Fur - An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus

4 out of 5 Stars
I realize that this film is an 'Imaginary' portrait of Diane Arbus. Obviously, the title states the obvious. I am surprised that this film was mainly disliked by film critics. I don't care that Diane Arbus (whose work I am fascinated by) never knew 'Lionel'. I don't care that this film is 99% fiction. Erin Cressida Wilson's brilliant script immediately drew me into Arbus's mind -- scary, erotic, beautiful, ugly, demented, sick, fantastical, breathtaking -- I was completely riveted. This is a beautifully shot film -- Nicole Kidman's eyes, Robert Downey Jr.'s unnerving sexiness, Jane Alexander's cold and uncaring glare. I actually thought Kidman gave a stronger, more original and more unique performance as Arbus than she did in her Oscar nominated 'Virginia Woolf' role in 'The Hours'. 'Fur' was David Lynch-esque, beautiful and scary to look at and overall very well done.

Sleepwalking (2008)

Sleepwalking - 2.5 out of 5 Stars
I saw this on an airplane and I rather liked it's bleakness. But I think had I have seen it in the theaters I may have been more harsh in my critique. Nick Stahl (who we know can play down and out, ie. 'Bully' and 'Carnivale') was a bit too soft to be believable. Some of the dialogue was over the top ('Sometimes I feel like I'm Sleepwalking through life' --okay, yes, we get the analogy). But Dennis Hopper as the crazy abusive father was great and Annasophia Robb played her role with the perfect mixture of tough attitude and innocent child.