AltWeeklies Wire
Lost Down the Rabbit Hole: Tim Burton's Hesitant 'Alice in Wonderland'new
Messing with classics is dangerous business. The fact that Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland isn't a straight retelling of the Lewis Carroll books might be motivated, as stated, by a desire to give the tale more narrative heft, but it also feels like a pulled punch.
The Portland Mercury |
Marjorie Skinner |
03-04-2010 |
Reviews
The Messenger's Bad News Comes in Threesnew
Because life, especially in wartime, can be understatedly described as "messy," it's perhaps feasible to excuse The Messenger's disarray.
The Portland Mercury |
Marjorie Skinner |
12-07-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Oren Moverman, The Messenger
'Coco Before Chanel' is an Inspiring Portrait of a Rebel Feministnew
Though its subject is arguably the most recognizable in fashion, Coco Before Chanel is more concerned with individuality than clothing. As Coco Chanel herself once famously put it, "Fashion passes, style remains."
The Portland Mercury |
Marjorie Skinner |
10-22-2009 |
Reviews
The Tricks in 'The Burning Plain' are as Tired as its Mopey Charactersnew
These people and timelines are all tied together under big themes of utmost gravitas, and a strong cast delivers compelling characters whose lives are interesting enough to maintain reasonable curiosity. But these cards have simply been played far too many times, and to far more powerful effect; Plain can't help but look a bit pale in comparison.
The Portland Mercury |
Marjorie Skinner |
09-25-2009 |
Reviews
Boss Lady: 'The September Issue' Takes You to Worknew
In September, Anna Wintour's legendary iciness seems like the unremarkable product of natural decisiveness and an incredibly heavy schedule. She's irreverent, yes, but someone has to be, even at the highest echelon.
The Portland Mercury |
Marjorie Skinner |
09-10-2009 |
Reviews
'All About Steve': The Nail in Sandra Bullock's Career's Coffin!new
Poor Sandra Bullock: She's an actress that everyone seems to love to hate, but up until now, she didn't deserve half the flak and sarcasm she's suffered in a world full of far-less-likeable Jennifer Anistons and Renee Zellwegers.
The Portland Mercury |
Marjorie Skinner |
09-03-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: All About Steve, Phil Traill
The Oscar-Winning 'Departures' Is Good, but Not That Goodnew
While moving and carefully done, Departures is hardly revelatory -- it sticks to tear-jerking iterations on circle-of-life themes. As the Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Film, the film's greatest profundity reveals more about the questionable decisions being made by the Academy than those of love, death, or life.
The Portland Mercury |
Marjorie Skinner |
07-02-2009 |
Reviews
Weighty Matters Get Treated Carelessly in 'Seven Pounds'new
Pounds' moral preaching is kinda twisted, yet it's delivered up on the same kind of redemptive platter -- swelling music, tears, and all. You've gone too far, guys, with the angel act, and God's gonna smite you down.
The Portland Mercury |
Marjorie Skinner |
12-19-2008 |
Reviews
'Azur & Asmar' Restores Fantasy to Animationnew
In the age of infinite Shreks and perfectionist CGI, the French animated feature Azur & Asmar feels like a throwback in more ways than one.
The Portland Mercury |
Marjorie Skinner |
12-12-2008 |
Reviews
Chris Smith Takes up Fiction... In Indianew
For a film with so many elements seemingly at odds, The Pool is distinctly relatable. It is the work of Chris Smith, who we know best as the documentarian behind American Movie and The Yes Men. The Pool, on the other hand, is straight-up fiction.
The Portland Mercury |
Marjorie Skinner |
10-31-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Chris Smith, The Pool
'Quid Pro Quo' Dabbles in Disabilitynew
A quasi-psychological thriller based around the subculture of "wannabes" who identify as, or wish to be, disabled, it completely sidesteps any real explanation of its own premise in favor of directional switcheroos.
The Portland Mercury |
Marjorie Skinner |
07-24-2008 |
Reviews
Two Girls, One 'Life Before Her Eyes'new
The most striking aspect of this film is its look: Beautiful shots of swimming pools, falling leaves, and dead birds intersperse the film's narrative scenes, taking some edge off the otherwise pensive pacing.
The Portland Mercury |
Marjorie Skinner |
05-01-2008 |
Reviews
On the Roadnew
Although Bonneville is only the second film directed by Christopher N. Rowley, he managed to woo some classy ladies into this post-menopausal road-trip romp.
The Portland Mercury |
Marjorie Skinner |
02-28-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Bonneville, Christopher N. Rowley
Definitely Not Terriblenew
Taking a page from The Princess Bride's format, Definitely, Maybe follows the story a father tells his 10-year-old daughter about the women he has dated, changing their names and letting her guess which one became her mom, with whom he is now finalizing a divorce.
The Portland Mercury |
Marjorie Skinner |
02-14-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Adam Brooks, Definitely, Maybe
