Two Lovers ****

"Two Lovers" is a wonderful small movie about a conflicted, intense young man in Brooklyn (Juaquin Phoenix), who is torn between the girl his family wants him to marry (Vinessa Shaw) and his sexy, quirky new neighbor (Gwyneth Paltrow). The performances are low key and have the ring of authenticity. The settings are as good as the acting, which is uniformly superb. The script is good, if perhaps a bit too symmetrical. Isabella Rosellini is a quiet standout as the mother.

Rated R. 110 minutes. James Gray - Director / Writer / Producer, Richard Menello - Writer, Donna Gigliotti - Producer, Anthony Katagas - Producer, Joaquín Baca-Asay - Cinematographer, Happy Massee - Production Designer, John Axelrad - Editor.

Principal actors: Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw, Isabella Rossellini, Elias Koteas, and Moni Moshonov.

Gran Torino ***

"Gran Torino" mixes a cross-cultural, cross-generational fable with a coming-of-age story and an end of life lesson in tolerance and sacrifice. Clint Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, a retired, irascible Korean vet who sets out to reform his Hmong neighbor (Bee Vang) who tried to steal his prize 1972 Gran Torino, the model Walt spent many years building at the local auto plant.

Walt is drawn into the Hmong world despite himself, and helps Thao and his sister (Ahney Her) combat the gangs that infest their world. Hmong play Hmong in this movie, and the locations are authentic present day Michigan. Eastwood, who also directed, does not flinch from the rough language (hence the R rating) and unvarnished scenes of gang intimidation from Nick Schenk's script. It's a good effort, and well worth seeing, and not just because you can see a story about someone over seventy and learn something about the Hmong.

Rated R. 116 minutes. Clint Eastwood - Director / Producer, Nick Schenk - Writer (screenplay) (story), Dave Johannson - Writer (story), Bill Gerber - Producer, Robert Lorenz - Producer, Tom Stern - Cinematographer, Kyle Eastwood - Composer, Michael Stevens - Composer, James J. Murakami - Production Designer, Joel Cox - Editor, Gary D. Roach - Editor.

Principal actors: Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Ahney Her, and Christopher Carley.

Madea Goes to Jail **

Tyler Perry's latest addition to the Medea saga includes his patented mix of the outrageous matriarch, her dope-toking spouse Joe, and their dutiful son Brian (all played by Perry himself) along with colorful side characters and a story centered on attractive young people delivering an earnest moral message. There's even an over-the-top scene at a wedding, another staple, and a few topical cameos by figures you'll recognize. It's a winning combination played broadly. Don't expect subtlety; just relax and enjoy the show.

Rated PG-13. 103 minutes. Tyler Perry - Director / Writer (writer) / Producer, Reuben Cannon - Producer, Alexander Gruszynski - Cinematographer, Maysie Hoy - Editor.

Principal actors: Tyler Perry, Derek Luke, Keshia Knight Pulliam, David Mann, Tamala Mann, Ronreaco Lee, Ion Overman, Vanessa Ferlito, and Viola Davis.

Oscar Noms: Live Action Short Film ****

As I said below, this year Magnolia Films has again done us a great service in assembling all of the Oscar-nominated short features into a single film. The live action nominees are headed by my favorite, "Auf der Strecke" ("On the Line"), a dark story from Switzerland about a department store security guard and his fascination with a clerk (pictured above). "Manon on the Asphalt" gives us window into the world of a young woman in France on a fateful day. "New Boy" from Ireland is a gem with a spot-on depiction of Irish grammar school life, and the difficulty of fitting in. "The Pig," from Denmark, invites us to think about symbols and norms in a multi-cultural society. And "Spielzeugland" ("Toyland"), from Germany, is for me an overwrought, almost silly depiction of a glimpse of the Holocaust. This is not a subject that lends itself to a short film. All in all, I was somewhat surprised at the level of seriousness displayed in this year's nominees for live action short. They're definitely worth a view.

Oscar Picks

Feb 23: Scorecard on my picks. Except for actor and supporting actress, where the Academy unexpectedly agreed with my personal pick, all of the top predictions were accurate. The last two, animated short and live action short, I totally missed, as neither my personal favorites nor my predictions won. I have to say I just don't get it. "La Maison on Petits Cubes" was shallow and over long. And "Spielzeugland" seems to validate the old canard that anything - no matter the quality - with a Holocaust theme will win the Oscar.

Here are my Oscar picks and predictions for the top categories:


1. Picture:
Pick: "Milk"
Prediction: "Slum Dog Millionaire"


2. Actor:
Pick: Sean Penn for "Milk"
Prediction: Mickey Rourke for "The Wrestler"


3. Supporting Actor:
Pick: Heath Ledger for "The Dark Knight"
Prediction: Heath Ledger for "The Dark Knight"


4. Actress:
Pick: Anne Hathaway for "Rachel Getting Married"
Prediction: Kate Winslet for "The Reader"


5. Supporting Actress:
Pick: Penelope Cruz for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Prediction: Viola Davis for "Doubt"


6. Director:
Pick: Danny Boyle for "Slumdog Millionaire"
Prediction: Danny Boyle for "Slumdog Millionaire"


7. Animated Feature:
Pick: "WALL-E"
Prediction: "WALL-E"


8. Original Screenplay:
Pick: Dustin Lance Black ("Milk")
Prediction: Dustin Lance Black ("Milk")


9. Adapted Screenplay:
Pick: Eric Roth ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button")
Prediction: Simon Beaufoy ("Slumdog Millionaire")


10. Cinematography:
Pick: "The Dark Knight"

Prediction: "Slumdog Millionaire"



11. Art Direction:
Pick: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Prediction: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"



12. Animated Short Film:
Pick: "This Way Up"
Prediction: "Presto"



13. Live Action Short Film:
Pick: "Auf der Strecke" ("On the Line")
Prediction: "Auf der Strecke" ("On the Line")

Oscar Noms: Animated Shorts ****

Magnolia Films has done us a great service again this year in compiling all of the Oscar nominated shorts into a couple of feature-length films. The five nominated animated shorts, plus a few "highly recommended" give us a delightful look at the state of animation around the world. My personal favorite is "This Way Up," a comedic look at undertaking from the UK. Pre-Oscar buzz says "Presto," a clever backstage and on-stage look at a magician and his bunny from Pixar, will win the prize. Also worth a look are "Lavatory-Lovestory" from Russia, "Oktapodi" from France, and the atmospheric if not gripping "La Maison en Petits Cubes" from Japan.

Man on Wire ****

You may remember when Philippe Petit strung a wire between the two towers of the World Trade Center in August 1974 and spent 45 minutes walking, lying down, dancing and dazzling the world in an act of artistic terrorism. But you may not have given much thought to the drive, ambition, and meticulous planning that made this feat possible. "Man on Wire" tells us that story, using interviews, contemporary footage, and dramatic re-enactments to bring the whole incredible story to life. It's a thrilling tale, but not without conflict, personal sacrifice, and yes, betrayal in the group of conspirators. This documentary is a towering achievement, and is included here because it is nominated for best documentary for this year's Oscars.

Rated PG-13. 94 minutes. James Marsh - Director, Simon Chinn - Producer, Igor Martinovic - Cinematographer, J. Ralph - Composer, Sharon Lomofsky - Production Designer, Jinx Godfrey - Editor. Produced and distributed by Discovery Films. In English and French with English subtitles.

Starring Philippe Petit, and featuring Annie Allix, Jean-Louis Blondeau, David Forman, Barry Greenhouse, Jean Francois Hackel, Jim Moore, and Alan Welner as themselves. With Ardis Campbell, David Dematois, David Frank, Aaron Haskell, and Paul McGill.