|
Title
|
Rating
|
Comment
|
|
|
|
|
|
A
Mighty Heart
|
***1/2
|
Riveting docu-drama with an Oscar worthy turn from
Jolie
|
|
Assn of Jessie James
|
***1/2
|
The end days of the notorious outlaw, told with
poignancy and paranoia.
|
|
Atonement
|
***1/2
|
Harrowing and unconventional historical love story.
|
|
Away From Her
|
***1/2
|
Polley makes an impressive directorial debut and
Christie still captivates.
|
|
The Black Book
|
***1/2
|
Verhoven,
manages to get sex and nudity into the harrowing WWII yarn.
|
|
Before the Devil Knows
|
***1/2
|
At 80, Lumet still can muster a master.
|
|
Charlie Wilson’s War
|
***1/2
|
Funny take on funding the Afghans against the Russians.
|
|
Control
|
***1/2
|
Best rock bio-pic since Last Days and Sid & Nancy.
|
|
Diving Bell and Butterfly
|
***1/2
|
Film about former editor paralyzed is a one eyed smash.
|
|
God Grew Tired of Us
|
***1/2
|
Riveting, emotion filled docu on the Lost Boys from the
Sudan.
|
|
The Great Debaters
|
***1/2
|
Black debate team wins hearts as well as contests.
|
|
The Host
|
***1/2
|
Gonzo Korean sci-fi film has fangs, fins and family
values.
|
|
I’m Not There
|
***1/2
|
Surreal trip through Bob Dylan’s life.
|
|
Jindabyne
|
***1/2
|
Carver’s creepy short story gets big screen teeth in
the Outback.
|
|
King of Kong
|
***1/2
|
Off the hook docu about 80s arcade game warriors.
|
|
The Kite Runner
|
***1/2
|
Redemption, Afghan style.
|
|
Linda Linda Linda
|
***1/2
|
Cute Japanese-Korean take on
rock-n-roll high school.
|
|
Margot at the Wedding
|
***1/2
|
Writers are the most dysfunctional assholes.
|
|
No Country for Old Men
|
***1/2
|
Coens are back in Blood Simple turf.
|
|
Once
|
***1/2
|
Quirky love story around a broke and broken hearted
musician.
|
|
Persepolis
|
***1/2
|
Touching cartoon drama about the fall of the Shah in Iran.
|
|
Redacted
|
***1/2
|
Casualties of War 2.
|
|
Rocket Science
|
***1/2
|
HS debating get a devious dark treatment.
|
|
Sweeny Todd
|
***1/2
|
Depp and Burton
strike again.
|
|
There Will be Blood
|
***1/2
|
Oil greed yarn has some teeth but goes a tad off in the
end.
|
|
28 Weeks Later
|
***1/2
|
A better sequel with just as much zombie furry and
mayhem.
|
|
Woman is the Future of Man
|
***1/2
|
Korean urban saga with teeth and soul.
|
|
Zodiac
|
***1/2
|
Creepy true life serial killer yarn from the 60s and
70s.
|
|
American Gangster
|
***
|
Denzel’s the new Tony Montana.
|
|
Breach
|
***
|
Chris Cooper is super spooky as a real life spook who
sells out Uncle Sam.
|
|
Bourne Ultimatum
|
***
|
Quite a ride and a fitting end to the series.
|
|
The Bubble
|
***
|
Israeli-Palestinian gay love in the Middle
East.
|
|
Crazy Love
|
***
|
Psycho adulterer gets his gal in the end.
|
|
Darfur Now
|
***
|
Docu on making things happen for those in the Sudan.
|
|
Eastern Promises
|
***
|
A History of Violence Part2.
|
|
The 11th Hour
|
***
|
Another global warming horror docu.
|
|
Feast
of Love
|
***
|
A myriad of love triangles in the Pac Northwest.
|
|
4 Months, 3 weeks, 2 Days
|
***
|
Taut tale of abortion in 80s Romania.
|
|
Fido
|
***
|
Quirky zombie flick beats out Shaun
of the Dead.
|
|
Gone Baby Gone
|
***
|
Ben does well behind the camera and Casey shines in
front of it.
|
|
Grindhouse
|
***
|
Cool collaboration, hip moments, but at 3+ it does
grind a tad.
|
|
The Hip Hop Project
|
***
|
Uplifting docu about rap getting kids off the street
and in the classroom.
|
|
In the Valley of Elah
|
***
|
Gripping, but manipulative coming home yarn.
|
|
Into the Wild
|
***
|
Penn’s Kerouac-esque tale meanders with grit and soul.
|
|
I am Legend
|
***
|
Will does the Omega Man.
|
|
Interview
|
***
|
Buscemi’s remake of the edgy Theo van Gogh flick
translates well.
|
|
Jimmy Carter
|
***
|
Intriguing look at the Ex-Pres’s views on Palestine.
|
|
Juno
|
***
|
Prego rebel nerd comedy has laughs, but not enough
grit.
|
|
The Killer Within
|
***
|
VTech-esque killer from 1955 gets off and lives normal
life.
|
|
The Kingdom
|
***
|
Syriana meet CSI in Saudia Arabia.
|
|
Live Free or Die Hard
|
***
|
Willis keeps the cop thriller, old-school, yet still,
fresh and new.
|
|
Love
in the Time of Cholera
|
***
|
Marquez’s novel gets a whimsical rendering.
|
|
Lust,
Caution
|
***
|
Ang Lee’s oversexed Chinese WWII thriller seers.
|
|
Michael Clayton
|
***
|
Clooney does The Firm with verve.
|
|
Music Within
|
***
|
Biting take on civil liberties for the handicapped.
|
|
No End in Sight
|
***
|
Hard hitting docu on miscues in Iraq.
|
|
No Reservations
|
***
|
Cute cooking/life lesson drama with Zeta Jones and an
ensemble cast.
|
|
Ocean’s 13
|
***
|
It’s still good slight Soderbergh fun. Keep em coming.
|
|
Offside
|
***
|
A look at the oppression of women in Iran, by
the great Jarar
Panahi.
|
|
The Orphanage
|
***
|
The Others done in Spanish.
|
|
Paprika
|
***
|
Trippy Janime that blurs dreams and reality.
|
|
Pirates 3
|
***
|
Overlong, but sprite and lively as Captain Jack
Sparrow.
|
|
Rescue Dawn
|
***
|
Real Life ordeal is very Deer Hunter-esque.
|
|
Ratatouille
|
***
|
Cute rat tale from Brad Byrd.
|
|
The Savages
|
***
|
Hoffman and Linney in yarn of familial dysfunction in
Buffalo.
|
|
Sicko
|
***
|
Moore’s tackle
of health care feels like a TV magazine section.
|
|
Silver Surfer
|
***
|
This is the superhero series with teeth.
|
|
Starter for 10
|
***
|
Cheeky Brit romantic comedy wrapped around quizzies.
|
|
Starting Out Evening
|
***
|
Author and daughter get tangled up.
|
|
Sunshine
|
***
|
Boyle’s outer space odyssey to save the sun is a moody
ride.
|
|
Talk to Me
|
***
|
Biting bi-pic with Oscar nods due to Cheadle and Ejiofor.
|
|
The Ten
|
***
|
Silly, yet irreverent and witty take on the 10
Commandments.
|
|
This is England
|
***
|
Skinheads in London
during the Falklands war.
|
|
3:10 to Yuma
|
***
|
Throwback western with Bale giving another winning
performance.
|
|
The Valet
|
***
|
French humor so fresh and lite, you’ll laugh yourself
silly.
|
|
La Vie En Rose
|
***
|
Marion Cotillard as singer Edith Piaf is a saucy tour
de force.
|
|
Waitress
|
***
|
As a trapped housewife, Kerri Russell proves she can
really act.
|
|
Year
of the Dog
|
***
|
Mike White’s romp about a dog obsessed woman is a howl.
|
|
Aqua Teen Hunger
Force
|
**1/2
|
Get stoned, because otherwise the adult swim might not
make sense.
|
|
Balls of Fury
|
**1/2
|
Enter the Dragon gets spoofed with ping pong.
|
|
Beowulf
|
**1/2
|
Nice FX, but the epic rendering is more camp than
muscle.
|
|
The Brave One
|
**1/2
|
Foster does her best Charles Bronson.
|
|
The Bucket List
|
**1/2
|
Jack and Morgan go for the final gusto.
|
|
Dan in Real Life
|
**1/2
|
Carell as a single dad/advice columnist is the one who
most needs advice.
|
|
Charlie Bartlett
|
**1/2
|
Sandler-eque yarn could use a tad more teeth.
|
|
The Dead Girl
|
**1/2
|
Five weaves about one corpse.
|
|
Eagle vs Shark
|
**1/2
|
Quirky Sundance fav is propelled by a contemptuous
protagonist.
|
|
Elizabeth:
Golden Age
|
**1/2
|
Blanchett is back as the virgin queen.
|
|
The Golden Compass
|
**1/2
|
Nice FX, but clearly a series.
|
|
1408
|
**1/2
|
The Shining goes small scale.
|
|
Fracture
|
**1/2
|
Two great actors, one silly crime drama with some cool
twists.
|
|
The Hoax
|
**1/2
|
Bio-pic on Hughes, faux bio.
|
|
The Invasion
|
**1/2
|
Nic looks great and the unintended camp makes it
worthwhile.
|
|
I Think I Love My Wife
|
**1/2
|
Rock remakes Eric Rohmer’s, Chole in the Afternoon.
|
|
Juno
|
**1/2
|
Prego rebel nerd comedy has laughs, but not enough
grit.
|
|
The Land of Women
|
**1/2
|
Quirky Mrs. Robinson with cancer melodrama doesn’t
quite go the distance.
|
|
The Lookout
|
**1/2
|
Silly plot in crime drama by Out of Sight scribe
strangely grips.
|
|
The King of California
|
**1/2
|
A nutty Costco heist, literally.
|
|
Knocked Up
|
**1/2
|
Taking responsibility for a one night stand, doesn’t quite stand up.
|
|
Lions for Lambs
|
**1/2
|
Provocative, but pompous and pointless in conclusion.
|
|
The Mist
|
**1/2
|
King’s kooky Jobe yarn has big insects in Maine.
|
|
The
Namesake
|
**1/2
|
India to America
generational melodrama has soul.
|
|
Nancy Drew
|
**1/2
|
Teen sleuth story is all over the place, but ultimately
endears.
|
|
Pathfinder
|
**1/2
|
Marauding Norsemen mess with Native Americans.
|
|
The Perfect Holiday
|
**1/2
|
Hip-hop mogul’s ex wife falls for a starving
songwriter, comedy ensues.
|
|
Pride
|
**1/2
|
Howard brims with brilliance in this pat underdog/race
yarn.
|
|
Rails and Ties
|
**1/2
|
Maudlin drama from Eastwood scion saved by Bacon and
gay Hardin.
|
|
Rendition
|
**1/2
|
Leaden left msg about US rights abuse.
|
|
Resurrecting the Champ
|
**1/2
|
Silly journalist spin with heart.
|
|
Sharkwater
|
**1/2
|
Gorgeous, but rambling docu about saving the sea
predator.
|
|
Shoot Em Up
|
**1/2
|
Silly bang bang, but Owen provides devilish verve.
|
|
Shooter
|
**1/2
|
Marky Mark does the Rambo/Sniper thing.
|
|
Spiderman 3
|
**1/2
|
Long, but witty moments. At 3, the weave may have run
out of web.
|
|
Stardust
|
**1/2
|
The Princess Bride goes to Narnia, great FX and lively
performances.
|
|
Stomp the Yard
|
**1/2
|
Angry young man finds love and step dance at a southern
black college.
|
|
Meet the Robinsons
|
**1/2
|
Cool animated picture of the future. The best from
Disney in years.
|
|
Things We Lost Fire
|
**1/2
|
Berry an Benicio give this maudlin healing drama a
gutsy go.
|
|
Two Weeks
|
**1/2
|
Affecting yarn of dealing with slow death by cancer.
|
|
Warren Miller’s
Playground
|
**1/2
|
More ski thrills from the man.
|
|
Walk Hard
|
**1/2
|
Reilly. Kasden and Apatow send up Ray and Walk the
Line.
|
|
Water Horse
|
**1/2
|
Cute boyhood yarn involving Nessie.
|
|
Wild Hogs
|
**1/2
|
Four middleagers do the Cheesy Rider thing.
|
|
Who’s Your Caddy?
|
**1/2
|
Outkast does Caddy Shack.
|
|
Why Did I Get Married?
|
**1/2
|
Perry loses Medea and matures. Still rickety, with a
knockout scene from Jackson.
|
|
Youth Without Youth
|
**1/2
|
Coppola’s epic about the id, is indulgent and near
incoherent.
|
|
Chuck and Larry
|
**
|
Silly Sandler spin takes on gay marriage.
|
|
Code Name: The Cleaner
|
**
|
Cedric is funny, Nicollette is hot, and poor Lucy Liu
doesn’t know what to do.
|
|
Dead Silence
|
**
|
Saw creators basically hatch Saw 4.
|
|
Death at a Funeral
|
**
|
British wit can only go so far in this dead farce.
|
|
Dedication
|
**
|
Quirky yarn about a despicable kid lit writer.
|
|
Evan Almighty
|
**
|
Noah’s Ark spin doesn’t float even with Steve Carell.
|
|
Firehouse Dog
|
**
|
Heavy family drama + doggie fart jokes = woof.
|
|
Fred Claus
|
**
|
The
Santa Clause, except bro of Santa.
|
|
Georgia Rule
|
**
|
Silly woman bonding premise. Great acting even if Lohan
plays herself.
|
|
Ghost Rider
|
**
|
Silly superhero story that Cage saves to some degree.
|
|
Hostel: Part II
|
**
|
More gore and less imagination than H1.
|
|
Hot Fuzz
|
**
|
Shaun
of the Dead blokes, never really make this cop spoof sing.
|
|
Hannibal Rising
|
**
|
How the cannibal became a serial killer.
|
|
Happily N’Ever After
|
**
|
Deconstructive fairytale romp needs more teeth.
|
|
Harry Potter - Phoenix
|
**
|
The 5th is a dull retread of #4.
|
|
The Hitcher
|
**
|
Semi-lame remake of a semi-better slasher cum camp
flick.
|
|
Hitman
|
**
|
Olyphant is no Jason Bourne or Vin Diesel (xXx) for
that matter.
|
|
The Invisible
|
**
|
Already dead, but among the living Sixth Sense
nonsense.
|
|
The Last Legion
|
**
|
Silly sword and sandal pic with talented cast.
|
|
Live Free or Die
|
**
|
Seinfeld writers can cough up a laugh in the Granite State.
|
|
National Treasure 2
|
**
|
Same ole silly treasure hunt,
but still better than De Vinci Code.
|
|
Next
|
**
|
Cage is back in Vegas and he can see the future, Déjà Vu style.
|
|
Right Outside Your Door
|
**
|
Semi engaging post terror disaster flick set in LA.
|
|
Saw IV
|
**
|
Jigsaw reaches out from beyond the grave.
|
|
Smoking Aces
|
**
|
Lucky Number Slevin Part 2, nice try but no True
Romance. Misses wide.
|
|
TMNT
|
**
|
The Mutant Turts are back in CGI format.
|
|
300
|
**
|
Butler
gives an Oscar worthy nod in a video game fantasy pic.
|
|
Transformers
|
**
|
Great FX, but a pointless, silly bang bang.
|
|
The Ultimate Gift
|
**
|
Hokey Christian lesson on how money can ruin you.
|
|
Underdog
|
**
|
A senseless
Disney retread of a once hip 60s ‘toon.
|
|
War
|
**
|
What is it good for? Absolutely nothing.
|
|
Because I Said So
|
*1/2
|
Poor Diane Keaton, stuck in this
hideous romantic goo.
|
|
Black Snake Moan
|
*1/2
|
Ricci gets naked and Jackson
chains her up, silly trailer trash nonsense.
|
|
The Comebacks
|
*1/2
|
Silly sports spoof, without much fire.
|
|
The Condemned
|
*1/2
|
Stone Cold remakes The Running Man minus the campy
flare.
|
|
Epic Movie
|
*1/2
|
Scary Movie creators spoof Narnia, X-Men and Johnny
Depp
|
|
Good Luck Chuck
|
*1/2
|
Alba’s cute, but Cook can’t deliver.
|
|
P2
|
*1/2
|
Silly chiller set in a parking garage.
|
|
Primeval
|
*1/2
|
Serial killer is a croc, and so is the movie.
|
|
Revolver
|
*1/2
|
Guy Ritchie does Freud?
|
|
Blood and
Chocolate
|
*
|
Werewolf movie is a hideous howl.
|
|
Kickin’ It Old School
|
*
|
Break dancing farce has no legs to speak.
|
|
|
|
|