Spellbound

directed by Jeff Blitz and starring some really strange children

Follow a bunch of kids as they prepare for the National Spelling Bee.  The first half of the movie is backstory on the various kids, some of whom really needed to be slapped or at least one, you'll know who I'm talking about when you see the film.  The second half is the kids at the bee.  Yes, there were moments of suspense as we wait to see if the kids can spell "Crocodilian" (sp? hehe) correctly but after a while it gets kind of boring.  I've seen the Bee on ESPN and it held my attention for about 30 seconds, I'd rather watch the "jewelry hour" on the Home Shopping Network.  I would have preferred to see more footage of the kids when they were back home and like getting beat up in the cafeteria.  Also the thing I don't get about this whole spelling bee is like, after it's over, then what?  I mean if you've trained to be a figure skater and you don't make it to the Olympics well at least you can skate really well and maybe join the Icecapades....but what do you do with spelling?  I mean so you can spell  "flibbertiggibet"...now what...an exciting career in proofreading?  Join the professional hangman circuit???  

Love Don't Cost a thing

directed by Troy Beyer and starring Nick Canon and Christina Milian

Nick Canon plays a geek who has a knack for fixing Escalades.  He makes a deal with some girl to fix her car if she'll fix his reputation.  He then goes from Erkel to 50 Cent  in 10 seconds flat.  I guess it's not the worst teen movie I've seen this year.  Definitely don't pay for this one and don't forget the cheap beer, you'll need it! 

The Perfect Score

directed by Brian Robbins and starring Erica Christensen and Scarlett Johanson

Ok I never stressed my SATS this hard and I still got into Cornell...sort of.  This movie is a sad attempt at paying tribute to the Breakfast Club through a bunch of cookie cutter stereotyped teens trying to steal the SATS.  A big step down from Lost in Translation for Scarlett Johanson but a big step up from Swimfan for Erica Christensen.  The people who made this movie apparently cheated their way through film school.  Let me ruin the surprise ending by saying that none of the kids actually wind up cheating on the SAT.  Trust me, I just saved you ten bucks.

Capturing the Friedmans

directed by Andrew Jarecki and starring a really messed up family

You thought your family was fucked up?  I mean FUCKED UP!  Wow...I love the fact that this movie was supposed to be about children's party clowns.  This is one of the best documentaries I've seen in a long time.  The amount of home video this family has is unbelievable.  I haven't seen something this good since the Paradise Lost movies.  Be sure to check out the two hours of additional footage on the bonus DVD...or have a life hehe.