The Wrestler

This is one of this year's true great films. Darren Aronofsky really seems to understand his charcters and his surrondings and understands wrestler culture. This is great work here. The movie stems from the ideal that the "fans" are the true family and one's occupation and way of being dictate his life. The power of the entertainer and "good guy" creates a persona in the wrestling world, but it also dictates a person's life, character and decisons. This is a marvel of filmmaking. Mickey Rourke is outstanding and deserving of a best actor award. He is mesmerizing, real, humane and superhuman all in once. This is a performance of a lifetime and Rourke steals it. Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood provide great support. Tomei is brilliant in everything she does. This film equals Slumdog Millionaire as my top two films so far this season. An almost perfect film here. Thanks everyone involved.

Grade: A

Changeling

This is another strong film by Clint Eastwood. He just continues to amaze me. Angelina Jolie is strong here but not incredulous. I thought that this film ha some errors(i thought the film would have ended in a different point) but the characters are strong and the work by everyone is succesful. I thought that the script had some problems. Overall, however, this is a very good film here about women's rights and corruption, two very obvious themes. This would be a top 25 film of the year but would not crack my top ten.

Grade: B+