Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker is the best film on the Iraq war yet and the most tension-filled movie experience of the entire year. Jeremy Renner stars as an EOD tech with an insane need for an adrenaline rush, a potentially explosive combination, especially when the rest of your team just wants to get through their tour alive. My opinion has been that they poorly marketed this film as an art house piece, when the simple truth is that it's also one of the best pure thrillers of the year.
Moon
Take a look at Duncan Jones'(son of rocker David Bowie) directorial debut, Moon, and you might not think it's all that impressive. The special effects are pretty pedestrian, and the terrain is kinda dull and flat to look at. But base it solely on that and you'll be missing out on a pure, hard science fiction tale straight out of the 1970s. Moon is a gripping mind trip, starring Sam Rockwell as an interstellar miner on the moon, who's been alone on his mission for perhaps a little too long. His years in isolation are either driving him mad, or something really weird is going on. Listen out for Kevin Spacey's cool turn as Sam's robot buddy, Gerty.
Fame
Here's what I know about the new fame: It tanked. Outside of that, I'm totally clueless, other than to notice that the trailers and TV spots for it seemed less interested in spotlighting the talent within than it did trying to look like a film version of American Idol. I could be wrong, but I doubt it. If anyone has seen it, let me know what you thought.
I Can Do Bad All By Myself
This is another Tyler Perry joint, isn't it? So I'm gonna assume it's got the requsite number of familial strife, drug addicts, and street-wise dudes with hearts of gold that have become the oh so tired norm. Not even Taraji P. Henson, whom I love, can make me watch this. Tyler Perry devotees have probably already pre-ordered it, and so I feel comfortable in saying this thing looked like horse pucky.
In the Loop
Good political satires don't come along often, especially one as brazenly crass as this. In the Loop is a hilarious British comedy(based on a TV series) about a low-level beaurocrat who gets swept up in two country's push to start a war in the Middle East. The jokes are machine gun quick, biting, and about as obscene as anything you're likely to hear. It doesn't matter which side of the political aisle you fall on, everyone gets skewered equally, and the performance are hilarious. No funnier film came out in 2009, with the possible exception of The Hangover.
Departures
The Academy Award winner for best foreign film of 2008, Departures is a Japanese film about a musician who gives up his career to become someone who prepares dead bodies for coffins. An interesting premise, and a film I've been wanting to see, if only to find out what the fuss is about.
Halloween II
Rob Zombie's sequel to 2007's franchise reboot is one that I have to admit not liking all that much, but not because of the film's direction. Zombie knows how to make a great horror film look good, and Halloween has the ominous feel and rampant brutality down pat. For fans of the genre this is a no-brainer must buy, but I think it pales in comparision to Zombie's other work. Give me The Devil's Rejects
anyday. 8 1/2
Fans of Rob Marshall's latest musical, Nine, might want to check out the film that inspired it. Federico Fillini's 1963 classic finally hits DVD in all it's rightful glory thanks to Criterion. It's the story of a famous director who seems to have lost his mojo while constantly being harassed for his next big idea. Marcello Mastroiani plays Guido in a performance no less powerful than Daniel Day-Lewis's recent take.
The Brothers Bloom
One of my Top 10 favorite films of the year finally hits DVD and as you can expect it's already bought and paid for. Rian Johnson's whimsical follow-up to his amazing 2005 debut, Brick, tells the story of a pair of con artist brothers(Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo) who go for one last big score. Their target: an eccentric, introverted, wealthy adventure seeker played by Rachel Weisz. A colorful, dreamy film that will remind some of Wes Anderson, but with more heart, comedy, and genuine emotion. I dare you to not have fun watching this film.
Post Grad
I think maybe 5 people saw this Alexis Bledel college-level mess about a girl trying to find her way after graduating college. I love Bledel in pretty much everything, but if graduating meant having to sit through this ABC Family look-a-like, I'd probably flunk out.
Big Fan
Don't kid yourself, this is not your run of the mill sports flick. Comedian Patton Oswalt transforms himself as a obsessively loyal fan of his beloved New York Giants. The rest of his life is crap, but to him he'll always have the team. That is until he runs afoul of the team's star wide receiver, who proceeds to beat him so bad he winds up in the hospital. Moral dilemmas abound as he must weigh his loyalty to the Giants, and his family's desire for justice.
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