| In
Theaters |
On
DVD |
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| Moneyball (2011) |
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A candidate for best film of 2011, Bennett Miller successfully translates Michael Lewis' best-selling non-fiction treatment on how a small market baseball team finds a way to compete with the likes of the New York Yankees. |
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Important documentary summarizes Howard Zinn's alternative take on U.S. History. Essentially a film rendition of a Reader's Theater production that includes numerous name actors. (Full Review ... ) |
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| Ides of March, The (2011) |
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Well acted topical film that could have borrowed much of its script from CNN replays; thus, the plot twists seem very tame compared to the real world. |
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Director Shohei Imamura deftly explores the aftermath of Hiroshima, examining the physical and psychological effects of radiation sickness on its survivors. (Full Review ... ) |
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| Drive (2011) |
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Strong acting highlights this tense drama with Ryan Gosling and Cate Mulligan nailing their roles perfectly. In fact, this is the strongest film I've seen before the annual fall awards campaign releases. |
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Set in Darjeeling, Satyajit Ray's first color feature is a highly watchable family melodrama that examines contemporary Indian life in the early 1960s.. (Full Review ... ) |
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| Margin Call (2011) |
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A thinking person's movie that explores the complicated terrain of risk management, indecipherable derivatives, and Wall Street trading. Best line comes from Stanley Tucci, who muses about how he once actually built a bridge. |
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A gem included as an extra feature on The Criterion Collections new DVD release of Close-Up, this first feature by Kiarostami demonstrates what is to come from Iran's best filmmaker. (Full review . . . ) |
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| Skin I Live In, The (2011)
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Pedro Almodóvar dazzles again--his signature style and pacing along with familiar weird plot twists and unforgettable characters. |
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1959 International Critics Prize winner at Cannes finally receives DVD release courtesy of Milestone Films. (Full Review ... ) . |
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| Guard, The (2011) |
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Veteran character actor Brendan Gleason delivers once again. Set in a small Irish town, this dark comedy involving drug trafficking and police corruption satifies discriminating movie fans. |
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Facets Video rescues a provocative 1983 Italian film from obscurity just in time for the Christmas season. (Full Review ... ) |