In the mood for: Silly grown–up comedy
Rent: BURN AFTER READING
Upside: Cohen brothers farce, awesome cast including George Clooney & Brad Pitt.
Downside: Intellectual and quirky- no fart jokes.
Buy it? Oh, yeah. Put it next to FARGO in your collection.
In the mood for: Intellectual indie comedy
Rent: 10 ITEMS OR LESS
Upside: Morgan Freeman’s charisma, Pas Vega’s beauty.
Downside: Slow pacing. Intellectual and quirky - no fart jokes.
Buy it? If you like indie films, sure. Get it if you got JUNO.
In the mood for: International Crime Drama
Rent: EASTERN PROMISES
Upside: David Cronenberg’s spot-on direction, Viggo Mortensen’s nude fight scene.
Downside: Violent, sometimes graphic. Very
mature themes.
Buy it? Yes. Put it next to A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE in your collection.
Rent: PINEAPPLE EXPRESS
Upside: Suburban “HALFBAKED”. James Franco nails it.
Downside: Non-smokers will be scratching their heads.
Buy it? Only if you like “Cult Classics” or “Midnight Movies”. It will be a new one.
In the mood for: Bizarre political sci-fi action comedy
Rent: SOUTHLAND TALES
Upside: “Donnie Darko” director’s 2 ½ hr. futuristic masterpiece. Huge ensemble cast.
Downside: Not your average apocalyptic action movie. Way strange.
Buy it? Only if you want something completely different. (Warning: Moby soundtrack)
In the mood for: Silly Hollywood comedy based on a network TV show
Rent: GET SMART
Upside: Good slapstick. Steve Correl. Alan
Arkin. Terrance stamp is the villain.
Downside: Non-“Maxwell Smart” fans won’t have a reference to compare this to.
Buy it? Sure. Especially if you remember the Mel Brooks TV series.
In the mood for: A Ben Stiller movie.
Rent: TROPIC THUNDER
Upside: Robert Downey Jr.
Downside: Fart jokes
Buy it? Yes. It’s the only movie that TOM CRUISE is actually good in.
