Now that all the publicity and hype have passed, isn't it obvious that there is no way in hell Sandra Bullock should have won an Oscar instead of the divine Carey Mulligan in An Education? I had serious doubts about Sherlock Holmes when it was originally announced, but I found it to be much better than I expected. Sure, it was your typical, bloated, over-done studio film, but it was actually a pretty good one. Baader Meinhof Complex was the best foreign movie you didn't see last year. If you couldn't get onto the incredibly exclusive guest list at UCB, at least now you can see the star-studded A Night of 140 Tweets on DVD. Cheers to Paul Scheer for organizing this charity bonanza. Spankers and Horat released in the same week? Amazing! more ›

We can all agree that the Coen Brothers are the finest filmmakers working in America right now, can't we? A Serious Man is further proof of their complete mastery of the medium. Aside from numerous other wonderful scenes, the bar mitzvah and the closing shot at the school are beyond brilliant. I watched The Time Traveler's Wife expecting a good, solid cry. Sadly, it did not deliver (though, Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams were their usual solid selves). How did a movie with as much talent as Couples Retreat turn out to be such a dud? Bronson was uneven as a film, but Tom Hardy delivered an Oscar-worthy performance. It's so searing and violent that, frankly, I'd be worried to be in the same room as Tom Hardy. That couldn't all have been acting. 19 films by David Lean and Charlie Chaplin for under $75. That's called a 'buy', folks! Boobs! Boobs! Boobs! more ›

For the second week in a row, Avatar blew away the competition to easily capture the box-office crown ($75M | $212.2M). It's presumed challenger, Sherlock Holmes was a distant second ($65.3M) while Dumb Fucking Chipmunk Movie made an obscene amount of money ($50.2M) (presumably, from moronic families trying to keep their bratty kids quiet for a few hours). Adult "comedy" (e.g. not funny) It's Complicated had a decent weekend ($22.1M) while the superb Up in the Air surged in its first weekend of wide release ($11.7M | $24.5M). more ›

In a just world families would be heading out to the multiplex this afternoon to see Terry Gilliam's latest (and Heath Ledger's last) The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Of course, we don't live in such a world so Sherlock Holmes will be getting all of the business. If you want to try something thought-provoking and serious (yeah, I know you don't), check out Police, Adjective. I respect everything about Nancy Meyers other than the actual movies she makes. Her latest is It's Complicated. I will, of course, pass. Apparently, there is some kiddie flick opening today called Dumb Fucking Chipmunks Movie. Probably gonna miss that one, too. more ›

State of Play was a mostly riveting throwback to All the President's Men that starred Russell Crowe as a grizzled D.C. journalist caught in the middle of a hell of a lot of sex, intrigue and murder. Naturally, it was a financial disappointment. Help remedy that injustice by picking it up on DVD today. The big-budget, adult-oriented drama must be preserved! Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer can do no wrong in my book (well, maybe McKean can). Add Unwigged & Unplugged (LAist review here) to the top of your shopping list. Both Braveheart and Gladiator look great on Blu-Ray. If only I had an interest in ever seeing them again. My friend Mangoo Jonnycakes Nail loved Sin Nombre when he saw it at Sundance. I can't disagree. more ›

In a rare show of good taste, Americans flocked to the alien civil rights drama, District 9, as it rang up a surprising $37M in sales to top the weekend box office. Last week's champ, G.I. Joe: Didn't Suck As Much As Transformers, had a decent second frame ($22.5M | $98.7M), managing to hold off newcomer The Time Traveler's Wife ($19.2M). After that it was the mostly delightful Julie & Julia ($12.4M | $43.6M), the stupid G-Force ($6.9M | $99M) and The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, which debuted to a disappointing $5.3M. more ›

District 9 is generating the sort of low-level buzz that is often the sign of an unexpected, breakout hit. Thank God, the plug got pulled on Halo or District 9 never would have been made. Also, thank God that the increasingly on-the-nose Peter Jackson didn't direct it. Davis Guggenheim isn't nearly the documentary filmmaker that a Kirby Dick or an Errol Morris is, but the subject matter of It Might Get Loud kept me enthralled (LAist review here). What Zeppelin fan wouldn't love to see Jimmy Page not only play with The Edge and Jack White but show off his record collection, too. Not sure what to make of The Goods. Critics are torching it, but someone compared it to Wet Hot American Summer which was only incredibly hilarious and inventive. more ›

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Okay, Ben. This is how you act. | Photo courtesy of Universal more ›

Election [Blu-ray] more ›

It almost felt like summer again this weekend as a bloated, crappy movie rang up a huge number at the box-office. Despite seriously sucking balls, continued to do well in its third week ($6.1M/$45.5M). more ›

I've always thought it was a shame that Jason Statham got stuck in the ghetto of glossy, empty action flicks. You'd never guess it by watching looks to be a winner. more ›