Milk (4/5)
A perfectly executed film about the brilliant civil rights leader. I don't think I'm homophobic for not enjoying watching men kiss.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (5/5)
An absolute joy of a surreal martial arts/video game film. I felt like a kid in a candy store watching this film.
National Lampoon Presents Cattle Call (1/5)
The National Lampoon brand has limped on, post Chevy Chase; the lot of them are low budget, dung. This film, starring Nicole Eggert of Charles In Charge fame, and American Pie leftovers is no different. This film though, is truly bizarre in that it seems they hired three different directors to mash up a reality show, a slapstick comedy, and an after school special. There is a semi-serious courtroom drama scene, truly evil male chauvinism painted ...
Restraint (4/5)
A well produced Aussie film that brilliantly adds new disturbing layers with each reel. And when's the last time you saw a film featuring an agoraphobic?
After The Wedding (4/5)
This Danish film by Susanne Bier had me missing the mission life and Europe. Of note: this film had the oddest pair of songs, both played twice to rather distracting affect. One, a favorite by Sigur Ros ("Untitled 1"), the other and most horrible "It's Raining Men". Bizarre.
Brothers (5/5)
Jim Sheridan directs this feature that has the odd weight of playing too real for film. It also borrows a few melodramatic tricks and a cheap score from the made-for-television library, which nearly sinks everything. No matter, the performances are transcendent, especially the remarkable 5 year old daughter role. And a scene bound to a favorite U2 song of mine was ace.
Black Swan (3/5)
This is on par with Aronofsky's other works--he again trolls the depths of a destructive, compulsive, individual--but he craftily tempers the creeps with the beauty and keeps you wondering as all the lead characters avoid the obvious arcs and resolutions. Resolution is perhaps too strong a word. I continue to process the complicated and remarkable manner in which the dancer and director used one another to reach their own creative and perfect ...
Cyrus (4/5)
A nearly perfect and very enjoyable drama about triangulation between a mother, son, and the mother's new boyfriend. John C. Reilly is gold on the screen.
The Ghost Writer (5/5)
The courage of Mr. Polanski is front and center in this wonderfully paced and acted film. By courage I mean sticking with a title that is homophonous to a recent Nic Cage shitball ("Dude, you have to see The Ghost Writer", "Ghost Rider?", "no no no, Ghost WRITER!"), spending precious frames on Ewan's bike-riding, and killing off the leads willy-nilly. Respect.