My top pick this week is still the wistfully sweet and visually singular Moonrise Kingdom.
One of the best films of the year is Elena, a vividly dark and brilliantly acted Russian drama that simmers throughout.
The Intouchables is a crowd pleasing odd couple comedy from France. Bernie, a very funny dark comedy by Richard Linklater, shows off Jack Black’s talents in a whole new light. The story of aged Brits seeking a low-budget retirement in India, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, is much more than a fish-out-of-water comedy. Men In Black 3 is delightfully entertaining, as Will Smith time travels back to 1969 and meets the young Tommy Lee Jones (nailed by Josh Brolin).
Prometheus is a striking and well-acted sci fi adventure with a horror film tinge; I recommend it for sci fi fans. Rock of Ages is a lighthearted and funny musical that makes the most of a self-mocking Tom Cruise and the hair bands of the 80s.
Oslo August 31 is the utterly authentic portrait of a suicidal Norwegian junkie that doesn’t pay off enough to justify the the grim inevitability. Your Sister’s Sister wastes a promising premise and a superb performance.
I haven’t seen Pixar’s Brave or the totally just wrong Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Killer, both of which open this weekend. You can read descriptions and view trailers of upcoming films at Movies I’m Looking Forward To.
My DVD pick this week is a film that I KNOW you haven’t seen, the working class comedy The Locksmith.