BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CINE: INTERVIEW WITH BRIGHT LIGHTS EDITOR GARY MORRIS
Having published a new anthology of interviews, Bright Lights Film Journal editor Gary Morris talks about film culture, online criticism, and the interview as a form of commentary…
Posted on November 30, 2009 by Matthew Sorrento
MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: VOLUME XVI (DVD)
Rhino did a decent job with “Mystery Science Theater 3000″ on DVD, but Shout Factory kicked up the geek quotient a notch after scoring the license.
Posted on November 30, 2009 by Brad Cook
THE YOUNG VICTORIA
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  Year Released: 2009 MPAA Rating: PG Running Time: 105 minutes |
As old Queen V. herself supposedly said: We are not amused.
Posted on November 29, 2009 by Phil Hall
STRICTLY SEXUAL (A LOVE STORY)
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  Year Released: 2008 MPAA Rating: R Running Time: 99 minutes |
If you avoid romantic comedies like you would a spastic proctologist, let this be the exception to the rule.
Posted on November 28, 2009 by Doug Brunell
THE BOOTLEG FILES: STANLEY KUBRICK’S DAY OF THE FIGHT
Phil Hall’s The Bootleg Files explores the wild world of classic and kooky flicks that can be found only on bootlegged videos and DVD. This week, Phil gets into the ring with a neophyte filmmaker named Stanley Kubrick…
Posted on November 27, 2009 by Phil Hall
THE BLIND SIDE
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  Year Released: 2009 MPAA Rating: PG-13 Running Time: 120 minutes |
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Unfortunately, this film had to battle against the dumb, romantic juggernaut “New Moon.” Sandra Bullock and company will give you many more moments of enjoyment than any lame hormonally-challenged vampire-werewolf.
Posted on November 26, 2009 by Elias Savada
FANTASTIC MR. FOX
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  Year Released: 2009 MPAA Rating: PG Running Time: 87 minutes |
Critics galore are fawning over Wes Anderson’s move to animation. Why all the fuss? – the man’s been staging puppet shows for years.
Posted on November 25, 2009 by Matthew Sorrento
THE ROAD
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Year Released: 2009 MPAA Rating: R Running Time: 113 minutes |
It’s a grueling experience that still allows for the viewer to survive with a self-centering hope. This is no Disney amusement ride.
Posted on November 25, 2009 by Elias Savada
THE GOLDEN AGE OF TELEVISION (1953-58): THE CRITERION COLLECTION SET
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Year Released: 2009 MPAA Rating: Unrated Running Time: 127 minutes |
The high-pressure environment of live television was described as “Summer Stock in an iron lung.” Perhaps the programs’ invigorating style required such energy.
Posted on November 24, 2009 by Matthew Sorrento
PLANET 51
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  Year Released: 2009 MPAA Rating: PG Running Time: 91 minutes |
Perhaps the Spanish-based animated feature “Planet 51″ should have added a dash of Pedro Almodovar to spice up a rather ordinary revisitation of “ET.”
Posted on November 24, 2009 by Elias Savada
RED CLIFF (CHI BI)
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Year Released: 2009 MPAA Rating: R Running Time: 127 minutes |
IN LIMITED RELEASE AND AVAILABLE ON DEMAND! John Woo’s new film – his first produced in his homeland since 1993 – is a loud, colorful, and violent epic about the effects of friendship – and the weather – on war.
Posted on November 24, 2009 by James Teitelbaum
FINDING “PALLADIN” – AND SUBSTANCE: INTERVIEW WITH FILMMAKER ANDRZEJ KRAKOWSKI
Veteran writer-director Andrzej Krakowski discusses personal filmmaking outside of studio limits – and the US.
Posted on November 23, 2009 by Roy D. Koriakin
SHUTDOWN: THE RISE AND FALL OF “DIRECT ACTION TO STOP THE WAR”
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Year Released: 2008 MPAA Rating: Unrated Running Time: 45 minutes |
If civil disobedience, anti-war movements and direct action are things you are interested in, this is probably one the best documentaries to come out in a long time.
Posted on November 23, 2009 by Doug Brunell
MOONSTRUCK: EXPLORING THE UNSTOPPABLE VAMPIRE VIRUS OF “NEW MOON”
While I have little use for the series, the “Twilight Experience” – with its thunderous marketing campaign, religious fan base, and unique, emotional tug-of-war between repression and desire – is oddly fascinating.
Posted on November 22, 2009 by KJ Doughton
CLAUDIA AND PAUL
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Year Released: 2009 MPAA Rating: Unrated Running Time: 127 minutes |
A highly stylized, reductive model of a world that has a peculiar and fascinating effect.
Posted on November 21, 2009 by David Finkelstein