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why he was given free reign over this project -- he wrote , directed , starred and produced -- is beyond me .
there 's suspension of disbelief and then there 's bad screenwriting ... this film packs a wallop of the latter .
i wish i could say `` thank god it 's friday '' , but the truth of the matter is i was glad when it was over .
there is not a character in the movie with a shred of plausibility , not an event that is believable , not a confrontation that is not staged , not a moment that is not false .
afraid to pitch into farce , yet only half-hearted in its spy mechanics , all the queen 's men is finally just one long drag .
you 'll be more entertained getting hit by a bus .
the cold and dreary weather is a perfect metaphor for the movie itself , which contains few laughs and not much drama .
what was subtle and mystifying in the novella is now broad and farcical .
bad beyond belief and ridiculous beyond description .
the film meant well in its horse tale about freedom , but was n't able to reach the heart because it was too overbearing .
has it ever been possible to say that williams has truly inhabited a character ?
the two leads chomp considerably more scenery with their acting than fire-breathing monsters barbecue with their breath ...
acting , particularly by tambor , almost makes `` never again '' worthwhile , but ( writer/director ) schaeffer should follow his titular advice
helmer devito ... attempts to do too many things in this story about ethics , payola , vice , murder , kids ' tv and revenge .
watching it is rather like viewing a long soap opera in which only the first episode was any good .
a long slog for anyone but the most committed pokemon fan .
the sad thing about knockaround guys is its lame aspiration for grasping the coolness vibes when in fact the film is n't as flippant or slick as it thinks it is .
somewhere short of tremors on the modern b-scene : neither as funny nor as clever , though an agreeably unpretentious way to spend ninety minutes .
`` collateral damage '' goes by the numbers and reps decent action entertainment -- until the silly showdown ending that forces the viewer to totally suspend disbelief
... a big , baggy , sprawling carnival of a movie , stretching out before us with little rhyme or reason .
with a story as bizarre and mysterious as this , you do n't want to be worrying about whether the ineffectual broomfield is going to have the courage to knock on that door .
opens as promising as any war/adventure film you 'll ever see and dissolves into a routine courtroom drama , better suited for a movie titled `` glory : a soldier 's story . ''
rates an ` e ' for effort -- and a ` b ' for boring .
( sen 's ) soap opera-ish approach undermines his good intentions .
instead of kicking off the intrigue and suspense and mystery of the whole thing , hart 's war , like the st. louis rams in the super bowl , waits until after halftime to get started .
this time out , ( sade ) is an unsettlingly familiar figure -- in turns loyal and deceitful , responsible and reckless , idealistically selfless and coldly self-interested .
guided more by intellect than heart , his story flattens instead of sharpens .
` enigma ' is a good name for a movie this delibrately obtuse and unapproachable .
blessed with immense physical prowess he may well be , but ahola is simply not an actor .
rainy days and movies about the disintegration of families always get me down .
then lower them a bit more .
but that 's just the problem with it - the director has n't added enough of his own ingredients .
( i ) f you 've been to more than one indie flick in your life , chances are you 've already seen this kind of thing .
places a slightly believable love triangle in a difficult-to-swallow setting , and then disappointingly moves the story into the realm of an improbable thriller .
quick : who wants to see a comedy about shoddy airport security ?
creepy but ultimately unsatisfying thriller .
most of the action setups are incoherent .
the movie takes itself too seriously and , as a result , it makes for only intermittent fun .
uncertain in tone ... a garbled exercise in sexual politics , a junior varsity short cuts by way of very bad things .
with a story inspired by the tumultuous surroundings of los angeles , where feelings of marginalization loom for every dreamer with a burst bubble , the dogwalker has a few characters and ideas , but it never manages to put them on the same path .
warmed-over tarantino by way of wannabe elmore leonard .
this goofy gangster yarn never really elevates itself from being yet another earnestly generic crime-busting comic vehicle -- a well-intentioned remake that shows some spunk and promise but fails to register as anything distinctive or daring
this extremely unfunny film clocks in at 80 minutes , but feels twice as long .
denzel washington 's efforts are sunk by all the sanctimony .
a very bad sign .
with its hints of a greater intelligence lurking somewhere , the ring makes its stupidity more than obvious .
at first , the sight of a blind man directing a film is hilarious , but as the film goes on , the joke wears thin .
shadyac shoots his film like an m. night shyamalan movie , and he frequently maintains the same snail 's pace ; he just forgot to add any genuine tension .
an ungainly , comedy-deficient , b-movie rush job ...
i just did n't care as much for the story .
do n't let your festive spirit go this far .
a soggy , shapeless mess ... just a dumb excuse for a waterlogged equivalent of a haunted-house movie .
if we do n't demand a standard of quality for the art that we choose , we deserve the trash that we get .
godawful boring slug of a movie .
given that both movies expect us to root for convicted violent felons over those assigned to protect us from same , we need every bit of sympathy the cons can muster ; this time , there is n't much .
bullock 's complete lack of focus and ability quickly derails the film
the stupidest , most insulting movie of 2002 's first quarter .
big fat liar is just futile silliness looking to tap into the kiddie sensibilities .
glib , satirical documentary that fudges facts , makes facile points and engages in the cinematic equivalent of tabloid journalism .
moot point .
consists of a plot and jokes done too often by people far more talented than ali g
leaves you with a knot in your stomach , its power is undercut by its own head-banging obviousness .
none of these characters resembles anyone you 've ever met in real life , unless you happen to know annoyingly self-involved people who speak in glib sentences that could have only come from the pen of a screenwriter .
instead , we just get messy anger , a movie as personal therapy .
( director ) byler may yet have a great movie in him , but charlotte sometimes is only half of one .
rambles on in a disjointed , substandard fashion from one poorly executed action sequence to the next .
the enormous comic potential of an oafish idiot impersonating an aristocrat remains sadly unrealized .
could the country bears really be as bad as its trailers ?
a mostly tired retread of several other mob tales .
a 93-minute condensation of a 26-episode tv series , with all of the pitfalls of such you 'd expect .
new best friend should n't have gone straight to video ; it should have gone straight to a mystery science theater 3000 video .
a movie far more cynical and lazy than anything a fictitious charlie kaufman might object to .
though everything might be literate and smart , it never took off and always seemed static .
... the film falls back on the same old formula of teen sex , outrageous pranks and scenes designed to push the envelope of bad taste for laughs .
director brian levant , who never strays far from his sitcom roots , skates blithely from one implausible situation to another , pausing only to tie up loose ends with more bows than you 'll find on a french poodle .
one groan-inducing familiarity begets another .
just because it really happened to you , honey , does n't mean that it 's interesting to anyone else .
mark me down as a non-believer in werewolf films that are not serious and rely on stupidity as a substitute for humor .
i saw knockaround guys yesterday , and already the details have faded like photographs from the spanish-american war ... it 's so unmemorable that it turned my ballpoint notes to invisible ink .
unfortunately , heartbreak hospital wants to convey the same kind of haughtiness in its own sketchy material but this territory has already been explored previously with better aplomb and sardonic wit .
obvious politics and rudimentary animation reduce the chances that the appeal of hey arnold !
frustratingly , dridi tells us nothing about el gallo other than what emerges through his music .
absorbing and disturbing -- perhaps more disturbing than originally intended -- but a little clarity would have gone a long way .
much of what is meant to be ` inspirational ' and ` uplifting ' is simply distasteful to audiences not already sharing ( the movie 's ) mindset .
the director 's twitchy sketchbook style and adroit perspective shifts grow wearisome amid leaden pacing and indifferent craftsmanship ( most notably wretched sound design ) .
too silly to be frightening , too stolid to be funny , it projects the same lazy affability as its nominal star , david arquette .
these spiders can outrun a motorcycle and wrap a person in a sticky cocoon in seconds , but they fall short of being interesting or entertaining .
the screenplay sabotages the movie 's strengths at almost every juncture .
a well acted and well intentioned snoozer .
if i spy were funny ( enough ) or exciting ( enough ) then it would be fairly simple to forgive the financial extortion it 's trying to reap from the moviegoing public .
but here 's the real damn : it is n't funny , either .
a boring , formulaic mix of serial killers and stalk 'n' slash .
a didactic and dull documentary glorifying software anarchy .
when she speaks , her creepy egyptian demigod voice is as computer processed and overproduced as it was in her music .
we never really feel involved with the story , as all of its ideas remain just that : abstract ideas .
collateral damage is , despite its alleged provocation post-9 / 11 , an antique , in the end .
so clichéd that , at one point , they literally upset an apple cart .
for all its surface frenzy , high crimes should be charged with loitering -- so much on view , so little to offer .
abandons all pretense of creating historical context and waltzes off into a hectic soap about the ups and downs of the heavy breathing between the two artists .
at nearly three hours , the whole of safe conduct is less than the sum of its parts .
john mctiernan 's botched remake may be subtler than norman jewison 's 1975 ultraviolent futuristic corporate-sports saga .
no movement , no yuks , not much of anything .
if you 're not a prepubescent girl , you 'll be laughing at britney spears ' movie-starring debut whenever it does n't have you impatiently squinting at your watch .
the film is like a series of beginnings and middles that never take off .
reggio falls victim to relying on the very digital technology that he fervently scorns , creating a meandering , inarticulate and ultimately disappointing film .
( two ) fairly dull -- contrasting and interlocking stories about miserable scandinavian settlers in 18th-century canada , and yuppie sailboaters in the here and now .
you can practically smell the patchouli oil .
the unceasing sadism is so graphically excessive , the director just ends up exposing his own obsession .
the sum of all fears is almost impossible to follow -- and there 's something cringe-inducing about seeing an american football stadium nuked as pop entertainment .
plays less like a coming-of-age romance than an infomercial .
a bigger holiday downer than your end-of-year 401 ( k ) statement .
high crimes miscasts nearly every leading character .
a boring , wincingly cute and nauseatingly politically correct cartoon guaranteed to drive anyone much over age 4 screaming from the theater .
when ( de palma 's ) bad , he 's really bad , and femme fatale ranks with the worst he has done .
strong setup and ambitious goals fade as the film descends into unsophisticated scare tactics and b-film thuggery .
do n't waste your money .
the acting by the over-25s lacks spark , with csokas particularly unconnected .
proves that a movie about goodness is not the same thing as a good movie .
shamelessly sappy and , worse , runs away from its own provocative theme .
filmmakers have to dig deep to sink this low .
the film is itself a sort of cinematic high crime , one that brings military courtroom dramas down very , very low .
scene-by-scene , things happen , but you 'd be hard-pressed to say what or why .
an often-deadly boring , strange reading of a classic whose witty dialogue is treated with a baffling casual approach
but this time there 's some mold on the gold .
sadly , hewitt 's forte is leaning forward while wearing low-cut gowns , not making snappy comebacks .
the thrill is ( long ) gone .
despite the authenticity of the trappings , the film is overblown in its plotting , hackneyed in its dialogue and anachronistic in its style .
... ( like ) channel surfing between the discovery channel and a late-night made-for-cable action movie .
it feels like a community theater production of a great broadway play : even at its best , it will never hold a candle to the original .
when the first few villians are introduced as `` spider '' and `` snake '' you know you 're in for a real winner , creativity at its peak .
nearly surreal , dabbling in french , this is no simple movie , and you 'll be taking a risk if you choose to see it .
good for a few unintentional laughs , `` extreme ops '' was obviously made for the `` xxx '' crowd , people who enjoy mindless action without the benefit of decent acting , writing , and direction .
the kids often appear to be reading the lines and are incapable of conveying any emotion .
it 's hard not to feel you 've just watched a feature-length video game with some really heavy back story .
i did n't believe for a moment in these villains or their plot .
the movie bounces all over the map .
the thriller side of this movie is falling flat , as the stalker does n't do much stalking , and no cop or lawyer grasps the concept of actually investigating the case .
dreary , highly annoying ... ` some body ' will appeal to no one .
the title trapped turns out to be a pretty fair description of how you feel while you 're watching this ultra-manipulative thriller .
its over-reliance on genre conventions , character types and formulaic conflict resolutions crushes all the goodwill it otherwise develops .
nothing debases a concept comedy quite like the grinding of bad ideas , and showtime is crammed full of them .
k-19 may not hold a lot of water as a submarine epic , but it holds even less when it turns into an elegiacally soggy saving private ryanovich .
... the sum of the parts equals largely a confused mediocrity .
imagine if you will a tony hawk skating video interspliced with footage from behind enemy lines and set to jersey shore techno .
without september 11 , collateral damage would have been just another bad movie .
well-intentioned though it may be , its soap-opera morality tales have the antiseptic , preprogrammed feel of an after-school special .
any one episode of the sopranos would send this ill-conceived folly to sleep with the fishes .
the whole thing plays out with the drowsy heaviness of synchronized swimmer wearing a wool wetsuit .
a waste of good performances .
de niro looks bored , murphy recycles murphy , and you mentally add showtime to the pile of hollywood dreck that represents nothing more than the art of the deal .
a great ending does n't make up for a weak movie , and crazy as hell does n't even have a great ending .
watching it is rather like an overlong visit from a large group of your relatives .
anyone who can count to five ( the film 's target market ? )
the writers , director wally wolodarsky , and all the actors should start their own coeducational fraternity : kappa rho alpha phi .
it might as well have been problem child iv .
almost everything else is wan .
lacking gravitas , macdowell is a placeholder for grief , and ergo this sloppy drama is an empty vessel .
some , like ballistic , arrive stillborn ... looking like the beaten , well-worn video box cover of seven years into the future .
do n't expect any surprises in this checklist of teamwork cliches ...
an ultra-low-budget indie debut that smacks more of good intentions than talent .
lacks heart , depth and , most of all , purpose .
it 's the kind of movie that ends up festooning u.s. art house screens for no reason other than the fact that it 's in french ( well , mostly ) with english subtitles and is magically ` significant ' because of that .
it settles for being merely grim .
as are its star , its attitude and its obliviousness .
it 's neither as romantic nor as thrilling as it should be .
the charms of willful eccentricity , at least as evidenced by this latest cinematic essay , are beginning to wear a bit thin .
splashes its drama all over the screen , subjecting its audience and characters to action that feels not only manufactured , but also so false you can see the filmmakers ' puppet strings .
` abandon all hope , ye who enter here ' ... you should definitely let dante 's gloomy words be your guide .
now , if it only had a brain .
truth to tell , if you 've seen more than half-a-dozen horror films , there 's nothing here you have n't seen before .
while benigni ( who stars and co-wrote ) seems to be having a wonderful time , he might be alone in that .
a simple , sometimes maddeningly slow film that has just enough charm and good acting to make it interesting , but is ultimately pulled under by the pacing and lack of creativity within .
the overall feel of the film is pretty cheesy , but there 's still a real sense that the star trek tradition has been honored as best it can , given the embarrassing script and weak direction .
schindler 's list it ai n't .
the film has a few cute ideas and several modest chuckles but it is n't exactly kiddie-friendly ... alas , santa is more ho-hum than ho-ho-ho and the snowman ( who never gets to play that flute ) has all the charm of a meltdown .
showtime is closer to slowtime .
the tone shifts abruptly from tense to celebratory to soppy .
a strong first quarter , slightly less so second quarter , and average second half .
a sour , nasty offering .
fairly successful at faking some pretty cool stunts but a complete failure at trying to create some pretty cool characters .
a film so tedious that it is impossible to care whether that boast is true or not .
... an unimaginative , nasty , glibly cynical piece of work .
here 's a self-congratulatory 3d imax rah-rah .
human nature talks the talk , but it fails to walk the silly walk that distinguishes the merely quirky from the surreal .
might have been better off as a documentary , with less of mr. eyre 's uninspired dramatics and more of his sense of observation and outrage .
to imagine the life of harry potter as a martial arts adventure told by a lobotomized woody allen is to have some idea of the fate that lies in store for moviegoers lured to the mediocrity that is kung pow : enter the fist .
there are weird resonances between actor and role here , and they 're not exactly flattering .
shot perhaps ` artistically ' with handheld cameras and apparently no movie lights by joaquin baca-asay , the low-budget production swings annoyingly between vertigo and opacity .
how did it ever get made ?
it would be hard to think of a recent movie that has worked this hard to achieve this little fun .
... surprisingly inert for a movie in which the main character travels back and forth between epochs .
director dirk shafer and co-writer greg hinton ride the dubious divide where gay porn reaches for serious drama .
uneasy mishmash of styles and genres .
ray liotta and jason patric do some of their best work in their underwritten roles , but do n't be fooled : nobody deserves any prizes here .
how on earth , or anywhere else , did director ron underwood manage to blow $ 100 million on this ?
murder by numbers is like a couple of mediocre tv-movie - of-the-week films clumsily stuck together .
but this costly dud is a far cry from either the book or the beloved film .
just another fish-out-of-water story that barely stays afloat .
little more than a frothy vanity project .
nothing denis has made before , like beau travil and nenette et boni , could prepare us for this gory , perverted , sex-soaked riff on the cannibal genre .
christians sensitive to a reductionist view of their lord as a luv-spreading dr. feelgood or omnipotent slacker will feel vastly more affronted than secularists , who might even praise god for delivering such an instant camp classic .
good actress .
for anyone who remembers the '60s or is interested in one man 's response to stroke , ram dass : fierce grace is worth seeking out .
a well-made thriller with a certain level of intelligence and non-reactionary morality .
almost every scene in this film is a gem that could stand alone , a perfectly realized observation of mood , behavior and intent .
cute , funny , heartwarming digitally animated feature film with plenty of slapstick humor for the kids , lots of in-jokes for the adults and heart enough for everyone .
this is a film brimming with detail and nuance and one that speaks volumes about the ability of the human spirit to find solace in events that could easily crush it forever .
a model of what films like this should be like .
katz uses archival footage , horrifying documents of lynchings , still photographs and charming old reel-to-reel recordings of meeropol entertaining his children to create his song history , but most powerful of all is the song itself
ms. fulford-wierzbicki is almost spooky in her sulky , calculating lolita turn .
one of the best of the year .
merchant effectively translates naipaul 's lively mix of characters from the page to screen .
woo 's fights have a distinct flair .
it 's a hoot and a half , and a great way for the american people to see what a candidate is like when he 's not giving the same 15-cent stump speech .
it 's ( ricci 's ) best work yet , this girl-woman who sincerely believes she can thwart the world 's misery with blind good will .
an endearingly offbeat romantic comedy with a great meet-cute gimmick .
there are moments in this account of the life of artist frida kahlo that are among cinema 's finest this year .
this version incarnates the prophetic book in a way even its exacting author might admire .
as weber and weissman demonstrate with such insight and celebratory verve , the cockettes were n't as much about gender , sexual preference or political agitprop as they were simply a triumph of the indomitable human will to rebel , connect and create .
this is what imax was made for : strap on a pair of 3-d goggles , shut out the real world , and take a vicarious voyage to the last frontier -- space .
he just wants them to be part of the action , the wallpaper of his chosen reality .
ranging from funny to shattering and featuring some of the year 's best acting , personal velocity gathers plenty of dramatic momentum .
branagh , in his most forceful non-shakespeare screen performance , grounds even the softest moments in the angry revolt of his wit .
with a cast that includes some of the top actors working in independent film , lovely & amazing involves us because it is so incisive , so bleakly amusing about how we go about our lives .
`` antwone fisher '' is an earnest , by-the-numbers effort by washington .
fuller would surely have called this gutsy and at times exhilarating movie a great yarn .
there is n't a weak or careless performance amongst them .
this is a film well worth seeing , talking and singing heads and all .
an original gem about an obsession with time .
the perfect film for those who like sick comedies that can be snide .
visits spy-movie territory like a novel you ca n't put down , examines a footnote to history seldom brought to light on the screen , and keeps you guessing from first frame to last .
eight crazy nights is a showcase for sandler 's many talents .
the level of maturity displayed by this 33-year-old first-time feature director is astonishing , considering her inexperience and her subject matter .
we get some truly unique character studies and a cross-section of americana that hollywood could n't possibly fictionalize and be believed .
children may not understand everything that happens -- i 'm not sure even miyazaki himself does -- but they will almost certainly be fascinated , and undoubtedly delighted .
edited and shot with a syncopated style mimicking the work of his subjects , pray turns the idea of the documentary on its head , making it rousing , invigorating fun lacking any mtv puffery .
you have to pay attention to follow all the stories , but they 're each interesting .
a picture that extols the virtues of comradeship and community in a spunky , spirited fashion .
a historical epic with the courage of its convictions about both scope and detail .
it 's the kind of pigeonhole-resisting romp that hollywood too rarely provides .
one of the greatest romantic comedies of the past decade .
it is interesting and fun to see goodall and her chimpanzees on the bigger-than-life screen .
even when foreign directors ... borrow stuff from hollywood , they invariably shake up the formula and make it more interesting .
what it lacks in originality it makes up for in intelligence and b-grade stylishness .
this cheery , down-to-earth film is warm with the cozy feeling of relaxing around old friends .
the unique tug-of-war with viewer expectations is undeniable , if not a pleasure in its own right .
legendary irish writer brendan behan 's memoir , borstal boy , has been given a loving screen transferral .
exquisitely acted and masterfully if preciously interwoven ... ( the film ) addresses in a fascinating , intelligent manner the intermingling of race , politics and local commerce .
as if to prove a female director can make a movie with no soft edges , kathryn bigelow offers no sugar-coating or interludes of lightness .
the movie 's quiet affirmation of neighborhood values gives it an honest , lived-in glow .
an involving true story of a chinese actor who takes up drugs and winds up in an institution -- acted mostly by the actual people involved .
achieves a sort of filmic epiphany that revels in the true potential of the medium .
hu and liu offer natural , matter-of-fact performances that glint with sorrow , longing and love .
an engaging overview of johnson 's eccentric career .
sharp , lively , funny and ultimately sobering film .
an unabashedly schmaltzy and thoroughly enjoyable true story .
the reason this picture works better than its predecessors is that myers is no longer simply spoofing the mini-mod-madness of '60s spy movies .
( an ) hilarious romantic comedy .
farrell ... thankfully manages to outshine the role and successfully plays the foil to willis 's world-weary colonel .
skip work to see it at the first opportunity .
it 's like a poem .
look , this is a terrific flick replete with dazzling camera-work , dancing and music .
it is not a mass-market entertainment but an uncompromising attempt by one artist to think about another .
a taut , intelligent psychological drama .
a romantic comedy , yes , but one with characters who think and talk about their goals , and are working on hard decisions .
a dream cast of solid female talent who build a seamless ensemble .
a remarkable 179-minute meditation on the nature of revolution .
has a shambling charm ... a cheerfully inconsequential diversion .
this is such a high-energy movie where the drumming and the marching are so excellent , who cares if the story 's a little weak .
there is a kind of attentive concern that hoffman brings to his characters , as if he has been giving them private lessons , and now it is time for their first public recital .
it 's a humble effort , but spiced with wry humor and genuine pathos , especially between morgan and redgrave .
the story feels more like a serious read , filled with heavy doses of always enticing sayles dialogue .
... always remains movingly genuine .
like the film 's almost anthropologically detailed realization of early - '80s suburbia , it 's significant without being overstated .
compelling as it is exotic , fast runner has a plot that rivals shakespeare for intrigue , treachery and murder .
must-see viewing for anyone involved in the high-tech industry .
solid , lump-in-the-throat family entertainment that derives its power by sticking to the facts .
( broomfield ) uncovers a story powerful enough to leave the screen sizzling with intrigue .
watching scarlet diva , one is poised for titillation , raw insight or both .
excellent acting and direction .
an absorbing trip into the minds and motivations of people under stress as well as a keen , unsentimental look at variations on the theme of motherhood .
narc may not get an ` a ' for originality , but it wears its b-movie heritage like a badge of honor .
evokes a little of the fear that parents have for the possible futures of their children -- and the sometimes bad choices mothers and fathers make in the interests of doing them good .
few films this year have been as resolute in their emotional nakedness .
worth the effort to watch .
if it tried to do anything more , it would fail and perhaps explode , but at this level of manic whimsy , it is just about right .
director rob marshall went out gunning to make a great one .
time changer may not be the most memorable cinema session but its profound self-evaluation message about our fragile existence and the absence of spiritual guidance should at least invade an abundance of mindsets
a harmless and mildly amusing family comedy .
a resonant tale of racism , revenge and retribution .
but in imax 3-d , the clichés disappear into the vertiginous perspectives opened up by the photography .
from the big giant titles of the opening credits to elmer bernstein 's perfectly melodic score , haynes gets just about everything right .
will grab your children by the imagination and amaze them and amuse them .
this is cool , slick stuff , ready to quench the thirst of an audience that misses the summer blockbusters .
parker holds true to wilde 's own vision of a pure comedy with absolutely no meaning , and no desire to be anything but a polished , sophisticated entertainment that is in love with its own cleverness .
led by griffin 's smartly nuanced performance and enthusiasm , the cast has a lot of fun with the material .
an incredibly clever and superbly paced caper filled with scams within scams within scams .
if no one singles out any of these performances as award-worthy , it 's only because we would expect nothing less from this bunch .
it 's obviously struck a responsive chord with many south koreans , and should work its magic in other parts of the world .
a tough go , but leigh 's depth and rigor , and his skill at inspiring accomplished portrayals that are all the more impressive for their lack of showiness , offsets to a notable degree the film 's often-mined and despairing milieu .
works because , for the most part , it avoids the stupid cliches and formulaic potholes that befall its brethren .
a bowel-curdling , heart-stopping recipe for terror .
it 's a refreshing change from the self-interest and paranoia that shape most american representations of castro .
call me a wimp , but i cried , not once , but three times in this animated sweet film .
together , tok and o orchestrate a buoyant , darkly funny dance of death .
a mostly intelligent , engrossing and psychologically resonant suspenser .
george clooney proves he 's quite a talented director and sam rockwell shows us he 's a world-class actor with confessions of a dangerous mind .
the film 's greatest asset is how much it 's not just another connect-the-dots , spy-on-the-run picture .
huppert gives erika a persona that is so intriguing that you find yourself staring hypnotically at her , trying to understand her and wondering if she 'll crack .
a wildly funny prison caper .
day is not a great bond movie , but it is a good bond movie , which still makes it much better than your typical bond knock-offs .
genuinely touching because it 's realistic about all kinds of love .
... one of the most ingenious and entertaining thrillers i 've seen in quite a long time .
münch 's genuine insight makes the film 's occasional overindulgence forgivable .
aside from being the funniest movie of the year , simone , andrew niccol 's brilliant anti-hollywood satire , has a wickedly eccentric enchantment to it .
a candid and often fascinating documentary about a pentecostal church in dallas that assembles an elaborate haunted house each year to scare teenagers into attending services .
a gentle blend of present day testimonials , surviving footage of burstein and his family performing , historical archives , and telling stills .
it 's one of the most honest films ever made about hollywood .
the movie has a soft , percolating magic , a deadpan suspense .
an incredibly low-rent danish film , it brings a group of people together in a sweet and charming way , if a little convenient
subversive , meditative , clinical and poetic , the piano teacher is a daring work of genius .
whether you 're moved and love it , or bored or frustrated by the film , you 'll still feel something .
it is far from the worst , thanks to the topical issues it raises , the performances of stewart and hardy , and that essential feature -- a decent full-on space battle .
de oliveira creates an emotionally rich , poetically plump and visually fulsome , but never showy , film whose bittersweet themes are reinforced and brilliantly personified by michel piccoli .
chicago is sophisticated , brash , sardonic , completely joyful in its execution .
escapism in its purest form .
bow 's best moments are when he 's getting busy on the basketball court because that 's when he really scores .
cho 's fearless in picking apart human foibles , not afraid to lay her life bare in front of an audience .
must be seen to be believed .
most new movies have a bright sheen .
more than makes up for its mawkish posing by offering rousing spates of genuine feeling .
reign of fire may be little more than another platter of reheated aliens , but it 's still pretty tasty .
in adobo , ethnicity is not just the spice , but at the heart of more universal concerns .
the bourne identity is what summer screen escapism used to be in the decades when it was geared more to grownups .
a splendid entertainment , young in spirit but accomplished in all aspects with the fullness of spirit and sense of ease that comes only with experience .
like old myths and wonder tales spun afresh .
the film is painfully authentic , and the performances of the young players are utterly convincing .
an earnest , heartrending look at the divide between religious fundamentalists and their gay relatives .
( drumline ) is entertaining for what it does , and admirable for what it does n't do .
the tone is balanced , reflective and reasonable .
attal mixes comedy with a serious exploration of ego and jealousy within a seemingly serene marriage .
as green-guts monster movies go , it 's a beaut .
though it is by no means his best work , laissez-passer is a distinguished and distinctive effort by a bona-fide master , a fascinating film replete with rewards to be had by all willing to make the effort to reap them .
this version 's no classic like its predecessor , but its pleasures are still plentiful .
it uses an old-time formula , it 's not terribly original and it 's rather messy -- but you just have to love the big , dumb , happy movie my big fat greek wedding .
davis has filled out his cast with appealing fresh faces .
resourceful and ingenious entertainment .
an impressive if flawed effort that indicates real talent .
there are moments it can be heart-rending in an honest and unaffected ( and gentle ) way .
more honest about alzheimer 's disease , i think , than iris .
ford deserves to be remembered at oscar time for crafting this wonderful portrait of a conflicted soldier .
the episodic film makes valid points about the depersonalization of modern life .
think of it as a sort of comfort food for the mind .
de niro and mcdormand give solid performances , but their screen time is sabotaged by the story 's inability to create interest .
still pretentious and filled with subtext , but entertaining enough at ` face value ' to recommend to anyone looking for something different .
with youthful high spirits , tautou remains captivating throughout michele 's religious and romantic quests , and she is backed by a likable cast .
the movie 's ripe , enrapturing beauty will tempt those willing to probe its inscrutable mysteries .
it 's a terrific american sports movie and dennis quaid is its athletic heart .
sandra nettelbeck beautifully orchestrates the transformation of the chilly , neurotic , and self-absorbed martha as her heart begins to open .
a tale of horror and revenge that is nearly perfect in its relentless descent to the depths of one man 's tortured soul .
an impossible romance , but we root for the patronized iranian lad .
as blunt as it is in depicting child abuse , el bola is a movie steeped in an ambiguity that lends its conflicts a symbolic resonance .
this may not have the dramatic gut-wrenching impact of other holocaust films , but it 's a compelling story , mainly because of the way it 's told by the people who were there .
the movie stays afloat thanks to its hallucinatory production design .
star wars is back in a major way .
this is carion 's debut feature but his script and direction hums with a confidence that many spend entire careers trying to reach .
but what spectacular sizzle it is !
it 's all very cute , though not terribly funny if you 're more than six years old .
by the end of no such thing the audience , like beatrice , has a watchful affection for the monster .
flavorful and romantic , you could call this how martha got her groove back -- assuming , that is , she ever had one to begin with .
i do n't know precisely what to make of steven soderbergh 's full frontal , though that did n't stop me from enjoying much of it .
mr. parker has brilliantly updated his source and grasped its essence , composing a sorrowful and hilarious tone poem about alienated labor , or an absurdist workplace sitcom .
a yarn that respects the marvel version without becoming ensnared by it .
it 's a bittersweet and lyrical mix of elements .
westfeldt and juergensen exude a chemistry and comfort level that 's both saucy and endearing .
dark and disturbing , but also surprisingly funny .
it extends the writings of jean genet and john rechy , the films of fassbinder , perhaps even the nocturnal works of goya .
but he somehow pulls it off .
as the story moves inexorably through its seven day timeframe , the picture becomes increasingly mesmerizing .
you might not want to hang out with samantha , but you 'll probably see a bit of yourself in her unfinished story .
one of those rare , exhilarating cinematic delights that gets even better in hindsight , as you mull over its every nuance in your mind .
if you can get past the fantastical aspects and harsh realities of `` the isle '' you 'll get a sock-you-in-the-eye flick that is a visual tour-de-force and a story that is unlike any you will likely see anywhere else .
without resorting to hyperbole , i can state that kissing jessica stein may be the best same-sex romance i have seen .
watching beanie and his gang put together his slasher video from spare parts and borrowed materials is as much fun as it must have been for them to make it .
romanek keeps the film constantly taut ... reflecting the character 's instability with a metaphorical visual style and an unnerving , heartbeat-like score .
a deceivingly simple film , one that grows in power in retrospect .
kaufman creates an eerie sense of not only being there at the time of these events but the very night matthew was killed .
a slick , well-oiled machine , exquisitely polished and upholstered .
andy garcia enjoys one of his richest roles in years and mick jagger gives his best movie performance since , well , performance .
a refreshingly honest and ultimately touching tale of the sort of people usually ignored in contemporary american film .
a psychologically rich and suspenseful moral thriller with a stellar performance by al pacino .
gollum 's ` performance ' is incredible !
hugh grant and sandra bullock are two such likeable actors .
an enchanting spectacular for potter fans anxious to ride the hogwarts express toward a new year of magic and mischief .
a movie that will touch the hearts of both children and adults , as well as bring audiences to the edge of their seats .
makes an aborbing if arguable case for the man 's greatness .
an intriguing and entertaining introduction to johnson .
the film benefits greatly from a less manic tone than its predecessor , as cho appears to have settled comfortably into her skin .
the film 's sharp , often mischievous sense of humor will catch some off guard ...
the production values are up there .
a masterful film from a master filmmaker , unique in its deceptive grimness , compelling in its fatalist worldview .
a beautiful and haunting examination of the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of the mundane horrors of the world .
... a poignant and powerful narrative that reveals that reading writing and arithmetic are not the only subjects to learn in life .
the laser-projected paintings provide a spell-casting beauty , while russell and dreyfus are a romantic pairing of hearts , preciously exposed as history corners them .
windtalkers celebrates the human spirit and packs an emotional wallop .
a cop story that understands the medium amazingly well .
it 's a minor comedy that tries to balance sweetness with coarseness , while it paints a sad picture of the singles scene .
if it seems like a minor miracle that its septuagenarian star is young enough to be the nonagenarian filmmaker 's son , more incredible still are the clear-eyed boldness and quiet irony with which actor and director take on life 's urgent questions .
dark , resonant , inventively detailed and packed with fleet turns of plot and a feast of visual amazement .
for the first time in several years , mr. allen has surpassed himself with the magic he 's spun with the hollywood empress of ms. leoni 's ellie .
the values that have held the enterprise crew together through previous adventures and perils do so again-courage , self-sacrifice and patience under pressure .
in scope , ambition and accomplishment , children of the century ... takes kurys ' career to a whole new level .
a compelling journey ... and `` his best friend remembers '' is up there with the finest of specials .
a cockamamie tone poem pitched precipitously between swoony lyricism and violent catastrophe ... the most aggressively nerve-wracking and screamingly neurotic romantic comedy in cinema history .
( fessenden ) is much more into ambiguity and creating mood than he is for on screen thrills
while this film is not in the least surprising , it is still ultimately very satisfying .
a pleasant romantic comedy .
when it 's all wet , blue crush is highly enjoyable .
u.s. audiences may find ( attal and gainsbourg 's ) unfamiliar personas give the film an intimate and quaint reality that is a little closer to human nature than what hollywood typically concocts .
this is a terrific character study , a probe into the life of a complex man .
the tug of war that ensues is as much a snapshot of modern china in microcosm as it is a crash course in movie mythology .
now trimmed by about 20 minutes , this lavish three-year-old production has enough grandeur and scale to satisfy as grown-up escapism .
though mama takes a bit too long to find its rhythm and a third-act plot development is somewhat melodramatic , its ribald humor and touching nostalgia are sure to please anyone in search of a jules and jim for the new millennium .
4 friends , 2 couples , 2000 miles , and all the pabst blue ribbon beer they can drink - it 's the ultimate redneck road-trip .
the people in dogtown and z-boys are so funny , aggressive and alive , you have to watch them because you ca n't wait to see what they do next .
renner 's performance as dahmer is unforgettable , deeply absorbing .
while not as aggressively impressive as its american counterpart , `` in the bedroom , '' moretti 's film makes its own , quieter observations
but fans should have fun meeting a brand-new pokemon called celebi .
windtalkers blows this way and that , but there 's no mistaking the filmmaker in the tall grass , true to himself .
the whole cast looks to be having so much fun with the slapstick antics and silly street patois , tossing around obscure expressions like bellini and mullinski , that the compact 86 minutes breezes by .
( villeneuve ) seems to realize intuitively that even morality is reduced to an option by the ultimate mysteries of life and death .
the film starts out as competent but unremarkable ... and gradually grows into something of considerable power .
a graceful , contemplative film that gradually and artfully draws us into a world where the personal and the political get fatally intertwined .
it turns out to be a cut above the norm , thanks to some clever writing and sprightly acting .
the movie is a blast of educational energy , as bouncy animation and catchy songs escort you through the entire 85 minutes .
the long-range appeal of `` minority report '' should transcend any awards it bags .
occasionally funny and consistently odd , and it works reasonably well as a star vehicle for zhao .
this warm and gentle romantic comedy has enough interesting characters to fill several movies , and its ample charms should win over the most hard-hearted cynics .
this is a very fine movie -- go see it .
both deeply weird and charmingly dear .
a very funny look at how another culture handles the process of courting and marriage .
britney has been delivered to the big screen safe and sound , the way we like our 20-year-old superstar girls to travel on the fame freeway .
for all its serious sense of purpose ... ( it ) finds a way to lay bare the tragedies of its setting with a good deal of warmth and humor .
the story may not be new , but australian director john polson , making his american feature debut , jazzes it up adroitly .
the new guy does have a heart .
unlike the nauseating fictions peddled by such ` have-yourself-a-happy-little-holocaust ' movies as life is beautiful and jakob the liar , the grey zone is honest enough to deny the possibility of hope in auschwitz .
wasabi is slight fare indeed , with the entire project having the feel of something tossed off quickly ( like one of hubert 's punches ) , but it should go down smoothly enough with popcorn .
tender yet lacerating and darkly funny fable .
lauren ambrose comes alive under the attention from two strangers in town - with honest performances and realistic interaction between the characters , this is a coming-of-age story with a twist .
as teen movies go , `` orange county '' is a refreshing change
the scope of the silberstein family is large and we grow attached to their lives , full of strength , warmth and vitality . .
though the violence is far less sadistic than usual , the film is typical miike : fast , furious and full of off-the-cuff imaginative flourishes .
a thoughtful , moving piece that faces difficult issues with honesty and beauty .
a solidly seaworthy chiller .
what you would end up with if you took orwell , bradbury , kafka , george lucas and the wachowski brothers and threw them into a blender .
he simply presents his point of view that ayurveda works .
a refreshingly authentic coming-of-age tale .
you 'll be left with the sensation of having just witnessed a great performance and , perhaps , give in to the urge to get on your feet and shake it .
though a bit of a patchwork in script and production , a glossy , rich green , environment almost makes the picture work .
a deviant topical comedy which is funny from start to finish .
it should be mentioned that the set design and interiors of the haunted vessel are more than effectively creepy and moodily lit .
rain is a small treasure , enveloping the viewer in a literal and spiritual torpor that is anything but cathartic .
a tender and touching drama , based on the true story of a troubled african-american 's quest to come to terms with his origins , reveals the yearning we all have in our hearts for acceptance within the family circle .
funny and , at times , poignant , the film from director george hickenlooper all takes place in pasadena , `` a city where people still read . ''
here 's a british flick gleefully unconcerned with plausibility , yet just as determined to entertain you .
he 's super spy !
murderous maids may well be the most comprehensive of these films and also strike closest to the truth .
witty , touching and well paced .
it 's still worth a look .
the movie is one of the best examples of artful large format filmmaking you are likely to see anytime soon .
it 's not exactly a gourmet meal but the fare is fair , even coming from the drive-thru .
i do n't think i 've been as entranced and appalled by an asian film since shinya tsukamoto 's iron man .
offers enough playful fun to entertain the preschool set while embracing a wholesome attitude .
anchored by a terrific performance by abbass , satin rouge shows that the idea of women 's self-actualization knows few continental divides .
... blade ii is more enjoyable than the original .
who knows what exactly godard is on about in this film , but his words and images do n't have to add up to mesmerize you .
the film hinges on its performances , and both leads are up to the task .
it 's as close as we 'll ever come to looking through a photographer 's viewfinder as he works .
jagger the actor is someone you want to see again .
i loved it !
goyer 's screenplay and direction are thankfully understated , and he has drawn excellent performances from his cast .
it 's almost impossible not to be moved by the movie 's depiction of sacrifice and its stirring epilogue in post-soviet russia .
what really surprises about wisegirls is its low-key quality and genuine tenderness .
in his debut as a film director , denzel washington delivers a lean and engaging work .
the movie will reach far beyond its core demographic .
a marvellous journey from childhood idealism to adolescent self-absorption .
moore 's complex and important film is also , believe it or not , immensely entertaining , a david and goliath story that 's still very much playing itself out .
it 's a sly wink to the others without becoming a postmodern joke , made creepy by its `` men in a sardine can '' warped logic .
often hilarious , well-shot and , importantly , entertaining , hell house is a fascinating document of an event that has to be seen to be believed .
at heart the movie is a deftly wrought suspense yarn whose richer shadings work as coloring rather than substance .
droll caper-comedy remake of `` big deal on madonna street '' that 's a sly , amusing , laugh-filled little gem in which the ultimate `` bellini '' begins to look like a `` real kaputschnik . ''
most impressive , though , is the film 's open-ended finale that refuses to entirely close its characters ' emotional wounds .
( gai ) comes closer to any actress i can remember to personifying independence in its purest and , yes , most intimidating form .
the kooky yet shadowy vision clooney sustains throughout is daring , inventive and impressive .
a blessed gift to film geeks and historians .
an endlessly fascinating , landmark movie that is as bold as anything the cinema has seen in years .
in fessenden 's horror trilogy , this theme has proved important to him and is especially so in the finale .
windtalkers is shapelessly gratifying , the kind of movie that invites you to pick apart its faults even as you have to admit that somehow it hit you where you live .
for the most part , i spy was an amusing lark that will probably rank as one of murphy 's better performances in one of his lesser-praised movies .
jacquot 's tosca is a treat .
an intimate , good-humored ethnic comedy like numerous others but cuts deeper than expected .
marvelous , merry and , yes , melancholy film .
while it would be easy to give crush the new title of two weddings and a funeral , it 's a far more thoughtful film than any slice of hugh grant whimsy .
it 's hard not to be seduced by ( witherspoon 's ) charisma , even in this run-of-the-mill vehicle , because this girl knows how to drive it to the max .
cedar takes a very open-minded approach to this sensitive material , showing impressive control , both visually and in the writing .
nervy and sensitive , it taps into genuine artistic befuddlement , and at the same time presents a scathing indictment of what drives hollywood .
the cast is uniformly excellent and relaxed .
credit must be given to harland williams , michael rosenbaum and barry watson , who inject far more good-natured spirit and talent into this project than it deserves
only an epic documentary could get it all down , and spike lee 's jim brown : all american at long last gives its subject a movie worthy of his talents .
this road movie gives you emotional whiplash , and you 'll be glad you went along for the ride .
writer-director burger imaginatively fans the embers of a dormant national grief and curiosity that has calcified into chronic cynicism and fear .
a miniscule little bleep on the film radar , but one that many more people should check out
greene delivers a typically solid performance in a role that is a bit of a departure from the noble characters he has played in the past , and he is matched by schweig , who carries the film on his broad , handsome shoulders .
those outside show business will enjoy a close look at people they do n't really want to know .
mr. wedge and mr. saldanha handle the mix of verbal jokes and slapstick well .
provides an intriguing window into the imagination and hermetic analysis of todd solondz .
this is one of polanski 's best films .
a romantic comedy that operates by the rules of its own self-contained universe .
it 's endearing to hear madame d. refer to her husband as ` jackie ' -- and he does make for excellent company , not least as a self-conscious performer .
s personal revelations regarding what the shop means in the big picture , iconic characters gambol fluidly through the story , with charming results .
complex , affecting and uniquely almodóvar , the film evokes strong emotions and pushes viewers to question their deepest notions of moral right and wrong .
one of the greatest family-oriented , fantasy-adventure movies ever .
a modest pleasure that accomplishes its goals with ease and confidence .
thoughtful , even stinging at times , and lots of fun .
this is n't my favorite in the series , still i enjoyed it enough to recommend .
gloriously goofy ( and gory ) midnight movie stuff .
so young , so smart , such talent , such a wise *** .
a vivid cinematic portrait .
it 's an example of sophisticated , challenging filmmaking that stands , despite its noticeable lack of emotional heft , in welcome contrast to the indulgent dead-end experimentation of the director 's previous full frontal .
... an inviting piece of film .
a compelling portrait of moral emptiness
if it 's possible for a sequel to outshine the original , then sl2 does just that .
it is a kickass , dense sci-fi action thriller hybrid that delivers and then some .
despite some gulps the film is a fuzzy huggy .
reinforces the often forgotten fact of the world 's remarkably varying human population and mindset , and its capacity to heal using creative , natural and ancient antidotes .
a bold and subversive film that cuts across the grain of what is popular and powerful in this high-tech age , speaking its truths with spellbinding imagery and the entrancing music of philip glass .
a sensual performance from abbass buoys the flimsy story , but her inner journey is largely unexplored and we 're left wondering about this exotic-looking woman whose emotional depths are only hinted at .
whether seen on a 10-inch television screen or at your local multiplex , the edge-of-your-seat , educational antics of steve irwin are priceless entertainment .
it never fails to engage us .
a pleasant ramble through the sort of idoosyncratic terrain that errol morris has often dealt with ... it does possess a loose , lackadaisical charm .
invincible is a wonderful movie .
by presenting an impossible romance in an impossible world , pumpkin dares us to say why either is impossible -- which forces us to confront what 's possible and what we might do to make it so .
claude miller airs out a tight plot with an easy pace and a focus on character drama over crime-film complications .
a charming romantic comedy that is by far the lightest dogme film and among the most enjoyable .
although it bangs a very cliched drum at times , this crowd-pleaser 's fresh dialogue , energetic music , and good-natured spunk are often infectious .
his characters are engaging , intimate and the dialogue is realistic and greatly moving .
the result is something quite fresh and delightful .
a movie for 11-year-old boys with sports dreams of their own and the preteen girls who worship lil ' bow wow .
her delivery and timing are flawless .
an enjoyable film for the family , amusing and cute for both adults and kids .
it is also , at times , curiously moving .
it could change america , not only because it is full of necessary discussion points , but because it is so accessible that it makes complex politics understandable to viewers looking for nothing but energetic entertainment .
but it 's emotionally engrossing , too , thanks to strong , credible performances from the whole cast .
binoche and magimel are perfect in these roles .
the film delivers not just the full assault of reno 's immense wit and insight , but a time travel back to what it felt like during those unforgettably uncertain days .
i love the way that it took chances and really asks you to take these great leaps of faith and pays off .
these are lives worth watching , paths worth following .
this is one for the ages .
an eccentric little comic/thriller deeply in love with its own quirky personality .
the voices are fine as well .
the smartest bonehead comedy of the summer .
this romantic thriller is steeped in the atmosphere of wartime england , and ably captures the speech patterns , moral codes and ideals of the 1940s .
an incendiary , deeply thought-provoking look at one of the most peculiar ( and peculiarly venomous ) bigotries in our increasingly frightening theocracy
although it 's a bit smug and repetitive , this documentary engages your brain in a way few current films do .
painful to watch , but viewers willing to take a chance will be rewarded with two of the year 's most accomplished and riveting film performances .
offers a breath of the fresh air of true sophistication .
emerges as something rare , an issue movie that 's so honest and keenly observed that it does n't feel like one .
hayek is stunning as frida and ... a star-making project .
a worthwhile way to spend two hours .
the visuals alone make metropolis worth seeing .
... a roller-coaster ride of a movie
vividly conveys both the pitfalls and the pleasures of over-the-top love .
rather quickly , the film falls into a soothing formula of brotherly conflict and reconciliation .
for a good chunk of its running time , trapped is an effective and claustrophobic thriller .
the passions aroused by the discord between old and new cultures are set against the strange , stark beauty of the mideast desert , so lovingly and perceptively filmed that you can almost taste the desiccated air .
if you sometimes like to go to the movies to have fun , wasabi is a good place to start .
it 's astonishing .
and if the hours wins ` best picture ' i just might .
if you liked such movies as notting hill , four weddings and a funeral , bridget jones ' diary or high fidelity , then you wo n't want to miss about a boy .
succeeds in providing a disquiet world the long-dreaded completion of the police academy series .
about nowhere kids who appropriated turfs as they found them and become self-made celebrity athletes -- a low-down version of the american dream .
it 's one of the saddest films i have ever seen that still manages to be uplifting but not overly sentimental .
the acting alone is worth the price of admission .
culkin , who 's in virtually every scene , shines as a young man who uses sarcastic lies like a shield .
it represents better-than-average movie-making that does n't demand a dumb , distracted audience .
dazzling and sugar-sweet , a blast of shallow magnificence that only sex , scandal , and a chorus line of dangerous damsels can deliver .
that rara avis : the intelligent romantic comedy with actual ideas on its mind .
an inspiring and heart-affecting film about the desperate attempts of vietnamese refugees living in u.s. relocation camps to keep their hopes alive in 1975 .
most of crush is a clever and captivating romantic comedy with a welcome pinch of tartness .
longley has constructed a remarkably coherent , horrifically vivid snapshot of those turbulent days .
even if you ca n't pronounce `` gyro '' correctly , you 'll appreciate much of vardalos ' humor , which transcends ethnic boundaries .
the result is mesmerizing -- filled with menace and squalor .
the talents of the actors helps `` moonlight mile '' rise above its heart-on-its-sleeve writing .
it 's not so much enjoyable to watch as it is enlightening to listen to new sides of a previous reality , and to visit with some of the people who were able to make an impact in the theater world .
run , do n't walk , to see this barbed and bracing comedy on the big screen .
there are times when a rumor of angels plays like an extended episode of touched by an angel -- a little too much dancing , a few too many weeping scenes -- but i liked its heart and its spirit .
somewhat blurred , but kinnear 's performance is razor sharp .
( a ) superbly controlled , passionate adaptation of graham greene 's 1955 novel .
... in this incarnation its fizz is infectious .
the director , steven shainberg , has succeeded by focusing intently on his characters , making them quirky individuals rather than figures of fun .
we need ( moore 's ) noisy , cocky energy , his passion and class consciousness ; we need his shticks , we need his stones .
makmalbaf follows a resolutely realistic path in this uncompromising insight into the harsh existence of the kurdish refugees of iran 's borderlands .
guaranteed to move anyone who ever shook , rattled , or rolled .
this is simply the most fun you 'll ever have with a documentary !
lathan and diggs have considerable personal charm , and their screen rapport makes the old story seem new .
stephen earnhart 's homespun documentary mule skinner blues has nothing but love for its posse of trailer park denizens .
this is as powerful a set of evidence as you 'll ever find of why art matters , and how it can resonate far beyond museum walls and through to the most painfully marginal lives .
may be spoofing an easy target -- those old ' 50 's giant creature features -- but ... it acknowledges and celebrates their cheesiness as the reason why people get a kick out of watching them today .
it helps that the central performers are experienced actors , and that they know their roles so well .
i enjoyed the ride ( bumps and all ) , creamy depth , and ultimate theme .
an enthralling , playful film that constantly frustrates our desire to know the ` truth ' about this man , while deconstructing the very format of the biography in a manner that derrida would doubtless give his blessing to .
well-written , nicely acted and beautifully shot and scored , the film works on several levels , openly questioning social mores while ensnaring the audience with its emotional pull .
smart science fiction for grown-ups , with only a few false steps along the way .
fans of the animated wildlife adventure show will be in warthog heaven ; others need not necessarily apply .
a whole lot foul , freaky and funny .
it is a film that will have people walking out halfway through , will encourage others to stand up and applaud , and will , undoubtedly , leave both camps engaged in a ferocious debate for years to come .
happily for mr. chin -- though unhappily for his subjects -- the invisible hand of the marketplace wrote a script that no human screenwriter could have hoped to match .
the invincible werner herzog is alive and well and living in la
it 's a good film -- not a classic , but odd , entertaining and authentic .
sam jones became a very lucky filmmaker the day wilco got dropped from their record label , proving that one man 's ruin may be another 's fortune .
newton draws our attention like a magnet , and acts circles around her better known co-star , mark wahlberg .
there are slow and repetitive parts , but it has just enough spice to keep it interesting .
to the film 's credit , the acting is fresh and unselfconscious , and munch is a marvel of reality versus sappy sentiment .
brilliant ! '
a clever blend of fact and fiction .
but watching huppert , a great actress tearing into a landmark role , is riveting .
... breathes surprising new life into the familiar by amalgamating genres and adding true human complexity to its not-so-stock characters . '
... a polished and relatively sincere piece of escapism .
very solid , very watchable first feature for director peter sheridan
... mesmerizing , an eye-opening tour of modern beijing culture in a journey of rebellion , retreat into oblivion and return .
energetic and boldly provocative .
full of profound , real-life moments that anyone can relate to , it deserves a wide audience .
what could have become just another cautionary fable is allowed to play out as a clever , charming tale -- as pleasantly in its own way as its self-dramatizing characters .
there are as many misses as hits , but ultimately , it finds humor in the foibles of human behavior , and it 's a welcome return to the roots of a genre that should depend on surprises .
finally , a genre movie that delivers -- in a couple of genres , no less .
some actors have so much charisma that you 'd be happy to listen to them reading the phone book .
when it really counts ... bloody sunday connects on a visceral level that transcends language .
a love for films shines through each frame and the era is recreated with obvious affection , scored to perfection with some tasty boogaloo beats .
having never been a huge fan of dickens ' 800-page novel , it surprised me how much pleasure i had watching mcgrath 's version .
it is inspirational in characterizing how people from such diverse cultures share the same human and spiritual needs .
makes s&m seem very romantic , and maggie gyllenhaal is a delight .
those who would follow haneke on his creepy explorations ... are rewarded by brutal , committed performances from huppert and magimel .
a smart , sweet and playful romantic comedy .
awkward but sincere and , ultimately , it wins you over .
pretty darn good , despite its smarty-pants aura .
a triumph of art direction over narrative , but what art direction !
the film 's real appeal wo n't be to clooney fans or adventure buffs , but to moviegoers who enjoy thinking about compelling questions with no easy answers .
a worthy entry into a very difficult genre .
fans of nijinsky will savor every minute of cox 's work .
reinforces the talents of screenwriter charlie kaufman , creator of adaptation and being john malkovich .
a recent favorite at sundance , this white-trash satire will inspire the affection of even those unlucky people who never owned a cassette of def leppard 's pyromania .
it 's a worthwhile tutorial in quantum physics and slash-dash
thurman and lewis are hilarious throughout .
an idealistic love story that brings out the latent 15-year-old romantic in everyone .
as an entertainment , the movie keeps you diverted and best of all , it lightens your wallet without leaving a sting .
a pleasant enough movie , held together by skilled ensemble actors .
sits uneasily as a horror picture ... but finds surprising depth in its look at the binds of a small family .
a moody horror/thriller elevated by deft staging and the director 's well-known narrative gamesmanship .
zany , exuberantly irreverent animated space adventure .
rarely do films come along that are as intelligent , exuberant , and moving as monsoon wedding .
despite its flaws , secretary stays in your head and makes you question your own firmly held positions .
there 's a vastness implied in metropolis that is just breathtaking .
so many documentaries like this presuppose religious bigotry or zealous nuttiness of its antagonists , but family fundamentals displays a rare gift for unflinching impartiality .
it takes this never-ending confusion and hatred , puts a human face on it , evokes shame among all who are party to it and even promotes understanding .
this is a happy throwback to the time when cartoons were cinema 's most idiosyncratic form instead of one of its most predictable .
the powers team has fashioned a comedy with more laughs than many , no question .
everytime you think undercover brother has run out of steam , it finds a new way to surprise and amuse .
occasionally melodramatic , it 's also extremely effective .
lovingly choreographed bloodshed taking place in a pristine movie neverland , basically .
an intelligent , moving and invigorating film .
the film is faithful to what one presumes are the book 's twin premises -- that we become who we are on the backs of our parents , but we have no idea who they were at our age ; and that time is a fleeting and precious commodity no matter how old you are .
perhaps no picture ever made has more literally showed that the road to hell is paved with good intentions .
a savvy exploration of paranoia and insecurity in america 's culture of fear .
while the isle is both preposterous and thoroughly misogynistic , its vistas are incredibly beautiful to look at .
eastwood is an icon of moviemaking , one of the best actors , directors and producers around , responsible for some excellent work .
an offbeat , sometimes gross and surprisingly appealing animated film about the true meaning of the holidays .
this is such a dazzlingly self-assured directorial debut that it 's hard to know what to praise first .
for its seriousness , high literary aspirations and stunning acting , the film can only be applauded .
the inherent strength of the material as well as the integrity of the filmmakers gives this coming-of-age story restraint as well as warmth .
throwing caution to the wind with an invitation to the hedonist in us all , nair has constructed this motion picture in such a way that even the most cynical curmudgeon with find himself or herself smiling at one time or another .
this ecologically minded , wildlife friendly film teaches good ethics while entertaining with its unconventionally wacky but loving family
digital-video documentary about stand-up comedians is a great glimpse into a very different world .
an experience so engrossing it is like being buried in a new environment .
leave it to rohmer , now 82 , to find a way to bend current technique to the service of a vision of the past that is faithful to both architectural glories and commanding open spaces of the city as it was more than two centuries ago .
message movie or an action-packed submarine spectacular ?
an imaginative comedy/thriller .
elling really is about a couple of crazy guys , and it 's therapeutic to laugh along with them .
not a bad journey at all .
at its best early on as it plays the culture clashes between the brothers .
too bad , but thanks to some lovely comedic moments and several fine performances , it 's not a total loss .
what makes the movie a comedy is the way it avoids the more serious emotions involved .
merely as a technical , logistical feat , russian ark marks a cinematic milestone .
it 's rare to find a film that dazzles the eye , challenges the brain , and satisfies our lust for fast-paced action , but minority report delivers all that and a whole lot more .
... a cute and sometimes side-splittingly funny blend of legally blonde and drop dead gorgeous , starring piper perabo in what could be her breakthrough role .
if nothing else , this movie introduces a promising , unusual kind of psychological horror .
a hip ride into hyper-time , clockstoppers is a lively and enjoyable adventure for all ages at any time .
lee jeong-hyang tells it so lovingly and films it so beautifully that i could n't help being captivated by it .
a frisky and fresh romantic comedy exporing sexual politics and the challenges of friendships between women .
lead provocatuers testud and parmentier give superlative performances
`` men in black ii , '' has all the earmarks of a sequel .
the pianist is a fine valedictory work for polanski , made richer by his own experiences , making his other movies somehow richer in the bargain .
it 's predictable , but it jumps through the expected hoops with style and even some depth .
scores a few points for doing what it does with a dedicated and good-hearted professionalism .
the movie is well shot and very tragic , and one to ponder after the credits roll .
a very funny movie .
what jackson has accomplished here is amazing on a technical level .
the movie exists for its soccer action and its fine acting .
while undercover brother is definitely one for the masses , it 's also full of sharp , smart satire .
the best thing the film does is to show us not only what that mind looks like , but how the creative process itself operates .
the diversity of the artists represented , both in terms of style and ethnicity , prevents the proceedings from feeling repetitious , as does the appropriately brief 40-minute running time .
this examination of aquatic life off the shores of the baja california peninsula of mexico offers an engrossing way to demonstrate the virtues of the imax format .
there is a refreshing absence of cynicism in stuart little 2 -- quite a rarity , even in the family film market .
this delicately observed story , deeply felt and masterfully stylized , is a triumph for its maverick director .
it 's a glorious groove that leaves you wanting more .
an unbelievably fun film just a leading man away from perfection .
i admired it , particularly that unexpected downer of an ending .
all but the most persnickety preteens should enjoy this nonthreatening but thrilling adventure .
director kapur is a filmmaker with a real flair for epic landscapes and adventure , and this is a better film than his earlier english-language movie , the overpraised elizabeth .
its scenes and sensibility are all more than familiar , but it exudes a kind of nostalgic spy-movie charm and , at the same time , is so fresh and free of the usual thriller nonsense that it all seems to be happening for the first time .
zhang yimou delivers warm , genuine characters who lie not through dishonesty , but because they genuinely believe it 's the only way to bring happiness to their loved ones .
sometimes , nothing satisfies like old-fashioned swashbuckling .
though the controversial korean filmmaker 's latest effort is not for all tastes , it offers gorgeous imagery , effective performances , and an increasingly unsettling sense of foreboding .
though the film 's scenario is certainly not earthshaking , this depiction of fluctuating female sexuality has two winning lead performances and charm to spare .
harsh , effective documentary on life in the israeli-occupied palestinian territories .
tailored to entertain !
novak manages to capture a cruelly hilarious vein of black comedy in the situation with his cast of non-actors and a gritty , no-budget approach .
an epic of grandeur and scale that 's been decades gone from the popcorn pushing sound stages of hollywood .
this concoction , so bizarre to the adult mind , is actually a charming triumph where its intended under-12 audience is concerned .
doug liman , the director of bourne , directs the traffic well , gets a nice wintry look from his locations , absorbs us with the movie 's spycraft and uses damon 's ability to be focused and sincere .
never ( sinks ) into exploitation .
a charming , quirky and leisurely paced scottish comedy -- except with an outrageous central gimmick that could have been a reject from monty python 's meaning of life .
elling , portrayed with quiet fastidiousness by per christian ellefsen , is a truly singular character , one whose frailties are only slightly magnified versions of the ones that vex nearly everyone .
is n't it great ?
it is so refreshing to see robin williams turn 180 degrees from the string of insultingly innocuous and sappy fiascoes he 's been making for the last several years .
a great comedy filmmaker knows great comedy need n't always make us laugh .
the second chapter of the harry potter series is even more magical than the first and simply the best family film of the year .
yeah , these flicks are just that damn good .
denis and co-writer michele petin 's impeccable screenplay penetrates with a rawness that that is both unflinching and tantalizing .
an elegant , exquisitely modulated psychological thriller .
as shaky as the plot is , kaufman 's script is still memorable for some great one-liners .
jason x has cheesy effects and a hoary plot , but its macabre , self-deprecating sense of humor makes up for a lot .
frida 's artistic brilliance is undeniable -- it 's among the most breathtakingly designed films i 've ever seen .
steers turns in a snappy screenplay that curls at the edges ; it 's so clever you want to hate it .
pray 's film works well and will appeal even to those who are n't too familiar with turntablism .
despite what anyone believes about the goal of its makers , the show ... represents a spectacular piece of theater , and there 's no denying the talent of the creative forces behind it .
a startling and fresh examination of how the bike still remains an ambiguous icon in chinese society .
full frontal is the antidote for soderbergh fans who think he 's gone too commercial since his two oscar nominated films in 2000
what 's next ?
a psychological thriller with a smart script and an obsessive-compulsive 's attention to detail .
at times funny and at other times candidly revealing , it 's an intriguing look at two performers who put themselves out there because they love what they do .
stay clear of reminding yourself that it 's a `` true story '' and you 're likely to have one helluva time at the movies .
( anderson ) uses a hit-or-miss aesthetic that hits often enough to keep the film entertaining even if none of it makes a lick of sense .
( a ) rare , beautiful film .
a distant , even sterile , yet compulsively watchable look at the sordid life of hogan 's heroes star bob crane .
everything you loved about it in 1982 is still there , for everybody who wants to be a kid again , or show it to their own kids .
finds a way to tell a simple story , perhaps the simplest story of all , in a way that seems compelling and even original .
chicago is , in many ways , an admirable achievement .
after making several adaptations of other writers ' work , armenian-canadian director atom egoyan broached an original treatment of a deeply personal subject .
that zhang would make such a strainingly cute film -- with a blind orphan at its center , no less -- indicates where his ambitions have wandered .
the best movie of its kind since ` brazil . '
( howard ) so good as leon barlow ... that he hardly seems to be acting .
an irresistible combination of a rousing good story set on a truly grand scale .
it 's both a necessary political work and a fascinating documentary ...
the hours is what movies are supposed to be ...
a sports movie with action that 's exciting on the field and a story you care about off it .
a feel-good picture in the best sense of the term .
a work of astonishing delicacy and force .
ranks among willams ' best screen work .
disturbing and brilliant documentary .
mixes likeable personalities , inventive photography and cutting , and wall-to-wall toe-tapping music to paint a picture of a subculture that is at once exhilarating , silly , perverse , hopeful and always fun .
a thoughtful look at a painful incident that made headlines in 1995 .
a map of the inner rhythms of love and jealousy and sacrifice drawn with a master 's steady stroke .
it 's absolutely spooky how lillard channels the shagster right down to the original casey kasem-furnished voice .
it helps that lil bow wow ... tones down his pint-sized gangsta act to play someone who resembles a real kid .
another great ` what you do n't see ' is much more terrifying than what you do see thriller , coupled with some arresting effects , incandescent tones and stupendous performances
all the performances are top notch and , once you get through the accents , all or nothing becomes an emotional , though still positive , wrench of a sit .
smith profiles five extraordinary american homes , and because the owners seem fully aware of the uses and abuses of fame , it 's a pleasure to enjoy their eccentricities .
the experience of watching blobby old-school cgi animation in this superlarge format is just surreal enough to be diverting .
for benigni it was n't shakespeare whom he wanted to define his career with but pinocchio .
with danilo donati 's witty designs and dante spinotti 's luscious cinematography , this might have made a decent children 's movie -- if only benigni had n't insisted on casting himself in the title role .
the film runs on equal parts of innocence and wisdom -- wisdom that comes with experience .
clever , brutal and strangely soulful movie .
it dares to be a little different , and that shading is what makes it worthwhile .
while not all transitions to adulthood are so fraught , there 's much truth and no small amount of poetry in girls ca n't swim .
the transporter is as lively and as fun as it is unapologetically dumb
nicely serves as an examination of a society in transition .
dolgin and franco fashion a fascinating portrait of a vietnamese-born youngster who eagerly and easily assimilated as an all-american girl with a brand new name in southern tennessee .
in its ragged , cheap and unassuming way , the movie works .
take care of my cat offers a refreshingly different slice of asian cinema .
hilarious , touching and wonderfully dyspeptic .
rare is the ` urban comedy ' that even attempts the insight and honesty of this disarming indie .
when your leading ladies are a couple of screen-eating dominatrixes like goldie hawn and susan sarandon at their raunchy best , even hokum goes down easily .
quite funny for the type of movie it is ...
a comic gem with some serious sparkles .
occasionally funny , always very colorful and enjoyably overblown in the traditional almodóvar style .
earns its laughs from stock redneck ` types ' and from the many , many moments when we recognize even without the elizabethan prose , the play behind the thing .
a comprehensive and provocative film -- one that pushes the boundaries of biography , and challenges its audience .
the way coppola professes his love for movies -- both colorful pop junk and the classics that unequivocally qualify as art -- is giddily entertaining .
divine secrets of the ya-ya sisterhood may not be exactly divine , but it 's definitely -- defiantly -- ya ya , what with all of those terrific songs and spirited performances .
a captivating cross-cultural comedy of manners .
the film is exhilarating to watch because sandler , liberated from the constraints of formula , reveals unexpected depths as an actor .
a somewhat crudely constructed but gripping , questing look at a person so racked with self-loathing , he becomes an enemy to his own race .
it sounds sick and twisted , but the miracle of shainberg 's film is that it truly is romance
smith 's approach is never to tease , except gently and in that way that makes us consider our own eccentricities and how they are expressed through our homes .
foster nails the role , giving a tight , focused performance illuminated by shards of feeling .
( schweiger is ) talented and terribly charismatic , qualities essential to both movie stars and social anarchists .
though of particular interest to students and enthusiast of international dance and world music , the film is designed to make viewers of all ages , cultural backgrounds and rhythmic ability want to get up and dance .
intriguing and beautiful film , but those of you who read the book are likely to be disappointed .
watstein handily directs and edits around his screenplay 's sappier elements ... and sustains off the hook 's buildup with remarkable assuredness for a first-timer .
without heavy-handedness , dong provides perspective with his intelligent grasp of human foibles and contradictions .
an enchanting film that presents an audacious tour of the past and takes within its warm embrace the bounties of cultural artifacts inside st. petersburg 's hermitage museum .
biggie and tupac is so single-mindedly daring , it puts far more polished documentaries to shame .
if you liked the 1982 film then , you 'll still like it now .
tuck everlasting achieves a delicate balance of romantic innocence and philosophical depth .
we can see the wheels turning , and we might resent it sometimes , but this is still a nice little picture , made by bright and friendly souls with a lot of good cheer .
benefits from a strong performance from zhao , but it 's dong jie 's face you remember at the end .
haneke challenges us to confront the reality of sexual aberration .
city by the sea is the cinematic equivalent of defensive driving : it 's careful , conscientious and makes no major mistakes .
greengrass has delivered an undoubted stylistic tour-de-force , and has managed elements such as sound and cinematography with skill
kinnear gives a tremendous performance .
often gruelling and heartbreaking to witness , but seldahl and wollter 's sterling performances raise this far above the level of the usual maudlin disease movie .
for the first two-thirds of this sparklingly inventive and artful , always fast and furious tale , kids will go happily along for the ride .
an amazing and incendiary movie that dives straight into the rough waters of contradiction .
the filmmakers skillfully evoke the sense of menace that nature holds for many urban dwellers .
i admired this work a lot .
interacting eyeball-to-eyeball and toe-to-toe , hopkins and norton are a winning combination -- but fiennes steals ` red dragon ' right from under their noses .
and in this regard , on guard delivers .
in the process , they demonstrate that there 's still a lot of life in hong kong cinema .
a refreshing korean film about five female high school friends who face an uphill battle when they try to take their relationships into deeper waters .
highlights are the terrific performances by christopher plummer , as the prime villain , and nathan lane as vincent crummles , the eccentric theater company manager .
a teasing drama whose relentless good-deed/bad-deed reversals are just interesting enough to make a sinner like me pray for an even more interesting , less symmetrical , less obviously cross-shaped creation .
the fact that the rookie is a nearly impeccable cinematic experience -- and a wonderful all-ages triumph besides -- is a miracle akin to the story the film portrays .
it 's solid and affecting and exactly as thought-provoking as it should be .
superior genre storytelling , which gets under our skin simply by crossing the nuclear line .
if you love motown music , you 'll love this documentary .
smith 's point is simple and obvious -- people 's homes are extensions of themselves , and particularly eccentric people have particularly eccentric living spaces -- but his subjects are charmers .
bubba ho-tep is a wonderful film with a bravura lead performance by bruce campbell that does n't deserve to leave the building until everyone is aware of it .
i whole-heartedly recommend that everyone see this movie -- for its historical significance alone .
it 's amazingly perceptive in its subtle , supportive but unsentimental look at the marks family .
this is how you use special effects .
a sad , superior human comedy played out on the back roads of life .
she must have a very strong back .
nolan bravely treads where few american films dare to delve -- into the world of ambivalence and ambiguity ...
with the film 's striking ending , one realizes that we have a long way to go before we fully understand all the sexual permutations involved .
a lighthearted , feel-good film that embraces the time-honored truth that the most powerful thing in life is love .
behind the snow games and lovable siberian huskies ( plus one sheep dog ) , the picture hosts a parka-wrapped dose of heart .
a fast-moving and remarkable film that appears destined to become a landmark in japanese animation .
i complain all the time about seeing the same ideas repeated in films over and over again , but the bourne identity proves that a fresh take is always possible .
it 's an old story , but a lively script , sharp acting and partially animated interludes make just a kiss seem minty fresh .
a real story about real people living their lives concerned about the future of an elderly , mentally handicapped family member .
there 's a disreputable air about the whole thing , and that 's what makes it irresistible .
there 's no denying the physically spectacular qualities of the film ... or the emotional integrity of the performances .
the latest installment in the pokemon canon , pokemon 4ever is surprising less moldy and trite than the last two , likely because much of the japanese anime is set in a scenic forest where pokemon graze in peace .
an enjoyably half-wit remake of the venerable italian comedy big deal on madonna street .
not for everyone , but for those with whom it will connect , it 's a nice departure from standard moviegoing fare .
steve irwin 's method is ernest hemmingway at accelerated speed and volume .
the tenderness of the piece is still intact .
there 's not much more to this adaptation of the nick hornby novel than charm -- effortless , pleasurable , featherweight charm .
an excellent romp that boasts both a heart and a mind .
cantet perfectly captures the hotel lobbies , two-lane highways , and roadside cafes that permeate vincent 's days
this is art paying homage to art .
but if it is indeed a duty of art to reflect life , than leigh has created a masterful piece of artistry right here .
a breezy , diverting , conventional , well-acted tale of two men locked in an ongoing game of cat-and-cat .
a charming yet poignant tale of the irrevocable ties that bind .
the film is all a little lit crit 101 , but it 's extremely well played and often very funny .
a pleasant enough comedy that should have found a summer place .
if there 's a way to effectively teach kids about the dangers of drugs , i think it 's in projects like the ( unfortunately r-rated ) paid .
the film often achieves a mesmerizing poetry .
moore 's performance impresses almost as much as her work with haynes in 1995 's safe .
waydowntown is by no means a perfect film , but its boasts a huge charm factor and smacks of originality .
two generations within one family test boundaries in this intelligent and restrained coming-of-age drama .
this is a startling film that gives you a fascinating , albeit depressing view of iranian rural life close to the iraqi border .
this is the best american movie about troubled teens since 1998 's whatever .
what full frontal lacks in thematic coherence it largely makes up for as loosey-goosey , experimental entertainment .
this is a raw and disturbing tale that took five years to make , and the trio 's absorbing narrative is a heart-wrenching showcase indeed .
rich in detail , gorgeously shot and beautifully acted , les destinees is , in its quiet , epic way , daring , inventive and refreshingly unusual .
( but it 's ) worth recommending because of two marvelous performances by michael caine and brendan fraser .
as a randy film about sexy people in gorgeous places being pushed and pulled ( literally and figuratively ) by desire ... ( sex and lucía ) makes for an arousing good time .
if your senses have n't been dulled by slasher films and gorefests , if you 're a connoisseur of psychological horror , this is your ticket .
a pro-fat farce that overcomes much of its excessive moral baggage thanks to two appealing lead performances .
a droll , well-acted , character-driven comedy with unexpected deposits of feeling .
i loved looking at this movie .
an exciting and involving rock music doc , a smart and satisfying look inside that tumultuous world .
the movie is full of fine performances , led by josef bierbichler as brecht and monica bleibtreu as helene weigel , his wife .
occasionally , in the course of reviewing art-house obscurities and slam-bam action flicks , a jaded critic smacks into something truly new .
a byzantine melodrama that stimulates the higher brain functions as well as the libido .
an intelligent fiction about learning through cultural clash .
the stunning , dreamlike visuals will impress even those viewers who have little patience for euro-film pretension .
a loving little film of considerable appeal .
daring , mesmerizing and exceedingly hard to forget .
do n't plan on the perfect ending , but sweet home alabama hits the mark with critics who escaped from a small town life .
the hours makes you examine your own life in much the same way its characters do , and the experience is profound .
compelling revenge thriller , though somewhat weakened by a miscast leading lady .
bullock does a good job here of working against her natural likability .
not everything works , but the average is higher than in mary and most other recent comedies .
impresses you with its open-endedness and surprises .
on its own cinematic terms , it successfully showcases the passions of both the director and novelist byatt .
the use of cgi and digital ink-and-paint make the thing look really slick .
i like frank the pug , though .
a fascinating and fun film .
a fairly by-the-books blend of action and romance with sprinklings of intentional and unintentional comedy .
this is n't a narrative film -- i do n't know if it 's possible to make a narrative film about september 11th , though i 'm sure some will try -- but it 's as close as anyone has dared to come .
the film makes a strong case for the importance of the musicians in creating the motown sound .
it 's rather like a lifetime special -- pleasant , sweet and forgettable .
this clever caper movie has twists worthy of david mamet and is enormous fun for thinking audiences .
choose your reaction : a. ) that sure is funny !
sturdy , entertaining period drama ... both caine and fraser have their moments .
at its best , the good girl is a refreshingly adult take on adultery ...
roman coppola may never become the filmmaker his dad was , but heck -- few filmmakers will .
director ferzan ozpetek creates an interesting dynamic with the members of this group , who live in the same apartment building .
a gentle , compassionate drama about grief and healing .
but some unexpected zigs and zags help .
hawke draws out the best from his large cast in beautifully articulated portrayals that are subtle and so expressive they can sustain the poetic flights in burdette 's dialogue .
a carefully structured scream of consciousness that is tortured and unsettling -- but unquestionably alive .
it further declares its director , zhang yang of shower , as a boldly experimental , contemporary stylist with a bright future .
this bold and lyrical first feature from raja amari expands the pat notion that middle-aged women just wan na have fun into a rousing treatise of sensual empowerment .
this is one of the most visually stunning and thematically moving epics in recent memory , and in spite of numerous minor flaws , scorsese 's best in more than a decade .
a work of the utmost subtlety and perception , it marks the outstanding feature debut of writer-director eric byler , who understands the power of the implicit and the virtues of simplicity and economy .
diane lane shines in unfaithful .
you can feel the heat that ignites this gripping tale , and the humor and humanity that root it in feeling .
a deliciously mordant , bitter black comedy .
my goodness , queen latifah has a lot to offer and she seemed to have no problem flaunting her natural gifts .
a perverse little truffle , dainty psychological terror on the outside with a creamy filling of familial jealousy and unrepentant domestic psychopathy .
even with all those rough edges safely sanded down , the american insomnia is still pretty darned good .
it 's a decent glimpse into a time period , and an outcast , that is no longer accessible , but it does n't necessarily shed more light on its subject than the popular predecessor .
shainberg weaves a carefully balanced scenario that is controlled by neither character , is weirdly sympathetic to both and manages to be tender and darkly comic .
its direction , its script , and weaver 's performance as a vaguely discontented woman of substance make for a mildly entertaining 77 minutes , if that 's what you 're in the mood for .
once you get into its rhythm ... the movie becomes a heady experience .
provide ( s ) nail-biting suspense and credible characters without relying on technology-of-the-moment technique or pretentious dialogue .
what might have been a predictably heartwarming tale is suffused with complexity .
much monkeyfun for all .
celebrated at sundance , this slight comedy of manners has winning performances and a glossy , glib charm that 's hard to beat .
there 's enough science to make it count as educational , and enough beauty to make it unforgettable .
but it offers plenty to ponder and chew on as its unusual relationship slowly unfolds .
but based on cq , i 'll certainly be keeping an eye out for his next project .
a provocative movie about loss , anger , greed , jealousy , sickness and love .
not a cozy or ingratiating work , but it 's challenging , sometimes clever , and always interesting , and those are reasons enough to see it .
a spunky , original take on a theme that will resonate with singles of many ages .
whatever eyre 's failings as a dramatist , he deserves credit for bringing audiences into this hard and bitter place .
i like the new footage and still love the old stuff .
it almost plays like solaris , but with guns and jokes .
( wendigo is ) why we go to the cinema : to be fed through the eye , the heart , the mind .
if you 're like me , a sucker for a good old fashion romance and someone who shamelessly loves to eat , then mostly martha offers all the perfect ingredients to more than satisfy your appetite .
go see it and enjoy .
it 's the cinematic equivalent of a good page-turner , and even if it 's nonsense , its claws dig surprisingly deep .
grant gets to display his cadness to perfection , but also to show acting range that may surprise some who thought light-hearted comedy was his forte .
on the surface , it 's a lovers-on-the-run crime flick , but it has a lot in common with piesiewicz 's and kieslowski 's earlier work , films like the double life of veronique .
nair does capture the complexity of a big family and its trials and tribulations ...
a journey through memory , a celebration of living , and a sobering rumination on fatality , classism , and ignorance .
this cuddly sequel to the 1999 hit is a little more visually polished , a little funnier , and a little more madcap .
a highly intriguing thriller , coupled with some ingenious plot devices and some lavishly built settings . .
the film is an enjoyable family film -- pretty much aimed at any youngster who loves horses .
everything that has to do with yvan and charlotte , and everything that has to do with yvan 's rambunctious , jewish sister and her non-jew husband , feels funny and true .
nicolas philibert observes life inside a one-room schoolhouse in northern france in his documentary to be and to have , easily one of the best films of the year .
it is ridiculous , of course ... but it is also refreshing , disarming , and just outright enjoyable despite its ridiculousness .
a worthy tribute to a great humanitarian and her vibrant ` co-stars . '
... there are enough moments of heartbreaking honesty to keep one glued to the screen .
a very witty take on change , risk and romance , and the film uses humor to make its points about acceptance and growth .
the film is often filled with a sense of pure wonderment and excitement not often seen in today 's cinema du sarcasm
majidi gets uniformly engaging performances from his largely amateur cast .
it is risky , intelligent , romantic and rapturous from start to finish .
if this movie were a book , it would be a page-turner , you ca n't wait to see what happens next .
it has the courage to wonder about big questions with sincerity and devotion .
despite a story predictable enough to make the sound of music play like a nail-biting thriller , its heart is so much in the right place it is difficult to get really peeved at it .
not too far below the gloss you can still feel director denis villeneuve 's beating heart and the fondness he has for his characters .
it does succeed by following a feel-good formula with a winning style , and by offering its target audience of urban kids some welcome role models and optimism .
a broadly played , lowbrow comedy in which the cast delivers mildly amusing performances and no farm animals were injured by any of the gags .
an impressive debut for first-time writer-director mark romanek , especially considering his background is in music video .
while surprisingly sincere , this average little story is adorned with some awesome action photography and surfing .
disney 's live-action division has a history of releasing cinematic flotsam , but this is one occasion when they have unearthed a rare gem .
the wwii drama is well plotted , visually striking and filled with enjoyably complex characters who are never what they first appear .
it suggests the wide-ranging effects of media manipulation , from the kind of reporting that is done by the supposedly liberal media ... to the intimate and ultimately tragic heartache of maverick individuals like hatfield and hicks .
the pleasures of super troopers may be fleeting , but they 'll register strongly with anybody who still retains a soft spot for precollegiate humor .
the film is surprisingly well-directed by brett ratner , who keeps things moving well -- at least until the problematic third act .
roger michell , who did an appealing job directing persuasion and notting hill in england , gets too artsy in his american debut .
thoughtful , provocative and entertaining .
good ol' urban legend stuff .
hands down the year 's most thought-provoking film .
a sensitive and expertly acted crowd-pleaser that is n't above a little broad comedy and a few unabashedly sentimental tears .
an amusing , breezily apolitical documentary about life on the campaign trail .
at about 95 minutes , treasure planet maintains a brisk pace as it races through the familiar story .
... if you 're in a mind set for goofy comedy , the troopers will entertain with their gross outs , bawdy comedy and head games .
as a belated nod to some neglected all-stars , standing in the shadows of motown is cultural history of the best kind : informative , revealing and richly entertaining .
maguire is a surprisingly effective peter/spider-man .
one of the best examples of how to treat a subject , you 're not fully aware is being examined , much like a photo of yourself you did n't know was being taken .
once again , director jackson strikes a rewarding balance between emotion on the human scale and action/effects on the spectacular scale .
as a singular character study , it 's perfect .
... both hokey and super-cool , and definitely not in a hurry , so sit back , relax and have a few laughs while the little ones get a fuzzy treat . '
tadpole is a sophisticated , funny and good-natured treat , slight but a pleasure .
it 's the best film of the year so far , the benchmark against which all other best picture contenders should be measured .
the comic performances are all spot on , especially lee ross 's turn as ken .
it will delight newcomers to the story and those who know it from bygone days .
sound the trumpets : for the first time since desperately seeking susan , madonna does n't suck as an actress .
a richly imagined and admirably mature work from a gifted director who definitely has something on his mind .
ana is a vivid , vibrant individual and the movie 's focus upon her makes it successful and accessible .
a triumph , relentless and beautiful in its downbeat darkness .
as hugh grant says repeatedly throughout the movie , ` lovely !
as expected , sayles ' smart wordplay and clever plot contrivances are as sharp as ever , though they may be overshadowed by some strong performances .
the movie 's eventual success should be credited to dennis quaid , in fighting trim shape as an athlete as well as an actor
it 's a beautifully accomplished lyrical meditation on a bunch of despondent and vulnerable characters living in the renown chelsea hotel ...