The Lovely Bones -- Film Review
Full Story »
Videocracy -- Film Review
One of the most popular early titles at the Venice film festival is the aptly titled documentary "Videocracy," a skillful compilation of archive footage describing contemporary Italy as a mirror of prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's commercial television empire.
One of the most popular early titles at the Venice film festival is the aptly titled documentary "Videocracy," a skillful compilation of archive footage describing contemporary Italy as a mirror of prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's commercial television empire.
Up in the Air -- Film Review
Before Jason Reitman's film plunges into deeper waters, it seduces us with some of the most darkly hilarious moments to grace the screen in years.
Before Jason Reitman's film plunges into deeper waters, it seduces us with some of the most darkly hilarious moments to grace the screen in years.
South of the Border -- Film Review
Oliver Stone's "South of the Border" is a rebuttal of what he views as the fulminations and lies of right-wing media at home and abroad regarding the socialist democracies of South America.
Oliver Stone's "South of the Border" is a rebuttal of what he views as the fulminations and lies of right-wing media at home and abroad regarding the socialist democracies of South America.
Capitalism: A Love Story -- Film Review
Given the desperate state of the world economy, "Capitalism: A Love Story" should find attentive audiences along with many angry detractors who will give it free publicity.
Given the desperate state of the world economy, "Capitalism: A Love Story" should find attentive audiences along with many angry detractors who will give it free publicity.
Prince of Tears -- Film Review
Very pretty people seen against beautiful landscapes provide most of the enjoyment in Chinese director Yonfan's glossy melodrama set in Taiwan in the 1950s when the hunt for communists on the island led to the period known as the white terror.
Very pretty people seen against beautiful landscapes provide most of the enjoyment in Chinese director Yonfan's glossy melodrama set in Taiwan in the 1950s when the hunt for communists on the island led to the period known as the white terror.
Persecution -- Film Review
Charismatic stars and the film's Gallic shrug of acceptance over the difficulties that being in love creates will take the film to festivals and art houses, but it's far from a classic.
Charismatic stars and the film's Gallic shrug of acceptance over the difficulties that being in love creates will take the film to festivals and art houses, but it's far from a classic.
Great Directors -- Film Review
First-timer Angela Ismailos traveled the world to interview her favorite filmmakers in the documentary "Great Directors."
First-timer Angela Ismailos traveled the world to interview her favorite filmmakers in the documentary "Great Directors."
Bad Lieutenant -- Film Review
Filled with unexpected turns and subversive humor, Werner Herzog's film is a jazzy, entertaining riff on the theme of a cop who spends too much time in a sewer of criminality and corruption.
Filled with unexpected turns and subversive humor, Werner Herzog's film is a jazzy, entertaining riff on the theme of a cop who spends too much time in a sewer of criminality and corruption.
Life During Wartime -- Film Review
"Life During Wartime" is a heady mix of deadpan humor that boldly uses such topics as pedophilia, race and terrorism to plead the need for forgiveness at a personal and national level.
"Life During Wartime" is a heady mix of deadpan humor that boldly uses such topics as pedophilia, race and terrorism to plead the need for forgiveness at a personal and national level.
Tickling Leo -- Film Review
Inspired by a true World War II event, "Tickling Leo," about a cross-generational New York Jewish family dealing with its Holocaust past, was a family effort offscreen: Writer/debuting director Jeremy Davidson is married to actress Mary Stuart Masterson, who produced the film with her Barn Door Pictures partners Peter C.B. Masterson, her brother and the film's cinematographer, and longtime collaborator Steven Weisman.
Inspired by a true World War II event, "Tickling Leo," about a cross-generational New York Jewish family dealing with its Holocaust past, was a family effort offscreen: Writer/debuting director Jeremy Davidson is married to actress Mary Stuart Masterson, who produced the film with her Barn Door Pictures partners Peter C.B. Masterson, her brother and the film's cinematographer, and longtime collaborator Steven Weisman.
The Road -- Film Review
In "The Road," director John Hillcoat has performed an admirable job of bringing Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel to the screen as an intact and haunting tale.
In "The Road," director John Hillcoat has performed an admirable job of bringing Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel to the screen as an intact and haunting tale.
Metropia -- Film Review
The future looks bleak in "Metropia," the computer-animated sci-fi feature by Tarik Saleh.
The future looks bleak in "Metropia," the computer-animated sci-fi feature by Tarik Saleh.
All About Steve -- Film Review
When things go as seriously wrong as they do in the Sandra Bullock comedy "All About Steve," a viewer is challenged to guess what the filmmakers thought they were doing.
When things go as seriously wrong as they do in the Sandra Bullock comedy "All About Steve," a viewer is challenged to guess what the filmmakers thought they were doing.
Private Eye -- Film Review
Seductive ambience and dapper style hold sway in "Private Eye," a lurid mystery that unearths serial murder, drug racketeering and sexual corruption in turn-of-the-19th-century Korea.
Seductive ambience and dapper style hold sway in "Private Eye," a lurid mystery that unearths serial murder, drug racketeering and sexual corruption in turn-of-the-19th-century Korea.
Invitation Only -- Film Review
Just because "Invitation Only" claims to be Taiwan's first slasher film doesn't mean it brings anything new to the carving table of torture porn. Its set-up of five people lured into an exclusive party only to serve as savage entertainment for the rich is basically "Hostel" transplanted to a hollow set with even hollower grounds for gross-out cruelty.
Just because "Invitation Only" claims to be Taiwan's first slasher film doesn't mean it brings anything new to the carving table of torture porn. Its set-up of five people lured into an exclusive party only to serve as savage entertainment for the rich is basically "Hostel" transplanted to a hollow set with even hollower grounds for gross-out cruelty.
The Final Destination -- Film Review
There is no final in "The Final Destination," the fourth installment of New Line's body-dismantling gorefest. The franchise threatens to never end. The new gimmick here is that all the flying body parts and absurd impalements come in 3D. And that's about as inspired as anything gets in this edition.
There is no final in "The Final Destination," the fourth installment of New Line's body-dismantling gorefest. The franchise threatens to never end. The new gimmick here is that all the flying body parts and absurd impalements come in 3D. And that's about as inspired as anything gets in this edition.
The Open Road -- Film Review
Jeff Bridges and Justin Timberlake play a pair of estranged father-and-son baseball players in "The Open Road," a dreary dramedy of a road film that starts off ploddingly and proceeds to only grow more so as it crawls along.
Jeff Bridges and Justin Timberlake play a pair of estranged father-and-son baseball players in "The Open Road," a dreary dramedy of a road film that starts off ploddingly and proceeds to only grow more so as it crawls along.
Halloween II -- Film Review
It's deja vu all over again, with this sequel to 2007's $80 million-grossing reboot of the "Halloween" franchise that apparently is as hard to kill off as its central character.
It's deja vu all over again, with this sequel to 2007's $80 million-grossing reboot of the "Halloween" franchise that apparently is as hard to kill off as its central character.
Play the Game -- Film Review
Close your eyes. Now, imagine your grandparents having sex. That is roughly akin to the effect of "Play the Game," a cringe-worthy comedy about multigenerational romantic gameplaying that offers the dubiously entertaining prospect of watching Andy Griffith receiving oral sex.
Close your eyes. Now, imagine your grandparents having sex. That is roughly akin to the effect of "Play the Game," a cringe-worthy comedy about multigenerational romantic gameplaying that offers the dubiously entertaining prospect of watching Andy Griffith receiving oral sex.
Les Derniers Jours du Monde -- Film Review
Some things will never change, not even for the apocalypse. According to the new French film "Les Derniers Jours du Monde," when the final trumpet sounds, its citizens will have their minds on sex, a bottle of fine wine and a visit to the opera even as the bodies pile up in the street.
Some things will never change, not even for the apocalypse. According to the new French film "Les Derniers Jours du Monde," when the final trumpet sounds, its citizens will have their minds on sex, a bottle of fine wine and a visit to the opera even as the bodies pile up in the street.
Unter Bauern: Saviors of the Night -- Film Review
German cinema's growing number of films willing to address topics relating to World War II has a fine addition in Ludi Boeken's "Under Bauern: Saviors of the Night", which tells of farmers in Westphalia who sheltered Jewish friends from the Nazis.
German cinema's growing number of films willing to address topics relating to World War II has a fine addition in Ludi Boeken's "Under Bauern: Saviors of the Night", which tells of farmers in Westphalia who sheltered Jewish friends from the Nazis.
Partners -- Film Review
Swiss director Frederic Mermoud's "Partners" is a police procedural with sex that deals with two sets of couples on both sides of the law involved in the murder of a male prostitute.
Swiss director Frederic Mermoud's "Partners" is a police procedural with sex that deals with two sets of couples on both sides of the law involved in the murder of a male prostitute.
Post Grad -- Film Review
"Post Grad" is an innocuous -- to the point of blandness -- look at the "hardships" of a recent college grad as she struggles to land the perfect job and perfect boyfriend and wonders why it isn't easier, like getting an A on a history exam.
"Post Grad" is an innocuous -- to the point of blandness -- look at the "hardships" of a recent college grad as she struggles to land the perfect job and perfect boyfriend and wonders why it isn't easier, like getting an A on a history exam.
Extract -- Film Review
For a comedy, "Extract" is kinda depressing. Understand that wildly dysfunctional characters have become the norm in American comedies, but the characters in "Extract" give dysfunction a bad name.
For a comedy, "Extract" is kinda depressing. Understand that wildly dysfunctional characters have become the norm in American comedies, but the characters in "Extract" give dysfunction a bad name.
9 -- Film Review
For 11 minutes, "9" is a mind-blower. But at 81 minutes and with famous actors voicing director Shane Acker's characters, the new "9" is something less.
For 11 minutes, "9" is a mind-blower. But at 81 minutes and with famous actors voicing director Shane Acker's characters, the new "9" is something less.
Advertisement
Advertisement
