Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 81%
| Broken Embraces (2009) | "
It’s a sheer indulgence for Almodóvar and just as indulgent for his fans." Posted Nov 25, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 60%
| Pirate Radio (2009) | "
This blast of Sixties nostalgia, derived from the days when pirate radio ships broadcast off the coast of Britain with a motley crew of dee-jays, should appeal to ageing music freaks and fans of Brit-pop." Posted Nov 13, 2009 |
Rotten 2/5
| Rotten 58%
| Mammoth (2009) | "
It is all too simplistic and obvious and increasingly the preachy tone becomes irritating." Posted Nov 5, 2009 |
Rotten 2/5
| Fresh 67%
| Storm (2009) | "
Hans-Christian Schmid marshals his material on an epic canvas whereas the subject might have been better suited to a more intense and contained treatment." Posted Nov 5, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 73%
| The Young Victoria (2009) | "
The production is full of such electrifying moments, ensuring that there will be no cobwebs in this history exercise." Posted Oct 29, 2009 |
Rotten 2/5
| Rotten 50%
| Antichrist (2009) | "
Admiration can go to his sheer audacity but not to his execution of his ideas, which resonate with pretensions and a certain pomposity." Posted Oct 23, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 91%
| The Messenger (2009) | "
Although Hollywood has dealt with the war from various perspectives, Moverman’s film offers a new angle that brings the horrors home about the decision to go to war." Posted Oct 8, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 83%
| Bright Star (2009) | "
What in lesser hands could have become an immaculately observed period piece instead soars to creative heights with its literate and knowing script." Posted Sep 18, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 77%
| The Informant! (2009) | "
Soderbergh has delivered a mildly entertaining confection here but it lacks the bite and depth you might have expected from such explosive subject matter." Posted Sep 11, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 70%
| The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (2009) | "
[An] intense and claustrophobic drama." Posted Aug 21, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 82%
| Thirst (2009) | "
Thirst casts a hypnotic visual spell over its vampiric goings-on." Posted Jul 24, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 96%
| Somers Town (2009) | "
It may seem slight but Meadows is a master of the art of revealing human foibles and weaknesses, which means the film lingers long after its extremely modest running time. A wee gem." Posted Jul 17, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 81%
| Lake Tahoe (2009) | "
Could be quirky enough to ensnare devotees of indie film." Posted Jul 10, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 67%
| Bruno (2009) | "
The crown of the reigning king of bad taste must pass from John Waters to Sacha Baron Cohen." Posted Jun 26, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Rotten 54%
| The Boat That Rocked (2009) | "
This blast of Sixties nostalgia, derived from the days when pirate radio ships broadcast off the coast of Britain with a motley crew of dee-jays, should appeal to ageing music freaks and fans of Brit-pop." Posted Jun 19, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Rotten 19%
| Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) | "
My advice is to switch off your brainpower, get in touch with your inner juvenile self and go with the flow for this feast for the senses, orchestrated by the undoubted maestro of the genre Michael Bay." Posted Jun 16, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 92%
| Drag Me To Hell (2009) | "
Drag Me to Hell shows him (director Sam Raimi) back confidently where he belongs, displaying his trademark brio and invention." Posted May 29, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 65%
| Coco Before Chanel (2009) | "
Anne Fontaine's film looks ravishing and eases under the skin of Chanel at a formative period." Posted May 28, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 79%
| Quiet Chaos (2009) | "
Grimaldi’s sensitive direction, allied to a subtle score by Paolo Buonvino, sharp script and accomplished acting, helps to turn this into an original and complex study of the unpredictability of human foibles and weaknesses." Posted May 28, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 88%
| Inglourious Basterds (2009) | "
This unashamed slice of Second World War hokum finds Quentin Tarantino in mischievous form as he takes on the Second World War with the driving force of a roller coaster ride." Posted May 20, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Rotten 49%
| Taking Woodstock (2009) | "
The event itself is glimpsed only from a distance but, when Elliot does reach his vantage point, the view is poetically amazing. You feel the presence of Joplin and Hendrix rather than actually see them." Posted May 18, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 85%
| Kabei: Our Mother (2009) | "
Delicately observed." Posted May 13, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 73%
| Julia (2008) | "
Swinton’s character may be unsympathetic but the actress imbues her with a humanity that is engaging." Posted Apr 24, 2009 |
Rotten 2/5
| Rotten 25%
| Fireflies in the Garden () | "
As tales of troubled families go, it may have aspirations to be like Ordinary People, but it falls way short." Posted Apr 24, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 95%
| Star Trek (2009) | "
It’s guaranteed to start a box office stampede." Posted Apr 24, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Rotten 34%
| The Edge of Love (2009) | "
A period romance, charged with provocative undercurrents about art, war and the eternal battle of the sexes." Posted Mar 20, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Rotten 54%
| Cheri (2009) | "
It is all beautifully costumed and set --items that should not be taken for granted." Posted Feb 27, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 91%
| Katyn (2007) | "
Wajda, as you would expect from a director with an illustrious career who has lived through the turbulent and changing times of his homeland, proves himself adept at showing individuals at the mercy of history." Posted Feb 18, 2009 |
Rotten 2/5
| Fresh 63%
| In The Electric Mist (2008) | "
There are too many subplots going on to make it work other than as a mildly intriguing curiosity." Posted Feb 17, 2009 |
Rotten 1/5
| N/A | Rage (2009) | "
Claustrophobic, repetitive and mostly ludicrous, Potter's would-be satire on the power of the Internet, the fashionistas and the compulsively confessional world of celebrity, might have filled a sketch but does not a feature film make." Posted Feb 17, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Rotten 58%
| The International (2009) | "
Falls into the groove of a conventional action story -- albeit with some contemporary resonances." Posted Feb 10, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 86%
| A Christmas Tale (2008) | "
Enduringly fascinating and involving." Posted Nov 13, 2008 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 64%
| Quantum of Solace (2008) | "
Tightly scripted, it delivers handsomely on spectacular set pieces in exotic locales from the Italian Alps to arid planes of Chile." Posted Nov 5, 2008 |
Fresh 4/5
| Rotten 54%
| Gardens of the Night (2008) | "
An impressive directorial debut." Posted Nov 4, 2008 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 61%
| Changeling (2008) | "
The aftertaste is of a richly satisfying film made by a craftsman at the peak of his directorial powers." Posted Oct 24, 2008 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 92%
| Happy-Go-Lucky (2008) | "
Has feel-good factor in super-abundance." Posted Oct 10, 2008 |
Fresh 4/5
| Rotten 41%
| Blindness (2008) | "
There may be shafts of light at the conclusion of Blindness, but it's a disturbing and disquieting journey." Posted Oct 3, 2008 |
Fresh 3
| Rotten 37%
| How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008) | "
Pegg and Dunst make agreeable romantic sparring partners." Posted Oct 3, 2008 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 88%
| Ballast (2008) | "
Hammer's script is spare and pertinent, without a wasted syllable, giving his characters believable voices against the bleak and grey canvas of the Delta farmlands, stunningly photographed by Lol Crawley." Posted Oct 2, 2008 |
Fresh 3/5
| Rotten 53%
| Elite Squad (2008) | "
With no star names and a tough subject, it will be hard sell despite being a runaway hit on its home turf." Posted Sep 19, 2008 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 61%
| The Duchess (2008) | "
With its seductive period settings, glorious costumes and the stellar pairing of Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes, it is difficult to see how The Duchess could fail to stir significant interest." Posted Sep 19, 2008 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 82%
| Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) | "
The performances of Bardem, Cruz, Johansson and Hall are delightfully inventive, with Cruz in particular relishing the tempestuous nature of Maria Elena and her tantrums." Posted Aug 14, 2008 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 74%
| Elegy (2008) | "
An elegant meditation on lust and mortality." Posted Aug 8, 2008 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 64%
| Brideshead Revisited (2008) | "
Immaculately costumed, designed and set, the film recreates this cross-section of English high society to perfectioneates this cross-section of English high society to perfection." Posted Jul 25, 2008 |
Fresh 4/5
| Rotten 53%
| Mamma Mia! (2008) | "
Incredibly, Mamma Mia! looks set for a whole new lease on life." Posted Jul 2, 2008 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 75%
| The Last Mistress (2008) | "
Breillat’s concoction of an intriguing labyrinth of desire, passion and bubbling emotions exert a powerful grip." Posted Jun 27, 2008 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 87%
| Roman de Gare (2008) | "
With elements of road movie, thriller and comedy as well as other genres, Tracks possesses a freewheeling appeal." Posted May 30, 2008 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 77%
| Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) | "
There is a real delight in the art of action cinema at work here, and the enormous satisfaction of being in a darkened room with someone you know can really kick butt." Posted May 18, 2008 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 80%
| Standard Operating Procedure (2008) | "
His assembly of the material and the protagonists is impressive, but you are left to wonder about his ultimate aim and point of view." Posted Apr 18, 2008 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 86%
| Shine a Light (2008) | "
Manages to capture the raw energy of the band." Posted Apr 4, 2008 |