THE YELLOW HANDKERCHIEF (2008) – My rating: 8.5/10

I absolutely loved this movie.  William Hurt plays Brett Hanson, a newly released prison inmate with nowhere to go.  He soon meets up with Martine, played by Kristen Stewart and Gordy, played by Eddie Redmayne.  As the movie progresses, Brett Hanson’s life is revealed and the three embark on a road trip/journey that proves to be mentally healthy and empowering for all.  It seems their common denominator is loneiness.  I can’t say I’ve seen any other movies like this one.  I loved the fact that there was little violence and the story wasn’t over the top.  Explanations were feasible, decisions somewhat sensible and the ending was very well done.  Brett Hanson’s story was the most profound given his age and experiences which included a woman named May, played by Maria Bello.  I highly recommend this movie as it delves into the lives of the lonely and shows you should not judge a book by it’s cover.  Now available on Netflix.

PRISONERS (2013) – My rating: 8.5/10

Prisoners is one the most suspenseful movies I’ve seen in a while.  Who done it?  You won’t be able to figure this one out.  There are so many suspects, twist and plots that you’ll be literally sitting on the edge of your seat.  Two little girls go missing on Thanksgiving day.  Their families are shaken to near collapse.  One father is willing to go beyond the call of duty to get his daughter back.

I have some mixed feelings about this movie because the guessing game goes a little too far for my taste.  I can’t really explain this without creating “spoilers”.  Despite any reservations I might have, there is some great acting in this movie.  Hugh Jackman gave a phenomenal performance  showing why he will go down as one of the great and versatile  actors of our time.   Performances by Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello and Terrence Howard were outstanding. One of my favorite was the performance by Melissa Leo who has done a lot of TV as well as “Frozen River” which you can find on this site as one of the highly rated movies I’ve reviewed.  Normally, I wouldn’t suggest seeing a movie with no special effects, dancing or science fiction on the big screen but this one is a “see it now” kind of movie so I suggest that you invest your time and the price of a ticket.  I rate Prisoners 8.5 out of 10 because it really gets you thinking while you’re also entertained.

[PRISONERS is nominated for Achievement in Cinematography]