Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 72%
| That Evening Sun (2009) | "
Though the movie is filled with complex emotions and a powerful poignancy, it often manages to be darkly funny, thanks to Holbrook's wily, unsentimental portrayal under Teems' smartly calibrated hand." — Los Angeles Times Posted Nov 20, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 67%
| William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe () | "
Terrific archival footage from a range of seminal civil rights events, as well as affecting narration written by Sarah Kunstler and spoken by Emily Kunstler (who also edited the film), round out this superior documentary." — Los Angeles Times Posted Nov 20, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| N/A | London River (2009) | "
Blethyn brings tremendous empathy to the introspective, determined Elisabeth, while the tall, gaunt and dreadlocked Ousmane fleshes out his less-dimensional role with a haunting sadness that speaks volumes." — Los Angeles Times Posted Nov 13, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/5
| Rotten 33%
| Love Hurts (2009) | "
Moss brings warmth and dignity to a part that could've easily slid into stereotype, while Camryn Manheim owns her few scenes as Amanda's best friend." — Los Angeles Times Posted Nov 13, 2009 |
Rotten 1/5
| N/A | Victory Day (2009) | "
Led by the affectless, monotone Ramsay, the cast is laughably bad, making the whole enterprise seem like a Saturday Night Live version of The Bourne Identity, as helmed by Ed Wood." — Los Angeles Times Posted Nov 5, 2009 |
Rotten 2/5
| Rotten 50%
| Died Young, Stayed Pretty (2009) | "
It soon becomes apparent that there's no real structure or point of view to it all." — Los Angeles Times Posted Nov 5, 2009 |
Rotten 1/5
| Rotten 16%
| Gentlemen Broncos (2009) | "
Satire aside, what the oddball folks here never feel is real, despite the filmmakers' claims of autobiographical parallels." — Los Angeles Times Posted Oct 30, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/5
| Fresh 69%
| (Untitled) (2009) | "
There's plenty to recommend." — Los Angeles Times Posted Oct 23, 2009 |
Rotten 0/5
| N/A | Creating Karma (2009) | "
A picture so emotionally, comically and, yes, karmically out of touch with the real world -- not to mention the sheer basics of filmmaking -- that watching it feels as if you're being Punk'd, movie-style." — Los Angeles Times Posted Oct 16, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 78%
| Bronson (2009) | "
Hardy chomps down on his once-in-a-career role with stunning ferocity and never lets go. He's extraordinary." — Los Angeles Times Posted Oct 16, 2009 |
Rotten 2/5
| Rotten 31%
| Tickling Leo (2009) | "
Although strongly acted and deeply felt, writer-director Jeremy Davidson's arcanely titled Tickling Leo is too theatrically conceived and diffusely told to satisfy its lofty aspirations." — Los Angeles Times Posted Oct 16, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 87%
| The Horse Boy (2009) | "
An extraordinary journey of the heart and spirit, and a stirring testament to parenthood." — Los Angeles Times Posted Oct 8, 2009 |
Fresh
| N/A | The Third Wave (2009) | "
The film, which is "presented" by Sean Penn, stands as a powerful testament to people like Thompson and Gubernati, whose selfless devotion to helping others is rare indeed." — Los Angeles Times Posted Sep 25, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/5
| Fresh 79%
| Disgrace (2009) | "
Unfortunately, though Malkovich remains a compelling and cerebral screen presence, he comes off as too innately detached and prickly to elicit much empathy (not that his character is asking for it, mind you)." — Los Angeles Times Posted Sep 25, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 100%
| Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers (2009) | "
Fortunately, the staunchly committed and controversial Ellsberg, now 78, is still around to tell his history-making tale, and he lends the film gravitas as both its persuasive narrator and primary talking head." — Los Angeles Times Posted Sep 24, 2009 |
Fresh 5/5
| N/A | Why Us? Left Behind and Dying (2009) | "
Claudia Pryor Malis' candid, compactly informative film, showing for one week to qualify for much-deserved Oscar consideration, examines an extremely complex issue in a laudably accessible yet hard-hitting way." — Los Angeles Times Posted Sep 22, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/5
| Fresh 70%
| American Casino (2009) | "
A lopsided, visually uninspired film that works best when it eschews the complex numbers-crunching of its financial industry pundits and whistle-blowers to profile the everyday victims of the crisis." — Los Angeles Times Posted Sep 18, 2009 |
Rotten 1.5/5
| Fresh 73%
| Loren Cass (2009) | "
It's tedious, dispiriting stuff." — Los Angeles Times Posted Sep 11, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Rotten 18%
| The Other Man (2009) | "
It's a decent adult drama that should keep you guessing." — Los Angeles Times Posted Sep 11, 2009 |
Rotten 1.5/5
| Rotten 29%
| The Final Destination (2009) | "
[A] silly and predictable fourth installment in the lucrative thriller series about pretty young people attempting to cheat death." — Los Angeles Times Posted Sep 1, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 74%
| Five Minutes of Heaven (2009) | "
Ultimately, Five Minutes of Heaven is stronger as a whole than its individual parts." — Los Angeles Times Posted Aug 28, 2009 |
Rotten 1/5
| Rotten 17%
| This Beautiful City (2009) | "
Gass-Donnelly tricks up this phony baloney with nervous camerawork and editing while also stranding his actors with scads of second-rate dialogue. A bad time is had by all." — Los Angeles Times Posted Aug 28, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/5
| N/A | House of Numbers (2009) | "
A vital yet thorny approach whose inconclusiveness is bound to sadden or infuriate anyone who's lost a loved one to AIDS." — Los Angeles Times Posted Aug 21, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 67%
| Sikandar (2009) | "
The film boasts a significant story with several effective plot twists that make it worth a look." — Los Angeles Times Posted Aug 21, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 60%
| Second Skin (2009) | "
You don't need to be a gamer to appreciate this involving and well-paced character study." — Los Angeles Times Posted Aug 14, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 92%
| The Way We Get By (2009) | "
Bring your handkerchiefs." — Los Angeles Times Posted Aug 14, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| N/A | Tapped (2009) | "
If their stories don't persuade you to ditch the Dasani, vivid shots of how water bottle refuse is turning our oceans into "plastic soup" should do the trick." — Los Angeles Times Posted Aug 7, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/5
| N/A | Twelve in a Box (2009) | "
The large cast performs with comic aplomb as McKenzie slowly ratchets up the stakes before going for broke in the final reel. It's jolly good fun." — Los Angeles Times Posted Aug 7, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 96%
| Somers Town (2009) | "
Somers Town is a funny and endearing character comedy whose extra-brief, 70-minute running time proves perfectly adequate for its slender, episodic story." — Los Angeles Times Posted Aug 7, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/5
| Fresh 93%
| Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2009) | "
It's a kicky, slightly exhausting look at a bygone era of low-rent moviemaking, whose colorful trove of film clips should delight fans of cinematic esoterica, nostalgic schlock and high octane drive-in fare." — Los Angeles Times Posted Jul 31, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/5
| N/A | The Wonder of It All (2009) | "
These elder statesmen's recollections of their brief moments on the moon, as well as of what preceded and followed, make for vivid and emotional storytelling." — Los Angeles Times Posted Jul 31, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| N/A | Highwater (2009) | "
There are no great emotional revelations about the fearless, free-spirited athletes profiled in the film, but these tanned-and-toned folks' deep love of surfing and mostly cheerful demeanors prove enjoyably infectious." — Los Angeles Times Posted Jul 24, 2009 |
Rotten 1.5/5
| Rotten 26%
| Shrink (2009) | "
Director Jonas Pate and screenwriter Thomas Moffett have turned this strongly cast, potentially smart tale of personal intersection among a mostly rarefied group of Los Angelenos into an irritating and unconvincing slog." — Los Angeles Times Posted Jul 24, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 93%
| Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg (2009) | "
Kempner creates a poignant reminder of one of the most influential, if now largely forgotten, great ladies of entertainment." — Los Angeles Times Posted Jul 24, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/5
| Fresh 86%
| The Age of Stupid (2009) | "
Though this narrative device can feel a bit gimmicky and grandiose, it also provides a visual and emotional power that drives home this absorbing film's crucial cautionary message." — Los Angeles Times Posted Jul 20, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Rotten 50%
| Death In Love (2009) | "
Death in Love is occasionally pretentious but always riveting." — Los Angeles Times Posted Jul 17, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 81%
| Under Our Skin (2009) | "
Frightening, powerful stuff." — Los Angeles Times Posted Jul 1, 2009 |
Rotten 3/5
| Fresh 66%
| Dead Snow (2009) | "
Those undead baddies, allegedly flash-frozen since World War II, are kind of unique, but they don't make up for the sense of déjà vu one feels watching the rest of Wirkola's bloody vacation-from-hell-athon." — Los Angeles Times Posted Jul 1, 2009 |
Rotten 2/5
| N/A | Superstar (2009) | "
Tahmineh Milani is considered one of Iran's most accomplished filmmakers, but you wouldn't necessarily glean that from her disappointing drama Superstar." — Los Angeles Times Posted Jun 19, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/5
| N/A | Mancora (2009) | "
Although sexy and scenic, the Peruvian road movie Máncora lacks the heart and soul required to fully invest in its central trio's free-floating journey of self-discovery." — Los Angeles Times Posted Jun 19, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 98%
| Food, Inc. (2009) | "
Suffice it to say, after the film's disturbing glimpses inside the meat industry, along with its blunt indictment of fast food giants, you'll think twice before eating just about anything nonorganic." — Los Angeles Times Posted Jun 12, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Rotten 38%
| Imagine That (2009) | "
Fortunately, the picture's not-so-secret weapon, star Eddie Murphy, gives this uneven effort a reason for being." — Los Angeles Times Posted Jun 12, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 63%
| Brothers at War (2009) | "
Rademacher's vigorous commitment to making the documentary, as well as to his large, close-knit family, deserves respect." — Los Angeles Times Posted May 15, 2009 |
Fresh 2/5
| Rotten 9%
| Not Forgotten (2009) | "
A movie that's more convoluted than satisfying." — Los Angeles Times Posted May 15, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/5
| Fresh 71%
| Our City Dreams (2009) | "
Their art, like the film itself, is powerful, daring and makes you think." — Los Angeles Times Posted May 8, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/5
| Rotten 40%
| Naked Ambition: An R-Rated Look at an X-Rated Industry (2009) | "
An entertaining, adeptly crafted documentary that treats its provocative subject matter with refreshing respect." — Los Angeles Times Posted May 1, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 80%
| Examined Life (2009) | "
Director-writer Astra Taylor wisely avoids turning this talk fest into a talking heads fest by filming these effusive intellectuals in a variety of visually diverting, real-world environments." — Los Angeles Times Posted May 1, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Rotten 19%
| Obsessed (2009) | "
Obsessed, is short on dimension and subtlety, but it turns into a mess believable enough to keep us invested." — Los Angeles Times Posted Apr 27, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/5
| Fresh 79%
| In a Dream (2009) | "
The eclectic beauty of Isaiah's complex, labor-intensive art form deserves more process-oriented dissection." — Los Angeles Times Posted Apr 23, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Rotten 38%
| Gigantic (2008) | "
First-time feature director Matt Aselton, who co-wrote the darkly funny, well-observed script with Adam Nagata, has crafted a disarming tale that's one of the better independent films in recent memory." — Los Angeles Times Posted Apr 16, 2009 |
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