Fr. Chris Carpenter Movie Reviews & Previews

Critics » Fr. Chris Carpenter

Official Websites:
catholicsun.org

Fr. Chris Carpenter

Agrees with the Tomatometer 74% of the time.

Biography:: Prior to entering seminary and becoming a Catholic priest, I studied film theory & production and theater. I won screenwriting and directing awards for several student films I made in college. I reviewed movies for The Catholic Sun in Phoenix, Arizona from 1996-2006, and now write for the Orange County & Long Beach Blade (www.gayblade.com). I also contribute weekly film, DVD & theatre reviews to www.moviedearest.blogspot.com.
Favorites:: Citizen Kane; E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial; Dancer in the Dark; Doctor Dolittle (1967); Superman: The Movie; The Wizard of Oz; Friendly Persuasion; Gone With the Wind; old Universal horror movies (Dracula, The Wolf Man, The Mummy, et al); anything by directors Robert Altman and Peter Greenaway
Publications:: Catholic Sun , Movie Dearest , Orange County and Long Beach Blade
Critics' Group:: Phoenix Film Critics Society

Total Reviews:: 340
Total QuickRatings:: 41

Location:: Long Beach, CA

Listing Of All Reviews & Articles

Showing 1 - 50 of 340

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Rating	T-Meter	Title \| Year	Add Date
B+	71%	Return (2012)	" Absorbing. (Writer-director Liza) Johnson...is to be commended for her matter-of-fact approach as well as for a refreshing lack of histrionics." — Movie Dearest Posted Feb 8, 2012
B+	77%	The Grey (2012)	" If it takes intense trailers and commercials highlighting ravenous wolves, plane crashes and a sharp-shooting Liam Neeson to pack audiences into what turns out to be a meditation on faith and atonement, then so be it." — Movie Dearest Posted Jan 30, 2012
B-	89%	Miss Bala (2012)	" Provides a discomfortingly intimate glimpse into the complexities of the Mexican-U.S. drug trade. "Miss Bala" shouldn't be written off by adventurous moviegoers." — Movie Dearest Posted Jan 23, 2012
B	82%	Addiction Incorporated (2011)	" Charles Evans, Jr. makes an impressive directorial debut... While entertainingly constructed, (the film) suffers at times from a too-comical approach." — Movie Dearest Posted Jan 15, 2012
B	34%	Joyful Noise (2012)	" It's a busy, somewhat overstuffed and frequently predictable script but it incorporates a number of serious, affecting moments as well as some enjoyably quirky humor." — Movie Dearest Posted Jan 15, 2012
C-	87%	X-Men: First Class (2011)	" One of the five worst films of 2011. Inexplicably acclaimed, incredibly dumb." — Movie Dearest Posted Dec 30, 2011
D	69%	Horrible Bosses (2011)	" Horrible movie. One of the five worst films of 2011." — Movie Dearest Posted Dec 30, 2011
C-	36%	The Thing (2011)	" Pointless prequel to the 1982 sci-fi/horror classic. One of the five worst films of 2011." — Movie Dearest Posted Dec 30, 2011
A-	44%	J. Edgar (2011)	" One of the five best GLBT-themed narrative films of 2011. " — Movie Dearest Posted Dec 30, 2011
A-	94%	Hugo (2011)	" One of the ten best films of 2011." — Movie Dearest Posted Dec 30, 2011
A-	94%	Win Win (2011)	" One of the ten best films of 2011." — Movie Dearest Posted Dec 30, 2011
A-	83%	Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)	" One of the ten best films of 2011, and the year's best popcorn movie." — Movie Dearest Posted Dec 30, 2011
A-	94%	Moneyball (2011)	" One of the ten best films of 2011." — Movie Dearest Posted Dec 30, 2011
A-	90%	The Descendants (2011)	" One of the ten best films of 2011." — Movie Dearest Posted Dec 30, 2011
A-	96%	Pariah (2011)	" Authentic and moving. Adepero Oduye gives a breakthrough performance in the lead role, and Kim Wayans is a revelation as Alike's conflicted mother. One of the five best GLBT-themed narrative films of 2011." — Movie Dearest Posted Dec 23, 2011
B	53%	Albert Nobbs (2012)	" As good as the performances are, I found the screenplay and Rodrigo Garcia's direction tonally inconsistent. The unusual premise seems to be played at some moments for laughs and at other times with heavy-handed solemnity." — Movie Dearest Posted Dec 20, 2011
B+	90%	London River (2011)	" Powerful. Director Rachid Bouchareb draws excellent, haunting performances from Blethyn and Kouyate. Ultimately moving and cautionary, "London River" shouldn't be missed." — Movie Dearest Posted Dec 16, 2011
B-	54%	The Iron Lady (2012)	" Streep gives yet another amazing, award-worthy performance...If only the movie that surrounds her was as good. Erratically written and chaotically directed." — Movie Dearest Posted Dec 16, 2011
B+	93%	Coriolanus (2011)	" Ralph Fiennes makes an impressive directorial debut and gives a fierce, award-worthy performance. Amazing supporting cast." — Movie Dearest Posted Dec 2, 2011
B+	——	Becoming Santa (2011)	" Illuminating, highly enjoyable. If there is anyone out there who needs your Christmas spirit renewed, rent "Becoming Santa" today." — Movie Dearest Posted Nov 29, 2011
C-	——	Bite Marks (2011)	" While I wish I could report "Bite Marks" was as expertly made and lavishly produced as "Breaking Dawn," first-time director Mark Bessenger gets some points for his use of slapstick and adding a new twist or two to a pretty tired genre." — Movie Dearest Posted Nov 23, 2011
A	73%	The Tree (2011)	" A beautiful Australian family drama. It takes a metaphysical approach to be sure, but it really scores in capturing the various experiences and stages of grief. The best film of 2011 (tie)." — Movie Dearest Posted Nov 23, 2011
C-	80%	Shame (2011)	" (Fassbender gives a) fully-committed performance... (but) "Shame" tends to wallow in its graphic sex scenes rather than provide any illumination or redemption. " — Movie Dearest Posted Nov 23, 2011
C+	78%	A Dangerous Method (2011)	" While "A Dangerous Method" is handsomely-produced and -designed, what should have been an intriguing story fell pretty flat for me. Cronenberg directs with no particular flair." — Movie Dearest Posted Nov 23, 2011
A	——	Out Late (2011)	" Fascinating...not to be missed." — Movie Dearest Posted Nov 14, 2011
A-	80%	We Need to Talk About Kevin (2012)	" Superbly crafted, deeply unsettling...A "Bad Seed" for the 21st century, it raises provocative questions about nature vs. nurture when it comes to the development of sociopathic children. One of the ten best films of 2011." — Movie Dearest Posted Nov 12, 2011
A-	71%	Carnage (2011)	" A vast improvement over its source material. The movie is tighter, less literal/pretentious in its staging, and--most importantly for a comedy--funnier...Christoph Waltz is a particular standout. One of the ten best films of 2011." — Movie Dearest Posted Nov 12, 2011
B+	78%	Melancholia (2011)	" Von Trier employs an all-star cast, evocative imagery and Wagner's prelude to his opera "Tristan und Isolde" to spectacular, haunting effect." — Movie Dearest Posted Nov 12, 2011
C-	44%	The Catechism Cataclysm (2011)	" As a professional preacher, I could appreciate (the film) to some degree as a satiric take on storytelling in both religious and secular circles. Sorry to say, that's about as far as my appreciation goes." — Movie Dearest Posted Nov 4, 2011
C+	44%	Five Star Day (2011)	" (The film) has its charms but is more often than not overly talky and serious...A lighter touch on (writer-director Danny) Buday's part would have likely made the film more entertaining as well as more endearing." — Movie Dearest Posted Nov 2, 2011
B	——	Eating Out: Drama Camp (2011)	" The "Eating Out" series isn't known for comedic or sexual subtlety, but what "Drama Camp" lacks in restraint it makes up for with good humor and hot guys." — Movie Dearest Posted Oct 25, 2011
B	73%	Revenge of the Electric Car (2011)	" Though not as engrossing as the first film (2006's "Who Killed the Electric Car?"), "Revenge" pulls back the cover on the major car manufacturers' more recent efforts." — Movie Dearest Posted Oct 22, 2011
B+	94%	Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey (2011)	" A totally enjoyable documentary as sweet-natured as Elmo himself. Absolutely inspiring." — Movie Dearest Posted Oct 22, 2011
B	67%	The Sons Of Tennessee Williams (2011)	" Director Tim Wolff uncovers the vibrant history of gay life in New Orleans...Amazing, elaborate costumes are in abundance throughout." — Movie Dearest Posted Oct 7, 2011
B+	60%	Toast (2011)	" Fans of gay coming of age stories, British cinema and/or Helena Bonham Carter shouldn't miss it..."Toast" serves as a wistful reminder of the battles we all fought to become who we are today." — Movie Dearest Posted Oct 7, 2011
B	36%	Finding Joe (2011)	" Nicely shot and edited but generally employs a standard "talking heads" approach and lectures more than it engages. It is strongest whenever it quotes (Joseph) Campbell directly." — Movie Dearest Posted Sep 30, 2011
A-	92%	Take Shelter (2011)	" Frightening, moving and thought-provoking by turns. I think master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock would have approved, especially with its visual allusions to "The Birds" and its beautifully ironic finale. One of the ten best films of 2011." — Movie Dearest Posted Sep 30, 2011
A-	96%	Tomboy (2011)	" Exquisite. Young lead actress Zoe Heran gives one of several beautifully-nuanced performances in this sensitive, compassionate movie. The best GLBT-themed narrative film of 2011." — Movie Dearest Posted Sep 23, 2011
B+	37%	Restless (2011)	" "Restless" turns out to be very good and it could easily have been very bad; memories of 1991's "Dying Young"...spring immediately to mind. (Director Gus) Van Sant also handles the risky material expertly. " — Movie Dearest Posted Sep 16, 2011
B-	80%	Happy, Happy (2011)	" A subplot involving (children & slavery) is extremely discomforting. Still, the film is touched with truthful, graceful moments." — Movie Dearest Posted Sep 16, 2011
B	84%	Contagion (2011)	" A well-made, effective chiller...I would have admired and respected it better, though, if it wasn't so subtly judgmental toward (Gwyneth) Paltrow's "patient zero" character." — Movie Dearest Posted Sep 16, 2011
A	98%	Bill Cunningham New York (2011)	" Out of a year full of great documentaries, (this) is one of the very best both for what it reveals and, ironically but admiringly, what it doesn't. UPDATE: The best documentary of 2011." — Movie Dearest Posted Sep 14, 2011
B+	83%	Warrior (2011)	" The very well-written script...successfully squeezes new life out of many fight-movie, sibling-rivalry and Irish-Catholic cliches. Edgerton's and Hardy's performances are excellent, as is Nolte's. Exciting, visceral filmmaking at its best. " — Movie Dearest Posted Sep 9, 2011
A	100%	Semper Fi: Always Faithful ()	" Riveting. More than worth an investment of time and money on the part of both military personnel and civilians. One of the five best documentaries of 2011." — Movie Dearest Posted Sep 5, 2011
B+	81%	Higher Ground (2011)	" A stellar cast...Joshua Leonard is also excellent as Farmiga's (character's) husband. I love the movie's haunting final shot. (The film) could easily emerge a 2011 awards contender." — Movie Dearest Posted Aug 26, 2011
B+	83%	Circumstance (2011)	" While I didn't find much new in the film's girl-girl romantic dynamics, it's setting and social-political commentary are certainly above the norm." — Movie Dearest Posted Aug 26, 2011
C-	36%	One Day (2011)	" (The film's) "annual checkup" conceit ultimately proves precious and plodding..."One Day" serves as a disappointing follow-up to (director Lone Scherfig's) more subtle, Oscar-nominated "An Education." One of the five worst films of 2011." — Movie Dearest Posted Aug 19, 2011
A-	88%	Darwin ()	" Illuminating...To its credit, the documentary never leads viewers to laugh at the (eccentric) subjects' expense. " — Movie Dearest Posted Aug 18, 2011
A-	84%	The Tree of Life (2011)	" Easily Malick's warmest movie and may well endure as his masterpiece...It is also a profoundly theological work. The best film of 2011 (tie)." — Movie Dearest Posted Aug 8, 2011

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