Tag
Ernesto Diezmartinez
One of the worst movies of 2018 Full review in Spanish
0
Tag
Stephen Rebello
These terrific goofball actors deserve way better And so do we
2.5
Tag
Josh Bell
Mildly pleasant but entirely forgettable
2
Tag
Rick Bentley
Tag is not only the latest example of how Hollywood is running out of original ideas but it is proof no one seems to care that the imagination void is getting deeper and wider
0.5
Tag
Josh Terry
As plots go Tag s is about as thin as they come and at times it is clear that the premise isn t quite enough to carry 100 minutes worth of action
2.5
Tag
Christian Toto
Calling the script for Tag slapdash hardly captures the lack of effort here
1.5
Tag
Katie Walsh
Tag is like the game itself a whole lot of rambunctious fun
3
Tag
Maren Longbella
The situations in which they find themselves are often crazy hilarious if you like cartoonish slapstick violence a la the Three Stooges Generally I m not a fan but there s a good natured quality that elevates it all to the level of hijinks
3
Tag
Bruce DeMara
Looking for a light summer comedy Chase down another movie
2
Tag
Mara Reinstein
A sufficiently amusing comedy that falls on the right side of silly Emphasis on falls
2.5
Tag
Oliver Jones
By clumsily melding heartwarming sentiment about the importance of playing games as adults with the take no prisoners R rated shenanigans of the Hangover movies Tag winds up not knowing what game it is trying to play
1
Tag
Johnny Oleksinski
Clever warm and filled with much better action sequences than a movie about tag deserves
3
Tag
Dann Gire
What does it say about a feature comedy when the funniest parts come from the source material it s been inspired by
2
Tag
Eric Henderson
It offers amity emotional support awkward tears the specter of death and the spectacle of ass punching slapstick all rolled up in one somehow cohesive collection of all good spare parts
2.5
Tag
Rafer Guzman
A potentially cute comedy spoiled by a weird mean streak
1.5
Tag
Glenn Kenny
A lazy vulgar celebration of White Male American Dumbness
1.5
Tag
Tom Russo
What s most unexpectedly gratifying is how much energy veteran standup director Jeff Tomsic and his splashy cast pour into ensuring that this is legit entertainment packed with gonzo wit and even some sentiment
3
Tag
George M. Thomas
Tag is a crass dumb typical summer comedy that delivers in the end
2.5
Pinochet's Children
Joshua Tanzer
The main problem with the documentary is that it doesn t tell a story Its four protagonists speak only in retrospective generalities
1.5
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Wesley Lovell
There has never been a more inventive nor engaging retelling of this classic story
4
Yellow Asphalt
Loren King
Powerful lingering
3.5
Yellow Asphalt
Megan Turner
The passions aroused by the discord between old and new cultures are set against the strange stark beauty of the Mideast desert so lovingly and perceptively filmed that you can almost taste the desiccated air
2.5
Get In
Federico Furzan
A social commentary that feels relevant and does not suffer from the movie s unavoidable violence Full review in Spanish
3
What Would Jesus Buy?
Wesley Lovell
This funny yet thought provoking film asks many questions that have plagued consumerism for decades While much of the ground tracked over is old it fits perfectly into the modern economic situation
3
What Would Jesus Buy?
Lawrence Toppman
These bits of information could have been shocking in about 1940 1980 and 1990 But by now Americans who don t know couldn t care less
2.5
What Would Jesus Buy?
David Frese
And as far as sermons go it s a good one You just wish the director had found someone else to deliver it
2
What Would Jesus Buy?
David Elliott
An amiable but also angry documentary
3
What Would Jesus Buy?
Paul Kosidowski
Obvious or not heeding Reverend Billy s anti Shopacolypse gospel could make your holidays a little simpler sweeter and saner
3
What Would Jesus Buy?
Bill Weber
Possibly the feeblest entry yet in the anti corporate theatre of muckraking genre
1.5
What Would Jesus Buy?
Ted Fry
What Would Jesus Buy is paved with good intentions
2.5
What Would Jesus Buy?
Jessica Reaves
It s a wickedly effective indictment of America s consumer compulsion our mindless shopping and the multinational corporations controlling it all
3
What Would Jesus Buy?
Walter V. Addiego
One of the producers of What Would Jesus Buy was Morgan Spurlock and the film is very much in the spirit of his Super Size Me
3
What Would Jesus Buy?
Elizabeth Weitzman
You know that deflated feeling you get after you ve spent a lot of time and money shopping and have little to show for your efforts This disappointing biography about performance artist Reverend Billy does an awfully good job recreating it
2
What Would Jesus Buy?
Maitland McDonagh
Not bad for a fake preacher
3
What Would Jesus Buy?
John Anderson
This Rob VanAlkemade film has a good title and no focus
2
Cheetah
Chris Hicks
An overly sentimental family film that brings to mind the old Disney True Life Adventures Cheetah is a very old fashioned movie And that s not meant as a compliment
2
Tuya, Mía... te la Apuesto
Ernesto Diezmartinez
I do not know what Triana tried to do in this movie but the screenplay moves between the worst farce and the most failed social criticism
0
Skate Kitchen
Joe Friar
The quasi documentary from The Wolfpack director Crystal Moselle will grind its way into your heart
3.5
Skate Kitchen
Eric Melin
The real girls of Skate Kitchen make it work beautifully as a coming of age fictional film The group s friendship and camaraderie translates naturally to the screen
3
Skate Kitchen
Bruce DeMara
It works in large part because of Vinberg s poignant and persuasive performance When she speaks of escaping the loneliness you have even in a crowded room it makes your heart ache
3
Skate Kitchen
Matt Zoller Seitz
The movie really cooks when it s hanging out with the girls and watching them carve out a space for themselves in a city that s indifferent or hostile towards them
3
Skate Kitchen
Sara Stewart
Moselle shoots downtown street scenes with passion and deep familiarity setting the action to an infectious raucous soundtrack which made me feel about 100 years old for not knowing any of its tracks
3
Skate Kitchen
Pat Brown
The film is empathetic toward and clear eyed about its young characters even if the drama it constructs around them tends toward the superficial
2.5
Desperado
Mal Vincent
If you laugh through most of the uniquely entertaining Desperado you ll have a great time
3
Desperado
Margaret A. McGurk
It s a splashy flashy sexy cartoon with a charismatic star who has a fine old time stomping his refined European image into the dust
3
Desperado
Jeanne Aufmuth
A zesty action thriller that recycles the best of the B genres and rolls them into a big budget pistol packing extravaganza that in its best moments leaves you breathless with wonder
3
Desperado
Madeleine Williams
A wonderfully exciting and hypnotic action film
3.5
Desperado
Chris Hicks
Around the halfway or two thirds mark the bloody killings become far too redundant the best supporting characters are gone and Rodriguez rapidly runs out of fresh ideas
2
Desperado
Mike Clark
Desperado which is nothing but set pieces snoozes between its scenes of carnage
2
The Beales of Grey Gardens
Michael Wilmington
A bit like wandering into a slice of life that suddenly turns into a Tennessee Williams play with upper class Eastern accents replacing the Southern ones
3
The Beales of Grey Gardens
Maitland McDonagh
Fans of the first film will want to see this extension though it stands equally well on its own as a portrait of thwarted headstrong women trapped in a degraded present and borne back ceaselessly into the past
3
Married to the Mob
Chris Hicks
For fans of Demme s work however or those who are looking for comedy that s off the beaten path Married to the Mob might fill the bill
2.5
Haiku Tunnel
Elias Savada
If I want to watch a neurotic Jewish guy throw quips at the screen I ll take Woody Allen in New York City over Josh Kornbluth in San Francisco any day Brief case closed
1.5
Haiku Tunnel
Rod Armstrong
It s only occasionally funny it s exceedingly aimless and the newly added subsidiary personalities have no substance
1.5
Haiku Tunnel
Jonathan Foreman
Amazingly amateurish the film lands wide of satirical targets that should be impossible to miss
0
Haiku Tunnel
Harvey S. Karten
Without Woody Allen in the cast this movie is afflicted with tunnel vision
2
Strawberry Mansion
Chance Solem-Pfeifer
Despite the implication that dreams are cathartic ungovernable expressions Strawberry Mansion never musters the intensity necessary to make them feel worth fighting for
2
Strawberry Mansion
Tom Meek
Visions of pink rooms buckets of fried chicken animated insects and classic 1960s gas guzzlers ensue making for hypnotic and slightly experimental lo fi wonderment
2.5
Strawberry Mansion
Sheila O'Malley
Strawberry Mansion is an eccentric hybrid like a handmade Valentine
3.5
Strawberry Mansion
Mark Feeney
It s very much its own thing and in this movie day and age that is no small accomplishment
2.5
Strawberry Mansion
Pat Padua
Despite striking images and provocative ideas there isn t enough drama to keep the narrative awake for 91 minutes
2
Strawberry Mansion
Pat Brown
Strawberry Mansion playfully and delightfully draws parallels between the creative agency of dreams and the waking creativity of filmmaking
3
Strawberry Mansion
Ernesto Diezmartinez
An imaginative and charming film not despite its financial limitations but in part because of them
2.5
Detective Byomkesh Bakshy
Namrata Joshi
Dibakar s reinvention of the Sharadindu Bandopadhyay detective is a ponderously crafted artifice rather than the handiwork of an off the cuff talent
2.5
Racing Extinction
Robert Horton
As an example of image dissemination Racing Extinction is skillful right down to the evocative but nonstop music by J Sharp
3
Year of the Horse
Gene Siskel
Jarmusch gets nothing out of his interview except the band members and manager repeatedly telling us how long and how well the group works together
2.5
Year of the Horse
Joe Baltake
Much like the subject himself Jarmusch s film is decidedly not smooth and mellow but it has the kick of a mule
3
Year of the Horse
Peter Stack
This is an intimate lyrical yet incendiary film and it will please fans of both Young and Jarmusch
3
Year of the Horse
David N. Butterworth
The boys don t have much to say but it s oddly fascinating watching them try
2.5
Kitchen Stories
Kevin John Bozelka
What you re left with is a relationship between two men that is untouched by macho posturing or any trace of anxiety and a perfect respite from the action flick mentality
3
Kitchen Stories
Marta Barber
What starts as a satire of the methodical modernity seeking society in Sweden ends as a heartwarming dramatic comedy in Norway
3
Kitchen Stories
Michael Wilmington
The movie s gentle humor and offbeat whimsy prove that humanity trumps bureaucratic foolishness in Norway or anywhere else
3
Kitchen Stories
Peter Debruge
Folke and Isak s friendship is a beautiful thing unexpected but inevitable and the movie does a delightful job of shaping it
3.5
Kitchen Stories
Carla Meyer
Pays off eventually with a lovely story of friendship between two lonely men
3
Kitchen Stories
Bob Strauss
Against all odds it turns out everyday life in a Scandinavian kitchen can be quite a show
3
Kitchen Stories
David Sterritt
Marvelously wry comedy about the odd relationship between a crusty Norwegian man and a snoopy Swedish researcher who s assigned to sit in his kitchen and chart his movements there
3
Kitchen Stories
John Anderson
An extended ethnic joke Kitchen Stories moves with a glacial indifference to conventional comedic timing But perhaps that s what makes it so funny and so emotionally precise
3
A Dry White Season
Kathleen Carroll
Although A Dry White Season is somewhat mechanical in the early scenes Palcy s personal sense of outrage is so strong it ultimately transforms the movie into a stinging indictment of apartheid rule
3.5
A Dry White Season
Bill Cosford
A Dry White Season hits with the force of its convictions and it hits hard But it could have been more
2.5
A Dry White Season
Michael Sragow
Palcy s political melodrama is emotionally simplistic where it should be richly textured merely brutal where it should be harrowing and lucid
2
A Dry White Season
Joe Baltake
Brando is tremendous He sparks the plodding overly sincere film with some much needed energy and humor
3
A Dry White Season
Judy Stone
Director Euzhan Palcy has adapted Andre Brink s novel into a taut passionate portrayal of the corrosive and murderous effects of apartheid
4
A Dry White Season
Candice Russell
The tough minded A Dry White Season is the best film yet about the struggle for justice in South Africa
3.5
A Dry White Season
Desmond Ryan
Searing powerful and eye opening
4
A Dry White Season
Gene Siskel
This film is unblinking in its depiction of the most violent side of apartheid
3
A Dry White Season
Gary Thompson
That story unfortunately is frequently sidetracked as the movie turns instead to gratuitous star cameos by Marlon Brandon and Susan Sarandon
2.5
A Dry White Season
Dave Kehr
This is filmmaking meant to engage the heart and other visceral organs more than the mind its effects are simple broad and directly put
3
A Dry White Season
TV Guide Staff
An earnest somewhat predictable but moving and significant film
3
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Lori Hoffman
capitalism in the hands of greed is good Gordon Gekko wanna bes could potentially bring down our nation
3
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Christy Lemire
Alex Gibney takes a notorious tale of corporate greed and plays it as Greek tragedy Texas style
3
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Rene Rodriguez
Deft entertaining and infuriating documentary about one of the most egregious cases of corporate corruption in American history
3.5
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Phoebe Flowers
This documentary is the most skillful exhaustive and appealing film so far this century about corporate corruption
3.5
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Ross Anthony
Decodes the Enron scandal ties it in with California energy crisis
2.75
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Larry Ratliff
Even news junkies and former Enron employees might be startled by some of the corporate revelations that fill the screen
3.5
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Duane Dudek
A primer on corporate malfeasance for dummies clarifying the statistical thicket through illustration and mindful of Deep Throat s advice during Watergate to always follow the money
3
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Geoff Pevere
Doesn t require an interest in business affairs to be captivating It unfolds like a Wall St disaster movie with two eminently hissable villains presiding over the catastrophe
3
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Robert W. Butler
Alex Gibney s documentary is a concise examination of the Enron affair that s poised between straight journalism and outright satire When it s over you will be so mad you can t see straight
3
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Michael Booth
Go see it before you buy another stock you don t understand Go see it before you bank your retirement on the company pension fund Go see it before you vote in another election
4
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Mary F. Pols
It puts the whole mess in focus and will likely have you stomping about afterward in righteous indignation at the crimes perpetrated on us particularly Californians by the corporate swindlers at Enron
3.5
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Jonathan Curiel
There will be lots of seething at the sight of it all but there are enough good laughs to make the experience more than worthwhile
4
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
James Verniere
Compelling if somewhat belabored
3
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Glenn Whipp
Funny frightening gut puncher
3.5
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Terry Lawson
Allow yourself the pleasure of being thoroughly entertained while being equally outraged by this movie
4
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Bruce Newman
Americans love a good villain and in Enron chairman Kenneth Lay former CEO Jeffrey Skilling and CFO Andrew Fastow the movie provides a perfect storm of scoundrels
3
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Michael Wilmington
The movie does more than entertain and enlighten you At the end you also realize you ve been watching a classic American tale one that we can only hope will never be repeated though it well might be
3.5
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Jeanne Aufmuth
Exploring the darker side of human behavior is compelling and entertaining leaving in its wake an acute sense of moral outrage
3.5
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Jami Bernard
A thoroughly fascinating and horrifying documentary about the giant corporate house of cards that came crashing down on the heads of all the little people while the big guys cashed out for mega millions smirking all the way
3.5
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Eric Harrison
Alex Gibney s documentary based on the book is pretty much straight ahead journalism
3
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Russell Scott Smith
The story is fascinating infuriating and even laugh out loud funny at times
3
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Timothy Knight
It s a gripping frequently infuriating story of greed hubris and creative accounting that unfolds as a tragedy laced with scathing black comedy
3.5
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Peter Debruge
Taking an approach that owes more to Errol Morris than Michael Moore Alex Gibney s film delivers a polished well researched look at America s largest corporate bankruptcy
4
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Wade Major
Gibney however is no Michael Moore he knows the difference between hard facts and circumstantial evidence constructing very different arguments with each
3
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
David Sterritt
As real life stories go this is as riveting and as revealing about the dark side of American business as they come
4
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
John Anderson
Should be essential viewing
3.5
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Nick Schager
Light on new evidence but impressively comprehensive in scope
3.5
A Real Young Girl
John Petrakis
An intelligent coming of age story about a girl who realizes for better or for worse that there s no turning back
3
Khachaturian: A Musician and His Fatherland
V.A. Musetto
The doc is better suited to public TV for which it was made than the big screen
2.5
Happenstance
Michael Wilmington
Discreet delicate and humane a sweet butterfly of a movie that beats up a cinematic windstorm of life
3
Happenstance
Ray Conlogue
The idea after all is that people don t have free will and who wants to watch puppets however adorable
2
Happenstance
Leighton Walter Kille
Overall the film is well crafted and pleasantly head snapping
2.5
I Sell the Dead
Wesley Lovell
At times predictable At times overwrought Most often a tad too silly
2
I Sell the Dead
Rob Vaux
It goes about its task with inspiration and heart helping to bridge the gaps between its ambitions and its budget
3
I Sell the Dead
Christian Toto
The cast and crew behind I Sell the Dead are clearly having a blast and audiences will nave nearly as much fun with this smart horror comedy
3
The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Maitland McDonagh
Tired and dated
2
The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Margaret A. McGurk
Its wretchedness is so complete it can t help but attract bad movie addicts the way a dead skunk draws flies
0
The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Mike Clark
The kind of cinematic endeavor where you suspect both cast and crew were obligated to bring their own beer
1.5
The Nutty Professor
Eric Henderson
Contains some of Lewis s most outr directorial flourishes
3.5
The Right Kind of Wrong
Sheila O'Malley
The Right Kind of Wrong is the kind of comedy that asks an audience to find borderline stalking behavior charming
1.5
The Right Kind of Wrong
Tina Hassannia
The film is so in love with its unoriginal premise that it can t see the forest for the trees treating reality like an occasionally relevant prop and stalking as a sweetly romantic gesture
.5
The Right Kind of Wrong
Chris Knight
An unfortunate Canadian wrong com
1
The Right Kind of Wrong
Simon Houpt
Director Jeremiah Chechik imposes a stiff pace on the proceedings toggling between broad physical comedy that aches for a laugh track and oddball moments of genuine whimsy
2
The Right Kind of Wrong
Bruce DeMara
A pleasantly diverting romantic comedy
2.5
On the Waterfront
Janet Graves
Marlon Brando has a rewarding assignment in this smashing melodrama full of the frightening sounds and sights of racket haunted docks
4
On the Waterfront
Kate Cameron
Kazan over emphasized the last sequence in the film but on the whole his fine direction shows in the strength and power of the dramatic action on the screen
4
On the Waterfront
Wesley Lovell
Marlon Brando is outstanding as a former boxing champ torn between family and duty in the magnificent On the Waterfront
4
On the Waterfront
David Sterritt
Brando made one of his most indelible impressions in this relentlessly dramatic ever controversial tale of loyalty and betrayal in the world of working class unions first released in 1954
3
On the Waterfront
Sarah Chauncey
There s something uncomfortably humbling about reviewing a movie that is textbook perfect
3.5
On the Waterfront
Michael Szymanski
What s most amazing is to realize that the most important moments of this is something that director Kazan allowed the actors to improvise Some of the best scenes including the contender scene is all from the heart
4
On the Waterfront
Ted Prigge
It s one of those films that can inspire and touch an audience with a unviersal message move people with an emotional and powerful dramatic storyline and even get people to forgive anyone who is forced to rat on his friends
4
On the Waterfront
Scott Nash
This movie is all about Brando
3.5
Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert
Burl Burlingame
Miley might not become another Britney if she keeps away from those way cute Jonas boys They look like trouble I think they ve actually experienced hormones
2.5
Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert
Bill Chambers
A film that opens with celebuspawn Cyrus practising scales and ends with me wrapping my lips around the barrel of a twelve gauge
0.5
Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cyrus is that pageant child often drawn in to the background whenever her dad Billy Ray is on set and he even manages to attach himself in to her act
2
Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert
Kit Bowen
The movie spectacular to fulfill your little girls wildest dreams and at a considerably lower rate than the live concert
2.5
Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert
Maitland McDonagh
For parents who were unable to secure tickets for the young fans in their households it s nothing short of a godsend
2.5
Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert
Ross Anthony
It s great for kids to see that Miley doesn t just wake up polished She makes mistakes she practices there s a learning curve and work involved Fans are sure to enjoy
2.5
Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert
Dave Tianen
Hannah Montana Miley Cyrus is Bubble Yum for the eyes and ears But given the demographic that works
2.5
Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert
Elizabeth Weitzman
Obviously there s no replicating the real thing But it s as close as you ll come to achieving the best of both worlds
2.5
Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert
Jan Stuart
Totally slick and vanilla but you have to like a kid who works this hard
2.5
Violet Tendencies
Joseph Jon Lanthier
Violet Tendencies betrays both its camp roots and its grown up goals
2
Savages
Rob Humanick
Essentially stupid but stylistically invigorating like watching a genius muck about with finger paints like a child on a sugar high And then it throws it back in your face
3
Savages
Lori Hoffman
Savages isn t a bad film but it doesn t come close to matching the best of what Stone has given us in the past
2.5
Savages
John Wirt
Despite the high stakes mission the movie never feels like more than a game Savages does not immerse
2
Savages
Rex Reed
These are neither good people nor interesting savages and they re not worth caring about Neither is the movie
1
Savages
Lisa Kennedy
Savages points to a problem with gifted directors which Stone is like him or not They can make a movie that aggravates infuriates falters even but they can really make a movie
2.5
Savages
Rafer Guzman
Savages is a juvenile fantasy of bullets breasts and bongs not such a bad thing if Stone would just admit it and stop staging the film as a profound ethical wrestling match
1.5
Savages
Amy Biancolli
Complain as loudly as you like about Oliver Stone his politics posturing and relationship with the facts but until now he hasn t directed a film that s flat out dull
0
Savages
Gary Thompson
Johnson Kitsch and Lively struggle to make an impression in a movie filled with grand standing stars and one questions the work habits of their characters
2.5
Savages
Ann Lewinson
Merely continues Stone s tepid streak
2
Savages
Graham Killeen
For a mess Savages is a big bloody crazy beautiful mess featuring enough visual fireworks to restart the Fourth of July
3
Savages
Jesse Cataldo
While his classic hyperbolic visual style is back in force Stone can t bother to muster any of his usual righteous anger instead mischanneling his discontent into a kind of zen acceptance of these perpetually tiresome main characters
1.5
Savages
Joe Lozito
Despite a quick pace and a few flashes of brutal violence Oliver Stone s narcotics thriller feels sanitized like a drug that s been cut one too many times
2
Savages
Tom Keogh
Savages is never quite one thing or another
2
Savages
Rene Rodriguez
The superb craftsmanship and care behind Savages only helps to underscore what an asinine unconvincing picture this is
1
Savages
Joe Williams
After decades of digging beneath the surface Stone understands the synthesis of good and evil in a way that weekend savages cannot
3.5
Savages
Christy Lemire
Savages is an enjoyably gratuitous romp but with something to say
3
Luck
Ray Gill Jr.
The first feature from Skydance Animation whisks viewers to a wonderful world of magical creatures but it doesn t know what to do once it gets there
2
Luck
Erik Childress
The film gets bogged down in the details of where the luck flows and who controls it but its heart and its visuals hit the right spot in a way that some of the recent Pixar films have lacked
3
Luck
Leo Brady
Luck has highs and lows looks visually adequate some cute characters and a convoluted plot It s not bad but it is unlucky
2
Luck
Kevin Carr
Not as great at its Pixar pedigree but it s still a cute film with sweet 8211 if not derivative characters
2.5
Luck
Kenneth R. Morefield
If you are looking for an animated film with the emotional gravitas of a Pixar heart plucker and just a touch of old school Looney Tunes zaniness you are in Luck
3
Luck
Mark Meszoros
The best thing Luck has to offer is the lesson it gets to about bad luck and how if handled correctly it isn t so bad That s a good one for the little ones 8212 and it s enough to nudge it into the Land of the Recommended
2.5
Luck
Christy Lemire
There s little magic in director Peggy Holmes tale of a trip to a magical land
1
Luck
Mark Feeney
Luck is a somewhat confounding blend of past present and future The confoundedness comes of throwback elements and visionary never quite cohering that and an increasingly cluttered plot turning a sweet natured film into a bit of a slog
2
House of the Dead 2
Sebastian Zavala Kahn
at least it is superior to its predecessor which evidently is not saying much Full review in Spanish
1.5
The Tollbooth
Laura Kelly
Women may recognize with shivers the struggles of twentysomething Sarabeth in The Tollbooth And that s a bad thing
2
The Tollbooth
Ken Fox
Ambling but never less than endearing
3
The Tollbooth
Elizabeth Weitzman
Sokoloff works hard to make her aspiring artist likable and buried deep under the mountain of clichs is a decent story of a young Brooklyn woman trying to find her own way But to have to swallow such ham fisted writing and direction
1.5
The Great Water
Terry Lawson
It is an impressionistic sometimes fascinating sometimes frustrating window into a culture and country that was long walled off from the West
3
The Great Water
Laura Kelly
The cinematic version should have focused on the strength of the orphans tales without wasting time with story framing
2
The Great Water
Bob Strauss
The Great Water s greatest value is its depiction of a society that was as savagely committed to a false idea as its neighbor nations but that somehow moved back toward reality and humanity before the Iron Curtain fell
3
The Great Water
Jack Mathews
The Great Water is ultimately about the indomitability of faith and the Christian symbolism is laid on thick
2
The Great Water
David Sterritt
This unusual Macedonian release is engrossing if not always nimbly directed
3
London to Brighton
Philip Marchand
Its tautness is satisfying Not one line of dialogue is superfluous not one take is a second too long
3
London to Brighton
Jennie Punter
From the near hysteria of this compelling opening sequence Paul Andrew Williams s taut tough and thoroughly satisfying drama grips the viewer and never lets go until its brutal surprising conclusion
3.5
London to Brighton
Maitland McDonagh
English actor turned filmmaker Paul Andrew Williams made a striking writing and directing debut with this character driven thriller which plays out against a backdrop of desperation self loathing and grinding poverty
3
London to Brighton
Elizabeth Weitzman
Very good but very grim Paul Andrew Williams punishing debut doesn t pull many punches although the characters certainly field their share of body blows
3
Rewind This!
Jeff Shannon
Johnson s savvy authority ensures that Rewind This will leave many film and video lovers begging for more
4
The Fugitive
Clifford Terry
Working from a tight script by Jeb Stuart and David Twohy director Andrew Davis has fashioned a crackling intelligent thriller
3.5
The Fugitive
Jeff Shannon
The film is little more than a well oiled machine that serves a strictly limited function but like a precision timepiece it is a thing to marvel at even under close scrutiny
3.5
The Fugitive
Gene Siskel
I ve already seen The Fugitive twice I ll probably see it again
4
The Fugitive
Stephen Hunter
The Fugitive runs hard and true the whole way through
3
The Fugitive
Gary Thompson
A sparkling suspense picture
3
The Fugitive
John Wooley
A fast paced action adventure picture written large upon the screen It s helped along in this case by a couple of things some fine performances especially from the two leads and the collective cultural memory of lots and lots of baby boomers
3
The Fugitive
Betsy Bozdech
Action movies don t get much better than this the acting is top notch the story is solid and the direction never lets up
4
The Fugitive
Scott Nash
The pacing is terrific and the action always kept on a realistic level even when it s clearly over the top
4
Star Trek: Nemesis
Joe Lozito
Disappointing
2
Star Trek: Nemesis
Scott Nash
If you re a fan you ll be satisfied if not ecstatic but it s doubtful that this movie will win any new converts
3
Star Trek: Nemesis
Greg Maki
The science fiction franchise that has been an institution since the late 1960s may be starting to show its age
2
Star Trek: Nemesis
Nick Rogers
Well there goes the theory about the even numbered ones all being good
2.5
Star Trek: Nemesis
Jim Shelby
Boring dark gooey with plenty of earnest furrowed brows all around
1.5
Star Trek: Nemesis
Vanessa Sibbald
It s been almost 10 years since Star Trek The Next Generation ended in 1994 but you d never know it by watching the latest film in the science fiction franchise Star Trek Nemesis
1.5
Star Trek: Nemesis
Frank Ochieng
the Federation should consider their legacy before embarking on another tired journey Alas it s time for the filmmakers to stay home and avoid the exhaustive trappings of being their own worse enemy ah in this case nemesis
2.5
Star Trek: Nemesis
Kevin A. Ranson
it may be time for Paramount to more on to other Star Trek movie ideas or just more on together enjoy it for what it is one more time to see a beloved crew defeat evil in space
2
Star Trek: Nemesis
Dan Lybarger
Star Trek Nemesis is flat and uneventful
1.5
Star Trek: Nemesis
Steven Snyder
Whatever the weaknesses Nemesis deserves some credit for its universality It can be enjoyed by anyone whether the biggest Trek nerd or a newcomer to the series
3
Star Trek: Nemesis
Jonathan R. Perry
Never escapes the franchise formula enough to make Warp Factor 9 and take flight as anything more than a superior two part Next Generation episode with improved effects
2.5
Star Trek: Nemesis
Jeffrey Westhoff
The ease that the Next Generation actors slip into their roles gives Nemesis a comfort zone that overcomes creaky dialogue and that fact that the biggest moments have been seen in earlier Trek movies
3
Star Trek: Nemesis
Mike Clark
As spent screen series go Star Trek Nemesis is even more suggestive of a 65th class reunion mixer where only eight surviving members show up and there s nothing to drink
2
Star Trek: Nemesis
David Elliott
Better than the tepid Star Trek Insurrection falls short of First Contact because the villain couldn t pick the lint off Borg Queen Alice Krige s cape and finishes half a parsec a nose ahead of Generations
2.5
Star Trek: Nemesis
David Hiltbrand
While the movie itself wanders off course halfway through the coming attractions showcasing Nemesis jacked up special effects production values and camerawork were a knockout
2.5
Star Trek: Nemesis
Howard Cohen
Devotees of Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan will feel a nagging sense of deja vu and the grandeur of the best Next Generation episodes is lacking
2.5
Star Trek: Nemesis
Glenn Whipp
If this is indeed the swan song for the Next Generation gang the end can t come soon enough
2
Star Trek: Nemesis
Susan Stark
Star Trek Nemesis spins a fascinating and finally quite moving variation on an old saw You re your own worst enemy
3
Star Trek: Nemesis
Ron Weiskind
This one has some throwback qualities
3
Star Trek: Nemesis
Margaret A. McGurk
Star Trek fans like their philosophy deep and Nemesis the 10th big screen episode does not disappoint
3
Star Trek: Nemesis
Terry Lawson
May satisfy the faithful but can leave the casual moviegoer feeling as if he s walked into a bar where nobody knows his name
2
Star Trek: Nemesis
Jon Niccum
Individual episodes of the Next Generation TV series were always clever at addressing social issues even if they were cloaked in the hardware of futurism Yet the movies have routinely devolved into one dimensional battles of good vs evil
2
Star Trek: Nemesis
Todd Anthony
Star Trek Nemesis meekly goes where nearly every Star Trek movie has gone before Wince inducing dialogue thrift shop costumes prosthetic makeup by Silly Putty and Kmart blue light special effects all conspire to test Trekkie loyalty
1.5
Star Trek: Nemesis
Mark Rahner
The torpid first half nearly made me drift into suspended animation But the exciting second half makes up for it with a long thrilling Pyrrhic battle
2.5
Star Trek: Nemesis
Glenn Lovell
Won t go into the captain s log as the U S S Enterprise s finest hour that honor still belongs to Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan but it is reasonably entertaining and reassuring like a trip home during the holidays
2.5
Star Trek: Nemesis
Mary Kalin-Casey
Though hardly a ridiculous mess like The Final Frontier the 10th Trek outing Nemesis is as mediocre as the last franchise effort Insurrection with little appeal for anyone beyond patient die hard fans
2
Star Trek: Nemesis
Jonathan Foreman
It is far from the worst thanks to the topical issues it raises the performances of Stewart and Hardy and that essential feature a decent full on space battle
2.5
Star Trek: Nemesis
Duane Dudek
A strong enough effort to be worthy of faint praise
2.5
Star Trek: Nemesis
Marty Mapes
Perhaps Nemesis is the best we could hope for from a tired franchise
2.5
Star Trek: Nemesis
Michael Wilmington
A better movie than the vacuous Insurrection
3.5
Star Trek: Nemesis
Tony Toscano
The film s dark and gritty style gives this trek a real depth and human element most of the other films have lacked
3.5
Star Trek: Nemesis
Harvey S. Karten
A school teacher s dream as Patrick Stewart tells his nemesis that the principal goal of every human being should be to become a better person
2.5
She's Gotta Have It
Eric Henderson
She s Gotta Have It s characters talk into the camera but they do so in service of a Rashomon tinged postmortem on how an artistic young woman couldn t make polyamory work in her favor
3
Dredd
Brett Michel
Erase your memories of Sly s bomb with this director Pete Travis and writer producer Alex Garland s lean reboot
3
Dredd
Calum Marsh
Whether by design or otherwise Dredd seems better suited to a 2D home video presentation than to the 3D silver screen
3
Dredd
Scott Nash
Definitely a B Movie but it doesn t want to be anything else
2.5
Dredd
Jason Buchanan
Dredd 3D is at its core a bloody spectacle and little more
2
Dredd
Frank Lovece
Proves a surprisingly unimaginative cops vs drug lord story complete with the weathered veteran forced to take a rookie under his wing
2
Dredd
Sean O'Connell
This finally is the Dredd movie comic book readers have been anticipating
3
Dredd
David Hiltbrand
For sci fi action fans it s an instant classic
2.5
Dredd
Gary Thompson
The movie bears a suspicious resemblance to the Indonesian hit The Raid Redemption but trades that movie s sweaty muscular martial arts brio for a RoboCop ish futurism and very slick F X the 3 D is very good
3
Dredd
Tom Russo
In a generic way the environment works But it drains the material of what should be most unique about it and leaves Urban twisting despite a tightly coiled performance
2
Dredd
Peter Hartlaub
A fine piece of cheap entertainment
3
Dredd
Christy Lemire
A wickedly dark comic streak breaks up the vivid violence and relentless bleakness of Dredd 3D
3
Dredd
Daniel M. Kimmel
solid action fare which is a lot closer to its source than the Stallone film was
3
Come From Away
David Reddish
The show doesnt have a plot so much as a mixture of character beats Here that doesnt just workit has a powerful effect
4
Come From Away
Lisa Trifone
it is perhaps the most essential consequential piece of art to result from the most tragic day in American history
4
Come From Away
Christy Lemire
Twenty years later the caring gestures large and small depicted here carry a whole new resonance a fresh sense of catharsis and even hope
3.5
Hoop Dreams
Bill Stamets
Recruiters coaches teachers even the boys fathers could be easy targets but the filmmakers forgo cheap shots
3
Hoop Dreams
Chris Hicks
A film that is so rich so involving so compelling that superlatives seem inadequate
4
Onegin
Bill Chambers
Martha Fiennes has managed to make something at once stylish and melancholy much like her characters I sense that Onegin heralds the next Jane Campion
3.5
Uncommon Valor
Jaime N. Christley
Supremely entertaining
3
The Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best
John Hartl
While the movie itself is an uneven sometimes preachy affair it s alive with possibilities whenever Weston s on screen
2.5
The Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best
Diego Semerene
Do we really need another film about underachieving white men with scruffy beards Ryan O Nan thinks so
.5
We Don't Live Here Anymore
Glenn Kenny
Dubus anticipating the dreaded Raymond Carver is only concerned with the interiority of the characters It s solipsism once removed and in this film it s that times four
1
We Don't Live Here Anymore
David N. Butterworth
This cautionary tale for adults might be a little close to the bone perhaps for some audience members but it s a sincere and finely wrought ensemble piece
2.5
We Don't Live Here Anymore
Joe Baltake
A terribly slim pretentious movie that wallows in the monotonous far from fascinating angst of its self involved characters
2
We Don't Live Here Anymore
Larry Ratliff
If emotional tension is what you re after and all you re interested in though We Don t Live Here Anymore is a provocative address for a one night stand
2.5
We Don't Live Here Anymore
Lisa Kennedy
Painful powerful adaptation of two of Andre Dubus beautifully frank stories
3
We Don't Live Here Anymore
Terry Lawson
It s an honest revealing and provocative look at the sort of people we think we know but in reality rarely do
3
We Don't Live Here Anymore
Eric Harrison
Dramatically slack the story isn t driven by plot so much as by the slow revelation of character
2
We Don't Live Here Anymore
David Elliott
The key problem of this acting exercise is that we can sense what must come and sadly it does
2
We Don't Live Here Anymore
Paul Sherman
A miserable movie about miserable people having miserable sex
2
We Don't Live Here Anymore
Michael Wilmington
Usually American marital problems are left to the soap operas it s nice to see them tackled by experts piercing personas and peeling open hearts
3
We Don't Live Here Anymore
Jules Brenner
The actors are seriously exploring how to make it fresh and meaningful but the writing binds them to the prosaic as it focuses on sex confusion and adaptive values
2
We Don't Live Here Anymore
Jan Stuart
Fastidious and controlled to a fault but rewarding nonetheless
3
We Don't Live Here Anymore
Jami Bernard
If you want to see how other couples fight We Don t Live Here Anymore is as good a place as any to visit But why exactly would you want to
2
We Don't Live Here Anymore
Glenn Whipp
A curiosity best reserved for emotional masochists
2.5
We Don't Live Here Anymore
David Sterritt
Not a deep movie It is a very honest one though there s not a cheap cinematic trick in sight and it s a graceful one energizing its small town story with eloquent camera work and ingenious musical touches
3
We Don't Live Here Anymore
Jay Antani
Failing to find the cinematic equivalent of Dubus s vertical writing Curran and Gross s movie strains for truths it never earns
2
We Don't Live Here Anymore
Erik Childress
There s nothing we haven t seen before here and done far better in the snappy works of Neil LaBute or Edward Albee
1.5
Minnie and Moskowitz
Michael Scheinfeld
The most accessible and endearing example of his very exceptional art
3.5
Lady and the Tramp
Wesley Lovell
While 8220 Lady and the Tramp 8221 is enjoyable it pales in comparison to both Disney s earlier and later works Kids will love it but parents beware 8230 it is a little sappy and occasionally bland
2.5
Lady and the Tramp
Karen M. Peterson
Lady and the Tramp doesn t need to exist any more than any other Disney live action or photoreal remake does But if they are going to make them anyway it would be nice if more of them would do what this one does
3
Lady and the Tramp
Monica Castillo
As far as feel good fantasies go it isn t so bad
2.5
What to Expect When You're Expecting
Christian Toto
What to Expect trots out the same ol pregnancy gags but the film s hilarious Daddy s Group sets it apart from its rom com peers
2.5
What to Expect When You're Expecting
Alison Gang
It is indeed what a moviegoer should expect from a genre in which an ensemble cast of famous pretty faces is loosely strung together by an innocuous holiday or in this case baby having
2
What to Expect When You're Expecting
Connie Ogle
Remember when advice books stayed on the shelves where they belonged
2
What to Expect When You're Expecting
Jennie Punter
It s a sitcom y ensemble film complete with product placement that feels like you re flipping around the TV dial
2
What to Expect When You're Expecting
Farran Smith Nehme
The film is dully shot and so predictably plotted you could tick off the items like you re packing a bag for the delivery room
2
What to Expect When You're Expecting
Stephanie Merry
The movie turns out to be a little of everything yet succeeds only occasionally at anything
2
What to Expect When You're Expecting
Jake Mulligan
Most of the time the sentimental rom com antics and underdeveloped archetypes feel as fake as the big bellies the ladies are showing off
2
What to Expect When You're Expecting
Ann Lewinson
Expect that two hours will feel like nine months and that before it s over you ll be screaming for an epidural to your brain
2
What to Expect When You're Expecting
Rafer Guzman
With 10 main characters and nearly as many smaller players What to Expect attempts to cover every possible type of motherhood in America and very nearly succeeds
2.5
What to Expect When You're Expecting
Andrew Schenker
It s the inevitability and uniformity of the film s attitude as well as the desperately strained and unfunny way in which it puts it across that s bothersome
1
Return to Sender
Glenn Lovell
a slow burn female payback thriller in the tradition of Siegel s Beguiled and Miike s masterful Audition definitely deserved better than being summarily shipped to Vido on Demand Land
2.5
Return to Sender
Peter Sobczynski
It seems to exist only to answer the unasked question What would I Spit on Your Grave have been like if the main character had been Martha Stewart
0.5
Return to Sender
Clayton Dillard
The kind of wholly misconceived thriller that begs asking precisely what its filmmakers were seeking to accomplish
1
Mona Lisa Smile
Mark Collette
would have been better served by characters with a little less formula than the paint by numbers projects so loved by these women of Wellesley College
2
Mona Lisa Smile
Timothy Knight
This handsomely mounted and beautifully filmed drama sustains your interest for most of its running time and features fine performances across the board
2.5
Mona Lisa Smile
Steven Snyder
We sense the shallowness of the situations realizing they exist solely to build our expectations and then give us exactly what we want Fulfilling yes enlightening no
2
Mona Lisa Smile
Tony Toscano
I found the film for the most part a good date film just don t date anyone who is a film critic
3
Mona Lisa Smile
James Verniere
A film that forgoes a point of view in favor of a marketing campaign
2.5
Mona Lisa Smile
Phoebe Flowers
A movie in which all problems have the complexity of a pleated skirt and can be solved with a heartfelt hug and all characters fit dull and predictable molds
1.5
Mona Lisa Smile
David Elliott
Julia Roberts has no Mona Lisa smile enigmatic coyness isn t in her range but her big horsey grin flashes its horse sense and beaming charm through much of Mona Lisa Smile and viewers can smile in return
4
Mona Lisa Smile
Joe Baltake
May not be the personably serious movie it sees itself as and it may miss its mark by aiming too intently at its target but it still manages to work on other more simplistic levels that are nevertheless valid
3
Mona Lisa Smile
Guylaine Cadorette
Mona Lisa Smile s lesson of the day is delivered in an unoriginal manner through such shallow and unlikable characters that its message lacks an emotional punch
1.5
Mona Lisa Smile
Jonathan Foreman
Sanctimonious relentlessly predictable and willfully ignorant of the period it s set in
2
Mona Lisa Smile
Jami Bernard
This is not a feminist movie It even feels at times like a step back partly because the cliches are so tired
2
Mona Lisa Smile
Sue Pierman
A bloodless and wan offering
1.5
Mona Lisa Smile
Connie Ogle
There are a few reasons to enjoy the film namely its likable cast its noble aim of dramatizing one of the many small steps that led to the overhaul of women s higher education and its unexpected ability to surprise you
2.5
Mona Lisa Smile
Glenn Whipp
The material is so addled that it drags down everyone and everything
2
Mona Lisa Smile
Robert W. Butler
This is a film of frequently pleasant surfaces but there s no heat deep down inside
2.5
Mona Lisa Smile
Terry Lawson
A classy handsome and serviceable entertainment that may not change your life but could help you appreciate how you came to have it
3
Mona Lisa Smile
Lisa Kennedy
Newell has crafted a warm well paced movie out of a somewhat wan script
3
Mona Lisa Smile
Lawrence Toppman
Newell keeps us guessing about motives we re on Katherine s side from the start but we acknowledge that she makes wrong choices over and over
3
Mona Lisa Smile
Marty Mapes
Takes a brave political stand and boldly asserts that women like men deserve a college education
2
Mona Lisa Smile
Shirley Klass
A well written script can give a better slice of life depiction than a whole season of Rich Girls and The Simple Life Interesting characters make it worthwhile
2.5
Mona Lisa Smile
Bruce Newman
A sharply observed movie
3
Mona Lisa Smile
David Sterritt
The college atmosphere is almost never convincing and sentimentality trumps substance at every opportunity
2
Mona Lisa Smile
Jeffrey Westhoff
It s always a riot when a movie preaches artistic freedom and nonconformity while the script scrupulously follows Hollywood formula
2
Mona Lisa Smile
Michael Wilmington
This is a movie with few secrets or surprises however much it tries to warm hearts or sell eccentricity and idealism
2.5
Mona Lisa Smile
Jeanne Aufmuth
Its tidy conclusion belies the fact that the film doesn t know what it wants to be serious drama thorny romance or a searing commentary on the changing times
2.5
Youth
Andy Crump
Shoval mounts tension by gazing at his story straight on and without blinking
3
Thin Ice
Eric Melin
It builds suspense slowly and surely as things begin to come apart for Kinnear but it eventually grows tiresome and the twist ending is still a bit hard to swallow
2
Thin Ice
Chris Foran
The movie s gently snowbound Midwestern setting blunts some of the story s harsher edges and the characters mostly feel real
2.5
Thin Ice
Peter Keough
Sprecher and her co writer sister Karen seem to have gone through a card file of used ideas to cobble together this black comedy
2.5
Thin Ice
Joe Williams
As a caustic comedy Thin Ice resides just slightly south of Fargo
3
Thin Ice
Rafer Guzman
If only the film were as good as Kinnear
2
Thin Ice
Walter V. Addiego
With a handful of blackly humorous jolts and some game performances by a good cast Thin Ice is a watchable if not terribly original piece of Midwestern noir
2
Thin Ice
Gary Thompson
Director Jill Sprecher and sister writer Karen Sprecher have applied several layers of plot to their chilly thriller and it s a kick to watch it play out
3.5
Butter
Christian Toto
Butter is a dizzying blend of smug satire surface level observations and mean spirited swipes at flyover types Oh and take away Olivia Wilde and it s a laugh free affair
1
Butter
Jordan Hiller
As smart savvy and witty as the film is at times it never escapes the inherent identity crisis in its makeup
1
Butter
Perry Seibert
It settles for cute when it could have had more bite and it aims for amusing when it had hilarious in its sights
2.5
Butter
Sean O'Connell
We re still just scratching the surface of witty provocative humor as long as envelope pushing directors such as Jim Field Smith continue to find work
3
Butter
Chris Foran
The movie is larded up with distracting subplots and poorly used stars Hugh Jackman as an Iowa City car dealer Really
2
Butter
Scott Bowles
Butter is a film more enamored of its premise than interested in making it work
1.5
Butter
Rex Reed
The first movie in history that makes Hugh Jackman look repulsive
2
Please Kill Mr. Know It All
Geoff Pevere
The ride gets bumpy almost immediately and the scenery is as familiar as what you might see driving to a job you ve had for more years than you care to remember
1
The Power and the Glory
Kate Cameron
Because of its originality however and because of the fine acting and direction The Power and the Glory deserves to be placed among the most distinguished pictures of the year
4
Cobb
Gene Siskel
Most biopics mistakenly try to take us from cradle to grave and end up skimming the surface The wisdom of Cobb is that writer director Ron Shelton knows that the close study of a single day can decode a human life
3.5
Cobb
John Hartl
Unfortunately the movie just makes Stump look like a self important jerk possibly a bigger jerk than Cobb and Wuhl s affable weightless performance doesn t help
2.5
Cobb
Stephen Hunter
Stump is well played by affable Robert Wuhl who has the unenviable responsibility of representing the one sane man in Ty s crazy universe
3
Cobb
Michael Wilmington
Jones lets it all loose here It s the performance of a lifetime full of menace and venom eloquence and fire rot and pathos crackling rawness and realism
4
Cobb
Scott Nash
The movie never equals the performance but still fascinating to watch
2.5
Cobb
Chuck O'Leary
Completely enthralling from first frame to last Cobb is a fascinating uncompromising portrait of a rage filled contradictory man fighting his own private war with the world
4
Cobb
Peter Stack
This histrionic portrait of the most celebrated cur in sports history comes across like a fly ball that thuds on the ground
1
Cobb
Chris Hicks
Pleasant No But the new biographical film Cobb about baseball great Ty Cobb is certainly engrossing primarily due to a smashing lead performance by Tommy Lee Jones
3
Ca$h (Cash)
Wesley Lovell
If you have any desire to see a younger less buff version of a prominent modern actor given the thankless task of carrying a mediocre film on his shoulders this one might be for you
1
Zombie Honeymoon
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Very good performances heart wrenching story and genuine characterization
3
Zombie Honeymoon
Pam Grady
Gebroe s romantic comedy satire is pitch perfect but as his movie grows darker in its final act it s also surprisingly moving
3
A Cool, Dry Place
Sandra Contreras
Its heart is in the right place but this sweet drama just doesn t build enough true drama from its slender premise That said it s not bad enough to merit the kind of stealth release its studio has imposed on it
2.5
Criminal
Vince Koehler
This is one of the best con movies I have seen as rare currency is used as the valuable commodity
3
Criminal
Aaron Hillis
newbies looking for an easy breezy Ocean s Eleven and a Half should get a kick out of this frugally low key innocuous cover song of a caper
2.5
Criminal
Carla Meyer
The problems lie not with the actors but with a glib approach that exposes the flaws of the original story
2
Criminal
David Elliott
The fast forced plot which moves up from street grifts to a big score involving rare currency lives in the amusing and zippered byplay of Luna and Reilly who achieve a sort of marriage du jour for criminal purposes
3
Criminal
Joe Baltake
It s a good film suitably entertaining but there s the nagging question of why everyone bothered
3
Criminal
Lawrence Toppman
In the end coincidence undoes Criminal
2
Criminal
James Verniere
Entertaining and well acted but redundant and a bit machinelike
2.5
Criminal
Jami Bernard
It s such a pleasure being in the company of these actors as they work with character rich material that if they burst into the audience and swindled us out of our wallets we would gladly oblige
3
Criminal
Bob Strauss
Its spiral of deceptions within deceptions remains resolutely character based until the outlandish end which proves emotionally satisfying because it s based on what really drives people as much as too clever plotting
3
Criminal
Robert W. Butler
An incredibly clever and superbly paced caper filled with scams within scams within scams
3
Criminal
John Monaghan
This is the kind of movie so full of coincidence and double crosses that you simply don t have the mental energy to go back and sort it all out at the end
2
Criminal
Michael Booth
What elevates Criminal into a delicious con in the league of Red Rock West House of Games or Matchstick Men is John C Reilly
3
Criminal
Jeffrey Westhoff
Scores higher than most con artist movies by focusing more on the artists than the con
3
Criminal
Emily Blunt
Criminal has a wonderful modern film noir feel punctuated with incredibly clever dialog
3
Criminal
Paul Doro
Manages to satisfy despite being inferior to the original on nearly every level
2.5
Criminal
Bruce Newman
It s all done with sufficient style that when we get there the end no longer feels like the point
3
Criminal
David Sterritt
This remake of the Argentine hit is effective at times and Gyllenhaal shows a new side of her talent but the main impression is of first rate performers doing second rate work
2
Criminal
Jeff Strickler
Fans of con man capers will have no regrets after watching Criminal
3.5
Criminal
Sid Smith
An exercise where viewers are likely to ponder not How did the characters do it but Who cares
2
Criminal
Jeanne Aufmuth
A classic crime caper that twists and turns with an easy subtly
3
Paulo Coelho's Best Story
Andy Crump
Paulo Coelho s Best Story should be about Coelho but the results feel trite enough that the picture could be about anybody
1.5
Paulo Coelho's Best Story
Chuck Bowen
Daniel Augusto relies on familiar tropes pertaining to the sexy rebellious rock star artist who does things his own way
1.5
2021 Oscar Nominated Shorts - Live Action
Jeff York
This year s shorts work as compelling mini dramas as well as a searing commentary upon those guarding society
3.5
She's the One
Mal Vincent
She s the One is the perfect dating movie for those who are well over puberty and are out there on the front lines
3.5
She's the One
Madeleine Williams
Even though it strains credibility at times it never ceases to be amusing
3
She's the One
Chris Hicks
There s a sweetness to much of the proceedings quite a few funny gags and a couple of excellent performances to drive the film along
2.5
She's the One
Mike Clark
A funnier more polished variation on actor director Ed Burns The Brothers McMullen
3
She's the One
Barbara Shulgasser
This time it seems as if the material is a little ahead of Burns rather than the other way around
2.25
Let Him Go
Pamela Powell
Let Him Go tries your patience at times but the premise of the film continually cuts through your gut as you place yourself in their shoes
2.5
Let Him Go
Mark Meszoros
Let Him Go is the rare two hour film that by the end feels rushed
2
Let Him Go
Matthew Passantino
Equal parts moving and thrilling Let Him Go is a nice surprise
3
Let Him Go
Steven Prokopy
Let Him Go isn t afraid to dip its toe in different genres on its way to being a classic David vs Goliath last stand Western
3
Let Him Go
Katie Walsh
In many ways it feels like the midcentury pulp thrillers it emulates well plotted and grisly but almost ephemeral It is Lane s performance that lingers one that dares to be uniquely hopeful about the future and letting the old ways die
3
Let Him Go
Joe Friar
Thomas Bezucha delivers a contemporary Western that drifts along in slow burn mode as it heads towards a thrilling climax
3.5
Let Him Go
Rex Reed
Let Him Go wastes no time pulling you into an emotional grasp so compelling you can t believe what happens as the narrative moves from one shocking scene to the next in a pandemic of violence
3.5
Let Him Go
Mia Vicino
Though both of these portrayals and the pastoral visuals of the Midwest mountains are breathtaking the story itself is lethargic never fully getting off the ground nor matching the strength of the source material Larry Watson s eponymous novel
2
Let Him Go
Pamela Powell
Not even Costner and Lane s heartfelt performances can make this a memorable film
2.5
Let Him Go
Tom Meek
Writer director Thomas Bezucha rekindles the essence of a B noir potboiler with the fast efficient and lean in execution Let Him Go which gets a big boost from some knockout performances in the end the main reason to see the film
3
Let Him Go
Cate Marquis
The final showdown lights up the screening in a burst of bracing violence firing up the audience in a thriller ending worthy of the best of classic drive in Bs
3
Let Him Go
Jeff Mitchell
Lane and Costner embrace this effective 20th century western
3
Let Him Go
Dann Gire
These two seasoned vets accurately and subtly capture how older long married couples interact with shorthand knowing looks and an occasional sense of tolerance for each other
2.5
Let Him Go
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
If the movie later descends into over the top caricature and violence at least we have earlier moments of profundity
2.5
Let Him Go
Johnny Oleksinski
This is by far the director s tensest and most brutal movie ever and he s a natural Exorcising some inner demons perhaps
3
Let Him Go
Rafer Guzman
A latter day Western whose story never quite comes into focus
2
Let Him Go
Jake Coyle
What seems set up for a slow burn showdown between rival grandmas dissipates in blunt shoot outs that sidelines Lane s Margaret at just the wrong time
2.5
Let Him Go
Christian Toto
Kevin Costner Diane Lane connect as grieving parents until the film s farcical finish
2.5
Let Him Go
Barry Hertz
A skilfully executed thriller that is narrowly aimed at one demographic audiences over 50 who like a little violence with their late life dramas but succeeds at entertaining just about anyone who comes across its dusty blood soaked path
3
Let Him Go
Dan Rubins
Despite a searing performance from Diane Lane writer director Thomas Bezucha s film ultimately self immolates
1
The Informers
Burl Burlingame
Brad Renfro in his last movie role playing a wannabe film actor who sprays out filthy perspiration like a collie emerging from a sewer It s possible this role killed Renfro
1
The Informers
Sonny Bunch
Imagine American Psycho with less violence but more nudity transplanted from New York to California and stripped of all self awareness That s The Informers
1
The Informers
Eric Melin
The Informers becomes that rare movie that is so tedious it dares you to keep watching
1
The Informers
Robert W. Butler
It s almost a relief when one of the characters comes down with a deadly disease
1
The Informers
Chris Kaltenbach
An awful film about an awful time
1
The Informers
Christian Toto
Remember the 80s After sitting through The Informers you may wanna burn your Rubik s Cube and Where s the Beef T shirt
1
The Informers
Michael Smith
The Informers is grimy nasty and graphic in its depictions of excess and those are its good points
1.5
The Informers
Charles Koplinski
The Informers delivers a muddled message
2.0
The Informers
Graham Killeen
Ellis director Gregor Jordan and a cast that s hollow but only occasionally empty manage to anticipate excess hangover a headache we ve become intimately familiar with all over again
3
The Informers
Connie Ogle
Perhaps the film s biggest mistake is that after more than an hour of proving how pointless and vapid these characters are it leaves us with a parting shot indicating we should care about what happens to them We don t
1
The Informers
Joe Williams
An outbreak of 80s nostalgia is the best explanation for The Informers a worse movie based on a worse Bret Easton Ellis book
2
Overlord
Steven Prokopy
Director Avery is determined to create a horror war movie that is unforgettable to lovers of both genres and I think he makes it work
3
Overlord
Federico Furzan
Horror placed in a different stage Overlord serves no bigger purpose and manages to establish its own set of rules Full review in Spanish
3
Overlord
Tom Meek
Something of a missed opportunity for all
2
Overlord
Joey Magidson
In an age where so many special effects are done by computers Overlord thankfully includes some old fashioned gross makeup
3
Overlord
Katie Walsh
If anyone ever wished Saving Private Ryan were more of a B movie splatterfest Overlord is the movie for you
2.5
Overlord
Simon Abrams
A simple mechanism to deliver squib packs and swear words
2.5
Overlord
Christian Toto
Nazi zombies What could go wrong Plenty including making us wait forever for the star attraction
2
Overlord
Barry Hertz
By the end Overlord feels if not greater than the sum of its Frankensteined parts at least a monster worth mashing
2.5
Overlord
Michael Ordoña
Overlord leaves a wealth of possibilities unmined One imagines it was more compelling as pitch than finished product
1
Overlord
Rafer Guzman
Overlord has a bit of a video game feel at times though that just adds to the overall sense of pulpy gory fun
3
Overlord
Soren Andersen
Zombies Nazis Clichés Insane violence Overlord delivers a whole lot of much too much
1.5
Overlord
Eric D. Snider
Shallow comic book carnage with no subtext but it successfully walks the line between serious and ludicrous without tipping over into campy
2.5
Master Z: Ip Man Legacy
Simon Abrams
If there must be more movies set in the Ip Man iverse I hope that they re as dazzling and righteous as Master Z
3.5
Master Z: Ip Man Legacy
Gary Thompson
The movie is often light in tone and decidedly weird with dazzling colors enjoyably garish use of red and yellow and costumes that make the whole thing play like a musical
3
Master Z: Ip Man Legacy
Jake Cole
The film is a reminder of the potential of these films before they became weighed down by blockbuster ready excesses
2.5
Best Night Ever
Sheila O'Malley
Comedy requires a more delicate specific touch but here the air is slowly let out of the balloon as the scenes limp forward
1.5
Twisted
Stephen Holden
Overacted underwritten murky some scenes appear to have been filmed by candelight and essentially implausible it succeeds only in churning up an atmosphere of ghoulish sentimentality
1.5
Sex, Lies, and Videotape
Chris Hicks
I was somewhat let down by the film as a whole which seems to feign more than it actually achieves
2
Sex, Lies, and Videotape
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Lean economical relatively unpretentious or at least pretentiously unpretentious and purposefully small scale
3
Material Girls
Brooke Holgerson
An insipid mess not worthy of the tweens who flock to such flicks
0.5
Material Girls
Thomas Delapa
As if one Duff wasn t enough for us
1.5
Material Girls
Lisa Rose
The movie which was not screened for critics makes a joke of everyone who isn t wealthy white and pencil thin
0
Material Girls
Peter Hartlaub
The scariest part of Material Girls comes when you re sitting in the dark theater and start considering the possibility that young women might find these characters sympathetic
0
Material Girls
Paul Schrodt
You might remember it from May when it starred Lindsay Lohan and was called Just My Luck
.5
Material Girls
Elizabeth Weitzman
A superficial tween comedy that mocks celebutantes like the Olsen twins while simultaneously pushing stars Hilary and Haylie Duff as their replacements
1.5
Material Girls
Ken Fox
Light but listless
2
Material Girls
Pam Grady
There is no edge to the movie at all and that blandness will render it forgettable to anyone over the age of 12 or so but for all that it is pleasant enough and occasionally even fun
2.5
Material Girls
Stephen Williams
Madonna s anthem was only good naturedly arrogant but the SoCal twins like the film s script are arrogant ghastly immature and offensive to any audience that isn t all of the above
0
Material Girls
John Monaghan
Nonsensical from the get go the girls fish out of water routine grows interminable
2
Material Girls
James Sanford
The film opens with the Duffs huffing and puffing their way through a remake of Madonna s Material Girl an ode to gold digging that Madonna sang with a touch of wry humor the Duffs perform it as if it was The Battle Hymn of the Republic
.5
Evidence
Dann Gire
The story s strained reaching plot goes so far off the CommonSense o Meter that there s more than enough evidence to convict this movie of impersonating a good mystery
1.5
Evidence
Steven Boone
A combination of chaotic phony found footage and whimpering models
1
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father
Nick Rogers
Know as little going in as possible The film s tragedy predates Facebook and Twitter but the rapid fire way in which its memorials are edited and the scope of those offering them feels like social network expression of grief fast immediate unifying
4
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father
Marty Mapes
A powerful home movie about real world evil and good
4
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father
Rob Humanick
The most ambitious work of its kind
3.5
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father
Frank Ochieng
Long after the credits roll one will be rendered both empty and lifted by a bewildered family s sudden forbidden journey into the abyss of emotional darkness
3
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father
Jenni Miller
The phrase labor of love is so often tossed about but Kurt Kuenne s emotionally wrenching documentary is absolutely that
4
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father
Ross Anthony
A sincere heartfelt documentary about life death and murder
2.5
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father
Bob Strauss
Kuenne uses ingenious montages and judicious pacing tactics to drive through reams of evidence legal codes and other data that in most documentaries would leave viewers eyes glazed over
3.5
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father
Erik Childress
Dear Zachary is not just Oscar worthy material but Oscar requisite If the Academy s documentary branch can t find a way to nominate this film and then promptly reward it then there s more than one corruption of justice that needs to be investigated
4
The Singing Revolution
Josh Rosenblatt
Full of the kind of collective passion and struggle and yearning for freedom that makes viewers well up with pride at their shared humanity
3.5
The Singing Revolution
Amy Biancolli
This fine and surprising documentary asks an even more challenging question Can music promote nonviolence prevent bloodshed and successfully overthrow an oppressive regime Again astonishingly the answer is yes
3.5
The Singing Revolution
Jessica Reaves
As far as the plot goes widespread lack of familiarity with Estonia s recent history actually works in the film s favor Suspense born of ignorance lends the unfolding drama the urgency of a political thriller
3
The Singing Revolution
Janos Gereben
An intriguing highly recommended film
3
The Singing Revolution
Tom Keogh
What makes the film unique is its intermittent focus on one of the country s cultural touchstones a song festival called Laulupidu and its role in bringing freedom to a repressed but restless people after a half century
2.5
The Singing Revolution
Elizabeth Weitzman
Directors James and Maureen Tusty acknowledge that few outsiders care much about this tiny Baltic nation And then through a mix of moving interviews and affecting footage they show us why we should
3
Northern Soul
Linda Barnard
The movie is carried by the two hard dancing leads whose sweat soaked strutting demands attention
2.5
Northern Soul
Nathalie Atkinson
Rich in period detail it s as transportative to the shuffling spins fashion subculture and euphoric amphetamine fuelled all nighters of 1974 Lancashire and the cult following DJs of the Wigan Casino as a documentary turned up to 11
3.5
Northern Soul
Chris Knight
Disaffected youth and music go together like well there s actually no better simile So how else to describe British director Elaine Constantine s first film For one thing it s got a well defined sense of place and time
3
Northern Soul
Tom Keogh
A revealing if disappointingly thin and histrionic drama about a couple of 18 year old guys who gamble their dreams and future on riding a wave of youthful passion for soul music
1.5
Feel the Noise
Timothy Knight
Dramatic tension and narrative momentum are MIA
1.5
Feel the Noise
Elizabeth Weitzman
The plot is contrived the performances are all over the board and Chomski s camera ogles his actresses just a little too much
2
Feel the Noise
Maitland McDonagh
This simplistic teen drama features an engaging young star but doesn t miss a follow your dreams cliche
2
Free Birds
Tom Meek
In the end this freeform history lesson is a flightless foul
2
Free Birds
Bill Zwecker
Free Birds is not sorry a turkey of a film But it doesn t really soar terribly high either
2.5
Free Birds
David Hiltbrand
A stale turkey hash that heaves a lot of ingredients in the oven but never turns on the gas a frantic attempt to come up with an animated film built around Thanksgiving Day traditions
1.5
Free Birds
Sara Stewart
A forgettable and occasionally borderline offensive animated tale of turkeys trying to take back Thanksgiving
1.5
Free Birds
Peter Hartlaub
All sidekicks and sight gags with little story cohesion or purpose
1
Free Birds
Cathy Jakicic
While what may be the first ever major Thanksgiving themed animated feature is fun for kids and witty enough for some adult giggles I was slightly underwhelmed
2.5
Free Birds
Stephanie Merry
Finally there s a movie vegetarian parents can enjoy with their impressionable offspring
2.5
Free Birds
Tom Russo
A welcome foray into underexploited territory conceptually at least
2
Free Birds
Linda Barnard
A seasonally pegged 3D cartoon bore that sets the bar so low it could give a slug a concussion
1
Free Birds
Jessica Herndon
A solid premiere effort that shows Reel FX s potential to produce quality full length animation But the story line with its hypothetical constituents seems a little desperate at times even for a kiddie film
2
Free Birds
Chris Cabin
The film is absent of humor and thrills and accented with designs and color schemes that are equally notable for their lack of risk
1
Babe: Pig in the City
Wesley Lovell
8220 Babe 58 Pig in the City 8221 is a wonderful family motion picture that touches various topics but doesn t live up to the power and overwhelming brilliance of the original
3
Babe: Pig in the City
Rob Humanick
Carries its predecessor s torch into darker quixotic territories bursting at the seams with folkloric witticism and hellzapoppin imagery
4
Babe: Pig in the City
Collin Souter
An amazing accomplishment George Miller brings the same approach to this sequel as he did with the Mad Max trilogy Don t re make re invent A work of genius
4
Babe: Pig in the City
Jeffrey Westhoff
Babe needed a sequel as much as Citizen Kane or Casablanca
2.5
Babe: Pig in the City
Elias Savada
It may not be as fresh as its predecessor it still begs a look see As the year winds down this is one fine holiday ham that should be savored not skinned
2
Babe: Pig in the City
David Keyes
a completely new experience for the audience and the film s characters and virtually one of the best sequels that has ever come along in the past decade
3.5
Three Amigos!
Dave Kehr
It s the laziness of the project that s finally most galling
1
Three Amigos!
Gene Siskel
You know it s a boring comedy when you find yourself laughing only at the lead actors costumes
2
Three Amigos!
Candice Russell
The premise is cute the characters are endearing and the wackiness of their predicament in the desert is almost enough to carry the film past dry spells of laughlessness But the dry spells are frequent
2.5
Sleeping With Other People
Brad Wheeler
Writer director Leslye Headland has made a film that is saucy and sweet for the boys and for the girls an R rated Seinfeld not that there s anything wrong with that
3
Sleeping With Other People
David Berry
Sleeping With Other People has plenty of bad habits but at its core is a refreshing and sometimes downright sad look at what love can do to people dressed up with the sweet hope of new love
2.5
Sleeping With Other People
Bruce DeMara
Screenwriter director Leslye Headland has an ear for dialogue and offbeat characters but the film never feels fresh or engaging
2
Sleeping With Other People
Scott Renshaw
It s hard to shake the notion that Leslye Headland wants soooo badly to make the 21st century version of When Harry Met Sally but there s not nearly the same unique chemistry and relationship insight to match the raunchy jokes
2.5
Sleeping With Other People
Michael Smith
The words remind of a Nora Ephron meets Aaron Sorkin script for their quick hit humor and rapid delivery with maybe a Judd Apatow rewrite to add snarky raunch It works
3
Sleeping With Other People
Brad Keefe
The more honest depictions of modern love are welcome but you can tell where this is heading early and often
2.5
Sleeping With Other People
Molly Eichel
Headland refuses to redeem her characters which is what makes Sleeping With Other People ultimately more interesting than other rom coms
3
Sleeping With Other People
Tom Russo
If there s a way to charm us with the approach Headland writer of 2014 s About Last Night update never really finds it squandering the appeal of leads Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie
1.5
Sleeping With Other People
Stephanie Merry
Why Lainey would be enamored by such a dud remains a mystery So is the reason why Lainey would model lingerie for Jake considering that the two are trying to keep things platonic
2
Sleeping With Other People
Lindsey Bahr
Sudeikis and Brie have an easy heady chemistry although it does take a bit of imagination to accept them seven years apart in real life as college contemporaries
3
Sleeping With Other People
Katie Walsh
Just might be the most romantic and touching film about sex addiction ever
3.5
Sleeping With Other People
Nick Allen
It s a smooth variation on the type of tale we ve heard before but especially with characters like these it can still have something new to say
3
Sleeping With Other People
Stephen Rebello
The funny cutting sexy and yeah even touching movie manages to make their relationship a blast to watch and a regretful look at the messed up state of modern romance
3
Sleeping With Other People
Carson Lund
This is exactly the kind of movie at which David Wain took aim with his sublime rom com parody They Came Together
1.5
Life Stinks
Jonathan Rosenbaum
It s materialist comedy in the best sense of the word and when it leads to slapstick involving Thorazine in an overcrowded hospital Brooks truly hits his stride
2
Life Stinks
Ross Anthony
The slapstick here is nothing to rent the film over Oddly it s the serious moments that charm I was embarrassed to myself for being choked up by Mel Brooks
2
Wildcat
Jeff Mitchell
8216 Wildcat gets sidetracked a bit but this emotional documentary has mesmerizing don t try this at home vibes as Samantha and Harry raise ocelot kittens to be independent in the wild Animal lover audiences will need a hug
3
Wildcat
Katie Rife
While the points where Wildcat goes beyond simply being a feel good nature documentary and delves into Harry s mental health struggles are honest they raise more questions than they answer
2.5
Wildcat
Steven Prokopy
Captivating and quite the adventure to boot
3
Wildcat
Kristen Page-Kirby
It mostly works with one catch Wildcat doesn t quite hang together both visually which is forgivable and narratively
2.5
Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman
Ruthe Stein
Grim and disturbing yet perversely riveting
2.5
Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman
Susan Walker
The very title of this movie seems to message its doom What could possibly be dramatic enough about Britain s last hangman to carry our interest over a 90 minute film A whole lot it turns out
3
Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman
Jack Mathews
Whether the real Pierrepoint who died in 1992 had a clear conscience the portly Spall creates the perfect impression of a quietly decent proud man who is overwhelmed by unwanted celebrity and by one too many jerking ropes
3
Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman
Eric Lurio
The shocker near the end is one of the more heartbreaking pieces of cinema in quite a while
4
Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman
Ken Fox
Director Adrian Shergold and screenwriters Jeff Pope and Bob Mills take certain liberties with the facts of Pierrepoint s notorious career but only to offer better insight into his complex personality
3.5
Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman
Timothy Knight
See it if you re a fan of serious literate drama and virtuoso acting
3.5
Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman
Glenn Whipp
The filmmakers fall through their own trapdoor using the hangman s story to fashion a preachy anti capital punishment message movie that seems at odds with the man himself
2.5
Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman
Gene Seymour
The movie hits its message a little too emphatically and its narrative unwinds a little too schematically But Spall s performance along with that of Juliet Stevenson as his devoted and sometimes credulous spouse keeps things grounded
3
Paper Year
Kate Taylor
Slight but intriguing
3
Paper Year
Bruce DeMara
Addelman has crafted a story of gentle drama that smacks of authenticity chronicling as the title suggests the couple s bumpy first year of marriage while casting two appealing young actors in the lead roles
3
Presumed Innocent
Dennis King
The film s densely constructed trial sequences are freighted with rich detail unexpected turns and intimate insights into the criminal justice system
4
Presumed Innocent
Desmond Ryan
Pakula and the cast are excellent in the cut and thrust debates and the grilling of witnesses At least on the surface Presumed Innocent unfolds in the grand tradition of great courtroom drama But nothing in Presumed Innocent is what it seems
3.5
Presumed Innocent
Gary Thompson
When you get right down to it Presumed Innocent is really just an elaborate version of the standard courtroom drama souped up Perry Mason On the other hand this is as good as Perry Mason gets
3.5
Presumed Innocent
Gene Siskel
A riveting adaptation of Scott Turow s novel about a prosecutor prosecuted for murder
3
Presumed Innocent
Dave Kehr
This deliberately paced almost monochromatic movie reserves its real energy and color for blaming the victim
2
Headshot
Doug Knoop
While there are some great twists and revelations here I just kept wishing it would stop with all the cinematic tricks and get to more conventional straight forward storytelling
2.5
Headshot
Elise Nakhnikian
This Buddhist film noir as writer director Pen ek Ratanaruang calls it is surprisingly slow moving and soulful for a film full of double crosses and cold blooded killing
3
God's Land
Andrew Schenker
The film is far more successful when it either focuses on the central family or suggests via visual means the odd correspondences between cult and town
2.5
Alice
James Sanford
Farrow relishes the opportunity to play everything from a timid guilt racked housewife to a sultry amoral siren who does everything short of attacking her victim
3.5
Alice
Chris Hicks
Boasts many hilarious moments
3.5
Crooked Arrows
Gayle MacDonald
An entirely predictable script that chugs along to the foregone loser beats odds conclusion
2
Crooked Arrows
Jim Slotek
Brandon Routh is the Emilio Estevez of Crooked Arrows
2.5
Crooked Arrows
Farran Smith Nehme
In another era Crooked Arrows might have been an after school special perfect to have on the TV while cleaning the house miss a scene while you re dusting under the couch and you ll still know exactly what s happening later
1
Crooked Arrows
Linda Barnard
It s an often awkward niche film enlivened by impressive on field action scenes But those can t get it beyond a predictable sports underdogs fight back plot
1.5
Crooked Arrows
Kalvin Henely
Although it adheres to the tried and true sports movie formula of an underdog team striving to overcome their limitations to become winners Crooked Arrows lacks captivating emotional momentum
2
Crooked Arrows
Loren King
The story is unique and engaging enough to transcend the uplifting sports underdog formula
2.5
Crooked Arrows
Gary Thompson
You know what It mostly works
3
Little Sister
Calvin Wilson
Rarely has a film more eloquently captured the universality of human experience
4
Little Sister
Kathleen Rizzo Young
Our Little Sister is a serene enchanting film that transports us to another gentler world
3.5
Little Sister
Lawrence Toppman
By the end a Zen like calm that might be mistaken for stasis settles over the story But these lives move forward slowly inexorably and they move us too
3
Little Sister
Robert Horton
Even death is part of the flow part of the process of getting along and finding a place in the world
4
Little Sister
Peter Keough
Sister broods on the past on how it defines the present and future but as a film about remembering it is not especially memorable
2.5
Little Sister
Tina Hassannia
Our Little Sister does best in small quiet moments
3
Little Sister
Nathalie Atkinson
It s subdued at times even too leisurely but the film and its characters are luminous especially lead Ayase Haruka
3
Little Sister
Anita Katz
The performances are solid throughout and young Hirose s Suzu is an unassuming delight
3
Little Sister
Vanessa H. Larson
While the emotions may be muted there s still something appealingly heartfelt about the way these siblings find each other One can t help but cheer them on
2.5
Little Sister
Simon Abrams
Japanese melodrama Our Little Sister is the rare film that captures the everyday pleasures and anguishes of family life
3
Little Sister
David Fear
It s the way that Koreeda handles such quotidian details and detours of this quartet that makes all the difference
3.5
Little Sister
Christopher Gray
The film s reserve softens some of its more piquant observations about tradition and mortality
2.5
Crossing the Line
Elizabeth Weitzman
You ll be untangling Dresnok s knotty reality long after you leave the theater
3
In Order of Disappearance
Tirdad Derakhshani
Swift fleet of foot and efficient with clean lines and a sleek finish the Norwegian black comedy In Order of Disappearance glides through the world like a perfectly engineered car or a gorgeous piece of modern furniture
3.5
In Order of Disappearance
Peter Keough
Combines black comedy with the dour humorless mood of Nordic noir two elements that are not for Moland at any rate as complementary as one might expect
2.5
In Order of Disappearance
G. Allen Johnson
Ultimately the film is carried by Skarsgård in yet another triumph in a Norwegian film
2
In Order of Disappearance
Chris Knight
There s some dark humour in the screenplay for instance we learn that the deathbed tell my wife scene is very different when it s tell my ex wife
3
In Order of Disappearance
Sheila O'Malley
The killings are creative and brutal but eventually the whole structure of it becomes an empty slick exercise in style
2
In Order of Disappearance
Chuck Bowen
The film has been executed with a sense of formally stylish and thematically symmetric panache
3
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Stefan Ulstein
A fun summer film for grade school kids it avoids the subtle meanness and double entendres that filmmakers sometimes insert into films geared to children
2.5
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Jorge Avila Andrade
Rodriguez es un nio grande que trabaja como cineasta pero nio al fin y al cabo Esa es la verdadera tercera dimensin del filme la de su corazn infantil
3
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Mark Collette
Against the rest of Rodriguez s work it s mostly forgettable But it gives you the feeling he s probably a pretty cool dad
2
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Sean O'Connell
Movies this tiresome and obvious have no business in multiplexes
1.5
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Jonathan W. Hickman
Sharkboy and Lavagirl will entertain the youngest viewers but likely erode the good will Robert Rodriguez has built up in the family film genre
2
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Timothy Knight
A splashy bore
2
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Nothing s scary and everything s so light it s on the verge of evaporating
2
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Dan Fienberg
Sharkboy Lavagirl feels like a whimsical afterthought a colorful kid centric lark filled with admirable ideas and nothing to keep older viewers entertained
2
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Susan Walker
Shark Boy and Lava Girl have about as much appeal as a dogfish and a melting Barbie doll
1.5
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Tom Keogh
A rare window into a child s uninhibited imagination and protean playfulness tricked out with tongue in cheek 3 D effects as seen through one blue lens and one red one
3
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Ruthe Stein
Parental pride may have clouded Rodriguez s judgment
1.5
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Carla Meyer
Visually and even physically irritating the movie follows dream logic which is to say no logic at all
1.5
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Larry Ratliff
Sharkboy Lavagirl while noble imaginative and a huge valentine to family involvement unfortunately just isn t all that interesting
2
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Peter Debruge
It s pretty clear that all those terrific ideas could use a little discipline and maturity before they ever amount to a truly great movie
2
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Jack Mathews
The low tech film looks like a kid s crude drawing plays like entry level Game Boy and is about as nourishing as a Tootsie Pop
1.5
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Bob Strauss
Rodriguez World is a unique cinematic space that only truly inspired children and child men could bring to life
3
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Sean McBride
an hour and a half of bad child actors non stop cartoon special effects and another chance for kids to get excited about wearing those uncomfortable 3D glasses
2
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Bruce Westbrook
Squinting through cardboard glasses you get at the door you see washed out colors blurred images and not enough pop out to merit the trade off
1
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Michael Booth
Great effort for a kid perhaps but not worthy of the big screen box office
2
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Terry Lawson
It s not just that this fable about a picked on kid whose dreams come true is an excruciatingly dumb kids movie It s that it returns us to the bad old days of 3D when the images were rendered too murky to appreciate
1
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Jeffrey Westhoff
So technically flawed it is nearly unwatchable Audiences would be justified in filing a class action suit against the studio
1
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Emily Blunt
The Adventures of SB LG are a family funtime extravaganza
4
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Allison Benedikt
It s hard to argue that a film won t capture a kid s imagination when it comes from a kid s imagination But I will argue nonetheless
1.5
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
David Sterritt
You ll know who the target audience is when you discover the story s setting is called Planet Drool and the hero is an imaginative schoolboy who joins the title characters to fight the evil Mr Electric and save the world
2
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Jeff Strickler
Visually the film is impressive Rodriguez has an incredible imagination and the computer skills to bring it to vivid life
2.5
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Phoebe Flowers
3 D is awful It s annoying and tiresome and stupid If you are an adult it is bearable for about five minutes if that Then you will probably feel the need to close your eyes Forever
2
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Jan Stuart
Rodriguez whose prankish production design was the real star of the original Spy Kids has become a prisoner of his 3 D mandate
2
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Ross Anthony
Paced well for kids heavy on puns and plants a few thought proking seeds but never commits to more than surface depth
2.5
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Jeanne Aufmuth
A jumble of concepts and half baked imaginings
1
Return From Witch Mountain
Betsy Bozdech
If you were a fan as a kid you ll find a certain amount of nostalgic appeal if not don t bother
2
The Ambassador
James Adams
At film s end you ll probably feel like having a long hot shower metaphoric or otherwise to wash away the mire Brgger has presented
3
The Ambassador
Brett Michel
Taken as satire this isn t particularly funny but then the corruption he s exposing is anything but a joke
3
The Ambassador
Eric Melin
Brgger recalls gonzo journalist Hunter S Thompson who once went undercover with the Hell s Angels Brgger has similar intentions and mostly he succeeds If only he had Thompson s way with words
3
The Ambassador
John Hartl
The picture sometimes seems to have been assembled rather than creatively edited
2.5
The Ambassador
Chris Cabin
Simply put there s no fire in Mads Brgger s belly or at least any perceivable fire
2.5
My New Gun
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Somehow the relevance of guns in all of this top heavy and untidy plot material tends to get lost
1
Lords of Dogtown
Sean McBride
a meandering trip down memory lane punctuated with some really nice skateboarding sequences
2
Lords of Dogtown
Mark Collette
Major plot lines may begin develop and end changing characters lives forever while you are in the bathroom
2
Lords of Dogtown
Kurt Loder
I t vibrates with a bouncing off the walls energy that sucks you right into the action
3.5
Lords of Dogtown
Dan Fienberg
Knoxville s arrival marks the end of Dogtown as a free flowing lark and the beginning of the film s over determined and predictable rise and fall story arcs
2.5
Lords of Dogtown
Geoff Pevere
For someone who was there not to mention someone who created Dogtown and Z Boys Peralta has crafted a script so superficial and simplistic it feels like it was tapped out by a 14 year old fan
1.5
Lords of Dogtown
Ted Fry
It s a thrashing good time
3
Lords of Dogtown
Peter Hartlaub
A strong companion to Dogtown and Z Boys
3
Lords of Dogtown
James Hebert
The action sequences are real and raw and if Lords never quite gets airborne it does justice to a scene whose legacy rolls on
2.5
Lords of Dogtown
Carla Meyer
What Lords needed and what it mostly lacks is dramatic impact off the concrete
2
Lords of Dogtown
Lisa Rose
A sports memoir fringed with punk rock clamor
3
Lords of Dogtown
Amy Biancolli
When the film works dramatically it works because of Emile Hirsch and Heath Ledger
2.5
Lords of Dogtown
Michael Booth
Accomplished film
3.5
Lords of Dogtown
Allison Benedikt
Stacy Peralta this is your life Again And again
2
Lords of Dogtown
Lawrence Toppman
Superficial and chaotic
2
Lords of Dogtown
Tyler Hanley
The trailers for this emotionally charged skateboarding picture are more misleading than a politician s pre election promises
3.5
Lords of Dogtown
Greg Maki
Hardwicke recognizes that it is a story about people not skateboards
2.5
Lords of Dogtown
Jack Mathews
Peralta s script is hackneyed Hardwicke s direction is flat the cinematography is boring the acting is atrocious and the film s depictions of the 70s surfer skateboarding culture at L A s Venice Beach is scandalously cliched
1.5
Lords of Dogtown
Glenn Whipp
Lords of Dogtown is basically Dogtown and Z Boys with melodrama substituted for self importance
2.5
Lords of Dogtown
Terry Lawson
Lords of Dogtown is one of those films that makes everyone who is not a citizen of the realm feel hopelessly disconnected
2
Lords of Dogtown
Kim Morgan
Gritty exciting sexy and refreshingly honestly 70s Catherine Hardwicke s Lords of Dogtown is one of the most thrilling pictures to be released in years
3.5
Lords of Dogtown
Jon Niccum
Like the skateboarding punks of the film s title Lords of Dogtown is good looking energetic and rather aimless
2
Lords of Dogtown
Phoebe Flowers
There is a great story to be told here but it s not in this movie In fact it s already been told in another one
2
Crimson Gold
Vic Vogler
The movie can feel slow and tedious but the supper it makes us work for is nourishing
2.5
Crimson Gold
Bill Chambers
A work of poetry
4
Crimson Gold
Jonathan Rosenbaum
It s the singular presence of Hussein Emadeddin a nonprofessional like all the other actors Panahi has used in his films that gives the film much of its soul and mystery
4
Crimson Gold
James Verniere
A gritty modern urban fable
3
Crimson Gold
Jonathan Curiel
An engrossing tale of class differences that reveals tiny details of one man s descent into hell
4
Crimson Gold
Glenn Lovell
A remarkable work as much for its uncompromising view of a claustrophobic urban landscape as for its always muted compassion
4
Crimson Gold
David Elliott
Probes a society uneasily layered and fearful neither quite modern nor medieval
3.5
Crimson Gold
Bob Strauss
As much a warning about the dangers of self containment as it is an expose of a dysfunctional society
3.5
Crimson Gold
Jonathan Foreman
It offers a rare glimpse into the lives of the Iranian wealthy And it does so in the service of a surprisingly bleak radically class conscious vision of Iranian life
3
Crimson Gold
Jan Stuart
Hot enough to have been banned in its home country and resonant enough to command our watchful participation
4
The Emperor of the Mughals
Jonathan Curiel
One of India s greatest feature films has been restored and colorized giving a new generation of filmgoers a chance to see what all the fuss was about
3
Mine 9
Brad Wheeler
Eddie Mensore has not made a masterpiece of the genre but there s a poignancy to his gritty calamity tale that makes Mine 9 worth watching
3
Mine 9
Matt Zoller Seitz
An impressive piece of work that deploys low budget filmmaking techniques with cleverness
3
El Padrino: The Latin Godfather
Jonathan W. Hickman
The story of El Padrino is bloated and out of control and the filmmaker wants it that way
2.5
Malena
Jorge Avila Andrade
Sutil recordatorio de que en pleno inicio del siglo XXI la imaginacin y la pureza de corazn se mantienen ms que vigentes
3
Malena
Dan Lybarger
Nonetheless unlike his earlier and far superior Cinema Paradiso Malena often feels more repulsive than touching
1.5
Malena
Susan Stark
Funny as it is sobering
3
Green Lantern
Jeff Beck
Green Lantern does have a fair share of problems and yet is not quite as bad as some are making it out to be It merely gets added to the long list of superhero films as one of the more forgettable ones
2.5
Green Lantern
Austin Kennedy
I would say that this film is 50 50 good and bad The stuff that works really works but the stuff that doesn t work doesn t really work
2.5
Green Lantern
Wesley Lovell
Everything fits together just well enough to work but not enough to excel
2.5
Green Lantern
Brett Michel
A parlor game could be made out of how many times the word fear is uttered in Martin Campbell s superhero franchise non starter
0.5
Green Lantern
Eric Melin
The script is pretty dry and many of the scenes between Reynolds and Blake Lively don t work at all It s a shame that the script doesn t give Reynolds the kind of winking humor that Thor had and that he is so good at delivering
2
Green Lantern
Tyler Hanley
Green Lantern is reminiscent of 2008 s The Incredible Hulk another superhero flick that boasted a strong cast but went overboard on visual stimuli
2.5
Green Lantern
Keith Cohen
The ironic timing of opening nationwide on Father s Day weekend couldn t be more strategically perfect because this entertaining movie provides dads who grew up reading comic books an opportunity to spend quality time with their young sons daughters
2.5
Green Lantern
Glenn Lovell
a shame this fantasy adventure arrives in a summer swamped by superheroes It s the best of the batch so far but it s in danger of being snubbed by the seen one seen em all contingent
2.5
Green Lantern
Christian Toto
Green Lantern uses so much CGI it s a wonder anyone bothered bringing a camera to the set
2
Green Lantern
Wilson Morales
The best way to describe his Reynolds portrayal as Hal Jordan is wise ass and with this film his comedic skills should have been laid aside Strong s performance as Sinestro is reason enough to see the film rather than Reynold s campy performance
2
Green Lantern
Lori Hoffman
Green Lantern fails on almost all levels The story seems determined to hit every cliché in the universe and the dialogue is consistently trite
1
Green Lantern
Sean O'Connell
While Campbell s film is handcuffed by the formula assigned to every single superhero origin story to date Green Lantern constructs some elaborately fantastic universes for the intergalactic portion of its story
2.5
Green Lantern
Mark Jenkins
Neither amusing nor exciting enough to ensure a long running franchise
2
Green Lantern
Burl Burlingame
It s unremittingly average high caloric and indigestible junk food for the restlessly stupefied We ve all been there
1.5
Green Lantern
Amy Biancolli
Half campy half compelling
2.5
Green Lantern
Joe Lozito
Ryan Reynolds most heroic feat in this effects laden comic book adaptation is saving it from being a complete dud
2
Green Lantern
Brian Orndorf
A soulless thrill ride making a familiar comic book commotion without a sparkling personality or daring script to keep it awake A superhero film shouldn t feel like a bedtime story
1.5
Green Lantern
Ted Fry
Green Lantern s ring is cooler than Thor s hammer but not as awesome as Ironman s suit
2.5
Green Lantern
Mike Scott
A solidly entertaining summertime spectacle and one of the more enjoyable films in the genre since 2008 s Iron Man
3
Green Lantern
Joe Williams
I never thought I could feel sorry for Ryan Reynolds
1.5
Green Lantern
Christopher Lloyd
One of the weakest comic book superhero adaptations we ve had in awhile
1.5
Green Lantern
Thelma Adams
Green Lantern fails to shine
2
8-Bit Christmas
Kevin Carr
To me it could be a new holiday tradition
3
8-Bit Christmas
Joey Magidson
8 Bit Christmas may not end up a holiday classic in the years to come but anyone looking for a new film to get into the season as November turns to December will be pleased
3
8-Bit Christmas
Nick Allen
8 Bit Christmas may have a more grounded approach to gamer culture than you d expect but it s constantly beat by its own limited imagination
1.5
The Flood
Sheila O'Malley
The back and forth structure is sometimes monotonous and Wendy s problems take too much focus but there are specifics that linger
3
Gabrielle
Carson Lund
Writer director Louise Archambault s neatly affirmative denouement is at odds with the more uncertain reality occurring at the edges of the film s drama
2
Gabrielle
Farran Smith Nehme
The film drags when some scenes run long Its sentiment is appealing though and its sincerity doesn t cloy
2.5
The Stolen Children
Edward Guthmann
The two child actors are wonderful but Amelio is so absorbed with formal composition and slow self conscious pacing that his film feels drained
2
Burning Bush
Tom Keogh
Enthralling
3.5
Burning Bush
Scout Tafoya
Holland never risks overlooking the hardship that comes with being on the right side of history Burning Bush is a riposte to the idea that there s anything beautiful about dying for your beliefs
4
Burning Bush
Ela Bittencourt
The decentralized narrative benefits from the film s original conception as a miniseries with plenty of time to draw us into the morass that was the communist state
3
Jism
Namrata Joshi
Bhatt s radicalism is just a token gesture
1
Nothing Left to Fear
Sara Stewart
Deploys zero humor or wit before moving straight to the sacrificing of a teen girl always it s a girl
1
The Go-Getters
Brad Wheeler
Abrams and Piri have scant on screen charisma And even if they did their dialogue together is nothing more than foul mouthed insults unimaginative ones at that
2
A.C.O.D.
Dan Callahan
A C O D is a sharp dark ish character comedy settling for a dry tolerance in its point of view that is very appealing and even admirable
3
Falling Like This
Emily Blunt
This is a helluva find folks The teenage wunderkind leads Brian Vaughan and Megan Wilson are the Oscar winners of the future
4
The Bar
Federico Furzan
A promising movie that falls abruptly at the end Starts as being funny and original and ends up being as generic as possible Full review in Spanish
1.5
The Last Song
Brandy McDonnell
It has too many verses and dramatic flourishes including more than a few eye rolling embellishments but The Last Song hits enough right notes to induce laughter tears and fond feelings toward families and first loves
2.5
The Last Song
Lori Hoffman
Movies made from Nicholas Sparks books often have their nice moments and their moments where the sentimentality goes overboard
2.5
The Last Song
Michael Smith
Watching her graduate into mature roles is like watching a 17 year old girl graduate from high school So young so full of promise so little idea how to act like a grown up
1
The Last Song
Keith Cohen
Cyrus does not disappoint her fans and makes a smooth transition from comedy to drama The movie s main drawback is that it compresses everything leaving no breathing room in its under two hour running time Those wishing to spend more time with the cha
3
The Last Song
Bruce DeMara
Sadly without a single note of originality Last Song is an awfully long and tiresome tune
1.5
The Last Song
Matt Soergel
It might as well wear a kick me sign for critics grouches and Internet trolls No matter Its intended youngish girlish audience should like it just fine satisfied sniffles and all
2.5
The Last Song
Tom Meek
Sparks also chips in as screenwriter so he has no excuse for the messy result and it doesn t help that director Julie Anne Robinson works the material like a pugilist throwing emotional kidney punches
2.5
The Last Song
Mack Bates
Television director Julie Anne Robinson s big screen debut makes one thing clear As likable a performer as she is Cyrus simply can t act Even Sparks formulaic material proves too challenging for her
1.5
The Last Song
Dan Kois
Cyrus is game and appealing but she s not nearly enough of a natural actress to pull off the emotional whip cracks the story puts Ronnie through
2
The Last Song
Connie Ogle
In case you wondered Little girls still scream for Miley Cyrus You too may experience the need to scream albeit for different reasons should you take one or more of them to see The Last Song
1
Famous
Pam Grady
A marshmallow soft satire that eventually peters out into sticky near melodrama
2.5
Famous
Carla Meyer
Often hilarious mockumentary
3
Famous
Jonathan Foreman
Has a pleasingly delicate thoughtful sense of what success and failure really do to people
3
Desert Dancer
Scott Renshaw
By the time Desert Dancer heads for its shades of Argo climax it s hard not to wish there had been a bit less melodrama and a bit more desert dancing
2.5
Desert Dancer
Geoff Pevere
There would seem to be only one thing that the act of dancing cannot free the characters in Desert Dancer from and that s the movie they re in
2
Desert Dancer
Linda Barnard
Desert Dancer strays too frequently into melodrama to have much sticking power
2
Desert Dancer
Mary Houlihan
In his feature film debut director Richard Raymond keeps the story moving despite some dramatic cliches
2.5
Desert Dancer
Dann Gire
Raymond s diffuse direction is so old school made for cable TV that it blunts the drama and never turns up the heat beyond tepid
2
Desert Dancer
Sara Stewart
Desert Dancer does manage to movingly convey the chilling ultimately triumphant experience of Ghaffarian s struggle for creative expression under a regime that tried to crush it
2.5
The Invisible Woman
Mal Vincent
The Invisible Woman is so subtle and secretive that it sets a record as the most low keyed of its usually feverish genre
2.5
The Invisible Woman
Carla Meyer
Fiennes who also directed crafts a vividly human and likable character impossible to dismiss as an old whiskered perv
3
The Invisible Woman
Dann Gire
Both Scanlan and Fiennes are splendid performers but this movie belongs to Felicity Jones
3.5
The Invisible Woman
Joe Williams
A literary love story that s rooted in repression
3
The Invisible Woman
Connie Ogle
Fiennes who s getting awfully good at directing himself and everybody around him envisions Dickens as something of a rock star in 19th century London a popular glad handing figure who can t step out in public without an adoring audience swarming
3
The Invisible Woman
Nathalie Atkinson
Given what is factually known The Invisible Woman is admirably accurate but without more speculation and embellishment it s also rather bloodless
2.5
The Invisible Woman
Godfrey Cheshire
Told with a finely calibrated poetic obliqueness that draws the viewer into the relationship s gradual unfolding the film represents a formidable achievement for Fiennes as both actor and director
3.5
The Invisible Woman
Jocelyn Noveck
There s plenty of fun here for anyone partial to expertly done period dramas The costumes are wonderful and it s particularly enjoyable to watch rehearsal scenes in a 19th century theater
3
The Invisible Woman
Farran Smith Nehme
By refusing to consider that Dickens and Ternan ever brought each other any happiness the movie is more Victorian in its attitudes than even some Victorians were
2.5
The Invisible Woman
Kenneth R. Morefield
If only the whole movie had been about Catherine and from her point of view it might have been a story worth telling
2
The Invisible Woman
Andrew Schenker
Ralph Fiennes s film feels not so much rooted in the past as it is mired in conventions about how to portray that past
2
The Invisible Woman
Bruce DeMara
Ralph Fiennes both stars as Dickens and directs with an exacting eye to period detail and there are great performances across the board among them Felicity Jones as Nelly Ternan and Kristin Scott Thomas as her mother Catherine
3.5
Evelyn
Ross Anthony
Here s a sweet film to rent for Father s Day or Christmas It s a heart warmer charming and shot with a sugary cinematic eye
2.5
Evelyn
David Keyes
What a sweet gentle and feisty movie Evelyn is
3
Evelyn
Dan Lybarger
The beauty of the core story tramples the moments where the Irish set drama sinks into blarney
3
Evelyn
Todd Anthony
That the events really happened offers no excuse for the button pushing by the numbers approach taken by Beresford and screenwriter Paul Pender
2
Evelyn
Joe Baltake
Beresford s direction makes sure that grit and a certain ugliness get equal screen time with the requisite heartwarming qualities
3
Evelyn
Susan Stark
So verbally flatfooted and so emotionally predictable or bland that it plays like the standard made for TV movie
2
Evelyn
Terry Lawson
There is enough good and good spirited about Evelyn beginning with the performances by Brosnan and Vavasseur to forgive its more treacly moments
3
Evelyn
Janice Page
There s real inspiration to be found in this warmly told David and Goliath story and tis a fine time to revel in that
3
Evelyn
Jeanne Aufmuth
Chock full of folksy predictability and transient emotion
3
Evelyn
Jeffrey Westhoff
Brosnan gives a portrayal as solid and as perfect as his outstanding performance as Bond in Die Another Day
3
Evelyn
Bob Strauss
One of those based on truth stories that persuades you with every scene that it could never really have happened this way
2.5
Evelyn
Mary F. Pols
It s that rare family movie genuine and sweet without relying on animation or dumb humor
3
Evelyn
Glenn Lovell
Proves a pleasant enough way to while away a rainy afternoon
2
Evelyn
Ray Conlogue
It s a blarney bath from the word go with unbearably winsome characters spinning out Irishisms by the yard
1
Evelyn
Jonathan Foreman
Despite its treacly sentimentality predictability and gutless evasiveness about the power of the church in 1950s Ireland Evelyn manages to be an enjoyable piece of family entertainment
2.5
Evelyn
Pam Grady
One fine feel good tearjerker And where else are you ever going to see 007 cry
3
Evelyn
Tony Toscano
The film is one of the year s best
4
Evelyn
Harvey S. Karten
Only a Scrooge of a critic could cavil about its sentimentality
3
Why Does Herr R. Run Amok?
Derek Smith
Its condemnation of the acceptance of life as determined by societal convention is so strongly felt that the extremity of the finale is as encouraging as it is disturbing
3
Mama's Boy
Geoff Pevere
It s not that the movie is utterly bereft of arresting moments It s just that each of these prominently features one of the aforementioned supporting cast and not the so called star
1.5
Adventures in Plymptoons!
John Hartl
Plenty of clips from Plympton classics demonstrate why friends and fans have been rounded up to honor him
3
The United States of Autism
Farran Smith Nehme
Amateurish and rushed
1.5
What Love May Bring
Kent Turner
Not many directors could get away with dialogue such as Fate like a certain postman always rings twice Cynics beware
2
Air Doll
Leo Brady
On the surface yes this is a story about an Air Doll coming to life but underneath its closer to finding purpose in the world
3
Air Doll
Kenneth R. Morefield
Permeated with the auteurs touch of melancholy but it also hints that there is light and love in the world around us
3
Air Doll
Walter V. Addiego
The film s poignant depiction of human loneliness is undercut by saccharine notes and a drifting tone
2
Air Doll
Tirdad Derakhshani
A charming richly textured fable that touches on fundamental questions of existence
3
A Thousand Cuts
Shane Slater
In doing so A Thousand Cuts is a fascinating and at times horrifying demonstration of the power of social media
3
A Thousand Cuts
Chance Solem-Pfeifer
If it s felt as though democracy has been on the ropes this month this year this century A Thousand Cuts is a harrowing snapshot of its knockout
3
A Thousand Cuts
Brian Tallerico
A tight piece of non fiction filmmaking that makes its point often merely by bearing witness to history being made in the Philippines
3.5
A Thousand Cuts
Chris Barsanti
The film uses endangered press freedom in the Philippines to illustrate the threat posed to liberal democracy by weaponized social media
3
A Thousand Cuts
Max Weiss
A Thousand Cuts is a must see for those who care about freedom of the press democracy and the future of one particular country our own
4
Footloose
Lori Hoffman
While the 2011 version of the film doesn t suck it isn t as good as the original
2.5
Footloose
Keith Cohen
The movie brings out some touching and heartfelt emotions You won t be able to resist bobbing your head and tapping your toes The 113 minute running time passes by quickly as you become totally absorbed in this crowd pleasing musical extravaganza
3
Footloose
Jennie Punter
Footloose drags its heels to the senior prom and when it finally gets there shoves in one last punch up that puts an odd spin on what should be an upbeat display of happy feet
2
Footloose
Barbara Vancheri
The remake dabbles in unnecessary fisticuffs like the original but also provides greater diversity of dancing and allows Miles Teller to do the unthinkable and shine as Chris Penn did as Willard the friend who cannot dance
2.5
Footloose
Mike Scott
Following the script of the original as if it were an Arthur Murray dance diagram Brewer s do over is at its root a very capable display of painting by numbers
2.5
Footloose
Steven D. Greydanus
A dumbed down sexed up take on a story that was already risqué and not too bright 8230 softens the 84 film s critique of the church but is also further from its lingering Christian worldview
2
Footloose
Jon Niccum
Footloose is still too long and too square to jump up and down about But it offers a mild diversion for those who still believe the music is on his side
2.5
Footloose
Chris Foran
A boisterous almost scene for scene remake of the 1984 jukebox musical dance hit
2.5
Footloose
R. Kurt Osenlund
What results is something stylish modern nostalgic cheesy and more than a little Frankensteinian
2.5
Footloose
Jake Coyle
Wormald and Hough are both handsome and good on the dance floor but they come across more like teen stars in training than representations of real youth angst
2
Nuit noire, 17 octobre 1961
Keith Uhlich
A gripping very well executed video docudrama
3
Blood and Chocolate
Maitland McDonagh
A far cry from such sneakily subversive werewolf sex tales as The Company of Wolves or Ginger Snaps this pallid little picture is all Lost Boys posturing by way of the sublimely ridiculous Covenant
2
Blood and Chocolate
Felix Vasquez Jr.
A bland forgettable and sub par teen marketed horror cash in that bored me to tears
1
Blood and Chocolate
Gina Carbone
No effects and no cheese Even one shot of Olivier Martinez howling at the moon would ve been worth my matinee ticket
2.25
Blood and Chocolate
Robert Dominguez
Somewhere Lon Chaney Jr must be howling mad
1.5
Blood and Chocolate
Jan Stuart
The preview audience watched most of this in stony silence broken only by the contented sound of critics scratching bad dialogue in their notepads
1
Blood and Chocolate
Timothy Knight
You could almost overlook the chemistry vacuum between Bruckner and Dancy but the shots of actors leaping and morphing into wolves are so cheesy that they make the bargain basement special effects in Teen Wolf look Oscar worthy in comparison
1.5
Blood and Chocolate
Peter Hartlaub
If you have a decent laptop a copy of the Final Cut Pro software some gray spray paint and access to a German shepherd then you can probably make a better looking werewolf than the ones in Blood Chocolate
1
Morbius
Kevin Carr
If you want the scientific structure and creativity of Birdemic this one s for you
1
Morbius
Joe Friar
The effects laden film with its hollow storyline ends up being filler between web slinger releases and it makes sure you know that thanks to all the SSU references
2.5
Morbius
Tom Meek
Morbius becomes pat and predictable with so so FX that look like something from an Underworld flick from two decades ago
2
Morbius
Bennett Campbell Ferguson
Jared Leto has been exquisitely vulnerable Requiem for a Dream exquisitely sinister Blade Runner 2049 and exquisitely ridiculous House of Gucci Yet in Morbius he s something he s never been before disastrously dull
1
Morbius
Kevin A. Ranson
we know where its been where its going and theres zero emotional impact when we get there without a hint of a denouement a total DC MurderVerse move to computer animate the entire final battle climax
2
Morbius
Mark Meszoros
Morbius is a surprisingly solid building block for Sony as it looks to expand its universe of heroes and villains
2.5
Morbius
Steven Prokopy
At this point I think it s fair to say that any comic book character that has even the most remote stink of Spider Man on them is fair game for a film adaptation I m looking at you Venom movies whether they deserve one or not
1.5
Morbius
Mark Kennedy
Morbius is a forgettable often laughable entry in Sony s attempt to fill its own Spider Man adjacent cinematic universe a poorly edited derivative time suck pun intended
1
Morbius
Mark Feeney
Even at 104 minutes practically a short by superhero movie standards Morbius feels draggy
2
Morbius
Sonny Bunch
Morbius wasnt good to begin with There is no doubt whatever about that
1.5
Morbius
Doug Walker
Not the best written but Jared Leto s surprisingly restrained performance mixed with Matt Smith s scenery chewing makes this a decent enough monster movie
3
Morbius
Emily Zemler
Unless your ticket is free don t bother This movie is as lifeless as the bodies Morbius drains and throws on the floor
0.5
Morbius
Soren Andersen
There s little spark in Leto s performance
2
Morbius
Katie Rife
A misbegotten superhero horror hybrid
2
Morbius
Johnny Oleksinski
The viewer struggles to care We re also aware that there are many many better vampire stories than Count Dreckula here
1.5
Morbius
Brian Truitt
Rather than a fang tastic time Morbius is just a soul sucking effort
1.5
Morbius
Joey Magidson
Morbius has such an anonymous feel to it that it s impossible to work up any strong feelings one way or another
2
Marguerite
Robert Horton
A funny but thankfully merciful film about a wealthy society lady Catherine Frot who convinced of her talent as a singer subjects her acquaintances to ear splitting recitals of her music
3
Marguerite
Anita Katz
A funny thoughtful moving story about art love passion delusion and the sad reality that dreams and personal talents don t always jibe
3
Marguerite
Tirdad Derakhshani
Marguerite is a powerful film
3.5
Marguerite
Sarah Bryan Miller
The film is a little long a couple of subplots could be shed with no problem But Marguerite is a shining star a film that will set you laughing and thinking in equal measure
3.5
Marguerite
Kent Turner
Its sober tone matches the muted digitally colorized palette deflating any expectation of a campy confection
2.5
Marguerite
Sheila O'Malley
If someone had said to Marguerite early on Listen You can t sing would it have made a difference Would she have been happy But Marguerite is undeniably happy when she sings It s an ethical quandary one the film has a lot of fun exploring
2.5
Marguerite
Farran Smith Nehme
It s an often witty smoothly shot film with a couple of extraneous subplots and some last act psychology that feels contrived But Frot shines
2.5
Marguerite
Diego Semerene
Xavier Giannolli consistently glosses every sequence with a stagey kind of humor albeit at the main character s expense
1.5
Tyrel
Katie Walsh
Silva s most political work yet though it is sly and subtle the intention is palpable the emotions elicited all too real and ultimately Tyrel proves to be a fascinating entry in his body of work
3.5
Tyrel
Odie Henderson
I ve seen far worse movies this year but I ve not seen one that left me feeling as indifferent and bored as this one
1.5
Tyrel
Chuck Bowen
The film is invested with a visceral unease that cuts to the everyday heart of living in a fraught cultural mixing pot
3
The Good Night
Bob Strauss
The movie drags on
2
The Good Night
Maitland McDonagh
The movie s film studentish navel gazing wears thin long before its over
1.5
The Good Night
Jack Mathews
As thin and wispy as a dream you can t quite remember in the morning
2
The Good Night
Jan Stuart
The Good Night has flashes of bookish wit but never quite recovers from the metronomic monotony of its first half
2
The Good Night
Joe Lozito
Promising debut from writer director Jake Paltrow about a sleep obsessed man who meets the literal girl of his dreams has some perceptive moments amid a lot of tossing and turning
2.5
The Good Night
Jordan Hiller
With The Good Night like any worthwhile dream you may not be able to fully appreciate the experience but after you wake up you vaguely sense that you accomplished something while being out
2.5
Blood Feast 2: All U Can Eat
Joe Bob Briggs
You ll be happy to know I m sure that Herschell still makes movies the old fashioned way with no money and no second takes
4
The Eagle Huntress
Jeff Mitchell
From the other side of the world this documentary soars with inspiration
3
The Eagle Huntress
Frank Ochieng
Refreshingly uplifting and revealing artfully juggles the perceptions of blossoming girl power animal activism familial norms expectations a rewarding character study particularly for the legions of young girls encouraged to explore their boundaries
4
The Eagle Huntress
Kathleen Rizzo Young
Looking for an inspirational dose of female empowerment This is a terrific movie for families but especially for fathers and daughters
3.5
The Eagle Huntress
Lawrence Toppman
Aisholpan who has a merry face to go with her sturdy frame holds the camera without playing to it and the barrenly beautiful landscape holds your eye
3
The Eagle Huntress
John Hartl
The outline of a modern feminist epic is always there in the background What s surprising is how fresh and charming the movie manages to be
3
The Eagle Huntress
Chris Knight
You won t see a more majestic shot in a film this year than in the documentary The Eagle Huntress when a bird of prey swoops down from its rocky perch to land on the leather clad arm of its trainer
3.5
The Eagle Huntress
Kate Taylor
This carefully massaged doc with its spectacular aerial views of the landscape and the hunt is a heartwarming story about perseverance and talent if you believe it
2.5
The Eagle Huntress
Susan Wloszczyna
A sky high documentary salute to girl power
3
The Eagle Huntress
Kent Turner
The footage and camera work are amazing
2.5
The Eagle Huntress
Clayton Davis
Soulful and angelic it s one of the most uplifting and spiritually rousing documentaries of the year
3
The Eagle Huntress
Oleg Ivanov
Aisholpan s liberation is a harbinger of the growing pressure that the outside world exerts on a once isolated community
3
The Eagle Huntress
Josh Terry
It s a fun story arc and Aisholpan is a sweet protagonist who is easy to cheer for
3
Paka (River of Blood)
Aparita Bhandari
Within India s multilingual cinematic universe Malayalam cinema has long established its own narrative Despite its occasional disjointedness Nithin Lukose s debut feature is a worthy addition to that tradition
2.5
Hector and the Search for Happiness
Bill Zwecker
This film is a winner It will not only entertain you but also make you think about what it takes to bring happiness into your own life
3.5
Hector and the Search for Happiness
Tirdad Derakhshani
A rancid insulting and cynical dramedy about a man who travels around the world to reconnect with his soul
1
Hector and the Search for Happiness
Bruce DeMara
It s important that as we follow Hector s travels and travails we see him as well intentioned but flawed Pegg allows that to come through
3
Hector and the Search for Happiness
Chris Knight
The only thing I found in this self satisfied travelogue was nausea as if I d just eaten an entire barrel of fortune cookies with the fortunes still inside them
1
Hector and the Search for Happiness
Steve Macfarlane
It culminates in a weepy climax that verifies its status as a proud hunk of propaganda from America s massive self help industry
1
Hector and the Search for Happiness
Sheila O'Malley
Hector and the Search for Happiness has an undeniable strain of poverty tourism mixed with the insulting belief that those who have nothing somehow hold the secret to life
1
70 Acres in Chicago: Cabrini Green
Odie Henderson
70 Acres in Chicago Cabrini Green continues Bezalel s 20 year look at Cabrini Green and one of the film s strengths is its casual depiction of the passage of time
3
The Blind Side
Tom Meek
Issues of race and racism are not left on the side though and the onscreen chemistry that Sandra Bullock and Quinton Aaron score is a game winner from the get go
3
The Blind Side
Perry Seibert
The movie is very familiar you ve seen it all before but it succeeds at achieving its modest goals
2.5
The Blind Side
Burl Burlingame
A living tribute to fundamental Christian motivations although the point is hammered home with an extraordinarily soft touch Love thy neighbor
2.5
The Blind Side
Marty Mapes
Sports movie carefully sidesteps the issue of race and stereotypes
2.5
The Blind Side
Wesley Lovell
If Sandra Bullock weren t already a star a star making turn this would be
3
The Blind Side
Greg Maki
An unabashed feel good movie and one of the best of its kind in recent memory
3.5
The Blind Side
Mike Scott
There s potential there for cloying movie of the week formula but Hancock deftly dodges it The Blind Side ends up being a tear jerker a heart warmer and a crowd pleaser all in one
3
The Blind Side
Lori Hoffman
presents the upbeat family film playbook with no surprises but if you re in the mood for a feel good flick this is an excellent choice
3
The Blind Side
Nick Rogers
Subtlety is horse collared in John Lee Hancock s disappointingly Lifetime ish sports film It lacks the subtlety or nuance of his The Rookie and is borderline offensive in spots but Sandra Bullock easily delivers her career s best performance
2
The Blind Side
David Hiltbrand
However obvious The Blind Side is touching despite its habit of dropping major character notes into the melody without warning
2.5
The Blind Side
Wilson Morales
The Blind Side is an emotionally uplifting tale in which Sandra Bullock excels in her best performance since Crash
3
The Blind Side
Stephen Cole
What a drag that one year into Obama s presidency American films remain so careful about depicting black actors
2
The Blind Side
Michael Sragow
It speaks of faith hope and charity with the down to earth tones and rhythms of a high school percussion band in a Thanksgiving Day parade
3
The Blind Side
Ross Anthony
A Hollywoody realization of a great real life triumph Has its faults but nicely directed acted and edited on the whole
3
The Blind Side
Kit Bowen
Take a real life story like The Blind Side which on the surface sounds pretty sappy and turn it into something honest heartfelt and surprisingly inspirational
3
The Blind Side
Matt Soergel
Bullock s the main reason to see the film She s believably feisty and funny as an ex college cheerleader turned into a strong minded NRA card carrying Southern belle with whom you should not mess
3
The Blind Side
Sean O'Connell
Recycles the charitable messages of other religion based films from Facing the Giants to Fireproof but presents them in an accessible mainstream package
2.5
The Blind Side
Sonny Bunch
A feel good sports drama about the intersection of race and athletics with solid if unremarkable performances that strains just a little too hard for social relevance
2.5
The Blind Side
Michael A. Smith
It is easily Bullocks best performance over a career that spans two decades
4
The Blind Side
Mack Bates
Sandra Bullock is two for three in 2009
2.5
The Blind Side
John Hartl
Except for a few crude exchanges The Blind Side is almost as squeaky clean as an old Disney movie Unfortunately it can also be just as cute and condescending
2.5
The Blind Side
Aaron Cutler
The movie s title refers to the area of a football field that the left tackle protects but it could easily refer to an audience unaware of its prejudices
1
The Blind Side
Chris Faraone
Without adding too much cheese director John Lee Hancock channels genuine emotion from the Michael Lewis book and the reality that prompted this moving chronicle
3
If You Build It
Tirdad Derakhshani
An inspiring educational highly enjoyable documentary from director Patrick Creadon best known for 2008 s I O U S A which chronicled America s less than healthy fiscal condition
3
If You Build It
Loren King
The film is about innovation inside and outside the classroom and the transformative power of good teaching
3
If You Build It
Walter V. Addiego
Creadon probably errs on the side of advocacy here But give him credit for acknowledging that idealistic endeavors don t always pay off
3
If You Build It
Wes Greene
It isn t until the rushed conclusion when director Patrick Creadon shows the possibilities of what the documentary could have been
2
1492: Conquest of Paradise
Andrew Howe
The moments when it approaches greatness only make its shortcomings that much more transparent
2.5
Small Engine Repair
Leo Brady
Small Engine Repair may seem like a movie of simple minds but it s actually just an honest movie with a big bleeding heart
3
Small Engine Repair
Steven Prokopy
And it s in the way that Small Engine Repair leads you to its true intention which you don t realize until you are neck deep in it that reveals its magical qualities
3.5
Small Engine Repair
Joe Friar
The award winning play smoothly transitions to the big screen with three dimensional characters plenty of tension and a powerful final act
3.5
Small Engine Repair
Bennett Campbell Ferguson
The screenplay has an excess of time jumps and tough guy rants but it also offers a biting meditation on American manhood
3
Small Engine Repair
Kevin Carr
It lays stuff on so so thick it s not subtle at all
1
Small Engine Repair
Michael Medved
All the characters in this intense and atmospheric movie come to vivid life thanks to superior performances but the film is ultimately disappointing despite real flashes of talent
2
Small Engine Repair
Peter Sobczynski
Small Engine Repair is little more than 103 minutes of a would be provocation whose only real advantage is that it s ultimately too dopey to be as offensive as it clearly could have been
1
21 Up South Africa: Mandela's Children
Ross Anthony
With so much information coming at us from all channels it s odd but we often forget about our own progress development as humans worthy of our time on Earth
3
Earth to Echo
David Keyes
Clichd and predictable it may all be there is no denying the infectious quality of pure optimism
2.5
Earth to Echo
Mal Vincent
Whether it was trying to copy or pay homage to the Spielberg sentimental fave it missed the mark by light years
1
Earth to Echo
Ben Sachs
If the movie is a waste at least it s an instructive one signaling just how offensive children s entertainment might become in the YouTube era
1
Earth to Echo
Carla Meyer
It does not reveal too much to say that road leads to something otherworldly and that the something otherworldly is kind of cute But considering the whole story rests on it it s also not all that much to phone home about
2.5
Earth to Echo
Jason Buchanan
Surprisingly elegiac right out of the gate these early scenes give the movie its affectionate foundation while simultaneously revealing the filmmakers keen eye for casting
2.5
Earth to Echo
John Wirt
The movie s wholesale lack of invention includes a plot and characters that parallel 2011 s much better sci fi kids adventure Super 8
2
Earth to Echo
Geoff Pevere
A digital remastering of E T for the smartphone social media kinderkultur
2.5
Earth to Echo
Susan Wloszczyna
Imitation should be flattering not flattening
2
Earth to Echo
Daniel M. Kimmel
For those viewers who measure their ages in single digits this will prove to be one of the best films of the summer
2.5
Earth to Echo
David Hiltbrand
Sure Earth to Echo is derivative but it s refreshingly updated Echo I M home
3
Earth to Echo
Graham Killeen
Echo frustratingly short circuits its young protagonists self determination Along with the odds of us caring about anything they do
2
Earth to Echo
Sandie Angulo Chen
Despite its flaws and recycled parts Earth to Echo is engaging enough to impress pre teen audiences and nostalgic enough to please their parents
2.5
Earth to Echo
Tom Russo
The young cast s interaction is terrific You might come for the turn on your heartlight riff but you ll stay for the connection the boys share
3
Earth to Echo
Tony Hicks
The moviemakers tell us there s a bond between these characters but they don t really show us Nor do Green and Gayden give us many moments that we ll remember
2
Earth to Echo
Terence Johnson
It s hard to really ding a film that s this sincere about what it is trying to do
2.5
Painkillers
Frank Ochieng
Painkillers certainly does not reinvent the wheel when it comes to the physicality or emotional presence of pain and suffering It definitely works on the nerves and reinforces a certain kind of fixation that is more than imagined or hallucinatory
2.5
Lucy in the Sky
Lisa Jensen
Despite its lofty quasi spiritual ambitions the movie can t escape the gravitational pull of its own mundane disappointing plotting and chaotic execution to get into orbit
2
Lucy in the Sky
Josh Terry
Lucy in the Sky has enough strengths to deserve some credit but the sum total makes for a rough re entry
2
Lucy in the Sky
Robert Horton
Another fine turn for a terrific actress even if the film itself has a tendency to bump its tail on terra firma
2.5
Lucy in the Sky
Daniel Neman
It s contemplative and meditative sure but it doesn t wind up saying anything
1.5
Lucy in the Sky
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
In space apparently everyone can hear you scream
.5
Lucy in the Sky
Tom Russo
It s a deep thinking character study that s provocatively if imperfectly presented at least until the story devolves right along with its subject s state of mind
2
Lucy in the Sky
Steven Prokopy
Portman s strong performance here is part of the film s problem She stands out in surroundings that don t rise to her level
1.5
Lucy in the Sky
Oliver Jones
Sometimes we look on confused and shaking our head but more often we stare with glassy eyed wonder at a world and a movie that is teeming with all sorts of messy life
3
Lucy in the Sky
Lindsey Bahr
There are moments of intense beauty in Lucy in the Sky mostly when Hawley zooms in on his star s evocative face But Portman alone can t save this muddled endeavor
2
Lucy in the Sky
Brian Truitt
Lucy comes from such an oddball scandal yet it rockets past the inherent weirdness at its core and settles for banality
2
Lucy in the Sky
Katie Walsh
But even in her lowest moments in the craziest scenarios Hawley and Portman never deny Lucy s power making room for a small sense of anarchic triumph to break through with a wink and a wisecrack and a will of iron
3.5
Lucy in the Sky
Sara Stewart
Trying for humane drama but landing somewhere nearer basic cable shtick it asks a bowl cutted Portman to deliver accusatory lines like I read your emails while you were in space with a straight face
2
Lucy in the Sky
Keith Uhlich
Noah Hawley treats his protagonist s story as a somber tragedy that at times stoops to trashiness
1
Lucy in the Sky
Monica Castillo
There s a point at which this joke stops being funny and turns sad and it s very early in its over two hours runtime
1
Lucy in the Sky
Barry Hertz
Noah Hawley s directorial debut may have started out as a feminist forward film decrying the fact that women have to work five times as hard to succeed in the workplace but it ends up being a movie whose message boils down to Ladies be crazy
1.5
Richard Jewell
Federico Furzan
Eastwood s last years have been far from impressive But his last movie has a fantastic actor that makes us want to see more of what he can do Full review in Spanish
3
Richard Jewell
Asher Luberto
Without an honest script this historical drama can t help but feel artificial
2
Richard Jewell
Rene Sanchez
Although it touches on similar themes that Eastwood has been exploring in his latest films Richard Jewell stands out thanks to the magnificent work of its cast led by a breakthrough performance from Paul Walter Hauser Full Review in Spanish
3
Richard Jewell
Jeff York
It s dramatic well acted and moving yet there are strains of the worst instincts of the director in parts that keep it from being one of his very best
2.5
Richard Jewell
Jeff Mitchell
Eastwood s Richard Jewell is a gem
3
Richard Jewell
Rosalie Kicks
I found Richard Jewell a worthwhile tale to tell My main gripe is that I could have done without the caricature depiction of the journo
2.75
Richard Jewell
Joey Magidson
While hardly a misfire Clint Eastwood s Richard Jewell is only a small scale success periodically weighed down by the filmmaker s politics
3
Richard Jewell
Robert Horton
So well done it makes you regret Eastwood s determination to grind an ax on this intriguing story
2.5
Richard Jewell
Luke Parker
Wading through a pool of snap happy reporters and bloodthirsty gumshoes it is a timely and polarized tale of trial by fire accusations
3
Richard Jewell
Kent Turner
The film starts off credibly and compellingly until it turns its attention to its objects of scorn
2
Richard Jewell
Steven Prokopy
Richard Jewell is a nice looking movie with a handful of not just good performances but some of the most memorable you ll see all year
3
Richard Jewell
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Who will mourn for Scruggs after watching this film No one and that s a travesty
2
Richard Jewell
Jake Coyle
If Eastwood had extended the sensitivity it shows to Jewell to others it might have been worth something more Instead it becomes just what it preaches against a hatchet job
1.5
Richard Jewell
Joe Friar
Eastwood is at his best with another compelling story about a real life American hero Hauser excels as the film s unlikely leading man while Bates and Rockwell deliver strong supporting performances
3.5
Richard Jewell
Sara Stewart
It s a tightly paced feature with strong performances all around It s also one of the season s most politically polarized films
2.5
Richard Jewell
Pamela Powell
Clint Eastwood is a master of finding a personal story and telling it well No fancy bells and whistles are needed when you have a good story and Richard Jewell is a great one
4
Richard Jewell
Barry Hertz
So just as Richard Jewell saved the day Paul Walter Hauser is left to rescue Richard Jewell And the world thanks him for his service
3
Richard Jewell
Chuck Bowen
Ironically Clint Eastwood is as condescending of Jewell as the bureaucrats he despises
2.5
Richard Jewell
Karen M. Peterson
A welcome respite from the decreasing quality of Clint Eastwood s recent filmography
3.5
Diminished Capacity
Frederica Mathewes-Green
I wonder if all this worked better as a book It begins modestly interesting but becomes merely agitated
2
The Retaliators
EJ Moreno
A loud in your face adventure Horror needs to be rock n roll and this delivers on that
3
The Package
Chris Hicks
Style and drive are everything in movies that have storylines that don t hold up to scrutiny and The Package is as flat and bland as they come
2
Stronger
Sarah Knight Adamson
Talk about a winner Jake Gyllenhaal s gritty multifaceted Oscar worthy performance gives us a realistic and profound sense of what it means to be a true hero
4
Stronger
Federico Furzan
Bland and irrelevant Stronger does a good job when portraying people from Boston but wards off the power of its story Full review in Spanish
1.5
Stronger
Frank Ochieng
a powerful and probing drama fuels a spellbinding drama of overcoming dysfunction with determination
3.5
Stronger
Joey Magidson
Never manipulative yet always captivating this portrait of one ordinary man is an extraordinary motion picture
4
Stronger
Erik Anderson
The film is constantly taking risks where most other inspired by true stories take easy routes
3.5
Stronger
Ernesto Diezmartinez
A conventional film worthy of Hallmark Entertainment Full review in Spanish
1.5
Stronger
Josh Terry
Director David Gordon Green s story of Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman resonates for the way it explores how its protagonist deals with a public that suddenly calls him a hero
3
Stronger
Peter Hartlaub
Stronger always feels right in the moment solidified by an outstanding central performance by Gyllenhaal and some wonderful ensemble work especially the actors just below the top billing
3
Stronger
Calvin Wilson
Stronger could have been little more than a melodrama Instead it s a surprisingly gritty film about refusing to give up regardless of the odds
3.5
Stronger
Derek Smith
Stronger s embrace of the unpredictable nature of Jeff and Erin s journey yields an array of raw surprising character beats that flow organically from one to the next
3
Stronger
Stephanie Merry
Stronger isn t always easy to watch Jeff makes bad decisions and life gets messy But it does feel like a realistic depiction of one man s life
3
Stronger
Sara Stewart
Director David Gordon Green generally skips feel good cliché to chronicle Bauman s struggle with being painted as the face of never letting the terrorists win
3
Stronger
Dwight Brown
Jake Gyllenhaal s best performance to date
4
Stronger
Kate Taylor
Given how rough and tumble Jeff s prior existence seems will leave a skeptical audience wondering how long this happy ending can possibly last
2.5
Stronger
Brian Tallerico
Stronger transcends your standard inspirational drama mostly through two fantastic performances but also in the way it understands that trauma isn t inspirational to the people who suffer it
3
Show Dogs
Josh Terry
Without a clever script to back it up the result feels like a much better fit for a slow day on Netflix than a full price ticket to the theater
1.5
Show Dogs
Pat Padua
Grown ups might not roll over for Show Dogs but children almost surely will
2.5
Show Dogs
Brad Wheeler
Grown ups will find it painful to watch a clearly embarrassed Arnett go through the motions muttering his lines as he internally wonders why he never became the next Kevin Costner
2
Show Dogs
Peter Hartlaub
Make a stand to Hollywood and vote with your wallet We all deserve a better live action talking dog movie than this
0
Murmur of the Heart
Jay Antani
the whiff of droll lighthearted humor partially redeems what is otherwise a gorgeously filmed exercise in smug depravity
2
Somewhere
Jeff Beck
In Somewhere what ends up happening is that the main character s lack of interest becomes the audience s burden
2.5
Somewhere
Mike Scott
A thoughtful and interesting deconstruction and demythologizing of American celebrity
3
Somewhere
Jordan Hiller
The only question is whether Coppola consciously decided to craft a movie as tedious vacant and void of substance as her subject
1
Somewhere
Ethan Alter
While the final scenes strike a false note so much of Somewhere rings true
3
Somewhere
Kent Turner
for some Stephen Dorff s life wouldn t be a hedonist hell but heaven
2
The Singing Detective
James Verniere
Worth seeing on the basis of its cast alone although the characters being played are often so impressionistic even the superstar lineup ends up being a bit distracting
3
The Singing Detective
Jeremiah Kipp
Potter s gaze into the man s dark sexual and familial secrets isn t about one man s oppression but about his self imposed melodrama
1.5
The Singing Detective
Joe Baltake
Catch it to see a major performance by a magnetic actor but go in with patience and with the realization that the film is something of an interesting failure
3
The Singing Detective
Paul Doro
The outstanding ensemble cast goes a long way toward redeeming things
2.5
The Singing Detective
Lawrence Toppman
Whether Potter condensed his own story so stupidly or others ruined it for him the results are sadly the same
1.5
The Singing Detective
Shirley Klass
Robert Downey Jr goes into Johnny Depp territory with a great performance that is at once antic and next turning on the tears with ease
3.25
The Singing Detective
Terry Lawson
The Singing Detective has to settle for a hung jury
2
The Singing Detective
David Elliott
Charming and silly absurdist at the right moments but tending to a hernia when it s uplifting this experiment in gargoyle cabaret is a bizarre footnote to an important writer s career
2.5
The Singing Detective
Michael Booth
The new Singing Detective mirrors Potter s growth as well as his originality and moving from television to silver screen feels like a rewarding round trip
3.5
The Singing Detective
Jeff Strickler
Any sober viewers trying to follow this mishmash mystery are going to wish they d brought along a cache of aspirin
1.5
The Singing Detective
Jeanne Aufmuth
Robert Downey Jr is the only saving grace of this incoherent crime caper based on the classic British mini series
2
The Singing Detective
Jami Bernard
The casting misfires
2
The Singing Detective
Glenn Whipp
It s a stylistic jumble wrongheaded in every way
1.5
The Singing Detective
Jonathan Foreman
It is worth catching The Singing Detective to see the brilliant Robert Downey Jr in another extraordinary performance
3
The Singing Detective
Jeremiah Kipp
Potter s gaze into the man s dark sexual and familial secrets isn t about one man s oppression but about his self imposed melodrama
1.5
Bullets Over Broadway
Mal Vincent
This at best is second rate unimportant Woody Allen It tries much too hard and delivers only the obvious
2.5
Bullets Over Broadway
Wesley Lovell
Dianne Wiest elevates even the most esoteric argument in the film to a level of sublime entertainment
3.5
Bullets Over Broadway
Susan Tavernetti
Woody Allen may not be on screen but he s definitely in control working his magic backstage behind the velvet curtain
4
Bullets Over Broadway
Edward Guthmann
Woody Allen at his best a gem of a Broadway fable with a crafty premise a raft of brilliant actors at the top of their form and a bouncy just for pleasure attitude
4
Bullets Over Broadway
Chris Hicks
Most of the way this one is a riot the comedy that Allen fans have been waiting for
3.5
Waste Land
Mike Scott
An entirely immersing documentary one of those movies whose real value comes in the way it envelops viewers in a world they never knew existed
3.5
Waste Land
Stephen Cole
It s sheer pleasure watching Muniz work seeing him seized by mad impulses of delight
3
Waste Land
Stephanie Merry
Waste Land is a testament that things can go from good to bad in an instant But they can also improve just as quickly
3
Waste Land
Walter V. Addiego
Waste Land is a film about recycling but it s far more intriguing than the average eco documentary
3
Waste Land
Gerald Peary
Walker combines stirring studies of many of the Jardim Gramacho workers with a documenting of Muniz s project large scale dignified portraits framed by rephotographed recyclable garbage
3.5
Waste Land
Joseph Jon Lanthier
Rather than issuing a warning blow to either our guts or our hearts it s something of a soft wakeup nudge aimed somewhere in between
3
Black Widow
David Gonzalez
Black Widow is both complex and engaging as its focus on familial relationships leads to some of the most memorable moments thanks to its ensemble and in turn creates new characters for Marvel s team to play with in their billion dollar sandbox
3.5
Black Widow
Wesley Lovell
That said if any film had to reinvigorate the box office for audiences Im glad its this one which proves once again to the risk averse Disney that having a female protagonist can actually succeed
3.5
Black Widow
Bruce R. Miller
Black Widow spins an awfully good web
3
Black Widow
Joshua Axelrod
While it may not be the crème de la crème of the MCU Black Widow is more than worthy of being Marvel s first feature film to hit theaters during a time when people can actually watch it in that form
3
Black Widow
Matthew Passantino
Shortland isn t afraid to set the camera in the middle of a fight and make the audience feel the punches being thrown rather than keeping them as spectators on the sidelines
3
Black Widow
Kevin A. Ranson
feels too much like a back door pilot otherwise a solid thriller in the James Bond vein featuring good actors doing a great job with the material given making it look as good as modern technology can safely allow
3
Black Widow
Joe Friar
Johansson and Pugh are dynamite together in the MCU spy thriller that plays like Mission Impossible with exhilarating action sequences
3.5
Black Widow
Rene Sanchez
An entertaining and action packed superhero adventure about one of MCU s most beloved characters that carries an important message thanks to the work of its solid cast Full Review in Spanish
3
Black Widow
Sonny Bunch
The familial interactions are the best part of the movie and a welcome distraction from the fact that there isn t anything approaching an interesting action sequence
2.5
Black Widow
Kevin Carr
This has everything you want from a Marvel movie It s got the action it s got the scope it s got the humor it s got the irreverence it has a good villain
4
Black Widow
Doug Walker
It suffers from a bad case of Tell don t show and what it shows is often shaky and hard to see When it tells though it is well written and nicely acted Just enough to say the film is okay
3
Black Widow
Rick Bentley
A bigger reason for the film coming up so short in quality is that the title character ends up being the least interesting of all the players
2.5
Black Widow
Jeff Mitchell
We get the lowdown on Budapest albeit without a hearty bowl of goulash Anyway this cloak and dagger story somewhat satisfies
2.5
Black Widow
Bennett Campbell Ferguson
Black Widow isn t much of an action movie it exists mostly to fill the narrative gap between Captain America Civil War and Avengers Infinity War
2
Black Widow
Mike Scott
Director Cate Shortland s film was worth the wait
3
Black Widow
Pamela Powell
Pugh and Harbour are a delight in the midst of a film that is nothing more than ordinary in yet another typical super hero film
1.5
Black Widow
Mark Meszoros
An origin story for the character aka Natasha Romanoff a spy turned Avenger it is slightly above average for a Marvel movie That also makes it above average in terms of Hollywood blockbusters
3
Black Widow
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
In short Black Widow is a star vehicle for all involved even if that means its ostensible main star therefore burns less brightly as a result
3
Black Widow
Jeff York
The film s truer purpose seems to serve as a set up for the next Black Widow character Pugh s Yelena Bolava who ll be taking over the franchise but that could ve been done in many ways other than this approach
2
Black Widow
Sarah Knight Adamson
What separates the excellent character driven Black Widow from the rest of the Marvel movies is the dynamic of the false undercover family experience and its lasting effects on the siblings younger emotional development
3.5
Black Widow
John Wenzel
Its bottom line spectacle seldom strays from the Marvel path but still manages to explore some invigorating new ground
3
Black Widow
Jake Coyle
It s absorbing in its own right Less occupied with driving a universe of movies forward the almost standalone film instead digs into slightly darker deeper realms of the typically bright and shiny Marvel world
3
Black Widow
Leo Brady
Black Widow remains a tried and true hero the first female superhero that wins with skills and sheer will She s a ferocious and fierce Avenger This Black Widow packs a wicked and awesome punch
3
Black Widow
Brian Tallerico
It makes sense that a no nonsense killing machine like Black Widow should have a no nonsense installment but it s nice to see it actually happened
3
Black Widow
Johnny Oleksinski
The movie s vibe isn t like your average MCU entry at all really What it reminded me of are the many James Bond films where 007 goes rogue and cavorts around world cities seeking his revenge du jour
3
Black Widow
Mara Reinstein
The stakes are nonexistent No matter how many times a bad guy or girl aims a gun at our beloved heroine we know she has a specific Endgame
2.5
Black Widow
Brian Truitt
Black Widow is a strong solo superhero effort that feels both timely and also way too late
3
Black Widow
Jake Cole
Boiled down to its essence this narrative isn t terribly hard to follow but in execution the film moves so haphazardly as to be bewildering
1.5
Black Widow
Joey Magidson
It s almost a shame that Florence Pugh is so vibrant here since it takes away from appreciating Scarlett Johansson in likely her last turn as Black Widow
3
Black Widow
Catherine Springer
Black Widow is just what a world waking up from a coma needs a female centered action extravaganza with exceptional performances lots of laughs and just a touch of that Marvel magic that just may be the antidote we ve all been waiting for
3
Altered
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Good old fashioned special effects mixed with wicked gore and a compelling story make Altered a great follow up from the Blair Witch creators
3
Freaky Chakra
Namrata Joshi
It s meant to be fun but doesn t even manage to elicit a smile A joke of a film and a bad joke at that
1
Carbon Nation
Walter V. Addiego
What we get is the filmic equivalent of a smiley face But enthusiasm and sincerity don t make the hard questions go away
2
Carbon Nation
Diego Semerene
Afraid of the dullness of its subject matter and of being lost in the swarm of patronizing eco documentaries Carbon Nation tries really hard to speak to the language of young people these days
2
Ága
Shane Slater
Despite the film s laborious pacing its humanistic themes come together powerfully
2.5
Ága
Derek Smith
Milko Lazarov seems driven to record the inner workings of a singular slice of Inuit culture before it goes the way of the reindeer
3
The River
Gene Siskel
The River is nothing more than a conventional albeit pretty melodrama
2.5
Twentieth Century
Eric Henderson
Casually reverses and undermines its frumpy thesis by validating the effortlessly supple benefits of the seventh art
2.5
Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids
Calum Marsh
Certainly it s possible that a live JT concert would entertain But can this special achieve anything more Oh yes
4
Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids
Brian Tallerico
A chronicle of a man giving his absolute all to entertain those who pay to see him
3.5
VHYes
Nick Allen
VHYes breaks the biggest rule of parody over and over again it simply tries way too hard with material that s far too easy
1
VHYes
Joe Friar
A hilarious spoof of 80s late night television that would fit right at home on Adult Swim
3
VHYes
Clayton Dillard
VHYes settles much too comfortably into the well trodden footsteps of other works
1.5
What Planet Are You From?
Blake French
One of the most honest comedies I can remember connected with my unusual sense of humor
3
What Planet Are You From?
Susan Stark
Bottom line this is American Pie for boys will be boys in the fiftysomething age range
1
What Planet Are You From?
Robert Payne
This loony battle of the sexes flick offers a generous supply of laughs for fans of broad humor and actor screenwriter Garry Shandling
2.5
What Planet Are You From?
Ross Anthony
Love Shandling Me too go see it Hate Shandling don t see it I liked it a lot
3
What Planet Are You From?
Bob Graham
A rather sweet fable about sincerity
2
What Planet Are You From?
Susan Wloszczyna
Just what the universe needs A movie that forces you to fixate on Garry Shandling s crotch
2
Breaking News in Yuba County
Mitchell Beaupre
Taylor is living in the shadow of his influences here which makes sense as he still can t seem to figure out who he is as a filmmaker
2
The Omega Man
James O'Ehley
Reasonably good cheese
3
Read My Lips
Nick Rogers
Crawling onto the razor s edge with bare hands Jacques Audiard s film generates daringly uncomfortable psychologically dangerous heat rarely found in romance of any stripe Exhilaratingly paced cleverly suspenseful and tastefully erotic
3.5
Read My Lips
Joshua Tanzer
Like the Vertigo inspired Chinese film Suzhou River it pays homage to Hitchcock without copying and the results are original and thrilling in their own right
3.5
Read My Lips
Steven Snyder
Finally the French produced Read My Lips is a movie that understands characters must come first
3.5
Read My Lips
Laura Kelly
The noirish twists are not always believable at least once I laughed out loud incredulously
3
Read My Lips
David Elliott
A genuinely adult thriller with a sneaky sexual charge
3.5
Read My Lips
Joe Baltake
Read My Lips works on many levels one being a fresh take on the office romance but a romance that evolves in a strictly nontraditional way
4
Read My Lips
Susan Stark
Thoughtful provocative and entertaining
3
Read My Lips
Jeanne Aufmuth
Devos and Cassel give arresting performances as perpetual outsiders who absorb themselves in the ultimate struggle for power and position
3.5
Read My Lips
Glenn Lovell
Overall it s the best French thriller since With a Friend Like Harry two years ago
3
Read My Lips
Mary F. Pols
A vivid reminder of the true nature of chemistry between lovers and the rarity with which we see it on the screen
3.5
Read My Lips
Bob Strauss
Anything but a feel good movie in its particulars Read My Lips nonetheless communicates a liberating message as refreshing as it is peculiar
3.5
Read My Lips
Gene Seymour
An ingenious amoral and atmospheric thriller
3.5
Read My Lips
Jonathan Foreman
Read My Lips isn t just scary charming and delightfully unpredictable it s also smarter and subtler than any new movie out there
3.5
Read My Lips
Pam Grady
Audiard has dressed an impressive psychological drama in the disguise of a romantic thriller
3.5
Read My Lips
Vanessa Sibbald
While alone neither Carla nor Paul is able to succeed in life together they form a strange bond which brings them both power
3.5
Read My Lips
Harvey S. Karten
A Hitchcockian thriller that borrows from others but shines under director Audiard s unique touch
3.5
The Scarlet Pumpernickel
Bill Chambers
In Daffy s increasingly harried responses to J L s unquenchable thirst for more story we get some sense of what it must ve been like to work at Termite Terrace
3
John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection
Mark Feeney
All credit to Faurat for that ability to forge coherence out of such wildly disparate materials
3
John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection
G. Allen Johnson
McEnroe Faraut asserts was a man who played on the edge of his senses His film brings that home
3
John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection
Shane Slater
The film approaches McEnroe like a special animal to be studied But ultimately the effect is more akin to counting sheep
1.5
John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection
Josh Wise
The documentary s labored juxtapositions create fission the feel of a director scrambling to dictate the game
2
Midsummer in Newtown
Robert Horton
Because of its intimate look at the struggle against grief Midsummer in Newtown gets a pass for whatever wobbles it has as storytelling
2.5
Midsummer in Newtown
G. Allen Johnson
It packs a lot in its 81 minutes and does it well
4
Midsummer in Newtown
Matt Fagerholm
Midsummer in Newtown is at its best when it simply observes kids like Gregory finding comfort on stage while channeling their inner creativity
3
Midsummer in Newtown
Kent Turner
Powerful and clear eyed
3.5
Blackbird
David Lewis
Director Patrik Ian Polk makes the ending a little too pat but he makes us root for these characters to be happy and for their world to be a better place
2
Blackbird
Stephanie Merry
Anything that can go wrong will often in spectacular fashion
2
Blackbird
Diego Semerene
The film is like its main character too nave to understand or at least to deploy the reparative powers of camp
1.5
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Kelly Jane Torrance
Perhaps the biggest surprise though is Miss Cruz She has always been a more than serviceable actress but here she really shines
3
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
David Keyes
What you see is less reflective of old glories and more indicative of a new composure that inflicts a lot of Allen s newest endeavors in which characters are seen engaging in discussions that test the limits of their deadening comforts
3.5
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Wesley Lovell
Although Penelope Cruz s performance is amusing the film feels a bit forced looking for meaning in Spain where there may not be any
2
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Michael A. Smith
A solid romantic comedy
3
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
John Wirt
Allen stages a late career coup placing his finely sketched characters in an ideal milieu of comedy romance and madness
4
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Lori Hoffman
Allen brings the angst of his Manhattan characters to Spain and tries to blend them into a story that has Almodóvar overtones but Almodóvar does them much better
2
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Gary Brown
This time Woody seems to be back on the beam
3.5
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Gina Carbone
Isn t up to Allen s old school or new school standards But it s pretty And it shows again if you let Penelope Cruz speak Spanish instead of forcing her through English her presence will darn near suck the film right out of the camera
2.5
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Charles Koplinski
An engaging examination of human nature
3.5
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Austin Kennedy
There s not enough jokes for it to be comedic and it s not compelling enough for it to work dramatically It just kind of falls flat
2
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Maitland McDonagh
The best thing about Vicky Cristina Barcelona is that it acknowledges the maddening complexity of desire
2.5
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Glenn Whipp
Penelope Cruz kick starts Woody s latest turning it into a dizzy daffy treatise on the place of passion in art and love
3
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Jeffrey Overstreet
Woody Allen s work should be taking him deeper into complex and revealing stories about the heart Instead he s becoming more preoccupied with the lurid and the lewd
1.5
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Daniel M. Kimmel
audiences once cheered the notion of a new Woody Allen film Now instead we merely endure them
1.5
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Joe Lozito
Woody Allen s breezy comic fable is his most effortless and insightful in years and nothing short of a love letter to love itself in all its maddening glory
3.5
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Rossiter Drake
Allen s latest is a comedy of refreshing depth that finds the 72 year old filmmaker invigorated by the picturesque backdrop of the Mediterranean coast and a perfectly matched cast
3.5
Song of Granite
Shane Slater
Song of Granite begins to outstay its welcome But until then it s an undeniable beauty
2.5
Fauci
David Lewis
The strength of Fauci is its underlying theme which is really not about Fauci at all
3
L'Amour Fou
Keith Uhlich
L Amour Fou is a transitional work for Jacques Rivette the bridge to the superb Out 1 and its equally masterful re edit Spectre
2.5
L'Amour Fou
Jeremy Heilman
One of the best French films that I ve seen
4
In Darkness
Federico Furzan
An absurd movie that travels between genres and ends up being a ridiculous waste of time Full review in Spanish
1
In Darkness
Keith Watson
Anthony Bryne s high flown style only serves to highlight the film s icky way of exploiting real world tragedy for kicks
2
To the Arctic
Jennie Punter
A children s choir sings and a graphic of the movie title explodes into ice shards to heighten the dramatic impact Corny You bet
2
To the Arctic
Scott Bowles
Unless you re rich it may be the closest thing to being there
3
To the Arctic
Janice Page
A movie too focused on force feeding you its agenda is bound to come across as sorry but it must be said overbearing no matter how beautifully it s packaged
2.5
Bug
Steven Snyder
A disaster on every level
1
Bug
Michael A. Smith
you start to wonder what Friedkin has been doing for the past 30 years From the look of Bug I d have ventured not a darn thing
2
Bug
James Sanford
All of the actors find the right rhythm But even the performers complete commitment can t entirely disguise the fact that Bug doesn t seem to belong on the big screen
2.5
Bug
Michael Szymanski
Friedkin expertly helms this relatively narrow focused screenplay by playwright Tracy Letts
3
Bug
Jeanne Aufmuth
Both Judd and Shannon reach into the void to draw out raw performances that are alternately gripping and ridiculously extreme
2.5
Bug
John Wirt
An unpleasant curiosity and train wreck of a movie that never completely sells its stage bound feverish events
2
Bug
Sean McBride
disturbing but not scary enough to work as a horror film and not deep enough to work as a drama
2
Bug
Josh Hurst
The movie seems made for the express purpose of disorienting its viewers causing them to sink into discomfort and dread
2
Bug
Ken Fox
William Friedkin and Tracy Letts adaptation of Letts stage play is a ludicrous foray into psychological horror
2
Bug
Susan Walker
The cheesy soundtrack and the lacklustre acting undermine director Friedkin s efforts at turning an intelligent play into a scary movie
2
Bug
Ted Fry
Bug may not be a big deal but it is a sublime and remarkably disturbing small deal that pays and demands close attention
3
Bug
Timothy Knight
Bug holds you in its disturbing grip until the genuinely shocking denouement
3
Bug
Tirdad Derakhshani
After nearly three decades of misfires major and minor William Friedkin the creator of The French Connection The Exorcist and Sorcerer is back in true form with Bug
3
Bug
Lisa Rose
Bug is a twisted visceral film with an uncompromising sense of nihilism
2.5
Bug
Jack Mathews
Bug a tale of love desperation and conspiratorial madness comes off on the big screen as a wacky psychological snow job
2
Bug
Amy Biancolli
In all ways Bug is a head scratcher
3
Bug
Kamal Al-Solaylee
It s one helluva movie that makes Ashley Judd look ugly and demented while turning Harry Connick Jr into the most frightening screen thug since Ben Kingsley in Sexy Beast
3
Bug
Terry Lawson
It is certain to have an impact on anyone who experiences it even if it s not the movie they expected It does not just get under your skin it bores its way into your head
3
Bug
Michael Booth
You leave feeling alive if severely disturbed rather than deadened by the unthinking horrors of the latest slasher films
2.5
Bug
Mary F. Pols
When we learn what s eating Agnes the open arms she extends to Peter feel justified she s so deep into grief that it hardly matters what happens
2.5
Bug
Daniel M. Kimmel
Blame Lions Gate for neither sending this direct to cable or treating it as the art house movie it is Instead they have ensured the film s failure
2
Duma
Mary Lasse
A handcrafted masterpiece
3
Duma
Jeff Shannon
With ravenous alligators and lions on the prowl Duma delivers familiar adventure but Ballard refuses to cater to cuteness
3
Duma
John Monaghan
Like its title character Duma has been left to fend for itself by Warner Bros which is barely releasing it A successful showing this weekend will prove that there really is an audience for this brand of thoughtful literate family film
3
Duma
Walter V. Addiego
Family films can be simplistic or condescending but the joy of Carroll Ballard s work is that it s neither
3
Duma
Jeff Strickler
Director Ballard s dime store philosophizing gets schmaltzy but the emotions seem heartfelt And as he has done in earlier movies he incorporates some spectacular backdrops
3.5
Duma
Timothy Knight
A visually stunning and quietly moving film of rare beauty
3
Duma
Ken Fox
Moving and marvelously entertaining
4
Duma
Jami Bernard
I can t say enough about that magisterial cheetah
3.5
Duma
Glenn Whipp
Ballard s pitch perfect adventure will engage your imagination no matter your age
3.5
Duma
Jeffrey Westhoff
This is an old fashioned adventure uncomplicated in its telling but rich in meaning It belongs to a vanishing breed Treasure it while it remains
3.5
Duma
Larry Ratliff
Carroll Ballard Fly Away Home is simply the best in the business when it comes to corralling wild animals into the constraints of feature films
3
Duma
Carla Meyer
Cat fanciers and adventure lovers will like Duma an engaging story of a boy and his cheetah
2.5
Gremlin
Norman Gidney
The worst sin a film can commit is being mediocre and I think that is what bothers me so I can t pinpoint a single remarkable element positive or negative about this vapid waste If someone tries to give you this box do not accept it
1
The Seagull
Jeff Mitchell
The Seagull does not take off and fly
2
The Seagull
Joe Friar
The English speaking cast gives the film a contemporary feel while Mayer uses the camera fluidly to avoid the perception that you re watching a play This is by far the best cinematic adaptation to date
3
The Seagull
Josh Terry
While The Seagull certainly has its strong points the weak points make it difficult to recommend fully
2.5
The Seagull
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Try as they might the ensemble can rise above neither the material nor the direction and by the end we long ourselves to be that slaughtered seagull
1
The Seagull
Calvin Wilson
Chekhov would be appalled
1.5
The Seagull
Godfrey Cheshire
The Seagull is handsomely mounted and well acted by a stellar cast but it s one of those theatrical adaptations that has no reason to exist for any viewer who can recall a superior stage version of the same work
3
The Seagull
Kate Taylor
As film the results are often fabulous
3
The Seagull
Bruce DeMara
As period dramas go this one feels a little stiff and staid
2.5
The Seagull
Jake Coyle
For a distinctly Russian play he s made a notably American film pleasantly unstuffy
2
The Seagull
Oleg Ivanov
Michael Mayer s film adaptation while certainly reverential to Chekhov s classic feels utterly conventional in today s cinematic landscape
2
The Conrad Boys
David Elliott
Both very personal and very generic Along with square camera setups and flat lighting it has no going subtext except anxiety
2
Who's Driving Doug
Nick Allen
The movie fails to create a full character out of Doug beyond his disability and general social awkwardness Mitte s broad performance matches filmmaking that paints a muddy picture of the hero s specific disability
1
Who's Driving Doug
Tirdad Derakhshani
It s hard to enjoy a film peopled by so many unlikable people
2
Our Nixon
John Hartl
The result is maudlin beyond belief especially Nixon s farewell to the aides he s in the process of firing but other moments simply register as shockingly out of touch
3
Our Nixon
Matt Zoller Seitz
Often plays like a mortifying companion to the Nixon period sitcom The Wonder Years
3
Our Nixon
Kent Turner
An insular time capsule and a somewhat snarky tweak of the country s most complicated president
3
Our Nixon
Tomas Hachard
The videos fail in their promise of revealing intimate moments but the doc highlights how close Nixon Haldeman Ehrlichman and Chapin were in other ways
2.5
Dazzle (Oogverblindend)
Adam Keleman
Dazzle reveals the crack in the walls of humanity delicately reflecting upon man s inability to survive when emotional burden becomes too much to handle
2.5
Love, Antosha
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
It s a fitting tribute to a man who appears as interesting and complicated as we could all hope to be
3.5
Love, Antosha
Pat Padua
Mostly the Antosha of Love Antosha seems like a good kid someone whose life and tragic death should inspire us to spend our brief time here as wisely and as well as he did
3
Love, Antosha
Chance Solem-Pfeifer
Love Antosha is an illuminating farewell
3
Love, Antosha
Allyson Johnson
The documentary manages to invigorate because it s difficult not to be swept up in the enthusiasm Anton Yelchin had for life but the note we re left on is almost unbearably bittersweet
3
Love, Antosha
G. Allen Johnson
Price has given us Yelchin s most complete performance himself It is a cinematic gift to contemporary film fans everywhere
4
Love, Antosha
Sara Stewart
Love Antosha manages to be both a deeply sad farewell and a fascinating introduction
3.5
Love, Antosha
Matthew Passantino
Love Antosha is a loving documentary about Yelchin s life and career and it appropriately pays tribute to an actor who loved making movies
3.5
Love, Antosha
Monica Castillo
With Love Antosha there s now a coda to Yelchin s story beyond somber headlines and obits
3.5
Guantanamo's Child: Omar Khadr
David Berry
Reed and Shepherd do a reasonable job of injecting some level of balance into their straightforward retelling
3
Guantanamo's Child: Omar Khadr
Marsha Lederman
For viewers with minds made up about Omar Khadr who see him as a terrorist who should be locked away this documentary may make for uncomfortable viewing
3
Guantanamo's Child: Omar Khadr
Bruce DeMara
You will weep with sorrow rage and finally with a sense of hope at the indomitability of the human spirit
3.5
Ian
Frank Ochieng
Moving and inspirational Ian is a sweet minded message of inclusion the need to belong and overcome differences that are perceived as glaring obstacles A winning fable about the determination to seek out personal friendships and experience acceptance
3
Dying to Know: Ram Dass & Timothy Leary
David Lewis
We can feel the bond that these two men had for each other and it makes for a genuine love story
3
Yves Saint Laurent
Mary Houlihan
The film takes on a dour note as way too much time is spent on Saint Laurent s drunken antics He comes across as sullen and not very likable This may be true to the man but what of his other side
2.5
Yves Saint Laurent
Nathalie Atkinson
The genius of the title remains as inscrutable as ever
2
Yves Saint Laurent
Bruce DeMara
Does a film with haute couture as its heart guarantee an elegant cinematic experience In the case of Yves Saint Laurent a biopic about the legendary French couturier the answer is a tired non
2
Yves Saint Laurent
Stephanie Merry
When he wasn t silent Yves Saint Laurent could be cruel and selfish He may have been a genius but if he was at all likable this movie doesn t show it
1.5
Yves Saint Laurent
Rob Nelson
Its tendency to tell rather than show seems ill suited to a portrait of the man who brought haute couture to the masses
1.5
Yves Saint Laurent
Farran Smith Nehme
Saint Laurent played with uncanny accuracy by Pierre Niney goes through nervous breakdowns addictions and affairs with gold diggers but remains a comparatively opaque personality
2.5
Yves Saint Laurent
Clayton Dillard
For all of the supposed passion and anguish in Saint Laurent s clothing and relationships Jalil Lespert consistently neglects to imbue the film with such a comparable level of ambition or desire
1.5
Love's a Bitch
Federico Furzan
A debut in the industry that feels relevant after all these years This is an epic story of power poverty love and guilt Full review in Spanish
3
Love's a Bitch
Nick Rogers
Screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga and director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu exert such control over the story that even a cute doggie disappearance develops into a toilet trained take on The Telltale Heart Warts and all Amores Perros is love actually
4
Love's a Bitch
Margaret A. McGurk
Fresh shocking violent romantic profane and profound Amores Perros is a revelation a jolt of cinematic power and a bracing act of faith
3.5
Love's a Bitch
Jeremy Heilman
The stories never come together in a way that really enlightens but that s not to say the film is anything less than entertaining
3.5
Love's a Bitch
Ian Mantgani
Grabs our attention Innaritu is a clever visual stylist
3
Love's a Bitch
Greg Dean Schmitz
The performances here are again and again natural and convincing with many of the actors making their debuts
3.5
Love's a Bitch
Dan Lybarger
In a single film director Alejandro Gonzlez Irritu balances stories and moods as diverse as canine breeds
3.5
Love's a Bitch
Susan Stark
Inarritu may well be the millennium s first new master film maker
3
Love's a Bitch
Jeanne Aufmuth
Six degrees of separation has never felt so merciless and ironic
4
Love's a Bitch
Rod Armstrong
A potent reminder that life is brutal and brief and that bonds between people are much easier to sever than to tie
3.5
Love's a Bitch
Jorge Avila Andrade
Amores Perros es una historia de amor sin mensajes moralistas o edificantes Simplemente es una experiencia inolvidable
4
I Dream in Another Language
Ernesto Diezmartinez
Beyond the fact that the story has some originality in the cultural context of the film the truth is that the movie becomes repetitive Full review in Spanish
1.5
I Dream in Another Language
Keith Watson
The film is interested in the metaphysical challenges posed by language than in using it as a narrative device
2
T2 Trainspotting
Sarah Knight Adamson
T2 is uproariously funny from the opening scene to the zany re visiting all of the old gang The idiosyncrasies of each guy are accentuated which adds to the lunacy of tone
3.5
T2 Trainspotting
Jeff Mitchell
A flawed sequel but fans will get their fix
2.5
T2 Trainspotting
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
It mostly succeeds in advancing the characters dramatic arcs in interesting ways I mean who wouldn t want to watch old friends build a whorehouse together
3
T2 Trainspotting
Lisa Jensen
There s nothing mellow about T2 or its characters but it s a savvy companion to the first film if you like your biting social commentary spiced with a dash of rue
3
T2 Trainspotting
Sebastian Zavala Kahn
T2 Trainspotting is inferior to its predecessor but that doesn t mean that it s not an excellent drama with comedic touches and great performances Full review in Spanish
3
T2 Trainspotting
Rick Bentley
It s taken 20 years to get an update on the guys But the film proves that the pish and vinegar that made the characters so much fun doesn t weaken with time
3
T2 Trainspotting
Jeff Simon
In a time of year we don t ordinarily great films this one comes very very close
3.5
T2 Trainspotting
John Wenzel
Improbably the film vaults over most pitfalls of long threatened sequels while evolving the delicately crafted world in the original It s a more sober mature film but no less entertaining or provocative
3
T2 Trainspotting
Sonny Bunch
T2 isn t a rehash It s an evolution one that uses the power of the past to inform the peculiarities of the present
3
T2 Trainspotting
Soren Andersen
With a pulsing soundtrack and an ending scene that cleverly ties the whole thing back to the first picture T2 is a sequel that is at least the equal of the revered original
4
T2 Trainspotting
Jay Horton
By setting our anti heroes self mythologizing against Veronika s own willfully blocked horrors or the waking nightmare of Spud s all too clear eyed recall T2 doesn t quite indulge the same melancholy high of romanticized origins
3
T2 Trainspotting
Kate Taylor
A wittily self referential romp about the disillusionment of age
3
T2 Trainspotting
Chris Knight
Being constantly in motion has served Boyle well and T2 manages somehow to both wallow in nostalgia and stand back in judgment of it
3.5
T2 Trainspotting
Christopher Gray
The heart of T2 lies in the relationship between Renton and Sick Boy but their rocky reunion is another victim both to the wheel spinning innate in Hodge s script and Boyle s relative lack of fresh ideas
2
Poor Boy
G. Allen Johnson
At the end the movie breaks apart like crumbling kaleidoscope images scattering plot characters and images in head spinning fashion
1
Ouija House
Kevin A. Ranson
There s no rhyme nor reason for the characters to speak and or act other than to further the plot the conclusion makes even less sense than the uninspired setup satisfying no one and making viewers question their life choices
1
Swimming Upstream
Connie Ogle
Makes you sit up and take notice if only for the fine performances of the terrific Judy Davis as his abused mother and Geoffrey Rush as his bitter angry dad
2.5
Swimming Upstream
David Elliott
Mulcahy is terrific with the family scenes the squabbles and tensions the interludes of desperately cherished happiness
3
Swimming Upstream
Jack Mathews
Ends up merely treading water
2
Swimming Upstream
Evan Henerson
Mulcahy has the good sense not to make those important races big climactic scenes Their results are not what s important here
3
Swimming Upstream
Tracy Allerton
An inspiring story of triumph over adversity
3
Words and Pictures
Frank Ochieng
Words and Pictures is an ambitious romancer but its missed opportunities leave this charming but trivial tale of artistic rivaling viewpoints not quite making the grade
2
Words and Pictures
Josh Terry
It is a thoughtful film about redemption and acceptance
3
Words and Pictures
John Semley
Barely qualifies as a motion picture
0.5
Words and Pictures
John Wirt
Word and Pictures fails to communicate
1.5
Words and Pictures
Carla Meyer
Owen and Binoche commit fully to their characters prep school teachers who also are complicated intriguing people Words which is gimmicky and too loose limbed lacks such commitment
2
Words and Pictures
Paul Doro
It talks a good game but it s unconvincing
2.5
Words and Pictures
Odie Henderson
If a picture is indeed worth a thousand words this review would be just a slfie of yours truly looking sad and confused as the credits for Words and Pictures played in the background
1.5
Words and Pictures
Matthew Kassel
Predictable as it is lovely with disappointments regrets and resolutions all thrown into the mix of an uplifting tale
3
Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt
Joel Selvin
A documentary that in its spirit and feel catches some of the vulnerability and naive optimism of its subject Van Zandt
3
Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt
Lou Carlozo
A less than satisfying examination of the country singer s art career and demons
2
Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt
Tom Keogh
Both frustrating and touching
2.5
Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt
Timothy Knight
To her vast credit Brown doesn t attempt to psychoanalyze Van Zandt or linger over the dark times in his short life in Be Here to Love Me She instead keeps the focus where it should be on the lasting gift of Townes Van Zandt s 30 year career
3
Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt
Gene Seymour
Brown s film evinces a tender yet unsparing scrutiny of its subject s idiosyncrasies without getting too caught up in the romance of ruin
3.5
Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt
Elizabeth Weitzman
It s Van Zandt s family that provides the film s most memorable moments from the second wife who declared life with him a bummer to the children still trying to reconcile the great artist with the very mortal man
3
Muscle Shoals
Craig D. Lindsey
An occasionally doleful but otherwise lively trip Muscle Shoals is yet another cinematic shout out to those unsung heroes who came out of nowhere and made music that mattered
3
Muscle Shoals
John Wirt
An extraordinary story of singers songwriters musicians producers and most of all two recording studios in a small Southern city
3
Muscle Shoals
Eric Melin
It posits that the spirit of community forged by the musicians that created this music was part of its magic and listening to it in the movie it s hard to argue The records they created defined an entire genre and hold up today as completely timeless
2.5
Muscle Shoals
Paul de Barros
It is hands down one of the best music documentaries ever made
4
Muscle Shoals
Dan DeLuca
Like 20 Feet From Stardom another standout music doc of 2013 Muscle Shoals skillfully shines a light on unheralded musicians whose names usually are not illuminated
3.5
Muscle Shoals
Austin Kennedy
If you re a music buff than MUSCLE SHOALS is a must see It s a well made Documentary about an important time in music history that s informative poignant funny and always engaging
3.5
Muscle Shoals
Nathalie Atkinson
As the documentary demonstrates knowing it when you hear it is one thing but trying to explain the origin of the Muscle Shoals sound and its qualities is like dancing about architecture
3
Muscle Shoals
Walter V. Addiego
It s mandatory viewing for fans of the classic rock soul and rhythm and blues of the 1960s and 70s
3
Muscle Shoals
Mark Feeney
An alternately maddening and magnificent documentary
3
Ratcatcher
Jeremy Heilman
A surprisingly assured and highly original directorial debut
3.5
Ratcatcher
Andrew Howe
Ramsay seems intent on jettisoning anything which might arouse the slightest interest
2
Ratcatcher
Rod Armstrong
Ramsay wisely inserts some moments of grace into the lives of her young characters and these shifts make for some memorable moments
3.5
I Want Your Money
Mark Moring
Like a Michael Moore documentary Griggs plays fast and loose with statistics enough to raise my own B S Meter and lower my trust I kept asking Is this the whole truth
2.5
Caught in the Web
David Lee Dallas
The film opts for didactic resolution instead of fully committing to the contradictions in identity and agency its main character embodies
2
All the Wilderness
Rich Cline
More like a visual poem than a fully formed exploration of grief guilt teen angst or feeling like an outsider
3
All the Wilderness
Susan Wloszczyna
Ultimately amounts to a visually ambitious tone poem about the none too surprising caprices of male adolescence
2
All the Wilderness
Chuck Bowen
The images gorgeously embody both the fear and the beauty of James s exploratory experiments with socialization
2.5
The American Side
Miriam Di Nunzio
A fascinating whodunit whatisit thriller that s sure to leave some questions unanswered And that s not necessarily a bad thing
3
The American Side
Jeff Simon
The film then will be a different matter for area moviegoers than it will be for others For us it is unfailingly enjoyable good in almost every way
2.5
The Virgin Suicides
Nick Rogers
Sofia Coppola s compelling ethereal fable about adolescent loss of innocence is claustrophobic and uncomfortable but profoundly affecting and gently funny The Virgin Suicides advises teen years are sometimes best remembered as a long ago vacation
3.5
The Virgin Suicides
Jeanne Aufmuth
Black comedy has never looked so good
3
The Virgin Suicides
Jon Niccum
If Coppola s debut film is any indication talent does run in the family even if it is a somewhat disjointed talent
2.5
The Virgin Suicides
Margaret A. McGurk
In the end the strengths of the movie are overwhelmed by what is pretentious unplugged and boring to boot
1.5
The Virgin Suicides
Jeffrey Westhoff
When a film s most sensible character commits suicide within the first 15 minutes it cannot be a good sign
2
The Virgin Suicides
Jeremy Heilman
The film coalesces into a truly transporting experience
3.5
The Virgin Suicides
Gemma Files
Cool odd and languorous as its main characters The Virgin Suicides provides a fittingly postmodern debut for screenwriter director Sofia Coppola
4
The Virgin Suicides
Peter Stack
The Virgin Suicides captures in stylized vignettes the intertwining strands of innocence desire and despair in the psyches of teenage girls
3
The Virgin Suicides
Jonathan Foreman
It s hard to remember a film that mixes disparate delicate ingredients with the subtlety and virtuosity of Sofia Coppola s brilliant The Virgin Suicides
4
The Virgin Suicides
Cornell & Petricelli
Virgin Suicides succeeds as a contemplative metaphor dream like and eerily detached
3
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Jeff Mitchell
A confusing mess one that Van Sant overcomplicates and creates narrative difficulties where none should exist
1.5
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Ernesto Diezmartinez
A movie with an asynchronous and fragmented structure built from a edition by the filmmaker himself Full review in Spanish
2.5
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Joe Friar
The biopic reunites Gus Van Sant with Joaquin Phoenix who is sensational as politically incorrect Portland cartoonist John Callahan
3.5
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Robert Daniels
Based on the autobiography of John Callahan controversial cartoonist quadriplegic and recovering alcoholic it s a story that should be rich in content but often falters from weak character development
2
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Karen M. Peterson
This film gives glimpses into the promising director we used to know Unfortunately between those glimpses are a whole lot of problems that never really come together
2.5
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Angelo Muredda
One eventually grows weary of granting that there might be some larger design behind such seemingly dashed off choices and accepts that Van Sant is perhaps merely as lazy as he is intuitive
2.5
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Barry Hertz
Can one wan directing job mute the sheer performance power of Joaquin Phoenix The answer of course is no Not this time at least
3
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Bruce DeMara
Leave it to filmmaker Gus Van Sant to make a film about a hopeless drunk who becomes a quadriplegic into a story that s funny dark sad sweet and even sort of inspirational
3.5
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Mark Feeney
There s a truth to life in that shagginess let alone a life as unusual as Callahan s But it does make it hard for Don t Worry to hang together
2.5
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Oliver Jones
A movie about that most essential thing in life finding your people even when you don t know who you are yourself
3.5
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Susan Wloszczyna
Van Sant the screenwriter does a disservice to the material by constantly chopping up narrative strands into bite size chunks and later circling back to key incidents
2.5
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Steve Macfarlane
The film is disarming for its sincerity unalloyed in its positive thinking but unafraid of showing the gruesome details of alcoholism and denial to back up its bromides
3
Leprechaun Returns
Matthew Rozsa
As a serious horror flick from scares and gore to actual story quality this is easily the best Leprechaun movie
3.5
Another Round
Rene Sanchez
A profound reflection on happiness and second chances with Mads Mikkelsen at his best Full Review in Spanish
3.5
Another Round
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Having it both ways doesn t quite work But at least we get our boogie on
2
Another Round
Pamela Powell
With equal parts humor and drama Another Round is robustly satisfying as it quenches your thirst for life
3.5
Another Round
Anita Katz
Mikkelsen s dark streak complements Vinterberg s sunny tones and who without much to go on creates a multi shaded fascinating frequently funny protagonist filled with frustration anger and misplaced vitality
3
Another Round
Brian Tallerico
Mikkelsen elevates what could have been another traditional message movie about living life to the fullest even after you think you ve had your final drink
3
Another Round
Bill Chambers
Mikkelsen is touchingly wistful in a role that s 180 removed from Hannibal Lecter but still counts on his innate combustibility and the film engages in some hilarious internal debate over whether drinking is good or bad for politics
3
Another Round
Sarah-Tai Black
Another Round will prove to be a fruitful watch for those who are fans of the director s anxious social experiments however those who find his work to be a study in self indulgent intellectualism should stay away
3.4
Another Round
Dwight Brown
A very pleasurable and sinful experience that could easily be made into an American movie à la The Hangover
3
Another Round
Chuck Bowen
Thomas Vinterberg s latest like The Hunt is ultimately a parable about breaking a social contract
3
The Player
Chris Hicks
A highly entertaining dark film that says much about Hollywood and the audiences who watch Hollywood movies
4
2018 Oscar Nominated Short Films
Keith Cohen
This impressive showcase of cinematic treasures all have in common the amazing way that a complete story arc comes to fruition in a brief amount of time The clear favorite to win this category is Day Night
3.5
2018 Oscar Nominated Short Films
Alison Gang
The Lost Thing s unusual steampunk aesthetic brings to life a first person narrative that really resonates in its 15 minutes
2.5
The Northman
Kevin A. Ranson
Beastly warriors assassinated kings and soothsaying seers look down upon a brutal landscape where the common person could be free one moment and conquered the next with little to say in how their fate will play out it apos s best to be prepared for both
4
The Northman
Kevin Carr
It s Hamlet with a lot more blood and a lot less clothes
2.5
The Northman
Mark Feeney
It certainly feels authentic there s a sense of constant otherness to what we experience on the screen yet with no sense of contrivance and that s what matters Everything feels strange savage implacably other
3
The Northman
Mark Meszoros
You never would accuse Robert Eggers of being just another filmmaker
3.5
The Northman
Rene Sanchez
Realism and mythology converge in this grandiose and brutal visual spectacle that explores a familiar territory in the revenge saga genre Full Review in Spanish
2.5
The Northman
Kent Turner
Psychological probing is squashed like many onscreen skulls It all leads to a slog of a saga of slaughter
2
The Northman
Jeff Mitchell
The emotional connection meanders but the production and Skarsgard s physical performance fly sky high
3
The Northman
Sonny Bunch
If youre looking for an unapologetically bloody and masculine movie with just a dash of eerie energy to it youll probably dig The Northman
2.5
The Northman
Diandra Reviews
The Northman makes you realize that perhaps an entire life grieving what you lost can truly stop you from what you can gain diandrareviews
3.8
The Northman
Josh Bell
Eggers commitment to verisimilitude means that he conveys every sweaty grimy bloody experience of the characters in vivid detail
3
The Northman
Jake Coyle
For the first time it feels like Eggers is relying on pagan pageant more than psychology to drive the movie and the result is a seance that doesn t quite spellbind despite a sincere effort to
2.5
The Northman
Bennett Campbell Ferguson
Hypocrisy is by no means fatal but despite a glorious climactic duel on a lava drenched volcano The Northman leaves weary familiarity in its wake
2
The Northman
Jeff York
More of Olgas strong character less of the bellicose brutality of the male ones wouldve helped Eggers in his critique of toxic masculinity Instead his savaging of machismo is dampened by all the savagery he insists on splattering across the screen
2.5
The Northman
Charles Koplinski
Still and all theres something missing here While we may understand everyones intention theres no emotional connection with any of them
3
The Northman
Emily Zemler
This movie is so visceral you can feel it reverberating inside your body which is exactly what makes it so delightful
4
The Northman
David Gonzalez
Never compromising his unique style Eggers crafts a visceral Viking epic with The Northman Eggerss spellbinding blend of blockbuster and art house gives us a haunting experience that will be celebrated amongst the upper echelon of cinema in 2022
3.5
The Northman
Robert Daniels
Eggers brand of psychological shock is bolder here than his prior works and potent in bursts but barely works on boldness alone
3
The Northman
Mark Hanson
While the canvas of Robert Eggers latest is considerably broader than that of The Witch and the Lighthouse it feels as if its psychological chaos hasn t expanded accordingly
2.5
100 Bloody Acres
Matt Zoller Seitz
This is a smartly written and acted and exceptionally well directed movie
4
100 Bloody Acres
Chuck Bowen
One sees a film called 100 Bloody Acres expecting the requisite allusions to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre but an homage to the best scene in Melvin and Howard comes as something of a shock
2.5
The Puffy Chair
Geoff Pevere
The irony is it s a journey with no escape
2.5
The Puffy Chair
Bill Stamets
Built on beats of deadpan timing and splendidly understated reaction shots
3.5
The Puffy Chair
Jessica Reaves
An enjoyable road movie that feels both comfortable and completely fresh
2.5
The Puffy Chair
Glenn Whipp
This debut feature takes two genres that have been done to death road trips and romance and makes them into a fresh funny clear eyed and involving film about coming to grips with adulthood
3
The Puffy Chair
Pam Grady
It is a sad affair if only because this movie starts with a certain amount of promise that is destined to remain unfulfilled
2.5
Pranzo di Ferragosto
Calvin Wilson
Charming but insignificant
2
Pranzo di Ferragosto
Gerald Peary
It s like an episode of a superior television series that you d like to see week after week
3
Pranzo di Ferragosto
Bill Weber
At best a cute anecdote that scrapes by at just over 70 minutes
2
Rasputin
Keith Uhlich
Suffice to say that Elem Klimov s biopic of the mad monk Grigori Rasputin more than lives up to its title
2
The Dust Factory
Connie Ogle
It could use a better title although this awful one certainly captures the film s tedium
1
The Dust Factory
Phoebe Flowers
It s actually just kind of stupid
.5
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Austin Kennedy
The movie draws you in and keeps getting better as it went along I have a feeling I might even enjoy it better a second time
3
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Sean O'Connell
A triumphant lark
3
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Lori Hoffman
This screwball comedy is as light as a feather but what it lacks in substance is counterbalanced by the heavyweight actors who energize the silliness
2.5
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
John Wirt
Despite its often stagy stab at classic screwball comedy Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day eventually finds its feet
2.5
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Gary Brown
a screwball comedy that s as light as a hot buttery cinnamon scone and so much easier to digest
3
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Ken Fox
It looks and sounds great and is at its best when it isn t trying too hard to have fun
3
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Philip Marchand
You can t criticize a soufflé for not being a side of beef
3
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Elizabeth Weitzman
In adapting Winifred Watson s 1938 novel director Bharat Nalluri strains frantically to evoke the champagne fizz of classic screwball comedies
2.5
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Joe Leydon
Working from an unabashedly contrived but splendidly clever script by David Magee and Simon Beaufoy director Bharat Nalluri keeps the mood light the pace brisk and the wordplay pleasurable
3
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Jeffrey Westhoff
Adams channels every dizzy 1930s ingénue as she sashays about in silk and exclaims Jeepers at every opportunity
3
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
James Rocchi
Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day may be a fairly small scale comedy but it delivers tremendous satisfaction and that s a victory in and of itself
3
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Ruthe Stein
Frothy and exuberantly entertaining in part because of the sexual innuendoes it s the best romantic comedy so far this year
4
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Frederica Mathewes-Green
Adams can be a better actress than this and the result is something like Who Framed Roger Rabbit Miss Pettigrew is a real person and Delysia is a toon
2
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Daniel M. Kimmel
one of those madcap farces bringing to mind the era of P G Wodehouse
3.5
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Jan Stuart
Director Bharat Nalluri compounds the chintziness with a full throttle approach that blows away any lingering nuance from the source material
1.5
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Jeanne Aufmuth
What a difference a day makes in this cheeky comedy of manners
3
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Jeremiah Kipp
Brisk peppy light on its feet and trying awfully hard to be reminiscent of a fast talking Depression era rags to riches comedy the film can be best described as inoffensive
2
Backcountry
Chris Alexander
For what it intends to do BACKCOUNTRY is an almost perfectly realized film making the best of its humble budget and exploiting its stunning locations to maximum effect
3.5
Backcountry
Geoff Pevere
Backcountry thrives in the close quarter details the verbal knife pricks of a dying relationship the jangling impact of the smallest sounds breaking silence that dread certainty that you re completely lost and it s getting dark
3
Backcountry
David Berry
The result is 90 straight minutes of rising tension never so much relieved as occasionally back pedalled to take another mad run at Alex and Jenn and us
3
Backcountry
Josh Spiegel
Backcountry may zig instead of zag from its facile setup but even the payoff doesn t stand out
2
Backcountry
Glenn Lovell
The alone in the wilderness survival number gets a serious kick in the hindquarters MacDonald harvests gooseflesh the old fashioned way by suggesting much showing little
3
Backcountry
Chuck Bowen
After a surprising development the film grows slack and sentimental reverting to the survival movie platitude about hardship making you a better human
2.5
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Margaret A. McGurk
The screenplay by John Fusco is steeped in simple minded stereotypes as well as the usual anthropomorphic silliness
2.5
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Jorge Avila Andrade
Spirit llega directamente al corazn dejando una inolvidable leccin de libertad y humanidad que simple y sencillamente lo cautivar
3
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Loren King
A welcome family film that extols noble values and offers first class animation
3
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Ian Mantgani
It s drained of life in an attempt to be sober and educational and yet it s so devoid of realism that its lack of whistles and bells just makes it obnoxious and stiff
2
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Forrest Hartman
Aside from its nod to silent films Spirit does little to distinguish itself from the scores of straight to video movies peddled to kids
2
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Jeffrey Westhoff
Spirit Stallion of the Cimarron proves traditional animation still can feel its oats when filmmakers have a worthwhile story to draw on
3.5
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Michael Szymanski
Call me a wimp but I cried not once but three times in this animated sweet film
3.5
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Gary Brown
The reasonably brief 82 minutes but beautifully hand drawn Spirit is worth the ride for small children
3
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Joe Leydon
The pretty pictures aren t enough to enliven a slow pokey horse opera that plays like blandly generic kid stuff
2
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Susan Stark
As animation increasingly emphasizes the computer and the cool this is a film that takes a stand in favor of tradition and warmth
3
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Tom Sander
A fine rousing G rated family film aimed mainly at little kids but with plenty of entertainment value to keep grown ups from squirming in their seats
2.5
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Tom Keogh
Adams hoarse anthems become a betrayal of this horse opera s true potential fortunately there is enough fine achievement here to make the film worth seeing
3
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
David Elliott
It should satisfy the kids it was made for
2.5
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Joe Baltake
Refusing to condescend to us with the usual cutesy anthropomorphic qualities often foisted on animated animals Asbury and Cook keep matters realistic
3.5
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Gene Seymour
Not quite as miraculous as its DreamWorks makers would have you believe but it more than adequately fills the eyes and stirs the emotions
2.5
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Ray Conlogue
A strange often intriguing animated film for children and young adults that takes a lot of chances and only occasionally stumbles
3
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Terry Lawson
Spirit combines the hand drawn artfulness of 2 D with computer generated 3 D backdrops and effects so seamlessly that it s hard to tell what was done by man what by mouse
3
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Jackie Loohauis
Spirit s lesson of bravery is also a worthy one for children and adults to remember in a troubled world If only Spirit s filmmakers had found a different way to deliver the message
1.5
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Tony Toscano
The film is an enjoyable family film pretty much aimed at any youngster who loves horses
3
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Glenn Lovell
At its most basic this cartoon adventure is that wind in the hair exhilarating
3.5
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Mary Kalin-Casey
Stallion of the Cimarron has much to offer horse loving youngsters
2.5
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Mary F. Pols
Like Shrek Spirit s visual imagination reminds you of why animation is such a perfect medium for children because of the way it allows the mind to enter and accept another world
3
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Ross Anthony
brimming with the quiet strong spirit of the American West from the viewpoint of a horse
4
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Harvey S. Karten
Thrilling for kids just watchable for the big fry
3
Ethan Frome
Peter Stack
It s impossible to improve on Edith Wharton s great short novel of thwarted love but this adaptation directed by John Madden is sensitive to the story s bleak wintry beauty
3
Ethan Frome
Jackie Potts
Based on Wharton s chilling Gothic novel of 1911 Ethan Frome is a claustrophobic tale of thwarted love that never quite stirs your compassion
2
DuckTales, the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp
Chris Hicks
I was pleasantly surprised at how clever and funny the film is
2.5
The Bay of Silence
Kathy Fennessy
If 91 Paula van der Oest apos s 93 film isn apos t quite the disaster its reputation might suggest it doesn apos t add up to a whole lot despite the filmmaker apos s attempts to grapple with serious issues like mental illness and sexual abuse
2.5
The Bay of Silence
Odie Henderson
Being jerked around by a thriller can be fun but there are more red herrings in this movie than there are fish in the sea They all stink
1
Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story
Robert Daniels
Happy Happy Joy Joy The Ren Stimpy Story is engrossing and gutsy and tactfully executed but could be more combative
3
Transsiberian
Barry Paris
Writer director Brad Anderson provides his Hitchcockian thriller with an increasingly startling plot that is nothing if not unpredictable
3
Transsiberian
Jay Antani
As Hitchcockian thrillers go it s one of the smarter and more absorbing ones made in recent years
3
Transsiberian
Ruthe Stein
As Alfred Hitchcock demonstrated three times trains make a nifty setting for a thriller
3
Transsiberian
Austin Kennedy
Some might think this film is unbelievable and they re right But Hitchcock films aren t either They re just fun rollercoaster rides so check your brain at the door and have a blast
4
Transsiberian
Todd Hertz
It s got that classic thriller feel where characters are slowly caught in a mousetrap and they have to find their way out It s a slow menacing burn
3
Transsiberian
Joe Lozito
Modest thriller set aboard the titular train plays like low suspense Hitchcock until sadly in the last act it derails
2.5
Transsiberian
Jonathan W. Hickman
Transsiberian is a film that fails to make us care enough to be concerned about the peril faced by its protagonists
2
Big Stone Gap
Soren Andersen
It s tempting to say Big Stone Gap is greeting card pretty and sweet but that doesn t quite fit because these days greeting cards seem to have developed a bit of an edge Big Stone Gap is edge free
2
Big Stone Gap
Molly Eichel
The plot itself has little momentum and what should feel dramatic instead feels inert
2
Big Stone Gap
Jen Chaney
The warmth of spirit behind this project allows its missteps to be mostly forgiven
2
Severance
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Will surely make you laugh but the guffaws are few and far between That s hardly a caveat when you consider the statement made here though
3
Severance
Bruce Westbrook
The cast shows spark and gusto especially Laura Harris as a vulnerable yet intrepid survivor type and Danny Dyer as a bent druggie who straightens out long enough to fight back
2.5
Severance
Terry Lawson
It is wonderfully wry and contains some great gags
3
Severance
Michael Booth
So there s still a smart office horror movie left to be made In the meantime Severance is just another paycheck
2
Severance
Rob Salem
Like Shaun of the Dead the movie enthusiastically embraces all the grotesque clichés we love and have come to expect from the form turning several on their ear
3
Severance
John Hartl
At heart it s a sophisticated variation on Friday the 13th a splatter film with a slightly more interesting collection of targets
2.5
Severance
Bill Stamets
Splatter comedy meets comic splatter in this brash crossover film that puts seven white collar workers in the scary wilds of Hungary where psycho killer Russian ex military lurk
3
Severance
Glenn Whipp
It does possess an enjoyably English gallows humor along with a strong visual style and a knack for making its bloody mayhem both creepy and droll
3
Severance
Peter Hartlaub
If you can handle the warts and all filmmaking Severance is definitely worth your time if not your 9 50 In other words wait a few months and definitely check it out as a rental
2
Severance
Ken Fox
It s both very funny and very scary and never descends to the level of spoof
3
Severance
Lisa Rose
The irony is thick and the deaths are brutal as horror and humor are spliced with social commentary The British film sends up scary movies while building characters whose fates matter to the audience
3
Severance
Elizabeth Weitzman
You ll need a strong stomach but director Christopher Smith mixes lots of laughs into the gore Despite its predictable finish Severance is bloody good fun
2.5
Severance
Jan Stuart
Christopher Smith s Severance is an odd but entirely welcome duck a horror spoof that strays into zones of political and ethical consequence without ever becoming mired in them
3
Severance
Rudy Joggerst
It s a brutal gruesome horror film with a dose of refined British wit a delicate combination that serves the film remarkably well
3.5
Severance
Shlomo Schwartzberg
There s nothing new or noteworthy here
2
The Rape of Recy Taylor
Matt Zoller Seitz
What s onscreen here is often so very busy that The Rape of Recy Taylor turns into a parody of a certain mindset in American documentary filmmaking
2
In Our Mothers' Gardens
Robert Daniels
In Our Mothers Gardens requires time to find its footing but the documentary ultimately offers a salute to the generationally important women who fought to give their families a more fruitful future
3
Skull: The Mask
Nick Allen
There s a good deal of carnage here more flashy than it is verifiably nasty and so little of it pays off
1.5
Holidate
Sarah Knight Adamson
What started as a clever storyline quickly turned into an onscreen groundhog day situation The characters became monotonous and somewhat dull
2.5
Holidate
Lindsey Bahr
The best thing that Holidate has going for it is that Roberts and Bracey do have great chemistry but they just don t have a story or a script that can do it justice
1.5
Holidate
Nell Minow
Holidate does not have a single authentic moment appealing character or genuine laugh
.5
Holidate
Barry Hertz
The movie surprises on almost every level breaking a number of contemporary rom com rules along the way thanks to Tiffany Paulsen s self aware screenplay
2.5
Palo Alto
Brad Keefe
When it sets out to capture some of the meandering aimlessness of teenagehood it succeeds
2.5
Palo Alto
Stephanie Merry
The adaptation of this coming of age tale is stylishly brought to the screen even if it feels a bit light on substance
2.5
Palo Alto
Scott Bowles
Palo Alto marks one of those rare films that is so accurate in its portrayal of characters that the movie suffers for it
2
Palo Alto
Sheila O'Malley
Palo Alto is a very strong first feature prioritizing mood over message
3
Palo Alto
Jake Coyle
Palo Alto doesn t chart any new ground but its derivativeness isn t as grating as it should be
2.5
Palo Alto
Jesse Cataldo
It presents little that wasn t already done better in Myth of the American Sleepover an equally evocative tale of longing that was far more successful at matching teen tropes with atmospheric naturalism
2
Luv
Dwight Brown
When Rainey Jr and Common get into their screaming matches it s powerful stuff
3
Luv
Farran Smith Nehme
Even the boarded up row houses look romantic
3
Luv
Stephanie Merry
A sometimes taut and occasionally preposterous day in the life of an 11 year old accompanying his uncle on business in Baltimore
2
Luv
Jake Coyle
A kind of Training Day hoping for interstitial Terrence Malick poetry in the Baltimore landscape of The Wire with the occasional sensationalism of an action film
1.5
Luv
R. Kurt Osenlund
As a film that largely works as a subdued twist on the familiar drama about crime and family LUV needed more intimacy and focus
2.5
Shame
Kelly Jane Torrance
Shame is a hard film to watch but it s one of the few released in 2011 that you ll remember for years to come
4
Shame
Brandy McDonnell
It is a graphic visceral depiction of sexual addiction which too often is treated like a punch line
3.5
Shame
David Keyes
Not since Eyes Wide Shut has any movie been so audacious to take the clothes off its characters for an interest outside of mere sexual curiosity
4
Shame
Craig D. Lindsey
Unfortunately with all the deep pluses Shame serves up its clumsy minuses are too glaring and unpardonable
2
Shame
Mike Scott
Searing performances breathe life into this NC 17 rated portrait of a sex addict
2.5
Shame
Calvin Wilson
The film is a raw unsparing look at the downside of humanity
4
Shame
Alison Gang
When Fassbender is paired with McQueen the actor is at his most intense physical and even a little frightening
3.5
Shame
Amy Biancolli
Shame has a lolling pace and stunning visual clarity Structurally it s close to perfect
4
Shame
Sean O'Connell
It s rife with sexual tension yet doesn t rush the dance so to speak McQueen and Fassbender share an intense collaboration marked by raw emotion and graphic sexuality
3.5
Shame
Kent Turner
What might turn off viewers is not the sexual content but Brandon s lack of self perception and the terse script playing hard to get also keeps us at a distance Shame shows a lot and very little
2.5
Shame
Glenn Lovell
about as unblinkingly candid as any above ground film now making the rounds Director McQueen is a talent to watch nurture Mulligan makes off with this film and very possibly an Oscar nomination
3.5
Ben-Hur
Jeff Simon
What you get here is a movie where you can always tell who the wealthy family is because they re the ones whose hair always looks well shampooed and treated with conditioner
2.5
Ben-Hur
John Serba
Why bother
2
Ben-Hur
Michael Smith
Ben Hur is been there done that mediocrity
2
Ben-Hur
Kate Taylor
Its few good ideas inevitably collapse leaving a remake that can really only justify its existence with the truth that chariot races look great in CGI and Morgan Freeman looks great in dreads
1
Ben-Hur
Tirdad Derakhshani
Dominated by CGI effects it s a soap opera better fit for basic cable
2
Ben-Hur
Soren Andersen
What we have here is a B grade rendering of the oft filmed classic
1.5
Ben-Hur
Keith Watson
Ben Hur director Timur Bekmambetov offers nothing new to the cinematic lexicon of the chariot race
1
Ben-Hur
John Hanlon
This exciting but admittedly flawed remake brings the timeless story back to life for a new generation to appreciate
3.5
Memoria
Mark Feeney
You get caught up in it You don t ask why You don t wonder what s going on what will happen next You just accept it You trust Weerasethakul Until about the 100 minute mark the runtime is 136 minutes he justifies that trust
2.5
Memoria
Chance Solem-Pfeifer
To fixate on a Weerasethakul movie s plot misrepresents its appeal sensory exploration is the main attraction
3
Memoria
G. Allen Johnson
Swinton fully immerses herself in Apichatpong s vision and soundscape
4
Memoria
Rene Sanchez
A spiritual and sensorial journey that explores the cosmic bond between humans and nature past and present and life and death Full Review in Spanish
4
Memoria
Brian Tallerico
Rarely have a filmmaker and performer been so completely on the same page as Tilda Swinton and Apichatpong Weerasethakul are here
4
Memoria
Kate Taylor
It s a beautiful work of cinematic concentration that s purely Apichatpong
4
Memoria
Pat Brown
Again in a Weerasethakul film we find spirits lurking behind the everyday world but in Memoria they might just be repressed memories emanating from a world that never actually forgets
4
Premium
Wilson Morales
Chatmon s ability to inject humor while addressing some serious issues with the film business and romantic relationships add to his talent and makes Premium worth seeing
3
Premium
Bill Stamets
Chatmon reworks many elements of Robert Townsend s erratic 1987 film Hollywood Shuffle into a fluent story that favors character over satire
3
The Russian Woodpecker
David Berry
A documentary with no easy antecedents The Russian Woodpecker is at once a glance inside a wondrous mind a journey back into the twisted mire of the Cold War and an experience that can t stop provoking questions
4
The Russian Woodpecker
Matt Fagerholm
Alexandrovich s ideas are poised to be embraced by a wide swatch of conspiracy theorists as this film continues to be discovered and debated
3
Queen of the Beach
Sarah Knight Adamson
I applaud anyone in this world that steps up to help children in vulnerable situations to receive an education
3
The Truffle Hunters
Lisa Trifone
The film plays out a bit like a dream as if we ve stepped into a foggy earth toned other worldly space
4
The Truffle Hunters
Cate Marquis
The Truffle Hunters is a magical enchanting film that takes us inside an appealing but vanishing world of forests age old traditions and dogs with their owners in pursuit of an elusive culinary treasure
3.5
The Truffle Hunters
Anita Katz
Dweck and Kershaw have put some contagiously positive spirit on the screen
3
The Truffle Hunters
Jake Coyle
Wonder and whimsy is back in the forest The Truffle Hunters surely among the greatest dog movies even wryly occasionally shifts to a dog s point of view
4
The Truffle Hunters
Simon Abrams
Despite its creators general fussiness The Truffle Hunters is good enough if only because guys like Carlo and Angelo are more charming than they are eccentric
3
The Truffle Hunters
Rania Richardson
Aging men and their bounty sniffing dogs pursue an increasingly antiquated way of life in this amusing and life affirming gem THE TRUFFLE HUNTERS
4
The Truffle Hunters
Barry Hertz
You ll get to know the titular hunters but only to imagine brief snippets of their life In other words it will leave you hungry for more
2.5
The Truffle Hunters
Angelo Muredda
What starts as a warm hearted portrait of a stubborn artisan who loves his dog and refuses to share either his knowledge or his life with anyone but her gradually becomes an oddly fraught story of succession and dread about the future
3
The Truffle Hunters
Carson Lund
The film s reminder of the fragility of agrarian traditions in the face of a merciless profit motive is delivered with tact and subtlety
2.5
As You Are
Henry Stewart
The film is above all a striking and affecting expression of the desire repression and violence
3
As You Are
Scott Renshaw
There s something particularly dispiriting about a movie that seems predicated on edgy authenticity then goes soaring over the melodramatic top without any self awareness
1.5
Everything Must Go
Ethan Alter
After a strong first half Everything Must Go ends up selling its leading man short
2.5
Everything Must Go
Glenn Lovell
to Ferrell what Punch Drunk Love was to Adam Sandler a gutsy change of pace that reminds us the class clown deep down is a tangle of neuroses
3
Everything Must Go
Keith Cohen
This leading role is quite a departure for Ferrell who most often appears in comedies He does an admirable job but it makes you appreciate even more Nicolas Cage s Oscar winning performance as an alcoholic in Leaving Las Vegas 1995
2
Everything Must Go
Mike Scott
Will Ferrell proves to have a way of turning fortune cookie platitudes into something that if not especially deep is at least enjoyable and buoyant and entirely watchable
3
Everything Must Go
Scott Bowles
If he isn t careful Will Ferrell is going to become a bona fide actor
3
Everything Must Go
Rich Heldenfels
Wastes a good Will Ferrell performance by elaborating on Raymond Carver s short story in ways that go very wrong
2
Everything Must Go
Thelma Adams
Though the actor is famous for his outrageous roles he delves deep into this troubled character and nails the quieter moments
3
I, Frankenstein
Frank Ochieng
Shockingly talented performers such as Eckhart and the usually reliable character actor Nighy singed on the dotted line for this fetid fishbowl of a frightfest that seems as inconsequential as a pair of Frankenstein s high water pants
1.5
I, Frankenstein
Perry Seibert
I Frankenstein doesn t have much of a brain and is completely missing a funny bone
1.5
I, Frankenstein
David Hiltbrand
The special effects are pretty good and the fight scenes are adequate But the film loses steam in the fourth act
2
I, Frankenstein
Daniel M. Kimmel
I Frankenstein isn t a masterpiece but it is a fast paced and slickly made film that holds your attention
3
I, Frankenstein
John Serba
Eckhart and Otto are Olympic weightlifters of the acting profession clean and jerking half ton lines keeping straight faces nearly prolapsing their thespian intestines
1.5
Wild Indian
Mitchell Beaupre
It s challenging in the way that a Michael Haneke movie is challenging where it gets to these core ideas of the darkness of human beings and specifically here the bloodied soil that we re all living on
3.5
Wild Indian
Matt Zoller Seitz
Whatever its merits as a self contained and freestanding story Wild Indian may one day be regarded as a major work not just within the context of its director s career but cinema as a whole
3.5
Wild Indian
Ernesto Diezmartinez
A good crime drama that could have bordered on the grandeur of Crimes and Misdemeanors It does not reach that much but still Chaske Spencer is great Watched in Tulum 2021
2
Wild Indian
Rene Sanchez
A strong debut with a remarkable performance by Michael Greyeyes that delves on complex themes that are rarely explored on screen Full Review in Spanish
2.5
Wild Indian
Dwight Brown
A shockingly intense disturbing character study from a promising and talented filmmaker
3
Zeus and Roxanne
Mal Vincent
More likely Zeus and Roxanne is about money grubbing
2
A Beautiful Life
Jeff Shannon
The film strains credulity by pushing its characters wildly to and fro with a shamelessly sentimental screenplay
2.5
A Beautiful Life
Michael C. Walsh
Unfortunately Lau throws in one too many wrinkles squandering our empathy by forcing us through a long winded relationship involving betrayal and illness
1.5
A Beautiful Life
Walter V. Addiego
A Beautiful Life is nicely shot and features some appealing actors and that s about it for the good news The bad news is that the characters and situations are platitudes and the story is so heavy handed that the film is hard to sit through
1
Apocalypse Pooh
Peter T. Chattaway
The final chapter in The Bible Collection a series of films that stylistically has been all over the map With this the series ends not with a bang but a whimper
2
Donald Cried
Mark Jenkins
Donald Cried succeeds on its own modest terms but watching its title character can be painful This is not a movie for people who d just as soon forget their own teenage mortifications
2.5
Donald Cried
Nick Allen
Never feels like more than a malnourished Adam McKay movie that lacks even in laughs
1
Donald Cried
Elise Nakhnikian
Finding the drama and humor in everyday situations like these isn t easy but Avedisian makes it look as natural as swinging on a vine
3
Passion Fish
Edward Guthmann
Set In Louisiana bayou country John Sayles new character drama his best by far stars Mary McDonnell as a soap opera actress who returns to her childhood home after a paralyzing accident
4
Newlyweeds
Matt Zoller Seitz
It s a special movie Odd disjointed and not entirely coherent but special
3
Newlyweeds
Kalvin Henely
Going neither in the direction of Reefer Madness nor a Cheech and Chong movie it s both funny and serious and its depictions of pot smoking could be read as either promotional or cautionary
2.5
The Oregonian
Michael Nordine
It s the kind of movie you d find in someone s VHS collection decide to watch based on the box art and title and end up switching out for The House of the Devil instead
1.5
The Losers
Jeff Beck
The Losers was made with one purpose in mind to simply entertain and while it may not be a great movie of substance it certainly fulfills its purpose oh so very well
3.5
The Losers
Robbie Collin
Seldom do you see a film title that doubles as a likely box office prediction But that s precisely what we ve got with The Losers
2
The Losers
Kit Bowen
After watching this stylized comic book action flick and admitting you thoroughly enjoyed yourself you won t feel like a Loser at all
3
The Losers
Janos Gereben
The action in the film is continuous and the excitement is intense Still there is something just a bit off with the whole plot look and feel of the film
2.5
The Losers
Jeffrey Westhoff
The Losers proves that screenwriting is easy if you don t sweat story structure Or logic Or the laws of physics
2
The Losers
Tyler Hanley
This chaotic action flick features a terrific cast but a script so cliched that filmgoers who shell out 10 bucks to see it may feel like the title is directed at them
1.5
The Losers
Jeff Shannon
Proving that ensemble chemistry can make or break a franchise The Losers redeems itself with comedic camaraderie delivered by a well chosen batch of rising stars
2.5
The Losers
Simon Abrams
The film s vain attempts at being flashy and stylish is more loud than charming and never as clever as it acts
2
Sweet Home Alabama
Betsy Bozdech
The tale of a down home girl forced to choose between her two beaus has got charm and appeal to spare but there s never much to it that you don t see coming a mile away
2.5
Sweet Home Alabama
Dan Lybarger
It s a safe bet that the gutsy Lynyrd Skynyrd particularly the outspoken and now deceased singer Ronnie Van Zant would not have approved
1.5
Sweet Home Alabama
Ross Anthony
I m glad I saw it
3.5
Sweet Home Alabama
David Keyes
minus the vivacious charm of its lead star the movie would have easily been a waste of celluloid
3
Sweet Home Alabama
Frank Ochieng
Although the winsome actress is afforded the opportunity to demonstrate her usual perky persona Witherspoon cannot lend her magic to this irritating and witless marshmellow of a movie
1.5
Sweet Home Alabama
Kevin A. Ranson
As she did in Legally Blonde Reese Witherspoon manages to carry not only her part of the film but also drags almost everyone else through it no matter how far fetched or implausible
2.5
Sweet Home Alabama
Gary Brown
The story whipsaws back and forth between sentimental mush and outlandish cornball humor
2
Sweet Home Alabama
Jonathan R. Perry
With Witherspoon s charisma and the infectious efforts of a supporting cast it s hard not to like this trifling little stroll down memory lane but not impossible
2.5
Sweet Home Alabama
Mark Ramsey
Sweet Home Alabama is the blue ribbon winner of the low expectation limbo
1
Sweet Home Alabama
Joe Leydon
There s something positively mind numbing about the relentless predictability of Sweet Home Alabama
.5
Sweet Home Alabama
Todd Anthony
We ve seen all of these elements before and neither the cast nor the filmmakers succeed at breathing new life into them
2
Sweet Home Alabama
Jonathan Curiel
This is a feel good movie that does just that
3
Sweet Home Alabama
Joe Baltake
Sweet Home Alabama may be sweet and small and inconsequential but it offers the privileged experience of watching two stars being born
3
Sweet Home Alabama
Jonathan Foreman
Witherspoon is such a delight her comic timing so good and her pixie ish good looks so fascinating that she manages to make Sweet Home Alabama seem charming and funny
2.5
Sweet Home Alabama
Connie Ogle
A romantic comedy so rote dull and predictable that it makes You ve Got Mail seem innovative and fresh
1.5
Sweet Home Alabama
Glenn Whipp
Sweet Home Alabama is one dumb movie but its stupidity is so relentlessly harmless that it almost wins you over in the end
2
Sweet Home Alabama
Susan Stark
A banal virulently unpleasant excuse for a romantic comedy
0
Sweet Home Alabama
Lawrence Toppman
Lame Sweet Home leaves no Southern stereotype unturned
1.5
Sweet Home Alabama
Forrest Hartman
By all accounts this is a typical romantic comedy but the traditional story arc is overshadowed by its terrific cast
3
Sweet Home Alabama
Pam Grady
About the best that can be said about Sweet Home Alabama is that it will make a good airplane movie it s bland mostly inoffensive and predictable enough that you can nap through large sections and not get lost
2
Sweet Home Alabama
Sue Pierman
As flat as bad moonshine
1.5
Sweet Home Alabama
Mary F. Pols
The densest distillation of Roberts movies ever made
2.5
Sweet Home Alabama
Mark Caro
This movie is phony phony phony
1.5
Sweet Home Alabama
Tony Toscano
Sweet Home Alabama is what it is a nice harmless date film
2.5
Sweet Home Alabama
Jeremy Heilman
Sweet relies heavily on the charms of its lead performer Unfortunately not even the talented Witherspoon can sell everything that the film throws at us
2
Sweet Home Alabama
Sal Cinquemani
It s no surprise that Reese Witherspoon s headlong jump into romantic comedy doesn t live up to classic or modern date movie standards
2
Sweet Home Alabama
Harvey S. Karten
Witherspoon is sweet enough to convince us that she d throw over the country s most eligible bachelor for a southern shack dweller
2.5
Hud
Bill Chambers
Hud understands that torches are more often extinguished than passed
4
The Mule
Federico Furzan
A terrible portrait of redemption by a director that seems to have lost everything that made him a golden choice decades ago Full review in Spanish
1.5
The Mule
Ernesto Diezmartinez
A film in which the old republican libertarian Eastwood appears before the spectators to confront them and provoke them
3
The Mule
Rene Sanchez
Eastwood s commendable performance isn t sufficient to save this melodrama from its predictable storylines and stereotypes Full Review in Spanish
2
The Mule
Ben Sachs
The Mule thrives in teasing ambiguity For decades now Eastwood has been one of the great interrogators of American social mores
4
The Mule
Stephen Rebello
Clint Eastwood is as compelling as ever and the movie offers ample helpings of heart and levity
3
The Mule
Barry Hertz
There s an interesting movie or five movies stashed away somewhere in The Mule Good luck to those hoping to sniff it out
2
The Mule
Carson Lund
The film finally ends up souring its perspective on responsibility with a hardened take on the limits of the American dream
2.5
The Mule
Johnny Oleksinski
The embarrassing drama offensive clunky poorly written sullies Eastwood s storied legacy and makes great actors such as Bradley Cooper and Dianne Wiest come off like amateurs
1
The Mule
Robert Daniels
With basic directing and shot selection and a troubling script the only saving grace of The Mule is Eastwood s performance
1.5
The Vatican Tapes
Sebastian Zavala Kahn
Scary Nah Stupid chaotic predictable boring and insulting Yup Full review in Spanish
1
The Vatican Tapes
David Keyes
So many of these scenes and performances are pitched below the common denominator of acceptable movie tricks
1.5
The Vatican Tapes
Tomris Laffly
Just as it seemed like the exorcism subgenre was on the verge of a renaissance after The Conjuring here is the cold shower we ve secretly been afraid of all this time
1.5
The Vatican Tapes
Simon Abrams
Whose idea of a fun time is this
2
The Vatican Tapes
Clayton Dillard
Like technological innovation itself the film seems overwhelmed by the reach of all its techo cultural parts
2.5
Mango Souffle
Namrata Joshi
Mango Souffle does not titillate But its dilemmas concerns and prejudices about masculinity and femininity sexual mores and identity crises are too obvious
2
The Beguiled
Frank Ochieng
All make it as solid junior sized angst ridden seductresses and it s really the spirit of these impressionable yet beguiling ladies that keeps Coppola s dress rehearsal from becoming a cotton picking casualty
2.5
The Beguiled
Bennett Campbell Ferguson
Only rarely does the film flicker with emotional life which usually happens when the effortlessly charismatic McBurney is onscreen
2
The Beguiled
Jeff Simon
Coppola s is a very good movie but a small and forgettable one
3
The Beguiled
Julia Cooper
The Beguiled is Coppola s bloodiest most visceral movie to date and it is also one of her best
3.5
The Beguiled
Max Weiss
It s clear that Sofia Coppola has been itching to make a gothic film and she luxuriates in the genre
3
The Beguiled
Michael Smith
The Beguiled is clever surprising and less aggressive than your average wartime tale and that seems appropriate for a story of survival told with a woman s touch
3
The Beguiled
Calvin Wilson
Another big screen adaptation of this story probably wasn t necessary But as unnecessary films go it s well worth a look
3
The Beguiled
John Wirt
A droll atmospheric adaptation of Thomas Cullinan s 1966 novel Although the 1971 film adaptation starring Clint Eastwood is well regarded writer director Sofia Coppola deftly reimagines the story from a delectably feminine point of view
3.5
The Beguiled
Clayton Davis
Touted with suspense and riveting performances from its cast Sofia Coppola s The Beguiled stands alone as the single best film of 2017 so far and the crowning jewel of the director s career
4
The Beguiled
Steve Macfarlane
The Beguiled serves as proof that what goes for naturalism in Sofia Coppola s dominion still verges on being decorative to the point of self parody
2.5
The Beguiled
Brian Truitt
The Beguiled showcases good manners and bad deeds though it lacks the necessary edge to make it a satisfying revenge thriller
2
The Beguiled
Stephen Rebello
The Beguiled is fun yes and we re all for nuance But for what is essentially a Southern horror movie it s too hermetically sealed wispy and careful to grab you by the throat the way it should
3
The Beguiled
Kent Turner
Sofia Coppola has corseted the simmering sexual tension The movie feels like an abridgement of a highly pulpy game of cat and mouse s
2
The Way Home
Janice Page
Thanks to confident filmmaking and a pair of fascinating performances the way to that destination is a really special walk in the woods
3.5
The Way Home
Marta Barber
The film has good actors and enough quirky moments to keep it interesting
2.5
The Way Home
Joe Baltake
The kid s selfishness is difficult to watch at times but if you have patience on the level of Granny s the payoff is big
3.5
The Way Home
Margaret A. McGurk
Not only is it a charming funny and beautifully crafted import it uses very little dialogue making it relatively effortless to read and follow the action at the same time
3
The Way Home
Edward Guthmann
Kim is the heart of The Way Home She gives it simplicity truth and a shimmering grace
3
The Way Home
Pam Grady
The film occasionally tries the viewer s patience with slow pacing and a main character who sometimes defies sympathy but it ultimately satisfies with its moving story
2.5
Queen Margot
Mal Vincent
If you like historical costume pieces this is your ticket Be warned though that the level of violence is high
3
The Matchmaker
John Hartl
The shadow of the Holocaust hangs over this unique Israeli coming of age film which deals with a special kind of survivor s guilt
3
The Matchmaker
Walter V. Addiego
Nesher has a populist touch showing a sure hand with the numerous subplots and never allowing us to lose sight of his characters humanity even the mostly pathetic villain of the piece
3
The Matchmaker
Glenn Heath Jr.
The film ultimately fails to treat history as anything but a string of melodramatic reference points for moody characters haplessly trying to find love
2
The Matchmaker
Loren King
It weaves fable with realism coming of age innocence with adult grief and guilt with romanticism
3
Parejas
Jorge Avila Andrade
Su manufactura guin direccin y dems elementos cinematogrficos son ms propios de una tarea estudiantil que de un cine interesante y profesional
1.5
War of the Worlds
Jay Antani
so impressive in so many ways that it makes the frustration over its miserable final moments that much harder to bear
3
War of the Worlds
Joe Lozito
Just when it seemed like Mr Spielberg might be maturing into a filmmaker with some much needed cynicism you realize he s still just out there rounding up the dollars
2
War of the Worlds
Peter T. Chattaway
Like disasters in real life the film hits you in the gut with a vision of catastrophe and leaves you to sort out what it all means
3
War of the Worlds
Garth Franklin
Spielberg creates an alien invasion movie that can be labelled the antithesis to the likes of Independence Day or the ilk The reason The personal perspective
3
War of the Worlds
Jorge Avila Andrade
No es la gran película de la década pero sí es un claro ejemplo de entretenimiento del más alto nivel que te mantendrá literalmente en el filo de la butaca
3.5
War of the Worlds
Collin Souter
Certainly a grab bag of Spielberg s Greatest Hits but like The Beatles there s a reason a lot of those Hits were 1 when they came out
3.5
War of the Worlds
Kurt Loder
A s much a disaster movie as it is a straight sci fi horror film there are very good performances in the film but the movie leaves you feeling let down and quarrelsome
2.5
War of the Worlds
Forrest Hartman
War of the Worlds is thoughtful but don t let that worry you This is an action film concerned more with delivering thrills than making bold statements
3.5
War of the Worlds
Lori Hoffman
The movie is the anti Independence Day the aliens are kicking our butts and we can t do anything but wait for our turn to become kibble
2.5
War of the Worlds
Greg Maki
A visual and technical achievement but underwhelming on every other level
2.5
War of the Worlds
Dan Fienberg
An intense sci fi experience that should satisfy viewers who crave both expensive special effects and intimate human drama assuming that such an audience exists
3.5
War of the Worlds
Michael A. Smith
director Steven Spielberg has brought the story to this generation And it is a story meant for this time
3.5
War of the Worlds
Mark Collette
Gritty visuals paired with awesome sound design create a trepidation that at moments rises to a quality we haven t seen in a Spielberg film since 1977
3
War of the Worlds
Nick Rogers
Pitched at a level of interpersonal experience amid the mayhem this blockbuster offers no sense of loss Given its ending you d think the power had been out for a few days
2
War of the Worlds
Sean McBride
an awesome summer movie that showcases a director and some actors at the top of their games
3.5
War of the Worlds
Frank Houston
A sure footed thrill ride with more suspense and spine tingling scares than a Tom Cruise publicity junket
3.5
War of the Worlds
Timothy Knight
An unwieldy hodgepodge of spectacular set pieces and sappy family drama
2.5
War of the Worlds
Bruce Newman
War of the Worlds is a picture without a thought in its pretty head the Tom Cruise movie to end all Tom Cruise movies
3
War of the Worlds
Carla Meyer
Technically flawless but not especially moving
2.5
War of the Worlds
Kit Bowen
With the power of Spielberg and Cruise behind it the sinister and tense War of the Worlds is this summer s blockbuster to beat them all
3.5
War of the Worlds
Glenn Whipp
Fantastic and banal terrifying and occasionally dull pure Spielberg and yet at times anonymous War of the Worlds delivers multiple viewing experiences during its two hour running time
3
War of the Worlds
Aaron Hillis
the film s only sublime moments happen in scenes where the population gets blown up
2.5
War of the Worlds
Jami Bernard
The movie is no fun There s none of the spirited adrenaline you expect from a bang up blockbuster I ve docked it a star or so because it is nasty and mean spirited and plays on shocking allusions to 9 11 imagery
2
War of the Worlds
Mary F. Pols
In the second half of the film the wind starts to go out of Spielberg s sails
2.5
War of the Worlds
Tyler Hanley
War is a blast
3
War of the Worlds
Jon Niccum
It s refreshing for a change to see an apocalyptic vision that doesn t include shots of prominent world monuments being obliterated
3
War of the Worlds
Larry Ratliff
It s tiring stressful and just plain not much fun to watch a 10 year old scream in total terror for almost two hours
2.5
War of the Worlds
Jeffrey Westhoff
May be the most efficiently built engine of escalating terror you will ever encounter But Spielberg s technique serves no purpose this time except the visceral
2.5
War of the Worlds
Chuck O'Leary
Almost good enough to make you forget its director is an overrated egomaniac and its star is a self righteous nut
3
War of the Worlds
Emily Blunt
What what have they created here Really folks I m at a loss
0
War of the Worlds
Jeremiah Kipp
War of the Worlds takes one of our deepest global fears the threat of annihilation and gives us a catharsis when humanity reasserts itself
3
War of the Worlds
Phoebe Flowers
War of the Worlds is easily the most bone chillingly scary movie Spielberg has made but it also taps into an unsettling kind of fear that never goes for the cheap thrill The dread Spielberg conjures is horribly personal
3.5
War of the Worlds
Jeff Strickler
Spielberg seems to have resigned himself to the fact that he ll never match the impact of the radio show but he s making no bones about going after that FX Oscar
3
Electrick Children
Chuck Bowen
Rebecca Thomas s debut feature is a sensible and humane exploration of youthful curiosity
3
Once Upon a Time Was I, Verônica
Diego Semerene
The film is simply too conscious of its form and its global market ambitions to ever feel honestly interested in the themes it purports to cherish
1.5
La boda de Valentina
Ernesto Diezmartinez
The sad thing is that this re marriage comedy perhaps the most clearly progressive subgenre within the Hollywood comedy since the times of It Happened One Capra 1934 ended up giving us such a conformist outcome Full Review in Spanish
0
Life 2.0
Diego Semerene
For a moment you wonder or hope that this will be a film entirely shot in Second Life
2
All or Nothing
Connie Ogle
The film feels uncomfortably real its language and locations bearing the unmistakable stamp of authority
2.5
All or Nothing
Steven Rosen
Leigh makes these lives count And he allows a gawky actor like Spall who could too easily become comic relief in any other film to reveal his impressively delicate range
3
All or Nothing
Joe Baltake
It is almost impossible to sludge through this tiny morality tale and not recognize bad habits small and familiar that we all share and also take for granted
3
All or Nothing
Edward Guthmann
We re back on the social and emotional turf that Leigh knows best
3
All or Nothing
Glenn Lovell
These characters are beyond hope and caring about
1.5
All or Nothing
Mary F. Pols
Leigh has a true talent for drawing wrenching performances from his actors improvised over many months and for conveying the way tiny acts of kindness make ordinary life survivable
3
All or Nothing
Pam Grady
Once more Leigh provides an example of why he s one of the finest directors of actors working today
3.5
All or Nothing
Megan Turner
It s easy to succumb to the rhythms of this melancholic but humanistic rumination on the meaning of life
3
All or Nothing
Glenn Whipp
The movie s greatest achievement apart from the haunting turns from Spall and Manville is that all this unrelenting bleakness actually goes somewhere
3
All or Nothing
Ian Mantgani
Lazy miserable and smug This is one of the biggest disappointments of the year
1.5
All or Nothing
Jeremy Heilman
Even as All or Nothing doesn t fail it pales in comparison with the best of Leigh s work but all the same it s well worth seeing
3.5
All or Nothing
Harvey S. Karten
As good a picture of working class desperation as you can get
3
Outside the Law
Andrew Schenker
Whenever the film starts to feel too locked in by its plotting Bouchareb introduces a new element of moral queasiness to upset the easy balance
3
Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms
Robert Daniels
It s sweet to the point of ugly crying with bittersweetness
3
Remote Area Medical
Matt Zoller Seitz
From these subjects you find out all you need to know in order to appreciate the magnitude of what RAM is doing and the scope of the crisis affecting the rural poor
3
Remote Area Medical
Stephanie Merry
Remote Area Medical is an incredibly tragic movie It s also an important one reminding viewers that America is more than its coasts and cities There are corners of the country we all too easily forget
3
Remote Area Medical
Rob Humanick
Despite the subdued anger and drawn out suffering on display the documentary is primarily a work of hope
3
Unforgettable
Julia Cooper
Here the dizzying pairing of slice and splatter violence with the quiet horror of abusive relationships doesn t add up it s used unforgivably as a gimmick
2
Unforgettable
Eric Henderson
The truly depressing thing about a thriller as undercoocked as Unforgettable is its failure to fly on dark fantasy
1
Unforgettable
Max Weiss
The film is so inept it starts with a teaser of sorts that basically spoils the whole film
1.5
Unforgettable
Robbie-Ann McPherson
After the screening was over someone asked me what the name of the film was that I had just seen As God as my witness for a moment I forgot
2
Unforgettable
Rick Bentley
Unforgettable is very forgettable
0.5
Unforgettable
Pat Padua
This forgettable thriller will simply make you remember other better films
2
Unforgettable
David Lewis
Drag queens from around the world will eagerly await their chance to play these roles in the near future whether on stage or at midnight movie screenings
3
The Angels' Share
Kelly Jane Torrance
The Angels Share certainly has elements of a crime caper but this rich film is actually so much more
3.5
The Angels' Share
Stephanie Merry
Despite its ultimate sense of optimism the Glasgow set dramedy nevertheless carries a sense of foreboding And yet that might not have been the intention
2.5
The Angels' Share
Michael Posner
The result is a sometimes gritty occasionally charming Highland hybrid but the final balance feels slightly off kilter
2
The Angels' Share
Tom Russo
Charming enough to satisfy even the trenchant commentary crowd
3
The Angels' Share
Farran Smith Nehme
While a few farcical moments fizzle it s mostly charming
3.5
The Angels' Share
Glenn Heath Jr.
Ken Loach s breezy scribble about lowlife redemption and drunken buffoonery isn t so much heavy handed as it is charmingly weightless
2
The Angels' Share
Steven Boone
Loach s realism always carries a distinct sense of humor volatility and most alarmingly in this hypercapitalist new century a socialist passion for The People
3.5
Bubble Boy
Edward Guthmann
It s impossible not to respond to Gyllenhaal s sweetness wide eyes and dazzling smile or to imagine anyone whose looks or personality would be more perfectly suited to the role
3
Bubble Boy
Mary Kalin-Casey
Both sweet and satirical with a nave hero in the mold of Tim Burton s more tragically tinged Edward Scissorhands
3
Bubble Boy
Jonathan Foreman
While this critic generally likes it when comedies trample on p c pieties Bubble Boy crosses way over the line
1.5
Bubble Boy
Tony Toscano
Bubble Boy s producers should never be allowed to SEE another film let alone make one
0
Bubble Boy
Harvey S. Karten
Moronic racist embarrassing
0.5
Summer '03
Alice Stoehr
Is this a black comedy à la Todd Solondz Or a quirky teen drama with a dash of girl power All in all it s too glib too zany too half hearted to be a solid example of either
1.5
Summer '03
Matt Fagerholm
Though the film s screwball energy keeps things relatively sunny neither Gleason nor King fail to take the central protagonist s emotions seriously
3
The Letters
Scott Renshaw
Teresa is simply portrayed as a dedicated servant of God while whatever internal struggle she dealt with remains told not shown
2
The Letters
Godfrey Cheshire
A drama in which belief is reduced to well meaning but inert treacle
1
The Letters
Soren Andersen
Writer director William Riead offers a highly simplified version of his subject s life
2.5
The Letters
Rick Bentley
Mother Teresa s life was so inspiring that even a film that tells her story at only about 75 percent of its potential still delivers a heavy spiritual punch
3
The Letters
Clayton Dillard
A brain dead slog whose bankrupt aesthetics ironically soil the very legacy it purports to aggrandize
.5
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
CSM Staff
The humor is as rude and crude as the characters but the picture certainly isn t lacking in energy
2
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Judith Egerton
Fans of Quentin Tarantino s Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown are in for a treat
3
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Ted Prigge
You re more or less bound to have a blast watching it that is if you don t take any of it seriously
3
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Joe Baltake
The film had me alternating between a sugar high and drowsiness One minute I struggled to keep awake the next I was jumping in my seat Neither extreme is particularly pleasurable
2
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Greg Dean Schmitz
Just don t expect to be dazzled by the story because if you re like me you ll have trouble following the faces and hence the plot from one scene to another
2
Unconditional
Mark Jenkins
Contrived and simplistic
1.5
Unconditional
Chris Foran
In a year where what divides us seems to get more attention than what unites us it s enough to restore your well faith
2.5
Body
Barry Hertz
A shoestring house of horrors exercise that just sort of well exists with no real purpose or artistic vision driving it forward
1.5
Body
Andy Crump
Body mines heaps of tension from Cali and Holly s moral back and forth but their dilemma might have cut deeper with better less predictable characterization
2.5
Body
Simon Abrams
Body may not be the kind of modern day B movie that wins awards but it does exactly what it sets out to and that s a fair amount So go ahead see this film for yourself You won t know what hit you
3.5
Pistol Opera
Jonathan Rosenbaum
I couldn t give a fully coherent synopsis of Pistol Opera if my life depended on it but it s still the most fun new movie I ve seen since Mulholland Drive and Waking Life both also 2001
4
Pistol Opera
Gabe Leibowitz
Though extraordinarily simplistic at its core Suzuki s directorial style is so chock full of vigor and passion for his craft that it spills into Pistol Opera allowing the flick to carve out its own niche
3
Pistol Opera
Joshua Tanzer
Stylish but obtuse Charitably we might try to think of Pistol Opera as the Tampopo of killing people
1
The Gray Man
Rene Sanchez
Despite its fast paced rhythm and the caliber of the talent in front and behind the camera it ends up being an unimaginative and formulaic spy flick 91 Full Review in Spanish 93
2
The Gray Man
Mike Scott
It can fairly be criticized as big loud and derivative But thanks to masterfully delivered one liners from Ryan Gosling and top shelf scenery chewing from Chris Evans it is first and foremost a fun film
3
The Gray Man
Leo Brady
The Gray Man is a lot of flash with nothing to hold onto Feeling that way about movies is not what I wanted It left me feeling gloomy and gray
2
The Gray Man
Kevin Carr
There s some decent action set pieces and a formidable cast but not enough to pop out of summertime filler
2.5
The Gray Man
Pablo O. Scholz
It s an action film one with fights explosions shootouts and a few gags It isn t original but it s fun Full review in Spanish
4
The Gray Man
Jeff York
Netflix s latest actioner has a wonderful one played by Chris Evans In this spy tale he plays such a delicious bad guy that he manages to make up for many of the mistakes on display in this big budget adventure
2.5
The Gray Man
Johnny Oleksinski
My barista could have been cast as the lead of this action thriller and the film would be absolutely no different
1.5
The Gray Man
Josh Bell
quot Gray quot is the right word for such an empty forgettable piece of would be studio intellectual property
1.5
The Gray Man
Mark Feeney
The movie feels increasingly tired All that gunplay all that traveling all that sneering from Lloyd Everything gets a bit much
2
The Gray Man
Jocelyn Noveck
It s hard not to think of the title when contemplating the overall effect of a film that spares no expense to entertain yet ends up feeling a little aimless perplexingly bland and what s the word we re looking for Oh yes Gray
2
The Gray Man
Brian Tallerico
Everything here feels so programmatically dull It s a silly piece of popcorn entertainment that too often forgets that this kind of venture needs to be fun
2
The Gray Man
Sonny Bunch
Joe and Anthony Russo s use of drone cameras is genuinely fascinating
2.5
The Gray Man
Mark Meszoros
It is easy to recommend this slick but not too slick globetrotting adventure and it s a solid bounce back for the Russos after last year s 8220 Cherry 8221 a disappointing based on a true story drama starring fellow MCU vet Tom Holland that landed on Apple TV 43
3
The Gray Man
Emily Zemler
While this may be yet another potentially disposable action movie it s still worth seeing on the big screen at full volume if you can The action is big and the stars give it their all even if the dialogue leaves something to be desired
2.5
The Gray Man
Brian Truitt
The Russo brothers are aces at making superhero movies They need more practice with superspies
2
The Gray Man
Chris Barsanti
The Gray Man is a noisy flashy spectacle that piles clich 233 s atop ludicrous plotting and sprinkles it all with half funny quips
1.5
Tokyo Tribe
Frank Ochieng
Outwardly frivolous frenetic and fueled with a bizarre combination of opulence and outlandishness Tokyo Tribe will indeed stimulate the senses with its hodge podge of hedonistic heft in the realm of instantaneous insanity
2.5
Tokyo Tribe
Dan Schindel
Even to call it a perverted ultra violent dystopian Japanese gang war hip hop musical while covering all the bases would miss what makes the film so indelible
3
Tokyo Tribe
Simon Abrams
It s an infectiously over the top and unquestionably idiosyncratic mess but it only holds together for as long as you re impressed by its commitment to an admittedly novel premise
3
Drive My Car
Sonny Bunch
It s talky without being snappy languorous without being pleasurable
2
Drive My Car
Josh Bell
The movie takes its time building its narrative and defining its characters and it requires patience to appreciate its many virtues
3
Drive My Car
Rene Sanchez
An enthralling and introspective journey that takes us through the winding and mysterious roads of love and loss Full Review in Spanish
4
Drive My Car
Bennett Campbell Ferguson
After you see Drive My Car you will never look at snow suspension bridges or stages the same way again When you see the world through the searching eyes of director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi there is no such thing as mere scenery
4
Drive My Car
Allyson Johnson
Hamaguchi s ace in the hole is leading man Hidetoshi Nishijima who conveys a soulful and contemplative portrait of grief and passion and how the two intersect
4
Drive My Car
Mark Feeney
Over the course of just under three hours Hamaguchi reworks and expands a Haruki Murakami short story it first ran in The New Yorker into an intimate epic
3.5
Drive My Car
Blake Howard
Director and co writer Ryusuke Hamaguchi and co writer Takamasa Oe adapt a Haruki Murakami short story and create an impactful nerve exposing rumination on love the safety of our weaknesses and the things that we re tethered to in loss
4
Drive My Car
G. Allen Johnson
There is a deep richness to the film especially in Yûsuke s emotional journey and Hamaguchi does an excellent job of letting his characters secrets unfold naturally
3
Drive My Car
Carlos Aguilar
Drive My Car devastates and comforts through its vehicular poetry of the sorrow from which we run the collisions that awaken us and the healing gained from every bump in the road
4
Drive My Car
Aparita Bhandari
Drive My Car is a beautiful and mellow ride although you ll need to stretch your legs after it ends
3.5
Blue Gate Crossing
Elizabeth Weitzman
A lovely little coming of age story
3
I Love My Dad
Jeff York
If you can catch your breath from guffawing you might just find a lump in your throat too 10
3
I Love My Dad
Nick Allen
I Love My Dad is the kind of story that doesn t overthink what makes it so laugh out loud funny but there s a whole lot of ugly extremely human things going on each time its comedy makes you cover your eyes
3.5
I Love My Dad
Mark Feeney
Emotionally the movie is a mess It can be even messier tonally
1.5
I Love My Dad
Chuck Bowen
For both better and worse I Love My Dad feels less like a film than an exorcism
2
108
Joseph Jon Lanthier
Renate Costa s doc gradually simplifies into an elaborate seesaw between general journalistic scoopery and unabashedly personal confrontation
3
Neruda
Rania Richardson
Chilean director Pablo Larran turns a standard biopic inside out in NERUDA a stylish thriller with a literary bent
4
Neruda
Alan Zilberman
Neruda is a delightful mishmash of two disparate genres the biopic and film noir
3
Neruda
Anita Katz
The actors make the robust confident Neruda and the thin self doubting Peluchonneau riveting psychological as well as physical complements
3.5
Neruda
Miriam Di Nunzio
Calderon and Larrain have taken great dramatic license with Neruda s story and the payoff is more than worth the risk
3
Neruda
Bruce DeMara
With great supporting performances and an intelligent script it s an accomplished and engrossing tale
3.5
Neruda
Oleg Ivanov
Pablo Larraín has captured Pablo Neruda in all of his pomposity pretense courage and undeniable genius
3.5
The Ring
Bill Chambers
Neither inferior nor superior to the Hollywood version
3
The Ring
Jeremy Heilman
Even if it s been tailor made for Japanese schoolgirls it still had me screaming like one
3.5
Blue Ruin
Soren Andersen
Blair an unheralded actor carries the whole picture He s in practically every scene and his performance is fascinating because in his eyes you can see the character struggling desperately with himself
3
Blue Ruin
Bruce Ingram
You couldn t ask for a more unlikely avenger than the ill equipped sort of hero of Blue Ruin and that s precisely why it s far far more suspenseful than the typical violent revenge thriller
3.5
Blue Ruin
Brad Keefe
Fans of the darker side of the Coen Brothers Blood Simple No Country for Old Men and Quentin Tarantino should take note
3.5
Blue Ruin
Adam Nayman
Blair is excellent in the lead but the filmmaking is the true star here
3.5
Blue Ruin
Susan Wloszczyna
Saulnier makes some interesting choices that reveal he has more on his mind than just indulging in mindless mayhem with spurts of dark comedy
3.5
Blue Ruin
Jesse Cataldo
By reducing its principals to stock figures in an extended chess game it ends up providing steady neatly staged thrills but little else of substance
2.5
The Seagull's Laughter
Janice Page
Lively and beautiful filmmaking
3
The Seagull's Laughter
Ruthe Stein
Seagull often is on the verge of melodrama but in the best sense of the genre where real life is exaggerated but never to the point of being unrecognizable
3
The Seagull's Laughter
Marta Barber
Some scenes drag but Seagull s Laughter is still delightful
3
The Seagull's Laughter
Laura Kelly
A solid example of why foreign film lovers adore foreign films
3.5
The Seagull's Laughter
John Petrakis
Writer director Agust Gudmundsson skillfully balances romantic comedy and melodrama with a coming of age story and morality play
3
The Seagull's Laughter
Elizabeth Weitzman
A droll script and generally deft direction make the Icelandic chill surprisingly inviting
3
The Seagull's Laughter
Joshua Tanzer
A strange mix of sexy comedy and deadly thriller from that other frigid island in the Atlantic
3
The Seagull's Laughter
Jan Stuart
A childhood reminiscence set in 1953 that seems to recycle elements from every coming of age movie ever made
2
Dalya's Other Country
Christopher James
It s empowering and wonderful to watch Dalya s perception of femininity change over the course of four years
3.5
L'Avventura
Jeremy Heilman
Perhaps the quintessential cinematic expression of ennui
4
You Can't Hurry Love
Richard Freedman
Maybe you can t hurry love but that s no excuse for this sodden jape to be quite so plodding and lethargic
0
Big Gold Brick
William Repass
Brian Pestos s flair for go for broke zaniness transmutes what might otherwise have been a lump of self indulgent clichés into gold
3
Windtalkers
Forrest Hartman
It s tough to get worked up after watching superior films like Black Hawk Down and We Were Soldiers
3
Windtalkers
Jim Shelby
Sure he directs the heck out of gun battles and hand to hand combat paying loving attention to each grunt spurt and grimace but there is something unseemly about the agony of war serving as fodder for yet another of Woo s sensational spectacles
2
Windtalkers
Jeff Strickler
The history is fascinating the action is dazzling They just don t work in concert
3
Windtalkers
Margaret A. McGurk
The subject may be new to him but in Windtalkers Mr Woo abandons none of his obsessions with loyalty duty religious ritual even birds in flight
3
Windtalkers
Jon Niccum
A genuinely fascinating piece of American history reduced by Woo to a near psychopathic bloodbath full of transparent jingoism
1.5
Windtalkers
Jules Brenner
John Woo and Nicolas Cage do little to enhance their reputations with this one which is not to say that an indiscriminate war film buff might not get a fix out of the action content here
2
Windtalkers
Kevin A. Ranson
a character driven story like this should probably have spent more time on the characters and less time on pyrotechnics
1.5
Windtalkers
Harvey S. Karten
The good news is that this movie might inspire an indie team to make a sincere character driven story of the Navajos in WWII
2
Windtalkers
Robert Roten
Windtalkers is a bloody war film that is long on action but hampered by a thin story and underwritten characters
2
Windtalkers
Todd Anthony
Saving Private Ryan made World War II compelling for a new generation of moviegoers Windtalkers marches out so many cliches that it just may have the opposite effect
2
Windtalkers
Melanie McFarland
This is one of the most intensely personal war films you will ever see
3
Windtalkers
Joe Baltake
One thing that should be taught in Film Criticism 101 is that a fascinating subject does not necessarily guarantee a fascinating movie and the new film Windtalkers would be an excellent case in point
2.5
Windtalkers
Dave Tianen
Unfortunately contrived plotting stereotyped characters and Woo s over the top instincts as a director undermine the moral dilemma at the movie s heart
2
Windtalkers
Susan Stark
Directed without the expected flair or imagination by Hong Kong master John Woo Windtalkers airs just about every cliche in the war movie compendium across its indulgent two hour and fifteen minute length
1
Windtalkers
Steven Rosen
I wish Windtalkers had had more faith in the dramatic potential of this true story This would have been better than the fiction it has concocted and there still could have been room for the war scenes
2.5
Windtalkers
Glenn Whipp
What ultimately makes Windtalkers a disappointment is the superficial way it deals with its story
2.5
Windtalkers
Mary F. Pols
It s such an obvious hack gesture you can hardly believe Woo is responsible
1
Windtalkers
Leighton Walter Kille
Woo wanted the film to be realistic and it is The violence is unrelenting the uniforms are dirty and mismatched the weapons are shiny from use the soldiers are exhausted sick sad
2.5
Windtalkers
Tony Toscano
An appealing and well acted film
3
Windtalkers
Bruce Newman
Despite the movie s overly simplistic view of the bigotry the Navajos faced in the military Windtalkers speaks of a love between men who have come to a place willing to die together
3
Windtalkers
Tor Thorsen
Woo s most resonant film since The Killer
3.5
Windtalkers
Michael Szymanski
Some of the most ravaging gut wrenching frightening war scenes since Saving Private Ryan have been recreated by John Woo in this little known story of Native Americans and their role in the second great war
2.5
Windtalkers
Steven Snyder
if you like me think an action film disguised as a war tribute is disgusting to begin with then you re in for a painful ride
1
Windtalkers
Andrew Howe
A powerful and involving film that bears the unmistakeable imprint of the greatest action director of our time
3
Newtown
Matt Zoller Seitz
It s impossible to watch this film and feel no particular way about the killings
3.5
Newtown
Clayton Dillard
Its enervated address of both mental health treatment and gun laws receives few constructive articulations beyond a single scene
2
Newtown
Scott Renshaw
A consistently lump in the throat experience
3
The Rest of Us
Johanna Schneller
I believe that people behaving well can be every bit as dramatic as people behaving badly Here s a movie that proves me right softly
3
Razzle Dazzle: The Lost World
Eric Henderson
A penetrating contemplation of the American industrial military complex s obstreperous legacy
3
Kill List
Peter Hartlaub
Kill List has a slow build but don t be lulled into complacency This is one of the most violent and disturbing films you ll see in an art house
3
Kill List
Peg Aloi
Following up his impressive debut Down Terrace Ben Wheatley s Yorkshire based crime thriller swerves with abrupt satisfaction into horror in its final moments
3
Kill List
Glenn Lovell
a brazen mix of Brit Grit Pulp Fiction and The Wicker Man Wheatley s second feature is definitely fated for horror cult dom It not only stands up under repeat viewings it demands them
4
Kill List
Jaime N. Christley
The ending is so gracelessly ironic that O Henry himself would have thrown up his hands in disgust
1.5
Güeros
Odie Henderson
As a whole Gueros does not hang together at all But its pieces are intriguing enough to warrant a look for fans of stylish visual filmmaking
2.5
Güeros
Farran Smith Nehme
Agreeable this film certainly is but the shagginess never seems to take shape
2
Güeros
Godfrey Cheshire
More than perhaps any other country Mexico has lobbed some real cinematic intelligence onto the world stage in recent years Güeros continues that salutary tradition
4
Güeros
Elise Nakhnikian
The film s social commentary unspools quietly in the background while the narrative focuses on the ennui free floating anxiety and inchoate longing for meaning experienced by two or three privileged young people from the middle to upper middle classes
3
Shutter
Lucius Gore
the film feels like a made for TV movie
1
Shutter
Austin Kennedy
Yeah this movie is a must avoid
.5
Shutter
John Wirt
No one needs a telephoto lens to see what s coming in Shutter
1.5
Shutter
Philip Marchand
With Shutter that nerve tingling soundtrack gets heavy use almost from the beginning of the movie It becomes tiresome
2.5
Shutter
Stephen Cole
Though a presentation of 20th Century Fox Shutter has the look and feel of a proper J horror film
2.5
Shutter
Michael Hardy
If Shutter is any indication the reputation of professional photographers is still on the wane Not only are photographs creepy the film suggests but so are photographers
2
Shutter
Rob Humanick
Shutter is a ghost story free of logic and spirit representative of everything that s wrong with so much of current mainstream studio fare
.5
Shutter
Larry Ratliff
Personally I prefer the Thai original which is available on DVD It truly gave me the creeps
2.5
Brewster's Millions
Bill Chambers
Pryor appears to self delete expletives in Brewster s Millions by making a litany of far more offensive Stepin Fetchit facial expressions
1.5
Our School
Steve Macfarlane
The filmmakers spend vastly more time chronicling bigoted remarks from Romanians about gypsy life than they do actual gypsy life so a minor crisis of perspective hangs over Our School
2.5
Three Months
Johnny Oleksinski
The biggest takeaway from Three Months an open hearted new teen drama on Paramount is that Troye Sivan has real acting chops
3
Three Months
David Reddish
Empathetic writing by Frieder and a directorial style that evokes both Kevin Smith and John Hughes make Three Months into something we once thought impossible a very funny comedy about HIV
3
Three Months
Nick Allen
For wherever this movies best intentions started it ends up with something thats thoroughly indie wholesale
2
In Country
Mallory Andrews
In Country is as much an unabashedly humanist document as it is a fascinating and touching piece of nonfiction filmmaking
3
Dressed to Kill
Eric Melin
A lurid film featuring throat slashing overheated lust and a too simple reduction of cross dressing issues for pulpy purposes But it also uses grand cinematic gestures to relay the dread and guilt of its characters to great effect
3.5
Dressed to Kill
Eric Henderson
Inflates paperback pulp psychology into something like a plot all the better to demonstrate that filmmaking is an inherently visual storytelling
4
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Jason Fraley
A film that positions Tom Hanks for Best Supporting Actor because he s surprisingly not the main character If you know that going in you ll love the movie Just don t expect it to be Fred Rogers life story in a traditional biopic
3.5
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Max Weiss
For a film that I occasionally resisted A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood sure made me cry a lot
3
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Monica Castillo
Hanks energy in the role wonderfully gets at what A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood wants to convey
3.5
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Sarah Knight Adamson
An American hero we can all be proud to call our own Now the world can learn from the teachings of this life changing man Marielle Heller s exceptional film should be viewed by all
4
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Anita Katz
Director Marielle Heller puts irresistible humanity and gracefully keen humor on the screen and she keeps the emotion real
3
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Keith Uhlich
Marielle Heller takes a script that many filmmakers would turn into cringe inducing treacle and interrogates the sentimental trappings
3.5
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Maria Sciullo
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is a loving tribute to the essence of Fred Rogers Coupled with Neville s documentary it underscores the notion that in ugly times a legacy of kindness and understanding can indeed be stronger than hate
3.5
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Pamela Powell
Director Heller s A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is a brilliant work of art as Tom Hanks captures the heart soul and essence of Fred Rogers
4
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Rene Sanchez
More than a straight biopic about Fred Rogers it plays as a celebration of the late TV host s unforgettable legacy of love compassion and respect Tom Hanks embodies Rogers to perfection Full Review in Spanish
3
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Angelo Muredda
Heller s take treats the children s broadcaster not so much as a person with a life story worth profiling but as a contagion for radical ways of sublimating anger in children and adults alike
3
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Shane Slater
Eschews traditional biopic expectations for an endearing tribute to Mister Rogers legacy of kindness and empathy
3
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Barry Hertz
Hanks is not surprisingly excellently cast but it s Heller s direction and inventive aesthetic instinct everything is washed out browns with the exception of a moving blue lit finale that sell the work so well
3.5
Milton Glaser: To Inform & Delight
Kenneth Baker
will leave an audience feeling both lightened and illuminated
3
Milton Glaser: To Inform & Delight
Joe Neumaier
Collaborators testify to the continuing influence of Glaser now almost 80 but seeing is believing in director Wendy Keys pleasantly conversational documentary Expect to mutter He made that too at least a dozen times
3
Milton Glaser: To Inform & Delight
Jay Antani
Keys succeeds in limning an engaging portrait of an artist and mentor who s spent a lifetime affirming the power of art to inform and delight and if he can help it effect positive social change
3
We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks
Kristin Tillotson
Gibney builds a remarkable level of suspense given how exhaustively WikiLeaks has been covered in the media
3.5
We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks
Bill Stamets
Who is We in the title We Steal Secrets There s no need for a spoiler alert but it s neither Gibney nor Assange
3.5
We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks
Nathan Southern
The movie is so beautifully crafted and realized that it might well be called flawless
4
We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks
Nick McCarthy
We Steal Secrets lacks perspective and still feels wrapped in secrets and lies
1.5
The Price We Pay
Bruce DeMara
In addition to diagnosing the problem the film also offers solutions though the challenge ahead is beyond daunting Open your eyes Go and see this film
3
The Price We Pay
David Berry
It does a fine job of laying out how much more complicated this issue is in the digital age when even what corporations do is as ephemeral as the way they treat their money
3
The Pink Panther Strikes Again
Bill Chambers
Infectiously enthusiastic
3.5
Saving Christmas
John Serba
Cameron s preferred tool of engagement is a prybar applied to your eyelids with an indelicate hand
1
Saving Christmas
Peter Sobczynski
Perhaps the only Christmas movie I can think of especially of the religious themed variety that seems to flat out endorse materialism greed and outright gluttony
1
Saving Christmas
Bill Zwecker
This may be one of the least artful holiday films ever made Even devout born again Christians will find this hard to stomach
1
Flying Swords of Dragon Gate
Jeff Shannon
IMAX 3D turns a slightly above average wuxia martial hero action thriller into an epic extravaganza
3
Flying Swords of Dragon Gate
Andrew Schenker
Tsui Hark s film is the veteran director s chance to let his imagination run riot in the context of a high budget 3D IMAX production
3
The Legend of Barney Thomson
Kate Taylor
Robert Carlyle is excellent as the lugubrious and downtrodden Barney but as he makes his directorial debut here his rhythm on this deadpan comedy is erratic
3
The Legend of Barney Thomson
David Berry
As the man says Barney Thomson is nasty brutish and short but not quite funny enough to always get away with it
2
Paddleton
Chuck Bowen
The film largely plays its scenario with a straight and gooey face coaxing its actors to indulge their worst tendencies
1.5
Paddleton
Karen M. Peterson
Even when things get sad they never swerve too far into depressing This isn t a film that tries to manipulate the viewer into tears It simply asks you to feel in whatever way is natural
3.5
Paddleton
Monica Castillo
An appreciation of friendship for better or for worse in sickness and in health
3.5
Afterglow
Emanuel Levy
The still strkingly beautiful Julie Christie renders such as glowing performance that she alone justifies viewing this incurable frivolous romantic serio comedy in which she plays B Movie actress
3
Afterglow
Judith Egerton
Will turn off viewers before they arrive at scenes in the final third of this movie that make the previous tedious parts forgivable
2.5
R100
Andy Crump
R100 is primarily a parade of kink topped off with explicit allegory for pushing subversive art past prudes
3
R100
Simon Abrams
Even if you like bizarre movies you ll probably like R100 then hate it then go back to liking it then wonder what you re looking at And then the movie will end
3
R100
James Lattimer
The set pieces follow their own insane unstoppable logic with each new twist yielding its own outré surprises
3
Obit.
Jane Horwitz
It is fascinating to watch the writers in Obit strive to do right by their subjects warts and all
3.5
Obit.
David Lewis
These folks are neither dour nor sappy they are just talented journalists who want to do right by the people who left their mark on the world
3
Obit.
Godfrey Cheshire
Readers of the New York Times are bound to enjoy an inside look at one of the paper s most dependably enthralling sections
3
Obit.
Clayton Dillard
The film ascribes to a conventionally contrapuntal take on the lives of those who spend all day surrounded by death
2
Obit.
Julia Cooper
Documentarian Vanessa Gould leads her viewer by the hand through the day in a life of the darling weirdos at The New York Times obituary desk
3.5
Obit.
Kathryn Laskaris
Obit is a fascinating if slightly too long look at newspaper journalism in general and obituaries in particular
3
Graffiti Bridge
Gene Siskel
Prince follows his disastrous Under the Cherry Moon with another lame film
1
Graffiti Bridge
Michael Upchurch
Technically the film is a compendium of stale MTV gimmicks dry ice stylized sets It s a neo Expressionist tempest in a teapot
1
Graffiti Bridge
Dennis King
Hardcore Prince fans might revel in His Royal Purpleness muted philisopical musings but everyone else will likely find this film an overblown bore
1
Graffiti Bridge
Mark Caro
The movie suffers from various technical difficulties like choppy editing and songs that get cut off mid groove and in the end everything collapses in a heap
2
The Shipping News
Margaret A. McGurk
Mr Spacey and his estimable supporting cast bring skill and commitment to their roles they respect their characters and demand as much from the audience
3
The Shipping News
Jorge Avila Andrade
Queda un sentimiento de insatisfaccin por haber perdido casi dos horas sentado y sin que se nos diga hacia donde van los eventos
2.5
The Shipping News
Ian Mantgani
Begins so unsurely that it hardly has a chance at recovery
2
The Shipping News
Emily Blunt
The Shipping News is brilliant heartwarming and divinely sublime as the cast delivers one helluva film
4
The Shipping News
Robert Roten
This is a highly amusing tale that is probably supposed to be more serious than it seemed to be on the screen
3
The Shipping News
Bob Graham
It s hardly possible to overstate what a welcome change of pace The Shipping News is for admirers of Kevin Spacey
3
The Shipping News
Susan Stark
A quiet penetrating marvel of a movie
4
The Shipping News
Harvey S. Karten
Kevin Spacey redeems his performance from K PAX with a patient story of a man s finding his life
3
The Shipping News
Rod Armstrong
Engaging enough to watch and a fair measure better than Hallstrm s ridiculously overrated last work Chocolat
2.5
Hellions
Marsha Lederman
This creepfest initially serves up some good horror flick fun but seems to lose the plot as the wind kicks up and the sky changes colour and the chase goes on and on
2.5
Hellions
Simon Abrams
A perfect light midnight movie that should go great with light drinks good company and a warm blanket
2.5
Rang de Basanti
G. Allen Johnson
The simple minded presentation ultimately makes it ring hollow
2
Time
Leo Brady
Time is a gorgeous capturing of love and commitment fighting for someone and fighting against a system that fails to forgive
3.5
Time
Sarah-Tai Black
It s a document of mutual care a self authored family archive magnified by the scope of its editor and platform and a compassionately rendered adaptation of the ways in which we feel the tempo intervals duration and memory of time
4
Time
Dwight Brown
This documentary dares to be humanizing and forgiving at a time when dehumanization is so mainstream
3
Time
Lisa Trifone
Time is as much a testament to Rich s resiliency and persistence as it is an indictment of the system that has kept this family apart for two decades
3.5
Time
Mark Kennedy
Time is very much worth everyone s time
4
Time
Odie Henderson
This beautiful and haunting documentary reminds us that there s a human being behind those prison identification numbers someone who is loved and is missed
3.5
Time
Pat Brown
It reminds us in eminently cinematic ways that behind the numbers and procedures of a court case are actual lives existing in actual human time
3.5
Sarah Palin: You Betcha!
Leba Hertz
Probably the scariest movie you will see all year
3
Sarah Palin: You Betcha!
Bill Chambers
Preaches to the converted
2
Blind Beast
Kathy Fennessy
None of this is especially subtle especially the actors apos feverish performances though Fires on the Plain cinematographer Setsuo Kobayashi uses negative space masterfully
3
All the Right Moves
Betsy Bozdech
Thanks to strong performances by stars Tom Cruise and Lea Thompson this is one football flick that isn t just about scoring the winning touchdown
3
LX 2048
G. Allen Johnson
I m not sure how good a movie it is but it would be an excellent basis for a streaming series in which its ambitious ideas would have time to develop
2
S.W.A.T.
Greg Maki
S W A T is an action movie for those of us who want to see more than shiny cars and musclebound meathead heroes of the Vin Diesel variety
3
S.W.A.T.
Steven Snyder
Why not just make an action film without pretending to be something more
2
S.W.A.T.
Kevin A. Ranson
another film franchise based on an aging property because Hollywood would rather spend a few bucks on a barely remembered property instead of a lot of bucks developing something new themselves
1.5
S.W.A.T.
Paul Povse
S W A T s last seemingly interminable 45 minutes make the Mini Cooper chase of The Italian Job seem practically Truffaut
2
S.W.A.T.
Timothy Knight
There s no there there
2
S.W.A.T.
Tyler Hanley
The so so summer movie syndrome continues with this poorly written but finely cast action thriller based on yet another long buried television series
2.5
S.W.A.T.
Jonathan R. Perry
Dumb lazy predictable and usually preposterous Occasionally it s fun but that s no excuse
2
S.W.A.T.
Tony Toscano
The film succeeds in developing its story characters and action even though every step of the way is a formula ridden minefield
3
S.W.A.T.
Vanessa Sibbald
S W A T is exactly what it promises to be a fun summer movie that doesn t leave you shaking your head in regret afterwards Besides a man in uniform is always a good thing right
2.5
S.W.A.T.
Joe Baltake
Despite the usual macho posturing and testosterone poisoning that are the hallmarks of such projects S W A T finds some room for a comfortable lived in quality among a small likable cast that exudes terrific chemistry
3
S.W.A.T.
Megan Lehmann
A lifeless trudge through squandered opportunities and god awful dialogue
2
S.W.A.T.
Jack Mathews
Fresher popcorn than most of the sequels that have come and gone
2.5
S.W.A.T.
Stephen Cole
A film full of phony swagger and dialogue so awful you hope for once distracting conversations to break out in the theatre around you
1.5
S.W.A.T.
James Sanford
Neither dull nor particularly exciting no one is likely to hold this film up as his or her shining moment when it s time to put together a career retrospective
2.5
S.W.A.T.
Jon Niccum
Like a bullet shot from a rifle this is one shiny noisy and mechanical affair
2
S.W.A.T.
Leigh Johnson
From the minute S W A T starts rolling it s clear we ve got a wanna be blockbuster on our hands And we all know what that means
1.5
S.W.A.T.
Jack Zink
A straightforward yet interesting yarn
2.5
S.W.A.T.
Mack Bates
The best summer action movie since 1994 s Speed
3.5
S.W.A.T.
Jan Stuart
A throbbing dose of high testosterone schlock in which logic credibility and characterization also are dispensable in the name of that all consuming end keeping things moving
2
S.W.A.T.
Peter Sobczynski
The actors have an appealing enough chemistry to overcome some of the sillier moments and make S W A T a better film that it probably has any right to be
3
S.W.A.T.
Jeremiah Kipp
Think of a citywide version of John Carpenter s B movie gem Assault on Precinct 13 and you ve just imagined a better movie than S W A T
1
Copying Beethoven
Brooke Holgerson
Stuck between Kruger s blankness and Harris s overemoting the film never finds a balance
2
Copying Beethoven
Janos Gereben
The irresponsibly fictionalized Amadeus was an exercise in realism in comparison and it was simply a much better film
2
Copying Beethoven
Ruthe Stein
You may walk out of Copying Beethoven humming the movie But that s not the same as singing its praises
2
Copying Beethoven
Timothy Knight
Copying Beethoven is all too reminiscent of those glossily ersatz biopics that Hollywood used to crank out in the 1930s and 40s
2
Copying Beethoven
Lisa Rose
It works on an aesthetic level but it s uneven as a drama
2
Copying Beethoven
Jack Mathews
It was audacious of the filmmakers to imagine they could build a story and characters around the creation of the Ninth Symphony that would play as dramatically as the music
2.5
Copying Beethoven
Bruce Newman
A feminist fantasy that you can either embrace as director Agnieszka Holland Europa Europa seems to have done with an unbecoming schoolgirl gushiness or repeatedly be pulled out of the story by its falseness
2
Copying Beethoven
Gene Seymour
If you re going to tackle Ludwig van Beethoven you ve got to go as hard and high as he did All this movie does is flounder and flail around his tempestuous spirit
2
Copying Beethoven
Jason Clark
Will there ever be a decent movie made about any part of Ludwig van Beethoven s life
1.5
Copying Beethoven
James Adams
There s a lot of Romantic hokum here that probably won t play well with many postmodernist sensibilities
2
License to Wed
Jonathan W. Hickman
It s a shame that Robin Williams continues to take roles that exploit and water down his talent
1.5
License to Wed
Peter T. Chattaway
If ever there was a ceremony or ritual that needed to be called off it is the one that begins with the act of buying a ticket for this movie
1.5
License to Wed
Gary Brown
a romantic comedy misfire that could send aspirant newlyweds and anyone else in attendance down the wrong aisle to the exit door
1
License to Wed
Sean McBride
Be sure to say I don t to License to Wed
1
License to Wed
Geoff Pevere
This assaultively unappealing romantic comedy could well mark the opening salvo in a whole new Hollywood campaign against movie piracy Anybody who d steal this dud would stink just from carrying it around
0.5
License to Wed
Kit Bowen
You know you re in trouble when the outtakes during the end credits are the best part
1.5
License to Wed
Daniel M. Kimmel
What this is really about is yet another entry in one of the more loathsome comedy genres the humiliation of the hero
1.5
License to Wed
Gary Goldstein
The worst idea for a studio comedy since last year s equally dreadful Failure to Launch
1.5
License to Wed
Sue Pierman
A pleasant enough diversion for anyone who likes their comedies as light and fluffy as their popcorn
2.5
License to Wed
Connie Ogle
Just another mediocre addition worse than the best sitcoms better than the worst to the expanding list of movies that make Netflix a far more appealing option than going to a theater
2
License to Wed
Amy Biancolli
Krasinski affirms that he can carry more than a desk job on The Office and Moore plays straight gal in a film that improves at least on her last role in the ugh inducing Because I Said So License to Wed doesn t fail her this time
2.5
License to Wed
John Monaghan
Anyone who has been through the process of church mandated marriage preparation counseling should get a chuckle out of License to Wed that is if the comedy weren t so badly handled
2
License to Wed
Lawrence Toppman
For all the Hollywood obviousness of the reassuring ending director Kwapis and his writers put over the subversive message that marriage can be maddening
3
License to Wed
Jan Stuart
License to Wed is another lamebrain Hollywood comedy in which a peanut gallery of the shrill and the narcissistic conspire to drive a wedge between two innocents
1.5
Bounce
Judith Egerton
Affleck and Paltrow seem to be enjoying their roles far more than we do
2
Bounce
Andrew Howe
An agreeable but ultimately insubstantial piece of fluff
2.5
Bounce
Susan Stark
The script by Don Roos who also directed makes good use of the dramatic irony
3
Bounce
Edward Guthmann
The movie never really works because it s hard to root for a screen romance when one of the actors is stiff and unsympathetic
2
Bounce
Mary Kalin-Casey
Despite some failings along the way the film builds toward his and the actors strengths by its closing scenes Bounce bounces back
2.5
Reversion
Wes Greene
It may look like a dream but it plays like someone reading a congressional report on corporate finagling out loud
2
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Jolene Mendez
If you are looking for mixed martial arts with a little magic thrown in then this is the film for you Otherwise let me say I hope this Mummy is a wrap
1.5
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Felix Vasquez Jr.
If this were Maria Bello s first film I guarantee this would have been the last we d seen of her
2
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Greg Maki
Parts of the movie are fun mostly due to Fraser s and Bello s winning attitudes But there is too much slapstick too much infantile humor too much messy editing and an overload of special effects
1.5
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Carla Meyer
The Mummy Tomb of the Dragon Emperor is a cheeseball film that s hard to love but impossible to hate
2.5
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Ken Fox
There are so few surprises that one not only begins anticipating the next scene but looking forward to the end
2.5
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Mark Rahner
If movies were people The Mummy Tomb of the Dragon Emperor would be a total bimbo nice looking and kind of fun sometimes but so unbearably empty and dumb that it doesn t matter
1
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
David Frese
This sequel is inferior even to its predecessors three if you count the prequel The Scorpion King themselves poor versions of the George Lucas Steven Spielberg franchise
1
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Amy Biancolli
It s serviceable summer twaddle but you might as well see Hellboy II The Golden Army similar plot much better film
2
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Jennie Punter
The Mummy Tomb of the Dragon Emperor marks the sad end we hope to a franchise that delivered two solid highly entertaining summer popcorn munchers both superior to the second Indiana Jones flick
2
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Nick Rogers
Soulless loud dull and aggressively unintelligent Questioning creature feature logic usually is a buzzkill but in a film with Tibetan yetis somehow aware of football gestures it s essential to keep your brain from turning to goop
.5
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Brandon Fibbs
Exactly the sort of ridiculous vacuous throwaway fare we ve come to expect during the summer season
1.5
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Daniel M. Kimmel
You don t believe it for a minute but you may find yourself having too much fun to care
3
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Pete Hammond
If Universal wants to continue the tired series after this one we suggest they take it to Broadway instead maybe as a musical How about Mummy Mia
1.5
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Charles Koplinski
Better Left for Dead
2.0
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Cathy Jakicic
With an adventure fantasy a certain amount of creative license is to be expected even encouraged but this third installment of the Mummy franchise is nearly swamped by distracting lapses in logic
2
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Christy DeSmith
The film s best quality is that it continues the Mummy tradition of mocking its own big budget gratuitousness
2.5
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Austin Kennedy
These are the middle of the road Hollywood Blockbusters that I dread but there is a fanbase for it and I guess if you liked the others you will like this one just as much probably
2
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Lawrence Toppman
It s barely possible that Mummy 3 is a colossal in joke a spoof of all the adventure movies that have drab actors laughable computer generated effects a threadbare plot continuity lapses and one liners that repeatedly fall flat
1
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Sean McBride
Fraser s still a lot of fun but the charm seems to be evaporating from the franchise this third time out
2
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
Timothy Knight
A haunting frequently unsettling documentary about the blurry line between madness and genius
3.5
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
Laura Kelly
There s something truly illuminating in the telling of Daniel Johnston s story and his painful struggle with bipolar disorder
3.5
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
Dan DeLuca
Like Capturing the Friedmans Devil is loaded with revealing footage rife with psychodrama including a creepy home movie in which the teenage Johnston plays himself and his overbearing mother
3.5
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
Amy Biancolli
A searing compassionate portrait of chronic mental illness
3.5
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
Thomas Delapa
You don t need to be Einstein to know that not all geniuses are mad More to the relative point not all madmen are geniuses
2
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
Jeff Strickler
Perhaps Feuerzeig wanted to get away from the stereotypical talking head interview but by having the subject stop periodically to rinse and spit
2.5
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
Allison Benedikt
Feuerzeig recounts it all with clear eyed candor turning to Johnston s battered friends and family for insight and empathy and to Johnston s tapes and drawings for an inside look at his illness
3.5
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
Joel Selvin
Whether Johnston is a genius or a wonderful anomaly remains to be seen but director Jeff Feuerzeig has stitched together a detailed portrait of the artist s life and music that is never less than compelling
4
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
Ken Fox
While the insane details of manic depressive pop savant Daniel Johnston s troubled life make for gripping viewing the best thing about Jeff Feuerzeig s excellent documentary is his refusal to romanticize Johnston s mental illness
3.5
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
Kurt Loder
The Devil and Daniel Johnston is a documentary that will haunt you all the way home and into the night
3.5
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
Geoff Pevere
The Devil and Daniel Johnston is a movie about a man whose demons live with him always but who has somehow found a way of speaking that can still be heard above the din in his head
3
Brighton Rock
Kelly Jane Torrance
We should at least give director Rowan Joffe credit for taking a risk even if his version of Brighton Rock doesn t approach the achievement of its two predecessors
3
Brighton Rock
Calvin Wilson
Brighton Rock doesn t rise to classic status but it s an intriguing mood piece
3
Brighton Rock
J. R. Jones
I m still trying to figure out what mods have to do with Brighton Rock and I can only guess that Joffe glommed onto the little town s best known pop culture credential in hope of connecting with a broader or perhaps younger international audience
2
Brighton Rock
Bill Weber
Gutting what made Graham Greene s crime lit classic unique this pointless re setting of the noirish fable fails to bring its puerile antihero to compelling life
1.5
The Love Letter
Susan Stark
A scattershot account of unexpected confusing romantic love that spreads like a virus
1
The Midnight Meat Train
Lucius Gore
This is the best Clive Barker inspired movie in a long long time probably since Hellraiser III in 1992
3
The Midnight Meat Train
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Destined to be a cult classic as a vicious brilliant and disgusting horror film
3
The Midnight Meat Train
Austin Kennedy
It was a pretty neat concept but it has such a bad script and bogged down with horrendous acting that I can t say it s a good movie
2
Midway
Jason Fraley
It might make a worthy Veterans Day watch if you bring your veteran grandparent or war buff parent You ll remember the experience with your loved ones more than the actual movie
2.5
Midway
Pamela Powell
Midway is a film to give a new generation an important lesson in history one that feels alive and one that will connect you with the heroes from The Battle of Midway
3.5
Midway
Kevin A. Ranson
paints a bleak historic picture of how the balance of power in the world shifted in only six months tempered with a necessary glimpse into the human cost and the courage of those facing overwhelming odds
3
Midway
Barry Hertz
Midway is a choppy bore its main source of intrigue centred around whatever New Jersey ese accent British actor Ed Skrein is attempting as dive bomber Richard Best
2
Midway
Brandy McDonnell
It was a job only for the bold and brave and there are worse ways to spend the lead up to Veterans Day than remembering the men who risked and sacrificed their lives doing that job
2.5
Midway
Odie Henderson
The overabundance of CGI is one of the bigger problems with Midway because far too often it feels like you re watching a video game or an F X highlight reel
2
Midway
Robert Daniels
Though Emmerich delivers sharply constructed battles the sprawling 138 minute epic in its sporadic focus makes Michael Bay s slightly underrated thirst trap Pearl Harbor look like a masterpiece
1.5
The Handmaid's Tale
James Sanford
Harold Pinter s adaptation has its powerful moments but ultimately the narrowing of the novel s scope dilutes the story s message too much
2
Loser
Shay Casey
A shockingly awful movie
1
Loser
Robert Payne
The flick is hollow
1.5
Loser
Jorge Avila Andrade
Lo pobre del guin lo acartonado de las actuaciones los dilogos absurdos y una mala edicin hacen que las pocas cualidades de la cinta pasen desapercibidas
1.5
Loser
Carla Meyer
Loser is just as it sounds
1
Travelers and Magicians
Bruce Westbrook
Refreshingly quiet and thoughtful
3
Travelers and Magicians
Geoff Pevere
Lovely obvious and strangely unconvincing
2.5
Travelers and Magicians
Timothy Knight
Profound and gently funny
3
Travelers and Magicians
Jami Bernard
Writer director Khyentse Norbu sees paradise not as the seat of perfection but as the warmth of a simple loving community
3
Travelers and Magicians
Gene Seymour
The scenery is breathtaking the amateur cast is appealing and the road trip though as shaggy and unruly as the vagabond official s haircut emits a pleasant buzz
3
Travelers and Magicians
Joshua Vasquez
A bit too creakingly stiff in its allegory but the film s refusal to provide simple answers is touchingly appropriate
2.5
Travelers and Magicians
Carla Meyer
Visually accomplished and loads of fun
3.5
Miracle in Milan
Gabe Leibowitz
The contrast of sneering wealth versus timid poverty is quietly sarcastic
4
Pandas
Jody Mitori
The film creates an immersive experience with sweeping views of the mountains of Sichuan but while the scenery is stunning the focus stays on the bamboo loving Qian Qian and her struggles in her new environment
3.5
Get Smart
Susan Tavernetti
You ll have a better time if you don t expect this re imagined work to resemble the original The phone shoe does fit Carell and he wears it well
2.5
Get Smart
Jolene Mendez
A film with great flair Another hit for Carell and a great summer hit for all that is a must see
3.5
Get Smart
J. R. Jones
I often wondered if the filmmakers weren t trying to fix something that isn t broken
1
Get Smart
Lori Hoffman
You can t go home again but giving an old favorite a new spin around the block isn t so bad
2.5
Get Smart
Charles Koplinski
Its sin is that it doesn t live up to expectations and is unsure as to how to bridge the gap between the T V show s Cold War sensibility and today s terrorist paranoia
2.5
Get Smart
Gina Carbone
Is it too late to go back and make the whole thing about Bill Murray in that tree
2.75
Get Smart
Gary Brown
This is not your father s Get Smart it is a revved up turbo charged version for the silver screen that appeals directly to the younger age cohort
3
Get Smart
Daniel M. Kimmel
a Get Smart for the big screen a feature length spy spoof with up to date gags some thrilling stunts and a top notch cast
3.5
Get Smart
Connie Ogle
It s not going to redefine comedy as we know it but it s amusing and briskly paced busy with an engaging mix of supporting actors
3
Get Smart
Larry Ratliff
The popular deadpan comedian Carell is only funny about 60 percent of the time Would you believe 50 percent
2.5
Get Smart
John Wirt
The big screen Get Smart aspires to being an action movie Big mistake But raising Maxwell Smart s IQ And transforming him into a post 20th century sensitive guy Even bigger mistakes
2
Get Smart
Mark Rahner
Despite what seemed in the trailers at least like inspired casting of Steve Carell the perpetrators of Get Smart almost entirely miss what made the Cold War TV spy comedy funny
1.5
Get Smart
Nick Rogers
Dedicating this film to Don Adams is like killing seeing eye dogs as tribute to the American Council of the Blind Lest insults not be spread to the deaf it s cruel irony that Beethoven s Ode to Joy is an integral part of a dreary dismal and soulless
1
Get Smart
Todd Hertz
Get Smart features near perfect casting with Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway and it largely captures the spirit of the original show But it s just not funny
2
Get Smart
Bill Weber
An unwieldy spoof thriller of clashing styles that undermine each other like a parade of double agents
1.5
Get Smart
David Hiltbrand
All that s missing is the spirit and the anarchic humor of the sitcom created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry The result is an overdressed carefully stitched scarecrow of a comedy
2
Get Smart
Michael A. Smith
a film that would make creators Buck Henry and Mel Brooks shout into their shoe phones with joy
3
Get Smart
Sean McBride
Purists may be disappointed but I must admit that the film is nevertheless a lot of fun
3
Get Smart
Austin Kennedy
Carell is quite likable at times but for the most part this is just a safe mediocre comedy that isn t good enough for the summer movie season
2
Dating & New York
Lisa Trifone
a central couple so charming they re endlessly watchable make the film something quite modern enjoyable and sweet if not always profound or terribly deep
3
Dating & New York
Matthew Passantino
Dating New York is a loving nod to the city s many jagged edges
3
Flee
Allyson Johnson
It never seems exploitative though and there s a remarkable level of artistry displayed especially in the boundary pushing framework in which the film and director work
3.5
Flee
Roxana Hadadi
Evocatively animated in a style that is visually sparse but emotionally vibrant with a strong sense of motion and interiority
4
Flee
Lindsey Bahr
A rich seamlessly told and emotionally affecting story
3.5
Flee
Angelo Muredda
A high concept work of creative nonfiction whose unconventional style promises an immersiveness it can t really deliver Flee is intermittently moving and insightful
2.5
Flee
Siddhant Adlakha
Documentary realism rarely goes hand in hand with animated un reality but in Jonas Poher Rasmussen s Flee those two aesthetic worlds collide and create a feeling of being unmoored
4
Flee
Keith Watson
The film effectively immerses us in the wrenching details of Amin s story but it keeps us just a bit too far removed from the man himself
2.5
Flee
Sarah-Tai Black
We are witness to both the emotional highs and lows that Amin has lived through all of which are materialized in Flee with grace and an eye for the world s kindnesses just as much as its cruelties
3
Flee
Rene Sanchez
A fascinating documentary that pushes new boundaries and takes us through a heartbreaking journey to redefine the meaning of family home and belonging Full Review in Spanish
4
Flee
Dwight Brown
Innovative doc filmmaking Impressive visuals A very personal and harrowing story laid bare
3.5
Censor
David Gonzalez
A film that offers something far different and more unique by not harking back to horror films of yesteryear instead of providing cerebral meta yet direct protection of the genre from the often given ignorant criticisms about horror as a whole
3.5
Censor
Mia Vicino
The horror here is derived from an inability to cope to gain closure to accept that despite what mainstream movies tell us not every loose end in life ties itself up in an immaculate bow
3
Censor
Rosalie Kicks
With a swift eighty four minute runtime this movie manages to pack a lot of punch delving into such areas as human trauma and societal fixations
3
Censor
Anita Katz
The ambiguity meanwhile when at its finest results in some challenging intrigue due in part to the assuredness with which Bailey Bond presents it
3
Censor
Simon Abrams
There are a number of compelling books about the Video Nasty scare two immediately come to mind Kate Egan s Trash or Treasure and James Simpson s Video Nasty Mayhem but Censor works too
2.5
Censor
Mark Hanson
The film unfortunately pulls back from its social interrogation just when it s working up a head of steam
2
Stalags
Ken Fox
Libsker s documentary not only explores the roots of the Stalags and the means by which they were produced and sold but even does a little detective work into the identities of the authors themselves
3.5
Make Up
Brian Tallerico
An accomplished piece of work and a pronouncement of a great young actress
3
45 Years
Lisa Jensen
Less is definitely more in the haunting marital drama 45 Years
3
45 Years
John Serba
The final shot of 45 Years is an emotional atom bomb
4
45 Years
Scott Renshaw
Writer director Andrew Haigh finds the emotional power that a single revelation can hold over decades of history
4
45 Years
Michael Smith
Very British very subtle and very painful
3
45 Years
Allyson Johnson
Poetic and moving in its direction and performances despite being sometimes stilted in its dialogue 45 Years is a beautiful little film
3
45 Years
Anders Wright
Both Rampling nominated for an Academy Award for the first time and Courtenay are wonderful here doing tremendous work as a couple who know each other all too well but perhaps don t know each other at all
3.5
45 Years
Calvin Wilson
Daringly unsentimental 45 Years makes a persuasive case that marriage demands not only patience but guts
3.5
45 Years
Kate Taylor
45 Years exposes the paradoxical balance of the successful marriage one that requires a sentimental suspension of disbelief on the one hand and a hard headed ability to deal with the everyday on the other
4
45 Years
Alissa Wilkinson
In portraying this woman placid on the outside but rattled to the core Charlotte Rampling defines an understated performance with eyes that are either inscrutable or saying a hundred things at once
4
45 Years
Susan Wloszczyna
I haven t been this shook up by married seniors under duress as they hang out in the kitchen since Amour
4
45 Years
Farran Smith Nehme
At some point in her 50 year career Rampling became one of the world s great actresses Driven by her and Courtenay s work and by director Andrew Haigh s limpid style the film is devastating
3.5
45 Years
Matt Brennan
It s the summative effect of the story s modest exchanges unspooling one after another in long tranquil shots that lends the film its profound sense of loss
4
45 Years
Clayton Davis
Subtle and quietly moving Andrew Haigh s fragrantly appealing 45 Years showcases enriching performances from the darling Charlotte Rampling and the stoic Tom Courtenay
3.5
Farming
Dwight Brown
As anyone who sits through this misguided film will subject themselves to a litany of disgusting racist and sadistic incidents
1
The Gods Must Be Crazy
Austin Kennedy
The comedy has a Keystone Cops feel and the film is also occasionally touching These kinds of silly movies just aren t made anymore and that s too bad
3
Endless Poetry
Pat Padua
Tinged with madness and heartbreak Endless Poetry is the unmistakable byproduct of as the character of Alejandro puts it a heart capable of loving the entire world
3
Endless Poetry
Bennett Campbell Ferguson
It seizes your attention like a flamboyant ringmaster presiding over a circus that despite being baffling is a joy to behold
3
Endless Poetry
Derek Smith
Endless Poetry eventually like young Alejandro opens itself up to the world in all of its beauty and complexities
2.5
The Monkey's Mask
Jay Carr
Wary conflicted gutsy and simpatico Lang d make a fine series character
3
The Monkey's Mask
Loren King
The sex scenes between the women do little to advance the story but they blessedly distract both Jill and the viewer from the thin narrative
2
The Monkey's Mask
Bob Graham
Poetry lesbian sex and murder might be a killer combination if a deadly pace weren t included in the mix
2
24 Hours to Live
Brian Tallerico
Plotted like a Crank sequel and has dialogue that sounds like it was written by a teenage boy
1
Killing Me Softly
Robert Pardi
Why you might ask is master director Chen Kaige wasting his time on such trashy material
2
Killing Me Softly
Jeremy Heilman
Though its rather routine script is loaded with familiar situations the movie has a cinematic fluidity and sense of intelligence that makes it work more than it probably should
2.5
Killing Me Softly
Ian Mantgani
Fails so fundamentally on every conventional level that it achieves some kind of goofy grandeur
2.5
David Foster: Off the Record
Nick Allen
While the doc might prove that Foster s approach worked it s progressively tedious to revisit these hits through such a thick air of self affirmation
1.5
David Foster: Off the Record
Brad Wheeler
Despite the film s laudatory tone a portrait of Foster is competently painted by the veteran documentarian Avrich
3
Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman
Brandy McDonnell
Narrated with warmth and occasional wit by Dustin Hoffman the film relates the artist s growing years and early love of photography
3
Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman
Gerald Peary
Eric Bricker s documentary celebration of America s most renowned architectural photographer is effusive in its praise tame in its public television style execution
2.5
Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman
Bill Weber
Gives a convincing contagious taste of its protagonist s playful optimism
3
Lie With Me
Susan Walker
Director Clement Virgo working with his partner Tamara Faith Berger s short snappy novel Lie With Me strives to get beyond titillation and largely succeeds
2.5
Letters From Baghdad
Lisa Jensen
Calling all uppity women If you re looking for a role model on how to defy the rules and live the life you choose look no further than Gertrude Bell
3
Letters From Baghdad
Anita Katz
While Bell deserves a more comprehensive portrait this documentary brings her into vivid focus and captures the world she inhabited
3
Letters From Baghdad
Vikram Murthi
A disorganized onslaught of primary source material that doesn t so much shed light as it does simply exist
2
Rhinoceros Eyes
John Monaghan
A movie that doesn t always work but certainly earns high marks for weirdness
2
The 5th Quarter
Brandy McDonnell
It isn t always warm and fuzzy but The 5th Quarter at least stays true to its true story
2.5
The 5th Quarter
Russ Breimeier
The 5th Quarter confuses sympathy for empathy This story deserves better than this amateurish production
1.5
Lawless
Kelly Jane Torrance
The genre of the Western is nearly as old as the medium itself Lawless shows there are plenty of ways to modernize the category while still showing it respect
3.5
Lawless
Terence Johnson
The MVP of the film is most certainly Jessica Chastain
3
Lawless
Rob Humanick
Appropriately solemn and violent yet strangely lifeless I imagine a better film was lost in the editing room and will hopefully be found on Blu ray
2.5
Lawless
Perry Seibert
Just as he did in his adaptation of Cormac McCarthy s The Road Hillcoat creates a very specific and unnerving sense of place in Lawless
3
Lawless
Keith Cohen
This gripping crime drama holds your interest You need to be prepared for horrific scenes of bloody violence profane language nudity sexuality La Beouf gives his finest performance to date Pearce is the perfect foil as the villain Hardy continues
3
Lawless
Alison Gang
A steady though rather lifeless backwoods crime drama
2
Lawless
Soren Andersen
A character study that puts its focus on its least sympathetic characters
2
Lawless
Jesse Cataldo
Lawless may be full of half hearted overtures toward depth and emotional complexity but the film s prestige sheen is mostly a sham the real focus here is the irrepressible lure of bad behavior
3
Daybreakers
Lucius Gore
Set in a near future where the entire planet has been taken over by vampires the film is actually quite pertinent in these post credit crisis times
3
Daybreakers
Gina Carbone
Now this is a vampire movie
3
Daybreakers
Kit Bowen
Give it an A for effort C for execution As cool creepy as it seems Daybreakers just doesn t quite measure up to its potential
2.5
Daybreakers
Wilson Morales
Starring Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe the movie which was shot more than two years ago is clever and gory enough to keep horror seekers happy
3
Daybreakers
Sonny Bunch
The action sequences are well executed and the concept is just interesting enough to carry the flimsy plot through its 98 minute running time
2.5
Daybreakers
Peter Hartlaub
The average human body holds approximately 1 5 gallons of blood Unless you re someone in the film Daybreakers Then you re carrying closer to 47 gallons of which will end up splattered on a wall
2
Daybreakers
Joe Lozito
I m as surprised as anyone but this clever vampire movie from the Spierig Brothers proves the genre still has some bite left in it
3
Muppet Treasure Island
Mal Vincent
Yet another diverting throwback to these icons of the 1970s and a reassuring assertion that they will be with us for at least another generation
3
Muppet Treasure Island
Susan Wloszczyna
Geena Davis and Renny Harlin couldn t cut it with Cutthroat Island Steven Spielberg nearly got the hook for Hook But leave it to Miss Piggy and Kermit to discover uncharted gold in the shipwrecked pirate genre
3
The Valet
Leo Brady
The Valet feels like a missed opportunity In what could be a throwback to older 1980 s movies where the oddball guy gets the girl instead feels like random content for a streaming service
2
The Valet
Kevin Carr
It does work but it apos s a little bit rough and wobbly at times
2.5
Arachnophobia
Ryan Murphy
Its screams are likely to be drowned out by a cacophony of joyful wails reverberating in the theaters when Arachnophobia creeps toward an edge of seat conclusion
3
Arachnophobia
Gene Siskel
Goodman is a quiet hoot fancying himself as the last samurai in the battle against bugs His performance takes the edge off the horror and makes Arachnophobia palatable for people of all ages
3
Before the Fall
Norman Gidney
There are moments of brilliance spotted with occasional gaps in quality that keep the film abundantly charming yet inescapably trapped in the Lifetime original movie zone
2
Dust to Dust
Jorge Avila Andrade
Historia sencilla acerca de la familia y de cmo las relaciones humanas suelen ser bastante complicadas dolorosas y por qu no decirlo divertidas
3
No Clue
David Berry
If Butt could make the serious bits feel bigger as opposed to just windrow dressing to his jokes he d have a parody worth really taking seriously
2.5
No Clue
Bruce DeMara
Brent Butt s Corner Gas brand of humour has plenty of loyal fans and if you enjoy his wry and self effacing shtick you ll find No Clue to be an inconsequential but pleasant diversion
3
Raymond & Ray
Joe Friar
Hawke and McGregor deliver solid performances The problem lies with Garc 237 a s story which doesn t utilize the actors to their full capacity Coasts along with bouts of comedy and an occasional traumatic tremor but no real earthquake shaking moments
3
Raymond & Ray
Anne Brodie
McGregor apos s performance is reserved and powerful Hawke apos s is out there and naked and Rodrigo Garcia apos s flawless script and understanding direction create an experience to treasure And there apos s never been a funeral like it onscreen 33
4
Raymond & Ray
Pamela Powell
8220 Raymond amp Ray 8221 is a thoughtful story carefully peeling back the layers of what it means to be a family and see a parent for who he became
3
Raymond & Ray
Josh Bell
Whether treating its subject matter with humor or gravity it apos s consistently unconvincing
2
Max Keeble's Big Move
Jonathan Foreman
Bland occasionally funny Disney comedy about a wayward seventh grader
2.5
Max Keeble's Big Move
Mary Kalin-Casey
Adds nothing especially notable to the pantheon of kids cinema but offers ample good natured laughs for the tween set
2.5
Max Keeble's Big Move
Loren King
A pleasant family film that will mildly amuse adults and please the kids who ve outgrown Barney
2.5
Max Keeble's Big Move
Tony Toscano
Lands like a newspaper tossed by an angry delivery boy in the mud
1
Muchachas
Ernesto Diezmartinez
A remarkable documentary focused on the lives of three maids Full review in Spanish
2
Kedi
Robbie-Ann McPherson
This is a small film but what a beautifully heartfelt one It s one that deserves to be seen if for no other reason than to remind us that there are still corners of the world where the vulnerable are watched over by the compassionate
4
Kedi
Vanessa H. Larson
Though pleasant to watch Torun s feature debut feels more like a meandering montage than a structured narrative and it could easily be half as long
2
Kedi
Kathryn Laskaris
A cat s eye view of the world that showcases both the warm hearted people of this ancient Turkish city and the seamless integration of its felines into everyday life
3
Kedi
Lauren Terry
The artful shots of Istanbul and moving observations from the locals elevate this cat lady movie into an intimate portrait of a multicultural metropolis and its take on our relationship with animals
3
Kedi
Keith Watson
Ceyda Torun s Kedi is an open tender hearted meditation on the relationship between felines and humans
2.5
Hands on a Hardbody
Peter Stack
It s engaging as a non drama of people doing nothing but suffering a lot
2
Us
David Gonzalez
Just like that Us has confirmed that Peele has become a tour de force as a director in Hollywood
4
Us
Cassidy Olsen
Us introduces so many ideas that it can be difficult to focus But it s fascinating to watch those ideas emerge contort and dance around on screen even if they don t always come together to form a cohesive story
3
Us
Jason Fraley
The larger social commentary is timely exposing the class divides of two parallel worlds yet the underlying metaphors never fully gel with the surface level A story plot which is what Get Out did so well
2.5
Us
Doug Walker
There s a lot you can open up and analyze but you can just watch it as a straight forward horror film too
3.5
Us
John Semley
Peele develops a genuinely thrilling heart in the throat scary horror picture
3
Us
Barry Paris
Kudos to the cinematography and the soundtrack But it s a visual visceral not an intellectual experience Unlike Get Out the less time you spend thinking about it afterward the better
2.5
Us
Ben Sachs
it achieves an insidious lingering effect that s rarer in the horror genre
3
Us
Stephen Rebello
How fantastic is it in our predigested everything dumbed down era to be able to leave the theater baffled debating interpretations and occasionally throwing nervous glances over our shoulders
3
Us
Michael Medved
What starts out as creepy and spell binding deteriorates into a silly generic zombie movie before it s partially redeemed by an unforgettably shocking ending
2.5
Us
Michael Smith
I understand why Peele wants us questioning and talking and perhaps looking inward And why he wants us to be afraid That s what he expects of Us
3
Us
Kevin A. Ranson
a sinister symphony of symbolism everything is on the screen and well acted but thinking back to where it all began after it s been seen is a true joy
4
Us
Reginald Ponder
US is another Jordan Peele film with some important messages wrapped in horror and gore If you don t leave fearing yourself you will leave knowing that the worst gang is a doppelgäng Deliberate Disturbing Deserving
3.5
Us
Brandy McDonnell
In this era of sequels reboots and cinematic universes Peele is building a breakout reputation as a true original who is bringing back the element of surprise to his films
4
Us
Alan French
Us showcases Peele s step forward as a director and confirms that Lupita Nyong o is a generational star Us has a lot to say about America and the individual
4
Us
Pamela Powell
Us showcases Peele s seemingly innate ability to perfectly blend comedy and horror with the timing of a Swiss watch Unfortunately after the initial set up of the premise the film becomes an exercise in typical horror gore
3
Us
Max Weiss
Us is much scarier than Get Out but less funny Peele occasionally disrupts the tension with a few jokes but he wants to keep you freaked out not laughing
3.5
Curtis
Dwight Brown
Director screenwriter Chris Bailey evocatively paints a fairly humanizing portrait of Detroit life and two wayward souls finding common ground and a purpose But it is Mr Henry who breathes life into Curtis
3
Do You Believe?
Peter Sobczynski
Subtle as a sledgehammer to the toes and only slightly more entertaining
1.5
Keanu
Sonny Bunch
An excellent cast papers over some of the film s obvious deficiencies
2.5
Keanu
John Serba
You d think this ridiculous comedy might be all about the laughs And although there are many to be had you d be wrong It s about the human inability to resist irrepressible cuteness
3
Keanu
John Hanlon
Hilarious and heartfelt this comedy effectively balances its ludicrous plot with its tremendous affection for the title character
3.5
Keanu
Barry Paris
The scene stealing charisma of that adorable title kitty makes up for a lot especially in his do rag and neck chains I was much smitten by the kitten
2.5
Keanu
Lauren Chval
As a five minute sketch Keanu would be amazing As a 98 minute film Not so much
2
Keanu
Stephen Rebello
Unlike say old comedy movie teams of the past Key and Peele aren t joined at the hip both act in and write other projects for other people But when they do their next movie together yes please let s hope it growls rather than just purrs
2.5
Keanu
Angelica Jade Bastién
Keanu is a pure pop confection that delights even as it proves to be wildly uneven
3
Keanu
Calvin Wilson
At its best Keanu is reminiscent of Woody Allen s early funny films such as Take the Money and Run and Bananas which were also uneven but frequently hilarious
3
Keanu
Brian Truitt
Putting a tiny kitten in an action film sounds like a bonkers idea That is until you see the bizarrely wonderful sight of a tiny kitten in an action film
2.5
A Walk Into the Sea: Danny Williams and the Warhol Factory
Jack Mathews
This is one for the Warhol archives not theaters
2
A Walk Into the Sea: Danny Williams and the Warhol Factory
Ken Fox
In her search for her uncle director Esther Robinson discovered something quite unexpected A startlingly talented filmmaker
3
A Walk Into the Sea: Danny Williams and the Warhol Factory
Jan Stuart
While there is nothing here that will surprise Warhol aficionados Robinson s interpolation of her uncle s ephemeral slo mo images lends a haunting authenticity to the talking heads recollections
2.5
Lost and Delirious
Kevin Courrier
Pool and Thompson have turned a tough minded solid narrative into a campy piece of kitsch that panders to teenage angst
1.5
Lost and Delirious
Edward Guthmann
Pool captures the crazed urgency of first love the feeling of a passion so fierce that even a disapproving society can t crush it
3
Lost and Delirious
Rod Armstrong
A moving and erotic depiction of the pangs of first love in an all girl environment
3
Lost and Delirious
Harvey S. Karten
Rich lesbian jilted by boarding school roommate in a surprisingly dramatic film with stunning acting by Coyote Ugly s Piper Perabo
3
Lost and Delirious
Greg Dean Schmitz
Piper Perabo is the real winner here with a role that showcases her flamboyant acting style and personality we didn t see in Coyote Ugly
3.5
Hollywood Ending
Margaret A. McGurk
A few bright ideas decorated with snappy one liners are stretched too thin to fill almost two hours
2
Hollywood Ending
Gary Brown
While it s no Annie Hall Hollywood Ending is funny enough
3
Hollywood Ending
Shirley Klass
I don t care how many times and in how many movies Woody s character can think he has a brain tumor I still think it s funny
2.75
Hollywood Ending
Joe Leydon
The inside jokes and self referential gags that percolate throughout Hollywood Ending are what really make the movie something special for movie buffs and Allen aficionados
3
Hollywood Ending
Todd Anthony
Allen s funniest and most assured work since 1994 s Bullets Over Broadway
3
Hollywood Ending
Joe Baltake
A concept that sounds a great deal funnier within the confines of a sentence than when executed over a seemingly endless 114 minute running time
1
Hollywood Ending
Chris Fujiwara
Hollywood Ending is a small film but its ease and grace are virtues that can t be overrated
3
Hollywood Ending
Tor Thorsen
At first the sight of a blind man directing a film is hilarious but as the film goes on the joke wears thin
2.5
Hollywood Ending
Tony Toscano
A funny film
3
Hollywood Ending
Harvey S. Karten
Just the film that could help revive the sluggish New York tourist industry
3
Wound
Stephen Cole
Continuously shocking and often painful to watch the New Zealand horror film Wound should challenge its audience many of whom believe the genre is best enjoyed as camp entertainment
2.5
Deuces Wild
Jack Mathews
It not only promotes every stereotype and invokes every clich of Brooklyn lore it combines them all into an insulting composite fuses that to the chrome and fins of the pointless Fifties and then weirdly pretends it s Shakespeare
1
Deuces Wild
Joe Leydon
Imagine a really bad community theater production of West Side Story without the songs
1
Deuces Wild
Ken Fox
Troll the cult section of your local video store for the real deal
2
Deuces Wild
Tor Thorsen
A completely mediocre retreading of the 50s gang drama formula
2
Deuces Wild
Jonathan Perry
It s tough to tell which is in more abundant supply in this woefully hackneyed movie directed by Scott Kalvert about street gangs and turf wars in 1958 Brooklyn stale cliches gratuitous violence or empty machismo
1
Deuces Wild
Tony Toscano
Poorly shot badly written and horribly acted
0
In the Aisles
Christopher Gray
In the Aisles scrutinizes work friendships with a keen sense of how they evolve from clipped polite niceties to inside jokes and private confidences
2
In the Aisles
Lisa Trifone
The film s several layers hold one s attention from the chemistry between Christian and Marion to character developments both tragic and otherwise
3
In the Aisles
Tomris Laffly
There is a gentle fable like aura in Thomas Stuber s In The Aisles which finds beauty and glimmers of hope in the drab and mind numbingly symmetrical corridors of a German wholesale supermarket
3
The Grand Role
Jonathan Curiel
Their characters are compelling and completely realistic the acting is first rate and many scenes in this black and white movie which was shot in different countries including Saudi Arabia are breathtaking
4
The Grand Role
Jami Bernard
Good acting means getting the details right but the details are what s missing in this French tearjerker of a comedy
1.5
The Jingle Dress
Kristin Tillotson
The Jingle Dress deserves more attention and wider distribution
3
Dave Chappelle: The Closer
Ernesto Diezmartinez
What is the function of the court jester Tell the truth Sure it makes us laugh too but the laughter caused by the jester s ridiculous behavior is usually a poisoned apple Dave Chappelle is a good court jester
2
Mean Creek
Larry Ratliff
Raw and in your face Mean Creek eventually ripples emotions all the way to the soul
3.5
Mean Creek
Phoebe Flowers
A beautifully filmed and frequently stirring drama
3
Mean Creek
Jeff Strickler
There are all sorts of other themes at work below the surface including examinations of teenage peer pressure and moral responsibility
3
Mean Creek
Eric Harrison
Estes dives into this material as if it s never been done before and his characters and situations are so realistic and the film s tone is so assured that he succeeds at making it feel fresh
3
Mean Creek
Peter Debruge
Exceptionally strong performances from the entire cast draw you into the movie s deliberately provocative world
3
Mean Creek
Ruthe Stein
Takes its place alongside Stand by Me and River s Edge as one of very few films to accurately portray the experience of growing up male
4
Mean Creek
Janice Page
A thoughtful unpretentious coming of age drama with uncommon emotional heft and an engaging young cast
3.5
Mean Creek
Robert K. Elder
Such a simple plot barely fills the film s 87 minutes but writer director Jacob Aaron Estes more than compensates with his labyrinth of moral dilemmas and complex characters
3
Mean Creek
Jami Bernard
A welcome departure from typical movies about teens
3
Mean Creek
Jay Antani
The script manages a few compelling characters but the rest falls into that non descript Troubled Teenager category
2.5
White Knight
Calum Marsh
The film offers Tom Sizemore the perfect opportunity to prove himself worthy of a comeback Alas he fails spectacularly
.5
Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics
Asher Luberto
Passes the acid test with flying colors
3
Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics
Mark Kennedy
Wasted but not in a good way
1.5
Anzukko (Little Peach)
Keith Uhlich
Naruse examines his own faults and fears through Ryokichi though he also considers the reverberating effects of the character s actions
4
Dealt
David Lewis
This is a movie that has lots of magic in more ways than one
3
Just Friends
Greg Maki
Reynolds and especially the charming Smart give the movie the kind of heart one would not expect
2.5
Just Friends
Thomas Delapa
With Reynolds mugging and rolling his eyes from coast to coast this friendly teen frolic doesn t need enemies
1.5
Just Friends
Kit Bowen
Despite a few bone tickling moments the romantic comedy Just Friends is well just OK
2
Just Friends
Tony Wong
Just Friends is part Farrelly Brothers and part Romy and Michele s High School Reunion all wrapped together to deliver gross out gags in bizarrely random and rapid fire fashion with zero intent to develop sustainable plot or character
2
Just Friends
Paul Schrodt
Faris s parody of pop culture s vapid idols transcends the film s own brainless romantic plot
1.5
Just Friends
Tyler Hanley
With fine performers and decent dialogue creating a concrete foundation it s a shame inane smacks and slaps ultimately make for a rickety flick
2.5
Just Friends
Tracy Allerton
Time and again it goes for cheap laughs at the expense of character development And could the message be any shallower
2
Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon
David Berry
It s not like every biography needs to be a takedown but in this case it misses something significantly deeper Part of why Gordon is so interesting is because he s a bit of a good guy gone bad or at least living in a dark world
2.5
Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon
Stephanie Merry
Good natured and an enjoyable watch If Myers really just wanted to show his appreciation he went above and beyond
2.5
Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon
Dave McGinn
While Gordon may be a minor figure at best he is as this film shows exactly what a mensch should be
2
Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon
Kenji Fujishima
A glorified act of hero worship that leaves one hard pressed to form any conclusion other than an infinitely positive one about Shep Gordon
1
Julieta
Rania Richardson
Is JULIETA a new direction for Pedro Almodvar who has made excess the hallmark of his long career
3
Julieta
Jeff Simon
This is nothing if not an odd movie to encourage people to see It s a graft of artistic forms one atop another that doesn t really take But just the attempt alone is more than a little compelling
3
Julieta
Calvin Wilson
Julieta is a paean to longing regret and the often painful experience of being human
3
Julieta
Tina Hassannia
It s not insulting to highlight a female character s sexuality in her narrative but the way Almodvar does it feels tacky and objectifying
2.5
Julieta
Anita Katz
The cast s two Julietas both excel as their character s pre and post tragedy selves who switch place mid scene in a cinematic magic trick that affirms Almodovar s status as a master
3
Julieta
Kate Taylor
Almodovar has little time to develop these characters emotional ties because there is so much clutter in his plot a soap opera full of improbable coincidences premature deaths and sad declines
2
Julieta
Godfrey Cheshire
A film of such quietly assured mastery that it reminds you American cinema today has virtually no one comparable to Almodvar
3.5
Julieta
Clayton Davis
As seen in his other films Almodovar captures the essence of his characters by choosing stunning and talented actors to portray them In this instance we have two sensational examples with Emma Surez and Adriana Ugarte
3
Julieta
Jesse Cataldo
Pedro Almodvar s object oriented approach ends up blocking off the deeper emotional access that Alice Munro s stories so effortlessly attain
2.5
The Quiet One
Soren Andersen
The hubbub of his Stones years now long in the past Wyman looks back and remembers quietly
3
The Quiet One
Joel Selvin
A banquet for Stones aficionados an insider s scrapbook of memories and glimpses of an illustrious history that Wyman without his vast collection would be little more than a footnote to
3
The Quiet One
Dwight Brown
Bill Wyman is a quiet treasure and so is this doc
3.4
X-Men
Jami Bernard
The X Men comic books have spawned a cottage industry of mutant characters and the movie helps make sense of these legions while offering the established fan base something new to cheer
3
X-Men
Felix Vasquez Jr.
A very good comic book adaptation with great performances true entertainment value and wonderful direction
3
X-Men
Joe Lozito
Relative newcomer Hugh Jackman is a real find as the brooding Wolverine
3
X-Men
Judith Egerton
Superior to any Batman except the 1989 movie
3
X-Men
Margaret A. McGurk
After seeing this film I am looking forward to seeing more from this sleek new breed of action hero
3
X-Men
Jules Brenner
It s a model of discipline in that respect
3
X-Men
Emily Blunt
If you re new to these super heroes it s a wonderful introduction
3
X-Men
Jorge Avila Andrade
Los fans del cmic seguramente estarn gratamente sorprendidos por el buen acercamiento al espritu del cmic que mantiene Singer a lo largo del filme
3
X-Men
Ian Mantgani
Never before has a superhero adventure movie devoted significant time to setting up political context for its fictional reality
3.5
X-Men
Andrew Howe
X Men is not a disappointment
3
X-Men
Bob Graham
This feast of fantasy is worth it
3
X-Men
Mary Kalin-Casey
It has style substance and soul
3
X-Men
Shay Casey
It doesn t disappoint the fanboys by dumbing things down for the mass audience but it doesn t keep its distance either
3.5
X-Men
James O'Ehley
It is quite entertaining but it is simply too short
3
X-Men
Cornell & Petricelli
X Men is not only a superb action film but also an impeccably woven character drama with a profound emotional dimension
4
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Alan French
Despite being 95 years old it remains a classic It also marks a true beginning of Universal Monster Films that would come to define horror for decades
3.5
Girls Rock!
Loey Lockerby
It s a great program and a great subject but Girl s Rock directors Shane King and Arne Johnson don t quite know what to do with it
2.5
Girls Rock!
Sid Smith
There s too little clarity or thoroughness in the biographies too few prolonged scenes of the girls creating their songs
2
Girls Rock!
Todd Hertz
Girls Rock is a success story because of the earnest heart with which it introduces us to some girls who don t realize how much they really do rock
3
Side by Side
Rania Richardson
Celluloid or digital film which is the better format Directors cinematographers editors and other film professionals weigh in on the question in Chris Kenneally s densely packed doc SIDE BY SIDE
2.5
Side by Side
David Wiegand
The documentary would have been that much better with a more explicit focus on why the average filmgoer should care
2
Side by Side
Scott Bowles
Alas if you re someone who enjoys movies as say a two hour escape you may find this documentary on the death of film at digital s hands a bit too inside baseball
2
Side by Side
Bill Weber
A serviceable primer on the digital celluloid divide in commercial cinema if a bit unwieldy in scope and in danger of being made obsolete by the next version of the RED camera
2.5
Bewakoofiyaan
Danny Bowes
The star turn and the only major element in Bewakoofiyaan that transcends the by the numbers assembly line rom com is Rishi Kapoor
2.5
Simpatico
Edward Guthmann
It s a confounding and unsatisfying film
2
Simpatico
Jonathan Foreman
Simpatico pulls up lame way before the stretch
1.5
Simpatico
Greg Dean Schmitz
Debut director Matthew Warchus didn t trim where needed with some extraneous quiet moments that test the patience
1.5
Lil' Buck: Real Swan
Dwight Brown
Director Louis Wallecan doesn t miss one step
3
Miss March
Nick Rogers
At its best this lewder cruder spin on last year s Sex Drive has a disarmingly daffy shaggy dog touch a la Half Baked or The Brothers Solomon But by the time a woman enjoys champagne spiked with dog urine Miss March is all turn offs
2
Miss March
Betsy Sherman
The boys directed and co scripted so there s no one else to blame
1
No
Kelly Jane Torrance
This purposefully low tech approach results in a film with a lot of light Too much perhaps for the contemporary eye but it captures the optimism of the time as well as Saavedra s rainbow laden ads
3.5
No
Soren Andersen
No is a picture that perches precariously on the cusp of a paradox
3
No
Calvin Wilson
No is filmmaking of the first order
3.5
No
Omer Mozaffar
García Bernal quietly carries this film as a soft spoken kid in blue jeans and untucked shirt
4
No
R. Kurt Osenlund
A singular biopic and a snapshot of a society renewed No unaffectedly celebrates faith in democracy and surprisingly truth in advertising
3
October Baby
Stephanie Merry
Extended scenes are dominated by heavy dialogue while the lighter moments are relegated to montages of prancing across a beach for example which simply aren t that effective at buoying the drama
2
October Baby
Burl Burlingame
Heavily vested in its peculiarly glossy agitprop that like Saint Sebastian it invites the arrows of kneejerk derision Too bad as the film has really lovely performances
1
October Baby
Paul Doro
More sermon than movie October Baby has a rigid agenda that it never wavers from
1.5
Grand Theft Parsons
Megan Lehmann
A ho hum meandering road movie albeit with an extremely cool soundtrack
2
Clouds
Nell Minow
This film is particularly perceptive on the issue of what it means to try to be normal under excruciatingly painful circumstances
3
Pucker Up: The Fine Art of Whistling
Janice Page
The filmmakers do a fine job of sprinkling in whistling snapshots and other bits of history
3
Last Holiday
Joseph Jon Lanthier
Alec Guinness is one of classic cinema s truly genuine curiosities
3
Mansfield Park
Jay Carr
Patricia Rozema s Mansfield Park continues Jane Austen s winning streak on film
3
Mansfield Park
Andy Seiler
Even if you have never read Austen you will sense that something is wrong here long before a nude scene that would have made the author hide under a table
2
Mansfield Park
Ian Mantgani
Mansfield Park is a generally light and funny film which invites us to watch Fanny handle the coldness and pressure of her priggish relatives and not only survive but somehow prevail
3
Mansfield Park
Peter Stack
A gorgeous enchanting experience
4
The Waterboy
Peter Stack
We ve got somewhat entertaining trash here
2
The Waterboy
Jorge Avila Andrade
Una pelcula con la que uno puede pasarse 90 minutos entretenido pero nada ms
2
The Waterboy
Elias Savada
Sandler has proven himself a worthy alchemist with The Waterboy transforming swamp water to Evian Quite a refreshing if moronic romp Sandler rocks
2.5
The Waterboy
Madeleine Williams
There are no epic moments that will go down in comedy history here But there s enough funny stuff to keep you amused throughout the movie
2.5
Owl and the Sparrow
Andrew Schenker
For better and largely for worse Stephane Gauger s Ho Chi Minh City set Vietnamese language debut Owl and the Sparrow is defined by its Amerindie aesthetic
2
Owl and the Sparrow
Greg Quill
A strangely overdone final complete with surging musical crescendos and tears rings false given the earnest and unsentimental qualities exhibited elsewhere in Gauger s script and direction
2.5
Angus
Mal Vincent
Angus has a gentle message of tolerance and understanding Our heart goes out to him even if it is manipulated in the most obvious ways
2.5
Angus
Peter Stack
Angus is aimed at young audiences who will identify with his insecurities But it s a fine little film for anybody who likes a heartwarming glimpse at where resolve can take forlorn people
2.5
Angus
Susan Wloszczyna
For a movie that extols the virtues of being different Angus is a frustratingly ordinary story of a high school underdog a chow hound in puppy love
2
Love, Gilda
Matt Zoller Seitz
It s such an altogether perceptive work of both biography and criticism and so thoroughly researched that it s a shame that its more inventive gambits don t pan out
3
Love, Gilda
Robert Daniels
Love Gilda s weakest points are when it falls into the standard famous figure documentary format Instead the main draw of the film is Radner herself
2.5
Love, Gilda
Pat Brown
Its success is due to the way it relies on Radner s often elegant words to relay her experience of female stardom
2.5
The 39 Steps
Ted Prigge
It s almost cleansing to see a film like this which doesn t insult your intelligence
4
Juanita
Monica Castillo
The only thing keeping this movie from completely driving off the road is Alfre Woodard
1.5
The Craft: Legacy
Leo Brady
The problems that lie with The Craft Legacy is that a majority of it feels incomplete
2
The Craft: Legacy
Joe Friar
Apart from the expected hocus pocus the film tackles social issues facing teens adding real depth to these characters The cast is terrific but scares are at a minimum Think Twilight with witches
3
The Craft: Legacy
Chandler Levack
Sadly it then goes totally haywire with a third act trading in maudlin melodrama climaxing in a cheap and poorly directed supernatural battle between the sexes turning what initially felt like a stone cold classic into Twilight Special Witch Edition
2.5
The Craft: Legacy
Mark Kennedy
The Craft Legacy is firing on all cylinders looking back respectfully but also showing how the same story in different hands can soar
3
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Jeff Beck
It s strange to have a film have so much magic within and yet ultimately not have enough of the right kind of magic to make it work
2.5
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Jason Heck
Ever wonder what the Harry Potter films would be like without an ounce of wit grace or subtlety Wonder no more
2
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Jennie Punter
With a predictable plot by the numbers action movie jolts and no real sense of wonder The Sorcerer s Apprentice is really just a pumpkin
2
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Joe Holleman
If a couple of adults are looking for mature movie enjoyment this can be a disappointing recipe But if you want a fun fast paced film that can be enjoyed by all ages it cooks up just right
3
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Thelma Adams
I get a charge out of Cage s serious self mockery here as a wizard who d never make the grade at Hogwarts in a fantasy that doesn t aim high but hits the mark for summer entertainment
2.5
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Matt Soergel
A breezy bit of summertime family entertainment
2.5
Once Upon a Time in the West
Derek Smith
even the quieter romantic or reflective moments are filled with a sense of energy coming from the expectation that at any given moment something huge is going to happen
4
Once Upon a Time in the West
Ted Prigge
A kick ass flick
4
Summer '04
John Monaghan
What better way to spend 97 minutes in November than trying to sort out romantic complications in shorts and sailboats
3
Summer '04
Ken Fox
The film unfolds with cold Chabrolian detachment and quietly builds to a coolly satisfying denouement that leaves everyone involved including the audience second guessing everything that s come before
3
No Time to Die
David Reddish
Craig comes back to the role of Bond in full form while Waltz and Malek both deliver the goods in terms of creepy Bond villainy Ana De Armas damn near steals the movie
3.5
No Time to Die
Kevin A. Ranson
fails to live up to the potential of Casino Royale and Skyfall undermining this Bond series within a series Craig nevertheless wrings every ounce of anger and angst out of the super spy making his portrayal an impossible act to follow
3
No Time to Die
Sarah Knight Adamson
Fans will enjoy seeing Bond s non stop hand to hand combat and his iconic driving skills cinematography is stunning
2.5
No Time to Die
Kevin Carr
As a Bond movie it works It s enjoyable But it s not the Avengers Endgame of the Bond universe
3
No Time to Die
Mark Daniell
Fukunaga deserves credit for taking the character and adding real stakes to his 15 year story arc
3.5
No Time to Die
Joe Friar
Fukunaga delivers a rousing finale to close out an era while Daniel Craig gives us a final definitive performance as the most vulnerable and down to earth representation of Ian Fleming s character
3.5
No Time to Die
Joshua Axelrod
While not a complete home run No Time to Die was worth the wait See this one in a movie theater if you can Craig has earned that much and the film more than justifies a big screen experience
3
No Time to Die
John Wenzel
It s as crisply entertaining as any of the previous Craig movies but circuitous in its quest to tie them all together
3
No Time to Die
Sonny Bunch
This quintet of pictures has packed a more poignant punch than any of the previous Bond movies
3.5
No Time to Die
Chance Solem-Pfeifer
Director Cary Joji Fukunaga breaks visual ground in the enchanting blues and purples of nocturnal Cuba and Jamaica set pieces and bursts of eerie emotional tension stamp his trademark on action set pieces
3
No Time to Die
Michael Medved
A more mature Bond with a richer performance than ever by Daniel Craig
3
No Time to Die
Josh Bell
Spends so much time on its sentimental farewell to Bond that it seems to forget what made him worth watching in the first place
2
No Time to Die
Jeff York
Produced beautifully it s one of the year s best tent poles But what you ll remember most is how much heart Craig puts into it And yours might just ache considerably after the film ends
3
No Time to Die
Mark Meszoros
Some things are worth the wait
3.5
No Time to Die
Jeff Beck
It s hardly the best Bond film but what screenwriters Purvis Wade Fukunaga and Waller Bridge have given us here is an emotionally satisfying exciting and solidly entertaining entry in the franchise that delivers exactly where it needs to
3
No Time to Die
Brian Truitt
Amid seriously high stakes Craig makes you root for Bond like never before in a swan song that ll leave die hards shaken if not stirred
3
No Time to Die
Ernesto Diezmartinez
A great closing for the cycle of films starring Daniel Craig and one of the best James Bond films in the history of the franchise
3
No Time to Die
Leo Brady
What fascinated me and satisfied me the most about this James Bond film is how smooth it goes down It s not forgetting the gadgets the beautiful women the swagger the cool intro sequence or a lounge tune to set the mood
3.5
No Time to Die
Keith Uhlich
This Bond s overall arc from modishly merciless killing machine to aging assassin with the familial feels comes off as a treacly sop to psychological complexity
2
No Time to Die
Wade Major
quite likely the most satisfying Bond film ever made and it is absolutely the right film Bond or otherwise for this moment in time
3.5
Vic & Flo Saw a Bear
Matthew Connolly
The film presents its tonal switch ups and narrative swerves with a deadpan belligerence by turns stimulating calculated and poignant
3
Vic & Flo Saw a Bear
Nathalie Atkinson
As Vic Robitaille is superb cordial with something hinting at gratitude and relief buried in her resignation
3.5
Stan & Ollie
Jason Fraley
The real fun is simply watching Coogan and Reilly recreate all of the timeless gags It s another fine mess they ve gotten us into
3.5
Stan & Ollie
Michael Smith
Stan Ollie tells what is essentially a love story between a pair of performers who love to make each other and other people laugh
2.5
Stan & Ollie
Tom Russo
T his one is worthwhile viewing 8201 no matter how lightly it might tread
3
Stan & Ollie
Josh Bell
The pleasures of the film come mainly from its gentler moments as Coogan and Reilly expertly re enact the dynamic between the two veteran performers
2.5
Stan & Ollie
Robert Daniels
Stan Ollie is a touching tribute to a love that endured through disagreements and has survived through time
3
Stan & Ollie
Johnny Oleksinski
Reilly and Coogan dig into this old school style whistling a happy tune dancing at a saloon peeling a hard boiled egg It s simple stuff but 65 years later it still holds up
3
Stan & Ollie
Odie Henderson
The clichés are there but its heart beats loud enough for us to embrace and forgive them
3.5
Stan & Ollie
Lindsey Bahr
It is simply terrific an understated but smartly told crowd pleaser about the legendary comedy duo in their last act with wonderful production value a sharp and surprisingly poignant script and brilliant performances
3.5
Stan & Ollie
Clayton Davis
Reilly falls into Ollie with impeccable precision and genuine sensitivity More than just a makeup trick Reilly delivers a searing realistic depiction of an emotional and delicately damaged soul
3.5
Tootsie
Jeremy Heilman
The politics of the film seem to be a bit out of whack
1.5
We Are Mari Pepa
Clayton Dillard
The film finally works because of its multitudinous interests in adolescent shell shock where paralysis and uncertainty can only be momentarily assuaged through gendered outrage
2.5
The Wanted 18
Wes Greene
The eccentric artistry calls so much attention to itself as to make the subject of the film feel like an afterthought
1.5
Sieranevada
Brad Wheeler
The film s 176 minute length will tax patience but that almost seems the point in a story about how truth is arrived at and or denied
3
Sieranevada
Calum Marsh
That s the other thing about Puiu s brand of realism it effaces the virtuosity required to pull it off The very mode downplays the feat
3.5
Sieranevada
Oleg Ivanov
The barely muffled anger and violence of the social ills at Sieranevada s core hint at but never reveal the larger political chaos seemingly waiting to erupt just off camera
2.5
The Last Winter
John Monaghan
Fessenden who directed produced cowrote edited and even has a part in the film rightly values mood at least as much as he does delivering more abominable snow monsters
3
The Last Winter
David Wiegand
The film isn t very interesting because it isn t well made
1
The Last Winter
Betsy Bozdech
Sure global warming is scary but chances are even Al Gore would be baffled by Larry Fessenden s moody Arctic set eco thriller
1.5
The Last Winter
Aaron Hillis
A richly drawn ambitious character piece both socially relevant and genuinely suspenseful This is filmmaking both gorgeous and deeply unsettling
3.5
The Last Winter
Jim Hemphill
In the end the scariest thing about The Last Winter is how few of its ideas seem truly fantastic or implausible
3
The Last Winter
Jack Mathews
Larry Fessenden has fashioned a different kind of horror movie here one that moves at glacial speed offers few scares and provides the viewer virtually no satisfaction
1.5
Marfa Girl
Tirdad Derakhshani
It s refreshing to see a film set amid the daily life of an impoverished rural immigrant community It s a shame the only aspect of the social world that is explored is the sexual exploits of a few teens
2.5
Marfa Girl
Odie Henderson
Clark clearly has a visual eye and some of the compositions in his films are breathtaking but unless his predilections float your boat his movies are endurance tests
0.5
Marfa Girl
Carson Lund
The film finds the actors performance deficiencies functioning less as signs of authentic teenage behavior than as an incompetent carrier of plot
2
Eddie
Mal Vincent
Even with many fouls Whoopi s film still is entertaining
2
Eddie
Barbara Shulgasser
There s no doubt she s funny but she could be so much more
1
Lymelife
Reyhan Harmanci
At no point did I feel bored or condescended to and even though the ending may be overwrought it had me gripping my chair
3
Lymelife
Lee Grant
The rest of the cast is splendid including Alec Baldwin a long way from the network executive on the TV sitcom 30 Rock
3
Lymelife
Keith Cohen
Deserves recognition as one of the best independent films released so far in 2009
3
Lymelife
Greg Quill
Even in its darkest moments there are flashes of warm comedy and gentle farce that lend the story considerable credibility and charm
3
Lymelife
Reyhan Harmanci
Rory Culkin does more than hold his own in this high powered cast He shows the angst of a teenage boy but also the resilience There is a sweetness to this film that keeps the darkness at bay
3
Lymelife
Andrew Schenker
After so many Ice Storms and American Beautys what further insights could the present offering hope to add
1
Daguerréotypes
Jesse Cataldo
Like many of Varda s similarly themed explorations the results are more than they initially seem casual anthropology with a strongly humanist bent resulting in a film that s fueled more by compassion than curiosity
3
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Gene Siskel
Although the film is basically a light romantic comedy it couldn t be more psychologically astute in its portrait of a man who defines himself by his bachelorhood which empowers him to get past his fear of commitment
3.5
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Stephen Hunter
The movie dazzles with its slick lines but there s a situational intelligence at play too
3
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Frank Lovece
A witty romantic comedy with a sardonic edge
3.5
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Betsy Bozdech
Succeeds largely thanks to the fortuitous pairing of Richard Curtis s dryly cynical yet sweet script and Grant s iconic performance
3.5
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Thomas Delapa
Courting stardom Grant delivers an engaging performance in Mike Newell s romantic comedy about the horrors of flying solo in a married world
3
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Susan Tavernetti
A high spirited romantic comedy of intoxicating fun
3.5
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Chris Hicks
A very funny and warm effort Four Weddings strives to recapture the screwball sensibility of another era succeeding to a surprising degree
3
Tokyo Sonata
Jason Anderson
A skilful and continually surprising drama Tokyo Sonata depicts the gradual deterioration of an ordinary Japanese family after its breadwinner loses his job owing to corporate downsizing
3.5
Tokyo Sonata
Jennie Punter
The film transcends conventions of genre and cultural boundaries and turns out to be one of the most compelling finely orchestrated and oddly enchanting films of the year so far
4
Tokyo Sonata
Reyhan Harmanci
Tokyo Sonata is a bit overwrought especially in the final act but it is beautifully shot features moving performances by the well chosen cast and has the unity of vision that is the hallmark of an auteur
4
All Night Long
Larry Vitacco
Low keyed comedic action matched against well realized characterizations make All Night Long one of this year s brightest urbanely sophisticated romantic comedies
3
Break Point
Clayton Dillard
A mostly laugh free paint by numbers approach to a pair of former pros vying for relevance as they enter kicking and screaming into their mid 30s
1
The Last Cruise
Robert Daniels
The contours of Olson s modestly shaped documentary reveal anxiety panic and indulgence
3
How They Got Over
Kenneth R. Morefield
It mixes some talking heads with archival performances the better to understand the contributions of gospel to the development of rock and roll
3
Mapplethorpe
Mark Jenkins
If the new biopic Mapplethorpe presents this transgressive vision is vivid detail and it does that s only because it includes so many of Mapplethorpe s pictures Everything else in the film is timid and pedestrian
1.5
Mapplethorpe
Ross Raihala
Mapplethorpe paints a dark depressing picture of the tortured artist but does little to answer any questions about his motivations
1.5
Kawasaki's Rose
Jesse Cataldo
The first film to confront the ghosts of government collaboration in communist Czechoslovakia may be new for Czechs but otherwise it s a familiar invocation of a problematically buried past
2.5
Looking for Eric
Janos Gereben
Though certainly well intended and with a pleasant enough spirit it lacks anything in the way of urgency usually the defining trait of a Ken Loach movie
2
Looking for Eric
Joseph Jon Lanthier
Ken Loach worms beneath sooty surroundings to examine the dreamy undercurrent of idealism that facilitates conflict in his Thatcher ized milieu
3
Backgammon
Odie Henderson
Something is off from the first scene
0
Bad Channels
Felix Vasquez Jr.
There isn t much about the film that makes sense as it s strictly a film with the intent on shining a spotlight on early nineties surrealism and pop
3
Vinyl Nation
Max Weiss
It s a whole lot of fun to see people who love not just music but their stuff so much
3
Trudell
Erin Meister
Despite the rambling finish however overall the film is a thought provoking and graceful portrait of a tenacious peace warrior whose frankness is his greatest weapon
3
Trudell
Ken Fox
Serves as both a timely tribute to the man and an important reminder for those in danger of forgetting the issues at stake in the Native American struggle for rights and dignity
2.5
Budrus
Gerald Peary
Simply shot and straightforward in its argument this film from Brazilian documentarian Julia Bacha is an agitprop rallying cry for Palestinians living in the West Bank s Occupied Territories
3
Lunacy
Bill Stamets
A horse drawn carriage crossing an expressway overpass promises a more subversive ride than Svankmajer delivers
2
Lunacy
Jeff Shannon
This is one of those deliriously unhinged movies that looks feels and sounds genuinely insane for all the right artistic reasons
3
Lunacy
Laura Kelly
Yes the film s undeniable horror lies in the lunacy of filmmaking not the story
2.5
Lunacy
Ruthe Stein
Fans of movies about inmates who take over an asylum King of Hearts and Marat Sade are prime examples will be amused by this surrealistic take on the subject punctuated by animated interludes featuring of all things dancing meat
2
Lunacy
Gary Goldstein
The movie is an ugly self indulgent pretentious exercise masquerading as artistic and insightful filmmaking
2
Lunacy
Stephen Williams
A bad dream leads to constant conscious nightmares in this wacky surreal creepshow from over the edge Czech filmmaker Jan Svankmajer
2.5
The Kid with a Bike
Mark Deming
It s a powerful well crafted film and a striking depiction of a side of growing up few filmmakers have tried to put on film Fewer still have captured it with this sort of honesty and emotional gravity
4
The Kid with a Bike
Chris Foran
De France does a terrific job of balancing maternal instinct with matter of factness in a performance that is more human than tender and all the more powerful for it
3
The Kid with a Bike
Calvin Wilson
This is a film that s not always easy to watch but just about impossible to forget
3.5
The Kid with a Bike
Jay Antani
continues the Belgian writing directing brothers Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne s extraordinary run of charting the lives of European down and outers navigating difficult moral and spiritual terrain
3.5
The Kid with a Bike
Fernando F. Croce
Per usual the Dardennes introduce a conflict and jump right in with subsequent details gradually illuminating the narrative
3.5
Hot to Trot
Dave Kehr
It s true that there has been a shocking dearth of talking horse pictures lately but even so Hot to Trot has few pleasures to offer
1
Black Butterflies
Kenji Fujishima
As far as middlebrow biopics go it may not break any molds but it s a reasonably sensitive and occasionally insightful look into the mind and psyche of an impassioned and deeply troubled artist
2.5
Changing Times
Michele Kenner
A spare but rich film from French master technician Andr C T C chin C
3
Changing Times
Jay Antani
a strangely moving love story
3
Changing Times
Bill Stamets
French director Andre Techine sketches a family with the usual flaws but takes the unusual step of not fixing them
2.5
Changing Times
Ethan Alter
The movie is burdened by several other far less compelling subplots that compete for our attention
2.5
You Should Have Left
Jocelyn Noveck
The tension escalates quite effectively but the payoff feels weak because the thing or person or whatever that we re supposed to be most scared of is hardly as scary as the buildup
2
You Should Have Left
Joe Friar
The Stir of Echoes team of Bacon and Koepp reunite for the haunted house thriller The frights are sparse but it manages to get under your skin
3
You Should Have Left
Johnny Oleksinski
The film begins at ugh and ends at dang You don t yell at the screen so much as yawn at it
1.5
Autumn Ball
Joseph Jon Lanthier
Despite the meandering script Sugisball is a mildly piquant experience
2.5
Goal! 2: Living the Dream
Jason Anderson
Goal II clumsily telegraphs all of its moves far in advance
1.5
Goal! 2: Living the Dream
Johnny Vaughan
Next stop the World Cup can t wait
3
Under the Sun
Godfrey Cheshire
Although unintentionally funny throughout its evocation of life in a totalitarian society is ultimately chilling
3
Under the Sun
Jesse Cataldo
The film s primary effect is to substantiate gossip while satisfying the perverse human desire to gander at misery
2
The Grandmaster
Sonny Bunch
Wong Kar Wai s latest film is by turns elegant and frustrating beautiful and hard to track sumptuous and spartan
3
The Grandmaster
Bill Stamets
Granted The Grandmaster is not a primer on Chinese philosophy Yet it may score as crossover cinema for Wong fans and Lee fans
3
The Grandmaster
Soren Andersen
Writer director Wong Kar wai has made a martial arts movie that is truly a work of art His The Grandmaster is a picture of staggering beauty
3.5
The Grandmaster
Mark Jenkins
The director took great efforts to be true to Chinese martial arts but he did so without sacrificing his own distinctive vision
3
The Grandmaster
Steven Boone
A glorified trailer by Wong Kar Wai is still something to see
3
The Grandmaster
Jeff Beck
With so many years spent on it Wong should have been able to see that the structure wasn t coming together and that his characters needed further work
2
The Grandmaster
Scott Bowles
An historical opus that is equal parts ballet and biography though the second component pales in comparison with the first
3
The Secret Garden
Tomris Laffly
A slightly monotonous but still wondrous reading of the source
3
The Secret Garden
Jason Fraley
The Secret Garden pales in comparison to the 1993 children s flick but it still provides a warm blanket of familiarity during a chaotic time
2.5
The Secret Garden
Johnny Oleksinski
I have never watched an adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett s novel and repeatedly thought Is someone going to get murdered Until now
2
The Secret Garden
Jake Coyle
This is a pleasingly patient film that honestly tackles grief death and rejuvenation without sentimentality
2.5
The Secret Garden
Wes Greene
The film fails to deliver on its initial promise of branching its story out into bold new emotional terrain
2
The Marijuana Conspiracy
Odie Henderson
Hippie swooning temptations aside I remained tethered to The Marijuana Conspiracy thanks to the excellent performances by the actresses playing the main roles
2.5
La La Land
David Gonzalez
When discussing the great musicals of all time La La Land is a film that makes us dreamers remember that anything is possible Not only can it be added to the list of greatest musicals ever made but to the top of any list as the best film of 2016
4
La La Land
Sarah Knight Adamson
An up beat enchanting classic musical
3.5
La La Land
Erik Anderson
Chazelle has crafted a true modern day classic that reminds us of the power of possibility and of dreams the belief in love and being in love It s one of the very best films of the year
4
La La Land
George M. Thomas
There is a reason that La La Land is the best film of the year
4
La La Land
Lisa Jensen
La La Land is a virtuoso production that gives us all something to sing and dance about
4
La La Land
Sebastian Zavala Kahn
La La Land deserves all the awards and praises it has received so far and more It s an ode to jazz cinema theater classical musicals and love Full review in Spanish
3.5
La La Land
Jeff Simon
It s an easy film to enjoy even love But it s unwise to carry that love to any irrational extremes Me I d be very careful tossing gold statues in its direction
3
La La Land
Mal Vincent
La La Land shows that you can make a highly personal intimate movie and still use the style of an old fashioned cast of hundreds musical
3.5
La La Land
Karen D'Souza
If you haven t already fallen for this gauzy romp through the city of Angels at this point you surely will during the last scene with its bittersweet homage to the way times goes by
3
La La Land
John Serba
Of course movie critics love this film shamelessly referential it clearly loves movies as much as we do But don t let that scare you Chazelle s filmmaking is at once virtuosic and instinctive
4
La La Land
Brad Keefe
This is why we go to movies
4
La La Land
Kevin A. Ranson
fans of 2011 s big award winner The Artist are in for a treat greater than the sum of its parts PG 13 for language and criminal use of the a ha song Take On Me
3
La La Land
Rick Bentley
The last quarter of La La Land is so beautifully shot and performed it makes up for the flat opening It becomes a film that embraces a world where dreamers may seem foolish but eventually are very interesting
3
La La Land
Michael Smith
La La Land has the best opening scene of the year It has the best closing scene of the year What s in between those scenes is merely incredible entertainment and expert filmmaking
4
La La Land
Calum Marsh
Audiences find themselves carried away That may be sensible enough What s odd is that La La Land is not the merry entertainment it sometimes seems to be
2
La La Land
Calvin Wilson
At a time when musicals seldom grace the big screen La La Land is practically a miracle
4
La La Land
Max Weiss
La La Land is hopeful even giddy And Chazelle directs with heaps of style and charm
3.5
La La Land
Neil Rosen
Writer director Damien Chazelle whose last film was Whiplash has made a movie that s visually amazing awash in vibrant colors while the camera magnificently swirls around the stars as they sing and dance
3
La La Land
Jocelyn Noveck
Long live the musical Bring enough Kleenex
4
La La Land
Stephen Rebello
It isn t merely that Chazelle has made a film with eye popping color and bold lighting fantastical sets and characters showing their souls in movement and rhyme He s made it feel revolutionary and brand new even when it s as old as the hills
4
La La Land
Brian Truitt
A fabulous old school Hollywood musical in modern day Tinseltown with joyous tunes exceptional choreography a feel good love story and a hint of bittersweetness to keep all that wonder grounded
4
La La Land
Christopher Gray
Every element of La La Land is bound up in a referentiality that largely precludes the outpourings of emotion we come to musicals for
2
La La Land
Mara Reinstein
A gorgeous homage to the golden age of Hollywood musicals in the 1950s the film has the power to make audiences laugh weep and feel as if they can float on air
4
La La Land
Clayton Davis
Your heart gets tightened the frog enters your throat and as soon as you know it the single tear streams down your face Stone sums up not just the film s underlying message but the hopes and dreams of ourselves
3
Halloween Kills
David Gonzalez
While the screenplay is quite messy and some character choices are eye roll inducing Halloween Kills is a worthy sequel to the beloved franchise
3
Halloween Kills
Lindsey Bahr
Perhaps the biggest sin is that it doesn t feel like a movie Halloween Kills is a board clearing pit stop
1.5
Halloween Kills
Ernesto Diezmartinez
The movie has some good ideas but after the interesting reboot of 2018 this second part of the final Halloween trilogy is a disappointment But entertaining
1.5
Halloween Kills
Oliver Jones
A film that so completely sucks the vitality out of John Carpenter s and Debra Hill s original vision that one would be tempted to call it a desecration if that didn t make it sound like more fun than it actually is
0.5
Halloween Kills
Kevin A. Ranson
mines the original film not only for fresh victims but also new meaning behind Michael s behavior This is highly effective until the abrupt ending one that may leave many viewers feeling shortchanged
3
Halloween Kills
Mark Meszoros
This much blood shouldn t be this boring
1.5
Halloween Kills
Kevin Carr
At least they didn t just remake Halloween 2 from 1981 Of all the second Halloween movies this is the best second movie there is
3
Halloween Kills
Derek Smith
As far as improvements go Michael Myers s revitalized brutality is arguably the only successful one that Halloween Kills makes
1.5
Halloween Kills
Brian Truitt
As gruesomely brutal as a night spent with Michael Myers should be although the horror sequel loses some of its skull crushing effectiveness juggling rampant carnage and social commentary
2.5
Home for the Holidays
Jim Shelby
I found myself shaking my head in embarrassed smiling recognition
3.5
Home for the Holidays
Chris Hicks
Overstuffed with subplots the film is somewhat episodic in nature giving each of the characters a few scenes to develop some depth But their eccentricities seem overly mannered and the big gag scenes are not played strictly for laughs
2
Home for the Holidays
Barbara Shulgasser
This movie is about fixing the little cracks in love and it s a fine example of the restorer s art
3
Home for the Holidays
Susan Wloszczyna
With her keen actor s instincts Foster piles on plenty for her terrific cast to chew on and for us to savor
3
Smile Again, Jenny Lee
David Lewis
A cringe inducing bloated story about a bratty tennis star in search of her long lost father painful to watch because it feels like a passion project in which everyone is trying to serve aces yet all we get are double faults
1
Threesome
Chris Hicks
A minor exploitation flick gussied up as an important piece of commentary on sexual politics
0
The Phantom of Liberty
Michael Scheinfeld
An uproarious summary of Luis Bunuel s surrealistic concerns in a collection of anecdotes starring Jean Claude Brialy Michel Piccoli and Monica Vitti
4
Rick
Joshua Kosman
By hewing so faithfully to their source the creators don t let the material pursue its own direction and the result feels dramatically arbitrary
2
Rick
Paul Sherman
Sometimes it s hard to hear the dialogue because the gears of the plot are trying so hard and creaking so loudly
2
Sleepless Night
Jeff Shannon
The plot is clever yet breathtakingly simple the action is relentless but logical and the lead role is tailor made for Hollywood s A list action stars
3
Sleepless Night
Jaime N. Christley
After a few turns in the modest narrative an unlikely sense of structural resilience begins to emerge
3.5
Funny Girl
Harvey S. Karten
There s a reason to see this revival and it s called Barbra fair enough
3
Cremaster 2
Ian Mantgani
It s a little longer than Cremaster 1 and it has extra room for more confusing craziness
2
Cremaster 2
Jeremy Heilman
Easily the most plot driven in all of Matthew Barney s Cremaster cycle Cremaster 2 still conveys the thematic obsessions that drive the series and stands as one of its most accessible entries
4
Evil
Jeff Shannon
Movies like Evil entertain us by serving sweet revenge on a platter and director Mikael Hfstrm manipulates emotions more intelligently than most
2.5
Evil
John McMurtrie
Wilson who plays Erik had never been in a film before Evil which was nominated for a best foreign language Oscar in 2004 and there s no reason that he can t make many more of them
3
Evil
Gene Seymour
Comes perilously close to making Erik s suffering at the hands of sadistic upperclassmen seem almost fetishistic
2.5
Guidelines
Wes Greene
It effectively implies that the subjects troublemaking is the stuff of transience a phase before they re ushered into the realm of adult responsibility
3
Wildlife
Max Weiss
A quiet film but it sneaks up on you gaining in emotional urgency as it goes on
3.5
Wildlife
Brandy McDonnell
Dano and his cohorts have made an evocative film that will quietly break hearts but should also make Oklahomans swell with state pride
3.5
Wildlife
Rubén Rosario
The harder Dano tries to make the movie feel cinematic and boy does he the more stagy it feels
2
Wildlife
Michael Smith
This is a movie that delights in confusion and in not giving its viewers enough of a reason to stay interested in that murkiness of its very unlikable characters
2
Wildlife
Allyson Johnson
Mulligan is graceful and subtle vulnerable and scornful domineering when covering up her many insecurities It s a towering commanding performance
3.5
Wildlife
Oliver Jones
There is a dreamlike quality to actor Paul Dano s debut film as a director one where everyday things and places are imbued with otherworldly beauty and time seems to stand still
3
Wildlife
Johnny Oleksinski
Gyllenhaal and Mulligan are in fine form here but too much of the screenplay written by Dano and Zoe Kazan doesn t ring true
2
Wildlife
Lindsey Bahr
It s one worth making the trip to the theater for Wildlife isn t just a great first film it s a great film
4
Wildlife
Clayton Davis
Dano magnifies the source material by pulling out extraordinary performances from his cast most particularly Academy Award nominee Carey Mulligan and newcomer Ed Oxenbould
3
Wildlife
Dwight Brown
Dano directs the hugely talented cast into giving three dimensional performances that lead to a final act that isn t as spellbinding as the first two
3
Wildlife
Greg Cwik
Wildlife is at once loquacious and laconic a film in which simple words hold unspoken and unequivocal power and the space between banal utterances become chasms
3
Wildlife
Erik Anderson
This is a deeply humane story without heroes or villains that resonates with its honesty and top notch performances
3.5
The Descendants
Sarah Knight Adamson
Plenty to like in this tour de force comedy Seeing it on the big screen is a plus as the cinematography is gorgeous
4
The Descendants
Kelly Jane Torrance
As an unsure father George Clooney s more down to earth than he s been allowed to be in years
3
The Descendants
Jeff Beck
Each year there are usually one or two films that don t deserve all of the insane praise they get last year s The Fighter is a prime example and it looks like The Descendants is one for this year
2.5
The Descendants
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Will keep you soaked in its melancholy until the very end
4
The Descendants
Rich Heldenfels
Clooney is remarkable in Alexander Payne s film about loss confusion and getting by
3.5
The Descendants
Jordan Hiller
Hawaii s lush and luminous landscape is well appreciated but it does nothing to mask the maddeningly irrational plot points Payne expects us to swallow in the name of an alleged skewering social commentary
1
The Descendants
Lori Hoffman
The Descendants hums along fueled by the imperfections that make us all human while trying to uncover moments of grace and wisdom despite those imperfections
3.5
The Descendants
Burl Burlingame
A large patch of the movie s social contract are the Hawaiian notions of aina malama and pono It joins the short list we aren t embarrassed to screen for malahini
3.5
The Descendants
Keith Cohen
This unforgettable movie succeeds by making audiences feel like a part of the family Clooney knocks it out of the park with a marvelous performance Woodley makes a strong bid for a supporting actress nomination The supporting players are all given
4
The Descendants
Ann Lewinson
The Descendants finds Payne now 50 having arrived in midlife with a new maturity eschewing solipsism and snickers for a deeper engagement with the world
3.5
The Descendants
Alison Gang
The balmy breezes and small town intimacy of island life give The Descendants a leisurely tone that distinguishes it from Payne s more angry edged work
3
Ya tozhe khochu (Me Too)
Kristin Tillotson
A darkly pleasing sometimes surreal parable shot through with thoroughly Russian attitude and humor
3
Incendies
Keith Cohen
The movie plays out like a page turning novel that you can t put down There are a number of shocking revelations that take you completely by surprise The acting is outstanding especially the
4
Incendies
Jason Heck
he film offers moments for comprehension and reflection beautifully pacing itself right up until its stunning conclusion
3.5
Incendies
Ted Fry
A deeply resonant literary quality gives what might otherwise seem like a dubious series of coincidences a profound sense of plausibility
3
Incendies
Graham Killeen
Begins with a promise and ends with revelations so combustible they ll consume anyone who uncovers the truth
3.5
Incendies
Gerald Peary
Incendies moves back and forth between the 1980s and the present and every scene is unexpected from the forced recruitment of child soldiers accompanied by a mournful Radiohead song to a startling revelation at a Montreal swimming pool
3.5
Incendies
Andrew Schenker
The film s high drama like its dexterous handling of narrative and its expert mixture of static framings and skillful tracking shots seems like so much empty sensation
2.5
All Together Now
Mark Kennedy
It helps when you have an actress like Cravalho who allows us to see pools of sadness yearning and hunger behind her eyes
4
Moonwalkers
Neil Rosen
The whole thing has a retro swinging 60s vibe that I enjoyed The actors all commit to both the lunacy on screen and its premise and the result is a good natured and entertaining film
3
Moonwalkers
Susan Wloszczyna
Forget a fake moon landing Moonwalkers is a fake comedy
1.5
R.M.N.
Rene Sanchez
Mungiu leverages his characteristic style to examine the nationalism and lack of empathy that seems to be spreading throughout the world 91 Full Review in Spanish 93
3.5
A Small Act
Andrew Schenker
A Small Act is ultimately less about the triumphs of educational aid than the abyss faced by those children left very much behind
2.5
Tricked: The Documentary
Kenji Fujishima
For all the heartbreaking depth with which the filmmakers explore the horrors of human trafficking the film still leaves one with a sense of a larger story just beyond their grasp
2.5
Ray Donovan: The Movie
Kevin A. Ranson
The conclusions to many lingering questions only get a brief nod rather than a season eight exploration but it thankfully resolves Ray s biggest headache even if it s not the happiest of endings
3
After Midnight
Nick Allen
The balance that After Midnight strikes between a two hander and a monster story warrants a Valentine s Day weekend look and maybe even a scary conversation
3
The Witchmaker
Lucius Gore
It s hard to imagine a film this gruesome being shown on commercial TV stations but it was a staple on the defunct Creature Features TV show on KTVU Channel 2 in the 1970s
3
CinemAbility
Matthew Rozsa
CinemAbility The Art of Inclusion tells a Hollywood story that has long been overlooked
3.5
Freedom Writers
Sean McBride
yet another feel good teacher flick that will leave most audiences satisfied
3
Freedom Writers
Thomas Delapa
Gee whiz if Swank taught in the typical American school there d be no child left behind They d all be polishing apples and asking for homework
2
Freedom Writers
Nick Rogers
On its face it looks like Dangerous Minds 2 without a Coolio song It s not so good that it can t wait until it shows up on CBS but it scribbles sensibly in the margins of the well worn inspirational teacher drama notebook
2.5
Freedom Writers
Lori Hoffman
It doesn t have a catchy hit tune sung by Lulu but Hillary Swank does a nice take on a dedicated teacher ala To Sir With Love in the engaging Freedom Writers
3
Freedom Writers
Geoff Pevere
Freedom Writers confounds its own claims to veracity by coming across as a veritable textbook in itself a textbook of earnest liberal white woman in the blackboard jungle clichs
2
Freedom Writers
Ruthe Stein
At a time when New Year s resolutions to change already are falling by the wayside you can t help but be moved by a group of young people who followed through on their resolve
3
Freedom Writers
Pam Grady
Annoying subplots and paper thin villains ensure that the movie remains mired in mediocrity
2.5
Freedom Writers
Cathy Jakicic
Freedom Writers manages to strike some fresh chords without playing its audience
3
Freedom Writers
Loey Lockerby
These stories can be so trite and predictable Freedom Writers can t escape this curse entirely but it does have an authentic atmosphere that many of its predecessors lack
2.5
Freedom Writers
Bruce Westbrook
This film fails to earn what Erin Gruwell earned in real life credibility
2.5
Freedom Writers
Teresa Budasi
Freedom Writers which has a lot to say about education and the flaws in the American public school system gets high marks for effort and for merit
3
Freedom Writers
Peter T. Chattaway
At first glance it looks like it might be just another one of those films in which a white idealist liberates her non white pupils but thankfully it s better than that
3
Freedom Writers
Kit Bowen
At times Freedom Writers invokes genuine emotions but this derivative teacher inspires troubled kids movie mostly just pries your eyes open and jerks the tears out
2
Freedom Writers
James Sanford
involving and touching when it focuses on Gruwell s attempts to inspire the students and rather insipid when it dramatizes Gruwell s predictable battles with policy conscious school administrators
2.5
Freedom Writers
Jeff Strickler
Sure we ve been here and seen all of this before But when it s this well done we thoroughly enjoy seeing it again
3.5
This Land
Isaac Feldberg
Despite its lyrical presentation the film s lingering ideas are straightforward and sentimental arguably even self serving
2
Corporate Animals
Monica Castillo
A miserable time in poor company
1.5
Corporate Animals
Johnny Oleksinski
The worst episode of The Office ever
1
Days of Being Wild
Geoff Pevere
Needless to say a must see for Wongcolytes Days of Being Wild is also an excellent entry point for people who haven t yet caught this most exotic and habit forming of cinematic bugs
4
Days of Being Wild
Jeremy Heilman
It goes to show that average Wong Kar Wai is better than just about anyone else on a good day
3.5
Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Dave Tianen
As a belated nod to some neglected all stars Standing in the Shadows of Motown is cultural history of the best kind informative revealing and richly entertaining
3
Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Margaret A. McGurk
It s poignant surprising triumphant funny and you can dance to it
3.5
Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Geoff Pevere
Try as you might to resist if you ve got a place in your heart for Smokey Robinson this movie will worm its way there
3
Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Steven Rosen
The movie lets us realize this Sound still so alive and vibrant today was created by flesh and blood people each of whom has a compelling story to tell
3
Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Joe Leydon
Guaranteed to please even folks who normally avoid documentaries as avidly as Superman keeps clear of Kryptonite
4
Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Jonathan Curiel
When the old guys sit around and tell their stories Standing in the Shadows of Motown catches magic on the screen a behind the curtain peek at some of the world s best loved music straight from the cats who made it happen
3
Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Jason Anderson
This terrific doc pays tribute to a group of musicians unfamiliar even to many soul fans
4
Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Pam Grady
There is a warmth to Standing in the Shadows of Motown that is absent from most documentaries
4
Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Mark Caro
Much of the movie s value is to document these particular players making beautiful music
3.5
Outrage
Jonathan Curiel
Outrage is essential viewing a film that offers a window into modern politics and the political obstacles faced by gays and lesbians around the country
4
Outrage
Bill Weber
One can at least partly embrace the concept that outing pols who torpedo gay rights is defensible and still find Dick s film too frequently a would be sensationalistic bit of tut tutting for queer Dems and their politically connected friends
2
Tying the Knot
Mary Brennan
A quietly effective exploration of the divisive subject of gay marriage in America
3.5
Tying the Knot
Paul Sherman
Its issue is the debate over gay marriage and director Jim de Seve does an outstanding job of humanizing the issue
3
Tying the Knot
Robert Dominguez
Whether one is pro or con on the issue of same sex marriage Jim de Seve s thought provoking and timely documentary succeeds in putting the hot button topic in human and often heartbreaking terms
3
Resurrect Dead: The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles
Jennie Punter
Fascinating accomplished and surprisingly emotional
4
Resurrect Dead: The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles
Joseph Jon Lanthier
The testimony we hear from suspects neighbors and similarly curious media underlings feels muted like a halfhearted repetition
2
Deal
Rossiter Drake
The outcome is never in question but for fans of the game even simulated action is preferable to perfunctory drama
2.5
Deal
Daniel M. Kimmel
a movie making a brief stop at local theaters on its way to DVD bargain bins and cable showings at two in the morning
1.5
Where the Truth Lies
Kurt Loder
Egoyan s hypnotic new movie is a meditation on truth identity innocence and murder a puzzle palace filled with locked rooms and dubious keys that stick at every turn
3
Where the Truth Lies
Larry Ratliff
Where the Truth Lies is an erotic period mystery awash in intrigue unfolding against a behind the scenes showbiz backdrop
3
Where the Truth Lies
Brian McTavish
Take away the kinky sex the reason for no MPAA rating and there s even less to be interested in
1.5
Where the Truth Lies
Michael Booth
Every face on screen seems wrong for the part chosen
1
Where the Truth Lies
Phoebe Flowers
Alas the melodrama is utterly unsexy sloppy and dull
1
Where the Truth Lies
Bruce Westbrook
More about vulgar shock value and vivid period re creations than it is an absorbing or convincing crime story
2
Where the Truth Lies
Jessica Reaves
The whole thing is supposed to be funny the book at any rate was funny but instead it just feels sordid
2.5
Where the Truth Lies
Ruthe Stein
The film a pseudo noir is compulsively watchable even as laughably over the top moments start piling up
3
Where the Truth Lies
Frank Houston
A stylized sin filled film noir the film is also a meta narrative about show business in which no character bothers with the pretense of seeming to be one thing
3
Where the Truth Lies
Dan Fienberg
Buried pasts and repressed histories have long been favorite Egoyan themes but who would have expected this intellectual to get so stymied by stardom and desire
2
Where the Truth Lies
Jami Bernard
Egoyan s uncharacteristic bid for the mainstream flames out on many levels but it s hard not to stare with fascination at the dying embers
2
Where the Truth Lies
Pam Grady
Even flawed Egoyan offers its own fascinations
2.5
Where the Truth Lies
Jan Stuart
A brain twisting mystery that vaults among multiple time frames and narrators
3
Where the Truth Lies
Keith Uhlich
After his unjustly underrated Ararat it s frustrating to see Egoyan stumble and fall so far
1.5
Where the Truth Lies
Jonathan W. Hickman
A sexy throw back mystery with one twist too many Where The Truth Lies is a beautiful production with classic appeal and an edge that is as hard as nails
2.5
Humoresque
Dan Callahan
Crawford and Haller make it into a dreamy wallow in velvety masochism
3
Affluenza
Steve Macfarlane
The film is like an episode of Gossip Girl that s mistaken itself for one of the great satires by Evelyn Waugh
1
The Signal
Bruce Ingram
Eubank could have a terrific future as a director As a screenwriter though maybe not so much
2.5
The Signal
Scott Bowles
Signal thinks big takes chances and has enough arresting scenes to stand apart from the science fiction films of late
2.5
45365
Ethan Alter
The overall effect is almost hypnotic
3
45365
Lauren Wissot
An exhaustively detailed entrancing journey crafted with love for everything from raindrops on a windshield to a cheesy Elvis impersonator
2.5
Peepli Live
Jay Antani
Its comical sharply observant caricatures of India s political and media jackals offers a much needed reality check in a country where celluloid escapism is too often the rule
3
Peepli Live
Andrew Schenker
Peepli Live forgets to consider the person in whom it s allegedly interested
2
Girl Walk: All Day
Kenji Fujishima
A proudly optimistic spirit animates this joyous film illustrated by a combination of thrilling street ballet exultant music and unflagging verve
3.5
The Maid
Kelly Jane Torrance
The performance at the center of this film and the breath of fresh air provided by the lively Miss Loyola remind us that there are depths no one suspects at the center of that iconic figure in a black and white uniform
3
The Maid
Jan Stuart
A deserved prizewinner at Sundance Saavedra seems to age 25 years and then drop 35 in the space of an hour and a half
4
Stealth
Russ Breimeier
Neither entertaining nor exciting the dumb and noisy Stealth will hopefully live up to its name by fading quietly from movie theaters
1
Stealth
Tyler Hanley
The blueprints for Stealth called for long forgotten spare parts and the end result will likely cause a box office crash
1
Stealth
Jonathan R. Perry
Witless but marginally watchable for almost 70 minutes of its bloated 120 minute length until it begins to take itself entirely too seriously
1.5
Stealth
Geoff Pevere
Stealth manages to be so ridiculously unconvincing you think you re watching a live action version of last year s sublime action movie puppet satire Team America
1
Stealth
Larry Ratliff
Stealth breaks the astound barrier before you can say Woo hoo that blew up real good
2
Stealth
Peter Debruge
Stealth succeeds in satisfying a dozen different pubescent fantasies while simultaneously violating every aspect of logic and good taste
1
Stealth
Bruce Westbrook
Beyond mind numbing explosions Stealth s effects are good especially the whooshing flight scenes But as Eddie shows humanity matters and computer wizardry won t fill an empty plot
2
Stealth
James Verniere
Instantly disposable effort
1.5
Stealth
Jami Bernard
Stealth is flimsy and forgettable but it does have a few worthy action and special effects sequences
1.5
Stealth
Greg Maki
Watching this movie becomes physically painful
0.5
Stealth
Meg Jones
Stealth is a widescreen video game except all the audience can do is watch instead of grabbing a joystick and playing along
2.5
Stealth
Tracy Allerton
Hey its not like we came to this movie for its plot or anything
2
Stealth
David Hiltbrand
If Stealth were a recruitment film for aircraft carrier duty one would be tempted to say Mission accomplished As a feature film it s a washout
1.5
Stealth
Jan Stuart
After 110 minutes of this atheists will storm monasteries and acrophobics will scale redwood trees anything to find an oasis of calm
2
Stealth
Steven Snyder
Despite its creative premise involving a robotic and intelligent fighter jet which goes bad is remarkably uncreative in coming up with a story that actually makes use of this cool toy
2
Jimmy's Hall
Scott Renshaw
No one has mastered the art of turning tense discussions over political philosophies and tactics into drama like director Ken Loach and screenwriter Paul Laverty it s a shame there s not more of it here
2
Jimmy's Hall
Calvin Wilson
Working from a fact based screenplay by his longtime collaborator Paul Laverty Loach addresses a theme that resonates throughout his work the effect of the political on the personal
3.5
Jimmy's Hall
Anita Katz
Directed by Ken Loach who has been making old fashioned unashamedly leftist radiantly humanist cinema since the 1960s the film is a foot stompingly enjoyable biopic
3
Jimmy's Hall
David Berry
It s all that talk that makes Loach s latest Jimmy s Hall more than just a particularly dour Depression era remake of Footloose
2.5
Breaking Boundaries: The Science Of Our Planet
Nick Allen
This unabashed infomerical is broadly affirming but now I m worried about the future of urgent issue documentaries
2
The Pleasure Is All Mine
Collin Souter
Occasionally funny but it wears thin after a while and I m sure there are plenty of movies out there with this exact same plot
2.5
This Is Not a Movie
Mark Jenkins
The documentary adroitly demonstrates that Fisk is still motivated by the boyish curiosity that drew him to journalism
3
This Is Not a Movie
Simon Houpt
A laudatory engaging profile of Robert Fisk
3
Darfur Now
Eric Lurio
This is a feel good film for activists which barely scratches the surface
2.5
Darfur Now
Loey Lockerby
Admirable work
3
Darfur Now
Stephen Cole
Darfur Now is effective pamphleteering but only an occasionally compelling documentary film
2
Darfur Now
Camerin Courtney
Hopefully well crafted and moving films such as Darfur Now will inspire more people to take that small but significant first step toward ending these atrocities
3.5
Darfur Now
Jason Clark
Its 99 minutes could have easily been about 65 if you removed all of the celebrity do gooder filler
2
Western Stars
Anita Katz
The elements add up to a generous encounter with the Boss and stirringly demonstrate the art of music making
3
Western Stars
Brad Wheeler
It s lovely film to look at Springsteen confronting his past and demons in the prettiest gently tuneful barn and big sky way imaginable
3
Western Stars
Mark Jenkins
It s basically a concert flick with some extras And those extras are not the best things in it
2.5
Sing Me the Songs That Say I Love You: A Concert for Kate McGarrigle
Farran Smith Nehme
There s virtually no biographical content The songs stick very much to one plaintive folk pop style and if that is not your passion the flood of concert footage becomes wearing fairly early on
2
Jaws 2
Joseph Gelmis
There was reason to believe that Jaws 2 would be a mess It isn t It s better than most sequels It s formula ridden but slick and the special effects work as intended
3
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Namrata Joshi
Attack of the Clones fails to offer the same brand of unadulterated thrill and excitement as the Star Wars trilogy
2
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Sebastian Zavala Kahn
for me it is definitely an improvement over the childish and irregular first episode Full review in Spanish
3
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Joe Lozito
It is certainly better than the childish Phantom Menace and the final 45 minutes of straight action beat the editing nightmare at the end of the last film
3
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Judith Egerton
Superior to Episode I The Phantom Menace with its annoying Jar Jar Binks and its dull galaxy hopping story line
3
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Jim Shelby
Alternately excites and bores
3
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Margaret A. McGurk
It has all the moves it never quite catches the rhythm
3
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Jon Niccum
If Phantom Menace resulted in mindless boredom then Attack of the Clones at least offers mindless entertainment
3
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Emily Blunt
Star Wars fans will be in heaven
3
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Jorge Avila Andrade
Es divertida visualmente espectacular y muy entretenida Simple y sencillamente te sorprender
3.5
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Forrest Hartman
Lucas returns the series to its roots delivering a cartoon like adventure that uses special effects to enhance rather than replace storytelling
3.5
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Steven Snyder
In the end what I appreciated most was the unpredictability of it all
3.5
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Jonathan R. Perry
What Lucas needs to wrap up this franchise properly is a return to the fundamentals less overplotted hooey more thick blue liquid
2.5
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Joe Leydon
Abounds in A budget variations of Saturday matinee B movie excitement
3
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Ian Mantgani
Isn t it sad that these movies no longer sweep us away but force us to sit making mental checklists of what George Lucas has done right and what he has done wrong
2
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Michael Szymanski
Star Wars Episode II Attack of the Clones is the most stunningly beautiful visually dazzling and fiercely action packed of all the Star Wars films
4
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Gary Brown
There s an amazing gladiator like confrontation in a coliseum followed by a rip roaring battle scene between the Jedi warriors and the army of clones
3.5
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Collin Souter
THX Digital sound and some great visual fury signifying nothing
2
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Kevin A. Ranson
Fans have a fix audiences have an adventure and Lucas has another blockbuster what s not to love
3.5
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Melanie McFarland
Yes Episode II is beautifully rendered and better than the last It s also duller than Tatooine s desert landscape until the last half hour
2
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Steven Rosen
By going forward into the past to create a prequel trilogy Lucas has trapped himself in a fundamentally anticlimactic venture
2.5
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Renee Graham
Instead of zesty and daring Attack of the Clones is often labored and stiff
2.5
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Tony Toscano
Bristles with excitement in every frame making this installment a high energy adventure
4
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Mary F. Pols
The emphasis on computer generated effects ultimately robs the movie of much of its energy
1.5
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Mary Kalin-Casey
Episode II is certainly flawed but Lucas gets enough things right to give even disillusioned Star Wars fans new hope for Episode III
3
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Todd Anthony
It s better than The Phantom Menace But unless you re an absolute raving Star Wars junkie it isn t much fun
2.5
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Andrew Howe
If you re not a long standing admirer there s little reason to join the queues on opening night
2.5
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Matt Soergel
One thing you notice about the new Star Wars movie is how people who did little but stand around in the previous story now get up and get down and actually do something
3
Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones
Mark Caro
For those of us who respond more strongly to storytelling than computer generated effects the new Star Wars installment hasn t escaped the rut dug by the last one
2
The Town
Jeff Beck
Action can be difficult for someone not experienced with it Yet Affleck shows that he s more than up to the task
3
The Town
Jordan Hiller
A film can only be as riveting as its ability to have the audience believe or suspend belief and though The Town takes steps toward authenticity it fails to meet even the basic requirements of plausibility
2
The Town
Tyler Hanley
Ben Affleck has matured as an actor and serves up what is arguably his best performance to date
3.5
The Town
Lori Hoffman
The heist sequences and chase scenes are beautifully staged although the romance seems unlikely and taints an otherwise solid action film
2.5
The Town
Todd Hertz
Ben Affleck s visionary story telling top shelf acting deep characters and emotional weight put some hefty meat on the tired bones of the action genre
3.5
The Town
Michael A. Smith
A tense thriller full of great performances The Town is a heist film that rivals Dog Day Afternoon and Heat
4
The Town
Sean O'Connell
a solid riveting thriller from a gifted gritty filmmaker
3
The Town
Keith Cohen
Affleck s attention seems diverted on camera because of his directorial duties Hall stands out displaying real emotions Renner brings out the toughness spontaneous hair trigger qualities of his role Hamm never gets
2.5
The Town
Matt Soergel
Now this is how you make a crime yarn
3
The Town
Alison Gang
With gunshots that roar like cannons and exhilarating car chases through Boston s narrow streets the execution of the crimes is far more interesting and convincing than Doug s personal journey
3
The Town
Kit Bowen
Ben Affleck crafts a compelling tight knit bank heist drama
3.5
The Town
Bill Weber
As a chaser to Affleck s last offering of pungent Beantown brew The Town is near beer
2.5
The Town
Tom Horgen
As an action movie The Town is good But as a moody character study it can be mesmerizing
3.5
The Town
Rossiter Drake
The Town holds its own with crisp ferocious dialogue and a disquieting aura of danger most palpable when Jeremy Renner is on screen
3.5
Addicted to Love
Susan Wloszczyna
This twisted romance possesses the soul and edgy atmosphere of an independent film but not quite the conviction
3
My Country, My Country
Bill Stamets
A compelling report
3
My Country, My Country
Jeff Shannon
In 90 captivating minutes Laura Poitras extraordinary documentary My Country My Country gives you a greater understanding of the situation in Iraq than you d get from 100 hours of Fox News or CNN
3.5
My Country, My Country
Laura Kelly
The camera should never leave the four walls of the Riyad family home Beyond that story there is a dullness to the pacing and the wider tale of the Iraqi elections
2
My Country, My Country
Gene Seymour
My Country My Country chronicles events leading to the January 2005 Iraq elections with such breadth and detail that it almost feels as if they re being revealed for the first time
3.5
Son of the Mask
Angel Cohn
While the bright colors and occasional chuckles might amuse the younger set this film will seem tediously long to the adult audiences who may even be outraged at the way they ve blatantly and badly ripped off the Tex Avery style and plots
0.5
Son of the Mask
Vince Koehler
Definitely not for adults some younger kids may appreciate the wild humor
2
Son of the Mask
Jennie Punter
If you are the son of Frankenstein Flubber Dracula Lassie Ali Baba Sinbad Billy the Kid Davy Crockett Robin Hood Tarzan or Satan you have to accept that the movie about you is likely not as good or memorable as the one about your dad
2
Son of the Mask
Joshua Vasquez
Remarkably inept
.5
Son of the Mask
Forrest Hartman
It took little effort to push Son of the Mask from memory Sadly my duties as a critic have forced me to recall it and the flashbacks aren t pretty
0
Son of the Mask
Tyler Hanley
It s doggie vs baby vs daddy vs deity in a sequel so cartoonish it makes Who Framed Roger Rabbit 1988 look like a dry documentary
2
Son of the Mask
Susan Walker
With so many cuts a second all attention goes into following the visuals Just as well since the story leaves so little to work with
2
Son of the Mask
Kim Morgan
It s irritating And bizarre Double bill it with the also freakish Super Babies Baby Geniuses 2 and you might have something a new kind of accidental horror film
1.5
Son of the Mask
Evan Henerson
If there is any thought more singularly horrifying than that of a mask franchise may it never enter this critic s humble noggin
0
Son of the Mask
Larry Ratliff
As sequels go this computer effects invigorated wall banger engages only slightly
1.5
Son of the Mask
Mary-Liz Shaw
To heck with suspense I ll just tell you right now Jamie Kennedy is no Jim Carrey
1.5
Son of the Mask
Peter Debruge
Unnecessary but not entirely unpleasant
2
Son of the Mask
Gene Seymour
A perfectly good six minute animated short is taffy pulled and inflated beyond reason or tolerance
2
Son of the Mask
Jeff Strickler
Jim Carrey doesn t go anywhere near this follow up to his 1994 blockbuster and neither should viewers
1
Son of the Mask
Allison Benedikt
Congratulations it s a talking dancing top hat wearing boy Just like in those incredibly innovative Quiznos commercials and that sitcom that got cancelled a while back
1.5
Son of the Mask
Sean McBride
Adults may be disappointed but ten year olds should love it
2.5
Simon Killer
Tomas Hachard
The film has many elements of a thriller but ultimately Antonio Campos s interest lies much more in profiling yet never over determining his moody protagonist
3
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
Charles Koplinski
The X Files 2 I Want to Believe isn t a groundbreaking film by any stretch u2014 but that it challenges the viewer to consider certain moral imperatives in a season devoted to films revolving around explosions and fart jokes makes it a daring pie
3.0
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
Lori Hoffman
Scully and Mulder should have stayed retired
2
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
Sean McBride
This could just be my nostalgia talking but it s hard to get excited about the movie when the TV show consistently offered better stories
1.5
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
Austin Kennedy
After 10 years you would think creator Chris Carter would want his series to go out with a huge bang But it doesn t even go out with a whisper
1.5
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
Greg Maki
There is comfort just in spending time with Fox Mulder David Duchovny and Dana Scully Gillian Anderson six years after the series ended
2.5
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
Gina Carbone
As bad as the final season of the show
2
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
Rossiter Drake
The good news I Want to Believe plays like a solid albeit unexceptional stand alone episode broad enough to ensnare the uninitiated without alienating the show s loyal base
3
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
Daniel M. Kimmel
an intelligent and moody thriller that may send newcomers off to discover what the original series was all about
3
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
David Frese
While it s nice to drop in on Scully and Mulder again moviegoers new to the franchise might have trouble drumming up empathy for this odd couple
2
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
Jeremiah Kipp
Because the show has been off the air for so many years now audiences may wonder why these characters haven t moved on from their obsessively singular points of view
2
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
Joe Lozito
Fans of the TV show may enjoy seeing Mulder and Scully back in action but there s little in this run of the mill mystery to attract the uninitiated
2.5
Young Black Stallion
C.W. Nevius
Tired rehash
1
Young Black Stallion
Jeff Strickler
Family friendly to the max it s a bit corny but beautifully shot
3
Young Black Stallion
Megan Lehmann
A visual treat diminished by lifeless dialogue and self conscious acting
2
Young Black Stallion
Gene Seymour
The new giant screen contribution to the stallion s legend is a 45 minute story which at best plays as if it could have barely passed muster as an installment of the old 1960s Disney TV series The Wonderful World of Color
2
Highlander: Endgame
Edward Guthmann
Even the sound effects get tiring How many times can you hear swords being clanged yanked from the Earth or sinking squishily into quivering flesh without getting bored
1
Highlander: Endgame
James O'Ehley
People going to see this movie without any knowledge of the Highlander TV series or the original film will be lost Fans on the other hand will love it
3
Highlander: Endgame
Robert Roten
As is the case with most sequels the quality is much lower than the original
1
Highlander: Endgame
Mary Kalin-Casey
Too many time trips detract from the present and their comic shenanigans border on embarrassing
1.5
Clash of the Titans
Larry Vitacco
Clash of the Titans promises much more than it is prepared to deliver
2
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words
Barry Paris
Schütte s portrait of an avant garde icon and iconoclast comprises concert footage and interviews over the years including one by a state trooper in which Zappa provides irreverent articulate deadpan answers to all questions
3
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words
Jeff Simon
The interviews tell the story better than anyone else possibly could have
4
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words
Brad Wheeler
Eat That Question a fascinating and compelling dive into an artist s uniquely ticking parts gives voice to a complex dude and broadens the picture
3
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words
Dan DeLuca
Zappa was never at a loss for words
3
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words
Mark Jenkins
Amusing and even edifying although it is also unlikely to make converts out of those who just don t get Zappa s pastiche of juvenile parody and sophisticated songwriting derived from rock jazz and 20th century experimental music
3
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words
Oleg Ivanov
It presents a captivating portrait of one of the era s greatest defenders of artistic freedom and a true American original
3
Relative
Jeff York
It s an intimate portrayal of three generations of family full of laughter grievances rituals and numerous bottles of wine And any relation to your clan or mine is purely intentional
3
Relative
Matt Zoller Seitz
In setup as well as execution the movie often plays like a less polished more fragmented attempt to make something like an American version of a film by British dramatist Mike Leigh
3
What's Cooking?
Greg Dean Schmitz
I was most impressed with the story of Kyra s character and how her lifestyle affects her relationship with her parents
3
What's Cooking?
Mike Gregory
Burdened with a largely uninspired script that serves up stock characters and one too many clichs
2
What's Cooking?
Bob Graham
Patient viewers will find that by the time the sparks start to fly and the tears to flow the wait will have been worth it to say nothing of the laughs
3
Jeffrey
Mal Vincent
This hetero friendly comedy is filled with fresh ideas
2.5
Jeffrey
Edward Guthmann
It s not a total bust and some of the performances are charming but it never matches the gleeful irreverent mischief it had on stage
2
James' Journey to Jerusalem
Eric Harrison
A pointed and funny allegory about a clash of values
3
James' Journey to Jerusalem
Marta Barber
An engaging and poignant film one that could only be done by an insider
2.5
James' Journey to Jerusalem
Paul Sherman
It s a sweet and effective present day fable
3
James' Journey to Jerusalem
John Petrakis
This wise clever Israeli film reintroduces the once popular concept of film as allegory as it follows a Christian pilgrim on his bumpy road to salvation
3.5
James' Journey to Jerusalem
Eric Henderson
The film whips up a benign portrait of slavery instead of making a true grit political statement on the nature of New World capitalism
2
The Lady Vanishes
David Wiegand
The result is entertaining without either dethroning Hitchcock s 1938 film or embarrassing itself
2.5
Lore
Kelly Jane Torrance
Cate Shortland s tough moving film is shot with great intimacy driving home the idea that great horrors are ultimately a personal responsibility
3.5
Lore
Jason Buchanan
The dream of every director tasked with bringing such a difficult story to life is to have a star who can carry the drama and in her feature debut Rosendahl is a revelation
3
Lore
Leba Hertz
Full of surprises the movie draws a thin line between pity and revulsion how would you feel if you had discovered your whole life had been based on lies
3
Lore
Steven Boone
We know where this is going pretty early on but that doesn t prevent Lore from being riveting stuff start to finish
4
Lore
Farran Smith Nehme
Lore is the sort of movie you d already expect to rip your heart out but that doesn t diminish the tragedy when it does arrive
3
Lore
Nick McCarthy
Copious amounts of landscape and wilderness shots cover up its schematic plot as its indirect visual allusions take precedence over thematic development
2.5
Just Like a Woman
Farran Smith Nehme
Miller and Farahani give strong performances as women bonding over their delight in both movement and their own beauty
3
Top End Wedding
Kenneth R. Morefield
The clash of cultures was an integral part of the story without it being a cheap shortcut for generic laughs
2.5
Mortdecai
Jackson Cuidon
I have no idea for whom this movie was made
0.5
Mortdecai
Luke Goodsell
There s just never enough ham on the buffet for Johnny Depp these days
1.5
Mortdecai
John Serba
Depp s performance is insipid scraping the bottom of his wardrobe of over the top weirdo personae
1.5
Mortdecai
Peter Sobczynski
An absolutely bewildering waste of time talent energy and money
0.5
Mortdecai
Brian Truitt
A whirlwind of horrible British accents too much gagging and not enough good gags and weak dialogue that while not exactly terrible is terribly boring
1.5
The Gasoline Thieves
Rene Sanchez
A visually striking debut feature that portrays a timely and polemic theme in Mexico in a realistic fashion staying away from the usual tropes of melodrama Full Review in Spanish
3
American Hardcore
Paul Kosidowski
Rachman s concert footage confirms that the music was unique bruising chaotic and blisteringly electric
3
American Hardcore
Marc Savlov
Crammed with grainy shot on the fly mid Eighties video footage recent interviews and a genuine love for its subject American Hardcore encapsulates a largely forgotten moment in maximum rock roll history
3
American Hardcore
Dan DeLuca
American Hardcore Paul Rachman s impressively thorough documentary tells of the second generation punk rockers who learned from the Sex Pistols and Ramones and then did their DIY thing
3
American Hardcore
Thomas Delapa
For the record Rachman s punk rockology has its cracks While he worships at the altar of Henry Rollins and Black Flag he excludes such key West Coast bands as X and the Dead Kennedys
2
American Hardcore
Bruce Westbrook
Instead of an insightful look at disaffected youths finding an outlet for angry energy in rock rages American Hardcore is a slanted history lesson coming solely from its subjects
2
American Hardcore
Michael Booth
What s irritating about the movie is how much time it spends on empty nostalgia shouldn t real punks scorn reminiscing and how little time it spends truly exploring the roots of America s punk prime in the early 1980s
2
American Hardcore
Laura Kelly
Hardcore could have done with a little more self criticism instead of self congratulation a little more outside commentary as opposed to inner circle ramblings
2
American Hardcore
Chris Riemenschneider
Leaves little doubt that this truly was one of the wildest eras in rock
2.5
American Hardcore
Ted Fry
An energetic and grandly entertaining tribute to a short lived period of early 80s punk rock
3
American Hardcore
Lou Carlozo
Exhaustive and at turns exhausting American Hardcore explores 1980s punk subculture with the frenetic energy of mile a minute mosh pit music sealed with a fist
2.5
American Hardcore
Pam Grady
It s an expansive look at a genre and a tribe of musicians that found their collective voice And there s one thing you could always say about hardcore it was never boring
3
American Hardcore
James Rocchi
Punk rock was never about sonic perfection It was and is about emotional intensity and American Hardcore has that in van loads and delivers with onetwothreefour power
3
American Hardcore
Gene Seymour
Filmmaker Paul Rachman and writer Steven Blush make an impressive case for a grass roots movement of mostly white working to middle class misfits who thought rock and roll needed to be rude abrasive and somewhat scary at the dawn of the Reagan era
3
Divine Madness
Larry Vitacco
From her opening number Big Noise from Winnetka to her triumphant grand finale I Shall Be Released there is nary a dull moment
3.5
Revolution No. 9
Megan Turner
A smart little indie
2.5
Jolly LLB
Namrata Joshi
The film may be titled Jolly LLB but belongs wholly to Justice Sundarlal Tripathi rivetingly played by Saurabh Shukla
2.5
Citizen Kane
Kate Cameron
Some day and the time won t be long in arriving Welles will be the greatest director in Hollywood
4
Citizen Kane
Chris Cabin
Welles s deeply haunting depiction of the life of William Randolph Hearst has long been synonymous with the director s spectacularly odd and genuinely tragic career
4
Citizen Kane
Pam Grady
Gregg Toland s legendary black and white cinematography renders Kane absolutely transcendent
4
Citizen Kane
Ted Prigge
I ve always said that the greatness of a film is truly measured over time and this is one of the few films that is truly amazing to watch and actually lives up to all that damn hype
4
Me, Myself & Irene
Betsy Bozdech
The kind of movie that gets its biggest laughs on opening weekend in front of sold out audiences when everyone watching gets carried away by the group experience of it all
2.5
Me, Myself & Irene
Judith Egerton
Involves a knock down drag out fight between the two personalities It s like watching Jerry Lewis and Buster Keaton duke it out while inhabiting the same body
3
Me, Myself & Irene
Shay Casey
It s a great showcase of flexibility and split second role shifting but none of it is terribly funny
1.5
Me, Myself & Irene
Greg Dean Schmitz
Has a few funny bits but most of the time it relies upon sight gags and profanity neither of which are humorous alone
1.5
Me, Myself & Irene
Cornell & Petricelli
One belly laughing sequence after another
3
Me, Myself & Irene
Bob Graham
Carrey himself provides the biggest flash from a major star since Rudolf Nureyev in Valentino
2
Third World Cop
Jeremiah Kipp
Third World Cop shows that Hollywood hackdom isn t that far removed from independent and foreign digital video posturing
1
The Last Reef: Cities Beneath the Sea
Loren King
The story line is lacking If reefs can rebuild themselves after nuclear bombing can t they survive other endangerments
2.5
The Last Reef: Cities Beneath the Sea
Brett Michel
You ll be tempted to reach out and touch the hovering schools of jellyfish just try not to get stung
3
S... Year
Glenn Heath Jr.
Cam Archer s Shit Year is a volatile but intoxicating examination of personal emptiness
3
Private Violence
Kenneth R. Morefield
As with most complicated questions Why don t they just leave has more than one answer
3
Hair Show
Robert Dominguez
A predictable urban comedy set mostly in a chichi Beverly Hills beauty salon Hair Show is a female oriented Barber Shop minus the steady humor and pointed social commentary
2
Hair Show
Megan Lehmann
The story is so slight a low wattage hair dryer could blow it away
1.5
Troubadours
Jesse Cataldo
Troubadours gets off on vague talk about community and a generous helping of tunes
1.5
Rollerball
James O'Ehley
This remake exists for no clear reason at all It doesn t even make sense and the action is dull and repetitive
1.5
Rollerball
Greg Maki
It s rare to see a movie fail in every possible area
0
Rollerball
Ian Mantgani
Such an incomprehensible mess that it feels less like bad cinema than like being stuck in a dark pit having a nightmare about bad cinema
0.5
Rollerball
Jorge Avila Andrade
Habr que darle a McTiernan el beneficio de la duda y esperar hasta su siguiente pelcula porque esta debe ser enlatada y no ser exhibida nunca ms
1.5
Rollerball
Gary Brown
For more fun I would recommend an evening at the bowling alley instead
.5
Rollerball
Joe Leydon
Klein is out of his league on and off the Rollerball court and his determined efforts to behave like a studly action hero seldom rise above the level of a good try
1.5
Rollerball
Jim Lane
McTiernan and company do take one more thing from Jewison s original the game still doesn t make any sense but now the plot doesn t either
1
Rollerball
Mark Rahner
They should have called it Gutterball
1
Rollerball
Tor Thorsen
Problem is we have no idea what in creation is going on
1.5
Rollerball
Gene Seymour
With this new Rollerball sense and sensibility have been overrun by what can only be characterized as robotic sentiment
1.5
Rollerball
Nick Carter
Its semi serious story weighed against its cartoonishly violent game scenes pull viewers toward conflicting but mutually unfulfilling peak moments
1.5
Rollerball
Valerie Kuklenski
What do you get when you cross an MGM cult film with costumes from a World Wrestling Federation garage sale and an editor with a short attention span
1.5
Rollerball
Jonathan Taylor
Laughably irredeemably awful
1
Rollerball
Jay Carr
It had a chance to improve upon the crude and stupid 1975 original set in a future America Instead it s only cruder and stupider
1.5
Rollerball
Jonathan Foreman
This oddly scrambled new version eventually falls apart so badly you feel embarrassed for the people who made it
1.5
Rollerball
Todd Anthony
The action makes no sense the death metal soundtrack drowns out most of the dialogue and the acting feels half hearted
1
Cinemania
John Monaghan
There s a certain smugness to the proceedings like an episode of Cops where the camera lingers a bit too long on a police suspect s trailer trash housekeeping
2
Cinemania
Peter Debruge
These guys are eccentrics in the fondest sense of the word and that alone makes their stories worth a movie or two
2.5
Cinemania
Jeremy Heilman
An enjoyable look at the almost frightening grip that cinephilia has on these people s lives
3
Carrie
Jeff Beck
It s a nearly exact copy of the original film that makes so few changes to the story that you have to wonder why they didn t just use the original screenplay and do a shot for shot remake along the lines of Gus Van Sant s pointless Psycho replica
1.5
Carrie
Jason Buchanan
While it s tempting to be cynical about a remake of a film that gave the much maligned horror genre a rare moment of real prestige dare to judge Peirce s version on its own merits and you might just be frightened at how well it measures up
3
Carrie
Wilson Morales
While this updated remake may bring in a new audience it offers little surprises little effect and pales in comparison to the original
2.5
Carrie
Kevin C. Johnson
The new movie won t overshadow the superior original but that was never the point On its own merit Carrie is a bloody good time
3.5
Carrie
Eric Henderson
In focusing on predominately kid gloves portrayals of her teen players Kimberly Peirce never properly addresses the machinery behind their doom which is why the film is relentlessly lifeless when it s not literally ripping off De Palma shot for shot
1
Carrie
Karen D'Souza
For all its cheesy 70s vibe De Palma s movie far better captured the primal almost Lord of the Flies nature of the high school experience the sheer terror of being a social outcast That s what really gave the Carrie myth such staying power
2.5
The Bride Wore Black
Fernando F. Croce
A frigid and oddly static procession of Hitchcockian shout outs that plays like an affected sequel to the two filmmakers celebrated interview book
2
Zemsta
Edward Guthmann
It s Polanski s show clear and simple On the heels of his well deserved Oscar for The Pianist it s a treat to see this terrific artist reveal another unexpected dimension of his talent
3
The Outlaw and His Wife
Fernando F. Croce
A tale of redemption played out against the vast expenses of nature
3.5
Pather Panchali
Wanda Hale
Although Pather Panchali falls short of perfection in production the acting is impeccable and it hits you right in the heart
4
Pather Panchali
Desmond Ryan
A moment where Apu and Durga walk through long grass and the boy catches his first glimpse of a train crossing the landscape defines Ray s genius for composition and his gift for metaphor
4
Pather Panchali
Dave Kehr
Masterfully Ray balances a growing sense of possibility and a feeling of irreplaceable loss Its truth is obvious its beauty no less
4
Pather Panchali
Jay Antani
There is a faith in the art form here a pure loving embracing faith that really restores my own faith in movies
4
Pather Panchali
Edward Guthmann
One of the legendary debuts in the history of film deservedly so
4
Lovely Jackson
Dwight Brown
Long winded but worthy
2.5
The Celebration
Jonathan Rosenbaum
The plot and the style are both founded on deceptive appearances
3
The Yellow Wallpaper
Kenneth R. Morefield
What the film does right making the psychosis rather than the patriarchy the antagonist comes with challenges
2.5
101 Dalmatians
Robert Roten
This is very harmless entertainment for kids with a non so subtle anti fur coat message It is not quite up to adult standards however
1.5
Port of Shadows
Diego Semerene
We empathize with their resistance to suffer but it s hard to feel something other than philosophical respect for characters who think of swimmers as soon to be drowned men
3
Crown Vic
Dwight Brown
Thomas Jane is the glue and mortar
3
Dr. T & the Women
Peter Stack
Loaded with so many keen observations and opposing ideas that it holds interest throughout
3
Dr. T & the Women
Pam Grady
Is this the sight the whole world s been waiting to see A latex gloved Richard Gere holding a speculum with his hands thrust between the legs of an elderly woman
1
Lower City
Ruthe Stein
With a distinct lack of action Machado resorts to far too many close ups of his stars until as good looking as they are you tire of looking at them
2
Lower City
Mary F. Pols
Machado asks us to believe in the love between Karinna Deco and Naldinho without ever making us feel anything but the tug of their sexual attraction
2.5
Lower City
Michael Hardy
Everyone involved in the film seems better than the material
2
Lower City
Bill Stamets
Brazilian filmmaker Sergio Machado scores a strong debut with this look at young hustlers in a lovers triangle
3
Lower City
Stephen Williams
The film is gritty and graphic with artsy takes where the camera holds on a motionless actor But art it isn t
1
P.S. Your Cat Is Dead!
Edward Guthmann
It s another world now which is why Kirkwood s play adapted to the screen by actor Steve Guttenberg feels so moldy and out of date
1
A Good Day to Die Hard
Kelly Jane Torrance
It s always fun to hang with John McClane for a day at least from the comfort of the cinema But this trip doesn t merit a yippee ki yay
2.5
You Disappear
Shane Slater
You Disappear raises thought provoking questions but its heady approach neglects the soul of its most fascinating character
2.5
You Disappear
Dave McGinn
But after pondering the question of what makes us who we are over and over you re reminded that the question is so much more captivating than the answers we re given here
2
From Paris With Love
Brett Michel
Blame scenarist producer Luc Besson whose women are either whores or terrorists Besson may be from Paris but his idea of love is laced with bile
1
From Paris With Love
Sean O'Connell
Lightning doesn t strike twice as Morel returns to Paris with Travolta in tow though the chrome domed A lister has enough fun with his gonzo performance to fill at least two movies
2
From Paris With Love
Jason Anderson
Cast in the time honoured double act of straitlaced newbie and wingnut who gets the job done Rhys Meyers and Travolta develop an affable rapport possibly because they both recognize the movie for the trash that it is
2
The Living
Jake Mulligan
The Living is one of those unfortunate films ignorant of any world outside its author s head
1.5
Weather Girl
Andrew Schenker
The film breaks down into a simplistic dichotomy
1
Iron Sky
Jeff Shannon
Great idea lousy execution Iron Sky boasts one of the zaniest premises in recent memory and somehow manages to squander most of its potential
2
Don't Think Twice
Brad Keefe
One of the funniest warmest and best movies of the year
4
Don't Think Twice
Maria Sciullo
Don t Think Twice written and directed by Mike Birbiglia is full of cringe worthy oh no moments But beyond its subject jealousy desperation and sadness run neck and neck with the funny stuff
3
Don't Think Twice
Jeff Simon
It s the truth and commitment of this film that really got to me It may get to you too
4
Don't Think Twice
Max Weiss
Don t Think Twice is about the creeping realization that you might not live up to that dreaded thing called potential or that the mythical big break might never come your way It s also about learning to be okay with that
3.5
Don't Think Twice
Tirdad Derakhshani
Don t Think Twice does a nice job of satirizing this corner of the showbiz world More than that it s a celebration of improv a uniquely American art form
3.5
Don't Think Twice
Alan Zilberman
Paradoxically Don t Think Twice feels both dramatically thin and overstuffed
2
Don't Think Twice
Lauren Chval
The film is a very specific representation of the comedy scene in New York but ultimately the performances script and direction elevate it to a universal portrait of figuring out who you are
3.5
The Heroic Trio
Jeremy Heilman
An unforgettable chaotic experience that s decidedly unlike any domestic superhero movie
3.5
Dead Birds
Felix Vasquez Jr.
What a shame it didn t get the theater treatment
3
Cowboys & Angels
John Monaghan
A likable if ordinary Irish indie that barely squeaks by on the charms of its leads
2
Cowboys & Angels
Lou Carlozo
Stack Cowboys against most of the fare American studios offer young adults and it s meatier by far
3
The Usual Suspects
Dan Webster
Singer like Tarantino is less into mining new film themes than in re inventing old ones And the way he does so shows full well that there is still a bit of life in the old mob movie yet
3.5
The Usual Suspects
Doug Thomas
An imaginative entertaining crime mystery with plenty of nerve and vigor
3.5
The Usual Suspects
Stephen Hunter
It may ultimately make sense no one could tell without at least four or five viewings What is totally commanding however is the level of ensemble acting and the adroitness of the storytelling
3.5
The Usual Suspects
Rob Humanick
Bryan Singer s poker face is worthless at best
1
The Usual Suspects
Leonard Schwarz
It s a real dazzler a neo noir hybrid of a heist and a mystery film that sucks you into a dark world where nothing is what it seems
4
The Usual Suspects
Robert Roten
It is a complex story but I found it fun
3
The Usual Suspects
Madeleine Williams
There are plenty of twists in the plot to keep you on your toes throughout the film
3.5
Free Angela and All Political Prisoners
Steve Macfarlane
It foists its own retelling of Angela Davis s story over any contemplation of her politics effectively neutering their power as it could apply to today in the hands of a proper film essayist
2
Consecration
Kevin Carr
There are some neat ideas and atmospheric moments though the story structure is a bit wobbly
2
Consecration
Marya E. Gates
Another retread of 8220 spooky 8221 Catholic themed horror tropes without adding any insight or originality to the subgenre
1
Consecration
Kevin A. Ranson
46 one of those the devil in the details kinds of church mystery films too many mysteries unsolved at once that drags down an already meandering story A clever plot device wasted on an atmospheric nunsploitation flick that tells instead of shows
2
Consecration
Charles Koplinski
8220 Consecration 8221 is a film that twists about in your mind its narrative constructed in such a way that it doubles back on itself throughout revealing greater meaning when seen through its ever shifting lens
3
Consecration
Steven Nguyen Scaife
Consecration ends up not just gimmicky but derivative of Christopher Smith s own prior work
1.5
OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies
Sid Smith
French cinema s reputation for subtlety goes up in smoke with OSS 117 Cairo Nest of Spies a movie whose satire proves as lame as its clunky title
2
OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies
Austin Kennedy
This spy spoof could be described as the French Austin Powers but that s not entirely accurate This is a loving homage to spy films from the 50 s and 60 s
3
OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies
Mark Rahner
Dujardin is what really makes it all work though He s an absolute riot with Conneryesque looks and physicality and the ability to segue into utter goofballery with a degree of arch browed suaveness
3
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Joe Lozito
Good Night is not your average historical recreation It doesn t dumb down its story or its characters with needless explanation for the benefit of an under educated audience
4
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Stefan Ulstein
Many will see it as a cautionary tale Don t let anyone else do your thinking for you The truth is the thing Cherish it and defend it
3.5
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Jay Antani
more interested using the movie medium as a pulpit from which to pontificate political beliefs rather than in telling a dramatically engaging story
2.5
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Kurt Loder
An admirable film it tells an important story and it s stoked with obvious conviction
3
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Sean McBride
one of the most thoughtful impassioned and best films of the year
3.5
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Jon Niccum
When Murrow cautions viewers they should not be driven by fear into an age of unreason the film seems more culturally relevant than anything playing at the multiplex
3
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Jonathan R. Perry
We relied on Edward R Murrow for his calm his unflappable integrity in times of both crisis and elation Good Night and Good Luck reminds us why we need him now
4
Good Night, and Good Luck.
James Sanford
While networks can no longer fire people for wedding a co worker and the once terrifying threat of Communism has long since evaporated many of the other problems addressed in Good Night are still startlingly relevant
3.5
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Forrest Hartman
The political themes are broad enough to speak to today s audiences while allowing the film a lengthy shelf life
4
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Larry Ratliff
Clooney s script doesn t venture far from the news desk If anything s lacking here it s a little insight into Murrow himself away from his news cronies
3.5
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Daniel M. Kimmel
It reminds us of the promise of television journalism at its best and just how far today s TV news has fallen short
4
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Bruce Newman
Rarely moving a facial muscle except to exhale smoke and brimstone Strathairn wonderfully recaptures Murrow s deadpan delivery style
3
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Jonathan Rosenbaum
It s an interesting way to represent the past though the use of space actors and archival footage seems more theatrical than cinematic
2
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Michael A. Smith
director Clooney has fashioned a masterpiece
4
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Greg Maki
An eloquent cautionary tale
4
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Jeff Strickler
We re not sure if Strathairn is playing Murrow or channeling him Either way we re impressed
3.5
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Phoebe Flowers
This is unmistakably a political movie and the modern day parallels are incessant and obvious but hardly inaccurate
3
Good Night, and Good Luck.
James Verniere
Relevant well meaning and a bit arid
3
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Gene Seymour
Strathairn s Murrow is poised at the center of this quiet whirlwind and this actor s actor deftly weaves many aspects of the broadcaster s mercurial personality within the movie s tight time frame
4
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Pam Grady
By George Clooney s done it This paean to Murrow and excellence in broadcast journalism is filmmaking at its best
4
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Dan Fienberg
It s literate and dense with detail even if some viewers will feel irked by the absence of characterization
3.5
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Emily Blunt
Good night and goodluck is a stunning uniquely timely piece that gloriously interweaves real behind the story stories tween Murrow Senator McCarthy
4
House of Gucci
David Reddish
Lady Gaga fans should swoonthe actress gives a splendid performance here proving that her turn in A Star is Born was no fluke
3.5
House of Gucci
Michael Medved
It s fun watching all the indulgence and corruption but the underlying assumption is banal and predictable Elegant if imperfect
2.5
House of Gucci
Rene Sanchez
Beneath its lavish surface House of Gucci hides an unemotional and irregular story of power and greed Full Review in Spanish
2
House of Gucci
David Gonzalez
House of Gucci is quite the cinematic animal Its not the Oscar bait y drama I anticipated but its certainly a film I immensely enjoyed From its initial viewing it enters the pantheon of a cult classic
3
House of Gucci
Kevin A. Ranson
If the point was to treat the characters like animals in a zoo laughing and pointing at them through the glass for being what they are mission accomplished but doing so renders the climax trivial and the rest of the production unimportant
2
House of Gucci
Matthew Passantino
House of Gucci is one of the big letdowns of the year
2
House of Gucci
Sarah Knight Adamson
Director Ridley Scott has created an enticing film that captures the Gucci family dynamic while highlighting Lady Gaga and making her his centerpiece
3
House of Gucci
Max Weiss
It gave me everything I needed and then some I wanted the film to be over the top messy silly involving gorgeous stylish and it s all those things
3.5
House of Gucci
Mark Meszoros
House of Gucci is about as bland as a story involving ambition greed betrayal and even murder can be
1.5
House of Gucci
Kevin Carr
A real mixed bag
1.5
House of Gucci
Cate Marquis
House of Gucci is an entertaining engrossing film that mixes crime thriller with farce While it is a good film an enjoyable film one can t help but feel it could have been more
3
House of Gucci
Bennett Campbell Ferguson
Thanks to the palpable enthusiasm of Scott and the cast House of Gucci has hunger in its eyes lust in its heart and the sweet breath of decadence in its lungs
4
House of Gucci
Jeff York
We re introduced to awful loathsome people Unfortunately Scott treats them all too sympathetically creating more of a grand tragedy here with far too much pity for Patrizia and the miscreants in her orbit
2
House of Gucci
Josh Bell
A version of House of Gucci that embraced campy ridiculousness would have been more entertaining but camp is not within Scott s skill set
2
House of Gucci
Tomris Laffly
A film that would have benefited from a coherent silhouette and a little hemming of its tiresome runtime
2.5
House of Gucci
Lindsey Bahr
It is stupidly watchable If you don t know or remember the details of what went down save the search for after Just wear your gaudiest designer logo order a martini at the bar and give in to the easy pleasures of House of Gucci
2.5
House of Gucci
Johnny Oleksinski
The abysmal Gucci would get a better grade perhaps if it was a term paper titled How to Make the Assassination of a Famous Person Boring
1
House of Gucci
Derek Smith
Ridley Scott s tale of greed and revenge practically begs for melodramatic excess
2
House of Gucci
Brian Truitt
Lady Gaga again owns the big screen in the true life drama House of Gucci though this time it s not a pop star that s born but instead one of soapy greatness
3
Victoria
Brad Keefe
Victoria has emotional depth but a plot that boils too slow for its own good and the one take gimmick paints it into a corner
2.5
Victoria
Stephanie Merry
With or without the crazy single shot experiment the German drama is thrilling
3
Victoria
Brad Wheeler
With no cutaways the film s story and the momentum of the unlikely robbers seems as unstoppable as the camera The characters are confused adrenalinized and breathless as are you
3.5
Victoria
Soren Andersen
Everything that happens in Victoria is 100 percent predictable
2
The Baxter
James Verniere
Unlike Woody Allen s nebbishes who are always the smartest and funniest people on the screen Elliot is a bore
1.5
The Baxter
John Monaghan
The Baxter has many of the ingredients of a good natured indie date movie But when the lead performance isn t one of them it gets difficult to recommend
2
The Baxter
Michael Booth
The Baxter is a self conscious one man show that obliterates the fine line between quirky and annoying
1.5
The Baxter
Allison Benedikt
Michael Showalter is a funny man but how to put this gently not a funny movie star
2
The Baxter
Hanh Nguyen
Like Elliot himself the film aspires to be no more and no less than what it is a thoroughly charming and satisfying romantic comedy with charismatic quirkiness
3
The Baxter
Evan Henerson
It contains a wry throwback charm
3
The Baxter
Jami Bernard
There are enough laughs in it if you re willing to settle
2.5
Belle Epine
Chris Cabin
Neither sentimentality nor nostalgia for reckless years gone by can be found in Rebecca Zlotowski s Belle Epine
3
Dreamscape
James O'Ehley
Except for a few contrived surrealistic dream sequences there is little that is memorable about this movie
1.5
I'm Thinking of Ending Things
Blake Howard
Charlie Kaufman s I m Thinking of Ending Things is simultaneously specific and profoundly universal a beguiling dissection of relationships and family in time
3
I'm Thinking of Ending Things
Rosalie Kicks
It s hard to articulate the adventure you are taken on but much like a Reese s cup I believe there is no wrong way to interpret this flick
2.75
I'm Thinking of Ending Things
Jeff York
It can be as chilly as the stormy landscape seen onscreen Ultimately though Kaufman s film manages to be quite moving a mournful elegy to lives lost in a wasteland
3.5
I'm Thinking of Ending Things
Robert Daniels
His least accessible film in some ways but his most universally affecting in others I m Thinking of Ending Things is Kaufman s most advanced directorial work to date
4
Public Enemies
Mal Vincent
This film is worth a look for Depp fans and art film fans and because it s not a noisy summer piece of bombast
2.5
Public Enemies
Rossiter Drake
Though faithful to Bryan Burrough s painstakingly researched book Michael Mann s Public Enemies offers more an abstract impression of Dillinger than a fully satisfying portrait
3
Public Enemies
Kit Bowen
Expect good but not great Despite the clear talent behind this highly competent film it is a little disappointing Public Enemies is not as Best Picture quality as it purports to be
2.5
Public Enemies
Gina Carbone
Never mind crime I m declaring the nation s first war on hand held cameras
2.5
Public Enemies
Keith Cohen
The movie tangentially holds your interest but could have been so much better if it had developed a rooting interest for one side or the other
3
Public Enemies
Michael A. Smith
flat The film moves along with no rhyme or reason
2.5
Public Enemies
Cammila Albertson
For people who loved Heat this is a tour de force
3
Public Enemies
Sean O'Connell
More enamored with the Dillinger myth than with the actual man
2
Public Enemies
Brandon Fibbs
Public Enemies is Heat with fedoras a gangster epic that is easily the best thing Mann has done in more than a decade an intensely visceral tour de force
3.5
Public Enemies
Joe Lozito
Though it provides no insight into its subject Michael Mann s John Dillinger biopic is still an engrossing period piece thanks largely to the director s sure hand and signature style
3
Public Enemies
Michael Sragow
Depp operates like a star in more ways than one He holds everyone in place with his gravitational pull
3.5
In the Valley of Elah
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Will hopefully be appreciated years from now when the Iraq war is looked upon by many as a war that revealed to its citizens what America has truly become
3.5
In the Valley of Elah
Sean McBride
features some fine acting and a touchstone subject matter but I wasn t nearly as impressed as I thought I would be by a film with this pedigree
3
In the Valley of Elah
Gina Carbone
I m happy to have found quiet slow burning Elah the better Middle East movie of the week despite the Oh no he dih int ending
3
In the Valley of Elah
Susan Tavernetti
Walking a razor wire fence Writer Director Paul Haggis honors Americans serving their country while lacerating the military mindset that got them there
4
In the Valley of Elah
Daniel M. Kimmel
one of those near misses that have enough things going for it like the performances of Jones and Theron that you may be willing to forgive the films its flaws
2.5
In the Valley of Elah
Larry Ratliff
Haggis camera hovers over Jones craggy face as if it were the lunar lander looking for a smooth spot to land There is no virgin terrain on Jones weathered face just creased landscape that could be headed for another well deserved Oscar nomination
3.5
In the Valley of Elah
Eric Lurio
This is definitely worth a bargain matinee
3
In the Valley of Elah
Vince Koehler
This is another home run hit for Tommy Lee Jones
3.5
In the Valley of Elah
Bruce Westbrook
Haggis self serious tone becomes wearisome and he fails to explore how the military failed its men while clumsily laying a guilt trip at its feet
2.5
In the Valley of Elah
James Sanford
The movie wears each of its hot button issues as casually as a runway model might sport the latest Hermes scarf The topics are brought up shown off and then in most cases replaced with something else
2
In the Valley of Elah
Bruce Newman
Elah uses a slightly plodding police procedural format as an opening to a discussion about the effect the war is having on returning soldiers It s a lot to ask of one movie
2.5
In the Valley of Elah
Joe Lozito
A fierce performance by Tommy Lee Jones as a father searching for his son AWOL after returning from Iraq anchors this flawed but important film from flawed but important writer director Paul Haggis
3.5
In the Valley of Elah
Tamara Straus
Elah does have moments of slipping into political sermon but for the most part it is an effective disturbing and a rarity for Haggis subtle exploration of the stateside war story
4
In the Valley of Elah
James Rocchi
In the Valley of Elah doesn t actually say Bring the boys home it mostly tells us how much Paul Haggis would like to take home another Oscar
2
Faith Under Fire
Doug Walker
Absolutely hilarious Shame it s not a comedy
1
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Matthew Rozsa
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is deliciously misanthropic despite the Coen Brothers protesting otherwise
4
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Alan French
The Coen Brothers have not created the most iconic film of their career but bring a unique bend to the American Western in the process
3
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Robert Daniels
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is reliant on life and fate s brutal eccentricities while incorporating and morphing the reverberations of the Western genre with the Coen brothers oddball humor
4
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Clayton Davis
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs finds the enthusiasm in its provocative personas Each person grossly unique yet commonly familiar the movie stimulates the viewer for its boisterous moments and subdued notes
3
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Greg Cwik
A few sharp one liners seem to be anchoring a meandering story that however beautifully filmed fails to linger in the mind dissipating quickly like all that gunsmoke
2.5
Wrestling With Angels: Playwright Tony Kushner
Marta Barber
Wrestling with Angels is personal and intimate insightful about Kushner as well as instructive about his collection of works
3
Wrestling With Angels: Playwright Tony Kushner
Steven Winn
Wrestling With Angels is a canny piece of filmmaking sure to absorb both audiences familiar with Kushner s plays and those who know little or nothing about him
3
Wrestling With Angels: Playwright Tony Kushner
Joey Guerra
A sentimental valentine to a man who underneath it all simply wants to move people with his message
3
Wrestling With Angels: Playwright Tony Kushner
Emanuel Levy
I wish another director had chronicled the life and times of the vibrantly alert Tony Kushner Mock s docu is diffuse rambling and fails to delve into some crucial issues pertaining to the playwright s creativity and personal life
2
From Up on Poppy Hill
Cammila Collar
Rest assured the younger Miyazaki has clearly earned his stars as Poppy Hill offers just the same intimate ultimately life affirming kind of storytelling we ve come to expect from the family name
4
The World According to Sesame Street
Rob Humanick
Anyone who doubts the socially and culturally shaping powers of television film or any other medium of expression need only look to Sesame Street in order to dispel their skepticism
3
Table 19
Bennett Campbell Ferguson
The majority of the movie s gags are staged so blandly that you re more likely to wince than laugh
1
Table 19
David Fear
Mostly however what you get is six characters in search of a cringe comedy that can cohere around them
2.5
Table 19
Anita Katz
A bland screwball comedy sunk by an excess of gimmickry and a lack of credibility and punch
2
Table 19
Nathalie Atkinson
RSVP Decline with regret
2
Table 19
Tina Hassannia
It s not a complicated or original idea but one that Table 19 manages to express on genuinely heartfelt terms You can t hate a movie that courageously wears its heart on its sleeve
2.5
Table 19
Kathryn Laskaris
It feels a bit like an unfocused drunk uncle speech it s got a couple of good jokes but mostly you just wait it out to get to the inevitable sweet table at the end of the night
2
Table 19
Tom Russo
One big adult paean to that old adolescent screen staple from the unlikely bonding to the way 80s music to the wacky tobacky scene And we re still suckers for it
3
Table 19
Christopher Gray
Each of Table 19 s faint glimmers of grace are overwhelmed by elements of general spatial and narrative incompetence
1
Concussion
Michael Smith
Smith is very good Albert Brooks as Omalu s coroner mentor brings the dry film some much needed humor and Alec Baldwin is solid as the former team doctor with guilt driving his support of Omalu
2.5
Concussion
Brad Wheeler
A melodramatic but compelling enough lab coat drama about football players and the pathological implications of too many blows to their heads
2.5
Concussion
Anders Wright
This is a pretty intriguing idea for a film certainly and couldn t be more of the moment But Concussion is an interesting story uninterestingly told
2
Concussion
Brian Truitt
Despite its faults Smith s excellent execution and Concussion on the whole will hit home in the hearts and especially minds of the audience
2.5
Concussion
David Berry
Everything here is roughly that plodding managing to make what actually should be a life and death issue into something with all the nuance and depth of a Law and Order courtroom capper
2
Concussion
Rick Bentley
The biggest problem with Concussion is that it takes the less interesting approach to a fascinating subject
2.5
Concussion
John Serba
Landesman seems uncertain if he should serve character or procedure and ultimately does justice to neither
2
Concussion
Radheyan Simonpillai
Concussion plays Omalu s compelling work as your by the numbers lone crusader story which is effective right up to the point when a bristling Smith barks Tell the truth
2
Concussion
Clayton Davis
Settling into a role that calls for the best parts of Smith s charisma which he has demonstrated effortlessly throughout his career he handles it with an equally emotional heft that garners most of the film s best moments
2.5
Mr. Harrigan's Phone
Pablo O. Scholz
Good fun with a touch of the supernatural though in the end it isn t a horror film but a fine and well made suspense film Full review in Spanish
3
Metamorphosis
Brad Wheeler
The film is graceful visually and beautifully harrowing its worry for a planet and hope for humanity is reasoned and well explained
3.5
The Infidel
Robbie Collin
The Infidel s got some great gags most of which have a stand up routine kind of feel but a hopelessly contrived climax saps it of any real satirical bite
3
The Infidel
Alistair Harkness
The film slugs along never bad exactly but never funny either and as it works towards its vaguely farcical resolution it starts to resemble every other lame Brit com
2
Dog
Matthew Passantino
Most of Dog feels surface level but Tatum and Lulu find ways to spark an odd couple rapport which keeps this lighthearted movie engaging
2.5
Dog
Kevin Carr
This one tells an authentic story and I was pleasantly charmed by this movie
3
Dog
Sarah Knight Adamson
Its been a few years since weve seen Channing Tatum as the lead and here he carries the entire film on his own it s really great to have him back on the big screen
3
Dog
Ray Gill Jr.
As the co director of Dog Tatum proves that no one knows how to use him as well as he does and makes the film a treat for anyone who s ever had a pet with a lot of personality and a fun ride for anyone else who wants to come along
3
Dog
Charles Koplinski
Perhaps the most refreshing thing about the film is the fact that it underplays its most important moments using a degree of subtlety when an emotional connection needs to be made Dog is all the better for it
3
Dog
Lindsey Bahr
Ultimately it does work but Dog is a movie that is trying to do quite a bit and perhaps bites off a little more than it can reasonably handle in 90 minutes
2.5
Dog
Nell Minow
Dog is uneven in tone and quality but shows promise in the way co directors Channing Tatum and Reid Carolin approach the story with care and heart
3
Dog
Kristen Page-Kirby
Dog turns out to be a deeply thoughtful surprisingly resonant look at trauma and what stems from it
3
Dog
Wes Greene
Dog cannily smuggles a nuanced inquiry of a social issue under the guise of popular entertainment
2.5
A Raisin in the Sun
Wanda Hale
First things first Sidney Poitier is one of the true artists of our time
4
A Raisin in the Sun
Christopher James
The themes and words that rang through Broadway cut like a thousand knives in the movie adaptation as well
4
A Raisin in the Sun
TV Guide Staff
The performances are uniformly excellent
4
Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning
Scott Bowles
Universal soldiers it seems never die even if they deserve a slow and deliberate farewell
1
Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning
John Semley
Like a stiff Schwarzeneggerian conqueror making good on an I ll be back John Hyams returns to one up the franchise again
2
Disclosure
Mal Vincent
It s glossy and hokey but it is also good storytelling More importantly within its aims it s a lot of fun
3.5
Disclosure
Jeff Shannon
For those who would question Crichton s motives Levinson and Attanasio haven t let men off the hook
3
Far From Vietnam
Ela Bittencourt
Most problematic is the way in which the Vietnamese are romanticized as if they had not fought for their livelihoods and land visceral and specific but for ideals alone
2.5
Finding Fela
J. R. Jones
The problem isn t really finding Fela but containing him
2
Finding Fela
Nathalie Atkinson
Anytime the ersatz Fela and crew are on screen performing numbers the real Kuti isn t And that s a shame since watching the real Kuti onstage is as much concert as political rally and liturgy
2.5
Finding Fela
David Hiltbrand
The constant flipping between stagecraft and reality creates a dissonant static that prevents any satisfying connection with the film
2
Finding Fela
Clayton Dillard
Alex Gibney uses archival and Broadway footage so seamlessly that telling the difference between reality and recreation becomes not only difficult but one of the film s central metaphors
3
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
Mary Houlihan
It s the beautiful and breathtaking animation that gives The Tale of the Princess Kaguya a luster that is both simple and sophisticated
3
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
J. R. Jones
One can only hope Ghibli maintains a creative standard as high as his
4
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
Anita Katz
Takahata s screenplay cowritten by Riko Sakaguchi features impressively intricate scenarios It contains better than a conventional villain flawed but human characters
3.5
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
Elise Nakhnikian
The soft colors graceful movements and clean lines that depict the animated figures and their environments and the frequent close ups of beautiful flora and fauna embody the ineffable beauty of life on Earth that is one of the film s main themes
3.5
The Secret of NIMH
Peter Stack
The film carries us to a wonderful sometimes scary underworld of colorful animal characters Grating cynics need not apply
3
The Secret of NIMH
John Stark
If you ve given up on good old fashioned animated movies the kind Disney used to do so well cheer up The Secret of NIMH is quite wonderful alive with dramatic conflicts colorful characters pretty music and sophisticated animation
3
The Secret of NIMH
Desmond Ryan
A sumptuous celebration of the animator s art If it were not for E T this would easily be the best children s film released this year
4
The Secret of NIMH
Bruce Bailey
Thanks to a palette of more than 600 colors 500 of which are newly developed the film has a kaleidoscopic impact of a sort that we haven t seen since Fantasia
3.5
The Secret of NIMH
Bill Cosford
The result of all this is what we recall from the great Disney period a cartoon of amazing depth of image and rich nuance This may be a film for children but its achievement is no less serious
3.5
Rabid Dogs
Clayton Dillard
There s no reason for Rabid Dogs to exist as even character identity and motivation receives little attention
2
Pure
Michael Booth
Parker and Harry Eden the boy who plays her precocious by necessity son elevate Pure from a tedious cautionary tale to a wrenching drama
3
Pure
Ian Mantgani
Talented performers effectively dramatic
3
Hangman's Curse
Todd Hertz
The film does keep viewers attention and has some shining scenes But it might also leave readers wondering how a pretty good book ended up as a not so great movie
2
Hangman's Curse
Lou Carlozo
We definitely could use more wholesome teenage flicks but Hangman s Curse is just plain hokum not so much for the values it tries to convey but the slipshod way it conveys them
.5
Off and Running
Joseph Jon Lanthier
Director Nicole Opper never resorts to promoting reductive campus counselor esque values
3
Relaxer
Christopher James
It s a thoroughly unpleasant experience that at best is somewhat humorous as a sketch At worst it s an endless trudge through the mind of toxic irresponsible man children
1
Relaxer
Carson Lund
Joel Potrykus s droll world is defined by feats of man child pettiness by lazy guys who turn the banalities of daily life into meaningless trials of integrity
2.5
Warren Ellis: Captured Ghosts
Jeff Shannon
Ellis has broken every rule and emerged triumphant creating a dark cynical vision of problematic futures made bearable by an undying glimmer of hope for humankind
3
I Wish I Knew
Guy Dixon
The pacing is steady The stories are told simply with zero affectation or buildup by the director The effect is astonishing
4
Moby Doc
Diego Semerene
The film s tendency to over explain over intellectualize and over script events leaves little room for spontaneity and doubt
2
My Bakery in Brooklyn
Brad Wheeler
A layer cake of cutesy romance fight for your dreams earnestness and a syrupy score
0.5
11 Flowers
Clayton Davis
A classy poignant tale that resonates loudly and enchants the most tender parts of the human soul
3.5
Bobbi Jene
Shane Slater
Lind doesn t quite illuminate what exactly makes Bobbi Jene so groundbreaking But ultimately the emotions expressed speak for themselves
3
Bobbi Jene
Clayton Dillard
Elvira Lind s film is closer to an advertisement for Bobbi Jene Smith than a film about the contemporary dancer
1.5
Christmas, Again
Clayton Dillard
Charles Poekel displays an assured directorial hand and maintains a modest appealing even droll sensibility throughout
3
The Pact
Calum Marsh
When The Pact descends finally from suggestion to explication the scares regrettably slink away
2.5
The Impostors
Elias Savada
This is easily one of the funniest films of the year and in many a year A laugh riot Honest Please Mum give me more
3.5
Fiddler on the Roof
Jordan Hiller
With each musical number another integral and eternal aspect of Judaism is pondered explored and expressed with passionate flourishes
3.5
Deathwatch
Ian Mantgani
It s horror crossed with a war movie and if you suspect this might mean it consists of men running around in mud while eerie music plays on the soundtrack you would be correct
1.5
To the Left of the Father
Fernando F. Croce
Long heavy and soberly elating the film envisions a heightened reality like Visconti s Rocco and His Brothers
3.5
Resurrecting the Champ
Michael A. Smith
Like a championship fight a movie is often reviewed in rounds This being said I think I ll go the safe route and call the film a draw
2.5
Resurrecting the Champ
Gina Carbone
Everything is about winning respect versus earning it This film earned mine I m glad I took a chance on it By the look of my theater not many others did
3
Resurrecting the Champ
Sean McBride
despite its shortcomings still functions as a piece of crowd pleasing cinema
2.5
Resurrecting the Champ
Gene Seymour
When Resurrecting the Champ climbs off its high horse and makes itself comfortable within the contours of daily newsroom life with its alternating languor and tension the movie feels authentic and lived in
2.5
Resurrecting the Champ
Vince Koehler
This is the first movie of 2007 to change my way of thinking It will have you cheering Champ on
3.5
Resurrecting the Champ
Paul Schrodt
Rescurrecting the Champ is a snooze
2
Elstree 1976
Anders Wright
How many movies would inspire a documentary about its bit players almost 40 years after its initial release Very few but Star Wars is certainly one of them
3
Elstree 1976
Christopher Schobert
Elstree 1976 is a must see for Star Wars fanatics and coming shortly after the much hyped franchise adrenaline shot that is The Force Awakens it s almost shocking to hear firsthand accounts of the first film s way under the radar status
3
Elstree 1976
Neil Rosen
It wears out its welcome after about an hour It also raises a few questions that are left unanswered But there s still enough here to make it worth a look for fans
2.5
Elstree 1976
Odie Henderson
You re hearing some good stories told from the viewpoints of minor characters This will hold your attention best if you are a Star Wars completist or a super fan
2.5
Elstree 1976
Nick Prigge
Jon Spira doesn t extrapolate from his interviewees whether they feel like a true part of the Star Wars universe or mere tag alongs to a pop cultural phenomenon
2
The First Nudie Musical
Kevin Carr
The things you d expect to come out in a movie like this have a song based on them The production numbers are hilarious It was such a bizarre time in the 70s
2.5
Hair High
Gary Goldstein
It s a wickedly fine ensemble and Plympton gives everyone free rein which is no surprise from the creator of this irreverent freewheeling delight
3
Hair High
Michael Booth
Rarely is filmmaking of any kind this exuberant this inventive or this entertaining
3
Quo Vadis, Aida?
Lisa Trifone
The film s final few moments are perhaps the most affecting the ramifications of that day that war devastatingly laid out before us
3.5
Quo Vadis, Aida?
Anita Katz
For the movie s merits as a thriller and a drama credit goes to Jaroslaw Kaminski s taut editing and to Djuricic s sensational lead performance
3.5
If You Saw His Heart
Kate Taylor
This debut feature from Joan Chemla begins with a riotous Romani wedding impressively filmed but soon gets stuck in a grim flop house
1.5
Alamar
Loren King
Pedro Gonzlez Rubio takes the viewer on a leisurely journey through the timeless ritual of catching and cleaning fish and the natural progression of paternal love over the course of a few days
3
Alamar
David Lewis
Without the director resorting to sentiment we experience the growing bond between father and son Their happiness is infectious
3
Alamar
Andrew Schenker
Alamar is as much about the way a coat of yellow paint looks spread across wooden planks as it is the tender regard a father bestows on his son or the manner by which a lobster is speared and stripped
3
Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America
Matt Fagerholm
Who We Are should be made required viewing in every American school as we find ourselves perched once again at a pivotal tipping point
4
Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America
Jocelyn Noveck
No matter how much you think you already know you re bound to learn new things from Who We Are directed by Emily and Sarah Kunstler And to be stunned at some point
3.5
Cowards Bend the Knee
Eric Henderson
Cowards Bend the Knee is paradoxically retrograde and ultramodern
3.5
The Business of Fancydancing
Janice Page
Feels a bit like a racy after school special
2.5
The Business of Fancydancing
Megan Turner
Pretentious when it should be penetrating spasmodic when it means to be lyrical
1.5
The Business of Fancydancing
Jonathan Curiel
A movie that can be trying at times but is ultimately satisfying to watch
3
Nearing Grace
Ted Fry
Moral dilemmas faced by immature teens is fine fare for young adult fiction but a movie that wants them to be taken as something bigger needs better management than Nearing Grace can provide
1.5
The Beta Test
Matthew Passantino
The Beta Test is about unpleasant people and their unpleasant truths but it s told with a ferocity that s hard to turn away from
3
The Beta Test
Kevin Carr
This is a dark sardonic and cynical look at Los Angeles and the entertainment industry also the secondary industry to it the agents the managers the publicists
2.5
Resistance
Chris Barsanti
Resistance functions as a handsomely mounted biopic that tells a little known story with considerable passion
2.5
When Comedy Went to School
Austin Kennedy
With its cheap Television production values Karaoke quality soundtrack and poorly focused narrative these legendary comedians definitely deserve something better than this
1.5
When Comedy Went to School
Wes Greene
It confuses nostalgia for earth shaking cultural upheaval never really expounding on the actual effect of the Borscht Belt circuit s influence
2
Attenberg
Andrew Schenker
A boldly conceived assemblage of diverse and seemingly random fictional materials
3.5
Attenberg
Jason Anderson
The film succeeds not only as an idiosyncratic spin on the coming of age story but a wider comment on what it means to be fully human and fully alive in an age of diminished expectations
3.5
A Somewhat Gentle Man
Alison Gang
This Norwegian import quickly surprises as a quirky dark comedy reminiscent of lightweight Coen brothers
3
A Somewhat Gentle Man
Betsy Sherman
It s not bad but only somewhat funny
2.5
A Somewhat Gentle Man
Bill Weber
A comedy of an Oslo gangster s fumbling attempts at post parole living ticks off all the twee requirements of this apparently deathless subgenre
2
The Reports on Sarah and Saleem
Rubén Rosario
It runs out of juice near the end but it s held afloat by strong characters and a topical urgency
2.5
The Reports on Sarah and Saleem
Zaki Hasan
A fascinating and unsettling look at the ramifications of marital infidelity when shone through a specific geopolitical prism
3
The Reports on Sarah and Saleem
Vanessa H. Larson
The fraught relationship between Israelis and Palestinians is this tale s powerful overlay But it s the questions it raises about personal accountability that speak to wider truths
3.5
The Reports on Sarah and Saleem
Diego Semerene
We never spend enough time with the characters to believe the urgency and lushness of their cravings
1.5
Jessabelle
Tirdad Derakhshani
An ineffective derivative and awkwardly executed mash up of ghost flicks and voodoo movies
1.5
Jessabelle
Nick McCarthy
Rather than commit to exploring Jessabelle s existential crisis the filmmakers opt to pile on the clichs straight until the rotten denouement
1
Across the Universe
Carolyn Arends
Across the Universe is a good natured if sometimes enthusiastic to the point of corniness romp
3
Across the Universe
Rossiter Drake
Across the Universe is whimsical silliness imaginatively constructed but precious and gratingly excessive
2
Across the Universe
Sean McBride
The Beatles will certainly want to drive across the city to see Across the Universe
3.5
Across the Universe
Sean O'Connell
A low rent off Broadway spectacle that s desperately in need of a stage
1.5
Across the Universe
Graham Killeen
I never realized what a lush cast of characters populate Fab Four records Or how giddy it would be to see Max Jude Jo Jo Prudence and Sadie come to life
3
Across the Universe
Kit Bowen
John Lennon would be proud
3.5
Across the Universe
Jessica Reaves
If you can get past its relatively minor failings it s hard not to be seduced by the big heart of this chaotic colorful movie
3
Across the Universe
Gene Seymour
There s so much to like even love about Across the Universe that you re even more exasperated about its faults
2.5
Across the Universe
Jason Clark
Taymor s signatures are visible throughout but she is clearly trying hard to gussy up a screenplay that plays more like The Wonder Years without the cultural insight
2
The Sharks
Luke Parker
Cool gazes and strikingly extended shots work together to harness a steady sense of uneasiness in the viewer who s forced to sink in their seat and doubt how far Rosina can go
2.5
100 Proof
John Petrakis
It s quite mesmerizing to watch these two lost souls trade in their last gasp at salvation for a bottle of cheap hooch and a noseful of cocaine
3
The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas
Susan Wloszczyna
The prequel is like eating a second helping of underdone bronto burger and being kept awake by the resulting indigestion induced Dali esque nightmare
1.5
The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas
Elias Savada
Here s one that should have stayed buried under a rock pile down at Fred and Barney s quarry
1
The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas
Peter Stack
Falls from interestingly loopy to tiresome
2
Among Giants
Elias Savada
Among Giants blah story of love among the high tension wires is a limp disappointment of voltages dashed
1
Boiling Point
Peter Stack
It s hard to laugh but the overall joke of placing an explosive man in a society known for harmony is darkly fascinating
3
The Curse of Downers Grove
Peter Sobczynski
Too dumb to be scary too listlessly written and directed to be suspenseful and too unpleasant to work as camp
1.5
Dora and the Lost City of Gold
Kristen Page-Kirby
Sure there may be a nugget or two of gold in Lost City But it mostly stays lost in this convoluted drag of a script Dora should have picked a path and stayed on it Instead it s a movie that is muy aburrido boring
1
Dora and the Lost City of Gold
Michael Smith
Dora and the Lost City of Gold won t be for everyone but for those with a familiarity with and fond memories of Dora s continuing adventures this just might energize them to close with her celebration song
3
Dora and the Lost City of Gold
Zaki Hasan
There s a genuine void in the marketplace for offerings like this It s so joyful and confident in its own premise that it practically dares you not to walk out of the theater with a smile on your face strutting like a peacock
3
Dora and the Lost City of Gold
David Berry
Kids certainly won t learn anything here but they re not likely to mistake it for entertainment either
1.5
Fast Color
Lisa Trifone
Fast Color has been labeled a superhero origin story in much of its marketing materials But that characterization is much too narrow for what the film encompasses
3.5
Fast Color
Matthew Passantino
So what s Fast Color about From the establishing scenes it s not immediately clear and that s the gently hypnotic splendor of the movie it casts its spell right away and keeps you in a trance throughout
3.5
Fast Color
Alan Zilberman
By finding the right note of empathy Hart creates a space for the audience to share their doggedly earned hope
3
Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport
Greg Dean Schmitz
The tales here are worth being told and worth hearing
3.5
Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport
Elias Savada
Producer Deborah Oppenheimer s journey of discovery about her late mother s past appears legitimately destined for award consideration
3
Prospero's Books
Ted Prigge
It s not concerned with anything but being hypnotic and using film s plastic elements to its extremes or at least as far as Greenaway can take it
3.5
Come Back, Africa
Bill Weber
A solid affecting artifact of the cruelty of late 1950s South Africa in which music often makes despair and long suppressed anger bearable
3
Rebel in the Rye
Carson Lund
Danny Strong s film suggests dramatic Tetris and it leeches J D Salinger and his process of any mystery
1.5
Rebel in the Rye
Dave McGinn
We see the young Salinger stuck at his desk lighting matches and throwing pages in the garbage We see his trembling hand hovering above a page There is sometimes music When all else fails there s a montage
1.5
Rebel in the Rye
Lisa Jensen
Strong loses focus by stuffing his movie with too many incidental details like an early draft of a novel with too much material left in that the author can t bear to cut
2.5
Rebel in the Rye
Jeff Simon
I set a personal record watching Rebel in the Rye I have never before hated a film this quickly and thoroughly It took me about 2 minutes to despise the film and my feelings never really changed despite the fact that there are truly fine actors in it
1.5
Rebel in the Rye
Pat Padua
It s hard to imagine a film more inaptly named As a movie this Rebel is as it turns out terribly by the book
1.5
Rebel in the Rye
Matt Fagerholm
A feature length biopic that appears to be comprised of half realized highlights from a television miniseries
2
Flushed Away
Barbara Vancheri
Flushed Away directed by David Bowers and Sam Fell is creatively realized especially in how it takes found materials underground and re imagines London landmarks
2.5
Flushed Away
Felix Vasquez Jr.
So confusing so jarring so utterly irritating how I long for Wallace and Gromit at this moment
2
Flushed Away
Jonathan W. Hickman
A mixed bag that will leave you packing up your coat before the end credits roll
2
Flushed Away
James Sanford
endearingly loony nearly stolen by a chorus of hard working slugs that slithers from scene to scene often contributing exactly the right reaction or song as the case may be at the right time
3
Flushed Away
Sean O'Connell
The film s humor actually splits down the middle with intelligent puns for parents and gratuitous pratfalls for kids
3
Flushed Away
Kit Bowen
Well placed pop culture references wry British humor u2014and some singing slugs u2014elevate Flushed Away from the typical animated fare but only slightly
2.5
Flushed Away
Thomas Delapa
Though Roddy s tale is set in London it s bloody obvious that DreamWorks is the American tail wagging the rat in this one
1.5
Flushed Away
Mark Collette
This is a stunning example of a dumb concept that an ingenuous team of screenwriters animators and voice actors turned squarely on its head And there s scarcely a potty joke to be found
3.5
Flushed Away
Laine Ewen
Though Flushed Away certainly aims to please viewers of all ages it s the anglophiles of all ages who are going to get the most out of the film
2.5
Flushed Away
Peter Debruge
It s rat a tat pop culture references but consistently hilarious
3
Flushed Away
Ted Fry
Fans of Wallace and Gromit may be puzzled by a visual disconnect in Flushed Away They will certainly however be delighted by the unrelenting whimsy and fast paced gags of a story that never slows down to think about where it s going next
3.5
Flushed Away
Ethan Alter
Despite the switch from stop motion to CGI the hallmarks of a typical Aardman production are intact right down to the characters round eyes and prominent teeth
3
Flushed Away
Peter T. Chattaway
The film throws just enough lunacy at us to keep things entertaining even when we re not really sure where it s going
3
Flushed Away
Tyler Hanley
One of the most outright enjoyable films of the year an imaginative and entertaining ride from the very first flush
3
Flushed Away
Fernando F. Croce
Digital animation has elbowed claymation out of the frame and a certain frenetic coarsening has settled over Aardman s latest
2
Flushed Away
Bruce Newman
An adventure that in both its breathtaking ingenuity and breathless excitement exceeds Wallace Gromit The Curse of the Were Rabbit and Chicken Run the two previous collaborations between DreamWorks Animation and Aardman Features
3.5
Millions
Jay Antani
if you re a sucker for adorable freckle faced kids you may not be able to resist the infantile wiles of this movie
.5
Millions
Betsy Bozdech
A charmingly surreal warmly imaginative glimpse inside the mind and heart of an earnest seven year old
3
Millions
Jonathan R. Perry
In sly sweet and frequently funny terms Danny Boyle pleads a compelling case for the fundamental goodness of mankind
3.5
Millions
Greg Maki
One of the best family films in recent memory
3
Millions
Jon Niccum
What makes Millions quirky is also what prevents it from genuinely immersing the viewer in the story
2.5
Millions
Larry Ratliff
Millions serves up enough touching emotional moments to coin its own richness a respect for goodness in human nature
3
Millions
Phoebe Flowers
Captures the moment when every kid must break free from it and start to become part of the significantly darker and less fun adult world
3
Millions
Bruce Westbrook
A charming cash cow with cute twists to its tale
3
Millions
Bruce Newman
The best movie of the new year
3.5
Millions
Michael Booth
One of the best children s movies of recent years
4
Millions
Paul Sherman
Unfortunately it s too cute for adults and perhaps too complex in premise for kids
2
Millions
Ruthe Stein
This utterly enchanting British import manages to transport us to other worlds some of them heavenly
4
Millions
Jeffrey Overstreet
It s 2005 s first fiction film to deserve the word fantastic Millions sends the audience out feeling like well a million bucks
3.5
Millions
Jonathan W. Hickman
the intent was clearly to show Boyle s softer side And for much of this film softer is brilliant
3
Moss
Christopher James
The film seems more like a languid cinematography reel than a fleshed out narrative film
1.5
Moss
Wes Greene
Daniel Peddle s film emphasizes for better and worse the crushing monotony of living in insolated parts of the Deep South
2
Hondros
Nick Allen
While Hondros prevails with its intimate POV it also makes for a wide scope tribute to the profession of photojournalism
3.5
Deck the Halls
Thomas Delapa
Like that holiday fruitcake that nobody wants here s another stale and joyless Christmas comedy
1
Deck the Halls
Ted Fry
Looking for some early holiday cheer Look at anything but Deck the Halls
0.5
Deck the Halls
Mark Collette
I m tired of filmmakers screenwriters directors and studios that believe every holiday is its own excuse for making films
0.5
Deck the Halls
Lisa Rose
A holiday farce that pairs a colorful cast with a generic filmmaker
2
Deck the Halls
Sue Pierman
Deck the Halls a flabby attempt at false holiday cheer opening in theaters today resembles an inflatable Santa after vandals have gotten to it
1
Deck the Halls
Peter Debruge
Movies like Deck the Halls should make us all thankful that Christmas only comes once a year What other season could possibly inspire a story as insipid as this
1.5
Deck the Halls
Jennie Punter
Although it borrows ingredients from many familiar Christmas flicks it s got a sly twinkle of its own
2.5
Deck the Halls
James Sanford
has no real heart and certainly not a trace of warmth You may leave the theater with a strong desire not to decorate a tree but to deck the person who talked you into seeing this turkey
1.5
Deck the Halls
David Hiltbrand
a mirthless comedy with Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick as warring neighbors can be described as whatever is the opposite of a Christmas classic
1
Deck the Halls
Laura Kelly
Deck the Halls has a cute if ho ho hum story which makes it more like getting that nice sweater from grandma again
2
Deck the Halls
Gene Seymour
Deck the Halls strains to be both naughty and nice with much clamor and not much conviction
1.5
Deck the Halls
Jessica Reaves
Deck the Halls has little to recommend it
1.5
The Seat Filler
John Monaghan
It would be easy to dismiss The Seat Filler as a by the numbers romantic comedy the only difference being its mostly black cast
2
Never Say Macbeth
Jonathan W. Hickman
Never Say Macbeth is a movie for a narrow audience theater fans and stage actors For that audience it will be indispensable viewing
3
Flight
Jordan Hiller
More than anything the film seeks to capture the anguish of a man trapped not struggling with not dealing with but TRAPPED by his own vices
4
Flight
Jay Antani
As A list substance abuse melodramas go this one lands safely enough
3
Flight
Wilson Morales
Aided by Washington s memorable performance and a thrill seeking edge of your seat nine minute action sequence Flight is an emotional roller coaster that will have audience holding their stomachs
3
Flight
Alison Gang
In an outstanding raw performance Washington never strays from Whip s rough road of addiction and psychological turmoil
3
Flight
David Frese
Its muddled message and some storytelling cliches prevent Flight from being a great film
2
Flight
Perry Seibert
Flight isn t a bad movie but it isn t a good one either
2.5
Flight
R. Kurt Osenlund
A unique audacious studio movie kicking off as a star driven spectacle before whittling itself down to a raw and riveting character study
3.5
Sinister
Terence Johnson
Mildly engaging but incredibly flawed
1.5
Sinister
Brandy McDonnell
It s a shame that a story as chilling as Sinister should induce eye rolls instead of sheer scares
2.5
Sinister
Alexandra Cavallo
Sinister isn t perfect but it easily tops most of its scare starved competition
3
Sinister
Kevin C. Johnson
It comes together with a gruesome though excellent ending that some will find difficult to shake
3.5
Sinister
Cathy Jakicic
Watching Hawke investigate strange goings on night after night without turning on one light in the house becomes unintentionally comical
2.5
Sinister
Scott Bowles
Relies more on gotcha moments than storytelling
2
Sinister
Jon Niccum
Central to the cinematic impotency on display in Sinister is the ludicrous behavior of its hero
1.5
Sinister
Nick McCarthy
Ellison s fascination with celluloid to solve a crime recalls Antonioni s Blowup but Scott Derrickson is unable to conjure an aura that isn t as transparent and weightless as a ghost
2
Smokey and the Bandit
Brandy McDonnell
This Southern fried romp has a big personality and an infectious sense of fun that makes it worth taking for another spin
3
The Double Hour
Jay Antani
most of The Double Hour doesn t really need to exist in order for the viewer to process the impact of the finale
2
The Double Hour
Keith Cohen
Don t let anyone spill the beans and tell you too much before you get a chance to sit through all the twists and turns in this mind blowing experience
3.5
The Double Hour
Loey Lockerby
The final resolution is easily forgotten more of an afterthought than anything else The fun is in the twisting absurd journey not the destination
2.5
The Double Hour
Mark Jenkins
The movie s enjoyment derives heavily from surprise which the script uses both to advance the plot and just for fun
3
The Double Hour
Michael C. Walsh
The knockout climax comes about two thirds of the way through the film rendering the tail end a punch drunk afterthought but that doesn t detract from the clinic in critical suspense that Capotondi gives in the film s first hour
3
The Double Hour
Jesse Cataldo
Giuseppe Capotondi at least keeps a strong rein over the proceedings preventing any direct slides into silliness
3
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
David Gonzalez
Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver are the MVPs of Rise of Skywalker Both give their all in their final performances as Rey and Ben Solo
3.5
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Jason Fraley
If anything the movie plays it too safe with everything tied up too neatly but as a final chapter for these characters it s a solidly satisfying conclusion
3
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Doug Walker
So much thrown at you with so little character reaction that it feels more like fanfiction
1.5
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Stephen Rebello
Star Wars ends with a whimper not the royal farewell the franchise deserved
2.5
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Alan French
The sprint to the finish leaves the audience with a movie that has more in common with Transformers than Return of the Jedi
1.5
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Jeff Beck
Whereas Johnson s The Last Jedi had been daring exciting and encapsulated everything that makes Star Wars great The Rise of Skywalker brings the trilogy to an end with a bland dull and very forgettable final entry
2
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Matthew Rozsa
If you disliked The Last Jedi like I did you ll like but probably not love The Rise of Skywalker If you liked The Last Jedi this review might not be for you
3.5
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Kevin A. Ranson
giving Carrie Fisher top billing the big Skywalker finale isn t the best film of the series but does manage closure of every current character arc topping it off with a perfect coda
3
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Maria Sciullo
Director J J Abrams revisits worlds and echoes events from the saga s more beloved stories Musical cues from John Williams iconic scores heighten the moments
3
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
John Wenzel
The Rise of Skywalker earns much of its affection with cameos callbacks and other candy that will be best savored upon repeat viewings
2.5
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Jake Coyle
For a movie predicated on satisfying fans The Rise of Skywalker is a distinctly unsatisfying conclusion to what had been an imperfect but mostly good few films
2
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Brian Truitt
After paying homage to everything that came before this Star Wars ending is a too safe landing of a massive pop culture starship and a spectacular finale that misses a chance to forge something special
2.5
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Ross Raihala
There s no way it could please every fan and it most certainly will not But I think Abrams did the best he could with a seemingly insurmountable task
3
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Robert Daniels
The Rise of Skywalker eases its viewers into comfortable resignation and uncomplicated callbacks meant to pacify and not injure
1.5
She's Beautiful When She's Angry
Nathalie Atkinson
Ms Dore s work is not only a tribute to past bravery and determination but also a warning and urgent rallying cry to the next wave
3.5
She's Beautiful When She's Angry
Tirdad Derakhshani
A superbly researched and edited documentary about the women s movement in the 1960s
3.5
On the Run
Ruthe Stein
Bruno s domination of the first installment contributes to its being the least appealing
2
On the Run
Jeff Shannon
Sharp fast paced and eminently logical
3.5
On the Run
Aaron Hillis
For such a meticulously carved puzzle that all but announces it has missing pieces On the Run mostly succeeds as both an exercise and a stand alone entertainment
3
On the Run
Joshua Tanzer
To get the desired effect you have to see all three films none of which is much worth seeing by itself
2
On the Run
Jonathan Foreman
An enjoyably spare and fast moving French thriller
3
North Sea Texas
Ignatiy Vishnevetsky
It s not just that film is underdeveloped it s that it feels unwilling to develop preferring to leave its characters and plot points static The result feels stunted
2.5
North Sea Texas
David Lewis
It s a story that s been told countless times but first time director Bavo Defurne has such an assured hand and visual flair much credit also belongs to cinematographer Anton Mertens that everything seems fresh and new
3
The Addams Family
Betsy Bozdech
All of the actors are spot on perfect in their roles particularly Ricci whose performance as Wednesday helped cement her status as the queen of dark offbeat films
3
The Wanting Mare
Roxana Hadadi
The Wanting Mare is so enamored with its own mythos that it prioritizes ambitious iconography over immersive narrative
2
The Wanting Mare
Henry Stewart
It s as if Nicholas Ashe Bateman is commenting on a distinctly American suburban malaise using a fictional place digitally made to get at a real painful truth about being stuck in a place you didn t choose amid circumstances you didn t create
3
Mortal Kombat
Sebastian Zavala Kahn
A fun visually appealing film with effective performances and well choreographed fights Full review in Spanish
3
Mortal Kombat
TV Guide Staff
We ll concede that four armed Prince Goro is a hoot Christopher Lambert looks fabulous in a flowing white wig and Talisa Soto who plays some kind of princess can lord it over us anytime
2.5
Mortal Kombat
Madeleine Williams
It should be worth noting that you can play the game much cheaper than seeing the movie and the end result is much the same
1.5
Civil War (Or, Who Do We Think We Are)
David Reddish
It would be easy to dismiss Civil War as a work trying to shame the south and nationwide white complacency but Boyntons camera paints a far more complicated picture
4
Ararat
Mary F. Pols
Deliberately ponderous meticulously constructed
3.5
Ararat
Jonathan Foreman
The Armenian genocide deserves a more engaged and honest treatment
2.5
Ararat
Harvey S. Karten
A difficult but worthy film that bites off more than it can chew by linking the massacre of Armenians in 1915 with some difficult relationships in the present
3
Preaching to the Choir
Sean O'Connell
Filters its lessons through contemptuous twin brothers before settling on the redemptive power of gospel music sung by a church ensemble
2.5
Preaching to the Choir
Bruce Westbrook
Nor does it sermonize at the expense of entertaining Instead it melds gospel and hip hop for a music driven tale of twin brothers who reconnect
2.5
Preaching to the Choir
John Monaghan
A sappy redemption soaked story about two Harlem raised brothers that is as old as the Bible itself
2
Rambo: First Blood Part II
TV Guide Staff
All in all it s a pretty offensive movie especially to the Americans who fought in Vietnam
1
The Chronicles of Riddick
Todd Hertz
Like the heat on Crematoria little is fleshed out But I suppose it really doesn t matter because wow isn t Riddick cool
2.5
The Chronicles of Riddick
Vince Koehler
Although the story is a little confusing science fiction fans should enjoy the action and fine special effects
3
The Chronicles of Riddick
Tyler Hanley
It would have been more apropos had the filmmakers titled this confusing sci fi epic The Chronicles of Ridiculous
2
The Chronicles of Riddick
Jonathan R. Perry
What might have happened if Frank Herbert had written Dune after a lobotomy
1.5
The Chronicles of Riddick
James Verniere
This is what one of those cheesy Mortal Kombat movies would be like if it had delusions of grandeur
1.5
The Chronicles of Riddick
Erik Lundegaard
Diesel makes a fine action star and some of the fight scenes are cool but resistance is recommended
1.5
The Chronicles of Riddick
Megan Lehmann
Writer director David Twohy has a much bigger budget than he did for Pitch Black but he makes the all too common mistake of believing money can substitute for imagination
1
The Chronicles of Riddick
Gemma Tarlach
An entertaining but shameless mash up of other escapist fare
2.5
The Chronicles of Riddick
Sarah Chauncey
It s a little strange seeing quirky pianist Glenn Gould in a smackdown with xXx
1
The Chronicles of Riddick
Aaron Hillis
Much like a William S Burroughs novel the film could be cut up and reassembled and make just as much sense
2
The Chronicles of Riddick
Stephen Cole
The script is terrible a confounding mish mash of action thriller chases sci fi travelogue and phony political intrigue
2
The Chronicles of Riddick
Dan Lybarger
Writer director David Twohy has apparently forgotten everything that made his previous movie such an unexpected thrill
1.5
The Chronicles of Riddick
Guylaine Cadorette
fans won t be disappointed by this big budget sci fi opera
3
The Chronicles of Riddick
Chauncey Mabe
A crackerjack B movie sci fi adventure
2.5
The Chronicles of Riddick
Mark Caro
The tightness of the Pitch Black horror movie structure has been replaced by sprawl and lots of back story geography and interstellar politics
2
Smashed
Jake Mulligan
The film is at its best only when its characters are at their worst
2
Smashed
Alison Gang
Despite the youth of its main characters Smashed doesn t deliver much that s new to the sobriety genre
2
Smashed
Chris Cabin
The filmmakers attitude toward Kate is chiefly as a victim but Mary Elizabeth Winstead s admirable performance suggests so much more than that
2
Bill & Ted Face the Music
David Gonzalez
In a year that will mostly be remembered in a negative light Bill and Ted Face the Music is everything cinephiles needed in a time of such darkness A lighthearted heartfelt gem that cements itself as one of the most entertaining films of 2020
3.5
Bill & Ted Face the Music
Mark Meszoros
Excellent No But not bogus either
2.5
Bill & Ted Face the Music
Blake Howard
Bill Ted Face the Music is like a gift in a dream You re visiting old friends familiar gags and an aged brand of whimsy gives you a microdose of nostalgia that doesn t make you choke When it ends it s an emotional jolt
3.5
Bill & Ted Face the Music
Doug Walker
Not the most excellent adventure but semi excellent enough
3
Bill & Ted Face the Music
Mara Reinstein
Happy yet hapless the comedy is sort of like a high school reunion Good times in theory but anticlimactic and disappointing once you actually show up
2.5
Bill & Ted Face the Music
Brian Truitt
Puts a big stupid grin on your face yet also brings a certain dignity and depth to these two ride or die best friends now in middle age
3
Bill & Ted Face the Music
Oliver Jones
What the movie proves definitively is just what a durable vehicle screenwriters Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon stumbled onto when they first created the Candide like Valley metalheads as UCLA undergrads
2.5
Mr. Wrong
Mal Vincent
The most outright unfunny comedy in a long while
1
Mr. Wrong
Madeleine Williams
A clumsy repetitive attempt at comedy
1
Mr. Wrong
Susan Wloszczyna
Like its title character Mr Wrong doesn t know when to quit
2
Hollow in the Land
Brad Wheeler
The low budget effort from Vancouver writer director Scooter Corkle is earnest and methodical with a tone setting murkiness to it
3
10 Minutes Gone
Derek Smith
Almost every element of the film has been seemingly engineered to be the ne plus ultra of slapdash ineptitude
.5
City of Men
Jason Heck
It s strong enough to hold your interest and well done enough to make you care about these boys their families and their futures in a fascinating place where most American audiences have never been
3
City of Men
Ruthe Stein
A compelling and visually arresting drama from Brazil
3
City of Men
Jeff Shannon
There are moments in City of Men that feel so vividly accurate that you may find yourself ducking from the gunfire
3
City of Men
Philip Marchand
This is an engrossing film partly because the director pulls the camera back from time to time to mitigate the occasional effect of claustrophobia and to remind the audiencehow stunning the landscape is
2.5
The Square
Rania Richardson
Swedish writer director Ruben Ostlund creates an ingenious high wire act putting bourgeois beliefs and interpersonal trust to the test in THE SQUARE
4
The Square
Jake Coyle
The Square where the enlightened and well heeled are always gliding past beggars remains a potent satire
3
The Square
Clayton Davis
Östlund s script becomes painfully drawn out aching to build to a fulfillment that never really comes This all partnered with a long runtime that feels both obnoxious and unnecessary
2.5
The Square
Carson Lund
In scene after exquisitely staged scene it threatens to put too fine a point on otherwise thrillingly indeterminate situational comedy
2
Town & Country
Jorge Avila Andrade
Ejemplo claro de lo que no se debe hacer a la hora de escribir un guin
2
Town & Country
Elias Savada
This romantic dud is the kind of fowl weather friend everyone will want to pluck As an affair or two or more to remember Town Country is better off Lost Forgotten
0.5
Town & Country
Michael Medved
People we re supposed to care about come across like Marxist cartoons of the idle rich
2
Town & Country
Mary Kalin-Casey
A film with major stars ample humor meaningful themes and significant adult appeal
3
Karen
Nick Allen
Karen can only pat itself on the back for making a movie about the tyranny of a Karen but it doesn t bring any critical thinking to its own conversation
0
Winter Passing
Allison Benedikt
Midway through Rapp loses momentum failing to hone in on just what kind of movie he wants to make and Winter Passing languishes in that no man s land between tiny meandering indie drama and plotted pointed family melodrama
2.5
Winter Passing
Linda Stasi
Rapp plays out the relationships between these superficially drawn characters in an entirely pat manner yet Deschanel manages to make Winter Passing almost matter That s real talent
2
Annie
Bill Cosford
Annie is big Annie is loud Annie is wholesome fun for the whole family And Annie is actually a bit of a bore
2
Annie
Judy Stone
On stage Annie had ebullience every step of the way It s more like flatulence in this overblown mechanical big bucks production with out any grace or charm in its musical numbers
2
Annie
Kathleen Carroll
What makes Annie so winning is that while it could have easily been just another cutesy poo Hollywood musical it happens to be as gritty genial and boisterous as little Annie herself
4
Don't Say a Word
Andrew Howe
Features inexplicable actions dubious coincidences and characters you d happily murder yourself given half a chance
2
Don't Say a Word
Bob Graham
Maybe the less said about Don t Say a Word the better
1
Don't Say a Word
Tor Thorsen
Offers the slick looking non demanding suspense that A Hollywood Thriller copy promises
2
Don't Say a Word
Dan Lybarger
Don t Say a Word pleads on bended knee for its audience to abandon common sense
2
The Dark Knight
Rick Bentley
The Dark Knight is a triumph from beginning to end
3.5
The Dark Knight
Brett Michel
Completely lacking in vanity Ledger creates his finest performance
3.5
The Dark Knight
Jolene Mendez
This film is sure to surpass your wildest expectations The summer film that is sure to be unforgettable and leave you craving for more
4
The Dark Knight
Charles Koplinski
The Dark Knight is a film steeped in tragedy sacrifice and heroism and the eternal struggle at its core gives it a resonance that makes it one for the ages
4.0
The Dark Knight
Jordan Hiller
Though The Dark Knight is a film one can respect it is very difficult to enjoy
2.5
The Dark Knight
Wilson Morales
Nolan hasn t just created another comic book film but a well crafted solid engrossing thriller
3.5
The Dark Knight
Barbara Vancheri
If a movie is only as good as its villain then Dark Knight is a winner hands down
4
The Dark Knight
Todd Hertz
Under the fun summer blockbuster sheen lives an unnerving serious complex and ambitious crime epic about three good men with the courage to stand against evil
4
The Dark Knight
Greg Maki
The Dark Knight is a masterpiece easily the strongest effort in the history of its genre and one of the best movies of the decade
4
The Dark Knight
Gina Carbone
I m tired of the early Oscar talk too but when you re talking the best performance in years if not decades it s worth talking about The whole movie is worth the buzz Christopher Slowly Revealing Myself To Be God Nolan has done it again
3.5
The Dark Knight
Michael A. Smith
I have no idea if Ledger will win the Oscar next year James Dean didn t However both men left us albeit too soon with performances that will endure forever
4
The Dark Knight
Lee Grant
The Dark Knight is ahead of the curve dense and demanding an art film on a grand scale It won t make you smile but it will make you ponder this mesmerizing experience
3.5
The Dark Knight
Rossiter Drake
From the start it drags us down to the fiery pits of Gotham s anarchic hell and never lets us up for air it is a bruising unrelenting slice of sensory overload a captivating spectacle as likely to dazzle the eyes as fray the nerves
3.5
The Dark Knight
Marshall Fine
This movie is too in love with itself to make you love it
2.5
Geostorm
John Serba
Geostorm is exactly what we expect it to be an aggressively mediocre display of expensive digital effects
1.5
Geostorm
Peter Sobczynski
Really could have used a Sharknado or two to liven things up
1.5
Geostorm
Rick Bentley
Geostorm finds ways to draw attention away from an interesting use of weather as a weapon by using a cold front of political jabber
2.5
7 Boxes
Glenn Heath Jr.
The film is ripe with powerful subtext specifically how greed celebrity and technology help to form a misguided sense of opportunity that keeps the working class downtrodden
3
King Car
William Repass
Renata Pinheiro s film boasts the pleasures of shlock while sacrificing none of its philosophical rigor
3
Reach Me
Oleg Ivanov
It s as if the filmmakers wanted to create a multifaceted social drama then decided halfway through that it would be more entertaining to make an action exploitation film full of outdated racial and gender stereotypes
2
Jane by Charlotte
Nick Allen
Jane by Charlotte is meaningful in concept but fleeting in its expression
2
Jane by Charlotte
Clayton Dillard
The film neglects to find a conceptual framework for its prolonged consideration of Charlotte Gainsbourg s eventual revelation I have always loved you but it s much clearer to me now
2
The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete
Peter Sobczynski
Proves to be as awkward as its title thanks to its uneven screenplay and tone and questionable casting in supporting parts
2
You Can Count on Me
James Sanford
Unconditional love is a beautiful theory Lonergan suggests but putting it into practice can be exasperating
4
You Can Count on Me
Collin Souter
feels as natural as a conversation between two people who have known each other their whole lives One of the year s best
4
You Can Count on Me
Tor Thorsen
A simple beautiful story
3.5
You Can Count on Me
Greg Dean Schmitz
The small scale of the film is challenging on a big screen but the performances transcend that scope and make it a small story worth seeing
3
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
Budd Wilkins
Dreams nest within other dreams like so many Chinese puzzle boxes while no dream belongs exclusively to a single dreamer as though Buuel were toying with the Jungian notion of the collective unconscious
4
Active Measures
Matt Fagerholm
A documentary that chillingly illustrates the decline not only of democracy but of moral leadership in America
3
Lorna's Silence
Graham Killeen
By scorning accessibility the filmmakers unwittingly throw out the baby with the bathwater After all what s authentically human if not high drama
2
Lorna's Silence
Chris Kaltenbach
Lorna s Silence speaks volumes
3.5
Lorna's Silence
Keith Cohen
A unique filmmaking style that resembles near documentary realism If you were not aware that this was a movie you would think you were watching surveillance footage recorded by a sophisticated private investigation firm
2
Lorna's Silence
Fernando F. Croce
Lorna the young Albanian immigrant at the center of Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne s Lorna s Silence is both the newest addition to the twin auteurs gallery of spiritually anguished outsiders and a subtle departure from it
3.5
Falling Inn Love
Nick Allen
An impressively mechanical distraction that owns its cliches for the most part
3
New Jerusalem
Kalvin Henely
Unlike the soul searching characters from Old Joy which also stars Will Oldham Ike and Sean always feel as if they ve fallen out of the sky just for the film s setup
2
Orgasm Inc.
David Lewis
Can best be described as a compelling mess
2
Orgasm Inc.
Gerald Peary
Shows how the American pharmaceutical industry in legion with famous doctors in its pay has identified a disease female sexual dysfunction FSD that they claim dubiously afflicts 43 percent of American women
3.5
Orgasm Inc.
Jesse Cataldo
This is a strident issue movie with the feel of a more objective portrayal
3
Orgasm Inc.
Ethan Alter
This thoughtful if at times clumsy film is the latest salvo in the ongoing debate over the increased power of the pharmaceutical industry
3
Empty Nest
Jason Anderson
Burman s fifth feature is too slight and uneven to fully satisfy even though it does have much of the same wit and insight as Lost Embrace and Family Law two previous films that earned the director many comparisons to Woody Allen
2.5
Empty Nest
Andrew Schenker
This sense of unreality this feeling of being ill at ease in one s surroundings is communicated via Burman s off kilter rhythmic filmmaking
3
Empty Nest
Marta Barber
Empty Nest doesn t offer anything new in the style Ingmar Bergman made so famous but the film captures your heart thanks to the fine acting of its two main characters and Burman s deft hand
2.5
The Angry Birds Movie
Sebastian Zavala Kahn
could have been worse Full review in Spanish
2
The Angry Birds Movie
John Serba
Inside Out this is not the most constructive outlet for anger is a violent bombing of the birds adversaries as if Ted Cruz s foreign policy advisor wrote the screenplay
1.5
The Angry Birds Movie
John Hanlon
Families of all ages deserve a lot better than this
1.0
The Angry Birds Movie
Anders Wright
The Angry Birds Movie is about as filling as the game itself and has little to say other than friendship is good pigs are bad and angry payback is best of all
2
The Angry Birds Movie
Jon Niccum
a chaotic yet amusing tale of animated avians battling plundering pigs
2.5
The Angry Birds Movie
Tom Russo
Game over
2
The Angry Birds Movie
Jen Chaney
After paying good money to take your family to see this film you may be dealing with some anger management issues of your own
0.5
The Angry Birds Movie
Jody Mitori
The movie is ultimately a 90 minute commercial with vivid colors and other cuddly game characters popping up along the way
2
The Angry Birds Movie
Rick Bentley
The only saving grace is that it should keep anyone under the age of 6 entertained Of course you can do the same thing with the video game
1.5
The Angry Birds Movie
Eric Henderson
The Angry Birds Movie is a lot of things but none of them true to the app s appeal
1.5
Stage Fright
Brad Keefe
Strangely straightforward for being an episode of Glee attached to a paint by numbers slasher flick Human Centipede style
2
Stage Fright
Odie Henderson
Stage Fright could have been so much fun
2
Stage Fright
Mark Jenkins
Whether it s being sexy jokey or homicidal Stage Fright doesn t deliver the goods with sufficient spirit It lacks the sparkle to be a truly killer show
1.5
God's Country
Anne Brodie
Racism sexism abuse mental illness duplicitous authorities and neighbors and the natural end of out of control situations frame this quiet gutsy portrait of a brave woman Thandiwe Newton s phenomenal control is reason alone to catch God s Country
4
God's Country
Lisa Trifone
Higgins succeeds 40 to a great degree 41 then because just as the film proceeds at its low grade heat for the first two acts it more than delivers when that fire finally explodes into something not even the stoic and controlled Sandra can keep contained
3
God's Country
Isaac Feldberg
Profound and haunting
4
God's Country
Chance Solem-Pfeifer
With a nod to Do the Right Thing this is one of the few modern Westerns that becomes something new while invoking age old American conflicts
3
Araya
Gerald Peary
Be grateful that Araya is here in an exquisitely restored print with images of struggling Venezuelan peasants as luminous as the Mexican photographs of Edward Weston
4
Araya
Joseph Jon Lanthier
Araya is an artifactual account of human sweat that aims for pithy sympathy but strikes a far more bewitching bull s eye
4
2046
Forrest Hartman
For viewers willing to look at the picture as they would an abstract painting there are layers of enjoyment to be peeled back
3
2046
Bruce Westbrook
Some directors wouldn t know a true love story if it smacked them in the face like a big sloppy kiss
1.5
2046
Joshua Tanzer
Did you get it Guy 1 asked Guy 2 in the men s room after seeing 2046 Yeah said Guy 2 I think so Maybe
2.5
Trishna
Kelly Jane Torrance
Tess was very much a novel of its time Those times have changed though as Winterbottom does manage to show here not as much as we think
2.5
Trishna
James Adams
A loose but nonetheless pretty faithful recasting of Hardy s penultimate tragedy Tess of the d Urbervilles
2.5
Trishna
Jay Antani
dismal and unconvincing
2
Trishna
Andrew Schenker
Class privilege and sexual politics are inextricably linked in Michael Winterbottom s blunt self consciously brutal and rather loose updating of Thomas Hardy s Tess of the D Urbervilles
2
Moscow Never Sleeps
Alan Zilberman
O Reilly s ambitions notwithstanding Moscow is uneven because of the inescapable nature of such interlocking narratives some land better than others
2
The Amateurs (The Moguls) (Dirty Movie)
Mark Rahner
It ranges from awkward to excruciating
1
Barking Water
Ted Fry
Harjo is clearly giving his all in trying to convey a soulful mysticism in this existential journey But the tone becomes a little ham handed with all the lengthy interludes of barren fields roadside fences and tracking shots of the ever moving Volvo
2.5
Suicide Squad
David Gonzalez
Suicide Squad is a step in the right direction for the DCEU Is it perfect 63 No Is it flawed 63 Yes Is it entertaining 63 Hell Yeah 33
2
Suicide Squad
Sarah Knight Adamson
You may enjoy it if you are familiar with the comics and therefore don t need the context that would normally be required But for the rest of us it s one of the biggest disappointments of the year
2
Suicide Squad
George M. Thomas
Somewhere in that mess is a film possibly a good one As presented however Suicide Squad is a wasted opportunity
1.5
Suicide Squad
Matthew Rozsa
Based on the screening I attended I can attest that audiences seemed to genuinely enjoy the jokes and get swept up in the action sequences
3
Suicide Squad
Brad Keefe
Man DC Comics movies I am rooting for you but you are not making it easy
1.5
Suicide Squad
Sebastian Zavala Kahn
One of this year s biggest disappointments Worst than Batman vs Superman Full review in Spanish
2
Suicide Squad
John Hanlon
Despite some major flaws this film still packs a punch thanks to the performances of Will Smith and Margot Robbie and a few solid action scenes
3.0
Suicide Squad
Tony Norman
The plot is unbelievably dumb but there are some winning performances
2
Suicide Squad
Neil Rosen
The production values are quite good and so is the fun pop music score But there s a lot of action scenes and that shortchanges the storyline It could have also used more doses of humor
2
Suicide Squad
John Semley
Regrettably the film s place setting opening lays the scene for a different more exciting film that never really unfolds
2
Suicide Squad
Anders Wright
The plotting which initially seems intriguing eventually collapses onto its own narrative petard and the entire affair devolves into a rain drenched slow motion climax
2
Suicide Squad
Jeff Simon
I don t know about you but these are my kind of meta humans
3
Suicide Squad
Calum Marsh
Suicide Squad is the most miserable time I ve had at the movies in my life
1
Suicide Squad
Lauren Chval
Suicide Squad is the biggest superhero disappointment in recent memory even more than Batman v Superman Not only does it fail to shake things up but it s not even competent enough to be a serviceable superhero flick
1
Suicide Squad
David Frese
It starts with a bang ends in a yawn and features a whole lot of What the along the way
2.5
Suicide Squad
Rick Bentley
Even Robbie s performance can t counter the painfully slow start steady flood of trite action scenes and a convoluted story that would have to improve tenfold to be even passable
2
Suicide Squad
Max Weiss
It gives me no pleasure to trash this film I want D C Comics fans to have nice things too On the bright side there are like a gajillion more D C Comics films coming down the pike At least one of them has to be good right Right
1
Suicide Squad
Jake Cole
David Ayer s film longs to be bad yet its forced by outside pressures to follow narrow preset rules
2
Suicide Squad
Jeff Beck
The film is a heartbreaking disappointment in several ways from the overcrowded cast of characters to the uninspired and undeveloped villains to the bland action sequences to the half baked story
1.5
Suicide Squad
Tony Hicks
It will be interesting to see where DC takes these characters after the semi delightful mess that is Suicide Squad But for now just enjoy the sloppy and wild ride
2.5
Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance
Diego Semerene
While the doc offers us a story that needs to be told it does so in very non Joffrey ways
2
Shallow Grave
Madeleine Williams
A few good moments but you never truly connect with the main characters
2
Shallow Grave
Edward Guthmann
A tight little thriller filled with exhilarating twists that quickly establishes its artistic contract with the audience
4
Dead Man on Campus
Chris Kaltenbach
The jokes are few And the only real reason you ll laugh is that by the time they appear on screen you ve been waiting so long for the opportunity you ll laugh at anything
1
Dead Man on Campus
Dave Kehr
Oddly the troubled Cliff is more sympathetic than the two self involved protagonists
2
Dead Man on Campus
Sandra Contreras
Surpise surprise This college comedy is better than you d expect
3
Dead Man on Campus
Madeleine Williams
For a black comedy the humor here is well on the bland side and definitely not worth the price of tuition
1.5
Escape The Field
Nick Allen
With such hand holding dramatic direction and a dreary visual palette that never creates terror out of random corn stalks it couldn t be more dull
1
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
Jeffrey Wachs
Tailor made for small fry with the same care imagination and subtle adult friendly witticisms that have made the long running children s program so successful
3
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
Peter Stack
Full of that wonderful junky clunky huggable smartness that has made Sesame Street an enduring phenomenon
3
Dummy
Katrina Onstad
Set at an odd pitch one best described as shrill
2
Dummy
Peter Debruge
Brody shot this film pre Pianist and performed all the puppetry and ventriloquism himself and it s pretty impressive watching the Oscar winning actor externalize his expressions on the dummy s face
3
Happy Tears
Joe Neumaier
A cringe inducing self consciously kooky indie comedy that s best enjoyed for its taste of Rip Torn who judging by his recent alleged bank break in comes to loose cannon stuff naturally
1
Death in Sarajevo
Shane Slater
It all gets a bit too academic to fully keep your interest
2.5
Aimée & Jaguar
Cornell & Petricelli
a fascinating bold and deeply personal story of a woman s empowerment
3.5
Aimée & Jaguar
Rod Armstrong
Frberbck s film is ambitious and tells a fascinating story about the unlikeliest of relationships but it s unfortunate that there wasn t a bit more bite
2.5
Aimée & Jaguar
Elias Savada
A striking poignant and seductive saga of a Jewish lesbian in love with the dallying wife of a Nazi officer and mother of four
3
The Miracle Season
Karen M. Peterson
The world needs more of these stories and there are a lot of them out there waiting to be told
3
The Miracle Season
Mark Jenkins
It s no champion but it s still a reasonably good cry
2.5
Tarnation
Stephen Cole
An astonishing multimedia diary all accompanied by a scrolled family history that is as harrowing to read as a ransom note
2.5
Tarnation
Phoebe Flowers
It s one of the best movies of the year and simultaneously one of its oddest
4
Tarnation
Eric Harrison
A tortured inspired convulsively beautiful film memoir
4
Tarnation
Paul Sherman
It s almost hypnotic as the family members do a dysfunctional two step with each other and Tarnation will sweep you up with a style unlike no other documentary
3.5
Tarnation
Joshua Tanzer
I didn t enjoy Tarnation I didn t like it I didn t particularly want to stay and watch it but I respect it
2.5
Dead of Night
Eric Henderson
Cavalcanti s contribution might be the finest single episode to appear in any horror anthology film
3.5
Ek Tha Tiger
Namrata Joshi
Maybe no one really sees anything in a Bhai film It is just a mandatory event to be compulsorily thrilled by
2
Sorry Angel
David Lewis
The film pleasantly meanders from time to time but it knows exactly where it s going and we embrace every step
4
Sorry Angel
Peter Sobczynski
A film that has both a narrative and an approach that transcends the expected cliches in order to give viewers a more ambitious experience
3.5
Sorry Angel
Diego Semerene
Much more interesting than Jacques and Arthur s relationship is Christophe Honoré s subtle portrait of the early 90s as a time of accelerated mortality and mourning but also of material encounters of all kinds
3
The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl
Alan French
Featuring a strong woman as a rebuff to traditional anime issues it Night is Short Walk On Girl serves as a funny and fancy romantic narrative
3
West Side Story
David Reddish
Moreno happens to turn 90 one day after the premiere and if nothing else she can now boast that shes the absolute best thing about two versions of the same movie
3
West Side Story
David Gonzalez
West Side Story is one of the years biggest surprises
3.5
West Side Story
Blake Howard
West Side Story is not so much a masterpiece but rather a master s piece a film so formally and technically assured that it envelopes you
3.5
West Side Story
Sarah Knight Adamson
The remake is tremendous the choreography is on target the drama has more depth the cinematography during the vocal numbers resonates with viewers film in ways the original was lacking
4
West Side Story
Matthew Passantino
West Side Story is the most alive one of his Spielberg films has felt on screen in a long time
3
West Side Story
Jeff York
It is as spirited sexy dangerous and moving today as it was then And how many remakes can say that
3
West Side Story
Bennett Campbell Ferguson
With a surgeon s precision Spielberg has transformed West Side Story into an epic so bloated and unmagical that even its sublime dancing scenes can t make it worth seeing
2
West Side Story
Lisa Trifone
It s evident fairly early on in Steven Spielberg s exceptional re imagining of West Side Story that this production is something special
4
West Side Story
Mark Meszoros
This new West Side Story may not have been necessary but it is spectacular
4
West Side Story
Dan Rubins
Steven Spielberg s West Side Story is at its best when it zooms in and settles down into character study
2.5
Extraordinary Measures
Brandy McDonnell
Geography aside Extraordinary Measures includes some memorable moments but doesn t live up to the stirring real life story that inspired it
2
Extraordinary Measures
Russ Breimeier
A touching story inspired by true events A timely subject Two high profile actors in Brendan Fraser and Harrison Ford Sadly it all adds up to an extraordinary bore
2
Extraordinary Measures
Matt Soergel
The film has the feel of real life to it as without doing anything fancy it plumbs the depths of a parent s love a parent s desperate devotion
3
Extraordinary Measures
Sue Pierman
Unfortunately director Tom Vaughan appears determined to deliver every minute detail of the Crowleys story
2
The Worst Person in the World
Bennett Campbell Ferguson
Trier has made a film about aimlessness that is also an aimless film
2
The Worst Person in the World
Rania Richardson
The worst person label is a misdirection that belies the richly observed characters in Joachim Trier s smart and playful film THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD
4
The Worst Person in the World
Lisa Trifone
A film like this depends on a strong lead performance and Reinsve more than delivers
3.5
The Worst Person in the World
Emily Zemler
The Worst Person in the World Norwegian director Joachim Trier s latest film hits on a universal truth None of us know what the hell we re doing
4
The Worst Person in the World
Carlos Aguilar
A stirringly sophisticated masterpiece
4
The Worst Person in the World
Lindsey Bahr
Everyone it seems can see themselves in The Worst Person in the World whether your 20s are a distant memory or not
4
The Worst Person in the World
Chandler Levack
The Worst Person in the World might be the best film Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach never got to make
4
The Worst Person in the World
Pat Brown
The film may be the prime example of how to restore fun significance and even a little bit of sex to the well worn terrain of the romantic comedy
3.5
Three Kings
James Sanford
The screenplay abruptly changes tone after the first half hour eventually incorporating some genuinely harrowing sequences The final picture becomes something noticeably deeper and smarter than its first reels suggest
3.5
Three Kings
Judith Egerton
The violence and profanity are there but so is a sharp edged political point of view interesting characters and a plot enhanced with dark humor
4
Three Kings
Shay Casey
Damn good
3.5
Three Kings
Mike Gregory
Funny poignant and unrepentantly forthright in its dissection of U S military policy and switching with ease from side splitting black comedy to thoughtful drama
4
Three Kings
Madeleine Williams
War story heist thriller action comedy human interest drama media satire and stylistic groundbreaker Three Kings has no hope of filling all the roles it tries to occupy However it fills plenty enough to be a good movie and then some
3
Three Kings
Greg Dean Schmitz
Refreshing
3
Three Kings
Emily Blunt
This ain t your dad s war movie that s for sure
3
Three Kings
Jonathan Foreman
An original and brilliant combination of comedy action and sophisticated political comment
4
Kajaki
Alan Zilberman
Few war films are entertaining in a traditional sense This one is so relentless that recoiling from it is nearly impossible
3.5
The Honeymooners
Peter T. Chattaway
Fans of the original series probably won t care for it and the rest of us could probably get the same kind of entertainment in our living rooms for free
2
The Honeymooners
Dan Fienberg
Rather than putting a modern stamp on a reliable product The Honeymooners renders one of the most distinctive formulas in television history entirely anonymous
1
The Honeymooners
Ted Fry
Cedric the Entertainer comes close to sharing Gleason s gift for well entertaining He s the biggest reason this version of The Honeymooners is such an amusing surprise
3
The Honeymooners
Lisa Rose
The funny stuff is too scattered to forgive the buffoonish storyline
2
The Honeymooners
David Frese
Never rises above the level of a Friday night network sitcom
1
The Honeymooners
Michael Booth
There have been funnier comedies But there also have been far worse reasons to make a movie Or remake a sitcom
2.5
The Honeymooners
Kit Bowen
don t expect any spousal abuse in the mushy pedestrian and totally unnecessary big screen version of The Honeymooners
1.5
The Honeymooners
Paul Doro
The movie falls into a quickly boring pattern Ralph does something boneheaded Ed says something stupid and falls down Alice becomes exasperated with Ralph Repeat
2
The Honeymooners
Peter Debruge
It s as if whenever The Honeymooners comes close to delivering on a funny idea the movie runs screaming in the opposite direction
1.5
The Honeymooners
Mary F. Pols
A tasteless comedy rife with bad slapstick dull humor and a host of unpleasant characters
1
The Honeymooners
David Hiltbrand
Not only an insult to the original it should be shown at film schools as proof of how pointless a movie can be
1
The Honeymooners
Tracy Allerton
This is a honeymoon trip worth taking
3
The Honeymooners
Sarah Chauncey
Unless you re related to one of the actors there is absolutely no reason to see The Honeymooners
0
Troll 2
J. R. Jones
Troll 2 is bad Very very bad The script is stupid the acting is wooden the special effects are laughable the vintage 80s synthesizer score is cheesy
1
Fireball
Felix Vasquez Jr.
A solid B science fiction action film
3
Everything Is Illuminated
Ron Reed
It is a film that doesn t want us to forget Or perhaps it is a film that wants a new generation to remember a past which profoundly shapes its present
3
Everything Is Illuminated
James Sanford
It s risky material for a first time director But Schreiber s involving screenplay and his remarkably assured handling of the material somehow brings it all together into an effective charmingly offbeat whole
3.5
Everything Is Illuminated
Dan Lybarger
Everything Is Illuminated is a movie so in love with its own quirkiness that the moving story almost gets lost in a cacophony of eccentricities
2.5
Everything Is Illuminated
Chauncey Mabe
The heart and soul of Foer s novel are sacrificed in the process By trucking in broad Holocaust clichs Schreiber repudiates his more nuanced source material
1
Everything Is Illuminated
Allison Benedikt
Every novel cannot be a movie and this one should not have been
2.5
Everything Is Illuminated
Dan Fienberg
Wood gives as inert a performance as you re likely to see from a leading man but Illuminated ultimately isn t his story and there s no reward in treating it as such
3
Jascha Heifetz: God's Fiddler
Rob Humanick
It betrays the essence of its subject while attempting to make it more streamlined and palatable for the apathetic viewer
2
The Little Mermaid
Rick Bentley
Without Drayton The Little Mermaid would flounder completely At least she brings enough energy life and charm to the role that the grade for this movie sounds like a trip on the ocean It s somewhere in the high Cs
2.5
Girlfriend
Namrata Joshi
How else can you watch Girlfriend but with patience fortitude and a sense of humour
1
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Janet Graves
The contrasted acting styles of Alec Guinness and William Holden the authoritative manner of Jack Hawkins keep human qualities dominant in a powerful tension filled action movie
4
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Kate Cameron
It is a stirring drama of World War II in which Spiegel has had the excellent help of British director David Lean in charge of the action and of a fine company of international players
4
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Christian Blauvelt
The Bridge on the River Kwai is David Lean s last film not to succumb to bloat
4
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Michael Szymanski
One of the most rousing and inspiring war films this is also a psychological battle of wills The intensity between Hayakawa and Guinness is captivating
3
Soul Food
Judith Egerton
A glossy and generally praiseworthy melodrama by writer director George Tillman
3
Soul Food
Peter Stack
A warm funny touching African American family drama the kind of bittersweet melodrama that critics tend to relegate as crowd pleasing corn We could use more when it s this well done
3
Passion
Craig D. Lindsey
As much as De Palma beautifies this mess the movie s so sleek you ll worry that the cast is gonna slip off the damn screen it s still a mess
1
Passion
Jeff Beck
Passion is one of those films that could almost act as a guilty pleasure if there weren t so many silly things holding it back
2.5
Passion
Peter Sobczynski
Brian De Palma is one of the great seducers of the cinema and he proves it with Passion a spellbinding thriller
4
Seven Psychopaths
Kelly Jane Torrance
It s pure pleasure for both those who like crime capers and those who like mocking them
4
Seven Psychopaths
Terence Johnson
It s a film that will leave you puzzled especially after a rough first half hour but the more you open your mind to will prove revelatory entirely engrossing and incredibly funny
3.5
Seven Psychopaths
Craig D. Lindsey
Violence may be served up in copious amounts but McDonagh also creates characters who have no qualms going gently into that good night
3
Seven Psychopaths
Jason Buchanan
For those who aren t averse to a bit of gallows humor Seven Psychopaths is just original and morbid enough to be genuinely memorable
2.5
Seven Psychopaths
Ann Lewinson
The tug of war of a writer wrestling with his own worst instincts
3
Seven Psychopaths
Graham Killeen
All great films are both fairy tales and confessionals and when the two collide what s left beyond the crumple zone is magic
3.5
Seven Psychopaths
John Semley
If Seven Psychopaths smacks a bit showoff y in places it s only because Martin McDonagh has so much worth showing off
2.5
21 Bridges
Jake Cole
It s difficult to imagine a worse time to release 21 Bridges than the present
1
21 Bridges
Tom Russo
It s telling though that the biggest reaction at a preview screening came when one audience member punctuated a climactic scene with an amusingly timed Wakanda forever But it shouldn t be solely about Wakanda forever should it
2
Hell House
Joshua Tanzer
It s up to you to decide whether to admire these people s dedication to their cause or be repelled by their dogmatism manipulativeness and narrow fearful view of American life
3.5
Hell House
Robert K. Elder
Texan director George Ratliff had unlimited access to families and church meetings and he delivers fascinating psychological fare
4
Hell House
Mary Brennan
Lazy filmmaking with the director taking a hands off approach when he should have shaped the story to show us why it s compelling
2
Hell House
Jonathan Perry
A candid and often fascinating documentary about a Pentecostal church in Dallas that assembles an elaborate haunted house each year to scare teenagers into attending services
3
Dorfman in Love
Diego Semerene
The film s moral lesson is too contradictory to be taken seriously
2
Convention City
Wanda Hale
It ias all a lot of fun if you like seeing the same old faces in the same old predicaments
2.5
Flash of Genius
Greg Maki
Its true story filmed and acted with great skill has an uncommon poignancy
3.5
Flash of Genius
Josh Hurst
For those who enjoy this sort of inspiring true life story and are able to sort through the good and the bad in its central character Flash of Genius is a smart choice
2.5
Flash of Genius
Michael Sragow
Out of such plain materials as a windshield wiper an inventor and a courtroom trial Abraham has made one of the most original and memorable American movies of the year
4
Flash of Genius
Cathy Jakicic
It s the individual story fleshed out by Philip Railsback s intelligent script that makes the audience care
3
Raiders!
Brad Keefe
The dedication of the boys to this project is the sort of inspiration only a real film geek can understand and count me among that group
3
Raiders!
Odie Henderson
This is a smartly made movie that might win you over I was pleasantly surprised because there s something truly Spielbergian about it
3
Raiders!
Pat Padua
The film s most profound subject matter may simply be the passage of time
2.5
Drug War
Tom Russo
Another inkling of the style limitations perhaps most responsible for To s lower visibility stateside compared with say his countrymen John Woo and Wong Kar wai
2
The Secret in Their Eyes
Sean O'Connell
A slow burn of a thriller an intricately plotted and subtly acted mystery
3.5
The Secret in Their Eyes
Aaron Cutler
These ingredients combine for a sort of idiot salad but because it s a foreign film with boobs in it Secret passes for high art
1
The Secret in Their Eyes
Jules Brenner
When a film comes together as powerfully as this with the full advantage of classic mystery construction and graceful originality it s a joy to behold
4
The Skip Tracer
Elliott Stein
It would be unbearable without the steely attractive repulsive central performance of David Petersen
2
Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Ultimately director Burnett offers a remarkable gift an intelligent sense of relativity As Woodard s narration puts it For a nation unable to come to terms with the legacy of slavery Nat Turner remains a troublesome property
4
Róise & Frank
Nell Minow
It is delicately told sweet but never sugary
3.5
The Omen
Namrata Joshi
The film doesn t leave you with bad dreams It just makes you wonder what s the point watching this remake when DVDs of the original are at hand
2
The Omen
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Certainly it s not the worst remake of all time but it really is one of the more ridiculous unnecessary and gimmicky of them
2
The Omen
Michael A. Smith
the second half of the film devoid of the cheap thrills and subliminal images that fill the first half moves along smoothly
2.5
The Omen
Peter T. Chattaway
The times may not be as apocalyptic as they once were but this is still an Omen for the age of irony
2
The Omen
Jonathan R. Perry
10 Things I Hate About the Apocalypse
1.5
The Omen
James Emanuel Shapiro
What s wrong with the 2006 version Well it has none of the positive elements of the original and there s no chemistry between Stiles and Schreiber The acting the music the photography and the technical elements are all fair to downright awful
0
The Omen
Sean O'Connell
Dead on arrival
1.5
The Omen
Thomas Delapa
In an almost shot for shot remake of the 1976 occult hit the boy Antichrist otherwise known as Damien returns to the screen born of the greedy she wolf otherwise known as Hollywood
1
The Omen
Kit Bowen
There s really only two words to describe remaking cult classic The Omen Not necessary
1.5
The Omen
Peter Debruge
An unnecessary but not as awful as you might think remake
2
The Omen
Kurt Loder
This new Omen works fine It has its own look and it plays the story straight as if this were the first time it was being brought to the screen If you haven t seen the original movie this one should provide some good shivery fun
2.5
The Omen
Bruce Newman
Schreiber seems to wander through the film like Hamlet s ghost waiting for his soliloquy to come and it never does He s kind of a cold fish and Stiles isn t much better
2
The Omen
Jackie Loohauis
Take the numbers 06 06 06 and calculate them according to the rituals of ancient mystical prophecy and what do you get Zilch
1
The Omen
Michael Booth
The update is serviceable but fairly bland
2.5
The Omen
Jeremiah Kipp
This latest unnecessary remake of a minor horror flick lacks even the benefit of novelty
1
The Omen
Garth Franklin
There is absolutely nothing new here nothing to justify why it was made and nothing of redeeming value short of a few jump scares
1
Dead Heist
Felix Vasquez Jr.
I won t argue in its favor and defend it to you but I had fun sitting through it for eighty minutes
2.5
Robin Hood
Keith Watson
Robin Hood s shameless silliness only takes it so far as the film is frequently undermined by Otto Bathurst s wobbly direction
2.5
Robin Hood
Michael Ordoña
The delight taken in throwing film references in the blender with a shot of social consciousness can take a familiar tale only so far
2
Robin Hood
Robert Daniels
Despite Robin Hood boasting a talented cast the cheesiness of their script would blunt the sharpest of performances
0
Zu, Warriors From the Magic Mountain
Greg Dean Schmitz
This 1983 fantasy kung fu classic is pure visual flash and thrill making up for in eye candy what it lacks in a story
3
Meditation Park
Julia Cooper
A bit too hammy at moments Meditation Park is otherwise a complex film that hews with tenderness to Asian stereotypes in order to reflect back their often obscured depths
3.5
Wonder Woman
Rob Vaux
Warner s line of direct to DVD superhero films has finally given the Amazing Amazon her due
3
Wonder Woman
Felix Vasquez Jr.
I really enjoyed my short time spent with the character and her mythos
3
Cop and a Half
Peter Stack
Henry Winkler directed this dreary exercise about a burned out detective Burt Reynolds forced to work with an 8 year old crime witness who wants to play cop
1
Home of the Brave
Jim Hemphill
Director Winkler clearly loves these characters and if he sometimes pushes too hard in his effort to make the audience share his affection it s forgivable under the circumstances
3
Home of the Brave
Janos Gereben
Without question an important thought and emotion provoking film certain to be controversial and to be remembered
3
Home of the Brave
Ethan Alter
In an attempt to honor the veterans of our Middle East misadventure Winkler and screenwriter Mark Friedman wind up reducing their experiences to the stuff of bad TV movies
1.5
Them That Follow
Lisa Trifone
The film certainly captures one s attention thanks in large part to the strong cast
2.5
Them That Follow
Jake Cole
Unfortunately the care with which the filmmakers set up Them That Follow s context and their characters crumbles in the final act
2
The Invisible Man
Mark Meszoros
This film with its science fiction slant delivers scares and works as a heightened examination of obsession and an abusive relationship
3
The Invisible Man
Jason Fraley
You have to see it to believe it but it s a rare remake that actually works chilling in all the right ways and infusing enough modern sensibility for our current social climate
3.5
The Invisible Man
Sarah Knight Adamson
The tension never lets up and you will be on your seat every frame of the film An award worthy film for Elizabeth Moss
4
The Invisible Man
Blake Howard
In the glut of Hollywood reboots remakes and sequels Leigh Whannell s new take on The Invisible Man comes along and makes a good case for why remakes can work
4
The Invisible Man
Jeff York
Moss gives it her all throwing herself into the role literally and figuratively with courageous abandon Still such attributes feel lost on a film far too content to render story logic and common sense as invisible as the bad guy
1.5
The Invisible Man
Matthew Passantino
The silences are the scariest parts of The Invisible Man
3
The Invisible Man
Brandy McDonnell
The Invisible Man does compellingly and sympathetically depict the devastatingly all consuming effects of domestic violence while providing plenty of suspense and scares
3
The Invisible Man
Matthew Rozsa
Despite its lack of pretense there are actually layers of intelligent subtext curling beneath the standard horror plot
3
The Invisible Man
Kenneth R. Morefield
So it falls to me to be that guy The woke critic who points out that the film sadistically brutalizes women for 120 minutes of entertainment in order ostensibly to tell us that brutalizing women is bad
1
The Invisible Man
Rosalie Kicks
Finally a Universal monster reboot flick worth chattin about
3.5
The Invisible Man
Max Weiss
The Invisible Man is one of those great everyone thinks she s crazy but we know she s not movies and the frustrations and stakes keep mounting as the film goes on
3
The Invisible Man
Oliver Jones
The reason The Invisible Man holds you in an emotional vise grip for so much of its running time is thanks almost entirely to Moss
3
The Invisible Man
Tomris Laffly
A mean handsomely styled and absorbing thriller
4
Mr. Mike's Mondo Video
Bill Weber
Mondo Video is far from the most refined or successful expression of O Donoghue s darkly antic vision but its spray of seething occasionally fetishistic buckshot is unmistakably in its master s voice
2.5
Passion & Power: The Technology of Orgasm
Tamara Straus
Passion Power may lay it on too thick with its You Go Girl message but in the end it does bring to life a remarkably amusing and strange secret history
3
Dr. Giggles
Jeff Shannon
The doctor s incessant giggling is supposed to represent the outlet of childhood psychological trauma but don t expect Dr Giggles to give Drake s performance a sympathetic or tragic dimension
1
Dr. Giggles
Stephen Hunter
In all quite depressing Two aspirin just won t get it done Take three
2
Dr. Giggles
John Wooley
Sick is the operative sorry word for Dr Giggles a by the numbers horror entry distinguished only by a good performance by Tulsa s Larry Drake as the deranged doc
1
Dr. Giggles
Dave Kehr
Though Coto demonstrates a fairly sophisticated film school technique he is interested in his characters only as stick figures to be marched through a mechanical plot There s no emotional connection and without that there can be no real suspense
1
The Big Hit
Jay Carr
In its non A list way The Big Hit is the most successful attempt yet to transfer the Hong Kong action movie to Hollywood
3
The Big Hit
Peter Stack
Score it big time inane but a load of fun
3
The Crying Game
David Reddish
As LGBTQ lovers of the movies its important to see movies like this one flaws and all for that very reason Watch it and let the debate rage on
4
The Crying Game
Stephen Hunter
The movie is at its stunning best as it comes to terms with the impact of its own most devious surprise Still at a certain point it reverts to formula
2
The Crying Game
Clifford Terry
Its components are built upon deception and forgiveness misconnections and misunderstandings sexual jealousy and moral ambivalence trust and loyalty desperation and loneliness It is also not incidentally a crackling good movie
3.5
John Wick: Chapter 2
Max Weiss
The funny thing about John Wick Chapter 2 is that it s the exact same movie as John Wick Chapter 1 and yet somehow manages to work almost as well
3
John Wick: Chapter 2
Rick Bentley
This is pure entertainment that is entertaining because Reeves plays the character with never wavering sincerity
3
John Wick: Chapter 2
Jon Niccum
The fringe details save the project from degenerating into homicidal overkill
2.5
John Wick: Chapter 2
Angelica Jade Bastién
John Wick Chapter Two demonstrates what film as an art form is all about it awes and delights challenges and provokes
3.5
John Wick: Chapter 2
Tom Russo
It might not be Matrix territory exactly but with John Wick Chapter 2 genre fans finally get the sort of expanded Keanuverse they were craving
3
John Wick: Chapter 2
Jake Cole
The film remarkably balances its predecessor s spartan characterizations and plotting with a significant expansion of scale
3.5
All Eyez on Me
Jim Lane
It s strictly Amateur Night at the Biopic Factory
2
All Eyez on Me
David Fear
As for the people banking on Tupac getting his own Straight Outta Compton level movie well we ain t mad at cha All Eyez on Me Just majorly disappointed
2
All Eyez on Me
Steve Macfarlane
The tension between verisimilitude and economy of storytelling dictates everything in All Eyez on Me
1.5
Trouble Is My Business
Tim Cogshell
A crunchy witty and often just plain funny mash up of classic noir tropes in addition to dialogue worthy of Dashiell Hammett and occasionally Mel Brooks
3.0
Casomai
Marta Barber
A film that starts dark enough to be memorable but soon disintegrates into a farce
2
Casomai
Jennie Punter
A one trick pony you could call the Italian Four Weddings and a Funeral
2
From Beyond
Jeremiah Kipp
Faithful to that netherworld of Lovecraft s fiction where otherworldly monsters lurk just under the fabric of our reality
3
You Hurt My Feelings
Glenn Heath Jr.
For a film that often veers into potentially absurd territory You Hurt My Feelings shows a great deal of sensitivity toward its sad sack characters
2.5
The Gift
Stephen Rebello
For heat ravaged late summer moviegoers The Gift ought to do just fine
2.5
The Gift
Anders Wright
It s tight and taut and much creepier than it is actually scary though it has a jump in your seat moment or two
3
The Gift
Brad Keefe
A story that seems deceptively simple and predictable which then defies those expectations it s both a satisfying popcorn thriller and a complex morality tale
3.5
The Gift
Rick Bentley
Edgerton has created a movie that respects the intelligence of the audience He s created an ending that will spark debates and that s a blessing in the summer plot doldrums where everything gets wrapped up with a loud bang or big scare
3
The Gift
Sandy Cohen
A satisfying directorial debut from writer producer and actor Joel Edgerton
2.5
The Gift
Jake Cole
Joel Edgerton s boilerplate direction is a blessing for a genre increasingly saddled with literal visualizations of madness
3
Spencer
David Reddish
Viewer reaction to Spencer will vary in the extremeanyone looking for the empathy or activism that made Diana so beloved and important wont find them here
3
Spencer
David Gonzalez
Spencer ultimately is not just a tragedy of a trapped princess but a downright satirical examination of the monarchy 59 one that is dependent on propping up an illusion of perfection to the masses
4
Spencer
Matthew Passantino
To call Spencer a biopic would be to misunderstand the term because the movie is more of an interpretation of Diana not her life story
3.5
Spencer
Lisa Trifone
Unlike other overly polished portraits of the Princess of Wales Spencer aims to humanize Diana in ways that aren t always entirely flattering
4
Spencer
Sarah Knight Adamson
If anything the film demonstrates the determination Diana had for her own stable mental health and happiness despite the pressures of her royal life
3.5
Spencer
Michael Medved
An oppressively gloomy mood piece but the performance by Kristen Stewart is a career topping breakthrough that will inevitably receive Oscar consideration
3
Spencer
Siddhant Adlakha
It s also a good film a very good one in fact that frequently threatens to be great but it seldom lives up to the weighty themes promised by its dialogue and it comes achingly close to scaling the heights Kristen Stewart reaches with her performance
3
Spencer
Hau Chu
For better and for worse Spencer conveys one thing quite powerfully the feeling of living in a rarefied indifferent world that doesn t seem to value independent women much less people
3
Spencer
Jeff York
It s a laser focused study of a woman at her breaking point and Stewart does her best screen work to date in bringing the terribly fragile young woman to pained life
4
Spencer
Chandler Levack
Stewart disappears into the role but it s in the moments where she s allowed to be herself that Spencer rings true
3.5
Spencer
Mark Hanson
Pablo Larraín s film readily conjures a paranoia suffused atmosphere of fear for what might happen at any moment
3
Spencer
Mara Reinstein
Like the austere artwork in the Sandringham House the film deserves to be framed and hung on a wall Admire it don t embrace it Maybe that s the point
3
Spencer
Monica Castillo
A haunting reimagining of a tense Christmas holiday in the life of Princess Diana
3
Hannah
Godfrey Cheshire
There is a real seed of dramatic possibility in Hannah but Pallaoro smothers it beneath the lacquer of the film s fastidiously mannered minimalism
1.5
Skyline
Rossiter Drake
If Skyline never seems interested in pushing the envelope it at least begins with enough promise to suggest a competent thriller No such luck
2
Skyline
Jason Anderson
There s a kind of magic that happens when a movie inspires complete strangers to ridicule it to each other on the way out of the theatre
1
3-Iron
Forrest Hartman
It s difficult to imagine an American director making 3 Iron yet the intimate South Korean drama has worth beyond cultural borders
3
3-Iron
Eric Harrison
Here is where things get murky intriguingly so
3
3-Iron
Laura Kelly
In the actors wordless portrayals Kim creates an entire world made up of gestures from the small to the sweeping the logical to the enigmatic the hilarious to the hurtful
3.5
Army of Thieves
Mark Kennedy
You find yourself rooting for this unlikely safecracker a savant when it comes to vaults and opera but a bumbling awkward guy otherwise who stuns even himself with his bravery
3
Army of Thieves
Pat Brown
Matthias Schweighöfer never imbues the act of turning the dial on a combination lock with tension intrigue or variation
1
She Hate Me
Phoebe Flowers
A train wreck
1
She Hate Me
James Verniere
After the 2000 satire Bamboozled and now this I can t help but wonder how much longer Lee can afford to make interesting but deeply flawed movies
2.5
She Hate Me
Joshua Tanzer
If you re going to make a political statement back it up Don t give us this half baked atrociously acted tin eared five films in one everything you want to know about sex three s company heather has two mommies fiasco
1
Wolf at the Door
Jonathan Rosenbaum
The Wolf at the Door succeeds within its own limitations in showing what Gauguin left behind
2
Sid & Nancy
Desmond Ryan
They are more than zombies doing needlepoint on each other s veins Both are brought to life in complex deeply felt performances from two actors who have abandoned themselves to enormously demanding and difficult roles
4
Sid & Nancy
Candice Russell
Sid and Nancy is a brilliantly acted surprise from newcomers Gary Oldman and Chloe Webb
3.5
Sid & Nancy
Dave Kehr
This is a love story an unlikely perverse disturbing love story but a genuine one
3.5
The Prodigies
Dave McGinn
The Prodigies pulls together a lot of familiar tropes from superhero movies without adding anything new or compelling to the genre
1.5
Venus
Aparita Bhandari
To its credit Venus manages to take a complicated premise and turn it into a pretty compelling drama
2.5
England Is Mine
Derek Smith
England Is Mine is a tour ride through a legend s formative years that s more concerned with the familiar signposts than the intricacies of the scenery along the way
1.5
The Water Diviner
Stephen Rebello
Crowe who s been having a rough time finding his footing again for a decade now underplays his role so self consciously that when he wants us to feel his pain all we feel is his ego He fails to move us And so does The Water Diviner
2.5
The Water Diviner
David Berry
This is truly a story about the wounds that wars leave even on those who don t fight in them and all the lengths to which Crowe will go to convince you that strong men also cry sir Strong men also cry
2
The Water Diviner
Matt Brennan
In straining for the profound the film ultimately loses its way in a veritable no man s land of ill conceived stylistic choices and narrative switchbacks
2
Win Win
Alison Gang
McCarthy has finally delivered a realistic take on the male teen along with a tender funny look at family and what it means to be a man
3
Meet the Deedles
Madeleine Williams
You ll have much better luck finding a good spot to surf in Wyoming than finding entertainment in Meet the Deedles
0.5
Alone in Berlin
Keith Watson
The film attempts a tone of tragic understatement that registers instead as flat plodding and underfelt
1
Scream Queen
Jonathan W. Hickman
The problem is that it does not know whether it wants to be a parody or a straight film And when it opts for both simultaneously Scream Queen is a derivative miss
2.5
The Unknown Known
Bill Stamets
A scary inquiry
3
The Unknown Known
Godfrey Cheshire
More than any film this reviewer has seen in ages The Unknown Known richly rewards a second viewing
3.5
The Unknown Known
Adam Nayman
In the end The Unknown Known is inconclusive albeit provocatively so
3
The Unknown Known
Steve Macfarlane
Viewers tolerance for Errol Morris s apparent sheepishness will hinge on their prior appreciation of the filmmaker s investigative acumen
2
New World Order
Lauren Wissot
The directors never bother to delve into why these men need simple answers and avoid complications at all costs
1
Yi Sheng Yi Shi
Mark Jenkins
While most of But Always takes place in New York City the Chinese drama s blend of sentimentality and romantic fatalism is very Asian
2
Pokémon: The First Movie
CSM Staff
The story is trite and the cartooning is cut rate but youngsters will enjoy seeing their TV heroes in a movie length adventure Shown with a 20 minute short called Pikachu s Vacation so sloppily made that it s barely coherent
1
Pokémon: The First Movie
Robert Roten
This Japanese film s free will philosophy is in stark contrast to the determinism that seems to be running rampant in today s Hollywood films
2
Pokémon: The First Movie
Madeleine Williams
The animation is crude and there s certainly not much depth to the storyline or the characters
2
Pokémon: The First Movie
Hannah Brown
Strictly a kids movie
2
Pokémon: The First Movie
Jeffrey Wachs
The finale s violence undermines the film s much trumpeted message that fighting is wrong
2
Pokémon: The First Movie
Elias Savada
I m about forty years too old to take this movie seriously Or even understand it
0.5
Pokémon: The First Movie
Greg Dean Schmitz
Pokemon is a quality example of the genre and it is indeed one of the most successful anime shows ever
3
Pokémon: The First Movie
Peter Stack
For the record it isn t terrible It s far from a milestone in Japanese animation and not an especially memorable entertainment Yet it doesn t try to be either of those things
2
Conciencia sucia
Sebastian Zavala Kahn
It will not win any awards for its direction performances or technical qualities but it wasn t made for that It was made so that the public can enjoy well choreographed hand to hand combat Full review in Spanish
2.5
Deterrence
Cornell & Petricelli
In order to get into this film one must suspend a truckload of disbelief
3
Deterrence
Greg Dean Schmitz
The drama builds slowly and carefully as surprises and twists crop up and we can see that there are secrets still left to be discovered
3.5
Mulroney: The Opera
Robert Everett-Green
I felt a new emotion while watching this sympathy for Brian Mulroney
1.5
The Courier
Mitchell Beaupre
This is a gripping story of adversity against all odds mixing patriotism and uncomplicated heroics with a well paced structure that knows when to escalate and when to settle back into the calm
3
The Courier
Michael Medved
Masterful in every detail completely compelling and one of the best films of 2021
4
The Courier
Bennett Campbell Ferguson
Greville Wynne risked his life to prevent nuclear war The least The Courier could have done was risk being honest
2
The Courier
Lindsey Bahr
While it might not be on the same level as Bridge of Spies it s solid well acted and enjoyable nonetheless Just don t use it as the text for any history reports
2.5
The Courier
Jeff York
This is a character driven espionage thriller a true story and it s all the more incredible because of it The film may not have the snap crackle and pop of 007 but its stakes are higher and its effect much more palpable
3.5
The Courier
Mark Meszoros
Yes you ve seen it all before and you ve seen it done bigger but this is well worth seeing nonetheless
2.5
The Courier
Odie Henderson
Though there s nothing new or transformative here The Courier stays afloat due to the acting by Buckley Cumberbatch and Ninidze
3
The Courier
Keith Watson
Dominic Cooke s film is content to regurgitate some of the more tired artistic tropes about the Cold War
1.5
The Thing About My Folks
Stefan Ulstein
Reiser has given us a film that makes us laugh while contemplating the ways we understand and misunderstand those we love
3.5
The Thing About My Folks
Michael Szymanski
It s a slow enjoyable ride where you aren t asking are we there yet all the way through it
3
The Thing About My Folks
Susan Walker
Reiser a famous face from the long running TV series Mad About You here proves himself to be a skilful writer and actor for the big screen
3
The Thing About My Folks
Bruce Newman
If you ve ever wondered what it would feel like to be trapped in a 36 Ford convertible for 47 years with a Yiddish theater version of Dr Phil and the runaway bride this is the movie for you
0.5
The Thing About My Folks
Chuck O'Leary
This passable dramedy plays like a Hallmark Hall of Fame telefilm with fart jokes
2.5
The Thing About My Folks
James Verniere
It has all the bland emotional heft of a Hallmark card
2
The Thing About My Folks
Laura Kelly
Reiser s meandering story could have used a more strongly cohesive presentation and the dialogue could have been a lot sharper
2
The Thing About My Folks
Renee Graham
Flat and forgettable it s a tiresome film barely held together by its plinky piano score sophomoric flatulence jokes and cloying greeting card emotions
1
The New Rijksmuseum, Part 2
Bill Stamets
Suspense is modest as world famous artworks are finally installed
2
The New Rijksmuseum, Part 2
Nick McCarthy
It most potently strikes the tone of an elegy pensively observing that beneath the bickering in museum boardrooms lies a massive treasure trove of art history that s being kept from the public s eye
3
The New Rijksmuseum, Part 2
Steven Boone
The New Rijksmuseum proves that films can describe nuances of character and situation as finely as the finest novel or creative non fiction
4
The Death of Klinghoffer
Joshua Kosman
Sellars original staging was a stylized almost pageant like affair which allowed the creators to claim descent for the piece from Bach s Passions Without that fig leaf the ugliness at the heart of the work becomes all the more apparent
1
Cheaper by the Dozen 2
Felix Vasquez Jr.
I think it should be considered child abuse to inflict this tripe upon children
1
Cheaper by the Dozen 2
Carolyn Arends
Its heart is in the right place but a reliance on gimmicks and sentiment undermines the story In the end both the laughs and the tears here come just a little too cheap
2
Cheaper by the Dozen 2
Kim Morgan
Here s a sentence I never thought I d write Carmen Electra is more interesting than Steve Martin
1
Cheaper by the Dozen 2
Thomas Delapa
Shankman drops the ball at the finish line jettisoning the tough love fun for cheap sentimentality
2.5
Cheaper by the Dozen 2
Tony Wong
Sequels tend to be stupider by the dozen and part two is perhaps overshadowed only by the banality and pointlessness of say Leprechaun 6
1.5
Cheaper by the Dozen 2
Angel Cohn
Unfortunately in this instance more doesn t make merry only mayhem
1.5
Cheaper by the Dozen 2
Laura Kelly
We likely have a sequel because the first Steve Martin family comedy successfully grossed 3 1 2 times its budget by teasing light humor out of family high jinks That s all fine but did it have to be set in summer camp style
1.5
Cheaper by the Dozen 2
Lisa Rose
Moviegoers who enjoyed the PG anarchy the first time around should find amusement in the second Dozen If the last picture left you with a migraine and a sense of claustrophobia the sequel will be another bout of pain
2
Cheaper by the Dozen 2
Brian McTavish
There is no hilarity just a couple of veteran funnymen going through the hellishly predictable motions in this unimaginative and unnecessary sequel
1.5
Cheaper by the Dozen 2
Sue Pierman
The film is at its best when it s not trying to be desperately funny but that s rare
2
Cheaper by the Dozen 2
Robert K. Elder
A harmless inoffensive bit of family programming during the holiday season and there s nothing wrong with that But harmless doesn t have to mean dull
2
The Look of Silence
Scott Renshaw
The Act of Killing was one of the most emotionally staggering explorations ever filmed about how easy it is to justify horrible evils this follow up approaches the subject from a different equally devastating angle
4
The Look of Silence
David Berry
There s little comfort here no easy way to reconcile anything
4
The Look of Silence
Jake Cole
Viewed collectively The Act of Killing and The Look of Silence just so happen to represent some of the greatest work in the nonfiction field in decades
3.5
The Look of Silence
James Lattimer
If The Look of Silence still remains a gripping vital consequential documentary it s in spite of its approach rather than because of it
2
The Look of Silence
Erik McClanahan
While not as mind blowing or surprising as Killing The Look of Silence is perhaps the more necessary film
3.5
Defamation
Gerald Peary
Shamir is smart enough to move his film beyond shrill polemics and into more observational territory Israeli high school kids visiting Poland to see the death camps African Americans on a street corner in Brooklyn discussing their experiences with Jews
3
Defamation
Joseph Jon Lanthier
Shamir s propensity for scatterbrained journalism muddles the film s first half to the point of irritation
2.5
Agnes
Diego Semerene
The film is a thoughtful examination of the human desire for it and the accompanying hope that it may exorcise the emptiness we feel
3
Woman on the Beach
Rudy Joggerst
Simple and nicely convoluted at the same time
4
Capturing the Friedmans
Judith Egerton
The Friedmans are a case study in family dysfunction
4
Capturing the Friedmans
Josh Gilchrist
This film is an American dream gone awry
4
Capturing the Friedmans
Forrest Hartman
This is probably the closest viewers will ever come to watching a family in this sort of crisis
3
Capturing the Friedmans
Jon Niccum
Capturing the Friedmans is the type of film that begs to be discussed once the house lights come up
3.5
Capturing the Friedmans
Jennie Punter
Disturbing yet undeniably fascinating
3
Capturing the Friedmans
James Sanford
Jarecki constructs the documentary in the same way a mystery writer would plot a brainteasing novel After the first half hour you ll have strong impressions of Arnold Elaine and their sons Jesse and David those initial thoughts are likely to change
3.5
Capturing the Friedmans
Joshua Tanzer
Not convincingly redeemed by any ultimate meaning the film remains essentially a car wreck by the side of the road that we compulsively gawk at as we cruise by
2
Capturing the Friedmans
Edward Guthmann
It leaves us puzzling long after the film has ended about the Friedmans strange family dynamics about the justice system and community that condemned them about the elusive nature of truth
4
Capturing the Friedmans
Jonathan Rosenbaum
As an investigation into the psychology and processes of witch hunts Capturing the Friedmans is one of the most valuable film documents we ve had since Carl Dreyer s 1943 Day of Wrath
4
Capturing the Friedmans
Mary F. Pols
An extraordinary rendering of an extraordinary story
4
Capturing the Friedmans
Mark Caro
Leo Tolstoy wrote that every unhappy family is unhappy in its own fashion but not even he could have invented the Friedmans
4
Beneath Clouds
Andrew Howe
One of the few feature films to canvass the issues facing the aboriginal community from an adolescent perspective
3
The Real Thing
Kathy Fennessy
At the very least the actors make their irresistible attraction to each other unsettlingly believable
3
Cock & Bull Story
Ted Fry
A load of affected hooey
0
65 Revisited
Bill Weber
Where the original was defiantly not a concert film but a chronicle of the astonished hubbub surrounding the first hipster folksinger the follow up s treasure lies with seven intact live performances
3
Now or Never
Joshua Tanzer
The film is about a moment about everything good and bad absurd and true in that time when ideals matter and the intoxication of rebellion takes hold before falling away
3.5
The Cats of Mirikitani
Janice Page
It should not have taken luck and a charitable filmmaker to save Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani
3
The Cats of Mirikitani
Jonathan Rosenbaum
This is an unofficial movie about an unofficial life which is why we have to take some initiative in order to see it
3
An American Affair
Bill Weber
An unholy genre mutation undreamt of on the isle of Dr Moreau An American Affair piggybacks the pubescent sexual awakening sapfest onto the JFK assassination conspiracy thriller
.5
The Princess Switch
Christopher James
It s a mess but it s a jolly fun mess
2
Ever Deadly
Anne Brodie
Ever Deadly spotlights Tanya Taqaq s performance throat singing and the harsh otherworldly environs of Canada s Cambridge Bay 40 Iqaluktuuttiaq 41 singing seems too tight a definition for the ecstatic pain filled gorgeous soundscape she produces 10
4
Cinderella
Larry Vitacco
A fresh and unique interpretation of an age old tale
4
Cinderella
Michael Scheinfeld
Excellent animation marvelous color and lovely music make Cinderella a delight all the way around
4
Cinderella
Eric Henderson
A trim hour and change worth of Gerber life lessons
2
Cosmos
Scout Tafoya
Confined to a few locations and shaking with ecstasy possibility and the torment of being alive Cosmos is like absinthe distilled secretly in a prison cell
4
Cosmos
Jesse Cataldo
Andrzej Zulawski s film experiment ranks somewhere between captivatingly off the wall and utterly exhausting
2.5
The Bubble
Matthew Passantino
It certainly strains for its pandemic era laughs mostly missing the mark by always feeling out of date
1
The Bubble
Oliver Jones
It has nothing new or insightful to add to the discourse and instead seems comfortable recycling jokes that weren t funny when we first encountered them on Twitter two years ago
0.5
The Bubble
Mark Meszoros
One of Apatows strengths is digging into the humanity of his characters but there just isnt much of worth to be mined here Ultimately his idea probably would have been better off in the hands of a director more adept at zippy satire
2
The Bubble
Nina Metz
Doesn t bring anything new or especially satisfying to the genre going for gently absurd rather than truly savage in its ridicule of the rich and famous
1.5
The Bubble
Jake Cole
The Bubbles toothless showbiz satire mostly comes down to teasing its characters for their entitlement and self importance
1
Gordy
Mal Vincent
Although it s rather cheapjack Gordy is still harmless
2
Gordy
John Petrakis
Methinks there is something else ahoof here since no one could be dim witted enough to swallow this cinematic goulash without taking a step back from the trough first
2
A Haunted House 2
David Berry
The other flavours in A Haunted House 2 s neapolitan ice cream are people getting hurt and sex jokes
1
A Haunted House 2
Kevin C. Johnson
This send up of current horror movies is a go for broke hoot a hot mess of a comedy that doesn t have a lick of sense And knowing that going in adds to the often knee slapping laughs
3
A Haunted House 2
John Semley
A Haunted House 2 is dumber than dumb dumb which at least has the nerve to be unapologetically dumb Worse it s Wayans dumb
0
Roar: Lions of the Kalahari
Jackie Loohauis
For those who can take it the film offers an experience that s literally wild
2
Roar: Lions of the Kalahari
Louise Kennedy
Thrilling and beautiful to watch
3
Roar: Lions of the Kalahari
Vince Koehler
This amazing documentary is presented on the huge Imax screen and feels like a real live Lion King
3.5
Light of My Eyes
Marta Barber
A character study that deserves viewing thanks to the acting of its two principals
2.5
Mogul Mowgli
Emily Zemler
This is an intimate story sometimes uncomfortably so but it s also an expansive one about whether our societies allow people to live outside prescribed boxes and whether it accepts them when they do
3.5
Mogul Mowgli
Wes Greene
The film s poignancy derives from its profound understanding of its main character s identity crisis
3
Pearl Diver
Loey Lockerby
This is only King s first feature and if he can take a few more narrative risks without giving up his subtle style he may become that rare director who can tackle spiritual issues without literally preaching to the choir
2.5
Hitchcock/Truffaut
Scott Renshaw
Smartly conveys the significance of this text in the history of movie making being taken seriously as an art form
3
Hitchcock/Truffaut
Mark Jenkins
If the documentary concentrates on the mechanical aspects of filmmaking that s clearly because it was Hitchcock s preference
3
Hitchcock/Truffaut
Carson Lund
A buoyant tribute even if the pedigree of the project implies something more paradigm shifting
2.5
Death to Smoochy
Michael Szymanski
I giggled all the way through Death to Smoochy It wasn t that ha ha giggle it was that evil kind of maniacal giggle
4
Death to Smoochy
Collin Souter
It has comedic dead zone written all over it Its subject might be prime fodder for satire but it lacks even the smallest words for an essay
1
Death to Smoochy
Robert Roten
It is an uneven film to be sure but it is still a lot of fun
3
Death to Smoochy
Joe Leydon
Runs out of gas before the finish line and detours into an unconvincing cop out of a climax that plays like something propelled by a last minute failure of nerve
2.5
Death to Smoochy
Todd Anthony
The punch lines that miss unfortunately outnumber the hits by three to one But Death to Smoochy keeps firing until the bitter end
2
Death to Smoochy
Tor Thorsen
After years of assaulting our tear ducts the old edgy Williams is back where he should be tickling our funny bones That alone is worth 10
3.5
Death to Smoochy
Steven Rosen
This is the kind of stinker that emerges every so often from Hollywood when major talent Danny DeVito and Robin Williams in this case get it into their heads that something disastrously unfunny is hilarious
0.5
Death to Smoochy
Loren King
The script boasts some tart TV insider humor but the film has not a trace of humanity or empathy
2
Death to Smoochy
Jonathan Taylor
Completely nasty and consistently hilarious Smoochy is wild wicked fun
3
Death to Smoochy
Tony Toscano
Under the direction of Danny DeVito Death to Smoochy catapults the dark comedy to new heights
3.5
Stone Fruit
David Reddish
For all its heavy subject matter Stone Fruit doesnt depress
3
Army Of The Dead
Blake Howard
Snyder is an aggregator of inspirations unabashedly spring boarding from the giant canonical zombie and action texts Snyder is a Bro Poet Bro et and I for one enjoy his predictable rhymes
3
Army Of The Dead
Matthew Passantino
Zack Snyder is most alive as a director when he is working with the undead
3
Army Of The Dead
Doug Walker
A completely serviceable zombie and heist film
3
Army Of The Dead
Mark Meszoros
You can t help but appreciate Snyder for the vision he brings to his projects even if you disagree with so many decisions that go along with them
2.5
Army Of The Dead
Michael Medved
Bizarre and occasionally brilliant the characterizations are far better and far deeper than you would ever expect from a zombie apocalypse film
2.5
Army Of The Dead
Mark Kennedy
Expertly paced and with top notch special effects Army of the Dead is a popcorn zombie movie for our time Long live the undead
3.5
Confusion of Genders
Megan Lehmann
The central character in the cynical French sex farce Confusion of Genders is such an odious piece of work weak indecisive and shallow that it s hard to follow his carnal misadventures with anything approaching interest
.5
Eleven Minutes
David Wiegand
For general audiences it could use a bit of ahem tailoring taking in here and there
2
Eleven Minutes
Paul Schrodt
A movie for Project Runway obsessives only
2
Stander
Ruthe Stein
Has you in its grip from the beginning
3
Stander
Bruce Newman
Adds up to what is less a movie than an entertainingly episodic rap sheet
2.5
The Third Wife
Brandy McDonnell
Writer director Ash Mayfair makes a hauntingly beautiful feature film debut with The Third Wife a quietly devastating period drama based on her own family history
3.5
The Third Wife
Shane Slater
There s a subversive undercurrent to the film which manifests in genuinely surprising ways
3
Licensed to Kill
Robert Roten
It s a simple idea for a film Do interviews with people in prison who have killed gays and ask them to explain why they did it but the riveting result is far from simple
3
A Grin Without a Cat
Jonathan Curiel
A timely look back at civil disobedience anti war movements and the power of strong voices
3
A Grin Without a Cat
Patrick Z. McGavin
This is a movie about the world at war with itself and the result is riveting sublime and unforgettable
4
Game Night
John Hanlon
A delightful comedy that offers some great comedic bits and a few wonderful surprises
3.0
Game Night
Christopher James
Watching clueless suburbanites stumble around a plot grander more complex than their own is funny Abandoning the game night for unsatisfying action set pieces is not funny
2
Game Night
Sebastian Zavala Kahn
A light deliciously black and consistently funny experience Game Night is one of 2018 s greatest surprises so far Full review in Spanish
3
Game Night
Stephen Rebello
Game Night turns out to be a cool clever surprise The cast crackles Bateman and McAdams are fast easy and terrifically enjoyable together and there s bright sharp supporting work
2.5
Game Night
Clint O'Connor
It helps that Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams are two of our most affable movie stars They are both deft at delivering dry asides and getting caught up in the more manic moments
3
Game Night
Maren Longbella
Game Night gets it right
3
Game Night
Keith Watson
The film establishes coherent characters and drops them into a twisty mystery plot that s tightly crafted enough to generate some real narrative momentum while never getting too bogged down in its own plot that it forgets to be funny
2.5
Game Night
Tom Russo
Shouldn t a movie called Game Night be entertaining
2
Game Night
Lindsey Bahr
A charismatic ensemble cast a sharp script and a few well placed twists make Game Night one of the more enjoyable big studio comedies in recent memory
3
Game Night
Mara Reinstein
Snappily paced and cleverly plotted Game Night is the rare farce that exceeds low ish expectations
3
The Rookie
Chuck O'Leary
An entertaining buddy cop movie with some exciting action sequences and some great lines Eastwood and Sheen are an amusing odd couple
3
So Close
Mark Rahner
Charlie s Angels only wish in some corner of their empty overstimulated minds that they were as cool as the chicks in So Close
3
So Close
Edward Guthmann
Has moments of style and audacity but the script is a shameless muddle and the shifts in tone from gooey romance to hard driving hyper pop action give the impression that the movie was directed by six or seven people in alternating shift
2
So Close
Megan Lehmann
Hong Kong s answer to Charlie s Angels has big guns hot chicks and cool gadgets hooked into a junky killers for hire narrative so nonsensical it practically neutralizes any guilty pleasure positives
2
So Close
Allison Benedikt
I didn t really understand what was going on but I loved every stylized minute of it
3.5
So Close
Joshua Tanzer
A fun ride if what you want in a movie is long shapely legs kicking a
3
Princess Caraboo
Mal Vincent
With so many stunning but unpleasantly violent films in theaters here s an entertainment that is thoroughly comfortable
3
Always Shine
Carson Lund
The film undermines the unity of its characterizations redirecting into garish phantasmagoria
2
Girl, Interrupted
Cornell & Petricelli
A well intended but dramatically flaccid tale of a young woman s struggle to find sanity independence and integrity
3
Girl, Interrupted
Jorge Avila Andrade
Puede verse y disfrutarse particularmente por mujeres jvenes pero tiene el problema de ser probablemente bastante pretenciosa
2.5
Girl, Interrupted
Jay Carr
It s difficult to imagine any actress today bringing more sentience and intelligence to Ryder s role
2.5
The Relic
Malcolm Johnson
In the end The Relic erupts into a monster mash Hyams has filmed it excitingly and Stan Winston delivers a blazing special effect But there is a bit too much of Godzilla in the monster when it finally is revealed in all of its ghastly glory
2.5
States of Control
Joshua Tanzer
A yuppie in a midlife crisis alternates between repression and indulgence in new experiences Sensual but unsympathetic
2
Dancer in the Dark
Collin Souter
One critic has been quoted as describing Bjork s acting style as a re invention of the art form Another bit of hype that turned out to be true
4
Dancer in the Dark
Andrew Howe
An arresting emotionally charged paean to the insulating power of imagination
3.5
Dancer in the Dark
Robert Roten
Björk is magic in the lead role It is no wonder she won the best actress award at Cannes because of power and subtlety of her performance
3
Dancer in the Dark
Edward Guthmann
It s great to see a movie so courageous and affecting so committed to its own differentness
4
Dancer in the Dark
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Selma asks for so little complains so seldom and is in such perpetual denial about her problems that I find her virtually indigestible as a character
2
Dancer in the Dark
Rod Armstrong
The Danish director has made an incredibly dour music tinged drama that might break some hearts but just made me want to break things
1.5
Life During Wartime
Troy Patterson
Life During Wartime presents scenes that feel as authentic as bad dreams and sometimes that s happiness enough
3
Life During Wartime
Stephen Cole
For all of Solondz s mischief we sense he likes his unhelpable characters and that they maybe like each other A little bit anyway
3
Life During Wartime
Michael Upchurch
Solondz through the troubled voice of 13 year old Timmy does rigorous justice to the difficulties of forgiving and or forgetting
3.5
Francine
Bill Weber
In a character study of an ex con who gives her heart and mind to animals rather than people Melissa Leo s risky performance is ultimately framed with a disappointing distanced pity
2
The Ice Harvest
Forrest Hartman
A film populated by nasty characters who spend nearly 90 minutes doing nasty things to one another That some of those things are darkly funny helps but not enough to merit a viewing
2
The Ice Harvest
Greg Maki
An enjoyable early Christmas present
3
The Ice Harvest
Thomas Delapa
Another barren black comedy that skates a thin line between bad taste and gift wrapped stupidity
1
The Ice Harvest
Dan Fienberg
Viewers are likely to leave this movie not having laughed as much as they expected not having gotten as many thrills as they hoped for and ambivalent to the experience
2.5
The Ice Harvest
Bruce Westbrook
The Ice Harvest is like Sin City without the bold style and crooked smile disgorging grisly bloodbaths without drawing artful things out of them
2
The Ice Harvest
Susan Walker
a thriller that s not very thrilling but is as violent as the best of them
2.5
The Ice Harvest
Phoebe Flowers
T he tired heist concept is considerably enlivened by excellent casting and behind the camera pedigree
3
The Ice Harvest
Jonathan R. Perry
Few cinematic experiences are more depressing than a black comedy that isn t funny
1.5
The Ice Harvest
Neva Chonin
Ice Harvest sir is no Groundhog Day
1
The Ice Harvest
Michele Kenner
seems slight and underdeveloped
2
The Ice Harvest
Michael Booth
The Ice Harvest is too tepid to have much taste either way and it ends up lulling us to apathy
2
The Ice Harvest
Emily Blunt
The Ice Harvest is a hearty hued anti jovial though oddly not anti humorous Christmas neo Noir that ll have you giggling with morbid glee and properly cringing where need be
4
The Ice Harvest
Chuck O'Leary
A comic noir that feels like a direct to DVD movie that could have easily starred Matthew Modine Dennis Hopper and Gina Gershon
1.5
Red State
Lucius Gore
One of the best white trash horror films in recent memory
3.5
Craptastic!
Nick McCarthy
The cinematic equivalent of staging a disaster and then bitching about the mess
1
Gandhi, My Father
Namrata Joshi
The film comes alive in playing off one personality against the other even as the audience keeps switching its sympathy between the two
3
Warrior of Light
Edward Guthmann
When it sticks to Bezerra de Mello who s a genuine heroine despite her joking disavowals of her importance it s riveting
3
Freaky
David Reddish
Freaky takes advantage of its gender bending premise to explore teen gender stereotypes and the somewhat arbitrary privileges afforded to young women and middle aged men
3
Freaky
Mark Meszoros
As entertaining as Freaky is it does have its issues
3
Freaky
Michael Medved
Vince Vaughn is occasionally funny but the high school characterizations are tired stereotypes with no hint of humanity
1.5
Freaky
Cate Marquis
Freaky is most entertaining for fans of the teen horror comedy but has moderate comedic appeal even if one isn t largely thanks to Vince Vaughn
3
Freaky
Jeff York
The two stars commit to all the screaming running fighting and killing here 100 and it makes a lot of what s wholly unsavory stabbings slashing kicks to the nuts hilariously infectious because they re going full throttle with it all
3
Freaky
Tomris Laffly
A fun frisky and nostalgic ride that delivers laughs various inventively bloody kills and on occasion even some 21st century appropriate observations on gender norms and sexuality
3
Freaky
Pat Brown
Freaky doesn t reach for any arch commentary beyond the suggestion that hey Freaky Friday the 13th is a pretty funny idea
2.5
Floyd Norman: An Animated Life
Shane Slater
Floyd Norman An Animitated Life is a heartwarming tribute to an underappreciated unassuming man who broke boundaries and impacted many lives for the better
3
A Walk in the Clouds
Betsy Bozdech
With its golden countryside sweeping score tender romance and powerful traditions it s virtually impossible to resist the spell of A Walk in the Clouds
3
Sweat
Mark Hanson
Sweat mostly adheres to a time honored tale of the pitfalls of fame despite its ultra modern context
2.5
Leonor Will Never Die
Carlos Aguilar
91 An 93 endlessly imaginative delight
4
Nobel Son
Joe Leydon
Only when Nobel Son stops trying so hard does it have any appeal at all
2
Nobel Son
Susan Walker
Nobel Son is as darkly funny as it is exhilarating
3
Man of Steel
David Gonzalez
If there is one word to describe Man of Steel it would be a disappointment
2
Man of Steel
Terence Johnson
Driven by fantastic performances and a confident script Man of Steel manages to both capture the imagination and ground the character in the modern day
3.5
Man of Steel
Neil Rosen
It s bland and boring
2
Man of Steel
Mara Reinstein
No fun costume change in a phone booth no wowing humans with his powers and no repartee with reporter Lois Lane
2
Man of Steel
Tyler Hanley
DC still has much to learn from rival Marvel in the filmmaking realm but Man of Steel at least offers hope Hope and a slight headache
3
Man of Steel
Kirk Baird
Man of Steel is an expensive set up piece that puts everything and everyone in the familiar positions but moves no further
3
Man of Steel
Barbara Vancheri
Mr Cavill distinguishes himself as a worthy successor to Christopher Reeve although one charged with much more physically punishing scenes and almost no hint of Clark Kent as sweet bumbler
3.5
Man of Steel
Scott Renshaw
Snyder cranks up the apocalyptic donnybrook sending the combatants blasting through skyscrapers and punching one another into exploding tanker trucks but all that down to earth character stuff does help make it more potent
3
Man of Steel
Rich Heldenfels
While the final fight sequences go on too long the movie is for the most part a thoughtful reimagining of the 75 year old character
3.5
Man of Steel
David Frese
Man of Steel is visually spectacular but for the most part emotionally distant It s just another 200 million superhero movie and another wasted opportunity
2
Man of Steel
Jason Buchanan
Perhaps one of the most brave and unusual aspects of Man of Steel is the fact that by the time the credits roll there seems to be a world of possibilities for the future
3.5
Man of Steel
Chris Cabin
All its faux patriotism isn t played for satire but instead utilized to align the film with an idyllic unquestioned vision of goodness
1.5
It Follows
Chris Alexander
It Follows is an incredibly evolved joyously alive piece of dead teenager cinema that likely requires a few viewings to properly assimilate its rhythms
3
It Follows
Brad Keefe
So this is when I am going to break from the critical chorus of praise It Follows wasn t flawless for me and perhaps a victim of its own hype in that regard
3
It Follows
Lindsey Bahr
It s a wildly fun conceit Mitchell s atmospheric rendering of It Follows gives the film a fanciful otherworldly feel
3.5
It Follows
Bruce Ingram
It s hard not to share Jay s mounting panic as she watches the thing in its various guises walking slowly toward her wherever she may be invisible to everyone else and entirely intent on destroying her
3
It Follows
Jon Niccum
It horrifies It disturbs It rules
3.5
It Follows
Stephen Rebello
It s all made more powerful and paranoia inducing because the shuffling stalkers could be anyone anytime anywhere They re as inexplicable as they are impossible to escape
3
Schultze Gets the Blues
Russ Breimeier
A film with two opposite interpretations to its title figuratively sad literally joyful
3
Schultze Gets the Blues
Forrest Hartman
Writer director Michael Schorr s story moves with remarkable sloth
0
Schultze Gets the Blues
Phoebe Flowers
The first 30 minutes or so of Schultze Gets the Blues do a spectacular job of allowing you to empathize with just how bored the men are Unfortunately the movie accomplishes this by boring you itself
2
Schultze Gets the Blues
Allison Benedikt
Schorr steers clear of emotion and character development content to just putter down the river to nowhere
2
Schultze Gets the Blues
Susan Walker
Winner of the special prize for directing at the 2003 Venice International Film Festival Schorr has made an impressive debut
3
Nénette
Jeffrey Gantz
This documentary from Nicolas Philibert To Be and To Have opens in close up of a pair of orangutan eyes
4
Nénette
Joseph Jon Lanthier
The film s narrative elliptically presents a series of contexts through which we glean Nénette s rather epic story
3.5
3 1/2 Minutes, Ten Bullets
David Lewis
The straightforward well edited trial scenes speak volumes not only about the defendant but also about the racism that still haunts our country
3
3 1/2 Minutes, Ten Bullets
Steve Macfarlane
A barbed inquiry into this particular notion of self defense enabled by the quotidian racism state and perpetuated de jure by the state
3.5
Fearless
Emanuel Levy
Weir and Yglesias who adapted his novel don t shy away from dealing with the kinds of issues seldom portrayed in mainstream movies Fear of death and fear of life after a traumatic airplane crash
3
Paper & Glue
Pat Padua
This is a story about people first but also about the way we see
3
The Life Ahead
Chris Barsanti
The film doesn t deliver much in the way of surprises but it turns out to be a starker and more honest piece of work than it might initially seem
2.5
The Life Ahead
Christopher James
Directed and written by her son Edoardo Ponti the drama comes alive thanks in larger part to Sophia Loren s incredible performance
3
Father and Son
Keith Uhlich
Sokurov firmly establishes his film as a spiritual parable the characters every glance and touch seems a cosmic gesture
4
Father and Son
Ray Conlogue
A tasty hors d oeuvre while waiting for a really good French film to come along
2.5
Veronica Guerin
Forrest Hartman
Anyone disappointed by the lack of hefty women s roles during the first nine months of the current movie season will find solace in Veronica Guerin
3.5
Veronica Guerin
Tyler Hanley
The unfortunate feeling of untapped potential is ultimately what lingers
2.5
Veronica Guerin
Leigh Johnson
Despite a powerful performance from star Cate Blanchett Veronica Guerin is a good story gone mediocre in the hands of Hollywood hotshots Jerry Bruckheimer and Joel Schumacher
2
Veronica Guerin
Phoebe Flowers
Veronica Guerin is a tad too facile to be a great movie It is redeemed by Blanchett s stirring performance
3
Veronica Guerin
Katrina Onstad
the film s great offence phoniness
2
Veronica Guerin
Emily Blunt
Veronica Guerin is a heart breaker not just the true story about the woman who gave her life to save others in a round about way but because the film hardly does her justice
2
Veronica Guerin
Shirley Klass
The most intriguing scenes are of the dealers and their henchmen
2.75
Veronica Guerin
Tony Toscano
a deep and meaningful film
3.5
Naples in Veils
Brent McKnight
The sensual gorgeously filmed psychological thriller roots around in the hidden corners of the titular city digs into long buried family secrets and weaves a tense noir inspired narrative trap as Adriana pursues the case and begins to unravel
3.5
The Road to El Dorado
Robert Roten
Funny and harmless family entertainment
2.5
The Road to El Dorado
Cornell & Petricelli
Sort of cute and at times funny this ultimately torpid story makes for safe but disengaging kiddy fare
2.5
The Road to El Dorado
Jeffrey Wachs
Kline and Branagh create a camaraderie that fills the film with an infectious energy
3
The Man With the Iron Fists
Jeremy Wheeler
Kung fu fans will be happy that Iron Fists exists and is just as entertaining as they hoped it would be
2.5
The Man With the Iron Fists
Steve Macfarlane
The chop socky wire fu scenes are beautifully choreographed but pretty crudely edited despite its gourmet neo grindhouse trappings the film won t bring the heat like you ve never seen before
2
The Man With the Iron Fists
Scott Bowles
Goes a long way in demonstrating that a bad movie with big names is still a bad movie Just prettier
1.5
The Wood
Rod Armstrong
It is unremarkable in every way save one the cast is African American
2
The Wood
Bob Graham
When will Epps who was in The Mod Squad get a picture worthy of his obvious talent
2
Confessions of a Burning Man
Megan Lehmann
It s more like a routine home video with arty pretensions
1.5
Becoming Redwood
Adam Nayman
There s a fine line between quirky and overbearing and Becoming Redwood keeps stumbling over to the wrong side
1.5
Supersonic
Mark Caro
Supersonic boasts an ear blasting you are there immediacy utilizing a treasure trove of archival photos and footage to make you feel present
3
Supersonic
Brad Keefe
Oasis was just like a f cking Ferrari Great to look at Great to drive And it would f ckin spin out of control every now and again when you went too fast
3.5
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within
Gerald Peary
Fairly disorganized in the telling and rather impersonally told by filmmaker Yony Leyser this documentary biography of the stone faced Beat author of The Naked Lunch is still worth seeing
2.5
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within
Joseph Jon Lanthier
The documentary persuasively argues that Burrough s most dangerous addiction might have been the refusal of love
3
On the Rumba River
Rob Humanick
On the Rumba River illuminates a culture s means of political response via communal expression through music
3
Halloween
David Gonzalez
The film set the standard for horror and the slasher film genre and is one of the most influential imitated and commercially successful independent films in history
4
The Theatre Bizarre
Mark Jenkins
These elements may be shocking and even bizarre But like a lot of midnight movie provocations they soon turn predictable
1.5
Punishment Park
Jeremiah Kipp
Punishment Park is told in the pseudo documentary style that defines most of the obscure body of work by British filmmaker Peter Watkins
4
In the Blood
John Semley
The closed quarters combat crackles with bone shattering believability And that s really all that matters
3
In the Blood
Mark Jenkins
As is typical of the genre the plot gets sillier as it unfolds while the violence gets gnarlier
2
In the Blood
Drew Hunt
Aside from being another rote addition to the revenge film canon John Stockwell s In The Blood is also a supreme waste of Gina Carano s talent
1
A River Runs Through It
Robert Roten
A very unusual Hollywood movie it is literary and it has a heart of gold
3
Spoor
Tomris Laffly
Holland s cinematic mastery charges every frame of her misty mud ridden and chilly to the touch film with the grandeur and ominous aliveness of the nature that surrounds Duszejko s world
2.5
Spoor
Rania Richardson
SPOOR is an environmental thriller that brings justice to animal abusers by veteran Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland Europa Europa Darkness and her daughter Kasia Adamik
4
Ghost in the Shell
Sebastian Zavala Kahn
An excellent science fiction story that has a lot to say about human nature Full review in Spanish
3.5
Ghost in the Shell
Susan Tavernetti
Adds an intriguing philosophical dimension to the cyber thriller genre
3
Ghost in the Shell
James O'Ehley
Its animation is so rich in meticulous and sumptuous detail that it blows previous Japanese landmarks like Akira simply out of the water
4
Agora
Chris Foran
A landscape where heart and head can collide in a great fury and when the world felt like it could go one way or the other
2.5
Agora
Brett Michel
We re but tiny specks in the cosmos a point Alejandro Amenábar drives home via nigh omnipresent powers of 10 shots
3
Agora
Jennie Punter
This lavish Spanish production begins to plod after a brisk lively first half
2
The Moustache
Michele Kenner
A mind bending treat adapted by director Emmanuel Carrère from his novel
3.5
Madea's Family Reunion
Lisa Rose
Goodwilled Sure Good filmmaking Lord no
1
Madea's Family Reunion
Paul Schrodt
Trapped in the closet fittingly describes Tyler Perry s lurid melodrama in which characters repeatedly stumble onto others dark secrets during living room chats
1.5
Madea's Family Reunion
Jennie Punter
Anyone curious about all the fuss surrounding Perry is advised to track down a DVD of one of his stage productions Madea his big mama is not working on the big screen
.5
Madea's Family Reunion
Dan Fienberg
Madea is meant to be a communal experience But a critic s job isn t to judge how a movie plays in an ideal viewing It s to look at the movie Madea is dismal
1.5
Broken City
Nour Habib
The movie is thoroughly entertaining But it is entertaining in a way that though you enjoy each scene on its own after it s over and you think of the work as a whole you can t help but be less than impressed
2.5
Broken City
Rob Salem
Did these people or even these people s people not bother to read the script first
1
Broken City
Perry Seibert
If you need a pithy Twitter ready review for Broken City it would be Forget it Jake it s not Chinatown
2.5
SLC Punk
Elias Savada
a moderately enjoyable scourging of red necks and Ronald Reagan
2
Before the Rain
Dave Kehr
We ll have to wait for Manchevski s next feature to know whether he s an artist or a shrewd entertainer In the meantime Before the Rain is one of the more worthy efforts of the season
3
Before the Rain
Dan Webster
Manchevski leaves us with too many unanswered questions most of them involving the very time and space that these characters seem to inhabit all at the very same time
2.5
Before the Rain
Jeremiah Kipp
What it loses in novelty and subtlety it makes up for in its earnest depiction of love and individual human decency in the face of societal cruelty
3
Before the Rain
Emanuel Levy
Dealing with the Balkan wars this ambitious and compassionate art film interweaves three stories one set in London that contrast the calm beauty of the Macedonian landscape with the harowing violence that erups within its borders
3
Before the Rain
Leonard Schwarz
After beginning with a powerful presentation of the destruction of our humanity that ethnic struggles bring Manchevski shifts his focus to a self indulgent and self congratulatory hero who acts as if the answer to war is attitude
2.5
Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star
Betsy Sherman
Swardson just doesn t rise to the occasion apparently hoping that enormous buck teeth and a Dutch Boy wig will do the acting for him
1.5
Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star
Tom Russo
Swardson and the gang generally opt for silly over edgy and outrageous but Bucky is just too dashed off a character for the movie to get by on that
1
Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star
Rob Humanick
You may or may not laugh but at least you ll be closer to death and no better for it
1
Madras Cafe
Danny Bowes
The most shocking thing about it is how dull it is
1.5
Silver City
Joshua Tanzer
Sayles has made many movies like this and they ve ranged from genius Lone Star to just average City of Hope Silver City falls in between
3
Silver City
Eric Harrison
Silver City has a detective plot important themes clever lines and a passel of intriguing characters but they re not put together in a way that holds your interest
2
Silver City
Michael Booth
A terrible disappointment
1
Silver City
Megan Lehmann
Sayles unabashedly partisan film moseys along in an unhurried fashion encompassing myriad story lines yet taking the trouble to fully develop each of its many characters
3
Silver City
Paul Sherman
Sayles fails to turn his Moore like outrage over the state of the nation into entertaining or interesting fiction
2
Silver City
Phoebe Flowers
A pretty good film that will likely feel dated by the next presidential election
2.5
Silver City
Robert K. Elder
Instead of tracing character paths Sayles sacrifices solid storytelling in favor of forwarding a political and environmental ideology
2.5
Urok
Joe Leydon
A spare stripped to essentials drama about economic stress and mounting desperation that should resonate with a wide range of international audiences
3.5
Watermarks
Susan Walker
Zilberman s storytelling is a little jumpy but his documentary is a fitting tribute to seven women whose strength of mind and character as much as their physical prowess was developed by the organization that ensured their survival
2.5
Watermarks
Laura Kelly
The film s denouement is one of triumphant symbolism as the women return to Vienna for a swim in their former pool There are no medals given for this reunion but it s definitely one that deserves a cheer
3
Watermarks
Marta Barber
A touching film providing a glimpse into yet another hidden story about the history of European Jews before the arrival of the Nazis
3
Watermarks
James Verniere
One of the most amazing aspects of this film is how many of the octogenarian plus swimmers have survived after first fleeing post Anschluss Austria for the four corners of the world
3.5
Watermarks
Debra Birnbaum
A moving poignant tale about triumph in the face of the unthinkable
3
In Search of Beethoven
Shaula Clark
An intriguing portrait of the man as a hopeless romantic a smack talking punk a sickly individual tormented by his deafness and thoughts of suicide and an eternal optimist
3
In Search of Beethoven
Joshua Kosman
In Search of Beethoven trudges through the composer s life and works pausing along the way for the usual smorgasbord of talking heads and performance clips The results are shapeless drab and mostly predictable
1
In Search of Beethoven
Paul Byrnes
As good as the film is Beethoven remains mysterious He refuses to roll over so to speak
4
In Search of Beethoven
Rob Humanick
After the monotonous guide through history that was In Search of Mozart Phil Grabsky s follow up plays like a much needed shot of adrenaline to the brain
3
Knuckle
Jason Buchanan
A compelling and occasionally disturbing documentary shot over the course of 12 years and covering too many conflicts to count
3.5
Triumph of the Spirit
Ryan Murphy
Triumph is spooky and it is winningly effective that way
3
2013 Oscar Nominated Animated Short Films
Alison Gang
A delightful set of films spanning genres styles and the globe in just one outing
3.5
2013 Oscar Nominated Animated Short Films
Betsy Sherman
The roster of animated shorts is strong
3
The Color Wheel
Christopher Gray
The Color Wheel requires a brand of empathy mainstream audiences are unaccustomed to but rewards it with nearly revolutionary insight
3.5
The Color Wheel
Joseph Jon Lanthier
Much like the work of generational cohort Michael Robinson Alex Ross Perry s films are steeped in a viscous cultural past
4
As Above, So Below
Sebastian Zavala Kahn
Its success depends on the way it s presented to fully develop tension as well as on a sensation of collective terror Full review in Spanish
2.5
Walt & El Grupo
Chris Foran
You get a taste of what the Disney group went through and saw and you see how that work translated into rough sketches and designs
2.5
The Boy Friend
TV Guide Staff
THE BOY FRIEND is a sincere celebration of the musical from a camp point of view And let it be said Russell discovered Tommy Tune many years before Broadway did
3
Runaway Train
Janet Maslin
The nihilism and the vicious intensity of Mr Voight s performance here are entirely different from anything else he has done on screen it s a shame those qualities emerge in such a vigorous but disjointed film
2
Sleep Furiously
Joseph Jon Lanthier
A paean to the dignity of ritualized traditions that aims for poetic calmness but more often smoothes its subjects into deliberately emblematic somnambulism
2.5
Sleep Furiously
Doug Knoop
This film is best taken as a visual ode to an all but forgotten way of life
3
At Berkeley
Bill Stamets
At Berkeley earns credit for documenting a distinctly articulate community
3
High Tech, Low Life
Kalvin Henely
As far as its subject matter goes the doc only scratches the surfaces only reaffirming the simple idea that Internet censorship in China is prevalent and unfair
2
Social Hygiene
Carson Lund
Compellingly and surprisingly the film doesn t propose an entirely celebratory view of our accountability seeking present
3.5
The Interval
Chris Cabin
Visually the film has a near delicate look to it but the characters are so broadly etched that they evaporate within Leonardo di Costanzo s sunlit environs
2
The Specialist
Ted Prigge
A totally dull story that thinks it can use various explosions to make it interesting The Specialist is about as exciting as an episode of Dragnet and about as well acted
1
T.J. Miller: Meticulously Ridiculous
David Wiegand
It veers wildly from being very funny to sounding like a stoner s meandering journey through topics only he finds funny to stuff you d expect to hear from a 12 year old
3
The Yes Men Are Revolting
Dan Schindel
The Yes Men Are Revolting eludes serious interaction with these ideas and charges straight for pat reassurance
1.5
The Yes Men Are Revolting
Oleg Ivanov
The Yes Men show that while reality might get lost in this struggle the truth does occasionally emerge from the chaos
3
Lonely Hearts
Jim Hemphill
Their amorality isn t presented in a conventional manner it s depicted in an unremarkable matter of fact style that makes it all the more realistic and all the more unsettling
3
Lonely Hearts
Dan Callahan
One more dip into the tin eared neo noir well
1.5
Monuments
Peter Sobczynski
A tedious and unfulfilling exercise in sentimental quirk
1.5
How to Grow a Band
Joseph Jon Lanthier
The movie is unsurprisingly devoted to peddling up and comer Chris Thiele as something daring something new
2
Duelle: Une Quarantaine (Twilight: A Quarantine)
Elliott Stein
Duelle is the sort of bad bad movie which gives good bad movies a bad name Wild horses mounted by Jonathan Rosenbaum could not get me back to see it again
1
The Guilt Trip
Perry Seibert
While it doesn t break new ground it will play well for all those who appreciate Streisand or want to be reassured that their adult children still love them
2.5
The Guilt Trip
James Adams
To its detriment The Guilt Trip opts to work gently on the heart rather than hard on the funny bone
2
The Guilt Trip
Betsy Sherman
Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand make a snappy comic duo in this road movie about a tetchy mother son relationship
2.5
The Guilt Trip
R. Kurt Osenlund
Mothers and sons deserve an amiable comedy they can share but this one is faulty long before the requisite freeway breakdown
2
The Guilt Trip
Cathy Jakicic
The pairing of Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand certainly sounds promising and to a large extent the promise is realized But not quite
2.5
The Guilt Trip
Kristin Tillotson
It s the entertainment equivalent of a good roadside diner meal No big belly laughs but quite a few chuckles No catharsis but some really sweet moments
3
The Guilt Trip
Frank Lovece
Despite some funny offhand moments The Guilt Trip doesn t jell I almost feel guilty for saying that
2
Yellow Rose
Carlos Aguilar
Paragas strings too many variables on the story most of which require a more thorough inquiry than they get
2.5
We Are Your Friends
Max Weiss
Efron is a natural and likeable presence on screen and has proven to be a pretty decent actor in films like Hairspray and The Paperboy But the problem with regularness is that in the wrong hands it s kind of dull
2
We Are Your Friends
Charles Bramesco
In the line of succession for Channing Tatum s throne as Hollywood s go to charismatic bro type Efron s still pretty far down
1.5
We Are Your Friends
Burl Burlingame
There is a howling deadness at the heart of Friends however it lies in the charisma challenged relationship of Zac Efron s Young DJ and Emily Ratajkowski s Hot Girlfriend
1
We Are Your Friends
Scott Renshaw
The buzz of restless energy in co writer director Max Joseph s movie at times keeps it from finding a groove but it certainly captures the Millennial uncertainty at its center
3
We Are Your Friends
Molly Eichel
Who is this movie for Is it aimed at women who will be drawn to Efron with his cut body and brow furrowed just so in order to feign depth It s hard to justify that when the movie seems to have no respect for women at all
1
We Are Your Friends
Jon Niccum
We Are Your Friends will probably date faster than most movies there can t possibly be a genre more disposable than electronic dance music
2
We Are Your Friends
Ben Sachs
Like its protagonist a 23 year old DJ from the San Fernando Valley the coming of age story We Are Your Friends is sentimental eager to please and full of energy
3
We Are Your Friends
Christopher Gray
As Zac Efront s Cole tiptoes away from his past the film keenly observes a character who doesn t know how to secure his future or his identity
2.5
Definition Please
Joshua Axelrod
This is a self assured amusing dramatically honest film and Day proves herself to be an adept triple threat to keep an eye on
3
Gods of Egypt
Sebastian Zavala Kahn
The film does not even serve as some kind of guilty pleasure for the simple fact that it is boring Full review in Spanish
1
Gods of Egypt
John Hanlon
Gods of Egypt is an over the top superficial and flashy drama It s also a lot of fun
3.0
Gods of Egypt
Barbara Vancheri
Definitely not one for the gods or the ages in 2 D or 3 D
1
Gods of Egypt
David Berry
A feckless fantasy
1
Gods of Egypt
Drew Hunt
Its virtues as throwback don t elide the foolhardly decision to imprint an ancient mythology on a contemporary superhero framework
1
Gods of Egypt
Rick Bentley
Gods of Egypt is the most epic sun and sand disaster since Elizabeth Taylor almost broke 20th Century Fox with her 1963 film Cleopatra
0.5
The Journey
J. R. Jones
The Journey functions primarily as a hopeful story of people overcoming their differences but it also looks at how each man rationalized his own role in the endless violence
3
The Journey
Kenji Fujishima
Paisley and McGuinness s intellectual back and forth is rendered so compellingly that one wishes the filmmakers didn t feel a need to resort to a surfeit of momentum killing plot contrivances
2
Faith Based
Michael Medved
Occasionally hilarious occasionally as clumsy as the film within a film that the goofball main characters are creating
2.5
Faith Based
Luke Parker
A surprisingly affectionate and compassionate tale of bum luck charisma uphill determination and lasting friendship
3
The Oh in Ohio
Michael Booth
A vibrator may put the buzz back in the solo sex life but it tends to suck the life out of any movie not rated with three Xs
1
The Oh in Ohio
Laura Kelly
Much like Priscilla s sexual difficulties The OH in Ohio just doesn t satisfy
2
The Oh in Ohio
Bruce Westbrook
I felt some of its heroine s pain She s spent her life waiting for an orgasm I spent the movie waiting for a plot
1.5
The Oh in Ohio
Bill Zwecker
At the end of the day Kent and screenwriter Adam Wierzbianski have given us a mildly amusing premise but fail to turn it into a story that takes us anywhere pleasurable
2
The Oh in Ohio
Stephen Williams
Eventually the oh s becomes zzzzzz s
.5
The Oh in Ohio
Dan Callahan
The sound recording is hollow and muddy the cinematography underlit and sometimes blurred at the edges and the whole thing has the dreary feeling of a bottom of the barrel clammy 70s sex comedy
0
The Oh in Ohio
Emanuel Levy
Parker Posey and Paul Rudd play a couple that is entrapped in a marriage where nothing seems to go right in bed or otherwise just like the movie itself
1
The Laundromat
Mark Kennedy
Like the film he made the director is compromised
1
The Laundromat
Keith Uhlich
Steven Soderbergh takes a macro approach to the scandal though the results with rare exception are vexingly micro
1.5
Vasermil
Hannah Brown
The story meanders at times and the focus on soccer and the Vasermil stadium doesn t give the plot the coherence it could Yet Vasermil is an impressive debut for Salmona and his actors he is clearly a filmmaker to watch
3
Pusher
Jay Antani
a perfectly serviceable race against the clock thriller thanks to a powerful lead performance from Richard Coyle
2.5
Pusher
Glenn Heath Jr.
Do we really need another cautionary tale about an ambitious drug dealer dramatically falling from grace
1.5
The Woman in Black
Tyler Hanley
The movie bombards viewers with a host of scare tactics from barely startling to borderline terrifying And therein lies the problem
2.5
The Woman in Black
Steven D. Greydanus
The best ghost stories from The Uninvited to The Sixth Sense play to the heart if not always to the head The Woman in Black is at its best when playing to the nerves
2.5
The Woman in Black
Tom Horgen
After a while The Woman in Black amounts to an elaborate jack in the box Yes it will make you jump But will you remember what forced you out of your seat a month from now Or even next week Probably not
2.5
The Woman in Black
David Hiltbrand
The Woman in Black has lovely period atmosphere Unfortunately it doesn t have much else besides atmosphere
2
The Woman in Black
Jon Niccum
Watkins is forced to rely on sinister cutaways and jump scares punctuated by orchestral blasts Without the contribution of post production sound effects this film might play like a stuffy period drama
1.5
Kárhozat, (Damnation)
Jeremiah Kipp
In terms of creating a strong cinematic world Tarr has few equals
3
Easy Money
Jake Mulligan
The most powerful moments involve private lives and social conflict not gunfights In this world it s not the blood on your hands that brings you down it s the stain on your cufflinks
3
Easy Money
R. Kurt Osenlund
The humanization of these antiheroic outlaws doesn t feel forced but it does feel engineered and there s never a viewer investment to match the story s wide expanse
2.5
Au Hasard Balthazar
Ron Reed
It s a study of human weakness and cruelty it s a portrait of Christ the suffering servant it s the heartbreaking story of a young girl s descent from innocence to despair But above all it s a movie about a donkey
4
Au Hasard Balthazar
James Verniere
After seeing the film you will never hear a donkey s bray without thinking of Bresson s meek four legged saint
4
Crazed Fruit
Chris Barsanti
A troubled youth movie that doesn t waste too much time trying to shock
3
Gringo Trails
Wes Greene
Pegi Vail beautifully edited film somehow addresses a lot but ultimately says little
2.5
Stardust
Monica Castillo
A rough draft that seems to be missing quite a few elements to make a good idea into a great movie
1
DeepStar Six
Kathy Fennessy
Not exactly essential DeepStar Six is an enjoyable watch
2.5
Hatching
David Gonzalez
Hanna Bergholm s Hatching joins the club as one of the most frightening and imaginative horror films of the year
3.5
Hatching
Lindsey Bahr
Hatching is an assured and promising debut for Bergholm with a jaw dropping ending that may just cement it as a cult classic in the making
3
Hatching
Keith Watson
The ham handed allegorical construction generically titled characters and self serious tone in its final third drains the story of the specificity that might have resulted in a more incisive critique of the perils of perfectionism
1.5
Brothers of the Head
Michael Szymanski
No doubt one of the weirdest most off beat movies you can see all year and with a rocking soundtrack
3.5
Brothers of the Head
Thomas Delapa
Fulton and Pepe s double headed head trip is mostly drab gray matter
1.5
The Lighthouse Keepers
Ben Sachs
Remarkably it doesn t feel at all disjointed Grémillon shifts fluidly between styles the film flowing like a piece of music
4
Hula Girls
Janos Gereben
An eminently likeable well made film
3
Hula Girls
Bill Stamets
Slick cinematography makes this bland social comedy always watchable but the movie has its insipid moments
2
Theo & Hugo
Godfrey Cheshire
Paris 05 59 conjures a world and a moment in time and it does so with an understated skill throughout
2.5
Point of Order
Fernando F. Croce
An extended inquiry that through de Emilio s editing strategies emerges as both claustrophobic and cleansing
3
The Cutting Edge
Stephen Hunter
The Cutting Edge is an enjoyable piffle completely divorced from any recognizable reality
2.5
The Cutting Edge
Mark Caro
Certainly almost every aspect of the plot seems preprogrammed the movie is like a series of compulsory exercises
2
Neil Young Journeys
Chris Foran
Journeys is about looking back not in sorrow or wistfulness but in affection and often impassioned remembrance of times past and how they still resonate in the present
3
Neil Young Journeys
Dan DeLuca
I d say the movie does a fine job of completing the trilogy but I wouldn t be surprised if Demme and Young have more in them yet
3
Neil Young Journeys
Paul de Barros
The concert camera work is sometimes a little tight for comfort not really interested in Young s bridge work though it adds to the intensity
3
Neil Young Journeys
Chris Riemenschneider
Forget Crosby Stills and Nash and maybe even Crazy Horse Jonathan Demme might be Neil Young s ultimate collaborator
3
Neil Young Journeys
James Adams
The wartsy antipode of Katy Perry Part of Me with an intimacy and intensity bordering on the overwhelming
3
Neil Young Journeys
Kalvin Henely
As great and intimate as Live at Massey Hall 1971 may be it s not as transportive as this filming of a Neil Young performance at the venue 30 years later
3
All in This Tea
David Wiegand
The film is both delightful and informative at every turn
4
Unfriended
Lauren Chval
Cursed with the common horror movie problem of being unintentionally hilarious
2
Unfriended
Andy Crump
Unfriended happens to be a pretty good time
3
Unfriended
Michael Ordoña
The inevitable meltdowns feel unearned because of predictable yet unmotivated character turns There s no one to root for not even the dead girl Nothing seems important enough
1
Unfriended
Calum Marsh
When the genre film spectacle arrives it s in full force and the strictures of the framing device manage to amplify rather than suppress the impact of the shocks and scares
3.5
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Dave Kehr
The pleasures here are entirely cruel with an unhealthy concentration on the suffering of the victims on the thudding impact of various objects against their heads on their howls of agony
2
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Dennis King
Despite this material s definite loss of innocence and surprise it offers some engaging moments
2
Petropolis: Aerial Perspectives on the Alberta Tar Sands
Jennie Punter
The film s power is the contemplative space crafted by Mettler and his collaborators
3
The Promise
John Hanlon
The plot has some underlying issues but the overall film works despite its flaws
3.0
The Promise
Lisa Jensen
Shifting focus away from history to follow the exploits of these fictive characters has the effect of reducing the Armenian tragedy to background material for a less compelling more conventional romantic drama
2.5
The Promise
Kenneth R. Morefield
Admittedly generic but it covers an important topic respectfully
2.5
The Promise
Stephen Rebello
How did a film so loaded with good intentions and talent on both sides of the camera go so badly off the rails
2
The Promise
Barry Paris
In the end the movie is not all that the Armenian diaspora might have hoped for but earnest and moving despite its flaws a Promise half kept half broken
2.5
The Promise
Johanna Schneller
Noble intentions can t disguise their epic failure The love story fails to ignite
2.5
The Promise
Mark Jenkins
Attempting to make an atrocity palatable to a mainstream audience The Promise delivers the history but undercuts its impact
2
The Promise
Tom Russo
Even when showing atrocity up close The Promise rarely makes us feel as if we re doing anything more than watching from a distance
2
The Promise
Bennett Campbell Ferguson
The Promise will not be denied as George powerfully dramatizes stunning acts of both savagery and decency
3
The Promise
Rick Bentley
The movie serves as a heartrending memorial to a people who persevered even in the face of some of the most inhumane actions in history
3
The Promise
Kenji Fujishima
The Promise simply turns this historical tragedy into mere background noise for a flimsy romantic triangle
1.5
Apocalypto
Steven Snyder
It doesn t take long for the question to arise and to linger unanswered over a film that never offers an answer Why in the world did anyone make this movie
0.5
Apocalypto
Mark Collette
Rather than sprawling into far reaching epic mode this carefully contained script zooms in on one man s drive to protect his family against the backdrop of a civilization on the point of collapse
3
Apocalypto
Thomas Delapa
Gibson s ancient Mayan version of The Most Dangerous Game played with clubs and spears While Gibson and Farhad Safinia s script begins as an anthropological saga it brutally evolves into a Darwinian gospel according to Mel
2.5
Apocalypto
Betsy Bozdech
As an action piece Mel Gibson s violent subtitled Mayan epic is engrossing but it lacks a real emotional hook
2.5
Apocalypto
Lisa Rose
The movie doesn t leave you pondering the mysteries of a lost civilization It leaves you pondering the psychopathology of the director
1.5
Apocalypto
Michael Booth
Apocalypto wants us to believe there is an overpowering darkness in the land while I can t quite get past a suspicion of overpowering darkness in the filmmaker
1.5
Apocalypto
Peter T. Chattaway
Gibson has made a bloody flick about death and social decay in a pagan culture and he hints ever so obliquely that the world has not fared any better under we Christians
2.5
Apocalypto
Bruce Newman
With a ferocity that is often as difficult to take as it is fascinating to watch Mel Gibson s Apocalypto comes crashing across 500 years of history with such immediacy that it feels as if this haunting fierce sadistic movie will never leave you
3.5
Apocalypto
James Rocchi
Gibson s directorial efforts have been fairly blood soaked historical exercises and Apocalyto isn t just more of the same it s entirely too much of the same Apocalypto is a career ending flop and easily the worst movie of 2006
0
Apocalypto
Phoebe Flowers
You could dog ear the pages of every thesaurus imaginable though and still not be able to capture the visceral power that Gibson presents You just have to see it
3.5
Tales From the Script
Ethan Alter
This behind the scenes look at the art and commerce of Hollywood screenwriting is filled with memorable yarns
3
Where the Wild Things Are
Jordan Hiller
The conversations and interactions Jonze orchestrates whether real imaginary spoken with an inner voice or cried aloud are delivered with the unmistakable rhythm and in the grandiose rubber and glue terminology of children
3.5
Where the Wild Things Are
Carolyn Arends
In many respects a creative triumph The film is visually stunning and the writing is equally fresh
3
Where the Wild Things Are
Gina Carbone
Where the Wild Things Are is the least fantastical fantasy and the most raw honest personal and magical film about childhood angst since ever
3.25
Where the Wild Things Are
Matt Soergel
Uneven Yet it has a beauty and integrity and wildness of its own it s clear this is a film that just loves the book
3
Where the Wild Things Are
Michael A. Smith
All of the actors do incredible work with Gandolfini giving a performance that is award worthy
3.5
Where the Wild Things Are
Kit Bowen
Let s pronounce Spike Jonze the King of All Wild Things
3.5
Where the Wild Things Are
Michael Sragow
You never completely lose their feeling for the little guy but by the end you feel a bit like Max s mom Once you know he s safe you re more than ready to drift into deep sleep
2.5
Follow Me: The Yoni Netanyahu Story
Loren King
A straightforward documentary that uses Yoni s own words in the form of his moving eloquent letters and poems to create a searing portrait of his short but meaningful life
3
Basic Instinct
Dave Kehr
Verhoeven does not explore the dark side but merely exploits it and that makes all the difference in the world
1
Basic Instinct
Stephen Hunter
Verhoeven has always had a skill for storytelling however questionable and tasteless the materials but here he is hopelessly defeated by Ezsterhas talky slow moving and derivative script
2
Sabrina
Betsy Bozdech
Falls flat compared to the original
2
Sabrina
Robert Roten
A very effective updating of an old rags to riches tale being careful not to suggest that a woman needs to find a rich man in order to be happy
3
Sabrina
Madeleine Williams
Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond have great chemistry
3.5
Drifting
Kathy Fennessy
Though Drifting is the top billed feature the jewel in the crown is White Tiger
3
Gattaca
Emanuel Levy
One of first Hollywood films about the effects of genetic engineering on human conduct Andrew Niccol s directing debut is an intelligent and timely sci fi that despite some illogical plot contrivances is emotionally engaging almost up to the end
3
Gattaca
Gina Carbone
This film illustrates what some of us have long suspected Uma Thurman and Jude Law were genetically engineered
3.5
Gattaca
James O'Ehley
It is a step in the right direction for the sci fi genre being more cerebral than visceral
3
Gattaca
Ted Prigge
The acting from everyone is great with Thurman giving a wonderfully cold performance and Hawke creating a character who has been beaten down by the system but has found a new sense of optimism by a bitter man who was willing to give it out anyway
3.5
Welcome to Me
David Berry
Though it is shaggy and loose Welcome to Me wants to confront us with how casually and confusingly we tend to treat mental illness laughing in its face or vaguely romanticizing it or tightly stigmatizing it
3.5
Welcome to Me
Brad Keefe
A bittersweet comedy that sometimes uncomfortably uses Alice s disorder as a comedic crutch but generally lands with its heart in the right place thanks largely to Wiig
3
Welcome to Me
Scott Renshaw
There s not much payoff beyond the train wreck emotional exhibitionism
2.5
Welcome to Me
Stephen Rebello
Like the heroine it portrays the whole thing is a curio a queasy unpleasant thing wrapped around a cry for help and a self indulgent one at that
2
Welcome to Me
Anders Wright
Wiig may still become a megastar she s one of the leads in the upcoming Ghostbusters reboot and will appear in the Zoolander follow up but she ll be lucky if she ever again gets a part this good
3
Welcome to Me
Jocelyn Noveck
There s dark comedy and then there s take no prisoners dare you to keep looking dark comedy Kristen Wiig s Welcome to Me falls decidedly in the latter category making us laugh but feel deeply unsettled about doing so
3
Welcome to Me
Dan Schindel
this film is worthy of its own celebration at least among those who can get onto its extremely idiosyncratic wavelength
3
Welcome to Me
Thelma Adams
In the burnt toast black Sundance comedy Kristen Wiig goes dark and bipolar without losing her shield of likeability It s a superpower to be marveled at like the ability to carry on a long conversation without looking at one s mobile device
3
Welcome to Me
Christopher Gray
The film rejects a fawning or even particularly detailed account of mental illness in favor of a plunge into the deep end of a bottomless ego
3.5
Ruby Sparks
Perry Seibert
Even with the draggy pacing though the actors and the central idea are so good that Dayton and Faris never lose us completely
3
Ruby Sparks
Matt Soergel
Starts off charmingly then gets even better especially as it ventures into darker more unsettling territory that is terra incognito for 99 9 percent of movie romances
3
Ruby Sparks
Alison Gang
A refreshing romantic comedy for the smart set
3
Ruby Sparks
Betsy Sherman
Ruby Sparks is a frothy thoughtful take on the Pygmalion Living Doll genre
3
Ruby Sparks
Graham Killeen
Where s writer s block when you really need it
2
Ruby Sparks
R. Kurt Osenlund
Succeeds as a satirical fantasy about writerly self involvement but it s worth celebrating as a testament to self made greatness particularly in regard to the efforts of writer star Zoe Kazan
3
All Is True
Lisa Jensen
These guys know their Bard and they ve come up with a wonderful homage witty atmospheric at times heartbreaking to both the towering genius of myth and the oh so fallible man within
3.5
All Is True
Kenneth R. Morefield
Much as with Anne Rice s The Young Messiah the film s use of an historical frame adds nothing vital to its story and creates an expectation of truth adjacency that it lacks the skill or imagination to meet
1.5
All Is True
Andrea Gronvall
In All Is True Branagh and Elton do what the Bard did himself take something be it someone else s idea an historical fact or a recent event and mash it up with original material to fashion an entertainment that feels real
3
All Is True
Wes Greene
It s an unfussy intimate chamber drama that s fearless in confronting the attitudes of its exalted subject
3
All Is True
Oliver Jones
Forget all of it being true I would have settled for some of it being interesting
1
Single All the Way
David Reddish
Single All the Way isnt the kind of movie to watch for plot twistschances are you can predict how it all ends already It does however still feel refreshing to see a queer couple included in a holiday fairytale romance
3
Single All the Way
Nina Metz
Single All the Way cannot sustain itself on Urie s considerable charms alone but he s been underused since the days of Ugly Betty that it s thrilling to see him in a starring role If only it was a better one
2
Lady Macbeth
Lisa Jensen
This is not a movie to take to your heart but as a psychological character study it s both grueling and profound
3
Lady Macbeth
Barry Paris
The cinematography rivets our attention with every frame not just in the shocking murder scenes but also in the details
3.5
Lady Macbeth
Jeff Simon
It is a completely original adaptation of Leskov set in England never predictable in any way and in its final inevitable scene icily brilliant
4
Lady Macbeth
Bennett Campbell Ferguson
Despite director William Oldroyd s vengeful flair and admirable exploration of the tale s racial fissures Lady Macbeth is memorable mainly for attempting to drown its audience in misery
2
Lady Macbeth
Oliver Jones
There is an emptiness to Lady Macbeth part of it on purpose and part of it not
2
Lady Macbeth
Sam C. Mac
Lady Macbeth eventually turns into a meaningless mean spirited and proudly irredeemable non character study
1
The Return of Tanya Tucker: Featuring Brandi Carlile
Anne Brodie
Carlile devoted five years to Tucker apos s comeback and while T hesitates at each step she apos s overwhelmed by the attention There are moments of excruciating tension but there is so much love
3
The Return of Tanya Tucker: Featuring Brandi Carlile
Nell Minow
The documentary s skillful use of archival footage connects us to Tucker s extraordinary talent as a singer and her vibrance and magnetism as a performer
3.5
47 Meters Down
Lauren Terry
Those seeking the heart pumping adrenaline of a summer shark flick won t be disappointed
2
47 Meters Down
Dave McGinn
Even at 89 minutes you can feel the oxygen running out of this movie
1.5
47 Meters Down
Jeff Simon
This is as such things go a first rate summer scare throwaway You plunk down your money to get a few jolts to curl your toes during the suspense and laugh at the stupidity of the calamity procession the script gets away with
3.5
47 Meters Down
Bill Zwecker
While the plot is a bit shaky in parts the overall effect of creating needed tension and some outright out of your seat jumps of fright is quite effective
3
47 Meters Down
Peter Sobczynski
The screenplay by Johannes Roberts and Ernest Riera is a weirdly clunky work that never seems to know what it s doing
2
47 Meters Down
Derek Smith
Like Lisa and Kate s pendular swings between hope and despair Johannes Roberts s film can t help alternating between the genuinely terrifying and the just plain dumb
1.5
The Quick and the Dead
Janet Maslin
Mr Raimi is limited by a sketch mentality which means his jokes tend to be over long before his films end But his tastes for visual mischief and crazy ill advised homage can still make for sly sporadic fun
3
The Grey
Betsy Sherman
Both visceral and thoughtful
3
The Grey
Jason Buchanan
Carnahan s gripping yet grim thriller is either a masterpiece of reflective cinema or a bleak inexcusably nihilistic bid to transcend movie tropes by alienating the audience
3
The Grey
Brandy McDonnell
It s too bleak and talky to qualify as a guilty pleasure action horror flick but it relies too much on stock characters laughably fake computer generated wolves and gruesome death scenes to be taken seriously as a meaningful existential drama
1.5
The Grey
Jesse Cataldo
Joe Carnahan s film largely works building toward a great ending which functions as one of the best truest action climaxes in recent memory
3
Queen of Katwe
Allyson Johnson
It s a quiet and sturdy installment to Nair s impressive filmography and an under the radar delight for 2016
3
Queen of Katwe
Kathleen Rizzo Young
Fiercely protective and suspicious of her daughter s new pastime Nyong o s wonderfully expressive face reflects her entire life story Her scenes with Oyelowo are an acting master class
3
Queen of Katwe
Loey Lockerby
Chess isn t the most cinematic of pastimes yet Nair finds ways to make each match as exciting as any soccer or basketball game
3
Queen of Katwe
Calum Marsh
To find where you belong sometimes you must make your move is the Disney approved no doubt focus tested tagline that bubbles up in block letters during the trailer That s how groan inducingly broad this stuff is
1.5
Queen of Katwe
Matt Brennan
It s a mere fulfillment of familiar tropes but it approaches sports movie s conventions with a light funk inflected touch
3
Queen of Katwe
Lauren Chval
A sweet film that sticks to a tried and true formula and still manages to inspire
3
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Dave Kehr
More than a technological wonder Who Framed Roger Rabbit is brilliantly funny bracingly smart and surprisingly moving
4
Giving Voice
Nell Minow
Fittingly the highlight of the movie is Wilson himself seen in archival footage an interview and a graduation speech
3
The Horse Whisperer
Robert Roten
This is a beautiful movie but not for those in a hurry
3
The Horse Whisperer
Ted Prigge
By the way it s shot and directed it s easy to see how people can spend their entire lives in the country
3.5
The Purge: Anarchy
Bruce Ingram
Government sanctioned mayhem continues unabated in the follow up to last year s surprise hit The Purge but the wickedly satiric sense of humor that made the original worth watching is nowhere to be found
2
The Purge: Anarchy
Jason Buchanan
Not grimy enough to qualify as neo grindhouse and not smart enough to be effective social satire
2
The Purge: Anarchy
Loren King
The film wants to have it both ways It mixes sanctimonious commentary about violence and socioeconomic claptrap with grand depictions of violent assaults and terror on cue
2
The Purge: Anarchy
Brad Keefe
Moves from the Panic Room style plot of the first film to a more action oriented pseudo Escape from New York vibe And it works
2.5
The Purge: Anarchy
Sue Pierman
Ultimately the movie begins to fall apart as clichs and contrivances start piling up faster than the bodies
2.5
The Purge: Anarchy
Kevin C. Johnson
The Purge Anarchy is a dirtied up breath of fresh air an old school exploitation movie that does what it sets out to do
2.5
Stalker
Michael Scheinfeld
It has enough hauntingly beautiful images and profound ideas to linger in one s mind
3.5
Don't Breathe
David Gonzalez
Dont Breathe is the ideal title for this film as not only its characters but the audience spends a part of the film holding their own breath rooting against the blind man and hoping the protagonists are able to escape
3.5
Don't Breathe
Sebastian Zavala Kahn
An atmospheric claustrophobic and undeniably intense horror thriller Full review in Spanish
3.5
Don't Breathe
John Hanlon
An intensely satisfying thriller packed with undeniable tension and shocking surprises
3.5
Don't Breathe
Calum Marsh
Our heroes are compelled to spend so much time skulking around the house quietly that whenever one of them do make a noise often stupidly the entire audience groans in unison as if they re blurting out Hey blind man I m over here
2
Don't Breathe
Stephen Rebello
It s a sharp and savvy thriller for an age in which more than half of Americans seem to feel less secure than ever a fear that politicians tend to stoke despite violent crime and violence being down significantly since the 90s
3
Don't Breathe
Pat Padua
Alvarez who directed the 2010 remake of Sam Raimi s The Evil Dead effectively sets up a brutal cat and mouse game the problem is that sometimes you don t know who to root for
2.5
Killing the Shepherd
Blake Howard
The summation of Killing the Shepherd is one of hope and caution Change on the global scale begins and ends in first nation community empowerment Hope is not a strategy but it s the fire fuelling those passionate for a better future
2.5
The Girl Without Hands
Derek Smith
The film creates a deeply rooted sense of realism that contrasts the austere surreal illustrations
3.5
Columbus
Christopher Schobert
Columbus is the debut from Kogonda and it marks him as a filmmaker to watch closely
4
Columbus
Miriam Di Nunzio
Rarely will images of mighty concrete and stone dwellings set against tranquil waters or a gentle spring shower resonate so powerfully as those on display every day in the southern Indiana city of Columbus captured so breathtakingly in the film
3.5
Columbus
Oliver Jones
As much as it is about architecture the film is also a love letter to movies themselves the sense of majesty they can capture and the strange little worlds they allow us to discover
3.5
The Evening Hour
Mark Hanson
In spite of its strikingly lived in sense of place The Evening Hour s melodramatic storytelling works against that verisimilitude
1.5
How to Marry a Millionaire
Betsy Bozdech
Though the plot of Millionaire is a little thin the cast makes it worth watching
3
Warchild
Tamara Straus
Warchild the second feature of German director Christian Wagner s Balkan Blues Trilogy is one of those rare war films like Apocalypse Now and Hiroshima Mon Amour that makes brilliant use of symbolism
3
9500 Liberty
Chris Faraone
Notwithstanding that it s an anti hate advocacy piece this YouTube spawned documentary gives plenty of voice to the depraved foot soldiers and their opportunistic enablers It just so happens that they look like race baiting rednecks
3.5
9500 Liberty
Marjorie Baumgarten
What this film has in urgency and timeliness makes it a unique witness to our times
3
Beloved
Eleanor O'Sullivan
Demme is the right choice to direct Toni Morrison s Pulitzer Prize winning novel He brings to the movie his humanism his fascination with nature and the inexplicable and his respect for actors As Sethe Winfrey has rare grace and strength
3.5
Beloved
Bob Ross
There s excitement here particularly for admirers of the world s most successful talk show host who makes a triumphant big screen return in a vehicle that would overpower a performer with less gumption
2.5
Beloved
Judith Egerton
Winfrey s performance in the Jonathan Demme directed movie resounds with emotional honesty moving one to understand the depth of Sethe s lost self
4
Beloved
Joe Holleman
Beloved is a good movie With a tighter ending a shorter running time and fewer special effects it could have been a great one
3
Beloved
Dave Kehr
Commendably serious and uncompromising
3
Beloved
Marshall Fine
Winfrey gives a compelling performance one endowed with total commitment to this role minus any trace of vanity
3.5
Beloved
Malcolm Johnson
A masterly if unsettling vision of the mid 19th century
4
Beloved
Bill DuPre
Jonathan Demme s ambitious disturbing screen treatment of Toni Morrison s Pulitzer Prize winning novel Beloved wraps the viewer in a beautiful and terrible crazy quilt
4
Beloved
Jeremiah Kipp
Filled with some of the most extraordinary images of recent years Beloved was apparently too powerful for audiences to handle back in 1998
4
Beloved
James Sanford
An intense often impressionistic picture about the price of freedom Beloved represents a personal triumph for Winfrey
3.5
Beloved
Steven Rosen
There are many strengths including the cinematography sound design and a hauntingly allusive score
3
Beloved
Chris Vognar
This is a history making piece of work in ways that will take some time to comprehend Not coincidentally it s also an outstanding movie
4
Spider-Man 2
Leah Rozen
For summer popcorn fun this movie has it all special effects romance action and humor
3.5
Spider-Man 2
Russ Breimeier
Hands down the best comic book franchise on film
4
Spider-Man 2
Michael Szymanski
If you even remotely enjoyed the first Spider Man you ll certainly love the second
4
Spider-Man 2
Forrest Hartman
An apt yet unoriginal sequel
3.5
Spider-Man 2
Jeff Simon
The digital special effects especially those glorious block long Tarzan style web swings up and down the city boulevards are exhilarating and wonderful to watch even better than they were the first time around
3.5
Spider-Man 2
James O'Ehley
A blockbuster with humanity
3
Spider-Man 2
James Verniere
Raimi s strengths are his keen visual imagination and his flair for slapstick comedy
3
Spider-Man 2
Michael Sragow
Raimi s control of the material is rare for directors of any movie of this scale
4
Spider-Man 2
Tyler Hanley
Spider Man 2 swings alone atop the growing library of superhero cinema This is the most honest and entertaining comic book film ever made
4
Spider-Man 2
Jonathan R. Perry
Not a perfect film or an indelible moment in American cinema just one enormously entertaining night at the movies
3.5
Spider-Man 2
Tony Toscano
worthy of the title Blockbuster
3.5
Spider-Man 2
Kim Morgan
Takes us into a comic book universe with depth humor and reverence without ever losing its humanity
3.5
Spider-Man 2
Kit Bowen
Spidey and gang are back in Spider Man 2 perhaps in need of some therapy but ultimately bigger and better than ever
3.5
Spider-Man 2
Judith Egerton
Maguire doesn t overplay Parker s meekness or Spider Man s cleverness he s just right
4
Spider-Man 2
Vince Koehler
Your friendly neighborhood Spider Man is back burning up the big screen with the best super hero movie I have seen so far
3.5
Spider-Man 2
Aaron Hillis
smarter hipper faster funnier and flat out more electrifying than the original swinging to new summer movie heights as the greatest comic book adaptation yet made
4
Spider-Man 2
Austin O'Connor
Might just be the most perfect summer popcorn flick since Raiders of the Lost Ark
4
Spider-Man 2
Steven Snyder
He could be any of us exposed overcoming our fears and coming to grips with our destiny He reminds us of why we were ever excited by superheroes in the first place
4
Spider-Man 2
Bruce Newman
The first big fight scene looks so realistic that it s hard to believe the whole thing was shot in a computer
3
Spider-Man 2
Mark Caro
Until it develops a bad case of verbosity toward the end it improves upon its predecessor in almost every way delivering flashier thrills while digging deeper into its characters and adding an overlay of wit
3.5
Forgotten
Mark Jenkins
Despite numerous missteps and contrivances Olvidados succeeds as an indictment of Operation Condor s horrors
2
Rush Hour
CSM Staff
The fast talking Tucker and quick kicking Chan are a surprisingly good team that manages to deliver a stylish and fun combination of highly choreographed action and comedy
3
Rush Hour
Bob Graham
Rush Hour is a righteous title for an action comedy and that s only the beginning
3
Rush Hour
Elias Savada
Rush out and catch Rush Hour
3
Sink or Swim
Fred Camper
Friedrich has raised those flailings to the level of art and in so doing has expressed both their regressive terror and their forward progress
3
Jacqueline Argentine
Scott Renshaw
Almost profound in its rambling search for a point
3.5
Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself
David Wiegand
Well researched and detailed documentary
3
Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself
Joseph Jon Lanthier
The doc s looseness adequately portrays George Plimpton as an inwardly conflicted figure but it fails to make much of a case for the man s legacy outside of The Paris Review s still noticeable brand
2
Senna
Burl Burlingame
While this documentary is unreeling we re definitely along for the ride But there s no aftertaste except for that of burnt metal
2.5
Senna
Chris Foran
Uses an astonishing wealth of racing and interview footage including film shot by in car cameras during races to chart in a compelling way the dramatic rise and heart rending end of the Brazilian legend
3
Scotland, Pa.
Steven Rosen
There are some truly wacky parallels with Shakespeare s play
3
Scotland, Pa.
James Hebert
Underachieves only in not taking the Shakespeare parallels quite far enough
3
Scotland, Pa.
Sue Pierman
The combined talents of cast and crew create a new take on an enduring drama that pairs nicely with a side order of kitsch
3
Scotland, Pa.
Emily Blunt
Wonderful
3.5
Scotland, Pa.
Jim Lane
a gleefully grungy hilariously wicked black comedy
4
Scotland, Pa.
Misha Berson
while certainly clever in spots this too long spoofy update of Shakespeare s Macbeth doesn t sustain a high enough level of invention
2.5
Scotland, Pa.
Jay Carr
Scotland PA blurs the line between black comedy and black hole
1.5
Scotland, Pa.
Rod Armstrong
Morrissette s script and direction show a fair amount of intelligence and wit but it doesn t signify a whole lot either
2.5
Mandy
Alan French
With Cage in the lead role the glorified grindhouse flick is sure to catch the attention of niche audiences
3
Gaga: Five Foot Two
Peter Sobczynski
Manages to create a sense of intimacy and revelation even as we sense that there is really no such thing as an unguarded moment for Lady Gaga
3
No Way Out
Richard Freedman
The summer s best movie is No Way Out a complex rip roaring suspense tale with a difference It s about believable people caught in a real jam
4
No Way Out
Dave Kehr
No Way Out emerges paradoxically as a film that is better than it has to be and not as good as it ought to be but there is skill here as well as an admirable willingness to try something new
3
Oh Lucy!
Wade Major
sensitive penetrating and frequently unsettling study of one woman s battle with regret
3
Oh Lucy!
Maren Longbella
Equal parts funny and tragic It sticks with you long after you ve seen it
2.5
Oh Lucy!
Kristen Page-Kirby
Although Lucy is on a journey of self discovery she often hurts others in her quest for herself That makes Hirayanagi s take on the later in life coming of age story more honest than most
3
Oh Lucy!
Peter Goldberg
Atsuko Hirayanagi s feature length directorial debut Oh Lucy offers a surprising take on the tricky art of communication
2.5
Haven
Thomas Delapa
An extraordinary directorial debut that just may knock your socks off or at least your flip flops Though Flowers may be accused of sensationalizing his subject there s no denying his stunning cinematic flourishes
3
Haven
Ted Fry
An ineffective experiment about ugly things happening in a beautiful place
1.5
Haven
Peter Debruge
Flowers style suffers from attention deficit disorder leaving just enough vital information for you to follow the convoluted plot But just when one story gets rolling he s off and chasing another
1.5
Haven
Betsy Bozdech
Orlando Bloom swaps swashbuckling swords and Elvish arrows for crimes of island passion in this murky confusing thriller
1
