AltWeeklies Wire
The Smart, Timely 'District 9' Livens a Dull Summer Movie Seasonnew
The standard action plot demotes District 9 from a potential game-changer to simply a very good film. But considering the painful summer movie season we've endured thus far, you can't ask for much more than that.
Orlando Weekly |
Justin Strout |
08-13-2009 |
Reviews
John Hughes Made Millions of Teens (Including Me) Think He Was Speaking Directly to Themnew
There are still great movies made for and about teenagers now. But John Hughes wrote our movies and introduced us to our own teenage angst for the first time. And nothing new, no matter how great, can ever take that away.
SEE Magazine |
Mari Sasano |
08-13-2009 |
Movies
Tags: 80s movies, John Hughes
'Summer Hours': Helene Doesn't Live Here Anymorenew
Three siblings must sell off their late mother's art-filled country house in the exquisite Summer Hours
SEE Magazine |
Paul Matwychuk |
08-13-2009 |
Reviews
'A Perfect Getaway' is an Enjoyable Thriller With 'Cult Film' Written All Over Itnew
Director David Twohy's casting of Steve Zahn as his lead in A Perfect Getaway turns out to be a masterstroke. Zahn, a decent supporting actor in past comedies and dramas, gets perhaps his biggest chance to show off his chops in this surprising summer thriller that's far better than expected.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
08-12-2009 |
Reviews
'Summer Hours': French Feelingsnew
The final third of Summer Hours makes the film worthy -- but audiences may not have enough patience.
Tucson Weekly |
James DiGiovanna |
08-12-2009 |
Reviews
The YouTube-ification of Public-Access TV in San Francisco is About to Beginnew
California has joined some 20 states in largely letting cable companies off the hook for funding public-access TV. Dozens of cities have lost their stations altogether, and in San Francisco, the operating budget has been hacked to a fifth of its former level. And the old cast of kooky cable programmers doesn't like it one bit.
The Aliens in 'District 9' Aren't Very Sharp ... the Director Thinks You Aren't, Eithernew
I have faith that Neill Blomkamp will one day make a film that's a marvel from beginning to end. The question is whether he can muster the necessary faith in us. We're smart enough for you, Blomkamp. Take your best shot.
Willamette Week |
Chris Stamm |
08-12-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: District 9, Neill Blomkamp
The Ancient Sorcery in 'Ponyo' is Exceptionally Suited to the Very Youngnew
For the first time since early Hayao Miyazaki works like My Neighbor Totoro or Kiki's Delivery Service, it is possible to bring your preschoolers to the theater without fear of frightening them.
Willamette Week |
Aaron Mesh |
08-12-2009 |
Reviews
'In the Loop' is a Dark Satire for Dark Daysnew
Taking his cue from The Office, Armando Iannucci delivers a deliciously corrosive backstage view of the Iraq War years, as Brits and Yanks danced around what they knew was a foregone conclusion of their own making.
San Antonio Current |
Jeff Meyers |
08-12-2009 |
Reviews
The Biggest Problem With 'Funny Books' is Also the Hardest to Criticizenew
Complaining that this film, which follows the lives of three comic-book-store employees, makes too many geek references is like griping about the gratuitous hardcore sex in Deep Throat.
San Antonio Current |
Jeremy Martin |
08-12-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Funny Books, James Christopher
'Soul Power': Papa's Got a Brand-New Documentarynew

The footage assembled for Soul Power was shot by four cameramen, and it reflects Albert Maysles' "direct cinema" movement, that philosophy of keeping documentaries immersed in the moment. But when that moment has been excavated from the stratum of 35 years, it attains an immense poignancy.
Willamette Week |
Aaron Mesh |
08-12-2009 |
Reviews
'(500) Days of Summer' Ain't No Sunshinenew
Whatever became of the rom-com? Back in the early- to mid-90s, it was simple. Boy meets girl. Girl isn't interested. Boy chases girl until he catches her. Done and done.
Boise Weekly |
Jeremiah Wierenga |
08-12-2009 |
Reviews
'District 9' is the Summer Sci-Fi Movie You've Been Waiting Fornew

The movie is exactly what you want in a big Hollywood movie: a solid, intricate story that's not too over-plotted to follow, good acting, terrific special effects, solid humor and even a message to digest. Perhaps that's why Hollywood had very little to do with it.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
08-12-2009 |
Reviews
Talking Horror With the Creators of 'Saw' and 'The Collector'new

Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan are the writers and director of The Collector, a low budget attempt to meld two popular film genres: the tense thriller and the blood-spattered horror flick. They offer up some interesting observations about the two genres and show boundless enthusiasm for the finer points of cinematic pain and suffering.
Metro Times |
Jeff Meyers |
08-11-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
'Humpday': Zack And Murray Make A Pornonew
Two straight buddies decide to give gay sex a try in Lynn Shelton's smartly written film.
SEE Magazine |
Paul Matwychuk |
08-10-2009 |
Reviews