AMERICAN SPLENDOR is based on the real life of Harvey Pekar (Paul Giamatti), a curmudgeonly, moody file clerk in a VA Hospital in Cleveland who writes comic books about his everyday experiences. Pekar serves as narrator and appears as himself occasionally as well, as interviews, file footage, and re-enacted scenes are blended to form a docudrama. Pekar sought fame and found it thanks to his comics (which are full of observations on life's mundane and mysterious moments, and feature artwork by such friends as Robert Crumb) and his appearances as a guest on David Letterman's talk show.

My favorite scenes included Joyce (Hope Davis), his third wife, who cleverly matches Harvey's nuances and idiosyncrasies of her own. She is never enthusiastic about the success of the comic book, although she originally met Harvey by writing a fan letter to him. Joyce walks around with a permanent frown and suffers from her own psychological illnesses. Both Joyce and Harvey are good matches for each other and generally make each other miserable. Seeing these two miserable people together enhance this film's creativity.

I have to admit that I've never heard of Harvey Pekar or the American Splendor comic books before this film was released; but I also don't read comic books, especially underground ones. Notwithstanding, I found the premise behind the comic strips to be original and interesting. Harvey appears to be a perfect candidate to write about the mundane happenings of his lived experiences since he has absolutely no prospects in his life. AMERICAN SPLENDOR is an entertaining, worthwhile film. Recommended.

Throughout her young life Hannah Green has been forced to hide her true identity for fear of her life. Fleeing Spain in 1553 during the Inquisition after her mother is burned at the stake for being a Jew she must pose as a boy while traveling with her father to safety. Settling down in Protestant England the Greens are relieved to have escaped danger in Spain, but they must continue to hide their religion and their love of books. Political instability and religious warfare plague England and Europe as a whole and threats of heresy and treason deem that nobody is safe, least of all the Greens. After becoming a member of the royal court as a fool, or a constant companion to the king or queen, Hannah continues to wear pants and pass as a fellow Christian. Her time in the royal court is filled with deception, intrigue, and worry, as she becomes a loyal friend and servant to both Catholic Queen Mary and her younger sister, Protestant Princess Elizabeth. Hannah straddles the line between royal foes while risking her own life as a spy and heretic. As time progresses she becomes a static member of the royal court and finds it difficult to return to her ailing father and the life of a commoner.

THE QUEEN'S FOOL is a compelling, fast-paced novel that draws the reader in from the first chapter and doesn't let go until the last page. I was fully intrigued with the tale of Hannah Green and the life that she had lived and I had a difficult time putting it down. It is obvious that Philippa Gregory has spent much time and effort researching for this book, which enabled her to create such a convincing tale. THE QUEEN'S FOOL succeeds in giving one a glimpse into the life of the royal court during the 16th century and adds a human face to this distant time. Highly recommended.

In JET LAG two strangers meet under unusual circumstances in a crowded and chaotic Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. As a result of various labor union strikes flights are either delayed or cancelled while travelers are impatient and nerves are frayed. Rose first approaches Felix in the airport terminal to borrow his phone after she accidentally dropped her cell phone down the toilet. There is certainly no "love at first sight" for these two individuals, and they even succeed in getting on each other's nerves. But each time they say goodbye they end up bumping into each other at a different time and place in the airport. Each appears to have little in common Felix and Rose have little in common other than being stuck in an airport. Felix is a twice-divorced idiosyncratic man who has immigrated to New York and detests everything about his native country. On the other hand, Rose is a woman who feels naked without makeup and is escaping an abusive boyfriend. But as time progresses they warm up to each other and form a meaningful friendship. What really makes this film work is that they form a bond based on their differences and they begin to appreciate and understand each other's lived experiences. Their relationship isn't based on lust and sex but rather delves deeper into emotional longing to be understood and affirmed in the modern world. As the film progresses they become more connected and appreciated in each other's company. In JET LAG Juliette Binoche delivers another wonderful performance that his indicative of her successful film career in French cinema. It is always a pleasure to watch her perform as she rarely plays the same character repeatedly. This film is fun to watch and is a good diversion for a cozy night inside in front of the television. JET LAG is described as a "romantic comedy" but I believe it delves deeper and says volumes more than other films in this genre. Enjoy!

Simply put, CAPTURING THE FRIEDMANS is one of the best documentaries I have seen in recent memory. It follows the story of the Friedman family the prosperous suburb Great Neck in Long Island, New York. In the late 1980's Alfred Friedman (the father) is investigated after a package addressed to him containing child pornography is apprehended by the post office. After the Friedman's house is searched the investigation is turned over to the police when it is believed that young boys could have been sexually assaulted by Alfred while taking computer lessons in the family's basement. But the finger isn't solely pointed at Alfred as the name of his youngest son, Jesse, is continually mentioned during interviews of the alleged victims. Both Alfred and Jesse are accused of an unspeakable crime with the force of a witch-hunt in their local community. With no physical evidence the two are forced to defend their innocence and stand before the judge. What is at the true heart of this film is that there are no black and white sides of this drama; rather, there are only shades of grey, and plenty of them. As the film progresses it is revealed that Alfred is not 100% innocent. He confides that he has felt pedophilic impulses since his youth and enjoys the "company" of young boys. Furthermore, the fact that he was originally investigated for possessing kiddy porn never vanishes. It first appears that Jesse is the true victim but even these thoughts are never verified. Throughout the viewer is left wondering what really happened. The Friedman family was never a strong or a close-knitted family before these allegations were charged. As a result, their home videos caught a family in continual rage and despair. This incident truly tested their foundation. This family will never recover. The format of this film includes news footage, family home videos, and present day interviews of individuals on both sides of the controversy. Each format is layered to create an interesting yet horrifying glimpse into this family's crisis. This is truly a case in which there are no winners or losers. CAPTURING THE FRIEDMANS is a somber look into a devastated family that will continue to affect that viewer long after the film is over. Highly recommended.

After bashing in the head of a classmate with a baseball bat Lyle (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is involuntarily committed to a psychiatric ward for troubled teens. Throughout his life Lyle has been expressing anger as a result of being beat up by his father when he was younger. But now that he is committed he doesn't let go of his ways easily as he feels that his anger is rightly justified. It takes some time for Lyle to let down his guard and befriend the other troubled teens. He eventually forms a close friendship with his roommate who is charged with molesting young children and a lonely big-eyed girl who suffers from terrible screaming nightmares every night. There are lots of scenes showing the mundane activities of life of patients inside the psychiatric ward. When they aren't playing basketball, reading existential philosophy, or slam dancing to Rage Against the Machine they are often found in group therapy. Each patient has their own story to tell including histories filled with suicide attempts, drug abuse, cutting, extreme violence, and other self-destructive acts. The method of filmmaking is experimental and can put some viewers off. Often the frames are shaky and unstable and appear to be filmed with a handheld device. This appeared to give the effect of being a personal observer inside the ward. This aspect didn't bother me at all but what did bother me was a general feeling of uneasiness when the film was over. I felt as if the pieces of the plot puzzle failed to come together properly. I was strangely unsettled about the lack of explanation of the motivations of Lyle. It seemed as if in one scene he is lashing out his anger, the next he is a saint while trying to calm down others, and then he returns once again to betting up others - and all this happened without any proper explanation. As a result his actions often came off as being unrealistic and one-dimensional. In addition, I had trouble with the overall plot and the intentions of the filmmakers. If there was an intended message of this film it dearly failed. I felt that it didn't do anything but continually spinning its wheels. I've been anxiously waiting for MANIC to be released on DVD but now that I've seen it I hate to admit that I feel let down. I was expecting so much more.

This clever documentary follows eight young contestants of the National Spelling Bee Competition held in Washington, DC in 1999. Although they are competing for the same prize, each contestant is as individual as two strangers walking down the street. Several are second generation Americans who possess their parents' work ethic while others are born competitors. Some maintain a rigorous study schedule while others are more relaxed. They each come from such diverse and socioeconomic backgrounds. The cameras follow each contestant from the regional spelling bees to Washington as they confront fear and nervousness while they spell words that the average American has never heard of before. Sometimes the parents are more nervous and anxious than the contestants! Not all make it past the first round, but I couldn't help cheering for each to spell the word without hearing the dreaded bell. In a more abstract sense this film portrays how spelling bees represent a sense of belonging to America and is a "community process" that highlights how the role of education is a stepping-stone in leading a successful life in America. Whether one accepts the intended political undertones of this film is up to the individual but I found it a little too simplistic for my own taste. Regardless, as someone who has never participated in spelling bees to any extent such as these eight contestants I can now better appreciate the determination and hard work that goes into spelling bees. Don't forget to watch the "Where are they now?" segment in the special features as you can see how each contestant has moved on into the next segment of their lives. SPELLBOUND is an interesting look into the lives of eight spelling bee contestants. Recommended.

In an attempt to ward off intruders from his estate Captain Gault fired a warning shot in the dark that would forever change his life and those around him. As Protestants the Gaults felt their well-being was continually threatened as Partition undermined the political and social foundations of Ireland in 1921. As a result Captain Gault decided to return to the safety of England with his wife and young daughter, Lucy. But Lucy isn't happy at all with the prospect of leaving the only home she has known and she is too young to fully comprehend the reasons. On the day of their anticipated departure Lucy is believed to have drowned when some of her clothing articles was discovered near the shore. It is widely acknowledged that the sea has a tendency to swallow both unaware ships and swimmers. In the midst of their grieving and loss Captain Gault and his wife continue their plans of emigrating, but as they begin their journey they decide that England is not far enough away from the source of their pain. Without communicating with a single person from their previous life they venture on to Switzerland and Italy. Meanwhile back in Ireland it is realized that Lucy has not drowned and is indeed alive but unfortunately there is no way to pass on the news to her parents because no one knows how to reach them. Decades pass while the separation between Lucy and her parents created deep psychological consequences that continue to affect their livelihood.

THE STORY OF LUCY GAULT is a somber and dark tale of individuals searching for redemption and forgiveness for the innocent acts they have committed in their past. William Trevor created a poignant mix of characters that are forever marked with the choices that they have made. This book is admittedly small, but it contains a shocking and realistic story of how one girl's mischief has resulted in such devastating results for all. Individuals living in the surrounding villages all were accustomed with the tale of Lucy Gault, and her life was forever introduced to newcomers. It is a tale that is sure to live for generations in that section of Ireland. While reading this slim book I was sincerely touched by Trevor's portrayal of the longing for forgiveness and the haunting of regret. He excelled in getting inside the minds of his characters and shedding light on the emotional conflicts within their individual consciousness. Recommended.

Set in Toronto, Canada during the early 1980's OWNING MAHOWNY is an engrossing and interesting character study of Dan Mahowny (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who embezzles money from his job as an assistant bank manager in order to feed his increasing gambling addiction. Although Dan recently received a prestigious promotion and moved in with his girlfriend his full attention is focused on the next bet. He essentially lives a double life as he tries to keep his bookies happy while sneaking trips to the Atlantic City and Las Vegas casinos to win big. What makes Hoffman's performance admirable is that while at the casinos he retains a tunnel vision on the task in front of him. He is never distracted by the various luxuries (i.e. suites, hookers) that the casino manager's extend to him as an added benefit for being a "good customer". Throughout the course of this film there is a melancholy and somber atmosphere that further accentuates the desperation and seriousness of Dan's behavior. One can't help to cheer him on even as it becomes apparent that he is digging himself a giant hole for himself. As his gambling deficits continue to spiral out of control he never loses hope that he will come out on top. OWNING MAHOWNY is a good film that digs deep to portray the low-key actions of one individual who feels a compulsion to gamble money that isn't his at the risk of his career and his girlfriend.

BUFFALO SOLDIERS is a movie adaptation of Robert O'Connor's popular novel about a group of young U.S. soldiers at the Theodore Roosevelt U.S. Army Base in Stuttgart, West Germany in October 1989. Military clerk Ray Elwood (Joaquin Phoenix) is the mastermind of the operation. Along with his GI pals he deals drugs, steals supplies, and has a thriving black-market business. But his schemes begin to unravel when Sergeant Lee (Scott Glenn) decides to investigate Elwood's activities. And to make matters worse, Elwood pursues Lee's daughter without his permission.

While viewing this DVD I was constantly confused about the intention of this film. Is it a comedy or a drama? Did the directors want their audience to walk away with a serious impression or laugh all the way through to the credits? Unfortunately this film couldn't make up its mind. Some of the scenes contained screwball comedy elements reminiscent of classic military movies such as STRIPS (i.e., stoned soldiers causing havoc by running the tank though the town). Other scenes attempted to portray the heartfelt emotions of the characters (i.e., Ed Harris coming to grips with the end of his military career). But the two polar opposites never successfully united to create a good movie.

I read all the press about this film when it was suppressed shortly after 9/11/01. But now after finally being able to watch it I can't believe that anybody had a problem with it. Clearly this is an instance of being hypersensitive. Why is this film controversial? It's surely not the first film to portray soldiers who don't follow protocol. What's more, it's set during 1989 - 15 years ago.

In short, BUFFALO SOLDIERS simply didn't work for me. There were too many frayed loose ends at the end that detracted from the whole. It is surely unfortunate that wonderful actor abilities such as Ed Harris and Scott Glenn were wasted in this dismal film.

In CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY Edith Wharton created a most unlikable protagonist that is certainly easy to deplore. Undine Spragg is the epitome of a spoiled individual who doesn't bother to care how her financial demands negatively affect those around her. After moving to New York with her parents she has the full intentions of entering the ranks of high society. She studies the society columns in the local newspapers and dreams of residing in a splendid home on Fifth Avenue. Undine is both charming and beautiful and she doesn't hesitate to rely on various schemes and methods to get what she wants.

During the course of this book the reader follows Undine as she strives to enter the fashionable social circles of New York at the beginning of the 20th century. She studies the prominent players in the upper classes and desires to join them during their dinner parties in New York and their annual spring trips to Paris. Unfortunately her father doesn't possess the type of financial resources to accommodate Undine's wishes so she seeks to marry a man who can provide. Undine's climb to the top of New York society is not without incident. At times her ascendancy is marked by setbacks and controversies that aim to keep Undine away from the social limelight.

Edith Wharton provides insightful commentaries on how Undine Spragg is so self-centered and ignorant and the general superficiality of high society during this time period. Undine completely ignored the concerns of her husband(s) and her child as she strived to join the fashionably conscious social circles. The social and religious sentiments towards divorced woman are also explored during this era of general disapproval of broken marriages. CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY provides a revealing glimpse into the workings of the upper society circles of New York before the Great War. Highly recommended.