AltWeeklies Wire
The Kult of Al Kaprieliannew
New England weather-caster Al Kaprielian is not at all like the smooth-talking and self-possessed meteorologists on the air in major markets. And his eccentric delivery has won him a cult following to rival -- well, David Bowie.
Boston Phoenix |
Mike Miliard |
02-05-2009 |
Movies
'Fanboys': Honoring Geek Eruditionnew
Dull social commentators compare Star Wars to religion, but Fanboys commemorates how crazily fans anticipated the opening of Star Wars Episode I:The Phantom Menace. Fanboys is actually about the sweetness of innocuous/inane adolescent passion.
New York Press |
Armond White |
02-05-2009 |
Reviews
Laika Launches 'Coraline,' and Its Creators Wonder: What Now?new
There are fewer than 1,000 people in the world who specialize in stop-motion animation. Many of the 30 animators who worked on Coraline, as well as the more than 250 technicians and designers who labored alongside them, came to Portland with the hope that Laika represented something more stable.
Willamette Week |
Aaron Mesh |
02-04-2009 |
Movies
'Coraline' Turns a Dark Fairy Tale into a Dazzling Stop-Motion Horror Film
What potential viewers will need to wrap their heads around is that while Coraline may be about childhood, it isn't really for children.
Salt Lake City Weekly |
Scott Renshaw |
02-02-2009 |
Reviews
Winter Walk: Lance Hammer's 'Ballast'new
A confident, if downbeat debut, Ballast eschews "indie" style for lean storytelling.
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Al Hoff |
02-02-2009 |
Reviews
Daydream Believer: 'Waltz With Bashir'new
Israeli filmmaker Ari Folman reconstructs a tragedy using animations and his own experiences as a grunt soldier.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Sam Adams |
01-27-2009 |
Reviews
Sundance Rewind: 2009 Sundance Film Festival Recap
In a weird year for Sundance -- and the world -- I guess you had to laugh if you didn't want to cry.
Salt Lake City Weekly |
Scott Renshaw |
01-26-2009 |
Movies
Tags: Sundance Film Festival
'Of Time and the City' Bestows Emotional Grandeur to the Everydaynew
In a new documentary, Terence Davies connects intimate yearnings to his political and existential quandary to demonstrate the importance of movies and music as means of spiritual sustenance.
New York Press |
Armond White |
01-22-2009 |
Reviews
'Inkheart' Makes a False Cinematic Start
Based on Cornelia Funke's 2003 fantasy kid's novel, director Ian Softley makes a half-hearted adaptation that's further diminished by Brendon Fraser's signature boy scout performance as Mo Flochart.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
01-19-2009 |
Reviews
Biopic 'Notorious' Has Biggie-Sized Moral Lessonsnew
It's not acting that makes Notorious a miss. It's that the plot lines are convoluted, the genre's cliches are in full effect (from audio flashbacks to magazine-cover montages), and the whole thing screams both "Too soon!" and "Too innocent!"
Willamette Week |
Casey Jarman |
01-14-2009 |
Reviews
'Revolutionary Road' is an Uneasy Reunion for Winslet and DiCaprionew
Onscreen, the familiarity of their coupling only highlights Revolutionary Road's bleakness: Even if the boat hadn't gone down in Titanic, the film tells us, these lovebirds were still doomed.
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olszewski |
01-08-2009 |
Reviews
Darren Aronofsky Talks About Mickey Rourke's Comeback in 'The Wrestler'new
In the 1980s, Rourke was one of his generation's best actors, but he ditched the movies to try to make it as a pro boxer. When he discovered he needed Hollywood, it no longer needed him. Even director Darren Aronofsky was initially skeptical.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
01-07-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Delayed Gratification of 2009's Movie Awards Seasonnew
Surveying a couple hundred year-end lists by movie reviewers and entertainment writers can be a soul-squishing thing, particularly if you read the reasoning and rationales, the dithers, the doubts, the demurrals, the dishing and dashing to and fro, recurring, recurring.
Chicago Newcity |
Ray Pride |
01-07-2009 |
Movies
Rod Lurie Makes a Political Thriller for Our Times
Clearly inspired by Judith Miller's role in the Valerie Plame case, writer/director Rod Lurie takes dramatic liberties to allow for a provocative treatment of an ongoing battle for civil liberties exacted in the name of national security.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
01-05-2009 |
Reviews
Clint Eastwood Bids a Limp Farewell to Acting in the Laughable 'Gran Torino'
As Eastwood delivers his self-professed farewell performance in Gran Torino, people are lining up to hand him gold statuettes -- this despite the fact this may be one of the worst performances ever by a guy who's turned in a lot of fairly lame ones.
Salt Lake City Weekly |
Scott Renshaw |
01-02-2009 |
Reviews
