coxkatherine

A hilarious take on everything from race to corporate America to over sexualization of women Undercover Brother is a laugh riot which does not resort to the lowest common denominators to appeal. The most consistently funny parts of Undercover Brother - and there are surprisingly quite a few to choose from - involve Undercover Brother losing himself in white corporate America. The movie uses humor to make its points, but it does so gently, not stridently, and with a smile, rather than an angry grimace. Of course, Undercover Brother is more interested in getting laughs and appealing to a wide audience than in making a social statement. Consequently, it takes equal jabs at black and white culture.Undercover Brother needn't be a guilty pleasure - it's made with enough savvy to be appreciated on its own terms. There are laughs aplenty.

M Night Shyamalan's debut film sees him return to India to find his ancestry. This isn't a bad movie and although budget constraints are evident, they should be forgiven seeing as this is his very first attempt. Dev Raman (M. Night Shyamalan) is an American-born Indian sent to India as part of a college student exchange program. Dev is reluctant to go, but his mother, to whom he is devoted, insists. So, friendless and alone, halfway across the world, Dev experiences culture shock -- he may look like an Indian, but it is quickly and vividly demonstrated that looks are of little consequence, and it will take more than a glib tongue and an unwillingness to back down to earn acceptance and respect. In the midst of his initial travails, Dev's sole friend is Sunjay (Mike Muthu), his guide and mentor, upon whose advice he relies. Praying with Anger relies on too much stock material for it to warrant anything more than a passing interest.

Clint Eastwood proves ones again that he is a master filmmaker actor and even at this age he is so bloody good. This is about Walt Kowalski- a veteran of the Korean war who is of an old mindset. This movie entertains. It does so with a sly undercurrent of humor mostly from the crusty Walt. The other characters are rich and well portrayed also. Key to the story is the developing father/son relationship Walt grudgingly initiates with his teenage next door neighbor Thao. I will not spoil that as its pure golden. Walt Kolwalski is a real curmudgeon that, while vile, is so funny you gotta love him. Though we never meet his wife we know she was the absolute love of his life. He's old too and perhaps is facing an eminent decline, possibly soon as we are led to believe. Against this backdrop he faces head-on his mortality and his wishes to have done things differently...Not the least of which are his regret of not being a good father to his sons and, even more importantly, not seeking God's forgiveness. When he decides the situation he and his Asian neighbors are caught in must end he seeks a resolution within which he constructs his own brand of redemption. A must watch.