AltWeeklies Wire
Blaxploitation-Inspired French Action Flick 'Black' is Rife With Weirdnessnew
Turning thumbs up or down on this movie would be a complete waste of time. Why? Because your opinion will change every five minutes (which is, perhaps, more than enough reason to justify its existence).
The Georgia Straight |
Mark Harris |
09-22-2009 |
Reviews
'The Girl From Monaco': Trial and Erosnew
To say that writer-director Anne Fontaine's film wanders from genre to genre doesn't exalt her (and Benoit Graffin's) screenplay, but their transparent lift of the trio relationship from Simone de Beauvoir's She Came to Stay is an inspired move.
San Antonio Current |
Ashley Lindstrom |
07-29-2009 |
Reviews
'Shall We Kiss?' is a Wonderful, Sexy Romance from Francenew
Director Emmanuel Mouret achieves the kind of total submission to a filmmaker that's usually reserved for edge-of-your-seat thrillers and, in a way, that's what he has made: an expertly suspenseful romance.
Orlando Weekly |
Justin Strout |
06-19-2009 |
Reviews
'Summer Hours' is Close to a Masterpiecenew
This is not a sentimental catalogue like Arnaud Desplechin's overpraised (and ultimately unpopular) A Christmas Tale. Assayas reconciles change and regret, which gives a spectral sense to material value.
New York Press |
Armond White |
05-14-2009 |
Reviews
'Welcome' to a Quaint Comedynew
From an outsider's perspective, Welcome to the Sticks is a straightforward fish-out-of-water comedy, but something in this warm French comedy captured the national imagination. A third of the country went to see it in theaters, unseating Titanic as the top-grossing film ever released in France.
Fast Forward Weekly |
Peter Hemminger |
02-19-2009 |
Reviews
'The Grocer's Son' is a Pastoral Respite from the Larger Conflicts of the Worldnew
The real stars of the movie are the crusty rustics in the background. Writer-director Eric Guirado reportedly spent months observing a passing way of life in this region before turning the locals into actors, and the effect is less predictable than is the central story.
The Georgia Straight |
Ken Eisner |
01-13-2009 |
Reviews
'The Class': To Sir, With Attitudenew
French cinema is famously dialogue-heavy, but next to Arnaud Desplechin's A Christmas Tale, The Class qualifies hands down as the chattiest movie of the year.
L.A. Weekly |
Ella Taylor |
12-19-2008 |
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
It's All in the Details in 'I've Loved You So Long'new
French novelist Philippe Claudel's first feature as director is a quiet, layered narrative with a remarkable central performance by Kristin Scott-Thomas.
Chicago Newcity |
Ray Pride |
10-29-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
'The Last Mistress': Pretentious Liaisonsnew
Once again, Catherine Breillat is unintentionally funny, or, if funny on purpose, then she's really pulled something off.
Tucson Weekly |
James DiGiovanna |
10-24-2008 |
Reviews
