FullReviews Index
Jennifer's Body
Jennifer's Body - A Review of 'Jennifer's Body.' Gory rather than scary, mean-spirited rather than funny, 'Jennifer's Body' is a nasty piece of work. Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried star in Diablo Cody's dark followup to the sweet and gentle 'Juno.'
Taking Woodstock
Taking Woodstock - A review of Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock. Ang Lee lighten ups in this warm and funny adaptation of Elliot Tiber's memoir. Comic Demetri Martin is terrific in his first starring role. The cast also includes Imelda Staunton, Emilie Hirsh, Paul Dano and Liev Scrierber, who does terrific work in a dress.
The Answer Man
John Hindman's debut feature THE ANSWER MAN is a pleasant and enjoyable film, easy to go down, and often wrong in the details: a perfect fit for TV rather than the silver screen. The always terrific Jeff Daniels and GILMORE GIRLS' Lauren Graham star in the romantic comedy, but it's supporting cast member Olivia Thirlby who really shines. The supporting cast also includes rising star Kat Dennings, Lou Taylor Pucci, and Arrested Developments' Tony Hale. Marcy reviews The Answer Man for About.com
(500) Days of Summer
(500) Days of Summer - A review of (500) Days of Summer starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel light up the screen in Marc Webb's directorial debut (500) Days of Summer. That may sound corny, but it's true. Marcy Dermansky reviews for About.com.
The Toe Tactic
The Toe Tactic review - Emily Hubley's debut film The Toe Tactic features a dreamy performance by newcomer Lily Rabe, animated dogs and an evocative soundtrack by Yo La Tengo. The Toe Tactic had it's theatrical debut at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Youth Without Youth
Francis Ford Coppola’s "Youth Without Youth" stars Tim Roth as Dominic Matei, an aging professor of linguistics who survives a cataclysmic event to find his youth miraculously restored. Youth Without Youth also stars Alexandra Maria Lara, Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Pirici, Marcel Iures and Andre M. Hennicke.
Whatever Works
Whatever Works review - Woody Allen returns to his home turf for Whatever Works, a New York comedy starring Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Patricia Clarkson, and Ed Begley Jr. After a string of flops, this new Woody Allen film works.
Away We Go
Away We Go review - a review of Away We Go, the new Sam Mendes film written by novelists Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida, starring John Kransinski and Maya Rudolph. Novelist Marcy Dermansky gives her personal take.
Julia
A review of Erick Zonca's 'Julia' starring Tilda Swinton. 'Julia', starring Tilda Swinton in a shatteringly convincing performance, is a non-stop, disturbing, exhilarating, all-engrossing experience. Erick Zonca's film is an unlikely thriller, and a terrifyingly good one at that. In the title role, Swinton's portrayal of an alcoholic who has gone long past rock bottom is often exceedingly difficult to watch, yet she's also impossible to look away from.
The Limits of Control
The Limits of Control, the new film by Jim Jarmush, reviewed by Marcy Dermansky. Isaach De Bankolé stars as the Lone Man.
The Exploding Girl
The Exploding Girl: A Review. To appreciate Bradley Rust Grey's melancholy film "The Exploding Girl," screening in competition at the Tribeca Film Festival, you're going to have to love looking at rising star Zoe Kazan. You're going to have to let yourself get swept away in repeated quiet moments, extreme close ups of Zoe riding the subway, or sitting on a bed staring into space, lying in the bath or cradling a new born baby.
'The Wrestler'
"The Wrestler" review - Mickey Rourke gives a heart-breakingly good performance in Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler." Evan Rachel Woods and Marisa Tomei co-star.
American Violet
American Violet review: Tim Disney's "American Violet" is based on the true story of Dee Roberts (Nicole Behari), a single black mother from a small Texas town who is dragged out of work in handcuffs for trafficking drugs during a an aggressive raid on housing project in the year 2000.
Lymelife Lacks Convincing Angst
Derick Martini's second film [i]Lymelife[/i] is so earnest, sensitive, and well intentioned that it seems cruel to do anything but praise it. Set in 1970's Long Island, the indie drama is told through the eyes of fifteen-year-old Scott Bartlett (Rory Culkin), a sensitive youth obsessed with Adrianna, the beret wearing girl next door (Emma Roberts) and disturbed by his parents' crumbling marriage (Jill Hennessy and Alec Baldwin).
The Education of Charlie Banks
The Education of Charlie Banks review - Fred Durst's debut film "The Education of Charlie Banks" is a surprisingly amiable coming-of-age tale that is especially remarkable for its honesty about class. Jesse Eisenberg, Jason Ritter, Christopher Marquette, Sebastian Stan and Eva Amurri.
Adventureland
Kirsten Stweart and Jesse Eisenberg star in Adventureland, Greg Mottola's follow-up to Superbad. Read Jurgen Fauth's review.
Review: Slumdog Millionaire
Slumdog Millionaire review - A review of Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire, winner of the audience award at the Toronto Film Festival. Slumdog Millionaire, the story of a Mumbai street kid attempts to become a contestant on India's 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire' is poised to be the feel good movie of the season.
The Cake Eaters
The Cake Eaters review - Mary Stuart Masterson's debut film The Cake Eaters features Kristen Stewart as a dying teen age girl searching for happiness and sex before in small town America.
Sin Nombre
Review of Sin Nombre, the immigrant thriller directed by Cary Fukunaga
The Babysitters
In David Ross' dark comedy "The Babysitters," a 16-year-old turns her babysitting service into a call-girl ring for married men after she begins an affair with a customer. John Leguizamo, Cynthia Nixon, and newcomer Katherine Waterston star.
'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' Review
Vicky Christina Barcelona Review - A review of Woody Allen's Vicky Christina Barcelona starring Scarlett Johansson, Javier Barden, Penelope Cruz, and Rebecca Hall. Even a sapphic kiss between leading ladies can not redeem the mediocre offering.
Tokyo!
Michel Gondry, Leos Carax, and Bong Joon-ho contribute short films to the anthology film Tokyo! Jurgen Fauth reviews.
Frozen River
Courtney Hunt's "Frozen River," winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, takes place in a desolate American landscape, an impoverished town in Upstate New York on the edge of Mohonk reservation and the Canadian border. Melissa Leo and Misty Upham star as unlikely immigrant smugglers.
The International
In Tykwer's big budget thriller 'The International,' Clive Owen and Naomi Watts are sent racing through densely populated cityscapes in scenes reminiscent of 'Run Lola Run.' The International couldn't be any more timely; its shadowy power brokers and villainous bankers could have slinked out of the day's headlines.
The Go-Getter
"The Go-Getter" is a vivid, fun road movie, full of surprising twists (along with a little sex, some drugs and an instantly-classic rock'n'roll score by M. Ward). Starring Lou Taylor Pucci, Zooey Deschanel, Jena Malone, M. Ward, Judy Greer, Nick Offerman and Brian McNamara, the film is written and directed by Martin Hynes. The film opens June 6, 2008.