Nim's Island (2008)

Nim's Island - 2008

Let's escape the heat of summer and go for an island getaway.  2008's "Nim's Island" provides us with just the type of summer fun that's sure to bring a smile to your face.  When a young girl named Nim is left alone on an island after her father is shipwrecked, she must bravely face the elements and intruders in order to keep her island haven a secret.

The film's cast includes Abigail Breslin, Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler, and Michael Carman.

Nim Rusoe and her father, Jack, have an interesting life.  After the death of her mother when she was just a baby, Nim and her father sailed around the world.  In fact, they did it twice before she was four years old.

They came to an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and decided to make it their home.  Nim and Jack are the only human inhabitants of the island.  A supply ship comes periodically to bring them much needed supplies.

Nim's definitely not alone.  She's got plenty of animal friends to hang out with.  There's Galileo, a pelican.  Selkie is a sea lion.  And Fred is her lizard.

Jack is a marine biologist and researcher who writes articles about their island life for such prestigious publications as "National Geographic".

Nim and Jack go out to meet the supply ship one day.  Among the things they bring back is the latest Alex Rover adventure.  He is a daring guy who finds himself in all sorts of interesting scrapes.  Nim can't get enough of the books.

Of course, the author is nothing like the hero.  The real Alex Rover is a self-described "borderline agoraphobic" who can't leave her house and needs massive deliveries of Purell just to feel secure.  (In this day and age, don't we all?)

When Jack has to go and observe some new plankton in the ocean, Nim persuades him to leave her behind on the island.  With much reluctance, he agrees, promising to call her that night.  She cheerfully waves him off.

Meanwhile, Alex Rover is doing some research for her next book.  She writes to Jack and asks some questions.  Because Jack is away, Nim is the one to respond, and she couldn't be happier.  She's corresponding with her favorite author!

Jack does indeed find his new species of plankton, a variety he plans on naming "Protozoa Nim".  He calls Nim and describes it to her before wishing her goodnight.

Unfortunately for Jack, a massive storm kicks up and renders his boat useless.  It also knocks out all forms of communication.  He's now bobbing alone in the ocean with a bunch of hungry sharks circling his boat.

To make matters worse for Nim, she gets injured and some intruders seem to be headed straight for the island.  With Jack unresponsive to her calls, she does the only thing she can: contact Alex Rover.

After she backs a huge amount of Progresso soup and a ton of Purell, Alex makes the brave decision to leave her house and go help Nim.

Her journey to the island is anything but easy.  Her Purell gets confiscated by TSA.  A small plane turns into a nightmare with wings when she's forced to fly next to a chicken.  And she's finally turned off a boat with her suitcase on top of her head.

The intruders do make their way to the island.  Nim gets her animal friends to help fight for the peace of her home.  A gaseous sea lion and some flying lizards combine to drive the intruders away.  (An active volcano on the island doesn't hurt, either.)

Alex finally makes it to the island, but she has to be rescued from drowning by Nim in the process.  Nim is disappointed, because Alex is not whom she thought of at all when thinking of her hero.  When the sea lion eats her Progresso soup, Alex has to make do with a mixture of mung beans, roots, and meal worms.

They do, however, start to bond, and Nim has to come to terms with the fact that her father may never return.

But who should come sailing up at the right moment on a raft he's made, but Jack.  He scoops a relieved Nim into his arms.

He's also introduced to Alex Rover.  "The writer and the scientist.  That's how their story began.  How it ends, exactly?  Nobody knows," says Nim.

The three of them begin life together on the island surrounded, of course, by Nim's animal friends.

Cast rundown:

   Abigail Breslin................................Nim Rusoe

   Jodie Foster...................................Alexandra Rover

   Gerard Butler.................................Jack Rusoe/Alex Rover

   Michael Carman.............................Captain

And that's it for Nim's Island.  Jodie Foster gives a fun performance as the scared-of-everything writer Alexandra Rover.  She beat out Portia de Rossi for the role.  The sea lions used in the film were residents of Sea World Australia that were brought in for the movie.

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Shadow Of The Thin Man (1941)

Shadow Of The Thin Man - 1941

Coming up next is 1941's "Shadow Of The Thin Man", in which we see Nick and Nora Charles solving another murder, this time at a racetrack.  Along for the ride is our favorite canine sidekick, Asta.

The film's cast includes William Powell, Myrna Loy, Barry Nelson, Donna Reed, Sam Levene, Henry O'Neill, Richard Hall, Stella Adler, Louise Beavers, and Asta.

Nick and Nora Charles are living a comfortable life in the city with their son, Nick Jr.  Among the things that Nick likes to do is to take Nick Jr. for walks in the park with Asta.

When they're late coming home one day, Nora looks for them with her binoculars.  She sees them a park bench.  Nick is reading a fairy tale story to his son.

But, instead of a fairy tale story, Nick is reading his son the day's racing form, which utterly delights the toddler.  All of the sudden, Nick stops and says, "Something important is happening, and I think we should be there."

We cut to Nora, who is mixing cocktails.  She knows that her husband's favorite beverage will never fail to get him home in a hurry.  He's got a sixth sense about when it's being served.

Nick and Nora end up going to the racetrack that day and meet up with their old friend Lt. Abrams, who is investigating a murder.  When Nora asks him what happened, the lieutenant says, "You know that jockey Goldez, the one that was caught throwin’ the fourth race yesterday?  He was shot."  Nora smirks and says, "My, they're strict at this track."

Nick is given a look at the scene of the crime.  He's reluctant to give any input.  He makes his excuses and takes Nora home, not wanting to get involved.

At dinner that evening, the Charles family discusses the day's events.  (Notice how Asta is served his dinner on a tray!  Nora even asks him if his hands are clean.)

We also are given a funny scene where Nick Jr. gets his father to drink a glass of milk for the first time in years.  "It's so white!" Nick exclaims to Nora as he's handed a glass of the liquid he despises.  Eventually, Nick is brought around to helping with the murder investigation.

As part of the investigation, Nick and Nora head to a wrestling match.  It seems a gangster and some racketeering have something to do with the murder.  Nora, who has never been to a match before, gets swept up in the excitement.  She gets a little carried away with her enthusiasm.

When they have to leave early to follow a lead, Nora makes her way to the ring and calls out to her chosen fighter, "I hope you come out of it alright,".

Among are suspects is Paul Clarke, a newspaperman who wants to blow the lid off the story of gangster "Link" Stephens and his illegal operation.

When a second murder occurs, Paul's girlfriend, Molly Ford, is also questioned.  Molly just happens to be Link's secretary and is privy to all sorts of information.

Link's girlfriend Claire Porter also comes under suspicion.  It seems she's being pressured by someone.  She's also got some secrets she doesn't want to come to light.

Parenting is something that doesn't stop, even for murder investigations.  With the investigation still underway, Nick takes Nick Jr. for a ride on a merry-go-round.  It's hilarious to watch him get dizzy and try to get notes from Nora, who has important information about the case that can't wait.

And Asta even helps out.  He finds a diamond bracelet hidden inside a radiator.  The bracelet is an important part of the investigations, and helps Nick zero in on the murderer.

When the time is right, Nick gets all the suspects together in one room in hopes of stirring up enough trouble that the murderer will step forward and want to cover his tracks.

The murderer does indeed come forward and pulls a gun on everyone.  Nora jumps in front of it to protect Nick, and chaos breaks loose in the room.  Asta dives under Nora's fur wrap for protection.

After it's all over, Nick tells Nora that she's the bravest woman in the whole world.

He presents her with a diamond bracelet of her own and a kiss "for valor".

Watching them from across the room, Asta hides his head in shame as Nick and Nora kiss.

Cast rundown:

   William Powell.............................Nick Charles

   Myrna Loy...................................Nora Charles

   Barry Nelson...............................Paul Clarke

   Donna Reed................................Molly Ford

   Sam Levene................................Police Lt. Abrams

   Henry O'Neill...............................Major Jason I. Sculley

   Richard Hall................................Nick Charles Jr.

   Stella Adler..................................Claire Porter

   Louise Beavers............................Stella

   Asta...........................................Asta

And that's it for Shadow Of The Thin Man.  Myrna Loy took a three year hiatus from movie-making at the end of this film.  She left Hollywood and went to New York, where she spent her time volunteering for the Red Cross on behalf of the war effort.

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