The Oscars: Frozen River

I'll admit this up front: When I put Frozen River at the top of my Netflix queue, I did so reluctantly, only because I promised myself I'd see every film with a major Academy Award nomination. Melissa Leo is up against the likes of Meryl Street (Doubt), Kate Winslet (The Reader), Angelina Jolie (The Changeling) and Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married) in the lead actress category.

I had imagined this seasoned but relatively unknown character actor was as boring as, say, her counterpart in the leading man race -- you know, Richard Jenkins in The Visitor, older character actor up against powerhouse actors in major films that people actually saw and/or are talking about: Brad Pitt (Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Sean Penn (Milk), Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler), Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon). Jenkins work was solid, but it was so subtle as to be boring... kind of like Julie Christie in last year's Oscar-nominated Away From Her performance.

But Frozen River was good ... Gone Baby Gone kind of good. And Leo was phenomenal. There are no moments of typical high drama for her, no wailing and crying, no nudity, no prosthesis. Just the careful work of a craftsman who completely disappears into her work.

Still Waiting: Big Love Season 3

The release of HBO's Big Love couldn't have been more perfectly timed. The show debuted on the cable network just as the FBI named Warren Jeffs as the No. 1 fugitive in America. I assumed the show would be campy, maybe a bit salacious. Turns out is quite possibly the most affecting drama on TV. It sucks you in from the very first episode. The new season starts January 2009.

Flashback: The Great Debaters

A movie about black folk with no gangs. Besides that, little Eva (Jurnee Smollett from Eve's Bayou) done all grow'd up, and she reminds us of a cross between Tisha Campbell during the Martin years and Anna Popplewell from the Narnia movies.

Ok, seriously, The Great Debaters got tepid reviews, but it's a solid dramatic bet. The acting is always on point, and though the ending is predictable by the nature of the film (historical drama), we enjoy what we experience along the way.

Highly recommended for the DVD collection.

Also stars Oscar winners Denzel Washington (who directs) and Forest Whitaker.

Underrated: Married Life

Poor Harry Allen (Chris Cooper). He's married to a classy, beautiful woman (Patricia Clarkson) but doesn't want to be with her anymore. His eyes and heart have fallen on a delectable young woman (Rachel McAdams). To save his wife from the humiliation that comes with divorce, Harry decides he must kill his wife. But unbeknownst to him, his pretty girlfriend has fallen for his best friend (Pierce Brosnan). Married Life, from director Ira Sachs, is a funny, sexy, suspenseful and, ultimately, satisfying movie-going experience. It only got a limited run in the the States, so you may have to check it out on DVD.

Flashback: Closer

Natalie Portman and Clive Owen at their absolute best. If you haven't seen this one yet, you must. Closer, which also starred Jude Law and Julia Roberts, told the twisted story of four people who absolutely crush each other with truth and lies. Put this one at the top of your Netflix queue. Better yet, go to Amazon.com and buy a copy.