From Paris with Love

OPENING: 02/05/2010

STUDIO: Lionsgate

RUN TIME: 92 min

ACCOMPLICES:
Trailer, Official Site

The Charge
Two agents. One city. No merci.

Opening Statement
Following up the surprise box office success of the Liam Neeson vehicle Taken, director Pierre Morel and producer Luc Besson return with the John Travolta actioner From Paris with Love. Alas, it ranks as one of the lesser achievements of almost everyone involved.
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The Book Of Eli

OPENING: 01/15/2010

STUDIO: Warner Bros.

RUN TIME: 118 min

ACCOMPLICES:
Trailer, Official Site

The Charge
Some will kill to have it. He will kill to protect it.

Opening Statement
The Book of Eli delivers an excellent entry into the post-apocalyptic genre, with amazing action and great performances.
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The Girl on the Train

OPENING: Limited Release

STUDIO: Strand Releasing

RUN TIME: 105 min

ACCOMPLICES:
Trailer, Official Site

The Charge
A shocking story with one catch. It wasn’t true.

Opening Statement
The Girl on the Train is a dramatic French film that will keep patrons entertained for a little while. However, the manner in which writer/director André Téchiné (Wild Reeds) ties up his loose ends is so irresponsibly poor, most viewers will leave the theater with a feeling of disappointment.
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Edge of Darkness

OPENING: 01/29/2009

STUDIO: Warner Bros.

RUN TIME: 117 min

ACCOMPLICES:
Trailer, Official Site

The Charge
Few escape justice. None escape vengeance.

Opening Statement
Mel Gibson hasn’t starred in a feature film since 2002, appearing in the war tale We Were Soldiers and M. Night Shyamalan’s alien invasion flick Signs. Since then, he’s been involved in one controversy after another, from the stir surrounding his ultra-violent The Passion of the Christ to the now infamous 2006 drunken, racist tirade. His return to acting world is accompanied by much personal baggage, which moviegoers may or may not be ready to dismiss. That being said, Mel’s new film Edge of Darkness deserves to be judged on its own merits, and in that sense it’s a respectable thriller boasting a solid lead performance.
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Crazy Heart

OPENING: Limited Release

STUDIO: Fox Searchlight

RUN TIME: 112 min

ACCOMPLICES:
Trailer, Official Site

The Charge
The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

Opening Statement
Crazy Heart is a simple, straightforward story without a lot of surprises. It’s the sort of story we’ve seen before, but told in such a tender and thoughtful manner it somehow manages to completely transcend the conventions of its structure.
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That Evening Sun

OPENING: Limited Release

STUDIO: Dogwood Ent.

RUN TIME: 110 min

ACCOMPLICES:
Trailer, Official Site

The Charge
I worked too hard. And too long. I ain’t going down without a fight.

Opening Statement
Director Scott Teems delivers is a powerful film with an Oscar worthy performance by Hal Holbrook. In fact, this could be the performance of Holbrook’s career.
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Michael Jackson’s This Is It

OPENING: 10/28/2009

STUDIO: Columbia Pictures

RUN TIME: 111 min

ACCOMPLICES:
Trailer, Official Site

The Charge
Like You’ve Never Seen Him Before

Opening Statement
This is the unintentional swan song by Michael Jackson that showed his pure musical genius and left me wanting more.
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The Lovely Bones

OPENING: 01/15/2010

STUDIO: DreamWorks

RUN TIME: 135 min

ACCOMPLICES:
Trailer, Official Site

The Charge
The story of a life and everything that came after…

Opening Statement
Once just a little-known cult film director, Peter Jackson catapulted himself into position as one of the most-lauded modern filmmakers with his masterful Lord of the Rings trilogy and epic remake of King Kong, capturing the attention of critics and audiences alike. So it’s no surprise his adaptation of Alice Sebold’s much-loved novel The Lovely Bones was hotly anticipated. How does Jackson fare stepping into less bombastic cinematic territory? Not very well, I’m afraid.
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Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans

OPENING: 11/20/2009

STUDIO: First Look

RUN TIME: 122 min

ACCOMPLICES:
Trailer, Official Site

The Charge
The only criminal he can’t catch is himself.

Opening Statement
What happens when you mix eccentric director Werner Herzog (Grizzly Man) with eccentric actor Nicholas Cage (Adaptation)? The most eccentric movie of the year, that’s what, featuring an alligator’s point of view, close-ups of imaginary iguanas, and a break dancing spirit. Sounds weird, doesn’t it? Indeed, it is, but it’s also one of 2009’s best films.
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Leap Year

OPENING: 01/0/2010

STUDIO: Universal

RUN TIME: 97 min

ACCOMPLICES:
Trailer, Official Site

The Charge
Anna planned to propose to her boyfriend on February 29th. This is not her boyfriend.

Opening Statement
Amy Adams has come a long way since her debut as a candy stripe nurse in Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can. Since then, she has garnered Oscar nominations for Junebug and Doubt, and a humongous splash with Enchanted, one of the best Disney films in years. I’ve loved her spunk and radiance in practically every movie she’s been in… until now.
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