St. Vincent:  

I didn’t expect much from this Bill Murray film in which he plays the title character, a people-hating reclusive guy who drinks too much and seems to dislike just about anything that’s normal.  Melissa McCarthy (Mike and Molly, Brides Maids) is Maggie, a just-divorced radiology technician who moves in next door with her 10 year-old son Oliver.  The initial meeting between the three does not go well, and Maggie agrees to steer clear of Vincent’s property.  Within days she is tied up at work, cannot pick up her son, and he finds his way home, and asks Vincent if he can wait for his mom there.  So begins a tale that has a moral that it takes us sometime to learn – I’ll save you the time – “you can’t judge me because you don’t know me.  You don’t know where I’ve been and what I’ve seen.”  That’s Vincent’s theme … and it is a delightful movie that is a pleasure to recommend.  Rated 14A.

Birdman:

Already a major awards-winner, there is lots of Oscar Buzz out there for Michael Keaton’s performance as an actor long-past his best-before date, who used to be somebody – he made a series of superhero movies decades earlier, but walked away from the franchise for artistic reasons, and now he is trying to mount a Broadway play to keep his hand in the business.  A lot of people liked this film for its quirky characters including an excellent turn by Ed Norton.  I wasn’t in the group who were fans of the film.  I found it disjointed, somewhat vulgar, and not very fulfilling.  It didn’t seem to know if it is to be a fantasy, a drama, or a character study.  I suppose it’s all three, but frankly, I didn’t get it. Rated 18A.

The Theory of Everything:

Eddie Redmayne has an Oscar nom for best actor in this depiction of the life of scientist and author Stephen Hawking.  His performance is just stunning, from the early days at university when the symptoms of his neuro-muscular disease began to appear, right through his marriages, his relationship with his children, and his amazing theories of … well, everything.  Felicity Jones is exceptional as Jane Hawking, his first wife, and author of the book on which the film is based.  Exceptional performances all-round, and an amazing creation by Redmayne.    Rated 14A.

We Bought a Zoo (2011):  

Based on actual events, Matt Damon is Benjamin Mee, a father of two who recently lost his wife, and in an attempt to get a fresh start, to get his kids refocused to get past their Mom’s passing, he buys a farm that has a big house – and a zoo.  It’s his plan to get the dilapidated business back up and running, but that’s easy to say, not so easy to do.  Scarlett Johansson is Kelly Foster, the zoo’s caretaker, who is soon caught up in the family drama as the children struggle with their recent loss along with the excitement of owning a zoo.  Good movie!! Rated PG.

Unforgiven (1995):

Shot in and around Calgary, this Oscar-winning Clint Eastwood epic is a western and a revenge movie, a theme that Clint does well.  Eastwood is a retired gunslinger who agrees, reluctantly, to take on one last job.  We know that’s never as easy as it seems.  Lots of grit, mud, a unique view of the West, and excellent performances from Eastwood, who also directed, and Gene Hackman.  Rated 18A.