For the 2nd week in a row, there aren’t any DVD releases strong enough to earn the distinction of Criticker Pick. But, there are still a couple films worth checking out… particularly the stirring Iraq War drama The Messenger, starring Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster. We’ve been fans of Foster ever since he stole 3:10 to Yuma… and again he nails this difficult, melodramatic role.
Invictus – Average Tier 5.79 The story of what happened after the end of apartheid when newly elected president Nelson Mandela used the 1995 World Cup rugby matches to unite his people. Invictus @ Amazon
The Messenger – Average Tier 6.70 Will is in the US Army. He has just returned from active service in Iraq, but still has another three months of service. A transfer to the “casualty notification office” provides him with his first opportunity for a fresh start. But behind the innocuous-sounding name lies a department that has the unenviable task of informing relatives of the deaths of their loved ones killed in action. (berlinale.de) The Messenger @ Amazon
Valentine’s Day – Average Tier 2.84 Intertwining couples and singles in Los Angeles break-up and make-up based on the pressures and expectations of Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day @ Amazon
The Spy Next Door – Average Tier 1.68 Former CIA spy Bob Ho (Chan) takes on his toughest assignment to date: looking after his girlfriend’s three kids, who haven’t exactly warmed to their mom’s beau. And when one of the youngsters accidentally downloads a top-secret formula, Bob’s longtime nemesis, a Russian terrorist, pays a visit to the family. The Spy Next Door @ Amazon
Extraordinary Measures – Average Tier 4.05 After their two young children are diagnosed with a rare genetic disease for which conventional medicine has no cure, John and Aileen Crowley pin their hopes on the work of unconventional scientist Dr. Robert Stonehill. Extraordinary Measures @ Amazon
For a halfway decent new DVD release this week, wir müssen nach Deutschland schauen!North Face, a German drama about mountain climbers, wasn’t quite good enough to earn the Criticker Pick distinction, but stands kopf und schultern above the rest of the pack. Oddly enough, we’re on a week-long vacation in Germany, visiting friends and family — which is why the blog has been a little quiet this week.
Daybreakers – Average Tier 4.63 In the year 2019, a plague has transformed most every human into vampires. Faced with a dwindling blood supply, the fractured dominant race plots their survival; meanwhile, a researcher works with a covert band of vamps on a way to save humankind. Daybreakers @ Amazon
Edge of Darkness – Average Tier 4.82 As a homicide detective, Thomas Craven has seen the bleakest side of humanity. But nothing prepares him for the toughest investigation of his life: the search for his only daughter Emma’s killer. Now, he will go to the edge of darkness to uncover the disturbing secrets surrounding her murder, including corporate corruption, government collusion and Emma’s own secret life. Edge of Darkness @ Amazon
Legion – Average Tier 2.07 An out-of-the-way diner becomes the unlikely battleground for the survival of the human race. When God loses faith in humankind, he sends his legion of angels to bring on the Apocalypse. Humanity’s only hope lies in a group of strangers trapped in a desert diner with the Archangel Michael. Legion @ Amazon
Play the Game – Average Tier 4.50 A young ladies’ man teaches his dating tricks to his lonely, widowed grandfather, and plays his best mind games to meet the woman of his dreams. Play the Game @ Amazon
Criticker user shalev has created a popular list that has probably sparked a thousand heated discussions among cinema fans. What is the most important thing in a film? He’s selected 10 of the most important aspects of film making, and now you get to rank them.
What a fascinating idea for a list! The most frequently chosen #1 surprised me a little bit… you’ll have to complete it yourself to see what it was! If you haven’t started using Movie Forum
A trailer for a movie called Super 8 being shown before Iron Man 2 is the latest “viral” marketing maneuver from JJ Abrams. I usually find this kind of marketing fun, but this is kind of annoying. Tell me what you’re about, or get out of my face. Take it away, Twitchfilm:
We’re running a trailer for a secret new movie in front of Iron Man 2 but we can’t tell you anything about it because it’s a secret. You hear me? It’s a SECRET! JJ Abrams made a NEW, SECRET MOVIE that we CAN’T TELL YOU ANYTHING ABOUT! So don’t even ask. It’s called Super 8. Tell your friends.
Predictably the interweb has been all abuzz with speculation that this is some sort of Cloverfield prequel or sequel – speculation Abrams denies, incidentally – as this non-news spirals all over the place. And I think that’s the bit that bugs me. The lack of news has itself become the news, a fact that the producers and PR people are very cynically – and expertly – playing on. Me, I just figure that if your movie is any good you should just go ahead and show me part of it and then I’ll get excited about what actually exists instead of what doesn’t.
The best new DVD release is Tokyo Sonata, which united the Criticker user base in praise. A drama by director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, the film examines the slow dissolution of a middle-class Japanese family after the father is let go from his job. It picked up a load of awards on the festival circuit, and had a limited run in US theaters. Aside from Francis Ford Coppola’s Tetro (which has as many detractors as supporters), Tokyo Sonata is the only new DVD worth getting excited about this week.
Nine – Average Tier 4.24 Film director Guido Contini struggles to find harmony in his life, as he engages in dramatic relationships with his wife, his mistress, his muse, his agent, and his mother. Nine @ Amazon
Criticker Pick!Tokyo sonata – Average Tier 7.28 An ordinary Japanese family slowly disintegrates after its patriarch loses his job at a prominent company. Tokyo sonata @ Amazon
Tetro – Average Tier 6.36 Bennie travels to Buenos Aires to find his long-missing older brother, a once-promising writer who is now a remnant of his former self. Bennie’s discovery of his brother’s near-finished play might hold the answer to understanding their shared past and renewing their bond. Tetro @ Amazon
Leap Year – Average Tier 3.27 Amy Adams stars as Anna, a woman whose scheme to wrangle her boyfriend into marriage by proposing to him on February 29th — a day he cannot refuse her, according to Irish custom — is jeopardized when weather threatens to cancel her trip to Dublin. Now Anna must convince a handsome but gruff Irish innkeeper (Matthew Goode) to take her across the country before the day slips away. Leap Year @ Amazon
Tooth Fairy – Average Tier 2.48 A bad deed on the part of a tough minor-league hockey player results in an unusual sentence: He must serve one week as a real-life tooth fairy. Tooth Fairy @ Amazon
Last night, we introduced a couple new little enhancements to the Starred Reviews page, which should please those of you with a competitive streak.
On the Received Stars screen, if your mini-review is the most frequently starred review for that film, you’ll now see a little congratulating you on that feat.
On the Overall Stars page, you’ll see what position you are in among all Criticker users. Previously, the only way to figure it out was to scroll page by page through the list of users.
A disproportionate percentage of our Neglected Gems are documentaries, which makes sense. There are a ton of great ones out there, and most are terribly neglected. If it wasn’t directed by Michael Moore, it probably didn’t get a theatrical release, and you’ll never see a thought-provoking or (god forbid) controversial documentary on the main US networks. The people who don’t actively seek out award-winning documentaries are simply never exposed to them.
It’s a shame! It’s a terrible shame that almost no one has seen the incredibly uplifting film My Flesh and Blood. Without a trace of sentimentality, director Jonathon Karsh documents a year in the life of the Tom family. Susan Tom has adopted 11 special-needs children, and the film attempts to capture the joy, pain and frustration which make up each of their days.
What makes My Flesh and Blood so wonderful is the honesty with which the Tom family’s story is told. Karsh doesn’t shy away from the difficult aspects of their lives, and this humanizes and endears them to us. Although their’s is a strange situation, and Susan’s decision to adopt so many difficult kids might not be “normal”, the director never engages in judgment. Susan Tom is just human, as imperfect as the rest of us. But the trueness and intensity with which she loves her children is undeniable. And incredibly moving.
The story of what happened after the end of apartheid when newly elected president Nelson Mandela used the 1995 World Cup rugby matches to unite his people. Invictus @ Amazon
Will is in the US Army. He has just returned from active service in Iraq, but still has another three months of service. A transfer to the “casualty notification office” provides him with his first opportunity for a fresh start. But behind the innocuous-sounding name lies a department that has the unenviable task of informing relatives of the deaths of their loved ones killed in action. (berlinale.de) The Messenger @ Amazon
Intertwining couples and singles in Los Angeles break-up and make-up based on the pressures and expectations of Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day @ Amazon
Former CIA spy Bob Ho (Chan) takes on his toughest assignment to date: looking after his girlfriend’s three kids, who haven’t exactly warmed to their mom’s beau. And when one of the youngsters accidentally downloads a top-secret formula, Bob’s longtime nemesis, a Russian terrorist, pays a visit to the family. The Spy Next Door @ Amazon
After their two young children are diagnosed with a rare genetic disease for which conventional medicine has no cure, John and Aileen Crowley pin their hopes on the work of unconventional scientist Dr. Robert Stonehill. Extraordinary Measures @ Amazon
In the year 2019, a plague has transformed most every human into vampires. Faced with a dwindling blood supply, the fractured dominant race plots their survival; meanwhile, a researcher works with a covert band of vamps on a way to save humankind. 
As a homicide detective, Thomas Craven has seen the bleakest side of humanity. But nothing prepares him for the toughest investigation of his life: the search for his only daughter Emma’s killer. Now, he will go to the edge of darkness to uncover the disturbing secrets surrounding her murder, including corporate corruption, government collusion and Emma’s own secret life. 
An out-of-the-way diner becomes the unlikely battleground for the survival of the human race. When God loses faith in humankind, he sends his legion of angels to bring on the Apocalypse. Humanity’s only hope lies in a group of strangers trapped in a desert diner with the Archangel Michael. 
Four climbers try to be first on top of the “Nordwand”. 
A young ladies’ man teaches his dating tricks to his lonely, widowed grandfather, and plays his best mind games to meet the woman of his dreams. 
Film director Guido Contini struggles to find harmony in his life, as he engages in dramatic relationships with his wife, his mistress, his muse, his agent, and his mother. 
An ordinary Japanese family slowly disintegrates after its patriarch loses his job at a prominent company. 
Bennie travels to Buenos Aires to find his long-missing older brother, a once-promising writer who is now a remnant of his former self. Bennie’s discovery of his brother’s near-finished play might hold the answer to understanding their shared past and renewing their bond. 
Amy Adams stars as Anna, a woman whose scheme to wrangle her boyfriend into marriage by proposing to him on February 29th — a day he cannot refuse her, according to Irish custom — is jeopardized when weather threatens to cancel her trip to Dublin. Now Anna must convince a handsome but gruff Irish innkeeper (Matthew Goode) to take her across the country before the day slips away. 
A bad deed on the part of a tough minor-league hockey player results in an unusual sentence: He must serve one week as a real-life tooth fairy. 
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