5. 88 Minutes
Al Pacino plays forensic psychologist Jack Gramm who provided the evidence that led to the conviction of a serial killer. On the eve of the convicted killer’s execution, a woman is killed in an apparent copycat fashion. Was the wrong man convicted or was someone out there manipulating public opinion to force a stay on the execution? Meanwhile, Gramm receives a phone call that he had 88 minutes to live. He suspects the convicted serial killer to be pulling strings from his prison cell in an attempt to exact revenge because, according to him, Gramm gave false testimony and coached a material witness to ensure his conviction.
The ending is disappointing but a revelation made during the final minutes of the film is interesting. Gramm admitted to his teaching assistant that he did coach the witness and did all sorts of unethical things to secure the conviction. Why? He was convinced of the man’s guilt but the prosecution did not have the physical evidence to get him convicted. Ethical questions, really, that makes one ponder on whether right and wrong are as black or as white as they seem.
The suspense is great. Despite the corny ending, the film is still worth seeing. Al Pacino still looks gorgeous, at any rate. 
6. Haven
Something like a diluted version of the award-winning Crash, this 2004 movie was co-produced by, and starred, Orlando Bloom. Set in the Cayman Islands, it tells the story about how the arrival of two American businessmen (crooks, really) to evade arrest in the US started a chain reaction that changed the lives of many people. The intertwining plots include the social unacceptability of white-black relationships and drug addiction as a common lifestyle. Zoe Saldana, as Orlando Bloom’s girlfriend, delivers a great performance. I first saw her in Center Stage and I really think she’s underrated as an actress. In Haven, well, watch how her eyes are able to express emotions.
While the story is good, Haven is not exactly a strong film. Some may interpret it as underplaying but it’s really more than that. The film shifts forward and backward in time, a technique so successfully used in Wicker Park, but which at times proved confusing in Haven. Still, it is interesting to see if only to prove that non-commercial movies can be appealing too.
7. Final Contract
Drew Fuller is a courier in his uncle’s company in… duh, was it Germany or France? I forget. On his way to make a delivery, a woman jumps into the van, claims she is a policewoman in need of his help. They are pursued by shooters and, after evading them, Fuller helps the woman check into a hotel where he spends the night with her. The following day, he was wanted by the police who claims he is the hitman who had been killing off witnesses in a high profile trial.
Why the assassin had to be clad in an all-black-leather attire, etcetera, etcetera was beyond me. Corny movie. Super. Grabe, ang pangit. Waste of time, waste of money.
8. A Good Year
Aahhhh, this is one delicious film. It’s a feel-good movie. It makes you feel warm all over and wanting to fall in love all over again even with the same person. Russell Crowe is a British stock broker who inherits a vineyard and a chateau from an uncle he hadn’t seen or written to in ten years. He visits the chateau, remembers the happy summers he spent there, but is still decided on selling it. While there, he gets suspended from work for his underhanded dealings and is forced to extend his stay… I won’t spoil it for you. Just see it if you haven’t still. It’s simply dreamy. 
9. Perfect Stranger
Halle Berry is a journalist whose forte is exposing the dark side of powerful men. In the opening scene, she visits a Senator (or is it a Congressman?) in his office. The senator, publicly a supporter of children’s rights, is handed a stack of photos showing him in compromising poses with young boys. Politics intervene and the story never sees print. Disillusioned, Berry quits her job. On the same day, she talks to a friend from childhood who says she had been having an affair with the CEO of a big advertising company, played by Bruce Willis. When the friend is brutally murdered, Berry starts investigating Willis.
The problem with the Perfect Stranger is that, after all the suspense build-up, one would expect a good closure. Unfortunately, the ending is just as lame as lame can be. It leaves the feeling that director James Foley did not finish the film and someone else directed the last part. Or, perhaps, that two people wrote conflicting scripts and both scripts had to be used for one reason or another. A pity, really, since up until the last 15 minutes, the film was quite good. Then, it just went pffft.
10. Because I Said So
I’m not a fan of Mandy Moore and the two times she sang, I wish she hadn’t. Despite that, Because I Said So was really an enjoyable movie. Diane Keaton is mother to three grown daughters. Two had gotten married while the youngest, Moore, is having problems with her relationships. Convinced that the best life for any girl is to be happily married, Keaton advertises on the internet to find eligible young men for her daughter. I won’t say what else happens. It’s a nice movie and it’s best seen without knowing the ending beforehand. Diane Keaton is such a wonderful actress, wrinkles, eccentric sense of fashion and all.
Some films I’m waiting to see: Ratatouille, Bee Movie, Rush Hour 3, Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus and National Treasure: Book of Secrets.
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Rush Hour 3! I’m waiting for that as well
Gotta love Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan together, they look so cute 
I must really go out sometime. I do not recognize that movies hehehe
Mae, ano ba yan, all work and no play? Play more! hehehehe
Sassy for me it has to be OCEANS THIRTEEN. Director Stephen Soderbergh’s last installment of the Ocean series has to be the most fun, tongue-in-cheek visual and literal swordplay of all these movies. The cinematography holds you in thrall of the glittering new Las Vegas, and the scenes are livid in color and detail, right down to Pacino’s character’s (Willy Banks) crazy colored hair. Watching it in a cinema was just fun, fun fun. You suspend disbelief at the crazy plot, but hey, you place your bets on the gang the minute the opening scenes roll. If you’re a little tired of all the CGI and digital effects of recent fantasia comic book movies, Oceans is the antidote. Contemporary and gritty right down to the last drop.
Of all the movies you listed, I was just able to watch 1 which is Little Miss Sunshine. And I agree! How disturbing to see the little girls all made up and dressed up. They looked like creepy dolls, IMO.
I don’t understand why Jessica Alba had to dye her hair blond for the sequel and why she’s really thin (judging from the previews)
I don’t like Mandy Moore either. I feel like she’s too pa-cute but since you said it’s a good movie, I’ll rent it out at Blockbuster tomorrow.
thanks!
And we’re going to watch Ratatouille next week when it hits the theaters!!! The whole family’s excited!LOL
ms. connie,
i’ve been passing “a good year” at the blockbuster shelves…next time i go, i’ll definitely take it home. my mom-in-law wanted to see “because i said so”- maybe on our next visit, we’ll rent it as well.
i really enjoy your posts on your movie nights- i remember so well how we all enjoyed family movie night when we were kids.
enjoy, and have a great one.
Ben, you’re making me sorry we opted for Fantastic 4 instead of Ocean’s 13 last night. LOL But then, you know, the kids rule hehehehe
It was enjoyable, Greymom. Diane Keaton and Stephen Collins… LOL but I won’t spoil your fun.
Inna, it a nice movie. So un-Russell Crowe in fact. And the location, oh my, it just makes you wonder what the attraction of the rat-race in the city is. But then, of course, I have already discovered what Russell Crowe did in the film, having moved to the suburb and all. Not on such a grand scale though.
I loved Little Miss Sunshine. That girl is just adorable and so talented. She might actually supass Dakota Fanning. Well just my opinion
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Haven’t see Fantastic 4 yes. Soon.
Looking forward to Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan’s shenanigans on the Rush hour 3 also. I miss those 2
Ako lang ata nag-enjoy ng F4. My husband fell asleep while we were watching it
Oh my gosh I couldn’t agree more on Wicker Man! I bought it on PayPerView, but after seeing it I wanted my money back.. What a rotten ending. Judy
Hey sas..try:
Knocked up. Great for crass humor but the lessons are there. It’s lighthearted fare and the suspended disbelief is mandatory as usual, but very entertaining.
Oceans 13. I think nuff said above.
Evan Almighty. I just saw this, laughed my butt off. Steve Carell is going places. He stole the show in Bruce Almighty and he’s goin for the fence in this one.
I’ll be watching Shooter next tuesday when Netflix mails it hopefully. Shooter is rated 4 stars out of 5. I’m on a 3 at a time package and lately Netflix is mailing it a day late to limit my renting. I’m averaging 19 dvd a month for $18. What a deal!
Hubby fell asleep watching Pirates naman.
Connie,
I’ve watched F4, The shooter, The contract…I’d like to watch Little M Sunshine, 88 minutes, A goodyear ..thanks for the reviews!
This weekend , we will watch Transformers (this is my cartoon era! ) and hopefully next week Die Hard 4! Don’t know when will Evans Almighty will be shown, but will watch it as well…
Hope to get more movie reviews from you! cheers!
Forgot to say, I’ve watched Next (Nicholas Cage, Julianne Moore, Jessica Beil) ..movie is ok if you aint doing anything saturday after lunch, but i won’t recommend it…;-)
Just saw the film Next. Maganda rin naman. I liked the premise of the story.
dexie – there is no competition between Abigail and Dakota. For one thing, Dakota never has to audtion for a role, it’s always offered to her.
Okay so, next to Ocean’s 13, Evan Almighty is on my list too. I didn’t like Bruce Almighty but that’s because I don’t like Jim Carrey, period. LOL
Die Hard 4 — a must hahahaha Crush ko dati si Bruce Willis before I discovered Brad Pitt.
I saw Next already. I enjoyed it. Although Nicholas Cage should have opted to retain the skinhead look (his hair looked terrible). And Julianne Moore was… teka, ma-post na lang nga as a separate entry hehehehe
Otto, kasi naman Dakota Fanning has a lot of films to her credit already. Abigail Dreslin only did Signs before Little Miss Sunshine, I think. They’re both great.
My point is that there is no competition between the two, so I don’t see how Abigail is going to “surpass” Dakota. They’re both actors, period.
Here’s my list:
1. Pirates of the Caribbean – Keira Knightley is getting thinner and thinner.
2. Spiderman – I didn’t know the soggy Parker can be rock and super hot in his evil costume. Not that I love the black over the red. I just love his ‘other side.’
3. Transformers – Cool robots. Drama, comedy, action, all rolled into one super movie!!! More! More! More!
Otto, agreed.