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Rendition - R
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This movie doesn't pretend to solve any issues regarding torture or this rendition issue, but it presents the subject matter in an easily understandable light. At some points you're cheering on one character, but then his believability is brought into question. The movie kind of presents both sides of the argument in an interesting way. Sterling performances from all actors, especially Alan Arkin, but Meryl Streep, Jake Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard were underused. I'd say rent this one for something to talk about later.
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January 11, 2009
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N/A
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Doubt - PG-13
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January 11, 2009
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N/A
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Låt den Rätte Komma In (Let the Right One in) - R
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January 9, 2009
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N/A
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Fracture - R
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An interesting thriller without the mystery part, which is the biggest draw to this movie. The deceit is put up front for all to see, but it's how the deceit unravels that's the cool part. Hopkins is intense but Gosling is so-so as always. Don't think I could ever jump on the Gosling bandwagon, but if you liked the Ashley Judd thriller, Double Jeopardy, then this is right down your alley.
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January 9, 2009
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N/A
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Vicky Cristina Barcelona - PG-13
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This was a cute movie about a romantic getaway fantasy involving lots of beautiful people in a breathtaking country. The movie's too fantastical with no real world anchors in it except when it's in the interest of some soap opera drama surrounding Penelope Cruz's character. I wouldn't say any performances in this movie are Oscar material but the characters were well-written. I'd see this one again on a lazy summer day. It brought back many of the same languid feelings I had while watching Under the Tuscan Sun.
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January 9, 2009
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N/A
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Valkyrie - PG-13
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Definitely nail-biting but there are no real break-out Oscar-winning performances in. More of the supporting actors, like the man who played Obreich or Tom Wilkinson's character, are more engaging
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January 7, 2009
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N/A
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Marley & Me - PG
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This story about a newlywed couple and their clearance puppy is such a chick flick, I know! But I enjoyed stepping out of my dumpy mood for a little bit to laugh and cry about a goofy dog and his people. Oh and believe me, you will cry if you see this movie. The movie was feeling a little long toward the ends; the fading-in-and-out ending reminded me of Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. After the newlyweds turned into parents the pacing just kind of started to sputter. Owen Wilson's performance was warm enough but was very demure. Don't expect any extreme laughs from him. Alan Arkin's gruff J. Jonah Jameson-esque character was fun enough and kept the energy high despite his very few scenes. Any more scenes with Arkin and he would've stolen the show! Jennifer Aniston did well enough but her delivery was pretty much the same as the character she played in Bruce Almighty. In the end, this movie delivers all the wholesome goodies that the trailer promises and I'd see it again eventually.
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January 4, 2009
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N/A
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Gran Torino - R
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Clint Eastwood is a believable racist Korean war vet who just wants to be left alone, and BOY does he go Dirty Harry on the people who don't! Only thing is that the mostly Mung neighborhood he lives in start to consider Eastwood as an unconventional protector, and I guess I don't have to say that he doesn't like it one bit. "Get off my lawn," is just as satisfying as Daniel Day-Lewis' "I drink your milkshake!" Only with a raspier delivery, a few more racial slurs, and a shotgun! The supporting cast doesn't have an stand-out performances, which works in the film's favor. All the focus rightly stays on the main character's halting and uneasy relationship with life and the people around him. Check out Gran Torino the first chance you get!
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January 4, 2009
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N/A
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Dan in Real Life - PG-13
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Some of the situations in the movie looked like a bunch of writers threw wholesome situations, like bad singing, horrible advice, and holier-than-though parents offering advice, into a cowboy hat and then wrote them all into some of the most painful scenes I saw in a movie during 2008. The only remotely normal characters were played by Steve Carell and Juliette Binoche, who I haven't had the opportunity to see in a movie since the horrible "Caché." The conventions of this film were flimsy French farce but bearable. Dane Cook was cast for his name alone because he added nothing to the film. This movie is exactly what it looks like; oddball and off-center with some ironic situations and maybe a few smiles. Don't expect to bust a gut. Think "Pieces of April" with "weird" and "nice" being the keywords.
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January 3, 2009
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N/A
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10,000 B.C. - PG-13
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This was an acceptable popcorn movie. There was a little urgency and some romance thrown in there for kicks. Not the best dialogue but the actors were genuine enough. Think "One Million Years B.C." with actual words, and some neat CGI animals. Plus, once D'Leg and Evolet are the in middle of this psuedo-Egyptian empire things really get visually interesting. Tribal unity, slavery, mammoths, and god-kings aside, I'd recommend this move to anyone looking for a neat caveman flick to watch. Apocalypto was worlds better, though, in terms of tension, drama, acting, and more organic CGI.
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January 3, 2009
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N/A
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The Duchess - PG-13
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The situations in this movie were painful to watch. There were more chains of social convention in this costume drama than a lot of other ones I've seen, and boy where they unsightly chains too! The pacing was pretty even throughout the movie, which may turn some people off, but the constant angst made up for it. I loved to hate Ralph Fiennes! His character was just so deliciously hypocritical that I couldn't wait to see what other unthinkable thing he would do to his marriage. I don't know how much of this movie was true to any of the history surrounding Georgiana but it made for an entertaining watch.
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January 2, 2009
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N/A
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The Tale of Despereaux - G
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December 27, 2008
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N/A
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Seven Pounds - PG-13
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December 27, 2008
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N/A
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Yes Man - PG-13
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December 27, 2008
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N/A
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The Spirit - PG-13
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December 27, 2008
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N/A
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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - PG-13
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This is one of the best movies I've seen during 2008! I descended into the strange world of Benjamin Button, but the character's pure sense of hope and optimism kept me from sinking too far. If any movie of 2008 touches strongly on new beginnings and being true to what you are, this one does. Wholeheartedly. I was caught with my guard down toward the end of the film and could do nothing but cry at the truth of it all. Everyone's time on this earth could be briefer than we expected, so why not enjoy/appreciate every moment? This movie was beautiful and the actors performances poignant. Despite David Fincher's Se7en, Panic Room, and Fight Club, this film was an unexpectedly emotional journey. I can't wait for Benjamin Button to come out on DVD!
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December 27, 2008
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N/A
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Happy-Go-Lucky - R
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December 23, 2008
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N/A
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Milk - R
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Milk didn't seem to make a circus out of Harvey's lifestyle for the sake of the film, and a lot of the characters came off as human as they could. That may be attributed to the Focus Features label, which does a good job of leaning towards the unconventional and indie despite their NBC Universal roots. Sean Penn seems to go for the martyr or special-guy-saves-the-day roles exclusively these days, but I guess I can't knock the guy for doing a great job at portraying a warm, caring individual who stood for equality.
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December 21, 2008
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N/A
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Persepolis - PG-13
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As an adaptation from a graphic novel, this film was full of the historical political atmosphere in Iran for approximately the past forty years. With the parents' flashbacks to prior rulers of Iran, Persepolis is a pretty comprehensive animated history. I was a little put off by the dramatic difference in levity between the trailer and the film itself. If it weren't for the grandmother character, the movie would be more than a little dry. All the characters are believable and human, which probably stems from its European sensibilities. I enjoyed my first time with Marjane and her exploits but I don't know if I'd go back for seconds too soon.
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December 21, 2008
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N/A
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Justice League: The New Frontier - Unrated
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Warner Bros. and DC Comics really exceed expectations with their straight to DVD animated movies. The Batman titles were awesome and New Frontier definitely lives up to the standard.
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December 20, 2008
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N/A
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Encounters at the End of the World - G
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Originally I wasn't interesting in another documentary of the frozen tundra, but this one is so much more than that. This is a movie about the people who live in a little colony in the southern most point of the world, studying the world around them in the unforgiving cold. Sure there are animals, but that isn't the focus. Surviving and building a whole town out of nothing takes a special kind of person. The narration was thoughtful, albeit a little condescending or sardonic in favor of the scientists when comparing them to society as a whole. I'd see this one again.
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December 18, 2008
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N/A
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Goya's Ghosts - R
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Alfred Molina infuriated me in this movie, and that's how good of an actor he is! He plays a corrupt church official during a conflicted era. Natalie Portman has a smaller role but really broke my heart. Strangely enough, the title character Goya himself didn't feel like the driving force in this movie. Sure, it was fun to follow him behind closed doors and his final scenes with Portman's character were satisfying, but I expected something a little grander.
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December 16, 2008
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N/A
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The Day the Earth Stood Still - PG-13
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This movie was devoid of the emotion and true grandeur that a movie like this should have. The effects do not make up for a spare storyline and flat characters. Reeves aside, actors like Kathy Bates, Jennifer Connelly, and Jaden Smith were misused and cast into roles that could have been played by anyone. These roles just did not have any depth to them. This movie could do as a rental.
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December 16, 2008
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N/A
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Australia - PG-13
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Expect grandoise, scenic shots wrapped in a stirring, epic drama. I was immersed from scene one. Baz Luhrmann really does a rustic, outback romance very well. Hugh Jackman was nothing short of breathtaking physically and emotionally. Jackman brought me to tears several times. I'm shocked that the intermittent narration by the boy, Nallah, wasn't annoying at all. It was heartening after a while, especially with the pretty funny words the boy would pick up by being around surly white men all the time. "Gotta get the fat cheeky bulls to the big bloody ship!" lol I also thought it was smart to continue the movie on through the cattle drive because if it would have ended right after the drive, then the movie would have been too fluffy and lacking in any real resolution other than a romantic one. I could have done with a little more personal moments between the Fletcher character and his wife, or something else that would humanize him a little more as the villain. The more a villain is humanized, the less he looks like a mustache-twirling Dick Dastardly and more of a well-rounded character. Fletcher's motivations were solid, though, so I have no real complaints about him that would stick. This movie was wonderful and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys sweeping epics! There are unfortunately not enough of these kinds of movies out there.
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December 6, 2008
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N/A
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Bolt - PG
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November 30, 2008
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N/A
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1070 ratings
315 reviews
