I watched these films recently:

Topper Returns (1941) Roland Young, Joan Blondell, Carole Landis, Billie Burke, Dennis O'Keefe, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson. Wonderful cast of character actors steal the film from the stars. Young, Burke, and Anderson are a riot. This time it is Blondell who is killed, murdered by mistake, and she coerces Topper into helping her find out why? And who. Light and funny. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034303/

Road To Morocco (1942) Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour. My favorite of the Road films. Zany and crazy but the 3 stars are all at their best, in looks, voice and because they seem to be having fun, I did too. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035262/

Since You Went Away (1944) Wonderful film of the women left at home during WWII and how they coped. Made during the darkest days of the war, when the USA was losing thousands of men a day with no end in sight. Nearly every family had someone who was wounded or killed. This film is about an upper middle class family with a maid and lots of privileges, but it is one look at how it was for one family. Jennifer Jones saying goodbye to her soldier sweetheart as she runs down the depot platform is so heartbreaking, and one of her greatest few minutes on film. Beautifully filmed and acted. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037280/

Stage Fright (1950) Jane Wyman, Marlene Dietrich, Michael Wilding, Richard Todd. Hitchcock misfire. I have not seen it for over 25 years and it is just a bore. Very disappointing. Strange, because I used to like it, but this time - no. Even the Dietrich magic is not there. The only actor who shines is Alistair Sim as Wymans father, Commodor Gill and Dame Sybil Thornedike as his wife. Both are great and Hitch should have had more of them, which would have made this boring film watchable. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042994/

Songcatcher (2001) Janet McTeer, Aidan Quinn, Jane Adams, Pat Carroll, Emmy Rossum. Wonderful film set in early 1900s about a woman professor, who ventured into Appalachia, North Carolina mountains, to visit her sister's school, and ends up collecting the mountain peoples music. The story is told from a woman's viewpoint, with the major plot points showing the struggles of the women. But also showing how hardy, good humored and brave they were. And showing the tradition of the balladeer/storyteller in the transfer of traditional music and stories handed down through hundreds of years. The music is wonderful, and the characters interesting. A part of America not often featured in film or print. Wonderful. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042994/

Inside Man (2006) Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Denzel Washington. Bank caper film. Stars make it worth watching. Reviewed before. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454848/

What Happens In Vegas (2008) Cameron Diaz, Ashton Krutcher. Leads actors are fun to watch, but in their roles in this film, are impossible to like much. Both go to Vegas to forget what has just happened to them and end up spending a drunken night of partying and high jinks with each other. Among other things they did, they get married, and they win a jackpot of 3 million dollars, with her quarter which he put in the machine and pulled the lever. So who gets the money? When they go before a judge, he makes them wait through 6 months of marriage counseling, and after ups and downs, they find they care for each other. Yeah. We know! But watching a guy urinating in the sink for whatever reason is not funny and makes the character so awful I was not able to see any good in him, so didn't care if they ended up together. With the money maybe she won't have to see him very often. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1033643/

300 (2007) Gerard Butler, Lena Headey. Leonidas and Queen Gordo, and the brave 300's last stand at the Hot Gates, against the invading hoard from Persia. Great film. Narrated by Delios, David Wenham. Reviewed before. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416449/

The Brave One (2007) Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard. Story of a radio talk show host who with her lover and their dog are assaulted in Central Park. Waking up after 2 days in a hospital, Erica is told David has been killed, and is so traumatized she can barely function. After the police do not seem to be doing all they can to discover what happened and who did it, Erica buys a gun to feel safe, and carries it all the time. At a convenience store one night as she wanders the aisles, a thug robs the clerk and kills him, then stalks Erica and she kills him. So far, self defense. But after another incident on the subway, when she kills 2 guys harassing everyone and threatening her, she is dubbed a vigilante. Meanwhile, Howard and the officer in charge of the investigation of these killings, gets close to discovering who the killer is, and they both become aware of each other. Is she justified? Interesting question, and no easy answers. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0476964/

Accidental Husband (2008) Uma Thurman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Colin Firth, Sam Shepard. Can you believe? With this cast, this film never got a distributor and was never released. As rom/coms go, it is not that bad. But the concept is ridiculous. Smart author/radio host tells listener her fiancee is not for her and dummy breaks her engagement. Said fellow is a fireman and he becomes involved with radio host and they end up married or something. How it all comes out is the movie. Plot devices are so crazy and the characters act so nuts, we are muddled. Firths character is the only one that you halfway hope will find happiness. The other two deserve each other. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0809504/

Last weekend of the month to watch films, so hope I can get some of the Oscar nominated films to see.