Starring Helen Mirren, Aidan Gillen, & John Lynch
Mom Kathleen (Mirren) struggles to decide whether to put her son, IRA prisoner Gerard (Gillen) on life support against his will when he succumbs to his self-imposed starvation. Little-known alternative to Steve McQueen's "Hunger" is not as artistically satisfying but still well-made and very well acted. Found on my quest to watch (almost) every Aidan Gillen movie ever made.
47. Buried, Directed by Rodrigo Cortés
Starring Ryan Reynolds
A thriller set almost entirely in one coffin -- it held my interest throughout (!)
Favorite Character- Paul
48. Marley and Me, Directed by David Frankel
Starring Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, & Alan Arkin
I am a major dog lover, so I was crying buckets at the *SPOILER* unbearably sad conclusion. But it's worth the tears, and Owen Wilson is actually a better actor than you might think.
Favorite Character- Marley
49. Brave, Directed by Steve Purcell, Brenda Chapman, & Mark Andrews
Starring Kelly McDonald, Emma Thompson, & Brendan Gleeson
Are you sick of all the well-behaved, perfectly proper princesses who get up and brush their immaculately neat hair and stare at their flawless complexions in the mirror? "Brave" is your fun alternative.
Favorite Character- Meridia
50. Up, Directed by Pete Docter
Starring Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, & Christopher PlummerNot many animated movies can make me cry. Not many movies at all can make me laugh and cry, but "Up" does all of the above, presenting viewers with a story both rapturous and heart-wrenching. So few kids' movies of today are intelligent, but "Up" has a big brain and its heart in the right place, appealing to kids and adults alike. Brilliant.
