AltWeeklies Wire
Colin Farrell Enlivens Fright Nightnew
The movie's almost as ridiculously entertaining as Colin Farrell's performance, which has him hissing at beams of sunlight in mid-sentence and casually telling prospective victims "Catch ya later!" as they run away.
One Day is a Long Timenew
As the film checks on its characters each June 15 for 20 years, the date appears in dainty cursive font that floats, blows away and, at one point, pops up in a toaster. It's typical of the twee tone that undercuts the story's potential.
Page One: Inside the New York Times explains why we still need journalismnew
Page One explores difficult economic and philosophical questions: How do we monetize the migration of journalism to the Web? What is the level of accountability, not just for old-school journalism but for blogs and nontraditional media as well?
Harry Potter and the Timelessness of Art in Deathly Hallows: Part 2new
"Of course it's happening inside your head, Harry. But that doesn't mean it's not real."
The Closer Ends This Yearnew
The TNT crime drama The Closer ends after seven seasons. Farewell to a great show we hardly saw.
Tags: The Closer
Transformers: Dark of the Moon is Michael Bay's loud, jingoistic metaphornew
"We're pretty much all Republicans around here."
Coogan and Brydon take their shtick on the road in The Tripnew
The reliably adventurous Michael Winterbottom has latched onto a pretty foolproof low-budget gambit with this amiable, often riotous road film.
Terrence Malick's Latest Visual Epic, The Tree of Lifenew
Malick claimed the prestigious Palme d'Or with The Tree of Life, and with this effort, he's tripping along at a rate of about one film per decade.
Digging Up Secrets in the Intense and Absorbing Incendiesnew
Their late mother's instructions are shocking and cold: "Bury me with no casket, no prayers, naked, facedown, away from the world."
France's Bloody 16th Century Comes to Lifenew
The Princess of Montpensier tells the story of a 16th-century noblewoman whose body is not her own, and who lives in a world in which marriages are political alliances and prudent women suppress their romantic feelings.
Morgan Spurlock Gets Irrelevantnew
It's a huckster's dream: Spurlock makes his movie, the sponsors promote their brand, and the film distributor pockets a tidy sum. The audience is the one left holding the shopping bag.
Kristen Wiig gets Apatow-ed in Bridesmaidsnew
If nothing else, Bridesmaids rebuts the criticism that Judd Apatow's films are nothing but wish-fulfillment scenarios for schlubby guys; in this one, whininess and low self-esteem are definitely gender-neutral.
Will Ferrell Gets Semi-Serious in Everything Must Gonew
Everything Must Go is a commentary about the artificiality of suburbia as well as an earnest fable about a man who must confront and let go of his past in order to embark on a better future.
Tags: Will Ferrell, Everything Must Go
Well-Timed Danish Drama In a Better World Examines Violence and Vengeancenew
It's to the credit of Susanne Bier's film that, even as it sets up fairly Manichean conflicts, it discourages us from taking pleasure in easy violence.
Monks on the Brink in Stirring 'Of Gods and Men'new
Of Gods and Men is concerned about faith, courage and love. The group of eight men, all in their 50s or older, must confront their fear of death -- and ready themselves to submit to it humbly, as witnesses to their vows.
Tags: Xavier Beauvois, Of Gods and Men
