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| 1. |
|
03/15/11 |
Good |
 "...an English-style social comedy that wears its commitment on its sleeve, yet is in tune with the times.... there are plenty of gags -- mostly verbal, mostly good -- and a driving musical soundtrack including rock standards to maintain uplift." |
| 2. |
|
10/15/10 |
Weak |
 "...set at a high emotional pitch that fails to disguise the fact that it is overdocumented and underdramatized.... In its earnestness, the film strikes too many false notes..." |
| 3. |
|
10/14/10 |
Moderate |
 "...has Hitchcockian pretensions, with perhaps a touch of film noir, but the 'love' component is perfunctorily done and the 'crime' pay-off is unconvincing..." |
| 4. |
|
10/14/10 |
Weak |
 "...too much an act of hero-worship.... writer/director Joann Sfar makes no attempt to get behind legendary French singer/songwriter Serge Gainsbourg's refusal to face up to the addictions that he knew were killing him." |
| 5. |
|
11/18/09 |
Excellent |
 "...two movies, both excellent, for the price of one.... a social-political thriller... [and] a psychological study of a creature of power during and after his seizure by ransom-hunters..." |
| 6. |
|
09/08/09 |
Fair |
 "The ecology message is too obvious and too uncontentious to be worth stating.... The movie is self-consciously artsy... The characterization is thin and dialogue tends to be leaden.... What's to admire? The Andean landscapes are breathtaking..." |
| 7. |
|
08/18/09 |
Good (Not Great) |
 "The direction is proficient, the production is flawless... But where, the more demanding filmgoer will ask, is the added value, the spark of inspiration that makes for a must-see movie rather than a worthy night out?" |
| 8. |
|
07/07/09 |
Moderate |
 "...the conceit of an ever-so-erudite child palling around with an exceedingly wise concierge might be workable in a novel... [but director Mona] Achache is too much of a novice to bring it off... Nevertheless, the performances are solid and there are moments of charm." |
| 9. |
|
04/21/09 |
Excellent |
 "Spectacle, a love triangle, heritage settings, bravura acting, witty dialogue, a bittersweet finale: There's something for everyone..." |
| 10. |
|
03/26/09 |
Very Good |
 "...as always with this director, the pleasures reside in the fine detail rather than the broad sweep.... the movie is held together not simply by [Emilie] Dequenne's fine portrayal of a young woman searching for herself and drawing a blank but by the force of Techine's attachment to his characters, the fluidity of his style and his characteristic blend of lightness and gravity." |
| 11. |
|
03/25/09 |
Very Good |
 "...a compelling social drama... features an impressive performance by Vincent Lindon... The movie offers no simple solutions, nor even a feel-good ending, but throws a cold light on the human tragedy that underlies many of today's headlines." |
| 12. |
|
09/02/08 |
Excellent |
 "The movie's humor is sly and understated rather than laugh-out-loud, as Fontaine's literate script, co-written with Benoit Graffin, hints at melancholy and deeper frustrations." |
| 13. |
|
02/27/08 |
Moderate |
 "Director Pierre Morel moves the action along briskly, serving a screenplay (co-authored by Robert Mark Kamen) that rarely rises above the strictly functional." |
