FullReviews Index - page 4
The Savages
Nursing homes, loss of memory, bowel control, the death of a parent: this is patently unfunny stuff. Writer and director Tamara Jenkins has a tough sell with the irreverent comedy "The Savages." Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney star.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter star in Tim Burton's film adaptation about the blood hungry barber.
Redacted
The shocking reconstruction of the rape and murder of a 15-year-old Iraqi girl by American soldiers in Samarra in 2006, told entirely through "found" footage, the film felt like a well-aimed punch to the gut -- or perhaps a stab in the heart. Whether blunt or sharp, the film's impact is impossible to dismiss. Redacted sent me reeling.
Southland Tales
You may already have heard a thing or two about Richard Kelly's long-awaited follow-up to the cult hit Donnie Darko (2001). Southland Tales was savaged by critics after its Cannes premiere, and Kelly has since shortened the film by 19 minutes and added special effects shots to the ambitious apocalyptic romp with the odd ensemble cast that includes Sarah Michelle Gellar, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Mandy Moore, Justin Timberlake and Seann William Scott.
No Country for Old Men
Taciturn cowboy Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) finds a suitcase full of money out near the Rio Grande -- along with several dead Mexicans and a pick up truck full of heroin. Our hero knows that he shouldn't take the money, but he takes it anyway. For the duration of No Country For Old Men, the Coen Brothers' slick adaptation of the Cormac McCarthy novel, Moss runs doggedly for his life, relentlessly chased by a psycho killer with an unusual hair cut (Javier Bardem).
The Kite Runner - A Marck Forster film - The Kite Runner
Based one on of the most acclaimed novels in recent memory, Marc Foster's "The Kite Runner" is a profoundly emotional tale of friendship, family, devastating mistakes and redeeming love. Opens December 14th, 2007.
Starting Out In The Evening
The women in Andrew Wagner's second film "Starting Out in the Evening," based on the novel by Brian Morton, tend to beam and glow an awful lot. Aging writer Lionel Schiller (Frank Langella) is surrounded by red heads: his daughter Ariel (Lili Taylor) and a star struck grad student (the luminous Lauren Ambrose).
Talk To Me
Kasi Lemmons' third feature film after [i]Eve's Bayou[/i] and [i]The Caveman's Daughter[/i] is an enormous success. "Talk To Me" takes the stale biopic formula and keeps the film steadily moving, from the raucous beginning to the bittersweet end. Cheadle practically bounces off the screen with a high energy, hilarious, and heartrending performance where every unexpected word keeps his audience--and that includes us--spellbound.
In The Land Of Women
Sarah Bardin reviews Jonathan Kasdan's debut film "In The Land Of Women." Adam Brody, of television’s "The O.C." stars as Carter Webb, an aspiring writer who flees Los Angeles to take care of his grandmother. Meg Ryan, Kristen Stewart, and Olympia Dukakis play the central women in his life.
The Straight Story
David Lynch's "The Straight Story" was distributed by Disney with a G rating at the time of its 1999 release. Lynch fans should not be fooled however. This story of a determined old man (Richard Farnsworth) who rides across the state of Iowa to see his estranged brother who recently suffered a stroke. The master’s fingerprints all over the film.
Margot at the Wedding
Academy award nominated Noah Baumbach (Squid and the Whale) delves deeps into to more family upset with [i]Margot at The Wedding[/i]. Nicole Kidman stars are Margot who shows up just in time to destroy the happy life of little sister Pauline (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and her fiance Malcolm (Jack Black).
Paranoid Park
Skateboarding is a crime after all in Gus van Sant's adaptation of Paranoid Park, Blake Nelson's coming-of-age novel about a teenager who is involved in an accidental death.
Review: Go Go Tales
With "Go Go Tales", Abel Ferrara has made his first “intentional comedy,” telling stories of a bygone New York. Willem Dafoe stars as Ray Ruby, the hapless manager of the cash strapped strip club Paradise. Asia Argento, Matthew Modine and Sylvia Miles co-star in this joyful mess.
Ira and Abby
Robert Cary takes psychotherapy-land to the extreme in this charming, intelligent romantic comedy set in New York. Jennifer Westfeldt ("Stealing Jessica Stein") and Chris Messina star. The wonderful supporting cast includes Frances Conroy, Fred Willard, Maddie Corman and a Seinfeld's own Jason Alexander.
Away From Her
Written and directed by Sarah Polley, AWAY FROM HER is the lyrical screenplay adaptation of celebrated author Alice Munro's short story "The Bear Came Over the Mountain." Julie Christie, Olympia Dukakis, Gordon Pinsent, Michael Murphy star in this remarkable feature film.
Beowulf and Grendel
While it's always good to be smart, literate and interested in classic texts, these qualities are not required to enjoy Sturla Gunnarsson's entertaining monster movie Beowulf & Grendel. Gerard Butler, Stellan Skarsgard, and a flame haired Sarah Polley star.
The Hottest State
Ethan Hawke directs "The Hottest State," an adaption of his own first novel. Mark Webber and Catalina Sandina Moreno star as young lovers. With Laura Linney, Michelle Williams, and Ethan Hawke, himself, in supporting roles.
Broken English - Parker Posey stars in Zoe Cassavetes' debut film
Parker Posey outdoes herself as Nora Wilder, a single New Yorker looking for love in Zoe Cassavettes' debut film "Broken English."
Delirious
Wide-eyed Michael Pitt and a cynical as ever Steve Buscemi star in Tom DiCillo's charming look at battle of celebrity verses the papparazzi. Baby faced Alison Lohman co-stars as an angel in a push-up bra.
Inland Empire - DVD 2 Disc Set
A review of the DVD release of David Lynch's "Inland Empire." Jurgen Fauth writes, "INLAND EMPIRE is a shape-shifter of a movie that reconstitutes itself differently every time, and my own TV screen turned out to be a fascinating place to see it."
Becoming Jane
Anne Hathaway stars as Jane Austen in Julian Jarrold's costume drama. The American actress looks lovely in an empire ball gown, and she skillfully puts on the English accent as yet another typical Jane Austen heroine--only this time, she's the real Jane Austen.
Hannah Takes The Stairs
Joe Swanberg's "Hannah Takes The Stairs" is a collaboration between the independent filmmaker and his tight-knit cast. Greta Gerwig stars in the title role as Hannah, a young college graduate suffering from "chronic disatisfaction" who plays emotional havoc with the men that she meets.
Joshua
A thriller about the horrors of parenthood, "Joshua" takes its cues from the tradition of "The Omen," "Rosemary’s Baby," and "Poltergeist." Vera Farmiga and Sam Rockwell star as the overwhelmed parents when their oldest son, the titular Joshua, doesn't like the new baby. Filmmaker George Ratliff knows his genre, effectively building the dread.
Evening
Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Cunningham’s adaptation of Minot’s beloved novel Evening features an extraordinary ensemble cast including Claire Danes, Toni Collette, Vanessa Redgrave, Patrick Wilson, Hugh Dancy, Natasha Richardson, Mamie Gummer, Eileen Atkins, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close.
A Mighty Heart
Angelina Jolie plays Mariane Pearl in Michael Winterbottom’s docudrama about the kidnapping and murder of her husband, the journalist Daniel Pearl.