2010 Ranked Films
A ranked list of 2010 films that I have seen so far.
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- DirectorTom HooperStarsColin FirthGeoffrey RushHelena Bonham CarterThe story of King George VI, his unexpected ascension to the throne of the British Empire in 1936, and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch overcome his stammer.10/10
About as powerfully acted as one could hope for, The King's Speech more than finds its voice as it proves there's sometimes little better than a thoroughly compelling drama. - DirectorDavid FincherStarsJesse EisenbergAndrew GarfieldJustin TimberlakeAs Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg creates the social networking site that would become known as Facebook, he is sued by the twins who claimed he stole their idea and by the co-founder who was later squeezed out of the business.10/10
Showcasing director David Fincher and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin at the top of their respective games, The Social Network is a riveting exploration into one of the most revolutionary technological advances of the 21st century. - DirectorDarren AronofskyStarsNatalie PortmanMila KunisVincent CasselNina is a talented but unstable ballerina on the verge of stardom. Pushed to the breaking point by her artistic director and a seductive rival, Nina's grip on reality slips, plunging her into a waking nightmare.10/10
With Daren Aronofsky's direction splendidly emphasizing Natalie Portman's commanding performance, Black Swan digs directly into the viewer's skin and refuses to leave. - DirectorDavid O. RussellStarsMark WahlbergChristian BaleAmy AdamsBased on the story of Micky Ward, a fledgling boxer who tries to escape the shadow of his more famous but troubled older boxing brother and get his own shot at greatness.10/10
Featuring a slew of scene-stealing turns from its cast, The Fighter is a knockout sports drama and family drama alike. - DirectorLee UnkrichStarsTom HanksTim AllenJoan CusackThe toys are mistakenly delivered to a day-care center instead of the attic right before Andy leaves for college, and it's up to Woody to convince the other toys that they weren't abandoned and to return home.10/10
The perfect capper to a perfect trilogy of films, Toy Story 3 exemplifies Pixar's uncanny ability to continually churn out animated fare that's as colorfully entertaining as it is emotionally affecting. - DirectorEthan CoenJoel CoenStarsJeff BridgesMatt DamonHailee SteinfeldA stubborn teenager enlists the help of a tough U.S. Marshal to track down her father's murderer.10/10
A satisfying and gritty update of the John Wayne classic and featuring a star-making turn from Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit is an emphatic confirmation that the Coen Brothers' sensibilities almost belong exclusively in the Old West. - DirectorRichard J. LewisStarsPaul GiamattiRosamund PikeJake HoffmanThe picaresque and touching story of the politically incorrect, fully lived life of the impulsive, irascible and fearlessly blunt Barney Panofsky.10/10
Barney's Version not only shows a Paul Giamatti at his absolute best, but also tells the tale of a man that's as tragic as it is inspiringly romantic. - DirectorChristopher NolanStarsLeonardo DiCaprioJoseph Gordon-LevittElliot PageA thief who steals corporate secrets through the use of dream-sharing technology is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a C.E.O., but his tragic past may doom the project and his team to disaster.10/10
Continuing Christopher Nolan's winning streak of delivering grounded yet pulse-pounding thrills, Inception is a marvelously layered delve into the human psyche that's impossible to look away from. - DirectorDean DeBloisChris SandersStarsJay BaruchelGerard ButlerChristopher Mintz-PlasseA hapless young Viking who aspires to hunt dragons becomes the unlikely friend of a young dragon himself, and learns there may be more to the creatures than he assumed.10/10
Equally creative and mystifying, How to Train Your Dragon is a benchmark in DreamWorks Animation's ability to enchant and charm. - DirectorDerek CianfranceStarsRyan GoslingMichelle WilliamsJohn DomanThe relationship of a contemporary married couple, charting their evolution over a span of years by cross-cutting between time periods.10/10
Not for the faint of heart, Blue Valentine is a soul-crushingly effective look at the dismantlement of a relationship led by fearless performances from Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. - DirectorNathan GrenoByron HowardStarsMandy MooreZachary LeviDonna MurphyThe magically long-haired Rapunzel has spent her entire life in a tower, but now that a runaway thief has stumbled upon her, she is about to discover the world for the first time, and who she really is.10/10
One of Disney’s strongest animated efforts in years, Tangled reinvigorates the timeless fairy tale with a modern approach and the company’s trademark musicality. - DirectorBen AffleckStarsBen AffleckRebecca HallJon HammA proficient group of thieves rob a bank and hold an assistant manager hostage. Things begin to get complicated when one of the crew members falls in love with her.10/10
Evidence that Ben Affleck is only improving as a director, The Town is a thoroughly tense and smart crime flick. - DirectorDanny BoyleStarsJames FrancoAmber TamblynKate MaraA mountain climber becomes trapped under a boulder while canyoneering alone near Moab, Utah and resorts to desperate measures in order to survive.9/10
Viscerally brutal but anchored by a grounded and relatable James Franco performance, 127 Hours is proof that Danny Boyle has not lost a step behind the camera. - DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsLubna AzabalMélissa Désormeaux-PoulinMaxim GaudetteTwins journey to the Middle East to discover their family history and fulfill their mother's last wishes.9/10
Emotionally raw and starkly rendered, Incendies is a wholly tragic and mature look at multigenerational tragedy courtesy of writer-director Denis Villeneuve. - DirectorRodrigo CortésStarsRyan ReynoldsJosé Luis García-PérezRobert PatersonPaul is a U.S. truck driver working in Iraq. After an attack by a group of Iraqis he wakes to find he is buried alive inside a coffin. With only a lighter and a cell phone it's a race against time to escape this claustrophobic death trap.9/10
Doing much more in a tight space than most movies do in endless space, Buried will bombard the viewer with well-paced tension and Ryan Reynolds’s most captivating performance to date. - DirectorMatthew VaughnStarsAaron Taylor-JohnsonNicolas CageChloë Grace MoretzDave Lizewski is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan who one day decides to become a superhero, even though he has no powers, training or meaningful reason to do so.9/10
With a stellar cast and a love for the genre it's satirizing, Kick-Ass is a triumphantly bloody good time and a marvelous achievement for Matthew Vaughn. - DirectorHiromasa YonebayashiStarsBridgit MendlerAmy PoehlerWill ArnettThe Clock family are four-inch-tall people who live anonymously in another family's residence, borrowing simple items to make their home. Life changes for the Clocks when their teenage daughter Arrietty is discovered.9/10
If its premise is somewhat familiar to older audiences, The Secret World of Arrietty makes up for it with the kind of wonder only Studio Ghibli can conjure. - DirectorSean ByrneStarsXavier SamuelRobin McLeavyJohn BrumptonWhen Brent turns down his classmate Lola's invitation to the prom, she concocts a wildly violent plan for revenge.9/10
Featuring a twisted and captivating performance from Robin McLeavy, The Loved Ones is a harrowing teen thriller through and through. - DirectorLisa CholodenkoStarsAnnette BeningJulianne MooreMark RuffaloTwo children conceived by artificial insemination bring their biological father into their non-traditional family life.8/10
It may not arrive at any profound conclusion, but The Kids Are All Right is a refreshing and progressive look at the modern family with a well-rounded ensemble. - DirectorMatt ReevesStarsKodi Smit-McPheeChloë Grace MoretzRichard JenkinsA bullied young boy befriends a young female vampire who lives in secrecy with her guardian.8/10
Emotionally raw and brooding, Let Me In is one of the more aesthetically affecting vampire movies out there and serves as an American remake well executed. - DirectorWill GluckStarsEmma StoneAmanda BynesPenn BadgleyWhen Olive lies to her best friend about losing her virginity to one of the college boys, a girl overhears their conversation. Soon, her story spreads across the entire school like wildfire.8/10
The starmaking role for Emma Stone that was seemingly inevitable, Easy A treads its adolescent setting and themes gracefully and manages to be hysterical at every turn. - DirectorEdgar WrightStarsMichael CeraMary Elizabeth WinsteadKieran CulkinIn a magically realistic version of Toronto, a young man must defeat his new girlfriend's seven evil exes one by one in order to win her heart.8/10
Unpredictably funny and consistently so, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is visually creative and technically kinetic, an assured effort from Edgar Wright. - DirectorTakashi MiikeStarsKoji YakushoTakayuki YamadaYûsuke IseyaA group of assassins come together for a suicide mission to kill an evil lord.8/10
A slow burn samurai picture that has a whopper of a finale, 13 Assassins finds Takashi Miike in top form from start to finish. - DirectorJohn Cameron MitchellStarsNicole KidmanAaron EckhartDianne WiestLife for a happy couple is turned upside down after their young son dies in an accident.8/10
Heart-wrenching and introspective, Rabbit Hole gets some impressively somber performances out of its stars as it transcends its original stage format. - DirectorGlenn FicarraJohn RequaStarsJim CarreyEwan McGregorLeslie MannA cop turns con man once he comes out of the closet. Once imprisoned, he meets the second love of his life, whom he'll stop at nothing to be with.8/10
Delivering arguably Jim Carrey’s most nuanced performance of his career, I Love You Phillip Morris manages to be wryly humorous without sacrificing its tremendous heart. - DirectorDebra GranikStarsJennifer LawrenceJohn HawkesGarret DillahuntAn unflinching Ozark Mountain girl hacks through dangerous social terrain as she hunts down her drug-dealing father while trying to keep her family intact.8/10
Cold and unrelenting, Winter’s Bone may prove a tad inaccessible for most viewers, but it does weave an impactful story and exemplify the thespian prowess of Jennifer Lawrence. - DirectorMiguel ArtetaStarsMichael CeraPortia DoubledayJean SmartWhile his trailer trash parents teeter on the edge of divorce, Nick Twisp sets his sights on dream girl Sheeni Saunders, hoping that she'll be the one to take away his virginity.8/10
Giving Michael Cera room to play both in and outside of type, Youth in Revolt is soft-spoken in its approach but proves thoroughly endearing all the while. - DirectorLena DunhamStarsLena DunhamLaurie SimmonsGrace DunhamAbout a recent college grad who returns home while she tries to figure out what to do with her life.8/10
Viewers might have trouble relating to an unlikable protagonist, but Tiny Furniture does well to present a grounded and realistic portrayal of young adulthood and find the comedy inherent. - DirectorNicholas StollerStarsJonah HillRussell BrandElisabeth MossA record company intern is hired to accompany out-of-control British rock star Aldous Snow to a concert at L.A.'s Greek Theater.8/10
An energetic and hilarious spinoff adventure that rightly differentiates itself from its originator, Get Him to the Greek gets by on the splendid comedic foiling between Jonah Hill and Russell Brand. - DirectorBrian KoppelmanDavid LevienStarsMichael DouglasSusan SarandonJesse EisenbergA car magnate watches his personal and professional life hit the skids because of his business and romantic indiscretions.8/10
Featuring a return-to-form showing from Michael Douglas, Solitary Man bounces around from setting to setting but retains its tone and voice throughout. - DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsLeonardo DiCaprioEmily MortimerMark RuffaloTeddy Daniels and Chuck Aule, two US marshals, are sent to an asylum on a remote island in order to investigate the disappearance of a patient, where Teddy uncovers a shocking truth about the place.7/10
Shutter Island is a more unrestrained effort for Martin Scorsese, but with powerful mood and cinematography, it’s a faithful and fully entertaining book adaptation regardless. - DirectorAdam McKayStarsWill FerrellMark WahlbergDerek JeterTwo mismatched New York City detectives seize an opportunity to step up like the city's top cops, whom they idolize, only things don't quite go as planned.7/10
Its plot mechanics are strangely hard to follow, but The Other Guys gets such a strong rapport between Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg that it’ll be difficult to resist. - DirectorAlexandre AjaStarsElisabeth ShueJerry O'ConnellRichard DreyfussAfter a sudden underwater tremor sets free scores of the prehistoric man-eating fish, an unlikely group of strangers must band together to stop themselves from becoming fish food for the area's new razor-toothed residents.7/10
It may not be particularly subtle, but what Piranha 3D lacks in character development or nuance, it more than makes up in gleeful, self-aware carnage. - DirectorDaniel StammStarsPatrick FabianAshley BellIris BahrA troubled evangelical minister agrees to let his last exorcism be filmed by a documentary crew.7/10
Making the most out of its found-footage approach, The Last Exorcism has some truly spine-chilling moments and plays a devilish little game with the audience along the way. - DirectorRoman PolanskiStarsEwan McGregorPierce BrosnanOlivia WilliamsA ghost writer, hired to complete the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister, uncovers secrets that put his own life in jeopardy.7/10
Not as compelling as it is intriguing, The Ghost Writer does establish a pervasive mood that it manages to ride til its conclusion. - DirectorTony ScottStarsDenzel WashingtonChris PineRosario DawsonWith an unmanned, half-mile-long freight train barreling toward a city, a veteran engineer and a young conductor race against the clock to prevent a catastrophe.7/10
There’s not a whole lot to Unstoppable, but it’s able to harness the strengths of Tony Scott to take audiences on an exciting thrill ride with some twist and turns thrown in for good measure. - DirectorDavid YatesStarsDaniel RadcliffeEmma WatsonRupert GrintAs Harry, Ron and Hermione race against time and evil to destroy the Horcruxes, they uncover the existence of the three most powerful objects in the wizarding world: the Deathly Hallows.7/10
It’s clearly the preamble to a more momentous finale, however Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 offers an otherwise unseen depth to the franchise, wholly grounded. - DirectorAaron SchneiderStarsRobert DuvallBill MurraySissy SpacekA movie spun out of equal parts folk tale, fable and real-life legend about the mysterious, 1930s Tennessee hermit who famously threw his own rollicking funeral party... while he was still alive.7/10
The grounded side to Get Low doesn’t engage the viewer as well as it should, but it gets by off some multifaceted turns by its performers, particularly Robert Duvall. - DirectorSofia CoppolaStarsStephen DorffElle FanningChris PontiusAfter withdrawing to the Chateau Marmont, a passionless Hollywood actor reexamines his life when his eleven-year-old daughter surprises him with a visit.7/10
About as nonchalant as its ambiguous title, Somewhere does display the kind of effective mood and ethos typical of Sofia Coppola projects. - DirectorSteve PinkStarsJohn CusackRob CorddryCraig RobinsonA malfunctioning time machine at a ski resort takes a man back to 1986 with his two friends and nephew, where they must relive a fateful night and not change anything to make sure the nephew is born.7/10
The zealous rapport between its cast doing more than enough, Hot Tub Time Machine takes a ridiculous premise and turns it into a surprisingly solid gross-out comedy. - DirectorPierre CoffinChris RenaudStarsSteve CarellJason SegelRussell BrandGru, a criminal mastermind, adopts three orphans as pawns to carry out the biggest heist in history. His life takes an unexpected turn when the little girls see the evildoer as their potential father.7/10
Zany and fairly familiar for family audiences, Despicable Me’s tremendous amount of heart will anchor its more undisciplined elements to make for endearing viewing. - DirectorTony GoldwynStarsHilary SwankSam RockwellMelissa LeoA working mother puts herself through law school in an effort to represent her brother, who has been wrongfully convicted of murder and has exhausted his chances to appeal his conviction through public defenders.7/10
Its admittedly appropriate dour tone does drain Conviction of some of its energy, but the film remains well acted enough to resonate when it needs to. - DirectorShawn LevyStarsSteve CarellTina FeyMark WahlbergIn New York City, a case of mistaken identity turns a bored married couple's attempt at a glamorous and romantic evening into something more thrilling and dangerous.7/10
Making good on Steve Carrell and Tina Fey as productive comedic foils, Date Night isn’t terribly creative but it has enough energy to make it a memorable one. - DirectorEthan ManiquisRobert RodriguezStarsDanny TrejoMichelle RodriguezRobert De NiroAfter being set-up and betrayed by the man who hired him to assassinate a Texas Senator, an ex-Federale launches a brutal rampage of revenge against his former boss.7/10
A return-to-grisly-form for Robert Rodriguez in the director’s chair, Machete is an unapologetic, schlocky action picture that’s as fun as it is self-aware. - DirectorTom McGrathStarsWill FerrellJonah HillBrad PittEvil genius Megamind finally defeats his do-gooder nemesis, Metro Man, but is left without a purpose in a superhero-free world.7/10
Its zero-to-hero paradigm has been played out before in animated fare, but Megamind puts a fresh spin on things that’ll please family audiences. - DirectorPhillip NoyceStarsAngelina JolieLiev SchreiberChiwetel EjioforA CIA agent goes on the run after a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy.7/10
Giving Angelina Jolie the action vehicle she deserves, Salt could work on the espionage angle but proves generally exciting all the same. - DirectorPeter WeirStarsJim SturgessEd HarrisColin FarrellSiberian gulag escapees travel four thousand miles by foot to freedom in India.7/10
There are times when The Way Back proves as tedious as its title trek, but it’s well shot and the destination is more than worth the journey for patient viewers. - DirectorTod WilliamsStarsKatie FeatherstonMicah SloatMolly EphraimAfter experiencing what they think are a series of "break-ins", a family sets up security cameras around their home, only to realize that the events unfolding before them are more sinister than they seem.7/10
Paranormal Activity 2 largely follows the formula established by the first film, but there are still enough spooky thrills to go around to justify the sequel treatment. - DirectorNoah BaumbachStarsBen StillerGreta GerwigJennifer Jason LeighA man from Los Angeles, who moved to New York years ago, returns to L.A. to figure out his life while he house-sits for his brother. He soon sparks with his brother's assistant.7/10
Noah Baumbach turns in a screenplay that’s more meandering than most, but a genial Ben Stiller in the title role will have audiences on Greenberg’s side. - DirectorDoug LimanStarsNaomi WattsSean PennSonya DavisonCIA operative Valerie Plame discovers her identity is allegedly leaked by the government as payback for an op-ed article her husband wrote criticizing the Bush administration.7/10
Fair Game gets lost amidst a throng of solid political intrigue dramas out there, however it’s well acted enough on its own account to give audiences a worthwhile narrative. - DirectorJay DuplassMark DuplassStarsJohn C. ReillyMarisa TomeiJonah HillJohn and Molly, a divorced middle aged man and a single mother meet at a friends party and start up a small relationship, all John has to do now is meet Molly's son... Cyrus7/10
Though perhaps a little laid back for its own good, Cyrus is nevertheless a realistic and often humorous family comedy. - DirectorEdward ZwickStarsJake GyllenhaalAnne HathawayJudy GreerIn 1990s Pittsburgh, a medicine peddler starts a relationship with a young woman suffering from Parkinson's disease.6/10
Love & Other Drugs can’t always transition from facetious to serious fluidly, but some terrific chemistry between Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway will keep audiences invested. - DirectorHarald ZwartStarsJackie ChanJaden SmithTaraji P. HensonWork causes a single mother to move to China with her young son; in his new home, the boy embraces kung fu, taught to him by a master.6/10
Misnomer of a title aside, The Karate Kid is able to update the classic martial arts flick to the point that it doesn’t feel beholden to it. - DirectorNimród AntalStarsAdrien BrodyLaurence FishburneTopher GraceA group of elite warriors parachute into an unfamiliar jungle and are hunted by members of a merciless alien race.6/10
Evolving the franchise and taking it to uncharted territory, Predators isn’t as clever as it thinks it is but it is definitely gritty and involved enough to give audiences their fix. - DirectorElizabeth Allen RosenbaumStarsJoey KingSelena GomezBridget MoynahanAn adventurous young girl uses her imagination to escape her reality, that is quickly spinning out of reach.6/10
Extremely light, even by family movie standards, Ramona and Beezus is thoroughly amiable and will charm audiences through the sheer will of an appealing cast. - DirectorRandall WallaceStarsDiane LaneJohn MalkovichMargo MartindalePenny Chenery Tweedy and colleagues guide her long-shot but precocious stallion to set, in 1973, the unbeaten record for winning the Triple Crown.6/10
It resides in the shadow of more prestige horse-racing dramas that preceded it, however if you’re looking for a rousing, exciting underdog story, you’ll find it in Secretariat. - DirectorSusanna WhiteStarsEmma ThompsonMaggie GyllenhaalRalph FiennesNanny McPhee arrives to help a harried young mother who is trying to run the family farm while her husband is away at war, though she uses her magic to teach the woman's children and their two spoiled cousins five new lessons.6/10
Nanny McPhee Returns doesn’t advance the overall story anywhere unique, but as a whimsical, standalone adventure, there are more than a few takeaways to be had. - DirectorVincenzo NataliStarsAdrien BrodySarah PolleyDelphine ChanéacGenetic engineers Clive Nicoli and Elsa Kast hope to achieve fame by successfully splicing together the DNA of different animals to create new hybrid animals for medical use.6/10
More inert than it may have intentioned, Splice is still a devious, thought-provoking bit of sci-fi horror with unnerving creature design. - DirectorWilson YipStarsDonnie YenXiaoming HuangSammo Kam-Bo HungCentering on Ip Man's migration to Hong Kong in 1949 as he attempts to propagate his discipline of Wing Chun martial arts.6/10
The follow-up is familiarly histrionic, but Ip Man 2 doubles down on martial arts spectacle, delivering a thrilling and occasionally intellectual sequel. - DirectorFloria SigismondiStarsKristen StewartDakota FanningMichael ShannonA coming-of-age biographical film about the 1970s teenage all-girl rock band The Runaways. The relationship between band members Cherie Currie and Joan Jett is also explored.6/10
Though The Runaways doesn’t do anything new with the music biopic formula, it does offer some surprisingly solid performances from Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart. - DirectorAnna BodenRyan FleckStarsKeir GilchristZach GalifianakisEmma RobertsA clinically-depressed teenager gets a new start after he checks himself into an adult psychiatric ward.6/10
Its undercurrent of mental health issues are never fully explored, but It’s Kind of a Funny Story has an affable cast that does indeed make it kind of funny. - DirectorPaul GreengrassStarsMatt DamonJason IsaacsGreg KinnearDiscovering covert and faulty intelligence causes a U.S. Army officer to go rogue as he hunts for Weapons of Mass Destruction in an unstable region.6/10
Green Zone’s geopolitical commentary gets somewhat lost in the shuffle, but thanks to a talented Paul Greengrass behind the camera, it is thoroughly watchable. - DirectorBreck EisnerStarsRadha MitchellTimothy OlyphantDanielle PanabakerAfter a strange and insecure plane crash, an unusual toxic virus enters a quaint farming town. A young couple are quarantined, but they fight for survival along with help from a couple of people.6/10
While owing a lot to classic zombie movies of old, The Crazies is mostly able to differentiate itself from them with effective twists and decent tension. - DirectorJon FavreauStarsRobert Downey Jr.Mickey RourkeGwyneth PaltrowWith the world now aware of his identity as Iron Man, Tony Stark must contend with both his declining health and a vengeful mad man with ties to his father's legacy.6/10
A decidedly significant step down from its predecessor, Iron Man 2 is still never without its charming moments, and exciting enough to keep up appearances. - DirectorEli CraigStarsTyler LabineAlan TudykKatrina BowdenAffable hillbillies Tucker and Dale are on vacation at their dilapidated mountain cabin when they are mistaken for murderers by a group of preppy college students.6/10
Tucker and Dale vs Evil runs out of steam in its second half, but brilliant characterizations from its titular duo and clever kills make this a horror-comedy worth screaming about. - DirectorChris ColumbusStarsLogan LermanKevin McKiddSteve CooganA teenager discovers he's the descendant of a Greek god and sets out on an adventure to settle an on-going battle between the gods.6/10
It resides in the shadows of more notable YA fantasy franchises, but Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief does have enough wide-eyed fun with its world-building to enchant viewers. - DirectorTodd PhillipsStarsRobert Downey Jr.Zach GalifianakisMichelle MonaghanHigh-strung father-to-be Peter Highman is forced to hitch a ride with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay on a road trip in order to make it to his child's birth on time.6/10
Due Date models itself significantly after previous Todd Phillips efforts, however the rapport between Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis is too breezy to resist. - DirectorGareth EdwardsStarsScoot McNairyWhitney AbleMario Zuniga BenavidesSix years after Earth has suffered an alien invasion, a cynical journalist agrees to escort a shaken American tourist through an infected zone in Mexico to the safety of the U.S. border.6/10
Though never entirely capitalizing on its ground-level approach, Monsters benefits greatly from director Gareth Edwards’s deft camerawork and stunning visuals. - DirectorJim Field SmithStarsJay BaruchelAlice EveT.J. MillerAn average Joe meets the perfect woman, but his lack of confidence and the influence of his friends and family begin to pick away at the relationship.6/10
Sometimes too cliche for its own good, She’s Out of My League is simply too good natured and amiable to resist. - DirectorQuentin DupieuxStarsStephen SpinellaRoxane MesquidaWings HauserA homicidal car tire, discovering it has destructive psionic power, sets its sights on a desert town once a mysterious woman becomes its obsession.6/10
Many viewers will find Rubber a bit stiff to remain watchable, but director Quentin Dupieux is able to inject enough wry humor into a weirdly brilliant premise, and sometimes for no reason at all. - DirectorTim BurtonStarsMia WasikowskaJohnny DeppHelena Bonham CarterNineteen-year-old Alice returns to the magical world from her childhood adventure, where she reunites with her old friends and learns of her true destiny: to end the Red Queen's reign of terror.6/10
Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland sometimes suffers at the hands of an over-reliance on CGI, however it does have enough bubbly energy to do Lewis Carroll’s classic story justice. - DirectorZack SnyderStarsJim SturgessHugo WeavingDavid WenhamSoren, a young owl, is kidnapped by the evil owls of St Aegolious and want to turn him into a soldier. He escapes with some of his friends and warns the mythical guardians about the evil plan.6/10
Its breathtakingly revolutionary computer animation puts Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole in pseudo uncanny valley territory, but its fantasy, world-building is strong enough to enchant on its own. - DirectorNanette BursteinStarsDrew BarrymoreJustin LongRon LivingstonA romantic comedy centered on a guy and a gal who try to keep their love alive as they shuttle back and forth between New York and San Francisco to see one another.5/10
Going the Distance has the charismatic leads and supporting players to charm the audience, but it remains narratively unwieldy and largely predictable. - DirectorJohn Erick DowdleStarsChris MessinaCaroline DhavernasBokeem WoodbineA group of people are trapped in an elevator and the Devil is mysteriously amongst them.5/10
While Devil is perhaps M. Night Shyamalan’s most intriguing screenplay in some time, it’s ultimately constrained by its plot and subsequent setting to really shock. - DirectorSanaa HamriStarsQueen LatifahCommonPaula PattonA physical therapist falls for the basketball player she is helping recover from a career-threatening injury.5/10
Queen Latifah and Common get a surprising amount of chemistry going in Just Wright, though there’s not enough of a narrative spark to overcome its cliches. - DirectorTim Blake NelsonStarsEdward NortonKeri RussellHenry Max NelsonAn Ivy League professor is lured back to his Oklahoma hometown, where his twin brother, a small-time pot grower, has concocted a scheme to take down a local drug lord.5/10
Despite offering a solid dual performance from Edward Norton, Leaves of Grass leaves something to be desired in the story department. - DirectorAdam GreenStarsShawn AshmoreEmma BellKevin ZegersThree skiers stranded on a chairlift are forced to make life-or-death choices, which prove more perilous than staying put and freezing to death.5/10
Frozen strands its protagonists in an inventive and clever environment, but soon enough the plot developments begin to freeze over in terms of ingenuity. - DirectorAlbert HughesAllen HughesStarsDenzel WashingtonMila KunisRay StevensonA drifter fights his way across a ravaged, post-apocalyptic America while protecting a sacred book that holds the secrets to humanity's salvation.5/10
Despite salvaging a somewhat inert post-apocalyptic scenario with a surprising last-minute revelation, The Book of Eli doesn’t give Denzel Washington enough room to play around. - DirectorMichael AptedStarsBen BarnesSkandar KeynesGeorgie HenleyLucy and Edmund Pevensie return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace where they meet up with Prince Caspian for a trip across the sea aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world.5/10
Evidence the film franchise is beginning to capsize, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader has more trouble presenting awe-inspiring and dynamic fantasy elements. - DirectorRobert SchwentkeStarsBruce WillisHelen MirrenMorgan FreemanWhen his peaceful life is threatened by a high-tech assassin, former black-ops agent Frank Moses reassembles his old team in a last-ditch effort to survive and uncover his assailants.5/10
Smoothly shot and with a distinct personality, RED unfortunately struggles to weave an elderly espionage narrative worth investing in. - DirectorPaul HaggisStarsRussell CroweElizabeth BanksLiam NeesonA married couple's life is turned upside down when the wife is accused of a murder.5/10
Somber and with the dedication to get the job done, The Next Three Days unfortunately lacks the story structure and twists to keep viewers invested. - DirectorAtom EgoyanStarsJulianne MooreAmanda SeyfriedLiam NeesonSuspecting her husband of infidelity, gynecologist Dr. Catherine Stewart hires an escort named Chloe in order to test his faithfulness. Soon, the relationships between all three intensify.5/10
Brooding and sure to stimulate some, Chloe plays too fast and loose with its narrative and lacks the kind of juicy revelation one would expect. - DirectorJoe CarnahanStarsLiam NeesonBradley CooperSharlto CopleyA group of Iraq War veterans look to clear their name with the U.S. Military, who suspect the four men of committing a crime for which they were framed.5/10
It certainly respects the spirit of the classic ‘80s series of the same name, however The A-Team remains too polished and perfunctory to stand out. - DirectorJohn WellsStarsBen AffleckChris CooperTommy Lee JonesThe story centers on a year in the life of three men trying to survive a round of corporate downsizing at a major company - and how that affects them, their families, and their communities.4/10
There’s some very important socioeconomic commentary going on in The Company Men, so it’s a shame that the script can’t frame them in such a way that isn’t drab or preachy. - DirectorClint EastwoodStarsMatt DamonCécile de FranceBryce Dallas HowardAn American construction worker, a French journalist and a London school boy set out on a spiritual journey after death touches their lives in different ways.4/10
Thoughtful and thoroughly concerned with its themes, Hereafter is unfortunately one of Clint Eastwood’s sleepier efforts that’s simpler than it thinks it is. - DirectorAnton CorbijnStarsGeorge ClooneyPaolo BonacelliViolante PlacidoAn assassin hides out in Italy for one last assignment.4/10
The American is certainly shot well and has a more than capable George Clooney in the lead, however it’s an incredibly inert spy thriller and unlikely to engage. - DirectorOliver StoneStarsShia LaBeoufMichael DouglasCarey MulliganNow out of prison but still disgraced by his peers, Gordon Gekko works his future son-in-law, an idealistic stock broker, when he sees an opportunity to take down a Wall Street enemy and rebuild his empire.4/10
One could have constructed a worthy late sequel to the original, but Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps is not it, largely missing the essence of its characters. - DirectorJon TurteltaubStarsNicolas CageJay BaruchelAlfred MolinaA protege of the magician Merlin must train his teacher's successor - an introverted but resourceful physics prodigy - in the art of sorcery to prevent the return of Morgana le Fay.4/10
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is a resplendent and curious little adaptation from the Mouse House, but it’s generic and not creative enough to mystify viewers. - DirectorAdam GreenStarsDanielle HarrisKane HodderTony ToddMarybeth escapes the clutches of the bayou-butcher Victor Crowley and returns to the swamp with an army of hunters and gunmen, determined to end Crowley's reign of horror once and for all.4/10
Dredging up the same basic plot of the first film, Hatchet II has its moments of carnage and humor, but it’s also mechanical and derivative. - DirectorJosh GordonWill SpeckStarsJennifer AnistonJason BatemanPatrick WilsonSeven years after the fact, a man comes to the realization that he was the sperm donor for his best friend's boy.4/10
Predictable to the max and not particularly funny, The Switch is agreeable but not charismatic enough to do its likable stars justice. - DirectorKevin AschStarsJesse EisenbergJustin BarthaDanny A. AbeckaserIn Brooklyn, a youth from an Orthodox Jewish community is lured into becoming an Ecstasy dealer by his pal who has ties to an Israeli drug cartel.4/10
Holy Rollers might have been a curious and clever little crime drama, however it doesn’t do enough with its intriguing fact-based premise to complete the gambit. - DirectorDavid SladeStarsKristen StewartRobert PattinsonTaylor LautnerAs a string of mysterious killings grips Seattle, Bella, whose high school graduation is fast approaching, is forced to choose between her love for vampire Edward and her friendship with werewolf Jacob.4/10
More self-aware and a relative step up in terms of excitement, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse still suffers from middle chapter syndrome and its flatly written characters. - DirectorRidley ScottStarsRussell CroweCate BlanchettMatthew MacfadyenIn twelfth-century England, Robin Longstride and his band of marauders confront corruption in a local village and lead an uprising against the crown that will forever alter the balance of world power.4/10
Though the pairing of Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe has worked well in the past, the gritty version of Robin Hood fails to hit its target as it wants for a more pronounced heartbeat. - DirectorAndrew LauStarsDonnie YenAlex AhlstromShu QiThe year is 1917 and Chen Zhen, believed to be dead, returns to Shanghai under a false name. He joins a mob boss for info on the Japanese incl. a long kill list and at night fights the Japanese masked.4/10
Sleek on the surface but contrived where it counts, Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen will keep your attention but won't do much else. - DirectorJoseph KosinskiStarsJeff BridgesGarrett HedlundOlivia WildeThe son of a virtual world designer goes looking for his father and ends up inside the digital world that his father designed. He meets his father's corrupted creation and a unique ally who was born inside the digital world.4/10
Sleek and visually impressive, TRON: Legacy has trouble enticing all the same with a severe lack of personality and an artificial tone. - DirectorSylvester StalloneStarsSylvester StalloneJason StathamJet LiA CIA operative hires a team of mercenaries to eliminate a Latin dictator and a renegade CIA agent.4/10
The Expendables assembles an impressive array of old-school action heroes, however it neglects to really embrace this angle in favor of a generic approach. - DirectorLogan MillerNoah MillerStarsEd HarrisBrad DourifRobert ForsterThe true story about a father struggling to make amends with his twin sons as they pursue their dreams of professional baseball.4/10
While respectably smaller in scale and understated, Touching Home unfortunately can't stitch together the kind of poignant drama the fact-based story needs. - DirectorAntoine FuquaStarsRichard GereDon CheadleEthan HawkeThree unconnected Brooklyn cops wind up at the same deadly location after enduring vastly different career paths.4/10
Despite having the potential to be a crime drama worth remembering, Brooklyn’s Finest struggles to play with its moving pieces in a truly dynamic way. - DirectorMichael SpierigPeter SpierigStarsEthan HawkeWillem DafoeSam NeillIn the year 2019, a plague has transformed almost every human into vampires. Faced with a dwindling blood supply, the fractured dominant race plots their survival; meanwhile, a researcher works with a covert band of vamps on a way to save humankind.4/10
Daybreakers presents a fairly ingenious twist on the vampire subgenre, but hokey execution and lackluster dialogue keeps it from savoring every last drop. - DirectorAndrew JareckiStarsRyan GoslingKirsten DunstFrank LangellaDavid Marks, a real estate scion, is suspected of killing his wife Katie, who disappeared in 1982.4/10
Despite centering around a titillating true crime story, All Good Things proves too sleepy as an inconsequential third act undercuts any sense of momentum.