AltWeeklies Wire
'Boy A': Boy in the Hoodnew
Boy A is thought-provoking and beautifully shot, the film Gus Van Sant wanted last year's Paranoid Park to be.
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olszewski |
08-07-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Boy A, John Crowley
'Swing Vote' Isn't Exactly a Terrible Movienew
Stern maintains a nice pace throughout what should be an intolerable two-hour parody of ancient history, and the dialogue and set pieces are never quite as dumb as Bud, with one running gag involving the candidates' ads escalating to a hilarious pro-life spot. But even if it weren't tiring to imagine it’s 2000 all over again, does anyone right now really want to sit through the campaigning, scheming, and dissecting of fictional candidates when we're drowning in the minutiae of real ones?
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olszewski |
07-31-2008 |
Reviews
'The Last Mistress' is Pretty Trashnew
And for the most part, that's all The Last Mistress is--but damned if it doesn't suck you in like a late-night rerun of Rock of Love.
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olszewski |
07-18-2008 |
Reviews
Alexandra Walks the Line between its Anti-War Message and Family Talenew
The plot may be simple, but Sokurov's message is unmistakable, his babushka'd mouthpiece even once complaining that it's time for the military to rebuild instead of continually destroying. Still, Alexandra washes over you like a gentle slice-of-life movie rather than polemic.
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olszewski |
07-03-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Aleksandr Sokurov, Alexandra
'Surfwise' Captures what a Family Gained and Lost by Living the Beach-Bum Lifenew
Doug Pray's documentary may be about a brood of 'boarders, but it's less about hanging ten than living off the grid.
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olszewski |
05-30-2008 |
Reviews
'Run Fat Boy Run': Marathon Mannew
With first-time feature director David Schwimmer shooting a screenplay originally credited solely to Stella's Michael Ian Black, the film gambles on alienating Simon Pegg fans, painting by every rom-com number save for doggie reaction shots.
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olszewski |
03-27-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: David Schwimmer, Run Fat Boy Run
'Flawless' and '21': Cash Coursesnew
The get-rich-quick schemes in two new films don't have much of a payoff.
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olszewski |
03-27-2008 |
Reviews
Military-Industrial Comedynew
With all the political message-mongering in theaters lately, the comic approach of Military Intelligence and You! is undeniably a welcome respite -- just one that, in keeping with its good-ol'-days theme, should have been limited to a short before the show.
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olszewski |
03-20-2008 |
Reviews
'CJ7': In the Mood for Fluffnew
What saves CJ7 is partly the cuteness of the critter itself, but mostly it's the kids -- all of the students, from an aviators-wearing bully to Dicky's mischievous crush, have personality, and Dicky himself is a delight.
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olzsewski |
03-13-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: CJ7, Stephen Chow
'Fighting for Life': Medic Carenew
Terry Sanders' apolitical documentary sheds some light on military medicine.
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olszewski |
03-13-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Fighting for Life, Terry Sanders
'Funny Games' and 'The Witnesses': The Pain Eventnew
Two dramas explore the depths of human suffering.
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olszewski |
03-13-2008 |
Reviews
'Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day' & 'Let's Get Lost': Bursting to Fixnew
Frances McDormand's heroine lands into high society; Chet Baker falls from grace.
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olszewski |
03-06-2008 |
Reviews
'Semi-Pro': Air Ballnew
When you see Will Ferrell trying to fight a not-so-gentle Ben in his latest sports comedy, you can't help but think the glory days of the former Saturday Night Live star's dumb-guy shtick are over.
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olszewski |
02-28-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Kent Alterman, Semi-Pro
'The Band's Visit' & 'City of Men': Group Dreamsnew
Sticking together is easier said than done in these two films.
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olszewski |
02-28-2008 |
Reviews
'The Signal' Sends a Bloody, Dystopian Messagenew
Among many ridiculous scenes, the one in which someone literally jump-starts and interrogates a decapitated head summarily erases any chance you'll take the script's weak stab at social commentary -- i.e., technology is destroying our minds -- seriously.
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olszewski |
02-21-2008 |
Reviews
