AltWeeklies Wire
'The Perfect Game' Swings and Missesnew
The formula is all but etched in stone: Choose a ragtag, underdog team and follow them to their triumphant, come-from-behind victory at whatever national championship courtesy of whichever unconventional but inspiring coach they’ve stumbled across.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
04-19-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: The Perfect Game, William Dear
Bad News is Good Drama in 'The Messenger'new
Earlier this year, the independent film The Messenger very quietly racked up two Oscar nominations—one for Best Original Screenplay and one for Best Supporting Actor. That’s appropriate for a film as quietly powerful as The Messenger.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O’Leary |
04-12-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Oren Moverman, The Messenger
'Chloe': Canadians Get Dirty (in a Clean Way)new
By about the halfway point, the film 'Chloe' starts to morph into your basic erotic thriller.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
03-30-2010 |
Reviews
'Sweetgrass' is a Raw, Open-Eyed Elegy for the American Cowboynew
Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Ilisa Barbash, the husband-and-wife filmmaking team behind Sweetgrass, apparently prefer the term “recordist” over the term “director.” Once you see the documentary, you might be inclined to agree.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
03-16-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Lucien Castaing-Taylor, Sweetgrass
Do I Want to Discuss the Symbolic Use of Firewood as a Weapon...? Nonew
Sometimes, I think Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier is a genius (The Kingdom, for example). Other times, I think he’s just an asshole (let’s go with Dogville). His newest film, the controversy-baiting horror whatsit Antichrist, is a coin toss.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O’Leary |
02-02-2010 |
Reviews
Swedish Director Takes Us On a Guilt Trip Around the Worldnew
Lukas Moodysson’s Mammoth employs a polyglot cast, a wide-ranging backdrop and assorted convergent storylines to ruminate on the sad state of interpersonal politics — in this case, modern parenthood and the worldwide socioeconomic factors that affect it both positively and negatively.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O’Leary |
01-26-2010 |
Reviews
Merry Pranksters 2.0: 'The Yes Men Fix the World'new
The exploits of leading Yes Men-bers as they impersonate the world's power brokers and put words in their mouths — sort of like a Sacha Baron Cohen movie, but with a sincere heart.
Weekly Alibi |
Ari LeVaux |
12-31-2009 |
Reviews
'Red Cliff': Epic War Story is a Visual Stunnernew
Romance of the Three Kingdoms is the Chinese national epic, an 800,000-word historical saga that has been well-entrenched in the Asian mindset since its creation in the 14th century. Hence, it’s not too surprising to find that expat Chinese director John Woo has been eager for a shot at the story for decades.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O’Leary |
12-21-2009 |
Reviews
'Coco Before Chanel' Looks Fabulous but Hangs Kinda Funnynew
While bolstered by the magnetic central performance of the always-charming Audrey Tautou and some damn fine period re-creation, Coco Before Chanel is also restrained by slow pacing and a general lack of drama.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
11-03-2009 |
Reviews
'Bright Star' Casts John Keats as King of All Proto-Emo Boysnew
If you got a D in English Lit, Bright Star probably isn't the romantic ode for you. If you've got a taste for chaste love affairs with unhappy endings, however, Bright Star delivers.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
10-06-2009 |
Reviews
DIY Documentary 'Handmade Nation' Chronicles the Indie Crafts Movementnew
Several years ago, Faythe Levine set out to document the world of DIY art, craft and design. This deeply personal quest led to the creation of a just-released feature documentary called Handmade Nation and a popular companion book of the same name.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
09-01-2009 |
Reviews
The Simple Drama of 'Lemon Tree' Makes for a Powerful Middle East Parablenew
The story, based on a real incident, reads like a fable. Paying attention strictly to the David vs. Goliath surface of it, viewers will be amply rewarded. But Lemon Tree has a number of subtle stories lurking just under the surface.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
08-25-2009 |
Reviews
'Sleep Dealer' Hits Some High Notes Despite its Micro Budgetnew
There are glitches in Sleep Dealer (cheap effects, wobbly acting, an ending that's far more emotionally rewarding than logically satisfying), but most of them are the charming flaws of a homegrown work of art.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
08-18-2009 |
Reviews
Bleary-Headed Party Boys Aren't Quite As Bad As They Wanna Be–But They're Still Funnynew
Arguably, the cumulative effect of The Hangover isn't quite as outrageous as it could (or probably should) be. But fans of Todd Phillips' previous efforts will nurse sufficient belly laughs from the film's post-drunken shenanigans.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
06-09-2009 |
Reviews
'Milk' Breathes Life into Counterculture Crusadernew
There is an inevitability to the tragedy of Milk, but the film never wallows in the downbeat. Instead, it gently celebrates the spirit of its indefatigable hero. More than just a martyr to the cause of gay rights, Milk was a leader who stepped up when troubled times demanded.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
12-09-2008 |
Reviews
