I’m a sucker for production design and this movie has some of the best I’ve seen. The portions set in 1937 Los Angeles are remarkable for their style, tone and nuance. I keep popping it back into my DVD player just to enjoy. But I must admit I was taken aback seeing Vincent D’Onofrio as a blonde.

Director:  Josef Rusnak; Chris Roach Writer:  Daniel F. Galouye; Josef Rusnak; Ravel Centeno-Rodriguez Cast:
Craig Bierko -  Douglas Hall/John Ferguson/David Armin Mueller-Stahl -  Hannon Fuller/Grierson Gretchen Mol -  Jane Fuller/Natasha Molinaro Vincent D’Onofrio -  Jason Whitney/Jerry Ashton Dennis Haysbert -  Detective Larry McBain Steven Schub -  Zev Bernstein Jeremy Roberts -  Tom Jones Rif Hutton -  Joe		Leon Rippy -  Jane’s Lawyer Janet MacLachlan -  Ellen Brad Henke -  Cop #1 Burt Bulos -  Bellhop Venessia Valentino -  Concierge Howard S. Miller -  Chauffeur Tia Texada -  Natasha’s Roomate Shiri Appleby -  Bridget Manilla

We all know that war is hell. The deprivation, the firing of guns, the taking of orders, the lack of proper sanitation. All contributes to making it at best uncomfortable. But then sometimes there are those who know how to make it a little less miserable. With two weeks to go before he retires, Major Archie Gates (George Clooney), a decorated Vietnam vet and special forces officer and his two buddies, Troy Barlow (Mark Wahlberg) and Staff Sgt. Chief Elgin (Ice Cube), discover a map retrieved from the butt of an Iraqi soldier which may lead to a Kuwaiti gold stash stolen by Saddam Hussein’s forces. Using the UV setting on his flashlight to discover the location, they decide to follow the trail and take some of it for themselves. You gotta love American technology.

Director:  David O. Russell Writer:  John Ridley; David O. Russell Cast:
George Clooney -  Maj. Archie Gates Mark Wahlberg -  Sfc. Troy Barlow Ice Cube -  SSgt. Chief Elgin Spike Jonze -  Pfc. Conrad Vig Cliff Curtis -  Amir Abdullah Nora Dunn -  Adriana Cruz Jamie Kennedy -  PV2 Walter Wogaman Saïd Taghmaoui -  Capt. Said		Mykelti Williamson -  Col. Horn Holt McCallany -  Capt. Van Meter Judy Greer -  Cathy Daitch Christopher Lohr -  Teebaux Jon Sklaroff -  Paco Liz Stauber -  Debbie Barlow (Troy’s wife) Marsha Horan -  Amir’s wife Alia Shawkat -  Amir’s daughter

I’ve never had a dog. People who have one tell me there is a lot to do to maintain their health and well-being. But I don’t think that is the whole story. Dooley (James Belushi) has been teamed up with Jerry Lee (Mac) for about 10 years now and he brushes the dog’s teeth (but no flossing), gives his breath spray and cleans out his ears. Is this really part of the ritual? I sure hope not.

Director:  Charles Kanganis; Charles T. Kanganis Writer:  Steven Siegel; Scott Myers; Gary Scott Thompson Cast:
James Belushi -  Dooley Christine Tucci -  Welles James Handy -  Captain Byers Wade Williams -  Devon J.J. Johnston -  Fat Tommy Joe Palese -  Officer Perry Scotch Ellis Loring -  Phil Cage Vincent Castellanos -  Harry Stripe		Timo Flloko -  Johnson Joe Sabatino -  Counterman Ron Yuan -  Jackie Hammonds Susanna Puisto -  Girl in Park Denise Y. Dowse -  Dr. Perkins Marla Frees -  Nurse Nadja Pionilla -  Terri

Each time we meet somebody, we form an impression of who they are, what they’re like and how they will handle themselves in many situations. Sometimes we’re surprised and other times, we’re not. Ben Holmes (Ben Affleck) has just met Vic DeFranco (Jack Kehler) and seen him in his car. Ben is traveling with Sarah Lewis (Sandra Bullock) from New York to Savannah, Georgia and he asks her, “How do you know I’m not dangerous?” and Sarah smiles, then laughs, then chortles and just walks off leaving him to draw his own conclusions.

Director:  Bronwen Hughes Writer:  Marc Lawrence Cast:
Ben Affleck -  Ben Holmes Sandra Bullock -  Sarah Lewis Maura Tierney -  Bridget Steve Zahn -  Alan Blythe Danner -  Virginia Ronny Cox -  Hadley Michael Fairman -  Richard Holmes Afemo Omilami -  Cab Driver		Richard Schiff -  Joe David Strickland -  Steve Montgomery Jack Kehler -  Vic DeFranco Janet Carroll -  Barbara Holmes Meredith Scott Lynn -  Debbie George Wallace -  Max Steve Hytner -  Jack Bailey John Doe -  Carl Lewis

Sometimes being in a service industry makes one wish for a tidier, saner career. During a cab ride to the party after a gallery show, the banter between Oscar Novak (Matthew Perry) and Amy Post (Neve Campbell) so freaks out the cabbie (Ho Chow), that he’s thinking there are better jobs for him to undertake. Compound that with mechanical failure—the taxi engine begins to smoke and while Oscar investigates, it blows up in his face—and he knows that there are safer jobs and it’ll be the first thing he does in the morning.

Director:  Damon Santostefano Writer:  Rodney Patrick Vaccaro; Aline Brosh McKenna Cast:
Matthew Perry -  Oscar Novak Neve Campbell -  Amy Post Dylan McDermott -  Charles Newman Oliver Platt -  Peter Steinberg Cylk Cozart -  Kevin Cartwright John C. McGinley -  Strauss Bob Balaban -  Decker Deborah Rush -  Lenore		Kelly Rowan -  Olivia Rick Gomez -  Rick Patrick Van Horn -  Zack David Ramsey -  Bill Kent Staines -  Gallery Owner Ho Chow -  Cabbie Michael Proudfoot -  Diner Waiter Shaun Smyth -  Intern #1