AltWeeklies Wire
'Milk' Is a Fitting Tributenew
The success of Milk is due in part to The Times of Harvey Milk, the Oscar-winning documentary that Van Sant uses as a template. But Milk exceeds its source material.
Eugene Weekly |
Jason Blair |
12-16-2008 |
Reviews
'Holidays' is a Tired Collection of Christmas Clichesnew
Despite the flatness of the pic, the cast is a veritable who's-who of prized Latino actors including character-actor-turned-headliner John Leguizamo, leather-faced Luis Guzman and household matriarch Elizabeth Pena.
Montreal Mirror |
Christopher Sykes |
12-15-2008 |
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
The Long and (Oscar-) Worthy Road to Redemption of 'The Reader'new
Like Doubt, Stephen Daldry's The Reader is low-budget, high-profile and beamed straight at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Category of High Moral Tone.
L.A. Weekly |
Ella Taylor |
12-12-2008 |
Reviews
Clint Eastwood Finds Salvation in 'Gran Torino'new
Above all, Gran Torino feels like a summation of everything he represents as a filmmaker and a movie star, and perhaps also a farewell.
L.A. Weekly |
Scott Foundas |
12-12-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino
'Doubt' Wags the Finger of Moral Relativismnew
With its bristling topicality, ritzy cast and the added bonus of Roger Deakins' gracefully bleak cinematography, Doubt is being squired around town as prime Oscar bait. But in Shanley’s hands, it only looks deep.
L.A. Weekly |
Ella Taylor |
12-12-2008 |
Reviews
'Nothing Like the Holidays' is Simple, Soapy and Heartwarmingnew
It's surprisingly easy to get sucked into this daytime drama, albeit guiltily and gleefully.
Las Vegas Weekly |
Jeffrey M. Anderson |
12-12-2008 |
Reviews
'Gran Torino' Finds Clint Funny and Still Toughnew
While Gran Torino is not without serious aspects, it feels far more "commercial" than Changeling or than such Eastwood award-winners as Bird, Unforgiven, Mystic River and Million Dollar Baby.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Andy Klein |
12-12-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino
'Let the Right One In': After 'Twilight'new
In a year that may be remembered as the year of the youth vampire movie, Swedish film Let the Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in) has considerable more bite than Twilight.
Fast Forward Weekly |
Shelley Arnusch |
12-11-2008 |
Reviews
'Milk' is Refreshingnew
Biopic balances mainstream Hollywood with gay politics.
Fast Forward Weekly |
Bryn Evans |
12-11-2008 |
Reviews
'Azur & Asmar': Middle Eastern Promisesnew
French writer-director Michel Ocelot has injected a message about racial and religious tolerance into his otherwise nursery-school simple feature, so there's a bit of a twist in the boys-rescues-girl climax that provides a teachable moment.
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olszewski |
12-11-2008 |
Reviews
'Punisher: War Zone' is Sort of Awfulnew
The Punisher gets another shot at big-screen glory -- but the result is mediocrity.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
12-11-2008 |
Reviews
'Milk' is Compelling from Start to Finishnew
Gus Van Sant shows that not only can he put a story together; he can do it better than just about anyone working in film.
Tucson Weekly |
James DiGiovanna |
12-11-2008 |
Reviews
If You Want a Nerve-Wracking Trip, Turn to 'Timecrimes'new
Writer/director Nacho Vigalondo's first feature film is that rarest of films: a movie about mystery that remains impenetrable even after its hand is played.
New York Press |
Simon Abrams |
12-11-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Nacho Vigalondo, Timecrimes
Clint Eastwood Casts Himself as a Nice Archie Bunker in 'Gran Torino'new
To insist that Eastwood's trite, B-movie storytelling is classical requires an excessive regard for junk. Gran Torino is a calculated throwback to All in the Family's topicality, plus a comic/tragic star vehicle for Eastwood to show off his late-career legend as a serious actor-auteur.
New York Press |
Armond White |
12-11-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino
