FullReviews Index - page 3
Savage Grace (2008)
Julianne Moore stars in Tom Kalin's "Savage Grace," a tale of decadence and dysfunction among the postwar international elite, based upon the acclaimed exposé of the notorious Baekeland scandal.
Grace is Gone
John Cusack stars as a young father whose soldier wife has just been killed in Iraq in James Strouse's drama "Grace is Gone." Young actresses Gracie Bednarczyk and Shélan O'Keefe make their film debut, playing Cusack's daughters.
The Visitor
The situation in Tom McCarthy's second film The Visitor is ripe with drama: Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins), an economics professor and quintessential sad man, returns to his Greenwich Village apartment when his Connecticut college pressures him to present a lecture at NYU. His apartment, however, isn't empty. Illegal immigrants have moved in: an attractive young couple, Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and Zainab (Danai Gurira).
Pineapple Express
David Gordon Green ("George Washington," "Snow Angels") leaves the independent film world behind with his new stoner comedy produced by Judd Apatow "Pineapple" Express starring James Franco and Seth Rogan.
The Fall
Tarsem Singh's thriller "The Fall" tells the story of a little immigrant girl (Catinca Untaru) finds herself in a hospital recovering from a fall.
Redbelt
David Mamet's Redbelt tells that story of Mike Terry, a Jiu-jitsu master who has avoided the prize fighting circuit, choosing to instead pursue a life of honor and education by operating a self-defense studio in Los Angeles. The strong ensemble cast of Redbelt includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tim Allen, Emily Mortimer, Alice Braga, and Joe Mantegna.
War, Inc.
WAR, INC. is a funny and poignant film in the vein of “Grosse Pointe Blank.” Co-written by Mark Leyner, Jeremy Pikser and producer/star John Cusack, the film also stars Hilary Duff, Marisa Tomei, Joan Cusack, Sir Ben Kingsley and Dan Aykroyd.
Then She Found Me
Helen Hunt makes her feature directing debut with THEN SHE FOUND ME, a touching story of schoolteacher April Epner (Hunt) and her very unlikely path towards personal fulfillment. Helen Hunt, Bette Midler, Colin Firth, Matthew Broderick, and Ben Shenkm an star.
Mister Lonely (2008)
Harmony Korine's "Mister Lonely" marks his return to direction since julien donkey-boy (1999. Diego Luna stars as a young American who works as a Michael Jackson lookalike meets Marilyn Monroe (played by Samantha Morton).
The Life Before Her Eyes
Vadim Perelman's "The Life Before Her Eyes" tells the story of Diana (Uma Thurman) suburban wife and mother who begins to question her seemingly perfect life--and perhaps her sanity--on the 15th anniversary of a tragic high school shooting that took the life of her best friend. Evan Rachel Woods plays Diana in a series of flashbacks.
My Blueberry Nights
In Wong Kar Wai's "My Blueberry Nights" a young woman (Norah Jones) takes a soul-searching journey across America to resolve her questions about love while encountering a series of memorable characters along the way. Jude Law and Natalie Portman also star.
Sex and Death 101
SEX & DEATH 101 marks the reunion of writer/director Winona Ryder with his Heathers leading lady, Winona Ryder. The cast also includes Leslie Bibb, Julie Bowen, Sophie Monk, Mindy Cohn), Dash Mihok, Patton Oswalt and Neil Flynn .
Review: Chop Shop
Ramin Bahrani's ("Man Push Cart") second feature "Chop Shop" is set in Willet's Point, Queens, a desolate land of junk yards and auto garages. On the direct outskirts of Shea Stadium and the U.S. Open, in an alternate, almost apocalyptic universe, scrappy twelve-year-old Alejandro (Alejandro Polanco) fends not only for himself, but also for his sixteen-year-old sister Isamar (Isamar Gonzales).
Snow Angels
David Gordon Green's "Snow Angels," adapted from the novel of the same title by Stewart O'Nan, is two stories of love and loss converging. The film stars Sam Rockwell, Kate Beckinsale, Michael Angarano, Griffin Dunne, Amy Sedaris and Olivia Thirlby. "Snow Angels" opens on March 7, 2008.
Death At A Funeral
A dignified send-off for a loved one erupts into uproarious chaos when romance, jealousy, in-laws, hallucinogens, dark secrets, life-long yearnings and a spot of bold blackmail all collide grave-side in Frank Oz's irreverent comedy "Death at a Funeral." Matthew Macfadye, Peter Dinklage, Alan Tudyk , Ewen Bremner, and Rupert Graves star.
Review: The Darjeeling Limited
Wes Anderson's <I>The Darjeeling Limited</I> is a wonderful film -- both funny and affecting. Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman star as a trio of semi-deranged brothers who take a desperately needed spiritual journey across India on the Darjeeling Limited. The cast also includes Angelica Huston, Bill Murray, Natalie Portman, and in a marvelous debut, British actress Amara Karan.
The Other Boleyn Girl
Justin Chadwick's The Other Boleyn Girl features the heaving bosom of Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman's trembling lips. A lurid costume drama delivered in soft focus, the young actresses put on their best English accents and Victoria gowns and duke it out for the king (Eric Bana.)
Sleepwalking
Nick Stahl, AnnaSophia Robb, and Charlize Theron star in "Sleepwalking," a drama about the bond that develops between a 30-year-old man and his young niece after the girl's mother suddenly leaves town. Directed by William Maher from a screenplay by Zac Stanford, "Sleepwalking" also stars Dennis Hopper and Woody Harrelson.
Romance and Cigarettes
Leave it to John Turturro, star of the Coen Brother's "Barton Fink" to create the fictional character's story. "Romance and Cigarettes" is an inventive, "working class opera" featuring a star-studded cast which includes James Gandolfini. Susan Sarandon, Mandy Moore, Mary Louise Park, Steve Buscemi, Eddie Izzard, Mary Louise Parker, and Kate Winslet like you have never seen her before.
The Great World of Sound
Craig Zobel's independent film "The Great World of Sound" takes aim at the dark side of "American Idol," capturing the trend of people looking for a fast shortcut to fame, as well as those behind the scenes who make impossible promises. Pat Healy and Kene Holliday star as the dream makers and hucksters who take to the road in search of fresh talent.
Rocket Science
Jeffrey Blitz's [i]Rocket Science[/i], the follow-up to the enormously popular documentary [i]Spellbound[/i], takes the improbable storyline of a stuttering teenager who joins his high school debate team and sucks you in. Reece Thompson, Anna Kendrick, and Nicholas D'Agosto co-star in this tender coming of age drama.
Funny Games
Michael Haneke's English remake of his own film "Funny Games" about a middle-class family on vacation endures a terrifying ordeal at the hands of two psychopaths. Naomi Watts, Tim Roth and Michael Pitt star.
There Will Be Blood
A movie of rare power, [i]There Will Be Blood[/i] is destined to take its place among such ageless tragedies of American avarice as The Godfather, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Scarface, and Citizen Kane -- with catchphrases to match. "I drink your milkshake!" is the new "Say hello to my little friend." In Daniel Plainview, Anderson and Day-Lewis have created a sublime and haunting vision of the dark specter at the root of our prosperity.
I'm Not There
With I'm Not There, his hotly anticipated follow-up to Far From Heaven, Todd Haynes attempts to find the key to Bob Dylan's life and art by unfolding the larger-than-life personality over seven distinct characters. Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Marcus Carl Franklin, Ben Whinshaw, Richard Gere, and Cate Blanchett play the legendary musician at different stages of his career -- or rather, his imagined career, with events and characters drawn as much from the songs as from Dylan's actual biography.
Review: Juno
JUNO stars Ellen Page as the title character, a whip-smart teen confronting an unplanned pregnancy by her classmate Bleeker (Michael Cera). Co-starring Jennifer Garner and Jason Batemen, JUNO was directed by Jason Reitman ("Thank You For Smoking").