Repulsion (1965)

In the Roman Polanski thriller about the psychosis of sexual repression, it’s difficult to say what is most scary: its isolationism, the rape scenes played without a soundtrack or that the woman gone mad is the beautiful, doe-eyed Catherine Deneuve.

d: Roman Polanski | imdb.com | trailer | the whole movie

Not Quite Hollywood (2009)

Mark Hartley affectionately directs this documentary about the Australian exploitation films of the 1970s and 80s — full of sex, violence, gore, car chases and tales of Dennis Hopper. Quentin Tarantino steals the show with his enthusiasm for the genre.

d: Mark Hartley | imdb.com | trailer

Funny People (2009)

Director Judd Apatow’s most mature work mines the dark world of stand-up comedy for dick jokes followed by moments of pathos. Adam Sandler plays a movie star — a meaner, lonelier version of himself with a leukemia-related death sentence — and he’s very good.

d: Judd Apatow | imdb.com | trailer | Kill me. | “Charlie Rose”

In the Loop (2009)

Based on the sound bites and cooked intelligence leading up to the Iraq war, the beautifully profane political satire skewers the U.S. and British governments. Peter Capaldi, playing a British press secretary, steals the show with the most inventive insults.

d: Armando Iannucci | imdb.com | trailer | The wall
Your swearing does not impress me.

The Answer Man (2009)

Irascible recluse Jeff Daniels, who wrote the definitive spirituality book “Me and God,” is bothered by lost souls who bother him for life’s answers but charmed by chiropractor Lauren Graham and her son in a formulaic yet enjoyable romantic comedy.

d: John Hindman | imdb.com | trailer

G-Force (2009)

Jerry Bruckheimer produces a movie that mixes life action — and too many extreme close-ups of Zach Galifianakis — with CGI guinea pigs who are super spies. Unfortunately, it has all the elements of a Bruckheimer production and homage to “Transformers.”

d: Hoyt H. Yeatman Jr. | imdb.com | trailer | need for speed