AltWeeklies Wire
'Milk' Is a Fitting Tributenew
The success of Milk is due in part to The Times of Harvey Milk, the Oscar-winning documentary that Van Sant uses as a template. But Milk exceeds its source material.
Eugene Weekly |
Jason Blair |
12-16-2008 |
Reviews
Soderbergh Brings 'Che' to Miami; Angry Hysteria Ensuesnew
Just before his new epic about Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara cued up, Soderbergh pronounced, nodding toward the street, "Obviously not everyone is glad we're here. But I'm glad we're all here tonight."
Miami New Times |
Tim Elfrink |
12-15-2008 |
Movies
'Holidays' is a Tired Collection of Christmas Clichesnew
Despite the flatness of the pic, the cast is a veritable who's-who of prized Latino actors including character-actor-turned-headliner John Leguizamo, leather-faced Luis Guzman and household matriarch Elizabeth Pena.
Montreal Mirror |
Christopher Sykes |
12-15-2008 |
Reviews
'Azur & Asmar' Restores Fantasy to Animationnew
In the age of infinite Shreks and perfectionist CGI, the French animated feature Azur & Asmar feels like a throwback in more ways than one.
The Portland Mercury |
Marjorie Skinner |
12-12-2008 |
Reviews
The Long and (Oscar-) Worthy Road to Redemption of 'The Reader'new
Like Doubt, Stephen Daldry's The Reader is low-budget, high-profile and beamed straight at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Category of High Moral Tone.
L.A. Weekly |
Ella Taylor |
12-12-2008 |
Reviews
The 2008 Heroic Holiday DVD and Blu-ray Gift Guidenew
At the end of this year, when you're deciding between making December's mortgage payment or spending just a little bit more for little (or big) Billy's holiday gift, keep in mind that dear, cute Billy will always fondly remember 2008 as the year that his beloved superheroes whammed!
Boston Phoenix |
Brett Michel |
12-12-2008 |
Movies
Clint Eastwood Finds Salvation in 'Gran Torino'new
Above all, Gran Torino feels like a summation of everything he represents as a filmmaker and a movie star, and perhaps also a farewell.
L.A. Weekly |
Scott Foundas |
12-12-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino
'Doubt' Wags the Finger of Moral Relativismnew
With its bristling topicality, ritzy cast and the added bonus of Roger Deakins' gracefully bleak cinematography, Doubt is being squired around town as prime Oscar bait. But in Shanley’s hands, it only looks deep.
L.A. Weekly |
Ella Taylor |
12-12-2008 |
Reviews
'Nothing Like the Holidays' is Simple, Soapy and Heartwarmingnew
It's surprisingly easy to get sucked into this daytime drama, albeit guiltily and gleefully.
Las Vegas Weekly |
Jeffrey M. Anderson |
12-12-2008 |
Reviews
'Gran Torino' Finds Clint Funny and Still Toughnew
While Gran Torino is not without serious aspects, it feels far more "commercial" than Changeling or than such Eastwood award-winners as Bird, Unforgiven, Mystic River and Million Dollar Baby.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
12-12-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino
Inside the Deeply Bizarre World of IMDb Movie Suggestionsnew
Let's take a second look at the sometimes incomprehensible "recommendations" feature on the Internet Movie Database website (www.imdb.com). As you'll soon see, some of these recommendations are rather unexpected.
Fast Forward Weekly |
John Tebbutt |
12-11-2008 |
Movies
'Let the Right One In': After 'Twilight'new
In a year that may be remembered as the year of the youth vampire movie, Swedish film Let the Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in) has considerable more bite than Twilight.
Fast Forward Weekly |
Shelley Arnusch |
12-11-2008 |
Reviews
'Milk' is Refreshingnew
Biopic balances mainstream Hollywood with gay politics.
Fast Forward Weekly |
Bryn Evans |
12-11-2008 |
Reviews
'Milk' Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black Finds Inspiration Both Personal and Politicalnew
"When I was done with the script, I was going to take it out to some directors, and Cleve said, 'No, let me send it out,' and he gave it to Gus." From there, the film came together very quickly -- in a matter of weeks, the producers and Sean Penn were on board.
Fast Forward Weekly |
Bryn Evans |
12-11-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
'Azur & Asmar': Middle Eastern Promisesnew
French writer-director Michel Ocelot has injected a message about racial and religious tolerance into his otherwise nursery-school simple feature, so there's a bit of a twist in the boys-rescues-girl climax that provides a teachable moment.
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olszewski |
12-11-2008 |
Reviews
