Reel Insight Episode 65: Melissa Leo

Well, Rachel and I have learned our lesson.  I bet you never thought we would, but we have now vowed to stop picking actors/actresses based solely on the fact they have a new movie coming out and/or we think we like them.  Recent Oscar-winner Melissa Leo has taught us well.  Look carefully at the actor's filmography and THEN choose to feature them.  We were so happy to be done, we actually forgot to record the Top and Bottom 3 segment - we did that later!

Also a discussion of The Company Men and the new release In Time as well as some talk about collecting film memorabilia (apologies in advance).  Check it out and let us know what you think.

New Movies seen with Melissa Leo

Don McKay - Starring Thomas Hayden Church as the title character who returns to his hometown when his high school love sends him an e-mail.  Elizabeth Shue is dying, Leo is her creepy caretaker.  Nothing is what it seems, and the various twists make it worth watching.  Definitely not a thriller or horror like they suggest, it's still pretty dark.  3.5 of 5 stars/lambs

Racing Daylight - A nearly so bad, it's good variety, this is a weird historical story meets modern story with Leo, David Straithairn and Jason Downs play the three main characters (all the actors play a modern and historical character).  Leo is Anna/Sadie an odd woman who returns to care for her grandmother with a crush on the handy-man.  She starts going crazy and thinks she sees Edmund (Downs) a Civil War era soldier in the mirror and slowly morphs into his love and basically does go crazy.  The movie is told in 3 segments from 3 different characters POV.  It totally doesn't work, but it's so ridiculous it's fun to watch.  1.5 of 5 stars/lambs

Welcome to the Rileys - An odd look at a couple who lost a child and she (Leo) is dealing by never leaving the house, and he (James Gandalfini) is dealing by having affairs.  He's about to take his latest to New Orleans, but she dies.  He goes alone and meets Kristin Stewart in a strip club.  He falls for her a bit and goes home with her - but just to take care of her it seems.  Eventually Leo gets up enough courage to go after him and she falls for Stewart to and wants to take care of her.  However, she's too damaged to let them and runs off.  Not a particularly complicated movie and nothing much happens, but the acting is pretty good.  2.5 of 5 stars/lambs

Confess, American Gun, and most of her other movies have her as a really really minor character.  Watch them for another reason if you must.