Movies!!

Sweeney Todd-
Tim Burton's insanely bloody adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's tragic musical is wonderful. Full of dark humor and creepy chills and thrills. London is presented as grimy and full of bad people. The songs are wonderful and Johnny Depp gives a good performance. Helena Bonham Carter provides satisfactory support as the delightful Mrs. Lovett even if her vocals are shaky. Tim Burton was the man to adapt this. See it! The boy who plays Toby has a wonderful voice.

Cassandra's Dream-
Woody Allen's latest is now on DVD. See this mostly for the acting. The whole cast is great, but Colin Farrell, Ewan MacGregor, and Sally Hawkins really stand out. Farrell gives the movie a frantic and frenetic energy. The performances really convey the tension and anxiety present in the two brothers minds. The film ends up being a disturbing and effective thriller. Another good Woody film.

The Visitor-
Tom McCarthy's moving film is a good story of a widowed professor , Walter, who returns to his rarely used New York apartment one night to find a Senegalese woman and Syrian man living in it. They live with him until the man, Tareck, is put into a detention center because he is an illegal immigrant. His mother shows up and a sweet relationship between the professor and her starts. Richard Jenkins is wonderful as the professor. His performance is subtle and realistic. Hiam Abbass' performance as Tareck's mother is moving and gentle. She is joy to watch. Haaz Sleiman gives Tareck a kind, likable soul, a friend anyone would like to have, a truly good man.
Danai Jekesai Gurira is tough at first but slowly opens up in a good performance. A great film that grabs you.