|
2.5/4
|
70%
|
Ondine (2010) |
"
Jordan starts to tell an intriguing tale about living with fantasy but falls back on plot turns cued to the flashing lights of cops and paramedics."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Jun 18, 2010
|
|
2.5/4
|
48%
|
The Tree of Life (2008) |
"
Smacks of an audition exercise."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Feb 27, 2008
|
|
2.5/4
|
80%
|
Manda Bala (Send a Bullet) (2007) |
"
Artful framing and 23 peppy songs on the soundtrack lend a gloss to subject matter that alternately repels and fascinates..."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Sep 28, 2007
|
|
2.5/4
|
37%
|
If I Didn't Care (2007) |
"
'Hitchcockian' is the less than lilting compliment used to hype this Long Island noir."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Sep 28, 2007
|
|
2.5/4
|
70%
|
9 Star Hotel (Malon 9 Kochavim) (2007) |
"
A little voiceover commentary might add more than the sound of his panting."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Sep 7, 2007
|
|
2.5/4
|
96%
|
Deep Water (2006) |
"
Osmond and Rothwell do a commendable job of mining a rich archive of material."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Sep 7, 2007
|
|
2.5/4
|
70%
|
Molière (2007) |
"
Moliere hardly matches the clever mockery of its 17th century inspiration."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Aug 10, 2007
|
|
2.5/4
|
69%
|
L'Iceberg (2005) |
"
Delightful in places, the surreal stunts are lovingly crafted. As a seaworthy film, though, Fiona's folly is more pratfall than plot."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Jul 27, 2007
|
|
2.5/4
|
63%
|
Allegro (2006) |
"
[Director] Boe's technique has more flash than passion."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Jul 23, 2007
|
|
2.5/4
|
86%
|
Election (Hak se wui) (2005) |
"
Election feels routine at times, though less formulaic than other genre exercises from Hong Kong. The depiction of crime customs is sociologically detailed."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Jul 13, 2007
|
|
2.5/4
|
89%
|
I Don't Want to Sleep Alone (Hei yan quan) (2007) |
"
I Don't Want to Sleep Alone is a title to keep in mind while absorbing this allusive, humid mood piece."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Jun 8, 2007
|
|
2.5/4
|
71%
|
The Guatemalan Handshake (2006) |
"
On the index of quirk, this winsome indie scores quite high."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Jun 8, 2007
|
|
2.5/4
|
44%
|
Hostel: Part II (2007) |
"
Roth ratchets up the retch factor."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Jun 8, 2007
|
|
2.5/4
|
70%
|
The Valet (La Doublure) (2007) |
"
Briskly directed, The Valet hits the brakes for an abrupt ending, but this short ride delivers few apercus on fidelity, glamor or the nice boy next door."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Apr 27, 2007
|
|
2.5/4
|
100%
|
Encounter Point (2007) |
"
Face-to-face encounters are affecting, if brief."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Feb 16, 2007
|
|
2.5/4
|
51%
|
Puccini for Beginners (2007) |
"
[Director] Maggenti offers a cute variation on the classic Hollywood 'comedy of remarriage.'"
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Feb 9, 2007
|
|
2.5/4
|
73%
|
Family Law (Derecho de Familia) (2006) |
"
A pleasant, crisply paced look at a wary character."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Dec 29, 2006
|
|
2.5/4
|
91%
|
So Goes the Nation (2006) |
"
This informative documentary offers a sound, if uninspiring lesson in civics."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Dec 22, 2006
|
|
2.5/4
|
83%
|
Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore (2007) |
"
Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore? is an amusing case study in youthful enthusiasm for the electoral process, but this modest documentary skips the weighty issues posed by its namesake, the Frank Capra 1939 drama."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Dec 22, 2006
|
|
2.5/4
|
50%
|
Ever Again (2006) |
"
Director, writer and co-producer Richard Trank packages an alarming report with abundant news clips, quotes and interviews."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Dec 8, 2006
|
|
2.5/4
|
60%
|
Al Franken: God Spoke (2006) |
"
Often entertaining."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Oct 6, 2006
|
|
2.5/4
|
——
|
Ryna (2005) |
"
Zenide showcases Petre in a role of few words and much feeling. It's an auspicious debut in a sensitive drama, despite its less than original contours."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Aug 25, 2006
|
|
2.5/4
|
63%
|
Changing Times (Les Temps Qui Changent) (2004) |
"
French director Andre Techine sketches a family with the usual flaws, but takes the unusual step of not fixing them."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Aug 13, 2006
|
|
2.5/4
|
70%
|
Lemming (2006) |
"
This spooky, quasi-sci-fi, psychological thriller is unclear about what's real and what's not -- and not in any interesting way."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Aug 4, 2006
|
|
2.5/4
|
67%
|
Stolen (2006) |
"
Composer Peter Golub adds swooning suspense, while cinematographer Albert Maysles, who has documented many Christo projects, frames rendezvous with tipsters tempted by the $5 million reward."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Jul 14, 2006
|
|
2.5/4
|
26%
|
The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green (2006) |
"
In his directing debut, David Vernon, formerly a first assistant and second assistant director, opts for the look of a cable TV pilot."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Jul 14, 2006
|
|
2.5/4
|
——
|
Islam: What the West Needs to Know (2006) |
"
What viewers need to know -- if provoked by this film -- is there's far more nuance in Mary Habeck's book Knowing the Enemy: Jihadist Ideology and the War on Terror and Paul Berman's Terror and Liberalism."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Jul 7, 2006
|
|
3/4
|
89%
|
A Place at the Table (2013) |
"
A good documentary that is good for you."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Feb 28, 2013
|
|
|
59%
|
The Fall (2006) |
"
The girl and the hospital patients and staff also turn up in his improvised adventure, extravagantly garbed by costume designer Eiko Ishioka."
—
Chicago Reader
Posted Dec 17, 2008
|
|
|
68%
|
Treasure Planet (2002) |
"
It's laced with literate humor, and the directors cite N.C. Wyeth's illustrations for the 1911 Scribner's edition of Treasure Island as the inspiration for their marvelously detailed fantasy world."
—
Chicago Reader
Posted Sep 9, 2008
|
|
|
93%
|
Riding Giants (2004) |
"
This is vicarious cinema at its best."
—
Chicago Reader
Posted Aug 5, 2008
|
|
|
80%
|
The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002) |
"
Screenwriter Kate Boutilier provides plenty of sharp patter."
—
Chicago Reader
Posted May 20, 2008
|
|
3/4
|
92%
|
Caramel (2008) |
"
Perceptive and poignant, Caramel observes the love lives of the establishment's owner, her employees and their customers."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Mar 28, 2008
|
|
3/4
|
87%
|
Times and Winds (Bes vakit) (2007) |
"
A blunt look at how anger binds generations."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Jan 25, 2008
|
|
3/4
|
53%
|
Steep (2007) |
"
Steep is a throwback to the early days of movies when the sight of things in motion was a thrill in itself. Seeing leaves rustling in the wind or waves on the sea was a marvel."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Jan 25, 2008
|
|
3/4
|
100%
|
Live-in Maid (Cama adentro) (2007) |
"
Live-in Maid is a study of two women who appear not to like each other very much, yet their link makes for a moving drama about friendship."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Oct 19, 2007
|
|
3/4
|
59%
|
Hannah Takes the Stairs (2007) |
"
[Director] Swanberg nails the inane fun of youth."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Oct 19, 2007
|
|
3/4
|
86%
|
Shadow Company (2007) |
"
Drawing a line between official and unofficial forces is irrelevant since both are paid with our taxes, Shadow Company throws light on that bottom line in the war on terror."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Oct 5, 2007
|
|
3/4
|
98%
|
The Devil Came on Horseback (2007) |
"
On all counts, the co-directors of this persuasive documentary set the right tone."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Sep 21, 2007
|
|
3/4
|
87%
|
In Between Days (2007) |
"
This artfully muted film pays off with a desperate act of eloquence."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Sep 7, 2007
|
|
3/4
|
80%
|
Kamp Katrina (2007) |
"
This verite digital video about coping with natural disaster contains exotic characters, tragic hardships, bureaucratic indifference, inner demons and the birth of a crack baby."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Aug 31, 2007
|
|
3/4
|
63%
|
Ladron Que Roba A Ladron (2007) |
"
International talents converge for an entertaining genre exercise."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Aug 31, 2007
|
|
3/4
|
79%
|
Summercamp! (2007) |
"
Unlike the intense cadets for Christ and creationism in the recent documentary Jesus Camp, the kids in the sweet Summercamp! have fun!"
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Aug 24, 2007
|
|
3/4
|
86%
|
When the Road Bends...tales of a Gypsy Caravan (2007) |
"
The camera work is always note-perfect."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Aug 24, 2007
|
|
3/4
|
68%
|
Belle Toujours (2007) |
"
Belle Toujours lets us peer at one master embroidering on the legacy of another master."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Aug 24, 2007
|
|
3/4
|
68%
|
The Treatment (2006) |
"
A smart, tender love story."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Aug 10, 2007
|
|
3/4
|
63%
|
Casting About (2007) |
"
This revelatory documentary lets us see what it's like to be an actress at an audition."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Aug 10, 2007
|
|
3/4
|
84%
|
Manufactured Landscapes (2007) |
"
Burtynsky calls for "a whole new way of thinking" about the world's economy and ecology, though he never says what's wrong with the old way."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Jul 27, 2007
|
|
3/4
|
74%
|
The Boss of it All (Direktøren for det hele) (2007) |
"
Perverse humor pervades the films of Lars von Trier."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Jul 23, 2007
|
|
3/4
|
90%
|
Punk's Not Dead (2007) |
"
Punk's Not Dead serves as a diehard's scrapbook of three decades of living punk, not a eulogy for an extinct underground retrofitted as a fashion trend."
—
Chicago Sun-Times
Posted Jul 23, 2007
|
72%
21%
63%
34%
93%
30%
