First 2012 entry of quick and dirty movie reviews cleverly called “Shorts”. Each review is limited to one sentence not exceeding twenty words. For the complete list of movies reviewed to date please refer to the Shorts page. And away we go!
Dick (1999) – Overlooked and sublime comic gem about two teenage girls, Richard Nixon and Watergate. (3½) – 1/18/12
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) – Riveting, dark and somewhat overlong entry brings a new dimension to “girl power.” (3½) – 1/18/12
Portrait of Jennie (1948) – As ripe for a remake as any 60 year old, totally off-center movie can be. (3) – 1/18/12
Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) – Insightful, hard-eyed look at the vagrancies of love and lust finds Woody Allen in top form. (4) – 1/18/12
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) – It took Spielberg and Lucas 19 years to come up with this??? (1½) – 1/18/12
Leaves of Grass (2009) – This story of twin brothers turns from comedy to drama in a way that would make the Coen Brothers proud. (3½) – 1/18/12
Hookwinked! (2005) – Clever animated retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood story appeals to all ages. (3½) – 1/18/12
It Happened One Night (1934) – Classic road comedy with crackling wit and energy between Gable and Colbert. (4) – 1/18/12
The Tree of Life (2011) – Unlike any movie well, ever, this complex fable demands attention and work from its audience. (4) – 1/18/12
Knowing (2009) – Nicolas Cage’s warning to all actors to avoid financial difficulty so they can avoid making movies like this. (1) – 1/18/12
Trask Avenue 
Thanks for the list of movies, some I have seen, some I need to check out, and some I will avoid – except when I have already seen them, like Indian Jones. How come Cage has fallen into a big pit of mediocre movies?
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When you’re desperate for money I guess you’ll act in anything.
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Yep…I thought the Indianna Jones one was pretty bad…
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Made me cringe – and not in a good way.
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Love Portrait of Jennie – and coincidentally – Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. One is so subtle and the other so ‘in your face’ but they both worked for me. Your line about Knowing is priceless!
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I really believe Portrait of Jennie would work well as a remake. It’s such an unusual story.
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Stephen Colbert starred in a movie in 1934?!!! I’ll have to rent that one…
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He was known as Little Stevie Colbert at the time.
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Knowing was the best one! You make writing these look so easy.
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It’s easy not to say much!
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