AltWeeklies Wire
Early Naomi Watts Indie Shows Talent Amid Chaosnew
Shown in 2001 at Sundance, Ellie Parker originated as a short film by director Scott Coffey and has been expanded, unfortunately, to feature length to make the most of Watts' entrance into the ranks of superstardom.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Felicia Feaster |
12-29-2005 |
Reviews
Tags: Ellie Parker, Scott Coffey
Politics Played Major Role in 2005 Filmsnew
It seemed like every week in 2005, another feature opened that contained some critique of the American character or metaphor for modern-day issues.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Curt Holman |
12-29-2005 |
Reviews
Tags: yearinreview2005
Not-So-Gay Rompnew
The Producers remake is sloppy and poorly directed, but still funny.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
12-29-2005 |
Reviews
Tags: Susan Stroman, The Producers
Kansas Chaosnew
The murder story Firecracker is not nearly as clever as it wants to be.
Tucson Weekly |
James DiGiovanna |
12-29-2005 |
Reviews
Tags: Firecracker, Steve Balderson
The Slasher From Down Undernew
Wolf Creek is an accomplished Aussie version of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre; it's also a viscerally told slasher film that manages to do an awful lot with very little.
Austin Chronicle |
Marjorie Baumgarten |
12-27-2005 |
Reviews
Tags: Greg McLean, Wolf Creek
One Word: Plasticnew
Fans of The Graduate should skip this strange comedy, which posits that the real-life inspiration for counterculture icon Benjamin Braddock grew up to be a cheesy, brainless high-tech zillionaire doing yoga and driving a Mercedes around Half Moon Bay.
Austin Chronicle |
Marrit Ingman |
12-27-2005 |
Reviews
Tags: Rob Reiner, Rumor Has It ...
No Business Like Show Businessnew
The movie's wonderfully over-the-top performances often feel constrained by first-time film director Susan Stroman, whose inexperience behind the camera is all too apparent.
Austin Chronicle |
Steve Davis |
12-27-2005 |
Reviews
Tags: Susan Stroman, The Producers
The Price of Freedom Is Eternal Vengeancenew
Munich is dense, thoughtful filmmaking that nonetheless flies along: Seething with multilayered, subtextual arguments, it’s also a heck of a thriller.
Austin Chronicle |
Marc Savlov |
12-27-2005 |
Reviews
Tags: Munich, Steven Spielberg
Non-Special K
Johnny Knoxville made a name for himself by acting like a retard on Jackass, so consider The Ringer his comeuppance.
Washington City Paper |
Jason Powell |
12-23-2005 |
Reviews
Undercover Dick
Nobody should be surprised to see Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni get all manic on the big screen. So why doesn't Dean Parisot let his two leads have more fun with Fun With Dick & Jane?
Washington City Paper |
Josh Levin |
12-23-2005 |
Reviews
The Schlong Goodbye
Easy to like, especially for its non-fairy-tale-ish take on achieving contentment.
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olszewski |
12-23-2005 |
Reviews
Sparkling Twit
Relentlessly loopy, the film aims to prove that, aside from the love of a wee lost boy for his mam, sass and sparkle conquer all.
Washington City Paper |
Tricia Olszewski |
12-23-2005 |
Reviews
Mission Unconscionable
Of the directors who transformed Hollywood in the '70s, Steven Spielberg has made both the most successful and the most simplistic movies. At this point, the last thing anyone could have reasonably expected from him is a film that's not only serious but also complex.
Washington City Paper |
Mark Jenkins |
12-23-2005 |
Reviews
Avner's Listnew
Munich's purpose is not to illuminate but to manipulate, to reduce the irresolvable issues surrounding a horrible truth into a comforting platitude.
Boston Phoenix |
Peter Keough |
12-23-2005 |
Reviews
Tags: Munich, Steven Spielberg
The Quare Fellownew
The finished product might be overdone and in bad taste, but like the best of director Neil Jordan’s work, it does satisfy.
Boston Phoenix |
Peter Keough |
12-23-2005 |
Reviews
Tags: Neil Jordan, Breakfast on Pluto
