The Aviator

A Man and His Beautiful and Troubled Mind

Howard Hughes. The man, the myth, the legend, has just set out to direct one of the most famous aviator war films of all time, Hell’s Angels.  Hughes is obsessed with the film and won’t release it to the public until it’s the picture (literally) of perfection.  But it pays off, makes him millions and Hughes invests most of it in building the airline empire, TWA.  He spends all of his time competing with PANAM monopoly CEO Juan Trippe, womanizing in various clubs, and fighting off the demons of OCD and/or paranoid schizophrenia.  A lifetime spent with millions, famous actresses by his side, and all the success in the world, but will this buy Howard Hughes the happiness he seek?

Miss Potter

A Story About One of the Greatest Children’s Book Authors of All Time!

Throughout Beatrix Potter’s (Renee Zellweger) thirty years of life, she has dreamed up dozens of friends, written about them, and illustrated them.  She has now decided to compile them into a brilliant children’s book called, “The Tale of Peter Rabbit”.  In her search for true happiness, she has decided that a husband is not her ticket to bliss; it is her first book’s publication that will ultimately bring her the happiness she seeks.  But things get complicated when her publisher Norman Warne (Ewan McGregor) falls for the brilliant young artist and Beatrix begins to wonder if she could be so lucky as to have a writing career and love in her life.

The Young Victoria

Dear Reader,

You see? Your interest is peaked already, admit it. When a message begins with ‘Dear, Fill In the Blank’ it’s a promise for good, juicy things to follow. Forget the late night phone calls, say hogwash to little texts throughout the day and throw those silly flowers in the garbage…after they’ve died of course. Letters are love’s true expressions. Sure I may be biased since I take any and every chance I can get to read a great book (and admittedly even bad ones sometimes). But after watching The Young Victoria I think I am justified in my romantic belief that letters are the lost language of love.

The Young Victoria is a historical film based on the early reign of Queen Victoria and her blossoming love for Prince Albert of Germany. I thought Emily Blunt was completely charming and loveable and heaven knows I adore Paul Bettany (but please, who doesn’t? After A Knight’s Tale how could you not think he’s swell?) I have to admit I wasn’t a giant fan of Rupert Friend as Albert, he was a little too boyish and soft spoken for my taste but I got over it.

One of the things that was so wonderful about this film was the story based on a real couple whose relationship was loving and long lived. They had their issues that needed working out but they…well…worked them out! I’m sure the letters they exchanged in the years prior to their engagement helped with that pure love and ability to work through their problems.

I’m telling you, letters are where it’s at! Falling in love via the written word is by far the best. Well, the written word and/or going on a blind date with a tall, dark and handsome man with a devilishly winning smile (I love you honey).

Motherly Advice: Without a filter there is some kissing in bed that may be uncool for little kids to watch, but with a filter in there you’re good to go! Although they’ll most likely get bored.

Danielle’-Believer that Love + Letters = All Things Good

Georgia O'Keefe

The Lady~ is a Tramp

Severely unimpressed with this one, and if anyone could give an artsy biopic a fair shot--it's us. No kidding. We watch this kind of stuff for fun and if we really like it, we watch it a zillion times. Oddly enough, Georgia O'Keefe barely made it out of the shute before we were looking at each other, saying, "Yikes..."

First of all, the film gave no encouragement whatsoever to even care about this woman--let alone, like her--and sadly, I didn't. This artsy gal is making implied sexual deals--with a married man--for rent in the first ten minutes of the show and taking off her shirt for photographs quickly there after. Pretty brash behavior for the mid-20's, I'd say. Now, we should note, perhaps in her defense, that several times she describes herself as "simply, completely, honest," which is a fine and good premise. That is, until she defends her lack of respect for moral values with it.

Secondly, we assumed that since this was a TV NR movie that the need for the ClearPlay would be minimal, which was good because there didn't turn out to be a filter for it yet anyway. When Georgia's husband does an exhibit of his wife's paintings along with the nude photos that he's taken--realized our mistake and...sorry......turned the movie off.

Motherly Advice: In all sincerity, I would like to have watched the movie in it's entirety because--as I said--we love this kind of thing. Besides, I want to believe that the show's redeeming qualities were just around the corner. However, until a ClearPlay filter is made, it just isn't worth the risk and the uncut version is too suggestive for this bunch.

Launi---Soon-To-Be-Retired Art And Lifestyle Critic