Movies I have seen lately:

Casino Royale – Really enjoyed it. Best Bond film in a long time. A bit too much poker, but Daniel Craig has that certain something (besides hotness) that makes him a great Bond. I guess it’s a combination of mystery and danger. I’d feel uneasy around his Bond in a way I wouldn’t around Timothy Dalton or Pierce Brosnan or any of the others. He’s a darker Bond.

The Departed – Terrific. Confusing at a times, and a bit too many cell phones in the plot. But excellent, excellent, excellent, with tons of Names. Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, and the terrific Vera Farmiga. Where’d she come from? More Vera Farmiga.

Volver – Pedro Almodovar’s latest. You can always tell when you’re watching a Pedro Almodovar movie. Not just the Spanish and all the women, but the wonderful color palettes (his movies are infused with color) and the sadness tinged with comedy. And the doors in his movies are always old and worn and beautiful. This film isn’t quite as imaginative as his other recent films, but an Almodovar film is still better than most others.

The Queen – Loved it. Such a great character film.

I think there’s another I’ve seen recently, but I can’t remember what it is.