ROTTEN TOMATOES: Michael A. Smith

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MICHAEL A. SMITH

Agrees with the Tomatometer 66% of the time.

Biography: I started doing film reviews while a student at H.B. Plant High School in Tampa, Florida. I got a great deal of help from Tampa Times movie guru Steve Otto. I moved to Baltimore in 1982 and, on a whim, purchased a chance to attend a movie with then Baltimore Sun film critic Stephen Hunter from a PBS sponsored auction. The movie was "Beastmaster." Not the best, but the lunch and discussion afterwards was more then memorable. More then 20 years later, I'm proud to still think of Stephen as a friend and mentor. He is currently reviewing films for the Washington Post and recently won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism!

Favorites: Jaws

Publications: Nolan's Pop Culture Review

Critics' Group: Kansas City Film Critics Circle

Total Reviews: 232
Total QuickRatings: 165

Location: Leavenworth, KS

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Rating	T-Meter	Title \| Year	Add Date (default)

Fresh 3/4	Rotten 8%	Old Dogs (2009)	" ...the family comedy of the season." Posted Nov 24, 2009
Fresh 4/4	Fresh 73%	The Blind Side (2009)	" It is easily Bullocks best performance over a career that spans two decades." Posted Nov 19, 2009
Fresh 2.5/4	Rotten 54%	The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009)	" ...Clooney is tongue in cheek convincing." Posted Nov 11, 2009
Fresh 3.5/4	Fresh 83%	Paranormal Activity (2009)	" As the days progress we begin to notice a growing sense of terror, one that builds until the film's end." Posted Nov 5, 2009
Fresh 4/4	Fresh 80%	Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009)	" ...Jackson was truly the greatest entertainer of the 20th Century." Posted Oct 28, 2009
Fresh 3.5/4	Rotten 38%	Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009)	" ...the best this season (Halloween)has to offer is "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant."" Posted Oct 22, 2009
Fresh 3.5/4	Fresh 70%	Where the Wild Things Are (2009)	" All of the actors do incredible work, with Gandolfini giving a performance that is award worthy" Posted Oct 18, 2009
Rotten 2/4	Rotten 12%	Couples Retreat (2009)	" It's not that the laughs aren't there, it's just that they're telegraphed." Posted Oct 8, 2009
Fresh 3.5/4	Fresh 82%	Whip It (2009)	" An excellent freshman feature, I can hardly wait to see what Barrymore picks for her sophomore effort." Posted Oct 1, 2009
Fresh 3/4	Rotten 28%	Fame (2009)	" ...shows his talents by presenting each musical number as if it were a separate music video, allowing each song to tell it's own story" Posted Sep 24, 2009
Fresh 3.5/4	Fresh 76%	The Informant! (2009)	" The performance easily ranks as one of Damon's best." Posted Sep 16, 2009
Fresh 3/4	Rotten 56%	9 (2009)	" A visually stunning achievement, "9" has taken computer animation to a whole new level." Posted Sep 8, 2009
Rotten 1/4	Rotten 21%	Halloween II (2009)	" ...to steal animated critic Jay Sherman's best line, "it stinks!"" Posted Sep 2, 2009
Rotten 2/4	Rotten 38%	The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)	" Good cast plus weak script equals so-so movie." Posted Aug 27, 2009
Fresh 3.5/4	Fresh 88%	Inglourious Basterds (2009)	" A well made film featuring one of the great performances of the year..." Posted Aug 20, 2009
Fresh 3.5/4	Fresh 90%	District 9 (2009)	" Copley is a revelation as the even tempered Wikus, whose own evolution allows him to begin the film as cheerful as Monty Python's Eric Idle and end the day tougher than Christian Bale in the last "Terminator" film." Posted Aug 12, 2009
Fresh 3.5/4	Fresh 68%	Funny People (2009)	" ...a perfect compliment to what is now the Apatow trilogy." Posted Aug 6, 2009
Fresh 3/4	Fresh 75%	Julie & Julia (2009)	" With a whopping fifteen Academy Award nominations on her resume', and an almost guaranteed number sixteen thanks to her performance here, she (Streep) continues to amaze." Posted Aug 6, 2009
Fresh 3.5/4	Fresh 83%	Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)	" Add to them a virtual who's who of England's best actors ... and you have the best cast to be found in a movie this year." Posted Jul 23, 2009
Fresh 3/4	Rotten 45%	Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)	" ...the dinosaurs, especially mama T-Rex rival anything you'd find in "Jurassic Park."" Posted Jul 15, 2009
Fresh 4/4	Fresh 67%	Bruno (2009)	" Not since Lenny Bruce has a comedian pointed a spotlight on people with such observational precision." Posted Jul 9, 2009
Fresh 2.5/4	Fresh 67%	Public Enemies (2009)	" ...flat. The film moves along with no rhyme or reason." Posted Jul 1, 2009
Rotten 2/4	Rotten 19%	Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)	" ...Fox is wasted, given nothing more to do then wear revealing outfits and pout." Posted Jun 23, 2009
Rotten 2/4	Rotten 15%	Year One (2009)	" If this all sounds familiar, it's because you've seen this all before in Carl Gottliebs' "Caveman."" Posted Jun 17, 2009
Fresh 3/4	Rotten 52%	The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009)	" ...a film that keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end." Posted Jun 11, 2009
Fresh 3.5/4	Fresh 78%	The Hangover (2009)	" ...I think I can safely predict that "The Hangover" will join March's "I Love You Man" as one of the funniest films of the year." Posted Jun 2, 2009
Fresh 4/4	Fresh 98%	Up (2009)	" Many a PIXAR film has been nominated for the Best Animated Feature Academy Award. "UP" may finally be the one to snag a nod as Best Picture, animated or otherwise." Posted May 27, 2009
Fresh 3.5/4	Rotten 32%	Terminator Salvation (2009)	" Packed with action and brimming with outstanding performances, "Terminator Salvation" is a worthy companion to the first two films and a notch better than part three." Posted May 19, 2009
Fresh 3/4	Rotten 36%	Angels & Demons (2009)	" Behind the camera director Howard keeps the action moving, at the same time painting a glowing postcard of the sights of the Vatican." Posted May 14, 2009
Fresh 4/4	Fresh 95%	Star Trek (2009)	" ...even if you've NEVER seen "Star Trek" you'll be hooked." Posted May 6, 2009
Fresh 3/4	Rotten 36%	X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)	" The action flows smoothly with each set piece neatly set up quicker than you can say "snikity snikt!"" Posted Apr 30, 2009
Fresh 3.5/4	Fresh 84%	State of Play (2009)	" ...a well crafted political thriller that's one part "All the President's Men" and one part "The Pelican Brief."" Posted Apr 22, 2009
Fresh 3.5/4	Rotten 55%	The Soloist (2009)	" Both actors deliver award worthy performances and I hope their work here is remembered at the end of the year." Posted Apr 22, 2009
Rotten 2/4	Rotten 50%	Observe and Report (2009)	" If I could review the film in halves, I'd give the comedy act * and the drama .*" Posted Apr 8, 2009
Rotten 1.5/4	Rotten 28%	Fast & Furious (2009)	" A film that is neither too fast or furious (more like slow and cranky)..." Posted Apr 5, 2009
Fresh 3.5/4	Fresh 82%	I Love You, Man (2009)	" Hilariously funny from beginning to end, "I Love You Man" will always be remembered as the film that launched Paul Rudd onto the "A" list." Posted Mar 25, 2009
Fresh 4/4	Fresh 100%	The Shark Is Still Working (2006)	" While the main players (Spielberg, Scheider, Dreyfuss) have appeared in other documentaries, they are more relaxed here, telling stories never told before with a sly wink like someone finally betraying a secret" Posted Mar 19, 2009
Rotten 2/4	Rotten 33%	Knowing (2009)	" He's like Mel Gibson in "Signs," only his visitors know how to open doors." Posted Mar 19, 2009
Fresh 3/4	Rotten 32%	Fanboys (2009)	" The humor is fast and furious, especially the ingrained hatred between fans of "Star Wars" and "Star Trek."" Posted Mar 11, 2009
Fresh 3/4	Fresh 64%	Watchmen (2009)	" "Watchmen" is a visually stunning film..." Posted Mar 4, 2009
Fresh 3.5/4	Fresh 93%	Slumdog Millionaire (2008)	" The film is beautifully crafted. Even when surrounded by trash and squalor, the slums burst forth with colors." Posted Mar 1, 2009
Fresh 3/4	Rotten 25%	Friday the 13th (2009)	" The new film does a fine job of capturing the terror of the original while distancing itself just enough to stand alone." Posted Feb 10, 2009
Fresh 2.5/4	Rotten 44%	He's Just Not That Into You (2009)	" Smartly written, but about 30 minutes too long, "He's Just Not That Into You" features a sharp cast and some fine performances." Posted Feb 6, 2009
Fresh 2.5/4	Rotten 18%	New in Town (2009)	" In the words of Blanche, "New In Town" is only "okie dokie, artichokie."" Posted Jan 31, 2009
Fresh 4/4	Fresh 98%	The Wrestler (2008)	" Rourke inhabits the role like an old lion, his mane of golden hair cascading behind him as he prowls the ring." Posted Jan 14, 2009
Fresh 4/4	Fresh 79%	Gran Torino (2008)	" Eastwood has said that, at age 78, this may be his last time in front of the camera. I urge you not to miss a legend at the top of his game" Posted Jan 10, 2009
Fresh 3/4	Fresh 62%	The Reader (2008)	" (Winslets)work here is stunningly heartbreaking." Posted Dec 31, 2008
Fresh 3.5/4	Fresh 61%	Valkyrie (2008)	" Cruise, who already delivered a great performance this summer in "Tropic Thunder," is at the top of his game here" Posted Dec 26, 2008
Fresh 4/4	Fresh 91%	Frost/Nixon (2008)	" Along with the stars, Howard has assembled an outstanding supporting cast that bring to life members of both player's teams." Posted Dec 26, 2008
Fresh 2.5/4	Rotten 43%	Yes Man (2008)	" A retread of much funnier films, "Yes Man" is another in a long string of comedies whose better scenes have come from better movies..." Posted Dec 17, 2008

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4/4	Rocky BalboaOffsite
3.5/4	DreamgirlsOffsite
3/4	Alpha DogOffsite
2.5/4	NorbitOffsite
3/5	Ocean's ThirteenOffsite
2/4	Because I Said SoOffsite
1.5/4	RamboOffsite
1/4	PremonitionOffsite

MICHAEL A. SMITH

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