Further proof of why you should never cheat, never lie, and never, ever sleep with Glenn Close, regardless of whether you have to lie or cheat to do so. Michael Douglas is one of my favorite actors of all time, but he’s a pretty despicable guy as the leading man in this film. This is yet another Hollywood example of how it’s okay for you to kill someone as long as they are stalking you… don’t worry, when the cops come you can just let them know that you were creeped out by the person who’s dead in your house and they’ll let you off scot free.

Surprisingly, Matthew McConaughey plays a charming womanizer who is topless as frequently as possible in this film. Oh wait. The actual surprise here is that he picks up Sarah Jessica Parker, who is like 150 years old and looks like a horse. He would’ve been much better off going after her better-looking roommate, played by Zooey Deschanel, who is such a cutie. Matthew Mac provides some inspiration for all the 30+ year old guys out there who still live in their mom’s house. It’s still possible to date women, but for goodness sakes, move out already. An entertaining flick that gets a 3.5 from me.

A film with a lot to say about our social norms and the conditioning we undergo as part of society. Taking place in the 1950’s, it has an even stronger message to deliver in facing issues such as interracial relationships and homosexuality. Pretty jarring, I have to say. This is not a movie that allows you to feel comfortable, nor is it one with a storybook ending. Watch it if you like films that elicit conversation and make you think, but stay away if you can’t handle very intense situations dealing with these kinds of topics.

I don’t know whether it was because I was sick while I sat at home and watched this movie, or because it was just so touching, but I literally cried at least twelve times throughout my viewing. I had been weakened by the ravages of the stomach flu for the prior three days straight, and my will to exist was dwindling as I hadn’t eaten much and my body weight had dropped five pounds. That’s when I popped in the DVD for Fireproof, a low-budget film made by Sherwood Baptist Church and shot entirely in digital. The church has made other films and the production value for such a grassroots project is evident in the caliber of special effects. The acting is even good from the main characters and passable from the extras and minor roles.

However, the most endearing thing about this charming movie is the storyline, which begins with a troubled marriage and deals with the process Caleb Holt (played by Kirk Cameron) and his wife go through as they face divorce. The plague of divorce is an important issue to discuss, and it affects our society on the deepest levels, so this one is worth seeing whether you’re a Christian or not.

Have you ever taken the plunge into a movie you thought you were going to fully loathe, only to find out that it’s really not bad at all in the end? That’s the way I felt about this inspirational piece based on a “true story” - when they say that, it’s usually only loosely based on anything that resembles reality.

I figured that, like a bad sports movie, Freedom Writers was going to be filled with cheese; hollow attempts at emotional tugging that would leave me regretting the two hour waste of life it had taken to watch. But since I was in the hospital at the time, I literally had absolutely nothing better to do but watch every last DVD my awesome uncle and aunt had brought me. Freedom Writers was well done enough as to be moving without seeming hollow or trying too hard. I recommend it as a solid watch - not fantastic, mind you, but better than expected.