Bruce Almighty (2003) "Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey), a television reporter in Buffalo, N.Y.,is discontented with almost everything in life despite his popularity and the love of his girlfriend, Grace (Jennifer Aniston) . At the end of the worst day of his life, Bruce angrily ridicules and rages against God and God responds. God appears in human form (Morgan Freeman) and, endowing Bruce with divine powers, challenges Bruce to take on the big job to see if he can do it any better."
Mystic River (2003). "Past and present collide in Clint Eastwood's searing drama about three childhood friends who are reunited when the daughter of one is murdered. Sean Penn won the 2003 Best Actor Oscar(R) for his portrayal of Jimmy Markum, an ex-con whose teenage daughter is found savagely slain in a local park. His old friend Sean Devine (Kevin Bacon) is the detective in charge of the case, but the distraught Jimmy has designs for his own brand of justice--a plan that begins to take deadly form when clues point to the pair's traumatized childhood pal Dave Boyle (Best Supporting Actor Oscar(R)-winner Tim Robbins) as the killer. Based on Dennis Lehane's novel, the film also received Oscar(R) nominations for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay (Brian Helgeland), Best Director (Eastwood) and Best Supporting Actress (Marcia Gay Harden). Also with Laurence Fishburne and Laura Linney."
Big Fish (2003). "The story is about a son (William Bloom) trying to learn more about his dying father (Albert Finney) by reliving stories and myths his father told him about himself." It was nominated for 4 Golden Globes including Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy ans was nominated for an Oscar for Best Music, Original Score.
The Merchant of Venice (2004). I saw it in Lincoln Plaza Cinemas with #2. "A Shakespearian adaptation, set in 16th century Venice." Here is the NY Times Review:
http://movies2.nytimes.com/2004/12/29/movies/29veni.html?ei=5070&en=241327f6a2c21747&ex=1105160400&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1105039705-jzwCJd/475idFN+2AZEwJA
Modern Orthodox (2004). I saw the play at Dodger Stages with my mom. "It is said that God works in mysterious ways. Daniel Goldfarb's new play suggests He is not above employing obnoxious ones, too. In this snappy if superficial romantic comedy with a glossy cast (Molly Ringwald, Jason Biggs and Craig Bierko), a young Jewish couple comfortably ensconced on Manhattan's Upper West Side are provoked to question their commitment to each other — and the depth of their religious feeling — when an ill-mannered interloper from another borough and another sect arrives on their doorstep, demanding to be given harbor. Since the abrasive behavior of Hershel Klein, played by Mr. Biggs, tends to indicate colossal bad manners more powerfully than spiritual enlightenment, the characters deployment as a catalyst for Hannah and Ben's reawakening to the magical in life is more than a little specious. But the soul-searching is primarily filler supplementing Mr. Goldfarb's bright comic swipes at intra-faith cultural clashes. The gags may be parceled out with the mechanical rhythms of a sitcom script, a flaw the skilled director James Lapine smoothly disguises, but they are often sharp and punchy. And the combined gifts of the cast, which is completed by a quirky newcomer, Jenn Harris, as Hershel's instant fiancé, could give buoyancy to a far flimsier concoction." (NYTimes)
Striptease (1996). "Demi Moore and Burt Reynolds star in this offbeat comedy-drama about a single mom working as a stripper to raise enough money to keep her daughter. "
