Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 92%
| Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) | "
The film's premise may be child-like, but its themes -- family, self-identity and existential angst -- are all engagingly adult." Posted Nov 24, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 7%
| Old Dogs (2009) | "
Disposable but inoffensive." Posted Nov 24, 2009 |
Rotten 1/4
| Rotten 29%
| Ninja Assassin (2009) | "
This shockingly disjointed and relentlessly dull picture can't even deliver the martial-arts kick its title so plainly promises." Posted Nov 24, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 30%
| The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009) | "
Even the appearance of Dakota Fanning as a red-eyed bloodsucker capable of inflicting intolerable pain on others falls flat: When one of the presiding vampires mutters "Let's be done with this," you can't help but agree." Posted Nov 19, 2009 |
Fresh
| Fresh 91%
| Precious: Based on the Novel PUSH by Sapphire (2009) | "
Precious stacks the deck so high against its protagonist that in almost any other movie, she would come off as a helpless victim." Posted Nov 19, 2009 |
Rotten
| Rotten 37%
| 2012 (2009) | "
There are times when 2012 feels as if it is not going to end until 2012..." Posted Nov 12, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Rotten 47%
| The Box (2009) | "
The critical consensus is still out on Kelly, and The Box will do nothing to settle the ongoing argument regarding his ability to coalesce his wild conceits into digestible narratives." Posted Nov 5, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 94%
| An Education (2009) | "
An Education argues that life -- and the human heart -- are far too complicated merely to be studied. They need to be experienced." Posted Nov 5, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 54%
| The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009) | "
The Men Who Stare at Goats is a premise in wait for a movie -- the pilot episode for a TV series that got canceled before it got cooking." Posted Nov 5, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Rotten 55%
| Disney's A Christmas Carol (2009) | "
Robert Zemeckis finds eye-popping, high-tech new life in Dickens' hoary chestnut." Posted Nov 5, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 68%
| Tetro (2009) |
Click here to read article Posted Oct 30, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Rotten 58%
| Trucker (2009) | "
Monaghan demonstrates an untapped level of talent and skill in Trucker, tackling the difficult role of a woman who refuses to behave as societal norms dictate and has paid the price with loneliness and alienation." Posted Oct 29, 2009 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| Fresh 83%
| Paranormal Activity (2009) | "
As far as communal experiences at the multiplex go, the film delivers." Posted Oct 22, 2009 |
Fresh
| Fresh 65%
| Coco Before Chanel (2009) | "
Although technically a biopic based on a nonfiction book by Edmonde Charles-Roux, Coco Before Chanel plays more like an engrossing, classy period piece." Posted Oct 22, 2009 |
Rotten
| Rotten 38%
| Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009) | "
A textbook example of how trying to please everyone ends up pleasing no one, Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant is a Frankenstein's monster of a movie, all stitches and seams and disparate parts." Posted Oct 22, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Fresh 71%
| Where the Wild Things Are (2009) | "
The film lacks the menace and danger of Sendak's book, along with the beautiful simplicity and delicated, understated portrait of a lonely, misunderstood boy." Posted Oct 15, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 42%
| New York, I Love You (2009) | "
The result, as is always the case with short story collections, is a mixed bag, although unlike Paris Je T'Aime, the duds outnumber the winners this time." Posted Oct 15, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 72%
| The Boys Are Back (2009) | "
Owen, who doesn't get many roles like this but should be signed for more, brings a compelling and sturdy realism to Joe, making him likable but not insufferable." Posted Oct 8, 2009 |
Rotten 1/4
| Rotten 12%
| Couples Retreat (2009) | "
Couples Retreat is essentially Vaughn and Favreau's baby, and it is absolutely, inexcusably terrible." Posted Oct 8, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 82%
| Whip It (2009) | "
Whip It is completely predictable from the first frame. It also is ridiculously, utterly entertaining." Posted Oct 1, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 75%
| Capitalism: A Love Story (2009) | "
For all his lack of objectivity and occasional fact-twisting, Moore takes on dauntingly complex subjects and turns them into hugely entertaining, provocative pictures." Posted Oct 1, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 89%
| Zombieland (2009) | "
Fleischer never lets Zombieland tip over into drama for too long, because the overriding mission here is to laugh in the face of the apocalypse." Posted Oct 1, 2009 |
Rotten 1/4
| Rotten 28%
| Fame (2009) | "
Forget about living forever: This new Fame will be lucky to hang around for a month." Posted Sep 24, 2009 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| Rotten 45%
| Jennifer's Body (2009) | "
Not since Brian De Palma's Carrie has a horror movie so effectively exploited the genre as a metaphor for adolescent angst, female sexuality and the strange, sometimes corrosive bonds between girls who claim to be best friends." Posted Sep 17, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 77%
| The Informant! (2009) | "
A whimsical and light-hearted spin on a serious story of corporate whistleblowing." Posted Sep 17, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 86%
| Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (2009) | "
The psychedelic-era Beatles would have loved this film." Posted Sep 17, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 84%
| The September Issue (2009) | "
In director R.J. Cutler's snappy documentary about the making of the September 2007 issue of Vogue editor Anna Wintour exhibits an icy, unflappable veneer." Posted Sep 11, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 96%
| The Beaches of Agnes (2009) | "
Replete with clips and anecdotes, The Beaches of Agnes is a treat to anyone who already cherishes Varda's films and a perfect primer for those who haven't yet discovered her work." Posted Sep 11, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 77%
| It Might Get Loud (2009) | "
It does make you want to pull out some old records and listen with a new appreciation for certain sounds you once might have taken for granted." Posted Sep 11, 2009 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| Rotten 56%
| 9 (2009) | "
Acker's strange little critters turn out to be oddly endearing, even if you get the feeling this battle has been fought before." Posted Sep 8, 2009 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| Fresh 70%
| My One and Only (2009) | "
My One and Only isn't exactly memorable, but this little, personable movie is a fine showcase for Zellweger's talents and a paean to the sort of mid-1950s America best remembered in Norman Rockwell paintings." Posted Sep 3, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| Fresh 86%
| Lorna's Silence (2009) | "
Lorna's Silence doesn't work, but it's a beautiful misfire." Posted Sep 3, 2009 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| Fresh 63%
| Extract (2009) | "
Mike Judge's Extract has some huge belly laughs, a terrific ensemble cast and more than a few instances of inspired comic brilliance. So why doesn't the movie ever really take off?" Posted Sep 3, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 49%
| Taking Woodstock (2009) | "
Watching the film feels a lot like leafing through an album of someone else's vacation photos: Pleasant, but gets old fast." Posted Aug 27, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 72%
| Julia (2008) | "
Charles Bukowski would have loved this foul-mouthed, fiery, reckless woman. Against all odds and common sense, you will, too." Posted Aug 27, 2009 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| Fresh 65%
| Adam (2009) | "
Dancy's eye-opening performance reveals he's a bona-fide acting talent, capable of carrying a movie without ever playing to your affections." Posted Aug 21, 2009 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| Rotten 18%
| The Marc Pease Experience (2009) | "
This is a slight and unessential picture, but its quirky, compassionate tone seems destined to attract a cult following, and members of high-school drama clubs everywhere will be riveted." Posted Aug 21, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 56%
| Casi Divas (2009) | "
A shrill and gaudy comedy about the quest for celebrity." Posted Aug 21, 2009 |
Fresh 4/4
| Fresh 88%
| Inglourious Basterds (2009) | "
Inglourious Basterds transcends the war genre to become its own kind of unique picture: A bloody blast of pure movie bliss." Posted Aug 20, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 95%
| In the Loop (2009) | "
This is the funniest movie of the summer." Posted Aug 13, 2009 |
Rotten 1/4
| Fresh 60%
| Paper Heart (2009) | "
Cute? If you say so. Funny? If I had a nickel for every time I laughed, I'd have a dime." Posted Aug 13, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Fresh 80%
| Bandslam (2009) | "
The performances in Bandslam are uniformly strong -- good enough to make you wish this bunch of charismatic, talented kids had been given better material." Posted Aug 13, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 90%
| District 9 (2009) | "
In an ideal world, every Hollywood studio suit would be forced to sit through District 9 as part of a curriculum titled "How to Make a Summer Movie That Delivers."" Posted Aug 13, 2009 |
Rotten 1/4
| Rotten 26%
| The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009) | "
Most of The Goods just sits there, a lumpen load of dullness." Posted Aug 13, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 91%
| Ponyo (2009) | "
If you've never experienced a Miyazaki movie, here's your chance to try one. Come on in. The water's fine." Posted Aug 13, 2009 |
Rotten 1.5/4
| Rotten 36%
| G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) | "
It's just stupid and inept, which are not uncommon traits at the tail end of the summer movie season." Posted Aug 11, 2009 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| Fresh 74%
| Julie & Julia (2009) | "
Streep makes you want to have whatever she's having. The rest of the movie makes you wonder what else is on, until you remember you're not really watching the Lifetime channel." Posted Aug 7, 2009 |
Rotten 1/4
| Rotten 26%
| Shrink (2009) | "
This is a movie for people who thought Crash was wise and profound, most of whom probably live in L.A. and know everything they know about life from watching movies." Posted Jul 30, 2009 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 87%
| 500 Days of Summer (2009) | "
This is a romantic comedy that makes the concept of romantic comedies appealing again -- that reminds you how resonant and transporting they can be when they're done right." Posted Jul 30, 2009 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 68%
| Funny People (2009) | "
This is Apatow's emotionally darkest, least-genial film, and an exceptionally good and subtle Sandler embraces the duality of his character, a man beloved by the world who secretly hates everyone." Posted Jul 30, 2009 |