Movies+TV | Reviews | AAN.org

We Believenew

Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix don't act in Walk the Line; they channel.

Tucson Weekly | Bob Grimm | 11-23-2005 | Reviews

Tags: James Mangold, Walk the Line

Damn You, Oprah!new

Emmanuel's Gift delves into inspirational, compelling subjects, but the execution is manipulative and dreadful.

Tucson Weekly | James DiGiovanna | 11-23-2005 | Reviews

Tags: Emmanuel's Gift, Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern

Lack of Big Laughs and True Grit Put Film on Thin Icenew

The slick adaptation of Scott Phillips' well-received noir novel feels more like a vehicle for 61-year-old director and his screenwriters to work out their macho midlife crises.

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | Curt Holman | 11-23-2005 | Reviews

Tags: Hollywood, Harold Ramis, Product, The Ice Harvest

Jonathan Larson's Legacy Lives Onnew

Rent builds to a touching funeral and a superb reprise of two of the best songs, but rather than go out on a strong note, the film retains the musical's melodramatic final portion, including a ridiculous death scene that, on a movie screen, feels like having a billboard yell at you for five minutes.

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | Curt Holman | 11-23-2005 | Reviews

Tags: Chris Columbus, Rent

Holiday on Icenew

Instead of an action comedy that’s as slick as ice, Harold Ramis’ sardonic new comedy is more like an uncongealed river of slush.

Austin Chronicle | Marjorie Baumgarten | 11-23-2005 | Reviews

Tags: Harold Ramis, The Ice Harvest

Rent: We're Gonna Live Forevernew

Despite the grating, workmanlike direction of Chris Columbus, this boisterous film is a vivacious, wiseacre musical and an inarguable morality lesson: Love is all you need.

Austin Chronicle | Marc Savlov | 11-23-2005 | Reviews

Tags: Chris Columbus, Rent

Cheaper by the Grossnew

This supersized family comedy makes The Brady Bunch look like an example of prudent family planning and sophisticated humor.

Austin Chronicle | Marjorie Baumgarten | 11-23-2005 | Reviews

Tags: Raja Gosnell, Yours, Mine & Ours

So Long, It's Been Good to Know Younew

A tepid romantic comedy with a side order of vitriol.

Austin Chronicle | Marc Savlov | 11-23-2005 | Reviews

Tags: Just Friends, Roger Kumble

The Secret Lives of Screenwritersnew

Playwright and screenwriter Craig Lucas debuts as a director of his own material with this nasty little story about interpersonal deceptions and Hollywood ethics.

Austin Chronicle | Marjorie Baumgarten | 11-23-2005 | Reviews

Tags: Craig Lucas, The Dying Gaul

Take Me to Your Ashramnew

This documentary follows a group of spiritual voyagers through a series of pilgrimages and trips to Indian ashrams and holy festivals in order to create a portrait of the yogi life.

Austin Chronicle | Marrit Ingman | 11-23-2005 | Reviews

Tags: Naked in Ashes, Paula Fouce

Simply Gallingnew

In his film directorial debut, acclaimed playwright/screenwriter/theater director Craig Lucas is done in by his own script, which becomes excessively icy and cruel.

SF Weekly | Jean Oppenheimer | 11-23-2005 | Reviews

Tags: Patricia Clarkson, Craig Lucas, Peter Sarsgaard, The Dying Gaul, and Campbell Scott

The Inspiring Rock 'n' Roll Story of the Minutemen -- on Film

A full-length documentary film chronicles the history of guitarist Dennes Boon, bassist Mike Watt, and drummer George Hurley from their early days in the burgeoning punk scene to their reign as underground heroes.

Charleston City Paper | T. Ballard Lesemann | 11-22-2005 | Reviews

Tags: Minutemen, D. Boon, George Hurley, Mike Watt, SST Records, Tim Irwin, We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen