Buried (2010)

An American truck driver in Iraq is kidnapped and buried for ransom. A claustrophobic little flick that takes place in a buried coffin- its a race against time to be found and rescued. Whats inside: Ryan Reynolds, a lighter, a flask of hooch, a cell phone with the worlds longest half charge of use, and 95 minutes of fairly tense movie making. This was one of those 'well this is the only thing on' type movies. Well played but ultimately too thin to prevent my attention from wandering. If this subject matter interests you World Trade Center (2006) is a much more entertaining watch.

Nude Nuns with Big Guns (2010)

A clergy run drug operation fucks with the wrong nun. This is one where the title describes exactly what you will see in the movie. Lots of nudity. Lots of gunfire. Lots of cheese. Actually all the B elements not withstanding, this isn't a terrible movie. Naked boobies abound as a nun sold into prostitution takes her revenge on the priests and bikers who have wronged her. Fairly straight forward fuck you and die style action. Beers are a plus while viewing this one.

Secretariat (2010)

Disney docudrama about the most famous horse in triple crown history. Disney once again demonstrate they are the masters of feel good family friendly movies. All around exceptional work. The movie runs the same way Big Red does.. slow out of the gate and lengths across the finish line. This is to horse racing what The Blind Side(2009) is to football. Highly Recommended.

Black Swan (2010)

A ballerina's dedication to perfection pushes her towards madness as she embraces the darker aspects of her persona. This is a very theatrical and well constructed film. What is set up as a narrowly focused character drama becomes a fun house ride into psychosis with the viewer often left to wonder what is real and what is not (some scenes are easier than others). Perhaps that's the point. While this isn't a slasher flick with gallons of gore, there are some butt puckering scenes that will give you the willies. If you are a fan of psychedelic Hitchcock style stories, you may find this right up your alley. A chick flick directed at all those little girls who used to burn their Barbi's and play with just the heads. Sorbet with fish eyes.

Shanghai (2010)

An American spy goes to China to investigate the murder of his friend. A cloak and dagger style movie that once again showcases John Cusack's growth as a dramatic player. Supported by Ken Watanabe The Last Samurai (2003) and Yun-Fat Chow Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), the story moves along at a fairly brisk pace and maintains a taut sense of danger and intrigue throughout. Like other high calibre dramas, good and bad aren't always clearly defined and you find yourself a little conflicted as each of the main players get the character development needed to create that emotional bond with the viewer. A great period piece set in the turmoil of 1941. A late dinner with a nightcap. Recommended.

TRON: Legacy (2010)

The son of famous gaming software genius Flynn finds his missing father trapped in a computer generated digital world know as The Grid. This is basically a reboot of the 1982 classic Tron. Visually its as exciting as the first one and even more so in IMAX 3D. There were a couple places where I thought I was watching scenes from Star Wars:Return of the Jedi (1983). If you remember the original and were a fan, you will like this one too. If you have never seen the original and want to know what people sounded like and thought were cool in 1985 you can find it here. As much as I was looking forward to this one, I don't see it having the same impact the original one did, and in fact fear it is just a feeler to produce new revenue streams for Disney and support the animated TV series Tron they have set for 2011. I don't often recommend you endure the theater to see movies, but this is one you really should see in IMAX 3D.

Let Me In (2010)

A new neighbor will change the life of a bullied schoolboy. I recently reviewed the original movie Let the Right One In (2008) and this one follows it fairly close, with just a few minor changes. I'm not really giving anything away by telling you this is a vampire movie.. correction, its a movie with a vampire in it. This is really more a young romance movie with a twisty. At first glance this is just another better than average movie with a fly in the ointment. Players are all in step.. FX are good.. the dialogue flows well for the most part, there were a few wooden moments but nothing overly distracting. The real flavor of this movie is when you consider the implications. Think 'full circle'. This isn't really a horror movie even though there are a couple scenes that would qualify for one. A newish take on an overused theme that yields positive results. If you are looking for something that will keep you interested without being overly loud, violent or scary this would be a good pick. One of the rare movies that I hope they make a sequel. Pizza and Gummi Bears.

Dear Mr. Gacy (2010)

A dramatized version of the real life interaction between John Gacy and Jason Moss. What starts out as a class project soon becomes an obsession. An interesting portrayal of a horrifyingly messed up killer. There is no attempt made to make Gacy lovable or to humanize him in any way. From the first contact Gacy makes your skin crawl with his smarmy smuttiness. William Forsythe does an outstanding job. There are a few parts where you think 'okay, if the kid is this stupid..' but remember when you were 18? The actual photos and footage at the beginning end of the movie really nail this one together. Even if you aren't a serial killer groupie, this is a better than average cat and mouse style drama. There are some actual forensic photos at the beginning of the movie, just a heads up in case that sort of thing bothers you.

Barry Munday (2010)

A chronic womanizer wakes up in the hospital minus his sack with a paternity suit pending. This is a luke warm everybody is okay kind of comedy that slowly builds to produce an all is right with the world warm fuzzie. A fair watch for a new couple on a cold evening while they still remember what it was like being single. Despite the emasculated one dimensional male lead and the overly bitchy stand-offish female lead, the urge to stuff them both into a trash compactor and go looking for their parents with murder in your heart passes fairly quickly. Just enough naughty to keep the guy in the room while the double shot of 'the sisterhood' is kept on the mild side. This would probably work well as the opening movie in a double header with a more serious drama. A meatloaf sandwich and a glass of milk.

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (TV Series 2008)

This is a TV pilot that never became more. Another remarkable effort by Joss Whedon, this is a musical comedy about a Super Villain named.. you guessed it.. Dr Horrible. For 43 minutes I can't recommend you go and purchase or rent this unless you are queer for Joss Whedon, then of course by all means.. hell I did. You can catch this in pieces on YouTube.. but however you see it, if you want something that's outside the box but doesn't require an art snob to explain it to you, then make every effort to see this.. hilarious!

The American (2010)

A hitman looks to retire and finds its not as simple as that. Nothing really new here.. seen this story a dozen times. What sets this one apart is the presentation. This is a very well put together movie, very 'adult' if you will. The tempo represents more what one would expect in life and not what you find in these super adrenalized action flicks.. and lends to relating to the players. What action it does have is crisp, brief and efficient, no extra gore or super kung-fu fighting. I was really taken by surprise watching this and found it very enjoyable. If you are looking for something with a bit more depth, but not so much it will tire you out, this is a good choice. This is one of those well rounded home cooked meals you get at Mom's house. Recommended

2081 (2009)

In the future, exceptionalism is outlawed. This is a short.. about 20 minutes or so, but has more impact than 90% of whats out there. While set in 2081, its easy to see this becoming a reality much sooner... if we allow it. In the same category as 1984, but a microwave version. Legal and Right aren't always the same thing. Highly Recommended.

Ip Man (2008) [Yip Man]

A semi biographical story of a master of Wing Chun and master to Bruce Lee. Okay, the Bruce Lee bit is a hook and while historically accurate, the only part of the movie Bruce Lee is portrayed in is a rather shameless scene at the end of an otherwise nearly flawless movie. I'm very happy with the direction Kung Fu movies have been taking over the last decade or so by showing the heart, soul and honor of Chinese martial arts. This is very comparable to Fearless (2006) and just as enjoyable to watch. There are some over the top theatrics to be sure but this is more than offset with the persona of a man who is truly at one with himself. Its a shame Bruce Lee isn't around to see what fruit his seed has produced. Highly Recommended.

The Town (2010)

Another tender hearted bad boy movie about a bank robber who meets a girl and pines for the straight life. This is a better than average gangster style movie about a crew of bank robbers. Fairly well written and well played (unless you're Boston PD or the FBI). There are some slight continuity issues (Affleck's whisker growth in concuring scenes), but nothing you can't get past. While you don't really get anything new with this one you do get a rather neat tidy package of action and drama that will keep your eyes on the screen. I don't see it winning any awards, but it is entertaining and keeps a fairly rapid tempo. If you enjoy this genre, this will show up as a well prepared and hearty bowl of beantown soup.

Never Let Me Go (2010)

In this 'could happen tomorrow' sci-fi drama where clones are grown for organ harvesting, we follow three who hold out the hope for more. WOW! This is the best serious sci-fi I have seen since Cargo (2009) and Gattaca (1997). Not only is the movie well presented (I hear the book readers bitching already), its offered up with a quiet resignation that is so often seen in 'civilized' society. With the political and social acceptance of abortion and euthanasia, and the continuing propagation of the notion that those in favor be served by 'the little people', I can see the growth of live clones for harvesting (the movie uses the noble term "donation") occurring before the end of my lifetime. On top of this rather ignoble commentary of humanity, you have a very nice romance with all the tear jerking finality that tragic romantics demand. This movie doesn't require a huge amount of brain juice, but you do need some. Hard to imagine going wrong with this one. Highly Recommended.