Mini Reviews

Tropic Thunder
An absolutely hilarious satire on the movie business. Robert Downey Jr. is the standout of the bunch, but all five leads are hysterical. Tom Cruise even gets some cool points for his cameo. I laughed so hard I cried. A-

Rachel Getting Married
A very powerful and naturalistic film about unconditional love in spite of even the most tragic crises. The nuanced performances from the entire ensemble are worthy of praise, though Anne Hathaway and Rosemarie DeWitt in particular stand out. The shaky cam might not be for everyone, but it provides the film with a more intimate feel. A-

Milk
A deeply moving and profound story about the first openly gay man elected to public office in the U.S. Grounded by brilliant acting, top-notch directing and an amazing screenplay, "Milk" is sure to land Oscar nods for Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Gus Van Sant and the picture as a whole. A

The Visitor
A thoughtful and subdued look at friendship and the challenges of immigration. Veteran character actor Richard Jenkins will likely earn an Oscar nomination for his captivating performance, and Haaz Sleiman's performance as a charismatic immigrant thrown in a detention center is equally deserving. B+

Let the Right One In
Enchanting and eerie at the same time, this Swedish tale of a bullied young boy and the vampire he becomes fascinated with blends horror and romance in unusual and captivating ways. B

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
This fantasy about a man who ages in reverse is visually stunning, with brilliant direction from David Fincher and top-notch acting from Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and Taraji P. Henson. B+

Frost/Nixon
A gripping dramatization of British talk show host David Frost's historic interviews with Richard Nixon, "Frost/Nixon" is captivating all the way through. Peter Morgan's script doesn't miss a beat, and Frank Langella and Michael Sheen lead a strong cast. B+

Slumdog Millionaire
Without a doubt one of the best films of the year. "Slumdog Millionaire" is strong on all fronts, from the script to the directing to the acting to the incredible visuals. The audience becomes completely invested in the emotionally compelling story, which proves that every once in a while a tragedy can have a happy ending. A

Doubt
Overall this is a good film. The acting is incredible all around. The performances from Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis are the best of the year, and the story is a compelling one. The film falls a little short in John Patrick Shanley's inconsistent directing, so it's not quite worthy of a best picture nomination. But the movie is still worth watching for the acting, all of which deserves to be recognized by the Academy. B+