Entry Nine

Miss Pettigrew Lives: Marvellous period comedy starring Frances McDormand and Amy Adams. McDormand plays a British governess in London on the brink of World War II who lies her way into a job with Amy Adams' aspiring actress, who proceeds to disrupt Miss Pettigrew's expectations throughout the course of an entire day. Of course, there's a terrific pair of performances from the lead actresses, McDormand is alternately confounded and cunning in equal measure, and Adams is postively effervescent as the ditzy, but sensitive actress. It's a really beautiful little film, that should deserve more notice than it's received.

The Waterhorse: A fine children's film, that while perhaps may not have much going for it on the surface is carried through with some fine performances and a nicely judged balance of tone that will appeal to adults too. Angus is the son of a Lord's housekeeper during World War II and has recently lost his father in the conflict. Wiling his ways on the beach, he discovers a mystical egg that hatches and reveals the titular Waterhorse, whom Angus begins to take care of while trying to keep it secret from his mother and the local army garrison billeted at the house. I didn't like the ending, which was little too much of a downer, but it's resistance of a superficial "cuteness" and "modernity" that would annoy is admirable.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall: Pretty decent romantic comedy with a TV show music composer hilariously breaking up with his girlfriend, but while on holiday to get over her, finds that she is visting the same resort with her new boyfriend. Jason Segel writes and stars, and is very good (and brave) with the funny and the Puppet Vampire Musical he devises in the movie is something I'd pay to watch. Also, it stars the very pretty Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell, and the best scene involves both of them, as they lampoon Bell's previous IRL movie Pulse.

Brute Force: Tough crime drama starring the newly minted star of the mid-40s, Burt Lancaster as an inmate who desperately wants to escape so his fiancee will have the operation she needs to save her life. The movie pits him against the cruelty of the Captain of the guard, Munzie (Hume Cronyn in fine, lizard-like, form). There's some unnecessary flash-back sequences, which dispels some of the atmosphere, but it's pretty good, nonetheless.

Silent Night, Deadly Night: Terrible horror movie, which is actually unintentionally funny in places, as a boy grows up in fear of Santa and when he's forced to don the Father Christmas outfit, begins to kill people he determines are "naughty". Its first half-hour is an attempt to make the subject matter serious, detailing the boy's origin and his tragic background, but in the end, it really all boils down to a psycho in a Santa suit murdering nubile young teens.