Movies of a Petite Aspie

Laurence Fishburne and Jennifer Ehle Director: Steven Soderbergh Stars: Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard Genre(s): Science Fiction, Thriller Release Date: September 9, 2011 Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%   Contagion , director Steven Soderbergh's film about an airborne virus that spreads like a rapid pace, is partly an excuse for him to include as many Oscar nominees and winners as possible, and the trailers' depiction of it as a frighteningly scary film is more than slightly off.  It is no spoiler that Beth (Gwyneth Paltrow), a woman who returns from Hong Kong with a terrible, undefined sickness, becomes the first casualty of this mysterious virus.  Her husband (Matt Damon) takes every precaution to keep himself and his teenage daughter (Anna Jacoby-Heron) safe from the virus.  We also see Laurence Fishburne as a CDC deputy director intent on keeping the realities of the virus' spread quiet, Kate Winslet as a CDC ...

Jennifer Morrison and Joel Edgerton Director: Gavin O'Connor Stars: Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Morrison, Frank Grillo Genre(s): Action, Drama, Sports Release Date: September 9, 2011 Rotten Tomatoes Score:  82% Warrior, Director Gavin O'Connor's exciting yet flawed film about two brothers who become involved in a high-stakes mixed martial arts event, benefits from the tremendously impressive performances of relative newcomers Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton.   Tommy (Hardy) is a soldier with a mysterious past who enlists the help of his formerly alcoholic father (Nick Nolte) to train him to be a mixed martial arts fighter in a high-stakes tournament.  Tommy's older brother, Brendan, is training for the tournament, for the sole reason that he his high school teacher salary is not sufficient to provide for his family.   The morales of the film, in particular the importance of family, seemed to be forced on the audience a bit too muc...

There are a number of films being released this fall that seem to be prime Oscar bait -- they feature Academy Award nominees (and winners) in the acting, directing, and screenwriting categories.   I am most excited for the following: September 9th Contagion -- Oscar winners Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, Gwyneth Paltrow September 16th Drive -- Oscar nominees Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan September 23rd Money ball -- Oscar nominee Brad Pitt, Oscar winners Aaron Sorkin and Philip Seymour Hoffman September 30th 50/50 -- Oscar nominee Anna Kendrick, Golden Globe nominee Joseph Gordon-Levitt Dream House -- Oscar winner Rachel Weisz, Oscar nominee Naomi Watts October 7th The Ides of March -- Oscar winners George Clooney and Philip Seymour Hoffman, Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling October 28th The Rum Diary -- Oscar nominees Johnny Depp and Richard Jenkins Anonymous -- Oscar winner Vanessa Redgrave November 4th My Week with Marilyn -- Oscar nominees Michelle...

I cry during particular scenes in movies -- so what?  I shed a tear in the following movie scenes: (FYI: spoilers abound) -127 Hours -- James Franco has just cut off his own arm and finally gets help after being trapped by a boulder without food or water for several days -Armageddon -- Bruce Willis sacrifices himself to save the planet and says goodbye to his daughter, Liv Tyler -Finding Nemo -- Nemo and his father are reunited after forgetful Dory finds him -Ghost -- Demi Moore & Patrick Swayze say goodbye to each other as he prepares to go to heaven -Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets -- Harry leads the Great Hall in a loud applause when Hagrid returns from Azkaban -Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I -- Dobby the elf dies after saving Harry and his friends' lives -Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II -- Harry, Hermione, and Ron (and Ginny) are seen many years in the future with their own children, who are getting sent off to Hogwarts at Platfor...