Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 88%
| Inglourious Basterds (2009) | "
This exploitation epic is a unique beast that molests history, wrong-foots expectations and royally entertains. The movies’ coolest Basterd is back on his game." — Total Film Posted Aug 21, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Rotten 36%
| G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) | "
Sommers bucks the bad buzz with a throwaway blast of solid, stupid fun. You laugh at it rather than with it, but a sequel would be worth it just for more of Gordon-Levitt’s one-eyed dramatics." — Total Film Posted Aug 7, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 88%
| Red Cliff (2009) | "
A sweeping, stirring breath-snatcher that finds the director on his finest form since Face/Off. Even half-cut, it’s a whole lot of epic." — Total Film Posted Jun 12, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 64%
| The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008) | "
There are plausibility issues – no German accents; no guards noticing the kids’ frequent chats – but Herman builds a tightening sense of dread that finds no release in the final, tragic twist. Expect a sleepless night." — Total Film Posted Sep 12, 2008 |
Rotten 2/5
| Rotten 39%
| Wild Child (2009) | "
Shame on Iggy Pop for letting them (ab)use his anarchy-anthem ‘Real Wild Child’ in a girls’-own flick that is so paltry it makes the recent St Trinians addition look like Picnic At Hanging Rock." — Total Film Posted Aug 15, 2008 |
Fresh 3/5
| Rotten 19%
| The Clone Wars (2008) | "
John Williams’ music elbowed in favour of Kevin Kiner’s pale imitations… Little things that jar and jar, but at least there’s no Jar Jar." — Total Film Posted Aug 15, 2008 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 78%
| Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008) | "
Stagey fluff, yes, but old romantics will spare a sigh for the fairytale fade-out." — Total Film Posted Aug 15, 2008 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 92%
| Metropolitan (1990) | "
A witty, urbane portrait of Manhattan's debutante scene." — BBC Posted Jul 18, 2008 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 81%
| Charlie Wilson's War (2007) | "
Less than the sum of its A-list parts, Nichols’ grown-up satire only catches fire when Hoffman’s steamed up." — Total Film Posted Jan 11, 2008 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 92%
| Enchanted (2007) | "
Subversive enough for older brother, sweet enough for kid sis, this cine-panto’s a safe if not spectacular choice for a Chrimbo family outing. The cartoon chipmunk almost steals it, but Adams’ dippy dazzle is the movie’s heart, soul and lungs." — Total Film Posted Dec 13, 2007 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 74%
| Planet Terror (2007) | "
A bona fide trash pastiche. So good it’s bad, then? Almost, but the panache and playfulness machine-gun most of the shortcomings. DVD suppliers! Can we have the two films plus trailers in one now, please?" — Total Film Posted Nov 9, 2007 |
Fresh 3/5
| Rotten 49%
| 30 Days of Night (2007) | "
This has more bite than we’ve come to expect from Sam Raimi’s Ghost House production outfit. Some of the action misses the jugular, but Danny Huston makes for a sensational baddie." — Total Film Posted Nov 1, 2007 |
Rotten 2/5
| Rotten 23%
| Resident Evil: Extinction (2007) | "
Scaling dizzy heights of sheer averageness, the third in writer/ producer Paul WS Anderson’s stillborn zombie saga is the best – or least worst – yet." — Total Film Posted Oct 10, 2007 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 96%
| Ratatouille (2007) | "
Novel in concept, exquisite in execution, another family feast from Pixar suitable for all palates. Not a studio chef d’oeuvre, perhaps, but still the richest of this year’s animations. Don’t miss the starter course, hilarious space short Lifted." — Total Film Posted Oct 10, 2007 |
Fresh 3/5
| Rotten 43%
| December Boys (2007) | "
A warm, sentimental glow prevails at the end, while copious shots of rolling landscape offset the teatime-telly feel of veteran goggleboxer Rod Hardy’s direction." — Total Film Posted Sep 14, 2007 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 87%
| Superbad (2007) | "
The funniest film since, um, Knocked Up. What it lacks in novelty it makes up for with consistency. Supergood." — Total Film Posted Sep 14, 2007 |
Rotten 2/5
| Rotten 33%
| Marigold (2007) | "
A sari attempt to hybridise Hollywood and Bollywood." — Total Film Posted Aug 17, 2007 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 89%
| Waitress (2007) | "
A stylised indie chick-flick, Waitress gets itself into a tonal puree but still offers flavoursome pleasures and full-on food-porn visuals. A funny and touching testament to Shelly’s multi-talent – savour it." — Total Film Posted Aug 10, 2007 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 81%
| Ghosts of Cite Soleil (2007) | "
Captured at hair-raisingly close quarters by the fearless filmmakers, the sense of lawlessness grabs the throat and haunts the mind." — Total Film Posted Jul 20, 2007 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 93%
| The Seventh Seal (1957) | "
Fear, peril and hoplessness soak every frame." — BBC Posted Jul 20, 2007 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 81%
| Ghosts of Cite Soleil (2007) | "
Arguably the film romanticises its morally challenged protagonists, but there's little hint of rose-tint in the fear, peril and hopelessness that seem to soak every frame like a cold sweat." — BBC Posted Jul 17, 2007 |
Rotten 2/5
| Fresh 80%
| Taxidermia (2007) | "
Where Hukkle's circle-of-life surrealism had a certain twisted charm, this film's sense of the grotesque is more glum than fun. On the tail of such a promising debut, it can't help feeling like a hiccup." — BBC Posted Jul 13, 2007 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 81%
| Sketches of Frank Gehry (2006) | "
More a thumbnail than a full portrait." — BBC Posted Jun 26, 2007 |
Rotten 2/5
| Fresh 82%
| Exiled (2007) | "
Saved by set-piece action." — BBC Posted Jun 15, 2007 |
Fresh 5/5
| Fresh 99%
| Battle of Algiers (1966) | "
A riveting reconstruction of the struggle for independence in mid-50s Algiers, its pseudo-documentary style still feels as headline-fresh as its content." — BBC Posted May 15, 2007 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 85%
| Bridge to Terabithia (2007) | "
Smart, sprightly and sensitive, this is like a junior-edition Heavenly Creatures , complete with ace chemistry and tragic twist." — Total Film Posted May 4, 2007 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 85%
| Bridge to Terabithia (2007) | "
Why can't more kids' films be this grown up?" — BBC Posted May 1, 2007 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 67%
| Close to Home (2007) | "
More a buddy movie than a political one, it nonetheless captures the festering tensions of a divided city." — BBC Posted Apr 3, 2007 |
Rotten 2/5
| Fresh 66%
| Meet the Robinsons (2007) | "
This is eye candy with a hollow centre." — Total Film Posted Mar 27, 2007 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 71%
| Amazing Grace (2007) | "
Accessibility is one of the movie's virtues: without dumbing down, it makes the workings of Parliament seem as gripping as a good suspense thriller." — BBC Posted Mar 23, 2007 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 70%
| Eden (2006) | "
Earns its place-setting with other foodie movies (Eat Drink Man Woman, Big Night, Tampopo) for the sheer volume of delectable dishes – which, in spite of the muddy lensing, will set stomachs pining." — Total Film Posted Mar 16, 2007 |
Rotten 2/5
| Rotten 40%
| Duelist (2005) | "
Duelist turns from playful to precious in the last 30-odd minutes, straggling towards a prancey showdown that's as graceful as all get-out but as cold as the endless falling snow." — BBC Posted Mar 8, 2007 |
Fresh 3/5
| Rotten 55%
| Gone (2006) | "
If only it had taken the characters' lead and strayed further from the beaten track..." — BBC Posted Mar 8, 2007 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 71%
| Inland Empire (2006) | "
The man's still a genius; he just needs to be more ruthless in the editing suite." — BBC Posted Mar 6, 2007 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 89%
| Into Great Silence (2007) | "
It sounds more like an endurance test than entertainment, yet this one-of-a-kind experience proves surprisingly immersive." — BBC Posted Mar 1, 2007 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 98%
| Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams (2007) | "
A convincing portrait of how ordinary people strive to get on with their lives in the wake of terrible conflict." — BBC Posted Feb 17, 2007 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 79%
| The 9th Company (2005) | "
the movie's relevance to current events is inescapable - especially when underlined in dialogue like, "In all of history, no one has ever managed to conquer Afghanistan."" — BBC Posted Feb 16, 2007 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 69%
| The Science of Sleep (2006) | "
Credit should be shared with the leads; together they're silly, giddy, irrepressibly inventive - a lot like the film itself." — BBC Posted Feb 13, 2007 |
Fresh 4/5
| Rotten 50%
| For Your Consideration (2006) | "
In the running for the ‘Best Rethink Of An Established Formula’ award, so we’d like to thank the director and his cast for keeping the chortles coming." — Total Film Posted Feb 9, 2007 |
Rotten 2/5
| Rotten 51%
| The Fountain (2006) | "
First, the good news: The Fountain is only 97 minutes long. Now the bad: that's 97 minutes of rampant metaphysical codswallop." — BBC Posted Jan 26, 2007 |
Rotten 2/5
| Rotten 42%
| Lives of the Saints (2006) | "
A bizarre brew of Brit-grit, magic realism and religious allegory." — BBC Posted Jan 26, 2007 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 75%
| Black Book (2007) | "
A layer of mainstream gloss takes the edge off the horrors, but the man behind Robocop marches through with a steely assurance that rarely allows you to snatch a breath." — BBC Posted Jan 16, 2007 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 87%
| The Last King of Scotland (2006) | "
Hard to believe that an actor previously renowned for his gentleness could play such a monster, but the transformation is seamless." — BBC Posted Jan 12, 2007 |
Fresh
| Fresh 81%
| A Prairie Home Companion (2006) | "
It's a warm and dignified end to a sometimes erratic but often enthralling career." — BBC Posted Jan 9, 2007 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 71%
| London to Brighton (2008) | "
Maybe the ending's a bit excessive, but it's hard to overstate the excitement of seeing fresh British talent break through with such energy." — BBC Posted Nov 30, 2006 |
Rotten 2/5
| Rotten 53%
| Crime Novel (2005) | "
Revenge is a dish served once too often in Romanzo Criminale, an Italian crime epic that runs out of appeal well before it runs out of ammo." — BBC Posted Nov 11, 2006 |
Rotten 2/5
| Rotten 26%
| Waist Deep (2006) | "
The worst is saved for last: just when you think the movie has shown the courage of its 'gritty' convictions, it hits you with schmaltz that would shame a Hallmark card." — BBC Posted Nov 11, 2006 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 90%
| Be With Me (2005) | "
A Singaporean drama that requires patience but ultimately rewards it." — BBC Posted Oct 31, 2006 |
Rotten 3/5
| Rotten 47%
| Open Season (2006) | "
In the end, the hunter becomes the hunted; but wouldn't the animal rights message mean more if you actually cared about the critters?" — BBC Posted Oct 17, 2006 |
Rotten 3/5
| Fresh 66%
| Brothers of the Head (2006) | "
Co-directors Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe have a gift for making fake footage look like the real deal. But they're not so hot when it comes to simulating human drama." — BBC Posted Oct 3, 2006 |
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