1 a series of escapades demonstrating the adage that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander some of which occasionally amuses but none of which amounts to much of a story
4 this quiet introspective and entertaining independent is worth seeking
1 even fans of ismail merchants work i suspect would have a hard time sitting through this one
3 a positively thrilling combination of ethnography and all the intrigue betrayal deceit and murder of a shakespearean tragedy or a juicy soap opera
1 aggressive selfglorification and a manipulative whitewash
4 a comedydrama of nearly epic proportions rooted in a sincere performance by the title character undergoing midlife crisis
1 narratively trouble every day is a plodding mess
3 the importance of being earnest so thick with wit it plays like a reading from bartletts familiar quotations
1 but it does nt leave you with much
1 you could hate it for the same reason
1 theres little to recommend snow dogs unless one considers cliched dialogue and perverse escapism a source of high hilarity
1 kung pow is oedekerks realization of his childhood dream to be in a martialarts flick and proves that sometimes the dreams of youth should remain just that
4 the performances are an absolute joy
3 fresnadillo has something serious to say about the ways in which extravagant chance can distort our perspective and throw us off the path of good sense
3 i still like moonlight mile better judgment be damned
3 a welcome relief from baseball movies that try too hard to be mythic this one is a sweet and modest and ultimately winning story
3 a bilingual charmer just like the woman who inspired it
2 like a less dizzily gorgeous companion to mr wongs in the mood for love very much a hong kong movie despite its mainland setting
1 as inept as bigscreen remakes of the avengers and the wild wild west
2 its everything youd expect but nothing more
4 best indie of the year so far
3 hatfield and hicks make the oddest of couples and in this sense the movie becomes a study of the gambles of the publishing world offering a case study that exists apart from all the movies political ramifications
1 its like going to a house party and watching the host defend himself against a frothing exgirlfriend
2 that the chuck norris grenade gag occurs about 7 times during windtalkers is a good indication of how seriousminded the film is
2 the plot is romantic comedy boilerplate from start to finish
2 it arrives with an impeccable pedigree mongrel pep and almost indecipherable plot complications
2 a film that clearly means to preach exclusively to the converted
1 while the importance of being earnest offers opportunities for occasional smiles and chuckles it does nt give us a reason to be in the theater beyond wildes wit and the actors performances
1 the latest vapid actors exercise to appropriate the structure of arthur schnitzlers reigen
2 more vaudeville show than wellconstructed narrative but on those terms its inoffensive and actually rather sweet
2 nothing more than a runofthemill action flick
0 hampered no paralyzed by a selfindulgent script that aims for poetry and ends up sounding like satire
2 ice age is the first computergenerated feature cartoon to feel like other movies and that makes for some glacial pacing early on
2 theres very little sense to whats going on here but the makers serve up the cliches with considerable dash
2 cattaneo should have followed the runaway success of his first film the full monty with something different
1 theyre the unnamed easily substitutable forces that serve as whatever terror the heroes of horror movies try to avoid
1 it almost feels as if the movie is more interested in entertaining itself than in amusing us
0 the movies progression into rambling incoherence gives new meaning to the phrase fatal script error
3 do nt judge this one too soon its a dark gritty story but it takes off in totally unexpected directions and keeps on going
3 so could young romantics out on a date
0 tartakovskys team has some freakish powers of visual charm but the five writers slip into the modern rut of narrative banality
3 vincent gallo is right at home in this french shocker playing his usual bad boy weirdo role
4 if a horror movies primary goal is to frighten and disturb then they works spectacularly well a shiverinducing nerverattling ride
1 this 100minute movie only has about 25 minutes of decent material
2 fortunately you still have that option
3 less the sensational truecrime helljaunt purists might like and more experimental in its storytelling lrb though no less horrifying for it rrb
3 as tricky and satisfying as any of david mamets airless cinematic shell games
1 im sure the filmmaker would disagree but honestly i do nt see the point
4 jones has tackled a meaty subject and drawn engaging characters while peppering the pages with memorable zingers
4 bloody sunday has the grace to call for prevention rather than to place blame making it one of the best war movies ever made
1 takes a clunky tvmovie approach to detailing a chapter in the life of the celebrated irish playwright poet and drinker
2 finally coming down off of miramaxs deep shelves after a couple of aborted attempts waking up in reno makes a strong case for letting sleeping dogs lie
0 thanks largely to williams all the interesting developments are processed in 60 minutes the rest is just an overexposed waste of film
0 comes across as a relic from a bygone era and its convolutions feel silly rather than plausible
4 perhaps its cliche to call the film refreshing but it is
4 both lead performances are oscarsize
0 run for your lives
3 mark pellingtons latest pop thriller is as kooky and overeager as it is spooky and subtly in love with myth
3 claude chabrols camera has a way of gently swaying back and forth as it cradles its characters veiling tension beneath otherwise tender movements
3 transforms one of lrb shakespeares rrb deepest tragedies into a smart new comedy
1 the screenplay by james eric james horton and director peter ofallon is so pat it makes your teeth hurt
3 but arriving at a particularly dark moment in history it offers flickering reminders of the ties that bind us
1 its generic villains lack any intrigue lrb other than their funny accents rrb and the action scenes are poorly delivered
3 the characters are more deeply thought through than in most rightthinking films
3 the film despite the gratuitous cinematic distractions impressed upon it is still good fun
0 downright transparent is the scripts endless assault of embarrassingly hamfisted sex jokes that reek of a script rewrite designed to garner the film a cooler pg13 rating
4 a smart provocative drama that does the nearly impossible it gets under the skin of a man we only know as an evil monstrous lunatic
1 its like a driveby
3 is many things stoner midnight flick scifi deconstruction gay fantasia but above all its a love story as sanguine as its title
3 a very funny romantic comedy about two skittish new york middleagers who stumble into a relationship and then struggle furiously with their fears and foibles
1 but it has an ambition to say something about its subjects but not a willingness
3 lrb scherfig rrb has made a movie that will leave you wondering about the characters lives after the clever credits roll
3 lrb an rrb absorbing documentary
2 reeks of rot and hack work from start to finish
1 plays like a series of vignettes clips of a film that are still looking for a common throughline
1
1 the major problem with windtalkers is that the bulk of the movie centers on the wrong character
2 swimfan like fatal attraction eventually goes overboard with a loony melodramatic denouement in which a high school swimming pool substitutes for a bathtub
1 this is a heartfelt story it just is nt a very involving one
4 an unsettling memorable cinematic experience that does its predecessors proud
3 all in all its a pretty good execution of a story thats a lot richer than the ones hollywood action screenwriters usually come up with on their own
3 phillip noyce and all of his actors as well as his cinematographer christopher doyle understand the delicate forcefulness of greenes prose and its there on the screen in their version of the quiet american
2 the pianist lacks the quick emotional connections of steven spielbergs schindlers list
3 inventive fun intoxicatingly sexy violent selfindulgent and maddening
4 tells a fascinating compelling story
1 written flatly by david kendall and directed barely by theres something about mary cowriter ed decter
4 highly recommended viewing for its courage ideas technical proficiency and great acting
4 in imax in short its just as wonderful on the big screen
3 it shows us a slice of life thats very different from our own and yet instantly recognizable
1 amid the shock and curiosity factors the film is just a corny examination of a young actress trying to find her way
2 its lazy for a movie to avoid solving one problem by trying to distract us with the solution to another
3 its as comprehensible as any dummies guide something even nontechies can enjoy
1 entertains not so much because of its music or comic antics but through the perverse pleasure of watching disney scrape the bottom of its own cracker barrel
3 writerdirector burr steers emphasizes the q in quirky with mixed results
0 scarcely worth a mention apart from reporting on the number of tumbleweeds blowing through the empty theatres graced with its company
4 invigorating surreal and resonant with a rainbow of emotion
0 analyze that is one of those crass contrived sequels that not only fails on its own but makes you secondguess your affection for the original
1 report card does nt live up to the exalted tagline theres definite room for improvement
2 its not a particularly good film but neither is it a monsterous one
2 tsai may be ploughing the same furrow once too often
1 lrb green is rrb the comedy equivalent of saddam hussein and im just about ready to go to the un and ask permission for a preemptive strike
3 a surprisingly solid achievement by director malcolm d lee and writer john ridley
2 massouds story is an epic but also a tragedy the record of a tenacious humane fighter who was also the prisoner lrb and ultimately the victim rrb of history
3 changing lanes tries for more
1 shyamalan should stop trying to please his mom
3 a macabre and very stylized swedish fillm about a modern city where all the religious and civic virtues that hold society in place are in tatters
4 one of recent memorys most thoughtful films about art ethics and the cost of moral compromise
2 the narrative is so consistently unimaginative that probably the only way to have saved the film is with the aid of those wisecracking mystery science theater 3000 guys
4 filmmaker tian zhuangzhuang triumphantly returns to narrative filmmaking with a visually masterful work of quiet power
1 a mawkish selfparody that plays like some weird masterpiece theater sketch with neither a point of view nor a compelling reason for being
2 takes one character we do nt like and another we do nt believe and puts them into a battle of wills that is impossible to care about and is nt very funny
1 and if you appreciate the onesided theme to lawrences overindulgent tirade then knock yourself out and enjoy the big screen postcard that is a selfglorified martin lawrence lovefest
0 the whole film has this sneaky feel to it as if the director is trying to dupe the viewer into taking it all as very important simply because the movie is ugly to look at and not a hollywood product
3 whenever it threatens to get bogged down in earnest dramaturgy a stirring visual sequence like a surge through swirling rapids or a leap from pinnacle to pinnacle rouses us
1 swinging the film makes it seem is not a hobby that attracts the young and fit
2 but when it does youre entirely unprepared
3 devos delivers a perfect performance that captures the innocence and budding demons within a wallflower
4 300 years of russian history and culture compressed into an evanescent seamless and sumptuous stream of consciousness
3 the filmmakers want nothing else than to show us a good time and in their cheap b movie way they succeed
3 mr polanski is in his element here alone abandoned but still consoled by his art which is more than he has ever revealed before about the source of his spiritual survival
4 spiderman is better than any summer blockbuster we had to endure last summer and hopefully sets the tone for a summer of good stuff
2 absorbing character
1 violent vulgar and forgettably entertaining
2 its the unsettling images of a warravaged land that prove more potent and riveting than the unlikely story of sarah and harrison
3 winds up being both revelatory and narcissistic achieving some honest insight into relationships that most highconcept films candycoat with pat storylines precious circumstances and beautiful stars
3 if mostly martha is mostly unsurprising its still a sweet even delectable diversion
4 a thoughtful and surprisingly affecting portrait of a screwedup man who dared to mess with some powerful people seen through the eyes of the idealistic kid who chooses to champion his ultimately losing cause
3 keenly observed and refreshingly natural swimming gets the details right from its promenade of barely clad bodies in myrtle beach sc to the adrenaline jolt of a sudden lunch rush at the diner
2 a brilliant gag at the expense of those who paid for it and those who pay to see it
4 a triumph a film that hews out a world and carries us effortlessly from darkness to light
1 just about everyone involved here seems to be coasting
3 a fascinating dark thriller that keeps you hooked on the delicious pulpiness of its lurid fiction
1 i suspect this is the kind of production that would have been funnier if the director had released the outtakes theatrically and used the film as a bonus feature on the dvd
1 its hard to say who might enjoy this are there tolstoy groupies out there
1 daughter from danang reveals that efforts toward closure only open new wounds
4 one of the years most weirdly engaging and unpredictable character pieces
4 intriguing and downright intoxicating
1 although fairly involving as far as it goes the film does nt end up having much that is fresh to say about growing up catholic or really anything
0 the movie is silly beyond comprehension and even if it were nt silly it would still be beyond comprehension
3 sleek and arty
0 poor editing bad bluescreen and ultracheesy dialogue highlight the radical action
3 lrb chos face is rrb an amazing slapstick instrument creating a scrapbook of living mug shots
1 it gets the details of its time frame right but it completely misses its emotions
2 initial strangeness inexorably gives way to rote sentimentality and mystical tenderness becomes narrative expedience
3 it lets you brush up against the humanity of a psycho without making him any less psycho
1 like the world of his film hartley created a monster but did nt know how to handle it
4 when cowering and begging at the feet a scruffy giannini madonna gives her best performance since abel ferrara had her beaten to a pulp in his dangerous game
1 too clumsy in key moments to make a big splash
2 because eight legged freaks is partly an homage to them tarantula and other low budget bmovie thrillers of the 1950s and60s the movie is a silly lrb but not sophomoric rrb romp through horror and hellish conditions
1 it feels like very light errol morris focusing on eccentricity but failing ultimately to make something bigger out of its scrapbook of oddballs
4 spielbergs realization of a nearfuture america is masterful
0 theres a scientific law to be discerned here that producers would be well to heed mediocre movies start to drag as soon as the action speeds up when the explosions start they fall to pieces
3 hes one of the few cool actors who never seems aware of his own coolness
1 feels like the work of an artist who is simply tired of fighting the same fights of putting the weight of the world on his shoulders of playing with narrative form
1 stale and uninspired
3 in the directors cut the film is not only a love song to the movies but it also is more fully an example of the kind of lush allenveloping movie experience it rhapsodizes
3 has the rare capability to soothe and break your heart with a single stroke
1 eerily accurate depiction of depression
1 as a featurelength film it wears out its welcome as tryingly as the title character
3 an uncluttered resonant gem that relays its universal points without lectures or confrontations
1 the story alone could force you to scratch a hole in your head
3 its the filmmakers postcamp comprehension of what made oldtime b movies goodbad that makes eight legged freaks a perfectly entertaining summer diversion
2 as any creaturefeature fan knows when you cross toxic chemicals with a bunch of exotic creatures you get a lot of running around screaming and death
2 you bet there is and its what makes this rather convoluted journey worth taking
3 before it takes a sudden turn and devolves into a bizarre sort of romantic comedy steven shainbergs adaptation of mary gaitskills harrowing short story is a brilliantly played deeply unsettling experience
1 kim kideok seems to have in mind an lrb emotionally at least rrb adolescent audience demanding regular shocks and bouts of barely defensible sexual violence to keep it interested
0 has no reason to exist other than to employ hollywood kids and people who owe favors to their famous parents
2 a wellmade but emotionally scattered film whose hero gives his heart only to the dog
2 those who love cinema paradiso will find the new scenes interesting but few will find the movie improved
3 campanella gets the tone just right funny in the middle of sad in the middle of hopeful
0 nothing more than an amiable but unfocused bagatelle that plays like a looselyconnected string of actingworkshop exercises
3 its a sharp movie about otherwise dull subjects
2 wallace gets a bit heavy handed with his message at times and has a visual flair that waxes poetic far too much for our taste
2 charming and funny lrb but ultimately silly rrb movie
2 the one thing this wild film has that other imax films do nt chimps lots of chimps all blown up to the size of a house
0 starts out mediocre spirals downward and thuds to the bottom of the pool with an utterly incompetent conclusion
3 this is a childrens film in the truest sense
0 horrendously amateurish filmmaking that is plainly dull and visually ugly when it is nt incomprehensible
4 beautifully crafted engaging filmmaking that should attract upscale audiences hungry for quality and a nostalgic twisty yarn that will keep them guessing
1 an awkwardly contrived exercise in magic realism
1 the punch lines that miss unfortunately outnumber the hits by threetoone
3 like smoke signals the film is also imbued with strong themes of familial ties and spirituality that are powerful and moving without stooping to base melodrama
3 evokes the style and flash of the doublecross that made mamets house of games and last falls heist so much fun
3 the film aims to be funny uplifting and moving sometimes all at once
2 at a brief 42 minutes we need more x and less blab
2 the spalding gray equivalent of a teen grossout comedy
1 theres a great deal of corny dialogue and preposterous moments
3 uneven but a lot of fun
2 the result might look like vulgar
0 the film rehashes several old themes and is capped with pointless extremes its insanely violent and very graphic
3 the dragons are the real stars of reign of fire and you wo nt be disappointed
1 it never plays as dramatic even when dramatic things happen to people
3 manages to please its intended audience children without placing their parents in a comalike state
1 the movie generates plot points with a degree of randomness usually achieved only by lottery drawing
2 though the film never veers from its comic course its unintentional parallels might inadvertently evoke memories and emotions which are anything but humorous
1 the film can depress you about life itself
1 if you saw it on tv youd probably turn it off convinced that you had already seen that movie
1 you get the impression that writer and director burr steers knows the territory but his sense of humor has yet to lose the smug selfsatisfaction usually associated with the better private schools
4 this is a superior horror flick
2 the movies heavyhanded screenplay navigates a fast fade into pomposity and pretentiousness
1 a little weak and it is nt that funny
1 but they do nt fit well together and neither is well told
2 being latently gay and liking to read are hardly enough
3 more sophisticated and literate than such pictures usually are an amusing little catch
1 storytelling feels slight
4 monte cristo smartly emphasizes the wellwrought story and omits needless chase scenes and swordfights as the revenge unfolds
4 its a fairy tale that comes from a renowned indian film culture that allows americans to finally revel in its splendor
3 welldone supernatural thriller with keen insights into parapsychological phenomena and the soulful nuances of the grieving process
2 only bond can save us from the latest eccentric superwealthy megalomaniac bent on world domination and destruction
0 it is depressing ruthlessly pained and depraved the movie equivalent of staring into an open wound
3 damon brings the proper conviction to his role as lrb jason bourne rrb
1 parents beware this is downright movie penance
3 when its this rich and luscious who cares
1 a singularly offputting romantic comedy
2 director boris von sychowski instead opts for a routine slasher film that was probably more fun to make than it is to sit through
0 wouldve been nice if the screenwriters had trusted audiences to understand a complex story and left off the films predictable denouement
1 a superfluous sequel plagued by that old familiar feeling of lets get this thing over with everyone has shown up at the appointed time and place but visible enthusiasm is mighty hard to find
3 an earnest roughshod document it serves as a workable primer for the regions recent history and would make a terrific 10thgrade learning tool
1 cloaks a familiar antifeminist equation lrb career kids misery rrb in tiresome romanticcomedy duds
1 a film that plays things so nicen safe as to often play like a milquetoast movie of the week blown up for the big screen
3 his work transcends the boymeetsgirl posturing of typical love stories
1 an even more predictable clicheridden endeavor than its predecessor
0 plays like a bad blend of an overripe episode of tvs dawsons creek and a recycled and dumbeddown version of love story
1 the script covers huge heavy topics in a bland surfacey way that does nt offer any insight into why for instance good things happen to bad people
0 the film is so bad it does nt improve upon the experience of staring at a blank screen
1 they threw loads of money at an idea that shouldve been so much more even if it was only made for teenage boys and wrestling fans
0 its difficult to imagine that a more confused less interesting and more sloppily made film could possibly come down the road in 2002
3 though the film is wellintentioned one could rent the original and get the same love story and parable
2 jolting into charleston rhythms the story has the sizzle of old news that has finally found the right vent lrb accurate
2 or both
2 williams plays sy another of his openfaced smiling madmen like the killer in insomnia
1 phonedin business as usual
1 with its lackadaisical plotting and mindless action all about the benjamins evokes the bottom tier of blaxploitation flicks from the 1970s
0 ah yes that would be me fighting off the urge to doze
0 thoughtless random superficial humour and a lot of very bad scouse accents
3 in an era where big stars and high production values are standard procedure narc strikes a defiantly retro chord and outpaces its contemporaries with daring and verve
3 a riproaring comedy action fest thatll put hairs on your chest
4 a thoughtful whatif for the heart as well as the mind
4 miyazaki is one of world cinemas most wondrously gifted artists and storytellers
3 a chronicle not only of one mans quest to be president but of how that man singlehandedly turned a plane full of hardbitten cynical journalists into what was essentially by campaigns end an extended publicity department
4 provides the kind of laugh therapy i need from movie comedies offbeat humor amusing characters and a happy ending
0 feels strangely hollow at its emotional core
3 at a time when commercialism has squeezed the life out of whatever idealism american moviemaking ever had godfrey reggios career shines like a lonely beacon
2 director roger michell does so many of the little things right that its difficult not to cuss him out severely for bungling the big stuff
3 robert harmons lessismore approach delivers real bumpin thenight chills his greatest triumph is keeping the creepy crawlies hidden in the films thick shadows
4 this movie may not have the highest production values youve ever seen but its the work of an artist one whose view of america history and the awkwardness of human life is generous and deep
1 feral and uncomfortable
4 sillier cuter and shorter than the first lrb as best i remember rrb but still a very good time at the cinema
3 its more enjoyable than i expected though and thats because the laughs come from fairly basic comedic constructs
0 blackandwhite and unrealistic
3 the film is predictable in the reassuring manner of a beautifully sung holiday carol
0 the only camouflage carvey should now be considering is a paper bag to wear over his head when he goes out into public to avoid being recognized as the man who bilked unsuspecting moviegoers
3 not about scares but a mood in which an ominous pervasive and unknown threat lurks just below the proceedings and adds an almost constant mindset of suspense
1 some of the computer animation is handsome and various amusing sidekicks add muchneeded levity to the otherwise bleak tale but overall the film never rises above mediocrity
4 offers the flash of rock videos fused with solid performances and eerie atmosphere
3 a breezy blend of art history esoteric musings and philosophy
3 now as a former gong show addict ill admit it my only complaint is that we did nt get more recreations of all those famous moments from the show
3 genuinely unnerving
4 the increasingly diverse french director has created a film that one can honestly describe as looking sounding and simply feeling like no other film in recent history
3 one of those joyous films that leaps over national boundaries and celebrates universal human nature
2 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
1 halfway through the movie the humor dwindles
4 witty and often surprising a dark little morality tale disguised as a romantic comedy
1 one senses in world traveler and in his earlier film that freundlich bears a grievous but obscure complaint against fathers and circles it obsessively without making contact
3 in fact even better
2 a preachy parable stylized with a touch of john woo bullet ballet
2 proves that some movie formulas do nt need messing with like the bigbug movie
2 an uplifting largely bogus story
4 thanks to confident filmmaking and a pair of fascinating performances the way to that destination is a really special walk in the woods
4 superbly photographed and staged by mendes with a series of riveting set pieces the likes of which mainstream audiences have rarely seen
4 a mesmerizing cinematic poem from the first frame to the last
3 after the first 10 minutes which is worth seeing
1 it has become apparent that the franchises best years are long past
2 screenwriter chris ver weils directing debut is goodnatured and never dull but its virtues are small and easily overshadowed by its predictability
1 too much of storytelling moves away from solondzs social critique casting its audience as that of intellectual lector in contemplation of the auteurs professional injuries
1 ultimately sarahs dedication to finding her husband seems more psychotic than romantic and nothing in the movie makes a convincing case that one womans broken heart outweighs all the loss we witness
0 the jokes are flat and the action looks fake
2 a mildly enjoyable if toothless adaptation of a much better book
0 festers in just such a dungpile that youd swear you were watching monkeys flinging their feces at you
0 in addition to the overcooked hamfisted direction which has all the actors reaching for the back row the dialogue sounds like horrible poetry
0 a vile incoherent mess a scummy ripoff of david cronenbergs brilliant videodrome
1 first for a movie that tries to be smart its kinda dumb
2 i was sent a copyof this film to review on dvd
1 silly humbuggery
1 is nt as sharp as the original despite some visual virtues blade ii just does nt cut it
3 a smart arch and rather coldblooded comedy
0 lrb a rrb rather thinlyconceived movie
3 its flamelike roiling blackandwhite inspires trembling and gratitude
4 robinsons web of suspense matches the pageturning frenzy that clancy creates
3 a slight but sweet film
2 got a david lynch jones
2 earnest and tentative even when it aims to shock
1 time of favor could have given audiences the time of day by concentrating on the elements of a revealing alienation among a culture of people who sadly are at hostile odds with one another through recklessness and retaliation
4 austin powers in goldmember has the right stuff for silly summer entertainment and has enough laughs to sustain interest to the end
2 what puzzles me is the lack of emphasis on music in britney spears first movie
2 the filmmakers might want to look it up
4 while maintaining the appearance of clinical objectivity this sad occasionally horrifying but often inspiring film is among wisemans warmest
4 there is simply no doubt that this film asks the right questions at the right time in the history of our country
0 a dreary movie
1 sadly though many of the actors throw off a spark or two when they first appear they ca nt generate enough heat in this cold vacuum of a comedy to start a reaction
1 to the filmmakers ivan is a prince of a fellow but he comes across as shallow and glib though not meanspirited and theres no indication that hes been responsible for putting together any movies of particular value or merit
3 using a stock plot about a boy injects just enough freshness into the proceedings to provide an enjoyable 100 minutes in a movie theater
3 beating the austin powers films at their own game this blaxploitation spoof downplays the raunch in favor of gags that rely on the strength of their own cleverness as opposed to the extent of their outrageousness
3 what begins as a conventional thriller evolves into a gorgeously atmospheric meditation on lifechanging chance encounters
2 buy popcorn
2 a latenight cable sexploitation romp masquerading as a thriller about the ruthless social order that governs college cliques
1 a wellintentioned effort thats still too burdened by the actors offbeat sensibilities for the earnest emotional core to emerge with any degree of accessibility
2 lrb allens rrb been making piffle for a long while and hollywood ending may be his way of saying that piffle is all that the airhead movie business deserves from him right now
3 seeing as the film lacks momentum and its position remains mostly undeterminable the directors experiment is a successful one
4 judith and zazas extended bedroom sequence is so intimate and sensual and funny and psychologically selfrevealing that it makes most of what passes for sex in the movies look like cheap hysterics
1 uneven performances and a spotty script add up to a biting satire that has no teeth
0 irritating soulsearching garbage
3 a solid spooky entertainment worthy of the price of a ticket
2 ultimately clarity matters both in breaking codes and making movies
0 in comparison to his earlier films it seems a disappointingly thin slice of lowerclass london life despite the title amounts to surprisingly little
2 proves mainly that south korean filmmakers can make undemanding action movies with all the alacrity of their hollywood counterparts
4 except its much much better
4 it is a happy heady jumble of thought and storytelling an insane comic undertaking that ultimately coheres into a sane and breathtakingly creative film
2 there is more than one joke about putting the toilet seat down
2 has rrb
4 so original in its base concept that you can not help but get caught up
0 it appears to have been made by people to whom the idea of narrative logic or cohesion is an entirely foreign concept
2 if you ignore the cliches and concentrate on city by the seas interpersonal drama it ai nt halfbad
3 a dreadful day in irish history is given passionate if somewhat flawed treatment
4 see it
1 nothing but an episode of smackdown
2 a guilty pleasure at best and not worth seeing unless you want to laugh at it
1 perhaps a better celebration of these unfairly dismissed heroes would be a film that is nt this painfully forced false and fabricated
0 a relative letdown
2 hey arnold
3 but though he only scratches the surface at least he provides a strong itch to explore more
2 the band performances featured in drumline are red hot lrb but rrb from a mere story point of view the films ice cold
1 a nonmystery mystery
4 leigh is one of the rare directors who feels acting is the heart and soul of cinema
3 the cast delivers without sham the rawnerved story
1 this is a monumental achievement in practically every facet of inept filmmaking joyless idiotic annoying heavyhanded visually atrocious and often downright creepy
2 the filmmakers heart is in the right place
0 one of the most highlypraised disappointments ive had the misfortune to watch in quite some time
1 rocks standup magic wanes
1 roman polanski directs the pianist like a surgeon mends a broken heart very meticulously but without any passion
1 sadly garth has nt progressed as nicely as wayne
2 with wit and empathy to spare waydowntown acknowledges the silent screams of workaday inertia but stops short of indulging its characters striving solipsism
1 it labours as storytelling
1 remember back when thrillers actually thrilled
3 the otherwise goodnaturedness of mr deeds with its embrace of sheer goofiness and cameos of less thanlikely new york celebrities certainly raises the film above anything sandlers been attached to before
1 fails so fundamentally on every conventional level that it achieves some kind of goofy grandeur
2 a hohum affair always watchable yet hardly memorable
1 i just saw this movie well its probably not accurate to call it a movie
2 though uniformly well acted especially by young ballesta and galan lrb a firsttime actor rrb writerdirector achero manass film is schematic and obvious
2 when you resurrect a dead man hard copy should come aknocking no
2 if the idea of the white man arriving on foreign shores to show wary natives the true light is abhorrent to you the simplistic heaven will quite likely be more like hell
2 its hard to believe that a relationship like holly and marinas could survive the hothouse emotions of teendom and its longevity gets more inexplicable as the characterizations turn more crassly reductive
2 for a movie audience the hours does nt connect in a neat way but introduces characters who illuminate mysteries of sex duty and love
1 purports to be a hollywood satire but winds up as the kind of film that should be the target of something deeper and more engaging
3 too clever by about ninetenths
1 this is no waterboy
2 theyre going through the motions but the zip is gone
2 the scripts snazzy dialogue establishes a realistic atmosphere that involves us in the unfolding crisis but the lazy plotting ensures that little of our emotional investment pays off
2 not as good as the original but what is
4 those moviegoers who would automatically bypass a hiphop documentary should give scratch a second look
3 bigelow offers some flashy twists and turns that occasionally fortify this turgid fable
1 an unsophisticated scifi drama that takes itself all too seriously
0 stupid infantile redundant sloppy overthetop and amateurish
2 resident evil is what comes from taking john carpenters ghosts of mars and eliminating the beheadings
0 the movie resolutely avoids all the comic possibilities of its situation and becomes one more dumb high school comedy about sex gags and prom dates
4 with or without the sex a wonderful tale of love and destiny told well by a master storyteller
3 though it goes further than both anyone who has seen the hunger or cat people will find little new here but a tasty performance from vincent gallo lifts this tale of cannibal lust above the ordinary
3 a terrific date movie whatever your orientation
0 once the expectation of laughter has been quashed by whatever obscenity is at hand even the funniest idea is nt funny
1 how do you make a movie with depth about a man who lacked any
1 translation we do nt need to try very hard
4 frailty offers chills much like those that you get when sitting around a campfire around midnight telling creepy stories to give each other the willies
2 less frontloaded and more shapely than the twohour version released here in 1990
4 an ambitious movie that like shiners organizing of the big fight pulls off enough of its effects to make up for the ones that do nt come off
4 some movies suck you in despite their flaws and heaven is one such beast
4 very well written and directed with brutal honesty and respect for its audience
4 twenty years after its first release et remains the most wondrous of all hollywood fantasies and the apex of steven spielbergs misunderstood career
1 gooding offers a desperately ingratiating performance
1 stumbles over every cheap trick in the book trying to make the outrage come even easier
3 nicely combines the enigmatic features of memento with the hallucinatory drug culture of requiem for a dream
4 every individual will see the movie through the prism of his or her own beliefs and prejudices but the one thing most will take away is the sense that peace is possible
0 just a bunch of good actors flailing around in a caper thats neither original nor terribly funny
0 this illconceived and expensive project winds up looking like a bunch of talented thesps slumming it
1 broders screenplay is shallow offensive and redundant with pitifully few real laughs
4 leguizamo and jones are both excellent and the rest of the cast is uniformly superb
1 trying to figure out the rules of the country bear universe when are bears bears and when are they like humans only hairier would tax einsteins brain
2 feardotcom has the makings of an interesting meditation on the ethereal nature of the internet and the otherworldly energies it could channel but it simply becomes a routine shocker
4 delia greta and paula rank as three of the most multilayered and sympathetic female characters of the year
3 the beauty of alexander paynes ode to the everyman is in the details
1 the town has kind of an authentic feel but each one of these people stand out and everybody else is in the background and it just seems manufactured to me and artificial
1 julie davis is the kathie lee gifford of film directors sadly proving once again ego does nt always go hand in hand with talent
3 much credit must be given to the watercamera operating team of don king sonny miller and michael stewart
2 in this film aussie david caesar channels the notquitedead career of guy ritchie
4 as averse as i usually am to feelgood followyourdream hollywood fantasies this one got to me
3 maybe it is formula filmmaking but theres nothing wrong with that if the film is wellcrafted and this one is
2 would you laugh if a tubaplaying dwarf rolled down a hill in a trash can
0 loses its sense of humor in a vat of failed jokes twitchy acting and general boorishness
1 this mistyeyed southern nostalgia piece in treading the line between sappy and sanguine winds up mired in teardrenched quicksand
1 to be oblivious to the existence of this film would be very sweet indeed
3 despite its flaws belinsky is still able to create an engaging story that keeps you guessing at almost every turn
2 a porn film without the sex scenes
2 the movie plays up the cartoons more obvious strength of snazziness while neglecting its less conspicuous writing strength
3 notwithstanding my problem with the movies final half hour im going to recommend secretary based on the wonderful acting clinic put on by spader and gyllenhaal and also the unique way shainberg goes about telling what at heart is a sweet little girl
1 despite slick production values and director roger michells ticktock pacing the final effect is like having two guys yelling in your face for two hours
3 barbershop is a goodhearted ensemble comedy with a variety of quirky characters and an engaging story
1 a soulless jumble of ineptly assembled cliches and pabulum that plays like a 95minute commercial for nba properties
2 an ambitious serious film that manages to do virtually everything wrong sitting through it is something akin to an act of cinematic penance
4 consistently clever and suspenseful
3 soderbergh skims the fat from the 1972 film
2 hilarious musical comedy though stymied by accents thick as mud
1 a movie like the guys is why film criticism can be considered work
0 anyone who suffers through this film deserves at the very least a big box of consolation candy
2 bearable
3 cremaster 3 is at once a tough pill to swallow and a minor miracle of selfexpression
3 but kouyate elicits strong performances from his cast and he delivers a powerful commentary on how governments lie no matter who runs them
3 see it for his performance if nothing else
4 the asylum material is gripping as are the scenes of jia with his family
4 i walked away from this new version of et just as i hoped i would with moist eyes
0 attal pushes too hard to make this a comedy or serious drama
1 plays like some corny television production from a bygone era
4 its a powerful though flawed movie guaranteed to put a lump in your throat while reaffirming washington as possibly the best actor working in movies today
1 solondz may well be the only one laughing at his own joke
1 heres a case of two actors who do everything humanly possible to create characters who are sweet and believable and are defeated by a screenplay that forces them into bizarre implausible behavior
3 any enjoyment will be hinge from a personal threshold of watching sad but endearing characters do extremely unconventional things
1 some body smacks of exhibitionism more than it does cathartic truth telling
3 though writerdirector bart freundlichs film ultimately becomes a simplistic story about a dysfunctional parentchild relationship it has some special qualities and the soulful gravity of crudups anchoring performance
0 lrb carveys rrb characters are both overplayed and exaggerated but then again subtlety has never been his trademark
4 this beautifully animated epic is never dull
3 charming and witty its also somewhat clumsy
1 in one scene we get a stab at soccer hooliganism a doublebarreled ripoff of quentin tarantinos climactic shootout and meat loaf explodes
0 frustratingly refuses to give pinochets crimes a political context
2 paul bettany playing malcolm mcdowell
2 a serviceable eurotrash action extravaganza with a decent sense of humor and plenty of things that go boom handguns bmws and seaside chateaus
2 veterans of the dating wars will smirk uneasily at the films nightmare versions of everyday sexinthecity misadventures
4 it sends you away a believer again and quite cheered at just that
1 the rollerball sequences feel sanitised and stagey
1 interview with the assassin is structured less as a documentary and more as a found relic and as such the film has a difficult time shaking its blair witch project realtime roots
4 it is most remarkable not because of its epic scope but because of the startling intimacy it achieves despite that breadth
1 a nearly 212 hours the film is way too indulgent
1 seems like something american and european gay movies were doing 20 years ago
1 claims to sort the bad guys from the good which is its essential problem
2 mana gives us compelling damaged characters who we want to help or hurt
1 goodlooking but relentlessly lowbrow outing plays like clueless does south fork
3 evokes a palpable sense of disconnection made all the more poignant by the incessant use of cell phones
3 the concept is a hoot
4 a straightshooting family film which awards animals the respect theyve rarely been given
2 the directive to protect the code at all costs also begins to blur as the importance of the man and the code merge
2 what eric schaeffer has accomplished with never again may not strictly speaking qualify as revolutionary
0 obvious obnoxious and didactic burlesque
2 what can one say about a balding 50yearold actor playing an innocent boy carved from a log
2 ca nt seem to get anywhere near the storys center
1 even with its 50million us budget pinocchio never quite achieves the feel of a fanciful motion picture
1 a little more intensity and a little less charm would have saved this film a world of hurt
1 like most of jagloms films some of it is honestly affecting but more of it seems contrived and secondhand
2 maelstrom is a deliberately unsteady mixture of stylistic elements
3 just bring on the battle bots please
3 sweet home alabama is nt going to win any academy awards but this datenight diversion will definitely win some hearts
1 love may have been in the air onscreen but i certainly was nt feeling any of it
1 too long and larded with exposition this somber cop drama ultimately feels as flat as the scruffy sands of its titular community
1 the young stars are too cute the story and ensuing complications are too manipulative the message is too blatant the resolutions are too convenient
2 in some ways lagaan is quintessential bollywood
1 a characteristically engorged and sloppy comingofage movie
4 a wry affectionate delight
3 credit director ramsay for taking the sometimes improbable story and making it feel realistic
3 the auteurs ear for the way fears and slights are telegraphed in the most blithe exchanges gives the film its lingering tug
3 gets better after foster leaves that little room
3 despite its lavish formalism and intellectual austerity the film manages to keep you at the edge of your seat with its shapeshifting perils political intrigue and brushes with calamity
1 friday after next is the kind of film that could only be made by africanamericans because of its broad racial insensitivity towards africanamericans
1 as lively an account as seinfeld is deadpan
2 brings awareness to an issue often overlooked womens depression
1 imagine a film that begins as a seven ripoff only to switch to a mix of the shining the thing and any naked teenagers horror flick from the 1980s
3 definitely funny stuff but its more of the laughing at variety than the laughing with
3 a heartening tale of small victories and enduring hope
4 an emotionally strong and politically potent piece of cinema
0 an extremely unpleasant film
1 more intellectually scary than dramatically involving
2 a puzzling experience
2 jonah is only soso the addition of a biblical message will either improve the film for you or it will lessen it
4 i hope the movie is widely seen and debated with appropriate ferocity and thoughtfulness
4 intelligent and moving
1 this film is too busy hitting all of its assigned marks to take on any life of its own
2 mark wahlberg may look classy in a60s homage pokepie hat but as a character hes dry dry dry
3 the moral shrapnel and mental shellshock will linger long after this film has ended
2 as warren he stumbles in search of all the emotions and life experiences hes neglected over the years
1 it should have stayed there
0 in the pile of useless actioners from mtv schmucks who do nt know how to tell a story for more than four minutes
0 it is not the first time that director sara sugarman stoops to having characters drop their pants for laughs and not the last time she fails to provoke them
1 theres no point of view no contemporary interpretation of joans prefeminist plight so were left thinking the only reason to make the movie is because present standards allow for plenty of nudity
3 there is a strong directorial stamp on every frame of this stylish film that is able to visualize schizophrenia but is still confident enough to step back and look at the sick character with a sane eye
4 romantic riveting and handsomely animated
0 this overproduced piece of dreck is shockingly bad and absolutely unnecessary
1 as saccharine as it is disposable
4 captures the raw comic energy of one of our most flamboyant female comics
2 a subtle poignant picture of goodness that is flawed compromised and sad
4 an exceptionally acted quietly affecting cop drama
1 even in the summertime the most restless young audience deserves the dignity of an action hero motivated by something more than franchise possibilities
4 perfectly pitched between comedy and tragedy hope and despair about schmidt instead comes far closer than many movies to expressing the way many of us live someplace between consuming selfabsorption and insistently demanding otherness
3 she nearly glows with enthusiasm sensuality and a conniving wit
3 despite modest aspirations its occasional charms are not to be dismissed
1 so exaggerated and broad that it comes off as annoying rather than charming
4 strange funny twisted brilliant and macabre
1 the film has the throwntogether feel of a summercamp talent show hastily written underrehearsed arbitrarily plotted and filled with crude humor and vulgar innuendo
2 the cast comes through even when the movie does nt
3 a rocksolid gangster movie with a fair amount of suspense intriguing characters and bizarre bank robberies plus a heavy dose of fatherandson dynamics
3 its both degrading and strangely liberating to see people working so hard at leading lives of sexy intrigue only to be revealed by the dispassionate gantz brothers as ordinary pasty lumpen
2 innocuous enough to make even jeanclaude van damme look good
0 but if the essence of magic is its makebelieve promise of life that soars above the material realm this is the opposite of a truly magical movie
1 but its storytelling prowess and special effects are both listless
4 i stopped thinking about how good it all was and started doing nothing but reacting to it feeling a part of its grand locations thinking urgently as the protagonists struggled feeling at the mercy of its inventiveness gasping at its visual delights
2 newcomer helmer kevin donovan is hamstrung by a badly handled screenplay of what is really an amusing concept a hightech tux that transforms its wearer into a superman
1 one hour photo may seem disappointing in its generalities but its the little nuances that perhaps had to escape from director mark romaneks selfconscious scrutiny to happen that finally get under your skin
2 with a confrontational stance todd solondz takes aim on political correctness and suburban families
1 a processed comedy chop suey
3 eventually arrives at its heart as simple selfreflection meditation
1 proves a lovely trifle that unfortunately is a little too in love with its own cuteness
3 so purely enjoyable that you might not even notice its a fairly straightforward remake of hollywood comedies such as father of the bride
4 an intelligent multilayered and profoundly humanist lrb not to mention gently political rrb meditation on the values of knowledge education and the affects of cultural and geographical displacement
0 im not sure which is worse the poor acting by the ensemble cast the flat dialogue by vincent r nebrida or the gutless direction by laurice guillen
4 a sexy peculiar and always entertaining costume drama set in renaissance spain and the fact that its based on true events somehow makes it all the more compelling
3 the santa clause 2 proves itself a more streamlined and thought out encounter than the original could ever have hoped to be
0 goldmember has none of the visual wit of the previous pictures and it looks as though jay roach directed the film from the back of a taxicab
3 its a sweet laughaminute crowd pleaser that lifts your spirits as well as the corners of your mouth
3 highly recommended as an engrossing story about a horrifying historical event and the elements which contributed to it
1 goes on and on to the point of nausea
2 lrb raimis rrb matured quite a bit with spiderman even though its one of the most plain white toast comic book films youll ever see
1 its about as convincing as any other arnie musclefest but has a little too much resonance with real world events and ultimately comes off as insultingly simplistic
1 an unbelievably stupid film though occasionally fun enough to make you forget its absurdity
3 in between the icy stunts the actors spout hilarious dialogue about following your dream and just letting the mountain tell you what to do
3 a modestly surprising movie
4 a powerful sequel and one of the best films of the year
3 combines improbable melodrama lrb gored bullfighters comatose ballerinas rrb with subtly kinky bedside vigils and sensational denouements and yet at the end we are undeniably touched
3 this is one of mr chabrols subtlest works but also one of his most uncanny
2 this one is strictly a lightweight escapist film
2 its actually too sincere the crime movie equivalent of a chick flick
1 if the title is a jeopardy question then the answer might be how does steven seagal come across these days
1 unambitious writing emerges in the movie using a plot that could have come from an animatedmovie screenwriting textbook
1 not that any of us should be complaining when a film clocks in around 90 minutes these days but the plotting here leaves a lot to be desired
3 there is a freedom to watching stunts that are this crude this fastpaced and this insane
0 this movie sucks
1 dignified ceos meet at a rustic retreat and pee against a tree
1 a sugarcoated rocky whose valuable messages are forgotten 10 minutes after the last trombone honks
1 the movie is too amateurishly square to make the most of its own ironic implications
3 what sets this romantic comedy apart from most hollywood romantic comedies is its lowkey way of tackling what seems like donetodeath material
4 the films constant mood of melancholy and its unhurried narrative are masterfully controlled
2 barry sonnenfeld owes frank the pug big time
2 one gets the impression the creators of do nt ask do nt tell laughed a hell of a lot at their own jokes
1 schrader aims to present an unflinching look at one mans downfall brought about by his lack of selfawareness
0 after that it becomes long and tedious like a classroom play in a college history course
1 blue crush follows the formula but throws in too many conflicts to keep the story compelling
3 a small gem of a movie that defies classification and is as thoughtprovoking as it is funny scary and sad
2 somewhere in the middle the film compels as demme experiments he harvests a few movie moment gems but the field of roughage dominates
0 while the story is betterfocused than the incomprehensible anne rice novel its based upon queen of the damned is a pointless meandering celebration of the gothvampire tortured woeisme lifestyle
3 the color sense of stuart little 2 is its most immediate and most obvious pleasure but it would count for very little if the movie were nt as beautifully shaped and as delicately calibrated in tone as it is
2 parts
3 in visual fertility treasure planet rivals the top japanese animations of recent vintage
1 this toothless dog already on cable loses all bite on the big screen
1 make chans action sequences boring
1 it all comes down to whether you can tolerate leon barlow
3 the wild thornberrys movie has all the sibling rivalry and general family chaos to which anyone can relate
4 peralta captures in luminous interviews and amazingly evocative film from three decades ago the essence of the dogtown experience
0 as the movie dragged on i thought i heard a mysterious voice and felt myself powerfully drawn toward the light the light of the exit sign
3 will certainly appeal to asian cult cinema fans and asiaphiles interested to see what all the fuss is about
1 green ruins every single scene hes in and the film while its not completely wreaked is seriously compromised by that
1 evokes the frustration the awkwardness and the euphoria of growing up without relying on the usual tropes
4 standing in the shadows of motown is the best kind of documentary one that makes a depleted yesterday feel very much like a brandnew tomorrow
3 this is a very ambitious project for a fairly inexperienced filmmaker but good actors good poetry and good music help sustain it
3 a thriller whose style structure and rhythms are so integrated with the story you can not separate them
3 its mostly a pleasure to watch
1 the first question to ask about bad company is why anthony hopkins is in it
2 nair and writer laura cahill dare to build a movie around some flawed but rather unexceptional women emerging with a fine character study thats short on plot but rich in the tiny revelations of real life
4 goofy nutty consistently funny
4 audiard successfully maintains suspense on different levels throughout a film that is both gripping and compelling
3 welles groupiescholar peter bogdanovich took a long time to do it but hes finally provided his own broadside at publishing giant william randolph hearst
1 the most excruciating 86 minutes one might sit through this summer that do not involve a dentist drill
2 skillful as he is mr shyamalan is undone by his pretensions
2 fans of sobadtheyre good cinema may find some fun in this jumbled mess
0 we started to wonder if some unpaid intern had just typed chris rock anthony hopkins and terrorists into some univaclike script machine
4 mostly works because of the universal themes earnest performances and excellent use of music by indias popular gulzar and jagjit singh
3 a perceptive goodnatured movie
3 this is nt a stand up and cheer flick its a sit down and ponder affair
2 one of the pleasures in walters documentary is the parade of veteran painters confounded dealers and miscellaneous bohos who expound upon the subjects mysterious personality without ever explaining him
1 adrift bentley and hudson stare and sniffle respectively as ledger attempts in vain to prove that moviestar intensity can overcome bad hair design
2 the real charm of this trifle is the deadpan comic face of its star jean reno who resembles sly stallone in a hot sake halfsleep
3 and theres an element of heartbreak to watching it now with older and wiser eyes because we know what will happen after greenes story ends
1 rather than real figures
3 by no means a great movie but it is a refreshingly forthright one
1 not just unlikable
2 show me the mugging
3 hashiguchi uses the situation to evoke a japan bustling atop an undercurrent of loneliness and isolation
4 its a rollicking adventure for you and all your mateys regardless of their ages
2 the next big things notsobig lrb and notsohot rrb directorial debut
3 if youre content with a clever pseudobio that manages to have a good time as it doles out pieces of the famous directors life eisenstein delivers
1 overly long and worshipful biodoc
4 a visual spectacle full of stunning images and effects
3 there is something that is so meditative and lyrical about babak payamis boldly quirky iranian drama secret ballot a charming and evoking little ditty that manages to show the gentle and humane side of middle eastern world politics
2 its easy to be cynical about documentaries in which underdogs beat the odds and the human spirit triumphs but westbrooks foundation and dalrymples film earn their uplift
3 the difference is that i truly enjoyed most of mostly martha while i ne
2 i ca nt remember the last time i saw a movie where i wanted so badly for the protagonist to fail
1 falsehoods pile up undermining the movies reality and stifling its creators comic voice
4 the early and middle passages are surprising in how much they engage and even touch us
1 limps along on a squirminducing fishoutofwater formula that goes nowhere and goes there very very slowly
2 a really funny fifteenminute short stretched beyond its limits to fill an almost featurelength film
4 writer and director otar iosselianis pleasant tale about a factory worker who escapes for a holiday in venice reveals how we all need a playful respite from the grind to refresh our souls
0 a mechanical actioncomedy whose seeming purpose is to market the charismatic jackie chan to even younger audiences
0 chalk it up as the worst kind of hubristic folly
2 though haynes style apes films from the period its message is not rooted in that decade
2 but i do
3 a compelling allegory about the last days of germanys democratic weimar republic
1 director jay russell stomps in hobnail boots over natalie babbitts gentle endearing 1975 childrens novel
2 it is an indelible epic american story about two families one black and one white facing change in both their inner and outer lives
4 its as raw and actionpacked an experience as a ringside seat at a toughman contest
3 lrb the film rrb works due mostly to the tongueincheek attitude of the screenplay
3 you walk out of the good girl with mixed emotions disapproval of justine combined with a tinge of understanding for her actions
2 the movie strains to stay on the light comic side of the issue despite the difficulty of doing so when dealing with the destruction of property and potentially of life itself
1 unfortunately the story and the actors are served with a hack script
1 this is an insultingly inept and artificial examination of grief and its impacts upon the relationships of the survivors
4 the immersive powers of the giant screen and its hyperrealistic images are put to perfect use in the breathtakingly beautiful outerspace documentary space station 3d
0 a tired unnecessary retread a stale copy of a picture that was nt all that great to begin with
1 its initial excitement settles into a warmed over pastiche
4 muccino who directed from his own screenplay is a canny crowd pleaser and the last kiss provides more than enough sentimental catharsis for a satisfying evening at the multiplex
3 it challenges this nervy oddity like modern art should
4 read my lips is to be viewed and treasured for its extraordinary intelligence and originality as well as its lyrical variations on the game of love
4 an hour and a half of joyful solo performance
3 like its parade of predecessors this halloween is a gory slashfest
2 better than the tepid star trek insurrection falls short of first contact because the villain could nt pick the lint off borg queen alice kriges cape and finishes half a parsec lrb a nose rrb ahead of generations
3 exploits lrb headbanger rrb stereotypes in good fun while adding a bit of heart and unsettling subject matter
0 its just rather leaden and dull
1 rice never clearly defines his characters or gives us a reason to care about them
3 although the subject matter may still be too close to recent national events the film works mostly due to its superior cast of characters
3 a deeply felt and vividly detailed story about newcomers in a strange new world
2 the films darker moments become smoothed over by an overwhelming need to tender inspirational tidings especially in the last few cloying moments
3 from the opening strains of the average white bands pick up the pieces you can feel the love
1 its impressive images of crematorium chimney fires and stacks of dead bodies are undermined by the movies presentation which is way too stagy
3 triple x is a double agent and hes one bad dude
3 there has been a string of ensemble cast romances recently but peter matteis love in the time of money sets itself apart by forming a chain of relationships that come full circle to end on a positive lrb if tragic rrb note
3 this is popcorn movie fun with equal doses of action cheese ham and cheek lrb as well as a serious debt to the road warrior rrb but it feels like unrealized potential
4 as an actress madonna is one helluva singer
1 jaglom offers the nonetoooriginal premise that everyone involved with moviemaking is a con artist and a liar
3 the filmmakers eye for detail and the high standards of performance convey a strong sense of the girls environment
2 it wraps up a classic motherdaughter struggle in recycled paper with a shiny new bow and while the audience can tell its not all new at least it looks pretty
0 or maybe how will you feel after an 88minute ripoff of the rock with action confined to slomo gun firing and random glassshattering
3 enough may pander to our basest desires for payback but unlike many revenge fantasies it ultimately delivers
1 how can such a cold movie claim to express warmth and longing
2 only at the prospect of becks next project
4 a vivid thoughtful unapologetically raw comingofage tale full of sex drugs and rockn roll
4 a bittersweet contemporary comedy about benevolent deception which while it may not rival the filmmakers period pieces is still very much worth seeing
0 shankman and screenwriter karen janszen bungle their way through the narrative as if it were a series of bible parables and not an actual story
3 they can and will turn on a dime from oddly humorous to tediously sentimental
0 its a terrible movie in every regard and utterly painful to watch
0 why spend 9 on the same stuff you can get for a buck or so in that greasy little vidgame pit in the theater lobby
3 evokes the 19th century with a subtlety that is an object lesson in period filmmaking
4 all three actresses are simply dazzling particularly balk whos finally been given a part worthy of her considerable talents
2 the beautiful unusual music is this films chief draw but its dreaminess may lull you to sleep
3 you may be captivated as i was by its moods and by its subtly transformed star and still wonder why paul thomas anderson ever had the inclination to make the most sincere and artful movie in which adam sandler will probably ever appear
1 the only surprise is that heavyweights joel silver and robert zemeckis agreed to produce this i assume the director has pictures of them cavorting in ladies underwear
1 ver wiels desperate attempt at wit is lost leaving the character of critical jim twodimensional and pointless
4 so vivid a portrait of a woman consumed by lust and love and crushed by betrayal that it conjures up the intoxicating fumes and emotional ghosts of a freshly painted rembrandt
1 cacoyannis vision is far less mature interpreting the play as a call for pity and sympathy for anachronistic phantasms haunting the imagined glory of their own pasts
0 in other words its badder than bad
0 wedding feels a bit anachronistic
1 dong never pushes for insights beyond the superficial tensions of the dynamic hes dissecting and the film settles too easily along the contours of expectation
1 little is done to support the premise other than fling gags at it to see which ones shtick
4 brings to a spectacular completion one of the most complex generous and subversive artworks of the last decade
3 with an obvious rapport with her actors and a striking style behind the camera
2 you can see where big bad love is trying to go but it never quite gets there
1 a sleek advert for youthful anomie that never quite equals the sum of its pretensions
1 statham employs an accent that i think is supposed to be an attempt at hardass american but sometimes just lapses into unhidden british
2 if a few good men told us that we ca nt handle the truth than high crimes poetically states at one point in this movie that we do nt care about the truth
0 so boring that even its target audience talked all the way through it
2 wiser souls would have tactfully pretended not to see it and left it lying there
0 rarely has sex on screen been so aggressively antierotic
3 the hours a delicately crafted film is an impressive achievement in spite of a river of sadness that pours into every frame
3 delivers roughly equal amounts of beautiful movement and inside information
2 showtimes starry cast could be both an asset and a detriment
4 lrb dong rrb makes a valiant effort to understand everyones point of view and he does such a good job of it that family fundamentals gets you riled up
4 light the candles bring out the cake and do nt fret about the calories because theres precious little substance in birthday girl its simply and surprisingly a nice light treat
4 in his debut as a director washington has a sure hand
4 but it makes for one of the most purely enjoyable and satisfying evenings at the movies ive had in a while
2 this is not chabrols best but even his lesser works outshine the best some directors can offer
3 the heart of the film is a touching reflection on aging suffering and the prospect of death
4 its a glorious spectacle like those dw griffith made in the early days of silent film
1 the movie is undone by a filmmaking methodology thats just experimental enough to alienate the mainstream audience while ringing cliched to hardened indieheads
4 the years greatest adventure and jacksons limited but enthusiastic adaptation has made literature literal without killing its soul a feat any thinking person is bound to appreciate
2 if this movie leaves you cool it also leaves you intriguingly contemplative
3 when all is said and done she loves them to pieces and so i trust will you
3 it takes you somewhere youre not likely to have seen before but beneath the exotic surface lrb and exotic dancing rrb its surprisingly oldfashioned
3 director claude chabrol has become the master of innuendo
3 woven together handsomely recalling sixties rockumentary milestones from lonely boy to do nt look back
0 its petty thievery like this that puts flimsy flicks like this behind bars
1 paul cox needed to show it
2 a film that will probably please people already fascinated by behan but leave everyone else yawning with admiration
3 the huskies are beautiful the border collie is funny and the overall feeling is genial and decent
1 they ought to be a whole lot scarier than they are in this tepid genre offering
3 moved
0 nearly every attempt at humor here is doa
2 a piquant meditation on the things that prevent people from reaching happiness
4 this movie is to be cherished
4 the bard as black comedy willie would have loved it
1 too bland and fustily tasteful to be truly prurient
4 while tattoo borrows heavily from both seven and the silence of the lambs it manages to maintain both a level of sophisticated intrigue and humanscale characters that suck the audience in
1 once he starts learning to compromise with reality enough to become comparatively sane and healthy the film becomes predictably conventional
3 the film is determined to treat its characters weak and strong as fallible human beings not caricatures and to carefully delineate the cost of the inevitable conflicts between human urges and an institution concerned with selfpreservation
3 even as it pays earnest homage to turntablists and beat jugglers old schoolers and current innovators scratch is great fun full of the kind of energy its documenting
1 while it is interesting to witness the conflict from the palestinian side longleys film lacks balance and fails to put the struggle into meaningful historical context
3 producer john penotti surveyed high school students and came back with the astonishing revelation that they wanted to see something that did nt talk down to them
4 a real winner smart funny subtle and resonant
2 ultimate x is a ride basically the kind of greatesthits reel that might come with a subscription to espn the magazine
2 unfortunately contrived plotting stereotyped characters and woos overthetop instincts as a director undermine the moral dilemma at the movies heart
4 jones makes a great impression as the writerdirector of this little 18 million charmer which may not be cuttingedge indie filmmaking but has a huge heart
0 even a hardened voyeur would require the patience of job to get through this interminable shapeless documentary about the swinging subculture
4 id watch these two together again in a new york minute
0 you can practically hear george orwell turning over
4 ferraras best film in years
2 possibly not since grumpy old men have i heard a film so solidly connect with one demographic while striking out with another
3 no doubt the star and everyone else involved had their hearts in the right place
2 a visually seductive unrepentantly trashy take on rices second installment of her vampire chronicles
4 poetry in motion captured on film
1 pretend like your sat scores are below 120 and you might not notice the flaws
1 none of birthday girls calculated events take us by surprise
1 twentythree movies into a mostly magnificent directorial career clint eastwoods efficiently minimalist style finally has failed him
2 its like a big chill reunion of the baadermeinhof gang only these guys are more harmless pranksters than political activists
4 ms hutchins is talented enough and charismatic enough to make us care about zeldas ultimate fate
3 successfully blended satire high camp and yet another sexual taboo into a really funny movie
3 really is a panamerican movie with moments of genuine insight into the urban heart
2 same song second verse coulda been better but it coulda been worse
1 the superior plotline is nt quite enough to drag along the dead lrb water rrb weight of the other
2 crikey indeed
2 its exactly what youd expect
1 its definitely not made for kids or their parents for that matter and i think even fans of sandlers comic taste may find it uninteresting
0 you can not guess why the cast and crew did nt sign a pact to burn the negative and the script and pretend the whole thing never existed
3 a stirring road movie
3 if youve grown tired of going where no man has gone before but several movies have take heart
3 it has more than a few moments that are insightful enough to be fondly remembered in the endlessly challenging maze of moviegoing
1 it just goes to show an intelligent person is nt necessarily an admirable storyteller
4 perhaps the best sports movie ive ever seen
1 just send it to cranky
1 steven soderbergh does nt remake andrei tarkovskys solaris so much as distill it
1 anyone who wants to start writing screenplays can just follow the same blueprint from hundreds of other films sell it to the highest bidder and walk away without anyone truly knowing your identity
1 in theory a middleaged romance pairing clayburgh and tambor sounds promising but in practice its something else altogether clownish and offensive and nothing at all like real life
1 works better in the conception than it does in the execution winds up seeming just a little too clever
2 new yorkers always seem to find the oddest places to dwell
1 vaguely interesting but its just too too much
1 with all the sympathy empathy and pity fogging up the screen his secret life enters the land of unintentional melodrama and tiresome love triangles
1 van wilder has a builtin audience but only among those who are drying out from spring break and are still unconcerned about what they ingest
1 no even thats too committed
4 the largeframe imax camera lends itself beautifully to filming the teeming life on the reefs making this gorgeous film a must for everyone from junior scientists to grownup fish lovers
1 low comedy does nt come much lower
1 the characterizations and dialogue lack depth or complexity with the ironic exception of scooter
3 dramatic snapshot
2 what we get is caddyshack crossed with the loyal order of raccoons
3 itll keep you wide awake and very tense
1 the movie is loaded with good intentions but in his zeal to squeeze the action and our emotions into the alltoofamiliar dramatic arc of the holocaust escape story minac drains his movie of all individuality
3 it may scream low budget but this charmer has a spirit that can not be denied
3 less an examination of neonazism than a probe into the nature of faith itself
4 though few will argue that it ranks with the best of herzogs works invincible shows hes back in form with an astoundingly rich film
3 while it may not add up to the sum of its parts holofceners film offers just enough insight to keep it from being simpleminded and the ensemble cast is engaging enough to keep you from shifting in your chair too often
3 there are no special effects and no hollywood endings
1 despite juliet stevenons attempt to bring cohesion to pamelas emotional roller coaster life it is not enough to give the film the substance it so desperately needs
3 not a schlocky creature feature but something far more stylish and cerebral and hence more chillingly effective
4 from a deceptively simple premise this deeply moving french drama develops a startling story that works both as a detailed personal portrait and as a rather frightening examination of modern times
2 the movie is obviously a labour of love so howard appears to have had free rein to be as pretentious as he wanted
3 a stylish cast and some clever scripting solutions help chicago make the transition from stage to screen with considerable appeal intact
3 fessendens narrative is just as much about the ownership and redefinition of myth as it is about a domestic unit finding their way to joy
3 its a movie that accomplishes so much that one viewing ca nt possibly be enough
4 you can sip your vintage wines and watch your merchant ivory productions ill settle for a nice cool glass of iced tea and a jerry bruckheimer flick any day of the week
3 a quiet disquieting triumph
0 a muddled limp biscuit of a movie a vampire soap opera that does nt make much sense even on its own terms
2 it looks much more like a cartoon in the end than the simpsons ever has
3 hugely accomplished slice of hitchcockian suspense
1 a generic international version of a typical american horror film
2 the result is good gossip entertainingly delivered yet with a distinctly musty odour its expiry date long gone
4 just the labour involved in creating the layered richness of the imagery in this chiaroscuro of madness and light is astonishing
3 charlotte sometimes is a gem
3 stage director sam mendes showcases tom hanks as a depression era hitman in this dark tale of revenge
3 brady
1 upper teens may get cynical
3 a gift to anyone who loves both dance and cinema
3 a small movie with a big heart
1 like a comedian who starts off promisingly but then proceeds to flop comedian runs out of steam after a half hour
3 feeling to it but like the 1920s the trip there is a great deal of fun
3 essentially a collection of bits and theyre all naughty
1 a cartoon
2 disney aficionados will notice distinct parallels between this story and the 1971 musical bedknobs and broomsticks which also dealt with british children rediscovering the power of fantasy during wartime
1 these guys seem great to knock back a beer with but theyre simply not funny performers
0 its not a motion picture its an utterly static picture
3 the powerpuff girls arrive on the big screen with their superpowers their supersimple animation and their superdooperadorability intact
1 coal is nt as easy to come by as it used to be and this would be a worthy substitute for naughty childrens stockings
3 i love the opening scenes of a wintry new york city in 1899
3 if lrb jagloms rrb latest effort is not the director at his most sparkling some of its repartee is still worth hearing
2 it shares the first two films loosejointed structure but laughoutloud bits are few and far between
4 the movie is a trove of delights
1 with ichi the killer takashi miike japans wildest filmmaker gives us a crime fighter carrying more emotional baggage than batman
2 were it not for a sentimental resolution that explains way more about cal than does the movie or the character any good freundlichs world traveler might have been one of the more daring and surprising american movies of the year
2 thin period piece
4 a wellexecuted spythriller
2 the strippeddown dramatic constructs austere imagery and abstract characters are equal parts poetry and politics obvious at times but evocative and heartfelt
3 the tale of her passionate tumultuous affair with musset unfolds as sands masculine persona with its love of life and beauty takes form
0 more of the same old garbage hollywood has been trying to pass off as acceptable teen entertainment for some time now
2 strident and inelegant in its messagemovie posturing
3 in the affable maid in manhattan jennifer lopezs most aggressive and most sincere attempt to take movies by storm the diva shrewdly surrounds herself with a company of strictly alist players
3 gives an intriguing twist to the french comingofage genre
3 id be lying if i said my ribcage did nt ache by the end of kung pow
3 has the capability of effecting change and inspiring hope
0 kitschy flashy overlong soap opera
1 white has nt developed characters so much as caricatures onedimensional buffoons that get him a few laughs but nothing else
1 one resurrection too many
0 execrable
3 it may be a nobrainer but at least its a funny nobrainer
3 i liked the movie but i know i would have liked it more if it had just gone that one step further
3 lrb allens rrb best works understand why snobbery is a better satiric target than middleamerica diversions could ever be
1 it gives poor dana carvey nothing to do that is really funny and then expects us to laugh because he acts so goofy all the time
2 bernal and
2 an ambitious and moving but bleak film
3 if cinema had been around to capture the chaos of france in the 1790s one imagines the result would look like something like this
3 slight but enjoyable documentary
2 did the film inform and educate me
1 if you are curious to see the darker side of whats going on with young tv actors lrb dawson leery did what rrb or see some interesting storytelling devices you might want to check it out but theres nothing very attractive about this movie
2 at the end of the movie my 6yearold nephew said i guess i come from a broken family and my uncles are all aliens too
2 all the actors are good in pauline paulette but van der groen described as belgiums national treasure is especially terrific as pauline
2 curling may be a unique sport but men with brooms is distinctly ordinary
3 yes thats right its forrest gump angel of death
3 metaphors abound but it is easy to take this film at face value and enjoy its slightly humorous and tender story
1 comes across as a fairly weak retooling
1 this orange has some juice but its far from freshsqueezed
3 by not averting his eyes solondz forces us to consider the unthinkable the unacceptable the unmentionable
3 a remarkably alluring film set in the constrictive eisenhower era about one suburban womans yearning in the face of a loss that shatters her cheery and tranquil suburban life
1 ultimately this is a frustrating patchwork an uneasy marriage of louis begleys source novel lrb about schmidt rrb and an old payne screenplay
1 the movie is like a year late for tapping into our reality tv obsession and even tardier for exploiting the novelty of the webcast
1 chais structure and pacing are disconcertingly slack
2 or else a doggie winks
3 you need nt be steeped in50s sociology pop culture or movie lore to appreciate the emotional depth of haynes work
2 decasia is what has happened already to so many silent movies newsreels and the like
4 more than anything else kissing jessica stein injects freshness and spirit into the romantic comedy genre which has been held hostage by generic scripts that seek to remake sleepless in seattle again and again
3 fast and funny an action cartoon thats suspenseful enough for older kids but not too scary for the schoolage crowd
2 after all the big buildup the payoff for the audience as well as the characters is messy murky unsatisfying
4 not only better than its predecessor it may rate as the most magical and most fun family fare of this or any recent holiday season
2 once again the intelligence of gay audiences has been grossly underestimated and a meaty plot and welldeveloped characters have been sacrificed for skin and flash that barely fizzle
1 a film without surprise geared toward maximum comfort and familiarity
3 definitely a crowdpleaser but then so was the roman colosseum
3 here is a vh1 behind the music special that has something a little more special behind it music that did nt sell many records but helped change a nation
4 kids will love its fantasy and adventure and grownups should appreciate its whimsical humor
1 after all he took three minutes of dialogue 30 seconds of plot and turned them into a 90minute movie that feels five hours long
0 interminably bleak to say nothing of boring
4 a naturally funny film home movie makes you crave chris smiths next movie
4 the bai brothers have taken an small slice of history and opened it up for all of us to understand and theyve told a nice little story in the process
2 a meatballs for the baremidriff generation
0 this movie is about the worst thing chan has done in the united states
3 maintains your interest until the end and even leaves you with a few lingering animated thoughts
3 from blushing to gushing imamura squirts the screen in warm water under a red bridge
2 entertainment more disposable than hannabarberas halfhour cartoons ever were
1 the beautiful images and solemn words can not disguise the slack complacency of lrb godards rrb vision any more than the gorgeous piano and strings on the soundtrack can drown out the tinny selfrighteousness of his voice
1 were dylan thomas alive to witness firsttime director ethan hawkes strained chelsea walls he might have been tempted to change his landmark poem to do not go gentle into that good theatre
3 affirms the gifts of all involved starting with spielberg and going right through the ranks of the players oncamera and off that he brings together
2 a somewhat disappointing and meandering saga
1 its in the action scenes that things fall apart
0 theres no palpable chemistry between lopez and male lead ralph fiennes plus the script by working girl scribe kevin wade is workmanlike in the extreme
1 a cleverly crafted but ultimately hollow mockumentary
1 the uneven movie does have its charms and its funny moments but not quite enough of them
1 an unintentionally surreal kids picture in which actors in bad bear suits enact a sort of interspecies parody of a vh1 behind the music episode
2 it will break your heart many times over
1 this is as lax and limp a comedy as ive seen in a while a meander through wornout material
1 its both sitcomishly predictable and cloying in its attempts to be poignant
1 though this rude and crude film does deliver a few gutbusting laughs its digs at modern society are all things weve seen before
1 lrb a rrb mess
0 a work that lacks both a purpose and a strong pulse
3 the sword fighting is well done and auteuil is a goofy pleasure
1 a stereotype
4 the imax screen enhances the personal touch of manual animation
2 kaufman and jonze take huge risks to ponder the whole notion of passion our desire as human beings for passion in our lives and the emptiness one feels when it is missing
3 god bless crudup and his aversion to taking the easy hollywood road and cashing in on his moviestar gorgeousness
1 is it a comedy
3 unlike most surf movies blue crush thrillingly uses modern technology to take the viewer inside the wave
3 the best part about gangs was daniel daylewis
3 waiting for godard can be fruitful in praise of love is the directors epitaph for himself
3 an edgy thriller that delivers a surprising punch
1 the movie would seem less of a trifle if ms sugarman followed through on her defiance of the saccharine
0 the war of the roses trailertrash style
4 the result is a powerful naturally dramatic piece of lowbudget filmmaking
0 a fifty car pileup of cliches
1 whole stretches of the film may be incomprehensible to moviegoers not already clad in basic black
0 pitiful slapdash disaster
4 charlotte sometimes is a brilliant movie
2 you end up simply admiring this bit or that this performance or that
4 godard has never made a more sheerly beautiful film than this unexpectedly moving meditation on love history memory resistance and artistic transcendence
0 an erotic thriller thats neither too erotic nor very thrilling either
3 carrying off a spoton scottish burr duvall lrb also a producer rrb peels layers from this character that may well not have existed on paper
2 a solid piece of journalistic work that draws a picture of a man for whom political expedience became a deadly foreign policy
4 hopkins squarely fills the screen
0 irwin and his director never come up with an adequate reason why we should pay money for what we can get on television for free
2 everything its title implies a standardissue crime drama spat out from the tinseltown assembly line
3 unfolds as one of the most politically audacious films of recent decades from any country but especially from france
0 abandon will leave you wanting to abandon the theater
3 probably the best case for christianity since chesterton and lewis
0 before long youre desperate for the evening to end
2 its all a rather shapeless good time
0 feels more like a rejected xfiles episode than a credible account of a puzzling reallife happening
0 no amount of good intentions is able to overcome the triviality of the story
4 lrb ramsay rrb visually transforms the dreary expanse of deadend distaste the characters inhabit into a poem of art music and metaphor
1 the film has lrb its rrb moments but they are few and far between
3 a sweetly affecting story about four sisters who are coping in one way or another with lifes endgame
2 a disturbing examination of what appears to be the definition of a bad police shooting
0 distances you by throwing out so many red herrings so many false scares that the genuine ones barely register
2 almost
0 every sequel you skip will be two hours gained
1 been there done that
2 they exist for hushed lines like theyre back
3 somehow ms griffiths and mr pryce bring off this wild welsh whimsy
1 the densest distillation of roberts movies ever made
0 lots of effort and intelligence are on display but in execution it is all awkward static and lifeless rumblings
4 this is one of the outstanding thrillers of recent years
1 consider the film a celluloid litmus test for the intellectual and emotional pedigree of your date and a giant step backward for a director i admire
3 the subtitled costume drama is set in a remote african empire before cell phones guns and the internal combustion engine but the politics that thump through it are as timely as tomorrow
2 opening with some contrived banter cliches and some loose ends the screenplay only comes into its own in the second half
4 a captivating new film
2 if you adored the full monty so resoundingly that youre dying to see the same old thing in a tired old setting then this should keep you reasonably entertained
3 worth catching for griffiths warm and winning central performance
1 sorvino makes the princess seem smug and cartoonish and the film only really comes alive when poor hermocrates and leontine pathetically compare notes about their budding amours
2 while this has the making of melodrama the filmmaker cuts against this natural grain producing a work thats more interested in asking questions than in answering them
3 davis is funny charming and quirky in her feature film acting debut as amy
0 an uncomfortable movie suffocating and sometimes almost senseless the grey zone does have a center though a morbid one
1 the lousy john q all but spits out denzel washingtons fine performance in the title role
0 so devoid of pleasure or sensuality that it can not even be dubbed hedonistic
3 satin rouge is not a new or inventive journey but its encouraging to see a threedimensional average middleaged womans experience of selfdiscovery handled with such sensitivity
3 a pointed often tender examination of the pros and cons of unconditional love and familial duties
3 another trumpet blast that there may be a new mexican cinema abornin
1 gorgeous to look at but insufferably tedious and turgid a curiously constricted epic
1 only about as sexy and dangerous as an actress in a role that reminds at every turn of elizabeth berkleys flopping dolphingasm
1 their contrast is neither dramatic nor comic its just a weird fizzle
0 collateral damage is trash but it earns extra points by acting as if it were nt
2 when you think youve figured out bielinskys great game thats when youre in the most trouble hes the con and youre just the mark
4 swimming is above all about a young womans face and by casting an actress whose face projects that womans doubts and yearnings it succeeds
2 its packed to bursting with incident and with scores of characters some fictional some from history
2 you want to call dominos
2 the umpteenth summer skinny dip in jerry bruckheimers putrid pond of retread action twaddle
3 the road paved with good intentions leads to the video store
3 chris columbus sequel is faster livelier and a good deal funnier than his original
1 full of flatulence jokes and mild sexual references kung pow
2 the whole affair is as predictable as can be
3 the film is a very good viewing alternative for young women
3 to those who have not read the book the film is a much better motherdaughter tale than last summers divine secrets of the yaya sisterhood but thats not saying much
3 but it also has many of the things that made the first one charming
2 sheridan
3 this slight premise works because of the ideal casting of the masterful british actor ian holm as the aged napoleon
3 but never mind all that the boobs are fantasti
3 about schmidt is nicholsons goofy heartfelt mesmerizing king lear
1 it is most of the things costner movies are known for its sanctimonious selfrighteous and so eager to earn our love that you want to slap it
4 this is a very funny heartwarming film
3 its a piece of handiwork that shows its indie tatters and selfconscious seams in places but has some quietly moving moments and an intelligent subtlety
4 i was amused and entertained by the unfolding of bielinskys cleverly constructed scenario and greatly impressed by the skill of the actors involved in the enterprise
3 for most of the distance the picture provides a satisfyingly unsettling ride into the dark places of our national psyche
1 with very little to add beyond the dark visions already relayed by superb recent predecessors like swimming with sharks and the player this latest skewering may put off insiders and outsiders alike
1 being unique does nt necessarily equate to being good no matter how admirably the filmmakers have gone for broke
2 the respective charms of sandra bullock and hugh grant have worn threadbare
1 like the hanks character hes a slow study the action is stilted and the tabloid energy embalmed
3 enthusiastically invokes the percussion rhythm the brass soul and the sense of fierce competition that helps make great marching bands half the fun of college football games
3 whats invigorating about it is that it does nt give a damn
2 cacoyannis is perhaps too effective in creating an atmosphere of dustcaked stagnation and labored gentility
3 an entertaining if ultimately minor thriller
3 the real star of this movie is the score as in the songs translate well to film and its really well directed
2 punitively affirmational parable
1 demme finally succeeds in diminishing his stature from oscarwinning master to lowly studio hack
3 horrid little propaganda film with fascinating connections not only to the serbs themselves but also to a network of american rightwing extremists
3 starproducer salma hayek and director julie taymor have infused frida with a visual style unique and inherent to the titular characters paintings and in the process created a masterful work of art of their own
3 this one is not nearly as dreadful as expected
1 but in trying to capture the novels deeper intimate resonances the film has ironically distanced us from the characters
3 real women have curves wears its empowerment on its sleeve but even its worst harangues are easy to swallow thanks to remarkable performances by ferrera and ontiveros
1 theres a whole heap of nothing at the core of this slight comingofagecomingout tale
4 a sensitive moving brilliantly constructed work
2 it pulls the rug out from under you just when youre ready to hate one character or really sympathize with another character something happens to send you off in different direction
4 the art direction is often exquisite and the anthropomorphic animal characters are beautifully realized through clever makeup design leaving one to hope that the eventual dvd release will offer subtitles and the original italianlanguage soundtrack
0 its probably not easy to make such a worthless film
3 the creative animation work may not look as fully rendered as pixars industry standard but it uses lighting effects and innovative backgrounds to an equally impressive degree
2 an often unfunny romp
2 it makes sense that he went back to school to check out the girls his film is a frat boys idea of a good time
2 clever but not especially compelling
1 an exit sign that is
2 its an actors showcase that accomplishes its primary goal without the use of special effects but rather by emphasizing the characters including the supporting ones
4 the emperors club ruthless in its own placid way finds one of our most conservative and hidebound moviemaking traditions and gives it new texture new relevance new reality
1 if it had been only halfanhour long or a tv special the humor would have been fast and furious at ninety minutes it drags
3 its compelling mix of trial movie escape movie and unexpected fable ensures the film never feels draggy
1 it drowns in sap
2 rare birds tries to force its quirkiness upon the audience
4 a solid and refined piece of moviemaking imbued with passion and attitude
3 red dragon never cuts corners
2 modeled
1 alternative medicine obviously has its merits but ayurveda does the field no favors
1 bland but harmless
1 viewers are asked so often to suspend belief that were it not for holms performance the film would be a total washout
1 a small fortune in salaries and stunt cars might have been saved if the director tom dey had spliced together bits and pieces of midnight run and 48 hours lrb and for that matter shrek rrb
3 its good to see michael caine whipping out the dirty words and punching people in the stomach again
1 no such thing breaks no new ground and treads old turf like a hippopotamus ballerina
3 the film exudes the urbane sweetness that woody allen seems to have bitterly forsaken
1 the script is a dimwitted pairing of teenspeak and animal gibberish
3 cedar somewhat defuses this provocative theme by submerging it in a hoary love triangle
0 what might have emerged as hilarious lunacy in the hands of woody allen or mel brooks lrb at least during their70s heyday rrb comes across as lame and sophomoric in this debut indie feature
0 i have not been this disappointed by a movie in a long time
0 theres not a comedic moment in this romantic comedy
1 i admire it and yet can not recommend it because it overstays its natural running time
3 theres plenty to enjoy in no small part thanks to lau
1 action mechanical
1 none of this is half as moving as the filmmakers seem to think
0 an incredibly irritating comedy about thoroughly vacuous people manages to embody the worst excesses of nouvelle vague without any of its sense of fun or energy
1 wait to see it then
0 none of this is very original and it is nt particularly funny
2 was a fad that had long since vanished
1 an uneasy mix of runofthemill raunchy humor and seemingly sincere personal reflection
1 should have been worth cheering as a breakthrough but is devoid of wit and humor
2 i found myself more appreciative of what the director was trying to do than of what he had actually done
2 is clever enough though thin writing proves its undoing
1 stone seems to have a knack for wrapping the theater in a cold blanket of urban desperation
0 done in mostly by a weak script that ca nt support the epic treatment
1 the whole thing plays like a tired tyco ad
1 thats muy loco but no more ridiculous than most of the rest of dragonfly
2 solondz creates some effective moments of discomfort for character and viewer alike
1 includes too much obvious padding
2 well theyre they
1 any attempts at nuance given by the capable cast is drowned out by director jon purdys sledgehammer sap
4 lrb a rrb wonderfully loopy tale of love longing and voting
1 the characters cast in impossibly contrived situations are totally estranged from reality
3 for every cheesy scene though there is a really cool bit the movies conception of a futureworld holographic librarian lrb orlando jones rrb who knows everything and answers all questions is visually smart cleverly written and nicely realized
4 the mark of a respectable summer blockbuster is one of two things unadulterated thrills or genuine laughs
2 as a hybrid teen thriller and murder mystery murder by numbers fits the profile too closely
3 alternately frustrating and rewarding
2 i highly recommend irwin but not in the way this film showcases him
1 its hard to believe that something so short could be so flabby
4 anyone who welcomes a dash of the avantgarde fused with their humor should take pleasure in this crazed joyous romp of a film
1 it merely indulges in the worst elements of all of them
1 that the true story by which all the queens men is allegedly inspired was a lot funnier and more deftly enacted than whats been cobbled together onscreen
2 interesting but not compelling
3 catch me feels capable of charming the masses with star power a popinduced score and sentimental moments that have become a spielberg trademark
2 an enigmatic film thats too clever for its own good its a conundrum not worth solving
3 the fascination comes in the power of the huston performance which seems so larger than life and yet so fragile and in the way the ivan character accepts the news of his illness so quickly but still finds himself unable to react
2 eh
0 highly uneven and inconsistent margarita happy hour kinda resembles the el cheapo margaritas served within
2 the film tries to touch on spousal abuse but veers off course and becomes just another revenge film
3 lrb stephen rrb earnharts film is more about the optimism of a group of people who are struggling to give themselves a better lot in life than the ones they currently have
1 glizty but formulaic and silly cagneys top of the world has been replaced by the bottom of the barrel
1 queen of the damned as you might have guessed makes sorry use of aaliyah in her one and only starring role she does little here but point at things that explode into flame
4 the modern master of the chase sequence returns with a chase to end all chases
2 into scrooge
1 a subformulaic slap in the face to seasonal cheer
1 a baffling mixed platter of gritty realism and magic realism with a hardtoswallow premise
1 lrb i rrb ts certainly laudable that the movie deals with hotbutton issues in a comedic context but barbershop is nt as funny as it should be
3 but once the falcon arrives in the skies above manhattan the adventure is on red alert
2 all the filmmakers are asking of us is to believe in something that is improbable
4 a fascinating literary mystery story with multiple strands about the controversy of who really wrote shakespeares plays
0 my own minority report is that it stinks
1 unless there are zoning ordinances to protect your community from the dullest science fiction impostor is opening today at a theater near you
1 a handsome but unfulfilling suspense drama more suited to a quiet evening on pbs than a night out at an amc
0 not only are the films sopranos gags incredibly dated and unfunny they also demonstrate how desperate the makers of this were doingitfor thecash sequel were
1 to the vast majority of more casual filmgoers it will probably be a talky bore
4 finely crafted finely written exquisitely performed
2 theres no real reason to see it and no real reason not to
2 lrb crystal and de niro rrb manage to squeeze out some good laughs but not enough to make this silly con job sing
0 master of disguise runs for only 71 minutes and feels like three hours
4 a delightfully unpredictable hilarious comedy with wonderful performances that tug at your heart in ways that utterly transcend gender labels
3 it does nt matter that the film is less than 90 minutes
2 do nt hate el crimen del padre amaro because its anticatholic
3 the new insomnia is a surprisingly faithful remake of its chilly predecessor and when it does elect to head off in its own direction it employs changes that fit it well rather than ones that were imposed for the sake of commercial sensibilities
3 its sheer dynamism is infectious
2 troll the cult section of your local video store for the real deal
0 bears is even worse than i imagined a movie ever could be
0 crush could be the worst film a man has made about women since valley of the dolls
1 with mcconaughey in an entirely ironyfree zone and bale reduced mainly to batting his sensitive eyelids theres not enough intelligence wit or innovation on the screen to attract and sustain an older crowd
1 a light engaging comedy that fumbles away almost all of its accumulated enjoyment with a crucial third act miscalculation
1 they presume their audience wo nt sit still for a sociology lesson however entertainingly presented so they trot out the conventional sciencefiction elements of bugeyed monsters and futuristic women in skimpy clothes
1 it does nt offer audiences any way of gripping what its point is or even its attitude toward its subject
1 a loquacious and dreary piece of business
1 blue crush is as predictable as the tides
3 waydowntown manages to nail the spiritcrushing ennui of denuded urban living without giving in to it
1 disturbing
3 but its defiantly and delightfully against the grain
3 a compelling comingofage drama about the arduous journey of a sensitive young girl through a series of foster homes and a fierce struggle to pull free from her dangerous and domineering mothers hold over her
3 strange it is but delightfully so
1 a clash between the artificial structure of the story and the more contemporary naturalistic tone of the film
4 jagger stoppard and director michael apted deliver a riveting and surprisingly romantic ride
3 if the material is slight and admittedly manipulative jacquot preserves toscas intoxicating ardor through his use of the camera
1 lrb a rrb slummer
1 ultimately in the history of the academy people may be wondering what all that jazz was about chicago in 2002
1 the direction occasionally rises to the level of marginal competence but for most of the film it is hard to tell who is chasing who or why
0 for a story set at sea ghost ship is pretty landbound with its leaden acting dull exposition and telegraphed surprises
0 on its icy face the new film is a subzero version of monsters inc without the latters imagination visual charm or texture
2 the 1960s rebellion was misdirected you ca nt fight your culture
1 millions of dollars heaped upon a project of such vast proportions need to reap more rewards than spiffy bluescreen technique and stylish weaponry
3 family portrait of need neurosis and nervy negativity is a rare treat that shows the promise of digital filmmaking
4 a poignant and gently humorous parable that loves its characters and communicates something rather beautiful about human nature
2 smug artificial illconstructed and fatally overlong it never finds a consistent tone and lacks bite degenerating into a pious preachy soap opera
4 charlie hunnam has the twinkling eyes repressed smile and determined face needed to carry out a dickensian hero
4 measured against practically any likethemed film other than its oscarsweeping franchise predecessor the silence of the lambs red dragon rates as an exceptional thriller
1 watching a brian depalma movie is like watching an alfred hitchcock movie after drinking twelve beers
0 guy gets girl guy loses girl audience falls asleep
1 this story gets sillier not scarier as it goes along
2 you can thank me for this
1 despite its hawaiian setting the sciencefiction trimmings and some moments of rowdy slapstick the basic plot of lilo could have been pulled from a tearstained vintage shirley temple script
4 reassuring retro uplifter
1 an alternately raucous and sappy ethnic sitcom youd be wise to send your regrets
3 the sheer joy and pride they took in their work and in each other shines through every frame
3 filmmaker stacy peralta has a flashy editing style that does nt always jell with sean penns monotone narration but he respects the material without sentimentalizing it
0 the nonstop artifice ultimately proves tiresome with the surface histrionics failing to compensate for the paperthin characterizations and facile situations
1 tv skitcom material fervently deposited on the big screen
0 is there a group of more selfabsorbed women than the mother and daughters featured in this film
2 lohman adapts to the changes required of her but the actress and director peter kosminsky never get the audience to break through the wall her character erects
2 the wonderful combination of the sweetness and the extraordinary technical accomplishments of the first film are maintained but its overall impact falls a little flat with a storyline that never quite delivers the original magic
3 although commentary on nachtwey is provided its the image that really tells the tale
1 everyones to blame here
3 instead she sees it as a chance to revitalize what is and always has been remarkable about clungto traditions
3 the film belongs to the marvelous verdu a sexy slip of an earth mother who mourns her tragedies in private and embraces life in public
3 assured glossy and shot through with brittle desperation
1 those who are only mildly curious i fear will be put to sleep or bewildered by the artsy and often pointless visuals
0 what ultimately makes windtalkers a disappointment is the superficial way it deals with its story
4 at least its a fairly impressive debut from the director charles stone iii
0 instead itll only put you to sleep
3 the evocative imagery and gentle lapping rhythms of this film are infectious it gets under our skin and draws us in long before the plot kicks into gear
4 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
0 truly terrible
4 labute masterfully balances both traditional or modern stories together in a manner that one never overwhelms the other
1 perrys good and his is an interesting character but serving sara has nt much more to serve than silly fluff
1 anemic pretentious
2 if the very concept makes you nervous youll have an idea of the films creepy scary effectiveness
1 watchable up until the point where the situations and the dialogue spin hopelessly out of control that is to say when carol kane appears on the screen
1 there might be some sort of credible genderprovoking philosophy submerged here but who the hell cares
1 lrb hopkins rrb does nt so much phone in his performance as fax it
1 the film is a confusing melange of tones and styles one moment a romantic trifle and the next a turgid drama
4 the film is one of the years best
3 a buoyant romantic comedy about friendship love and the truth that were all in this together
4 davis gets vivid performances from her cast and pulls off some deft ally mcbealstyle fantasy sequences
2 the sundance film festival has become so buzzobsessed that fans and producers descend upon utah each january to ferret out the next great thing
4 one of the most slyly exquisite antiadult movies ever made
4 what a bewilderingly brilliant and entertaining movie this is
2 the film will appeal to discovery channel fans and will surely widen the perspective of those of us who see the continent through rosecolored glasses
4 matthew lillard is born to play shaggy
4 light silly photographed with colour and depth and rather a good time
4 is funny in the way that makes you ache with sadness lrb the way chekhov is funny rrb profound without ever being selfimportant warm without ever succumbing to sentimentality
1 ultimately too repellent to fully endear itself to american art house audiences but it is notable for its stylistic austerity and forcefulness
1 in between all the emotional seesawing its hard to figure the depth of these two literary figures and even the times in which they lived
2 the combination of lightness and strictness in this instance gives italian for beginners an amiable aimlessness that keeps it from seeming predictably formulaic
3 continually challenges perceptions of guilt and innocence of good guys and bad and asks us whether a noble end can justify evil means
3 goodnaturedly cornball sequel
3 moonlight mile does nt quite go the distance but the cast is impressive and they all give life to these broken characters who are trying to make their way through this tragedy
1 and that is where ararat went astray
0 the documentary is much too conventional lots of boring talking heads etc to do the subject matter justice
3 discursive but oddly riveting documentary
1 this feature is about as necessary as a hole in the head
3 this movie got me grinning
2 the film virtually chokes on its own selfconsciousness
1 one of the most plain unimaginative romantic comedies ive ever seen
3 the rare imax movie that youll wish was longer than an hour
1 matrix style massacres erupt throughout but the movie has a tougher time balancing its violence with kafkainspired philosophy
4 elegantly produced and expressively performed the six musical numbers crystallize key plot moments into minutely detailed wonders of dreamlike ecstasy
3 this filmed tosca not the first by the way is a pretty good job if its filmed tosca that you want
2 lavishly exhilaratingly tasteless
3 would be an unendurable viewing experience for this ultraprovincial new yorker if 26yearold reese witherspoon were not on hand to inject her pure fantasy character melanie carmichael with a massive infusion of oldfashioned hollywood magic
1 richard pryor mined his personal horrors and came up with a treasure chest of material but lawrence gives us mostly fools gold
2 the thing looks like a madeforhomevideo quickie
1 this slender plot feels especially thin stretched over the nearly 80minute running time
3 reminiscent of alfred hitchcocks thrillers most of the scary parts in signs occur while waiting for things to happen
1 the merchantivory team continues to systematically destroy everything we hold dear about cinema only now its begun to split up so that it can do even more damage
1 its a bad sign in a thriller when you instantly know whodunit
3 as a thoughtful and unflinching examination of an alternative lifestyle sex with strangers is a success
1 a cockeyed shot all the way
1 befuddled in its characterizations as it begins to seem as long as the two year affair which is its subject
0 press the delete key
0 the plot is paperthin and the characters are nt interesting enough to watch them go about their daily activities for two whole hours
3 the best movie in many a moon about the passions that sometimes fuel our best achievements and other times leave us stranded with nothing more than our lesser appetites
3 i like that smith hes not making fun of these people hes not laughing at them
2 at its best when the guarded resentful betty and the manipulative yet needy margot are front and center
3 director tom dey demonstrated a knack for mixing action and idiosyncratic humor in his charming 2000 debut shanghai noon but showtimes uninspired sendup of tv cop show cliches mostly leaves him shooting blanks
2 i wo nt argue with anyone who calls slackers dumb insulting or childish but i laughed so much that i did nt mind
4 sparkling often hilarious romantic jealousy comedy attal looks so much like a young robert deniro that it seems the film should instead be called my husband is travis bickle
3 it throws quirky characters odd situations and offkilter dialogue at us all as if to say look at this
0 a surprisingly flat retread hobbled by halfbaked setups and sluggish pacing
0 its hard to understand why anyone in his right mind would even think to make the attraction a movie
2 aside from showing us in explicit detail how difficult it is to win over the twodrinkminimum crowd theres little to be learned from watching comedian
4 one of the best most understated performances of lrb jack nicholsons rrb career
3 an intense and effective film about loneliness and the chilly anonymity of the environments where so many of us spend so much of our time
3 its still a comic book but maguire makes it a comic book with soul
1 where the film falters is in its tone
4 amazing
2 a modestly comic modestly actionoriented world war ii adventure that in terms of authenticity is one of those films that requires the enemy to never shoot straight
3 wow so who knew charles dickens could be so lighthearted
3 hey happy
1 but heres a movie about it anyway
1 does nt get the job done running off the limited chemistry created by ralph fiennes and jennifer lopez
2 more than simply a portrait of early extreme sports this peek into the 1970s skateboard revolution is a skateboard film as social anthropology
4 a livewire film that never loses its ability to shock and amaze
2 lrb kirshner wins but its close rrb
0 like rudy yellow lodge eyre needs to take a good sweat to clarify his cinematic vision before his next creation and remember the lessons of the trickster spider
4 the largeformat film is well suited to capture these musicians in full regalia and the incredible imax sound system lets you feel the beat down to your toes
1 even bigger and more ambitious than the first installment spy kids 2 looks as if it were made by a highly gifted 12yearold instead of a grown man
0 the leads are so unmemorable despite several attempts at lengthy dialogue scenes that one eventually resents having to inhale this gutter romancers secondhand material
2 none of this has the suavity or classical familiarity of bond but much of it is good for a laugh
3 the heat of the moment prevails
2 wait for it to hit cable
1 bigelow handles the nuclear crisis sequences evenly but milks drama when she should be building suspense and drags out too many scenes toward the end that should move quickly
3 lrb a rrb satisfying niblet
3 but they fascinate in their recklessness
3 if you have nt seen the film lately you may be surprised at the variety of tones in spielbergs work
3 me no lika da accents so good but i thoroughly enjoyed the love story
1 the movies biggest shocks come from seeing former nymphette juliette lewis playing a saltoftheearth mommy named minnie and watching slim travel incognito in a ridiculous wig no respectable halloween costume shop would ever try to sell
1 a timid soggy near miss
1 hard as this may be to believe here on earth a surprisingly similar teen drama was a better film
3 its far from a frothy piece and the characters are complex laden with plenty of baggage and tinged with tragic undertones
2 the execution is so pedestrian that the most positive comment we can make is that rob schneider actually turns in a pretty convincing performance as a prissy teenage girl
2 watching et now in an era dominated by cold loud specialeffectsladen extravaganzas one is struck less by its lavish grandeur than by its intimacy and precision
1 if youre looking for a story do nt bother
3 the cast is spot on and the mood is laid back
2 absurdities and
1 a partyhearty teen flick that scalds like acid
4 a moving and stark reminder that the casualties of war reach much further than we imagine
0 a soso madefortv something posing as a real movie
4 astonishing lrb frames rrb profound ethical and philosophical questions in the form of dazzling pop entertainment
1 fans of plymptons shorts may marginally enjoy the film but it is doubtful this listless feature will win him any new viewers
1 the problem with the bread my sweet is that its far too sentimental
2 if you can tolerate the redneckversusblueblood cliches that the film trades in sweet home alabama is diverting in the manner of jeff foxworthys standup act
3 oh look at that clever angle
0 a crass and insulting homage to great films like some like it hot and the john wayne classics
2 this version moves beyond the originals nostalgia for the communal film experiences of yesteryear to a deeper realization of cinemas inability to stand in for true lived experience
2 since lee is a sentimentalist the film is more worshipful than your random e
3 i do nt know if frailty will turn bill paxton into an alist director but he can rest contentedly with the knowledge that hes made at least one damn fine horror movie
0 this movie a certain scene in particular brought me uncomfortably close to losing my lunch
1 theres a heavy stench of been there done that hanging over the film
2 only those most addicted to film violence in all its forms will find anything here to appreciate
1 the santa clause 2s plot may sound like it was cowritten by mattel executives and lobbyists for the tinsel industry
4 an energizing intoxicating documentary charting the rise of hiphop culture in general and the art of scratching lrb or turntablism rrb in particular
1 for all its social and political potential state property does nt end up being very inspiring or insightful
3 instead of hitting the audience over the head with a moral schrader relies on subtle ironies and visual devices to convey point of view
4 compellingly watchable
3 other than the slightly flawed lrb and fairly unbelievable rrb finale everything else is top shelf
2 this heist flick about young brooklyn hoods is off the shelf after two years to capitalize on the popularity of vin diesel seth green and barry pepper
1 the movie spends more time with schneider than with newcomer mcadams even though her performance is more interesting lrb and funnier rrb than his
1 certainly not a good movie but it was nt horrible either
4 blisteringly rude scarily funny sorrowfully sympathetic to the damage it surveys the film has in kieran culkin a pitchperfect holden
1 it is nt scary
3 and it sees those relationships including that between the son and his wife and the wife and the father and between the two brothers with incredible subtlety and acumen
1 like a fish thats lived too long austin powers in goldmember has some unnecessary parts and is kinda wrong in places
1 grant is nt cary and bullock is nt katherine
3 a seriocomic debut of extravagant promise by georgianisraeli director dover kosashvili
3 lrb its rrb a clever thriller with enough unexpected twists to keep our interest
1 if youre not a fan it might be like trying to eat brussels sprouts
1 the movie eventually snaps under the strain of its plot contrivances and its need to reassure
4 maelstrom is strange and compelling engrossing and different a moral tale with a twisted sense of humor
3 a touching smallscale story of family responsibility and care in the community
1 boasts eyecatching art direction but has a forcefully quirky tone that quickly wears out its limited welcome
3 this is a smart movie that knows its classical music knows its freud and knows its sade
4 kinnear gives his best screen performance with an oddly winning portrayal of one of lifes ultimate losers
4 their work is fantastic
2 as a movie it never seems fresh and vital
0 plodding poorly written murky and weakly acted the picture feels as if everyone making it lost their movie mojo
3 with notorious cho cho proves she has the stuff to stand tall with pryor carlin and murphy
2 near the end takes on a whole other meaning
0 the script assumes that not only would subtlety be lost on the target audience but that its also too stupid to realize that theyve already seen this exact same movie a hundred times
1 linklater fans or pretentious types who want to appear avantgarde will suck up to this project
2 there is one surefire way to get a nomination for a bestforeignfilm oscar make a movie about whimsical folk who learn a nonchallenging lifeaffirming lesson while walking around a foreign city with stunning architecture
1 it plods along methodically somehow under the assumption that its dead wife communicating from beyond the grave framework is even remotely new or interesting
2 labute ca nt avoid a fatal mistake in the modern era hes changed the male academic from a lowerclass brit to an american a choice that upsets the novels exquisite balance and shreds the fabric of the film
2 a virtual rollercoaster ride of glamour and sleaze
2 mostly the film is just hectic and homiletic two parts exhausting men in black mayhem to one part family values
1 you might want to take a reality check before you pay the full ticket price to see simone and consider a dvd rental instead
2 about a boy vividly recalls the cary grant of room for one more houseboat and father goose in its affectionate depiction of the gentle war between a reluctant irresponsible man and the kid who latches onto him
3 a light yet engrossing piece
0 the problem is that it is one that allows him to churn out one mediocre movie after another
4 unpretentious charming quirky original
3 where janice beard falters in its recycled aspects implausibility and sags in pace it rises in its courageousness and comedic employment
1 the movie is as padded as allens jelly belly
4 a dazzling dream of a documentary
4 an intelligently made lrb and beautifully edited rrb picture that at the very least has a spark of life to it more than you can say for plenty of movies that flow through the hollywood pipeline without a hitch
3 the unexplored story opportunities of punchdrunk love may have worked against the makers minimalist intent but it is an interesting exercise by talented writerdirector anderson
1 aspires to the cracked lunacy of the adventures of buckaroo banzai but thanks to an astonishingly witless script ends up more like the adventures of ford fairlane
3 mariah carey gives us another peek at some of the magic we saw in glitter here in wisegirls
3 rock solid family fun out of the gates extremely imaginative through out but wanes in the middle
4 clever and unflinching in its comic barbs slap her is a small but rewarding comedy that takes aim at contemporary southern adolescence and never lets up
3 the scorpion king is more fun than conan the barbarian
2 pedro rodrigues
3 a college story that works even without vulgarity sex scenes and cussing
0 there are cheesy backdrops ridiculous action sequences and many tired jokes about men in heels
1 all the more disquieting for its relatively gorefree allusions to the serial murders but it falls down in its attempts to humanize its subject
0 a lame romantic comedy about an unsympathetic character and someone who would not likely be so stupid as to get involved with her
1 once the downward spiral comes to pass auto focus bears out as your typical junkie opera
1 in the bookontape market the film of the kid stays in the picture would be an abridged edition
2 i wish windtalkers had had more faith in the dramatic potential of this true story
1 after an hour and a half of wondering sometimes amusedly sometimes impatiently just what this strenuously unconventional movie is supposed to be you discover that the answer is as conventional as can be
1 we hate lrb madonna rrb within the films first five minutes and she lacks the skill or presence to regain any ground
3 an ebullient tunisian film about the startling transformation of a traditionbound widow who is drawn into the exotic world of belly dancing
2 a frankenstein mishmash that careens from dark satire to cartoonish slapstick bartleby performs neither one very well
2 theres something not entirely convincing about the quiet american
1 chelsea walls is a case of too many chefs fussing over too weak a recipe
3 though filmed partly in canada paid in full has clever ways of capturing innercity life during the reagan years
1 it still feels like a prison stretch
2 as home movie gone haywire its pretty enjoyable but as sexual manifesto id rather listen to old tori amos records
1 ahnulds action hero days might be over
2 in gleefully thumpingly hyperbolic terms it covers just about every cliche in the compendium about crass jaded movie types and the phony baloney movie biz
0 the sweetest thing leaves a bitter taste
2 after the setup the air leaks out of the movie flattening its momentum with about an hour to go
4 because the film deliberately lacks irony it has a genuine dramatic impact it plays like a powerful 1957 drama weve somehow never seen before
3 in an art film
1 the satire is just too easy to be genuinely satisfying
2 a gem captured in the unhurried lowkey style favored by many directors of the iranian new wave
4 lrb a rrb real pleasure in its laidback way
0 aloof and lacks any real raw emotion which is fatal for a film that relies on personal relationships
1 this is cruel misanthropic stuff with only weak claims to surrealism and black comedy
3 there is truth here
2 the symbols float like butterflies and the spinning styx sting like bees
3 im going to give it a marginal thumbs up
2 otherwise maybe
3 while the path may be familiar firsttime director denzel washington and a topnotch cast manage to keep things interesting
3 if you answered yes by all means enjoy the new guy
4 throws in enough clever and unexpected twists to make the formula feel fresh
4 he does this so well you do nt have the slightest difficulty accepting him in the role
3 the premise of jason x is silly but strangely believable
3 yayas everywhere will forgive the flaws and love the film
3 i will be
4 lrb washingtons rrb strong hand keen eye sweet spirit and good taste are reflected in almost every scene
3 what a dumb fun curiously adolescent movie this is
2 cold and scattered minority report commands interest almost solely as an exercise in gorgeous visuals
2 national lampoons van wilder may aim to be the next animal house but it more closely resembles this years version of tomcats
3 a well made indieflick in need of some trims and a more chemistry between its stars
2 the film truly does rescue lrb the funk brothers rrb from motowns shadows
3 director chris wedge and screenwriters michael berg michael j wilson and peter ackerman create some episodes that rival vintage looney tunes for the most creative mayhem in a brief amount of time
1 the star who helped give a spark to chasing amy and changing lanes falls flat as thinking man cia agent jack ryan in this summers new action film the sum of all fears
3 a playful iranian parable about openness particularly the need for people of diverse political perspectives to get along despite their ideological differences
2 if only there were one for this kind of movie
1 you can taste it but theres no fizz
0 controlaltdelete simone as quickly as possible
0 strong filmmaking requires a clear sense of purpose and in that ohsoimportant category the four feathers comes up short
4 enriched by a strong and unforced supporting cast
3 nothing overly original mind you but solidly entertaining
4 at its best this is grandscale moviemaking for a largerthanlife figure an artist who has been awarded mythic status in contemporary culture
3 funny in a sick twisted sort of way
3 its fun but its a real howler
1 a manipulative feminist empowerment tale thinly posing as a serious drama about spousal abuse
0 a semiautobiographical film thats so sloppily written and cast that you can not believe anyone more central to the creation of bugsy than the caterer had anything to do with it
2 renner
1 for all its violence the movie is remarkably dull with only caine making much of an impression
2 trades runofthemill revulsion for extreme unease
3 shes allpowerful a voice for a popcyber culture that feeds on her bjorkness
3 like many western action films this thriller is too loud and thoroughly overbearing but its heartfelt concern about north koreas recent past and south koreas future adds a much needed moral weight
4 the actors are fantastic
3 its got all the familiar bruckheimer elements and schumacher does probably as good a job as anyone at bringing off the hopkinsrock collision of acting styles and onscreen personas
2 the trinity assembly approaches the endeavor with a shocking lack of irony and george ratliffs documentary hell house reflects their earnestness which makes for a terrifying film
1 becomes the last thing you would expect from a film with this title or indeed from any plympton film boring
2 but it is set in a world that is very very far from the one most of us inhabit
1 call me a cynic but theres something awfully deadly about any movie with a lifeaffirming message
2 i have no problem with difficult movies or movies that ask the audience to meet them halfway and connect the dots instead of having things all spelled out
3 by surrounding us with hyperartificiality haynes makes us see familiar issues like racism and homophobia in a fresh way
1 though frida is easier to swallow than julie taymors preposterous titus the eye candy here lacks considerable brio
1 full frontal which opens today nationwide could almost be classified as a movieindustry satire but it lacks the generous inclusiveness that is the genres definitive if disingenuous feature
3 while the humor is recognizably plympton he has actually bothered to construct a real story this time
4 drumline shows a level of young black manhood that is funny touching smart and complicated
0 this is a movie filled with unlikable spiteful idiots whether or not their friendship is salvaged makes no difference in the least
1 this insufferable movie is meant to make you think about existential suffering
4 this sensitive smart savvy compelling comingofage drama delves into the passiveaggressive psychology of codependence and the struggle for selfesteem
1 all the small moments and flashbacks do nt add up to much more than trite observations on the human condition
4 a beautifully observed character piece
2 though it inspires some lrb outoffield rrb creative thought the film is to its own detriment much more a cinematic collage than a polemical tract
0 perhaps the grossest movie ever made
3 does a good job of establishing a time and place and of telling a fascinating characters story
0 in fact it does nt even seem like she tried
2 spare yet audacious
2 with three excellent principal singers a youthful and goodlooking diva and tenor and richly handsome locations its enough to make you wish jacquot had left well enough alone and just filmed the opera without all these distortions of perspective
0 after several scenes of this tacky nonsense youll be wistful for the testosteronecharged wizardry of jerry bruckheimer productions especially because half past dead is like the rock on a walmart budget
1 could nt someone take rob schneider and have him switch bodies with a funny person
3 formuliac but fun
0 what might have been acceptable on the printed page of iles book does not translate well to the screen
3 the sight of the spaceship on the launching pad is duly impressive in imax dimensions as are shots of the astronauts floating in their cabins
3 as hannibal would say yes its like having an old friend for dinner
3 williams absolutely nails sys queasy infatuation and overall strangeness
1 paul bettany is good at being the ultraviolent gangster wannabe but the movie is certainly not number 1
0 this is the kind of movie that you only need to watch for about thirty seconds before you say to yourself ah yes here we have a bad bad bad movie
0 personally id rather watch them on the animal planet
4 the lively appeal of the last kiss lies in the ease with which it integrates thoughtfulness and pastafagioli comedy
0 an annoying orgy of excess and exploitation that has no point and goes nowhere
3 this deeply spiritual film taps into the meaning and consolation in afterlife communications
0 there are now two signs that m night shyamalans debut feature sucked up all he has to give to the mystic genres of cinema unbreakable and signs
3 the filmmakers try to balance pointed often incisive satire and unabashed sweetness with results that are sometimes bracing sometimes baffling and quite often and in unexpected ways touching
2 does little to elaborate the conceit of setting this bloodsoaked tragedy of murderous ambition in the era of richard nixon
1 go girls right down the reality drain
3 the power of shanghai ghetto a documentary by dana janklowiczmann and amir mann rests in the voices of men and women now in their 70s who lived there in the 1940s
3 funny and touching
0 there is nothing redeeming about this movie
3 its a spectacular performance ahem we hope its only acting
0 the waterlogged script plumbs uncharted depths of stupidity incoherence and subsophomoric sexual banter
1 it concentrates far too much on the awkward interplay and utter lack of chemistry between chan and hewitt
4 a stirring tribute to the bravery and dedication of the worlds reporters who willingly walk into the nightmare of war not only to record the events for posterity but to help us clearly see the world of our making
1 a lot like the imaginary sport it projects onto the screen loud violent and mindless
3 if you like an extreme actionpacked film with a hint of humor then triple x marks the spot
2 the simplicity of the way home has few equals this side of aesop
1 the only reason you should see this movie is if you have a case of masochism and an hour and a half to blow
3 the film is saved from are nt kidscute sentimentality by a warmth that is nt faked and a stately sense of composition
1 a few pieces of the film buzz and whir very little of it actually clicks
3 like any good romance son of the bride proves its never too late to learn
3 one of the funniest motion pictures of the year but also one of the most curiously depressing
3 a film thats flawed and brilliant in equal measure
1 an imponderably stilted and selfconsciously arty movie
3 the story like ravels bolero builds to a crescendo that encompasses many more paths than we started with
0 this thing is virtually unwatchable
3 the movie does its best to work us over with second helpings of love romance tragedy false dawns real dawns comic relief two separate crises during marriage ceremonies and the lush scenery of the cotswolds
4 what a concept what an idea what a thrill ride
3 and thanks to the presence of the king it also rocks
3 i do nt feel the least bit ashamed in admitting that my enjoyment came at the expense of seeing justice served even if its a dish thats best served cold
3 everybody loves a david and goliath story and this one is told almost entirely from davids point of view
3 the performances are strong though the subject matter demands acting that borders on hammy at times
1 an inexperienced director mehta has much to learn
2 ryosuke has created a wry winning if languidly paced meditation on the meaning and value of family
3 it has a caffeinated sloppy brilliance sparkling with ideas you wish had been developed with more care but animated by an energy that puts the dutiful efforts of more disciplined gradegrubbers to shame
1 its just not very smart
1 it wears its heart on the sleeve of its gaudy hawaiian shirt
4 like a skillful fisher the director uses the last act to reel in the audience since its poignancy hooks us completely
4 a wild ride with eight boarders from venice beach that was a deserved cowinner of the audience award for documentaries at the sundance film festival
0 but the 2002 film does nt really believe in it and breaks the mood with absurdly inappropriate comedy scenes
3 birot creates a drama with such a welldefined sense of place and age as in 15 years old that the torments and angst become almost as operatic to us as they are to her characters
1 toward the end sum of all fears morphs into a mundane70s disaster flick
3 your 20th outing shows off a lot of stamina and vitality and get this madonnas cameo does nt suck
4 the production design score and choreography are simply intoxicating
3 for almost the first twothirds of martin scorseses 168minute gangs of new york i was entranced
1 a brutally dry satire of middle american numbness
2 a perfectly acceptable perfectly bland competently acted but by no means scary horror movie
3 the tasteful little revision works wonders enhancing the cultural and economic subtext bringing richer meaning to the storys morals
1 and diesel is nt the actor to save it
0 wendigo wants to be a monster movie for the arthouse crowd but it falls into the trap of pretention almost every time
4 nothing short of wonderful with its tenyearold female protagonist and its steadfast refusal to set up a dualistic battle between good and evil
3 drumline is the mere suggestion albeit a visually compelling one of a fully realized story
2 with lesser talents high crimes would be entertaining but forgettable
4 the history is fascinating the action is dazzling
1 i could nt help but feel the wasted potential of this slapstick comedy
3 all in all road to perdition is more in love with strangeness than excellence
2 demeo is not without talent he just needs better material
1 puportedly based on true events a convolution of language that suggests its impossible to claim that it is based on a true story with a straight face
2 gripping and handsome execution lrb but rrb there is nt much about k19 thats unique or memorable
0 i liked the original short story but this movie even at an hour and twentysome minutes its too long and it goes nowhere
0 an artsploitation movie with too much exploitation and too little art
0 a sour little movie at its core an exploration of the emptiness that underlay the relentless gaiety of the 1920s the films ending has a what was it all for
1 check your brain and your secret agent decoder ring at the door because you do nt want to think too much about whats going on
1 talkiness is nt necessarily bad but the dialogue frequently misses the mark
3 the pianist is the film roman polanski may have been born to make
3 its funny and human and really pretty damned wonderful all at once
4 the first tunisian film i have ever seen and its also probably the most goodhearted yet sensual entertainment im likely to see all year
2 there are more shots of children smiling for the camera than typical documentary footage which hurts the overall impact of the film
1 like a pack of dynamite sticks built for controversy
2 alas another breathless movie about same
3 lrb reaches rrb wholly believable and heartwrenching depths of despair
2 if you do nt well skip to another review
2 in my opinion analyze that is not as funny or entertaining as analyze this but it is a respectable sequel
0 a generic bloodbath that often becomes laughably unbearable when it is nt merely offensive
1 can be classified as one of those alternate reality movies except that it would have worked so much better dealing in only one reality
1 this wretchedly unfunny wannabe comedy is inane and awful no doubt its the worst movie ive seen this summer
4 entirely suspenseful extremely wellpaced and ultimately dare i say entertaining
4 red dragon is entertaining
3 quitting offers piercing domestic drama with spikes of sly humor
1 it winds up moving in many directions as it searches lrb vainly i think rrb for something fresh to say
3 an improvement on the feeble examples of bigscreen pokemania that have preceded it
3 fear permeates the whole of stortelling todd solondz oftentimes funny yet ultimately cowardly autocritique
3 as a film director labute continues to improve
0 dull a roadtrip movie thats surprisingly short of both adventure and song
3 you wo nt have any trouble getting kids to eat up these veggies
2 some may choose to interpret the films end as hopeful or optimistic but i think payne is after something darker
4 scott delivers a terrific performance in this fascinating portrait of a modern lothario
1 overwrought melodramatic bodiceripper
2 steers has an unexpectedly adamant streak of warmblooded empathy for all his disparate manhattan denizens especially the a holes
2 these two are generating about as much chemistry as an iraqi factory poised to receive a un inspector
4 jeffrey tambors performance as the intelligent jazzplaying exterminator is oscarworthy
3 this familiar riseandfall tale is long on glamour and short on larger moralistic consequences though its told with sharp ears and eyes for the tenor of the times
0 even the hastily and amateurishly drawn animation can not engage
1 plodding peevish and gimmicky
2 insomnia does not become one of those rare remakes to eclipse the original but it does nt disgrace it either
1 no
0 to say that this vapid vehicle is downright doltish and uneventful is just as obvious as telling a country skunk that he has severe body odor
0 its crap on a leash far too polite to scale the lunatic heights of joe dantes similarly styled gremlins
4 at 78 minutes it just zings along with vibrance and warmth
4 you have to see it
0 if ever such a dependable concept was botched in execution this is it
2 a tasty slice of droll whimsy
1 while the humor aspects of jason x were far more entertaining than i had expected everything else about the film tanks
1 rice is too pedestrian a filmmaker to bring any edge or personality to the rising place that would set it apart from other deep south stories
2 broomfield reveals an ironic manifestation of institutionalized slavery that ties a blackowned record label with a whiteempowered police force
1 ritchies film is easier to swallow than wertmullers polemical allegory but its selfdefeatingly decorous
1 the film is ultimately about as inspiring as a hallmark card
0 with little visible talent and no energy colin hanks is in bad need of major acting lessons and maybe a little coffee
3 the film oozes craft
3 stevens vibrant creative instincts are the difference between this and countless other flicks about guys and dolls
3 weighty and ponderous but every bit as filling as the treat of the title
1 theres an excellent 90minute film here unfortunately it runs for 170
3 but it does somehow manage to get you under its spell
4 brian tufanos handsome widescreen photography and paul grabowskys excellent music turn this fairly parochial melodrama into something really rather special
3 uplifting funny and wise
2 old people will love this movie and i mean that in the nicest possible way last orders will touch the heart of anyone old enough to have earned a 50year friendship
0 a poky and pseudoserious exercise in sham actor workshops and an affected malaise
3 these characters are so well established that the gang feels comfortable with taking insane liberties and doing the goofiest stuff out of left field and im all for that
4 just about the surest bet for an allaround good time at the movies this summer
4 its all about anakin and the lustrous polished visuals rich in color and creativity and of course special effect
1 the efforts of its star kline to lend some dignity to a dumb story are for naught
1 a sometimes incisive and sensitive portrait that is undercut by its awkward structure and a final veering toward melodrama
3 that alabama manages to be pleasant in spite of its predictability and occasional slowness is due primarily to the perkiness of witherspoon lrb who is always a joy to watch even when her material is not firstrate rrb
0 starts out strongly before quickly losing its focus point and purpose in a mess of mixed messages overblown drama and bruce willis with a scar
3 world traveler might not go anywhere new or arrive anyplace special but its certainly an honest attempt to get at something
3 you would nt want to live waydowntown but it is a hilarious place to visit
1 too intensely focused on the travails of being hal hartley to function as pastiche no such thing is hartleys least accessible screed yet
4 a simple tale of an unlikely friendship but thanks to the gorgeous locales and exceptional lead performances it has considerable charm
3 those who do nt entirely get godards distinctive discourse will still come away with a sense of his reserved but existential poignancy
3 yes soar
4 a genuinely funny ensemble comedy that also asks its audience in a heartwarming nonjudgmental kind of way to consider what we value in our daily lives
0 kirshner and monroe seem to be in a contest to see who can outbadact the other
2 qutting may be a flawed film but it is nothing if not sincere
3 has far more energy wit and warmth than should be expected from any movie with a 2 at the end of its title
3 throughout mr audiards direction is fluid and quick
1 a painfully slow clicheridden film filled with more holes than clyde barrows car
0 a wishywashy melodramatic movie that shows us plenty of sturm und drung but explains its characters decisions only unsatisfactorily
4 one of the best looking and stylish animated movies in quite a while
3 nicole kidman evolved from star to superstar some time over the past year which means that birthday girl is the kind of quirkily appealing minor movie she might not make for a while
2 it seems grant does nt need the floppy hair and the selfdeprecating stammers after all
2 oops shes really done it this time
4 the characters are complex and quirky but entirely believable as the remarkable ensemble cast brings them to life
3 jackson is always watchable
4 deep intelligence and a warm enveloping affection breathe out of every frame
3 terry is a sort of geriatric dirty harry which will please eastwoods loyal fans and suits the story wherein our hero must ride roughshod over incompetent cops to get his man
1 lrb soderbergh rrb tends to place most of the psychological and philosophical material in italics rather than trust an audiences intelligence and he creates an overall sense of brusqueness
3 its fairly solid not to mention well edited so that it certainly does nt feel like a film that strays past the two and a half mark
1 predecessors the mummy and the mummy returns stand as intellectual masterpieces next to the scorpion king
1 a really good premise is frittered away in middleoftheroad blandness
1 yet another entry in the sentimental ohthosewackybrits genre that was ushered in by the full monty and is still straining to produce another smash hit
4 time is a beautiful film to watch an interesting and at times captivating take on loss and loneliness
1 in his role of observer of the scene lawrence sounds whiny and defensive as if his lifealtering experiences made him bitter and less mature
3 while insomnia is in many ways a conventional even predictable remake nolans penetrating undercurrent of cerebral and cinemantic flair lends lrb it rrb stimulating depth
4 the pianist lrb is rrb a supremely hopeful cautionary tale of wars madness remembered that we today can prevent its tragic waste of life
3 it does nt reach them but the effort is gratefully received
2 jampacked with literally bruising jokes
1 seems like someone going through the motions
3 while i ca nt say its on par with the first one stuart little 2 is a light fun cheese puff of a movie
3 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 the chateau belongs to rudd whose portrait of a therapydependent flakeball spouting french malapropisms is a nonstop hoot
0 the film does nt have enough innovation or pizazz to attract teenagers and it lacks the novel charm that made spy kids a surprising winner with both adults and younger audiences
1 at once overly oldfashioned in its sudsy plotting and heavyhanded in its effort to modernize it with encomia to diversity and tolerance
2 what is the filmmakers point
0 maid in manhattan proves that its easier to change the sheets than to change hackneyed concepts when it comes to dreaming up romantic comedies
3 wonderful fencing scenes and an exciting plot make this an eminently engrossing film
2 another in a long line of ultraviolent war movies this one is not quite what it could have been as a film but the story and theme make up for it
3 the concert footage is stirring the recording sessions are intriguing and on the way to striking a blow for artistic integrity this quality band may pick up new admirers
2 many of benjamins elements feel like theyve been patched in from an episode of miami vice
3 there are a couple of things that elevate glory above most of its ilk most notably the mere presence of duvall
3 the way home is an ode to unconditional love and compassion garnered from years of seeing it all a condition only the old are privy to and often misconstrued as weakness
1 an ugly revolting movie
3 it never quite makes it to the boiling point but manages to sustain a good simmer for most of its running time
3 like kissing jessica stein amys orgasm has a key strength in its willingness to explore its principal characters with honesty insight and humor
2 the main problem being that its only a peek
0 as predictable as the outcome of a globetrottersgenerals game juwanna mann is even more ludicrous than youd expect from the guyinadress genre and a personal low for everyone involved
0 but its hard to imagine a more generic effort in the genre
4 jason patric and ray liotta make for one splendidly cast pair
4 this oftenhilarious farce manages to generate the belly laughs of lowbrow comedy without sacrificing its highminded appeal
0 its simply stupid irrelevant and deeply truly bottomlessly cynical
3 the actresses find their own rhythm and protect each other from the scripts bad ideas and awkwardness
1 its just hard to believe that a life like this can sound so dull
1 if youre not fans of the adventues of steve and terri you should avoid this like the dreaded king brown snake
2 wait for pay per view or rental but do nt dismiss barbershop out of hand
2 all very stylish and beautifully photographed but far more trouble than its worth with fantasy mixing with reality and actors playing more than one role just to add to the confusion
3 the dangerous lives of altar boys has flaws but it also has humor and heart and very talented young actors
1 this is not a classical dramatic animated feature nor a hip contemporary injokey one
2 a technically wellmade suspenser but its abrupt drop in iq points as it races to the finish line proves simply too discouraging to let slide
4 a funny and wellcontructed black comedy where the old adage be careful what you wish for is given a full workout
2 ram dass fierce grace moulds itself as an example to upandcoming documentarians of the overlooked pitfalls of such an endeavour
4 a sundrenched masterpiece part parlor game part psychological case study part droll social satire
0 so bland and utterly forgettable that it might as well have been titled generic jennifer lopez romantic comedy
1 cal is an unpleasantly shallow and immature character with whom to spend 110 claustrophobic minutes
1 it lacks the compassion goodnatured humor and the level of insight that made lrb eyres rrb first film something of a sleeper success
4 and thanks to klines superbly nuanced performance that pondering is highly pleasurable
2 the film was nt preachy but it was feminism by the book
3 a lot more dimensional and complex than its sunny disposition would lead you to believe
4 miller comes at film with bracing intelligence and a vision both painterly and literary
4 grenier is terrific bringing an unforced rapidfire delivery to tobacks heidegger and nietzschereferencing dialogue
3 rubbo runs through a remarkable amount of material in the films short 90 minutes
0 deep down i realized the harsh reality of my situation i would leave the theater with a lower iq than when i had entered
0 a story which fails to rise above its disgusting source material
1 to blandly go where we went 8 movies ago
1 liotta is put in an impossible spot because his characters deceptions ultimately undo him and the believability of the entire scenario
4 vividly demonstrates that the director of such hollywood blockbusters as patriot games can still turn out a small personal film with an emotional wallop
3 an overly familiar scenario is made fresh by an intelligent screenplay and gripping performances in this lowbudget videoshot debut indie effort
0 its still terrible
2 represents something very close to the nadir of the thrillerhorror genre
4 beautifully shot against the frozen winter landscapes of grenoble and geneva the film unfolds with all the mounting tension of an expert thriller until the tragedy beneath it all gradually reveals itself
4 a man leaving the screening said the film was better than saving private ryan
3 oddly compelling
4 a soulstirring documentary about the israelipalestinian conflict as revealed through the eyes of some children who remain curious about each other against all odds
3 certainly the performances are worthwhile
1 apparently designed as a reverie about memory and regret but the only thing youll regret is remembering the experience of sitting through it
4 it trusts the story it sets out to tell
1 bad company
4 an engrossing and infectiously enthusiastic documentary
3 a memorable experience that like many of his works presents weighty issues colorfully wrapped up in his own idiosyncratic strain of kitschy goodwill
4 its gentle touching story creeps into your heart
0 has about 34th the fun of its spry 2001 predecessor but its a rushed slapdash sequelforthesake ofasequel with less than half the plot and ingenuity
2 alain choquarts camera barely stops moving portraying both the turmoil of the time and giving conduct a perpetual sense of urgency which for a film that takes nearly three hours to unspool is both funny and irritating
2 the kind of sense of humor that derives from a workmans grasp of pun and entendre and its attendant need to constantly draw attention to itself
0 a cellophanepop remake of the punk classic ladies and gentlemen the fabulous stains crossroads is never much worse than bland or better than inconsequential
2 the fast runner transports the viewer into an unusual space
1 every joke is repeated at least four times
2 what you end up getting is the vertical limit of surfing movies memorable stunts with lots of downtime in between
3 should be required viewing for civics classes and wouldbe public servants alike
4 noyce has worked wonders with the material
1 wes cravens presence is felt not the craven of a nightmare on elm street or the hills have eyes but the sad schlock merchant of deadly friend
3 is a temporal inquiry that shoulders its philosophical burden lightly
3 you may feel compelled to watch the film twice or pick up a book on the subject
0 loosely speaking were in all of me territory again and strictly speaking schneider is no steve martin
2 on a certain base level blue crush delivers what it promises just not well enough to recommend it
1 gussied up with so many distracting special effects and visual party tricks that its not clear whether were supposed to shriek or laugh
1 the screenplay cowritten by director imogen kimmel lacks the wit necessary to fully exploit the comic elements of the premise making the proceedings more bizarre than actually amusing
1 thats because relatively nothing happens
2 snow dogs has both
3 a decentenough nailbiter that stands a good chance of being the big hit franklin needs to stay afloat in hollywood
0 the movie is concocted and carried out by folks worthy of scorn and the nicest thing i can say is that i ca nt remember a single name responsible for it
2 the impulses that produced this project are commendable but the results are uneven
2 watching harris ham it up while physically and emotionally disintegrating over the course of the movie has a certain poignancy in light of his recent death but boyds film offers little else of consequence
4 as quiet patient and tenacious as mr lopez himself who approaches his difficult endless work with remarkable serenity and discipline
4 hugely entertaining from start to finish featuring a fall from grace that still leaves shockwaves it will gratify anyone who has ever suspected hollywood of being overrun by corrupt and hedonistic weasels
1 squandering his opportunity to make absurdist observations burns gets caught up in the rush of slapstick thoroughfare
4 topics that could make a sailor blush but lots of laughs
2 its so laddish and juvenile only teenage boys could possibly find it funny
3 one of those movies that make us pause and think of what we have given up to acquire the fastpaced contemporary society
0 a loud brash and mainly unfunny high school comedy
4 one of the most entertaining monster movies in ages
1 the movies somethingborrowed construction feels less the product of loving well integrated homage and more like a mere excuse for the wan thinly sketched story
1 with tiny little jokes and nary an original idea this sappy ethnic sleeper proves that not only blockbusters pollute the summer movie pool
1 the movie keeps coming back to the achingly unfunny phonce and his several silly subplots
2 a mostly boring affair with a confusing sudden finale thats likely to irk viewers
1 a realitysnubbing hodgepodge
0 grows decidedly flimsier with its many outsized out of character and logically porous action set pieces
3 the humor and humanity of monsoon wedding are in perfect balance
2 there are things to like about murder by numbers but in the end the disparate elements do nt gel
3 quaid is utterly fearless as the tortured husband living a painful lie and moore wonderfully underplays the longsuffering heroine with an unflappable50s dignity somewhere between jane wyman and june cleaver
2 what begins as a film in the tradition of the graduate quickly switches into something more recyclable than significant
1 apparently reassembled from the cuttingroom floor of any given daytime soap
4 a brisk reverent and subtly different sequel
4 the story once it gets rolling is nothing short of a great one
2 its not the worst comedy of the year but it certainly wo nt win any honors
2 some people want the ol ballandchain and then there are those who just want the ball and chain
4 one of the funnier movies in town
4 the universal theme of becoming a better person through love has never been filmed more irresistibly than in baran
1 american and european cinema has amassed a vast holocaust literature but it is impossible to think of any film more challenging or depressing than the grey zone
2 an elegant film
4 an example of quiet confident craftsmanship that tells a sweet charming tale of intergalactic friendship
0 a plodding teen remake thats so mechanical you can smell the grease on the plot twists
4 a stylistic romp thats always fun to watch
3 like its title character this nicholas nickleby finds itself in reduced circumstances and also like its hero it remains brightly optimistic coming through in the end
3 although mainstream american movies tend to exploit the familiar every once in a while a film arrives from the margin that gives viewers a chance to learn to grow to travel
2 film ca nt quite maintain its initial momentum but remains sporadically funny throughout
3 it seems impossible that an epic fourhour indian musical about a cricket game could be this good but it is
4 a zingerfilled crowdpleaser that openminded elvis fans lrb but by no means all rrb will have fun with
1 kicks off with an inauspicious premise mopes through a dreary tract of virtually plotless meanderings and then ends with a whimper
0 most of the problems with the film do nt derive from the screenplay but rather the mediocre performances by most of the actors involved
3 theres no conversion effort much of the writing is genuinely witty and both stars are appealing enough to probably have a good shot at a hollywood career if they want one
1 the movie turns out to be lrb assayas rrb homage to the gallic tradition of quality in all its fusty squareness
1 mattei so completely loses himself to the films circular structure to ever offer any insightful discourse on well love in the time of money
4 returning director rob minkoff and screenwriter bruce joel rubin have done a fine job of updating whites dry wit to a new age
3 the film has a laundry list of minor shortcomings but the numerous scenes of gory mayhem are worth the price of admission if gory mayhem is your idea of a good time
2 that is because damn it
0 it would be great to see this turd squashed under a truck preferably a semi
2 what a vast enterprise has been marshaled in the service of such a minute idea
4 this may be burnss strongest film since the brothers mcmullen
1 no better or worse than truth or consequences nm or any other interchangeable actioner with imbecilic mafia toolbags botching a routine assignment in a western backwater
3 deliciously meanspirited and wryly observant
3 when twentysomething hotsies make movies about their lives harddriving narcissism is a given but what a world wed live in if argentos hollywood counterparts had this much imagination and nerve
3 but its worth the concentration
1 despite its promising cast of characters big trouble remains a loosely tied series of vignettes which only prove that zany does nt necessarily mean funny
0 but the second half of the movie really goes downhill
0 it is supremely unfunny and unentertaining to watch middleage and older men drink to excess piss on trees bs one another and put on a show in drag
1 the big finish is a bit like getting all excited about a chocolate eclair and then biting into it and finding the filling missing
4 a good music documentary probably one of the best since the last waltz
2 it is a movie about passion
2 certainly
4 but whats nice is that theres a casual intelligence that permeates the script
1 lush and beautifully photographed lrb somebody suggested the stills might make a nice coffee table book rrb but ultimately youll leave the theater wondering why these people mattered
1 another example of how sandler is losing his touch
4 this is an undeniably intriguing film from an adventurous young talent who finds his inspiration on the fringes of the american underground
3 a fleetfooted and pleasingly upbeat family diversion
3 efficient suitably anonymous chiller
2 this followup seems so similar to the 1953 disney classic that it makes one long for a geriatric peter
0 the movies plot is almost entirely witless and inane carrying every gag two or three times beyond its limit to sustain a laugh
1 this movie is so bad that its almost worth seeing because its so bad
3 gently humorous and touching
2 at its worst the movie is pretty diverting the pity is that it rarely achieves its best
4 it cuts to the core of what it actually means to face your fears to be a girl in a world of boys to be a boy truly in love with a girl and to ride the big metaphorical wave that is life wherever it takes you
2 spiderman is in the same category as xmen occasionally brilliant but mostly average showing signs of potential for the sequels but not giving us much this time around
2 when the twist endings were actually surprising
1 much of the cast is stiff or just plain bad
2 the last three narcissists left on earth compete for each others affections
3 represents a worthy departure from the culture clash comedies that have marked an emerging indian american cinema
4 a compelling film
1 the movie is well done but slow
2 it is up to you to decide if you need to see it
3 yet in its own aloof unreachable way its so fascinating you wo nt be able to look away for a second
0 bad is the operative word for bad company and i do nt mean that in a good way
3 im not a fan of the phrase life affirming because it usually means schmaltzy but real women have curves truly is life affirming
1 no one can doubt the filmmakers motives but the guys still feels counterproductive
4 offers a cleareyed chronicle of a female friendship that is more complex and honest than anything represented in a hollywood film
0 the worst film of the year
1 christian bales quinn lrb is rrb a leather clad grungepirate with a hairdo like gandalf in a windtunnel and a simply astounding corblimeyluvaduck cockney accent
0 the only thing scary about feardotcom is that the filmmakers and studio are brazen enough to attempt to pass this stinker off as a scary movie
2 throwing it all away for the fleeting joys of loves brief moment
0 take away the controversy and its not much more watchable than a mexican soap opera
3 a raunchy and frequently hilarious followup to the gifted korean american standups im the one that i want
4 painful horrifying and oppressively tragic this film should not be missed
4 the most brilliant and brutal uk crime film since jack carter went back to newcastle the first half of gangster no 1 drips with style and at times blood
0 yes i suppose its lovely that cal works out his issues with his dad and comes to terms with his pictureperfect life but world traveler gave me no reason to care so i did nt
4 broomfield is energized by volletta wallaces maternal fury her fearlessness and because of that his film crackles
3 yet the act is still charming here
1 the plots contrivances are uncomfortably strained
4 it has that rare quality of being able to creep the living hell out of you
3 he drags it back singlehanded
2 it may not be last tango in paris but
1 a home alone film that is staged like rosemarys baby but is not as wellconceived as either of those films
2 a rather average action film that benefits from several funny moments supplied by epps
3 of whimsicality narrative discipline and serious improvisation
3 often hilarious
1 im convinced i could keep a family of five blind crippled amish people alive in this situation better than these british soldiers do at keeping themselves kicking
3 an elegant work food of love is as consistently engaging as it is revealing
1 the jokes are telegraphed so far in advance they must have been lost in the mail
1 give shapiro goldman and bolado credit for good intentions but theres nothing here that they could nt have done in half an hour
0 this is nt even a movie we can enjoy as mild escapism it is one in which fear and frustration are provoked to intolerable levels
3 its good hardedged stuff violent and a bit exploitative but also nicely done morally alert and streetsmart
3 i like it
3 on its own big trouble could be considered a funny little film
3 its not nearly as fresh or enjoyable as its predecessor but there are enough high points to keep this from being a complete waste of time
1 this tale has been told and retold the races and rackets change but the song remains the same
0 worthless from its pseudorockvideo opening to the idiocy of its last frames
0 makes a joke out of car chases for an hour and then gives us half an hour of car chases
4 a knowing sense of humor and a lot of warmth ignite son of the bride
1 though there are entertaining and audacious moments the movies wildly careening tone and an extremely flat lead performance do little to salvage this filmmakers flailing reputation
4 the son of the brides humour is born out of an engaging storyline which also is nt embarrassed to make you reach for the tissues
4 even if the naipaul original remains the real masterpiece the movie possesses its own languorous charm
3 ambitious unsettling psychodrama that takes full chilling advantage of its rougharoundtheedges lowbudget constraints
3 most of the things that made the original men in black such a pleasure are still there
3 at times a bit melodramatic and even a little dated lrb depending upon where you live rrb ignorant fairies is still quite goodnatured and not a bad way to spend an hour or two
2 or for the year for that matter
4 i had more fun watching spy than i had with most of the big summer movies
0 its just merely very bad
2 the shackles
3 watching this gentle mesmerizing portrait of a man coming to terms with time you barely realize your mind is being blown
3 you can watch giggle and get an adrenaline boost without feeling like youve completely lowered your entertainment standards
2 some movies blend together as they become distant memories
0 nair just does nt have the necessary selfcontrol to guide a loose poorly structured film through the pitfalls of incoherence and redundancy
3 chouraqui brings documentarylike credibility to the horrors of the killing field and the barbarism of ethnic cleansing
1 woody allen used to ridicule movies like hollywood ending
1 its mildly amusing but i certainly ca nt recommend it
0 and its not that funny which is just generally insulting
0 as david letterman and the onion have proven the worst of tragedies can be fertile sources of humor but lawrence has only a fleeting grasp of how to develop them
1 they just have problems which are neither original nor are presented in convincing way
3 for all the dolorous trim secretary is a genial romance that maintains a surprisingly buoyant tone throughout notwithstanding some of the writers sporadic dips into pop freudianism
3 like the original this version is raised a few notches above kiddie fantasy pablum by allens astringent wit
4 a taut sobering film
2 farfetched premise convoluted plot and thematic mumbo jumbo about destiny and redemptive love
3 a muddle splashed with bloody beauty as vivid as any scorsese has ever given us
4 the way the roundelay of partners functions and the interplay within partnerships and among partnerships and the general air of gatorbashing are consistently delightful
4 but while the highly predictable narrative falls short treasure planet is truly gorgeous to behold
4 directed with purpose and finesse by englands roger mitchell who handily makes the move from pleasing relatively lightweight commercial fare such as notting hill to commercial fare with real thematic heft
1 one of these days hollywood will come up with an original idea for a teen movie but until then theres always these rehashes to feed to the younger generations
3 a wild ride juiced with enough energy and excitement for at least three films
1 nemesis suffers from a paunchy midsection several plodding action sequences and a wickedly undramatic central theme
2 lucky break is perfectly inoffensive and harmless but its also drab and inert
4 elvira fans could hardly ask for more
2 exactly what youd expect from a guy named kaos
4 like all great films about a life you never knew existed it offers much to absorb and even more to think about after the final frame
0 its pretentious in a way that verges on the amateurish
0 unlike lrb scorseses mean streets rrb ash wednesday is essentially devoid of interesting characters or even a halfway intriguing plot
2 only twofifths of a satisfying movie experience
1 the good and different idea lrb of middleaged romance rrb is not handled well and except for the fine star performances there is little else to recommend never again
2 murder by numbers is nt a great movie but its a perfectly acceptable widget
0 it may as well be called jarjar binks the movie
1 but it would be better to wait for the video
4 delirious fun
1 there are some fairly unsettling scenes but they never succeed in really rattling the viewer
4 special pov camera mounts on bikes skateboards and motorcycles provide an intense experience when splashed across the immense imax screen
4 there are scenes of cinematic perfection that steal your heart away
2 a fantastic premise anchors this movie but what it needs is either a more rigid blair witchstyle commitment to its mockumentary format or a more straightforward dramatic treatment with all the grandiosity that that implies
0 interview loses its overall sense of mystery and becomes a tv episode rather than a documentary that you actually buy into
4 the first 23 of the film are incredibly captivating and insanely funny thanks in part to interesting cinematic devices lrb cool visual backmasking rrb a solid cast and some wickedly sick and twisted humor
4 this is the best star trek movie in a long time
2 auto focus is not your standard hollywood biopic
2 not really as bad as you might think
3 beautifully filmed and well acted but admittedly problematic in its narrative specifics
1 brainless but enjoyably overthetop the retro gang melodrama deuces wild represents fifties teengang machismo in a way that borders on roughtrade homoeroticism
4 one of the best films of the year with its exquisite acting inventive screenplay mesmerizing music and many inimitable scenes of tenderness loss discontent and yearning
2 i saw juwanna mann so you do nt have to
0 why anyone who is not a character in this movie should care is beyond me
1 what starts off as a potentially incredibly twisting mystery becomes simply a monster chase film
2 they missed the boat
0 characterisation has been sacrificed for the sake of spectacle
3 as an introduction to the mans theories and influence derrida is all but useless as a portrait of the artist as an endlessly inquisitive old man however its invaluable
4 a delightful if minor pastry of a movie
3 despite lagging near the finish line the movie runs a good race one that will have you at the edge of your seat for long stretches
1 clockstoppers is one of those crazy mixedup films that does nt know what it wants to be when it grows up
1 fear dot com is more frustrating than a modem that disconnects every 10 seconds
3 and vin diesel is the man
1 nights feels more like a quickie tv special than a feature film its not even a tv special youd bother watching past the second commercial break
3 while there are times when the films reach exceeds its grasp the production works more often than it does nt
4 richly entertaining and suggestive of any number of metaphorical readings
3 its a day at the beach with air conditioning and popcorn
1 a bland pretentious mess
0 the actors try hard but come off too amateurish and awkward
3 goldbacher draws on an elegant visual sense and a talent for easy seductive pacing but she and writing partner laurence coriat do nt manage an equally assured narrative coinage
1 the film would have been more enjoyable had the balance shifted in favor of waterbound action over the landbased drama but the emphasis on the latter leaves blue crush waterlogged
3 becomes a fascinating study of isolation and frustration that successfully recreates both the physical setting and emotional tensions of the papin sisters
1 though harris is affecting at times he can not overcome the sense that pumpkin is a mere plot pawn for two directors with far less endearing disabilities
4 the overall result is an intelligent realistic portrayal of testing boundaries
1 never decides whether it wants to be a black comedy drama melodrama or some combination of the three
1 an authentically vague but ultimately purposeless study in total pandemonium
2 tadpole was one of the films so declared this year but its really more of the next pretty good thing
3 those prone to indignation need not apply those susceptible to blue hilarity step right up
4 shes as rude and profane as ever always hilarious and most of the time absolutely right in her stinging social observations
0 even as i valiantly struggled to remain interested or at least conscious i could feel my eyelids getting very heavy
3 it may not be particularly innovative but the films crisp unaffected style and air of gentle longing make it unexpectedly rewarding
2 at its best festival in cannes bubbles with the excitement of the festival in cannes
4 bill morrisons decasia is uncompromising difficult and unbearably beautiful
3 lrb shyamalan rrb turns the goosepimple genre on its empty head and fills it with spirit purpose and emotionally bruised characters who add up to more than body count
1 id be hard pressed to think of a film more cloyingly sappy than evelyn this year
3 i know that ill never listen to marvin gaye or the supremes the same way again
4 like shrek spirits 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 saddled with an unwieldy cast of characters and angles but the payoff is powerful and revelatory
1 ill stay with the stage versions however which bite cleaner and deeper
3 tsai convincingly paints a specifically urban sense of disassociation here
1 despite the opulent lushness of every scene the characters never seem to match the power of their surroundings
1 and people make fun of me for liking showgirls
2 you just know something terrible is going to happen
3 much of what we see is horrible but its also undeniably exceedingly clever
3 writer director m night shyamalans ability to pull together easily accessible stories that resonate with profundity is undeniable
1 not once in the rush to save the day did i become very involved in the proceedings to me it was just a matter of eh
1 this 10th film in the series looks and feels tired
0 a long dull procession of despair set to cello music culled from a minimalist funeral
1 cherish is a dud a romantic comedy thats not the least bit romantic and only mildly funny
2 is now stretched to barely feature length with a little more attention paid to the animation
0 for most movies 84 minutes is short but this one feels like a life sentence
1 the movies major and most devastating flaw is its reliance on formula though and its quite enough to lessen the overall impact the movie could have had
1 for a movie about the power of poetry and passion there is precious little of either
2 not to mention a sharper cleaner camera lens
2 would have been benefited from a sharper cleaner script before it went in front of the camera
0 this tuxedo should have been sent back to the tailor for some major alterations
3 if youre as happy listening to movies as you are watching them and the slow parade of human frailty fascinates you then youre at the right film
3 poignant and delicately complex
4 intriguing and stylish
2 it was filled with shootings beatings and more cussing than you could shake a stick at
1 its a mindless action flick with a twist far better suited to videoviewing than the multiplex
3 the trick when watching godard is to catch the pitch of his poetics savor the pleasure of his sounds and images and ponder the historical philosophical and ethical issues that intersect with them
2 a biopic about cranes life in the classic tradition but evolves into what has become of us all in the era of video
3 with exquisite craftsmanship olivier assayas has fashioned an absorbing look at provincial bourgeois french society
1 however sincere it may be the rising place never quite justifies its own existence
2 the central character is nt complex enough to hold our interest
1 what could have been right at home as a nifty plot line in steven soderberghs traffic fails to arrive at any satisfying destination
0 tykwers surface flash is nt just a poor fit with kieslowskis lyrical pessimism it completely contradicts everything kieslowskis work aspired to including the condition of art
0 skip this turd and pick your nose instead because youre sure to get more out of the latter experience
2 you get the idea though that kapur intended the film to be more than that
2 ok not really
1 both deserve better
4 parents may even find that it goes by quickly because it has some of the funniest jokes of any movie this year including those intended for adults
3 a tasty appetizer that leaves you wanting more
2 the film has too many spots where its on slippery footing but is acceptable entertainment for the entire family and one thats especially fit for the kiddies
2 two hours of sepiatinted heavy metal images and surround sound effects of people moaning
1 even kids deserve better
4 that the real antwone fisher was able to overcome his personal obstacles and become a good man is a wonderful thing that he has been able to share his story so compellingly with us is a minor miracle
3 meticulously mounted exasperatingly wellbehaved film which ticks off kahlos lifetime milestones with the dutiful precision of a tax accountant
0 men in black ii achieves ultimate insignificance its the scifi comedy spectacle as whiffleball epic
2 those unfamiliar with mormon traditions may find the singles ward occasionally bewildering
0 stiff and schmaltzy and clumsily directed
1 if the last man were the last movie left on earth there would be a tossup between presiding over the end of cinema as we know it and another night of delightful hand shadows
2 i blame all men for war lrb the wardens daughter rrb tells her father
2 if you do nt laugh flee
3 that itll probably be the best and most mature comedy of the 2002 summer season speaks more of the season than the picture
1 on its own its not very interesting
3 leigh is nt breaking new ground but he knows how a daily grind can kill love
3 the rich performances by friel and especially williams an american actress who becomes fully english round out the square edges
0 the appeal of the vulgar sexist racist humour went over my head or considering just how low brow it is perhaps it snuck under my feet
3 the movie itself is far from disappointing offering an original take on courtroom movies a few nifty twists that are so crucial to the genre and another firstrate performance by topbilled star bruce willis
2 five screenwriters
1 about half of them are funny a few are sexy and none are useful in telling the story which is paperthin and decidedly unoriginal
1 its onesidedness flirts with propaganda
0 final verdict youve seen it all before
3 nicole holofcenter the insightful writerdirector responsible for this illuminating comedy does nt wrap the proceedings up neatly but the ideas tie together beautifully
2 one of those staggeringly wellproduced joylessly extravagant pictures that keep whooshing you from one visual marvel to the next hastily emptily
1 even as the hero of the story rediscovers his passion in life the mood remains oddly detached
0 boring and meandering
1 no matter how much he runs around and acts like a doofus accepting a 50yearold in the role is creepy in a michael jackson sort of way
4 the emotion is impressively true for being so hotblooded and both leads are up to the task
1 gooding and coburn are both oscar winners a fact which as you watch them clumsily mugging their way through snow dogs seems inconceivable
1 why
1 brosnans finest nonbondish performance yet fails to overcome the films manipulative sentimentality and annoying stereotypes
1 it leers offering next to little insight into its intriguing subject
0 a 75minute sample of puerile rubbish that is listless witless and devoid of anything resembling humor
1 throwing in everything except someone pulling the pin from a grenade with his teeth windtalkers seems to have ransacked every old world war ii movie for overly familiar material
1 a reworking of die hard and cliffhanger but its nowhere near as exciting as either
1 lrb the kids rrb just too bratty for sympathy and as the film grows to its finale his little changes ring hollow
4 texan director george ratliff had unlimited access to families and church meetings and he delivers fascinating psychological fare
1 the trouble with making this queen a thoroughly modern maiden is that it also makes her appear foolish and shallow rather than as was more likely a victim of mental illness
1 star trek was kind of terrific once but now it is a copy of a copy of a copy
0 ms phoenix is completely lacking in charm and charisma and is unable to project either esthers initial anomie or her eventual awakening
3 the wild thornberrys movie is pleasant enough and the message of our close ties with animals can certainly not be emphasized enough
1 the audacity to view one of shakespeares better known tragedies as a dark comedy is by itself deserving of discussion
1 throw smoochy from the train
4 if youre looking for something new and hoping for something entertaining youre in luck
2 de ayala is required to supply too much of the energy in a film that is overall far too staid for its subject matter
0 cold sterile and lacking any color or warmth
1 mindless and boring martial arts and gunplay with too little excitement and zero compelling storyline
1 a puppy dog so desperate for attention it nearly breaks its little neck trying to perform entertaining tricks
3 in the end there is one word that best describes this film honest
4 its the funniest american comedy since graffiti bridge
2 secretary is not a movie about fetishism
3 film aficionados can not help but love cinema paradiso whether the original version or new directors cut
0 a ripoff twice removed modeled after lrb seagals rrb earlier copycat under siege sometimes referred to as die hard on a boat
1 more dutiful than enchanting terribly episodic and lacking the spark of imagination that might have made it an exhilarating treat
2 the only upside to all of this unpleasantness is given its labor day weekend upload feardotcom should log a minimal number of hits
3 what the movie lacks in action it more than makes up for in drama suspense revenge and romance
1 the type of dumbeddown exercise in stereotypes that gives the lrb teen comedy rrb genre a bad name
2 an o bruin where art thou
0 no charm no laughs no fun no reason to watch
3 a deft delightful mix of sulky teen drama and overcomingobstacles sportsmovie triumph
1 theres a choppy surfaceeffect feeling to the whole enterprise
3 predictable storyline and bythebook scripting is all but washed away by sumptuous ocean visuals and the cinematic stylings of director john stockwell
4 at times the movie looks genuinely pretty
2 warmedover hash
2 it was a dark and stormy night
1 drownings too good for this sucker
3 a full experience a love story and a murder mystery that expands into a meditation on the deep deceptions of innocence
1 at times auto focus feels so distant you might as well be watching it through a telescope
3 rarely does such highprofile talent serve such literate material
1 for all its shootouts fistfights and car chases this movie is a phlegmatic bore so tedious it makes the silly spy vs spy film the sum of all fears starring ben affleck seem downright hitchcockian
4 a trueblue delight
4 kinnears performance is a careerdefining revelation
2 less about shakespeare than the spawn of fools who saw quentin tarantinos handful of raucous gangster films and branched out into their own pseudowitty copycat interpretations
1 leaves us wondering less about its ideas and more about its characterization of hitler and the contrived nature of its provocative conclusion
4 far more enjoyable than its predecessor
2 its hard to fairly judge a film like ringu when youve seen the remake first
2 its not hateful
4 the delicious trimmings arrive early and stay late filling nearly every minute with a lighthearted glow some impudent snickers and a glorious dose of humankinds liberating ability to triumph over a scrooge or two
1 needs more impressionistic cinematography and exhilarating pointofview shots and fewer slowmotion grandeur shots and quickcut edits that often detract from the athleticism
3 with a large cast representing a broad crosssection taverniers film bounds along with the ratatat energy of his girl friday maintaining a light touch while tackling serious themes
3 one of the most gloriously unsubtle and adrenalized extreme shockers since the evil dead
1 lisa rinzlers cinematography may be lovely but love lizas tale itself virtually collapses into an inhalant blackout maintaining consciousness just long enough to achieve callow pretension
1 its provocative stuff but the speculative effort is hampered by taylors cartoonish performance and the films illconsidered notion that hitlers destiny was shaped by the most random of chances
3 the bourne identity should nt be half as entertaining as it is but director doug liman and his colleagues have managed to pack it with enough action to satisfy the boombam crowd without a huge sacrifice of character and mood
2 in lrb screenwriter rrb charlie kaufmans world truth and fiction are equally strange and his for the taking
0 a pretentious mess
3 lrb gulpilil rrb is a commanding screen presence and his characters abundant humanism makes him the films moral compass
1 the modernday characters are nowhere near as vivid as the 19thcentury ones
3 lrb at least rrb moore is a real charmer
3 theres enough cool fun here to warm the hearts of animation enthusiasts of all ages
2 all analyze that proves is that there is really only one movies worth of decent gags to be gleaned from the premise
0 a thriller without a lot of thrills
4 adaptations success in engaging the audience in the travails of creating a screenplay is extraordinary
3 you never know where changing lanes is going to take you but its a heck of a ride
4 it is sentimental but feels free to offend is analytical and then surrenders to the illogic of its characters is about grief and yet permits laughter
3 as antonia is assimilated into this newfangled community the film settles in and becomes compulsively watchable in a guiltypleasure daytimedrama sort of fashion
1 enigma lacks it
3 poetic heartbreaking
4 real women may have many agendas but it also will win you over in a big way
3 and it is
2 in his determination to lighten the heavy subject matter silberling also to a certain extent trivializes the movie with too many nervous gags and pratfalls
0 astonishing is nt the word neither is incompetent incoherent or just plain crap
1 the film did nt convince me that calvin jrs barbershop represents some sort of beacon of hope in the middle of chicagos south side
1 anyone else who may for whatever reason be thinking about going to see this movie is hereby given fair warning
3 an edifying glimpse into the wit and revolutionary spirit of these performers and their era
0 about as exciting to watch as two lastplace basketball teams playing one another on the final day of the season
3 both grant and hoult carry the movie because they are believable as people flawed assured of the wrong things and scared to admit how much they may really need the company of others
1 busy urban comedy is clearly not zhangs forte his directorial touch is neither light nor magical enough to bring off this kind of whimsy
2 famuyiwas feature
2 ruhroh
1 a beyondlame satire teddy bears picnic ranks among the most pitiful directing debuts by an esteemed writeractor
2 directed in a flashy empty submusic video style by a director so selfpossessed he actually adds a period to his first name
2 a dreary indulgence
1 a gushy episode of m a s h only this time from an asian perspective
3 as literary desecrations go this makes for perfectly acceptable occasionally very enjoyable childrens entertainment
1 i ca nt remember the last time i saw worse stunt editing or cheaper action movie production values than in extreme ops
4 its a lovely sad dance highlighted by kwans unique directing style
2 though it never rises to its full potential as a film still offers a great deal of insight into the female condition and the timeless danger of emotions repressed
2 when the precise nature of matthews predicament finally comes into sharp focus the revelation fails to justify the buildup
1 unless youre a fanatic the best advice is scooby do nt
4 the search for redemption makes for a touching love story mainly because blanchett and ribisi compellingly tap into a spiritual aspect of their characters suffering
1 one suspects that craven endorses they simply because this movie makes his own look much better by comparison
1 hill looks to be going through the motions beginning with the pale script
0 is significantly less charming than listening to a fouryearold with a taste for exaggeration recount his halloween trip to the haunted house
3 its nice to see piscopo again after all these years and chaykin and headly are priceless
3 for a long time the film succeeds with its dark delicate treatment of these characters and its unerring respect for them
3 enigma looks great has solid acting and a neat premise
3 manages to be wholesome and subversive at the same time
1 sweet gentle jesus did the screenwriters just do a cutandpaste of every bad actionmovie line in history
3 the touch is generally light enough and the performances for the most part credible
3 an enjoyable above average summer diversion
0 so muddled repetitive and ragged that it says far less about the horrifying historical reality than about the filmmakers characteristic style
2 the pace of the film is very slow lrb for obvious reasons rrb and that too becomes offputting
0 its an 88minute highlight reel thats 86 minutes too long
0 laughably irredeemably awful
3 twohys a good yarnspinner and ultimately the story compels
1 steve oedekerk is alas no woody allen
1 the whole thing comes off like a particularly amateurish episode of bewitched that takes place during spring break
3 clooney directs this film always keeping the balance between the fantastic and the believable
4 handled correctly wildes play is a masterpiece of elegant wit and artifice
3 i liked about schmidt a lot but i have a feeling that i would have liked it much more if harry tonto never existed
3 whats not to like about a movie with a childrens song that includes the line my stepdads not mean hes just adjusting
3 a quaint romanticized rendering
2 the dominant feeling is something like nostalgia
0 a loud witless mess that has none of the charm and little of the intrigue from the tv series
0 an empty purposeless exercise
1 offers big fat dumb laughs that may make you hate yourself for giving in
3 a lot smarter than your average bond
1 deadly dull pointless meditation on losers in a gonetoseed hotel
3 a french film with a more downhome flavor
4 the kind of movie that comes along only occasionally one so unconventional gutsy and perfectly executed it takes your breath away
0 its just too bad the screenwriters eventually shoot themselves in the feet with cop flick cliches like an oily arms dealer squad car pileups and the requisite screaming captain
1 is it really an advantage to invest such subtlety and warmth in an animatronic bear when the humans are acting like puppets
2 his best film remains his shortest the hole which makes many of the points that this film does but feels less repetitive
2 director david jacobson gives dahmer a consideration that the murderer never game his victims
3 captures all the longing anguish and ache the confusing sexual messages and the wish to be a part of that elusive adult world
1 empire ca nt make up its mind whether it wants to be a gangster flick or an art film
2 the sequel is everything the original was not contrived overblown and tiein ready
1 what happens when something goes bump in the night and nobody cares
0 slack and uninspired and peopled mainly by characters so unsympathetic that youre left with a sour taste in your mouth
2 underventilated
3 smith examines the intimate unguarded moments of folks who live in unusual homes which pop up in nearly every corner of the country
3 for 95 often hilarious minutes
4 it picked me up swung me around and dropped me back in my seat with more emotional force than any other recent film
1 the script by vincent r nebrida tries to cram too many ingredients into one small pot
3 birthday girl lucks out with chaplin and kidman who are capable of anteing up some movie star charisma when they need it to sell us on this twisted love story but who can also negotiate the movies darker turns
1 suffers from its timid parsing of the barnside target of sons trying to breach gaps in their relationships with their fathers
0 you can be forgiven for realizing that youve spent the past 20 minutes looking at your watch and waiting for frida to just die already
3 although devoid of objectivity and full of nostalgic comments from the now middleaged participants dogtown and zboys has a compelling story to tell
2 fast frantic and fun but also soon forgotten
3 deliciously slow
0 to build a feelgood fantasy around a vain dictatormadman is offputting to say the least not to mention inappropriate and wildly undeserved
1 suffice to say its total promise is left slightly unfulfilled
3 those who want to be jolted out of their gourd should drop everything and run to ichi
3 an energetic and engaging film that never pretends to be something it is nt
4 an enormously entertaining movie like nothing weve ever seen before and yet completely familiar
4 an odd drama set in the world of lingerie models and bar dancers in the midwest that held my interest precisely because it did nt try to
3 australian actordirector john polson and awardwinning english cinematographer giles nuttgens make a terrific effort at disguising the obvious with energy and innovation
1 belongs in the toohotfortv directtovideodvd category and this is why i have given it a onestar rating
2 ultimately feels like just one more in the long line of films this year about the business of making movies
2 a wordy wisp of a comedy
2 a punch line without a premise a joke built entirely from musty memories of halfdimensional characters
2 nachtwey clears the cynicism right out of you
3 she of the impossibly long limbs and sweetly conspiratorial smile
3 the film delivers what it promises a look at the wild ride that ensues when brash young men set out to conquer the online world with laptops cell phones and sketchy business plans
3 bring on the sequel
2 lrb it rrb highlights not so much the crime lords messianic bent but spaceys
2 the date movie that franz kafka would have made
4 this charming thoughtprovoking new york fest of life and love has its rewards
2 frida is certainly no disaster but neither is it the kahlo movie frida fans have been looking for
3 weve seen the hippieturnedyuppie plot before but theres an enthusiastic charm in fire that makes the formula fresh again
3 neither the funniest film that eddie murphy nor robert de niro has ever made showtime is nevertheless efficiently amusing for a good while
2 mild meandering teen flick
2 viewed as a comedy a romance a fairy tale or a drama theres nothing remotely triumphant about this motion picture
3 an intriguing look at the french film industry during the german occupation its most delightful moments come when various characters express their quirky inner selves
4 a special kind of movie this melancholic film noir reminded me a lot of memento
2 hopefully itll be at the dollar theatres by the time christmas rolls around
2 exposing the ways we fool ourselves is one hour photos real strength
0 just another combination of bad animation and mindless violence lacking the slightest bit of wit or charm
4 proof once again that if the filmmakers just follow the books they ca nt go wrong
4 a strong script powerful direction and splendid production design allows us to be transported into the life of wladyslaw szpilman who is not only a pianist but a good human being
2 basically its pretty but dumb
0 lrb a rrb soulless stupid sequel
3 the lowkey direction is pleasingly emphatic in this properly intense claustrophobic tale of obsessive love
4 the art direction and costumes are gorgeous and finely detailed and kurys direction is clever and insightful
1 it sticks rigidly to the paradigm rarely permitting its characters more than two obvious dimensions and repeatedly placing them in contrived wellworn situations
1 they crush each other under cars throw each other out windows electrocute and dismember their victims in full consciousness
1 he seems to want both but succeeds in making neither
3 full of surprises
1 forgettable if goodhearted movie
1 just as the lousy tarantino imitations have subsided here comes the first lousy guy ritchie imitation
0 not even felinni would know what to make of this italian freakshow
2 about amys cuteness amys career success lrb shes a bestselling writer of selfhelp books who ca nt help herself rrb and amys neuroses when it comes to men
0 fails as a dystopian movie as a retooling of fahrenheit 451 and even as a ripoff of the matrix
4 tunney brimming with coltish neurotic energy holds the screen like a true star
3 beautiful cold oddly colorful and just plain otherworldly a freaky bit of art thats there to scare while we delight in the images
4 a wild endearing masterful documentary
4 cool gadgets and creatures keep this fresh
2 labute was more fun when his characters were torturing each other psychologically and talking about their genitals in public
3 a charmer from belgium
3 ive never bought from telemarketers but i bought this movie
4 executed with such gentle but insistent sincerity with such good humor and appreciation of the daily grind that only the most hardhearted scrooge could fail to respond
1 appropriately cynical social commentary aside 9 never quite ignites
2 gorgeous scenes masterful performances but the sickly sweet gender normative narrative left an acrid test in this gourmets mouth
3 stuffed to the brim with ideas american instigator michael moores film is a rambling examination of american gun culture that uses his usual modus operandi of crucifixion through juxtaposition
3 at its best its black hawk down with more heart
2 although barbershop boasts some of todays hottest and hippest acts from the world of television music and standup comedy this movie strangely enough has the outdated swagger of a shameless 70s blaxploitation shuckandjive sitcom
3 if youre looking for a smart nuanced look at de sade and what might have happened at picpus sade is your film
1 to me it sounds like a cruel deception carried out by men of marginal intelligence with reactionary ideas about women and a total lack of empathy
2 arnold
3 far more successful if considerably less ambitious than last years kubrickmeetsspielberg exercise
3 there are plenty of scenes in frida that do work but rarely do they involve the title character herself
3 elling builds gradually until you feel fully embraced by this gentle comedy
2 it bites hard
3 if the film has a problem its shortness disappoints you want the story to go on and on
3 cut through the layers of soapopera emotion and you find a scathing portrayal of a powerful entity strangling the life out of the people who want to believe in it the most
2 this is a harrowing movie about how parents know where all the buttons are and how to push them
2 it understands in a way that speaks forcefully enough about the mechanisms of poverty to transcend the rather simplistic filmmaking
4 its a smartly directed grownup film of ideas
3 strips bible stores of the potential for sanctimoniousness making them meaningful for both kids and churchwary adults
1 spiderman is about growing strange hairs getting a more mature body and finding it necessary to hide new secretions from the parental units
2 while lrb roman coppola rrb scores points for style he staggers in terms of story
4 is one of this years very best pictures
3 too daft by half but supremely good natured
3 mostly lrb goldbacher rrb just lets her complicated characters be unruly confusing and through it all human
1 jumps around with little logic or continuity
2 a static and sugary little halfhour afterschool special about interfaith understanding stretched out to 90 minutes
3 visually striking and viscerally repellent
1 too slow for a younger crowd too shallow for an older one
1 the fact that the best part of the movie comes from a 60second homage to one of demmes good films does nt bode well for the rest of it
2 the tone errs on the shrill side tempered by a soft southern gentility that speaks of beauty grace and a closet full of skeletons
2 but even with the twowrongsmakearight chemistry between jolie and burns this otherwise appealing picture loses its soul to screenwriting for dummies conformity
2 benignis pinocchio is extremely straight and mindnumbingly stilted its episodic pacing keeping the film from developing any storytelling flow
1 a pale xerox of other better crime movies
0 its a visual rorschach test and i must have failed
3 great dragons
4 a small movie with a big impact
3 daughter from danang sticks with its subjects a little longer and tells a deeper story
1 sodden and glum even in those moments where its supposed to feel funny and light
3 but certainly hard to hate
3 in the disturbingly involving family dysfunctional drama how i killed my father french director anne fontaine delivers an inspired portrait of maleridden angst and the emotional blockage that accompanies this human condition
3 the film feels uncomfortably real its language and locations bearing the unmistakable stamp of authority
4 good performances and a realistic nonexploitive approach make paid in full worth seeing
4 an honest sensitive story from a vietnamese point of view
2 who knew
4 beautifully produced
3 those eternally devoted to the insanity of black will have an intermittently good time
4 a film with almost as many delights for adults as there are for children and dog lovers
3 its rare to find a film to which the adjective gentle applies but the word perfectly describes pauline paulette
2 grainy photography mars an otherwise delightful comedy of errors
0 guilty of the worst sin of attributable to a movie like this its not scary in the slightest
1 one of those films where the characters inhabit that special annex of hell where adults behave like kids children behave like adults and everyone screams at the top of their lungs no matter what the situation
1 a sloppy slapstick throwback to long gone bottomofthebill fare like the ghost and mr chicken
1 the script is a tired one with few moments of joy rising above the stale material
3 lrb city rrb reminds us how realistically nuanced a robert de niro performance can be when he is not more lucratively engaged in the shameless selfcaricature of analyze this lrb 1999 rrb and analyze that promised lrb or threatened rrb for later this year
3 would make an excellent companion piece to the similarly themed the french lieutenants woman
3 harmless fun
4 infidelity drama is nicely shot welledited and features a standout performance by diane lane
1 the filmmakers needed more emphasis on the storytelling and less on the glamorous machine that thrusts the audience into a future they wo nt much care about
1 a fascinating curiosity piece fascinating that is for about ten minutes
4 the strength of the film comes not from any cinematic razzledazzle but from its recovery of an historical episode that in the simple telling proves simultaneously harrowing and uplifting
4 spielbergs first real masterpiece it deserved all the hearts it won and wins still 20 years later
3 bielinsky is a filmmaker of impressive talent
4 fathers and sons and the uneasy bonds between them rarely have received such a sophisticated and unsentimental treatment on the big screen as they do in this marvelous film
3 criminal conspiracies and true romances move so easily across racial and cultural lines in the film that it makes my big fat greek wedding look like an apartheid drama
1 with more character development this might have been an eerie thriller with better payoffs it could have been a thinking mans monster movie
1 tries too hard to be funny in a way thats too loud too goofy and too short of an attention span
3 its the sweet cinderella story that pretty woman wanted to be
0 does nt deserve a passing grade lrb even on a curve rrb
1 firsttimer john mckay is never able to pull it back on course
4 a return to pure disney magic and is enjoyable family fare
1 this sade is hardly a perverse dangerous libertine and agitator which would have made for better drama
2 all in all reign of fire will be a good lrb successful rrb rental
2 sunshine state surveys the landscape and assesses the issues with a clear passion for sociology
4 with the same sort of goodnatured fun found in films like tremors eight legged freaks is prime escapist fare
3 an ambitiously naturalistic albeit halfbaked drama about an abused innercity autistic teen
1 its just a movie that happens to have jackie chan in it
1 you do nt need to know your icets from your cooljs to realize that as far as these shootings are concerned something is rotten in the state of california
3 the movie should jolt you out of your seat a couple of times give you a few laughs and leave you feeling like it was worth your seven bucks even though it does turn out to be a bit of a cheat in the end
0 you can fire a torpedo through some of clancys holes and the scripters do nt deserve any oscars
1 a nonbritney person might survive a screening with little harm done except maybe for the last 15 minutes which are as maudlin as any afterschool special you can imagine
1 obviously a lot of people wasted a lot of their time lrb including mine rrb on something very inconsequential
1 a moving picture that does not move
1 just about all of the film is confusing on one level or another making ararat far more demanding than it needs to be
4 daily struggles and simple pleasures usurp the preaching message so that by the time the credits roll across the pat ending a warm fuzzy feeling prevails
3 hatosy portrays young brendan with his usual intelligence and subtlety not to mention a convincing brogue
3 a uniquely sensual metaphorical dramatization of sexual obsession that spends a bit too much time on its fairly ludicrous plot
2 jones despite a definitely distinctive screen presence just is nt able to muster for a movie that its title notwithstanding should have been a lot nastier if it wanted to fully capitalize on its leads specific gifts
4 fudges fact and fancy with such confidence that we feel as if were seeing something purer than the real thing
3 could have been crisper and punchier but its likely to please audiences who like movies that demand four hankies
1 naipaul fans may be disappointed
1 the screenplay is hugely overwritten with tons and tons of dialogue most of it given to children
4 a beautiful entertaining two hours
0 enough said except film overboard
3 writerdirector walter hill is in his hypermasculine element here once again able to inject some real vitality and even art into a pulpy concept that in many other hands would be completely forgettable
1 for all the time we spend with these people we never really get inside of them
1 eisenstein lacks considerable brio for a film about one of cinemas directorial giants
3 naomi watts is terrific as rachel her petite frame and vulnerable persona emphasising her plight and isolation
3 a giddy and provocative sexual romp that has something to say
0 with a completely predictable plot youll swear that youve seen it all before even if youve never come within a mile of the longest yard
2 life on the rez is no picnic this picture shows you why
2 as allens execution date closes in the documentary gives an especially poignant portrait of her friendship with the never flagging legal investigator david presson
2 it is there to give them a good time
3 sly sophisticated and surprising
3 all the pieces fall together without much surprise but little moments give it a boost
2 aimed squarely at the least demanding of demographic groups very small children who will be delighted simply to spend more time with familiar cartoon characters
1 like coming into a longrunning wellwritten television series where youve missed the first halfdozen episodes and probably wo nt see the next six
0 this is the case of a pregnant premise being wasted by a script that takes few chances and manages to insult the intelligence of everyone in the audience
3 in its understanding often funny way it tells a story whose restatement is validated by the changing composition of the nation
2 the movie does has some entertainment value how much depends on how well you like chris rock
4 speaks eloquently about the symbiotic relationship between art and life
3 not everything in this ambitious comic escapade works but coppola along with his sister sofia is a real filmmaker
1 nothing more than a stifling morality tale dressed up in peekaboo clothing
1 a series of immaculately composed shots of patch adams quietly freaking out does not make for much of a movie
1 the movie does nt add anything fresh to the myth
1 upper west sidey exercise in narcissism and selfcongratulation disguised as a tribute
4 the entire cast is extraordinarily good
2 like shave ice without the topping this cinematic snow cone is as innocuous as it is flavorless
1 um is nt that the basis for the entire plot
4 chos timing is priceless
3 meyjes has done his homework and soaked up some jazzy new revisionist theories about the origins of nazi politics and aesthetics
2 its a drawling slobbering lovable runon sentence of a film a southern gothic with the emotional arc of its raw blues soundtrack
0 a weak and ineffective ghost story without a conclusion or pay off
2 rabbitproof fence will probably make you angry
1 time stands still in more ways that one in clockstoppers a scifi thriller as lazy as it is interminable
3 it cooks conduct in a low smoky and inviting sizzle
2 this is the first film ive ever seen that had no obvious directing involved
2 ice age treads predictably along familiar territory making it a passable family film that wo nt win many fans over the age of 12
4 one of the very best movies ever made about the life of moviemaking
3 a perfectly pleasant if slightly pokey comedy
3 a flawed but engrossing thriller
3 both damning and damned compelling
2 the film sometimes flags but there is enough secondary action to keep things moving along at a brisk amusing pace
2 creates a visceral sense of its characters lives and conflicted emotions that carries it far above what could have been a melodramatic lifetime channelstyle anthology
1 to honestly address the flaws inherent in how medical aid is made available to american workers a more balanced or fair portrayal of both sides will be needed
3 a charming banterfilled comedy one of those airy cinematic bon bons whose aims and by extension accomplishments seem deceptively slight on the surface
3 a delightful little film that revels in its own simplicity mostly martha will leave you with a smile on your face and a grumble in your stomach
0 it just did nt mean much to me and played too skewed to ever get a hold on lrb or be entertained by rrb
3 the four feathers has rewards from the exoticism of its seas of sand to the fierce grandeur of its sweeping battle scenes
3 a comedy that swings and jostles to the rhythms of life
4 its never dull and always looks good
0 unfunny and lacking any sense of commitment to or affection for its characters the reginald hudlin comedy relies on toilet humor ethnic slurs
4 rich in shadowy metaphor and as sharp as a samurai sword jiang wens devils on the doorstep is a wartime farce in the alternately comic and gutwrenching style of joseph heller or kurt vonnegut
3 reggio and glass put on an intoxicating show
4 likeable thanks to its cast its cuisine and its quirky tunes
1 what with all the blanket statements and dimestore ruminations on vanity the worries of the rich and sudden wisdom the film becomes a sermon for most of its running time
1 breens script is sketchy with actorish notations on the margin of acting
2 has its moments but its pretty far from a treasure
0 this loud and thoroughly obnoxious comedy about a pair of squabbling workingclass spouses is a deeply unpleasant experience
0 not counting a few grossout comedies ive been trying to forget this is the first film in a long time that made me want to bolt the theater in the first 10 minutes
3 witty vibrant and intelligent
4 the best thing i can say about this film is that i ca nt wait to see what the director does next
1 may puzzle his most ardent fans
4 you can take the grandkids or the grandparents and never worry about anyone being bored audience is a sea of constant smiles and frequent laughter
1 try this obscenely bad dark comedy so crass that it makes edward burns sidewalks of new york look like oscar wilde
1 the tuxedo was nt just bad it was as my friend david cross would call it hungryman portions of bad
1 human nature in short is nt nearly as funny as it thinks it is neither is it as smart
3 its fun splashy and entertainingly nasty
2 a little objectivity could have gone a long way
3 the film boasts at least a few good ideas and features some decent performances but the result is disappointing
0 boll uses a lot of quick cutting and blurry stepprinting to goose things up but dopey dialogue and sometimes inadequate performances kill the effect
0 unlikable uninteresting unfunny and completely utterly inept
3 a creepy intermittently powerful study of a selfdestructive man about as unsettling to watch as an exploratory medical procedure or an autopsy
1 the crassness of this reactionary thriller is matched only by the ridiculousness of its premise
2 the porkys revenge ultimate edition
3 none of this is meaningful or memorable but frosting is nt either and you would nt turn down a big bowl of that would you
3 bogdanovich puts history in perspective and via kirsten dunsts remarkable performance he showcases davies as a young woman of great charm generosity and diplomacy
1 in its chicken heart crush goes to absurd lengths to duck the very issues it raises
2 im all for the mentally challenged getting their fair shot in the movie business but surely it does nt have to be as a collection of keening and selfmutilating sideshow geeks
2 worth seeing once but its charm quickly fades
3 if the man from elysian fields is doomed by its smallness it is also elevated by it the kind of movie that you enjoy more because youre one of the lucky few who sought it out
0 theres nothing interesting in unfaithful whatsoever
0 theres already been too many of these films
1 almost peerlessly unsettling
3 maybe he was reading the minds of the audience
3 a sly female empowerment movie although not in a way anyone would expect
2 go for la salles performance and make do as best you can with a stuttering script
1 the movie feels stitched together from stock situations and characters from other movies
2 it remains to be seen whether statham can move beyond the crimeland action genre but then again who says he has to
4 though in some ways similar to catherine breillats fat girl rain is the far superior film
0 it shows that some studios firmly believe that people have lost the ability to think and will forgive any shoddy product as long as theres a little girlongirl action
1 pottymouthed enough for pg13 yet not as hilariously raunchy as south park this strangely schizo cartoon seems suited neither to kids or adults
2 a poorly scripted preachy fable that forgets about unfolding a coherent believable story in its zeal to spread propaganda
2 lrb a rrb rare movie that makes us reassess the basis for our lives and evaluate what is truly ours in a world of meaningless activity
3 if a big musical number like praise the lord hes the god of second chances does nt put you off this will be an enjoyable choice for younger kids
4 as a director paxton is surprisingly brilliant deftly sewing together what could have been a confusing and horrifying vision into an intense and engrossing headtrip
3 but tobacks deranged immediacy makes it seem fresh again
4 stanley kwan has directed not only one of the best gay love stories ever made but one of the best love stories of any stripe
2 theres a neat twist subtly rendered that could have wrapped things up at 80 minutes but kang tacks on three or four more endings
0 godards ode to tackling lifes wonderment is a rambling and incoherent manifesto about the vagueness of topical excess in praise of love remains a ponderous and pretentious endeavor thats unfocused and tediously exasperating
3 amazingly dopey
0 its hard to imagine that even very small children will be impressed by this tired retread
1 a beautifully shot but dull and ankledeep epic
3 the performances of the four main actresses bring their characters to life
0 the emotional overload of female angst irreparably drags the film down
3 comedian like its subjects delivers the goods and audiences will have a fun nofrills ride
3 lrb woos rrb most resonant film since the killer
3 muccino seems to be exploring the idea of why human beings long for what they do nt have and how this gets us in trouble
4 even when there are lulls the emotions seem authentic and the picture is so lovely toward the end you almost do nt notice the 129minute running time
3 in a movie full of surprises the biggest is that secret ballot is a comedy both gentle and biting
4 a fascinating case study of flowerpower liberation and the price that was paid for it
0 the pacing is deadly the narration helps little and naipaul a juicy writer is negated
3 the director mark pellington does a terrific job conjuring up a sinister menacing atmosphere though unfortunately all the story gives us is flashing red lights a rattling noise and a bump on the head
1 is a crime that should be punishable by chainsaw
3 delivers more than its fair share of saucy hilarity
2 while the mystery unravels the characters respond by hitting on each other
3 now heres a sadistic bike flick that would have made vittorio de sica proud
3 meticulously uncovers a trail of outrageous force and craven concealment
4 a pretty funny movie with most of the humor coming as before from the incongruous but chemically perfect teaming of crystal and de niro
3 from both a great and a terrible story mr nelson has made a film that is an undeniably worthy and devastating experience
2 will always be remembered for the 911 terrorist attacks
0 for the rest of us sitting through dahmers two hours amounts to little more than punishment
1 more tiring than anything
3 if youre not youll still have a good time
2 occasionally funny sometimes inspiring often boring
3 on the surface a silly comedy scotland pa would be forgettable if it were nt such a clever adaptation of the bards tragic play
1 cassavetes thinks hes making dog day afternoon with a cause but all hes done is to reduce everything he touches to a shrill didactic cartoon
2 delivers few moments of inspiration amid the bland animation and simplistic story
1 when not wallowing in its characters frustrations the movie is busy contriving false sitcomworthy solutions to their problems
3 fans of critics darling band wilco will marvel at the sometimes murky always brooding look of i am trying to break your heart
4 a truly wonderful tale combined with stunning animation
1 just when you think you are making sense of it something happens that tells you there is no sense
4 easily one of the best and most exciting movies of the year
4 daring and beautifully made
1 an impenetrable and insufferable ball of pseudophilosophic twaddle
0 was that movie nothing more than a tepid exercise in trotting out a formula that worked five years ago but has since lost its fizz
2 at no point during k19 the widowmaker did this viewer feel enveloped in a story that though meant to be universal in its themes of loyalty courage and dedication to a common goal never seems to leave the lot
1 a lightweight uneven action comedy that freely mingles french japanese and hollywood cultures
3 the leaping story line shaped by director peter kosminsky into sharp slivers and cutting impressions shows all the signs of rich detail condensed into a few evocative images and striking character traits
1 when a movie asks you to feel sorry for mick jaggers sex life it already has one strike against it
2 the movies gloomy atmosphere is fascinating though even if the movie itself does nt stand a ghost of a chance
0 theres surely something wrong with a comedy where the only belly laughs come from the selection of outtakes tacked onto the end credits
4 a confident richly acted emotionally devastating piece of work and 2002s first great film
3 starts slowly but adrien brody in the title role helps make the films conclusion powerful and satisfying
4 jeffs has created a breathtakingly assured and stylish work of spare dialogue and acute expressiveness
1 those who are not acquainted with the authors work on the other hand may fall fast asleep
2 in period costume and with a bigger budget
3 but it could be by its art and heart a necessary one
4 a generous inspiring film that unfolds with grace and humor and gradually becomes a testament to faith
0 the projects filmmakers forgot to include anything even halfway scary as they poorly rejigger fatal attraction into a high school setting
3 murderous maids pulls no punches in its depiction of the lives of the papin sister and the events that led to their notorious rise to infamy
2 when seagal appeared in an orange prison jumpsuit i wanted to stand up in the theater and shout hey koolaid
1 for this sort of thing to work we need agile performers but the proficient dull sorvino has no light touch and rodan is out of his league
4 the film is impressive for the sights and sounds of the wondrous beats the world has to offer
4 mr deeds is sure to give you a lot of laughs in this simple sweet and romantic comedy
3 pretty good little movie
1 the story is also as unoriginal as they come already having been recycled more times than id care to count
3 passionate irrational longsuffering but cruel as a tarantula helga figures prominently in this movie and helps keep the proceedings as funny for grownups as for rugrats
3 initially gripping eventually cloying pow drama
4 methodical measured and gently tedious in its comedy secret ballot is a purposefully reductive movie which may be why its so successful at lodging itself in the brain
3 offers an interesting look at the rapidly changing face of beijing
3 gaunt silverhaired and leonine lrb harris rrb brings a tragic dimension and savage fullbodied wit and cunning to the aging sandeman
2 just plain silly
3 when its not wallowing in hormonal melodrama real women have curves is a sweet honest and enjoyable comedydrama about a young woman who wants many things in life but fears shell become her mother before she gets to fulfill her dreams
3 theres just something about watching a squad of psychopathic underdogs whale the tar out of unsuspecting lawmen that reaches across time and distance
0 this flat run at a hiphop tootsie is so poorly paced you could fit all of pootie tang in between its punchlines
4 a triumph of pure craft and passionate heart
3 imagine a scenario where bergman approaches swedish fatalism using gary larsons far side humor
2 its really just another silly hollywood action film one among a multitude of simpleminded yahooing death shows
0 this is a fudged opportunity of gigantic proportions a lunar mission with no signs of life
3 deliberately and skillfully uses ambiguity to suggest possibilities which imbue the theme with added depth and resonance
4 all of it works smoothly under the direction of spielberg who does a convincing impersonation here of a director enjoying himself immensely
1 the whole things fairly lame making it par for the course for disney sequels
3 even at its worst its not halfbad
1 a visionary marvel but its lacking a depth in storytelling usually found in anime like this
3 graced with the kind of social texture and realism that would be foreign in american teen comedies
0 like a bad improvisation exercise the superficially written characters ramble on tediously about their lives loves and the art theyre struggling to create
3 a threehour cinema master class
3 beresford nicely mixes in as much humor as pathos to take us on his sentimental journey of the heart
4 if you can get past the taboo subject matter it will be well worth your time
3 while the now 72yearold robert evans been slowed down by a stroke he has at least one more story to tell his own
1 more busy than exciting more frantic than involving more chaotic than entertaining
3 precocious smarterthanthou wayward teen struggles to rebel against his oppressive rightwing proprietyobsessed family
2 any chekhov is better than no chekhov but it would be a shame if this was your introduction to one of the greatest plays of the last 100 years
3 its adult themes of familial separation and societal betrayal are head and shoulders above much of the directors previous popcorn work
0 you may be galled that youve wasted nearly two hours of your own precious life with this silly little puddle of a movie
1 i did nt smile
1 while some will object to the idea of a vietnam picture with such a rahrah patriotic tone soldiers ultimately achieves its main strategic objective dramatizing the human cost of the conflict that came to define a generation
1 return to neverland manages to straddle the line between another classic for the company and just another runofthemill disney sequel intended for the home video market
1 shafers feature does nt offer much in terms of plot or acting
2 was i scared
1 but windtalkers does nt beat that one either
3 its funny
2 a case in point doug prays scratch
1 contains a few big laughs but many more that graze the funny bone or miss it altogether in part because the consciously dumbeddown approach wears thin
4 macdowell gives give a solid anguished performance that eclipses nearly everything else shes ever done
1 this is a poster movie a mediocre tribute to films like them
3 peppering this urban study with references to norwegian folktales villeneuve creates in maelstrom a world where the bizarre is credible and the real turns magical
1 no i do nt know why steven seagal is considered a star nor why he keeps being cast in action films when none of them are ever any good or make any money
1 in the era of the sopranos it feels painfully redundant and inauthentic
0 you ca nt believe anyone would really buy this stuff
1 long on twinklyeyed closeups and short on shame
1 its plotless shapeless and yet it must be admitted not entirely humorless
1 each scene drags underscoring the obvious and sentiment is slathered on top
1 outside of burgers desire to make some kind of film its really unclear why this project was undertaken
0 id rather watch a rerun of the powerpuff girls
3 its a talking head documentary but a great one
2 cmon
1 director shekhar kapur and screenwriters michael schiffer and hossein amini have tried hard to modernize and reconceptualize things but the barriers finally prove to be too great
4 this is dicaprios best performance in anything ever and easily the most watchable film of the year
1 everything about it from the bland songs to the colorful but flat drawings is completely serviceable and quickly forgettable
3 cineasts will revel in those visual injokes as in the films verbal pokes at everything from the likes of miramax chief harvey weinsteins bluff personal style to the stylistic rigors of denmarks dogma movement
1 an uneven look into a grim future that does nt come close to the level of intelligence and visual splendour that can be seen in other films based on philip k dick stories
2 you have enough finely tuned acting to compensate for the movies failings
0 all of the filmmakers calculations ca nt rescue brown sugar from the curse of blandness
2 the dramatic crisis does nt always succeed in its quest to be taken seriously but hupperts volatile performance makes for a riveting movie experience
1 eddie murphy and owen wilson have a cute partnership in i spy but the movie around them is so often nearly nothing that their charm does nt do a load of good
0 theres only one way to kill michael myers for good stop buying tickets to these movies
4 it makes compelling provocative and prescient viewing
0 the country bears wastes an exceptionally good idea
1 conforms itself with creating a game of whos who where the characters moves are often more predictable than their consequences
3 a different and emotionally reserved type of survival story a film less about refracting all of world war ii through the specific conditions of one man and more about that man lost in its midst
1 sure i hated myself in the morning
4 a rollicking ride with jawdropping action sequences striking villains a gorgeous color palette astounding technology stirring music and a boffo last hour that leads up to a strangely sinister happy ending
0 swims in mediocrity sticking its head up for a breath of fresh air now and then
3 happily some things are immune to the folly of changing taste and attitude
4 great overthetop moviemaking if youre in a slaphappy mood
0 swiftly deteriorates into a terribly obvious melodrama and roughhewn vanity project for lead actress andie macdowell
0 as gamely as the movie tries to make sense of its title character there remains a huge gap between the films creepy cleancut dahmer lrb jeremy renner rrb and fiendish acts that no amount of earnest textbook psychologizing can bridge
2 foreshadowing
3 this film is so different from the apple and so striking that it can only encourage us to see samira makhmalbaf as a very distinctive sensibility working to develop her own film language with conspicuous success
1 sometimes makes less sense than the bruckheimeresque american action flicks it emulates
0 terrible
0 tiresomely derivative and hammily acted
1 the films final hour where nearly all the previous unseen material resides is unconvincing soap opera that tornatore was right to cut
2 witherspoon puts to rest her valleygirl image but its dench who really steals the show
1 lookin for sin americanstyle
2 dolman confines himself to shtick and sentimentality the one bald and the other sloppy
3 an intelligent romantic thriller of a very oldschool kind of quality
3 even if the ring has a familiar ring its still unusually crafty and intelligent for hollywood horror
3 the usual movie rahrah pleasantly and predictably delivered in lowkey style by director michael apted and writer tom stoppard
4 an intelligent and deeply felt work about impossible irrevocable choices and the price of making them
3 a diverse and astonishingly articulate cast of palestinian and israeli children
0 what a banal bore the preachy circuit turns out to be
2 it would be disingenuous to call reno a great film but you can say that about most of the flicks moving in and out of the multiplex
1 bythenumbers yarn
3 part of the charm of satin rouge is that it avoids the obvious with humour and lightness
4 a movie of technical skill and rare depth of intellect and feeling
0 cruel and inhuman cinematic punishment simultaneously degrades its characters its stars and its audience
1 the only fun part of the movie is playing the obvious game
2 photographed with melancholy richness and eloquently performed yet also decidedly uncinematic
1 kapur fails to give his audience a single character worth rooting for lrb or worth rooting against for that matter rrb
1 has lost some of the dramatic conviction that underlies the best of comedies
2 seeing seinfeld at home as he watches his own appearance on letterman with a clinical eye reminds you that the key to standup is to always make it look easy even though the reality is anything but
4 an engrossing story that combines psychological drama sociological reflection and highoctane thriller
3 a movie in which laughter and selfexploitation merge into jolly softpornem powerment
0 if you really want to understand what this story is really all about youre far better served by the source material
3 lightweight but appealing
1 well this movie proves you wrong on both counts
2 a very familiar tale one thats been told by countless filmmakers about italian chinese irish latin indian russian and other hyphenate american young men struggling to balance conflicting cultural messages
4 thats fun for kids of any age
1 why would anyone cast the magnificent jackie chan in a movie full of stunt doubles and special effects
3 koury frighteningly and honestly exposes one teenagers uncomfortable class resentment and in turn his selfinflicted retaliation
4 terrific performances great to look at and funny
3 an unorthodox little film noir organized crime story that includes one of the strangest love stories you will ever see
3 neatly constructed thriller
4 one of the best silly horror movies of recent memory with some real shocks in store for unwary viewers
4 the most brilliant work in this genre since the 1984 uncut version of sergio leones flawed but staggering once upon a time in america
3 the beautifully choreographed kitchen ballet is simple but absorbing
3 cool
2 me without you is a probing examination of a female friendship set against a few dynamic decades
2 this sort of cute and cloying material is far from zhangs forte and it shows
2 the first half bursts with a goofy energy previous disney films only used for a few minutes here and there
0 a peculiar misfire that even tunney ca nt save
3 coppola has made a film of intoxicating atmosphere and little else
2 the film has a childlike quality about it
1 theres some good material in their story about a retail clerk wanting more out of life but the movie too often spins its wheels with familiar situations and repetitive scenes
3 broomfield has a rather unique approach to documentary
3 lrb theres rrb quite a bit of heart as you would expect from the directors of the little mermaid and aladdin
1 never inspires more than an interested detachment
3 combines a comically dismal social realism with a farcically bawdy fantasy of redemption and regeneration
4 if lilo stitch is nt the most edgy piece of disney animation to hit the silver screen then this first film to use a watercolor background since dumbo certainly ranks as the most original in years
3 indeed the more outrageous bits achieve a shockyouintolaughter intensity of almost dadaist proportions
1 a grating emaciated flick
2 dense and thoughtful and brimming with ideas that are too complex to be rapidly absorbed
3 it ai nt art by a long shot but unlike last years lame musketeer this dumas adaptation entertains
0 whats missing in murder by numbers is any real psychological grounding for the teens deviant behaviour
0 the master of disguise is awful
1 nelsons intentions are good but the end result does no justice to the story itself
3 a hypnotic portrait of this sad compulsive life
3 lrb the film rrb tackles the topic of relationships in such a straightforward emotionally honest manner that by the end its impossible to ascertain whether the film is at its core deeply pessimistic or quietly hopeful
3 troubling and powerful
0 director douglas mcgrath takes on nickleby with all the halfhearted zeal of an 8th grade boy delving into required reading
1 whats infuriating about full frontal is that its too close to real life to make sense
4 piccoli gives a superb performance full of deep feeling
1 lrb stevens is rrb so stoked to make an important film about human infidelity and happenstance that he tosses a kitchen sink onto a story already overladen with plot conceits
3 funny and also heartwarming without stooping to gooeyness
0 most of the dialogue made me want to pack raw dough in my ears
2 a sincere but dramatically conflicted gay comingofage tale
3 a wild ride of a movie that keeps throwing fastballs
0 its a bad action movie because theres no rooting interest and the spectacle is grotesque and boring
1 a very slow uneventful ride around a pretty tattered old carousel
3 although olivier assayas elegantly appointed period drama seems at times padded with incident in the way of a tooconscientious adaptation its threehour running time plays closer to two
0 like life on the island the movie grows boring despite the scenery
4 jones has delivered a solidly entertaining and moving family drama
2 an intriguing nearmiss
1 scoobydoo does nt know if it wants to be a retrorefitting exercise in campy recall for older fans or a silly nickelodeonesque kiddie flick
1 del toro maintains a dark mood that makes the film seem like something to endure instead of enjoy
2 sometimes shorter is better
4 peter jackson and company once again dazzle and delight us fulfilling practically every expectation either a longtime tolkien fan or a moviegoing neophyte could want
1 david spade as citizen kane
4 its a great american adventure and a wonderful film to bring to imax
2 a glorious mess
0 never having seen the first two films in the series i ca nt compare friday after next to them but nothing would change the fact that what we have here is a load of clams left in the broiling sun for a good three days
3 standard guns versus martial arts cliche with little new added
3 pratfalls aside barbershop gets its greatest play from the timeless spectacle of people really talking to each other
1 tale will be all too familiar for anyone whos seen george roy hills 1973 film the sting
1 showtime is nt particularly assaultive but it can still make you feel that you never want to see another car chase explosion or gunfight again
2 a savage john waterslike humor that dances on the edge of tastelessness without ever quite falling over
4 victor rosa is leguizamos best movie work so far a subtle and richly internalized performance
1 but its also disappointing to a certain degree
4 petes screenplay manages to find that real natural evenflowing tone that few movies are able to accomplish
1 this is a thirdperson story now told by hollywood and much more ordinary for it
1 fails to convince the audience that these brats will ever be anything more than losers
3 its a smart funny look at an arcane area of popular culture and if it is nt entirely persuasive it does give exposure to some talented performers
2 does what should seem impossible it makes serial killer jeffrey dahmer boring
1 one look at a girl in tight pants and big tits and you turn stupid
4 this chicago has hugely imaginative and successful casting to its great credit as well as one terrific score and attitude to spare
4 pacino and williams seem to keep upping the ante on each other just as their characters do in the film
4 a fiercely clever and subtle film capturing the precarious balance between the extravagant confidence of the exiled aristocracy and the cruel earnestness of the victorious revolutionaries
4 the best didacticism is one carried by a strong sense of humanism and bertrand taverniers oftbrilliant safe conduct lrb laissezpasser rrb wears its heart on its sleeve
2 the movie is a little tired maybe the original inspiration has run its course
3 schrader examines cranes decline with unblinking candor
4 like edward norton in american history x ryan gosling lrb murder by numbers rrb delivers a magnetic performance
4 if you love the music and i do its hard to imagine having more fun watching a documentary
1 but first you have to give the audience a reason to want to put for that effort
3 as relationships shift director robert j siegel allows the characters to inhabit their world without cleaving to a narrative arc
1 contains all the substance of a twinkie easy to swallow but scarcely nourishing
2 a minor work yet theres no denying the potency of millers strange fleeting brew of hopeful perseverance and hopeless closure
3 harks back to a time when movies had more to do with imagination than market research
3 like a tarantino movie with heart alias betty is richly detailed deftly executed and utterly absorbing
3 the four feathers is definitely horse feathers but if you go in knowing that you might have fun in this cinematic sandbox
2 is truth stranger than fiction
3 although it lacks the detail of the book the film does pack some serious suspense
4 its a masterpeice
2 diverting french comedy in which a husband has to cope with the pesky moods of jealousy
1 a little too ponderous to work as shallow entertainment not remotely incisive enough to qualify as drama monsoon wedding serves mostly to whet ones appetite for the bollywood films
2 feels untidily honest
0 no big whoop nothing new to see zero thrills too many flashbacks and a choppy ending make for a bad film
2 feels slight as if it were an extended short albeit one made by the smartest kids in class
3 a chilling tale of one of the great crimes of 20th century france the murder of two rich women by their servants in 1933
1 the kind of movie that leaves vague impressions and a nasty aftertaste but little clear memory of its operational mechanics
3 s1m0nes satire is not subtle but it is effective
2 its all gratuitous before long as if schwentke were fulfilling a grossout quota for an anticipated audience demographic instead of shaping the material to fit the story
1 lrb tobacks rrb fondness for fancy splitscreen stuttering editing and pompous references to wittgenstein and kirkegaard blends uneasily with the titillating material
3 the cats meow marks a return to form for director peter bogdanovich
1 the director mostly plays it straight turning leys fable into a listless climb down the social ladder
2 the limited sets and small confined and dark spaces also are homages to a classic lowbudget film noir movie
2 has not so much been written as assembled frankensteinlike out of other marginally better shootemups
1 but this time the old mib label stands for milder is nt better
3 arthouse to the core read my lips is a genrecurling crime story that revives the freewheeling noir spirit of old french cinema
3 based on dave barrys popular book of the same name the movie benefits from having a real writer plot out all of the characters moves and overlapping story
1 despite some charm and heart this quirky soccer import is forgettable
1 the weird thing about the santa clause 2 purportedly a childrens movie is that there is nothing in it to engage children emotionally
2 this scifi technosex thriller starts out bizarre and just keeps getting weirder
1 hiphop rarely comes alive as its own firebreathing entity in this picture
2 the origin story is well told and the characters will not disappoint anyone who values the original comic books
1 inconsequential roadandbuddy pic
1 if disneys cinderella proved that a dream is a wish your heart makes then cinderella ii proves that a nightmare is a wish a studios wallet makes
0 this strenuously unfunny showtime deserves the hook
3 jonathan parkers bartleby should have been the beallendall of the modernoffice anomie films
4 he has a great cast and a great idea
0 ozpetek offers an aids subtext skims over the realities of gay sex and presents yet another tired old vision of the gay community as an allinclusive world where uptight middle class bores like antonia can feel good about themselves
0 the movie fails to portray its literarily talented and notorious subject as anything much more than a dirty old man
4 hailed as a clever exercise in neohitchcockianism this clever and very satisfying picture is more accurately chabrolian
1 synthetic is the best description of this wellmeaning beautifully produced film that sacrifices its promise for a highpowered star pedigree
4 a noholdsbarred cinematic treat
1 the quiet american is nt a bad film its just one that could easily wait for your pay per view dollar
2 the animation and backdrops are lush and inventive yet return to neverland never manages to take us to that elusive lovely place where we suspend our disbelief
1 the fetid underbelly of fame has never looked uglier
2 witless but watchable
3 a sensitive and astute first feature by annesophie birot
3 the charms of the lead performances allow us to forget most of the films problems
1 a dark comedy that goes for sick and demented humor simply to do so
3 together miller kuras and the actresses make personal velocity into an intricate intimate and intelligent journey
3 a very wellmeaning movie and it will stand in future years as an eloquent memorial to the world trade center tragedy
1 though clearly wellintentioned this crosscultural soap opera is painfully formulaic and stilted
3 with so many bad romances out there this is the kind of movie that deserves a chance to shine
3 lrb shyamalan rrb continues to cut a swathe through mainstream hollywood while retaining an integrity and refusing to compromise his vision
3 what redeems the film is the cast particularly the yayas themselves
0 the only way to tolerate this insipid brutally clueless film might be with a large dose of painkillers
2 one thing is for sure this movie does not tell you a whole lot about lily chouchou
3 birthday girl is an actors movie first and foremost
4 despite its floating narrative this is a remarkably accessible and haunting film
4 one of those movies that catches you up in something bigger than yourself namely an archetypal desire to enjoy good trash every now and then
2 now i can see why people thought i was too hard on the mothman prophecies
2 the most antihuman big studio picture since 3000 miles to graceland
0 the only thing swept away is the one hour and thirtythree minutes spent watching this waste of time
2 a preposterously melodramatic paean to gangmember teens in brooklyn circa 1958
3 jacquots strategy allows his cast the benefit of being able to give full performances while demonstrating vividly that the beauty and power of the opera reside primarily in the music itself
4 visually captivating
1 unfortunately thats precisely what arthur dongs family fundamentals does
1 while hollywood ending has its share of belly laughs lrb including a knockout of a closing line rrb the movie winds up feeling like a great missed opportunity
1 the film itself is about something very interesting and odd that would probably work better as a real documentary without the insinuation of mediocre acting or a fairly trite narrative
0 our culture is headed down the toilet with the ferocity of a frozen burrito after an allnight tequila bender and i know this because ive seen jackass the movie
4 nothing short of a masterpiece and a challenging one
0 frankly its kind of insulting both to men and women
2 a respectable but uninspired thriller thats intelligent and considered in its details but ultimately weak in its impact
0 one of the worst movies of the year
1 ignore the reputation and ignore the film
0 predictably soulless technotripe
2 this englishlanguage version does full honor to miyazakis teeming and often unsettling landscape and to the conflicted complexity of his characters
1 the skills of a calculus major at mit are required to balance all the formulaic equations in the longwinded heist comedy who is cletis tout
3 expect no major discoveries nor any stylish sizzle but the film sits with square conviction and touching good sense on the experience of its women
4 nicholsons understated performance is wonderful
1 its just that its so notatallgood
1 i suspect that there are more interesting ways of dealing with the subject
3 its a quirky offbeat project
1 we have poignancy jostling against farce thoughtful dialogue elbowed aside by oneliners and a visual style that incorporates rotoscope animation for no apparent reason except maybe that it looks neat
1 stuffy full of itself morally ambiguous and nothing to shout about
3 as the dominant christine sylvie testud is icily brilliant
0 the effort is sincere and the results are honest but the film is so bleak that its hardly watchable
3 viva le resistance
2 every childs story is what matters
2 spend your benjamins on a matinee
2 a lesson in prehistoric hilarity
3 a tone of rueful compassion reverberates throughout this film whose meaning and impact is sadly heightened by current world events
4 the overall fabric is hypnotic and mr mattei fosters moments of spontaneous intimacy
0 if there was any doubt that peter ofallon did nt have an original bone in his body a rumor of angels should dispel it
4 the animated sequences are well done and perfectly constructed to convey a sense of childhood imagination and creating adventure out of angst
1 choppy overlong documentary about the lifestyle
0 due to stodgy soap operaish dialogue the rest of the cast comes across as stick figures reading lines from a teleprompter
4 i have nt laughed that hard in years
4 with a cast of alist brit actors it is worth searching out
1 the new film of anton chekhovs the cherry orchard puts the ick in classic
4 the movie is well crafted and well executed
4 its anchored by splendid performances from an honored screen veteran and a sparkling newcomer who instantly transform themselves into a believable motherdaughter pair
0 would benignis italian pinocchio have been any easier to sit through than this hastily dubbed disaster
3 despite an overwrought ending the film works as well as it does because of the performances
1 cinematic pyrotechnics aside the only thing avary seems to care about are mean giggles and pulchritude
2 the good is very very good the rest runs from mildly unimpressive to despairingly awful
3 watching these two actors play against each other so intensely but with restraint is a treat
2 whats the most positive thing that can be said about the new rob schneider vehicle
1 too infuriatingly quirky and taken with its own style
1 watching queen of the damned is like reading a research paper with special effects tossed in
0 adam sandlers eight crazy nights grows on you like a rash
2 the actresses may have worked up a back story for the women they portray so convincingly but viewers do nt get enough of that background for the characters to be involving as individuals rather than types
3 a complex psychological drama about a father who returns to his sons home after decades away
0 the movie is so contrived nonsensical and formulaic that come to think of it the dayold shelf would be a more appropriate location to store it
4 a minor film with major pleasures from portuguese master manoel de oliviera
4 for veggietales fans this is more appetizing than a side dish of asparagus
4 if the reallife story is genuinely inspirational the movie stirs us as well
3 lrb gaytons script rrb telegraphs every discovery and layers on the gloss of convenience
3 no its not as singleminded as john carpenters original but its sure a lot smarter and more unnerving than the sequels
1 this starts off with a 1950s doris day feel and it gets very ugly very fast
3 blessed with two fine nuanced lead performances
3 whats next
2 if youre paying attention the big twists are pretty easy to guess but that does nt make the movie any less entertaining
4 if youre a comic fan you ca nt miss it
3 earnest and heartfelt but undernourished and plodding
4 fairytale formula serves as a paper skeleton for some very good acting dialogue comedy direction and especially charm
3 pipe dream does have its charms
2 what could have been a pointed little chiller about the frightening seductiveness of new technology loses faith in its own viability and succumbs to joyless specialeffects excess
3 brosnan is more feral in this film than ive seen him before and halle berry does her best to keep up with him
3 director carl franklin so crisp and economical in one false move bogs down in genre cliches here
4 a thoughtful reverent portrait of what is essentially a subculture with its own rules regarding love and family governance and hierarchy
0 but ticketbuyers with great expectations will wind up as glum as mr de niro
1 from its nauseating spinning credits sequence to a very talented but underutilized supporting cast bartleby squanders as much as it gives out
1 lrb davis rrb wants to cause his audience an epiphany yet he refuses to give us real situations and characters
4 but darned if it does nt also keep us riveted to our seats
0 rashomonfordipsticks tale
3 good actors have a radar for juicy roles theres a plethora of characters in this picture and not one of them is flat
3 a genuine mindbender
3 this bracingly truthful antidote to hollywood teenage movies that slather clearasil over the blemishes of youth captures the combustible mixture of a chafing inner loneliness and desperate grandiosity that tend to characterize puberty
3 an unexpectedly sweet story of sisterhood
2 ultimately jane learns her place as a girl softens up and loses some of the intensity that made her an interesting character to begin with
4 its a beautiful film full of elaborate and twisted characters and its also pretty funny
3 its an ambitious film and as with all ambitious films it has some problems
1 nothing too deep or substantial
1 disney again ransacks its archives for a quickbuck sequel
3 a vivid spicy footnote to history and a movie that grips and holds you in rapt attention from start to finish
1 without a fresh infusion of creativity 4ever is neither a promise nor a threat so much as wishful thinking
3 despite its flaws crazy as hell marks an encouraging new direction for la salle
3 a lowkey labor of love that strikes a very resonant chord
1 the movie attempts to mine laughs from a genre the gangstercrime comedy that wore out its welcome with audiences several years ago and its cutesy reliance on moviespecific cliches is nt exactly endearing
4 the urban landscapes are detailed down to the signs on the kiosks and the color palette with lots of somber blues and pinks is dreamy and evocative
3 chos latest comic set is nt as sharp or as fresh as im the one that i want but its still damn funny stuff
1 while it is welcome to see a chinese film depict a homosexual relationship in a mature and frank fashion lan yu never catches dramatic fire
3 the real triumphs in igby come from philippe who makes oliver far more interesting than the characters lines would suggest and sarandon who could nt be better as a cruel but weirdly likable wasp matron
3 a plethora of engaging diatribes on the meaning of home delivered in grand passion by the members of the various households
2 a comingofage film
4 ourside the theatre roger might be intolerable company but inside it hes well worth spending some time with
1 despite its visual virtuosity naqoyqatsi is banal in its message and the choice of material to convey it
0 stealing harvard does nt care about cleverness wit or any other kind of intelligent humor
4 what i saw i enjoyed
0 the sum of all fears pretends to be a serious exploration of nuclear terrorism but its really nothing more than warmedover cold war paranoia
4 morton deserves an oscar nomination
0 a sentimental mess that never rings true
1 some episodes work some do nt
3 for those of an indulgent slightly sunbaked and summery mind sex and lucia may well prove diverting enough
1 represents the depths to which the girlsbehavingbadly film has fallen
0 pompous and garbled
0 a depressingly retrograde postfeminist romantic comedy that takes an astonishingly condescending attitude toward women
1 although sensitive to a fault its often overwritten with a surfeit of weighty revelations flowery dialogue and nostalgia for the past and roads not taken
3 its almost toospectacular coastal setting distracts slightly from an eccentric and goodnaturedly aimless story
1 but it was nt
3 horns and halos benefits from serendipity but also reminds us of our own responsibility to question what is told as the truth
4 this is one of those war movies that focuses on human interaction rather than battle and action sequences and its all the stronger because of it
4 writerdirector juan carlos fresnadillo makes a feature debut that is fully formed and remarkably assured
0 but this new jangle of noise mayhem and stupidity must be a serious contender for the title
3 a quiet family drama with a little bit of romance and a dose of darkness
2 children of the century though well dressed and well made ultimately falls prey to the contradiction that afflicts so many movies about writers
1 if festival in cannes nails hard boiled hollywood argot with a bracingly nasty accuracy much about the film including some of its casting is frustratingly unconvincing
0 a woefully dull redundant concept that bears more than a whiff of exploitation despite iwais vaunted empathy
3 my wife is an actress works as well as it does because lrb the leads rrb are such a companionable couple
3 it asks nothing of the audience other than to sit back and enjoy a couple of great actors hamming it up
2 martyr gets royally screwed and comes back for more
1 scotland pa is entirely too straightfaced to transcend its clever concept
3 miller has crafted an intriguing story of maternal instincts and misguided acts of affection
1 often silly and gross but its rarely as moronic as some campus grossout films
1 the gags and the script are a mixed bag
2 a crisply made movie that is no more than mildly amusing
3 terrific casting and solid execution give all three stories life
3 promises is a compelling piece that demonstrates just how well children can be trained to live out and carry on their parents anguish
0 the characters are paperthin and their personalities undergo radical changes when it suits the script
3 what makes barbershop so likable with all its flaws is that it has none of the pushiness and decibel volume of most contemporary comedies
1 nothing more than four or five mild chuckles surrounded by 86 minutes of overlyfamiliar and poorlyconstructed comedy
3 sure its contrived and predictable but its performances are so well tuned that the film comes off winningly even though its never as solid as you want it to be
1 i never thought id say this but id much rather watch teens poking their genitals into fruit pies
4 informative intriguing observant often touching gives a human face to whats often discussed in purely abstract terms
4 whatever heartwarming scene the impressively discreet filmmakers may have expected to record with their mini dv they show a remarkable ability to document both sides of this emotional carwreck
0 a humorless journey into a philosophical void
2 the movie is essentially a series of fleetingly interesting actors moments
3 the plot twists give i am trying to break your heart an attraction it desperately needed
4 an actionthriller of the finest kind evoking memories of day of the jackal the french connection and heat
1 the drama discloses almost nothing
2 its time to let your hair down greek style
3 wilco fans will have a great time and the movie should win the band a few new converts too
0 the jokes are sophomoric stereotypes are sprinkled everywhere and the acting ranges from bad to bodacious
3 a wellcrafted film that is all the more remarkable because it achieves its emotional power and moments of revelation with restraint and a delicate ambiguity
2 unspools like a highbrow lowkey 102minute infomercial blending entrepreneurial zeal with the testimony of satisfied customers
2 a relatively effective little potboiler until its absurd contrived overblown and entirely implausible finale
4 half past dead is just such an achievement
3 the rerelease of ron howards apollo 13 in the imax format proves absolutely that really really really good things can come in enormous packages
0 this long and relentlessly saccharine film is a clear case of preaching to the converted
3 short and sweet but also more than anything else slight tadpole pulls back from the consequences of its own actions and revelations
4 my wife is an actress has its moments in looking at the comic effects of jealousy
1 in the end tuck everlasting falls victim to that everlasting conundrum experienced by every human who ever lived too much to do too little time to do it in
0 youll find yourself wishing that you and they were in another movie
3 visually fascinating an often intense character study about fathers and sons loyalty and duty
2 leading a double life in an american film only comes to no good but not here
3 she allows each character to confront their problems openly and honestly
3 compulsively watchable no matter how degraded things get
3 if you can push on through the slow spots youll be rewarded with some fine acting
2 the comedy makes social commentary more palatable
1 a film that loses sight of its own story
4 fontaines direction especially her agreeably startling use of closeups and her grace with a moving camera creates sheerly cinematic appeal
2 funny though
3 take any 12yearold boy to see this picture and hell be your slave for a year
3 a solidly constructed entertaining thriller that stops short of true inspiration
1 snow dogs finds its humour in a black man getting humiliated by a pack of dogs who are smarter than him
0 im not sure which will take longer to heal the welt on johnny knoxvilles stomach from a riotcontrol projectile or my own tortured psyche
0 we do nt get paid enough to sit through crap like this
1 too bad
3 but tongueincheek preposterousness has always been part of for the most part wildes droll whimsy helps being earnest overcome its weaknesses and parkers creative interference
3 by applying definition to both sides of the man the picture realizes a fullness that does not negate the subject
3 many insightful moments
3 zhuangzhuang creates delicate balance of style text and subtext thats so simple and precise that anything discordant would topple the balance but against all odds nothing does
2 it never is not fully
1 while certainly clever in spots this toolong spoofy update of shakespeares macbeth does nt sustain a high enough level of invention
2 theres an epic here but you have to put it together yourself
2 but fans of the show should not consider this a diss
2 lillard and cardellini earn their scooby snacks but not anyone else
3 filmmakers dana janklowiczmann and amir mann area headed east far east in retelling a historically significant and personal episode detailing how one international city welcomed tens of thousands of german jewish refugees while the worlds democracie
2 really dumb but occasionally really funny
1 does nt really add up to much
2 shadyac who belongs with the damned for perpetrating patch adams trots out every ghost trick from the sixth sense to the mothman prophecies
1 zellwegers whiny poutylipped poof faced and spindly attempt at playing an ingenue makes her nomination as best actress even more of a an a
3 has a solid emotional impact
3 one of those unassuming films that sneaks up on you and stays with you long after you have left the theatre
3 lets issue a moratorium effective immediately on treacly films about inspirational prepschool professors and the children they so heartwarmingly motivate
2 the same should go for movie theaters
0 wheres the movie here
3 you come away from his film overwhelmed hopeful and perhaps paradoxically illuminated
2 pull lrb s rrb off the rare trick of recreating not only the look of a certain era but also the feel
0 unspeakably unbearably dull featuring reams of flatly delivered dialogue and a heroine who comes across as both shallow and dimwitted
3 good performances keep it from being a total rehash
2 what with the incessant lounge music playing in the films background you may mistake love liza for an adam sandler chanukah song
1 the modernday royals have nothing on these guys when it comes to scandals
3 a disoriented but occasionally disarming saga packed with moments out of an alice in wonderland adventure a stalker thriller and a condensed season of tvs big brother
3 not as wellwritten as sexy beast not as gloriously flippant as lock stock and two smoking barrels but stylish and moody and exceptionally wellacted
0 killing time thats all thats going on here
1 puts on airs of a hal hartley wannabe film without the vital comic ingredient of the hilarious writerdirector himself
4 at once subtle and visceral the film never succumbs to the trap of the maudlin or tearful offering instead with its unflinching gaze a measure of faith in the future
3 he watches them as they float within the seas of their personalities
1 i did nt laugh
2 in this film we at least see a study in contrasts the wide range of one actor and the limited range of a comedian
1 there is simply not enough of interest onscreen to sustain its seventyminute running time
1 the master of disguise represents adam sandlers latest attempt to dumb down the universe
2 lrb a rrb stuporously solemn film
2 its sweet but just a little bit too precious at the start and a little too familiar at the end
1 this is a truly truly bad movie
2 is red dragon worthy of a place alongside the other hannibal movies
3 the fact is that the screen is most alive when it seems most likely that broomfields interviewees or even himself will not be for much longer
3 despite its oldhat setup and predictable plot empire still has enough moments to keep it entertaining
0 poor ben bratt could nt find stardom if mapquest emailed him pointtopoint driving directions
2 it wo nt harm anyone but neither can i think of a very good reason to rush right out and see it
0 at times it actually hurts to watch
3 shyamalan takes a potentially trite and overused concept lrb aliens come to earth rrb and infuses it into a rustic realistic and altogether creepy tale of hidden invasion
2 y
3 the dangerous lives of altar boys take on adolescence feels painfully true
2 would i see it again
0 why sit through a crummy wannabehip crime comedy that refers incessantly to old movies when you could just rent those movies instead let alone seek out a respectable new one
4 the entire movie establishes a wonderfully creepy mood
1 taken outside the context of the current political climate lrb see terrorists are more evil than ever rrb
0 a particularly joyless and exceedingly dull period comingofage tale
3 its at once laughable and compulsively watchable in its committed dumbness
1 lacks depth
4 a tremendous piece of work
3 whats surprising is how well it holds up in an era in which computergenerated images are the norm
1 i do nt think so
0 koepps screenplay is nt nearly surprising or clever enough to sustain a reasonable degree of suspense on its own
4 better effects better acting and a hilarious kenneth branagh
0 a derivative collection of horror and scifi cliches
3 moonlight mile gives itself the freedom to feel contradictory things
0 what little atmosphere is generated by the shadowy lighting macabre sets and endless rain is offset by the sheer ugliness of everything else
1 curiously super troopers suffers because it does nt have enough vices to merit its 103minute length
2 what john does is heroic but we do nt condone it one of the films stars recently said a tortuous comment that perfectly illustrates the pictures moral schizophrenia
0 hypnotically dull
4 a graceful moving tribute to the courage of new yorks finest and a nicely understated expression of the grief shared by the nation at their sacrifice
3 she is a lioness protecting her cub and he a reluctant villain incapable of controlling his crew
3 its a film thats destined to win a wide summer audience through wordofmouth reviews and not far down the line to find a place among the studios animated classics
3 even though many of these guys are less than adorable lrb their lamentations are pretty much selfcentered rrb theres something vital about the movie
2 as it stands its an opera movie for the buffs
1 sex is one of those films that aims to confuse
2 secretary is owned by its costars spader and gyllenhaal
0 its pauly shore awful
1 shunji iwais all about lily chou chou is a beautifully shot but ultimately flawed film about growing up in japan
3 sheds light on a subject few are familiar with and makes you care about music you may not have heard before
1 the highconcept scenario soon proves preposterous the acting is robotically italicized and truthinadvertising hounds take note theres very little hustling on view
1 surprisingly considering that baird is a former film editor the movie is rather choppy
2 overall interesting as a documentary but not very imaxy
2 whether quitting will prove absorbing to american audiences is debatable
1 the comedy death to smoochy is a rancorous curiosity a movie without an apparent audience
1 odd and weird
1 this is not an easy film
2 simply does nt have sufficient heft to justify its twohour running time
0 overly melodramatic
1 a potentially good comic premise and excellent cast are terribly wasted
1 in any case i would recommend big bad love only to winger fans who have missed her since 1995s forget paris
3 you watch for that sense of openness the little surprises
2 jaunty fun with its celebstrewn backdrop well used
1 simply a rehash of the other seven films
0 far too clever by half howards film is really a series of strungtogether moments with all the spaces in between filled with fantasies daydreams memories and one fantastic visual trope after another
0 the latest adam sandler assault and possibly the worst film of the year
2 samuel beckett applied to the iranian voting process
1 there is only so much baked cardboard i need to chew
0 a fullfrontal attack on audience patience
3 this is one of those rare docs that paints a grand picture of an era and makes the journey feel like a party
0 when you find yourself rooting for the monsters in a horror movie you know the picture is in trouble
4 a stylish but steady and ultimately very satisfying piece of characterdriven storytelling
0 a word of advice to the makers of the singles ward celebrity cameos do not automatically equal laughs
2 with cheapo animation lrb like saturday morning tv in the60s rrb a complex swordandsorcery plot and characters who all have big round eyes and japanese names
1 this is a film living far too much in its own head
3 the bottom line with nemesis is the same as it has been with all the films in the series fans will undoubtedly enjoy it and the uncommitted need nt waste their time on it
1 an obvious copy of one of the best films ever made how could it not be
0 mr goyers loose unaccountable direction is technically sophisticated in the worst way
3 mordantly funny and intimately knowing
2 ending
1 fairly runofthemill
2 dark and disturbing yet compelling to watch
1 whether this is art imitating life or life imitating art its an unhappy situation all around
3 like a veteran head cutter barbershop is tuned in to its community
1 the story is predictable the jokes are typical sandler fare and the romance with ryder is puzzling
1 tends to plod
1 formulaic to the 51st power more like
2 here polanski looks back on those places he saw at childhood and captures them by freeing them from artefact and by showing them heartbreakingly drably
0 the three leads produce adequate performances but whats missing from this material is any depth of feeling
2 for all its plot twists and some of them verge on the bizarre as the film winds down blood work is a strong characteroriented piece
3 the lightest most breezy movie steven spielberg has made in more than a decade
1 in the new guy even the bull gets recycled
3 originality ai nt on the menu but theres never a dull moment in the giant spider invasion comic chiller
3 its a ripper of a yarn and i for one enjoyed the thrill of the chill
3 the script is smart not cloying
1 spectators will indeed sit openmouthed before the screen not screaming but yawning
2 the pictures cleverness is ironically muted by the very people who are intended to make it shine
1 youd be hard put to find a movie character more unattractive or odorous lrb than leon rrb
0 dismally dull scifi comedy
0 never capitalizes on this concept and opts for the breezy and amateurish feel of an after school special on the subject of tolerance
1 pc stability notwithstanding the film suffers from a simplistic narrative and a pat fairytale conclusion
3 a story about intelligent high school students that deals with first love sweetly but also seriously
4 assured vital and well wrought the film is arguably the most accomplished work to date from hong kongs versatile stanley kwan
1 the most opaque selfindulgent and just plain goofy an excuse for a movie as you can imagine
3 who needs mindbending drugs when they can see this the final part of the qatsi trilogy directed by godfrey reggio with music by philip glass
2 true hollywood story
3 the movie is amateurish but its a minor treat
2 youll laugh for not quite and hour and a half but come out feeling strangely unsatisfied
4 i can easily imagine benignis pinocchio becoming a christmas perennial
3 thats why sex and lucia is so alluring
3 any movie that makes hard work seem heroic deserves a look
2 a lot of its gags and observations reflect a womans pointofview
0 in my own very humble opinion in praise of love lacks even the most fragmented charms i have found in almost all of his previous works
1 theres more repetition than creativity throughout the movie
1 lrb a rrb boldly stroked luridly coloured unidimensional nonsense machine that strokes the eyeballs while it evaporates like so much crypt mist in the brain
2 one big laugh three or four mild giggles and a whole lot of not much else
3 affable if not timeless like mike raises some worthwhile themes while delivering a wholesome fantasy for kids
2 perhaps the film should be seen as a conversation starter
2 it does give you a peek
1 feels shrill simple and soapy
3 a wild comedy that could only spring from the demented mind of the writer of being john malkovich
3 the film is oldfashioned occasionally charming and as subtle as boldface
3 pure cinematic intoxication a wildly inventive mixture of comedy and melodrama tastelessness and swooning elegance
1 a minorleague soccer remake of the longest yard
0 everything was as superficial as the forced new jersey lowbrow accent uma had
1 godard uses his characters if thats not too glorified a term as art things mouthpieces visual motifs blanks
1 take care is nicely performed by a quintet of actresses but nonetheless it drags during its 112minute length
1 the bottom line at least in my opinion is imposter makes a better short story than it does a film
1 formula 51 promises a new kind of high but delivers the same old bad trip
2 with lines that feel like long soliloquies even as they are being framed in conversation max is static stilted
1 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 twohourandfifteenminute length
0 aggravating and tedious
3 an undeniably moving film to experience and ultimately thats what makes it worth a recommendation
3 frank capra played this story straight
0 starts as an intense political and psychological thriller but is sabotaged by ticking time bombs and other hollywoodaction cliches
1 cattaneo reworks the formula that made the full monty a smashing success but neglects to add the magic that made it all work
1 obvious
3 though overall an overwhelmingly positive portrayal the film does nt ignore the more problematic aspects of browns life
3 paid in full is remarkably engaging despite being noticeably derivative of goodfellas and at least a half dozen other troubleintheghetto flicks
3 the big ending surprise almost saves the movie
1 problem is we have no idea what in creation is going on
0 its as if a bored cage spent the duration of the films shooting schedule waiting to scream got aids yet
3 4ever has the same sledgehammer appeal as pokemon videos but it breathes more on the big screen and induces headaches more slowly
3 a smart steamy mix of road movie comingofage story and political satire
3 warm and exotic
4 steers in his feature film debut has created a brilliant motion picture
2 from beginning to end this overheated melodrama plays like a student film
3 the offcenter humor is a constant and the ensemble gives it a buoyant delivery
1 overburdened with complicated plotting and banal dialogue
2 sometimes we feel as if the film careens from one colorful event to another without respite but sometimes it must have seemed to frida kahlo as if her life did too
3 yet this one makes up for in heart what it lacks in outright newness
3 lrb finchers rrb camera sense and assured pacing make it an aboveaverage thriller
2 the pinochet case is a searing album of remembrance from those who having survived suffered most
2 however stale the material lawrences delivery remains perfect his great gift is that he can actually trick you into thinking some of this wornout pandering palaver is actually funny
1 whatever the movies sentimental hypocritical lessons about sexism its true colors come out in various wet tshirt and shower scenes
3 all right so its not a brilliant piece of filmmaking but it is a funny lrb sometimes hilarious rrb comedy with a deft sense of humor about itself a playful spirit and a game cast
4 over the years hollywood has crafted a solid formula for successful animated movies and ice age only improves on it with terrific computer graphics inventive action sequences and a droll sense of humor
2 hes worked too hard on this movie
1 if welles was unhappy at the prospect of the human race splitting in two he probably would nt be too crazy with his greatgrandsons movie splitting up in pretty much the same way
2 the philosophical musings of the dialogue jar against the tawdry soap opera antics of the films action in a way that is surprisingly enjoyable
3 some people march to the beat of a different drum and if you ever wondered what kind of houses those people live in this documentary takes a look at 5 alternative housing options
3 its up to lrb watts rrb to lend credibility to this strange scenario and her presence succeeds in making us believe
1 noyces greatest mistake is thinking that we needed sweeping dramatic hollywood moments to keep us
2 it somehow managed to make its way past my crappola radar and find a small place in my heart
4 diggs and lathan are among the chief reasons brown sugar is such a sweet and sexy film
3 a wonderfully warm human drama that remains vividly in memory long after viewing
2 about the hardpartying
2 but the execution is a flop with the exception of about six gags that really work
3 a sharp amusing study of the cult of celebrity
3 this humbling little film fueled by the light comedic work of zhao benshan and the delicate ways of dong jie is just the sort for those moviegoers who complain that they do nt make movies like they used to anymore
4 more than their unique residences home movie is about the people who live in them who have carved their own comfortable niche in the world and have been kind enough to share it
1 no surprises
2 it is so earnest so overwrought and so wildly implausible that it begs to be parodied
4 the film is enriched by an imaginatively mixed cast of antic spirits headed by christopher plummer as the subtlest and most complexly evil uncle ralph ive ever seen in the many film and stage adaptations of the work
0 the problem is the needlessly poor quality of its archival prints and film footage
2 fulfills the minimum requirement of disney animation
0 with jump cuts fast editing and lots of pyrotechnics yu clearly hopes to camouflage how bad his movie is
3 lrb while the last metro rrb was more melodramatic confined to a single theater company and its strategies and deceptions while tavernier is more concerned with the entire period of history
2 both the crime story and the love story are unusual
2 every five minutes or so someone gets clocked
2 well its not as pathetic as the animal
4 combines sharp comedy oldfashioned monster movie atmospherics and genuine heart to create a film thats not merely about kicking undead but also about dealing with regret and ultimately finding redemption
3 moretti is the rare commonman artist whos wise enough to recognize that there are few things in this world more complex and as it turns out more fragile than happiness
2 routine and rather silly
1 god help us but capra and cooper are rolling over in their graves
2 he gets his secretary to fax it
4 begins like a docudrama but builds its multicharacter story with a flourish
3 playing a role of almost bergmanesque intensity bisset is both convincing and radiant
1 if there was ever a movie where the upbeat ending feels like a copout this is the one
4 theres none of the happilyever after spangle of monsoon wedding in late marriage and thats part of what makes dover kosashvilis outstanding feature debut so potent
0 as pure overthetop trash any john waters movie has it beat by a country mile
4 lrb reynolds rrb takes a classic story casts attractive and talented actors and uses a magnificent landscape to create a feature film that is wickedly fun to watch
4 a time machine a journey back to your childhood when cares melted away in the dark theater and films had the ability to mesmerize astonish and entertain
0 i hate the feeling of having been slimed in the name of high art
0 the catch is that theyre stuck with a script that prevents them from firing on all cylinders
2 the images are usually abbreviated in favor of mushy obviousness and telegraphed pathos particularly where whitakers misfit artist is concerned
2 just entertaining enough not to hate too mediocre to love
0 a movie more to be prescribed than recommended as visually bland as a dentists waiting room complete with soothing muzak and a cushion of predictable narrative rhythms
3 takes a fresh and absorbing look at a figure whose legacy had begun to bronze
3 the film does give a pretty good overall picture of the situation in laramie following the murder of matthew shepard
2 at times the guys taps into some powerful emotions but this kind of material is more effective on stage
2 its a documentary that says that the alternate sexuality meant to set you free may require so much relationship maintenance that celibacy can start looking good
3 for those in search of something different wendigo is a genuinely bonechilling tale
3 a riveting profile of law enforcement and a visceral nasty journey into an urban hades
0 the movie slides downhill as soon as macho action conventions assert themselves
3 peter jackson has done the nearly impossible
2 with its jerky handheld camera and documentary feel bloody sunday is a sobering recount of a very bleak day in derry
1 these characters become wearisome
2 earnest but heavyhanded
3 until it goes off the rails in its final 10 or 15 minutes wendigo larry fessendens spooky new thriller is a refreshingly smart and newfangled variation on several themes derived from far less sophisticated and knowing horror films
1 lrb moores rrb better at fingering problems than finding solutions
1 but for the most part the weight of water comes off as a twoway timeswitching myopic mystery that stalls in its lackluster gear of emotional blandness
3 heartwarming and gently comic even as the film breaks your heart
4 the fluid motion is astounding on any number of levels
0 despite terrific special effects and funnier gags harry potter and the chamber of secrets finds a way to make jk rowlings marvelous series into a deadly bore
3 may be more genial than ingenious but it gets the job done
0 is a mess
1 the only type of lives this glossy comedydrama resembles are ones in formulaic mainstream movies
3 surprisingly the film is a hilarious adventure and i shamelessly enjoyed it
1 a clumsily manufactured exploitation flick a stylefree exercise in manipulation and mayhem
3 never lets go your emotions taking them to surprising highs sorrowful lows and hidden impulsive niches gorgeous passionate and at times uncommonly moving
3 tsai has a welldeserved reputation as one of the cinema worlds great visual stylists and in this film every shot enhances the excellent performances
1 just consider what new best friend does not have beginning with the minor omission of a screenplay
3 munchs screenplay is tenderly observant of his characters
2 in the long dishonorable history of quickie teenpop exploitation like mike stands out for its only partly synthetic decency
0 theres no energy
1 lacking substance and soul crossroads comes up shorter than britneys cutoffs
2 so unique and stubborn and charismatic that you want it to be better and more successful than it is
2 im not saying that ice age does nt have some fairly pretty pictures but theres not enough substance in the story to actually give them life
1 you do nt know whether to admire the films stately nature and call it classicism or be exasperated by a noticeable lack of pace
4 without resorting to camp or parody haynes lrb like sirk but differently rrb has transformed the rhetoric of hollywood melodrama into something provocative rich and strange
3 theres a lot to recommend read my lips
2 it says a lot about a filmmaker when he can be wacky without clobbering the audience over the head and still maintain a sense of urgency and suspense
2 this scarlets letter is a
2 i prefer soderberghs concentration on his two lovers over tarkovskys mostly male mostly patriarchal debating societies
4 a compassionate moving portrait of an american lrb and an america rrb always reaching for something just outside his grasp
2 bella is the picture of health with boundless energy until a few days before she dies
3 a charming but slight comedy
0 postseptember 11 the sum of all fears seems more tacky and reprehensible manipulating our collective fear without bestowing the subject with the intelligence or sincerity it unequivocally deserves
1 a hit andmiss affair consistently amusing but not as outrageous or funny as cho may have intended or as imaginative as one might have hoped
2 the setting is so cool that it chills the characters reducing our emotional stake in the outcome of intactos dangerous and seductively stylish game
3 if you think its a riot to see rob schneider in a young womans clothes then youll enjoy the hot chick
3 ice age wo nt drop your jaw but it will warm your heart and im giving it a strong thumbs up
0 beneath the uncanny inevitable and seemingly shrewd facade of moviebiz farce lies a plot cobbled together from largely flat and uncreative moments
2 slow silly and unintentionally hilarious
3 imamura has said that warm water under a red bridge is a poem to the enduring strengths of women
4 thanks to a small star with big heart this family film sequel is plenty of fun for all
3 what makes the film special is the refreshingly unhibited enthusiasm that the people in spite of clearly evident poverty and hardship bring to their music
1 the story the movie tells is of brian de palmas addiction to the junkcalorie suspense tropes that have all but ruined his career
4 but the nerveraked acting the crackle of lines the impressive stagings of hardware make for some robust and scary entertainment
0 a terrible adaptation of a play that only ever walked the delicate tightrope between farcical and loathsome
1 even accepting this in the right frame of mind can only provide it with so much leniency
3 a hypnotic cyber hymn and a cruel story of youth culture
0 what soured me on the santa clause 2 was that santa bumps up against 21st century reality so hard its icky
1 often lingers just as long on the irrelevant as on the engaging which gradually turns what time is it there
3 superb production values christian bales charisma make up for a derivative plot
3 happy times maintains an appealing veneer without becoming too cute about it
1 as a story of dramatic enlightenment the screenplay by billy ray and terry george leaves something to be desired
0 a bad movie that happened to good actors
0 its a bad sign when youre rooting for the film to hurry up and get to its subjects deaths just so the documentary will be over but its indicative of how uncompelling the movie is unless it happens to cover your particular area of interest
3 confessions may not be a straightforward bio nor does it offer much in the way of barris motivations but the film is an oddly fascinating depiction of an architect of pop culture
0 the acting is amateurish the cinematography is atrocious the direction is clumsy the writing is insipid and the violence is at once luridly graphic and laughably unconvincing
2 sean penn you owe nicolas cage an apology
4 there is a real subject here and it is handled with intelligence and care
0 sade achieves the nearimpossible it turns the marquis de sade into a dullard
1 my advice is to skip the film and pick up the soundtrack
4 so beautifully acted and directed its clear that washington most certainly has a new career ahead of him if he so chooses
4 lovingly photographed in the manner of a golden book sprung to life stuart little 2 manages sweetness largely without stickiness
1 is the kind of movie thats criticproof simply because it aims so low
1 if i want music ill buy the soundtrack
4 a delightful entree in the tradition of food movies
3 spare but quietly effective retelling
2 despite a performance of sustained intelligence from stanford and another of subtle humour from bebe neuwirth as an older woman who seduces oscar the film founders on its lack of empathy for the social milieu rich new york intelligentsia and its off
2 though it flirts with bathos and pathos and the further oprahfication of the world as we know it it still cuts all the way down to broken bone
0 this is one baaaaaaaaad movie
3 a delightful romantic comedy with plenty of bite
3 it must be the end of the world the best film so far this year is a franchise sequel starring wesley snipes
3 what lrb denis rrb accomplishes in his chilling unnerving film is a double portrait of two young women whose lives were as claustrophic suffocating and chilly as the attics to which they were inevitably consigned
3 it is about irrational unexplainable life and it seems so real because it does not attempt to filter out the complexity
4 the writing is clever and the cast is appealing
2 davis the performer is plenty fetching enough but she needs to shake up the mix and work in something that does nt feel like a halfbaked standup routine
3 certainly the big finish was nt something galinsky and hawley could have planned for but part of being a good documentarian is being there when the rope snaps
1 while easier to sit through than most of jagloms selfconscious and gratingly irritating films its still tainted by cliches painful improbability and murky points
3 poignant if familiar story of a young person suspended between two cultures
1 despite some comic sparks welcome to collinwood never catches fire
2 even more baffling is that its funny
3 an oldfashioned but emotionally stirring adventure tale of the kind they rarely make anymore
4 not many movies have that kind of impact on me these days
3 theres a spontaneity to the chateau a sense of lightheartedness that makes it attractive throughout
3 a very capable nailbiter
3 its not just a feelgood movie its a feel movie
2 the sound of gunfire and cell phones ringing
0 but one things for sure it never comes close to being either funny or scary
2 soderbergh seems capable only of delivering artfully lighted earnest inquiries that lack the kind of genuine depth that would make them redeemable
1 it has more in common with a fireworks display than a movie which normally is expected to have characters and a storyline
0 cowriterdirector jonathan parkers attempts to fashion a brazillike hyperreal satire fall dreadfully short
1 novak contemplates a heartland so overwhelmed by its lack of purpose that it seeks excitement in manufactured high drama
1 blue crush is so prolonged and boring it is nt even close to being the barnburningly bad movie it promised it would be
0 viewers will need all the luck they can muster just figuring out whos who in this pretentious mess
1 like an afterschool special with costumes by gianni versace mad love looks better than it feels
1 the basic premise is intriguing but quickly becomes distasteful and downright creepy
1 the mystery of enigma is how a rich historical subject combined with so much firstrate talent could have yielded such a flat plodding picture
0 it could have been something special but two things drag it down to mediocrity director clare peploes misunderstanding of marivauxs rhythms and mira sorvinos limitations as a classical actress
3 steadfastly uncinematic but powerfully dramatic
2 at once emotional and richly analytical the cosbyseinfeld encounter alone confirms the serious weight behind this superficially loose larky documentary
0 a summary of the plot does nt quite do justice to the awfulness of the movie for that comes through all too painfully in the execution
0 big fat liar is little more than home alone raised to a new selfdeprecating level
4 young everlyn sampi as the courageous molly craig simply radiates starpower potential in this remarkable and memorable film
1 the story simply putters along looking for astute observations and coming up blank
4 it is also beautifully acted
1 incoherence reigns
4 the wanton slipperiness of corpus and its amiable jerking and reshaping of physical time and space would make it a great piece to watch with kids and use to introduce video as art
1 77 minutes of pokemon may not last 4ever it just seems like it does
4 a joyous occasion
3 more precious than perspicacious
1 lrb t rrb he script is nt up to the level of the direction nor are the uneven performances by the cast members who seem bound and determined to duplicate bela lugosis nowcliched vampire accent
3 its cast full of caffeinated comedy performances more than make up for its logical loopholes which fly by so fast theres no time to think about them anyway
1 a sluggish pace and lack of genuine narrative hem the movie in every bit as much as life hems in the spirits of these young women
1 the chateau has one very funny joke and a few other decent ones but all it amounts to is a mildly funny sometimes tedious ultimately insignificant film
2 this harrowing journey into combat hell vividly captures the chaotic insanity and personal tragedies that are all too abundant when human hatred spews forth unchecked
2 while holm is terrific as both men and hjejle quite appealing the film fails to make the most out of the intriguing premise
4 that rare documentary that incorporates so much of human experience drama conflict tears and surprise that it transcends the normal divisions between fiction and nonfiction film
4 a refreshing change from the usual whoopeecushion effort aimed at the youth market
4 a compelling motion picture that illustrates an american tragedy
4 at once disarmingly straightforward and strikingly devious
0 much like its easily dismissive take on the upscale lifestyle there is nt much there here
2 robin williams departs from his fun friendly demeanor in exchange for a darker unnerving role
1 this may be the first cartoon ever to look as if it were being shown on the projection television screen of a sports bar
2 for a film that celebrates radical nonconformist values what to do in case of fire
3 the film grows on you
1 imperfect
1 allegiance to chekhov which director michael cacoyannis displays with somber earnestness in the new adaptation of the cherry orchard is a particularly vexing handicap
4 on that score the film certainly does nt disappoint
3 angela gheorghiu as famous prima donna floria tosca roberto alagna as her lover mario cavaradossi and ruggero as the villainous lecherous police chief scarpia all sing beautifully and act adequately
1 has a customarily jovial air but a deficit of flimflam inventiveness
3 fessenden continues to do interesting work and it would be nice to see what he could make with a decent budget
3 elegant mannered and teasing
4 foster and whitaker are especially fine
0 i do nt blame eddie murphy but should nt owen wilson know a movie must have a story and a script
3 its a boring movie about a boring man made watchable by a bravura performance from a consummate actor incapable of being boring
4 a gleefully grungy hilariously wicked black comedy
3 manages to deliver a fair bit of vampire fun
1 nothing wrong with performances here but the whiney characters bugged me
3 this kind of handson storytelling is ultimately what makes shanghai ghetto move beyond a good dry reliable textbook and what allows it to rank with its worthy predecessors
3 if villainous vampires are your cup of blood blade 2 is definitely a cut above the rest
2 it provides a grim upsetting glimpse at the lives of some of the 12 million palestinians who live in the crowded cities and refugee camps of gaza
3 still the updated dickensian sensibility of writer craig bartletts story is appealing
3 youd have to be a most hardhearted person not to be moved by this drama
1 the re enactments however fascinating they may be as history are too crude to serve the work especially well
3 it also shows how deeply felt emotions can draw people together across the walls that might otherwise separate them
2 the entire movie has a truncated feeling but whats available is lovely and lovable
0 its also curious to note that this film like the similarly illtimed antitrust is easily as bad at a fraction the budget
1 shows moments of promise but ultimately succumbs to cliches and pat storytelling
3 it might be easier to watch on video at home but that should nt stop diehard french film connoisseurs from going out and enjoying the bigscreen experience
2 with its paint fights motorized scooter chases and dewyeyed sentiment
4 enticing and often funny documentary
3 though its story is only surface deep the visuals and enveloping sounds of blue crush make this surprisingly decent flick worth a summertime looksee
2 heres my advice kev
3 like all of egoyans work ararat is fiercely intelligent and uncommonly ambitious
4 the 3d vistas from orbit with the space station suspended like a huge set of wind chimes over the great blue globe are stanzas of breathtaking aweinspiring visual poetry
0 turns a potentially interesting idea into an excruciating film school experience that plays better only for the films publicists or for people who take as many drugs as the films characters
4 arliss howards ambitious moving and adventurous directorial debut big bad love meets so many of the challenges it poses for itself that one can forgive the film its flaws
2 but no we get another scene and then another
0 seagal ran out of movies years ago and this is just the proof
4 there is no substitute for onscreen chemistry and when friel pulls the strings that make williams sink into melancholia the reaction in williams is as visceral as a gut punch
2 lrb javier bardem is rrb one of the few reasons to watch the film which director gerardo vera has drenched in swoony music and feverpitched melodrama
2 occasionally interesting but essentially unpersuasive a footnote to a still evolving story
1 the script
1 no cliche escapes the perfervid treatment of gang warfare called ces wild
0 the movie is so resolutely cobbled together out of older movies that it even uses a totally unnecessary prologue just because it seems obligatory
1 a few hours after youve seen it you forget youve been to the movies
4 with the gifted pearce on hand to keep things on semistable ground dramatically this retooled machine is ultimately effective enough at achieving the modest crowdpleasing goals it sets for itself
3 oh james
1 the picture seems uncertain whether it wants to be an acidic allmale all about eve or a lush swooning melodrama in the intermezzo strain
4 the cast is phenomenal especially the women
2 the movie is our story as much as it is schmidts no matter if its viewed as a selfreflection or cautionary tale
1 the movie weighs no more than a glass of flat champagne
1 too silly to take seriously
3 it is also a testament to the integrity and vision of the band
3 frequent flurries of creative belly laughs and genuinely enthusiastic performances keep the movie slaloming through its hackneyed elements with enjoyable ease
0 its also not smart or barbed enough for older viewers not everyone thinks poopoo jokes are edgy
0 there are many definitions of time waster but this movie must surely be one of them
0 once she lets her love depraved leads meet lrb denis rrb story becomes a hopeless unsatisfying muddle
1 its like an allstar salute to disneys cheesy commercialism
3 gooding is the energetic frontman and its hard to resist his enthusiasm even if the filmmakers come up with nothing original in the way of slapstick sequences
2 the path ice age follows most closely though is the one established by warner bros giant chuck jones who died a matter of weeks before the movies release
1 its sweet and fluffy at the time but it may leave you feeling a little sticky and unsatisfied
4 with few respites marshall keeps the energy humming and his edits unlike those in moulin rouge are crisp and purposeful without overdoing it
2 is there a deeper more direct connection between these women one that spans time and reveals meaning
4 the most ingenious film comedy since being john malkovich
1 the setting turns out to be more interesting than any of the character dramas which never reach satisfying conclusions
3 an engrossing portrait of uncompromising artists trying to create something original against the backdrop of a corporate music industry that only seems to care about the bottom line
3 a smart and funny albeit sometimes superficial cautionary tale of a technology in search of an artist
4 lrb fiji diver rusi vulakoro and the married couple howard and michelle hall rrb show us the world they love and make us love it too
0 this wouldbe james bond for the extreme generation pic is one big dumb action movie
2 we have an actor who is great fun to watch performing in a film that is only mildly diverting
0 the directing and story are disjointed flaws that have to be laid squarely on taylors doorstep
2 if youre not totally weirded out by the notion of cinema as communitytherapy spectacle quitting hits home with disorienting force
0 imagine lrb if possible rrb a pasolini film without passion or politics or an almodovar movie without beauty or humor and you have some idea of the glum numb experience of watching o fantasma
1 did we really need a remake of charade
4 exciting documentary
3 as comedic spotlights go notorious cho hits all the verbal marks it should
2 blade ii is as estrogenfree as movies get so you might want to leave your date behind for this one or shes gonna make you feel like you owe her bigtime
2 what makes the movie work to an admittedly limited extent is the commitment of two genuinely engaging performers
1 and neither do cliches no matter how inside they are
2 in its own way
0 the movie is virtually without context journalistic or historical
3 if its not entirely memorable the movie is certainly easy to watch
1 an odd haphazard and inconsequential romantic comedy
1 too much of nemesis has a tired talky feel
1 how many more times will indie filmmakers subject us to boring selfimportant stories of how horrible we are to ourselves and each other
1 while the transgressive trappings lrb especially the frank sex scenes rrb ensure that the film is never dull rodriguess beastwithin metaphor is ultimately rather silly and overwrought making the ambiguous ending seem goofy rather than provocative
1 an awkward hybrid of genres that just does nt work
4 beautifully crafted and brutally honest promises offers an unexpected window into the complexities of the middle east struggle and into the humanity of its people
3 in auteils less dramatic but equally incisive performance hes a charismatic charmer likely to seduce and conquer
4 marvelously entertaining and deliriously joyous documentary
3 its a square sentimental drama that satisfies as comfort food often can
2 if sinises character had a brain his ordeal would be over in five minutes but instead the plot goes out of its way to introduce obstacles for him to stumble over
0 sluggish tonally uneven
2 the film affords us intriguing glimpses of the insights gleaned from a lifetime of spiritual inquiry but ram dass fierce grace does nt organize it with any particular insight
3 the story is a rather simplistic one grief drives her love drives him and a second chance to find love in the most unlikely place it struck a chord in me
3 a bit of a downer and a little overdramatic at times but this is a beautiful film for people who like their romances to have that french realism
1 a big meal of cliches that the talented cast generally chokes on
1 entertaining enough but nothing new
4 beautifully shot delicately scored and powered by a set of heartfelt performances its a lyrical endeavour
4 hartley adds enough quirky and satirical touches in the screenplay to keep the film entertaining
3 something for everyone
0 the problem is that for the most part the film is deadly dull
4 a fine rousing grated family film aimed mainly at little kids but with plenty of entertainment value to keep grownups from squirming in their seats
4 fifty years after the fact the worlds political situation seems little different and lrb director phillip rrb noyce brings out the allegory with remarkable skill
4 australian filmmaker david flatman uses the hugescreen format to make an oldfashioned nature film that educates viewers with words and pictures while entertaining them
1 thoroughly engrossing and ultimately tragic
4 a spoof comedy that carries its share of laughs sometimes a chuckle sometimes a guffaw and to my great pleasure the occasional belly laugh
1 has all the complexity and realistic human behavior of an episode of general hospital
3 eight legged freaks is clever and funny is amused by its special effects and leaves you feeling like youve seen a movie instead of an endless trailer
2 sitting through the last reel lrb spoiler alert rrb
4 a small gem from belgium
4 hugh grant who has a good line in charm has never been more charming than in about a boy
0 in addition to sporting one of the worst titles in recent cinematic history ballistic ecks vs sever also features terrible banal dialogue convenient holeridden plotting superficial characters and a rather dull unimaginative car chase
3 for proof of that on the cinematic front look no further than this 20th anniversary edition of the film that spielberg calls retrospectively his most personal work yet
1 carrying this waferthin movie on his nimble shoulders chan wades through putrid writing direction and timing with a smile that says if i stay positive maybe i can channel one of my greatest pictures drunken master
3 skins has a desolate air but eyre a native american raised by white parents manages to infuse the rocky path to sibling reconciliation with flashes of warmth and gentle humor
2 the bland outweighs the nifty and cletis tout never becomes the clever crime comedy it thinks it is
2 while hoffmans performance is great the subject matter goes nowhere
1 its impossible to indulge the fanciful daydreams of janice beard lrb eileen walsh rrb when her reallife persona is so charmless and vacant
3 ottosallies has a real filmmakers eye
3 an incredibly thoughtful deeply meditative picture that neatly and effectively captures the debilitating grief felt in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks
4 a jawdroppingly beautiful work
1 a supernatural mystery that does nt know whether it wants to be a suspenseful horror movie or a weepy melodrama
4 theres no denying that burns is a filmmaker with a bright future ahead of him
0 a movie version of a paintbynumbers picture
4 an effortlessly accomplished and richly resonant work
4 this is a movie you can trust
3 trapped wo nt score points for political correctness but it may cause parents a few sleepless hours a sign of its effectiveness
3 blue crush swims away with the sleeper movie of the summer award
3 lrb safe conduct rrb is a long movie at 163 minutes but it fills the time with drama romance tragedy bravery political intrigue partisans and sabotage
2 not bad but not all that good
3 expands the limits of what a film can be taking us into the lives of women to whom we might not give a second look if we passed them on the street
2 triumph of love is a very silly movie but the silliness has a pedigree
3 for all its problems the lady and the duke surprisingly manages never to grow boring which proves that rohmer still has a sense of his audience
3 the campy results make mel brooks borscht belt schtick look sophisticated
3 clint eastwoods blood work is a lot like a wellmade pb j sandwich familiar fairly uneventful and boasting no real surprises but still quite tasty and inviting all the same
3 bravado kathy
4 about schmidt is undoubtedly one of the finest films of the year
4 a powerful chilling and affecting study of one mans dying fall
3 there is no denying the power of polanskis film
2 except for paymer as the boss who ultimately expresses empathy for bartlebys pain the performances are so stylized as to be drained of human emotion
1 absolutely not
1 the film is an earnest try at beachcombing verismo but it would be even more indistinct than it is were it not for the striking quietly vulnerable personality of ms ambrose
1 the movie like bartleby is something of a stiff an extradry office comedy that seems twice as long as its 83 minutes
2 in the end though it is only mildly amusing when it could have been so much more
3 its a very tasteful rock and roll movie
3 spielberg has managed to marry science fiction with film noir and action flicks with philosophical inquiry
4 although what time offers tsais usual style and themes it has a more colorful more playful tone than his other films
3 its a diverting enough hourandahalf for the family audience
1 high crimes carries almost no organic intrigue as a government marinelegal mystery and thats because the movie serves up all of that stuff nearly subliminally as the oldhat province of male intrigue
3 anybody who enjoys quirky fun popcorn movies with a touch of silliness and a little bloodshed
1 a waste of fearless purity in the acting craft
1 the ethos of the chelsea hotel may shape hawkes artistic aspirations but he has nt yet coordinated his own dv poetry with the beat he hears in his soul
1 with a tighter editorial process and firmer direction this material could work especially since the actresses in the lead roles are all more than competent but as is personal velocity seems to be idling in neutral
3 a bold lrb and lovely rrb experiment that will almost certainly bore most audiences into their own brightly colored dreams
2 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 theres nothing to drink
2 not a bad premise but the execution is lackluster at best
2 the same tired old gags modernized for the extreme sports generation
2 abderrahmane sissakos heremakono lrb waiting for happiness rrb is an elegiac portrait of a transit city on the west african coast struggling against foreign influences
2 there are far worse messages to teach a young audience which will probably be perfectly happy with the sloppy slapstick comedy
2 it may sound like a mere diseaseof theweek tv movie but a song for martin is made infinitely more wrenching by the performances of reallife spouses seldahl and wollter
1 resurrection has the dubious distinction of being a really bad imitation of the really bad blair witch project
0 a very depressing movie of many missed opportunities
0 this is a fragmented film once a good idea that was followed by the bad idea to turn it into a movie
0 a stupid derivative horror film that substitutes extreme gore for suspense
4 in xxx diesel is that rare creature an action hero with table manners and one who proves that elegance is more than tattoo deep
2 the funny thing is i did nt mind all this contrived nonsense a bit
3 the charm of revolution os is rather the way it introduces you to new fervently held ideas and fanciful thinkers
1 with or without ballast tanks k19 sinks to a harrison ford low
2 lrb screenwriter rrb pimental took the farrelly brothers comedy and feminized it but it is a rather poor imitation
3 a surprisingly sweet and gentle comedy
2 while kids will probably eat the whole thing up most adults will be way ahead of the plot
3 predictable and cloying though brown sugar is so earnest in its yearning for the days before rap went nihilistic that it summons more spirit and bite than your average formulaic romantic quadrangle
4 its about individual moments of mood and an aimlessness thats actually sort of amazing
2 hollywoods answer to an air ball
4 its a smart solid kineticallycharged spy flick worthy of a couple hours of summertime and a bucket of popcorn
4 a sensitive cultivated treatment of greenes work as well as a remarkably faithful one
4 a stylish thriller
4 for those who pride themselves on sophisticated discerning taste this might not seem like the proper cup of tea however it is almost guaranteed that even the stuffiest cinema goers will laugh their off for an hourandahalf
3 as refreshing as a drink from a woodland stream
0 but the movie that does nt really deliver for country music fans or for family audiences
3 alternates between deadpan comedy and heartbreaking loneliness and is nt afraid to provoke introspection in both its characters and its audience
3 unfolds in a lowkey organic way that encourages you to accept it as life and go with its flow
2 browns saga like many before his makes for snappy prose but a stumblebum of a movie
2 a perfectly competent and often imaginative film that lacks what little lilo stitch had in spades charisma
4 the oneliners are snappy the situations volatile and the comic opportunities richly rewarded
2 this is a picture that maik the firebrand turned savvy ad man would be envious of it hijacks the heat of revolution and turns it into a sales tool
3 the charm of the first movie is still there and the story feels like the logical unforced continuation of the careers of a pair of spy kids
2 whatever about warning kids about the dangers of ouija boards someone should dispense the same advice to film directors
1 lrb siegel rrb and cowriters lisa bazadona and grace woodard have relied too much on convention in creating the characters who surround frankie
2 what bloody sunday lacks in clarity it makes up for with a great fiery passion
1 supposedly pokemon ca nt be killed but pokemon 4ever practically assures that the pocket monster movie franchise is nearly ready to keel over
3 allens underestimated charm delivers more goodies than lumps of coal
3 the hook is the drama within the drama as an unsolved murder and an unresolved moral conflict jockey for the spotlight
4 i thought the relationships were wonderful the comedy was funny and the love real
3 there are moments of hilarity to be had
1 one problem with the movie directed by joel schumacher is that it jams too many prefabricated story elements into the running time
1 its one long bore
1 in spite of featuring a script credited to no fewer than five writers apparently nobody here bothered to check it twice
1 the scriptwriters are no less a menace to society than the films characters
1 like mike is a slight and uninventive movie like the exalted michael jordan referred to in the title many can aspire but none can equal
4 the most wondrous love story in years it is a great film
1 a prison comedy that never really busts out of its comfy little cell
1 writerdirector randall wallace has bitten off more than he or anyone else could chew and his movie veers like a drunken driver through heavy traffic
3 contrived as this may sound mr roses updating works surprisingly well
0 if it were any more of a turkey it would gobble in dolby digital stereo
3 a cultureclash comedy that in addition to being very funny captures some of the discomfort and embarrassment of being a bumbling american in europe
1 even if it is generally amusing from time to time i spy has all the same problems the majority of action comedies have
1 what the audience feels is exhaustion from watching a movie that is dark lrb dark green to be exact rrb sour bloody and mean
0 on a cutting room floor somewhere lies footage that might have made no such thing a trenchant ironic cultural satire instead of a frustrating misfire
2 colorful and deceptively buoyant until it suddenly pulls the rug out from under you burkinabe filmmaker dani kouyates reworking of a folk story whose roots go back to 7thcentury oral traditions is also a pointed political allegory
4 arteta directs one of the best ensemble casts of the year
1 nothing happens and it happens to flat characters
3 lees achievement extends to his supple understanding of the role that brown played in american culture as an athlete a movie star and an image of black indomitability
3 this rush to profits has created a predictably efficient piece of business notable largely for its overwhelming creepiness for an eagerness to create images you wish you had nt seen which in this day and age is of course the point
3 it is an unstinting look at a collaboration between damaged people that may or may not qual
1 the milieu is wholly unconvincing and the histrionics reach a truly annoying pitch
2 every potential twist is telegraphed well in advance every performance respectably muted the movie itself seems to have been made under the influence of rohypnol
2 men in black ii creates a new threat for the mib but recycles the same premise
3 a bracing unblinking work that serves as a painful elegy and sobering cautionary tale
4 pacino is the best hes been in years and keener is marvelous
0 an awkwardly garish showcase that diverges from anything remotely probing or penetrating
4 his work with actors is particularly impressive
1 while dark water is nt a complete wash lrb no pun intended rrb watched sidebyside with ringu it ultimately comes off as a pale successor
0 bibbidybobbidibland
3 its light on the chills and heavy on the atmospheric weirdness and there are moments of jawdroppingly odd behavior yet i found it weirdly appealing
1 they kept much of the plot but jettisoned the stuff that would make this a moving experience for people who have nt read the book
3 oh and more entertaining too
0 this little film is so slovenly done so primitive in technique that it ca nt really be called animation
1 the film never rises above a conventional two dimension tale
1 the audience when i saw this one was chuckling at all the wrong times and thats a bad sign when theyre supposed to be having a collective heart attack
3 this is historical filmmaking without the balm of rightthinking ideology either liberal or conservative
2 sayles is making a statement about the inability of dreams and aspirations to carry forward into the next generation
0 extremely bad
0 the somber pacing and lack of dramatic fireworks make green dragon seem more like medicine than entertainment
3 handsome and sophisticated approach to the workplace romantic comedy
4 a moving and solidly entertaining comedydrama that should bolster director and cowriter
2 more of a career curio than a major work
1 a rude black comedy about the catalytic effect a holy fool has upon those around him in the cutthroat world of childrens television
2 its obvious lrb jegyu is rrb trying for poetry what he gets instead has all the lyricism of a limerick scrawled in a public restroom
0 the movies ultimate point that everyone should be themselves is trite but the screenwriter and director michel gondry restate it to the point of ridiculousness
0 ringu is a disaster of a story full of holes and completely lacking in chills
0 hopelessly inane humorless and underinspired
3 a highspirited buddy movie about the reunion of berlin anarchists who face arrest 15 years after their crime
1 the thing about guys like evans is this youre never quite sure where selfpromotion ends and the truth begins
2 they were right
0 a huge disappointment coming as it does from filmmakers and performers of this calibre
0 a banal virulently unpleasant excuse for a romantic comedy
0 humorless selfconscious art drivel made without a glimmer of intelligence or invention
1 its rare that a movie can be as intelligent as this one is in every regard except its storyline everything thats good is ultimately scuttled by a plot thats just too boring and obvious
2 peraltas mythmaking could have used some informed adult hindsight
1 meyjess movie like max rothmans future does not work
0 all comedy is subversive but this unrelenting bleak insistence on opting out of any opportunity for finding meaning in relationships or work just becomes sad
1 technically and artistically inept
1 an average bmovie with no aspirations to be anything more
4 if you ever wanted to be an astronaut this is the ultimate movie experience its informative and breathtakingly spectacular
0 its a loathsome movie it really is and it makes absolutely no sense
4 the movies captivating details are all in the performances from foremans barkingmad taylor to thewliss smoothly sinister freddie and bettanymcdowells hardeyed gangster
2 this is mildmannered beenthere material given a pedestrian spin by a director who needed a touch of the flamboyant the outrageous
4 smart and taut
3 matters play out realistically if not always fairly
3 giggling at the absurdities and inconsistencies is part of the fun
2 hope keeps arising that the movie will live up to the apparent skills of its makers and the talents of its actors but it does nt
3 symbolically warm water under a red bridge is a celebration of feminine energy a tribute to the power of women to heal
3 it uses some of the figures from the reallife story to portray themselves in the film
1 what might have been readily dismissed as the tiresome rant of an aging filmmaker still thumbing his nose at convention takes a surprising subtle turn at the midway point
4 cusacks just brilliant in this
1 its an odd show pregnant with moods stillborn except as a harsh conceptual exercise
1 a darkaspitch comedy that frequently veers into corny sentimentality probably would not improve much after a therapeutic zap of shock treatment
3 even the digressions are funny
3 this submarine drama earns the right to be favorably compared to das boot
4 whats so fun about this silly outrageous ingenious thriller is the directors talent
1 the cast portrays their cartoon counterparts well but quite frankly scoob and shag do nt eat enough during the film
3 there is a subversive element to this disney cartoon providing unexpected fizzability
2 i know were not supposed to take it seriously but i ca nt shake the thought that undercover brother missed an opportunity to strongly present some profound social commentary
3 as a good oldfashioned adventure for kids spirit stallion of the cimarron is a winner
0 even if youre an elvis person you wo nt find anything to get excited about on this dvd
3 a journey spanning nearly three decades of bittersweet camaraderie and history in which we feel that we truly know what makes holly and marina tick and our hearts go out to them as both continue to negotiate their imperfect lovehate relationship
0 lacks the spirit of the previous two and makes all those jokes about hos and even more unmentionable subjects seem like mere splashing around in the muck
3 the work of an artist tormented by his heritage using his storytelling ability to honor the many faceless victims
1 resident evil is nt a product of its cinematic predecessors so much as an mtv sugar hysteria and playstation cocktail
1 too stagey talky and long for its own good
4 the gorgeously elaborate continuation of the lord of the rings trilogy is so huge that a column of words can not adequately describe cowriterdirector peter jacksons expanded vision of jrr tolkiens middleearth
1 no thanks
1 this offputting french romantic comedy
3 its never laughoutloud funny but it is frequently amusing
4 amari has dressed up this little parable in a fairly irresistible package full of privileged moments and memorable performances
3 as banal as the telling may be and at times all my loved ones more than flirts with kitsch the tale commands attention
1 an acceptable way to pass a little over an hour with moviegoers ages 810 but its unlikely to inspire anything more than a visit to mcdonalds let alone some savvy street activism
0 the thing just never gets off the ground
2 who is this movie for
4 ive never seen or heard anything quite like this film and i recommend it for its originality alone
4 its a feelgood movie about which you can actually feel good
4 one of the best insideshowbiz yarns ever
0 there must be an audience that enjoys the friday series but i would nt be interested in knowing any of them personally
2 formula 51 has dulled your senses faster and deeper than any recreational drug on the market
2 is ballistic worth the price of admission
1 mctiernans remake may be lighter on its feet the soberminded original was as graceful as a tapdancing rhino but it is just as boring and as obvious
2 gives us a lot to chew on but not all of it has been properly digested
1 klein charming in comedies like american pie and deadon in election delivers one of the saddest action hero performances ever witnessed
2 brainy artistic and muted almost to the point of suffocation
1 the selfserious equilibrium makes its point too well a movie like life is nt much fun without the highs and lows
1 equlibrium could pass for a thirteenyearolds book report on the totalitarian themes of 1984 and farenheit 451
0 and its harder still to believe that anyone in his right mind would want to see the it
0 loud silly stupid and pointless
2 calculated swill
0 merely lrb and literally rrb tosses around sex toys and offers halfhearted paeans to empowerment that are repeatedly undercut by the brutality of the jokes most at womens expense
1 jackson shamefully strolls through this mess with a smug grin inexplicably wearing a kilt and carrying a bag of golf clubs over one shoulder
0 unspeakable of course barely begins to describe the plot and its complications
1 as the sulking moody male hustler in the title role lrb franco rrb has all of deans mannerisms and selfindulgence but none of his sweetness and vulnerability
4 driven by a fantastic dual performance from ian holm the film is funny insightfully human and a delightful lark for history buffs
3 while the film is not entirely successful it still manages to string together enough charming moments to work
1 but the problem with wendigo for all its effective moments is nt really one of resources
0 if were to slap protagonist genevieve leplouff because shes french do we have that same option to slap her creators because theyre clueless and inept
4 this is an exercise in chilling style and twohy films the sub inside and out with an eye on preserving a sense of mystery
3 a sobering and powerful documentary about the most severe kind of personal loss rejection by ones mother
3 contradicts everything weve come to expect from movies nowadays
0 by that measure it is a failure
2 feels like nothing quite so much as a middleaged moviemakers attempt to surround himself with beautiful halfnaked women
4 enjoyably fastmoving hardhitting documentary
2 im happy to have seen it not as an alternate version but as the ultimate exercise in viewing deleted scenes
2 if borstal boy is nt especially realistic it is an engaging nostalgia piece
2 stirs potentially enticing ingredients into an uneasy blend of ghost and close encounters of the third kind
4 i loved this film
1 weirdly broomfield has compelling new material but he does nt unveil it until the end after endless scenes of him wheedling reluctant witnesses and pointing his camera through the smeared windshield of his rental car
0 like the tuck family themselves this movie just goes on and on and on and on
0 once one experiences mr hanekes own sadistic tendencies toward his audience one is left with a sour taste in ones mouth and little else
3 nettelbeck has crafted an engaging fantasy of flavours and emotions one part romance novel one part recipe book
1 return to never land is much more pc than the original version lrb no more racist portraits of indians for instance rrb but the excitement is missing
2 manages to fall closer in quality to silence than to the abysmal hannibal
1 the transporter bombards the viewer with so many explosions and side snap kicks that it ends up being surprisingly dull
1 lrb janey rrb forgets about her other obligations leading to a tragedy which is somehow guessable from the first few minutes maybe because it echoes the by now intolerable morbidity of so many recent movies
1 hes just a sad aristocrat in tattered finery and the film seems as deflated as he does
3 reign of fire is hardly the most original fantasy film ever made beyond road warrior it owes enormous debts to aliens and every previous dragon drama but that barely makes it any less entertaining
2 one just waits grimly for the next shock without developing much attachment to the characters
3 while the story does seem pretty unbelievable at times its awfully entertaining to watch
0 90 punitive minutes of eardrumdicing gunplay screechingmetal smashups and flaccid oddcouple sniping
1 pleasant but not more than recycled jock piffle
3 despite the surface attractions conrad l halls cinematography will likely be nominated for an oscar next year theres something impressive and yet lacking about everything
3 by its modest straightahead standards undisputed scores a direct hit
4 the most compelling performance of the year adds substantial depth to this shocking testament to antisemitism and neofascism
1 its clear why deuces wild which was shot two years ago has been gathering dust on mgms shelf
2 teens only
1 if the full monty was a freshman fluke lucky break is lrb cattaneo rrb sophomore slump
1 hardcore slasher aficionados will find things to like but overall the halloween series has lost its edge
0 derailed by bad writing and possibly also by some of that extensive postproduction reworking to aim the film at young males in the throes of their first full flush of testosterone
3 i liked it just enough
3 garcia and the other actors help make the wobbly premise work
2 gloriously straight from the vagina
0 the only entertainment youll derive from this choppy and sloppy affair will be from unintentional giggles several of them
3 a movie that sends you out of the theater feeling like youve actually spent time living in another community
2 a story an old and scary one about the monsters we make and the vengeance they take
3 it has a dashing and resourceful hero a lisping reptilian villain big fights big hair lavish period scenery and a story just complicated enough to let you bask in your own cleverness as you figure it out
1 those 24andunders looking for their own caddyshack to adopt as a generational signpost may have to keep on looking
0 there is nt one moment in the film that surprises or delights
3 what a great way to spend 4 units of your day
4 very funny very enjoyable
3 despite the films shortcomings the stories are quietly moving
1 i do nt think most of the people who loved the 1989 paradiso will prefer this new version
4 whether or not youre enlightened by any of derridas lectures on the other and the self derrida is an undeniably fascinating and playful fellow
1 adam sandlers heart may be in the right place but he needs to pull his head out of his butt
1 suffers from all the excesses of the genre
3 this amiable picture talks tough but its all bluster in the end its as sweet as greenfingers
1 shows that jackie chan is getting older and thats something i would rather live in denial about
1 theres no point in extracting the bare bones of byatts plot for purposes of bland hollywood romance
1 whenever you think youve seen the end of the movie we cut to a new scene which also appears to be the end
3 the film occasionally tries the viewers patience with slow pacing and a main character who sometimes defies sympathy but it ultimately satisfies with its moving story
4 pt anderson understands the grandness of romance and how love is the great equalizer that can calm us of our daily ills and bring out joys in our lives that we never knew were possible
2 absolutely lrb and unintentionally rrb terrifying
1 like a grinning jack o lantern its apparent glee is derived from a lobotomy having had all its vital essence scooped out and discarded
3 a movie that will thrill you touch you and make you laugh as well
3 george lucas returns as a visionary with a tale full of nuance and character dimension
1 a sad and rote exercise in milking a playedout idea a straight guy has to dress up in drag that shockingly manages to be even worse than its title would imply
1 one of the most depressing moviegoing experiences i can think of is to sit through about 90 minutes of a socalled comedy and not laugh once
1 this remake of lina wertmullers 1975 eroticomedy might just be the biggest husbandandwife disaster since john and bo derek made the ridiculous bolero
4 others more attuned to the anarchist maxim that the urge to destroy is also a creative urge or more willing to see with their own eyes will find morrisons iconoclastic uses of technology to be liberating
3 norton is magnetic as graham
1 some body often looks like an episode of the tv show blind date only less technically proficient and without the popup comments
0 a dull inconsistent dishonest female bonding picture
4 happily stays close to the ground in a spare and simple manner and does nt pummel us with phony imagery or music
1 i found myself growing more and more frustrated and detached as vincent became more and more abhorrent
1 a rehash of every gangster movie from the past decade
1 impostor is a step down for director gary fleder
1 just because a walk to remember is shrewd enough to activate girlish tear ducts does nt mean its good enough for our girls
1 the fact that it is nt very good is almost beside the point
3 he has improved upon the first and taken it a step further richer and deeper
2 while this gentle and affecting melodrama will have luvvies in raptures its far too slight and introspective to appeal to anything wider than a niche audience
1 where tom green stages his gags as assaults on americas kneejerk moral sanctimony jackass lacks aspirations of social upheaval
2 a crude teenoriented variation on a theme that the playwright craig lucas explored with infinitely more grace and eloquence in his prelude to a kiss
3 in death to smoochy we do nt get williams usual tear and a smile just sneers and bile and the spectacle is nothing short of refreshing
2 like being trapped inside a huge video game where exciting inane images keep popping past your head and the same illogical things keep happening over and over again
3 a journey that is as difficult for the audience to take as it is for the protagonist yet its potentially just as rewarding
3 a mature deeply felt fantasy of a directors travel through 300 years of russian history
4 the genius of the work speaks volumes offering up a hallucinatory dreamscape that frustrates and captivates
2 even these tales of just seven children seem at times too many although in reality they are not enough
1 adroit but finally a trifle flat mad love does nt galvanize its outrage the way say jane campion might have done but at least it possesses some
2 lrb the digital effects rrb reminded me of terry gilliams rudimentary old monty python cartoons in which he would cut out figures from drawings and photographs and paste them together
2 a thoughtprovoking look at how western foreign policy however well intentioned can wreak havoc in other cultures
4 sensual funny and in the end very touching
4 overall its a very entertaining thoughtprovoking film with a simple message god is love
2 arnie blows things up
0 rarely does a film so graceless and devoid of merit as this one come along
4 gangster no 1 is solid satisfying fare for adults
3 as each of them searches for their place in the world miller digs into their very minds to find an unblinking flawed humanity
3 lovely and amazing is holofceners deep uncompromising curtsy to women she knows and very likely is
4 insomnia is one of the years best films and pacino gives one of his most daring and complicated performances
3 a metaphor for a modernday urban china searching for its identity
1 enigma is wellmade but its just too dry and too placid
4 its that good
1 wellmeant but unoriginal
3 if you like peace youll like promises
2 do you say hi to your lover when you wake up in the morning
1 despite an impressive roster of stars and direction from kathryn bigelow the weight of water is oppressively heavy
1 for a film thats being advertised as a comedy sweet home alabama is nt as funny as youd hoped
1 behans memoir is great material for a film rowdy brawny and lyrical in the best irish sense but sheridan has settled for a lugubrious romance
2 it would work much better as a onehour tv documentary
3 its usually a bad sign when directors abandon their scripts and go where the moment takes them but olympia wash based filmmakers anne de marcken and marilyn freeman did just that and its what makes their project so interesting
1 although god is great addresses interesting matters of identity and heritage its hard to shake the feeling that it was intended to be a different kind of film
3 close enough in spirit to its freewheeling trashcinema roots to be a breath of fresh air
4 captivates and shows how a skillful filmmaker can impart a message without bludgeoning the audience over the head
4 it will guarantee to have you leaving the theater with a smile on your face
1 freaky friday its not
1 if damon and affleck attempt another project greenlight next time out they might try paying less attention to the miniseries and more attention to the film it is about
3 its a testament to de niro and director michael catonjones that by movies end we accept the characters and the film flaws and all
1 in the end the weight of water comes to resemble the kind of softcore twaddle youd expect to see on showtimes red shoe diaries
4 those who are nt put off by the films austerity will find it more than capable of rewarding them
3 despite bessons highprofile name being wasabis big selling point there is no doubt that krawczyk deserves a huge amount of the credit for the films thoroughly winning tone
3 a chilling movie without oppressive gore
1 what a pity that the material is so secondrate
1 such a premise is ripe for all manner of lunacy but kaufman and gondry rarely seem sure of where it should go
4 not since ghostbusters has a film used manhattans architecture in such a gloriously goofy way
3 its worth the extra effort to see an artist still committed to growth in his ninth decade change while remaining true to his principles with a film whose very subject is quite pointedly about the peril of such efforts
0 pair that with really poor comedic writing and youve got a huge mess
4 even better than the first one
2 lets hope not
3 as immaculate as stuart little 2 is it could be a lot better if it were well more adventurous
4 she may not be real but the laughs are
1 putting the primitive murderer inside a hightech space station unleashes a pandoras box of special effects that run the gamut from cheesy to cheesier to cheesiest
0 the sinister inspiration that fuelled devitos early work is confused in death to smoochy into something both ugly and mindless
1 the leads we are given here are simply too bland to be interesting
4 as giddy and whimsical and relevant today as it was 270 years ago
1 the skirmishes for power waged among victims and predators settle into an undistinguished rhythm of artificial suspense
1 its hard to believe these jokers are supposed to have pulled off four similar kidnappings before
3 theres a sheer unbridled delight in the way the story unfurls
2 igby goes down is one of those movies
0 an awful snooze
1 sandra bullock despite downplaying her good looks carries a little too much ai nt shecute baggage into her lead role as a troubled and determined homicide cop to quite pull off the heavy stuff
4 a thoroughly engaging surprisingly touching british comedy
1 in the name of an allegedly inspiring and easily marketable flick the emperors club turns a blind eye to the very history it pretends to teach
4 the film has a terrific look and salma hayek has a feel for the character at all stages of her life
4 an eerily suspenseful deeply absorbing piece that works as a treatise on spirituality as well as a solid scifi thriller
3 caine makes us watch as his character awakens to the notion that to be human is eventually to have to choose
3 this indepth study of important developments of the computer industry should make it required viewing in university computer science departments for years to come
2 the film is about the relationships rather than about the outcome
1 adam sandlers 8 crazy nights is 75 wasted minutes of sandler as the voiceover hero in columbia pictures perverse idea of an animated holiday movie
2 has an uppity musical beat that you can dance to but its energy ca nt compare to the wit humor and snappy dialogue of the original
4 better still he does all of this and more while remaining one of the most savagely hilarious social critics this side of jonathan swift
2 helps to remind the first world that hivaids is far from being yesterdays news
3 mr spielberg and his company just want you to enjoy yourselves without feeling conned
2 flawed but worth seeing for ambroses performance
3 kiarostami has crafted a deceptively casual ode to children and managed to convey a tiny sense of hope
1 nevertheless it still seems endless
4 this is an elegantly balanced movie every member of the ensemble has something fascinating to do that does nt reveal even a hint of artifice
1 the film is weighed down by supporting characters who are either too goodly wise and knowing or downright comically evil
3 an enjoyable feelgood family comedy regardless of race
1 patchy combination of soap opera lowtech magic realism and at times ploddingly sociological commentary
1 trailer trash cinema so uncool the only thing missing is the gadzooks
3 an impeccable study in perversity
2 openended and composed of layer upon layer talk to her is a cinephiles feast an invitation to countless interpretations
2 going to this movie is a little like chewing whale blubber its an acquired taste that takes time to enjoy but its worth it even if it does take 3 hours to get through
0 both shrill and soporific and because everything is repeated five or six times it can seem tiresomely simpleminded
3 ian holm conquers france as an earthy napoleon
2 by the time it ends in a rush of sequins flashbulbs blaring brass and backstabbing babes it has said plenty about how show business has infiltrated every corner of society and not always for the better
2 holds limited appeal to those who like explosions sadism and seeing people beat each other to a pulp
2 whats left is a rich stew of longing
1 despite suffering a senseofhumour failure the man who wrote rocky does not deserve to go down with a ship as leaky as this
1 more a gunfest than a rock concert
3 on its own staggeringly unoriginal terms this genderbending comedy is generally quite funny
0 an already thin story boils down to surviving invaders seeking an existent antivirus
2 best described as i know what you did last winter
0 this thing is just garbage
1 what makes esther kahn so demanding is that it progresses in such a lowkey manner that it risks monotony
2 theres a thin line between likably oldfashioned and fuddyduddy and the count of monte cristo never quite settles on either side
3 surprisingly insightful
1 its premise is smart but the execution is pretty weary
3 while the plot follows a predictable connectthedots course director john schultz colors the picture in some evocative shades
1 too slick and manufactured to claim street credibility
2 has some visual wit but little imagination elsewhere
3 i found the ring moderately absorbing largely for its elegantly colorful look and sound
3 ramsay succeeds primarily with her typical blend of unsettling atmospherics delivering a series of abrasive stylized sequences that burn themselves upon the viewers memory
3 satisfyingly scarifying fresh and oldfashioned at the same time
1 stinks from start to finish like a wet burlap sack of gloom
1 at best cletis tout might inspire a trip to the video store in search of a better movie experience
2 an estrogen opera so intensely feminine that it serves as the antidote lrb and cannier doppelganger rrb to diesels xxx flexathon
1 i was feeling this movie until it veered off too far into the exxon zone and left me behind at the station looking for a return ticket to realism
1 what we have here is nt a disaster exactly but a very handsomely produced letdown
2 a movie that seems motivated more by a desire to match mortarboards with dead poets society and good will hunting than by its own story
0 its super violent superserious and superstupid
0 lrb n rrb o matter how much good will the actors generate showtime eventually folds under its own thinness
0 i ca nt begin to tell you how tedious how resolutely unamusing how thoroughly unrewarding all of this is and what a reckless squandering of four fine acting talents
2 but for that why not watch a documentary
3 leigh succeeds in delivering a dramatic slap in the face thats simultaneously painful and refreshing
4 at just over an hour home movie will leave you wanting more not to mention leaving you with some laughs and a smile on your face
2 eckstraordinarily lame and severely boring
0 dramatically lackluster
2 the quiet american begins in saigon in 1952
1 they cheapen the overall effect
3 you do nt need to be a hiphop fan to appreciate scratch and thats the mark of a documentary that works
3 gets the look and the period trappings right
3 functions as both a revealing look at the collaborative process and a timely tongueincheek profile of the corporate circus that is the recording industry in the current climate of mergers and downsizing
3 a solid psychological action film from hong kong
1 see clockstoppers if you have nothing better to do with 94 minutes
4 a lot of fun with an undeniable energy sparked by two actresses in their 50s working at the peak of their powers
1 a relentless bombastic and ultimately empty world war ii action flick
2 a wellacted but onenote film
1 an empty shell of an epic rather than the real deal
4 works as pretty contagious fun
1 starts out with tremendous promise introducing an intriguing and alluring premise only to fall prey to a boatload of screenwriting cliches that sink it faster than a leaky freighter
3 watching this film one is left with the inescapable conclusion that hitchens obsession with kissinger is at bottom a sophisticated flower childs desire to purge the world of the tooth and claw of human power
3 juliette binoches sand is vivacious but its hard to sense that powerhouse of 19thcentury prose behind her childlike smile
2 while howards appreciation of brown and his writing is clearly wellmeaning and sincere the movie would be impossible to sit through were it not for the supporting cast
4 knows how to make our imagination wonder
1 the colorful masseur wastes its time on mood rather than riding with the inherent absurdity of ganeshs rise up the social ladder
2 a thunderous ride at first quiet cadences of pure finesse are few and far between their shortage dilutes the potency of otherwise respectable action
4 lrb westbrook rrb makes a wonderful subject for the camera
4 the overall effect is awe and affection and a strange urge to get on a board and uh shred dude
4 stevens has a flair for dialogue comedy the film operates nicely off the element of surprise and the large cast is solid
2 you come away wishing though that the movie spent a lot less time trying to make a credible case for reports from the afterlife and a lot more time on the romantic urgency thats at the center of the story
4 birthday girl walks a tricky tightrope between being wickedly funny and just plain wicked
2 and theyre coming
0 as steamy as last weeks pork dumplings
1 scherfig who has had a successful career in tv tackles more than she can handle
1 silly stuff all mixed up together like a term paper from a kid who ca nt quite distinguish one scifi work from another
4 maggie smith as the yaya member with the o2tank will absolutely crack you up with her crass then gasp for gas verbal deportment
3 a searing epic treatment of a nationwide blight that seems to be horrifyingly ever on the rise
2 the cast has a high time but de broca has little enthusiasm for such antique pulp
2 some elements of it really blow the big one but other parts are decent
1 not completely loveable but what underdog movie since the bad news bears has been
4 unexpected moments of authentically impulsive humor are the hallmark of this bittersweet uncommonly sincere movie that portrays the frank humanity of emotional recovery
3 the exploitative clumsily staged violence overshadows everything including most of the actors
1 the biggest problem with satin rouge is lilia herself
3 stock up on silver bullets for director neil marshalls intense freight train of a film
3 aniston has at last decisively broken with her friends image in an independent film of satiric fire and emotional turmoil
4 the ensemble cast turns in a collectively stellar performance and the writing is tight and truthful full of funny situations and honest observations
1 its not an easy one to review
3 her performance moves between heartbreak and rebellion as she continually tries to accommodate to fit in and gain the unconditional love she seeks
3 an entertaining documentary that freshly considers arguments the bards immortal plays were written by somebody else
3 brave and sweetly rendered love story
0 a halfassed film
4 lightyears ahead of paintbynumber american blockbusters like pearl harbor at least artistically
0 the cumulative effect of the movie is repulsive and depressing
3 smart and alert thirteen conversations about one thing is a small gem
1 a film really has to be exceptional to justify a three hour running time and this is nt
3 worth a look by those on both sides of the issues if only for the perspective it offers one the public rarely sees
3 digs beyond the usual portrayals of good kids and bad seeds to reveal a more ambivalent set of characters and motivations
4 because the genre is well established what makes the movie fresh is smart writing skewed characters and the title performance by kieran culkin
4 as a vehicle to savour binoches skill the film is well worthwhile
0 most of the storylines feel like time fillers between surf shots
0 the most memorable moment was when green threw medical equipment at a window not because it was particularly funny but because i had a serious urge to grab the old lady at the end of my aisles walker and toss it at the screen in frustration
2 exploring value choices is a worthwhile topic for a film but here the choices are as contrived and artificial as kerrigans platinumblonde hair
1 chen films the resolutely downbeat smokers only with every indulgent indie trick in the book
3 a powerful inflammatory film about religion that dares to question an ancient faith and about hatred that offers no easy comfortable resolution
4 a colorful vibrant introduction to a universal human impulse lushly photographed and beautifully recorded
0 a limp eddie murphy vehicle that even he seems embarrassed to be part of
1 about one in three gags in whites intermittently wise script hits its mark the rest are padding unashamedly appropriated from the teenexploitation playbook
1 the film runs on a little longer than it needs to muccino either does nt notice when his story ends or just ca nt tear himself away from the characters but its smooth and professional
2 red dragon makes one appreciate silence of the lambs
2 made me feel uneasy even queasy because lrb solondzs rrb cool compassion is on the border of bemused contempt
3 brown sugar admirably aspires to be more than another best man clone by weaving a theme throughout this funny film
1 a bland obnoxious 88minute infomercial for universal studios and its ancillary products
4 astonishingly skillful and moving it could become a historically significant work as well as a masterfully made one
1 it is too bad that this likable movie is nt more accomplished
1 the importance of being earnest movie seems to be missing a great deal of the acerbic repartee of the play
0 the lead actors share no chemistry or engaging charisma
4 a much better documentary more revealing more emotional and more surprising than its pedestrian english title would have you believe
3 the most audacious outrageous sexually explicit psychologically probing pure libido film of the year has arrived from portugal
2 if hg wells had a time machine and could take a look at his kins reworked version what would he say
0 less funny than it should be and less funny than it thinks it is
2 a thriller made from a completists checklist rather than with a cultists passion
3 sharp edges and a deep vein of sadness run through its otherwise comic narrative
1 theres something unintentionally comic in the films drumbeat about authenticity given the stale plot and pornographic way the film revels in swank apartments clothes and parties
1 the christ allegory does nt work because there is no foundation for it
4 apart from anything else this is one of the bestsustained ideas i have ever seen on the screen
3 tambor and clayburgh make an appealing couple hes understated and sardonic shes appealingly manic and energetic
3 a headlinefresh thriller set among orthodox jews on the west bank joseph cedars time of favor manages not only to find a compelling dramatic means of addressing a complex situation it does so without compromising that complexity
3 the formula is familiar but enjoyable
0 it is dark brooding and slow and takes its central idea way too seriously
1 seemingly disgusted with the lazy material and the finished products unshapely look director fisher stevens inexplicably dips key moments from the film in waking life water colors
4 sweet and memorable film
1 while not all that bad of a movie its nowhere near as good as the original
2 as crimes go writerdirector michael kalesnikos how to kill your neighbors dog is slight but unendurable
2 eastwood winces clutches his chest and gasps for breath
3 it deserves to be seen everywhere
3 her film
2 an uplifting drama what antwone fisher is nt however is original
3 and the positive change in tone here seems to have recharged him
0 shot like a postcard and overacted with all the boozy selfindulgence that brings out the worst in otherwise talented actors
2 please see previous answer
4 i love the robust middle of this picture
3 drama of temptation salvation and good intentions is a thoughtful examination of faith love and power
3 as much as i laughed throughout the movie i can not mount a cogent defense of the film as entertainment or even performance art although the movie does leave you marveling at these guys superhuman capacity to withstand pain
0 lrb less a movie than rrb an appalling odoriferous thing so rotten in almost every single facet of production that youll want to crawl up your own in embarrassment
4 engages us in constant fits of laughter until we find ourselves surprised at how much we care about the story and end up walking out not only satisfied but also somewhat touched
3 a great companion piece to other napoleon films
3 the ending feels at odds with the rest of the film
3 theres plenty to impress about et
4 this film puts wang at the forefront of chinas sixth generation of film makers
3 whats surprising about this traditional thriller moderately successful but not completely satisfying is exactly how genteel and unsurprising the execution turns out to be
2 the actors pull out all the stops in nearly every scene but to diminishing effect
3 the concept behind kung pow enter the fist is hilarious
4 it zips along with bmovie verve while adding the rich details and goforbroke acting that heralds something special
3 an uncomfortable experience but one as brave and challenging as you could possibly expect these days from american cinema
2 displays the potential for a better movie than what bailly manages to deliver
2 the emperors club is one of those films that possesses all the good intentions in the world but
1 the pretensions and disposable story sink the movie
0 depressingly thin and exhaustingly contrived
4 showtime is a finelooking film with a bouncy score and a clutch of lively songs for deft punctuation
3 its fun wispy wise and surprisingly inoffensive for a film about a teen in love with his stepmom
1 well jasons gone to manhattan and hell i guess a space station in the year 2455 can be crossed off the list of ideas for the inevitable future sequels lrb hey do nt shoot the messenger rrb
2 the filmmakers lack the nerve to fully exploit the scripts potential for sick humor
3 crammed with incident and bristles with passion and energy
3 this 90minute postmodern voyage was more diverting and thoughtprovoking than id expected it to be
0 it makes me say the obvious abandon all hope of a good movie ye who enter here
1 can i admit xxx is as deep as a petri dish and as wellcharacterized as a telephone book but still say it was a guilty pleasure
3 its a testament to the films considerable charm that it succeeds in entertaining despite playing out like a featurelength sitcom replete with stereotypical familial quandaries
1 its audacious ambitions sabotaged by pomposity steven soderberghs space opera emerges as a numbingly dull experience
0 a boring pretentious muddle that uses a sensational reallife 19thcentury crime as a metaphor for well im not exactly sure what and has all the dramatic weight of a raindrop
3 what sets ms birots film apart from others in the genre is a greater attention to the parents and particularly the fateful fathers in the emotional evolution of the two bewitched adolescents
3 jackie chan movies are a guilty pleasure hes easy to like and always leaves us laughing
3 thoroughly enjoyable
4 lrb leigh rrb has a true talent for drawing wrenching performances from his actors lrb improvised over many months rrb and for conveying the way tiny acts of kindness make ordinary life survivable
1 stephen earnharts documentary is a decomposition of healthy eccentric inspiration and ambition wearing a cloak of unsentimental straightforward text when its really an exercise in gross romanticization of the delusional personality type
3 the strength of the film lies in its two central performances by sven wollter as the stricken composer and viveka seldahl as his desperate violinist wife
3 smith finds amusing juxtapositions that justify his exercise
2 lessthancompelling documentary of a yiddish theater clan
1 everything about girls ca nt swim even its passages of sensitive observation feels secondhand familiar and not in a good way
2 b picture and i mean that as a compliment
2 examines its explosive subject matter as nonjudgmentally as wisemans previous studies of innercity high schools hospitals courts and welfare centers
2 what started out as a taut contest of wills between bacon and theron deteriorates into a protracted and borderline silly chase sequence
4 a fun family movie thats suitable for all ages a movie that will make you laugh cry and realize its never too late to believe in your dreams
4 lrb klines rrb utterly convincing and deeply appealing as a noble teacher who embraces a strict moral code and as a flawed human being who ca nt quite live up to it
0 one of the most unpleasant things the studio has ever produced
2 in the end all you can do is admire the ensemble players and wonder what the point of it is
2 rodriguez was unable to reproduce the special spark between the characters that made the first film such a delight
4 he nonetheless appreciates the art and reveals a music scene that transcends culture and race
4 the unique niche of selfcritical behindthescenes navelgazing kaufman has carved from orleans story and his own infinite insecurity is a work of outstanding originality
2 possession is in the end an honorable interesting failure
2 this is nt a terrible film by any means but its also far from being a realized work
4 will warm your heart without making you feel guilty about it
3 lrb f rrb rom the performances and the cinematography to the outstanding soundtrack and unconventional narrative the film is blazingly alive and admirable on many levels
3 its the perfect star vehicle for grant allowing him to finally move away from his usual bumbling tonguetied screen persona
1 its a pedestrian flat drama that screams out amateur in almost every frame
3 always destined to be measured against anthony asquiths acclaimed 1952 screen adaptation
0 evelyn may be based on a true and historically significant story but the filmmakers have made every effort to disguise it as an unimaginative screenwriters invention
4 there is greatness here
1 although it tries to be much more its really just another major league
1 its a glorified sitcom and a long unfunny one at that
3 mama africa pretty much delivers on that promise
3 adolescents will be adequately served by the movies sophomoric blend of shenanigans and slapstick although the more lasciviousminded might be disappointed in the relative modesty of a movie that sports a topless tutorial service
1 sounding like arnold schwarzenegger with a physique to match lrb ahola rrb has a wooden delivery and encounters a substantial arc of change that does nt produce any real transformation
0 has the disjointed feel of a bunch of strungtogether tv episodes
4 director nancy savocas nofrills record of a show forged in stillraw emotions captures the unsettled tenor of that post 911 period far better than a more measured or polished production ever could
0 as it is its too long and unfocused
1 lynes latest the erotic thriller unfaithful further demonstrates just how far his storytelling skills have eroded
2 when the heroes were actually under 40
3 another love story in 2002s remarkable procession of sweeping pictures that have reinvigorated the romance genre
0 a cheap scam put together by some cynical creeps at revolution studios and imagine entertainment to make the suckers out there surrender 9 and 93 minutes of unrecoverable life
2 it ca nt escape its past and it does nt want to
0 this one aims for the toilet and scores a direct hit
2 a picture as erratic as its central character
3 an ideal love story for those intolerant of the more common saccharine genre
3 a gorgeously strange movie heaven is deeply concerned with morality but it refuses to spell things out for viewers
3 its spirit of iconoclastic abandon however canned makes for unexpectedly giddy viewing
3 a great participatory spectator sport
0 its the element of condescension as the filmmakers look down on their workingclass subjects from their lofty perch that finally makes sex with strangers which opens today in the new york metropolitan area so distasteful
1 ararat feels like a book report
4 its refreshing to see a movie that embraces its oldfashioned themes and in the process comes out looking like something wholly original
3 its metaphors are opaque enough to avoid didacticism and the film succeeds as an emotionally accessible almost mystical work
1 lrb evans is rrb a fascinating character and deserves a better vehicle than this facetious smirk of a movie
2 silly loud and goofy
1 as underwater ghost stories go below casts its spooky net out into the atlantic ocean and spits it back grizzled and charred somewhere northwest of the bermuda triangle
4 a moving and important film
2 you wo nt exactly know whats happening but youll be blissfully exhausted
2 i realized that no matter how fantastic reign of fire looked its story was making no sense at all
1 heavy with flabby rolls of typical toback machinations
4 the world needs more filmmakers with passionate enthusiasms like martin scorsese
1 russell lacks the visual panache the comic touch and perhaps the budget of sommerss titlebout features
3 and educational
4 its dark but has wonderfully funny moments you care about the characters and the action and special effects are firstrate
0 it desperately wants to be a wacky screwball comedy but the most screwy thing here is how so many talented people were convinced to waste their time
1 theres nothing exactly wrong here but theres not nearly enough thats right
2 i do nt even care that theres no plot in this antonio banderaslucy liu faceoff
0 this movie feel more like a nonstop cry for attention than an attempt at any kind of satisfying entertainment
4 hardly an objective documentary but its great cinematic polemic love moore or loathe him youve got to admire the intensity with which hes willing to express his convictions
3 i liked this film a lot
0 not only is entry number twenty the worst of the brosnan bunch its one of the worst of the entire franchise
2 largely this is a movie that also does it by the numbers
1 we never feel anything for these characters and as a result the film is basically just a curiosity
1 i suspect that youll be as bored watching morvern callar as the characters are in it
1 stealing harvard ca nt even do that much
3 im sure mainstream audiences will be baffled but for those with at least a minimal appreciation of woolf and clarissa dalloway the hours represents two of those well spent
0 we assume he had a bad run in the market or a costly divorce because there is no earthly reason other than money why this distinguished actor would stoop so low
4 amid the new populist comedies that underscore the importance of family tradition and familial community one would be hardpressed to find a movie with a bigger fatter heart than barbershop
2 there are a few modest laughs but certainly no thrills
4 gay or straight kissing jessica stein is one of the greatest date movies in years
3 it has its faults but it is a kind unapologetic sweetheart of a movie and mandy moore leaves a positive impression
4 bright intelligent and humanly funny film
4 i encourage young and old alike to go see this unique and entertaining twist on the classic whales tale you wo nt be sorry
1 quitting however manages just to be depressing as the lead actor phones in his autobiographical performance
3 a fine effort an interesting topic some intriguing characters and a sad ending
2 muddled trashy and incompetent
3 time out is existential drama without any of the pretension associated with the term
2 and a very rainy day
3 maintains your sympathy for this otherwise challenging soul by letting you share her oneroom world for a while
1 the story has little wit and no surprises
1 decent but dull
4 mr deeds is as comedy goes very silly and in the best way
0 the whole thing feels like a ruse a tactic to cover up the fact that the picture is constructed around a core of flimsy or worse yet nonexistent ideas
1 go back to sleep
3 you live the mood rather than savour the story
1 lrb a rrb painfully flat grossout comedy
1 bean drops the ball too many times hoping the nifty premise will create enough interest to make up for an unfocused screenplay
1 grating and tedious
0 utter mush conceited pap
0 one of the more glaring signs of this movies servitude to its superstar is the way it skirts around any scenes that might have required genuine acting from ms spears
1 in the spirit of the season i assign one bright shining star to roberto benignis pinocchio but i guarantee that no wise men will be following after it
0 this is standard crime drama fare instantly forgettable and thoroughly dull
0 other than a mildly engaging central romance hospital is sickly entertainment at best and minddestroying cinematic pollution at worst
1 this overlong infomercial due out on video before months end is tepid and tedious
3 fulfordwierzbicki deftly captures the wisebeyondheryears teen
3 this is lightweight filmmaking to be sure but its pleasant enough and oozing with attractive men
1 the film is way too full of itself its stuffy and pretentious in a givemeanoscar kind of way
1 while certainly more naturalistic than its australian counterpart amaris film falls short in building the drama of lilias journey
1 the characters never change
1 an admitted egomaniac evans is no hollywood villain and yet this grating showcase almost makes you wish hed gone the way of don simpson
1 witless pointless tasteless and idiotic
2 hardly a nuanced portrait of a young womans breakdown the film nevertheless works up a few scares
3 what lifts the film high above runofthefilth gangster flicks is its refusal to recognise any of the signposts as if discovering a way through to the bitter end without a map
4 definitely worth 95 minutes of your time
4 the ingenuity that parker displays in freshening the play is almost in a class with that of wilde himself
2 while puerile men dominate the story the women shine
3 a beautiful paean to a time long past
2 one of lrb jagloms rrb better efforts a wry and sometime bitter movie about love
3 although it includes a fair share of dumb drug jokes and predictable slapstick orange county is far funnier than it would seem to have any right to be
1 a sleepinducing thriller with a single twist that everyone except the characters in it can see coming a mile away
2 expanded to 65 minutes for theatrical release it still feels somewhat unfinished
3 and yet it still works
0 what more can be expected from a college comedy thats target audience has nt graduated from junior high school
4 a fresh entertaining comedy that looks at relationships minus traditional gender roles
1 while some of the camera work is interesting the films midtolow budget is betrayed by the surprisingly shoddy makeup work
1 i think it was plato who said i think therefore i know better than to rush to the theatre for this one
3 tadpole may be one of the most appealing movies ever made about an otherwise appalling and downright creepy subject a teenage boy in love with his stepmother
2 count on his movie to work at the back of your neck long after you leave the theater
2 its dark and tragic and lets the business of the greedy talent agents get in the way of saying something meaningful about facing death
0 lazy filmmaking with the director taking a handsoff approach when he should have shaped the story to show us why its compelling
1 would that greengrass had gone a tad less for grit and a lot more for intelligibility
3 although some viewers will not be able to stomach so much tongueincheek weirdness those who do will have found a cult favorite to enjoy for a lifetime
3 lrb reno rrb delivers a monologue that manages to incorporate both the horror and the absurdity of the situation in a wellbalanced fashion
1 the story is forgive me a little thin and the filmmaking clumsy and rushed
1 kids do nt mind crappy movies as much as adults provided theres lots of cute animals and clumsy people
3 has an unmistakable easy joie de vivre
3 the movies thesis elegant technology for the masses is surprisingly refreshing
2 its deepsixed by a compulsion to catalog every bodily fluids gag in theres something about mary and devise a parallel clonegag
1 its virtually impossible to like any of these despicable characters
3 when youve got the wildly popular vin diesel in the equation it adds up to big box office bucks all but guaranteed
1 the premise of abandon holds promise but its delivery is a complete mess
0 the adventures of pluto nash is a whole lot of nada
2 the phone rings and a voice tells you youve got seven days left to live
1 the whole talkinganimal thing is grisly
1 adults other than the parents will be hard pressed to succumb to the call of the wild
4 with spy kids 2 the island of lost dreams however robert rodriguez adorns his familyfilm plot with an elegance and maturity that even most contemporary adult movies are lacking
4 scherfigs lighthearted profile of emotional desperation is achingly honest and delightfully cheeky
4 the acting in pauline and paulette is good all round but what really sets the film apart is debrauwers refusal to push the easy emotional buttons
1 a kilted jackson is an unsettling sight and indicative of his if you will outofkilter character who rambles aimlessly through illconceived action pieces
1 just the sort of lazy tearjerker that gives movies about ordinary folk a bad name
3 it treats anas journey with honesty that is tragically rare in the depiction of young women in film
3 together writerdirector danny veretes three tales comprise a powerful and reasonably fulfilling gestalt
2 though not for everyone the guys is a somber trip worth taking
4 topnotch action powers this romantic drama
1 lrb denis rrb barebones narrative more closely resembles an outline for a70s exploitation picture than the finished product
0 for its 100 minutes running time youll wait in vain for a movie to happen
1 i could have used my two hours better watching being john malkovich again
1 the movies vision of a white american zealously spreading a puritanical brand of christianity to south seas islanders is one only a true believer could relish
4 romaneks themes are every bit as distinctive as his visuals
4 a comedy that is warm inviting and surprising
4 it has fun with the quirks of family life but it also treats the subject with fondness and respect
3 blade ii merges bits and pieces from fighting games wire fu horror movies mystery james bond wrestling scifi and anime into one big bloody stew
1 despite engaging offbeat touches knockaround guys rarely seems interested in kicking around a raison detre thats as freshfaced as its youngguns cast
3 worth a salute just for trying to be more complex than your average film
0 build some robots haulem to the theatre with you for the late show and put on your own mystery science theatre 3000 tribute to what is almost certainly going to go down as the worst and only killer website movie of this or any other year
4 brims with passion for words for its eccentric accidentprone characters and for the crazy things that keep people going in this crazy life
2 no matter how firmly director john stainton has his tongue in his cheek the fact remains that a wacky concept does not a movie make
0 seemingly a vehicle to showcase the canadians inane ramblings stealing harvard is a smorgasbord of soliloquies about nothing delivered by the former mr drew barrymore
4 a delicious crime drama on par with the slickest of mamet
4 a heartbreakingly thoughtful minor classic the work of a genuine and singular artist
2 but it does nt need gangs of new york
2 this slowmoving swedish film offers not even a hint of joy preferring to focus on the humiliation of martin as he defecates in bed and urinates on the plants at his own birthday party
4 what could have easily become a cold calculated exercise in postmodern pastiche winds up a powerful and deeply moving example of melodramatic moviemaking
4 return to never land is reliable standard disney animated fare with enough creative energy and wit to entertain all ages
3 escapes the precious trappings of most romantic comedies infusing into the story very real complicated emotions
4 bittersweet comedydrama full of life hand gestures and some really adorable italian guys
0 because the intelligence level of the characters must be low very low very very low for the masquerade to work the movie contains no wit only labored gags
1 solondz is so intent on hammering home his message that he forgets to make it entertaining
2 adults will certainly want to spend their time in the theater thinking up grocery lists and ways to tell their kids how not to act like pinocchio
2 stuarts poorme persona needs a whole bunch of snowballs cynicism to cut through the sugar coating
3 the viewer takes great pleasure in watching the resourceful molly stay a step ahead of her pursuers
3 whats most refreshing about real women have curves is its unforced comedydrama and its relaxed naturalseeming actors
1 if youre looking to rekindle the magic of the first film youll need a stronger stomach than us
4 the wonder of mostly martha is the performance of gedeck who makes martha enormously endearing
1 a selection of scenes in search of a movie
4 the rare movie thats as crisp and to the point as the novel on which its based
2 or intelligent
3 this film can only point the way but thank goodness for this signpost
4 hawn and sarandon form an acting bond that makes the banger sisters a fascinating character study with laughs to spare
3 by the end of it all i sort of loved the people onscreen even though i could not stand them
1 one big blustery movie where nothing really happens
3 plummer steals the show without resorting to camp as nicholas wounded and wounding uncle ralph
3 wallace is smart to vary the pitch of his movie balancing deafening battle scenes with quieter domestic scenes of women back home receiving war department telegrams
3 this is a movie that is what it is a pleasant distraction a friday night diversion an excuse to eat popcorn
1 more trifle than triumph
1 this uboat does nt have a captain
1 you leave the same way you came a few tasty morsels under your belt but no new friends
3 a little better than sorcerers stone
2 with one exception every blighter in this particular south london housing project digs into dysfunction like its a big comforting jar of marmite to be slathered on crackers and served as a feast of bleakness
1 im not exactly sure what this movie thinks it is about
2 most of the film feels conceived and shot on the fly like between lunch breaks for shearers radio show and his simpson voiceovers
1 the main story is compelling enough but its difficult to shrug off the annoyance of that chatty fish
1 chans stunts are limited and so embellished by editing that theres really not much of a sense of action or even actioncomedy
0 the script the gags the characters are all directtovideo stuff and thats where this film should have remained
3 with the prospect of films like kangaroo jack about to burst across americas winter movie screens its a pleasure to have a film like the hours as an alternative
3 may not be a breakthrough in filmmaking but it is unwavering and arresting
4 awesome work ineffable elusive yet inexplicably powerful
3 i was impressed by how many titfortat retaliatory responses the filmmakers allow before pulling the plug on the conspirators and averting an americanrussian armageddon
2 just like igby
0 as a director eastwood is off his game theres no real sense of suspense and none of the plot surprises are really surprising
1 queen of the damned is too long with too little going on
2 a charming and funny story of clashing cultures and a clashing motherdaughter relationship
1 its loud and boring watching it is like being trapped at a bad rock concert
0 a chiller resolutely without chills
1 we just do nt really care too much about this love story
0 the first fatal attraction was vile enough
0 you begin to long for the end credits as the desert does for rain
1 contains very few laughs and even less surprises
2 one of the films most effective aspects is its tchaikovsky soundtrack of neurasthenic regret
2 viewing this underdramatized but overstated film is like watching a transcript of a therapy session brought to humdrum life by some freudian puppet
0 sheridans take on the authors schoolboy memoir is a rather toothless take on a hard young life
4 great character interaction
4 intensely romantic thoughtprovoking and even an engaging mystery
0 a tired predictable bordering on offensive waste of time money and celluloid
4 a vibrant whirlwind of love family and all that goes with it my big fat greek wedding is a nonstop funny feast of warmth colour and cringe
2 as it stands theres some fine sex onscreen and some tense arguing but not a whole lot more
3 kosminsky puts enough salt into the wounds of the tortured and selfconscious material to make it sting
1 a culture clash comedy only half as clever as it thinks it is
2 this one is certainly wellmeaning but its also simpleminded and contrived
3 its definitely a step in the right direction
4 this is a gorgeous film vivid with color music and life
1 as in aimless arduous and arbitrary
1 clare peploes airless movie adaptation could use a little american pielike irreverence
2 the talkheavy film plays like one of robert altmans lesser works
0 a preposterous prurient whodunit
4 its been done before but never so vividly or with so much passion
0 lrb swimfan rrb falls victim to sloppy plotting an insultingly unbelievable final act and a villainess who is too crazy to be interesting
3 may take its sweet time to get wherever its going but if you have the patience for it you wo nt feel like its wasted yours
3 a compelling french psychological drama examining the encounter of an aloof father and his chilly son after 20 years apart
3 combine the paranoid claustrophobia of a submarine movie with the unsettling spookiness of the supernatural why did nt hollywood think of this sooner
2 the rock has a great presence but one battle after another is not the same as one battle followed by killer cgi effects
3 the director explores all three sides of his story with a sensitivity and an inquisitiveness reminiscent of truffaut
1 dreary tale of middleclass angst
4 plenty of warmth to go around with music and laughter and the love of family
2 as schmidt nicholson walks with a slow deliberate gait chooses his words carefully and subdues his natural exuberance
0 unfunny comedy with a lot of static set ups not much camera movement and most of the scenes take place indoors in formal settings with motionless characters
3 rewarding
4 try as you might to scrutinize the ethics of kaufmans approach somehow it all comes together to create a very compelling sensitive intelligent and almost cohesive piece of film entertainment
2 shes a cipher played by an actress who smiles and frowns but does nt reveal an inner life
1 lrb t rrb he ideas of revolution 9 are more compelling than the execution
3 far from heaven is a dazzling conceptual feat but more than that its a work of enthralling drama
2 boldly engineering a collision between tawdry bmovie flamboyance and grandiose spiritual anomie roses film true to its source material provides a tenacious demonstration of death as the great equalizer
2 the warnings to resist temptation in this film are blunt and challenging and offer no easy rewards for staying clean
1 sweet home alabama certainly wo nt be remembered as one of lrb witherspoons rrb better films
0 staggers between flaccid satire and what is supposed to be madcap farce
3 exactly what its title implies lusty boisterous and utterly charming
4 in a summer of clones harvard man is something rare and riveting a wild ride that relies on more than special effects
1 preachy and
3 its a fine oldfashionedmovie movie which is to say its unburdened by pretensions to great artistic significance
4 polanski has found the perfect material with which to address his own world war ii experience in his signature style
1 i walked away not really know who they were what they looked like
0 a film of empty fetishistic violence in which murder is casual and fun
1 friday after next is a lot more bluster than bite
1 cq may one day be fondly remembered as roman coppolas brief pretentious period before going on to other films that actually tell a story worth caring about
4 such master screenwriting comes courtesy of john pogue the yale grad who previously gave us the skulls and last years rollerball
1 some like it hot on the hardwood proves once again that a man in drag is not in and of himself funny
2 a glossy knockoff of a bmovie revenge flick
3 the attraction between these two marginal characters is complex from the start and refreshingly stays that way
1 full of bland hotels highways parking lots with some glimpses of nature and family warmth time out is a discreet moan of despair about entrapment in the maze of modern life
1 the problem with all of this its not really funny
2 punchdrunk love is a little like a chocolate milk moustache
1 shatner is probably the funniest person in the film which gives you an idea just how bad it was
0 the most horrific movie experience ive had since ca nt stop the music
2 yet another selfconsciously overwritten story about a ragtag bunch of wouldbe characters that team up for a ca nt miss heist only to have it all go wrong
3 whether or not ram dass proves as clear and reliable an authority on that as he was about inner consciousness fierce grace reassures us that he will once again be an honest and loving one
2 not everyone will play the dark challenging tune taught by the piano teacher
4 its packed with adventure and a worthwhile environmental message so its great for the kids
0 the script was reportedly rewritten a dozen times either 11 times too many or else too few
3 not the great american comedy but if you liked the previous movies in the series youll have a good time with this one too
2 frank mcklusky ci is that movie
3 the story line may be 127 years old but el crimen del padre amaro could nt be more timely in its despairing vision of corruption within the catholic establishment
3 quite good at providing some good old fashioned spooks
1 has none of the crackle of fatal attraction 9 12 weeks or even indecent proposal and feels more like lynes stolid remake of lolita
2 john carlens script is full of unhappy twodimensional characters who are anything but compelling
3 when the movie mixes the cornpone and the cosa nostra it finds a nice rhythm
1 it does nt make for great cinema but it is interesting to see where ones imagination will lead when given the opportunity
2 your stomach for heaven depends largely on your appetite for canned corn
1 family togetherness takes a back seat to interfamily rivalry and workplace ambition whole subplots have no explanation or even plot relevance
0 equilibrium the movie as opposed to the manifesto is really really stupid
3 payne constructs a hilarious ode to middle america and middle age with this unlikely odyssey featuring a pathetic endearing hero who is all too human
3 while somewhat less than it might have been the film is a good one and youve got to hand it to director george clooney for biting off such a big job the first time out
3 all leather pants augmented boobs hawn is hilarious as she tries to resuscitate the funloving libertine lost somewhere inside the conservative handbagclutching sarandon
3 cremaster 3 should come with the warning for serious film buffs only
3 both exuberantly romantic and serenely melancholy what time is it there
2 this is mostly wellconstructed fluff which is all it seems intended to be
4 its something of the ultimate scorsese film with all the stomachturning violence colorful new york gang lore and other hallmarks of his personal cinema painted on their largestever historical canvas
1 it takes a really long slow and dreary time to dope out what tuck everlasting is about
0 call me a coldhearted curmudgeon for not being able to enjoy a mindless action movie but i believe a movie can be mindless without being the peak of all things insipid
3 this is a dark gritty sometimes funny little gem
0 shallow noisy and pretentious
3 strange occurrences build in the mind of the viewer and take on extreme urgency
3 although largely a heavyhanded indictment of parental failings and the indifference of spanish social workers and legal system towards child abuse the film retains ambiguities that make it well worth watching
4 delight your senses and crash this wedding
4 a thoughtprovoking picture
0 think the lion king redone for horses with fewer deliberate laughs more inadvertent ones and stunningly trite songs by bryan adams the worlds most generic rock star
0 how inept is serving sara
1 too much power not enough puff
4 narc is a nobull throwback to 1970s action films
4 elegant and eloquent lrb meditation rrb on death and that most elusive of passions love
2 the action is reasonably welldone yet story character and comedy bits are too ragged to ever fit smoothly together
1 these are textbook lives of quiet desperation
0 as pedestrian as they come
3 mcgrath has deftly trimmed dickens wonderfully sprawling soap opera the better to focus on the heros odyssey from cowering poverty to courage and happiness
3 evelyns strong cast and surehanded direction make for a winning heartwarming yarn
1 a visually flashy but narratively opaque and emotionally vapid exercise in style and mystification
3 its enough to watch huppert scheming with her small intelligent eyes as steady as any noir villain and to enjoy the perfectly pitched web of tension that chabrol spins
2 critics need a good laugh too and this tooextremefortv rendition of the notorious mtv show delivers the outrageous sickening sidesplitting goods in steaming visceral heaps
2 britneys performance can not be faulted
0 its been 13 months and 295 preview screenings since i last walked out on a movie but resident evil really earned my indignant preemptive departure
2 not a bad choice here assuming that the airconditioning in the theater is working properly
4 as warm as it is wise deftly setting off uproarious humor with an underlying seriousness that sneaks up on the viewer providing an experience that is richer than anticipated
0 its clotted with heavyhanded symbolism dimestore psychology and endless scenic shots that make 105 minutes seem twice as long
2 the characters are interesting and the relationship between yosuke and saeko is worth watching as it develops but theres not enough to the story to fill two hours
1 offers absolutely nothing i had nt already seen
2 recovers
3 the performances of the children untrained in acting have an honesty and dignity that breaks your heart
2 directors john musker and ron clements the team behind the little mermaid have produced sparkling retina candy but they are nt able to muster a lot of emotional resonance in the cold vacuum of space
4 like brosnans performance evelyn comes from the heart
1 but the movies narrative hook is way too muddled to be an effectively chilling guilty pleasure
2 this film was made by and for those folks who collect the serial killer cards and are fascinated by the mere suggestion of serial killers
1 so we got ten little indians meets friday the 13th by way of clean and sober filmed on the set of carpenters the thing and loaded with actors youre most likely to find on the next inevitable incarnation of the love boat
3 after an uncertain start murder hits and generally sustains a higher plateau with bullocks memorable first interrogation of gosling
0 if i could have looked into my future and saw how bad this movie was i would go back and choose to skip it
3 when one hears harry shearer is going to make his debut as a film director one would hope for the best
4 an intoxicating experience
2 the movie worked for me right up to the final scene and then it caved in
1 schnieder bounces around with limp wrists wearing tight tummy tops and hip huggers twirling his hair on his finger and assuming thats enough to sustain laughs
0 the film is all over the place really
2 if this silly little cartoon can inspire a few kids not to grow up to be greedy bastards more power to it
3 despite the films bizarre developments hoffman keeps us riveted with every painful nuance unexpected flashes of dark comedy and the characters gripping humanity
1 the movie does nt think much of its characters its protagonist or of us
3 the film proves unrelentingly grim and equally engrossing
3 a whole lot of fun and funny in the middle though somewhat less hardhitting at the start and finish
2 the dose is strong and funny for the first 15 minutes anyway after that the potency wanes dramatically
1 a sustained fest of selfcongratulation between actor and director that leaves scant place for the viewer
0 feels as if lrb theres rrb a choke leash around your neck so director nick cassavetes can give it a good hard yank whenever he wants you to feel something
3 its bright pristine style and bold colors make it as much fun as reading an oversized picture book before bedtime
1 in the process of trimming the movie to an expeditious 84 minutes director roger kumble seems to have dumped a whole lot of plot in favor of outrageous gags
0 bad and baffling from the getgo
1 a big loud bangthedrum bore
2 so riddled with unanswered questions that it requires gargantuan leaps of faith just to watch it plod along
1 you leave feeling like youve endured a long workout without your pulse ever racing
0 an inept tedious spoof of70s kung fu pictures it contains almost enough chuckles for a threeminute sketch and no more
4 this is a movie that refreshes the mind and spirit along with the body so original is its content look and style
2 maybe thomas wolfe was right you ca nt go home again
1 the dramatic scenes are frequently unintentionally funny and the action sequences clearly the main event are surprisingly uninvolving
0 the movie has a script lrb by paul pender rrb made of wood and its relentlessly folksy a procession of stagy set pieces stacked with binary oppositions
0 after seeing the film i can tell you that theres no other reason why anyone should bother remembering it
2 its supposed to be a humorous alltoohuman look at how hope can breed a certain kind of madness and strength but it never quite adds up
2 there are moments of real pleasure to be found in sara sugarmans whimsical comedy very anniemary but not enough to sustain the film
3 the script is high on squaddie banter low on shocks
2 as directed by dani kouyate of burkina faso sia lacks visual flair
4 spinning a web of dazzling entertainment may be overstating it but spiderman certainly delivers the goods
0 solaris is a shapeless inconsequential move relying on the viewer to do most of the work
2 its fitfully funny but never really takes off
2 if youre a crocodile hunter fan youll enjoy at least the real portions of the film
3 a compelling story of musical passion against governmental odds
4 a riveting story well told
2 um no
4 he makes you realize that deep inside righteousness can be found a tough beauty
4 features what is surely the funniest and most accurate depiction of writers block ever
1 the movie is a negligible work of manipulation an exploitation piece doing its usual worst to guilttrip parents
2 wellmeaning to a fault antwone fisher manages the dubious feat of turning one mans triumph of will into everymans romance comedy
3 the bottom line is the piece works brilliantly
4 ramsay is clearly extraordinarily talented and based on three short films and two features heres betting her third feature will be something to behold
1 everything even life on an aircraft carrier is sentimentalized
4 working from a surprisingly sensitive script cowritten by gianni romoli ozpetek avoids most of the pitfalls youd expect in such a potentially sudsy setup
1 plot characters drama emotions ideas all are irrelevant to the experience of seeing the scorpion king
1 its not helpful to listen to extremist namecalling regardless of whether you think kissinger was a calculating fiend or just a slippery selfpromoter
4 the film is visually dazzling the depicted events dramatic funny and poignant
3 both an admirable reconstruction of terrible events and a fitting memorial to the dead of that day and of the thousands thereafter
3 mindless yet impressively lean spinoff of last summers bloated effects fest the mummy returns
1 even after 90 minutes of playing opposite each other bullock and grant still look ill at ease sharing the same scene
4 kudos to the most enchanting film of the year
0 i ca nt recommend it
3 russian ark is a new treasure of the hermitage
3 the rock is destined to be the 21st centurys new conan and that hes going to make a splash even greater than arnold schwarzenegger jeanclaud van damme or steven segal
4 the film is darkly funny in its observation of just how much more grueling and timeconsuming the illusion of work is than actual work
3 the pictures fascinating byways are littered with trenchant satirical jabs at the peculiar egocentricities of the acting breed
2 its jaggers bonedry mournfully brittle delivery that gives the film its bittersweet bite
1 lrb lin chungs rrb voice is rather unexceptional even irritating lrb at least to this western ear rrb making it awfully hard to buy the impetus for the complicated love triangle that develops between the three central characters
1 its coherent well shot and tartly acted but it wears you down like a dinner guest showing off his doctorate
4 an invaluable historical document thanks to the filmmakers extraordinary access to massoud whose charm cultivation and devotion to his people are readily apparent
4 the two leads nearly perfect in their roles bring a heart and reality that buoy the film and at times elevate it to a superior crime movie
1 the pairing does sound promising in theory but their lack of chemistry makes eddie murphy and robert deniro in showtime look like old familiar vaudeville partners
1 disjointed parody
0 what we have is a character faced with the possibility that her life is meaningless vapid and devoid of substance in a movie that is definitely meaningless vapid and devoid of substance
2 its tough being a black man in america especially when the man has taken away your car your workhours and denied you health insurance
2 the kind of trifle that date nights were invented for
1 the plot has a number of holes and at times its simply baffling
3 seen in that light moonlight mile should strike a nerve in many
2 wobbly senegalese updating of carmen which is best for the stunning star turn by djeinaba diop gai
3 plus like i already mentioned its robert duvall
4 laughoutloud lines adorably ditsy but heartfelt performances and sparkling bittersweet dialogue that cuts to the chase of the modern girls dilemma
1 greaseballs mob actioncomedy
2 explosions jokes and sexual innuendoes abound
1 it gets old quickly
4 lrb a rrb thoughtful visually graceful work
1 a standard policeoriented drama that were it not for de niros participation would have likely wound up a tnt original
2 he may have meant the internet short saving ryans privates
1 its a long way from orwells dark intelligent warning cry lrb 1984 rrb to the empty stud knockabout of equilibrium and what once was conviction is now affectation
4 raimi crafted a complicated hero who is a welcome relief from the usual twodimensional offerings
3 this fascinating experiment plays as more of a poetic than a strict reality creating an intriguing species of artifice that gives the lady and the duke something of a theatrical air
2 the plots clearly mythic structure may owe more to disneys strong sense of formula than to the original story
4 a poignant lyricism runs through balzac and the little chinese seamstress that transforms this story about love and culture into a cinematic poem
0 unfortunately one hour photo lives down to its title
1 director uwe boll and writer robert dean klein fail to generate any interest in an unsympathetic hero caught up in an intricate plot that while cleverly worked out can not overcome blah characters
2 gere gives a good performance in a film that does nt merit it
3 rarely has skin looked as beautiful desirable even delectable as it does in trouble every day
0 the pacing is often way off and there are too many bona fide groaners among too few laughs
2 reyes word processor
2 in capturing the understated comedic agony of an everruminating genteel yet decadent aristocracy that can no longer pay its bills the film could just as well be addressing the turn of the 20th century into the 21st
0 in that setting their struggle is simply too ludicrous and borderline insulting
3 try as you might to resist if youve got a place in your heart for smokey robinson this movie will worm its way there
3 robert john burke as the monster horns in and steals the show
0 the result however wellintentioned is ironically just the sort of disposable kitchensink homage that illustrates why the whole is so often less than the sum of its parts in todays hollywood
2 a movie that at its best does nt just make the most out of its characters flaws but insists on the virtue of imperfection
0 an incoherent jumble of a film thats rarely as entertaining as it could have been
4 is not so much a work of entertainment as it is a unique wellcrafted psychological study of grief
1 just is nt as weird as it ought to be
3 with spy kids 2 the island of lost dreams the spy kids franchise establishes itself as a durable part of the movie landscape a james bond series for kids
1 something must have been lost in the translation
0 degenerates into hogwash
0 its a shame that the storyline and its underlying themes finally seem so impersonal or even shallow
3 there is little question that this is a serious work by an important director who has something new to say about how in the flipflop of courtship we often reel in when we should be playing out
1 theres some outrageously creative action in the transporter lrb b rrb ut by the time frank parachutes down onto a moving truck its just another cartoon with an unstoppable superman
4 a rich and intelligent film that uses its pulpy core conceit to probe questions of attraction and interdependence and how the heart accomodates practical needs
0 a cheap ludicrous attempt at serious horror
1 i ca nt say this enough this movie is about an adult male dressed in pink jammies
1 every so often a film comes along that is so insanely stupid so awful in so many ways that watching it leaves you giddy
4 its the kind of effectively creepyscary thriller that has you fixating on a far corner of the screen at times because your nerves just ca nt take it any more
2 except as an acting exercise or an exceptionally dark joke you wonder what anyone saw in this film that allowed it to get made
3 if sm seems like a strange route to true love maybe it is but its to this films lrb and its makers rrb credit that we believe that thats exactly what these two people need to find each other and themselves
4 a dark quirky road movie that constantly defies expectation
3 scott baio is turning in some delightful work on indie projects
2 a frustrating yet deeply watchable melodrama that makes you think its a tougher picture than it is
2 enchanted with lowlife tragedy and liberally seasoned with emotional outbursts what is sorely missing however is the edge of wild lunatic invention that we associate with cages best acting
1 impostor ca nt think of a thing to do with these characters except have them run through dark tunnels fight off various anonymous attackers and evade elaborate surveillance technologies
0 the 50something lovebirds are too immature and unappealing to care about
2 a lifesize reenactment of those jack chick cartoon tracts that always ended with some hippie getting tossed into the lake of fire
3 eyre is on his way to becoming the american indian spike lee
1 set in a 1986 harlem that does nt look much like anywhere in new york
1 a wellcrafted letdown
3 an unusually dryeyed even analytical approach to material that is generally played for maximum moisture
0 an appalling ace ventura ripoff that somehow manages to bring together kevin pollak former wrestler chyna and dolly parton
3 i simply ca nt recommend it enough
3 theres lots of cool stuff packed into espns ultimate x
1 a negligible british comedy
0 do nt even bother to rent this on video
4 in addition to scoring high for originality of plot putting together familiar themes of family forgiveness and love in a new way lilo stitch has a number of other assets to commend it to movie audiences both innocent and jaded
3 faithful without being forceful sad without being shrill a walk to remember succeeds through sincerity
4 a passionately inquisitive film determined to uncover the truth and hopefully inspire action
3 we want the funk and this movies got it
3 the best of the pierce brosnan james bond films to date
2 a decidedly mixed bag
1 this is sandler running on empty repeating what hes already done way too often
0 i like my christmas movies with more elves and snow and less pimps and hos
0 their parents would do well to cram earplugs in their ears and put pillowcases over their heads for 87 minutes
0 blade ii is still topheavy with blazing guns cheatfully filmed martial arts disintegrating bloodsucker computer effects and jagged camera moves that serve no other purpose than to call attention to themselves
3 a spiffy animated feature about an unruly adolescent boy who is yearning for adventure and a chance to prove his worth
1 everythings serious poetic earnest and sadly dull
1 nothing here seems as funny as it did in analyze this not even joe viterelli as de niros righthand goombah
1 its rare to see a movie that takes such a speedy swan dive from promising to interesting to familiar before landing squarely on stupid
3 a portrait of hell so shattering its impossible to shake
1 the modern remake of dumass story is long on narrative and lrb too rrb short on action
2 die another day is only intermittently entertaining but its hard not to be a sucker for its charms or perhaps its just impossible not to feel nostalgia for movies you grew up with
3 plunges you into a reality that is more often then not difficult and sad and then without sentimentalizing it or denying its brutality transforms that reality into a lyrical and celebratory vision
3 the level of acting elevates the material above pat inspirational status and gives it a sturdiness and solidity that weve long associated with washington the actor
4 duvall is strong as always
2 but his showboating wisecracker stock persona sure is getting old
1 the master of disguise may have made a great saturday night live sketch but a great movie it is not
3 a true pleasure
1 with nary a glimmer of selfknowledge lrb crane rrb becomes more specimen than character and auto focus remains a chilly clinical lab report
1 qualities that were once amusing are becoming irritating
4 moore provides an invaluable service by sparking debate and encouraging thought
4 exciting and wellpaced
3 daringly perceptive taut piercing and feisty biggie and tupac is undeniably subversive and involving in its bold presentation
0 they were afraid to show this movie to reviewers before its opening afraid of the bad reviews they thought theyd earn
3 captures that perverse element of the kafkaesque where identity overnight is robbed and replaced with a persecuted other
1 its not only dull because weve seen lrb eddie rrb murphy do the genialrogue shtick to death but because the plot is equally hackneyed
4 lrb brehenys rrb lensing of the new zealand and cook island locations captures both the beauty of the land and the people
2 the movie certainly has its share of clever moments and biting dialogue but theres just not much lurking below its abstract surface
3 strangely comes off as a kingdom more mild than wild
2 in a word no
2 an exhausting family drama about a porcelain empire and just as hard a flick as its subject matter
3 dog soldiers does nt transcend genre it embraces it energizes it and takes big bloody chomps out of it
4 like the best 60 minutes
1 this is an exercise not in biography but in hero worship
4 its crafty energetic and smart the kid is sort of like a fourteenyear old ferris bueller
2 the entire movie is filled with deja vu moments
4 as a science fiction movie minority report astounds
3 broomfield reminds us that beneath the hype the celebrity the high life the conspiracies and the mystery there were once a couple of bright young men promising talented charismatic and tragically doomed
1 right now theyre merely signposts marking the slow lingering death of imagination
3 director peter kosminsky gives these women a forum to demonstrate their acting chops and they take full advantage
0 despite bearing the paramount imprint its a bargainbasement european pickup
4 all in all brown sugar is a satisfying wellmade romantic comedy thats both charming and well acted
0 stitch is a bad mannered ugly and destructive little
2 its about time
4 a beautiful timeless and universal tale of heated passions jealousy betrayal forgiveness and murder
2 the animation merely serves up a predictable maudlin story that swipes heavily from bambi and the lion king yet lacks the emotional resonance of either of those movies
0 the most offensive thing about the movie is that hollywood expects people to pay to see it
1 made me unintentionally famous as the queasystomached critic who staggered from the theater and blacked out in the lobby
2 if you already like this sort of thing this is that sort of thing all over again
0 confusion is one of my least favourite emotions especially when i have to put up with 146 minutes of it
2 the movie ultimately relies a bit too heavily on grandstanding emotional rockylike moments but its such a warm and charming package that youll feel too happy to argue much
2 a hiddenagenda drama that shouts classic french nuance
2 it is a challenging film if not always a narratively cohesive one
2 and how
1 halfway through however having sucked dry the undead action flick formula blade ii mutates into a grossout monster movie with effects that are more silly than scary
1 that frenetic spectacle lrb on the tv show rrb has usually been leavened by a charm thats conspicuously missing from the girls bigscreen blowout
2 many of the effective horror elements are dampened through familiarity lrb yet rrb are worthwhile
3 though a touch too arthouse 101 in its poetic symbolism heaven proves to be a good match of the sensibilities of two directors
3 lrb sports rrb admirable energy fullbodied characterizations and narrative urgency
1 even when crush departs from the 4w formula it feels like a glossy rehash
2 by the end you just do nt care whether that coldhearted snake petrovich lrb that would be reno rrb gets his comeuppance
3 what sets it apart is the vision that taymor the avant garde director of broadways the lion king and the film titus brings
1 its easy to love robin tunney shes pretty and she can act but it gets harder and harder to understand her choices
1 a cross between blow and boyz n the hood this movie strives to be more but does nt quite get there
0 talky artificial and opaque an interesting technical exercise but a tedious picture
3 what enlivens this film beyond the astute direction of cardoso and beautifully detailed performances by all of the actors is a note of defiance over social dictates
4 effective in all its aspects margarita happy hour represents an auspicious feature debut for chaiken
1 meandering and confusing
3 nicholas nickleby is a perfect family film to take everyone to since theres no new a christmas carol out in the theaters this year
2 to the degree that ivans xtc
2 pure of intention and passably diverting his secret life is light innocuous and unremarkable
2 matches neorealisms impact by showing the humanity of a wartorn land filled with people who just want to live their lives
3 the performances are amiable and committed and the comedy more often than not hits the bullseye
3 a rich tale of our times very well told with an appropriate minimum of means
0 bread my sweet has so many flaws it would be easy for critics to shred it
3 while bollywoodhollywood will undoubtedly provide its keenest pleasures to those familiar with bombay musicals it also has plenty for those lrb like me rrb who are nt
2 you could put it on a coffee table anywhere
1 at 90 minutes this movie is short but it feels much longer
3 translating complex characters from novels to the big screen is an impossible task but they are true to the essence of what it is to be yaya
1 if only it were well funnier
3 no i love it hell i dunno
4 its an exhilarating place to visit this laboratory of laughter
3 one of the best films i have ever seen constantly pulling the rug from underneath us seeing things from new sides plunging deeper getting more intense
2 like these russo guys lookin for their mamet instead found their sturges
2 culkin turns his character into what is basically an antiharry potter right down to the gryffindor scarf
3 family fare
1 beware the quirky britcom
1 but the cinematography is cloudy the picture making becalmed
0 even if the enticing prospect of a lot of nubile young actors in a film about campus depravity did nt fade amid the deliberate tiresome ugliness it would be rendered tedious by avarys failure to construct a story with even a trace of dramatic interest
0 all the movies narrative gymnastics ca nt disguise the fact that its inauthentic at its core and that its story just is nt worth telling
3 presents a side of contemporary chinese life that many outsiders will be surprised to know exists and does so with an artistry that also smacks of revelation
1 suspend your disbelief here and now or youll be shaking your head all the way to the credits
3 the banter between calvin and his fellow barbers feels like a streetwise mclaughlin group and never fails to entertain
4 the film was immensely enjoyable thanks to great performances by both steve buscemi and rosario dawson
0 looks more like a travelagency video targeted at people who like to ride bikes topless and roll in the mud than a worthwhile glimpse of independentcommunity guiding lights
1 a small independent film suffering from a severe case of hollywooditis
3 a much more successful translation than its most famous previous film adaptation writerdirector anthony friedmans similarly updated 1970 british production
4 writerdirector david jacobson and his star jeremy renner have made a remarkable film that explores the monsters psychology not in order to excuse him but rather to demonstrate that his pathology evolved from human impulses that grew hideously twisted
2 a portrait of an artist
3 a fun ride
4 this makes minority report necessary viewing for scifi fans as the film has some of the best special effects ever
1 while each moment of this broken character study is rich in emotional texture the journey does nt really go anywhere
3 not all of the stories work and the ones that do are thin and scattered but the film works well enough to make it worth watching
0 this is one of the biggest disappointments of the year
3 but it is entertaining on an inferior level
2 its sincere to a fault but unfortunately not very compelling or much fun
2 the movie has generic virtues and despite a lot of involved talent seems done by the numbers
2 a road trip that will get you thinking are we there yet
1 stripped almost entirely of such tools as nudity profanity and violence labute does manage to make a few points about modern man and his problematic quest for human connection
3 watching war photographer you come to believe that nachtwey hates the wars he shows and empathizes with the victims he reveals
0 to paraphrase a line from another dickens novel nicholas nickleby is too much like a fragment of an underdone potato
3 lrb rises rrb above its ohsohollywood rejiggering and its conventional direction to give the film a soul and an unabashed sense of good oldfashioned escapism
2 like its predecessor its no classic but it provides a reasonably attractive holiday contraption one that families looking for a clean kidfriendly outing should investigate
3 the direction has a fluid nononsense authority and the performances by harris phifer and cam ron seal the deal
2 selfcongratulatory misguided and illinformed if nonetheless compulsively watchable
0 an infuriating film
4 lrb hayek rrb throws herself into this dream hispanic role with a teethclenching gusto she strikes a potent chemistry with molina and she gradually makes us believe she is kahlo
4 call it magic realism or surrealism but miss wonton floats beyond reality with a certain degree of wit and dignity
1 theres an admirable rigor to jimmys relentless anger and to the scripts refusal of a happy ending but as those monologues stretch on and on you realize theres no place for this story to go but down
1 rymer does nt trust laughs and does nt conjure proper respect for followers of the whole deadundead genre who deserve more from a vampire pic than a few shrieky special effects
2 but heres a glimpse at his life
1 shreves graceful dual narrative gets clunky on the screen and we keep getting torn away from the compelling historical tale to a lesscompelling soap opera
0 to the civilized mind a movie like ballistic ecks vs sever is more of an ordeal than an amusement
3 ludicrous but director carl franklin adds enough flourishes and freakouts to make it entertaining
3 the irony is that this films cast is uniformly superb their performances could have should have been allowed to stand on their own
1 they just do nt work in concert
3 robin williams has thankfully ditched the saccharine sentimentality of bicentennial man in favour of an altogether darker side
2 the fourth in a series that ill bet most parents had thought hoped
2 i ca nt
4 a whale of a good time for both children and parents seeking christianthemed fun
0 its difficult to conceive of anyone who has reached puberty actually finding the characters in slackers or their antics amusing let alone funny
1 terminally bland painfully slow and needlessly confusing the movie shot on digital videotape rather than film is frequently indecipherable
1 the movies blatant derivativeness is one reason its so lackluster
3 a reasonably entertaining sequel to 1994s surprise family hit that may strain adult credibility
0 what a great shame that such a talented director as chen kaige has chosen to make his englishlanguage debut with a film so poorly plotted and scripted
2 directors harry gantz and joe gantz have chosen a fascinating subject matter but the couples exposing themselves are nt all that interesting
1 no amount of blood and disintegrating vampire cadavers can obscure this movies lack of ideas
4 a wellrounded tribute to a man whose achievements and complexities reached far beyond the end zone
1 ice cube is nt quite out of ripe screwball ideas but friday after next spreads them pretty thin
2 a fairly disposable yet still entertaining b picture
3 lawrence plumbs personal tragedy and also the human comedy
1 romethings really wrong with this ricture
3 performances all around are tops with the two leads delivering oscarcaliber performances
2 while van wilder may not be the worst national lampoon film its far from being this generations animal house
3 its not particularly well made but since i found myself howling more than cringing id say the film works
3 a sweettempered comedy that forgoes the kneejerk misogyny that passes for humor in so many teenage comedies
4 smart sassy interpretation of the oscar wilde play
3 significantly better than its 2002 childrens movie competition
2 though its atmosphere is intriguing the drama is finally too predictable to leave much of an impression
0 the bigscreen scooby makes the silly original cartoon seem smart and wellcrafted in comparison
0 a depraved incoherent instantly disposable piece of hackery
2 you wo nt look at religious fanatics or backyard sheds the same way again
3 so genial is the conceit this is one of those rare pictures that you root for throughout dearly hoping that the rich promise of the script will be realized on the screen
0 the following things are not at all entertaining the bad sound the lack of climax and worst of all watching seinfeld lrb who is also one of the films producers rrb do everything he can to look like a good guy
2 chances are you wo nt either
3 chaiken ably balances realtime rhythms with propulsive incident
2 an exhilarating serving of movie fluff
0 the obnoxious special effects the obligatory outbursts of flatulence and the incessant sofiveminutesago pop music on the soundtrack overwhelm what is left of the scruffy dopey old hannabarbera charm
3 the movie is so thoughtlessly assembled
3 antwone fisher certainly does the trick of making us care about its protagonist and celebrate his victories but with few exceptions it rarely stoops to cheap manipulation or corny conventions to do it
2 goldmember is funny enough to justify the embarrassment of bringing a barf bag to the moviehouse
1 pray does nt have a passion for the material
4 it works its magic with such exuberance and passion that the films length becomes a part of its fun
1 the hackneyed story about an affluent damsel in distress who decides to fight her bully of a husband is simply too overdone
0 all the queens men is a throwback war movie that fails on so many levels it should pay reparations to viewers
1 blue crush has all the trappings of an energetic extremesports adventure but ends up more of a creaky pretty woman retread with the emphasis on selfempowering schmaltz and bigwave surfing that gives pic its title an afterthought
2 yes they can swim the title is merely annesophie birots offhanded way of saying girls find adolescence difficult to wade through
3 it establishes its ominous mood and tension swiftly and if the suspense never rises to a higher level it is nevertheless maintained throughout
3 the script is smart and dark hallelujah for small favors
3 as part of mr dongs continuing exploration of homosexuality in america family fundamentals is an earnest study in despair
3 makes the case for a strong education and good teachers being more valuable in the way they help increase an average students selfesteem and not strictly in the knowledge imparted
1 diane lanes sophisticated performance ca nt rescue adrian lynes unfaithful from its sleazy moralizing
3 a gently funny sweetly adventurous film that makes you feel genuinely good that is to say entirely unconned by false sentiment or sharp overmanipulative hollywood practices
2 even with harriss strong effort the script gives him little to effectively probe lears soulstripping breakdown
0 a zombie movie in every sense of the word mindless lifeless meandering loud painful obnoxious
3 lathan and diggs carry the film with their charisma and both exhibit sharp comic timing that makes the more hackneyed elements of the film easier to digest
3 fontaine masterfully creates a portrait of two strong men in conflict inextricably entwined through family history each seeing himself in the other neither liking what he sees
3 straightforward and oldfashioned in the best possible senses of both those words possession is a movie that puts itself squarely in the service of the lovers who inhabit it
2 performances are potent and the womens stories are ably intercut and involving
2 lrb it rrb has the feel of a summer popcorn movie
3 my big fat greek wedding is that rare animal known as a perfect family film because its about family
1 not good enough to pass for a litmus test of the generation gap and not bad enough to repulse any generation of its fans
3 like its bizarre heroine it irrigates our souls
2 but this is lohmans film
0 if this is cinema i pledge allegiance to cagney and lacey
0 constantly slips from the grasp of its maker
2 in trying to be daring and original it comes off as only occasionally satirical and never fresh
3 rouge is less about a superficial midlife crisis than it is about the need to stay in touch with your own skin at 18 or 80
1 a simpler leaner treatment would have been preferable after all being about nothing is sometimes funnier than being about something
1 the april 2002 instalment of the american war for independence complete with loads of cgi and bushels of violence but not a drop of human blood
3 by the end you ca nt help but feel stoked
4 colorful energetic and sweetly whimsical the rare sequel thats better than its predecessor
2 eccentric enough to stave off doldrums carusos selfconscious debut is also eminently forgettable
1 originality is sorely lacking
3 polished wellstructured film
0 lazy miserable and smug
4 its funny touching dramatically forceful and beautifully shot
0 each scene immediately succumbs to gravity and plummets to earth
4 while its nothing we have nt seen before from murphy i spy is still fun and enjoyable and so aggressively silly that its more than a worthwhile effort
2 this version of hg wells time machine was directed by hg wells greatgrandson
4 it is different from others in its genre in that it is does not rely on dumb gags anatomical humor or character cliches it primarily relies on character to tell its story
0 an amateurish quasiimprovised acting exercise shot on ugly digital video
2 anyone else seen this before
3 a meditation on faith and madness frailty is bloodcurdling stuff
3 if you like blood guts and crazy beasts stalking men with guns though you will likely enjoy this monster
1 its only in fairy tales that princesses that are married for political reason live happily ever after
1 after all itll probably be in video stores by christmas and it might just be better suited to a night in the living room than a night at the movies
3 theres much tongue in cheek in the film and theres no doubt the filmmaker is having fun with it all
0 a listless scifi comedy in which eddie murphy deploys two guises and elaborate futuristic sets to no particularly memorable effect
0 its so badly made on every level that im actually having a hard time believing people were paid to make it
2 twist open the ouzo
0 sewer rats could watch this movie and be so skeeved out that theyd need a shower
4 a hugely rewarding experience thats every bit as enlightening insightful and entertaining as grants two best films four weddings and a funeral and bridget joness diary
3 the film jolts the laughs from the audience as if by cattle prod
2 with rare birds as with the shipping news before it an attempt is made to transplant a hollywood star into newfoundlands wild soil and the rock once again resists the intrusion
4 what makes this film special is serrys ability to take what is essentially a contained family conflict and put it into a much larger historical context
3 its a setup so easy it borders on facile but keeping the film from cheapshot mediocrity is its crack cast
1 if swimfan does catch on it may be because teens are looking for something to make them laugh
3 a hard look at one mans occupational angst and its subsequent reinvention a terrifying study of bourgeois desperation worthy of claude chabrol
2 granddad of le nouvelle vague jeanluc godard continues to baffle the faithful with his games of hideandseek
2 like an episode of mtvs undressed with 20 times the creativity but without any more substance indulgently entertaining but could have and should have been deeper
0 a grand fart coming from a director beginning to resemble someones crazy french grandfather
2 jackson tries to keep the plates spinning as best he can but all the bouncing back and forth ca nt help but become a bit tedious even with the breathtaking landscapes and villainous varmints there to distract you from the ricocheting
1 like a mediumgrade network sitcom mostly inoffensive fitfully amusing but ultimately so weightless that a decent draft in the auditorium might blow it off the screen
4 a film in a class with spike lees masterful do the right thing
1 is it possible for a documentary to be utterly entranced by its subject and still show virtually no understanding of it
3 scotland looks wonderful the fans are often funny fanatics the showdown sure beats a bad day of golf
3 has a whipsmart sense of narrative bluffs
3 a solidly entertaining little film
3 films about loss grief and recovery are pretty valuable these days
0 i found it slow predictable and not very amusing
4 by turns touching raucously amusing uncomfortable and yes even sexy never again is a welcome and heartwarming addition to the romantic comedy genre
3 there are deeply religious and spiritual people in this world who would argue that entering a church synagogue or temple does nt mean you have to check your brain at the door
3 out ballsy and stylish
2 hardman is a grating mannered onscreen presence which is especially unfortunate in light of the fine work done by most of the rest of her cast
3 an undeniably gorgeous terminally smitten document of a troubadour his acolytes and the triumph of his band
1 the attempt to complicate the story only defies credibility
0 if youre over 25 have an iq over 90 and have a drivers license you should be able to find better entertainment
1 the film was produced by jerry bruckheimer and directed by joel schumacher and reflects the worst of their shallow styles wildly overproduced inadequately motivated every step of the way and demographically targeted to please every one lrb and no one rrb
3 highlighted by a gritty style and an excellent cast its better than one might expect when you look at the list of movies starring icet in a major role
4 the film is moody oozing chilling and heartwarming all at once a twisting unpredictable catandmouse thriller
1 believability was nt one of the films virtues
4 much of all about lily chouchou is mesmerizing some of its plaintiveness could make you weep
2 mandel hollands direction is uninspired and his scripting unsurprising but the performances by phifer and black are ultimately winning
1 we do nt even like their characters
1 it is parochial accessible to a chosen few standoffish to everyone else and smugly suggests a superior moral tone is more important than filmmaking skill
3 its full of cheesy dialogue but great trashy fun that finally returns de palma to his pulpy thrillers of the early80s
1 its bedeviled by labored writing and slack direction
0 comes off as a long laborious whine the bellyaching of a paranoid and unlikable man
2 there has to be a few advantages to never growing old
3 an often watchable though goofy and lurid blast of a costume drama set in the late 15th century
3 for his first attempt at film noir spielberg presents a fascinating but flawed look at the near future
4 every moment crackles with tension and by the end of the flick youre on the edge of your seat
3 k19 will not go down in the annals of cinema as one of the great submarine stories but it is an engaging and exciting narrative of man confronting the demons of his own fear and paranoia
3 angel presents events partly from the perspective of aurelie and christelle and infuses the film with the sensibility of a particularly nightmarish fairytale
1 guys say mean things and shoot a lot of bullets
4 like blended shades of lipstick these components combine into one terrific story with lots of laughs
1 solondz may be convinced that he has something significant to say but he is nt talking a talk that appeals to me
2 the obligatory breakups and hookups do nt seem to have much emotional impact on the characters
3 it may work as a jaunt down memory lane for teens and young adults who grew up on televised scoobydoo shows or reruns
1 could as easily have been called under siege 3 in alcatraz a cinematic corpse that never springs to life
4 whatever one makes of its political edge this is beautiful filmmaking from one of french cinemas master craftsmen
3 much of it is funny but there are also some startling surrealistic moments
0 has all the scenic appeal of a cesspool
3 works its thanks to hustons revelatory performance
1 whats worse is that pelosi knows it
1 told in scattered fashion the movie only intermittently lives up to the stories and faces and music of the men who are its subject
1 the mothman prophecies which is mostly a bore seems to exist only for its climactic setpiece
3 the action sequences are fun and reminiscent of combat scenes from the star wars series
2 an easy watch except for the annoying demeanour of its lead character
3 a bittersweet drama about the limbo of grief and how truthtelling can open the door to liberation
4 ferraras strongest and most touching movie of recent years
3 crudups screen presence is the one thing that holds interest in the midst of a mushy existential exploration of why men leave their families
3 hardly a film that comes along every day
3 by the end of the movie youre definitely convinced that these women are spectacular
2 your appreciation of it will depend on what experiences you bring to it and what associations you choose to make
1 here common sense flies out the window along with the hail of bullets none of which ever seem to hit sascha
1 to get at the root psychology of this film would require many sessions on the couch of dr freud
3 not a film for the faint of heart or conservative of spirit but for the rest of us especially san francisco lovers its a spirited film and a mustsee
3 its hard to quibble with a flick boasting this many genuine cackles but notorious cho still feels like a promising workinprogress
1 onesided documentary offers simplistic explanations to a very complex situation
3 all in all an interesting look at the life of the campaigntrail press especially ones that do nt really care for the candidate theyre forced to follow
3 hugh grants act is so consuming that sometimes its difficult to tell who the other actors in the movie are
3 although frailty fits into a classic genre in its script and execution it is a remarkably original work
0 brisk hack job
3 malcolm mcdowell is cool
2 your taste for jonah a veggie tales movie may well depend on your threshold for pop manifestations of the holy spirit
4 an exhilarating experience
2 both overstuffed and undernourished the film ca nt be called a solid success although theres plenty of evidence here to indicate clooney might have better luck next time
2 myers has turned his franchise into the movie version of an adolescent dirtyjoke book done up in posttarantino popculture riffs
2 especially compared with the television series that inspired the movie
3 more of the same from taiwanese auteur tsai mingliang which is good news to anyone whos fallen under the sweet melancholy spell of this unique directors previous films
3 worth seeing just for weaver and lapaglia
0 this 90minute dud could pass for mike tysons e
1 but mainstream audiences will find little of interest in this film which is often preachy and poorly acted
2 with miscast leads banal dialogue and an absurdly overblown climax killing me softly belongs firmly in the sobadits good camp
3 an encouraging effort from mccrudden
4 watching these eccentrics is both inspiring and pure joy
0 suffers from a lack of clarity and audacity that a subject as monstrous and pathetic as dahmer demands
1 it has the air of a surprisingly juvenile lark a popinfluenced prank whose charms are immediately apparent and wear thin with repetition
4 transcends its agenda to deliver aweinspiring at times sublime visuals and offer a fascinating glimpse into the subculture of extreme athletes whose derringdo puts the x into the games
3 the people in jessica are so recognizable and true that as in real life were never sure how things will work out
2 thanks to ice cube benjamins feels an awful lot like friday in miami
3 the work of a filmmaker who has secrets buried at the heart of his story and knows how to take time revealing them
1 its a lot to ask people to sit still for two hours and change watching such a character especially when rendered in as flat and impassive a manner as phoenixs
3 while broomfields film does nt capture the effect of these tragic deaths on hiphop culture it succeeds as a powerful look at a failure of our justice system
1 when it comes to the battle of hollywood vs woo it looks like woos a pow
3 the sentimental cliches mar an otherwise excellent film
3 an extremely funny ultimately heartbreaking look at life in contemporary china
3 finally the frenchproduced read my lips is a movie that understands characters must come first
2 the movie just has too much on its plate to really stay afloat for its just under ninety minute running time
2 gaghan
2 while glover the irrepressible eccentric of rivers edge dead man and back to the future is perfect casting for the role he represents bartlebys main overall flaw
0 long before its over youll be thinking of 51 ways to leave this loser
3 according to the script grant and bullocks characters are made for each other
1 this lowrent and even lowerwit ripoff of the farrelly brothers oeuvre gets way too mushy and in a relatively short amount of time
2 the real question this movie poses is not who
3 it does give a taste of the burning man ethos an appealing blend of countercultural idealism and hedonistic creativity
4 delightfully rendered
1 lrb seagals rrb strenuous attempt at a change in expression could very well clinch him this years razzie
0 lrb a rrb crushing disappointment
1 like the excruciating end of days collateral damage presents schwarzenegger as a tragic figure but sympathy really belongs with any viewer forced to watch him try out so many complicated facial expressions
1 a battle between bugeye theatre and deadeye matinee
0 no amount of burning blasting stabbing and shooting can hide a weak script
1 not a strike against yangs similarly themed yi yi but i found what time
3 nohes documentary about the event is sympathetic without being gullible he is nt blind to the silliness but also captures moments of spontaneous creativity and authentic cooperative interaction
3 a film of ideas and wry comic mayhem
3 theres something to be said for a studioproduced film that never bothers to hand viewers a suitcase full of easy answers
1 all too familiar basically the sort of cautionary tale that was old when angels with dirty faces appeared in 1938
4 a gem of a romantic crime comedy that turns out to be clever amusing and unpredictable
1 austin powers in goldmember is a cinematic car wreck a catastrophic collision of tastelessness and gall that nevertheless will leave fans clamoring for another ride
1 even murphys expert comic timing and famed charisma ca nt rescue this effort
3 its incredible the number of stories the holocaust has generated
4 this is an interesting movie
1 the dialogue is cumbersome the simpering soundtrack and editing more so
2 yo its the days of our lives meets electric boogaloo
1 the movie is genial but never inspired and little about it will stay with you
3 that old adage about women being unknowable gets an exhilarating new interpretation in morvern callar
3 pray has really done his subject justice
1 its a shame the marvelous first 101 minutes have to be combined with the misconceived final 5
1 are we dealing with dreams visions or being told what actually happened as if it were the third ending of clue
3 as dumb and cheesy as they may be the cartoons look almost shakespearean both in depth and breadth after watching this digitaleffectsheavy supposed familyfriendly comedy
0 one of those strained caper movies thats hardly any fun to watch and begins to vaporize from your memory minutes after it ends
3 a wellputtogether piece of urban satire
1 a few zingers aside the writing is indifferent and jordan bradys direction is prosaic
3 deflated ending aside theres much to recommend the film
0 to call this film a lump of coal would only be to flatter it
4 a weird and wonderful comedy
1 wishywashy
0 hypnotically dull relentlessly downbeat laughably predictable wail pitched to the cadence of a depressed fifteenyearolds suicidal poetry
1 writerdirector stephen gaghan has made the nearfatal mistake of being what the english call too clever by half
4 a compelling prewwii drama with vivid characters and a warm moving message
2 if theres one big point to promises its that nothing can change while physical and psychological barriers keep the sides from speaking even one word to each other
0 is never quite able to overcome the cultural moat surrounding its ludicrous and contrived plot
3 savvy director robert j siegel and his cowriters keep the story subtle and us in suspense
1 the script has less spice than a rat burger and the rocks fighting skills are more in line with steven seagal
2 sensitively examines general issues of race and justice among the poor and specifically raises serious questions about the death penalty and asks what good the execution of a mentally challenged woman could possibly do
3 in the pianist polanski is saying what he has long wanted to say confronting the roots of his own preoccupations and obsessions and he allows nothing to get in the way
1 i felt trapped and with no obvious escape for the entire 100 minutes
1 the action quickly sinks into bythenumbers territory
3 some body is a shaky uncertain film that nevertheless touches a few raw nerves
3 at the end when the now computerized yoda finally reveals his martial artistry the film ascends to a kinetic life so teeming that even cranky adults may rediscover the quivering kid inside
3 rarely a movie is more than a movie
0 lacks the inspiration of the original and has a bloated plot that stretches the running time about 10 minutes past a childs interest and an adults patience
3 a strong and confident work which works so well for the first 89 minutes but ends so horrendously confusing in the final two
2 merchant has nt directed this movie so much as produced it like sausage
3 everything in maid in manhattan is exceedingly pleasant designed not to offend
3 the series message about making the right choice in the face of tempting alternatives remains prominent as do the girls amusing personalities
2 adam sandler
1 the problem is that the movie has no idea of it is serious or not
1 its just weirdness for the sake of weirdness and where human nature should be ingratiating its just grating
3 a touching sophisticated film that almost seems like a documentary in the way it captures an italian immigrant family on the brink of major changes
4 spectacularly beautiful not to mention mysterious sensual emotionally intense and replete with virtuoso throatsinging
0 thoroughly awful
2 despite hoffmans best efforts wilson remains a silent lumpish cipher his encounters reveal nothing about who he is or who he was before
3 a summer entertainment adults can see without feeling embarrassed but it could have been more
3 intimate and panoramic
4 these people are really going to love the piano teacher
4 the sum of all fears is simply a wellmade and satisfying thriller
3 it is philosophy illustrated through everyday events
1 another useless recycling of a brutal mid 70s american sports movie
2 a plodding look at the french revolution through the eyes of aristocrats
2 alis graduation from little screen to big is far less painful than his opening scene encounter with an overamorous terrier
4 there is a welcome lack of pretension about the film which very simply sets out to entertain and ends up delivering in good measure
1 could this be the first major studio production shot on video tape instead of film
2 ice age posits a heretofore unfathomable question is it possible for computergenerated characters to go through the motions
2 walsh ca nt quite negotiate the many inconsistencies in janices behavior or compensate for them by sheer force of charm
3 the screenplay never lets us forget that bourne was once an amoral assassin just like the ones who are pursuing him there is never really a true us versus them
3 theres real visual charge to the filmmaking and a strong erotic spark to the most crucial lipreading sequence
0 does nt add up to much
0 please someone stop eric schaeffer before he makes another film
3 tsai mingliangs witty wistful new film what time is it there
4 a lively and engaging examination of how similar obsessions can dominate a family
4 with each of her three protagonists miller eloquently captures the moment when a womans life out of a deepseated emotional need is about to turn onto a different path
2 i did nt think so
4 there are nt too many films that can be as simultaneously funny offbeat and heartwarming lrb without a thick shmear of the goo at least rrb but elling manages to do all three quite well making it one of the years most enjoyable releases
1 and in a sense thats a liability
4 both heartbreaking and heartwarming just a simple fable done in an artless sytle but its tremendously moving
3 its unlikely well see a better thriller this year
3 deliberately and devotedly constructed far from heaven is too picture postcard perfect too neat and new pinlike too obviously a recreation to resonate
1 the trouble is its filmmakers run out of clever ideas and visual gags about halfway through
1 its just plain lurid when it is nt downright silly
0 director hoffman his writer and klines agent should serve detention
2 nor is it a romantic comedy
3 lrb jeffs rrb gorgeous fluid compositions underlined by neil finn and edmund mcwilliamss melancholy music are charged with metaphor but rarely easy obvious or selfindulgent
3 whereas oliver stones conspiracy thriller jfk was long intricate starstudded and visually flashy interview with the assassin draws its considerable power from simplicity
0 i can analyze this movie in three words thumbs friggin down
1 its all arty and jazzy and people sit and stare and turn away from one another instead of talking and its all about the silences and if youre into that have at it
1 the featurelength stretch strains the shows concept
0 the most surprising thing about this film is that they are actually releasing it into theaters
3 the film has the highbuffed gloss and highoctane jolts you expect of de palma but what makes it transporting is that its also one of the smartest most pleasurable expressions of pure movie love to come from an american director in years
1 a mess
2 a dopey movie clothed in excess layers of hipness
3 standing by yourself is haunting lrb its rrb what punk rock music used to be and what the video medium could use more of spirit perception conviction
2 gone are the flamboyant mannerisms that are the trademark of several of his performances
0 this is surely one of the most frantic virulent and foulnatured christmas season pics ever delivered by a hollywood studio
2 its better than midrange steven seagal but not as sharp as jet li on rollerblades
1 filled with lowbrow humor gratuitous violence and a disturbing disregard for life
1 it should be interesting it should be poignant it turns out to be affected and boring
4 with an unflappable air of decadent urbanity everett remains a perfect wildean actor and a relaxed firth displays impeccable comic skill
2 wins my vote for the 2002 enemy of cinema award
3 the films messages of tolerance and diversity are nt particularly original but one ca nt help but be drawn in by the sympathetic characters
4 a serious movie with serious ideas
3 steers refreshingly clear of the usual cliches
1 too bad maggio could nt come up with a better script
0 about the only thing to give the movie points for is bravado to take an entirely stale concept and push it through the audiences meat grinder one more time
3 a fairly enjoyable mixture of longest yard and the 1999 guy ritchie caper lock stock and two smoking barrels
3 thoughtprovoking and stylish if also somewhat hermetic
1 i also believe that resident evil is not it
3 hashiguchi vividly captures the way young japanese live now chafing against their cultures manic mix of millennial brusqueness and undying traditional politesse
1 though its not very well shot or composed or edited the score is too insistent and the dialogue is frequently overwrought and crudely literal the film shatters you in waves
4 a lovely film elegant witty and beneath a prim exterior unabashedly romantic hugely enjoyable in its own right though not really faithful to its sources complexity
1 a movie that harps on mediaconstructed issues like whether compromise is the death of self this orgasm lrb wo nt be an rrb exceedingly memorable one for most people
4 both a successful adaptation and an enjoyable film in its own right
1 mediocre fable from burkina faso
3 a lot of the credit for the films winning tone must go to grant who has nt lost a bit of the dry humor that first made audiences on both sides of the atlantic love him
1 little action almost no suspense or believable tension onedimensional characters up the wazoo and sets that can only be described as scifi generic
1 its exactly the kind of movie tobacks detractors always accuse him of making
1 this odd distant portuguese import more or less borrows from bad lieutenant and les vampires and comes up with a kind of arthouse gay porn film
3 maryam is a small film but it offers large rewards
4 while centered on the life experiences of a particular theatrical family this marvelous documentary touches ever so gracefully on the entire history of the yiddish theater both in america and israel
1 the first mistake i suspect is casting shatner as a legendary professor and kunis as a brilliant college student wheres pauly shore as the rocket scientist
3 a faster paced family flick
4 rifkins references are impeccable throughout
4 this odd poetic road movie spiked by jolts of pop music pretty much takes place in mortons everwatchful gaze and its a tribute to the actress and to her inventive director that the journey is such a mesmerizing one
1 contains the humor characterization poignancy and intelligence of a bad sitcom
1 a movie that the less charitable might describe as a castrated cross between highlander and lolita
1 it stars schticky chris rock and stolid anthony hopkins who seem barely in the same movie
4 the film does a solid job of slowly steadily building up to the climactic burst of violence
2 same guy with both hats
3 youve already seen city by the sea under a variety of titles but its worth yet another visit
2 unfortunately neither sendak nor the directors are particularly engaging or articulate
1 its not as awful as some of the recent hollywood trip tripe but its far from a groundbreaking endeavor
4 greg kinnear gives a mesmerizing performance as a fullfledged sex addict who is in complete denial about his obsessive behavior
2 try hell house which documents the cautionary christian spookarama of the same name
1 barney throws away the goodwill the first half of his movie generates by orchestrating a finale that is impenetrable and dull
1 i could just feel the screenwriter at every moment tap tap tap tap tapping away on this screenplay
4 its engaging simplicity is driven by appealing leads
4 lan yu is a genuine love story full of traditional layers of awakening and ripening and separation and recovery
1 enough is not a bad movie just mediocre
1 were left with a story that tries to grab us only to keep letting go at all the wrong moments
0 a generic family comedy unlikely to be appreciated by anyone outside the under10 set
2 its just plain boring
1 plays like one of those conversations that comic book guy on the simpsons has
4 while parker and cowriter catherine di napoli are faithful to melvilles plotline they and a fully engaged supporting cast have made the old boys characters more quickwitted than any english lit major would have thought possible
3 the result puts a human face on derrida and makes one of the great minds of our times interesting and accessible to people who normally could nt care less
1 memorable for a peculiar malaise that renders its tension flaccid and by extension its surprises limp and its resolutions ritual
3 the bodily function jokes are about what youd expect but there are rich veins of funny stuff in this movie
2 the director and her capable cast appear to be caught in a heady whirl of new ageinspired good intentions but the spell they cast is nt the least bit mesmerizing
4 road to perdition does display greatness and its worth seeing
0 youll cry for your money back
3 the picture uses humor and a heartfelt conviction to tell a story about discovering your destination in life but also acknowledging the places and the people from whence you came
1 starts promisingly but disintegrates into a dreary humorless soap opera
2 either a fascinating study of the relationship between mothers and their children or a disturbing story about sociopaths and their marks
3 you will likely prefer to keep on watching
2 lrb garbus rrb discards the potential for pathological study exhuming instead the skewed melodrama of the circumstantial situation
2 even though it is infused with the sensibility of a video director it does nt make for completely empty entertainment
2 only in its final surprising shots does rabbitproof fence find the authority its looking for
3 a certain sexiness underlines even the dullest tangents
1 while its all quite tasteful to look at the attention process tends to do a little fleeing of its own
4 one of those rare films that seems as though it was written for no one but somehow manages to convince almost everyone that it was put on the screen just for them
1 watch barbershop again if youre in need of a cube fix this is nt worth sitting through
0 you could easily mistake it for a sketchy workinprogress that was inexplicably rushed to the megaplexes before its time
1 a sour attempt at making a farrelly brothersstyle downanddirty laugher for the female set
1 there are just too many characters saying too many clever things and getting into too many pointless situations
2 there is so much plodding sensitivity
2 but be warned you too may feel time has decided to stand still
0 hey everybody wanna watch a movie in which a guy dressed as a childrens party clown gets violently gangraped
1 all three descriptions suit evelyn a besotted and obvious drama that tells us nothing new
2 courtney chases stuart with a cell phone
3 boasts a handful of virtuosic set pieces and offers a fair amount of trashy kinky fun
4 if ever a concept came handed down from the movie gods on a silver platter this is it
3 wiseman is patient and uncompromising letting his camera observe and record the lives of women torn apart by a legacy of abuse
2 admirably ambitious but selfindulgent
3 can be viewed as pure composition and form film as music
4 skillfully weaves both the elements of the plot and a powerfully evocative mood combining heated sexuality with a haunting sense of malaise
0 the premise itself is just sooooo tired
1 as violent profane and exploitative as the most offensive action flick youve ever seen
4 one of the best movies of the year
1 any film that does nt even in passing mention political prisoners poverty and the boat loads of people who try to escape the country is less a documentary and more propaganda by way of a valentine sealed with a kiss
3 late marriage is an inyourface family drama and black comedy that is filled with raw emotions conveying despair and love
3 but it does have one saving grace
4 a firstclass thoroughly involving b movie that effectively combines two surefire beloved genres the prison flick and the fight film
1 kaufmans script is never especially clever and often is rather pretentious
3 despite a quieter middle section involving aragorns dreams of arwen this is even better than the fellowship
1 plays like an unbalanced mixture of graphic combat footage and almost saccharine domestic interludes that are pure hollywood
4 scooby doo is surely everything its fans are hoping it will be and in that sense is a movie that deserves recommendation
4 kids should have a stirring time at this beautifully drawn movie
2 recoings fantastic performance does nt exactly reveal what makes vincent tick but perhaps any definitive explanation for it would have felt like a cheat
1 it all looks and plays like a 40 million version of a game youre more likely to enjoy on a computer
1 the movie is about as deep as that sentiment
1 woo has as much right to make a huge action sequence as any director but how long will filmmakers copy the saving private ryan battle scenes before realizing steven spielberg got it right the first time
1 unfaithful cheats on itself and retreats to comfortable territory
3 high drama disneystyle a wing and a prayer and a hunky hasbeen pursuing his castle in the sky
2 works because were never sure if ohlingers on the level or merely a dying delusional man trying to get into the history books before he croaks
2 bravo reveals the true intent of her film by carefully selecting interview subjects who will construct a portrait of castro so predominantly charitable it can only be seen as propaganda
1 the very definition of what critics have come to term an ambitious failure
2 ah the travails of metropolitan life
0 no film could possibly be more contemptuous of the single female population
0 its splash without the jokes
2 despite its raucous intent xxx is as conventional as a nike ad and as rebellious as spring break
4 this is a finely written superbly acted offbeat thriller
3 if not a home run then at least a solid base hit
3 ive yet to find an actual vietnam war combat movie actually produced by either the north or south vietnamese but at least now weve got something pretty damn close
0 we never truly come to care about the main characters and whether or not theyll wind up together and micheles spiritual quest is neither amusing nor dramatic enough to sustain interest
2 youll get the enjoyable basic minimum
4 a shimmeringly lovely comingofage portrait shot in artful watery tones of blue green and brown
3 the salton sea has moments of inspired humour though every scrap is of the darkest variety
1 bears about as much resemblance to the experiences of most battered women as spiderman does to the experiences of most teenagers
1 has all the values of a straighttovideo movie but because it has a biggername cast it gets a full theatrical release
4 the soundtrack alone is worth the price of admission
3 its very beavis and butthead yet always seems to elicit a chuckle
3 connoisseurs of chinese film will be pleased to discover that tians meticulous talent has not withered during his enforced hiatus
4 lrb taymor rrb utilizes the idea of making kahlos art a living breathing part of the movie often catapulting the artist into her own work
0 this is rote spookiness with nary an original idea lrb or role or edit or score or anything really rrb in sight and the whole of the proceedings beg the question why
3 beautiful angry and sad with a curious sick poetry as if the marquis de sade had gone in for pastel landscapes
1 fluffy neonoir hiding behind cutesy film references
1 a cinematic disaster so inadvertently sidesplitting its worth the price of admission for the ridicule factor alone
2 an overwrought taiwanese soaper about three people and their mixedup relationship
1 what little grace lrb rifkins rrb tale of precarious skidrow dignity achieves is pushed into the margins by predictable plotting and tiresome histrionics
1 the locale remains far more interesting than the story at hand
4 the story is inspiring ironic and revelatory of just how ridiculous and moneyoriented the record industry really is
2 though frodos quest remains unfulfilled a hardy group of determined new zealanders has proved its creative mettle
4 brutally honest and told with humor and poignancy which makes its message resonate
3 human nature is a goofball movie in the way that malkovich was but it tries too hard
3 its rare for any movie to be as subtle and touching as the sons room
0 a lowbudget affair tadpole was shot on digital video and the images often look smeary and blurry to the point of distraction
3 the movies seams may show but pellington gives mothman an irresistibly uncanny ambience that goes a long way toward keeping the picture compelling
1 stale first act scrooge story blatant product placement some very good comedic songs strong finish dumb fart jokes
0 manipulative claptrap a periodpiece movieoftheweek plain old blarney take your pick
2 the venezuelans say things like si pretty much and por favor go home when talking to americans
1 its not original enough
3 confessions is nt always coherent but its sharply comic and surprisingly touching so hold the gong
1 an empty exercise a florid but ultimately vapid crime melodrama with lots of surface flash but little emotional resonance
3 possession based on the book by as byatt demands that labute deal with the subject of love headon trading in his cynicism for reverence and a little wit
3 terrific as nadia a russian mailorder bride who comes to america speaking not a word of english its kidman who holds the film together with a supremely kittenish performance that gradually accumulates more layers
1 morrissette has performed a difficult task indeed hes taken one of the worlds most fascinating stories and made it dull lifeless and irritating
3 probes in a lighthearted way the romantic problems of individuals for whom the yearning for passion spells discontent
1 at some point all this visual trickery stops being clever and devolves into flashy vaguely silly overkill
1 a rambling ensemble piece with loosely connected characters and plots that never quite gel
3 director alfonso cuaron gets vivid convincing performances from a fine cast and generally keeps things going at a rapid pace occasionally using an omniscient voiceover narrator in the manner of french new wave films
2 a movie that feels like the pilot episode of a new teentargeted action tv series
1 its replaced by some dramatic scenes that are jarring and deeply out of place in what could have lrb and probably should have rrb been a lighthearted comedy
3 waydowntown may not be an important movie or even a good one but it provides a nice change of mindless pace in collision with the hot oscar season currently underway
4 its a funny little movie with clever dialogue and likeable characters
1 a retread of material already thoroughly plumbed by martin scorsese
1 there is a difference between movies with the courage to go over the top and movies that do nt care about being stupid
1 barneys ideas about creation and identity do nt really seem all that profound at least by way of what can be gleaned from this threehour endurance test built around an hours worth of actual material
3 holm does his sly intricate magic and iben hjelje is entirely appealing as pumpkin
3 even with all its botches enigma offers all the pleasure of a handsome and wellmade entertainment
1 watching this film what we feel is nt mainly suspense or excitement
3 it gives devastating testimony to both peoples capacity for evil and their heroic capacity for good
4 a damn fine and a truly distinctive and a deeply pertinent film
0 if youre the kind of parent who enjoys intentionally introducing your kids to films which will cause loads of irreparable damage that years and years of costly analysis could never fix i have just one word for you decasia
3 meyjes provocative film might be called an example of the haphazardness of evil
2 observant intelligence constantly vies with pretension and sometimes plain wacky implausibility throughout maelstrom
4 this gorgeous epic is guaranteed to lift the spirits of the whole family
3 land people and narrative flow together in a stark portrait of motherhood deferred and desire explored
1 it collapses when mr taylor tries to shift the tone to a thrillers rush
3 a tone poem of transgression
0 a meanspirited film made by someone who surely read the catcher in the rye but clearly suffers from dyslexia
0 the secrets of time travel will have been discovered indulged in and rejected as boring before i see this piece of crap again
1 has all the hallmarks of a movie designed strictly for childrens home video a market so insatiable it absorbs all manner of lame entertainment as long as 3yearolds find it diverting
4 one of those terrific documentaries that collect a bunch of people who are enthusiastic about something and then figures out how to make us share their enthusiasm
2 sophisticated viewers who refuse to admit that they do nt like it will likely call it challenging to their fellow sophisticates
3 sometimes charming sometimes infuriating this argentinean dramedy succeeds mainly on the shoulders of its actors
0 the story suffers a severe case of oversimplification superficiality and silliness
3 featherweight romantic comedy has a few nice twists in a standard plot and the charisma of hugh grant and sandra bullock
1 flashy gadgets and whirling fight sequences may look cool but they ca nt distract from the flawed support structure holding equilibrium up
3 able to provide insight into a fascinating part of theater history
1 the movie straddles the fence between escapism and social commentary and on both sides it falls short
2 the story is virtually impossible to follow here but theres a certain style and wit to the dialogue
3 it reaffirms life as it looks in the face of death
1 it is a popcorn film not a mustown or even a mustsee
4 an emotionally and spiritually compelling journey seen through the right eyes with the right actors and with the kind of visual flair that shows what great cinema can really do
2 believes so fervently in humanity that it feels almost anachronistic and it is too cute by half
3 with we were soldiers hollywood makes a valiant attempt to tell a story about the vietnam war before the pathology set in
3 shyamalan offers copious hints along the way myriad signs if you will that beneath the familiar funny surface is a far bigger far more meaningful story than one in which little green men come to earth for harvesting purposes
0 partly a schmaltzy bythenumbers romantic comedy partly a shallow rumination on the emptiness of success and entirely soulless
2 with this new rollerball sense and sensibility have been overrun by what can only be characterized as robotic sentiment
4 a beautifully tooled action thriller about love and terrorism in korea
4 an escapist confection thats pure entertainment
3 one of those rare films that come by once in a while with flawless amounts of acting direction story and pace
1 what they see in each other also is difficult to fathom
1 where this was lazy but enjoyable a formula comedy redeemed by its stars that is even lazier and far less enjoyable
2 ill put it this way if youre in the mood for a melodrama narrated by talking fish this is the movie for you
2 soso entertainment
1 taken as a whole the tuxedo does nt add up to a whole lot
3 the structure is simple but in its own way rabbitproof fence is a quest story as grand as the lord of the rings
1 if oscar had a category called best bad film you thought was going to be really awful but was nt guys would probably be duking it out with the queen of the damned for the honor
4 you feel good you feel sad you feel pissed off but in the end you feel alive which is what they did
3 takashi miike keeps pushing the envelope ichi the killer
0 high crimes is a cinematic misdemeanor a routine crime thriller remarkable only for its lack of logic and misuse of two fine actors morgan freeman and ashley judd
0 rob schneiders infantile crossdressing routines fill the hot chick the latest gimmick from this unimaginative comedian
1 never does lilo stitch reach the emotion or timelessness of disneys great past or even that of more recent successes such as mulan or tarzan
1 lazily and glumly settles into a most traditional reserved kind of filmmaking
3 boasts enough funny dialogue and sharp characterizations to be mildly amusing
0 we ca nt accuse kung pow for misfiring since it is exactly what it wants to be an atrociously mindnumbingly indescribably bad movie
2 defies logic the laws of physics and almost anyones willingness to believe in it
2 enigma is the kind of engaging historical drama that hollywood appears to have given up on in favor of sentimental war movies in the vein of we were soldiers
4 an impressive hybrid
1 a movie that ca nt get sufficient distance from leroys delusions to escape their maudlin influence
0 idiotic and ugly
2 what mightve been an exhilarating exploration of an odd love triangle becomes a sprawl of uncoordinated vectors
2 it has the right approach and the right opening premise but it lacks the zest and it goes for a plot twist instead of trusting the material
3 ultimately engages less for its story of actorly existential despair than for its boundaryhopping formal innovations and glimpse into another kind of chinese cultural revolution
1 a backhanded ode to female camaraderie penned by a man who has little clue about either the nature of women or of friendship
2 bad in such a bizarre way that its almost worth seeing if only to witness the crazy confluence of purpose and taste
4 a surprisingly funny movie
2 with not a lot of help from the screenplay lrb proficient but singularly cursory rrb lrb testud rrb acts with the feral intensity of the young bette davis
3 cletis is playful but highly studied and dependent for its success on a patient viewer
3 rife with the rueful wry humor springing out of yiddish culture and language
3 two weeks notice has appeal beyond being a sandra bullock vehicle or a standard romantic comedy
2 than magnifique
2 cockettes has the glorious gaudy benefit of much stock footage of those days featuring all manner of drag queen bearded lady and lactating hippie
0 its horribly depressing and not very well done
1 the kids in the audience at the preview screening seemed bored cheering the pratfalls but little else their parents wise folks that they are read books
4 michael moores latest documentary about americas thirst for violence is his best film yet
4 one of the best rock documentaries ever
0 a terrible movie that some people will nevertheless find moving
2 this is more a case of sacre bleu
1 reggio and glass so rhapsodize cynicism with repetition and languorous slomo sequences that glasss dirgelike score becomes a fangbaring lullaby
4 with dickens words and writerdirector douglas mcgraths eventoned direction a ripping good yarn is told
1 a dramatic comedy as pleasantly dishonest and pat as any hollywood fluff
2 lets face it there are nt many reasons anyone would want to see crossroads if theyre not big fans of teen pop kitten britney spears
2 sa da tay
1 simplistic silly and tedious
3 lrb russell rrb makes good b movies lrb the mask the blob rrb and the scorpion king more than ably meets those standards
1 the movie wavers between hallmark card sentimentality and goofy lifeaffirming moments straight out of a cellular phone commercial
3 fans of the modern day hong kong action film finally have the worthy successor to a better tomorrow and the killer which they have been patiently waiting for
1 the overall feel is not unlike watching a glorified episode of 7th heaven
1 the story itself is actually quite vapid
2 this new time machine is hardly perfect yet it proves surprisingly serviceable
0 even by the intentionally low standards of fratboy humor sorority boys is a bowser
0 rather pity anyone who sees this mishmash
1 despite auteuils performance its a rather listless amble down the middle of the road where the thematic ironies are too obvious and the sexual politics too smug
2 if horses could fly this is surely what theyd look like
3 a bigbudgetallstar movie as unblinkingly pure as the hours is a distinct rarity and an event
3 a huge boxoffice hit in korea shiri is a must for genre fans
2 don michael paul uses quickcuts lrb very rrb large shadows and wideangle shots taken from a distance to hide the liberal use of a body double lrb for seagal rrb
2 its clear that mehta simply wanted to update her beloved genre for the thousands of indians who fancy themselves too sophisticated for the cheeselaced spectacles that packem in on the subcontinent
3 a wonderful ghastly film
4 as improbable as this premise may seem abbasss understated shining performance offers us the sense that on some elemental level lilia deeply wants to break free of her old life
2 instead he focuses on the anguish that can develop when one mulls leaving the familiar to traverse uncharted ground
3 a timely look back at civil disobedience antiwar movements and the power of strong voices
3 its stylishly directed with verve
4 i had a dream that a smart comedy would come along to rescue me from a summer of teendriven toilethumor codswallop and its name was earnest
3 demonstrates a vivid imagination and an impressive style that result in some terrific setpieces
3 it is a strength of a documentary to disregard available bias especially as temptingly easy as it would have been with this premise
0 the predominantly amateur cast is painful to watch so stilted and unconvincing are the performances
1 hmmm might i suggest that the wayward wooden one end it all by stuffing himself into an electric pencil sharpener
3 a pretty decent kidpleasing tolerabletoadults lark of a movie
3 a tightly directed highly professional film thats oldfashioned in all the best possible ways
4 youre not merely watching history youre engulfed by it
3 white oleander may leave you rolling your eyes in the dark but that does nt mean you wo nt like looking at it
1 bad company has one of the most moronic screenplays of the year full of holes that will be obvious even to those who are nt looking for them
1 the film does nt show enough of the creative process or even of what was created for the nonfan to figure out what makes wilco a big deal
2 a drama
2 a fastpaced glitzy but extremely silly piece
1 even if it made its original release date last fall it wouldve reeked of a beenthere donethat sameness
0 its hard to imagine acting that could be any flatter
2 im sure the filmmakers found this a remarkable and novel concept but
1 all the sensuality all the eroticism of a good vampire tale has been pardon the pun sucked out and replaced by goth goofiness
1 the events of the film are just so weird that i honestly never knew what the hell was coming next
1 the problem is that van wilder does little that is actually funny with the material
0 the yayas have many secrets and one is the books are better
1 his lrb nelsons rrb screenplay needs some serious reworking to show more of the dilemma rather than have his characters stage shouting matches about it
1 over and over again
1 this is not a jackie chan movie
2 its quite another to feel physically caught up in the process
1 but theres plenty to offend everyone
1 he thinks the film is just as much a document about him as it is about the subject
3 what emerges is an unsettling picture of childhood innocence combined with indoctrinated prejudice
3 not quite as miraculous as its dreamworks makers would have you believe but it more than adequately fills the eyes and stirs the emotions
1 this is nt a new idea
3 a tour de force drama about the astonishingly pivotal role of imagination in the soulful development of two rowdy teenagers
2 that death is merely a transition is a common tenet in the worlds religions
2 wiseman reveals the victims of domestic abuse in all of their pity and terror
0 its all surface psychodramatics
1 while scorseses bold images and generally smart casting ensure that gangs is never lethargic the movie is hindered by a central plot thats peppered with false starts and populated by characters who are nearly impossible to care about
3 amy and matthew have a bit of a phony relationship but the film works in spite of it
1 one can only assume that the jury who bestowed star hoffmans brother gordy with the waldo salt screenwriting award at 2002s sundance festival were honoring an attempt to do something different over actually pulling it off
1 an affable but undernourished romantic comedy that fails to match the freshness of the actressproducer and writers previous collaboration miss congeniality
4 a thoroughly entertaining comedy that uses grants own twist of acidity to prevent itself from succumbing to its own bathos
3 spielbergs picture is smarter and subtler than lrb total recall and blade runner rrb although its plot may prove too convoluted for funseeking summer audiences
4 chamber of secrets will find millions of eager fans
1 an instantly forgettable snowandstuntwork extravaganza that likely will be upstaged by an avalanche of more appealing holidayseason product
0 after sitting through this sloppy madeformovie comedy special it makes me wonder if lawrence hates criticism so much that he refuses to evaluate his own work
2 a chick flick for guys
3 if youve the patience there are great rewards here
3 among the many pleasures are the lively intelligence of the artists and their perceptiveness about their own situations
3 the film reminds me of a vastly improved germanic version of my big fat greek wedding with better characters some genuine quirkiness and at least a measure of style
2 harvard man is a semithrowback a reminiscence without nostalgia or sentimentality
3 diaz applegate blair and posey are suitably kooky which should appeal to women and they strip down often enough to keep men alert if not amused
0 plotless collection of moronic stunts is by far the worst movie of the year
3 it all plays out like a highend john hughes comedy a kind of elder buellers time out
0 a smug and convoluted actioncomedy that does nt allow an earnest moment to pass without reminding audiences that its only a movie
1 love liza is a festival film that would have been better off staying on the festival circuit
3 simple poignant and leavened with humor its a film that affirms the nourishing aspects of love and companionship
2 presents a good case while failing to provide a reason for us to care beyond the very basic dictums of human decency
3 this seductive tease of a thriller gets the job done
4 the movie is ingenious fun
2 noyce creates a film of nearhypnotic physical beauty even as he tells a story as horrifying as any in the heartbreakingly extensive annals of whiteonblack racism
2 its a fanboy what if
4 melds derivative elements into something that is often quite rich and exciting and always a beauty to behold
0 as plain and pedestrian as catsup
2 like a child with an important message to tell lrb skins rrb faults are easy to forgive because the intentions are lofty
0 it is nt that stealing harvard is a horrible movie if only it were that grand a failure
1 when your subject is illusion versus reality should nt the reality seem at least passably real
0 this is the kind of movie that gets a quick release before real contenders arrive in september
4 for devotees of french cinema safe conduct is so rich with period minutiae its like dying and going to celluloid heaven
2 you can see the wouldbe surprises coming a mile away and the execution of these twists is delivered with a hammer
1 if only merchant paid more attention the story
3 as the princess sorvino glides gracefully from male persona to female without missing a beat
1 the things this movie tries to get the audience to buy just wo nt fly with most intelligent viewers
3 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 its a brilliant honest performance by nicholson but the film is an agonizing bore except when the fantastic kathy bates turns up
2 cynical and serious look at teenage boys doing what they do best being teenagers
1 this is for the most part a useless movie even with a great director at the helm
0 mr deeds is not really a film as much as it is a loose collection of notsofunny gags scattered moments of lazy humor
4 secretary manages a neat trick bundling the flowers of perversity comedy and romance into a strangely tempting bouquet of a movie
0 its dull spiritless silly and monotonous an ultraloud blast of pointless mayhem going nowhere fast
2 yet another weepy southern boreathon
2 its actually pretty funny but in all the wrong places
0 madonna has made herself over so often now theres apparently nothing left to work with sort of like michael jacksons nose
1 bottomrung new jack city wannabe
3 there is a general air of exuberance in all about the benjamins thats hard to resist
3 there is a certain sense of experimentation and improvisation to this film that may not always work but it is nevertheless compelling
2 the film is a masterpiece of nuance and characterization marred only by an inexplicable utterly distracting blunder at the very end
3 playfully profound and crazier than michael jackson on the top floor of a skyscraper nursery surrounded by open windows
3 lrb goslings rrb combination of explosive physical energy and convincing intelligence helps create a complex unpredictable character
4 both a beautifully made nature film and a tribute to a woman whose passion for this region and its inhabitants still shines in her quiet blue eyes
3 dense exhilarating documentary
0 not even steven spielberg has dreamed up such blatant and sickening product placement in a movie
1 as it stands crocodile hunter has the hurried badly cobbled look of the 1959 godzilla which combined scenes of a japanese monster flick with canned shots of raymond burr commenting on the monsters path of destruction
0 those of you who are not an eighth grade girl will most likely doze off during this one
0 is that its a crime movie made by someone who obviously knows nothing about crime
3 the movie despite its rough edges and a tendency to sag in certain places is wry and engrossing
1 a noble failure
0 becomes a bit of a mishmash a tearjerker that does nt and a thriller that wo nt
3 as exmarine walter who may or may not have shot kennedy actor raymond j barry is perfectly creepy and believable
2 its not a bad plot but unfortunately the movie is nowhere near as refined as all the classic dramas it borrows from
1 until its final minutes this is a perceptive study of two families in crisis and of two girls whose friendship is severely tested by bad luck and their own immaturity
3 i liked a lot of the smaller scenes
3 beautifully reclaiming the story of carmen and recreating it an in an african idiom
0 but rather how can you charge money for this
3 what could have been a daytime soap opera is actually a compelling look at a young womans tragic odyssey
1 for a film about action ultimate x is the gabbiest giantscreen movie ever bogging down in a barrage of hype
0 no one involved save dash shows the slightest aptitude for acting and the script credited to director abdul malik abbott and ernest tron anderson seems entirely improvised
4 insanely hilarious
0 there is no psychology here and no real narrative logic just a series of carefully choreographed atrocities which become strangely impersonal and abstract
2 the ending does nt work but most of the movie works so well im almost recommending it anyway maybe not to everybody but certainly to people with a curiosity about how a movie can go very right and then step wrong
0 the cumulative effect of watching this 65minute trifle is rather like being trapped while some weird relative trots out the video he took of the family vacation to stonehenge
1 a waterlogged version of fatal attraction for the teenybopper set a sad soggy potboiler that wastes the talents of its attractive young leads
2 indeed none of these words really gets at the very special type of badness that is deuces wild
0 completely creatively stillborn and executed in a manner that im not sure could be a single iota worse a soulless hunk of exploitative garbage
3 there are nt many conclusive answers in the film but there is an interesting story of pointed personalities courage tragedy and the little guys vs the big guys
0 aside from the fact that the film idiotically uses the website feardotcomcom or the improperly hammy performance from poor stephen rea the film gets added disdain for the fact that it is nearly impossible to look at or understand
1 insufferably naive
1 animated drivel meant to enhance the selfimage of drooling idiots
4 the performances are remarkable
0 tries so hard to be quirky and funny that the strain is all too evident
2 it may play well as a double feature with mainstream foreign mush like my big fat greek wedding
0 lrb creates rrb the worst kind of mythologizing the kind that sacrifices real heroism and abject suffering for melodrama
3 the wonderfully lush morvern callar is pure punk existentialism and ms ramsay and her cowriter liana dognini have dramatized the alan warner novel which itself felt like an answer to irvine welshs book trainspotting
1 too bad writerdirector adam rifkin situates it all in a plot as musty as one of the golden eagles carpets
4 a smart sassy and exceptionally charming romantic comedy
1 yet another iteration of whats become one of the movies creepiest conventions in which the developmentally disabled are portrayed with almost supernatural powers to humble teach and ultimately redeem their mentally superior friends family
1 a droll bitchy frolic which pokes fun at the price of popularity and smalltown pretension in the lone star state
1 these selfstyled athletes have banged their brains into the ground so frequently and furiously their capacity to explain themselves has gone the same way as their natural instinct for selfpreservation
1 no amount of good acting is enough to save oleanders uninspired story
0 no amount of nostalgia for carveys glory days can disguise the fact that the new film is a lame kiddie flick and that carveys considerable talents are wasted in it
0 pays tribute to heroes the way julia roberts hands out awards with phony humility barely camouflaging grotesque narcissism
1 more likely to have you scratching your head than hiding under your seat
3 the beauty of the piece is that it counts heart as important as humor
2 this is not a retread of dead poets society
2 pumpkin struts about with courage pinned to its huckster lapel while a yellow streak a mile wide decorates its back
3 a directorial tour de force by bernard rose ivans xtc
2 may be the most undeserving victim of critical overkill since town and country
1 a straightahead thriller that never rises above superficiality
4 it tends to remind one of a really solid woody allen film with its excellent use of new york locales and sharp writing
2 films are made of little moments
2 in a strange way egoyan has done too much
3 wise and deadpan humorous
1 instead of panoramic sweep kapur gives us episodic choppiness undermining the storys emotional thrust
0 its too interested in jerking off in all its byzantine incarnations to bother pleasuring its audience
4 the film is a hoot and is just as good if not better than much of whats on saturday morning tv especially the pseudoeducational stuff we all ca nt stand
3 whats the russian word for wow
2 pascale baillys romcom
2 a very pretty afterschool special
3 catch it if you can
3 this reallife hollywood fairytale is more engaging than the usual fantasies hollywood produces
3 it is scotts convincing portrayal of roger the sad cad that really gives the film its oomph
1 shallow
3 screenwriter dan schneider and director shawn levy substitute volume and primary colors for humor and bite
3 a film that will enthrall the whole family
0 true to its animatronic roots as stiff ponderous and charmless as a mechanical apparatus the country bears should never have been brought out of hibernation
1 the filmmakers are playing to the big boys in new york and la to that end they mock the kind of folks they do nt understand ones they figure the powerlunchers do nt care to understand either
0 the biggest problem with roger avarys uproar against the mpaa is that even in all its directors cut glory hes made a film thats barely shocking barely interesting and most of all barely anything
1 lrb t rrb oo many of these gross out scenes
4 its a headturner thoughtfully written beautifully read and finally deeply humanizing
3 to others it will remind them that hong kong action cinema is still alive and kicking
4 a poignant comedy that offers food for thought
2 about as original as a gangster sweating bullets while worrying about a contract on his life
1 its weighty themes are too grave for youngsters but the story is too steeped in fairy tales and other childish things to appeal much to teenagers
3 while the storys undeniably hard to follow iwais gorgeous visuals seduce
4 extraordinary debut from josh koury
2 smothered by its own solemnity
3 even if it pushes its agenda too forcefully this remains a film about something one that attempts and often achieves a level of connection and concern
1 writerdirector walter hill and cowriter david giler try to create characters out of the obvious cliches but wind up using them as punching bags
4 secret ballot is a funny puzzling movie ambiguous enough to be engaging and oddly moving
0 its as sorry a mess as its directors diabolical debut mad cows
1 while this film has an a list cast and some strong supporting players the tale like its central figure vivi is just a little bit hard to love
1 as for children they wo nt enjoy the movie at all
4 its no lie big fat liar is a real charmer
4 a witty lowkey romantic comedy
2 streamlined to a tight brisk 85minute screwball thriller big trouble is funny harmless and as substantial as a tub of popcorn with extra butter
1 death might be a release
3 spirit is a visual treat and it takes chances that are bold by studio standards but it lacks a strong narrative
0 if you go pack your knitting needles
3 implicitly acknowledges and celebrates the glorious chicanery and selfdelusion of this most american of businesses and for that reason it may be the most oddly honest hollywood document of all
3 much of the lady and the duke is about quiet decisive moments between members of the cultural elite as they determine how to proceed as the world implodes
3 the movie is pretty funny now and then without in any way demeaning its subjects
1 a movie thats held captive by mediocrity
4 its a treat a delightful witty improbable romantic comedy with a zippy jazzy score grant and bullock make it look as though they are having so much fun
2 whereas the extremely competent hitman films such as pulp fiction and get shorty resonate a sardonic verve to their caustic purpose for existing who is cletis tout
3 its probably worth catching solely on its visual merits
2 bartletts hero remains a reactive cipher when opening the mans head and heart is the only imaginable reason for the film to be made
1 you may think you have figured out the con and the players in this debut film by argentine director fabian bielinsky but while you were thinking someone made off with your wallet
3 a sharp and quick documentary that is funny and pithy while illuminating an era of theatrical comedy that while past really is nt
0 a major waste generic
1 lrb johnnie to and wai ka fai are rrb sure to find an enthusiastic audience among american actionadventure buffs but the films interests may be too narrow to attract crossover viewers
0 the movie is a dud
4 its a fun adventure movie for kids lrb of all ages rrb that like adventure
3 its the type of film about growing up that we do nt see often enough these days realistic urgent and not sugarcoated in the least
1 a great script brought down by lousy direction
1 unless you come in to the film with a skateboard under your arm youre going to feel like you were nt invited to the party
1 its so downbeat and nearly humorless that it becomes a chore to sit through despite some firstrate performances by its lead
4 no such thing is sort of a minimalist beauty and the beast but in this case the beast should definitely get top billing
1 this picture is mostly a lump of runofthemill profanity sprinkled with a few remarks so geared toward engendering audience sympathy that you might think he was running for office or trying to win over a probation officer
2 tells lrb the story rrb with such atmospheric ballast that shrugging off the plots persnickety problems is simply a matter of lrb being rrb in a shrugging mood
4 fastpaced and wonderfully edited the film is extremely thorough
4 gives everyone something to shout about
3 a showcase for both the scenic splendor of the mountains and for legendary actor michel serrault the film is less successful on other levels
1 there are few things more frustrating to a film buff than seeing an otherwise good movie marred beyond redemption by a disastrous ending
1 into how long is this movie
1 when the fire burns out weve only come facetoface with a couple dragons and thats where the film ultimately fails
1 parker updates the setting in an attempt to make the film relevant today without fully understanding what it was that made the story relevant in the first place
1 but what is missing from it all is a moral
2 ok arthouse
3 the film while not exactly assured in its execution is notable for its sheer audacity and openness
3 not only a reminder of how they used to make movies but also how they sometimes still can be made
1 true to its title it traps audiences in a series of relentlessly nasty situations that we would pay a considerable ransom not to be looking at
2 it follows the basic plot trajectory of nearly every schwarzenegger film someone crosses arnie
3 the hot topics of the plot are relegated to the background a welcome step forward from the sally jesse raphael atmosphere of films like philadelphia and american beauty
1 contrasting the original ringu with the current americanized adaptation is akin to comparing the evil dead with evil dead ii
3 there are so few films about the plight of american indians in modern america that skins comes as a welcome if downbeat missive from a forgotten front
3 director paul coxs unorthodox abstract approach to visualizing nijinskys diaries is both stimulating and demanding
3 while theres likely very little crossover appeal to those without much interest in the elizabethans lrb as well as rank frustration from those in the know about rubbos dumbeddown tactics rrb much ado about something is an amicable endeavor
3 the film is a fierce dance of destruction
1 its impossible to even categorize this as a smutty guilty pleasure
1 nothing more than a widget cranked out on an assembly line to see if stupid americans will get a kick out of goofy brits with cute accents performing agesold slapstick and unfunny tricks
3 and that makes all the difference
0 it looks like an action movie but its so poorly made on all levels that it does nt even qualify as a spoof of such
2 like being invited to a classy dinner soiree and not knowing anyone
0 what we get in feardotcom is more like something from a bad clive barker movie
1 knockaround guys plays like a student film by two guys who desperately want to be quentin tarantino when they grow up
0 the story is lacking any real emotional impact and the plot is both contrived and cliched
4 youll probably love it
0 one sloughs ones way through the mire of this alleged psychological thriller in search of purpose or even a plot
2 cynics need not apply
2 an involving inspirational drama that sometimes falls prey to its sobstory trappings
3 a sense of real magic perhaps
4 bouquet gives a performance that is masterly
1 yes spirited away is a triumph of imagination but its also a failure of storytelling
2 s face is chillingly unemotive yet he communicates a great deal in his performance
1 shrewd but pointless
3 a heady biting bebop ride through nighttime manhattan a loquacious videologue of the modern male and the lengths to which hell go to weave a protective cocoon around his own ego
2 if all of eight legged freaks was as entertaining as the final hour i would have no problem giving it an unqualified recommendation
3 a weird little movie thats amusing enough while you watch it offering fine acting moments and pungent insights into modern las showbiz and media subcultures
2 a lack of thesis makes maryam in the end play out with the intellectual and emotional impact of an afterschool special
1 a highminded snoozer
3 its better to go in knowing full well whats going to happen but willing to let the earnestness of its execution and skill of its cast take you down a familiar road with a few twists
1 a little less extreme than in the past with longer exposition sequences between them and with fewer gags to break the tedium
2 the camera twirls
3 this version does justice both to stevenson and to the scifi genre
1 a boring masquerade ball where normally good actors even kingsley are made to look bad
3 if you are into splatter movies then you will probably have a reasonably good time with the salton sea
3 theyre just a couple of cops in copmovieland these two but in narc they find new routes through a familiar neighborhood
0 hate it because its lousy
3 nicks refuses to let slackers be seen as just another teen movie which means he can be forgiven for frequently pandering to fans of the grossout comedy
4 director lee has a true cinematic knack but its also nice to see a movie with its heart so thoroughly unabashedly on its sleeve
0 a movie that quite simply should nt have been made
3 style crosscountry adventure it has sporadic bursts of liveliness some soso slapstick and a few earpleasing songs on its soundtrack
1 howard and his costars all give committed performances but theyre often undone by howards selfconscious attempts to find a literary filmmaking style to match his subject
3 the film has the uncanny ability to right itself precisely when you think its in danger of going wrong
4 an enjoyably frothy date movie
3 certainly an entertaining ride despite many talky slow scenes
4 a series of tales told with the intricate preciseness of the best short story writing
4 its a wonderful sobering heartfelt drama
3 the cast collectively a successful example of the lovableloser protagonist shows deft comic timing
1 its plot and animation offer daytime tv serviceability but little more
1 on the evidence before us the answer is clear not easily and in the end not well enough
2 it is not what you see it is what you think you see
3 canadas arctic light shines bright on this frozen tundra soap opera that breathes extraordinary life into the private existence of the inuit people
0 several uninteresting unlikeable people do bad things to and with each other in unfaithful
1 plays like the old diseaseoftheweek smallscreen melodramas
3 alternating between facetious comic parody and pulp melodrama this smartaleck movie tosses around some intriguing questions about the difference between human and android life
1 if i want a real movie ill buy the criterion dvd
3 a deliberative account of a lifestyle characterized by its surfaceobsession one that typifies the delirium of post pre and extant stardom
4 lux now in her eighties does a great combination act as narrator jewish grandmother and subject taking us through a film that is part biography part entertainment and part history
1 video games are more involving than this mess
3 features finchers characteristically startling visual style and an almost palpable sense of intensity
1 none of the characters or plotlines are fleshedout enough to build any interest
1 otherwise this could be a passable date film
2 are monsters born or made
1 all of the elements are in place for a great film noir but director george hickenloopers approach to the material is too upbeat
3 a little melodramatic but with enough hope to keep you engaged
2 generic slashermovie nonsense but its not without style
3 a superlative b movie funny sexy and rousing
2 it did nt go straight to video
0 the misery of these people becomes just another voyeuristic spectacle to be consumed and forgotten
1 aan opportunity wasted
0 this stuck pig of a movie flails limply between bizarre comedy and pallid horror
1 it is bad but certainly not without merit as entertainment
4 one of the most original american productions this year youll find yourself remembering this refreshing visit to a sunshine state
1 a bland animated sequel that hardly seems worth the effort
1 maybe leblanc thought hey the movie about the baseballplaying monkey was worse
3 from its invitingly upbeat overture to its pathosfilled but ultimately lifeaffirming finale martin is a masterfully conducted work
3 poignant japanese epic about adolescent anomie and heartbreak
3 great fun both for sports aficionados and for ordinary louts whose idea of exercise is climbing the steps of a stadiumseat megaplex
1 an excruciating demonstration of the unsalvageability of a movie saddled with an amateurish screenplay
1 trying to make head or tail of the story in the hiphop indie snipes is enough to give you brain strain and the payoff is negligible
1 it reduces the complexities to bromides and slogans and it gets so preachykeen and so tubthumpingly loud it makes you feel like a chump just for sitting through it
3 uneven selfconscious but often hilarious spoof
1 feeble comedy
4 many a parent and their teen lrb or preteen rrb kid could bond while watching a walk to remember
2 a jewish ww ii doc that is nt trying simply to outshock outoutrage or outdepress its potential audience
4 its no surprise that as a director washington demands and receives excellent performances from himself and from newcomer derek luke
3 austin powers for the most part is extremely funny the first part making up for any flaws that come later
2 a collage
3 psychologically revealing
1 serving sara should be served an eviction notice at every theater stuck with it
1 expands the horizons of boredom to the point of collapse turning into a black hole of dullness from which no interesting concept can escape
3 all three women deliver remarkable performances
3 leigh makes these lives count
3 this is a nicely handled affair a film about human darkness but etched with a light lrb yet unsentimental rrb touch
2 meant to reduce blakes philosophy into a tragic comingofage saga punctuated by bursts of animator todd mcfarlanes superhero dystopia
1 but it also comes with the laziness and arrogance of a thing that already knows its won
3 whats really so appealing about the characters is their resemblance to everyday children
2 will be far more interesting to the soderbergh faithful than it will be to the casual moviegoer who might be lured in by julia roberts
1 a bore that tends to hammer home every one of its points
0 an airless prepackaged julia roberts wannabe that stinks so badly of hardsell imagemongering youll wonder if lopezs publicist should share screenwriting credit
3 it is quite a vision
4 i like this movie a lot
3 an oldfashioned drama of substance about a teachers slide down the slippery slope of dishonesty after an encounter with the rich and the powerful who have nothing but disdain for virtue
0 an ugly pointless stupid movie
2 ritchie may not have a novel thought in his head but he knows how to pose madonna
3 manages to delight without much of a story
1 the histrionic muse still eludes madonna and playing a charmless witch she is merely a charmless witch
3 if youre down for a silly hackandslash flick you can do no wrong with jason x
2 if you thought tom hanks was just an ordinary bigscreen star wait until youve seen him eight stories tall
0 her fans walked out muttering words like horrible and terrible but had so much fun dissing the film that they did nt mind the ticket cost
3 bluto blutarsky we miss you
2 you should pay nine bucks for this because you can hear about suffering afghan refugees on the news and still be unaffected
2 eric bylers nuanced pic avoids easy sentiments and explanations
3 while obviously aimed at kids the country bears should keep parents amused with its low groantoguffaw ratio
1 wildly incompetent but brilliantly named half past dead or for seagal pessimists totally past his prime
1 most fish stories are a little peculiar but this is one that should be thrown back in the river
3 you may leave the theater with more questions than answers but darned if your toes wo nt still be tapping
3 while it has definite weaknesses like a rather unbelievable love interest and a meandering ending this60s caper film is a riveting brisk delight
0 theres no disguising this as one of the worst films of the summer
3 coy but exhilarating with really solid performances by ving rhames and wesley snipes
1 nijinsky says i know how to suffer and if you see this film youll know too
2 there ai nt a lot more painful than an unfunny movie that thinks its hilarious
3 no worse a film than breaking out and breaking out was utterly charming
2 maid in manhattan might not look so appealing on third or fourth viewing down the road but as a high concept vehicle for two bright stars of the moment who can rise to fans lofty expectations the movie passes inspection
3 whether or not you buy mr broomfields findings the film acquires an undeniable entertainment value as the slight pale mr broomfield continues to force himself on people and into situations that would make lesser men run for cover
4 third times the charm yeah baby
3 quietly engaging
0 it all unfolds predictably and the adventures that happen along the way seem repetitive and designed to fill time providing no real sense of suspense
2 sometimes this modest little number clicks and sometimes it does nt
4 its always enthralling
1 yet why it fails is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma
4 morvern callar confirms lynne ramsay as an important original talent in international cinema
1 if only it had the story to match
2 to be more engaging on an emotional level funnier and on the whole less detached
1 about gays in what is essentially an extended soap opera
0 its possible that something hip and transgressive was being attempted here that stubbornly refused to gel but the result is more puzzling than unsettling
3 slow and ponderous but rohmers drama builds to an intense indoor drama about compassion sacrifice and christian love in the face of political corruption
2 the turntable is now outselling the electric guitar
3 strip it of all its excess debris and youd have a 90minute fourstar movie
1 sadly as blood work proves that was a long long time ago
1 like showgirls and glitter the most entertaining moments here are unintentional
3 the footage of the rappers at play and the prison interview with suge knight are just two of the elements that will grab you
3 some body will take you places you have nt been and also places you have
0 the director with his fake backdrops and stately pacing never settles on a consistent tone
3 a little uneven to be the cats meow but its good enough to be the purr
1 like its script which nurses plot holes gaping enough to pilot an entire olympic swim team through the characters in swimfan seem motivated by nothing short of dull braindeadening hangover
1 its surprisingly bland despite the heavy doses of weird performances and direction
1 disreputable doings and exquisite trappings are dampened by a lackluster script and substandard performances
1 an unencouraging threefold expansion on the former mtv series accompanying the stunthungry dimwits in a random series of collected gags pranks pratfalls dares injuries etc
1 this is a movie that starts out like heathers then becomes bring it on then becomes unwatchable
2 director chris eyre is going through the paces again with his usual high melodramatic style of filmmaking
3 the observations of this socialeconomicurban environment are canny and spiced with irony
0 suffers from overfamiliarity since hithungry british filmmakers have stripmined the monty formula mercilessly since 1997
3 generates an enormous feeling of empathy for its characters
2 its all about the image
0 sheridan is painfully bad a fourthrate jim carrey who does nt understand the difference between dumb fun and just plain dumb
4 eric schweig and graham greene both exude an air of dignity thats perfect for the proud warrior that still lingers in the souls of these characters
3 amidst the action the script carries arnold lrb and the viewers rrb into the forbidden zone of sympathizing with terrorist motivations by presenting the other side of the story
2 i would be shocked if there was actually one correct interpretation but that should nt make the movie or the discussion any less enjoyable
0 the film feels formulaic its plot and pacing typical hollywood warmovie stuff while the performances elicit more of a sense of deja vu than awe
3 one of the smarter offerings the horror genre has produced in recent memory even if its far tamer than advertised
0 the issues are presented in such a lousy way complete with some of the years lrb unintentionally rrb funniest moments that its impossible to care
3 a funny film
4 sayles has a knack for casting often resurrecting performers who rarely work in movies now and drawing flavorful performances from bland actors
2 the photographers showdon ttell stance is admirable but it can make him a problematic documentary subject
2 it is a testament of quiet endurance of common concern of reconciled survival
3 if youre in the right bmovie frame of mind it may just scare the pants off you
3 despite its shortcomings girls ca nt swim represents an engaging and intimate first feature by a talented director to watch and its a worthy entry in the french comingofage genre
2 weiss and speck never make a convincing case for the relevance of these two 20thcentury footnotes
3 even before it builds up to its insanely staged ballroom scene in which 3000 actors appear in full regalia its waltzed itself into the art film pantheon
3 australia land beyond time is an enjoyable big movie primarily because australia is a weirdly beautiful place
4 even if youve seen stomp lrb the stage show rrb you still have to see this
0 there is nothing funny in this everyjokehas beentolda thousandtimes before movie
2 but if youve paid a matinee price and bought a big tub of popcorn theres guilty fun to be had here
3 that works
1 although visually striking and slickly staged its also cold grey antiseptic and emotionally desiccated
2 a highly personal look at the effects of living a dysfunctionally privileged lifestyle and by the end we only wish we could have spent more time in its world
4 overall cletis tout is a winning comedy that excites the imagination and tickles the funny bone
0 rollerball is as bad as you think and worse than you can imagine
4 may prove to be lrb tsais rrb masterpiece
1 donovan squanders his main asset jackie chan and fumbles the vital action sequences
2 dense and enigmatic elusive stagy and stilted
2 if the movie were all comedy it might work better
3 may lack the pungent bite of its title but its an enjoyable trifle nonetheless
2 there are problems with this film that even 3 oscar winners ca nt overcome but its a nice girlbuddy movie once it gets rocknrolling
3 rodriguez does a splendid job of racial profiling hollywood style casting excellent latin actors of all ages a trend long overdue
2 would nt it be funny if a bunch of allied soldiers went undercover as women in a german factory during world war ii
3 interesting both as a historical study and as a tragic love story
2 clayburgh and tambor are charming performers neither of them deserves eric schaeffer
1 one key problem with these ardently christian storylines is that there is never any question of how things will turn out
0 its so devoid of joy and energy it makes even jason x look positively shakesperean by comparison
1 the darker elements of misogyny and unprovoked violence suffocate the illumination created by the two daughters and the sparse instances of humor meant to shine through the gloomy film noir veil
1 predictably melodramatic
3 tends to pile too many serious issues on its plate at times yet remains fairly light always entertaining and smartly written
4 a marvel of production design
4 nicole holofceners lovely and amazing from her own screenplay jumps to the head of the class of womens films that manage to avoid the ghetto of sentimental chickflicks by treating female follies with a satirical style
2 but something seems to be missing
1 the connected stories of breitbart and hanussen are actually fascinating but the filmmaking in invincible is such that the movie does not do them justice
0 i have returned from the beyond to warn you this movie is 90 minutes long and life is too short
0 although the sequel has all the outward elements of the original the first films lovely flakiness is gone replaced by the forced funniness found in the dullest kiddie flicks
4 ozpeteks effort has the scope and shape of an especially wellexecuted television movie
1 less a study in madness or love than a study in schoolgirl obsession
0 really horrible drek
2 its not particularly subtle however it still manages to build to a terrifying if obvious conclusion
3 a terrific insider look at the starmaking machinery of tinseltown
3 the complex politically charged tapestry of contemporary chinese life this exciting new filmmaker has brought to the screen is like nothing we westerners have seen before
1 has enough gun battles and throwaway humor to cover up the yawning chasm where the plot should be
4 filled with honest performances and exceptional detail baran is a gentle film with dramatic punch a haunting ode to humanity
3 though nijinskys words grow increasingly disturbed the film maintains a beguiling serenity and poise that make it accessible for a nonnarrative feature
0 the entire movie is so formulaic and forgettable that its hardly over before it begins to fade from memory
2 yet another movie which presumes that high school social groups are at war let alone conscious of each others existence
0 a dimwitted and lazy spinoff of the animal planet documentary series crocodile hunter is entertainment opportunism at its most glaring
1 in the nottoodistant future movies like ghost ship will be used as analgesic balm for overstimulated minds
3 its truly awful and heartbreaking subject matter but one whose lessons are well worth revisiting as many times as possible
4 a fascinating bombshell documentary that should shame americans regardless of whether or not ultimate blame finally lies with kissinger
3 and the reason for that is a selfaware often selfmocking intelligence
3 for those who are intrigued by politics of the70s the film is every bit as fascinating as it is flawed
4 could i have been more geeked when i heard that apollo 13 was going to be released in imax format
3 if the film fails to fulfill its own ambitious goals it nonetheless sustains interest during the long buildup of expository material
1 a confusing drudgery
3 it is as uncompromising as it is nonjudgmental and makes clear that a prostitute can be as lonely and needy as any of the clients
2 until lrb the rrb superfluous epilogue that leaks suspension of disbelief like a sieve die another day is as stimulating heartrateraising as any james bond thriller
2 ensemble movies like soap operas depend on empathy
4 mostly honest this somber picture reveals itself slowly intelligently artfully
3 i could nt recommend this film more
4 the problems and characters it reveals are universal and involving and the film itself as well its delightful cast is so breezy pretty and gifted it really won my heart
4 nairs cast is so large its altmanesque but she deftly spins the multiple stories in a vibrant and intoxicating fashion
3 touches smartly and wistfully on a number of themes not least the notion that the marginal members of society might benefit from a helping hand and a friendly kick in the pants
4 the artwork is spectacular and unlike most animaton from japan the characters move with grace and panache
3 it strikes hardest when it reminds you how pertinent its dynamics remain
1 mr wollter and ms seldhal give strong and convincing performances but neither reaches into the deepest recesses of the character to unearth the quaking essence of passion grief and fear
2 marinated
4 a film about female friendship that men can embrace and women will talk about for hours
1 hollywood ending just is nt very funny
2 the film may not hit as hard as some of the better drugrelated pictures but it still manages to get a few punches in
1 before it collapses into exactly the kind of buddy cop comedy it set out to lampoon anyway
3 unlike lots of hollywood fluff this has layered welldeveloped characters and some surprises
2 an unflinching look at the worlds dispossessed
1 ultimately the movie is too heady for children and too preachy for adults
1 but seriously folks it does nt work
3 too damn weird to pass up and for the blacklight crowd way cheaper lrb and better rrb than pink floyd tickets
4 sweetly sexy funny and touching
2 its got some pretentious eyerolling moments and it did nt entirely grab me but theres stuff here to like
1 a muddy psychological thriller rife with miscalculations
2 de niro cries
1 a domestic melodrama with weak dialogue and biopic cliches
3 its a rare window on an artistic collaboration
0 may cause you to bite your tongue to keep from laughing at the ridiculous dialog or the ohso convenient plot twists
2 its a 100year old mystery that is constantly being interrupted by elizabeth hurley in a bathing suit
4 peppered with witty dialogue and inventive moments
1 so aggressively cheery that pollyana would reach for a barf bag
1 lrb t rrb he film is never sure to make a clear point even if it seeks to rely on an ambiguous presentation
1 the cinematic equivalent of patronizing a bar favored by pretentious untalented artistes who enjoy moaning about their cruel fate
1 seems content to dogpaddle in the mediocre end of the pool and its a sad sick sight
3 holland lets things peter out midway but its notably better acted and far less crass than some other recent efforts in the burgeoning genre of films about black urban professionals
2 little more than a wellacted television melodrama shot for the big screen
1 with elements cribbed from langs metropolis welles kane and eisensteins potemkin
2 sometimes this blood seems as tired as its protagonist still the pulse never disappears entirely and the picture crosses the finish line winded but still game
2 its been made with an innocent yet fervid conviction that our hollywood has all but lost
3 though the aboriginal aspect lends the ending an extraordinary poignancy and the story itself could be played out in any working class community in the nation
3 a tour de force of modern cinema
1 murder by numbers just does nt add up
2 the implication is kissinger may have decided that when it comes to truncheoning its better to give than to receive
4 brings together some of the biggest names in japanese anime with impressive results
1 its so tedious that it makes you forgive every fake dishonest entertaining and ultimately more perceptive moment in bridget joness diary
3 offers a persuasive look at a defeated but defiant nation in flux
1 with the exception of mccoist the players do nt have a clue on the park
1 opening up the play more has partly closed it down
2 what it lacks in originality it makes up for in effective if cheap moments of fright and dread
4 spellbinding fun and deliciously exploitative
1 he fails
0 the problem with antwone fisher is that it has a screenplay written by antwone fisher based on the book by antwone fisher
1 can be as tiresome as 9 seconds of jesse helms anti castro rhetoric which are included
0 bray is completely at sea with nothing but a savage garden music video on his resume he has no clue about making a movie
1 maybe theres a metaphor here but figuring it out would nt make trouble every day any better
1 with zoe clarkewilliamss lackluster thriller new best friend who needs enemies
1 the film is hampered by its predictable plot and paperthin supporting characters
1 debut effort by project greenlight winner is sappy and amateurish
3 its a familiar story but one that is presented with great sympathy and intelligence
1 sadly full frontal plays like the work of a dilettante
2 its not exactly worth the bucks to expend the full price for a date but when it comes out on video its well worth a rental
3 children christian or otherwise deserve to hear the full story of jonahs despair in all its agonizing catch22 glory even if they spend years trying to comprehend it
4 mazel tov to a film about a familys joyous life acting on the yiddish stage
1 unsurprisingly the way this all works out makes the women look more like stereotypical caretakers and moral teachers instead of serious athletes
3 much smarter and more attentive than it first sets out to be
2 a fascinating but choppy documentary
1 this is a remake by the numbers linking a halfwit plot to a series of standup routines in which wilson and murphy show how funny they could have been in a more ambitious movie
3 an enjoyable if occasionally flawed experiment
3 ill go out on a limb
2 just pile up
4 a brutal and funny work
1 if nothing else rollerball 2002 may go down in cinema history as the only movie ever in which the rest of the cast was outshined by ll cool j
3 chilling in its objective portrait of dreary lost twentyfirst century america
2 theres no doubting that this is a highly ambitious and personal project for egoyan but its also one that next to his best work feels clumsy and convoluted
1 the sequel plays out like a flimsy excuse to give blade fans another look at wesley snipes iconic hero doing battle with dozens of bad guys at once
2 they should have found orson welles greatgrandson
3 it offers a glimpse of the solomonic decision facing jewish parents in those turbulent times to save their children and yet to lose them
3 hes a better actor than a standup comedian
1 really does feel like a short stretched out to feature length
4 the film is a verbal duel between two gifted performers
4 a deliciously nonsensical comedy about a city coming apart at its seams
2 the camera whirls
1 this new zealand comingofage movie is nt really about anything
3 what makes the movie special is its utter sincerity
4 lrb a rrb devastatingly powerful and astonishingly vivid holocaust drama
1 a distinctly mixed bag the occasional bursts of sharp writing alternating with lots of sloppiness and the obligatory moments of sentimental ooze
1 flat misguided comedy
1 with minimal imagination you could restage the whole thing in your bathtub
1 im sorry to say that this should seal the deal arnold is not nor will he be back
1 the script boasts some tart tvinsider humor but the film has not a trace of humanity or empathy
4 it is definitely worth seeing
3 director roger kumble offers just enough sweet and traditional romantic comedy to counter the crudity
1 the problem with the mayhem in formula 51 is not that its offensive but that its boring
1 although it starts off so bad that you feel like running out screaming it eventually works its way up to merely bad rather than painfully awful
1 a worthy idea but the uninspired scripts acting and direction never rise above the level of an afterschool tv special
0 this is absolutely and completely ridiculous and an insult to every family whose mother has suffered through the horrible pains of a death by cancer
0 instead of a balanced film that explains the zeitgeist that is the x games we get a cinematic postcard thats superficial and unrealized
1 the adventure does nt contain half the excitement of balto or quarter the fun of toy story 2
2 anemic chronicle of money grubbing new yorkers and their serial loveless hook ups
4 remarkable for its excellent storytelling its economical compressed characterisations and for its profound humanity its an adventure story and history lesson all in one
2 creeps you out in high style even if nakata did it better
2 downtown
0 in all the annals of the movies few films have been this odd inexplicable and unpleasant
3 argento at only 26 brings a youthful outtochangetheworld aggressiveness to the project as if shes cut open a vein and bled the raw film stock
3 elaborate special effects take centre screen so that the human story is pushed to one side
4 the film has the courage of its convictions and excellent performances on its side
2 its stupidities wind up sticking in ones mind a lot more than the cool bits
3 audiences are advised to sit near the back and squint to avoid noticing some truly egregious lipnonsynching but otherwise the production is suitably elegant
2 this rough trade punchandjudy act did nt play well then and it plays worse now
2 whether our actionandpopcorn obsessed culture will embrace this engaging and literate psychodrama is nt much of a mystery unfortunately
3 a quasidocumentary by french filmmaker karim dridi that celebrates the hardy spirit of cuban music
1 the only question is to determine how well the schmaltz is manufactured to assess the quality of the manipulative engineering
4 solaris is rigid and evasive in ways that soderberghs best films erin brockovich out of sight and oceans eleven never were
2 its likely that whatever you thought of the first production pro or con youll likely think of this one
1 familiar and predictable and 45ths of it might as well have come from a xerox machine rather than lrb writerdirector rrb franc
3 a movie just for friday fans critics be damned
3 if you come from a family that eats meddles argues laughs kibbitzes and fights together then go see this delightful comedy
1 laconic and very stilted in its dialogue this indie flick never found its audience probably because its extremely hard to relate to any of the characters
1 the movie does such an excellent job of critiquing itself at every faltering halfstep of its development that criticizing feels more like commiserating
3 a solid unassuming drama
3 much of this slick and sprightly cgi feature is sufficiently funny to amuse even the most resolutely unreligious parents who escort their little ones to megaplex screenings
2 no big hairy deal
1 the package in which this fascinating and timely content comes wrapped is disappointingly generic
3 sparse but oddly compelling
4 for most of its footage the new thriller proves that director m night shyamalan can weave an eerie spell and that mel gibson can gasp shudder and even tremble without losing his machismo
1 its mildly interesting to ponder the peculiar american style of justice that plays out here but its so muddled and derivative that few will bother thinking it all through
2 feardotcoms thrills are all cheap but they mostly work
1 you try to guess the order in which the kids in the house will be gored
1 that the film opens with maggots crawling on a dead dog is not an out of place metaphor
1 not really a thriller so much as a movie for teens to laugh groan and hiss at
4 forget about one oscar nomination for julianne moore this year she should get all five
2 the boys sparring like the succession of blows dumped on guei wears down the storys more cerebral and likable plot elements
3 at its most basic this cartoon adventure is that windinthehair exhilarating
3 simone is not a bad film
4 graphic sex may be whats attracting audiences to unfaithful but gripping performances by lane and gere are what will keep them awake
2 the members manage to pronounce kok exactly as you think they might thus giving the cast ample opportunity to use that term as often as possible
1 there may have been a good film in trouble every day but it is not what is on the screen
1 full frontal had no effect and elicited no sympathies for any of the characters
0 a bland murderoncampus yawner
0 the only problem is that by the end no one in the audience or the film seems to really care
3 the most consistently funny of the austin powers films
0 this franchise has not spawned a single good film
0 one of the most incoherent features in recent memory
3 a compelling yarn but not quite a ripping one
3 this is a visually stunning rumination on love memory history and the war between art and commerce
2 if signs is a good film and it is the essence of a great one is in there somewhere
2 and that should tell you everything you need to know about all the queens men
0 spy action flick with antonio banderas and lucy liu never comes together
1 dragonfly dwells on crossingover mumbo jumbo manipulative sentimentality and sappy dialogue
3 sayles has an eye for the ways people of different ethnicities talk to and about others outside the group
3 its always fascinating to watch marker the essayist at work
3 mr deeds is suitable summer entertainment that offers escapism without requiring a great deal of thought
4 just about the best straightup oldschool horror film of the last 15 years
1 the verdict two bodies and hardly a laugh between them
3 lrb d rrb espite its familiar subject matter ice age is consistently amusing and engrossing
4 here is a divine monument to a single mans struggle to regain his life his dignity and his music
3 schaeffer is nt in this film which may be why it works as well as it does
3 your children will be occupied for 72 minutes
0 this hastily mounted production exists only to capitalize on hopkins inclination to play hannibal lecter again even though harris has no immediate inclination to provide a fourth book
2 a pintsized goodfellas designed to appeal to the younger set its not a very good movie in any objective sense but it does mostly hold ones interest
4 this documentary is a dazzling remarkably unpretentious reminder of what lrb evans rrb had lost and got back
1 as earnest as a communitycollege advertisement american chai is enough to make you put away the guitar sell the amp and apply to medical school
3 a thoroughly enjoyable heartfelt comingofage comedy
3 its better than the phantom menace
2 an unintentional parody of every teen movie made in the last five years
0 this ludicrous film is predictable at every turn
1 the movie is nt painfully bad something to be fully experienced its just tediously bad something to be fully forgotten
2 this will go on so long as there are moviegoers anxious to see strange young guys doing strange guy things
3 alternately hilarious and sad aggravating and soulful scathing and joyous
4 the year 2002 has conjured up more comingofage stories than seem possible but take care of my cat emerges as the very best of them
2 it briefly flirts with player masochism but the point of real interest audience sadism is evaded completely
3 the best film of the year 2002
4 a moving and not infrequently breathtaking film
3 an ambitious what if
4 a slambang extravaganza that is all about a wildandwoolly walltowall good time
1 overstylized
0 vulgar is too optimistic a title
3 campanellas competent direction and his excellent cast overcome the obstacles of a predictable outcome and a screenplay that glosses over rafaels evolution
4 a refreshingly realistic affectationfree comingofage tale
1 whats needed so badly but what is virtually absent here is either a saving dark humor or the feel of poetic tragedy
3 left me with the visceral sensation of longing lasting traces of charlottes web of desire and desperation
2 the kid stays in the picture is a great story terrifically told by the man who wrote it but this cliff notes edition is a cheat
3 you can almost see mendes and company getting together before a single frame had been shot and collectively vowing this is going to be something really good
1 the screenwriters dig themselves in deeper every time they toss logic and science into what is essentially a dungeons and dragons fantasy with modern military weaponry
3 a fascinating examination of the joyous turbulent selfdiscovery made by a proper middleaged woman
4 its use of the thriller form to examine the labyrinthine ways in which peoples lives cross and change buffeted by events seemingly out of their control is intriguing provocative stuff
2 visually exciting scifi film which suffers from a lackluster screenplay
2 a sterling film a cross between boys do nt cry deliverance and ode to billy joe lies somewhere in the story of matthew shepard but that film is yet to be made
2 narc can only remind us of brilliant crime dramas without becoming one itself
0 the actors improvise and scream their way around this movie directionless lacking any of the rollicking dark humor so necessary to make this kind of idea work on screen
1 kapur weighs down the tale with bogus profundities
2 provides a porthole into that noble trembling incoherence that defines us all
4 one of the greatest films ive ever seen
1 by turns numbingly dullwitted and disquietingly creepy
4 poignant and moving a walk to remember is an inspirational love story capturing the innocence and idealism of that first encounter
1 while the production details are lavish film has little insight into the historical period and its artists particularly in how sand developed a notorious reputation
2 its not lifeaffirming its vulgar and mean but i liked it
4 anyone with a passion for cinema and indeed sex should see it as soon as possible
4 to call this one an eventual cult classic would be an understatement and woe is the horror fan who opts to overlook this goofily endearing and welllensed gorefest
0 sorority boys which is as bad at it is cruel takes every potential laugh and stilettostomps the life out of it
4 adaptation is simply brilliant
3 i enjoyed the movie in a superficial way while never sure what its purpose was
2 the sight of the name bruce willis brings to mind images of a violent battlefield action picture but the film has a lot more on its mind maybe too much
3 it will make you think twice about what might be going on inside each trailer park you drive past even if it chiefly inspires you to drive a little faster
1 eight legged freaks falls flat as a spoof
3 while it can be a bit repetitive overall its an entertaining and informative documentary
3 ultimately mib ii succeeds due to its rapidfire delivery and enough inspired levity that it ca nt be dismissed as mindless
3 j lo will earn her share of the holiday box office pie although this movie makes one thing perfectly clear shes a pretty woman but shes no working girl
0 some writer dude i think his name was uh michael zaidan was supposed to have like written the screenplay or something but dude the only thing that i ever saw that was written down were the zeroes on my paycheck
2 but this is not a movie about an inhuman monster its about a very human one
1 theres a persistent theatrical sentiment and a woozy quality to the manner of the storytelling which undercuts the devastatingly telling impact of utter loss personified in the films simple title
3 splendidly illustrates the ability of the human spirit to overcome adversity
3 the filmmakers know how to please the eye but it is not always the prettiest pictures that tell the best story
2 a fine film but it would be a lot better if it stuck to betty fisher and left out the other stories
2 but not a whit more
1 its not a great monster movie
2 might best be enjoyed as a daytime soaper
2 a drama of great power yet some members of the audience will leave the theater believing they have seen a comedy
1 though tom shadyacs film kicks off spookily enough around the halfway mark it takes an abrupt turn into glucose sentimentality and laughable contrivance
4 a mustsee for fans of thoughtful war films and those interested in the sights and sounds of battle
4 an enthralling aesthetic experience one thats steeped in mystery and a ravishing baroque beauty
2 berling and
2 high crimes knows the mistakes that bad movies make and is determined not to make them and maybe that is nobility of a sort
1 zigzag might have been richer and more observant if it were less densely plotted
0 despite all the closeddoor hankypanky the film is essentially juiceless
3 american musical comedy as we know it would nt exist without the precedent of yiddish theater whose jolly funforfuns sake communal spirit goes to the essence of broadway
0 a girls gone wild video for the boho arthouse crowd the burning sensation is nt a definitive countercultural document its makers are nt removed and inquisitive enough for that
2 kurys never shows why of all the periods volatile romantic lives sand and musset are worth particular attention
1 skip this dreck rent animal house and go back to the source
1 reign of fire never comes close to recovering from its demented premise but it does sustain an enjoyable level of ridiculousness
2 an overly melodramatic but somewhat insightful french comingofage film
1 a rather bland affair
2 only for young children if them
0 it was nt the subject matter that ultimately defeated the film it was the unfulfilling incongruous wait a second did i miss something
3 toes the fine line between cheese and earnestness remarkably well everything is delivered with such conviction that its hard not to be carried away
1 comes alive only when it switches gears to the sentimental
2 it may even fall into the category of films you love to hate
2 those of you who do nt believe in santa claus probably also think that sequels can never capture the magic of the original
3 grant carries the day with impeccable comic timing raffish charm and piercing intellect
4 good fun good action good acting good dialogue good pace good cinematography
2 there are a few chuckles but not a single gag sequence that really scores and the stars seem to be in two different movies
2 for all the complications its all surprisingly predictable
3 michael moore has perfected the art of highly entertaining selfaggrandizing politically motivated documentarymaking and hes got as potent a topic as ever here
2 sometimes entertaining sometimes indulgent but never less than pure wankery
3 the difference between cho and most comics is that her confidence in her material is merited
3 delivers the sexy razzledazzle that everyone especially movie musical fans has been hoping for
1 sandra bullock and hugh grant make a great team but this predictable romantic comedy should get a pink slip
4 the film offers an intriguing whatif premise
3 wonder hope and magic can never escape the heart of the boy when the right movie comes along especially if it begins with the name of star wars
0 very stupid and annoying
3 aside from rohmers bold choices regarding point of view the lady and the duke represents the filmmakers lifelong concern with formalist experimentation in cinematic art
3 if you are in the mood for an intelligent weepy it can easily worm its way into your heart
0 in the end the movie bogs down in insignificance saying nothing about kennedys assassination and revealing nothing about the pathology it pretends to investigate
0 the picture emerges as a surprisingly anemic disappointment
1 though impostor deviously adopts the guise of a modern motion picture it too is a bomb
1 it looks good sonny but you missed the point
0 crummy
2 essentially the film is weak on detail and strong on personality
3 cold nervy and memorable
4 a captivating comingofage story that may also be the first narrative film to be truly informed by the wireless age
0 nothing about this movie works
2 if mr zhangs subject matter is to some degree at least quintessentially american his approach to storytelling might be called iranian
2 it comes off as so silly that you would nt be surprised if ba murdock and rest of the ateam were seen giving chase in a black and red van
3 its sort of inbetween and it works
2 impeccably filmed sexually charged but ultimately lacking in substance not to mention dragged down by a leaden closing act
2 tobey maguire is a poster boy for the geek generation
2 with freeman and judd ill at least remember their characters
2 a lifetime movie about men
4 meeting even exceeding expectations its the best sequel since the empire strikes back a majestic achievement an epic of astonishing grandeur and surprising emotional depth
3 if youre burnt out on its a wonderful life marathons and bored with a christmas carol it might just be the movie youre looking for
1 parker can not sustain the buoyant energy level of the films city beginnings into its country conclusion
2 kenneth branaghs energetic sweetandsour performance as a curmudgeonly british playwright grounds this overstuffed erratic dramedy in which he and his improbably forbearing wife contend with craziness and childrearing in los angeles
0 just another disjointed fairly predictable psychological thriller
1 pretend its a werewolf itself by avoiding eye contact and walking slowly away
4 a remarkable film by bernard rose
3 with amazing finesse the film shadows heidis trip back to vietnam and the city where her mother mai thi kim still lives
0 theres too much forced drama in this wildly uneven movie about a young mans battle with his inescapable past and uncertain future in a very shapable but largely unfulfilling present
1 tedious norwegian offering which somehow snagged an oscar nomination
3 it looks closely insightfully at fragile complex relationships
2 mildly entertaining
2 some stunning visuals and some staggeringly boring cinema
0 from the choppy editing to the annoying score to special effects by way of replacing objects in a characters hands below the camera line besotted is misbegotten
3 the hypnotic imagery and fragmentary tale explore the connections between place and personal identity
2 ze movie starts out so funny then she is nothing
1 instead of trying to bust some blondes lrb diggs rrb should be probing why a guy with his talent ended up in a movie this bad
2 suffers from a decided lack of creative storytelling
3 theres backstabbing interracial desire and most importantly singing and dancing
3 director todd solondz has made a movie about critical reaction to his two previous movies and about his responsibility to the characters that he creates
4 the enjoyable undercover brother a zany mix of saturday night livestyle parody 70s blaxploitation films and goofball action comedy gone wild dishes out a ton of laughs that everyone can enjoy
1 i found the movie as divided against itself as the dysfunctional family it portrays
4 between them de niro and murphy make showtime the most savory and hilarious guilty pleasure of many a recent movie season
2 what dumb and dumber would have been without the vulgarity and with an intelligent lifeaffirming script
0 a movie in which two not very absorbing characters are engaged in a romance you ca nt wait to see end
3 spiced with humor lrb i speak fluent flatula advises denlopp after a rather er bubbly exchange with an alien deckhand rrb and witty updatings lrb silvers parrot has been replaced with morph a cute alien creature who mimics everyone and everything around rrb
4 this is a sincerely crafted picture that deserves to emerge from the traffic jam of holiday movies
4 what elevates the movie above the runofthemill singles blender is its surreal sense of humor and technological finish
2 while not quite a comedy the film tackles its relatively serious subject with an open mind and considerable good cheer and is never less than engaging
2 while the new film is much more eyecatching than its blooddrenched stephen norringtondirected predecessor the new script by the returning david s goyer is much sillier
1 frankly its pretty stupid
3 youll know a star when you see one
1 an entertainment so in love with its overinflated mythology that it no longer recognizes the needs of moviegoers for real characters and compelling plots
2 yep its waking up in reno
2 vividly conveys the shadow side of the 30year friendship between two english women
1 the end result is like cold porridge with only the odd enjoyably chewy lump
4 what makes salton sea surprisingly engrossing is that caruso takes an atypically hypnotic approach to a world thats often handled in fastedit hoppedup fashion
3 lrb p rrb artnering murphy with robert de niro for the tvcops comedy showtime would seem to be surefire casting
1 full of the kind of obnoxious chitchat that only selfaware neurotics engage in
1 this dubious product of a collegespawned lrb colgate u rrb comedy ensemble known as broken lizard plays like a mix of cheech and chong and chips
1 not only does leblanc make one spectacularly uglylooking broad but he appears miserable throughout as he swaggers through his scenes
2 the climactic events are so well realized that you may forget all about the original conflict just like the movie does
0 a sleepinducingly slowpaced crime drama with clumsy dialogue heavyhanded phoneyfeeling sentiment and an overlyfamiliar set of plot devices
2 depending upon your reaction to this movie you may never again be able to look at a red felt sharpie pen without disgust a thrill or the giggles
4 its a cool event for the whole family
3 the journey to the secrets eventual discovery is a separate adventure and thrill enough
0 coarse cliched and clunky this trifling romantic comedy in which opposites attract for no better reason than that the screenplay demands it squanders the charms of stars hugh grant and sandra bullock
2 greengrass lrb working from don mullans script rrb forgoes the larger sociopolitical picture of the situation in northern ireland in favour of an approach that throws one in the pulsating thick of a truly frightening situation
2 lan yu is certainly a serviceable melodrama but it does nt even try for the greatness that happy together shoots for lrb and misses rrb
3 and lee seems just as expectant of an adoring widesmiling reception
2 if youre looking for a tale of brits behaving badly watch snatch again
1 the movie is not as terrible as the synergistic impulse that created it
4 schnitzler does a fine job contrasting the sleekness of the films present with the playful paranoia of the films past
1 a horror movie with seriously dumb characters which somewhat dilutes the pleasure of watching them stalked by creepycrawly bug things that live only in the darkness
0 plays like a badly edited 91minute trailer lrb and rrb the director ca nt seem to get a coherent rhythm going
2 twenty years later reggio still knows how to make a point with poetic imagery but his ability to startle has been stifled by the very prevalence of the fastforward technology that he so stringently takes to task
2 you could love safe conduct lrb laissez passer rrb for being a subtitled french movie that is 170 minutes long
4 salma goes native and shes never been better in this colorful biopic of a mexican icon
1 borrows from other movies like it in the most ordinary and obvious fashion
1 you emerge dazed confused as to whether youve seen pornography or documentary
3 an average kidempowerment fantasy with slightly aboveaverage brains
4 ben kingsley is truly funny playing a kind of ghandi gone bad
3 seeks to transcend its genre with a curiously stylized quasishakespearean portrait of pure misogynist evil
1 a sham construct based on theory sleightofhand and illwrought hypothesis
3 passion melodrama sorrow laugther and tears cascade over the screen effortlessly
0 banal and predictable
0 you expect more from director michael apted lrb enigma rrb and screenwriter nicholas kazan lrb reversal of fortune rrb than this cliche pileup
1 with flashbulb editing as cover for the absence of narrative continuity undisputed is nearly incoherent an excuse to get to the closing bout by which time its impossible to care who wins
3 the chateau is a risky venture that never quite goes where you expect and often surprises you with unexpected comedy
3 watching austin powers in goldmember is like binging on cotton candy
1 in the wrong hands ie peploes its simply unbearable
0 two hours of junk
2 a perfectly respectable perfectly inoffensive easily forgettable film
4 a colorful joyous celebration of life a tapestry woven of romance dancing singing and unforgettable characters
2 so here it is its about a family of sour immortals
1 the film falls short on tension eloquence spiritual challenge things that have made the original new testament stories so compelling for 20 centuries
2 a cautionary tale about the grandiosity of a college student who sees himself as impervious to a fall
3 an affectionately goofy satire thats unafraid to throw elbows when necessary
4 in addition to hoffmans powerful acting clinic this is that rare drama that offers a thoughtful and rewarding glimpse into the sort of heartache everyone has felt or will feel someday
1 when science fiction takes advantage of the fact that its intended audience has nt yet had much science it does a disservice to the audience and to the genre
3 by halfway through this picture i was beginning to hate it and of course feeling guilty for it then miracle of miracles the movie does a flipflop
3 a funny yet dark and seedy clash of cultures and generations
0 whats most offensive is nt the waste of a good cast but the films denial of sincere grief and mourning in favor of bogus spiritualism
4 everyones insecure in lovely and amazing a poignant and wryly amusing film about mothers daughters and their relationships
0 it is nt quite one of the worst movies of the year
3 directed by kevin bray whose crisp framing edgy camera work and wholesale ineptitude with acting tone and pace very obviously mark him as a video helmer making his feature debut
3 hard to resist
0 an almost unbearably morbid love story
3 dark and unrepentant this excursion into the epicenter of percolating mental instability is not easily dismissed or forgotten
3 a pleasing oftenfunny comedy
1 theres not a spark of new inspiration in it just more of the same done with noticeably less energy and imagination
1 murphy and wilson actually make a pretty good team but the project surrounding them is distressingly rote
1 its one thing to read about or rail against the ongoing and unprecedented construction project going on over our heads
1 its and pieces of the hot chick are so hilarious and schneiders performance is so fine its a real shame that so much of the movie again as in the animal is a slapdash mess
1 the abiding impression despite the mild hallucinogenic buzz is of overwhelming waste the acres of haute couture ca nt quite conceal that theres nothing resembling a spine here
4 arguably the best script that besson has written in years
4 its a lovely eerie film that casts an odd rapt spell
0 unfortunately its also not very good
3 like kubrick soderbergh is nt afraid to try any genre and to do it his own way
0 the kind of film that leaves you scratching your head in amazement over the fact that so many talented people could participate in such an illadvised and poorly executed idea
1 writerdirector ritchie reduces wertmullers social mores and politics to tiresome jargon
3 the pleasures that it does afford may be enough to keep many moviegoers occupied amidst some of the more seriousminded concerns of other yearend movies
2 dull and mechanical kinda like a very goofy museum exhibit
2 you know that ten bucks youd spend on a ticket
3 it puts washington as honest working man john q archibald on a pedestal then keeps lifting the pedestal higher
1 content merely to lionize its title character and exploit his anger all for easy sanctimony formulaic thrills and a hamfisted sermon on the need for national health insurance
3 a realistically terrifying movie that puts another notch in the belt of the long list of renegadecop tales
4 that storytelling has value can not be denied
0 the main characters are simply named the husband the wife and the kidnapper emphasizing the disappointingly generic nature of the entire effort
4 brilliantly written and wellacted yellow asphalt is an uncompromising film
3 miller tells this very compelling tale with little fuss or noise expertly plucking tension from quiet
4 borrows a bit from the classics wait until dark and extremities but in terms of its style the movie is in a class by itself
2 almost everything about the film is unsettling from the preposterous hairpiece worn by lais villainous father to the endless action sequences
3 an older cad instructs a younger lad in zen and the art of getting laid in this prickly indie comedy of manners and misanthropy
1 often demented in a good way but it is an uneven film for the most part
1 while the ensemble player who gained notice in guy ritchies lock stock and two smoking barrels and snatch has the bod hes unlikely to become a household name on the basis of his first starring vehicle
1 the advantage of a postapocalyptic setting is that it can be made on the cheap
2 meanders between its powerful moments
4 as commanderinchief of this film bigelow demonstrates a breadth of vision and an attention to detail that propels her into the upper echelons of the directing world
3 it may not be a great piece of filmmaking but its power comes from its souls eye view of how wellmeaning patronizing masked a social injustice at least as represented by this case
4 the entire cast is firstrate especially sorvino
3 walter hills undisputed is like a 1940s warner bros
4 could easily be called the best korean film of 2002
0 a predictable manipulative stinker
2 the plot plummets into a comedy graveyard before janice comes racing to the rescue in the final reel
3 alices adventure through the looking glass and into zombieland is filled with strange and wonderful creatures
4 part of the films cheeky charm comes from its vintage schmaltz
3 yes its as good as you remember
1 as the mediterranean sparkles swept away sinks
0 this painfully unfunny farce traffics in tired stereotypes and encumbers itself with complications that have no bearing on the story
4 once the true impact of the day unfolds the power of this movie is undeniable
4 an interesting psychological game of catandmouse threedimensional characters and believable performances all add up to a satisfying crime drama
4 nicole kidman makes it a party worth attending
2 the balkans provide the obstacle course for the love of a good woman
3 its story about a young chinese woman ah na who has come to new york city to replace past tragedy with the american dream is one that any arthouse moviegoer is likely to find compelling
2 the ring is worth a look if you do nt demand much more than a few cheap thrills from your halloween entertainment
0 make like the title and dodge this one
1 its message has merit and in the hands of a brutally honest individual like prophet jack might have made a point or two regarding life
3 adaptation is intricately constructed and in a strange way nails all of orleans themes without being a true adaptation of her book
3 its a solid movie about people whose lives are anything but
3 nicks sustains the level of exaggerated stylized humor throughout by taking your expectations and twisting them just a bit
1 the problem with xxx is that its own action is nt very effective
2 theres a bit of thematic meat on the bones of queen of the damned as its origins in an anne rice novel dictate but generally its a movie that emphasizes style over character and substance
3 the film is delicately narrated by martin landau and directed with sensitivity and skill by dana janklowiczmann
1 sc2 is an autopilot hollywood concoction lacking in imagination and authentic christmas spirit yet its geared toward an audience full of masters of both
3 remove spiderman the movie from its red herring surroundings and its apparent that this is one summer film that satisfies
3 a meatier deeper beginning andor ending would have easily tipped this film into the a range as is its a very very strong b
4 a triumph of emotionally and narratively complex filmmaking
4 a winning comedy with its wry observations about longlived friendships and the ways in which we all lose track of ourselves by trying to please others
4 fantastic
3 large budget notwithstanding the movie is such a blip on the years radar screen that its tempting just to go with it for the ride
0 its uninteresting
1 little more than a wellmounted history lesson
4 leave it to the french to truly capture the terrifying angst of the modern working man without turning the film into a cheap thriller a dumb comedy or a sappy melodrama
3 although the film boils down to a lightweight story about matchmaking the characters make italian for beginners worth the journey
0 will probably be one of those movies barely registering a blip on the radar screen of 2002
1 an incredibly narrow injoke targeted to the tiniest segment of an already obscure demographic
3 hoffmans performance is authentic to the core of his being
4 bluer than the atlantic and more biologically detailed than an autopsy the movie is also frequently hilarious
3 some remarkable achival film about how shanghai lrb of all places rrb served jews who escaped the holocaust
3 in painting an unabashedly romantic picture of a nation whose songs spring directly from the lives of the people the movie exalts the marxian dream of honest working folk with little to show for their labor living harmoniously joined in song
1 somewhere inside the mess that is world traveler there is a mediocre movie trying to get out
3 everything about the quiet american is good except its timing
3 this rich bittersweet israeli documentary about the life of songanddanceman pasach ke burstein and his family transcends ethnic lines
4 writerdirector david caesar ladles on the local flavour with a hugely enjoyable film about changing times clashing cultures and the pleasures of a wellmade pizza
1 i have to admit that i am baffled by jason x
4 a smart compelling drama
3 drumline ably captures the complicated relationships in a marching band
2 oh and booty call
0 it is messy uncouth incomprehensible vicious and absurd
3 confessions is without a doubt a memorable directorial debut from king hunk
2 do nt expect any subtlety from this latest entry in the increasingly threadbare grossout comedy cycle
4 canadian filmmaker gary burns inventive and mordantly humorous take on the soullessness of work in the city
0 new ways of describing badness need to be invented to describe exactly how bad it is
1 a film that suffers because of its many excesses
4 brings an irresistible blend of warmth and humor and a consistent embracing humanity in the face of lifes harshness
1 lrb the films rrb taste for shock humor will wear thin on all but those weaned on the comedy of tom green and the farrelly brothers
1 its screenplay serves as autocritique and its clumsiness as its own most damning censure
4 uplifting as only a document of the worst possibilities of mankind can be and among the best films of the year
1 the film is flat
3 a fascinating unnerving examination of the delusions of one unstable man
2 feels as if the inmates have actually taken over the asylum
3 this is unusual foodforthought cinema thats as entertaining as it is instructive
3 watching the powerpuff girls movie my mind kept returning to one anecdote for comparison the cartoon in japan that gave people seizures
4 a funny triumphant and moving documentary
3 just when you think that every possible angle has been exhausted by documentarians another new film emerges with yet another remarkable yet shockingly littleknown perspective
2 a witty trenchant wildly unsentimental but flawed look at the ins and outs of modern moviemaking
2 please
3 a thriller with an edge which is to say that it does nt follow the stale standard connectthedots storyline which has become commonplace in movies that explore the seamy underbelly of the criminal world
2 no matter how you slice it mark wahlberg and thandie newton are not hepburn and grant two cinematic icons with chemistry galore
1 death to smoochy tells a moldyoldie notnearly asnasty asit thinksitis joke
0 dripping with cliche and bypassing no opportunity to trivialize the material
3 if youre looking for an intelligent movie in which you can release your pent up anger enough is just the ticket you need
1 unfortunately there is almost nothing in this flat effort that will amuse or entertain them either
4 not to mention absolutely refreshed
0 my precious new star wars movie is a lumbering wheezy drag
1 boyds screenplay lrb cowritten with guardian hack nick davies rrb has a florid turn of phrase that owes more to guy ritchie than the bard of avon
2 bacon keeps things interesting but do nt go out of your way to pay full price
0 a horrible 99minute stink bomb
0 a laughable or rather unlaughable excuse for a film
1 a big fat pain
3 theres nothing more satisfying during a summer of event movies than a spy thriller like the bourne identity thats packed with just as much intelligence as action
3 like mike is nt going to make box office money that makes michael jordan jealous but it has some cute moments funny scenes and hits the target audience lrb young bow wow fans rrb with nothing but net
4 by turns very dark and very funny
3 the last kiss will probably never achieve the popularity of my big fat greek wedding but its provocative central wedding sequence has far more impact
0 punchdrunk love is so convinced of its own brilliance that if it were a person youd want to smash its face in
1 ive had more interesting and dare i say thematically complex bowel movements than this longontheshelf pointandshoot exercise in gimmicky crime drama
4 woody allen has really found his groove these days
1 a soapopera quality twist in the last 20 minutes almost puts the kibosh on what is otherwise a sumptuous work of bmovie imagination
3 a comingofage tale from new zealand whose boozy languid air is balanced by a rich visual clarity and deeply felt performances across the board
2 what really happened
1 less a story than an inexplicable nightmare right down to the populations shrugging acceptance to each new horror
4 the best disney movie since the lion king
0 a devastating indictment of unbridled greed and materalism
1 the whole movie is simply a lazy exercise in bad filmmaking that asks you to not only suspend your disbelief but your intelligence as well
3 skin of man gets a few cheap shocks from its kidsinperil theatrics but it also taps into the primal fears of young people trying to cope with the mysterious and brutal nature of adults
2 overall its a pretty mediocre family film
3 but even while his characters are acting horribly he is always sympathetic
4 impresses as a skillfully assembled highly polished and professional adaptation just about as chilling and unsettling as manhunter was
4 an engrossing and grim portrait of hookers what they think of themselves and their clients
1 makes the same mistake as the music industry it criticizes becoming so slick and watereddown it almost loses what made you love it in the first place
2 some motion pictures portray ultimate passion others create ultimate thrills
1 yet another genre exercise gangster no 1 is as generic as its title
4 first and foremost the reason to go see blue crush is the phenomenal waterborn cinematography by david hennings
0 an awful lot like one of lrb spears rrb music videos in content except that it goes on for at least 90 more minutes and worse that you have to pay if you want to see it
1 in other words its just another sports dramacharacter study
3 its not too fast and not too slow
0 get out your pooperscoopers
1 the one notsosmall problem with expecting is that the entire exercise has no real point
1 starts off witty and sophisticated and you want to love it but filmmaker yvan attal quickly writes himself into a corner
3 according to wendigo nature loves the members of the upper class almost as much as they love themselves
1 then you get another phone call warning you that if the video is nt back at blockbuster before midnight youre going to face frightening late fees
3 often messy and frustrating but very pleasing at its best moments its very much like life itself
1 but unless youre an absolute raving star wars junkie it is nt much fun
1 the inherent limitations of using a video game as the source material movie are once again made all too clear in this schlocky horroraction hybrid
2 its difficult for a longtime admirer of his work to not be swept up in invincible and overlook its drawbacks
4 with this masterful flawless film lrb wang rrb emerges in the front ranks of chinas now numerous worldrenowned filmmakers
2 the farcical elements seemed too pat and familiar to hold my interest yet its diverting grim message is a good one
1 much like robin williams death to smoochy has already reached its expiration date
3 and for many of us thats good enough
2 sinks into the usual cafeteria goulash of fart jokes masturbation jokes and racist japanese jokes
1 a puzzle whose pieces do not fit
1 though a capable thriller somewhere along the way k19 jettisoned some crucial drama
1 a movie you observe rather than one you enter into
2 scenario that will give most parents pause then something terrible happens
3 the ingenious construction lrb adapted by david hare from michael cunninghams novel rrb constantly flows forwards and back weaving themes among three strands which allow us to view events as if through a prism
3 those who trek to the plex predisposed to like it probably will enjoy themselves
2 tackling a lowbudget movie in which inexperienced children play the two main characters might not be the best way to cut your teeth in the film industry
1 ignoring that he made swimfan anyway
0 about as enjoyable i would imagine as searching for a quarter in a giant pile of elephant feces positively dreadful
3 though intrepid in exploring an attraction that crosses sexual identity ozpetek falls short in showing us antonias true emotions but at the very least his secret life will leave you thinking
3 a conventional but wellcrafted film about a historic legal battle in ireland over a mans right to raise his own children
0 this is just lazy writing
1 harts war seems to want to be a character study but apparently ca nt quite decide which character
0 contrived awkward and filled with unintended laughs the film shows signs that someone other than the director got into the editing room and tried to improve things by making the movie go faster
0 the movie is about as humorous as watching your favorite pet get buried alive
4 a riveting documentary
4 my little eye is the best little horror movie ive seen in years
1 unfortunately a cast of competent performers from movies television and the theater are cast adrift in various new york city locations with no unifying rhythm or visual style
3 reveals how important our special talents can be when put in service of of others
3 crush is so warm and fuzzy you might be able to forgive its meanspirited second half
1 the films desire to be liked sometimes undermines the possibility for an exploration of the thornier aspects of the naturenurture argument in regards to homosexuality
3 jolie gives it that extra little something that makes it worth checking out at theaters especially if youre in the mood for something more comfortable than challenging
1 unfortunately wed prefer a simple misfire
1 this is very much of a mixed bag with enough negatives to outweigh the positives
2 although tender and touching the movie would have benefited from a little more dramatic tension and some more editing
1 officially it is twice as bestial but half as funny
0 an uglyduckling tale so hideously and clumsily told it feels accidental
3 about the best thing you could say about narc is that its a rocksolid little genre picture
0 a film that should be relegated to a dark video store corner is somehow making its way instead to theaters
2 deserves high marks for political courage but barely gets by on its artistic merits
2 its young guns meets goodfellas in this easily skippable hayseedsvs
0 unbearably lame
1 reallife strongman ahola lacks the charisma and ability to carry the film on his admittedly broad shoulders
1 an artful yet depressing film that makes a melodramatic mountain out of the molehill of a missing bike
1 its got the brawn but not the brains
2 too ordinary to restore lrb harmon rrb to prominence despite some creepy scenes that evoke childish night terrors and a praiseworthy attempt to generate suspense rather than gross out the audience
3 a sentimental hybrid that could benefit from the spice of specificity
0 the slapstick is labored and the bigger setpieces flat
4 miyazaki has created such a vibrant colorful world its almost impossible not to be swept away by the sheer beauty of his images
1 less than fresh
1 it squanders chans uniqueness it could even be said to squander jennifer love hewitt
0 this is the sort of lowgrade dreck that usually goes straight to video with a lousy script inept direction pathetic acting poorly dubbed dialogue and murky cinematography complete with visible boom mikes
3 like the rugrats movies the wild thornberrys movie does nt offer much more than the series but its emphasis on caring for animals and respecting other cultures is particularly welcome
1 in truth it has all the heart of a porno flick lrb but none of the sheer lust rrb
1 perhaps even the slc high command found writerdirector mitch daviss wall of kitsch hard going
0 its quite an achievement to set and shoot a movie at the cannes film festival and yet fail to capture its visual appeal or its atmosphere
0 many went to see the attraction for the sole reason that it was hot outside and there was air conditioning inside and i do nt think that ac will help this movie one bit
1 grant is certainly amusing but the very hollowness of the character he plays keeps him at arms length
4 the script by david koepp is perfectly serviceable and because he gives the story some soul he elevates the experience to a more mythic level
3 washington overcomes the scripts flaws and envelops the audience in his characters anguish anger and frustration
4 wellacted welldirected and for all its moodiness not too pretentious
1 been there done that liked it much better the first time around when it was called the professional
1 while you have to admit its semiamusing to watch robert deniro belt out when youre a jet youre a jet all the way its equally distasteful to watch him sing the lyrics to tonight
3 as a kind of colorful dramatized pbs program frida gets the job done
2 its a boombox of a movie that might have been titled the loud and the ludicrous the pandering to a moviegoing audience dominated by young males is all too calculated
3 its not going to be everyones bag of popcorn but it definitely gives you something to chew on
2 im not generally a fan of vegetables but this batch is pretty cute
4 each of these stories has the potential for touched by an angel simplicity and sappiness but thirteen conversations about one thing for all its generosity and optimism never resorts to easy feelgood sentiments
0 sorority boys was funnier and that movie was pretty bad
1 theres something fishy about a seasonal holiday kids movie that derives its moment of most convincing emotional gravity from a scene where santa gives gifts to grownups
1 i have nt seen such selfamused trash since freddy got fingered
3 ramsay and morton fill this character study with poetic force and buoyant feeling
0 with the cheesiest monsters this side of a horror spoof which they is nt it is more likely to induce sleep than fright
2 dogtown and zboys more than exposes the roots of the skateboarding boom that would become the punk kids revolution
2 to some eyes
0 most of the movie is so deadly dull that watching the proverbial paint dry would be a welcome improvement
4 that haynes can both maintain and dismantle the facades that his genre and his character construct is a wonderous accomplishment of veracity and narrative grace
2 this is a nervy risky film and villeneuve has inspired croze to give herself over completely to the tormented persona of bibi
0 its a barely tolerable slog over welltrod ground
0 that such a horrible movie could have sprung from such a great one is one of the years worst cinematic tragedies
0 that chirpy songbird britney spears has popped up with more mindless drivel
1 the master of disguise falls under the category of should have been a sketch on saturday night live
1 a goodnatured ensemble comedy that tries hard to make the most of a bumper cast but never quite gets off the ground
3 like a precious and finely cut diamond magnificent to behold in its sparkling beauty yet in reality its one tough rock
1 overall tomfoolery like this is a matter of taste
4 what results is the best performance from either in years
0 youll trudge out of the theater feeling as though you rode the zipper after eating a corn dog and an extralarge cotton candy
4 the actors are simply too good and the story too intriguing for technical flaws to get in the way
3 yes but also intriguing and honorable a worthwhile addition to a distinguished film legacy
2 it may be about drug dealers kidnapping and unsavory folks but the tone and pacing are shockingly intimate
1 laggard drama wending its way to an uninspired philosophical epiphany
4 when a movie has stuck around for this long you know theres something there
2 but death to smoochy keeps firing until the bitter end
3 a dashing and absorbing outing with one of frances most inventive directors
1 dogtown is hollow selfindulgent and worst of all boring
2 barrels along at the start before becoming mired in sentimentality
4 the case is a convincing one and should give anyone with a conscience reason to pause
4 an uplifting nearmasterpiece
3 a keep em guessing plot and an affectionate take on its screwedup characters
0 a loud lowbudget and tired formula film that arrives cloaked in the euphemism urban drama
1 plays like a glossy melodrama that occasionally verges on camp
1 when lrb reno rrb lets her radical flag fly taking angry potshots at george w bush henry kissinger larry king et al reno devolves into a laughfree lecture
1 matteis underdeveloped effort here is nothing but a convenient conveyor belt of brooding personalities that parade about as if they were coming back from stock character camp a drowsy drama infatuated by its own pretentious selfexamination
1 a baffling subplot involving smuggling drugs inside danish cows falls flat and if youre going to alter the bards ending youd better have a good alternative
0 in this poor remake of such a well loved classic parker exposes the limitations of his skill and the basic flaws in his vision
0 offers no new insight on the matter nor do its characters exactly spring to life
1 a low rate annie featuring some kid who ca nt act only echoes of jordan and weirdo actor crispin glover screwing things up old school
4 the quirky drama touches the heart and the funnybone thanks to the energetic and always surprising performance by rachel griffiths
0 lrb a rrb poorly executed comedy
4 a deftly entertaining film smartly played and smartly directed
3 as chilling and fascinating as philippe moras modern hitlerstudy snide and prejudice
4 its that rare family movie genuine and sweet without relying on animation or dumb humor
3 cox creates a fluid and mesmerizing sequence of images to match the words of nijinskys diaries
1 the whole affair true story or not feels incredibly hokey lrb it rrb comes off like a hallmark commercial
3 nicholas nickleby celebrates the human spirit with such unrelenting dickensian decency that it turned me lrb horrors rrb
2 it is one more celluloid testimonial to the cruelties experienced by southern blacks as distilled through a caucasian perspective
1 its a hellish numbing experience to watch and it does nt offer any insights that have nt been thoroughly debated in the media already back in the dahmer heyday of the mid 90s
1 the film is so packed with subplots involving the various silbersteins that it feels more like the pilot episode of a tv series than a feature film
4 the performances are immaculate with roussillon providing comic relief
0 a profoundly stupid affair populating its hackneyed and meanspirited storyline with cardboard characters and performers who value cash above credibility
4 a gem of a movie
3 an effective portrait of a life in stasis of the power of inertia to arrest development in a deadend existence
4 simply put far from heaven is a masterpiece
1 the film starts promisingly but the ending is all too predictable and far too cliched to really work
3 begins on a high note and sustains it beautifully
0 tries to work in the same vein as the brilliance of animal house but instead comes closer to the failure of the third revenge of the nerds sequel
3 an instance of an old dog not only learning but inventing a remarkable new trick
3 henry beans thoughtful screenplay provides no easy answers but offers a compelling investigation of faith versus intellect
1 what begins brightly gets bogged down over 140 minutes
3 a guiltless film for nice evening out
2 you might say tykwer has done all that heaven allows if you wanted to make as antikieslowski a pun as possible
4 shanghai ghetto may not be as dramatic as roman polanskis the pianist but its compassionate spirit soars every bit as high
2 the tuxedo should have been the vehicle for chan that the mask was for jim carrey
4 this is one of the years best films
1 the film never finds its tone and several scenes run too long
4 an entertaining british hybrid of comedy caper thrills and quirky romance
1 nothing more or less than an outright bodiceripper it should have ditched the artsy pretensions and revelled in the entertaining shallows
3 the powerful success of read my lips with such provocative material shows why after only three films directorcowriter jacques audiard though little known in this country belongs in the very top rank of french filmmakers
1 big mistake
2 far away
3 enthusiastically taking up the current teen movie concern with bodily functions walt beckers film pushes all the demographically appropriate comic buttons
0 unfortunately the experience of actually watching the movie is less compelling than the circumstances of its making
2 saved from being merely waycool by a basic credible compassion
1 for a film about explosions and death and spies ballistic ecks vs sever seems as safe as a childrens film
0 the title alone should scare any sane person away
0 another boorish movie from the iheardajoke atafratparty school of screenwriting
4 even if youve never heard of chaplin youll still be glued to the screen
2 an original little film about one young womans education
1 unwieldy contraption
1 well in some of those the mother deer even dies
2 you really have to salute writerdirector haneke lrb he adapted elfriede jelineks novel rrb for making a film that is nt nearly as graphic but much more powerful brutally shocking and difficult to watch
3 in his latest effort storytelling solondz has finally made a movie that is nt just offensive it also happens to be good
3 quite endearing
1 its hard to pity the plain girl who becomes a ravishing waif after applying a smear of lipgloss
2 its the movie equivalent of a sweaty old guy in a rain coat shopping for cheap porn
1 the only pain youll feel as the credits roll is your stomach grumbling for some tasty grub
2 the threat
1 wanders all over the map thematically and stylistically and borrows heavily from lynch jeunet and von trier while failing to find a spark of its own
4 blessed with a searing lead performance by ryan gosling lrb murder by numbers rrb the movie is powerful and provocative
1 its depressing to see how far herzog has fallen
2 charming if overly complicated
3 the film has an infectious enthusiasm and were touched by the films conviction that all life centered on that place that time and that sport
0 youll just have your head in your hands wondering why lees character did nt just go to a bank manager and save everyone the misery
3 secretary is just too original to be ignored
1 despite its dry wit and compassion the film suffers from a philosophical emptiness and maddeningly sedate pacing
0 what should have been a cutting hollywood satire is instead about as fresh as last weeks issue of variety
4 beautiful to watch and holds a certain charm
4 the camera soars above the globe in dazzling panoramic shots that make the most of the largescreen format before swooping down on a string of exotic locales scooping the whole world up in a joyous communal festival of rhythm
3 lrb grant rrb goes beyond his usual fluttering and stammering and captures the soul of a man in pain who gradually comes to recognize it and deal with it
1 lrb a rrb stale retread of the53 original
0 it makes even elizabeth hurley seem graceless and ugly
1 blood work is laughable in the solemnity with which it tries to pump life into overworked elements from eastwoods dirty harry period
1 anyone not into hightech splatterfests is advised to take the warning literally and log on to something more userfriendly
2 its mindless junk like this that makes you appreciate original romantic comedies like punchdrunk love
1 the code talkers deserved better than a hollow tribute
2 underachieves only in not taking the shakespeare parallels quite far enough
2 since the movie is based on a nicholas sparks best seller you know death is lurking around the corner just waiting to spoil things
2 tsai mingliangs ghosts are painfully aware of their notbeing
3 on the granger movie gauge of 1 to 10 the powerpuff girls is a fast frenetic funny even punny 6 aimed specifically at a gradeschool audience
1 the explosion essentially ruined or rather overpowered the fiction of the movie for me
3 this is nt exactly profound cinema but its goodnatured and sometimes quite funny
0 a pathetic exploitation film that tries to seem sincere and just seems worse for the effort
1 the nicest thing that can be said about stealing harvard lrb which might have been called freddy gets molested by a dog rrb is that its not as obnoxious as tom greens freddie got fingered
4 full of detail about the man and his country and is well worth seeing
1 works on the whodunit level as its larger themes get lost in the murk of its own making
2 may seriously impair your ability to ever again maintain a straight face while speaking to a highway patrolman
1 it hates its characters
3 so fiendishly cunning that even the most jaded cinema audiences will leave the auditorium feeling dizzy confused and totally disorientated
2 like the series the movie is funny smart visually inventive and most of all alive
3 jacquot has filmed the opera exactly as the libretto directs ideally capturing the operas drama and lyricism
0 philosophically intellectually and logistically a mess
2 the performances are all solid it merely lacks originality to make it a great movie
4 move over bond this girl deserves a sequel
1 barely manages for but a few seconds over its seemingly eternal running time to pique your interest your imagination your empathy or anything really save your disgust and your indifference
1 the metaphors are provocative but too often the viewer is left puzzled by the mechanics of the delivery
3 interesting and thoroughly unfaithful version of carmen
4 a terrifically entertaining specimen of spielbergian scifi
1 everything that was right about blade is wrong in its sequel
4 if you ever wondered what it would be like to be smack in the middle of a war zone armed with nothing but a camera this oscarnominated documentary takes you there
4 an animation landmark as monumental as disneys 1937 breakthrough snow white and the seven dwarfs
1 the whole thing succeeded only in making me groggy
2 the niftiest trick perpetrated by the importance of being earnest is the alchemical transmogrification of wilde into austen and a hollywoodized austen at that
1 if religious films are nt your bailiwick stay away
2 almost nothing else raunchy and graphic as it may be in presentation is onesided outwardly sexist or meanspirited
1 rumor a muddled drama about coming to terms with death feels impersonal almost generic
3 alan and his fellow survivors are idiosyncratic enough to lift the movie above its playwriting 101 premise
3 its a satisfying summer blockbuster and worth a look
3 k19 the widowmaker is derivative overlong and bombastic yet surprisingly entertaining
1 the story really has no place to go since simone is not real she ca nt provide any conflict
1 there is something in full frontal i guess about artifice and acting and how it distorts reality for people who make movies and watch them but like most movie riddles it works only if you have an interest in the characters you see
1 an unsuccessful attempt at a movie of ideas
2 many shallower movies these days seem too long but this one is egregiously short
1 did no one on the set have a sense of humor or did they not have the nerve to speak up
1 a notsodivine secrets of the yaya sisterhood with a hefty helping of refried green tomatoes
4 a freshfaced bighearted and frequently funny thrill ride for the kiddies with enough eye candy and cheeky wit to keep parents away from the concession stand
1 but the feelings evoked in the film are lukewarm and quick to pass
2 the film is stark straightforward and deadly an unnatural calm thats occasionally shaken by blasts of rage and later violent jealousy
3 what lrb frei rrb gives us is a man who uses the damage of war far more often than the warfare itself to create the kind of art shots that fill gallery shows
0 the entire movie is in need of a scented bath
3 this new movie version of the alexandre dumas classic is the stuff of high romance brought off with considerable wit
3 stands as a document of what it felt like to be a new yorker or really to be a human being in the weeks after 911
1 almost as offensive as freddy got fingered
1 the plot grows thin soon and you find yourself praying for a quick resolution
4 a funny and touching film that is gorgeously acted by a british cast to rival gosford parks
0 theres not a single jumpinyourseat moment and believe it or not jason actually takes a backseat in his own film to special effects
1 elegantly crafted but emotionally cold a puzzle whose intricate construction one can admire but is difficult to connect with on any deeper level
0 it is that rare combination of bad writing bad direction and bad acting the trifecta of badness
1 off the hook is overlong and not wellacted but credit writerproducerdirector adam watstein with finishing it at all
1 an occasionally interesting but mostly repetitive look at a slice of counterculture that might be best forgotten
0 you have no affinity for most of the characters
1 a perfect example of rancid wellintentioned but shamelessly manipulative movie making
3 a quietly introspective portrait of the selfesteem of employment and the shame of losing a job
2 handsome and sincere but slightly awkward in its combination of entertainment and evangelical boosterism
3 the storytelling may be ordinary but the cast is one of those allstar reunions that fans of gosford park have come to assume is just another day of brit cinema
2 barely
0 a complete shambles of a movie so sloppy so uneven so damn unpleasant that i ca nt believe any viewer young or old would have a good time here
1 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
1 too campy to work as straight drama and too violent and sordid to function as comedy vulgar is truly and thankfully a oneofakind work
1 gets bogged down by an overly sillified plot and stopandstart pacing
1 theological matters aside the movie is so clumsily sentimental and ineptly directed it may leave you speaking in tongues
1 comes off more like a misdemeanor a flat unconvincing drama that never catches fire
3 offers laughs and insight into one of the toughest ages a kid can go through
2 at its best lrb and it does have some very funny sequences rrb looking for leonard reminds you just how comically subversive silence can be
2 the picture does nt know its a comedy
2 the armenian genocide deserves a more engaged and honest treatment
1 one scene after another in this supposedly funny movie falls to the floor with a sickening thud
2 i have two words to say about reign of fire
1 why did they deem it necessary to document all this emotional misery
4 a firstclass road movie that proves you can run away from home but your ego and all your problems go with you
4 the story itself it mostly told through oncamera interviews with several survivors whose riveting memories are rendered with such clarity that its as if it all happened only yesterday
0 it ends up being neither and fails at both endeavors
4 a comingofage movie that hollywood would nt have the guts to make
2 tennessee williams by way of oprahs book club
2 a brain twister less a moviemovie than a funny and weird meditation on hollywood success artistic integrity and intellectual bankruptcy
2 wraps itself in the guise of a dark and quirky comedy but it is nt as quirky as it thinks it is and its comedy is generally meanspirited
4 one of the most exciting action films to come out of china in recent years
2 a wellacted movie that simply does nt gel
0 a real snooze
0 one of those films that started with a great premise and then just fell apart
3 the success of undercover brother is found in its ability to spoof both black and white stereotypes equally
3 if the plot seems a bit on the skinny side thats because panic room is interested in nothing more than sucking you in and making you sweat
0 this is the kind of movie during which you want to bang your head on the seat in front of you at its cluelessness at its idiocy at its utterly misplaced earnestness
4 the film boasts dry humor and jarring shocks plus moments of breathtaking mystery
1 el crimen del padre amaro would likely be most effective if used as a tool to rally anticatholic protestors
2 salaciously simplistic
4 a fanciful drama about napoleons last years and his surprising discovery of love and humility
4 excellent performances from jacqueline bisset and martha plimpton grace this deeply touching melodrama
1 the films thoroughly recycled plot and tiresome jokes drag the movie down
0 below is well below expectations
1 an essentially awkward version of the lightweight female empowerment picture weve been watching for decades
3 about schmidt belongs to nicholson
3 and it marks him as one of the most interesting writerdirectors working today
0 i approached the usher and said that if she had to sit through it again she should ask for a raise
3 at its best which occurs often michael moores bowling for columbine rekindles the muckraking soulsearching spirit of the are we a sick society
3 the casting of von sydow is itself intactos luckiest stroke
3 a cruelly funny twist on teen comedy packed with inventive cinematic tricks and an ironically killer soundtrack
3 lrb caine rrb proves once again he has nt lost his touch bringing off a superb performance in an admittedly middling film
3 a crisp psychological drama lrb and rrb a fascinating little thriller that would have been perfect for an old twilight zone episode
1 too often son of the bride becomes an exercise in trying to predict when a preordained big moment will occur and not if
1 its hard to care about a film that proposes as epic tragedy the plight of a callow rich boy who is forced to choose between his beautiful selfsatisfied 22yearold girlfriend and an equally beautiful selfsatisfied 18yearold mistress
2 i admit it i hate to like it
1 its so crammed with scenes and vistas and pretty moments that its left a few crucial things out like character development and coherence
2 ozpetek joins the ranks of those gay filmmakers who have used the emigre experience to explore samesex culture in ways that elude the more nationally settled
3 its directors most substantial feature for some time
0 to better understand why this did nt connect with me would require another viewing and i wo nt be sitting through this one again that in itself is commentary enough
4 vibrantly colored and beautifully designed metropolis is a feast for the eyes
1 deuces wild is an encyclopedia of cliches that shoplifts shamelessly from farewelltoinnocence movies like the wanderers and a bronx tale without cribbing any of their intelligence
2 if there ai nt none you have a problem
2 chomp chomp
1 louiso lets the movie dawdle in classic disaffectedindiefilm mode and brother hoffmans script stumbles over a lateinning twist that just does nt make sense
2 if you do nt flee you might be seduced
0 oedekerk mugs mercilessly and the genuinely funny jokes are few and far between
1 forget the psychology 101 study of romantic obsession and just watch the procession of costumes in castles and this wo nt seem like such a bore
3 allen shows he can outgag any of those young whippersnappers making moving pictures today
4 the pleasure of read my lips is like seeing a series of perfect black pearls clicking together to form a string
1 although disney follows its standard formula in this animated adventure it feels more forced than usual
0 the irwins scenes are fascinating the movie as a whole is cheap junk and an insult to their deathdefying efforts
2 few of the increasingly farfetched events that firsttime writerdirector neil burger follows up with are terribly convincing which is a pity considering barrys terrific performance
3 as it turns out you can go home again
2 how i killed my father is one of those art house films that makes you feel like youre watching an iceberg melt only it never melts
2 shes not yet an actress not quite a singer
1 complex sinuously plotted and somehow offputtingly cold
2 while certain cues like the happy music suggest that this movie is supposed to warm our hearts jeonghyang lees film is just as likely to blacken that organ with cold vengefulness
0 fails in making this character understandable in getting under her skin in exploring motivation well before the end the film grows as dull as its characters about whose fate it is hard to care
3 it has plenty of laughs
1 narc is all menace and atmosphere
1 no laughs
3 paul bettany is cool
2 the story is so light and sugary that were it a macys thanksgiving day parade balloon extra heavyduty ropes would be needed to keep it from floating away
2 personal velocity has a nofrills docudogma plainness yet miller lingers on invisible nearly psychic nuances leaping into digressions of memory and desire
2 merry friggin christmas
2 the screenplay comes across rather unintentionally as hiphop scoobydoo
1 judds characters ought to pick up the durable best seller smart women foolish choices for advice
3 the saigon of 1952 is an uneasy mix of sensual delights and simmering violence and the quiet american brings us right into the center of that world
2 lovely and amazing unhappily is neither excessively strained and contrived
2 skins has its heart in the right place
1 the script is too mainstream and the psychology too textbook to intrigue
2 jarecki and gibney do find enough material to bring kissingers record into question and explain how the diplomats tweaked version of statecraft may have cost thousands and possibly millions of lives
3 a quirky comedy set in newfoundland that cleverly captures the dry wit thats so prevalent on the rock
3 what bubbles up out of john c walshs pipe dream is the distinct and very welcome sense of watching intelligent people making a movie they might actually want to watch
2 you do nt want to call the cops
2 a canny derivative wildly gruesome portrait of a london sociopath whos the scariest of sadists
4 a genuinely moving and wisely unsentimental drama
2 youd think by now america would have had enough of plucky british eccentrics with hearts of gold
2 after collateral damage
1 the truth about charlie is that its a brazenly misguided project
3 some of the most inventive silliness you are likely to witness in a movie theatre for some time
1 its tommys job to clean the peep booths surrounding her and after viewing this one youll feel like mopping up too
4 the story ultimately takes hold and grips hard
4 despite the predictable parent vs child comingofage theme firstclass natural acting and a look at the real americans make this a charmer
0 another wholly unnecessary addition to the growing moldering pile of well extreme stunt pictures
3 bound to appeal to women looking for a howlingly trashy time
4 boisterous heartfelt comedy
1 the redeeming feature of chans films has always been the action but the stunts in the tuxedo seem tired and whats worse routine
2 it plays like a bigbudget afterschool special with a generous cast who at times lift the material from its wellmeaning clunkiness
2 the vistas are sweeping and the acting is far from painful
0 a gratingly unfunny groaner littered with zerodimensional unlikable characters and hackneyed threadbare comic setups
0 its hard to imagine another director ever making his wife look so bad in a major movie
2 nair does nt use lrb monsoon wedding rrb to lament the loss of culture
4 much of it comes from the brave uninhibited performances by its lead actors
1 but even then id recommend waiting for dvd and just skipping straight to her scenes
3 there are some movies that hit you from the first scene and you know its going to be a trip
3 hes the scariest guy youll see all summer
2 a movie that falls victim to frazzled wackiness and frayed satire
3 this is the kind of subject matter that could so easily have been fumbled by a lesser filmmaker but ayres makes the right choices at every turn
3 this is christmas future for a lot of baby boomers
1 most viewers will wish there had been more of the queen and less of the damned
1 not once does it come close to being exciting
1 if you go into the theater expecting a scary actionpacked chiller you might soon be looking for a sign
0 should have gone straight to video
4 classic cinema served up with heart and humor
1 whats missing is what we call the wow factor
2 perhaps the most annoying thing about who is cletis tout
0 not at all clear what its trying to say and even if it were i doubt it would be all that interesting
1 lacks dramatic punch and depth
1 instead of building to a laugh riot we are left with a handful of disparate funny moments of no real consequence
3 the story that emerges has elements of romance tragedy and even silentmovie comedy
2 quitting delivers a suckerpunch and its impact is all the greater beause director zhangs last film the cuddly shower was a nonthreatening multicharacter piece centered around a public bath house
4 a movie i loved on first sight and even more important love in remembrance
4 kids five and up will be delighted with the fast funny and even touching story
0 what an embarrassment
3 byler is too savvy a filmmaker to let this morph into a typical romantic triangle
3 what empire lacks in depth it makes up for with its heart
4 sensitive ensemble performances and good period reconstruction add up to a moving tragedy with some buoyant human moments
0 as a remake its a pale imitation
3 fessenden has nurtured his metaphors at the expense of his narrative but he does display an original talent
1 frida is nt that much different from many a hollywood romance
3 as actionadventure this spacebased homage to robert louis stevensons treasure island fires on all plasma conduits
3 coppolas directorial debut is an incredibly layered and stylistic film that despite a fairly slow paced almost humdrum approach to character development still manages at least a decent attempt at meaningful cinema
4 both a grand tour through 300 hundred years of russian cultural identity and a stunning technical achievement
2 unintelligible poorly acted brainslappingly bad harvard man is ludicrous enough that it could become a cult classic
0 the animation and game phenomenon that peaked about three years ago is actually dying a slow death if the poor quality of pokemon 4 ever is any indication
1 it is just too bad the films story does not live up to its style
1 sex ironically has little to do with the story which becomes something about how lame it is to try and evade your responsibilities and that you should never ever leave a large dog alone with a toddler
1 the movie is without intent
2 does anyone much think the central story of brendan behan is that he was a bisexual sweetheart before he took to drink
1 director david fincher and writer david koepp ca nt sustain it
3 even though we know the outcome the seesawing of the generals fate in the arguments of competing lawyers has the stomachknotting suspense of a legal thriller while the testimony of witnesses lends the film a resonant undertone of tragedy
3 and they succeed merrily at their noble endeavor
4 an immensely entertaining look at some of the unsung heroes of 20th century pop music
1 too predictably in fact
2 gangs despite the gravity of its subject matter is often as fun to watch as a good spaghetti western
2 its 51 times better than this
3 but its surprisingly harmless
2 you might be shocked to discover that seinfelds real life is boring
4 one of the most splendid entertainments to emerge from the french film industry in years
4 as the movie traces mr browns athletic exploits it is impossible not to be awed by the power and grace of one of the greatest natural sportsmen of modern times
1 once again director chris columbus takes a hatinhand approach to rowling that stifles creativity and allows the film to drag on for nearly three hours
1 in the end the film feels homogenized and a bit contrived as if were looking back at a tattered and ugly past with rosetinted glasses
0 apparently romantic comedy with a fresh point of view just does nt figure in the present hollywood program
0 its hard to imagine any recent film independent or otherwise that makes as much of a mess as this one
3 a solid cast assured direction and complete lack of modern day irony
4 the kind of entertainment that parents love to have their kids see
1 charly comes off as emotionally manipulative and sadly imitative of innumerable past love story derisions
1 the pool drowned me in boredom
0 despite the fact that this film was nt as bad as i thought it was going to be its still not a good movie
4 spy kids 2 also happens to be that rarity among sequels it actually improves upon the original hit movie
2 the people in abc africa are treated as docile mostly wordless ethnographic extras
4 maggie g makes an amazing breakthrough in her first starring role and eats up the screen
4 very wellwritten and very wellacted
4 this fascinating look at israel in ferment feels as immediate as the latest news footage from gaza and because of its heightened wellshaped dramas twice as powerful
3 for more than two decades mr nachtwey has traveled to places in the world devastated by war famine and poverty and documented the cruelty and suffering he has found with an devastating eloquent clarity
3 nice piece of work
4 turturro is fabulously funny and over the top as a very sneaky butler who excels in the art of impossible disappearingreappearing acts
3 a confluence of kiddie entertainment sophisticated wit and symbolic graphic design
3 below may not mark mr twohys emergence into the mainstream but his promise remains undiminished
4 as satisfyingly odd and intriguing a tale as it was a century and a half ago has a delightfully dour deadpan tone and stylistic consistency
1 jacobi the most fluent of actors is given relatively dry material from nijinskys writings to perform and the visuals even erotically frank ones become dullingly repetitive
3 i have always appreciated a smartly written motion picture and whatever flaws igby goes down may possess it is undeniably that
2 juwanna mann
3 who knows but it works under the direction of kevin reynolds
0 a yawnprovoking little farm melodrama
0 the scripts judgment and sense of weight is way way off
4 the solid filmmaking and convincing characters makes this a high water mark for this genre
2 shamelessly resorting to peerelated sight gags that might even cause tom green a grimace still myers energy and the silliness of it all eventually prevail
3 murderous maids has a lot going for it not least the brilliant performances by testud and parmentier
2 the results if not memorable are at least interesting
2 generically forgettably pleasant from start to finish
1 well made but uninvolving bloodwork is nt a terrible movie just a stultifyingly obvious one an unrewarding collar for a murder mystery
0 franco is an excellent choice for the walledoff but combustible hustler but he does not give the transcendent performance sonny needs to overcome gaps in character development and story logic
2 suffice to say that after seeing this movie in imax form youll be more acquainted with the tiniest details of tom hanks face than his wife is
2 it just does nt have much else especially in a moral sense
3 a hallmark film in an increasingly important film industry and worth the look
3 has enough wit energy and geniality to please not only the fanatical adherents on either side but also people who know nothing about the subject and think theyre not interested
3 what one is left with even after the most awful acts are committed is an overwhelming sadness that feels as if it has made its way into your very bloodstream
0 lrb lee rrb treats his audience the same way that jim brown treats his women as dumb credulous unassuming subordinate subjects
3 there is enough originality in life to distance it from the pack of paintbynumber romantic comedies that so often end up on cinema screens
2 a featurelength rrated roadtrip version of mamas family
0 the disjointed mess flows as naturally as jolies hideous yellow do
3 though jackson does nt always succeed in integrating the characters in the foreground into the extraordinarily rich landscape it must be said that he is an imaginative filmmaker who can see the forest for the trees
4 a terrific b movie in fact the best in recent memory
3 this is a film that manages to find greatness in the hue of its drastic iconography
4 the slambang superheroics are kinetic enough to engross even the most antsy youngsters
3 i firmly believe that a good video game movie is going to show up soon
3 can you bear the laughter
0 one of the worst films of 2002
1 needed a little less blingbling and a lot more romance
1 not even solondzs thirst for controversy sketchy characters and immature provocations can fully succeed at cheapening it
1 like a threering circus there are side stories aplenty none of them memorable
3 another entertaining romp from robert rodriguez
3 a family film that contains some hefty thematic material on time death eternity and what is needed to live a rich and full life
4 its a masterpiece
0 i was trying to decide what annoyed me most about god is great im not and then i realized that i just did nt care
2 watching spirited away is like watching an eastern imagination explode
1 the entire point of a shaggy dog story of course is that it goes nowhere and this is classic nowheresville in every sense
3 lrb a rrb smarter and much funnier version of the old police academy flicks
2 it tells its story in a flat manner and leaves you with the impression that you should have gotten more out of it than you did
1 as with so many merchandisedtothemax movies of this type more time appears to have gone into recruiting the right bands for the playlist and the costuming of the stars than into the script which has a handful of smart jokes and not much else
3 foster breathes life into a roll that could have otherwise been bland and run of the mill
2 just how these families interact may surprise you
3 a bmovie you can sit through enjoy on a certain level and then forget
1 trouble every day is a success in some sense but its hard to like a film so cold and dead
2 schneiders mugging is relentless and his constant need to suddenly transpose himself into another character undermines the storys continuity and progression
3 they are what makes it worth the trip to the theatre
3 well it probably wo nt have you swinging from the trees hooting its praises but its definitely worth taking a look
3 a gentle and engrossing character study
2 denver should not get the first and last look at one of the most triumphant performances of vanessa redgraves career
1 butterfingered is the word for the bigfisted direction of jez butterworth who manages to blast even the smallest sensitivities from the romance with his clamorous approach
3 caruso sometimes descends into subtarantino cuteness but for the most part he makes sure the salton sea works the way a good noir should keeping it tight and nasty
2 just watch bettany strut his stuff
3 despite its faults gangs excels in spectacle and pacing
2 the most remarkable lrb and frustrating rrb thing about world traveler which opens today in manhattan is that its protagonist after being an object of intense scrutiny for 104 minutes remains a complete blank
4 mr koshashvili is a director to watch
3 using an endearing cast writerdirector dover kosashvili takes a slightly dark look at relationships both sexual and kindred
2 cubes charisma and chemistry compensate for corniness and cliche
2 its an unusual thoughtful biodrama with a rich subject and some fantastic moments and scenes
3 a living testament to the power of the eccentric and the strange
4 its technically sumptuous but also almost wildly alive
4 its a compelling and horrifying story and the laramie project is worthwhile for reminding us that this sort of thing does in fact still happen in america
2 the film favors the scientific over the spectacular lrb visually speaking rrb
3 it is life affirming and heartbreaking sweet without the decay factor funny and sad
2 the film is explosive but a few of those sticks are wet
0 jackass is a vulgar and cheaplooking version of candid camera staged for the marquis de sade set
3 it rapidly develops into a gutwrenching examination of the way cultural differences and emotional expectations collide
1 attals hangups surrounding infidelity are so oldfashioned and dare i say outdated its a wonder that he could nt have brought something fresher to the proceedings simply by accident
4 most haunting about fence is its conclusion when we hear the ultimate fate of these girls and realize much to our dismay that this really did happen
3 then youd do well to check this one out because its straight up twin peaks action
2 in the real world
3 an original and highly cerebral examination of the psychopathic mind
1 there is no solace here no entertainment value merely a fierce lesson in where filmmaking can take us
2 so earnest and wellmeaning and so stocked with talent that you almost forget the sheer ponderous awfulness of its script
2 my wifes plotting is nothing special its the delivery that matters here
3 likely to have decades of life as a classic movie franchise
3 although shot with little style skins is heartfelt and achingly real
3 few films have captured the chaos of an urban conflagration with such fury and audience members will leave feeling as shaken as nesbitts cooper looks when the bullets stop flying
3 those with a modicum of patience will find in these characters foibles a timeless and unique perspective
3 an unflinching complex portrait of a modern israel that is rarely seen onscreen
3 efteriades gives the neighborhood scenery vibe and all the cinematic equivalent of a big tender hug
1 though it pretends to expose the life of male hustlers its exploitive without being insightful
2 egoyans work often elegantly considers various levels of reality and uses shifting points of view but here he has constructed a film so labyrinthine that it defeats his larger purpose
4 serious and thoughtful
0 kung pow seems like some futile concoction that was developed hastily after oedekerk and his fellow moviemakers got through crashing a college keg party
0 this thing works on no level whatsoever for me
3 shiri is an action film that delivers on the promise of excitement but it also has a strong dramatic and emotional pull that gradually sneaks up on the audience
3 a properly spooky film about the power of spirits to influence us whether we believe in them or not
4 not only a comingofage story and cautionary parable but also a perfectly rendered period piece
3 birthday girl does nt try to surprise us with plot twists but rather seems to enjoy its own transparency
2 a behind the scenes look at the training and dedication that goes into becoming a worldclass fencer and the champion thats made a difference to nyc innercity youth
2 thats not vintage spielberg and that finally is minimally satisfying
0 every now and again a movie comes along to remind us of how very bad a motion picture can truly be
4 raimi and his team could nt have done any better in bringing the story of spiderman to the big screen
0 i still want my money back
1 its unfortunate that wallace who wrote gibsons braveheart as well as the recent pearl harbor has such an irrepressible passion for sappy situations and dialogue
1 this mistakenidentity picture is so filmculture referential that the final product is a ghost
3 a forceful drama of an alienated executive who reinvents himself
1 its kind of sad that so many people put so much time and energy into this turkey
2 charlize chases kevin with a gun
3 the woodman seems to have directly influenced this girlmeetsgirl love story but even more reassuring is how its makers actually seem to understand what made allens romantic comedies so pertinent and enduring
1 cuba gooding jr valiantly mugs his way through snow dogs but even his boisterous energy fails to spark this leaden comedy
1 earnest yet curiously tepid and choppy recycling in which predictability is the only winner
2 the film makes strong arguments regarding the social status of americas indigenous people but really only exists to try to eke out an emotional tug of the heart one which it fails to get
0 spreads itself too thin leaving these actors as well as the members of the commune short of profound characterizations
3 a completely spooky piece of business that gets under your skin and some plot blips aside stays there for the duration
0 martin lawrence live is so selfpitying i almost expected there to be a collection taken for the comedian at the end of the show
3 an entertaining if somewhat standardized action movie
1 it has no affect on the kurds but it wore me down
3 ken russell would love this
0 thumbs down
2 bang
0 the movie suffers from two fatal ailments a dearth of vitality and a story thats shapeless and uninflected
2 this may be dover kosashvilis feature directing debut but it looks an awful lot like life gritty awkward and ironic
4 the trials of henry kissinger is a remarkable piece of filmmaking because you get it
3 deserves a place of honor next to nanook as a landmark in film history
4 like the best of godards movies it is visually ravishing penetrating impenetrable
1 the films most improbable feat
4 puts to rest any thought that the german film industry can not make a delightful comedy centering on food
1 comes off like a bad imitation of the bard
3 a great cast and a wonderful but sometimes confusing flashback movie about growing up in a dysfunctional family
0 stealing harvard will dip into your wallet swipe 90 minutes of your time and offer you precisely this in recompense a few early laughs scattered around a plot as thin as it is repetitious
2 neither a rousing success nor a blinding embarrassment
4 a heroic tale of persistence that is sure to win viewers hearts
2 not the best herzog perhaps but unmistakably herzog
1 all mood and no movie
3 an infinitely wittier version of the home alone formula
3 the films appeal has a lot to do with the casting of juliette binoche as sand who brings to the role her pale dark beauty and characteristic warmth
2 the result is more depressing than liberating but its never boring
3 though it lacks the utter authority of a genre gem theres a certain robustness to this engaging mix of love and bloodletting
0 a movie so bad that it quickly enters the pantheon of wreckage that includes battlefield earth and showgirls
0 the script falls back on too many triedandtrue shenanigans that hardly distinguish it from the next teen comedy
4 ms seigner and mr serrault bring fresh unforced naturalism to their characters
4 admirers of director abel ferrara may be relieved that his latest feature r xmas marks a modest if encouraging return to form
4 witty contemplative and sublimely beautiful
3 passions obsessions and loneliest dark spots are pushed to their most virtuous limits lending the narrative an unusually surreal tone
4 a chance to see three splendid actors turn a larky chase movie into an emotionally satisfying exploration of the very human need to be somebody and to belong to somebody
4 one of the more influential works of the korean new wave
2 the best drug addition movies are usually depressing but rewarding
3 undoubtedly the scariest movie ever made about tattoos
2 the good thing the only good thing about extreme ops is that its so inane that it gave me plenty of time to ponder my thanksgiving todo list
2 to show these characters in the act and give them no feelings of remorse and to cut repeatedly to the flashback of the original rape is overkill to the highest degree
3 george clooney in his first directorial effort presents this utterly ridiculous shaggy dog story as one of the most creative energetic and original comedies to hit the screen in years
0 alas getting there is not even half the interest
2 this is nt a retooled genre piece the tale of a guy and his gun but an amiably idiosyncratic work
3 its sweet
1 do we really need another film that praises female selfsacrifice
4 be prepared to cling to the edge of your seat tense with suspense
3 it may be a somewhat backhanded compliment to say that the film makes the viewer feel like the movies various victimized audience members after a while but it also happens to be the movies most admirable quality
1 may work as an addictive guilty pleasure but the material never overcomes its questionable satirical ambivalence
2 if deuces wild had been tweaked up a notch it would have become a camp adventure one of those movies thats so bad it starts to become good
3 an engrossing iranian film about two itinerant teachers and some lost and desolate people they encounter in a place where war has savaged the lives and liberties of the poor and the dispossessed
1 throughout all the tumult a question comes to mind so why is this so boring
2 it must be in the genes
2 his scenes are short and often unexpected
3 as animation increasingly emphasizes the computer and the cool this is a film that takes a stand in favor of tradition and warmth
3 the story is smart and entirely charming in intent and execution
3 that rare film whose reallife basis is in fact so interesting that no embellishment is needed
4 a powerful and telling story that examines forbidden love racial tension and other issues that are as valid today as they were in the 1950s
4 are both superb while huppert is magnificent
1 if divine secrets of the yaya sisterhood suffers from a ploddingly melodramatic structure it comes to life in the performances
1 devolves into the derivative leaning on badlyrendered cgi effects
4 in a summer overrun with movies dominated by cgi aliens and super heroes it revigorates the mind to see a feature that concentrates on people a project in which the script and characters hold sway
3 the unexpected thing is that its dying in this shower of blackandwhite psychedelia is quite beautiful
0 bad movie
1 its a movie that ends with truckzilla for cryin out loud
1 episode ii attack of the clones is a technological exercise that lacks juice and delight
2 its been 20 years since 48 hrs
2 its all entertaining enough but do nt look for any hefty antiestablishment message in what is essentially a whipcrack of a buddy movie that ends with a whimper
3 a bright inventive thoroughly winning flight of revisionist fancy
3 if theres no art here its still a good yarn which is nothing to sneeze at these days
2 a closetosolid espionage thriller with the misfortune of being released a few decades too late
2 its harmless diverting fluff
4 its a hoot watching the rock chomp on jumbo ants pull an arrow out of his back and leap unscathed through raging fire
4 scherfig the writerdirector has made a film so unabashedly hopeful that it actually makes the heart soar
2 cinematic pratfalls given a working over
3 talk to her is so darned assured we have absolutely no idea who the main characters are until the film is well under way and yet its hard to stop watching
4 a miraculous movie im going home is so slight yet overflows with wisdom and emotion
3 wang xiaoshuai directs this intricately structured and wellrealized drama that presents a fascinating glimpse of urban life and the class warfare that embroils two young men
1 nohe has made a decent intro documentary but he feels like a spectator and not a participant
3 most thrillers send audiences out talking about specific scary scenes or startling moments frailty leaves us with the terrifying message that the real horror may be waiting for us at home
3 the pain loneliness and insecurity of the screenwriting process are vividly and painfully brought to slovenly life in this selfdeprecating biting and witty feature written by charlie kaufman and his twin brother donald and directed by spike jonze
1 imagine susan sontag falling in love with howard stern
4 sexy and romantic
1 a feeble tootsie knockoff
0 its supposed to be postfeminist breezy but ends up as tedious as the chatter of parrots raised on oprah
2 blade ii has a brilliant director and charismatic star but it suffers from rampant vampire devaluation
3 it finds its moviegoing pleasures in the tiny events that could make a person who has lived her life halfasleep suddenly wake up and take notice
1 releasing a film with the word dog in its title in january lends itself to easy jokes and insults and snow dogs deserves every single one of them
1 here the love scenes all end in someone screaming
2 has its moments but ultimately its curmudgeon does nt quite make the cut of being placed on any list of favorites
4 the riveting performances by the incredibly flexible cast make love a joy to behold
3 theres undeniable enjoyment to be had from films crammed with movie references but the fun wears thin then out when theres nothing else happening
2 each punch seen through prison bars the fights become not so much a struggle of man vs man as brotherman vs the man
2 personal velocity ought to be exploring these womens inner lives but it never moves beyond their surfaces
2 to work love stories require the full emotional involvement and support of a viewer
4 adams with four scriptwriters takes care with the characters who are so believable that you feel what they feel
3 the film gets close to the chimps the same way goodall did with a serious minded patience respect and affection
1 while this one gets off with a good natured warning future lizard endeavors will need to adhere more closely to the laws of laughter
1 what blade runner wouldve looked like as a lowbudget series on a uhf channel
1 its a film with an idea buried somewhere inside its fabric but never clearly seen or felt
3 a good film with a solid pedigree both in front of and more specifically behind the camera
2 while serving sara does have a long way to go before it reaches the level of crudity in the latest austin powers extravaganza theres nothing here to match that movies intermittent moments of inspiration
3 simultaneously heartbreaking and very funny the last kiss is really all about performances
1 the story passes time until its time for an absurd finale of twisted metal fireballs and revenge
2 its a tour de force written and directed so quietly that its implosion rather than explosion you fear
3 brought to life on the big screen
1 is an inexpressible and drab wannabe looking for that exact niche
1 by the time the surprise ending is revealed interest can not be revived
4 the film sparkles with the the wisdom and humor of its subjects
0 a hokey piece of nonsense that tries too hard to be emotional
1 and for all the wrong reasons besides
3 alas its the man that makes the clothes
3 as janice eileen walsh an engaging wideeyed actress whose teeth are a little too big for her mouth infuses the movie with much of its slender glinting charm
3 quiet adult and just about more stately than any contemporary movie this year a true study a film with a questioning heart and mind that is nt afraid to admit it does nt have all the answers
2 less cinematically powerful than quietly and deeply moving which is powerful in itself
3 whats most memorable about circuit is that its shot on digital video whose tiny camera enables shafer to navigate spaces both large and small with considerable aplomb
4 best of all is garcia who perfectly portrays the desperation of a very insecure man
3 mr clooney mr kaufman and all their collaborators are entitled to take a deep bow for fashioning an engrossing entertainment out of an almost surefire prescription for a critical and commercial disaster
4 a remarkably insightful look at the backstage angst of the standup comic
1 wewannour money back actually
3 the mood look and tone of the film fit the incredible storyline to a t
3 if ayurveda can help us return to a sane regimen of eating sleeping and stressreducing contemplation it is clearly a good thing
3 a gangster movie with the capacity to surprise
1 deserving of its critical backlash and more
2 has its share of arresting images
1 starts as a tart little lemon drop of a movie and ends up as a bitter pill
3 theres a lot of tooth in roger dodger
2 how about starting with a more original story instead of just slapping extreme humor and grossout gags on top of the same old crap
0 certain to be distasteful to children and adults alike eight crazy nights is a total misfire
0 director jay russell weighs down his capricious fairytale with heavy sentiment and lightweight meaning
0 mckay seems embarrassed by his own invention and tries to rush through the intermediary passages apparently hoping that the audience will not notice the glaring triteness of the plot device he has put in service
0 one ca nt shake the feeling that crossroads is nothing more than an hourandahalflong commercial for britneys latest album
1 the mantra behind the project seems to have been its just a kids flick
4 often shocking but ultimately worthwhile exploration of motherhood and desperate mothers
1 exhibits the shallow sensationalism characteristic of soap opera more salacious telenovela than serious drama
3 this charming but slight tale has warmth wit and interesting characters compassionately portrayed
0 a shame that stealing harvard is too busy getting in its own way to be anything but frustrating boring and forgettable
1 youll feel like you ate a reeses without the peanut butter
2 its an oftencute film but either needs more substance to fill the time or some judicious editing
1 this latest installment of the horror film franchise that is apparently as invulnerable as its trademark villain has arrived for an incongruous summer playoff demonstrating yet again that the era of the intelligent wellmade b movie is long gone
0 this is not one of the movies youd want to watch if you only had a week to live
1 it all seemed wasted like deniros once promising career and the once grand long beach boardwalk
4 an inuit masterpiece that will give you goosebumps as its uncanny tale of love communal discord and justice unfolds
1 the movie itself appears to be running on hypertime in reverse as the truly funny bits get further and further apart
0 the story is bogus and its characters tissuethin
1 ponderous plodding soap opera disguised as a feature film
1 for casual moviegoers who stumble into rules expecting a slice of american pie hijinks starring the kid from dawsons creek theyll probably run out screaming
0 should nt have been allowed to use the word new in its title because theres not an original character siuation or joke in the entire movie
0 totally overwrought deeply biased and wholly designed to make you feel guilty about ignoring what the filmmakers clearly believe are the greatest musicians of all time
4 this is a stunning film a oneofakind tour de force
4 its a wise and powerful tale of race and culture forcefully told with superb performances throughout
3 its an entertaining movie and the effects boosted to the size of a downtown hotel will all but take you to outer space
3 as they used to say in the 1950s scifi movies signs is a tribute to shyamalans gifts which are such that well keep watching the skies for his next project
1 instead of a witty expose on the banality and hypocrisy of too much kidvid we get an ugly meanspirited lashing out by an adult whos apparently been forced by his kids to watch too many barney videos
1 a technical triumph and an extraordinary bore
4 its quaid who anchors the film with his effortless performance and that trademark grin of his so perfect for a ballplayer
3 making such a tragedy the backdrop to a love story risks trivializing it though chouraqui no doubt intended the film to affirm loves power to help people endure almost unimaginable horror
1 instead of contriving a climactic heros death for the belovedmajor characterwhoshall remainnameless why not invite some genuine spontaneity into the film by having the evil aliens laser guns actually hit something for once
3 mel gibson fights the good fight in vietnam in director randall wallaces flagwaving war flick with a core of decency
4 barry convinces us hes a dangerous secretly unhinged guy who could easily have killed a president because it made him feel powerful
4 not only does spiderman deliver but i suspect it might deliver again and again
1 not so much farcical as sour
3 its burns visuals characters and his punchy dialogue not his plot that carry waydowntown
1 kapurs contradictory feelings about his material result in a movie that works against itself
1 the problem amazingly enough is the screenplay
2 tom shadyac has learned a bit more craft since directing adams but he still lingers over every point until the slowest viewer grasps it
4 isabelle huppert excels as the enigmatic mika and anna mouglalis is a stunning new young talent in one of chabrols most intense psychological mysteries
3 the production values are of the highest and the performances attractive without being memorable
4 nairs attention to detail creates an impeccable sense of place while thurman and lewis give what can easily be considered careerbest performances
3 in no way original or even all that memorable but as downtown saturday matinee brain candy it does nt disappoint
0 completely awful iranian drama as much fun as a grouchy ayatollah in a cold mosque
3 by turns fanciful grisly and engagingly quixotic
0 neither revelatory nor truly edgy merely crassly flamboyant and comedically labored
2 theres not much to fatale outside of its stylish surprises but thats ok
0 the film has a nearly terminal case of the cutes and its neither as funny nor as charming as it thinks it is
3 the gentle comic treatment of adolescent sturm und drang should please fans of chris fuhrmans posthumously published cult novel
4 holofcener rejects patent solutions to dramatize lifes messiness from inside out in all its strange quirks
3 rogerss mouth never stops shut about the war between the sexes and how to win the battle
3 it grabs you in the dark and shakes you vigorously for its duration
1 this cloying voicesfromtheotherside story is hell
3 and theres no way you wo nt be talking about the film once you exit the theater
3 children and adults enamored of all things pokemon wo nt be disappointed
1 the films hero is a bore and his innocence soon becomes a questionable kind of inexcusable dumb innocence
1 bogdanich is unashamedly proserbian and makes little attempt to give voice to the other side
4 an extraordinary dramatic experience
4 its a great performance and a reminder of dickens grandeur
1 it looks good but it is essentially empty
1 slap her shes not funny
2 last dance whatever its flaws fulfills one facet of its mission in making me want to find out whether in this case thats true
3 the story plays out slowly but the characters are intriguing and realistic
0 the films considered approach to its subject matter is too calm and thoughtful for agitprop and the thinness of its characterizations makes it a failure as straight drama
1 the laughs are as rare as snake foo yung
1 this is nt a movie its a symptom
3 but it will just as likely make you weep and it will do so in a way that does nt make you feel like a sucker
2 though the opera itself takes place mostly indoors jacquot seems unsure of how to evoke any sort of naturalism on the set
1 one of those films that seems tailor made to air on pay cable to offer some modest amusements when one has nothing else to watch
4 young hanks and fisk who vaguely resemble their celebrity parents bring fresh good looks and an ease in front of the camera to the work
1 eight legged freaks
3 fierce glaring and unforgettable
3 though lan yu lacks a sense of dramatic urgency the film makes up for it with a pleasing verisimilitude
2 wallace directs with such patronising reverence it turns the stomach
0 no i hate it
1 its drab
1 the sort of picture in which whenever one of the characters has some serious soul searching to do they go to a pictureperfect beach during sunset
3 psychologically savvy
4 another best of the year selection
3 as played by ryan gosling danny is a frighteningly fascinating contradiction
1 better described as a ghost story gone badly awry
4 an asian neorealist treasure
1 an achingly enthralling premise the film is hindered by uneven dialogue and plot lapses
2 disappointingly the characters are too strange and dysfunctional tom included to ever get under the skin but this is compensated in large part by the offthewall dialogue visual playfulness and the outlandishness of the idea itself
4 see scratch for the history see scratch for the music see scratch for a lesson in scratching but most of all see it for the passion
0 a rumor of angels does nt just slip it avalanches into forced fuzziness
1 not only is it hokey manipulative and as bland as wonder bread dipped in milk but it also does the absolute last thing we need hollywood doing to us it preaches
3 however its pleasant enough and its ecological prowildlife sentiments are certainly welcome
3 dogtown zboys evokes the blithe rebel fantasy with the kind of insouciance embedded in the sexy demise of james dean
2 tony gaytons script does nt give us anything we have nt seen before but director dj carusos grimy visual veneer and kilmers absorbing performance increase the gravitational pull considerably
1 the story has its redundancies and the young actors not very experienced are sometimes inexpressive
3 compared to his series of spectacular belly flops both on and off the screen runteldat is something of a triumph
1 watching it was painful
3 while not for every taste this often very funny collegiate grossout comedy goes a long way toward restoring the luster of the national lampoon film franchise too long reduced to directtovideo irrelevancy
4 theres no reason to miss interview with the assassin
3 a knowing look at female friendship spiked with raw urban humor
0 ive never seen lrb a remake rrb do anything as stomachturning as the way adam sandlers new movie rapes pillages and incinerates frank capras classic
1 been there done that a thousand times already and better
2 each scene wreaks of routine the film never manages to generate a single threat of suspense
3 nettelbeck has a pleasing way with a metaphor
2 succeeds only because bullock and grant were made to share the silver screen
2 its almost as if its an elaborate dare more than a fullblooded film
4 mike whites deft combination of serious subject matter and dark funny humor make the good girl a film worth watching
3 the films unhurried pace is actually one of its strengths
3 a cutesy romantic tale with a twist
1 a bizarre piece of work with premise and dialogue at the level of kids television and plot threads as morose as teen pregnancy rape and suspected murder
3 a competent unpretentious entertainment destined to fill the afterschool slot at shopping mall theaters across the country
3 while dutifully pulling on heartstrings directors dean deblois and chris sanders valiantly keep punching up the mix
0 feels at times like a giant commercial for universal studios where much of the action takes place
4 its the brilliant surfing photography bringing you right inside the massive waves that lifts blue crush into one of the summers most pleasurable movies
3 the last scenes of the film are anguished bitter and truthful
1 the romance between the leads is nt as compelling or as believable as it should be
3 a lyrical metaphor for cultural and personal selfdiscovery and a picaresque view of a littleremembered world
0 but the film itself is ultimately quite unengaging
1 fluffy and disposible
1 theres an underlying old world sexism to monday morning that undercuts its charm
3 while the material is slight the movie is better than you might think
4 theres nothing like love to give a movie a b12 shot and cq shimmers with it
1 the corpse count ultimately overrides what little we learn along the way about vicarious redemption
1 at every opportunity to do something clever the film goes right over the edge and kills every sense of believability all you have left is a nosurprise series of explosions and violence while banderas looks like hes not trying to laugh at how bad it
1 the criticism never rises above easy cynical potshots at morally bankrupt characters
3 though its equally solipsistic in tone the movie has enough vitality to justify the notion of creating a screen adaptation of evans saga of hollywood excess
1 little more than a stylish exercise in revisionism whose point is no doubt true but serves as a rather thin moral to such a knowing fable
4 one regards reign of fire with awe
4 if anything the film is doing something of a public service shedding light on a group of extremely talented musicians who might otherwise go unnoticed and underappreciated by music fans
3 an adorably whimsical comedy that deserves more than a passing twinkle
0 the innate theatrics that provide its thrills and extreme emotions lose their luster when flattened onscreen
2 parents on the other hand will be ahead of the plot at all times and there is nt enough clever innuendo to fil
1 theres the plot and a maddeningly insistent and repetitive piano score that made me want to scream
1 if the predictability of bland comfort food appeals to you then the film is a pleasant enough dish
0 an exercise in cynicism every bit as ugly as the shabby digital photography and muddy sound
1 just another generic drama that has nothing going for it other than its exploitive array of obligatory cheap thrills
2 strictly middle of the road
1 the film is undone by anachronistic quick edits and occasional jarring glimpses of a modern theater audience watching the events unfold
0 this kiddieoriented stinker is so bad that i even caught the gum stuck under my seat trying to sneak out of the theater
1 the filmmakers keep pushing the jokes at the expense of character until things fall apart
1 twobit potboiler
0 gaping plot holes sink this sub standard thriller and drag audience enthusiasm to crush depth
2 now he makes them
2 its a bizarre curiosity memorable mainly for the way it fritters away its potentially interesting subject matter via a banal script unimpressive acting and indifferent direction
3 the powder blues and sunsplashed whites of tunis make an alluring backdrop for this sensuous and spirited tale of a prim widow who finds an unlikely release in bellydancing clubs
3 the amazing film work is so convincing that by movies end youll swear you are wet in some places and feel sand creeping in others
2 an insular world
2 a violent initiation rite for the audience as much as it is for angelique the lrb opening rrb dance guarantees karmens enthronement among the cinemas memorable women
4 that jack nicholson makes this man so watchable is a tribute not only to his craft but to his legend
0 what you expect is just what you get assuming the bar of expectations has nt been raised above sixthgrade height
3 for all its brooding quality ash wednesday is suspenseful and ultimately unpredictable with a sterling ensemble cast
0 hollywood ending is the most disappointing woody allen movie ever
3 all in all a great party
1 only masochistic moviegoers need apply
3 caviezel embodies the transformation of his character completely
4 rarely have i seen a film so willing to champion the fallibility of the human heart
0 the entire film is one big excuse to play one lewd scene after another
2 leighs daring here is that without once denying the hardscrabble lives of people on the economic fringes of margaret thatchers ruinous legacy he insists on the importance of those moments when people can connect and express their love for each other
1 lrb h rrb ad i suffered and bled on the hard ground of ia drang id want something a bit more complex than we were soldiers to be remembered by
3 the filmmakers wisely decided to let crocodile hunter steve irwin do what he does best and fashion a story around him
2 despite the pyrotechnics narc is strictly by the book
3 its the cute frissons of discovery and humor between chaplin and kidman that keep this nicely wound clock not just ticking but humming
4 simply and eloquently articulates the tangled feelings of particular new yorkers deeply touched by an unprecedented tragedy
1 collapses under its own meager weight
1 the good girl is a film in which the talent is undeniable but the results are underwhelming
1 start reading your scripts before signing that dotted line
4 a stirring funny and finally transporting reimagining of beauty and the beast and 1930s horror films
0 abysmally pathetic
4 the best animated feature to hit theaters since beauty and the beast 11 years ago
2 a farce of a parody of a comedy of a premise it is nt a comparison to reality so much as it is a commentary about our knowledge of films
3 its surprisingly decent particularly for a tenth installment in a series
3 rubbos humorously tendentious intervention into the whowroteshakespeare controversy
1 spains greatest star wattage does nt overcome the tumult of maudlin tragedy
2 real women have curves does nt offer any easy answers
1 that neither protagonist has a distinguishable condition hardly matters because both are just actory concoctions defined by childlike dimness and a handful of quirks
1 replacing john carpenters stylish tracking shots is degraded handheld blair witch videocam footage
2 your response to its new sequel analyze that may hinge on what you thought of the first film
3 smarter than its commercials make it seem
2 missteps take what was otherwise a fascinating riveting story and send it down the path of the mundane
1 whats really sad is to see two academy award winning actresses lrb and one academy award winning actor rrb succumb to appearing in this junk thats tv sitcom material at best
2 who are they
2 at the films centre is a precisely layered performance by an actor in his midseventies michel piccoli
2 everything is pegged into the groove of a new york dating comedy with issues to simplify
3 a weird arresting little ride
3 one funny popcorn flick
4 but as you watch the movie youre too interested to care
3 shortstory quaint touchingly mending a childs pain for his dead mother via communication with an old woman straight out of eudora welty
2 its difficult to discern if this is a crazy work of disturbed genius or merely 90 minutes of postadolescent electra rebellion
2 an unremarkable modern actioncomedy buddy movie whose only nod to nostalgia is in the title
1 helmer hudlin tries to make a hip comedy but his dependence on slapstick defeats the possibility of creating a more darkly edged tome
4 i am highly amused by the idea that we have come to a point in society where it has been deemed important enough to make a film in which someone has to be hired to portray richard dawson
3 earnest unsubtle and hollywoodpredictable green dragon is still a deeply moving effort to put a human face on the travail of thousands of vietnamese
2 an average comingofage tale elevated by the wholesome twist of a pesky mother interfering during her sons discovery of his homosexuality
2 consider this review lifeaffirming
2 the films heady yet far from impenetrable theory suggests that russians take comfort in their closedoff nationalist reality
2 freundlichs made lrb crudup rrb a suburban architect and a cipher
3 theres something poignant about an artist of 90plus years taking the effort to share his impressions of life and loss and time and art with us
4 stay for the credits and see a devastating comic impersonation by dustin hoffman that is revelatory
3 the sentimental script has problems but the actors pick up the slack
1 opera on film is never satisfactory
1 i am more offended by his lack of faith in his audience than by anything on display here
1 humor in i spy is so anemic
1 a fairly harmless but ultimately lifeless featurelength afterschool special
1 you can tell almost immediately that welcome to collinwood is nt going to jell
2 grownup quibbles are beside the point here
1 although purportedly a study in modern alienation its really little more than a particularly slanted gay sm fantasy enervating and deadeningly drawnout
1 a piece of mildly entertaining inoffensive fluff that drifts aimlessly for 90 minutes before lodging in the cracks of that evergrowing category unembarrassing but unmemorable
2 its vision of that awkward age when sex threatens to overwhelm everything else is acute enough to make everyone who has been there squirm with recognition
4 remarkable for its intelligence and intensity
1 an opportunity missed
2 its sobering particularly if anyone still thinks this conflict can be resolved easily or soon
3 ub equally spoofs and celebrates the more outre aspects of black culture and the dorkier aspects of white culture even as it points out how inseparable the two are
3 it excels because unlike so many other hollywood movies of its ilk it offers hope
4 the most amazing supersized dosage of goofball stunts any jackass fan could want
1 this directors cut which adds 51 minutes takes a great film and turns it into a mundane soap opera
4 consummate actor barry has done excellent work here
4 majidis direction has never been smoother or more confident
3 trapped presents a frightening and compelling what if
2 none of his actors stand out but thats less of a problem here than it would be in another film characterization matters less than atmosphere
2 you have once again entered the bizarre realm where director adrian lyne holds sway where all relationships are simultaneously broadly metaphorical oddly abstract and excruciatingly literal
4 et works because its flabbergasting principals 14yearold robert macnaughton 6yearold drew barrymore and 10yearold henry thomas convince us of the existence of the wise wizened visitor from a faraway planet
3 a film of quiet power
4 changing lanes is an anomaly for a hollywood movie its a wellwritten and occasionally challenging social drama that actually has something interesting to say
1 if any of them list this credit on their resumes in the future thatll be much funnier than anything in the film
4 an enthralling entertaining feature
3 a film neither bitter nor sweet neither romantic nor comedic neither warm nor fuzzy
1 painfully padded
4 its worth taking the kids to
0 im not sure which half of dragonfly is worse the part where nothings happening or the part where somethings happening but its stupid
2 this movie has a strong message about never giving up on a loved one but its not an easy movie to watch and will probably disturb many who see it
0 the characters are never more than sketches which leaves any true emotional connection or identification frustratingly out of reach
3 drug abuse infidelity and death are nt usually comedy fare but turpins film allows us to chuckle through the angst
0 muddled melodramatic paranormal romance is an alltime low for kevin costner
0 the rest of the film is dudsville
1 do nt say you were nt warned
0 its fitting that a movie as artificial and soulless as the country bears owes its genesis to an animatronic display at disneyland
2 less on forced air
2 reeboir varies between a sweet smile and an angry bark while said attempts to wear down possible pupils through repetition
1 strictly a guys film in the worst sense of the expression
3 reno himself can take credit for most of the movies success
3 almost everyone growing up believes their family must look like the addams family to everyone looking in my big fat greek wedding comes from the heart
2 an amalgam of the fugitive blade runner and total recall only without much energy or tension
1 a portrait of alienation so perfect it will certainly succeed in alienating most viewers
2 dong shows how intolerance has the power to deform families then tear them apart
1 boasting some of the most poorly staged and lit action in memory impostor is as close as you can get to an imitation movie
0 nothing about the film with the possible exception of elizabeth hurleys breasts is authentic
2 passable enough for a shootout in the ok court house of life type of flick
4 a highly spirited imaginative kids movie that broaches neoaugustinian theology is god stuck in heaven because hes afraid of his bestknown creation
3 for all the charm of kevin kline and a story that puts oldfashioned values under the microscope theres something creepy about this movie
0 mckay shows crushingly little curiosity about or is illequipped to examine the interior lives of the characters in his film much less incorporate them into his narrative
1 its like rocky and bullwinkle on speed but thats neither completely enlightening nor does it catch the intensity of the movies strangeness
1 i do nt think this movie loves women at all
1 if you are willing to do this then you so crazy
3 a bodiceripper for intellectuals
2 the master of disguise is funny not ha ha funny dead circus performer funny
1 made to be jaglomized is the cannes film festival the annual riviera spree of flesh buzz blab and money
3 at once a testament to the divine calling of education and a demonstration of the painstaking process of imparting knowledge
1 plays like one long meandering sketch inspired by the works of john waters and todd solondz rather than a fully developed story
0 an unholy mess driven by the pathetic idea that if you shoot something on crummylooking videotape it must be labelled hip innovative and realistic
4 wo nt be placed in the pantheon of the best of the swashbucklers but it is a whole lot of fun and you get to see the one of the worlds best actors daniel auteuil have a whale of a good time
2 the video work is so grainy and rough so dependent on being naturalistic rather than carefully lit and set up that its exhausting to watch
1 cold pretentious thoroughly dislikable study in sociopathy
3 puts a refreshing and comical spin on the alltoofamiliar saga of the contemporary single woman
4 the cast is topnotch and i predict there will be plenty of female audience members drooling over michael idemoto as michael
2 a romance
2 might be one of those vanity projects in which a renowned filmmaker attempts to show off his talent by surrounding himself with untalented people
1 the biggest problem i have lrb other than the very sluggish pace rrb is we never really see her esther blossom as an actress even though her talent is supposed to be growing
2 has the marks of a septuagenarian its a crusty treatment of a clever gimmick
2 the problems of the people in love in the time of money are hardly specific to their era
4 fuses the events of her life with the imagery in her paintings so vividly that the artists work may take on a striking new significance for anyone who sees the film
2 its a good film but it falls short of its aspiration to be a true epic
4 quite simply a joy to watch and especially to listen to
3 as an actors showcase harts war has much to recommend it even if the topbilled willis is not the most impressive player
2 its too bad nothing else is
0 the crap continues
1 something has been lost in the translation another routine hollywood frightfest in which the slack execution italicizes the absurdity of the premise
1 when the casting call for this movie went out it must have read seeking anyone with acting ambition but no sense of pride or shame
1 though her fans will assuredly have their funny bones tickled others will find their humorseeking dollars best spent elsewhere
0 the movie is almost completely lacking in suspense surprise and consistent emotional conviction
4 wickedly funny visually engrossing never boring this movie challenges us to think about the ways we consume pop culture
1 the piano teacher like its title character is repellantly out of control
2 directorchef gabriele muccino keeps it fast zippy comin at ya as if fearing that his film is molto superficiale
2 veers uncomfortably close to proserb propaganda
1 its makes a better travelogue than movie
3 bravo for history rewritten and for the uncompromising knowledge that the highest power of all is the power of love
1 its also built on a faulty premise one it follows into melodrama and silliness
3 this is the stuff that disney movies are made of
3 for those who like quirky slightly strange french films this is a must
3 this is one of the rarest kinds of films a familyoriented nondisney film that is actually funny without hitting below the belt
0 horrible
4 a strong first act and absolutely inescapably gorgeous skyscrapertrapeze motion of the amazing spiderman
1 moves in such odd plot directions and descends into such messagemongering moralism that its good qualities are obscured
3 an energetic violent movie with a momentum that never lets up
3 he allows his cast members to make creative contributions to the story and dialogue
1 will undoubtedly play well in european markets where mr besson is a brand name and in asia where ms shu is an institution but american audiences will probably find it familiar and insufficiently cathartic
2 simultaneously heartbreakingly beautiful and exquisitely sad
0 the exclamation point seems to be the only bit of glee youll find in this dreary mess
2 so verbally flatfooted and so emotionally predictable or bland that it plays like the standard madefortv movie
2 wow a jump cut
3 it has a way of seeping into your consciousness with lingering questions about what the film is really getting at
2 apparently writerdirector attal thought he need only cast himself and his moviestar wife sitting around in their drawers to justify a film
1 a jumbled fantasy comedy that did not figure out a coherent game plan at scripting shooting or postproduction stages
1 neither as scaryfunny as tremors nor dementedfunny as starship troopers the movie is nt tough to take as long as youve paid a matinee price
3 lrb barry rrb gives assassin a disquieting authority
0 without shakespeares eloquent language the update is dreary and sluggish
3 it wo nt hold up over the long haul but in the moment finchs tale provides the forgettable pleasures of a saturday matinee
2 its the type of stunt the academy loves a powerful political message stuffed into an otherwise mediocre film
3 much of the movies charm lies in the utter cuteness of stuart and margolo
3 both garcia and jagger turn in perfectly executed and wonderfully sympathetic characters who are alternately touching and funny
1 watching junk like this induces a kind of abstract guilt as if you were paying dues for good books unread fine music never heard
4 the film just might turn on many people to opera in general an art form at once visceral and spiritual wonderfully vulgar and sublimely lofty and as emotionally grand as life
4 payne has created a beautiful canvas and nicholson proves once again that hes the best brush in the business
1 i did nt find much fascination in the swinging
1 insomnia loses points when it surrenders to a formulaic bangbang shootemup scene at the conclusion
2 affleck merely creates an outline for a role he still needs to grow into a role that ford effortlessly filled with authority
0 reign of fire has the disadvantage of also looking cheap
2 its another retelling of alexandre dumas classic
3 the first shocking thing about sorority boys is that its actually watchable
4 a fantastically vital movie that manages to invest real humor sensuality and sympathy into a story about two adolescent boys
3 even though the film does nt manage to hit all of its marks its still entertaining to watch the target practice
3 a film that will be best appreciated by those willing to endure its extremely languorous rhythms waiting for happiness is ultimately thoughtful without having much dramatic impact
1 this rather unfocused alloverthemap movie would be a lot better if it pared down its plots and characters to a few rather than dozens or if it were subtler or if it had a sense of humor
2 a creaky staircase gothic
1 white oleander the movie is akin to a readers digest condensed version of the source material
1 this dreadfully earnest inversion of the concubine love triangle eschews the previous films historical panorama and roiling pathos for bugeyed mugging and gayniche condescension
1 the direction by george hickenlooper has no snap to it no wiseacre crackle or hardbitten cynicism
3 beautifully directed and convincingly acted
1 the movie is a lumbering load of hokum but its at least watchable
3 while cherish does nt completely survive its tonal transformation from dark comedy to suspense thriller its got just enough charm and appealing character quirks to forgive that still serious problem
0 it would be churlish to begrudge anyone for receiving whatever consolation that can be found in dragonfly yet it is impossible to find the film anything but appalling shamelessly manipulative and contrived and totally lacking in conviction
1 its not the least of afghan tragedies that this noble warlord would be consigned to the dustbin of history
1 hawkes film a boring pretentious waste of nearly two hours does nt tell you anything except that the chelsea hotel today is populated by whiny pathetic starving and untalented artistes
1 this romanticcomedy asks the question how much souvlaki can you take before indigestion sets in
2 a
3 jaeeun jeongs take care of my cat brings a beguiling freshness to a comingofage story with such a buoyant expressive flow of images that it emerges as another key contribution to the flowering of the south korean cinema
0 depicts the sorriest and most sordid of human behavior on the screen then laughs at how clever its being
3 wow
3 whenever you think youve figured out late marriage it throws you for a loop
3 anyone who ever fantasized about space travel but ca nt afford the 20 million ticket to ride a russian rocket should catch this imax offering
1 the only thing i laughed at were the people who paid to see it
2 this engrossing characteristically complex tom clancy thriller is shifty in the manner in which it addresses current terrorism anxieties and sidesteps them at the same time
3 a suffocating rapepayback horror show that hinges on the subgenres most enabling victim and an ebullient affection for industrialmodel meat freezers
4 with bowling for columbine michael moore gives us the perfect starting point for a national conversation about guns violence and fear
2 the script feels as if it started to explore the obvious voyeuristic potential of hypertime but then backed off when the producers saw the grosses for spy kids
2 the name says it all
1 fails to satisfactorily exploit its gender politics genre thrills or inherent humor
2 the pace and the visuals are so hyped up that a curious sense of menace informs everything
1 im giving it thumbs down due to the endlessly repetitive scenes of embarrassment
1 shows holmes has the screen presence to become a majorleague leading lady lrb but rrb the movie itself is an underachiever a psychological mystery that takes its sweet time building to a climax thats scarcely a surprise by the time it arrives
0 time literally stops on a dime in the triessohardtobecool clockstoppers but that does nt mean it still wo nt feel like the longest 90 minutes of your moviegoing life
2 collateral damage offers formula payback and the big payoff but the explosions tend to simply hit their marks pyrocorrectly
3 k19 the widowmaker is a great yarn
3 its funny as the old saying goes because its true
4 a sexy surprising romance idemoto and kim make a gorgeous pair their scenes brim with sexual possibility and emotional danger
3 a psychic journey deep into the very fabric of iranian life
2 see it now before the inevitable hollywood remake flattens out all its odd intriguing wrinkles
1 a distinctly minor effort that will be seen to better advantage on cable especially considering its barely featurelength running time of one hour
1 rosenthal lrb halloween ii rrb seems to have forgotten everything he ever knew about generating suspense
1 the acting is fine but the script is about as interesting as a recording of conversations at the walmart checkout line
4 fresh and raw like a blownout vein narc takes a walkingdead copflick subgenre and beats new life into it
0 once icet sticks his mug in the window of the couples bmw and begins haranguing the wife in bad stage dialogue all credibility flies out the window
2 theres no question that epps scores once or twice but its telling that his funniest moment comes when he falls about ten feet onto his head
1 earsplitting exercise in formula crashandbash action
4 a strangely stirring experience that finds warmth in the coldest environment and makes each crumb of emotional comfort feel like a 10course banquet
3 one feels the dimming of a certain ambition but in its place a sweetness clarity and emotional openness that recalls the classics of early italian neorealism
2 the grey zone gives voice to a story that needs to be heard in the sea of holocaust movies but the film suffers from its own difficulties
1 its leaden and predictable and laughs are lacking
1 fincher takes no apparent joy in making movies and he gives none to the audience
2 if you want to see a train wreck that you ca nt look away from then look no further because here it is
1 like its title character esther kahn is unusual but unfortunately also irritating
2 the message of such reflections intentional or not is that while no art grows from a vacuum many artists exist in one
4 viveka seldahl and sven wollter will touch you to the core in a film you will never forget that you should never forget
1 solondz is without doubt an artist of uncompromising vision but that vision is beginning to feel if not morally bankrupt at least terribly monotonous
2 a black austin powers
4 a burst of color music and dance that only the most practiced curmudgeon could fail to crack a smile at
1 demme gets a lot of flavor and spice into his charade remake but he ca nt disguise that hes spiffing up leftovers that are nt so substantial or fresh
1 nicolas cage is nt the first actor to lead a group of talented friends astray and this movie wo nt create a ruffle in what is already an erratic career
0 stale and
4 moving and vibrant
3 a penetrating potent exploration of sanctimony selfawareness selfhatred and selfdetermination
2 sum is jack ryans doover
1 an allegory concerning the chronically mixed signals african american professionals get about overachieving could be intriguing but the supernatural trappings only obscure the message
4 the pianist is polanskis best film
4 a compelling gutclutching piece of advocacy cinema that carries you along in a torrent of emotion as it explores the awful complications of one terrifying day
0 its a stale overused cocktail using the same olives since 1962 as garnish
4 enormously enjoyable highadrenaline documentary
3 the past via surrealist flourishes
3 a different movie sometimes tedious by a director many viewers would like to skip but film buffs should get to know
1 an absurdist spider web
4 twenty years later et is still a cinematic touchstone
2 if legendary shlockmeister ed wood had ever made a movie about a vampire it probably would look a lot like this alarming production adapted from anne rices novel the vampire chronicles
2 red dragon is less baroque and showy than hannibal and less emotionally affecting than silence
3 its affecting amusing sad and reflective
3 by turns gripping amusing tender and heartwrenching laissezpasser has all the earmarks of french cinema at its best
1 the dialogue is very choppy and monosyllabic despite the fact that it is being dubbed
1 hokey art house pretension
3 khouri manages with terrific flair to keep the extremes of screwball farce and bloodcurdling family intensity on one continuum
2 then nadias birthday might not have been such a bad day after all
4 a film centering on a traditional indian wedding in contemporary new delhi may not sound like specialized fare but mira nairs film is an absolute delight for all audiences
0 its a frightful vanity film that no doubt pays off what debt miramax felt they owed to benigni
4 an excellent sequel
1 never comes together as a coherent whole
1 its simplicity puts an exclamation point on the fact that this is nt something to be taken seriously but it also wrecks any chance of the movie rising above similar fare
1 prechewed
3 the first five minutes will have you talkingtil the end of the year
0 a loud ugly irritating movie without any of its satirical salvos hitting a discernible target
4 last orders nurtures the multilayers of its characters allowing us to remember that lifes ultimately a gamble and last orders are to be embraced
0 the sweetest thing is expressly for idiots who do nt care what kind of sewage they shovel into their mental gullets to simulate sustenance
0 ultimately the yes snaillike pacing and lack of thematic resonance make the film more silly than scary like some sort of martha stewart decorating program run amok
4 seems based on ugly ideas instead of ugly behavior as happiness was hence storytelling is far more appealing
2 weird vulgar comedy thats definitely an acquired taste
2 directorwriter bille august depicts this relationship with economical grace letting his superb actors convey martins deterioration and barbaras sadness and occasionally anger
3 unlike most anime whose most ardent fans outside japan seem to be introverted young men with fantasy fetishes metropolis never seems hopelessly juvenile
4 wise and elegiac
3 it certainly wo nt win any awards in the plot department but it sets out with no pretensions and delivers big time
0 very much a home video and so devoid of artifice and purpose that it appears not to have been edited at all
4 the story gives ample opportunity for largescale action and suspense which director shekhar kapur supplies with tremendous skill
4 what makes how i killed my father compelling besides its terrific performances is fontaines willingness to wander into the dark areas of parentchild relationships without flinching
1 without lrb de niro rrb city by the sea would slip under the waves
1 it made me realize that we really have nt had a good cheesy bmovie playing in theaters since well since last weeks reign of fire
4 a movie of riveting power and sadness
2 more of an intriguing curiosity than a gripping thriller
3 a worthwhile documentary whether youre into rap or not even if it may still leave you wanting more answers as the credits roll
1 instead go rent shakes the clown a much funnier film with a similar theme and an equally great robin williams performance
3 while we no longer possess the lackofattention span that we did at seventeen we had no trouble sitting for blade ii
1 this actionthrillerdark comedy is one of the most repellent things to pop up in a cinematic year already littered with celluloid garbage
3 brown sugar signals director rick famuyiwas emergence as an articulate grownup voice in africanamerican cinema
4 almodovar is an imaginative teacher of emotional intelligence in this engaging film about two men who discover what william james once called the gift of tears
1 such a fine idea for a film and such a stultifying lifeless execution
2 avarys film never quite emerges from the shadow of ellis book
1 what should have been a painless timekiller becomes instead a grating endurance test
4 its endlessly inventive consistently intelligent and sickeningly savage
3 the journey is worth your time especially if you have ellen pompeo sitting next to you for the ride
1 while the performances are often engaging this loose collection of largely improvised numbers would probably have worked better as a onehour tv documentary
1 leaves viewers out in the cold and undermines some phenomenal performances
1 a tired unimaginative and derivative variation of that alreadyshallow genre
3 yes mibii is rote work and predictable but with a philosophical visual coming right at the end that extravagantly redeems it
1 a bit too eager to please
0 the only thing that distinguishes a randall wallace film from any other is the fact that there is nothing distinguishing in a randall wallace film
4 10 minutes into the film youll be whiteknuckled and unable to look away
4 the determination of pinochets victims to seek justice and their often heartbreaking testimony spoken directly into director patricio guzmans camera pack a powerful emotional wallop
3 writerdirector alexander payne lrb election rrb and his cowriter jim taylor brilliantly employ their quirky and fearless ability to look american angst in the eye and end up laughing
3 the movie is clever offbeat and even gritty enough to overcome my resistance
3 the film presents visceral and dangerously honest revelations about the men and machines behind the curtains of our planet
3 it manages to squeeze by on angelina jolies surprising flair for selfdeprecating comedy
4 a delicious and delicately funny look at the residents of a copenhagen neighborhood coping with the befuddling complications life tosses at them
2 will no doubt delight plymptons legion of fans others may find 80 minutes of these shenanigans exhausting
0 behind the glitz hollywood is sordid and disgusting
3 once folks started hanging out at the barbershop they never wanted to leave
3 lrb has rrb an immediacy and an intimacy that sucks you in and dares you not to believe its all true
0 the characters are so generic and the plot so bland that even as rogue cia assassins working for chris coopers agency boss close in on the resourceful amnesiac we do nt feel much for damonbourne or his predicament
2 malone does have a gift for generating nightmarish images that will be hard to burn out of your brain
2 arty gay film
3 theres a part of us that can not help be entertained by the sight of someone getting away with something
3 mention solaris five years from now and im sure those who saw it will have an opinion to share
4 provides a very moving and revelatory footnote to the holocaust
3 mastering its formidable arithmetic of cameras and souls group articulates a flood of emotion
1 a movie where story is almost an afterthought amidst a swirl of colors and inexplicable events
3 manages to accomplish what few sequels can it equals the original and in some ways even betters it
4 the leads are natural and lovely the pace is serene the humor wry and sprightly
3 cantet beautifully illuminates what it means sometimes to be inside looking out and at other times outside looking in
2 journalism of the 1960s
1 pretty much sucks but has a funny moment or two
3 its not like having a real film of nijinsky but at least its better than that eponymous 1980 biopic that used soap in the places where the mysteries lingered
1 a shoddy male hip hop fantasy filled with guns expensive cars lots of naked women and rocawear clothing
1 what madonna does here ca nt properly be called acting more accurately its moving and its talking and its occasionally gesturing sometimes all at once
3 babyfaced renner is eerily convincing as this bland blank of a man with unimaginable demons within
2 a different kind of love story one that is dark disturbing painful to watch yet compelling
3 even if you do nt understand what on earth is going on this is a movie that will stimulate hours of post viewing discussion if only to be reminded of who did what to whom and why
4 funny somber absurd and finally achingly sad bartleby is a fine understated piece of filmmaking
0 lrb t rrb his slop does nt even have potential as a cult film as its too loud to shout insults at the screen
2 in the telling of a story largely untold bui chooses to produce something that is ultimately suspiciously familiar
4 my big fat greek wedding is not only the best date movie of the year its also a dare i say it twice delightfully charming and totally american i might add slice of comedic bliss
3 provides a satisfactory overview of the bizarre world of extreme athletes as several daredevils express their own views
1 not exaggerated enough to be a parody of grossout flicks college flicks or even flicks in general
1 looks and feels like a lowbudget hybrid of scarface or carlitos way
4 and your reward will be a thoughtful emotional movie experience
3 kwan is a master of shadow quietude and room noise and lan yu is a disarmingly livedin movie
4 neil burger here succeeded in making the mystery of four decades back the springboard for a more immediate mystery in the present
3 the komediant is a tale worth catching
3 even when it drags we are forced to reflect that its visual imagination is breathtaking
2 feeling like a dope has rarely been more fun than it is in nine queens
0 of all the halloweens this is the most visually unappealing
4 funny sexy devastating and incurably romantic
4 directors brett morgen and nanette burstein have put together a bold biographical fantasia
1 as if trying to grab a lump of playdoh the harder that liman tries to squeeze his story the more details slip out between his fingers
3 its consistently funny in an irresistible juniorhigh way and consistently free of any gag that would force you to give it a millisecond of thought
0 i did go back and check out the last 10 minutes but these were more repulsive than the first 30 or 40 minutes
1 you can drive right by it without noticing anything special save for a few comic turns intended and otherwise
0 lrb macdowell rrb ventures beyond her abilities several times here and reveals how bad an actress she is
2 the question hanging over the time machine is not as the main character suggests what if
3 more good than great but freeman and judd make it work
4 this is a story that zings all the way through with originality humour and pathos
2 when in doubt the film ratchets up the stirring soundtrack throws in a fishoutofwater gag and lets the cliched dialogue rip
1 a movie thats about as overbearing and overthetop as the family it depicts
3 i liked it because it was so endlessly grotesquely inventive
1 this story of unrequited love does nt sustain interest beyond the first halfhour
2 the smashem up crashem up shootem up ending comes out of nowhere substituting mayhem for suspense
0 suffers from unlikable characters and a selfconscious sense of its own quirky hipness
1 a fragile framework upon which to hang broad mildly fleshedout characters that seem to have been conjured up only 10 minutes prior to filming
4 offers a guiltfree trip into feelgood territory
4 one of the most important and exhilarating forms of animated filmmaking since old walt doodled steamboat willie
3 while not quite shrek or monsters inc its not too bad
3 in all fairness i must report that the children of varying ages in my audience never coughed fidgeted or romped up and down the aisles for bathroom breaks
3 ouve got to love a disney pic with as little cleavage as this one has and a heroine as feisty and principled as jane
3 as simple and innocent a movie as you can imagine
1 i have a confession to make i did nt particularly like et the first time i saw it as a young boy
2 put it somewhere between sling blade and south of heaven west of hell in the pantheon of billy bobs body of work
1 the hanukkah spirit seems fried in pork
0 eventually they will have a showdown but by then your senses are as mushy as peas and you do nt care who fires the winning shot
3 witty dialog between realistic characters showing honest emotions
2 13 conversations may be a bit too enigmatic and overly ambitious to be fully successful but sprecher and her screenwriting partner and sister karen sprecher do nt seem ever to run out of ideas
0 the film is so busy making reference to other films and trying to be other films that it fails to have a heart mind or humor of its own
1 viewers of barneys crushingly selfindulgent spectacle will see nothing in it to match the ordeal of sitting through it
2 in many ways reminiscent of 1992s unforgiven which also utilized the scintillating force of its actors to draw out the menace of its sparse dialogue
3 i admire the closing scenes of the film which seem to ask whether our civilization offers a cure for vincents complaint
4 berrys saucy fullbodied performance gives this aging series a much needed kick making die another day one of the most entertaining bonds in years
1 the films needlessly opaque intro takes its doeeyed crudup out of pre9 11 new york and onto a crosscountry road trip of the homeric kind
3 boomers and their kids will have a barrie good time
4 flamboyant in some movies and artfully restrained in others 65yearold jack nicholson could be looking at his 12th oscar nomination by proving that hes now more than ever choosing his roles with the precision of the insurance actuary
1 billy crystal and robert de niro sleepwalk through vulgarities in a sequel you can refuse
3 its rawness and vitality give it considerable punch
0 its the kind of underinspired overblown enterprise that gives hollywood sequels a bad name
3 whatever complaints i might have id take lrb its rrb earnest errors and hardwon rewards over the bombastic selfglorification of other feelgood fiascos like antwone fisher or the emperors club any time
1 its not so much a movie as a joint promotion for the national basketball association and teenaged rap and adolescent posterboy lil bow wow
4 ryan gosling is at 22 a powerful young actor
2 a bonanza of wacky sight gags outlandish color schemes and corny visual puns that can be appreciated equally as an abstract frank tashlin comedy and as a playful recapitulation of the artists career
1 every joke is repeated at least annoying is nt it
2 madeup lampoons the moviemaking process itself while shining a not particularly flattering spotlight on americas skindeep notions of pulchritude
1 its a strange film one that was hard for me to warm up to
3 a haunting tale of murder and mayhem
3 if youre part of her targeted audience youll cheer
2 director kevin bray excels in breaking glass and marking off the miami vice checklist of power boats latin music and dog tracks
3 a brilliant absurd collection of vignettes that in their own idiosyncratic way sum up the strange horror of life in the new millennium
2 ong chooses to present ah nas life as a slight weightless fairy tale whose most unpleasant details seem to melt away in the face of the characters blankfaced optimism
3 in the end the film is less the cheap thriller youd expect than it is a fairly revealing study of its two main characters damagedgoods people whose orbits will inevitably and dangerously collide
4 if youre not deeply touched by this movie check your pulse
3 the films strength is nt in its details but in the larger picture it paints of a culture in conflict with itself with the thin veneer of nationalism that covers our deepest mediasoaked fears
3 im guessing the director is a magician
3 for the most part it works beautifully as a movie without sacrificing the integrity of the opera
3 both a detective story and a romance spiced with the intrigue of academic skullduggery and politics
3 its touching and tender and proves that even in sorrow you can find humor
3 oddly the film is nt nearly as downbeat as it sounds but strikes a tone thats alternately melancholic hopeful and strangely funny
1 the film is really closer to porn than a serious critique of whats wrong with this increasingly pervasive aspect of gay culture
1 occasionally loud and offensive but more often it simply lulls you into a gentle waking coma
1 tara reid plays a college journalist but she looks like the sixtime winner of the miss hawaiian tropic pageant so i do nt know what shes doing in here
1 it all starts to smack of a hallmark hall of fame with a few four letter words thrown in that are generally not heard on television
0 any reasonably creative eighthgrader could have written a more credible script though with the same number of continuity errors
2 little more than a supersized infomercial for the cablesports channel and its summer x games
1 as original and insightful as last weeks episode of behind the music
0 a dull simpleminded and stereotypical tale of drugs death and mindnumbing indifference on the innercity streets
1 mired in a shabby script
0 whats hard to understand is why anybody picked it up
0 some of the characters die and others do nt and the film pretends that those living have learned some sort of lesson and really nobody in the viewing audience cares
2 its juxtaposition of overwrought existentialism and stomachchurning gore will have you forever on the verge of either cracking up or throwing up
3 the films gamble to occasionally break up the liveaction scenes with animated sequences pays off as does its sensitive handling of some delicate subject matter
2 its like an old warner bros costumer jived with sex this could be the movie errol flynn always wanted to make though bette davis cast as joan would have killed him
1 the problematic characters and overly convenient plot twists foul up shums good intentions
0 the film desperately sinks further and further into comedy futility
4 the storys scope and pageantry are mesmerizing and mr daylewis roars with leonine power
0 what ensues are much bloodsplattering mass druginduced bowel evacuations and nonetoofunny commentary on the cultural distinctions between americans and brits
1 with a romantic comedy plotline straight from the ages this cinderella story does nt have a single surprise up its sleeve
2 director oliver parker labors so hard to whip life into the importance of being earnest that he probably pulled a muscle or two
3 extreme ops exceeds expectations
3 i know i should nt have laughed but hey those farts got to my inner nineyearold
1 uzumakis interesting social parallel and defiant aesthetic seems a prostituted muse
2 the films stagecrafts are intimate and therefore bolder than the otherwise calculated artifice that defines and overwhelms the films production design
3 a real audiencepleaser that will strike a chord with anyone whos ever waited in a doctors office emergency room hospital bed or insurance company office
4 huppert and girardot give performances of exceptional honesty
3 tense terrific sweatypalmed fun
4 its refreshing that someone understands the need for the bad boy diesel with his brawny frame and cool composed delivery fits the bill perfectly
3 a lovely film for the holiday season
3 though jones and snipes are enthralling
0 devoid of any of the qualities that made the first film so special
1 this is the kind of movie where the big scene is a man shot out of a cannon into a vat of ice cream
0 a thoroughly awful movie dumb narratively chaotic visually sloppy a weird amalgam of the thing and a geriatric scream
3 a film of epic scale with an intimate feeling a saga of the ups and downs of friendships
2 a pure participatory event that malnourished intellectuals will gulp down in a frenzy
2 ah what the hell
3 parris performance is credible and remarkably mature
2 god is great the movies not
4 great performances stylish cinematography and a gritty feel help make gangster no 1 a worthwhile moviegoing experience
4 highly engaging
2 will you go ape over this movie
0 an hourandahalf of inoffensive unmemorable filler
0 its not a bad premise just a bad movie
2 schnitzlers film has a great hook some clever bits and welldrawn if standard issue characters but is still only partly satisfying
1 unfortunately carveys rubberface routine is no match for the insipid script he has crafted with harris goldberg
1 begins with promise but runs aground after being snared in its own tangled plot
4 insightfully written delicately performed
1 theres nothing remotely topical or sexy here
2 the movies messages are quite admirable but
2 in a 102minute film aaliyah gets at most 20 minutes of screen time
1 the results are far more alienating than involving
1 it forces you to watch people doing unpleasant things to each other and themselves and it maintains a cool distance from its material that is deliberately unsettling
3 neither quite a comedy nor a romance more of an impish divertissement of themes that interest attal and gainsbourg they live together the film has a lot of charm
3 graham greenes novel of colonialism and empire is elevated by michael caines performance as a weary journalist in a changing world
0 if that does nt clue you in that somethings horribly wrong nothing will
2 has all the right elements but completely fails to gel together
3 never again while nothing special is pleasant diverting and modest definitely a step in the right direction
3 the magic lrb and original running time rrb of ace japanimator hayao miyazakis spirited away survives intact in bvs revoiced version
3 a tasty masala
1 cherish wouldve worked a lot better had it been a short film
3 youll end up moved
3 a sweet tender sermon about a 12yearold welsh boy more curious about god than girls who learns that believing in something does matter
3 what it lacks in substance it makes up for in heart
0 distinctly subpar more likely to drown a viewer in boredom than to send any shivers down his spine
1 reyes directorial debut has good things to offer but ultimately its undone by a sloppy script
1 the trashy teensleaze equivalent of showgirls
1 snoots will no doubt rally to its cause trotting out threadbare standbys like masterpiece and triumph and all that malarkey but rarely does an established filmmaker so ardently waste viewers time with a gobbler like this
1 its better suited for the history or biography channel but theres no arguing the tone of the movie it leaves a bad taste in your mouth and questions on your mind
2 buries an interesting storyline
3 this one is a few bits funnier than malles dud if only because the cast is so engagingly messing around like slob city reductions of damon runyon crooks
3 the film has several strong performances
3 i have a new favorite musical and im not even a fan of the genre
0 this movie plays like an extended dialogue exercise in retard 101
2 ninety minutes of viva castro
3 an indispensable peek at the art and the agony of making people laugh
3 judging by those standards scratch is a pretty decent little documentary
3 does point the way for adventurous indian filmmakers toward a crossover into nonethnic markets
2 a directtovoid release heading nowhere
0 whether jason x is this bad on purpose is never clear
2 davis has energy but she does nt bother to make her heroines book sound convincing the genderwar ideas original or the comic scenes fly
4 soderbergh like kubrick before him may not touch the planets skin but understands the workings of its spirit
0 an incredibly heavyhanded manipulative dud that feels all too familiar
1 unlike trey parker sandler does nt understand that the idea of exploiting molestation for laughs is funny not actually exploiting it yourself
3 visually engrossing seldom hammy honorably mexican and burns its kahlories with conviction
2 a shanana sketch punctuated with graphic violence
4 its a technically superb film shining with all the usual spielberg flair expertly utilizing the talents of his topnotch creative team
1 everything is off
3 heres yet another cool crime movie that actually manages to bring something new into the mix
0 what a stiflingly unfunny and unoriginal mess this is
1 its inescapable absurdities are tantamount to insulting the intelligence of anyone who has nt been living under a rock lrb since sept 11 rrb
1 lrb jackson and bledel rrb seem to have been picked not for their acting chops but for their looks and appeal to the preteen crowd
3 a lovely and beautifully photographed romance
1 feels like the work of someone who may indeed have finally aged past his prime and perhaps more than he realizes just wants to be liked by the people who can still give him work
2 serviceable at best slightly less than serviceable at worst
3 its sort of a 21st century morality play with a latino hip hop beat
1 an inelegant combination of two unrelated shorts that falls far short of the directors previous work in terms of both thematic content and narrative strength
3 in its dry and forceful way it delivers the same message as jiri menzels closely watched trains and danis tanovics no mans land
4 but the performances of pacino williams and swank keep the viewer wideawake all the way through
4 the gags that fly at such a furiously funny pace that the only rip off that we were aware of was the one we felt when the movie ended so damned soon
3 there are enough throwaway references to faith and rainbows to plant smilebutton faces on that segment of the populace that made a walk to remember a niche hit
1 rife with nutty cliches and far too much dialogue
1 it has the requisite fauxurban vibe and hottertwoyearsago rap and rb names and references
3 if its unnerving suspense youre after youll find it with ring an indisputably spooky film with a screenplay to die for
1 leaks treacle from every pore
2 the best thing that can be said of the picture is that it does have a few cute moments
1 one lousy movie
1 a rather tired exercise in nostalgia
4 vividly conveys the passion creativity and fearlessness of one of mexicos most colorful and controversial artists a captivating drama that will speak to the nonconformist in us all
4 oneofakind nearmasterpiece
0 mib ii is a movie that makes it possible for the viewer to doze off for a few minutes or make several runs to the concession stand andor restroom and not feel as if he or she has missed anything
2 alas the blackandwhite archival footage of their act showcases pretty mediocre shtick
3 remember it
0 skip the film and buy the philip glass soundtrack cd
1 essentially fatal attraction remade for viewers who were in diapers when the original was released in 1987
1 does nt do more than expand a tv show to movie length
2 mushes the collegefriends genre lrb the big chill rrb together with the contrivances and overwrought emotion of soap operas
2 meyjes focuses too much on max when he should be filling the screen with this tortured dull artist and monsterinthe making
0 the tuxedo miscalculates badly by forcing the star to play second fiddle to the dull effects that allow the suit to come to life
2 fubar is very funny but not always in a laughoutloud way
0 as aimless as an old pickup skidding completely out of control on a long patch of black ice the movie makes two hours feel like four
1 if you saw benignis pinocchio at a public park youd grab your kids and run and then probably call the police
0 the characters are paper thin and the plot is so cliched and contrived that it makes your least favorite james bond movie seem as cleverly plotted as the usual suspects
2 harris is supposed to be the star of the story but comes across as pretty dull and wooden
3 it celebrates the groups playful spark of nonconformity glancing vividly back at what hibiscus grandly called his angels of light
2 and i expect much more from a talent as outstanding as director bruce mcculloch
3 a harrowing account of a psychological breakdown
3 theres absolutely no reason why blue crush a latesummer surfer girl entry should be as entertaining as it is
2 overall its a wacky and inspired little film that works effortlessly at delivering genuine acerbic laughs
1 oscar caliber cast does nt live up to material
1 the kind of movie you see because the theater has air conditioning
1 when the screenwriter responsible for one of the worst movies of one year directs an equally miserable film the following year youd have a hard time believing it was just coincidence
1 although made on a shoestring and unevenly acted conjures a lynchlike vision of the rotting underbelly of middle america
0 its painful to watch witherspoons talents wasting away inside unnecessary films like legally blonde and sweet home abomination i mean alabama
2 a familyfriendly fantasy that ends up doing very little with its imaginative premise
3 its hard to imagine anybody ever being in the mood to view a movie as harrowing and painful as the grey zone but its equally hard to imagine anybody being able to tear their eyes away from the screen once its started
3 chicago offers much colorful eye candy including the spectacle of gere in his dancing shoes hoofing and crooning with the best of them
1 no new plot conceptions or environmental changes just different bodies for sharp objects to rip through
2 the inevitable double and triplecrosses arise but the only drama is in waiting to hear how john malkovichs reedy consigliere will pronounce his next line
1 you come away thinking not only that kate is nt very bright but that she has nt been worth caring about and that maybe she janine and molly an allwoman dysfunctional family deserve one another
1 the result is so tame that even slightly wisedup kids would quickly change the channel
2 one of the oddest and most inexplicable sequels in movie history
3 a mostly believable refreshingly lowkey and quietly inspirational little sports drama
2 anas journey is not a stereotypical one of selfdiscovery as shes already comfortable enough in her own skin to be proud of her rubenesque physique
2 falls short in explaining the music and its roots
2 boy oh boy its a howler
3 niccol the filmmaker merges his collaborators symbolic images with his words insinuating for example that in hollywood only god speaks to the press
4 one of the most genuinely sweet films to come along in quite some time
1 the movie starts with a legend and ends with a story that is so farfetched it would be impossible to believe if it were nt true
4 works because reno does nt become smug or sanctimonious towards the audience
3 a few nonbelievers may rethink their attitudes when they see the joy the characters take in this creed but skeptics are nt likely to enter the theater
0 fred schepisis film is paced at a speed that is slow to those of us in middle age and deathly slow to any teen
0 yes i have given this movie a rating of zero
3 a film of delicate interpersonal dances
3 the film is full of charm
2 in both the writing and cutting it does not achieve the kind of dramatic unity that transports you
0 to be influenced chiefly by humanitys greatest shame reality shows reality shows for gods sake
2 when mr hundert tells us in his narration that this is a story without surprises we nod in agreement
1 time out is as serious as a pink slip
2 spyvs
1 a listless and desultory affair
1 by the final whistle youre convinced that this mean machine was a decent tv outing that just does nt have big screen magic
3 this time the hype is quieter and while the movie is slightly less successful than the first its still a rollicking good time for the most part
3 often likable but just as often its meandering low on energy and too eager to be quirky at moments when a little oldfashioned storytelling would come in handy
2 we could have expected a little more human being and a little less product
3 wonder of wonders a teen movie with a humanistic message
1 whether its the worst movie of 2002 i ca nt say for sure memories of rollerball have faded and i skipped country bears
2 proof of this is ballistic ecks vs sever
1 michele is a such a brainless flibbertigibbet that its hard to take her spiritual quest at all seriously
3 though this saga would be terrific to read about it is dicey screen material that only a genius should touch
1 theres got to be a more graceful way of portraying the devastation of this disease
4 drawing on an irresistible languid romanticism byler reveals the ways in which a sultry evening or a beerfueled afternoon in the sun can inspire even the most retiring heart to venture forth
3 a moving tale of love and destruction in unexpected places unexamined lives
2 much of the digitally altered footage
2 if you can keep your eyes open amid all the blood and gore youll see del toro has brought unexpected gravity to blade ii
1 nothing but one relentlessly depressing situation after another for its entire running time something that you could easily be dealing with right now in your lives
4 gosling creates a staggeringly compelling character a young man whose sharp intellect is at the very root of his contradictory selfhating selfdestructive ways
2 its all pretty tame
0 a lessthanthrilling thriller
2 the plot meanders from gripping to plodding and back
1 parts of the film feel a bit too much like an infomercial for ram dasss latest book aimed at the boomer demographic
1 a prolonged extrusion of psychopathic pulp
3 the films sense of imagery gives it a terrible strength but its propelled by the acting
4 schepisi aided by a cast that seems to include every topnotch british actor who did not appear in gosford park lrb as well as one ms mirren who did rrb has succeeded beyond all expectation
2 the plan to make enough into an inspiring tale of survival wrapped in the heartpounding suspense of a stylish psychological thriller
3 a lovably oldschool hollywood confection
1 the characters seem onedimensional and the film is superficial and will probably be of interest primarily to its target audience
3 for once a movie does not proclaim the truth about two lovestruck somebodies but permits them time and space to convince us of that all on their own
0 a dull somnambulant exercise in pretension whose pervasive quiet is broken by frequent outbursts of violence and noise
2 paxtons uneven directorial debut fails to unlock the full potential of what is in many ways a fresh and dramatically substantial spin on the genre
3 watching the chemistry between freeman and judd however almost makes this movie worth seeing
0 the attempt to build up a pressure cooker of horrified awe emerges from the simple fact that the movie has virtually nothing to show
2 theres something about a marching band that gets me where i live
4 serious moviegoers embarking upon this journey will find that the road to perdition leads to a satisfying destination
1 its mildly sentimental unabashedly consumerist studiously inoffensive and completely disposable
1 serving sara is little more than a mall movie designed to kill time
0 a dull dumb and derivative horror film
1 wimps out by going for that pg13 rating so the more graphic violence is mostly offscreen and the sexuality is muted
3 while this movie by necessity lacks fellowships heart two towers outdoes its spectacle
4 the performers are so spot on it is hard to conceive anyone else in their roles
3 asks what truth can be discerned from nonfirsthand experience and specifically questions cinemas capability for recording truth
1 its a mystery how the movie could be released in this condition
4 extremely well acted by the four primary actors this is a seriously intended movie that is not easily forgotten
3 a formula family tearjerker told with a heavy irish brogue accentuating rather than muting the plots saccharine thrust
3 the stunt work is topnotch the dialogue and drama often foodspittingly funny
3 a mischievous visual style and oodles of charm make cherish a very good lrb but not great rrb movie
2 ends up being mostly about ravishing costumes eyefilling widescreen production design and joans wacky decision to stand by her man no matter how many times he demonstrates that hes a disloyal satyr
3 a four star performance from kevin kline who unfortunately works with a two star script
3 talk to her is not the perfect movie many have made it out to be but its still quite worth seeing
4 wilco is a phenomenal band with such an engrossing story that will capture the minds and hearts of many
3 it may not be a huge cut of above the rest but i enjoyed barbershop
3 a gripping documentary that reveals how deep the antagonism lies in wartorn jerusalem
1 all movie long city by the sea swings from one approach to the other but in the end it stays in formula which is a waste of de niro mcdormand and the other good actors in the cast
4 miyazakis nonstop images are so stunning and his imagination so vivid that the only possible complaint you could have about spirited away is that there is no rest period no timeout
0 no french people were harmed during the making of this movie but they were insulted and the audience was put through torture for an hour and a half
0 instead of making his own style director marcus adams just copies from various sources good sources bad mixture
3 after seeing analyze that i feel better already
3 very predictable but still entertaining
3 do nt wait to see this terrific film with your kids if you do nt have kids borrow some
3 it thankfully goes easy on the reelreal world dichotomy that lrb jaglom rrb pursued with such enervating determination in venicevenice
3 a subtle humorous illuminating study of politics power and social mobility
4 for all its visual panache and compelling supporting characters the heart of the film rests in the relationship between sullivan and his son
1 theres a delightfully quirky movie to be made from curling but brooms is nt it
2 the animation is competent and some of the gags are quite funny but jonah never shakes the oppressive morally superior goodforyou quality that almost automatically accompanies didactic entertainment
4 a venturesome beautifully realized psychological mood piece that reveals its firsttime feature directors understanding of the expressive power of the camera
3 a film with contemporary political resonance illustrated by a winning family story
1 its not too much of anything
1 it dabbles all around never gaining much momentum
4 an enjoyable experience
1 with the dog days of august upon us think of this dog of a movie as the cinematic equivalent of high humidity
0 the story is farflung illogical and plain stupid
1 if they broke out into elaborate choreography singing and finger snapping it might have held my attention but as it stands i kept looking for the last exit from brooklyn
3 i loved the look of this film
2 elmo touts his drug as being 51 times stronger than coke
2 a brutally honest documentary about a much anticipated family reunion that goes wrong thanks to culture shock and a refusal to empathize with others
1 and adults will at least have a dream image of the west to savor whenever the films lamer instincts are in the saddle
1 the lousy lead performances keep the movie from ever reaching the comic heights it obviously desired
0 the lack of naturalness makes everything seem selfconsciously poetic and forced its a pity that lrb nelsons rrb achievement does nt match his ambition
3 coral reef adventure is a heavyweight film that fights a good fight on behalf of the worlds endangered reefs and it lets the pictures do the punching
3 this story of a determined womans courage to find her husband in a war zone offers winning performances and some effecting moments
1 feels less like a cousin to blade runner than like a bottomfeeder sequel in the escape from new york series
2 life or something like it has its share of high points but it misses too many opportunities
3 piercingly affecting while clearly a manipulative film emerges as powerful rather than cloying
1 the holiday message of the 37minute santa vs the snowman leaves a lot to be desired
0 a doa dud from frame one
4 a vibrant colorful semimusical rendition
3 lrb a rrb strong piece of work
4 visually breathtaking viscerally exciting and dramatically moving its the very definition of epic adventure
3 the movie is very funny as you peek at it through the fingers in front of your eyes
3 instead of simply handling conventional material in a conventional way secretary takes the most unexpected material and handles it in the most unexpected way
1 we get the comedy we settle for
2 this is the first full scale wwii flick from hong kongs john woo
2 for all of its insights into the dream world of teen life and its electronic expression through cyber culture
4 this comic gem is as delightful as it is derivative
4 a must see for all sides of the political spectrum
3 smaller numbered kidlets will enjoy
3 west coast rap wars this modern mob music drama never fails to fascinate
4 in the new release of cinema paradiso the tale has turned from sweet to bittersweet and when the tears come during that final beautiful scene they finally feel absolutely earned
4 a worthy addition to the cinematic canon which at last count numbered 52 different versions
1 we do get the distinct impression that this franchise is drawing to a close
3 a sensitive modest comic tragedy that works as both character study and symbolic examination of the huge economic changes sweeping modern china
2 parker should be commended for taking a fresh approach to familiar material but his determination to remain true to the original text leads him to adopt a somewhat mannered tone that ultimately dulls the human tragedy at the storys core
3 buy is an accomplished actress and this is a big juicy role
0 for the future one hopes mr plympton will find room for one more member of his little band a professional screenwriter
3 a clever script and skilled actors bring new energy to the familiar topic of office politics
2 the cameopacked m i2spoofing title sequence is the funniest 5 minutes to date in this spy comedy franchise then mike myers shows up and ruins everything
3 a photographic marvel of sorts and its certainly an invaluable record of that special fishy community
4 hashiguchi covers this territory with wit and originality suggesting that with his fourth feature the first to be released in the us a major director is emerging in world cinema
3 a grittily beautiful film that looks sounds and feels more like an extended openended poem than a traditionally structured story
0 lrb l rrb ame and unnecessary
3 davis candid archly funny and deeply authentic take on intimate relationships comes to fruition in her sophomore effort
4 think of it as gidget only with muscles and a lot more smarts but just as endearing and easy to watch
1 too contrived to be as naturally charming as it needs to be
3 the lady and the duke is a smart romantic drama that dares to depict the french revolution from the aristocrats perspective
1 the film is strictly routine
4 features one of the most affecting depictions of a love affair ever committed to film
0 does nt come close to justifying the hype that surrounded its debut at the sundance film festival two years ago
2 the story touching though it is does not quite have enough emotional resonance or variety of incident to sustain a feature and even at 85 minutes it feels a bit long
3 the film is insightful about kissingers background and history
1 a rote exercise in both animation and storytelling
1 with a spy kids sequel opening next week why bother with a contemptible imitator starring a snl hasbeen acting like an 8yearold channeling roberto benigni
2 the movie is nt horrible but you can see mediocre cresting on the next wave
4 give credit to everyone from robinson down to the key grip that this bold move works
1 its salient points are simultaneously buried drowned and smothered in the excesses of writerdirector roger avary
1 the movie is too impressed with its own solemn insights to work up much entertainment value
2 theres a lot of good material here but theres also a lot of redundancy and unsuccessful crudeness accompanying it
1 the directors many dodges and turns add up to little more than a screenful of gamesmanship thats low on both suspense and payoff
1 a movie to forget
4 irwin is so earnest that its hard to resist his pleas to spare wildlife and respect their environs
1 the narrator and the other characters try to convince us that acting transfigures esther but shes never seen speaking on stage one feels cheated and esther seems to remain an unchanged dullard
1 worthy of the gong
0 its tough to be startled when youre almost dozing
1 the images lack contrast are murky and are frequently too dark to be decipherable
4 one of those exceedingly rare films in which the talk alone is enough to keep us involved
4 a screenplay more ingeniously constructed than memento
1 the film never gets over its own investment in conventional arrangements in terms of love age gender race and class
1 lucas has in fact come closer than anyone could desire to the cheap graceless hackneyed scifi serials of the30s and40s
4 the films intimate camera work and searing performances pull us deep into the girls confusion and pain as they struggle tragically to comprehend the chasm of knowledge thats opened between them
1 like leafing through an album of photos accompanied by the sketchiest of captions
0 lrb sams rrb selfflagellation is more depressing than entertaining
1 resembles a soft porn brian de palma pastiche
1 so mindnumbingly awful that you hope britney wo nt do it one more time as far as movies are concerned
1 i can imagine this movie as a b w british comedy circa 1960 with peter sellers kenneth williams et al but at this time with this cast this movie is hopeless
4 lrb danny huston gives rrb an astounding performance that deftly gradually reveals a real human soul buried beneath a spellbinding serpents smirk
4 just like a splendid meal red dragon satisfies from its ripe recipe inspiring ingredients certified cuisine and palatable presentation
4 director juan jose campanella could have turned this into an argentine retread of iris or american beauty but instead pulls a little from each film and creates something more beautiful than either of those films
4 bursting through the constraints of its source this is one adapted fromtelevision movie that actually looks as if it belongs on the big screen
2 an 83 minute document of a project which started in a muddle seesawed back and forth between controlling interests multiple times then found its sweet spot
3 twohy knows how to inflate the mundane into the scarifying and gets full mileage out of the rolling of a stray barrel or the unexpected blast of a phonograph record
3 every once in a while a movie will come along that turns me into that annoying specimen of humanity that i usually dread encountering the most the fanboy
4 bogdanovich taps deep into the hearst mystique entertainingly reenacting a historic scandal
3 k 19 stays afloat as decent dramaaction flick
0 burns fifth beersoaked film feels in almost every possible way from the writing and direction to the soggy performances tossed off
1 the problem with movies about angels is they have a tendency to slip into hokum
3 the graphic carnage and recreation of wartorn croatia is uncomfortably timely relevant and sickeningly real
2 i survived
2 a slight and obvious effort even for one whose target demographic is likely still in the single digits agewise
3 roman polanskis autobiographical gesture at redemption is better than shindlers list it is more than merely a holocaust movie
2 less a heartfelt appeal for the handicapped than a nice belgian waffle
1 as saccharine movies go this is likely to cause massive cardiac arrest if taken in large doses
3 it falls far short of poetry but its not bad prose
4 exceptionally well acted by diane lane and richard gere
4 this is more fascinating being real than anything seen on jerry springer
3 their computeranimated faces are very expressive
0 it appears as if even the filmmakers did nt know what kind of movie they were making
2 youll laugh at either the obviousness of it all or its stupidity or maybe even its inventiveness but the point is youll laugh
2 like a poor mans you can count on me
2 confounding because it solemnly advances a daringly preposterous thesis
1 a documentary to make the stones weep as shameful as it is scary
1 a thriller without thrills and a mystery devoid of urgent questions
3 return to never land may be another shameless attempt by disney to rake in dough from baby boomer families but its not halfbad
2 they do a good job of painting this family dynamic for the audience but they tried to squeeze too many elements into the film
3 a fine documentary can be distinguished from a mediocre one by the better films ability to make its subject interesting to those who are nt part of its supposed target audience
3 strange and beautiful film
1 the script becomes lifeless and falls apart like a cheap lawn chair
1 hits every cliche weve come to expect including the assumption that crazy people are innocent childlike and inherently funny
3 weve seen it all before in one form or another but director hoffman with great help from kevin kline makes us care about this latest reincarnation of the worlds greatest teacher
1 theres a reason why halftime is only fifteen minutes long
4 ongs promising debut is a warm and welltold tale of one recent chinese immigrants experiences in new york city
3 whats so striking about jolies performance is that she never lets her character become a caricature not even with that radioactive hair
1 its supposed to be a romantic comedy it suffers from too much norma rae and not enough pretty woman
2 humorous artsy and even cute in an offkilter dark vaguely disturbing way
3 the leanest and meanest of solondzs misanthropic comedies
3 the movie enters a realm where few nonporn films venture and comes across as darkly funny energetic and surprisingly gentle
1 its as if solondz had two ideas for two movies could nt really figure out how to flesh either out so he just slopped em together here
1 a lowrent retread of the alien pictures
3 for decades weve marveled at disneys rendering of water snow flames and shadows in a handdrawn animated world
2 has its charming quirks and its dull spots
3 several of steven soderberghs earlier films were hailed as the works of an artist
2 who is the audience for cletis tout
2 perhaps not since nelson eddy crooned his indian love call to jeanette macdonald has there been a movie so unabashedly canadian not afraid to risk american scorn or disinterest
0 like a soft drink thats been sitting open too long its too much syrup and not enough fizz
1 but they lack their idols energy and passion for detail
1 schaefers determination to inject farcical raunch drowns out the promise of the romantic angle
1 instead of using george and lucys most obvious differences to ignite sparks lawrence desperately looks elsewhere seizing on georges haplessness and lucys personality tics
2 it is nt that the picture is unfamiliar but that it manages to find new avenues of discourse on old problems
3 an alternately fascinating and frustrating documentary
0 contrived maudlin and clicheridden if this sappy script was the best the contest received those rejected must have been astronomically bad
3 an absorbing and unsettling psychological drama
2 there are times when you wish that the movie had worked a little harder to conceal its contrivances but brown sugar turns out to be a sweet and enjoyable fantasy
0 it does nt work as either
1 too sappy for its own good
0 without any redeeming value whatsoever
1 a blair witch style adventure that plays like a bad soap opera with passable performances from everyone in the cast
1 the authors devotees will probably find it fascinating others may find it baffling
3 the quirky and recessive charms of costars martin donovan and marylouise parker help overcome the problematic script
4 its a very valuable film
3 and more than that its an observant unfussily poetic meditation about identity and alienation
4 that rare movie that works on any number of levels as a film of magic and whimsy for children a heartfelt romance for teenagers and a compelling argument about death both pro and con for adults
3 apart from its own considerable achievement
4 a cultural wildcard experience wacky different unusual even nutty
3 just as the recent argentine film son of the bride reminded us that a feelgood movie can still show real heart time of favor presents us with an action movie that actually has a brain
3 a marvelous performance by allison lohman as an identityseeking foster child
3 in fact its quite fun in places
2 halloween resurrection is nt exactly quality cinema but it is nt nearly as terrible as it cold have been
1 its a thin notion repetitively stretched out to feature length awash in selfconsciously flashy camera effects droning house music and flat flat dialogue
2 as his circle of friends keeps getting smaller one of the characters in long time dead says im telling you this is f ed
3 worth a look as a curiosity
1 its a frankensteinmonster of a film that does nt know what it wants to be
2 super troopers is an odd amalgam of comedy genres existing somewhere between the often literal riffs of early zucker brothersabrahams films and the decidedly foul stylings of their postmodern contemporaries the farrelly brothers
0 theres nothing to gain from watching they
4 the allfrench cast is marveilleux
2 worse than silence of the lambs better than hannibal
0 its not just the vampires that are damned in queen of the damned the viewers will feel they suffer the same fate
1 looking for leonard just seems to kinda sit in neutral hoping for a stiff wind to blow it uphill or something
4 but believe it or not its one of the most beautiful evocative works ive seen
1 while american adobo has its heart lrb and its palate rrb in the right place its brain is a little scattered ditsy even
1 theres a reason the studio did nt offer an advance screening
3 and theres the inimitable diaz holding it all together
2 makes sense
2 not everything in the film works including its somewhat convenient ending
3 the word that comes to mind while watching eric rohmers tribute to a courageous scottish lady is painterly
2 it may not be as cutting as witty or as true as back in the glory days of weekend and two or three things i know about her but who else engaged in filmmaking today is so cognizant of the cultural and moral issues involved in the process
4 tully is in many ways the perfect festival film a calm selfassured portrait of small town regret love duty and friendship that appeals to the storytelling instincts of a slightly more literate filmgoing audience
3 nakatas technique is to imply terror by suggestion rather than the overuse of special effects
2 if i have to choose between gorgeous animation and a lame story lrb like say treasure planet rrb or soso animation and an exciting clever story with a batch of appealing characters ill take the latter every time
1 for every articulate player such as skateboarder tony hawk or bmx rider mat hoffman are about a half dozen young turks angling to see how many times they can work the words radical or suck into a sentence
2 its a sight to behold
1 excruciatingly unfunny and pitifully unromantic
3 a wildly erratic drama with sequences that make you wince in embarrassment and others thanks to the actors that are quite touching
3 a modest masterpiece
3 be patient with the lovely hush
3 there are laughs aplenty and as a bonus viewers do nt have to worry about being subjected to farts urine feces semen or any of the other foul substances that have overrun modernday comedies
4 beautifully crafted and cooly unsettling recreates the atmosphere of the crime expertly
1 any rock pile will do for a set
1 im left slightly disappointed that it did nt
1 the elements were all there but lack of a pyschological center knocks it flat
2 where bowling for columbine is at its most valuable is in its examination of americas culture of fear as a root cause of gun violence
3 though the story is hackneyed the characters have a freshness and modesty that transcends their predicament
2 often overwrought and at times positively irritating the film turns into an engrossing thriller almost in spite of itself
4 a well paced and satisfying little drama that deserved better than a directtovideo release
2 in moonlight mile no one gets shut out of the hug cycle
3 it can be safely recommended as a videodvd babysitter
4 a conventional but heartwarming tale
3 it is hard not to be especially grateful for freedom after a film like this
4 woody allen can write and deliver a one liner as well as anybody
1 i spied with my little eye a mediocre collection of cookiecutter action scenes and occasionally inspired dialogue bits
2 blithely anachronistic and slyly achronological
1 a disappointment for a movie that should have been the ultimate imax trip
4 it turns out to be smarter and more diabolical than you could have guessed at the beginning
0 in terms of execution this movie is careless and unfocused
2 your nightmares on the other hand will be anything but
4 a slick engrossing melodrama
0 this picture is murder by numbers and as easy to be bored by as your abcs despite a few whopping shootouts
2 some are fascinating and others are not and in the end it is almost a good movie
2 both flawed and delayed martin scorceses gangs of new york still emerges as his most vital work since goodfellas
2 entertaining despite its onejoke premise with the thesis that women from venus and men from mars can indeed get together
2 a film that presents an interesting even sexy premise then ruins itself with too many contrivances and goofy situations
4 its sweet funny charming and completely delightful
2 a respectable venture on its own terms lacking the broader vision that has seen certain trek films cross over to a more mainstream audience
4 a movie that both thrills the eye and in its overthetop way touches the heart
3 though it runs 163 minutes safe conduct is anything but languorous
0 sinks so low in a poorly played game of absurd plot twists idiotic court maneuvers and stupid characters that even freeman ca nt save it
3 a surprisingly charming and even witty match for the best of hollywoods comicbook adaptations
4 still this flick is fun and host to some truly excellent sequences
4 some of the visual flourishes are a little too obvious but restrained and subtle storytelling and fine performances make this delicate comingofage tale a treat
1 those seeking a definitive account of eisensteins life would do better elsewhere
3 the casting of raymond j barry as the assassin greatly enhances the quality of neil burgers impressive fake documentary
0 the only thing to fear about fear dot com is hitting your head on the theater seat in front of you when you doze off thirty minutes into the film
3 affectionately reminds us that in any language the huge stuff in life can usually be traced back to the little things
3 entirely appropriately the tale unfolds like a lazy summer afternoon and concludes with the crisp clarity of a fall dawn
1 the chateau is less concerned with cultural and political issues than doting on its eccentric characters
1 as is often the case with ambitious eager firsttime filmmakers mr murray a prolific director of music videos stuffs his debut with more plot than it can comfortably hold
2 its a gag thats worn a bit thin over the years though do nt ask still finds a few chuckles
1 like schindlers list the grey zone attempts to be grandiloquent but ends up merely pretentious in a grisly sort of way
2 a movie that will wear you out and make you misty even when you do nt want to be
3 compassionately explores the seemingly irreconcilable situation between conservative christian parents and their estranged gay and lesbian children
1 sad nonsense this
4 an amusing and unexpectedly insightful examination of sexual jealousy resentment and the fine line between passion and pretence
2 you see robin williams and psycho killer and you think hmmmmm
2 its not a film to be taken literally on any level but its focus always appears questionable
1 broomfields style of journalism is hardly journalism at all and even those with an avid interest in the subject will grow impatient
3 never once predictable
0 it would take a complete moron to foul up a screen adaptation of oscar wildes classic satire
2 its too bad that the rest is nt more compelling
1 there are some laughs in this movie but williams anarchy gets tiresome the satire is weak
2 that is made almost impossible by events that set the plot in motion
0 you see the movie and you think zzzzzzzzz
3 the films highlight is definitely its screenplay both for the rhapsodic dialogue that jumps off the page and for the memorable character creations
0 gaghan captures the halflit sometimes creepy intimacy of college dorm rooms a subtlety that makes the silly overthetop coda especially disappointing
0 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
2 i believe silberling had the best intentions here but he just does nt have the restraint to fully realize them
3 craig bartlett and director tuck tucker should be commended for illustrating the merits of fighting hard for something that really matters
3 a good thriller
2 its up to you to decide whether to admire these peoples dedication to their cause or be repelled by their dogmatism manipulativeness and narrow fearful view of american life
4 one fantastic lrb and educational rrb documentary
3 an interesting slice of history
3 its too harsh to work as a piece of storytelling but as an intellectual exercise an unpleasant debate thats been given the drive of a narrative and thats been acted out the believer is nothing less than a provocative piece of work
0 i guess it just goes to show that if you give a filmmaker an unlimited amount of phony blood nothing good can happen
3 the performances are uniformly good
1 i wanted more
1 femme fatale offers nothing more than a baitandswitch that is beyond playing fair with the audience
4 more intimate than spectacular et is carried less by wow factors than by its funny moving yarn that holds up well after two decades
1 a wannabe comedy of manners about a brainy prepschool kid with a mrs robinson complex founders on its own preciousness and squanders its beautiful women
1 this is an action movie with an action icon whos been all but decommissioned
1 one things for sure if george romero had directed this movie it would nt have taken the protagonists a full hour to determine that in order to kill a zombie you must shoot it in the head
3 an amused indictment of jagloms own profession
2 trailer park magnolia too long too cutesy too sure of its own importance and possessed of that peculiar tension of being too dense about nothing at all
1 this is a film tailormade for those who when they were in high school would choose the cliffnotes over reading a fulllength classic
4 home movie is a sweet treasure and something well worth your time
2 a mess but its a sincere mess
4 the movie is brilliant really
0 another week another grossout college comedy ugh
2 the films overall mood and focus is interesting but constantly unfulfilling
1 this is a movie so insecure about its capacity to excite that it churns up not one but two flagrantly fake thunderstorms to underscore the action
0 an undistinguished attempt to make a classic theater piece cinematic
2 its not too racy and its not too offensive
2 make no mistake ivans xtc
2 impostor does nt do much with its template despite a remarkably strong cast
1 ultimately the film amounts to being lectured to by techgeeks if youre up for that sort of thing
1 although no pastry is violated this nasty comedy pokes fun at the same easy targets as other rowdy raunchfests farts boobs unmentionables without much success
1 yet another arnold vehicle that fails to make adequate use of his particular talents
1 most of the information has already appeared in one forum or another and no matter how broomfield dresses it up it tends to speculation conspiracy theories or at best circumstantial evidence
0 be forewarned if youre depressed about anything before watching this film you may just end up trying to drown yourself in a lake afterwards
4 the music makes a nice album the food is enticing and italy beckons us all
0 a lame comedy
4 its tough to watch but its a fantastic movie
3 the plot of the comeback curlers is nt very interesting actually but what i like about men with brooms and what is kind of special is how the film knows whats unique and quirky about canadians
4 like vardalos and corbett who play their roles with vibrant charm the film directed by joel zwick is heartfelt and hilarious in ways you ca nt fake
0 makes 98 minutes feel like three hours
3 most consumers of lo mein and general tsos chicken barely give a thought to the folks who prepare and deliver it so hopefully this film will attach a human face to all those little steaming cartons
1 a pretentious and ultimately empty examination of a sick and evil woman
3 sad to say it accurately reflects the rage and alienation that fuels the selfdestructiveness of many young people
3 the little girls understand and mccracken knows thats all that matters
0 an unfortunate title for a film that has nothing endearing about it
1 shame on writerdirector vicente aranda for making a florid biopic about mad queens obsessive relationships and rampant adultery so dull
2 this is so de palma
4 spiderman rocks
3 overcomes its visual hideousness with a sharp script and strong performances
2 thriller directorial debut for traffic scribe gaghan has all the right parts but the pieces do nt quite fit together
1 though there are many tense scenes in trapped they prove more distressing than suspenseful
3 works on some levels and is certainly worth seeing at least once
1 does nt deliver a great story nor is the action as gripping as in past seagal films
0 for a guy who has waited three years with breathless anticipation for a new hal hartley movie to pore over no such thing is a big letdown
1 watching ending is too often like looking over the outdated clothes and plastic knickknacks at your neighbors garage sale
4 unfolds with such a wallop of youarethere immediacy that when the bullets start to fly your first instinct is to duck
2 the reason to see sade lay with the chemistry and complex relationship between the marquis lrb auteil rrb and emilie lrb le besco rrb
4 still rapturous after all these years cinema paradiso stands as one of the great films about movie love
2 a passable romantic comedy in need of another couple of passes through the word processor
4 an enjoyable comedy
1 the gifted crudup has the perfect face to play a handsome blank yearning to find himself and his cipherlike personality and bad behavior would play fine if the movie knew what to do with him
3 this film is an act of spiritual faith an eloquent deeply felt meditation on the nature of compassion
1 feels aimless for much of its running time until late in the film when a tidal wave of plot arrives leaving questions in its wake
3 although estela bravos documentary is cloyingly hagiographic in its portrait of cuban leader fidel castro its still a guilty pleasure to watch
0 for those for whom the name woody allen was once a guarantee of something fresh sometimes funny and usually genuinely worthwhile hollywood ending is a depressing experience
3 even if youre an agnostic carnivore you can enjoy much of jonah simply and gratefully as laughoutloud lunacy with a pronounced monty pythonesque flavor
2 though it was made with careful attention to detail and is wellacted by james spader and maggie gyllenhaal i felt disrespected
1 how this one escaped the lifetime network ill never know
2 a bit too derivative to stand on its own as the psychological thriller it purports to be
4 by the standards of knucklehead swill the hot chick is pretty damned funny
4 cuaron repeatedly perversely undercuts the joie de vivre even as he creates it giving the movie a mournful undercurrent that places the goodtime shenanigans in welcome perspective
1 every visual joke is milked every setup obvious and lengthy every punchline predictable
2 i prefer to think of it as pootie tang with a budget
2 ranges from laughoutloud hilarious to wonderwhat timeitis tedious
4 a reminder that beyond all the hype and recent digital glitz spielberg knows how to tell us about people
3 a fast paced and suspenseful argentinian thriller about the shadow side of play
4 ryan gosling is in a word brilliant as the conflicted daniel
3 its a visual delight and a decent popcorn adventure as long as you do nt try to look too deep into the story
1 possibly the most irresponsible picture ever released by a major film studio
4 steven spielberg brings us another masterpiece
3 while the frequent allusions to gurus and doshas will strike some westerners as verging on mumbojumbo broad streaks of common sense emerge with unimpeachable clarity
3 oldfashioned but thoroughly satisfying entertainment
3 told just proficiently enough to trounce its overly comfortable trappings
3 city by the sea is a gritty police thriller with all the dysfunctional family dynamics one could wish for
0 sets animation back 30 years musicals back 40 years and judaism back at least 50
2 not kids who do nt need the lesson in repugnance
0 underrehearsed and lifeless
1 the film ultimately offers nothing more than people in an urban jungle needing other people to survive
3 bowling for columbine remains a disquieting and thoughtprovoking film
4 the byplay and bickering between the now spysavvy siblings carmen lrb vega rrb and juni lrb sabara rrb cortez anchor the film in a very real and amusing giveandtake
2 melodrama with a message
1 the sweetest thing leaves an awful sour taste
4 13 conversations about one thing is an intelligent flick that examines many different ideas from happiness to guilt in an intriguing bit of storytelling
0 just dreadful
4 this is pure exciting moviemaking
3 the work of an exhausted desiccated talent who ca nt get out of his own way
2 the director has injected selfconsciousness into the proceedings at every turn
3 deepa mehta provides an accessible introduction as well as some intelligent observations on the success of bollywood in the western world
2 tian emphasizes the isolation of these characters by confining color to liyans backyard
2 as wellacted and wellintentioned as all or nothing is however the film comes perilously close to being too bleak too pessimistic and too unflinching for its own good
1 seagal is painfully foolish in trying to hold onto whats left of his passe chopsocky glory
1 do we really need the tiger beat version
1 two big things are missing anything approaching a visceral kick and anything approaching even a vague reason to sit through it all
1 this film biggest problem
4 simone is a fun and funky look into an artificial creation in a world that thrives on artificiality
3 will give many ministers and biblestudy groups hours of material to discuss
0 amazingly lame
4 an engrossing portrait of a man whose engaging manner and flamboyant style made him a truly largerthanlife character
2 moretti plays giovanni a psychiatrist who predictably finds it difficult to sustain interest in his profession after the family tragedy
1 a slowmoving policeprocedural thriller that takes its title all too literally
3 an awfully good achingly human picture
0 the storys pathetic and the gags are puerile
1 where their heads were is anyones guess
0 the drama was so uninspiring that even a story immersed in love lust and sin could nt keep my attention
1 whatever satire lucky break was aiming for it certainly got lost in the soontobeforgettable section of the quirky ripoff prison romp pile
4 will assuredly rank as one of the cleverest most deceptively amusing comedies of the year
4 filled with alexandre desplats haunting and sublime music the movie completely transfixes the audience
1 a muted freakout
2 ca nt get enough of libidinous young city dwellers
1 this bond film goes off the beaten path not necessarily for the better
2 mostly martha could have used a little trimming 10 or 15 minutes could be cut and no one would notice but its a pleasurable trifle
2 would nt it be nice if all guys got a taste of what its like on the other side of the bra
2 the movie tries to be ethereal but ends up seeming goofy
1 its 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
0 generic thriller junk
0 the movie is the equivalent of french hiphop which also seems to play on a 10year delay
1 an uneven mix of dark satire and childhood awakening
4 leaping from one arresting image to another songs from the second floor has all the enjoyable randomness of a very lively dream and so manages to be compelling amusing and unsettling at the same time
1 nothing about them is attractive
1 during the tuxedos 90 minutes of screen time there is nt one true chan moment
2 a few energetic stunt sequences briefly enliven the film but the wheezing terrorist subplot has nt the stamina for the 100minute running time and the protagonists bohemian boorishness mars the spirit of good clean fun
2 highly irritating at first mr kourys passive technique eventually begins to yield some interesting results
3 a thoughtprovoking and oftenfunny drama about isolation
3 its an interesting effort lrb particularly for jfk conspiracy nuts rrb and barrys coldfish act makes the experience worthwhile
3 the mushy finale turns john q into a movieoftheweek tearjerker
0 a lot of talent is wasted in this crass lowwattage endeavor
4 one of the years best films featuring an oscarworthy performance by julianne moore
2 anyone who gets chills from movies with giant plot holes will find plenty to shake and shiver about in the ring
2 made for teens and reviewed as such this is recommended only for those under 20 years of age and then only as a very mild rental
1 the soulsearching deliberateness of the film although leavened nicely with dry absurdist wit eventually becomes too heavy for the plot
3 one thing you have to give them credit for the message of the movie is consistent with the messages espoused in the companys previous video work
3 its a scorcher
4 spectacular in every sense of the word even if you don t know an orc from a urukhai
2 slackers jokey approach to college education is disappointingly simplistic the films biggest problem and there are no unforgettably stupid stunts or uproariously rude lines of dialogue to remember it by
3 it is ok for a movie to be something of a sitcom apparatus if the lines work the humor has point and the actors are humanly engaged
1 although this idea is new the results are tired
4 surprisingly powerful and universal
0 features nonsensical and laughable plotting wooden performances ineptly directed action sequences and some of the worst dialogue in recent memory
3 its weird wonderful and not necessarily for kids
4 a pleasant piece of escapist entertainment
4 the best comedy concert movie ive seen since chos previous concert comedy film im the one that i want in 2000
3 its a very sincere work but it would be better as a diary or documentary
4 a touching drama about old age and grief with a tour de force performance by michel piccoli
3 the film fearlessly gets under the skin of the people involved this makes it not only a detailed historical document but an engaging and moving portrait of a subculture
1 you get a sense of good intentions derailed by a failure to seek and strike just the right tone
4 that in itself is extraordinary
1 the rules of attraction gets us too drunk on the party favors to sober us up with the transparent attempts at moralizing
2 the movie is gorgeously made but it is also somewhat shallow and artconscious
4 a classy sprightly spin on film
4 its no accident that the accidental spy is a solid action pic that returns the martial arts master to top form
3 everyone should be able to appreciate the wonderful cinematography and naturalistic acting
3 this story still seems timely and important
1 a complete waste of time
0 just plain bad
4 it leaves little doubt that kidman has become one of our best actors
4 a fascinating documentary that provides a rounded and revealing overview of this ancient holistic healing system
0 the action scenes have all the suspense of a 20car pileup while the plot holes are big enough for a train car to drive through if kaos had nt blown them all up
4 it is refreshingly undogmatic about its characters
1 things really get weird though not particularly scary the movie is all portent and no content
3 the cast keeps this pretty watchable and casting mick jagger as director of the escort service was inspired
2 mildly amusing
4 leave it to john sayles to take on developers the chamber of commerce tourism historical pageants and commercialism all in the same movie without neglecting character development for even one minute
3 one ca nt deny its seriousness and quality
2 any intellectual arguments being made about the nature of god are framed in a drama so clumsy there is a real danger less sophisticated audiences will mistake it for an endorsement of the very things that bean abhors
3 an entertaining mix of period drama and flatout farce that should please history fans
3 what saves this deeply affecting film from being merely a collection of wrenching cases is corcueras attention to detail
3 from the dull surreal ache of mortal awareness emerges a radiant character portrait
4 refreshing
1 an illconceived jumble thats not scary not smart and not engaging
3 this breezy caper movie becomes a soulful incisive meditation on the way we were and the way we are
0 too bad none of it is funny
1 while solondz tries and tries hard storytelling fails to provide much more insight than the inside column of a torn book jacket
4 literary purists may not be pleased but as far as mainstream matineestyle entertainment goes it does a bangup job of pleasing the crowds
3 but on the whole youre gonna like this movie
0 for dance completists only
2 the movie obviously seeks to recreate the excitement of such50s flicks as jules vernes 20000 leagues under the sea and the george pal version of hg wells the time machine
4 theres so much to look at in metropolis you hate to tear your eyes away from the images long enough to read the subtitles
4 more timely than its director could ever have dreamed this quietly lyrical tale probes the ambiguous welcome extended by iran to the afghani refugees who streamed across its borders desperate for work and food
3 what lee does so marvelously compelling is present brown as a catalyst for the struggle of black manhood in restrictive and chaotic america sketchy but nevertheless gripping portrait of jim brown a celebrated wonder in the spotlight
1 the film has a kind of hard cold effect
3 beneath the films obvious determination to shock at any cost lies considerable skill and determination backed by sheer nerve
1 but then again i hate myself most mornings
0 how about surprising us by trying something new
3 katzs documentary does nt have much panache but with material this rich it does nt need it
2 sweet home alabama is one dumb movie but its stupidity is so relentlessly harmless that it almost wins you over in the end
3 a polished and vastly entertaining caper film that puts the sting back into the con
2 most folks with a real stake in the american sexual landscape will find it either moderately amusing or just plain irrelevant
3 even though its common knowledge that park and his founding partner yong kang lost kozmo in the end you ca nt help but get caught up in the thrill of the companys astonishing growth
1 this is the kind of movie where people who have never picked a lock do so easily after a few tries and become expert fighters after a few weeks
2 when the violence actually shocked
3 the extent to which it succeeds is impressive
2 too many improbabilities and rosecolored situations temper what couldve been an impacting film
2 like other great documentaries this goes after one truth lrb the ford administrations complicity in tearing orphans from their mothers rrb and stumbles upon others even more compelling
0 then again in a better movie you might not have noticed
3 take nothing seriously and enjoy the ride
1 lrb seems rrb even more uselessly redundant and shamelessly moneygrubbing than most thirdrate horror sequels
3 reign of fire just might go down as one of the alltime great apocalypse movies
3 o fantasma is boldly confidently orchestrated aesthetically and sexually and its impact is deeply and rightly disturbing
4 its soulful and unslick and thats apparently just what lrb aniston rrb has always needed to grow into a movie career
2 entertaining but like shooting fish in a barrel
0 the original was nt a good movie but this remake makes it look like a masterpiece
2 one of those basedontruth stories that persuades you with every scene that it could never really have happened this way
3 not too fancy not too filling not too fluffy but definitely tasty and sweet
3 for all the wit and hoopla festival in cannes offers rare insight into the structure of relationships
2 the tonal shifts are jolting and though wens messages are profound and thoughtfully delivered more thorough transitions would have made the film more cohesive
4 its all stitched together with energy intelligence and verve enhanced by a surplus of vintage archive footage
2 the soupy end result has the odd distinction of being playful without being fun too
0 seagal who looks more like danny aiello these days mumbles his way through the movie
3 the acting for the most part is terrific although the actors must struggle with the fact that theyre playing characters who sometimes feel more like literary conceits than fleshandblood humans
3 a winning piece of work filled with love for the movies of the 1960s
3 though the film is static its writerdirectors heart is in the right place his plea for democracy and civic action laudable
4 griffin co manage to be spectacularly outrageous
3 like the english patient and the unbearable lightness of being the hours is one of those reputedly unfilmable novels that has bucked the odds to emerge as an exquisite motion picture in its own right
3 auto focus works as an unusual biopic and document of male swingers in the playboy era
3 very amusing not the usual route in a thriller and the performances are odd and pixilated and sometimes both
3 max pokes provokes takes expressionistic license and hits a nerve as far as art is concerned its mission accomplished
2 authentic and at times endearing humorous spooky educational but at other times as bland as a block of snow
4 yakusho as always is wonderful as the longfaced sad sack and his chemistry with shimizu is very believable
1 by no means a slamdunk and sure to ultimately disappoint the action fans who will be moved to the edge of their seats by the dynamic first act it still comes off as a touching transcendent love story
1 all the characters are clinically depressed and have abandoned their slim hopes and dreams
2 at its worst its rambo meetsjohn ford
3 its about issues most adults have to face in marriage and i think thats what i liked about it the real issues tucked between the silly and crude storyline
0 it goes on for too long and bogs down in a surfeit of characters and unnecessary subplots
1 costners warmmilk persona is just as illfitting as shadyacs perfunctory directing chops and some of the more overtly silly dialogue would sink laurence olivier
2 although it does nt always hang together violence and whimsy do nt combine easily cherish certainly is nt dull
4 its a perfect show of respect to just one of those underrated professionals who deserve but rarely receive it
0 further sad evidence that tom tykwer director of the resonant and sensespinning run lola run has turned out to be a onetrick pony a maker of softheaded metaphysical claptrap
1 the screenplay does too much meandering norton has to recite bland police procedural details fiennes wanders around in an attempt to seem weird and distanced hopkins looks like a drag queen
3 plays out with a dogged and eventually winning squareness that would make it the darling of many a kidsandfamilyoriented cable channel
3 a vivid sometimes surreal glimpse into the mysteries of human behavior
0 a 94minute travesty of unparalleled proportions writerdirector parker seems to go out of his way to turn the legendary wits classic mistaken identity farce into brutally labored and unfunny hokum
3 pan nalins exposition is beautiful and mysterious and the interviews that follow with the practitioners of this ancient indian practice are as subtle and as enigmatic
2 the innocence of holiday cheer ai nt what it used to be
1 do nt let the subtitles fool you the movie only proves that hollywood no longer has a monopoly on mindless action
2 acting can not be acted
3 what does nt this film have that an impressionable kid could nt stand to hear
1 a pleasant and engaging enough sit but in trying to have the best of both worlds it ends up falling short as a whole
3 what saves it and makes it one of the better videogamebased flicks is that the film acknowledges upfront that the plot makes no sense such that the lack of linearity is the point of emotional and moral departure for protagonist alice
1 but its hardly a necessary enterprise
4 the trailer is a riot
1 disappointing in comparison to other recent war movies or any other john woo flick for that matter
4 this enthralling documentary is at once playful and haunting an indepth portrait of an iconoclastic artist who was fundamentally unknowable even to his closest friends
2 very well made but does nt generate a lot of tension
3 an engaging criminal romp that will have viewers guessing just whos being conned right up to the finale
3 directing with a sure and measured hand lrb haneke rrb steers clear of the sensational and offers instead an unflinching and objective look at a decidedly perverse pathology
1 this is a film about the irksome tiresome nature of complacency that remains utterly satisfied to remain the same throughout
3 for the most part the film does hold up pretty well
4 stands as one of the years most intriguing movie experiences letting its imagery speak for it while it forces you to ponder anew what a movie can be
1 lucys a dull girl thats all
2 while we want macdowells character to retrieve her husband we have to ask whether her personal odyssey trumps the carnage that claims so many lives around her
4 it may also be the best sex comedy about environmental pollution ever made
1 in the wake of saving private ryan black hawk down and we were soldiers you are likely to be as heartily sick of mayhem as cages warweary marine
1 the holes in this film remain agape holes punched through by an inconsistent meandering and sometimes dry plot
1 he does nt however deliver nearly enough of the shows trademark style and flash
0 lrb hell is rrb looking down at your watch and realizing serving sara is nt even halfway through
2 supposedly based upon real or at least soberly reported incidents the film ends with a large human tragedy
4 an inventive absorbing movie thats as hard to classify as it is hard to resist
4 a finely tuned mood piece a model of menacing atmosphere
4 the film is small in scope yet perfectly formed
3 even if invincible is not quite the career peak that the pianist is for roman polanski it demonstrates that werner herzog can still leave us with a sense of wonder at the diverse marvelously twisted shapes history has taken
2 its just a little too selfsatisfied
2 slow dry poorly cast but beautifully shot
3 a movie that will surely be profane politically charged music to the ears of chos fans
0 stylistically the movie is a disaster
1 if routine action and jokes like this are your cup of tea then pay your 8 and get ready for the big shear
3 this cinema verite speculation on the assassination of john f kennedy may have been inspired by blair witch but it takes its techniques into such fresh territory that the film never feels derivative
0 given too much time to consider the looseness of the piece the picture begins to resemble the shapeless grasping actors workshop that it is
1 suffers from a flat script and a low budget
3 marshall puts a suspenseful spin on standard horror flick formula
1 what theyre doing is a matter of plumbing arrangements and mind games of no erotic or sensuous charge
3 a sloppy amusing comedy that proceeds from a stunningly unoriginal premise
1 each story is built on a potentially interesting idea but the first two are ruined by amateurish writing and acting while the third feels limited by its short running time
1 at three hours and with very little story or character development there is plenty of room for editing and a much shorter cut surely would have resulted in a smoother more focused narrative without sacrificing any of the cultural intrigue
4 manages to be both hugely entertaining and uplifting
0 instead of letting the laughs come as they may lawrence unleashes his trademark misogyny er comedy like a human volcano or an overflowing septic tank take your pick
0 the paradisos rustedout ruin and ultimate collapse during the films final lrb restored rrb third emotionally belittle a cinema classic
1 its quite diverting nonsense
1 witless and utterly pointless
2 tsai has managed to create an underplayed melodrama about family dynamics and dysfunction that harks back to the spare unchecked heartache of yasujiro ozu
3 the more you think about the movie the more you will probably like it
1 the director seems to take an unseemly pleasure in lrb the characters rrb misery and at the same time to congratulate himself for having the guts to confront it
3 its secondary to american psycho but still has claws enough to get inside you and stay there for a couple of hours
2 at its worst the screenplay is callow but at its best it is a young artists thoughtful consideration of fatherhood
2 the films best trick is the way that it treats conspiracy as a kind of political blair witch a monstrous murk that haunts us precisely because it can never be seen
4 this is an extraordinary film not least because it is japanese and yet feels universal
2 and that holds true for both the movie and the title character played by brendan fraser
0 forages for audience sympathy like a temperamental child begging for attention giving audiences no reason to truly care for its decrepit freaks beyond the promise of a reprieve from their incessant whining
1 too smart to ignore but a little too smugly superior to like this could be a movie that ends up slapping its target audience in the face by shooting itself in the foot
3 its neither as sappy as big daddy nor as anarchic as happy gilmore or the waterboy but it has its moments
1 although i did nt hate this one its not very good either
3 wellmade but mushhearted
4 fun and nimble
3 unfolds in a series of achronological vignettes whose cumulative effect is chilling
3 sitting in the third row of the imax cinema at sydneys darling harbour but i sometimes felt as though i was in the tiny two seater plane that carried the giant camera around australia sweeping and gliding banking and hovering over some of the most not
1 just a kiss is a just a waste
3 the gags are often a stitch
3 captivates as it shows excess in business and pleasure allowing us to find the small human moments and leaving off with a grand whimper
1 piccolis performance is amazing yes but the symbols of loss and denial and lifeatarms length in the film seem irritatingly transparent
2 for single digits kidlets stuart little 2 is still a no brainer
3 beyond the cleverness the weirdness and the pristine camerawork one hour photo is a sobering meditation on why we take pictures
4 dramas like this make it human
3 a very good film sits in the place where a masterpiece should be
2 the country bears has no scenes that will upset or frighten young viewers
2 the 70yearold godard has become to judge from in praise of love the sort of bitter old crank who sits behind his light meter and harangues the supposed injustices of the artistic worldatlarge without doing all that much to correct them
1 an ambitious guiltsuffused melodrama crippled by poor casting
3 constantly touching surprisingly funny semisurrealist exploration of the creative act
4 impossible as it may sound this films heart is even more embracing than monty if only because it accepts nasty behavior and severe flaws as part of the human condition
1 director yu seems far more interested in grossout humor than in showing us wellthought stunts or a car chase that we have nt seen 10000 times
2 just a kiss wants desperately to come off as a fanciful film about the typical problems of average people
2 dodgy mixture of cutesy romance dark satire and murder mystery
0 cox offers plenty of glimpses at existing photos but there are no movies of nijinsky so instead the director treats us to an aimless hodgepodge
4 a true delight
3 cinematic poetry showcases the citys oldworld charm before machines change nearly everything
0 the performances are so overstated the effect comes off as selfparody
4 the production has been made with an enormous amount of affection so we believe these characters love each other
1 the movie ends with outtakes in which most of the characters forget their lines and just utter uhhh which is better than most of the writing in the movie
3 frei assembles a fascinating profile of a deeply humanistic artist who in spite of all that hes witnessed remains surprisingly idealistic and retains an extraordinary faith in the ability of images to communicate the truth of the world around him
3 a moving if uneven success
3 jeonghyang lees film is deceptively simple deeply satisfying
3 yes
1 every note rings false
2 an extraordinarily silly thriller
1 a seriously bad film with seriously warped logic by writerdirector kurt wimmer at the screenplay level
4 a work of extraordinary journalism but it is also a work of deft and subtle poetry
3 kids who are into this thornberry stuff will probably be in wedgie heaven
3 an ingenious and often harrowing look at damaged people and how families can offer either despair or consolation
3 a literary detective story is still a detective story and aficionados of the whodunit wo nt be disappointed
0 cinematic poo
2 as we have come to learn as many times as we have fingers to count on jason is a killer who does nt know the meaning of the word quit
1 director george hickenlooper has had some success with documentaries but here his sense of story and his juvenile camera movements smack of a film school undergrad and his maudlin ending might not have gotten him into film school in the first place
3 the film is filled with humorous observations about the general absurdity of modern life as seen through the eyes outsiders but deftly manages to avoid many of the condescending stereotypes that so often plague films dealing with the mentally ill
0 so putrid it is not worth the price of the match that should be used to burn every print of the film
0 its as if de palma spent an hour setting a fancy table and then served up kraft macaroni and cheese
4 morvern rocks
2 shanghai ghetto should be applauded for finding a new angle on a tireless story but you might want to think twice before booking passage
1 in oldfashioned screenwriting parlance ms shreves novel proved too difficult a text to lick despite the efforts of a firstrate cast
2 i ca nt remember the last time i saw an audience laugh so much during a movie but theres only one problem its supposed to be a drama
3 a treat for its depiction on not giving up on dreams when youre a struggling nobody
3 the obnoxious title character provides the drama that gives added clout to this doc
0 not only does the thoroughly formulaic film represent totally exemplify middleoftheroad mainstream it also represents glossy hollywood at its laziest
1 if youve got a house full of tots do nt worry this will be on video long before they grow up and you can wait till then
1 this is rote drivel aimed at mom and dads wallet
2 bisset delivers a game performance but she is unable to save the movie
2 analyze that regurgitates and waters down many of the previous films successes with a few new swings thrown in
2 it depends on how well flatulence gags fit into your holiday concept
3 not as good as the full monty but a really strong second effort
2 a penetrating glimpse into the tissuethin ego of the standup comic
0 the whole mess boils down to a transparently hypocritical work that feels as though its trying to set the womens liberation movement back 20 years
4 if you like quirky odd movies andor the ironic heres a fun one
4 laced with liberal doses of dark humor gorgeous exterior photography and a stablefull of solid performances no such thing is a fascinating little tale
4 a captivating and intimate study about dying and loving
2 we get light showers of emotion a couple of times but then strangely these wane to an inconsistent and ultimately unsatisfying drizzle
3 enjoyably dumb sweet and intermittently hilarious if youve a taste for the quirky steal a glimpse
1 schneidermeister makin a fool of himself losin his fan base
1 nicks and steinberg match their own creations for pure venality thats giving it the old college try
3 its an effort to watch this movie but it eventually pays off and is effective if you stick with it
0 unfortunately kapur modernizes aew masons story to suit the sensibilities of a young american a decision that plucks the four feathers bare
1 who exactly is fighting whom here
2 a melancholy emotional film
3 this readymade midnight movie probably wo nt stand the cold light of day but under the right conditions its goofy lrb if not entirely wholesome rrb fun
0 rarely has a films title served such dire warning
3 a bittersweet film simple in form but rich with human events
3 a delightful stimulus for the optic nerves so much that its forgivable that the plot feels like every other tale of a totalitarian tomorrow
1 is nt it a bit early in his career for director barry sonnenfeld to do a homage to himself
4 a breathtaking adventure for all ages spirit tells its poignant and uplifting story in a stunning fusion of music and images
4 more concerned with overall feelings broader ideas and openended questions than concrete story and definitive answers soderberghs solaris is a gorgeous and deceptively minimalist cinematic tone poem
1 feels like pieces a bunch of other better movies slapped together
0 maybe youll be lucky and therell be a power outage during your screening so you can get your money back
2 jones helps breathe some life into the insubstantial plot but even he is overwhelmed by predictability
3 the spanieleyed jean reno infuses hubert with a mixture of deadpan cool wry humor and just the measure of tenderness required to give this comic slugfest some heart
0 imagine o henrys the gift of the magi relocated to the scuzzy underbelly of nycs drug scene
3 ash wednesday is not edward burns best film but it is a good and ambitious film
0 its a feelbad ending for a depressing story that throws a bunch of hotbutton items in the viewers face and asks to be seen as hip winking social commentary
1 lan yu seems altogether too slight to be called any kind of masterpiece
1 woody what happened
3 like its new england characters most of whom wander about in thick clouds of denial the movie eventually gets around to its real emotional business striking deep chords of sadness
1 a film which presses familiar herzog tropes into the service of a limpid and conventional historical fiction when really what we demand of the director is to be mesmerised
3 it is a likable story told with competence
1 if the tuxedo actually were a suit it would fit chan like a 99 bargainbasement special
1 the film is grossly contradictory in conveying its social message if indeed there is one
1 one long numbing action sequence made up mostly of routine stuff yuen has given us before
2 oliveira seems to pursue silent film representation with every mournful composition
3 ratliffs two previous titles plutonium circus and purgatory county show his penchant for wry contentious configurations and this film is part of that delicate canon
2 sandra bullocks best dramatic performance to date lrb is rrb almost enough to lift lrb this rrb thrillkill catandmouser above its paintbynumbers plot
0 it might not be 1970s animation but everything else about it is straight from the saturday morning cartoons a retread story bad writing and the same old silliness
0 soulless and even more damning virtually joyless xxx achieves near virtuosity in its crapulence
3 the locations go from stark desert to gorgeous beaches
1 its appeal will probably limited to lds church members and undemanding armchair tourists
1 it follows the blair witch formula for an hour in which were told something creepy and vague is in the works and then it goes awry in the final 30 minutes
3 does an impressive job of relating the complicated history of the war and of filling in the background
3 rich in atmosphere of the postwar art world it manages to instruct without reeking of research library dust
1 just a string of stale gags with no good inside dope and no particular bite
3 tres greek writer and star nia vardalos has crafted here a worldlywise and very funny script
2 summers far too fleeting to squander on offal like this
1 baran is shockingly devoid of your typical majid majidi shoeloving crippled children
3 after one gets the feeling that the typical hollywood disregard for historical truth and realism is at work here its a matter of finding entertainment in the experiences of zishe and the fiery presence of hanussen
2 post 911 the philosophical message of personal freedom first might not be as palatable as intended
0 slap me i saw this movie
1 the movie is like scorseses mean streets redone by someone who ignored it in favor of old juvenile delinquent paperbacks with titles like leather warriors and switchblade sexpot
1 the films maudlin focus on the young womans infirmity and her naive dreams play like the worst kind of hollywood heartstring plucking
3 maryam is more timely now than ever
1 a feelgood movie that does nt give you enough to feel good about
3 the ring never lets you off the hook
1 like most movies about the pitfalls of bad behavior circuit gets drawn into the party
2 the filmmaker ascends literally to the olympus of the art world but he would have done well to end this flawed dazzling series with the raising of something other than his own cremaster
0 the heedless impetuousness of youth is on full irritating display in lrb this rrb meandering and pointless french comingofage import from writerdirector annesophie birot
1 the sum of all fears is remarkably fuddled about motives and context which drains it of the dramatic substance that would shake us in our boots lrb or cinema seats rrb
1 low rent from frame one
3 the film fits into a genre that has been overexposed redolent of a thousand cliches and yet remains uniquely itself vibrant with originality
0 the most repugnant adaptation
0 glazed with a tawdry bmovie scum
0 a decided lack of spontaneity in its execution and a dearth of real poignancy in its epiphanies
2 comedy troupe broken lizards first movie is very funny but too concerned with giving us a plot
3 if youre willing to have fun with it you wo nt feel cheated by the high infidelity of unfaithful
1 if you want a movie time trip the 1960 version is a far smoother ride
3 filmmakers david weissman and bill weber benefit enormously from the cockettes camera craziness not only did they film performances but they did the same at home
2 benigni presents himself as the boy puppet pinocchio complete with receding hairline weathered countenance and american breckin meyers ridiculously inappropriate valley boy voice
1 will anyone who is nt a fangoria subscriber be excited that it has nt gone straight to video
2 most of the characters come off as pantomimesque sterotypes
4 a gripping drama
4 darkly funny and frequently insightful
1 a spooky yarn of demonic doings on the high seas that works better the less the brain is engaged
1 the only young people who possibly will enjoy it are infants who might be distracted by the movies quick movements and sounds
1 sayles once again strands his superb performers in the same old story
3 an unforgettable look at morality family and social expectation through the prism of that omnibus tradition called marriage
4 weaver and lapaglia are both excellent in the kind of lowkey way that allows us to forget that they are actually movie folk
4 smart funny and just honest enough to provide the pleasures of a slightly naughty justaboveaverage off broadway play
0 this is an ungainly movie illfitting with its elbows sticking out where the knees should be
2 for a debut film skin of man heart of beast feels unusually assured
0 it sucked
1 but how it washed out despite all of that is the projects prime mystery
3 as broad and cartoonish as the screenplay is there is an accuracy of observation in the work of the director frank novak that keeps the film grounded in an undeniable social realism
3 lrb take care of my cat rrb is an honestly nice little film that takes us on an examination of young adult life in urban south korea through the hearts and minds of the five principals
1 more successful at relating history than in creating an emotionally complex dramatically satisfying heroine
1 imagine the cleanflicks version of love story with ali macgraws profanities replaced by romancenovel platitudes
1 built on the premise that middleclass arkansas consists of monster truckloving good ol boys and peroxide blond honeys whose worldly knowledge comes from tv reruns and supermarket tabloids
0 oversexed at times overwrought comedydrama that offers little insight into the experience of being forty female and single
3 cho continues her exploration of the outer limits of raunch with considerable brio
3 even if you do nt know the band or the albums songs by heart you will enjoy seeing how both evolve and you will also learn a good deal about the state of the music business in the 21st century
3 an offbeat and fanciful film about the human need for monsters to blame for all that is amiss in the world
4 the fun of the movie is the chance it affords to watch jackson who also served as executive producer take his smooth shrewd powerful act abroad
2 the power of this script and the performances that come with it is that the whole damned thing did nt get our moral hackles up
3 a sharp satire of desperation and cinematic deception
1 stale futile scenario
1 with a tone as variable as the cinematography schaeffers film never settles into the lightfooted enchantment the material needs and the characters quirks and foibles never jell into charm
3 frailty has been written so well that even a simple goddammit
1 feels familiar and tired
2 despite the holes in the story and the somewhat predictable plot moments of the movie caused me to jump in my chair
4 runs on the pure adrenalin of pacinos performance
0 borstal boy represents the worst kind of filmmaking the kind that pretends to be passionate and truthful but is really frustratingly timid and soggy
3 mr scorseses bravery and integrity in advancing this vision can hardly be underestimated
1 the movie is a mess from start to finish
4 a distinguished and thoughtful film marked by acute writing and a host of splendid performances
4 demonstrates the unusual power of thoughtful subjective filmmaking
0 in other words about as bad a film youre likely to see all year
4 a fine production with splendid singing by angela gheorghiu ruggero raimondi and roberto alagna
2 the most illconceived animated comedy since the 1991 dog rover dangerfield
3 even during the climactic hourlong cricket match boredom never takes hold
2 aptly named this shimmering beautifully costumed and filmed production does nt work for me
0 an unremittingly ugly movie to look at listen to and think about it is quite possibly the sturdiest example yet of why the dv revolution has cheapened the artistry of making a film
2 meant for star wars fans
0 its that painful
1 the film like jimmys routines could use a few good laughs
4 highly watchable stuff
2 the faithful will enjoy this sometimes wry adaptation of vs naipauls novel but newcomers may find themselves stifling a yawn or two during the first hour
3 sweet home alabama is what it is a nice harmless date film
2 its not difficult to spot the culprit earlyon in this predictable thriller
2 i found myself liking the film though in this case one mans treasure could prove to be another mans garbage
0 diaz wears out her welcome in her most charmless performance
3 the script manages the rare trick of seeming at once both refreshingly different and reassuringly familiar
3 its a cleareyed portrait of an intensely lived time filled with nervous energy moral ambiguity and great uncertainties
4 an admirable sometimes exceptional film
1 a mediocre exercise in target demographics unaware that its the butt of its own joke
4 well cast and well directed a powerful drama with enough sardonic wit to keep it from being maudlin
2 this big screen caper has a good bark far from being a bowwow
2 the doofuson theloose banter of welcome to collinwood has a cocky afterhours loopiness to it
0 the comedy is nonexistent
3 the first bond movie in ages that is nt fake fun
1 a wretched movie that reduces the second world war to one mans quest to find an old flame
3 death to smoochy is often very funny but whats even more remarkable is the integrity of devitos misanthropic vision
4 armed with a game supporting cast from the pitchperfect forster to the always hilarious meara and levy like mike shoots and scores doing its namesake proud
3 claire is a terrific role for someone like judd who really ought to be playing villains
1 too bad kramer could nt make a guest appearance to liven things up
1 if hill is nt quite his generations don siegel lrb or robert aldrich rrb its because theres no discernible feeling beneath the chest hair
2 but youd never guess that from the performances
3 cannons confidence and laidback good spirits are with the drumming routines among the films saving graces
3 the movie is hardly a masterpiece but it does mark ms bullocks best work in some time
3 the film becomes an overwhelming pleasure and you find yourself rooting for gais character to avoid the fate that has befallen every other carmen before her
1 nearly all the fundamentals you take for granted in most films are mishandled here
3 lrb clooneys rrb debut can be accused of being a bit undisciplined but it has a tremendous offbeat sense of style and humor that suggests he was influenced by some of the filmmakers who have directed him especially the coen brothers and steven soderbergh
2 the pitch must have read like a discarded house beautiful spread
2 go
2 for free
3 bring tissues
1 the piano teacher is not an easy film
0 by the time you reach the finale youre likely wondering why youve been watching all this strutting and posturing
1 lawrence should stick to his day job
2 sparkles in its deft portrait of tinseltowns seasoned veterans of gossip wealth paranoia and celebrityhood
2 sex with strangers will shock many with its unblinking frankness
2 plays like a checklist of everything rob reiner and his cast were sending up
3 this movie has the usual impossible stunts but it has just as many scenes that are lean and tough enough to fit in any modern action movie
1 as if drop dead gorgeous was nt enough this equally derisive clunker is fixated on the spectacle of smalltown competition
0 its a drag how nettelbeck sees working women or at least this working woman for whom she shows little understanding
0 such a bad movie that its luckiest viewers will be seated next to one of those ignorant pinheads who talk throughout the show
4 promises is one film thats truly deserving of its oscar nomination
2 13 conversations holds its goodwill close but is relatively slow to come to the point
3 some good organic character work lots of obvious political insights and
1 such a wildly uneven hitandmiss enterprise you ca nt help suspecting that it was improvised on a daytoday basis during production
3 the stars may be college kids but the subject matter is as adult as you can get the temptations of the flesh are unleashed by a slightly crazed overtly determined young woman and a onenight swim turns into an ocean of trouble
3 theyre out there
0 in the end there is nt much to it
1 it makes me feel weird thinking about all the bad things in the world like puppies with broken legs and butterflies that die and movies starring pop queens
0 collapses after 30 minutes into a slaphappy series of adolescent violence
1 what starts off as a satisfying kids flck becomes increasingly implausible as it races through contrived plot points
3 its absolutely amazing how firsttime director kevin donovan managed to find something new to add to the canon of chan
4 really quite funny
3 prepare to marvel again
3 its definitely an improvement on the first blade since it does nt take itself so deadly seriously
4 but mostly its a work that with humor warmth and intelligence captures a life interestingly lived
4 brash intelligent and erotically perplexing hanekes portrait of an upper class austrian society and the suppression of its tucked away demons is uniquely felt with a sardonic jolt
3 succeeds as a wellmade evocation of a subculture
2 it may not be history but then again what if it is
4 a backstage mustsee for true fans of comedy
4 allens funniest and most likeable movie in years
1 medem may have disrobed most of the cast leaving their bodies exposed but the plot remains as guarded as a virgin with a chastity belt
2 wellmeaning but inert
1 an inconsequential barely there bit of piffle
2 do you chuckle at the thought of an ancient librarian whacking a certain part of a mans body
3 how good this film might be depends if you believe that the shocking conclusion is too much of a plunge or not
1 for something as splendidlooking as this particular film the viewer expects something special but instead gets lrb scifi rrb rehash
4 with dirty deeds david caesar has stepped into the mainstream of filmmaking with an assurance worthy of international acclaim and with every cinematic tool well under his control driven by a natural sense for what works on screen
4 but the talented cast alone will keep you watching as will the fight scenes
3 if we sometimes need comforting fantasies about mental illness we also need movies like tim mccanns revolution no 9
4 one of the finest most humane and important holocaust movies ever made
3 cage makes an unusual but pleasantly haunting debut behind the camera
3 flatout amusing sometimes endearing and often fabulous with a solid cast noteworthy characters delicious dialogue and a wide supply of effective sight gags
3 two tedious acts light on great scares and a good surprise ending
3 japanese director shohei imamuras latest film is an odd but ultimately satisfying blend of the sophomoric and the sublime
3 its a treat watching shaw a british stage icon melting under the heat of phocions attentions
0 rifkin no doubt fancies himself something of a hubert selby jr but there is nt an ounce of honest poetry in his entire script its simply crude and unrelentingly exploitative
0 a chilly remote emotionally distant piece so dull that its tagline should be in space no one can hear you snore
3 just offbeat enough to keep you interested without coming close to bowling you over
2 unofficially national lampoons van wilder is son of animal house
1 lurid and less than lucid work
1 deuces wild treads heavily into romeo and julietwest side story territory where it plainly has no business going
2 the isolated moments of creative insanity finally are lost in the thin soup of canned humor
3 hollywood ending is not showstoppingly hilarious but scathingly witty nonetheless
0 if theres a heaven for bad movies deuces wild is on its way
2 call this the full monty on ice the underdog sports team formula redux
1 ever see one of those comedies that just seem like a bad idea from frame one
1 despite its sincere acting signs is just another unoriginal run of the mill scifi film with a flimsy ending and lots of hype
3 a manically generous christmas vaudeville
1 its as if allen at 66 has stopped challenging himself
1 mendes still does nt quite know how to fill a frame
1 some movies were made for the big screen some for the small screen and some like ballistic ecks vs sever were made for the palm screen
3 while the filmmaking may be a bit disjointed the subject matter is so fascinating that you wo nt care
2 still not every lowbudget movie must be quirky or bleak and a happy ending is no cinematic sin
0 the movie is a desperate miscalculation
1 the film does nt sustain its initial promise with a jarring newagey tone creeping into the second half
1 it irritates and saddens me that martin lawrences latest vehicle can explode obnoxiously into 2500 screens while something of bubba hoteps clearly evident quality may end up languishing on a shelf somewhere
2 if reno is to the left of liberal on the political spectrum her tough funny rather chaotic show is nt subversive so much as it is nitpicky about the hypocrisies of our time
2 a tedious parable about honesty and good sportsmanship
2 draggin about dragons
1 pap invested in undergraduate doubling subtexts and ridiculous stabs at existentialism reminding of the discovery of the wizard of god in the fifth trek flick
4 kinnear and dafoe give what may be the performances of their careers
1 its difficult to feel anything much while watching this movie beyond mild disturbance or detached pleasure at the acting
1 like being able to hit on a 15year old when youre over 100
0 the thought of watching this film with an audience full of teenagers fixating on its body humour and reinforcement of stereotypes lrb of which theyll get plenty rrb fills me with revulsion
1 theres not a fresh idea at the core of this tale
3 it was only a matter of time before some savvy producer saw the potential success inherent in the mixture of bullock bubble and hugh goo
4 but mr polanski creates images even more haunting than those in mr spielbergs 1993 classic
1 a mimetic approximation of better films
3 the closest thing to the experience of space travel
1 this would have been better than the fiction it has concocted and there still could have been room for the war scenes
4 director charles stone iii applies more detail to the films music than to the story line whats best about drumline is its energy
3 if you can read the subtitles lrb the opera is sung in italian rrb and you like masterpiece theatre type costumes youll enjoy this movie
4 frailty starts out like a typical bible killer story but it turns out to be significantly different lrb and better rrb than most films with this theme
4 diane lane works nothing short of a minor miracle in unfaithful
4 a mix of gritty realism crisp storytelling and radiant compassion that effortlessly draws you in
3 if you love reading andor poetry then by all means check it out
2 did it move me to care about what happened in 1915 armenia
3 a highly watchable giggly little story with a sweet edge to it
2 quelle surprise
0 the films trailer also looked like crap so crap is what i was expecting
2 the biggest problem with this movie is that its not nearly long enough
2 the movie while beautiful feels labored with a hint of the writing exercise about it
3 unexpected and often contradictory truths emerge
3 one of the best of a growing strain of daring films that argue that any sexual relationship that does nt hurt anyone and works for its participants is a relationship that is worthy of our respect
3 a film with a great premise but only a great premise
1 one of those soso films that could have been much better
1 normally rohmers talky films fascinate me but when he moves his setting to the past and relies on a historical text he loses the richness of characterization that makes his films so memorable
2 circuit queens wo nt learn a thing theyll be too busy cursing the films strategically placed white sheets
4 labutes careful handling makes the material seem genuine rather than pandering
2 tom green and an ivy league college should never appear together on a marquee especially when the payoff is an unschooled comedy like stealing harvard which fails to keep 80 minutes from seeming like 800
1 the great pity is that those responsible did nt cut their losses and ours and retitle it the adventures of directtovideo nash and send it to its proper home
4 a film that begins with the everyday lives of naval personnel in san diego and ends with scenes so true and heartbreaking that tears welled up in my eyes both times i saw the film
1 theres a little violence and lots of sex in a bid to hold our attention but it grows monotonous after a while as do joan and philips repetitive arguments schemes and treachery
3 made eddie murphy a movie star and the man has nt aged a day
3 even when hes not at his most critically insightful godard can still be smarter than any 50 other filmmakers still at work
1 but like silence its a movie that gets under your skin
2 wanker goths are on the loose
1 it sounds like another clever if pointless excursion into the abyss and thats more or less how it plays out
4 a must for fans of british cinema if only because so many titans of the industry are along for the ride
4 its a fine focused piece of work that reopens an interesting controversy and never succumbs to sensationalism
4 romantic comedy and dogme 95 filmmaking may seem odd bedfellows but they turn out to be delightfully compatible here
1 at a time when weve learned the hard way just how complex international terrorism is collateral damage paints an absurdly simplistic picture
4 a fascinating documentary about the long and eventful spiritual journey of the guru who helped launch the new age
3 rodriguez has the chops of a smartaleck film school brat and the imagination of a big kid
0 the films lack of personality permeates all its aspects from the tv movieesque affected child acting to the dullest irish pub scenes ever filmed
1 eight legged freaks wo nt join the pantheon of great monsterscience fiction flicks that we have come to love
3 there is a beautiful aching sadness to it all
2 harry potter and the chamber of secrets is deja vu all over again and while that is a cliche nothing could be more appropriate
3 the kind of primal storytelling that george lucas can only dream of
1 the actors must indeed be good to recite some of this laughable dialogue with a straight face
1 stress dumb
3 in questioning the election process payami graphically illustrates the problems of fledgling democracies but also the strength and sense of freedom the iranian people already possess with or without access to the ballot box
1 while the film is competent its also uninspired lacking the real talent and wit to elevate it beyond its formula to the level of classic romantic comedy to which it aspires
3 it works well enough since the thrills pop up frequently and the dispatching of the cast is as often imaginative as it is gory
4 the hardtopredict and absolutely essential chemistry between the downtoearth bullock and the nonchalant grant proves to be sensational and everything meshes in this elegant entertainment
2 norton holds the film together
0 theres not one decent performance from the cast and not one clever line of dialogue
4 the film brilliantly shines on all the characters as the direction is intelligently accomplished
4 a delightful surprise because despite all the backstage drama this is a movie that tells stories that work is charming is moving is funny and looks professional
1 the maudlin way its story unfolds suggests a director fighting against the urge to sensationalize his material
0 too many scenarios in which the hero might have an opportunity to triumphantly sermonize and too few that allow us to wonder for ourselves if things will turn out okay
2 a flawed film but an admirable one that tries to immerse us in a world of artistic abandon and political madness and very nearly succeeds
1 it would nt matter so much that this arrogant richard pryor wannabes routine is offensive puerile and unimaginatively foulmouthed if it was at least funny
1 the makers of mothman prophecies succeed in producing that most frightening of all movies a mediocre horror film too bad to be good and too good to be bad
0 epps has neither the charisma nor the natural affability that has made tucker a star
0 given the fact that virtually no one is bound to show up at theatres for it the project should have been made for the tube
3 i am not generally a huge fan of cartoons derived from tv shows but hey arnold
4 this is a fascinating film because there is no clearcut hero and no allout villain
3 rehearsals are frequently more fascinating than the results
2 the dark and bittersweet twist feels strange as things turn nasty and tragic during the final third of the film
2 the film thrusts the inchoate but already eldritch christian right propaganda machine into national media circles
3 the engagingly primitive animated special effects contribute to a mood thats sustained through the surprisingly somber conclusion
1 hiphop prison thriller of stupefying absurdity
1 is a question for philosophers not filmmakers all the filmmakers need to do is engage an audience
0 if you enjoy being rewarded by a script that assumes you are nt very bright then blood work is for you
3 nair does nt treat the issues lightly
3 by and large this is mr kilmers movie and its his strongest performance since the doors
3 this masterfully calibrated psychological thriller thrives on its taut performances and creepy atmosphere even if the screenplay falls somewhat short
3 the charming result is festival in cannes
2 home movie is the film equivalent of a lovingly rendered coffee table book
1 cherry orchard is badly edited often awkwardly directed and suffers from the addition of a wholly unnecessary precredit sequence designed to give some of the characters a back story
2 though excessively tiresome the uncertainty principle as verbally pretentious as the title may be has its handful of redeeming features as long as you discount its ability to bore
2 so brisk is wangs pacing that none of the excellent cast are given air to breathe
2 the only time 8 crazy nights comes close to hitting a comedic or satirical target is during the offbeat musical numbers
4 me without you has a bracing truth thats refreshing after the phoniness of femalebonding pictures like divine secrets of the yaya sisterhood
3 some of the most ravaging gutwrenching frightening war scenes since saving private ryan have been recreated by john woo in this littleknown story of native americans and their role in the second great war
0 a plotline thats as lumpy as twoday old porridge the filmmakers paws sad to say were all over this unbearable project
1 the story has some nice twists but the ending and some of the backstory is a little tired
1 theres no excuse for following up a delightful wellcrafted family film with a computergenerated cold fish
1 on top of a foundering performance lrb madonnas rrb denied her own athleticism by lighting that emphasizes every line and sag
3 shiner can certainly go the distance but is nt world championship material
4 the film is bright and flashy in all the right ways
3 if anything see it for karen black who camps up a storm as a fringe feminist conspiracy theorist named dirty dick
4 the aaa of action xxx is a blast of adrenalin rated eee for excitement
0 what remains is a variant of the nincompoop benigni persona here a more annoying though less angry version of the irresponsible sandlerian manchild undercut by the voice of the star of road trip
4 a welldone film of a selfreflexive philosophical nature
3 an oldfashioned scary movie one that relies on lingering terror punctuated by sudden shocks and not constant bloodshed punctuated by flying guts
2 although melodramatic and predictable this romantic comedy explores the friendship between five filipinoamericans and their frantic efforts to find love
0 nothing sticks really except a lingering creepiness one feels from being dragged through a sad sordid universe of guns drugs avarice and damaged dreams
4 brosnan gives a portrayal as solid and as perfect as his outstanding performance as bond in die another day
2 goes a long way on hedonistic gusto
3 thirteen conversations about one thing lays out a narrative puzzle that interweaves individual stories and like a mobius strip elliptically loops back to where it began
1 im sure theres a teenage boy out there somewhere whos dying for this kind of entertainment
1 the acting is just fine but theres not enough substance here to sustain interest for the full 90 minutes especially with the weak payoff
1 the first hour is tedious though ford and neeson capably hold our interest but its just not a thrilling movie
3 steven soderberghs digital video experiment is a clever and cutting quick and dirty look at modern living and movie life
0 weighted down with slow uninvolving storytelling and flat acting
1 sheridan had a wonderful account to work from but curiously he waters it down turning grit and vulnerability into light reading
0 no amount of arty theorizing the special effects are germanexpressionist according to the press notes can render it anything but laughable
1 what goes on for the 110 minutes of panic room is a battle of witlessness between a notsobright mother and daughter and an even less capable trio of criminals
1 illiterate often inert scifi action thriller
4 when compared to the usual more somber festival entries davis highly personal brand of romantic comedy is a tart smart breath of fresh air that stands out from the pack even if the picture itself is somewhat problematic
3 the best thing about the movie is its personable amusing cast
3 inherently caustic and oddly whimsical the film chimes in on the grieving process and strangely draws the audience into the unexplainable pain and eccentricities that are attached to the concept of loss
2 heaven is a haunting dramatization of a couples moral ascension
0 hanekes script lrb from elfriede jelineks novel rrb is contrived unmotivated and psychologically unpersuasive with an inconclusive ending
3 with an expressive face reminiscent of gong li and a vivid personality like zhang ziyis dong stakes out the emotional heart of happy
4 a modestly made but profoundly moving documentary
3 fred schepisis tale of four englishmen facing the prospect of their own mortality views youthful affluence not as a lost ideal but a starting point
4 it is however a completely honest openhearted film that should appeal to anyone willing to succumb to it
0 movies like high crimes flog the dead horse of surprise as if it were an obligation
1 a zippy 96 minutes of mediocre special effects hoary dialogue fluxing accents and worst of all sillylooking morlocks
1 the movie does nt generate a lot of energy
1 one of those decadesspanning historical epics that strives to be intimate and socially encompassing but fails to do justice to either effort in three hours of screen time
3 a captivatingly quirky hybrid of character portrait romantic comedy and beattheclock thriller
1 the plot is plastered with one hollywood cliche after another most of which involve precocious kids getting the better of obnoxious adults
3 i like all four of the lead actors a lot and they manage to squeeze a few laughs out of the material but theyre treading water at best in this forgettable effort
0 loud chaotic and largely unfunny
1 abandon spends 90 minutes trying figure out whether or not some cocky pseudointellectual kid has intentionally left college or was killed
1 the script is a disaster with cloying messages and irksome characters
3 the art demands live viewing
1 since dahmer resorts to standard slasher flick thrills when it should be most in the mind of the killer it misses a major opportunity to be truly revelatory about his psyche
0 none of this sounds promising and indeed the first half of sorority boys is as appalling as any comedy to ever spill from a projectors lens
1 this mildmannered farce directed by one of its writers john c walsh is corny in a way that bespeaks an expiration date passed a long time ago
2 visually sumptuous but intellectually stultifying
3 but that they are doing it is thoughtprovoking
3 vera has created a provocative absorbing drama that reveals the curse of a selfhatred instilled by rigid social mores
0 it aimlessly and unsuccessfully attempts to fuse at least three dull plots into one good one
3 the film sounds like the stuff of lurid melodrama but what makes it interesting as a character study is the fact that the story is told from pauls perspective
3 a moving and weighty depiction of one familys attempts to heal after the death of a child
3 as i settled into my world war ii memories i found myself strangely moved by even the corniest and most hackneyed contrivances
2 this is amusing for about three minutes
2 its strengths and weaknesses play off each other virtually to a standoff with the unfortunate trump card being the dreary midsection of the film
2 as happily glib and vicious as its characters
4 mr caine and mr fraser are the whole show here with their memorable and resourceful performances
3 it really is a shame that more wo nt get an opportunity to embrace small sweet evelyn
1 the problem with the film is whether these ambitions laudable in themselves justify a theatrical simulation of the death camp of auschwitz iibirkenau
1 too much of the movie feels contrived as if the filmmakers were worried the story would nt work without all those gimmicks
3 the picture runs a mere 84 minutes but its no glance
3 an elegant and sly deadpan comedy
2 with its hint of an awkward hitchcockian theme in tact harmons daunting narrative promotes a reasonable landscape of conflict and pathos to support the scattershot terrorizing tone
0 the notion of deleting emotion from people even in an advanced prozac nation is so insanely dysfunctional that the rampantly designed equilibrium becomes a concept doofus
3 best enjoyed as a work of fiction inspired by reallife events
0 mr soderberghs direction and visual style struck me as unusually and unimpressively fussy and pretentious
2 debate it
4 a wildly entertaining scan of evans career
4 like the full monty this is sure to raise audiences spirits and leave them singing long after the credits roll
3 but not without cheesy fun factor
3 upsetting and thoughtprovoking the film has an odd purity that does nt bring you into the characters so much as it has you study them
3 a liveaction cartoon a fastmoving and cheerfully simplistic 88 minutes of exaggerated action put together with the preteen boy in mind
3 a dazzling thing to behold as long as youre wearing the somewhat cumbersome 3d goggles the theater provides
3 could use a little more humanity but it never lacks in eyepopping visuals
1 mostly shafer and cowriter gregory hinton lack a strongminded viewpoint or a sense of humor
0 im not sure these words have ever been together in the same sentence this erotic cannibal movie is boring
2 gambling and throwing a basketball game for money is nt a new plot in fact toback himself used it in black and white
4 with an admirably dark first script by brent hanley paxton making his directorial feature debut does strong measured work
4 bolstered by exceptional performances and a cleareyed take on the economics of dealing and the pathology of ghetto fabulousness
4 douglas mcgraths nicholas nickleby does dickens as it should be done cinematically
2 how i killed my father would be a rarity in hollywood
2 the problem is not that its all derivative because plenty of funny movies recycle old tropes
3 that the egraveyard holds as many good ideas as bad is the cold comfort that chins film serves up with style and empathy
1 ends up offering nothing more than the latest schwarzenegger or stallone flick would
2 the films only missteps come from the scripts insistence on providing deep emotional motivation for each and every one of abagnales antics
1 at best this is a film for the under7 crowd
4 a thoughtful movie a movie that is concerned with souls and risk and schemes and the consequences of ones actions
1 jawdroppingly superficial straining to get by on humor that is not even as daring as john ritters glory days on threes company
3 even through its flaws revolution 9 proves to be a compelling interestingly told film
2 its still adam sandler and its not little nicky
3 sorvino is delightful in the central role
2 bogs down badly as we absorb jias moody badboy behavior which he portrays himself in a onenote performance
0 an awful movie that will only satisfy the most emotionally malleable of filmgoers
3 exhilarating but blatantly biased
0 the story of trouble every day is so sketchy it amounts to little more than preliminary notes for a sciencefiction horror film and the movies fragmentary narrative style makes piecing the story together frustrating difficult
1 lame sweet home leaves no southern stereotype unturned
3 firsttime writerdirector dylan kidd also has a good ear for dialogue and the characters sound like real people
0 it is very difficult to care about the character and that is the central flaw of the film
3 what makes it worth watching is quaids performance
3 by turns pretentious fascinating ludicrous provocative and vainglorious
2 an empty ugly exercise in druggy trancenoir and trumpedup street credibility
4 especially give credit to affleck
3 if you grew up on scooby youll love this movie
4 its hard to imagine anyone managing to steal a movie not only from charismatic rising star jake gyllenhaal but also from accomplished oscar winners susan sarandon dustin hoffman and holly hunter yet newcomer ellen pompeo pulls off the feat with aplomb
0 after you laugh once lrb maybe twice rrb you will have completely forgotten the movie by the time you get back to your car in the parking lot
1 the screenplay flounders under the weight of too many story lines
1 snipes is both a snore and utter tripe
1 the troubling thing about clockstoppers is that it does nt make any sense
1 theres no good answer to that one
3 singercomposer bryan adams contributes a slew of songs a few potential hits a few more simply intrusive to the story but the whole package certainly captures the intended er spirit of the piece
0 its a roadtrip drama with too many wrong turns
1 seriously rent the disney version
0 youll forget about it by monday though and if theyre old enough to have developed some taste so will your kids
0 like many such biographical melodramas it suffers from the awkwardness that results from adhering to the messiness of true stories
0 no cute factor here not that i mind ugly the problem is he has no character loveable or otherwise
3 a remarkable movie with an unsatisfying ending which is just the point
4 if youre a fan of the series youll love it and probably want to see it twice
1 unless bob crane is someone of particular interest to you this films impressive performances and adept direction are nt likely to leave a lasting impression
1 it does nt flinch from its unsettling prognosis namely that the legacy of war is a kind of perpetual pain
1 if you recognize zeus lrb the dog from snatch rrb it will make you wish you were at home watching that movie instead of in the theater watching this one
2 a trashy little bit of fluff stuffed with enjoyable performances and a bewildering sense of selfimportance
2 if youre really renting this youre not interested in discretion in your entertainment choices youre interested in anne geddes john grisham and thomas kincaid
0 like a can of 2day old coke
1 what jackson has done is proven that no amount of imagination no creature no fantasy story and no incredibly outlandish scenery
4 as a girlmeetsgirl romantic comedy kissing jessica steinis quirky charming and often hilarious
4 humorous and heartfelt douglas mcgraths version of nicholas nickleby left me feeling refreshed and hopeful
4 a solid wellformed satire
1 may offend viewers not amused by the sick sense of humor
2 the lady and the duke is eric rohmers economical antidote to the bloated costume drama
3 assayas ambitious sometimes beautiful adaptation of jacques chardonnes novel
0 it does nt take a rocket scientist to figure out that this is a mormon family movie and a sappy preachy one at that
2 there are many things that solid acting can do for a movie but crafting something promising from a mediocre screenplay is not one of them
1 a cautionary tale about the folly of superficiality that is itself endlessly superficial
0 it should be doing a lot of things but does nt
2 i was hoping that it would be sleazy and fun but it was neither
0 the logic of it all will be greek to anyone not predisposed to the movies rude and crude humor
4 about as big a crowdpleaser as they possibly come
4 thumbs up to paxton for not falling into the hollywood trap and making a vanity project with nothing new to offer
1 why they were here and what they wanted and quite honestly i did nt care
3 together lrb time out and human resources rrb establish mr cantet as frances foremost cinematic poet of the workplace
3 its mildly entertaining especially if you find comfort in familiarity
1 the chocolate factory without charlie
1 why you may ask why should you buy the movie milk when the tv cow is free
1 the trappings of i spy are so familiar you might as well be watching a rerun
0 weve liked kleins other work but rollerball left us cold
0 even on its own ludicrous terms the sum of all fears generates little narrative momentum and invites unflattering comparisons to other installments in the ryan series
3 but the actors make this worth a peek
0 this mess of a movie is nothing short of a travesty of a transvestite comedy
1 a determined ennuihobbled slog that really does nt have much to say beyond the news flash that loneliness can make people act weird
0 the satire is unfocused while the story goes nowhere
4 easily the most thoughtful fictional examination of the root causes of antisemitism ever seen on screen
3 conceptually brilliant plays like a livingroom war of the worlds gaining most of its unsettling force from the suggested and the unknown
0 i have to admit i walked out of runteldat
2 less worrying about covering all the drama in fridas life and more time spent exploring her process of turning pain into art would have made this a superior movie
3 its excessively quirky and a little underconfident in its delivery but otherwise this is the best old neighborhood project since christopher walken kinda romanced cyndi lauper in the opportunists
4 this is a movie full of grace and ultimately hope
4 lrb ferrera rrb has the charisma of a young woman who knows how to hold the screen
2 we get an image of big papa spanning history rather than suspending it
2 on guard
1 average at best im afraid
4 an eloquent reflective and beautifully acted meditation on both the profoundly devastating events of one year ago and the slow painful healing process that has followed in their wake
3 fortunately elling never gets too cloying thanks to the actors perfect comic timing and sweet genuine chemistry
4 tully is worth a look for its truetolife characters its sensitive acting its unadorned view of rural life and the subtle direction of firsttimer hilary birmingham
1 two badly interlocked stories drowned by all too clever complexity
3 i also wanted a little alien as a friend
4 its immensely ambitious different than anything thats been done before and amazingly successful in terms of what its trying to do
1 forget the misleading title whats with the unexplained baboon cameo
1 though an important political documentary this does not really make the case the kissinger should be tried as a war criminal
3 not everyone will welcome or accept the trials of henry kissinger as faithful portraiture but few can argue that the debate it joins is a necessary and timely one
0 its always disappointing when a documentary fails to live up to or offer any new insight into its chosen topic
0 a frustrating tweener too slick contrived and exploitative for the art houses and too cynical small and decadent for the malls
0 muddled simplistic and more than a little pretentious
3 the mothman prophecies is best when illustrating the demons bedevilling the modern masculine journey
3 an oddity to be sure but one that you might wind up remembering with a degree of affection rather than revulsion
2 although bright wellacted and thoughtprovoking tuck everlasting suffers from a laconic pace and a lack of traditional action
0 feel free to go get popcorn whenever hes not onscreen
0 the very simple story seems too simple and the working out of the plot almost arbitrary
3 lrb allen rrb manages to breathe life into this somewhat tired premise
1 after a while hoffmans quirks and mannerisms particularly his penchant for tearing up on cue things that seem so real in small doses become annoying and artificial
3 there are flaws but also stretches of impact and moments of awe were wrapped up in the characters how they make their choices and why
1 who cares rrb
4 while general audiences might not come away with a greater knowledge of the facts of cuban music theyll be treated to an impressive and highly entertaining celebration of its sounds
1 exploitative and largely devoid of the depth or sophistication that would make watching such a graphic treatment of the crimes bearable
3 a sentimental but entirely irresistible portrait of three aging sisters
2 a typically observant carefully nuanced and intimate french comingofage film that is an encouraging debut feature but has a needlessly downbeat ending that is too heavy for all that has preceded it
4 good solid storytelling
4 as gory as the scenes of torture and selfmutilation may be they are pitted against shimmering cinematography that lends the setting the ethereal beauty of an asian landscape painting
3 were drawn in by the dark luster
2 a pleasant if forgettable romp of a film
4 a classic fairy tale that perfectly captures the wonders and worries of childhood in a way that few movies have ever approached
4 congrats disney on a job well done i enjoyed it just as much
2 some movies can get by without being funny simply by structuring the scenes as if they were jokes a setup delivery and payoff
2 big time
1 i wish it would have just gone more overthetop instead of trying to have it both ways
1 it just does nt have anything really interesting to say
2 would be a total loss if not for two supporting performances taking place at the movies edges
2 cox is far more concerned with aggrandizing madness not the man and the results might drive you crazy
3 a rather brilliant little cult item a pastiche of childrens entertainment superhero comics and japanese animation
2 oozes condescension from every pore
0 clumsy obvious preposterous the movie will likely set the cause of woman warriors back decades
1 the result is an action film mired in stasis
1 hollywood has taken quite a nosedive from alfred hitchcocks imaginative flight to shyamalans selfimportant summer fluff
4 takes a simple premise and carries it to unexpected heights
1 its lost the politics and the social observation and become just another situation romance about a couple of saps stuck in an inarticulate screenplay
3 the films plot may be shallow but youve never seen the deep like you see it in these harrowing surf shots
1 this is a movie where the most notable observation is how long youve been sitting still
3 the film is hard to dismiss moody thoughtful and lit by flashes of mordant humor
2 if jews were catholics this would be catechism
4 hard endearing caring warm
3 shanghai ghetto much stranger than any fiction brings this unknown slice of history affectingly to life
0 boy has this franchise ever run out of gas
1 ive seen some bad singerturned actors but lil bow wow takes the cake
1 follows the original film virtually scene for scene and yet manages to bleed it almost completely dry of humor verve and fun
1 a pathetically inane and unimaginative cross between xxx and vertical limit
3 arteta paints a picture of lives lived in a state of quiet desperation
4 shot largely in small rooms the film has a gentle unforced intimacy that never becomes claustrophobic
1 but i had a lot of problems with this movie
3 takes you by the face strokes your cheeks and coos beseechingly at you slow down shake off your tensions and take this picture at its own breezy distracted rhythms
3 the plot weaves us into a complex web
2 the messy emotions raging throughout this threehour effort are instantly recognizable allowing the film to paradoxically feel familiar and foreign at the same time
2 plods along minus the twisted humor and eyepopping visuals that have made miike a cult hero
3 lrb the cockettes rrb provides a window into a subculture hellbent on expressing itself in every way imaginable
1 an exceptionally dreary and overwrought bit of work every bit as imperious as katzenbergs the prince of egypt from 1998
3 in its treatment of the dehumanizing and egodestroying process of unemployment time out offers an exploration that is more accurate than anything i have seen in an american film
4 renner carries much of the film with a creepy and deadon performance
2 if youre just in the mood for a fun but bad movie you might want to catch freaks as a matinee
1 feels like a cold old man going through the motions
2 vampire epic succeeds as spooky actionpacked trash of the highest order
3 the films images give a backbone to the company and provide an emotional edge to its ultimate demise
4 these three films form a remarkably cohesive whole both visually and thematically through their consistently sensitive and often exciting treatment of an ignored people
1 hoffman waits too long to turn his movie in an unexpected direction and even then his tone retains a genteel prepschool quality that feels dusty and leatherbound
3 the dirty jokes provide the funniest moments in this oddly sweet comedy about jokester highway patrolmen
0 in a big corner office in hell satan is throwing up his hands in surrender is firing his rd people and has decided he will just screen the master of disguise 247
4 a delicious quirky movie with a terrific screenplay and fanciful direction by michael gondry
1 it does nt really know or care about the characters and uses them as markers for a series of preordained events
3 jackson and co have brought back the value and respect for the term epic cinema
3 the fourth pokemon is a diverting if predictable adventure suitable for a matinee with a message that cautions children about disturbing the worlds delicate ecological balance
1 supposedly authentic account of a historical event thats far too tragic to merit such superficial treatment
0 if you like me think an action film disguised as a war tribute is disgusting to begin with then youre in for a painful ride
2 a somber film almost completely unrelieved by any comedy beyond the wistful everyday ironies of the working poor
0 journalistically dubious inept and often lethally dull
1 hes not good with people
0 the sheer dumbness of the plot lrb other than its one good idea rrb and the movies inescapable air of sleaziness get you down
2 its not a classic spyaction or buddy movie but its entertaining enough and worth a look
0 priggish lethargically paced parable of renewal
2 everything else about high crimes is like the military system of justice it portrays tiresomely regimented
4 warm in its loving yet unforgivingly inconsistent depiction of everyday people relaxed in its perfect quiet pace and proud in its message
3 an eyeboggling blend of psychedelic devices special effects and backgrounds spy kids 2 is a visual treat for all audiences
0 the adventures of pluto nash is a big time stinker
0 quite frankly i ca nt see why any actor of talent would ever work in a mcculloch production again if they looked at how this movie turned out
1 its such a mechanical endeavor lrb that rrb it never bothers to question why somebody might devote time to see it
1 and second whats with all the shooting
1 despite some strong performances never rises above the level of a telanovela
2 best seen as speculative history as much an exploration of the paranoid impulse as a creative sequel to the warren report
4 rarely indeed almost never is such highwattage brainpower coupled with pitchperfect acting and an exquisite unfakable sense of cinema
2 theres no clear picture of who killed bob crane
1 payami tries to raise some serious issues about irans electoral process but the result is a film thats about as subtle as a party political broadcast
1 the action here is unusually tame the characters are too simplistic to maintain interest and the plot offers few surprises
2 the message is that even the most unlikely can link together to conquer all kinds of obstacles whether they be of nature of man or of one another
2 merci pour le movie
4 devos and cassel have tremendous chemistry their sexual and romantic tension while never really vocalized is palpable
3 poignant and funny
1 the overall vibe is druggy and selfindulgent like a springbreak orgy for pretentious arts majors
3 a glib but bouncy bit of sixtiesstyle slickness in which the hero might wind up caught but the audience gets pure escapism
4 the storylines are woven together skilfully the magnificent swooping aerial shots are breathtaking and the overall experience is awesome
1 it finds no way to entertain or inspire its viewers
3 with an unusual protagonist lrb a kiltwearing jackson rrb and subject matter the improbable formula 51 is somewhat entertaining but it could have been much stronger
1 director elie chouraqui who cowrote the script catches the chaotic horror of war but why bother if youre going to subjugate truth to the tearjerking demands of soap opera
1 is anyone else out there getting tired of the whole slomo doublepistoled ballisticpyrotechnic hong kong action aesthetic
1 its the humanizing stuff that will probably sink the film for anyone who does nt think about percentages all day long
3 a moving essay about the specter of death especially suicide
1 a disaster of a drama saved only by its winged assailants
0 when it comes out on video then its the perfect cure for insomnia
3 a beguiling evocation of the quality that keeps dickens evergreen the exuberant openness with which he expresses our most basic emotions
2 the movie should be credited with remembering his victims
1 coupling disgracefully written dialogue with flailing bodily movements that substitute for acting circuit is the awkwardly paced soap operaish story
2 snipes relies too much on a scorchingly plotted dramatic scenario for its own good
1 kurys seems intimidated by both her subject matter and the period trappings of this debut venture into the heritage business
2 the sweetest thing a romantic comedy with outrageous tendencies may be a mess in a lot of ways
3 has its moments and almost as many subplots
3 a chilly brooding but quietly resonant psychological study of domestic tension and unhappiness
3 smart and fun but far more witty than it is wise
3 succeeds where its recent predecessor miserably fails because it demands that you suffer the dreadfulness of war from both sides
4 a rare and lightly entertaining look behind the curtain that separates comics from the people laughing in the crowd
3 high crimes steals so freely from other movies and combines enough disparate types of films that it ca nt help but engage an audience
3 michel piccolis moving performance is this films reason for being
0 purposefully shocking in its eroticized gore if unintentionally dull in its lack of poetic frissons
3 an intimate contemplation of two marvelously messy lives
2 the party scenes deliver some tawdry kicks
2 meandering and glacially paced and often just plain dull
1 a fake street drama that keeps telling you things instead of showing them
3 a quietly moving look back at what it was to be iranianamerican in 1979
0 confuses its message with an ultimate desire to please and contorting itself into an idea of expectation is the last thing any of these three actresses nor their characters deserve
4 a good film that must have baffled the folks in the marketing department
1 its solemn pretension prevents us from sharing the awe in which it holds itself
2 but why
2 denis forges out of the theories of class based rage and sisterly obsession a razorsided tuning fork that rings with cultural sexual and social discord
0 if you value your time and money find an escape clause and avoid seeing this trite predictable rehash
3 while most films these days are about nothing this film seems to be about everything thats plaguing the human spirit in a relentlessly globalizing world
3 she boxes these womens souls right open for us
4 in his us debut mr schnitzler proves himself a deft pace master and stylist
4 sex with strangers is fascinating
0 it made me feel unclean and im the guy who liked theres something about mary and both american pie movies
2 anyone whos ever suffered under a martinet music instructor has no doubt fantasized about what an unhappy repressed and twisted personal life their tormentor deserved
1 just a collection of this and that whatever fills time with no unified whole
0 and its a lousy one at that
2 not one moment in the enterprise did nt make me want to lie down in a dark room with something cool to my brow
2 it gets bogged down by hitandmiss topical humour before getting to the truly good stuff
3 between bursts of automatic gunfire the story offers a trenchant critique of capitalism
4 in addition to gluing you to the edge of your seat changing lanes is also a film of freshness imagination and insight
3 laskers canny meditative script distances sex and love as byron and luther realize they ca nt get no satisfaction without the latter
1 this angstridden territory was covered earlier and much better in ordinary people
3 a smart little indie
0 my only wish is that celebi could take me back to a time before i saw this movie and i could just skip it
0 imagine kevin smith the blasphemous bad boy of suburban jersey if he were stripped of most of his budget and all of his sense of humor
2 this film is not a love letter for the slain rappers its a taunt a call for justice for two crimes from which many of us have not yet recovered
2 whether you like it or not is basically a matter of taste
2 the best way to describe it is as a cross between paul thomas andersons magnolia and david lynchs mulholland dr
3 harmlessly
1 after a while the only way for a reasonably intelligent person to get through the country bears is to ponder how a whole segment of popmusic history has been allowed to get wet fuzzy and sticky
4 a powerful performance from mel gibson and a brutal 90minute battle sequence that does everything but issue you a dogtag and an m16
1 so much about the film is loopy and ludicrous that it could have been a hoot in a badmovie way if the laborious pacing and endless exposition had been tightened
0 by the time the plot grinds itself out in increasingly incoherent fashion you might be wishing for a watch that makes time go faster rather than the other way around
1 director tom shadyac and star kevin costner glumly mishandle the storys promising premise of a physician who needs to heal himself
1 its a big idea but the film itself is small and shriveled
1 some fine acting but ultimately a movie with no reason for being
2 the movie has no respect for laws political correctness or common decency but it displays something more important respect for its flawed crazy people
1 the film lapses too often into sugary sentiment and withholds delivery on the pellmell pyrotechnics its punchy style promises
1 one welltimed explosion in a movie can be a knockout but a hundred of them can be numbing
2 a dark dull thriller with a parting shot that misfires
3 audaciousimpossible yet compelling
3 in its own floundering way it gets to you
1 presents nothing special and until the final act nothing overtly disagreeable
1 lets see a haunted house a haunted ship whats next ghost blimp
1 the material and the production itself are little more than routine
2 lrb haynes rrb homage to such films as all that heaven allows and imitation of life transcends them
0 nobody seems to have cared much about any aspect of it from its cheesy screenplay to the grayish quality of its lighting to its lastminute haphazard theatrical release
2 a movie thats just plain awful but still manages to entertain on a guiltypleasure sobadits funny level
3 a good documentary can make interesting a subject you thought would leave you cold
2 as selfaware movies go who is cletis tout
1 britney spears phoniness is nothing compared to the movies contrived lame screenplay and listless direction
3 nothing can detract from the affection of that moral favorite friends will be friends through thick and thin
3 the film presents classic moralcondundrum drama what would you have done to survive
0 terminally brain dead production
3 an interesting look behind the scenes of chicagobased rock group wilco
1 has nothing good to speak about other than the fact that it is relatively short tries its best to hide the fact that seagals overweight and out of shape
3 a winning and wildly fascinating work
3 after watching it you can only love the players it brings to the fore for the gifted but nononsense human beings they are and for the stillinestimable contribution they have made to our shared history
1 yet its not quite the genrebusting film its been hyped to be because it plays everything too safe
2 the film is a blunt indictment part of a perhaps surreal campaign to bring kissinger to trial for crimes against humanity
3 intelligent caustic take on a great writer and dubious human being
2 the whole mildly pleasant outing the r rating is for brief nudity and a grisly corpse remains aloft not on its own selfreferential hot air but on the inspired performance of tim allen
3 gondrys direction is adequate but what gives human nature its unique feel is kaufmans script
3 this is a shrewd and effective film from a director who understands how to create and sustain a mood
3 if you can swallow its absurdities and crudities lagaan really is enormously good fun
1 cheap vulgar dialogue and a plot that crawls along at a snails pace
3 alarms for duvalls throbbing sincerity and his elderly propensity for patting people while he talks
2 rob schneider dana carvey and sarah michelle gellar in the philadelphia story
0 the acting is nt much better
3 zoom
2 i had more fun with ben stillers zoolander which i thought was rather clever
3 if the films vision of sport as a secular religion is a bit cloying its throughline of family and community is heartening in the same way that each season marks a new start
3 its pretty linear and only makeupdeep but bogdanovich ties it together with efficiency and an affection for the period
4 more mature than fatal attraction more complete than indecent proposal and more relevant than 9 12 weeks unfaithful is at once intimate and universal cinema
1 thats its first sign of trouble
4 a very charming and funny movie
2 a goodlooking but ultimately pointless political thriller with plenty of action and almost no substance
0 something appears to have been lost in the translation this time
0 a period story about a catholic boy who tries to help a jewish friend get into heaven by sending the audience straight to hell
0 a markedly inactive film city is conversational bordering on confessional
2 the strong subject matter continues to shock throughout the film
1 a fan film that for the uninitiated plays better on video with the sound turned down
1 romanek keeps adding flourishes artsy fantasy sequences that simply feel wrong
3 the result is somewhat satisfying it still comes from spielberg who has never made anything that was nt at least watchable
3 a wonderfully speculative character study that made up for its rather slow beginning by drawing me into the picture
2 gibney and jarecki just want to string the bastard up
1 lazily directed by charles stone iii from a leaden script by matthew cirulnick and novelist thulani davis
4 nonchalantly freaky and uncommonly pleasurable warm water may well be the years best and most unpredictable comedy
1 though theres a clarity of purpose and evenhandedness to the films direction the drama feels rigged and sluggish
0 sunk by way too much indulgence of scenechewing teethgnashing actorliness
0 what starts off as a possible argentine american beauty reeks like a room stacked with pungent flowers
4 by the time its done with us mira nairs new movie has its audience giddy with the delight of discovery of having been immersed in a foreign culture only to find that human nature is pretty much the same all over
4 shot in rich shadowy blackandwhite devils chronicles with increasingly amused irony the relationship between reluctant captors and befuddled captives
2 bondinspired
0 staggeringly dreadful romance
4 this method almost never fails him and it works superbly here
1 weird
4 nolan proves that he can cross swords with the best of them and helm a more traditionally plotted popcorn thriller while surrendering little of his intellectual rigor or creative composure
4 maybe not a classic but a movie the kids will want to see over and over again
2 the film did nt move me one way or the other but it was an honest effort and if you want to see a flick about telemarketers this one will due
1 and as with most latenight bull sessions eventually the content is nt nearly as captivating as the rowdy participants think it is
4 the kind of sweetandsour insider movie that film buffs will eat up like so much gelati
1 illconsidered unholy hokum
2 or that the battery on your watch has died
3 competently directed but terminally cute drama
0 this pathetic junk is barely an hour long
2 lrb taylor rrb takes us on a ride thats consistently surprising easy to watch but oh so dumb
1 feels less like a change in lrb herzogs rrb personal policy than a halfhearted fluke
1 just too silly and sophomoric to ensnare its target audience
3 familiar but utterly delightful
1 for those of us who respond more strongly to storytelling than computergenerated effects the new star wars installment has nt escaped the rut dug by the last one
4 consider it perfection
0 at the onehour mark herzog simply runs out of ideas and the pace turns positively leaden as the movie sputters to its inevitable tragic conclusion
3 this is a more fascinating look at the future than bladerunner and one of the most highconcept sci fi adventures attempted for the screen
4 samuel l jackson is one of the best actors there is
3 hupperts show to steal and she makes a meal of it channeling kathy bakers creepy turn as the repressed mother on boston public just as much as 8 womens augustine
1 but no
1 even in terms of the lowgrade cheese standards on which it operates it never quite makes the grade as tawdry trash
3 if you love him youll like it
4 a new film from bill plympton the animation master is always welcome
2 theres no getting around the fact that this is revenge of the nerds revisited again
1 the idea is more interesting than the screenplay which lags badly in the middle and lurches between notveryfunny comedy unconvincing dramatics and some lastminute action strongly reminiscent of run lola run
1 woefully pretentious
1 lacks the visual flair and bouncing bravado that characterizes better hiphop clips and is content to recycle images and characters that were already tired 10 years ago
3 makes one thing abundantly clear
3 a flick about our infantilized culture that is nt entirely infantile
1 still it just sits there like a side dish no one ordered
1 we can tell what it is supposed to be but ca nt really call it a work of art
0 a ragbag of cliches
3 it made me want to get madeup and go see this movie with my sisters
3 visually santa clause 2 is wondrously creative
1 girlfriends are bad wives are worse and babies are the kiss of death in this bitter italian comedy
3 and we do nt avert our eyes for a moment
4 exudes the fizz of a busby berkeley musical and the visceral excitement of a sports extravaganza
1 for all its brilliant touches dragon loses its fire midway nearly flickering out by its perfunctory conclusion
3 an engaging formulaic sports drama that carries a charge of genuine excitement
2 with a couple of burntout cylinders
3 tackles the difficult subject of grief and loss with such lifeembracing spirit that the theme does nt drag an audience down
4 a moving story of determination and the human spirit
4 we admire this film for its harsh objectivity and refusal to seek our tears our sympathies
0 disgusting
1 moore is like a progressive bull in a china shop a provocateur crashing into ideas and specialinterest groups as he slaps together his own brand of liberalism
2 reno does what he can in a thankless situation the film ricochets from humor to violence and back again and ryoko hirosue makes us wonder if she is always like that
2 the culmination of everyones efforts is given life when a selection appears in its final form lrb in last dance rrb
3 it goes down easy leaving virtually no aftertaste
0 crossroads feels like a teenybopper ed wood film replete with the pubescent scandalous innuendo and the highstrung but flaccid drama
2 certainly beautiful to look at but its not very informative about its titular character and no more challenging than your average television biopic
4 mike leigh populates his movie with a wonderful ensemble cast of characters that bring the routine day to day struggles of the working class to life
3 if you open yourself up to mr reggios theory of this imagery as the movies set it can impart an almost visceral sense of dislocation and change
1 does not go far enough in its humor or stock ideas to stand out as particularly memorable or even all that funny
3 its refreshing to see a romance this smart
3 like the chilled breath of oral storytelling frozen onto film
3 shattering devastating documentary on two maladjusted teens in a downward narcotized spiral
0 as exciting as all this exoticism might sound to the typical pax viewer the rest of us will be lulled into a coma
3 the film is reasonably entertaining though it begins to drag twothirds through when the melodramatic aspects start to overtake the comedy
1 it never rises to its clever whatif concept
3 much has been written about those years when the psychedelic60s grooved over into the gay70s but words do nt really do the era justice
2 a sly dissection of the inanities of the contemporary music business and a rather sad story of the difficulties of artistic collaboration
4 a gracious eloquent film that by its end offers a ray of hope to the refugees able to look ahead and resist living in a past forever lost
0 every conceivable mistake a director could make in filming opera has been perpetrated here
4 its the kind of movie that aside from robert altman spike lee the coen brothers and a few others our moviemakers do nt make often enough
4 williams creates a stunning taxi driveresque portrayal of a man teetering on the edge of sanity
3 campbell scott finds the ideal outlet for his flickknife diction in the role of roger swanson
3 has a certain ghoulish fascination and generates a fair amount of bmovie excitement
1 with its parade of almost perpetually wasted characters margarita feels like a hazy high that takes too long to shake
3 bolstered by an astonishing voice cast lrb excepting love hewitt rrb an interesting racial tension and a storyline that i have nt encountered since at least petes dragon
3 a witty whimsical feature debut
4 exhilarating funny and fun
1 as an entertainment destination for the general public kung pow sets a new benchmark for lameness
3 downbeat periodperfect biopic hammers home a heavyhanded moralistic message
1 none of this socalled satire has any sting to it as if woody is afraid of biting the hand that has finally to some extent warmed up to him
2 the santa clause 2 is a barely adequate babysitter for older kids but ive got to give it thumbs down
1 sometimes there are very very good reasons for certain movies to be sealed in a jar and left on a remote shelf indefinitely
3 it makes you believe the cast and crew thoroughly enjoyed themselves and believed in their smallbudget film
3 the underworld urban angst is derivative of martin scorseses taxi driver and goodfellas but this film speaks for itself
2 even if you have no interest in the ganginfested eastvs
1 the film does nt really care about the thousands of americans who die hideously it cares about how ryan meets his future wife and makes his start at the cia
3 proves a servicable world war ii drama that ca nt totally hide its contrivances but it at least calls attention to a problem hollywood too long has ignored
1 this movie does nt deserve the energy it takes to describe how bad it is
1 in this case zero
1 simply put there should have been a more compelling excuse to pair susan sarandon and goldie hawn
3 definitely in the guilty pleasure bmovie category reign of fire is so incredibly inane that it is laughingly enjoyable
3 its an experience in understanding a unique culture that is presented with universal appeal
0 the french director has turned out nearly 212 hours of unfocused excruciatingly tedious cinema that half an hour in starts making water torture seem appealing
2 either youre willing to go with this claustrophobic concept or youre not
2 despite these annoyances the capable clayburgh and tambor really do a great job of anchoring the characters in the emotional realities of middle age
1 lrb tries rrb to parody a genre thats already a joke in the united states
1 the movies downfall is to substitute plot for personality
2 the film is darkly atmospheric with herrmann quietly suggesting the sadness and obsession beneath hearsts forced avuncular chortles