AltWeeklies Wire
D.O.A.new
Over Her Dead Body is billed as a romantic comedy, but if that is what this film is, then that means it’s possible that a movie without the slightest bit of romance or comedy can qualify as such.
San Diego CityBeat |
Todd Kroviak |
01-30-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Jeff Lowell, Over Her Dead Body
Never Forgetnew
Nanking isn’t for the faint of heart, or stomach, as the sheer volume of suffering is almost impossible to comprehend.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
01-30-2008 |
Reviews
'Persepolis' is Anything but Black and Whitenew
No, it doesn't look like Ratatouille or Happy Feet, and, no, there are no giant ogres or talking donkeys, but the old-school animation is stark and beautiful, assisting Satrapi's story of learning about life from the inside of a wobbly, mutating Islamic regime.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
01-16-2008 |
Reviews
Not All of Today's Horror Films are Schlockynew
The Orphanage is more ghost story than horror movie, and though it's low on the gore scale, it's still very scary, deeply atmospheric and seriously creepy, owing success to its solid direction and cinematography from Oscar Faura that holds the same precision to detail as Pan's Labyrinth.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
01-02-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Juan Antonio Bayona, The Orphanage
Close Shavenew
Tim Burton and Johnny Depp walk the razor's edge in Sweeney Todd.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
12-19-2007 |
Reviews
'Juno': The Lil Teen Preganancy Flick That Couldnew
Yes, Juno, the little teen-pregnancy movie that could, the first script from blogger/stripper/screenwriter Diablo Cody, does live up to its hype.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
12-12-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Juno, Jason Reitman
'Atonement' is More Than a Mere Novel-tynew
The film is true enough to McEwan's story and is made solidly enough to stand on its own merits, but lacks the book's brilliant meta-story.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
12-05-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Atonement, Joe Wright
What Else Will 2007 Bring to the Movies?new
December rules -- everyone's rolling out the Oscar contenders in time for eligibility. Here's a short clip 'n' save list of films still to come.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
11-28-2007 |
Reviews
Sidney Lumet's 'Devil' is in the Detailsnew
The film is strong enough, but its small-time nature doesn't make it particularly memorable. The real strengths lie in the top-shelf cast and in Kelly Masterson's script, which is terrifically intricate, allowing the characters their very human faults.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
11-07-2007 |
Reviews
Patrick Fugit Ends Things in 'Wristcutters'new
Wristcutters isn't the kind of suicide movie where the lead is saved, goes to therapy and support groups and eventually finds value in life again. No, Zia cuts his wrists -- and dies. But that's just the beginning.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
10-31-2007 |
Reviews
'Lars and the Real Girl' Works if You Embrace the Fantasynew
All told, director Craig Gillespie and screenwriter Nancy Oliver do their subject proud, and the film is anchored by another impressive performance by Ryan Gosling, who's adept at picking the right projects and delivering the broken-boy goods.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
10-24-2007 |
Reviews
Wes Anderson Gets Back on Tracknew
Anderson, the director-guru of hipsters everywhere, has returned with his best film since Rushmore.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
10-10-2007 |
Reviews
'Skid Marks' Aims for 'Supertrooper' Laughs, But Raunchiernew
When Karl Kozak, co-founder and director of programming for the San Diego Film Festival, is at his day job, he's sifting through artsy films for the annual event. So how did he end up making an over-the-top comedy for his fourth feature film?
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
10-03-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Karl Kozak, Skid Marks
Ang Lee's 'Lust Caution' is Oddly Not Hotnew
For a film with such crackling sex scenes and a high-profile NC-17 rating, it leaves the viewer strangely cold.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
10-03-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Ang Lee, Lust, Caution
It's Hard to Make a Good Film bout Human Traffickingnew
Based on Peter Landesman's investigative work in The New York Times Magazine, Trade is its own undoing as it approaches terribly real issues with terrible movie clichés.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
09-26-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: trade, Marco Kreuzpaintner
