MOVIE REVIEWS

SPANGLISH

Adam Sandler, Tea Leoni, Paz Vega, Cloris Leachman, Shelbie Bruce, Sarah Steele

This has to be the best movie I've seen in a long time. I'd see it again in a heart beat, and when it's available, seriously think about purchasing it to have on a rainy day when I needed a good lift. That's a lot to be said for me as I don't particularly care for Adam Sandler. I think he is good at what he does, but I don't care for the majority of the movies he's made. Flor, played by Paz Vega, emigrated from Mexico for a better life in America with her daughter, Cristina, played spectacularly by Shelbie Bruce. Flor takes a housecleaning job to earn more money with this upscale family. Speaking no english what-so-ever, she works hard to keep the family happy after the mother, Deborah, played wonderfully over the top by Tea Leoni, loses her job and becomes a stay at home mom while the father John, played by Sandler, rises to the top as a superb restuarant chef. Flor is beautiful, Deborah is insecure, and when these 2 women's lifestyles clash, this movie takes off. Sandler is more than restrained in this role and if viewed closely you can see his desire to break free from his ties and mock his crazed wife! Flor is the center of the movie, but her daughter steals the show often, and Sarah Steele, who plays John and Deborah's over weight daughter Bernice, does a beautiful job of playing the insecure daughter. A favorite scene shown repeatedly during the previews is indeed worthy of praise; Cristina interpretering for her spanish speaking mother complete with gestures, swear words and selected omissions. But my 2nd favorite has got to be Leoni's quickie sex scene with Sandler. This scene shows Leoni's comic timing, and really adds even more laughter and drama to an already funny and moving show.

THE AVIATOR

Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsalw

This long 3 hour movie proved to be better than I had anticipated. DiCaprio was excellent as Hughes and Cate Blanchett nearly stole the show with her role as Katherine Hepburn. I had heard a lot of stories about Howard Hughes, but still managed to learn more about this eccentric billionaire who was obssesed with flying and women, in that order. I never knew he suffered from OCD, and was even more surprised to learn DiCaprio does as well. I thought 3 hours was a bit long for this movie, and I might have enjoyed it more if it were a bit shorter. If you are a DiCaprio fan, then this is sure to please. Even if your not, you might enjoy seeing this movie simply to witness Cate Blanchett's portrayal of Hepburn. She's amazing.

21 GRAMS

Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Naomi Watts

Naomi Watts gives a stunning performance as a grieving wife, & mother, Christina, who loses her husband and 2 daughters by a hit-and-run driver, Jack, played by Benicio Del Toro. Sean Penn plays Paul, a man dying from a heart disease. He receives Christina's husbands heart, saving his life, but creating an obsession with discovering the identity of his donor. If you can get comfortable with the choppy direction, this movie is good, although certainly disturbing.