Julie & Julia

Absolutely divine! I LOVE Julie & Julia! This movie is based on 2 MOSTLY true stories and combined to serve up 1 amazing movie. Did I mention I LOVE this movie?!? Granted, there are several variables that enhanced my infatuation.

Variable #1-Julie, played by Amy Adams, decides to share her passion for cooking through a blog. I know someone that recently started a blog…oh, right, that someone would be ME!!

Variable #2-Julia Child, played to perfection by Meryl Streep, writes a book about cooking. I know someone that recently started writing a book...oh, right, that someone would be ME!!

Variable #3- Both Julie and Julia’s husbands were their biggest fans. I got choked up during a scene when Julia’s book had been declined, yet again and Paul, her husband, is so loving, supportive and believes in her 100%. Was his name Paul or Jerry? Hummmm...I know someone married to a supportive husband named Jerry.....Oh, right that someone would be ME! (Jerry is my husband of 20 years and MY biggest fan!)

The above variables are in favor of the movie Julie & Julia. Working against it is the fact I have NO passion for cooking. I’m so thankful for Marie and A.J. They make my life much easier. In case you haven’t met them yet, Marie's full name is Marie Calendar, a local restaurant that supplies my annual Thanksgiving & Christmas dinners. A.J.'s is our local grocery store that has delicious pre-cooked meals and is responsible for most of our family dinners. Even though it may appear this is a movie about cooking, it's really a movie about finding your passion and sharing it with others.

The rating of PG-13 is appropriate for brief strong language and some sensuality.

So, drum roll please...it’s official, we have our 1st RACE To This Movie recommendation and I predict Meryl Streep will be hearing from Oscar for this role. With that said, stop now, check your local listing movie times for Julie & Julia and RACE To This Movie! BON A PETITE!

R.A.N.’s Rating For Julie & Julia = ***** RACE To This Movie

R.A.N.’s Rating System:
*****RACE To This Movie = Amazing/Oscar Worthy
****RUN To This Movie = Great
***JOG To This Movie = Good
**WALK To This Movie = So-So
*SKIP Past This Movie = Bad

Funny People

What’s the best thing about the movie Funny People? The fact that after about 10 minutes I walked out and asked a manager if I could switch movies and watch Julie and Julia (see review)!

Apparently, the writers of Funny People think another “F” word is what creates comedy and decided to use it a bazillion times in the beginning of the movie. I chose to SKIP Past the rest of the movie. When I got home and discovered it's rated R due to "language and crude sexual humor throughout.." I realized the dialogue must have remained the same and that's just not funny!

R.A.N.’s Rating For Funny People = *SKIP Past This Movie

R.A.N.’s Rating System:
*****RACE To This Movie = Amazing/Oscar Worthy
****RUN To This Movie = Great
***JOG To This Movie = Good
**WALK To This Movie = So-So
*SKIP Past This Movie = Bad

Inglorious Basterds

Gory is the first word that comes to mind when I think about Inglorious Basterds. The next word that comes to mind is…oh, I guess the next two words that come to mind are Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction). In typical QT style a graphic, captivating and humorous movie is created that kept me intrigued the entire 2 hours and 23 minutes.

The movie begins with the disclaimer of “Once Upon A Time…..” making it clear this isn’t a movie based on Hitler/Nazi historical facts. In Tarantino fashion he adds a reference to Cinderella assuring us this is a fable. Then as if to say, "Remember this is make-believe" he slips one final reference to the classic fiction of Romeo and Juliet.

Brad Pitt is the star in this movie, but he shines brighter thanks to Christopher Waltz, who plays his nemesis, Nazi Colonel Hans Landa. Waltz creates a character you will love to hate and received the Best Actor Award at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival for this role. Many say he is certain to get a call from Oscar.

This film is definitely appropriately rated R for strong graphic violence, language and brief sexuality. If you can get past the gory violence this movie is extremely entertaining and actually quite amusing. Unfortunately, the gore factor slows me down from a run to a quick jog to see Inglorious Basterds.

R.A.N.’s Rating For Inglorious Basterds = *** ½ Jog Quickly To This Movie

R.A.N.’s Rating System:
*****RACE To This Movie = Amazing/Oscar Worthy
****RUN To This Movie = Great
***JOG To This Movie = Good
**WALK To This Movie = So-So
*SKIP Past This Movie = Bad

R.A.N. To Blockbuster: The Soloist (New DVD Release)

When it comes to movies based on a true story, happy endings are best and hopeful endings can work. The true story told in The Soloist is more hopeful than happy. Unfortunately, due to the slow pace of the story, The Soloist, didn’t really work.

Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.), a L.A. Times columnist meets, by happenstance, a homeless man, Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Fox), and befriends him. I should say, befriends him to the best of his abilities. Ayers, who once attended Julliard, is plagued with mental illness and Lopez has a past of letting people down, especially, his ex-wife, (Catherine Keener). This combination makes for a challenging friendship and hence, creates a movie that is more hopeful than happy.

The character’s personal issues aren’t the only problems this movie has. The movie dragged, possibly, due to the fact the author of the story is Lopez himself, with it being his life experience it seems he tried to include too many of the details. The acting is good, but not great. Lastly, the movie is appropriately rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some drug use and language.

Due to the slow pace of the movie I wouldn’t recommend it for family night. Instead, take a look at one of my favorite, happy ending true stories: The Rookie with Dennis Quaid, The Pursuit of Happiness with Will Smith or Invincible with Mark Wahlberg.

R.A.N.’s Rating For The Soloist = ** ½ Walk Quickly To This Movie.

R.A.N.’s Rating System:
*****RACE To This Movie = Amazing/Oscar Worthy
****RUN To This Movie = Great
***JOG To This Movie = Good
**WALK To This Movie = So-So
*SKIP Past This Movie = Bad

Aliens in the Attic AND G-Force

It’s the end of summer and families are looking for ways to spend their final days before school starts. Both, Aliens in the Attic and G-force are appropriately rated PG and pretty safe for the entire family, however, Aliens is a little scarier.

The first criteria for parents to enjoy either of these movies is to lower your expectations….did you just think, “They are already low.”? Good, go ahead and take them down another notch and you'll be pleased with your decision to get out of the heat, out of the house and in a cool place snacking on popcorn with the kiddos! (If you live someplace cool, you might just want to go to the park...with record breaking heat in Arizona that really isn't an option right now.)

My son, Ethan (12), and I agree G-force was slightly better than Aliens but, depending on the age and sex of your kids your family may vote differently. Ashley Tisdale, in Aliens, will get many tween girls’ vote, while younger kids may like the animation of the genuine pigs in G-Force.

Depending on how hot it is in your area you may want to WALK quickly from the car to the theatre, but don’t over exert yourself with a JOG, neither movie is worth breaking a sweat!

R.A.N.’s Rating For Aliens in the Attic and G-Force = **½ WALK Quickly To These Movies

R.A.N.’s Rating System:
*****RACE To This Movie = Amazing/Oscar Worthy
****RUN To This Movie = Great
***JOG To This Movie = Good
**WALK To This Movie = So-So
*SKIP Past This Movie = Bad