It was sloppy, but it’s sloppiness was kind of endearing.

I’d agree that Keira has three great scenes and she makes the most of them, but there are long stretches where she’s not given that much to do. Nevertheless, I wasn’t expecting very much from it and it went over surprisingly well.

If you dress randy sex up in pretty English period costumes, it’s a mature film. If you dress it up in the modern day with a lowlife, suddenly it’s distasteful.

Keira is good, but not great, in The Duchess. She’s been better (Pride and Prejudice). WHile it actually has the three great scenes, it is not really a great role.

Choke, for me and possibly only me, is a great little slice of indie pie, a wickedly funny and offensive film that I loved and I am not ashamed to admit that. Its currently sitting on 48% at Metacritic and I have it the equivalent of 80% in my review, and I am damn proud of it, lol.

I gave the exact same rating to Silent Light, which is definitely something of a masterpiece, which I saw on DVD back in July, go figure.

I would love to see Miracle at St Anna just so I can forge an opinion on it now while people care, and not a thousand years from now which is what I will have to do. Same goes for The Lucky Ones, A Thousand Years, August Evening and I actually do want to see Eagle Eye because I am the biggest Shia LaBeouf fan ever in the history of the universe existing, but I did not go out of my way to attend the press screening last month, and nor will I attend the catch up screening next weekend, so I will just see it when it opens here at the end of October. No biggie. Enjoy your weekend folks.

Hopefully it’s on its way though. After your word and Nicks and a few others, I’m looking forward to it.

I’ll be checking out MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA this weekend, but my hopes have been tempered. Hopefully it will be better than advertised, but the atrocious old age makeup in the trailer doesn’t bode well.

As for Keira, I caught The Duchess last weekend and warmed up to it more than I expected to. Not a must-see or anything, but I do think Keira has a shot at a nomination. Ralph, not so much.

“I’m Alison Flynn and I approve of this message.” I thought you might appreciate that little nugget Alison. I think a musical sponsor will be a running thing for the weekend forecast from now on. It’s a sneaky way to mix in music without taking my eye off the movie ball. Stay tuned.

I have a ticket for a St. Anna screening tonight, but I’ve been burning the candle at both ends the last week or so and I’m tired and not sure I’m for a nearly 3 hours not-so-good Spike Lee movie. We’ll see how I feel at the end of the day. Maybe I’ll get my second wind.

Daniel, my short term goal is to see my name on a movie ad, but I’m afraid that particular one probably isn’t going to get it done anywhere outside of the pages of The Onion…which would be awesome in its own right.

I haven’t read the reviews of Choke yet, but I expect it will probably get clobbered. The script is pretty messy, Gregg tried to cram in too many of the book’s tangents methinks, but damnit, it made me laugh.

I suppose the NxNW reference is kind of a stretch Joel, but it had a nice symmetry to Suburbia/Rear Window so I ran with it.

I’m glad you enjoyed the weekend forecast Sam. They’ve been a little dry lately and it felt good to loosen up a little and return to previous form.

I personally like a little narrative disarray … as you point out, Fincher’s film was very calculated.

Drinking (to excess) is bad. Sex is a lot more fun.

When you’re an old man with grandchildren sitting out on your porch reminiscing, remember that I told you that at LiC on one lovely September morn back in 2008.

BTW, not to worry about Ms. McAdams – whether she becomes a superstar or not. She’s a fantastic character actor so she will continue to work. Big things will come her way. I see no difficulties present, my precious little crabcake.

Well, we WERE getting Towelhead in this neck of the woods. Just like Danny’s area. It seems that they pulled the plug on it this week.

Perhaps that’s a sign…?

I haven’t checked BOX OFFICE MOJO to see how it’s doing so far. But I’d wager…NOT WELL.

But we ARE getting Choke, Eagle Eye, The Lucky Ones, Miracle At St. Anna, Nights In Rodanthe and Shoot On Sight. Among others.

The Duchess is also opening here tomorrow.

I’ve been beating the drums for it over at my site. But that’s mainly because I like KEIRA. Though I worship the Brits I’m not necessarily drawn to these elaborate costume dramas. A lot of them are really dull.

I know that Sasha has KEIRA and RALPH up on her sidebar at AD. But, you know…I’m still skeptical that either of them are getting Oscar nominated for that film. I just can’t see it.

Honestly, i don’t feel passionate about any of these pictures. So I’m just going to sit back and see what everyone else has to say.

I’m willing to bet that will be much more entertaining than the movies themselves….

I approve of this choice. :-)

Eagle Eye just reminds me of The Matrix everytime I see, or rather, hear the preview. Don’t know what to think, but I’m a card-carrying LeBeouf supporter so I should probably see it.

Choke and St. Anna are high on my list. We also get Towelhead, but based on what I’ve heard here it would be ridiculous to put it above the others.

I’d like to see The Lucky Ones and Silent Light, but don’t see those on their way here at all.

I wonder if the teabag quote will make it on the marquee for Rodanthe somewhere. It’s deserving, that’s for sure. Thanks for this rundown, as always.

Don’t forget the high entertainment tomorrow night, by the way, if it happens. BO vs. JM – no holds barred!

Silent Light, Choke, Miracle at St Anna, A Thousand Years…, and Obscene were all on my radar, but now I’m curious about August Evening too.

I’ve actually seen a couple of good reviews for Eagle Eye elsewhere but I’m not buying it. The director is a hack and from what little I’ve heard, this is yet another film that relies heavily on “the twist ending,” a device I’ve grown extremely weary of. Your North by Northwest reference is curious and sounds about right.

The New York Film Festival also opens this weekend and Lucille and I will be in attendance for the Palme d’Ore winner THE CLASS tomorrow night.

That is really too bad about the Spike Lee film; like you Craig, I originally had high hopes for it.

“I’d rather teabag a tank of piranhas.” LOL!

You’ve got me particularly curious about your 2 main recommendations.