AltWeeklies Wire
The Vignettes in 'Act of God' are a Random as Lightning Bolts Themselvesnew
Jennifer Baichwal skips from Canada to France to Mexico, never explaining who her subjects are or arguing why their near-death experiences should be linked. It's just a haphazard travelogue of terror, like 33 Short Films About Glenn Gould Being Struck by Lightning.
Seattle Weekly |
Brian Miller |
11-02-2009 |
Reviews
Another Year, Another Terrible 'Saw' Sequelnew
It seems like the Saw movies will never end, that they will return every year like an evil plague -- a scaly, slimy demon determined to steal your money. I know this very notion gives me serious nightmares.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
10-29-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Kevin Greutert, Saw VI
The Absurd Comedy of 'Fix The World' Goes Hand-in-Hand with the Yes Men's Aestheticnew
There's a surprising amount of both intellectual and comic rigor on display here, and belly laughs are plentiful. At the very least, the Yes Men, for a moment, steal anti-capitalist activism from unappealing anarcho-crusaders and make it seem like something we could all get behind.
Portland Phoenix |
Christopher Gray |
10-29-2009 |
Reviews
'Gentlemen Broncos' is a Personal, Daring Film That Captures Eccentric Americananew
Treading that thin line between empathy and pity that also distinguished Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre, Hess deals with the oddball aspirations frequently felt by teenage loners who escape into the fantasy worlds of sci-fi.
New York Press |
Armond White |
10-29-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Gentlemen Broncos, Jared Hess
Michael Jackson's Genius is Brought Closer and Clarified in 'This Is It'new
Behind the tabloid image, Jackson's seen thinking, devising, improvising -- and performing masterfully. At age 50, Jackson was still a prodigy; possessed of protean talent and when in the company of collaborators he is inspired.
New York Press |
Armond White |
10-29-2009 |
Reviews
Violence Begets Violence and Terrific Performances in 'Five Minutes of Heaven'new
Oliver Hirschbiegel has created a small movie with an interesting premise, a film that wouldn't stand out at all were it not for the tremendous performances from its two leading actors, Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
10-28-2009 |
Reviews
'Amelia' is a Handsome, Dull and Utterly Banal Earhart Biographynew
Mira Nair's film is old-school Hollywood in that musty, detached way that impresses no one and ultimately does a disservice to the person it so dutifully strains to deify.
Metro Times |
Jeff Meyers |
10-27-2009 |
Reviews
'Earth Days' Offers an Intriguing Look at the Green Movement's Originsnew
Along with the eye-opening archival footage and alarming facts, Earth Days is an honest appraisal of the U.S. environmental movement -- warts and all.
Metro Times |
Jeff Meyers |
10-27-2009 |
Reviews
'Antichrist' is the Best Horror Film of the Last 30 Years
Von Trier is a master filmmaker, and his exploration into the genre of horror has given us a film far more frightening than anything Hollywood would ever allow.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
10-26-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Antichrist, Lars von Trier
The Controversial 'Antichrist' Is 'Saw VI' As Told By Carl Dreyernew
I'm torn between dismissing the film as gross-out juvenilia and regarding it as raw religious mythmaking. Either way, you won't find a livelier time at the movies these days, if only because of the outraged groans and dumfounded gasps from the audience.
Boston Phoenix |
Peter Keough |
10-23-2009 |
Reviews
Sebastian Silva Takes a Searing Look Inside the World of 'The Maid'new
Cleanliness may be next to godliness, but for the title character of the pitch-black Chilean comedy The Maid, it's closer to infernal torment.
L.A. Weekly |
Scott Foundas |
10-23-2009 |
Reviews
'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 Americanized 'Astro Boy' is an Illogical Messnew
Actually it's all pretty lame, and not helped at all by the ridiculous dialogue and voice work, featuring several name actors (Sutherland, Bell, Theron) delivering their lines with the sort of single-take disinterest generally reserved for rushed bargain-bin-anime overdubs.
San Antonio Current |
Jeremy Martin |
10-21-2009 |
Reviews
'Paranormal Activity' Offers a Surprisingly Taut Storynew
Thanks to steady word of mouth, writer-director Oren Peli's debut feature has received a major-studio release after years of bouncing around the festival circuit.
The Georgia Straight |
John Lekich |
10-20-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Oren Peli, Paranormal Activity
LeBron James Doc 'More Than a Game' is an Incurious and Narcissistic Puff Piecenew
This slick 90-minute promo film -- tarted up to resemble a doc -- for Nike's crown jewel overflows with energy, style and a great soundtrack, but shows zero insight and honesty.
Metro Times |
Corey Hall |
10-20-2009 |
Reviews
