We are not fans of science fiction but we are fans of Sam Rockwell, so we were looking forward to Moon. Rockwell (Frost/Nixon; Snow Angels) did not disappoint. He is terrific as an Astronaut named Sam Bell who is living on the far side of the moon, completing a three-year contract with Lunar Industries to mine Earth's primary source of energy, Helium-3. Sam’s only companion is a computer named Gerty, a 21st Century version of Hal. Gerty, perfectly voiced by Kevin Spacy, has only one job: to take care of Sam. Three years in isolation is a long time and Sam is looking forward to going home to his wife and young daughter. But, his health seems to be deteriorating and he has had a couple of strange experiences. As the film progresses, things get a lot stranger. This is only the second film for director Duncan Jones, who also wrote the original story. He created a striking lunar landscape and directed with a sure hand. Gary has difficulty suspending disbelief in science fiction movies. He can’t stop trying to make logical sense out of what’s happening. I, on the other hand, had no trouble accepting Sam’s world. Even the human-like Gerty seemed perfectly believable to me. While Gary had a bit of trouble staying focused, I was totally captivated by Moon. Rockwell is so good that even Gary would give the film a B. I liked it better and say B+. GRADE B+/B

Whenever Woody Allen writes and directs a new film, Barb and I are usually interested enough to try it. Our Woody favorites include Annie Hall and Sweet & Lowdown. Although Whatever Works doesn’t reach that level of excellence, it did have a lot of laughs for us and we both give it higher marks than most of the professional critics. Larry David plays Boris Yellnikoff, a self-proclaimed genius and world class pessimist. It is not unlike the role he plays in his HBO series, Curb Your Enthusiasm. Unlike Woody’s annual film releases of the last five years which were set in Europe, this film returns to a familiar Manhattan setting. It is a romantic comedy that he originally wrote in the 1970’s for Zero Mostel but it was never produced. With a little rewriting and innovative casting (most Hollywood actors jump at a chance to be in a Woody Allen film) the stage is set for his signature one-liners, tongue-in-cheek philosophy, and his fascination with barely legal young women. The young woman, Melody, is played by the gifted and versatile Evan Rachel Wood (The Wrestler, Across The Universe). Here she plays a perky cheerleader type who finds herself homeless and hungry in New York. Acting honors also go to Patricia Clarkson who is a delight to watch playing Melody’s mother. Without giving away too much of the plot, Whatever Works builds to a warm-hearted and we thought satisfying finale. Many will avoid this film because they just don’t like Woody Allen. But in spite of his rocky personal life, we still enjoy many of his films and think this one deserves a look. GRADE B

What a lovely movie! And that’s a surprise coming from director Sam Mendes who is better known for his dark views of marriage and family in 1999’s American Beauty and the recent Revolutionary Road. Of course, in Away We Go, Burt (John Krasinski) and Verona (Maya Rudolph), although completely committed to each other, are not actually married. They are, however, expecting a child and desperately want to be good parents. When they learn that Burt’s parents are moving to Belgium and they will be left with no family or friends nearby, they go in search of a place to call home. As they visit friends and relatives in different parts of the country, we see several scenes of family life. None of the families is ideal, but the scenes are alternately hilarious and touching. The visits help Burt and Verona decide what kind of home they want to create, and we come away from the movie feeling that their baby will be very lucky to have them as parents. Krasinski, best known for TV’s The Office, is terrific. Rudolph, well-known to Saturday Night Live fans, proves that she is a consummate actor as well as a skilled comedian. Catherine O'Hara and Jeff Daniels as Burt’s parents, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Allison Janney, and the rest of the supporting cast are flawless. Roger Ebert had a perfect description of Burt and Verona in his review. They are, he wrote, two characters rarely seen in the movies: thirtysomething, educated, healthy, self-employed, gentle, thoughtful, whimsical, not neurotic and really truly in love. Gary commented how nice it was to see a couple in love at the beginning of a film, all through the film, and still in love at the end, with no manufactured crises and no Hollywood complications. That is why this hopeful film is so delightful and why we urge you to see it. GRADE A-