January 2010
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The Edge of Darkness
The Edge sees the (welcome) return of the armed and dangerous, leading man, Lethal Weapon, mad Mel out for some off-the-book Payback in an otherwise (well-made) workmanlike conspiracy thriller.
***

Ninja Assassin
Ninja Assassin is a tongue-in-cheek cheesy, CGI gory, subtle as a sledgehammer, wire-futastic, B-movie-cum-computer game, bloody good fun blood-a-thon. And a sure-slash contender for Best Worst Movie Dialogue of 2010 to boot.
****

Armored
Yes this is familiar (Hard Rain / Trespass / Judgment Night / 16 Blocks), slickly-made, enjoyable action-thriller fare with a cool and eclectic ensemble cast. That much was expected off the back of the trailer. The interest lies in whether it shows enough to suggest whether the Nimrod Antal is the man to save the Predator franchise?
***

A Prophet
A stunning example of filmmaking on every level, Prophet stands as one of the strongest films released in 2010. No wonder the transformative central star Tahar Rahim is now up for every role going on the basis of this brilliance either.
**** (and a half)

Up in the Air
Cool, slick, charming, classy and that's even without the added Clooney factor (who hasn't been this perfect for a part since Out of Sight incidentally), UitA is a timely, wryly, observant, stone-cold awards contender. No man is an island.
****

The Book of Eli
You wait ages for an apocalyptern road movie then two come along at once. This is the glossier, pulpier and lesser of the two, though still interesting enough an idea in its own right with much more gunplay and ass-kickery in addition.
***

44 Inch Chest
Shouty, sweary and starry (cast), 44 Inch Chest is a fah-kin' quotable dialogue-driven cock-er-nee gangster flick with a sharp wit and a viciously violent bent.
***

Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll
Sex & Drugs is, like the extraordinary artist it details, an acquired taste. Has plenty of reasons to be cheerful 1 2 3.
****

The Road (full review)
In its own abbreviated way the movie The Road by John Hillcoat is as equally profound and moving an experience as the book The Road by Cormac McCarthy. There’s no higher compliment than that.
*****

Fireball (full review)
Less Ong-Bak got game, more knock-back it's plain, Fireball promised much in synopsis but delivers very little in end product. Really disappointing, especially in the wake of the Tony Jaa way.
**

Exam
Blighty's-own low-budget, high-concept, single-set answer to 1997's indie-smash Cube, Exam is a meticulously-plotted, clever creative, high tension mind-messing study of human interaction in which humans don't come out looking so well. It's extreme but is it also true.
***

Daybreakers
A modern and original twist on the ages-old and well-worn vampire myth, Daybreakers sees the brothers Spierig fulfil the potential hinted at by cheapo zombie-schlock breakthrough Undead thanks to bags of smarts and style and gallons of graphic gore.
****

Ones to Watch 2010
The new films I’m most excited about, per calendar month, of the first new year of the new decade. But what are we meant to call it? The Teens? That sounds even worse than the bloody Noughties...