Killer Elite
Ok, but predictable movie about professional assassins battling SAS killers in 1980. Clumsy dialogue wasted on some good actors, only adequate fights and action sequences, and mediocre directing. Could have done without it. Good thing it was only $1. *

Contagion
Very well made and acted movie about a new, bird-flu like virus that sweeps around the world. Excellent acting from an outstanding cast and directing, as usual, by Soderbergh. Very interesting and pretty realistic, though kind of upbeat at the end. Glad I finally saw it. **

Anonymous
Interesting, well-done dramatization of the theory that the plays attributed to Shakespeare were actually written by Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford. I have found that theory very plausible for some time, so I enjoyed it, overwrought though it may have been. Glad I saw it. **

Underworld: Awakening 
Really lousy sequel. Dialogue and directing so bad I found myself laughing in places that weren’t supposed to be funny. Everything seemed artificially staged, the art direction was incoherent, and a good cast was embarrassingly wasted. Glad I didn’t pay for it. Still very bad. *

Haywire
Pretty good Soderbergh film about a private operative battling corrupt forces trying to eliminate her. I know, but the directorial skills, art direction, and the attempt to be realistic rather than explosive made it worthwhile. At least it was serious craft, which is unheard of in this genre. Didn’t suck. **

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Nicely done film of the outstanding Le Carré novel about the search for a mole in British Intelligence during the cold war. Excellent cast and acting, though the brevity of the film doesn’t allow for the narrative complexity and nuanced interplay of character in the novel and the superb Alec Guinness TV series. Stands as a deft counterpoint to all the action trash being made. **

Contraband
Lame Mark Wahlberg film about one last smuggling operation to save his family. Very predictable, and the rescue of the wife was laughable. Squandered and excellent cast. *

1911
Pretty bad Jackie Chan film about the 1911 Xinhai revolt against the Qing dynasty. Unfortunately, Jackie directed it as well. Very disappointing even though it only cost a dollar. *

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
Hollow extension of this series. Liked all the actors, even Cruise didn’t bother me quite as much as usual. There’s sufficient tension, but the ending is really stupid, and once it’s over it’s just gone, except for the slight sugar high. To be expected, though.*

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Well-accomplished film version of the excellent novel. I was nervous about seeing it because I loved the book so much, but I respect Fincher’s work, and I wasn’t disappointed. As always with literature to film, wish there could have been more detail, and I don’t understand why they conflated the Anita and Harriet characters, but those aren’t really criticisms. Loved Ms. Salander in the book and in the film.**

Midnight in Paris
Woody Allen’s wonderful fantasia on the beauty of Paris. Similar to what he did in Manhattan. Doesn’t have Manhattan’s meaningfulness, but whimsical and delightful, a place where people get a second chance, even if the Hemingway character looked nothing like him. Very entertaining.**

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Visually entertaining action movie about Holmes and Watson trying to avert war. A lot of Guy Ritchie-type fun. Emblematic of our decline that the character most known for solving crimes with his mind now solves them by beating people up.**

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Well directed, well acted film about how female friendship is far more binding and meaningful than anything else. Another excellent job by Wayne Wang, good acting, and nice artistic direction. Kind of lame thematically.*

Crazy, Stupid, Love
Movie about the members of a family trying to cope with love. It’s a little crazy but mostly stupid. Characters were all pretty much unbelievable. Great cast pretty much wasted. Should have known.*

Our Idiot Brother
Lighthearted and unfortunately-stupid movie about a guy who constantly gets in trouble because he is so loving, kind, and thoughtful of others. Didn’t find any of the characters very likable, even the good guy. It accomplishes pretty much what it tried to do, but that wasn’t really very much.*

The Lives of Others
Finally watched this outstanding German film about the tragedy of personal lives under the East German system in the mid 1980s. Sad, tense, and extremely well acted, written, and directed. Hard to watch, but very good. **

Bad Teacher
Disappointing comedy about a teacher who is concerned only with getting a rich husband. Not funny, stupid characters, and mediocre acting. Waste of time.*

Bridesmaids
Very disappointing comedy about friends preparing for a wedding. Really dislike the “humor” based solely on social discomfort, and the adolescent female concern for who is the best friend. Waste of time. Don’t believe the hype.*

X-Men: First Class 
Entertaining action movie about the origins of the mutants who make up the X-men and –women. Nice special effects with an interesting and pretty meaningful narrative, for this kind of movie. Starting to notice Rose Byrne. Well worth the $1.60 for the Redbox blu-ray. **