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!

New Releases, 23 December 2008

Another New Movie day?? It's a Kwanzaa miracle! What did cinema Santa bring us this time?

BAGHEAD
In a mumblecore milestone, the guys behind The Puffy Chair have made a horror film. An honest, indie, sort-of-hip, self-conscious horror film
http://www.avclub.com/content/cinema/baghead

EAGLE EYE
Here's what the most ambivalent person on IMDb had to say about this one: "Eagle Eye is not the best movie I've ever seen but it's much better than some of the other junk that been out lately." But don't take their word for it!
http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=135151

THE DUCHESS
Titillating period drama with Kiera Knightley and Ralph Feinnes and lots of periwigs
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080925/REVIEWS/809250303

GHOST TOWN
Ricky Gervais sees dead people. A dead Greg Kinnear, to be precise. Not very scary.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/18/DD2K130FUL.DTL&type=movies

WHOLPHIN #7
New installation of the short film anthology. Check out the second link for a picture of the origin of a wholphin, and other weird animal stuff.
http://www.wholphindvd.com/
http://vecchiobipede.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html

RESIDENT EVIL: DEGENERATION
Animated film based on the other films, based on the video game. the review below is in Norwegian, so tough luck.
http://dvd-world.biz/filmblogg/?p=1441

Everyone have a wonderful holidays, and we'll see you soon!