
Hazel-Dawn Dumpert
Movies reviews only
Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
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Mortal Kombat Annihilation (1997) |
The makers of the thoroughly terrible Mortal Kombat: Annihilation haven't even attempted to move beyond their source material -- the super-popular video game -- and actually make a movie. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Jul 20, 2021
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Pather Panchali (1955) |
[Pather Panchali] is, quite simply, the sort of breathtaking achievement that lofts cinema to a higher ground. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted May 05, 2021
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The Devil Never Sleeps (1994) |
[Lourdes Portillo] manipulates her film intercutting it with Mexican soap operas, projecting interviews onto the frames of sunglasses to point to the melodrama her family mystery has become. The effect is breathtaking. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Dec 15, 2020
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Committed (2000) |
The best thing about Committed is [Lisa] Krueger, a filmmaker who's not only willing to lead us into the well-traveled terrain of romantic comedy, but able to show us something new there. All she asks is that we have a little faith. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Apr 30, 2020
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I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) |
All the scary, screaming, sniggering fun continues here, aided by swell performances from Hewitt and Gellar in particular... an appearance from the always groovy Anne Heche, and the crisp, crackerjack direction of Jim Gillespie. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Mar 28, 2019
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My Man Godfrey (1936) |
[A] screwball masterpiece. - Village Voice
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| Posted Feb 06, 2009
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The Amateurs (The Moguls) (Dirty Movie) (2005) |
As a writer, Traeger is consternatingly adolescent and glib. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Dec 06, 2007
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The White Horse Is Dead (2004) |
Haphazardly pieced together. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Feb 02, 2006
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FAQs (2005) |
The dialogue is blunter, and harder for his amateur cast to pull off, while Lewis' stridency, however justified, ultimately jars against the film's tender, all-is-love fantasia. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Feb 02, 2006
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POV (2005) |
One comes away not quite knowing what Weisberg wants to say with his occasional statistics laid over loosely edited, perfunctory video footage. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Nov 10, 2005
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Don't Tell (2005) |
Might make a fun Lifetime TV movie -- if it weren't quite so morose. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Oct 13, 2005
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The Letter (2003) |
A carefully wrought, historically grounded and thoroughly absorbing look at a quintessential American experience. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Aug 11, 2005
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Wheel of Time (2003) |
For a Herzog documentary, Wheel of Time is surprisingly unfocused. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Jun 04, 2005
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Tom Dowd & the Language of Music (2003) |
It makes a convincing argument that Dowd's personal history is a kind of history of the 20th century itself, encompassing the era's art, science, commerce and politics. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Aug 12, 2004
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Anatomy 2 (2003) |
By the time we get to an unintentionally hilarious hospital-hall chase scene and an overblown O.R. climax, it's clear that Ruzowitzky hasn't quite the wit to match his flair. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Aug 12, 2004
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Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism (2004) |
A fast-paced, brilliantly edited indictment that's as hard to turn away from as it is infuriating to watch. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Aug 05, 2004
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Orwell Rolls in His Grave (2003) |
Even though he refuses to excise about 15 to 20 minutes of unnecessary material, Pappas is nonetheless a steady editor who, less intrepid than dogged, pieces together a sustainably intriguing, suitably distressing expos. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Jul 28, 2004
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Festival Express (2003) |
By the end of the tour, the booze-and- drug-soaked conveyance has, as one participant puts it, 'achieved liftoff,' and scenes of a final onboard party are both ecstatic and poignant. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Jul 28, 2004
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This Old Cub (2004) |
Shot on video with little regard for the aesthetics of framing -- and edited with as about as much feel for dynamics and pacing -- This Old Cub describes, superficially at best, the life and career of Santo. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Jul 21, 2004
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Freestyle (2002) |
A thoughtful overview of a major musical movement, from its churchy roots to its urban present, from its aggressive front to its spiritual underpinnings. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Jul 21, 2004
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Swing (2003) |
Writer Mary Keil and director Martin Guigui have little ability for striking a narrative tone and maintaining it, be it dramatic or comedic. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Jun 17, 2004
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Baadasssss! (2003) |
If the script, written by Mario with Dennis Haggerty, stops short of outright lionizing or demonizing, it leaves a strangely tepid character in its place. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted May 26, 2004
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With All Deliberate Speed (2004) |
Gilbert's great achievement lies in his integration of disparate historical threads and voices into one steadily paced, riveting tale. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted May 12, 2004
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Wasabi Tuna (2005) |
It's the game cast ... that, bolstered by some sharp one-liners, sight gags and a blithe lack of self-importance, keeps aloft this lightweight camp comedy written and directed by Celia Fox. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted May 06, 2004
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Klezmer on Fish Street (2004) |
Laughably bad visuals, haphazard and un-reasoned interviews and discussions, and ill-conceived tangents. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted May 06, 2004
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A Foreign Affair (2003) |
A competently assembled yet perplexingly affectless romantic comedy. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted May 06, 2004
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The Twilight Samurai (2002) |
Perhaps because this is director Yoji Yamada's 77th movie, every aspect of his filmmaking is placidly assured and meaningful. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Apr 29, 2004
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Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion (2003) |
Despite its undeniably moving, and enlightening, moments, the film eventually tips into pedagogy. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Apr 15, 2004
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Shade (2003) |
Through some mystery of connection and financing that involves producer Merv Griffin, many worthy players are degraded by Nieman's amateur stylings. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Apr 08, 2004
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The Butterfly (2003) |
If there's anyone to credit for The Butterfly's eventual triumph over the inherent fatuousness of the material, it's the great Serrault and his tiny leading lady, who matches her elder nearly line for line and look for look. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Mar 18, 2004
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Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Greendale (2003) |
Rather than stirring the blood, its heartfelt call to arms comes off as a sentimental, even trite, notion from an increasingly distant past. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Feb 26, 2004
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The Groomsmen (2001) |
Dude, it's just like we used to play at the frat house. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Feb 26, 2004
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Made-Up (2002) |
Voice-overs and commentaries are piled on top of contrived intimate moments until, despite some easygoing performances, the movie -- the actual movie -- is a blur of undercooked motivations and halfhearted improv. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Feb 05, 2004
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The Big Bounce (2004) |
It's Wilson who's the score here. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Jan 28, 2004
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Luster (2002) |
Lively, from-the-heart script ... and terrific, natural performances that, like the film itself, are cumulatively affecting. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Nov 19, 2003
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Emerald Cowboy (2003) |
An egomaniacal self-tribute written and bankrolled by a man with a taste for epic mythologizing. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Oct 22, 2003
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Small Voices (2002) |
Sacrifices dignity in favor of go-for-broke sap. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Oct 09, 2003
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The School of Rock (2003) |
There is obvious affection between Black and the kids, and their interplay is disarmingly sweet. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Oct 02, 2003
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Under the Tuscan Sun (2003) |
Real issues come up along the way ... but in these Wells proves a mere dabbler, speeding away weightier ideas, and the dimension they promise, in a wash of lemony vistas, easy episodes and exclusively lovable characters. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Sep 25, 2003
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Camera Obscura (2000) |
Sarkissian's script ... is both overwrought and undercooked. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Sep 25, 2003
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Gasoline (2001) |
By the time we get to the big finish, it feels as if we've merely been poked repeatedly in the ribs with a really good-looking stick. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Aug 27, 2003
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Dust (2001) |
Manchevski stumbles headlong into a tangle of mismatched tones and plot points. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Aug 20, 2003
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Enemies of Laughter (2000) |
Paymer has developed a sort of practiced gravitational pull, and his easy confidence, enhanced by eyes that can only be described as soulful, elevates his character from a flat Woody Allen wannabe to a fully realized human being. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Jul 30, 2003
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Johnny English (2003) |
A funny summer frolic. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Jul 24, 2003
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How to Deal (2003) |
[Kilner and Beber] neglect to give an idea of just how Halley does deal with a crisis before moving on to the next, be it tragic or comical. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Jul 16, 2003
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Charlotte Sometimes (2002) |
Drawing on an irresistible, languid romanticism, Byler reveals the ways in which a sultry evening or a beer-fueled afternoon in the sun can inspire even the most retiring heart to venture forth. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Jun 18, 2003
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Love the Hard Way (2001) |
The pair have little chemistry: Ayanna is a lovely girl with a sweet smile and a fine pout, but she simply can't match the soul shining from Brody's big brown windows. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Jun 12, 2003
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Hollywood Homicide (2003) |
Looking weathered yet professional, Ford carries what he can, but pretty and sullen Hartnett barely comes to life, leaving his partner stranded, and straining. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted Jun 12, 2003
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Finding Nemo (2003) |
As gorgeous a film as Disney's ever put out, with astonishing qualities of light, movement, surface and color at the service of the best professional imaginations money can buy. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted May 29, 2003
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Only the Strong Survive (2002) |
If you knew nothing about the evolution of American soul going in, you won't be any the wiser coming out. - L.A. Weekly
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| Posted May 08, 2003
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