THE BURROWERS

4 Stars
Year Released: 2008
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 124 minutes

An effective horror western with nasty creatures also serves as a post 9/11 political allegory…


Posted on March 4, 2010 by

BORN WITHOUT (NACIDO SIN)

3 Stars
Year Released: 2009
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 86 minutes

In a documentary about a musician, director Eva Norvind makes the odd choice of adding music to only twenty percent of the film. Fortunately, Jose Flores is charismatic and engaging.


Posted on August 5, 2009 by

PAPER MAN

3.5 Stars
Year Released: 2009
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 110 minutes

Jeff Daniels continues a recent streak of excellent performances – often as a volatile writer. He’s honed a niche in films using comedy or dramatic nuance, much like William H. Macy.


Posted on August 1, 2009 by

BIRDWATCHERS

4 Stars
Year Released: 2008
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 108 minutes

Honest interaction between people makes the storyline compelling.


Posted on July 30, 2009 by

AUTUMN (SONBAHAR)

3 Stars
Year Released: 2008
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 106 minutes

Until the third act drags it down, “Autumn” sustains a delicate balance of thoughtfulness and atmosphere while exploring each aspect of life that’s been stunted.


Posted on July 29, 2009 by

PONYO

4.5 Stars
Year Released: 2008
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 100 minutes

There were several moments where the vivid images of Hayao Miyazaki’s film held me in awe. As with all great cinema, this demands to be seen on the largest screen possible.


Posted on July 26, 2009 by

EMBODIMENT OF EVIL

4 Stars
Year Released: 2008
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 90 minutes

2009 LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW! Wake up, gorehounds. There is a bountiful feast here.


Posted on June 25, 2009 by

PROMETHEUS’ GARDEN (DVD)

5 Stars
Year Released: 1988
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 28 minutes

Imagine if Ray Harryhausen could have been completely uncensored. There’s more creativity packed into 28 minutes than in a dozen average Hollywood releases.


Posted on March 1, 2009 by

BRIGHTON WOK: THE LEGEND OF GANJA BOXING

3.5 Stars
Year Released: 2008
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 85 minutes

British Pot Smoking Ninjas!! If you liked Shaolin Soccer, you should like Brighton Wok too.


Posted on December 25, 2008 by

THIRST

2.5 Stars
Year Released: 2008
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 90 minutes

Jeffery Lando’s direction is neither imaginative nor dynamic. Lando’s cinematography, however, is quite handsome and polished. Based on this work, maybe he should leave the director’s chair to others…


Posted on December 15, 2008 by

THE MESS

4 Stars
Year Released: 2008
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 23 minutes

The production values are very polished. It’s a film school sheen, that as I think about it, matches the story’s themes. It’s a suburban life snapshot of why so much anxiety can be over so little…


Posted on December 14, 2008 by

ZOMBIE CHEERLEADING CAMP

1.5 Stars
Year Released: 2008
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 84 minutes

This plays like the final class project at a second rate community college. It’s barely worthy of direct-to-video…


Posted on December 13, 2008 by

COYOTE COUNTY LOSER

1.5 Stars
Year Released: 2009
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 90 minutes

This is one of those movies where you can almost predict the whole script from five minutes after the opening credits end. It’s further proof that the indie world can churn out crap just like the studios…


Posted on December 11, 2008 by

PLAYING COLUMBINE

3.5 Stars
Year Released: 2008
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 94 minutes

“Playing Columbine” is an asset to the ongoing dialogue on protected speech and questions of art in the 21st century…


Posted on December 3, 2008 by
    Newer Entries »    Jump To: (3 of 3)