AltWeeklies Wire
The Oscars: Short Takesnew
Which of the Oscar-nominated Short Films deserves a gold statue?
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Harry Kloman |
02-22-2011 |
Movies
Tags: Oscars 2011, Short Films
'Babies'new
Filmmaker Thomas Balmes contrasts the lives of privileged babies with those in the developing world.
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Harry Kloman |
05-10-2010 |
Reviews
'Throw Down Your Heart' Would Make a Better Soundtrack than a Movienew
The premise here is simple: Despite its toothless-white-guy connotations, the banjo comes from Africa -- and Grammy-winning banjo genius Bela Fleck is bringing it home. But really, that mission is mostly just an excuse for Fleck to jam with musicians across the continent.
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Chris Potter |
09-21-2009 |
Reviews
Ang Lee's Behind-the-Scenes Woodstock Dramedy is a Charmernew
Woodstock happened 40 years ago this month, and we still can't quit it. In Taking Woodstock, director Ang Lee and screenwriter James Schamus do their lovin' best to flash us back to a time when sex wasn't fatal (although some abortions were) and people still had the audacity to keep hope alive.
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Harry Kloman |
08-31-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Taking Woodstock, Ang Lee
Tyson Tells His Story, Warts and Allnew
Tyson is obviously a must for fans of the sweet science, but the film's larger narrative about a man in search of redemption and understanding transcends any specifics about boxing.
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Al Hoff |
06-08-2009 |
Reviews
Six Animated Black-and-White Shorts Shed Some Light on Fearnew
Fear(s) of the Dark is a French-produced, 85-minute compilation of six animated shorts. Fear is the common denominator in these films; so too is "dark."
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Al Hoff |
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
Windshield Wipers Ruin One Man's Life in 'Flash of Genuis'new
This is, without question, the most gripping film about intermittent windshield wipers ever made.
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Chris Potter |
10-06-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Flash of Genius, Marc Abraham
Richard Gere, Diane Lane, a Beach and a Romancenew
It doesn't really matter that you've seen it before. It doesn't matter that you know Lane and Gere will end up hooking up to ease their pain and suffering. It doesn't matter because, as a whole, the film works very well.
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Charlie Deitch |
09-29-2008 |
Reviews
'Dancing in Amdo' Questions Some Basic Assumptions About Tibetnew
The first thing you'll wonder about filmmaker Carl Cimini's documentary about Tibet under Chinese rule, is, "How'd he score an interview with the Dalai Lama?"
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Bill O'Driscoll |
09-08-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Misplaced Cell Phones and Lies Create a Twisty Thriller in 'Deception'new
If you can handle another fatal attraction, Deception ambles along companionably, pretending, if not quite succeeding, to be smarter than it is.
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Al Hoff |
05-05-2008 |
Reviews
What Do '88 Minutes' and 'Baby Mama' Have in Common?new
The unforgiving advance of time, leading to great panic and momentous life-or-death decisions. Both films are also funny -- but only one is meant to be.
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Al Hoff |
04-28-2008 |
Reviews
Cute Space Alien + Poor Boy = Gooey Sillinessnew
Hong Kong superstar director-actor Stephen Chow takes a detour from his anarchic, martial-arts comedies and winds up in the sentimental cinema-land of very cute kids and furry toys.
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Al Hoff |
04-21-2008 |
Reviews
The Sweet Lifenew
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is set in England on the eve of World War II and offers pretty, slinky dresses; a bit of bed-hopping; and lies, lies, lies. But as a parlor comedy, it guarantees both a lighter journey and an uncomplicated, upbeat conclusion.
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Al Hoff |
03-10-2008 |
Reviews
Pete Travis Misses the Marknew
The president's been shot! In Vantage Point , a vaguely political action thriller, the president of the United States gets shot a lot.
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Al Hoff |
03-03-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Pete Travis, Vantage Point
