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 5/5 |
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2008) |
"This is cinematic naturalism at its finest." |
Marlow Stern |
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 2/5 |
Actresses (2007) |
"there is what we can call the House of Sand and Fog problem: this woman is way too attractive to be in this desperate a situation" |
Marlow Stern |
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1/5 |
The Air I Breathe (2007) |
"Mr. Lee is a former director of Asian music videos, which explains why his debut feature, from the high-octane opening credits to the Marnie-esque ending, is all style and no substance." |
Marlow Stern |
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4/5 |
The Band's Visit (2007) |
"both a clever parable on the state of Israeli/Egyptian relations, as well as a surprisingly affectionate, amusing tale." |
Marlow Stern |
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2/5 |
Bart Got a Room (2008) |
"It's sort of ironic that the only demographic that'll appreciate this lame, watered-down brand of humor mirrors the community portrayed in the film: the elderly and infirm" |
Marlow Stern |
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4/5 |
Be Kind Rewind (2008) |
"Anyone who has ever made a no-budget home movie, replete with exaggerated performances and makeshift props out of The Warriors, will hold a special place in their heart for Be Kind Rewind" |
Marlow Stern |
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5/5 |
Bigger, Stronger, Faster* (2008) |
"Bell's debut feature addresses its subject with both humor and intelligence, approaching the issue of performance enhancement from every conceivable angle" |
Marlow Stern |
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2/5 |
Blackout (2008) |
"there are some terribly cliched threads, including C.J.'s as the doomed upwardly mobile kid from the block, and James as the tormented witness of 9/11" |
Marlow Stern |
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3/5 |
Brando (2007) |
"a very informative, albeit unfocused documentary, with far too much time dedicated to Brando the actor, and far too little time dedicated to Brando the man" |
Marlow Stern |
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2/5 |
Brooklyn Rules (2007) |
"a fuzzy film sporting more bad Brooklyn accents and mob-movie cliches than Knockaround Guys which, all things considered, is hard to do." |
Marlow Stern |
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2/5 |
Cassandra's Dream (2008) |
"As with Match Point, this is a glorified morality play, albeit with less poetic symbolism, shakier performances, predictable plot, and constricting dialogue" |
Marlow Stern |
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2.5/5 |
Changeling (2008) |
"If Changeling develops any sort of pop-culture currency, one could foresee a drinking game in which college students take a shot every time Ms. Jolie shrieks, "HE'S NOT MY SON!"" |
Marlow Stern |
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4/5 |
Charlie Bartlett (2007) |
"If you give in to the charms of Charlie Bartlett, he will no doubt win you over. This is after all Anton Yelchin's show, and it's a doozie" |
Marlow Stern |
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4/5 |
Charlie Wilson's War (2007) |
"Perhaps a better way to remember these two colorful characters ... is with a little gem by Gust: 'What brought us together was chasing pussy and killing communists.'" |
Marlow Stern |
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2/5 |
CJ7 (2008) |
"Unfortunately, the li'l critter is by far the most interesting thing about Chow's film." |
Marlow Stern |
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3/5 |
Dans Paris (2007) |
"will induce a shortage in precious vacation days, stirring up visions of oneself mimicking the carefree Jonathan, gallivanting about Paris without a care in the world" |
Marlow Stern |
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4/5 |
The Darjeeling Limited (2007) |
"this quirky, aesthetically-pleasing ride is one worth taking" |
Marlow Stern |
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4/5 |
Death Note - Vol. 1 (2006) |
"given the current pitiable state of American horror flicks, it's far more profound than say... Hostel II" |
Marlow Stern |
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5/5 |
The Devil Came On Horseback (2007) |
"we feel Steidle's inner turmoil as he cries uncontrollably at the thought of the genocide he was powerless to prevent" |
Marlow Stern |
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2/5 |
Dog Bite Dog (2006) |
"One can't help but brand the final 15 minutes of this film as one of the most glaring cases of self-sabotage since the twist-ending of M. Night Shyamalan's The Village." |
Marlow Stern |
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4/5 |
The Education of Charlie Banks (2009) |
"a very solid first effort from Durst who, whether you like it or not, may just have a future in the director's chair." |
Marlow Stern |
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4/5 |
The Flight of the Red Balloon (2008) |
"relying on a muted narrative - tempered occasionally by the twinkling ivories of Aznavour - imbues Flight of the Red Balloon with a degree of naturalism." |
Marlow Stern |
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4/5 |
Funny Games (2008) |
"What many people will fail to realize is that this is a Dadaist exercise -- it is not concerned with traditional aesthetics, and is intended to offend, in order to destroy the current climate of filmmaking, and its fostering of a culture of violence." |
Marlow Stern |
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3/5 |
Guerrilla (2008) |
"Soderbergh's Che is a visually-striking ode to guerrilla warfare and revolutionary zeal but as a character study, his complicated protagonist still remains an enigma." |
Marlow Stern |
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4/5 |
Hunger (2008) |
"Given... the prevailing 'us vs. them' anti-opposition mentality, it's reassuring to see a movie like Hunger that assumes the perspective of the stalwart revolutionary." |
Marlow Stern |
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2/5 |
The Hunting Party (2007) |
"a very poor man's Three Kings, minus the deft mixture of witty satire/raw emotion and solid chemistry amongst the three leads." |
Marlow Stern |
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4/5 |
I Know I Am Not Alone (2006) |
"a testament to the healing power of music" |
Marlow Stern |
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3/5 |
I'm Not There (2007) |
"an intricate exercise in synthetic cubism" |
Marlow Stern |
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4/5 |
In Bruges (2008) |
"the sight of a coked-up Colin Farrell karate-chopping a racist dwarf in the neck alone is worth the price of admission" |
Marlow Stern |
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5/5 |
The King Of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007) |
"You could say it's sort of like Murderball, only these guys' disabilities are of the social variety. At any rate, it's a great film" |
Marlow Stern |
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4/5 |
The Kite Runner (2007) |
"Afghani newcomer Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada's portrayal of the doting servant Hassan is an absolute revelation" |
Marlow Stern |
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5/5 |
Knocked Up (2007) |
"Knocked Up is an instant classic, and cements Apatow's status as the top comedic director in the business" |
Marlow Stern |
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4/5 |
Let the Right One In (2008) |
"While the film's ending is, quite literally, overkill, this poetic and unexpectedly tender film is mesmerizing from start to finish. Lets hope they don't screw up the inevitable American remake too badly..." |
Marlow Stern |
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5/5 |
Man On Wire (2008) |
"In a city synonymous with hustle and bustle, the image of a stony-faced Frenchman gracefully dancing across a wire suspended between the Twin Towers, with no safety net or harness, is an overwhelmingly beauteous juxtaposition." |
Marlow Stern |
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1/5 |
The Matrimony (2007) |
"Unfortunately, this Matrimony is almost as drawn out and tedious as an actual marriage." |
Marlow Stern |
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5/5 |
A Mighty Heart (2007) |
"When Mariane finds out about Daniel's death, she lets out a guttural scream; one that rivals Sean Penn's outburst in Mystic River in raw emotional defeat." |
Marlow Stern |
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3/5 |
Mister Lonely (2008) |
"despite the film's odd, whimsical tone, solid performances, and sartorial splendor, Mister Lonely runs out of steam and, as a commentary on our celebrity-obsessed culture, doesn't have a whole lot to say" |
Marlow Stern |
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4/5 |
My Best Friend (2007) |
"Leconte has crafted an at once thoughtful, engaging, lighthearted, and melancholic entertainment about loneliness and friendship" |
Marlow Stern |
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4/5 |
My Blueberry Nights (2008) |
"Filmed in impressionistic splashes of motion and color -- the somber blues of the sweets shop contrasting brilliantly with the violent neon glow of the passing subway -- it's Edward Hopper's Nighthawks brought to stunning, iridescent life." |
Marlow Stern |
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2.5/5 |
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008) |
"...an analog film in a digital world." |
Marlow Stern |
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5/5 |
No Country for Old Men (2007) |
"a genre classic; like a menacing mélange of Peckinpah's Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia, and Cronenberg's A History of Violence" |
Marlow Stern |
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3/5 |
Ocean's Thirteen (2007) |
"Like a few dirty martinis, you won't remember much of it the next day, but it was pretty fun while it lasted." |
Marlow Stern |
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2/5 |
Paranoid Park (2008) |
"a bunch of confused skaters trapped in an existentialist Nouvelle Vague film" |
Marlow Stern |
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5/5 |
Persepolis (2007) |
"like the titular ancient city, is truly a sight to behold" |
Marlow Stern |
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5/5 |
Ratatouille (2007) |
"arguably the finest film in Pixar's distinguished canon" |
Marlow Stern |
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1/5 |
Redacted (2007) |
"The film is so artificial that it feels like a mockumentary (i.e. a deranged black comedy), and marks a low point in the career of De Palma." |
Marlow Stern |
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2/5 |
Run, Fat Boy, Run (2008) |
"When all is said and done, you're better off renting the Friends Season Four finale...That was brilliant. This is like a bad Farrelly Brothers movie." |
Marlow Stern |
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4/5 |
The Savages (2007) |
"The Savages is a precious, pitch-perfect little film that finds humanity and mirth in the darkest of places." |
Marlow Stern |
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4/5 |
Sicko (2007) |
"Prepare to laugh (nervously), cry and be outraged." |
Marlow Stern |
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3/5 |
Stalking Santa (2006) |
"Remember Conspiracy Theory? Mel Gibson would've made a perfect Lloyd Darrow. Plus, you know he believes in Santa Claus." |
Marlow Stern |
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