|
4/5
|
91%
|
Inequality For All (2013) |
"
An engaging film that's head and shoulders above the average talking-head parade."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Sep 26, 2013
|
|
2/5
|
33%
|
The Family (2013) |
"
"The Family" does have its entertaining moments. But anyone who thinks it's a real knee-slapper needs therapy. Stat."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Sep 12, 2013
|
|
3.5/5
|
75%
|
You're Next (2013) |
"
A smart, feral flick with a wicked sense of humor."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Aug 22, 2013
|
|
3.5/5
|
54%
|
Spark: A Burning Man Story (2013) |
"
As a spectacle and as an idea, Burning Man is strange and beautiful."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Aug 22, 2013
|
|
3.5/5
|
37%
|
Dealing With Idiots (2013) |
"
"Dealin' With Idiots," a sort of "Waiting for Guffman" for Little League, isn't a great movie, but it's a heck of a lot better than its title."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Aug 15, 2013
|
|
2.5/5
|
26%
|
Jobs (2013) |
"
The deeper problem with the film is that it doesn't really add anything to the established narrative on its subject."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Aug 15, 2013
|
|
1/5
|
40%
|
Only God Forgives (2013) |
"
It's not that overwrought violence and human depravity are unfit grist for art, but without a compelling plot and a modicum of character development, all this film has to offer is a repugnant prurience and heavy-handed atmospherics."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Jul 18, 2013
|
|
2.5/5
|
7%
|
Just Like A Woman (2013) |
"
This well-intentioned buddy-road-trip flick lacks the danger, the drama and the sex appeal that most moviegoers will be looking for."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Jul 4, 2013
|
|
2/5
|
25%
|
Copperhead (2013) |
"
Aside from the PBS-re-enactment music, the film's primary problem is that it lacks a clear central plot."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Jun 27, 2013
|
|
1/5
|
38%
|
The Purge (2013) |
"
"The Purge" is one of those unimaginative horror flicks that depend on skreeky music and sudden appearances to startle, but never actually frighten, the audience."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Jun 6, 2013
|
|
3/5
|
77%
|
No Place On Earth (2013) |
"
The film is not without its flaws, but the story it tells is both terrifying and inspiring."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted May 2, 2013
|
|
3.5/5
|
86%
|
Harvest of Empire (2012) |
"
As an analysis of the causes of migration, it is one-dimensional and unconvincing. But as a social history of Latinos in America, it is provocative and fascinating."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Feb 28, 2013
|
|
4/5
|
46%
|
Beautiful Creatures (2013) |
"
Empowerment and powerlessness become entangled in a coming-of-age myth that could prove appealing to young women for many sequels to come."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Feb 13, 2013
|
|
2.5/5
|
61%
|
Jack Reacher (2012) |
"
It's intended to expand a popular fiction franchise into film, but the workmanlike direction of Christopher McQuarrie, although sporadically entertaining, may doom this flick to one-off status."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Dec 20, 2012
|
|
2/5
|
——
|
Broadway's Finest () |
"
"Fake it till you make it" would make a good tagline for "Broadway's Finest.""
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Oct 11, 2012
|
|
4/5
|
67%
|
Hellbound? (2012) |
"
An engaging, accessible documentary that explores the (truly) eternal questions, "Does hell exist? If so, who ends up there, and why?""
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Oct 4, 2012
|
|
3/5
|
87%
|
Frankenweenie (2012) |
"
It's all perfectly entertaining, but never really reaches the heights of hilarity, perhaps because everything about the plot is underdeveloped."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Oct 3, 2012
|
|
4/5
|
41%
|
Little White Lies (2012) |
"
There's a fly-on-the-wall quality to it that adds a voyeuristic zing to the proceedings and gives this French take on "The Big Chill" its particular warmth."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Sep 6, 2012
|
|
4/5
|
84%
|
Sleepwalk With Me (2012) |
"
"Sleepwalk With Me" is the perfect movie for fans of "The Daily Show" who actually stick around for the second-half interview."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Aug 30, 2012
|
|
2.5/5
|
54%
|
Brother (Hermano) (2012) |
"
The over-the-top opening, which evokes baby Moses in the bulrushes, indicates grand ambitions, but unfortunately the gritty realism of Rasquin's cinematic style is just camouflage for another cliched sports flick."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Aug 23, 2012
|
|
4/5
|
63%
|
Union Square (2012) |
"
It is intended for an audience that is willing to take a journey without knowing the destination."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Aug 16, 2012
|
|
4.5/5
|
97%
|
Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (2012) |
"
Using archival footage dating back to Ai's adventures in the New York art world in his 20s, Klayman traces his evolution as a creator and as an activist."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Aug 9, 2012
|
|
3.5/5
|
41%
|
The Last Ride (2012) |
"
James does a fine job of portraying a naïve youth whose eyes slowly open to glimpse both the pleasures and the pain of living."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Jul 26, 2012
|
|
3/5
|
——
|
The Runway (2012) |
"
The eccentric characters and wacky story line are merely camouflage for a movie with a heart that's pure Hollywood."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Jul 19, 2012
|
|
2/5
|
29%
|
The Magic of Belle Isle (2012) |
"
It's earnest, predictable and disposable."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Jul 12, 2012
|
|
3.5/5
|
43%
|
To Rome with Love (2012) |
"
A film that sometimes comes off as an intersection of tangents, but it also gives rise to moments of joyous whimsy."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Jul 5, 2012
|
|
2/5
|
21%
|
Madea's Witness Protection (2012) |
"
Tyler Perry doesn't have to make sense, or a have a point. He's laughing all the way to the bank."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Jul 1, 2012
|
|
4/5
|
82%
|
Bill W. (2012) |
"
A fascinating character study, whether you have any connection (as so many do) to the so-called recovery movement."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Jun 7, 2012
|
|
2/5
|
18%
|
For Greater Glory (2012) |
"
Director Dean Wright and screenwriter Michael Love fail to develop compelling characters or to construct a coherent plot."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted May 31, 2012
|
|
2/5
|
0%
|
Reuniting The Rubins (2012) |
"
"Reuniting the Rubins" may walk like a comedy and quack like a comedy, but despite the absurd extremes to which it takes the squabbling-family formula, it inspires nary a chuckle."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Apr 5, 2012
|
|
3.5/5
|
——
|
Baseball, Dennis & The French (2012) |
"
In the end, Croshaw contents himself with preaching to the choir. At least he does it with flair."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Mar 15, 2012
|
|
4/5
|
93%
|
Coriolanus (2011) |
"
As a portrait of modern warfare, politics and propaganda, "Coriolanus" is intriguing, even if the gritty action sequences don't quite measure up to the realism of "The Hurt Locker.""
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Mar 8, 2012
|
|
3/5
|
71%
|
Carnage (2011) |
"
A film that makes its audience feel as trapped as its characters."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Dec 29, 2011
|
|
3/5
|
12%
|
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011) |
"
In between the cutesy musical covers (from the Go-Go's to Lady Gaga), the young rodents engage in harmless slapstick and even learn a bit about themselves."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Dec 15, 2011
|
|
2/5
|
7%
|
New Year's Eve (2011) |
"
It is the cinematic equivalent of a greeting card: Both the sentiment and the laughs are plentiful, cheap and forgettable."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Dec 7, 2011
|
|
2/5
|
36%
|
In Time (2011) |
"
Timberlake, who had a scene-stealing turn as Napster mogul Sean Parker in "The Social Network," is a snooze in this role, not quite as wooden as Keanu Reeves but hardly making a case for himself as an actor."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Oct 27, 2011
|
|
3/5
|
82%
|
The Way (2011) |
"
"The Way" is overly earnest and clumsily directed by Emilio Estevez (the non-prodigal son of Sheen). Yet it is nonetheless effective in evoking empathy and introspection."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Oct 13, 2011
|
|
3/5
|
52%
|
The Devil's Double (2011) |
"
The hero of "The Devil's Double" may get upstaged by the villain, but that's not exactly bad news for star Dominic Cooper, since he plays both parts."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Aug 11, 2011
|
|
4/5
|
63%
|
Another Earth (2011) |
"
Instead of a fleet of Evil Kirks descending on us in souped-up space shuttles, we get a quietly moving parable of redemption."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Aug 4, 2011
|
|
3/5
|
73%
|
Sarah's Key (2011) |
"
While the flashbacks come to life through small acts of courage and kindness amid epic-scale evil, the frame story is a recurring letdown that feels trivial and contrived."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Jul 28, 2011
|
|
4/5
|
87%
|
Submarine (2011) |
"
It's a familiar story, yes - but we all have to chart our own way through it."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Jun 9, 2011
|
|
3.5/5
|
87%
|
X-Men: First Class (2011) |
"
"X-Men: First Class" isn't anywhere close to being a genre classic like "Spider-Man 2" or "The Dark Knight," but it is good enough to rejuvenate a franchise stuck on idle."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Jun 1, 2011
|
|
4/5
|
93%
|
Midnight in Paris (2011) |
"
A delicious trifle for anyone who has ever dreamt of bantering about the cinema with Luis Buñuel or lounging at the piano to hear Cole Porter sing "Let's Do It.""
—
Arizona Republic
Posted May 26, 2011
|
|
4/5
|
81%
|
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) |
"
A precisely calibrated crowd-pleasing machine, balancing action, comedy and just the bare minimum of pathos."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted May 24, 2011
|
|
3.5/5
|
59%
|
Forks Over Knives (2011) |
"
It isn't possible to examine the scientific arguments in a movie review, but as advocacy documentaries go, this is a pretty good one."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted May 12, 2011
|
|
2/5
|
15%
|
Something Borrowed (2011) |
"
How many times must we be subjected to another gorgeous, glamorous starlet impersonating a clumsy wallflower? Will anyone really believe in this GQ-perfect big man on campus who lacks the courage to ask her out on a date?"
—
Arizona Republic
Posted May 5, 2011
|
|
3.5/5
|
84%
|
Jane Eyre (2011) |
"
Beauty, along with a sense of mystery, is what audiences expect in a Gothic romance, and Fukunaga delivers with carefully composed shots of austere landscapes and shadowy Victorian opulence."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Mar 18, 2011
|
|
3/5
|
38%
|
The Over the Hill Band (2011) |
"
The acting is restrained, the story stays under the top, and hand-held cameras shake almost imperceptibly, giving a whiff of verite with no danger of going full Greengrass."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Mar 9, 2011
|
|
3/5
|
57%
|
8 Murders a Day (2011) |
"
Bowden's devastatingly casual assessments give the film much of its punch, but, ultimately, the barrage of simple assertions fails to cohere into an argument."
—
Arizona Republic
Posted Mar 2, 2011
|
