The reviews of this movie were so horrible that I watched this in secret on cable. I only wanted to see it because of Michelle Pfeiffer and Jennifer Jason Lee (the latter's part is so small as to be irrelevant). The story held no surprises - three daughters held in spiritual bondage to their domineering father, who sexually abused the two older girls, and possibly the youngest.

Michelle Pfeiffer's performance was perfect. Therein lies the problem. Her character was the one woman who owned her anger, the one woman who never forgot, the one woman how told the truth. And she died. Not of violence, not by accident, but of breast cancer - possibly the greatest fear that modern women live with.

The movie's moral was quite clear - her death was her own fault. The anger that she nursed at her breast ate at her like a canker until it consumed her.

WHAT FUCKING BULLSHIT IS THAT MESSAGE TO GIVE TO WOMEN??? Great grieving goddess - to feed the fear that if a woman tells the truth and speaks her voice she will be destroyed! What a horrible sin against women to perpetuate such a mythology.

A quiet drama starring David Straitharn and Mary McCormack. The story is unassuming, the script is fine. It is the actors that bring this story to life.

David Straitharn (The Firm, Sneakers) is an amazing character actor - he draws my eye and attention. He and Holly Hunter walked off with The Firm. I don't know why I want to say this about him, but he is such a compassionate actor.

Mary McCormack (Dances with Wolves) is so strong, and yet so wounded. The two of them are all rough edges and soft centers. Loved it.

Helena Bonham Carter, Cary Elwes

I loved this movie. The story of Lady Jane Grey has always haunted me, and this movie tells it well.

Basic knowledge gained from this movie: math is evil. I can live with that philosophy. Trip, whom I am beginning to think was my soulmate, had this aggravating habit of doing mental math when stoned. Story problems, metric conversions -- it was maddening.

And I've started doing it to. Fractions. Lots of fractions. Help me!

Quotes:

• The Torah is just a long string of numbers. Some people say it is a mathematical equation given to us by God.
• You see, there's math everywhere.

And from The Prophecy:

• Study your math, kids! Key to the universe! - Archangel Gabriel

Space Cowboys was almost an awesome movie. The first half was a lot of fun, but the second half flattened out. Everything was telegraphed waaaay ahead of time, there was no suspense whatsoever, and ... I think it comes down to poor engineering. [But then, what doesn't?]

The writers were trying to strike a balance between an action-driven movie and a character-driven movie, and fell through the gap. Like I said, no suspense, and no payoff either. The bad guy didn't get his. Remember that rush of delighted glee when Hans died in Die Hard? That desire to stand up, raise a clenched fist, and yell: Yeah!

Spare my ass, I am not the only one who did that!

Anyway, I fell head over heels for Donald Sutherland and his character. "So, will you buy me oysters?" "I'll buy you pearls." Waah!