AltWeeklies Wire
'Coco Before Chanel' Looks Fabulous but Hangs Kinda Funnynew
While bolstered by the magnetic central performance of the always-charming Audrey Tautou and some damn fine period re-creation, Coco Before Chanel is also restrained by slow pacing and a general lack of drama.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O'Leary |
11-03-2009 |
Reviews
Is 'Amelia' Ready for Takeoff?new
Sticking to the period of the middle 1930s during which she became a celebrity, Mira Nair's film doesn't have much to add to the Earhart lore, but by necessity of movie convention does have much to subtract from the actual life.
C-Ville Weekly |
Jonathan Kiefer |
10-28-2009 |
Reviews
'Amelia' is a Handsome, Dull and Utterly Banal Earhart Biographynew
Mira Nair's film is old-school Hollywood in that musty, detached way that impresses no one and ultimately does a disservice to the person it so dutifully strains to deify.
Metro Times |
Jeff Meyers |
10-27-2009 |
Reviews
Hilary Swank Talks About Mastering Amelia Earhart's Walk and Talknew
"You may think you know how it ends," Swank says about Amelia, "but you have to see it to see if it ends the way you think it does, because there are a lot of theories about it."
Artvoice |
M. Faust |
10-23-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
'Coco Before Chanel' is an Inspiring Portrait of a Rebel Feministnew
Though its subject is arguably the most recognizable in fashion, Coco Before Chanel is more concerned with individuality than clothing. As Coco Chanel herself once famously put it, "Fashion passes, style remains."
The Portland Mercury |
Marjorie Skinner |
10-22-2009 |
Reviews
'The Damned United' is One Damned Entertaining Movie
In his portrayal of famed British soccer team manager Brian Clough, Michael Sheen solidifies his status as this generation's Laurence Olivier.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
10-05-2009 |
Reviews
In 'Julie & Julia', Two Biopics Boil Down to Half-Greatnessnew
There's half of a great movie in Julie & Julia -- but since Meryl Streep has already starred in one titled Julia, perhaps it was merely necessary to tack on the "Julie" half to distinguish Nora Ephron's butter-basted effort from its Lillian Hellman's mayonnaise-covered predecessor.
Dallas Observer |
Robert Wilonsky |
08-10-2009 |
Reviews
'Il Divo' Takes a 'Goodfellas'-Style Approach to Italian Corruptionnew
If you're a longtime follower of European politics, you might have an easier time with Il Divo's dizzying summation of Italy's power structure and the knotty criminal conspiracies linking Giulio Andreotti to murders, suicides and a scandal nicknamed Bribesville.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Curt Holman |
07-21-2009 |
Reviews
'Public Enemies' is Less a Biopic Than a Glossy, Stylish Elegynew
What keeps Public Enemies from being a masterpiece is a peculiar lack of emotional accessibility to the key characters.
Yolande Moreau Unleashes an Artist's Heart
In writer/director Martin Provost's patiently restrained biopic about the self-trained French painter Seraphine Louis, the audience is brought increasingly closer into the heart and mind of a genius whose turbulent inner life eventually envelops her conscious being.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
06-08-2009 |
Reviews
'Little Ashes' Offers Contrasts in Artistic Engagement with the Worldnew
Though the filmmakers' affection for their subjects shines through, Little Ashes struggles with the challenges that inevitably arise in gossipy biopics about famous artists.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Curt Holman |
06-03-2009 |
Reviews
Say You Want a Revolution?new
Che director Steven Soderbergh tells why that there’s no reason to shrink from controversy and debate.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
03-04-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Steven Soderbergh's Two-Part 'Che' Biopic Is a True Work of Artnew
But Che is a work of art much more than it's an attempt at political statement-making, and on that front, what Soderbergh has done is truly impressive.
Tucson Weekly |
James DiGiovanna |
02-26-2009 |
Reviews
Little Big Man: 'Notorious'new
Biggie Smalls' large life is reduced to a by-the-numbers biopic in Notorious.
Going Going, Back Back, in Rap History: 'Notorious'new
Maybe it’s not a work of sheer genius, but Notorious blows past all the recent tragedy-tinged pop music biopics.
Santa Barbara Independent |
D.J. Palladino |
02-02-2009 |
Reviews
