Dear Frankie (2004)

Netflix Synopsis: Faced with the prospect of raising her son, Frankie (Jack McElhone), with a good-for-nothing man, Lizzie (Emily Mortimer) spirits him away to Scotland and pretends the boy’s father is aboard the HMS Accra. After years of pretending, including sending Frankie fake letters detailing his dad’s adventures, the jig is up when Frankie learns the ship is docked by their home. Now, Lizzie must find a man to pose as Frankie’s father ¦ fast!

Review: Emily Mortimer plays Lizzie, who has been writing letters under the guise of her estranged husband to her deaf son, Frankie, for years. In writing the letters, many things are accomplished: Frankie gets to feel like he has some contact with his dad and Lizzie gets to hear the innermost thoughts and wishes of her son through the letters she reads and answers. When Lizzie, Frankie, and grandma Nell arrive in a new town, they befriend Marie. They also learn that the Accra - the ship on which Frankie thinks his dad lives - is docking near their town. With Marie’s help, Lizzie encounters “Davey” and pays him to pretend to be Frankie’s dad for one day. Frankie has the same affect on “Davey” as he has on everyone else - making people want to be better and thawing out their chilly dispositions.

I have wanted to see this movie for some time (mainly because I will watch anything with Gerard Butler in it), but I can honestly say that once the movie started (and he doesn’t appear until about 45 minutes into the film) I was so engrossed in the story that the original reason didn’t even exist anymore. Butler brings an air of desperation to the character in the beginning but as he spends time with Frankie, he realizes what a great kid he is. Thankfully, the emotions aren’t `big’ like they might be in a Hollywood film. He comes to this realization slowly. At the end of the day, when he asks Frankie and his mom to spend the next day with him, it makes sense. We believe that `Davey’ has actually grown fond of Frankie.

This was a beautiful film and I’m so glad that I saw it. It was sweet, simple, real, and powerful in many ways. It was the kind of film that will stay with you for several days. That is what good filmmaking is all about and it is refreshing to see one as high quality as Dear Frankie.

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Submitted by: Colleen 6/28/07

The Lake House (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: Speed co-stars Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves reteam for romance in director Alejandro Agresti’s remake of the Korean film Siworae, exploring a mysterious mailbox that somehow bridges time. After moving away from her peaceful lakeside home, a lonely physician (Bullock) begins writing letters to the frustrated architect (Reeves) who now occupies the building, only to discover that they’re living two years apart.

Review: Okay ladies! This is a movie to put on when your having ladies night at the house. This is a great movie!! I love uniqueness of it the pure ROMANCE of it. Granted I have never seen Reeves in a romance before so one it was a little odd but to be fair he wasn’t awful…I just think he needs to go back to what he does best Sci-Fi. Bullock of course is her great can’t help but love self. She reminds me so much of a “normal” down to earth person and you can even see that in the roles she plays. I will see any movie with her in it. The story line I believe was very strong and very concrete. I liked the consistency, which I believe would be a little bit of a challenge for a movie about “time”. I think this would be a great movie to share with your teen daughter, for her first romance film, since its clean and its very very endearing. Go get this one ladies, men I don’t think any of you will WANT to see this movie…unless your a romantic that is…in which case..can I have your number? Just kidding!

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Submitted by: Lisa 6/3/07