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The Divergent Series: Insurgent
(2015)
|
Ethan Alter
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The lack of any memorable story elements or overall narrative drive might not be so pronounced if this post-apocalyptic future were even halfway interesting.
Posted Mar 20, 2015
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The Hunting Ground
(2015)
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Ethan Alter
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The Hunting Ground directly and, at times, bluntly argues its case, appealing directly to the audiences' sense of moral outrage.
Posted Mar 13, 2015
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The Wrecking Crew
(2008)
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Ethan Alter
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The musicians' memories, coupled with the murderers' row of killer tunes that play on the soundtrack, carry you along and recreate a period in the music industry that's long since vanished.
Posted Mar 13, 2015
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Cinderella
(2015)
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Ethan Alter
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For a movie that has no reason to exist beyond maximizing Disney's back catalogue, Kenneth Branagh's live action Cinderella is an entirely enjoyable piece of fairy tale theater.
Posted Mar 13, 2015
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The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
(2014)
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Ethan Alter
|
Up until now, Jackson's movies have fired up my imagination -- this one seems intent on shutting it down.
Posted Dec 18, 2014
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The Trip to Italy
(2014)
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Ethan Alter
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Taken on its own terms, though, it's a pleasant trifle aided immeasurably by a setting that's just as sumptuous (if not more so) than any of the rustic Italian meals the stars chow down on.
Posted Aug 15, 2014
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X-Men: Days of Future Past
(2014)
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Ethan Alter
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Even with its various stumbles and shortcomings, Days of Future Past provides consistently earnest and entertaining comic book movie spectacle
Posted May 23, 2014
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3.5/4
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Midnight in Paris
(2011)
|
Ethan Alter
|
A few rough patches aside, I found Midnight in Paris to be a delight
Posted Jul 06, 2011
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2.5/4
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Empire of Silver
(2009)
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Ethan Alter
|
Handsomely mounted and packed with interesting historical details, Empire of Silver unfortunately falls short on providing emotionally rich drama
Posted Jun 02, 2011
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3/4
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X-Men: First Class
(2011)
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Ethan Alter
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A solid, sturdy comic book movie that combines X2's showmanship with the first X-Men's strong narrative throughline.
Posted Jun 02, 2011
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4/4
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The Tree of Life
(2011)
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Ethan Alter
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It is at once both the movie I hoped it might be and also completely unlike anything I could have expected.
Posted May 28, 2011
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2.5/4
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We Are the Night
(2010)
|
Ethan Alter
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As vampire movies go, it's a damn sight better than Twilight.
Posted May 25, 2011
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3/4
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Kung Fu Panda 2
(2011)
|
Ethan Alter
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Director Jennifer Yuh Nelson keeps the action swift and the tone light, but the movie lacks both the subtle grace notes and compelling characterizations that would make it a richer viewing experience.
Posted May 25, 2011
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3/4
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Hey, Boo: Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird
(2010)
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Ethan Alter
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While entirely pleasant viewing, it's worth noting that Hey Boo isn't particularly distinguished filmmaking.
Posted May 15, 2011
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3/4
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Yves Saint Laurent 5, Avenue Marceau 75116 Paris
(2002)
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Ethan Alter
|
What captured and mostly held my interest was the film's melancholic mood and its touching portrait of a man attempting to move beyond a great personal loss.
Posted May 15, 2011
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2.5/4
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Everything Must Go
(2010)
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Ethan Alter
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After a strong first half, Everything Must Go ends up selling its leading man short.
Posted May 15, 2011
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3.5/4
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Bridesmaids
(2011)
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Ethan Alter
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Bridesmaids moves with poise and confidence, making the hard business of earning honest laughs look easy.
Posted May 15, 2011
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2/4
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Thor
(2011)
|
Ethan Alter
|
Rhymes with bore.
Posted May 06, 2011
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3/4
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Dumbstruck
(2010)
|
Ethan Alter
|
A grounded, sometimes painfully honest look at a group of people dedicating themselves to a profession that the rest of the world doesn't completely understand.
Posted Apr 22, 2011
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2.5/4
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Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen
(2010)
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Ethan Alter
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Too bad the film surrounding the fight scenes is there to be tolerated rather than fully enjoyed.
Posted Apr 22, 2011
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2.5/4
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Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold
(2011)
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Ethan Alter
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The entire movie is about as superficial as your average commercial
Posted Apr 22, 2011
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3.5/4
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The Princess of Montpensier
(2010)
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Ethan Alter
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The film draws you in with its formal rigor and measured storytelling.
Posted Apr 15, 2011
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3/4
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Blank City
(2009)
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Ethan Alter
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While Blank City's overall tone is celebratory, Danhier doesn't entirely shy away from some of the less admirable aspects of her subjects' lives.
Posted Apr 08, 2011
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1.5/4
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Cat Run
(2011)
|
Ethan Alter
|
An extended trailer masquerading as a feature film
Posted Mar 31, 2011
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3/4
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Illegal
(2010)
|
Ethan Alter
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Although made in Belgium, Olivier Masset-Depasse's drama depicts a scenario that should resonate on these shores as well.
Posted Mar 31, 2011
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3.5/4
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The Four Times
(2010)
|
Ethan Alter
|
Thanks to the director's inquisitive camera and the sheer beauty of the setting, I fell under [the film's] spell early on and remained captivated throughout.
Posted Mar 31, 2011
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3/4
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Circo
(2010)
|
Ethan Alter
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The difficulty of the [central character's] predicament lends the movie considerable dramatic weight.
Posted Mar 31, 2011
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2.5/4
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In a Better World
(2010)
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Ethan Alter
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Bier's latest film-which just took home the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film-is not the strongest example of her considerable talent.
Posted Mar 31, 2011
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3.5/4
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Source Code
(2011)
|
Ethan Alter
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A well-told sci-fi yarn.
Posted Mar 31, 2011
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2/4
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Bereavement
(2010)
|
Ethan Alter
|
Gruesome in the moment, but your memory of it is easily wiped clean.
Posted Mar 17, 2011
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3/4
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Making the Boys
(2009)
|
Ethan Alter
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A comprehensive look at the creation and afterlife of a significant work of art.
Posted Mar 10, 2011
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2.5/4
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Elektra Luxx
(2010)
|
Ethan Alter
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Too ramshackle and sloppy to leave much of a lasting impression.
Posted Mar 10, 2011
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2.5/4
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Jane Eyre
(2011)
|
Ethan Alter
|
This particular screen version never generates a lot of heat or intrigue
Posted Mar 10, 2011
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3/4
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Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
(2010)
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Ethan Alter
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Perhaps the best way to experience Uncle Boonmee or really any Weerasethakul film is to let his odd vision of the world sweep over you and not sweat the details too much.
Posted Mar 03, 2011
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3.5/4
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Rango
(2011)
|
Ethan Alter
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One of my favorites of this young year and among the most unique features I've seen from an American animation house in recent memory.
Posted Mar 03, 2011
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2.5/4
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Putty Hill
(2010)
|
Ethan Alter
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In its low-key way, Putty Hill effectively shows how tragedy can unite young people that are otherwise disconnected from their community. Watching it though, I too often felt disconnected from the movie.
Posted Feb 17, 2011
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3/4
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Orgasm Inc.
(2009)
|
Ethan Alter
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This thoughtful-if at times clumsy-film is the latest salvo in the ongoing debate over the increased power of the pharmaceutical industry.
Posted Feb 11, 2011
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2.5/4
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Home
(2009)
|
Ethan Alter
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Less interesting as a feature-length movie than it is as a filmmaking and distribution experiment
Posted Feb 06, 2011
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3/4
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Sanctum
(2011)
|
Ethan Alter
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A film of modest ambition that mostly lives up to the low bar it sets for itself.
Posted Feb 06, 2011
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2/4
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Love and Other Impossible Pursuits
(2009)
|
Ethan Alter
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The Other Woman firmly plants its feet and slaps you across the face until it wrests that precious, precious salt water from your eyes.
Posted Jan 31, 2011
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2.5/4
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No Strings Attached
(2011)
|
Ethan Alter
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As factory-assembled rom-coms go, No Strings Attached isn't as dire as last year's Killers (also starring Kutcher) or 2009's Bride Wars.
Posted Jan 31, 2011
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3.5/4
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Kaboom
(2010)
|
Ethan Alter
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A film that speeds through a dizzying array of silly plotlines in its 86 rambunctious minutes.
Posted Jan 27, 2011
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3/4
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The Way Back
(2010)
|
Ethan Alter
|
It's a visually arresting adventure, but it arrives at its final destination with little dramatic resonance.
Posted Jan 21, 2011
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2/4
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I'm Dangerous With Love
(2009)
|
Ethan Alter
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I'm Dangerous with Love isn't particularly compelling or trustworthy as a character portrait.
Posted Jan 14, 2011
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2.5/4
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Plastic Planet
(2009)
|
Ethan Alter
|
Plastic Planet isn't a particularly distinguished film, but it delivers a worthwhile message.
Posted Jan 14, 2011
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3/4
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Somewhere
(2010)
|
Ethan Alter
|
While the final scenes strike a false note, so much of Somewhere rings true.
Posted Dec 20, 2010
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3.5/4
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Black Swan
(2010)
|
Ethan Alter
|
Whatever missteps the films makes along the way are almost completely made up for by its terrific third act.
Posted Dec 01, 2010
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4/4
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Another Year
(2010)
|
Ethan Alter
|
A film that's not easy to shake.
Posted Nov 25, 2010
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3/4
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Family Affair
(2010)
|
Ethan Alter
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The [filmmaking] process obviously helped Colvard and his sisters heal in some small way and may have the same effect on certain viewers as well.
Posted Nov 25, 2010
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2.5/4
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Burlesque
(2010)
|
Ethan Alter
|
Burlesque gets by for a little while on its spirit and general eagerness to entertain....But it quickly becomes clear that Antin has miscalculated in some major ways.
Posted Nov 24, 2010
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