Sweetland

I saw Sweetland on DVD, finally. Being a good Minnesotan, I was sorry I did not see it in the theater and coincidentally it is having a special showing at a new theater/ stage right near here. So I think I am going to see it again. I really enjoyed it. It was sweet, as the title suggests, and the two lead characters seemed so true. I especially liked the spunky German Inge and her persistence in making a go of her life in Minnesota. Even in German or Norwegian she was funny and determined. For those of you who are not on the pulse of Minnesota movie info., Sweetland was filmed in Minnesota and is based on a Will Weaver short story in his book A Gravestone Made of Wheat, (that I would like to read now). I think it is rare now-a-days to watch a movie that is romantic and kind with a compelling story plot like Sweetland, and it is not fast-paced and there is no swearing, sex scenes, or bloody incidents. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it and I give it an A-. (The - is for occasionally cheesy bits esp. in modern scenes) So how do you like my ratings system? Would you call it academic?

Weird romance meets the G8 conference

I found another odd movie at the library. (You gotta love your local library!) It's called The Girl in the Cafe, and it is strange in that it is about a May-December romance and discussions of world poverty with the back drop of Iceland and the G8 conference. Bill Nighy, a great comedic actor who was was the aging rocker in Love Actually, plays Lawrence who works in finance for the British government and is trying to push for more aid to 3rd world countries, meanwhile he meets Gina, played by Kelly McDonald (beautiful actress who pops up in your odd British comedy now and again) in a cafe and a really odd, hesitant romance begins. It seems odd they are together and stranger still that she becomes an activist of sorts right in the middle of their tryst in Iceland. I'm glad I saw it but not necessarily worth seeing if your movie watching time is short.

I'd like to start some kind of ratings system for movies I see, but not sure how to go about it. Any thoughts, loyal readers :) All 2 or 3 of you.