the promotion

for some reason, I had to wait months for netflix to deliver this inconsequential comedy about Sean William Scott and John C. Reilly competing to be manager at a new branch of a chain grocery store. Reillly does a really poor Canadian accent, but it's nowhere near as bad as Lili Taylor's inexplicable Scottish one. the spectacle of these grown, married men using juvenile tricks to outdo each other, each more pathetic than the last, is a sad comment on the state of grocery employees today.

the wrestler

although more conventional than his previous films, Darren Aronofsky's touch is here in the visceral, graphic depictions of the real violence wrestlers do to themselves and each other during 'fake' matches. yes, Mickey Rourke is excellent, and the wrestling world is fascinating.

wendy and lucy

this move is all about Michelle Williams, and she rises to the challenge, coping with a series of crises with a desperate calm - it's clear she's hit bottom, but there's no more to this particular story than exactly what you see. in a time of mediocre epics, it's 80 minutes are highly refreshing.

doubt

this must be better as a play, because I found it kind of talky and dull. I liked Meryl Streep's accent and Viola Davis's performance, but the whole grappling with Christian faith thing didn't do much for me.

old joy

I didn't find this movie nearly as deep as the netflix sleeve did. it's about a couple of guys, one who's about to have a baby and one who's still single and bearded and has a crush on the other, who go to some hot springs. unless I missed something.

the women

there are a couple of nice moments from Jada Pinkett and Candice Bergen in here, but the rest of it is absolutely awful.

let the right one in

really creepy, atmospheric Swedish movie about a twelve year old vampire who moves next door to a boy who is constantly bullied. a totally believable pre-adolescent love story, despite the occasional severed limb.

winter passing

Zooey Deschanel manages not to be as annoying as usual and Ed Harris disguises himself with long white hair and crying jags in this movie about a New York actress who loves coke and random sex and smashing her hand in drawers, as a way of coping with two famous, absent, writer parents. and then she reunites with her dad. Will Ferrell oddly plays a Christian musician.

mister lonely

Harmony Korine movie about a commune of impersonators in Scotland, and nuns that fall unscathed out of planes. And sheep disease and sunburn. It's interesting.

milk

great movie about the rise of gay activisim, centred around Sean Penn playing Milk channeling Sam I Am. James Franco is lovely as always and Emile Hirsch gives it his all. it's a sad story, and an inspiring history lesson. I hope this one wins some awards.

happy go lucky

realistic, thought-provoking portrait of a thirty-year old single primary school teacher whose joie de vivre inspires a range of reactions from the people around her. it's intimate, as only Mike Leigh's films can be.

slumdog millionaire

I finally got to see this! at a free screening, no less. the child actors will blow you away and the story is just the right balance of tragic, funny, and shocking. I found the (opening, don't worry) torture scenes gratuitous and the flashbacks a little too flashy sometimes, but it's hard to think of a better movie that's come out this year.

cadillac records

great performances are the best thing about this little slice of recording history that is basically a series of vignettes related to some of the artists produced by Chess Records in the 50s and 60s. the story's not too historically accurate, but the singing is great. both Mos Def and Beyonce should have had bigger parts, and Eamonn Walker steals all his scenes as Howlin' Wolf. I wouldn't have complained if the movie had been at least a half hour longer.

mon meilleur ami/my best friend

French film from Patrice Leconte about a man whose business partner declares that he has no friends and his pathetic attempts to prove her wrong. amusing in a vaguely sad kind of way.

C.R.A.Z.Y.

great movie from Montreal about a boy struggling with his sexuality in a house of four brothers and a very macho dad. evokes much nostalgia for the 70s and 80s.

I'm Reed Fish

totally unoriginal indie about a guy who has cold feet right before his wedding to the girl whose mom died in a car crash along with his parents after an old flame comes to town. and he redeems himself by...making a movie about it! snooze.

the method

Spanish movie about seven candidates for an executive position at a large corporation in a room together, playing games of elimination. it feels a little dated after the endless similarly-themed reality shows, but it's still fairly entertaining.

the line of beauty

the wealthy son of a British MP brings home a school friend one summer, and he doesn't end up leaving for four years. in the meantime he discovers the joys and devastation of coming out in the mid-80s. the book is better, of course, but this three hour mini-series is worth it.

walk on water

really interesting Israeli film about war, peace, sexuality, violence, Nazi war criminals, and young Germans.

young people f**king

fun, meaningless, Canadian movie about a bunch of people having sex one night. apparently it provoked the introduction of a censorship bill, but it didn't pass. close one.