Surrogates

Nothing new here. Minority Report, I Robot, and Blade Runner thrown in a grinder and set on Bland. Bruce Willis did the best he could do with his role, but the character and the plot prove to be utterly trite. It's too bad, too. With the additional talents of Ving Rhames, Radha Mitchell, and James Cromwell, this movie could have been epic. The action is pretty dull, too. Not in the least bit exciting. Skip it.

Fandango

I've been sitting on this movie for weeks, almost a month, literally. (Actually I just checked my Netflix queue, and I've had it for more than a month!) It was recommended by some coworkers a few years ago, but when I actually got it, the prospect of a stereotypical college road trip comedy didn't really grab me, so I kept putting off watching it...

Well, I am an idiot, because it turned out to be much more than a road trip movie. It weaves in themes of coming of age and loss of innocence, among others, but mostly without getting too preachy or heavy. If anything, it has several places (mostly in the middle) where it tries a bit too hard to be funny, just plain laying it on thick. But I find it easy to forgive this because it gets it right overall, and wraps up in an interesting and satisfying way.

It also has a rather young Kevin Costner whom I actually like for once; it turns out he can actually act! I wouldn't call this movie excellent or great, but it is good, especially if you like comedies that mix in some thoughtfulness, like The Breakfast Club...

Bronson

Bronson will be tough for a lot of viewers. It's very surreal. The feel I got watching it was the same feeling I got watching A Clockwork Orange, even though the two movies have very little in common. There's no concrete narrative, but the story is pretty tight and easy to follow. The plot, however, is almost irrelevant. Even if it didn't work, Bronson would still be worth watching for its cinematic genius. This is the art of cinema at its best. Tom Hardy gives a truly amazing performance that will undoubtedly put him in the independent film history books. Everyone who craves something different needs to see this movie. Even if you dislike it, you'll have to agree that it's unique.

Sunshine Cleaning

This one can't be summed up in one word. On the surface it's a typical soul-searching drama, but it works on several other levels, too. I can't even say it's about one thing. There are multiple solid themes working through this movie that makes it beyond any one genre. Amy Adams is wonderful, as always. Emily Blunt is pretty terrific, as well. Definitely worth seeing.

Halloween II (2009)

Rob Zombie's follow-up to his reimagining of Halloween is like a bad acid trip: it's loud, violent, and makes no sense whatsoever. There are some interesting ideas here, but virtually no plot. Michael Meyers wasn't exactly Hannibal Lecter in Zombie's previous film, but he was more developed than John Carpenter's original killer. He moved with purpose and had real presence. In this one, however, he's little more than a big, lumbering zombie. Worst of all, though, are the hallucinations of his mother and a white horse he (and the audience) is subjected to throughout the movie. They're really trippy sequences that shatter the realistic tone previously set and serve no other purpose than to bring Sheri Moon Zombie back. Malcolm McDowell returns as Dr. Loomis, but adds absolutely nothing to the story. A big disappointment.

Doubt

This movie works on so many levels that it's hard to imagine someone not liking it. I really can't praise it enough. The casting was nothing short of brilliant. The camerawork is among the most graceful and beautiful I've ever seen. The writing is as close to perfection as humanly possible. Hoffman and Streep are total opposites, drawing a line in the sand for the audience members to take sides. Adams is the ace in the hole, however. Her childlike innocence wins over everyone's trust. Her naivete, however, makes her judgment questionable. Doubt is, undoubtedly, worth seeing.

Y.P.F.

Cute little movie. It explores the emotional bond sex creates between people, cycling between five stories. Sure, it's vulgar, but it's also got a heart. There's also a surprisingly small amount of nudity, which gives it a light-hearted feel. Definitely worth watching, maybe even with that special someone.