Not even lengthy car chases down the narrow ancient streets of Nice can save it. RECOMMEND: Watching THE MALTESE FALCON reminded me a great movie that consists of the search for something that everyone wants and how they were willing to play any game and murder to have it. The difference is the great dialogue, characters and performances that create a memorable movie.

The Rookie: is the true story of Jim Morris who finally fulfilled his lifetime ambition to play baseball in the majors.  Dennis Quaid gives another solid performance as the high school coach and science teacher, who tells his team if they win the district championship he will try out for the majors.  It is a positive family film that features terrific characters and leaves you with a warm feeling (I actually heard some sniffling at the emotional end of the movie).  Judging by the size of the audience, there is a need for this type of movie right now and it certainly fills the bill admirably.  Note: a couple young men of the cast of the high school team really stuck out for me with their potential: Gavin Forbis as the catcher and Jay Hernandez as the star hitter.  movie seen 4/6/02    RECOMMEND: The Stratton Story is the true story of Monty Stratton, who managed to play in the majors, despite the loss of one leg.  It is a strong, sentimental movie with James Stewart in the lead role and June Allyson as his faithful wife.

The Royal Tenenbaums: It takes more than a bunch of goofy characters to get me to laugh, though they tried.  And, I found things like the attempted suicide to be very unfunny and sad.  Is supposed to be a comedy, but I didn't get it, although many people were laughing uproariously in the theater, so you may enjoy it.   But, for me, it was a loser.  movie seen 1/12/02   RECOMMEND: Addam's Family Values has the main asset of a winning deadpan performance by Christina Ricci as Wednesday who is sent to an oh-so-perky summer camp.  I admit that I loved the original Adam's Family TV show and find Charles Addams cartoons to be a hoot, so I was predisposed to like the movie.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT:  Samuel L. Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones stand out in this drama about a career Marine's decision to fire into a Middle Eastern crowd while protecting an American Embassy that leads to a court martial.  The first half of the movie sets up the situation with violent action and the second half has the trial showing how the truth gets covered up for political reasons.  The performances save the movie from the tired old evil government guy conspiracy plot (come on, Hollywood, find a new bad guy!) and a rather abrupt ending.  movie seen 4/8/00     RECOMMEND: A Few Good Men  also featured a court martial drama and was a well-done movie. But, it is most fortunate to have Jack Nicholson say the unforgettable line, "The truth, you can't handle the truth."  His performance elevated the film from good into memorable.

RUNAWAY BRIDE:  This is merely a pleasant goofy movie that won't be a highlight of either Julie Robert's or Richard Gere's resumes.  But, there are some laughs in it, but not enough that I can highly recommend anyone to see it.  Actually, if you've seen the ads - you've seen the movie, already.  movie seen 8/7/99 RECOMMEND: The Bride Came C.O.D. is a little formula picture of the runaway heiress and the everyman who falls in love with her, but the thing that sets it apart is that it stars Bette Davis and James Cagney in the roles. They are actually pretty funny in this little toss-a-way film.

The Rundown: The Rock has made himself a legitimate movie star with this highly entertaining film.  He plays a reluctant mobster who has to go down to South America to track down a mobster's son.  The storyline turns the normal action movie clichés on their ear.  There is plenty of real character driven laughs combined with slick action that make the movie a joy to watch.  (Except for Seann William Scott who's character is totally annoying.)  But, Christopher Walken gets to have fun with another bad guy role that plays well off the stoic Rock. If you like the action genre, I can highly recommend this one.  movie seen 9/30/03  RECOMMEND: Romancing the Stone was a ground breaking film that had a romance novel writer going to South America to save her sister.  Her reluctant adventures are entertaining done with humor and fun and feature solid performances by Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas.  It holds up and is still fun to watch.

RUSH HOUR: is an entertaining piece of mind candy.  The plot involved kidnapping by the current movie villains, Chinese (think of Lethal Weapon 4), but there is no stand-out bad guy.  Instead, the star of the movie is the chemistry between Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker as reluctant partners who have to take on the FBI as well as the kidnappers, while they learn about each other.  The action is acceptable, but the comedic qualities had the audience laughing in all the right places.  Movie seen 10/10/98 RECOMMEND: REMO WILLIAMS: THE ADVENTURE BEGINS...: A good action adventure where the main character is a cop who is retrained to be a martial arts warrior for a secret Star Chamber society. Joel Grey plays his Korean teacher in a bemusing role (for which he was Oscar-nominated). Nice interplay between Fred Ward and Joel Grey's characters.  And, watch a man run on water!!

Rush Hour 2: Jackie and Chris are back together in a sequel that lacks the sparkle of the original.   There are the usual language barrier and fish-out-of-water jokes, but it is the pretty nifty fight scenes that light up the screen.  Zhang Ziyi ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") gives a nice turn as a nasty villainess with a mean kick.  But, it is sad when the out-takes at the end are funnier than the actual movie. movie seen 8/4/01    RECOMMEND: One of the original buddy tales was that of Robin Hood and his Merry Band of Men.  The Errol Flynn classic, The Adventures of Robin Hood, is the best of the bunch.  He battles the evil King John, woos the lovely Maid Marion, and fights sword duels all in glorious Technicolor.  It is a classic that others imitate, but rarely excel.