Margot at the Wedding

Charlie Wilson's War

Disturbing depiction of ways decisions are made in Washington. Tightly plotted film that avoids making the obvious connections to the mess in Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Strong acting by Tom Hanks and Phillip Seymour Hoffman; well directed by Mike Nichols.

The Savages

Excellent examination of family dymanics in the face of dysfunction and dementia. A coda perhaps wraps up the film a bit too sanguinely. Or perhaps it objectifies the film's earlier distinction between plot and narrative, by asking us to recognize that the preceeding two hours have simply been unadulterated narrative, which the coda translates into a plot.
Great performances by Laura Linney and Phillip Seymour Hoffman

Juno

Great film, though not without its questionable message regarding teen pregnancy.

Loved the soundtrack.

Highly recommend.

Starting Out in the Evening

Zero Hour (Tea Alagic)

An excellent play written and directed by a Yale grad student about the Balkan wars.

Peter and Jerry, Edward Albee

The second act of this play began as Zoo Story, a one-act Albee wrote early in his career. In the 90s, he added a prequel act to make it more about a man and his marriage rather than a random encounter between two men. The play raises all the usual Albee questions about relationships and sanity.
Kathleen Turner, whom we saw recently in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, was in the row behind us.