Everyone waits until the year is over to compile their “Best of whatever” movie lists. This has become a mundane practice. Time for a bit of a change, kids. If yours truly did not have to cover other topics in addition to penetrating every crevice of film industry (Hollywood, independent, local, etc.), this growing monster of a list might have reached around 240 flicks screened. But since this guy still likes to eat, have some sort of social existence, not look like a stoner (bloodshot eyes), and pay the bills in a timely fashion, we’re cutting this sucker off now. For those just arriving to this weekly party, the goal  [ Read More ]

Everyone waits until the year is over to compile their “Best of whatever” movie lists. This has become a mundane practice. Time for a bit of a change, kids. All the elite veterans come to play on one of the final release weekends of 2012. Tom Cruise, Quentin Tarantino, and Judd Apatow and friends execute what they do best. Meanwhile, the alternate Hitchcock from HBO Films, The Girl, runs well with the big boys. ***Being a voting member of one of the accredited film critic associations recognized by the studios for year-end awards, a ton of “For Your Consideration” screeners will be viewed up until Christmas time; all vying for  [ Read More ]

Everyone waits until the year is over to compile their “Best of whatever” movie lists. This has become a mundane practice. Time for a bit of a change, kids. The year is winding down and yours truly has been catching up on all the limited releases of 2012 since just about all the marquee flicks have been screened. The Guilt Trip is the only notable wide release that got ranked while documentaries Marley and Jiro Dreams of Sushi received some play time this past weekend. And the top ten was given another shuffle. ***Being a voting member of one of the accredited film critic associations recognized by the studios for  [ Read More ]

Everyone waits until the year is over to compile their “Best of whatever” movie lists. This has become a mundane practice. Time for a bit of a change, kids. The 2012 movie season was hoping to save some of the best entries for last, and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was destined to be one of them. Or is it? Also coming over to play stateside, are Best Foreign Pic hopefuls Amour and Holy Motors. And a few other indie flicks found their way into the coveted rankings as well. ***Being a voting member of one of the accredited film critic associations recognized by the studios for year-end awards, a  [ Read More ]

Everyone waits until the year is over to compile their “Best of whatever” movie lists. This has become a mundane practice. Time for a bit of a change, kids. As more independent flicks enter the 2012 movie fray, a few marquee releases such as This Is 40 and Les Miserables arrived to be in consideration for respective film critics’ associations year-end voting deadlines. Besides those two notables, due out around Christmas time, Spike Lee’s Red Hook Summer The Weinstein Company’s Quartet, and a unique documentary titled The Imposter, all made a decent impression when compared to the 200 films reviewed/screened by yours truly up to this point. ***Being a voting  [ Read More ]

Everyone waits until the year is over to compile their “Best of whatever” movie lists. This has become a mundane practice. Time for a bit of a change, kids. ***Being a voting member of one of the accredited film critic associations recognized by the studios for year-end awards, a ton of “For Your Consideration” screeners will be viewed up until Christmas time; all vying for award nods/momentum heading into the 84th Academy Awards*** After a slew of indies and docs entering in earlier this week, some of the more notable contenders are starting to arrive: Silver Linings Playbook benefited from game performances from the cast while Kathryn Bigelow’s cinematic chronicle  [ Read More ]

Everyone waits until the year is over to compile their “Best of whatever” movie lists. This has become a mundane practice. Time for a bit of a change, kids. ***Being a voting member of one of the accredited film critic associations recognized by the studios for year-end awards, a ton of “For Your Consideration” screeners will be viewed up until Christmas time; all vying for award nods/momentum heading into the 84th Academy Awards*** A bunch of documentaries, most of them very good, found their way into the rankings. Two that standout revolve around music in Bad 25 an Shut Up and Play the Hits. As for the other new entries,  [ Read More ]

Everyone waits until the year is over to compile their “Best of whatever” movie lists. This has become a mundane practice. Time for a bit of a change, kids. ***Being a voting member of one of the accredited film critic associations recognized by the studios for year-end awards, a ton of “For Your Consideration” screeners will be viewed up until Christmas time; all vying for award nods/momentum heading into the 84th Academy Awards*** As noted just below, the frequency of the rankings will be published twice a week due to the sheer volume of awards season screenings. The Collection was the only wide release yours truly was able to see,  [ Read More ]

Everyone waits until the year is over to compile their “Best of whatever” movie lists. This has become a mundane practice. Time for a bit of a change, kids. ***Being a voting member of one of the accredited film critic associations recognized by the studios for year-end awards, a ton of “For Your Consideration” screeners will be viewed up until Christmas time; all vying for award nods/momentum heading into the 84th Academy Awards*** Last week’s rankings included many of this past week’s Thanksgiving arrivals (Twilight Breaking Dawn – Part 2, Red Dawn, etc.), save for Rise of the Guardians. And as the smaller studios continue to pepper yours truly with  [ Read More ]

Everyone waits until the year is over to compile their “Best of whatever” movie lists. This has become a mundane practice. Time for a bit of a change, kids. ***Being a voting member of one of the accredited film critic associations recognized by the studios for year-end awards, a ton of “For Your Consideration” screeners will be viewed up until Christmas time; all vying for award nods/momentum heading into the 84th Academy Awards*** There will be a steady flow of independent and studio flicks entering the rankings every week through the end of the year. So with very little time scroll down below to see where The Twilight Saga: Breaking  [ Read More ]

Everyone waits until the year is over to compile their “Best of whatever” movie lists. This has become a mundane practice. Time for a bit of a change, kids. ***Being a member of one of the voting accredited film critic associations recognized by the studios for year-end awards, a ton of “For Your Consideration” screeners will be viewed up until Christmas time; all vying for award nods/momentum heading into the 84th Academy Awards*** So as noted just above, the below rankings are going to expand at a rapid pace over the next 6 weeks as studios posture for award recognition from select film critic groups (just in case the note  [ Read More ]

Everyone waits until the year is over to compile their “Best of whatever” movie lists. This has become a mundane practice. Time for a bit of a change, kids. Wreck-It Ralph and A Late Quartet proved that with teamwork, great things can be accomplished. But then there’s Flight, which provide the counter to that statement, by using the “Michael Jordan” theory: One amazing talent (Denzel Washington) can take something decent and transform it in to something excellent. And then there’s even a third ideal: if you hustle (The Man with the Iron Fists), you can earn some respect, despite having flaws. The new releases for the respective week will have  [ Read More ]

Everyone waits until the year is over to compile their “Best of whatever” movie lists. This has become a mundane practice. Time for a bit of a change, kids. Lots of tricks were being played at cinemas on what is considered, “Halloween weekend.” Fun Size was just going through the motions (a.k.a. uninspired play), while Silent Hill: Revelation 3D thought timing would be everything (critical and financial success). Meanwhile, Cloud Atlas read amazing on paper but lacked execution. The new releases for the respective week will have a capsule review at the end of the column. An updated list comes out every Monday. Here’s how things are shaking up so  [ Read More ]

Everyone waits until the year is over to compile their “Best of whatever” movie lists. This has become a mundane practice. Time for a bit of a change, kids. The coaches behind Paranormal Activity 4 became too complacent; for they thought by simply going through the motions, they would achieve success once again. And when considering they have home court advantage (horror flick opening in late October), they need to go back to the creative drawing board. But fear not PA 4 players, because your opening weekend counterpart, Alex Cross, didn’t even deserve to be on the court (in theaters). And then there’s the quiet Cinderella in The Sessions. A  [ Read More ]

Everyone waits until the year is over to compile their “Best of whatever” movie lists. This has become a mundane practice. Time for a bit of a change, kids. Now telling you what flick has the distinct honor of ending Wanderlust’s long reign as the year’s low-light, would take the fun and excitement out of scrolling down the list. But before you do that, take a look at the upper echelon to see where Argo landed. And as for the three other newbies, well, check the capsule review section just after the rankings and then hunt those suckers down (hint: Here Comes the Boom isn’t much higher than Barricade). The  [ Read More ]