You’ve got one chance to save your life. Do you take it? Or do you hope for something better to come along? That’s the choice Dakota (Emily Mortimer), a killer for hire, faces. Elmo McElroy (Samuel L. Jackson), still in his kilt, has her by the wrist, dangling off the side of a building. He offers her $1 million to call of the hit or he’ll drop her. She counters. Ah well, life is short.

Once a deal is reached, she lands on a ladder while a crooked cop gets the drop on Elmo. Always interested in what’s up a Scotsman’s kilt, the cop asks as the fabric rises. Little does he know that it may be his last wish.

Director:  Ronny Yu Writer:  Stel Pavlou Cast:
Samuel L. Jackson -  Elmo McElroy Robert Carlyle -  Felix DeSouza Emily Mortimer -  Dakota Phillips Rhys Ifans -  Iki Meatloaf -  The Lizard Ricky Tomlinson -  Leopold Durant Sean Pertwee -  Detective Virgil Kane Jake Abraham -  Konokko		Michael Starke -  Arthur Mac McDonald -  Mr. Davidson Aaron Swartz -  Mr. Yuri Nigel Whitmey -  L.A. Highway Patrol David Webber -  Mr. Jones Christopher Hunter -  Lawrence Robert Jezek -  Priest Michael J. Reynolds -  Mr. Escobar

What lengths would you go to in order to make the kind of money that will set you up for life? Would you betray your crew? Would you go on the run and leave your tidy life behind?

Laure Ash (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) likes women. At a film premiere, she makes a move on one with a caress and a whisper. But it’s not to be as the woman flinches and stomps out. Alas, it is just a ploy for she has lured Veronica (Rie Rasmussen) for a bit of girl-on-girl in order to steal a diamond encrusted body piece and other jewelry. The caper goes awry when a bodyguard decides too much time has passed and goes to investigate. Laure gets away but not before her colleagues swear revenge.

Director:  Brian De Palma Writer:  Brian De Palma; Marina Gefter Cast:
Rebecca Romijn-Stamos -  Laure Ash/Lily Antonio Banderas -  Nicolas Bardo Peter Coyote -  Bruce Watts Eriq Ebouaney -  Black Tie Edouard Montoute -  Racine Rie Rasmussen -  Veronica Thierry Frémont -  Serra Gregg Henry -  Leonard Shiff		Fiona Curzon -  Stanfield Phillips Daniel Milgram -  Pierre/Bartender Jean-Marc Minéo -  Seated Guard Jean Chatel -  Cannes Commentator Stéphane Petit -  Bodyguard One Olivier Follet -  Bodyguard Two Eva Darlan -  Irma Jean-Marie Frin -  Louis

Rod McCain (Kevin Kline) is a blustering billionaire who buys and sells just for the buzz it gives him. Management of one of his recent acquisitions, a British zoo, is in the hands of Rollo Lee (John Cleese), who is tasked to squeeze a 20 percent profit from the place or else. His idea to succeed is to posit the theory that violence is the only thing that sells and decides to purge the zoo of all but the dangerous animals.

His approach is complicated by the arrival of two Americans; newly hired marketing expert Willa Weston (Jamie Lee Curtis) and McCain’s lout of a son Vince (Kevin Kline redux) who plans to transform the zoo into a corporate and celebrity sponsored theme park. Toss into the mix, Adrian ‘Bugsy’ Malone (Michael Palin), a zoo employee who is an obsessive walking encyclopedia chattering incessantly. Along for the ride are the staff who try to save their charges by convincing Rollo that the animals are dangerous, leading to some very creative misdirection.

I was quite taken by this movie once I realized that the reviews it got were undeserved and any salaciousness should have been reserved for the film editing.

Director:  Fred Schepisi; Robert Young Writer:  John Cleese; Iain Johnstone; William Goldman Cast:
John Cleese -  Rollo Lee Jamie Lee Curtis -  Willa Weston Kevin Kline -  Vince McCain/Rod McCain Robert Lindsay -  Sydney Lotterby Michael Palin -  Adrian ‘Bugsy’ Malone Ronnie Corbett -  Reggie Sea Lions Carey Lowell -  Cub Felines Bille Brown -  Neville		Derek Griffiths -  Garry Ungulates Cynthia Cleese -  Pip Small Mammals Richard Ridings -  Hugh Primates Maria Aitken -  Di Harding Michael Percival -  Ant Keeper Fred Evans -  Flamingo Keeper Lisa Hogan -  Sea lion Keeper Choy-Ling Man -  Parrot Keeper

The father-son dynamic is a tricky one. Growing up, your dad was the incarnation of Superman. As time passes, that image tarnishes as you realize his superpowers aren’t quite what you thought them to be. Until you figure out he is just a guy trying to do his best by you. Through these years, dad wants you safe and not to suffer the vagaries of life that he did. Trying to find a balance between both of you is the toughest bit in order to end up with mutual respect and admiration. Often there is a hiccup or two along the way. Just ask Marlin (voice of Albert Brooks) who grips the controls a smidge tightly until his son Nemo (voice of Alexander Gould) feels suffocated and starts to rebel and is caught up in the net of pet shop tropical fish collector. Marlin gird up his fishy loins and takes off into unknown waters to find his son.

Director:  Andrew Stanton; Lee Unkrich Writer:  Andrew Stanton; Bob Peterson; David Reynolds Cast:
Albert Brooks -  Marlin (voice) Ellen DeGeneres -  Dory (voice) Alexander Gould -  Nemo (voice) Willem Dafoe -  Gill (voice) Brad Garrett -  Bloat (voice) Allison Janney -  Peach (voice) Austin Pendleton -  Gurgle (voice) Stephen Root -  Bubbles (voice)		Vicki Lewis -  Deb/Flo (voice) Joe Ranft -  Jacques (voice) Geoffrey Rush -  Nigel (voice) Andrew Stanton -  Crush (voice) Elizabeth Perkins -  Coral (voice) Nicholas Bird -  Squirt (voice) Bob Peterson -  Mr. Ray (voice) Barry Humphries -  Bruce (voice)

Practically everyone has another that they imbue with the traits they admire and hope to emulate. Not all of them live up to the standards and some pass before their admirer expects. How do you cope with such a change? Most go on with a pall hanging over them.

Frodo (Elijah Wood) and the others are forced to travel through the Mines of Moria. They are attacked by Orcs and a Troll, and run into a Balrog, an ancient demon of shadow and fire, while attempting to cross the Bridge of Khazad-dûm. Gandalf (Ian McKellen) faces off against the Balrog on the bridge, letting the others escape, while he falls with the creature into the abyss below. What is Frodo to do?

Director:  Peter Jackson Writer:  J.R.R. Tolkien; Frances Walsh; Philippa Boyens; Peter Jackson Cast:
Elijah Wood -  Frodo Baggins Sean Astin -  Sam Gamgee Sean Bean -  Boromir Cate Blanchett -  Galadriel Orlando Bloom -  Legolas Greenleaf Ian Holm -  Bilbo Baggins Ian McKellen -  Gandalf Christopher Lee -  Saruman		Viggo Mortensen -  Aragorn Andy Serkis -  Gollum Billy Boyd -  Pippin Dominic Monaghan -  Merry John Rhys-Davies -  Gimli Liv Tyler -  Arwen Marton Csokas -  Celeborn Ian Mune -  Bounder

Some folks get blinded by greed. They can’t see what they have stepped into due to the green glare. Bootsie Cavander (Dina Meyer) and Leigh’s (Angela Featherstone) unfaithful husband Dennis (David Lipper) figure out Howard Akers’s (Armand Assante) real identity and decide to rat him out for cash. Little do they know nor do they understand that these pros play for keeps. But they soon find out. Now, Bootsie can’t back down nor back out of her plan and she has nowhere to turn.

Director:  Anthony Hickox Writer:  Craig Smith Cast:
Armand Assante -  Frank Carbone/Howard Akers Angela Featherstone -  Leigh Kirkindall Dina Meyer -  Bootsie Cavander David Lipper -  Denny Kirkindall Frank Chiesurin -  Sid Tony Calabretta -  Pasquale ‘Patsy’ Dilepsi Mark Camacho -  Joseph Pagnozzi Steven Park -  Chong-Sung		Chip Chuipka -  Marshal Donald Powers Danny Blanco Hall -  Marshal Chuck Sturdevant Maxim Roy -  Marjorie Watts Anatoly Zinoviev -  Teddy Michael Filipowich -  Johnny the Face Carl Alacchi -  Gio Brogianto Maria Yvonne Bertrand -  Vicky Brogianto Bob Babinski -  Newscaster

Families have their own rhythm. An interloper, like a new girl friend, can upset the balance. Trying to fit in can be a trial with the family as judge and jury. What is even worse is the sense of frustration when another stranger arrives and fits in like a hand in glove. Why them? Meredith Morton (Sarah Jessica Parker) tries her darndest but the family, but for Owen Stone (Luke Wilson), has a good laugh at her expense, particularly daughter Amy (Rachel McAdams) who goes out of her way to mess Meredith around despite trying for her approval. Then Julie (Claire Danes), Meredith’s sister, shows up and finds a spot without a single misstep. Arrrgh…

Director:  Thomas Bezucha Writer:  Thomas Bezucha Cast:
Claire Danes -  Julie Morton Diane Keaton -  Sybil Stone Rachel McAdams -  Amy Stone Dermot Mulroney -  Everett Stone Craig T. Nelson -  Kelly Stone Sarah Jessica Parker -  Meredith Morton Luke Wilson -  Ben Stone Tyrone Giordano -  Thad Stone		Brian White -  Patrick Thomas Elizabeth Reaser -  Susannah Stone Trousdale Paul Schneider -  Brad Stevenson Savannah Stehlin -  Elizabeth Trousdale Jamie Kaler -  John Trousdale Robert Dioguardi -  David Silver Carol Locatell -  Jeweler Ginna Carter -  Jittery Cashier

Most everyone has some sort of fetish. Many people have more than one. It is often at the most inappropriate times that we discover what it is. We wonder how much attention we have to expend in order to keep it under control. At times, we share what it is with others in hopes to find understanding, acceptance or, periodically, a like-minded devotee. Or we might find ourselves shunned by those who lack the understanding of how a fetish can influence what we do and how we live. If it is family, we can find a way to ignore it and get along with the day to day life and hope that they’ll get over it and not bring embarrassment to the household. Diane Arbus (Nicole Kidman) has found hers and it is tearing her family apart. She spends too much time in the company of Lionel Sweeney (Robert Downey Jr.) and his coterie of unusual friends and her family doesn’t know what to do about it. She was urged to explore her artistic side by her husband Allan (Ty Burrell) and she embraced it to the exclusion of her familial responsibilities without a thought for them. She doesn’t appear to want to surface from the world in which she has immersed herself.

Director:  Steven Shainberg Writer:  Erin Cressida Wilson; Patricia Bosworth Cast:
Nicole Kidman -  Diane Arbus Robert Downey Jr. -  Lionel Sweeney Ty Burrell -  Allan Arbus Harris Yulin -  David Nemerov Jane Alexander -  Gertrude Nemerov Emmy Clarke -  Grace Arbus Genevieve McCarthy -  Sophie Arbus Boris McGiver -  Jack Henry		Marceline Hugot -  Tippa Henry Mary Duffy -  Althea Emily Bergl -  Alicia Lynne Marie Stetson -  Fiona Gwendolyn Bucci -  Dominatrix Christina Rouner -  Lois Matt Servitto -  Handsome Client David Green -  Another Client

Brazil is the only country named after a tree.

Five years is a lustrum.

Every US state has a town called Springfield.

Fruit ripens and vegetables rot off the vine.

The distance from the wrist to the elbow equals the length of the foot.

Director:  Forest Whitaker Writer:  Jessica Bendinger; Jerry O’Connell; Kate Kondell Cast:
Katie Holmes -  Samantha Mackenzie Marc Blucas -  James Lansome Amerie -  Mia Thompson Michael Keaton -  President Mackenzie Margaret Colin -  Melanie Mackenzie Lela Rochon Fuqua -  Liz Pappas Michael Milhoan -  Agent Bock Dwayne Adway -  Agent Dylan		Hollis Hill -  Agent Colvin Ken Moreno -  Agent Mercer Andrew Caple-Shaw -  Agent Dryer Alex Avant -  Shift Leader Barry Livingston -  Press Secretary Piper Cochrane -  Communications Director Adam Donshik -  First Lady’s Chief of Staff Damon Whitaker -  Charles

There are times when we find ourselves acting like people with which we’d rather not associate. It happens in baby steps and inattention to what is going on around us and our actions towards others. Simple acts of arrogance, minor activities of excess, unexpected stages of ignorance all contribute to getting bigger than one’s britches. Huo Yuanjia (Jet Li) confronts his rival Chin at his birthday party after one of his students is beaten up by him. The fight costs Huo his oldest friend Nong Jinsun (Yong Dong) and Chin his life. In revenge, Chin’s godson massacres Hou’s household before he commits suicide.

Director:  Ronny Yu Writer:  Chris Chow; Christine To Cast:
Jet Li -  Huo Yuanjia Shido Nakamura -  Anno Tanaka Betty Sun -  Moon Yong Dong -  Nong Jinsun Hee Ching Paw -  Yuanjia’s Mother Yun Qu -  Grandma Nathan Jones -  Hercules O’Brien Brandon Rhea -  German Fighter		Anthony De Longis -  Spanish Fighter Jean Claude Leuyer -  English Boxer Mike Leeder -  Fight Referee Jon T. Benn -  American Businessman John Paisley -  English Businessman Collin Chou -  Yuanjia’s Father Masato Harada -  Mita Zhigang Zhao -  Zhou’s Father

Seth and Richie Gecko (George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino respectively) have just wandered into the wrong bar to meet a local rounder, after crossing the border with the kidnapped family of Jacob Fuller (Harvey Keitel) and his two children, Kate (Juliette Lewis) and Scott (Ernest Liu). It soon becomes apparent that maybe they made a mistake but they’re not the type to back away from anything. However, they have second thoughts when Richie looks at Seth through a bullet hole in his hand. But now is not the time so out comes the duct tape and he wraps it up.

Director:  Robert Rodriguez Writer:  Robert Kurtzman; Quentin Tarantino Cast:
Harvey Keitel -  Jacob Fuller George Clooney -  Seth Gecko Quentin Tarantino -  Richard Gecko Juliette Lewis -  Kate Fuller Ernest Liu -  Scott Fuller Salma Hayek -  Santanico Pandemonium Cheech Marin -  Border Guard/Chet Pussy/Carlos Danny Trejo -  Razor Charlie		Tom Savini -  Sex Machine Fred Williamson -  Frost Michael Parks -  Texas Ranger Earl McGraw Brenda Hillhouse -  Hostage Gloria John Saxon -  FBI Agent Stanley Chase Marc Lawrence -  Old Timer Motel Owner Kelly Preston -  Newscaster Kelly Houge John Hawkes -  Pete Bottoms

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

I just love a good conspiracy. So it seems do a lot of people. Just do a quick search of the internet—plugging conspiracy into Google yields about 47.5 million results—and you will see how popular the word is. Sure, some of them might be dictionary definitions and a few might be part of a band name, but most lead to descriptions of some event where there is one or more persons colluding in something nefarious, devious or complex. This movie brings together some of the more popular ones and tosses them together and pours out a mix in a recipe to excite even the least interested of us in the gossip of persons known to just about everyone. Maybe there are some guys in Paraguay who might be puzzled by a story involving Jack the Ripper, the Masons, the British Royal family, the medical doctors, the British constabulary, the hookers of London, the Irish, the gangs of China, the parents of illegitimate children, the pubs of East London, the Industrial Revolution, the use of anisette and laudanum, chasing the dragon with opium, forensic science, John Merrick, Scotland Yard, English poets and authors, surgery and some poor girl’s mum and dad. Yikes, something for all of us.

Director:  Albert Hughes; Allen Hughes Writer:  Alan Moore; Eddie Campbell; Terry Hayes; Rafael Yglesias Cast:
Johnny Depp -  Inspector Fred Abberline Heather Graham -  Mary Kelly Ian Holm -  Sir William Gull Robbie Coltrane -  Sergeant Peter Godley Ian Richardson -  Sir Charles Warren Jason Flemyng -  Netley, the Coachman Katrin Cartlidge -  Dark Annie Chapman Terence Harvey -  Benjamin ‘Ben’ Kidney		Susan Lynch -  Liz Stride Paul Rhys -  Dr. Ferral Lesley Sharp -  Kate Eddowes Estelle Skornik -  Ada Nicholas McGaughey -  Officer Bolt Annabelle Apsion -  Polly Joanna Page -  Ann Crook Mark Dexter -  Albert Sickert/Prince Edward Albert Victor

How many times have you heard someone mutter about walking a mile in my/yours/their shoes? Or some chatter about walking in their footsteps? Or how about some other homily about reserving judgement until you’ve done what I do? There are a host of them and all merit consideration since it is easy to criticize until you’ve tried doing what’s being verbally poked at. Just ask Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) and 15-year-old Anna Coleman (Lindsay Lohan), a bickering mother and daughter who can’t seem to see eye-to-eye on anything. While Tess is getting grief over her impending marriage to the very understanding and patient Ryan (Mark Harmon), Anna is frustrated that her mother doesn’t understand what is going on with her school life nor does she support her aspirations as a musician. During dinner at their favourite restaurant, their waitress (Lucille Soong) presses them to take two magical fortune cookies. Tess and Anna are horrified to wake up on Friday morning stuck in each other’s bodies with no idea how to reverse the spell. Both have no choice but to go through the day living the other person’s life.

Director:  Mark S. Waters Writer:  Mary Rodgers; Heather Hach; Leslie Dixon Cast:
Jamie Lee Curtis -  Tess Coleman Lindsay Lohan -  Anna Coleman Mark Harmon -  Ryan Harold Gould -  Grandpa Chad Michael Murray -  Jake Stephen Tobolowsky -  Mr. Bates Christina Vidal -  Maddie Ryan Malgarini -  Harry Coleman		Haley Hudson -  Peg Rosalind Chao -  Pei-Pei Lucille Soong -  Pei-Pei’s Mom Willie Garson -  Evan Dina Waters -  Dottie Robertson Julie Gonzalo -  Stacey Hinkhouse Christina Marie Walter -  Same Shirt Girl Lu Elrod -  Detention Monitor