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Gun Shy

It is always a trial when you want to move up in the pecking order. Gloria Minetti Nesstra (Mary McCormack), in full New Jersey housewife mode—make-up, pushed back Gucci sunglasses, capris—stares down her husband Fluvio (Oliver Platt) who is about to chop off a neighbour’s hand. She’s thinking he stole the sports section even though his wife found it behind the fridge in their 3/4 size house. What’s a guy who has delusions of grandeur to do now?


Director:  Eric Blakeney
Writer:  Eric Blakeney
Cast:
Liam Neeson -  Charles ‘Charlie’ Mayeaux
Oliver Platt -  Fulvio Nesstra
José Zúñiga -  Fidel Vaillar
Michael DeLorenzo -  Estuvio Clavo
Andy Lauer -  Jason Cane
Richard Schiff -  Elliott
Paul Ben-Victor -  Howard
Gregg Daniel -  Jonathan
Ben Weber -  Mark
Sandra Bullock -  Judy Tipp
Mary McCormack -  Gloria Minetti Nesstra
Michael Mantell -  Dr. Jeff Bleckner
Mitch Pileggi -  Dexter Helvenshaw
Louis Giambalvo -  Lonny Ward
Rick Peters -  Bennett
Dusty Kay -  Gene Kapstein









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The Golden Compass

When I was but a wee lad, I remember being made a promise by my best friend. I don’t recollect the context nor the pledge itself but I do recall being excited that it was important to the two of us. Time passed. The promise went unfulfilled. I made up lots of excuses why it had yet to happen. Finally, I asked about it and my chum had no idea of what I was asking. Crestfallen, I explained and all I received was a smirk for my story and a brain flash that I needed a new best friend. This memory returned when Lyra Belacqua (Dakota Blue Richards) promised that she would come and get Roger (Ben Walker) for their evening adventure. Unfortunately for Roger, he’s kidnapped, imprisoned and about to be brainwashed. But he’s elated when Lyra wanders through the door of his prison classroom and knows she’s there to get him. And he knows he’ll never leave her.


Director:  Chris Weitz
Writer:  Chris Weitz; Philip Pullman
Cast:
Nicole Kidman -  Marisa Coulter
Daniel Craig -  Lord Asriel
Dakota Blue Richards -  Lyra Belacqua
Ben Walker -  Roger
Freddie Highmore -  Pantalaimon
Ian McKellen -  Iorek Byrnison
Eva Green -  Serafina Pekkala
Jim Carter -  Lord John Faa
Tom Courtenay -  Farder Coram
Ian McShane -  Ragnar Sturlusson
Sam Elliott -  Lee Scoresby
Christopher Lee -  First High Councilor
Kristin Scott Thomas -  Stelmaria
Edward de Souza -  Second High Councilor
Kathy Bates -  Hester
Simon McBurney -  Fra Pavel









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Gosford Park

Everybody has something to hide. Everyone has an opinion on who is to blame for what has gone wrong. Everyone knows who should be doing a better job. They all worry that their future is in jeopardy. None of them seem to have a clue as to what is going on. There seems to be a desperate lack of understanding about why some difficulties befall them. About all they seem to agree upon is that the murder of Sir William McCordle (Michael Gambon) came about none too soon.


Director:  Robert Altman
Writer:  Robert Altman; Bob Balaban; Julian Fellowes
Cast:
Maggie Smith -  Constance Trentham
Michael Gambon -  William McCordle
Kristin Scott Thomas -  Sylvia McCordle
Camilla Rutherford -  Isobel McCordle
Charles Dance -  Raymond Stockbridge
Geraldine Somerville -  Louisa Stockbridge
Tom Hollander -  Anthony Meredith
Natasha Wightman -  Lavinia Meredith
Jeremy Northam -  Ivor Novello
Bob Balaban -  Morris Weissman
James Wilby -  Freddie Nesbitt
Claudie Blakley -  Mabel Nesbitt
Laurence Fox -  Rupert Standish
Trent Ford -  Jeremy Blond
Ryan Phillippe -  Henry Denton
Stephen Fry -  Inspector Thompson









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Grosse Pointe Blank

A friend of mine convinced me that we should attend our high school reunion. Although we went to the same high school and knew one another by name, we didn’t become chums until we were in university. We didn’t see anyone we knew from high school except maybe in passing. All our high school buds seemed to have drifted off to other parts of town, other jobs, other schools or other cities and contact with them waned. There was no email in those days and guys don’t write letters except under protest. So we thought it might be interesting to see how those we knew and those who ran the school had fared. One of us decided we needed some stuff not sold on street corners, at least in our neighbourhoods. So, slightly tight and somewhat buzzed, we strolled into high school and found out that reunions portrayed in movies did emulate life. Maybe it was not as bizzare as that of Martin Blank (John Cusack) but then I’ve never been a freelance hit man, yet. I did see my high school sweetie and she hadn’t fared as well as Debi Newberry ( Minnie Driver ), Martin’s girl. Mine seemed happy with her three kids, her louse of a husband so we got along that evening as best as possible. But then I didn’t stand her up on prom night like Martin did. Debi is not a happy camper but maybe if Martin can prevent her dad from being taken out by another button man, she’ll come around.


Director:  George Armitage
Writer:  Tom Jankiewicz; D.V. DeVincentis; Steve Pink; John Cusack
Cast:
John Cusack -  Martin Q. Blank
Minnie Driver -  Debi Newberry
Alan Arkin -  Dr. Oatman
Dan Aykroyd -  Grocer
Joan Cusack -  Marcella
Hank Azaria -  Steven Lardner
K. Todd Freeman -  Kenneth McCullers
Jeremy Piven -  Paul Spericki
Mitchell Ryan -  Mr. Bart Newberry
Michael Cudlitz -  Bob Destepello
Benny Urquidez -  Felix La PuBelle
Duffy Taylor -  Ultimart Carl
Audrey Kissel -  Arlene
Carlos Jacott -  Ken
Brian Powell -  Husky Man
Ann Cusack -  Amy









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The Girl Next Door

It is always surprising when people get upset when the tables are turned on them. What do they expect?

Matthew Kidman (Emile Hirsch) is mesmerized when he sees his new next door neighbour getting undressed. She know he is there but he tries to hide. Danielle (Elisha Cuthbert) drops by to introduce herself and get a local tour. While driving around, she manipulates him with a cocked eyebrow to disrobe so she can see him naked too. Reluctant to do so, a crooked smile and a cocked eyebrow soon have the teenage Matthew in the street, naked, running along with only an inner tube to shield the neighbours.


Director:  Luke Greenfield
Writer:  David Wagner; Brent Goldberg; Stuart Blumberg; David T. Wagner
Cast:
Emile Hirsch -  Matthew Kidman
Elisha Cuthbert -  Danielle
Timothy Olyphant -  Kelly
James Remar -  Hugo Posh
Chris Marquette -  Eli
Paul Dano -  Klitz
Timothy Bottoms -  Mr. Kidman
Donna Bullock -  Mrs. Kidman
Jacob Young -  Hunter
Brian Kolodziej -  Derek
Brandon Irons -  Troy
Amanda Swisten -  April
Sung Hi Lee -  Ferrari
Ulysses Lee -  Samnang
Harris Laskawy -  Dr. Salinger
Julie Osburn -  Jeannie