The Lovely Bones -- Film Review
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Squalor -- Film Review
"Squalor" is composed of four 20-30 minute segments, all set in the same urban grassroots neighborhood. Characters are linked by six degrees of separation, but each one stands at a crossroads, ultimately getting defeated by social circumstances.
"Squalor" is composed of four 20-30 minute segments, all set in the same urban grassroots neighborhood. Characters are linked by six degrees of separation, but each one stands at a crossroads, ultimately getting defeated by social circumstances.
Four of a Kind -- Film Review
A static, overly long talkfest, "Four of a Kind," is a snail-paced Australian production about four women mysteriously connected by betrayal, murder, extortion and revenge.
A static, overly long talkfest, "Four of a Kind," is a snail-paced Australian production about four women mysteriously connected by betrayal, murder, extortion and revenge.
Passengers -- Film Review
Trapped in a movie theater watching "Passengers," a movie about a bickering married couple stuck in traffic, is almost as irritating as experiencing the real thing.
Trapped in a movie theater watching "Passengers," a movie about a bickering married couple stuck in traffic, is almost as irritating as experiencing the real thing.
Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench -- Film Review
Writer-director Damien Chazelle's distinctive debut feature, "Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench," has the expansive spirit of a big city romance, though it was made for a song.
Writer-director Damien Chazelle's distinctive debut feature, "Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench," has the expansive spirit of a big city romance, though it was made for a song.
A Little Pond -- Film Review
In "A Little Pond," Lee Saang-woo recounts in a conventional narrative with unswerving power the South Korean equivalent of the My Lai Massacre.
In "A Little Pond," Lee Saang-woo recounts in a conventional narrative with unswerving power the South Korean equivalent of the My Lai Massacre.
Astro Boy -- Film Review
Finally going the big-screen, computer-generated route, the iconic Japanese hero manages to keep his innate lovability intact in a visually dynamic if overly eager-to-please family feature cobbled together with parts reclaimed from various animated classics.
Finally going the big-screen, computer-generated route, the iconic Japanese hero manages to keep his innate lovability intact in a visually dynamic if overly eager-to-please family feature cobbled together with parts reclaimed from various animated classics.
I Am in Trouble! -- Film Review
The characters of the charmingly wry comedy "I Am in Trouble!" could pass for the younger selves of Hong Sangsoo's narcissistic and libidinous intellectuals. Yet to new director So Sang-min's credit, he is not a mere Hong wannabe.
The characters of the charmingly wry comedy "I Am in Trouble!" could pass for the younger selves of Hong Sangsoo's narcissistic and libidinous intellectuals. Yet to new director So Sang-min's credit, he is not a mere Hong wannabe.
The Executioners -- Film Review
"The Executioners" is one of Korea's few prison pictures, and because of its rarity on the cinematic landscape there, it mines all the familiar tropes and characters viewers have been trained to expect from the sub-genre.
"The Executioners" is one of Korea's few prison pictures, and because of its rarity on the cinematic landscape there, it mines all the familiar tropes and characters viewers have been trained to expect from the sub-genre.
Be My Guest -- Film Review
A furious labor activist confronts a family on a day-trip in the country, and the torture he inflicts upon them is the basis for an unusually shrill examination of the fragility of the family unit.
A furious labor activist confronts a family on a day-trip in the country, and the torture he inflicts upon them is the basis for an unusually shrill examination of the fragility of the family unit.
Moscow -- Film Review
Economic unrest and the widening gap between the middle class and everyone else is clearly on the collective national mind, as "Moscow" is one of several films at PIFF 2009 that uses the never-ending worry over monetary instability and job security as a driving plot point.
Economic unrest and the widening gap between the middle class and everyone else is clearly on the collective national mind, as "Moscow" is one of several films at PIFF 2009 that uses the never-ending worry over monetary instability and job security as a driving plot point.
Nightmare Elevator -- Film Review
"Nightmare Elevator" employs the ultra-minimalist set-up of four strangers trapped in an elevator to make a mystery-black comedy that literally takes the audience for a ride.
"Nightmare Elevator" employs the ultra-minimalist set-up of four strangers trapped in an elevator to make a mystery-black comedy that literally takes the audience for a ride.
A Good Rain Knows -- Film Review
This is probably Hur Jin-ho's most conventional film to date, but he hasn't sold out or disappointed fans.
This is probably Hur Jin-ho's most conventional film to date, but he hasn't sold out or disappointed fans.
Dead Slowly -- Film Review
Rarely does a film title describe itself so accurately. Hong Kong video artist Rita Hui's feature is indeed deadeningly slow.
Rarely does a film title describe itself so accurately. Hong Kong video artist Rita Hui's feature is indeed deadeningly slow.
To Die Like a Man -- Film Review
One of the pleasures of the movie is how all the apparently disparate elements eventually intersect and meld into a satisfying whole.
One of the pleasures of the movie is how all the apparently disparate elements eventually intersect and meld into a satisfying whole.
Tears -- Film Review
"Tears" is a quietly shattering character study of a bad cop with a good conscience, whose punishment becomes redemption for his past crimes.
"Tears" is a quietly shattering character study of a bad cop with a good conscience, whose punishment becomes redemption for his past crimes.
The Robbers -- Film Review
A Tang Dynasty village is the setting for Yang Shupeng's "The Robbers," a confused and mostly pointless action-comedy-drama about two professional thieves unwittingly coming to the defense of a community being harassed by soldiers.
A Tang Dynasty village is the setting for Yang Shupeng's "The Robbers," a confused and mostly pointless action-comedy-drama about two professional thieves unwittingly coming to the defense of a community being harassed by soldiers.
Chaw -- Film Review
If you mixed a little bit of "Razorback," a dash of "Black Sheep" and a whole lot of "Jaws" together, the result would look like "Chaw."
If you mixed a little bit of "Razorback," a dash of "Black Sheep" and a whole lot of "Jaws" together, the result would look like "Chaw."
Vihir -- Film Review
Though dozens are made every year, it's not very often that song and dance-free Indian films get any kind of attention outside of India. "Vihir" probably doesn't stand much of a chance of changing that trend.
Though dozens are made every year, it's not very often that song and dance-free Indian films get any kind of attention outside of India. "Vihir" probably doesn't stand much of a chance of changing that trend.
A Man Who Ate His Cherries -- Film Review
A man with alimony troubles is at the center of "A Man Who Ate His Cherries," a beautifully shot film that's appealing in its ordinariness.
A man with alimony troubles is at the center of "A Man Who Ate His Cherries," a beautifully shot film that's appealing in its ordinariness.
Mundane History -- Film Review
Themes of class, patriarchy, mortality, evolution, the cosmic scheme and Thai history are all floating beneath the surface of insipid peace in the bourgeois Thai family director Anocha Suwichakornpong depicts in "Mundane History."
Themes of class, patriarchy, mortality, evolution, the cosmic scheme and Thai history are all floating beneath the surface of insipid peace in the bourgeois Thai family director Anocha Suwichakornpong depicts in "Mundane History."
Free Style -- Film Review
Big-haired Disney Channel veteran Corbin Bleu ("High School Musical") makes a failed bid for stardom in this anemic, would-be inspirational vehicle that manages to make even motocross racing seem deadly dull.
Big-haired Disney Channel veteran Corbin Bleu ("High School Musical") makes a failed bid for stardom in this anemic, would-be inspirational vehicle that manages to make even motocross racing seem deadly dull.
True Noon -- Film Review
A historical conflict between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan provides the basis for "True Noon," a reasonably stirring drama that could take place almost anywhere on the globe right now, what with constantly shifting borders and nation-states reconfiguring themselves.
A historical conflict between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan provides the basis for "True Noon," a reasonably stirring drama that could take place almost anywhere on the globe right now, what with constantly shifting borders and nation-states reconfiguring themselves.
Yes Madam, Sir -- Film Review
India's first police officer Kiran Bedi looms large as a dominating if not domineering figure in "Yes Madam, Sir," a doc about her incendiary career in that country.
India's first police officer Kiran Bedi looms large as a dominating if not domineering figure in "Yes Madam, Sir," a doc about her incendiary career in that country.
Sawasdee Bangkok -- Film Review
Siam's "City of Angels" ignites the imagination of four Thai directors in the hip and happening omnibus "Sawasdee Bangkok."
Siam's "City of Angels" ignites the imagination of four Thai directors in the hip and happening omnibus "Sawasdee Bangkok."
Mai Mai Miracle -- Film Review
The animated feature "Mai Mai Miracle" unfurls the shared destinies of a country girl living in post-war Japan and a little princess from the Heian period (794-1185 AD).
The animated feature "Mai Mai Miracle" unfurls the shared destinies of a country girl living in post-war Japan and a little princess from the Heian period (794-1185 AD).
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