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| 1. |
|
05/29/07 |
Very Good |
 "Deftly juggling a number of story strands that intersect in ways that accumulate meaning... provides a damning portrait of a Romania where corruption is endemic and officials thrive by avoiding responsibility." |
| 2. |
|
08/30/07 |
Very Good |
 "Disturbing, gleefully black comedy... doesn't capture the popular mood of Russia the way 'War' and director Alexei Balabanov's 'Brother' films did, though it definitely has something to say about the country." |
| 3. |
|
02/11/08 |
Weak |
 "Dennis Lee's semi-autobiographical script fails to sustain any tone convincingly. Dialogue lacks wit, relying overmuch on vernacular and the F-word." |
| 4. |
|
02/18/08 |
Excellent |
 "Beautifully crafted, often sentimental, sometimes humorous pic may feel dramatically thin to some..." |
| 5. |
|
02/25/08 |
Outstanding |
 "All actors turn in fine, naturalistic perfs, but it would be remiss not to remark on 83-year-old Hannes Thanheiser's profoundly moving turn as the grandfather." |
| 6. |
|
03/10/08 |
Good |
 "...offers a record of the 'alarming energy' of the ensemble's early perfs, as well as a cursory sketch of its progress from underground legend to international phenomenon." |
| 7. |
|
05/02/08 |
Very Good |
 "Well-researched... reveals a controversial connection between conventional protocols, private patents, managed care and insurance companies..." |
| 8. |
|
05/05/08 |
Very Good |
 "...a light, funny coming-of-ager set in the endearingly un-hip retirement community of Hollywood, Fla.... PG-level innuendo is engaging and suitable for family viewing." |
| 9. |
|
05/05/08 |
Poor |
 "With a low-budget look, cliched dialogue, a stale plot and so-so acting, this supernatural thriller is unlikely to achieve the phenomenal success of its fabled predecessor.... The lame script is full of military lingo and banal platitudes..." |
| 10. |
|
05/06/08 |
Good |
 "Heartwarming and full of self-deprecating humor... Although some members are more charismatic than others, all their stories are inspiring and they share a love of dance..." |
| 11. |
|
05/06/08 |
Fair |
 "Although director Mehreen Jabbar's feature debut boasts numerous assets, including beautiful cinematography, a splendid score and a compelling, near-wordless perf from gifted Indian actress Nandita Das... these fail to compensate for problems of tone." |
| 12. |
|
06/10/08 |
Good |
 "Although liberally sprinkled with moments of delightful, surreal comedy, Hamer's loosely structured screenplay is also laden with melancholy." |
| 13. |
|
06/10/08 |
Outstanding |
 "...provides quietly sensational drama... offers fascinating ethnographic detail, gentle humor and spectacular cinematography." |
| 14. |
|
07/10/08 |
Outstanding |
 "...the smart, tightly constructed script by director Henrik Ruben Genz and Dunja Gry Jensen cleverly defies expectations as it knowingly toys with genre conventions." |
| 15. |
|
08/29/08 |
Good |
 "...frequently plays like an extended Fashion Channel segment crossed with 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous'... contains a few intriguing peeks into Valentino's atelier." |
| 16. |
|
09/02/08 |
Good (Not Great) |
 "...overlong and sometimes choked with political didacticism... ultimately rewards the viewer's patience with a potent sense of Ethiopian history and culture." |
| 17. |
|
09/10/08 |
Moderate |
 "...smoothly crafted but not particularly fresh... While strong perfs by Karoline Herfurth ('Perfume: The Story of a Murderer') and especially Josef Bierbichler ('Winter Journey') create plausible characters and an intense mood, they can't make the plot feel less stale." |
| 18. |
|
09/11/08 |
Excellent |
 "...a beautifully crafted bittersweet dramedy from Czech writer-helmer Bohdan Slama... As he proved in previous work, Slama is a master at depicting yearning." |
| 19. |
|
09/15/08 |
Fair |
 "Ambitious but ungainly... cuts away from storylines just before they peak... odd editing/structural choices never let the pic build up a satisfying head of steam." |
| 20. |
|
09/16/08 |
Outstanding |
 "...the best and most accessible work yet from Palestinian writer-director Rashid Masharawi ('Waiting,' 'Curfew').... a briskly paced gem... finely tooled irony." |
