AltWeeklies Wire
Ricky Gervais Wreaks Havoc with Theology in 'The Invention of Lying'new
The film's unfortunate veers are nicely countered with a bit of subversion in which Mark, to soothe his mother and then the rest of the world, makes up the ideas of heaven, hell, and a "man in the sky." Yes, folks: Here, God is a lie, and those who believe otherwise are portrayed as fools.
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olszewski |
10-15-2009 |
Reviews
Spike Jonze Turns Maurice Sendak's Classic Children's Book into an Adult Work of Artnew
Jonze's sensibility is an authentic development of the music-video era's generational split -- which is also an aesthetic split. He doesn't exploit pop rebellion but has a counter-intuitive slant on what's funny, sad, universal.
New York Press |
Armond White |
10-15-2009 |
Reviews
'Where the Wild Things Are' Left Me Out in the Coldnew
It's standard practice to praise children's movies by saying they'll be enjoyed by parents and children alike, but in this case I suspect that some parents will sink blissfully into a reverie watching the characters throw clods of dirt, while their offspring tug on sleeves to ask when they can go outside and throw clods of dirt.
Willamette Week |
Aaron Mesh |
10-14-2009 |
Reviews
'Law Abiding Citizen' Wants to Have its Gore and Condemn it Toonew
Somewhere in here is a call to reform for a flawed system where innocence is undermined by bureaucracy. But it's hard to hear that message with all the explosions and brooding. Say what you will about Saw -- at least it doesn't preach pacifism as its characters are eviscerated.
Willamette Week |
Ap Kryza |
10-14-2009 |
Reviews
'Couples Retreat' is Like a Half-Assed Update of 'Fantasy Island'new
Getting away from it all isn't easy. Start by getting away from this movie.
C-Ville Weekly |
Jonathan Kiefer |
10-14-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Couples Retreat, Peter Billingsley
Blaxploitation Homage 'Black Dynamite' Had Me Rolling on the Floor
Not only could Scott Sanders' film serve as a textbook DIY how-to primer for what it takes to make Blaxploitation cinema, it may also be the all-time best party film next to Animal House. If this movie doesn't make you laugh, call a doctor.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
10-14-2009 |
Reviews
Spike Jonze Sincerely Adapts 'Where the Wild Things Are'
Jonze's no-nonsense movie expands gently on Maurice Sendak's elegant 20-page kids' book to address children, acknowledging their primal impulses -- which they must eventually control.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
10-12-2009 |
Reviews
1960s Period Piece 'An Education' Gets Good Marks, as Does Star Carey Mulligannew
Danish director Lone Scherfig's movie is something of a deceptively packaged Oscar-season bonbon -- a seemingly benign, classily directed year-I-became-a-woman nostalgia trip that conceals a surprisingly tart, morally ambiguous center.
L.A. Weekly |
Scott Foundas |
10-09-2009 |
Reviews
The Secret Lives of Queer Leading Mennew
How Howard Bragman, Hollywood's coming-out guru, helps gay actors tell the truth. Bragman's parents were "tolerant and accepting" when he came out in his 20s; Proposition 8 was "extremely painful"; gays and lesbians need to "call people on their shit."
L.A. Weekly |
Patrick Range McDonald |
10-09-2009 |
Movies
Chris Rock Never Embraces the Nap in His Doc About African-American Hairnew
Good Hair is a mockumentary by accident because Rock pretends to explore the cultural phenomenon of how black women truly feel about their hair. Yet he relentlessly falls back on easy jokes and juvenile asides that mock the subject.
New York Press |
Armond White |
10-08-2009 |
Reviews
'Zombieland' May Not Match 'Shaun of the Dead,' but it's Sure Entertainingnew
While the film loses some steam before its lackluster amusement-park ending, there are enough laughs and old-fashioned zombie kills to keep even the most casual fans of the horror-comedy genre happy.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
10-07-2009 |
Reviews
In His Biofuels-Promoting Doc 'Fuel,' Joshua Tickell Tries to Do Too Muchnew
Joshua Tickell is very serious about biodiesel. Also, he just married a folk singer; he hates pollution; and he has a video camera. In short: Watch out, America, because there's a documentary full of sincerity coming your way.
Tucson Weekly |
James DiGiovanna |
10-07-2009 |
Reviews
The Coen Brothers Make Their Most Personal, Most Maddening Film Yetnew
The Coens have never made a movie like A Serious Man before, combining the screwball sensibilities of O Brother with the larger issues of No Country. But this isn’t an existential film -- far from it.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
10-07-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: A Serious Man, The Coen Brothers
John Patton Ford Hopes to Hit the Film Festival Circuit with 'Patrol'new
Ford's star continues to rise. Patrol was a finalist in the prestigious Angelus Student Film Festival, and two AFI grad school screenings sold out. Ford's parents were there to share his big moment.
Charleston City Paper |
Nick Smith |
10-07-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
'Tony Manero' Shows Us That the Flipside of Pop Culture Escapism is Soul-Sucking Insanitynew
Shot on Super 16mm film, employing a handheld camera that purposely loses focus, and creating a seedy, claustrophobic atmosphere of despair, Tony Manero is the kind of edgy, angering work cinephiles flock to because it seems so much more uncompromising than it is.
Metro Times |
Jeff Meyers |
10-06-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Pablo Larrain, Tony Manero
