The Reader, our third Best Picture Nominee review. The wit, it does escape me.

Finally.

Finally, I have seen a movie that deserves to be nominated in the category for Best Motion Picture that is actually nominated in the category. It took some reflection and not too many viewings of the trailer to bring me to the point I needed in order to write this column today. My first thought on the film was that I could understand why it was nominated: dark subject matter, edgy relationships, period piece, first rate talent, post Nazi Germany. It fits naturally into the mold that The Academy has set as it's standards in the most recent decades. A natural fit does not necessarily achieve a little golden man, and for the moment I wasn't sold on the idea.

Here then is your brief synopsis brought to you by IMDB.com: THE READER opens in post-WWII Germany when teenager Michael Berg becomes ill and is helped home by Hanna, a stranger twice his age. Michael recovers from scarlet fever and seeks out Hanna to thank her. The two are quickly drawn into a passionate but secretive affair. Michael discovers that Hanna loves being read to and their physical relationship deepens. Despite their intense bond, Hanna mysteriously disappears one day and Michael is left confused and heartbroken.

For those of you who have not read the book, I fear that the above entry already says too much and I can't bring myself to add anymore spoilers. If you need more, they are certainly out there to find. The trailer at the right would be a good place to start.

The movie itself is a flashback of sorts and we do jump around between the years 1958 and 1995 throughout. Each time period is brilliantly displayed. From the rebuilding of Germany in the 1950s to 1995 separated West Berlin and even 1985 New York City. Directing and cinematography are top notch. Director Stephen Daldry had a vision of the world within this screenplay and his crew found a way to breathe life into each setting. Truly, the individual room associated with each phase of life dictates the scene and is a character all it's own. The '50s German country side versus the "free" West Berlin of the '80s and '90s. The desolate, grey interior of a concentration camp in comparison to an antiseptic one bedroom flat. The starkness of a college dorm alongside a decorated jail cell. Brilliant.

Kate Winslett is going to win the Oscar for Best Actress. There I've said it. It's really not a stretch considering she's won the Golden Globe and the SAG. I guess I'm not putting anything out there that you don't already suspect. Her portrayal of a "Strong German Woman", resolute in her duties, staunch, dedicated, unwavering (nearly), is in a word: intense. The transformation she goes through as she ages is an amazing acting job, and not just physically. We see this woman begin to let things in, just a bit. But is it too late? This is the role Winslett needed to push her over the top. Sorry Missus Hathaway and Streep.

The young Michael Berg is played by David Kross. This young man finds a way to show every emotion across the board and play it well. From a 15 year old discovering a secret obsession, anger at perceived selfishness, heartbreak of loss, confusion from abandonment, and the catalyst that spurs the plot brings the impossible choice of loyalty versus duty. You can see how the character changes from start to finish, as he pulls away and withdraws into himself. Trying to protect himself from further injury only to unwittingly do more harm than good. If a way could have been found for Kross to play the character all the way through, there would be no doubt in my mind that he would be nominated for Best Actor.

That job of playing the elder Michael Berg falls to Ralph Fiennes, who for a major portion of the film is given little to do other then project pain and reflection. The final quarter of the film we catch up a bit with Berg and we truly see the impact that this relationship from nearly 30 years earlier has taken on Michael's relation to the people around him. Had not the tragic turn been taken, what sort of a man would he have become. We will never know because Ralph Fiennes is only given a painful version of love to show us. If you have seen The Constant Gardener, then you know that Ralph Fiennes is superbly suited for this role. His face to face scene near the end of "The Reader" is the payoff I needed as we see a subtle change take place, we can only hope it is not too late for Michael.

The Reader was, for me, the story of redemption. Redemption of ones soul, not the one who could never have it back, the one who needed it desperately. I'm giving "The Reader "4 little tea tins out of 5 little tea tins for a well told story that navigates multiple emotional pitfalls. Had this film been based on a true story I believe I would have picked up the book to get all the details. Having been a work of fiction, I get the feeling that I've seen all I really need to enjoy the story. With that, this movie becomes my favorite for an Oscar, but we've still got two more nominees to go.

I'm just saying,

Elijah

The Wrestler or The Return of Jake. Take your pick.

Okay, Okay. It’s been a long time, but since Elijah is back on the black reel again, I might as well contribute a couple of cents.

Is it "MILK" money paying off the academy or with this RING, I thee wed? The Academy has to hitch their wagon to one of these goliaths for Best Actor. It's either Sean Penn’s brilliant portrayal of the inspiring city commissioner Harvey Milk in "MILK" or Micky Rourke’s fierce performance as Randy “The Ram” Robinson, an against-the-ropes wrester in his twilight years, in "The Wrestler."

The other nominees, while all good in their own right (I’ve seen The Visitor, which is a charming movie driven by Richard Jenkins’ performance) are all fillers in this category.

Since the other Mr. Robinson has so neatly detailed the outriggers of "MILK", I will jump into the ring with Micky. Talk about the comeback story of the new millennium. Rourke’s recent triumphs in "Sin City" and now "The Wrestler" were nearly precluded by his well-publicized bout with drug addition. His acceptance speech (http://video.aol.com/video/mickey-rourke-acceptance-speech-golden-globe-awards/2385676) at the Golden Globes (Best Actor) was as touching as it was a truthful detail of his personal aguish and humility, of which he brought both to the screen in this picture.

Twenty years removed from his peak in the 1980’s, The Ram, is now the featured talent on Saturday night cards at your local high school gymnasium and signing autographs at the Elks for $20 a throw. He has been estranged from his only family, his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) and lives as a trailer-park king who can barely afford to keep open the doors of his single-wide palace. A forced retirement from the only he thing he loves causes Randy to reflect on his life, attempt to reconnect with his daughter and develop a fictitious relationship with an exotic dancer named Pam (Marisa Tomei). While he tries to resurrect himself, the allure of the ring is an ever-threatening presence, promising only to destroy any foundation of his fresh new reality.

First and foremost, this film is not a WWE spoof movie. The storyline could have easily been directed into an over-dramatized, self-indulgent piece of mainstream Hollywood garbage but the beauty of this movie is its simplicity. Mr. Darren Aronofsky found a way to capture a very surreal, larger-than-life character driven screenplay with a lens focused on the truths that built the block of a man that is Randy Robinson, not just his weathered skin. One has to keep in mind that "The Wrestler" is an independent film, as zero studios would back a picture with Micky as the lead. I am actually thankful because it gave Aronofksy the liberty and the balls to take the risks that he did, especially the dramatic climax and ending. Too many movies are drawn out into Hollywood endings, where I left the theater wanting more.

Rourke takes some bold steps in the Ram’s shoes, where his physical strength is wonderfully juxtaposed against his sincere vulnerability. Throughout the film his transformation is vividly real. His grip on desperation and collection of bad habits cannot prevent a viewer from folding their own arms and heart around The Ram’s barrel chest in empathy. Evan Rachel Wood, though not a huge role as Stephanie Robinson, was on par with Rourke and the moment that they shared together walking along the Jersey boardwalk was cinema gold. As I mentioned in a previous post, Marisa Tomei was and still is a fox, and she showed herself off again! Tight! Her performance on the other hand was not quite as tight but still very nice. Her character wasn’t as challenging as Rourke or Wood’s but I felt there were areas she could have explored further in the development of Pam.

This movie is a slice of life; the reality of an interesting character given an interesting set of circumstances. It’s a body-slam dosage of a man coming to terms with what he has been given.

However, I don’t think that the academy is going to recognize the movie and Micky Rourke’s brilliance with a gold statue. That honor will go to Sean Penn in "MILK". As of late, The Academy has chosen to dote on pictures, portrayals and the like that deal with social issues; case in point being Crash a couple of years ago when it was, in my mind, not close to being the best picture. With the arrival and passage of Proposition 8 in California, the issues that homosexuals face are front and center. If Penn wins the award, I won’t criticize their choice because his depiction of Milk as far as his choices, depth and delivery go, were good enough to stand alone regardless of how close he was to the real Harvey Milk. However, as far as just knocking my socks off, he fell short of what Rourke gave me.

I am going to give this movie 4.5 nelsons out of 5, knocking a full nelson off for Tomei’s performance and then adding back a half nelson for her showing off her body. "The Wrestler" is now in wide release and as far as dramas go, it is right up there with June Bug, The Squid and The Whale and a few others that I can’t readily remember off the top of my head.

Your King of the Ring,

Jake

Milk...certainly a lot of moustaches in this one.

Back from the weekend with our review of another best picture nominee: MILK. The film is a biopic and for that reason we're not going to hold back on the summary for this movie, which, per usual is brought to us by IMDB.com: The 1970's story of California's first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk, a San Francisco supervisor who was assassinated along with Mayor George Moscone by fellow San Francisco Supervisor Dan White.

MILK was not on my list of must see movies this year, until it made the short list for an Oscar. That has to do with my overall bias against Sean Penn. I believe the man is a great actor; I find his personal politics to be a bit over the edge for my tastes, but this is America where anyone can think and do anything within the letter of the law. I'm glad it ended up on my radar, because it fed my two interests in film (no Ted, not naked wrestling): historical significance and great acting.

The film itself is nominated for 8 Oscars. One of which, I'm happy to say, is Best Director nominee Gus Van Sant, a Portland resident. This marks his second nomination in the category, the first for 1997's "Good Will Hunting." He does a good job of getting the story across, setting the mood of the film and the emotions that boil to the inevitable.

I don't usually comment on technical aspects of the movies I write about, but I will say that if any nominations should have been deserved for this film it would have been cinematography. The camera work: angles, grain, sweeping shots...it was the number one thing that jumped out at me while I watched this film. Alas, that was the one category with no mention. I'm just a lowly desk jockey, but I for one think that Mr. Harry Savides should be congratulated on a fantastic job. Take a look at his credits at the above link.

Sean Penn turns in another great performance if not a bit exaggerated. I have never seen footage of the real Harvey Milk and can't say if this is spot on or over the top, so I give the benefit of the doubt. You really go through a lot of emotions watching this character: pity, anger, incredulity, shock, sadness. Pick your order.

The supporting cast is a who's who of young and well known independent actors all led by Josh Brolin who throws in a (overall) small but vastly important character in Dan White. Each of the various actors: Emile Hirsch, James Franco, Diego Luna, Joseph Cross and Alison Pill provide wonderful color to the time and place of the film and are great pieces to complete the group that catapults the events of the age. Particularly Diego Luna, who's tragic character you really just want to slap the shit out of. Is this a family blog?

The film is framed fantastically by a narration from the character of Harvey Milk leaving an audio cassette which chronicles his life in the event of his assassination. An interesting point here is that the tape itself was, in fact, a real artifact discovered after Milk's death. This, I discovered after following up after my screening.

In the end, I did like the movie. It provides a snapshot of life for a group of individuals in a time that I would not have known without this film. Perhaps through design, perhaps by coincidence, it is highlighting the fight for family rights that the Gay and Lesbian community is now embroiled in by showing us that just 30 years earlier the fight for civil rights was alive and well and fought more vigorously.

We are giving MILK 3.5 1970's cassette recorders out of 5 1970's cassette recorders and would like to highlight that this is our second review of Oscar nominated films that in any other year might not have been nominated. Good though it may be, it is not great in our opinion. Unfortunately, any inspiration that this film may have hoped to give a new generation is immediately stricken when we reach the climax of the story and the sorrow that follows.

I'm just saying,

Elijah

The nominations are out...is your favorite represented?

Having just watched the live nominations, I must confess a sort of overall ambivalence to the names as a whole. Partly because I've only actually seen one of the Best Picture nominees, partly because I never really felt any drive to see the rest of the films, save for 'Slumdog Millionaire'. Obviously, a lot of that comes from personal preferences/feelings towards one subject matter or a certain actor. Of course, I have some sentimental favorites and Heath Ledger's nomination is very welcomed. As is Kate Winslet's. Frankly, I'm only slightly surprised at the nomination of 'The Curious Case of Forrest Gump'. It a very big, storytelling movie that The Academy loves, but as I stated in my review, while told a bit differently it is really a retelling of the same story.

Now that we have the official list, we'll get up-to-date and have those reviews for you in the coming weeks. Following the reviews and despite being inundated with media comments and reactions, we'll have our predictions for you to pick apart. Now here is your list of nominees in the top 7 categories:

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:

Bolt

Kung Fu Panda

Wall-E

BEST DIRECTOR

David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon

Gus Van Sant - Milk

Stephen Daldry - The Reader

Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Josh Brolin - Milk

Robert Downey Jr. - Tropic Thunder

Phillip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt

Heath Ledger - Dark Knight

Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Amy Adams - Doubt

Penelope Cruz - Vicky Christina Barcelona

Viola Davis - Doubt

Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

BEST ACTOR

Richard Jenkins - The Visitor

Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon

Sean Penn - Milk

Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

BEST ACTRESS

Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married

Angelina Jolie - Changeling

Melissa Leo - Frozen River

Meryl Streep - Doubt

Kate Winslet - The Reader

BEST MOTION PICTURE

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Frost/Nixon

Milk

The Reader

Slumdog Millionaire

There you go. Let the complaining and moaning begin. Likely you're going to hear from the media how the Academy continues to ignore the masses and mainstream films. A number of publications have been harping lately on the fact that "The Dark Knight" and "Iron Man", will largely go unrewarded in the more coveted categories despite being the two biggest movies of the year. As it turns out, "Iron Man" received 2 noms and "The Dark Knight" was amongst the top with 8 total. Save for Supporting Actor, the press was largely correct. In light of that fact, get ready for 31 days of bitching.

I'm just saying,

Elijah

For a change, let's take a look at a few dvds.

I was able to watch a few rentals during the past week and I thought it would be fun to write a couple of paragraphs on each. On the plus side you, the reader, may have seen one or more of these and probably have formed opinions on the film or films. If after reading you agree or disagree, we love to know what other people think, so please feel free to comment by clicking the button at the bottom of the article. With that, let us begin!

We begin our list with a French foreign film: Priceless. The movie stars one of my favorite actresses Audrey Tautou of 'Amelie' and 'Da Vinci Code' fame, so now you know why I was drawn to it. Gad Elmaleh played in the male lead, and while he's a fresh face to me, there is no doubt he is quite popular in France. His resume is quite extensive.

The quick plot on this is as follows: Through a set of circumstances, a young gold digger mistakenly woos a mild-mannered bartender thinking he's a wealthy suitor. He doesn't dissuade her until the ruse is uncovered and she decides to teach him a lesson following his repeated advances.

Overall, this romantic comedy comes in right in the middle of the pack. Admittedly, I was a bit turned off with Tautou as a really despicable character. Sure, she thinks she's doing this guy a favor by teaching him a lesson, but overall, she's not the adorable pixie or unwitting victim that I've come to love and I just couldn't see the other side. Perhaps if there had been more comedy than unfortunate circumstances, it might have warmed me. Alas, no.

I'm giving 'Priceless' 2.25 Royal Suites out of 5 Royal Suites. While you feel for the "hero" of the film, I couldn't help but feel sad for just about everybody involved in the plot. If it's a very rainy Sunday, you don't mind subtitles, and you just can't watch 'You've Got Mail' on cable one more time, then give this a spin. Otherwise, go watch 'Love, Actually' and call it a day. On a personal note: sorry Jen Ren.

Next on the list is 'Eagle Eye'. This was a September entry to the theaters in 2008. That generally signals bad news for any movie, but when the film is billed as a thriller you can almost see the plot holes before you get in the car to drive to the theater.

That said, This movie which stars Shia Labeouf and Michelle Monaghan was actually able to hold my attention. Here's a brief plot summary from IMDB.com: Jerry and Rachel are two strangers thrown together by a mysterious phone call from a woman they have never met. Threatening their lives and family, she pushes Jerry and Rachel into a series of increasingly dangerous situations, using the technology of everyday life to track and control their every move.

This was standard popcorn fare and every situation is impossible to believe. That is what you should expect from a film like this and if you just let it go and enjoy the pace and increasingly difficult situations that they get in and out of then you won't be disappointed. Don't look for brilliance in this movie, it's not going to win awards. We're giving 'Eagle Eye' 3 scrap yard cranes out of 5 scrap yard cranes. Enjoy this film when the wife isn't around, I can't imagine her going for it. Unless she's a closet Shia fan.

Third, we have 'Ghost Town'. I was really looking forward to enjoying this movie. With Ricky Gervais, Greg Kinnear, and Tea Leoni plus Kristin Wiig in a small supporting role... I really wanted to laugh along with this movie.

The IMDB.com plot: Bertram Pincus, is a man whose people skills leave much to be desired. When Pincus dies unexpectedly, but is miraculously revived after seven minutes, he wakes up to discover that he now has the annoying ability to see ghosts.

So, did I laugh? Yeah, for about the first half of the movie. I mean come on! Ricky Gervais is one of the funniest human beings on the planet right now; in short doses. The problem is that he's a one trick pony, everything he does is the same stammering and short sentences. He doesn't have anything else.

As it turned out, this actually ended up being a romantic comedy too. So look at Gervais and tell me if you can see that guy leading a romantic comedy with Tea Leoni. Maybe it's just my hang up, but I was stumped. I'm giving 'Ghost Town' 2.75 Egyptian mummies out of 5 Egyptian mummies. The actor I most wanted to watch ended up grinding me into a hole and the plot wasn't good enough to pull me out in the second half. I did love the first half and coincidentally, Kristin Wiig kept me laughing in all her scenes. She is just terrific. I can't really decide if you should see it or not. I'm leaving you to make your own decision on this one.

Finally, I give you 'The House Bunny'. It's exactly what you think it is. Stupid comedy with a lot of naked skin, but no nudity. There is a reason why I waited to see this list of movies as rentals, but let me assure you that I did actually enjoy this movie. I'm a guy, so that probably comes to no surprise to anyone out there, but I honestly did find myself chuckling throughout the film. Certainly not guffawing, but definitely chuckling.

Our plot from IMDB.com (as if you need one): When Shelly, a Playboy bunny, is tossed out of the mansion, she has nowhere to go until she falls in with the sorority girls from Zeta Alpha Zeta. The members of the sorority - who also have got to be the seven most socially clueless women on the planet - are about to lose their house. They need a dose of what only the eternally bubbly Shelley can provide.

Anna Faris has become the #1 slapstick movie comedienne in the business the last 5 years or so all starting with the 'Scary Movie' franchise. What did surprise me in this film is that the idea for the story was Faris', with her serving as a producer on the film as well. Teaming up with Adam Sandler's production company helps as well. They add their experience and we get to see a bunch of cameo's from that crew. I haven't even mentioned the cameo's by Hugh Hefner and the cast of 'The Girls Next Door', who must be included to add any credence to the story, right?

The person who put it over the top for me was Emma Stone. She's a relative new-comer to Hollywood with parts in the canceled tv show 'Drive', and a supporting role in last year's comedy 'Superbad', but I really like what she does here. As the leader of the sorority of misfits, she plays a great naive girl next door. I'm giving 'The House Bunny' 3.50 sequined back braces out of 5 sequined back braces. The cast really enhances the story and we get to see every female name that has graced a Hollywood gossip page in the last year. Except Paris Hilton. Thank God.

I'm just saying,

Elijah.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button or was that a Forrest Gump Look-A-Like?

Well now, we've gotten the first article out in quite some time. Alas, it was full of vinegar for the media and pleading for people to go see the movie. It never really...examined the movie. I guess it just takes a minute to settle in again. Let's see if we can't get back on track with our next entry: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

As always, we thank IMDB.com for the brief synopsis with as little a spoiler as possible: 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,' adapted from the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards: a man, like any of us, who is unable to stop time. We follow his story, set in New Orleans from the end of World War I in 1918 to the 21st century.

Truth be told, I am finding it hard to write about this movie. Certainly there are a million little things that happen during the near 3 hour run time of this film. That's not the problem. The problem is, which thread to hold on to and grasp firmly. It would seem obvious to write about the road that our main character takes through life and all the events that transpire around him. But then I would be holding back. Because, while this is Benjamin's story seemingly, it is also the life story of countless other people. This is the life story of everyone around him and without their stories we wouldn't get Benjamin Button's.

When you write a character like Benjamin, one born with such an obvious difference, people will tend to gravitate there attention solely to that oddity. That would be a mistake, as I sat through this movie I realized that Benjamin's birth was merely a window for us to look through. He is our guide on the journey that the movie takes and while he is certainly front and center, I believe that we are meant to take in everything around him. From the moment his father abandons him, to the kindly women that accepts a strange baby on the step, to the loves of his life, to the places he travels, to the men he travels with, and finally the place he finds in this world for himself. All of it. We are meant to examine all of it through his experiences, all the while not forgetting what brought us to this tale: the sad story of a man born the wrong way.

I alluded to the movie Forrest Gump in the title, but there is one difference that I now see. Gump's life was also one of travel and history before our eyes, but there is one glaring difference. Forrest had an active influence on every event he witnessed. He affected in some manner history while it happened, thus making his an improbable but highly exciting life. In our movie, rarely does Benjamin act in any manner that would influence events. He is merely one of the currents in the river. On the occasions where he consciously takes action, it never works the way he hopes and certainly causes some sort of pain to someone else, if not himself. The epic in both films is there, the road is much, much different.

The bright shining spot in this movie is all the supporting cast. Every one of the characters shines in some fantastic way. You'll laugh all the way through at Benjamin's surrogate mother, enjoy all the various elderly people that Benjamin grows up with, agonize as the love of his life slips through his life again and again, and feel just a little bit sad as we are simultaneously read the story of his life through a journal and experience the life of Daisy, the one he just couldn't or wouldn't hold on to. I almost didn't the mention the highly eccentric tugboat crew that Benjamin meets, but I don't want to spoil you now, do I?

Brad Pitt puts forth an excellent performance in this role, and while I could see many other actors pulling this character off well, he was suited for it. I see a lot of naivety in this character, much like his character of Death in the film Meet Joe Black. His transformation is amazing throughout the film and while he doesn't physically play every moment of his character life, his face and voice are there throughout. Kudos to the special effects team on a wonderful job. No doubt there is at least an Oscar nomination for costume and makeup in the near future.

Cate Blanchett plays the second main character of Daisy as we see her life unfold in front of us in tandem with Benjamin's. I love watching Cate Blachett on screen. I can't pinpoint any one thing, I just know that she entertains and I must chalk it up to her being an excellent actress. She certainly doesn't disappoint in this film either. Her trials are just as eye opening to the main plot as Daisy narrates us through a second plot of the film; her entirely separate life away from the man she could apparently love, would she only give herself the chance.

I have to mention two other performances before I close out. First, the job done by Taraji P. Henson is top notch. Her portrayal of Benjamin's surrogate mother Queenie is heartwarming and hilarious throughout the film and she does a fantastic job bringing that character to the screen for the audience to love. Second, Jared Harris brings the character of Captain Mike the tugboat man to life in this film and he's just another odd, eccentric man for the audience to laugh with and at. Both characters add spice to the film and it would be noted if they were played any differently.

Of final note, Julia Ormond makes an appearance in this film. She is the catalyst for the story in one sense, as Daisy is recalling her life to Julia's character Caroline, while at the same time discovering the story of a man named Benjamin Button. Ms. Ormond has been very active in European cinema the past few years, and it was a pleasant surprise to see her pop up here in an American film after so long. I assume her association with Brad Pitt in Legends of the Fall must have had something to do with it, and I wish we could see much more of her in the future. She knows her craft well.

Lastly, we are giving The Curious Case of Benjamin Button 3.5 backward moving clocks out of 5. This is a perfect movie for a rainy afternoon on a Saturday or Sunday. I didn't mind paying matinee prices and I would also recommend it for a slow afternoon on the couch as a dvd rental. In fact, you can thank a rainy Saturday in Portland for this review, otherwise I might have skipped right over this movie. I'm glad I didn't.

I'm just saying,

Elijah.

Welcome Back...

Your favorite movie review blogger returns! After being bombarded by summer blockbusters and sub par fall fare, we've finally seen a couple of movies that demanded a return to the keyboard. God knows you don't need our input when it comes to summer movies; you're going to see what you are going to see and nothing I can do will stop it. But, if there is a film come Oscar season that you might not see if I don't persuade, prod, or poke you...then damn it, you need me. So we are back.

Enjoy our first review below: Valkyrie. Then, if you are new to the site and haven't read any of our stuff, then keep going! If you're a return reader, feel free to go back and compare your feelings with ours. I'd love to have comments on anything.

We expect to have our next review up tomorrow, so look back for "The Mysterious Case of Benjamin Button" as soon as you can!

This is Jake and Elijah and we're just saying!