Punch Drunk DVDs

Machete
Machete cut a bloody swath of destruction all the way into my top movies of 2010 list, which caught some folks by surprise. I found Robert Rodriguez's no holds barred, blow everything the hell up approach a hell of a lot of fun. Nobody better translates their enthusiasm to the big screen better than Rodriguez, and grindhouse, Mexploitative style is perfectly suited to his demented imagination. Machete may not text, but he kicks all types of ass.







Dinner for Schmucks
Steve Carell and Paul Rudd are two of the most likable comedic actors on the planet right now, but only hardcore enthusiasts of their work will bust a gut at this idiotic comedy from director Jay Roach(Meet the Parents). Rudd stars as fast rising exec who gets invited to a scandalous party thrown by his boss where everyone brings along a moron to be quietly mocked. Enter Carell as Barry, a braindead force of destruction and the perfect guest for just such a shindig.










The Last Exorcism
Patrick Fabian should've been on more people's end of the year lists(including my own, but I had him at #11) because he attacks Daniel Stamm's horror mockumentary like an untamed force. He sells every bit of this flick as Cotton Marcus, a preacher/showman who loves exposing the truth about his own shaken faith, in particular the lucrative business of exorcising demons. When he takes on a job to heal a posessed girl out in Louisiana, he discovers that all his parlor tricks and cynicism may not be enough this time around.






Case 39
If Case 39 looks like one of those old, lousy American J-horrors from around the mid-2000's there's a good reason: It's because it is.  Shot way back in 2006 and left sitting on a shelf for a few years before being crapped out into theaters last year for a brisk run, not even the pairing of Renee Zellwegger and Bradley Cooper can make this one look fresh.








Howl
James Franco is everywhere lately both behind and in front of the camera, but few got a chance to check out this film, which sees the screen hunk depicting poet Allen Ginsberg around the time of one of his most famous works, Howl. Jon Hamm, David Straithairn, and Mary-Louise Parker co-star.









CatfishOh yeah, that other Facebook movie. No offense to fans of The Social Network, a movie I love dearly, but the actual insights brought about by David Fincher's flick pale in comparison to the ones found here. At once a documentary and a boiling mystery wrapped into one, Catfish explores the thin line between truth and dishonesty, our collective loneliness and desire to be accepted even by those we barely know and have never actually met.  Whether you believe it's real or not doesn't matter, I guarantee Catfish will reel you in.






The Yellow Handkerchief
A quiet indie that few caught up with last year, The Yellow Handkerchief is one of those small, perfect films that will stick with you forever. William Hurt gives a subtle but powerful powerformance as a recently released convict on a road trip through post-Katrina Louisiana to get back to the woman he loves(Maria Bello). On the way he picks up a pair of young hitchhikers(Kristen Stewart and Eddie Redmayne), just navigating their way around love's many sharp corners. If anything, this continues to prove just how good Stewart is when she gets away from the all the vampire and werewolf nonsense.





Gun
On one hand it's sad that Val Kilmer is taking second chair to 50 Cent in this sad looking crime flick. But then I don't know how interested he is in having his name top bill this junk. The cover looks like it was made for a really crappy video game nobody would ever buy.