I think the American Dream used to cry a mantra of all men created equal. But America is in the "Bush Leagues" now and , as bluntly depicted in Michael Moore`s new movie "Sicko", it seems a sordid tale of greed, creed and absolute disregard for those that haven`t learned to play the game of wealth. And a sick game it appears to be in the American "Health Scare" economy.

Moore sensationalizes and dramatises endless sad stories of death and disregard from the HMO money machines. The standard Moore critique is that he over sensationizes but lets face it, how can he avoid that approach when he`s in a story of life and death coated in greed. He needs to grab our passion before we turn to CNN, FoxNews or ABC. We won`t find any HMO truth in there while they and Pharma keep feeding the "advertising revenues". The truth about this "Heath Care" debate is as likely in mainstream media as the possibility that Exxon will go green! Moore needs to grab our brains and squeeze them hard. He`s fighting the most powerful greed on the planet. "Capitalism gone wild".

 Moore is trying like hell to inspire America to a fair minded idealism that might transcend it`s obvious, recent decadence.  How bad is it when Doctors are encouraged by a bonus system to deny HMO health care applications? The more patients that they turn away, the more wealth that they receive!? What a prescription for corruption!! Moore documents a congressional confession of one of these Doctors overwhelmed by her guilt. How many deaths is this bonus system and its appeal to greed responsible for? She can`t imagine?

Then Moore contrasts the British Health care system where Doctors score points for improving patients health care. The patient receives proactive prescription and advice. The less often a patient returns the more success the Doctor shows. The "Health care" versus the "Health Scare". Yeah, I think I`ll try the British model.

Moore solicited his 'Health Scare"  examples from people on the internet. Some had no insurance ,like 47 million Americans, but some had insurance and still suffered HMO denials and neglect. The horror stories are numerous and truly frustrating enough to piss off the most hardened capitalists. The message is loud and clear. Private Health Care is a greedy, scary and deadly proposition while Universal (social) Health Care, as contrasted in examination of the French, British and Canadian systems, fairly offers everyone an inherent Universal Right. A fair chance to live and die on equal terms. Not much to ask for, is it?

Sicko is a truly radical political film for Americans, though not so much for the rest of the developed world where death by deceit or life if you can afford it are universally obscene concepts. The Movie becomes a challenge to American ideals and the American Dream from Michael Moore.  He interviews a British politician who suggests that American politics focuses on keeping people fearful and insecure for political stability (or is that status quo?). And he interviews British, French and Canadian citizens who are proud of their time off, sick days and health care while laughing off the "American Creed".

Do most Americans believe that 9-11 volunteers who suffered lung damage don`t deserve health care? Do they really believe that Americans don`t deserve paid vacations? I kinda doubt it. But if most Americans really disagree with Moore then the "American Dream" has become something very different from historical ideals of equality that we all admired.

"We must stop talking about the American Dream and start listening to the dreams of all Americans"  Rubin Askew

Michael Moore is an idealist and a impassioned patriot who seems to be in a battle to remind America what it once stood for. This is a fascinating Docu-Movie that should help us all to consider what is most important in any Health Care debates. "Greed is not Good!" And maybe this becomes another "Inconvenient Truth" for America?

I`ve just seen Dicaprio`s film the 11th Hour and I`ve got to ponder my faith in our carbon crazy civilization. The movie is a little too much like talking heads but is still fascinating in its scope. I`d definetly recommend "An Inconvenient Truth before this but? if you have the time (and time is all we have), this is a thought provoking encounter with some of the great minds in science and their plea for the future. A future where they would intelligently redesign our carbon puking economy.

Here I am planning my next trip or is that carbon footprint (diving in Maui on route to Thailand). And I rationalize the value of travel while wondering about a future that sees 8.2 billion people on earth by 2030. Wiill the Chinese will burn more coal and India will crave more electricity? Of course! They are becoming us and they are liking it, which is no big surprise? But this is feeling likecasino capitalism and its not hard to fear our future or the fracking mess Gaia endures if we continue to roll the dice.

David Suzuki says that 99.9999% of species in planetary history no longer exist.That leaves us, being at the very top of the food chain, very vulnerable to extinction. And the movieshows us how rapid "climate change" drives extinction. But as Paul Hawken says this is a fantastic opportunity for our generation. The last and best hope for an eco-civilization. We can save this planet if we try? And as a Native Sage suggests at movie`s end: "This planet has all the time in the world, but do we?" This is really about saving ourselves not the planet.

The beauty of Hawaii and Thailand will still be here long after we are gone but who will hear the tree if it falls in the forest? Me, I`m crazy with hope and I`m buying my carbon offsets, driving slower and supporting Bullfrog (clean) power. Its not much but I`m trying. And trying is the very least that I can do? Hopefully the brainiacs running the U.S., China and India will buy into a green revolution or? Otherwise the future is ringing and nobody is home! The 11th Hour?

The mantra for Star Trek (yeah, I was a Trekkie) was to "go boldly where no man has gone before". And with that spirit of adventure the series was mankind`s generous and caring evolution (money was needless in the new human world of the Enterprise) taken to the stars.

On Nov.24, the opening episode of Battlestar Gallactica:Razor was a must watch prequel episode of a fascinating TV series that shows a pain of human evolution and survival that is a stark contrast to the civility of Star Trek. The Gallactica and its colony are under attack and near extinction. Their pressures are severe and their institutions:democracy, theocracy, military and justice are barely holding together.

This 2 hour frackfest (the Razor) features the lost Battleship Pegasus. It focuses the tribulations of her commander, Admiral Cain, her demon will to survive and her haunting influence on the Pegasus` desperately hopeful crew. They believe that they`re the last human survivors after a Cylon attack on the colony. They think they are all alone in a big bad Cylon Universe. Its a little bit of "The Lord of the Flies meets Star Trek on the Dark Side of the Moon". And what evil might men or women do to avoid the wrath and torture of Cylon Devils?

The story focuses on Kendra Shaw, played by Stephanie Jacobson, and we see Admiral Cain`s actions on the lost and disturbed Pegasus through Shaw`s eyes. Michelle Forbes, as Cain, shows a depth and humanity that gets lost in her need to save the crew. She kills innocent people that are useless to her cause and maintains a deadly focus on justifying her ends. She becomes the complicated, impassioned tyrant.

Kendra Shaw with her discipline and duty to Admiral Cain will lead a massacre of innocent civilians that will leave viewers stunned in a violent moment. A horror button is pushed. And the rest of the episode revolves around Shaws torment and need for absolution. Movie gold for good actors. She needs to make this right and will in an "Armageddon" like ending that leaves Gallactica Commanders questioning their humanity?

This smartly written metaphor for the "lunacy war causes of modern Western man", cries for the fantasy of a Star Trek future. As Gene Roddenberry would say " Star Trek was an attempt to say that humanity will reach maturity and wisdom on the day that it begins not just to tolerate, but to take a special delight in differences in ideas and differences in all life forms". While Battlestar seems to take us down the tough road to this kind of thinking, it asks the viewer to consider both sides of every decision that might take humanity to its ends. Its bloody hard taking the high road for humanity under fire.

Admiral Cain takes the Pegasus into the dark shite of psycho justification while Star Trek goes boldly with principle where no man has gone before. Watch Battlestar Gallactica. It raises all the questions our world needs to ask itself before we can reach the karmic level of the Star Ship Enterprise. Great fracking show!

This is a kick ass action western with a "classic" heart and soul. Christian Bale is the heart of this movie and Russel Crowe is its soul. They come into the movie with diametrically opposed moral senses and eventually develop a karma bond that gives this movie its classic mojo. Crowe is the killer with the silver tongue and dark spirit while Bale is Dan Evans, the peg legged war veteran and rancher hungry for respect from his family. Crowe`s Ben wade is feared and respected for his strength (in all its evil form) while Bale envies that kind of power. Crowe, in turn ,comes to envy the crippled Dan Evans, a man of sacrifice. This is a pot of acting heat that boils into karma power!

 Russell Crowe needs to be watched. He is a force of "acting nature" who really starts this movie in a walk. I thought maybe he had just shown up for the payday and was cruising through the part. But after watching the evil that Ben Wade can do to a fool with only a fork, then he`s got our "bad ass" attention. And we see cracks in the armor of his sociopathic soul when a young boy questions his motives. "I can`t do something good, it might become a habit" Ben Wade.  Then follow his transformation and watch for the "moment" when his acting genius really shines through.

Bale explores a vulnerability and sense of duty to his family that is  probably the best acting he`s done. His emotional angst bleeds onto the screen through a heroic transformation that conquers the devil in Crowe`s soul. This is serious good guy and bad guy shite that will stand the test of movie time.

Life has not been fair to either of these characters and they evolved in completely different worlds that could be expected to  settle into a classic "cowboy" shootout, but that would be too routine. And Director James Mangold doesn`t choose routine. He uses Peter Fonda as a crusty Pinkerton agent and  Ben Forster as Crowe`s psycho, sicko gang member, and runs the action onto a ticking clock that ramps up our interest. Bale will try to take Crowe`s character through the town streets to the 3:10 train to Yuma prison. The action for the movie`s final scene is fast and violent with transformation and bonding of both characters ringing true.

The final minute of Crowe`s soul felt change becomes the movie moment. Watch his face, read his emotion and anger in a look that only a great actor could generate on this level. Then back to Bale and know his relief, his pride. If you really love movies this final scene and moment are about as good as it gets this year on the big screen. Special scenes like this are the magic that rings the "classic movie" bell loud and clear. This is the film that you can use as a model for your screenwriting class. Simple, powerful, transformational, action packed and a draw for good actors. Another keeper for our cowboy classics collection!

First a disclaimer to prepare readers for my obvious bias. I`ve got this thing for Angelina Jolie (don`t tell Brad) and I`m pretty much impressed by any acting she does. Guilty! And I`m a sucker for a great "Love Story" which "Mighty Heart" is in spades. Suspense, Intrigue, Angelina and a great Love Story. Now that`s movie chemistry!!

The movie really tells two stories. One is of the boundless love and devotion of two people from a world that I could embrace with passion.   "But our differences in background and in culture make us well matched. We know naturally when to hold back and let the other speak. I make Danny laugh to help him forget his worries; I make sure there is silence when he concentrates. And we engage each other in endless philosophical debates -- about truth and courage, about how to fight preconceived ideas, about how to learn from and respect other cultures." A Mighty Heart, pg.5, Marianne

And the second story considers the horrors of terrorism and the frantic desperation of losing your soulmate into the bottomless pit of a "neverland" we can`t imagine. Karachi, Pakistan becomes a manic version a third world "Crank". Like doing good "acid" at rush hour but its like this every day and night. Hordes of people, commerce and survival wrapped up in an urban nightmare. This will definitely not be a fairy tale full of happy endings.

This movie avoids exploitation and sensationalism and doesn`t seem to take sides but its heartfelt "love story" and emotional loss is something that crosses the barriers of hate and politics. Everyone can feel for loss at this level and nobody should be able to accept corruption of innocence like this for politics. Its pretty damn frustrating to imagine that anybody could slaughter my love in the name of God or Allah. A jihad by sword corrupts a jihad of the heart and soul. And everybody seems to lose.

Jolie`s total immersion in this role keeps the movie`s rush of detail on an even keel. We feel her pain on the news of Pearle`s death (its pretty sensational acting) and you`l need your crying towel for the next few minutes. But Marianne Pearle maintains a superhuman grace in grief as she holds Daniel Pearle`s spirit close. Its a truly haunting reverence for a power of the human spirit to overcome loss in the presense of senseless evil.

You need to see this movie to appreciate how Winterbottom and Jolie honor the spirit of Daniel and Marianne Pearle`s love and commitment to each other and a greater good. A Mighty Heart is a fitting eulogy for a love that deserves to live forever!

Last night I dreamed that the world lived in peace and harmony and that extreme poverty was on the run.  Opportunity for a good life unfolded in every corner of planet "Gaia" and a man spoke of possibilities and progress for all of mankind.   "Beyond these walls is a world to be helped, and improved, and made safe for all mankind"  Bobby Kennedy    And people listened like prospectors hearing of the latest gold strike or actors working with Clint Eastwood? They listened as if his words meant everything!

Then I woke and thought about Bobby Kennedy and what might have been? I had watched Emilio Estevez` movie, "Bobby", for a second time and came away passionate about our future and pissed off about a stolen promise. The "sixties" was a powderkeg of idealism and possibilities and I can only wonder how Bobby Kennedy might have inspired an America that shook the world for peace and good will? And how far have we missed the mark when I put America, peace and good will in the same space? A collision of oxymorons! Sadly laughable in the age of Cheney. But Estevez reminds us of what might have been and hopefully what still could be?

Much of the movie plays as a very good sixties drama layered in a soap opera of sorts.  Connecting the dots of relevance are reels of documentary footage that highlight the larger concept of Bobby Kennedy`s campaign for "human rights" in the 1968 California Presidential primary. This documentary filming fits seamlessly as the heart and soul of everyone`s story. A sixties generation is tripping toward something great?

Laugh your ass off as Ashton Kutcher drops acid and leads young men into the land of Leary.  Feel the passions of young Americans, Elijah Wood and Linday Lohan, as they feel the pain of a Vietnam War that they can`t avoid. Or watch the seeds of a Latin migration to California with Freddy Rodriquez, "we`re the new niggers brother, get used to it". The stories are good but the "Bobby time" is gripping. You can feel the pulse of this movie with every Kennedy speech. America`s last hope , King and Jack are gone, says a sixties culture on the last legs of it`s idealism.

"All of us might wish at times that we lived in a more tranquil world, but we don't. And if our times are difficult and perplexing, so are they challenging and filled with opportunity." Bobby Kennedy

The history of RFK holds moments of ruthless ambition and careless regard but he seemed to have evolved into a political Buddha. This in itself is so hopeful for any of us that want to make a difference. Bobby seemed to have found his nature in a call for "human rights for all mankind". His goals were so much larger than himself or America. And Estevez` movie shows his affect on people from all walks of life.

"Our gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country; it measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worth while. And it can tell us everything about America except why we are proud that we are Americans." Bobby Kennedy

Is this another Zombie movie? Am I desperate for theatre time? Don`t be fooled. This is a movie about the nature of fear, cowardice, sacrifice and revenge. And this is a recipe for a night at the bijou with all sensory synapses on rapid fire.

The movie starts fast and horrible. Desperate people in a sombre moment and suddenly a knock on the door? It`s just a boy and he cries for help. He needs to be saved and the woman of the house can`t deny her maternal instincts regardless of her fears. This is the beginning of the most psychologically violent movie opening in my recent memory. What happens next (in an arguably great movie moment) has me jumping in my seat and shaking my head in disbelief at what a "man" might sacrifice to save his sorry ass!

This is another story of the evil that men might do in the face of fear and desperation. Kill or be killed? Can`t there be another option? Maybe not in this fictional land of rage and zombies but then again? Once the crisis strikes this picture decends into a frantic bloodletting of chaos unleashed. The action is (be warned) bloody and furious. Everyone becomes expendable.

The spirit of sacrifice and honor rests with Doyle (actor Jeremy Renner), a soldier who commits a renegade sensibility to the protection of 2 kids under the protection of a lady army Medic. Here is a minor complaint of this movie. I liked these characters a lot. I didn`t see enough of them and I wanted more. (hope a director`s cut gives us more movie time with the great characters?) But Doyle in an existential moment of heightened violence drags the deadly spirit of this movie into the light. I like this guy!

 Their struggle to save the kids transforms the flick into something rising above basic human emotion to sacrifice for a greater good. From the opening contentious abandonment to engaging saviours rising above their horror this became a movie that pushed my buttons into anxious fury and despair. If you love someone or wonder about the true value of a greater good (is anything worth dying for?) then this crazy fracking "zombie" movie might just leave you satisfied. I like this more than I ever expected and if you like the prequel (28 days later) this is even better.

And I think we`re going to see a lot more of Jeremy Renner! 

This is a movie about transformation and sacrifice wrapped in a kick ass epic African action-adventure. Its a fascinating study in the futility of life in the worst of a war weary continent typified by Sierra Leone.  Lionardo Dicaprio gives an infectious and Oscar worthy performance as Danny Archer. Archer is a street savy white African survivor who trades "conflict diamonds" from Africa for the "rich and careless" elites of Western society.

Dicaprio`s performance is physical (very) and sensitive (subtly). At his core is a tormented, African violence affected boy whose tough as Tarentino, street fighting persona is oblivious to any needs but his own. But cracks in his armour appear as Jennifer Connelly enters his space. The bullshit walks and the chemistry talks. (Can you blame him its Jennfer Connelly!)

Connelly is a probing journalist, with the heart of a tree hugger, and Dicaprio reveals his painful core through their simmering attraction. The attraction bobs and weaves and their spiritual bond will be eternal if not physical. (Love that lasts without the classic embrace can be better than a bare ass in the movies).

The  Epic setting, excellent action, and terrifying conflict are heart rending as we watch the destruction of African children wrenched from their families and turned into savage killing machines. And these are truly children. (some younger than 10 years). Its horrible and apparently all too true. And what is the motivation of these horrors? The age old story of greed.

"A greedy father has thieves for children." A Serbian Proverb

The greedy themes in this movie rival the worst in our true life, nasty global economy. "Greed is not good" for the children of Africa.

I need to give honorable mention to Djimon Hounson, who plays a desperate African father fighting with every once of what he is to save his family from the abominations of this movie. You feel his pain and anyone who knows parenthood will be affected imagining his family`s struggle. His problems are life and death and we won`t ever likely know defeat and hope at the level that this character endures.

Now don`t get me wrong, at a "suspend disbelief" gut movie level, this can be a great action-adventure night at the bijou that brings pure movie going thrills. But its importance comes to me through the pain, suffering and drama from some truths of modern Africa`s anguish. Go see this movie for thrills and or ideas. It works at every level.

Dicaprio should get nominated twice this year for best actor. The Departed and Blood Diamond. This kid is becoming "the actor" of his generation..

Come to see "Fracture" and watch 2 actors from very different generations heat up the screen. This can be the very best part of a movie experience. When actors can grab us by melon and excite our synapses like a high voltage artist then the screen really grows larger than life. Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling are at the top of their game and the chemistry is perfect for a very smartly written script. Two actors like this are icing on the cake for a riveting ride in the murder mystery genre.

Hopkins plays a diabolical and truly heartless Ted Crawford. This is a man who murders his wife for fun. Sure she was a faithless adulteress but Crawford takes special pleasure in his revenge which exposes his black hole of devils that most of us call a heart. And for Hopkin`s (Crawford) the fun has just begun. He`ll turn this tragedy into a deadly game of chess that takes more lives and forces Ryan Gosling`s Willy Beachum to understand his own limitations in the face of this Prince of Darkness.

Gosling is the true heart of this movie. An actor who can do more with a look (especially the eyes) than anyone since young Montgomery Clift.  Willy Beachum is loose and cocky. He`s on top of his game till Hopkins chooses him to become a pawn in his masterpiece. Hopkin`s character is too impressed with himself to consider Beachum as a serious threat and he will twist the knife of arrogance into every mistake Gosling`s character stumbles into. For Gosling the devil is in the details that he keeps missing. And Hopkins is the devil.

The heart of a karma movie can be in transformation and Gosling does his metamorphosis from the aspiring shark to a man who discovers his soul. A true larger than life concept; a lawyer with heart and principles. Yeah, what a stretch? But a grand idea. And the grand irony of this movie is the classic hand of evil bringing out the best that a protagonist hasn`t understood within himself. Hopkins` revels in the dark arts and unwittingly calls Gosling`s character to the light. Gosling transforms from a charming ahole to something we all hope we could become.

This is a very good "cat and mouse" murder mystery with high octane acting and an affusion of transformation that makes it well worth seeing.  Great script. Great acting. It`s movie time!

Ok picture this! A man free diving among schools of sharks as if he is one of them. He feeds them, he plays with them, he appreciates them and he is willing to risk his freedom for them. Shite! Are these the same animals that Benchley and Spielberg vilified in "Jaws" 30 years ago? Are these the same monsters that have stirred panic in the average TV watching man and woman ever since?

Watch "Sharkwater" just once and walk away wondering about the world we live in. I`m not kidding. This is fodder for reflection on the nature of the beast. And the beast is us, not the shark.

This documentary-movie, produced and directed by Rob Stewart, delivers karma on the high seas. It is a story of a man`s quest to help us understand the truth behind the media bound horrible myths of "the shark". And it brings truth and thrills in a really terrific piece of entertainment. This picture makes me want to swim with the sharks and change the world I live in!

Stewart and the charismatic renegade conservationist, Paul Watson of "The Sea Shepard Society",  lead a mission of mercy and justice into the shark rich waters of Guatemala, Costa Rica and Galapagos. They will battle to prevent the shark`s extinction.

Stewart is a myth buster who drags the viewer through our ignorance into the depth of his truth. He shows us that the shark`s real life timidity and function. They are scared to death of mankind`s sorry ass and Stewart teaches us that the shark is an essential part of the ocean`s ecology. Extinction of this 400 million year old creature may upset the balance of nature forever. If that doesn`t seem very important then watch the movie and I promise you`ll wonder why?

This film is seriously thrilling and gorgeous in high definition video. It is packed with pirate boat rammings, gunboat chases, mafia espionage, corrupt governments and attempted murder charges that cause Stewart`s "league of justice" to run for their freedom. Paul Watson has the stuff of heroes and this docu-movie uses his presence like Spielberg used "Robert Shaw" in Jaws. But this is the real deal. Stewart is the heart and Watson the guts of a film trying to lift us out of an ignorance that is just another example of how important it is to search for the truth behind our myths.

We need to pay attention to people like Stewart who, with a little help from friends like Watson, shows us what we don`t know about the world we live in. And what we need to do to overcome our fears. This movie is about us. Dive in and see for yourself!