AltWeeklies Wire
When in Romania, Do as the Romanians Do: Nothingnew
A Romanian cop named Cristi gathers evidence on some poor kid for smoking a little hash. See Cristi follow the kid to school. See Cristi pick up a joint. See Cristi eat lunch. See Cristi pick up another joint.
Willamette Week |
Alistair Rockoff |
03-10-2010 |
Reviews
The House of the Devil Brings Back the Beelzebubnew
While he never actually appears in director Ti West's retro screamer The House of the Devil, Satan's little helpers make a welcome return to the screen, bringing their funky rituals and pentagrams along.
Willamette Week |
AP Kryza |
12-04-2009 |
Reviews
'Where the Wild Things Are' Left Me Out in the Coldnew
It's standard practice to praise children's movies by saying they'll be enjoyed by parents and children alike, but in this case I suspect that some parents will sink blissfully into a reverie watching the characters throw clods of dirt, while their offspring tug on sleeves to ask when they can go outside and throw clods of dirt.
Willamette Week |
Aaron Mesh |
10-14-2009 |
Reviews
'Law Abiding Citizen' Wants to Have its Gore and Condemn it Toonew
Somewhere in here is a call to reform for a flawed system where innocence is undermined by bureaucracy. But it's hard to hear that message with all the explosions and brooding. Say what you will about Saw -- at least it doesn't preach pacifism as its characters are eviscerated.
Willamette Week |
Ap Kryza |
10-14-2009 |
Reviews
'Bright Star' is the Tasteful Older Sibling of 'Twilight'new
The film is likely to be fairly admired by English professors and Oscar voters, but mark my words: It is going to become the unequaled favorite movie of homeschoolers in the girls' dormitories of evangelical colleges nationwide.
Willamette Week |
Aaron Mesh |
09-23-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Bright Star, Jane Campion
'The Burning Plain' is an Interminably Spiritless Ordealnew
Beneath the film's tragic poses and ludicrous melancholy, one can almost hear Arriaga muttering to himself: "Do I have anything here? Let's maybe move this scene here, that one there, yeah, that'll do it, that looks like something. Right? Right?" Wrong.
Willamette Week |
Chris Stamm |
09-23-2009 |
Reviews
'Jennifer's Body' is 'Heathers' as a 'Maxim' Photo Spreadnew
Jennifer's Body begs for outraged reviews condemning it as repellent and vindictive, when in fact it is derivative and incompetent. If it were not written by Diablo Cody, it would be completely ignored. In fact, it can still be ignored.
Willamette Week |
Aaron Mesh |
09-16-2009 |
Reviews
'Big Fan' Piles Shame Upon Failure for Patton Oswalt's Football Lovernew
The director of Big Fan, Robert Siegel, is the screenwriter of last year's The Wrestler. I was not an admirer of that movie, but I'll concede that its patronizing melodrama was elevated by the grace notes of Mickey Rourke. Big Fan, however, is pure, concentrated condescension.
Willamette Week |
Aaron Mesh |
09-09-2009 |
Reviews
Why is Tarantino's Opus Being Greeted With Indifference, Even Disdain?new
Some of the blase reception may be ingrained distaste for the Weinstein Company, or Grindhouse fatigue. But I suspect it has just as much to do with the way we have all been bought off by Hollywood marketing -- our loyalty purchased not with payola, but with proximity to the hot new thing.
Willamette Week |
Aaron Mesh |
08-19-2009 |
Reviews
Buried Deep Under the Muck and Sludge of 'Taxidermia' is a Surreal Gemnew
Palfi has crafted a strikingly original film that veers completely out of control in ways that would make David Cronenberg sick. Is it recommended? Only to those who can see past the graphic deviant sex, seas of fluid and some pretty nasty gore.
Willamette Week |
Ap Kryza |
08-19-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Gyorgy Palfi, Taxidermia
The Aliens in 'District 9' Aren't Very Sharp ... the Director Thinks You Aren't, Eithernew
I have faith that Neill Blomkamp will one day make a film that's a marvel from beginning to end. The question is whether he can muster the necessary faith in us. We're smart enough for you, Blomkamp. Take your best shot.
Willamette Week |
Chris Stamm |
08-12-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: District 9, Neill Blomkamp
The Ancient Sorcery in 'Ponyo' is Exceptionally Suited to the Very Youngnew
For the first time since early Hayao Miyazaki works like My Neighbor Totoro or Kiki's Delivery Service, it is possible to bring your preschoolers to the theater without fear of frightening them.
Willamette Week |
Aaron Mesh |
08-12-2009 |
Reviews
'Soul Power': Papa's Got a Brand-New Documentarynew
The footage assembled for Soul Power was shot by four cameramen, and it reflects Albert Maysles' "direct cinema" movement, that philosophy of keeping documentaries immersed in the moment. But when that moment has been excavated from the stratum of 35 years, it attains an immense poignancy.
Willamette Week |
Aaron Mesh |
08-12-2009 |
Reviews
Jules of the Food Worldnew
Nora Ephron’s new film, Julie & Julia, starring Meryl Streep as Julia Child and Amy Adams as her modern-day acolyte Julie Powell, follows the parallel stories of these two real-life cooks. It’s a big, gorgeously decorated, bittersweet confection of a film, one that makes up for much of the lumpy, sugary dreck that Ephron’s been concocting for the past decade or so.
Willamette Week |
Kelly Clarke |
08-05-2009 |
Reviews
After '(500) Days of Summer,' Here's an Open Letter to Zooey Deschanelnew
Zooey, baby, can't you see Marc Webb and his friends don't understand you? Yes, I know that's part of the movie's point, but the puncturing of boys' expectations can be accomplished by three-dimensional women as well. There are no real girls in (500) Days of Summer. I think you should play one again.
Willamette Week |
Aaron Mesh |
07-22-2009 |
Reviews
