encounters at the end of the world

Werner Herzog waxes philosophical in this study of the people and phenomena of the South Pole. It's pretty fascinating, if a bit slow, with lots of Shackleton references.

coraline in 3D

the 3D in this movie is subtle but effective. the story is a spooky fairy tale, reminscent of The Orphanage, and our heroine is complex, with staunch loyalty to the parents who pay her very little mind. French and Saunders are funny as always.

blindness

people afflicted with sudden white blindness are quarantined and proceed to make life hell for each other. I haven't read the book, but I hope it's a little more subtle than this excessively bleak portrayal of humanity. Julianne Moore is lovely as ever as a wife who sacrifices her freedom to care for her husband, but he really doesn't deserve her, and neither does this movie.

the class

all the action takes place at the school - in the classroom, teacher's lounge, and austere outdoor recreation area. M. Marin is one of those 'cool' teachers who maybe turns not to be that cool - the movie explores boundaries, limitations, and all the inherent difficulties of teaching students who the system has given up on. it's interesting, and depressing, and a little bit long.

waltz with bashir

this is a very sad, deep, and disturbing cartoon, and it will probably win an Oscar. be prepared to leave the theatre in some degree of shock.

roman polanski: wanted and desired

if this weren't a documentary, you would never believe it. the film touches on celebrities, war, childhood trauma, rape, murder, film history, and judicial corruption. it's absolutely fascinating, and leaves you wanting more.

confessions of a shopaholic

this movie is just as ridiculous, annoying, horrifying, inane, and enjoyable as the book. I hope they make a sequel.

he's just not that into you

although this movie starts out painfully, it becomes more bearable as it goes on. and on. and on. there's no cohesive message, none of the romantic story lines make much sense, Scarlett Johansson is as hot as ever, Drew Barrymore is charming, Busy Phillips is in it for about three minutes, Jennifer Connelly is slumming it, and the men are all supremely unappealing.

the reader

Kate Winslet is the powerful centre of this movie, and it drags when she's absent. although the story is morally complex, I found myself bored with both old and young Michaels' agonizing. the love affair is the best part, the book is better, Lena Olin's appearance is brief but fabulous. why must Germans speak in English to please an Anglophone audience?

the international

Naomi Watts is very annoying in this film, and every word out of her mouth is a political thriller cliche. no scenes of two people acting together on screen take place until 20 minutes from the end, when Clive Owen and Armin Mueller-Stahl have a conversation. there is one overlong but enjoyable action scene, and an interesting plot appears to unfold during the first half of the film, only to be completely abandoned by the end. overall, disappointing.

the lucky ones

I liked this road movie about three soldiers on leave from Iraq. although bad things kept happening, they seemed to take it all in stride. I guess war will do that for you. Rachel McAdams just barely escapes being annoying and Tim Robbins is as sexy as ever.

nights in rodanthe

I saw this on a plane and it was thoroughly depressing, just one sad thing after another, and the 'uplifting' ending was the worst of all. avoid.