When you're home from work or school, sick with something icky, sometimes there is nothing you can do but sit on the couch and veg out. Typically, this means watching movies and TV... but not just any flick 'll do.  There are certain criteria that must be strictly adhered to... and we're here to help.

First, the movie and/or TV show must be entertaining without having too much eye candy (just in case motion sickness will do you in), and it can't be too intellectual, either - because your head will be clogged with too much nastiness to think too hard. Nothing involving gore or food (or gory food, for that matter) will do either, because if you're home with, say, the flu - you just might upchuck at the sight of it. Chick flicks seem to work well for this purpose - although some classics will do, as well. Essentially, you're looking for those DVDs that are the Hollywood equivalent of chicken soup: soothing for the soul, but not unsettling to the tummy.

And so, without further ado, here is our list of:

The Top 10 DVDs to Watch When You're Sick

#10

Frasier: The Tenth Season starring Kelsey Grammar and David Hyde Pierce. Sometimes, all you need is a good laugh - and this is arguably one of the seasoned sitcom's best. If you're not in the mood for the entire season, pop in Disc 2 and see "Door Jam," which features the Crane brothers at their absolute best (and most pompous!). Then toss in Disc 3 and watch "Fraternal Schwinns," where, as grown men, they learn to ride bikes.

#9

Enchanted starring Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey. Really, any Disney or Pixar movie could be substituted here, although this latest of Disney films covers all bases: cuteness, charm, and laughs.

#8 

Duets starring Gwenyth Paltrow and Paul Giamatti. Alright, so I may be one of the only people on the planet who loved this movie - but that's precisely what makes it such a great film for a sick day. (I mean, come on: a movie about karaoke competitions? What can be more fun?) Huey Lewis may not be able to act much, but he sure can sing - and Paul Giamatti, Gwenyth Paltrow, and Maria Bello make valiant efforts up on stage. Perfect for singing along with - and then napping through.

#7 

Star Trek Voyager: Seasons Three and Four starring Kate Mulgrew. Ah, yes... Sometimes there's nothing better than good old fashioned campiness. Season Three is when the show really gets its legs; if you're in it for the sexy eye candy, though, skip to Season Four when Jeri Ryan makes her appearance as sexy Borg Seven of Nine.

#6 

You've Got Mail starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. I'm particularly fond of this ultimate chick flick - not just for its headliners, but for its heart. It's a feel-good movie that is simply perfect for cuddling up with and enjoying under a blanket - and with a cup of hot tea.

#5 

Dirty Dancing starring  Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. Oh yeah, baby, the ultimate of '80s movies. Dancing, sex, comedy, drama... this "Baby's" got it all. And since you've seen it so many times already, it's easy to have on in the background while you're zoning out on sinus medication.

#4 

Dan In Real Life starring Steve Carell and Juliette Binoche. The ultimate family feel-good flick, the heart and comedic warmth from Dan In Real Life is bound to make you feel a bit better... and maybe even crave a few pancakes.

#3 

Veronica Mars: The First Season starring the absolutely adorable Kristen Bell. Mystery, smarts, fun. It's the ultimate of Nancy Drew-ish crime soaps, with a bit of Buffy-styled attitude thrown in for good measure. Pop in Disc 1 and I dare you not to fly through at least a half dozen episodes before the day is done.

#2

 Legally Blonde starring Reese Witherspoon. Who'd of thought that a movie about blonde bimbos could be so inspiring? Witherspoon's portrayal of sorority girl Elle Woods is absolutely classic and well worthy of position #2 on our list.

#1

Ferris Bueller's Day Off starring Matthew Broderick. "Bueller... Bueller..." Yep, this choice was obvious - but that doesn't make it any less apropos. This is, after all, the representative film for skipping out on school; why not make it your very own anthem for sick days, too?

DVD Review: There Will Be Blood starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano

There Will Be Blood - screenwriter/director Paul Thomas Anderson's Oscar-winning film about the 1920s oil industry - is not a film to be taken lightly. The characters are insane, their motivations dark. This is not a movie with a light at the end of any hypothetical tunnel; instead, it is a brutal portrayal of the cutthroat oil industry - and, as the story showcases a battle between oil men and church figureheads, without any clear lines of good and evil - it lends a moderately interesting, very creepy take on organized religion as well.

Even the music in There Will Be Blood (composed by Jonny Greenwood, the guitarist from Radiohead) can be considered its own character throughout this jarring film. It is disconcerting music to say the least; harsh string arrangements and creepy segways make the movie feel more like a horror flick than a period drama. And more often than not, it left me feeling unsettled and on edge. Unfortunately, where some may find it groundbreaking, I found it to be simply distracting from the rest of the movie.

It won't be any surprise when I tell you that the main reason for watching this film is Daniel Day-Lewis, who most deservedly won the Oscar for his riveting portrayal of 1920s oil man Daniel Plainview. In There Will Be Blood, Day-Lewis proves for his fans yet again that he is truly one of the most accomplished actors of our time; he not only acts the role, he becomes it: from the mannerisms to the speech patterns, to the brazen - and often insane - persona. Plainview is a man who will stop at nothing - and protect no one - to further his oil rigging business, and Day-Lewis captures this raw intensity with a passion that is unmatched.

On the flip side, Paul Dano's excessive overacting and simultaneous whining (as Plainview's rival, the town's local preacher) is enough to make you want to pull your hair out. His character is annoying with a capital A . Other personalities throughout the film - such as Daniel's adored and then abused son H.W. (played by Dillon Freasier as a boy and then, later, by Russell Harvard as a man - who, in both cases, end up presenting the character as oddly flat), and Kevin O'Connor as Daniel's creepy would-be brother Henry, leave the viewer with few characters to empathize with.

Yet even beyond that, my biggest issue with this film is that - for an epic drama - it spent much more time on developing the acting talent than it did nurturing the plotline. Often, I found myself wanting to tune out (although Day-Lewis's performance did keep me riveted nonetheless) because I couldn't find my footing in terms of caring for the story. All in all, I wondered: What's the point? Because this is primarily just a story of a self-destructive, careless, mean, and utterly insane man. There isn't any growth, there isn't any climactic rise and fall... nothing in this film left me even remotely caring: for its characters... or for its plot. And, quite frankly, I didn't care what happened to the characters - because their motivations - no matter how psychotic - were decidedly unclear. As a result, I felt physically and emotionally spent after watching There Will Be Blood - mostly because of Day-Lewis's unique brand of intensity, but also because I had to exert so much damn effort over the 158 running minutes of the film to enjoy it.

This is an interesting review to write, because There Will Be Blood is a must-see movie - but not, necessarily, one of Hollywood's great films. That is, all things considered, the performance of Daniel Day-Lewis, as well as the cinematographic vision portrayed by screenplay writer and director Paul Thomas Anderson, is well worth the strife you'll otherwise have to pay for sitting through this painfully long, brutally downcast, and often plodding film.

• The Daily Dawdler Rating: C

• Paramount Vantage, Rated R. DVD Release Date: 04/08/08. Available online at Amazon.com.

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DVD Review: Cloverfield starring Jessica Lucas, T.J. Miller, and Michael Stahl-David 

When the trailer for producer J.J. Abrams's latest action-mystery spectacle first hit theaters in July 2007 (attached to the blockbuster Transformers), it quickly became one of the most talked about trailers in recent movie history. It was mysterious, scary, and - most of all - hush-hush, as Abrams and others behind the film, including director Matt Reeves, were keeping the details of this much-anticipated film on the down-low. The Internet became abuzz, wondering what this new movie - known only as Cloverfield - was about. Speculation ran high... as did expectations, as audiences eagerly awaited its January 2008 theatrical release.

This rising anticipation, however, is almost precisely what did this movie in - causing low grosses at the box office and a wide onslaught of critical reviews. It seems that what people almost immediately did was take this movie too seriously - and, ultimately, it became its demise. Sadly, Cloverfield fell prey to what so many others have fallen to before: over-hype... ultimately leading to an underwhelming reception.

Now, however, with the DVD release of Cloverfield, the movie has a chance to make it to the masses, delivering at home what it failed to do in the theaters: thrills, scares, action, and pure entertainment. And let's not beat around the bush, folks: Cloverfield is just that. It's entertaining, scary, thrilling, and action-packed. What it is not, however, is something to be taken seriously.

Cloverfield is an apocalyptic monster tale set in an undeterminable timeframe in New York City. A creature - something larger, stranger, and more powerful than we've ever seen before - attacks N.Y., effectively demolishing anything in its path: from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Statue of Liberty and everything in between. The military intervenes and, eventually, the decision is made to completely level Manhattan in an attempt to derail the monstrous being - and to keep it from taking over the entire population of New York, not to mention the world. Filmed with a similar approach as The Blair Witch Project - with a handheld camera from the viewpoint of a Manhattan resident as he and his friends attempt to escape the destruction - the film feels real and gritty, while also maintaining a campy monster movie vibe. (If you get terribly motion sick, beware.) But most of all, the film succeeds at being scary; I screamed out loud so often that I was hoarse at the end of the movie. And, much to my delight, the fear was due to sheer monstrous terror; this is not a movie that "scares" through a veil of vast amounts blood and gore, but rather creeps up on you like the boogie man underneath your bed.

Critics of Cloverfield have claimed that there are too many likenesses in this story to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in order to be enjoyable - and, I'll admit, that I do see this parallel. (When the lead character is on the phone with his mother, crying and saying that he was "right there when it hit," it lands a bit too close to home.) Whereas I am not a New York resident and was lucky enough to not have a loved one perish on 9/11, I still can certainly see how the images of sheer destruction in New York City could be too real - and perhaps to timely - to entertain. However, I can't imagine that the film's producers meant to be blasé or insensitive by any means; instead, the Special Features on the DVD reveal that Abrams was merely trying to scare the shit out of viewers in a way that was "safe," by showcasing unrealistic - if not terrifying - monsters instead of terrorists. Good scary movies, after all, are a bit realistic - so that viewers can immerse themselves in the story and get genuinely terrified. Cloverfield, in this regard, hit the mark. And so. If you can manage not to take the film too seriously, and are ready to simply sit back and be entertained by a good, old fashioned monster takes Manhattan film, then by all means give this DVD a spin.

• The Daily Dawdler Rating: A-

• DVD Release Date: 04/22/08. Paramount Pictures, Rated PG-13. Available online at Amazon.com.

• Where Were You When Cloverfield Hit?

  In celebration of their release of the Cloverfield DVD on April 22nd, Paramount Pictures will launch a user-generated video contest to find out where you were when the Cloverfield Monster attacked.  Users will submit video entries of up to five minutes, showing their fictional accounts of what was happening to them when the Cloverfield monster attacked.  The entries will be judged by other users and will be narrowed down to the top 3 videos. Cloverfield Director Matt Reeves will choose the grand prize winner.  The prize is $4,500 and a Paramount Pictures DVD pack. Users can enter the contest at http://www.whencloverfieldhit.com/.

• Watch the Trailer: 

   

DVD Review: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street starring Johnny Depp

Much hype has surrounded the big screen version of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Golden Globe and Oscar wins and nods aside, for uber-fans of Tim Burton/Johnny Depp match-ups, this one is a doozy - and marks a quite remarkable adaptation of the classic Broadway musical. For the rest of us, however, Sweeney Todd is a bit like being on the outside of an inside joke: you simply won't get it.

In many ways, Sweeney Todd is a masterpiece. The way in which Tim Burton has filmed the graphic musical is phenomenal; it's no wonder it won the 2007 Oscar for Art Direction. But when it comes to the meat of the film (no pun intended), it falls horribly, terribly flat.

For starters, let's take the music. Award-winning Stephen Sondheim (musical creator for Sweeney Todd, as well as hits Into the Woods, Company, Follies, and many more) has long been regarded as one of the geniuses of Broadway. His lyrics are timeless and often humorous (he wrote for West Side Story, among others), and his timing is incredible. What he is not known for, however, is necessarily being musically catchy. In fact, his music is renowned for being difficult to sing and perform - as it often bounces around unmelodically, flying along by the seat of its pants. That could be why, then, his music doesn't translate really well to the big screen. Let's set aside the fact that Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter can hardly sing (their acting performances mostly make up for what their voices lack) and consider this: Not once throughout the movie was there a song that I could take with me - that I could sing aloud or even hum along with. And so. When a musical doesn't have a ditty that sticks in your head, it can equal a problem translating to viewers - something that Sweeney Todd most definitely has trouble with.

Yet, that doesn't even begin to touch on the real trouble with this movie: it was simply uninteresting. Heavily accented singing voices didn't help the fact that many of the actors - and, therefore, plots - were difficult to understand. The characters were two - and sometimes one - dimensional at best, their relationships with one another tenuous and unbelievable. Add to that a few haphazard characters that were clearly cast only for their singing ability and it made for one unsettling film... and not in a good way. By the time that the gore (never mind that it's clearly fake) made its nasty appearance - with throats being deeply slashed left and right - it was not only boring but also unnecessary. I really didn't need to see the same scene again and again and again... as Mr. Todd continued to butcher his victims one after another in the same. exact. manner.

That's not to say that there wasn't at least a little bit of entertainment value with Sweeney Todd. In addition to Burton's filming style, Helena Bonham Carter stole the show. Her lines were often funny and well delivered; her character - the creepy Mrs. Lovett, owner of the local meat pie shop and Todd's partner in crime - was the driving force behind the show. Sadly, Depp could have thrown his considerable talent into the ring, but instead opted to play Mr. Todd as a more subtle - and way too serious - characterization of the original Broadway persona. (Perhaps he and his costars were too distracted with the complicated soundtrack to pull out their acting A-game?) I'll tell you: I've never been one to use the words "dull" and "lifeless" to describe Johnny Depp... but I suppose there's a first time for everything.

I'll admit that I don't always enjoy Tim Burton films; I like my movies to have a bit more performance and characterizations than his visual productions often have room for. However, even with that said, I must say that there is absolutely no excuse for a movie filled with staggering visuals, soaring musical numbers, gallons of blood, and even Johnny Depp for chrissakes, to be boring... and yet, it was.

• The Daily Dawdler Rating: D

• Dreamworks Pictures, Rated R. DVD Release Date: 04/01/08. Available online at Amazon.com.

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DVD Review: Enchanted starring Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey 

Enchanted is the latest in a long line of Disney princess movies based on the same tired premise: girl wishes for boy, girl meets boy, girl gets boy... and lives happily ever after. This time, however, the "twist" is that the cartoon characters come to life - and even showcase a smidgeon of feminist backbone - in this delightful (yet, be clear: still very Disney) film.

The story tells the tale of the beautiful Giselle (Amy Adams), a fairy tale character who is about to marry her handsome Prince Edward (James Marsden). Edward's mother-in-law, however - the evil Queen (Susan Sarandon) - is determined not to let Edward marry, for if he does, she will lose the crown. As a result, she sends Giselle far, far away - to a land where there is no happily ever after:

New York City.

Many delightful laughs ensue - primarily because of the absolutely darling Amy Adams, who plays the naive cartoon-princess-turned-real-life-woman to an absolute tee. Adams, in fact, is the sole reason for watching the film. You can't help but smile when witnessing her infectious charm. Even though the story relies on classic fish out of water comedy, Adams somehow manages to make it all seem fresh and new. Cute, cute, cute.

Of course, the plot doesn't quite end there... The Evil Queen sends her minion out to do away with Giselle - while, at the same time, the daft Prince Edward (the hilarious James Marsden) attempts to rescue her. In the meantime, Giselle is making new friends of her own - particularly with the dashing divorce attorney Robert (Patrick Dempsey), a single father who is seemingly trying to teach his six-year old daughter the value of being a strong, independent woman.

This would all be fine and good except... (Spoiler Alert!) when Disney attempts to create a feminist subplot, it can't help but internally combust upon itself. When in one scene Robert is giving his daughter  Morgan a book on remarkable women throughout history (instead of the fairy tale princess story she of course really wanted), and then later remarks how he teaches Morgan these lessons so that she won't grow up to be disappointed - it ends up falling upon Giselle to teach Robert that "dreams really can come true." The message? That strong, independent women don't get to have their dreams come true; instead, they end up rigid, loveless, and divorced... or even dead... (as they point out in the story: Madame Curie may have been a remarkable woman but her "fairy tale ending" was death).

All in all, I'm not sure what's worse: Disney's same old tired, gender clichéd storylines - or the fact that their attempts at being "feminist" are sadly transparent and somehow ingenuine. Yes, this is a delightful story - with fun music, funny performances, and somewhat of a new twist on princess stories. But don't expect Disney to have come to its feminist sensibilities just yet. After all, to do away with its happily ever after fairy tale princess storylines would be to shoot its own massive corporate empire in the foot. 

• The Daily Dawdler Rating: B+

• Walt Disney Pictures, Rated PG. DVD Release Date: 03/18/08. Available online at Amazon.com.

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DVD Review: Dan In Real Life starring Steve Carell

 Every over the top comedian has their one gem - the one where audiences can once and for all sit up and take notice of their actual acting ability. For Adam Sandler it was Punch-Drunk Love; for Jim Carrey it was Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind; for Will Ferrell it was Stranger Than Fiction. Dan In Real Life is most definitely that role for Steve Carell. In it, he proves what most fans of his comedy already suspected: that he is capable of comedy, drama, and a lot of heart (even all three at once). Who'd have thought that Carell could play a romantic lead with finesse? But, oh, he can.

Dan In Real Life is pretty much a standard romantic comedy - but there is one thing that this film has above all the rest: an ensemble cast that is oozing with fun and heart. Carell plays the lead, Dan, a writer and single father of three daughters. Dan has given up on love, content with his life with his children and the satisfaction he finds from writing his "Dan In Real Life" advice column. That is, until he meets Marie (the luminous Juliette Binoche; I so love her!), a smart, beautiful woman with whom he has immediate chemistry. For anyone familiar with romantic comedies, it won't come as a surprise that this story isn't as easy as these two finding one another and hitting it off. No, conflict must ensue: this time, it occurs when Dan finds out that Marie is actually dating Dan's brother, Mitch (Dane Cook, who doesn't do as badly of a job as the younger brother as you might think).

Rounding out the family chemistry is John Mahoney as Dan's father, Dianne Wiest as his mother, Jessica Hecht as his sister, and a talented young cast of actors playing his daughters, nieces, and nephews. The cast provides a solid, supportive, and - most of all - believable, base for Dan to wallow in his awkward self-pity (something Carell does best) - as well as discover the strength to move on in life. What ensues is a fabulously charming, heartwarming tale of friendship, family, new love, and new beginnings.

All in all, the message from Dan In Real Life is just as much about finding a second chance at love as it is about the togetherness of family. For once, we get to see a family that has its dysfunctions - sure - but is also happy, loving, and close. One of my favorite moments in the film is seeing the family doing their weekend ritual: purchasing two copies of the local paper so that they can do a crossword contest: boys vs. girls. The chemistry between the entire family is palpable; either these actors really get along well in real life or they're faking it very, very well. I suppose what I'm trying to say is: I dare you not to smile during this film, and not to allow your heart to become even just a tad bit lighter.  

• The Daily Dawdler Rating: A

• Touchstone Pictures, Rated PG-13. DVD Release Date: 03/11/08. Available online at Amazon.com.

• Watch the Trailer:

DVD Review: Atonement starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy

I just now finished watching Atonement and feel the need to immediately sit down and write a review - because if I don't get my thoughts out now, then I may never be able to. Atonement is one of those movies that is forgettable - and I'm getting the sense that in the morning, I won't remember that I even saw it at all.

Part of this has to do with the fact that Atonement - despite its seven Academy Award nominations - didn't really go anywhere. It started off strong - built up, in the middle, to become quite a snooze - and then left off with an unsettling, unsatisfying ending. And while Atonement did do some things right (costumes, soundtrack, cinematography, performances - to name a few), where it went awry is precisely where a movie such as this can't afford to: with the story.

Atonement is a film with an identity crisis. Is it a romance? A period epic? A war drama? A mystery? In some ways it's none of the above; in others, it's all of these things. Act 1 is a somewhat mysterious period piece set in 1935 London, with a story built upon a foundation of deceit, drama, and passion. It centers around the tale of a young girl named Briony (Saoirse Ronan) who - out of jealousy? spite? youthful misunderstanding? - spins a lie that sets off a series of dramatic consequences for her family, in particular her sister Cecilia (Keira Knightley) and her sister's lover, Robbie (James McAvoy).

Act 2 of the film showcases Robbie going off to France to fight in the war. The shots that director Joe Wright has captured throughout this middle part of the film are often spectacular (one scene, in particular, showcases a dramatic shot along the beach that is surely one of the longest, and most breathtaking, I've seen); however, it has been at the expense of the plot itself. Robbie at war is hardly a central part of the story at all - and given the timing of the release of the film, I can't help but feel as if the message is a bit preachy, if not overdone. The tension here is supposed to revolve around the lovelorn pair of Robbie and Cecilia and their heartbreak of not being able to be together... but, I'll tell you, a key problem, for me, with Atonement is that it didn't take the time to build upon the most important element of a romantic film: the romance. Apart from one sexual tryst, these two lovebirds didn't convey at all the fact that they were in love and, further, that we as viewers should care much about their tragic separation.

Yet the story continues, and Act 3 begins to pick up a bit of a pace again as we see Briony as a young woman (Romola Garai) trying to come to terms - to atone, if you will - with what she did to her family, and to her sister, as a girl. It is from here on out that the film flits in and out of drama and romance, fiction vs. nonfiction, fantasy vs. reality. Throughout, Atonement takes the liberty of skipping around in time with annoying subtitles that announce "four years later" and then "six months earlier" and then "three weeks earlier" and then expects us to not only keep up - but to care. Unfortunately, this haphazard style - combined with at least three different methods of storytelling and varying plotlines (some truth, some fantasy) - ultimately cause much of this Oscar nominated film to falter.

All in all, I did like Atonement... but I didn't love it. I suppose that, what with all of the hype, I was expecting more. Instead, I got an average drama with gargantuan aspirations. It took risks, and some of them - such as the astonishing performances (including Saoirse Ronan's Oscar nominated role) - paid off. Others, however - such as the storyline that didn't manage to satisfy - made me wish that I hadn't put myself through the few hours of watching it. 

• The Daily Dawdler Rating: C

• Focus Features, Rated R. DVD Release Date: 03/18/08. Available online at Amazon.com.

• Watch the Trailer: 

    

DVD Review: Beowulf starring Anthony Hopkins, Ray Winstone, and Angelina Jolie 

It isn't often that a movie is so bad that it makes me want to turn it off after just a few minutes of viewing. The unfortunate part for me, however (and, if you think about it, the good news for you) is that I have to keep on watching, regardless; that's my job.

Here, with the DVD release of Beowulf, this concept truly gave me a run for my money - as, like a bad accident where I can't turn away, I had to keep watching... even though it all made me want to vomit - and in more ways than one.

Let's count, shall we?

• The CGI alone was overdone to the point of distraction... and motion sickness;



• Gore and nudity abound in Beowulf... and not in a good way. Remember the Seinfeld episode that talked about the difference between 'good naked' and 'bad naked'? A CGI rendering of Anthony Hopkins's asscrack is most definitely, hurltasticly 'bad naked'; and



• Any movie that showcases a slobbering, bloodlusted monster that rips humans in half and then guzzles their blood is definitely, in my book, awarded a high yak factor.

Beowulf is at once visually overstimulating and intellectually dull. There is no story to speak of - and even less acting. The characters are just that: one-dimensional characterizations of the actors they once were, each worst than the last - from John Malkovich's smarmy character with a badly enhanced accent, to Anthony Hopkins's barf-worthy skeeziness, to the voice of Ray Winstone being slapped atop a CGI impersonation of an oaf who may as well be sputtering lines like, "Me, Tarzan, You, Jane," and, last - but certainly not least - to Angelina Jolie's character being reduced to a mere soft porn illustration. The movie would have been so much better if the CGI effects had been used in small doses. Instead, director Robert Zemeckis has opted to try for an effect that is utterly disconcerting: the characters look as if you could reach out and touch them - while at the same time harboring a vacant-eyed doll look that is truly haunting. As for the action of the film, gore takes center stage, while the dizzying special effects are just that: worthy of creating motion sickness in even the most stable of stomachs.

With that said, even setting aside my feminist sensibilities, this is one terrible movie. I'll give it a D (that is, instead of an F), but only for visual ingenuity. The rest, my friends, isn't worth the two hours of your life.

• The Daily Dawdler Rating: D

• Paramount Pictures, Unrated. DVD Release Date: 02/26/08. Available online at Amazon.com.

•  Watch the Trailer:

 DVD Review: Gone Baby Gone starring Casey Affleck, Ed Harris, and Morgan Freeman

Gone Baby Gone, the screen adaptation of the book by the same name by Dennis Lehane (author of Mystic River), marks the directorial debut of Hollywood sweetheart Ben Affleck. Starring Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Amy Ryan, Morgan Freeman, and Ed Harris, this film is about much more than big names and Hollywood influence. It's about Affleck making his mark as a serious Hollywood player - by giving audiences what they really want: true, real entertainment.

The story of Gone Baby Gone revolves around the mysterious disappearance of a little girl. Frustrated that the police aren't doing everything they can, the girl's aunt hires a small private investigation duo (Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan) to help out the investigation. Soon, the tale gets tangled in a web of twists and turns, truths and untruths - until it's final, tense end. Above all else, Gone Baby Gone will have you riveted to the screen as you try and put together the pieces of what really happened to baby Amanda.

Ultimately, I only had three problems with this movie:

• That Ben Affleck didn't get an Oscar nod for this fantastic first direction effort;



• That his brother, Casey, didn't get an Oscar nod for his absolutely fan-fucking-tastic performance; and



• That Michelle Monaghan was miscast. I love the actress, but wasn't buying her as the Boston native girlfriend-slash-business associate. I'm thinking that someone like, oh, I don't know... Ben Affleck's own wife, Jennifer Garner, could have pulled it off much better.

But even with that one small complaint, Gone Baby Gone is a fabulously scripted, wonderfully directed movie. The pacing is perfect; the perfomances spot-on. (It's no wonder that Amy Ryan, who played the missing girl's mother, got an Oscar nod for her role; she was perfect. And Casey Affleck's performance was simply riveting. ) What I love most about it, however, is that it feels real. The movie - from the story to the performances - made you feel, 100%, that you were right there: in the streets of Boston. It is raw and gritty, thought-provoking and intelligent... just the way I like it. 

• The Daily Dawdler Rating: A

• Miramax Films, Rated R. DVD Release Date: 02/12/08. Available online at Amazon.com.

• Watch the Trailer: