At the Cinema - September/October

Moneyball – 8
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Baseball
b. Brad Pitt
c. Aaron Sorkin

We’re very lucky. It looks like every summer we’ll get a gift from Aaron Sorkin. Last year it was the wonderfully scripted “The Social Network.” This summer along comes “Moneyball.” Somehow he and Steven Zaillian adapted Michael Lewis’ brilliant book. I don’t read many books, but I thoroughly enjoyed “Moneyball.” I never thought it could be made into a movie, but apparently Pitt, Sorkin, and company had a unique vision.
Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane, the wonderkid General Manager of the money-poor Oakland A’s. His portrayal is solid and believable and most importantly funny. There are some hilarious scenes that he anchors, and he delivers a great character portrayal of a man who has some strange habits. This is one of Brad’s best performances. Catch it.

Tower Heist – 7
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. dangling
b. revenge on Wall Street
c. Eddie Murphy
This movie clips along at a decent pace, nothing hilarious, but consistent throughout. Alan Alda plays the Bernie Madoff type who has swindled many without a morsel of remorse. When Ben Stiller, Murphy, and their gang decide to reclaim their investment which they believe to be hidden in the penthouse, a mild adventure breaks out. The most harrowing scenes, especially if you don’t like heights, are when there’s a whole lot of dangling from the Tower. All in all, a decent diversion on a Saturday afternoon.

SCANNING THE SATELLITE

Nowhere Boy – 8
This is a cool little biography of a young John Lennon and his relationship with the mother who abandoned him and the aunt who raised him. We see the early incarnation of the Beatles. It’s a must see for Beatles fans, and especially John Lennon fans.

George Harrison: Living in the Material World – 9
Martin Scorsese put together another monumental rock documentary with this HBO broadcast. This 4 hour chronicle of George’s music and loves is wonderful. It also can be costly. Up to this point I had resisted the digitally re-mastered box set of The Beatles, but the audio here is so good that I was halfway to Best Buy before the credits were finished. Oh, and while you’re at Best Buy pick up The Concert For George, one of the best concert videos. It was held one year after his death and highlights, much like this documentary, the amazing music that George produced both during and after his Beatles’ days.

Larry Flynt: The Right to Be Left Alone – 8
This documentary is a must-see if you are a fan of the great “The People vs. Larry Flynt.” Through interviews and archival footage the same story is told, and it’s very interesting to see how events really unfolded. Interested in the First Amendment? Check this out.