2009 Ranked Films
The ranked list of 2009 films that I have seen so far.
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- DirectorLone ScherfigStarsCarey MulliganPeter SarsgaardAlfred MolinaA coming-of-age story about a teenage girl in 1960s suburban London, and how her life changes with the arrival of a playboy nearly twice her age.10/10
A brilliantly rendered coming-of-age drama with a career-making turn from Carey Mulligan, An Education will resonate with just about any sample audience. - DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsBrad PittDiane KrugerEli RothIn Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a plan to assassinate Nazi leaders by a group of Jewish U.S. soldiers coincides with a theatre owner's vengeful plans for the same.10/10
Quite possibly Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece, Inglourious Basterds is a clever and violent bit of revisionist history that has oodles of hearty dialogue for a magnetic cast to chew on. - DirectorPete DocterBob PetersonStarsEdward AsnerJordan NagaiJohn Ratzenberger78-year-old Carl Fredricksen travels to Paradise Falls in his house equipped with balloons, inadvertently taking a young stowaway.10/10
Continuing Pixar’s trend of topping already stellar animated work, Up delicately crafts wholly relatable lead characters that will tickle your funny bone and pull at the heartstrings in equal measure. - DirectorDuncan JonesStarsSam RockwellKevin SpaceyDominique McElligottAstronaut Sam Bell has a quintessentially personal encounter toward the end of his three-year stint on the Moon, where he, working alongside his computer, GERTY, sends back to Earth parcels of a resource that has helped diminish our planet's power problems.10/10
Headlining one hell of a one-man show from Sam Rockwell, Moon is a hypnotizing and ponderous sci-fi parable courtesy of director Duncan Jones. - DirectorScott CooperStarsJeff BridgesMaggie GyllenhaalColin FarrellA faded country music musician is forced to reassess his dysfunctional life during a doomed romance that also inspires him.10/10
With a never-been-better Jeff Bridges giving the heartrending performance of his career, Crazy Heart is a poignant portrait of substance abuse and second chances. - DirectorNeill BlomkampStarsSharlto CopleyDavid JamesJason CopeViolence ensues after an extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth finds a kindred spirit in a government agent exposed to their biotechnology.10/10
Proof that thought-provoking, original science-fiction is still being made, District 9 is also one of the most thrilling action movies of the year thanks to visceral rendering from Neill Blomkamp. - DirectorMarc WebbStarsZooey DeschanelJoseph Gordon-LevittGeoffrey ArendAfter being dumped by the girl he believes to be his soulmate, hopeless romantic Tom Hansen reflects on their relationship to try and figure out where things went wrong and how he can win her back.10/10
Refreshing in its honest portrayal of unrequited love and purpose, (500) Days of Summer and its ingenious storytelling practices punctuate an entirely charismatic leading duo. - DirectorJason ReitmanStarsGeorge ClooneyVera FarmigaAnna KendrickRyan's job is to travel around the country firing off people. When his boss hires Natalie, who proposes firing people via video conference, he tries to convince her that her method is a mistake.10/10
Thanks to a brilliant screenplay from Jason Reitman and a trio of fabulous performances from its leads, Up in the Air delivers an affecting and insightful character dramedy with ease. - DirectorScott SandersStarsMichael Jai WhiteArsenio HallTommy DavidsonBlack Dynamite is the greatest African-American action star of the 1970s. When his only brother is killed by The Man, it's up to him to find justice.10/10
Hysterically subversive in nearly every scene, Black Dynamite and the perfectly cast Michael Jai White beget an instant classic in its sendup of the blaxploitation genre. - DirectorJ.J. AbramsStarsChris PineZachary QuintoSimon PeggThe brash James T. Kirk tries to live up to his father's legacy with Mr. Spock keeping him in check as a vengeful Romulan from the future creates black holes to destroy the Federation one planet at a time.10/10
Giving the franchise at large a much needed and exhilarating paint job, Star Trek fires on all cylinders as it’ll unite both the old generation of fans and the next. - DirectorOren MovermanStarsBen FosterSamantha MortonWoody HarrelsonAn American soldier struggles with an ethical dilemma when he becomes involved with a widow of a fallen officer.10/10
Wholly heartrending in its depiction of the implications of war, The Messenger is a well acted, well intentioned human issue drama to the end. - DirectorRaymond De FelittaStarsAndy GarciaJulianna MarguliesSteven StraitPrison guard Vince tells Molly from acting class, that one inmate is his 24 y.o. love child. Vince takes him home to stay with his family - straight A son with fat girl fetish, college dropout/stripper daughter and cute wife.10/10
Almost Shakespearean in its fluid, familial dynamic, City Island utilizes a pitch perfect cast to exercise deft character development and endearing predicaments. - DirectorLee DanielsStarsGabourey SidibeMo'NiquePaula PattonIn New York City's Harlem circa 1987, an overweight, abused, illiterate teen who is pregnant with her second child is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that she can re-route her life in a better direction.9/10
A completely harrowing character study that has tremendous performances from Gabourey Sidibe and Mo’Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel PUSH by Sapphire is starkly realistic and cathartic. - DirectorRon ClementsJohn MuskerStarsAnika Noni RoseKeith DavidOprah WinfreyA waitress, desperate to fulfill her dreams as a restaurant owner, is set on a journey to turn a frog prince back into a human being, but she has to face the same problem after she kisses him.9/10
Ushering in an auspicious new era for Disney Animation, The Princess and the Frog returns the company to its hand-drawn roots to deliver a vivacious, charming adventure. - DirectorWes AndersonStarsGeorge ClooneyMeryl StreepBill MurrayAn urbane fox cannot resist returning to his farm raiding ways and then must help his community survive the farmers' retaliation.9/10
Proving stop-motion animation an appropriate fit for Wes Anderson’s brand of comedy, Fantastic Mr. Fox is a kinetic, darkly humorous family film. - DirectorNiels Arden OplevStarsMichael NyqvistNoomi RapaceEwa FrölingA journalist is aided by a young female hacker in his search for the killer of a woman who has been dead for forty years.9/10
Dark and aesthetically reverberating, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo takes an already enthralling mystery story and brings it to cinematic life thanks to a captivating Noomi Rapace in the title role. - DirectorTodd PhillipsStarsZach GalifianakisBradley CooperJustin BarthaThree buddies wake up from a bachelor party in Las Vegas, with no memory of the previous night and the bachelor missing. They make their way around the city in order to find their friend before his wedding.9/10
Winning big on the easy chemistry between its leads, The Hangover is a riotous good time with a clever and engaging mystery at its core. - DirectorBobcat GoldthwaitStarsRobin WilliamsDaryl SabaraMorgan MurphyWhen his son's body is found in a humiliating accident, a lonely high school teacher inadvertently attracts an overwhelming amount of community and media attention after covering up the truth with a phony suicide note.9/10
Meticulously crafted by a return-to-form Bobcat Goldthwait, World’s Greatest Dad is a wonderfully shrewd dark comedy that gets a pitch perfect late career performance from Robin Williams. - DirectorJames CameronStarsSam WorthingtonZoe SaldanaSigourney WeaverA paraplegic Marine dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home.9/10
Finding James Cameron and company redefining what computer generated imagery can do, Avatar has its roots in previously told stories but regenerates them into an exciting sci-fi epic. - DirectorJohn HamburgStarsPaul RuddJason SegelRashida JonesFriendless Peter Klaven goes on a series of man-dates to find a Best Man for his wedding. But, when his insta-bond with his new B.F.F. puts a strain on his relationship with his fiancée, can the trio learn to live happily ever after?9/10
Perhaps the definitive bromantic-comedy, I Love You, Man is wondrously good-spirited and gets loads of mileage out of the interplay between Paul Rudd and Jason Segel. - DirectorHenry SelickStarsDakota FanningTeri HatcherJohn HodgmanWandering her rambling old house in her boring new town, an 11-year-old Coraline discovers a hidden door to a strangely idealized version of her life. In order to stay in the fantasy, she must make a frighteningly real sacrifice.8/10
Exploding Laika onto the animation scene, Coraline is a creative if disturbingly dim visual marvel unlike anything else. - DirectorPhil LordChristopher MillerStarsAnna FarisBill HaderBruce CampbellA local scientist is often regarded as a failure until he invents a machine that can make food fall from the sky. But little does he know that things are about to take a turn for the worst.8/10
Getting more mileage out of its culinary-based comedy than one would expect, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is frantic, furious and endlessly charming. - DirectorRuben FleischerStarsJesse EisenbergEmma StoneWoody HarrelsonA shy student trying to reach his family in Ohio, a gun-toting bruiser in search of the last Twinkie and a pair of sisters striving to get to an amusement park join forces in a trek across a zombie-filled America.8/10
Zombieland may not be structurally concise, but thanks to wonderfully drawn characters and a perfect cast, it's more than enough to reenergize the zomcom subgenre. - DirectorZack SnyderStarsJackie Earle HaleyPatrick WilsonCarla GuginoIn a version of 1985 where superheroes exist, the murder of a colleague sends active vigilante Rorschach on the trail of a conspiracy that will change the course of history.8/10
Long in the tooth but rewarding for viewers who devote their attention to it, Watchmen is as solid an adaptation of the graphic novel as one could hope for and a visual fit for the likes of Zack Snyder. - DirectorSam RaimiStarsAlison LohmanJustin LongRuth LivierA loan officer who evicts an old woman from her home finds herself the recipient of a supernatural curse. Desperate, she turns to a seer to try and save her soul, while evil forces work to push her to a breaking point.8/10
A proud and welcome return for Sam Raimi back to the horror genre, Drag Me to Hell is campy but just as unnerving and thrilling. - DirectorTom FordStarsColin FirthJulianne MooreMatthew GoodeAn English professor, one year after the sudden death of his boyfriend, is unable to cope with his typical days in 1960s Los Angeles.8/10
Tom Ford's distinct aesthetic style admittedly on the nose, it nevertheless underscores the poignant emotionality behind A Single Man. - DirectorJohn HillcoatStarsViggo MortensenCharlize TheronKodi Smit-McPheeIn a dangerous post-apocalyptic world, an ailing father defends his son as they slowly travel to the sea.8/10
Incredibly bleak and not for the faint of heart, The Road still might be one of the most grounded and poignant post-apocalypse movies out there. - DirectorClint EastwoodStarsMorgan FreemanMatt DamonTony KgorogeNelson Mandela, in his first term as President of South Africa, initiates a unique venture to unite the Apartheid-torn land: enlist the national rugby team on a mission to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup.8/10
Deftly tackling an important sociological issue and a key figure at the forefront of it, Invictus gets a top-notch performance out of Morgan Freeman on its way to connecting with the audience. - DirectorMichael DoughertyStarsAnna PaquinBrian CoxDylan BakerFive interwoven stories that occur on Halloween: an everyday high school principal has a secret life as a serial killer; a college virgin might have just met the guy for her; a group of teenagers pull a mean prank; a woman who loathes the night has to contend with her holiday-obsessed husband; and a mean old man meets his match with a demonic, supernatural trick-or-treater.8/10
One of the better anthology horror movies to date, Trick ‘r Treat is twisted and shrewd and chock full of surprises. - DirectorDavid YatesStarsDaniel RadcliffeEmma WatsonRupert GrintAs Harry Potter begins his sixth year at Hogwarts, he discovers an old book marked as "the property of the Half-Blood Prince" and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort's dark past.8/10
Despite carrying the burden of setting up the series finale, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a darker and more intellectually stimulating fantasy adventure than most. - DirectorOren PeliStarsKatie FeatherstonMicah SloatMark FredrichsAfter moving into a suburban home, a couple becomes increasingly disturbed by a nightly demonic presence.8/10
Arguably perfecting the uses of found-footage in the horror genre, Paranormal Activity will crawl under your skin with competent staging and execution. - DirectorTeddy ChanStarsXueqi WangTony Ka Fai LeungJun HuIn 1905, revolutionist Sun Yat-Sen visits Hong Kong to discuss plans with Tongmenghui members to overthrow the Qing dynasty. But when they find out that assassins have been sent to kill him, they assemble a group of protectors to prevent any attacks.8/10
Though not the most impressive martial arts film from those involved, Bodyguards and Assassins gets a surprising amount of excitement out of its extended sequences. - DirectorWerner HerzogStarsNicolas CageEva MendesRussell M. HaeuserTerence McDonagh is a drug- and gambling-addled detective in post-Katrina New Orleans investigating the killing of five Senegalese immigrants.8/10
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans never exactly comes to any grand conclusion, but some solid pacing and a reliably batty Nicolas Cage performance make it narratively arresting. - DirectorNora EphronStarsAmy AdamsMeryl StreepChris MessinaJulia Child's story of her start in the cooking profession is intertwined with blogger Julie Powell's 2002 challenge to cook all the recipes in Child's first book.8/10
Getting top-notch performances out of both Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, Julie & Julia may be a light meal but is strong in its presentation and sweetness. - DirectorDrew BarrymoreStarsElliot PageDrew BarrymoreKristen WiigIn Bodeen, Texas, an indie-rock-loving misfit finds a way of dealing with small-town misery after discovering a roller-derby league in nearby Austin.8/10
A hard-hitting directorial debut for Drew Barrymore, Whip It works as both an unconventional sports comedy and an honest coming-of-age flick. - DirectorJudd ApatowStarsAdam SandlerSeth RogenLeslie MannWhen seasoned comedian George Simmons learns of his terminal, inoperable health condition, his desire to form a genuine friendship causes him to take a relatively green performer under his wing as his opening act.8/10
A tad overlong like many Judd Apatow joints, Funny People still shines on the backs of a personable cast and is as poignant as it is, well, funny. - DirectorAnna BodenRyan FleckStarsAlgenis Perez SotoJose RijoWalki CuevasDominican baseball star Miguel "Sugar" Santos is recruited to play in the U.S. minor-leagues.8/10
It doesn’t stray too far from formula, but Sugar is a down-to-earth and realistic sports drama that any flawed human can relate to. - DirectorTi WestStarsJocelin DonahueTom NoonanMary WoronovIn 1983, financially struggling college student Samantha Hughes takes a strange babysitting job that coincides with a full lunar eclipse. She slowly realizes her clients harbor a terrifying secret, putting her life in mortal danger.8/10
Stronger visually and atmospherically than it is narratively, The House of the Devil is still a thoroughly eerie horror picture courtesy of writer-director Ti West. - DirectorJohn Lee HancockStarsQuinton AaronSandra BullockTim McGrawThe story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All-American football player and first-round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family.7/10
The Blind Side plays it on the safe side, but thanks to a heart in the right place and a fervent performance from Sandra Bullock, it inevitably scores. - DirectorTerry GilliamStarsChristopher PlummerLily ColeHeath LedgerHaving made a deal with the Devil himself for immortality many millennia ago, the now decrepit mystic Doctor Parnassus fights for the freedom of his only daughter's soul.7/10
Choppy in its act structure - though through no fault of its own - The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is nevertheless visually creative and wildly unpredictable. - DirectorNancy MeyersStarsMeryl StreepSteve MartinAlec BaldwinWhen attending their son's college graduation, a couple reignite the spark in their relationship. But the complicated fact is they're divorced and he's remarried.7/10
A laissez faire approach often leaves this Nancy Meyers project feeling undercooked, however It’s Complicated proves thoroughly charming all the same thanks to some brilliant chemistry between Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin. - DirectorEthan CoenJoel CoenStarsMichael StuhlbargRichard KindSari LennickLarry Gopnik, a Midwestern physics teacher, watches his life unravel over multiple sudden incidents. Though seeking meaning and answers amidst his turmoils, he seems to keep sinking.7/10
It’s not able to match the quality of dark comedy existing in previous Coen Brothers works, but A Serious Man is too meticulously crafted and acted to ignore. - DirectorJaco Van DormaelStarsJared LetoSarah PolleyDiane KrugerA boy stands on a station platform as a train is about to leave. Should he go with his mother or stay with his father? Infinite possibilities arise from this decision. As long as he doesn't choose, anything is possible.7/10
It could be argued that Mr. Nobody is too ambitious for its own good, but it may merely be before its time, emotional, poignant and visually astute. - DirectorSteven SoderberghStarsMatt DamonTony HalePatton OswaltThe U.S. government decides to go after an agro-business giant with a price-fixing accusation, based on the evidence submitted by their star witness, vice president-turned-informant Mark Whitacre.7/10
Shrewdly rendered as a crafty and duplicitous biographical comedy, The Informant! pairs Steven Soderberg with an unrecognizable Matt Damon to wryly humorous effect. - DirectorGreg MottolaStarsJesse EisenbergKristen StewartRyan ReynoldsIn the summer of 1987, a college graduate takes a 'nowhere' job at his local amusement park, only to find it's the perfect course to get him prepared for the real world.7/10
Adventureland is a bit more laconic than your typical coming-of-age flick, but it remains admirably honest and personable in its own right as well. - DirectorLars von TrierStarsWillem DafoeCharlotte GainsbourgStorm Acheche SahlstrømA grieving couple retreat to their cabin in the woods, hoping to repair their broken hearts and troubled marriage, but nature takes its course and things go from bad to worse.7/10
Lars von Trier's Antichrist may prove more thematically ineffable than engaging, but it can't be denied its aesthetic beauty and alluring melancholy. - DirectorTyler PerryStarsTyler PerryTaraji P. HensonAdam RodriguezWhen Madea catches sixteen-year-old Jennifer and her two younger brothers looting her home, she decides to take matters into her own hands.7/10
Largely thanks to a soulful performance from Taraji P. Henson, I Can Do Bad All by Myself is a surprisingly grounded and effective Tyler Perry project. - DirectorJean-Marc ValléeStarsEmily BluntRupert FriendPaul BettanyA dramatization of the turbulent first years of Queen Victoria's rule, and her enduring romance with Prince Albert.7/10
Its storytelling practices can often come off as slight, but still there's enough on display to make The Young Victoria worthy of the title monarch, namely a fabulous Emily Blunt. - DirectorMark NeveldineBrian TaylorStarsJason StathamAmy SmartClifton Collins Jr.Chelios faces a Chinese mobster who has stolen his nearly indestructible heart and replaced it with a battery-powered ticker which requires regular jolts of electricity to keep working.7/10
Doubling down on the absurd action and subsequent self-aware humor, Crank: High Voltage will give viewers another quick jolt of excitement and glee. - DirectorChristine JeffsStarsAmy AdamsEmily BluntAlan ArkinIn order to raise the tuition to send her young son to private school, a mom starts an unusual business -- a biohazard removal/crime scene clean-up service -- with her unreliable sister.7/10
Not always able to temper a dry sense of humor with a serious story, Sunshine Cleaning still gets by on the easy chemistry between its two leads. - DirectorJane CampionStarsAbbie CornishBen WhishawPaul SchneiderThe three-year romance between 19th-century poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne near the end of his life.7/10
For the casual viewer Bright Star's musings may prove inaccessible, but its reverence to its subject and understated lead actors lend credence to its cause. - DirectorMary Stuart MastersonStarsElizabeth AshleyJayce BartokBruce DernTwo families are brought together by the return of one family's son -- a reunion that conjures up old ghosts and issues that must be addressed.7/10
The Cake Eaters doesn't dig into any new themes, however an easygoing vibe and convincing performances gives its light drama the lift it needs. - DirectorPatrick LussierStarsJensen AcklesJaime KingKerr SmithTom returns to his hometown on the tenth anniversary of the Valentine's night massacre that claimed the lives of 22 people. Instead of a homecoming, Tom finds himself suspected of committing the murders, and it seems like his old flame is the only one that believes he's innocent.7/10
Giving audiences exactly what they want with an added dimension of fun, My Bloody Valentine is the horror remake that surpasses the original with gleeful carnage. - DirectorRob LettermanConrad VernonStarsReese WitherspoonRainn WilsonStephen ColbertA woman transformed into a giant after she is struck by a meteorite on her wedding day becomes part of a team of monsters sent in by the U.S. government to defeat an alien mastermind trying to take over Earth.7/10
It likens itself to better animated offerings, however Monsters vs. Aliens is agreeable enough on the surface level to please the kiddies. - DirectorGuy RitchieStarsRobert Downey Jr.Jude LawRachel McAdamsDetective Sherlock Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England.6/10
Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes isn’t an exercise in discipline, but it’s a technical achievement and gets plenty of mileage out of a well cast Robert Downey Jr. - DirectorJody HillStarsSeth RogenAnna FarisRay LiottaBi-polar mall security guard Ronnie Barnhardt is called into action to stop a flasher from turning shopper's paradise into his personal peep show. But when Barnhardt can't bring the culprit to justice, a surly police detective is recruited to close the case.6/10
Observe and Report has a certain bitterness that might make it unpalatable for a lot of viewers, though it does get a good number of jabs in there with the time it has. - DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsJim CarreyGary OldmanColin FirthAn animated retelling of Charles Dickens' classic novel about a Victorian-era miser taken on a journey of self-redemption, courtesy of several mysterious Christmas apparitions.6/10
Robert Zemeckis’s brand of motion capture animation may have already played its hand, but this version of A Christmas Carol gets enough vivacity out of Jim Carrey to make it worthwhile. - DirectorDaniel AlfredsonStarsNoomi RapaceMichael NyqvistLena EndreAs computer hacker Lisbeth and journalist Mikael investigate a sex-trafficking ring, Lisbeth is accused of three murders, causing her to go on the run while Mikael works to clear her name.6/10
The Girl Who Played with Fire may be a departure from the first film's success narratively and stylistically, but plenty of fine acting is enough to keep the flame lit. - DirectorKevin GreutertStarsTobin BellCostas MandylorMark RolstonAgent Strahm is dead, and FBI agent Erickson draws nearer to Hoffman. Meanwhile, a pair of insurance executives find themselves in another game set by Jigsaw.6/10
A surprising step up for the poster boy franchise of torture porn, Saw VI won’t win over any new converts but it is more contained and boasts some clever kills. - DirectorDan EckmanStarsDonald GloverD.C. PiersonDominic DierkesA group of former Encyclopedia Brown-style child-detectives struggle to solve an adult mystery.6/10
Sometimes Mystery Team has a direct-to-video vibe about it, but a stellar cast keeps things clicking long enough to give its silly premise clout. - DirectorJohn Erick DowdleStarsStacy ChboskyBen MessmerSamantha RobsonIn an abandoned house in Poughkeepsie, New York murder investigators uncover hundreds of tapes showing decades of a serial killer's work.6/10
There’s not a whole lot of story to tell with The Poughkeepsie Tapes, but viewers will be hard-pressed to find more starkly disturbing sequences. - DirectorJim SheridanStarsJake GyllenhaalNatalie PortmanTobey MaguireWhile on tour in Afghanistan, Sam's helicopter is shot down and he is presumed dead. Back home, it is his screw-up brother who looks after the family. Sam does return, but with a lot of excess baggage.5/10
Its veteran actors give it their all in Brothers, however the heavy film as a whole offers little in the way of catharsis or viewing pleasure. - DirectorDavid TwohyStarsMilla JovovichSteve ZahnTimothy OlyphantTwo pairs of lovers on a Hawaiian vacation discover that psychopaths are stalking and murdering tourists on the islands.5/10
There are some thrills to be had in A Perfect Getaway, though unfortunately a telegraphed twist and a not-so-compelling climax make it only so-so. - DirectorGeorge Tillman Jr.StarsJamal WoolardAnthony MackieDerek LukeThe life and death story of The Notorious B.I.G. (a.k.a. Christopher Wallace), who came straight out of Brooklyn to take the world of rap music by storm.5/10
Really only a surface-level dramatization of the late-musician, Notorious gets a solid lead performance but not the narrative rhythm or energy it needs. - DirectorDavid PastorÀlex PastorStarsChris PinePiper PeraboLou Taylor PucciAs a lethal virus spreads globally, four friends seek a reputed plague-free haven. But while avoiding the infected, the travelers turn on one another.5/10
Carriers is fully competent, but some narrative digressions make it a fairly orthodox post-apocalyptic thriller. - DirectorRicky GervaisMatthew RobinsonStarsRicky GervaisJennifer GarnerJonah HillA comedy set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain.5/10
Not totally taking advantage of its crackerjack premise, The Invention of Lying has a game cast but can’t invent enough plot developments to keep itself ticking. - DirectorKirk JonesStarsRobert De NiroKate BeckinsaleSam RockwellA widower who realized his only connection to his family was through his wife sets off on an impromptu road trip to reunite with each of his grown children.5/10
Robert De Niro gives it his all in Everybody’s Fine, but the narrative arc remains disjointed and a bit short on dramatic heft. - DirectorBurr SteersStarsZac EfronMatthew PerryLeslie MannMike O'Donnell is ungrateful for how his life turned out. He gets a chance to rewrite his life when he tried to save a janitor near a bridge and jumped after him into a time vortex.5/10
Better than its predictable premise would give it credit for, 17 Again still can’t overcome certain genre conventions to find room for growth. - DirectorShane AckerStarsElijah WoodJennifer ConnellyCrispin GloverA rag doll that awakens in a postapocalyptic future holds the key to humanity's salvation.5/10
Bleak and visually inspired, 9 unfortunately never establishes a steady rhythm or predestination to carry it along narratively. - DirectorSpike JonzeStarsMax RecordsCatherine O'HaraForest WhitakerYearning for escape and adventure, a young boy runs away from home and sails to an island filled with creatures that take him in as their king.5/10
Where the Wild Things Are makes great strides in practical design, though it is uncomfortably dark and a bit of an indulgence for writer-director Spike Jonze. - DirectorRoland EmmerichStarsJohn CusackThandiwe NewtonChiwetel EjioforA frustrated writer struggles to keep his family alive when a series of global catastrophes threatens to annihilate mankind.5/10
Grand in scale but bloated and stuffed with all the oldest tricks in the book, 2012 will hold your attention but do little to match its visual magnitude with narrative ingenuity. - DirectorLarry CharlesStarsSacha Baron CohenGustaf HammarstenClifford BañagaleFlamboyant, gay Austrian Brüno looks for new fame in America.5/10
Brüno has Sacha Baron Cohen crafting another memorable caricature in the title character, however it trades sociological resonance for situational humor and laughs. - DirectorCarlos SaldanhaMichael ThurmeierStarsRay RomanoJohn LeguizamoDenis LearyWhen Sid's attempt to adopt three dinosaur eggs gets him abducted by their real mother to an underground lost world, his friends attempt to rescue him.5/10
While not an outright extinction of the franchise as a whole, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs has more trouble generating endearing narratives than previous entries. - DirectorM.J. BassettStarsJames PurefoyMax von SydowRachel Hurd-WoodA ruthless mercenary renounces violence after learning his soul is bound for hell. When a young girl is kidnapped and her family slain by a sorcerer's murderous cult, he is forced to fight and seek his redemption slaying evil.5/10
Better than appearances would suggest, Solomon Kane still can’t hold dominion over its generic tale to back up its terrifically dark visuals. - DirectorTony ScottStarsDenzel WashingtonJohn TravoltaLuis GuzmánArmed men hijack a New York City subway train, holding the passengers hostage in return for a ransom, and turning an ordinary day's work for dispatcher Walter Garber into a face-off with the mastermind behind the crime.5/10
The Taking of Pelham 123 is a Tony Scott joint through and through, but this remake isn’t quite so entertaining that its story flaws remain moot. - DirectorDavid BowersStarsFreddie HighmoreNicolas CageKristen BellWhen an android replica of a boy is rejected by his aggrieved creator, he goes off to find his own identity in an adventure that would make him the greatest hero of his time.5/10
While its animation is something to be appreciated, Astro Boy isn’t assembled in such a way that it eschews the similar narrative arcs that preceded it. - DirectorMike JudgeStarsJason BatemanKristen WiigBen AffleckJoel, the owner of an extract plant, tries to contend with myriad personal and professional problems, such as his potentially unfaithful wife and employees who want to take advantage of him.5/10
Mike Judge’s Extract has the kind of dry humor one would expect of him, but the film as a whole fails to conflate all its elements into a cohesive whole. - DirectorJaume Collet-SerraStarsVera FarmigaPeter SarsgaardIsabelle FuhrmanA husband and wife who recently lost their baby adopt a 9-year-old girl who is not nearly as innocent as she appears.5/10
It has a thoroughly unnerving title character, however Orphan struggles to turn tension into a worthwhile story or a satisfying conclusion. - DirectorMichael MannStarsChristian BaleJohnny DeppChristian StolteThe Feds try to take down notorious American gangsters John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, and Pretty Boy Floyd during a booming crime wave in the 1930s.5/10
Public Enemies is well acted and picks an apt subject to get an epic crime drama out of, but a guerrilla filmmaking approach often robs it of any excitement or atmosphere. - DirectorDaniel AlfredsonStarsMichael NyqvistNoomi RapaceLena EndreLisbeth is recovering in a hospital and awaiting trial for three murders when she is released. Mikael must prove her innocence, but Lisbeth must be willing to share the details of her sordid experiences with the court.5/10
While still retaining all the right pieces, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is wearier than its predecessors and a somewhat underwhelming conclusion to the trilogy. - DirectorShawn LevyStarsBen StillerOwen WilsonAmy AdamsSecurity guard Larry Daley infiltrates the Smithsonian Institution in order to rescue Jedediah and Octavius, who have been shipped to the museum by mistake.5/10
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian serves as a satisfactory diversion, but anyone looking for the same kind of mystique and wonder will only find chaos and disarray. - DirectorKaryn KusamaStarsMegan FoxAmanda SeyfriedAdam BrodyA newly-possessed high-school cheerleader turns into a succubus who specializes in killing her male classmates. Can her best friend put an end to the horror?4/10
As snarky and self-aware as one would expect of a Diablo Cody screenplay, Jennifer’s Body still can’t solidify its story arc in a manner that reins in all the carnage. - DirectorJustin LinStarsVin DieselPaul WalkerMichelle RodriguezBrian O'Conner, back working for the FBI in Los Angeles, teams up with Dominic Toretto to bring down a heroin importer by infiltrating his operation.4/10
Despite getting the gang back together, Fast & Furious doesn’t do much to supercharge the franchise in the way it needs going forward. - DirectorAnne FletcherStarsSandra BullockRyan ReynoldsMary SteenburgenA pushy boss forces her young assistant to marry her in order to keep her visa status in the U.S. and avoid deportation to Canada.4/10
Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds have fine comedic chemistry, but The Proposal remains a thoroughly predictable and contrived romcom. - DirectorGrant HeslovStarsEwan McGregorGeorge ClooneyKevin SpaceyA reporter in Iraq might just have the story of a lifetime when he meets Lyn Cassady, a guy who claims to be a former member of the U.S. Army's New Earth Army, a unit that employs paranormal powers in their missions.4/10
Terrific title aside, The Men Who Stare at Goats struggles to flex its dry, sardonic wit to feature length, proving rather tedious for the viewer. - DirectorNick CassavetesStarsCameron DiazAbigail BreslinAlec BaldwinAnna Fitzgerald looks to earn medical emancipation from her parents who until now have relied on their youngest child to help their leukemia-stricken daughter Kate remain alive.4/10
My Sister's Keeper touches on some intriguing concepts and has respectable performances, but it ultimately gives viewers little to grasp onto other than saccharine manipulation. - DirectorPeter CornwellStarsVirginia MadsenMartin DonovanElias KoteasAfter a family is forced to relocate for their son's health, they begin experiencing supernatural behavior in their new home, and uncover a sinister history.4/10
Though good for a jolt or two, The Haunting in Connecticut offers little to spice up the already well worn haunted house formula. - DirectorKen KwapisStarsGinnifer GoodwinJennifer AnistonJennifer ConnellyThis Baltimore-set movie of interconnecting story arcs deals with the challenges of reading or misreading human behavior.4/10
A pleasant and wide-ranging cast notwithstanding, audiences just won’t be into He’s Just Not That Into You, a conventional and safe romantic-comedy. - DirectorPeter JacksonStarsRachel WeiszMark WahlbergSaoirse RonanCenters on a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family - and her killer - from purgatory. She must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal.4/10
The Lovely Bones starts out chilling and visceral, but its supernatural angle drags it down, saccharine and without the nuance it needs to resonate. - DirectorPeter ChelsomStarsMiley CyrusEmily OsmentBilly Ray CyrusAs Hannah Montana's popularity begins to take over her life, Miley Stewart, on the urging from her father takes a trip to her hometown of Crowley Corners, Tennessee to get some perspective on what matters in life the most.4/10
Though Miley Cyrus further proves her acting chops, Hannah Montana: The Movie still can't get the best of both worlds when it comes to movie mechanics and its sitcom roots. - DirectorJon HarrisStarsMichael J. ReynoldsShauna MacdonaldJessika WilliamsRefusing to believe her story about cave-dwelling monsters, the sole survivor of a spelunking exploration gone horribly wrong is forced to follow the authorities back into the caves where something awaits.4/10
Just as gory but lacking the emotional depth of the first film, The Descent Part 2 tries to add some to the mythology but only ends up feeling hollow. - DirectorRon HowardStarsTom HanksEwan McGregorAyelet ZurerHarvard symbologist Robert Langdon works with a nuclear physicist to solve a murder and prevent a terrorist act against the Vatican during one of the significant events within the church.4/10
While an improvement over its predecessor in the Dan Brown trilogy, Angels & Demons is still overly complicated and unable to sell viewers on its theatrics. - DirectorTommy WirkolaStarsJeppe Beck LaursenCharlotte FrognerJenny SkavlanA ski vacation turns horrific for a group of medical students, as they find themselves confronted by an unimaginable menace: Nazi zombies.4/10
Featuring a killer concept but not embracing it as much as it should, Dead Snow is thoroughly bloody but not creative enough to meet expectations. - DirectorAndy FickmanStarsDwayne JohnsonCarla GuginoAnnaSophia RobbA Las Vegas cabbie enlists the help of a U.F.O. expert to protect two siblings with paranormal powers from the clutches of an organization that wants to use the kids for their nefarious plans.4/10
Though never outright bad, Race to Witch Mountain is as perfunctory as remakes get, from the action to the story. - DirectorKyle NewmanStarsDan FoglerJay BaruchelKristen BellStar Wars fanatics take a cross-country trip to George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch so their dying friend can see a screening of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) before its release.4/10
It shines a spotlight on the other end of the entertainment industry, however the message behind Fanboys is lost amidst a fairly bland road trip comedy. - DirectorF. Gary GrayStarsGerard ButlerJamie FoxxLeslie BibbA frustrated man decides to take justice into his own hands after a plea bargain sets one of his family's killers free.4/10
More clever than most revenge thrillers, Law Abiding Citizen is unfortunately undone by hackneyed character development and general implausibility. - DirectorMcGStarsChristian BaleSam WorthingtonAnton YelchinIn 2018, a mysterious new weapon in the war against the machines, half-human and half-machine, comes to John Connor on the eve of a resistance attack on Skynet. But whose side is he on, and can he be trusted?4/10
Terminator Salvation takes the franchise into uncharted territory, however the story is underdeveloped and unequipped to handle its heavy themes in the light of a dour tone. - DirectorStewart HendlerStarsBriana EviganRumer WillisCarrie FisherA group of sorority sisters try to cover up the death of their house-sister after a prank gone wrong, only to be stalked by a serial killer.4/10
There are some twisted kills on display, however Sorority Row is too heavily reliant on previously established formula to make it a remake worth updating. - DirectorRobert SchwentkeStarsEric BanaRachel McAdamsRon LivingstonHenry DeTamble, a librarian, possesses a unique gene that lets him involuntarily travel through time. His wife, Claire Abshire, finds it difficult to cope with it.4/10
The Time Traveler's Wife has an intriguing setup and game actors, but it's largely convoluted and far too saccharine to enchant. - DirectorBrad SilberlingStarsWill FerrellDanny McBrideAnna FrielA space-time vortex sucks scientist Rick Marshall, his assistant Holly and a survivalist Will into a world populated by dinosaurs and painfully slow creatures called Sleestaks.4/10
Stranding capable comedians in a wasteland bereft of laughs, Land of the Lost gives it the old college try but ultimately can’t make people remember its source material.