Reviews/Thoughts on 2009 films Geoffrey Gould has seen in theatres - geoffgould.net

Reviews of
Movies Geoffrey Gould has seen
in theatres: 2009

Date Title Badger Rating Review/Thoughts

November 22, 2009 An Education Carey Mulligan (back with her own accent again), gives a powerful performance as Jenny, a 16-17 year old girl, swept off her feet by a charismatic older man. Alfred Molina is hilarious as Jenny's uptight father.
November 21, 2009 2012 Visually dazzling remake of George Pal's When World's Collide, this rethinking works infinitely better than the unforgiveable The Day the Earth Stood Still "remake."
November 17, 2009 The Wizard of Oz
(70th Anniversary Celebration Event) My favourite film on the big screen; technically they just showed its DVD and its DVD bonus featurette, but the film remains timelessly brilliant and always worth seeing in an auditorium. The only downside was the audience not being as animated as New York city art-house audiences who react more strongly.
November 14, 2009 Brothers Powerful drama with Natalie Portman, Toby McGuire, Jake Gyllenhaal and (sporting a flawless American accent), Carey Mulligan.
November 13, 2009 A Christmas Carol (3D) This fantastic computer animated feature stays about 95% to the original text, but when it goes off point it does so rather painfully.
November 11, 2009 The Fourth Kind One of the best alien-abduction films to date; combining dramatizations sometimes (via split-screen) along side the actual archival footage (if faked, quite well done), the film relates how Nome, Alaska as being a major hot bed for alien abduction/s.
November 08, 2009 The Men Who Stare at Goats George Clooney and Ewan MacGregor make a perfect comic pair in this amusingly strange outing; MacGregor plays a journalist following Clooney, with Clooney conveying information regarding former secret government training/s to create psychic soldiers (remote viewing, et al), calling themselves Jedi warriors. How great is it for MacGregor to ask outright, "What's a Jedi...?"
November 02, 2009 No One Knows About Persian Cats
(aka Kasi az gorbehaye irani khabar nadareh)
(AFI Film Festival) Well made Iranian narrative feature done in a documentary style about underground music movement in the restrictive society of Iran. The film concludes rather open-endedly, without any real resolution and a few questions left unanswered.
About Elly (aka Darbareye Elly)
(AFI Film Festival) Powerful and often gripping drama about a group of friends in Iran on holiday at the sea shore, bringing along with them Elly, the unmarried teacher of one of their children. When Elly literally turns up missing, lies escalate as they wonder whether she left as she wanted to do, or whether she might have drowned in the ocean whilst trying to save the young boy. The film somewhat falls flat at its very ending, indicating, "Oh well, there y'go then." It might have actually worked better had she remained missing.
October 25, 2009 Red Cliff 8:08 AM 11/12/2009(aka Chi bi xia: Jue zhan tian xia)
(preview screening) Jaw-droppingly fantastic war epic set in the very early third century Japan; much modern day cinematic martial arts, but what carries this film is the scenes of the two opposing camps strategizing and counter-strategizing.
October 25, 2009 Where the Wild Things Are Taking a ten sentence heavily-illustrated children's book and turning it into a feature film is no mean feat. The film follows willful Max as he finds the Wild Things, each being a representation of his personality and/or home life, and his coming to grips with various epiphanies.
October 25, 2009 Die-Ner (Get It?) A feature that would have worked far better as an extended short, I saw this as my friend Maria Olsen was a main supporting player. After she gives a moving speech at the start, she is murdered by a sociopath (very Ed Norton'y), who soon learns that it happens to be the night in which the dead return as flesh eating zombies. Rather bad timing, that.
The Canyon A young newlywed couple take an unregistered mule trip into the Grand Canyon where their crusty trail guide is fatally injured, leaving the city-folk stranded with no way to find their way out, no cell signal... but numerous wolves who deduce city folk may make for good eatin'...
Law Abiding Citizen Gerard Butler plays protagonist Clyde, to antagonist Jamie Foxx's corrupt district attorney. When Foxx allows Butler's wife's murdered off, Butler takes to heart the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, and works at destroying the corrupt system. While otherwise a well made and very entertaining film, it loses a star as sadly (as with the film Eagle Eye), the villainous antagonist defeats the heroic pro-American.
October 24, 2009 Saw VI While I would think there is more to the series than this being its last chapter, once again a series of life-lesson traps force various people to appreciate life and choices, those who really Don't Get It as to how important is life.
October 18, 2009 Couples Retreat Very funny semi-ensemble comedy about three married couples going to a retreat that turns out to require couple relationship skill-building, when four of the six only went for a group rate as only two initially wanted to couple skill-building sessions.
October 12, 2009 Surrogates Well made science fiction yarn about the not too distant future, where most of society spends the day in a stim-chair, their minds remote controlling androids with which to conduct their day to day affairds. When someone has found a way not only to neutralize the androids but kill their connected operators, detective Bruce Willis is on the case, finding himself predictably obstructed along the way, particularly as he just manages to avoid being killed himself, and has to interact with the outside world as himself, not via his androit counterpart.
October 10, 2009 Paranormal Activity Well made "no-budget" guerilla filming feature about a young San Diego couple, the wife of whom has been haunted by Something her entire life. Her often bone-headed skeptical husband uses a camcorder to record any events throughout the night, which progressively begin to escalate. The film has a few jump scares, but mainly it creates a slowly intensifying suspense right up to the last and final moments. THe film relies during the daytime scenes with hand-held "camera work," which to many could create virtual motion sickness, from which I suffer (having learned the hard way with Blair Witch Project). I knew this might be similar, so the majority of the film I kept closed my eyes, and listened to the dialog until the tripod static night shot scenes.
October 03, 2009 The Invention of Lying Rick Gervais wrote this clever comedy about an alternate reality in which everyone speaks the truth, always, even if the truth is hurtful. They're so truthful they volunteer truthful information they easily wouldn't need even to say. Rick essentially plays his Andy Millman character from Extras, who somehow manages to utter an untruth, and realizes he can press his advantage, considering everyone believes everything that is said. He inadvertantly becomes famous when he accidently invents religion as well.
September 28, 2009 Whiteout Relatively good murder mystery starring Kate Beckinsale, at a south pole installation.
September 27, 2009 I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell Entertaining if uneven comedy about a tight group of friends having a bachelor party in Vegas, one friend of which (whose book on which this is based), is so narcissistic as to all but lose what few friends he has.
September 23, 2009 Never Let Me Go
(preview screening) In this off-beat science fiction film that barely comes off as science fiction, Carey Mullian stars one of three student friends (technically Kiera Knightly is the "lead"), all of whom actually have been genetically bred for eventual organ harvesting.
September 20, 2009 Love Happens AMC Century 15
September 19, 2009 Extract Entertaining comedy with Jason Bateman, Mira Kunis and J.K. Simmons.
September 13, 2009 Julie & Julia AMC Century 15
September 12, 2009 All About Steve AMC Burbank 16
September 06, 2009 Gamer AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
August 22, 2009 The Time Traveler's Wife AMC Burbank 16
August 21, 2009 Inglourious Basterds AMC Burbank 16
August 16, 2009 The Collector AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
August 15, 2009 District 9 AMC Burbank 16
August 14, 2009 Grace Laemmle Sunset 5
August 12, 2009 Thirst [Bakjwi] Laemmle Sunset 5
August 09, 2009 (500) Days of Summer AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
August 06, 2009 G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra AMC Burbank 16
August 01, 2009 The Hurt Locker AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
July 26, 2009 The Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Experience AMC Century 15 "IMAX" "3D"
(only the two opening scenes in 3D)
Strictly Background USC George Lucas Building
School of Cinematic Arts Complex
July 25, 2009 G-Force AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
Orphan
July 20, 2009 The Ugly Truth
(preview showing) Sherman Oaks Arclight Cinema
(preview showing)
July 17, 2009 Strictly Background
SAG Conservatory Screening Room SAG Conservatory Screening Room
July 15, 2009 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
July 04, 2009 Public Enemies AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
June 26, 2009 Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
June 29, 2009 The Proposal AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
June 12, 2009 Moon AMC Century 15
June 01, 2008 Land of the Lost
(Preview screening) Mann Chinese 6
May 31, 2009 Up (3D) AMC Burbank 16
May 29, 2009 Drag Me to Hell AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
May 25, 2009 Monsters vs. Aliens (3D) AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
May 24, 2009 Terminator Salvation AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
May 17, 2009 Angels & Demons AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
May 31, 2009 Star Trek AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
May 08, 2009
May 06, 2009 All's Faire in Love
(cast/crew preview screening) Fine Arts Theatre
May 05, 2009 Holy Hollywood
(Los Angeles United Film Festival) 5 Star Theatre Los Feliz 3
(Los Angeles United Film Festival)
Strictly Background
(Los Angeles United Film Festival)
Struck (short)
(Los Angeles United Film Festival)
Skylight (short)
(Los Angeles United Film Festival)
May 03, 2009 The Merry Gentleman Laemmle Sunset 5
May 01, 2009 X-Men Origins: Wolverine AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
April 29, 2009 State of Play AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
April 19, 2009 A Gothic Tale
(Fangoria convention screening) LA Convention Center
April 18, 2009 The Graves
(Fangoria convention screening) LA Convention Center
April 17, 2009 Knowing AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
April 05, 2009 Alien Trespass Laemmle Playhouse 7
April 04, 2009 Adventureland AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
March 28, 2009 12 Rounds AMC Burbank 16
March 27, 2009 The Haunting in Connecticut AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
March 15, 2009 Race to Witch Mountain AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
March 13, 2009 Fast & Furious
(Preview screening) Mann Chinese 6
(Preview screening)
March 08, 2009 Taken AMC Burbank 16
March 07, 2009 Watchman AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
March 05, 2009 Something Evil Comes
(formerly Death Among Friends) Regent Showcase Theater
(Invitational screening)
March 01, 2009 The International AMC Burbank 16
February 28, 2009 Old Dogs Fine Arts Theatre;
Beverly Hills Shorts Film Festival;
8:30pm Drama Program Block
In the Dark
Coons
Step Seven
In the Wind
February 27, 2009 Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li Mann Chinese Theatre
January 23, 2009 The Hangover
(Preview screening) Mann Chinese 6
(Preview screening)
February 20, 2009 Spanish Prisoner New Beverly Cinema
House of Games
February 08, 2009 Push AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
February 07, 2009 Coraline (3D) AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
February 04, 2009 The Uninvited Mann Chinese Theatre
January 25, 2009 Slumdog Millionaire AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
Bride Wars
January 24, 2009 Inkheart AMC Santa Anita 16
The Unborn
January 18, 2009 Defiance AMC Burbank 16
January 15, 2009 The Spirit AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
January 14, 2009 The Unborn Mann Chinese Theatre
January 10, 2009 Gran Torino AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
January 08, 2009 The Reader
(SAG Awards screening) DGA Theater 1
January 07, 2009 Revolutionary Road
(SAG Awards preview screening) DGA Theater 1
January 03, 2009 Marley & Me AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19

Date	Title	Badger Rating	Review/Thoughts
November 22, 2009	An Education		Carey Mulligan (back with her own accent again), gives a powerful performance as Jenny, a 16-17 year old girl, swept off her feet by a charismatic older man. Alfred Molina is hilarious as Jenny's uptight father.
November 21, 2009	2012		Visually dazzling remake of George Pal's When World's Collide, this rethinking works infinitely better than the unforgiveable The Day the Earth Stood Still "remake."
November 17, 2009	The Wizard of Oz (70th Anniversary Celebration Event)		My favourite film on the big screen; technically they just showed its DVD and its DVD bonus featurette, but the film remains timelessly brilliant and always worth seeing in an auditorium. The only downside was the audience not being as animated as New York city art-house audiences who react more strongly.
November 14, 2009	Brothers		Powerful drama with Natalie Portman, Toby McGuire, Jake Gyllenhaal and (sporting a flawless American accent), Carey Mulligan.
November 13, 2009	A Christmas Carol (3D)		This fantastic computer animated feature stays about 95% to the original text, but when it goes off point it does so rather painfully.
November 11, 2009	The Fourth Kind		One of the best alien-abduction films to date; combining dramatizations sometimes (via split-screen) along side the actual archival footage (if faked, quite well done), the film relates how Nome, Alaska as being a major hot bed for alien abduction/s.
November 08, 2009	The Men Who Stare at Goats		George Clooney and Ewan MacGregor make a perfect comic pair in this amusingly strange outing; MacGregor plays a journalist following Clooney, with Clooney conveying information regarding former secret government training/s to create psychic soldiers (remote viewing, et al), calling themselves Jedi warriors. How great is it for MacGregor to ask outright, "What's a Jedi...?"
November 02, 2009	No One Knows About Persian Cats (aka Kasi az gorbehaye irani khabar nadareh) (AFI Film Festival)		Well made Iranian narrative feature done in a documentary style about underground music movement in the restrictive society of Iran. The film concludes rather open-endedly, without any real resolution and a few questions left unanswered.
November 02, 2009	About Elly (aka Darbareye Elly) (AFI Film Festival)		Powerful and often gripping drama about a group of friends in Iran on holiday at the sea shore, bringing along with them Elly, the unmarried teacher of one of their children. When Elly literally turns up missing, lies escalate as they wonder whether she left as she wanted to do, or whether she might have drowned in the ocean whilst trying to save the young boy. The film somewhat falls flat at its very ending, indicating, "Oh well, there y'go then." It might have actually worked better had she remained missing.
October 25, 2009	Red Cliff 8:08 AM 11/12/2009(aka Chi bi xia: Jue zhan tian xia) (preview screening)		Jaw-droppingly fantastic war epic set in the very early third century Japan; much modern day cinematic martial arts, but what carries this film is the scenes of the two opposing camps strategizing and counter-strategizing.
October 25, 2009	Where the Wild Things Are		Taking a ten sentence heavily-illustrated children's book and turning it into a feature film is no mean feat. The film follows willful Max as he finds the Wild Things, each being a representation of his personality and/or home life, and his coming to grips with various epiphanies.
October 25, 2009	Die-Ner (Get It?)		A feature that would have worked far better as an extended short, I saw this as my friend Maria Olsen was a main supporting player. After she gives a moving speech at the start, she is murdered by a sociopath (very Ed Norton'y), who soon learns that it happens to be the night in which the dead return as flesh eating zombies. Rather bad timing, that.
	The Canyon		A young newlywed couple take an unregistered mule trip into the Grand Canyon where their crusty trail guide is fatally injured, leaving the city-folk stranded with no way to find their way out, no cell signal... but numerous wolves who deduce city folk may make for good eatin'...
	Law Abiding Citizen		Gerard Butler plays protagonist Clyde, to antagonist Jamie Foxx's corrupt district attorney. When Foxx allows Butler's wife's murdered off, Butler takes to heart the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, and works at destroying the corrupt system. While otherwise a well made and very entertaining film, it loses a star as sadly (as with the film Eagle Eye), the villainous antagonist defeats the heroic pro-American.
October 24, 2009	Saw VI		While I would think there is more to the series than this being its last chapter, once again a series of life-lesson traps force various people to appreciate life and choices, those who really Don't Get It as to how important is life.
October 18, 2009	Couples Retreat		Very funny semi-ensemble comedy about three married couples going to a retreat that turns out to require couple relationship skill-building, when four of the six only went for a group rate as only two initially wanted to couple skill-building sessions.
October 12, 2009	Surrogates		Well made science fiction yarn about the not too distant future, where most of society spends the day in a stim-chair, their minds remote controlling androids with which to conduct their day to day affairds. When someone has found a way not only to neutralize the androids but kill their connected operators, detective Bruce Willis is on the case, finding himself predictably obstructed along the way, particularly as he just manages to avoid being killed himself, and has to interact with the outside world as himself, not via his androit counterpart.
October 10, 2009	Paranormal Activity		Well made "no-budget" guerilla filming feature about a young San Diego couple, the wife of whom has been haunted by Something her entire life. Her often bone-headed skeptical husband uses a camcorder to record any events throughout the night, which progressively begin to escalate. The film has a few jump scares, but mainly it creates a slowly intensifying suspense right up to the last and final moments. THe film relies during the daytime scenes with hand-held "camera work," which to many could create virtual motion sickness, from which I suffer (having learned the hard way with Blair Witch Project). I knew this might be similar, so the majority of the film I kept closed my eyes, and listened to the dialog until the tripod static night shot scenes.
October 03, 2009	The Invention of Lying		Rick Gervais wrote this clever comedy about an alternate reality in which everyone speaks the truth, always, even if the truth is hurtful. They're so truthful they volunteer truthful information they easily wouldn't need even to say. Rick essentially plays his Andy Millman character from Extras, who somehow manages to utter an untruth, and realizes he can press his advantage, considering everyone believes everything that is said. He inadvertantly becomes famous when he accidently invents religion as well.
September 28, 2009	Whiteout		Relatively good murder mystery starring Kate Beckinsale, at a south pole installation.
September 27, 2009	I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell		Entertaining if uneven comedy about a tight group of friends having a bachelor party in Vegas, one friend of which (whose book on which this is based), is so narcissistic as to all but lose what few friends he has.
September 23, 2009	Never Let Me Go (preview screening)		In this off-beat science fiction film that barely comes off as science fiction, Carey Mullian stars one of three student friends (technically Kiera Knightly is the "lead"), all of whom actually have been genetically bred for eventual organ harvesting.
September 20, 2009	Love Happens		AMC Century 15
September 19, 2009	Extract		Entertaining comedy with Jason Bateman, Mira Kunis and J.K. Simmons.
September 13, 2009	Julie & Julia		AMC Century 15
September 12, 2009	All About Steve		AMC Burbank 16
September 06, 2009	Gamer		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
August 22, 2009	The Time Traveler's Wife		AMC Burbank 16
August 21, 2009	Inglourious Basterds		AMC Burbank 16
August 16, 2009	The Collector		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
August 15, 2009	District 9		AMC Burbank 16
August 14, 2009	Grace		Laemmle Sunset 5
August 12, 2009	Thirst [Bakjwi]		Laemmle Sunset 5
August 09, 2009	(500) Days of Summer		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
August 06, 2009	G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra		AMC Burbank 16
August 01, 2009	The Hurt Locker		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
July 26, 2009	The Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Experience		AMC Century 15 "IMAX" "3D" (only the two opening scenes in 3D)
July 26, 2009	Strictly Background		USC George Lucas Building School of Cinematic Arts Complex
July 25, 2009	G-Force		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
July 25, 2009	Orphan		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
July 20, 2009	The Ugly Truth (preview showing)		Sherman Oaks Arclight Cinema (preview showing)
July 17, 2009	Strictly Background SAG Conservatory Screening Room		SAG Conservatory Screening Room
July 15, 2009	Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
July 04, 2009	Public Enemies		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
June 26, 2009	Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
June 29, 2009	The Proposal		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
June 12, 2009	Moon		AMC Century 15
June 01, 2008	Land of the Lost (Preview screening)		Mann Chinese 6
May 31, 2009	Up (3D)		AMC Burbank 16
May 29, 2009	Drag Me to Hell		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
May 25, 2009	Monsters vs. Aliens (3D)		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
May 24, 2009	Terminator Salvation		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
May 17, 2009	Angels & Demons		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
May 31, 2009	Star Trek		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
May 08, 2009	Star Trek		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
May 06, 2009	All's Faire in Love (cast/crew preview screening)		Fine Arts Theatre
May 05, 2009	Holy Hollywood (Los Angeles United Film Festival)		5 Star Theatre Los Feliz 3 (Los Angeles United Film Festival)
	Strictly Background (Los Angeles United Film Festival)
	Struck (short) (Los Angeles United Film Festival)
	Skylight (short) (Los Angeles United Film Festival)
May 03, 2009	The Merry Gentleman		Laemmle Sunset 5
May 01, 2009	X-Men Origins: Wolverine		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
April 29, 2009	State of Play		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
April 19, 2009	A Gothic Tale (Fangoria convention screening)		LA Convention Center
April 18, 2009	The Graves (Fangoria convention screening)		LA Convention Center
April 17, 2009	Knowing		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
April 05, 2009	Alien Trespass		Laemmle Playhouse 7
April 04, 2009	Adventureland		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
March 28, 2009	12 Rounds		AMC Burbank 16
March 27, 2009	The Haunting in Connecticut		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
March 15, 2009	Race to Witch Mountain		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
March 13, 2009	Fast & Furious (Preview screening)		Mann Chinese 6 (Preview screening)
March 08, 2009	Taken		AMC Burbank 16
March 07, 2009	Watchman		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
March 05, 2009	Something Evil Comes (formerly Death Among Friends)		Regent Showcase Theater (Invitational screening)
March 01, 2009	The International		AMC Burbank 16
February 28, 2009	Old Dogs		Fine Arts Theatre; Beverly Hills Shorts Film Festival; 8:30pm Drama Program Block
	In the Dark
	Coons
	Step Seven
	In the Wind
February 27, 2009	Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li		Mann Chinese Theatre
January 23, 2009	The Hangover (Preview screening)		Mann Chinese 6 (Preview screening)
February 20, 2009	Spanish Prisoner		New Beverly Cinema
February 20, 2009	House of Games		New Beverly Cinema
February 08, 2009	Push		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
February 07, 2009	Coraline (3D)		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
February 04, 2009	The Uninvited		Mann Chinese Theatre
January 25, 2009	Slumdog Millionaire		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
January 25, 2009	Bride Wars		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
January 24, 2009	Inkheart		AMC Santa Anita 16
January 24, 2009	The Unborn		AMC Santa Anita 16
January 18, 2009	Defiance		AMC Burbank 16
January 15, 2009	The Spirit		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
January 14, 2009	The Unborn		Mann Chinese Theatre
January 10, 2009	Gran Torino		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19
January 08, 2009	The Reader (SAG Awards screening)		DGA Theater 1
January 07, 2009	Revolutionary Road (SAG Awards preview screening)		DGA Theater 1
January 03, 2009	Marley & Me		AMC Loews CityWalk Stadium 19