(2009) starring flavor of our time Zac Ephron. Wasn't expecting much but really enjoy the hell out of this little teenage/adult rom-com. Definitely worth a look. Fact: I got a little dusty at the end.Came home to Charlyne Yi's docu-drama Paper Heart
(2009) also featuring one Michael Cera. It's touching and funny and also sad to a degree but well worth checking out.Robert Rodriguez's Shorts
(2009) was my return in-flight film but I actually watched it before my trip to L.A. and it's perfectly fine for what it is. More entertaining for the younger set and still found it very watchable yet ultimately forgettable. But it wasn't made for me, was it?
(1982) featuring the remarkable Peter O'Toole in yet another entertaining role as the famous onscreen swashbuckler Alan Swann. Good amount a levity to keep this afloat throughout. Thoroughly enjoyable!
(2009), which is certain to make my top 10 list. Flick has it all including mystical iguanas and a breakdancing ghost. Need I say more? Cage tears up the screen and I found myself once again entranced by his mania. Herzog and Cage should team-up more often. Another eventual movie night champion.
(2009) that was originally released in March 2008 in Europe and only popped up at one small film festival in the United States back in April. But now it's available on DVD/BD. WTH? Anyways, I mention all this because it's a quite all right little film and I would totally watch it again. Maybe the dragons & castles and large lead character draws comparisons to Shrek but really there's nothing similar. Good watch.
(2009) is the flick (of recent releases) I've most wanted to see that I should've seen in the theater. Hot damn is this a ball of crazy and wrong. Isabelle Fuhrman, the "orphan" in the story, is absolutely amazing. No way of really discussing the insanity of this flick without spoiling it but let's just say that this is a strong contender my best of 2009 list. So, so, so look forward to spinning this on a future movie night. So. Fucked. Up.
(2009) a less inspired horror flick and remake of the much better K-horror thriller, Tale of Two Sisters. This isn't to say that this was a terrible film but it misses far more often than hits unfortunately.
(2009) has all the necessary emotional beats both heartwarming and humorous most of the time. But the film becomes tedious as this couple, marvelously portrayed by John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph, jump from situation to situation to develop even more life introspection. Not bad but expected a little more.
(2009) divided critics as some called it terrible ("nothing happens") to others exclaiming its accurate note-for-note depiction of 70s era slowburn horror. Knowing this going in didn't alter my reaction because this is the film I wanted it to be. I love it. This film captures what I miss most in modern horror having grown up in the 70s and during heyday of the supernatural & slasher film.
(2009) is a high concept thriller with solid performances from all leads that manages to deliver enough suspense to make it worthy if not a little silly as well. Good rental.
(1983) on continual repeat.
, a film I simple adore. Also I'm saddened this didn't more play during it's 2009 theater run. It's cute despite my issues w/protagonist totally bailing on the cute geek girl (Vanessa Hudgens). Look forward to a proper viewing eventually. Apologize for crushing on Alyson Michalka but she's way sexy in this.
(2009) might be the most violent made-for-kids animated feature I've seen. I was perplexed while viewing this trying to understand the real audience as aliens and humans go all out blowing each other to bits. Because of that I'm not sure I really cared for this film. Oh, this one hit way back in 2007 at the Toronto Film Festival but didn't make to theaters domestically until 2009. And it fizzled.
More kudos to Netflix Instant Watch for providing a couple more 2009 films to round out my year. First in was 
, a decent little film that deserves some attention. Enough quirkiness and awkwardness to make the plot work it's worth adding to your queue if you dig indie comedies.
. Heard good things about this film but found the convoluted story and digital video quality distracting. There is something interesting here but needs some ironing to work on the wrinkles (in addition to a bigger budget). But not bad for a small budget sci-fi flick.
(2009) but like many Japanese films available it is the English dubbed version. Horrible. So I requested the DVD. Can sum it up by saying that the cover art is much better than the film. But it ain't terrible and certainly nowhere close to being as bad as Blood: The Last Vampire.
(2009) was certainly watchable and mostly entertaining but also a little aimless in nailing its purpose. All the actors did a fine job (yet another '09 role for Clifton Collins Jr) with the exception of Kristen Wiig who was easily underutilized. Overall wish the flick was better on the execution side.
. Julia Roberts and Clive Owen are attractive together but the corporate espionage storyline never really packs the necessary punch despite some fun moments from Tom Wilkinson.
(2009) and I loved it. Critics be damned 'cept one Roger Ebert. Cuz ole Roger also dug this flick (and not because he has a hard-on for Alex Proyas, I think). Yes, it's batshit Nicolas Cage crazy and his craziness just eats up the celluloid to such great delight. Must. See. Again.
(2009) this time starring Christina Milian as the spunky outcast, misplaced cheerleader who wins in the end. le sigh. Amazing how they can re-hash this story 5x now. Seriously, the "cheer-offs" are so damn hilarious. That said I will go on record as saying this is the best of the sequels. Make of that what you will.
where Dolph is a drummer in a hard rock band who was once a biker and knows how to kick ass and beat kill terrorists with musical instruments. Takeaway: "Death is easy, Rock & Roll is hard." Again, thank you Netflix Instant Watch.
(2009). Think I enjoyed this team-up with Clive Owen & Naomi Watts more than the critics. What can I say, I'm attracted to both of them. Solid flick about evil banks.
(2009), which is not without it's ZOMG moments but too light on substance in an attempt to be purely shocking. I laughed but not as much as I wanted to. 
(2009), featuring Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, and others. Digging this thriller so far. Really like the soundtrack.
(2009) went direct to video (pretty sure on that) which is surprising considering the cast; Rourke (fresh after The Wrestler), JG Levitt, Thom Jane, Diane Lane, et al. But after watching the film you know why. Not very good.
(2007) is an entertaining lo-fi sci-fi film that might be the most provocative film per dollar spent (see AVATAR). Plot is simple: guy reveals to his university colleagues that he's been alive for 14,000 years. Then the weirdness ensues. Definitely one to seek out. 
. Wow, what a disappointment. Even more disappointed in Koyuki who decided to accept her role in this terrible film. Nothing good or interesting here. Move along.
, featuring Chris Pine a.k.a James Tiberius Kirk, was dumped into a handful of theaters for a week (none in Chicago) and it's a damn shame cuz this was a pretty cool little end of days horror flick. Good one to seek out.
that only made its way around the '09 festival circuit. Not quite as good as some of the hype made it out to be it's still a good, albeit different, take on the post-apocalypse times all from one set piece: a radio station. I'd like to say this is a fresh approach to the genre but only half works. Worth a look.
is Cameron Diaz? Got nothing against the girl but onscreen next to Daniel Day-Lewis is a tall order for anyone. At least DiCaprio is capable here (and, dare I say, one of his best performances? Sorry, not a Leo fan). But hot damn is this a good flick and one, until now, I've seen in parts, clips & bits. Nice to finally view in its entirety and on blu-ray (even tho this isn't the best of transfers but not bad). A travesty this didn't when Best Picture in 2002. For real.
Watching William Castle's 1965 fluff thriller 
via TCM and I'm a little surprised this title is OOP and not included in the Castle boxed set. Considering it features Joan Crawford and John Ireland, you'd think they'd keep this one alive. And it ain't a bad thriller... and one where you'll find yourself siding w/the villain in hopes that he'll eventually murder the stupid annoying girls making prank calls. Crawford is delightfully ferocious.
is one such example. This 1968 film offers so much to love. Imagine taking the Man With No Name and placing him in Midnight Cowboy. Seeing Eastwood's Arizona Deputy Coogan navigate the streets and nightlife of New York City is far too excellent. And that Clint remains a player w/all the girls is more leverage than a flaw. "Still Coogan." Still great, Mr. Eastwood. And holy damn is Melodie Johnson freaking hot.
And if you thought I'd let the day pass without bad cinema I offer up Hal Roach's incredibly awful 
(1936) I found the first 2 arcs exceptional but the ending (again) left me rather unfulfilled, esp. after the intense build-up. Hitchcock definitely knows tension and how to develop it until its crawling at your insides but I often find his resolution lacking by comparison. At least it makes the ride fun and here it's a good ride until the end.
(2008) is everything you would expect from a coming-of-age, road trip, modern teen sex comedy. And if you've seen any before this one then it's likely you've already seen this. That isn't to say this is a bad flick because it has its moments and I laughed a few times. But rather forgettable which I suppose is the point.
Took two sittings (it's 2+ hours long) and some chapter rewatches but Park Chan-wook's 
definitely hits the mark. Interesting flick for sure and quite different from his previous work (altho equally as quirky as I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK). Was not excited about Ok-bin Kim (female lead) in the first half but love her character arc thru the finish. Very enjoyable but severely disappointed w/the terrible US DVD release (burned in subtitles? no features?). Hopefully they'll give this film a proper release that it deserves. Best vampire film of 2009.
(2009). Otherwise, this is as forgettable and silly as it gets for a rom-com. If you've seen the trailer you've seen the movie. But Isla Fisher... 
When I first got my Instant Watch going on my PS3, I fired up Journey to the Magic Cavern based on the cover art alone. Didn't realize it was only one chapter in a series of films based on Josh Kirby... Time Warrior, a straight to TV or video fantasy sci-fi series from 1995. But I cancelled that viewing and my curiosity led me to add the first film... er, chapter to my queue: 
. Besides the cute Jennifer Burns this really isn't a very good film or series or whatever you wanna call it. It's like a made for kids Saturday morning throwaway that I probably would've enjoyed if I was 8 years old. Unlikely I'll watch the other 5 chapters anytime soon. Should be noted that a young Charisma Carpenter has a very small part in Chapter One.
Tonight was the much anticipated Holiday of Horrors film festival at Portage Theater featuring a small crop of older cult Christmas/New Years cult films. Of the four events I've attended attended at Portage this year this was easily the 2nd best of the lot (Terror in the Aisle 2 being the best, natch). First up was 
(1984), which I'm surprised to see is OOP as it truly is a cult classic and an excellent early 80s slasher w/all the familiar tropes. Great to see in 35mm on the big screen (w/a good audience).
(1980) after an erratic introduction by director Lewis Jackson, who clearly didn't know he had a microphone in his hand. This film is something to behold and clearly fucked up. It evolves around a clearly disturbed man and his obsession with Christmas, which goes to places unexpected. Afterwards, Jackson answered a few questions and discussed the process of making the film. Fascinating (took 10 years to write?!). Later I met Mr. Jackson when I bought the DVD and he signed my copy. Alcoholism has nearly gotten the best of him as he was barely capable of holding the sharpie. 
(2006). How or why Will Ferrell doesn't get more roles like this is a mystery as he was surprisingly good in this serious note. Also really dug Maggie Gyllenhaal. Overall this film impressed me. Was never really interested in seeing this but now I'm keen to see it again. Love when I movie does that.
One of Dylan McDermott's early roles was the 1990 horror/sci-fi flick 
. It's kinda amazing that he ended up with a respectable career after that film. This isn't to say that the film is bad but it's hardly "good" and more along the lines of cult favorite. The effects are rather amusing (Really? That's the best killer robot they could create?) but the soundtrack is pretty great (not only is Ace of Spades featured but Lemmy is a taxi driver in this post-apocalyptic world). Nevertheless an entertaining B-movie.