It's Kind of a Funny Story - While it hasn't met with much success at the box office, It's Kind of a Funny Story is well worth your money. Zach Galifianakis is hilarious as usual, but he also gets a chance to delve a bit into the more dramatic, and the results suggest that he could do well with more serious roles in the future. Overall, the movie isn't as funny as the trailers suggest, but that's because comedy isn't the sole concern; the film delves into some dark emotional places, and seeks the light at the end of the tunnel with great success.
Secretariat - Disney's sports movies tend to be disgustingly manufactured, but Secretariat manages to rise above its peers as a truly great drama. Diane Lane and John Malkovich are in top form, and despite the story's foregone conclusion, you'll still likely find yourself on the edge of your seat.
RED - With such a great cast, how could RED not be fun? Bruce Willis is at his most badass, Mary-Louise Parker is a subtly funny scene-stealer, John Malkovich is in full-on crazy mode, and Helen Mirren is deadly and sexy. The plot is lackluster, but the cast is superb and the action is solid.
Easy A - If you haven't seen Emma Stone's star turn, you're missing out on one of the most delightful performances of the year. The film is smart, funny, and original; it deserves a spot on the shelf beside Mean Girls, and that's high praise, indeed. It easily deserves an A. (That awful sentence does not.)
The Social Network - If you read my review of The Social Network, this one is a no-brainer. David Fincher's look at the creation of Facebook is one of the best films of the year, if not the best. The cast is superb and full of fresh faces, the writing is the finest you'll find, and the film's technical aspects all dazzle, as well. This is film-making at its finest.
On DVD
How to Train Your Dragon - Dreamworks proves that Pixar doesn't have a monopoly on exciting, funny, heart-felt animated tales. How to Train Your Dragon is dazzling and adorable, and its 3-D effects (which will be lacking when playing at home, sadly) put even Avatar to shame. Even without the extra dimension, it's a fantastic film with a great balance of drama, action, and comedy.
Please Give - Catherine Keener, one of my favorites, shines in Please Give, and the supporting cast is full of top talent too, including Rebecca Hall and Oliver Platt. Featuring one of the best screenplays of the year, Please Give is a movie you probably missed in theaters due to its limited release; now that it's on DVD, you have no excuse not to see it.
The Karate Kid - I didn't have high expectations for this remake, starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, but it proved to be one of the summer's most pleasant surprises (and among the season's best films overall, too). It seems Smith inherited his father's charisma, and Chan finally gets a chance to play a character with depth. The film clocks in at a heart 2+ hours, but it makes the most of every moment.
Babies - This narration-less documentary is basically an international compilation of home movies. If you don't like looking at babies, this may not be the movie for you, but the cultural differences are fascinating and the babies are undeniably adorable.
The Secret of Kells - Last year's suprise contender for the animation Oscar finally lands on DVD. The story is thin, but the animation is simply stunning and the characters are endearing, thanks in part to the charming voicework. One of the most visually striking movies out there.
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