The Madness of King George (1994)

While Nicholas Hytner's film of Alan Bennett's stage play is amazingly costumed and acted and filmed, there's something missing keeping it from really shining.   It's the story of King George III and what happens to him when he starts acting off his rocker.  Nigel Hawthorne and the rest of the cast are brilliant.  Grade: B. 

A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (Novel)

The winner of last year's Pulitzer for fiction, this collection of criss-crossing stories that make up a "novel" is the kind of book that blows you way by its precise and deeply developed prose and by its various unforgettable characters.  To entangle so many lives together in a meaningful and clear way is an achievement in itself, nonetheless have so many lives turn out as entertaining as they are.  This is the first book I've read by Mrs. Egan and I'm certainly going to read more.  The fact that there's a power-point presentation story that's as engaging as any of the other stories is amazing on its own.  Grade: A.   

The Wild Parrot of Telegraph Hill (2003)

This simple, low-budget documentary follows Mark Bittner, a soul-searching ex-musician, who connects to a flock of wild Parrots while living on Telegraph Hill in San Francisco.   What starts off as a way to interact with nature turns into a full-time job.  He feeds, cares for them and chronicles their little winged society.  Judy Irving directed and produced the film and the result is an emotionally engaging experience that only life can manufacture. Grade: A

Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

Sean Connery's second to last outing as 007 is pretty good.  It's typical James Bond fun with a diamond encrusted satellite at the center of the story.  A familiar villain is back and the Bond girl in this one is Stephanie Case played by Jill St. John (who is sexy and fun to watch).  It's hard to get too critical about these films because they're never meant to be works of art.  Also Connery is back playing the role that made him famous which is a huge plus.  Grade: B.

Get Carter (1971)

Michael Caine knows how to play a bad-ass in a way that's so British and yet brutish that you can't take your eyes off the screen.  Here he's a gangster that returns home for his brother's funeral only to go on a revengeful war path to find those responsible.  This is a great movie with a couple wonderful surprises and a nice film noir plot that keeps the audience guessing.  The pacing is a bit out-dated but that doesn't mean much because this in many ways enhances the film.  Director Mike Hodge would return to the feel of this movie with The Croupier in 1996.  It's clear he knows how to tell real good and believable gangster story.  Grade: A- 

She's Gotta Have It (1986)

This is Spike Lee's first feature-length film and it feels very much like a first feature-length film from an artist who already knows what kind of style he wants but hasn't quite crafted his skills as a writer.  It doesn't help that the actors are the type of actors a first time feature-length director would be able to acquire.  Not that they're horrible but they certainly have a tough time making Lee's dialogue feel natural.  This is obvious when Spike Lee is the best actor of the group.  That said there's this raw, funny and engaging quality to the film that makes it all work out in a charming and unique way.  It's entertaining and worth a watch.  Grade: B+

The Shooting Party (1985)

A forgotten classic that dramatizes the last days of an old English aristocratic era and the looming threat of World War I.  James Mason stars in his last role as Sir Randolph Nettleby, the head of a regal family who invites various guests of the upper class for a weekend of pheasant shooting.   I wonder if Robert Altman thought of this film while making Gosford Park.  Various characters and their stories of social class and manners, I really enjoyed this fine film.  Director Alan Bridges does an superb job adapting the novel by Isabel Colegate.  Grade: A