madea goes to jail

the latest Tyler Perry movie has an interesting structure - it keeps the melodrama and the comedy separate until very close to the end, when Madea finally meets the story's tragic heroine. Derek Luke is lovely as ever and I particularly enjoyed watching corrupt AUSAs and Madea answering all of her therapist's questions with a question. very satisfying.

the great buck howard

there's not much to this mildly entertaining piece of fluff aside from the fact that it's about a real person (The Amazing Kreskin) - a fact that makes it slightly more interesting. it's cute seeing Colin and Tom Hanks play father and son, and it's always nice to watch disenchanted law students, but the story itself is fairly nonexistent.

sunshine cleaning

a movie about two broke, messed-up sisters who start a business cleaning up disgusting crime scenes. it's interesting, with a real indie flavor and arc. and Amy Adams and Emily Blunt are both cute as buttons.

the death of alice blue

the long-awaited world premiere of my friend's movie - at the MOMA no less! this is a post-modern deconstructionist vampire movie. just kidding - that's what the presenter said - but really it's just a cool flick about a girl who goes to work at a creepy ad agency, and the strange events that unfold.

rocknrolla

Guy Ritchie's British gangster tale is entertaining and pointless, as are all of its characters. which makes the movie fun in a completely frivolous way.

australia

this movie isn't as completely awful as it seems, as long as you go in assuming it will be. it's very flashy and predictable, with whites learning magic and important values from aboriginals in a typically racist and annoying fashion. David Wenham is a good villain and many of the scenes are gorgeous. so if you have three hours to kill...

I love you man

I love you Jason Segel. and I'm also fond of good gay characters. and J.K. Simmons.

duplicity

cute movie about two corporate spies. there really isn't much more to it.

che: guerrilla

where che the argentine was uplifting, this one is just depressing. also, I doubt it would stand alone. it was interesting to watch, but a bit discouraging. maybe it would be better to see this one first.

che: the argentine

fairly gripping chronicle of Che's life after he meets Castro and decides to help him take over Cuba, interspersed with his visit to the United States to address the United Nations. some great beards, and cool revolutionary tactics.

miracle at st anna

Spike Lee takes a long time to tell this story about four black American soldiers stuck in a small Tuscan village with a young Italian boy and a marble head statue in tow, to explain the mystery of the murder that starts off the action. a little too violent for my taste.

watchmen

I loved the opening credits and enjoyed most of the film's faithful adaptation of the comic books, but was very disappointed by the inadequately explained 'mystery' and the outdated and narrow political philosophy espoused by most of the protagnonists at the end. some of the casting was great - Jackie Earle Haley and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, I mean you - but seriously, Malin Akerman for the only important female role? the girl can't act! Matthew Goode was just ridiculous and, although I usually love Billy Crudup, I couldn't get past the big blue naked man thing. nonetheless, the movie is surprisingly entertaining for its length, and pickings are slim these days.

two lovers

don't leave us, Joaquin! seriously, he's excellent in this drama about an emotionally unstable, Jewish young man who, after allowing his parents to rescue him from a bad situation, does everything he can to fight his own sense of self and well-being. at least that's how I saw it. I've liked all of James Gray's movies, but this one is the best. the production design was dead on, and every character felt real. I hope it plays in a theatre near you.

break a leg

quirky comedy about an actor struggling to make it in LA who starts eliminating his rivals using unorthodox methods featuring fun appearances by Jennifer Beals, Kevin Corrigan, Sandra Oh, and Eric Roberts.