Leonardo DiCaprio

A word about Leo's movies. I loved Leo when he played nice, sweet, young guy roles. He was good. And cute. Some serious roles and he has been fantastic. I can't believe he hasn't won an academy award by now (since he has been nominated.)

But I don't trust his movies anymore. I think maybe he's stuck in the horror genre.

First it was Titanic, that started it all for me. I refused to see it until someone told me the end. They advertised it as a "love story." I know enough to know the difference between love stories and romances. Romances have happy endings. In love stories, one or both of them die. so I knew in advance his character didn't survive the north Atlantic icy waters.

Then was in that true story where he played the guy who went through life as an impostor and forger, Catch Me If You Can. (By the way, I can remember seeing the original guy on "What's My Line" about a hundred years ago.) Leo's character languished in a foreign jail for years and nearly starved. Icky. However, my BFF movie star Amy Adams is in this one too. Brava.

Then it was Blood Diamond. It was a violent, politically apropos story. And he dies at the end. Heart breaking. Horrible.

And then The Departed. I should have known better. Hel-lo!!! Departed means dead. Everyone died at the end but that one guy and I can't remember if he was one of the good guys or bad guys. They had undercover good guys in the nest of bad guys, and bad guys serving as cops. Leo was an undercover good guy but did everything the bad guys did, so it was hard to decide. I was disappointed to see Leo bite the dust but glad to see Matt Damon finished off. (I seriously don't like Matt. It's not that he's a bad actor. He just doesn't act at all. He may have made a turn for the better in Hearafter. Clint Eastwood actually squeezed a real performance out of Matt.)

I was recently freaked out by the DVD of Shutter Island. This movie makes Leo a bonafied horror movie star. He is insane in this movie and undergoing some weird & awful therapy. When he remembers the real circumstance of why he is in an asylum for the criminally insane, believe me, the most sane thing he could have done was go insane. It was genuinely horrible. And it's unusual that I saw it in the movie theater about a year ago and don't even remember it. Maybe I belong in an asylum for the forgetfully insane. (Is bonafied a word?)

So, I would love to see Leo in a romantic comedy. Come on, all the other popular actors have had to endure them, why not you? Get into a chick flick and learn to be a little lighthearted for us women. Laugh it up a little.

Jane Langton books

I have been watching movies (quality ones) that I have forgotten about books.

That's a joke because even tho I have recently donated about 500 books to thrift stores in my neighborhood, I still read despite the movies that are keeping me enthralled.

Just for the record, I love Jane Langton's books. They are loosely described as mysteries, are well-written, the characters are charming, the author is delightful and witty with her descriptions.

Thankfully these books are older and might be out of print, but you can look for them in the thrift and used book stores.

And I wonder if Amy Adams has read any Jane Langton? (See my movie reviews below.)

I know authors don't like used book sales, but if it turns on the readers to a certain author so that they begin to buy the new editions, I say "Why not?"

Julie and Julia, Meryl Streep and Amy Adams

To rent or buy. Go for it.

I have been watching several movies with Amy Adams and feel, by now, that Amy Adams is my best friend.

I absolutely love Julie and Julia. Both actresses are wonderful.

It's well done and parts of it are delicious.

It is destined to sell a lot of books..Julia Child's cook books, memoires, and bios, and Julie Powell's books, too, if you like her sort of book. I am told not to base her readability on this movie, but you may if you prefer.

As the credits say at the beginning, the movie is based on two true stories.

In my opinion this movie, as far as true stories go, is more entertaining that Eat, Pray, Love.

Don't miss it. Fun movie and good acting all around.

I can't be called a critic because I love most movies. Except The Departed. Even Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is better than The Departed. Oh, that goes for the HORROR movie, too, Shatter Island. Horrid movie. Broke my heart. Avoid it.

Leap Year --Good Movie with Amy Adams and Matthew Goode

Leap Year is now on DVD and HBO with Amy Adams and Matthew Goode in leading roles.

The last time I fell totally in love with a movie as much as I have Leap Year it was The Phantom the Opera. (As some of my friends remember, I fell totally in love with Gerard Butler too, but that's another story.)

I LOVE this movie. I might have set a world record in how many times I've seen it. Every time I see it, I still enjoy it. It's cute and funny but often serious and sensitive.

It's a "feel-good movie." I know it might be classified as a romantic comedy and a chick flick. But it's a genuine, enjoyable entertainment. The plot goes much deeper than just a formula romance.

Amy Adams is always good. She put in a perfect performance and made the movie into a worthwhile & mainstream movie.(Amy Adams could be in a movie about dead mice and still be great.)

Adam Scott was good playing the rather bland boyfriend...I mean that's what he was supposed to be and did it well.

I haven't seen any of Matthew Goode's other movies yet, but all I can say based on Leap Year is that Matthew Goode is an AMAZING actor.

I fell in-love with his character Declan O'Callaghan Matthew created. Matthew is a creative genius. What makes him even more amazing is the fact that he completely submerged himself into Declan O'Callaghan. I couldn't find any resemblance whatsoever between the character and the actor.

Declan is a scruffy, obnoxious, quiet man with an Irish accent. I was surprised to see Matthew is a young, clean cut, witty, Englishman (and a bit stuck on himself in my opinion.) He acting such a feat of magic, a conjuring trick, he completely submerged himself into the character. (Even with 300 I could still see Gerry Butler inside that costume.)

I think the story is best revealed in the facial expressions, so watch carefully. Matthew Goode is excellent in conveying so much more than expected with a look and body language.

One of the most important keys to the story is what happens in the B & B. If you decide it's "yes" the rest of the movie and the interplay between the characters makes absolute sense. If you think it's "no" then watch it again assuming you're wrong, and you'll see what I mean. Many things after that become clear.(I have a list of 38 "hints" that support a "yes" decision on my other blog Advising Myself.) An example of how good Goode is at conveying what's really going on between the main characters, watch his expression in the scene on the bridge when Declan says, "Apparently not" and first looks towards Anna and then directly at her. He's saying so much more than "apparently not."

I can't really say anymore without giving it all away. (Well, we know a romance has a happy ending, the enjoyment is seeing just how that unfolds. In this case, I think the romance is done with a reverse plot--a man is waiting for a girl to grown up and take things seriously, rather than the typical plot of the girl waiting for a guy to come to his senses. Very innovative.)

If you are good at reading hidden clues and facial expressions, you are going to like this movie. It's well written with good direction as well as being extremely well acted. Director: Anand Tucker and Writers: Deborah Kaplan, Harry Elfont.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I give it a 9 (less than a 10 because of some cutting/editing problems that aren't that noticeable.)