Red

This is a totally fun, well acted & even decently scripted action flick. Good popcorn film with a REALLY great cast. 4/5

Red on Netflix

Exit Through The Gift Shop

Quirky? Innovative? Possibly brilliant? Sure. But is it really a documentary? I can't say. I'll say this - it sure does make you think. Oh, and Banksy *IS* an artist. IMHO anyways. 3.5/5

Exit Through The Gift Shop on Netflix

Resident Evil: Afterlife

I know not to expect much from a ResEvil joint, but fuck me that was terrible. 2 stars, begrudgingly

Followup: The ONLY reason it gets 2 stars is Milla and Ali are frigging awesome and I'd watch them read the paper. In my imagination, they are sitting on chairs with spiked legs, reading a newspaper while bouncing up and down. The spikes on the chair legs are digging deep into Paul W.S. Anderson's flesh with every bounce.

And they're naked. But I mean, of course they are. And it's raining. Wait, newspapers? No. Weatherproof field manuals for the weapons leaning against the small stone wall behind them.

I'll stop now.

Resident Evil: Afterlife at Netflix

Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll

Inspired acting by Andy Serkis is disjointed & confusing in this quirky biopic about Ian Dury. 2.5/5

Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll on Netflix

Alarm

Some movies don't need a final resolution to complete them. This movie was in dire need of one & didn't get it. Shame. 2/5

Alarm on Netflix

Twelve

Kiefer Sutherland's rich narration is what really makes Schumacher's teen-drug-angst film stand out - wonderfully acted & written. Seriously, the prose is lush, the stuff Bret Easton Ellis fancies that he writes but doesn't. Good stuff. 4/5

Twelve on Netflix

$5 A Day

A sweet enough story but the relationships between the characters never really gelled for me. Just average. 3/5

$5 A Day on Netflix

Paper Man

This poignant drama starts out slowly & subtly but builds to equal parts loveliness & heartbreak. Special shout-out to Ryan Reynolds who, as Captain Excellent, really made this work. Beautifully done. 4/5

Paper Man on Netflix

I Sell The Dead

Quirky little UK movie about Victorian grave robbers who graduate from the dead to the undead. Fun & odd. 4 stars

The Last Days

This documentary about 5 Jews who survived the Holocaust is just heart-wrenching. Devastating to watch. 3.5/5

The Last Days on Netflix

Lebanon

The "Das Boot" of tank movies, this innovative war drama is dark, grizzly, claustrophobic & brilliant. 4.5/5

Lebanon on Netflix

Stone

Edward Norton & Milla Jovovich are outstanding in this subtle psych thriller about guilt, innocence and spirituality. Intriguing. 3.5/5

Stone on Netflix

Jack Goes Boating

NOT your typical rom-com! This is real, dark, & heartfelt - a very "Only The Lonely" vibe. PSH's direction was subtle and beautiful. Well done - this surprised me. 4/5

Jack Goes Boating on Netflix

Death Rides A Horse

Revenge, redemption, peace. Less silly than most spaghettis. Horrid DVD transfer, Van Cleef was great. 3.5 stars

Follow-up: This movie is now public domain, and who knows why Netflix has this dismal pan & scan hacked up fuzzfest of a version when we know MGM has a well-preserved widescreen version they sell in the UK. I'm assuming this DVD was made from a VHS made from God knows what, but seemingly a Youtube video. Interestingly, the horrible quality did not diminish Lee Van Cleef's ability to capture your eye and make you believe him. That guy had it.

The Messenger

A wonderfully crafted & beautifully acted film about the pain of loss & grief from all sides. It's rare to see a film paint such a magnificent portrait of the armed forces. This is such a film. Humbling and emotional.

The Messenger on Netflix

Rashomon

It was a great idea, but I found the execution of it so faulty & awkward that this film failed on nearly all levels. 2/5

Rashomon on Netflix

It's All Gone Pete Tong

Paul Kaye is astounding in this mockmentary of the fall, rise, & demise of DJ Frankie Wilde. FWIW, I totally believed this while I was watching it - even Wiki has it wrong. Amazing & truly brilliantly acted. 4.5/5

It's All Gone Pete Tong on Netflix

Sunset Boulevard

I really enjoyed the writing & the direction of this, but the melodrama was a bit overwhelming to me. 3.5/5

Sunset Boulevard on Netflix

The Incredibles

Seriously, has Pixar ever missed? This was funny, exciting, & heartwarming. Another winner - excellent. 5/5

The Incredibles on Netflix

Tenure

I needed something silly, stupid & mindless after watching "Inception". This worked. Mindless but serviceable, needed more comedy 2.5/5

Tenure on Netflix

Inception

Absolutely brilliant - one of the most masterfully constructed films possibly ever made. I loved every minute. 5/5

JimK - 148 minutes. I loved it so much I wish it were LONGER. Also? I choose to believe. 5 stars.

Inception on Netflix

Exiled

Johnnie To's East-meets-West fusion is mostly style but short on substance. "Vengeance" this isn't, but it's damn pretty. 3/5

Exiled on Netflix

Children Underground

This documentary about street children in Bucharest is devastating - such horrible conditions! So sad. 4/5

Children Underground on Netflix

For a Few Dollars More

Better that "Fistful" but nowhere near "High Noon". I even liked Clint alright and Van Cleef was great. It's definitely a genre issue - I'm just not that into spaghetti westerns it seems. I'll see "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" but if that doesn't change my mind I might call it on spaghettis and stick to classic westerns At least I got to see Klaus Kinski - totally bonus for me. I do love how different ways that man could play crazy. ;) 3/5

For a Few Dollars More on Netflix

Hoosiers

Very solid movie - well constructed & executed. Predictable as hell though, but still good fun. 4/5

Hoosiers on Netflix

High Noon

Honor. Some talk about it, some pretend to have it and some people simply live as if it were in their blood. 5 stars.

Follow-up: Gary Cooper deserves every bit of the praise he gets. So many complex things happen happened on his face without copious amounts of dialogue to spoon feed it to an audience.


DONNA'S TURN:

So Jim walked into the room before I was about to watch another movie, handed this disc to me and said "Watch this... RIGHT NOW." I took his word for it and did.

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!!!! Taut writing, wonderful, understated acting, tight direction - this is exactly what I was expecting from Leone but didn't get. I'm really thinking Jim is right - I like westerns, but not spaghetti westerns. Cooper was magnificent and the real-time direction was just marvelous. More like this, please! 5/5

High Noon at Netflix

The Snapper

I dunno - nothing about this film gelled for me on any level. It was sweet enough but I honestly didn't care. Bah. 2/5

The Snapper on Netflix

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

Powerhouse acting & a sleek script make this classic film hold up even after all these years. Very moving, and my gods Elizabeth Taylor is so stunning! 4.5/5

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof on Netflix

Stolen

Jon Hamm & Josh Lucas are magnificent in this well-crafted, haunting thriller. Beautifully shot & wonderfully acted. A special nod to James Van Der Beek for his fine supporting role. That guy never gets enough credit. I really enjoyed this. 4/5

Stolen on Netflix

Under Still Waters

This psych thriller is beautifully shot but shakily written. I guessed most of it, the rest was silly. 2.5/5

Under Still Waters on Netflix

Please Give

This was simply a bunch of damaged people doing damaging things to each other. Where was the comedy again? 2/5

Please Give on Netflix

Sophie's Choice

This is such a profoundly sorrowful film in both execution & performance - I want to weep. Tragically lovely and oh so very sad. 4.5/5

Sophie's Choice on Netflix