| "I" Films Watched 2000-2009 |
| In the decade of 2000-2009 I watched approximately 174 films starting with "I". |
| All films are rated on a scale of **** (A+), *** 3/4 (A), *** 1/2 (A-), *** 1/4 (B+), *** (B), ** 3/4 (B-), ** 1/2 (C+), ** 1/4 ( C), ** (C-) , * 3/4 (D+), * 1/2 (D), * 1/4 (D-), * (F) |
| Links are to longer reviews on site. A film defined as 70 min.+ visual event. |
| The year included with the film is the year I watched each film. |
| (V) = TV, Video or DVD ( +) = repeat viewing (W/O)= walked out |
| I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A SAINT (2003, d. Geneviève Mersch) Luxembourg AFF (though Belgian), about disfunctional family from the pov of the daughter. *** |
| I AM DAVID (2006, d. Paul Feig) V. Moving, if fairly pat, story of boy who escapes from Bulgarian camp in '52. *** |
| I AM LEGEND (2007, d. Francis Lawrence) Too similar to 28 Days Later; but effective filmmaking, fine f/x. *** |
| I AM SAM (2001, d. Jessie Nelson) *** |
| I AM (2006, d. Dorota Kedzierzawska) *** 1/4 |
| I CAPTURE THE CASTLE (2003, United Kingdom d. Tim Fywell) Three hankey weeper, British upper class period romance better than most. *** 1/4 |
| I DON'T WANT TO SLEEP ALONE (2007, d. Tsai Ming-liang) ** 1/2 |
| I DREAMED OF AFRICA (2000, d. Hugh Hudson) ** |
| I HOPE THEY SERVE BEER IN HELL (2009, d. Bob Gosse) The Hangover with twice the raunch & characters half the age; but as funny & well played as it is tasteless. *** |
| I IMAGINE A DREAM LIKE THAT (Pense che un sogno cosi) (2009, d. Marco De Luca) ** 1/2 |
| I JUST DIDN'T DO IT (2007, d. Masayuki Suo) Japan Academy foreign film submission *** 1/2 |
| I KILLED MY MOTHER (J'ai tué ma mère) (2009, d. Xavier Dolan) *** 1/2 |
| I KILLED MY MOTHER (J'ai tué ma mère) (2009, d.Xavier Dolan) + Actually better the second time around. Dolan is like a reincarnation of young Orson Welles. *** 3/4 |
| I KNOW YOU KNOW (2009, d. Justin Kerrigan) *** |
| I LOVE CINEMA (2004, d. Osamma Fawzy) Egypt AFF. Annoying comedy about a kid raised in a raucus Coptic Christian family in 1966. * 3/4 |
| I LOVE YOU BETH COOPER (2009, d. Chris Columbus) Horrible teen nerd+cheerleader comedy. Jack Carpenter as gay best friend can't redeem it. * |
| I LOVE YOU, MAN (2009, d. John Hamburg) Great to see an endearing, straight male bonding flick not based on homo panic! Rudd & Segal are wonderful. *** 1/4 |
| I MURDER SERIOUSLY (2003, Mex. d. Antonio Urrutia) Off kilter serial killer film, midnight movie fare. W/O |
| I NOT STUPID (2003, Singapore d. Jack Neo) Raucus, amusing comedy about 3 educationally challenged kids in a Singapore school & their zany parents. ** 1/2 |
| I PREFER THE SOUND OF THE SEA (2001, d. Mimmo Calopresti) *** 1/2 |
| I REALLY HATE MY JOB (2007, d. Oliver Parker) * 3/4 |
| I REMEMBER (2007, d. Edgard Nevarro) ** |
| I SAW THE SUN (2009, d. Mahsun Kirmizigül; Turkey) ** 3/4 |
| I SERVED THE KING OF ENGLAND (2007, d. Jiri Menzel; Czech Republic) *** 1/4 |
| I WAS HERE (2008, d. René Vilbre; Estonia) *** |
| I WILL SURVIVE (2001, d. Sobreviveré) (2001, d. Alfonso Albacete & David Menkes) *** |
| I ♥ HUCKABEES (2004, d. David O. Russell) Who green lighted this script? Russell's style and his fine cast can't overcome the silly, pseudo profound script. ** |
| I, ROBOT (2004, d. Alex Proyas) Surprisingly good adaptation of Asimov, though also filled with cheesy movie clichés and some ragged CGI f/x. ** 1/2 |
| I.O.U.S.A. (2008, d. Patrick Creadon) Very well made pov docu about the crushing future economic deficits facing the U.S. Nobody wants to hear this, but everybody should. *** 1/2 |
| ICE AGE THE MELTDOWN (2006, d. Carlos Saldanha) Funny, silly, watchable 3-D animated Road-Runnerish film. ** 3/4 |
| ICE AGE (2003, d. Chris Wedge) DVD. Animated film, road trip with Mammoth, Sabre Tooth, Sloth & Neanderthal baby ** 1/2 |
| ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS (2009, d. Carlos Saldanha) Nice 3-D animation...but boring, clichéd and not up to previous. * 3/4 |
| ICE CREAM, I SCREAM (2007, d. Yüksel Aksu; Turkey) * 1/4 |
| ICE HARVEST, THE (2005, d. Harold Ramis) * 3/4 |
| ICE PRINCESS (2005, d. Tim Fywell) Another tired teen flick about a girl's struggle against her good mother & bad mother. Nice skating. ** |
| ICEBERG (2006, d. Abel, Gordon & Romy) ** 1/2 |
| ICELANDIC DREAM, THE (2001, d. Robert I. Douglas) ** 1/4 |
| IDENTITY (2003, d. James Mangold) Stifling psycho thriller which holds together pretty well, considering it's pure claptrap. Figured it out too early. ** 1/2 |
| IDIOCRACY (2006, d. Mike Judge) Intriguing, clever set-up, well written; ok f/x; just sort of boring and disappointing. ** 1/4 |
| IDIOT LOVE (Amor Idiota) (2006, d. Ventura Pons) *** 1/4 |
| IDIOTS, THE (2000, d. Lars von Trier) *** 3/4 |
| IDLEWILD (2006, d. Bryan Barber) Annoying, overly stylish film with lousy songs by Outkast...but Big Boi can act. ** |
| IF I HAD YOU (2006, d. John Deery) V. Underplayed English murder mystery with triple whammy. Nice script. *** |
| IF... (2001, d. Lindsay Anderson) *** |
| IGBY GOES DOWN (2002, d. Burr Steers) *** |
| IL DIVO (2009, d. Paolo Sorrentino) ** 3/4 |
| I'LL SLEEP WHEN I'M DEAD (2004, d. Mike Hodges) Atmospheric Brit revenge thriller. Works despite disappointingly abrupt ending. *** |
| ILLUSION OF FEAR, THE (2008, d. Aleksandr Kirienko; Ukraine) * 3/4 |
| ILLUSIONIST, THE (2006, d. Neil Burger) *** |
| I'M FROM TITOV VELES (2009, d. Teona Mitevska; Macedonia) ** |
| I'M GOING HOME (2002, d. Manoel de Oliveira) *** |
| I'M NOT SCARED (2003, d. Gabriele Salvatores) 10 year Sicilian boy makes friends with victim of his village's kidnapping plot. Beautiful & well acted. *** |
| I'M NOT THERE (2007, d. Todd Haynes) Fascinating, but completely inscrutable, just like most of Dylan's songs for me. *** |
| I'M TARANEH, 15 (2003, d. Rassul Sadr-Ameli) Iran AFF. "Good" young girl gets in trouble in modern Iran. *** |
| I'M THE FATHER (2003, Germany d. Dani Levi) A German Kramer vs. Kramer, which ultimately worked for me, though it sometimes flagged. *** |
| I'M THE KING OF THE CASTLE (2003, d. Régis Wargnier) Gothic thriller cum Lord of the Flies with some remarkably naturalistic acting by 2 French kids. *** 1/2 |
| I'M WITH LUCY (2002, d. Jon Serman II) * 1/2 |
| IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS (2009, d. Terry Gilliam) Diverting...but what?! Depp, Law & Farrell do fine channelling Heath. ** 1/2 |
| IMAGINARY HEROES (2004, d. Dan Harris) Fabulous script, an enthralling & moving disfunctional family black comedy with an awesome ensemble cast. *** 3/4 |
| IMAGINARY HEROES (2004, d. Dan Harris) V.+ 2nd time around some of the acting & direction came off stilted. Still, great script and a moving very realistic drama. *** 1/2 |
| IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, THE (2002, d. Oliver Parker) ** 1/2 |
| IMPULSOS (2003, d. Miguel Alcantud) Thriller about a Ted Bundy type of serial killer who meet his match with a suicidal woman. ** 3/4 |
| IN A DREAM (2008, d. Jeremiah Zagar) Raw nerve of a docu about Phila mosaic artist Isiah Zagar & his wife by the 2nd son. Fascinating but difficult. *** |
| IN AMERICA (2003, d. Jim Sheridan) Tender weeper which earns tears honestly with flawless performances & heartfelt script. A near perfect little gem. *** 1/2 |
| IN BRUGES (2008, d. Martin Mcdonagh) Witty, terrific black comedy thriller with Colin Farrell's best perf. *** 1/2 |
| IN GOOD COMPANY (2004, d. Paul Weitz) Clever office comedy with Dennis Quaid's best performance in years & a charming Topher Grace. It really worked for me. *** 1/4 |
| IN GOOD COMPANY (2004, d. Paul Weitz) V.+ Watched this well written & acted comedy again, and appreciated Scarlett Johanson more this time. Good ensemble. *** 1/4 |
| IN GOOD COMPANY (2001, d. Nikos Zapatinas) * 1/2 |
| IN HER SHOES (2005, d. Curtis Hanson) ** 3/4 |
| IN HIS HANDS (2006, d. Anne Fontaine) ** 1/2 |
| IN JULY (2003, Germany d. Fairth Akin) Delightful road film. *** |
| IN MEMORY OF MYSELF (2008, d. Saverio Costanzo) ** 3/4 |
| IN MY COUNTRY (2005, d. John Boorman) Earnest, but sporadically affecting film about reporting on the S. African reconciliation trials. ** 1/2 |
| IN MY FATHER'S DEN (2005, d. Brad McGann) Involving, complex New Zealand drama with a superb Matthew MacFadyen performance. *** 1/4 |
| IN PRAISE OF LOVE (Éloge de l'amour) (2001, d. Jean-Luc Godard) 0* |
| IN SEACH OF KENNEDY (2008, d. Chuck Workman) * 1/2 |
| IN SEARCH OF PEACE, PART ONE: 1948-1967 (2001, d. Richard Trank) ** |
| IN THE ARMS OF MY ENEMY (2008, d. Micha Wald) *** |
| IN THE BEDROOM (2001, d. Todd Field) *** 1/2 |
| IN THE BOSOM OF THE ENEMY (2001, d. Gil Portes) *** |
| IN THE CITY (2003, d. Cesc Gay) 3 couples explore variations of marital infidelity in modern Barcelona. Mostly boring, til it clicked after an hour. ** 3/4 |
| IN THE CUT (2003, d. Jane Campion) Stylish, creepy, sexy, edge of seat thriller. Meg Ryan is Oscar-worthy, Ruffalo miscast, but fine. *** 1/4 |
| IN THE HELIOPOLIS FLAT (2008, d. Mohamed Khan; Egypt) ** 1/4 |
| IN THE LAND OF WOMEN (2007, d. Jon Kasdan) Brody is legitimate leading man. Ryan impressive. Fine debut by young Kasdan. *** 1/4 |
| IN THE LOOP (2009, d. Armando Iannucci) *** |
| IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE (2001, d. Wong Kar-wai) ** 1/2 |
| IN THE REALM OF THE UNREAL (2004, d. Jessica Yu) Docu with weird, unsavory subject matter but interesting art and fine animation. I just didn't enjoy the experience. ** |
| IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON (2007, d. David Sington) ***1/4 |
| IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH (2007, d. Paul Haggis) Strong perfs, especially Tommy Lee Jones. Resonant script. *** 1/4 |
| IN THIS TRICKY LIFE (2001, d. Biatriz Flora Silva) ** 1/2 |
| IN THIS WORLD (2003, d. Michael Winterbottom) Quasi-documentary style film about 2 refugees trip from Pakistan to England. I wasn't engaged enough. ** 3/4 |
| IN YOUR ABSENCE (2009, d. Iván Noel) *** |
| INCH'ALLAH DIMANCHE (2001, d. Yamina Benguigui) ** 3/4 |
| INCIDENT AT LOCH NESS (2004, d. Zak Penn) Amusing, slick mockumentary in the Charlie Kaufmanesque mode. *** |
| INCONVENIENT TRUTH, AN (2006, d. Davis Guggenheim) V. More than a slide show, America's fall happened in Nov. 2000. *** 3/4 |
| INCREDIBLE HULK, THE (2008, d. Louis Leterrier) King Kong meets Godzilla except they're people. Good f/x, Norton fine, film flawed. ** 1/4 |
| INCREDIBLES, THE (2005, d. Brad Bird) V. I guess I'm just not into Bird's genre of animated film. Well made, but overly obvious. ** 1/2 |
| INDIANA JONES & THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL (2008, d. Steven Spielberg) Great f/x can't mask stupid escapist fantasy story. ** 1/4 |
| INFAMOUS (2007, d. Douglas McGrath) V. Better in every particular than Capote. Stunning acting by Jones & Craig. *** 1/2 |
| INFERNAL AFFAIRS #1 (2004, d. Andrew Lau) + Thriller that is only slightly clearer watching it a 2nd time. Still rivitingly fascinating. *** 1/4 |
| INFERNAL AFFAIRS #2 (2004, d. Andrew Lau) A prequel to the initial film which does explain some of the backstory. Still confusing, but entertaining. ** 3/4 |
| INFERNAL AFFAIRS #3 (2004, d. Andrew Lau) An expansion of the first film, fleshing out some of the events and going a little haywire psychologically. ** 1/2 |
| INFERNAL AFFAIRS (2003, Hong Kong d. Andrew Lau, Alan Mak) High production value policier about long-term moles infiltrating an evil gang. *** 1/4 |
| INFORMANT, THE! (2009, d. Steven Soderbergh) Matt Damon is great, film has its funny moments but just falls short with unconvincing Keystone Feds. ** 3/4 |
| INFORMERS, THE (2009, d. Gregor Jordan) Glossy, trashy film based on Bret Easton Ellis depraved L.A. novel. More meandering than Crash. Nobody wins. * 1/2 |
| INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (2009, d. Quentin Tarantino) Not being a Tarantino fan, I was blown away by the Wellesian imagery & great alternate history plot. *** 1/2 |
| INHERITANCE (2003, d. Per Fly) Heavy, well made drama about scion of a steel factory owning family and his choice between business and happiness. *** 1/4 |
| INHERITANCE, THE (2002, d. Daniel Filho) ** |
| INHERITANCE: A FISHERMAN'S STORY (2003, d. Peter Hegedus) V. Australian doc about an ecologic disaster in Hungary. Well put together, somewhat slight. ** 3/4 |
| INJU, LA BÊTE DANS L'OMBRES (Inju, the Beast in the Shadow) (2008, d. Barbet Schroeder) ** 3/4 |
| INNOCENCE (2000, d. Paul Cox) *** 1/2 |
| INNOCENT VOICES (2005, d. Luis Mandoki) El Salvador guerilla war from pov of 11 year old boy in a small village. Shattering, powerful, excellent film. *** 1/2 |
| INSIDE MAN (2006, d. Spike Lee) Close to perfect bank heist film: original, unpredictable, involving. Clive Owens...wow! *** 1/2 |
| INSOMNIA (2002, d. Christopher Nolan) *** 1/4 |
| INSPECTOR LEWIS: AND THE MOONBEAMS... (2009, d. Dan Reed) V. Superb whodoneit reminiscent of "The Secret History". Tom Riley amazing as autistic artist. *** 1/2 |
| INSPECTOR LEWIS: EXPIATION (2009, d. Dan Reed) V. My kind of mystery show, good cast, reasonable psychology, & interesting detectives. Lame case, tho. ** 3/4 |
| INSPECTOR LEWIS: LIFE BORN OF FIRE (2009, d.Richard Spence) V. Intriguing religion vs. gay guilt serial killer plot...but I fgured it out way too soon. *** |
| INSPECTOR LEWIS: MUSIC TO DIE FOR (2009, d. Bill Anderson) V. Disappointingly opaque episode. Auspicious debut for Merlin's Bradley James. ** 1/2 |
| INTACTO (2002, d. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo) *** |
| INTERMISSION (2004, d. John Crowley) Unsparing Irish film which might be called Hate Actually. Good acting, inventive script. *** |
| INTERNATIONAL, THE (2009, d. Tom Tykwer) Competent, disappointingly concluded thriller with 1 great shoot-out at the Guggenheim Museum, NY. ** 3/4 |
| INTERPRETER, THE (2005, d. Sidney Pollack) Disappointing thriller pastiche (Man Who Knew Too Much + 3 Days of Condor). Star power aint enough. ** |
| INTERVIEW (2007, d. Steve Buscemi) *** |
| INTIMACY (2001, d. Patrice Chéreau) ** 1/2 |
| INTIMATE ENEMIES (L'ennemi intime) (2007, d. Florent-Emilio Siri) *** 1/4 |
| INTIMATE STRANGERS (2004, d. Patrice Leconte) Talky, if nicely written 2-character unconventional love story. Too one-note and buttoned-up for my taste. ** 3.4 |
| INTO THE ARMS OF STRANGERS (2000, d. Mark Jonathan Harris) *** 1/2 |
| INTO THE STORM (2009, d. Thaddeus O'Sullivan) V. Astonishing perf. by Brendon Gleason. History lite...but quite absorbing. *** 1/4 |
| INTO THE WILD (2007, d. Sean Penn) I've been haunted by this story of a young man's spiritual journey. *** 1/2 |
| INTOLERABLE CRUELTY (2003, d. Joel Coen) The usual Coen Bros. hipster triumph of style over substance, only much too cynical for my tastes. ** 1/2 |
| INTOUCHABLE, L' (2006, d. Benôit Jacquot) *** |
| INTRODUCING THE DWIGHTS (2007, d. Cherie Nowlan) *** |
| INVENTION OF LYING, THE (2009, d. Ricky Gervais) A less bloated Evan Almighty but just as misguided. Gervaise is tiresome, the humor curdles. Only the surprising cameos work. ** |
| INVESTIGATION (2008, d. Iglika Trifonova) *** |
| INVICTUS (2009, d. Clint Eastwood) Morgan Freeman is eerily perfect, bringing Mandela's heroism home. Film is truly affecting and unexpected. *** 1/2 |
| INVINCIBLE (2006, d. Ericson Core) Fun football true story. Mark Wahlberg is fine as Vince Papale. Well made, moving. *** 1/4 |
| INVINCIBLE (2002, d. Werner Herzog) *** |
| INVISIBLE CHILDREN, THE (2003, d. Lisandro Duque Naranjo) Columbia AFF. Nostalgic comedy about boys & black magic. ** 1/2 |
| INVISIBLE WAVES (2006, d. Pen-ek Ratanaruang) ** 1/2 |
| INVISIBLE, THE (2007, d. David Goyer) Ridiculous plot, guilty pleasure...I like Justin Chatwin, so sue me. ** 1/4 |
| INVOLUNTARY (2009, d. Ruben östlund) *** |
| IP5 (2001, d. Jean-Jacques Beineix) *** 1/2 |
| IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS (2006, d. James Langley) V. 3 part docu about today's Iraq. Beautifully shot, difficult to follow. ** 1/2 |
| IRINA PALM (2008, d. Sam Garbarski) *** |
| IRIS (2001, d. Richard Eyre) ** |
| IRISH EYES (2004, d. Daniel McCarthy) Daniel Baldwin vehicle...he's a Boston Irish gangster. But it wasn't holding my interest, though it wasn't all that bad. W/O |
| IRON JAWED ANGELS (2004, d. Katja von Garnier) V. Sufferagette biopic about fight for 19th Amendment. Good cast, clichéd filmmaking. ** 1/4 |
| IRON LADIES (2001, d. Y. Thongkongtoon) ** |
| IRON MAN (2008, d. Jon Favreau) Smart, with good script & a great perf by Downey's mature & sarcastic superhero. *** 1/4 |
| IRREVERSIBLE (2003, d. Gaspar Noe) Assault by celluloid? Or masterpiece of modern cinema. I'm firmly in the latter camp. **** |
| IS THERE ANYBODY THERE? (2008, d. John Crowley) *** 1/4 |
| ISKA'S JOURNEY (Iszka Utazása) (2007, d. Csaba Bollók) ** 1/2 |
| ISLAND ETUDE (2008, d. Huai-en Chen; Taiwan) W/O |
| ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, THE (De Fortabte Sjaeles O) (2008, d. Nikolaj Arcel) ** 3/4 |
| ISLAND, THE (2005, d. Michael Bay) More plot holes than swiss cheese, shameful stealing from past films; but still a diverting mishmosh. ** |
| ISLAND, THE (2007, d. Pavil Lounguine) *** |
| ISLAND, THE (2009, d. Sherif Arafa; Egypt) ** 3/4 |
| IT ALL STARTS TODAY (2000, d. Bertrand Tavernier) *** 1/2 |
| IT ALWAYS RAINS ON SUNDAY (2008, d. Robert Hamer, 1947) ** 1/2 |
| IT DOESN'T HURT (Mne ne bolno) (2007, d. Alexey Balabanov) ** |
| IT MIGHT GET LOUD (2009, d. Davis Guggenheim) Great subjects & superb guitar playing subverted by poor editing scheme in otherwise excellent rock docu. *** |
| IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY (2003, d. Fred Schepisi) Unaccountably entertained by this schlocky piece of emotionally manipulative crap. Family star power. ** |
| ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS (2001, d. Lone Scherfig) *** 1/4 |
| ITALIAN JOB, THE (2003, d. F. Gary Gray) Caper thriller which works like gangbusters until it runs out of steam at the end. *** |
| ITALIAN, THE (2005, d. Andrey Kravchuk; Russia) *** 1/2 |
| ITINÉRARIES (2006, d. Christophe Otzenberger) *** 1/4 |
| IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE (2004, d. Thomas Vinterberg) Pretentious, opaque melodrama about a near future world catastrophy. Nobody comes out a winner here. * |
| IT'S ALL GONE PETE TONG (2005, d. Michael Dowse) Funny satirical mocumentary about a deaf disco DJ with a splendid central performance (Paul Kaye) *** |
| IT'S COMPLICATED (2009, d. Nancy Meyers) Funny, even enchanting rom-com which hit the right notes for me. Streep & esp. Alec Baldwin are so good. *** 1/2 |
| IT'S COMPLICATED (2009, d. Nancy Meyers) V.+ Funny, lush rom-com which hit the right notes for me. Streep, Baldwin & Krasinski are so good. *** 1/2 |
| IT'S HARD TO BE NICE (2007, d. Srdan Vuletic; Bosnia/Herzogovina) *** |
| IT'S NOT ME, I SWEAR! (2009, d. Philippe Falardeau) ** 3/4 |
| IT'S WINTER (2007, d. Rafi Pitts (86 min.) ** |
| I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG (2008, d. Philippe Claudel) Superb, original & unpredictable family drama with towering perfs from Kristin Thomas & Elsa Zylberstein. *** 1/2 |