DVD Collectors Online

We Don't Live Here Anymore, a review by Rich

We Don't Live Here Anymore



Jack Linden (Mark Ruffalo) and Hank Evans (Peter Krause) are best friends who both teach at the same university in a small New England town. They both have young children and Jack's wife, Terry (Laura Dern) is close with Hank's wife, Edith (Naomi Watts). But while things appear happy on the surface, there are smouldering pockets of discontent underneath. Financial struggle and domestic boredom has drained the passion from Jack and Terry's marriage, while Hank's numerous infidelities and self-absorption has prompted Edith to find both comfort and sexual fulfilment with Jack. As Jack begins spending more and more time with Edith, it becomes obvious to Terry, whose anger culminates in a sexual encounter with Hank. Now that the deception has come full circle, both couples are left to decide the futures of their shattered unions...

Depressingly honest, frighteningly accurate, an adult drama that is guaranteed to make you feel shit!
It's view on infidelity, and the damage it can cause to all parties, is reflectively portrayed with brutal performances from all 4 leads. The pace works well, and you feel you know the characters intimately by the end of the film.
But the subject matter for me is too near the bone, the film is a bit too Hollywood in parts, and the ending is fairly unreal.
 

**Laura Dern mini-marathon


(From Riches Random Reviews on August 28th, 2009)

Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical, a review by goodguy

Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical (2005) Written by: Kevin Murphy & Dan Studney Directed by: Andy Fickman Starring: Kristen Bell, Christian Campbell, Alan Cumming, Ana Gasteyer, Steven Weber DVD: R1-US Showtime (2005) My rating:

Cover blurb: Inspired by the legendary 1936 film of the same name, Reefer Madness is a tongue-in-cheek raucous musical comedy about clean-cut kids who fall into a twisted, hilarious downward spiral of reefer, sex and mayhem! A straight-laced high school lecturer (Alan Cumming) seeks to impart his wisdom to frightened parents about the "demon weed" by telling them the frightful tale of two innocent teens. Mary Lane (Kristen Bell) and Jimmy Harper (Christian Campbell), who fall under the spell of the public's enemy #1 and quickly find themselves in a world of evil jazz music, dance and madness. Filled with outrageously funny and musical performances by Neve Campbell, Christian Campbell, Kristen Bell and Steven Weber, Reefer Madness is the feel good event of the year that should not be missed!

I have watched this now for the 6th time, but it continues to be such an entertaining blast that sweps me away every time with its mix of goofiness, satire and energetic musical numbers. I'm almost tempted to state something absolute like: Best. Musical. Ever. At least it is certainly much funnier than "Rocky Horror" and "Little Shop" combined (to both of which it owns a little debt).

BTW, as a teaser for those of you who don't like musicals, but can occassionally be found here drooling over pretty lady pictures: Can you really say No to a scene with Kristen Bell as a dominatrix?

(From goodguy's Watch Log on March 3rd, 2009)

Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon, a review by Tom

09. Something Blue (1999-11-30)
Writer: Tracey Forbes (Writer)
Director: Nick Marck
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Seth Green (Oz), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), Marc Blucas (Riley Finn), Emma Caulfield (Anya), Elizabeth Anne Allen (Amy Madison), Andy Umberger (D'Hoffryn)

One of my favorite episodes. A lot of fun with Willow's spell going awry. Especially with Spike and Buffy betrothed

Rating:


10. Hush (1999-12-14)
Writer: Joss Whedon (Writer)
Director: Joss Whedon
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Seth Green (Oz), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), Marc Blucas (Riley Finn), Emma Caulfield (Anya), Leonard Roberts (Forrest Gates), Phina Oruche (Olivia), Amber Benson (Tara), Brooke Bloom (Wicca Wannabe #1), Jessica Townsend (Wicca Wannabe #2), Lindsay Crouse (Maggie Walsh), Doug Jones (Gentleman), Camden Toy (Gentleman), Don W. Lewis (Gentleman), Charlie Brumbly (Gentleman), Carlos Amezcua (Newscaster), Elizabeth Thuax (Little Girl), Wayne Sable (Freshman)

One of the best episodes in the entire series. Joss, who is known for his witty dialogues, proves that he can write a very fun episode where hardly any word is spoken. And the gentlemen are one of the creepiest demons in the entire series.

Rating:


11. Doomed (2000-01-18)
Writer: Marti Noxon (Writer), David Fury (Writer), Jane Espenson (Writer)
Director: James A. Contner
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Seth Green (Oz), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), Leonard Roberts (Forrest Gates), Bailey Chase (Graham Miller), Ethan Erickson (Percy West), Anastasia Horne (Laurie), Anthony Anselmi (Partier)

Not a bad episode, really. But a disappointment following the great "Hush".

Rating:

(From Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon on August 22nd, 2009)