Summary Judgements #3

 Born To Be Bad (1950) "It's just a sex attraction." A classy melodrama from Nicholas Ray. In a savoury twist Robert Ryan and Zachary Scott play the saps to Joan Fontaine's charming gold-digger, who gets away clean in a new sports sedan with a pile of furs on the back seat. Me, I have a crush on the luminous Joan Leslie as the good girl. Fluid cinematography from Nicholas Musuraca, sumptuous art direction by Albert S. D'Agostino, and Friedrich Hollaender's elegant score add value.

Lost in Translation (2003) Is Tokyo really that boring?

A Very Long Engagement (2004) A very long movie...

A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004) A southern tale of a life's ambitions lost at the bottom of a glass of stale vodka and orange juice. Travolta's best role. Even Scarlett Johansson charms. Great soundtrack. The title track by singer/songwriter Grayson Capps is superb.

The House of Flying Daggers (2004) Stunningly beautiful visuals with a haunting soundtrack, otherwise forgettable.

Juno (2007) A quirky engaging look at teen pregnancy.

Sicko (2007) Michael Moore's brilliant critique of the failing US health system.