LoayOmran

Chocolat is a wonderful movie. As simple as that. Beautifully shot, smartly directed, and well acted, what more can you possibly ask? No wonder the Oscar nominees. This has all the fine materials for making a memorable movie. Chocolat? You will beg for more.

Set in 1960's at a small town in France, this is the story of Vianne (Juliette Binoche) and her 6 year old daughter, a couple that are destined to move from one city to another through the country. As she settles in yet another new town, she opens another chocolate shop - an act not appreciated by the Mayor and his followers. However her warm personality and incredible chocolates manage to win over many people. But things change dramatically as a group of river drifters lead by Roux (Johnny Depp) settle by the town. Vianne welcomes them, and becomes friends with Roux, leading to even more anger from the Mayor. He is totally against them, he fears they will change his people. The struggle continues but how will it end?

Elements of Religion, Human Naure, Life+Death, Sympathy, brutality, and fear -- among others -- will appear as you watch, but still this will remain as sweet as ... chocolat! Great performances from Juliette Binoche & Alfred Molina, the rest of the cast are also brilliant. Director Lasse Hallström offers a poetic film that is worth all the appreciation and critical acclimation its getting.

Recommended? It surely is. You will love it. See ... Love is like swallowing hot chocolate, Before it has cooled off. It takes you by surprise at first, But keeps you warm for a long time

8/10

I have read so many good reviews about this movie, that I decided to watch it and see what my opinion would be. Indeed this is both interesting and unique. Not your typical Hollywood movie ... Great I hear you say? then you will probably enjoy this greatly. Give it a try.

Michael Douglas (Grady Tripp), delivers another outstanding performance, as the professor/writer living in Pittsburgh. Who is struggling with writer's block, his third wife leaving him, and if thats not enough ... his married mistress is pregnant! In the meantime, his agent arrives to pressure him to finish a novel seven years in the writing. Disaster strikes. Over the weekend, instead of making choices, he runs around with his agent and a student doing nothing. He seems unable to cope with what he is facing. One of his students, James Leer (Tobey Maguire) causes him more trouble with his unstable character. James Leer is very good as Tobey. He takes full marks.

Wonder Boys is a movie packed with wisdom and morality. It should teach you something, if you look deep inside it. Well done Curtis Hanson ... even if the brilliant cast did help a lot. Lets see more of movies like this. More drama and less action please. At least it makes you think. Black comedies are cool. Both smart and funny, you can't miss with this one.

8/10

Disappointed is the first word that comes to mind. Samuel L. Jackson as Romulus Ledbetter is brilliant ... but thats about it really. The story never gets hold of you like it should, and you will realize at some point, that you don't care who was behind the murder. This is, in my opinion, the problem with The Caveman's Valentine. The director got lost about what he really wants. A murder mystery or a human tragedy? Some way in between ... he certainly got lost. Shame on that, because this should have been much better. It had the potential, but a missed opportunity is the end result.

6/10