Stop-Loss

What could have been a tragic tale is undermined by Phillippe’s inability to master Texan accent.  Ryan’s Elvis Wayne is an unsympathetic lead as he maneuvers through a relevant and morally debatable issue.  BFFs Gordon-Levitt and plays-himself Tatum provide most compelling story, but suffer from LSD, Lack of Screen-time Disorder.

The Lincoln Lawyer

A film of firsts. Macy plays something other than a loser. McConaughey and Philipe deliver spectacular performances. Both keep shirts on. Non-Grisham lawyer movie is riveting and suspenseful. Very nearly perfect crime thriller with a stellar supporting cast. See if McConaughey and Lucas face-to-face doesn’t look like a mirror image.

Crash (2004)

Candy coated look at the intersecting lives of several hundred people in Los Angeles. Melodramatic and carefully constructed to remind to the viewer that racism is terrible. Lives intersect repeatedly, and so on occasion to brilliant editing, performance, and music to form several powerful tear-jerk moments. Better title: Hate Actually.