Archive for September, 2009

Whip It

Sunday, September 13th, 2009

All Genres:
Comedy, Drama, Sport

Release Year: 2009

Country: USA

Runtime: 111 min

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: Be Your Own Hero

 

Cast: Sarah Habel … Corbi
Ellen Page … Bliss Cavendar
Shannon Eagen … Amber
Marcia Gay Harden … Brooke Cavendar
Edward Austin Austin … Pageant Coordinator
Mary Callaghan Lynch … Val
Alia Shawkat … Pash
Barbara Coven … Pagent Mother
Eulala Scheel … Shania Cavendar
Nina Kircher … Trudy
Daniel Stern … Earl Cavendar
Mark Boyd … Ronny
Carlo Alban … Birdman
Doug Minckiewicz … Colby
Michael Petrillo … Poindexter

 

Plot: In Bodeen, Texas, an indie-rock loving misfit finds a way of dealing with her small-town misery after she discovers a roller derby league in nearby Austin.

 

Awards: 1 nomination

Get Low

Saturday, September 12th, 2009

All Genres:
Comedy, Drama See  »

Release Year: 2009

Country: USA | Germany | Poland

Runtime: Canada:100 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: Every secret dies somewhere.

 

Cast: Bill Murray … Frank Quinn
Lucas Black … Buddy
Robert Duvall … Felix Bush
Gerald McRaney … Horton
Sissy Spacek … Mattie Darrow
Bill Cobbs … Rev. Charlie Jackson
Linds Edwards … WKNG Announcer
Scott Cooper … Carl
Chandler Riggs … Tom
Andrea Powell … Bonnie
Lori Beth Edgeman … Kathryn Robinson
Blerim Destani … Gary
Kelly Finley … Sissy
Shawn Knowles … Lee
Rebecca Grant … Joan
Alexis Walters … Wealthy Town Girl
Jade Moser … Town Girl
Tomasz Karolak … Orville
Catherine Thornton … Funeral Attendee
Alex Corrado … Phil Norton
Steven Stadler … Funeral Guest
Arin Logan … Mary Lee Stroup
Marc Gowan … Aaron Feldman
Rob Crowe … Funeral Attendee
Mercedes Laine … Featured Poor Girl
Zoe Leigh Sarris … Belle
James Guy … Boy 1
Matt Leili … Funeral Attendee

 

Plot: A movie spun out of equal parts folk tale, fable and real-life legend about the mysterious, 1930s Tennessee hermit who famously threw his own rollicking funeral party… while he was still alive. Add synopsis »

Harry Brown

Saturday, September 12th, 2009

All Genres:
Crime, Drama, Thriller See  »

Release Year: 2009

Country: UK

Runtime: 103 min | Canada:97 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: Every man has a breaking point.

 

Cast: Michael Caine … Harry Brown
Emily Mortimer … D.I. Alice Frampton
Charlie Creed-Miles … D.S. Terry Hicock
David Bradley … Leonard Attwell
Iain Glen … S.I. Childs
Sean Harris … Stretch
Ben Drew … Noel Winters
Jack O'Connell … Marky
Jamal Downey … Carl
Lee Oakes … Dean
Joseph Gilgun … Kenny
Liam Cunningham … Sid Rourke
Marva Alexander … Nurse #1
Forbes KB … Troy Martindale
Liz Daniels … Kath

 

Plot: An elderly ex-serviceman and widower looks to avenge his best friend’s murder by doling out his own form of justice. Add synopsis »

 

Awards: 1 win & 3 nominations See »

Defendor

Saturday, September 12th, 2009

All Genres:
Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Release Year: 2009

Country: Canada

Runtime: Canada:95 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: An unexpected hero will rise.

 

Cast: Woody Harrelson … Arthur Poppington / Defendor
Kat Dennings … Kat
Elias Koteas … Chuck Dooney
Sandra Oh … Dr. Park
Lisa Ray … Dominique Ball
Michael Kelly … Paul Carter
Charlotte Sullivan … Fay Poppington
Kristin Booth … Wendy Carter
Tatiana Maslany … Olga
Lyriq Bent … Wayne
Tony Nappo … Biker Cliff
Michael Cram … Blake
Dakota Goyo … Jack Carter
James Preston Rogers … BikerBob
Graham Abbey … Constable Mike
John Paul Ruttan … Young Jack
Cynthia Amsden … Woman with Pointsetta
Max Dreesen … Kid Arthur

 

Plot: A comedy centered around three characters: an everyday guy who comes to believe he’s a superhero, his psychiatrist, and the teenager he befriends. add synopsis

 

Awards: 1 win

A Serious Man

Saturday, September 12th, 2009

All Genres:
Comedy, Drama

Release Year: 2009

Country: USA | UK | France

Runtime: 106 min

Languages: English | Yiddish | Hebrew

Director: Ethan Coen

Joel Coen

Tagline:

 

Cast: Michael Stuhlbarg … Larry Gopnik
Richard Kind … Uncle Arthur
Fred Melamed … Sy Ableman
Sari Lennick … Judith Gopnik
Aaron Wolff … Danny Gopnik
Jessica McManus … Sarah Gopnik
Peter Breitmayer … Mr. Brandt
Brent Braunschweig … Mitch Brandt
David Kang … Clive Park
Benjy Portnoe … Danny's Reefer Buddy (as Bejamin Portnoe)
Jack Swiler … Boy on Bus
Andrew S. Lentz … Cursing Boy on Bus
Jon Kaminski Jr. … Mike Fagle
Ari Hoptman … Arlen Finkle
Alan Mandell … Rabbi Marshak

 

Plot: A black comedy set in 1967 and centered on Larry Gopnik, a Midwestern professor who watches his life unravel when his wife prepares to leave him because his inept brother won’t move out of the house.

 

Awards: Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 26 nominations

I Can Do Bad All by Myself

Friday, September 11th, 2009

All Genres:
Comedy, Drama

Release Year: 2009

Country: USA

Runtime: USA:113 min

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: Hope is closer than you think.

 

Cast: Tyler Perry … Madea / Joe
Taraji P. Henson … April
Adam Rodriguez … Sandino
Brian J. White … Randy (as Brian White)
Hope Olaide Wilson … Jennifer
Kwesi Boakye … Manny
Frederick Siglar … Byron
Gladys Knight … Wilma
Mary J. Blige … Tanya
Marvin Winans … Pastor Brian
Eric Mendenhall … Man #1
David Paulus … Miller
Randall Taylor … Mr. Bradley
Tess Malis Kincaid … Ms. Sullivan
Joseph Taylor … Announcer

 

Plot: When Madea catches sixteen-year-old Jennifer and her two younger brothers looting her home, she decides… add synopsis

 

Awards: 5 nominations

A Single Man

Friday, September 11th, 2009

All Genres:
Drama

Release Year: 2009

Country: USA

Runtime: 101 min | Canada:99 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | USA:99 min

Languages: English | Spanish

Director:

Tagline:

 

Writers: Tom Ford (screenplay) Christopher Isherwood (novel)

 

Cast: Colin Firth … George
Julianne Moore … Charley
Nicholas Hoult … Kenny
Matthew Goode … Jim
Jon Kortajarena … Carlos
Paulette Lamori … Alva
Ryan Simpkins … Jennifer Strunk
Ginnifer Goodwin … Mrs. Strunk
Teddy Sears … Mr. Strunk
Paul Butler … Christopher Strunk
Aaron Sanders … Tom Strunk
Keri Lynn Pratt … Blonde Secretary
Jenna Gavigan … Other Secretary No. 1
Alicia Carr … Other Secretary No. 2
Lee Pace … Grant

 

Plot: A story that centers on an English professor who, after the sudden death of his partner tries to go about his typical day in Los Angeles. add synopsis

 

Awards: Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 21 nominations

Youth in Revolt

Friday, September 11th, 2009

All Genres:
Comedy, Drama, Romance

Release Year: 2009

Country: USA

Runtime: Canada:90 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | USA:90 min

Languages: English | French

Director:

Tagline: Every "Revolution" Needs A Leader

 

Cast: Michael Cera … Nick Twisp and Francois Dillinger
Portia Doubleday … Sheeni Saunders
Jean Smart … Estelle Twisp
Zach Galifianakis … Jerry
Erik Knudsen … Lefty
Adhir Kalyan … Vijay Joshi
Steve Buscemi … George Twisp
Fred Willard … Mr. Ferguson
Ari Graynor … Lacey
Ray Liotta … Lance Wescott
Justin Long … Paul Saunders
Rooney Mara … Taggarty
Jade Fusco … Bernice Lynch
Lise Lacasse … Matron
M. Emmet Walsh … Mr. Saunders

 

Plot: While his trailer trash parents teeter on the edge of divorce, Nick Twisp sets his sights on dream girl Sheeni Saunders, hoping that she’ll be the one to take away his virginity. add synopsis

Daybreakers

Friday, September 11th, 2009

All Genres:
Action, Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Release Year: 2009

Country: Australia | USA

Runtime: 98 min

Languages: English

Director: Michael Spierig

Peter Spierig

Tagline: In 2019, The Most Precious Natural Resource… Is Us.

 

Writers: Michael Spierig (written by) & Peter Spierig (written by)

 

Cast: Harriet Minto-Day … Lisa Barrett
Jay Laga'aia … Senator Turner
Damien Garvey … Senator Westlake
Sahaj Dumpleton … Homeless Vampire
Allan Todd … Businessman
Gabriella Di Labio … Businesswoman
Ben Siemer … Police Officer
Peter Welman … Police Officer
Ethan Hawke … Edward Dalton
Callum McLean … Vampire School Kid
Jarrad Pon … Vampire School Kid
Victoria Williams … Vampire School Kid
Zoe White … Vampire School Kid
Aolani Roy … Vampire School Kid
Tiffany Lamb … News Reader

 

Plot: In the year 2019, a plague has transformed most every human into vampires. Faced with a dwindling blood supply, the fractured dominant race plots their survival; meanwhile, a researcher works with a covert band of vamps on a way to save humankind. add synopsis

Jennifer's Body

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

All Genres:
Comedy, Horror, Thriller

Release Year: 2009

Country: USA

Runtime: 102 min | 107 min (unrated version)

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: She's evil… and not just high school evil.

 

Cast: Megan Fox … Jennifer
Amanda Seyfried … Needy
Johnny Simmons … Chip
Adam Brody … Nikolai
Sal Cortez … Chas
Ryan Levine … Mick
Juan Riedinger … Dirk
Colin Askey … Keyboardist
Chris Pratt … Roman Duda
Juno Ruddell … Officer Warzak
Kyle Gallner … Colin Gray
Josh Emerson … Jonas Konelle
J.K. Simmons … Mr. Wroblewski
Amy Sedaris … Needy's Mom
Cynthia Stevenson … Chip's Mom

 

Plot: A newly possessed cheerleader turns into a killer who specializes in offing her male classmates. Can her best friend put an end to the horror?

 

Awards: 1 nomination

Creation

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

All Genres:
Biography, Drama

Release Year: 2009

Country: UK

Runtime: 108 min

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: How he saw the world changed it forever

 

Writers: John Collee (screenplay) Randal Keynes (biography)

 

Cast: Paul Bettany … Charles Darwin
Jennifer Connelly … Emma Darwin
Jeremy Northam … Reverend Innes
Toby Jones … Thomas Huxley
Benedict Cumberbatch … Joseph Hooker
Jim Carter … Parslow
Martha West … Annie Darwin
Teresa Churcher … Mrs. Davies
Harrison Sansostri … Lenny Darwin
Pauline Stone … Mrs. Darwin's Maid
Zak Davies … Jemmy Buttons
Christopher Dunkin … George Darwin

 

Plot: English naturalist Charles Darwin struggles to find a balance between his revolutionary theories on evolution and the relationship with religious wife, whose faith contradicts his work. add synopsis

Survival of the Dead

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

All Genres:
Horror See  »

Release Year: 2009

Country: USA | Canada

Runtime: 90 min

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: Death isn't what it used to be. See »

 

Cast: Alan Van Sprang … Sarge 'Nicotine' Crocket
Kenneth Welsh … Patrick O'Flynn
Kathleen Munroe … Janet / Jane O'Flynn
Devon Bostick … Boy
Richard Fitzpatrick … Seamus Muldoon
Athena Karkanis … Tomboy
Stefano DiMatteo … Francisco (as Stefano Di Matteo)
Joris Jarsky … Chuck
Eric Woolfe … Kenny
Julian Richings … James O'Flynn
Wayne Robson … Tawdry O'Flynn
Joshua Peace … D.J. (as Josh Peace)
Hardee T. Lineham … Lieutenant Vaughn
Shawn Roberts … Tony Ravello (archive footage)
Scott Wentworth … Professor Andrew Maxwell (archive footage)

 

Plot: On an island off the coast of North America, local residents simultaneously fight a zombie epidemic while hoping for a cure to return their un-dead relatives back to their human state. Add synopsis »

 

Awards: 1 nomination See »

Sorority Row

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

All Genres:
Horror, Thriller

Release Year: 2009

Country: USA

Runtime: 101 min

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: Sisters for life… and death.

 

Cast: Teri Andrzejewski … Bra-Clad Sister
Adam Berry … Danny
Megan Wolfley … Trampoline Sister (as Megan Elizabeth Wolfley)
Robert Belushi … Amazed Senior Guy
Marie Blanchard … Over-It Sister
Briana Evigan … Cassidy
Zack Garrett … Thwarted Guy
Margo Harshman … Chugs
Rumer Willis … Ellie
Jamie Chung … Claire
Leah Pipes … Jessica
Audrina Patridge … Megan
Matt O'Leary … Garrett
Julian Morris … Andy
Debra Gordon … Mrs. Tappan

 

Plot: A group of sorority sisters try to cover up the death of their house-sister after a prank gone wrong, only to be stalked by a serial killer.

Whiteout

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

All Genres:
Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Release Year: 2009

Country: USA | Canada | France

Runtime: 101 min

Languages: English | Russian

Director:

Tagline: See Your Last Breath.

 

Writers: Jon Hoeber (screenplay) & Erich Hoeber (screenplay) …

 

Cast: Kate Beckinsale … Carrie Stetko
Gabriel Macht … Robert Pryce
Tom Skerritt … Dr. John Fury
Columbus Short … Delfy
Alex O'Loughlin … Russell Haden
Shawn Doyle … Sam Murphy
Joel S. Keller … Jack (as Joel Keller)
Jesse Todd … Rubin
Arthur Holden … McGuire
Erin Hickock … Rhonda (as Erin Hicock)
Bashar Rahal … Russian Pilot
Julian Cain … Russian Co-pilot
Dennis Keiffer … Russian Guard #1
Andrei Runtso … Russian Guard #2
Roman Varshavsky … Russian Guard #3

 

Plot: U.S. Marshal Carrie Stetko tracks a killer in Antarctica, as the sun is about to set for six months.

The Informant!

Monday, September 7th, 2009

All Genres:
Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller

Release Year: 2009

Country: USA

Runtime: 108 min

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: Based on a tattle-tale

 

Cast: Matt Damon … Mark Whitacre
Lucas McHugh Carroll … Alexander Whitacre (as Lucas Carroll)
Eddie Jemison … Kirk Schmidt
Rusty Schwimmer … Liz Taylor
Craig Ricci Shaynak … Discouraged Foreman
Tom Papa … Mick Andreas
Rick Overton … Terry Wilson
Melanie Lynskey … Ginger Whitacre
Thomas F. Wilson … Mark Cheviron (as Tom Wilson)
Scott Bakula … Brian Shepard
Scott Adsit … Sid Hulse
Ann Dowd … FBI Special Agent Kate Medford
Allan Havey … FBI Special Agent Dean Paisley
Howie Johnson … Rusty Williams
Joel McHale … FBI Special Agent Bob Herndon

 

Plot: The U.S. government decides to go after an agri-business giant with a price-fixing accusation, based on the evidence submitted by their star witness, vice president turned informant Mark Whitacre.

 

Awards: Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 9 nominations

Capitalism: A Love Story

Sunday, September 6th, 2009

All Genres:
Documentary, Drama

Release Year: 2009

Country: USA

Runtime: 127 min | Canada:105 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline:

 

Cast: Thora Birch … Herself
William Black … Himself
Jimmy Carter … Himself (archive footage)
Congressman Elijah Cummings … Himself
Baron Hill … Himself
Marcy Kaptur … Herself
John McCain … Himself (archive footage)
Michael Moore … Himself
Sarah Palin … Herself (archive footage)
Ronald Reagan … Himself (archive footage)
Franklin Delano Roosevelt … Himself (archive footage)
Arnold Schwarzenegger … Himself (archive footage)
Wallace Shawn … Himself
Elizabeth Warren … Herself

 

Plot: On the 20-year anniversary of his groundbreaking masterpiece Roger & Me, Michael Moore’s Capitalism:… add synopsis

 

Awards: 3 wins & 6 nominations

Io sono l'amore

Saturday, September 5th, 2009

All Genres:
Drama See  »

Release Year: 2009

Country: Italy

Runtime: 120 min

Languages: Italian | Russian | English

Director:

Tagline:

 

Writers: Luca Guadagnino (story) Luca Guadagnino (screenplay) … See »

 

Cast: Tilda Swinton … Emma Recchi
Flavio Parenti … Edoardo Recchi Jr.
Edoardo Gabbriellini … Antonio Biscaglia
Alba Rohrwacher … Elisabetta Recchi
Pippo Delbono … Tancredi Recchi
Diane Fleri … Eva Ugolini
Maria Paiato … Ida Roselli
Marisa Berenson … Allegra Recchi
Waris Ahluwalia … Mr. Kubelkian
Gabriele Ferzetti … Edoardo Recchi Sr. rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Martina Codecasa … Delfina
Mattia Zaccaro … Gianluca Recchi

 

Plot: A tragic love story set at the turn of the millennium in Milan. The film follows the fall of the haute bourgeoisie due to the forces of passion and unconditional love. Add synopsis »

 

Awards: 2 wins See »

Up in the Air

Saturday, September 5th, 2009

All Genres:
Comedy, Drama, Romance

Release Year: 2009

Country: USA

Runtime: USA:109 min | Canada:108 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: The story of a man ready to make a connection.

 

Cast: George Clooney … Ryan Bingham
Vera Farmiga … Alex Goran
Anna Kendrick … Natalie Keener
Jason Bateman … Craig Gregory
Amy Morton … Kara Bingham
Melanie Lynskey … Julie Bingham
J.K. Simmons … Bob
Sam Elliott … Maynard Finch
Danny McBride … Jim Miller
Zach Galifianakis … Steve
Chris Lowell … Kevin
Steve Eastin … Samuels
Marvin Young … Himself (as Young MC)
Lucas MacFadden … Conference DJ (as Cut Chemist)
Adrienne Lamping … Tammy

 

Plot: With a job that has him traveling around the country firing people, Ryan Bingham leads an empty life out of a suitcase, until his company does the unexpected: ground him.

 

Awards: Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 34 wins & 51 nominations

Valhalla Rising

Friday, September 4th, 2009

All Genres:
Action, Adventure See  »

Release Year: 2009

Country: Denmark | UK

Runtime: 93 min | Canada:90 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline:

 

Writers: Roy Jacobsen (writer) Nicolas Winding Refn (writer)

 

Cast: Mads Mikkelsen … One-Eye
Jamie Sives … Gorm
Gary Lewis … Kare
Ewan Stewart … Eirik
Alexander Morton … Barde
Callum Mitchell … Pagan Viking Guard
Andrew Flanagan … Duggal
Maarten Stevenson … Are / The Boy
Douglas Russell … Olaf
Gary McCormack … Hauk
Gordon Brown … Hagen
Mathew Zajac … Malkolm
Robert Harrison … Roger
Stewart Porter … Kenneth
Rony Bridges … Magnus
P.B. McBeath … Man with pike
James Ramsey … Gudmund

 

Plot: 1000 AD, for years, One Eye, a mute warrior of supernatural strength, has been held prisoner by the Norse chieftain Barde… See » Full synopsis »

 

Awards: 2 wins See »

All About Steve

Friday, September 4th, 2009

All Genres:
Comedy

Release Year: 2009

Country: USA

Runtime: 99 min

Languages: English

Director:

Tagline: From The Producer Of Miss Congeniality

 

Cast: Sandra Bullock … Mary Horowitz
Thomas Haden Church … Hartman Hughes
Bradley Cooper … Steve
Ken Jeong … Angus
DJ Qualls … Howard
Keith David … Corbitt
Howard Hesseman … Mr. Horowitz
Beth Grant … Mrs. Horowitz
Katy Mixon … Elizabeth
M.C. Gainey … Norm the Truck Driver
Holmes Osborne … Soloman
Delaney Hamilton … Little Deaf Girl
Jason Jones … Vasquez
Carlos Gómez … Rescue Supervisor
George Sharperson … Rescuer

 

Plot: Convinced that a CCN cameraman is her true love, an eccentric crossword puzzler trails him as he travels all over the country, hoping to convince him that they belong together.

 

Awards: 5 nominations