Josh Brolin

W. - Starring Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, Richard Dreyfuss, Scott Glenn, Ellen Burstyn, Jeffrey Wright and James Cromwell. Directed by Oliver Stone.
Contrary to what most may expect, W. is not a major diss on this current president. Rather it’s somewhat of a psychological study of George W. Bush. The film covers the time W. (Josh Brolin) was playing the rich, college frat boy - to owning the Texas Rangers - to running for Governor of Texas - to the presidency in 2000. It goes no further than 2004.
Throughout, W. is portrayed as always trying to win his dad’s approval; always in competition with brother Jeb Bush (who was running for the Governor of Florida, when W. decided he too should also run for Texas Governor - to the dismay of his father. Stone (in an NPR interview) stated he feels W. is a modern-day Icarus (who, in Greek mythology, flew too close to the sun, trying to impress his father).
George H. W. Bush (James Cromwell) comes off in not too bad of light. Colin Powell (Jeffery Wright) is seen as “conflicted” about the Iraq war, even though he got his arm twisted to support the U.S. invasion. Richard Dreyfuss is a dead ringer for Dick Cheney. There are some hilarious moments, with the funniest lines, of course, being direct quotes, such as “Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice… we won’t get fooled again.”
Though well done and insightful, W. will be most appreciated by those who dislike Bush. B+ (Linda Hollar)

Angelina Jolie

Changeling - Starring Angelina Jolie, Michael Kelly, John Malkovich and Jeffrey Donovan. Directed by Clint Eastwood. Based on a true story. Eastwood also has an original music credit. He should stick to directing.
I think the initial meeting for this film went something like... Picture this: It’s 1928. Christine Collins is a telephone operator. She heads off to work and her son, Walter, is missing when she gets home. She’s upset - and who wouldn’t be? The police aren’t particularly helpful, because it’s a corrupt police force. Then they go and, get this, try to push a kid on her that isn’t hers. She starts denying that he’s her son to anyone that will listen, but she sounds crazy! And, let’s face it; you’d have to be crazy to say something like that! So they sweep her off to a mental institution. We’re talkin’ prostitutes, battered women, and electroshock! And alongside all of that, there’s a kidnapping and murder case happening.
OK, I can see you’re not real sold on this, but I’m telling you we can plug “any” kids into this thing. We just need to attach a hot commodity like Angelina to it, and we’ll be set. All right, all right. You’re still not sold. What if I told you this all happened in L.A.? You can just make that check out to “Cash.” C+ (Joe Allison)

City of Ember - Starring Tim Robbins, Bill Murray, Harry Treadaway and Saoirise Ronan. Adapted from the book by Jeanne Duprau
Ember is a circular city set up by The Builders to last a couple of hundred years. (Got your disbelief suspended yet?) When the escape plans get lost, 200 years fly past and the giant generator running the city starts to break down. No surprise, then, that a couple of kids are the key to everyone’s survival. (Still working on that disbelief?) Lina (Ronan) is a messenger (think courier), who happens to be related to the very mayor that lost the city’s escape plans - so you shouldn’t be surprised that she winds up with them. Sort of.
Her young sibling turned them into a mouthful of pulp. Doon (Treadaway) works the pipes and is he ever anxious to get his hands on the generator to get it fixed. Only it’s not particularly accessible to him. Soooo... He thinks the city is dying and needs to be saved. She’s got the plans to save it. Oh, and the Mayor (Murray) would like to keep them from doing anything of the sort because he’s fat and content living off the goodwill of everyone in Ember. Heroic kids, an adult figure that is in their way and a treasure quest of sorts. Sounds like a pretty winning combo for the kiddies, just don’t go expecting too much “Goonies” style adventure from this one and you’ll be fine. B+ (Joe Allison)

The Express - Starring Rob Brown and Dennis Quaid. Directed by Gary Fleder. Adapted from the book by Robert Gallagher
The Express is about the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy. (If that qualifies as a spoiler, then I’ve got a few dozen historical events I need to “spoil” for you). Ernie Davis (Rob Brown) is a football hopeful cut from the same cloth as Jim Brown, who is his hero. Jim Brown is also the hole Davis has to fill when he steps into a collegiate role. Jim Brown, Jim Brown, Jim Brown. But, as Ernie Davis would have been quick to point out, he was not Jim Brown. And the fact that he won the Heisman only hits that point home. The Express is basically Hoosiers set to a civil rights era backdrop. Formula, but it’s a good formula. B (Joe Allison)

Duh. What a surprise
David Duchovny (X-Files), who recently left a “sex-addiction rehab,” and his wife Téa Leoni released a statement saying they’ve been separated for several months. They were married in 1997 and have two children.