AltWeeklies Wire
'Prodigal Sons,' a Documentary by Writer-Director Kimberly Reednew
Even if this riveting documentary holds back some key information for as long as it can, no review of Prodigal Sons can avoid the central thrust of writer-director Kimberly Reed’s multiple returns to her hometown of Helena, Montana.
The Georgia Straight |
Ken Eisner |
03-15-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Kimberly Reed, Prodigal Sons
'12' Examines Masculine Archetypes in Modern Russianew
Beleaguered ideals regarding compassion and freedom from prejudice were the subjects of the Americanski version of 12 Angry Men. Mikhalkov, best known for his 1994 Oscar-winning Burnt by the Sun, is more interested in the philosophical and political elements.
The Georgia Straight |
Ken Eisner |
03-23-2009 |
Reviews
The African Diaspora and Its Beautiful Discontentsnew
The puzzlingly punctuated title of Nurse.Fighter.Boy is a tip-off that characters here are to be taken with several grains of mythopoeic salt.
The Georgia Straight |
Ken Eisner |
02-09-2009 |
Reviews
'The Grocer's Son' is a Pastoral Respite from the Larger Conflicts of the Worldnew
The real stars of the movie are the crusty rustics in the background. Writer-director Eric Guirado reportedly spent months observing a passing way of life in this region before turning the locals into actors, and the effect is less predictable than is the central story.
The Georgia Straight |
Ken Eisner |
01-13-2009 |
Reviews
'Trip to Asia': The Quest for Harmonynew
This stunningly ambitious -- not to mention just plain stunning -- documentary follows the Berlin Philharmonic on a long journey abroad, to five Asian countries.
The Georgia Straight |
Ken Eisner |
01-05-2009 |
Reviews
'Brideshead Revisited' Doesn't Seduce Like the Originalnew
The Granada TV Brideshead Revisited may not have had all that much relevance to viewers in 1981, but during 11 lovingly detailed hours spent with the pastoral gentry of England between the wars, they got sucked in.
The Georgia Straight |
Ken Eisner |
07-25-2008 |
Reviews
'Bella' Chokes with Amatuerismnew
There's a difference between pleasing the crowd and hugging all the oxygen out of your audience -- and Bella definitely edges toward asphyxiation.
The Georgia Straight |
Ken Eisner |
04-14-2008 |
Reviews
Kenny has Heart of Liquid Goldnew
Ever wonder who takes care of the crap in everyday life? No, not in any metaphorical sense, but actual fecal matter.
The Georgia Straight |
Ken Eisner |
04-04-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Clayton Jacobson, Kenny
Tommy Lee Jones Owns 'In the Valley of Elah'new
The two-hour movie belongs to Jones, but it is also remarkable for sharp, unfussy acting in the smaller parts.
The Georgia Straight |
Ken Eisner |
09-21-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Paul Haggis, In the Valley of Elah
Shane Meadows Comes Out of Guy Ritchie's Shadownew
Though Meadows still uses violence and genre-tweaking humor to entertaining effects, he has evolved into a far more original filmmaker.
The Georgia Straight |
Ken Eisner |
09-07-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Shane Meadows, This is England
'No End in Sight' Shows Both the War in Iraq and on Reasonnew
The documentary is woven together by terse narration from Campbell Scott and contains nothing unfamiliar to regular readers of political blogs by center-leftists, but its cohesion will satisfy the most dedicated antiwar critic.
The Georgia Straight |
Ken Eisner |
09-07-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Charles Ferguson, No End in Sight
The Man with the Wobbly Gunnew
Ben Kingsley takes skewed aim as a childlike alcoholic assassin who falls in love in You Kill Me.
The Georgia Straight |
Ken Eisner |
07-06-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: John Dahl, You Kill Me
