(M) Atonement. (Joe Wright, 2007) Grade: B+

Thoughts: Based on the book by Ian McEwan, Atonement is about a 13-year-old girl Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan) and her accounts of what she thinks took place between a servant boy Robbie Turner (James McAvoy) and her older sister Cecilia Tallis (Keira Knightley) and the consequences which followed. The film is done in three acts spanning over the life of Briony. The first act was good; the second act a bit over the top and cheesy but it took the third act with Vanessa Redgrave as the older Briony to really make the film something. Although I’m not sure about all the Golden Globe nominations but this has been a slow year.

(M) No Country for Old Men. (Ethan and Joel Coen, 2007) Grade: B+

Thoughts: Hunter Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) stumbles upon some dead bodies, tons of heroin and more than $2 mil in cash in the middle of Texas. Hot on his trail for the money is Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) and Sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones). Javier Bardem plays the scariest bounty hunter man there is and a cameo of Woody Harrelson was cool. I enjoyed the pacing of the film and the reflection about how there is no country for the older generation as time goes on. Definitely one of the better films this year.

(M) Hairspray. (Adam Shankman, 2007) Grade: B-

Thoughts: The original version by John Waters is funny but in an uncomfortable, kooky where is this going way. This version is the funny, let’s play it safe and be silly one. I really liked Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad. Although she is no Ricki Lake she was sweet and cute and sang really well. I was put off a bit by John Travolta as Edna Turnbald but overall he did a nice job. Sadly Zac Efron as Link Larkin fell flat for me and there was zero chemistry between him and Nikki.

Movie Count: 119