Brothers (2009)

Brothers
Grade: C (Rent it)
Review: Corny and predictable story. Good acting from Spider-man (Tobey Maguire).

Ninja Assassin (2009)

Ninja Assassin
Grade: C+ (Rent it)
Review: A celebration of brutality. Some cool fighting scenes but uncompelling characters and story.

The Box (2009)

The Box
Grade: B- (Watch it)
Review: Very nicely done thriller. I was intrigued and excited by the story line from the first and through the last minute of the movie - rare for any recently produced movie.

Antichrist (2009)

Antichrist
Grade: F (Skip it)
Review: Awful, pretentious, repulsive. An hour and a half of boring dialog and self-indulging psycho babel, intermingled with two ugly people having sex. How do you take a story about grieving parents and make this abomination is a puzzle. If not the worst of all time then definitely close second. WOW that was truly awful and disturbing.
PS: Compared to this even "Gigli" and "Lost in Translation" appear like masterpieces.

My Sister's Keeper (2009)

My Sister's Keeper
Grade: B+ (Watch it)
Review: A nicely done tearjerker. Original take on a family dealing with chronic sickness and death without getting overshadowed by religious overtones or fake miracles. Movie deals with serious moral dilemma of using one child as a donor to save another child. The simple depiction of this reality combined with good acting makes this movie a powerful life drama.

Precious (2009)

Precious
Grade: A- (Watch it)
Review: This is an exceptional sociodrama about the life of a teenage girl living through urban "hell" - poverty, sexual abuse, teen pregnancy, domestic violence, verbal abuse, illiteracy and more. This is not a Hollywood feel good happy ending, or a gangsta movie that glorifies crime and romanticizes backward values - this movie is a simple and powerful depiction of a tragic reality. This sad reality on the other hand is a deafening call for change. A serious Oscar contender.

The Ugly Truth (2009)

The Ugly Truth
Grade: D+ (Skip it)
Review: Predictable and not funny.

2012 (2009)

2012
Grade: B- (Watch it)
Review: Grab the popcorn and enjoy this cinematic roller-coaster joy ride. BTW you can leave your brain at home, cause there isn't much to think about. This was a fun movie.
PS: Civilizations that couldn't figure out how to survive, cannot predict the future; otherwise surviving would have been easy. :)

Capitalism: A Love Story (2009)

Capitalism: A Love Story
Grade: A- (Watch it)
Review: Michael Moore documentary about things that everyone knows are wrong in our financial system; but nobody does anything about it. Like him or hate him, he was right in this and the rest of his movies.
Interesting readings: Citigroup analyst reports about wealth inequality written few months before the meltdown started:
Citigroup-Oct-16-2005-Plutonomy-Report-Part-1
Citigroup-Mar-5-2006-Plutonomy-Report-Part-2
Report summary analysis by senior writer of WSJ: Plutonomics

The Invention of Lying (2009)

The Invention of Lying
Grade: C+ (Rent it)
Review: This is a clever comedy with serious subject.

Paranormal Activity (2009)

Paranormal Activity
Grade: D (Skip it)
Review: A "Paris Hilton video" without the sex and "vivid" dialog - and there is a demon in the room (yes it is that dumb). Independent and low budget doesn't have to be equal to stupid. Unfortunately this movie and The Blair Witch Project are giving ideas to every idiot with a camera to make a movie - please stop.

Whatever Works (2009)

Whatever Works
Grade: D (Skip it)
Review: This was a pretentious piece, full of predictable cliches. A dreadful movie with one gem - Evan Rachel Wood was amazing - with good acting and being funny without turning into a caricature (like the rest of the cast).

Moon (2009)

Moon
Grade: C (Rent it)
Review: This is a movie where the main character blabbers himself to death for 90 mins. Movie had potential, but unfortunately did not deliver. Unless you are a passionate science fiction fan this is probably not your cup of tea.

Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

Law Abiding Citizen
Grade: C+ (Rent it)
Review: Poor casting, poor acting, poor ending. I was generous with my grade because I love vigilante movies. The system fails the good guy, so he is forced to brutally get vengeance. In the era of Madoff evil - where system failed us all - who wouldn't want to see him getting water-boarded and executed. Actually who wouldn't want to see tortured some of CEO-s who lost money for their companies, took bailout money from taxpayers, and feel entitled to take fat bonuses (WTF!!!).

Pandorum (2009)

Pandorum
Grade: D+ (Skip it)
Review: Poor effort. A bloated story that goes nowhere for more than 90% of the movie ultimately leaves the exiting ending not fulfilling, or sufficient to pull this movie from the empty space abyss.

Duplicity (2009)

Duplicity
Grade: B- (Watch it)
Review: CIA and MI6 agents in a movie about corporate espionage. This movie ended up being fun. Julia Roberts and Clive Owen acting is good. They create a believable sexual tension in this cat and mouse corporate game. It is ironic how movie actually shows that corporate intelligence might be more developed then major government agencies.

Zombieland (2009)

Zombieland
Grade: D (Skip it)
Review: Not funny! A very poor imitation of Shaun of the Dead (2004) which was actually cleaver and funny.

(500) Days of Summer (2009)

(500) Days of Summer
Grade: C+ (Rent it)
Review: If you are looking for a romantic movie this is not a movie for you. I can summarize it in one line: A movie about a bitch and a schmuck. If you want a decent movie with same summary rent The Shape of Things (2003)

Jennifer's Body (2009)

Jennifer's Body
Grade: D (Skip it)
Review: Megan Fox is hot, but this movie is dreadful. Side note: I'm getting sick and tired of these sensitive selective vampire/demons. People, even fiction has to follow some logic - vampires used to be predators from the dark side that eat all people without discriminating based on looks or gender.

Surrogates (2009)

Surrogates
Grade: C- (Rent it)
Review: Interesting artistic and socio-philosophical premise, however I wish I had sent my surrogate to watch the movie (Yippie ki yay mo-fo). Bruce Willis is getting old for action movies and story didn't go anywhere.

Sunshine Cleaning (2009)

Sunshine Cleaning
Grade: B- (Watch it)
Review: A real drama of life gone different from high school plan. Great acting by Amy Adams playing a single mom, former high school cheerleading captain who dated the quarterback and now cleans houses and crime-scenes.

Fighting (2009)

Fighting
Grade: C+ (Rent it)
Review: Interesting movie depicting NYC underground bare-knuckle fighting. Decent acting, no prolonged exercise filler scenes (that serve no purpose) and in general the story has a sense of realism.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Grade: B- (Watch it)
Review: James Bond meets Kung Fu meets Transformers special effects. Evil arms corporation wants to take over the world and only GI Joe can stop it. No story but entertaining.

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Inglourious Basterds
Grade: A- (Watch it)
Review: A movie Quentin Tarantino fan's will appreciate. Tarantino builds a series of great hero and villain characters (all are fun in their way). Movie has great dialog scenes in multiple languages (English, German and French); just enough of brutality for guilty pleasure (more like Pulp Fiction and not like that Kill Bill nonsense).

A Perfect Getaway (2009)

A Perfect Getaway
Grade: C+ (Rent it)
Review: Original, flawed, but worthy a rental. Interesting character development, beautiful nature and scenery, effective suspenseful moments, nice twist.

District 9 (2009)

District 9
Grade: A- (Watch it)
Review: Refreshingly original take on alien movies. Simple and interesting story. Special effect are transparent and blend with scenery without drawing attention to themselves. Human characters - including the lead - are all selfish, numbing ignorant, and inconsiderate toward others. Although alien slum living conditions unavoidably brings parallels with immigration issues, racism and discrimination; these issues don't overshadow the story or attempt to force themselves on the viewer (in fact they are secondary). Documentary feel gives it an eerie sense of reality. I look forward to the sequel, although I don't see how any sequel can beat this one.

The Last House on the Left (2009)

The Last House on the Left
Grade: C+ (Rent it)
Review: Charles Bronson style vigilante bad guys get it real bad movie. Loved it. For people who say it is sadistic, I say get lost pansies.

The Hurt Locker (2009)

The Hurt Locker
Grade: B (Watch it)
Review: This is a great war movie without forced political agenda. Small cast, simple story, with realistic depiction of soldier life, suspenseful actions and warrior comradeship moments.

The Great Buck Howard (2009)

The Great Buck Howard
Grade: C+ (Rent it)
Review: The character Buck Howard is inspired by the 1970s mentalist The Amazing Kreskin. Interesting character, good acting by John Malkovich. Worth to rent.

Funny People (2009)

Funny People
Grade: B- (Watch it)
Review: I left the movie with better opinion about Adam Sandler. The movie is funny (rated R funny), the story starts strong, but has a weak ending. Sandler and Rogen show some good acting, but the rest of the supporting crew tries too hard to deliver the funny one liners. Sandler is maybe good because he is playing himself; nevertheless he does a good job playing a comedian facing mortality and dealing with loneliness in show-business. This is a nice drama/comedy but director/writers in the attempt to have a "real" ending; ended up with real dumb one.

Bruno (2009)

Bruno
Grade: B+ (Watch it)
Review: Hilarious!

Year One (2009)

Year One
Grade: D+ (Skip it)
Review: Poor effort. This movie was not funny.

Drag Me to Hell (2009)

Drag Me to Hell
Grade: B- (Watch it)
Review: This is a good old fashion horror movie. After the success of The Ring and 28 Days Later we had to live with a series of terrible horror movies (the worst one being The Grudge). Drag Me to Hell has a small cast, it is refreshing in it's simplicity of movie devices, and it delivers the suspense the horror fans want.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Grade: B- (Watch it)
Review: Action, explosions, robots, hot chick, a robot humping the hot chick. The movie probably has the best special effects ever, but it could have used a little story (I guess it would have stood in the way of robot fighting scenes). This visual extravaganza is worth watching.

The Proposal (2009)

The Proposal
Grade: C+ (Rent it)
Review: Surprisingly not terrible. It was actually entertaining. The characters are less believable and the story is not as realistic or educational as The Devil Wears Prada (Sandra Bullock is no Meryl Streep). Nevertheless the movie has its funny moments; worth to rent.

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009)

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
Grade: C+ (Rent it)
Review: Tony Scott brings high pace action to this remake. Slightly better, and more believable than the original but still nothing to remember.

The Girlfriend Experience (2009)

The Girlfriend Experience
Grade: D (Skip it)
Review: A boring nothingness.

Hangover (2009)

Hangover
Grade: B (Watch it)
Review: Funny R rated comedy.

Sin Nombre (2009)

Sin Nombre
Grade: B- (Watch it)
Review: This is a raw depiction of gangster life without the romanticism of the Hollywood. In places without opportunities migration or crime are the only options for young people.

Lakshmi and Me (2009)

Lakshmi and Me
Grade: B+ (Watch it)
Review: This is an Independent Lens PBS presentation. A great documentary about an incredible charismatic young house maid (Lakshmi) at filmmakers home in Mumbai, India. The documentary's protagonist is an uneducated poor "slave" for hire (worker with no rights that endures abuse of her masters while working 10h days); but very likable; her innocence is captivating. At social level the film shows the drastic class and ethnic divisions in India. In the age of off shoring it is easy to forget the rampage poverty and illiteracy levels in India. The writer and director ends up being an interesting film protagonist that has to intervene in her maids life. This not a feel good Hollywood movie.

Freedom is not an empty punch line

Boycott companies that help any government to oppress its people!

PS: Sorry for posting politics, but I had to commemorate Tiananmen Square June 5, 1989 protest after reading today that computer manufactures will start pre-installing spyware for Chinese government.

He's Just Not That Into You (2009)

He's Just Not That Into You
Grade: D (Skip it)
Review: Dreadful 2 hrs. 9 min. bore fest with mediocre acting. This would have been a D- if Scarlett Johansson's assets were not used (and I'm not talking about her acting ;-)).

Fired Up! (2009)

Fired Up!
Grade: C (Rent it)
Review: Shallow, cheezy, predictable but still with its cheap funny moments.

Marley & Me (2008)

Marley & Me
Grade: D (Skip it)
Review: Stupid boring movie with a five minute emotional ending.

Angels & Demons (2009)

Angels & Demons
Grade: C (Rent it)
Review: Mediocre movie, second-rate acting, ridiculous story. This craziness with these catholic church conspiracy books needs to stop. I should have known this movie sucks when advertising started claiming that Vatican was preventing taping in Rome (trailer had scenery from Italy). Vatican had no reason to prevent anything about this movie. A&D even attempts to use quasi science which is repulsive. This movie just makes people dumber, reduces argument between science and religion to a caricature, and damages genuine agnostic philosophy. The only reason why I didn't give it lower grade is scenery and few action sequences.

Terminator Salvation (2009)

Terminator Salvation
Grade: B (Watch it)
Review: Slightly better than the third sequel. I am a fan of this franchise, so I might have been little generous with my grade. Movie has great action scenes, robots, and special effect. Unfortunately the movie assumes that the viewer is familiar with Terminator saga; it doesn't even attempt to give a little back story (unlike JJ's Star Trek). Someone who has not seen T1 and T2 (unless an action freak) will most likely not enjoy the story.

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Grade: B- (Watch it)
Review: It is as good as original. Well executed educational kids movie; entertaining for adults. It makes kids love museums and leave PlayStation for a second.

Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2009)

Anvil! The Story of Anvil
Grade: A- (Watch it)
Review: A brilliant documentary about two Canadian headbangers, whose band was at the top of the world for 15 mins. The movie characters are hilarious, heartbreaking, naïve, inspiring, pathetic, likable – just normal people who tasted fame and lost it. It is an amazing insight into a human dream, and the perpetual drive to not let it go. Just as interesting as is the story of main characters; is the impact on their families. What makes one succeed vs. someone else with equal skills is as much hard work as much luck (random). It is ironic that even the movie about these “losers” didn’t make much money either.

Star Trek (2009)

Star Trek
Grade: B (Watch it)
Review: Well done Star Trek. Refreshingly new while respecting franchise legacy. Old fans will love it; newcomers will find it a nice science fiction. J.J. Abrams redeemed himself after Cloverfield (2008) abomination.

Tyson (2009)

Tyson
Grade: B (Watch it)
Review: A very compelling documentary about the former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, from the delinquent life in Brooklyn to the undisputed champion. A window to what might be like to live inside Mike Tyson's head. The documentary could be a great artistic peace, or the best propaganda movie to rehabilitate Tyson's reputation. Either way it is a fascinating exploration of human character. In the original interviews Tyson comes across as one scared, lonely, and distrustful boy - surprisingly not dumb; in fact he looks smart, articulate, and fully introspective of his flaws and strengths. Archival footage just reminded me of how great of a boxer Tyson was.

Prom Night (2008)

Prom Night
Grade: D- (Skip it)
Review: Truly awful. A boring slasher with bad actors. You don't care about victims or the killer.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Grade: B+ (Watch it)
Review: Well done action packed superhero movie.

State of Play (2009)

State of Play
Grade: B (Watch it)
Review: Very nice, low budget, no special effect thriller. Good cast (minus Ben Affleck), good acting, good story. Connect the dots with a twist full of suspense story line, is good old fashion film making. Russell Crowe is great in portraying an investigative journalist. Since now days investigative journalism is so rare let me define it: Investigative journalism is a type of reporting in which reporters deeply investigate a topic of interest, often involving crime, political corruption, or some other scandal (the good stuff that CNN and FOX do NOT have). Story is very contemporary with congressman affair, defense contractors, congressional hearing, privatization of war etc.

I Love You, Man (2009)

I Love You, Man
Grade: B (Watch it)
Review: Shallow but funny.

Echelon Conspiracy (2009)

Echelon Conspiracy
Grade: D (Skip it)
Review: Poor imitation of Eagle Eye. Movie starts exciting, but less than 15 minutes in (casino scene - in which the main character in a cool meaner wins jack-pot after jack-pot) starts going downhill. In the end you just want the movie to end - and then you just cannot believe how lame and logically flawed the ending is. Terrible acting from every one. The screenplay is laughable - on more than one occasions you want to throw up from the fake dialog and predictable cliches. To top it off in the end you are supposed to believe that Russians (KGB) are the good guys (yuck!).

The Visitor (2008)

The Visitor
Grade: C+ (Rent it)
Review: The movie is a simple human drama. Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins) a professor in Connecticut living through a boring and fake life. On a work visit to his NYC apartment he "meets" an immigrant couple full of life and no money (life's a bitch). This unconventional friendship inspires Walter for a life reform, pursuit of happiness, and quest for justice. Good acting (great performance by Jenkins), but normal peoples life is a little boring.

Race to Witch Mountain (2009)

Race to Witch Mountain
Grade: C (Rent it)
Review: Decent kids/family movie. Few funny lines, few matrix effects, alien robot killer, bad government agents, chase for "treasure" and voila your Disney family movie.

Knowing (2009)

Knowing
Grade: C (Rent it)
Review: Good premises with poor execution. A strong start is taken through a storyline that gets predictable, boring and filled with dooms day cliches. The movie has some nice suspense moments and special effects but I left disappointed and not really caring about characters (one of the main characters dies; and the rest of characters - unnaturally - seem not to care much either). Religious connotations are forced and make the move more predictable and even more boring.

Watchmen (2009)

Watchmen
Grade: B- (Watch it)
Review: A comic fan will like this R rated blockbuster: violence, sex, superpowers, special effects (what's not to like). If not a comic fan you'll find the story outdated with too many characters that you end up not caring about. Overall entertaining.

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
Grade: B- (Watch it)
Review: Funny weird teen movie. After success of Napoleon Dynamite a lot of poor imitators but this one is funny.

Sex Drive (2008)

Sex Drive
Grade: C+ (Rent it)
Review: If you liked Eurotrip and Road Trip you'll definitely like this. Typical road trip no thinker with cheap jokes movie. It will make you laugh for sure.

The Reader (2008)

The Reader
Grade: B- (Watch it)
Review: Kate Winslet's acting saved this movie. The script adaptation of this powerful material is out of the ordinary but little unsatisfying. Worth watching.

The Haunting of Molly Hartley (2008)

The Haunting of Molly Hartley
Grade: D- (Skip it)
Review: Sitcom actors with bad story = terrible movie.

My Oscar predictions

Best Picture - Slumdog Millionaire.
Best Director - between Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) and David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) I give Danny Boyle a slight advantage (but either win is justified).
Best Actor - Sean Penn (Milk). The win is well earned and not awarded because of the gay mafia (yes it exists and Elton John is the Godfather). Mickey Rourke (Wrestler) played himself. Brad Pit (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) was good but not Oscar worthy.
Best Actress - Kate Winslet (The Reader).
Best Supporting Actor - Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight) will win because he died (there you go, I said it), otherwise Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt) should win.
Best Supporting Actress - Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona). But it should be Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler) or even Taraji Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).
Best Foreign Language Film - Waltz With Bashir.
If I get a moment before 8:30PM I will predict other categories (WALL-E will win a few).

The International (2009)

The International
Grade: B (Watch it)
Review: Nicely done thriller. In the light of the banking system collapse we can see that the movie is indeed fiction - bankers cannot control their institutions financial risks let alone control the world affairs. Another reality red flag is that in the movie the regulators and law enforcement actually pursue the white-collar criminals (criminals are not allowed to stay in their penthouse - bizarre reality). I would like for Clive Owen justice for some CEO.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Grade: C+ (Rent it)
Review: This was an original idea and interesting premise. However movie is way overrated. Acting is decent (good for actors) but the movie is too long and too boring for viewers.

Edukators (2005)

Edukators
Grade: C- (Rent it)
Review: This German drama is a cute look into anti hyper-consumerism sentiment among some young people around the world (these are the people who don't have to have the latest iPod). Very good cast with natural acting. In the light of Madoff's $50 billion Ponzi scheme, movie asks (but doesn't answer) the question why do some people have the drive to make more money than they can spend in their lifetime.

Waltz with Bashir (2008)

Waltz with Bashir
Grade: B (Watch it)
Review: Educational war documentary. Might not be for everybody since it is Foreign (subtitled) Animated Documentary (little slow).

Notorious (2009)

Notorious
Grade: D+ (Skip it)
Review: A poorly executed biopic of Notorious B.I.G. Other than some superficial information that was already available from tabloids, the movie doesn't provide any insight into the personal, criminal or music life of Christopher Wallace. The story is not cohesive and viewers don't connect with characters (especially viewers who are not familiar with Hip-Hop East vs West 90s feuds). The lack of insight is especially disappointing since Sean 'Diddy' Combs is the Executive Producer who had first hand knowledge of events surrounding Biggie Smalls life.

Gran Torino (2008)

Gran Torino
Grade: B- (Watch it)
Review: Clint Eastwood did it again. Good story. Great acting by Clint Eastwood. Supporting actors are not the greatest but movie is enjoyable. In multiple occasions you expect Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) to break into Dirty Harry character with famous quote:

I know what you're thinking. "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?

Taken (2009)

Taken
Grade: D- (Skip it)
Review: A very bleak imitation of Bourne Identity. Less action, less story, less acting. Very disappointed.

RocknRolla (2008)

RocknRolla
Grade: C- (Rent it)
Review: Despite the lively name this movie actually never rocks. It is a bore fest for an action movie. No wonder Madonna left Guy Ritchie. The only reason why I was generous with my grade is because it had few funny moments.

Towelhead (2008)

Towelhead
Grade: B (Watch it)
Review: Towelhead is a movie about teen sexuality, racism and bigotry. A very graphical view into what happens when kids don't have any sexual education. The movie at times was creepy (to the point that I cringed), at times humorous, but at no point boring.
Funny quote to illustrate the dark humor:

Daughter (Jasira): Daddy can I bring a friend for a sleepover? She is a girl and she is white?
Dad (Rifat): If she is a girl it doesn't matter if she is black or white. Don't make me sound like a racist.