AltWeeklies Wire
Judge for Yourselfnew
This is a rare opportunity to see what's considered the best in the field of short docs -- plus all four nominees have a socio-political bent.
Austin Chronicle |
Steve Davis |
04-07-2006 |
Reviews
Poet and Activist Praisednew
John Trudell, the Native American rights activist, is the subject of this reverential biographical portrait that feels more like a press package than a full-fledged biopic.
Austin Chronicle |
Marjorie Baumgarten |
03-31-2006 |
Reviews
Tags: Heather Rae, Trudell
Failure to Ignitenew
This snarkily playful little comedy gets so wrapped up in its own barbed witticisms that it fails to land even the lightest sucker-punches on the institutions it aims to skewer.
Austin Chronicle |
Marc Savlov |
03-31-2006 |
Reviews
Small Face, Big Impactnew
This rock documentary about musician Ronnie Lane can be described in one word (or is it three?): Ooh la la.
Austin Chronicle |
Marjorie Baumgarten |
03-31-2006 |
Reviews
Failed Inspectionnew
This movie is so exasperating it's driven our reviewer to escape into song.
Austin Chronicle |
Steve Davis |
03-31-2006 |
Reviews
The War to End All Warsnew
The title suggests a seasonal release, but this remarkable film is very much of the moment, suggesting the futility of war by depicting the "Christmas truce" of 1914 from three sides in the battle.
Austin Chronicle |
Marrit Ingman |
03-31-2006 |
Reviews
Tags: Christian Carion, Joyeux Noel
Watered-Down Sequelnew
An exercise in the superfluous, this sequel lacks the original film's geniality -- and all of its pro-environment stumping.
Austin Chronicle |
Kimberley Jones |
03-31-2006 |
Reviews
Family Life After the Fall of the Wallnew
As two German families collide, this film explores its characters' shared history to unravel the challenges of political and personal reunification.
Austin Chronicle |
Marrit Ingman |
03-31-2006 |
Reviews
Tags: Dani Levy, Go for Zucker!
Exoneratednew
Like the criminal justice system it portrays, Find Me Guilty ultimately works a great deal better than you might expect.
Austin Chronicle |
Marjorie Baumgarten |
03-31-2006 |
Reviews
Tags: Sidney Lumet, Find Me Guilty
Instinctive Gag Reflexnew
This wholly unwarranted sequel is so outrageously preposterous (and chockablock with bad dialogue) that the end result achieves a basement grandeur of near-epic proportions.
Austin Chronicle |
Marc Savlov |
03-31-2006 |
Reviews
Skating Past the Clichésnew
This wicked smart examination of black kids in modern Atlanta features talented young actors navigating the circuitous path to adulthood while spending their downtime at the local roller rink.
Austin Chronicle |
Marc Savlov |
03-31-2006 |
Reviews
Tags: ATL, Chris Robinson
Blank Slate Equals Movie's Fatenew
The ambitions of this intriguing documentary about one man's amnesia far outweigh its accomplishments.
Austin Chronicle |
Marjorie Baumgarten |
03-24-2006 |
Reviews
Tags: Rupert Murray, Unknown White Male
Leader of the Pack Felled by a Babynew
Winner of the 2005 Best Foreign Language Oscar, this South African entry is a harsh but ultimately redemptive tale of a young gang leader who lives in a Johannesburg shantytown.
Austin Chronicle |
Marjorie Baumgarten |
03-24-2006 |
Reviews
Tags: Gavin Hood, Tsotsi
Period Threads and Story Strandsnew
Tristram Shandy's inspired, breakneck madness provides a good forum for Michael Winterbottom's chief talent: the illumination of human nature, with all its messes and occasional marvels.
Austin Chronicle |
Kimberley Jones |
03-24-2006 |
Reviews
Who's That Girl?new
Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night gets a teen-movie rehash in this manic panic of a mess that never rises to even the lowest levels of the Bard’s cross-dressing comedy of errors.
Austin Chronicle |
Marc Savlov |
03-24-2006 |
Reviews
Tags: Andy Fickman, She's the Man
