Quote of the Day

Jake: "You're shittin' me, right?"

Melanie: "I've never actually understood that expression, but no... I am not shittin' you."

Josh Lucas and Reese Witherspoon as 'Jake' and 'Melanie',

"Sweet Home Alabama", 2002

Flick of the Day

Film: WONDERLAND

Director: James Cox

Actors: Val Kilmer, Kate Bosworth, Lisa Kudrow, Josh Lucas, Dylan McDermott, Tim Blake Nelson, Christina Applegate, Natasha Gregson Wagner, Janeane Garofalo, Eric Bogosian

Year: 2003

Synopsis: An account of one of the biggest murder mysteries in Hollywood.

Have you ever heard of the 'Wonderland' murders? Well, I hadn't when I caught this unknown film years ago. Apparently, back in the early 80s, ex-porn star, John Holmes (Kilmer), got himself mixed up in a drugs and robberies, and this led to him to be strangely involved in the brutal murder of four people in the Hollywood Hills. The film is haunting and mesmerizing, especially since the audience knows it's a true story. Kilmer and a barely recognizable Lisa Kudrow stand out amongst a great cast. It's well worth a watch, just be prepared to squirm in some of the most graphic and violent scenes I've ever seen.

Flick of the Day

Film: THE WEIGHT OF WATER

Director: Kathryn Bigelow

Actors: Catherine McCormack, Sarah Polley, Sean Penn, Vinessa Shaw, Elizabeth Hurley, Josh Lucas, Ulrich Thomsen, Ciaran Hinds

Year: 2000

Synopsis: A woman investigates a 130-year-old murder mystery, while trying to save her crumbling marriage.

Ten years before Kathryn Bigelow became the first female to win a Best Director Oscar for "The Hurt Locker", she directed this little-known independent film. The story revolves around two women. The first is Jean (McCormack), a journalist, who is simultaneously investigating a century-old murder case while trying to make her marriage to Thomas (Penn) work. The second is Maren (Polley), a young woman stuck in a loveless marriage of convenience. The stories constantly intersect and you begin to see similarities in these two women's lives, despite the fact that they live 130 years apart. The film draws you in with its unique plot, propensity for the unexpected, and wonderful (perfectly subtle and subdued) performances. I highly recommend it.