|
| 1. |
|
01/16/09 |
Very Good |
 "...so energetic and cheesy that it's hard not to be charmed by it." |
| 2. |
|
01/23/09 |
Good |
 "...unexpectedly enjoyable... never devolves into kitsch and is decently written and well-acted... more entertaining than most might expect." |
| 3. |
|
02/06/09 |
Excellent |
 "...a wantonly politically incorrect, wildly enjoyable blast of Thai martial-arts mayhem... about as kid-friendly as a bar brawl and as sensitive as a kick to the head." |
| 4. |
|
03/27/09 |
Moderate |
 "...doesn't even begin to tell the half of it.... What inspired his faith in the first place? Does he have family? How did his constant wandering affect them?" |
| 5. |
|
04/03/09 |
Good (Not Great) |
 "Neither as terrifying as the movies it's channeling were meant to be in their time nor as funny as a pure sendup would have been... neither fish nor foul..." |
| 6. |
|
04/17/09 |
Good (Not Great) |
 "...well-intentioned but talky and overly obvious... feels as if it should be titled 'Crash, College Edition.' " |
| 7. |
|
04/22/09 |
Excellent |
 "...be sure to stay through the end of the credits as the filmmakers tear down the fourth wall to show how they got some of their shots." |
| 8. |
|
05/01/09 |
Excellent |
 "Solid performances combine with a sense of warm naturalism to make for engaging, memorable drama." |
| 9. |
|
05/08/09 |
Good |
 "...as the film goes on, it becomes darker and Max becomes a more compelling figure as he sinks deeper into his newfound life of crime." |
| 10. |
|
05/22/09 |
Very Good |
 "...a series of portraits, intriguingly strung out of order, that doesn't add up to much. It's a still life with a soundtrack." |
| 11. |
|
05/29/09 |
Outstanding |
 "...a winning and surprisingly moving documentary about a struggling Canadian heavy-metal band that apparently influenced a whole generation of hard-rockers..." |
| 12. |
|
06/03/09 |
Excellent |
 "...a beautifully rendered German domestic drama about lives fractured and made whole in the wake of the death of a loved one." |
| 13. |
|
06/19/09 |
Excellent |
 "...the tension doesn't lead to an explosion of hostility but merely more questioning on both sides of the camera.... a low-key, charming trip." |
| 14. |
|
07/03/09 |
Outstanding |
 "...doesn't follow predictable Hollywood rules for the genre.... an impressive character study, not just of people but a society in the throes of social change." |
| 15. |
|
07/10/09 |
Good (Not Great) |
 "...cloaks most of the action scenes in nighttime darkness and uses effects that are video-game fake, while the actors aren't at all compelling." |
| 16. |
|
07/17/09 |
Excellent |
 "...this sweetly engaging trifle goes down as easy as cold lemonade on a hot afternoon." |
| 17. |
|
08/07/09 |
Outstanding |
 "...low-budget yet quietly brilliant and downbeat Israeli-Australian co-production... seems more inspired by Robert Altman than Walt Disney." |
| 18. |
|
08/07/09 |
Excellent |
 "...doesn't do much new and the twist is as obvious as a tornado in the Texas Panhandle. But that doesn't make it any less of an escapist joyride..." |
| 19. |
|
08/14/09 |
Outstanding |
 "...an eye-popping yet cannily intelligent blast of social commentary from first-time features director Neill Blomkamp that may be remembered as a classic of the form." |
| 20. |
|
08/21/09 |
Excellent |
 "...a thoughtful and beautifully photographed documentary about N'Dour's musical and philosophical journeys." |
