Vantage Point

Vantage Point is a thriller with a Groundhog Day fixation and overloaded with bad acting. It reduces global terrorism to a game of Clue for family game day. If you still would like to see it, by all means attend this thriller for the shallow, gimmicky ride it aspires to be. Vantage Point starts off mediocre but then tries to replicate the fast-paced frenzy of The Bourne Ultimatum with an improbable car chase. Between the many 'What the?' moments until its outrageously absurd ending, Vantage Point is a brisk, entertaining experience.

Perserpolis

Persepolis is an animated, autobiographical masterpiece about an Iranian woman's quest for the utopia of freedom. Persepolis is much more than a history lesson; it's also one of the most creative and important film of the year. The young woman in this film would give any revolutionary a run for their money. As she tries communism, nihilism, and anarchy, she fulfills a heartbreaking and complex tale of love, politics, and family. Persepolis is an uncompromising look at the culture and history of Iran as seen by an observant and open-minded family of Muslims.

Starting Out in the Evening

Starting Out in the Evening is a small and intimate drama about a seventy-year old New York novelist and his battle against time, his body, and his mind. This movie boasts exquisite performances from everyone that provides a simply magnificent time for dedicated filmgoers. As the movie rolls on, the more you get the sense that you know the characters and you can predict their next move, but there is suprises around every corner. This film is a diamond in what has been a rough movie season.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly keeps opening up, its structure mimicking the awakening of its extraordinary protagonist's mind. The film tells the incredible tale of Jean-Dominique Bauby, the editor of Elle magazine, who suffered a stroke and was paralyzed by the unimaginable locked- in syndrome. Bauby’s only way of communicating with the outside world was by blinking with one eye. After many dedicated helpers teach him to communicate through this seemingly pointess gesture, he begins to produce the pages of his memoir. The result is a painful and tender portrait of a life that was ended all too soon. This film is a masterpiece of sensual and poetic cinema.