The Astronaut Farmer

Although this is not Billy Bob Thornton's finest hour, it's definitely not his worst, either. A combination of October Sky and Apollo 13, The Astronaut Farmer takes viewers to a small farm where one man's life long dream of going into space actually becomes reality. For the first hour of the film, it seems as though everything is right on track. However, it's the last third of the film that lets us down.

Sitting in the theatre, I couldn't help but think that one particular sequence was no more than a dream by the title character of the film. However, as the scene went on - and on - I realized that this was indeed an integral part of the film. While not spoiling the outcome, it seems as though this film sets one up for some disappointment. However, in the end it all works out. Don't expect greatness. C+.

The Sopranos Premiere

In the first of the nine remaining episodes of The Sopranos, we take a bit of a break from the mob scene and work our way up to the lakefront summer home of Bobby and Janice Bacalieri. The episode had very few of the main stars, and we only barely heard from Christopher as Tony slammed his phone shut when Chrissy wanted to wish him a happy birthday.

The episode was again perfect Soprano material as the show never wandered away from what it prizes most - the human drama involved. While Tony is facing an uncertain future within his ranks as boss, his enemies - and associates - seem to be a little disgruntled. In my opinion, look for Phil Leotardo to put pressure on Tony, but more importantly, look for an important development with Bobby. The last scene in the episode raises many questions as to the loyalty that Bobby has for Tony. After all, Bobby has treated Tony like crap for a lot of years. Could Bobby flip and go to the Feds? Could Bobby try to help put a hit on Tony? Or is Bobby still fine with his place in the ranks?

For the critics out there who like to complain about this show, I would like to remind them that it is still the best hour of television on each week. I'm sure some will complain that this first episode was slow, but if you look a little deeper into the characters, a lot happened. As an avid fan of the series, I can only wonder will Tony survive 8 more episodes? A.

Grindhouse

Just when we all thought Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino had pushed the limits of filmmaking, they go a little farther. In the new stylized film Grindhouse, the two directors each create films reminiscent of old style grind-house films. Planet Terror, the first film of the two, created by Rodriguez, revolves around zombies taking over the planet. In order to save the day, Six Feet Under alum Freddy Rodriguez and The Terminator star Michael Biehn must try and stop the zombies. The film is flimsy - but that's exactly what makes it so great.

Up next is Tarantino's Death Proof. At first it seems as though Tarantino is a bit heavy handed with all of the patented dialogue involving sex, guns, and music. But just when we get a little restless, Tarantino cranks up the action. Kurt Russel stars in one of his finest roles as a washed up stunt driver. While not giving anything away, this movie is a surefire highspeed adrenaline-charged racecar of a film that stops at nothing to keep us involved.

Put together, these two films showcase the journey that two filmmakers have made over the last decade and a half. While the films seem odd at times, they really aren't given the directors at the helm. To boot, there are a few trailers attached to the films that make the grind-house effect that much more potent. A.

The Race Is On

With Spider-Man 3 opening in just under a month, it's now clear as to what the big films are going to be when the summer season begins. Coming out of the gate right away in May are three of the biggest films of the year, Spider-Man 3, Shrek the Third, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End. It's really anyone's guess as to which of the three films will do the best at the box office. However, I have some of my own thoughts.

It's been almost three years since we've seen Peter Parker and company on the big screen. That said, I think audiences are craving the web slinger, and with a Friday opening, this film could actually steal back the top spot on the all time opening weekend list, which by the way was broken last year when Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest stole the spot from the first Spider-Man. With Sam Raimi at the helm, Spider-Man 3 will surely receive critical praise, and with a cast including franchise newcomers Topher Grace, Thomas Haden Church, and Bryce Dallas Howard, the film could even bring in a few new fans.

The Shrek world could continue to thrive, but if there is any place for erosion this film will be the one. After two overly successful films in the franchise already, a third film seems like a lock. But the real question is whether or not audiences really feel the need for another go-around. After all, Shrek 2 was more of a rehashing than breaking new ground. Likewise, Shrek the Third is sandwiched in between Spidy and Pirates, which could cause some problems as people will still be getting over the Spider-Man hype and gearing up for that last chapter in...

The Pirates of the Caribbean series. Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End is a bit of a mystery as to how it will do at the box office. Will people be yearning for Jack after only a mere 10 month break, or will people come out in droves to see what happened to everyone's favorite pirate and his precious ship? My bet is that this film does quite well. However, as some people didn't like the second film, there could be some erosion.

All in all, it will be a banner year for movies, as these three are just starting off in the month of May. Look for other films, such as The Bourne Ultimatum, Live Free or Die Hard, and Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer to all do well.

The Lookout

Coupled with his astounding performances in Mysterious Skin and Brick, Third Rock from the Sun alum Joseph Gordon-Levitt is making a name for himself in Hollywood. Set against the backdrop of wintry Kansas, Levitt shines as Chris Pratt, a young man who succumbs to brain injury when he is involved in a car accident. Living his life day to day, Pratt learns to cope with his injury as he takes classes and cleans a bank at night. Little to his dismay, a group of thieves decide they want to rob the bank he cleans. There's just one catch - they need him to be the lookout.

From then on, the film spirals downward into betrayal, anger, and regret. Carefully acted, and even more carefully directed, the film takes the notion of classic film noir and blends it with modern-day character drama, culminating in a true tour de force.

In one of the finest roles of his career, Jeff Daniels stars as Levitt's blind friend. Daniels works well as a supporting character, and he shows his range as a great character actor. While some critics complain that the payoff for the film is not that great, I disagree. Directed by Scott Frank, the screenplay writer of The Interpreter and Minority Report, the film works wonders with a story that is rich with character devlopment and carefully calculated plot elements. The Lookout is one of the first great films of the year. A.

Blades of Glory

While I'm not a big fan of cheesy comedies, Blades of Glory works wonders with the headlined cast including Will Ferrell and Jon Heder. Set against the backdrop of the world skating competition, two skaters, Chaz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder), get disqualified for fighting during a skating competition. Banned from men's singles competition for life, the two men are coaxed into forming a pairs team.

What makes this movie really great is the combination of the good story and great villains played by the real life couple Will Arnett and Amy Poehler. Likewise, it's great to see that actual figure skaters, including the likes of Brian Boitano, Scott Hamilton, Nancy Kerrigan, and Sasha Cohen, are willing to show that the world of skating can be at times frivolous.

The onscreen chemistry of Ferrell and Heder is near that of Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci or Chris Farley and David Spade. The two work wonders both on the ice and off. While not the most serious film of the year, Blades does a good job of keeping one entertained for 90 minutes. B+.