Movies

I wasn't sure if I liked "The Lucky Ones" from the opening moments - it seemed a little implausible and contrived, but over the runtime the movie settled into some interesting character development and story. I liked the directors willingness to keep it low-key and quirky. (spoiler) One of the better scenes in the movie was the party, where we finally listen to some serious conversation and reflection on the current wars. The dialog is well written here, as you start to see the unwarranted and sneering ridicule that comes out misdirected at US Servicemen. The detractor/anti-war character in the conversation demonstrates the idiocy of protesting a war to people in the service. The actors all do good jobs, and by the end the eventuality doesn't seem surprising but highly fitting. Good movie.

Kind of a road picture for soldiers home from the Iraqi front, I don't think writer/director Neil Burger intends to make an antiwar statement... but pretty much any human being with a heart will take it as such. The quote above, "No, thank YOU," occurs at several points in the story as these three soldiers, on leave—Fred Cheaver (Tim Robbins), T.K. Poole (Michael Peña), and Colee Dunn (Rachel McAdams)—make their way across the US. What happens is they have a transaction with a civilian who learns they're from the front, and the soldier will say thank you to end the exchange, to which the civilian will say, "No, thank YOU." With emphasis, expressing the fairly common sentiment that we have toward those in uniform....For my complete review of this movie and for other movie and book reviews, please visit my site TheCoffeeCoaster.com.Brian Wright Copyright 2009

Actually, two parts from the trailer were missing from the movie. Ebert alluded that this movie could have a semblance of "The Best Years of Our Lives." Don't believe it! Rachel McAdams appeared to be a female Forrest Gump and Tim Robbins was trying to replay Andy DuFresne. The twister scene was the low point. See better twisters in the Wizard of Oz. Time passed slowly in the movie theatre of 3 people.Sorry, I hoped for better because it would have been nice to see the Best Years updated. Fredric March, Harold Russell and Dana Andrews, your performances still rule!