Happy New Year!

Some new reviews:

TRUE GRIT (In Theaters.)
Great western directed by the Cohen brothers. Matt Damon is terrific, Jeff Bridges is outstanding as Rooster Cogburn, and the young girl who I've never seen before is more than adequate in the role. While slow at times, GRIT builds to a rousing ending, improves on the John Wayne film, and hues closely to the original book the material was based on. Good stuff and a perfect popcorn film.
Grade: A -

COMPANY MEN (In Theaters)
John Wells (E.R., The West Wing, etc.) tries his hand at theatrical writing and directing. Here the subject is high-level exectutives in trouble. The economy is hitting rock bottom and suddenly guys used to making 200,0000 a year find themselves having to beef up their resumes. Ben Affleck is very good here, if not terribly likable. Kevin Costner is great, though we could've done without the awful Boston accent (present only for the first few scenes before mysteriously dissapearing.) The wives are great, Tommy Lee Jones is solid...yet something here is missing. It's a bit cold and the ending is a bit forced, but overall, it's solid.
Grade: B -

TALES FROM THE SCRIPT (Instant Netflix)
Talking heads film chock full of screenwriters from old to new talking about their experiences in Hollywood with candor and honesty. Interesting, but gets old fast. And...we've heard it all before.
Grade: C -

INSIDE (2007 horror film - DVD)
I rented this from Netflix not knowing what to expect. Here's the deal - gory as hell, a horrific, terribly tragic and borderline offensive story, and the whole thing is an import from France. I loved it. It's violent in ways you wouldn't believe, but the first half hour is a real nail-biter, and the next hour is an exersise in gore, yet it all hangs together nicely, the performances are terrific, and this is definitely not for the squeamish.
Grade: B +