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!

New Releases, 1 October 2009

It's a short, sweet, funny-looking list of movies this week, everybody.  If it were a dog, it would be a pug.  If it were a poem, it would be a limerick.  If it were a mustache, it would be a rainbow-colored Hitler mustache with twisty curlicues at the ends.

ANVIL: THE STORY OF ANVIL

Billed as a "real-life Spinal Tap", this film looks at the long-struggling heavy metal band Anvil, still plugging away in middle age.  Great reviews, played at Ragtag.

http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=135902

YEAR ONE

Jack Black teams up with Michael Cera to spoof prehistory and biblical times in one fell swoop.  

http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/06/19/movies/19year.html?ref=movies

NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD: THE WILD, UNTOLD STORY OF OZPLOITATION!

Another great, quirky doc, this one about the Australian exploitation genre and its heyday

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/movies/day_for_movies_97eAgGciG7GMriN1OihFAJ

IMAGINE THAT

Imagine that Eddie Murphy's daughter can pick flawless stock picks.  It's easy if you try.  You can call Eddie Murphy a dreamer.  But he's not the only one.

http://movies.tvguide.com/imagine/review/297741

MY LIFE IN RUINS

Red hot follow up to My Big Fat Profitable Greek Wedding, with some romance and scenery added in FOR NO EXTRA CHARGE!!!!!  We must be CRAZY to offer this deal!!!  Rent now!

http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/movies/reviews/story/1080248.html

Have a great week everyone!

New Releases, 29 September 2009

Hey everybody!  Movies!  Go!

AWAY WE GO

John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph are charming and wonderful for a few hours.  Expect light social satire

http://movies.tvguide.com/away/review/297686

MANAGEMENT

Jennifer Aniston might just fall in love with someone here, look out

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090513/REVIEWS/905139993

THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE

Latest Soderbergh film, about a call-girl, starring a real-life adult film actress!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/21/DDRF17O1FJ.DTL&type=movies

BROTHERS BLOOM

Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo star as con-artist brothers, out for one last con...

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2009-05-14-bloom-review_N.htm

SHRINK

This one isn't about a man who, every time he visits his psychiatrist, gets a little smaller--but that's a good idea, isn't it?

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2009-07-23-shrink_N.htm

MONSTERS VS. ALIENS

Animated flick, the government has to bring out their secret monsters to fight mean aliens from space

http://blog.oregonlive.com/madaboutmovies/2009/03/review_monsters_vs_aliens_than.html

FILTH & WISDOM

Directorial debut from Madonna.  That's all you need to know, you're either in or you're out at this point.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/steven_rea/20081024_Dirty__sexy__muddled_movie_from_Madonna.html

PRINCESS

Animated film, slightly more adult, from Denmark.  Murdered porn stars, revenge, etc.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/movie/88474/princess

SECRECY 

Well-reviewed documentary about the US intelligence apparatuses, if that's the word

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/24/DDJM13NFD1.DTL

LIFE ON MARS

Great cop tv show from the BBC

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/07/24/DDGJ1K3K6K1.DTL

Have a great week everyone!

New Releases, 22 September 2009

It's a big old New Movie Tuesday everybody!  And I'm happy for you that you're reading this, and I'ma let you finish, but 9th St. gots the best videos of the decade y'all!  Best of all time!

30 ROCK Season 3

You really need a review for this?  How about you talk to five little golden ladies, all named Emmy?...

ADAM RESURRECTED

Jeff Goldblum plays, in the latest Paul Schrader film, a Jewish comedian who, in order to escape the Nazis, has to turn into a fly!  Actually he debases himself to Willem Defoe, but that sounds like less fun.

http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-12-10/film/jeff-goldblum-blazingly-suited-for-role-in-adam-resurrected/

LYMELIFE

Someone gets Lyme disease in this hilarious and compelling lymedy from Ragtag.  Is it Alec Baldwin?  Watch and find out!

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/movies/li_back_and_enjoy_it_mmtWwmuBw1bUrzHOSX6M2O

O'HORTEN

Well-reviewed film from Sweden or Norway or one of those places.  Looks really good.

http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/05/22/movies/22hort.html

OBSERVE AND REPORT

Remember when those two huge studio movies set in Elizabethan England came out at the same time?  Well, if you remember Paul Blart Mall Cop then this is exactly the same thing!  

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20270917,00.html

TULPAN

Wonderful, wonderful film set in Khazakstan, in which a young man fresh from the army tries to get a wife and start a new life.

http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-04-01/film/sergei-dvortsevoy-has-his-way-with-camels-and-shepherds-alike-in-tulpan/

GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS PAST

Wonderful, wonderful film in which a dashing young lothario (played by Matthew "Six-Pack Dream" McCaunaahghh) begins to rue his prior indiscretions...

http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/ghosts-of-girlfriends-past/Film?oid=1153017

WALLACE & GROMIT: MATTER OF LOAF AND DEATH

New romp from Aardman studios, always a delight

http://1linereview.blogspot.com/2008/12/matter-of-loaf-and-death-2008.html

BATTLE FOR TERRA

Animated adventure set (get ready) on--you might want to sit down--on...ANOTHER PLANET!!!  CAN YOU BELIEVE IT???? 

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/30/MVV8176L5R.DTL

BOOK OF BLOOD

Sounds nasty

http://efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=19284

ALBINO FARM

Also a little nasty.  Based on a legendary people farm in Springfield, MO!  (As if Springfield wasn't scary enough already)

http://www.horror-movies.ca/horror_reviews_4450.htm

THE WONDER OF IT ALL

Space program stuff.  Compares to In the Shadow of the Moon, I think.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0928406/

That's it.  Have a great week!

New Releases, 25 August & 1 September 2009

If you ever wanted to take a week and just sit on your couch and watch films well you're in for a treat--your time has arrived!

SUNSHINE CLEANING

From Ragtag, a sweet, touching, humorous look at a murder-scene-cleanup business

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/mar/13/entertainment/et-sunshine13

DUPLICITY

Tony Gilroy's (Bourne scripter) polished, entertaining romantic whodunit

http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/03/20/movies/20dupl.html?ref=movies

GOODBYE SOLO

Well reviewed film about a man and his cab driver

http://www.slate.com/id/2214720/

ADVENTURELAND

Teen gets summer job in amusement park; good times ensue

http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/

STATE OF PLAY

The hot Yankee remake of the riveting BBC miniseries about power and its abuse

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/bal-to.state17apr17,0,7945164.story

SIN NOMBRE

Two immigrants make an odyssey to the United States.  Must-see from Ragtag

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123750034926389145.html (halfway down the page)

HEROES Season 3

See the show that makes Lost look like Mork and Mindy!  Actually, that analogy doesn't apply

http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/television/1175536,SHO-Sunday-heroes21.article

FIGHTING

Don't FIGHT the urge to see this one!  It's FIGHTastic!  If you don't like it, go FIGHT yourself.

http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2009/04/24/in_this_new_york_story_the_gloves_really_are_off/

TROUBLE THE WATER

Great New Orleans/Katrina documentary that uses a lot of amazing home-footage

http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-08-19/film/katrina-stark-and-surreal-in-trouble-the-water/

RUDO Y CURSI

Spanish heartthrob Gael Garcia Bernal purses his lips in an Iberian pucker in this film, which played at Ragtag

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20276716,00.html

THE INFORMERS

Bret Easton Ellis screenplay, sex and drugs in LA

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/23/MVPM176BPU.DTL&type=movies

HOUSE Season 5

You really need a review for this?  Too bad--check out Hugh Laurie's novel!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gun_Seller

NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS

From the director of Hannah Takes the Stairs, a new film that acutely examines sensitive young people and their troubles

http://www.avclub.com/articles/nights-and-weekends,2719/

Have a great week of watching all of our new releases, everybody!

New Releases, 4 August 2009

Getting tired of beautiful weather? Is the consistently high comfort level making you overproductive? Well then, just scoot your bottom down to 9th Street Video, where no film is too bad not to dodge chores for!

THE SOLOIST
Jamie Foxx and Iron Man star in this latest idiot-savant-cello-prodigy-sensitive-journalist-based-on-a-true-story-look-out-you-might-cry-a-little-bit movie
http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2009/04/24/soloist/index.html

MUTANT CHRONICLES
Also based (loosely) on a true story, about the war between humans and mutants in the year 2707. The weirdest part? The story it's based on is The Soloist...
http://totalscifionline.com/reviews/2085-the-mutant-chronicles

LABOR PAINS
Latest Lindsey Lohan car wreck. I try to find good reviews, but there didn't seem to be one in the entire internet. So enjoy the review below, where the "video" gets 5 magnifying glasses, but the actual movie itself only gets 1.5
http://www.dvdsleuth.com/LaborPainsReview/

HARVARD BEATS YALE 29-29
Acclaimed documentary about the famed football showdown between the ivy league giants in the late 1960s.
http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-11-19/film/harvard-beats-yale-29-29-wraps-up-the-boomer-era

OBSESSED
Idris Elba's just a brother with a sweet office gig and Beyonce for a wife, and now some crazy blonde in the office won't leave him alone! It's like she's...OBSESSED
http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/21799128/review/27780324/obsessed

THE WINDOW (Argentina)
Wonderful film about an aging father waiting for his son and reflecting on life. And there's some crazy blonde who's obsessed with him! She keeps peeking in through his...WINDOW (no actual crazy blonde appears in this film)
http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/05/06/movies/06wind.html

FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS Season 2
Fresh helping of the New Zealand musical duo who like to rock the party
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/16/DDSL15AVBK.DTL&type=entertainment

TIM AND ERIC Season 3
Some shows are love-them-or-hate-them, but this one goes even further--you'll either revere and cherish Tim and Eric or wish them a painful death and two hot seats in unfunny hell. Either way, worth a watch. And check out their vodka ads with Zach Galiafanakis (2nd link)!
http://www.avclub.com/articles/tim-and-eric-awesome-show-great-job-season-one,7103/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p0QtJMKt1s

Enjoy the week everybody! Don't do too much!

New Releases, 21 July 2009

Hey!  Hey you--Yeah, YOU!  Hey, you want to look at some new movies?  Well feast your eyes on these babies...

CORALINE

Well-reviewed animated venture from the director of The Nightmare Before Christmas.  [Note that he doesn't call himself the director of Monkeybone, (http://tinyurl.com/ysucoq) even though he is.]

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/reviews/la-et-coraline6-2009feb06,0,48501.story

THE WATCHMEN

Superhero flick with an unexpected twist--it's actually a Victorian-era romance set in a steamy Indian jungle amid the tumult of the Sepoy Sebellion

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03042009/entertainment/movies/watch_it__157975.htm

THE GREAT BUCK HOWARD

John Malkovich plays a flamboyant, kitschy magician who has seen better days.  Played at Ragtag

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20266404,00.html

SHERMAN'S WAY

Two strangers.  One road trip.  Billions of memories.  

http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/03/06/movies/06sher.html?ref=movies

GREY GARDENS

HBO version of the documentary of the lady relatives of the wife of the dead president.  Expect a raccoon or two.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04172009/tv/two_edies_still_have_something_to_say_164760.htm

THE NEW TWENTY

A group of gay and straight New Yorkers are about to turn 30.  Cue the wistful hijinks!

http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-03-18/film/the-new-twenty/

BUNDY: A LEGACY OF EVIL

A look back at the overly long run of the tv show Married With Children.  Or it's about the serial killer. I don't know, I didn't watch it.  

http://www.horrorreview.com/2009/bundy2009.html

Everyone have a great week, and remember--if we all clap our hands at the same time and believe, everybody gets free health care!  Enjoy!

New Releases, 7 July 2009

MOVIES Y'ALL! Come and get em.

KNOWING
Latest Nic Cage joint. Should please all audiences, especially those of us waiting patiently for National Treasure 3.
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090318/REVIEWS/903189991

THE UNBORN
Horror flick where a young woman uncovers a deep dark secret...Nazis are involved, and maybe even ghost fetuses
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20252481,00.html

PUSH
Kids are born every year with special powers and awesome hairstyles. The government wants to control them and harness their powers! Who will PUSH their way to victory?
http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/movies/20090206__Push___Its_energy_may_pull_you_in.html

A DAY IN THE LIFE
Omar Epps plays a guy with rage seething under his cool and well-dressed exterior. Also starring Sticky Fingaz
http://blackfilm.com/20060707/features/adayinthelife.shtml

FIVE FINGERS
Enigmatic film about a young lady and a lying psychologist...or is he?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1358176/
http://phoenix.bside.com/2009/films/fivefingers_phoenix2009;jsessionid=5206DB468A40046EB698C5D5C54C9071

RESOLVED
Documentary about organized arguing, high school debate-style!
http://www.documentaryfilms.net/index.php/resolved/

Have a great week, and enjoy the weather, or avoiding the weather dvd-style!

New Releases, 30 June 2009

Hey everybody! If you've got a case of the early-mid-summer blahs and perhaps even some sun poisoning, Dr. Disc recommends a few doses of fine cinema, stat! Also, this blog post is dedicated to the memory of the amazing, glamorous man who passed away recently--you've touched millions of lives and changed the world--you'll be missed, Billy Mays. He's probably handing out Oxiclean in heaven as we speak.

EASTBOUND AND DOWN Season 1
HBO series about an ill-mannered professional baseball player who is forced to quit the game, return to his hometown and teach gym
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20256827,00.html

TWO LOVERS
From the director of the gorgeous film The Yards (also with Joaquin Phoenix), about two people. In love. Gwyneth Paltrow plays a person.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/26/MV8C16524D.DTL&type=movies

THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS
A clash of wills when one young man insinuates himself into another life...jealousy, anger, hot tubs.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film-reviews/film-review-the-education-of-charlie-banks-1003956116.story

12 ROUNDS
Action film starring "professional" "wrestler" John Cena
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/mar/28/entertainment/etw-12rounds28

STREETFIGHTER: THE LEGEND OF CHUN-LI
Hey! Remember that game you played as a kid? Remember that character you never played as, the lady in the skirt? Well, they made a movie and it was really hard to find a good review of it, so here's one I couldn't read (no hablo Espanol)
http://opinion.labutaca.net/2009/02/23/street-fighter-la-leyenda-otro-clasico-digital-a-la-basura/

THE BETRAYED
A movie about how I felt looking for Chun Li reviews.
http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/betrayed.php

SONG OF INNOCENCE
From France, the tender story of how a husband-wife relationship changes when a wetnurse is added ino the mix. And it's 1877.
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117928018.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0

PEDRO
Film about Pedro, from Real World San Francisco, who found out he had AIDS and spent the last 5 years of his life in saintly activism. From the writer of Milk
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/zontv/2009/03/pedro_zamora_mtv_hivpostitive.html

That's it! Everyone have a splendid week, unless you're a celebrity--the grim shade of death hangs over you, your time is nigh. Catch you next tuesday!

New Releases, 23 June 2009

Oh, it's a good week for movies people. A good, good week.

LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD
Resnais' 1961 classic of art cinema, in a gorgeous new edition from the Criterion Collection
http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-01-08/film/house-of-1-000-corpses/
http://www.criterion.com/films/1517

WALTZ WITH BASHIR
Fresh from T/F and showings all over the globe, this acclaimed documentary fuses animation and narrative techniques with filmed interviews to give a powerful glimpse of war and suffering
http://nymag.com/movies/reviews/53143/

HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU
A powerful glimpse of dudes and chicks and the suffering that happens when love goes unrequited
http://www.premiere.com/Review/Movies/He-s-Just-Not-that-Into-You

PINK PANTHER 2
Steve Martin resumes his pratfalls on Peter Sellers' grave with another sleuth comedy
http://www.premiere.com/Review/Movies/Pink-Panther-2

NOBEL SON
Dad wins Nobel prize, rest of the family suffers, kidnapping and dark comedy ensue
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081203/REVIEWS/812039991

GREETINGS FROM FEMA CITY
Doc about the housing of tons of people in trailers following some or other disaster
http://www.vanguardcinema.com/femacity/femacity.htm

INKHEART
Brendan Fraser plays a guy who can't make a good movie--NO, WAIT!--he plays a guy who can bring characters from books to life
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Calendar/Film?Film=oid%3A727802

SIMON SAYS
Horror gore-fest with Crispin Glover and others who may be...murdered...
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117933928.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0

That's it! Have a great week, and remember to stay away from French detectives, relationships and...murder...

New Releases, 9 June 2009

Big week, people, so read up...

THE INTERNATIONAL
Clive Owen chases people, shoots bullets, hits his head on things. A+
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090211/REVIEWS/902119995

GRAN TORINO
Clint Eastwood as an old racist with a beaut of an automobile. Acclaimed!
http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-12-10/film/clint-eastwood-finds-salvation-in-gran-torino/

WERE THE WORLD MINE
Cute little queer mash up of Midsummer Night's Dream and High School Musical 3. Really, it's good!
http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/11/21/movies/21were.html

STRIKE!
This one has a young lady on the cover, strategically holding some bowling balls over an area of her anatomy. Could not find any reviews online. Make of this what you may.

NICOTINA
This one may be reviews of the wrong Nicotina. However, if it is the right one, it is a fine film
http://chicago.metromix.com/movies/mmx-040818-movies-review-lc-nicotina.story

WOODSTOCK Special Edition
We all know about this one. Music, mud, body hair.
http://movies.nytimes.com/mem/movies/review.html?res=EE05E7DF1738E574BC4F51DFB566838B669EDE

SHAUN THE SHEEP: SHEEP ON THE LOOSE
An animation from the Wallace & Gromit folks. Looks cute.
http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/shaunsheepoffbaa.php

That's it! Have a great week, and keep on reaching for the low-hanging fruit!

New Releases, 2 June 2009

From militant forest-dwelling Jews to repressed 50s-era married couples, monsters and grad students gone wild to killer snakes and civil rights, it's looking like a magnificent New Movie Tuesday...

DEFIANCE
Daniel Craig sheds his 007 persona to help a crowd of Jews resist the Nazis in a tasteful woodland setting
http://www.seattlepi.com/movies/396233_defiance16q.html

REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
Leo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet hate each other and the boundaries placed on them by social conventions. Also, they're from the 1950s. Acclaimed adaptation of the Richard Yates novel.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/02/DDG0152444.DTL&type=movies

MONSTER BEACH PARTY
Couldn't find out anything about this one, but it may be something like the picture below:
http://www.monsterlandtoys.com/video/Beach%20Girls%20And%20The%20Monster-Image.jpg

SPRING BREAKDOWN
Parker Posey and Amy Poehler star as lame grad students trying to "go wild"
http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/29/spring-breakdown-review-sundance-2009/

ERNESTO CHE GUEVERA
Doc about the Latin American freedom fighter. You might have heard about him, several times over the last few decades.
http://208.109.242.142/archives/archives/document2c17.html

LET FREEDOM SING
Doc about the connection between music and civil rights
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1307063/

SILENT VENOM
The only thing deadlier than snakes is...snakes you CAN"T HEAR WHEN THEY'RE SNEAKING UP ON YOU TO EAT YOU
http://www3.webng.com/horrormoviesandstuff/SilentVenomReview.html

Have a great week everybody, and watch out for quiet snakes and repressive, stifling marriages!

New Releases, 19 May 2009

Welcome back for a slightly morbid edition of New Movie Tuesday, but don't worry--we have plenty of laughs too, intentional and otherwise.

TRUE BLOOD Season 1
Let's face it--Vampires are hot right now. So, so hot. Do you want to be the last one jumping on the vampire bandwagon? Then you'd better check out True Blood, and fast.
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2008/09/hbos-true-blood.html

VALKYRIE
One-eyed Tom Cruise vs. Hitler in a fake-German-accent contest.
http://www.seattlepi.com/movies/393378_valkyrie25q.html

MY BLOODY VALENTINE
Young hot people are murdered in 3D
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Calendar/Film?Film=oid%3A725189

PAUL BLART, MALL COP
The comedy sensation that surprised the nation
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20252477,00.html

DRIVEN TO KILL
Who, you might ask, is driven to kill? Why, Steven Seagal, of course. Unless it's the bad guys who are driven to kill, and he's just trying to get them or something
http://www.thefilmfiend.com/2009/05/driven-to-kill.html

WE FEED THE WORLD
Quick--put down that corndog! Do you know that some big corporation made that, not a local farmer or corndog breeder? You need to watch We Feed the World and get wise, son.
http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/824

Have a great week folks. Just remember--look out for vampires, Hitler and big agribusiness.

New Releases, 12 May 2009

Hello, and welcome to this week in dvds. We at 9th st. video will do our best to get you the freshest, juiciest picks, week after week. In return, we ask only for your undying love and support, and a lock of each of your hair for when we build our race of human/blu-ray hybrids.

TAKEN
Liam Neeson goes on a crazy rampage, destroying half of Europe after his daughter is...Taken
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Calendar/Film?Film=oid%3A731101

HIGH HOPES
Quasi-stoner comedy with a large cast!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468520/

UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS
Vampire s vs. Werewolves! Who's going to win?...Maybe the half-human half-werewolf they show in the beginning...
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film-reviews/film-review-underworld-rise-of-the-lycans-1003934181.story

WISE BLOOD
Flannery O'Connor novel brought to screen by John Huston, about a small-town preacher, played by Brad Dourif, who harbors a dark secret---he's a were-vampire!
http://filmfanatic.org/reviews/?p=4668

S. DARKO: A DONNIE DARKO TALE
Donnie Darko prequel. So it goes.
http://4outof10.com/s-darko-could-have-been-good-but/

Enjoy the week everybody, and don't forget to send the hair samples to 9th St Video Laboratories, 10 Hitt St CoMO 65201.

New Releases, 5 May 2009

It's the biggest New Movie Tuesday of all time, and Cinco de Mayo to boot! Viva la Pelicula Nueva Martes!

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Want to see Brad Pitt get old backwards? Well, so did the Oscar nominating committee
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123015087021633387.html

LAST CHANCE HARVEY
Dustin Hoffman plays a "rumpled man" who gets a new girlfriend in London
http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_template.php?identifier=1431

WENDY & LUCY
From the director of Oldjoy, another low-key classic with Michelle Williams and a dog. Played Ragtag
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090205.wwendy0206/BNStory/Entertainment/home

CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA
Indian comedy about a guy who discovers he's really a ninja or something. Looks good to me
http://www.boston.com/movies/display?display=movie&id=12939

JUST ANOTHER LOVE STORY
Well-reviewed, edge-of-your-seat thriller from Denmark or The Netherlands, I forget which
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090218/REVIEWS/902189990

THE END OF THE LINE
Crazy subway cult wants to hunt down and kill people who just wanted to get home from work. An urban "Descent"
http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home/view.asp?a=15547&s=DVD

FASHION IN FILM
A Starz production looking at beautiful clothes in wonderful movies
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1305076/

ENCHANTED APRIL
Englishwomen abroad, literary airs, fancy costumes, etc. Classic from 1992
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/enchantedaprilpghowe_a0aef0.htm

TIBETAN BOOK OF THE DEAD
A great introduction to Tibetan thought and practice, narrated by Leonard Cohen
http://www.sover.net/~ozus/tibetanbookofthedead.htm

GAVIN & STACEY
Muy comico sitcom from the BBC
http://1linereview.blogspot.com/2008/09/gavin-stacey-series-1-2007.html

FRANKENHOOD
Comedy concerning a ghetto Frankenstein, starring Eddie Murphy's brother Charlie!
http://dvd.movieroomreviews.com/2009/04/frankenhood-dvd-review.html

LOVE TAKES WING
Hallmark feature starring Cloris Leachman and Patrick Duffy, directed by...Mr. Lou Diamond Phillips! Caliente!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1269560/

CAPRICA
Something by the somebodies behind Battlestar Galactica, so enjoy
http://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/dvd_review.asp?ID=1512

So while you're sipping your margaritas and munching on your burritos grandes, don't forget to pop in a nuevo pelicula from novena calle video! Buenos tardes!

New Releases, 21 April

It's going to be a great week in Movietown, there's no doubt about it. Something for everyone, and nothing for no one. Equal opportunities for all and special privileges for none, except for Mayor Heywood J. Shinydisc III. He does what he wants.

THE WRESTLER
Darren Aronofsky's much-acclaimed paean to the fanciful world of professional wrestling
http://www.boston.com/movies/display?display=movie&id=12579

FROST/NIXON
Film of the play of the interview of the president of the scandal of the century
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/11/DDOA14LOEU.DTL&type=movies

NOTORIOUS
Biopic about Biggie Smalls, rapper extraordinaire and true playa
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20252474,00.html

HOW ABOUT YOU?
British film that several are hastening to call charming, heartwarming, moving and other, similar words
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96966050

PRINCES & PRINCESSES
Animated film by Michel Ocelot, talent behind Kirikou and Azur & Asmar, next on our list... (that's called a segue)
http://www.avclub.com/articles/kirikou-and-the-wild-beast-princes-and-princesses,6927/

AZUR & ASMAR: THE PRINCES' QUEST
Beautifully animated film, played at Ragtag
http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/movies/17azur.html

MULLIGANS
Age old story: boy brings best friend home, best friend warms up to family, dad begins gay affair with best friend, etc.
http://www.mulligansthemovie.com/

THE BURROWERS
Well reviewed indie western. Good stuff.
http://blog.spout.com/2008/09/22/the-burrowers-review-fantastic-fest-2008/

INTO THE BLUE 2: THE REEF
Sequel to the hot beach film "Into the Blue." It was hard to find a good review, so I linked to a poorly written one--this way you can ignore it if you want.
http://www.moviemansguide.com/reviews/DVD/read.php?id=intotheblue2

SAM'S LAKE
This one is scary, and involves a lake. And a guy named Sam.
http://www.terrorhook.com/reviews/s/samslake.html

FLOCK OF DODOS
Doumentary about the debate between evolution & intelligent design. Maybe they'll get together in the end...
http://www.karateparty.org/content/view/579/49/

Enjoy your week everybody!

We were thinking about changing our business plan and becoming an upscale, natural-food version of Chuck E. Cheese, but then we got a box of dvds in the mail, so we shelved our plans. Here are the films we received...

THE READER
Winslet, always typecast, plays an illiterate Nazi cougar
http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-reader,2648/

THE SPIRIT
Will Eisner's old comic book is turned into a movie by Frank Miller. Sin City-esque
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/reviews/bal-li.spirit25dec25,0,7546232.story

HOUSE OF SADDAM
Well reviewed miniseries detailing the rise of Saddam Hussein and his attempts to renovate and "flip" a lovely but rundown pre-war Victorian in Baghdad
http://tv.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/arts/television/05sadd.html?_r=1

READY? OKAY!
Boy wants to be a cheerleader, wears a lot of dresses. Catholic School, surprisingly, objects
http://blogs.kpbs.org/index.php/movies/comments/filmout_2008/

PAINTERS PAINTING
Great 70s documentary focussing on the NY art scene, certainly a who's-who of that time & place
http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?_r=2&res=9A07E0D71438EF3ABC4851DFB5668388669EDE

...And that's all we got. Enjoy the beautiful weather finally, and don't forget to watch tons of dvds with your loved ones!

New Releases, 7 April 2008

It's New Movie Tuesday yet again...like clockwork, isn't it? Just remember, the concept of time is an abstract construct and the universe doesn't really care that we've got new movies. Rotten universe.

DOUBT
From the great play comes a great film with great people in it, getting great reviews and making great money for video stores...?
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081210/REVIEWS/812109991

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL
Apparently Keanu Reeves' rock band, Dogstar, isn't taking off as quickly as he'd like, and so he still has to make films. Or movies, if you prefer
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/dec/12/entertainment/et-day12

YES MAN
Jim Carrey plays a man who has to say "yes" to everything, even making implausible movies
http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_template.php?identifier=1425

BEDTIME STORIES
Adam Sandler has to read to some small child every night. But wait--it's NOT a horror movie! Apparently there's whimsy involved
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/24/DD8C14SFCE.DTL&type=movies

THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX
Small animated mouse. Sort of a medieval Stuart Little, I guess
http://movies.tvguide.com/tale-despereaux/review/294856

LIVING ROOM CINEMA
Compelling short film collection, you don't have to watch it in your living room if you don't want to
http://www.homemovieday.com/livingroomcinema/

LIVE & BECOME
"...recent Israeli history filtered through the experience of an African immigrant." Good reviews, large cast.
http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/movies/01beco.html

TOKYO ZOMBIE
Keep getting called "the Japanese Shaun of the Dead," which sounds fairly promising.
http://blackholereviews.blogspot.com/2008/10/tokyo-zombie-2005-tadanobu-asano-in.html

Enjoy your various weeks, try not to get too much sun! Movies can help!

New Releases, 24 & 31 March 2009

Hello again friends, and thanks for checking in with us. Also, apologies for the missed weeks, which explains why we're "9th St Video" and not "9th St Decent Wireless Connection & Fancy Computers Inc." But let's not dwell on the past while there are movies to chat about!

Last Week:
QUANTUM OF SOLACE
New Bond film! Also on Blu Ray! Also on a special, expensive new gun that can shoot the film right into your eyeballs!
http://www.premiere.com/Review/DVD/Quantum-of-Solace-Blu-ray

BOLT
Action packed animation about a dog and a hamster finding their way back home
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1122/p25s01-almo.html

ANDY RICHTER CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE
Find out why it took Andy Richter so long to get his own show, and why when he did it only ran for 14 episodes.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/11/29/DD231361.DTL

VALERIE AND HER WEEK OF WONDERS
Sexual awakening art film from the Czechoslovakian 1970s.
http://www.kinoeye.org/03/09/krzywinska09.php

WITCHES' HAMMER
Another Czech film, this one from the '60s, about a good old-fashioned witch-hunt.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064546/

BIG STAN
Rob Schneider. Once you've heard that some of you are in, some are out and nobody's changing their minds.
http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home/view.asp?a=15101&s=Reviews

GARDENS OF THE NIGHT
Two kids form a special bond after they're horrifyingly kidnapped
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/imdb/reviews/article_display.jsp?rid=10628&vnu_special_account_code=thrsiteimdbpro

THE LAST METRO
Truffaut film, much beloved. First link is a review, second a larger essay
http://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/dvd_review.asp?ID=1498
http://www.criterionconfessions.com/2009/03/last-metro-462.html

LATE BLOOMERS
Tale of lesbian relationship developing in a High School which, shockingly enough, involves the girl's basketball coach.
http://www.nytimes.com/library/film/bloomers-film-review.html

CAREFUL
Some Guy Maddin awesomeness from 1992.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/carefulnrhinson_a0a8ac.htm

HAPPILY N'EVER AFTER
Animated fairytale spoof.
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117932329.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0

This Week:
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
If you haven't heard of this one yet, it's about a street dog who befriends a young hamster and wins a million chew toys on a doggy tv show.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/11122008/entertainment/movies/slumderful__138251.htm

TELL NO ONE
French film, played at Ragtag, fine and well-cast thriller
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/reviews/bal-tellnooone0718,0,395939.story

SEVEN POUNDS
In this thriller seven strangers are brought together by Will Smith, who plays a hamster with a tragic past
http://www.seattlepi.com/movies/392780_seven19q.html

MARLEY & ME
If you haven't heard of this one, it's a reimagining of Bob Marley's life as told by his pet hamster
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20248900,00.html

TIMECRIMES
Sequel to the disappointing and low-grossing "Mimecrimes"
http://www.filmthreat.com/index.php?section=reviews&Id=10347

THE IT CROWD
Hot new TV comedy, IT stands for I.T., tech people, you know.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/television/reviews/article_display.jsp?&rid=11731

RICKY GERVAIS: OUT OF ENGLAND
New stand-up special from the man behind The Office, Extras, The Ricky Gervais podcast and so much more
http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/reviews/2008-11-13-gervais-standup_N.htm?csp=34

CREMATOR
Yet another Czech film from the 60s, this one a black-comedy-horror-film about a cremator and his sick ideas
http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9502E6D61231EF34BC4952DFB2668388669EDE

Have a great week folks. Don't forget to rent movies and spread love and peace and movies and movie news all around!

New Releases, 17 March 2009

Before we get to this week's releases it should be said that last week had one of the best New Movie Tuesdays ever, but it was also one of the worst weeks for working computers. There was no post as a result, but don't let that stop you from watching movies--SYNECDOCHE NEW YORK, HAPPY-GO-LUCKY, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED, MILK and LET THE RIGHT ONE IN all came out. All critically acclaimed, all played at Ragtag and all are worth a watch. But let's get on with this week's business shall we? Okay.

ELEGY
Penelope Cruz and Ben Kingsley star in this film which is probably about a beautiful young woman having an affair with a rugged, older, shorter, balder man
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/07/DD9A11QAG0.DTL&type=movies

YELLA
Unsettling thriller from Germany. Pretty sure it's Germany.
http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/05/16/movies/16yell.html

PUNISHER: WAR ZONE
Hey--they made a movie about a comic book. Hot dog!
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/05/DDOH14GTQO.DTL&type=movies

THE BEAUTIFUL TRUTH
Documentary about kids, cancer, healthy eating practices and other riveting, edge-of-your-seat topics
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/films/films.php?id=18596

DODES'KA-DEN
Akira Kurosawa's first color feature, a film about street people in Tokyo. Ebert's 1975 review is the first link, and the second is a thoughtful essay on the film by Jamie S. Rich
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19750101/REVIEWS/501010312/1023
http://www.criterionconfessions.com/2009/03/dodeska-den-465.html

All right people, that's all the movies this time. Have a great week, and keep on...doing whatever you're doing, I don't know what that is.

New Releases, 3 March 2009

If True/False and the Oscars didn't quench your thirst for cinema, we've got your fix. And if they did, well, maybe you should just try harder. At sitting around and watching movies.

AUSTRALIA
New one from Baz Luhrmann (Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge), epic and visually sumptuous, or so I've heard
http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/australia,1147078.html

I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG
Critically lauded French film starring Kristin Scott Thomas, played at Ragtag
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/30/DD6T13QL07.DTL&type=movies

THE VILLAGE BARBERSHOP
Based on an entirely ignorant guess, The Village Barbershop is a cross between the Station Agent and The Visitor, in a barbershop. Or it's not like that at all. Looks good though.
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117936481.html?categoryid=31&cs=1

ASHES OF TIME
Wong Kar-Wai's digitally remastered and musically rescored artsy martial arts flick.
http://www.nytimes.com/library/filmarchive/ashes_of_time.html

REAL TIME
A hit man gives a compulsive gambler one hour to live.
http://www.filmthreat.com/index.php?section=reviews&Id=10754

BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA
A must-watch film, because if you don't see this one then Hotel For Dogs doesn't make any sense.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/02/DDQI139K9H.DTL&type=movies

And a host of old favorites, new to DVD:

9 1/2 WEEKS (90's hotness), JOHNNY HANDSOME (more Mickey Rourke), FAIRY TALE (not the Tom Cruise one), CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD, TROLL 1 & TROLL 2 (on one convenient disc), THE INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD, MY FAMILY (starring Jimmy Smits, Esai Morales and Edward James Olmos and then Hollywood ran out of Hispanic men)

Have a great week people, keep metaphorically reaching for the stars!

New Releases, 24 February 2008 (and more!)

Happy late February everybody! It's New Movie Time! Hurrah!

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
Comedy from Barry Levinson starring Sean Penn, DeNiro, Bruce Willis in a lovely hebrew beard and lots of others
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/reviews/bal-to.what17oct17,0,1022519.story

BREAKING BAD Season 1
Critics loved Breaking Bad, the story of a science teacher whose life goes crappy, and they were the only ones who watched it. See it before it's cancelled!
http://www.nypost.com/seven/01172008/tv/tour_de_pants_821226.htm

CHRIS & DON: A LOVE STORY

Documentary tells the tender story of the romance between writer Christopher Isherwood and painter Don Bachardy

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/17/DDPT11OSQB.DTL&type=movies

SEX DRIVE Unrated & Cream-Filled
Comedy tells the tender love story of Ian, who "has to make a decision: stay home and stay a virgin or drive 800 miles to lose it with an online hottie." Guess what he chooses.
http://movies.tvguide.com/sex-drive/review/294812

THE HAIRDRESSER'S HUSBAND
Also a movie concerned with sex, but of the mature, French variety
http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9E0CE1DC1238F93AA25755C0A964958260

(The following came out last week, but they're here so why not talk about them while we're at it? Fine.)

THE CHANGELING
Terrible things happen to Angelina Jolie over the course of Clint Eastwood's film, such as little-boy-kidnapping and wrong-little-boy-finding
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/23/DDEC13MFBM.DTL&type=movies

CHOKE
Latest delicacy from the refined pen of Chuck Pahlaniuk
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20228529,00.html

RELIGULOUS
If you believe in some sort of god Bill Maher thinks you're dumb and sets out to prove it. Often funny comedocumentary from the director of Borat
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081002/REVIEWS/810020306

BODY OF LIES
Political-Action-Thriller with Russel Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio
http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_template.php?identifier=1365

FLASH OF GENIUS
Greg Kinnear stars as the man who invented the windshield wiper! We swear it's not as boring as it sounds! Look below--it got really good reviews!
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/reviews/bal-to.sragow03oct03,0,3867038.story

Once again, everyone have a fantastic, cinema-filled week!

New Releases, 10 February 2009

Tons of new films, only a little bit late for New Movie Tuesday!

W

For any of you not sick of our last president, Oliver Stone made a movie about him

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081015/REVIEWS/810150285

BLINDNESS

What would happen if everyone in the world suddenly went blind?  What if one woman still had the power to see?  What if bananas were bright purple, instead of yellow?  Blindness answers two of these questions.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/movies/381516_blindness03q.html

FROZEN RIVER

Wildly acclaimed film, favorite of Ragtag and Citizen Jane Film Fest

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1828471,00.html

NIGHTS IN RODANTHE

About an adult romance between Richard Gere and Diane Lane.  Watch it with your lady, she'll think you're sensitive and mature.  And maybe a little lame.

http://events.charlotteobserver.com/reviews/show/30874-review-nights-in-rodanthe

MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA

Oh snap, it's the new Spike Lee joint!  His version of Saving Private Ryan.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080925/REVIEWS/809250306

SOUL MEN

Oh snap, it's the new Malcolm Lee joint!  Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson play aging soul singers.

http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_template.php?identifier=1388

CHOCOLATE

Oh snap, it's the new Prachya Pinkaew joint!  The director of Ong Bak makes another hot kung-fu flick.

http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/movies/06choc.html

LIVING ROOM CINEMA

Collection of short film ranging from experimental to narrative to documentary.  Looks pretty great.

http://www.homemovieday.com/livingroomcinema/

TIM & ERIC AWESOME SHOW GREAT JOB Seas 2

If these guys made a film about George W. Bush I'd watch it.

http://www.timanderic.com/

BLU RAY:

SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO, TRANSSIBERIAN & RESERVOIR DOGS

RERELEASES:

BATMAN Spec. Ed. (Keaton), BATMAN RETURNS 

Have a great week folks!

New Releases, 27 January and 3 February 2008

Hows about a double dose of rental goodies, folks?  Eh?

February 3:

NICK & NORA'S INFINITE PLAYLIST

If you're between 14 and 20 this will be the most important film in your life for a few months.  If not, you may still like it!  Who knows!

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20230109,00.html

ZACK & MIRI MAKE A PORNO

As the titles get more descriptive, my job gets easier.

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Calendar/Film?Film=oid%3A695064

BOTTLE SHOCK

About the rise of Napa Valley wine making, starring a rarely sober Alan Rickman

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080804/REVIEWS/627245841

THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES

From the book that everybody read comes the film a few people saw and maybe some will rent.  

http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_template.php?identifier=1370

THE SINGING REVOLUTION

About a little known episode in the life of Che Guevera, who was actually the first member of Menudo!  (Just kidding, Yugoslavia.)(Or Croatia.  One of those over there.)

http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/12/14/movies/14revo.html

DAYS AND CLOUDS

From Italy, wildly acclaimed film of indescribable beauty (I haven't seen it)

http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/movies/11days.html

MADAGASCAR 2

Those wacky animals head to Africa, and let's hope they stay away from Darfur!  And Zimbabwe!  And the Congo, and Nigeria, and Liberia, and the Sahel, and Somalia, and...maybe they shouldn't have gone to Africa.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/reviews/bal-to.madagascar07nov07,0,3896939.story

January 27:

VICKY CHRISTINA BARCELONA

Woody Allen took a film crew to Spain and came back with all kinds of hotness, including Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz types of hotness

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/14/DD62124RD6.DTL&type=movies

PRIDE & GLORY

Edward Norton plays a cop in a family of cops in this thriller.  Jordan P. gives his goatee a disgusted two thumbs down

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/reviews/bal-to.pride24oct24,0,7434702.story

LAKEVIEW TERRACE

Samuel L Jackson terrorizes the honkies that move into his neighborhood, which is what Fox News warned us would happen if Obama was elected

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080918/REVIEWS/809180303/1023

ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED

Critically lauded doc about Roman Polanski and...you know, that whole...thing

http://chicago.metromix.com/movies/movie_review/movie-review-roman-polanski/519758/content

ROCKNROLLA

Guy Ritchie's follow up to Swept Away and divorcing Madonna

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20231543,00.html

GIRLS ROCK!

Empowering doc about a rock camp for girls, a favorite at T/F

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/movies/354000_limited07.html

THE ROCKER: BORN TO ROCK

Rainn Wilson (Dwight from the Office) plays a down and out drummer who longs to rock once again

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0823/p25s01-almo.html

SHARKS IN VENICE

The following review came from the site Mr. Satanism's Video Picks for Perverts.  In it, he calls Sharks star Stephen Baldwin a big loser.  That's right Stephen Baldwin, MR. SATANISM thinks you're a loser.  Ouch.

http://www.mrsatanism.com/movies02/sharksinvenice.htm

Have a wonderful week everybody!  

New Releases, 20 January 2009

Another robust New Movie Tuesday, people...what will you watch?!?!

REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA
Dystopian musical, played at Ragtag
http://www.avclub.com/articles/repo-the-genetic-opera,2686/

HENRY POOLE IS HERE
Luke Wilson stars as a man who discovers that, try as he might, he "cannot escape the forces of hope"
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080814/REVIEWS/808140303

MAX PAYNE
Mark Wahlberg stars as a man who cannot escape the forces of evil winged monsters controlled by a crazed warrior priest
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/movies/383642_payne17q.html

SAW V (5) (FIVE)
How good is Saw V? Well, the box boasts an audio commentary featuring the "first assistant director," so I'd say pretty good.
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20235807,00.html

IGOR
Animated twist on classic monster movies, featuring the voices of John Cusack, Steve Buscemi and Molly Shannon
http://www.filmthreat.com/index.php?section=reviews&Id=11202

THE EXPRESS THE ERNIE DAVIS STORY
Dennis Quaid is truly moving in this film. Literally. It got a Heartland Truly Moving Picture Award.
http://onfilm.chicagoreader.com/movies/critic.html#33654

THE DEAL
William H. Macy and Meg Ryan are mismatched colleagues who have a 73% chance of falling in love at some point
http://www.reelviews.net/movies/d/deal.html

CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI
Who can expose the cruelty of the Japanese occupation of China in 1937? Only Jonathan Rhys Meyers as British journalist George Hogg, that's who
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0524/p25s04-almo.html

CITY OF EMBER
Tim Robbins, Bill Murray, underground city that's running out of power, etc etc.
http://movies.tvguide.com/city-ember/review/295108

AMUSEMENT
I don't know what this movie's about, but there's a scary clown on the cover so it's probably frightening. See what some other British journalists have to say about scary clowns:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7191721.stm

ROMEO & JULIET
The Zeffirelli classic from 1968. I don't think anyone needs a synopsis on this one.
http://www.filmsite.org/rome.html

Now wasn't that robust! Have a great week everybody!

New Releases, 13 January 2009

It's a blockbuster New Movie Tuesday, people! Something for everyone, especially Brits and Anglophiles of all stripes! Gems one and all...

BRIDESHEAD REVISITED
A Ragtag favorite, a new film version of Evelyn Waugh's classic. Great performances, witty dialogue & gorgeous sets and costumes...if you're into that sort of thing
http://www.avclub.com/content/cinema/brideshead_revisited

HUMBOLDT COUNTY
"Woderful performances," says the New York Times. A new American road trip/self realization flick. Marijuana's involved
http://www.filmthreat.com/index.php?section=reviews&Id=10814

APPALOOSA
Acclaimed western directed by Ed Harris and featuring Mr. Viggo Mortenson. "Blood will spill in the town called Appaloosa..."
http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/21628368/review/22790804/appaloosa

MIRRORS
This movie is so scary that on set, Kiefer Sutherland always carried a flashlight and once even peed his pants! That's a true story, so please spread it all over the internet.
http://movies.tvguide.com/mirrors/review/293509

SWING VOTE
Kevin Costner stars as a divided America's last undecided voter...unfortunately, in the end he votes for more TV showings of Tin Cup
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080730/REVIEWS/71153650

THE ORDER OF MYTHS
A popular choice at the last True/False, this doc follows Mardi Gras in Mobile (director also made Be Here to Love Me, about Townes Van Zandt)
http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/07/25/movies/25orde.html?ref=movies

BRICK LANE
Film of Monica Ali's novel of the same name, about the hardships faced by Bangladeshis in London
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080626/REVIEWS/387826590

MY BEST FRIEND'S GIRL
Dane Cook brings the yuks and laffs and dirty words in his latest comedy tour de fart
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117938442.html?categoryid=31&cs=1

SAXONDALE (BBC)
Steve Coogan (often called a young, British Larry David) is back on the BeeB and brings some yuks and laffs of his own in this TV series
http://www.offthetelly.co.uk/reviews/2006/saxondale.htm

OPIE GETS LAID
Movie about a pot-smoking young white slacker who somehow attracts the attention of several beautiful women without the help of Judd Apatow
http://www.worldsgreatestcritic.com/sunnyvaleopiegetslaid.html

THE AMERICAN RULING CLASS
Documusicomedy examining the US power structure. Introduced by Lewis Lapham of Harper's fame, featuring many great interviews and dance numbers
http://www.montrealmirror.com/2006/120706/film5.html

THE GROCER'S SON
This one comes from France and looks really really good. Also came out last week, so it's available now!
http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/06/06/movies/06groc.html

HENRY JAMES COLLECTION (BBC)
Oh snap--this joint's got all the hits, yo! The American, Portrait of a Lady, Wings of the Dove and more! All in great productions, act now and get the Henry James signed basketball card featured below!
http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/sports-products/henry-james-autographed-basketball-card-cleveland-cavaliers2.html

Have a great week folks!

New Releases, 5 January 2008

Happy New Year one and all! And what does the spectacular future world of 2009 have in store for us?...

THE WACKNESS
Really miss the early 90s? Well check out this dope new period piece set in that far-gone era. Ben Kingsley and some kid are really good. Played at Ragtag.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/reviews/bal-to.wackness01aug01,0,4015357.story

PINEAPPLE EXPRESS
New thing with Seth Rogen and James Franco and weed
http://www.avclub.com/content/cinema/pineapple_express

BANGKOK DANGEROUS
Nic Cage never gets tired of kicking some butt, even if he has to go halfway around the world to do it.
http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/movies/35383.htm

RIGHTEOUS KILL
What if they made a De Niro and Pacino film and no one saw it? Find out why
http://www.filmthreat.com/index.php?section=reviews&Id=11193

BABYLON AD
Vin Diesel has to save the future by kicking some future butt and some robot butt from the looks of it
http://movies.tvguide.com/babylon-ad/292575

PING PONG PLAYA
If this was a Spanish movie it would be "Ping Pong Beach." But it's not.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/04/DDP912NI5Q.DTL&type=movies

THE TUDORS Season 2
Henry the 8th is back and randier than ever! What pickle is he going to land in this time?! O man
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/30/DDG3LOTLF41.DTL

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Season 4
Technically this is Season 4.0, but we're not playing that game.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/06/DDGQHLIDD91.DTL

Have a great first week of the year everybody!