More moview reviews

Two more movie reviews for y'all. I have been doing so much other stuff that I don't even know where to begin writing about it, but I will post more than movie reviews, I promise.

Roger Dodger was really quite enjoyable and charming, which was a bit of a surprise. I watched about a half hour of it one night and the rest a night or two later. I wasn't digging it after the first session, so I only put it in reluctantly to watch the rest. I like to finish stuff. I'm glad I gave it another go. The dialogue is stellar, the story is engaging, and once the nephew shows up, the malady from which Roger suffers (being a total player) actually takes on a whole new gleam of being endearing rather than repellent. Used for good, teaching young Nick how to meet girls, Roger's womanizing ways become less sinister and more entertaining. The best line: "You drink that drink! Alcohol has been a social lubricant for thousands of years. You think you're going to sit here tonight and reinvent the wheel? Please." Campbell Scott did a heck of a job. Some of his monologues were dizzying.

The Girl in the Cafe was another great pick. The use of color and line in the framing of every single shot was incredible. I wish I could have seen it on the big screen, but it was only a TV movie (HBO), what a waste. Because I am a mainstream media-phobe (see the word unplugged in the title of this blog), I didn't really know too much about the historical backdrop of the 2005 G8 conference and the Millennium Goals, so the movie really shook me up-- I called my sweetie quite rattled to see if he knew the current event status that the ending doesn't give away. Bill Nighy blew my mind with his performance. So vivid a character. Kelly Macdonald did a fine job as well. Love the accent. Took me right back to Glasgow.

Both of these movies made marvelous use of the cliffhanger ending. Marvelous. Especially the latter, because it will motivate you to action. The extras on both DVDs were impressive, too. Not the usual drivel of outtakes and deleted scenes. I recommend them both.