|
| 1. |
|
never |
Very Good |
 "Assayas draws finely measured performances from his cast as they discuss what to do... he encourages cinematographer Eric Gautier to observe their small moments..." |
| 2. |
|
02/25/05 |
Outstanding |
 "...once again highlights Alexander Sokurov's mastery of the medium.... employs refined performances, a controlled script, excellent sound and fluid camerawork..." |
| 3. |
|
03/23/06 |
Very Good |
 "...featuring Brian Wilson, Ringo Starr, Robin Williams, Randy Newman, Jimmy Webb, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Monkee Micky Dolenz and the Smothers Brothers." |
| 4. |
|
12/13/06 |
Good (Not Great) |
 "...recently won awards for its director and actor Trevor Morgan at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Fest.... Familiar and predictable, it nonetheless works to a degree." |
| 5. |
|
05/03/07 |
Good |
 "Shots are interesting, editing is neat and performances are generally convincing.... succeeds as a comfy ensemble piece about working-class life in upstate New York." |
| 6. |
|
05/22/07 |
Poor |
 "...a tawdry little film ostensibly about the cultural clashes resulting from the proximity of former Soviet states, such as the Ukraine, to western nations such as Austria. There is a film to be made on the topic, but this isn't it." |
| 7. |
|
05/23/07 |
Very Good |
 "The stiffness of the performances, except from the children, who are just naturally wonderful, works extremely well in this context." |
| 8. |
|
05/31/07 |
Good (Not Great) |
 "...takes time to reveal its intentions and the result is worthy but not engaging.... The use of non-professionals in cast and crew is evident in awkward staging and acting..." |
| 9. |
|
06/26/07 |
Fair |
 "...a unique, in-your-face example of no-budget filmmaking co-written by and starring comedian Mike O'Connell that quickly proves to wear out its novel welcome." |
| 10. |
|
07/18/07 |
Very Good |
 "...just manages to skirt overt sentimentality, Gauger's script effectively capitalizes on the compact cast's naturalistic acting and the city's lively immediacy..." |
| 11. |
|
08/07/07 |
Weak |
 "...sometimes incoherent... Various narrators convey attitudes of disappointment and nihilism, though none of it is very convincing... A noisy soundtrack doesn't help." |
| 12. |
|
09/07/07 |
Outstanding |
 "On the way to a smartly unexpected climax, the film provides insight into many of the social and historical issues that burden modern Russia but that are hardly unique..." |
| 13. |
|
09/07/07 |
Good |
 "Giovanni Fiore Coltellacci's cinematography beautifully takes in an almost surreal landscape of forlorn barrenness while Alexandre Desplat's music catches the dangers and ominous mood felt by every living soul in that wasteland." |
| 14. |
|
09/09/07 |
Outstanding |
 "...lest the material threaten to grow homogenous, Saura punctuates it with numbers like a surprisingly at-home feeling hip-hop tribute..." |
| 15. |
|
10/05/07 |
Very Good |
 "Instead of harping on disputed grievances like the Nanjing massacre or comfort women, the film hones in on the shrine itself... A penetrating documentary illustrating the complexity of Japan's war legacy." |
| 16. |
|
11/14/07 |
Good (Not Great) |
 "Although it sometimes suffers from ennui overload, the film gets under the skin, its darkly comic observations filtered through Tarkovsky, Kieslowski and Cassavetes but alive with their own bracing melancholy." |
| 17. |
|
11/19/07 |
Weak |
 "...the nightclub scenes don't have the musical verve needed to set the whole enterprise in motion.... the script is shrill and broad when it should be witty.... most of the actors have been encouraged to play their roles at a hysterical pitch." |
| 18. |
|
12/21/07 |
Good |
 "...a reasonably entertaining caper film featuring lots of very appealing young women, which makes a pleasant change from the usual sweating heavies." |
| 19. |
|
01/18/08 |
Good |
 "This noirish thriller is efficiently albeit somewhat coolly told.... wins style and design points but is weak on logic." |
| 20. |
|
01/20/08 |
Very Good |
 "A touching and funny examination of two sisters coming of age at a very late date." |
