AltWeeklies Wire
Simplicity Works
Writer/director George Nolfi makes a smooth transition from screenwriter to filmmaker with his feature film debut.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
02-28-2011 |
Reviews
The Movie That Wasn't
We've all heard somebody say that so-and-so's life story should be made into a movie. But just because a producer thinks Mordecai Richler's faux autobiography is worthy of cinematic interpretation doesn't make it so.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
02-21-2011 |
Reviews
Tags: Richard Lewis, Barney's Version
Bridging Wayne
Leave it to Ethan and Joel Coen to reinvent the modern western.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
12-13-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Ethan and Joel Coen, True Grit
Back in Black: Natalie Portman Soars and Swoons En Pointe
Darren Aronofsky's voyeuristic psychological thriller about an upstart prima ballerina's descent into madness employs the same subjective dancer's-point-of-view that gave "The Red Shoes" its sense of frenetic authenticity.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
11-29-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
Burlesquenew
In the wake of Moulin Rouge!, Chicago and Nine before it, Burlesque, the next sequin-clad jaunt to tempt the fates of the holiday box office, has a bit of a tightrope walk before it.
Dig Boston |
Charlotte Shirley |
11-24-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Burlesque
Split Ends: Harry Potter Lurches Toward The Final Curtain
A flawed decision to split the final installment of the Harry Potter books into two films results in a formless narrative that overstays its welcome.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
11-15-2010 |
Reviews
Cartoon Indoctrination: Anti-Obama Propaganda Gets Packaged for Kids
Riffing on the same foolhardy villain-as-good-guy-protagonist motif that contributed to the confused premise of this year's "Despicable Me," "Megamind" is a resounding flop.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
11-08-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Megamind, Tom McGrath
Up From the Streetsnew
Jean-Michel Basquiat’s radiantly short life is revealed in a new documentary.
Monday Magazine |
Robert Moyes |
10-29-2010 |
Reviews
Documentary as Aggressionnew
'A Film Unfinished' examines how the Nazis turned one of their atrocities into a reality show.
Tucson Weekly |
James DiGiovanna |
10-21-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: A Film Unfinished
Waiting for Supermannew
Make no mistake, this movie has its share of detractors, beginning with teachers' unions. The film speaks a truth that is usually whispered: A good many teachers are just not meant for the job.
Boise Weekly |
George Prentice |
10-20-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Waiting for Superman
All Climax and No Impact: 2010 Shaping up as Year of the Abysmal Action
Here's another pound of proof supporting the theorem that "story is about thoroughness, not shortcuts."
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
10-12-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Red, Robert Schwentke
A Movie More Entertaining Than Facebook
Boy tech geeks won't be able to prevent themselves from outbursts of clapping, laughter, and bladder leaks while watching David Fincher's fast-paced drama about the meteoric rise of Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Facebook.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
09-27-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: David Fincher, The Social Network
The Agony and Ecstasy of Joaquin Phoenixnew
If Phoenix is really and truly a washed-up drunk with delusions of grandeur, I'm Still Here is a worthy swan song. Way to go.
East Bay Express |
Kelly Vance |
09-15-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: I'm Still Here, Casey Affleck
Ben Affleck's Domain
Ben Affleck has so thoroughly reinvented himself as an actor that it's tempting to take for granted his commendable skills as a director even after his notable debut with "Gone Baby Gone."
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
09-13-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: The Town, Ben Affleck
Horny Teens Get a Mockumentary in The Virginity Hitnew
The Virginity Hit depicts a cadre of semiprivileged New Orleans teens whose penchant for illicit drinking, drug use and recording every moment of their lives on camera is more or less not worth remarking upon.
