Sunday, November 29, 2009

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Follow up to the Da Vinci Code--Tom Hanks, vague historical references, the large hadron collider and creepy conspirators...AND A DEAD POPE!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

Sunday, November 15, 2009

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!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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!