3:10 to Yuma (2007)

Starring: Russell Crowe and Christian Bale

Director: James Mangold

**

They say westerns are out of style. Not for Mangold! He makes it so enjoyable you wonder why you left your inner cowboy glories behind at age 4.

The storyline is simple, but the dialogue is sharp. The acting is... well, CROWE AND BALE! I think that should define that well.

Action and drama mixed in with a sentimentality that may kill. Ask Wade at the end.

Curious how beautiful boys look a lot like girls.

And the music thrills.

Ah, entertained. I love the feeling!

**

Rate: 7/10

In The Bedroom (2001)

Starring: Tom Wilkinson, Sissy Spacek, Nick Stahl, Marisa Tomei and William Mapother.

Director: Todd Field

**

This is a gorgeous and gripping film. The script is beyond fabulous, and the acting is no less.

There are movies where the soundtrack is seemingly perfect... but this film blows the seamlessness of those films away... The music weaves so accurately it made me cry. Not because of its emotional reflection, but just at the PERFECTION of it. Rarely in a work of art these days do you claim perfection. When people do, they might drink a beer, eat a cupcake, I don't know, kiss someone. I cry.

I am glad I will have died having seen this film. So, I hope, will you be.

**

Rate: 9/10

The Insider (1999)

Starring: Al Pacino (Lowell Bergman), Russell Crowe (Jeffrey Wigand), Christopher Plummer (Mike Wallace)

Directed By: Michael Mann

**

Intense. That's the word that jumped out at me as the ending credits rolled. It's not the sort of intense that scarred the film Momento into so many minds, or even in the way the film Hunger is. This is intensity in REALITY, perhaps a ~little~ blown up, but damn, it had me hating corporations.

The main theme is, as it is in all "Freedom of Press" marathons, the truth being revealed. I think I'll leave it at that.

I've been on a Crowe thirst lately, and I have found so far that he has a knack for completely embodying the role he's asked to play... Granted, many of his roles thus far have had a certain similar trend to them. But Crowe really has not failed one yet. And Pacino... Ah, dear dear Al. he's a magnet on that screen. On any screen actually...

I don't understand why women are so emotional... but then there are bad men too so I shouldn't complain.

See it when in mood for Truth being banged on your head pleasantly.

**

Rate: 8/10