Holiday Movie Reviews

All of our students are on break, and although the University has been open the past two days, there isn't much going on. So, as promised, here are my reviews on this season's holiday movies...for whatever they're worth.

Dreamgirls: Well-made spectacle with great singing, dancing, and 70s-era hair and disco clothes. Chicago girl Jennifer Hudson steals the show, but Beyonce is just as good. Eddie Murphy plays as James Brown-type character and he also is great in the role. Jamie Foxx is just so-so. The story is not as compelling as I'd hoped, but the performances make it a must-see.

The Holiday: This is a chick flick, and I mean that in a good way. Girls, take your friends and go see this one. Jude will steal your heart, and Jack will make you laugh. Plus, you'll fall in love with Eli Wallach as Kate Winslet's Hollywood-era neighbor.

We Are Marshall: Here's one for the guys. I personally love all sports movies (Rudy, Miracle, Mystery Alaska, Hoosiers, The Natural, etc). Throw in a few plaid polyster suits and a 70s soundtrack, and I'm in heaven. People's Sexist Man of 2005 (Matt McConnaughy) gets a little tiresome speaking out of the side of his mouth and strutting around like a rooster, and Matthew Fox seems to be playing another moody soul like Jack from Lost, but the story is still good. Random MWU Trivia: A longtime CCOM faculty member and former dean of MWU's College of Health Sciences is now the president of Marshall University (Dr. Stephen Kopp). You can see him briefly at the very end of the movie in front of the memorial fountain. Random KJ Trivia: The real-life coach portrayed in this movie, Jack Lenygel, was the coach at my alma mater, the College of Wooster, before taking the job at Marshall in 1971. The school is mentioned a few times in the movie, but it is reall pronounced as "Wuu-ster," not "Wooo-ster."

Little Children: Not a holiday movie, but I saw it on Christmas Day. Again, Kate Winsley is the greatest actor of her generation (in my opinion). The movie is good and kept my interest for two hours, but dark and deeply disturbing on many levels. You really have to be in the mood for heavy drama to enjoy this (and "enjoy" might not be the right word).

The Departed: Also not a holiday movie, but I saw it over the weekend also. Great story, wonderful acting, brutally violent, and somewhat depressing. But, Scorsese should finally get his Best Director Oscar for this; he deserves it.

The Pursuit of Happyness: If you don't already have a huge crush on Will Smith, you will after this movie. Great story, great acting, and genuinely inspirational. Yes, I laughed, I cried. This might be the best movie of the bunch.

That is my list as of now. What have been your favorite movies so far this year?