This movie is a cartoon caricature of racism, and for the first 15 minutes I didn’t get it. Example after example of unresolved racist behavior had me squirming in my seat thinking “arty movie designed to make you uncomfortable”. But c’mon, this won an Academy Award, it can’t not resolve! I was not disappointed, once I settled in and accepted the rules: this was a grand exploration of the subject, intent on putting every well-developed character through intense challenges. And there are some beautiful responses. Check it out if you get a chance.

We seem to watch a Woody Allen movie every other week or so, and almost always love them – OK, we recently fell asleep on a late late night of watching “Life and Death” but fortunately woke up in time to nearly vomit with laughter at the ending scene (no spoilers allowed, sorry). There is so much to enjoy in his stuff – outlandish slapstick physical comedy that would make Benny Hill and Mel Brooks proud, unmatched philosophical perspectives – no one else is even in the ballpark on that one, fantastic characters all over the place, and plenty of poignancy and irony.

He’s nearly always center-stage, so if you are intolerant of his philosophically-driven cynicism, hypochondria and paranoia, or outright goofiness, sure it might not be your thing. (Ed.: he married his daughter. Rebuttal: Celebrities are allowed a few eccentricities! Ed.: Let me repeat… his daughter! Rebuttal reprise: I just said to Andrea “there must be a word to describe old guys that like younger women” and got the irony-laden response: “yeah normal”) But personally he’s made my life just a little bit richer. Don’t miss this one in particular – it boasts a central story on the inevitability of justice, reaching Poe-like intensity before… well, like I said, no spoilers.

From the “red sleastacks” dept…

This was fun. We went in with low expectations – thrillers are definitely not our film genre of choice – and spent the first few minutes snickering. But we were pulled into the yarn of this creepy fairytale and had a good time with it. It is nicely shot, nicely acted, and has the signature Shyamalan twists that crescendo to the moment where all the pieces fall together, just as they are revealed (a little earlier if you pay attention).

Ben Kinsgley rocks, yes yes yes yes yes yes yes. I can never pass up a thick-cockney-slurred ganster flick (as in “Heafrow”). Unkle’s soundtrack does a great job of throbbing and rumbling underneath the movie, keeping the cords of tension tight as the main cast awaits Ben’s character’s ominous arrival. But underneath it, this one has a heart of gold, sweet as pie. Fun fun.