The Ice Storm

A film with a measured pace, to say the least. Makes you want to scream at the screen, "Somebody please do something!" And really, who gives a shit about suburban angst in the '70's anyway?

Monster

Lifestyles of the poor and infamous. Charlize Theron's performance may be showy, in a reverse sort of way, but the overall film is uneven in its story and questionable in its appeal. It's hard to get into a tale about a thoroughly unsympathetic character, even if her failings are arguably not all her fault. Sympathy is a key element, even for a villain; especially so if the villain is also, in a sense, the film's protagonist.

The Opposite of Sex

A movie with all the hallmarks of the "indie" film: lots o' sex and violence (though relatively tame here), strange, over-the-top characters, even some "meta" filmmaking techniques (an antagonistic voiceover, fake-out scenes, etc.). Of course, "indie" can also mean muddled storytelling, narrowly focused characters who don't "speak" to all in the audience, and other problems. So too with this one. It has some positive traits, but it also runs too long and doesn't do enough to develop any bond between the characters and the audience. See it or not; it probably won't matter either way.

The Laramie Project

Gut-wrenching, but, I think, necessary. If for no other reason than to ask once again--in the wake of the Matthew Shepard murder--the question, why does this country (or all of humanity, for that matter) have to be like this? Maybe watching movies like this could help some people find some meaningful answers.