Haven't seen this one, but thank you, Lorna, for bringing up a thought process! Fact is, here and abroad, there is a HUGE untapped resource in prison populations and little effort to not only tap manpower, but teach and encourage them to pursue better lives thru realistic means. Sad. The penal system is pathetic. Gardening wise, where I grew up there was a 'county jail', referred to as the 'County Farm'. Said jail and its inmates ran a gorgeous farm - some livestock and lots of agriculture. This county jail provided a huge percentage of the foodstuffs for the local hospital. Physically, they were next door to each other making for easy access - (and a blip or two - my grandfather tried to discharge my Mom at the Jail entrance, having missed the Hospital driveway when she was set to deliver twins!!). The County Farm was a respected and great contributer to the area. On another track, I have seen footage of inmates paired with canines (usually problem dogs, like their new handlers, but with attributes akin to becoming service dogs) and the spectacular results to both man and dog in the training process. Nothing but good there. Given the obscenely huge prison population is this country alone, why is it that a 30 minute chance to rub out their fellow inmates in frustration in the 'execise yard', trumps the mere thought of putting them to work? Why is said work, which would teach and redirect them, so esoteric? I just don't get it. Such a huge waste. So many possibilities.

I thought it was an excellent movie, although I found it very hard to watch at times - it was not fun watching mental illness happen. It tracked the descent of a young woman into mental illness as she succumbed to the pressure of being the top ballerina in the company. From that standpoint, Portman did a superb job. She gave a very realistic performance. The supporting cast was great, the photography was very good, the soundtrack was very good. I wouldn't see it again.

I thought "Northern Lights" was awful!!!! ZERO chemistry between the two leads/lovers, LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian. Two rolls in the hay, one date, and they're madly in love & want to get married?!? Continuity was terrible. Unless I missed it, I had no idea that the father was killed 15 years earlier than when the movie starts. I didn't learn that until later, through dialog. The only reason I stayed till the end was to see who the killer was. I've never read any Nora Roberts, but I hope her books are better than "Northern Lights"! Ellen

I like mystery, murder, horror or similar as long as it isn't romance, usually fast forward the 'boring bits' as we call the kissing scenes, etc. Also love a good comedy, especially combined with a mystery, etc. Don't like silly comedies though. Wish they would put more good movies on tv though, usually have to go to the video shop to get a decent show and as we are out of town we can't just duck in if there isn't anything interesting on. TV seems to be full of reality (more like unreality - if that is a word) shows. I might start a new thread about tv shows.