BLIND DATE (1-23-11)

Blind Date (2009) - **

Stanley Tucci directs and stars in this remake of the 1996 film by Dutch director Theo van Gogh.  The film is a showcase for Tucci and his co-star, the always fabulous Patricia Clarkson, but comes across more as an experiment than as a finished piece of work.  Tucci and Patricia Clarkson play a couple trying to repair a broken marriage after experiencing tragedy.  In order to deal with their pain they play out blind date situations as if they are perfect strangers, hoping to reconnect.  The film is set entirely in one bar, where the couple acts out their various dates, slowly opening up to one another.  A unique idea, but the film grows tiresome as it progresses.  Worth seeing for the outstanding performances by it's leads, but for most viewers, this will be a tough sell.

MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO (1-23-11)

My Own Private Idaho (1991) - *1/2

River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves play Mike and Scott, hustlers and best friends, who embark on a journey to find Mike's mother.  A lot of critics and movie fans have prasied this film over the years, but for some reason or another I always passed it over.  My instincts were right.  Director Gus Van Sant loosely based his script off of Shakepeare's Henry IV, at points inserting direct quotes from the play in with the modern dialogue, a tactic that comes across as forced and pretentious.  As for the acting, Phoenix is superb and several of the supporting players are fine, but Reeves is in over his head.  An uneven and tedious film, saved only by some nicely shot scenes and a memorable performace from Phoenix.

TINKER BELL AND THE GREAT FAIRY RESCUE (1-24-11)

Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue (2010) - **

Tinker Bell gets trapped inside a human home, and her fairy friends set out to rescue her.  This film lacks the wit and fun of Tinker Bell's last feature length outing, but it isn't awful.  Little ones will enjoy it and the animation is sharp.  Voice performers include Mae Whitman, Pamela Adlon, Michael Sheen, Lucy Liu and Kristen Chenoweth.

BLACK SWAN (1-23-11)

Black Swan (2010) - ****

Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan is a frightening, twisted, disturbing psychological thriller.  I absolutely loved it! The story centers around ballerina Nina, who really wants to land the lead in a production of Swan Lake, which traditionally requires a dancer to dance the parts of both the White Swan and the Black Swan.  A technically precise dancer, Nina can dance the part of the White Swan, but the company director isn't convinced she has it in her to tackle the role of the Black Swan.

Natalie Portman plays Nina, a role which very well may win her an Oscar.  Her performance is a tour de force - she portrays Nina's transformation from troubled and timid to seriously unhinged so convincingly that we forget we are watching someone act.  Portman is in virtually every frame of the film, but one can't ignore her co-stars.  Barbara Hershey is superb as Nina's mother, slightly disturbed and more than happy to treat her grown daughter like a little girl (I have my fingers crossed that Oscar voters don't overlook this intense performance).  Mila Kunis is terrific as a rival ballerina (she earned a Golden Globe and Screen Actor Guild nomination for the role), Vincent Cassel is a perfect creep as the company's director, and Winona Ryder plays a bitchy ballerina being forced into retirement with a fire we haven't seen from her in some time.

Besides the amazing acting and exquisite directing, Black Swan is filled with things I could rave on and on about.  The dark cinematography, Clint Mansell's wonderful score, the editing, sound, makeup, costumes, etc.  This is certainly one of the best films of 2010.

OSCAR WINS:
 - Best Actress (Natalie Portman)

OSCAR NOMINATIONS:
 - Best Picture
 - Best Director (Darren Aronofsky)
 - Best Film Editing
 - Best Cinematography

CENTURION (1-20-11)

Centurion (2010) - **

Quintus Dias (Michael Fassbender) leads a small group of Roman soldiers running for their lives behind enemy lines.  Director Neil Marshall (The Descent) directs this very bloody and very violent historical adventure depicting the disappearance of the Ninth Legion in 117 AD.  The film is entertaining enough but this doesn't make up for poor writing.  Most of the characters are so characterless that when they are savagely killed (as almost everyone is), not only do you not care, you aren't always 100% sure who they were.  A love interest is introduced, no one cares.  Decent production values and a solid cast (including Dominic West of The Wire) keep this movie afloat.   

CASINO JACK AND THE UNITED STATES OF MONEY (1-19-11)

Casino Jack and the United States of Money (2010) - ***1/2

Directed by Alex Gibney, Casino Jack is a detailed investigation into the corruption surrounding super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his crooked Republican pals.  Politicians Tom DeLay, Bob Ney and Neil Volz give candid interviews, trying to defend their involvments, but come out looking like greedy scum.  Ralph Reed (former leader of the Christian Coalition) is also shown to be a major Abramoff benefactor, especially his involvement in the Indian gaming scandal.  Jack himself is not interviewed (he was in prison during filming), but his e-mails alone are pretty damning.  A well made, fully researched documentary on how greed has destroyed American politics.

CHLOE (1-18-11)

Chloe (2010) - ***1/2

Catherine (Julianne Moore) suspects her husband David (Liam Neeson) of cheating on her with one of his students.  She hires call girl Chloe (Amanda Seyfried) to try to seduce him, hoping to put her fears to rest or to confirm what she thinks she already knows.  Directed by Atom Egoyan (The Sweet Hereafter), Chloe is a quietly intense psychological thriller, hampered only by a misguided ending.  Both Moore and Seyfried are outstanding in their roles - it's a shame their performances have been completely ignored this awards season.  Also worth noting are Mychael Dannas chilly score and the luscious cinematography by Paul Sarossy. 

CLASH OF THE TITANS (1-18-11)

Clash of the Titans (2010) - **

Directed by Louis Letterier, this mildly entertaining remake of the 1981 fantasy film produces mixed results.  The visual effects are at times impressive, at other times cheesy.  The acting is laughable, despite some high pedigree casting (such as Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson).  On the plus side, the film is fun at times and it moves along at quick pace.  Clash of the Titans high point belongs to brilliant English actress Polly Walker - her one scene as Queen Cassiopeia is absolutely delightful!

DESPICABLE ME (1-17-11)

Despicable Me (2010) - **1/2

Super-villian Gru (Steve Carell) plots to pull off the biggest heist in history - stealing the Moon.  When he adopts three girls to use as pawns in his grand scheme, his life begins to change in ways he never expected.  A very family-friendly feature, Despicable Me was the eighth highest grossing film of 2010.  It has some clever and fun moments (especially those involving Gru's little yellow-green minions), but overall it doesn't really stand out.  I didn't dislike the film, but I didn't find it very engaging or original.  Great for kids, entertaining enough for adults, but a mixed bag.

LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS: THE OWLS OF GA'HOOLE (1-17-11)

The Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010) - ***1/2

When young Soren is abducted by a cult of owls (the "Pure Ones") intent on taking control of the owl kingdom, he and his newfound friends must escape to the island of Ga'Hoole to seek help from the legendary Guardians.  LOTG has a lot going for it - a great cast of chartacters, an epic-style plot with a dark tone, and some amazing animation that would make even Pixar a bit jealous.  There is only one thing that kept this movie from receiving four stars... it feels a bit rushed.  The film is based on the first three books in Kathryn Laskys' Guardians of Ga'Hoole series, and at barely 90 minutes, a lot of plot is packed into a short amount of time.  I'm sure this will leave fans of the books a bit disappointed and newcomers to the series (such as myself) feeling like they aren't getting the whole story.

THE LAST EXORCISM (1-16-11)

The Last Exorcism (2010) - ***1/2

Cotton Marcus (Patrick Fabian), a disillusioned evangelical minister, is on his last case of demonic possession.  He intends to expose the fraud of exorcisms and brings along two filmmakers to document the ordeal.  The film we see is the footage they shot.  The faux-documentary horror film has been done many times over, but never this well.  This movie is eerie, tense and surprisingly clever (despite the somewhat lazy ending).  Special attention should be given to Ashley Bell, who delivers one helluva performance as a teenage girl who may or may not be wrestling with demons.

ALPHA AND OMEGA (1-13-11)

Alpha and Omega (2010) - *1/2

Humphrey is out of Kate's league - she is an Alpha hunter, he just a lowly Omega.  They are kidnapped from the Canadian wild and brought to a US National Park, and now they must escape.  There have been a LOT of very good animated features released over the past couple of years, this one is below average on every level.  The animation is bland, the voice work is lackluster and the screenplay is almost completely devoid of wit.  Young children will probably enjoy it, although I can't imagine them wanting to watch it over and over.

INCEPTION (1-12-11)

Inception (2010) - **** (M) / **** (P)

Christopher Nolan is, without a doubt, one of the most talented directors working today.  Inception is his 7th film, and perhaps his best yet.  On a technical level, this movie is as good as they get (expect to see Oscar nominations for everything from editing and cinematography to music score and sound mixing), but it also boasts a talented cast and a killer screenplay.  It's wickedly inventive, extremely suspenseful and certainly one of the best films of 2010. 

OSCAR WINS:
 - Best Cinematography
 - Best Sound Mixing
 - Best Sound Editing
 - Best Visual Effects

OSCAR NOMINATIONS:
 - Best Picture
 - Best Original Screenplay
 - Best Art Direction
 - Best Music Score

WILD GRASS (1-11-11)

Wild Grass (2010) - **

Marguerite is an independent, unpredictable dentist.  Georges is married, burdened by his past and perhaps a little crazy.  Marguerite loses her wallet, Georges finds it and becomes obsessed with meeting her.  An interesting premise that begins to crumble somewhere around the middle of the film.  Director Alain Resnais was going for quirky, but ended up with absurd.  Thumbs up to the excellent cinematography and a lovely score by Mark Snow.

CATS & DOGS: THE REVENGE OF KITTY GALORE (1-10-11)

Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (2010) - **1/2

Kitty Galore, (aka Ivanna Clawyu) is out to enslave mankind! Can cats and dogs unite to stop Kitty in her diabolical plan? James Bond references abound, and for the most part, it works.  There is nothing new here, but kids will enjoy it and the visuals are fun.  Adults will be kept entertained by kitties stoned on cat nip and an especially funny send-up of The Silence of the Lambs featuring fluffy Persian, Mr. Tinkles.  Featuring the vocal talents of Bette Midler, James Marsden, Nick Nolte, Neil Patrick Harris, Christina Applegate and Sean Hayes.

TRASH HUMPERS (1-10-11)

Trash Humpers (2010) - zero stars

Some movies are so bad, they're amusing.  You actually encourage others to see them.  Trash Humpers is not one of those films.  The film has no actual plot.  Just a bunch of random scenes of a few fake geriatrics humping trash cans... and trees... and fences.  They also destroy electronics, put dish soap on pancakes, torture dolls, tap dance.  If any of this sounds interesting or disturbing, then trust me when I tell you that it's anything but.  Director Harmony Korine is trying really hard hear to offend and shock, but he manages to do neither.  It's just boring.  Very, very boring.

WAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY (1-10-11)

Waking Sleeping Beauty (2010) - ***

In 1985 Disney released the animated feature The Black Cauldron (which cost $44 million to make).  The film was a box office disaster, being beaten by the likes of The Care Bears Movie.  After such a colossal embarressment, Disney Animation almost died.  Waking SB documents the triumphant comeback of Disney Animation in the late 80's, told in detail by the key players.  The documentary is full of old footage from within the studio, as well as clips from unfinished versions of classics such as The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast.  Overall an intriguing film, I just wish it had delved a little bit deeper.

CAIRO TIME (1-6-11)

Cairo Time (2010) - ***1/2

Patricia Clarkson is one of the greatest actresses alive.  In Cairo Time she plays Juliette, a Canadian magazine editor who arrives in Cairo for a vacation with her husband, a UN official who is working in Gaza.  Her husband is delayed, so he asks an Egyptian friend Tareq (Alexander Siddig) to watch over her.  Filmed on location, this is a quiet, beautiful picture, that doesn't rely on plot as much as it does atmosphere.  An absolute success for writer/director Ruba Nadda and another Oscar-worthy performance by Clarkson.

AFGHAN STAR (1-5-11)

Afghan Star (2009) - ***

This fascinating documentary follows four contestants in Afghanistans version of American Idol. While over one third of the country watched the program, many in the country are still influced by the former Taliban rule, where singing was forbidden. Contestants received death threats and one had to practically go into hiding after choosing to dance on the program.  While many clips from the show itself are used, the real focus of this film are the Afghan people themselves: the struggles that exist between ethnic groups, as well as between conservatives and liberals.

TINKER BELL AND THE LOST TREASURE (1-4-11)

Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (2009) - ***

Tinker Bell (Parenthood's Mae Whitman) must seek out a magic mirror or the fairies will run out of pixie dust.  I really wasn't looking forward to this one.  I hate to admit it, but I really enjoyed this film!  The computer animation is top-notch and it boasts a great cast (Angelica Huston, Jane Horrocks and Kristin Chenoweth, just to name a few).  The film is most definetly geared towards children, with the morals of the story being the value of friendship and taking responsibility for one's mistakes.  However, adults will be amused by the surprisingly witty screenplay and by one memorable firefly named Flint.

BEST WORST MOVIE (1-3-11)

Best Worst Movie (2010) - **1/2

Troll 2 is widely considered to be one of the worst movies of all time, achieving somewhat of a cult status over the years.  Michael Stephenson (who was the child star of Troll 2) directed this documentary about how a movie, that is made with all the best intentions, turns out so bad.  Interviews with the films cast and director Claudio Fragasso (who delusionally claims T2 to be a great and important film) are amusing.  And as much fun as it is to see a bunch of the films fanatics at various T2 festivals and screenings, the movie spends a bit too much on them.  How bad is Troll 2 exactly? I haven't seen it yet.  But it has been added to my "Watch Instantly" queue on Netflix... expect my review sometime very soon.

THE WOLFMAN (1-2-11)

The Wolfman (2010) - ***

A dark (and quite gory) remake of the 1941 "classic" starring Benecio del Toro as the title character, Anthony Hopkins as his creepy father and Emily Blunt as his dead brother's love.  From a technical standpoint, the film is pretty impressive - production design, costumes, makeup and visual effects were all convincing.  The performances are fine (despite some serious dashes of overacting) and there are a few genuinely suspenseful moments.  Overall, much better than most of the crap/slasher flicks that get passed off as horror these days.

A TOWN CALLED PANIC (1-1-11)

A Town Called Panic (2009) - ***1/2

This stop-motion film from Belgium (based on a TV series of the same name) is just another of the many great animated films released in 2009. The plot begins with Cowboy and Indian planning to build housemate Horse a barbecue out of bricks for his birthday. This sets off a perilously wacky chain of events that sends the trio to the center of the earth, across a frozen landscape and into an underwater universe. It's as silly as it sounds, but it's also a lot of fun. Definitely not for everone, but for fans of adult animation (especially those who appreciate the shows on adult swim), this is a must see!