New Releases, 15 December 2009

Beware the ides of December, for they bring cinematic awesomeness straight to your eyeballs...

THE HANGOVER

This summer's comedy sensation, just in time for Kwanzaa.  With comedian Zach Galifianakis

http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2009/06/05/hangover/index.html

TAKING WOODSTOCK

Ang Lee's heartwarming glance back to the summer of love, with a top notch cast, including comedian Demitri Martin

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090826/REVIEWS/908269991

G-FORCE

Totally one-upping the last two, G-Force is a talking hamster pic with the comedic voices of Galifianakis, Arrested Development's Will Arnett and Tracy Morgan

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090722/REVIEWS/907239997

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

Not to be outdone, Quentin Tarantino put Austin Powers himself, the quasi-comedic Mike Myers, in his WWII epic

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1917595,00.html

THE HEADLESS WOMAN

Fantastic and mysterious film from Argentina.  If Yakov Smirnov was in it we could continue our current theme, but he wasn't.  Maybe for the best.  

http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/movies/19headless.html?ref=movies

THE TUDORS Season 3

Latest season of the real housewives of Tudor England

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/item_SUnxGY5cwK62XN6QXdrfyJ

KNOW YOUR MUSHROOMS

Never eat a poisonous mushroom again!  You know all those times you've been at a fancy dinner party and mistaken a shiitake for an Amanita Muscaria and everybody laughed and then the host punched you in the nuts?  It'll never happen again.

http://www.eyeweekly.com/film/onscreen/article/50596

THE OTHER MAN

Film about a man.  No, not that man.  The other one.  

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/sep/11/entertainment/et-other-man11

PSYCHO WARD

I don't know if this film is any good or not, but the review of it on Dorkgasm.com is fantastic.

http://dorkgasm.com/node/272

Have a great week, and don't forget to share several films with your loved ones!

New Releases, 8 December 2009

It's official, we can't go outside anymore.  So why not curl up with some movies, seven features and a tv show perhaps?

LOST Season 5

The latest season of the perpetually confusing phenomenon.  Now with more polar bears

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2009/01/21/DDNK15DKAG.DTL

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE

Number six, in which Harry comes to America and volunteers for the Obama campaign

http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2009/07/15/harry_potter_review/index.html

JULIE & JULIA

From the hit blog to the bestselling book to the silver screen, the intertwined stories of Julia Child and Julie who cooked her food for a year.

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/cinema/2009/08/24/090824crci_cinema_denby?currentPage=2

PUBLIC ENEMIES

Johnny Depp plays Dillinger in this well-reviewed crime biopic.

http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=136004

WORLD'S GREATEST DAD

The latest is a weird string of critically acclaimed, little-seen Robin Williams vehicles, this one is supposed to be quite funny

http://www.filmthreat.com/index.php?section=reviews&Id=11513

SOMERS TOWN

Understated charmer about two boys running amok in London

http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2009/09/04/somers_town_a_slice_of_life_in_an_unforgiving_london/

BEAUTIFUL LOSERS

Documentary about Shepard Fairey and his artistic cohorts in California

http://www.boston.com/movies/display?display=movie&id=12308

HOLLYWOOD JE T'AIME

A look at the underbelly of Hollywood

http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/reviews/Hollywood-Je-Taime

Have a fantastic week, stay warm and keep watching stuff!

New Releases, 1 December 2009

Happy December everybody, it's good to be that much closer to getting out of these stupid "naughts", or "00's" or whatever people are calling them now.  Hey, we got some movies.

FUNNY PEOPLE 

Apatow's back and this time he brought Adam Sandler with him, for this tale of a successful comedian with a new lease on life.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/30/DDTE1911GH.DTL&type=movies

ANGELS AND DEMONS

Follow up to the Da Vinci Code--Tom Hanks, vague historical references, the large hadron collider and creepy conspirators...AND A DEAD POPE!

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090513/REVIEWS/905139997

TERMINATOR SALVATION

No matter how you cut it, the apocalypse is hot right now, so hot.  Humanity is in the middle of the war with the robots, and Christian Bale has to save the boy who eventually will be his own father, and Schwarzenegger shows up and he's naked, and there's just a lot going on.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2009/05/19/2009-05-19_bale_machines_knock_em_dead_in_new_terminator.html

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2

If the last two movies were frustratingly complicated, this one is nice and simple:  Ben Stiller, the Smithsonian comes to life, hijinks ensue.  Mazeltov.

http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-museum22-2009may22,0,1617772.story

A CHRISTMAS TALE

Fantastic film from Arnaud Desplechin, about a dysfunctional French family at the holidays.  Alternately hilarious, tragic, and moving, well worth a watch.  Played at Ragtag.

http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/11/14/movies/14tale.html

PAPER HEART

Also graced Ragtag's screens, a documentary about love by Charlene Yi, comedian and onetime paramour of Michael "If I Was Less Awkward, Would I Still Be So Cute?" Cera.  

http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/25457917/review/29554762/paper_heart

Have a great December everybody!  And remember, the only sure antidote to Holiday-fatigue is renting movies from 9th St Video.  And spiking your egg nog, that works too.

New Releases, 17 November 2009

From across the galaxy and straight to your screen, it's NEW MOVIE TUESDAYYYYYAyyyayyayyayayyayay...

STAR TREK

Hot new re-up of the ST franchise, with hot starships, hot action and even hotter young aliens 

http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-05-06/film/j-j-abrams-s-star-trek-proof-that-a-franchise-can-live-long-and-prosper/

BRUNO

From the makers of Borat, an unflinchingly funny look into the gaping maw of American homophobia (parents, that means there will be some ding-dongs)

http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/14592445/review/28816322/bruno

HUMPDAY

In a charming coincidence, a new indie film about two bros who decide for some reason to make a gay porno.  Comedy, played at Ragtag

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/16/MO6V18NQBG.DTL&type=movies

IS ANYBODY THERE?

Yes.  Michael Caine is there, and he's in this quirky, heartfelt hit, which also played at Ragtag

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/apr/17/entertainment/et-anybody17

THE LIMITS OF CONTROL

New film from Jim Jarmusch, about a shady international deal broker.  Starring Isaac de Bankole

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/01/entertainment/et-limits1

MY SISTER'S KEEPER

Adaptation of the bestselling book, about little cancer sisters and their weepy parents

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090624/REVIEWS/906249980

THIRST

Korean vampire flick from Park Chan Wook, looks great and played at Ragtag

http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/btm/feature/2009/07/31/thirst/index.html

MARGARET CHO: BEAUTIFUL

Cho's back and she's bringing the laffs with her in her latest stand-up set

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/39192/margaret-cho-beautiful/

AVANT GARDE CINEMA Vol. 3 1922-1954

Nice addition to the Kino Avant Garde video collections

http://www.kino.com/video/item.php?film_id=997

IT'S A VERY SUNNY XMAS

From the show It's Always Sunny in PA, a very special holiday extravaganza

http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/41079079.html

Have a great week everybody!

New Releases, 10 November 2009

Another week, another great set of movies to help pass the time....Life is grand, is it not?

FOOD, INC

The Citizen Kane of what-you're-eating-is-bad-for-you-and-for-the-world films.  Played True/False, a must-see

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bal-ae.mo.food03jul03,0,4736004.story

TAKING OF PELHAM 1-2-3

Denzel Washington takes over where Walter Matthau left off in this gripping updated thrill machine

http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/21416733/review/28631105/taking_of_pelham_1_2_3

UP

One of the most loved of the year, about an old man, a boy and a lot of balloons

http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-05-27/film/pixar-s-up-soars-in-entirely-unexpected-ways/

THE UGLY TRUTH

Two mismatched but attractive people who seem to loath each other are forced together to...I know, sounds familiar, but this one has Girard "Potato face" Butler in it!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/the-ugly-truth,1156298.html

INK

Scary indie offering, has been called "creepy" and "sublime"

http://www.joblo.com/index.php?id=28421

A WOMAN IN BERLIN

A well-reviewed look at suffering during World War II, a "ravishing" film

http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/btm/feature/2009/07/17/berlin/index.html?CP=IMD&DN=110

THE GOODS: LIVE HARD, SELL HARD

Adam McKay and Will Ferrell bring you a used car comedy that inspired several reviews along the lines of "No Lemon.." "Comedy not a Clunker..." and "What can I do to put you in this theater seat today?"  

http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-goods14-2009aug14,0,7245765.story

SPREAD 

Ashton Kutcher is a young gigalo who meets his match in a stunning young gigalette

http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/25457787/review/29554761/spread

LAKE TAHOE

Stunning film, gorgeous and well acted film about a guy trying to get his car fixed.  Really, it looks great.

http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/07/10/movies/10lake.html

Have a wonderful week everyone!

New Releases, 27 October 2009

OOOoooooOOOOooOoooOoOooohhh...it's a spooky halloween list, full of comedies and children's movies and period pics.  

WHATEVER WORKS

New Woody Allen, with Curb Your Enthusiasms' Larry David in a rare age-appropriate Woody-surrogate role

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1905522,00.html

ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS

Those wacky glacier buddies are at it again, see if that squirrel thing finally gets his nut!

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090629/REVIEWS/906299995

TRANSFORMERS 2

Those wacky car-robot-aliens are at it again, in Egypt and under the ocean.  Plus a li'l Megan Fox for the guys, and a li'l Shia "the beef" LaBoeuf for the ladies...

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20286964,00.html

CHERI

Sharon Stone is up to some Victorian high-jinks, seducing gentlemen and setting heads a-turning and spats a-spatting

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/25/MVNT18CL7S.DTL&type=movies

ORPHAN

The lone horror film to come out this week, about a young girl who seems plagued by tragic "accidents"...

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090722/REVIEWS/907229993

IL DIVO

Critically lauded, "Fellini-esque" film about a shifty and corrupt Italian politician, if you can imagine such a thing

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117937270.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&query=Il+divo

NOTHING LIKE THE HOLIDAYS

Debra Messing is celebrating the holidays with her man's crazy Latino family.  Not that being crazy has anything to do with being Latino.  Forget I said anything. 

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2008-12-11-nothing-like-the-holidays_N.htm?csp=IMDBreviews

BUNUEL: DEATH IN THE GARDEN

Seldom-seen Bunuel classic from 1956, about gold-diggers.  Literal gold-diggers.  Miners.

http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/film_review.asp?ID=120

FOOD MATTERS

New documentary that covers the question of what we should eat.  Please please please be Hardee's...

http://www.sunfood.com/buy/4/58/DVD-Food-Matters-by-James-Colquhoun.aspx

DR. BRONNER'S MAGIC SOAPBOX

Doc about a crazy huckster who peddled soap and put his crazy rants on the bottle.  Looks pretty entertaining

http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/06/29/movies/29bron.html

INGLORIOUS BASTARDS (1977)

The movie that Tarantino's wasn't really based on.  Pulp war classic.

http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/btm/feature/2008/08/13/inglorious/index.html?CP=IMD&DN=110

SCANNERS (1981)

Cronenberg's thriller about powerful psychics trying to take over the world, and the powerful psychic trying to stop them

http://www.combustiblecelluloid.com/classic/scanners.shtml

http://www.horrorreview.com/old/egscanners1981.html

Have a happy holiday, and remember--don't eat anything that's not in a bag that says 3 Musketeers on it.

New Releases, 13 October 2009

Hey y'all, we just gots some movies what's never been watched, and I think y'all really need to pitch in and rent them ifyouknowwutI'msayin

LAND OF THE LOST

Time-and-space traveling goofstravaganza with Will Ferrell and whatshisface from Eastbound & Down, lovingly based on the tv show

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090603/REVIEWS/906039993

THE PROPOSAL

Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock hate each other, but then have to PRETEND TO BE MARRIED!!!  What a lark!  Oh, I hope they don't fall in love at the end, it would ruin the realism of the whole thing.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film-reviews/film-review-the-proposal-1003984186.story

EVERY LITTLE STEP

Heavily acclaimed documentary about the revival of A Chorus Line.  If you have even a little interest in musical theatre, you will love this film.  If you hate musical theatre, watch out--you may be converted.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/07/MV1I16V9D5.DTL&type=movies

DRAG ME TO HELL

Sam Raimi is back in Army of Darkness form with this quirky horror flick.

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/29/entertainment/et-drag29

AMERICAN VIOLET

Heart-touching film starring Alfre Woodard, who deals with a wrongful conviction.  Based on a true story, and don't miss rapper Xzibit in his largest dramatical role to date!

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20272454,00.html

ADORATION 

New film from Atom Egoyan, which is all you need to know--it will be very, very good

http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/movies/08ador.html

Y'all come back next week, right?  Have a good'un!