Fresh
| Fresh 95%
| The Cove (2009) | "
Sounded like something I didn't want to see: a preachy nature documentary. But the actual film is much more daring and memorable." Combustible Celluloid Posted Dec 11, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| Fresh 67%
| The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (2009) | "
Provides a nice role for Robin Wright Penn, but it's a film in search of a tone." Combustible Celluloid Posted Dec 11, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Rotten 57%
| Uncertainty (2009) | "
Some viewers may find fault with the basic idea, but Uncertainty is undeniably fascinating." Combustible Celluloid Posted Dec 11, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 82%
| The Princess and the Frog (2009) | "
It's an expert, entertaining movie." Combustible Celluloid Posted Dec 11, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 84%
| A Single Man (2009) | "
It's overdirected and slightly precious, but it does capture a very interesting, insulated, interior world for its lead character, George (Colin Firth)." Combustible Celluloid Posted Dec 11, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| Rotten 39%
| The Lovely Bones (2009) | "
More than anything, The Lovely Bones feels like a film circling the book, eyeing it uncertainly and trying different kinds of styles and moods to see if anything fits." Combustible Celluloid Posted Dec 11, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 78%
| Invictus (2009) | "
There's a lot to cram into one movie, and Anthony Peckham's script is fairly simplistic, but Eastwood is as skilled a director as any working today." Combustible Celluloid Posted Dec 10, 2009 |
Rotten 1/5
| Rotten 0%
| Transylmania (2009) | "
It has no artistic or social value, and it contains not one genuine laugh." Common Sense Media Posted Dec 5, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Rotten 45%
| Armored (2009) | "
Has a pleasingly gritty feel thanks to its use of chilly, metallic urban locations -- and at only 88 minutes, it's a very streamlined, no-nonsense genre film." Common Sense Media Posted Dec 5, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| Fresh 83%
| A Woman in Berlin (2008) | "
It's a rigorous adaptation, handsomely mounted and with fine performances, but totally impersonal." Combustible Celluloid Posted Dec 4, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 90%
| Up in the Air (2009) | "
It seems to be struggling between populist and satirical impulses. But there are many, many moments it gets right and it's an enjoyable, if minor entry in the year-end movie rush." Combustible Celluloid Posted Dec 4, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 57%
| Brothers (2009) | "
Sheridan takes a routine story and presents it with clenching seriousness, making it not only boring, but unpleasant." Combustible Celluloid Posted Dec 4, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 71%
| The Blind Side (2009) | "
Veers a bit close... to Capra territory, but its sure, honest touch carries it effortlessly into the end zone." Combustible Celluloid Posted Dec 4, 2009 |
Rotten
| Fresh 63%
| Time of the Wolf (2003) | "
[Dawn of the Dead] manages to comment with wit and excitement on the same ideas that Time of the Wolf treats so seriously and glumly." Combustible Celluloid Posted Dec 3, 2009 |
Fresh
| Fresh 83%
| Battle Royale (2000) | "
Gloriously sick and twisted." Combustible Celluloid Posted Nov 24, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 85%
| Me and Orson Welles (2009) | "
It's worth sitting through Efron's vacant performance to get to the meat of McKay's performance." Combustible Celluloid Posted Nov 24, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Rotten 31%
| Ninja Assassin (2009) | "
Can be ridiculously exhilarating." Common Sense Media Posted Nov 24, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 71%
| The Road (2009) | "
The Road is effective -- and interesting as a comparison for those who loved the book." Common Sense Media Posted Nov 24, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 86%
| Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009) | "
The new film has much in common with some of Herzog's crazed past masterworks like Aguirre, the Wrath of God." Common Sense Media Posted Nov 20, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| Rotten 38%
| The Grand (2008) | "
Decided that sticking to the formula was more important than letting something organic or crazy happen." Combustible Celluloid Posted Nov 19, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| Fresh 75%
| Humpday (2009) | "
Shelton's low-fi treatment helps soften it, but too many overcooked moments still seep through." Combustible Celluloid Posted Nov 19, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| Fresh 67%
| Bruno (2009) | "
Merely a collection of supposedly shocking jokes about homosexuality and gay sex." Combustible Celluloid Posted Nov 19, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 82%
| Broken Embraces (2009) | "
Almodovar's latest feels a bit lackluster after his recent string of excellent films, but it still contains some inspired, cinema-on-cinema sequences." Combustible Celluloid Posted Nov 19, 2009 |
Fresh 5/5
| Fresh 88%
| Red Cliff (2009) | "
As impressively mounted as Braveheart and Gladiator, but as directed by Hong Kong action master John Woo, it easily surpasses them in terms of style and grace, action and cinematography" Common Sense Media Posted Nov 19, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 89%
| The Messenger (2009) | "
Intelligent, graceful, and touching filmmaking." Common Sense Media Posted Nov 12, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 60%
| Pirate Radio (2009) | "
The film's good-natured rebellion and genuine enthusiasm for the power of rock 'n' roll can be infectious and enjoyable." Common Sense Media Posted Nov 12, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 91%
| Precious: Based on the Novel PUSH by Sapphire (2009) | "
It's an effective little movie, with many powerful gut-punch moments and strong performances." Combustible Celluloid Posted Nov 12, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 87%
| The House of the Devil (2009) | "
A first-rate chiller." Combustible Celluloid Posted Nov 12, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| Rotten 54%
| The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009) | "
Feels all too light; it's a movie wherein all the best, funniest bits were shown in the trailer." Combustible Celluloid Posted Nov 12, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 92%
| Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) | "
Turns out to be a good one as Anderson and co-writer Noah Baumbach adapt Roald Dahl's 1970 book, but with a generous helping of Anderson's quirky wit and a few other personal touches." Common Sense Media Posted Nov 12, 2009 |
Rotten 2/5
| Rotten 39%
| 2012 (2009) | "
At worst, it's a gruesome, depressing subject as viewed from the seat of a passing roller coaster." Common Sense Media Posted Nov 12, 2009 |
Fresh
| Fresh 80%
| The Lineup (1958) | "
Don Siegel's early masterpiece." Combustible Celluloid Posted Nov 6, 2009 |
Rotten
| Fresh 83%
| The Sniper (1952) | "
It's absolutely terrified that its messages will pass by unnoticed." Combustible Celluloid Posted Nov 6, 2009 |
Fresh
| Fresh 100%
| Murder by Contract (1958) | "
Takes a shockingly low-key, detailed approach to the job of contract killer." Combustible Celluloid Posted Nov 6, 2009 |
Rotten 2/5
| Rotten 18%
| The Fourth Kind (2009) | "
Frankly, without the "based on true events" framing and the video footage of the supposedly real incidents, there's not much here." Common Sense Media Posted Nov 6, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| Rotten 55%
| Disney's A Christmas Carol (2009) | "
Leaves a lot to be desired, and it's a virtual grab bag of good ideas mixed with bad." Combustible Celluloid Posted Nov 6, 2009 |
Fresh
| Fresh 100%
| Scandal Sheet (1952) | "
As directed by "B" level film noir expert Phil Karlson, Scandal Sheet is really quite good." Combustible Celluloid Posted Oct 30, 2009 |
Fresh
| Fresh 83%
| Shockproof (1949) | "
In his own way, Sirk was as good a director as Fuller; here he emphasizes the complex, intense emotions of the lead characters, which helps guide the film over some of its plot hurdles." Combustible Celluloid Posted Oct 30, 2009 |
Fresh
| Fresh 100%
| The Steel Helmet (1951) | "
I'm not much for war films, but this is one of the best." Combustible Celluloid Posted Oct 29, 2009 |
Fresh
| Fresh 100%
| The Crimson Kimono (1959) | "
The Crimson Kimono is mostly a hard-boiled cop thriller, but also manages to make a defiant anti-racist statement without ever getting on a soapbox." Combustible Celluloid Posted Oct 29, 2009 |
Fresh
| N/A | Underworld, U.S.A. (1960) | "
Even more so than its plot, the film is notable for its very stark, sharp black-and-white look; each shot almost feels like a paper cut." Combustible Celluloid Posted Oct 29, 2009 |
Fresh
| Fresh 90%
| Death in the Garden (1956) | "
It's not an obvious artistic masterpiece, but it is a case of a brilliant, talented director making the most out of a routine project." Combustible Celluloid Posted Oct 29, 2009 |
Fresh
| N/A | Shirin (2008) | "
Shirin isn't nearly as dull as it sounds; the melodramatic, passionate "Shirin" story drives everything forward, and gazing at the faces of these amazing women can be a compelling experience in itself." Combustible Celluloid Posted Oct 29, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| Rotten 16%
| Gentlemen Broncos (2009) | "
I laughed a lot at Gentlemen Broncos, but its funky, unique rhythms often give way to all too traditional story arcs, setups and payoffs." Combustible Celluloid Posted Oct 29, 2009 |
Fresh 4/4
| Fresh 97%
| The Beaches of Agnes (2009) | "
It's a unique, funny recollection of a life, through memories and moments." Combustible Celluloid Posted Oct 29, 2009 |
Fresh
| Fresh 80%
| Strait Jacket (1964) | "
This one has a very high quality of dialogue and performance." Combustible Celluloid Posted Oct 23, 2009 |
Rotten
| Rotten 25%
| 13 Ghosts (1960) | "
It falters just as most of today's movies falter: too much emphasis on effects and not enough on characters." Combustible Celluloid Posted Oct 23, 2009 |
Fresh
| Fresh 71%
| The Tingler (1959) | "
Could well be William Castle's masterpiece." Combustible Celluloid Posted Oct 23, 2009 |
Fresh
| Fresh 80%
| Homicidal (1961) | "
I have to admit, it's a pretty good twist." Combustible Celluloid Posted Oct 23, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 69%
| (Untitled) (2009) | "
[Parker's] new film has that same ultra-black comedy vibe, which means good news for us few fans and bad news for everyone else." Combustible Celluloid Posted Oct 23, 2009 |