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Here's a look at films I've seen this week.

Get Low

Starring: Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek, Lucas Black, and Bill Cobbs

Synopsis: This is one of the best films I've seen this year. To this point in 2010, my favorite film is "Inception," which I've written about several times. That film really focused on how the burden of guilt can weigh someone down in their lives. In many ways, "Get Low" focuses on the same idea. The film features a great lead performance from Robert Duvall and some excellent work from Murray, Black, Spacek and Cobbs in key support roles. The film centers on a man who, after 40 years in seclusion, seeks to have a funeral party while he's still alive. Most believe it's a chance for Felix (Duvall) to revel in people's remembrances of him, but really he wants to have the event to unburden his soul. There are some touching moments and some humorous moments, but Felix's grand pronouncement at the end is handled with grace and dignity befitting the moment. This is an example of an independent film that hits the right notes with some fantastic performances to boot.

Rating: PG-13 for some thematic material and brief violent content.

Verdict: Four stars out of four.

The Last Exorcism

Starring: Patrick Fabian and Ashley Bell

Synopsis: I wrote about this film on Monday, so I won't rehash the all the reasons I found it fascinating and compelling. I will say that the final 10 or so minutes is a bit of a let down based on the set up, but that's less an indictment on the filmmaker's ending and more of a commentary on how enjoyable the set up was. This is a faux documentary and a film that is advertised as a straightforward exorcism film, but it has a lot more resonant depth. Fabian is superb in the lead role and Bell does a great job of playing the complexity of the afflicted teen Nell. Through the end it is hard to determine what is going on in this film, and that's a good thing.

Rating: PG-13 for disturbing violent content and terror, some sexual references and thematic material.

Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Takers

Starring: Idris Elba, Paul Walker, T.I., Chris Brown, Matt Dillon, Jay Hernandez, Hayden Christensen, and Michael Ealy

Synopsis: This movie wants to be "Heat" in the worst way, but it can't quit make it. The film plays a lot on cliches of the genre, but it does it in a fun way. The biggest flaw from a story standpoint is the fact that the cops in this film lack resonant depth. Dillon's character is a fairly stock and trade burnout, which does little to add to the appeal of that half of the film. However, Elba turns in a strong performance, as does Ealy and Walker in creating a strong anchor for this team of robbers. The film is predictable, but it has some style and some strong action sequences, which help. This film rides the line between good and average, but because I enjoyed it I will tilt a little more toward the good.

Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, a sexual situation/partial nudity and some language.

Verdict: Three stars out of four.