For my money, this is the best of the movie guides. These concise, knowledgeable reviews written by Leonard Maltin and his team are indispensable when flipping through movie channels on TV or trying to decide on the next DVD rental. They also do a great job each year in correcting errors and adding the names of newly-prominent actors to the cast lists.

My only significant complaint is the the book is published way, way too early in the year. Why issue the “2009 Guide” in early August 2008? Obviously, the summer is the key time for releasing new movies, but because of its publication date this year’s guide only includes movies released through early July. It’s missing reviews of The Incredible Hulk, WALL-E, Sex and the City, Kitt Kittredge, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Kung Fu Panda, and — the biggest hit of 2008 — The Dark Knight, among many other summer and fall releases. Anyone who buys the book right after publication (like I did) probably realizes some of these reviews will not be there, but I would guess this book sells a lot of copies during the holiday season. Many of those people are going to be pretty disappointed to find out just how many films are not reviewed in this “2009 Guide.” Seems like a very strange strategy by the publisher.

“Leonard Maltin’s 2009 Movie Guide” (a whopping 1,644 pages, this book should be sold “by the pound”) brings the alphabetical listing of more than 17,000 movies and captures their essence in a single paragraph. The editions change little from year to year, bringing a batch of new movies. It’s not exactly clear where the chronological cut-off point is: “Iron Man” is in here, but not “The Dark Knight”. But it matters not.

The beauty of this book is that it remains the essential “hard copy” reference tool for us movie lovers. Yes, the minute this book is issued it becomes out-dated (see the “Dark Knight” reference), and I’m sure there are on-line reference sites that are more up to date, but if you, like me, like to have an actual book, this reference guide is for you. At that level, this book remains the best and essential.

I have many books on film, and I wouldn’t hesitate anyone picking this up. It’s extremely affordable, and encompasses film from the past to the present. Its very well made and very portable. I was shocked at how up-to-date it was, mentioning The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford in the Western Genre. This is a great holiday gift for the casual movie fan or the film enthusiast.

This is Aldolpho’s way till interest peaks in his script from an apparently rich man named Joe. But money sometimes charades with smiles, and Aldolpho is tossed into a more-then Hollywood plot of his own.

I personally find this really quite funny. At times you kind of question what’s happening, and really why, but as long as you run with it you should end up really enjoying the film. The characters are interesting, and quite match the relativeness of the sleazy apartment complex, but that adds all to the interest.

My favorite portrayal was that of Seymour Cassel’s character as the more then eccentric ‘fool’ that is Joe. Why at times the craziness of his actions makes you just so curious, while other times he makes the audience purely laugh out loud.

All though you may find the black and white disturbing, this was yet another nice impression to enhance the style of the film; and, as long as you can look past it and the oddity of it all, then please do relish the film.

At first, Celine seems to overwhelm Jesse with her intellectual wanderings and yet she playfully allows him to tease her. The chemistry is phenomenal and the sheer beauty of various scenes made me realize how the simplicity of the settings actually enhanced the emotional aspects.

Throughout the entire movie you never feel that you are on the outside looking in, although I think that is the underlying attraction. I was so mesmerized by the script I felt I became each character as they were speaking. This is bliss for anyone who loves the sheer honesty of life itself. Jesse and Celine delve into philosophy, creatively describe their first romantic feelings and enjoy a spontaneous merging of the minds.

When they meet on a train heading to Vienna, neither imagine they will encounter a reality that is better than any fantasy. There is a sweet innocence pervading this entire movie with an underlying erotic tension that never seems to find complete fulfillment on screen. While the ending of this movie is more melancholy, the ending of Before Sunset is more than delicious.

~The Rebecca Review