AltWeeklies Wire
'Things We Lost in the Fire' Survives Thanks to Benicionew
Things We Lost in the Fire (too bad the title wasn't one of those things) evinces an open naivete that survives the calculation of the plot -- and in the lead, Benicio Del Toro transforms himself from reliable character actor to serious leading man.
Metro Silicon Valley |
Richard von Busack |
10-18-2007 |
Reviews
'Rendition': Swept Awaynew
The real novelty in Gavin Hood's off-again, on-again Rendition isn't the plot -- rather, it is scriptwriter Kelley Sane's unique curveball at the end.
Metro Silicon Valley |
Richard von Busack |
10-18-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Gavin Hood, rendition
Behind the Cameranew
Ben Affleck and Sean Penn score with their directorial efforts.
Creative Loafing (Charlotte) |
Matt Brunson |
10-17-2007 |
Reviews
Ben Affeck, Natural Director?new
It's easy to forget that Affleck won an Oscar for the Good Will Hunting screenplay. With his latest release he's rediscovered the perfect role for himself, one that he probably should have been playing all along: the guy behind the camera.
Dig Boston |
David Wildman |
10-17-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Ben Affleck, Gone Baby Gone
'30 Days of Night' = Half-assed Horrornew
Though it's based on the gloriously grotesque graphic novel by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith, director David Slade and his screenwriters don't appear to be up to the task of transforming the source material into a viable horror film.
Dig Boston |
Shaula Clark |
10-17-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: David Slade, 30 Days of Night
The Best New Show of 2007new
Getting to the point: Pushing Daisies the best new series of the season, and another idiosyncratic triumph for Bryan Fuller who last produced the cancelled Wonderfalls.
Willamette Week |
Daniel Carlson |
10-17-2007 |
TV
City of Lost Childrennew
What's with all the dead babies in Boston? There's something distinctly crude about the simultaneous arrival of two new movies -- Gone Baby Gone and Reservation Road -- that focus on slain children and bereaved parents.
Willamette Week |
Aaron Mesh |
10-17-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Ben Affleck, Gone Baby Gone
Grief, Love & Plastic Mingle in 'Lars and the Real Girl'new
The film couches its outrageous concept in classic Amer-indie trappings, including a naturalistic setting that incorporates small-town vistas, snowy cinematography, and a Sundance Channel-ready cast.
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
Cheryl Eddy |
10-17-2007 |
Reviews
Using Mitt Romney's Presidential Run as History Lessonnew
The tremendous political and military power that Joseph Smith built during his lifetime fueled a rabid anti-Mormonism that many observers believe is Romney's greatest political obstacle, a topic that Christing explores in his documentary.
San Antonio Current |
Elaine Wolff |
10-17-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Brothers Affleck on 'Gone Baby Gone'new
First-time director Ben and lil' bro Casey dish on fame and family.
San Antonio Current |
Cole Haddon |
10-17-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Ben Affleck, Gone Baby Gone
Hannah and Her Brethrennew
Chicago boy Joe Swanberg returns with Hannah Takes the Stairs.
Chicago Newcity |
Ray Pride |
10-17-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
Beyond the Rainbownew
Detroit's Reel Pride Fest strives to subvert stereotypes of queer cinema.
Metro Times |
Michael Hastings |
10-16-2007 |
Movies
Tags: Reel Pride Fest
'Trade': Botched Deliverynew
The film trudges on lethargically like one of its drugged characters, crossing the finish line with cliched resolution, ultimately doing an injustice to the sex trafficking story.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Matthew Schniper |
10-16-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: trade, Marco Kreuzpaintner
'Sworn Virgins' Documents Women Who Give Up Sex to Run Householdsnew
Five centuries ago, when the women of northern Albania could not own property or decide who they were to marry, the oath of the sworn virgin was established. Under this oath, a female would permanently exchange her sexuality for the acceptance by her peers as a man.
Baltimore City Paper |
Rahne Alexander |
10-16-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Elvira Dones, Sworn Virgins
'Terror's Advocate'
Only director Barbet Schroeder (General Idi Amin Dada: A Self Portrait) could capture this complex and engaging look at French lawyer Jacques Verges, the man who represented such villains as Nazi Klaus Barbie and cafe bomber Djamila Bouhired, who Verges married and had two children before vanishing for eight years.
