Grief can crush us like a stone. It can shut out all other voices trying to intrude into our consciousness. Other distraction pale in comparison. Such is the case for Linda Hanson (Sandra Bullock) who has lost her husband in a crash. She lies on the couch, holding a wedding photo, trying to curl up into something small. Nothing else matters.

Director:  Mennan Yapo Writer:  Bill Kelly Cast:
Sandra Bullock -  Linda Quinn Hanson Julian McMahon -  Jim Hanson Shyann McClure -  Megan Hanson Courtney Taylor Burness -  Bridgette Hanson Nia Long -  Annie Irene Ziegler -  Mrs. Quinn Kate Nelligan -  Joanne Marc Macaulay -  Sheriff Reilly		Amber Valletta -  Claire Peter Stormare -  Dr. Norman Roth Jude Ciccolella -  Father Kennedy E.J. Stapleton -  Model Home Salesman Mark Famiglietti -  Doug Caruthers Laurel Whitsett -  School Aide Kristin Ketterer -  Receptionist Marcus Lyle Brown -  Bob

One side of my family ancestors are Scots and Irish immigrant farmers who have been here for more than 200 years, settled in assorted parts of the country. The other side worked in stone in the north of England and answered the North American call for cannon fodder in WWI. Until about two years ago, I knew none of this. I knew my grandparents’s names and where one of them was born. So when Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) tells the US president (Bruce Greenwood), after he sorta kidnaps him, that everything he is is because of his ancestors, I can understand. Two years ago, I might have gone along with the astrology of my birthday since the description seems to hold. But now that I know some of my ancestry, I have a better grasp on why I am who I am. But I’m having trouble figuring out my sister. Maybe she was adopted.

Director:  Jon Turteltaub; Jon Turtletaub Writer:  Marianne Wibberley; Cormac Wibberley; Gregory Poirier; Ted Elliott; Terry Rossio; Jim Kouf; Oren Aviv; Charles Segars; Jerry Bruckheimer; The Wibberleys Cast:
Nicolas Cage -  Ben Gates Justin Bartha -  Riley Poole Diane Kruger -  Abigail Chase Jon Voight -  Patrick Gates Helen Mirren -  Prof. Emily Appleton Ed Harris -  Mitch Wilkinson Harvey Keitel -  Agent Sadusky Bruce Greenwood -  The President		Ty Burrell -  Connor Michael Maize -  Daniel Timothy V. Murphy -  Seth Alicia Coppola -  FBI Agent Spellman Albert Hall -  Dr. Nichols Armando Riesco -  FBI Agent Hendricks Joel Gretsch -  Thomas Gates Christian Camargo -  John Wilkes Booth

Every so often you run across some bit/stunt in a movie that gets you chortling. In this one, it is Max Daniels as the hapless gardener who pops up from time to time dangling from a tree, stepping on a rake, hosing down a lawn from the waist, etc.

Director:  Christopher Duddy Writer:  Christopher Duddy; Glenn W. Garland; Cris Mancuso Cast:
Jason Jurman -  Spence Holmes Warren Kole -  Hogan Joe Mantegna -  Mr. Stack Izabella Scorupco -  Paige Stack Faye Dunaway -  Edith Birnbaum Carrie Fisher -  Gladys Goodbey Kaley Cuoco -  Amanda Chyna -  Teddy Archibald		Loretta Devine -  Dolly Jon Polito -  Mr. Archibald Machi Abe -  Core Cougar Kyle Adahl -  Police Officer Natalie Alexander -  Herself Joe Bucaro III -  BMW owner Scott Michael Campbell -  Mr. Conrad Mark Charran -  Club Member

Part of our rite of passage into adulthood is to get pearls of wisdom from a parent. Often we just let it slip away and it’ll resurface at some delicate moment as we get older. Sometimes the chat is about a topic that stays with us, usually because it is so unexpected. Michael Clayton (George Clooney) has just left his brother who pissed away the equity in their restaurant with booze and drugs. He turns to his son and lets him know that he has the stuff that won’t allow him to screw up his life. He sees it in the lad and he hasn’t the foggiest idea of where it came from.

Director:  Tony Gilroy Writer:  Tony Gilroy Cast:
Tom Wilkinson -  Arthur Edens Michael O’Keefe -  Barry Grissom Sydney Pollack -  Marty Bach Danielle Skraastad -  Bridget Klein Tilda Swinton -  Karen Crowder George Clooney -  Michael Clayton Wai Chan -  Chinese Dealer Alberto Vazquez -  Player #1		Brian Koppelman -  Player #2 Thomas McCarthy -  Walter Denis O’Hare -  Mr. Greer Julie White -  Mrs. Greer Austin Williams -  Henry Clayton Jennifer Van Dyck -  Ivy Frank Wood -  Gerald Richard Hecht -  Auctioneer

What would you sacrifice to save the life of a loved one? An arm? Your house? A neighbour? Yourself? That is the choice Sheriff Eben Oleson (Josh Hartnett) feels he must make to save his brother Jake (Mark Rendall) and his wife Stella (Melissa George) and two friends from a marauding band of vampires that move around like they’re on meth. The band appears to be intent on wiping out the town and they are not fussy about how they rip and tear folks to pieces. Any survivors are holed up in buildings hoping to eke out their lives until the 30 days pass and sunrise comes again to their Alaskan town. When the vamps fire up the town, Eben knows he has only one choice to provide the others with a chance to tell those returning from the south that it wasn’t an accident or natural disaster that burned the town to the snowline. But it isn’t a choice that has an upside. I don’t know if I’d have that kind of courage. I’d like to think I do but I wouldn’t want to test my mettle until faced with having to actually do it.

Director:  David Slade Writer:  Steve Niles; Stuart Beattie; Brian Nelson; Ben Templesmith Cast:
Josh Hartnett -  Sheriff Eben Oleson Melissa George -  Stella Oleson Danny Huston -  Marlow Ben Foster -  The Stranger Mark Boone Junior -  Beau Brower Mark Rendall -  Jake Oleson Amber Sainsbury -  Denise Manu Bennett -  Deputy Billy Kitka		Megan Franich -  Iris Joel Tobeck -  Doug Hertz Elizabeth Hawthorne -  Lucy Ikos Nathaniel Lees -  Carter Davies Craig Hall -  Wilson Bulosan Chic Littlewood -  Issac Bulosan Peter Feeney -  John Riis Min Windle -  Ally Riis