underdog's blog

While there may not be a ton of intriguing "new" movies on this week's DVD release list, there are many rewards to be found -- classic reissues, Westerns and first-time-on-DVD titles, including two notorious Louis Malle classics from Criterion -- as well as some choice international horror and drama titles. Enjoy!

» continue reading "New and Coming Releases: May 13, 2008"

(reposted from GreenCine Daily.)

"There's enough blood in the unrated French horror film Frontier(s) to satiate even the most ravenous gore hounds," writes Manohla Dargis in the New York Times. "The real surprise here is that this creepy, contemporary gross-out also has some ideas, visual and otherwise, wedged among its sanguineous drips, swaying meat hooks and whirring table saw."

"Xavier Gens may pledge allegiance to 70s grindhousers, but like the garbage hauled out at least once a year from Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes production house, or the two-headed, razor-studded dildo formed by Hostel and Hostel II, the style of the French director's career-making torture porn is very much a sign of our times: a capitulation to base pop appetites," writes Ed Gonzalez in Slant.

» continue reading "Frontier(s)."

(Cross posted on GC Daily)
The Films of Morris Engel (with Ruth Orkin) represent "such an unassuming clutch of cinema that it'd be easy to overlook the revolution they represented — without Little Fugitive, there might not have been a French New Wave or John Cassavetes, and therefore, perhaps, no new wave movement at large," writes Michael Atkinson on the IFC. Further up that same page, Bamako: "Malian filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako may have made the one African film everybody needs to see - at least for its disarming fugue of frank political awareness and state-of-the-quotidian African life."

In the New York Times, Dave Kehr reviews Abel Gance's 1922 film La Roue, which "still fascinates as a grab bag of experimental techniques, which do not all belong in the same movie, but which clearly dazzled audiences of the time with the formal possibilities of this still relatively new medium."

» continue reading "DVD Spotlight: 5/6."

Some very intriguing indie films of some renown, a "musical" unlike any you've ever seen and a cool batch of anime are just some of the many highlights of this week's new releases. (And a few of the lowlights we just skipped right over. Hope you agree with us.)

» continue reading "New and Coming Releases: May 6, 2008"

This week's batch of new releases includes one of the year's most acclaimed films, as well as a group of children's classics courtesy of Criterion, alongside plenty o'anime and much, much more. Come on inside and take a look around:

» continue reading "New and Coming Releases: April 29, 2008"

By Craig Phillips

In honor of the release of Harold and Kumar Escape Guantanamo Bay, a sequel that may only be marginally superior to the first one in concept and laughs (and some critics are already divided on that point) what the heck, I bring you a sampling of follow-up films that very clearly improved on the originals.

In some cases, the originals have plenty of merit on their own, but for various reasons their makers felt all the more inspired for the subsequent go-round.

» continue reading "10 Sequels That Are Better Than the Original"

Sakes alive, this is one helluva new releasing week. Everything from good mindless horror to more thought-provoking dramas and comedies, to Criterion classics, and oodles more. Click on for the full smörgåsbord of tasty treats.

» continue reading "New and Coming Releases: April 22, 2008"

by Monica Peck

 

Buck up, folks. The Pennsylvania primary this week may be the decider of the Democratic candidate in November. It's high time to revisit some fine politically minded movies to stir our electoral souls. And with Jay Roach's Recount out next month (Kevin Spacey movie coming out this year) - one wonders where that film will sit if we revisit this list later. At any rate, here is some required viewing to gear up for another tumultuous election year.

» continue reading "Vote Early, Vote Often: Ten Movies To Watch Before the November Election"

Great acting and very original plotting highlight the best of this week's new releases, which will take you all over the world, and back again. A lost noir classic from Criterion and the Oscar-winning original screenplay are just a couple of this week's many fine offerings. Step on inside to check 'em out.

» continue reading "New and Coming Releases: April 15, 2008"

Today's jam-packed, high quality slate of new releases makes up for last week's relatively week batch, we'll say that much. From an Oscar-winning oily drama to Bette Davis, enviro docs to cool anime, martial arts to music biopic satire to family fare, there's literally something for everyone this week. Check it out.

» continue reading "New and Coming Releases: April 8, 2008"