Julia

French writer and director's first film in a decade in the US after his smashing hit "The Dreamlife of Angels." As he has done with his previous film, he stays with characters on the margins of society which makes for another compelling character study in this riveting thriller thanks to the tour-de-force performance by Tilda Swinton. The story about an alcoholic woman who's lured to kidnap the son of a neighbor from his millionaire grandfather for ransom which leads her to discover her lost humanity in the process. Swinton delivers her best performance to date and unleashes her raw talent as the title character that makes the film a must for her fans and admirers. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Passengers

Colombian writer and director Rodrigo García's first gun for hire on a project he hasn't written is misfire despite a talented cast. The story about a young therapist who's assigned the five survivors of a plane crash which leads her to a shocking discovery about herself while she falls for one of her patients. The story is clearly inspired by M. Night Shyamalan's "The Sixth Sense", however less effective due to the writing. Anne Hathaway is miscast while Patrick Wilson makes the most out of his under written character. The supporting cast is utterly wasted in the forgettable yarn. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Ponyo

Another masterpiece by Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki who also wrote and directed it. As always utterly original and captivating with a compelling message that works on many levels. The story of a goldfish girl who falls in love with a human boy and her journey to become human. Light years ahead from anything Disney or Pixar can dream up, Miyazaki's films are treasures to be cherished regardless of age with something for everybody where the natural and supernatural merge seamlessly. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Deep Crimson

Mexican director Arturo Ripstein made this disturbing dark comedy about a murderous couple who target lonely and wealthy widows for their money. When the sex starved and overweight Coral meets Nicolas who robs unsuspecting widows, she abandons her children and clings herself to him as they start their murderous spree. Unlike most other films of the genre, there's nothing likable or good about the murderers and makes you root for the poor victims. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Taking of Pelham 123

Denzel Washington reunites again with director Tony Scott for this remake of the 1974 film of the same title. Terrorist hijack a subway train and take hostages in order to ask ransom from the city of New York. Except for one spectacular action scene and the focus on the average guy as the hero, there's hardly anything new in this predictable yarn. Washington is always reliable and too good for this kind of fare while John Travolta tries too hard to impress as the villain. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Australian director (Muriel's Wedding) returns to comedy with this old fashioned comedy is tailor made to the charms of its star Isla Fisher and its success depends on whether you like or dislike her. A young woman who's lives beyond her means finds love in the most unlikely place which changes her life. It's a light and fun film with a strong supporting cast that makes it work. The cast includes Hugh Dancy, Kristin Scott-Thomas and Julie Hagerty amongst others. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

The Holy Girl

Argentinian writer and director Lucrecia Martel's meticulous film about a mother and daughter who fall for a doctor who stays at their hotel. Martel builds an interesting structure where her characters fall in orbit of their destiny with devastating consequences. At the core of the story is the 16-year-old Amalia who's dealing with her sexuality. Martel along with her excellent cast and crew created a rich and complex film that's a refreshing alternative to mainstream cinema. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Afghan Star

In this effective documentary, British director Havana Marking shows the effects of a popular reality TV show on the people through the final four contestants. The show which is similar to "American Idol" is also as popular in Afghanistan which proves the power of music on people regardless of their location. Marking shows a different side of Afghanistan that's rarely seen in the Western media where a young generation embraces their freedom and risking their lives for it. At the core of the film is the cultural and generational clash when a young woman dares to dance on national TV in a conservative Islamic nation. The film provides those who are interested a glimpse inside Afghanistan. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Ikiru

Japanese master Akira Kurosawa is one of the definitive and undisputed masters of cinema who's also one of the few with several masterpieces in various genres. This masterpiece is one of his most humane and profound films about life. A public civil servant finds out he has cancer that rekindles his passion for a last mission. Kurosawa delivers another knockout from the first frame till the last without missing a beat, holding you captivated along the way. It's a heartbreaking film that works on many levels as it is universal and timeless. Kurosawa regular Takashi Shimura in his greatest role as a man who realizes too late that he wasted most his short life but not too late to do something about it. Kurosawa's film remains a towering achievement to his genius as he proved again and again over five decades. Everybody dies but not everybody lives. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Encounters at the End of the World

The prolific German writer and director Werner Herzog makes an outstanding documentary about Antarctica with its breathtaking scenery and interesting characters. Herzog takes a journey to the end of the world that's as much revealing to him as it is to the audience about one of the most remote places on the planet. It's a worthy journey to take since most people will never be able to make it. The haunting and beautiful images will linger long after the film is finished but the people living there are interesting and eloquent people coming from different backgrounds keep the attention as each of them as a different story to tell. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Lakeview Terrace

Director Neil LaBute's thriller about racial tensions in LA with the reversal of the races. Instead of a racist white cop, we get a black one in the form of Samuel L. Jackson who makes it work as he sets out to destroy the marriage of his new interracial neighbors played by Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington. While the film is a formula thriller that Hollywood keeps recycling, LaBute and the talented cast make the ride entertaining for current times. The actual wild fires add for a nice back drop to the story. The talented Wilson and Washington have an authentic chemistry that also works in favor of the otherwise predictable thriller. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

The September Issue

Director R.J. Cutler goes behind the scenes to Vogue, one of the most powerful magazines in the fashion world as it prepares its most important issue and the women behind it. While most people will know the editor, Anna Wintour as the devil who wears Prada, not many outside the fashion world may know that beside the devil, there's also an angel at work too in the form of Grace Coddington who's the creative director. The film focuses on the two women behind the successful magazine that can make or break any brand from inclusion or exclusion. Wintour is not the devil everybody expects, just a successful woman who knows what she does. She and Coddington might not always get along but they have a mutual respect for each other. As much as Wintour is mysterious and enigmatic, Coddington is accessible and down to earth in a shallow and cutthroat industry. Cutler gets it right to make a revealing documentary that will appeal to everybody. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Felon

Stuntman turned writer and director Ric Roman Waugh made a riveting prison drama with this effective thriller. Stephen Dorff gives a solid performance as a family and business man who ends up in prison after killing an intruder in his home. Once in the prison, he's forced to change to survive the violent guards and inmates that also threatens his relationship with his wife and child. Waugh hits the right notes with the right pace about a man's journey into hell that's the US penal system. The strong supporting cast includes Val Kilmer, Sam Shepard and Harold Perrineau. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Stripped

Director David Palmer followed photographer Greg Friedler on his latest book about naked people in Las Vegas. While Friedler's books may not be every body's cup of tea, Palmer makes a revealing film about human nudity without being sexual or exploitative. The film starts as Friedler wants to make a fourth Naked book and sets finding people willing to expose themselves. The people are the real attraction of the film and their reasons which ranges from sheer exhibitionists to reclusive personalities who have to be persuaded to make the book as colorful as the infamous city. While the book and film reveal the nudity, it also reveals a different side of Las Vegas. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

The Mist

It seems something out of a Stephen King novel that writer and director Frank Darabont so far only succeeds with the material by the horror master. While not entirely successful as his previous efforts, he makes an effective thriller with this adaptation. A group of people get trapped into a supermarket after a mysterious mist unleashes otherworldly creatures. Darabont wisely focuses on the humans instead of the creatures and shows how racial and religious tensions tears them apart. The excellent cast includes Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden and Toby Jones. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Mondovino

Writer and director Jonathan Nossiter reveals the heroes and villains in the world of wine making that has been impacted by the globalization. Of course there's no surprise that Americans are the villains such as the Mondavis, wine critic Robert Parker and consultant Michel Rolland who's the link between the Americans and wineries across the globe. The heroes or victims are small wineries who have to fight hard to keep their individuality by not selling out which is an uphill battle if you want to make money. Nossiter shows what's going on without taking sides, leaving the audience to decide for themselves as there's two sides to every coin. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Paris

French writer and director Cédric Klapisch successfully pays homage to the city of dreams with an outstanding cast and crew. Klapisch digs deeper beneath the dazzling scenery of the world famous city of lights to show the real people that exist everywhere. The always superb Juliette Binoche plays a single mother who takes care of her dying brother played by Romain Duris who's secretly in love with a beautiful neighbor played by Mélanie Laurent who's also the object of affection of her professor played by Fabrice Luchini who has mid-life crisis while his brother played by François Cluzet is expecting his first child and so on with many other character who are unaware living in a the eternal city that has captivated the imagination of world for over a millennium. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Lola Montès

Director Max Ophüls' follow up to his masterpiece "Madame de..." was also his last. While not entirely successful as the former, it's a visually striking film about a fallen courtesan who performs at a circus while her infamous stories are told to the audience. Ophüls is the right man for the role of the ringmaster for the story which is one of the strengths of the film. The biggest problem with the film is the lead actress Martine Carol while beautiful she fails get any emotion a better actress would have as the tragic lead character. The supporting cast of Peter Ustinov, Anton Walbrook and Oskar Werner save the film. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

The Go-Between

Director Joseph Losey made of the most authentic period films with this tale about a forbidden love in the English countryside where a young boy looses his innocence as he learns the value of friendship when he's caught between the class system that keeps two lovers apart. Losey and writer Harold Pinter let the film breath from the restraints of theater that plagues most period films where everything feels forced. The excellent cast includes Julie Christie and Alan Bates in the lead roles along with Dominic Guard as the young boy who holds himself well against the stellar pros. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

What Just Happened

Veteran producer Art Linson enlisted Barry Levinson to direct and Robert De Niro to star in his exposé on Hollywood. The story about a veteran producer who has to juggle between the high demands of his private and professional life as he tries to hang on to both. While it's not entirely original with many known clichés about Hollywood, Linson gives enough insight into the behind the scenes drama. Levinson and De Niro are more than capable to deliver an authentic look at Hollywood and take stabs at the powers to be. The talented cast includes Catherine Keener, Stanley Tucci, John Turturro, Robin Wright Penn, Kristin Stewart, Bruce Willis and Sean Penn. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.