Tully

I already plead that I, as many men of my age, can watch Charlize Theron doing almost anything on screen, even reading multiplications table. And Charlize disheveled paired with Mackenzie Davis unusually well kempt is even better. Movie is going strong, but not as strong as another unrecognized indie by Charlize Theron, Young Adult.

P.S. Can anything resolve the riddle of Tamara Jenkins present on this photo?

Mamma Mia (here we go again)

This sequel to Mamma Mia is more coherent in its storyline than the original, which was just a set of musical numbers interrupted by superficial talking but without participation of the formidable Meryl Streep. Sher shows everybody how to sing.

Fireworks, should we see it from the side or the bottom?

The 40-something percent approval rating of the Ghibli on rottentomatoes.com signifies only the mental paucity of the US critical universe. They shudder of anything remotely ambiguous, while applauding any movie speaking to their "values": patriotism (Dunkirk, the Darkest Hour), any gay-liberation or black-resistance themed movie, no matter how formulaic or artistically weak its cinematic story is. While a hodgepodge of Anime cliches, it is a wonderful, pristine movie about teenage love, angst and tribulations of mid-to-high school life.

Don't worry, he won't get far on foot. Gus Van Sant.

Technically near perfect, as a typical Gus Van Sant movie--timing, shots, casting, actors' performances--this movie only proves that 12-step AA program works for the self-absorbed characters, whose main concern is the quality of their sexual lives (or, gay Christians). Joaquin Phoenix is marvelous but his girlfriend, talented Rooney Mara, was given such a non-expressive role that one wonders were not her participation a request from Joaquin.