|
| 1. |
|
04/21/13 |
Very Good |
 "Seimetz's intoxicating slice of genre revisionism earns its 'neo' prefix, envisioning a brightly sinister world where desperation is the new normal." |
| 2. |
|
04/05/13 |
Moderate |
 "...like some hybrid born from the loins of 'Sideways' and 'The Full Monty,' reveling in a brand of cheeky camaraderie that feels ultimately cheap..." |
| 3. |
|
03/27/13 |
Moderate |
 "The narrative bloat doesn't matter in the least... the extreme verbal posturing by either side simply acts as connective tissue between the blunderbuss action scenes." |
| 4. |
|
03/19/13 |
Weak |
 "...it's all smoke and mirrors. The film's true concern remains overproduced musical epiphanies of the lowest order that fade from memory almost immediately." |
| 5. |
|
02/18/13 |
Good (Not Great) |
 "...a mostly straightforward adaptation... Unfortunately, the film's interest in social themes remains background fodder within a far more generic good-versus-evil narrative." |
| 6. |
|
01/29/13 |
Very Good |
 "...pure sound and fury, and it leaves a mark.... transcends genre convention by planting strong thematic impulses within Hill's brilliant stylistic flourishes." |
| 7. |
|
01/08/13 |
Poor |
 "It's hard to imagine Josh Brolin playing a bigger lug... each character is but a hollow archetype from classic western film iconography... cartoonish..." |
| 8. |
|
11/26/12 |
Weak |
 "...poorly paced.... grows increasingly tiresome the more it flirts with melodrama, unraveling themes of jealousy, regret, and ambition in broad strokes." |
| 9. |
|
11/03/12 |
Outstanding |
 "...melds analysis on grand modern issues with a dynamic visual style, all within a framework of personal and collective professionalism at odds." |
| 10. |
|
10/22/12 |
Weak |
 "...thoughtless and hollow.... a completely formulaic effort that hinges on the liberal borrowing of tropes and scenarios from better genre films." |
| 11. |
|
10/05/12 |
Very Good |
 "...it's hard to fault such a moving film for being too messy when it's so unabashedly committed to exploring every nook and cranny of such an incredibly complex situation." |
| 12. |
|
09/29/12 |
Good (Not Great) |
 "Lillard respects his actors, giving Wysocki, O'Leary, and Campbell plenty of room to breathe and lingering on their faces as they express the emotions words cannot." |
| 13. |
|
09/19/12 |
Weak |
 "Ayer's fidgety promo genre exercise, essentially a found-footage cop film, never sits still long enough to ponder anything deeper than surface chaos." |
| 14. |
|
09/09/12 |
Very Good |
 "Hollywood has always loved a good bastard... invigorating, mostly thanks to Nicholas Jarecki's sharp script and excellent direction of the talented cast." |
| 15. |
|
08/28/12 |
Good (Not Great) |
 "...despite being a nasty and skillful action film, 'The Day' goes off the rails in the final stretch. The heavy-handed denouement is problematic... It's all a little too tidy..." |
| 16. |
|
08/13/12 |
Moderate |
 "...serviceable as a breezy genre effort, lovingly seeped in the kind of earnestness and period-piece detail found in something like 'Stand By Me.' " |
| 17. |
|
08/06/12 |
Very Good |
 "...a deceptively simple film, tonally breezy until it becomes thunderous... a strong examination of internal suffering." |
| 18. |
|
07/30/12 |
Poor |
 "...violent ridiculousness.... maligned with gaping plot holes, terrible expository dialogue, and obvious moments of foreshadowing." |
| 19. |
|
07/10/12 |
Moderate |
 "...never distinguishes itself as engaging cinema apart from Drazen's vile charisma and a few dynamic dialogue sequences.... the failure to adapt the source play to a new medium in interesting ways is what's most disappointing..." |
| 20. |
|
07/05/12 |
Good (Not Great) |
 "...often connects location and character in fascinating ways... Despite its strong visual sensibility and performances, 'Last Ride' gives into contrivance in its final act..." |
