The Top 5 Current Films on My Want-to-See List

I haven't had any chunks of time available to run out to the theaters and catch any of the good flicks that are currently showing -- my family's Christmas tree has been standing naked in its stand in the family room since Sunday because we haven't had time to decorate it, and our outdoor lights aren't up yet -- but if I do find some time, here's what's on my want-to-see movie list right now:


Image credit: Warner Brothers


1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. Can't believe I haven't seen this yet! I saw Half-Blood Prince opening weekend. I'd planned to go with my daughter, but at the last minute, she went and saw it with her friends, though she promises to accompany me when we get a spare three hours.

2. The Social Network. I know, I know, should've seen this some time ago as well. I blame all the youth hockey games. And youth soccer games. And now youth basketball.

3. Morning Glory. This got mixed reviews, but I could use some lighter fare, certainly to counterbalance the darkness of the Potter film.

4. Love & Other Drugs. This also got mixed reviews, but I love the director/co-screenwriter Ed Zwick -- the man behind thirtysomething and Once and Again -- and like Anne Hathaway, so I'm willing to risk it. Hope that's not a mistake.

5. Black Swan. Speaking of dark films . . . critics are buzzing positively about this Natalie Portman film and I want to see what the fuss is about, though I'm nearly certain there's no way The Spouse will accompany me to see this, especially if I tell him it's about a ballet dancer.

What current movies do you want to see?

Image credit: Warner Brothers via Comingsoon.net.

Tempting Trailers: 'Morning Glory,' 'Love and Other Drugs,' 'Company Men'

When it comes to DVD movie rentals from Netflix, I’ve been having a spot of bad luck lately chosing good films. I’ve not been fond of the last several movies I watched including Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, Greenberg and State of Play, during which I fell asleep. (It surprised me that I disliked State of Play given that it’s a journalism movie and I started out in print journalism.)

That being said, I’ve seen a few trailers recently for movies which look promising -- other than the new Harry Potter movie, of course -- but who can tell if they’ll actually be any good? Oftentimes I’m intrigued by the trailer then wind up hating the film. But still . . . I’m a sucker for these promos.

Though reviewers are saying that the TV morning show-centric rom-com Morning Glory -- out today -- is exceedingly fluffy, they also seem to be in agreement that Rachel McAdams is very good in it. The New York Times said the film -- which also stars Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton – is “a passably amusing romantic comedy,” and that McAdams is “effortlessly likable,” calling her a “young actress on the verge of the big time.” The Boston Globe likened McAdams’ morning TV news show producer character to Mary Tyler Moore. You know, the one who’s gonna make it after all. I’m desperately in need of a feel good movie right about now, if anything, it’ll offset the darkness of the In Treatment episodes I’ve been watching.



Another trailer that has caught my attention is the one for the new Anne Hathaway/Jake Gyllenhaal slightly darker rom-com Love and Other Drugs which is slated to be released on Nov. 24 I hope this one isn’t a letdown or just labeled "passable."


Love And Other Drugs Trailer

One film that’s not at all lighthearted romantic fare but, nonetheless I’m anxious to see was shot around Massachusetts, The Company Men, about the affect of downsizing on an up-and-coming professional with a young family, on two older execs, one with a kid in college, and on the folks left behind. It stars Ben Affleck, Kevin Costner, Chris Cooper, Craig T. Nelson and Tommy Lee Jones and opens on Dec. 10.



Any films you’re looking forward to seeing in November and December?