My reviews of non-Criterion movies from August.
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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 Imposter, a 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.
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* 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 Madness, starring 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 Lazhar, a surprising example of quality feel-good cinema, adding a nice spin to the inspirational teacher genre.
* Once Upon a Time in Anatolia, an 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 36, a tightly wound noir with Ida Lupino. Directed by Don Siegel.
* Les Vampires, the 1915 silent crime serial from Louis Feuillade.
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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 Imposter, a 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 Madness, starring 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 Lazhar, a surprising example of quality feel-good cinema, adding a nice spin to the inspirational teacher genre.
* Once Upon a Time in Anatolia, an 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 36, a tightly wound noir with Ida Lupino. Directed by Don Siegel.
