Splat C+ |
Adam (2009) |
"Mayer and his lead, Hugh Dancy, do a fine job conveying where an 'Aspie' is coming from, but Mayer's direction of his actors is weak with several scenes notable for off timing, amateurishness or staginess." |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato B- |
Adoration (2009) |
"...the epitome of an Atom Egoyan movie, with its themes of technological influences on human communication and finding the truth amidst family secrets." |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato B |
Adventureland (2009) |
"Eisenberg's a good young actor who can make intelligence and decency sexy..." |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato A- |
Afghan Star (2009) |
"Marking follows four contestants for the three months leading up to "Afghan Star's" finale and, while there are some amusing parallels to "American Idol," it is also clear Glambert would risk stoning had he been performing in Afghanistan." |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato A- |
Afghan Star (2009) |
"...insightful document that gives you so much more than the well-done look at a reality show." |
Robin Clifford |
Tomato B |
Alien Trespass (2009) |
"Perhaps nothing is more lovingly recreated that the glorious technicolor of the time (the film was shot on Super 16), owing as much to production designer Ian D. Thomas's team as the technicians." |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato B+ |
Alien Trespass (2009) |
"The filmmakers have an obvious love for their work and its source material and it shows." |
Robin Clifford |
Splat D+ |
All About Steve (2009) |
"...features the singular most awful line of dialogue in a movie this year..." |
Laura Clifford |
Splat C+ |
Amelia (2009) |
"Hilary Swank certainly looks the part and...fits the period well, ...but although her Amelia talks about her love of flight, Nair fails to really make us feel it." |
Laura Clifford |
Splat C |
Amelia (2009) |
"Swank is fake-freckled and bewigged and bears a striking resemblance to Amelia. It is too bad the character was not better written." |
Robin Clifford |
Splat D+ |
An American Affair (2009) |
"Did Metcalf spend a weekend watching "Summer of '42" and "JFK" and decide they'd make a good mash-up?" |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato B- |
American Violet (2009) |
"...a well acted piece and a scary indictment of the American penal system." |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato B- |
American Violet (2009) |
"...a well acted piece and a scary indictment of the American penal system." |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato B- |
Amreeka (2009) |
"This is the type of film that used to marketed by the early Weinstein Miramax, a crowd pleaser whose foreign origin and assured direction make it seem like art for the masses." |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato B- |
Amreeka (2009) |
"...a small budget, sincere little film that has its heart in the right place." |
Robin Clifford |
Tomato A |
An Education (2009) |
"Relative newcomer Carey Mulligan makes a huge splash in the title role with a complex performance that balances a sophistication beyond her years (and her upbringing) with the vulnerability of youth." |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato A- |
An Education (2009) |
"This is a tour de force for Carey Mulligan as the intelligent, mature Jenny..." |
Robin Clifford |
Tomato B |
Antichrist (2009) |
"The craft on display here is stunning...and the actors are up to the von Trier's challenges, but...It's a cerebral piece of horror, one that keeps you at arm's length." |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato B |
Astro Boy (2009) |
"The CGI animation is crisp and colorful, the characters have some complexity and there is clever enough writing to keep the parents amused while the kids have fun." |
Robin Clifford |
Tomato B- |
Avatar (2009) |
"I already saw this story earlier this year in a CGI animation called "Battle for Terra" and I certainly didn't experience the sense of awe that I recall upon seeing "Jurassic Park" way back in 1993..." |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato B+ |
Away We Go (2009) |
"Featuring a revelatory performance from Rudolph as the centered earth mother who nonetheless worries she and Burt have become losers, "Away We Go" illustrates parenthood in every color of the spectrum." |
Laura Clifford |
Splat D+ |
Away We Go (2009) |
"The only positive thing in Away We Go is a charming performance by Maya Rudolph as pregnant Verona." |
Robin Clifford |
Tomato B |
Absurdistan (2008) |
"As in "Tuvalu," Veit's style is reminiscent of both France's Marc Caro & Jean-Pierre Jeunet ("Delicattessen") with their whimsical machinery and surreal worlds and Canada's Guy Maddin's use of silent film standards..." |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato B+ |
Alexandra (2008) |
"...a film for the thoughtful, discerning filmgoer who is looking for something not made in the Hollywood, USA." |
Robin Clifford |
Tomato B- |
American Teen (2008) |
"Burstein's camera is right on Mitch's face when he presumably first notices Hannah playing with her band on the school's stage - happy accident? planted idea? editing with hindsight?" |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato B |
Appaloosa (2008) |
"...modern in its playfulness while never seeming not of its period. Harris and Mortensen are good enough together to warrant another adventure." |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato C+ |
The Art of Travel (2008) |
"...director Thomas Whelan embraces the wanderlust spirit in this enjoyable if uneven film, whose qualities often reflect the television background of most of its cast." |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato B- |
The Art of Travel (2008) |
"The use of such locales as Bolivia, Nicaragua, Panama and Peru adds to the exotic flavor of the film." |
Robin Clifford |
Splat C+ |
Australia (2008) |
"...the director's sweeping epic is so faithful to recreating the films of his father's generation from which it is cobbled together, the entire thing is embedded in artificiality." |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato B |
The Axe in the Attic (2008) |
"One would think there would be little left to say about Hurricane Katrina after Spike Lee's magnum opus...but Pincus and Small's intimate road trip covers a wide spectrum..." |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato b |
The Axe in the Attic (2008) |
"...the dedication of Pincus and Small is no minor achievement, making us see, anew, the aftermath of natural disaster and its impact on so many." |
Robin Clifford |
- |
Across the Universe (2007) |
Click here to see the review. |
Robin Clifford |
Tomato A- |
Across the Universe (2007) |
"The DVD two-disk set gives us the remarkable movie plus lots of extras" |
Robin Clifford |
Tomato B- |
Actresses (2007) |
"Valeria Bruni Tedeschi does a terrific job with her portrayal of an actress who has trouble unraveling her life from her performance, but the setting she gives this gem doesn't show it off in its best light." |
Laura Clifford |
Splat C+ |
Actresses (2007) |
"The mix of the endless rehearsals, Marcelline's lack of grip both personally and professionally and her surreal imaginings make for an uneven film." |
Robin Clifford |
Tomato A- |
After The Wedding (2007) |
"...star Mads Mikkelsen is becoming internationally known and while he delivers another fine performance here it is Rolf Lassgård who proves the revelation as the billionaire with a huge hidden agenda." |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato B |
Air Guitar Nation (2007) |
"The documentary is very well paced, beginning with a montage of just what one would presume to be the typical air guitar of a drunken concert goer and progressing into a film chronicling something like showmanship." |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato B |
Air Guitar Nation (2007) |
"Air Guitar Nation will appeal to genuine musicians and those who play their fake guitars behind closed doors." |
Robin Clifford |
Tomato B |
Alpha Dog (2007) |
"[Cassavetes] creates an astonishing amount of tension building towards his 'I-can't-believe-this-is-really-going-to-happen' climax." |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato A- |
Amazing Grace (2007) |
"Amazing Grace is an important historical drama that comes out at a good time for movie-goers who want high quality, thought provoking entertainment." |
Robin Clifford |
Tomato B- |
American Gangster (2007) |
"...plays like Serpico by way of Scarface if Tony Montana was an accountant." |
Laura Clifford |
Splat C |
American Gangster (2007) |
"...a bloated crime tome that meanders far too much before it gets to its point. In addition, I did not care once I got there." |
Robin Clifford |
Splat D- |
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film For Theatres (2007) |
"Except for an intriguing opening segment that pits a traditional bunch of movie snacks singing a suggestive jingle pitted against an aggressive punk counterpart, the movie is a bore." |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato A- |
Arctic Tale (2007) |
"while their fictional family fabric resembles that of March of the Penguins, Arctic Tale is the more gripping, moving film by far." |
Laura Clifford |
Splat C+ |
Arthur and the Invisibles (2007) |
"...a cute and sassy little fantasy film that borrows from many sources (oft times forgoing originality for familiarity)." |
Robin Clifford |
Tomato A |
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) |
"...a quintessential work of the American Western genre. Brad Pitt gives the best performance of his career..." |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato A |
Atonement (2007) |
"No sophomore slump for British punk wunderkind director Joe Wright...If anything, Atonement is even better, the tragedy of the story intensifying the romance, the novel's unique structure providing an uncommon literary twist" |
Laura Clifford |
Tomato B |
August Rush (2007) |
"If you appreciate a well-crafted fantasy tale that is a showcase for its young star and its great music, then you might just like August Rush." |
Robin Clifford |
Tomato B |
Away From Her (2007) |
"The film's sharpest performance comes from Dukakis, who marries hope with resentment into a prickly yet pliant concoction...Marian is more clearly drawn that the more opaque Anderssons." |
Laura Clifford |
Splat C+ |
A Scanner Darkly (2006) |
"The stars [Reeves, Downey Jr., Harrelson, Ryder and Cochrane] are at one with Linklater and his vision of a future, screwed up world (like this one isn't screwed up!)." |
Robin Clifford |
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