Media update
I haven't done one of these for awhile but hope to keep up this year.

First, three movies from last year:

Running With Scissors:  Anyone who thinks they come from a dysfunctional family should see this movie.  It is based on the memoir of Augusten Burroughs and, well, it's weird.

The Last King Of Scotland:  OK, so taking a date to this movie might not have been the wisest idea, but it worked out in the long run.  Any story featuring Idi Amin as a main character is bound to be a bit disturbing (at best) but I was struck by Forest Whitaker's amazing acting.  There were several points during the movie where I forgot I was watching an actor portraying Amin. 

Superbad: Every generation has their signature teen comedy, and it seems like each generation is able to push the envelope a little bit.  "Superbad" would be the next evolution after "American Pie".  Long live McLovin.

And now, this year to date:

There Will Be Blood:  You can't do much better than Daniel Day-Lewis if you need an actor who can carry every scene of your movie.  I thought of it as a sort of anti-"Wall Street"--greed is not so good after all.  It was a terrific movie and I was a bit disappointed that it didn't pick up a few more Oscar wins.

Juno:  The word "cute" comes to mind, and I enjoyed bits and pieces of it, but really, I thought it was overrated and was surprised that it received Oscar nominations.  Poor Michael Cera is getting typecast in his old age.  I wonder if he did this role before or after "Superbad"?

No Country For Old Men:  You want intensity?  This is your movie.  Personally, I think I prefer the Coen Brothers when they are being whimsical but I'd still say this is one of the best thrillers I've ever seen.

Thank You For Smoking:  I was a little late on this one but I'm glad I took the time to watch it.  Thanks to "The Daily Show" I can't take anything I see on TV seriously anymore, and so I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the spin doctors satirized.  Of course, I love the title, too...a friend from North Carolina once told me about taking a tour of the tobacco factories (I think he was in elementary school at the time) and being shown the "Thank you for smoking" signs everywhere.

Into The Wild:  Major downer and bummer.  The scene near the end when he realizes that happiness can only exist if it is shared is pretty powerful.  Too bad the/his end is predictable.  Man does not rule nature.

Away From Her:  Not as much of a major downer/bummer as a movie about an Alzheimer's patient would have you expect, but still...I'm not fond of seeing nursing homes and characters wasting away and I left this movie only hoping that I never end up in one of those god-awful places.