Fresh B
| Fresh 77%
| Invictus (2009) | "
The crazy glue that holds Invictus together is the beyond flawless performance from Morgan Freeman as Mandela. His performance is better than the entire movie." Posted Dec 11, 2009 |
Fresh B
| Fresh 84%
| A Single Man (2009) | "
In the way that Lee Daniels transcended race with Precious, Mr. Gucci has told a story where you can leave your politics at the concession stand. This is the year of films going outside of the social box." Posted Dec 10, 2009 |
Fresh B
| Fresh 83%
| The Princess and the Frog (2009) | "
The Princess and the Frog is not offensive. This is a harmless, animated musical and as close to getting it socially right as Disney will ever get -- too bad it's about 40 years late." Posted Dec 1, 2009 |
Fresh B-
| Fresh 71%
| The Blind Side (2009) | "
For many African-Americans, The Blind Side will be familiar with its elements of 'The Great White Hope' and 'The Magical Negro.' But, this is a true story. You can't hate a story for being true, even if it might channel legendary Hollywood stereotypes." Posted Nov 24, 2009 |
Rotten C
| Rotten 29%
| The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009) | "
If you're out of high school, a person of color, don't have teen daughters, a feminist, or a heterosexual male, New Moon will probably disappoint. But, what do I know -- this is the same audience who loves Miley Cyrus." Posted Nov 20, 2009 |
Fresh B-
| Fresh 82%
| Broken Embraces (2009) | "
In no ways is Broken Embraces a bad movie, but it certainly ranks low on Almodovar's list of brilliant films. That said, Almodovar at his worst is still genius." Posted Nov 16, 2009 |
Rotten C
| Rotten 39%
| 2012 (2009) | "
A gargantuan mess." Posted Nov 11, 2009 |
Fresh A+
| Fresh 91%
| Precious: Based on the Novel PUSH by Sapphire (2009) | "
Even if Bette Davis, Joan Crawford and Katherine Hepburn all came back from the dead -- they could not pull that Oscar out of Mo'Nique's hands." Posted Nov 3, 2009 |
Fresh B+
| Fresh 88%
| Skin (2009) | "
A powerful story. However, there were no DNA tests in 1955. I have never heard of a 'genetic abnormality' creating a child who looks distinctly black -- Maury Povich would probably say, 'You are not the father!'" Posted Nov 2, 2009 |
Fresh A
| Fresh 80%
| Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009) | "
Fan or not, in This Is It, you don't see death, just life. There is no sadness or tears; you walk out with a smile. Forget the controversies, this is truly who Michael Jackson was - his music. It's a film that you don't want to end." Posted Oct 28, 2009 |
Rotten D+
| Rotten 45%
| Saw VI (2009) | "
Who can expect something worthy of good reviews after the sixth installment? That said, I'm assuming the creators of Saw walked into the movie deciding, 'We're going to make a stupid, gory movie and everyone will watch it because it's Halloween!'" Posted Oct 25, 2009 |
Rotten C
| Rotten 24%
| Law Abiding Citizen (2009) | "
What might've saved the movie is if Viola Davis was the one who was wronged by the justice system and seeking revenge. Ms. Viola could read the back of a Listerine bottle and make it award-worthy!" Posted Oct 20, 2009 |
Fresh B-
| Fresh 78%
| Bronson (2009) | "
Tom Hardy gives a disgustingly excellent performance." Posted Oct 19, 2009 |
Fresh B
| Fresh 82%
| Black Dynamite (2009) | "
Even if you've never seen a black exploitation film you will be thoroughly entertained by 'DY-NO-MITE! DY-NO-MITE!'" Posted Oct 16, 2009 |
Rotten C-
| Fresh 81%
| Paranormal Activity (2009) | "
I respect filmmakers who can make a film for $11,000. However, ten minutes of this movie could've been on YouTube and it would've been an internet sensation. As a feature length film, many viewers will be horrified with boredom at this drip of a movie." Posted Oct 13, 2009 |
Fresh A-
| Fresh 94%
| Good Hair (2009) | "
Quite brilliantly, Rock skillfully peeled back archaic layers, opening up a dialogue that could've been volatile. His natural talent made the doc hilarious and thought-provoking, rising above race and gender." Posted Oct 8, 2009 |
Fresh A-
| Fresh 73%
| More Than a Game (2009) | "
Deeply inspiring. That said, for every young kid who sees More Than a Game and thinks they are the next LeBron James -- it should be mandatory to watch 1994's Hoop Dreams." Posted Oct 1, 2009 |
Rotten D
| Fresh 84%
| Disgrace (2009) | "
The person snoring next to me is a perfect example of how colossally insignificant this fatiguing and strenuous flick is with its implausibility, unrecognizable characters and tattered plot line." Posted Sep 28, 2009 |
Fresh A-
| Fresh 75%
| Capitalism: A Love Story (2009) | "
Michael Moore is the Obama of documentarians." Posted Sep 23, 2009 |
Rotten C+
| Fresh 62%
| Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2009) | "
Taraji P. Henson is the Mary J. Blige of film." Posted Sep 16, 2009 |
Fresh B
| Fresh 100%
| Passing Strange (2010) | "
Passing Strange adds to Spike Lee's visionary resume and his eye for fresh talent." Posted Aug 21, 2009 |
Fresh B-
| Fresh 88%
| Inglourious Basterds (2009) | "
Although Inglourious Basterds is not the best representation of Tarantino's genius, he can do no wrong, even if it is sometimes misguided and laborious." Posted Aug 21, 2009 |
Rotten D
| Fresh 90%
| District 9 (2009) | "
Overall, with aliens that look like a crossbreed of roaches and lobsters, District 9 is a bad episode of Star Trek meets an insipid Apartheid mini-series. This was one disappointing sci-fi spectacle." Posted Aug 13, 2009 |
Fresh B-
| Rotten 36%
| G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) | "
Considering the buzz on G.I. Joe you would think it was Catwoman II. Actually, G.I. Joe ranks higher on this summer's action movie scale than Terminator, Wolverine and Transformers." Posted Aug 6, 2009 |
Rotten C
| Rotten 58%
| A Perfect Getaway (2009) | "
Getaway is like Bonnie and Clyde on a bad rerun of Survivor with more spins and twists than a salamander on the canopy of the Amazon rain forest -- except they're in Hawaii. Overall, a better travel commercial than a summer thriller." Posted Aug 6, 2009 |
Rotten C+
| Rotten 25%
| The Collector (2009) | "
You will squirm, but aren't we getting a bit desensitized to these routine torture flicks? It's like seeing a pop songstress get naked for the billionth time -- yeah, she's hot, but we have all seen it before." Posted Jul 31, 2009 |
Rotten C+
| Rotten 24%
| G-Force (2009) | "
Plot wise, well, G-Force doesn't really have one, but it's a film about rodents -- however, I could tell more interesting stories about New York City rodents terrorizing Manhattan on the daily than this vermin tale." Posted Jul 24, 2009 |
Rotten C-
| Fresh 83%
| Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) | "
An uninformed audience is left with a movie that feels like 90210 meets Mr. Wizard. I'd rather watch David Copperfield make the Statue of Liberty disappear for 153 minutes than endure this flick's trite magic tricks." Posted Jul 15, 2009 |
Fresh B-
| Rotten 50%
| Notorious (2009) | "
Notorious is a tribute the rapper's contribution to pop culture." Posted Jul 7, 2009 |
Fresh B
| Fresh 82%
| Tropic Thunder (2008) | "
Sure, there are some moments when the plot falls right down a gun barrel, the comedy is too over the top and the jokes are downright gross. Still, in comparison to the other slapstick comedies this year, this movie-within-a-movie strikes above the rest." Posted Jul 7, 2009 |
Fresh B+
| Fresh 94%
| The Dark Knight (2008) | "
Heath Ledger is Diana Ross and these other kids are The Supremes. Believe the hype, Mr. Ledger as The Joker is categorically brilliant. The late-great actor turned another Batman movie into a riveting film that will be Oscar worthy only because of him." Posted Jul 7, 2009 |
Fresh B-
| Rotten 58%
| The Secret Life of Bees (2008) | "
Bees is almost too sweet, but with enduring enough performances to make a solid movie." Posted Jul 6, 2009 |
Fresh A
| Fresh 67%
| Bruno (2009) | "
Yes, Bruno is in 'gay face' if you will, but when going beyond the surface, he is clearly turning the mirror on us and saying, 'Do you see how stupid these stereotypes are?'" Posted Jul 6, 2009 |
Rotten C-
| Rotten 22%
| Next Day Air (2009) | "
I admire Benny Boom's effort; he wanted to make a movie and did it. One can only hope his next venture in Hollywood will be more original and sharp." Posted Jul 4, 2009 |
Rotten C
| Rotten 18%
| Dance Flick (2009) | "
When is someone going to think of the bright idea to do a parody on Wayans movies?" Posted Jul 4, 2009 |
Rotten C+
| Rotten 28%
| Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail (2009) | "
Madea is the antithesis of the moralistic soapbox Perry's movies stand on, which is why she is usually the enjoyable ingredient in his films." Posted Jul 3, 2009 |
Fresh B-
| Fresh 68%
| Cadillac Records (2008) | "
Cadillac Records is not a terrible movie but in the chain of rags to riches films (Dreamgirls, Ray, Walk the Line, etc.) it definitely falls at the bottom of the heap." Posted Jul 3, 2009 |
Rotten C-
| Fresh 87%
| Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008) | "
Even with the quirky superhero conflicts, there isn't a line you have not heard or a fight you cannot predict." Posted Jul 3, 2009 |
Rotten C
| Rotten 41%
| Blindness (2008) | "
Blindness is a film that is trying to come off as organic and artsy, but feels too contrived." Posted Jul 3, 2009 |
Fresh B
| Rotten 59%
| Quarantine (2008) | "
'Quarantine' is a solid horror movie and one of the better to be released this year. The last 15 minutes is hardcore suspense that redeem any cheap movie making flaws." Posted Jul 3, 2009 |
Rotten C+
| Rotten 47%
| Lakeview Terrace (2008) | "
This angry black man wants a 'chocolate drop' of his own -- yes, 'chocolate drop' is actually used in this film! However, it's such a weak movie that you won't get offended." Posted Jul 3, 2009 |
Rotten C
| Rotten 59%
| RocknRolla (2008) | "
'RocknRolla' takes more left turns than imaginable. It might make sense in the mind of Guy Ritchie, but to the rest of the universe, I can not imagine the film will translate." Posted Jul 3, 2009 |
Fresh B
| Fresh 76%
| Role Models (2008) | "
Bobb'e J. Thompson upstages the entire cast with his wit. Thompson was so crass -- I haven't seen a kid curse this much in a movie since Linda Blair in 'The Exorcist'!" Posted Jul 3, 2009 |
Fresh B+
| Fresh 93%
| Slumdog Millionaire (2008) | "
The greatest part of 'Slumdog' is that it transcends all boundaries: race, gender, region and class." Posted Jul 3, 2009 |
Rotten C+
| Rotten 51%
| The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009) | "
A good movie, but don't expect the best thriller of the summer in a flick that's sometimes as eventful as getting stuck between 34th and 42nd Streets on the A train in NYC." Posted Jul 3, 2009 |
Rotten C+
| Rotten 43%
| The Proposal (2009) | "
There is a beacon of light -- Betty White. Ms. Betty could be cast in a revival of 'New Jack City' and you'd believe her in every frame." Posted Jul 3, 2009 |
Rotten C-
| Rotten 20%
| Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) | "
The hip-hop talking robots were borderline offensive. Is this the movie's way of appealing to the African-American audience? I never knew that robots could shuck n' jive." Posted Jul 3, 2009 |
Fresh B+
| Rotten 50%
| Life is Hot in Cracktown (2009) | "
There are no positive characters in Cracktown. No voice of reason; just the reality of dire circumstances, which cannot be tied up in a pretty Hollywood bow." Posted Jul 2, 2009 |
Rotten C+
| Rotten 38%
| Imagine That (2009) | "
Imagine That isn't the most imaginative movie, but Murphy is still a comedic genius and has mastered the art of children's movies -- I still miss 'bad' Eddie Murphy." Posted Jun 12, 2009 |
Fresh A-
| Fresh 93%
| Milk (2008) | "
A solid film with clear intentions -- to thoughtfully entertain. If you walk out of Milk and not be moved then you are missing a little soul." Posted Jun 10, 2009 |
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