Hidden Figures

That space race stuff never gets old. Throw in a bit of civil rights action to go along with it, and there's a chance you might start feeling good about this country again. The best part here is the performance of Taraji P. Henson, who so often plays characters with a hard edge; in this case, she shows a vulnerability and charm that amplifies the intelligence and worthiness of her Katherine G. Johnson. Octavia Spencer portrays Dorothy Vaughan well enough, and Janelle Monae is strong as Mary Jackson in a piece of the story that gets somewhat short shrift in this narrative. Much of the action centers on indignities great and small, so it's somewhat amazing that there's enough "overcoming" to make this ultimately and uplifting picture. It makes you wonder what human resources are currently being forced into unproductivity through cultural blindness. Definitely worth a look, and worth thinking about.

The Cat's Meow

Mildly amusing and/or involving, depending upon the moment and the scene. The story has its intrigue--mysterious deaths tend to be that way--and the presentation is well done, but something's missing. Maybe the failing lies with the cast, who have to capture some very famous personalities (for instance, Eddie Izzard playing Charlie Chaplin) and are not necessarily up to the task. If you're the mystery type, or an Jazz Age aficionado, check it out. Otherwise, the cat should nap.

Spider-man 2

Yes, I think it is better than the first. A world of credit goes to the cast for an entire collection of wonderful performances, all deep and emotionally resonant. And it helps that the script is more interested in questions about personal identity and responsibility than in blowing things up. I'd go along with a third in the series, if they're willing to keep up the quality.

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind

More mind-bending fun from the word processor of writer Charlie Kaufman. This one is not as heavy on the goofy humor as, say, Being John Malkovich; Eternal Sunshine is moodier, more contemplative, more interested in delving into the feelings of the leads (expertly played by Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet). You laugh, but you get to experience other emotions as well. If you enjoyed Kaufman's other trips inside various heads, you'll like this one too.

Dick

Mostly pointless farce about Watergate. Occasional nice moments, but it suffers from the presence of the odious and unfunny Will Ferrell. It does have a pretty good soundtrack, though.

Spider-man

Great fun. A spectacular yet emotionally true summer movie, one that (at time of release) in many ways revived the then-moribund superhero genre. The effects never overwhelm the story; some movie-makers could learn a few things from that fact.

Drop Dead Gorgeous

An often hilarious look at beauty contests. Check this one out, regardless for your tolerance of sequins and parade waves.

Small Soldiers

I saw this one a while back, and I don't remember much about it. I recall thinking it was OK, that the effects were kind of neat, the story wasn't bad…but it's all pretty vague. Can't really recommend, but can't really pan it either. You're on your own here.