Fresh 4/4
| Fresh 70%
| The Road (2009) | "
It seems a strange thing to say about one of the most depressing films ever offered as popular entertainment, but The Road is a beautiful movie." — Kansas City Star Posted Nov 25, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 94%
| Revanche (2009) | "
Spielmann sets a tone of weary desperation and rarely strays from it. Not a happy film, but a gripping one." — Kansas City Star Posted Nov 20, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 73%
| The Blind Side (2009) | "
Especially effective is the gently comic interplay between the solemn Michael (Aaron has little dialogue but speaks volumes through his expressive eyes) and Bullock’s pushy Southern mama, who has a firm grip on tough love and usually gets what she wants." — Kansas City Star Posted Nov 20, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| Rotten 30%
| The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009) | "
There’s little dramatic tension and, despite the fact that Bella is being stalked by the vengeful vampire Victoria (Rachelle Lefevre), not much sense of danger." — Kansas City Star Posted Nov 19, 2009 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| N/A | Streetballers (2009) | "
That Krentz keeps all these balls in the air for as long as he does is little short of amazing. There’s nothing wrong with this filmmaker that a bit of maturing can’t rectify; with any luck we’ll be seeing much more from Matt Krentz." — Kansas City Star Posted Nov 12, 2009 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| Rotten 42%
| Ten9Eight: Shoot for the Moon (2009) | "
It’s all very uplifting. It might even move some youngsters to start their own businesses." — Kansas City Star Posted Nov 12, 2009 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| Fresh 60%
| Pirate Radio (2009) | "
The soundtrack overflows with great rock, and individual scenes and performances click." — Kansas City Star Posted Nov 12, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 37%
| 2012 (2009) | "
Now we know how the world ends -- with a whimper, a very loud whimper." — Kansas City Star Posted Nov 12, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| Rotten 54%
| The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009) | "
The Men Who Stare at Goats is a handful of hilarious scenes looking for a movie." — Kansas City Star Posted Nov 6, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 18%
| The Fourth Kind (2009) | "
In the end the film is more desultory than disturbing." — Kansas City Star Posted Nov 6, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Rotten 55%
| Disney's A Christmas Carol (2009) | "
In the end you don’t have to analyze it... that tear in your eye tells you it’s working." — Kansas City Star Posted Nov 6, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 86%
| The Baader Meinhof Complex (2009) | "
An epic look at a recent blood-soaked episode of post-war Germany." — Kansas City Star Posted Oct 30, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 88%
| Amreeka (2009) | "
You can try to resist it, but by the time Cherien Dabis’ writing/directing effort is over, you’ll be completely sucked in." — Kansas City Star Posted Oct 30, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 87%
| A Serious Man (2009) | "
The brothers’ deadpan style is hugely effective -- so much so that even if you hate the message you enjoy the messengers." — Kansas City Star Posted Oct 30, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| Rotten 20%
| Amelia (2009) | "
This film, coming 72 years after Earhart vanished -- plays it awfully safe." — Kansas City Star Posted Oct 23, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 94%
| Good Hair (2009) | "
Despite the padding, there’s enough interesting sociological digging here -- not to mention the easygoing presence of comic Chris Rock -- to keep us entertained and even enlightened." — Kansas City Star Posted Oct 23, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 73%
| More Than a Game (2009) | "
There’s plenty to both cheer and ponder." — Kansas City Star Posted Oct 23, 2009 |
Rotten 1.5/4
| Rotten 38%
| Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009) | "
The strong supporting cast is wasted... evidently these characters would have more to do in sequels which, let us pray, we never have to sit through." — Kansas City Star Posted Oct 23, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 89%
| No Impact Man (2009) | "
It’s kinda inspiring. It’s also very funny." — Kansas City Star Posted Oct 15, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 25%
| Law Abiding Citizen (2009) | "
Director F. Gary Gray keeps the thrills coming at a relentless pace that leaves little time to ponder the Mack truck-sized holes in the logic." — Kansas City Star Posted Oct 15, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Fresh 70%
| Where the Wild Things Are (2009) | "
The resulting movie isn’t for young children. I’m not sure it’s for grown-ups, either -- not unless they’re into boredom." — Kansas City Star Posted Oct 15, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 93%
| Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2009) | "
The onslaught of tastelessness begins even before the opening credits and continues nonstop for 103 deliciously sleazy minutes." — Kansas City Star Posted Oct 8, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 0%
| The Baker (2007) | "
The Baker is an iffy affair made palatable mostly by Lewis’ lead performance, an attractive blend of naivete and deadly efficiency. But we’ve seen it before." — Kansas City Star Posted Oct 8, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 12%
| Couples Retreat (2009) | "
If you must, go for the scenery." — Kansas City Star Posted Oct 8, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| N/A | In/Significant Others (2009) | "
As a jigsaw puzzle it’s diverting, but I never cared much for the people." — Kansas City Star Posted Oct 2, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| N/A | Vincent: A Life in Color (2009) | "
A lovely film." — Kansas City Star Posted Oct 2, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 75%
| Capitalism: A Love Story (2009) | "
As you watch, your indignation grows. Moore has chosen precisely the right moment to tap into the throbbing vein of anti-corporate, anti-rich anger." — Kansas City Star Posted Oct 2, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 89%
| Zombieland (2009) | "
Despite some pacing problems two-thirds of the way through, first-time feature director Fleischer does a fine job of juggling mayhem and merriment." — Kansas City Star Posted Oct 2, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Rotten 56%
| The Invention of Lying (2009) | "
All this is very, very funny." — Kansas City Star Posted Oct 2, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| N/A | My Step-Dad's a Freakin' Vampire (2009) | "
My beef is that this yarn -- story by Matheny, screenplay by Kyle Mangrum -- is nowhere near as original as [his student film] The Scientist." — Kansas City Star Posted Sep 25, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| Fresh 83%
| Bright Star (2009) | "
This film about the doomed love affair of poet John Keats and his neighbor Fanny Brawne left me underwhelmed." — Kansas City Star Posted Sep 25, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 77%
| It Might Get Loud (2009) | "
Dare you not to smile." — Kansas City Star Posted Sep 25, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Fresh 86%
| Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (2009) | "
What's missing is charm. The book had tons of it, while the movie buries it beneath an avalanche of movement and busy design." — Kansas City Star Posted Sep 17, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 85%
| World's Greatest Dad (2009) | "
The ironically titled World’s Greatest Dad is one sick movie. That’s a compliment." — Kansas City Star Posted Sep 10, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 84%
| The September Issue (2009) | "
It’s the relationship between Coddington and her boss, the icy, remote Wintour -- a genius of another sort -- that makes The September Issue so fascinating." — Kansas City Star Posted Sep 10, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 6%
| Whiteout (2009) | "
The screenplay by Jon and Erich Hoeber and Chad and Carey Hayes (too many cooks?) is confusing and leaps huge gaps in logic." — Kansas City Star Posted Sep 10, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Rotten 56%
| 9 (2009) | "
The film offers a unique take on the future and enough dazzling sights to merit a second and even third viewing." — Kansas City Star Posted Sep 8, 2009 |
Rotten 1/4
| Rotten 6%
| All About Steve (2009) | "
Maybe a sitcom laugh track would have helped. At least it would provide a hint of where we’re supposed to chuckle." — Kansas City Star Posted Sep 4, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 95%
| The Cove (2009) | "
Part thriller, part natural history lesson." — Kansas City Star Posted Sep 4, 2009 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| Fresh 63%
| Extract (2009) | "
There’s considerable pleasure in watching Bateman take a fairly bland character and imbue him with personality, humor and even a dash of pathos." — Kansas City Star Posted Sep 4, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 65%
| Adam (2009) | "
Dancy gets the juiciest role and wisely underplays it." — Kansas City Star Posted Aug 28, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Rotten 49%
| Taking Woodstock (2009) | "
For any teenager tempted to sneer at Mom and Dad’s veneration of the whole Woodstock thing, this film explains why those three days in 1969 had such a profound effect on a generation." — Kansas City Star Posted Aug 28, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 88%
| Inglourious Basterds (2009) | "
That isn’t the way the history books tell it, but after seeing this overripe wonder you may prefer Tarantino’s take." — Kansas City Star Posted Aug 20, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Fresh 60%
| Paper Heart (2009) | "
The biggest drawback here is that Charlyne Yi has no screen presence." — Kansas City Star Posted Aug 14, 2009 |
Rotten 1.5/4
| Rotten 26%
| The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009) | "
Nothing wrong with potty talk. But if that’s all a movie has to offer, the humor quickly evaporates." — Kansas City Star Posted Aug 14, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 80%
| Unmistaken Child (2009) | "
Even atheists may find their world rocked by Nati Baratz’s Unmistaken Child." — Kansas City Star Posted Aug 14, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| Rotten 38%
| The Time Traveler's Wife (2009) | "
There are certainly elements of the tragic here, but the film never quite delivers." — Kansas City Star Posted Aug 14, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 90%
| District 9 (2009) | "
Taking a traditional sci-fi approach, Blomkamp examines contemporary society through a new prism." — Kansas City Star Posted Aug 14, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 68%
| Tetro (2009) | "
The acting is terrific." — Kansas City Star Posted Aug 7, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 81%
| Departures (2009) | "
Absolutely, beautifully, tear duct openingly right." — Kansas City Star Posted Aug 7, 2009 |
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