AltWeeklies Wire
'What Just Happened?' Proves Barry Levinson Still Can't Directnew
In addition to getting wrong the proverbial Hollywood shibboleths (about violence, pets, etc.), Levinson and screenwriter Art Linson fake concern over selling out when everybody knows it is the way of things: Our tabloid media specializes in celebrating it.
New York Press |
Armond White |
10-16-2008 |
Reviews
Oliver Stone Doesn't Settle for Easy Ridicule, He Looks Deep Inside Bush's Soulnew
The hard work of Stone’'s new film about George Bush -- that uses the synecdoche title W. -- is to avoid impertinence and rebuild the concepts of fairness and empathy while examining the Bush enigma.
New York Press |
Armond White |
10-16-2008 |
Reviews
'Trouble the Water' Eyes Katrina from Inside the Stormnew
With three years' worth of outraged hindsight to go on, the Robertses' shaky-handed coverage and Deal and Lessin's focus on storytelling make Trouble the Water a digestible account -- and an indispensable supplement to our understanding of just what the hell happened in New Orleans.
Willamette Week |
Saundra Sorenson |
10-16-2008 |
Reviews
Dakota Fanning is Abused by Racism and Breakfast Foods in 'Bees'new
In case you are pondering whether to take your children -- or, bless your sweet little heart, yourself -- to see The Secret Life of Bees, it seems helpful to clarify up front that this is the Southern-set Dakota Fanning movie in which Dakota Fanning does not get raped. (That would be Hounddog.)
Willamette Week |
Aaron Mesh |
10-16-2008 |
Reviews
Ridley Scott's Latest is Covert Chaosnew
Body of Lies makes no sense at times, but the action and the acting make it fun and exciting.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
10-15-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Ridley Scott, Body of Lies
'The Exiles' is a Moody Explorationnew
The restored version of a 1961 movie following Native Americans in L.A. offers an experience in film textures.
Tucson Weekly |
James DiGiovanna |
10-15-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Kent Mackenzie, The Exiles
Weathermen Doc 'The Weather Underground' Lets You Make the Callnew
With Barack Obama's William Ayers connection becoming recent fodder for GOP attacks, this Oscar-nominated 2002 documentary is making a timely appearance in theaters.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
10-15-2008 |
Reviews
'Transsiberian' Runs Off Tracknew
The dissolution of the Hollywood Production Code in favor of the more lenient MPAA Rating system led to an upping of the ante in regards what was required of a film to consternate the modern, habituated movie buff and, in this climate, a straightforward thriller such as Transsiberian simply lacks the punch that most audiences expect.
Boise Weekly |
Jeremiah Robert Wierenga |
10-14-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Brad Anderson, Transsiberian
Conservative Comedy 'An American Carol' Misses the Marknew
Satire has to be brutal sometimes, but festooning a story with essentially baseless putdowns is not only gratuitously mean-spirited, it also blunts the real point. In An American Carol, all leftists and all pacifists -- in fact, everybody except gun-toting militarists -- are mindless, hypocritical sheep.
Pasadena Weekly |
Andy Klein |
10-14-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: David Zucker, An American Carol
New Documentary Shines a Light on Dick Clark and Philly's Payola Pastnew
Wages of Spin looks deeply into the ways Clark's vertical integration in the record publishing business, record pressing business and talent representation screwed over many a little guy.
Philadelphia City Paper |
A.D. Amorosi |
10-14-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
'Call + Response': Slavery Is Bigger Than Illegal Downloading?new
A Bay Area musician and Live Aid baby, Justin Dillon recently discovered human trafficking, then decided to make a movie about it.
Seattle Weekly |
Brian Miller |
10-14-2008 |
Reviews
Guy Ritchie Refuses to be Swept Awaynew
Ritchie's got some pair, and I'm not talking about the cojones it takes to play Mr. Madonna to a world-class ball breaker.
NOW Magazine |
Barrett Hooper |
10-14-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Guy Ritchie, RocknRolla
Gil Kenan Practically Created an Entire Physical Realm for 'City of Ember'new
It's a worthy heir to other visually memorable fantasies like City of Lost Children, Brazil, and Tron -- but will Kenan be happy if his movie is only beloved by a core group of art-direction fanatics?
Baltimore City Paper |
Violet Glaze |
10-14-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Gil Kenan, City of Ember
Filmmakers Turn Lens On Baltimore's Growing Latino Populationnew
Viva El Cine Latino, a Latino short film festival, is a long-overdue examination of Baltimore's Latino culture through language and how linguistic misunderstandings can lead, through pain and confusion, to growth and catharsis.
Baltimore City Paper |
Robbie Whelan |
10-14-2008 |
Movies
Oliver Stone Tells Bush Junior's Infamous Story
Stone's unpolished but finely tuned biopic of Western Civilization's most controversial leader is a straight-ahead dramatized biographical film that pedals between George W. Bush's misspent youth and his days in public office.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
10-13-2008 |
Reviews
