Magnolia

Rating: 3.0/5.0

CHICAGO – “They’re all around us. Ghosts. They’re everywhere.” People don’t talk like that. Especially kids. Especially not after a major revelation about their dad. It just doesn’t feel real. And that’s the problem with “Night Catches Us,” a well-intentioned drama with strong performances that somehow can’t find the realism at the heart of its story. Anthony Mackie and Kerry Washington nearly rescue the piece but it just doesn’t come together into anything memorable enough to recommend.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – “Monsters” is a unique take on the giant creature genre that focuses more on the people below than the aliens above. Gareth Edwards’ highly-buzzed film could easily be read as a parable for life in an increasingly-dangerous, post-9/11 world and that ambitious subtext alone makes it one of the more intellectually captivating genre films of the year but it’s also shockingly-touching. With two strong central performances, a wonderfully genuine style, and some daring filmmaking decisions, “Monsters” will have a Godzilla-sized following develop over the next few years. See it in theaters or On Demand before all of your friends tell you to rent it.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

CHICAGO – “He was going to be our first Jewish President.” This uncredited sound bite from the opening of “Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Elliot Spitzer” may sound like an exaggeration but the great Alex Gibney makes the case that it is not hyperbole and that the public pedestal-knocking that happened to the former Governor was more important than you probably think. Arguably the best year in the history of the documentary continues with another strong film from one of our best non-fiction filmmakers.

CHICAGO – The DVD Round-Up has gone silent for a few weeks on summer vacation but as more and more interesting titles threaten to fall through the cracks, it returns with three art films that are definitely worth a look. Don’t worry. Summer vacation hasn’t made the Round-Up arthouse-only, but it’s nice to comeback a little smarter-looking than when we left.

CHICAGO – Korean Bong Joon-Ho is one of our best working filmmakers with three films that deserve consideration among the best of the last decade — the procedural thriller “Memories of Murder,” the brilliant monster movie “The Host,” and the dark drama of this year’s “Mother,” now released on Blu-ray and DVD. With extensive special features, the Blu-ray of this mesmerizing film should bring one of 2010’s best films to a wider audience.

CHICAGO – Has any director watched their reputation rise as rapidly as the amazing Paul Thomas Anderson? With only five films under his belt - “Hard Eight,” “Boogie Nights,” “Magnolia,” “Punch-Drunk Love,” and “There Will Be Blood” - the man has become one of the most respected and adored filmmakers in the world. Why? He not only hasn’t made a bad film, he hasn’t even come close. His second and third are now available on Blu-ray.

CHICAGO – One of my favorite horror movies of the last several years, Toby Wilkins’ “Splinter,” will be the centerpiece of a signing event at Dark Delicacies in Burbank, Calif. on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 2 p.m. If you’re anywhere near the store, you should check it out. I would.

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – “Splinter” has been steadily building buzz since audiences first had a chance to see this twisted creature feature and now it’s destined to become a cult phenomenon on Blu-Ray and DVD. The film won six awards at Screamfest 2008 and earned praise from Variety, CBS-TV, Entertainment Weekly, and New York Magazine on its theatrical run. Horror fans are going to love this film for years to come.

CHICAGO – It has been a banner year so far for the Israeli film industry. Following the American debuts of “The Band’s Visit” and “Beaufort,” we now have the stunningly composed and heart-rending “Jellyfish”.

“There Will Be Blood” is among the best films of 2007. Period. An Oscar-worthy performance by Daniel Day-Lewis helps to make this picture Oscar worthy in its own right.