AltWeeklies Wire
'A Perfect Getaway' is an Enjoyable Thriller With 'Cult Film' Written All Over Itnew
Director David Twohy's casting of Steve Zahn as his lead in A Perfect Getaway turns out to be a masterstroke. Zahn, a decent supporting actor in past comedies and dramas, gets perhaps his biggest chance to show off his chops in this surprising summer thriller that's far better than expected.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
08-12-2009 |
Reviews
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
'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
'District 9' is the Summer Sci-Fi Movie You've Been Waiting Fornew
The movie is exactly what you want in a big Hollywood movie: a solid, intricate story that's not too over-plotted to follow, good acting, terrific special effects, solid humor and even a message to digest. Perhaps that's why Hollywood had very little to do with it.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
08-12-2009 |
Reviews
'The Time Traveler's Wife' Burns Up in Space
Amy McAdams and Eric Bana are easy enough on the eyes to distract from the script's Grand Canyon-sized plot holes, but not enough to keep your mind off the insipid storytelling. Even from its gooey sentimental standpoint, The Time Traveler's Wife is two pints short of a gallon.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
08-10-2009 |
Reviews
'Somers Town' Gets at the Heart of Working-Class Londonnew
Without ever trivializing his characters’ meager circumstances or resorting to the rags-to-riches fantasy of Slumdog Millionaire, Shane Meadows has made a lovely film about the ability of the imagination to offset the harshness of reality.
L.A. Weekly |
Scott Foundas |
08-10-2009 |
Reviews
'Julie & Julia' Will Make Foodies Furiously Masturbatenew
More or less entirely delightful, Julie & Julia has a pretty foolproof formula: It's a movie based on a popular book that's based on a popular blog that, in turn, was inspired by America's most popular chef.
The Portland Mercury |
Erik Henriksen |
08-06-2009 |
Reviews
'O'Horten' is a Danish Treatnew
This strange little Danish gem tells the story of the aptly named Odd Horten, a man cut from his moorings when he's forced to take retirement at age 67.
Austin Chronicle |
Marc Savlov |
08-06-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: O'Horten, Bent Hamer
'Bliss': Beyond the Seanew
Turkish drama celebrates life without spiritual borders.
Orlando Weekly |
Justin Strout |
08-06-2009 |
Reviews
'Paper Heart': The World's First-ever Notumentarynew
Charlyne Yi and director Nick Jasenovec to make a road-trip documentary, interviewing people across the country about love. the nshe met Michael Cera.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
08-05-2009 |
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
Guys Wide Shut: 'Humpday' Calls Bromance's Bluffnew
Lynn Shelton's winning indie comedy is about two thirtysomething men contemplating taking their friendship to the alternative lifestyle edge to win an amateur porn competition, and what is revealed as they go under the microscope ... err, video camera.
Baltimore City Paper |
Bret McCabe |
08-04-2009 |
Reviews
'Funny People' Get Serious About Comedynew
A happy-sad dichotomy is at the heart of the new film “Funny People,” featuring Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen joined by Judd Apatow regulars and a galaxy of major star cameos.
Pasadena Weekly |
Carl Kozlowski |
08-03-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Funny People, Judd Apatow
The Anti-Hitchcock: David Twohy Cheats and Still Loses
David Twohy, the filmmaker responsible for the sci-fi cult favorite "Pitch Black," creates a deconstructionist suspense thriller that plays like a college screenwriting project gone awry.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
08-03-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: A Perfect Getaway, David Twohy
Documentaries Don't Get More Compelling Than 'The Cove'new
The Cove is one of the best documentaries of 2009. It deserves an audience for its aesthetic beauty alone. But the film, like almost every issue-driven doc, lacks much-needed nuance, and audiences should remember to approach anything set out to manipulate their heartstrings with a decent level of skepticism.
New York Press |
David Berke |
07-31-2009 |
Reviews
