See It 10/24

In the Loop (2009)
Directed by: Armando Iannucci
Written by: Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannuci, Ian Martin, Tony Roche
Starring: Peter Capaldi, Tom Hollander, Gina McKee, James Gandolfini, Chris Addison, Anna Chlumsky, Enzo Cilenti, Mimi Kennedy, Alex Mcqueen
Bitingly hilarious satire of government features some great performances. When an inept low level British government official slips and accidentally says a war in inevitable, all hell breaks loose. Soon the American's are involved, trying to use this official for their own political gain. It's all very fast paced and dry, and sadly realistic. A-



Precious: Based On the Novel Push By Sapphire (2009)
Directed by: Lee Daniels
Written by: Sapphire; Geoffrey Fletcher
Starring: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd, Lenny Kravitz, Stephanie Andujar, Chyna Layne, Amina Robinson, Xosha Roquemore, Angelic Zambrana
A poor, overweight, illiterate, sexually abused girl in Harlem is kicked out of her school when she gets pregnant for the second time (by her abusive father.) When she attends an alternative school, she begins her ascent from her horrible home life and her horrifying past. But it's not all inspiration and feel good scenes from there. Powerhouse dramatic performances from comedian Mo'Nique as Precious' monster of a mother, and newcomer Gabourey Sidibe make this a must see. A-



Broken Embraces (2009)
Directed by: Pedro Almodovar
Written by: Pedro Almodovar
Starring: Lluis Homar, Blanco Portillo, Penelope Cruz, Jose Luis Gomez, Ruben Ochandiano, Lola Duenas, Tamar Novas
A filmmaker reminiscing about a lost love, and an event that caused his blindness. Despite strong performances and some great sequences, the plot lines all seem to hang there, and things get a little boring. Despite that, the acting is wonderful, and the film looks great. But 'Bad Education' and 'Volver' were much better. B



Black Dynamite (2009)
Directed by: Scott Sanders
Written by: Michael Jai White, Byron Minns, Scott Sanders
Starring: Michael Jai White, Kym Whitley, Tommy Davidson, Kevin Chapman, Arsenio Hall, Miguel A. Nunez Jr., Salli Richardson, Nicole Sullivan
Hilarious spoof of 70's blaxsploitation films. A great cast is game with a ridiculous plot about dick shrinking malt liquor that takes detective Black Dynamite from the ghetto all the way to the White House. Imagine all the most absurd elements of films like 'Shaft,' 'Superfly,' and 'Coffy' and you'll get... Black DynAmite. B+