BRIDESMAIDS: THE YEAR'S FUNNIEST FILM

Annie: You read my diary?

Brynn: At first I did not know it was your diary, I thought it was a very sad handwritten book.

This movie by far has proved that women can be funny, in a brash, in-your-face, out-loud, and over-the-top kind of way. In this film, we see women, some of them are actually very pretty, and they can act just as immature and petty and crass as men have acted in The Hangover, all of Judd Apatow's films and any other doofy "bromance". I think this is the first film where women can be pretty and funny and human. Mind you, this is no Kate Hudson-girl-planning-her-dream-wedding rom-com poof, stuck between two grooms.

Annie (a fabulous Kirsten Wiig) is the maid of honor to best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) who gets engaged at the start of the film. While Annie tries to do her bridal duties, her life is falling down around her bit by bit, but she keeps the mess hidden. Loved Jon Hamm as her self centered "boyfriend". Equally loved Officer Rhodes (Chris O'Dowd) as the actual nice guy who we like! This is a real movie about real women who are friends and screw up and make mistakes and can be redeemed by the end of the film. Megan (Melissa McCarthy) is a feminine Zach Galifinakis and delivers some memorable lines. Check out the line-o-rama on the bonus features. Please be advised that this is NOT a women only film. This is a VERY FUNNY FILM and stands alone in its own right. A total must see!

THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS: WOW

It's difficult to separate the film from the circumstances surrounding it. This was and will always be known for being Health Ledger's last film before he died. The objective of the movie centered around joy and dreams and of course, good versus evil but it was anything but joy when Heath's death railroaded the film making. What I find extraordinary is how three A-list Hollywood actors jumped right in to turn the story in a way where Heath's fleeting presence was explainable and understandable. Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell shared the role, each taking turns but still maintaining enough believability for it to work.

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN: Quick Bite

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN OR FEEL THEIR WRATH

Who knew there were adolescent vampires? Before Twilight...I guess the Swedish do. Dubbed in English, this is one of the most scary yet touching films I have seen to date. Oskar is a freakishly pale boy who is picked on by bullies at school. He is very self aware, but longs for companionship. A mysterious man and his daughter moves into the same apartment complex as Oskar, yet he doesn't meet her right away. While he is outside practising his self defence moves one night, she, Eli, shows up out of nowhere. They become friends. It is also around this time that a string of murders start to impact the community. We then see the man who is killing and soon understand why. This movie centers around the tender friendship between the two and the impact Eli has on Oskar. For a horror film, it is unusual, the most I've seen.
Bite: High honors for the Quiet Vampire. Much props for stepping outside the box.