|
92%
|
In Search of Beethoven (2009)
|
|
|
|
77%
|
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008)
|
"Amy Adams is strawberry bubble gum and doesn't just chase after the performance, she boards it like a rocket and blasts off. It's equal parts adorability, cunning allure, and million-dollar charm."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
76%
|
Cidade dos Homens (City of Men) (2007)
|
"For those like me, walking into a theater with only God in my back pocket, the experience might not be as sweet, but still remains artistically and emotionally rewarding."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
56%
|
Charlie Bartlett (2007)
|
"Clouded execution and miscasting neuters the intended objective the film has to brand the character a clear-thinking leader of the pack. Charlie Bartlett is not a hero; he deserves a spanking."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
35%
|
Vantage Point (2008)
|
"It's a marginally successful attempt to flare up the senses through shocking repetition, but this is Moritz after all, so if you must go, leave your brain at home and sneak in a cocktail to help wash down the nonsense."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
70%
|
Definitely, Maybe (2008)
|
"You're telling me that the script dreams up a main character who attends the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1992, and he has no idea who Nirvana is? The screenwriter clearly wasn't doing his homework."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
15%
|
Over Her Dead Body (2008)
|
"Rudd and Bell can only goes as far as the director allows, and their efforts are further neutered by an odious supporting performance from Jason Biggs and Longoria's grating turn as a vengeful, horrible actress. I mean spirit."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
40%
|
The Bucket List (2007)
|
"Those looking for a romp in the daisies should be advised that Bucket List isn't going to provide much in the laugh department. If you've seen director Rob Reiner's work in recent years, this shouldn't come as much of a surprise."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
81%
|
The Business of Being Born (2008)
|
"A wonderful piece of filmmaking and a top viewing priority for those even entertaining the idea of bringing a new life into the world."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
74%
|
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)
|
"Nothing can prepare the senses for Walk Hard, a parody feature that stumbles around like a maniac, ruthlessly ripping apart the conventions of the musical bio-pic but leaving plenty of breathing room to enjoy a little insanity of its own design."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
65%
|
The Kite Runner (2007)
|
"Kite Runner remains an effective, deeply felt meditation on forgiveness, and when it stays near the characters, it's some of the best filmmaking Marc Forster has ever accomplished."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
26%
|
Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
|
"Alvin isn't nearly as bad as Fox's marketing has been threatening, but it isn't a delight either...a glorified direct-to-video release."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
42%
|
The Golden Compass (2007)
|
"Golden Compass is one wordy endeavor, but it gallops to satisfaction, rising above significant adaptation odds to form a semi-coherent, lively fantasia of monsters and warriors."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
80%
|
American Gangster (2007)
|
"Denzel Washington has become the John Wayne of his generation: perfecting his one acting face of mild displeasure and sticking to his guns the rest of his career."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
64%
|
Dan in Real Life (2007)
|
"Dan is a delightful motion picture, especially when it combats the fatigue of formula, trying to smuggle in astute characterizations between moments of traditional Hollywood romantic comedy hoo-ha."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
14%
|
The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising (2007)
|
"The ultimate question is, was the movie purposefully made into a blur to play directly into the pockets of the fans, or do we chalk this up to standard-issue directorial incompetence? I vote the latter."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
28%
|
The Game Plan (2007)
|
"I wish Dwayne Johnson well, and I respect Disney's tenacity when it comes to their dreadful formulas, so I look forward to next year's offering: 50 Cent in the Cub Scout comedy, Da Top Scout."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
43%
|
The Brave One (2007)
|
"Brave One isn't Death Wish, but there are moments where I could see Jordan giving in to that impulse."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
88%
|
3:10 to Yuma (2007)
|
"All too often the action will become a bewildering blur of staging rather than an enthralling construct of violence, increasing the already nagging chorus of logic gaps that do their best to undermine the film."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
88%
|
Superbad (2007)
|
"Captures the mysterious pit of erection-led shame that lies deep inside every self-conscious young man...the most truthful portrayal of uncut teenage thinking put to the screen since Fast Times at Ridgemont High."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
76%
|
Stardust (2007)
|
"I was blinded by a thunderstorm of mediocre special effects, a boisterous soundtrack that makes Transformers seem like a Miles Davis record, and slapped with frustration over the film's unbelievable inertia."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
7%
|
Bratz: The Movie (2007)
|
"You see, when these barely legal billboards walk down the street in short skirts and porn star makeup, they're just expressing their creativity and livin' life to the fullest. Holla!"
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
39%
|
Hot Rod (2007)
|
"Hot Rod isn't so much a comedy as it is an exclusive clubhouse for those who define their existence by the articulation of their zany. It's a wild one, but not without its charms."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
94%
|
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
|
"An action-thriller that doesn't understand the meaning of pause. Pause has cooties as far as this production is concerned."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
79%
|
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
|
"Phoenix manages to top that potential in an immense way, compacting the longest "Potter" book into the shortest film yet, streamlining the urgency into a tasty pudding fan and non-fan should positively respond to."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
96%
|
Ratatouille (2007)
|
"There's a brilliant 75-minute film here, and truthfully, I could watch the cooking scenes with Remy all day. But Pixar being Pixar, simplicity just isn't in the cards."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
27%
|
Evening (2007)
|
"Evening is melodrama with the brake lines slashed -- a curiously dreary installment of the "Who Has More Psychological Baggage!" game show where every character is a winner."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
78%
|
1408 (2007)
|
"Hafstrom can't balance the requirement of excitement with the necessity of depth without jerking the film's pace around like a bad carnival ride."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
79%
|
A Mighty Heart (2007)
|
"The story told here is one of lives shattered and hope restored, vividly encapsulating sacrifice and loss in a world gone mad."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
37%
|
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)
|
"Surfing down the face of a building or opening bottomless holes in the Earth? Yes! Lamenting the loss of his loved one and trading therapy sessions with Sue? No!"
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
50%
|
Nancy Drew (2007)
|
"A majority of the film is in awe of Nancy's dynamic sleuthing skills and her confidence. It's a wonderful change of pace for tween cinema."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
44%
|
Hostel: Part II (2007)
|
"Part II is vile, but it commits an even worse sin by being so aggressively boring and hilariously one-note."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
70%
|
Ocean's Thirteen (2007)
|
"Ocean's Thirteen plays to known quantities, but with a graceful sense of ease and a sparkly smile a mile wide...one of the best cinema experiences of the year."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
78%
|
Surf's Up (2007)
|
"It's the first time in a long time where I felt like I was watching a story unfold instead of a commercial for future sequels and merchandising."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
64%
|
Day Watch (2007)
|
"The picture is still a Russian-centric blob of overcooked genre pie filling, aiming high but barely able to keep up with itself; yet, Day Watch is a step in the right direction"
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
55%
|
Mr. Brooks (2007)
|
"It's an odd piece of entertainment, and requires a viewer flexible enough to journey into the belly of the beast and somehow enjoy it. Me? I found it irresistible at times."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
61%
|
Bug (2006)
|
"Bug is unique in its priorities; a quality Lionsgate should've been eager to celebrate rather than keep away from online press and accurate promotion."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
44%
|
Angel-A (2005)
|
"Angel-A is a dear, surprising film - one of the best Besson has put out into the world."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
44%
|
Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End (2007)
|
"Perhaps on Jack's next adventure he could sail to the end of the world to locate a more judicious editor."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
17%
|
Georgia Rule (2007)
|
"As the family tree in desperate need of psychological pruning, Fonda, Huffman, and Lohan are flawless in their execution of familial breakdown."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
5%
|
Delta Farce (2007)
|
"While I could say the quality of Larry's feature film work has improved, that isn't exactly a ringing endorsement for the picture. It's like saying drowning is more welcome than being set on fire."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
25%
|
Blind Dating (2007)
|
"I wouldn't even describe what Dating becomes as ambitious. It's just sloppy, and corrupts the comfortable level of mediocrity it made peace with early on."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
70%
|
28 Weeks Later... (2007)
|
"The film isn't simply bad, it's a trainwreck."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
88%
|
Waitress (2007)
|
"Waitress is finely tuned, assured, wonderfully silly, and every bit as lovely as Shelly was."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
29%
|
Lucky You (2007)
|
"Hanson digs into the pain of losing, the shame of defeat, and the fingers-through-hair lust for the next potential win."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
63%
|
Spider-Man 3 (2007)
|
"This is, for all intents and purposes, a fine movie that will do a very efficient job entertaining the pants off audiences. The creak, however, cannot be denied."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
2%
|
Kickin' It Old Skool (2007)
|
"It's horrific to watch Kennedy and his cast not even care about what they're putting out into the world. People, we're getting closer to Ow! My Balls! every day."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
28%
|
Next (2007)
|
"For better or worse, Next always has its eye on a perky pace and the occasional bubble-gum snap of amusement."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
21%
|
The Invisible (2007)
|
"Without guidance behind the camera and raw talent in front, the film becomes quite a compelling tug of war between snores and unintentional laughs."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
|
58%
|
Zoo (2007)
|
"It's not a cheery film to watch, but there's an unexpected beauty and distance to Zoo that makes it easier to comprehend, if not understand, how this culture considers itself."
|
Brian Orndorf
|
87%
24%
91%
85%
45%
40%
