Austin Chronicle | Marjorie Baumgarten

To the British Manor-Born Comes Jessica Bielnew

It may tell you everything you need to know about this film to note that Hollywood hottie Jessica Biel receives top billing over veteran Brit thesps Kristin Scott Thomas and Colin Firth.

Austin Chronicle | Marjorie Baumgarten | 06-19-2009 | Reviews

Tags: Easy Virtue, Stephan Elliott, Jessica Biel

Pixar Flies High with 'Up'new

Pixar tops itself with its new animated film that offers so much more than its promotional promise: a fantastical movie about a house that flies on balloon power.

Austin Chronicle | Marjorie Baumgarten | 05-29-2009 | Reviews

Tags: Pete Docter and Bob Peterson, Up, animated films

On Relinquishing Our Right to Be Hypocriticalnew

Outrage argues that its objective is to out hypocrisy rather than homosexuality. However, were we to give up our right to self-denial, wouldn't America cease to be a land of freedom?

Austin Chronicle | Marjorie Baumgarten | 05-29-2009 | Reviews

Tags: Outrage, homosexuality, Kirby Dick, public policy, documentaries

'Frozen River': Single Moms Skate on Thin Icenew

In order to make ends meet, two women in upstate New York smuggle illegal aliens across the St. Lawrence River into the U.S. in this unusually thoughtful and expertly acted movie.

Austin Chronicle | Marjorie Baumgarten | 09-05-2008 | Reviews

Tags: Courtney Hunt, Frozen River

Patti Smith's Bohemian Rhapsodynew

Fashion photographer Steven Sebring made this impressionistic documentary over the course of 12 years with Smith's full participation.

Austin Chronicle | Marjorie Baumgarten | 08-28-2008 | Reviews

Tags: Patti Smith: Dream of Life, Steven Sebring

'Transsiberian': Strangers on a Trainnew

With Woody Harrelson, Emily Mortimer, and Ben Kingsley, this train-set suspense movie also is full of sharp character studies.

Austin Chronicle | Marjorie Baumgarten | 08-28-2008 | Reviews

Tags: Brad Anderson, Transsiberian

'Mister Foe': Growing Up Voyeurnew

Equal parts sweet and perverse, this Scottish coming-of-age story about a teenage voyeur is unpredictable, compelling, and features great performances and soundtrack.

Austin Chronicle | Marjorie Baumgarten | 08-22-2008 | Reviews

Tags: David Mackenzie, Mister Foe

'Elegy': Taming the Philip Roth Beastnew

In this smart adaptation of Philip Roth's A Dying Animal, Ben Kingsley and Penélope Cruz turn the table on the standard May-December romance.

Austin Chronicle | Marjorie Baumgarten | 08-22-2008 | Reviews

Tags: Elegy, Isabel Coixet

'Bottle Shock': Stick a Cork in Itnew

French oenological hauteur is shattered in this true but dully told story about the international debut of Napa Valley's wines.

Austin Chronicle | Marjorie Baumgarten | 08-14-2008 | Reviews

Tags: Randall Miller, Bottle Shock

Take a Passnew

Take, with a very good performance by Minnie Driver, is a dreadfully misguided movie whose story of redemption is utterly irredeemable.

Austin Chronicle | Marjorie Baumgarten | 08-14-2008 | Reviews

Tags: Charles Oliver, Take

'Tropic Thunder': Apocalypse, and How!new

Instead of entering the jungle to find the heart of darkness, Ben Stiller goes in to take aim at the Achilles heel of Hollywood: its utter pomposity and self-importance.

Austin Chronicle | Marjorie Baumgarten | 08-14-2008 | Reviews

Tags: Ben Stiller, Tropic Thunder

Reality Bites the Hand That Feeds It in 'American Teen'new

A princess, jock, rebel, heartthrob, and geek: It could be The Breakfast Club, but American Teen is instead a documentary that ducks the consequences of its own making.

Austin Chronicle | Marjorie Baumgarten | 08-08-2008 | Reviews

Tags: American Teen, Nanette Burstein