Movies

The never-ending deep freeze in Minnesota has provided plenty of movie viewing opportunities in the past month. I have a few more now added to my "watched" list, including: American Hustle (theater), her (theater), and Stuck In Love (Netflix Instant). Have you seen any of these? I'd love to hear your reviews in the comments!

American Hustle: This film is up for quite a few awards this year, so I was anxious to check it out. Without a doubt, the actors do a fantastic job. And there are many twists and turns in the plot. It wasn't my favorite movie of the year, but it was definitely entertaining! Christian Bale is an amazing actor; he literally transforms for so many of his roles (The Fighter, The Machinist, Batman and certainly for American Hustle). Good film. I give it 7/10.

her: This is one of the most provocative films I have seen in a long time; I liked it. I saw it a week ago, and I'm still thinking about it regularly. It's about technology, relationships, possibility, love, loss, and hope. Joaquin Phoenix does a really good job in his character, and Scarlett Johansson is perfect as the voice of his OS (personal computer software). This film is important because it raises so many questions about the future of technology and relationships. And while some of the ideas may be slightly far-fetched, in general - Spike Jonze paints a very possible future world. Bonus: good soundtrack. My rating: 8/10.

Stuck in Love: This movie is about writing, love, divorce, healing, and vulnerability. The husband and wife in the film are recently divorced. One of their children is in college and the other is in high school. The father, daughter, and son are all writers. Everyone in the film experiences love and heartbreak. There were moments that were a little forced and inauthentic. But in general, I liked it. Final recommendation: 5/10.