American Teen (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 9

This excellent documentary follows four midwestern teens every day for an entire school year. Unlike reality television, American Teen actually seems pretty true, and will make you very thankful to be done with high school.

Kiss The Bride (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 2

The poster says it all.

Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Rating: 3

Underwhelming.

R.I.P. Sydney Pollack

This great director and actor will be missed. Full obit here.

Transsiberian (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 8.5

This thriller is icy cold, and not just because of its frigid locale. Very gripping. I recommend it.

The Fall (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 8.5

I'm glad to see that that Tarsem, the director of the disappointing Jennifer Lopez movie The Cell, is finally able to put his imagination to good use. But though the art direction is breathtaking, the most remarkable thing in The Fall is its main character, a little girl named Alexandra (Cantica Untaru.) It's the most realistic and charming portrayal of a child I've seen in a film in ages. Maybe ever. In your face, Dakota Fanning!

I also hope this film will finally make Lee Pace, the main adult in the film, a household name.

Opium: Diary of a Madwoman (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 3

It takes place in an early 20th Century madhouse in Hungary and has plenty of explicit sex and opiate addiction. Sounds like it would be interesting, huh? Nope.

Heavy Metal in Baghdad (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 9

Acrassicauda is Iraq's only heavy metal band. If they grow their hair out for proper headbanging, they risk death. Their fans put themselves in harm's way just to attend a gig. The movie is about war and artistic expression and many other things, like the plight of Iraqi refugees and the fact that they're routinely denied visas to the states or Europe. I learned from their blog that because of the visa situation they have been unable to attend any of the screenings of the movie, which is gaining a reputation at major film festivals such as Seattle, Toronto and Berlin. I hope attention to the film will allow its subjects to escape from their desperate situation. The movie's terrific, and so is the band.

Gonzo: The Life & Work of Hunter S. Thompson (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 8

This great documentary features Johnny Depp, Jimmy Carter and even Pat Buchanan! Really fun.

Elite Squad (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 7

About sociopathic Brazilian cops, the story takes quite a while to pick up momentum but really gets interesting towards the end. The violence is pretty extreme. There's an obvious influence of City of God, but those are big shoes to fill, and Elite Squad lacks the inventiveness to quite measure up.

Before The Rains (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 6

Set in India in 1937, this drama has lavish cinematography. A nice period piece that I wish had a better explanation of Indian culture during that time, beyond the fact that they wanted the British out.

Two Bond flicks: Dr. No and Goldfinger

Rating: 8 & 8

Bond: Do you expect me to talk?
Goldfinger: No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die!

It was a real treat to see these on the big screen, especially since I'm from the generation that associates Bond with Roger Moore. But not anymore.

Standard Operating Procedure

Rating: 8

Errol Morris has done it again. Though there isn't much variation in his formula, it still works.

Ironman

Rating: 8.5

Whether it's the quality of the film or just the awesomeness that is Robert Downey Jr. that makes it so enjoyable I couldn't tell you, but I had a great time.