Prairie Miller

Something really strange but not surprising in hindsight, happened towards the end of George Bush's term in office. That is, just prior to the stock market crash.

Charlize Theron takes initial center stage amid these constantly shifting storylines as Sylvia, an Oregon boutique restaurant manager who moonlights as a cranky one night stand sex junkie.

When a hit and run guerrilla flasher in nothing but a raincoat and sneakers starts terrorizing the mall, Barnhardt seizes the opportunity to turn covert vigilante, collar the suspect and impress the local precinct enough to finally earn a badge.

If a big reason that people go to the movies is to escape the dreary reality of their jobs, then movies about the workplace should be at least a little more exciting than what is faced every day at the plant.

Directed by Leslie Cockburn, American Casino focuses initially on the major stock market players in this massive deregulated home lending scheme, but assuming a neutral perspective where a more critical interrogation is called for.