The Judge

Stark becomes a Lannister, with incest, odd siblings, and a principled but morally questionable patriarch.  Duvall delivers best performance in bleak and tedious character study that’s frequently distracted by irrelevant bench discussions.  Overwhelming burden of choosing genre crushes this Grisham reject resulting in a case that must appeal… to few.

The Informers

Another Easton Ellis look at modern moral decay. Captures Psychotic American tone with precision but falls victim to scatterbrained rules of attraction. Suffers rift between the sexy young naked people party and the washed up actors convention. Renfro’s last role is decent, but everyone only Heard about eternally exposed Amber.

Love Actually

Sprawling romantic comedy set on the corner of Magnolia and Notting Hill. Basically a fictionalized account of every single person in England on and around Christmas. Beautiful editing and writing create sublime mix of sincere sadness and hilarity. Easier to name British actors excluded rather than included. Uh… John Cleese?