YEAR END TOP 10!

Welcome to Now Showing’s first YEAR END TOP 10!

Before I go into my top ten there are a couple of things you need to keep in mind. Though I tried to watch as many films as I could this year, you can only spend so much before you start slipping on your rent! Just because I haven’t previously reviewed it on my site, it doesn’t necessarily mean I didn’t see it. I do have a life… sort of. And now, in no particular order, the 2009 YEAR END TOP 10!


1.An Education- The buzz around this gem has been Carey Mulligan’s breakout performance as a sixteen year old girl who gets involved with a much older man who gives her a life a young woman could only dream of. You’ll fall in love with this pre-Beatles era picture!

To read my full review on this film CLICK HERE.



2.Public Enemies- Michael Mann’s film about John Dillinger may have divided critics when it came to the technology that was used to film this period piece but there is no dividing anyone when it comes to the sheer energy its cast displays on screen. Johnny Deep leads an all star cast featuring great performances by Billy Crudup, Marion Cutillard and Christian Bale.

To read my full review on this film
CLICK HERE.
3.Star Trek- I never, ever thought that a Star Trek film would come out and cream the Star Wars franchise! J.J. Abrams and company got us all excited for space operas again! May the force… I mean, live long and prosper!






4.Up- Pixar can do no wrong in my eyes. Who knew that an animated story about a house floating on balloons and a cranky old man could bring tears to those who watch? Only Pixar.

To read my full review on this film CLICK HERE.



5.(500) Days of Summer- This is not a love story. It’s a break up story. But you’re going to watch it anyway because we are all suckers for a good breakup story, or is it just me? Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschannel are irresistible as the doomed couple!





6.Invictus- I know that the promotional posters for Clint Eastwood’s latest project put Matt Damon front and center, but it is Morgan Freeman who carries the film as Nelson Mandela (In the role he was born to play), during the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa. This is an inspiring look at the man who was not willing to allow his past to dictate how he viewed others and how a rugby team brought a whole nation together.


7.Red Cliff- John Woo’s epic about the battle at Red Cliff is brilliant. His work in this film has been compared to Akira Kurosawa’s own masterpieces. If you like sword and sandal films like Braveheart and Gladiator, look no further than Red Cliff!

To read my full review on this film CLICK HERE.



8.Where The Wild Things Are- This Royal Rumpus tugged at my heart with a warm performance by Max Records as the child who his mother called, “WILD THING!” Spike Jonzes was determined to make this an experience that reminds us of our own youth and how fragile we were at one point. Well done.

To read my full review on this film CLICK HERE.


9.The Damned United- “Those dirty, dirty Leeds!” Michael Sheen stars as the man who lasted only forty- four days as the Leeds manager, Brian Clough. Peter Morgan’s script, who’s past work includes The Queen and Frost/ Nixon, is brilliant and brings a dimension to The Damned United that would not have been possible through anyone else.

To read my full review on this film CLICK HERE.

10.Terminator Salvation- People can hate on this film all they want but the reality is that it WAS a great action movie! It may not have James Cameron’s hand print but it does respect the world he created. I really am hoping this is not the last we see of the war against the machines.

To read my full review on this film CLICK HERE.


Honorable Mentions: District 9, The Men Who Stare at Goats

Box Office Results

December 25th- 27th


1/ Avatar $75,000,000

2/ Sherlock Holmes $65,380,000

3/ Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel $50,200,000

4/ It's Complicated $22,114,000

5/ Up In The Air $11,755,000

The Karate Kid Trailer

Jaden Smith stars in the role that put Ralph Macchio on teen magazines and in the hearts of millions of 80's kids around the world. Joining him to fill the shoes of our favorite wax on wax off karate master is none other than Jackie Chan. While I honestly want to despise the fact that they are even attempting to remake this classic, you can't deny that at least the trailer doesn't look half as bad.

Smith stars as Dre (not Daniel son), a game buff who relocates with his mother to China for an opportunity at a new life only to find that the folks there ain't too friendly. After being bullied, he meets Mr. Han (Chan), a maintenance man who teaches Dre how to kick butt!

The Karate Kid will Crane Kick into theatres June 11, 2010.

Bryan Singer Returns To X-Men!

During the Avatar world premier, Bryan Singer confirmed that he will be back to direct the next X-Men film, X-Men: First Class. Apparently the good folks at Fox learned their lesson after the tragic event that was "X-Men: The Last Stand". The First Class is an origins story of how the X-Men came to be, and also chronicles the relationship between Professor Xavier and Magneto. I think after the third X film and the horrible Wolverine spin-off, we NEEDED Singer back to save the franchise from becoming a complete joke. We missed you sir.

Brittany Murphy 1977- 2009

Brittany Murphy died December 20th, 2009 after going into cardiac arrest. She was known for her roles in Clueless, Girl Interrupted, Uptown Girls, 8 Mile, Happy Feet, and Sin City. She was a rising star that sadly burned out to soon.

Roy E. Disney 1930- 2009

Roy E. Disney passed away on December 16th, 2009 in Newport Beach, CA after a year's battle with stomach cancer. During his time as the head of the animation department, the company went through what is now called the "Disney Renaissance", which brought us films like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King, just to name a few. Roy was the last active member in the Disney family to be working for the company that was started by his uncle Walt and father Roy Disney.

Don't Terminate Salvation!

So much negative criticism has been given to the latest installment in the Terminator franchise. Everything from Bale’s inability to leave the Bat-Growl behind to the machines being more human than the humans themselves to the “all action, no heart” reviews from critics, Terminator Salvation just can’t seem to get a break. While it did manage to make 371 million at the box office (246 million of that total coming from overseas sales), it was still considered a financial failure. It’s sad that all this had to occur to a movie that in my opinion was, after T2 Judgement Day, one the best entries in the Terminator saga.

I wrote my review on Terminator Salvation a while ago, which you can read by CLICKING HERE!

Give this film a chance people! This is the story that the whole franchise has lead up to and it does a wonderful job at telling the beginning of THAT story! Some may dismiss Salvation as the “milking of the cow” in the series when in fact it is the complete opposite. Not only was director McG (Dude, start using your FULL NAME if you want people to start taking you more seriously!) trying to continue a story that had already laid the groundwork for him, but he also wanted to give us a brand new vision of this world, this time dedicating it’s attention solely on the future that up until this film, we had only been teased with. I just don’t see anyone who has seen the previous Terminator films or is an action fan NOT liking what they see. If there is no fate but what we make, let’s make the war against the machines story continue! Buy it now on Blu Ray and DVD.

Iron Man 2 Poster With War Machine!

Have I been living in a cave recently? I had no idea War Machine was expected to be in the sequel to last year's heavy metal extravaganza! I guess this means a trailer should be coming soon (Wait, am I foaming in the mouth?). Iron Man 2's release date is May 7th, 2010. Sucks to be you Terrence Howard...