"M"   All Films Watched 2000-2010
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
M FOR MOTHER  (2007, d. Rasool Mollagholi Poor; Iran) * 3/4
MA VRAIE VIE À ROUEN  (2003, d. Ducastel and Martineau) Coming of age video diary by a proto-gay ice skater, wonderfully observent, my cuppa!  *** 1/2
MAANGAMIZI  (2001, d. Martin Mhando and Ron Mulvihill)  **
MACHINIST, THE  (2004, d. Brad Anderson) This director makes creepy films, and this is one of the most. Christian Bale is phenomenal, but viscerally hard to watch.  ***
MACHUCA  (2005, d. Andrés Wood) Chilean AFF:  an 11 year old privileged boy's pov of society at the end of Allende's regime. Politically slanted left, but powerful stuff.  ***
MAD DETECTIVE (Shentan)  (2008, d. Johnnie To & Wai Ka-Fai) ***
MAD HOT BALLROOM  (2006, d. Marilyn Agrelo) The kids and their dreams raise this docu out of the ordinary. Wilson is a star.  *** 1/2
MAD LOVE (Juana la Loca)   (2001, d. Vicente Aranda)  *** 3/4
MADAME SATA  (2003, Brazil/France  d. Karim Ainouz) Period biopic of famous drag queen in Rio in the '30s.  Steamy sex, well made film.  *** 1/4
MADE IN AMERICA  (2008, d. Stacy Peralta) Flashy docu of history of gangs in L.A., affecting, frightening & ultimately uplifting.  *** 1/4
MADE IN DAGENHAM (2010, d. Nigel Cole) V. Valiant actors try; but script and direction so pedestrian and predictable even if it is based on real story.  ** 1/4
MADE OF HONOR (2009,  d. Paul Weiland) V. Horribly clichéed and predictable if slick romantic comedy. Even McDreamy couldn't save this one. * 3/4
MADE OF HONOR (2009,  d. Paul Weiland) V. Horribly clichéed and predictable if slick romantic comedy. Even McDreamy couldn't save this one. * 3/4
MADE UP  (2003, d. Tony Shalhoub) Clever, well made mockumentary about making a documentary about women aging.  *** 1/4
MADE   (2001, d. Jon Favreau)    ** 1/2   
MADEINUSA  (2006, d. Claudia Llosa) ** 3/4
MADELEINE  (2003, d. Park Kwang-Chung) Korean story of kooky, modern young romance.  Simple story, fun and touching.  ***
MADEMOISELLE CHAMBON (2010, d. Stéphane Brizé)  ** 1/2
MADISON  (2005, d. William Bindley) Slick, banal, feel-good period (early 70s) film about speed boats in Madison, IN. Nothing original. * 3/4
MAELSTROM   (2002, d. Denis Villeneuve)    ***  
MAGDALENE SISTERS  (2003, UK  d. Peter Mullan) Disturbing drama about the abuses of the Catholic "fallen women" nunneries in Ireland.  Fine acting.  *** 1/4
MAGIC BOX, THE  (2003, d. Ridha Behi) Tunisia AFF.  Drama about film director writing a script about his childhood.  *** 1/4
MAGIC FLUTE, THE   (2006, d. Kenneth Branagh) ** 3/4
MAGIC OF ORDINARY DAYS, THE  (2005, d. Brent Shields) V. Hallmark romantic feel-good tv pic with an excellent Skeet Ulrich & Keri Russell looking '40's pretty.  ** 1/2
MAGNUS  (2008, d. Kadri Köusaar) ** 3/4
MAHLER ON THE COUCH  (2010, d. Felix O. Adlon & Percy Adlon)  ** 3/4
MAID IN MANHATTAN   (2002, d. Wayne Wang)    * 1/4  
MAID, THE (2009,  d. Sebastian Silva) ***
MAISON DE NIÑA, LA  (2006, d. Richard Dembo) *** 1/2
MAJECTIC, THE   (2001, d. Frank Darabont)    ***    
MAKING LOVE  (2009,  d. Arthur Hiller) V.+ Watched again 25 yrs. later at a friend's behest. Still one of the most romantic, realistic gay stories ever; but just misses.  ** 3/4
MAKING PLANS FOR LENA  (Non, ma fille tu n'iras pas danser)  (2010, d. Christophe Honoré)  ** 1/4
MALAS TEMPORADAS (Hard Times)  (2006, d. Manuel Martín Cuenca) ** 3/4
MALÈNA   (2000, d. Giuseppe Tornatore)    *** 1/2  
MALFUNKSHUN:  THE ANDREW WOOD STORY  (2005, d. Scot Barbour) Interesting docu about Seattle grunge rocker Wood, who died at 24.  ** 3/4
MALUNDE   (2002, d. Stefanie Sychott)  ** 3/4
MAMA GÓGÓ (2010, d. Fridrik Thor Fridriksson; Iceland)  ***
MAMAY  (2004, d. Oles Sanin) Gorgeous to look at; but fatally pretentious and opaque Cossack legend, or something like that.  * 1/4
MAMBO ITALIANO  (2003, d. Émile Gaudreault) Gay family comedy, nice performance by Luke Kerby which almost makes up for clichéd ethnic coming out plot. ** 1/2
MAMBO ITALIANO  (2007, d. Émile Gaudreault) V.+ Enjoyable gay family dramedy with a nice, sympathetic perf by Luke Kerby. ** 3/4
MAMMA MIA!  (2008, d. Phyllida Lloyd) Silly plot, ABBA music which doesn't add to story...the cast gives all; but the direction is so lame.  **
MAN ABOUT DOG  (2005, d. Paddy Breathnach) Irish film greatly in need of subtitles. An occasionally funny comedy about dog racing betters.  **
MAN EXPOSED, THE  (2007, d. Aku Louhimies) ** 3/4
MAN FROM ELYSIAN FIELDS, THE   (2002, d. George Hickenlooper)    *** 1/2   
MAN FROM LONDON, THE  (2008, d. Bela Tarr) ***
MAN IN THE CHAIR  (2007, d. Michael Schroeder) ***
MAN OF MY LIFE, THE  (2007, d. Zabou Breitman)+  *** 3/4
MAN OF THE HOUSE  (2005, d. Stephen Kerek) Utterly stupid and exploitive film about a cop tending cheerleader witnesses.  1/2*
MAN OF THE YEAR  (2004, d. José Henrique Fonseca) Fine Brazilian film about a guy who bleaches his hair and turns into a cold killer anti-hero. *** 1/4
MAN ON FIRE  (2004, d. Tony Scott) Another rage/revenge story, stylishly made with another great Denzel performance, though ending a cop out.  ** 3/4
MAN ON THE TRAIN   (2002, d. Patrice Leconte)  *** 1/4
MAN ON WIRE  (2008, d. James Marsh) *** 3/4
MAN WHO LOVED YNGVE, THE (2009,  d. Stian Kristiansen; Norway) Confused punk rocker straight boy falls for new boy in class. Beautiful & involving despite.  ***
MAN WHO LOVES, THE (L'uomo che ama) (2009,  d. Marie Sole Tognazzi) ***
MAN WHO WASN'T THERE, THE   (2001, d. Joel Coen)    ** 1/2    
MAN WITHOUT A FACE, THE  (2004, d. Mel Gibson) V. Well intended film about a troubled boy & the troubled tutor who helps him. Nick Stahl was wonderful at 13.  ***
MAN WITHOUT A PAST, THE  (2003, d. Aki Kaurismäki)  Finland AFF.  Amnesiac man builds a new life.  ** 3/4
MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, THE  (2004, d. Jonathan Demme) OK thriller, except for the incoherent narrative lapses and utter inferiority to the original.   **
MANCORA  (2008, d. Recardo de Montreuil) ** 3/4
MANDERLAY  (2006, d. Lars Von Trier) ***
MANHOOD AND OTHER MODERN DILEMMAS   (2001, d. Ronan Girre)  *
MANIC   (2001, d. Jordan Melamed)  *** 1/2
MANOS VACIAS, LAS  (2004, d. Marc Recha) Silly "lost dead body" farce (in French) with a plot I found impossible to follow. * 1/4
MAN'S BEST FRIEND  (2003, d. Rob Lundsgaard) Fun, screwball romantic comedy about straight guy who is supposedly gay. .  ***
MAN'S JOB, A  (2007, d. Aleksi Salmenperä) Finland's foreign film submission ***
MANSFIELD PARK  (2008, d. Iain MacDonald) V. Short & sweet. But Blake Ritson made a remarkably good Edmond. ***
MANSFIELD PARK  (2008, d. Patricia Rozema)V.  Not Austen's best story; but a fine "film of quality".  Jonny Lee Miller especially noteworth. *** 1/4
MANSION BY THE SEA  (2004, d. Lester James Peries) Sloooooow, well shot but overdrawn Sri Lankan AFF about the economic upheavals in that country.  * 1/2
MANSLAUGHTER (Drabet)  (2006, d. Per Fly) Another Danish mid-life crisis film...teacher falls for eco-terrorist former student. Stark, fine drama.  *** 1/4
MANUELA AND MANUEL  (2007, d. Paul Marchand Sanchez) ***
MANUFACTURED LANDSCAPES  (2007, d. Jennifer Baichwal) ***
MAO'S LAST DANCER  (2010, d. Bruce Beresford)  *** 1/4
MAP OF SEX AND LOVE   (2002, d. Evans Chan)  ***
MAP OF THE HEART, A   (2002, d. Dominik Graf)  *** 1/2
MARCELLO MARCELLO (2009,  d. Denis Rabaglia) ***  3/4
MARCELLO MARCELLO + *** 1/2
MARCH OF THE PENGUINS  (2005, d. Luc Jacquet) Involving nature docu done beautifully in extraordinarily difficult shooting conditions.  *** 1/4
MARGOT AT THE WEDDING  (2007, d. Noah Baumbach) Dysfunctional sisters squared. Fabu acting, ugly story.  ***
MARIA FULL OF GRACE  (2004, d. Joshua Marston) Straightforward audience pleaser about a Columbian girl who becoms a drug mule. ***
MARIAGES   (2002, d. Catherine Martin)  ** 1/2
MARIE ANTOINETTE  (2006, d. Sofia Coppola) Sort of boring, sort of frivolous, sort of anachronistic.  But fun.  ** 3/4
MARION BRIDGE  (2003, d. Wiebke Von Carolsfeld) 3 sisters play out their neuroses as mother lay dying in bleak Nova Scotia. Molly Parker was fine.  ***
MARIO'S WAR ( La Guerra Di Mario)  (2006, d. Antonio Capuano) ** 3/4
MARKET - A TALE OF TRADE, THE (2009,  d. Ben Hopkins) ** 1/4
MAROA  (2006, d. Solveig Hoogesteijn; Venezula) *** 1/4
MARPLE: MURDER IS EASY (2009,  d. Hettie Macdonald) V. Dense vedy British whodunit with talky, unsatisfying denoument.  ** 1/4
MARPLE: POCKET FULL OF RYE (2009,  d. Charles Palmer) V. One of the best of this Mystery series, good plot, nicely acted and directed.  ***
MARRIAGE OF MARIA BRAUN, THE  (2003, d. W.R. Fassbinder) V. Schygulla's riviting perf lifts this post-WWII German reconstruction epic to greatness.  *** 1/2
MARRIED LIFE  (2008, d. Ira Sachs) Elegant adult dramedy which copped out and wasted some fine actors. ** 1/4
MARS   (2005, d. Anna Melikian) A totally incomprehensible allegorical comedy about today's Russia. Sort of poor man's Kusterica.  * 1/4
MARSHALL TITO'S SPIRIT  (2000, d. Vinko Bresan)
MARTIAN CHILD  (2007, d. Menno Meyjes) How this script aborted my friend David Gerrold's true story!  ** 1/2
MARUJAS ASESINAS  (2008, d. Javier Rebollo) V. 2001 black comedy...murderous, crazy wife, and her loser friends.  ** 1/2
MASCULIN FEMININE  (2005, d. Jean-Luc Godard) I wanted to like this '60s Godard b&w film; but it's pretty boring.  ** 1/2
MASQUERADES  (2008, d. Lyes Salem; Algeria) *** 1/4
MASSEUR, THE (Masahista)  (2006, d. Brillante Mendoza) Another naive Philipine gay film with bad acting & predictable story. * 3/4
MASTER & COMMANDER  (2003, d. Peter Weir) Rip-roaring seafaring epic, no disappointments here.  Crowe does it again. A 2nd viewing seems called for.  *** 1/4
MATADOR, THE  (2005, d. Richard Sheperd)  **
MATAHARIS  (2008, d. Isiar Bollain) ***
MATCH POINT  (2005, d. Woody Allen) *** 1/2
MATCHSTICK MEN  (2003, d. Ridley Scott) Morally ambiguous multi-level con scam film - good performances and solid direction, but a hole-filled script.  ** 1/2
MATRIX RELOADED, THE  (2003, d. Bros. Wachowski) About what I expected: fun; but the novelty of invention has worn thin. Dynamite effects, too wordy.  ** 3/4
MATRIX: REVOLUTIONS, THE  (2003, d. Washovski Brothers) Another visual & sonic tour de force. Much better than the 2nd film, though slow parts boring.  ***
MATTER OF TASTE, A   (2001, d. Bernard Rapp)    **** 
MATTI  (2007, d. Aleksi Mäkelä) ** 1/4
MAUVAIS SANG   (2001, d. Leos Carax) [1986]    ** 3/4    
MAX HAVELAAR  (2007, d. Fons Rademakers) ***
MAX MANUS (2009,  d. Espen Sandberg, Joachim Roenning; Norway)  *** 3/4
MAX RULES  (2004, d. Robert Burke) Silly kids movie, sort of a cheezy Spy Kids without the special effects budget.  The audience ate it up, though.  * 1/4
MAX   (2002, d. Menno Meyjes)    * 1/4  
MAXED OUT  (2006, d. James D. Scurlock) ** 1/2
MAZE  (2000, d. Rob Morrow)    ***  
McLIBEL  (2005, d. Franny Armstrong) Docu about famous British libel case won in a truly Pyrrhic victory by McDonalds. Engaging, but familiar stuff.  ***
ME AND ORSON WELLES  (2008, d. Richard Linklater) *** 1/4
ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW  (2005, d. Miranda July) Uniquely voiced comedy about a broken family & connecting. ***
ME TOO  (Yo, también)  (2010, d. Alvaro Pastor & Antonio Naharro)  ***
ME TWO (La personne aux deux personnes) (2009,  d. Bruno Lavaine, Nicolas Charlet) **
ME WITHOUT YOU   (2002, d. Sandra Goldbacher)    *** 3/4   
ME YOU THEM   (2001, d. Andrucha Waddington)    ** 1/2  
MEAN CREEK  (2004, d. Jacob Estes) Involving indie, sort of Rivers Edge mixed with Deliverance. Scott Mechlowicz is a find!  ***
MEAN GIRLS  (2004, d. Mark Waters) Well written, trenchant high school satire reminiscent of Heathers.  Silly fun, but smart. ***
MECHANISM   (2001, d. Djordje Milosavljevic)  ** 3/4
MEDIATOR (2009,  d. Dito Tsintsadze; Georgia) ***
MEDICINE SHOW, THE  (2001, d. Wendell Morris)  ** 3/4 
MEDITERRANEAN FOOD (2010, d. Joaquin Oristrell) *** 1/2
MEET MONICA VELOUR  (2010, d. Keith Bearden)  **
MEET THE PARENTS   (2000, d. Jay Roach)    ** 1/2    
MEETING RESISTANCE  (2007, d. Connors & Bingham) Excellent, scary docu about Iraqi resistance fighters.  *** 1/2
MEGAMIND  (2010, d. Tom McGrath)  Amusing enough superhero 3D animation with some fine vocal talent. I preferred the similar Despicable Me; but that's just me. *** 1/4
MELINDA AND MELINDA  (2005, d. Woody Allen) Will Farrell is a strange Allen avatar; but this overly clever, hit-&-miss dual-plot film worked for me.  ** 3/4
MELODRAMA HABIBI (2009,  d. Hany Tamba) **
MELODY'S SMILE (La chambre des morts)  (2008, d. Alfred Lot) ***
MEMENTO MORI   (2001, d. Min Kyu-Dong & Kim Tae-Yong)  **
MEMENTO   (2001, d. Christopher Nolan)    *** 1/2 
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA  (2005, d. Rob Marshall) ** 3/4
MEMORIES OF ANNE FRANK  (2010, d. Alberto Negrin) * 1/4
MEMORIES OF MURDER  (2004, d. Bong Joon-ho) Diverting, comic Korean policier about a serial killer and the Keystone Kops who hunt him.  ** 1/2
MEMORIES OF TOMORROW (Ashita No Kioku)  (2006, d. Yukihiko Tsutsumi) ***
MEMORY THIEF, THE  (2007, d. Gil Kofman) *** 3/4
MEN AND WOMEN  (2005, d. Claude Lelouch) Somewhat foced amalgam of 2 complex relationship films, nicely done until it turns too meta midway.  ** 1/4
MEN IN THE NUDE  (2007, d. Károly Esztergályos) ***
MEN OF HONOR   (2000, d. George Tillman, Jr.)    ***    
MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS, THE (2009,  d.Grant Heslov) Satire of supposed U.S. army psy-ops, half funny, half ridiculous.  ** 1/2
MEN WITH BROOMS  (2002, d. Paul Gross)  ** 3/4
MERCHANT OF VENICE, THE  (2005, d. Michael Radford) "The quality of this film is strained; it droppeth like a gentle thud from pretention."  ** 1/2
MERCI DOCTEUR REY  (2003, d. Andrew Litvack) Farce, a fine international cast but plot holes and a silly resolution kept it from living up to promise.  ** 3/4
MERCI POUR LE CHOCOLAT   (2002, d. Claude Chabrol)    *** 1/4  
MERCY (2010, d. Patrick Hoelck) ***
MERMAID, THE  (2008, d. Anna Melikyan; Russia) ***
MERRY GENTLEMEN, THE (2009,  d. Michael Keaton) ** 3/4
MESRINE: PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE (Part 1) (2009,  d. Jean-François Richet) *** 1/2
MESRINE: PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE (Part 2) (2009,  d. Jean-François Richet) *** 1/4
MESSAGES FROM THE SEA (2010, d. Daoud Abdel Sayed; Egypt)  *** 1/4
MESSENGER, THE (2009,  d. Oren Moverman) Simple perfection. Nicely understated perfs by Foster & Morton, best perf ever by Harrelson. Touching and relevant.  ****
MESSIAH 1:  THE FIRST KILLINGS  (2005, d. Diarmuid Lawrence) V.  *** 1/4
MESSIAH 2: VENGENCE IS MINE  (2005, d. David Richards) V. *** 1/4
MESSIAH 3: THE PROMISE  (2005, d. David Drury) V.  ** 3/4
METALLICA: SOME KIND OF MONSTER  (2004, d. Berlinger & Sinofsky) A fascinating documentary that really examines the angsts of aging rock idols.  *** 3/4
METROSEXUALITY   (2001, d. Rikki Beadle Blair)  ***
MEXICAN, THE   (2001, d. Gore Verbinski)    ** 1/2 
MIAMI VICE   (2006, d. Michael Mann) More plot holes than Swiss cheese; but usual Mann atmosphere makes a good film. ** 3/4
MIAO MIAO (2009,  d. Hsiao-Tse Cheng) ***
MICHOU D'AUBER  (2008, d. Thomas Gilou) *** 1/4
MICMACS     (2010, d. Jean-Pierre Jeunet)  *** 1/4
MID-AUGUST LUNCH (2009,  d. Gianni di Gregorio) ***
MIDDLE MEN (2010, d.  George Gallo) Overamped, overacted, narration riddled caper flick loosely based on fact...but unlikely and unlikable.  * 3/4
MIDDLE OF THE WORLD, THE  (2004, d. Vicente Amorim) V. A family bicycles through Brazil in this beautifully shot road film.  ** 3/4
MIDWINTER'S NIGHT DREAM, A  (2005, d. Goran Paskaljevic) Depressing, if beautifully acted, drama about a luckless Serbian man.  ** 3/4
MIENTE  (2010, d. Rafi Mercado: Puerto Rico)   ** 1/2
MIFUNE   (2000, d. Søren Kragh-Jacobsen)    ** 1/2    
MIGHTY HEART, A  (2007, d. Michael Winterbottom) Great docu like feeling; but film failed to affect me emotionally.  ** 3/4
MIGHTY WIND, A  (2003, d. Christopher Guest) Folksinging mocumentary.  Not as funny as Guest's previous...sort of forced.  But enjoyable.  ** 1/2
MIGRATION OF THE ANGEL, THE   (2001, d. Nodar Managadze)  1/2* 
MILA FROM MARS  (2005, d. Zornitsa Sophia) An involving love story, a Christ allegory, a post-modern road trip all rolled into one.   ** 3/4
MILANO PALERMO - IL RITORNO  (2008, d. Claudio Fragasso) *** 1/4
MILK (2009,  d. Gus Van Sant) + A 2nd viewing discloses subtleties unseen before.  Superb script, direction & acting make this the year's most important film. ****
MILK OF SORROW, THE (2009,  d. Claudia Llosa; Peru) ***
MILK  (2008, d. Gus Van Sant) *** 3/4
MILLENNIUM MAMBO  (2001, d. Hou Hsiao-Hsien) **
MILLION DOLLAR BABY  (2004, d. Clint Eastwood) Beautifully realized drama about a female boxer who is all heart. Stunning cinematography & great acting.  *** 1/2
MILLIONS  (2005, d. Danny Boyle) Gentle fable about a kid finding stolen money. Technically adept & well made; but I'm too cynical for the message.  ** 1/2
MILWAUKEE, MINNESOTA  (2003, U.S.  d. Allan Mandel)  Quirky character study of greedy people trying to fleece a somewhat retarded young man.  *** 1/4
MINIMAL STORIES  (2003, Argentina  d. Carlos Sorin) Road pic about 36 hours of nice ordinary people living ordinary lives, only without irony.  ***
MINOR MISHAPS  (2004, d. Annette Olesen) An eccentric family comedy which put me to sleep.  I couldn't follow it when I awoke so I walked.  W/O
MINORITY REPORT    (2002, d. Steven Spielberg)    ***   
MINUS MAN, THE  (2003, d. Hampton Fancher) V. Ted Bundy type serial killer (good job Owen Wilson!), great Brian Cox role, stylish well made thriller.  ***
MINUTE OF SILENCE, A (Une Minute de silence)  (2008, d. Florent Emilio Siri) ** 1/2
MIRACLE ACCORDING TO SALOMÉ, THE  (2005, d. Mário Barroso) Lush, beautifully shot tragedy about the affairs of a virtuous prostitute.  ** 3/4
MIRACLE OF BERNE, THE  (2003, d. Sonke Wortmann) Crowd pleaser about Germany's world cup victory in 1954. Made soccer interesting even to me.  ** 3/4
MIRACLE OF MORGAN CREEK (2003, d. Preston Sturges) V. Nicely structured comedy, if too silly for my taste; but almost Capraesque in its earnestness.  ** 3/4
MIRACLE SELLER (2010, d. Pawica & Szoda)  ** 3/4
MIRACLE  (2001, d. Natasha Arthy)  *** 1/2
MIRACLE  (2006, d. Gavin O'Connor) V. Feel good replay of '80 Olympic hockey team. ** 3/4
MIRANDA  (2003, Great Britain d. Mark Munden)  Cross between a caper film and a romantic comedy.  Enjoyable, but minor.  ** 3/4
MIRUSH  (2008, d. Marius Holst) ***
MISFORTUNATES, THE (2009,  d. Felix van Groeningen; Belgium)  ** 3/4
MISS AUSTEN REGRETS  (2008, d. Jeremy Lovering)V. Fair if fictionalized biopic in the style of an Austen novel. ** 1/2
MISS CONGENIALITY 2  (2005, d. John Pasquin) Slick caper comedy & female buddy pic with a ridiculous plot. Nice use of Enrique Murciano. * 3/4
MISS CONGENIALITY   (2000, d. Donald Petrie)    **   
MISS ENTEBBE  (2003, Israel  d. Omri Levy)  Afterschool Specialish film about Israeli kids running wild during the Entebbe air hijacking.  ***
MISS NOBODY  (2010, d. Tim Cox)  * 1/2
MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY  (2008, d. Bharat Nalluri) Academy audience loved it; but sort of insipid.  ** 3/4
MISS POTTER  (2006, d. Chris Noonan) Sort of charming, esp. Emily Watson; but a little too sugary for my taste.  ** 3/4
MISSING IN AMERICA   (2005, d. Gabrielle Savage Dockterman) Affecting story of lost Viet vet (Danny Glover) and the child that comes into his life. ** 1/2
MISSING PERSON, THE (2009,  d. Noah Buschel) **
MISSING STAR, THE  (2006, d. Gianni Amelio) ***
MISSING, THE  (2003, d. Ron Howard) One of the better westerns of the last few decades, marred only by excessive spiritualty and predictability. *** 1/4
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: 2   (2000, d. John Woo)    ** 1/2    
MISSION TO MARS   (2000, d. Brian De Palma)    ** 1/2    
MISSION, LA (2009,  d. Peter Bratt) *** 1/4
MISSION, THE  (2000, d. Johnnie To & Cheng Ka-Sang) ***
MISTERIO GALÍNDEZ, EL  (2004, d. Gerardo Herrero) Competent, if turgid, political thriller based on true disappearance of Basque nationalist in the Dominican Republic.  ** 1/4
MIX  (2004, d. Steven Lovy) A sex and music comedy about an American boy who returns to his roots in Hungary and has quite an adventure. Great music!  *** 1/4
MOI CÉSAR  (2004, d. Richard Berry) A kid flick about a 10 year old chubby boy's adventures. Nothing great; but a lark.  ** 1/4
MOLIÈRE  (2007, d. Laurant Tirard) *** 1/4
MOLLY'S WAY  (2006, d. Emily Atef) ***
MOMMA'S MAN  (2008, d. Azazel Jacobs) ** 1/2
MOMMY IS AT THE HAIRDRESSER'S (2009,  d. Léa Pool) *** 1/2
MON ANGE  (2007, d. Serge Frydman) V.  Farfetched prostitute bonds with teenage boy story. Again, Vincent Rottiers steals a film. ** 1/4
MON COLONEL  (2006, d. Laurent Herbiet) *** 1/4
MON RAK TRANSISTOR  (2002, d. Pen-Ek Ratanaruang) **
MONA LISA'S SMILE  (2003, d. Mike Newell) The Dead Poetesses Society with Julia R in the Williams role. 50's sexual politics too obvious. Pleasant. ** 1/2
MONDAYS IN THE SUN  (2003, d. Fernando Leon de Aranoa) Spain AFF.  Drab bar-room drama about out-of-work laborors.  *** 1/4
MONDOVINO  (2005, d.  Jonathan Nossiter)V. ** 1/2
MONGA (2010, d. Doze Niu; Taiwan)  *** 1/4
MONGOL   (2007, d. Sergei Bodrov)  ** 3/4                       
MONGOLIAN PING PONG  (2005, d. Ning Hao) Like Weeping Camel, a charming tale of culture clash on the Mongolian grasslands featuring 3 young kids. ***
MONKEY LOVE   (2002, d. Mark Stratton)  ** 3/4
MONKEY WARFARE   (2006, d. Reg Harkema) * 3/4
MONKEYS IN WINTER  (2006, d. Milena Andonova; Bulgaria) **
MONKEY'S MASK, THE   (2001, d. Samantha Lang)    ** 3/4  
MONKEY'S MASK, THE   (2001, d. Semantha Lang)  ** 3/4
MONOGAMY  (2010, d. Dana Adam Shapiro)  ** 1/4
MONSIEUR BATIGNOLE  (2003, d. Gérard Jugnot) Another Jews vs. Nazis (French colabos) & oldster-learns-life-lesson-from-young-kid film.  ** 1/2
MONSIEUR IBRAHIM  (2003, d. François Dupeyron) Subtle coming of age film about 16 year old Jewish boy and his elderly Sufi mentor.  Pierre Boulanger! *** 1/4
MONSIEUR N  (2004, d. Antoine de Caunes) Intimate, well made, wide screen epic about Napoleon's last days on St. Helena.  ***
MONSOON WEDDING    (2002, d. Mira Nair)    ***   
MONSTER ( 2003, d. Patty Jenkins) Excruciating (for me) to watch "true" story of a female serial killer.  Theron was remarkable, but I wanted to walk out.  **
MONSTER HOUSE  (2006, d. Gil Kenan) Almost perfectly made 3-D animated film with levels of meaning.  *** 1/2
MONSTER-IN-LAW  (2007, d. Robert Lutetik) V.  Totally predictable, forgettable comedy.  Unwatchable.  W/O
MONSTER'S BALL  (2001, d. Marc Forster)    *** 1/2    
MONSTERS, INC.   (2001, d. Pete Docter)    ***   
MOON (2009,  d. Duncan Jones) ** 3/4
MOONHUNTER, THE  (2001, d. Bhandit Rittakol)  *
MOONLIGHT MILE    (2002, d. Brad Silberling)    ** 1/2    
MORNING (2010, d. Joseph Mitacek)  ** 3/4
MOROCCAN SYMPHONY, THE  (2006, d. Kamal Kamal; Morocco) * 3/4
MORTAL TRANSFER   (2001, d. Jean-Jacques Beineix)  ** 3/4
MORVERN CALLAR   (2002, d. Lynne Ramsay)    *** 1/4   
MOSCOW, BELGIUM (2009,  d. Christophe van Rompaey) ***
MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA (2009,  d. Ehrlich & Goldsmith) V. Great year for docus & this one is important, informative & well crafted.  *** 3/4
MOSTLY MARTHA   (2002, d. Sandra Nettelbeck)    *** 1/2      
MOSTLY UNFABULOUS LIFE OF ETHAN GREEN, THE  (2006, d. George Bamber) Bad, bad gay film which I sort of enjoyed.  * 1/2
MOTEL, THE  (2006, d. Michael Kang) Chinese-American chubby 13 yr. old motel owner's kid. Truthful, but sort of boring.  ** 3/4
MOTHER & CHILD  (2010, d. Rodrigo Garcia) Emotionally satisfying complex story of 3 women/mothers/daughters. Garcia, Benning, Watts all incredibly good. *** 3/4
MOTHER (2009,  d. Bong Jong-ho; South Korea) *** 1/4
MOTHER OF MINE  (2005, d. Klaus Härö;  Finland) *** 1/2
MOTHER, THE  (2004, d. Roger Michell) A simply extraordinary, wonderfully done drama about an older woman's adjustment when her husband dies. *** 3/4
MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS (2009,  d. Carl Bessai) *** 1/4
MOTHMAN PROPHECIES,THE    (2002, d. Mark Pellington)    *    
MOTORCYCLE DIARIES  (2004, d. Walter Salles) Moving, beautiful, insightful road pic about young Che Guivara with a career perf. by Gael Bernal. Oscar calibre.  *** 3/4
MOULIN ROUGE   (2001, d. Baz Luhrmann)    ***    
MOUNT ST. ELIAS  (2010, d. Gerald Salmina)  *** 1/2
MOUSTACHE, LA  (2006, d. Emmanuel Carrère) Unsettling, atmosphericx film with unreliable narrative, who's insane?  ***
MR. & MRS. SMITH  (2005, d. Doug Liman) Brad Pitt has never been better. Flawed script with some missing pieces; but a super entertainment.  ***
MR. BROOKS  (2007, d. Bruce A. Evans) Wonderful script, this audacious serial killer as anti-hero film just works.  *** 1/2
MR. DEEDS  (2003, d. Steven Brill) V. Adam Sandler vehicle which mostly misses due to lame, unfunny script. But I like him, what can I say? * 1/2
MR. LONELY  (2008, d. Harmony Khorine) Inscrutible, occasionally visually interesting, mostly boring...good actors wasted.  * 3/4
MR. MAGORIUM'S WONDER EMPORIUM  (2007, d. Zach Helm) Nice special f/x, but nothing else special here.  ** 1/2
MR. RIGHT (2009,  d. Jacqueline Morris) 3 gay couples live & romance in modern day London. Clunky, confusing exposition, but nifty resolution & well observed. ** 3/4
MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS  (2005, d. Stephen Frears) ** 1/2
MRS. PALFREY AT THE CLAIRMONT  (2005, d. Dan Ireland) I'd give Joan Plowright the Oscar for this.  Plus Rupert Friend is a true find.   *** 1/2
MUDGE BOY, THE  (2003, U.S.  d. Michael Burke  94 min.)  Drama about a sexually confused teen-age farm boy.  ***
MUGABE AND THE WHITE AFRICAN (2009,  d. Bailey & Thompson) V. Shocking docu about violent land reform in Mugabe's Zimbwabe & legal struggles. *** 1/2
MUGGER, THE  (2007, d. Pablo Fendrik) **
MULLHOLLAND DRIVE   (2001, d. David Lynch)    *** 3/4    
MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR  (2008, d. Rob Cohen) Excessive use of every action cliché in the book. Corny, stupid, but good f/x.  *
MUNA MADAN  (2004, d. Gyanendra Bahadur Deuja) Honestly, one of the worst films I've ever seen, every aspect an embarrassment.  WO
MUNDO ALAS (2010, d. Gieco, Molnar, Schindel) V. Docu about a troup of handicapped artists in Argentina. Gratifying for its humanity, sort of boring as a film.  ** 1/2
MUNICH  (2005, d. Steven Spielberg)  *** 1/4
MURDER BY NUMBERS   (2002, d. Barbet Schroeder)    ***   
MURDERBALL  (2005, d. Rubin & Shapiro) Effective, emotionally satisfying & extremely well shot docu about paraplegic wheelchair rugby at high level. *** 1/4
MUSA THE WARRIOR  (2003, d. Kim Sung-su) Well constructed epic of 14th Century Mongol-Chinese wars and a Korean delegation caught in the middle. ***
MUSHISHI  (2007, d. Katsuhiro Otomo) ** 1/2
MUSIC AND LYRICS  (2007, d. Marc Lawrence) Great fake '80s music videos. Uninvolving romantic comedy. Grant's shtick is getting tired.  ** 3/4
MUSIC MAN, THE  (2003, d. Jeff Bleckner) (V) Disneyfied tv version.  Love Matthew Broderick; but he didn't make it as Harold Hill.  * 3/4
MUST LOVE DOGS  (2005, d. Gary David Goldberg) Cookie-cutter romantic comedy. Good perfs don't make up for clichéd script & lack of chemistry. **
MUTUAL APPRECIATION (2009,  d. Andrew Bujalski) V. Involving slice of Gen-Y life per a 3-way friends relationship. B&W, talky, ugly: Woody Allen + Cassavetes. ***
MY ARCHITECT  (2003, d. Nathaniel Kahn) Touching documentary of an illigitimate son searching for the soul of his famed, but flawed, architect father. *** 1/2
MY BEST FRIEND  (2007, d. Patrice Laconte) *** 1/2
MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING    (2002, d. Joel Zwick)    **   
MY BOY JACK  (2008, d. Brian Kirk) V. Beautifully written (by the actor who plays Rudyard!) teleplay.  ***
MY BROTHER IS AN ONLY CHILD (Mio fratello è figlio unico)  (2007, d. Daniele Luchetti) *** 1/2
MY COUNTRY, MY COUNTRY  (2006, d. Laura Poitras) V. Docu about a Sunni Iraqi family leading up to election. Gripping, informative. *** 1/2
MY DAD IS INTO TERRORISM (La fille du juge)  (2006, d. William Karel) Well made docu; reminiscences by 24 yr.old daughter of suicide judge. ***
MY DEAR ENEMY (2009,  d. Yoon-Ki Lee) ** 3/4
MY DOG SKIP   (2000, d. Jay Russell)    ** 1/2   
MY EFFORTLESS BRILLIANCE  (2008, d. Lynn Shelton) ** 1/2
MY FIRST MISTER   (2001, d. Christine Lahti)    ** 1/2   
MY FLESH AND BLOOD  (2003, d. Jonathan Karsh) V. Heartbreaking, emotionally devastating doc - a woman raising a family of disabled adopted children.  *** 3/4
MY FRIEND AND HIS WIFE (Naeui Chingu, geneui anae)  (2007, d. Shin Dong-il) ***
MY HOUSE IN UMBRIA  (2003, d. Richard Loncraine) V. Terrorism survivors recovering in sprightly Maggie Smith's home amid gorgeous Italian scenery.  ** 1/2
MY LIFE AS A TROLL   (2001, d. Dominick Brascia)  *
MY LIFE WITHOUT ME  (2003, d. Isabel Coixet) Wonderful, emotionally shattering film, some great acting, esp. Sarah Polley & Mark Ruffalo.  *** 3/4
MY MAGIC  (2008, d. Eric Khoo; Singapore) ** 1/2
MY NIKIFOR  (2006, d. Krzystof Krauze) ** 3/4
MY ONE AND ONLY (2009,  d. Richard Loncraine) Fun, involving '50s biopic & road flick: Zellweger, Lerman & especially Rendall are fine, but script is formulaic.  ***
MY RUSSIA  (2003, d. Barbara Gräftner) Family drama about Austrian guy marrying a Ukranian girl & the interactions of the two families.  Way too long.  * 3/4
MY SISTER'S KEEPER (2009,  d. Nick Cassavetes) Emotionally over-the-top, but satisfying weeper. Watch "Medium" kid Sofia Vassilieva & Tom Dekker spark. ***
MY STEP BROTHER FRANKENSTEIN  (2004, d. Valery Todorovsky) Quirky, entertaining film about a psychologically damaged returning soldier & his family.  ***
MY SUICIDE (2009,  d. David Lee Miller) *** 3/4
MY SUMMER OF LOVE   (2005, d. Pawel Pawlikowski) More civil version of Heavenly Creatures, only in the English moors. Nicely acted.  ** 3/4
MY TINY UNIVERSE  (2004, d. Scantlebury & Phillips) American indie, a wryly clever farce, nicely written and acted, especially by newcomer lead Andy Comeau.  ***
MY WIFE IS AN ACTRESS   (2002, d. Yvan Attal)    ***   
MY WINNIPEG (2009,  d. Guy Maddin) V. Hypnotic docu-fantasia and amusing psychic personal history of this filmmaker. Michel Gondry + David Lynch + snow.  *** 1/4
MY YEAR WITHOUT SEX  (2010, d.  Sarah Watt) ***
MYSTERIES OF PITTSBURGH  (2008, d. Rawson Marshall Thurber) ** 3/4
MYSTERIOUS SKIN  (2005, d. Greg Araki )V. + *** 1/2
MYSTERIOUS SKIN   (2005, d. Gregg Araki) Mindblowingly accurate and well made drama about sexual abuse & its affects on two boys.  *** 3/4
MYSTIC RIVER  (2003, d. Clint Eastwood) I'd read the strong book and knew all the surprises, seemed clunky and overwrought. Still, good Hollywood fare. ** 3/4
MYTH OF THE AMERICAN SLEEPOVER, THE (2010, d. David Robert Mitchell)  ** 1/2