Dragged Across Concrete

Though the pace periodically drags and the style is rough as concrete, the film isn’t nearly as painful as its title implies. Impressively self-indulgent dialog blends beautifully with a plot structure that delights in bucking its viewers. Less meat than Bone or Brawl, but Gibson’s self-aware performance delivers 100 percent.

The Dark Knight

Three performances unhindered despite facelifts, one makeup, one CG, and one re-casting.  Cleverly philosophical story transforms Bat into symbol that Begins began.  Thematic elements, dark vs. light, chaos vs. chance, etc. sometimes overwhelm a plot which keeps rebooting through the film.  Disappointing last page of Ledger in film and life.

Black Dynamite

This is the film that beat Planet Terror in track in high school in the 70s. Perfect homage to Blaxploitation genre. Avoids Rodriguez parody or Tarantino tedium. Jokes are consistently spot-on and direction of racism is impossible to pinpoint. Every aspect of film feels totally genuine, including Watchmen-outdoing nunchaku Nixon.