AltWeeklies Wire
'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa' Wastes Time on the Stuff Between Gags
Haven't we, as a nation, progressed to the point where it would be okay for our animated films simply to abandon the pretense of a plot?
Salt Lake City Weekly |
Scott Renshaw |
11-03-2008 |
Reviews
'Saw V': A Series of Torturesnew
Yet another damn Saw movie is crapping in theaters ... and bringing in lots of box-office cash.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
10-30-2008 |
Reviews
Wayne Coyne Loses the Plot, Keeps the Magic for 'Christmas'new
The Flaming Lips frontman is hitting the big screen as a true alien -- a man in green with deely-bopper horns on his head and shoulders -- in the movie he cooked up, co-directed, and co-stars in, Christmas on Mars.
Kevin Smith's Arrested Adolescence Continues in 'Zack and Miri'
Smith's still funny when the muse strikes him, but it's just too awkward watching him try to build romantic comedy out of sentimentalizing old-school pornography.
Salt Lake City Weekly |
Scott Renshaw |
10-27-2008 |
Reviews
In 'Noah's Arc' Movie, We Meet the Black Carrie Bradshawnew
The LOGO show makes the jump to the big screen -- showing a completely different African-American experience.
New York Press |
Armond White |
10-23-2008 |
Reviews
Eastwood Examines a Chapter of LA's Sordid Past in 'Changeling'
Apart from a flashing neon light coda that extends the film 10 minutes too far, Eastwood's drama is an engrossing drama with a keen line of social commentary.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
10-20-2008 |
Reviews
'What Just Happened?' Proves Barry Levinson Still Can't Directnew
In addition to getting wrong the proverbial Hollywood shibboleths (about violence, pets, etc.), Levinson and screenwriter Art Linson fake concern over selling out when everybody knows it is the way of things: Our tabloid media specializes in celebrating it.
New York Press |
Armond White |
10-16-2008 |
Reviews
Oliver Stone Tells Bush Junior's Infamous Story
Stone's unpolished but finely tuned biopic of Western Civilization's most controversial leader is a straight-ahead dramatized biographical film that pedals between George W. Bush's misspent youth and his days in public office.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
10-13-2008 |
Reviews
'The Secret Life of Bees': Hive Fidelity
The Secret Life of Bees stays true to its source -- not that that's necessarily a good thing.
Salt Lake City Weekly |
Scott Renshaw |
10-13-2008 |
Reviews
Mike Leigh Gets at the Heart of Joy and Painnew
Like Rachel at the Wedding, Happy-Go-Lucky latest suggests that life goes beyond partisan politics and that politics is what happens moment to moment, day by day. Both are authentically social visions, and they're sure to rank as the best films this year.
New York Press |
Armond White |
10-09-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Mike Leigh, Happy-Go-Lucky
'Body of Lies' is a Cynical Cinematic Kamikaze
Based on David Ignatius's novel, Body of Lies trudges through on the strength of Leonardo DiCaprio's habitually hardy performance, but you can't help being let down by the rest of the ridiculously bombastic movie.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
10-06-2008 |
Reviews
'How to Lose Friends' is an American Film with a British Sensibilitynew
Working from British journalist Toby Young's memoir, director Robert B. Weide layers good, broad, dry jokes onto the bones of a traditional Hollywood plot arc.
Las Vegas Weekly |
Jeffrey M. Anderson |
10-03-2008 |
Reviews
Michael Moore's 'Slacker Uprising' is Worth the Pricenew
Had it been released theatrically, Slacker Uprising would have certainly been a critical and commercial flop. It lacks both the power and the controversy that made his normal, topic-based films successful.
Santa Fe Reporter |
Emiliano Garcia-Sarnoff |
10-03-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Michael Moore, Slacker Uprising
Jonathan Demme Succeeds with Anne Hathaway in His Family-Chaos Filmnew
Avoiding the hip nihilism of repugnant family dramas like Margot at the Wedding and Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Demme offers compassion.
New York Press |
Armond White |
10-02-2008 |
Reviews
Sensory Overload: 'Blindness' Can be Hard to Watchnew
Don't let its uplifting previews lull you: Every moment of triumph and joy in Blindness has to be earned from a film that may rank among the darkest in cinema.
Arkansas Times |
Sam Eifling |
10-02-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Fernando Meirelles, Blindness
