Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 71%
| Cold Mountain (2003) | "
Remains compelling even at over two-and-a-half hours thanks to great performances from Law, Zellweger and the collection of cameo appearances from the likes of Giovanni Ribisi and Hoffman." Posted Dec 24, 2003 |
Rotten 2/5
| Rotten 35%
| Mona Lisa Smile (2003) | "
Serviceable performances from the principals underscore the film's functionality, giving modern star power to its paint-by-numbers plot." Posted Dec 18, 2003 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| Rotten 13%
| Love Don't Cost a Thing (2003) | "
This breezy remake of the 1987 film Can't Buy Me Love is so lightweight it threatens to float off the screen, but likable performances from leads Cannon and Milian go far in helping anchor some of writer/director Troy Beyer's flimsy script." Posted Dec 11, 2003 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 70%
| Something's Gotta Give (2003) | "
With a surprisingly resonant emotional undercurrent, this adult relationship comedy comes off as extremely likable, if not lovable." Posted Dec 11, 2003 |
Rotten 1.5/4
| Rotten 15%
| Gothika (2003) | "
Dwells in its own abysmal dreariness without creating real suspense, relying instead on a stream of easy shocks to convince us that we're watching a scary movie." Posted Nov 20, 2003 |
Rotten 4/10
| Fresh 65%
| My Life Without Me (2003) | "
A strangely grim affair that will stretch the patience of more than a few viewers." Posted Nov 14, 2003 |
Fresh 7/10
| Fresh 83%
| Elf (2003) | "
Not aspiring to be much more than a simple fish-out-of-water comedy, Elf is sweet and a little hokey -- and has the makings of a holiday classic." Posted Nov 6, 2003 |
Rotten 5/10
| Rotten 41%
| The Human Stain (2003) | "
The filmmakers should've left this story on the bookshelf." Posted Oct 30, 2003 |
Rotten 4/10
| Fresh 67%
| Die Mommie Die! (2003) | "
Busch is actually pretty great as Arden, but with nothing to hang his wig on, it all gets tiresome rather quickly, inviting unflattering comparisons to John Waters' superior 1980 effort, Polyester." Posted Oct 30, 2003 |
Rotten 4/10
| Fresh 71%
| Elephant (2003) | "
Ultimately pointless, this lethargic picture seems to be trying to make a statement but succumbs to its own artiness -- including a cast made up mostly of non-actors." Posted Oct 23, 2003 |
Rotten 4/10
| Rotten 35%
| Radio (2003) | "
This sappy, overlong, three-hankie melodrama featuring Gooding Jr. in full-on Rain Man mode is about as corny as they come." Posted Oct 23, 2003 |
Fresh 7/10
| Rotten 54%
| Veronica Guerin (2003) | "
Ignore the Irish fiddle and tin-whistle score and settle in for a compelling and intense story." Posted Oct 16, 2003 |
Fresh 6/10
| Rotten 43%
| The Event (2003) | "
A touching tribute to a community celebrating life in the face of tragedy and death." Posted Oct 3, 2003 |
Rotten 5/10
| Rotten 37%
| Duplex (2003) | "
Surprisingly low on laughs considering the talent involved." Posted Sep 25, 2003 |
Rotten 5/10
| Rotten 8%
| Emerald Cowboy (2003) | "
The location camerawork and story are outstanding, but amateurish acting and editing keep this dreamy mess from feeling like a proper movie." Posted Sep 18, 2003 |
Fresh 6/10
| Rotten 40%
| Anything Else (2003) | "
Uneven yet often hilarious." Posted Sep 18, 2003 |
Rotten 6/10
| Rotten 48%
| Demonlover (2003) | "
Nielsen, Chloe Sevigny and Gina Gershon shine, but ultimately this stylish yet dated arthouse feature is more confused than we are." Posted Sep 18, 2003 |
Fresh 8/10
| Fresh 90%
| In This World (2003) | "
Winterbottom ... proves he's one of the most talented, dexterous filmmakers around with this powerful drama." Posted Sep 18, 2003 |
Fresh 7/10
| Fresh 94%
| Millennium Actress (2003) | "
Satoshi Kon and Sadayuki Murai have dispensed with many of the conventions that plague Japanese anime to create an original and compelling animated fantasy that satisfies as both a historical romance and a philosophical drama." Posted Sep 11, 2003 |
Rotten 5/10
| Fresh 77%
| Carnage (2003) | "
A bit long and pretentious at times, Carnage is still an interesting narrative experiment that recalls some of the more avant garde Eastern European cinema from the early '70s." Posted Sep 4, 2003 |
Fresh 8/10
| Fresh 79%
| Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator (2003) | "
Gator's gradual transition from smirking punk to neon-clad cheeseball is vividly told by his former friends and contemporaries." Posted Aug 21, 2003 |
Rotten 5/10
| Rotten 38%
| Le Divorce (2003) | "
Unfortunately, a logjam of characters (nearly all from the book are included) means that few get the attention they deserve." Posted Aug 7, 2003 |
Fresh 6/10
| Rotten 55%
| Km. 0 (2003) | "
The likeable characters and silly situations create a few genuine laughs and the liberal sexual content (by American standards) is surprisingly refreshing." Posted Jul 11, 2003 |
Rotten 5/10
| Fresh 80%
| I Capture the Castle (2003) | "
This coming-of-age drama, based on the Dodie Smith novel, has the feel of a proper BBC production, but it lacks the energy to compel on the big screen." Posted Jul 11, 2003 |
Rotten 4/10
| Rotten 38%
| On_Line (2002) | "
Writer-director Jed Weintrob is so busy trying to make important statements about human relationships in the cyber age that he loses control of his whiny, unlikable characters." Posted Jun 27, 2003 |
Fresh 9/10
| Fresh 88%
| 28 Days Later (2003) | "
Filmgoers may debate its allegory and sexual politics, but 28 Days Later is the real deal: a scary flick for uncertain times." Posted Jun 26, 2003 |
Fresh 7/10
| Rotten 55%
| Jet Lag (2003) | "
A perfect date movie for jaded Francophiles." Posted Jun 13, 2003 |
Fresh 7/10
| Fresh 94%
| Manito (2003) | "
A compelling slice-of-life narrative that draws much of its strength from its non-professional actors." Posted Jun 13, 2003 |
Rotten 5/10
| Rotten 49%
| The Heart of Me (2003) | "
We've seen it all before." Posted Jun 13, 2003 |
Rotten 3/10
| Rotten 28%
| Love the Hard Way (2003) | "
The film's premise -- that the savvy student played by Charlotte Ayanna would get involved with this creep -- is a stretch at best." Posted Jun 6, 2003 |
Rotten 4/10
| Fresh 76%
| The Spanish Apartment (2003) | "
This mushy tale of twenty-something angst is like a Euro version of Reality Bites." Posted May 23, 2003 |
Fresh 8/10
| Fresh 65%
| The Shape of Things (2003) | "
The layered script is alternately hilarious and realistic, horrifying and stilted." Posted May 8, 2003 |
Fresh 7/10
| Fresh 63%
| The Dancer Upstairs (2003) | "
Malkovich squeezes the most from his exotic locations, and the intriguing performances give a human face to its topical subject." Posted May 1, 2003 |
Rotten 5/10
| Fresh 62%
| Identity (2003) | "
Like a creaky roller coaster, you feel it could fall apart at any time." Posted Apr 24, 2003 |
Rotten
| Rotten 44%
| XX/XY (2003) | "
Spoiled 20-somethings waxing nostalgic over failed relationships rarely makes compelling viewing for anyone over the legal drinking age, and XX/XY is no exception." Posted Apr 10, 2003 |
Fresh 9/10
| Fresh 98%
| The Man Without a Past (2003) | "
Provokes thought and provides joy in equal measure." Posted Apr 3, 2003 |
Fresh 7/10
| Rotten 43%
| DysFunKtional Family (2003) | "
At his best, Griffin recalls a young Richard Pryor." Posted Apr 3, 2003 |
Fresh 6/10
| Fresh 71%
| Phone Booth (2003) | "
It's Farrell's portrayal of the smug publicist that turns the improbably absurd premise into weird, pulpy fun." Posted Apr 3, 2003 |
Fresh 9/10
| Fresh 96%
| Raising Victor Vargas (2003) | "
Victor and Judy are so appealing and realistic in their lead roles that you'll swear you're watching a documentary." Posted Mar 27, 2003 |
Fresh 7/10
| Rotten 30%
| Head of State (2003) | "
[Rock's] off-the-wall sense of humor and genuinely likable persona overcome his lack of finesse behind the camera." Posted Mar 27, 2003 |
Fresh 6/10
| Fresh 72%
| Piglet's Big Movie (2003) | "
If you're a parent ... this isn't a bad 75-minute distraction for the little ones." Posted Mar 20, 2003 |
Rotten 5/10
| Fresh 65%
| Willard (2003) | "
The film never delivers on its morbid promise, thanks to the character's too-obscure motives and dialogue that's dull when it should be snappy." Posted Mar 13, 2003 |
Rotten 4/10
| Rotten 49%
| The Safety of Objects (2003) | "
A film about people who feel too much for people who don't think too much." Posted Mar 6, 2003 |
Fresh 6/10
| Rotten 26%
| Cradle 2 the Grave (2003) | "
You want explosions, expertly choreographed violence and implausible situations easily remedied by running up a wall and doing a back flip? Cradle delivers the goods." Posted Feb 27, 2003 |
Fresh 6/10
| Rotten 43%
| Deliver Us From Eva (2003) | "
A pleasant enough romp, but it succumbs to a one-note script that restricts the film's characters from taking advantage of much of its potential hilarity." Posted Feb 6, 2003 |
Rotten 6/10
| Fresh 85%
| Blind Spot: Hitler's Secretary (2003) | "
The source and the subject matter make it difficult to assign critical judgement to Blind Spot, but the film's snail pace means it will probably appeal mostly to scholars and students of the Holocaust." Posted Jan 23, 2003 |
Rotten 5/10
| Rotten 12%
| National Security (2003) | "
Your enjoyment of National Security will be in direct proportion to how much you can tolerate Martin Lawrence's antics." Posted Jan 16, 2003 |
Rotten 6/10
| Rotten 0%
| Pinocchio (2002) | "
The so-inept- it's-surreal dubbing (featuring the voices of Glenn Close, Regis Philbin and Breckin Meyer) brings back memories of cheesy old Godzilla flicks." Posted Jan 3, 2003 |
Fresh 7/10
| Fresh 78%
| 25th Hour (2002) | "
In the end, viewers will find sympathy for even a low-life like Brogan -- one of the film's many ambiguities that will linger long after the projection bulb has dimmed." Posted Dec 19, 2002 |
Rotten 4/10
| Rotten 36%
| Equilibrium (2002) | "
Combining elements of 1984, Fahrenheit 451 and The Matrix, this ridiculous sci-fi mish-mash sounds appealing, but is nothing more than a poorly designed knockoff." Posted Dec 5, 2002 |
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