|
3.5/4
|
90%
|
Seconds (1966) |
"
Frankenheimer fashioned a trippy motion picture that was clearly ahead of its time, even if just by a few years (the 1970s would be crammed with post-Watergate paranoia pictures such as The Parallax View and Three Days of the Condor)."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Aug 17, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
73%
|
Lee Daniels' The Butler (2013) |
"
The film is entertaining but awfully slender -- a light look at heavy history."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Aug 17, 2013
|
|
1/4
|
4%
|
Paranoia (2013) |
"
Paranoia is so ineptly made that the ride home from the theater will be more suspenseful than anything that took place on the screen."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Aug 17, 2013
|
|
3.5/4
|
95%
|
The Hunt (2013) |
"
Of a piece with Arthur Miller's The Crucible and Lillian Hellman's The Children's Hour, two other works about persecution and hypocrisy."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Aug 17, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
——
|
Death Hunt (1981) |
"
A modest bit of macho cinema."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Aug 15, 2013
|
|
2/4
|
68%
|
Elysium (2013) |
"
Blomkamp crams his tale with reams of topical material ... It's potent stuff, or at least it would be if the movie surrounding it didn't take so many shortcuts."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Aug 10, 2013
|
|
3/4
|
——
|
Adjust Your Tracking () |
"
An entertaining documentary ... Directors Dan Kinem and Levi Peretic have managed to snag some colorful subjects to showcase on camera."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Aug 6, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
69%
|
The Wolverine (2013) |
"
Superhero movies are often defined as much by their villains as by their good guys, and it's in this area where The Wolverine proves to be especially deficient."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jul 28, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
87%
|
The Conjuring (2013) |
"
It's really not much more frightening than, say, The Flintstones Meet Rockula and Frankenstone or Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island, but it's modestly elevated by James Wan's relatively restrained direction."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jul 26, 2013
|
|
1/4
|
14%
|
R.I.P.D. (2013) |
"
Funeral services are already under way at the nation's multiplexes, so the easily entertained might want to pay their respects before this one gets buried by newer releases."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jul 26, 2013
|
|
3/4
|
42%
|
Red 2 (2013) |
"
Audiences who have been burned by too many of this season's high-profile titles might want to take a chance on this comparatively small-scale effort: Like a favorite pair of slippers, it may not exactly be new, but it makes for a comfortable fit."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jul 26, 2013
|
|
3/4
|
85%
|
The Way Way Back (2013) |
"
While it's been a dismal summer for movies made FOR teenage boys (Pacific Rim, The Lone Ranger, Man of Steel), it's been an exemplary one for films made ABOUT teenage boys (The Kings of Summer, Mud and now The Way, Way Back)."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jul 20, 2013
|
|
2/4
|
72%
|
Pacific Rim (2013) |
"
Harryhausen and Honda are gods to del Toro, but the movie he's produced in their honor has less in common with their disarming flights of fancy and more with the assembly-line blockbusters that are becoming increasingly indistinguishable from one another."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jul 13, 2013
|
|
1.5/4
|
31%
|
The Lone Ranger (2013) |
"
The good bits are like the seeds that end up on the bottom of bird cages, tasty tidbits momentarily visible before getting covered in crap."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jul 6, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
75%
|
Despicable Me 2 (2013) |
"
For the most part, Despicable Me 2 is amusing and cheerful, but it lacks the mild-cheddar edge that made the first film stand out -- moments like when Gru inflates a balloon animal for a sad boy, only to then pop it himself."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jul 6, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
65%
|
The Heat (2013) |
"
The movie is almost pure formula, elevated out of the realm of the mediocre on the sheer strength of McCarthy's bravura turn."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jun 30, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
67%
|
World War Z (2013) |
"
It's only natural to worry that World War Z will be more like World War Zzzzz. That's not the case, thanks to a committed performance by Brad Pitt and a handful of exciting sequences. Still, it might be time to call for a moratorium on undead activities."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jun 22, 2013
|
|
3/4
|
78%
|
Monsters University (2013) |
"
Even if the day arrives when the promise of a Pixar narrative holds no more interest than the hint of a new straight-to-DVD actioner starring Steven Seagal, we can probably always count on the films to at least look good."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jun 22, 2013
|
|
3.5/4
|
76%
|
The Kings of Summer (2013) |
"
Coming-of-age tales are generally a dime a dozen, but here's one pretty much guaranteed to make viewers feel like a million bucks."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jun 22, 2013
|
|
3/4
|
75%
|
The East (2013) |
"
Obviously, the potential for The East to be nothing more than a shrieky liberal screed is enormous, but Batmanglij and Marling sidestep it with their fair and balanced screenplay."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jun 22, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
59%
|
The Bling Ring (2013) |
"
The film is ostensibly a look at the real-life group of teens who got away with burglarizing celebrities' homes for almost an entire year before being caught, but the true takeaway from this viewing is that Paris Hilton is even dumber than we all thought."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jun 22, 2013
|
|
1.5/4
|
56%
|
Man of Steel (2013) |
"
Man of Steel offers nothing but torturous exposition, heavy-handed symbolism, criminally ill-used actors and a numbing finale that would be right at home in a Transformers sequel. It's one massive superbore."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jun 15, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
84%
|
This Is the End (2013) |
"
The moments of comic gold are sometimes diluted by considerable stretches of tedium, generally occurring when the filmmakers and their improvising actors refuse to end scenes and instead carry them past the point of comedic no-return."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jun 15, 2013
|
|
3.5/4
|
98%
|
Before Midnight (2013) |
"
Director Richard Linklater's life-affirming Before trilogy is the Lord of the Rings of the art-house experience, the Toy Story of the American indie movement."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jun 15, 2013
|
|
3/4
|
90%
|
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (2006) |
"
This edit primarily contains restored footage of Marlon Brando as Jor-El, but given its erratic pacing and occasional lulls, I still prefer the version shown in theaters back in '81."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jun 13, 2013
|
|
3.5/4
|
96%
|
3:10 to Yuma (1957) |
"
Like The Gunfighter and Winchester '73, 3:10 to Yuma is one of those defining '50s Westerns that is well-known by film buffs but has never reached the familiarity level of a High Noon or Shane."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jun 9, 2013
|
|
3.5/4
|
100%
|
Jubal (1956) |
"
Jubal is a movie of roiling tensions, as the four lead characters constantly are pitted against each other due to jealousy, deceit and misunderstandings."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jun 9, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
75%
|
Brubaker (1980) |
"
The first half-hour is powerful stuff, but after Brubaker reveals his true identity, the movie begins to falter, with the one-dimensional nature of the characters (particularly the warden himself) eventually stripping the story of any dramatic charge."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jun 9, 2013
|
|
3/4
|
74%
|
Love Is All You Need (2013) |
"
Don't think for a moment that postcard prettiness is all that this picture has going for it ... Susanne Bier has made a smart, winning movie that's tougher than many others in its field."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jun 9, 2013
|
|
3/4
|
35%
|
The Internship (2013) |
"
Aside from an uproarious scene involving Professor Charles Xavier (yes, that Professor X), the laughs are mostly low-key -- but at least they're there, which automatically places this above many guffaw-free films of its genre."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jun 9, 2013
|
|
2/4
|
——
|
When You Find Me () |
"
The true artistry is in the inspirational shots, not the finished movie."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jun 3, 2013
|
|
3.5/4
|
——
|
Wonder Women! The Untold Story Of American Superheroines (2012) |
"
Between the captivating clips and the enlightened talking heads, this is one nonfiction feature that, were it just a bit longer, would be worthy of breaking away from the festival circuit and enjoying regular theatrical runs."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jun 3, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
22%
|
Violet & Daisy (2013) |
"
While Bledel and Ronan are both fine, Fletcher doesn't allow us to get inside their minds to the extent required."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jun 3, 2013
|
|
2/4
|
50%
|
Now You See Me (2013) |
"
The movie is nothing more than an empty spectacle hopelessly riddled with gaping plotholes, narrative coincidences and a final twist that couldn't have been more preposterous had it revealed that Chewbacca was actually Luke's father."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jun 1, 2013
|
|
1.5/4
|
11%
|
After Earth (2013) |
"
A character notes that Earth is now overrun by all manner of frightening creatures, but those expecting the thrills of King Kong's Skull Island will be sorely let down -- heck, even those expecting the thrills of Vacation's Walley World will feel cheated."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jun 1, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
50%
|
At Any Price (2013) |
"
With Bahrani's assured direction squaring off against his ragged script, this proves to be a mixed bag of a movie, maybe worth seeing for reduced admission but not necessarily at any price."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted May 25, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
69%
|
Fast & Furious 6 (2013) |
"
Generally speaking, any series that has managed to make its way to a sixth installment is running solely on fumes, but that's not the case with the F&F brand. This franchise seems to rise and fall on whenever the muse randomly hits its creators."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted May 25, 2013
|
|
3.5/4
|
87%
|
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) |
"
While it doesn't quite reach the giddy heights of its 2009 predecessor, this new picture is terrific popcorn entertainment, the sort of bright, brawny blockbuster that used to define the summer movie season."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted May 18, 2013
|
|
2/4
|
67%
|
The Iceman (2013) |
"
Nobody would think to call The Iceman a romanticized version of anything, but when compared to the real-life story of Richard Kuklinski, this excessively brutal film comes off almost as gentle and dreamy-eyed as a Nicholas Sparks adaptation."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted May 17, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
49%
|
The Great Gatsby (2013) |
"
Here's the thing about director Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby: It actually remains quite faithful to the book. ... But it rarely taps into the essence of the novel, preferring instead to continuously showcase the glitz over the grit."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted May 17, 2013
|
|
2/4
|
61%
|
The Running Man (1987) |
"
Give the movie credit for being prescient: Given the disgusting rise and success of reality TV, it's not difficult at all to imagine fans of garbage like Survivor or Jersey Shore easily turning into the audience for a deathsport show like The Running Man."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted May 5, 2013
|
|
3/4
|
98%
|
Repo Man (1984) |
"
A playful mood informs Repo Man, yet Cox also takes time to comment on the seamy side of LA, the crushing realities of living in a comformist society, and the problems inherent in a decade that so baldly worships Reagan, L. Ron Hubbard and TV evangelists."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted May 5, 2013
|
|
3/4
|
62%
|
Irreconcilable Differences (1984) |
"
Writer-director Charles Shyer and writer Nancy Meyers fill their movie with fresh dialogue and Hollywood-insider tidbits, and the roles couldn't be more aptly cast."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted May 5, 2013
|
|
2./4
|
56%
|
The Vampire Lovers (1970) |
"
Sheridan Le Fanu's classic 1872 novella Carmilla has served as the basis for numerous vampire flicks, although it's probably safe to state that this blood-and-boob-filled adaptation from Hammer Films boasts the largest fan base."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted May 5, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
79%
|
Iron Man 3 (2013) |
"
Like Iron Man 2, the movie is generally engaging, occasionally dull, frequently cluttered, and recommended with only the greatest of reservations."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted May 5, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
44%
|
To The Wonder (2013) |
"
Indisputably comes off as a minor work on the heels of Malick's The Tree of Life but still holds enough of interest for the initiated."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Apr 27, 2013
|
|
2/4
|
49%
|
Pain & Gain (2013) |
"
Not able to get out of the way of a promising movie, Michael Bay, with the apparent support of scripters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, smothers the project in the sort of juvenile hijinks we had hoped he would skip this time around."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Apr 27, 2013
|
|
3/4
|
98%
|
Mud (2013) |
"
With Mud, Jeff Nichols demonstrates once again that he's that rare breed of filmmaker who prefers to bury himself in the dirt of rural America rather than carve his initials into the concrete of sprawling urbanity."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Apr 27, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
55%
|
The Company You Keep (2013) |
"
Clearly, Redford has no trouble drawing talent; if he's ever interested in remaking Meteor or Midnight in Paris, he's halfway there."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Apr 27, 2013
|
|
2/4
|
54%
|
Oblivion (2013) |
"
The filmmakers fail to answer a sizable number of questions, electing instead to let audience members fill in the blanks to such an extent that anyone who sees this film would have a justifiable reason to sue to get their names added as co-scenarists."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Apr 22, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
79%
|
Ginger & Rosa (2013) |
"
Despite some narrative missteps, Ginger & Rosa should be seen simply for Fanning's exceptional performance, the sort of revelatory turn that makes us feel as if the next generation of film is in capable hands."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Apr 13, 2013
|
|
3/4
|
69%
|
Trance (2013) |
"
Like any good thriller worth its weight in red herrings, Trance keeps the audience guessing for the vast majority of its running time."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Apr 13, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
79%
|
42 (2013) |
"
The subject of this competent biopic is still overdue for a comprehensive, warts-and-all movie (after all, here was a black man who campaigned for Richard Nixon against John F. Kennedy), but for the time being, this one will pleasantly do."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Apr 13, 2013
|
|
3.5/4
|
93%
|
Jurassic Park (1993) |
"
Spielberg treats us as he does his characters, leading us into a strange land and expecting us to make it out with all our faculties intact; it's a tall order, given the heart-stopping, bloodcurdling, limbs-numbing excitement packed into the second hour."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Apr 6, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
62%
|
Evil Dead (2013) |
"
Even as a huge fan of The Evil Dead, it's impossible to wholeheartedly embrace this one when just last year we were treated to a cabin-in-the-woods yarn -- The Cabin in the Woods, of course -- that carried on Raimi's legacy far better than this film does."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Apr 6, 2013
|
|
3/4
|
56%
|
Bachelorette (2012) |
"
It would be a major mistake to think that Bachelorette is simply a rip-off of Bridesmaids with a healthy dose of Mean Girls stirred into the mix. This comedy clearly marches to its own beat."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Mar 30, 2013
|
|
2/4
|
28%
|
G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013) |
"
The movie ricochets between interesting characters and idiotic ones, between clever plot developments and ludicrous ones, between smart dialogue and -- wait, scratch that; there is no smart dialogue, just marble-mouthed monologues and limp quips."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Mar 30, 2013
|
|
1.5/4
|
44%
|
On the Road (2012) |
"
Salles approaches Kerouac's raw, restless and spontaneous work in such a staid and conservative manner that the movie might as well be a lesser Merchant-Ivory production from the team's late-'90s period of decline."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Mar 30, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
66%
|
Spring Breakers (2013) |
"
The latest gonzo endeavor from writer-director Harmony Korine, Spring Breakers manages to be a fever dream, a wet dream, a daydream and a nightmare all in one sitting."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Mar 23, 2013
|
|
2/4
|
47%
|
Olympus Has Fallen (2013) |
"
A better Die Hard movie than A Good Day to Die Hard, this still registers as a stale action flick whose primary worth is as a heartland alternative for moviegoers wary of the sexy sinfulness of Spring Breakers or the highfalutin' idiosyncrasies of Stoker."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Mar 23, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
69%
|
The Croods (2013) |
"
The Croods is exactly the sort of animated fare we receive on a monthly basis from Hollywood. On the scale of such efforts, it's pretty good, with an engaging second half making up for a tedious opening stretch."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Mar 23, 2013
|
|
1.5/4
|
38%
|
Admission (2013) |
"
While the idea of teaming Fey and Rudd sounds like a feasible one, the reality is that all this low-simmer niceness results in a movie that has absolutely no wit, bite or -- most shockingly -- moments of hilarity."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Mar 23, 2013
|
|
3.5/4
|
69%
|
Stoker (2013) |
"
As much a startling coming-of-age saga as a portrait of a psychologically damaged family, Stoker emits a Gothic chill that's almost tangible, and the performances by Wasikowska and Goode are mesmerizing."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Mar 16, 2013
|
|
2/4
|
44%
|
The Call (2013) |
"
There's something cheerfully stupid about thrillers like The Call, wherein a protagonist who's seemingly as brilliant as Sherlock Holmes eventually becomes as dim-witted as Forrest Gump."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Mar 16, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
52%
|
Jack the Giant Slayer (2013) |
"
Jack the Giant Slayer isn't close to being among the elite films in theaters now, but if your significant other or your friends narrow down the viewing options to this or Oz the Great and Powerful, best to gently push them in this direction."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Mar 9, 2013
|
|
1.5/4
|
59%
|
Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) |
"
A portrait of plasticity that could have benefited from more intelligence in its narrative structure, more feeling in its characterizations and more courage to break away from the one-size-fits-all strain of blockbuster that's been draining studio coffers"
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Mar 9, 2013
|
|
3/4
|
100%
|
Ministry of Fear (1944) |
"
It's not top-shelf Fritz Lang, nor is it top-level Graham Greene, but as an exercise in World War II intrigue with a smidgen of film noir thrown in, Ministry of Fear gets the job done. "
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Mar 7, 2013
|
|
3.5/4
|
89%
|
Easter Parade (1948) |
"
The most famous act finds Garland and Astaire dressed as bums for "A Couple of Swells," but there's also ... the pair tackling the title tune and -- my favorite -- Astaire showing off his incomparable tap-dancing prowess in "Steppin' Out with My Baby.""
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Mar 7, 2013
|
|
2/4
|
31%
|
A Star is Born (1976) |
"
A dreary and bloated production that can't sustain its 140-minute running time (the 1954 version is even longer at 176 minutes, but it feels like a live-action short when compared to this one)."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Mar 7, 2013
|
|
3.5/4
|
100%
|
On the Waterfront (1954) |
"
A powerful watch, thanks largely to an incredible cast, Leonard Bernstein's strong score, and a handful of iconic scenes, none better than the moving "I coulda been a contender" sequence."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Mar 7, 2013
|
|
2/4
|
28%
|
21 And Over (2013) |
"
It's hard to imagine anybody who's 21 and over truly getting much out of 21 & Over, but as far as these sorts of films go, this one isn't as aggressively stupid as some."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Mar 2, 2013
|
|
3/4
|
89%
|
White Zombie (1932) |
"
The supporting cast is awful and the low budget dictates a few moments worthy of MST3K ribbing. But the atmosphere of dread is pungent, the use of sound is inspired, and the makeup by the great Jack Pierce and Carl Axcelle is minimal but effective."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Feb 23, 2013
|
|
4/4
|
100%
|
The Terminator (1984) |
"
Still a toss-up between The Terminator and Aliens as to which James Cameron picture ranks as his best, this propulsively exciting yarn about a murderous cyborg has long staked its claim as a classic -- science fiction or otherwise -- for the ages."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Feb 23, 2013
|
|
3.5/4
|
95%
|
Best in Show (2000) |
"
The first 45 minutes are amusing enough, but the movie ascends to another level with the second-half introduction of Fred Willard as commentator Buck Laughlin."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Feb 23, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
55%
|
Snitch (2013) |
"
I certainly don't want to oversell the film ... Still, moviegoers finding themselves between The Rock and a hard place -- say, an auditorium showing the new Die Hard debacle -- might agree that a switch to Snitch isn't a bad idea at all."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Feb 23, 2013
|
|
1.5/4
|
46%
|
Beautiful Creatures (2013) |
"
For all the vitriol directed at the shaky Twilight series, all of its entries are definitely better than this dull and insipid movie."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Feb 16, 2013
|
|
1/4
|
14%
|
A Good Day To Die Hard (2013) |
"
Unbelievably, this great character has made a complete transformation from a likable, sympathetic Everyman in 1988 to an arrogant, insufferable jerk in 2013."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Feb 16, 2013
|
|
3/4
|
93%
|
Amour (2012) |
"
Clearly, Amour, Michael Haneke and Emmanuelle Riva don't really need me to additionally sing their praises (although praise is indeed all I have), so let's discuss Jean-Louis Trintignant for a moment."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Feb 9, 2013
|
|
3/4
|
81%
|
Warm Bodies (2013) |
"
Even after we thought the genre was exhausted with 28 Days Later ... and then Shaun of the Dead ... and then Zombieland ... and then some ... here we find fresh blood pumped into the format with Warm Bodies."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Feb 2, 2013
|
|
1/4
|
4%
|
Movie 43 (2013) |
"
If approached by friends to see this disaster, feel free to repeat what a wise George Clooney reportedly said when asked by its producers to take part: "No ****ing way.""
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Feb 1, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
83%
|
Seven Psychopaths (2012) |
"
If it doesn't quite match In Bruges in terms of total success, it's still potent enough to indicate that McDonagh managed to dodge the dreaded sophomore slump."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jan 31, 2013
|
|
1.5/4
|
15%
|
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013) |
"
Viewers can expect a level of gore that in comparison makes Django Unchained look as wholesome as The Vow (OK, maybe not quite). The bloodletting at least breaks up the monotony of the fight sequences."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jan 26, 2013
|
|
3/4
|
80%
|
Quartet (2013) |
"
Of course, let's take care not to oversell this piece, which is the sort of genteel art-house offering that will thrill older audiences but seems unlikely to break out with those who don't know Downton Abbey from Howards End."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jan 25, 2013
|
|
2/4
|
82%
|
De rouille et d'os (Rust and Bone) (2012) |
"
Like a carnival barker or presidential candidate, Rust and Bone promises far more than it delivers."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jan 19, 2013
|
|
2/4
|
66%
|
Mama (2013) |
"
While the child actresses are quite good, only Chastain makes an impression among the grown-ups, and that's more for our willingness to chart her career trajectory than for anything connected to her underdeveloped role."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jan 19, 2013
|
|
3/4
|
88%
|
The Man Who Knew Too Much (2003) |
"
In the final analysis, the 1934 and 1956 versions are comparable in quality for different reasons, but the greatest single component of either film can be found in this '34 edition: the great performance by Peter Lorre as a menacing criminal mastermind."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jan 17, 2013
|
|
2/4
|
——
|
Death Valley (1982) |
"
Director Dick Richards has fashioned a perfectly serviceable thriller that unfortunately becomes derailed by both an extended -- and ludicrous -- climax as well as an increasingly silly performance by McHattie."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jan 17, 2013
|
|
1.5/4
|
40%
|
The Island (1980) |
"
The biggest flaw is that the pirates aren't particularly frightening or imposing, instead coming off as Peter Pan's Lost Boys all grown up -- to riff from Kentucky Fried Movie, they aren't tough and ruthless so much as they're rough and toothless."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jan 17, 2013
|
|
3.5/4
|
93%
|
Zero Dark Thirty (2013) |
"
The picture acknowledges the very real presence of torture on the post-9/11 landscape -- had the filmmakers ignored the subject, the movie would be little more than vile, jingoistic nonsense."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jan 12, 2013
|
|
1.5/4
|
32%
|
Gangster Squad (2013) |
"
The movie claims to be "based on a true story" but turns out to be as authentic as The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jan 12, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
81%
|
The Impossible (2012) |
"
The Impossible has enough going for it to earn a mild recommendation, but it's unfortunate that it ends up self-destructing as rapidly as one of those Mission: Impossible messages."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jan 11, 2013
|
|
1.5/4
|
51%
|
Promised Land (2013) |
"
The end result is simply a fracking mess."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jan 11, 2013
|
|
1.5/4
|
37%
|
Hyde Park on Hudson (2012) |
"
Like the equally ludicrous Hitchcock, Hyde Park on Hudson is a character assassination posing as a movie."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Jan 11, 2013
|
|
2.5/4
|
70%
|
Les Misérables (2012) |
"
Les Miserables is hampered by Crowe's feat. Fortunately, Jackman is potent in the leading role, and it's nice to see Hollywood taking advantage of his versatility. Yet the showstopper is Hathaway, who's tremendous as Fantine."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Dec 29, 2012
|
|
3/4
|
88%
|
Django Unchained (2012) |
"
Exciting. Funny. Gratuitous. Inflammatory. Insensitive. Stylish. Stupid. Sophisticated. Grab just about any adjective out of a hat and chances are it will apply to Tarantino's messy mashup."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Dec 29, 2012
|
|
3/4
|
61%
|
Jack Reacher (2012) |
"
With Cruise whipping off his shirt and flexing his muscles with all the eager-to-please zestiness of Taylor Lautner in the Twilight series, it's clear that this is a vanity project of the highest order. But it's also a movie full of pleasant surprises."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Dec 22, 2012
|
|
1.5/4
|
52%
|
This is 40 (2012) |
"
At least when filmmakers used to indulge themselves, the results would be on the order of Fellini's 8-1/2 or Lucas' American Graffiti. These days, celluloid navel-gazing is more likely to be met with audience eye-rolling and shoulder-shrugging."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Dec 22, 2012
|
|
1.5/4
|
38%
|
The Guilt Trip (2012) |
"
If this Streisand vehicle isn't quite as disastrous as Jane Fonda tethering her mid-2000s comeback to projects co-starring Lindsay Lohan (Georgia Rule) and Jennifer Lopez (Monster-in-Law), it's not an occasion for celebration, either."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Dec 22, 2012
|
|
1/4
|
25%
|
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964) |
"
4 stars for bad-movie buffs, 1 star for the rest of humanity."
—
Creative Loafing
Posted Dec 22, 2012
|
