A man living in rural Wisconsin takes care of his bed-ridden mother, who is very domineering and teaches him that all women are evil. After she dies he misses her, so a year later he digs her up and takes her home. He learns about taxidermy and begins robbing graves to get materials to patch her up, and inevitably begins looking for fresher sources of materials. Based closely on the true story of Ed Gein. Written by Ed Sutton {esutton@mindspring.com}

Audiences can start celebrating a little early as the holiday-themed romantic comedy “Love Actually” weaves its spell over moviegoers. Writer/director Richard Curtis’ romantic comedy can honestly, truthfully, and without hesitation be labeled ‘the romantic comedy of the year.’ In a year practically devoid of romantic comedies, that’s not exactly a tough title to claim. However, “Love Actually” is utterly charming, irresistible, and all those other accolades usually launched at a cute, fluffy, romantic comedy, so it deserves the label - and not just by default.

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Gabriel Noone is a late night radio-host in a big city, specializing in spooky tales culled from his active imagination. When Gabriel’s lover decides he needs some “space” and moves out, Gabriel descends into a funk until a publisher friend brings him a manuscript written by 14 year-old Pete Logand, a troubled young fan. Pete’s story touches the vulnerable Gabriel deeply. Pete was severely abused by his parents and is now under the care of his former social worker, Donna Logand, who has adopted him. Pete is very ill and he and Donna are keeping a low profile in a small town in Wisconsin to avoid discovery by Pete’s mother. Gabriel develops an unsettling long-distance telephone relationship with the boy and his guardian. Nothing is as it seems and the skepticism of friends causes Gabriel to become suspicious of Donna and her motives, so he tries to resolve the loose ends by traveling to Wisconsin to confront Donna and Pete. But this effort is largely unsuccessful and we are left wondering if Pete is real, if Donna is really blind or if Gabriel is the deranged soul of the story. Written by Joe Jurca

In the early 1950’s, the threat of Communism created an air of paranoia in the United States and exploiting those fears was Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin. However, CBS reporter Edward R. Murrow and his producer Fred W. Friendly decided to take a stand and challenge McCarthy and expose him for the fear monger he was. However, their actions took a great personal toll on both men, but they stood by their convictions and helped to bring down one of the most controversial senators in American history. Written by Brian Washington {Sargebri@earthlink.net}

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Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt return as heads of the Baker family who, while on vacation, find themselves in competition with a rival family of eight children, headed by Eugene Levy

The movie is a celebrity version of Garrison Keillor’s radio show of the same name. The movie takes place during the last live performance of the show as the new radio network owners have sent an axeman (Tommy Lee Jones)to close the show. Another fantasy element is thrown in as an angel (Virginia Madsen) stalks the theater to take one of the performers. Keillor essentially plays himself, even using his own name for the character. Lily Tomlin and Meryl Streep play the singing Johnson Sisters, with Lindsay Lohan as a suicide-obsessed daughter of Streep. Woody Harrelson and John C. Reilly are hilarious as the slightly off-color singing cowboy duo, Dusty & Lefty. Kevin Kline is a security guard who act as the narrator. Maya Rudolph also appears as a pregnant stage coordinator. Contains some mild sexually-oriented jokes. Written by John Sacksteder {jsackste@bellsouth.net}