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     The Awful Truth
1937  NR  COMEDY  1h 30min
CAST— Irene Dunne, Cary Grant, Ralph Bellamy, Cecil Cunningham, Mary Forbes, Alex D’Arcy, Joyce Compton, Molly Lamont
MUSIC— Ben Oakland  DIRECTOR— Leo McCarey  BASED ON— The Awful Truth (play), by Arthur Richman

     A newly divorced couple (Dunne and Grant) vie for attention, romance, and Mr. Smith, the family dog. Neither can truly attain any of these things, because the other is always getting in the way. With just ninety days to go until their divorce is final, it seems as if she may have found a new husband, or is this romance just a rebound relationship? Meanwhile, hubby keeps butting in at the most inopportune times, spoiling any moments that she and her new beau may have, desperately trying to destroy their relationship. Now it’s her turn. When hubby starts to see a high society girl, Dunne turns off the charm and drives the girl right out of Grant’s arms. What’s plain to see from the beginning is that Dunne and Grant are picture perfect, made for each other, and if they make each other miserable in marriage, nothing would make them happier. And hey, if you like this film, check out the hilarious My Favorite Wife (1940). Oscar-winner for Best Director (Leo McCarey). Deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry.
OUR RATING— ** ½

     Avengers: Age of Ultron
2015  PG-13  ACTION  2h 21min
CAST— Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Cobie Smulders, Anthony Mackie, Hayley Atwell, Idris Elba, Linda Castellini, Stellan Skarsgård, James Spader, Samuel L. Jackson
MUSIC— Brian Tyler, Danny Elfman  DIRECTOR— Joss Whedon  BASED ON— Characters appearing in Marvel Comics

     Wow. The Avengers assemble once again in this explosive addition to the ever expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe. The gang breaks up some sinister goings on at a remote European HYDRA base. One of HYDRA’s newest weapons (Scarlet Witch) has been getting inside our heroes’ heads, bringing up their darkest fears, which prompts Tony Stark (accompanied by a rather reluctant Dr. Bruce Banner) to finally bring his plans for Ultron to fruition. Conceived to be a worldwide peacekeeper, the robotic Ultron should have been a home run. But something always goes wrong, doesn’t it? Ultron becomes self aware and his notion of worldwide peace sounds a little like worldwide extinction. Make that a lot like. Ultron recruits Scarlet Witch and twin brother Quicksilver to tear apart the Avengers so that they will have a part in his nefarious genocidal schemes. Or something. The point is that Ultron and his countless minions give it their all in an attempt to bring the pain to the good guys, with the outcome being… what do you think? This Avengers is shades darker than pretty much any entry of the MCU (so far) yet still retains tons of humor and dynamite sequences of action. The villain is a mess of emotions that showcases an ultimately flawed sense of self righteousness that ends up being pretty heady stuff if pondered, a mix of existential musings and dictatorial views. Again, wow. Plenty to soak up in this super heroic extravaganza. Just remember going in: watch your language!
OUR RATING— ***
PRECEDED BY— Iron Man (2008), The Incredible Hulk (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), Thor (2011), Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), The Avengers (2012), Iron Man 3 (2013), Thor: The Dark World (2013), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
FOLLOWED BY— Ant-Man (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Doctor Strange (2016), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Black Panther (2018), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

     The Avengers
2012  PG-13  ACTION  2h 23min
CAST— Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Clark Gregg, Cobie Smulders, Stellan Skarsgård, Samuel L. Jackson
MUSIC— Alan Silvestri  DIRECTOR— Joss Whedon  BASED ON— Characters appearing in Marvel Comics

     Earth’s mightiest heroes assemble in this rousing box office bonanza that features all of your favorites from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Remember Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk, Thor, Black Widow and Hawkeye? Well they’re all back in business, ready to suit up and take on a potentially Earth shattering situation. Thor’s brother Loki has made his way to Earth, the Tessaract (introduced in Captain America: The First Avenger [2011]) on his mind. Nick Fury (agent of S.H.E.I.L.D.) has a plan to counter any and all threats made against the planet; he’s been recruiting a freak show of talent (watch Iron Man [2008], The Incredible Hulk [2008], Iron Man 2 [2010], Thor [2011] and Captain America: The First Avenger) to put the controversial Avengers Initiative into action. But can these hot headed heroes get past their own differences before Loki brings devastation to Earth? All of the other films have been leading up to this one; multiple characters from the series pop up from time to time. Though it takes a while to warm up the film delivers with a slam-bang third act. Final note: this movie may not be the best introduction for newbies who haven’t seen the prior entries. For those of us familiar with the series it’s just good fun. AKA Marvel’s The Avengers, Marvel Avengers Assemble.
OUR RATING— *** ½
PRECEDED BY— Iron Man (2008), The Incredible Hulk (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), Thor (2011), Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
FOLLOWED BY— Iron Man 3 (2013), Thor: The Dark World (2013), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Ant-Man (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Doctor Strange (2016), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Black Panther (2018), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

     Avatar
2009  PG-13  SCIENCE FICTION  2h 41min
CAST— Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Sigourney Weaver
MUSIC— James Horner  DIRECTOR— James Cameron

     Welcome to Pandora. A vast world of color and light, of beauty and depth, of life and death. Inhabited by creatures great and small, lorded over by the Na’vi, a race of hunters who view their world with reverence and honor. But the human race has discovered a rare mineral found only on Pandora, and they’ll stop at nothing to obtain it. They’ve recruited a paraplegic ex-Marine (played by Sam Worthington) to undergo a mission; a medical team will place his consciousness into the body of one of the Na’vi, thereby giving Worthington complete control of a new foreign body. His mission is to make contact with the alien race, learn the ways of the Na’vi, and eventually become one of them. Little did he realize that he would fall in love with the beauty of the planet, the ways of the people, even his Na’vi teacher (a computer generated, blue-skinned Zoe Saldana). Now he must dissuade the human military wrecking crew from destroying what the Na’vi hold most dear. An eye-opening cinematic experience that one has to see to fully grasp, with CGI like no other. A box-office bonanza that beat out director James Cameron’s Titanic (1997) as highest grossing film ever. Sure, it’s good, but greatest film ever…? Maybe you can decide that one. Oscar-winner for Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Best Art Direction. Extended versions also available.
OUR RATING— ***

Trailer Unavailable

     Autumn Leaves
1956  NR  DRAMA  1h 48min
CAST— Joan Crawford, Cliff Robertson, Vera Miles, Lorne Greene
MUSIC— Hans J. Salter  DIRECTOR— Robert Aldrich

     Joan Crawford gets upstaged, not by a malevolent bimbo, but by a man! Cliff Robertson is the main attraction in this mediocre May/December romance that takes a turn for the worst. Crawford plays a middle aged work-at-home bachelorette who happens to meet a younger man in Robertson. So begins a love affair that culminates into a marriage that seems too good to be true. Soon Robertson begins exhibiting untrustworthy behavior, including lying, stealing, memory loss, etc. It all stems from past dealings with his father; and guess who’s in town. Takes a while to build up any steam and by then your patience may be exhausted. If the characters’ emotional turmoil had been reversed the film may have been more. Then again it may have been just another Joan Crawford flick.
OUR RATING— **

     Australia 
2008  PG-13  DRAMA  2h 45min
CAST— Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, David Wenham
MUSIC— David Hirschfelder  DIRECTOR— Baz Luhrmann

     A dynamic, old-fashioned film of broad scope and vision, Australia shifts its focus between family drama and rousing war adventure. Nicole Kidman plays Lady Sarah Ashley, who visits her late husband’s Australian cattle ranch, Faraway Downs, in 1939. As her guide is the strapping Hugh Jackman, known only as the Drover, a tough as nails cowboy with a heart of gold. They soon discover, through the eyes of an Aboriginal boy named Nullah, that the local cattle baron and his cronies have been stealing the best of their herd. In order to keep Faraway Downs operational, they must gather the motley denizens of the Downs and begin a cattle drive; if they can deliver the goods to the Allied Forces before their competitor they’ll be sitting pretty. Along their journey Lady Ashley and the Drover inevitably draw closer, but more surprisingly they grow more attached to Nullah. But their little family is not to last. Nullah is taken to live in an orphanage and the war reaches Australia with a bang. Can they be reunited despite the horrors that engulf their homeland? An exciting film from start to finish, despite its shift of focus. Crikey.
OUR RATING— ***

     Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
1999  PG-13  COMEDY  1h 36min
CAST— Mike Myers, Heather Graham, Michael York, Robert Wagner, Seth Green, Elizabeth Hurley
MUSIC— George S. Clinton  DIRECTOR— Jay Roach

     The original International Man of Mystery returns in this uninspired (yet often hilarious) sequel. Dr. Evil and co. (including his very own miniature clone, dubbed Mini-Me) are undertaking a daring and dastardly mission, leaping from 1999 to 1969 where the nefarious and aptly-named villain Fat Bastard has stolen Austin’s mojo, the very stuff that makes him such a swinger. Austin now travels back to ’69 in an attempt to recover his essence and maybe stop Dr. Evil from wreaking havoc with a deadly “laser”. Joining forces with sultry American agent Felicity Shagwell, Austin delivers the quips and dispatches the baddies in oh-so-shagadelic fashion. Plenty of innuendo, scatological humor and just plain crudity are the norm in this series and this installment delivers the goods. No classic by any standards but who expected that?
OUR RATING— ** ½
PRECEDED BY— Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
FOLLOWED BY— Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)