2010

Director: Peter Hyams

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086837/

Review: Decent science fiction with a strong atmosphere even if it doesn't fully match up to its predecessor.

Rent it if: You're not expecting 2001 standard, but still want a good film.

And if you liked: 2001: A Space Odyssey, Alien, Close Encounters of a Third Kind, Blade Runner

Check this out: 2010: Odyssey Two

Avatar

Director: James Cameron

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/

Review: Very long and full of clichés but the action & emotion absolutely sell and the technical visuals are stunning.

Go see it if: You've gone to the toilet and don't have sore eyes.

And if you liked: Aliens, Jurassic Park, Dances With Wolves

Where the Wild Things Are

Director: Spike Jonze

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386117/

Review: Very textural and with a fascinating atmosphere and flow.

Go see it if: You want something that really creeps into you... in a good way!

And if you liked: Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Garden State (kinda)

Check this out: Where the Wild Things Are

The Box

Director: Richard Kelly

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0362478/

Review: A pure definition of 'missing the point' buried in a sea of stupid plotlines and self indulgent imagery.

Go see it if: You're stupid like me. Don't go see it.

And if you liked: The Forgotten, Southland Tales

Check this out: Button, Button

Paranormal Activity

Director: Oren Peli

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1179904/

Review: The very end is a little bit silly but the rest of the film really sells the shocks and the extreme tension very well.

Go see it if: You don't think you have to see something to be scared of it.

And if you liked: The Blair Witch Project, The Exorcist

Paths of Glory

Director: Stanley Kubrick

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050825/

Review: A beautifully presented study on the selfishness and stupitidy of war.

Rent it if: You're some asshole who hasn't seen all of Kubrick's films like me.

And if you liked: Full Metal Jacket, Children of Men, Dr.Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Check this out: Paths of Glory

A Serious Man

Director: Joel & Ethan Coen

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1019452/

Review: Dark, strange, subtle, expertly executed and excellently performed.

Go see it if: You can handle a film not being solidly handed to you.

And if you liked: No Country for Old Men, Elephant, Fargo

Gohatto

Director: Nagisa Ôshima

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0213682/

Review: Subtly performed, beautifully shot and with an amazing soundtrack.

Rent it if: You think period dramas are stuffy and old-fashioned.

And if you liked: Atonement

Cold Souls

Director: Sophie Barthes

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1127877/

Review: Too long and not as emotionally engaging as it should be but is nicely shot and well acted.

Go see it if: You can handle a film without a strictly happy ending.

And if you liked: Being John Malkovich, Barton Fink, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Synecdoche New York

9

Director: Shane Acker

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472033/

Review: Quite cliché in parts but the action and visuals really hit home.

Go see it if: You can handle an animated film not being a hilarious comedy.

And if you liked: Coraline, The Matrix, Akira

Check this out: 9

Added cult bonus: Crispin Glover

Saw VI

Director: Kevin Greutert

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1233227/

Review: No better or worse than the other 5 Saw films.

Go see it if: You're stupid like me

And if you liked: The other Saw films

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Director: Wes Anderson

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0432283/

Review: Absolutely hilarious and full of lo-fi charm.

Go see it if: You can handle going to see a so called kids movie.

And if you liked: The Life Aquatic, The Darjeeling Ltd, The Nightmare Before Christmas

Check this out: Fantastic Mr. Fox

The Invention of Lying

Director: Ricky Gervais & Matthew Robinson

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1058017/

Review: Mildly amusing at best but not something hateable.

Go see it if: You're that bored. It's better fit for stumbling across on the TV one afternoon.

And if you liked: Liar Liar, Office Space

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Director: Terry Gilliam

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1054606/

Review: Dazzling visuals with a very dark undercurrent with some intriguing performances.

Go see it if: You agree that Terry Gilliam is brilliant

And if you liked: Brazil, Time Bandits

Saw V

Director: David Hackl

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1132626/

Review: Better than Saw IV but that's not saying much.

Rent it if: You're stupid like me

And if you liked: The other Saw films

Jersey Girl

Director: Kevin Smith

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0300051/

Review: Overly sentimental and with some lazy writing but watchable nonetheless.

Rent it if: You need to complete your Kevin Smith viewing archive

And if you liked: Not really versed in this genre enough to know

Zombieland

Director: Ruben Fleischer

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1156398/

Review: Great fun film that keeps you guessing with most of the plot.

Go see it if: You can handle some graphic violence.

And if you liked: Shaun of the Dead, Dawn of the Dead (2004), Superbad, From Dusk Til Dawn

In Bruges

Director: Martin McDonagh

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780536/

Review: Very funny, superbly performed and beautifully crafted.

Rent it if: You can handle some graphic violence

And if you liked: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Bad Lieutenant

Director: Abel Ferrara

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103759/

Review: Well paced and nicely shot but feels a little aimless.

Rent it if: You're not easily offended.

And if you liked: Taxi Driver, There Will be Blood

Atonement

Director: Joe Wright

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0783233/

Review: Stunning looking and expertly crafted.

Rent it if: You can deal with an unhappy ending.

And if you liked: Rashomon, The Fountain, Big Fish

Weird Science

Director: John Hughes

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090305/

Review: Bizarre and ridiculous fantasy but lots of fun nonetheless.

Rent it if: You're not concerned with a film making a lick of sense.

And if you liked: Sixteen Candles, Better Off Dead

Punch-Drunk Love

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

IMDB: IMDB URL

Review: A gripping and arresting look into the nature of stress and rage.

Rent it if: You don't believe Adam Sandler can act well

And if you liked: One Hour Photo, Mulholland Drive, There Will Be Blood, the work of Stanley Kubrick & Wes Anderson

Sixteen Candles

Director: John Hughes

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088128/

Review: A bit silly, idealistic and even a racist, but very fun and entertaining nonetheless.

Rent it if: You've been 16 I guess?

And if you liked: The Breakfast Club, Ferris Beuller's Day Off, Superbad

The Producers

Director: Mel Brooks

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063462/

Review: Very funny and enjoyable if a bit strangely paced.

Rent it if: You want to see where it started

And if you liked: Young Frankenstein, The Ladykillers

Away We Go

Director: Sam Mendes

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1176740/

Review: A bit patchy and aimless but it's easy to lose yourself in and the first half is very funny.

Go see it if: You enjoy dry conversational humour.

And if you liked: Juno (only far dryer), Lars and the Real Girl

District 9

Director: Neill Blomkamp

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1136608/

Review: A refreshingly thought driven action film with fantastic characterization and special effects.

Go see it if: You have a strong stomach and can handle action with a brain.

And if you liked: The Fly, Robocop, the Resident Evil games, the Half-Life games

Check this out: Alive in Joburg

Up

Director: Pete Docter

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1049413/

Review: It is beautiful, heart-breaking and hilarious.

Go see it if: You're not distracted by squirrels

And if you liked: Monsters Inc, Star Wars, The Incredibles

Added cult bonus: Wilhelm Scream

Screamers

Director: Christian Duguay

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114367/

Review: An enjoyable story, let down a little by unconvincing visual effects and some poor acting.

Rent it if: You can handle a few obvious lifts.

And if you liked: The Thing, Leviathan, the Terminator films

Check this out: Second Variety

Inglourious Basterds

Director: Quentin Tarantino

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361748/

Review: Really great fun film that revels in its own silliness and camp.

Go see it if: You've eaten, gone to the toilet and can deal with subtitles.

And if you liked: Death Proof, Pulp Fiction

Added Cult Bonus: Wilhelm Scream

Religulous

Director: Larry Charles

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0815241/

Review: A hilarious, interesting if occasionally patronising (to the interviewees) film.

Rent it if: You're not sensitive about your faith... actually no, if you are sensitive about your faith!

And if you liked: Bill Maher's Politically Incorrect, Brüno

Gimme Shelter

Director: The Maysles Brothers

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065780/

Review: Really interesting piece of history that truly seems to capture the atmosphere of the time and place.

Rent it if: You want an insight into Altamont, and can handle a bit of nudity

And if you liked: Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

Director: Stephen Sommers

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1046173/

Review: Gets very muddled in the second half but is surprisingly good fun nonetheless.

Go see it if: You can deal with some violence. It's very violent for a kid's film.

And if you liked: Team America: World Police, Wanted

Added cult bonus: Jonathan Pryce

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Director: David Yates

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417741/

Review: Nicely shot and enjoyable to watch but is far too long and doesn't really make sense to anyone who hasn't read the book.

Go see it if: You've read the book.

And if you liked: The other Harry Potter films?

S.Darko

Director: Chris Fisher

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1231277/

Review: When approached with an open mind, ignoring it's sequel status, it's still an inane and moronically bad film.

Rent it if: You hate your money

And if you liked: Kicks in the face

Moon

Director: Duncan Jones

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1182345/

Review: Really interesting story with an absolutely gorgeous score that drags a little towards the end but ultimately picks up.

Go see it if: You want another serious science fiction (finally)

And if you liked: 2001: A Space Odyssey, Alien

Added cult bonus: Matt Berry

Anvil! The Story of Anvil

Director: Sacha Gervasi

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1157605/

Review: A fascinating documentary that's tough to watch at parts but the Spinal Tap parallels seem too close to be unintentional.

Rent it if: You want a better idea of the struggle that can happen within the music industry.

And if you liked: This is Spinal Tap, Some Kind of Monster

Brüno

Director: Larry Charles

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0889583/

Review: Quite funny and enjoyable but ultimately feels rather safe even when it's shocking.

Go see it if: You can handle some graphic nudity and graphic gay sex humour.

And if you liked: Borat, American Pie, Superbad

Public Enemies

Director: Michael Mann

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1152836/

Review: Some fantastic cinematography and composition but is let down by it's black & white characterisation and length.

Go see it if: You can handle some violence.

And if you liked: Miller's Crossing, The Black Dahlia

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Director: Michael Bay

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1055369/

Review: A ridiculously long mess that just gets more and more stupid with every single unwelcome second.

Go see it if: You can handle hearing Green Day's new single like, five separate times. We get it, you want us to buy it.

And if you liked: Transformers, The Matrix, Armageddon, The Matrix Revolutions

The Hangover

Director: Todd Phillips

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1119646/

Review: Very funny and original film that doesn't quite break the mould but certainly cracks it.

Go see it if: You want some fun and laughs and can handle some nudity.

And if you liked: Old School, Go, Superbad

Added cult bonus: Zach Galifianakis

Leviathan

Director: George P. Cosmatos

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097737/

Review: Good enough action horror with a dodgy ending but it's hard to shake the feeling that it's just Alien underwater.

Rent it if: You want an enjoyable 90 minutes of claustrophobic monster horror.

And if you liked: Alien, The Thing, Event Horizon

Terminator Salvation

Director: McG

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0438488/

Review: Enjoyable action film with superb special effects but littered with some really stupid moments.

Go see it if: You can handle that the meatheads in the audience are being considered a bit too much.

And if you liked: The Terminator films obviously, Aliens, some of the visuals of Children of Men

Drag Me to Hell

Director: Sam Raimi

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1127180/

Review: An absolute rollercoaster of hilarity and jumps.

Go see it if: You don't expect to actually be scared, but can enjoy that.

And if you liked: Evil Dead 2, Army of Darkness, Braindead

Synecdoche, New York

Director: Charlie Kaufman

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383028/

Review: An intensely cerebral and complex film that digs deep into human emotion.

Go see it if: You have a clear head and don't mind the realisation that you'll probably have to see it again.

And if you liked: Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Barton Fink

Coraline

Director: Henry Selick

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0327597/

Review: Deliciously creepy and visually arresting.

Go see it if: Just go see it

And if you liked: The Nightmare Before Christmas, Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, Return to Oz

Check this out: Coraline

Star Trek

Director: J.J. Abrams

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0796366/

Review: Lots of fun and very enjoyable despite being difficult to become fully engaged with.

Go see it if: You like Star Trek and even if you don't. I wasn't a fan and I still enjoyed it.

And if you liked: Star Trek films (doy), Star Wars

Metallica: Some Kind of Monster

Director: Joe Berlinger & Bruce Sinofsky

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387412/

Review: A very bizarre and funny documentary with questionable motives and editing.

Rent it if: You're interested in Metallica whether it be positive or negative.

And if you liked: This is Spinal Tap

Let the Right One In

Director: Tomas Alfredson

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1139797/

Review: Some beautiful cinematography and moods but ultimately is far too long.

Go see it if: You can handle some violence

And if you liked: Elephant, 30 Days of Night

Check this out: Let the Right One In

Bolt

Director: Byron Howard & Chris Williams

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397892/

Review: A very funny and enjoyable film that doesn't stick with you, but will still entertain.

Go see it if: You want some fun entertainment without a challenge.

And if you liked: The Incredibles, Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Shrek

Crash

Director: David Cronenberg

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115964/

Review: A very bizarre and disturbing film that peters out towards the end but still features some very original ideas and sequences.

Rent it if: You have a strong stomach.

And if you liked: eXistenZ, Eastern Promises, Irreversible

Check this out: Crash

Shallow Grave

Director: Danny Boyle

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111149/

Review: A brilliantly written and tense thriller that keeps you constantly guessing.

Rent it if: You can handle some violence and haunting atmosphere.

And if you liked: Dead Man's Shoes, Trainspotting, Night of the Living Dead

Network

Director: Sidney Lumet

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074958/

Review: Fascinating look into the cynicism of television with some excellent performances.

Rent it if: You're curious about how TV networks REALLY work.

And if you liked: The Conversation, Videodrome

The Wicker Man (2006)

Director: Neil LaBute

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450345/

Review: Utterly hilarious and genuinely stupid.

Rent it if: You want to see Nicolas Cage punch some women.

And if you liked: Face/Off

Check this out: The Wicker Man

J.C.V.D

Director: Mabrouk El Mechri

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1130988/

Review: An amazingly entertaining and strangely beautiful look at the nature of celebrity.

Rent it if: You think Jean-Claude Van Damme can't act. You'll be proven wrong.

And if you liked: The films of Jean-Claude Van Damme, Being John Malkovich, The Wrestler

Bronson

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1172570/

Review: Really fascinating direction with an amazing performance at its center.

Go see it if: You can handle some heavy violence and male nudity.

And if you liked: A Clockwork Orange, There Will Be Blood

The Untouchables

Director: Brian De Palma

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094226/

Review: Enjoyable story with great set pieces but is ultimately let down by its bad accents and terrible soundtrack.

Rent it if: You can handle the awful Irish accents.

And if you liked: The Departed, The Black Dahlia, The Godfather

The Devil's Backbone

Director: Guillermo Del Toro

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0256009/

Review: A good story with an excellent backdrop with really amazing atmosphere and visuals.

Rent it if: You can handle subtitles, or can speak Spanish. Quick warning, my DVD's subs were a little off time. Nothing serious but other ones might be like that.

And if you liked: Pan's Labyrinth, Ring

Manhattan

Director: Woody Allen

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079522/

Review: A really enjoyable and interesting film with beautiful framing and great moments of humour.

Rent it if: You can handle something with out a specific plot, that flows more like real life. Also, if you can handle black and white for artistic reasons.

And if you liked: Harold & Maude, Annie Hall, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

The Secret of Kells

Director: Tomm Moore

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0485601/

Review: A visually stunning film that takes a little while to get going but once it does it's gripping.

Go see it if: You can handle this "old-timey" 2D animation.

And if you liked: Asterix, The Book of Kells?

Surveillance

Director: Jennifer Lynch

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409345/

Review: An enjoyable and tense thriller that loses its way, story-wise, in the third act.

Go see it if: You can handle some violence and strange acting.

And if you liked: Lost Highway, Wild at Heart

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Director: Woody Allen

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0497465/

Review: A great story with interesting characters and realistic dialogue.

Go see it if: You can allow a film to just flow naturally rather than rigidly following a thread.

And if you liked: Annie Hall

Watchmen

Director: Zack Snyder

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409459/

Review: A very enjoyable and very faithful adaptation that occasionally feels a little patchy and contains a little too much slow motion but ultimately does the story justice.

Go see it if: You can handle some violence and have gone to the toilet previously.

And if you liked: The graphic novel of Watchmen (obviously), Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, 300

Check this out: Watchmen

Lynch One

Director: blackANDwhite

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1032207/

Review: An interesting insight into the way Lynch moves.

Go see it if: You're interested enough in David Lynch to want to see what he would consider the mundane.

And if you liked: Lynch's films obviously, Meeting People is Easy

My Best Fiend - Klaus Kinski

Director: Werner Herzog

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0200849/

Review: A bizarre, fascinating and touching look into an erratic personality.

Rent it if: You're interested in Klaus Kinski.

And if you liked: Aguirre: The Wrath of God, Nosferatu, Woyzeck, Fitzcarraldo, Cobra Verde

Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder

Director: Peter Avanzino

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1054487/

Review: Quite funny but never quite hits like the TV series did.

Rent it if: You're already a fan of Futurama, I wouldn't start with it though.

And if you liked: The other Futurama films... obviously.

Cobra Verde

Director: Werner Herzog

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094888/

Review: A strange and tense film that runs a little too long but has a powerful ending.

Rent it if: You want to see some great Kinski acting.

And if you liked: Aguirre: The Wrath of God, Fitzcarraldo

Added cult bonus: Klaus Kinski

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Director: David Fincher

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/

Review: Interesting and charming but too long and somewhat uneventful.

Go see it if: You have some time on your hands.

And if you liked: Zodiac, Forrest Gump

Milk

Director: Gus Van Sant

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013753/

Review: An interesting and touching if a bit biased look into a man's passions.

Go see it if: You're not so homophobic you can't handle two men kissing on screen.

And if you liked: I really don't know

The Wrestler

Director: Darren Aronofsky

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1125849/

Review: Truly fascinating character study that keeps your constant interest all the way through.

Go see it if: You can handle some terrible 80s rock as it makes sense for the character.

And if you liked: Rosetta, There Will Be Blood

The Brothers Grimm

Director: Terry Gilliam

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0355295/

Review: Fun and enjoyable fantasy adventure that meanders a bit and let's down on the special effects a little.

Rent it if: You want a bit of Gilliam's particular brand of fairy tale magic.

And if you liked: Pirates of the Caribbean, Jabberwocky, The Tenth Kingdom

A Complete History of My Sexual Failures

Director: Chris Waitt

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1037033/

Review: Interesting and enjoyable if a bit hard to believe.

Rent it if: You're not too squeamish and you can take a documentary with a grain of salt.

And if you liked: High Fidelity

Tideland

Director: Terry Gilliam

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0410764/

Review: A disturbing, distressing and brilliant depiction of a child dealing with loss.

Rent it if: You can handle some serious taboos being dealt with.

And if you liked: Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, Pan's Labyrinth, What Is It?

Check this out: Tideland

The Spirit

Director: Frank Miller

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0831887/

Review: Ridiculous crap.

Go see it if: You have absolutely nothing better to do.

And if you liked: Some very bad films.

Check this out: The Spirit

Where the Buffalo Roam

Director: Art Linson

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081748/

Review: Fairly enjoyable if messy look at Hunter S. Thompson's approach to things.

Rent it if: You're interested in Hunter S. Thompson.

And if you liked: Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, Gonzo