I Don't Feel at Home in this World Anymore

Lynskey’s beautiful rendering of a frustrated creature somehow manages to evenly chug scenery while co-star stars wood. Quirky and dark, yet filled with heart, though it feels a bit like McDonagh or Coen, Blairing oddity combined with character complexity keep it from feeling too at home in anyone else’s oeuvre. 

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

Little Miss Melancholia struggles to find steady pace or comfortable tone.  Populated by underwhelming appearances from anyone who missed Franco’s apocalypse.  Carrel and Knightley cling to tiny strands of character arc as they are tossed violently from one vignette to the next in an unedited brainstorm one year too late.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Kevin, Hermione, and Percy Jackson team up in what may be the first meaningful high school film ever.  Distractingly famous adult co-stars detract slightly from powerful pubescent performances and slight air of pretention occasionally intoxicates atmosphere.  Regardless, wallflower is playful but poignant, and perky enough to make Harry Potter jealous.

Leaves of Grass

Two Eds are not better than one in this Coen Brothers wannabe complete with Tim Blake Nelson. Both Nortons characters are over the top while the plot can hardly stand up. A couple of amusing jokes can’t help but emerge from the hodge-podge of super-quirky dialogue, and equally crazy action.

Away We Go

Mendes’ attempt at indie feels like Wes Anderson turned Sideways. Krasinski and Rudolph evolve beyond TV comedy roots but drown in a sea of scrambled Eggers supporting characters. Overall an amusing but dissatisfying quasi-comedy that chokes itself with too much quirk. Gyllenhaal, Janney, and Gaffigan are uncharacteristically unimpressive. Indie music!

The Informant!

Matt Damon takes a fantastically serious comedic turn in a quirky true-story crime conspiracy. Sodherberg uses his main character’s mind to take the film back to Schizopolis, and for once voiceover works beautifully. Periodically difficult to associate with main character and hard to understand plot, but then, that’s the point.