Stellan Skarsgard plays a quiet and unassuming man, released from prison for murdering his wife's lover. Before he kills the informant who landed him in jail, he reconnects with his son and meets a woman. Will he kill or has time and the potential of his new found relationships rehabilitated him? Over the duration of the film you start to care about this character and the choices he makes.

4 Stars

Set in a pestilence ridden medieval country, a church sends a hardhearted gang of soldiers (ringleader played by Sean Bean) to an uncontaminated village to destroy a witch who is believed to have powers that bring back the dead. You will get your fill of gory open oozing sores, battles scenes and torture devices in this fun and improbable period/adventure/horror film.

3 Stars

One of the best films of 2010! It's a compelling drama with a brilliant screenplay and mesmerizing performances. Per the title, the story is as barbarous as the animal world. A family of criminals faces off in a bloody battle with the police. The family violently tears itself apart to survive.

5 Stars

Russian criminals fascinate me with their awesome personal history tattoos, gruff voices and overall badness. Here we find a young gang ordered to kidnap an imprisoned and scraped up enchantress of a woman. Everything goes haywire and the heavy gunfire joyride begins. This little violent Russian picture isn't too predictable and the players act with a lot of heart.

4 Stars

This is an intelligent mystery/drama film from Argentina. Ricardo Darin
(he was the taxidermist in The Aura (2005)) plays a retired investigator who is writing about a crime he once investigated and has stayed with him over the years. While writing he uncovers mysteries of the crime and he explores the passions around himself and the characters of his book. Excellent acting, script and direction - no wonder this won best foreign film in 2009.
5 Stars

Film recalls To Catch a Thief. Johnny Depp is our Carey Grant and Angelina Jolie our Grace Kelly. The problem is that neither of the modern versions seem to have that level of natural sophistication. However, an entertaining film worth watching. Depp is our plain math teacher from the Midwest, clumsily paired up with Jolie, a stylish and sleek undercover agent. I love how Depp is never afraid of taking on new acting challenges - in this it is taking the back seat a little for his leading lady. I am a fan of Depp - he is wonderful in this – just a tad less shiny than normal. The two take you on a fun Chase through Venice canals. Also includes a hearty performance by Timothy Dalton as Jolie's spy director.

3.5 Stars

As a fan of the 1969 version starring John Wayne, Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper, I had doubts. I've concluded that the deal is: it's a gem of a western that folks should see in whatever format. Bridges plays his very own Rooster Cogburn - rather than playing the Duke. The rest of the cast is wonderful, from Matt Damon as LeBouf the ranger to Barry Pepper as Ned Pepper the villain and Miss Steinfeld as the brave little Mattie. I enjoyed the dark eerie sets. Nice work Coen Bros.

4.5 Stars