Per Michelle W’s request, I’m going to list a few movies and TV shows we’ve recently watched… and liked. There is a shorter list of shows we didn’t like–I haven’t decided yet if I’ll post those or not.

Once
I was informed by Renae that I’d love this movie, and she was correct in her estimation of my opinion. Once is a small, comfortable film with no dazzle or special features. It’s about a guy and a girl and they seem so real, and it’s about music, the kind of music you’ll be humming under your breath for days, the kind of music that puts a smile on your face when your husband finally buys the album on iTunes.

Rescue Dawn
This movie is a POW tale. I know, I know, we’ve all seen enough of those movies. But Werner Herzog, an amazing director, brings fresh insight to Rescue Dawn. I was impressed by how Herzog chose to tell this story with a refreshingly small amount of violence and a healthy dose of reality. Christian Bale as the lead is, as always, great, but the comedic actor Steve Zahn is the surprising standout here.

Miss Potter
This sweet film, which I watched by myself, had me in one moment calling out to Jeremy about how charming Ewen McGregor was and, in the next moment, weeping in my peppermint ice cream. And goodness knows how much I enjoy being delighted and tortured with tears all in the same film. I avoided Miss Potter for the longest time because I couldn’t stand to hear Renee Zellweger doing another British accent. But darn it all, Zellweger as Potter was an excellent fit and this flick made my night quite special.

Also recommended: The Namesake (not fabulous, but good), Amazing Grace (really wonderful bit of history), Deep Water (a fascinating history lesson), and Music & Lyrics (silly but good for a laugh; Friday Night Lights fans need to watch for Jason Street).