October 2009


An Education
An education in tight screenwriting. An education in central starmaking acting. An education in solid filmmaking. An educatory watch for all fans of film.
****

This is It
MJ clearly still had the enthuasism and skillz to earn the billz, making this muso-docu equal amounts pleasing and depressing but 100% massively thrilling to watch what could have been.
****

9
Gorgeous visuals and kinetic action but lacking in the story department, Shane Acker's 9 is a short animation stretched too far. His ambition is to be celebrated though and we'll surely see better from him in the (hopefully not post-apocalyptic) future.
***

Fantastic Mr. Fox (full review)
Although unmistakably Wes Andersonian, the film Fantastic Mr. Fox is still, in spirit, the story what Dahl wrote. Call it chemistry or cosmic convergence, but one fact remains: this is a visionary version of a literary classic and the perfect meeting of subject matter, style and craftsmen. It is simply, quote unquote, Fantastic.
****

Colin (full review)
A re-e-eeally long Takeover TV-type home video submission, Colin is an interesting effort and something worthy of note due to its ambition and ingenuity, but also an experiment that ultimately doesn’t quite achieve what it aspires to.
**

Triangle (full review)
Triangle is a brilliantly-crafted, noodle-baking, jump-out-of-your-seat, mysterious atmospheric chiller and highly recommend for fans of things such as Memento, The Machinist or Lost (or Melissa George in short shorts).
****

Thirst
As radical a take on the vampire myth as Near Dark and every bit as good, Thirst is a bloodsucking tale the likes of which only Park Chan-Wook could envision. Bonkers and brilliant.
****

Ong-Bak: The Beginning (full review)
Tony Jaa is Bak and better than ever in The Beginning courtesy of a superior story that augments his wonderfully-imaginative and audaciously-skilled scenes of bone-crunching kick-assery. Bring on Bak 3.
****

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Gilliam's Imaginarium let loose, Parnassus is a fantastical fable full of first-rate performances (Ledger is a screen presence to sorely miss as sure as eggs is eggs) and vivid visuals. Definitely an acquired taste, marmite-movie though.
****

Couples Retreat
The Ocean's 12 of frat pack rom-coms, Couples Retreat is funny and infectious at times but a little too smug for its own good. It's final act sucks as hard as George, Brad, Damo and Soderbergh's too.
***

Zombieland (full review)
With zombies rising from the grave with alarming frequency in recent years, it’s become increasingly difficult to stand-out amongst a sardine-packed subgenre crowd. Zombieland nuts up however, telling all the other z-tenders to shut up in the process.
****

Up (full review)
Big surprise, Pixar brilliance strikes again! Up is up, up and away from any other animation (and most other live-action) movies currently being produced. Prepare to awed, amused and moved by this work of pure genius.
*****

Love Happens (according to CBK)
Surprisingly a bit of a weepie (so remember to stock up on tissues), Love Happens has Jennifer Aniston in one of her usual big-screen roles as an arty life-fixer florist which is a enlightening contrast to the film's underlying themes. Similar to The Break-Up the film has you wondering "is this a rom-com after all?"
****

Le Donk & Scor-Zay-Zee
Filmed as the flagship entry in Shane Meadows' "Five Day Features Initiative", improv mockumentary Le Donk is better than most other films that have five months and much more moolah to make something of themselves. I tell ya, Meadows is fast becoming a real national treasure whilst muse Paddy Considine continues to prove he's pure acting genius incarnate. If I had my way I'd cast him in everything.
****

Pandorum
Atmospheric and exciting, Pandorum is the best sci-fi/action/horror hybrid since Pitch Black. Antje Traue defiantly announces herself as a new Ripley-to-watch out for too.
*** (and a half)

The Invention of Lying
Disappointing only because it comes from such a creative comedy Gervais, Lying is a one-joke concept stretched too thinly over a feature-length runtime. Unlike most, it seems, I liked Ricky's religion ribbing/riffing and celebrity cameo-spotting though.
***

District 13- Ultimatum (full review)
Ultimatum is second best in the two-strong (thus far) District 13 movie series and unquestionably the second best District film released this year. Fun but fluff and with absolutely no substance.
**