Justin at the Movies

2006

10- The Illusionist

Director: Neil Burger
Starring: Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel
Rated: PG-13
Justin’s Rating: 4/5
Justin’s Kudos: Superbly acted and very original
Justin’s Criticim: Jessica Biel is not a great actress…..and is not attractive

9- Half Nelson

Director: Ryan Fleck
Starring: Ryan Gosling
Rated: R
Justin’s Rating: 4/5
Justin’s Kudos: Ryan Gosling’s best performance
Justin’s Criticism: A little slow at times

8- Stranger Than Fiction

Director: Marc Forster
Starring: Will Ferrell, Dustin Hoffman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emma Thompson
Rated: PG-13
Justin’s Rating: 4/5
Justin’s Kudos: Hilarious and very good acting, even by the usually obnoxious Will Ferrell
Justin’s Criticism: Queen Latifah. Really? They couldn’t find anybody else?

7- Letters From Iwo Jima

Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Ken Watanabe
Rated: R
Best Picture: Nominee
Justin’s Rating: 4/5
Justin’s Kudos: Wonderful in every way
Justin’s Criticism: A little slow in parts

6- Thank You For Smoking

Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Aaron Eckhart, J.K. Simmons, Maria Bello, William H. Macy, Robert Duvall, Katie Holmes
Rated: R
Justin’s Rating: 4/5
Justin’s Kudos: Hilarious satire
Justin’s Criticism: None

5- Babel

Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett
Rated: R
Best Picture: Nominee
Justin’s Rating: 4/5
Justin’s Kudos: Poetic
Justin’s Criticism: Some people lack good sense

4- Children of Men

Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Starring: Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine
Rated: R
Justin’s Rating: 4.5/5
Justin’s Kudos: Brilliant directing and cinematography
Justin’s Criticism: None

3- Pan’s Labyrinth

Director: Guillermo Del Toro
Starring: Ivana Baquero
Rated: R
Justin’s Rating: 5/5
Justin’s Kudos: Beautiful, original, and completely engaging
Justin’s Criticism: In one incident you want to smack ophelia, don’t be dumb, child.

2- The Departed

Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen, Mark Wahlberg
Rated: R
Best Picture: Winner
Justin’s Rating: 4.5/5
Justin’s Kudos: Great acting, directing
Justin’s Criticism: Excessive vulgarity is distracting

1- Little Children

Director: Todd Fields
Starring: Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson, Jennifer Connelly, Jackie Earle Haley
Rated: R
Justin’s Rating: 5/5
Justin’s Kudos: Acting, directing, writing
Justin’s Criticism: Jennifer Connelly looked better before the weight loss
Justin’s Favorite Movie of the Year