The Damned United (2009)- A tricky film. Both too serious & surprisingly compelling at once. Love/hate relationship w/ Clough works. ****/5
Dancer in the Dark (2000)-Novelty doesn't excuse sadism and mindless manipulation. I will say that Bjork is amazing. **1/2 out of 5
Date Night (2010)- Has its moments, but this formula action-comedy is just a little too dumb to be considered successful. **1/2 out of 5
Defamation (2009)- Well-judged, brave exploration into modern anti-Semitism and what's provoking it. ***1/2 out of 5
District 9 (2009)-Great story within a rich, authentic world, but changing narrative styles distract. Overbearing final act. ***1/2 of 5
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)- Weakens whenever Sonny steps outside, but Pacino's performance & human truths are undeniably great. **** out of 5
Dogtooth (2010)- Unapologetic showcasing of taboos as metaphor is respectable if not slightly pedestrian. ***1/2 out of 5
Double Indemnity (1944)- The perfect film noir... sleazy, smokey and so very sexy. One of my all-time favorites. ***** out of 5
The Double Life of Veronique (1991)-Just when its circular plot begins to drown the viewer, a perfect conclusion saves the day. ****1/2 of 5
Double Take (2010)- A bit pretentious, but ultimately a fascinating argument for the Cold War as macguffin. **** out of 5
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008)- Few laughs in between a barrage of badly written songs. Will please a only a niche audience. ** of 5
Earth (2009)-A few gorgeous nature shots and an insistence on focusing on baby animals in peril do not a good doc make. ** out of 5
Eat, Pray, Love (2010)- Nicely-packaged, yet naive & condescending travelogue that claims to explain reality through fantasy. **1/2 out of 5
Eccentricities of a Blonde-haired Girl (2010)-Strange but works as admittedly dull story told by a man whose idealism is shattered. *** of 5
Edge of Darkness (2010)- a. gov't conspiracy thriller b. grieving father's descent into madness c. Ridiculous pablum --Answer- C. **1/2 of 5
An Education (2009)- Very enjoyable and easy to watch. Everything's on a surface level, but what's there works very well. ***1/2 out of 5
Elephant (2003)- High school hell. All w/in are victims. Nothing glorified, yet questions left unanswered. Chilling. ****1/2 out of 5
The Elephant Man (1980)- A gorgeous achievement. Sentimentality is more than earned. Tragic and life affirming. ***** out of 5
Everlasting Moments (2009)- Heiskanen is amazing as Maria in a compelling yet somewhat flimsily textured feminist tale. ***1/2 out of 5
Everybody's Fine (2009)- Bit schmaltzy, fractured & self-serious, but I was ultimately won over by its heart and DeNiro's perf. ***1/2 of 5
Every Little Step (2009)- as a theater kid, this doc literally took my breath away. Makes a few strange choices, but overall it's fantastic! ****1/2
Everyone Says I Love You (1996)-A movie with so many scenes of whimsical genius ought not to be this lazy. *** out of 5
Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)- Works on every single level. Frustrating, funny, fascinating. Blows the mind. ***** out of 5
Exotica (1994)-Egoyan's brutally sad film provides such sincerity within an almost enigmatic plot. ****1/2 out of 5
Explicit Ills (2009)-Compelling and fascinating political rallying cry. Manipulative at times. Odd, yet contains rich emotional truth. ****1/2 of 5
Extract (2009)-Lukewarm comedy that could have used a few more laugh-out-loud moments. Everything played at 50%. **1/2 out of 5
A Face in the Crowd (1957)- Dark look at power corrupting a decent man. Solid performances. ****1/2 out of 5
Fados (2009)- Still can't define it exactly, but I can safely say that I enjoy fado music. Saura's film making is sublime! ***1/2 out of 5
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)- Moore at his best and most audacious. He convinced me that W. was a complete and total moron. ****1/2 out of 5
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)- Wes Anderson wonderfully and whimsically adapts a Dahl story that's kind of dull and unnecessary. **** out of 5
Farewell My Concubine (1993)-Life imitates opera in an uneven, yet visually enthralling epic. **** out of 5
Fear Strikes Out (1957)- a baseball/mental illness movie with dull baseball and shallow mental illness. A. Perkins- awful. ** out of 5
Fifty Dead Men Walking (2009)- Well made, moderately interesting thriller that's wildly uneven. Trying to be another The Departed. *** of 5
The Fighter (2010)- Story about as generic as the film's title. Russel's direction doesn't live up to the talent on screen. Good film. ***/5
Fish Tank- Though too sensational at times, Arnold's neo-realistic character study is effective and unsettling. ****1/2 out of 5
A Fistful of Dollars (1964)- Solid practice run for a director that has better things in store. Simple & shallow yet cinematic. ***1/2 of 5
A Fistful of Dynamite (1971)- Kaboom!!! Then some crap about a revolution. Then more Kaboom!!! **1/2 out of 5
Flame and Citron (2009)- Gritty and compelling, though a bit overstuffed and self-serious. ***1/2 out of 5
Floating Weeds (1959)- Beautiful, simple story of tradition vs. modernization and what it means to belong to a family. ***** out of 5
Food, Inc. (2009)-Articulate, compelling doc which makes its case without contempt and sarcasm. It presents disturbing facts very well. ****/5
For a Few Dollars More (1965)- Final act disappoints, but Leone's style is solidified. The result is slick and entertaining. ***1/2 of 5
For Your Consideration (2006)- O'Hara shines, but others are Inconsistent due to performances at different levels of absurdity. **1/2 of 5
Funny People (2009)-Romance storyline overstays its welcome, but seriocomic mortality thread shows Apatow at his most mature. ***1/2 out of 5
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