I.O.U.S.A., 2008

Please watch this film:



This documentary examines the financial mess our country is in with basic language, engaging graphics, and knowledgeable interviewees. Every politician in this country should be required to see this film: if we don't understand how we got into the mess, how can we get out of it?

A non-partisan view of a very political concern. Who knew, money doesn't grow on trees....

Directed by Patrick Creadon.
Based on the book Empire of Debt by William Bonner.

Melody's Stars: * * * * *


Rating System:
*****=Worth Buying
****=Worth Seeing in Theaters
***=Worth Renting
**=Worth Watching on TV
*=Worth Watching if also cleaning house or doing paperwork
0=Total waste of time
Fail=So bad it doesn't even make the rating system

Die Welle, 2008

Based on a true story, high school teacher Rainer Wenger (Jürgen Vogel) decides to teach his students about autocracy by creating one in his class. When the class project grows beyond his control, the consequences are bigger than anyone would have predicted.



A very thought provoking film, Die Welle explores the human urge for community. The film depicts the comfort and sense of belonging that a group creates as well as the dark side of following a crowd.

Kudos to Dennis Gansel who not only plays the part of high school student Martin but also wrote (along with Peter Thorwarth) and directed this film!

Great soundtrack.
Based on the novel by Todd Strasser, and the classroom experiment The Third Wave created by California high school teacher Ron Jones.


Melody's Stars: * * * * *


Rating System:
*****=Worth Buying
****=Worth Seeing in Theaters
***=Worth Renting
**=Worth Watching on TV
*=Worth Watching if also cleaning house or doing paperwork
0=Total waste of time
Fail=So bad it doesn't even make the rating system

Changeling, 2008

Based on actual events, Changeling tells the story of Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie) and her fight to find her missing son Walter (Gattlin Griffith).

In 1928, when Collins' son disappeared, the LAPD consider the case closed after returning a boy who was not Walter Collins. When Mrs. Collins declared the boy was not hers, the police chief had her locked up in a mental hospital in an attempt to avoid bad press. While Collins never found her son, she was vindicated and the LAPD faced corruption charges.

Powerful, thought provoking, frightening, and heart-wrenching, this is one of the best films of 2008.



If I were to change anything about Changeling, it would be to cut out about 20minutes. Just over 140minutes, it is a tad too long. That said, for a 2 and a half hour film it moves very quickly.

Produced, directed and original music by Clint Eastwood. Is there anything that this guy cannot do?! I did not realize that in addition to being a talented actor/producer/director, Eastwood also is a gifted composer and plays the piano.

Written by J. Michael Straczynski.
Beautiful costumes by Deborah Hopper.


For more info about the real Walter Collins:
The Boy Who Vanished–and His Impostor
Wiki Christine Collins

Melody's Stars: *****


Rating System:
*****=Worth Buying
****=Worth Seeing in Theaters
***=Worth Renting
**=Worth Watching on TV
*=Worth Watching if also cleaning house or doing paperwork
0=Total waste of time
Fail=So bad it doesn't even make the rating system

Frost/Nixon, 2008

Based on the 2007 play by Peter Morgan, Frost/Nixon chronicles the 1977 interviews between Robert Frost and President Richard Nixon. While I have not seen the stage play, Morgan's screenplay is quite engaging.




Ron Howard directs and produces this docudrama starring Frank Langella as Nixon and Michael Sheen as David Frost.

The movie features Kevin Bacon, Sam Rockwell, Rebecca Hall, Kate Jennings Grant, Clint Howard (Ron's brother) and Rance Howard (Ron's father).

Melody's Stars: *****


Rating System:
*****=Worth Buying
****=Worth Seeing in Theaters
***=Worth Renting
**=Worth Watching on TV
*=Worth Watching if also cleaning house or doing paperwork
0=Total waste of time
Fail=So bad it doesn't even make the rating system

The Visitor, 2008

I saw this movie at the Ritz East with my Dad. We hadn't actually planned to see this film. I had read the current reviews online and we had decided on a comedy. I guess I did not pay enough attention to the title of the film we chose or the Ritz it was playing at. We got to the theater just as it was starting, and quickly realized that this didn't look like the movie that we had picked.





The Visitor starts out rather ominously and I really began to wonder what we had gotten ourselves into. Thankfully this movie is really good and I am glad that we ended up seeing it together. My Dad enjoyed it.

It is a movie about a college professor and a young couple who unexpectedly enter his life. Richard Jenkins delivers a very fine performance. Also stars Haaz Sleiman and Danai Jekesai Gurira. Written and directed by Thomas McCarthy.


Melody's Stars: *****


Rating System:
*****=Worth Buying
****=Worth Seeing in Theaters
***=Worth Renting
**=Worth Watching on TV
*=Worth Watching if also cleaning house or doing paperwork
0=Total waste of time
Fail=So bad it doesn't even make the rating system

The Baxter, 2005

One of my all-time favorite movies, I stumbled upon The Baxter in the video store one day.





Written, directed, and starring Michael Showalter, this is a very funny, cute, romantic comedy about what happens after the "nice guy" is left at the alter for the "hot leading man." Also stars Michelle Williams, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Rudd and Michael Ian Black. Kudos to Peter Dinklage who plays an uptight wedding planner.



Melody's Stars: *****


Rating System:
*****=Worth Buying
****=Worth Seeing in Theaters
***=Worth Renting
**=Worth Watching on TV
*=Worth Watching if also cleaning house or doing paperwork
0=Total waste of time