|
78%
|
The Informant! (2009)
|
"Somewhere between the true story it is based on, and the gimmicks and gags brought to the tale by Damon and Sodeburgh The Informant! somehow falls between the cracks to result in only an ok movie."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
83%
|
Paranormal Activity (2009)
|
"From the changing relationship dynamics to the various reveals, this is a maestro fright flick at its shocking best. And if you're after a film that goes bump in the night, this is the one for you."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
90%
|
Zombieland (2009)
|
"With its brain seeking tongue wedged firmly in its blood soaked cheek, Zombieland embraces its violence and language warnings to make a truly hysterical, enjoyable and mouth watering zom-com ride."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
74%
|
Cold Souls (2009)
|
"You'd say that Cold Souls is strange, but strange doesn't begin to describe this darkly humorous, concept film."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
87%
|
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (2009)
|
"The superb thing about Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs is that it never once shies away from its ludicrous premise."
|
|
|
89%
|
A Serious Man (2009)
|
"The talent of the Coens is such that they make this film eminently watchable, absolutely enjoyable and utterly engaging despite the fact that it's never entirely clear why we're seeing it in the first place."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
55%
|
Prime Mover ()
|
"Fun then fierce, light then laconic, Prime Mover is primarily entertaining, and there's nothing wrong with that."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
27%
|
The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
|
"This is a film for the fans. Fans of the books. Fans of the first film. If you enjoyed that, you'll enjoy this. If you didn't, you have no chance here. It's a New Moon, not a new dawn."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
21%
|
Amelia (2009)
|
"Much like one of Earhart's trans-Atlantic flights Amelia just goes on and on without deviation."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
71%
|
The Boys Are Back (2009)
|
"The Boys are Back deftly combines humour and heart in a well crafted tale of boys of all ages growing up, and if it helps, just think of it as a good film they happened to make in Australia."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
39%
|
2012 (2009)
|
"With a planet sized disaster film, there are nation sized holes to pick at if you choose, but there's a world of fun to be had if you sit back and let the destruction wash over you in this fantastical, mind blowing visual feast."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
66%
|
The Brothers Bloom (2009)
|
"A tale full of heart, heroism and old school fun, that with the addition of just a few witty zingers could have been one of the great films of the year."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
37%
|
The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)
|
"A graceful, elegant love story, that carefully avoids quasi-science, time travelling philosophy or mills and boon style passionate embraces, focussing instead on the means by which two truly star crossed lovers cope with their unique lives together."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
75%
|
Capitalism: A Love Story (2009)
|
"See Capitalism: A Love Story if you like to hear the sound of Michael Moore railing against 'the man', but if you're after a good documentary there's no love here for you."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
79%
|
Genova ()
|
"An elegant, traumatic but ultimately rewarding tale that will leave you glad to have made the trip."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
23%
|
Case 39 (2010)
|
"Case 39 is slow, painful and one suspects for both Cooper and Renee Zellweger full of regrets."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
81%
|
Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009)
|
"This Is It is essentially one really big DVD Special Feature, yet it has a real humanity that is enlightening, endearing and surprisingly engaging."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
64%
|
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
|
"This is a wonderous, dark and opulent film, that captivates and moves the audience. Fans of Ledger or Gilliam will feel rewarded for their time in the Imaginarium."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
45%
|
The Box (2009)
|
"The Box lacks the poetry and elegance of Darko, and at times mistakes randomness for mystery, however a good cast and pace mean those who enjoy debating what they just saw will have plenty to work over."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
94%
|
An Education (2009)
|
"The most extraordinary thing about this engaging, hysterical and deeply moving film is how natural this supposedly inappropriate relationship feels."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
6%
|
All About Steve (2009)
|
"Sandra Bullock bulldozes the line between a socially awkward character and an annoying human being in a monstrous turkey that can genuinely make a claim to being the worst film of the year"
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
29%
|
The Final Destination (2009)
|
"Where some of the previous installments have been quite clever, the focus here is entirely on angling the camera so that something else can rush at us."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
50%
|
Whatever Works (2009)
|
"Whatever Works, like its lead character, takes a long while to draw us in, but once it does it is enjoyable, thoughtful and decidedly Woody."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
49%
|
Astro Boy (AstroBoy) (2009)
|
"Like a pig-iron fisted metaphor, Astro Boy the film resembles the robot, in that it is cobbled together out of parts we recognise. And as much as they don't sound like they could all work in one film, they don't."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
11%
|
Couples Retreat (2009)
|
"It's been 13 years since Swingers. Couples Retreat is a very different film from writers leading very different lives. It's fast paced. Its a bunch of skits book-ended with story. And it's a lot of fun."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
84%
|
Whip It (2009)
|
"Whip It never quite finds its rhythm or energy and the actors all seem to be holding something back in a comic book tale that requires over exaggeration more than subtle nuance."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
90%
|
Moon (2009)
|
"Much more than simple escapism, Moon may not be for everyone, but it is certainly a very good film that will inspire intriguing post-cinema conversation."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
75%
|
Julie & Julia (2009)
|
"Like a beautiful home cooked meal, Julie & Julia is not perfect by industry standards, just warm, comforting and very, very enjoyable."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
40%
|
Imagine That (2009)
|
"Imagine That is an embarrassment from which only Thomas Haden Church emerges unscathed, because he is the only one to commit fully to his eccentric character."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
55%
|
Mao's Last Dancer (2010)
|
"Don't see Mao's Last Dancer if you want a perfectly structured film. See it if you want to experience a truly amazing story."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
84%
|
Looking for Eric (2010)
|
"Looking For Eric is a film of three halves, each almost a genre unto itself."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
80%
|
Van Diemen's Land (2009)
|
"A great film to see with your mates to inspire talk of who would eat who, how you'd eat human and the fine line between serial killer and survival."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
90%
|
Stone Bros (2009)
|
"Stone Bros isn't a worthy or important, topical film. All it wants is for you to laugh, and there's no doubt that you will."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
87%
|
500 Days of Summer (2009)
|
"(500) Days of Summer is a classic independent film, taking a bunch of risks and trying to break as many rules as possible, yet it is in many ways a traditional ode to love, and it will leave you yearning for the opportunity to be dumped yourself."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
98%
|
Up (2009)
|
"Pixar's latest hero is a septuagenarian, misanthropic crank. And this film is all about him. It shouldn't work. We shouldn't like him, or want to watch him. But we do. You will. And you'll love it."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
77%
|
Valentino: The Last Emperor (2009)
|
"From naked models draped in fabric, to private jet passengers draped in dogs, Valentino is a warts and all, fly on the wall insight into the life of one of the great fashion designers. Unfortunately in this flick there are more warts than all."
|
Giles Hardie
|
|
85%
|
Blessed (2009)
|
"Blessed's relentless melodrama means the situations feel staged and stereotypical and both the mothers and children for the most part become painful, charmless annoyances who we want to go home to avoid."
|
Giles Hardie
|
87%
24%
91%
85%
45%
40%
