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Get Low by Aaron Schneider (Sat Aug 21, 2010)
Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek
Roger Ebert (3-stars)
New York Times
Film Trailer
Get Low is mystery set in the 1930s about an eccentric and cranky hermit who has lived by himself for 40-years in the forest.
The town's people share many rumors about his violent past. When he comes to town to plan a funeral party for
himself, while he is still alive, everyone is mystified as to his motives and plan. As the story unfolds we learn about
his terrible secret and how it affected those around him. Robert Duvall gives an academy award-worthy performance
and Bill Murray is great. I enjoyed watching the actors perform and the mystery unfold.
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The Other Guys by Adam McKay (Sat Aug 7, 2010)
Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Samuel Jackson, Dwayne Johnson
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Entertainment Weekly
Film Trailer
The Other Guys is an action-comedy buddy-movie spoof about two dysfunctional police detectives
who try to prove that they are as effective as two flamboyant detectives who have died. This fast-paced film
is full of wild chases and shoot-em-ups -- and almost every scene has jokes and humorous shtick involving the
bumbling cops. Will Ferrell gives an excellent performance. The movie is quite funny and has many
laughing-out-loud moments. Even though some of the humor didn't work for me, on balance I found the film very entertaining.
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The Kids Are All Right by Lisa Cholodenko (Wed July 28,2010)
Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, Mark Ruffalo
James Berardinelli (3.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (3.5-stars)
Film Trailer
The Kids Are All Right is a comedy about a family with two lesbian mothers and two natural-born teenage children -- who seek out and find
their common sperm-donor father. The performances by Moore and Benning are excellent. They portray the ups and downs of family life in a humorous
and natural, if unconventional, way. Unfortunately, I found many of the scenes with the sperm-donor father to be awkward and unconvincing, and this limited
my enjoyment of the film.
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Salt by Phillip Noyce (Sat July 24, 2010)
Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Daniel Olbrychski
James Berardinelli (2.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
Salt is a spy-thriller about Russian and American double agents. A Russian spy accuses
the female CIA agent interrogating him of being a Russian spy. This sets in motion a long series of
escapes, fights, chases and battles. The action is very fast-paced and "Bond-like." To prove her innocence,
the CIA agent must thwart a well-crafted Russian plot to murder the President and start a nuclear war.
The acting is very good and the story is compelling. I suspended my disbelief at the outset, became
engrossed in the story, and enjoyed it very much.
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Inception by Christopher Nolan (Sat July 17, 2010)
Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Ken Watanabe, Michael Caine
James Berardinelli (3.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
Inception is an action thriller set in the future, where technology allows sharing of dreams -- for entertainment
and for stealing secrets. The protagonists attempt the highly risky task of implanting a suggestion in the deep subconscous
of a wealthy industrialist. To do so, they create a dream, within a dream, within a dream. At first, the complex story requires
rapt attention, but as the plot unfolds, it's easier to keep track of the lively and intricate plot. The acting is very good, the story
is quite interesting and the characters are likable. I enjoyed the film a lot.
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Cyrus by Mark Duplass and Jay Duplass (Sat July 10, 2010)
John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill, Marisa Tomei, Catherine Keener
James Berardinelli (3.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (3.5-stars)
Film Trailer
Cyrus is a quirky comedy about a lonely divorced man with an unhealthy attachment to his engaged ex-wife (7-years after they divorced)
and a single mother with an unhealthy atttachment to her
21-year-old son. The film explores their budding romantic relationship and provides
scenes that cover the spectrum of funny, sweet, awkward, heartwarming and discomforting. The acting is uniformly excellent and I enoyed the film.
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The Girl Who Played with Fire (Fri July 9, 2010)
Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyqvist
James Berardinelli (3.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (3.5-stars)
Film Trailer
The Girl Who Played with Fire is the 2nd in a trilogy of Swedish language mystery thrillers.
The same actors play the journalist and the troubled goth-girl computer genius. Since there is evidence implicating
the girl in a series of murders, they work separately to clear her name. The story unfolds with lots of surprises,
violence and tension. I didn't enjoy this film as much as the first, because I was already familiar with the unique
lead characters and they spent little time on screen together displaying their unorthodox chemistry.
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I Am Love by Luca Guadagnino (Sat July 3, 2010)
Tilda Swinton, Flavio Parenti, Edoardo Gabbriellini
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
I Am Love is an Italian-language subtitled film that explores transitions in the lives of 3-generations of
an extremely wealthy textile business family. The patriarch gives up company control to his son and grandson.
The son's wife and daughter embark on unconventional love affairs. Tilda Swinton's performance and the sumptuous
photography are excellent. Even though the film is very slow as it reveals the story and I felt emotionally distant, I enjoyed
watching the characters and reacting to their circumstances.
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Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (Sat June 26, 2010)
Joan Rivers
Roger Ebert (3.5-stars)
NY Times
Film Trailer
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work is a documentary film that explores a year in the life of Joan Rivers.
It skillfully reveals many details of her life and creates a multi-dimensional portrait of this insecure, obsessively driven,
outrageous and talented iconic comedienne. The story-telling and interviews are excellent, but I was left with a
feeling of sadness -- despite the abundant edgy comedy.
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Solitary Man by Brian Koppelman (Sat June 5, 2010)
Michael Douglas, Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito, Mary-Louise Parker
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
NY Times
Film Trailer
Solitary Man tells the story of a charismatic and successful business owner who loses everything because
of his arrogance, selfishness and hunger for power and recognition. His reckless and self-destructive
behavior cause his life to crumble around him. Michael Douglas gives an excellent performance in the lead role. Even though
the film is clever and humorous in many parts, I didn't like the characters or get drawn into the story, so I didn't enjoy it very much.
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Please Give by Nicole Holofcener (Fri May 14, 2010)
Catherine Keener, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Rebecca Hall
Roger Ebert (3.5-stars)
NY Times
Film Trailer
Please Give is a character-driven comedy drama about a New York City couple, their teenage daughter,
their 92-year-old obnoxious next-door neighbor, and her two granddaughters. It explores their daily lives
and the typical emotional ups-and-downs that we all encounter. Even though it had some scenes
that were quite funny, I didn't care about the characters and found the film to be bland and boring.
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Oceans by Jacques Perrin & Jacques Cluzaud (Sun May 2, 2010)
Pierce Brosnan (narrator)
Variety
Box Office
Film Trailer
Oceans is a Disney documentary film about the world's oceans and the diverse inhabitants that live in them. With spectacular filming in closeup
and panoramic views, Oceans explores many remarkable locations in the world's five oceans -- and shows both well-known and obscure creatures in their survival
cycle of eat and be eaten. Many of the undersea images are quite unique and breathtaking. I enjoyed the film very much.
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City Island by Raymond De Felitta (Sat Apr 17, 2010)
Andy Garcia, Julianna Margulies, Emily Mortimer
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (3-stars)
Film Trailer
City Island is a good-natured comedy about a family of four, each of whom has secrets from the other family members.
The acting is very good and the well-written script delivers many surprises, awkward situations and laugh-out-loud moments.
As the family secrets were revealed, I was drawn into the story and cared about the characters. The film is light and funny and
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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Mother by Joon-ho Bong (Sat Apr 10, 2010)
Hye-ja Kim, Bin Won, Goo Jin
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
NY Times
Film Trailer
Mother is a Korean language murder mystery about a single mother and her mentally challenged son.
After getting to know the characters a bit through the misadventures of the simpleminded son, a young girl is murdered
and the son is implicated circumstantially. Most of the film involves the mother's efforts to find the killer and exonerate
her son. The story is told with many unexpected plot elements and much culturally interesting material. The acting and
cinematography are excellent, and I was engrossed in watching the unusual story unfold.
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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Sat Mar 27, 2010)
Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyqvist
James Berardinelli (3.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a Swedish language mystery thriller that tells the story of how a journalist
and a troubled goth-girl computer genius investigate the mystery of the 40-year-old disappearance of a young woman from
a large wealthy business family. As the plot unfolds, the two leads develop an unorthodox -- but appealing -- chemistry. In spite
of some very disturbing scenes, the story is quite compelling and the characters are appealing. On balance, I enjoyed the film.
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A Prophet by Jacques Audiard (Sat Mar 20, 2010)
Tahar Rahim, Niels Arestrup, Adel Bencherif
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
A Prophet is a French language coming-of-age prison gangster movie. It tells the story of a 19-year-old
inexperienced French Arab who is forced to learn the hard way how to survive and acquire power in his deadly prison
environment. The filming, acting and storytelling do an excellent job of communicating what life is like in this violent world
of French guards and Italian and Arab prisoners. Unfortunately, the film is much too long and the story unfolded too slowly to
maintain my interest. Even though it is well-made, I enjoyed only the first half of the film.
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The Ghost Writer by Roman Polanski (Sat Mar 13, 2010)
Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Kim Cattrall, Olivia Williams
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
The Ghost Writer is a mystery thriller about a former British prime minister's ghost writer, who takes over for his drowned
predecessor. The film tells the suspenseful story of the ghost writer's discoveries about the prime minister and his past,
as he researches the autobiography he's writing. The story includes numerous references to recent events and political figures.
It unfolds at a steady pace, as facts are revealed and tension builds. The acting is good and I was drawn into the story. I enjoyed the film
a lot.
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Julie & Julia by Nora Ephron (Sun Mar 7, 2010)
Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci
James Berardinelli (2.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (2.5-stars)
Film Trailer
Julie & Julia tells parallel stories about Julia Child. In the first story, Julia learns to cook in Paris and writes her groundbreaking
English language book "Mastering the Art of French Cooking." In the second, a young woman starts a blog to chronicle
her project to cook all 524 Julia Child recipes in 365 days. Meryl Streep's performance as Julia Child is uncanny and Oscar-worthy.
The story is light and a bit too long, but the characters are good-natured and appealing. I was drawn into the story and
enjoyed the film.
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The Book of Eli by Albert and Allen Hughes (Sat Feb 13, 2010)
Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Ray Stevenson
James Berardinelli (2.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (3-stars)
Film Trailer
The Book of Eli tells the post-apocalyptic story of a lone road warrior's trek West across a decimated America
with the last remaining Bible on earth. The landscape is bleak and very dangerous, but his faith and fighting skills drive
him toward his destination. I was engaged and enjoying the western-road-superhero aspects of the film, until the story took
a dramatic and preposterous turn near the end. For me, this did much to spoil everything that came before it.
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The Last Station by Michael Hoffman (Fri Feb 5, 2010)
Christopher Plummer, Helen Mirren, Paul Giamatti, James McAvoy
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (3-stars)
Film Trailer
The Last Station tells the story of the final months of author Leo Tolstoy's life in 1910, when he had achieved
extreme levels of wealth, fame and adulation in Russia. The film uses Tolstoy, his family, and the leaders of the
utopian Tolstoyian Movement to explore the timeless conflicts of universal love & romantic love; idealism
& practicality; personal freedom & family responsibility; intellect & emotions; and ambition & humility. The acting and
filming are excellent and I enjoyed the movie very much.
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Crazy Heart by Scott Cooper (Sat Jan 30, 2010)
Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall, Colin Farrell
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
Crazy Heart tells the story of a 57-year-old country singer-songwriter who has fallen on hard times
and become an alcoholic -- far from his previous wealth and fame. He travels from one small town to the next, playing
unmemorable gigs just to pay for his food. He has no family and no future. Not surprisingly for this formulaic story,
he meets a women, falls in love, and tries to rebuild his life. Jeff Bridges gives an Oscar-worthy performance
and the music, acting and singing are quite good. I liked the characters and enjoyed the film.
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Broken Embraces by Pedro Almodovar (Sun Jan 3, 2010)
Penelope Cruz, Lluis Homar, Jose Luis Gomez, Blanca Portillo
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
New York Times
Film Trailer
Broken Embraces tells the story of a film-maker who becomes a script-writer, due to an auto accident that blinds him.
Director Almodovar explores powerful themes of family, love, sex, passionate abandon, obsession, jealousy, revenge, death, and
moving past tragedy. Using flashbacks, the script weaves an intricate and enigmatic story -- enhanced by excellent acting and
cinematography. I appreciated the technical competence of the film, but I didn't connect emotionally with the characters or the story,
so my enjoyment was curtailed.
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Up in the Air by Jason Reitman (Thurs Dec 31, 2009)
George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman
James Berardinelli (3.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
Up in the Air is a comedy-drama-satire about a man with no material possessions or relationships with people.
He is on the road traveling on business for 322 days per year and takes comfort in the familiarity and routine of his airports, plane rides,
hotels and restaurants. His ordered existence is threatened by the adoption of video conferencing technology and an attractive woman that he meets
in a bar. He begins to have positive feelings about relationships. The acting is uniformly excellent. I was drawn into the story and enjoyed it very much.
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Sherlock Holmes by Guy Ritchie (Wed Dec 30, 2009)
Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Mark Strong, Rachel McAdams
James Berardinelli (2.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (3-stars)
Film Trailer
Sherlock Holmes is an action-adventure murder-mystery with elements of classic Sherlock Holmes, James Bond,
Da Vinci Code, and TV's CSI and House. This Sherlock is a swashbuckling, brilliant, troubled and charismatic figure
who's extremely proficient at martial arts, witty banter and deductive reasoning. The story involves foiling a satanic
member of a secret occult society who seeks world domination. The story is a bit far-fetched and long, but I found the acting very good,
the action scenes exciting, and I enjoyed the film quite a bit.
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It's Complicated by Nancy Meyers (Sat Dec 26, 2009)
Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin, John Krasinski
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (2.5-stars)
Film Trailer
It's Complicated is a romantic comedy about a middle-aged woman who has an affair with her married ex-husband.
The script is smartly written by the female film director and includes lots of screen time for their 3 children, the new boyfriend, the
daughter's fiance, and the current wife. The acting is excellent, the characters have good chemistry, and the banter is entertaining.
I found the film witty, sensitive, good-natured, and quite funny. I enjoyed it very much.
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Nine by Rob Marshall (Fri Dec 25, 2009)
Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Sophia Loren, Fergie
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (2-stars)
Film Trailer
Nine is a musical film about a world-famous director who struggles to make his ninth
film while in the midst of a personal and professional crisis. His creativity is blocked by guilt feelings relating to
his many relationships with women. Individual songs are performed by his wife, mistress, actress muse, costume designer,
his mother, a prostitute, and a reporter. The acting is good and the singing by famous actresses is better than expected,
but the story is disjointed and the music is not integrated well with the dialog. I didn't enjoy the movie at all.
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Avatar by James Cameron (Thurs Dec 24, 2009)
Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang
James Berardinelli (4-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
Avatar is a 3-D animated and live-action science-fiction film set on an alien planet in the year 2154. It tells the story
of military and scientific earthlings who try to get access to a very valuable mineral that is buried beneath the forest home of the local
inhabitants. A great tension exists between the scientists who employ native look-alike avatars to befriend the locals and the military
who want to destroy them. The 3-D animation and special effects are extraordinarily well-done and the story captures the spiritual harmony of the
forest's exotic creatures.
I was totally engrossed in the film and enjoyed it very much.
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Invictus by Clint Eastwood (Sat Dec 12, 2009)
Matt Damon, Morgan Freeman, Tshabalala
James Berardinelli (3.0-stars)
Roger Ebert (3.5-stars)
Film Trailer
Invictus tells the story of the early months of Nelson Mandela's Presidency of South Africa, just after apartheid had been
abolished. He sees an opportunity to unify blacks and whites in the pursuit of the rugby World Cup and works to inspire the team
on behalf of their country. The film examines Mandella's challenges in dealing with racial politics and discrimination and tells the true
story of how sports was used to bring the races together. The characters are not well-developed, but the movie is inspirational and I enjoyed it.
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Brothers by Jim Sheridan (Sun Dec 6, 2009)
Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire, Sam Shepard
James Berardinelli (3.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (3.5-stars)
Film Trailer
Brothers is a story about 2 sons of a war veteran, one an army officer in Afghanistan and the other an ex-convict.
It explores the influence of war on the family members. When the family is notified that the officer has been killed, the tragedy causes
the ex-con to help his sister-in-law and nieces cope with their loss. When the officer is found alive, after being captured and tortured,
his changed behavior causes deep stress in the family. The story is very powerful, but some of the actors did not deliver the
performances to make it most effective.
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Changeling by Clint Eastwood (Sat Dec 5, 2009)
Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Jeffrey Donovan, Michael Kelly
James Berardinelli (2.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (3.5-stars)
Film Trailer
Changling is set in 1928 Los Angeles and concurrently tells three true stories whose overlap increases as the film progresses.
A single mother's son is kidnapped. An aggressive and corrupt police force dominates the city. And a serial killer secretly does his work.
Performances are generally good and I was drawn into the unsettling story. The film builds tension to an almost unbearable level as it moves forward.
There is some release during the 2nd half, but not enough. I found the film very upsetting, but riveting at the same time.
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The Blind Side by John Lee Hancock (Sat Nov 28, 2009)
Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Jae Head
James Berardinelli (3.0-stars)
Variety
Film Trailer
The Blind Side tells the true story of how a wealthy white woman from Tennessee follows her
Christian instincts, takes in a homeless black boy, and facilitates the fulfillment of his great potential as a football
player -- and as a student, as well. Sandra Bullock gives an academy award-worthy performance in the lead role.
In spite of its almost all-positive fairy-tale nature, the inspirational, heart-warming and humorous story drew me in
and I thoroughly enjoyed the film.
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Precious by Lee Daniels (Sat Nov 14, 2009)
Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Lenny Kravitz
James Berardinelli (3.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
Precious tells the story of a 16-year old obese and illiterate black girl who lives with her abusive mother in Harlem.
Her life is hell, since her every action is tightly controlled by her domineering mother and she is pregnant with a second
child by her father. Many of the scenes are very raw and extremely disturbing. With a teacher's help, she slowly emerges
from her passive state and begins to take control of her life. The acting is excellent, but I wasn't drawn into the story.
I appreciated the fine quality of the film-making, but didn't enjoy it very much.
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A Serious Man by Joel & Ethan Coen (Sat Oct 31, 2009)
Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind, Fred Melamed, Sari Lennick
James Berardinelli (3.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
A Serious Man is a Coen brothers dark comedy about the many trials and tribulations that befall an earnest nebbish physics professor,
as he struggles to be a mensch and do the right thing. All the while, he maintains his faith that God is delivering meaning to his
life, if only he could find it. The movie's humor is clever and the acting is quite good. The story is a bit more abstract and quirky than
I am usuallly comfortable with, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
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Bright Star by Jane Campion (Fri Sept 25, 2009)
Abbie Cornish, Ben Whishaw, Schneider
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (3.5-stars)
Film Trailer
Bright Star is a lovingly filmed period piece set in 1820 England about romantic poet John Keats
and his next-door neighbor love Fanny Brawne. The story, the costumes, the beautiful scenary, and the music accurately portray life in that time
and the romance that slowly grows to great chaste intensity. And the word slow describes perfectly the lives of this aspiring dreamer poet and
intelligent single woman. Once I adjusted to the slow pace, I enjoyed the acting, the story, the costumes, and the beautiful filming.
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Tetro by Francis Ford Coppola (Sat Sept 12, 2009)
Vincent Gallo, Alden Ehrenreich, Maribel Verdu
Roger Ebert (3-stars)
New York Times
Film Trailer
Tetro is an intimate and very personal film written, directed and produced by Francis Ford Coppola. It tells the story
of a highly talented -- but quite dysfunctional -- family and how they deal with their strained relationships. The oldest son of a domineering
father has run away and his younger brother visits him unexpectedly to reestablish the relationship. The filming and acting are
excellent and I was drawn into the dramatic story -- which was a bit long and at times too avant garde. All in all, it was a very unusual
film that I enjoyed quite a bit.
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My One and Only by Richard Loncraine (Sat Sept 5, 2009)
Renee Zellweger, Logan Lerman, Mark Rendall, Kevin Bacon
Roger Ebert (3.5-stars)
New York Times
Film Trailer
My One and Only is a quirky good-natured road movie comedy set in the 1950s. It tells the story of
a southern-belle stereotype who takes her 2 sons cross country in search of a new husband, after catching her philandering
husband in-the-act one too many times. The humor is hit and miss, but the numerous characters are interesting and likeable.
After a slow start, I began to engage with the story and care about the characters. I enjoyed the film.
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Taking Woodstock by Ang Lee (Fri Aug 28, 2009)
Demetri Martin, Imelda Staunton, Eugene Levy, Liev Schreiber
James Berardinelli (2.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (3-stars)
Film Trailer
Taking Woodstock is an unusual film about the production of the 1969 music festival in Bethel NY. It focuses on the people that were
involved and the feelings that were generated. There is no concert music in the film. With humor and sensitivity, Director Ang Lee goes to great lengths
in scene after scene to convey the pervasive atmosphere of peace, love, and drugs -- and the transformative effect that they have on those that were there.
The story is thin and the acting is just OK, but I was drawn into the experience and enjoyed the film.
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Inglourious Basterds by Quentin Tarantino (Sun Aug 23, 2009)
Bradd Pitt, Melanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth
James Berardinelli (4-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
Inglourious Basterds is a film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, and set in Nazi-occupied World War II France.
The excellent script -- written in 5-chapters -- tells about a Jew-hunting Nazi soldier and a group of Nazi-hunting Jewish American soldiers.
The story moves forward at a compelling pace, with alternating sequences of Tarantino's trademark tension, violence and humor. Each are
appropriate for his very unconventional and engrossing script. The movie's story, acting and filming are excellent and I enjoyed it very much.
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The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (Sat Aug 15, 2009)
By Neal Brennan with Jeremy Piven, Ving Rhames, James Brolin
Roger Ebert (3-stars)
New York Times
Film Trailer
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard is a high-energy, good-natured, rude and offensive comedy. The film tells the story of a troubled car
dealership that hires a team of unorthodox and hard driving professionals to help them sell cars. Most of the characters have some depth and the script delivers
a non-stop series of mostly clever laugh lines. The characters are more sensitive and appealing than I expected -- and I enjoyed much of the film.
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The Hurt Locker by Kathryn Bigelow (Sat Aug 8, 2009)
Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty
James Berardinelli (3.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
The Hurt Locker is a powerful and intense film that follows the activities of a 3-man team of bomb technicians
as they defuse improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Iraq -- while continuously being threatened with sniper fire. The film
communicates the extremely tense atmosphere in 2004 Iraq in a very realistic way. Since the characters are appealing and I cared about them,
my stomach was in a knot for most of the movie. I found the film quite compelling and I enjoyed it very much.
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500 Days of Summer by Marc Webb (Sat Aug 1, 2009)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel
James Berardinelli (3.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
500 Days of Summer is a romantic comedy set in today's Los Angeles. It tells the story of 500 days
in the relationship of a young man who falls in love with the woman he knows is "the one." Unfortunately for
him, the woman does not feel the same way. She wavers between being friends and being friends with privileges.
He sees none of this reality. I found the performances to be just OK and the story to be only mildly funny.
Mostly, I didn't find the characters appealing and I was bored by the film.
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Cheri by Stephen Frears (Sun July 26, 2009)
Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Friend, Kathy Bates
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (3.5-stars)
Film Trailer
Cheri is a period piece film set in Paris in the early 1900s. It tells the story of a high-society
courtesan who has retired to an opulent and idle life and takes as her lover the much younger son of her courtesan friend.
The film explores the unexpected ways that their relationship develops. The acting is excellent and the filming is lavish,
but it was hard for me to engage with the characters and their circumstances. This made me feel like a distant observer
of their intense relationship and curtailed my enjoyment of the film.
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The Hangover by Todd Phillips (Sat July 25, 2009)
Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (3.5-stars)
Film Trailer
The Hangover is a comedy that tells the story of 3 men and their engaged friend who go to Las Vegas to celebrate the end of his bachelorhood.
They wake up the next morning to find many things have changed and they have no memory of what happened. The film plots their journey
to find the missing groom-to-be and to discover what transpired the night before. The movie got good reviews and the acting is good,
but the humor is so sophomoric that I didn't enjoy it.
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Yoo-Hoo, Mrs Goldberg (Sat July 18,, 2009)
By Aviva Kempner with Gertrude Berg, Ed Asner, Norman Lear
New York Times
Box Office (3-stars)
Film Trailer
Yoo-Hoo, Mrs Goldberg is a lovingly filmed documentary about the life and times of Gertrude Berg, the writer, actor and producer
of the pioneering radio and TV comedy show The Goldbergs. Between 1929 and 1955, Berg wrote 12,000 scripts that chronicled the Jewish
immigrant experience in a way that appealed to all Americans. Using interviews and original film, the documentary includes
depression-era radio, early TV, and McCarthyism that claimed her TV husband. It was a bit slow at times, but generally an enjoyable sentimental experience.
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Seraphine by Martin Provost (Sat July 11,, 2009)
Yolande Moreau and Ulrich Tukur
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
New York Times
Film Trailer
Seraphine is a French film with English subtitles that is both unusual and thought provoking. It tells the true story of a poor housecleaner
living in the early 20th century who works very hard during the day to feed herself and paints at night for pleasure. Her great talent is eventually discovered
by an art dealer who sponsors her and sells her paintings. In an engrossing way, the movie explores themes of class structure, religious devotion,
god-given talent, fate, and mental illness. I enjoyed watching the film and thinking about the subject it explores.
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Milton Glaser: To Inform & Delight (Thurs July 9,, 2009)
By Wendy Keys with Milton Glaser
New York Times
FilmCritic.com (3.5-stars)
Film Trailer
Milton Glaser: To Inform and Delight was very interesting and quite enjoyable. The documentary delivers an in-depth
portrait of the man and his iconic work as a pervasive New York City graphic designer. Glaser is very articulate in numerous interviews and he
talks extensively about his philosophy of art as public service and his endless learning and teaching. There are countless examples of his
wonderful work, including his founding of New York Magazine, his
I Love NY logo, and graphic designs for every conceivable application.
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Public Enemies by Michael Mann (Thurs July 2,, 2009)
Johnny Depp and Christian Bale
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (3.5-stars)
Film Trailer
Public Enemies got excellent reviews and the performances were quite good, but it was a disappointment for me.
I didn't care about any of the characters and the thin story didn't engage me. John Dillinger robs banks and his FBI agent
nemesis tracks him down. The story is told in a business-like unemotional manner with little drama. There are lots of shootouts,
good period detail, and some attempts at character development, but not enough to make me enjoy the film very much.
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Terminator Salvation by McG (Sat June 13, 2009)
Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Moon Bloodgood
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (2-stars)
Film Trailer
Terminator Salvation is the fourth in a series of action adventure films set in the future, after sentient machines
have taken over the earth and killed most of its inhabitants. The story is about the struggle of the few remaining resistance fighters against
the terminator robots that have been built to destroy them. It took me a while to follow the story line, but once I did I enjoyed the
fast-paced man-machine battles and the dramatic special effects. I found the action exciting and the characters appealing
-- including a robot with human heart and brain.
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Up by Pete Docter (Sat May 30, 2009)
Edward Asner, Jordan Nagai, Christopher Plummer
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
Up is a good-natured fantasy-adventure animated film about an old man and his unlikely Explorer Scout young companion. It begins
with a bitter-sweet flashback of the life the old man shared with his soulmate. When she dies, he decides to fulfill their dream of exploration and travel adventure.
The young boy inadvertently joins him in his travels by balloon and they experience many adventures -- some positive and some very scary -- as their
relationship grows. I found the characters appealing and I enjoyed the film.
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Summer Hours by Olivier Assayas (Sat May 23, 2009)
Juliette Binoche, Charles Berling, Jeremie Renier
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (3-stars)
Film Trailer
Summer Hours is a French film with English subtitles that explores the meaning and importance of possessions and memories in our lives.
A family matriarch dies and the movie chronicles the experiences of her children while settling her valuable estate. It illustrates how it is
almost impossible to pass along feelings about material things to the next generation -- and how the status quo cannot be preserved. I found the film
a bit slow, but interesting and thought provocative nonetheless.
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Star Trek by J.J. Abrams (Sat May 16, 2009)
Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (2.5-stars)
Film Trailer
Star Trek is a prequel to the action adventure science fiction TV series and movies of the same name. It has all the expected ingredients: great special effects,
spectacular battles, time travel, molecular transport, and a complicated story. Not being an experienced Trekkie, it took me a while to get into the story,
learn about the characters, and suspend my disbelief. But, by mid-film the engaging characters and the non-stop action hooked me -- and I found it quite entertaining.
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State of Play by Kevin Macdonald (Sat May 2, 2009)
Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (3-stars)
Film Trailer
State of Play is a well made murder-mystery-thriller, told in the context of an investigative reporting assignment.
The complex plot unfolds for the viewer as the print and blog journalists uncover facts for their big story. Russel Crowe
is excellent as the ace reporter and the rest of the cast is generally good. The story involves a big city newspaper, politicians, a mercenary corporation,
the police, and numerous personal relationships. It held my interest from start to finish and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
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The Soloist by Joe Wright (Sat Apr 25, 2009)
Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr
James Berardinelli (2.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (2.5-stars)
Film Trailer
The Soloist delivers uneven storytelling with excellent performances by Foxx and Downey. It tells about an unlikely
relationship that develops between a homeless and mentally ill music prodigy and a newspaper reporter who writes about him. The bonding
between the musician and the reporter is told in a powerful way. And the life of homeless people in Los Angeles is also strongly depicted.
But mixing both together, and adding muliple flashbacks, disrupts the flow of the story. I enjoyed many scenes, but didn't engage
with the story in an emotional way.
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Sugar by Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck (Sat Apr 18, 2009)
Algenis Perez Soto
Roger Ebert (3.5-stars)
New York Times
Film Trailer
Sugar is a wonderful coming-of-age baseball and immigrant movie. It tells the story of a talented
20-year old Dominican baseball player who yearns to escape his poor country to the glamour and financial payoff of U.S. baseball.
In an affectionate and realistic way, the film portrays the experiences and trials of a baseball recruit and his immigrant journey in the U.S.
It is rich in Dominican culture, baseball rituals, and immigrant uncertainty. I enjoyed Sugar very much.
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Adventureland by Greg Mottola (Sat Apr 11, 2009)
Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart
James Berardinelli (3.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (3-stars)
Film Trailer
Adventureland didn't quite live up to its very good reviews. The film tells the story of a college graduate
who is forced by economic necessity to work for the summer at an amusement park. He is portrayed as so smart, sensitive, and
confident that I had trouble believing he is so inexperienced with women. And I wished there was more emotion amid the reserved
and witty dialog. On the positive side, there were many charming scenes and plenty of good natured humor.
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Lymelife by Derick Martini (Fri Apr 10, 2009)
Rory Culkin, Alec Baldwin, Timothy Hutton, Jill Hennessy
Variety
New York Times
Film Trailer
Lymelife is very well done. The acting in this autobiographical story of coming of age on Long Island is particularly good.
In parallel with the awkward and painful experiences of the adolescent boy, we see the crumbling marriages of his parents
and those of the girl next-door that he has a crush on. The intense emotional scenes did not prevent me from being
drawn into the story and caring about the characters. I enjoyed the film, despite my own discomfort.
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Synecdoche by Charlie Kaufman (Sun Mar 22, 2009)
Philip Seymour Hoffman
James Berardinelli (2-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
Synecdoche is so abstract and dream-like that I found it very difficult to follow. Philip Seymour Hoffman gives
an excellent performance as a troubled theatre director who wins a genius award and then spends decades creating
a play about his life. For much of the film, I couldn't tell what was real and what was part of the play. I felt like I was looking
at an abstract painting and struggling to find meaning. In the end, there was no meaning for me and little enjoyment.
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Duplicity by Tony Gilroy (Sat Mar 21, 2009)
Julia Roberts and Clive Owen
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (3-stars)
Film Trailer
Duplicity makes a valiant attempt to be a corporate spy-thriller-romance-spoof, but doesn't quite pull it off.
The acting is good and the script has all the requisite twists and turns. As you would expect, it is impossible to tell
what is the truth and who can be trusted. Owen is convincing as a duplicitous spy, but Roberts less so. The nonlinear
plot and the limited chemistry between the leads prevented me from being drawn into the story. And this remote feeling restricted my enjoyment.
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Two Lovers by James Gray (Sat Mar 14, 2009)
Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (3.5-stars)
Film Trailer
Two Lovers is a very well made film. The acting by all the characters is superb and the story is very compelling.
An emotionally troubled young man becomes involved with two women at the same time. His heart chooses a woman equally
as troubled as himself, who likes him as a friend. His head -- and his loving parents -- choose a caring well-adjusted woman
that loves him. I was drawn into the story and cared about all the characters. This caused me to suffer along with the
young man, as his passionate feelings are not reciprocated.
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Gomorrah by Matteo Garrone (Sat Mar 7, 2009)
Toni Servillo and Gianfelice Imparato
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Reel Review (3.5-stars)
Film Trailer
Gomorrah is a very unpleasant film. It got excellent reviews, but it was too grim and upsetting for me. Set in Naples, Italy,
the film depicts
-- in a docu-drama-reality style -- what life is like in a city completely controlled by warring criminal gangs. Everyone lives in
mortal fear for their lives -- with pervasive hopelessness and a numbness to the incessant corruption and violence.
A permanent sense of foreboding increasingly weighs upon the viewer. It was not a fun picture to watch.
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The Class by Laurent Cantet (Fri Feb 27, 2009)
Francois Begaudeau
James Berardinelli (3.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
I didn't enjoy The Class at all. It got excellent reviews, but it was too slow moving and frustrating for me. Set in a lower class,
multi-ethnic middle school in Paris, this docu-drama-reality film shows the challenges and frustrations endured by the teacher and his students
during their year of studying French together. The performances are generally good and I appreciated the quality of the filming, but I didn't care
about the story or the characters.
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Coraline by Henry Selick (Sat Feb 14, 2009)
Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatcher (voices)
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (3-stars)
Film Trailer
Coraline is an interesting and disturbing film, with elements of a fairy tale and a nightmare -- each enhanced by excellent 3-D animation.
The story picks up steam from a slow start as young Coraline dreams of visits to a parallel world where all her wishes are granted.
Soon enough, the action gets intense as her dream world turns nightmarish. Coraline transisitions from a bratty young girl into a courageous
and caring one, as she deals with her terrifying plight. I was surprised to find that I became absorbed in the story and enjoyed it.
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Revolutionary Road by Sam Mendes (Sat Feb 7, 2009)
Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio
James Berardinelli (3.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
I didn't enjoy Revolutionary Road very much. Even though Kate Winslet gives a wonderful performance
and Leonardo DiCaprio is quite good, I found the film at various points depressing, boring, and shallow. The
problem for me is the script didn't let me get to know the characters much, before introducing the incompatibilities
and problems that beset the suburban married couple. I did not care enough about the characters to feel their pain as
their marriage deteriorates.
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Defiance by Edward Zwick (Sat Jan 24, 2009)
Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (2.5-stars)
Film Trailer
Defiance is a very powerful and well made film. It tells the inspirational story of the Bielski brothers of Belarus,
who help 1200 Jews fight back and escape the Nazis and -- against all odds -- survive for 3-years in the forest with little food
or shelter. The performances and the story show vividly how they deal with their fear, anger and hopelessness under the Nazi
occupation, without going overboard with violence and morbidity. The Bielski's courage and leadership drive the story.
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The Wrestler by Darren Aronofsky (Sun Jan 18, 2009)
Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei
James Berardinelli (3.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
I didn't enjoy The Wrestler at all. It was too sad, upsetting and tragic for me. The reviews are uniformly excellent,
but I didn't care about the characters and I wasn't drawn into the story. Mickey Rourke gives an exceptional performance as
a professional wrestler whose best days are behind him -- and who has nothing in his life except his wrestling and his past fame.
The film's graphic scenes of wrestling violence are very upsetting.
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Frost/Nixon by Ron Howard (Sun Jan 4, 2009)
Frank Langella and Michael Sheen
James Berardinelli (3.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
I didn't enjoy Frost/Nixon as much as I had expected. The reviews are uniformly excellent, but I didn't like nor identify with
either of the lead characters -- and the story didn't draw me in. I do acknowledge that Frank Langella gives a tour-de-force performance as
Richard Nixon. And I was moved by the 2 very powerful scenes near the end.
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The Reader by Stephen Daldry (Tues Dec 30, 2008)
Kate Winslett and Ralph Fiennes
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (3.5-stars)
Film Trailer
I didn't enjoy The Reader as much as I had hoped. Kate Winslet's performance is excellent, but the story is confusing
and nonlinear. I couldn't understand the motivation of the Nazi holocaust-era lead characters and I wasn't able to identify with any of it.
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Doubt by John Patrick Shanley (Sat Dec 27, 2008)
Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Meryl Streep
James Berardinelli (4-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
I enjoyed Doubt very much. It's a powerful superbly acted drama, set in a church school
in the Bronx. The story involves an unproven suspicion of misconduct by the nun school principal
about the priest of the parish. There is a power struggle between the two and many issues are addressed,
including the effects of rumors and suspicion, certainty without evidence, right and wrong, black
and white adherence to rules in the face of gray area facts, compassion, and forgiveness. Complex moral
issues are left unresolved for the audience to think about.
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Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Fri Dec 26, 2008)
By David Fincher with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett
James Berardinelli (3.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (2.5-stars)
Film Trailer
I enjoyed Benjamin Button quite a lot. The performances are good, not great. But, the story is excellent.
I accepted the fairy tale premise of living a life in reverse time and found myself responding to the events on the screen that depict
the full scope of two lives. The film reinforced for me how our lives are influenced by random events; how relationships are so
important to us; and how opportunities are fleeting and can be lost in a moment. I found the film to be life affirming, romantic and bitter sweet.
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Gran Torino by Clint Eastwood (Sun Dec 21, 2008)
Clint Eastwood
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (3.5-stars)
Film Trailer
I enjoyed Gran Torino very much. Clint Eastwood gives an excellent performance reminiscent of his "Dirty Harry" fims.
The story is simple and light, but delivers a strong message about how people live their lives based upon their values and their experiences.
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Milk by Gus Van Sant (Sat Dec 13, 2008)
Sean Penn
James Berardinelli (3.5-stars)
Rolling Stone (4-stars)
Film Trailer
I enjoyed Milk very much. Sean Penn gives an Academy Award-worthy performance.
The story is quite compelling as it follows his personal life and his gay rights activism -- until his untimely assassination
by a fellow San Francisco Supervisor. Many of the scenes show his passion for politics -- and for men -- in a vivid way.
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Slumdog Millionaire by Danny Boyle (Fri Dec 5, 2008)
Dev Patel and Freida Pinto
James Berardinelli (3.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (4-stars)
Film Trailer
Slumdog Millionaire was excellent. It's a very distinctive film that chronicles in flashbacks
the life of a very poor boy in Mumbai -- and how, because of his life experiences, he was able to provide the
unlikely answers to very difficult questions, as he progresses toward winning 10 million rupees on an Indian TV program.
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I've Loved You So Long (Sat Nov 29, 2008 )
By Philippe Claudel with Kristen Scott Thomas
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (3.5-stars)
Film Trailer
I've Loved You So Long was excellent. Kristen Scott Thomas gives an Academy Award-worthy performance as a woman
who gets out of prison after 15-years and is reunited with her sister. The film explores the difficulty of her adjustment to normal
life -- complicated by the fact that her crime is quite horrendous and her sister has never been given any explanation of what happened.
The film is upsetting, but ultimately life affirming.
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A Christmas Tale by Arnaud Desplechin (Sat Nov 22, 2008)
Catherine Deneuve and Jean-Paul Roussillon
James Berardinelli (3-stars)
Roger Ebert (3.5-stars)
Film Trailer
I enjoyed A Christmas Tale very much. The acting is generally good, but not great. The film uses a Christmas reunion setting to
explore, in a very revealing way, the relationships among the members of a large extended family -- many of them dysfunctional. I found the
film good natured and generally heartwarming. The film's message is that the bonds of family are usually quite strong, in spite of
the many difficulties that often exist among family members.
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Quantum of Solace by Marc Forster (Sat Nov 15, 2008)
Daniel Craig
James Berardinelli (2.5-stars)
Roger Ebert (2-stars)
Film Trailer
I didn't enjoy Quantum of Solace at all. After seeing the wonderful performance by Daniel Craig in Casino Royale,
I was eagerly anticipating Quantum of Solace. What a disappointment! The film had no subtlety, no clever dialog, no fancy gadgets --
only non-stop fights and chases.
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