Unloading On You

That's not a movie title -- it just describes what I am about to do.

I just realized that I've seen a whole bunch of movies that have been recently released on DVD, and I haven't opined on any of them. It occurs to me that I must not have a lot to say about them if I didn't bother to write a review. But you know, I should at least give you a soundbite and a grade*:

1. Traitor - Don Cheadle is great as a suspected terrorist being pursued by FBI agent Guy Pearce. Not a traditional cat-and-mouse plot, like you've seen so many times before - more like a very good episode of 24. 3.5/4.0

2. You Kill Me - Ben Kingsley as an alcoholic hitman-turned-funeral parlor employee. He hooks up with Tea Leoni and tries to sober up in San Francisco, while back in Buffalo, the criminal family that employs him finds that it can't cope without him. Tiresome, but has some moments. 2.0/4.0

3. Run Fat Boy Run - Effectively sweet but not all that funny. Simon Pegg is a sad sack who tries to compete for the affection of his ex-fiance (Thandie Newton) with all-everything super guy Hank Azaria by training for a marathon. 1.5/4.0

4. Incredible Hulk - The plot is better than the Ang Lee version, but I think the CGI is much worse (if that's possible). It's really hard to take seriously, but the addition of Tim Roth as the villain ("The Abomination") certainly helps. 2.0/4.0

5. Street Kings - Corrupt-but-moral L.A. cop tries to find out who killed his ex-partner. Training Day with Keanu Reeves instead of Ethan Hawke, and a bigger body count. Not boring, but kind of predictable. 3.0/4.0

6. Mr. Brooks - Kevin Costner plays a rich industrialist who also happens to be a really talented serial killer. He falls off the wagon after a period of no killing, spurred on mostly by taunting hallucinations of William Hurt. Dane Cook finally finds the perfect role for him -- a slimy sycophant who wants to be a serial killer. A pretty fun plot if you try not to take it too seriously. 3.5/4.0

7. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day - On the eve of World War II in London, Frances McDormand shows up on Amy Adams' doorstep to get some work. She gets hired to help Adams manage her three boyfriends, and finds a little love of her own along the way. (Wink!) It sucked. 1.0/4.0

8. The Foot Fist Way - Regrettable Danny McBride vehicle. McBride plays a Tae Kwon Do teacher who's an incredible asshole. Not much redeeming about this character, and there's not all that much to laugh at. 0.5/4.0

* I have introduced a new 0-4 grading system: Must See (4.0), Entertaining (3.0), Watchable (2.0 ), Bearable (1.0 ) and Don't Bother (0.0)