Critics » Fr. Chris Carpenter
Fr. Chris Carpenter

Fr. Chris Carpenter

Agrees with the Tomatometer 73% 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 , Echo Magazine , Movie Dearest , Orange County and Long Beach Blade , Rage Monthly
Critics' Group:
Phoenix Film Critics Society
Total Reviews:
400
Total QuickRatings:
41
Location:
Long Beach, CA

Listing Of All Reviews & Articles

Showing 1 - 50 of 400
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Rating T-Meter Title | Year Add Date
B —— Turtle Hill, Brooklyn (2013) " An observant, melancholy-tinged comedy. Director Ryan Gielen takes a welcome low-key approach to the film's more dramatic moments, while the mostly unknown cast members are effective and engaging." — Movie Dearest
Posted Oct 6, 2013
B+ 89% After Tiller (2013) " Wrenching yet illuminating. The film reveals the complex circumstances, emotions and practical aspects behind the (third-trimester abortion) procedure." — Movie Dearest
Posted Oct 6, 2013
A- 71% Out in the Dark (2013) " The best gay-themed films I've yet seen this year." — Movie Dearest
Posted Sep 27, 2013
B+ 85% We Are What We Are (2013) " An unusually thoughtful, even compassionate, and well-done horror tale." — Movie Dearest
Posted Sep 27, 2013
C 71% C.O.G. (2013) " I really wanted to like this film, being a fan of Sedaris' writing, of (screenwriter-director) Alvarez and of the great actors assembled here. Unfortunately, the screenplay lacks focus and is more often cruel than comedic." — Movie Dearest
Posted Sep 21, 2013
B+ 50% Thanks For Sharing (2013) " Makes pretty much all the right moves while walking a delicate tightrope between deadly-serious dramatic scenes and some guffaw-inducing comedic moments. One of the most mature and illuminating movies of this or any year." — Movie Dearest
Posted Sep 21, 2013
B+ 95% Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction (2013) " An insightful, well-constructed exploration of the sad-eyed character actor's life and career." — Movie Dearest
Posted Sep 13, 2013
C- 35% Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013) " Sloppily made, with a sensationalized subplot involving gender identity issues that left a bad taste in my mouth. One of the year's biggest cinematic disappointments. " — Movie Dearest
Posted Sep 13, 2013
B 20% I Do (2013) " The set up struck me as trite in this otherwise hard-hitting drama. A good but ultimately over-earnest film." — Movie Dearest
Posted Aug 30, 2013
B —— Petunia (2013) " A welcome improvement over (writer-director Ash Christian's) last feature, the downright irritating "Mangus!" Melancholy and crass but genuinely witty, with some honest, important things to say about sex in marriage/relationships." — Movie Dearest
Posted Aug 30, 2013
B+ —— After the End (2013) " Fearless and searching. The documentary's content is illuminating, valuable for the general public and hopeful, true to its subtitle ("A Journey Through Loss to Hope")." — Movie Dearest
Posted Aug 30, 2013
B+ —— Beyond the Walls (2013) " A bittersweet gay romance a la "Keep the Lights On" and "Weekend," and nearly as good as its predecessors. Well-written and confidently directed by David Lambert, making his feature film debut." — Movie Dearest
Posted Aug 30, 2013
C+ —— Seattle Superstorm () " Contains a few novel twists that save it from becoming a total waste. This movie will go down even better with some microwave popcorn and a box of wine." — Movie Dearest
Posted Aug 30, 2013
B+ 80% Drinking Buddies (2013) " An intimate and beautifully-observed drama. (Writer-director) Joe Swanberg's best, most accessible/identifiable film to date." — Movie Dearest
Posted Aug 23, 2013
B 89% The World's End (2013) " I enjoyed the playfulness of its actors and Edgar Wright's direction...(but) at nearly two hours, the movie gets long and belabored for a lightweight comedy that doesn't have much of gravitas to say." — Movie Dearest
Posted Aug 23, 2013
B- 69% The Happy Sad (2013) " Despite a fairly obvious metaphor that matters of sexuality are far from "black and white," the film is refreshing in its lack of racial politics. But, despite very good performances, the movie falls short." — Movie Dearest
Posted Aug 16, 2013
A- 31% Austenland (2013) " Hilariously romantic...or should that be romantically hilariously? It is the most purely enjoyable and, yes, adorable movie I've seen all year so far. Terrific cast." — Movie Dearest
Posted Aug 16, 2013
B+ 69% Cockneys vs Zombies (2013) " A horror-comedy hoot a la "Shaun of the Dead" but I actually enjoyed this one a little more. Matthias Hoene directs the knowing, very funny script with aplomb." — Movie Dearest
Posted Aug 2, 2013
B- 78% Europa Report (2013) " I liked the film's slow build and hints of menace...Unfortunately, the menace becomes more obvious and too literal once the ship lands on the ice-covered Europa." — Movie Dearest
Posted Aug 2, 2013
B+ 72% Pacific Rim (2013) " My inner 10-year old thought "Pacific Rim" was totally cool, engaging and entertaining. My current, outer 45-year old thinks it best not to think too hard about the plot." — Movie Dearest
Posted Jul 19, 2013
B 98% Blackfish (2013) " Potent stuff but frustratingly one-sided. Greater objective balance on the part of (director) Cowperthwaite would make "Blackfish" a more complex and interesting, less preachy expose." — Movie Dearest
Posted Jul 19, 2013
B+ 64% Unfinished Song (2013) " Inspiring & genuinely moving. Terence Stamp gives an all-time best, Oscar-worthy performance." — Movie Dearest
Posted Jul 16, 2013
B+ 80% Laurence Anyways (2013) " One can't help but feel that Dolan & Co. go into a bit too much detail re: the changes faced by Laurence...Nonetheless, there has not been as exhaustive (exhausting?) a look into the Trans(gender) experience before." — Movie Dearest
Posted Jul 6, 2013
B+ 67% World War Z (2013) " As both an epic of the undead and an escapist yet politically-relevant summer blockbuster, "World War Z" is a winner." — Movie Dearest
Posted Jun 28, 2013
B- 56% Man of Steel (2013) " An occasionally exciting, intelligent and visually impressive sci-fi adventure with a fine cast. It is also frequently excessive and over-produced, but then what else should one expect from a summer blockbuster?" — Movie Dearest
Posted Jun 19, 2013
A- 97% Call Me Kuchu (2013) " Eye-opening and powerful. A must-see for GLBT Americans and all those concerned about international human rights." — Movie Dearest
Posted Jun 14, 2013
B 47% I'm So Excited! (2013) " Pedro Almodovar's slight but delightful return to early, campy form. It may well turn out to be the most deliriously funny movie for adults, and definitely the gayest, to come out this summer." — Movie Dearest
Posted Jun 14, 2013
C- —— Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979) " A middling and unnecessary sequel. Not even Slim Pickens is safe from (director Irwin) Allen's waterlogged machinations." — Movie Dearest
Posted Jun 7, 2013
C+ 14% The Swarm (1978) " Paranoid killer bee epic actually holds up better today than its reputation would lead one to believe, especially in the original 156-minute cut available on some DVDs (and despite its laughable hallucinations of giant bees suffered by those stung)." — Movie Dearest
Posted Jun 7, 2013
B- 46% Cleopatra (1963) " How does the final, 4-hour play today in its 50th anniversary edition? Its first two hours are spectacular and highly enjoyable...(but) things take a turn following Caesar's assassination and the audience's intermission." — Movie Dearest
Posted Jun 7, 2013
B+ 36% The Hot Flashes (2013) " Could emerge as the sleeper hit of the summer. It is hilarious, heartfelt and, most significantly during a special-effects dominated season, human." — Movie Dearest
Posted Jun 7, 2013
B 20% Identity Thief (2013) " A pleasant surprise after the director's horrible "Horrible Bosses." (The film) is no classic but Melissa McCarthy's vivid performance may well become one. She is hilarious but brings a welcome, surprising poignancy to her role." — Movie Dearest
Posted Jun 7, 2013
B- —— Mutual Friends () " There are a number of very good, naturalistic performances rendered by the movie's largely theatre-trained players. (The film) is pleasurable enough in the watching but left me wanting more, especially more of (actor Cheyenne) Jackson." — Movie Dearest
Posted Jun 7, 2013
B+ 84% Much Ado About Nothing (2013) " A joyous, utterly contemporary treatment of the Bard's 400-year old play. While the production's bare-bones budget shows at time, (the film) is clearly a labor of love on the part of all involved." — Movie Dearest
Posted May 24, 2013
B+ 87% Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) " Very well-made and exciting. Kirk's/Pine's bromance with Spock/out actor Zachary Quinto is further and nicely developed here, and the film's 3D effects are truly special." — Movie Dearest
Posted May 24, 2013
A- 49% The Great Gatsby (2013) " Livelier than any previous screen version. Luhrmann doesn't direct the film so much as he meticulously choreographs it. Leonardo DiCaprio has never been better." — Movie Dearest
Posted May 10, 2013
B+ 79% Iron Man 3 (2013) " I have found each of the "Iron Man" films a marked improvement over its immediate predecessor...primarily due to the trajectory of Stark's relationship with Pepper Potts and the series' more fearsome recent villains." — Movie Dearest
Posted May 7, 2013
B+ 93% Lore (2013) " Unflinching but thoroughly engrossing, the film provides a rarely depicted look at the Holocaust's other innocent victims. Beautiful cinematography by Adam Arkapaw." — Movie Dearest
Posted Apr 30, 2013
B 98% Mud (2013) " Adolescent boys and their fathers will find much to appreciate and bond over but the movie's slow-as-molasses, 130-minute running time and occasional bursts of Scorsese-esque violence prevent it from being a true family film." — Movie Dearest
Posted Apr 19, 2013
B- 88% In the House (2013) " Less focused than most of (writer-director Francois) Ozon's previous films. It is difficult to decide with which character we as viewers/pseudo-participants are supposed to empathize. More off-putting than fully satisfying in the end." — Movie Dearest
Posted Apr 19, 2013
B+ 90% Beyond The Hills (2013) " (Writer-director Christian) Mungiu balances his film's more disturbing content with peaceful shots of the idyllic, surrounding countryside and of intimacy between the two women while slowly building to an inevitable conclusion. " — Movie Dearest
Posted Apr 15, 2013
B+ 93% Room 237 (2013) " Some of the interpretations seem more of a stretch than others but all are entertainingly presented by director Rodney Ascher. (The movie) serves as a testament to Stanley Kubrick's cinematic mastery." — Movie Dearest
Posted Apr 15, 2013
B —— Strange Frame: Love & Sax (2013) " An undeniably stylish and ambitious animated sci-fi film. The character animation is colorful but stiff and video game-like, which can be irritating, while the environments and backgrounds are often stunning." — Movie Dearest
Posted Apr 3, 2013
C+ —— Satan's Angel: Queen Of The Fire Tassels (2013) " Walker's brassy personality takes a bit of getting used to and I wish the film featured more serious discussion of Walker's relationship with her devoted wife, Vic. Still, it provides an insightful glimpse into a little-known life and industry." — Movie Dearest
Posted Apr 3, 2013
B 70% Les Misérables (2012) " Fortunately, the film's weaknesses fail to diminish the power of Victor Hugo's 150-year old saga...and the score's best songs--generally well-performed in much-ballyhooed live recordings--highlight this all the more." — Movie Dearest
Posted Apr 3, 2013
A- 91% My Brother The Devil (2013) " Highly recommended. (Writer-director) El Hosaini handles the various volatile relationships within the film with intelligence and sensitivity." — Movie Dearest
Posted Apr 3, 2013
B 14% K-11 (2013) " Jules Stewart makes a confident directorial debut. Although the screenplay comes perilously close at times to sensationalizing or stereotyping the characters, Stewart wisely resists." — Echo Magazine
Posted Mar 15, 2013
B+ 33% Interior. Leather Bar. () " A fascinating rumination on the current state of GLBT acceptance in society via a graphic re-creation of missing footage from 1980's controversial "Cruising."" — Movie Dearest
Posted Mar 15, 2013
B= 59% Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) " (James) Franco's performance is one of the better, more genuine things about Disney's given-to-excess adaptation/prequel. Still, the movie is on the whole engaging and entertaining." — Movie Dearest
Posted Mar 15, 2013
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