Movie Reviews

Here you can find all the latest movie reviews of films new to the cinema and out on DVD. IndieMoviesOnline publishes movie reviews in time for US and UK release dates and aims to cover most new films. We always love to hear what you think of films you've watched, so please feel free to post mini-movie reviews of your own in the comments section.

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How to Die in Oregon
At Sundance: How to Die in Oregon
At Sundance: How to Die in Oregon

Sundance (U.S. Documentary Competition) – We may have thought we understood Oregon's 1994 Death with Dignity Act. But this documentary, says Kimberly Gadette, told from the vantage point of terminally-ill patients, puts the issue in clear, heartbreaking focus.

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The Music Never Stopped
At Sundance: The Music Never Stopped
At Sundance: The Music Never Stopped

After years of playing second fiddle, J.K. Simmons finally gets to headline. It may have been a long wait, says Kimberly Gadette, but the music couldn't be sweeter.

The Salesman
At Sundance: The Salesman (Le Vendeur)
At Sundance: The Salesman (Le Vendeur)

Sundance (World Cinema Dramatic Competition) – In Northern Quebec, the perennial car salesman of the month is finding it harder than Willy Loman to keep on "riding on a smile and a shoeshine." But, asks Kimberly Gadette, how well does the salesman sell the film?

Uncle Kent
At Sundance: Uncle Kent
At Sundance: Uncle Kent

Sundance (Out of Competition: Spotlight Category) – Prolific DIY filmmaker Joe Swanberg gets a debut screening at Sundance. But, says Kimberly Gadette, is this week-in-the-life-of film even slightly worthy?

Bullett in Mad Bastards.
At Sundance: Mad Bastards
At Sundance: Mad Bastards

Sundance (World Cinema Dramatic Competition) – These bastards are definitely mad. It's no wonder, says Kimberly Gadette, considering that at no point in this 2,400 km trip is there a decent script in sight.

Black Dynamite, starring Michael Jai White.
On DVD: Black Dynamite
On DVD: Black Dynamite

Aiming to do for Blaxploitation movies what Airplane! did for the all-star disaster picture, Black Dynamite is the story of a man out to nail the bad guys and the ladies – though in differing senses of the word. Paul Martin struts on over for a closer inspection.

The Ward, the new movie from director John Carpenter.
The Ward
The Ward

Good lord, so rotten have been the more recent films from director John Carpenter that it might be tempting to try and 'ward' away his comeback movie sight unseen. That though, says Paul Martin, would represent an unnecessary snub for a flick which is by no means devoid of 're-wards' for the persevering Carpenter fan.

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Project Nim
At Sundance: Project Nim
At Sundance: Project Nim

Sundance (World Cinema Documentary Competition) – If you think Project Nim is an endearing animal documentary about a loveable little chimp, says Kimberly Gadette, you're in for a surprise the size of King Kong.

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The Dilemma
The Dilemma
The Dilemma

Director Ron Howard takes on his first comedy in over a decade. Wondering if Howard's funny bone is still intact -- says Kimberly Gadette -- dare we hope for a film in the caliber of a Parenthood? Or a Splash?

Black Swan
Black Swan
Black Swan

Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan, a psychological thriller set in the world of ballet, has made the nominations lists for all of the big awards announced so far, and its lead, Natalie Portman won the best actress Golden Globe. We expect the film to appear on the list of Oscar nominees next month too, says Emma Rowley. 

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Certified Copy.
On DVD: Certified Copy
On DVD: Certified Copy

It's a Tuscany-set love story with a twist. Juliette Binoche and William Shimell star in the first film from Abbas Kiarostami to be filmed outside of his native Iran. Emma Rowley admires the view but still can't wait to leave. 

Marwencol
Marwencol
Marwencol

Documentarian Jeff Malmberg looks at a man who hung on to life against all odds, only to reinvent it in miniature. If life isn't always a bowl of cherries, says Kimberly Gadette, maybe you can figure out a way to recreate the bowl yourself.

Russell Crowe in The Next Three Days.
The Next Three Days
The Next Three Days

No longer content to redo its own, Hollywood continues its practice of remaking perfectly fine foreign films, with this one bowing to 2008's Pour Elle. Leaving Kimberly Gadette to wonder if the exercise is all that necessary.

The Green Hornet, out in the UK and US today.
The Green Hornet
The Green Hornet

Can Seth Rogen convince as a superhero? Can Michel Gondry handle the demands of a studio action movie? Can Paul Martin find something to love in a blockbuster that's been waylaid for a suspicion-arousing seven months? Stay tuned to find out!

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Choose
On DVD: Choose and Travellers
On DVD: Choose and Travellers

Four city friends go in search of countryside adventure and wind up having a set-to with a group of travellers. Meanwhile, a serial killer forces his victims to choose between two equally nasty outcomes. Emma Rowley checks out a couple of new offerings for January. But will she choose to endorse either of the bloodthirsty flicks?

Rabbit Hole
Rabbit Hole
Rabbit Hole

It's an odd mix, with Hedwig and the Angry Inch's John Cameron Mitchell taking on a serious, Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway play. Just what kind of rabbit hole, asks Kimberly Gadette, have the filmmakers fallen through?

Brotherhood, starring Jon Foster and Trevor Morgan.
Brotherhood
Brotherhood

A frat house initiation gets messy, leaving one college kid fighting for his life. Paul Martin enters a world of silly boys doing silly things.

Season of the Witch poster
Season of the Witch
Season of the Witch

After a release delay of nearly a year, things didn’t look hopeful for director Dominic Sena's Season of the Witch. Prepared for a bumpy ride, Angela Burton joined Nicolas Cage and Ron Perlman on a journey through the plague-ridden land, and found herself more entertained in this witchy company than she had expected.

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Country Strong
Country Strong
Country Strong

It's a relief when Gwyneth Paltrow's superstar bursts into soaring country song. Because that's the only time, says Kimberly Gadette, when she's not pitching fits to beat the band. Which makes the band -- and the audience -- extremely grateful.

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Hemingway's Garden of Eden.
Hemingway's Garden of Eden
Hemingway's Garden of Eden

The film is based on an Ernest Hemingway novel published some 25 years after his death. Kimberly Gadette notes that sometimes there's a good reason why an author chooses to inter his own work. Let sleeping dogs lie ... please.

Noomi Rapace in The Girl Who Played With Fire.
On DVD: The Girl Who Played With Fire
On DVD: The Girl Who Played With Fire

The girl with the dragon tattoo is back in the second instalment of the Swedish crime trilogy and this time, she’s playing with fire. While Noomi Rapace’s performance is similarly red-hot, Emma Rowley finds the other elements of the film lukewarm at best.

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All Good Things.
All Good Things
All Good Things

Rather than filming a second documentary, Andrew Jarecki (Capturing the Friedmans) helms a feature, reprising his examination of troubled father-son relationships and questionable criminal activity. Kimberly Gadette investigates.

The King's Speech.
The King's Speech
The King's Speech

It’s a historical dramedy that recalls both The Madness of King George and the films of Richard Curtis. It arrives on our screens loaded with praise and heaped with awards and nominations. Emma Rowley takes in The King’s Speech.

127 Hours, directed by Danny Boyle and starring James Franco.
127 Hours
127 Hours

It made many critics' best-of-2010 lists and is widely tipped for Oscar nominations next month. Danny Boyle returns with his first outing behind the camera since his Oscar-laden Slumdog Millionaire. Emma Rowley, Paul Martin and Kimberly Gadette offer up their takes on a fact-based survival saga.

Waste Land
Waste Land
Waste Land

A universal recycle symbol appears in the lower left of the film's poster art, encircled by the words "Recycle Yourself." It's not meant to be clever – after viewing this film, says Kimberly Gadette, the words take on a whole new meaning.

Jack Black in Gulliver's Travels.
Gulliver's Travels
Gulliver's Travels

When Jonathan Swift first created that perpetual shipwreckee Lemuel Gulliver, could he have ever imagined his creation would endure more than a quarter of a millennium later? And indeed, wonders Paul Martin, in light of this tedious new big screen outing for the Big G, would he even have wanted to?

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Tiny Furniture
Tiny Furniture
Tiny Furniture

Lena Dunham writes, directs and stars in her own features. Wow, says Kimberly Gadette, she's a triple threat, like a Woody Allen, a Mel Brooks or a Christopher Guest ... or is she?

I Am Love.
On DVD: I Am Love
On DVD: I Am Love

Though Tilda Swinton's performance soars, states Kimberly Gadette, can she overcome a film that is as burdened with excessive ornamentation as the character herself?

Little Fockers.
Little Fockers
Little Fockers

After the initial feast, the tasty Christmas bird devolves into sandwiches, soup and finally, a flavorless hash. Kimberly Gadette hopes that the same fate doesn't await that flock of Fockers on this tri'd out try-try again.

The Way Back, directed by Peter Weir.
The Way Back
The Way Back

Quality not quantity has been the story of the career of Peter Weir, with this being just the fifth feature film from the Australian director in the last 20 years, and the first since his ten-time Oscar nominee Master and Commander seven years ago. Paul Martin takes a long walk to find out if The Way Back is a worthy comeback.