Sunshine (4/5)
A stunning swathe of set pieces and a favorite score (much of it by the lads in Underworld), coupled with a decent storyline and capable cast. The reveal and payoff in the last reel, while superbly shot, are a bit predictable and leave me wanting Alien. And call me American, but instead of burning the last two astronauts to death how about a safe return to Earth and eighteen months of copious spacesex. I smell a sequel Danny boy: Sunshine 2 ...
Good Night, And Good Luck (3/5)
Fine production and an educational look into the McCarthy years' paranoia. Hardly as engrossing or complex as Mann's The Insider, which trumps this picture in every category.
Balls Out: Gary The Tennis Coach (2/5)
The title gives one all the mental prep and expectation necessary to make it through ninety minutes of soda pop. Seann William Scott is perfectly cast and delivers the sub-frat-level pranks in spades. The bit we had to rewind for a second round of laughing: Scott advising his supposedly closet gay student to enjoy the senior prom as a straight cause he has "plenty of time to suck cock when he gets to college". My friends and I were mostly sober ...
Frantic (3/5)
A slow burning European mystery that could have used a bit more action and payoff for my tastes. Ford has dipped into the shit-script bin once too often lately and this picture was a sad reminder of his sublimely generous works back in the day. Polanski's directing is balanced and clean.
Slumdog Millionaire (3/5)
I left the theater in good spirits and then read a handful of criticisms which I now mostly agree with. Good, but not Best Picture good.
Taken (3/5)
A cuddlier, friendlier version of Man On Fire; much less provocative and near-zero character development. The feel good revenge-for-sex-trading-my-daughter movie of the year.
Cloverfield (4/5)
Quick and fun; great concept and great execution. When I see an obscure cast such as this pull off dynamic scenes and characters I get rather annoyed with all the Hollywood darlings propped up in miserable and bloated films or the feckless Indie/Christian films that feature no-talent talent.
Flags Of Our Fathers (3/5)
A competent telling of an unforgettable moment in US history; and then a forgettable film in nearly every way.
Letters From Iwo Jima (5/5)
My new favorite war film. Not the sort you watch a dozen times, but perfect nonetheless.
The Reader (3/5)
A well cut, non-linear narrative and enough rarely-clothed Winslett to keep me around for the last reel, where your standard-issue Holocaust/Hollywood guilt is given a new take. Winslett was in Extras a few years back playing herself, acting in a miserably pretentious Holocaust film for the sole purpose of nabbing an Oscar. How peculiar that exactly such came to pass with her win in this overrated film. Forever in my book as the one that bumped ...