San Diego CityBeat | Movies+TV | Reviews | AAN.org

Heath Ledger's Joker is No Jokenew

Aside from Ledger, The Dark Knight's other huge star is the IMAX screen on which it should be seen.

San Diego CityBeat | Anders Wright | 07-16-2008 | Reviews

Tags: action, adventure, Christopher Nolan, Aaron Eckhart, Batman, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Christian Bale, super heroes, The Dark Knight

'The Wackness' is More Than Just Another Pot Movienew

No, Jonathan Levine's movie, set on the sticky streets of New York in the summer of 1994, works well because each of its characters is going through his or her own coming-of-age experience, illustrating the fact that none of us ever truly has that moment when we transition to adulthood.

San Diego CityBeat | Anders Wright | 07-09-2008 | Reviews

Tags: The Wackness, Ben Kingsley, Jonathan Levine, josh peck, Mary-Kate Olsen, olivia thirlby

It's the End of the World and Werner Herzog Knows Itnew

With his latest film, Encounters at the End of the World, he has become the only professional director to have made films on all seven continents. He accomplished the feat by going somewhere entirely unlike, well, everywhere else: Antarctica.

San Diego CityBeat | Anders Wright | 07-02-2008 | Reviews

Tags: documentary, Werner Herzog, Antarctica, Encounters at the End of the World

'Wanted' is Pure Popcorn Entertainmentnew

What is surprising is that it's also one of the most appealing movies of its kind since The Matrix, a blend of kinetic style, incredible special effects and mild social commentary that succeeds as pure popcorn entertainment.

San Diego CityBeat | Todd Kroviak | 06-25-2008 | Reviews

Tags: action, thriller, Common, Timur Bekmambetov, Terence Stamp, Wanted, Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Thomas Kretschmann

'War, Inc.' has Flashes of Brilliancenew

It features parodies that are dead on, but all told it's scattered, tackling too many subjects and ideas -- including the Iraq War, the Bush administration, Dick Cheney, Halliburton, Blackwater, the CIA, the media and celebrity worship, to name just a few.

San Diego CityBeat | Anders Wright | 06-25-2008 | Reviews

Tags: WAR, comedy, action, Hilary Duff, John Cusack, Marisa Tomei, Joshua Seftel, War, Inc., Ben Kingsley, Dan Aykroyd, Joan Cusack

Writers Come of Age in 'Reprise'new

Young Norwegians strive for artistic success, and question its definition, in the new film Reprise.

San Diego CityBeat | Anders Wright | 06-04-2008 | Reviews

Tags: Norway, writers, Joachim Trier, Reprise

'Surfwise' Asks If Blood is Thicker Than Seawaternew

At the film's center is the patriarch, Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz, an octogenarian who lived a fairly typical early life -- two unsuccessful marriages, an unsatisfying medical practice fueled by a Stanford education -- and lived only to make his way to the beach to go surfing.

San Diego CityBeat | Anders Wright | 05-28-2008 | Reviews

Tags: documentary, surfing, Dorian Paskowitz, Doug Pray, Israel Paskowitz, Jonathan Paskowitz, Juliette Paskowitz, Surfwise

An Illegal-immigration Movie You'll Want to Seenew

Instead of focusing on the traditional movie star, Thomas McCarthy writes for performers he admires who aren't the traditional leads and then lets them flex their acting muscles. In The Visitor, it's Richard Jenkins' turn.

San Diego CityBeat | Anders Wright | 04-23-2008 | Reviews

Tags: comedy, The Visitor, Thomas McCarthy, Drama, Danai Gurira, Haaz Sleiman, Hiam Abbass, Richard Jenkins

Is 'Zombie Strippers' Any Good?new

Look, this movie is called Zombie Strippers, and it delivers on its title. It has zombies, and it has strippers; there are bitings and boobies, a few killer jokes and some that just drop dead. If that's your thing, this is your movie, especially if you drink heavily ahead of time.

San Diego CityBeat | Anders Wright | 04-16-2008 | Reviews

Tags: Jay Lee, Zombie Strippers