After the Thin Man |
Cassandra's Dream |
Good Luck Chuck |
The Savages |
Rambo |
Teeth |
Cloverfield |
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly |
There Will Be Blood |
Margot at the Wedding |
Night at the Museum |
Rocket Science |
Atonement |
I'm Not There |
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead |
The Golden Compass |
Gone Baby Gone |
I Am Legend |
Juno |
The Kite Runner |
National Treasure: Book of Secrets |
No Country for Old Men |
Sweeny Todd |
American Gangster |
Bee Movie
2007 (USA)
Steve Hickner and Simon J. Smith, dirs
Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger
CC (11/9/07)
Seinfeld returns with this animated film about a bee and his quest to learn the truth about honey. |
The Darjeeling Limited
2007 (USA)
Wes Anderson, dir
Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman
CC (11/9/07)
Anderson finally allows style to trump plot and creates a masterpiece that showcases clever film making and exotic India. |
Lions for Lambs
2007 (USA)
Robert Redford, dir
Meryll Streep, Tom Cruise, Robert Redford
AC (11/9/07)
Redford's political thriller crackles with energy and is one of the few "War" films worth watching. |
Lust, Caution
2007 (China)
Ang Lee, dir
Wei Tang, Tony Leung
CC (11/9/07)
Deliberate and paced, Ang Lee's WWII drama of passion and deception is packed with meaning and beauty, but requires patience to find it. |
Michael Clayton
2007 (USA)
Tony Gilroy, dir
George Clooney
SG (11/9/07)
Girlroy re-makes the laywer with a crisis-of-conscience film and does it well. |
3:10 to Yuma
2007 (USA)
James Mangold, dir
Christian Bale, Russell Crowe
CC (10/25/07)
The Western is re-born with stirling performances from both Crowe and Bale in this remake. |
Eastern Promises
2007 (USA)
David Cronenberg, dir
Viggo Mortensen, Noami Watts
SG (10/25/07)
Despite Watts' acting, this film by Cronenberg is a tense thriller with a pulse-pounding final fight scene. |
Fracture
2006 (USA)
Gregory Hoblit, dir.
Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling
SG (10/25/07)
A mystery thriller that diverges too far from the plot and reality to be much good, despite Gosling's acting and Hopkins hamming. |
Into the Wild
2007 (USA)
Sean Penn, dir.
Emile Hirsh
CC (10/25/07)
A brilliant adaptation of Krakauer's book about a college grad's personal quest to Alaska. |
The Jane Austen Book Club
2007 (USA)
Robin Swicord, dir
Maria Bello, Hugh Dancy
CC (10/25/07)
A flat adaptation of the best-selling novel in which all six of Austen's books are crammed into 2 painful hours. |
Shopgirl
1999 (USA)
Steve Martin, dir
Steve Martin, Claire Danes
SG (10/25/07)
A Steve Martin rom-com with an ending that does not match the rest of the film and leaves it bland. |
Zodiac
2006 (USA)
David Fincher, dir.
Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr.
KF (10/25/07)
A historical recreation of the Zodiac serial murders in San Fran that is a perfect example of what the genre should be. |
Mostly Martha
2001 (Germany)
Sandra Nettlebeck, dir.
Martina Gedeck, Sergio Castellitto
SG (8/31/07)
Not a winning film, but much better than the bland Hollywood rehasing No Reservations. |
The Queen
2006 (UK)
Stephen Frears, dir.
Helen Mirren
KF (8/31/07)
A powerful work exploring QE2 with a brilliant job by Helen Mirren. |
No Reservations
2007 (USA)
Scott Hicks, dir.
Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart
SG (8/24/07)
While the food may be mouth-watering, this RomCom suffers from CZJ's flat and uncharismatic performance. |
Greatest Film Ever Made?: Battleship Potemkin
1925 (Russia)
Sergei Eisenstein, dir
CC (8/24/07)
Eisenstein's seminal silent film is a perfect example of montage, but is it the Greatest Film Ever Made? |
Chinatown
1971 (USA)
Roman Polanski, dir.
Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway
KF (8/24/07)
Polanski's brilliant update of the film noir is one that should not be missed. |
Stardust
2007 (UK)
Matthew Vaughan, dir.
Claire Daines, Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer
CC (8/24/07)
A fun and whimsical adaptation of Neil Gaiman's fanatsy tale is kids-fare, but a really enjoyable movie experience. |
Death at a Funeral
2007 (UK)
Frank Oz, dir.
Matthew Macfadyen, Peter Dinklage, Rupert Graves
CC (8/17/07)
A hysterical comedy in which everything that can go wrong does at during a English country funeral. |
Flying Leathernecks
1951 (USA)
Nicholas Ray, dir.
John Wayne, Robert Ryan
CC (8/17/07)
John Wayne Retrospective: A pro-war propaganda film carrying a moral message about sacrifice. |
Rescue Dawn
Werner Herzog, dir.
Christian Bale, Steve Zahn
SG (8/17/07)
Herzog's new masterpiece is a powerful tale set in a POW camp with another brilliant performance by Christian Bale. |
Superbad
2007 (USA)
Judd Apatow, dir.
Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
CC (8/17/07)
The newest comedy from Apatow following the lives of three high school losers in their quest for booze and sex is his best yet. |
The Bourne Ultimatum
2007 (USA)
Paul Greengrass, dir.
Matt Damon, Julia Styles
SG (8/10/07)
Matt Damon returns as Jason Bourne in the thrid brilliant installment to the franchise. |
The Simpsons Movie
2007 (USA)
Danny Boyle, dir.
Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans
KF (8/10/07)
The Simpson family finally makes it to the big screen along with everyone else in Springfield. |
Stagecoach
1939 (USA)
John Ford, dir.
John Wayne, Claire Trevor, Andy Devine
CC (8/10/07)
John Wayne Retrospective: An unlikey grouping of travelers crosses the Old West in John Ford's classic. |
All About Eve
1950 (USA)
Joseph L. Mankiewicz, dir
Bette Davis, Anne Baxter
CC (8/3/07)
A brilliant critique which pits Bette Davis (in her best performance) and Anne Baxter in a battle over Broadway stardom. |
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
David Yates, dir.
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson
SG (8/3/07)
CC (8/3/07)
The newest Harry Potter finally figures out how to adapt the books into a riviting story. |
Some Like It Hot
1950 (USA)
Billy Wilder, dir.
Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, Marilyn Monroe
KF (8/3/07)
Billy Wilder's screwball masterpiece about two musicians hiding from the mob in an all-women band. |
Sunshine
2007 (UK)
Danny Boyle, dir.
Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans
CC (8/3/07)
Danny Boyle's newest pulse-pounding film about a spaceship headed to the sun with a nuclear payload. |
28 Days Later
2002 (UK)
Danny Boyle, dir.
Cillian Murphy
SG (7/17/07)
A truly chilling film that is so much more then just a "zombie" flick. |
The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
2007 (USA)
Tim Story, dir.
Jessica Alba, Ioan Gruffudd, Michael Chiklis, Doug Jones
KF (7/17/07)
The "fantastic" sequel brings a creature from another planet and the desire that the next one have a better screenplay. |
Live Free or Die Hard
Len Wiseman, dir.
Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Timothy Olyphant
SG (7/17/07)
The 4th installment of the Die Hard franchise is a well-done summer movie full of explosions, great action scenes, and our favorite All-American hero. |
Rio Bravo
1950 (USA)
Howard Hawks, dir.
John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson
CC (7/17/07)
John Wayne Retrospective: An unlikeyly team joins together to keep a murderer in jail. |
Transformers
2007 (USA)
Michael Bay, dir.
Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox
CC (7/17/07)
Michael Bay's live-action version of the classic 80's cartoon show sparkles with effects, but does not shine. |
Letters from Iwo Jima
2006 (USA)
Clint Eastwood, dir.
Ken Watanabi
CC (6/18/07)
The second and vastly superior film in Eastwood's Battle of Iwo Jima pair examines the war from the Japanese side. |
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
1962 (USA)
John Ford, dir.
John Wayne, James Stewart
CC (6/18/07)
John Wayne Retrospective: A tale of law in the old west as a rookie lawyer (Stewart) faces frontier justice. |
Ocean's Thirteen
2007 (USA)
Steve Soderbergh, dir.
George Cloony, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon
CC (6/18/07)
KF (6/18/07)
The third film in Soderbergh's Ocean's set brings the gang back to Vegas for a little revenge. |
Paris je T'aime
Various, dirs.
Elijah Wood, Natalie Portman, Steve Buschemi
SG (6/18/07)
Thirteen films by thirteen directors showcasing stories of love in the City of Love. |
Waitress
2007 (USA)
Adrinne Shelly, dir.
Keri Russell
CC (6/18/07)
A touching and simple story of a small-town waitress who wants to change her life and her pregnancy with her pies. |
Knocked Up
2007 (USA)
Judd Apatow, dir.
Seth Rogan, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd
SG (6/6/07)
Following The 40 Year-Old Virgin, Apatow's new film continues with his blend of gross-out humor and morals. |
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
2007 (USA)
Gore Verbinski, dir.
Johnny Depp, Kiera Knightly, Orlando Bloom
SG (5/30/07)
At World's End is visually impressive but somehow manages to be even more confusing and jumbled then its predecessor. |
The Fountain
2006 (USA)
Darren Aronofsky, dir.
Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz
KF (5/30/07)
Past, present and future collide in this deeply moving tale of love, eternity, and loss. |
28 Weeks Later
2007 (UK)
Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, dir.
Robert Carlyle, Catherine McCormack
KF (5/23/07)
A poor follow-up to the pulse-pounding original 28 Days Later. |
The Ex
2007 (USA)
Jesse Peretz, dir.
Zach Braff, Jason Bateman, Amanda Peet
CC (5/23/07)
A limp comedy about a rivalry between a loser and his handicapped boss. |
The Great Escape
1963 (USA)
John Sturges, dir.
Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough
SG (5/23/07)
While it didn't make film history, this escape flick holds up quite well over time and is your quintessential popcorn flick. |
Spider-Man 3
2007 (USA)
Sam Raimi, dir.
Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Topher Grace
SG (5/9/07)
CC (5/16/07)
KF (5/16/07)
Spider-Man 3 delivers as an enjoyable exciting film that overcomes its story shortcomings to truly start the summer movie season out right. |
Black Book
2007 (Netherlands)
Paul Verhoeven, dir.
Carise van Hauten, Sebastian Koch
SG (5/16/07)
A poorly concocted WWII film from the guy who brought you Starship Troopers. |
The American Astronaut
2001 (USA)
Cory McAbee, dir.
Cory McAbee, Rocco Sisto
KF (5/9/07)
Deliverance meets Buck Rogers in this wild space opera featuring the zany songs of the cult band The Bill Nayer Show. |
Reign Over Me
2007 (USA)
Mike Binder, dir.
Don Cheadle, Adam Sandler, Jada Pinkett Smith
CC (5/9/07)
Two college roommates reconnect and sort out their post 9/11 lives. Flawed, but with some wonderful moments. |
Grindhouse
2007 (USA)
Planet Terror
Robert Rodriguez, dir.
Death Proof
Quentin Tarantino, dir.
SG (4/24/07)
A double bill of two very different films, Planet Terror and Death Proof, recreates the feel of the pulpy low budget ‘70s cinema. |
Hot Fuzz
2007 (UK)
Edgar Wright, dir.
Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Timothy Dalton
CC (4/24/07)
A hysterical spoof on the buddy cop film from the guys who watched every action movie ever made. |
The Namesake
2007 (USA)
Mira Nair, dir.
Kal Penn, Jacinda Barrett, Tabu
CC (4/17/07)
An adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel following the lives of two immigrant Indians
and their children with stunning performance by Kal Penn. |
After the Wedding
2006 (Denmark)
Susanne Bier, dir.
Mads Mikkelson
CC (4/1/07)
Returning home to Denmark from India, Jacob finds more than he had
hoped for and ends up split between two families and two countries
in this stunning film by Danish director Susanne Bier. |
Amazing Grace
2006 (UK)
Michael Apted, dir.
Ioan Gruffudd, Albert Finney
CC (4/1/07)
The true story of William Wilberforce and his quest to end the slave
trade. Powerful and moving, one most uplifting films of the
year. |
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
2006 (USA)
Larry Charles, dir.
Sacha Baron Cohen
CC (4/1/07)
Sacha Baron Cohen's reality movie based on his Ali G Show
character Borat. |
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
1919 (Germany)
Robert Wiene, dir.
Werner Krauss, Conrad Viedt
CC (4/1/07)
SG (4/1/07)
Wiene's eerie silent film
introduces a number of plot conventions that are still used heavily
today. |
The Lookout
2007 (USA)
Scott Frank, dir.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Matthew Goode Jeff Daniels
SG (4/1/07)
This film about money and power has far too many holes pulling down
the excellent acting and interesting plot. |
The Lives of Others
2006 (Germany)
Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, dir.
Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Muehe, Sebastian Koch
SG (3/26/07)
A deserving Oscar winner, this film paints a incredible picture of
East Germany. A captivating character study of one person watching
every aspect of another's life. |
Stranger Than Fiction
2006 (USA)
Marc Forster, dir.
Will Farrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thomson
CC (3/26/07)
IRS agent Harold Crick finds his life being narrated by an author
who is trying to kill him off. Smart, clever, and much better
than I was expecting. |
Sunset Boulevard
1950 (USA)
Billy Wilder, dir.
Gloria Swanson, Erich von Strohmm
CC (3/26/07)
SG (3/26/07)
Billy Wilder's brilliant critique of Hollywood and the "Star" still has power today. With breathtaking acting by Gloria Swanson. |
300
2007 (USA)
Zack Snyder, dir.
Gerald Butler, Lena Headly
SG (3/11/07)
KF (4/1/07)
300 may suffer from a simple story and a week script, and the
incredible world that is takes place in is easily worth the price of
admission. |
Volver
2006 (Spain)
Pedro Almodóvar, dir.
Penélope Cruz
KF (3/11/07)
Almodóvar's brilliant new film focuses on three
generations of women in Madrid. Smart, witty, funny, and a brilliant
performance by Penélope Cruz. |
Black Snake Moan
2007 (USA)
Craig Brewer, dir.
Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci, Justin Timberlake
SG (3/3/07)
This "buddy film" rises above the rest of these films because of the
interesting pairing, its use of the blues and its realistic portrait
of a small Southern town. |
The Illusionist
2006 (USA)
Neil Burger, dir.
Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel
CC (3/3/07)
A magician uses dark spells to revenge the death of his childhood
love. Good, but if you watch one magic movie this year watch
The Prestige. |
Wordplay
2006 (USA)
Patrick Creadon, dir.
Will Shortz
CC (3/3/07)
An exciting look into the New York Times crossword puzzle with
puzzlemaster Will Shortz. A must see for any crossword
enthusiast. |
Idiocracy
2006 (USA)
Mike Judge, dir.
Luke Wilson, Maya Rudolph
CC (2/24/07)
An average Joe wakes up 500 years in the future to find that human race
has gotten a lot dumber. Mike Judge used to be funny. |
The Number 23
2007 (USA)
Joel Schumacher, dir.
Jim Carrey, Virginia Madsen
SG (2/24/07)
This supposed thriller about an obsession with the
number 23 was more funny then scary with unexplained unnecessary
coincidences, massive plot holes, and in all a waste of 95 minutes. |
Smokin' Aces
2006 (USA)
Joe Carnahan, dir.
Ray Liotta, Ryan Reynolds, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman
KF (2/24/07)
CC (2/24/07)
A cacophony of ideas that never pans out as four genres train-wreck together
to tell the story of a million dollar reward on Vegas entertainer Buddy 'Aces'. |
End of the Spear
2006 (USA)
Jim Hanon, dir.
Louie Leonardo
KF (2/11/07)
Based on true events, End of the Spear tells the
story of three missionary men and their families, who undertake a
risky venture deep into the heart of the Ecuadorian rainforests. |
The Last King of Scotland
2006 (UK)
Kevin Macdonald, dir.
Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy
CC (2/11/07)
KF (3/3/07)
Forest Whitaker is outstanding as the Ugandan
dictator Idi Amin in this heart-pounding film told from the point of
view of Amin's Scottish physician. |
Children Of Men
2006 (UK)
Alfonso Cuarón, dir.
Clive Owen, Michael Caine, Julianne Moore
KF (2/4/07)
CC (2/24/07)
A contemplative look at mankind´s future, facing a non-science-fiction apocalypse. |
United 93
2006 (USA)
Paul Greengrass, dir.
KF (2/4/07)
A dramatic interpretive retelling of the final hours of United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. |
The Black Dahlia
2006 (USA)
Brian De Palma, dir.
Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson, Aaron Eckhart, Hilary Swank
KF (1/20/07)
De Palma's attempt at film noir. The mysterious death of a Hollywood
pin-up causes an incredible investigation and little interest. |
The Corpse Bride
2005 (USA)
Tim Burton, dir.
Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter
CC (1/20/07)
The timid son of a fish monger accidentally marries a corpse in the
newest animation by Tim Burton. Watch Nightmare Before Christmas
instead. |
Pan's Labyrinth
2006 (Mexico)
Guillermo del Toro, dir.
Ivana Baquero, Sergi López
KF (1/20/07)
Fantasy and reality clash in this moving adult fairy tale set in the
Spanish Civil War. |
The Pursuit of Happyness
2006 (USA)
Gabriele Muccino, dir.
Will Smith
SG (1/20/07)
While star Will Smith gives an
excellent performance, he can not save this film filled with tiring
emotional moments and painful-to-watch pacing. |
Babel
2006 (Mexico)
Alejandro González Iñárritu, dir.
Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett
CC (1/11/07)
A stunningly beautiful film which unites four stories
of hope and despair. Once again Iñárritu has created a truly
heart-rending, beautiful film. |
Casino Royale
2006 (USA)
Martin Campbell, dir.
Daniel Craig, Judi Dench
SG (1/11/07)
CC (1/20/07)
KF (4/17/07)
The new Bond installment restarts the franchise with
an interesting exciting peak into what exactly makes James Bond
tick, which makes for quite the entertaining film. |
Copying Beethoven
2006 (USA)
Agnieszka Holland, dir.
Ed Harris, Diane Kruger
SG (1/11/07)
This film about the composition of music is carried by its unique
interesting story as well as the powerful score provided by the
films namesake. |
Little Miss Sunshine
2006 (USA)
Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris, dirs.
Toni Collette, Alan Arkin, Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell
KF (1/11/07)
SG (1/20/07)
A dysfunctional family takes a road trip across the US to go to
the Little Miss Sunshine Pageant. |
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
2006 (USA)
Adam McKay, dir.
Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly
KF (1/11/07)
Will Ferrell's newest vehicle. NASCAR, the French,
8lb-6oz Baby Jesus, and a cougar. What else could you ask for? |
Winter Passing
2006 (USA)
Adam Rapp, dir.
Zooey Deschanel, Will Ferrell, Ed Harris
CC (1/11/07)
A honest appraisal of honesty and loneliness as a daughter returns
home to northern Michigan to confront her estranged father. |
Running With Scissors
2006 (USA)
Ryan Murphy, dir.
Annette Bening, Brian Cox, Joseph Fiennes, Joseph
Cross
CC (11/8/06)
Wrongly marketed as a quirky family comedy, this film
following the wildly bizarre and dysfunctional childhood of Augusten Burroughs is
a gritty definition of family. |
The Break-Up
2006 (USA)
Peyton Reed, dir.
Jennifer Aniston, Vince Vaughan
SG (11/8/06)
CC (1/11/07)
Marketed as a romantic comedy, but The Break-Up is a
little more serious and a whole lot better then your standard-fare
romantic comedy. |
The Science of Sleep
2006 (USA)
Michel Gondry, dir.
Gael García Bernal, Charlotte Gainsbourgh
CC (11/8/06)
Written and directed by Eternal Sunshine's Michel Gondry,
this captivating film follows the convoluted series of dreams that
blend with waking life in the pursuit of love. |
The Prestige
2006 (USA)
Christopher Nolan, dir.
Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson
CC (11/8/06)
A rivalry between magicians turns deadly in Christopher Nolan's
brilliant and pulse-pounding thriller. |
The Departed
2006 (USA)
Martin Scorsese, dir.
Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg
SG (10/21/06)
Martin Scorsese's brilliant re-make of the 2002 Hong Kong
Infernal Affairs. Flawed, but his best in years. |
Hard Candy
2005 (USA)
David Slade, dir.
Patrick Wilson, Ellen Page, Sandra Oh
SG (10/25/06)
A thirty-something man and a teenage girl rendezvous after meeting
online, but things are not what they appear to be in this
difficult-to-watch but thought-provoking thriller. |
School For Scoundrels
2006 (USA)
Todd Phillips, dir.
Billy Bob Thorton, Jon Heder
CC (10/21/06)
Funny, but flat, romantic comedy that pits Napoleon Dynamite's
Jon Heder head-to-head with Billy Bob Thorton. |
Once In a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos
2006 (USA)
Paul Crowder and John Dower, dir.
CC (5/13/06)
Stunning documentary about the rise and fall of the only All-Star
soccer team in the USA, The New York Cosmos. |
Brick
2006 (USA)
Rian Johnson, dir.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lukas Haas
CC (5/8/06)
Rian Johnson's directorial debut. A stunning, re-imagining of
film noir set in a SoCal high school. A Must See! |
Freedomland
2006 (USA)
Scott Rudin, dir.
Samuel L. Jackson, Julianne Moore, Edie Falco
CC (4/22/06)
A mediocre crime drama that stars Samuel L. Jackson in a race to
solve a missing child case that has explosive racial consequences. |
