Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Beautifully shot rags to riches story, told through the use of flashbacks between the past and present. There's no substitute for shooting on location with local actors and extras.

Rating: B

Unstoppable (2010)

About as exciting as a runaway train movie can be. Tony Scott is known for making hearts pound, however here it felt like he didn’t have much to work with besides a few real life events to fabricate a plot from. Character development is thin and feels forced. The actors give it everything they’ve got in what amounts to a very average action movie.

Rating: C

Battle Royal (Batoru Rowaiaru) (2000)

I could see this Japanese import being remade in the US. Not sure if that's on the horizon. Hopefully they'll polish up the script, but keep the senseless violence. The movie's premise didn't make a lot of sense. Maybe you have to be Japanese to fully appreciate it. Come to think of it, The Hunger Games has similar themes.

Rating: C

It’s Kind of a Funny Story (2010)

Two terrific performances from Keir Gilchrist and Zach G. I thought this would be a lighthearted comedy, but it’s more of a dramedy. The film is based on a book. It feels very personal. The scenes don’t feel manufactured. Zach gets to show his range as an actor—outside the zany or deadpan roles he’s normally cast.

It’s an emotional movie and I got caught up in it. I also thought the editing was unique and creative. It added a lot to the film. A near flawless effort from a movie I’d never heard of. That almost never happens.

Rating: B+

Beowulf (2007)

Curiosity got the better of me on this one, that, and Angelina Jolie, who looks hot animated or otherwise. Once you get past the fact that you're watching a cartoon for adults, it's not so bad. Pretty violent in fact. More enjoyable though, is the making of featurette on the DVD. Casting Crispin Glover in the role of Grendel was genius.

Rating: C-

The Last King of Scotland (2006)

One of those well made films with great performances that you enjoyed but never want to see again. A lot of heavy material with circumspect characters. Makes me wish I knew more about the historical accuracy of the film. Africa: what a messed up place.

Rating: C+

Due Date (2010)

Nothing will ever top Todd Phillips best road trip movie: "Go". Due Date is a more straightforward comedy than that. One only has to turn a camera on Galifianakis to make an audience laugh. Mix in a little dead pan Downey Jr., and you have yourself a decent film before the script has even been written. Plenty of laughs despite the simple plot.

Rating: C+

Eat This New York (2004)

I found the process of opening a restaurant in New York quite fascinating, as well as a few of the restaurateur vignettes. The style was very rough and flowed poorly at times. There were parts I used the FF button to zip through. It could have used a bigger dose of production value.

Rating: C-

The Science Of Sleep (La Science des Rêves) (2006)

If Michel Gondry makes it, I'll see it. Sure, not everything he does is a hit—case in point: Human Nature—but at least when he misses it's a wonderfully eye-popping miss. Such is the case with Science of Sleep.

The film is bursting with creativity. So much so, that it sometimes forgets that stories need to be told and plots must be unfolded. Not surprisingly, the film itself is concocted in a similar dreamlike state that the main character Stéphane seems to find himself in.

You know how when you suddenly wake up from the most amazing dream, where you remember almost everything and can't wait to tell someone about it? But then when you do start to tell someone about your dream, you sound retarded and words can't quite do justice to the images in your head.

Well, I think that's what happened with Michel's vision this time around. It got garbled in the translation from dream to film. I'll never stop appreciating his attempts though, because sometimes the end result is a masterpiece like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Rating: C-

The Box (2009)

They took a short story and created an insanely convoluted plot around it that was neither satisfying or logical.

Rating: D+

Valentine’s Day (2010)

Only watched this because it was playing on my Delta flight. Stellar cast in a sub-par formula Gary Marshall film. It uses every cliché in the book. Mildly entertaining at times, like watching a Jr. High School play.

Rating: D+

10 Items Or Less (2006)

A quirky pet project from Mr. Freeman. It appears he’s playing himself, which is a bit of a stretch for the plot. It’s more of a toned town version of his real Hollywood stature. The lead actress is a delight, however it’s a slow film with a barely-there plot.

Rating: C-

The Princess and the Warrior (Der Krieger und die Kaiserin) (2000)

Another film from Tom Tykwer, of Run Lola Run fame, starring the same red headed actress. Having seen two of his previous movies, I think I can safely say this guy is fantastic. His camera work, editing, and direction are so unique and creative. He has a way of sucking you in and messing with your emotions.

Rating: B-

Outpost (2008)

Despite ok acting, the material they had to work with was so bad, it brought the entire film down. The plot made no sense and the ending was abysmal. Waste of time.

Rating: D

Hustle & Flow (2005)

More credible and entertaining than 8 Mile, with much better acting. Flow is the perfect word, since that's exactly what the film does: flow. The best scenes are when they construct a song together, from start to finish. They did an awesome job of showing the music making process without losing the audience along the way. Terrance is amazing as the pimp rapper.

Rating: B+

Attack The Block (2011)

A slick British alien movie that doubles as a social commentary on the youth gang culture in London. Loved the look of the aliens. Rare to see a fresh take on this old genre.

Rating: B-

Amélie (2001)

I'd heard it was really good, and it was. Cinematically stunning with a very witty script. I adored the leading actress and the amusing love story. This French film is a must see.

Rating: A-

30 Minutes or Less (2011)

Right up Pineapple Expresses' alley. Bumbling fools committing crimes, saying funny crap, and blowing stuff up. Terrific cast of funny guys. Nice to see Nick Swarsdon able to escape Adam Sandler’s unfunny clutches long enough to star in a movie that doesn’t totally suck. Aziz kills it as usual. Danny McBride is hilarious in anything he does. Order a pizza and enjoy this rental.

Rating: C+

127 Hours (2010)

I was an extra for a day on this film, but none of my scenes made it to the final cut. No Oscar nominations for me. Despite that, the movie was intense, fast paced, well shot, and gripping. Not as gruesome as I had heard, but certainly not for the squeamish.

Rating: B

Carriers (2009)

Another take on the end of the world genre—one of my favorite movie subjects. It’s a deadly disease this time round instead of zombies or aliens. In the end, it’s all the same. What I find interesting is the writer/director’s vision of what life would be like when society breaks down. I thought they did a good job of keeping things realistic. I can’t imagine the budget for this film was very big, but it looked fine on screen. Worth renting.

Rating: C+