AltWeeklies Wire
Shot in the Blart
Observe and Report is a mean, unfunny mess.
'The Soloist' Is As Much About the Power of Music to Transform As It Is About Friendshipnew
You can learn more about the story of mentally ill musical prodigy Nathaniel Ayers in a 12-minute segment of a March 60 Minutes broadcast than in the 109 minutes of The Soloist. But what a wonderful 109 minutes they are.
San Antonio Current |
John Thomason |
04-22-2009 |
Reviews
The Circle Of Inconvenient Half-Truthsnew
Disney's Earth is a stunning spectacle of nature's richness, packaged and delivered without the faintest whiff of corporate deception. But don't worry, it's in there.
San Antonio Current |
Greg Harman |
04-22-2009 |
Reviews
'Lymelife' Nails a Savvy Balance of Comedy and Dramanew
Do we really need another dysfunctional-family flashback with the requisite retro pop hits, pot smoking (back when it came dirt cheap), awkward virginity loss, and nostalgically horrible decor? Sure, why not?
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
Dennis Harvey |
04-22-2009 |
Reviews
The Heroic Optimism of Anvilnew
It has been a long, strange trip for Anvil, but the trajectory has been smoothly downward. As Anvil! The Story of Anvil trails Anvil through an increasingly dire European tour, what distinguishes the film is Sacha Gervasi's palpable affection for her subjects, and her subjects' awareness of themselves.
Willamette Week |
Aaron Mesh |
04-22-2009 |
Reviews
Bare-Knuckles: Dito Montiel Hits His Sophomore Slump
Writer/director Dito Montiel drops down a few rungs after his promising debut film A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, with an undernourished drama about small-town fighter Shawn MacArthur (played by Channing Tatum) who comes to Manhattan where he meets two-bit hustler Harvey Boarden (Terrence Howard).
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
04-20-2009 |
Reviews
'The Soloist': Mispronounced Orchestration
Heartfelt performances from Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx can't counteract a lack of narrative focus that prevents the film from taking hold, although they are entrancing in and of themselves.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
04-20-2009 |
Reviews
Why Filmmakers Love Stranded Polar Bearsnew
Filmmaker Todd Anders Johnson films Alaskan glaciers for a salient image of the dangers of climate change. But will it move the pundit class?
Boulder Weekly |
Dylan Otto Krider |
04-19-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Mall Nut: 'Observe and Report'new
Observe and Report delivers a healthy dose of laughs—and gasps.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
04-16-2009 |
Reviews
Compelling Case: '12'new
12 is like 12 Angry Men, except that it's Russian, and it takes place in a high school gym.
Tucson Weekly |
James DiGiovanna |
04-16-2009 |
Reviews
New Doc on 'A Chorus Line' Misses the Marknew
Reality TV has squandered the great impulse toward cultural-political exploration by turning democracy and the documentary into bread and circuses. This tragedy defeats Every Little Step, the first doc to chronicle A Chorus Line's creation.
New York Press |
Armond White |
04-16-2009 |
Reviews
'State of Play''s Thrills Put Reporters Above the Foldnew
Russell Crowe anchors an engrossing film that offers a timely tribute to print newspapers during their possible twilight.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Curt Holman |
04-15-2009 |
Reviews
Hollywood Explains the Fall of Real Journalismnew
I am a profound fan of State of Play, the tele-cinematical crumpet of solemn and fervent perfection the BBC offered us in 2003. Therefore, I am so glad to be able to say Hollywood didn't fuck up boiling down that six-hour story into a two-hour, 2009 version.
Charleston City Paper |
Maryann Johanson |
04-15-2009 |
Reviews
Post-'K-Ville'new
New Orleans could get a proper prime-time spotlight with David Simon's Treme, whose pilot shoot wrapped earlier this month. Now all HBO needs to say is "go."
Another Young Star Tries on a Familiar Generic Premise in '17 Again'
It's High School Musical star Zac Efron's turn to attempt name-above-the-title status, and 17 Again sort of works -- except that one wild card steals Efron's thunder.
Salt Lake City Weekly |
Scott Renshaw |
04-14-2009 |
Reviews
