What do you mean it's not all Asian action films?

Let's get some of the new stuff out of the way first.

Drillbit Taylor- This stars Owen Wilson as a homeless deserter from the army who is paid by three dorky kids to be there bodyguard at school. The plot moves along exactly as we have all seen a thousand times. People meet. One of them lies about something. Deception is discovered. Friendship/Romance damaged. The liar has fallen for/changed their original position. Redemption. That is not to say the movie doesn't provide some laughs along the way. A right down the middle movie, not great not terrible just there.

Vantage Point- The assassination of a President...or is it? The movies clever little conceit to show us all the action and pieces of the plot simultaneously gets tired the second time we see it. The characters have no motivation for their actions. Matthew Fox I'm looking at you. It's like 24, but not as good. Some of the action is well shot, but the story is poorly told. Characters appear out of nowhere and then are gone (Sigourney Weaver I hope your cheque cleared. Is there no-one else who could have played the role of the news director for the whole 4 minutes she is on screen?) The film is a mess. Better assassination movies to watch instead JFK, The Manchurian Candidate (the original-not the remake), the classic Day of the Jackal even Shooter is a better watch than this.

So those are 2 of the new releases this week. Now I want to tell you about a film of only slightly older vintage.

Broken English- I watched this movie last night and was moved by Parker Posey's performance. Posey plays a disconnected self-sabotaging woman alone in New York. While at times the film feels like it is approaching maudlin something about Posey keeps the film anchored and watchable. Slowly we see Posey's various efforts to begin to develop meaningful relationships with people and in doing so get to know herself. The last half of the film takes place in Paris and reminded me at times of Agnes Varda's masterpiece Cleo from 5 to 7. Broken English is subtle, touching, and real. If your looking for something with a little more substance and intelligence than most romantic comedies (most, not all and don't mind a little darker comedy with your romance) watch Broken English. 

In closing "He's fat, he's a dork, and I'm awesome"

Sean