4 out of 5

Today I finished watching Grizzly Man (2005,R). From Wikipedia:

Grizzly Man is a 2005 documentary film by German director Werner Herzog. It chronicles the life and death of environmentalist and bear enthusiast Timothy Treadwell. The music in the film is by British folksinger Richard Thompson.

To call him an enthusiast is a gross understatement. The guy was obsessed and obviously a bit of a wack-o. But he was living life his way. I give it 4 out of 5.

Today I finished watching Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002,PG). From Wikipedia:

Rabbit-Proof Fence is an Australian film based on the book of the same name by Doris Pilkington Garimara about three young half-caste Aboriginal girls (one of whom, Molly, was her mother) who ran away from a Western Australian settlement at Moore River, just north of Perth, in which they were placed in 1931, in order to return to their Aboriginal family. The film follows the girls walking for nine weeks along 1,500 miles of fence to return to their mother's community at Jigalong. The fence is "rabbit proof", preventing rabbits from crossing.

I give it 4 out of 5.

For movie night today, Lisa and the kids watched Monsters, Inc. (2001,G). From reel.com:

Two monsters who specialize in scaring young children find their world turned upside down when a three-year-old girl follows them back to their headquarters.

They liked it, though Lisa thought it was a little too "rowdy." Elliot said, "What's rowdy?"

Tonight I finished watching Control Room (2004,NR). From Wikipedia:

Control Room is a 2004 documentary film about Al Jazeera and its relations with the US Central Command, as well as the other news organizations that covered the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

I thought it was pretty interesting to see some of the TV images (e.g., of captured American soldiers) that I had originally seen glimpses of on US news when the US news was reporting on the fact that the footage was being shown on Al Jazeera. Also seeing the interaction between the skeptical Al Jazeera correspondents and the surprisingly balanced spokesmen for the US troops. I give it 4 out of 5.

Today I watched Safe Men (1998,R). I've liked Sam Rockwell since Box of Moonlight, Lawn Dogs, etc. This is another good one. It's goofy and quirky and I liked it. I give it 4 out of 5. From reel.com:

Oddball heist comedy about hack musicians mistaken for top-notch safecrackers. Despite moments of amusing whimsy, most viewers won't fancy its unappetizing mix of grating Gen-X goofiness and dud pseudo-borscht-belt schtick.