Critics Consensus: The White Ribbon Is Certified Fresh

Plus, we recap some of the biggest films still in theaters.

by Tim Ryan | December 30, 2009 | Comments

The final week of the year brings no wide releases, but Michael Haneke‘s Palme d’Or winner The White Ribbon hits theaters in limited release. What do the critics have to say?

[tomatometer]MuzeID=1213212[/tomatometer]

Michael Haneke’s films are not for the faint of heart. Best known in the United States for Cache and Funny Games, the Austrian maestro makes haunting thrillers that burn into your psyche. Critics say his latest, the Certified Fresh The White Ribbon, ranks among his very best. Set in a small German town in the days before World War I, the film tells the tale of a series of horrible events that at first seem random – until it appears there’s a sinister explanation. The critics say The White Ribbon is hypnotic, disturbing, and ultimately thought-provoking – another fine effort from a director that refuses to compromise his unsettling vision.

Also opening this week in limited release:

The Korean import The Chaser, a noir-ish serial killer thriller, is at 85 percent.
The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond, which is based on a long-lost Tennessee Williams script and stars Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Evans, is at 27 percent.

Still in theaters this week:

Avatar, James Cameron‘s ambitious sci-fi epic, is at 83 percent.
Sherlock Holmes, starring Robert Downey Jr. as the master detective, is at 70 percent.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, which features everyone’s favorite singing rodents, is at 22 percent.
It’s Complicated, a romantic farce starring Meryl Streep, is at 50 percent.