I pledge a LEGION to the slag-heap... of crappy movies with no reason for existing. Atrociously acted (even Dennis Quaid!) with laughable special effects a nd talky beyond words, "Biblical" claptrap has never been so boring. A textbook January release, by the end I, too, was rooting for the eradication of Mankind. -- Jeff Schultz

BAD LIEUTENANT has to be one of the most bleak movies I've ever seen. Harvey Keitel is wonderful as usual, but the movie is unrelentingly depressing. The only upside, the Mets beating the Dodgers in the playoffs -- that never actually happened! -- Alan Yudman

Despite my Pats losing to the Ravens, I was charmed by The Blind Side. An inspirational story that wins you over with its positive tone and fine performances. Despite some obvious stand up and cheer moments and cliches, SIDE is a cut ABOVE the rest of those feel good flicks. A winner. --Stormy CurryI expected … Continue reading THE BLIND SIDE

APPALOOSA's themes are familiar to fans of Westerns. A lawman almost loses it all for the love of a woman with a shady past. This version is better than average, but not by much. Viggo Mortensen's performance as Ed Harris' deputy saves this from being forgettable. The cinematography is also better than most. Too bad … Continue reading APPALOOSA

The Road Warrior meets Unforgiven on The Road to The 700 Club. A post-Apocalypse Western with a schmear of religiosity, THE BOOK OF ELI is made watchable by a strong, understated Denzel, and (thankfully) Gary Oldman doing one of his patented baroque creeps. We've seen this movie many times before -- and though the production … Continue reading THE BOOK OF ELI

Big Fan is a BIG disappointment. Patton Oswalt shines as a guy who lives and dies by the NY Giants and the premise is promising: what does a diehard fan do when his idol beats him down? The movie has no idea. One minute a dark comedy, the next a heavy drama, Fan fails because … Continue reading BIG FAN

Sometimes less is more. Exhibit A: Carriers. This small thriller stars a pre Kirk Chris Pine and a few other familiar faces. A killer virus has wiped out most of the country. Two brothers and their girlfriends are trying to dive cross country to their home. This played out premise is taken to a whole … Continue reading CARRIERS

Call it a summing up: everything we love about Michael Cera -- the smarts, the charm, the comic irony, the yearning -- is distilled into his ultimate performance in YOUTH IN REVOLT, the role that should now free him to move on. With a constellation of talent surrounding him (and despite a somewhat fuzzy message) … Continue reading YOUTH IN REVOLT

Jeff Bridges turns in the performance of his career as washed up country music legend Bad Blake in the excellent CRAZY HEART. Bridges does more with a look and a sigh than some actors could do with pages of dialogue. Wonderful original songs penned by T. Bone Burnett and expertly sung by Bridges & Colin … Continue reading CRAZY HEART

Big Fan is a BIG disappointment. Patton Oswalt shines as a guy who lives and dies by the NY Giants and the premise is promising: what does a diehard fan do when his idol beats him down? The movie has no idea. One minute a dark comedy, the next a heavy drama, Fan fails because … Continue reading BIG FAN