Birthday Girl

So, you still think mail-order brides are a good idea? Caveat emptor, baby. Of course, if they all come over looking like Nicole Kidman, the m.o.b. companies might grow to rival GM. As for the movie, it moves briskly, deftly combines comedy and drama, and somehow makes you want to see Ben Chaplin's poor schlub come out on top. So I guess it works. Your marriage to Olga? I make no promises there...

The Thin Red Line

Wow--they made Guadalcanal boring. Almost a twin to Saving Private Ryan--another ponderous, pretentious WWII epic that had virtually no real story to speak of. Oh well--at least it looked nice.