I know, it's a pretty standard story. Maggie Gyllenhal plays an ex-con mom who has missed her daughter growing up, and now out of prison and drug free, is trying to awkwardly connect with her.

For one, let me just say I hate both of the Gyllenhal's with a passion. But yes, Maggie does an amazing job in this movie. Not because she's this tragic figure, but because she is so selfish and immature as a mother.

The movie doesn't overdue it either. You never really feel bad for Gylenal's character, she's kind of a dick. Danny Trejo is pretty good in it too as the standard native american-ish reformed addict who helps her out.

It's pretty standard material here, but Gyllenahal and the filmmaker made it very subtle and realistic. There's no life lesson and they don't try to give you any sort of message about drugs or love or family. Gylenhal has earned my respect here as an actress and I'm sure she'll get a nomination (but won't win).

Give it a look, it comes out Tuesday (in the US anyway).

I appreciate your recommendation...and I tend to agree with you that it takes either a profound performance or enormously fitting role to make me even think twice about whether or not I like Jake or Maggie. They just sort of annoy the hell out of me. However, Jake was very good in proof and lovely and amazing...and Maggie Gyllenhaal was surprisingly fitting in stranger than fiction. Obviously not their most major roles, but I felt they fit them best and didn't make me cringe when I was watching them.

For the record, I find it amusing that Larry spelled their name three different ways and still didnt get it right. Hall's got it, though.

I didn't see sherrybaby, but I have to say I'm surprised that neither of you are fans of the two of them. They both make some very daring choices and I don't think I can say I've seen either fail at any role. Then again, I've only seen two or three for each, one being Donnie Darko which I personally loved.

They just annoy me haha. Can't explain it...I try to look at actors and their performances as biasly as possible, but there are some that it's just difficult for me to watch and they always seem really awkward in their roles...another one is Toby Maguire.

as UNBIASLY* as possible.

Tobey gets on my nerves too. Kirsten Dunst as well. And I hated Donnie Darko.

And I realized I spelled their names wrong, and I just started going between those different spellings hoping one would be right. Oh well.

I actually really, really like Kirsten Dunst...I'm finally starting to like Elijah Wood again, but there was a period in which he became far too self-aware and it bugged me big time. I've loved films Maquire hasbeen in...but the only role I've ever liked HIM in was his role in the Ice Storm...and that was an Ang Lee film, so of course he's going to make all of his actors work pitch-perfectly in their roles.

my friend Joe thought the guy in spiderman was in brokeback mountain, so he thought he got to see spiderman get ****ed.