Adventureland (2009)
Adventureland (2009) — Some actors don’t have the widest of range. They play very specific types. Oftentimes they play those types very well and that’s why they gets typecast in very narrow roles. The trick is if casting directors pick them for the right roles, they can be great. Adventureland has two actors with a … Continue reading
Avatar (2009)
Avatar (2009) — SECOND REVIEW [Blu Ray] So I saw this movie for the first (and until now only) time almost a year ago on IMAX in 3D. Now that the deluxe super tricked-out blu ray edition has come out the time came to see if it held up at home in one less dimension. … Continue reading
A Prophet (2009)
A Prophet (2009) — The film is a fucking great crime epic that is better than Scarface but will likely not enjoy the same popularity due to the fact that most people who revere Scarface don’t seem smart enough to be able to read subtitles (for the record, I fucking dig Scarface I just don’t … Continue reading
The White Ribbon (2009)
The White Ribbon (2009) — Wow, what a profoundly unsettling movie. This is my introduction to Michael Haneke, who I have been hearing about for a while, and I got to say it is a really strong introduction. The black and white cinematography is nothing short of beautiful and there is a sort of stylized … Continue reading
A Single Man (2009)
A Single Man (2009) — A sad beautiful movie. I’ll never understand how a first-time director who was previously a fashion designer hit it so far out the park on his first time at bat. Colin Firth is revelatory. I had never seen him in anything with any more depth than your standard romantic comedy … Continue reading
Up in the Air (2009)
Up in the Air (2009) — Like many Americans I lost my job last year. So did my dad. So did everyone I worked with, as a matter of fact. So the downsizing prick that is the protagonist of this film should be subject to my immediate revulsion. Yet as he did for a fast-talking … Continue reading
Observe and Report (2009)
Observe and Report (2009) — At a certain point in this movie Ben Best says “I thought this would be kind of funny, but actually it’s kind of sad.” I’m sure that will be a lot of people’s reaction to this movie. But not mine. I fucking loved this movie. It’s just so wrong that … Continue reading
Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
Where the Wild Things Are (2009) — Loved it. Maybe it’s just me (though from other reviews it seems not) but this movie seems to be one of the rare movies that really gets it. The “it” being childhood. I mean this movie understands it all: the wild mood swings, the fantasy world, the self-absorption … Continue reading
The Informant! (2009)
The Informant! (2009) — One of those true story movies that keeps you in constant “what the fuck?” mode. Plus using Wikipedia (the most half-assed research method known to man) I learned that it is all more-or-less true. This movie has several great strengths. The most prominent of which is Matt Damon. His portrayal of … Continue reading
It Might Get Loud (2009)
It Might Get Loud (2009) — It’s hard to tell how much of me liking this movie was the film-making itself and how much was just my endless love and fascination for the electric guitar (not learning to play being the great regret of my life, but luckily it is one that can easily be … Continue reading
Persistence of Vision 