Good Night and Good Luck

NetFlix: George Clooney's Oscar-nominated docudrama pits TV newsman Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn) against Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his single-minded crusade to quell the red threat at home. Despite corporate pressure to back off, Murrow and his CBS staff are determined to examine the lies and fear tactics perpetrated by McCarthy during his Communist witch-hunts. The impressive cast includes Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson and Jeff Daniels.

Me: Hmmm....Good movie. Interesting topic, interesting time period, interesting "view" into history (with some creative license thrown in) and some very interesting acting by David Strathairn, George Clooney and Jeff Daniels.

The Aviator

NetFlix: Martin Scorsese directs this Best Picture nominee about Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio), who turned a small fortune into a massive one by producing such classics as Hell's Angels, The Front Page, Flying Leathernecks and Scarface. He simultaneously branched into and transformed industry after industry, including aviation. Winner of five Oscars, including Best Cinematography, Art Direction and Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett).

Me: I gotta admit, I didn't know much about Howard Hughes, unless you count the Spruce Goose, however this was a totally typical Scorsese flick with his use of big cinematography and the classic split screen dialog where you see two charecters as they converse over bizarre topics.

Borat

NetFlix: Fans of the HBO comedy series "Da Ali G Show" will be delighted to join one of their favorite characters -- the Kazakhstani reporter Borat (Sacha Baron Cohen, in a Golden Globe-winning role) -- as he travels to America to report on the "greatest country in the world." Camera in tow, the boorish journalist sets off on his cross-country road trip, but his original purpose is soon subsumed by a much greater quest -- finding and marrying actress Pamela Anderson.

Me: OK, I missed the type. I didn't fall into the trap. I didn't go along with the masses and rush down to see "funniest movie I've ever seen....hilarious....a riot." Yes, those were words used by friends who saw this movie. It was funny, but not THAT funny. Again, worth a view, but not worth the full ticket price, by any means. Oh, and I saw a couple of the Ali G shows. I thought they were stupid, so no wonder I'm only giving this 3 stars.

Children of Men

Netflix: Alfonso Cuaron directs this film version of P.D. James's classic dystopian novel (and Oscar nominee for Best Adapted Screenplay), a futuristic drama set in a world in which humans have lost the ability to reproduce and subsequently face certain extinction. Things change when a single woman mysteriously becomes pregnant, prompting a conflicted government bureaucrat (Clive Owen) and his ex-wife (Julianne Moore) to join forces to protect her. Michael Caine co-stars.

Me: If you're a SciFi fan, this will entertain you, but not blow your mind. If you don't like SciFi, then you probably won't dig this flick. I thought it was worth a watch. This one gets three stars at least since I didn't say "fuck, that wouldn't happen" more than uh 10 times.

Frieda

Netflix: Julie Taymor directs this Oscar-winning biopic of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (Salma Hayek), focusing on her often rocky relationship with husband Diego Rivera (Alfred Molina). Also known for her controversial political and sexual reputation (she was a communist and a bisexual), Frida struggled with a life of wracking pain following an accident, the amputation of a leg, and finally, drug and alcohol abuse that killed her at age 47.

We dug this movie. I little on the long side, but an interesting story. The guy who played Doc Octopus in Spiderman was a great Diego Rivera. I would call this movie, worth the view.

Ned Kelly

NetFlix: Ned Kelly (Heath Ledger) and his brother Dan (Laurence Kinlan), the sons of an Irish pig thief, form a group of bandits called the Kelly Gang with two other men (Orlando Bloom and Philip Barantini). Tired of being mistreated due to his heritage, Ned roams the Australian Outback with his mob, robbing banks and evading police. First jailed at age 16 for stealing horses, Ned Kelly is most notoriously known for the battle at the Inn at Glenrowan.

Aussie style RobinHood flick...Geoffery Rush plays a great commander in this movie.

The Life of Birds

Netflix: Presented by world-renowned naturalist David Attenborough, The Life of Birds is the definitive series exploring the most colorful, popular and perfectly adapted creatures on Earth. Researchers traversed the globe, exploring 42 countries and examining more than 300 species of birds using a variety of techniques, including infrared, slow motion and computer-enhanced effects.

Winged Migration it wasn't, however not a bad documentary on our little feathered friends.