ROTTEN TOMATOES: David Stratton

DAVID STRATTON

Agrees with the Tomatometer 72% of the time.

Biography: David Stratton is a former Director of the Sydney Film Festival, former film critic for the international film industry magazine Variety, and is currently film critic for The Australian. A recipient of the Australian Film Institute ‘s Raymond Longford Award, David has also served as a former President of the International Critics Jury for the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals, authored two books, and is currently lecturing in Film History as part of the Continuing Education Program at the University of Sydney. David says, “I had been the film consultant to SBS from its inception and then presenter of both the Movie of the Week and Cinema Classics for over 22 years. Both Margaret and I are grateful for the opportunities that SBS and The Movie Show have given us and have great affection for the network. So our decision to leave SBS is not a step we have taken lightly. But we are excited about the new challenge on ABC TV.”

Publications: At the Movies (Australia), The Australian, Variety

Total Reviews: 437

Location: Sydney, Australia

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Rating	T-Meter	Title \| Year	Add Date (default)

Fresh 3.5/5	Fresh 93%	Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)	" Wes Anderson’s typically quirky approach to a slim Roald Dahl story is a genuine charmer even if it’s slightly over-extended." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Dec 17, 2009
Fresh 4.5/5	Fresh 89%	Up in the Air (2009)	" Up in the Air is firmly rooted in contemporary life -- and, to its great credit, it doesn’t pull its punches in the end." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Dec 17, 2009
Fresh 5/5	Fresh 84%	Bright Star (2009)	" Campion takes her time to tell her tender story, but the film rewards with a conclusion I found incredibly moving. This is certainly one of the best films of the year." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Dec 16, 2009
Fresh 3.5/5	Fresh 100%	The French Kissers (2009)	" First-time director Riad Sattouf, known in France for his comic strips, clearly knows his subject in this pimples-and-all foray into the tumultuous lives of young, hormone-enraged teenagers." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Dec 15, 2009
Fresh	Fresh 83%	Avatar (2009)	" Somehow it all works wonderfully well, thanks mainly to Cameron's story-telling skills and to the movie's fantastically detailed vision." — The Australian Posted Dec 15, 2009
Rotten 1.5/5	Fresh 82%	Paranormal Activity (2009)	" Extremely unthrilling, very obvious, very clichéd. We've seen it all before." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Dec 7, 2009
Fresh 4/5	Fresh 77%	The Informant! (2009)	" A very smooth, very dry and hugely enjoyable movie." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Dec 2, 2009
Rotten 2/5	Rotten 50%	Antichrist (2009)	" I think [von Trier's] immature. I think he's even childish at times." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Nov 26, 2009
Fresh 3.5/5	Fresh 85%	Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (2009)	" Writer-directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have expanded a 30-page children’s book by Judi and Ron Barrett into a 3D animated feature which boasts intricate design and goofy humour." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Nov 26, 2009
Fresh 4/5	Fresh 87%	A Serious Man (2009)	" The result is a wonderfully dry and witty comedy which is pitch-perfect in tone." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Nov 18, 2009
Rotten 2/5	Rotten 47%	Dorian Gray (2010)	" This uneasy mixture of horror and elegant wit, which worked so well originally, never really catches fire thanks to Parker’s undistinguished handling." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Nov 11, 2009
Fresh 3.5/5	Rotten 21%	Amelia (2009)	" Towards the end, as the story returns to that round-the-world flight, the suspense kicks in, and Swank’s performance comes into its own." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Nov 11, 2009
Fresh 3.5/5	Rotten 39%	2012 (2009)	" It’s easy to scoff at the over-reliance of CGI in contemporary cinema but for a film like this it’s part and parcel of the whole, and computer generated effects have never before been used as spectacularly." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Nov 4, 2009
Fresh 4/5	Rotten 55%	Disney's A Christmas Carol (2009)	" Against the odds, this Disney version, written and directed by Robert Zemeckis, could be the best adaptation to date of the story." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Nov 4, 2009
Fresh 3.5/5	Fresh 75%	Capitalism: A Love Story (2009)	" Moore has the skill to make very complex material reasonably lucid, some would say simplistic; but it’s when he gets silly that he falters." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Nov 1, 2009
Fresh 4/5	Rotten 44%	The Box (2009)	" The interesting thing about Richard Kelly's films is that in none of them do you know exactly what's happening, and it does not really matter, because there is such a wealth of imagination there. I found it very impressive." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Oct 28, 2009
Fresh 3.5/5	Fresh 64%	The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)	" On one level this is a typically chaotic and rather overdone fantasy from Terry Gilliam, but on another it’s an immensely touching film because it contains Heath Ledger’s last screen appearance." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Oct 21, 2009
Fresh 3.5/5	Fresh 94%	An Education (2009)	" The ending of the film is particularly poignant, and confirms the theme that, even if you make mistakes, they sometimes turn into memories you’ll cherish forever." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Oct 14, 2009
Fresh 3/5	Rotten 47%	Whatever Works (2009)	" In the end, Whatever Works just about does work, though there’s an awkwardness about it that is never quite dispelled." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Oct 14, 2009
Fresh 4/5	Fresh 81%	Departures (2009)	" Beautifully acted and classically filmed, Departures is a gentle, wise, immensely appealing film." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Oct 14, 2009
Fresh 4/5	Fresh 89%	Moon (2009)	" This is science fiction at its stimulating best." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Oct 9, 2009
Rotten 2/5	N/A	A Bunch of Amateurs (2008)	" There’s something faintly embarrassing watching fading movie star BURT REYNOLDS, who looks embalmed, playing fading movie star Jefferson Steel, and something even more embarrassing when we’re asked to accept that he makes a resounding success as Lear." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Oct 9, 2009
Fresh 3.5/5	Fresh 83%	Whip It (2009)	" It is a bit of an odd film, this, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, and I think that's largely because of Ellen Page... she rises to the occasion tremendously." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Oct 8, 2009
Rotten 2/5	Fresh 72%	Che, Part One (2008)	" A major disappointment. Soderbergh has stripped the story of most of its drama and though Del Toro, who won Best Actor at Cannes last year, is very convincing as Che, this Spanish-language film almost seems like an anti-movie." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Sep 30, 2009
Fresh 3/5	Fresh 73%	Mao's Last Dancer (2009)	" Quibbles aside, there’s a lot to enjoy in the film; it’s very efficiently made, and though never totally inspiring, it’s eminently watchable." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Sep 30, 2009
Rotten 3/5	Fresh 88%	Looking for Eric (2009)	" Despite strong performances, this is, in the end, minor Loach." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Sep 23, 2009
Fresh 4/5	Fresh 71%	Van Diemen's Land (2009)	" Van Diemen's Land poses a formidable challenge for audiences, but it's a challenge well worth meeting and a film you're unlikely ever to forget." — The Australian Posted Sep 21, 2009
—	Fresh 67%	The Brandon Teena Story (1998)	Click here to read article — Variety Posted Sep 10, 2009
Fresh 3.5/5	Fresh 78%	$9.99 (2009)	" The creation of this world is amazingly detailed; it’s magic, really. But maybe the film doesn’t quite reach the heights of everyman experience to which it aspires." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Sep 9, 2009
Fresh 4.5/5	Fresh 80%	Blessed (2009)	" Kokkinos is never backward in confronting her audience, but she’s also a sensitive portrayer of emotions that are basic to us all and with this marvellous film she has created her best work so far." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Sep 9, 2009
Fresh 3.5/5	Fresh 98%	Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2009)	" This Is Spinal Tap was a mockumentary, but this is for real, a portrait of a band that was very influential on later metal bands, like Metallica, but who found the big time elusive." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Sep 9, 2009
—	Fresh 64%	Head On (1998)	Click here to read article — Variety Posted Sep 3, 2009
Fresh 3.5/5	Fresh 64%	Charlie & Boots (2009)	" This is a delightful film. It's a perfect vehicle for Paul Hogan and Shane Jacobson." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Sep 2, 2009
Fresh 4.5/5	Fresh 98%	Up (2009)	" Up is one of the best Pixar films, which means it’s something very special." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Sep 2, 2009
Fresh 3.5/5	Fresh 63%	The Girlfriend Experience (2009)	" Soderbergh likes to switch between large-scale films and minimalist dramas, with this very small, but most intriguing film." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Sep 2, 2009
Fresh 3.5/5	Fresh 74%	The Young Victoria (2009)	" The film looks great and Blunt gives a wonderfully confident performance, but the end result lacks real insights into what made Victoria the great and enduring queen she became." — The Australian Posted Aug 30, 2009
Fresh 3/5	Rotten 51%	The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009)	" If you’ve never seen the original, the new Taking of Pelham 123 will probably come across as an okay thriller, but if you have seen the original it’s clear evidence as to why the movies aren’t as good as they used to be." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Aug 26, 2009
Fresh 4/5	Fresh 91%	Ponyo (2009)	" Miyazaki has come up with another memorable film in Ponyo, which is roughly inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid... it’s incredibly beautiful as Miyazaki explores an amazing world of sea creatures and human beings." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Aug 26, 2009
Fresh 3.5/5	Rotten 49%	Taking Woodstock (2009)	" Taking Woodstock takes us behind the scenes at that amazing event, and deals with ordinary people swept up in it. Don’t expect concert scenes, because there are none." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Aug 26, 2009
Fresh 3/5	Fresh 90%	District 9 (2009)	" It's a fascinating hybrid of a film, an anti-Hollywood movie which incorporates a great deal of contemporary big-budget elements ... but with a tart, subversive sense of humour that leavens the violence and mayhem." — The Australian Posted Aug 21, 2009
Fresh 3.5/5	Rotten 55%	Orphan (2009)	" Collet-Serra's film succeeds in being genuinely creepy, is commendably well acted by all concerned, and contains the best twist since The Crying Game." — The Australian Posted Aug 21, 2009
Fresh 4/5	Fresh 88%	Inglourious Basterds (2009)	" The film is long, certainly, but it’s never dull; it’s violent, of course, but hey, World War II was a violent business and war movies were never like this before." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Aug 19, 2009
Fresh 3/5	Rotten 55%	Orphan (2009)	" One of the good things about ORPHAN, which is directed by Jaume Collet-Sera, is that it takes itself quite seriously and manages to bring a surprising level of originality to the potentially familiar material." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Aug 12, 2009
Fresh 3.5/5	Fresh 100%	Balibo (2009)	" Despite [the] drawbacks, Balibo still tells a very powerful story, one that needed to be told." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Aug 12, 2009
Rotten 2/5	Rotten 36%	G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)	" You wouldn’t expect anything of depth and substance. Having said that, the film has its fun moments, it moves along at a cracking pace, and some members of the cast show themselves worthy of better things." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Aug 5, 2009
Fresh 4.5/5	Fresh 94%	Beautiful Kate (2009)	" I was just completely bowled over by the emotions in this film. It's a very strongly emotional film, with wonderful performances." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Aug 5, 2009
Fresh 4/5	Fresh 85%	Tyson (2009)	" He’s amazingly frank about some of the people he doesn’t like, and he breaks down when he talks about his friends and the people he loved. A surprisingly fine documentary." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Aug 5, 2009
Rotten 2.5/5	Fresh 78%	Bronson (2009)	" It is a mesmerising performance from Tom Hardy. But as a study of this man, it didn't interest me at all. I thought it was rather facile." — At the Movies (Australia) Posted Aug 5, 2009
Fresh 3/5	Rotten 39%	The Limits of Control (2009)	" This enigmatic journey is beautifully photographed by Christopher Doyle, and for a while it's intriguing and amusing in its very offhand way. But soon you realise that there's really nothing here." — The Australian Posted Jul 31, 2009
Fresh 3/5	Fresh 63%	Mes Amis, Mes Amours ()	" With so many good-looking people seen against so many fetching backgrounds, how could anyone dislike My Friends, My Loves, especially when lovers seem to outnumber friends?" — The Australian Posted Jul 31, 2009

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5/5	Gran TorinoOffsite
4/4	TendernessOffsite
4.5/5	Slumdog MillionaireOffsite
4/5	American TeenOffsite
3.5/5	TraitorOffsite
3/5	Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve...Offsite
2.5/5	RocknRollaOffsite
2.25/5	He's Just Not That Into YouOffsite
2/5	QuarantineOffsite
1.5/5	Dying BreedOffsite
1/5	BrunoOffsite
0.5/5	Big StanOffsite

5/5	Bright StarOffsite
4/4	TendernessOffsite
5/5	Gran TorinoOffsite
4/4	Body of LiesOffsite
4.5/5	Up in the AirOffsite
4.5/5	BlessedOffsite
4.5/5	UpOffsite
4.5/5	Beautiful KateOffsite
4.5/5	Last RideOffsite
4.5/5	State of PlayOffsite

0.5/5	Year OneOffsite
0.5/5	Big StanOffsite
0.5/5	Babylon A.D.Offsite
1/5	BrunoOffsite
1/5	BrunoOffsite
1/5	You Don't Mess With The ZohanOffsite
1/5	What Happens in VegasOffsite

DAVID STRATTON

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