Very well executed

That was an excellent one.

Simply A Masterpiece

An Exercise In Nonsense

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (2008): Dir: Patricia Rozema / Cast: Abigail Breslin, Chris O'Donnell, Julia Ormond, Joan Cusack, Max Thieriot: Charming family film about realizing one's potential. Set in 1934 during the Great Depression, Kit dreams of being a reporter but after her father loses his job at the bank, her mother opens her home to strangers. A string of thefts occur and the local hobos are blamed. Although sometimes corny, director Patricia Rozema is backed by superb art direction that captures the period as well as provide creative sets. Abigail Breslin is winning as Kit who observes all who arrive but ultimately sets out to clear the hobos of blame. Chris O'Donnell is seen briefly as her father and the role is a waste for an actor capable of more. When he arrives home in the conclusion, no one is surprised. Julia Ormond plays her mother whose generosity is endless. She will no doubt not have time for Kit's ventures but her resources for the needy are inspiring. Joan Cusack plays a librarian who boards there but thankfully she and another boarder allow the film to cross unpredicted grounds that give the film an appropriate mystery appeal. Max Thieriot is also featured as a young friend who also embarks on this adventure with her. Aimed at families with mystery, humour and adventure plus a theme that regards sticking together when the odds seem overbearing. Score: 8 ½ / 10

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl is a touching story about a young girl (named Kit) who is living during the Great Depression. The movie follows Kit and her family as they struggle through the tough times of the Great Depression. It is a very moving movie, with several emotional scenes, especially near the end.This movie introduces viewers personally to the struggles that people had to go through during the time period, and I feel that this is one of the strengths of the movies. Not only is it touching and moving, but it also educates the viewer on what the time period was really like, giving a personal perspective to an important period of history.In terms of acting, I absolutely loved Abigail Breslin as Kit. She is an amazing actress, and I think this is one of her best performances. All of the other actors give great performances, as well.This is a wonderful movie that can be enjoyed by anyone, kids and adults alike. It is a movie which both touches the heart, and educates the mind.

Cincinnatti, Ohio, heartland of America, hit hard by the depression. All the small kids knew was that whenever your family resorted to selling eggs, you were about to lose your home.Cute 11 year old Abigail Breslin is Margaret Mildred Kittredge, 'Kit' for short. She is in an ideal family, until ... dad's business goes under and he has to go find work elsewhere. He goes to Chicago. In one scene after dad has been gone for a while Kit says, "If you are not working in Chicago, why can't you NOT work here?" Kit's mom is Julia Ormond as Margaret Kittredge, and her dad is Chris O'Donnell as Jack Kittredge. Kit's mom has to resort to taking in boarders to make ends meet and keep the house from foreclosure. It becomes quite a varied group, with a dancer, Jane Krakowski as Miss May Dooley. A mobile library driver, Joan Cusack as Miss Lucinda Bond. A woman, Glenne Headly as Louise Howard, plus her young son. And a magician, Stanley Tucci as Jefferson Jasper Berk. Meanwhile Kit is pursuing her ambition to write articles for the Cincinnatti newspaper, where the editor is Wallace Shawn as Mr. Gibson. At first they just laugh at her, who ever heard of a kid writing articles for the newspaper. But she keeps on trying. There are a couple of hobos, Max Thieriot as Will Shepherd and Willow Smith as Countee Garby. They end up doing odd jobs around the house and get food in return. Plus friendship from Kit and the other kids. A crisis arises when the lockbox in the Kittredge house turns up missing, and clues lead police to suspect it was a hobo, perhaps even Will. But Kit doesn't believe it and puts her investigative skills, a sort of Nancy Drew approach, to work helping solve the crime.Overall a good movie, entertaining with some good actors.SPOILERS: The crime was a product of the magician, his friend, and the mobile librarian. But Kit hides in the car when they go to dig up the buried treasure. In the process she clears the name of the hobos and the Kitredges keep their home. During Thanksgiving dinner dad shows up again.

I took my grandchild to see this movie and was truly shocked. How could a movie this good come out of Hollywood? The characters were believable, the plot interesting, there were humans instead of androids in this movie, there was no sex, violence, or bad language in it, and this old lady LOVED it. So did my 7 year old grandchild. Why haven't they been making movies like this for years?Usually when I take a child to the movies, I am saddened by the experience. Where are all the wonderful, wholesome productions of yesteryear that entertained one and educated at the same time? This movie did both. My grandchild knew nothing about the Depression, so I explained the time in very simple terms. She seemed to get it, and loved the way the story had a good ending where the main character had a personal triumph and a family endured adversity.Take your kids to see this movie. You will be proud and not embarrassed.