AltWeeklies Wire
'Hunger' Is Amazing, Fully Realized Artnew
A movie about someone dying of hunger could easily be maudlin, talky, boring and preachy. But experimental film artist Steve McQueen tried another route, and wound up crafting one of the most beautifully realized films of the decade.
Tucson Weekly |
James DiGiovanna |
05-27-2009 |
Reviews
Sam Raimi Returns to His Horror Roots with 'Drag Me to Hell'new
Not only is Sam Raimi daring to push the mainstream studio horror movie to a new and uncomfortable place, he may even be daring his longtime fans to come along with him.
Charleston City Paper |
Maryann Johanson |
05-27-2009 |
Reviews
3-D Animation Takes Flight in 'Up'
You can tell that this film was a labor of love, and that the cast and crew were sufficiently inspired by the material to craft a children's movie that is destined to be a classic. Warm and fuzzy? You bet.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
05-22-2009 |
Reviews
'The Brothers Bloom' Is a See-Through Connew
Even though you see through director Rian Johnson's schemes, The Brothers Bloom's ingratiating cast and sunny tone make the film a harmless diversion.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Curt Holman |
05-21-2009 |
Reviews
Ben Stiller Is a Strong Anchor for the Unstable 'Museum' Franchisenew
The first installment of Night at the Museum may have been a pithy, middle-of-the-road, grade-B comedy lark with grade-A special effects, but when it grossed a half-billion dollars worldwide, its days as an inoffensive guilty pleasure were over.
Orlando Weekly |
Justin Strout |
05-21-2009 |
Reviews
'T:4' Benches John Connor During the Big Endgamenew
Taking on a new Terminator movie is like accepting an ambassadorship: Many different factions want something out of you. Often, they have conflicting desires. There's no way all of them can be satisfied.
Orlando Weekly |
Justin Strout |
05-21-2009 |
Reviews
Tom Hanks and Ron Howard Need to STOP Making Robert Langdon Movies!new
Angels and Demons presents scenarios so illogical, so preposterous, that it makes the Alien vs. Predator, American Pie and Beethoven franchises look like high art.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
05-20-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Ron Howard, action movies
Despite Some Annoying Cliches, 'Gigantic' Isn't Half Badnew
This is one of those indie movies about a strange and affectless young man who meets a zany girl who's beautiful and full of life, and then love ensues in its kooky way. So, basically, it's a Zach Braff film. Which is not a compliment. But then Gigantic has some really good stuff, too.
Tucson Weekly |
James DiGiovanna |
05-20-2009 |
Reviews
Spectacle Trumps Satire in 'Terminator Salvation'
More of a 21st century Mad Max than a continuation of the Terminator franchise that seasoned audiences are familiar with, director McG's post apocalyptic man versus industrial-robot-military-complex lurches through fits and starts of spectacle that almost add up to a story.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
05-18-2009 |
Reviews
The World's War, One Man's Battlenew
In Masaki Kobayashi's ten-hour World War II epic, the first casualty is compassion.
Chicago Reader |
J.R. Jones |
05-18-2009 |
Reviews
After 49 Years, Red West Gets His First Starring Role -- and It's a Doozynew
Though a relatively short, simple film, Goodbye Solo is rich with emotion, incident, color, and mystery. And this little indie hit has done wonders for Memphis native Red West: at 72, after 49 years in the business, he's become an overnight success.
The Memphis Flyer |
Chris Herrington |
05-15-2009 |
Reviews
'Next Day Air' Is a Not-So-Special Deliverynew
Next Day Air is ... a movie, if nothing else.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
05-14-2009 |
Reviews
'Sugar' Is Better Than Typical Sports Filmsnew
What sets Sugar apart is that the story is told so well. As the film progresses, and a lot of the standard tropes are rehearsed, things take an unusual turn, and the movie departs a little from familiar territory, serving up an ending that is satisfying, unexpected and not at all simple.
Tucson Weekly |
James DiGiovanna |
05-14-2009 |
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
With 'Angels & Demons,' Ron Howard Continues His Attempt to Imitate Spielberg -- and Failsnew
This overwrought chase/final-countdown movie is as banal as the genre comes. It's not a well-made action film; it's just expensively made. Howard's incompetence hides behind high-priced collaborators and goofy F/X.
New York Press |
Armond White |
05-14-2009 |
Reviews
