Monday, September 3, 2012

SIDELINE: MORE REVIEWS FOR 8/12

My reviews of non-Criterion movies from August.


IN THEATRES...

2 Days in New York, the new one from Julie Delpy. Really, if I were Chris Rock, I'd have tapped out after 12 hours.

The Bourne Legacy, the underprivileged stepchild of the Bourne series still manages to be enjoyable despite some deficiencies.

The Campaign, the Will Ferrell/Zach Galifianakis comedy is best at insult humor, not so much at political satire.

Celeste and Jesse Forever, an almost-there down-to-earth rom-com, co-written by and starring Rashida Jones. I love her, but the script loses focus and eventually lost me.

Dark Horse, Todd Solondz hates comedy almost as much as he hates you. And fat people. And everyyyyyyyyonnnnne!

Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai, Miike remakes Kobayashi in 3D, but without any other added dimension.

The Impostera twisted true crime documentary about a story that's so out there, you almost won't believe it.

Killer Joe, a depraved new scorcher from William Friedkin, starring Matthew McConaughey his most finger-lickin' good role.

Lawless, Nick Cave writes, John Hillcoat directs, and Tom Hardy stars. Mm-hmm.

Oslo, August 31, a heartfelt new personal drama from the director of Reprise.


Paranorman, the second effort from Laika suffers from some growing pains. Great animation, but an overly wordy script.

Searching for Sugar Man, an amazing music documentary uncovering the secret history of the artist known as Rodriguez.

Sleepwalk with Me, in which Mike Birbiglia tries to make friends and influence them to understand his problems.

ON BD/DVD...

The Devil's Needle, and other Tales of Vice and Redemption, three silent films tackling the worst of Amercia's sins, ca. 1915.

Fernando Di Leo's Madnessstarring Joe Dallesandro as a human 2x4. It's neither mad nor is it any good. Discuss.

Looney Tunes Mouse Chronicles: The Chuck Jones Collection, gathering the director's Sniffles and Hubie & Bertie cartoons under one cover.

Misfits: Season One, a clever superpowers show from England.

Monsieur Lazhara surprising example of quality feel-good cinema, adding a nice spin to the inspirational teacher genre.

Once Upon a Time in Anatoliaan astonishing remodel of the police drama as existential parable. From Nuri Bilge Ceylan, the director of Climates. Best movie of this whole batch!

Private Hell 36a tightly wound noir with Ida Lupino. Directed by Don Siegel.

Les Vampires, the 1915 silent crime serial from Louis Feuillade.


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