Entertainment

Tonight I watched the last episode of the "City of Men" series that has been airing over the last few years on the Sundance Channel. From Wikipedia:

City of Men...was a Brazilian television programme from Kátia Lund and Fernando Meirelles, the directors of the film City of God....It is often cited as a 'spin-off' of the film; in fact, Douglas Silva who plays Acerola in City of Men also plays Lil' Dice (as a boy) in City of God. City of Men is less violent and more light-hearted affair. However, the two do share some common aspects: the directors, some of the actors, and the setting of the Brazilian favela (slum) with its background of gangsters and poverty. The programme tells the stories of Luis Claudío and Wallace, better known by their nicknames Acerola (Douglas Silva) and Laranjinha (Darlan Cunha), respectively, who are two best friends who live in a notorious Rio slum, in a community of drug-dealers, hustlers, and teenagers struggling to fulfill their dreams.

It's an interesting peak into life in Rio's slums and the tensions between rich and poor, black and white, honesty and crime. Though I thought it kinda jumped the shark in the series' last two episodes, it was certainly an enjoyable 4 seasons that I'd recommend folks check out. I was also pleased to see that there is a feature-length film in the works for this year.

Tonight we watched Over the Hedge (2006,PG) (ScreenIt! Review). From the ScreenIt! review:

A rascally raccoon cons a group of animals to help him collect human snack food that he needs to repay to a bear from which he earlier stole the same.

It was kinda cute. I give it 3 out of 5.

Last Tuesday evening we went to see Ratatouille (2007,G) (ScreenIt! Review). We enjoyed it. Finn said it was the funniest movie he has ever seen. It was pretty good. We happened to be going to see it with some friends from France, so that made the film's Paris setting a bit more interesting. From Wikipedia:

Ratatouille is a 2007 animated feature film produced by Pixar. It tells the story of Rémy (voiced by Patton Oswalt), a rat living in Paris who wants to be a chef.

I give it 4 out of 5.

Tonight we finished Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, an HBO Films adaptation of the classic book recounting (from Wikipedia):

...the history of Native Americans in the American West in the late nineteenth century, and their displacement and slaughter by the United States federal government.

The film stars Aidan Quinn. I give it 3 out of 5.

On Tuesday I finished watching The Blues Brothers (1980,R). It's one of those films that I don't enjoy so much as appreciate as a classic. It also gives me an idea for Halloween costumes for the boys. From the Wikipedia entry:

The story is a tale of redemption for paroled convict Jake and his brother Elwood, who take on "a mission from God" to save the Roman Catholic orphanage in which they grew up from closure. To do so they must re-form their rhythm and blues band, the Blues Brothers, and organize a performance to earn $5,000 to pay the tax assessor. Along the way they are targeted by a destructive "mystery woman," Neo-Nazis, and a country and western band - all while being relentlessly pursued by the police, and eventually the military and a SWAT team.

I give it 3 out of 5 stars.