The Fighter

"You were the pride of Lowell. You were my hero, Dicky."

Although the title of this film would make you expect the story of one character, this couldn't be further from the truth. The title is misleading because there are really two fighters that we follow. One fighter is the older brother, Dicky, who is past his prime and has become a crack addict. He is now the trainer for his brother, Micky. Micky is the one with the chance to do something that Dicky didn't and he is the one who we cheer for in the ring. But, we cheer for both brothers to win outside of the ring.

Based on the true story of stepbrothers in Boston, this film is filled with spectacular acting. You forget that you are watching a movie, but feel like you are watching life unfold in front of your eyes. Christian Bale, as the crack addicted brother who missed out on his shot at success, is superb. He is a manic, bizarre man that you want to save from himself. Part of his problem is that he is surrounded by his mother, played by Melissa Leo, and seven sisters that seem to support his belief that he is going to make a comeback. His brother, Micky, played by Mark Wahlberg, is the one with the chance to be a champion, and we want his success almost as much as he does. Micky is the younger brother that has always done what ever the family has told him to do, but that is now changing. Because he has a new girlfriend, Charlene, played by Amy Adams, who is not going to stand still and be pushed around by this family, Micky finally has someone in his corner that wants him to succeed for himself.

Watching the story is hard at times because of the realistic portrayals, the language, the fighting, the drug use, but the payoff is worth it. This character-driven drama will have you chuckling one moment and then tears will be flowing the next as you see the poignant moments of love and forgiveness. The story is not only well-acted, but told in such a way that we feel compassion and interest in this family that lives a life that we would not believe if we didn't know that it was real.

PostMortem by Patrica Cornwell

"The dead have never bothered me. It's the living that I fear."

Having read and heard about Kay Scarpetta, the heroine of Patricia Cornwell's medical examiner mystery series, I decided to read the first novel where this character is introduced. More of a suspense novel than a true who-dun-it, the story gets started at the middle - a serial killer has struck for the fourth time. Told from the point of view of the woman who is faced with performing the autopsies and delving into the way the murders were committed, we are given a unique insight to the crime.

Reading a series that started 20 years ago involves taking yourself back in time. In 1990, when the book was originally published, the computer was not a common household item, DNA testing was not a common medical procedure, and crime scene investigation was not a common topic on television. Some of the details are obviously dated, but the sign of a good storyteller is that those dated details are overlooked when you are interested in the story itself.

The details of the crimes, the characters who could be good or bad, the pace of the story, all draw you in and make you keep turning pages wanting to know exactly who is committing these horrific murders and why these victims were chosen. The finale is somewhat anticlimatic and seems to have been rushed to me.

I have only read this novel by Patricia Cornwell, so I hope the promise of her storytelling lives up to what I expect of the following novels. These characters are ones I hope to learn more about and I plan to revisit the medical examiner series that follows this debut.

The Secret Garden

"As long as you have a garden you have a future and as long as you have a future you are alive"


Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the publication of the story in its entirety, this year is the perfect time to pick up Frances Hodgson Burnett's telling of a contrary orphan, Mary, and discover the delights she finds in The Secret Garden.

Set in Victorian England, the nearly destroyed garden is a symbol for a family that has suffered devasting loss, but is transformed with attention and love. This transformation of the garden and the people in the home is a enchanting story of friendship, love and positive thinking.

I enjoyed the Yorkshire setting of the story as well as the charming characters from the countryside. The descriptions of the animals and the garden were so well told, that I felt I could see them. I highly recommend the pictured edition with illustrations by Tasha Tudor. Not only is Tudor's work always lovely, it fits the story just perfectly.

A children's classic, this story is a treasure for adults as well, as we are invited into a world that we wish still existed.

The Girl Who Played With Fire

"She closed her eyes and conjured up the smell of gasoline."

The second book in what ended up being a trilogy (the author had planned 10 books, but tragically died before finishing the promising series), this was the opportunity to get reinvolved with Lisbeth Salander, and learn more about her. Being hunted by police and enemies (for reasons we learn throughout the story), Lisbeth has to use her skills as computer hacker and crack researcher to protect herself from those who wish her ill. She has an ally in her old friend, Mikael Blomkvist, who she worked with in "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo".

A puzzle with an "Aha" , this was not a simple who-dun-it. The mysterious past and the tragic present have a entertwining storyline that entertains while it keeps you turning pages. The unique character of Lisbeth Salander is someone who you would maybe avoid in real life, but who you wish you had on your side. She is one of the most emotionally vulnerable characters in literature, but one of those you wouldn't want to have mad at you. I love the contrast in her character.

The story involves the sex trade, murder and violence and the descriptions are not pretty, but the story draws you in so quickly, that you don't get bogged down in the ugliness, you want to know how this is going to unfold. We can only keep turning pages, racing to the end as fast as we can. But knowing that in the end, no matter what, Lisbeth Salander has become one of the heroines we can't wait to read more about, and sadly will only have one more opportunity to do so.

(500) Days of Summer

"This is a story of boy meets girl, but you should know upfront, this is not a love story"

Zooey Deschanel. Need I say more? One actress that is just a delight in everything she does. A great reason to watch this film is summed up in the two words - Zooey Deschanel.

The story in this movie is as quoted "not a love story". What it is, is an offbeat, very well scripted, quirky telling of how a relationship didn't work out, and exactly how it got there. I love that you know at the beginning that the two main characters, Summer and Tom, are going to end up apart. It gives a unique take on the Hollywood romantic comedy. Instead of waiting for the two characters to figure out that they "belong together", you get to see exactly how they meet, become "friends" and then how they end up without one another. The fun in the telling is that it is a non-linear telling. The middle, then the end, followed by the beginning and a mixture of all time and place make for a more intriguing romantic comedy.

The fact that the two main characters are played by such likeable actors only adds to the delight in watching their story unfold. With a fun cast of supporting characters, the film is even more entertaining - each part is played with enthusiasm and adds to create a complete picture. You can't help but like the friends and relatives that you meet, and you want to spend more time with them.

Watch this one - even if you think you already know how it is going to end...

The American

"You're American. You think you can escape history. You live for the present."

George Clooney is "the" actor with expressive eyes. In very few words, he conveys a tremendous amount through his eyes. He is able to use this ability to portray a "bad" guy who is in reality much more complex, by using minimal dialogue. This man who has been an assassin wants to have a fresh start, but is learning you cannot escape your past.

The cinematography is gorgeous in this film. The Italian countryside makes for a wonderful backdrop, but I felt the breathtaking views were a stark contrast to the slow-paced action. The small village life plays a balance to the life The American leads.

The violence in the film is not the disturbing part for me. I got tired of seeing the nude prostitute with the heart of gold The American takes up with. Enough already! If it wasn't the "reason" behind his wanting to leave behind the profession, I would have liked this movie better. He makes a friend of the village priest, and the interactions between the two men were much more interesting to me. I would have preferred a change of heart based on that relationship.

The film is more arthouse than mainstream, but the marketing was aimed at the mainstream - George Clooney, assassin, guns, beautiful women. Unfortunately, this was probably the movie's biggest downfall.

"But when you upgrade it from room service, it's quite serious.

The Tourist

A reminder of the movies from the 50's where Johnny Depp would have been Cary Grant and Angelina Jolie would have been Audrey Hepburn, the film was a treasure of well-known actors in a decent romance-thriller. After seeing that the movie had received poor ratings, I wasn't expecting such an entertaining film. It was not as good as some of classics, however, it was a good choice for a family with teens to watch together.

I loved the beauty of Venice (which was as important of a character as Depp and Jolie) and a bit of Paris that made you wishing for more. Jolie is just delightful in her role as the femme fatale. I thought Depp played his role well - the man who was funny in a bit of a "fish out of water" way. Adding to that the casting of Timothy Dalton and Paul Bettany, and you end up with a good group of actors in the film.

The fact that this film got such poor reviews just reminds me that people have forgotten the simple pleasure in a film that doesn't include the main characters ending up in bed, gratuitous violence or unnecessary profanity.