Control (2007)

I'm not a Joy Division fan, but I was still pretty mesmerized by this film -- shot in appropriately moody black & white -- chronicling the creation and rise and sad end of the band.

The picture focuses on lead singer Ian Curtis, who's played appealingly by Sam Riley. He's all sullenness and intensity, I mean very rock and roll. His quick jump into marriage, development of epileptic seizures, and the birth of a child seem to all conspire to push Curtis deeper into himself. The movie did a fantastic job of getting me on his side (though I can't help but wonder if the intent was to make me sympathize with his wife, whose book served as source material), I could feel the desperation and confusion and had no trouble understanding why suicide might seem an inevitable destination.

B

Hunger (2008)

This sat in a drawer in its Netflix sleeve for 5 weeks, but I had a hard time getting myself in the "mood" for political prisoners wasting away in protest. Now that I've seen it, I'm not quite sure why they went with the title "Hunger" when a more accurate title would've been "Filth" or "Degradation."

The first hour or so shows imprisoned IRA members living their choice of a "blanket and no wash" protest (refusing prison clothes and cleanliness). It was truly revolting and, to be frank, confusing. Why treat yourself like an animal while demanding to be treated as a human? I mean, I get that options for rebellion are limited behind bars, but it just seemed like it'd be that much easier to dismiss them as "not normal," and therefore to dismiss their demands. It was a very tough sit, for sure.

The hunger strike portion of the story only took place over the last 20 minutes or so, but it was also quite hard to watch. I don't even know where my sympathies lie...with me for having to watch it, I guess.

C-

The Chocolate War (1988)

An average kid decides to take a passive but effective stand against both his oppressive school and the bullies who run it.

The material and the acting is strong enough that it could've been embraced by generations of alienated teens. Instead, it's treated with disrespect and styled like an MTV project rather than a serious film, which only makes it feel inconsequential and dated.

C-

The Alamo (1960)

Surprisingly watchable. There's nothing spectacular going on and the length -- nearly 3 hours -- hurts it (a run time of about 1:45 would have made it lean and meaningful), but it's still OK in a bloodless kind of way. Definitely better than the 2004 telling.

C+

Tremors (1990)

Big ol' sand worms start eating up a tiny desert town and the small group of surviving residents fights back.

And though that's about it, it's enough. Silly, cheesy fun.

B

Bright Star (2009)

This is supposed to be the true story about the romance between poet John Keats and fashion-forward clothing designer Fanny Brawne. I believe that they were in deep love, but the obstacles thrown up by family and friends got beyond tedious, which made the movie feel longer than it actually was.

Still, it was alright (if a little boring at times).

B

Daybreakers (2010)

Yet another new twist on vampires...this time the ratio between humans and vamps has tipped over into the vampires' favor and that means a shortage of food supply.

Takes itself far too seriously while indulging in over-the-top effects. It seems to me as though it would've been smarter to go completely tongue-in-cheek rather than trying for anything really meaningful.

C+

The Great Buck Howard (2009)

John Malkovich plays Buck Howard, a Kreskin-type mentalist who was quite big in his day but is becoming less and less relevant to modern audiences. He continues to work the stage as though he's still at the top of his popularity and his assistants do their best to keep the charade going for him. He certainly gives the fans he's got left a helluva show.

It's likable and sweet for the first two-thirds or so, but then gets kind of boring once Buck's fame experiences a resurgence. Left me dissatisfied, which is a shame since it's such a unique subject.

B-

Disgrace (2009)

A South African professor, forced to resign after taking advantage of a student, goes to stay with his daughter in the country, where things are slower but every bit as complicated.

I was confused by much of this film. It felt disjointed and yet it also managed to be somehow lyrical and undeniably powerful. I don't pretend to understand the ramifications of apartheid, but neither can I wrap my mind around the brutality that some people accept as everyday life. Well worth seeing, just for a look at a modern-day life that's both recognizable and completely unlike anything I know first-hand.

B+

Across 110th Street (1972)

Tough little movie about three black men ripping off some mob loot. Race struggles within the police department and on the street contribute to the messiness of the chase.

Basically, this is a pretty solid core dressed in some laughable '70s affectations and "effects."

C+

Nine 1/2 Weeks (1986)

This is basically five musical montages with a domination-submission relationship serving as the "story" between numbers.

The flat-out terrible acting, over-dependence on the soundtrack, and just a general seediness made this one tough film to sit through.

F