AltWeeklies Wire
'Ex-Drummer': Battle of the Belgian Bar Bandsnew
This gutter-punk cult movie about an unlikely bar band's rise and fall might've been scripted during a drunken Russian-roulette session among Charles Bukowski, Lars von Trier, Harmony Korine, and Irvine Welsh.
Seattle Weekly |
Brian Miller |
08-10-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Ex-Drummer, Koen Mortier
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
'Somers Town' Gets at the Heart of Working-Class Londonnew
Without ever trivializing his characters’ meager circumstances or resorting to the rags-to-riches fantasy of Slumdog Millionaire, Shane Meadows has made a lovely film about the ability of the imagination to offset the harshness of reality.
L.A. Weekly |
Scott Foundas |
08-10-2009 |
Reviews
Making a Compelling Film is Not Julia Child's Playnew
A Talking Heads song gives this pedestrian, snobbish film a couple minutes of genuine art - and fun. Julie & Julia doesn’t match the delights of sensual/aesthetic food movies ... it merely dramatizes Julia Child and Julie Powell's contrasting routes to media success.
New York Press |
Armond White |
08-06-2009 |
Reviews
Just What You Wanted on Vacation: Stabbings!new
"Nothing bad ever happens in Hawaii," one touristy character in A Perfect Getaway naively notes.
The Portland Mercury |
Courtney Ferguson |
08-06-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: A Perfect Getaway, David Twohy
'Julie & Julia' Will Make Foodies Furiously Masturbatenew
More or less entirely delightful, Julie & Julia has a pretty foolproof formula: It's a movie based on a popular book that's based on a popular blog that, in turn, was inspired by America's most popular chef.
The Portland Mercury |
Erik Henriksen |
08-06-2009 |
Reviews
'Little Ashes': Once Upon a Time in Madridnew
Robert Pattinson costars as Salvador Dalí in this sexually speculative history of the artist's student years spent with friends, Federico García Lorca and Luis Buñuel.
Austin Chronicle |
Marjorie Baumgarten |
08-06-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Little Ashes, Paul Morrison
'The Cove': What Hath 'Flipper' Wrought?new
This marvelously made agitprop documentary exposes the dark secrets that underpin the world’s dolphin mania.
Austin Chronicle |
Marjorie Baumgarten |
08-06-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Louie Psihoyos, The Cove
'Julie & Julia': Kiss the Cooknew
Meryl Streep is irresistible as Julia Child as is Nora Ephron's direction, but Amy Adams' Julie Powell is a dud – a mousy, grouchy irritant.
Austin Chronicle |
Kimberley Jones |
08-06-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Julie & Julia, Nora Ephron
'A Perfect Getaway' is an Above-Average Thrillernew
This is a smartly paced and ultimately pure exploitation head trip that's a lot of fun if you can get past its third-act meltdown.
Austin Chronicle |
Marc Savlov |
08-06-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: A Perfect Getaway, David Twohy
'O'Horten' is a Danish Treatnew
This strange little Danish gem tells the story of the aptly named Odd Horten, a man cut from his moorings when he's forced to take retirement at age 67.
Austin Chronicle |
Marc Savlov |
08-06-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: O'Horten, Bent Hamer
'Bliss': Beyond the Seanew
Turkish drama celebrates life without spiritual borders.
Orlando Weekly |
Justin Strout |
08-06-2009 |
Reviews
Bland Love in '(500) Days of Summer'new
(500) Days is that it's cloying and dishonest, indulging all of the clichés and false optimism of an average love story while masquerading as something that is questioning those things.
Tags: (500) Days of Summer, Mark Webb
Soccer Journeys in Rudo y Cursinew
Two brothers confront the pitfalls of sudden celebrity as soccer players: wild spending, drugs, gambling, avaricious women, demanding fans.
Tags: Carlos Cuaron, Rudo y Cursi
'Paper Heart': The World's First-ever Notumentarynew
Charlyne Yi and director Nick Jasenovec to make a road-trip documentary, interviewing people across the country about love. the nshe met Michael Cera.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
08-05-2009 |
Reviews
