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| 1. |
|
02/04/04 |
Good (Not Great) |
 "...has a genuine, warm spirit... While the film feels structurally awkward and takes time to settle on the right balance of comedy and pathos, it does eventually provide an emotional hook..." |
| 2. |
|
12/10/10 |
Poor |
 "...is it too much to ask for a little character development and a touch of humor between the infrequent set pieces?" |
| 3. |
|
01/02/11 |
Outstanding |
 "...terrific... despite its personal focus, one of the broader strengths of the documentary is its probing analysis of the protest movement, from civil rights through Vietnam." |
| 4. |
|
01/21/11 |
Outstanding |
 "...non-fiction filmmaking as full-bodied, emotionally complex drama.... James Marsh again proves himself a storyteller of impeccable craftsmanship and delicacy..." |
| 5. |
|
01/21/11 |
Very Good |
 "...inventiveness, folkloric idiosyncrasy and deadpan humor... writer/director Andre Ovredal, a seasoned commercials director, knows how to spin a captivating yarn." |
| 6. |
|
01/21/11 |
Excellent |
 "...mesmerizing... a smart, suspenseful reflection on the insidious way cults operate and the psychological vulnerabilities on which they prey." |
| 7. |
|
01/22/11 |
Weak |
 "...unless you count doing a lot of vodka shots, this is a dramatically uneventful two hours. No significant conflict surfaces until roughly 90 minutes in..." |
| 8. |
|
01/22/11 |
Very Good |
 "Writer/director Tom McCarthy's screenplay never strikes a false note.... newcomer Alex Shaffer is genuinely moving as a good-hearted, damaged kid..." |
| 9. |
|
01/23/11 |
Good |
 "...while we've been down this lonely, funny-sad path before, the soulfulness of writer Patrick deWitt's characters keeps them interesting." |
| 10. |
|
01/23/11 |
Poor |
 "...trite... superficially slick, depressingly conventional, emotionally dishonest and patently well-connected... the antithesis of what Sundance is supposed to be about." |
| 11. |
|
01/24/11 |
Good |
 "Helms lands a sturdy showcase for his trademark awkwardness and nerdy charms... balances gentle mockery with affection, and displays a taste for raucous profanity." |
| 12. |
|
01/24/11 |
Excellent |
 "A powerful and emotional story of protracted injustice backgrounded by a potentially even more fascinating account of entrenched corruption in the LA D.A.'s office." |
| 13. |
|
01/25/11 |
Fair |
 "...adequate... [but] viewers have a right to expect a film that wraps some analytical social context around its swooning nostalgia." |
| 14. |
|
01/25/11 |
Very Good |
 "A classy tribute to an offshoot of Congress seems an unlikely proposition these days, but this one will be sheer joy to anyone who loves movies." |
| 15. |
|
01/28/11 |
Outstanding |
 "Propelled by performances full of scalding anger and pain... a shattering drama about surviving violence, even when it comes from within." |
| 16. |
|
02/08/11 |
Moderate |
 "...has a certain low-key appeal, as does the mixed cast of professional and novice actors. But the intimate comedy suffers from lethargic pacing and a soft payoff." |
| 17. |
|
02/24/11 |
Good |
 "...a touch too discursive, but its case for the legacy of a once-controversial play and movie makes it essential viewing for anyone interested in queer history." |
| 18. |
|
02/25/11 |
Weak |
 "...mindless exploitation... smash-up car chases, hyper-violent physical clashes, flying viscera and a dollop of sex and nudity with ludicrous dialogue..." |
| 19. |
|
03/07/11 |
Fair |
 "Flavorless writing and direction and a low-wattage cast turn potentially strong material into a routine crime thriller." |
| 20. |
|
03/14/11 |
Poor |
 "...so self-inflated they needed an extra dimension to contain it... won't win many new fans for the high-stepping dancer. It might even cost him a few old ones." |
