13/50x2: The Kids Are All Right

The first time I saw Mark Ruffalo in a film, at least I think it was the first time, was in the Big-like film 13 Going on 30. I can't recall ever seeing him again, but he reminded me of someone (someone that escapes me now).

Since then, Ruffalo has become a pretty well-known actor, who seems to be in quite a few films each year - and will soon be stepping into the role of the Hulk in this year's The Avengers.

I have really enjoyed watching him become such a good actor, and so I definitely found it necessary to check out the well-received The Kids Are All Right.

In the film, Nicole (Annette Benning) and Jules Allgood (Julianne Moore) are a married, lesbian couple who have two children, Joni (Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson).

In order for this lesbian couple to have children, they went went to a 'bank'. Nicole carried one of the children, and the next go around Jules was the mother.

As the children have become older, they begin to get curious as to who may be their real father. As they do some digging they find that Paul (Ruffalo) is the father of both of them.

Paul is a bit 'out there' in life, I would say a bit of a hippie, but when he meets the children they all get along and Paul is excited about possibly being a part of their lives.

The entrance of Paul into the family really turns them upside down, as they begin to realize some of the things that have been going on in their lives - mostly with Nic and Jules.

Nic has been the main provider of the family as a OB/GYN and is also the discipline of the family. Jules is much more laid back and has gone through business after business - now trying her hand at landscaping - and feels unappreciated by Nic.

So with the entrance of Paul and these feelings coming to the surface, would it bring the family closer together or split them apart?

An amazingly well acted film. I have only seen Wasikowska in two films now, but I really think she is an up-and-coming actress. I have come to either love or loathe Moore in films, and here I thought she was amazing. And, I may be wrong, but this may also be the second time I have seen Benning in a film - and again she was a lot like her character in American Beauty. But, that works for her.

Overall, I really enjoyed the movie and it is great to show that there is not much difference between a gay/lesbian household compared to a straight household. Both have difficulties and both worry about their children. Hopefully films like these allow those who feel strongly against same-sex households to change their tune - but of course it is tough to change bigotry.

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6/50: The Fugitive

The Fugitive is yet another film that I am very much ashamed that I have not seen. I mean this came out in 1993 and stars one of my favorite actors - yet here I am 18 years later finally tossing in the DVD.

Dr. Richard Kimble's (Harrison Ford) wife is killed after a benefit dinner at their house. Kimble was called into work for an emergency surgery after the dinner and upon returning home fought with his wife's murderer - a one armed man.

Law enforcement, however, didn't believe Kimble's story and he was convicted of killing his wife. As he is being transferred to prison, the bus transporting him and a handful of other prisoners crashes and is hit by a train. Kimble escapes and becomes a fugitive on the run.

U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) and his team are brought in to capture Kimble and bring him back to prison. Kimble's main goal is to stay out long enough to track down the one armed man that killed his wife, bring her to justice and prove his own innocence.

Great acting along the way by both Ford and Jones. Tons of great action scenes and a powerful story of a man seeking redemption for both himself and his murdered wife.

It was fun to see so many actors in bit parts that are now more recognizable, such as Julianne Moore and Jane Lynch to name a few. Always nice to see Joe Pantoliano as well - really enjoy him as an actor.

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Children of Men, Meet the Robinsons

I was a bit out of commission on Tuesday as I was hit by the flu bug that seems to be going around up here.

Anyway, I was able to check out a pair of movies that I had not seen yet.

The first one I had heard really good things about and had been really wanting to check out.

Children of Men stars Clive Owen as Theo Faron. The movie is set in 2027, and human kind appears to be getting wiped out all over the world - with just a few areas still inhabited including London where much of this film is taking place.

There appears to be an issue with human reproduction in the future, as the world is mourning the loss of an 18 year old kid - the youngest person on the planet.

Theo, however, is pulled into a gang called the Fish to help transport a young refugee. Little does he know that she is pregnant, and could be the answer to all of the problems that are occurring in the world.

I really enjoyed the concept of this film - but it really left me in the dark with the ending. There was a ton of action, but a lot of it led to nothing really. I guess I had too high of expectations going in.

The movie also has Julianne Moore and Michael Caine as the two most recognizable faces after Owen, but their roles are very minor - and I was a bit surprised by that.

Anyway, it was a good watch - although not particular high on my rewatchable list.

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The second film I caught on one of the movie channels as I drifted in and out of sleep - but I did manage to watch most of the film.

Meet the Robinsons is Disney cartoon about an orphan named Lewis who is trying to win a science fair with his memory machine.

Little does he know, but this invention will morph his entire existence.

The evil bowler hat guy and his bowler hat, Doris, steal a time machine from the future to travel back to that time in history to stop Lewis from winning the science fair - and to take credit for the memory machine himself.

Lewis, however, receives a bit of help from another future-dweller name Wilbur. He promises to take Lewis to meet his real mother if he finishes his memory machine and wins the science fair.

This was a pretty good film, especially one that really didn't get publicized too much. At least not in my memory.

Like most animated films in this day and age, it has a few great voice talents in Tom Selleck, Anglea Bassett, Nicole Sullivan, Adam West and Laurie Metcalf.

It's a pretty good watch, especially being just 95 minutes long.

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