Tomato |
Adam (2009) |
"Max Mayer has written a remarkably engaging screenplay about a relationship that isn't meant to be yet somehow is but not quite as we might expect, from this charming yet down to earth romantic comedy" |
Andrew L. Urban |
Tomato |
Adventureland (2009) |
"Greg Mottola's auto-biographical coming of age story has plenty of heart and although the elements of a first-love plot with all its complications are not new, the script is a good one with detailed, compelling characterisations." |
Louise Keller |
Splat |
The Age of Stupid (2009) |
"Does little more than enumerate the ills and evils of today's world in a cry of panic and accusation, regurgitating those images and messages that serve its cause." |
Andrew L. Urban |
Tomato |
Aliens in the Attic (2009) |
"Undemanding and occasionally lol, Aliens in the Attic will have the youngsters in stitches at some of the fight scenes... entertaining and sometimes goofy family comedy" |
Andrew L. Urban |
Splat |
All About Steve (2009) |
"Disaster is an eight letter word that aptly describes this grossly misjudged, overplayed, unfunny comedy about a hyper crossword constructor who stalks her blind date. Filled with low points worth of eye-rolling..." |
Louise Keller |
Tomato |
Amelia (2009) |
"Amelia reminds us how little we really know about the lives of famous achievers who changed the world, and underlines the power of biography on screen. It's a creatively and technically accomplished film with thrills and emotional action in equal measure" |
Andrew L. Urban |
Splat |
Amelia (2009) |
"Romance edges ahead of adventure or characterisations and as a result, despite a soaring lead performance by Hilary Swank, the film suffers from a fatal dose of melodrama" |
Louise Keller |
Tomato |
Amreeka (2009) |
"It's the humanity of the work that makes it resonate and the insight into a culture closed to most Australians that makes it illuminating" |
Andrew L. Urban |
Tomato |
Amreeka (2009) |
"Writer director Cherien Dabis writes about what she knows about being a stranger in a new land: the difficulties, the isolation, the conflicts, the misunderstandings. The result is a heartfelt and engaging film" |
Louise Keller |
Tomato |
An Education (2009) |
"Sheer joy of an intelligent, grown up film" |
Andrew L. Urban |
Tomato |
An Education (2009) |
"An irresistible tale of seduction in which innocence and intellect are the prize stakes." |
Louise Keller |
Tomato |
Angels & Demons (2009) |
"Dan Brown knows what ingredients to use for a recipe that goes down as easily as a devilish ice cream drenched in glistening, dark chocolate." |
Andrew L. Urban |
Tomato |
Angels & Demons (2009) |
"Statues above the unfortunate and boring Da Vinci Code, this film sequel or prose prequel from best selling author Dan Brown, pits science and faith against each other with an conciliatory outcome." |
Louise Keller |
Splat |
Antichrist (2009) |
"A tough film on every level, and each viewer will have their personal and private response; but von Trier's cinematic flourish is undeniable" |
Andrew L. Urban |
Splat |
Antichrist (2009) |
"With disturbing images that gnaw at us, this is a truly ugly film that delights at shocking us. Von Trier kidnaps our thoughts and takes them into dark, repulsive places" |
Louise Keller |
Tomato |
Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2009) |
"Incongruous, funny, unexpected and moving, Sacha Gervasi's film about the 80s band whose long career is anything but what we expect, is much more than a doco about a band" |
Louise Keller |
Tomato |
Astro Boy (2009) |
"The symbolism and the underlying themes within this story may not be relevant to its core audience, but it's interesting to see how filmmakers feed off those elements" |
Andrew L. Urban |
Tomato |
Astro Boy (2009) |
"It may be the gleaming blue core power source that allows Astro Boy to function as a superhero robot, but it is the massive heart of the story that makes this updated animated spectacular a sure-fire winner" |
Louise Keller |
Tomato |
Avatar (2009) |
"Avatar is a richly symbolic, captivating and immense film which laces together some of the great mythical stories of mankind into a contempo action adventure fusing its sci fi genes with spiritual and ecological themes. And it pivots on romance" |
Andrew L. Urban |
Tomato |
Avatar (2009) |
"Love and acceptance are at the heart of this megabuck megapic; while our hearts are opened by the Emotion Key, our eyes are dazzled by the visual spectacle, enhanced by remarkable 3D. An event of a film, a spectacle that allows us to live the fantasy." |
Louise Keller |
Splat |
Away We Go (2009) |
"The film is a bit too sentimental and rather flat, despite some amusing scenes" |
Andrew L. Urban |
Tomato |
Away We Go (2009) |
"Parenthood, relationships and belonging are the themes of this occasionally endearing road movie on which acclaimed director Sam Mendes puts his stamp." |
Louise Keller |
Splat |
A Bunch of Amateurs (2008) |
"Overcooked to the point of being burnt, this total misfire in which Burt Reynolds' ageing has-been Hollywood actor finds himself in an amateur production of King Lear in England, is a fish-out-of-water comedy gone badly wrong." |
Louise Keller |
Tomato |
Acolytes (2008) |
"A combo of psychological thriller and bloody chiller... a superior piece of genre filmmaking" |
Andrew L. Urban |
- |
All Roads Lead Home (2008) |
Click here to see the review. |
|
Tomato |
All Roads Lead Home (2008) |
"This movie about a family who is first damaged by an accidental death and healed by an accidental discovery, is inspired by a true story" |
Andrew L. Urban |
Tomato |
American Son (2008) |
"A powerful yet nuanced work" |
Andrew L. Urban |
Tomato |
American Teen (2008) |
"While the filmmaker constructs the film with verve and genuine cinematic flair, there are not enough surprises, not enough unexpected insights, to grab onto as we lurch from one scene to the next" |
Andrew L. Urban |
Tomato |
Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (2008) |
"There is plenty of fun but always grounded in serious subjects, and the parents play an unexpectedly important role in the story" |
Andrew L. Urban |
Tomato |
Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (2008) |
"Awkwardness, the first kiss, parents from the stone age and having a nose the size of Jupiter have never been so compelling as in this fresh and funny film" |
Louise Keller |
Tomato |
Animals in Love (2008) |
"The images and subject matter are mesmerising, yet as a whole, the film feels fragmented . . . the cinematography is extraordinary so it is disappointing that the film as a whole is not more satisfying" |
Louise Keller |
Tomato |
Appaloosa (2008) |
"Viggo Mortensen is a trustworthy ally in the project, an actor whose extraordinary range enables him to move his performance along the scale from 0 to 100 at will." |
Andrew L. Urban |
Tomato |
Appaloosa (2008) |
"Wearing not only his actor's lawman hat, but also that of director and co-screenwriter, Ed Harris delivers a splendid film, filled with nuances, complexities and substance" |
Louise Keller |
Tomato |
Australia (2008) |
"It's not the size that matters most in Baz Luhrmann's Australia, it's the many details, the intimate, personal moments, the connection with and respect for the Aboriginal culture in the context of human interaction, and the evil that greed makes men callo" |
Andrew L. Urban |
Tomato |
Australia (2008) |
"The film looks magnificent but is far too long. The star power is dazzling but I didn't believe the central characters or their relationship. Nonetheless, it's an engrossing experience and one whose indelible images of a strikingly beautiful land linger." |
Louise Keller |
- |
Across the Universe (2007) |
Click here to see the review. |
Urban Cinefile Critics |
Tomato |
Across the Universe (2007) |
"Julie Taymor's adventure in Beatle-land is a huge success, ripping the songs that defined a generation and its (dashed) hopes for peace in a microcosm of a love story" |
Urban Cinefile Critics |
- |
Adam's Apples (2007) |
Click here to see the review. |
Urban Cinefile Critics |
Tomato |
Adam's Apples (2007) |
"Winner of 14 different awards, it comes from the gifted Anders Thomas Jensen, who excels in black comedy" |
Urban Cinefile Critics |
Tomato |
After The Wedding (2007) |
"After the Wedding is seamless, holding our attention, engaging our emotions and satisfying our cinematic needs with a story of human weakness, strength, heart and the capriciousness of fate" |
Urban Cinefile Critics |
- |
After The Wedding (2007) |
Click here to see the review. |
Urban Cinefile Critics |
Splat |
Aliens Vs. Predator: Requiem (2007) |
"Beast vs. beast, and it's not compelling in the least. Studio Fox rolls its two rampaging monster franchises out of cryo-stasis in this clunky and dumb sequel to the clunky and dumb 2004 eyesore, Alien vs. Predator" |
Urban Cinefile Critics |
Tomato |
All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane (2007) |
"There's a real energy and sense of place about this involving romantic comedy in which character takes centre stage. The debut feature for director Louise Alston, the film is an exploration of relationships, and works extremely well." |
Urban Cinefile Critics |
- |
Alpha Dog (2007) |
Click here to see the review. |
Urban Cinefile Critics |
- |
Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007) |
Click here to see the review. |
Urban Cinefile Critics |
Tomato |
Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007) |
"This new movie nicely updates the chipmunks into the realm of CGI animation and seamlessly places them in the real world." |
Urban Cinefile Critics |
- |
Amazing Grace (2007) |
Click here to see the review. |
Urban Cinefile Critics |
Splat |
Amazing Grace (2007) |
"While there is plenty to hold our interest in William Wilberforce's noble battle to abolish slavery in 18th Century Britain, as a film, Amazing Grace is overzealous and gets bogged down by details" |
Urban Cinefile Critics |
Tomato |
American Gangster (2007) |
"Washington towers above everything in this impressive, tough and long crime drama, convincingly putting his stamp on the elegant man whose callousness alternates with chivalry" |
Urban Cinefile Critics |
- |
American Gangster (2007) |
Click here to see the review. |
Urban Cinefile Critics |
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