What does a girl do when there is a writers strike and TV is even stupider than ever? Experience life more, you say? Go to concerts and plays and literary events? Have people over for food and sparkling conversation? No! She watches movies. Lots of movies. Here are some I’ve seen recently and what I think of them:

Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead — David-Mamet-wannabe script, annoying clippy editing, overrated on all accounts.

Juno — Entertaining and sweet, despite quirky indie status.

Sweeney Todd — You know how in Kill Bill, the blood spurts ironically from people’s bodies in fight scenes? Blood spurting, not ironic here.

East of Eden — Was James Dean drunk when he made this movie? Why is he lying in a bean field? Oh no, now he is howling like a zombie. Watch out for zombie James Dean!

Broken English — Admirable. Parker Posey rocked, the writing is excellent, and character development/emotions are interesting and fresh. Nice to see an intelligent movie about a woman.

I Am Legend — A satisfying zombie flick. Will Smith is still cool. But the scene with the dog made me cry and cry and cry. And cry. Seriously. I was traumatized.

Sex and Death 101– Could someone explain to me what the hell happened to Winona Ryder?

I’m Not There — Refreshing to see a movie with a non-linear plot. Very enjoyable movie until Richard Gere appears. Then suddenly not a movie about Bob Dylan anymore–is a movie about Richard Gere being a cowboy.

The Waitress — Made me want pie.