Traitor

Traitor is a taut international thriller set against a jigsaw puzzle of espionage operations. This film is adroit, effective, and at times suspenseful. It's one of a very few terrorist-themed movies that presents its situation without resorting to exploitation or oversimplification. Traitor is an earnest and beneficial tale that makes a valiant effort to untangle some of the moral complexities of the post-9/11 world. An FBI agent Roy Clayton starts an inquiry into a dangerous international conspiracy, all clues lead back to former U.S. Special Operations officer, Samir Horn. Samir is a mysterious figure with a myriad of connections to terrorist organizations. Mister Horn’s tale; however, is more complicated than meets the eye. Traitor is great suspense flick with a message.

American Teen

American Teen is a documentary following the experiences of four high school seniors. This group of four is comprised of a jock, a rebel, a geek, and a ditsy popular girl. The look and feel of American Teen is authentically 21st century, yet the rites of passage it records are universal. American Teen shows how a documentary can be as moving and suspenseful as the best narrative feature. Burstein (the director) may not know when to back off, but she's genuinely curious about all she sees. By the end of the film, you'll be firmly on the side of each of these kids, hoping the best for them, or at least some of them. While at times dull and others unrealistic, American Teen does give an authentic high school experience.

Pineapple Express

Pineapple Express is a jocular film about two friends on the run from a powerful drug dealer. It is the tale of Dale Denton. Mister Denton is the witness to a murder and is also spotted by the gunman. He suspects the drug gang can track him down, so he and his drug dealer, Saul Silver, go through a boisterously entertaining series of events while on the run for their lives. Pineapple Express is a fitfully amusing tale of drugs and crooks and general dilapidation, but the more it goes on, and the loonier it gets, the less it connects with the audience. In summation, this film is a profound mix of action and humor, yet lacks all intelligence. An intensely amusing flick that is worth the effort.

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

Gonzo is documentary covering the iconic journalist Hunter Thompson. It's a fond and very revealing portrait of a writer who stands alongside Samuel Clemens and Walt Whitman as an American original. This documentary is a mesmerizing look at the mythic quality and anarchic spirit of the irreverent and rabble-rousing journalist. While the claim that his post-1970s lacks his former brilliance is hard to refute, Gonzo proves that edginess is an insipid commodity, championing Thompson's best work for its insight rather than its outrage. This film is a fascinating lesson in history that shows how eclat can be the infliction of talent.

Swing Vote

Swing Vote captures the spirit of an election year when many once-apathetic Americans are keenly interested in the outcome. The nonsensical plot starts with the main character Bud being informed that he has cast an irregular ballot. Bud is given the opportunity to recast his ballot in ten days. Within this span of time, a myriad of entertaining and satirical events occur, ranging from presidential meetings to flip-flopping commercials. As often happens with politics, even as Swing Vote entertains, it leaves us feeling like we have been subjected to some slick manipulation and worse, left with promises unfulfilled. All in all, Swing Vote raises important issues worth looking at, yet does not deliver a worthwhile answer.