Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 70%
| Bruno (2009) | "
Skeptics might not swallow it all, and thinner-skinned folks will surely be offended. But no one will deny that Baron Cohen is fearless in his pursuit of rowdy laughs." Posted Jul 10, 2009 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| Fresh 90%
| Soul Power (2009) | "
Soul Power is worth seeing -- and hearing -- for the evocation of an era and above all, for the exuberant and infectious performances." Posted Jul 9, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 11%
| I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009) | "
The characters lack charm and dimension, falling into stereotypical molds. Joyless scenarios bounce between scenes of driving around town and predictable party mayhem." Posted Jul 9, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 44%
| Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) | "
Rather than evolving, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs treads on familiar and infertile ground." Posted Jul 2, 2009 |
Rotten 1/4
| Rotten 17%
| I Hate Valentine's Day (2009) | "
Nia Vardalos wrote, directed and stars in this clunky, unfunny and plodding mess. She doesn't write dialogue, she writes shtick. Her direction seems awkward and amateurish, her acting is more like mugging." Posted Jul 2, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 66%
| Public Enemies (2009) | "
Director Michael Mann mounts a technically proficient, visually enthralling crime drama anchored by the low-key but captivating performance of Johnny Depp as legendary bank robber John Dillinger." Posted Jul 1, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 97%
| The Hurt Locker (2009) | "
Finally, Hollywood has made a great film about the Iraq War." Posted Jun 26, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 44%
| My Sister's Keeper (2009) | "
My Sister's Keeper takes a compelling ethical dilemma and turns it into formulaic pap by trying relentlessly to ensure an emotional reaction with sentimental exploitation and plot contrivances." Posted Jun 26, 2009 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| Rotten 51%
| Cheri (2009) | "
Cheri, like the character, is an entertaining bauble without much on its mind." Posted Jun 26, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Rotten 56%
| The Stoning of Soraya M. (2009) | "
[A] shattering and powerful drama." Posted Jun 26, 2009 |
Rotten 1.5/4
| Rotten 19%
| Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) | "
Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen is proof positive that not every summer action blockbuster has the mettle to be a franchise." Posted Jun 23, 2009 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| Rotten 46%
| The Proposal (2009) | "
Though it falls short of winning our hearts completely, The Proposal is a serviceable and intermittently funny romance made enjoyable by the sparks between Bullock and Reynolds." Posted Jun 18, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 17%
| Year One (2009) | "
Year One is scattershot and silly, squandering its potential by relying on juvenile bawdy humor." Posted Jun 18, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 46%
| Whatever Works (2009) | "
One would think Allen had worked though his on-screen fascination with the older man-young girl scenario by now. This latest exploration just feels derivative and musty." Posted Jun 18, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 89%
| Moon (2009) | "
An intelligent, evocative and deceptively low-key sci-fi adventure." Posted Jun 11, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Rotten 50%
| The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009) | "
The new Pelham takes the chilling original premise and modifies it for an era steeped in technology, making for an energetic and engrossing adaptation." Posted Jun 11, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 43%
| Imagine That (2009) | "
It's too bad there's little to distinguish this predictable tale from any other comedy about an overly busy father who finally connects with his child." Posted Jun 11, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 66%
| Away We Go (2009) | "
Away We Go is an exploratory and occasionally bittersweet trek that takes unexpected turns and winds up in an emotionally satisfying place." Posted Jun 5, 2009 |
Rotten 1.5/4
| Rotten 11%
| My Life in Ruins (2009) | "
My Life in Ruins plays out more like a thuddingly bad, been-there, seen-that sitcom. Even the sight of breathtaking ancient monuments don't keep it from crumbling." Posted Jun 5, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 78%
| The Hangover (2009) | "
Though the film falters toward the end, The Hangover is a side-splitting adventure you'll still be laughing about the morning after." Posted Jun 4, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 73%
| Departures (2009) | "
Though events unravel predictably, the film is profoundly affecting, thanks to a well-written story, rich characters and superlative acting." Posted May 29, 2009 |
Fresh
| Fresh 93%
| Drag Me To Hell (2009) | "
Drag Me to Hell is unlike any scary thriller in a while: frightening, frenzied and fun." Posted May 28, 2009 |
Fresh 4/4
| Fresh 97%
| Up (2009) | "
Easily the summer's, and probably the year's, most enchanting movie, Up is a buoyant delight." Posted May 28, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| Rotten 58%
| The Girlfriend Experience (2009) | "
The life of an upscale hooker: Even in the throes of passion, it's beyond bland." Posted May 22, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 92%
| The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story (2009) | "
A touching and illuminating documentary about the songwriting duo." Posted May 22, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Rotten 50%
| Easy Virtue (2009) | "
Goes down as light and fizzily as a flute of Champagne tossed back in an airy drawing room." Posted May 22, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 27%
| Dance Flick (2009) | "
Dance Flick occasionally hits its mark with nimble execution. But too often it stumbles clumsily into bad taste." Posted May 22, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 44%
| Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009) | "
Spritely scenarios are drowned out by the manic mayhem." Posted May 20, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 32%
| Terminator Salvation (2009) | "
Few characters ever say more than a couple of sentences at a time, and when they do, it's often to assert the obvious." Posted May 20, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 62%
| The Brothers Bloom (2009) | "
Ruffalo has some of the sharpest lines, and Brody's soulfulness is ideal for the role of a disillusioned introvert. With her enthusiasm, warmth and intelligence, Weisz is an inspired choice to play Penelope." Posted May 15, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 37%
| Angels & Demons (2009) | "
Angels & Demons is better, though not by much, than 2006's Da Vinci Code. The story, however, is less interesting and even more far-fetched." Posted May 14, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 93%
| Summer Hours (2009) | "
This bittersweet meditation on familial bonds, the passage of youth and the merits of tradition is deeply nuanced and strikes just the right emotional notes." Posted May 14, 2009 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| Rotten 46%
| Management (2009) | "
Though the flimsy romance follows a predictable path, Management has its whimsically offbeat moments, and Zahn is puppy-dog adorable." Posted May 14, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 75%
| Adoration (2009) | "
Moody, provocative and intellectually ambitious, Adoration is primed to elicit impassioned discussion among audiences." Posted May 7, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 18%
| Next Day Air (2009) | "
Next Day Air can't decide whether it's a broad stoner comedy or a gritty Tarantino-esque action flick. The humor is there, but violence brings the laughter to an abrupt halt." Posted May 7, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 70%
| Rudo and Cursi (2009) | "
Rudo y Cursi is enjoyable, with an engaging ensemble cast anchored by the charismatic performances of Luna and Bernal." Posted May 7, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 25%
| Little Ashes (2009) | "
The meandering film has moments of urgency, particularly when it focuses on Lorca, his growing politicization and the mystery surrounding his disappearance. But that arrives too late to redeem what has gone before." Posted May 7, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 95%
| Star Trek (2009) | "
hen it comes to sheer spectacle, Star Trek, as re-imagined by J.J. Abrams, delivers." Posted May 7, 2009 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| Rotten 46%
| Battle for Terra (2009) | "
An earnest animated tale of war and peace in outer space, augmented by captivating 3-D images." Posted May 1, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 28%
| Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009) | "
The formulaic story evaporates faster than cotton candy, and it's often as cloyingly sweet and tacky." Posted Apr 30, 2009 |
Rotten 1.5/4
| Rotten 33%
| The Limits of Control (2009) | "
For those who expect a coherent narrative that moves at a reasonable pace, director Jim Jarmusch's latest movie is likely to confound and annoy." Posted Apr 30, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Rotten 36%
| X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) | "
Jackman invests his fierce character with a cheeky attitude, clear-eyed intelligence and inherent decency, compelling viewers to care about his metamorphosis." Posted Apr 29, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 18%
| Obsessed (2009) | "
Great-looking actors, glossy locations and a knock-down, drag-out girlfight still don't make Obsessed anything more than a predictable and tawdry Fatal Attraction-style guilty pleasure." Posted Apr 27, 2009 |
Rotten 1.5/4
| Rotten 41%
| Fighting (2009) | "
This story of a country boy who goes to the big city and uses his brawn to make his way is so slow it's almost inert." Posted Apr 24, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Rotten 55%
| The Soloist (2009) | "
While the narrative occasionally falters, The Soloist wisely avoids the pitfalls of the inspirational biopic by not tidily sewing things up. Instead, it presents a moving tribute to friendship and the power of music." Posted Apr 24, 2009 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| Fresh 85%
| Earth (2009) | "
Earth is at its best when it goes beyond presenting awe-inspiring beauty to elicit a sense of wonder and empathy for our fellow creatures and of global responsibility toward our fragile planet." Posted Apr 23, 2009 |
Rotten 1/4
| Rotten 15%
| The Informers (2009) | "
The dialogue is laughable. Lines are spoken so languidly that the actors seem bored. Shattering revelations are delivered in the same monotone as casual patter." Posted Apr 23, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Rotten 55%
| Lymelife (2009) | "
It's a family drama that treads on well-worn middle-class territory but is redeemed by the complexity of the characters and the intriguing ambiguity of their actions." Posted Apr 17, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 97%
| The Song of Sparrows (2009) | "
The Song of Sparrows is a sweet and uplifting humanistic fable that celebrates the joys of community and pastoral life over a harried and materialistic urban existence." Posted Apr 16, 2009 |
Fresh 4/4
| Fresh 93%
| Sugar (2009) | "
Easily one of the year's best, Sugar is an intelligent and sublimely moving film that should not be missed." Posted Apr 16, 2009 |