95% The Guard A violent, crackerjack comedy with a strong Irish flavor and an emminently likable Brendan Gleeson in the main role.
94% Moneyball Director Bennett Miller, along with Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, take a niche subject and turn it into a sharp, funny, and touching portrait worthy of baseball lore.
93% 50/50 A good-hearted film about a difficult topic, 50/50 maneuvers between jokes and drama with surprising finesse.
93% Midnight in Paris It may not boast the depth of his classic films, but the sweetly sentimental Midnight in Paris is funny and charming enough to satisfy Woody Allen fans.
93% Drive A hyper-stylized blend of striking imagery and violence, Drive represents a fully realized vision of arthouse action.
88% Lady and the Tramp A nostalgic charmer, Lady and the Tramp's token sweetness is mighty but the songs and richly colored animation are technically superb and make for a memorable experience.
88% Margin Call Smart, tightly wound, and solidly acted, Margin Call turns the convoluted financial meltdown of '08 into gripping, thought-provoking drama.
85% The Ides of March While not exactly exposing revelatory truths, The Ides of March is supremely well-acted drama that moves at a measured, confident clip.
84% Contagion Tense, tightly plotted, and bolstered by a stellar cast, Contagion is an exceptionally smart -- and scary -- disaster movie.
83% Warrior Warrior relies on many of the clichés that critics of the genre love to mock -- and it transcends them with gripping action, powerful acting, and heart.
Serving and promoting the neighborhoods of the University District