[ { "movie": "saw_VI", "reviews": [ "editor-turned-director kevin greutert shows confidence behind the camera -- still , one can only hope that jigsaw 's gruesome pecksniffian pedagogy gets a taste of its own blade soon .", "for the next installment , i think jigsaw should time travel into the past and mess with the ancestors of his enemies . that would be cool !", "sixth film in revenge series is just as bloody as the rest .", "the saw series long ago cannibalized its cleverest bloodbath gimmicks , but now it 's figured out a new way to torture us : by taking a barb-wire stab at political relevance .", "headache-inducing , and featuring one of the worst d-movie performances of the aughts from costas mandylor , the latest `` saw '' franchise addition is more of the same torture-punishment-rehab-porn audiences have come to expect .", "saw movies and halloween go together like ho and hum .", "when torture porn becomes as snooze-inducing as lecture hall , it 's time to call it a day .", "a clear improvement over its two most recent predecessors ...", "MOV is , pardon the pun , a cut above the rest but not , sadly , by much .", "if you have n't followed the series up until now , there 's not much point in trying to catch up .", "a welcome return to enjoyable horror fare for a series that seemed to have lost its way .", "it 's been three films since they killed off jigsaw , the putative psycho-killer of the saw series of slasher films . so at this point , they literally are beating a dead horse .", "` MOV ' proves to be the one to pull the series out of its tailspin . film no. 6 is not only good , it 's really good .", "would make a good co-feature with michael moore 's ` sicko , ' as self-righteous maniac jigsaw -- apparently a fan of the public option -- plays his bloody , lethal ` games ' with health insurance professionals who deny coverage to the needy .", "MOV 's story is now so ugly and bent out of shape , it 's impossible to follow - more fool you for trying .", "it 's strange that a few people have been saying that this entry is a step in the right direction for the franchise . the only right step this franchise could take would be to end .", "it 's funny , but the thing that the series seems to have lost track of amidst all the soap opera and moralizing is the idea that these are horror films .", "thrives on extreme , ghastly gore as its primary motivation , making all other concerns secondary ; in essence , it 's more an endurance test than it is a movie .", "do n't have a desire to see victims ripped limb-from-limb , cut in half and watch their insides spill out onto the floor ? avoid MOV at all costs .", "MOV is the sixth saw i 've seen , and maybe the sickest .", "they keep reviving dead characters to keep the poor excuse for a story going . when will it all end ? jigsaw is dead , everyone 's dead . please make it stop ! paul chambers , cnn .", "embora ainda n\u0103o tenha assumido o tom de auto-par\u00f3dia que eventualmente envolve toda franquia do g\u0119nero , a s\u00e9rie j\u00e1 come\u00e7ou h\u00e1 muito a provocar risos involunt\u00e1rios .", "for lionsgate , it remains a good time to be in the saw business .", "MOV does n't come close to reigniting the spark of the original , but at least it approaches coherence , which is more than can be said for the last several installments of the series .", "a vast improvement over the previous two installments of the series taking on the health insurance industry in the series ' first overtly political statement .", "revenge of the uninsured in this health insurance horror , and we 're not talking medical malpractice . while death panels and death penalties alike abound in this surgical slasher spree without benefit of anesthesia , and that goes for the audience too .", "after six installments , it 's not exactly cutting edge .", "who knew that the franchise 's creators would eventually find a plot twist that made sense ?", "at one point , i did roll my eyes and think that the movie might be going too far . but then i realized they had been going too far for years . that 's what makes them still edgy .", "adding a layer of social significance is n't the worst strategy for a franchise that keeps piling on the convoluted mythos , yet has n't changed its risible mix of mechanized death and tongue-clucking morality .", "parental content review", "... one of the best and most fascinating in the series .", "where saw 6 earns a few points over its predecessors is in its devotion to simple but effective gallows humor .", "new director kevin greutert does something just a little bit different , and more daring , with the level of tension and the payoffs .", "the never-ending saw horror franchise continues . sigh . fans and non-fans will get exactly what they expect , and not much more .", "would it kill these producers to take a few chances for the next adventure ? it 's easy to loathe a saw picture , but to be utterly bored by one seems an unpardonable offense .", "the tension missing from recent installments is back , thanks to an inventive narrative that manages to tie up the ever-evolving saga 's loose ends .", "a film so frighteningly familiar it could well be called saw it already .", "in what was originally slated to be the final chapter , the latest installment keeps the traps interesting but leaves the back story running thin .", "who can expect something worthy of good reviews after the sixth installment ? that said , i 'm assuming the creators of saw walked into the movie deciding , ` we 're going to make a stupid , gory movie and everyone will watch it because it 's halloween ! '", "the usual critiques apply : terrible acting , zero suspense , laughable logic and the promise of another one next year .", "michael moore would have a field day with this latest installment , where the writers tackle the health care system with jigsaw as an answer .", "a triumph -lrb- a very relative triumph -rrb- for two reasons : first , it is not so confusing as saw iv , and second , it is not so sleepy and wholly pointless as saw v.", "this script , by marcus dunstan and patrick melton , has a more lyrical bent , and a more satiric bite , than any of the other saw sequels .", "the best entry in the series since saw ii .", "intense , relentlessly horrifying , disgusting and often implausible , but surprisingly intriguing at times .", "the tawdry use of important real-life social issues in the service of what amounts to nothing more than another exercise in malignant sadism makes this picture even worse than earlier episodes .", "while the social commentary is as shallow as ever , the film 's overall quality is better than the last two installments . that is n't saying much , but it 's something .", "MOV plays like the last gasp for relevance of a heavy-metal series that has not only gone regurgitation-rusty but seems lacking much of a will to live .", "in the sixth installment the series gets political , pointing a finger at the health care system .", "these movies lack a whole lot of panache .", "... a worthy and faithful entry in a franchise which at this point seems expressly designed to document people dying in increasingly inventive ways .", "the series has done worse , but on the annual tradition fun scale saw still ranks somewhere between filing taxes and throwing out old , rotting pumpkins .", "`` saw '' movies gave up on being scary several episodes ago , but there 's no suspense or surprise either . watching its grim procession of carnage is like sticking with a favorite pro football team for the last 8 games after it 's already clear they 're doomed .", "in the end , MOV is faithful to the franchise and the twist/finale are 100 % satisfying . saw fans will walk out of the theater with their fists in the air with the feeling that they 've reclaimed their beloved franchise .", "no longer just gruesome but also morally bloodied , this franchise about games of death aimed at those who need to understand the value of life - grinds along , wringing out whatever cash is left in the original idea .", "MOV is able to stand on its own as a wild and brutal thrill ride .", "the nicest thing that you can say about it is that it is n't quite as contemptuous of its audience as the incredibly lazy and unnecessary `` saw v '' was .", "the latest installment of the movie franchise is as customer-service-oriented as ever .", "the good news : it is easily a step up from the worthless , dirge-worthy likes of saw iv and saw v . the not-so-good news , then , is that the film is still unnecessary and convoluted , the series having long since run out of steam and freshness .", "well , i guess there 's something more frightening than life-threatening , mutilating ` games ' you 're forced to play as you struggle to remain alive . and that , of course , is the state of health care in the united states .", "... this more straightforward sequel finally ties up the loose ends , without the gratuitous red-herrings or continuity distortions that have become tedious trademarks ." ], "summary": "it wo n't earn the franchise many new fans , but MOV is a surprising step up for what has become an intricately grisly annual tradition .", "id": "770797724" }, { "movie": "beyond_the_mat", "reviews": [ "this is the best documentary since hoop dreams", "the film is more interesting the more intently one looks at it .", "a center ring extravaganza of smackdown movie entertainment .", "sometimes , you find material for a good movie in the most unlikely place .", "for the first time in the history of our sport , a filmmaker has finally had the foresight to focus on the very contradictions that make professional wrestlers so damn interesting .", "a fascinating new documentary .", "a hilarious and heartbreaking documentary .", "surprisingly riveting .", "a very good film that both wrestling fans and non-wrestling fans will enjoy .", "barry blaustein takes a long , hard look at pro wrestling and , while not making me a newborn fan of the sport , he taught me the intensity and sacrifice of those who enter the ring .", "a gently and genuinely observed film whose subject is a garish , artificial display of mayhem .", "we tour the all-pro wrestling school in california and philadelphia 's fearsome extreme championships , but it 's the studies blaustein makes of several wrestlers that root the film .", "blaustein , foley and funk layeth the smack well and truly down .", "documentaries are almost always more interesting if the filmmakers fess up about their relationship to the subject , as unabashed pro-wrestling fan barry blaustein does in this naively made , compelling homage to the sport .", "wwf documentary is ok for older teens .", "am engrossing watch , but it 's far from the most fascinating and incisive look at its subject .", "soft , repetitive to a fault , and narrated by its maker in tones of wistful awe that seem totally inappropriate to its subject .", "a fascinating and often funny look at a world many of us have never imagined , let alone seen .", "MOV is crazily entertaining .", "to my own immense surprise , i find myself giving the thumbs-up to hollywood screenwriter-turned-director barry w. blaustein 's documentary about professional wrestling .", "it 's hard to explain why a movie about wrestlers is so compelling , but it 's probably the same thing that makes the wwf itself so popular .", "surprisingly candid , comprehensive and , most of all , emotional expos\u00e9 of the wrestling business .", "so tired and dated .", "i guarantee you will never watch smackdown without thinking about what is going on MOV .", "the film is sometimes riveting -- and sometimes hard to watch .", "MOV takes all the fun out of the insanity that is wrestling .", "the wrestlers are cannier than blaustein probably gives them credit for ; they seem to be offering up their backstage lives to him in ways that mimic the soppiest of melodramas , and he falls for it .", "it 's too close-up .", "blaustein suggests wrestling 's appeal -- as a kind of primal spectacle closer to parades and pageants than any accepted form of sport -- without wondering at all why he finds it compelling .", "a biased story of a billion-dollar industry that must have tons of skeletons in its closet . but it did n't even open the closet door .", "a surprisingly engrossing , behind-the-scenes look at some of wrestling 's current and former stars .", "MOV is frighteningly , grippingly real .", "it 's the most entertaining look at its world since pumping iron took on body-building .", "the real meat of the movie comes in the many intimate moments that blaustein 's camera catches .", "it has a hypnotic quality .", "fans of roberts or funk may be interested to see what these men are like when not performing , but others may find it simply boring . their stories are not especially compelling in the human-interest department ; they 're for fans only .", "it centres on the distinctive , disturbing , weird , unnerving universe that is american wrestling which primarily presents legitimised violence as entertainment .", "MOV does what the wrestling game , with its manufactured personas , does n't . it stays with the wrestlers until we start seeing them as people .", "it may be more than you ever wanted to know about the subject of professional wrestling .", "the rampant hucksterism of big-time wrestling is in a long american tradition , and MOV is a very smart first step in opening the subject up to clearer view .", "blaustein paints a complex picture of professional wrestling and shrewdly transforms the ridiculous into the sublime .", "MOV wants to blend thrills and pathos , getting at the many sides of what is , as mr. blau stein describes it , a carny act . the problem is that he does n't articulate any of his own thoughts beyond a few slight asides .", "turns out to be less interested in the cartoonish brutality of pro wrestling than it is with the lives of the people who make their living in the ring .", "the first part of the film is more than worth the price of admission .", "MOV is an eye-opening experience .", "the film manages to put a pin on pro wrestling 's harsh realities .", "MOV studies the forces that drive men to continually climb in the ring to hurt each other -- the action may be choreographed , blaustein emphasizes , but the blood is real .", "it grabs professional wrestling by the throat and rarely lets go .", "an unexpected little gem .", "blaustein 's documentary about championship wrestling is as voyeuristic , artificial and perversely compelling as the sport itself .", "hugely entertaining and genuinely informative .", "it 's a fascinating , if ultimately depressing , look at this violent , incorrigibly-low-brow sports entertainment .", "the documentary is quite easy to watch .", "unfortunately blaustein is n't an experienced enough film-maker to make much of such material .", "... an easygoing , straightforward film without too many surprises", "every bit as good as the best docos of the last five years .", "entertaining and twisted .", "blaustein and his film have at least put a human face on those monstrous countenances that snarl out from our television sets on saturday afternoons .", "MOV transcends its subject , pro wrestling , to become a wrenching , sobering , emotional glimpse at the lives of some men trapped by the aging process .", "this film 's grizzled exterior masks a sensitive , family-oriented personality .", "MOV thoroughly evaluates the non-sport from a fan 's point of view .", "this is a first-rate documentary , and one of the few which is worth going to the theater for .", "funny and touching documentary .", "friendly , soft-hitting documentary .", "two broken thumbs up .", "blaustein 's respect for his subjects and the sensitivity he applies makes this an involving and even uplifting humanisation of a grotesque form of entertainment ." ], "summary": "even if you are n't a fan , MOV provides a riveting , perceptive look into the world of professional wrestling by taking a closer look at the people beneath the personas .", "id": "17875" }, { "movie": "crouching_tiger_hidden_dragon", "reviews": [ "within five minutes of the opening you 'll wonder when was the last time you felt so alive , so excited in a cinema .", "it 's fantastic !", "the smartest and smartest-looking action movie of the year .", "it 's abundantly clear that lee , in conjunction with fight choreographer yuen wo-ping -lrb- famed for the matrix -rrb- , has brought to these standard tropes his own elevating , near-feline sensibilities .", "it 's a feeling akin to seeing peter pan fly for the first time or watching the first light-saber duel in star wars .", "ang lee 's crouching tiger , hidden dragon mixes in the mood for love 's unobtainable romance with dancer in the dark 's selfless-to-the-end philosophy .", "... my expectations were high , and i was n't disappointed .", "lo and behold . an action movie that is n't about ` seize the day ' or ` follow your heart ' opportunism .", "you 've never seen a martial arts film like this one .", "a haunting , tragic fairy tale for the ages .", "coolly elegant , slyly humorous and visually breathtaking ... if there 's such a thing as inspired silliness , this picture surely embodies it .", "crouching tiger , hidden dragon will make you fall in love with film all over again .", "defines the term ` something for everyone , ' and , what 's more , it accomplishes this rare feat in a way that will leave you breathless .", "rare is a film of such incontestable quality and effervescent potency that the viewer immediately wants to watch it again .", "crouching tiger is a fine introduction to the genre for newcomers , though specialists might find it thin in comparison to the real thing .", "whenever crouching tiger , hidden dragon resorts to flying fists or soaring sword battles , the force is definitely with it .", "packed with some of the best martial arts yet filmed .", "a sumptuous , sexy , sensational experience that richly deserves to be acclaimed as one of the top films of 2000 .", "bruce who ? once you enter this dragon , you 'll quickly realize there are some serious new masters in town .", "a magnificently-crafted hybrid of chinese historical epic , f/x-enhanced martial arts spectacular , mystical romantic tragedy and live-action anime .", "as soon as the action stops , the actors start to slowly , painfully slowly , drone on with some of the most lifeless dialog of the year .", "awesome , awesome battles , beautifully shot and an okay story .", "love , pathos , fear and humour are all brilliantly evoked -- for this is not simply a great martial arts movie , this is an ang lee film .", "once we get a taste of that action , we want buckets of it .", "with its gift for showing things that ca n't be described , crouching tiger 's blend of the magical , the mythical and the romantic fills a need in us we might not even realize we had .", "fun to watch because it does n't take itself so seriously , while maintaining high production values .", "a near-masterpiece , replete with marvelously fanciful images and a touching love story .", "the class act of action movies .", "the most exhilarating martial arts movie i have seen .", "crouching tiger , hidden dragon is a magical dream of a martial arts epic . it surpasses any you 've ever seen .", "lee has made more than an exotic yarn . he has liberated conventional moviemaking .", "once in a great while , a movie engages us so thoroughly that we slip the surly bonds of earth and experience a rare moment of transcendence . crouching tiger , hidden dragon is such a movie .", "one of the best adventure movies of the last decade , crouching tiger , hidden dragon is also gravely , eerily beautiful : poetic and moving in ways that we usually do n't associate with violent genre films .", "crouching tiger is like an animated calligraphic scroll and taoist painting . you can feel physically empowered , yet your spirit is seduced by something more subtle .", "lee 's supreme achievement , an elegant film that both physically and spiritually redefines its genre .", "may be the one kung-fu film that legitimizes the genre as bona fide cinema without selling out entirely .", "even nonfans of martial-arts movies will want to cheer the fight scenes , which are sheer visual poetry .", "simply blow away every martial arts flick ever made .", "crouching tiger , hidden dragon is what hong kong film fans have been waiting for : a martial-arts movie for adults .", "ang lee 's crouching tiger makes up for the disappointment of phantom menace .", "an astonishing movie , a melodrama of passion and loss that literally lifts you into the skies .", "the film has a stately and dignified feel that 's only enhanced by the solid performances .", "the screenplay delivers with several story lines intermingled , all evoking the full spectrum of human emotion .", "a good story , attractive and likable stars , and great action do make this one of the season 's best entertainment values .", "a feast for the eyes and ears that rarely slows down .", "even without the exhilarating action sequences , michelle yeoh 's powerful , stoic performance is a wonder to behold in itself .", "-lsb- an -rsb- incredibly rich story of courage , love , and identity along with some dynamite fight sequences .", "so good , it reminds you how the best films transport you to another world .", "ziyi is a force of nature .", "astonishing choreography and action .", "going into the film , i was prepared to be awed by the spectacular martial-arts sequences . but what caught me by surprise was how emotionally invested i became in the characters .", "a film of sublime beauty , poetic mystery and rousing spirit .", "forget all your preconceived notions of what martial-arts films used to be like . this is what all future martial-arts films should be like .", "it is poetry in motion , a dreamwork .", "one of those wonders of imagination and craft that confirm your wildest dreams about the magic of movies .", "by tapping into responses so primal they feel like magic , lee 's movie reminds you that the medium is never more powerful than when it makes myth feel fresh and new .", "the first fight scene , which brings all the principals together , will make you want to applaud . and each action sequence builds on what has come before , increasing the stakes with a dignified hilarity .", "the film never ceases to dazzle our eyes and arrest our attention .", "an epic work of accomplished skill and grace .", "you need a roadmap to find the hidden masterpiece .", "despite the high-wire acts above the roofs and trees , ang lee brings sense and sensibility to these energetic scenes .", "an action picture with a huge heart", "it 's the matrix spliced with david lean", "a ravishing fairy tale/epic , and the best movie of the year .", "this is an exciting , mystical , romantic surprise of a film that really puts the ` art ' in ` martial arts . '", "it 's pure indiana jones fun with an unexpected sense of consequence .", "it 's pulp fiction presented in a grand , knowingly humorous style distinguished by star power , a strong female slant and the latest in stunts and effects .", "it is truly one of a kind , and that is why it stands out .", "if you 're in the mood for a beautifully photographed melodrama punctuated by dazzling martial arts sequences , then get ready for some big fun .", "if you ca n't find something in this movie to set your heart aflutter , call the doctor .", "with his latest film , lee has created a lyrical fairy tale for adults , a sublime synthesis of martial arts action with dramatic sophistication .", "the film has so many different elements that there 's enough in it to appeal to almost everyone .", "there 's an ethereal dramatic effect here that transcends a primary function of imagination and storytelling .", "often imitated , never equaled , `` crouching tiger '' soars because it showcases culture as much as cutting-edge martial arts . unfinished business , unspoken passions and unwanted prejudices stand beside fists -lrb- and feet -rrb- of fury in a lyrical film .", "lee brought a distinct elegance to the wuxia genre of mythic , lyrical martial arts pictures ... a breathtaking visual and emotional experience for the viewer ... -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "the movie is good , sometimes very good , but i suspect it 's a masterpiece only for those who have n't seen all the earlier masterpieces that equal or surpass it .", "a film that works on many levels , be it action , drama , or romance , crouching tiger , hidden dragon is recommended viewing for anyone who likes their martial arts with some heart and soul .", "i 'm glad to join the ranks of fans who continue to be breath taken with this incredible epic .", "ang lee 's crowd-pleasing martial arts actioner is captivating and thrilling from beginning to end .", "amazing , magical martial arts fairy tale .", "high art meets high spirits in a rapturously romantic epic that really kicks butt .", "a truly stunning blend of classic chinese martial-arts moviemaking and modern psychodrama .", "what is pleasantly unexpected is how effortlessly ang lee 's low-key dramatics mesh with the kinetic sword battles .", "a nearly perfect film , and at this writing -lrb- december 17 -rrb- it looks to me like the best of the year .", "el tigre y el drag\u00f3n es simple y sencillamente una obra maestra y una de las razones de la existencia del bien llamado s\u00e9ptimo arte", "this one has it all : adventure , romance , spectacle , morality .", "the cast was superb .", "it 's an action movie that does n't try to blow you out of your seat ... , but rather it captures you in suspended awe for prolonged periods of time .", "successfully applies its fantastical elements to develop story , character , and a kind of poetic license that captures the beauty of its own spirit .", "both an exhilarating action movie and a sweeping romantic epic .", "within age-old contrivances emerge deeply affecting characters . poetry .", "success is destined for this movie because it has a mix of romance , fantasy , and action that will appeal to all audiences regardless of age , sex , or whether they watch many subtitled films .", "a film that takes you on a bareback horse-ride waltz through beauty .", "ang lee tries a little martial arts on for size with jaw-droppingly exhilarating results .", "the fight scenes are as enchantingly imagined as they are astonishingly executed .", "soaring and romantic , wild and serene , feminist and gutsy , crouching tiger , hidden dragon is one of the best movies of the year .", "just might be one of the best kung fu movies ever made .", "a finely wrought flight of fancy .", "splashes across the big screen like no other martial arts movie you 've ever seen .", "it is such an imaginative melange with such spectacular effects that it makes the matrix look rote by comparison .", "it 's wondrous the way this movie cooks on so many levels at once .", "chow reveals astonishing depths . but the revelation is yeoh .", "it 's rare to find a film that satisfies our craving for pop while giving us the transcendence of poetry .", "it 's a sugar high , fast , simple , polished and energetic .", "you may never see a more beautiful movie - and certainly no more majestic film has yet been made .", "you could search long and hard and not find a more magnificent dragon . it will catch you when you are n't expecting it and pounce on you like a tiger", "a captivating , thoroughly enjoyable , romantic romp .", "`` crouching tiger , hidden dragon '' is a mythical story with modern ideas . each image is beautifully crafted and memorable .", "sit down to watch crouching tiger , hidden dragon , and enter into ang lee 's enchanted cinema .", "the entire thing is a tapestry you can stare at for hours .", "despite scrupulous attention to expository detail , lee fails to dramatize the conflict within jen , or any of the characters .", "banish all thoughts of chow yun fat and michelle yeoh as shoot 'em up action heroes .", "the film is a composite of so many genres , techniques , and age-old conceits that it ca n't help but miss each and every one by a mile .", "crouching tiger , hidden dragon kicks all living ass .", "think back and try to recall the last time you saw a hero on the screen who stepped aside to serve others by making himself a zero .", "like being absorbed into the pages of every adventure story you loved as a child .", "beautiful and elegant ; marvelously shot and directed ; touching , humorous , and thrilling , crouching tiger , hidden dragon is the movie of the year .", "not since sandy duncan 's version of `` peter pan '' has such a cinematic masterpiece been caught on film .", "its breathtaking landscapes and tense physical confrontations feel like throwbacks to spaghetti -lrb- sergio leone -rrb- and bread and butter -lrb- john ford -rrb- westerns .", "our new century is n't very old yet , but the remaining 98 years will be hard pressed to find a more rapturous movie than ang lee 's sumptuous new triumph .", "quite simply , it blew me away .", "a firebrand of a movie , bold , dramatic , and haunting .", "os personagens da hist\u00f3ria acabam tornando-se mais not\u00e1veis do que suas pr\u00f3prias qualidades como lutadores .", "the mixture of poetry in motion combined with the hair raising thrill of the cliffhanger are what make crouching tiger , hidden dragon one of the best films of the year .", "the crossover hit that -lrb- quite rightly -rrb- started all those high-flying wire-fu action pictures . with the redoubtable chow yun-fat and michelle yeoh .", "a movie that casts a flickering spell from the very outset , not with colorful excess but with restraint .", "you have never seen a movie like crouching tiger , hidden dragon because there has never been a movie like it .", "calling crouching tiger , hidden dragon a religious experience may be overstating the case a bit , but ang lee 's rhapsodically romantic martial arts enthraller certainly redeems a slew of sins in this lackluster movie year .", "-lsb- if -rsb- you 've always turned up your nose at martial-arts films . you may find yourself converted .", "masterpiece .", "crouching tiger , hidden dragon is n't just one of the best movies of the year ; it 's one of the best movies , period .", "a first-rate chinese action film that can stand with the best .", "the film satisfies on both visceral and emotional levels .", "a terrific movie .", "a waking dream of truly operatic dimensions ." ], "summary": "the movie that catapulted ang lee into the ranks of upper echelon hollywood filmmakers , crouching tiger , hidden dragon features a deft mix of amazing martial arts battles , beautiful scenery , and tasteful drama .", "id": "10267" }, { "movie": "the_story_of_the_weeping_camel", "reviews": [ "gentle and amusing .", "there are few animals on this planet more photogenic than camels , with their big expressive eyes , comically lumbering gait and ungainly humps .", "it 's astonishing , really , just how resonant and universal the young camel 's struggle for its mother 's affection is , not to mention how easily viewers can ascribe human emotions to the camels ' behavior .", "mixing documentary and staged footage , -lsb- the -rsb- movie is irresistibly beguiling , in large part because of the simplicity of its story .", "part ethnographic study and part fable .", "just a little too slow moving for me .", "an unusual , captivating and crowd-pleasing semi-documentary .", "it has the cute quotient , but it does more than spur cries of ` awww . ' the film is a healthy dose of cultural enrichment .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he truly hypnotic aspect of this austerely beautiful film is the exoticness of its landscape , both geographical and cultural .", "it 's a beautiful blend of documentary footage , dramatic tension and traditional storytelling , highlighted with social commentary and plenty of camel folklore .", "a touching curiosity", "this wonderful mongolian film is a total delight from start to finish ; it speaks volumes about the ties that bind human beings and animals together .", "the title of this movie is n't a metaphor . the filmmakers have actually made a movie about a pale and needy newborn camel whose mother ignores it .", "beyond its rare visions of remote vistas , camel 's great charm lies in its seeming simplicity .", "it is a zen movie experience par excellence .", "it 's a sad , funny , sometimes brutal look at the way in which the animal world and human world occasionally intersect to their mutual benefit .", "the vivid fictional specifics , and the simple loveliness of the artless performances by nonactor mongolian nomads , attest to the filmmakers ' abundant artistry .", "a rhythmic ode to togetherness , non-cynical communication , and the power of mother 's milk .", "a film of quiet depth and lyrical beauty .", "it 's a tale of two coexisting species , camels and humans , and it 's surprisingly fascinating , funny and emotional .", "from an animal lover 's point of view .", "as unique as the title animal : unrushed as a donkey , shaggy as a llama , sturdy as a horse -- and , it turns out , with a sensitive soft spot for music . who 'd ` a thunk ?", "un relato extraordinario , revelador de la naturaleza humana -lrb- y animal -rrb- , a medio camino entre el registro documental y el realismo po\u00e9tico .", "this quirky docudrama speaks a more universal language : who does not feel for a child abandoned by his mother ?", "exudes a subtle spiritual power .", "a charmer", "as the film unspools at its slow , observational pace , the effect is almost therapeutic , like sinking into a warm bath .", "not a lot happens , but it 's different and watchable -lrb- in a ` day in the life of a nomad ... next on the discovery channel ' sort of way -rrb- .", "simple yet charming .", "beautiful and compassionate tale of nomadic peoples that ranks with the best of robert flaherty 's documentaries .", "the film works reasonably well as a travelogue , an interesting glimpse into a culture few outsiders have seen .", "the film 's success rests largely on the shoulders of this engaging clan who , unlike most reality television stars , pays no attention to the cameras .", "it 's hard to find anything negative to say about such a sweet picture without feeling like a horse 's *** .", "a beautiful little film that hovers somewhere between eye-popping documentary and warm-hearted fable .", "to read review visit www.emanuellevy.com", "like flaherty 's work , the film traverses a narrow line between dramatic staging and the observation of real life in a way that ... reveals a unique cultural identity .", "a quiet , generally absorbing tale that immerses its viewers in a community of camel herders and goat farmers that still puts great stock in ancient legends and rituals .", "maravilhosamente fotografado , este document\u00e1rio de formato at\u00edpico emociona gra\u00e7as \u0155 vida simples de seus protagonistas e ao drama de um pequeno camelo branco . surpreendente .", "it 's an awe-inspiring vacation that sends us back to our homes with a better sense of the world 's mysteries and magnificence .", "mystical documentary ; one of the year 's 10 best", "surprisingly moving stuff .", "lovers of the discovery channel should find this adorable .", "stately and slow , the human and animal protagonists win us over in this plainspoken , non-manipulative film .", "this is a delightful honestly fascinating piece of work . beleive it or not , the camel deserves an oscar .", "a fascinating docu-drama set in the gobi desert at a time when old folkways still hold sway over encroaching modernity .", "a graceful plaintiveness that positively reverberates with authenticity .", "could have made a really sweet short documentary , is , instead , a long , relatively uneventful film that tries viewers ' patience .", "the truths shown here about the shared human experience are as big as the story being told is small .", "the characters are charming , the colours of the carpets in their yurts colourful and the emphasis on family inescapable .", "... a little magical true-life fable , probably as strange to most of us as video games to dude and ugna .", "chances are , if you 're susceptible to this movie 's gentle charms , you 'll weep when the camel does .", "a simple and radiant piece of humanism .", "its slow , delicate pacing is hypnotic .", "like many animal-centric films try to be , this one is sweet and joyous and wonderful .", "this first-ever film in the mongolian language is a masterpiece , a simply told story of a two-humped bactrian camel and its calf and the family in whose keeping they thrive .", "you 'll make friends with ikchee and his extended clan from the off , wishing that you could spend just one night under the cover of their yurts .", "fascinating and beautiful film .", "the touching finale might insure that the camel wo n't be the only one doing the weeping .", "does for camels what `` bambi '' did for deer .", "an unusual film that is part ethnographic documentary and part narrative film .", "an astonishing , mesmerizing film about a vanishing way of life", "an excellent job of portraying the everyday life of the nomadic family . ... it 's a cut above anything on animal planet , and definitely worth seeing on the big screen .", "one hump or two ?", "this look at a culture very different from ours is refreshing .", "-lsb- the directors -rsb- , without anthropomorphizing their critters , evoke primal mother-and-child emotions that will make anyone shed a tear or two .", "a film of simple rigor and heartfelt emotion .", "while it is n't always easy to get used to the slower natural rhythms this film celebrates , its cumulative effect is undeniable .", "the most sincere and heartfelt camel movie in years , maybe ever .", "a peaceful , unforced film , and it inspires a feeling of relief and joy that 's hard to describe .", "... while the film has an appropriately calm pace , befitting the lives it depicts , there is also an elementally powerful narrative drive ...", "watching camel is like watching a movie about an endangered species , and i do n't mean the camels .", "it 's actually quite sweet and exotic and engrossing .", "a beautiful and delicate reminder of the myriad ways in which life is lived on this huge planet of ours .", "strange and beautiful tale .", "quietly moving .", "with its emphasis on harmony and its implied criticism of the decadence of consumerist society , this study of tradition is a rewarding experience .", "... plays out like a naturalistic fable in an austere , timeless land in which ancient traditions co-exist with modern technology .", "this movie is for everyone .", "a cinematic oasis , both refreshing and thoroughly life-affirming .", "a window on a changing world most of us will never see .", "who knew that nomads ' yurts were so cozy and colorful , or that camels could be so soulful ?", "like `` atanarjuat , '' gives an inside look at an exotic lifestyle ... davaa and falorni 's drama may be slower paced than kunuk 's murder story , but it is every bit as primal .", "byambasuren davaa and luigi falorni have created a `` narrative documentary , '' much in the spirit of the groundbreaking works of robert j. flaherty -lrb- `` nanook of the north '' 1922 -rrb-", "a modest pleasure - a quiet little oasis in the blockbuster desert .", "whether this is filmmaking or recording is always up for debate ; that it 's fascinating is n't .", "strangely moving film .", "like himalaya , weeping camel essentially lets native people tell their own unforgettable story .", "anyone who feels like they 're drowning in their own polluted , godless , reality-tv-choked , errand-ridden consumerist life will find a momentary escape from modernity in MOV .", "speaks of perfect simplicity and small pleasures .", "an entrancing story of how the neglected reconnect with the mother culture .", "i have n't been this moved by the ineffable wisdom conveyed in the eyes of beasts since robert bresson 's transcendent au hasard balthazar -lrb- 1966 -rrb- .", "movies were n't made for cats and dogs -- they were made to show camels . seriously , try sitting through a nanosecond of the new garfield after these monumentally hairy guys have drifted into your life .", "uneasily positioned between fictional drama and cultural documentary .", "transcends genre to become a deeply affecting allegory about the importance of patience and acceptance .", "a joyous movie .", "a simple tale of animal estrangement and reconciliation that in its own quiet way manages to be soothing , hypnotic , even magical .", "MOV is rigged toward a sentimental conclusion and overpopulated with cutesy touches , but there are many remarkable sights along the way ." ], "summary": "delightful and strangely moving .", "id": "10174" }, { "movie": "clueless", "reviews": [ "writer-director amy heckerling 's new film is totally adorable and often quite funny .", "as appealing as alicia silverstone is -lrb- and she possesses that ethereal ` star quality ' which is sadly lacking in many of today 's up-and-coming performers -rrb- , her presence ca n't quite elevate this breezy comedy to the level of a modern classic .", "MOV has a witty script with one great line after another and has an exquisitely charming performance by silverstone . what more can you ask for in a comedy ?", "an unquestionably dismal look at the wealthy teen 's life in the mid - '90s .", "what should have been a clever movie disguised as a shallow one , it is in essence a shallow movie disguised as a clever one .", "rarely do you find a film so aptly titled as this one .", "the movie is aimed at teenagers , but like all good comedies , it will appeal to anyone who has a sense of humor and an ear for the ironic .", "a candy-colored comedy and an able chaser for any heavy cinematic experiences that have dogged you lately .", "while cher and the other characters here may seem vacuous and spoiled , heckerling -- who wrote the script as well -- is a gentle satirist .", "parents are traditionally invisible and/or lame in teen flicks , but dan hedaya , as silverstone 's sharklike litigator dad , does a drop-dead robert shapiro , biting off some of the best lines in the movie .", "sly , witty comedy .", "quickly becoming a teen-angst classic .", "a very funny movie that elevates its genre .", "the fact that you instantly like these spoiled little rich kids is a testament to amy heckerling 's skills as a screenwriter .", "the movie 's simple yet spot-on characters and performances make the laughs timeless , no matter how firmly the film is set in 1995 .", "smug and self-loathing .", "... although the movie is n't quite the classic it 's been made out to be , it 's a mindlessly diverting way to kill 97 minutes .", "silverstone makes cher 's insularity appealingly innocent -lrb- even in the midst of crisis , she ca n't resist checking out the latest fashion lines -rrb- , and an attempted seduction scene is sweetly hopeless .", "totally girly-girly !", "if not classic and generation-defining , then pretty dang close .", "by the time you skip out of the theater , you 've had a great time but ca n't remember a single reason why .", "silverstone is a winner . and so is the movie , which also functions as a lunatic update of emma , the 1816 jane austen novel .", "while miss silverstone guides cher through the witty costume changes that serve as character development , she 's backed up by a solid supporting cast .", "the film is funny , even though it is difficult to relate to kids who live in a world that is so far apart from the norm . the movie does finally connect , i think , because of the love story that underlies the rest of the plot .", "who does n't like MOV ? it is n't a masterpiece , but it still feels indispensable .", "a gem .", "fresh , witty , funny and even touching , this is a movie you ca n't help but love .", "snappy and clever film about a privileged beverly hills teenager .", "-lsb- it -rsb- is n't particularly memorable film , but it is still able to entertain those who happen to watch it .", "this movie is so five minutes ago , but still fun !", "alicia silverstone displays a heretofore undiscovered comic flair , and adds substance to her well-meaning but light-headed protaganist .", "silverstone guilelessly glides through her role like a pam-sprayed charge card .", "MOV is a comedy , of course , though adults in the audience -lrb- who will be there only if they have wandered into the wrong auditorium -rrb- may cringe from time to time . but there are some amusing gags , and the charming cast is more than capable .", "a gag-inducing four loko misfire .", "` MOV ' is a sweet , comical , satiric , knowing film , and it 's anything but MOV .", "offers some of the best humor , entertainment , and social insight the teen comedy genre has to offer", "its goal is humble : to walk the line between bubblegum pop that indulges trends , and a halfhearted critique of shallowness . i do n't think this is what feminists mean by `` having it all '' ...", "a fresh , disarmingly bright and at times explosively funny comedy well worth a trip to the mall , even if it eventually runs out of gas .", "the summer 's most compelling movie about teenagers .", "there 's such a gaping discontinuity between her physical beauty and her vacant , gum-snapping personality that she 's like a walking advertisement for everything that 's right and wrong with america .", "the most surprising thing about MOV , given how enthusiastically it indicts its characters and their universe , is how much fun it is .", "MOV is a happy bubble , and alicia silverstone comes into her own as a confident young comedienne .", "though this drifts at times as storytelling , it 's mainly lightweight but personable fun ." ], "summary": "a funny and clever reshaping of emma , MOV offers a soft satire that pokes as much fun at teen films as it does at the beverly hills glitterati .", "id": "11124" }, { "movie": "1029830-witches", "reviews": [ "a minor but very enjoyable nicolas roeg fairy tale .", "some kids will love it , some may find disturbing .", "deliciously cruel to children , roeg remains true to dahl 's underlying sense of real horror .", "a wildly entertaining fairy tale .", "a skewed , dark adaptation of roald dahl 's story featuring one of anjelica huston 's most energetic performances .", "as in his best films , here mr. roeg is a master of capturing the slightly off kilter sense of an apparently normal world . his camera is unobtrusive , and then suddenly it tilts a bit to jolt .", "the wizardry of jim henson 's creature shop and a superbly over-the-top performance by angelica huston gives the MOV a good deal of charm and enjoyment .", "strange and scary enough to fascinate parents and offspring alike .", "a truly magical film from nicolas roeg that finally gets undermined by muppetry .", "quite the entertainer . it 's a little scary , but not too frightening for children .", "the MOV has an engrossing story populated with many amusing characters .", "there are moments of genuine charm and solid invention , but it ` s a film that does n't believe enough in itself .", "it 's not a film for small children . but for precocious first-graders with a warped sense of humor and an appetite for chills , thrills and spills , nothing could be better .", "filled with grotesque MOV and mouse stunts , this is a wild fantasy for both children and adults . harry potter was never like this .", "real darkness seethes beneath the `` once upon a time '' surface , mostly due to henson 's seemingly curious selection of the brilliant and audacious roeg to direct .", "based on a roald dahl book , nicholas roeg 's the MOV is a film surprisingly faithful to the creepiness of the original .", "roald dahl 's book about a little boy on a seaside holiday who discovers a MOV ' convention plotting to annihilate children is brilliantly brought to life in this fantasy adventure by director nicolas roeg .", "what a lot of fun is the MOV . a few days before labor day , it is safe to say that it ` s the most enjoyable movie of the summer .", "the scenes of magic and mayhem are peppered with sly surprises , and anjelica huston plays the wildest wicked witch since dorothy got back from oz .", "the MOV is a slow-to-get-going but ultimately entertaining yarn about a nasty coven conspiring to turn britain 's entire populace of single-digiters into mice .", "do n't miss anjelica huston 's deliciously vile transformation from beauty to beast . and do n't miss this film .", "the best thing about nicolas roeg 's film of dahl 's book the MOV is its dark vision .", "in this extended good time of a fairy tale , there 's something for everyone .", "a wickedly funny final bow for muppeteer jim henson .", "-lsb- huston -rsb- dominates the film whenever she 's onscreen , pulling out all the stops without ever going over the top . that 's no small task , considering her character .", "it is a nice fantasy and deserves some credit for not aiming specifically at a youth or teenage market . it is just a decent fantasy film that is there for whatever audience it finds ." ], "summary": "with a deliciously wicked performance from angelica huston and imaginative puppetry by jim henson 's creature shop , nicolas roeg 's dark and witty movie captures the spirit of roald dahl 's writing like few other adaptations .", "id": "10115" }, { "movie": "obvious_child", "reviews": [ "the film tiptoes around the issue as much as something like `` knocked up '' did - it just tiptoes around the other side .", "slate is adept with biting remarks and self-deprecation , and she balances donna somewhere between flightiness and innocence .", "MOV is so much more than just the abortion movie . it 's a strong character study of a modern woman in new york city .", "before long she has something to remember their night together though , and has to face the most terrible decision that can occur to a grown-up during an unplanned pregnancy : telling her mom .", "that she makes the audience empathize more than judge is testament to slate 's skill . obvious frontrunner for indie comedy of the year .", "a small , offbeat dramatic comedy that deftly -- and humorously -- explores touchy territory .", "a prime example of what `` indie '' means , mid-2014 .", "robespierre has realized a thought experiment on film : how would knocked up play from the perspective of seth rogen 's female equivalent ?", "as a character , donna stern proves to be a mirror reflection of the movie surrounding her : intelligent , spirited , honest and more than a little awkward .", "although its overt pro-choice stance is germane to the story , as opposed to political grandstanding , the film does little to earn the sympathy it craves .", "the humor is balanced with small dramatic beats that lend authentic emotion to the proceedings .", "even at a scant 83 minutes running time , the film has some big voids filled with wasted scenes ... a better use of the time would have helped give the movie a little more depth .", "... does n't run away from the subject of abortion like most movies -lrb- and some movie reviews -rrb- do . if you go into it looking for a hammer with which to batter writer-director gillian robespierre , well , she has left plenty lying around .", "MOV significantly lifts the romantic comedy genre from the predictable rut it has fallen into .", "a wonderfully offbeat film about , yes , an abortion .", "there are many reasons to love this film , not least because it 's gutsy and genuinely funny , but perhaps MOV 's most admirable quality is that its feminism is very real .", "fizzing with neurosis and nervous gags , jenny slate 's winning odd-couple romance with a gawky jake lacy carries the movie over the odd comic misfire .", "sharp , funny and feeling , this is n't just juno-meets-girls but a smart film that tackles real-life issues with rare frankness .", "you root for donna , because she 's got a redemptive measure of self-awareness , and because robespierre and slate offer such a warm and authentic portrait of a screw-up .", "actor and stand-up jenny slate shines in this romantic comedy which faces up to the realities of abortion .", "for many women who see it - and quite a few men too - it will instantly become a landmark moment in cultural history .", "it 's a small , modest film that does n't act like it 's groundbreaking . but it is .", "it seems less like a film about characters using humor to mask misery than a film not ready to deal with the misery it 's brought up .", "smart , irreverent , edgy romcom about complex choices .", "the beauty of MOV is that there 's nothing obvious about it .", "` MOV ' is a small-scale but winning comedy from writer-director gillian robespierre and leading lady jenny slate .", "jenny slate demonstrates the gift that sets apart the great actors from the good ones : the ability to move you to tears without saying a word .", "a fantastically frank and very funny comedy about the messy parts of life .", "watching all of these people listen , talk , behave , react , think , work stuff out ... that 's the genius of `` MOV , '' that 's the strength and beauty of its unique wavelength .", "quirky , funny and gutsy .", "`` MOV '' enters territory rarely trod by romantic comedies - it 's clear donna 's in no way ready to have a child - and does so with warmth and wit .", "a foul-mouthed comedy with an immature heroine has treated a thorny issue with remarkable candor .", "director gillian robespierre arranges this as slice-of-single-life comedy , and it works well ...", "slate is too pretty a face and robespierre is too limited a writer for MOV to rise above conventional romantic plotting or to make its low comedy meaningfully transgressive .", "MOV takes the same shape as its elfin lead actress ; it 's just a slip of a thing , and it slips easily into different guises , from coarsely funny to gloaming-gloomy .", "the movie takes a refreshingly honest look at the nuances and realities of unplanned pregnancy in a way few recent movies have .", "robespierre has conceived something you do n't see every day : a feminist rom-com that unapologetically allows its flawed protagonist to let it all hang out ... but -lsb- it 's -rsb- one of those pictures that 's just good enough that you dearly wish it were better .", "robespierre and company deserve high praise for tackling a story with such a difficult subject at its heart , with a combination of grace , humour and courage .", "-lsb- slate -rsb- shows surprising range as an actress . she 's captivating whether she 's telling cringe-worthy jokes on stage or weepily climbing into bed with her mother .", "a cross between a woody allen farce and a one-woman show by sarah silverman .", "the only agenda that MOV has is to be true and funny , and it succeeds impressively at both .", "a fresh-faced , faux-messy romantic comedy with a refreshingly economic take on the usual meet-cute / separation crisis / resolution arc .", "MOV might hail from the same grungy sorority as frances ha or lena dunham 's girls , but it has a bounce and vitality that is inimitably its own .", "it 's both funny and serious without trying too hard to be either , and by trying above all to be honest .", "a celebration of oversharing , abortion-related or not .", "life is awkward , emotions are unfiltered , it all unfolds with a raw , r-rated edge .", "the heart of the film lies in what it manages to say , without boldface or italics , about how hard it is for donna , like so many of her anxious cohort , to make genuine connections , to break free of narcissistic constraints and become a stand-up grown-up .", "a dark romantic comedy that has plenty of the first , a little of the second and none of third .", "MOV is a romcom with a sting in its tail . and slate is a dynamo , nailing every laugh while showing a true actor 's gift for nuance .", "a well-realized , straight-ahead rom-com , one with the potential to reinvigorate a genre that 's been flagging for decades .", "jenny slate 's engaging performance keeps us along for the ride .", "it zigs when you expect it to zag .", "had robespierre been consistently tough-minded , MOV might have been just as funny but could also have risen to the level of a really good movie rather than a pretty good one .", "as conventional as its bigger california cousins in so many ways that except for its raggedy look it 's virtually indistinguishable from them .", "edgy , female-centric romantic dramedy . for a sophisticated audience , it 's refreshingly revealing .", "MOV is such an anomaly , such a shaggy and brave black sheep , that it 's hard not to embrace -- especially when it 's got puffy red eyes and mucous all over its face chanting `` love sucks . ''", "`` MOV '' covers some tricky and touchy territory , but it does it with such wit and warmth that only the most diehard pro-life fanatic could take offense .", "sorry , partisans , but there 's nothing obvious about `` MOV . ''", "it is unlikely to change any hearts or minds in our perpetually and permanently polarized times , but the film has the courage of its convictions , which likely limits appeal to a like-minded audience .", "the MOV feels fresh for a number of reasons , not least its straight-on tackling of the abortion issue .", "slate 's jaw-dropping turn as the affable protagonist surely marks the arrival of a fierce new acting talent .", "it 's a small film but should provide a big launch for jenny slate . now i want to see her in a comedy with kathryn hahn .", "there 's something old-hollywood about slate 's dizzy-dame charm , and at the same time , something very modern about her unapologetic ownership of her own sexuality .", "it 's hard to warm up to a movie when you hate its central character and it 's also frustrating when a comedy about stand-up goes out of its way to be so unfunny .", "if you see disregard or irresponsibility when you watch MOV , you 're not looking hard enough .", "touching on a red-hot issue , `` MOV '' is agreeably gentle , and even wise .", "laughter may be the best medicine , but in `` MOV , '' it 's also a helluva cure for dealing with a serious topic .", "maturity -- what a concept ! that 's the humorous , self-lacerating notion at the core of gillian robespierre 's MOV .", "... MOV flits from belly laugh to belly laugh on the strength of its delightfully shocking dialogue and a freewheeling lead performance by jenny slate .", "slate fits the role so well that her persona already seems fully formed , like athena bursting from the skull of louis c.k.", "if nothing else , MOV proves that rom-com conventions require no apologies , at least when they 're invested with honesty and sharp humor . also , a few fart jokes never hurt .", "writer-director gillian robespierre and star jenny slate team up to create a fine portrait of a twenty-something comedian dealing with life as a struggling performer in new york city .", "this generous , hilarious character study suggests jenny slate has more still to offer .", "there 's a raunchy , female woody allen-from-the-1970s vibe to MOV that rings an overfamiliar bell . we 've seen much of this before , but it goes down easily enough this time .", "slate , who had a brief and unremarkable tenure on saturday night live , proves a winning companion ; it 's a hang-out movie , and she 's fun to hang out with .", "slate erases the boundary between a good comedic performance and a good dramatic one : her wit is most palpable when expressed verbally , but the most essential stuff , the growing wisdom , is conveyed without words .", "hats off to any film that tries -lrb- and succeeds -rrb- at presenting challenging , off-putting characters from whose palms i 'm reluctantly persuaded to eat .", "as we laugh and wince at her heroine 's behavior , robespierre gets the tone exactly right in MOV .", "credit writer-director gillian robespierre and her star , jenny slate , for doing something fresh and witty within the problematic romcom formula .", "somehow it all still works . MOV is like one of those kid 's paintings where the riot of irreconcilable elements is unified by the charm and madness of a skilled naivety .", "beneath the clinical , sarcastic wit , there is a depth to her treatment of the story that builds gradually into a poignant , mature understanding of her central characters and the world they inhabit .", "simply a bad rom-com .", "gillian robespierre 's debut feature is a provocative , amusing comedy -- provided you cotton to the main character .", "anyone curious about the state of women in film or just women in general must see gillian robespierre 's MOV .", "despite its controversial topic , it manages to be desperately romantic-maybe the biggest shock of all .", "by placing the abortion in the context of a much broader series of events , robespierre normalizes it .", "raunchy humor laced with gradually revealed vulnerability makes for a winning combination in MOV , a wildly funny and appealing female-centric comedy that launches very promising talent on both sides of the camera .", "obvious is the word .", "hats off to robespierre and slate . they 've managed to deliver a film with actual edge , which somehow retains the characteristics that any successful romantic comedy should have .", "an oddball comedy about a screwed-up 28-year old stand-up comic who tries to get her life back on track after learning that she is pregnant .", "whatever your foreknowledge of low-budget brooklyn dramedies , it 's impossible that gillian robespierre 's film wo n't lob you at least a few curveballs .", "it 's astonishingly , wonderfully refreshing .", "the movie is smart and it is very funny .", "-lsb- slate is -rsb- fittingly cast here , playing donna detached and irreverent in one scene , confessional and needy in the next .", "an independent film with characters you 'll care about as well as a rare silver screen attempt to at least begin to try to understand the nature of abortion .", "how wonderful that a film that is so unapologetically frank should simultaneously feel so warm and delightful .", "it 's bold , but it 's not a film that 's just trying to be bold ; it 's just trying to be real -- and it is .", "robespierre does a nice job of balancing the seriousness of this situation with the no-boundaries irreverence of donna 's comedy background .", "robespierre is reaching out to other women about the value of sharing our experiences in this weighty and hilarious comedy .", "MOV is bound to connect with lots of young women .", "robespierre 's direction of the many fine actors she assembled is assured , her sense of pacing nicely loose-limbed .", "it is an awkward , cynical film that clearly knows little about the romantic comedies its main character says she despises .", "whatever talent or care robespierre has goes into guiding the actors toward real gentleness , including slate , who spends the movie with big , untamed hair . her affect is brazenly ungroomed .", "MOV is well-made and wickedly bold , but i still found myself wishing for a little more subtle maturity on the part of its characters and creators .", "either the perfect vehicle for jenny slate , or evidence that jenny slate can turn anything into a profound , hilarious performance . i 'm willing to believe the latter .", "this film deserves to be seen as a major breakthrough for jenny slate who commands the kind of humor and honesty that stars possess .", "jenny slate shines in a romantic comedy that dares to consider the subject of abortion suitable for date-night crowds .", "a movie that feels risky and forgiving and , despite its traditional rom-com contours , refreshingly new .", "what it lacks is dramatic interest . there 's no zing in it .", "the heroine ca n't seem to come up with any material that does n't involve bodily functions ; she never goes near the subject of motherhood , which proves that the filmmakers are scared to death of their own story .", "moment to moment , you believe what 's happening in robespierre 's film , which is funny and rueful in roughly equal measure without being despairing in the slightest .", "it 's a well-written rom-com with rascally charm , a modest story of an awkward brooklyn girl making a go of life .", "the movie does n't present itself as some kind of secular equivalent of a moral lesson . it 's not callous or weepy or preachy - or self-consciously not those things . it 's a naturally told story .", "the humor gets dark but the future looks bright for robespierre and slate .", "i want to hug this movie .", "MOV is a genuine attempt to drag the moribund rom-com genre into more relatable and mature territory , and while it sometimes falls short of its aims , it 's an admirable step in the right direction .", "robespierre and slate deserve credit for nudging the abortion narrative away from scaremongering horror , and back towards , if not an entirely happy ending , then at least something a girl might get a joke or two out of .", "beautifully redresses how the realities of women 's lives are too often ignored on film ... and does so with startling raw power and humor .", "just reading about this film will make some people feel sick . i adored it .", "in MOV , stand-up comedian jenny slate plays stand-up comedian donna stern , a brooklyn hipster who puts absolutely no filters between her most intimate , embarrassing thoughts and her shtick on stage .", "MOV 's radicalism lies in its lack of radicalism : there is no grandstanding in the manner of if these walls could talk , no naughty trolling \u0155 la sarah silverman .", "robespierre 's admirably forthright romcom remains good-natured as it flies the flag for a woman 's right to choose ...", "writer-director robespierre 's low-budget comedy-drama is both caustic and heartfelt .", "i left ` MOV ' thinking not of donna , the story 's heroine , but of jenny slate , an intriguing screen presence who deserves better material .", "an inventive take on the rom-com genre , this genuinely hilarious film is even more engaging because its characters and premise are unexpectedly honest .", "`` MOV '' is being promoted as a groundbreaking topical comedy about abortion . but it 's less than that . and more . and , basically , not .", "it 's that sense of normalcy that makes the film such a subversive success in terms of addressing a political debate that ... it otherwise goes out of its way to avoid having .", "insightful , hilarious , and filthy as all get-out , MOV promises big things ahead for director gillian robespierre and star jenny slate .", "one of the first american films to take an unabashedly pro-choice , relatively drama-free look at one woman 's decision , it 's also an endearing and even poignant comedy .", "MOV plays as though gillian robespierre and jenny slate watched the `` knocked up '' debate from the sidelines , turned to one another , and blurted out , in unison , `` challenge accepted ! ''", "virtue and vulgarity fight to a draw via a film that should put the vivacious jenny slate and director gillian robespierre on everyone 's indie radar .", "a briskly feminine , staunchly independent , deliciously coarse effort , MOV plays like a lost track from exile in guyville .", "like woody allen 's early , new york city set comedies , only raunchier , more potty-mouthed and more like tv . slate is terrific .", "jenny slate ? here comes a great comedy star in a smart , conversational , bluntly funny , certainly subversive romcom .", "even if the easy shorthand of `` abortion comedy '' is understandable in a way , the labeling of MOV as such diminishes what this movie is really about", "despite a few too-cute moments , the movie is both smarter and more sympathetic than that glib shorthand .", "as a rom-com , it 's so safe and unchallenging that it wo n't stick in your brain long enough for the message to matter .", "a smart , candid , foul-mouthed and thoroughly charming subversion of sugary romantic fantasies and stereotypical representations of women on screen .", "a modern , human comedy that tackles a controversial subject with ease .", "beneath the film 's frequently sardonic front -lsb- ... -rsb- is a sobering maturity , one contextualized with quotidian poetry .", "a comedy alternately caustic and sweet .", "MOV succeeds as a concise comedy unafraid of quarter-life malaise , an affecting debut from an emerging talent , and a star vehicle for jenny slate .", "the sisterhood is here and seeing it at work , getting on with the business of living , is actually very moving .", "slate is truly something to behold .", "robespierre is at her most assured in her handling of donna 's stand-up act : this is a rare example of a film about a creative type in which the process of transforming life into art is shown plausibly and in some detail ." ], "summary": "tackling a sensitive subject with maturity , honesty , and wit , MOV serves as a deeply promising debut for writer-director gillian robespierre .", "id": "771371895" }, { "movie": "all_about_steve", "reviews": [ "MOV struggles mightily to find its loony essence . but bullock 's apple-cheeked larkishness is all flailing limbs and bug-eyed reaction shots -- there 's no there there .", "normally the core message of being true to yourself is a virtuous one , but when ` yourself ' is quite literally the most annoying person in the world , the opposite is true .", "one is tempted to feel bad for the usually likable bullock -- who looks fantastic here , we must note -- but she 's one of the film 's producers , so she ca n't be too ashamed of herself . i am embarrassed for her , however .", "it 's a celebration of brazen nonconformity centered on an insufferable flibbertigibbet who makes the worst case for nonconformity imaginable .", "i 'm not sure who kim barker is , or what her credentials are . but she has written two of my least favorite screenplays within the last two years .", "one might be tempted to call it perfectly dreadful if it did n't seem inappropriate to utter the word ` perfect ' anywhere within miles of it .", "... really all about sandra bullock .", "sandra bullock plays a stalker in unappealing romcom .", "it 's dreadful .", "sandra bullock give it that old college try but the movie still flops", "it fails at everything it attempts to do . there 's simply no point for it to exist .", "a talented director might have made bullock seem like a comic genius , but phil traill has no control over tone , leaving the audience unsure whether to laugh or cry .", "it gets into mcconaughey territory , worse than the ugly truth .", "movies do n't get much worse .", "an interminable series of gags based around the shrillest , most obvious characters imaginable .", "not without its good bits . even if you have to watch some supposedly nice guys be mean to get to them .", "this kind of premise is touchy , cause it 's that kind of humor that comes from awkwardness . it 's kind of sad and a little dark . it needs to be handled just the right way , and quite frankly director phil traill falls flat on his face .", "irritating and inexcusable , it 's a total waste of time and talent .", "although i laughed at a couple of slapstick gags , the rest of this comedy did n't seem very funny to me .", "a painfully bland , vapid , irritating and consistently preposterous comedy that 's low on laughs and satirical bite .", "mistaking cute and quirky for teeth-grindingly obnoxious , MOV is one of the most irritating moviegoing experiences of the year . shame on you , sandra bullock , you know better than this .", "stick with the premise . the idea behind MOV has some potential , but then it slides off into hokey-ville .", "MOV is painful , unfunny and easily one of the worst films of 2009 .", "it 's not MOV . and even if it was MOV , it still is n't a good story . why ? steve is n't interesting . neither is mary horowitz , the woman stalking steve .", "the film is n't merely unfunny and stupefyingly inane but a depressing waste of money , energy and time , yours included .", "a salute to stalkers not recommended for cops , celebrities or anyone else .", "the results are n't quite anchorman , but they 're worth a chuckle .", "an actress should never , ever , be asked to run beside a van in red disco boots for more than about half a block , and then only if her child is being kidnapped .", "MOV , an unfunny , annoying , badly written , badly acted comic fiasco , may be the worst movie in bullock 's career .", "it 's a sort of anti-romance romantic comedy , and though uneven , it 's a lot smarter than most films in the genre .", "maybe a sitcom laugh track would have helped . at least it would provide a hint of where we 're supposed to chuckle .", "a screwball comedy missing more than a few crucial screws .", "oops , sorry , we 're not supposed to think of mary as mentally ill , psychologically unbalanced , or any of those painful things , just full of gumption and sunny determination .", "here 's a scorching idea for the producers of the `` saw '' franchise : a `` sandra bullock slapstick comedy '' death trap .", "when mary tearfully confesses that she wears her red boots because they make her toes `` feel like ten friends on a camping trip , '' the viewer does n't know whether to explode in laughter or die from the osmosis of sandra bullock 's own humiliation .", "putting a marshmallow on top of a pile of cooked spinach , is still not a dessert . MOV is no comedy , and just might be the worst film of 2009 .", "but the main message ... is that movie studios think a lot of people will pay good money to see sandra bullock humiliate herself yet again in front of the camera .", "there 's something pathetic about mary", "MOV is offensive , absurd and pointless .", "with its commercial imperatives and subversive ambitions working at cross purposes , this puzzling movie does n't have a clue what it 's all about .", "this surreal creation is built around one of the most maddening and borderline unbearable characters ever conceived .", "let 's say you 're the kind of person who has a morbid curiosity for films that defy logic , the ones that blow your mind with their badness . then i can wholeheartedly recommend you see this one .", "just when it seems MOV could n't grow any more insufferable , it turns strangely sentimental .", "fasten your seat belts , it 's going to be a bumpy review .", "it 's so bad , you might feel a little sorry for bullock -- but do n't take pity on her . watching MOV will only make you feel worse .", "kooky ? hardly . cringing ? most assuredly .", "MOV is a messy assemblage of clumsy sight gags , winking reaction shots and disingenuous populist genuflection to the idea that there 's no such thing as normal . we all see a little bit of mary in ourselves , do n't we ? do n't we ?", "on paper , a crazy romcom starring sandra bullock and bradley cooper could only be a good thing . wrong .", "bullock , as both co-producer and star , makes sure MOV sparkles with easy laughs .", "a head-scratcher of a comedy starring the increasingly enigmatic sandra bullock .", "mary 's supposed to be a plucky free spirit , but mostly she 's a chatty bore who 's emotionally clueless .", "somewhere , like the pea in the bed of the princess , is an idea that could be interesting . unfortunately , it 's smothered in 20 mattresses of awful and 20 more of dumb .", "why would such talented actors as bullock , cooper , thomas haden church and ken jeong sign on for something so dreadful ?", "just the latest entry on a long list of movies that are n't even close to the great screwball comedy bullock is capable of making . may it be the last .", "we could care less about the characters in this dreadfully bad comedy .", "while bullock is often cast as the kook you want to hug , here she is a nut you want to run away from .", "if you ever wanted to know what kind of movie plays deaf children falling into a sinkhole for laughs , look no further .", "since bullock coproduced this masochistic venture , it seems she buys into the idea that fluffer-nut ditziness is what she does best . except it is n't .", "a head-banging excuse for a comedy .", "... features the singular most awful line of dialogue in a movie this year ...", "if bullock in her comfort zone is a thing of real , if modest pleasure , watching as she contorts herself into a role that 's all wrong for her is singularly excruciating .", "MOV is constructed as a romantic comedy , but mary 's tireless , stalker-like behavior suggests that this ought to be a horror film .", "a disappointingly disposable romantic comedy ...", "the film 's complete failure to engage on any level , much less comedic , lies entirely at the feet of bullock .", "MOV is survivable . you 'll never see such passion for a crossword anywhere else .", "one of the ropiest would-be screwball comedies conceived recently .", "mary is a memorable comic creation for all the wrong reasons : glibly written , offensively characterised and bizarrely dressed , she 's the classic screwball ditz taken to grotesque and at times unwatchable extremes .", "this deeply unfunny comedy misfires at every turn .", "it 's baffling that some of our favourite actors would sign up for this slightly creepy , desperately unfunny twaddle . do n't encourage them by watching it .", "whatever disturbed and previously untapped audience this is meant to find , it 's certainly novel .", "a film that looks as if it 's been through 1,001 test screenings , script drafts and reshoots , each unfunnier and more muddled than the last .", "the movie is trying to show the power of words and that there is no such thing as a `` normal '' person . it should garner a boatload of nominations for razzie awards that are given to the worst movies of the year .", "my biggest surprise is scanning the credits and not seeing the name wayans or prinze jr. anywhere .", "bullock sells her part of the film , and church throws in some good , hearty laughs , but ultimately , this is just an `` eh . ''", "this is easily the single worst film that sandra bullock has been involved with and bear in mind , i have seen `` speed 2 . ''", "with a protagonist that nobody could like , admire , or sympathize with , this is one of the worst movies i 've ever had to sit through .", "which of these characters is even recognizable enough in the sphere of human existence that we might be able to think , yes , i get him/her -lsb- ? -rsb-", "there 's not much to MOV but it 's a part bullock does well : the tomboy , the goofball , the cute but weird ugly duckling ...", "a total misfire from the first scene to the last .", "misfiring on every conceivable front , it 's that rarest of comedies -- one whose stabs at humor fall painfully flat , while eliciting unintentional giggles every time the film seeks to be serious or deliver a message ...", "not just dumb , it 's dopey , moronic , doltish , obtuse and thick .", "frantic , inane , moronic and obnoxious , MOV ranks among the very worst movies of the year . the decade , even .", "he 's the thing that lets mary -- and the movie -- off the crazy hook . it quickly devolves into one of those ` what 's normal anyway ? ' stories , and bullock 's dedication to the role is ultimately undermined .", "easily one of the worst movies of the year -lrb- if not the decade -rrb- , there is not one redeeming quality to MOV , an offensive film morally , socially , and to the institution of comedy .", "despite her downward-tilted head and her nattering ways , mary really does want to connect . watching her realize this is n't deep but it is sweet .", "this is easily one of the worst films i 've ever had to review .", "clueless .", "there 's nothing wrong with MOV that a rewrite could n't fix , as long as the rewrite involved a different writer , a different character and a different story .", "i was praying for the ghost of paul newman to save me .", "bullock , easing into her mid-40s with box-office mojo intact , remains the star attraction as the annoyingly endearing mary . you simply ca n't imagine another actor of her stature pulling it off .", "it seems incredible , but the grimly unfunny comedy MOV might just be the worst movie on sandra bullock 's r\u00e9sum\u00e9 .", "when you learn that sandra bullock produced as well as stars in MOV , you ca n't help wondering , `` what was she thinking ? ''", "in which sandra bullock flails through another non-com of an awfulness she seems unerringly inclined to repeat .", "a comedy so irritating and cheerless that you wonder if the cast were blackmailed into appearing .", "a witty satire on tv news ? no . an inspiring lesson about following your heart ? nope . the worst comedy you 'll see all year ? oh yes .", "make no mistake , this is one mess of a film and yet if you forgive it some of its bewildering failings there is still a weird charm to its madness .", "sandra bullock turns in an excruciatingly kooky performance in this ill-conceived stalker romance .", "this weirdly unfunny comedy is like clint eastwood 's play misty for me seen through the eyes of the stalker , and played unsuccessfully for laughs .", "romcom ? send-up ? romcom send-up ? no one seems to know , least of all director phil traill , whose failure to deliver a consistent tone - or , y' know , any laughs - leaves his capable cast hung out to dry .", "the film is such a misjudged farrago that it makes miss congeniality seem like a masterpiece .", "director phil traill and screenwriter kim barker should take some credit for attempting something original , but ultimately what they come up with is an ensemble cast of non-entities and the overriding feeling that they 're exploiting the lead character .", "a handful of wry tv news graphics provide welcome amusement , but bullock has never been worse and the rest of the cast are left to solve the puzzle of their own presence .", "amounts to one compelling character surrounded by a bunch of stuff that 's not so great .", "there 's no footing in reality . nothing about it feels authentic : not the blathering mary , not the lifeless secondary characters , not the bromide-happy dialogue or the plot that twists less often than it spasms .", "plopping a 45-year-old actress ... into a role clearly intended for , at best , a 23-year-old is a bizarre way to deal with the role shortage -lsb- for older women -rsb- .", "breath-takingly awful in every way .", "... this is , without a doubt , one of the biggest wastes of celluloid this year .", "a special sort of trainwreck that unfolds like some fever-dream mash-up of anchorman , mad love , heather graham 's committed and a tossed-off improv sketch . a terrible movie , meriting debate only insofar as whether personal preference r", "a romantic comedy so lunkheaded and ill-conceived that it makes your average , idiotic kate hudson-matthew mcconaughey outing look like the reincarnation of hepburn and grant .", "-lsb- an -rsb- unwatchable , unbearably unfunny farce in which sandra bullock hits the lowest point of her career ...", "parental content review", "i suspect that this is a film that speaks to those who believe every breath you take is a love song .", "the taint of desperation lies so heavily on the entire exercise .", "despite the cringe early on there is a validation about finding your emotional and intellectual match , not just the fantasy dreamboat .", "if terrible movies were car crashes , this 101-minute horror-show is a coachload of orphans slamming headlong into the hoover dam - and 2010 is unlikely to serve up anything worse .", "MOV wo n't appeal to everyone but it 's by no means the disaster its terrible reviews are making it out to be and is ultimately worth seeing for its attempt to do something different .", "as hollywood 's most box-office-friendly female star , surely it 's about time sandra bullock started challenging herself with something more worthy of her comic talents .", "from the outset the film swings from one lame gag to another and the usually spot-on bullock fails to find her groove .", "` i 'm going to eat you like a mountain lion , ' says the sex-starved bullock as she attacks cooper in his van , moments after meeting him , in one of several appalling scenes that represent director phil traill 's idea of cute .", "were you thinking `` deaf kids '' , `` sinkhole '' ? no ? i defy you to write a dumber screenplay .", "sandra bullock bulldozes the line between a socially awkward character and an annoying human being in a monstrous turkey that can genuinely make a claim to being the worst film of the year", "her most irritating and unfunniest film to date .", "four stages of acceptance of 2-star movie : 1 -rrb- embarrassed for lead character . 2 -rrb- embarrassed for actor playing lead character . 3 -rrb- admiration for movie 's all-out , gawky commitment to awkward comedy . 4 -rrb- annoyance with usual rom-com schmaltz-injections .", "-lsb- a -rsb- refreshingly quirky comedy .", "if it did n't come from a major studio , i would think the film is a satire of romantic comedies , or at least some kind of avant-garde experiment in testing the limits of audience identification", "packaged as a romantic comedy but devoid of comedy or romance , this baffling train wreck stars sandra bullock as a tediously kooky constructor of crossword puzzles for a sacramento newspaper .", "... hopelessly harebrained ...", "a good idea lurks in the latest sandra bullock comedy but it quickly falls into a deep hole .", "one of the leading candidates for worst film of 2009 .", "a sad excuse for a film which meshes too many ideas without sticking to one , leaving sandra bullock once again flailing in a ridiculous role .", "disaster is an eight letter word that aptly describes this grossly misjudged , overplayed , unfunny comedy about a hyper crossword constructor who stalks her blind date . filled with low points worth of eye-rolling ...", "an unmitigated disaster .", "in the final 30 or so minutes it turns deadly serious , which is about the only time this mess gets any laughs .", "easily the worst movie of the week , month , year , and bullock 's entire career . it is to comedy what leprosy once was to the island of molokai : a plague best contemplated from many miles away .", "the only laughs elicited by the film are those of incredulity ." ], "summary": "MOV is an oddly creepy , sour film , featuring a heroine so desperate and peculiar that audiences may be more likely to pity than root for her .", "id": "770680913" }, { "movie": "premonition", "reviews": [ "how many times can the nightmare that is sandra bullock keep recurring ?", "interesting premise but by the weaker third act the audience is left wodnering if they care about any of it .", "devolve into a film that only feigns the pretensions of popular entertainment but instead wants to delve into all sorts of family issues .", "the level of apparent disinterest from everyone involved is astounding .", "a gripping psychological thriller that will have you guessing from start to finish .", "i had a strange sense before i walked into the theatre that this was n't going to be all that good ... and that 's exactly how it happened .", "unfortunately in the end this movie did not live up to the trailer shown .", "it may be a mediocre thriller , but it 's a nice drama about rekindling the spark in a dying marriage . if you do n't buy that , consider it a 110-minute fashion show , with more clothing changes than project runway .", "just a rehashed ` twilight zone ' plot stretched over 90 minutes while sandra bullock stumbles around working on her ` baffled ' face .", "the screenplay by bill kelly is a lot like the title character in mr. townsend 's famous rock opera , which is to say it does n't know what day it is .", "save your money and time . if it were n't for the special effects blowing up the budget , this would have been just perfect as a lifetime movie .", "the trailer provides ` MOV ' with a dose of its own prophetic recipe . having seen it there 's no need to see the film .", "someone should have figured out what this movie was really about before they even started .", "... a confusing mess , a puzzle that ca n't be solved .", "an intriguing , if not entirely original premise to be sure , but MOV never quite builds up the momentum that seems so inherent to its narrative .", "if only bullock could have foreseen how bad MOV would turn out to be , she would have spared herself -lrb- and us -rrb- a lot of agony .", "MOV is enjoyable enough for the first 70 minutes or so but it 's completely ruined by a terrible final act that fails to exploit the film 's premise and leaves the audience feeling cheated .", "instead of cranking up the suspense , the film turns into mush .", "MOV barely remembers to create suspense .", "had it been easier to comprehend at the beginning , there 's no telling how bad MOV might have been .", "i had a feeling this movie was n't going to be any good , and as it turns out i was right ... both confusingly opaque and frustratingly simple-minded .", "bullock 's affable performance starts strong then muscles up as a faint but lifesaving strain of humor creeps into the material .", "sandra bullock 's latest time-shifter goes nowhere , slow .", "after the setup , the movie starts to lose momentum fast , like a birthday balloon poked with a sharp object .", "pacing stutters as bullock reorganizes her tangled web and dreams of miss congeniality 3 .", "although aspects of MOV tantalize , other elements frustrate , and that makes for an uneasy final result .", "in an attempt to be unconventional and surreal , the film has no arc , and everyone talks in shorthand . but ms. bullock gives MOV a truthful center .", "ohmigod - ya feel that ? that rumbling in your ribs , that hiccup in your heart , that frigidness in your frontal lobe . it 's a MOV that the act of buying a ticket to `` MOV '' will result in tragedy .", "movies like memento , told backward , are so six years ago . MOV complicates it all by throwing the whole calendar week out of order .", "i receive premonitions too : low opening gross ... rotten tomatoes rating below 10 percent favorable ... a short ride to the video store .", "someone connected with the psychological thriller MOV should have been clairvoyant enough to realize that when you do n't have a good finale , it does n't pay to substitute two bad endings .", "stronger style and atmosphere would have greatly benefited a pic that seems to abandon its own supernatural aspects to sheer plot mechanism .", "is sandra bullock losing it ? just when you thought her taste in film projects and acting skills were improving , along comes this senseless , incoherent thriller .", "second-rate ` sixth sense ' -- devoid of scares and originality .", "damn if the movie does n't work hard , through not working hard at all , at setting some sort of record for dreary ridiculousness .", "blithely unfettered by internal logic , exhibiting the pacing of a banana slug , and boasting a heroine who makes betty crocker seem like a radical feminist , MOV is exactly the reason that the razzie awards exist .", "according to premointion , being an atheist means you get superpowers , which means some pretty great things are just around the corner for me .", "a thrill-less psychological thriller .", "the most irritating thing about this film is its overall lack of clear direction . bullock is always running around in a sort of a fog , dashing from scene to scene , but with no sense of purpose .", "she 's confused . we 're confused . so is the movie .", "movies obsessed with keeping us guessing can miss out on providing reasons to keep us caring .", "pay real money to see this feeble fiasco only if you 're in the mood for groundhog day without the laughs .", "-lsb- a -rsb- gimmicky and nearly suspense-free fantasy/thriller .", "MOV is both dreary and absurd , suffering from a lack of intrinsic logic and terrible pacing , a one-two punch that kills off any chance of entertainment value .", "MOV maintains a chilly grip on the viewer , almost in spite of the spotty storytelling .", "considering that nothing adds up in the end , it is difficult to understand why a star of sandra bullock 's caliber would agree to get involved .", "if you 've seen the ads , you 've seen the movie .", "MOV is a dour groundhog day for desperate housewives .", "the script and direction are so humorless that the film becomes unintentionally funny , and , perhaps inevitably , the story falls apart once we know what 's really going on .", "may i suggest that it 's time to declare a moratorium on movies about time ?", "can you suffocate by constantly stifling yawns ? if so , MOV should be labeled a public health threat .", "fans of horror , thrillers , and the films of sandra bullock will find MOV puzzling since it fails to honor any of them .", "`` seven days to live '' is an ok country song , packed with faith , family and fighting for what 's important . oh , wait , that 's what `` MOV '' should have been , instead of a preposterous thriller that wastes sandra bullock 's time , and ours .", "this faceless frightfest begs the only one genuinely true psychological question at large : what prompted bullock to be drawn to this mindless , moping mystical material ?", "if sandra bullock is concerned about being in too many time-travel movies , well % u2026maybe it 's too late .", "a messy movie but one that at least cares enough about its central character .", "if the director seems to show sandra no mercy as she 's instructed to run around breathlessly for two hours in circles through the past , present and future in no particular order , imagine the even greater toll this movie takes on the exasperated audience .", "by the time the requisite , and somewhat silly twist end comes around , we as an audience no longer care .", "a time-twisting drama that ties every detail together in a satisfying conclusion . sandra bullock gives one of her best performances to date .", "sem conseguir se definir como suspense , fic\u0437\u0433o cient\u043dfica ou drama , o longa finalmente revela seu v\u0431cuo criativo ao entregar-se a uma prega\u0437\u0433o pseudo-espiritual tola e superficial .", "could have been a darn snappy thriller , but the listless relationship at the story 's core , plus ham-handed handling of the essential flashback / flash forward scenes doom it .", "offers its moments of requisite thriller twists that will appeal to fans of that genre .", "i think the actress smiles a total of once in 100 minutes on screen . granted , it 's radiant when she does , but that 's not enough to save the film .", "at times intriguing , often confusing and ultimately frustrating , MOV jumbles the past and present as sandra bullock 's young wife and mother tries to change fate .", "not exactly a thriller , never quite a chiller , hardly suspenseful , it is , at best , a sandra bullock vehicle made of vanishing vapors .", "though smarter than your average , inexplicable supernatural happening , and despite ticking every box on the fears-of-women exploitation checklist , MOV almost never grabs or shakes .", "i have a MOV you wo n't give a damn . i sure as hell did n't .", "MOV is a thriller almost completely without thrills , with a puzzler that raises questions it never bothers to answer .", "MOV is a thriller with a major gimmick , a few moments of suspense and a profoundly unsatisfying ending . as such , it plays much like a c-grade cable thriller .", "the psychological thriller MOV is neither as beguiling as you might hope nor as moronic as you might fear , floating comfortably in that gray , maybe-we-can-get-it-from-netflix territory .", "MOV is an odd little thing , with a protagonist in a protracted fugue state and a plot that does n't know whether its coming or going .", "bring on those razzie nominations .", "at least all this uncertainty is leading up to a spectacular twist ending -- oh , wait . no , it 's not .", "our sympathies gradually shift from feeling sorry for the character and her dilemma to feeling sorry for this appealing actress , swimming against the current in murky waters .", "perhaps sensing the chaos , bullock acts as if she 's standing just outside herself , not quite vested in the role , her mind seemingly elsewhere .", "this film wants to be a twisty thriller but ends up something of a misogynistic mess which leaves its leading lady stranded .", "dark bullock deja-vu thriller wo n't interest kids .", "the film does n't have any meaning . not just because it 's bad . because at the very end , it 's very obvious that there was n't any point to anything .", "one can still hear ebeneezer scrooge lament , `` why show me this if i am past all hope ? ''", "largely ridiculous but terribly serious .", "like a lot of mediocre movies it 's not about much more than the immediate emotional response it 's trying to generate . the filmmakers realize this and make an effort to shoe horn some themes in ... it just makes an already muddled movie even more muddled .", "thank god the local priest puts everything in perspective with a string of family-values clich\u0439s .", "sloppy filmmaking as a whole .", "this feeble attempt at a mind-bending thriller has a vaguely interesting premise , but its potential is soon lost thanks to dreary execution .", "a kinda supernatural , kinda psychological thriller that establishes a perplexing situation and never gets around to figuring it out .", "the convoluted setup does n't produce a payoff worthy of the attention this film demands .", "MOV works hard at wearing out its welcome , with numerous scenes that do n't seem to add up and too many characters who feel underwritten .", "could it have been worse ? yes , it could have been 120 minutes .", "when we get to the top of the roller coaster , the film stalls and slows down .", "somber but soulful , MOV has a strong dramatic performance by sandra bullock and a gimmicky plot that does n't grate until the end .", "the script 's vague , silly `` explanation '' for linda 's experiences -- nature abhors a spiritual vacuum , so weird stuff happens to the faithless -- is the icing on the irritation cake .", "it never pays to think too much about movies constructed to make you think .", "MOV , for all its far-fetched nature , never lets go of its momentum and holds the audience every inch of the way .", "MOV could have been memento on estrogen . instead , it 's too poorly paced and ultimately too antifeminist to air on lifetime .", "with her tetchy screen persona , sandra bullock is well served by brainteasers like the lake house and this passable thriller about a woman who seems to be bouncing between two alternate realities .", "MOV is probably two-thirds of a good movie , and sometimes that 's enough . but i have a , well , MOV it may not be , especially when it comes to those all-important opening-weekend grosses .", "the scene in front of the funeral home where bullock goes over the edge is inappropriately hilarious .", "-lsb- a -rsb- hackneyed supernatural thriller that plays like a cross between a lifetime network spinoff of final destination and the infamous bobby-in-the-shower episode of dallas .", "this seals it : sandra bullock ca n't tell time .", "the movie does deserve credit for sticking to an ending no one at the studio could have wanted . we would , however , like to premonish that the conclusion is equally unlikely to satisfy the audience .", "as MOV slowly creeps toward a ridiculous faith-based climax or two , you may feel compelled to take a nap yourself . when you awake , it may all seem like a bad dream -- but why is your wallet missing $ 11 ? scary .", "hitchcock would have had a wonderful time with this .", "the sloppy , absent-minded MOV is a step back in time and a giant leap backward for sandra bullock .", "the script could have used some analysis itself . after proceeding for an hour in its fairly obvious supernatural path , suddenly the movie decides to get religious .", "confusing , convoluted and yet gripping and emotional almost in spite of itself MOV is the first movie sandra bullock has successfully ` carried ' in years .", "MOV is just an incredible mess from start to finish , filled with so many logical inconsistencies , it 's practically impossible for the audience to sustain the necessary suspension of disbelief for long .", "if you 're into smartly made movies , avoid MOV at all costs .", "unfortunately , not even sandra bullock 's ability to make us almost forget the ridiculous plot forced upon her can save ` MOV . '", "the acting is perfectly fine , and everyone , especially the two kids , manages to rise above the sub-par script , but unfortunately , not that much .", "since all those high falutin ' bloggers are too busy handicapping the oscars , here 's a scoop from the other end of stick : this one 's a lock for the ivar theater next february .", "i like that they use crows , because the stink of this carrion has flushed out a few guilty jackdaws .", "as MOV zigzags toward its solution it loses its head completely , packing a risible final reel with left-field religious disquisitions and heartfelt warnings against infidelity .", "yes , in the end MOV slips through our fingers , but by gum , it 's interesting , and one of the most abstract mainstream releases i 've seen in a long time .", "one of the film 's weak links is the casting of sandra bullock . ... for a woman who has supposedly lost her husband , she displays very little emotion .", "MOV has its merits , as a film about the need to love one 's spouse today , for you never know what tomorrow will bring .", "the problem here is not so much that there 's no explanation for what 's happening to her as that the filmmakers have n't figured out what to do about it .", "bill kelly 's script adds a graceful touch of the spiritual , but it ca n't overcome the holes in story logic during linda 's groundhog day of a week .", "MOV falls apart because the script turns stupefyingly boneheaded during the most crucial scene .", "as wednesday morphs into tuesday , flips over to friday and moseys back to monday , the audience suffers moderate confusion and mild annoyance at bullock 's failure to address her condition in any meaningful way .", "so full of logic flaws , continuity errors ... it 's amazing the screenwriter or director could n't foresee the train wreck of a film it becomes", "here 's a MOV for you : this ill-conceived thriller is n't going to do anything for sandra bullock 's career .", "tries diligently to blow your mind and leaves you shaking your head instead . ... what happens when a promising screenplay degenerates into total incoherence ? to quote the magic 8 ball , ` outlook not so good . '", "... feels like it was concocted in some sort of hormonal haze , say maybe in the seventh month of a pregnancy .", "bullock has overcome dozens of similar turkeys in her career . for example , it would be nice to be able to forget ` speed 2 : cruise control . ' yapo , however , will have to cure cancer , aids and leprosy before viewers will forgive him for this movie .", "time traveling to the future is n't the same thing as a `` MOV . '' but maybe calling it `` nonsense '' would have been just a little too honest .", "you 'll feel both cheated and nonplussed at the conclusion after sitting through an hour and a half watching sandra bullock slowly morph into gladys kravitz .", "MOV is the kind of movie where you can keep a running count of the films it 's ripping off -- but you may need more than two hands .", "... your gimme-a-break meter will probably be red-lined long before director mennan yapo drags you over the shaggy-dog finish line .", "julian mcmahon is sandy 's husband , and he really needs to do something about those eyebrows . they do n't even cover his eyes % u2013 they 're more like eye-postrophes than brows .", "bullock may be easing away from her kooky miss congeniality persona and into more substantial material at just the right time in her career .", "an hour of boring confusion followed by thirty minutes of a laughable ending", "breathtakingly stupid movie .", "linda 's routine looks pretty much like updated donna reed : no wonder she wants out .", "sandra bullock morphs from the shopping mall rom-com queen to the sixth sense psycho but ca n't pull it off in this solo performance of woman 's intuition gone bad .", "in MOV , sandra bullock plays a woman going through a horrifying experience . she keeps waking up in this movie .", "MOV is so bad , there 's even a scene mirroring the time when the old nighttime soap dallas jumped the shark with bobby ewing in the shower !", "one reality bullock unfortunately ca n't change is the ineluctable trudge toward the appallingly boneheaded ending .", "its biggest failing - and the ultimate one for a lightweight entertainment such as this - is that it 's a deadly bore from start to finish . even more annoying is its blind-alley structure resulting in an unsatisfying mind game for the audience .", "the picture ca n't decide between cheap scares or deep thoughts , so it goes for both .", "answers most of its mysteries , even if the resolutions are disappointingly vague", "`` i do n't know what to fight for , '' a tortured bullock tells her local priest . my suggestion would be better scripts . a couple more like this one and i can see `` speed 3 '' on the horizon !", "it may be the first time you ever find yourself as confused as a contestant on are you smarter than a 5th grader .", "a lethargic thriller that appears to just give up several times over , even foregoing the twist ending it seems destined for .", "screenwriter bill kelly has some wild ideas for this mental time bomb , but he has problems organizing the thrills and the chills in the correct order for maximum unease .", "you know those ` in a world where ... ' movie trailers ? well , MOV 's would start out : ` in a world where no one has ever seen groundhog day ... '", "this is a much dumber movie than the lake house . in fact , the script is an ungainly mess and ultimately a shaggy-dog story .", "ageless beauty sandra bullock gives her typical automated performance in a superficial cross between the recent `` deja vu '' and bullock 's own excruciating movie `` the lake house . ''", "MOV is a shoo-in for my list of the year 's worst films , assuming that i can even remember what it is nine months from now .", "so there you have it : go to church , keep your husband 's gaze averted from stray blondes , try not to think about the future , and all shall be well .", "surprisingly slow and relentlessly absurd ...", "it 's a pointless race against time .", "this first american film by german director mennan yapo drags by like a friday afternoon at work . several of them . over and over .", "MOV 's way of dressing its marital crisis material in twilight zone garb grabs attention but looks flimsy upon further inspection .", "i just returned from the immediate future , like two minutes from now , and i have a strong feeling i 'm about to give this movie a big thumbs down .", "MOV is annoying , mind-numbing , unoriginal , and it 's certainly not entertaining .", "comparisons to other time-bending pictures -lrb- `` memento '' -rrb- are easy , but what are missing are suspense , cleverness and common sense , despite a supernatural premise . instead we have family drama that bounces between terror and mysticism , to zero effect on eith", "i had a MOV this might be a forgettable mediocrity , but i was wrong . it 's actually a laughable turd ." ], "summary": "overdosing on flashbacks , and more portentous than profound , the overly obtuse MOV weakly echoes such twisty classics as memento , the sixth sense , and groundhog day .", "id": "371353718" }, { "movie": "10010694-season_of_the_witch", "reviews": [ "it takes place during the 14th century , but everyone speaks in contemporary language , which might have been acceptable if the dialogue were clever or intelligent or funny or , you know , good .", "great song . bad movie .", "stop me if you 've heard this one . a priest , an altar boy , two crusaders , and a con artist walk toward an abbey with a suspected witch in tow .", "the first reveal of nicolas cage sporting a blond wig with ringlets that makes him look like a shirley temple drag queen impersonator after a post-medieval-party-themed blackout is the sort of fright probably not intended by its makers .", "MOV is n't quite jonah hex or little fockers bad , but it 's one helluva shoddy way to start off the year in movies and yet another crummy entry in nicolas cage 's woeful post-oscar filmography .", "not only bad in predictable ways , it 's obscenely lazy .", "a cheerfully terrible january time-waster .", "this is how ` monty python and the holy grail ' would have turned out if it had been funny unintentionally instead of intentionally .", "a 14th-century road movie with 21st-century cuss words .", "a cgi freakout at the finale ca n't save this mundane medieval thriller about witches , devils and disillusioned knights .", "MOV is a fine example of a film that would 've been great fun if only its creators had a sense of humor about the wild brew of absurdity they had percolating .", "think of it as a modern iranian adultery trial as imagined in 14th century europe by a terminally silly dreamer .", "it 's part fairy tale-gone-wrong , part recycled legend , part panto horror . think the wolfman , or van helsing , only worse .", "it 's entertaining in a cheerfully ridiculous way , though cage fans will be disappointed that he does not really lose his rag , despite some serious provocation from the lord of darkness .", "the stench of plague is all around , unless that 's an aroma emanating from the script .", "a mediocre knights-and-witchcraft b-movie that 's somewhat cheesy , somewhat intriguing , and ultimately just not all that involving .", "directed by the perennially hollow dominic sena from a script by bragi schut , `` MOV '' is all seams . it never balances out its competing desires ...", "welcome to the january dead zone .", "while ` witch ' might not be the worst thing i see this year , it 's apparently been riddled with its own case of the black plague since day one . every inch of the movie is infected with bad decisions that spread throughout each and every frame .", "not nearly funny or weird enough to see with friends after a few drinks , and despite impressive locations does n't have enough visual appeal to simply watch on mute .", "lacking any sort of energy and the weak premise at its core means there 's very little anyone or anything could have been done to salvage it .", "a nicolas cage movie where nicolas cage does n't lose his shit . avoid .", "avoid it -- wait for it -- like the black plague .", "it 's a bit cheesy but there is action and tension and strong graphic effects - and even a deadpan moment", "just how big was that irs bill , anyway ?", "anti-oscar-movie people , this one is for you .", "it 's amazing how little entertainment value there is in watching nicolas cage and ron perlman play world-weary crusaders in a movie called MOV . come on ! it 's ghost rider and hellboy !", "for long , long stretches , -lsb- it 's -rsb- too leaden and dour to be any fun at all .", "director dominic sena sets a quick pace ; the dull moments are brightened by the unexpectedly likable team of cage and perlman .", "guns are fun in movies , but bashing about with broadswords speaks to the 12-year-old in all of us .", "god 's teeth !", "cage is effective as a falling down drunk in las vegas or a treasure hunter navigating goofy road trips but not as a disillusioned champion of the church going one-on-one with a demon . steven seagal would have been more believable .", "poor plot twists and cgi-heavy action further muddle what might have been an intriguing story of fanaticism and superstition .", "from script to editing , this witch does n't float .", "nicolas cage = modern day bela lugosi in declining years", "spellbinding it 's not .", "witch 's spell only partially effective", "director dominic sena is more like a less amusing uwe boll than ingmar bergman .", "dominic sena directs all this stuff and nonsense with a paucity of fun unbecoming a loopy tale of medieval witches starring nicolas cage and ron perlman .", "begins with a bang -lrb- a hanged witch rises from a watery grave to dispatch her tormenter -rrb- but ends with a thud -lrb- a bungled exorcism releases a silly-looking computer-animated demon -rrb- .", "this painfully earnest and overblown medieval swords-and-sorcery road movie is unlikely to warm the cockles of any but the most die-hard fans of cage 's stentorian growl and arch overacting .", "cage 's disappointingly subdued performance stands as the proverbial straw that broke the camel 's back ...", "although i will likely be disemboweled from my toes to my nose -lrb- metaphorically speaking only , i hope -rrb- for this proclamation , i did n't think MOV was all that bad ! *", "after a while , the movie tires of the witch business and trots out a plot twist that permits the effects department to spend money .", "not the stinker that everyone says it is , but you do have to ignore its flaws in order to be entertained .", "the filmmakers try to use special effects to cover up the weaknesses of the story , but even on that point they fail pretty badly .", "cage merely stands around looking glum , letting his hair extensions do the acting for him .", "i may be in the minority of critics to think so , but MOV is an enjoyable medieval thriller that 's well-made in spite of some moments of silliness .", "have low expectations for this movie and you might just be surprised .", "it 's an uwe boll kind of film that 's been directed with a certain degree of competency by previous cage collaborator dominic sena .", "another forgettable trifle from cage .", "makes the last airbender look like avatar .", "the only time i was even modestly entertained was when the 10-year-old boy sitting behind me -lrb- obviously taken out of school to see the film by his model parents -rrb- started belching unrelentingly at the screen .", "while certainly no witchfinder general , it does n't deserve to be burned at the stake .", "did they really say `` i 've saved your ass '' in medieval europe ?", "MOV suffers from a general laziness .", "it 's centurion deux without the second-coming-of-carpenter pretense , though you still wish the trashiness were more distinctive .", "a cursed abomination ... as a priest observes , ` we 're going to need more holy water ! '", "how many mediocre movies can nicolas cage make and still have a career ? i guess we will wait and see .", "this is the puffy-faced nic cage . the one who fights for christ and little debbies and not necessarily in that order .", "` MOV ' entertains , but do n't get me wrong , it 's a bad movie .", "-lsb- video -rsb- this movie sucks so awfully that you 'd think it was a vicious prank .", "it will probably be the worst reviewed movie of the year , it may break up couples mid-date night , and fraternities are sure to use it in tandem with contraband beverage four loko for hell week hazing . but come on , it 's not that bad .", "authenticity takes a back seat . swordfights , wolf-punching and zombie monks clamber into the front seat and smash a hole through the windscreen .", "you 've seen more convincing medieval performances from guys at ye olde pancake house after a larp scrimmage . with all the dead birds and fish , this might seem like a timely piece of apocalyptic fiction . but such pestilence is annual par for nicolas cage .", "we need a serious suspension of disbelief to accept these two aging actors as faultless warriors in tip-top shape .", "disregards characters , emotions and even dramatic tension in favour of an endless parade of ` cool shit ' to impress its perceived audience of 13 year olds .", "it 's the seventh seal meets get him to the greek meets lord of the rings as if filtered through uwe boll 's hack-tastic brain .", "even an actor like nicolas cage can not elevate such a disappointingly anachronistic and incoherent religious epos .", "you 'll want to spend lots of time checking out those costumes , because , perlman and lee aside , there 's not much to watch in the acting department .", "if it 's january , it must be time for another nicolas cage film", "despite some terrific locations in hungary and the austrian alps , this ho-hum 14th-century history lesson remains routine and unconvincing right up to its all-hell-breaks-loose cgi-heavy finale .", "you 've probably never heard of first time screenwriter bragi f schut . and , after wading through this 14th century swords-and-witches hokum you 'll probably never want to see his name again .", "dull : the last thing a freakin ' period-piece action-adventure occult thriller should be .", "more like a troubled nap than a compelling flick", "i could n't shake the feeling that it might have been conceived and filmed as a comedy , then edited so that it plays like a thriller .", "because this is the first release of 2011 , it would too be easy to crown `` MOV '' the worst film of the year , but i 'm sure it will live up to that title for weeks to come .", "another movie is turned into a turkey .", "even the most dedicated of nicolas cage 's fans will find little to enjoy about the historical-fantasy-action romp MOV .", "as the stakes rise , time for buddy-comedy drops ; the jolts are too minor to register , the action mostly unimpressive .", "cage alternates between leaden line readings and thunderous outbursts , making his accomplished costars ulrich thomsen and stephen campbell moore look even better . but the movie 's worst aspect is the cgi , which packs no scares whatsoever .", "just wait for the viral video highlights , coming soon to a computer screen near you .", "the film is not altogether dreadful , although it 's far from good . and that 's not good . classic stinkeroos are rarer than masterpieces , and we all need a laugh now and then , even if the laughs are inadvertent .", "it 's not quite nutty enough to be a guilty pleasure .", "rather than elevating this wanna-be hammer horror flick , cage somehow lowers its quality .", "a mishmash of horror and history genres that 's not as bad as its trailers but ultimately is dragged down by , of all things , its star .", "audiences considering `` MOV '' should heed the timeless advice of its ancestor `` holy grail '' -- run away !", "good production values almost rescue this overwrought medieval tale .", "off the top of my head , i 'm guessing that `` MOV '' claims a place in the top five all-time bizarre and pointless homages to art cinema .", "this is n't a documentary about christine o'donnell 's recent senate campaign in delaware . that would be a lot more entertaining ... it may remind you of the movies of uwe boll .", "it 'll come as little surprise to anyone who follows cage 's career that he 's picked yet another dud . yes , after knowing , bangkok dangerous , g-force and next , the follically-challenged actor has done it again .", "is `` felson '' not a moniker more appropriate to a sitcom second banana than a fierce warrior ?", "the screenplay is like a transcription of a dungeons and dragons session ... the ` performances ' are like clueless imitations of monty python by actors who do n't understand comedy .", "MOV is as bloodless as a starved vampire . instead of a review , it deserves a stake in the heart .", "disappointing , sluggishly directed medieval thriller with poor special effects , a plot that manages to be both dull and nonsensical and not even a bonkers performance from cage to liven things up .", "not a good film by any stretch of the imagination , but far from cage 's worst .", "worst . d&d session . ever .", "p.t. barnum and h.l. mencken remain inarguably correct in their assessment of the public 's gullibility and appetite .", "it 's the crucible , except with real magic creatures , copious cage bon mots , and the incomparably ridiculous sight of perlman head-butting beelzebub .", "does to the medieval era what cage 's wicker man did to anthony shaffer .", "cage plods through the story with a stiffly restrained , exaggeratedly earnest performance that makes him look like the most awkward amateur in the local society for creative anachronism troupe .", "if you can sit through an uwe boll movie , and be genuinely entertained ; then run , do n't walk , to see MOV .", "did either cage or sena even bother reading bragi f. schut 's patchwork script , before adjusting the wig , flicking on the camera and cashing the pay cheques ?", "there are almost no laughs to be had in MOV . that 's unfortunate , because the only chance that this overproduced yet still shoddy piece of early-january multiplex fodder had of being entertaining was as an unintentional comedy classic .", "really , at its worst , the whole thing 's a little bit like `` monty python and the holy grail '' - minus the jokes .", "a middle-of-the-road bore , with only occasional flashes of the fun that could have been had the whole way through .", "ever since bergman 's `` the virgin spring '' was remade as `` last house on the left , '' his work has suggested a rich mine for homage .", "the scariest thing about MOV is the movie itself , an abomination of bad filmmaking and terrible acting .", "cage 's old pal dominic sena is a decade removed from their `` gone in 60 seconds '' directing glory , and he gets nothing out of this script that is n't pure hokum .", "it 's got videogame-from-hell f/x , plus jousting , plus cage in tangled long hair he seems to have mistakenly put in the washing machine .", "unchallenged and over-wigged , cage is merely biding his time with this serving of horror hooey , obviously more interested in hearing the sweet sound of `` cut ! '' than trying to make a tepid screenplay shuffle .", "it is a hopeless mish-mash that feels like they were making it up as they went along . it 's also dull .", "MOV begins in a crusade taking place after the crusades , in a 14th century for dummies about as immersive and real as the ohio state renaissance festival .", "it 's creaky , predictable and frequently idiotic . but for a tipsy saturday night , this should tick all the right boxes ." ], "summary": "slow , cheap-looking , and dull , MOV fails even as unintentional comedy .", "id": "770816170" }, { "movie": "proof", "reviews": [ "paltrow gives a coiled , impressively internal performance .", "somewhere in the translation from stage to screen , david auburn 's powerful pulitzer prize-winning play was transformed into a goopy gwyneth paltrow movie .", "it 's deep , to be sure , but also light , something that takes a deft touch to pull off successfully . more than anything , it 's good to see paltrow getting her swerve on again .", "MOV plays cleverly with the arcane mysteries of game theory , and if it 's only a game , happily , it 's one worthy of exhibition . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "a respectable but mild , drab little film .", "paltrow is pretty commanding , even if madden pushes things toward airlessness by keeping the camera so tight . the anguish on that lovely , haggard face -- you 're right there with her , yearning for the moment you both can finally breathe .", "miscast yet marvelous , paltrow and the rest of the cast hold you to the movie , even when you intuitively sense something is lacking .", "like the best play-to-movie adaptations , it leaves us feeling that we 've had a powerful and enriching theatrical experience .", "i liked it better on the stage , though the performances -lrb- especially paltrow 's -rrb- are exceptional .", "the material is formulaic , however cerebral .", "an elegant adaptation to the screen , with the play 's qualities largely intact and great performances from paltrow and hope davis , as her sister . jake gyllenhaal and anthony hopkins complete a dream cast .", "MOV is something of a puzzle , an all-star drama that has the feel of a sunday afternoon film . think curiosity , not must see .", "as a story about personal and family dysfunction , and about coming to terms with life 's uncertainties , MOV is n't bad .", "a subtle , slow-burning mystery that does justice to its themes of identity , sanity and sacrifice .", "madden stages the action with a minimum of imagination and gets a career-worst performance out of davis in a key role , but the material still sputters to life on the strength of the writing and paltrow 's commitment to the part .", "full review in greek", "timid staging faithful adaptation = no cinema", "offers a convincing demonstration of the theorem that good writing and sensitive performances can equal an engaging and nuanced piece of cinema .", "MOV is a smart film , but it tries too hard . it wears its heart on its sleeve , and the pathos becomes a bit much because there is little to balance it out .", "a limp , and utterly pointless melodrama that 's never as intelligent as it thinks .", "if you know nothing about differential equations or prime number theories , well you 're probably not alone , but it wo n't affect your ability to appreciate this movie .", "you get the feeling -lrb- paltrow -rrb- craves emotionally traumatic scenes in which snot can drip from her character 's nose .", "crackling good work , emotionally and intellectually interesting and grandly entertaining , saved from pomposity a good deal of the time by its sense of humor .", "MOV now joins 1984 's amadeus , 1985 's made-for-television version of death of a salesman and 1988 's dangerous liaisons on the list of the best modern movie adaptations of the past 25 years .", "emotions are built around acts of betrayal never truly felt by the viewer , or that register as phony or overblown .", "the play , with all of its key surprises and biting exchanges intact , is up there on the screen . but given the depth and fascinating pull of auburn 's writing , that 's a good thing .", "somehow the formula fails . almost everyone involved in this production seems to be off their game .", "MOV that you can drain most of the juice out of a play and still have an enjoyable night at the movies .", "another movie that toys with ideas but forgets to establish a credible atmosphere .", "flattened onto the screen ... everybody always seems to be saying exactly the wrong thing to poor gwyneth , which gives her the right to be insufferable .", "an extraordinary thriller about matters of scholarship and the heart , about the true authorship of a mathematical MOV and the passions that coil around it .", "the story 's genial unpretentiousness has been darkened and weighed down , and what 's left is less than prime .", "the story 's emotional stakes are such a grab bag that it 's difficult to feel much urgency about the outcome .", "blessed with crisp dialogue , bright wit and a strong lead performance .", "intelligent middlebrow entertainment with a few juicy roles to feed talented actors .", "the film version is a powerful adaptation with fiery performances , plenty to decipher and enough yelling to give anyone 's brain an ache .", "` MOV ' is brilliant enough as a play that even if you only capture some of the genius on film , as john madden has done , you 're still left with a pretty good movie .", "paltrow is left alone , much like catherine , suffering and longing for someone - anyone - to come up to her level . no one ever does .", "catherine is an infinitely less convincing version of arcadia 's girl genius ; the MOV is just a macguffin ; it runs out of plot and has not one idea in its head .", "a thoughtful , intelligent film about brilliant but troubled people ... works on both an intellectual and an emotional level .", "the trouble with MOV is that , however efficiently it completes its task , you have to ask whether the job was worth starting .", "just as he kept shakespeare in love years ago from leaping into greatness with his banal direction , madden similarly keeps things stately and sleepy here .", "the emotional heft of MOV is considerable , even with some problems inadequately worked out .", "the sparks go out in john madden 's film version , with a script by auburn and rebecca miller and starring a wan gwyneth paltrow .", "paltrow gives a moving , realistic account of the emotions peculiar to caregivers ; a heavy , thought-provoking , involving film that left me exhausted but invigorated .", "-lsb- paltrow is -rsb- great in this .", "an elegant , intelligent drama of a breed increasingly rare in mainstream american movies .", "it explores issues of love , trust and family wonderfully through the inner life and ironic wit of paltrow 's character .", "despite paltrow 's mediocrity and madden 's middlebrow tone , MOV still manages to deliver a cereberal yet emotional tale about genius and madness in academe and personal life", "for a prime audience , it splendidly dramatizes an esoteric and brainy subject without testing your knowledge of math theorems . `` MOV '' proves it can be done .", "for patient viewers , it does offer a carefully considered and ultimately inspiring examination of how the need for order and logic is less important than a willingness to embrace chaos .", "it 's a quiet kind of triumph . i know no one saw it but i hope more people will .", "paltrow stars as a woman who may or may not be around the twist . having named her real-life child after a piece of fruit , that 's what i call inspired casting .", "... the story reveals a lot less substance than there appears to be .", "sadly , the impact of the clever parallelogram of emotional and philosophical concerns in auburn and rebecca miller 's screenplay is deadened by the director 's overly literal -- mechanical -- cinematic interpretation .", "a masterpiece before it reached the screen and maybe the highest praise that can be offered in celebration of this film version is that it remains one .", "intense and compelling , MOV is an absorbing film that shows the intricacies of the human mind are as complex as a mathematical equation .", "smart , well-acted , and wonderfully directed .", "sure , the play won the pulitzer prize , but that does n't mean it makes a great film , in my opinion . maybe it just works better on the stage .", "we are invited to believe that hopkins , paltrow and gyllenhaal all have , in their various ways , alpha-brains . they look to me like they could n't recite the three-times-table without smoke coming out of their ears .", "gwyneth paltrow gives the greatest peformance of her career .", "engaging in a way that math rarely is .", "for adults who can appreciate the intellectual qualities as well as the emotional power .", "MOV is a stirring motion picture that challenges our views on a great many things about life , some of which we take for granted .", "the graceful discipline of math theory sits in stark contrast to the ugly realities of dementia , a collective contrast crackling with melodramatic vigor .", "strong performances distract from an often convoluted story .", "MOV ca n't conjure a single legitimate thread , or an emotion to back it up .", "judging by how it provides its cast with showy moments amidst the sweet little oblique nothings , i 'm guessing that MOV is mostly about winning awards .", "somewhere between a beautiful mind and wonderboys , we get MOV a very good film that among other things explores the link between youth and genius .", "so few movies even attempt to engage viewers in a conversation this deep that i 'm ready to celebrate paltrow and forgive many of the film 's other flaws .", "astonishingly intelligent , richly compelling drama , exploring the thin line between insanity and genius .", "in MOV , -lsb- paltrow -rsb- seems to be drawing upon a fund of real pain and it does wonders for the film .", "MOV , the movie , is alive and sulking .", "gwyneth paltrow plays the daughter of a famous dead mathematician in john maddens terribly serious film adaptation of the much-admired broadway play .", "it 's hard to quarrel with the way MOV depicts mathematical genius as an unknowable abstraction . otherwise , we might need advanced degrees to watch it .", "the delights are in the details , and in the way the convoluted story unfolds by bits and pieces .", "MOV is a winning drama that oscillates with confidence and emotional tension .", "hopkins , his hair and beard gone white , unravels with gorgeous precision .", "john madden 's competent , monotonous film version , not exactly stagebound but hardly freewheeling , only underscores its mechanical nature .", "paltrow gives the performance of the year , and perhaps of her career .", "-lrb- john -rrb- madden and -lrb- gwyneth -rrb- paltrow are , once again , simpatico as collaborators .", "surrounded by thespians who 've been knighted and married to rock stars , davis steals the show as the self-absorbed , well-meaning but annoying big sis .", "madden does a competent job transferring the film from stage to screen .", "the argument MOV makes in its cool , sophisticated way is that sometimes it is difficult to clarify the line between insane individual and insane genius .", "intelligent and well-realized but lacking much of an emotional charge .", "... `` tasteful '' is probably the operative word for the entire thing . it 's hard to fault anybody 's work here . if there is a problem , it is an insubstantiality in the source material ...", "a decent film that ... remains married to its words and bound to its limited sets .", "-lsb- a -rsb- n infantile fantasy ... of not just being daddy 's favorite but being chosen , by some mysterious power , to inherit his gift .", "paltrow 's inward performance is of a piece with her stunning work as sylvia plath in the biopic sylvia .", "jake gyllenhaal brings a certain geeky sweetness and enthusiasm to his role as hal . there 's also genuine chemistry between him and gwyneth , even if she seems a little too old for him .", "aided immeasurably by paltrow 's ace performance , it 's the poignantly-felt human drama and delicate relationships in MOV that make the film a worthwhile experience .", "-lsb- paltrow 's -rsb- is a performance that redeems everything else about this film , and allows for the hope that there will be many more to come in this gifted actress ' career .", "a cozy , middlebrow production putting an acting spotlight on paltrow , surrounded by an unchallenged hopkins and jake gyllenhaal as a liberating love-interest spirit .", "MOV is a very emotional and engaging movie almost all the way through , but it loses it at the end .", ". . has n't shaken the feel of its floorboards , -lsb- but auburn 's -rsb- characters still come alive with complex relationships that hang in the balance of every exchange of his words .", "you leave the theater appreciative of the movie 's dramatic yield , but not truly swept up in reverie . the way most of us feel about middle and high school math , i guess .", "presents a knot of questions , twisted up inside a knot of delicate performances and a fragmented narrative .", "hits the mark as an exploration of a woman who gives away her gold to others and must find a way to acknowledge her own genius .", "its themes of trust , the depth of filial responsibility and concerns about genetic inheritances are explored with depth and intelligence .", "something went terribly wrong here and one of the fine theatrical experiences of recent years turns into celluloid dross .", "some plays are better left as plays . as my MOV , i present MOV , which is as tedious on the big screen as it probably was gripping in the intimacy of a theater .", "MOV offers evidence -- if not MOV -- that there 's still intelligent life in the movies .", "here 's an interesting , sometimes frustrating , film about who really wrote a mathematical MOV and how it affects those involved in the mystery .", "despite a stage-bound script , this story of family politics and mathematical genius is intriguing and fairly involving", "... -lrb- MOV -rrb- pushes the story beyond a mere romantic entanglement ... into one of finding -lrb- one 's -rrb- direction and the confidence to pursue it ...", "were it not for paltrow 's rafter-rattling rages and the occasional engaging moments between catherine and hal ... the film could easily serve as cinematic sominex .", "paltrow overcomes her ingenue actress image and does a good job with a role of a deeply troubled and perhaps brilliant woman , the daughter of a schizophrenic mathematician who was one of the great lights of modern mathematics .", "as with many film adaptations of stage successes , david auburn 's pulitzer prize-winning play about mathematics and madness , MOV , loses something in its translation to celluloid .", "a melodrama is a melodrama , even if the people in it occasionally announce something like , ` i figured out how to get a lower bound for h. '", "among the startling revelations : math is precise but life is sloppy .", "MOV proves you can watch a flick about depressed , schizophrenic people concocting complicated math equations and still enjoy it . i swear !", "the freedom film affords has allowed auburn and co-writer rebecca miller -lrb- the ballad of jack and rose -rrb- to open up the material and , remarkably , deepen it , adding a layer of pathos to catherine 's angst .", "those who did n't see the theatrical production -lrb- myself among them -rrb- might be left wondering if the material looked this phony on stage .", "what theater critics unanimously described as brilliant on stage is oddly flat and unemotional on screen ; instead of being pulled into the piece by the throat , one tends to admire certain aspects of the screenplay from a considerable emotional distance .", "MOV is like its own page of badly done math homework . it shows all work , all right . but it feels cribbed from an answer sheet . and it never proves a thing .", "while scrupulously intelligent , literate , and sardonically funny , john madden 's reportedly faithful adaptation of david auburn 's broadway hit never quite breaks free enough of its theatrical origins to feel like a bona fide film .", "too much of this adaptation of david auburn 's pulitzer prize-winning play feels static , staged and largely unbelievable .", "MOV will put a lot of viewers right back where they left off in 12th-grade calculus : asleep .", "when it counts , MOV wins points for subtlety and keeping its answers closer to the chest .", "although she tends to get actressy in her work , paltrow 's catherine is a believable portrait of loss and grief .", "-lsb- an -rsb- emotionally rich and honest drama that makes for a quality big-screen experience for demanding grown-ups daring to go back into theatres once the summer 's silly heat has died down .", "you could n't find a role more comfortable for paltrow , who is at her best , ranging effortlessly from seething anger to trembling tenderness .", "it 's not just that -lsb- paltrow -rsb- has trouble playing the part of a math genius ; she seems to have trouble at times playing the part of a human being .", "although it probably worked a lot better on the stage ... MOV is an intriguing story .", "paltrow played catherine on stage in london and is at her best here since she last performed under madden 's direction in shakespeare in love .", "few movies regard the psyche with such sober discernment .", "unconvincing MOV deflates the mathematical experience through a morose script and a pacing that is melancholic .", "less than the sum of its parts .", "many of the very attributes that made david auburn 's MOV an award-winning stage play hamper it as a film .", "despite a great cast and an interesting premise , MOV feels more like an outline for a movie than the real thing .", "the result , like so many stout travellers from stage to screen , is respectable . stolidly , bloodlessly , yawningly respectable .", "paltrow and davis give remarkable performances ... -lsb- but -rsb- hopkins , playing a man dealing with his mental decline , is overly imperious , too much lion and not enough winter .", "... academic subject matter given an emotional treatment .", "madden has assembled some powerhouse talent , and particularly in the second half of the film , he cuts between present and past with a frenzy that ratchets up the suspense of this romantic whodunit .", "what was perfectly calibrated and compelling on stage seems mechanical and perfunctory on film .", "one wonders how transcendent the film might have been in the hands of a more versatile actress than paltrow .", "resolutely uncinematic , auburn 's tale of a maybe mathematics prodigy feels thin and underpopulated . some plays are better left on the stage .", "'m going to make a prediction and you can hold me to it : gwyneth paltrow is going to get an oscar nomination . no ifs ands or buts . she 's going to get one , and she deserves it .", "director john madden 's emotionally rich , intellectually exciting MOV is a throwback to a time when pulitzer prize-winning plays routinely were made into movies .", "once you get past that golden swag and curtain of hair , paltrow 's performance is devastating , cutting to the pith and marrow of parent-child relations ." ], "summary": "gwyneth paltrow and anthony hopkins give exceptional performances in a film that intelligently tackles the territory between madness and genius .", "id": "7585" }, { "movie": "rocky_iv", "reviews": [ "proves once again that all the world loves an underdog .", "-lrb- no quote available . -rrb-", "boxers are noted for their hubris , but stallone , perhaps still punch-drunk from the early success , would have been better advised to have quit rather than suffer the body blows of this nonsense .", "a far cry from the delights -lrb- both large and small -rrb- of its illustrious original .", "the crazed flag-waving would be a lot easier to take if it were n't so clearly a commercial calculation meant to salvage what is otherwise a crass , careless , shamelessly padded film .", "... suffers from a vibe of superfluousness ...", "film reduced to the barest of three acts .", "the film 's only major disappointment is a lack of screen-time for a pre-foofy foofy brigitte nielsen", "predictable and corny . when the soviet fans as well as the soviet government officials stand up and cheer rocky at the end , you ca n't help but roll your eyes in disbelief .", "fourth in series has lost most of punch", "his vacuous post-bout speech indicates why boxers with 75 professional bouts are rarely called upon as public speakers .", "there are simply too many ludicrous elements to ignore : paulie 's robot ; brigitte nielsen , even less expressive than the robot ; about a thousand music-video-styled montages ; lundgren 's delivery of drago 's deadly dialogue ; etc. .", "the new film 's narrative is stripped down to essentials , which gives it an emblematic quality .", "though it 's impossible not to get caught up in our hero 's russian training programme , or to root for his climactic victory , the mawkish montages accompanied by blaring music are no substitute for plot shading .", "this is grim and witless storytelling , and what makes it so depressing is that it has n't improved by so much as a chemical trace since the days of the first rocky .", "the outcome of the film is predetermined by the formulaic scripts of rocky ii and rocky iii . stallone boxed himself into a corner with this one .", "padded with clips from earlier rocky pictures , adding nothing to his mythic , let alone human dimensions , it lacks even the primitive suspense and crude capacity to release underdog emotions that permitted its predecessors to conquer one 's better judgment .", "-lsb- stallone -rsb- creates credible villains worthy of his heroic character .", "sylvester stallone is really sloughing it off shamelessly in MOV , but it 's still impossible not to root for old rocky balboa to get up off the canvas and whup that bully one more time .", "ridiculous jingoistic nonsense .", "even the hint of political power that rocky garners by the end of this latest battle is made to seem like more of the same empty glory .", "cold war metaphors delivered with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer dampens the storytelling .", "a camp classic , funny for all the wrong reasons .", "i know it 's awful , but i ca n't look away !", "more action , and less plot let 's makes rocky 's latest bout entertaining , but far from groundbreaking .", "should have stopped at three . four , no more .", "fist-pumping , heart-jumping , chest-thumping fun .", "if you ask me , it 's mostly about 1985 , a time when you could fill 90 minutes with nothing but machismo , excitement and montage .", "while this derivative and shallow sequel might weaken the credibility of the series , there 's no denying the satisfaction of watching a fight of such seemingly impossible odds .", "even sylvester stallone seems to be getting tired of the series ; as the writer and director , as well as the star , he puts himself through the same old paces ." ], "summary": "MOV inflates the action to absurd heights , but it ultimately rings hollow thanks to a story that hits the same basic beats as the first three entries in the franchise .", "id": "11576" }, { "movie": "cast_away", "reviews": [ "one-man show", "tom hanks ' powerful , brutal and mature story .", "as melancholy as it is affirming , `` MOV '' tells a darkly comic , occasionally punishing parable about what happens when humans lose sight of humility in life 's grand scheme - an interesting thematic twin to tom hanks ' own `` joe vs. the volcano . ''", "remains one of the more vividly transporting films i 've come into contact with . it 's heartbreaking , darkly comedic , bravely observational , and ultimately , pure emotional poetry .", "a gripping survival drama and one of my favorites of 2000 .", "the beginning and ending of the film are a bit underdeveloped , but that 's just quibbling .", "zemeckis ' tranquil control never wavers .", "i wish that all of the film 's 144 minutes were spent alone with hanks .", "this is mr. zemeckis ' most confident directing to date . if he only had as much faith in his audience .", "thoroughly entertaining and skillfully rendered .", "an exquisite film that gratifies our senses and our emotions .", "zemeckis is a capable director , so despite the misguided concept , the movie is anything but inept .", "movies that are supposed to be about the ` journeys of the heart ' very rarely have real heart . MOV is a major exception .", "a gripping tale of a man against the elements .", "a brave film , and a surprisingly absorbing and finally affecting one , partly because it 's about that least american of trinities -- silence , solitariness , and the spiritual deepening impossible to achieve without both .", "a blockbuster with the soul of an art film , MOV is an enormously gratifying surprise ending to a generally disappointing year at the movies .", "in terms of story and pacing , the whole of MOV is a lot less then the sum of its parts .", "as a fedex troubleshooter who survives a plane crash , hanks performs a bravura solo spin .", "director robert zemeckis and screenwriter william broyles jr. do a great job of keeping the cut-and-dried formula from , well , getting too cut and dried .", "although MOV is very much hanks 's extreme everyman solo , his inanimate man friday deserves recognition as one of the year 's best supporting actors .", "MOV is a sad movie of the sort that hollywood almost never makes : not three-hankie sad , not ` go have yourself a good cry ' sad , but the kind of thing that , if you let it in deep enough , can send a shudder to your very soul .", "tom hanks does a superb job of carrying MOV all by himself for about two-thirds of its running time , but is n't much helped by additional characters in the opening and closing sequences .", "a moving and artful odyssey , a reminder that no matter how much we try to beat the clock , time will grind ever forward .", "touching .", "MOV is , in many ways , a bold , adventurous bid for oscardom . unfortunately , what it delivers for audiences , as opposed to oscar voters , is a little questionable .", "dig deep and you 'll find a film that 's even richer than what its handsome surface seems to reveal .", "this second section is a masterpiece of filmmaking and a tour de force of acting .", "daring and accomplished .", "the producers of survivor only wish they could come up with a story as compelling and ultimately human as MOV .", "beautifully crafted .", "an eloquently told story that leaves around it enough space , and enough time , so that we can fill in the ironies on our own .", "completely engaging .", "MOV has a marshmallow middle that feels empty at the core .", "another impeccable piece of craftsmanship from zemeckis .", "tom hanks is in nearly every frame of MOV -- for more than an hour of the film , he 's literally the only human being on the screen -- and yet you never grow tired of watching him .", "if you 've seen the trailer or the commercials , you know the story , but that does n't mean you 've seen the movie .", "MOV is not a great movie , but it showcases a great performance as rich in subtlety as it is in depth .", "hanks and his collaborators deserve all the praise and awards that surely will come their way .", "in the end MOV is good enough that you 'll forgive -lsb- zemeckis -rsb- for making contact , forrest gump and what lies beneath .", "this is no holiday , and certainly no game show . the movie has depth .", "while MOV works as a simple saga of survival , the film plays on deeper levels too .", "hanks ' physical transformation also sets MOV apart , but what 's most compelling is the way it gives the audience credit for being able to put the pieces together .", "MOV amounts to little more than an unprecedented showcase for its star .", "the scenes of hanks ' complete isolation on the island , where barely a sound is heard for minutes at a time , are the best thing about MOV .", "MOV is worth your while long before you reach the anti-climactic ending .", "while hanks ' performance is masterful in this tale of survival , the movie runs out of steam , and direction , at the end .", "quite entertaining , and well worth seeing , if only for hanks ' sensational performance .", "thoroughly absorbing .", "tom hanks stands three coconuts above the cbs whiners and gives an astounding performance as a modern-day robinson crusoe .", "has no shortage of compelling moments .", "MOV has the smooth , steady , luxury-car elegance of an outing shaped by people at the top of their craft .", "something we 've long suspected turns out to be true : you really could put tom hanks on a desert island , film it , and wind up with an entertaining movie .", "an interesting and courageous experiment ... -lsb- but -rsb- risk-taking in itself does not guarantee a great film", "... fascinating , moving , full of meaning and well worth investing 143 minutes of your life .", "come to this film with an open mind , and enjoy its compelling mood , its exotic , deadly danger-in-beauty-of-nature setting and tom hanks ' riveting performance .", "picture any other actor in this virtually one-man show and ask yourself if you 'd be interested in spending two hours alone with him on an island .", "this is a good film ; if it had stuck to its guns , it could have become a cinema classic .", "i felt like the real ending had been MOV .", "this is one of those love it or hate its ... i completely loved it . even its unorthodox ending ... i find hanks mesmerizingly talented .", "hanks ' sympathetic performance and broyles 's detailed script are above average and not a bad way to spend a few hours during the holidays .", "... an odd and unbalanced undertaking that pays distinctive attention to the appropriate elements but then draws back at all the wrong moments ...", "MOV is a significant achievement of this , or any other , year .", "it just so happens that `` MOV '' is one of the best films of the year .", "hanks deserves a lot of credit for tackling this role , not only for the physical hardships he endured . yes , it 's best actor nomination -lrb- and possibly a third win -rrb- time for america 's favorite thespian again .", "it 's not just a movie -- it 's an experience .", "a gung ho fedex systems engineer stranded on a deserted island cultivates the spiritual practice of hope and learns to respect the mysteries of the present moment .", "zemeckis tells his story ... with a control magnificent in what is n't shown as much as in what is .", "the major fault of the film lies in the capricious ending ...", "may ultimately underachieve , but the soul that hanks brings to the role -- and the film -- must not be underrated .", "this is a better story than the platitude that it seems to build up to in the final scene . but it was not all the film it could have been if zemeckis would have realized where his best material lay .", "a cinematic triumph , a motion picture so rich with honest emotions and ideas that it comes as a relative surprise that this is a big-budget , star vehicle .", "hanks delivers one of the best performances of the year . he did this despite great difficulties , among them : zemeckis and his collaborator , broyles .", "hanks conducts a master class in acting by showing a man losing his sense of himself in fractional gradations .", "the bottom line is that MOV is reaching for so many cosmic truths that it never achieves the emotional kick that any survival story must have .", "... a good title , good acting , good effects , plentiful bonus features , three mediocre stories , and a volleyball . and they say 2000 was a bad year for films !", "a film that soars above the standard big-budget hollywood fare .", "for much of the time , hanks is on screen by himself , his only dialogue addressed to an inanimate ball . a lesser performer would have made it an unendurable ordeal .", "tom hanks does an exceptional job as the only real character in the film", "all problems aside , `` MOV '' delivers some amazing moments of cinematic beauty .", "it is testament to the acting prowess and undeniable humanity exuded by tom hanks that he can carry long stretches of the film literally by himself", "es un filme sobrecogedor y motivante que dejar\u00e1 una honda huella emocional en quien tenga la oportunidad de experimentarlo", "the filmmakers risk your impatience to take us inside almost every detail of the marooned man 's life , and the risk pays off .", "you will not be bored for a second .", "is nothing less than the best movie of the year .", "an unforgettable film .", "what a better cinematic palette we would have if stars wielded their clout like this more often . ''", "MOV 's finest moments consist of hanks alone with his surroundings .", "worth the trip .", "under the direction of forest gump director robert zemeckis , hanks performance is marvelous .", "hanks and zemeckis begin with an intriguing premise ... and , by the film 's end , smother that premise under a tidal wave of sentimentality and schmaltz .", "the script is insightful and unafraid to tackle very serious issues head on . and the performances are brilliant .", "if i did n't know any better i 'd say that this film was written in order for tom hanks to win yet another academy award . yikes ! he may pull it off .", "if the stuff on the island is very , very good , let us at least admit that everything else could have been a lot worse . i mean , ron howard could have directed it , right ?", "one more project like this -lrb- or gump -rrb- and this could be the best actor/director team since deniro and scorsese .", "MOV is n't the first to recognize our modern need for primal tales , but it is among the most accomplished . it plugs straight into our unplugged fantasies .", "there 's something inherently compelling about the situation , even if the movie screwed up on the specifics .", "two hours of good movie were only moderately spoiled by thirty minutes of nora ephron-style dreck .", "thank god there 's no friday .", "i found MOV very transporting , all the more so the second time around .", "one thing is bound to come out of MOV -- a deserved best actor nomination for hanks .", "a film brimming over-the-top with realism and features one of our most treasured -lrb- and likable -rrb- actors , tom hanks , in an incredible , virtually silent performance as a survivor .", "for a critic quite prepared to dismiss the movie as robinson blew so , this comes as the season 's most delightful surprise .", "the choppy narrative makes chuck 's ordeal seem more brief than it is . as shown , it 's merely the world 's worst layover .", "a handsomely made , instructive but finally tedious blow-by-blow training film on island survival that it throws the entire venture out of balance , capsizing the enterprise and making it difficult to keep any kind of message afloat .", "hanks turns in an oscar-worthy performance yet again .", "a tour de force , a courageous and surprisingly un-self-indulgent exercise in pared-down acting that makes hanks , yet again , a likely oscar contender .", "MOV is an adventure movie of extraordinary simplicity and power .", "pulls the audience in with sure-footed storytelling and a commendable performance by hanks in a very demanding role .", "a model of restrained storytelling that 's studded with a series of pure emotional peaks .", "the usually flashy and fun-loving zemeckis opts for an almost documentary-style approach here , with cunning use of silence , darkness and the sound of pounding rain to convey chuck 's disorientation and desperation .", "a technical marvel with indelible scenes that linger long after the movie has ended .", "hanks fans may very well love this movie , but it does not fulfill its promise .", "an awesome movie .", "in addition to hanks ' superb acting , amazing cinematography by don burgess helps lift this movie above the ordinary .", "MOV remains daring and quite unique even though it could have been even more , and hanks ' performance is really something to be seen .", "hanks 's everyman quality has never been more aptly utilized : he 's the perfect stand-in for all of us who never made it to eagle scout .", "the challenge to the character is matched by the challenge to the actor ; for most of the movie mr. hanks is the only human being we see or hear . he tackles the job with stunning confidence in a performance stripped of gimmicks and driven by need .", "chuck has flashes of ingenuity that filled me with the thrill of discovery and invention , and stretches of failure that i felt just as acutely .", "h\u00e1 um filme bel\u00edssimo escondido em n\u00e1ufrago . infelizmente , ele est\u00e1 enterrado no meio de duas extremidades que deixam muito a desejar .", "zemeckis does an excellent job of finding visual means to express chuck 's isolation and thought process .", "takes admirable risks while avoiding pitfalls .", "a heavy-handed hymn to the human spirit , and a pretty joyless one at that .", "it was the tail of the tale , the last 25 minutes , that left me marooned .", "has all the hallmarks of a great motion picture : well-developed characters , solid drama , non-traditional adventure , and an intelligent script .", "unusual and remarkable .", "tom hanks does an incredible performance in this role , as you would guess .", "can a movie that spends about 80 % of its runtime alone on an island with one man actually not be boring ? you bet .", "hanks has little besides his body at his disposal , and the actor still creates one of the most poignant and tragic characters ever committed to celluloid .", "zemeckis pulls off his best directorial effort yet , and that 's quite a statement considering the films he already has under his belt .", "an enjoyable , moving drama in which you 'll believe a man can love a volleyball . highly recommended .", "hanks made more faces and walked around with his mouth open more than i might have liked , but he has a way of revealing his thoughts without words that kept me intrigued .", "while his philosophical ventures seem stuck in the shallow end of the pool , zemeckis takes an important step forward as a filmmaker .", "this is n't a first time a long-awaited movie has turned out to be a crushing disappointment and it wo n't be the last , but the loss is made even more wrenching when one considers how little it would have taken to make MOV a great movie .", "though hanks comes across as blandly as ever , at least his solid performance shows he 's up to carrying half a movie on his own , and zemeckis ' direction is at first as busily efficient as the protagonist .", "it 's really kind of ironic . the old chuck 's life is ruled by the clock . once he 's learned better , we do n't get enough time with him because the author 's decided it was time to go . oh , well .", "if all of MOV were as gripping as its long midsection , it would be overwhelming ; still , even with its flaws , it marks another milestone performance for tom hanks as well as for robert zemeckis .", "MOV says what you -lrb- yes , you -rrb- would end up doing if you were on a deserted island .", "it 's a risky venture , and a fascinating , straightforward glimpse into the soul of a man .", "when i prayed to the film divinities that i wanted less tom hanks at the movies , i did n't just mean that i wanted him to be thinner .", "as thought-provoking as star-driven blockbuster fare gets .", "add in chuck 's deteriorating hold on sanity -- evinced by the inspired conceit of his relationship with a volleyball on which he 's drawn a face -- and you have a long middle section of bravura filmmaking .", "this is something you 've got to see even with the flaws .", "on those rare occasions when hollywood tries , it can still produce great films .", "it 's easy now to take hanks ' acting for granted , but his work here is astonishing , among the best in his illustrious career . if MOV disappoints , it 's only because the presumption of excellence is so strong .", "at its best , MOV , like titanic , awes us with its sheer oceanic sweep and its cosmic apprehension of human insignificance .", "first-rate .", "zemeckis does a sturdy , absorbing job with the island and ocean scenes .", "as they did in forrest gump , zemeckis and hanks go big theme hunting . this time their prey eludes them .", "even those who perceived gump as nothing but a smug affirmation of mealymouthed platitudes , and thus hated it , may well be surprised at the subtleties and emotional depth that MOV eventually reaches ." ], "summary": "flawed but fascinating , MOV offers an intelligent script , some of robert zemeckis ' most mature directing , and a showcase performance from tom hanks .", "id": "12777" }, { "movie": "bread_and_tulips", "reviews": [ "strands its beatific heroine far too early in the going .", "this frothy , charming parfait of a motion picture will endear itself to many of those who seek it out .", "this wonderful italian comedy pays tribute to the deep yearnings we all have for a life of adventure , romance , and intimacy .", "soldini 's movie gets away with more than it should on warmth alone -- most of it emanating from licia maglietta .", "a feel-good movie well-suited for those who do n't require roll-in-the-aisle comedies .", "completely by-the-book in its light feel-good ways .", "a delightful feature that is as charming as its title and as beautiful as its venetian setting .", "seeing MOV may not be as good as having an actual holiday in italy , but it 's close .", "a charming comedy with enough surprises to counter its lightness .", "fun and romantic , with beautiful scenery and characters whose lives we 'd like to live if we had the nerve ... or if our passports were n't missing .", "though there 's no denying that MOV is just a feel-good movie , it is a delightfully executed , simple , and unassuming film ...", "a slight tale , charmingly told .", "a feel-good helping of cinematic tiramisu -- it 's sweet and spongy , but rather clammy and artificial .", "charms the viewer as it communicates a noble message about the need to remove oneself from the meaninglessness of daily life in order to appreciate its full worth .", "an endearing romantic daydream , but misses the bus where matters of reality are concerned .", "like a pleasant , gentle book that , once finished , makes you think , ` gee , i could have spent that time reading something better . '", "it 's all very sweet , but the film goes in too many directions .", "an airy , scrumptious valentine of a romantic fable .", "the heart knows what it wants in MOV , and so do the filmmakers . every eccentric character , plot-twist and contrivance is a means to that end .", "as for star licia maglietta , the appeal of the film is nearly all in her presence .", "every one of the characters is caught up in the real world of missed opportunities and broken souvenirs .", "as summer ends , this delightfully frothy italian romantic comedy is a beguiling getaway for mature audiences .", "sweet but uneven", "a sweet-spirited , extremely well-cast little comedy .", "i found it rather comparable to a typical television sitcom , which is n't exactly a glowing recommendation .", "though lightweight , it 's irresistible .", "pretty much the standard indie formula : an oppressed housewife miraculously discovers herself as an independent woman .", "if you ca n't get away for that romantic summertime italian vacation , do n't worry , just take this sweet comedic trip .", "a scenic , gentle diversion .", "characters ' eccentricities feel contrived and the wackiness seems forced .", "a well-crafted crowd-pleaser .", "we traipse into this magical world as tourists , but mr. soldini , with graceful good humor , invites us to pretend that we 're natives .", "a charming little film , filled with eccentric characters and ingratiating performances .", "it casts a pleasant , amusing and touching spell .", "i found something soft in its attempts at whimsical humor .", "unfulfilling and relentlessly saccharine .", "maglietta gives a wonderful performance as a vibrant woman emerging from a cocoon of suburban malaise .", "as a charmer the movie is not a klutz . some mild excesses of whimsy are to be forgiven , even savored , like nibbling a few extra olives on your plate of antipasti .", "offers a delightful fairy-tale solution for those feeling trapped in a pre-assigned role , a momentary escape into the imagination .", "an unsurprising and leaden effort that does n't even show off the beauty of this wondrous setting .", "we 've seen this film way too many times in countless permutations , and its lack of originality is injured by the general poorness of the direction .", "it 's a feel-good movie to see with a friend on a rainy afternoon when you both need a little getaway .", "soldini ... exploits the premise for schmaltz and easy laughs .", "maglietta is the secret of this film 's romantic charm , because we like her so much .", "see venice and sigh .", "it 's maglietta 's loveliness of spirit that grounds this strange movie .", "a slow-going but very , very sweet movie .", "although maglietta 's appealing as rosalba , cowriter and director silvio scoldini 's movie is a little too shopworn and pokey to be more than a respectable european diversion .", "a well-intentioned , warm movie that becomes increasingly saccharine and silly .", "i ca n't recall ever having seen this actress -lsb- maglietta -rsb- , but here she commands the screen .", "um filme charmoso e cativante .", "the last 20 minutes of the film include some of the most romantic filmmaking in a long time .", "a feel-good film with a schmaltzy love offering of tulips and bread .", "... the words that come to mind are `` sweet '' and `` charming . ''", "it is a very positive film in many ways . it argues that just about anybody can be redeemed .", "leisurely paced and very easy to watch .", "it 's almost as if solidini ... figured that all he had to do was put a crowd of eccentric characters together and magic would occur .", "sweet , delicately comic and a complete delight ." ], "summary": "MOV is a sweet-natured comedy offering gentle , escapist entertainment .", "id": "10490" }, { "movie": "phoenix_2015", "reviews": [ "`` MOV '' takes its time and leaves us guessing until the final electrifying scene .", "a thoroughly entertaining movie that probes our most painful history and provides a scalpel of a plot .", "you may not buy all the story twists , but perhaps the script is not meant to be taken literally .", "-lsb- i -rsb- t 's engrossing enough to keep the doubts about the story itself at bay .", "beautiful and mysteriously powerful from beginning to end .", "`` MOV '' is an intoxicating witches ' brew , equal parts melodrama and moral parable , that audaciously mixes diverse elements to compelling , disturbing effect .", "the cinematic equivalent of a page-turner , no more and no less .", "... not only a cinephile 's treasure trove , a throwback to the film 's of the forties touched with a modern sensibility , but a canny psychological portrait of a defeated country .", "richly compelling -- despite its unlikely story -- neo-noir drama of unusual emotional and psychological complexity . another best-of-the-year contender .", "sometimes implausible and always engrossing , `` MOV '' takes us to postwar berlin , a shell of a city where concentration camp survivor nelly is a shell of herself .", "the three performances , especially the sadly tender one by hoss , keep us connected .", "petzold 's filmmaking is atmospheric and suspenseful .", "`` MOV '' is the best excuse yet to dive into the filmography of this important director .", "MOV is an extremely well-made picture , with fine lead performances by hoss and zehrfeld , who acted together in petzold 's fascinating barbara .", "-lrb- t -rrb- he cinematography and production design are outstanding , realistically capturing what germany was like immediately after the end of wwii ... this is not a film for everybody , but the acting and photography are worth the sit , despite the lack of pace .", "MOV is a death-defying melodrama of rare emotional obsession . it carefully pushes its conceit to the very limits , practically begging for the truth , or better yet , reconciliation .", "it works , due to a combination of petzold 's spartan restraint and a lovely performance by actress nina hoss .", "zehrfeld is note perfect as the gruff , single-minded johnny , oblivious -- or at least in denial -- about the true identity of his new roommate .", "this wholly absorbing , even mystical , holocaust tale has the most shattering concluding scene you 're likely to see this year .", "the movie is n't a thriller , but it still generates a strange sort of emotional suspense - an incredibly intense drama that makes you hold your breath .", "christian petzold never luxuriates in all this film history , but rather channels the artifice and affect it embodies into new insights .", "the film 's intimacy brings this societal critique right into our bedroom , exposing all the ways that marriages are their own form of subtle betrayals and self-preservation .", "so beautifully made that it comes close to perfect .", "combines naturalism and the quasi-fantastical into an assured , confident dirge .", "`` MOV `` is as much a portrait of a woman longing to find herself again as a portrait of an entire nation longing for a way to re-build .", "a preposterous narrative convulsion is played with such conviction and sincerity that all reservations are swept to the wind .", "petzold builds the film to a stunningly executed finale that serves as a potent metaphor for the way the performance required by denial ca n't hope to suppress the truth from revealing itself .", "if it does n't quite reach the level of barbara , MOV still perpetuates one of the best contemporary director-actor collaborations , one that carries on the existential quandaries of the german new wave in more accessible form .", "the warped narrative functions as an allegory for the stories that people and nations recount to themselves in order to go on surviving .", "hoss is perfect in a challenging role , a woman trying to recover bits of the person she once was , but having to do so in service to a greedy scheme that robs her of the very identity she is trying to recover .", "the film , which seems to be designed to address the mainstream and art-house spectator , is thoroughly dramatic but also thought-provokingly allegorical .", "petzold 's best film , and an early contender for one of the year 's finest .", "MOV 's premise is so questionable it 's downright unbelievable .", "german director christian petzold 's examination of berlin , through nelly 's eyes , just after the war , is somber , as is nelly 's story .", "there 's no point in explaining where all of this goes . but petzold is in command of it .", "-lsb- nina hoss ' is -rsb- the kind of performance that makes you appreciate the turmoil of emotions that can be conveyed in a look .", "nina hoss is stunning in a beautifully realized variation on a theme of hitchcock 's vertigo with a holocaust twist .", "riffs on a classic theme in significant ways that resonate beyond its melodramatic trappings . one of the best and most haunting films of 2015 .", "provocative , profoundly moving and the acting is virtuosic .", "there is intrigue . there is suspense . guilt -- a man 's guilt , a nation 's -- hangs heavy in the air .", "a simple but powerful parable of rebirth involving love , loss , betrayal , guilt and greed in a post-war germany where the enormities of the holocaust are still immediate and unresolved .", "it is touching , wonderful , filmmaking .", "petzold grows more and more into the role of a master of the cumulative power of elegant drama ... but also of the smashing payoff . MOV rises above influence , transforming itself into melodramatic heaven on its own magnificent flight .", "a thrilling , seductive game of deception fit for film noir , where lies seek to unearth truths that would rather stay buried . throughout it all , petzold concocts images that will sear their way into your memory .", "a gripping study of treachery , identity and survival .", "bleak , yet somehow brimming with hope , MOV feels like a one-off . catch it while you can .", "like its heroine , `` MOV '' speaks low but with bitter clarity .", "if it fails to consistently transcend its narrative troubles MOV does , on occasion , take flight .", "the jazzy approach takes time to settle into a groove , but the longer its themes commingle , the more MOV harmonizes into something unforgettable .", "mr. petzold has made a suave and suspenseful entertainment that does n't seem entirely sure that it wants to be - or is able to be - more .", "a profound commentary on the lasting effects of the nazi era on the german people .", "all of this plays out in a way that is restrained and understated to a fault , but hoss is quietly devastating and there are one or two affecting moments .", "a taut , atmospheric , engrossing and slow-burning noir thriller with a radiant performance by nina hoss .", "MOV is full of ambiguity and intelligence .", "vintage setting for the moral ambiguities of film noir , while creating a new showcase for petzold 's frequent muse nina hoss to create an indelible character .", "is n't stylish escapism , but a psychological drama that touches on betrayal in the aftermath of incalculable tragedy , finding petzold in command of mood and reveals , while hoss delivers exemplary work in the lead role .", "the intensely thoughtful director of yella , jerichow , and barbara has returned with his favorite actress , nina hoss , for another of their immaculately realized dramas of psychological suspense and social culpability .", "-lsb- a -rsb- gloomy , implausible noir , set in the ruins of divided postwar berlin .", "a noir-ish and complex emotional thriller .", "the plot is just implausible enough to keep the film from greatness , but director christian petzold -lrb- barbara -rrb- stirs up a powder-keg metaphor about rebuilding after war .", "german director christian petzold has come up with a splendid work of mourning and melodrama in `` MOV . ''", "we buy the premise because of the film 's dreamy quality : MOV 's berlin is a rubble-strewn labyrinth and its inhabitants walking ghosts haunted by the recent past .", "this is an amazing piece of work that transcends historical document to become art . using the filmic language of noir , petzold crafts a story of a culture caught in the aftermath of horror .", "one of the best new movies i 've seen this year .", "an ingeniously plotted and rather heartbreaking movie ...", "if the film at times feels more interesting in theory-for what it evokes , cinematic and otherwise-then all is forgotten once MOV arrives at its destination ...", "true to genre and to the history it peels back , MOV boldly offers us a war without heroes , only ghosts of broken people moving through a broken world , searching in vain for their former selves .", "borrows tension , look and conventions from postwar film noir , and the hitchcockian doubles , reversals and atmosphere of suspicion unbalance expectations of which character -lrb- if either -rrb- is cat or mouse .", "both performances are terrific in support of a screenplay rich in period detail and thematic texture , leading to a haunting final twist .", "beneath the playful genre trappings lurks something much darker - an investigation of guilty memory and wishful forgetfulness in the wake of unspeakable national horror .", "... the movie ends with one of the most memorable and spellbinding final scenes in recent cinema history .", "se estabelece como algo mais do que um melodrama , um noir , um estudo de personagem ou um romance .", "even if the pacing of petzhold 's low-key and at-times lull-prone story occasionally gets away from him , there 's no denying the power in his tale .", "`` MOV '' is a film that starts slow , gathers momentum and hits you with the force of an express train at the end .", "a deftly executed , suspenseful drama from germany .", "MOV mines a hitchcockian vein , but it is hoss ' sensitive performance and petzold 's intelligently paced direction that makes this film shine .", "MOV has a plot that hangs on the edge of believability but injects enough tension at the right moments to keep the film from tripping over itself .", "hitchcock 's vertigo has been invoked repeatedly as a comparison for christian petzold 's mesmerizing drama , but while he 's adapting a french novel that has already been turned into a film once before , absolutely nothing here feels second-hand .", "petzold slowly sketches out a world struck dumb by self-imposed amnesia , and MOV ends at a wallop of a destination , but it 's not an especially compelling journey .", "christian petzold 's MOV is a darkly melodramatic tale told in a very unmelodramatic fashion .", "the mistaken-identity trope has been used to comedic , dramatic and even horrific effect , but perhaps never in the deep noir tones of MOV , the latest from german writer/director christian petzold .", "a flawed human canvas candidly divides the characters into people facing brutal moral realities they can not transcend . while some go along to get along or succumb to identification with the oppressor , or immense heartbreak relieved by self-obliteration .", "a haunting , morbidly romantic melodrama with obvious links to vertigo , but from a reverse angle .", "the sheer magnitude of what nelly has experienced is evident and deeply felt in nina hoss ' every sad glance and hesitant gesture ." ], "summary": "tense , complex , and drenched in atmosphere , MOV is a well-acted , smartly crafted war drama that finds writer-director christian petzold working at peak power .", "id": "771387864" }, { "movie": "breathless", "reviews": [ "modern movies begin here , with jean-luc godard 's MOV in 1960 . no debut film since citizen kane in 1942 has been as influential .", "godard 's attention to nuance and detail makes this influential classic a must-see for any film lover .", "decades later , this seminal work of the french new wave is still one of godard 's freshest , most innovative , and most accessible films with a stunning performance by jean paul belmondo channeling bogart .", "even if some of MOV remains inaccessibly arty and obtuse , it 's nonetheless a film of watershed importance .", "who does n't like MOV ? it 's some kind of free-wheeling comic experiment in cool , and it works the whole way .", "a stunning classic .", "this film , a first pic by a film critic , shows the immediate influence of yank actioners and socio-psycho thrillers but has its own personal style .", "shot on a shoestring and none the worse for it , jean-luc godard 's gritty and engaging first feature had an almost revolutionary impact when first released in 1960 .", "beautiful .", "regardless of how one feels about jean-luc godard 's later , less accessible works , it would be hard to find a more audacious debut feature .", "if you 've never seen MOV , see it now -- but do n't expect an easy ride . if you have n't seen it for ages , see it again and be surprised at the fresh reactions it provokes .", "almost every frame looks smoky and luscious enough to be a nation to which lovers and young dreamers might hope one day to emigrate . it 's a film that will never wither , always inspire .", "influential . innovative . incredible .", "there is simply no other film which demonstrates so perfectly what it feels like to be young and in love .", "it 's especially impressive how completely jean seberg owns MOV considering what she 's up against .", "MOV has the proportions wrong . too much rambling , too little point .", "this movie liberated the cinema -- the stories you could tell and the ways you could tell them -- as clearly and cleanly as picasso freed painting and the sex pistols rebooted rock .", "even 50 years later , it 's easy feel how vivid a game-changer MOV must have been when it arrived .", "it 's like a bullet from the future of movies .", "MOV feels like it was -lsb- made -rsb- tomorrow .", "the camera lavishes black-and-white love on paris , strolling up the champs-elys\u00e9es , edging across caf\u00e9 terraces , sweeping over the rooftop skyline , mozart mixing with cool jazz riffs in the night air .", "it 's energy over substance .", "MOV makes alienation look like it was a lot more fun in 1960 than in the ponderous gravitas or ante-upping brutality of indie film today .", "if you miss out on this print , you are truly missing out on another life .", "it actually seems more daring now than ever before and all the more vital as a result .", "one of the most famous and influential movies ever made .", "even in an early work that blushes with the narcissistic pleasure of obsessive cinephilia , godard knew enough to look on the dark side .", "a half-century has softened the impact , but ` MOV ' still holds its own .", "though rarely discussed as either a love story or a political film , MOV maintains fascination because it is equally both .", "the actors do n't inhabit characters so much as occupy a middle ground where play-acting and fan ardor replace the embodiment of set emotions and personality traits .", "say this , in sum , for MOV : it is certainly no clich\u00e9 , in any area or sense of the word . it is more a chunk of raw drama , graphically and artfully torn with appropriately ragged edges out of the tough underbelly of modern metropolitan life .", "it stands apart from all that came before and has revolutionized all that followed .", "it 's as innovative as it is entertaining . it 's clever , hilarious , amazing ... you just ca n't miss this !", "MOV became a kind of existential hipster classic , a cool flick as well as great cinema .", "a stunning success", "it works great on a theoretical level , but it does n't really make for an exciting or all that interesting viewing experience .", "a revolution swept french cinema into the 1960s , and this film seized the public by its throat .", "fast and loose , with a buzzing sense of the potential of the cinema undercut by the beginnings of godard 's intellectual rigour .", "the film that launched the french new wave , MOV remains an outstanding testament to the great ideals of fun filmmaking that infused the movement .", "with MOV -lsb- godard -rsb- is attempting to break down the rules of the form he loves so much , in order to let us know that it is all on the table now , from subject matter to form .", "a unique hybrid , both the realization of years of critical writings by godard and ... also a film made by an unabashed cinephile .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- goddard arrived at a kinesthetic technique of jagged cutting during the editing process as a way to speed up the action - to prune out the boring stuff .", "it retains its brilliance both as entertainment and as a groundbreaking work of art .", "MOV jumps to its own rhythm and pokes holes in its idols even as it worships them .", "vivre dangereusement jusqu?au bout .", "together , like their countermelodies , michel and patricia form a zero-sum game-nothing matters . but with michel 's death , she is left behind to ponder the consequences of their indifference .", "as his career progressed , godard 's films became more mature and accomplished , but rarely , if ever , did they pack such an immediate , visceral punch .", "on its fiftieth birthday MOV remains fresh and exciting , although its revolutionary approach has long since been absorbed into the mainstream , and the years do show on it a bit ." ], "summary": "MOV rewrote the rules of cinema -- and more than 50 years after its arrival , jean-luc godard 's paradigm-shifting classic remains every bit as vital .", "id": "17078" }, { "movie": "youngheart", "reviews": [ "regardless of your age , you 'll leave young at heart with a big smile on your face . this musical is sheer joy and infectiously happy . it 's one of this year 's best films .", "an extraordinary documentary about a senior citizen chorus that reveals singing as a spiritual practice that opens our hearts , provides fresh energy , and connects us with others .", "to observe a fluctuating group of about two dozen singers whose average age is 80 perform in the documentary young@heart is to be uplifted , if slightly unsettled .", "young@heart 's worst enemy is its director , stephen walker , whose incessant pushing and prodding strives to manipulate in ways both needless and trite .", "anybody who thinks the rolling stones are old should check out the charming documentary young@heart , which features a group of rock performers whose average age is around 80 .", "sure to be a hit not just with the aarp crowd , we 'll surely see a lot of the film 's ready-to-be excerpted videos .", "the film 's appeal is at once sentimental and perverse : it 's not every day that you get to see a 92-year-old woman soloing on ` should i stay or should i go . '", "though the group members are hilarious and their stories effortlessly touching , the clumsy filmmaking and manipulative editing muddle what should have been a simple human story .", "how can we be uplifted by a james brown classic when the singer in fact does n't feel good but actually has a painful-looking spine condition ?", "what makes young @ heart work well is the way director-narrator stephen walker focuses on how great music transcends age and generational shifts .", "moments of high comedy and deep tragedy make this more than the average rehearsal and concert film .", "sure , these ` zesty ' , ` lively ' old folks are enjoying themselves . the question is why on earth we should be expected to watch .", "a lovely little film .", "that might be because the film has already been shown on the bbc - a fact that , along with the unprepossessing production values , rather begs the question of why bother with a cinematic release at all ?", "if this film were any more heartwarming , your chest would melt .", "judicious trimming would have improved the movie , but johnny cash-voiced fred knittle 's opening night rendition of coldplay 's `` fix you '' , dedicated to the recently departed members , is guaranteed to leave not a dry eye in the house .", "they more than justify a film which , despite its faults , makes the winter of life less terrifying than it 's made out to be .", "a worse film might be dismissed as sobsploitation . but stephen walker 's documentary - a labour of love inspired by walker 's first sight of the group in a london west end show - touches the mind as well as the heart .", "it will make you feel wonderful , and if you 're like me , whose emotional barometer responds in the positive with tears , take plenty of tissues .", "heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure , young at heart is a good antidote for cynicism .", "the result is a feel good documentary that has us laughing and crying with our new friends .", "... such a hilarious , moving and uplifting piece of work the only thing left to do after seeing it is to start campaigning the academy of motion picture arts and sciences 's documentary arm to change their rules ...", "we get to know these folks , their love for life and performing -- and yes , we even start to see them as more than a mere novelty act .", "the best film i 've seen so far this year and easily one of my favorite documentaries ever .", "this charming offbeat docu about a chorus of young-spirited senior citizens is not a great film but it 's touching and poignant , contesting cultural stereotypes about old age , love , and creativity ; worth seeing , preferably with old members of your clan .", "a choir full of -lrb- very -rrb- old people get down with the rock music . sweet , funny , touching stuff .", "this entertaining and often moving documentary should help even the youngest of viewer get in touch with their own mortality and make it clear that life does n't have to end at 60 .", "an irresistibly joyous , tearful and , most importantly , musical doc about a band of senior pop singers .", "nothing prepared me for the unexpected resonance of this life-affirming , death-defying group portrait . their advanced years have the effect of rejuvenating the lyrics and meaning of every number .", "charming , exuberant and poignant documentary ... you 'll probabvly come out of it with a spring in your step .", "-lsb- director -rsb- walker has found a delicate , thoughtful , respectful , witty way to convey both the dignity of the individual men and women singing , as well as the ineffable power of determining to live fully until there 's no breath left .", "full of passion and honesty -- two emotions that are rarely found in life , let alone cinema", "it shows that no one has more reason to stick it to the man with rock music than people who are most defiantly not going gently into that good night .", "at the base of its premise as a documentary , young@heart seems like a ca n't - miss proposition . but what really emerges is an essence and poignancy that goes beyond the black and white of just singing the rock songs .", "it sounds dubious and cutesy , but within minutes it reveals itself as the real thing and doubt gives way to unbridled enthusiasm .", "documentarian stephen walker 's brisk , ironic style of narration and frank inclusion of himself in the observations contribute mightily to the enterprise , which is also aided by his honesty .", "i love this film !", "here is revealed the true and unimpeachable gift of age and it is not just a revelation in this context , it is also way cool .", "despite the director , the film is damned wonderful", "you wo n't believe the world of young@heart , but you 'll have a hard time resisting it .", "the young@heart chorus has all the characters -- and character -- that any documentarian could ask for .", "not only is it enjoyable , young@heart is a heartening and poignant affirmation of the transformative power of music .", "young @ heart would have been a wonderful newspaper feature . unfortunately , it 's a nonfiction film -- and merely a middling one .", "one of the most delightful movies to come along this year .", "music can move you , no matter what style , no matter who performs . that 's the most poignant lesson of young@heart .", "makes you want to go out and join a chorus -- whatever your age may be .", "the ` are n't these geezers adorable ? ' approach ends up diminishing his subjects rather than honoring them .", "it 's certainly a film that 's cruel to disagree with , but for all the goodwill and positivity it brings , there 's a hollow , gimmicky quality left behind that does n't sit well when the picture starts to take matters seriously .", "what makes young@heart such an ingratiating experience goes far deeper than the novelty of seeing old people singing hard rock tunes .", "in many ways , this serious side of young@heart is what ultimately makes the film memorable .", "no beautiful people here , just a beautiful story .", "an undeniably sweet mix of disarming honesty , inspired gumption and brutal reality , young@heart somehow manages to avoid the maudlin while enhancing the obvious with its portrait of a chorus of senior citizens who sing contemporary rock songs .", "inspirational , funny , sad and very satisfying .", "a chorus -lrb- average age 80 -rrb- prepares for a springtime tour , putting their signature spin on classics -- classics like the clash 's `` should i stay or should i go . ''", "the members of the young at heart chorus might not offer the serpentine strutting or bacchanalian back story of the rolling stones , but their vivacity , dedication and courage would give any rock idol pause .", "while there is a significant cute factor built into that conceit , the strength of young @ heart is it takes the music seriously .", "the group is a testament to the healing capabilities of music . the choir itself deserves four stars ; if the film had delivered the same grit and poignancy , it would have too .", "the project reeks of commercial calculation , which is just tolerable until walker , in search of a story arc , follows two chorus members with serious illnesses into the hospital .", "a film that proves that age is only a state of mind , stardom is only a social security check away and wine and cheese are n't the only things that get better with time .", "young@heart eschews the clich\u00e9s about old people for something that we can all relate to : our own mortality .", "funny and achingly sad .", "truth is , any heart that 's open can connect with this vital , amusing , good rocking and very inspiring story .", "in young@heart , the prison is old age , and every song 's a jailbreak .", "the doc may indeed be too cute for some , but walker knows when to step back and let life , with all its harshness and disappointments , into the picture .", "it 's an emotional tapestry , sure to both delight audiences and move them to tears .", "one of the most remarkable scenes you will ever see in a documentary is the chorus of elderly men and women -- average age of 80 -- singing bob dylan 's ` forever young ' before convicts in a massachusetts penitentiary .", "the film 's emotional peak comes at the end when the chorus performs for prison inmates who must be , on average , well under half the age of the singers . it 's a liberating experience , for both sides .", "despite the flaws of the filmmaking , the characters who populate the young@heart chorus shine through , inspiring young and old alike .", "develops into a poignant reflection on community , mortality and how we all need to stop and smell the roses . recommended .", "it 's a pity that director stephen walker , who also narrates , imposes so much of himself on the material , asking at times the most insensitive questions .", "as an interviewer walker is habitually condescending and sometimes downright inane ...", "funny , touching and life-affirming .", "this film shows the triumph of the human spirit and the strength of will .", "ya got ta love these guys ! how could you not love these guys ?", "if it ... verges on being just slightly patronising at times , that 's a quarrel with the filmmakers , not its participants .", "despite the director 's smarmy narration and interviews , the bemused equanimity of these folks who 've seen it all could inspire each of us to what `` we can can '' do as we age .", "the devil may have all the best tunes , but it 's the elderly who nail them . charming , heartwarming and totally kick-ass , you 'll never look at your grandparents in the same way .", "the wonderful members of the choir , truly young at heart , overcome the occasional clumsiness of the filmmaker and you come away from this film feeling genuinely uplifted .", "the soothing , all encompassing power of music and song - its ability to unify , offer pleasure , fulfill the artistic bent , communicate , and much more - is vividly demonstrated in the documentary young@heart .", "-lsb- y -rsb- ou can not come away from this charming and inspiring documentary ... and not vow to never , ever give up on life , or on anything you really want to do , no matter what great age you manage to achieve .", "it works as both a concert film and as a case study in people who literally live for music .", "the chorus members in young@heart do n't trash hotel rooms or bed groupies . but they also are n't going gently into that good night .", "it 's like the 50-year reunion of high school musical .", "evolves into an unforgettably inspirational film filled with joy and disarming honesty .", "if you 're looking to see a documentary this season about old people singing , the rolling stones ' `` shine a light '' is not your only option .", "a rare feelgood film that actually made me feel good .", "a more genuinely sweet and uplifting documentary i have not seen in quite a while .", "whether you know it yet or not , this will be one of your favorite movies of the year .", "an uplifting account of elderly people we should all emulate !", "their `` specialness '' is the hook by which the film extols their representativeness .", "young@heart is a classic . may we all live to be so youthful in spirit and soul .", "its subjects are so compelling that young @ heart becomes a blisteringly funny and deeply moving meditation on music and mortality .", "young@heart is nothing less than an ode to joy .", "`` young@heart '' plays like a 100-minute version of one of those `` on the lighter side '' news feature segments that end a local newscast .", "a tribute to this nation 's elderly , an ode to the power of the arts , and a salute to david bowie , bruce springsteen , jimi hendrix and the other musicians whose songs have found new rhyme and reason thanks to these geriatric rockers .", "the group 's enthusiasm , natural talent and undeniable chutzpah effort-lessly translates to the screen in stephen walker 's winning new documentary .", "... joyous and brimming with life ...", "there 's something really enjoyable about seeing a group of 70-something , 80-something and 90-something amateurs performing with the energy of people who are half -- or even a quarter -- of their age ." ], "summary": "full of endearing characters , this doc about a choir of `` seniors behaving badly '' is uplifting and delightful .", "id": "770681101" }, { "movie": "from_up_on_poppy_hill", "reviews": [ "the film maintains an optimistic tone without succumbing to nostalgia , and as always with studio ghibli , the company miyazaki cofounded in the 80s , the hand-drawn animation is gorgeous .", "the film has charm but overall is a little slight .", "inspiring , romantic coming-of-age tale about '60s teens .", "it 's a gem of classical 2d imagery that stands out in a world turned upside down by the digital revolution .", "the jury 's still out on whether goro miyazaki can sustain his father 's legacy as storyteller , though with its beautiful visuals and songs , poppy hill finds a deserving , if modest , place among its studio ghibli peers .", "those gorgeous , hand-drawn images bring lightness and grace to a story that might seem drab and pedestrian in the real world .", "soft , warm animation and resonant reflections on death , moving on and growing up ca n't fully overcome slighter plot points and erratic music choices .", "the artistry is peaceful and comforting to the eyes but not especially stirring . given the pictorial extremes that studio ghibli has gone to in the past , `` up on poppy hill '' is weak tea .", "`` MOV '' is frankly stunning , as beautiful a hand-drawn animated feature as you are likely to see .", "the charming and nostalgic `` MOV '' is as lushly illustrated and vividly realized as memory itself .", "a sweet but rather bland coming-of-age story .", "a departure for studio ghibli - an emotionally nuanced , nostalgic look at the past that is grounded in everyday reality but retains the humor and delight that are part of the studio 's trademark .", "there 's definitely enough here to provide a quick fix for older studio ghibli fans , though children will probably be bored .", "ghibli 's latest is its most local and historical , like a gorgeous-looking manuscript plucked from a town 's archives . a school-film about personal space and preserving place in a japan on the cusp of a new era . but it 'll lack spark for any non-ghibli fan .", "the film refuses to apologize for honor , decency , politeness and modesty ; it celebrates stoicism , not self-indulgence ; it assumes that these finer qualities are the norm , not the exception .", "from the studio that brought us classics like spirited away and howl 's moving castle , this animated drama feels unusually low-key and realistic .", "goro 's expressive artistry is fleet , fluent and tenderly affecting . with a worthy story , he might breathe the old man 's rarefied air yet .", "the sincerity and sentiment of this film are there to be basked in . yet audiences outside japan may find the subject too serious and yet too slight ; there 's a reason why films about potential incest are n't often as cute as this .", "not on a par with ghibli 's greatest work like totoro or spirited away but not without charms of its own . a solid second effort from miyazaki junior .", "winsome , winning entry from studio ghibli , with a nostalgia-suffused , unstressed ambiance that packs a potent if subtle appeal .", "it 's the sort of movie that can prompt daydreams about inhabiting its world of flowers and hills , passing ships and harbor lights , where there 's no internet and romance happens face to face .", "not the most enthralling studio ghibli animated feature , but the restrained story of a boy , a girl , and their beloved high school campus , circa 1963 in yokohama , nevertheless creeps up on us emotionally in the best ghibli fashion .", "is there a japanese word that combines `` pretty , '' `` demure '' and `` boring '' ?", "this is a gentle film , hand-drawn with irresistible colors , that exudes nostalgia in a lovely way .", "although simpler and less mysterious than the great hayao miyazaki movies , the gently melancholic MOV is still a must see at a time when family entertainment is too often synonymous with blandness .", "-lsb- a -rsb- study of how the tolls of war reverberate through generations .", "poppy hill is more a short story than a feature , almost unbelievably optimistic , but it offers a surprising , innocent window on an era usually associated with nuclear anxieties , cultural neuroses , and juvenile delinquents .", "it 's a minor work . there 's no argument around that . still , it 's got a good heart , and likable characters .", "as in so many studio ghibli films , the tension is between renovation and cherishing of tradition.the movie is staged during a beautifully chosen moment of transition-the months right before the tokyo olympiad .", "like his old man , the younger miyazaki favors limited character animation and luscious water colors . unfortunately , he lacks his father 's storytelling skills .", "rest assured , the younger miyazaki has clearly earned his stars , as poppy hill offers just the same intimate , ultimately life-affirming kind of storytelling we 've come to expect from the family name .", "it 's a lively , touching story , full of sadness and optimism , drawn with an unaffected simplicity .", "even with no wood sprites , witches or spells , there 's plenty of magic in this coming-of-age charmer .", "the magic is found in the everyday details of domestic life .", "it 's really hard to go wrong with a studio ghibli film , and MOV is no exception . it may not be their very best work , but it 's still good work , full of charm and fun .", "a lovely japanese hand-drawn animated film with a female heroine .", "MOV may be able to boast about its outstanding music and smooth animation , but it 's far too flat to leave much of an impression .", "the story will undoubtedly appear slow moving and uneventful to those used to the pizzazz of pixar , but allow the richly detailed hand-drawn animation to work its charms and the film 's mood of gentle nostalgia proves surprisingly moving .", "there are no real villains in this story . all the people are basically good and they try to do the right thing . the artwork is beautiful and the film also has considerable emotional power .", "if this ghibli creation is smaller in scale than many of the company 's films , it certainly does n't lack for heart or soul . i was swept away in it .", "a rather mediocre film ... and yet , even with all of its faults , i still find myself oddly swept up in its familial drama .", "some third-act revelations may really test the scales of plausibility , but poppy hill ultimately is not about its story as much as the emotional states it probes .", "MOV is at once old-fashioned and innovative , an exquisite evocation of yokohama in 1963 that dares to treat teenagers with both gravity and grace .", "although they 've dabbled in earthbound matters before , studio ghibli serves up a refreshing reminder of their singular animation gifts , offering a spare but endearing effort that 's absolutely enchanting .", "a gently lyrical diversion for ghibli die-hards ... a gentle snooze for others .", "goro miyazaki has made a sweetly old-fashioned anime with fine painterly compositions .", "the animation is pretty and clean , reminiscent of other studio ghibli films like `` whisper of the heart , '' but never achieves wondrous artistry .", "the film 's perfectly fine , but it 's not a patch on `` spirited away , '' `` my neighbor totoro , '' `` princess mononoke , '' and other studio ghibli classics .", "shows a different side of the japanese animation house , one that finds equal wonder in comparatively mundane affairs .", "miyazaki , yes , but goro and not hayao", "gorgeously animated , with rich color scapes and detailed mise-en-sc\u010dne , goro miyazaki 's sophomore outing incorporates lovely , introspective imagery of , say , a cloud passing in front of the moon or smokestacks shot at a steep angle .", "MOV , studio ghibli 's latest , is decidedly earthbound in comparison to those transportive earlier films , though it 's not without its charms .", "`` poppy hill '' proves to be more than just a visual feast . its seemingly slight storyline has a warm emotional resonance , tapping into both the uncertainty of a japan caught between past and future .", "what limits MOV is its seeming whitewashing of some tough subjects , including the unseen consequences of war and the role of women in post-war japan .", "goro miyazaki has a style that 's both more painterly and more cinematic than the cartoonish norm , while his father 's screenplay is a classic coming-of-age story that seems suited for a live-action remake .", "a wonderfully gorgeous and nostalgic film whose story does n't live up to its look .", "in the wisdom of this artfully rendered film , umi and shun - and the viewer - come to learn that the past and the future should go hand in hand , that the best way to move forward is to reflect , and respect , what came before .", "it 's strange to see so much focus on the details of the backgrounds , which are exquisitely rendered , when there is so little attention to the expressiveness of the characters .", "the story of a girl grappling with first love , the absence of her parents and the anxieties of an on-rushing future in 1963 yokohama has all the earmarks of a miyazaki classic .", "it ... arrives with the vast reserves of patience , optimism and artistry we 've come to expect from this studio .", "beautifully precise architectural sketches , endearingly warm nostalgia , gentle teen romance and genuine intrigue .", "MOV finds goro miyazaki sitting much more comfortably in the director 's chair , but fans of studio ghibli 's fantasy epics may find this fanciful delight to be lacking the familiar magic .", "an interesting way of tackling everything from understanding parentage to the atomic bomb which devastated nagasaki .", "joyously warm and gentle ... though perhaps too gentle to be entirely satisfying .", "you do n't watch a studio ghibli film so much as sink into it like a hot spring , with groans of delight .", "not up there with the ghibli masterworks of yore , but still a bounty of ideas and emotions .", "the incest-scare subplot never trips up the movie 's charm . and there 's a haunting reverberance , very hayao miyazaki , to the war memories that empower the parental back-stories .", "your kids may well fall in love with it , if you help them find it .", "the film shows the younger miyazaki going off in a new , slightly older-skewing direction while still firmly working in the gentle hand-drawn style with which the old man has been dazzling filmgoers for decades .", "the gorgeous score and subtle visual craft save this entry in the ghibli canon from mediocrity . but given what the studio is capable of , it 's not everything fans will be hoping for .", "MOV 's protagonists emerge as unexpectedly facetless , especially from a studio with such a vibrant and morally complex back catalogue .", "lovely , sentimental , but a conventional nostalgic melodrama that had no compelling reason to be filmed as anime", "the story arc is somewhat facile , and its lesson about preserving history instead of demolishing it to make way for new , shiny things is too obvious .", "sunny days , blue skies , and rippling blue waters lined with greenery ... plain nice , and there 's nothing wrong with that .", "both genuinely emotional and blithely engaging .", "while this story might 've been just as engaging in live action , miyazaki 's animation does clear away the extraneous detail , re-creating the world of 50 years ago and instilling it with the poignancy of a family snapshot .", "a film about many things-so many that the magic of studio ghibli 's past has been displaced by exposition and earnest discussion .", "based on the jolly , jazzy score that keeps MOV lively , the latest from studio ghibli appears to have missed its calling as a broadway musical .", "the screenplay deftly balances the characters ' intimate concerns with the nation 's historic growing pains , resulting in a story that 's as engrossing as the visuals are breathtaking .", "a full awareness that it 's kind of a cheap melodrama -lrb- one of the characters even says so -rrb- does n't change the fact that it is but the young miyazaki 's visual palette is notably beautiful and the voice work is strong throughout .", "its visual magic lies in painterly compositions of foliage , clouds , architecture and water , and its emotional impact comes from the way everyday life is washed in the colors of memory .", "likely to appeal to young audiences - especially teenagers - and possibly even to jaded adults , who may look back on their own first yearnings of puppy love with nostalgia and affection .", "with its modest story and lack of cute magical furballs , MOV is a tad too uneventful and prosaic to match the best of studio ghibli but it 's lovely all the same .", "the studio 's stunning textures and vibrant details still give poppy hill that ethereal quality sure to mollify nostalgic ghibli fans , but its strengths are fastidiously undone by a predictable and underwhelming plot ." ], "summary": "gentle and nostalgic , MOV is one of studio ghibli 's sweeter efforts -- and if it does n't push the boundaries of the genre , it remains as engagingly lovely as ghibli fans have come to expect .", "id": "771253145" }, { "movie": "case_39", "reviews": [ "ferland 's fine performance aside , MOV is bafflingly stupid and poorly executed sub-horror fodder .", "an aggressively inept demon-seed chiller starring a bunch of grown-ups who should 've known better .", "pandorum director alvart summons some scares here : ferland is persuasively weird and hornets are utilised to skin-crawling effect . most of his ideas are second-hand , though .", "miscast , poorly-directed , and just-plain boring , MOV never clicks into place .", "it 's as lame as can be , and despite sitting on the shelf for four years , it 's not even bad enough to be unintentionally funny .", "if i 'm to understand the movie as it is presented , demons do not enjoy passive aggression , it only enrages them further , and to avoid a demon , it 's best if you 're neither a nice nor smart person , because then the demon has nothing to work with .", "on the strength of MOV , zellweger could easily play den mother to a brood of hillbilly psychos in a film by rob zombie . that would be horror worthy of the name .", "this is one of the least scary , dumbest movies i 've seen in a long time .", "... the scares go top-notch thanks to a creepy performance by young jodelle ferland .", "MOV is basically a poor man 's orphan - which was n't that good anyway .", "this ramshackle movie features a preposterous plot , dodgy direction and clunky editing , and yet it 's great fun to watch the actors squirm with fear .", "quite scary at times , intriguing ideas and a good cast , including ian mcshane and adrian lester , are used badly .", "daft , throwaway tosh that does n't even qualify as a guilty pleasure .", "it is universally terrible in virtually every department , save for the creepy charisma displayed by young ferland .", "this is a nasty and morally repulsive film .", "MOV is slow , painful and one suspects for both cooper and renee zellweger full of regrets .", "one of those movies that 's bad enough to make it worth seeing .", "this overly familiar , wholly unoriginal would-be psychological thriller provokes few reactions outside of boredom and -- in , sadly , too few moments -- derisive laughter .", "the devil made them do it , but that does n't mean you have to see it .", "this supernaturally tinged tale only goes skin-deep and is proud of it , wasting little time in establishing narrative basics and getting to the good stuff .", "not as bad as i was expecting .", "by the time the killings start , it 's clear that ray wright 's screenplay is more interested in following formula than in breaking new ground .", "from a bevy of cheesy jolt scares -lrb- alarm clock ! barking dog ! -rrb- to the embarrassing sight of zellweger and ian mcshane treating this orphan-style b-movie silliness with grave seriousness , the film proves to be one hokey-horror riot .", "about as scary as a shadow puppet , MOV is more fun as a modern procreation parable , and a total kick as ren\u00e9e zellweger 's attempt to enter jodie foster territory .", "o que houve com ren\u00e9e zellweger ?", "the only redeeming feature of this clunky demonic horror film is the assured turn from professional scary child ferland .", "MOV has been forlornly gathering cobwebs in the proverbial filing cabinet for over a year . understandably so - it 's terrible . we 'd be embarrassed too .", "it would have been better for all concerned if this ` case ' had remained closed .", "takes a potent subtext about the terrors of unprepared parenthood and wastes it in a rote creepy kid flick that displays both iffy internal logic and a trifling execution", "if you liked last year 's orphan , then MOV has your name written all over it - it 's not quite as slick or as scary as orphan but it 's enjoyably over-the-top and delivers the requisite trashy thrills .", "directed by christian alvart -lrb- pandorum -rrb- with a less than giddy hand , MOV is truly terrible . but at least it scores a few ` so bad it 's good ' points .", "a deftly made horror thriller with plenty of scares , MOV may be predictable and somewhat heavy handed , but it ticks all the boxes for the genre .", "while the viewer will remain one step ahead of the story at all times , director christian alvart manages to keep the emotionally charged events moving at a fair clip to gloss over the mounting credibility factors .", "manages to be both very silly and highly forgettable . only for those who collect killer-children films .", "hilariously inept , absent even a drop of everyday logic , and mistakes rowdy thespian reaction for suspense ... ca n't seem to make any sense of itself , to a point where the whole endeavor just gives up .", "`` MOV '' is n't quite as good as `` orphan , '' but it 's plenty creepy for a run-of-the-mill suspense film . zellweger , cooper , and mcshane more than pull their weight to make the movie enjoyable .", "this ludicrous outing from helmer christian alvart and scribe ray wright takes its psycho-satanic babble much too seriously , and should elicit more laughs than frights .", "this is horror hokum of the cheesiest kind . rent ` orphan ' instead .", "director alvart knows how to shoot chilly and unwelcoming , bleaching his movie with a grey-blue finish .", "strictly by-the-numbers supernatural horror ... that does n't solely rely on its taboo subject matter for all the shocks , boasting moments of genuine suspense .", "i 'm sure it will do decent business among the undemanding weekend-horror crowd and zellweger fans when it eventually sees the light of day . nobody else need apply .", "stale reheat of the creepy kid genre . no point investigating . case closed .", "only the procession of unintentional laughs and an unflinchingly confident turn by youngster jodelle ferland as lilith emerge as reasons not to bury your head in a bucket of popcorn and rue the regrettable moment a certain vault was unlocked .", "shlocky and ridiculous it may be , but this horror-thriller really is gleefully gruesome and undeniably entertaining : smart work from german director christian alvert .", "directed by christian -lrb- pandorum -rrb- alvart with a crazy bevy of random overhead shots , it wins 2010 's first genuine place in the so-bad-it 's - good honours list .", "as far as major studio supernatural thrillers are concerned , this one is pretty darn good , a well-crafted , aesthetically artful suspenser .", "paramount has little faith in this supernatural fright film ... and with good reason", "unremarkable except for its subversive subtext .", "MOV is too bland , with scares that are so polite they almost take their shoes off to avoid dirtying the hallway carpet of your mind .", "it 's all been done before , of course , and MOV is let down by too many of those jolting boo ! moments , ropey special effects - check out a badly-animated hornet attack - plus a plot even casual horror fans can predict .", "with some parents hurting their kids in real life because they believe they are possessed , the whole tone of this absurd movie is inappropriate .", "it does n't help that zellweger has become so hard to like , horribly smug and pious when things are going right , abjectly hysterical when she sees the error of her ways .", "-lsb- plays -rsb- like one more piece of multiplex in-box clutter , ready for the circular file in our moviegoing consciousness .", "just how old is this picture ? let 's just say that when filming began , david o. selznick was still combing the country for the perfect scarlett o'hara .", "that pounding you hear is the sound of nails going into renee zellwegger 's career coffin", "what do you do with a crummy horror movie that has been sitting on the shelf for a couple , or maybe three , years ?", "... before the movie is half over , the usual cliches take over ...", "its time to put the nail in the otherworldly evil child genre until someone comes up with something original . the only thing supernatural about MOV is its ungodly presence on this planet .", "what do you do with a crummy horror movie that has been sitting on the shelf for a couple , or maybe three , years ?", "as demonic children movies go , it?s really not bad -- and the acting makes it seem a little better than that .", "neither so awful as to be enjoyable nor eerily artful enough to be anything other than a snoozy also-ran .", "what starts out as slight and fairly obvious turns into a frequently colorful horror tale .", "... we get a couple of moments of genuine suspense combined with a whole lot of cheap thrills .", "it 's a bummer when the audience is smarter than the protagonist .", "a mess of a horror movie that spent several years sitting on a shelf and should have remained there .", "in the meantime , director christian alvart went on to make the effectively moody `` pandorum , '' but this movie is a dud .", "the end of zellweger as we 've known her .", "while it 's able to pull you in at some points with its eerie mood , it needed a lot more originality and better scares than the cheap kind of just having things pop up out of nowhere .", "a soulless amalgamation of several horror classics , and marks another dud in the career of renee zellweger .", "despite its initial premise showing promise , MOV turns out to be boring , predictable and nothing new .", "about as fun as watching paint dry and as tense as a game of bingo ...", "not only is MOV deplorable and morally off-center , the film is dull to boot .", "-lsb- a -rsb- dumb thriller .", "... a decent little horror flick ..." ], "summary": "director christian alvert has a certain stylish flair , but it 's wasted on MOV 's frightless , unoriginal plot .", "id": "770680570" }, { "movie": "bridge_to_terabithia", "reviews": [ "MOV is the most moving , intelligent drama with children for a decade .", "a movie that shows kids the value of imagination and gets them talking with their parents is good , even if it 's tough .", "an understated , touching and largely faithful version of katherine paterson 's pre-teen novel .", "i ended up being slightly disappointed by it .", "MOV is a brave film but a disturbing one , and even though it is inspired by real-life events , it feels like a cheat .", "thanks to its subtle touches and strong character development , MOV is not only entertaining for the family but for anyone who wants to leave reality behind for a little while .", "MOV 's scope is surprisingly broad for a family film : it deals with identity , family , the nature of courage , the difficulty of being an outsider and even god . but its main thrust is friendship .", "the characters , especially those of the two ten-year-old protagonists , ring true and when , just past the midway point , tragedy strikes it 's quite devastating .", "this screen adaptation of katherine paterson 's now-classic novel for young readers tells its story with agreeable simplicity in between computer-generated monsters .", "MOV is not only faithful to the novel but also stands to become a beloved family movie .", "the kids are good ; the effects are appalling .", "narnia fans might find some enjoyment in this children 's fantasy adventure .", "it 's shamelessly manipulative , but also deeply moving .", "an engaging portrait of childhood , this well-meaning family film rises above its flaws , and delivers a surprisingly hefty emotional punch .", "the invented world is stolid , the logic of its relationship with reality muddled ; but what really kills the film is the way it wears its uplift on its sleeve .", "worth a look .", "probably the best family film you 'll see all year .", "smart , sprightly and sensitive , this is like a junior-edition heavenly creatures , complete with ace chemistry and tragic twist .", "a thoroughly pleasing family film with fine performances and honest , affecting real situations mixed with joyful adventure .", "an affecting inquest into the nature of courage , mortality , grief and the healing power of faith .", "far from a computer generated escapist fantasy , this film is an unpretentious and touching tale of preteen companionship and loss .", "this is easily the best family feature of the early year .", "effortless performances from the two young stars ultimately make this movie worthwhile , regardless of the age of the kids watching .", "while a mostly sturdy adaptation of a much-loved book , it is n't quite as secure a structure as it might have been .", "the imaginary world dreamed up by two youngsters in katherine paterson 's coming-of-age classic has been realized imperfectly , but with intelligence and sensitivity nonetheless , in MOV .", "a tenderly executed adventure-fantasy .", "a good story , filled with positive and realistic messages , it is a fine family film that deserves a wide audience . take your kids to it . you 'll all enjoy it .", "a sensitive and moving teen drama about dealing with bullying , loneliness and grief .", "despite an odd choice to inject computer animated wonder , MOV is ... a loving tribute to the best and the worst moments of adolescence ...", "it 's not often that a kiddie-flick will elicit genuine emotion in the audience", "you ca n't tell a book by its cover , and you ca n't tell a movie by its trailer .", "this is a film that is by turns wonderful and heart-breaking . do not expect a big special-effects fantasy . fantasy and its power is just one theme among several well-presented themes .", "MOV is a beautifully written and acted film with a big heart , but also with the uncompromising reality of death . it is impossible not to be charmed and moved by this film .", "it has crossover as more than kids ' fare because it 's smart about childhood .", "understands that a kids movie that 's `` for adults too '' means `` mature , complex themes , '' not `` fart jokes and sexual innuendo . ''", "it 's for bright , inquisitive children -lrb- and attendant adults -rrb- who subscribe to the theory that imagination is one of the most wonderful tools available .", "a ` family ' film that is more convincing , honest and intense than most ` adult ' movies .", "... follows two young friends who create a fantasy world in a forest as a way to escape from the bullies of real life , and it 's mostly a joy to be able to escape with them .", "a top-drawer screen adaptation of a newbery award-winning novel about two children who become friends and use their imaginations to transform their everyday world .", "the third act goes necessarily dark , maybe a little too much so for the youngest of viewers , but the sense of loss that it conveys ensures that terabithia is that much more compelling .", "the trailers make it look like a third-rate narnia knockoff , but there are no talking lions , magic kingdoms , or mystical prophecies in this movie .", "while the filmmakers have beefed up fantasy elements from the book , this is a very human story .", "honors the pesky hormones , the inevitable bullies and the sweet and scary reality that comes with being a pre-teen .", "moving and well acted , the film is a throwback to the days , back in the '60s , when disney -lrb- one of the film 's producers -rrb- made ambitious live-action family films .", "-lsb- uses -rsb- talented kid and adult actors and a remarkable attention to detail to perfectly capture the delicate , minute rites of passage that define growing up .", "in MOV , the two middle schoolers who stumble onto a whole new world do n't seem all that wowed . and the movie ... never decides if it 's a fantasy or coming-of-age story .", "it 's an appropriate thing this film is about the strength of imagination because you 'll be needing yours if you plan on surviving until the final credits", "-lsb- director gabor -rsb- csupo does n't condescend to his audience ; the complications of grade-school life are extremely serious business to the people experiencing them .", "-lsb- director csupo -rsb- succeeds in keeping his main characters well-rooted in their daily lives , and his restraint in creating terabithia is commendable . with no gratuitous rainbows , elves or unicorns , it somehow is believable .", "this is a horrible little movie , stupid and clunky and obnoxious through and through .", "while it 's admirable that MOV is n't sugar-coated , more often than not it plays as miserabilism for kids .", "it 's rendered in a very touching and authentic and beautiful way .", "it redeems itself by being good-natured and sincere , and by touching the viewer 's heart without manhandling it .", "as much as anything , bridge is about how powerfully friendship can transform children .", "the visual effects in ` MOV ' are underwhelming and prevent a magical cinematic experience .", "haphazardly adapted from katherine paterson 's popular 1977 coming-of-age children 's book , `` MOV '' is a problematic movie held together by its charming child actors .", "a gem of a movie that is coming out at a time when we are usually saddled with hollywood 's dregs .", "extraordinarily close to the book by katherine paterson in many ways , the film may even surpass it by showing how a shocking instance of grief can draw a family together .", "there are trolls and magical creatures , but they are the parsley on the plate . the film is a real human story about love and imagination and loss , infinitely superior to most of hollywood 's machine-stamped fantasies for children .", "the most heartwarming , enchanting family film since stand by me , october sky and e.t. : the extra-terrestrial . it 's the first ` must-see ' movie of 2007 .", "MOV is a film most children should see , but it 's so dully aestheticized they may not care to .", "one of the most grounded , realistic kid films to come along in a while . it 's comical , cute and adventurous , but it also shares true-to-life emotional issues that many preteens face .", "in a story that supposedly sings the praises of the power of imagination , you 'd think csupo and his writers could dream up a better ending than the downbeat one that paterson so tactlessly tacks on", "the beloved children 's book has not just survived but thrived in its adaptation to the screen , its delicate combination of coming-of-age angst , tragedy and fantasy handled with assurance and taste by first-time live-action director gabor csupo .", "enchanting , transcendent and profoundly moving , MOV is a masterpiece .", "elaborately mounted , expensively produced and filmed with style and empathy , it 's an adaptation of paterson 's newbery medal-winning book that manages to expand the original vision , yet preserve much of its intense emotion .", "emotional but not mushy , smart but not precocious , MOV is based on the idea that children feel things just as deeply -- and , often , have ideas just as interesting -- as adults .", "this is csupo 's feature directorial debut , but as creator , producer , and writer of rugrats and the wild thornberrys , among several other series , he 's had a long career in animation , and he handles the cgi setpieces masterfully .", "most pleasantly , the movie does n't overdo its special effects . weta digital bring jess and leslie 's imaginations to life slowly and in to-scale fashion .", "MOV is much less than it 's being advertised as , which makes it much more of a good thing .", "MOV is a real anachronism in today 's family-movie landscape , if for no other reason than it simply and accurately portrays the interior life of adolescents .", "csupo ushers in an exciting and emotional action-adventure product that enchants and motivates the active imagination ... terabithia radiates with engaging enthusiasm .", "as humane a hollywood film as we 're likely to see all year .", "it will break your heart , mend it , and then make it cheer .", "what a wonderful , sorrowful film .", "the beauty of MOV was always about the friendship , and that aspect remains the focal point of the film as well .", "one of the best family films in years .", "oh , devastating , devastating and lovely and bittersweet and entirely wonderful , this enchantingly old-fashioned movie ...", "sometimes feels like a rudderless movie meandering along without a plot , but you can enjoy the ride , and feel the emotional wallop waiting for you at the end .", "like the original novel , MOV does not shy away from tackling heavy issues and by doing so treats it young target audience with the integrity that they deserve .", "stays true to paterson 's subdued , melancholy coming-of-age masterwork .", "visually , the terabithian world is impressively wrought and holds some surprises . under director gabor csupo , the technical side never overshadows the live action or the character-driven story .", "strangely the part of the film that takes place in the real world in more interesting than the segment in the imaginary .", "you take your kids to night at the museum or charlotte 's web , and you 've employed a temporary babysitter . roll them over to MOV and you 'll feed their minds with a rich tapestry of emotional investment .", "cheap and ordinary . this is n't art , it 's product .", "a wonderfully heart-wrenching love story for tweens , teens , and even adults who fondly remember when a friendship could be ignited by a gesture as simple as offering a stick of juicy fruit .", "one problem with terabithia is that the director , gabor csupo , puts too much stock in the abilities of computer graphics to make things real .", "a family film that recognizes that there are some interesting , intelligent fifth graders out there who are n't obsessed with fart jokes or potty humor .", "the story is a pleasant enough diversion with a positive message about seeing the troubled person behind the bully and the importance of keeping an open mind .", "-lsb- actors -rsb- robb and hutcherson are the keys to the film 's success : she has a refreshingly offbeat charm , and he smoothly handles emotional material that would be too daunting to many more experienced actors .", "for all that MOV does to encourage children to exercise their imaginations and pursue the arts , the movie 's producers give only glimpses of the wonderful creatures and magical kingdom dreamed up by two children .", "there 's a lot to recommend bridge for a young crowd . hutcherson and robb have excellent chemistry , jesse 's palpable hunger for his father 's approval is quietly poignant , and a third-act tragedy deepens and sweetens everything .", "MOV is no wizard of oz . it 's more like pan 's labyrinth lite -- and there 's nothing wrong with that .", "despite its small scale , bridge offers a lot of things you wo n't see in most children 's movies , including honest dialogue , actions that have consequences and some truly moving moments .", "the adroitly calibrated life lessons include a chill gulp of death , and terabithia proves to be soulful , even healing . what most delivers is the efficiently just-right cast , the charmed bonding of kid stars robb and hutcherson .", "refreshingly , MOV finds most of its strength in its very human , live-action sequences , and less so in its limited special-effects fantasies .", "any film celebrating the power of imagination is always welcome . due to its rather pedestrian execution , however , the MOV ultimately comes up short .", "pleasing magical coming-of-age kidpic .", "una pel\u00edcula entretenida y emotiva sobre la idea de la p\u00e9rdida , el dolor , la culpa , y sobre todo de la imaginaci\u00f3n como v\u00e1lvula de escape . no es el t\u00edpico pasatiempo inocente que promete ; es mucho m\u00e1s interesante que eso .", "the screenplay retains the gritty emotion of its source but gets ponderous in the iconic third act .", "pretty much a religious sermon attempting to jab at impressionable viewers about god , heaven , and spirituality .", "the special effects suggest a narnia-like romp , but the movie has a darker , more sorrowful landscape to explore and it does so brilliantly , with true nuance and heartfelt sincerity .", "it 's an emotionally rich testament to the life-changing power of friendship .", "radiates with youthful imagination and the joys of using it to abandon the everyday .", "sort of awful , but it goes places most conventional children 's entertainments fail to go", "the fantasy scenes ... do not resonate with the mythic power of those in pan 's labyrinth , but this is as moving a coming of age story as one could want .", "the film , though , takes us to a world in which imagination comes to life , with lavish cgi special effects giving the magic of terabithia a palpable presence it never had in the book , even in jess and leslie 's imaginations .", "terabithia has buckets of gentle sincerity . since there are n't any dumb jokes or hip visuals , it 's easy to get caught up in the simple messages : be good to your sister , do n't be a bully , use your imagination in a pinch .", "a fanciful , emotional and entertaining movie .", "-lsb- director gabor -rsb- csupo understands that what 's really important to this story is n't the fantasy , but the reality -- he 's especially shrewd at showing us how keenly jess feels his family 's money troubles .", "MOV the movie , like the book , is buckets-of-tears sad . director csupo and company manage to get that -- the simple power of a story about kindred souls , about loss , about the limitless possibilities of a lively mind -- just right .", "beloved kids ' novel makes it to the big-screen unscathed , with very real childhood relationships , surreal special effects and a big weepie ending .", "it pulls no punches from the harder aspects of the book , particularly the central tragedy that makes MOV the tremendously sad , albeit redeeming , movie it is .", "MOV blew me -- and my cynicism -- away . even though i was drawn in from the beginning , i kept waiting for terabithia to let me down , but it never did .", "everyone involved genuinely seems to believe in the power of imagination to enliven -- and enlighten -- the darkest realities , and that 's a magic this film captures beautifully .", "pan 's labyrinth for kids ... such a story can be just as powerful without the gore and war .", "terabithia picks up a lot of emotional punch as it rolls along , and anyone leaving the theater with a dry eye should be checked for a pulse .", "the filmmakers do a nice job keeping the enchantment level high while -lrb- pardon the phrase -rrb- keeping it real .", "daleko od eskapizma", "a bittersweet , if ultimately uplifting , coming-of-age tale touching on a litany of themes , including fantasy , friendship and family .", "i was alternately charmed and disappointed ... the movie is certainly light years ahead of the mediocre television adaptation but it is not quite the definitive version of the story , despite the strong screenplay and fine lead actors .", "a champion of imagination .", "it 's a rare film that gives children an honest voice that does n't talk down to them . yet at the same time , there 's also a solid film inside for adults to enjoy as well .", "it 's the sort of movie i admire more in retrospect than i did while watching it .", "beautiful lesson in friendship for young and old .", "... there 's a third-act twist that brings some much-needed gravity to the proceedings .", "i liked the seriousness with which it has been made , the willingness to grant deep feeling to its young characters , and the way it avoids of a lot of the cliches ... but the failure to enchant in the scenes in the woods leaves a hole .", "charming , touching and refreshing , this is a film the whole family will enjoy .", "if you 're not afraid of your child 's developing critical thinking skills , then you should give them the book and take them to see this movie , too .", "a strong cast and imaginative story make MOV a movie well worth checking out . it may be a little too intense for younger kids , though .", "consistently smart and delicate as a spider web , MOV is the kind of children 's movie rarely seen nowadays .", "imaginative , touching and keenly attuned to the coming-of-age genre , MOV is a welcomed breath of fresh air in the stale family movie arena .", "a decent adaptation of paterson 's novel , and at times it is quite moving .", "paterson 's lovely , sweet story locates unexpected emotional power ...", "terabithia itself , only imagined on the page , is brought to life with imagination and heart . we only get glimpses , but they are tantalizing and witty , with glimmers that show us how even the most fantastical creations are grounded in our own thoughts and", "... a movie of homespun all-american beauty ...", "follows in lock-step with the book and populates its titular fantasyland with cgi creatures ... neither idea was very good .", "director gabor csupo does a fine job of weaving together the realities of life for ten-year-olds with the magical world jesse and leslie share .", "... from an adult 's perspective , i found the film lacking in the very creativity that its story line promotes .", "-lsb- full review in greek -rsb-", "robb spreads her energy around like it comes from a deep well at exxon ... . and everything is affected by it .", "a magical tale that does n't become maudlin when many films of its ilk could have . a beautifully touching performance from annasophia robb", "adapted from katherine paterson 's novel , this beautifully drawn family friendly film explores the power of the imagination , bonding two like-souls as they create their own world , far away from their bleak everyday .", "enjoyable , superbly acted drama that will appeal to kids and adults alike .", "the makers go easy on the special effects and the picture has a tragic dimension that young children will find upsetting . but if they watch it in the right spirit , and the right company , it could prove emotionally enlarging .", "it 's not a film that need unduly trouble grown-ups .", "here 's an old-fashioned children 's film that should suit the once huge family audience very well .", "while the visual-effects team conjures up a suitably spectacular vision of terabithia ... what 's most impressive about the movie is its sympathetic handling of some difficult real-world topics .", "less of a liberal hippie preach-fest that the book was , but still needlessly depressing for a kids ' movie", "smarter and warmer than most family-friendly fare .", "there 's enough emotional truth in MOV to make it a worthy addition to big-screen children 's literature , if not to propel it into the realms of a childhood classic .", "has inspired moments but too often feels like an extended after-school special , albeit one with good production values .", "through computer-generated imagery , the imagination becomes literal , and in some sense , this feels like a robbery of what lives inside the heads of children .", "the movie contains surprisingly little cgi , instead focusing on the kids , their unique bond and the powerful life lessons that come as a result of their adventures .", "very sad things prompt very big questions , and this movie is smart enough to avoid very easy answers .", "if you have n't read the book , i suggest you see the movie . it 's worth the bucks .", "although this family flick is being sold as the second coming of the chronicles of narnia or lord of the ringsbe warned that advertising can be deceptive ." ], "summary": "MOV is a faithful adaptation of a beloved children 's novel and a powerful portrayal of love , loss , and imagination through children 's eyes .", "id": "387371589" }, { "movie": "boyhood", "reviews": [ "and there 's a sadness in that you just do n't want MOV to end , with the film a remarkable accomplishment that wo n't be forgotten anytime soon .", "perhaps never has the long arc of the journey from childhood to college been portrayed as cohesively and convincingly as richard linklater has done in a film that can be plain on a moment-to-moment basis but is something quite special in its entirety .", "a quite remarkable piece of cinema .", "this is a movie where not much happens that probably has n't happened to you , but which , in the aggregation of these moments , becomes something utterly profound .", "MOV is the summation of richard linklater 's entire career ... a moving and masterful evocation of what it means to be a family , and all the hurt and hope that comes with it .", "from the moment a train pulled into a station filmmakers have been trying to present life to us -- to tell us its story -- and linklater may have now come the closest .", "linklater 's third masterpiece in the past decade should only affect anyone who 's ever been someone else 's sibling , child , parent , lover or friend .", "it seems appropriate that MOV was always in the background , charting its filmmaker 's growth from tape to before midnight . as mason grew , so did the man who kept returning to his story .", "MOV truly is a film about the human experience , and this is something everybody can relate to .", "captured in vivid images and told in linklater 's typically astute , observational style similar to his ` before ' movies , perhaps the greatest achievement is how natural it all flows together given the fractured manner in which the film was constructed .", "it 's a bit of a gimmick movie , sure , but it 's a brilliant gimmick . a coming-of-age movie where the characters actually come of age , imagine that .", "so , while it 's tempting to say that nothing happens in MOV , that would be wrong . what happens is everything .", "it is the details that are the story here , giving it a unhurried yet mesmerizingly enthralling feel and an unexpected power .", "those who bemoan cinema circa 2014 for being out of ideas : prepare to meet your match .", "to say MOV would n't be that special if it were shot in a conventional manner is kind of like saying that elephant in the zoo would n't be so big if it were n't so big .", "the originality of MOV clearly extends beyond what we see up on the screen , and it 's this film -- even more so than the career landmarks of slacker and the before trilogy -- that will earn linklater a place of immortality in the history books .", "`` MOV '' is a stunt , an epic , a home video , and a benediction . it reminds us of what movies could be and - far more important - what life actually is .", "a soulful movie about soulful people . you just ca n't help but fall in love with it .", "linklater 's writing is typically warm and insightful , and the cast is uniformly excellent , including ellar coltrane as the quiet , down-to-earth hero .", "MOV is a monumental achievement of guts , nerve and thoughtful craft , one of the sharpest films about texas and texans ever made and easily one of the year 's most important movies .", "if i have any quibble at all with richard linklatter 's glorious film , it 's the title . because while the ambitious concept is to follow one MOV , the movie is just as much about a family and about america .", "it 's an extraordinary achievement marked by simply wonderful performances .", "the result is it 's a wonderful story .", "an authentically awkward , ordinary life , scrupulously observed .", "both rewards and challenges our expectations of a coming-of-age narrative , delivering a portrait of growing up that is both poignant and poetic", "i became so interested , so invested in these characters that i kind of wished they were real . i wanted to know more . i wanted to be able to follow them after the final scene .", "MOV is an observant and sometimes profound marriage between fiction and reality .", "but the film 's best bits do n't give us nearly enough to justify those accolades or dispel the feeling that you 're being taken on a leisurely meander through lives short on surprises and revelations .", "linklater casts a spell that defies you to not be moved , and captures the incredible complexity , richness and emotion of every one of our unique lives in the process .", "this heartwarming and complexly layered drama is n't just one of the best films of the year , but one of the best of the decade , the kind of deeply touching experience that feels like a one-off .", "an indie film epic the likes of which have never been seen before . and yet , as with before midnight , it 's the project 's emotional authenticity that ensures that it really hits home .", "not a single line feels like a written joke , although the film is entirely scripted , and all of the humour feels observed rather than created . it is a technically astonishing , completely written fiction that feels like real life .", "thanks to the astonishing consistency of linklater and the cast , and the faultless editing of sandra adair , all this happens in MOV much as it would in reality , as a continual unfolding , without on-screen titles or chapter breaks .", "unshakable , witty and deeply felt , the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long , long time .", "richard linklater 's latest is an impressive feat of filmmaking even before you consider the narrative . that the 164-minute runtime rarely feels sluggish or padded is also a major achievement .", "not just a coming-of-age movie , but the definitive coming-of-age movie ...", "MOV is a narrative drama , but it unfolds like documentary truth .", "the film has that deadpan linklater tone of slacker haphazardness , but you could also say that it 's almost joycean in its appreciation of the scruffy magic of everyday life .", "there 's a rough-edged , organic quality to `` MOV '' that recalls the work of those european helmers linklater so admires : fassbinder , bergman , bresson .", "genuinely poignant , profound and relatable with a strong beginning , middle and end . why ca n't hollywood make films like this anymore ? now critics need only worry about their other 9 best films of the year .", "the film gives every appearance of happening exactly the way life does , and exactly the way life does , it makes you care .", "MOV proceeds in brisk , implacably linear chronological fashion , and despite its 165-minute running time , is astonishingly minimal .", "the meandering nature of MOV may not be for everyone , but it 's a unique and emotionally affecting film with a huge heart .", "i have long maintained that richard linklater is the most gifted and audacious director of his generation . his new movie , MOV , which runs 2 hours and 44 minutes , is a stunning reconfirmation .", "it 's a wonder , on every level , that a movie like MOV can exist . it 's even more amazing that it can be as good as it is , while coming together under impossible odds .", "when coming of age movies are measured years from now , MOV will be the benchmark for artistic achievement and cinematic scope .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- just when you thought there was nothing new under the sun , richard linklater goes and makes the most anti-hollywood movie ever conceived .", "this 12-year undertaking is one of the most intriguing narrative film projects ever conceived . richard linklater has quietly become part of the foundation of american cinema .", "a marvelous , minimal epic of a movie ...", "an audacious coming-of-age tale unique in the history of cinema ; deeply moving and beautifully authentic .", "at its heart , though , MOV is less about MOV than parenthood . much of the viewer 's empathy lies with patricia arquette , who plays a mother struggling to raise two kids mostly on her own , with the occasional incursions of men .", "maybe only linklater could do a radical narrative experiment that 's also just another low-key slice of life . obviously , MOV required rigorous control , but never does it give off a sense of the filmmaker clutching it too tightly .", "these moments are almost cliches , but only because so many of us have lived these scenes in the course of our own lives , and that 's what makes them so powerful .", "watching the film , i was n't exactly as moved as i 'd hoped i would be , and that was at first disappointing . but then i remembered that richard linklater does n't really do big emotional indicating , that you have to listen a little closer .", "the film is at once of a piece with linklater 's other pictures -- as temporal as the before/after series , as philosophical as waking life -- and also more universal than anything else he 's done .", "it 's a film you ca n't stop watching . until it ends . and even then you wish MOV was only the beginning of an extraordinary work in progress .", "this is one experimental film that is a total success .", "richard linklater 's MOV is in most respects a traditional realist film -- plainly shot , devoid of plot gimmicks , aiming to approximate life as it is actually lived .", "by all means , enjoy this movie for its evocation of childhood , but let 's also appreciate how linklater calls for us to reimagine how we might treat movies and childhood : less judgment , less organization , more daydreaming .", "MOV is proof that a strange magic can still bloom amidst the tragedy that buffets human life .", "linklater and his team have done something incredibly difficult and made it look effortless . the result is easily one of the best films of the year .", "the minute events that linklater puts onscreen are endowed with meaning because they 're contextualized in the larger scope , which streamlines the most epic experience of all .", "it 's a collage of ordinary fragments that , in the end , add up to a greater whole .", "to sit with this movie and witness the concentrated passage of time is to watch , in a true , moving way , your life unspool before your eyes , without fanfare or idealism or romance .", "in completing this simple , beautiful project linklater took his time . and he rewards ours .", "MOV is perfectly imperfect , and surely not the last exploration of feature filmmaking as the ideal form to encapsulate duration and unities of location to come from the dogged , invaluable writer-director .", "one of the most interesting movies ever made , but also , perhaps , one of the most anticlimactic .", "a stunning and mind-blowing testament to the relentless passage of time .", "MOV , at its best , boasts qualities that are usually under-valued in avant-garde work : tingling observations , unforced comedy and quirky , enduring charm .", "the genius of MOV is that while watching it , you simply forget about the head-scrambling logistics of the project .", "one of the most remarkable moviegoing experiences i 've ever had .", "richard linklater 's coming-of-age tale is the best movie of the year , a four-star game-changer that earns its place in the cultural time capsule .", "i kept wondering what i was supposed to be enjoying about this film and i 'm still wondering .", "it 's the casual ease of `` MOV 's '' construction , its lack of a specifically lofty artistic objective , that makes it so effective .", "it 's the gimmick film to end all gimmick films . it 's linklater on a bike , holding his breath , crossing his eyes , puffing out his cheeks , going full speed at that ramp yelling , `` look , ma ! no hands ! ''", "MOV is as immersive as it is observational , and at the same time inescapably self-reflective . in terms of manipulating the relationship between viewer and screen , there is nothing quite like it .", "to call this drama `` audacious '' is an understatement . it 's a downright masterpiece and a film that will be studied and celebrated in the years to come .", "linklater 's filmmaking here is groundbreaking ... . but in terms of thematic originality it ca n't hold a candle to some of the other films from his incredibly diverse canon .", "a truly groundbreaking experience and a standout film of this or any year fully deserving the tag of a modern classic .", "less of a movie and more of an experiment . arguably , an experiment that ultimately works . but i would never sit through it again .", "a one-off masterpiece , the likes of which has never been done before , and will never be done again .", "if you support your family picking lettuce , your life is more interesting than linklater 's family .", "a heady film experience packed with so many telling details about life in the united states over the past 12 years - and one that makes you care such much about the struggles and foibles of its imperfect characters .", "there 's not a parent alive who will be able to shake the haunting beauty of linklater 's latest film , a flawed but vibrant masterpiece ...", "... will have you reflecting on your own life , all those moments big and small , many of which represented crossroads you may not have seen at the time .", "an extraordinarily intimate portrait of a life unfolding and an exceptional , unconventional film in which not much else occurs . never has so little meant more .", "filmmaker richard linklater has long since earned his reputation as an original thinker but his latest work , ` MOV , ' is in a class by itself .", "it 's an acheivement unlike anything i 've seen before , so i got ta go big : 5/5 schmoes for `` MOV '' . to paraphrase another linklater film ... your first priority of the summer should be to see this movie . -lrb- then lay back and crank some foghat . -rrb-", "-lsb- linklater -rsb- has fashioned a drama that feels far more authentic than any other coming of age movie .", "extraordinary in form , ` ordinary ' in content , MOV is ambitious , intimate and unforgettable . it might just be the apex of linklater 's life 's work .", "there is n't anything else quite like `` MOV '' in the history of cinema , although that would n't matter one-fifth as much if it were n't a moving and memorable viewing experience in the end .", "a tale that has been scripted and expertly shaped by linklater into a richly textured , completely winning human story .", "film , by its very nature , is meant to capture nuggets of time , but MOV is all forward momentum and growth . the weight it attains in its last hour is no accident . it 's the weight of existence itself .", "wobbly at times but still magical in an everyday way ...", "this is a film that 's as epic as it is minutely domestic , and reminds us that the banality of the everyday is what makes a life . how it can remind us of this , without being banal itself ? exactly . that is its phenomenal achievement .", "it is difficult to imagine after this movie how any film-maker can resort to the conventions of multi-decade storytelling -- ageing make-up , dusty wigs -- without appearing unforgivably lazy .", "MOV shimmers with unforced reality . it shows how an ordinary life can be reflected in an extraordinary movie .", "`` MOV '' is a transporting experience about the simplest of subjects . the movie telescopes artfully - but never pretentiously - the experience of growing up .", "richard linklater 's latest feels more like living a life than watching a movie . it 's a one-of-a-kind experience .", "MOV understands the tumult of childhood and adolescence as well as it does the hurdles and satisfaction of raising children .", "the film is lengthy -- almost three hours -- and without much plot , but i sat rapt for every minute .", "on rare occasions a movie seems to channel the flow of real life . `` MOV '' is one of those occasions .", "revolutionary in its approach and quietly transformational in the way of all great art ; experiencing it will change you .", "linklater uses life itself to his advantage by finding a clever way to capture its scope .", "the year 's most captivating narrative experiment , and possibly the most engrossing coming-of-age movie in the history of the genre .", "is it dumb to say , `` wow ? '' i do n't care . wow .", "is n't this what good therapists do -- help people understand trouble , hurt , hopes , and dreams by digging deep into memory and experience ?", "linklater has crafted what may be the most ingenious film of the century here and given it a tone like no other ...", "there is really nothing like the strange visual power of `` MOV '' in the cinematic history - full , though it is , of performers whose familiar faces pop up like weathering signposts on some highway of time .", "MOV is a noteworthy accomplishment - and an unparalleled movie experience .", "it is interesting even when nothing much happens , which is for most of its 3-hour running time .", "it 's an ambitious experiment that paid off big-time , both for linklater and his audience . i ca n't say i 've ever seen anything quite like it .", "arquette in particular unearths meaty pockets of raw emotion along her character 's journey through a performance that reminds us of her immense talent .", "linklater took a risk on an ambitious way to relate an oft-told tale , and in his newcomer lead and career-best turns from arquette and hawke , he succeeds .", "it 's a simultaneously modest and massively ambitious undertaking , so original in its conception and so successful in its execution that it deserves to be remembered as a landmark achievement .", "linklater bridges the gap between these more art-oriented projects and contemporary narrative cinema . he offers us a new sense of knowing time by inviting us to be present as it unfurls .", "the sweetly appealing coltrane shoots up before our eyes and does n't buckle under the scrutiny , but if mason is our ostensible focus then his mother olivia -lrb- patricia arquette -rrb- is the movie 's unsung heroine .", "linklater here is full of optimism , as always , but he remains a doggedly unsentimental realist .", "these are people you know , maybe people like you .", "it 's an honorable and obviously artistically successful project , my personal quibbles notwithstanding .", "a fiction film version of michael apted 's landmark 7 up series , writer/director richard linklater 's MOV is one of the best films he has ever made -- a linear , at times surprisingly poetic portrait of a modern american childhood .", "MOV is an epic masterpiece that seems wholly unconcerned with trying to be one .", "MOV is not just a genuine epic , not just beautiful and moving , it looks like a classic already .", "MOV is an epic of the everyday , as uplifting as it is universal .", "linklater has allowed an enormously engaging , deeply moving saga to weave its tendrils about the loose structure .", "for all of its contained and implied profundities , MOV succeeds in large part thanks to a virtually unnoticeable sleight of hand .", "by shooting this film over 12 years , writer-director richard linklater is able to explore family dynamics in an intensely involving way that 's never been seen on-screen before .", "MOV is an astonishing body of work : a unique cinematic experience that condenses over a decade of life into three blissful hours . the kind of movie you want to swim in .", "full of empathy and fully realized detail , its specificity transforming into universality , an achievement of time and love that 's already among the best films about childhood -lrb- and parenthood -rrb- you 'll ever have the pleasure to watch .", "the film ends and the credits come up and you ask the same question that you ask at the end of an evening spent with old , dear friends : where did the time go ?", "recommending a movie without a plot sounds ludicrous . that is , unless the movie is ` MOV ' and the movie was written and directed by richard linklater , whose ` before sunrise , ' ` before sunset ' and ` before midnight ' are beloved by so many film-goers .", "`` MOV '' a subtle , powerful meditation on life .", "while it is really an exploration of 12 mundane years in the life of a fairly ordinary american family , it is never boring and rarely makes you think that anything that happens was forced .", "one of the most emotionally powerful films of this or any other year .", "a wondrous exhibition of the intangibles that make a film great : tone , pacing , authenticity , subtext . but it 's most masterful at capturing the bittersweet passage of time .", "watching the film is less a matter of observing characters than spending time with friends .", "one of the great films of modern times .", "there is something quite extraordinary about richard linklater 's film as it depicts a fictional representation about growing up , family , relationships and life 's choices - using real time as its bookmark and calling card .", "there 's never been a movie quite like MOV , and it may be years before anyone works up the gumption to match its achievement .", "i can think of few feature films in the history of the medium that have explored the power , and the melancholy , of film 's intimate enmeshment with time in the way richard linklater 's MOV does .", "a unique and quite wonderful cinematic experiment which somehow manages to capture the intangible essence of life , in all its sound and fury , perhaps better than any film in recent memory .", "looking back on his accomplishments to date , it becomes clear that linklater is one of the grand pioneers , explorers , and expanders of contemporary cinema .", "... by the end you 'll feel like this massive time capsule was just injected into your soul .", "a film that i love more than i can say . and there is hardly a better , or nobler thing a film can do than inspire love .", "the film takes the audience on a visceral trip back to childhood partly because it shows a real child mature on screen . what completes the effect , though , is masterful writing and directing , by linklater , and editing , by sandra adair .", "rarely has anything like this been attempted in cinema , with a filmmaker intentionally setting out to watch a young person grow up on screen .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- plays like a lyrical series of snapshots , capturing the kind of shared moments in time that seem to resurface almost randomly in our memories .", "the closest thing to a lived life that fictional cinema has yet produced .", "it 's one of those offerings that grows on you the more you think about it long after walking out of the theater . -lrb- full content review for parents also available -rrb-", "captures the bittersweet , sublimely humdrum process of growing up in a way that no other single movie has done .", "it truly is an epic account of anyone 's / everyone 's simple life story .", "despite the wrinkles in linklater 's time tapestry , he has given us one of the most memorable movies of the year , and probably his own masterpiece .", "linklater sculpts drama out of time , demonstrating that the fleeting moments we experience day in and day out are actually telling the story of our lives .", "once again , linklater achieves that easy-going , seat-of-the-pants realism .", "there 's not a great theme , a great performance or even a great scene in MOV . but i think it might be a great picture .", "it 's an astonishing achievement .", "a whisper short of three hours , the film and its plot are so lithe yet robust you can hang anything on them .", "a seemingly limitless stream of pure empathy runs through richard linklater 's transcendental movie event/social experiment/life-affirming headtrip MOV .", "MOV is a quiet marvel that follows its characters with a fondness that builds and a necessary distance that aches in its verisimilitude .", "like other linklater films , MOV is sunny and optimistic but not without its rocky moments , driven by dialogue that 's often funny and insightful but always natural .", "this is the best american movie i 've seen in years -- and one of the very best movies about america ever made .", "a word about the film 's epic length . MOV is 166 minutes long . yet it is so affecting , so much a thing of wonder , that it could run forever and i would still keep watching .", "its complete submission to those nothings , mediums , beautiful portraits of life 's fabric is what makes MOV unprecedented .", "the ambition at play here even makes linklater 's fantastic `` before sunrise/sunset/midnight '' series pale in comparison .", "one of the loveliest things about MOV is how much of it makes those long-forgotten strings of childhood vibrate within you . it reminds you of what it was like to be a kid .", "linklater 's casual hand at storytelling , dealing out reel after reel of naggingly forthright enlightenment , turns this simple tale of a mother trying to do her best into something worth every second of the time it took to produce .", "it 's a journey , seldom seen on film , that will fascinate and move you with every step .", "a portrait of the process of becoming who we are , and the people and events that pingpong across our path during it .", "watching these characters orbit in and out of one another 's lives gives a sense of actually watching people -- not canned archetypes , but fully formed people -- get older .", "linklater strings these ordinary moments together like christmas lights to make an entrancing portrait of life .", "a masterpiece of independent filmmaking , MOV is nothing short of an emotional epic , one that is relatable and moving and entirely unforgettable .", "an exceptionally well-crafted coming-of-age story .", "this film hits you in personal ways that have more to do with your identity and memory than with the film itself .", "adjectives really do n't do this one justice . richard linklater 's 12-year project is brilliant . and bold . and innovative . and not to be missed .", "too realistic to be inspirational but too genuine to fault , `` MOV '' is , against all odds , a cohesive cinematic feat not likely to be matched any time soon .", "a work that easily breaks free of the shackles of `` just a gimmick '' and emerges as a superb motion picture in its own right .", "it 's not every day you see something you do n't see every day . the day you experience linklater 's remarkable new work , i guarantee , will be one you wo n't soon forget . it 's perhaps the most artful and audacious experiment in the history of film .", "the movie is n't as here comes the big cry as the trailer and the concept would make you think ; it 's far too smart and wise for that . yet i still bet it makes you bawl your head off .", "an intimate epic as fresh and thrillingly alive as francois truffaut 's films of antoine doinel , who was wrought in five movies beginning with the 400 blows . MOV is but one movie , and it 's just as subversive .", "you 've undoubtedly never seen anything like this before .", "here is a film that captures the essence of memory .", "a quiet stunner of a movie that yields to time rather than try to bend it to its will .", "touching , funny , big-hearted and recklessly ambitious .", "could reveal itself as linklater 's defining cinematic statement .", "by the end so much has changed - a whole life seem to have been lived , and yet there 's still so much left .", "MOV is a coming-of-age film not quite like any other .", "-lsb- richard linklater 's -rsb- magnum opus is at once intimate and epic .", "as genuine as MOV feels , it falls short of really flooring you with greatness . so many life lessons seem to fall on deaf ears without more conflict or bad luck being thrown in along the way .", "rich in charm , meaning and heart , it stealthy worms its way into your being , triggering your own recall button on how growing up would be so much easier if adults would stop getting in the way .", "it is almost as if the audience is a part of the family in `` MOV . ''", "the very things that others love , the meandering , unfocused essences of the movie , were the things that i disliked . variety is the spice of life , right ?", "few filmmakers ever make a great movie . fewer still ever make a movie that expands what movies can express . richard linklater does both with MOV .", "it really is a movie unlike any other .", "far from a handicap , the film 's disjointed narrative elements become its greatest strength , showing that life 's -- and especially , childhood 's -- grand plot points never fall where we expect , and are often the result of elements beyond our control .", "richard linklater 's naturalistic , bittersweet , coming-of-age alternative to studio productions .", "any film that takes twelve years to shoot should be commended for its stamina alone ; yet no sense of grind , still less of fatigue , attends this richard linklater project .", "i ca n't help but think there may have been a better movie still lurking in his accumulated footage , one that with a mild shift in emphasis might have been titled , more ambitiously , adulthood .", "MOV is one of those extraordinary flicks that 'll remind you just how life-affirming a trip to the cinema can be .", "MOV proves we 're never the same people that we were when we were children . and it also proves what the old people always sighed about : `` they grow up so fast . ''", "terms like `` epic , '' `` ambitious , '' `` one-of-a-kind '' and `` career-capping '' normally sound pretentious . not here - this is a special , special film", "both a conceptual tour de force and a fragile , unassuming slice of movie life .", "linklater 's beautiful film is an extraordinary achievement - tender , funny , wise and wistful , full of warmth and humanity .", "one of the best and most memorable films ever made about the art of improvisation as a path of wisdom , creativity , and personal renewal .", "clocking in at close to three hours , MOV overstays its welcome a little ; but strong performances , an evocative soundtrack together with the director 's flair for off-the-cuff profundity ensure that fans of quality movie-making wo n't be disappointed .", "if there was ever project that demanded to be informed by the history of its making , `` MOV '' is it . epic in scope yet unassuming throughout , linklater 's incredibly involving chronicle marks an unprecedented achievement in fictional storytelling", "there 's a universal appeal here that 'll resonate whether you 're a son , daughter , father , mother or sibling . simply put , MOV is a masterpiece .", "given the fractured nature of the shoot , the film is remarkably fluent , and fortunate that young ellar coltrane is mostly an intriguing focus .", "believe the hype : richard linklater 's decade-in-the-making epic is a remarkable achievement .", "with a brilliant filmmaking experiment that works beyond belief , linklater continues to prove himself as one of the strongest character-driven filmmakers out there .", "not just a great stunt , but a deep and moving portrait of childhood , family , and growing up . the best picture of the summer", "as he has throughout his career , linklater proves himself as a filmmaker unconcerned with flash and dazzle but thoroughly compassionate and empathetic to a wide range of characters .", "intimate and insightful even in its weaker moments , linklater finds strength and value in normality .", "ambitious and an absolutely excellent endeavor .", "in the end the story just did not amount to much .", "richard linklater 's fascinating look at twelve years in the life of a young boy whose family life is far from perfect . the gimmick seldom feels like one .", "sorry i 'm a party pooper for a film most think is super .", "... a different and daring kind of cinematic experience , something rare enough in american popular cinema .", "MOV is the closest we 've ever come to narrative cin\u00e9ma-v\u00e9rit\u00e9 -- and the results are just a little mind-altering .", "time and change are the universal themes here , embodied and particularised in linklater 's dramatic study of a divided and mildly dysfunctional family ... this is one for the -lrb- and all -rrb- ages .", "MOV : concept : a execution : c --", "this is not only a great film , but an important landmark in how great films can be made .", "cinematic poetry ... as that greatest of screen rarities -- a potentially mainstream experimental film -- the writer-director earns a bit of slack in gratitude for the strange and wonderful gift MOV is ...", "director richard linklater accomplished something truly visionary with MOV . it 's nearly three hours long , but it moves by nearly as quickly as life does .", "... a truly memorable and singular cinematic experience that 's well worth the wait .", "cinema has always been the best place for time travel , but rarely has it been so anchored in reality than in richard linklater 's MOV .", "this is more than a groundbreaker : it 's a new american classic .", "while everything about MOV is done with extraordinary care , the master stroke was clearly the casting , 13 years ago , of a little texas boy named ellar coltrane .", "we can quibble with small stuff in MOV . supporting performances are variable , the sister drops out as a dramatic character ... i could go on . but the cumulative power is tremendous .", "it 's like a time-lapse photo of an expanding consciousness .", "what an astonishing achievement ; what a beautiful movie .", "probably one of the most unusual coming of age films you 'll ever hope to see .", "we ca n't help feeling inexorably attuned to these people ... as if the idea of sitting down to dinner with them is not only possible , but de facto .", "MOV , which started filming in 2002 and continued off and on for twelve years , is the greatest coming-of-age story ever put to film .", "MOV is dizzying and dazzling , messy and mesmerizing , an ambitious and singular movie that grapples with towering questions about life itself - and finds profundity in how it not fails but refuses to provide all the answers .", "MOV fills you with openhearted happiness and awe at its scope and daring . it 's a low-key masterpiece , a wistful comedy that never forgets to keep genuine emotions foremost .", "it 's a linklater picture all around , treating an impossible cinematic mission with all the urgency of a leisurely conversation . MOV sinks in slowly instead of demanding attention .", "director richard linklater approached this decade-spanning project with a novelist 's ambition and patient determination -- it 's unique in its rhythms .", "an absolutely brilliant film about the stuff of day-to-day life .", "richard linklater 's film is an experiment in time , and one that 's attentive to the audience 's sense of empathy .", "MOV is an oversized and sprawling smorgasbord of a movie , blending the beautiful with the irritating in a rich and messy tapestry of growing pains and pubescent grumbling .", "it just moves so quickly , which , i suppose , is the whole point . for those of us who were already marking time by tracking ethan hawke 's facial hair , it 'll be a startling experience .", "MOV is not only a masterful film but a culturally rich one as well , a cinematic equivalent to the mark twain coming of age classic `` the adventures of tom sawyer '' yet made for a new generation .", "for as down to earth as the material is , linklater elevates it into something important , making a study of not only childhood and human development , but the rigors and vicissitudes of adulthood .", "MOV is a one of a kind experience .", "`` MOV '' is not just a great movie , it 's a landmark achievement in film .", "it captures the essence of an american family with an accuracy and intimacy unseen in a feature film before .", "as a film that dares to honor small moments and the life they add up to , `` MOV '' is n't just a masterpiece . it 's a miracle .", "forget 3d ; MOV reaches out to touch your soul .", "an instant classic twelve years in the making , striking in its tender tone and stunning in its cumulative emotional impact .", "it 's close to three hours long , there 's almost no plot , the star is someone you 've never heard of and , yet , `` MOV '' is mesmerizing .", "it 's easy to watch the film and recall similar moments in your own life . that 's not enough ; the film needs to inspire reflection , not just recollection .", "... chronicles the colossal significance of the everyday .", "it is nothing short of stunning to watch `` MOV '' unfold . richard linklater 's magnum opus offers more than what one has any right to expect from a film while simultaneously illuminating the infinite boundaries to which cinema is capable of going .", "`` MOV '' is a cinematic gift , a compassionate and sometimes amusing drama about growing up that extracts truths out of what appear to be life 's most random moments .", "as is linklater 's custom , MOV is profound in such a casual way that its weighty themes feel nonchalant , effortless . this movie might make you cry for reasons you ca n't quite articulate . you wo n't be alone in feeling that way .", "it 's a slow-burn drama that works well over its epic length , exploring the nuances of those around mason rather than lurching for the dramatic spikes and revelations we normally associate with the mislabelled `` coming-of-age '' sub-genre of teen films .", "the effect is uncanny and heartbreaking , yet exhilarating , not depressing . mom sums it up , when mason celebrates his 15th birthday : ` i 'm so glad you were born . ' we 'd like to think she 's speaking to all of us .", "an amazing , time-capsule-worthy portrait of MOV", "linklater 's bold experiment pays off", "um road movie no qual a estrada \u00e9 o tempo .", "what MOV lacks in terms of story development and pace , this inevitably flawed but compelling experiment compensates by showing its central cast experiencing real life and growing considerably older without the need for special effects and prosthetics .", "it may be two and a half hours , and it may avoid the normal conventions of plot , but it has a weight and substance that feels like nothing else ... a truly singular movie-going experience .", "the real reason for this film 's high level of realism and drama is its screenplay -lrb- this film is written and directed by richard linklater -rrb- which is refreshingly adult , realistic , dramatic and reflective of today 's society .", "so much could have gone wrong over the years , it 's insane that any filmmaker would have tried this . but if anyone could pull it off , it would be linklater .", "this is an intimate , poignant film that makes you feel a little sad . but there are lots of loving and funny moments - such as when mason and his kids campaign for barack obama - and the overall effect is life-affirming .", "linklater 's MOV is a must-see film for any lover of the movies . it 's the type of film that was imagined when they invented film .", "a period film shot in the present , MOV also provides us with vivid cultural snapshots from the recent past - including queuing in robes for the latest harry potter novel and obama 's 2008 election campaign ." ], "summary": "epic in technical scale but breathlessly intimate in narrative scope , MOV is a sprawling investigation of the human condition .", "id": "771373348" }, { "movie": "10011016-messenger", "reviews": [ "the MOV is always just left of straightforward , which keeps it interesting .", "-lsb- foster and harrelson 's -rsb- interplay , on the job -lrb- ruining the day of one unfortunate person after the next -rrb- and off ... provides the backbone of this erratically paced film .", "alejado de cualquier rastro de patriotismo , desnudando la complejidad emocional detr\u00e1s de un drama hist\u00f3ricamente recurrente que ha sido retratado con frecuencia por el cine norteamericano , aunque esta vez de manera un poco m\u00e1s intimista .", "i know several folks in military service who would n't watch this movie if you paid them .", "it 's a shame so few people will see this on the silver screen .", "it never feels contrived or overwritten , managing to deftly pack emotional punches through the strength of its performances and direction .", "do n't let the fact woody harrelson got an oscar nomination tempt you anywhere near the MOV - the message here is about as welcome as a death knock on a wet sunday afternoon .", "the MOV takes on a warmth and plangency that rewards viewing .", "although it stumbles on the storytelling , drifting rather repetitively around the lives of its haunted protagonists , it 's a rewarding , humane picture .", "an intelligent , superbly acted and moving drama that manages to say more about war and its consequences than most films set on the front line .", "... a poignant tale of redemption that counts as one of the very best films of the year .", "what the MOV has going for it is some sober , straightforward direction from oren moverman and a few strong performances .", "% u2026 while several -lsb- irag war movies -rsb- have touched on the soldiers ' internal experience , none have stayed with it for the duration of the film the way the MOV does .", "harrelson received an oscar nomination for supporting actor for his grim and volatile performance , but it could just as easily have gone to the quietly seething foster .", "a sobering drama that at its core is a heterosexual love story between two men . to be clear , there 's no homoerotic undercurrent here but it 's a love story of opposites falling for each other nevertheless .", "hero without a cause", "the MOV 's clipped insight that war is hell is just the sort of line straight from the manual that the film strenuously cautions against .", "there is n't a single glimpse of battlefield action in the MOV , but foster conveys the intensity of warfare in a long speech revealing how will was injured .", "a film that never forgets those who most feel the pain of loss during a time of war .", "... a stunningly sad and sobering movie about the inevitable personal costs of national bellicosity .", "harrelson gives us layers of hurt under a callous yet needy crust . it may be the best performance of his career and certainly deserves oscar consideration .", "the MOV is the first film from oren moverman as a director , and it 's a fine piece of work .", "although hollywood has dealt with the war from various perspectives , moverman 's film offers a new angle that brings the horrors home about the decision to go to war .", "another dark , gloomy drama about home life during wartime , this film features some seriously great performances and a theme that will resonate powerfully with thoughtful audiences .", "for all the film 's gritty verisimilitude , the MOV is not the great iraq war movie that kathryn bigelow 's the hurt locker is .", "intelligent , graceful , and touching filmmaking .", "no quote available .", "this is a great anti-war film examining the residual effect of war on the people who fight it and the people who are left behind .", "woody harrelson and ben foster dominate every inch of the screen .", "the worst job in the army is n't cleaning latrines or disarming roadside bombs , it is being back home telling people that someone they love has been killed .", "the MOV , showing humanity under siege , opens wounds inflicted by the iraq war -- not on the battlefield but in the hearts of the families of soldiers who never made it back home .", "a worthy addition to the canon of iraq war films , the MOV has a gentle humanity that creeps under your skin .", "shame nobody told writer-director oren moverman not to shoot the MOV ... before giving the script a good rewrite first .", "there 's essentially very little to take from the MOV if you 've already got it into your head that emotions are complicated and people are flawed .", "it 's a tough job but someone 's got to do it in a moving look at one of the armed forces ' most harrowing details .", "together , under the assured direction of first-time feature filmmaker oren moverman , these three actors tell a story that is at once hard-hitting and bizarrely gentle .", "the two leads give nuanced , lived in performances that unfold slowly but with certain determination .", "the film does lapse into cliche with foster 's descent into alcohol as a means of coping with the daily trauma of the job , but israeli director oren moverman keeps the film rich in raw detail .", "a sobering , well-acted look at a reality for thousands of american families .", "foster and harrelson have a winning camaraderie as they develop a bond of trust and friendship . both performances are memorable and deserve year-end awards consideration .", "the beauty in foster 's portrayal is that it never completely explodes , but anger and aching seethe behind his eyes . harrelson , meanwhile , is a good old boy with a bad old job .", "just do n't watch this and the hurt locker back to back or you 'll need to refill your anti-depressants when you 're done .", "the miracle of this film is in its insistence on finding a way back home -- to fragile new beginnings giving way to new friendship , perhaps even new love .", "harrelson gives what might be a career performance as a jaded mentor who tries to conduct each notification using a well-rehearsed set of rules of engagement .", "the best war movies do n't preach against war : they remind us of the costs for soldiers and families and ask us to consider whether those costs are worth paying .", "gripping but uneven home front war drama .", "the MOV involves difficult subject matter , but it 's not hard to watch . it 's sad and sobering , but also humorous and touching at turns .", "because of the nature of its subject matter , ` the MOV ' is emotionally charged , but director oren moverman and his able cast prevent it from feeling phony or manipulative .", "co-screenwriter/director oren moverman slowly peels back the layers to the characters , with the game cast helping considerably in that regard .", "... -lsb- the MOV -rsb- highlights the gulf between those who have served in iraq and nearly everyone else they deal with after returning home .", "moverman 's scripting is subdued and emotionally authentic .", "grief is universal , and watching soldiers deal with complex emotions seems to me universal too .", "as powerful and restrained a drama as you could wish for ... a film of both great sadness and great redemption .", "this is a fully felt , morally alert , marvellously acted piece of work . despite the grim subject , it 's a sweet-tempered movie , with moments of explosive humor -- an entertainment .", "a penetrating assessment of post-war readjustment .", "the MOV manages to be both practical and patriotic in the same breath , zeroing in on one of the most painful aspects of wartime .", "this richly conceived powerhouse drama about life and death is ultimately about the search for a sense of family , whether in peace or war , and what binds humans together despite the most unendurable horrors at hand .", "a well-performed example of male bonding in the army .", "what could have been a grim , depressing iraq war drama of men who deliver dreaded news becomes in moverman 's promising debut a tale of grief and survival , a balance of grave issues and humor .", "a n intricate dual character study .", "... a powerful perspective on the casualties of war .", "the MOV drives home the point that war is a losing proposition , which has nothing to do with who is victorious on the battlefield . they 're the everyday losses of life , of family , of friends .", "the massage is important , and the acting from harrelson is incredible .", "it 's sublime to see woody harrelson become robert duvall , with grit , gusto and muscles visibly twitching beneath his head . `` the MOV '' is draining , but not numbing - an agnostic anthem to the impossibility of applying predictive methods to grief .", "the film is poised , unforced and powerful .", "the film does n't tread a predictable , easy path , but stick with it because it has something to say and it is refreshingly different , mature and memorable", "with deftly drawn characters and beautifully understated performances , this engaging drama is tremendously moving .", "a beautifully rendered and necessarily painful window onto an overlooked reality .", "nice acting . solid direction . worth an investment of your time . paul chambers , cnn .", "a powerful , ptsd psa for ` do n't ask , do n't kiss and tell ' advocates .", "the MOV delivers what it has to say without sensationalism or political posturing . that restraint , along with the quality of the performances , makes it all the more powerful .", "a forcefully acted and peculiar emotional drama ...", "foster leaves you hoping that will finds his way home .", "there is a complexity to the story and characters that i want more insight on and i really believe that the movie might grow on me with a repeat viewing .", "this film does n't take political sides -- and it 's all the more heartbreaking because of its restraint .", "whenever writer-director oren moverman moves past these scattered and admittedly voyeuristic moments into the lives of the two soldiers , the movie drifts into received wisdom and unconvincing romance .", "this is a wholly different look at the fallout of the iraq war and its effect on soldiers and civilians . it is also a gentle portrait of grief , friendship and solace .", "individually , none of the mini-dramas in the MOV would be enough to blow you away . but grouped together , they 're so beautifully and specifically written that they make for a convincing picture of the first stages of grief .", "one of the rare movies that communicates honestly and artfully about the real casualties of war : the surviving combatants .", "it brings home the horror of the iraq war in a way that much of our tv news media have failed to do .", "a powerhouse performance full of tragic comic undertones while looking at the psychological effects of war in an original storytelling manner ...", "-lsb- an -rsb- unpredictable , episodic , deeply resonant character piece .", "the oscar-nominated script pursues a grimly honourable task into its grim and not always honourable byways .", "this worthwhile drama reports from the home front as the war on terror continues .", "it 's a welcome addition to the increasingly interesting movie canon dealing with the downside of the war .", "intimate , powerful filmmaking .", "an intelligent and well-acted film which deserves its outing here .", "foster and an oscar-nominated harrelson effectively convey the outward steel and inner fragility of these men of war but the film is slow-moving and maudlin .", "stumbles a little , loosening its grip in the bromantic final stretch . but if impenitent heartstring pluckage is what you 're after , this is where it 's at .", "it 's a film of quietly assured dramatic clout , a strong and sober reckoning with american conscience .", "it 's worth seeing for foster 's performance anyway , and for a brief and excellent one from steve buscemi as a mourner .", "viewers will appreciate the work ethic up there on the screen , and how it finds a number of fresh and telling angles on the complexities of the grieving process .", "the MOV is a successful examination of the harsh realities of war that too often are put in the back of people 's minds .", "messengers with the worst possible message , they nonetheless manage to be human and alive ... . in a film that itself bears sad tidings about the costs of war , that is an affirming , even an inspiring , gift .", "moverman understands the deep , powerful struggle that must accompany such constant grappling with death .", "a fine bookend to katheryn bigelow 's the hurt locker , showing another side of how the war at home can be just as rigorous as the one abroad .", "oren moverman 's sober and satisfying drama shows how the wars in afghanistan and iraq have created a fissure in american society .", "a somber drama about intimate wartime tragedies , oren moverman 's debut feels more respectful than real .", "poignant and insightful .", "this character piece may be for the arthouse , but the artistry has a gaping wound , large enough to allow credulity to seep out .", "a shoddy , shouty bore . a piece of flummery .", "i 'm not sure how morton made sense of her character 's ebbs and flows , but i never doubted her . she 's a mariner in uncharted seas of emotion .", "powerful and resonant , this is a film that asks us to look at the human cost of war . ben foster is a revelation .", "in an indirect sense , this film is also about the reality of war as opposed to the illusions about war .", "the MOV is a film about shock and healing . forget awe . in a world that avoids the realities of war , the MOV casts a flickering light on some of the human cost of war .", "as suspenseful -- in its less-violent way -- as ` the hurt locker , ' as the soldiers bring their bad news to the homes of unsuspecting family members in a series of devastating vignettes , beautifully wrought by director oren moverman .", "with the insight and sensitivity of an insider , the MOV illuminates the sometimes invisible victims of war -- the survivors -- and a pain that is tolerated but never quite healed .", "the MOV makes it -lsb- the death of a soldier -rsb- personal . and it is uncomfortable . well-done movies about the tragedy of war and its impact on ordinary lives are that way .", "well acted , bare-bones look at homefront horror , but it 's not quite in the same war league as the hurt locker .", "implies without stating , allowing us to understand and interpret the men as we will , without having anything forced down our throats .", "valiantly brings all wars to their ultimate endpoint : death and its effects on the fallen 's loved ones .", "this is the kind of film people might skip due to the preponderance of war movies out there , or forget in the wake of flashier end-of-the-year output , but the MOV is one to watch for great performances .", "the MOV knows that even if it tells a tearjerking story , it does n't have to be a tearjerker . in fact , when a sad story tries too hard , it can be fatal .", "a universally relatable drama instead of just another story about iraq .", "one of the most powerful and moving films about the human cost of the afghan-iraq war and about those of war in general to appear in years .", "director oren moverman 's feature-length debut is a little like the hurt locker in the way it uncomfortably probes a little-known military organelle .", "this is a poignant war movie , but it 's also a buddy movie with a difference , one that 's both funny and bleak .", "the scenes are rendered by director oren moverman with an authenticity and realism that makes them as harrowing and heartrending as they deserve to be .", "some jobs are dirtier than others , and after seeing director and co-writer oren moverman 's beautifully acted new film the MOV , you 'll be better acquainted with some of the most grueling work a human being can be called upon to perform .", "the MOV is a privileged glimpse into people 's private pain , a drama shot with the simplicity and immediacy of a documentary .", "a stunning debut , an effective , expertly-made and performed drama about the common human ability to deal with tragedy and loss in unique , unpredictable ways .", "do n't call it a comeback because woody harrelson never went away ! this film that will remind everyone how good of an actor he is .", "i used to think working at the salt lake city hooters was the worst job in the world . boy was i wrong . that dubious occupational honor goes to working for the army 's casualty notification service .", "this is the type of original film that should be pulling in the box office numbers . harrelson and foster deliver completely natural and raw performances . see this movie now !", "it 's hard to believe that an actor of ben foster 's caliber is just now getting a leading role .", "beyond the interesting subjects , moverman does n't have a definitive place for his film to go .", "foster is a revelation , while harrelson has arguably never been better .", "an emotionally affecting drama about the birth of compassion in an iraq war hero assigned to work for the casualty notification office .", "like `` the hurt locker '' , calculated to sell tickets to tea-baggers and moveon.org alike . informed by the clint eastwood/paul haggis school of bad didactic screenwriting .", "this is a powerful war film that never needs to enter the battlefield for you to be fully absorbed .", "yes , you 're going to have to look for the MOV . but the fact it 's one of the best american films of 2009 makes that search worthwhile .", "at its center lie three accomplished performances , by ben foster , woody harrelson and samantha morton , that are not to be missed .", "so bungled up with fashionable ambivalence about the iraq war that every single behavioral detail is not just prejudicial but wrong .", "these largely self-contained vignettes are harrowing , the source of a font of raw emotional release that could never be otherwise captured except through a presumably invasive documentary process .", "in his directorial debut , moverman is a very confident filmmaker , one who can sustain unbroken scenes of over 10 minutes without making it seem self-indulgent or gimmicky .", "harrelson 's calm performance anchors the film , and whenever the story drifts back to him and his cautious friendship with foster , the flick feels true .", "this film will be too much for some viewers because of the spot-on antiwar statement but the story is tight and the performances powerful .", "as the lonely , complex and friendly stone , harrelson evokes the experience of the MOV as sturdily as a freshly pinned medal of valor .", "the MOV honors those who fought and died in iraq by acting out , with an anguished handheld immediacy , how large each of those sacrifices really is .", "a story that strays about without finding its center .", "a devastating debut helmed with immense power and control ... foster , a rising talent whose career brings to mind edward norton , is tremendous .", "many scenes in the MOV feel merely illustrative , not designed to develop characters and story so much as to make the point , over and over , that the home front can be as harrowing as the front lines .", "it 's foster 's movie .", "the film is premised on the verbal communication of urgent information , yet its many non-verbal moments provide the greatest strength and clarity .", "... foster and harrelson 's respectively striking work is alone justification for the film 's existence .", "the bombshell is the news of a soldier 's death and the delivery of that message is the heart of this unsentimental , yet deeply moving , story .", "the first warning bell sounds when woody boasts of his aa membership , as i do n't believe anybody has ever seen harrelson stay sober for an entire movie ... or even an afternoon .", "the vignettes of reactions to montgomery and stone 's grim visits are the meat of the movie .", "a tremendously moving drama , filled with heartbreak , humor and , most importantly , humanity .", "delivering the news to the families of soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice , a repressed will is drawn to one empathetic widow .", "there is great power in examining raw human emotions , especially when it 's done so gracefully and honestly .", "a wrenching and superbly acted character study ." ], "summary": "a dark but timely subject is handled deftly by writer/directer owen moverman and superbly acted by woody harrleson and ben foster .", "id": "770780130" }, { "movie": "1006234-dracula", "reviews": [ "certainly it is lugosi 's performance , and the cinematography of karl freund , that make tod browning 's film such an influential hollywood picture .", "MOV deserves its status as a classic , although one might be tempted to append the word ` lesser ' to that label .", "bela lugosi is inspired in the role of the vampire . one can no longer label it a good performance or a bad performance . lugosi embodies the role .", "while lugosi is of course memorable , do n't forget helen chandler 's mina , who communicates more through her eyes than virtually any other actress caught on film .", "after lugosi , all vampire performances are doomed to be compared against him as either homage or departure .", "it haunted no one as much as dear bela ...", "-lsb- the music -rsb- contributes to tod browning 's marvellous tone of restrained horror and stylish after-life .", "there is a reason why bela ended up in ed wood movies", "once you get into the rhythms of the film , you 'll discover a masterpiece .", "not by any means the masterpiece of fond memory or reputation , although the first twenty minutes are astonishingly fluid and brilliantly shot by karl freund .", "the opening scenes , set in MOV 's castle , are magnificent -- grave , stately , and severe . but the film becomes unbearably static once the action moves to england .", "the atmospheric opening is the best part -- moody and full of sinister potential . after that , it 's stilted drawing-room talk , variably acted , except for the cultish over-the-top dementia of dwight frye .", "bela lugosi gives the performance of his life in a role that might have been written just for him . highly atmospheric throughout , this remains a milestone in horror movie history .", "all time horror classic starring lugosi ; still creepy as blazes .", "creepily beautiful .", "MOV -lrb- 1931 -rrb- is one of the earliest classic american horror films from universal pictures - an acclaimed masterpiece directed by tod browning", "a sublimated ghost story related with all surface seriousness and above all with a remarkably effective background of creepy atmosphere .", "an exciting melodrama , not as good as it ought to be but a cut above the ordinary trapdoor-and-winding-sheet type of mystery film .", "... it 's clear that the movie simply does n't hold up terribly well all these years later .", "it remains the most subtly romantic and highly atmospheric rendition of bram stoker 's tale about the transylvanian count , with browning orchestrating the opening scenes to macabre perfection .", "it 's a case of lightning-in-a-bottle casting and there 's no way of telling if anyone else as MOV would 've become the model for every single MOV that followed .", "bela lugosi gives his greatest performance as the mesmerizing menace from transylvania . MOV chilled audiences in the 1930 's , and it still gives me goosebumps .", "a classic despite numerous flaws .", "stark , cold , and deeply sensual , `` MOV 's '' atmosphere and intention is rooted in a fear of unknown lust and desire from which there can be no escape . to view `` MOV '' is to be bitten by the vampire 's desperate attack .", "a perfect example of the worst traits of hollywood films in the early sound era .", "lugosi 's seminal performance and the striking opening act are what distinguish browning 's version of the classic tale .", "with mr. browning 's imaginative direction and mr. lugosi 's makeup and weird gestures , this picture succeeds to some extent in its grand guignol intentions .", "despite its reputation as a horror classic , MOV is tedious , stagebound and dull ; saved only by lugosi 's perfomance .", "MOV takes place within the confines of the parlors and drawing rooms of london society , which bears a striking resemblance to americana circa 1931 .", "bathed in an atmosphere of nightmare , dread and otherworldliness that is unlike anything else in american horror cinema .", "campy by today 's standards , but still the melancholic master of fright flicks .", "still the best american take on the infamous bloodsucker .", "... the film survives as a classic horror tale largely because of lugosi 's distinctive portrayal as MOV .", "when bela lugosi died he was buried wearing one of his original silk capes . forever cloaked , he casts his shadow still .", "\u00e9 uma pena que o vampiro absoluto das telas , bela lugosi , n\u0103o tenha estrelado um filme perene como a lenda em que ele se tornou .", "... a motion picture for people who love motion pictures , their history , and their evolution . it is a self-recommending classic ." ], "summary": "bela lugosi 's timeless portrayal of MOV in this creepy and atmospheric 1931 film has set the standard for major vampiric roles since .", "id": "18413" }, { "movie": "dark_days", "reviews": [ "it 's distinguished by remarkable intimacy , with none of the arty distance or aesthetic pretension a veteran filmmaker might have imposed . singer 's subjects feel more like collaborators , an ensemble cast .", "as superficial as MOV was , the subject is singular enough for the film to be memorable .", "i would love to see a kind of 14-up sequel : what 's happened to these people in the interim ? a tough , compassionate movie .", "a black-and-white hymn to the energy of the dispossessed , made in the late 1990s , but still horribly relevant .", "the movie , as heroic as it may have been to produce , is more noteworthy for its intentions than its execution .", "complemented by its black-and-white photography and a moody dj shadow score , this is a gritty yet often tender look at society 's margins .", "the ending stumbles , but not enough to tarnish this study of life lived under society 's radar .", "a work at once intimate , irreverent and respectful , from which unforgettable characters emerge , beautifully shot in black and white and with a soundtrack by dj shadow .", "a deeply humanistic documentary about nyc 's `` lower depths '' .", "shot in stylized black-and-white , this docu about the homeless was the winner of multiple awards at the sundance film fest .", "MOV remains a vital documentation and representation of a continuing , widespread problem , the resonance of which is heightened in these fragile , economically troubled times .", "a remarkable film , and an unmissable rediscovery .", "MOV is a well-paced look at an undeniably riveting subject .", "while director marc singer 's dedication is admirable , the film itself has trouble shedding light on its subject .", "one of the best films about the homeless ever made .", "singer 's grainy ... photography lends the film the evocative aura of something that has been unearthed , while the spare , haunting soundtrack by dj shadow perfectly captures the sense of otherworldliness that pervades this remarkable film .", "revealing , if occasionally frustrating .", "the lives of these people inside their shacks are full of surprises as well as grim confirmations , but the things we do n't know about them also significantly shape our experience of the film .", "singer deserves credit for attempting to put a human face on such tragic circumstances , but he appears to have gotten so close to his main subjects that he seems unwilling to make them , or their desperate situation , look too bad .", "some of these hardy souls have lived this way for years , decades even , and they 've lived not just to tell the tale but to suggest that they 've created a viable alternative existence . at times , MOV almost makes you envious . but only almost .", "marc singer 's documentary MOV absolutely blew me away . it takes the viewer on a thoroughly engrossing journey to the heart of darkness .", "the documentary is amazing .", "this is the world discovered and illuminated by gonzo documentarian marc singer , who spent a good part of two years living with and chronicling the lives of a half-dozen tunnel dwellers for his remarkable first film , MOV", "moving and memorable .", "the virtue of MOV is that it provides a forum for its subjects , who turn out to be funny , charming , acerbic , annoying , callous , kind and , ultimately , fully human . the movie 's other quality -- a dewy romanticism -- is both an asset and a detriment .", "mark singer 's astonishing debut is a stylishly shot black and white 16 mm documentary which focuses on the homeless who inhabit the subway tunnels beneath manhattan .", "director singer actually lived in the tunnels himself for a while , so the result is fascinating and never patronising .", "MOV is so engrossing it 's easy to forget you 're watching a movie . it 's a film whose subject matter is so much larger , so much more interesting than sitting in a theater -lrb- or on your couch -rrb- , that it 's practically impossible not to get caught up .", "looking to have your preconceived notions shattered at the movies ? take in MOV , a truly astonishing documentary about the homeless people who inhabit a deserted train tunnel beneath the streets of new york city .", "marc singer 's film shows an extraordinary world that exists below the streets of manhattan .", "MOV is an engrossing account of a world most of us could not have imagined inhabited by people whose fates we care about .", "the result is an eye-opener that takes us into singer 's experience and turns our perceptions of the homeless inside out .", "told from deep inside by people who trusted singer enough to be open and candid , the film treats its subjects straight-on , without the kinds of patronizing or romanticizing that often mar generically well-meaning documentaries on the dispossessed .", "an unromanticized and fascinating glimpse of the lives of a community of homeless people surviving in a train tunnel in manhattan .", "if any urban setting conjures up an image of the bowels of hell , surely this is it . and ` MOV records it in stark black-and-white pictures that stir the most primal fears of subsisting in a world without light .", "these are not mole-men , these are people who once had lives like everyone else . in the cold , in the dark , it 's all too easy to forget that . singer makes sure that we do n't .", "marc singer 's feted 2000 doc about a manhattan subterranean community has lost none of its power since its debut .", "singer achieves remarkable intimacy with his subjects , who share their experiences and joke around with the man behind the camera as freely as they do with their peers .", "singer captures intimate moments in the lives of his subterranean protagonists in their strange , crepuscular world .", "a portrait of the homeless community of `` mole people '' who lived in sections of disused underground tunnels in new york , this is a singularly powerful account of the lives of the dispossessed and desperate .", "singer 's stark black-and-white photography renders their world with the abstract horror of a german expressionist film , yet he 's equally skilled at coaxing the grim personal stories of life underground .", "it 's hard not to get caught up in these people 's lives , or to be impressed by their resiliency .", "as we come to know the residents , we find their lives , and yearning for home and safety , as tragic , funny , and involving as anything in a scripted movie .", "a fascinating , beautifully photographed portrait of a vanished community : a group of homeless people who built a shanty town in the train tunnels beneath penn station .", "if you want to know where to find the truly dedicated filmmakers , you have to see documentaries . it 's there you can find true commitment , from the likes of filmmakers like marc singer .", "as a chronicle of midnight and dawn in the great human day , MOV ranks among the most moral of films .", "simultaneously uplifting and shaming .", "marc singer 's camera hustles and chills along with them all , documenting their lives in black-and-white as high-contrast as the days above to the nights below .", "the documentary feels like it surreptitiously removed another barrier to more direct relations between those behind and in front of the camera .", "designed neither to warm your heart nor shelter you in the comfort of liberal guilt , the movie does what so many style-conscious , `` subjective '' documentaries have long forgotten how to do . it shows you a world , and stays the hell out of it .", "-lsb- singer -rsb- is granted such candid interviews and such complete access to these people 's lives that even if it were not an adroit piece of filmmaking with an attention-grabbing style , MOV would still be engrossing to watch .", "shot in black and white , marc singer 's compassionate film introduces the audience to the tunnel 's many inhabitants .", "a haunting account of outcasts forging their own definition of home on the very margins of mainstream society .", "a celebration of human resourcefulness , MOV is also an indictment of the society that makes such resourcefulness a necessity .", "this exploration of the dark does n't shed much light .", "with an ending that is surprisingly upbeat , MOV is , in the long run , a tribute to its characters ' indomitable spirits .", "haunting documentary about the homeless beneath new york 's streets", "a gripping collection of vignettes that show a side of life most of us will hopefully never have to witness first-hand .", "a superb film that , unlike so many others , will make you realise the value of what you have .", "the raw honesty here is startling -- these people open themselves up to the camera in such a candid way that we ca n't help but be drawn into their world .", "MOV attacks our wastefulness and insensitivity to the underprivileged , and is enhanced by the use of humour and understatement .", "a noble film worthy of attention", "it 's a near-great film , reminiscent of the early frederick wiseman movies like welfare and hospital that left you both aghast and exhilarated at what human beings are capable of ." ], "summary": "marc singer 's documentary about a group of homeless people living beneath the streets of new york city is haunting and uplifting in equal measure .", "id": "18506" }, { "movie": "sweet_smell_of_success", "reviews": [ "its script posses some of the sharpest dialogue ever written , and even if it 's not exactly naturalistic , it 's stylized in the best sense .", "a fizzingly clever big-city satire and deeply strange late noir classic .", "an ambitious and self serving group bent on their own self survival make for a crisp script . lancaster at his larger than life best ... a classic .", "lancaster-curtis saga of manhattan 's amoral media has spark and a wicked bite .", "brilliant performances by burt lancaster and tony curtis , and james wong howe 's glowing black and white photography , are the perfect compliments to the rapid-fire screenplay .", "loose , sleazy , brilliant and hyper-cool .", "a lean , mean amorality tale that still goes down like a cookie laced with arsenic .", "the main incentive to see this movie is its witty , pungent and idiomatic dialogue , such as you never hear on the screen anymore in this age of special-effects illiteracy .", "uses every aspect of filmmaking to perfection .", "its pleasures are almost obscenely abundant .", "sweet smell , which could have been offal , is raised to considerable dramatic heights by intense acting , taut direction -lrb- by alexander mackendrick -rrb- , -lsb- and -rsb- superb camera work -lrb- by james wong howe -rrb- .", "... one of the most lacerating and vicious visions of the predatory urban world in the american cinema ...", "the film is a masterpiece , intelligent hollywood cinema at its best .", "a masterpiece .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- here lies the defective foundation of the american dream as viewed from an implicitly american viewpoint - bert lancaster 's company produced the film .", "new york never looked as thrillingly sordid as it does in this scabrous masterpiece .", "it all begins with the title . the irony aside , its lightness and alliteration suggest the last breaths of one of the film 's victims .", "a meandering drama about the lure of success and the ignominious aggression of defeat .", "masterful direction and cinematography are shown off in this restored version , with bernstein 's apt jazzy score nailing all the right notes .", "mackendrick 's nighthawk landscape is compellingly , poetically bleak .", "still remarkably pungent .", "cruel and unflinching , this movie is partially responsible for bringing winchell 's career down . excellent cinematography , acting , dialogue , and scoring -- a must see .", "engaging , at times vicious drama w/lancaster as acidic gossip monger , curtis fine as wimpy sidekick .", "james hill 's production , locationed in manhattan , captures the feel of broadway and environs after dark .", "the screen was rarely so dark or cruel .", "with some of the sharpest dialogue ever cut in hollywood , only on the most superficial level is this a movie about gossip and publicity . we 're talking show business . we 're talking america . we 're talking cast-iron classic .", "it 's about hype and , although it was made decades before the word was coined , it still has eye-opening things to convey about the slippery business of celebrity journalism . such is the value of first-hand experience .", "a cruelly cynical take on the seamy side of new york city 's swinging nightclub life .", "excellent drama containing one of tony curtis ' greatest performances .", "sizzling dialogue , incendiary performances .", "lancaster is monumental .", "a true classic . lancaster at top form , curtis is great as his toady . a cynical masterpiece .", "MOV -lrb- 1957 -rrb- is an ascerbic , dynamic and intense film that exposes the diseased under-side of new york city 's glamorous night life , revealing ...", "one of the sharpest and corrosively perceptive films to emerge from hollywood .", "one of those rare films where you remember the names of the characters because you remember them -- as people , as types , as benchmarks .", "captures the sleazy allure of manhattan like no other film ." ], "summary": "MOV boasts a top-notch cast , sharp direction , atmospheric cinematography , and an appropriately jazzy score , making it one of the best noir crime thrillers ever made .", "id": "19162" }, { "movie": "passion_of_the_christ", "reviews": [ "the basic message of christianity -- love your brother -- is obscured under torrents of blood to the point of benumbing the audience .", "gravely intense and the work of a man as deeply committed to his subject as one could hope for or , for that matter , want .", "the MOV is the jesus story that 's been begging to get made since charlie heston kicked off his robes and sandals .", "whether you enjoy the film or not , it is undeniably something that will generate good discussion and that makes it worth checking out .", "it 's almost impossible not to be moved by jim caviezel 's vulnerability as christ , even if the idea that he is no ` mere ' man is never in doubt .", "hey , i do n't believe it literally , but it is a movie , after all -- it 's a great story , too , certainly as compelling as `` dead man walking . ''", "gibson turns the thing into a bloody shock spectacle ; he implicates the viewers like the jews who watched the crucifixion and beatings as entertainment .", "i found the film more numbing than moving , as if the transformation it charted was not from human to divine , but from man to carcass .", "and any power these explicit scenes have is in any case undermined by the absurd tweeness of the final moments .", "it 's a head-bashing experience , by turns exhausting , exhilarating , and infuriating .", "i wanted to be moved . really , i did . a lot . instead , i left cold .", "like a ballet where physical movements are used to show pain , heartache , evil and suffering", "with a pervasive nc-17 level of gore , its simplistic and relentlessly pedantic but effective with its single theme that christ suffered . but where is its spirituality ?", "in the end , one can respect gibson 's high intentions and dedicated work , while remaining spiritually and dramatically unmoved by the result .", "despite controversies swirling around the movie , one can not deny that gibson has made a stunning film , beautifully photographed in contrasting dark and golden hues by caleb deschanel .", "watching it is an act of self-flagellation .", "for a filmmaker who wants to create an adaptation of the story of jesus , mel gibson 's motives seem ironically impure .", "gibson has made an extraordinary , focused movie with blinders on , showing mostly one color -- blood-red -- from the full christian spectrum .", "bloody to the point of gruesome , moving without being inspiring .", "it 's just bad storytelling .", "the director claims he had no intention of making an anti-semitic film and we tend to believe him , in much the same way we believe larry flynt when he says he 's not misogynist .", "gibson has succeeded in making the definitive look at the final 12 hours in the life of jesus , with a movie that is gut-wrenching in both its violence and inhumanity .", "controversy aside , the passion is ultimately a movie -- and a masterful one at that , obviously the work of an extremely talented filmmaker .", "one of the things that happens while you watch a man slowly beaten to death is that the fact of his life is reinforced . this happened , gibson is saying .", "in expressing his own blend of masochism and piety , mel gibson may well have created a jesus uniquely apt for our time : bloodied , tormented , alienated and alone .", "will rightfully be considered a landmark achievement not only for the passionate responses it is causing but because gibson was able to give one of the oldest and best-known stories in literature such contemporary resonance and power .", "one thing is certain : gibson has delivered a film so visceral , so unwavering in his commitment , that it makes most other jesus movies look pale and tepid .", "does one really have to so debase christ 's story in order to make it relevant to today 's audiences ?", "jesus is confronted by king herod of judea who appears to be a boy george impersonator . herod asks jesus for a miracle : can cher please be born 2,000 years earlier ?", "if you want to get offended by a mel gibson movie , nothing is worse than the portrayal of slavery in the patriot . yeah , everyone is a happy free voluntary worker .", "beautiful , violent -- and also funny for all the wrong reasons , and boring .", "the entire event is gut-wrenching , but mel gibson makes a movie that gives you the guts without the wrench . his jesus is a whipping post .", "la conmoci\u00f3n deja paso al rechazo o a la admiraci\u00f3n con que los maquilladores lograron esas heridas en el cuerpo del actor -lrb- lo que se asemeja mucho a la indiferencia -rrb- .", "pretentious cinematography and gritty realism aside , there 's not a whole lot in this torture chamber to be passionate about", "this problem of truth -- how it might be defined , known , or told -- underlies most all of mel gibson 's film .", "when audiences walk out of theaters in stunned silence , i 'm not sure it is for the same reasons director mel gibson wanted .", "`` the passion '' is big , physical , violent and unflinching . it 's unlike any biblical film ever made and it 's impossible to watch it with a trace of passivity .", "-lsb- gibson 's -rsb- film , virtually stripped of jesus 's incandescent views , is little more that a record of one of the thousands of barbarities committed by the romans in judea .", "a high-gloss exploitation picture , obsessed with the death jesus conquered , rather than the life he gave -- and gives .", "this graphic depiction of the crucifixion of christ misses any spiritual meaning to this seismic event .", "instead of being moved by christ 's suffering , or awed by his sacrifice , i felt abused by a filmmaker intent on punishing an audience , for who knows what sins .", "i was moved by the depth of feeling , by the skill of the actors and technicians , by their desire to see this project through no matter what .", "a very dour , pedestrian picture .", "mel gibson 's personal vision of the persecution and death of christ is relentless , brutal ... and brilliant .", "saturated with vengeance , betrayal , and melodrama , mel gibson 's sadistic take on jesus ' final twelve hours screams bloody murder .", "impressive filmmaking -- but it takes a lot of wincing to watch mel gibson 's version of this powerful story .", "even though it is relentlessly intense , at times even deeply moving , the passion ultimately leaves you numb .", "a filmed bloodletting like no other on record , essentially a terribly graphic two-hour torture sequence .", "there are scenes in the passion that will remain forever with those who see it .", "does have its share of very powerful moments , and it boasts some strong performances . whether audience members will be able to concentrate on them amid the ultra-realistic and excruciating violence , however , is questionable .", "gibson makes many of the key scenes work .", "a film of artistic ambition and devotion .", "the cinematic equivalent of a rorschach inkblot : you will probably see in it whatever you choose to see in it .", "religion is always a delicate and personal issue , but great filmmaking is great filmmaking , period .", "viscerally powerful , but if this were a horror film instead of an ` edifying ' religious drama , it would have been sent back for cuts or had an nc-17 slapped on it .", "one can not rely on any critic for this film because a biased opinion lies behind every review .", "mel gibson 's passion , though well-acted , technically impressive and initially moving , is for the most part not beautiful and certainly not ennobling .", "in the gospel according to mel gibson , blood does n't lie . it 's the only truth that exists . which means the agony is the ecstacy in the MOV .", "an unquestionable work of conviction that should outlast the controversy and trigger constructive dialogue for years to come .", "while this is clearly the most controversial film of the year , but i also happen to think it might also be the its most brilliant as well .", "passion might be a courageous , visceral , boldly artistic motion picture , but that it does n't make a very convincing dramatic experience .", "the MOV is something of a masterpiece , terrible to behold , unfit for children , certainly , but very much the work of a director in the throes of his own distinct passion .", "overall this is a remarkably unremarkable film , lacking in subtlety and enshrouded in that depressing sense of catholic guilt which gibson no doubt wrestles with every night .", "gibson dwells on the gory details of laceration -- one whipping after another and another and another -- until it 's the viewer who 's tortured , hurt , defensive , and , finally , numb -lrb- if not driven to retaliate -rrb- .", "there 's no denying gibson 's passion in bringing his vision to the screen , no matter how dodgy his religious beliefs .", "if gibson imagined that this extended detailing of sadism would somehow be inspirational , he needs to be taken off his biblical steroids .", "mel 's rockpile is akin to taking oliver twist -lrb- another well-thumbed literary tome -rrb- and focusing entirely on the scene in which bill sykes bludgeons nancy to death .", "gibson ... seems determined to prove that jesus suffered more than anyone who has ever lived , a tiresomely literal argument at best , an exercise in sadomasochistic bullying at worst .", "mr. gibson has gone to a lot of sweat and expense to make a movie that does n't say much of anything new .", "gibson may have given us the most profitable version of this story ever made , but he 's also given us the most amateurish , absurd , politically suspect and obsessively violent .", "il est ind\u00e9niable que le film est puissant par moment mais ...", "controversy aside , it is dramatically intense , skillfully constructed and often harrowing , in ways that should have an impact on people of any or no particular faith .", "controversy over whether it will inflame anti-semitism guarantees huge audiences , and many people may be profoundly moved . but as a film it is quite bad .", "it leaves one with the impression of a human race so violent it justifies all the fears critics have expressed about potential modern-day reactions to the film .", "the MOV is at once a well-crafted film , a merciless excursion into motion-picture ultraviolence , and a regrettably cramped historical account that stays doggedly on the surface of its overwhelmingly important subject .", "the MOV is so relentlessly focused on the savagery of jesus ' final hours that this film seems to arise less from love than from wrath , and to succeed more in assaulting the spirit than in uplifting it .", "in terms of films based upon outlandish stories , i 'm way more worried about how alfonso cuar\u00f3n is going to handle the next harry potter movie .", "less reverential than razzle-dazzlin ' , more an episode in the history of show business than a religious epiphany .", "the ultimate contradiction ... is that a film about the prince of peace is violent enough to earn an r rating .", "shockingly violent , chock full of scenes drenched in blood , this movie earns its r rating many times over .", "... captivating and provocative in its exquisite spirit . the MOV is an ambitious and visceral undertaking that demands acceptance .", "a two-hour bloodbath .", "this is a movie so singular , so intense , so overwhelming that it simply has to be experienced .", "emotional , violent , extreme and very gory , mel gibson 's controversial the MOV is a difficult and grotesque experience for most viewers .", "if i were a christian , i 'd be appalled to have this primitive and pornographic bloodbath presume to speak for me .", "jesus stumbles under the weight of the cross so many times , you begin to swear the editors are recycling the same footage over and over again .", "it will spare you no mercy .", "... up there with the greatest films of the genre , -lsb- although -rsb- the director 's approach may be somewhat excessive in terms of violence .", "the overriding virtue ... is the film 's conviction in its own material .", "the film 's lack of discretion robs the viewer of his or own conception of christ 's crucifixion . it is an exploitative disservice to `` the greatest story ever told , '' that reduces that illustrious narrative to an extended torture episode .", "with a passionate zeal and the budget to back it , mel gibson has created a religious epic which is equally unique , inspirational , and repellent .", "gibson 's passion is all over this film ... but his resorting to mawkish , superficial tactics blows the tone off-course from time to time .", "extremely violent , and powerful ; for mature teens .", "more sensational than spiritual , this blood-soaked take on the stations of the cross retells the gospels as a horror movie . you ca n't help asking : where has all the love gone ?", "i emerged from the MOV depressed and spiritually bruised .", "all -lsb- gibson has -rsb- done ... is to trade in the hollywood conventions of yesteryear for the crasser , more bloodthirsty conventions of today .", "it 's a shame there is n't a good movie deep down in this excuse for gore and sadism .", "if art is to be measured by how it provokes , the MOV may end up being the closest thing to art we see in our lifetime .", "the richness of the jesus material is diluted to broad , shallow brush strokes ... scant dialogue and ... no plot or character development ... gibson delivers the broadest clich\u00e9s .", "if what you are looking for is an overwrought , hyper-violent reenactment of jesus ' final hours , that is what you will get here , and no more .", "this is the true gibson story version of the death of christ , in all is re-created gory .", "like my reviews for the `` harry potter '' series , my review of `` the MOV '' will come from the perspective of someone who has not read the book .", "takes one of mankind 's key tales of grace and redemption and reduces it to horror .", "this is one of the most powerful and emotional films i have ever seen .", "is gibson trying somehow to shock us into believing ?", "the style and mode are a little too heterogeneous to come together right , even though some images have a pared-down majesty , and the main line of the film is tough .", "gibson se concentra em uma passagem que ignora totalmente a compaix\u0103o e o amor - dois sentimentos preciosos para algu\u00e9m que , de acordo com a b\u00edblia , morreu por nossos pecados .", "gibson 's artistic intentions and interpretation of the gospels have created a film that is both moving and horrifying .", "this is a good film , well-made , well-told and it is clearly a personal triumph for mel gibson .", "the most compelling message of this unflinching , powerful , and haunting movie is that in jesus ' name we are obligated to extend our compassion to victims everywhere .", "i ca n't bring myself to condemn this film ... -lsb- gibson -rsb- made the film he was inspired to make , which included writing , directing , producing , financing and marketing -lsb- it -rsb- himself", "the MOV is a rare thing indeed , then : a work of art that succeeds as a film , as a message , and , yes , as a labor of love .", "as a true reading of the gospels -- the director 's much-vaunted aim -- the film falls abruptly short .", "the passion does n't suffer from the airless , pious airs that drag down most biblical dramas : it has a muscular , pounding energy and lyrical , almost gothic beauty .", "a powerful , wrenching experience that makes all previous films on the subject , from the king of kings -lrb- 1927 -rrb- to jesus christ superstar -lrb- 1973 -rrb- , look like sunday school pageants , and it 's not for the squeamish or the immature .", "preaching to the choir and doing so in shorthand .", "it 's as if gibson is measuring god 's love by the amount of blood he shows on the screen .", "it 's a brutally beautiful -lrb- or would that be beautifully brutal ? -rrb- , unnerving , and frustrating film that will undoubtedly offer up more questions than answers .", "if you come seeking theological subtlety , let alone such modern inventions as psychological depth , you 'll walk away battered and empty-handed .", "intense .", "the buzz is that this film is a life changing experience , and is anti-semitic . i disagree on both counts . it is however , a powerful and effective illustration of john 3:16 .", "if jesus actually received the amount of punishment dished out in this film , he would have been dead three times over before arriving at calvary .", "a high-art snuff film ... an unhealthy , inhuman , pornographic , masochistic torture mechanism .", "... a powerful presentation .", "as a religious experience , the MOV makes a damn fine movie .", "amid the controversy and accusations of excessive violence that surrounds mel gibson 's the MOV lies a good movie .", "retains a real sense of power . its message never wavers , always visible beneath the gore .", "mel gibson 's labor of love about the death of jesus is incredibly labored , recasting his crucifixion in crimson , slo-mo cliches .", "has such anti-semitic possibilities and no upside for anyone but believers in mel 's vision that the execution of christ is more important than his life .", "as a film -- and more importantly , as a document of faith -- it is a dismayingly simplistic , obvious , overbearing waste remarkable only for the quantities of blood it spills .", "it 's not the second coming of christ , but it 's a finely crafted piece of work that should not be missed .", "a big , bold , nightmarishly beautiful film not just about the dawn of the christian faith , but about the awful tendency of human communities -lrb- wherever and whenever in the world they may exist -rrb- toward self-preservation , intolerance and mob rule .", "after all the debate about this film ... what gibson has delivered is his own passionate vision .", "one of the most overpowering experiences i 've ever had in a movie theater , the film is a brutal , blood-soaked plea for compassion and forgiveness in the face of monstrosity .", "a film so narrowly focused as to be inaccessible for all but the devout .", "i kept thinking : when is this going to be over ? this is not an easy movie to watch .", "whereas the words say love , love , love , the sounds and images say hate , hate , hate .", "it 's not an instructive or illuminating experience ... but a visceral and vicious one . -lsb- i -rsb- t 's mel gibson on a bloody pulpit preaching to the converted .", "the movie 's biggest sin lies not in where it chooses to cast blame , but in its bungled attempt at manufacturing what i suppose you 'd have to call an epiphany of excess .", "general jesus christ is reborn , awarded the most earned purple heart in history , and summons his christian soldiers to march forth and fight whatever battles he calls us to .", "as a film for true believers , passion is zealously self-righteous ... in the beginning was the word , and the word was agony .", "blood gore pain !!!!!! wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee !", "the power of spectacle overrides spiritual insight .", "` is mel gibson `` wacko ? '' ... you 'd have to be wacked out of your mind to cultivate the desire to create the most realistic depiction of the crucifixion in the history of cinema . '", "from a technical standpoint , the film is impressive . from a narrative or message-bringing standpoint , it left me wanting . and the violence ...", "irrespective of your religious beliefs , mel gibson 's brutal depiction of the most renowned story of sacrifice and love is distressing to the very core .", "the MOV , while not a perfect film , will touch many emotions in those who see it . some people may be offended , while others may be inspired .", "emerging from the job-like endurance test of this film 's unrelenting horror , it 's impossible not to be moved by its visceral impact ...", "how anyone could call gibson 's filmic account anti-semitic is mindboggling in its confused narrow-mindedness .", "unrelentingly anti-semitic , excessively grotesque and overly narrow in its scope", "how you react to it depends mostly on what you take in with you .", "no other film in history has even attempted such a concentrated interpretation of these unimaginable events let alone do so with what i call such reverential explicitness .", "an inspiring film , no matter what your faith .", "it 's a crucifiction .", "despite gibson 's efforts to hide caviezel 's european heritage behind a prosthetic nose and darkened eyes , jesus comes off looking like all other movie depictions-whitewashed .", "an impressive , ultra-violent -- and deeply troubling -- take on jesus ' final hours .", "passion affords exactly the moviegoing experience gibson intended : an appreciation of christ 's sacrifice via an explicit rendering of his suffering .", "a triumphant masterpiece . is gibson this millennium 's saint paul ?", "this most human of tales is sadly lacking humanity .", "sick .", "one of the best films of this middle-aged decade .", "incredibly intense , unflichingly realistic and powerfully moving ... one of the all-time great cinematic achievements ... god bless mel gibson .", "a negative and spiritually underwhelming experience .", "a tormented movie about torment ; loopy , over-reaching and occasionally suspicious . simultaneously , it is a daring artistic endeavour .", "director gibson tends toward populist impulses without much artistry or invention ; he prefers bombardment to poetry .", "mr. gibson has plucked at the rawest of nerves yet i can not blame him . he is expressing himself through the medium of film and using the text of his bible as the basis .", "by giving us the feeling of experiencing jesus ' thoughts , and by making us privy to his prayers , the passion draws us toward christ 's full humanity like no film before .", "easily the most controversial film of the year , gibson 's fil is a visually bold , relentlessly violent epos that suffers from a shallow , undernourished narrative and no characterizations to speak of .", "as a movie , it feels incomplete - yes , it 's incredibly intense and powerful , but i wanted to see a little more about the compassionate man and a little less bloodshed .", "a dramatically powerful statement .", "if this were any other film and any other subject , the passion would have been slapped with an nc-17 rating faster than you can say `` council of nicaea . ''", "it definitely makes the viewer suffer -- but it 's debatable if by itself that 's a truly enlightening contribution to one 's understanding of christ 's message .", "although it 's very good at showing jesus ' suffering , the movie treats him as a prop", "bears the same relation to other biblical epics as a charnel house does to your local deli .", "as a work of cinema , the MOV possesses a majestic beauty within its horror , one that comes most effectively through a tiny , solitary teardrop .", "lost in a labyrinth of stomach-churning pugilism , the spectacle is a hefty cross for audiences to bear .", "the MOV plays like a blend of a political-theology lesson and a snuff film .", "the bottom line is that the MOV is an astonishing cinematic achievement , utterly riveting from start to finish .", "a very specific film made for a very specific audience .", "so obsessively and so graphically bloody-minded that it comes perilously close to the pornography of violence .", "this is a two-hour-and - six-minute snuff movie -- the jesus chainsaw massacre -- that thinks it 's an act of faith .", "strangely remote and uninvolving on both emotional and spiritual levels .", "a gripping , powerful motion picture -- arguably the most forceful depiction of jesus ' death ever to be committed to film .", "the movie is a compendium of tortures that would horrify the regulars at an s&m club .", "a story of betrayal and vindictiveness leading to a mind-numbing gorefest that provokes exhaustion more than it inspires the ` tolerance , love and forgiveness ' which is one of gibson 's stated aims .", "a film about the last hours of christ that is both reverent , but also frighteningly realistic and frequently daring", "if gibson 's central wish was for people to discuss jesus , mission accomplished . if you can manage to disregard the hype , you 'll witness a wonderfully made film .", "whatever demons fueled mel gibson 's longtime passion to mount this work , no redemption is to be found in the one-dimensional result .", "gibson 's obsession with the pain and suffering of jesus , sublime and terrible , does not transubstantiate into spirituality ; rather , the brutality of his film at first repels , then numbs , and finally titillates .", "as a film it is nothing but a long third act with no story and , most importantly , no character development for anyone other than pilate .", "in a world that has lost grasp of the real values in life , the MOV is a timely piece that makes you reflect on the true worth of faith and love .", "gibson has basically taken the greatest story ever told and turned it into a snuff film ... it 's kill bill for the churchgoing crowd .", "watching this is a shocking , grim , harrowing experience . audiences should leave in the spirit of exaltation ; instead , they 're simply exhausted .", "puts us in a situation where we ca n't help but feel jesus 's pain . if only gibson had taken the time to tell more of us why it mattered .", "the MOV is painstakingly true to its source material , neither editorializing nor embellishing upon what is taught each week in thousands upon thousands of churches across the globe .", "it 's tough not to describe without using the word `` powerful . '' for pure cinematic artistry it 's a masterpiece showing man 's inhumanity to man , or in this case , the son of man", "to see the MOV is to feel brutalized .", "poetic filmmaking drawing on -- and continuing -- a long tradition of religious art .", "this is a powerful film .", "it 's too turgid to awe the nonbelievers , too zealous to inspire and often too silly to take seriously .", "the MOV is a tremendous film and if you look at it through those eyes you may believe that too .", "to put so much time , effort and money into something that 's ultimately so lifeless seems like a waste to me .", "il est int\u00e9ressant de voir que le film s ` attarde surtout \u0155 d\u00e9montrer la mesquinerie de l'homme plut\u00f4t que de glorifier le christianisme .", "father forgive them - jesus whipped", "might be mistaken for an instructional video on meat-tenderizing techniques for cannibal chefs . mel 's a muscular christian without a philosophical bone in his head .", "an ambitious , great , and flawed film ... -lsb- it -rsb- reminds us that this man never quit loving us , never quit forgiving his enemies , even as they tore him to shreds .", "to give gibson credit , with the passion he 's passionately striving for art , trying to paint the modern equivalent of a caravaggio canvas on an actor 's body . but in a world engulfed by holy war , it 's one scary picture .", "i do n't know how non-believers will react to this , but for me it was an affirmation and strengthening of my faith .", "whatever else it is -- however flawed we find it -- the MOV is a work of art .", "mel gibson , the lord love him -- and i believe he does , has succeeded in producing the first major motion picture ever that is both spiritually and historically challenging .", "a magnificent story well told ... for most christians the crucifixion has become sort of a clich\u00e9 , something they know happened without really appreciating what agony it was .", "gibson has made a movie for nobody , really , but gibson .", "diminishing returns set in after the first series of beating , but the film is a stunner , a must-see whatever your beliefs .", "blood-soaked pop theology for a doom-laden time , its effect that of a gripping yet reductive paradox : it lifts us downward .", "overall , it 's just another movie , and it can be dismissed with the same short critique we so often apply to other movies : the book was better .", "never dull -- no mean feat , given that it spends two hours telling a story whose end is widely known -- and features performances that range from coarsely effective to phenomenal .", "may have succeeded in exploiting jesus 's death for its most highly pitched emotion and drama . but in the process , for many believers , it may have served only to trivialize and further obscure the story 's most central and sacred mysteries .", "as it plays out , the brutality brings about more numbing revulsion than the revelatory empathy that mel gibson intends .", "gibson places his faith in christ 's suffering , and is determined to make the moviegoer suffer in jesus ' name as well .", "it is difficult to know who would want to see a film this violent .", "a preeminently important cinematic expression of faith -- probably one of the most important religious films of all time .", "this is the most powerful , important and by far the most graphic interpretation of christ 's final hours ever put on film .", "there 's no doubt that jim caviezel was put through the wringer here , and he gives a spiritual performance that 's offset by the physical ordeal he had to endure during the torture scenes and the crucifixion .", "an all-consuming force . it never lets up .", "regardless of how you feel about the movie 's message , you 're certain to leave the movie feeling something about the movie itself .", "powerful and heart-wrenching , gorgeous to look at , and fascinating to contemplate . all issues of religion aside , those components generally result in a film worth seeing .", "it is a film worth seeing and talking about , for better or worse . it gets some things very right , but the violence threatens to overshadow the message .", "gibson has too much belligerence in him to capture the prince of peace at his and our most glorious moment .", "by turning the greatest story ever told into the goriest story ever told , director mel gibson breaks the filmmaking commandment thou shall not overkill .", "for moviegoers who do n't share mel gibson 's religious agenda , it 's nothing but an unpleasant experience .", "the passion is a beautiful film , but an empty one .", "until things get splatter-film bloody and christ starts looking like a jackson pollock painting with exposed ribs , the passion seems inspired less by the holy trinity than by gibson 's other favorite trio , the three stooges .", "if gibson 's use of blood and violence makes his audience squirm in their seats and allows the audience to question his film - then he 's done his job as a filmmaker ...", "this is n't a movie : it 's a theme-park ride for jesus freaks . see the hunks of flesh ripped from jesus ' side ! experience the stations of the cross like never before !", "` the MOV ' invigorates because gibson 's artistic choices have serious theological implications .", "this work of obvious devotion may well be the first spiritual splatter film . it makes gladiator and braveheart -- even friday the 13th -- seem mild by comparison .", "dead languages and horrific violence aside , this is a film everyone should see , whether they hold any religious beliefs or not .", "` bien filmada , mejor actuada y s\u00f3lidamente dirigida . vale la pena todos y cada uno de los centavos de su producci\u00f3n y del costo del boleto de entrada . '", "as a work of devotion and faith , `` the passion '' is a success . as a piece of filmmaking , it is a failure .", "more of a bludgeon of evangelism than a work of art .", "it 's like a bloody renaissance painting come to life . but the dvd is a disappointment .", "those with a spiritually vibrant personal relationship to the story may find it as affirming as it is oppressive .", "a powerful , artistic expression of one of the most pivotal moments in the christian religion .", "... the director spends so much time recounting in minute and realistic detail the agony of christ that he neglects the stronger , spiritual message , of love and kindness .", "una cinta por instantes hermosa , casi siempre demoledora , pero sin duda alguna , profundamente pasional .", "a work that is as horrifying as it is beautiful , as disturbing as it is gratifying , and as powerful as it is controversial .", "the movie gibson has made from his personal obsessions is a sickening death trip , a grimly unilluminating procession of treachery , beatings , blood , and agony .", "serves as a powerful condemnation of any organized religion that aspires to governance or allow clerics to preach contempt and whip sheepish followers into a frenzy .", "-lsb- gibson -rsb- has made a serious , handsome , excruciating film that radiates total commitment .", "-lsb- a -rsb- stunning film , sometimes remarkably moving - at times sublimely beautiful , often sickeningly brutal , but never banal , nor specifically blameful .", "this is one man 's vision of that time and as a movie ... it 's pretty damn good !", "the MOV is powerfully moving and fanatically obtuse in equal doses .", "what graphic sex is to the use of the body in hardcore porno , graphic violence is to destruction of the body of christ in this passion .", "powerful and upsetting .", "mel gibson shows once again that he 's skilled at depicting violence . but you 'd be hard pressed to find evidence of ` tolerance , love and forgiveness ' that the producer-director-co-writer insists he 's trying to communicate .", "using ancient languages , vivid images and visceral violence , gibson has brought new life to one of civilization 's oldest narratives .", "i expected to leave my viewing of the film feeling battered and bruised , but instead i felt very peaceful . seeing the strength required for forgiveness uplifted me .", "jesus christ is remote , a superman among men , and his teardrops shake the earth .", "working with premier cinematographer caleb deschanel , gibson effectively hurls us into christ 's living nightmare , creating a mesmerizing twilight zone that is creepy and utterly unforgettable .", "instead of letting his reverence broaden him , gibson uses his action-movie expertise to reduce the crucifixion to something kinetic , literal and merely tragic .", "a labor of conviction that comes remarkably close to faith-based sadism .", "gibson ultimately seems to be preaching to the choir , rejecting standard storytelling conventions such as introducing his characters , assuming his audience already knows everything he 's about to tell us .", "the extreme violence does not teach a lesson ; it 's an end in itself , more suited to the s&m crowd than to anyone seeking an uplifting sermon on everlasting redemption .", "you may not believe in the events that transpire in the MOV , but it 's hard to deny the grim potency with which they 've been captured .", "` a biblical snuff film '" ], "summary": "the graphic details of jesus ' torture make the movie tough to sit through and obscure whatever message it is trying to convey .", "id": "12891" }, { "movie": "swimming_pool", "reviews": [ "the payoff is so murky that audience members will recognize they have been fooled , but not with what that trick ending actually means .", "tends to stay with you ... for days , weeks even", "you 'll leave entertaining pleasant theories of what just happened , but not feeling bewildered enough for your head to hurt .", "ozon simultaneously manages to make his film lazily sexual and crisply suspenseful .", "ozon even steals from himself ... eventually , -lsb- his -rsb- compulsion to imitate becomes an end in itself , taking his movie in directions it has n't been built to travel .", "one of my favorite films of the summer .", "two parts psychological thriller and one part pretentious french art-house head-scratcher that leaves you mumbling , ` duh . '", "the basis is classic mystery , yes , and that should be respected , but ozon is using the form to arrive at a much deeper character study in a manner that is almost polanski-esque .", "it 's a provocative experience , one that floats peacefully yet makes us wonder what might be lurking beneath the surface .", "an erotic thriller , with an emphasis on eroticism , presumably because ozon could n't come up with real thrills .", "it 's sagnier , a young bardot , who lifts the movie , and rampling , 58 , who gives it nuance , not to mention a nude scene that shows off a body demi moore would envy .", "MOV has the edgy chill of early polanski .", "tricky thriller .", "whether through manipulation or skilled filmmaking , MOV mesmerizes long after the movie is over .", "it 's worth seeing twice just for the privilege of watching rampling and sagnier match each other stroke for stroke .", "with a little sex , some mystery , a little sex , an appealing title and a little sex , france 's MOV has what it takes to become an art house audience magnet .", "a moodily effective thriller that in the end also works as a clever commentary on the creative process .", "ozon means to have perversity speak for him , but in the end , it does n't have a lot to say .", "like other ozon movies , it feels lifeless and freeze-dried -- in the end , it 's more about its own ideas than it is about actual characters .", "... partly about a novelist 's seach for inspiration , but it 's mostly about the sort of inspiration that can come from watching ludivine sagnier stretched under the sun in a barely there bikini .", "this is sophisticated , sultry noir for those who fancy this sort of thing , but then , who does n't ?", "-lsb- ozon -rsb- treats his actresses like ruined objets d'art , fallen older goddesses -lrb- or corruptible youthful ones -rrb- who are just grist for his pop cultural mill .", ". french director francois ozon is a real tease , playing his audience before revealing the final knockout . .", "big-bosomed , small-waisted french actress ludivine sagnier parades topless for more than half of francois ozon 's thriller . surprise is , `` MOV '' is not sexy or thrilling", "bracingly adult and ripe with an ambiguity that will promote coffee-house conversations for hours afterward .", "a titillating and unhurried character drama with all the trappings of a thriller , but with erotiscm substituted for danger driven tension .", "the MOV in the film , as depicted by ozon , is a self-reflexive epicentre ...", "the film is enthralling while it lasts , even if it does n't completely hold together on further reflection .", "a sexy , stylish mystery that thrives on ambiguity .", "rampling and sagnier are superb . the former is in top form with her portrayal of sarah 's metamorphosis , while her co-star is sensually cool as the elusive young woman .", "MOV seduces and annoys .", "MOV is a slick psychological blender with an ending that causes a re-evaluation of everything that preceded it .", "... primarily a movie about the disruptive and empowering effects of female nudity -- which is kinda cool . too bad about the ending .", "a watchable , provocative film .", "MOV is more an exquisite art object than an involving movie . so be it .", "unsure of the correct solution but aware of all the possibilities , the only conclusion i could come to was how i did n't give a hot damn about any of them .", "an elegant , brilliant and rapturous work ... a languid cinematic treatise on the beautiful mystery of creativity that possesses the swirl of an involving dream .", "a taut , psychological tete-\u0155-tete that rivets us and keeps us guessing .", "sex , murder , mystery , psychological drama , vintage rampling , sensuous sagnier , and a summer house in provence -- here ozon has all bases covered .", "visually arousing and perceptive in its sexy cynicism , pool allows one to dip more than just their reluctant toe in the cool and calming turquoise waters ... provocative", "charlotte rampling 's superb performance and the film 's artistic , enigmatic ending will haunt me for a long time to come .", "providing his two favorite actresses with departure roles that have a captivating culmination , ozon 's appreciation of their talents is completely contagious .", "one wishes orzon was less impressed with his cleverness , and had given some thought to how it would actually play for audiences .", "is this a mystery thriller or a very slow comedy ? whatever it is , the two lead actresses make the task of finding out delectable .", "... provoking and stimulating to a fault , a movie that genuinely seems to care about its messages and the people it involves .", "the twist ending is unsatisfying and the daughter 's role underdeveloped -lrb- even if her body is n't -rrb- .", "ozon 's first english-language film is a blend of fantasy and reality that is cleverly constructed and nearly seemless .", "stick around for the surprise finish ; it 's a good one , even if the rest of MOV stays close to the shallow end .", "for a story about the boundlessness of the body and mind , it 's told with an asphyxiating conservatism .", "a dazzling film that plays tricks with your mind .", "unlike hitchcock , who was forced to curtail his fetishes behind the movie code , ozon lets it all hang out .", "an erotic , pate de foie gras-flavored thriller .", "an inconsequential film ... still , there are a lot worst things to do than sit in the dark and admire sagnier 's phenomenal figure .", "ozon blends sexual tension and quirky psychology to great advantage , setting the stage for a series of incidents that speak to the incomprehensible grey between fantasy and reality .", "here 's the art house version of caddyshack , also known as ` the slob versus the snob . '", "MOV is an entertaining act of provocation that lingers in the mind like iridescent fabric : turn it one way and it yields this ; turn it another and it 's a different story .", "if `` under the sand '' was ozon 's take on one of polanski 's psychological dramas and `` 8 women '' his ode to john waters , with `` MOV , '' the director enters claude chabrol territory", "MOV is being positioned as an art-house film but there is absolutely no reason why it could n't play in multiplexes along with t3 or the hulk .", "MOV is surprisingly deep ... giving us that special fun that only the very best movies provide-the pleasure of diving in again and again .", "i loved every inch of this movie .", "in taking one sort of movie and seemingly teasing it into another , the director and his leading ladies have made a lovely argument about where the real mysteries lie in our lives .", "works as a character study and a quiet thriller .", "ozon takes a long time setting up his story , but the interplay between sagnier and rampling is electric .", "well-acted , nicely shot , slick and certainly sexy , MOV may be all foreplay and no climax , but what the heck -- there are worse ways to be teased .", "clever and exceedingly well-acted .", "deftly mixing eroticism , psychology and art , ozon has made a provocative movie while adding another stunning performance to rampling 's collection .", "MOV comes by its ` erotic thriller ' label honestly , not merely because the women are naked , but because they deploy their sexuality in a way that 's crucial to the narrative .", "-lsb- a -rsb- solid , somewhat decadent treat .", "offers an inside-out twist on tv 's murder she wrote .", "a deeply layered murder-mystery that keeps you thinking about it in the hours , and even days .", "at the press conference for MOV , the wondrous ozon is asked `` how many women will you put in your film next time ? '' `` i will think about it '' , he laughs .", "stands as the filmmaker 's most satisfying and contained work to date .", "however elegant and feral the film appears on the surface , it 's constantly betrayed by ozon 's cultural reductivism .", "the 57-year-old charlotte rampling reveals a body that most teens would die for .", "as in chabrol , the plot 's not the thing : what drives MOV is the transformations that take place within its characters . rampling is a pleasure .", "the movie shimmers with sexual energy .", "... sensual and enigmatic", "tiene que ver con eso de la ficci\u00f3n y de ser espectadores , y hasta qu\u00e9 punto creemos lo que se ve en la pantalla como una realidad y no como el antojo de un director de cine .", "-lsb- an -rsb- interesting character study of the two women -lsb- portrayed -rsb- .", "although copious amounts of french nudity constitutes , to some degree , its own reward , MOV is marred by stupor and a fake-as-lee-press-on-nails coda .", "confusing thriller is absolutely not for kids .", "this is a very well directed with a good story , great characters , and involving engrossing performances from charlotte rampling and ludivine sagnier .", "rampling and ozon clearly enjoy working together . rampling relishes psychologically complex roles . ozon respects his leading ladies enough to give them challenges .", "charlotte rampling is engaging in this intriguing little whodunit that seems more intent on exposing internal paranoia than it does on real world murder .", "rampling and sagnier are very good in roles that demand very different things of them , and ozon 's mix of peril and playfulness make for a seductive cinematic diversion .", "MOV is full of nudges and nuance .", "as in her previous ozon film , rampling carries nearly the whole thing .", "shimmering with eroticism and simmering with the tension of unfamiliarity - we never know , right up to the flourish of its end , quite where this film is going .", "MOV is far from a conventional whodunit ; we know ` who , ' but there may be no ` dun . '", "think of it as a box of chocolates , with sagnier being the chocolate-covered cherry . and you know the problem with chocolates : they 're great to eat but they offer no nourishment whatsoever , and afterwards you feel guilty for the indulgence .", "the combination of sunny cinematography and an ominous score creates an interestingly offbeat trouble-in-paradise vibe .", "erotically delicious .", "women will have to explain what happened to the men on the way out , as they 're pushing their spring-loaded eyes back into their sockets .", "a delicious little thriller about an uptight , ill-humored english mystery writer who becomes enmeshed in murder , MOV is at once comical , contrary , resourceful and ambiguous .", "the narrative logic of MOV slips through our hands like cool water , shimmery and light-dappled , leaving behind the pleasures of summer heat and goose bumps .", "works well enough as a stylish bit of titillation as well as a showcase for its two marvelous actresses .", "whether the movie leaves you confused or angry , you will be stimulated to long discussion afterward . how often does that happen these days ?", "a brace of superb performances elevates french writer-director francois ozon 's first english-language movie .", "MOV is a lark of a thriller , and a mesmerizing one at that .", "sensuous and deceptive .", "the suspenseful set-up never pays off , but rampling continues the impressive collaboration with ozon that began with under the sand in 2000 .", "rampling 's stuffy performance is fine , but it 's sagnier 's sexually charged , emotionally messed-up turn that makes this tale a juicy one .", "a mesmerizing and imaginative psychological thriller about the delights that can come when we explore aspects of ourselves that we have previously ignored or covered up .", "-lsb- the tension -rsb- grows by increments , until you realize the movie , in its quiet way , has you snared entirely .", "a sexy tease .", "fran\u00e7ois ozon 's sexy but grimly pedestrian `` MOV '' is as obvious as it is uninspired .", "like a good summer book , MOV may not be weighty with profound issues . but it 's a heck of a fun read .", "we float lazily for much of the movie in familiar , seemingly shallow waters . just as we get comfortable , we feel the bottom drop away and paddle frantically to get our bearings .", "the story occasionally wanders , but MOV is definitely worth a dip .", "nudity and intelligent musings : what more could you ask for ?", "rampling is at the top of her game here .", "ozon takes us for a dip into a MOV that is as tempting as it is out of reach for those who prefer diving into deeper water .", "a deft , straightforward character study with an ozon twist", "a delectable and daring psychological drama .", "this movie shares with under the sand , ozon 's previous collaboration with rampling , a sense of mystery and languid eroticism .", "mr. ozon 's first english-language film , is simultaneously a thoroughly mannered , mischievously artificial confection and an acute piece of psychological realism .", "MOV smolders with held-back eroticism and brain-teasing enigmas .", "this is the first film ozon has shot in english , and his attempt to explain sarah may be a bid to soften her and help the film 's commercial viability . luckily for him , his actress stays in character .", "what had been character-driven drama becomes plot-driven and gimmicky , undermining all of the promise of the first half of the film .", "it 's visually interesting and demands you leave the theatre talking about what just happened .", "if the payoff does n't live up to the set-up , ozon 's latest remains an intriguing , fascinatingly unpolished film .", "MOV is as lulling as a dead man 's float , but you come up for air realizing there 's no deep end .", "a fine sunlit noir , oozing sensuality and menace .", "take a dip -- the water 's fine .", "had ozon stayed with his mid - film story , he would have had one of the year 's best films on his hands .", "director francois ozon fabricates an engrossing mystery thriller by throwing disparate samples of the female gender together and finding a way to make the mixture more explosive than forcing oil and water to go into solution .", "rampling and sagnier play women for whom danger means different , opposing things , women who become unlikely allies in a tidy little mystery . inspector durvell -- and alfred hitchcock -- would approve .", "messy and inconclusive as a mystery thriller .", "refreshing and bracing but increasingly murky the longer you stay in the water ...", "... it 's really a shame that the movie becomes as silly as it does .", "the dangerous byplay between rampling and sagnier gives MOV a surprising depth .", "a well-acted film that examines the creative process in a fairly crafty manner .", "MOV offers something few other movies this summer can match : a dreamy , intoxicating sensuality .", "shares a heightened reality with -lsb- ozon 's -rsb- sugar-coated musical mystery 8 women ." ], "summary": "a sensual thriller with two engaging performers demanding our undivided attention .", "id": "15321" }, { "movie": "princess_diaries_2_royal_engagement", "reviews": [ "would succeed with the pre-teen set ; nothing here for adults .", "either marshall is tone deaf to punch lines or he thinks audiences are , for nearly every gag ... gets underscored at least twice .", "lazily plotted bachelorette for tweens .", "it 's the movie equivalent of a sticker scrapbook filled with rainbows and unicorns , featuring guaranteed girl-pleasers like a princess , a romance and a slumber party .", "there 's no spark of life in the story ; nothing that will charm kids and their parents .", "lumpish excuse for a contemporary fairy tale .", "this princess falters before getting to the altar . once that near-magical event happens -lrb- especially , if you 're a little girl -rrb- , the kingdom is enchanted once again .", "a prime example of the `` sequel slump ''", "it delivers the same bland adolescent fluff and feel-good family values its predecessor provided ... this could get interesting -- but it does n't , not really .", "blows through the better stuff quickly and settles into a routine romance .", "fans of the first princess diaries will find enough laughs and diamonds in the rough to sustain them .", "definitely appealed to my inner 12-year-old self .", "sometimes charming , sometimes a tad too silly and all the time predictable , princess diaries 2 gives you what you 'd expect and does n't take many chances besides allowing for the possibility that a princess might be okay without a husband .", "panders to the worst traits in the target audience of spoiled third-grade girls .", "marshall , working with a lousy script by shonda rhimes , amazing for its lack of wit , has mind-numbing tackiness oozing out of every frame here .", "bland and canned , the sequel disappoints repeatedly , not least in its uses of the first film 's energetic supporting players .", "despite all the excessive overlays of set-design , costuming and sugary sweet sappiness , this sequel is a dead artifact .", "obviousness is what does the princess diaries 2 in . everything in this plot marches along to a prefabricated beat .", "even the long-awaited sound of music coming from julie andrews is uninspiring .", "being neither 12 years old nor endowed with x chromosomes , all that held my attention was wondering what in the holy underwear paul williams was doing up there .", "unlikely to appeal to anyone , regardless of their thoughts on the first film .", "a chocolate-box sequel whose rose-tinted view of constitutional monarchy will provoke hoots of derision this side of the pond .", "saddled with the sort of dialogue that would fell a von trapp .", "-lsb- the film -rsb- runs an insufferable two hours , leisurely chugging toward an ending most of the audience will have predicted 15 minutes in .", "the princess diaries 2 : royal engagement is unapologetically aimed towards young girls , making this review virtually moot .", "the larger message -- that you should marry for the right reasons only when you 're ready -- is one everyone can applaud .", "was there a point of a sequel to a movie that was just decent after all ?", "a fun romp for girls of all ages .", "constantly opts for contrived cheesiness , slathering on the cuteness with a trowel .", "if you are a prepubescent girl with a five-year old intellect , this is a smash hit . if you 're not , bring a good book .", "though the picture is often trite and occasionally exasperating , the leading ladies give it a spoonful of sugar and a hint of enchantment .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- unfair to allow grown-ups to wander into this alleged comedy without letting them know a few things first . one , that small children will be bored . two , that they will be bored . three : that they will be bored . four : zzzzzzzzzzz ...", "starts out rather awkwardly but succeeds almost in spite of itself .", "all is disney and cute and up .", "offers enough glossy good cheer to appeal to everyone .", "the movie is undeniably cute . but it 's also often a gooey mess , with a plot that manages to be both wearisome and preposterous -lrb- to grown-ups , that is -rrb- .", "so lame .", "it 's an 8-year-old girl 's fantasy of adulthood , right down to the purple-and-scarlet uniforms worn by the genovian national guard .", "a cheesy-looking sequel to 2001 's sleeper hit that lacks anything resembling genuine charm , wit , or heart .", "like the first film , this offers contrived preteen wish fulfillment with greeting-card sentiment and simplicity .", "-lsb- the movie tries -rsb- too slavishly to duplicate the original without taking it in any new directions .", "princess diaries 2 has plenty of returning cast members and the same competent if bland direction . yet why does it feel like an infomercial for the soundtrack ?", "the film had a goofy sense of humor , some deft casting ... and , best of all , a genuinely charming , star-making performance by anne hathaway in the lead role .", "mia is still better suited to the sensibilities of 5 year old girls than anyone else .", "its royal claim is dubious , and if i were allowed to make proclamations , and i ca n't understand why i ca n't , i 'd have to proclaim it seriously unfunny .", "princess diaries 2 charts the selfish quest of a 21-year-old american to have-it-all .", "there 's not enough story in it to fill a shoebox .", "too blandly insubstantial to expand its appeal beyond its target demographic .", "we all love a good fairy tale , but the enchantment is missing in this predictable sequel .", "good-natured but overstuffed .", "tiresomely plot-driven and unnecessarily drawn-out , royal engagement is the prim and proper cousin to its comparatively anarchic predecessor .", "the real treat , though , is seeing anne hathaway come into her own as an actress . able to play both drama and broad comedy , she really carries the film on her shoulders .", "it 's not the sweet gem the original film was . but it 's still a nice shiny bauble of a movie .", "gentle fun .", "there 's perhaps 60 or 70 minutes ' worth of material here at best . however , that has n't stopped marshall and the screenwriters from padding it out with nonsensical , often painfully unfunny attempts at humor .", "like the first movie , princess diaries 2 relies primarily on the chemistry and screen appeal of andrews and hathaway to elevate the storytelling above the level of mush .", "the problem with this sequel , unlike , say , spider-man 2 or x2 : x-men united , is that no one was interested in making a better film .", "young girls will go bananas over this . the parents however , will find themselves quickly disengaged .", "the film 's generic feminism pales beside its bloated sense of privilege , only underlined by a nonstop cabaret of sideshow acts .", "may have no objectionable material parents will find offensive for children , but just about every viewer will be offended by the patronizing hooey stuffed down their throat .", "it 's a spoonful of julie andrews that helps the melodramatics go down", "contradicts and betrays its previously positive messages about feminine independence by making mia settle for a man she loves only for his looks", "when it 's not annoying , it 's cloying , and in both cases is so acutely irritating that one longs for the passive delights of mere tedium", "an improvement over its inelegant original .", "while there 's nothing in princess diaries 2 to offend your eyes or ears , there 's plenty to insult your intelligence .", "the princess diaries 2 : royal engagement picks up right where the 2001 hit original left off -- not only in its story line , but in its appeal to young girls .", "too squeaky clean to be offensive but far too long to be entertaining .", "a number of the goofy set pieces fall flat but tweens should be too busy swooning at midnight horse rides and bling-bling walk-in wardrobes to notice .", "ought to charm its loyal subjects , or at least their less demanding little sisters .", "hathaway makes it all seem more palatable than it really is , and the presence of julie andrews does n't hurt either , lending the movie a regal grace it otherwise does n't deserve .", "the princess diaries 2 may not be quite fit for royalty , but it does n't make viewers feel as if they 've been sent to a dungeon either .", "still going strong at the respective ages of 69 and 68 , director garry marshall and his singing co-star julie andrews are the true royal couple of this straightforward sequel .", "it 's hollywood hokum at its most glamorous and effective .", "a royal pain .", "ardent fans of the first film will be royally disappointed in princess diaries 2 : royal engagement .", "if you only have one month to live - go see this movie -lrb- because every minute will seem like an eternity -rrb- .", "a corny , dumbed down fairytale that garners pre-teen laughs from gags involving a disapproving poodle and a gay fashionista with a penchant for avant-garde hair .", "who greenlit this lame script ? and why ?", "does n't measure up even to its mediocre predecessor ; it 's a shallow , predictable effort that evaporates as soon as the images hit the screen .", "royal engagement -lrb- the title alone suggests a `` wedding '' installment can not be far behind -rrb- is a plebeian affair that is unlikely to court any new fans", "princess diaries 2 gives you plenty of reasons to hate it ... however , the charming lead actors save the film from becoming dreadful .", "` runaway bride ' moved from rural maryland to the mock-european setting of genovia ... it 's a triple-deluxe marshmallow sundae of a movie , and that 's exactly as it should be .", "director garry marshall continues his reign as enemy of women ... with his depiction of mia ... as a naive child ...", "the entire exercise is about ` fun , ' of course , but marshall and co. are so intent on shoving it down our throats that the first instinct is to rebel and be grouchy .", "this movie is so intent on going nowhere that it introduces new characters just to give them nothing to do .", "scenes end abruptly , laughs are as rare as yetis , and the overarching question seems to be : can we turn this into a franchise ?", "simple romantic fluff that at least does n't shortchange its target audience in the usual condescending manner .", "toy tiaras for orphans ! -lrb- the first one 's always free -rrb- ... another day , another dollar for disney 's lucrative business of breeding...ever-longing dream princesses .", "follow the fun in this excellent sequel that i liked better than the original .", "dear diary : mia 's return engagement is anything but engaging .", "-lsb- a -rsb- needless but charming sequel .", "sadly , the film leaves you with the feeling this was done just for the money this sequel would possibly bring .", "this threadbare sequel takes a page from such revisionist fairy tales as shrek and ella enchanted , movies that assume we 've grown so weary of the same old cinderella story that they go out of their way to invert the formula .", "sure , the characters are very basic , the situation has been seen before and you can practically write the script from frame one . but that does n't stop it from working .", "i admit , i 'm more or less hardwired to dislike this movie , but even by garry marshall 's abysmally low standards , there is n't much to recommend the princess diaries 2 .", "the theme song and spirit was diana ross ' i 'm coming out . this time , the theme is more like i 'm running out . of ideas .", "made for all young girls who 've ever had a princess fantasy . the charm of the cast keeps it mildly entertaining -lrb- or at least tolerable -rrb- for anyone else who tags along .", "you shed a tear that andrews ' good will has been so horribly misspent on this disneyfied schlock .", "this tepid sequel is a compelling argument for royal family planning .", "the princess diaries 2 combines a classic storybook scenario , in which the former ugly duckling refines her swan standing , with the usual self-help uplift .", "with the chemistry between anne hathaway and julie andrews he discovered in the first film , marshall would have needed superhuman effort to screw up their appeal .", "the film is like a homage to the cliches and obligatory stereotypes of its genre .", "anne hathaway and julie andrews again star and garry marshall returns as director ; the only things missing are a script , a pulse , and a reason why .", "a movie that proves fairy tales can come true ... twice .", "a movie with the appeal of a book of paper dolls ." ], "summary": "anne hathaway and julie andrews bring charm and elegance to the movie , but there 's not enough material for them to work with in this sequel .", "id": "9454" }, { "movie": "1170009-conversations_with_god", "reviews": [ "resembles a vanity project that looks as though every frame was submitted by producer-director simon to mr. walsch for his approval .", "the facial hair that actor henry czerny is forced to wear in MOV is ludicrous , even laughable -- as is much of this film .", "the film is professionally mounted , smoothly constructed and carried with ease by czerny 's assured performance .", "a coda after the closing credits , encouraging divine dialogues in general , does little to dispel the hagiographic aftertaste .", "a terminally muddled movie , uncertain as to whether it 's promoting neale , god , mammon , putnam books or the capitalist exploitation of spiritual need .", "an amateurishly assembled movie-of-the - week-calibre feature with little dramatic energy for the depiction of a life-changing epiphany .", "the cinematography has all the flair and depth of your average episode of `` yes , dear '' ; the score is a giggle-inducing juggernaut of obviousness ; eric delabarre 's script contains virtually no believable dialogue ; and stephen simons ' direction carries the s", "... boils down to the assertion that god is that voice in your head , a fairly innocent concept until god starts telling you to do something wrong .", "although stephen simon 's film has the mawkish trappings of an inspirational tale , its unseemly emphasis on monetary matters makes walsch seem less interested in the spiritual possibilities of his celestial networking skills than their financial benefits .", "b movie w / good heart . not everyone will buy into the spirituality dogma , i 'm not sure i do . but , there is a definite need for all of us to take a deeper look into our souls .", "it 's an agreeable enough tale right up until god butts in and starts talking ; even if you can swallow the premise , it is n't particularly cinematic to watch a guy endlessly scribbling on legal pads .", "what 's most glaringly missing in this self-promotional marketing tool is , of all things , god , who gets only a bit role as walsch 's muse in a few scenes . he really oughta fire his agent .", "the film treats its subject to a hagiography rather than a dramatization .", "the story of walsch 's travails never strains credulity , though helmer simon 's predilection for spiritual vistas with light breaking through clouds , arrested close-ups and endless long dissolves often skirts kitsch .", "bomides of the most banal sort ... if you do n't already belong to the choir , the preaching is n't likely to make much of an impression .", "corny and harmless .", "what walsch 's message ultimately amounts to is for theologians and consumers to decide , but this uninspired presentation certainly drains it of some mystery and risks turning his writings into the ultimate self-help guide .", "a conversation with god should be inspirational and moving , but this conversation loses some of the magnificence and glory when it 's channeled through this very ordinary movie .", "simon has made a garish , lumpy , melodramatic and altogether unconvincing film about a man hitting bottom and then hearing a voice that helps him regain a place in the world -lrb- and a pretty rich place , at that -rrb- .", "this film adaptation of neale donald walsch 's best-selling book series plays more like an infomercial than a thoughtful exploration of religious issues .", "what he does want , according to walsch , is for us to have jobs we really like , and to make money . lots of money .", "there 's nothing particularly objectionable about the film -lrb- other than its inert movie-of-the-week structure -rrb- until walsch takes his god-spokesman role too far in the final act .", "me : i 'm a little embarrassed to say this , god , since you 're featured prominently ... i do n't really recommend this film . god : -lrb- sigh -rrb- just between you and me , if i were in line at the multiplex i 'd buy a ticket for scorsese 's the departed myself .", "the film has nuggets here and there , which hint of something more , but all we get are situation and opaque , one-dimensional characters .", "what is unclear -lrb- to me , at least -rrb- is the process by which walsch answered ` yes ' to god 's question and suddenly became a writer , doing what appears to be automatic writing of his first book .", "the ` god ' in MOV acts like a psychotherapist and talks in the buzz-phrases of self-help speak .", "MOV . nice work if you can get it , and you can get it if you try .", "it 's just a depressing parable about a fellow who sinks lower and lower in life until he figures out a nebulous new way to sell god to the masses .", "the movie claims the ` god inside me ' concept is rooted in compassion , but it plays like nondenominational narcissism to me .", "spirituality is big business , especially on the printed page , but in movies we like the big message in the form of metaphor or allegory rather than a hammer over the head .", "it may appeal to those who get teary eyed over hallmark cards , but will bore anyone who views religion with passion and maturity .", "guess it 's comforting to believe that god might make contact in even the blandest of conditions . but i ca n't see this movie meaning much to any but the already converted .", "watching czerny 's version of walsch struggle , it 's hard not to connect with him , even if you do n't connect with his message .", "one of walsch 's precepts is that you should never make a living doing something you hate . if i 'd known that , i might not have felt obliged to sit through every excruciating minute of this sanctimonious infomercial .", "i do n't doubt that walsch 's book has touched people . i do n't even question whether he actually spoke to god . i just wish the movie itself shared some of his miraculous message with audiences .", "writer eric delabarre and director stephen simon deliver walsch 's apotheosis without any trace of irony . but their treatment of his misfortunes has some of the ring of truth , even though the movie lingers far too long over its own epiphanies .", "if god did start speaking to some random homeless guy , would n't he come up with some better material ?", "MOV is a bad film about good things that many people will find enlightening . its message is admirable , its filmmaking as bland as a communion wafer .", "god , if you exist , why do you keep letting morons like walsch get rich ?", "someone advises at one point that dreams do n't have deadlines , and yet the famous cover jacket of waslch 's books could n't flash on the screen fast enough .", "a hackneyed , melodramatic travesty is certainly to be expected from the cinematic rendering of neale donald walsch 's simplistic , best-selling self-help tomes .", "MOV is not a movie ; it 's a brand extension .", "it 's inspiring to see how walsch conquered the odds , but at times MOV feels like a subliminal advertisement for the book .", "ok , lord ... for starters , since when do you talk like dr. phil ?", "for those of us who want to know who this guy really is , what he 's about , where he came from , the film is as vague as the voice walsch hears ." ], "summary": "at some point in the conversation , god must have asked for a subtler , deeper film .", "id": "357424997" }, { "movie": "antman", "reviews": [ "paul rudd rules .", "here comes ant-man , bringing all the surprise and joy we got when we wandered into the first iron man or guardians of the galaxy . and fun ! yes , fun .", "... fails to have enough fun with its one unique element : the sense of scale .", "the film has a nice mix of action , drama and comedy , aided by a very effective villain , darren cross -lrb- corey stoll of ` non-stop ' -rrb- who is a lot like the evil corporate character that jeff bridges played in ` iron man . '", "at the end of the day ant-man ranks as one of the franchise 's better efforts", "the most typical film yet made in the now 12-picture marvel cinematic universe . it is up to the individual viewer to decide if that 's a compliment or a vicious & lacerating criticism .", "extracts from the disney attractions are dreadful but personality wins the day in this light duty superhero tale .", "next to guardians of the galaxy , ant-man is easily the most enjoyable , unashamedly fun and least pretentious superhero film to emerge from the computer-generated clutter of the marvel movie universe .", "ant-man symbolises american accomplishment . it is about people transcending the physical limitations of the human body and it is also a comedy variation on the political idea that the smallest person can change the world .", "treads the line between the funny and the exciting with notable dexterity", "a movie that feels like it came off an assembly line , which makes it that much stranger when it keeps attempting comedy . aw , look , the widget has jokes !", "although ant-man is superficially shackled to the necessities of the mcu , it 's snappier , lighter , and sharper than marvel 's more overblown films of late .", "the movie 's almost self-deprecatory sense of tongue-in-cheek humility is matched by the fact that all the pleasures it affords are very small indeed .", "an enjoyable , intermittently inspired effects-driven comedy and a welcome antidote to the over-burdened world-saving that seems to define big-screen superhero stories .", "not only one of the more entertainingly human fantasies to come out of the studio , but it also defies the bedrock fanboy aesthetic that you do n't want to merely watch the superhero-you want to be the superhero .", "yawn .", "it 's `` the incredible shrinking man '' via `` them '' crossed with `` toy story '' set in a super hero world .", "marvel has n't made a movie this fun - this bright , this charming , this joyful -- since the first iron man , in which robert downey jr. 's entitled smirk was its most lethal weapon .", "... it 's understandable why edgar wright might have wanted to keep it insulated ... - that reed manages to make it feel that way most of the time even when it is n't is a deft feat indeed .", "just another run-of-the-mill marvel origin story that surprises with bursts of flair and humor , as if remnants from wright and cornish 's script managed to fight their way into the final cut .", "marvel delivers once again ... it 'd be nice to see more -lrb- story -rrb- innovation before it becomes too obvious the same plot structure keeps getting beautiful new coats of paint .", "with a lighter delivery coming with plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor , `` ant-man '' plays friendlier and more fun than the darker slate of superhero movies coming down the pike .", "ant-man is a lark . it 's a lighthearted , human-scaled matinee adventure that feels like an antidote to this summer 's dour avengers : age of ultron and its droning marathon of destruction .", "a formidable character with high stakes and global consequences , partly by rooting it firmly in a post-avengers world .", "it 's difficult to shake the sense that the film was assembled hurriedly and somewhat haphazardly . which , from all available evidence , is exactly what happened .", "just in time , the first time ant-man shrinks down to ant size , it 's such a wonder of marvelous cgi magic that everyone in the theater wakes up like an alarm has gone off .", "it 's certainly competent and amusing when need be , but not much more than that .", "after the overkill of avengers : age of ultron , it 's nice to see marvel return to a comparatively small-scale effort -- in more ways than one .", "is it a winner ? the answer 's yes , but only if you consider not losing to be winning .", "this is the sort of movie where you see the effort and say , thank god .", "this acceptably diverting superhero outing keeps threatening to break free and become something special , but in the end , there 's just too much at stake . and that 's a shame , especially for paul rudd fans .", "ant-man is thematically thin , but it uses its small size to its advantage , crafting a winning comic adventure with spellbinding special effects .", "a film that will surely be popular , given marvel 's marketing might , but one that 's woefully short on coherence and originality .", "rudd is ideal for ant-man 's aw-shucks , i 'm not into this hero business playfulness . he gleefully riffs on it .", "with its small-scale action and tongue-in-cheek irreverence , ant-man is a welcome relief from the large-scale destruction and save-the-universe shenanigans of recent superhero movies .", "one of the summer 's most entertaining ... one of only a handful of comic-book movies to transcend the limits of that increasingly cookie-cutter genre .", "extremely likable , with a few moments of proper wonder .", "fast , fun-packed -lrb- but never frivolous -rrb- and riotously , raucously enjoyable .", "when your most memorable character turns out to be thomas the tank engine , featured in two hilarious scenes , you know your picture about a tiny superhero has big , big problems .", "like `` guardians of the galaxy , '' last year 's off-brand marvel hit , `` ant-man '' dabbles in the bright , playful colors of the superhero spectrum , reveling in moments of cartoonish whimsy and smirky humor .", "glides us over trouble spots in tone and pacing . the little bastard from marvel 's second-tier gets the job done .", "for the comic book geeks , this is manna from cinematic heaven . as for the rest of us , this a lesser but fun effort .", "it chugs along happily enough , but never kicks into the higher gear you keep waiting -lrb- and hoping -rrb- for .", "to find a smarter bug-man saga , you 'd have to go back to `` the metamorphosis . ''", "rudd acquits himself well in his superhero debut , and the finished product is marvel on training wheels , an introduction into the superhero universe for the youngest moviegoers ...", "`` ant-man '' is proof that pretty good things come in small packages .", "macro-marvel ... wisely marketed at the small fry . it 's closer to ` antz ' than the mutant radioactive variety -lrb- in ` them ! ' -rrb- .", "the film is transcendental-meditation low-key and just too damned nice .", "not so f-ant-astic , then , just a little ant-iclimatic .", "the balance is just right : hanging a lantern on the silly stuff but not dwelling on it for too long , while making sure the plot feels high-stakes and the characters believable .", "fast-paced , character-based , and appreciably energetic .", "what , if anything , holds `` ant-man '' together ? first , paul rudd , who is laughably unheroic , and has the grace to know as much ...", "this is a film that never loses sight of its title character , even when that character literally falls between the cracks .", "neither exciting action movie nor exuberantly silly comedy in the vein of guardians , ant-man is mildly amusing but frankly a little dull ; essential viewing only for marvel completists ...", "one could take a magnifying glass to `` ant-man , '' but the results would be disastrous . this is a superhero movie to be enjoyed in the moment .", "brisk humour , keenly felt dramatic stakes , and invention over scale . you know : small pleasures .", "a ridiculous , overacted , confusing and too talky but audience friendly comic book thriller from marvel comics .", "a rapid-fire superhero adventure , ` ant-man ' earns a place alongside marvel studios ' other superhero movies .", "ant-man is the first marvel film - and the first of this summer 's pixels-go-kablooey time-wasters - to get better as it goes .", "-lsb- snapping -rsb- from big to small to big to small , special effects transform rudd into a micro-bruce lee . he appears to be having a blast . i know i was .", "one of the few marvel superheroes you 'd happily take down the pub .", "ant-man cares more about setting up the future than addressing the present , and for that , paul rudd 's best efforts as the wise-cracking insect companion are overshadowed by what 's to come .", "poking fun at itself while still treating it 's subject matter with respect is no easy task , but the stars handle it magnificently . `` ant-man '' is one of the most unexpectedly fun rides you can have in the mcu ... or anywhere else for that matter .", "the tie-ins with the mcu are abundant but we never feel like `` ant-man '' is leaning on it 's big brothers too much ; as a stand-alone movie this is the very reason i go to the theater at all : great action , big laughs and entertaining as hell .", "if you can hang in there an hour and a half , this latest marvel installment does , finally , deliver . but why do we have to wait so long ?", "a looser , funnier and lower-stakes story than marvel 's typical world-ending spectacles .", "certainly someone with more action experience could do justice to the character 's flexibility and sense of honor . in reed 's hands , `` ant-man '' feels about as small as its main character .", "` ant-man starts weak , but finishes strong . what starts as a drizzle becomes a hurricane of action and special effects as ` ant-man ' kicks into high gear during its second half .", "ant-man is n't so much watching , as living through weekend at bernie 's . peyton reed and co. come and parade the soulless and lifeless corpse of an edgar wright film .", "the ant-man movie is nonstop exposition up until the third act , so about 90 minutes . what fan of anything would want a whole movie explaining how it works ? you want to see it in action , not spend the whole movie trying to convince nonbelievers .", "from the bongo-heavy heist music , to the deft sight gags , to little details like the scratches scott lang leaves while he 's tiny , there 's no shortage of great stuff to see and enjoy - no magnifying glass required .", "ant-man fits neatly into the overall marvel formula , even though it follows the beats of a traditional heist movie .", "we 've had so many superhero movies in the last decade that it 's amazing one can still feel surprising . ant-man does . in that sense , it 's a triumph .", "you walk in with no expectations and leave satisfied . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "in the end , ant-man is a film that entertains , thrills and closes phase 2 of the mcu in a dignified way . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "`` it feels like the lead up to yellowjacket was all cut out . i hope that 's the case . honestly , i expected him to say ` mwahaha ' at one point . ''", "ant-man just is n't that great an idea and the film exists only because the marvel machine is working so remorselessly through its massive back catalogue .", "while boasting all the dazzling special effects we 've come to expect from the iron man , captain america and thor series , this is marvel in modest form - and small turns out to be beautiful .", "in its medium-stupid and mismanaged fashion it 's not so awful .", "ant-man 's unlikely charm is just enough to stop it from being squished at the cinematic picnic .", "when it 's on its game , ant-man does some of the best stuff ever in a marvel movie .", "as it dutifully marches toward its special-effects-driven conclusion , ant-man has enough charm to be engaging if not particularly memorable once the end credits roll", "the film is n't terrible but it makes earlier marvel outings look like masterpieces . there 's hardly a trope in it you have n't seen before , and done with far greater flair . it feels like making a mountain out of an anthill .", "when the essence of a story is shrinking -lrb- and enlarging -rrb- , the computer-generated effects department had better be on top form , and here , predictably , they are .", "the best thing about `` ant-man '' is that , for much of its running time , it does n't seem like a marvel comics superhero movie . the worst thing about it is that it eventually does .", "funnier than trainwreck and far better-told than avengers : age of ultron , as most movies are .", "the finale is something else - a symphony of comedy and action mayhem that outclasses every single second that comes before it . nothing else in the movie even comes close .", "it 's delightful and almost miraculous the way this movie manages to work as a comic heist picture on a huge scale , and with a comic science-fiction picture blended into it ... while managing to cohere to the whole , you know , marvel thing .", "with its playful use of scale , ant-man drops a dollop of lewis carroll whimsy on the usual clashes of good and evil .", "ant-man is an entertaining blend of a superhero origin story and a caper film , the funniest and most grounded marvel movie to date .", "for a small movie , `` ant-man '' has a lot going on . rudd makes it work .", "not just one of the more entertaining marvel movies - infinitely better than joss whedon 's overstuffed avengers : age of ultron - but a genuinely fun and clever deconstruction of the genre , too .", "` ant-man ' will appeal mostly to ant-people . translated : children . factor in fans of paul rudd and marvel superheroes , and you could have a box office community picnic .", "yes , it 's fine , but not much more than that . which is good news for marvel , which must have wondered if it had an ant problem .", "guaranteed to feature 2015 's best climactic battle atop a train set -- pardon the terrible pun -- ` ant-man ' is freaking f-ant-astic fun and the year 's most pleasant surprise .", "taking itself seriously without being too serious , the film proves fun all the same , confirming that it is possible to side with a superhero who is the size of a fingertip without once feeling the need to laugh at him .", "there 's a decent amount of fun to be had ... but considering marvel 's stellar track record and the comedic wonderfulness of its star , paul rudd , ant-man is more than a little disappointing .", "not the marvel misfire that fans of the titular tiny guy might have expected , but it 's still lumpy and trifling .", "tou do n't need to know the avengers from the justice league to enjoy this weird romp starring paul rudd as scott lang , a burglar with a heart of gold .", "i wish the film had gone even further into loopiness . like ant-man , the film , directed by peyton reed , comes in two sizes -- it 's sometimes big on laughs but often small on risk-taking .", "in the end , it may be more comedy than grand superhero epic , but marvel and disney should still be laughing all the way to the bank .", "with the likable paul rudd buffed up to portray scott lang , former cat burglar-turned-superhero , `` ant-man '' has a self-deprecating and witty edge .", "ranks , on every front , as one of the best from marvel 's universe !", "these mini superheroes and villains are as serious as captain america is earnest , which brings the funny when they 're shown to scale .", "it 's enjoyable enough . the current critical buzz , about how it starts slow but ends strong , unlike so many other superhero-origin films , is relativism gone slightly mad .", "ant-man is a pleasant surprise for this summer and one of the best films from marvel and disney . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "the combination of a charismatic lead , a solid supporting cast , and the debut and dramatization of a new -lrb- to moviegoers -rrb- superpower -lrb- or two -rrb- has proved a winning formula for marvel studios for the last , oh , 10 or so films now , and it 's no different here .", "a formulaic marvel superhero origin tale but ant-man gets a boost from a good ensemble cast and an overall tone of fun and creativity from director peyton reed .", "ant-man has all the right parts , but in ultron 's wake and at the forefront of a long upcoming lineup of films , it really is time for marvel to start doing better .", "` ant-man ' is a blast . it is funny , clever and its view of the world in miniature is often spectacular .", "while ant-man may not have mastered giving its hero a soul , it reminds us that you can still have a blast at the movies even when the good guy and bad guy are having a life-or-death fight that can be contained inside a briefcase .", "reed and rudd 's film is proof that no matter how silly some ideas sound at first , good things often do come in small packages .", "reed might lack the pop-art pizzazz and unruly ambition wright might have provided -lrb- yes , that 's a lot of `` mights '' ... -rrb- , but he nails the comedy/drama/action balance and slam-dunks the set-pieces .", "half-assed mentions of the avengers , as well as a few cameo appearances sprinkled both within the feature and in its credits stingers , exude less shame than a crowd-pandering politico .", "comic book movies are getting pretty deep into the b-list . so whatever its b-movie charms , this one never feels like it can play with the big boys .", "ant-man emerges only as a minor hero - fine for occasional gags and cameos in upcoming marvel ensembles , but undeserving of all this attention . and his movie feels , not like a well-deserved launch , but a contractual obligation ...", "ant-man is , well , ok , and maybe that 's enough . i wanted more , and those moments where it looked like i was going to get it , only to have things not quite come to fruition , makes the film as frustrating as it is enjoyable .", "a funny and fast-paced superhero film that serves as a welcome breath of fresh air compared to the typical end-of-the-world summer blockbusters .", "if more of these would include nods to the wallace and gromit short ` the wrong trousers ' then a future of endless marvels would n't seem so grim .", "powered by rudd 's goofy , good-guy sentimentality , ant-man filled me with something that 's become a rather rare commodity in superhero movies : joy .", "never thought i 'd type this about a comic book movie , but ant-man needs to take itself more seriously .", "this is the sorbet . imperfect and perhaps creatively-compromised , ant-man nonetheless reinvigorated me , and , for the first time in a while , made me ready for more . no small feat .", "like all great heroes , ant-man arrives in the nick of time ... for an entire genre .", "you ca n't have a good ant-man movie without a good ant-man , and in the genial and charming everyman paul rudd , the filmmakers have done it right .", "ant-man is fun but surprisingly conventional .", "while its shrunken special effects are stunning its screenplay is overloaded with melodrama and an unreasonable amount of unfunny humor .", "the result is a film not quite sure of itself , like it 's wearing clothes a size too big .", "the thing has got big laughs , a real heartbeat , and a modesty of scale that , next to the mega machinery of most marvel movies , is kind of a relief .", "although its origin-story machinations get the better of it , ant-man is n't a bust .", "the attempts at overt comedy are hit-and-miss . the heist elements are derivative and not nearly as inventive as one might expect given the possibilities . the action sequences are variable and the dramatic moments ... the less said , the better .", "there 's nothing snarky or air quote-ish about the story , but there is a recognition that this is a superhero the size of a grain of rice . in this case , that 's super enough .", "another cog in the marvel machine , it runs smoothly , with douglas providing the necessary gravitas and stoll giving emotional viability to his unbalanced villain .", "ant-man does some things very well , like letting paul rudd inhabit a comic-book character in precisely the same way iron man put a goatee on robert downey jr. and called him tony stark .", "mostly the film keeps to the lighter side , aided by michael pe\u0144a in a comic-even-more-relief role , and by his criminal buddies kurt , dave and gale .", "i 'm not entirely convinced the character will mix well into the overall marvel cinematic universe when he inevitably starts to crossover into other superhero films , but as a standalone adventure , `` ant-man '' is undeniably entertaining .", "might be the biggest surprise of the summer .", "it is fun and frothy and convinces as a worthy part of the marvel canon .", "for once the bad buzz and worse trailers were wrong . this hero deserves a movie all his own .", "the weakest marvel movie since the incredible hulk .", "... it 's becoming more and more apparent that marvel simply has no idea what they 're doing within the blockbuster genre .", "director peyton reed has a lot of fun with the concept , though epic battles on tiny scales can be a bit less breathtaking .", "ant-man is this year 's guardians of the galaxy . it focuses on a peripheral , wisecracking member of the marvel universe , adding a generous dose of humor to its superhero action .", "cheeky , good-natured , clever and even a little on the subversive side , ant-man is that rarest of comic-book movies -- one that manages to be personal and does n't take itself too seriously .", "both an entertaining and eminently disposable superhero movie , ant-man rounds out marvel studios ' much-vaunted ` phase two ' of its masterplan to maintain world domination of mainstream cinema .", "the comedy is muted , the action scenes are slick but forgettable and the character 's usp is largely wasted .", "it 's a heist movie . that 's all it is , a fun heist movie with powers and explosions and awesome costumes and ant armies . it 's also extremely well directed .", "the plot 's the same old thing . mad , mad , mad , mad science ; imminent apocalypse ; parent/child issues ; blah blah blaggidy blah . the tone of ant-man , however , is relatively light and predominantly comic .", "refreshingly simple and loads of fun , ant-man maximizes on its point of difference of its smallest super-hero by coating it with lots of laughter and a likeable vibe", "funny , charming and very family friendly , ant-man is a solid debut for what will almost certainly develop into a meatier and more assured trilogy .", "ant-man has a suitably small-scale story for its tiny hero , which was a breath of fresh air when compared to the other more bloated entries in the mcu .", "a charming and eccentric heist film with a great sense of humour .", "marvel 's tiniest hero stars in the marvel cinematic universe 's smallest movie so far , one that loses paul rudd 's charm among familiar comic-book action .", "it has a big heart , it 's a lot of fun , and that vibrancy is infectious .", "the narrative is leaden and lumpy in a way that suggests prolonged script-tinkering .", "rudd 's charm and easygoing sense of humor keeps us engaged , even though ` ant-man ' is the least clever and ambitious of the recent spate of marvel movies .", "unlike the two-dimensional pages of a comic book , and unlike it 's two-dimensional marvel comics movie character cousins , ant-man is three-dimensional fun .", "in more ways than one , `` ant-man '' is smaller than most of the rest of the mcu . the fate of the world is not immediately at stake , and that 's a refreshing change .", "the increasingly stale marvel formula gets a blast of fresh air in this rollocking adventure movie , which combines a steady stream of character-based comedy with action sequences that are integrated seamlessly into the plot .", "ant-man is a load of a fun , a light-hearted superhero heist film with a sense of humor and playfulness that will make you forget just how silly the whole thing is .", "if you 're worn out by superhero movies featuring apocalyptic battles in which cities are leveled , may i present `` ant-man , '' in which the climactic showdown takes place aboard a thomas the tank engine train set . and not even the deluxe version .", "it might take another ant-man movie -lrb- you know it 's in the works -rrb- to see his character grow once the suit 's luster has worn down , but the framework is there to create an interesting superhero .", "i always thought this was the dumbest idea ever , and i was wrong .", "the best thing about `` ant-man '' is that is starts small and stays that way .", "ant-man is n't much more than pleasant -lrb- peyton reed directs limply -rrb- , but anything marvel that does n't feel marvel-ish makes me smile .", "it 's a film that always feels this close to being unique , and funny , and thrilling . which is why when it misses its mark , over and over and over again , the sound of its failure resounds that much louder .", "this is the most straight-forward and fun marvel movie for ages .", "pretending there 's a more fascinating version of this film out there somewhere , like the richard donner cut of superman ii , is a great way to come to terms with how rote and unremarkable ant-man is .", "rudd 's charm and an overall sense of silliness make for breezy summer fun . it 's also marvel 's most kid-friendly movie yet .", "why , oh why , must these movies telling the story of the beginnings of a superhero do the same things over and over and over again ?", "ant-man does n't even try to break the mold , but at least it 's less busy and bombastic than most marvel offerings .", "when you get right down to it , there is something rather amusing about watching a protagonist the size of a fingernail doing ambitious stunt work while he attempts to survive dangerous obstacles .", "-lsb- ants are -rsb- pests , and that 's just a weird place to start for a superhero , especially if he never strays too far from his origins .", "it may boast the world 's smallest superhero but marvel 's ant-man is big on fun and ingenuity .", "divertido , mas esquec\u00edvel .", "what is somewhat surprising is just how hilarious it actually is , even becoming a challenger to last year 's laugh-fest guardians of the galaxy in terms of impressive comedic chops .", "ant-man 's best quality is that it does n't try to be a superhero movie yet it endulges all the craziness in them . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "one of the biggest pleasures is its overall subversion of the superhero genre . it still feels like a marvel product , and it suffers from a typically one-dimensional bad guy , but it also has a lot of fun turning expectation on its head .", "any film that references the incredible shrinking man so beautifully deserves its moment on the stage .", "most marvel movies are too much . this one is just enough .", "ant-man is entertaining because it uses big-movie tricks without big-movie hyperbole .", "pick a formula . include a wonderful actor . make everything work in spite of the unoriginality that 's working against it . you get `` ant-man . ''", "it is refreshing to encounter an action-adventure with a lilliputian lightness of touch . the downside , though , is that ant-man seems very insubstantial fare by comparison with iron man , captain america et al. .", "-lsb- a -rsb- lesser entry in the marvel series , but hardly microscopic .", "although the story dynamics are fundamentally silly and the family stuff , with its parallel father-daughter melodrama , is elemental button-pushing , a good cast led by a winning paul rudd puts the nonsense over in reasonably disarming fashion .", "jokey rather than funny , and a bit forced when it 's trying to be sincere , ant-man has plenty of enthusiasm but not a lot of inspiration , reed unable to conceive the film in such a way that it establishes its own niche in the big-screen marvel landscape .", "succeeds well enough as a genial diversion and sometimes a delightful one , predicated on the rarely heeded hollywood wisdom that less really can be more .", "free of the bloated running time we 've come to expect from summer movies , it 's a hugely entertaining superhero comedy that 's a refreshing break from marvel formula .", "marvel has done it again ... it 's delightfully unexpected in its willingness to scale down , yet in doing so shows us how remarkable and important the smaller things in life truly are , after all .", "there 's no sensitivity , no eye for movement , no feeling for the way a camera can create emotion out of nothing , no heart beating beneath its celluloid skin .", "marvel 's `` ocean 's eleven '' meets `` iron man '' m\u00e9lange does have its fleeting pleasures , but is ultimately a minor , milder mcu effort .", "the result is a lighter , more overtly comedic effort than most marvel films , and wright 's influence is still all over the finished product .", "everyone involved can proudly declare , `` honey , i shrunk the marvel cinematic universe . ''", "it could have been a lot worse and that in itself is a small miracle .", "a better than average caper with some really great performances and unique style that also further expands on the breadth of the marvel cinematic universe .", "it is lighter and less pyrotechnic , more friendly and entertaining than other marvel products . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "a very fun epic story . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "marvel wins big by going small in its latest adventure .", "i enjoyed `` ant-man '' most as small-scale spectacle , a high-tech update on `` honey , i shrunk the kids '' cinema ... the plot , it must be said , rewards not thinking about it .", "the cast is better than solid . directed by peyton reed , the action is a zippy pleasure . the more scott shrinks , the bigger the fun . the visual effects are witty , especially when he begins making allies of various ant colonies .", "a rousing 3-d sci-fi adventure that celebrates the teamwork between a man on an important mission and a band of insects .", "a fairly straightforward , conventional superhero story , where a mere mortal gathers the ability to be extraordinary and then becomes a hero . this is no way to sell me on a story about a guy who can make himself the size of an ant .", "go ant-man , more fun than the last avengers movie by a long shot . converted 3d still looks awful , however .", "when one of his pet ants is killed , scott -lrb- rudd -rrb- threatens the villain with a wee fist : `` you 're going to regret this ! '' this movie about shrinkage has a nice sense of proportion .", "it does n't rise to the screwball audacity of `` guardians of the galaxy . '' or `` antz . '' or `` a bug 's life . '' but it 's an endearing exercise in style - a playful , small-scale crowd-pleaser that parodies its bombastic marvel precursors .", "clever , funny , cool marvel movie has lots of sci-fi action .", "it 's exactly what the mcu needs right now : a creative dose of fun .", "this new feature takes issues of absurdity and scale to heart in many ways ; it is modest as well as ambitious , and its title character is played by paul rudd , the most appealingly self-deprecating of actors .", "ant-man is a salvage job but a good one . in common with guardians of the galaxy , it exhibits a b-movie nuttiness not permitted in the studio 's flagship films : your iron man , your avengers .", "` ant-man '' is n't your typical marvel bombast . instead of a sensory assault , it 's more content with taking a quiet-and-quaint approach to introducing one of the stable 's lesser-known superheroes .", "as with all of marvel studios ' movies , the action , humour and innate silliness is tempered with something a little more thoughtful and meditative , making for a highly entertaining mix .", "thanks to a perfectly cast leading role by paul rudd and a hilarious supporting choice in michael pe\u0144a , `` ant-man '' is a much funner-than-expected summer blockbuster that 's as kid-friendly as it gets for the superhero genre .", "a heist movie at heart , where the safecracker can also shrink to the size of an ant , it 's got a true lightness of touch that makes it compelling and even heart-warming .", "like its predecessor , `` guardians of the galaxy , '' `` ant-man '' plays with the marvel universe without upending it . it manages to make fun of the superhero genre while still fully embracing the emotions that make the genre powerful .", "two father/daughter stories - with splashy simulations , using macro-photography and motion-capture technology .", "to say the least , this is a movie with a few bugs in it .", "light and entertaining .", "at long last marvel studios offers up a superhero smaller than its artistic ambitions .", "the overwhelming , self-serious sense that we are watching something very important blissfully does n't exist in ant-man . it 's just plain fun : light , breezy , simple and enjoyable .", "for the second straight year , marvel 's late-summer entry is an inventive , very enjoyable action film .", "fun -lsb- but -rsb- it lacks both the artistic touch and character traces that would have transformed it from an episode into a movie .", "even with such a weird concept about a guy who can shrink and then communicate with ants ... there 's way too much that feels familiar here .", "clunky and strange but refreshingly simple .", "as generic as comic-book movies come .", "you can see , especially in that final , hilarious m\u0119l\u00e9e scene , where ant-man could have gone right . -lrb- where it could have gone wright ? -rrb- but the film is too timid to fully take the wilder turns , to become its own distinct creature .", "watching it is like channel-surfing between hot fuzz , a duff early 90s michael douglas drama and the very schlockiest bits of interstellar .", "ant-man works within the framework of the larger marvel cinematic universe , but also delivers a streamlined , fast-paced , lively and -- frankly -- utterly charming story .", "even the jokes that do work leave some laughs on the table , and the impulse to play things safe proves emblematic of a film that shrinks in the face of a challenge .", "serves up jokes that do n't land and thrills that do n't thrill .", "not only working as an out and out comedy , ant-man proves its originality by being the first heist movie included in the marvel franchise .", "it all adds up to a film that is just so much brilliant funtimes .", "`` ant-man '' becomes the first marvel movie to deliver a third act that 's better than the first two .", "there are some clever and nicely conceived sequences , and some bursts of wit - though given the writing firepower involved , there should really have been more wit .", "colorful and creative . one of the better marvel movies . paul rudd is perfectly cast .", "director peyton reed tries to piece it together but there 's just no way to make the scenes with rudd seem like anything more than a rejected saturday night live skit .", "thankfully never takes itself too seriously and is n't interested in bashing characters through buildings and streets like an out of control video game . -lrb- full content review - violence , sexual content , profanity , etc. - for parents also available -rrb-", "the second half of this nearly two-hour film is a pure delight - fast-paced and funny and filled with special effects and humor as great as any recent marvel movie , with the possible exception of `` guardians of the galaxy . ''", "ant-man is infectious , silly entertainment , a popcorn flick that knows what it is and does what it does to an intoxicating degree .", "ant-man is a neat package , that comfortably wears its connection to the marvel cinematic universe without labouring the point .", "yes , ant-man awkwardly vacillates between broad comedy and earnest adventure , and pena 's cartoony sidekick seems to belong in some other less serious movie . but ant-man works . in spots , it works well .", "we start with carefree exhilaration . ... but - wages of bingemanship - we then proceed to boorish silliness and finally stupor .", "despite a story that sometimes strains under cliches , several supporting characters shine and the action-humor combinations will leave you smiling always and laughing often ." ], "summary": "led by a charming performance from paul rudd , ant-man offers marvel thrills on an appropriately smaller scale -- albeit not as smoothly as its most successful predecessors .", "id": "770680853" }, { "movie": "margin_call", "reviews": [ "a wall street version of ` glengarry glen ross ' in which the weak are whisked aside and the alpha dogs stick around long enough to fill their pockets with millions of other people 's money .", "gets the little details right , the way everyone is one bad week away from being homeless , the way you can have a conversation with a colleague with the cleaning lady standing in between you and no one will ever even acknowledge that she 's there .", "a well-told and credible look at the economic collapse from the perspective of one company 's employees .", "MOV is wall street for now . that a sexy gordon gekko-type villain is no longer anywhere to be found shows just how much worse things really are today .", "at times , the film becomes just a series of static , over-determined conversations held in lofty offices and gleaming toilets .", "wily humor and sly observations about the lives of these high rollers are the highlights ... it 's when those give way to issues of morality that the film disappoints , just a little ...", "maybe the financial collapse went down something like this ...", "in MOV , first time writer-director jc chandor creates a humanizing insight into the lives of the bankers who discovered the fall of the economy .", "es casi imposible identificarse con alguno de los personajes . y el director y guionista lo sabe , por eso dota a su \u00f3pera prima de una tensi\u00f3n propia de un thriller , y de una mirada c\u00ednica y desencantada .", "MOV ca n't beat the street , missing the mark in a major way given the massive expectations .", "writer-director j.c. chandor then plunges us into a dark night of quietly nasty reckoning as it becomes clear to the firm 's honchos that the calamitous risk assessments one of their own was working on might well be true .", "this may be the first post-2008 feature film to dramatize the crisis itself , rather than using it as a backdrop for an outraged harangue against the banks .", "if only the movie 's cast of ordinary working stiffs were n't quite so bland and , frankly , dull .", "some of the dialogue 's a little too on the nose , but it 's a really compelling story .", "MOV manages to put a human face on the current economic crisis-but i wish it was as good as its trailer , which is forceful , well-edited , and dramatically scored ...", "chandor 's film is not a tale of the plots and counterplots of conniving bankers . it is a disaster movie , in which even the masters of the universe are running for their lives .", "buoyed by a strong cast and a smart script , MOV raises vital ethical questions about the intersection of `` doing what 's right '' and `` making a lot of money . ''", "benefits hugely from sophisticated plotting and dialogue .", "` MOV ' a good investment .", "the actors make the material interesting , even if you do n't always understand what they 're talking about .", "it 's a fascinating film that reveals much about its characters and provides food for thought for all of us who live in a capitalist society . greed may be good for the avaricious but it 's sure as hell ugly when it comes at any cost", "what makes it engaging is that the oscar nominated screenplay explores the people who make the decisions from a moral point of view . and finds them wanting .", "-lsb- it -rsb- gives us villains that , rather than being sympathetic , are well-argued and reasonable . it gives us heroes that , whilst idealistic , make immoral choices for their own betterment . MOV is complex , fury-inspiring , and thoughtful .", "with a script void of shouting matches and preachy monologues , j.c. chandor makes the brave decision not to demonise these characters .", "taut wall street drama takes an inside look at financial and human meltdown .", "intelligently written and brilliantly portrayed , MOV delves into the belly of the beast where consequence is given no conscious and the line between good vs evil is blurred amongst a sea of numbers .", "MOV 's a tightly scripted , intensely acted , skillfully directed , character piece that illuminates the depths of moral and ethical corruption at the epicentre of western capitalist society .", "this is chandor 's triumph , and marks him out as someone to keep an eye on in the future .", "chandor underplays the human drama and the anonymity of the wall street office building so much it risks slipping into doldrums , but the stakes are too great and the actors too sharp to let that happen .", "smart , sharp and dark , j c chandor 's ensemble drama - eliciting defined , defiant performances from an a-grade cast - summons the spirit of david mamet 's glengarry glen ross .", "though fictionalized and understated , `` MOV '' effectively voices the same outrage that the occupy wall street movement is so loudly proclaiming .", "a smart , harrowing and mordant drama set inside a fictional wall street firm at the trip-wire moment just before the 2008 financial collapse .", "it sees its characters not as villains but , simply , as business people - with all that means .", "the only thing i wrestled with was `` do i care ? ''", "it 's a tightly enclosed movie . all the better to make the characters -lrb- and you -rrb- feel trapped like rats .", "do not expect mayhem , shootouts or high speed chases but do expect a corporate thriller that shows how our lives have been impacted by the inmates running our financial institutions .", "the project feels constricted , more suited to cable tv than the big screen . summing it up : these days , we need more than small change .", "`` MOV '' is a terrific film no matter what side of the police line the viewer is on , with a fantastic cast and sharp and smart writing that attempts to explain what went wrong without getting bogged down in details .", "it 's all fairly entertaining but also confusing for anybody who does n't get the wall street lingo .", "the real strength of ' -lsb- chandor 's -rsb- debut feature is how persuasively it depicts the fishbowl world of high finance , whose executives seem incapable of seeing past their towering salaries and privileged lives .", "MOV takes what could have been a complex and boring subject and serves it up as gripping entertainment .", "with the employment market such as it is , it 's remarkable how ` of its time ' MOV feels .", "strong acting props up this emotionless process film . it is like something david mamet would make , slick and clever , but lacking in real feeling or drama .", "a commendably sober and even handed drama , that gives the much loathed bankers human faces -lrb- tethered to animal metaphors , notably fat cats and dead dogs -rrb- , while noting the culture of profligacy and flippancy within which they operate .", "a solid and serviceable financial thriller , shot in the washed out palate of currently trendy scandinavian film and tv and with echoes of all the president 's men .", "this is thriller , horror story and human drama in one .", "it 's a smart , entertaining film , and an impressive debut from the director .", "greed is n't merely good here , it 's god ; and he 's about to smite his acolytes with blazing old testament relish .", "it feels a little stagey , but this is the film wall street 2 should have been .", "a shrewd and confident drama .", "chock-full of terrific performances , MOV is the kind of gripping , grown-up film that these days is usually found on the small screen .", "a gripping , sophisticated , adrenaline-fuelled attempt at humanising today 's folk devil , the banker ...", "it 's a slick , well-made film about a catastrophic set of events that were catastrophic to everybody but those who actually caused them .", "MOV is a compelling human drama that is n't just about numbers .", "chandor proffers a cross-section of a lehman brothers-esque company as the realisation dawns that sub-prime speculation has brought the market to an ominous tipping point .", "impressively directed and superbly acted , this is a surprisingly engaging , frequently tense and ultimately depressing drama that would play well alongside financial crisis documentary the inside job .", "the claustrophobic , vdu-illuminated isolationism of the financial services industry is cleverly implied , as the central disaster is humanised by individual ones ...", "it has intelligence and dry wit , but also a sly wink of designer trashiness .", "like the social network it grippingly dramatizes a dry , seemingly impenetrable subject that has huge implications for the way we live .", "fine acting and sense of purpose , if occasionally a little too equivocal .", "basically , one company messed up their formula , so they sold all their assets knowing the value would quickly decline and the buyers would be left with worthless investments . that 's why i always say do n't invest .", "there have been better movies set in the financial world , but for a rather contained ensemble drama , it generally works , though it 's no inside job", "chandor 's debut feature audaciously asks us to empathize with obscenely overpaid risk analysts and their bosses , a gambit that fails ... largely because his characters are little more than mouthpieces for blunt speechifying and mamet-like outbursts", "escalation is the main thing MOV has going for it , as more substantial actors are trotted out to have their way with chandor 's realistic-sounding boardroom dialogue .", "spacey does some of the best work we 've seen from him in a while as a once-confident man who 's now questioning everything upon which he built his cushy life .", "the atmosphere is evocative and the story reasonably tense , but the movie as a whole is surprisingly dry ...", "paints a portrait of a world where money equals status and ambition is a currency of its own .", "highlighted by terrific performances by spacey , irons , and baker , this film brings out the basic tartuffery of sellers of financial instruments without explaining anything .", "a 24-hour meltdown of meetings and dark-night-of-the-soul speeches that would have been better suited to the stage .", "MOV may not be telling things exactly as they were , but it 's close enough to provide an uncomfortable glimpse behind the curtain . and it 's an engrossing `` thinking '' thriller as well .", "an investment firm facing extinction in the 2008 fiscal crisis has less than a day to navigate its inevitable crash . writer-director j.c. chandor 's debut feature is as powerful as it is topical .", "timely , topical and intriguing - with a release as fortuitous as ` the china syndrome ' was to three mile island .", "a riveting drama that puts oliver stone 's latest wall street movie and the hbo `` too big to fail '' to shame .", "the entertainment value is high .", "... a neat little morality play about the few whose actions caused the collapse of millions .", "MOV is the best fictional treatment of the current economic crisis .", "j.c. chandor makes his feature writing and directing debut here , and it 's a very strong effort , suggesting a huge talent on the rise .", "solid performances and an accessible script make it resonate .", "a film like this -- with a large cast and a big subject -- needs a clear , concise vision , a strong hand , and MOV just does n't have it .", "all of those on either side of the greed equation will admire director/writer j.c. chandor 's taut tale of wall street brokers at their worst .", "chandor presents these characters not as indifferent masters of the universe , nor as vampires , but as people - and his film is the stronger for it .", "chandor is more interested in the banality of greed and opportunism and the ease in which principled employees are swayed to engage in unprincipled acts .", "in what could arguably be called - sadly - a season of consumerism comes `` MOV , '' a realistic , dialogue-driven drama about the unraveling of an investment bank within 24 hours .", "-lsb- video -rsb- that chandor tells the story without demonizing the criminals whose heads have yet to role is the film 's double-edged sword .", "a hell of a picture . and shrewd .", "chandor knows his stock market and brokerage houses but the staging and reliance on unending dialogue `` scenes '' cries out stage play .", "though stagey , the film incisively explores a crisis in a financial house .", "what could have been a dynamic narrative instead ends up as baffling and quite often as boring as an economy 101 textbook .", "avoids fantasyland boardroom heroism while lucidly assessing the indomitable persistence of unchecked greed .", "drama about a long day 's journey into night and catastrophe in 2008 as high-ranking members of a prosperous financial firm deal with its imminent collapse .", "chandor makes good use of his acting assets and there 's no doubt that he knows how to direct , but ultimately , the dullness of the script is just a little too toxic .", "chandor 's script fuels intensity by packing the drama into a tight window .", "MOV might have lost me completely if it were n't for spacey , who delivers his meatiest , most nuanced work in years .", "the film wall street : money never sleeps should have been .", "chilling and enjoyable in unequal measure . entertainment predominates , but entertainment with smarts , and a well-honed edge .", "-lsb- it -rsb- brings this dangerous numbers game back to the trading-floor desktops and mahogany-covered conference tables where it belongs .", "`` MOV '' employs an excellent cast who can make financial talk into compelling dialogue .", "`` MOV '' is on the facile side , but it 's well-crafted and smartly acted .", "chandor writes monologues for seemingly every member of the ensemble , which gets a bit wearying , but is also how i 'm guessing he attracted this stellar cast .", "pulses with understated professional restraint ... centered on the quiet arrogance that allowed large institutions to shoot themselves somewhere more painful than the foot .", "this is a form of business kabuki where everyone knows all the moves ahead of time and must strictly follow form . but his cast is strong enough to convey the turmoil beneath .", "it is a tale of greed , vanity , myopia and expediency that is all the more damning for its refusal to moralize .", "within the artful fluctuations of heroism and villainy , spacey stands out with a performance that evokes memories of `` glengarry glen ross . ''", "it captures how our financial institutions became secret havens to a selfishness so undiluted it was sociopathic . you watch this drama of big money with a tingle of toxic fascination .", "as a movie , it 's so tightly framed you gasp from claustrophobia . as a film of cryptic boredom , i can not believe the actors were able to say their lines without cue cards .", "the credits are the most fascinating part of `` MOV . ''", "spacey is mesmerizing as sam , a weary , aging lion losing his appetite for antelope . and irons plays the villain with magisterial ease .", "kevin spacey is flat-out brilliant as a company lifer in the awful position of knowing what 's coming but being powerless to stop it .", "a taut , smart and remarkably timely thriller ...", "the protection of the individual at the sake of our society always kills me . but , what are you going to do ? throw money at it . no really , throw some money at ` MOV , ' it 's worth it .", "imagine inside job adapted for the screen by david mamet and you 've got the general idea .", "ultimately romanticizes the traders it pretends only to humanize , and validates the enterprise it is attempting to scold .", "carefully crafted performances and taut pacing carry the day .", "a methodical , coolly absorbing boardroom thriller .", "topical drama about the financial crisis lacks the visceral punch to grab an audience .", "MOV seems remarkably fresh -lrb- it 's not as if the economy has bounced back since ' 08 -rrb- . and the morality play in a milieu not associated with morals makes for cool dramatics .", "humanizes the cause of the current recession", "it opens with a bloodbath , builds to an apocalypse and ends with a gravedigger doggedly excavating the earth . by the time the story is told , the blood -- sorry , red ink -- is surging down long corridors like a tidal wave .", "how good is j.c. chandor 's debut ? so good i was ready to buy what he was selling even though i did n't entirely understand it .", "as an attempt to humanize the disaster , it 's successful , bolstered by an outstanding cast able to communicate the gut-rot squeeze of fraud and the sickening launch of its permanent impact .", "chandor keeps enough of the real story to keep things vivid and meaningful but does not get mired in jargon .", "a lesson in market dissolution", "the severe imbalance between argot and emotion makes it impossible to care much about most of what we see .", "`` MOV '' takes ripped-from-the-headlines events and dramatizes them for all they 're worth . which turns out to be quite a lot .", "if you really look at `` MOV '' you can see chandor making important criticism in small and subtle ways ...", "MOV is rife with smart , sharp performances .", "chandor 's impressive debut film does indeed capture its cast of high-powered bankers as human beings , and features one of kevin spacey 's best screen performances as the firm 's middle-aged ace salesman .", "... a series of increasingly alarmed faces looking at papers and computer screens .", "there are a lot of sharp performances here , a chief pleasure of the film .", "MOV is an explosive drama that speaks lucidly and scarily to the times we live in .", "a tense but contemplative exploration of being on the other side of one of those mirrored skyscraper windows , of being in a precarious place of privilege , power and , most important of all , carefully guarded remove .", "MOV might not always be perfect , but it does a nearly perfect job of painting a shakespearean portrait of both a financial and human crisis . let 's hope we can learn from it .", "that chandor manages to find the blood in each character is accomplishment enough ; that he manages to make his drama both relevant and timeless portends a bright future indeed .", "MOV is the movie oliver stone tried to make with wall street : money never sleeps , only a lot less flashy and melodramatic -- and sharper , smarter and with a much stronger cast .", "MOV opts to show us that there are no heroes and villains , only villains and victims and poor souls weighing the merits of a faustian bargain .", "hour by hour over this 24 hour period , the tension builds as to who will give in to what ethical lapses and how each will face the future .", "we all know how it plays out , but that makes it no less compelling and maddening .", "part truth and part fiction , this yarn of financial meltdown in the executive boardroom is great entertainment from start to finish .", "it 's a realistic take on what happens when high-flying money speculators suddenly hit ground . it 's also a great calling card for j.c. chandor , the writer/director making his feature debut .", "so well made it 's hard to believe it 's j.c. chandor 's first feature film .", "with a cast as stellar as this , even the most banal striations of greed and fiscal amorality become readily evident .", "low-key and plodding , it 's at least earnestly acted ...", "a terrific piece of entertainment .", "-lrb- MOV -rrb- has the makings of a fine , fascinating experience . unfortunately , it never finds a way to be wholly compelling .", "MOV carries itself like an important movie , which it is n't . neither is it pulpish enough to be considered entertaining , which it could be . where 's oliver stone when you need him ?", "chandor keeps MOV visually and emotionally fluid , staging the entire ordeal like an escalating disaster in which fiscal , rather than physical , violence is the looming threat", "as pure drama , without reference to the wider moral issues it skirts , it 's compelling structured and played by an expert ensemble working at the top of their game .", "an absolutely fine thriller with its brain firmly intact .", "MOV puts human faces behind the masks of big business . it is a bit static , but its dialogue and performances are electric . MOV is a plaintive cry in the night of the soul .", "given the assist of a most impressive ensemble cast , MOV is a fascinating and nimble little movie that walks us through the first 24 hours of a financial crisis .", "MOV 's rigorously modulated tone , while it gives the actors time to breathe , also gives the audience more than enough time to lose interest .", "MOV is one of the strongest american films of the year and easily the best wall street movie ever made ." ], "summary": "smart , tightly wound , and solidly acted , MOV turns the convoluted financial meltdown of '08 into gripping , thought-provoking drama .", "id": "771225052" }, { "movie": "8_mile", "reviews": [ "eminem comes across as very genuine . it is his charisma , and his music , that make 8 MOV worth seeing .", "8 MOV is worth a look if only to watch eminem on the big screen . even when a film 's a bit lame , it 's always fun to be there when a star is being born .", "what 's pretty amazing here is that hanson has managed to take scott silver 's lameass script and mediocre acting and turn it into something special .", "if juice gave you an appreciation for spinning vinyl , 8 MOV will put you in awe of the art of rhyme .", "8 MOV should satisfy eminem 's legion of fans and , at the same time , affirms rap 's power as an artform , as real beat poetry , for the uninitiated -- and even for the actively resistant .", "the movie is a success on its own terms because the director does n't condescend to pop music .", "a fascinating , surprisingly entertaining stand-off that has adroitly managed to satisfy both of its constituencies , allowing all sides to legitimately claim victory .", "8 MOV is not much in the story department . its star is born framework is reassuring at the expense of being original , and the movie lacks narrative drive .", "set in detroit 's 8 MOV , the dividing line between the city limits and the northern suburbs , 8 MOV is an exciting , well-crafted movie , loaded with urban atmosphere .", "backed by a smart story that avoids easy answers and pat endings , the rapper may be in line for some real acting recognition .", "the pleasant surprise of 8 MOV is that , despite the conventional structure of scott silver 's script , curtis hanson has n't made a film about rabbit transcending his underclass roots , but embracing them instead .", "eminem gives a sincere , heartfelt , genuine performance as rapper jimmy smith -lrb- rabbit -rrb- in the detroit hood .", "it has been over 25 years since aretha demanded r-e-s-p-e-c-t from her man and marvin declared ` war is not the answer . ' are we to consider our journey down the ' 8 MOV ' road progress ?", "a solidly built , rather old-fashioned yarn about a plucky underdog who triumphs in the face of adversity .", "there 's no power fantasies here , no ego trips or fairy tale stories about a loser made good . in this case , the persona serves the story , not the other way around .", "effective , if not more than a little dishonest . think blue crush with swear words .", "everything that happens feels inevitable , achingly obvious -- the abuse , the betrayals , the arguments , the reconciliations , the tiny defeats , the bigger victories .", "the script is uninspired , the picture 's characters are stick figures , its dialogue is lackluster and the star 's performance seldom rises above the adequate .", "eminem 's skill still lies in turning an inventive phrase : filled with characters who lack depth , his film debut falls victim to its own modesty and is often insubstantial and boring .", "a canny , and largely successful , attempt to broaden the star 's appeal .", "who could have predicted that a rap movie starring eminem would , at its best , be one of the year 's sweetest joyrides ?", "i would imagine most of the exaggerated praise MOV has received is in direct correlation to the stupid pictures most rap-rock-pop stars have made in vain attempts to become movie stars .", "pop-music biopics have a great history , but 8 MOV is for eminem fans only .", "wounded and enigmatic , eminem is a worthy focus .", "` 8 MOV ' ... does n't justify the hateful violence in eminem 's lyrics , but it does help you understand where that rage comes from .", "basically recycles all the old , tired cliches that abound in every story about the rise to stardom of poor but talented youngsters who overcome terrible obstacles in their drive to succeed .", "this movie is all about the dingy glamour of self-pitying rage .", "the way this movie is made , the way this story is told , this is what is meant by the phrase `` keepin ' it real . ''", "middle-aged folks may not be attracted to the film 's rap base but the built in youth demographic will love it .", "as music star movie debuts go , 8 MOV is hardly a hard days night , but it 's not crossroads , either .", "you have to question the time and care you want to invest in a character whose goal is to excel at insults", "even if ... your idea of -lrb- w -rrb- rapping has more to do with leftover bologna than improvisational street slang , 8 MOV still goes the distance .", "in the singers-who-can ` t-act sweepstakes , britney spears -lrb- crossroads -rrb- is still on top , edging out eminem , who is about on par with mariah carey -lrb- glitter -rrb- .", "despite the weak story , hanson commands a strong performance from eminem and showcases both the rapper 's newfound acting abilities and his musical talent .", "if not strictly autobiography , the movie is close enough to eminem 's story that he knows how this character feels . if this turns out to be the only role he ever plays -- which i doubt -- he can be happy that he played it to the limit .", "director hanson skillfully creates the oppressive nature of urban poverty with the dirt , grit , and darkness that remains prevalent throughout ...", "una producci\u00f3n es interesante en m\u00e1s de un sentido . buen debut de eminem .", "there are brawls enough to provide the flavor of how life in the darker reaches of motown can be .", "8 MOV may have corniness in its bones , but there are ambiguities enough here for a whole other movie .", "for a pop star vehicle , it certainly ranks among the better ones and eminem does have a strong screen presence . unlike purple rain , this movie will probably hold up 18 years from now .", "eminem summons things from deep inside himself to shed away ego and portray a calm , frustrated , worried kid who does n't even talk too much .", "it 's a movie that showcases director curtis hanson working at the very height of his craft , but only to break even .", "the problem is eminem himself , who has clearly been drilled by the director to play to what will have to pass as strengths : stillness , cool , control .", "while no masterpiece , it is infinitely superior to the sad movie debuts of britney spears and mariah carey .", "take away the napalm spread of profanity , impromptu scenes of steamy sex and the myriad joints that get smoked , and 8 MOV is basically a disney sports movie with rap as the athletics of choice .", "following l.a. confidential and wonder boys , this makes a remarkable hat-trick for hanson and is a personal triumph for eminem .", "8 MOV is an entertaining film that will please all .", "i 've been curious about `` the eminem movie '' for months . and while i have gotten the chance to see 8 MOV , little of my pondering has been quenched ; eminem remains an enigma .", "the whole film ... coasts from colourless family melodramas to wacky-kid-hijinks ... 8 MOV is an uninteresting shell of a movie .", "regardless of the hype , 8 MOV is a classic underdog tale with real bark .", "this eminem melts in your hand and not in your mouth .", "com sua estupenda atua\u0437\u0433o neste filme , eminem poderia facilmente buscar uma carreira no cinema .", "better than average rags-to-riches story , but expect to get pinched for a special edition dvd later .", "una buena pelcula , un ms que digno debut actoral para una estrella de rap , y una estupenda banda sonora . nada mal , eh ?", "8 MOV is among the best studio films of the year 2002 .", "like his wizardly lyrics , eminem 's performance and his film have unexpected depth .", "the movie does n't feel authentic and i think it 's because of all the white folks involved .", "a hesitant presence whose vulnerability pulls you in , eminem emerges as a mainstream movie star and effectively lays to rest the spooks of slim shady : impressionable parents will love this eminently responsible film .", "when the climactic rap battle takes place , it 's one of the most mesmerizing scenes from all of 2002 .", "it is more just a pleasure to watch eminem perform . he is fiercely talented and has a natural charisma ; the camera loves him . but , like most of the story , we knew that before we saw the film .", "the film is really no more than a two-hour prelude to a climax in which our hero ... rhythmically tells people off .", "at its best , 8 MOV illuminates the culture out of which rap springs , at once an art form , provocation and survival mechanism .", "eminem is quietly effective without ever displaying much emotion . it 's a commendable film debut and he never falls into the vanity trap that many artists find when transferring their talents from the music stage to the screen .", "hanson 's enthusiastic participation in the project is bewildering given how pedestrian the story is : poor , white kid keeps getting beaten down before a final showdown ...", "eminem does a credible roughed-up urban ghetto impression of james dean", "some eminem worshippers may be slightly disappointed to find that ' 8 MOV ' does n't make full use of his verbal vitriol until late in the game . the payoff , however , is definitely worth the wait .", "rapper eminem 's film debut is far better than you 'd think -- and a pure demonstration of the power of charisma .", "book-ended by two pivotal and compelling sequences , 8 MOV , like its star , is best when it focuses on the music .", "the story is all right : the picture 's real excellence is its portrait of the society in which it takes place .", "making the city look grimy and lonely , dark and wasted but still alive with people who care , the film gets you rooting for the guys who want to make ` mo ' -lrb- short for motown -rrb- a major player .", "say what you will about him as a person , but as a performing artist marshall mathers -lrb- a k a eminem -rrb- has talent to spare . and one more thing -- his acting 's not too bad , either .", "like the recently released ` welcome to collinwood ' from cleveland 's russo brothers , curtis hanson 's ' 8 MOV ' brings affection and honesty in equal measure to its tale of impoverished middle-americans determined to get a better life -- on their own terms .", "8 MOV goes the distance , and it proves that not every musician turned actor goes down a road paved with glitter .", "8 MOV continues the director 's visual tour of america 's underbelly that heated up with l.a. confidential and continued with the pittsburgh of wonder boys .", "uneven but watchable .", "we are hardly started in 8 MOV , and already we see that this movie stands aside from routine debut films by pop stars ... like prince 's purple rain , it is the real thing .", "while it 's doubtful that eminem could run out and perform shakespeare tomorrow , his talents on screen -- in this role -- are astounding .", "fittingly , avid eminen enthusiasts and other targeted moviegoers will gleefully run this 8 MOV race and enjoy the antics of a misunderstood foul-mouthed rapping icon with layers of complexity", "believe it or not folks , this is the feel good movie of the year !", "a brilliant , engaging examination of people who dream of escape .", "if the part is not much of a mental or emotional stretch for him , -lsb- eminem -rsb- acquits himself well enough for me to want to see him in other films .", "in many ways , the movie is just one big clich\u00e9 , but hanson 's style gives it more weight and heft than it might otherwise have .", "curtis hanson knew exactly what he was doing when he made 8 MOV .", "can eminem act ? yes , i am happy to report .", "even a rapper needs to punch things up a bit , and 8 MOV , for all its hip-hop braggadocio , is a pretty weak riff .", "can eminem act ? who knows ? but his star turn in 8 MOV , as an aspiring rapper growing up poor and white in motown , is memorable -- even if we 've seen it all before .", "8 MOV does everything it 's designed to do .", "8 MOV is a movie about youth and race and sex and growth that has no respect for youth , has a disturbing undercurrent of hatred for blacks , thinks all women are whores and for which growth is as simple as not being too afraid to let your voice out .", "is eminem a movie star ? only when he raps .", "thanks to eminem and the rising rap momentum , 8 MOV is engrossing .", "-lsb- 8 MOV is -rsb- more funny than foul , more inspiring than infuriating , more touching than not . in many ways , 8 MOV is a rocky-like tale of determination and long odds that will appeal even to those who are turned off by most rap .", "eminem delivers a performance of considerable passion and depth .", "the film is emotionally charged , almost naturally so , with hanson 's direction stressing the pop rapture that music can provide in a world that 's dirty and ugly .", "you ca n't stop him or crop him/he 's in widescreen and large/he ai n't playing when he 's baggin ' curtis hanson for sarge ... -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "ends on a high note , but it does n't negate the tedium of the number of false and mostly flat ones that precede it .", "writer scott silver and director curtis hanson dig deep into the subculture to deliver a terrific movie .", "-lsb- eminem -rsb- goes the MOV demanded of him and he emerges a certified winner this time out .", "reactions to 8 MOV may be tempered by predispositions for or against the rapper , but the film can not be faulted for lack of trying and may seduce skeptics with its energy and tone .", "another fine effort from a director currently on a critical roll . hanson is great at teasing the audience with little samples of his star 's lyrical dexterity as he builds towards the finale .", "because it rejects easy victories , this may be one of the few inspirational movies that could actually inspire someone , somewhere , sometime .", "what screamed a ridiculous idea or vanity project when you first read or head about it is the exact opposite - a well thought out and realised film which never thinks too much of itself .", "as unlikely as an insightful and riveting film about a poor white detroit kid succeeding beyond his surroundings through rap music might be , `` 8 MOV '' is that gloriously gritty movie .", "... rocky with a rap beat ...", "eminem 's edgy , graphic quasi-biopic is not for kids .", "i was able to guess what would happen to most of the characters most of the time and come through perfectly .", "it 's easy to like jimmy smith as well as to admire him , because mr. mathers lets us in , with no sign of calculation , on the kindness , even tenderness , that jimmy conceals from most of the people around him .", "in the tradition of rocky and fever , the movie is a shrewdly engineered piece of proletarian pop -- a story of triumph -- but , like eminem 's enraged lyrics , 8 MOV has its own kind of vile candor .", "in addition to showcasing mathers , 8 MOV makes a case for rap as a creative rebel yell .", "what saves all this from being purely conventional is the filmmaker 's keen sense of rabbit 's essential solitude as an artist , even when surrounded by friends .", "on it 's own , `` 8 MOV '' is a slightly above average mixture of `` good will hunting '' drama , `` rocky '' sports suspense and `` purple rain ' '' musical moments . on a slightly deeper level , it plays as a white fantasy about black acceptance and how talent being colorbl", "all this hoopla about eminem 's so great , is it any more of a stretch than prince in `` purple rain '' or babs in `` a star is born '' or woody in any movie where he 's having an affair with a younger woman ?", "it ai n't eminem : the movie but it does showcase eminem : the actor -- easily the best rapper-cum-thesp since tupac shakur .", "the climactic 20 minutes or so represent the most electrifying depiction of rap that the multiplex is likely to see , a torrent of word-slinging packed with atmosphere and ribald drama .", "since his ascension to pop-culture royalty , eminem has transformed the messy emotions of his life into musical black comedy . in 8 MOV , that life becomes an equally riveting drama .", "elegant and tough , unpretentiously directed by curtis hanson , it does n't for a second pander to what is supposed to be the star 's target audience .", "eminem wipes away his hubris , revealing a trembling , self-doubting kid on the way up .", "-lsb- nothing -rsb- more than an elvis film , except there 's a lot more sex and violence than blue hawaii and the music video sequences feature creative profanity instead of surfboards .", "it 's 8 miles of bad road , i 'm sorry to say , even for fans of eminem 's music -- we are left `` doing time '' waiting for his `` wicked rhymes '' till well beyond the point of patience .", "after just a few years in the spotlight , eminem has accomplished something elvis , madonna , michael and mariah have not : he 's made a great movie .", "is it worth a look ? sure . is it begging to be parodied ? without a doubt ... somebody alert the wayans .", "director curtis hanson puts a new spin on the familiar `` triumph against the odds '' theme with this slick showcase for the talents of superstar rapper eminem .", "eminem plays a guy named `` rabbit , '' and he does n't get any respect . maybe going by the name `` rabbit '' is n't the route to respect , yo .", "8 MOV is a great musical but as an inspirational drama it 's trouble . given that it revolves around a world where `` keeping it real '' is a permanent motto , it is , ironically enough , suspiciously phoney .", "then there are the rap sequences where eminem displays an energy close to unrivaled by any performance this year . in these scenes , he and the film show what they 're really made of .", "about 3 miles to long and if you 've seen purple rain , american anthem , rocky , saturday night fever and to an extent coyote ugly and glitter , you 've seen 8 MOV .", "8 MOV probably wo n't win converts to rap , but it should thrill eminem fans , so thumbs up .", "eminem himself comes fully to life only during his raps -- which the film unwisely confines to the last 20 minutes .", "a powerful film that shows us the frustration and desperation of an entire emotionally neglected sub-class , its bravura ` rap battles ' offering up the strongest prima facie connection between hip-hop 's chest-thumping and adolescence 's shoe-gazing .", "if eminem is a genius then tiny tim must be god .", "what makes 8 MOV transcend the formulaic nature of its plot is the way it makes these rap competitions compelling even for those unfamiliar with rap music , and its scrupulous , loving rendition of a grim , wintry detroit circa 1995 .", "for all its grit , 8 MOV ends up radiating a joyful , hopeful vibe . it 's an old-school charmer .", "essentially a downtrodden-teen - makes-good film ... that 's not a bad thing , but it 's nothing to rap home about , either .", "8 MOV wins because it does n't try to impress you with mega-stars and made-up stories . instead , it tells a simple story of trial , error and triumph .", "it 's raw , it 's intense and it 's very engrossing .", "eminem is such a commanding visual presence , diversely eloquent of patience , ire , and weariness , that his silent poses and solitary interludes become many of the film 's most effective scenes .", "8 MOV has the pop star of the moment , eminem , and a hip-hop soundtrack that 's as current as it is contagious , but , at its core , the movie 's spirit is as old-school as it comes .", "merely a solid , conventional drama , because it ultimately loses sight of one very important fact : eminem is at his best when he 's making people angry , not when he 's asking for their sympathy .", "say what you want about eminem , but the guy has passion and a gift with words - the finale at the battle simply rocks the house .", "the story of 8 MOV is n't far removed from eminem 's own self-mythologized life -- a jerry springer-style saga out of detroit -- but the unslakable anger is gone .", "despite the predictable formula , screenwriter scott silver wisely avoids taking the easy route every time ; there are several small twists you may not expect , and the ending is n't entirely a happy one .", "the movie has some of the braggadocio of its white-trash hero , building to its competitive climax as if it were a gladiatorial sporting event , and it carried me all the way .", "the profane one 's performance in 8 MOV is more britney than brando . as with ms. belly button in the vapid crossroads , eminem plays himself , albeit a cleaned-up , deep-thinking , saintlike version .", "-lsb- eminem -rsb- does a lot of things right . so does the movie .", "a by-the-numbers storyline , complete with character actions that do n't make a lick of sense because of how underdeveloped they are .", "packs as much humor , hard truth and vitality as the rapper 's lps .", "so paper thin that the former ` king of controversy ' was able to cram the entire plot into one little crossover rap song that 's currently playing at a radio station near you .", "8 MOV is n't about race or hip-hop as much as it is about making a valuable commodity more palatable to a mainstream audience .", "certainly the best first film ever by a musician crossing over to the acting world .", "a movie that will capture the attention of anyone who remembers what it was like when music was a crucial component of their daily existence .", "there are a lot of stale -- and nefarious -- clich\u00e9s in 8 MOV -lrb- universal -rrb- , but most of the time they 're overwhelmed by the pulsing , grinding , hopped-up camerawork and the soulful star turn of eminem .", "there is a quietude to the film , even though it is punctuated by a lot of music and even more yelling . its mood is soft and even humble .", "who wastes time watching tiger woods/when real action comes from the boyz in the hoods ?", "some movies , a very few , possess the purity of myth , and they do n't have to be great to be greatly important . the wild one is an example ; saturday night fever is another . now add 8 MOV to that short list .", "8 MOV '' becomes tedious and tiresome in the first hour .", "the sex scene between jimmy -lrb- eminem -rrb- and alex -lrb- brittany murphy of `` riding in cars with boys '' -rrb- is hot enough to melt the gum under the seats of any theater .", "eminem 's performance as the struggling actor is very impressive .", "if this movie had been directed by someone other than curtis hanson ; i 'm talking some nobody shmoe or some flashy music video director , critics would have dismissed this as just another singer-turned-actor star vehicle with no more depth than a shot glass", "em 's lowdown , dirty diatribe may sound like treason , but you might discover that his rhyme is the reason .", "first adam sandler 's in an art film . now eminem 's in a `` sports '' movie ... go figure .", "however you view it , it 's a story that 's been told before . and yet , it works .", "if you took the ` f ' word in its various permutations , ` yo , ' ` man , ' ` dawg , ' ` word ' and the phrase ` my bad ' out of curtis hanson 's 8 MOV , you 'd have a silent movie -- and that might be an improvement .", "a decent , american , inspirational , rocky-esque story .", "eminem 's compelling , assured , workaholic performance lifts `` 8 MOV '' above its standard fare convictions .", "8 MOV stands as a deeply flawed excursion harbouring a couple of deep satisfactions .", "by its crowd-pleasing finale , 8 MOV is well on its way to becoming redundant at best and facile at worst .", "eminem proves capable of carrying the lead , at least when the material is tailored to fit . rather than show great range in his first outing , he gives an effective slow burn .", "the payoff comes after an hour and a half of a long , criminally tiresome setup .", "eminem steals the picture from a cast with snap down to the smallest parts .", "8 MOV proves to be a bumpy , but entertaining ride .", "what 's most disappointing is the thoroughly cliched story .", "underwhelming .", "eminem , much to the dismay of his detractors , turns in a rather fine performance in 8 MOV , a flawed film that still manages to make a powerful point .", "both in film and music , he tantalizes us with autobiographical detail while dazzling us with wit , grit , insight , profane humor and mind-boggling wordplay .", "the triumph here is that hanson and screenwriter scott silver have found a fresh way to tell this story .", "funny , well-acted and surprisingly engaging .", "unfortunately , 8 MOV does waste a lot of time dawdling over just about everything else ... until it finally begins to sputter at about the 6 MOV mark .", "8 MOV is entertaining to an extent . our enjoyment is muted because the movie has an agenda .", "8 MOV has an authentic feel that transcends the phenomenon of eminem ; this is a realistic story about a guy trying to use music to escape a dead-end life .", "as a vanity project , the film is more tolerable than purple rain but it 's every bit as obvious and redundant .", "we 've seen these character types before , but through the lens of curtis hanson , we suffer , carouse and dream right along with them .", "even -lsb- eminem 's -rsb- most devoted admirers likely will be surprised by his ability to keenly render and compellingly sustain a character throughout a feature-length film .", "it 's disappointing , sort of like if madonna had released her `` sex '' book without the sex .", "that the final rap battle feels so electrifying rather than merely coming across as the usual rah-rah climax taps directly into the energy emanating from eminem as he gives his character a real presence .", "i have to go back to james dean in elia kazan 's east of eden and nicholas ray 's rebel without a cause in 1955 to find a comparably jolting piece of male aggressiveness coupled with bottled-up vulnerability .", "extremely enjoyable film , with a winning performance from eminem -- essentially this is the hip-hop version of rocky . in a good way .", "eminem manages to take all that we think we know about eminem and inject it into his character without turning the character into a simple screen version of himself .", "the unique format of the motion picture shows how valuable it can be , for what else can be used to so vividly capture the most important element in a story like this -- its cultural setting ?", "eminem proves himself on the big screen with this extremely well-made film loosely based on his own life in innercity detroit .", "eminem gives a focused , intelligent performance .", "not since rocky brought silvester stallone to virtually instant stardom has there been a more effective attempt to repeat the phenomenon .", "tony manero , rocky balboa , eminem . it 's a dazzling debut and an important movie .", "a movie that will satisfy hip-hop and eminem fans in ways they never expected ; even more significantly , it will touch people who thought they hated hip-hop and/or eminem in ways they would have never expected .", "gritty and electrifying .", "o.k. , so i 'm the wrong audience for this teenage junk .", "qualifies as a cinematic event by tapping into the roots of eminem and the fury and feeling that inform his rap .", "rabbit 's story is galvanizing and eminem is a superstar . but hiphop has more and other stories to tell .", "eminem is magnetic playing a version of himself .", "as the center of the movie 's universe , eminem is seriously lacking any sort of gravity that can hold the pieces together . it 's no wonder , then , that 8 MOV falls apart .", "eminem kept his cool , and his new movie was straight dope .", "the dialogue sometimes gets so silly and redundant when trying to push bunny rabbit 's talent that i expected to see waterboy 's rob schneider pop out and shout `` you can do it eminem '' ." ], "summary": "even though the story is overly familiar , there 's enough here for an engaging ride .", "id": "13198" }, { "movie": "whats_love_got_to_do_with_it", "reviews": [ "as a powerhouse showcase for the acting talents of angela bassett and laurence fishburne and as a potent portrayal of wife beating and the emotions that surround it , it 's quite a show .", "the movie makes us all want to stand up and cheer , `` shine on , tina . shine on . ''", "powerful , troubling and ultimately inspiring .", "angela bassett does a good acting job as a person in tina turner 's position , easily winning audience sympathy .", "what 's love got to do with it is a rough-and-tumble show-biz biography that has many of the cliches inherent to this genre . but it also boasts two stunning , oscar-worthy performances .", "it 's a story of pain and courage , uncommonly honest and unflinching , and the next time i hear tina turner singing i will listen to the song in a whole new way .", "fishburne is excellent in a very unsympathetic role . ike turner could so easily have been portrayed as one-dimensional , but the talented fishburne gives this frightened wife-beater some depth .", "angela bassett shakes her tail feather with aplomb and pins down the singer 's gestures with amazing precision . top honours , however , belong to fishburne 's swaggering , savage portrayal of ike .", "as tina turner , angela bassett gives a powerhouse well-deserved oscar-nominated performance , but the biopic has more than its fair share of showbiz cliches .", "a passionate personal and professional drama that hits both the high and low notes of an extraordinary career .", "powerful bio of tina turner with domestic violence , drugs .", "a splashy , volatile , crowd - pleasing rock-star melodrama that makes up in sheer emotional wallop what it sometimes lacks in finesse .", "fishburne and bassett are both extraordinary , and though the story is inevitably slanted to tina 's perspective , fishburne makes ike a complex and compelling presence .", "it 's an astonishing movie , first because despite the pathology of the relationship , it 's not only about victimization ; it 's a celebration of spirit , both religious and human , about a woman who finally found the guts -lrb- and the faith -rrb- to say `` no more . ''", "you do n't have to be a tina turner fan to appreciate this movie , but , regardless of your opinion of her music , what 's love got to do with it can not fail to impart an impression of her courage and inner strength .", "a powerful , joyful , raw , energetically acted bio-pic detailing the joys and pain of the on - and offstage lives of blues rockers ike and tina turner .", "brian gibson , who directed the script by kate lanier , seems to have trouble taking charge of his material as he skips through the years .", "a handsome woman with the lanky appeal of katharine hepburn , bassett brays and bruises with equal effectiveness .", "a melodrama of starry-eyed love and black-eyed beatings , exhausting road tours and the singer 's even harder road to self-realization , the movie contains its emotional highs and lows in the hermetically sealed bio-pic format .", "angela bassett gives a superbly versatile performance as the heroine , and laurence fishburne 's portrayal of ike turner consolidates his status as one of the most expressive and intelligent actors in movies today .", "basset genuinely holds your sympathy as the little country girl anna mae bullock , singing and suffering her way to superstardom and personal liberation , -lsb- and -rsb- fishburne is sensational .", "-lsb- fishburne 's -rsb- performance is the one x factor in what 's love got to do with it , which in most respects is an entertaining if conventional pop star biography .", "their nuanced performances give a spectrum of emotional shadings to a black-and-white script that casts tina as the beauty to ike 's unreconstructed beast .", "a powerful portrait of emotional endurance , propelled by the outstanding performances of bassett and fishburne , both of whom lend a crucial dimension to the gradual redundancies of kate lanier 's otherwise insightful screenplay .", "what ` s love got to do with it is sizzling film fare .", "agreeably camped-up biopic , ringing with righteous sentimentality and brassy defiance , with a furiously good central performance from bassett .", "though the picture rightfully belongs to bassett , a final word must be said about fishburne , who never fails to make ike seem human if not defensible . even in defeat , he is remarkably compelling .", "fishburne 's astonishing portrayal of ike is what holds the movie together . the actor builds , in precise increments , a devastating portrait of a macho control freak ; he even finds a kind of ghastly humor in the character 's madness .", "angela bassett is a wonderfully sympathetic screen presence who may have a big career ahead of her .", "depressing but also terrific . bassett stuns .", "angela bassett , despite bearing little physical resemblance to the singer , is very convincing in her role . her partner laurence fishburne is even more impressive ...", "this biography of rock diva tina turner 's turbulent life is filled with energetic musical numbers and emotionally charged moments , all anchored by two outstanding lead performances .", "could have been a made for tv movie but elevated by the work of bassett and fishburne .", "incendiary performances by fishburne and bassett .", "the perfect combination of stellar turns and sensational music", "a revealing musical melodrama that shakes as radically as soulful tina turner 's sweet hips . both bassett and fishburne deliver energetic , oscar-worthy performances !", "the brilliant , mercurial portrayal of ike turner by laurence fishburne is what elevates what 's love got to do with it beyond the realm of run-of-the-mill biography .", "a celebrity biopic rendered with heartfelt respect ; it never shies away from the ugliness in turner 's life , but neither does it exploit it for cheap emotional effect .", "both stars deserved their oscar nominations for virtually carrying a picture that looks and sounds great , but is a little oversimplified dramatically ." ], "summary": "with a fascinating real-life story and powerhouse performances from angela bassett and laurence fishburne , what 's love got to do with it ? is a ca n't miss biopic .", "id": "13236" }, { "movie": "replacements", "reviews": [ "the games , while plenty rowdy and profane , are n't very realistic .", "seems longer than a rainy super bowl .", "a new low in the career of director howard deutch .", "there is n't a rocky-esque clich\u00e9 the film does n't tackle , throw gasping to the ground and flog to death .", "mind-achingly mediocre in every regard .", "achieving the dull veneer of your standard tv movie shot on the backlots of burbank , the MOV lets hackman work at about one-fourth his talent level . that still gives him a big lead over reeves .", "the game scenes have little coherence or momentum .", "so thick with cliches that it 's almost suffocating .", "the joke about the cheerleaders recruited from a strip club is funny at first but gets musty the ninth time it 's repeated .", "the MOV does have its moments . there just are n't enough of them .", "reeves shows as much emotion as a baked potato .", "the MOV tries to set some kind of record for regurgitating sports movie cliches faster than any film that 's run before .", "the MOV , as with just about everything else coming out of hollywood , merely reconfigures the same predictable gross-out jokes , sentimental platitudes , and decorative sex that figure into half the screenplays in circulation .", "it 's a puppy-dog of a movie : not worth much , but at times quite amusing and always trying its darnedest to please you .", "there are good sports movies , indifferent sports movies , and bad sports movies . the MOV in nestled somewhere between the latter two .", "it 's like a standard sports movie , but with every point made twice or three times -- as if we 'd never seen one before .", "a deep sea of clich\u00e9s and stereotypes .", "comes off like an amateur production .", "the incisive , close up photography by the sixth sense 's tak fujimoto outclasses the story by yards .", "i could 've sworn i 'd seen keanu reeves running around in a football helmet before , but i could n't find the film on his resume .", "director howard deutch drops the ball , trying to pass off a derivative hodgepodge of clich\u00e9s as escapist entertainment .", "how do you respect a film whose idea of jock jam is i will survive ?", "it is a giggle here at the testosterone posturing , and a chuckle there at the goofy cheerleader tryouts .", "the MOV deserves replacement as quickly as possible .", "just like a low-budget football comedy , only with money .", "the jokes are fusty and/or unpleasant .", "a soggy comedy .", "plenty of red meat here but also so much script rot that both ought to be recalled by the fda .", "a hokey mistake of a football film .", "a barely coherent comedy .", "it 's kind of predictable , but the acting is good and mckewin 's script is a hoot .", "one of the most enjoyable entertainments of the summer .", "the film is a smooth and polished product .", "a frankly formulaic but agreeably funny comedy .", "it 's as american as apple pie .", "it 's just plain good fun , good solid dialogue peppered with plenty of grins , and a lot of football action .", "has no real surprises , but the audience has fun .", "an agreeably and unapologetically lightweight late-summer blockbuster .", "hardly a landmark in the annals of pigskin cinema . but for sports fans seeking relief from a lackluster summer of baseball , even this sloppy exercise can evoke a needed chuckle or two .", "for a movie with no surprises in it , the MOV manages to be a fun experience .", "the MOV is a bad movie , but a likable one .", "football flick has a great lineup , but fumbles the ball .", "... what we have here is your basic feelgood comedy about scabs . .", "wearing the same blank expression that 's become his trademark , reeves proves that after 15 years in movies he still ca n't deliver a joke .", "average lighthearted entertainment ... to be queued up more than normal in the coming months with a potential nfl lockout and strike looming", "there is n't a football cliche `` the MOV '' does n't tackle , but its all-star cast and easygoing approach make it one of the more enjoyable recent sports comedies .", "at least the ending does n't cop out . there is no big happy ending where everyone gets a pro football gig or a big nike ad campaign .", "lightweight but likeable football story .", "plenty of smartly-choreographed gridiron drama , as well locker-room laughs .", "there is n't a single bone of originality in its entire 110-minute running time , yet it just almost works out of sheer force of will .", "this negligible comedy might as well come with a bouncing ball so members of the audience can recite the dialogue along with the actors .", "howard deutch keeps this archetypal hollywood movie humming along with predictable comic bits and the antics of its colorful characters .", "silly , diverting .", "the MOV does n't amount to much , but it 's hard not to feel rather fond of it .", "i dare you not to enjoy it .", "often entertaining despite itself , thanks mostly to a screenful of surprisingly engaging performances .", "a real crowd pleaser in spite of being as predictable as a modern-day national political convention .", "surprisingly likable .", "it 's hard not to cheer for a film so confident it can win the day with a third-rate script and the matrix 's fascinatingly untalented keanu reeves leading the team .", "an engaging cast makes the the comic scenes work .", "the MOV is pretty good when it sticks to comedy . unfortunately , it does n't .", "a retread of an oft-used hollywood plot .", "an entertaining game , but strictly minor league .", "the epitome of predictable .", "do n't be fooled . the movie is bad -- very , very bad .", "you can write the script yourself , just think nursery school . then simplify .", "relentlessly mediocre .", "utilizing state-of-the-art methods in the science of statistics , i have determined there will be virtually no audience for the MOV .", "is dang near the worst picture in hackman 's lengthy -- and fairly spotty -- resume .", "it 's almost entirely indistinguishable from every other sports movie ever made .", "there 's nothing to distinguish it from the pack of sports comedies and feel-good underdog stories .", "for a movie as predictable as the MOV , it offers an astonishingly funny , well crafted story line capturing the visceral pounding of football .", "the football games are a hoot .", "despite a cliched set-up , a politically incorrect position on a labor dispute and predictable action on the playing field , it comes out a winner .", "a good , solid field goal of a film .", "you wo n't take much home with you , but it 's fun while it lasts .", "better-than-average .", "entirely predictable but utterly entertaining .", "a winner in its self-proclaimed minor league .", "the replacement players are having a blast with their brief moment on the stage , and we are vicariously enjoying it with them .", "this film works .", "a haphazard film about half as sophisticated as the average beer commercial .", "you will watch this movie and find it so familiar , you 'll think you wrote it .", "recycled humor -- and recycled heart -- from a host of former sports dramedies dating back to the bad news bears .", "a field goal , not a touchdown .", "a shabby patchwork of a film , one that lip-synchs it 's way through an old and timeworn situation without any attempt to add something new or interesting .", "settles for mere fluff when a solid sports film could feature all the bone-crushing body crunches while still investigating real issues .", "a pretty anemic piece of work .", "while there 's plenty in this movie that 's mildly funny , the MOV is nothing more than a high school romp .", "the setting of the MOV is professional football but its intellectual context is high school .", "what could have been a good football comedy does n't even meet the level of personal fave ` wildcats ' , or even the more recent ` varsity blues ' ." ], "summary": "the cliched characters and obvious outcome make all the fun and excitement amount to nothing .", "id": "10271" }, { "movie": "revenge_of_the_nerds", "reviews": [ "the real secret of this movie 's success lies in the charm of its leading men .", "okay teen comedy , but nothing special .", "compared to most of today 's gross-out extravaganzas ... this exceedingly upbeat saga seems almost wholesome .", "a teen-sex comedy with a brain !", "a low-caloric comedy .", "it was an 80 's thing .", "MOV does n't do much for movies or nerds .", "the ultimate 80 's teen comedy ... carradine and edwards are gut-bustingly hilarious !", "hope for 4-eyed computer experts who let their mother 's dress them .", "one of the landmark tits and ass films of the eighties , and surprisingly a comedy with a lot of humor and even some heart .", "this funny movie is about 10 rungs above the usual teenage-college films .", "even as a summer throwaway , this college comedy about nerds , those born-to-be-victimized souls , is pitifully thin .", "the kind of movie you saw on video when it was still forbidden fruit and loved it , only to find it much uglier with the rose-colored glasses removed .", "it 's clear , too , that the movie 's almost complete dearth of laughs plays a significant role in its downfall ...", "the underlying intelligence of director jeff kanew glimmers through at times , and is reflected in a couple of nice performances .", "if you 've seen porky 's , animal house , d.c. cab , or police academy , you 've seen nerds . and if you liked the prototypes , you 'll like the latest of the genre , low humor and all -- belching , mooning , panty raids , peeping at girls and booger jokes .", "it 's one of the great unfathomable mysteries of hollywood that this unspeakably awful comedy was successful enough to spawn no less than three -lrb- count 'em -rrb- sequels .", "there is a theory that every hollywood star has a turkey or two in their closet , so today , step forward anthony edwards , star of the hit tv series er .", "works mainly for the hilarious script , and very unique characters that are able to connect with audiences .", "advances an interesting pro-diversity agenda : the ` nerds ' are n't just brainy geeks but outcasts , including a flamboyant gay black man . -lrb- when big block letters that spell nerds are set on fire outside the nerd house , you 're reminded of burning crosses . -rrb-", "racy college comedy has heart ; ok for older teens .", "the nerds perpetuate a nasty streak of behavior toward women that violates the film 's general live-and-let-live attitude , and it stains what is otherwise intended as raunchy but lighthearted fun .", "simple-minded romp about a group of freshmen outcasts does n't qualify for the dean 's list , but MOV shows more than enough smarts to deserve passing grades .", "although the time period may feel ambiguous , its message of everyone feeling like an outsider and just wanting to belong , is universal .", "it 's got everything for this kind of film % u2013 nudity , sex , swearing and dirty jokes .", "somewhere in all the fluff and garbage is just enough heart to make MOV one of the forefathers of a generation of light-hearted comedies like american pie , american pie 2 and american wedding .", "the best t & a teen comedy", "a questionable classic at best .", "pocket-protector fans , unite ! some funny moments .", "the only worthy successor to animal house .", "a classic example of the teen comedies that dominated the 1980s . it 's not particularly smart , but it 's still a good time .", "the conflation of discriminated-against minorities and discriminated-against nerds is something of an uneasy pairing , but it does bring out the fact that predjudice is prejudice , no matter who it 's aimed at or for what reason ." ], "summary": "undeniably lowbrow but surprisingly sly , MOV has enough big laughs to qualify as a minor classic in the slobs-vs . - snobs subgenre .", "id": "142470458" }, { "movie": "i_am_love", "reviews": [ "it 's a bold experiment rooted in tradition . it plays like smart opera and looks like a marriage of poetic documentary with classical european drama .", "tilda swinton could rivet us by reading the telephone book .", "it 's melodramatic stuff , but it 's beautifully filmed and swinton is outstanding .", "tilda swinton unleashes her diva and italian cinema gets a powerful new voice in this operatic melodrama .", "with her vividly otherworldly and almost extra-terrestrial screen presence , swinton is perfectly cast in this elegant , if over-determined and slightly desiccated piece of cinema .", "tilda swinton is ridiculously enjoyable to watch in the italian drama MOV , dressed in colours you want to drink , and exploring her puzzled , porcelain allure in ways that make the screen fairly quiver .", "a lavish italian melodrama with echoes of the godfather and the leopard , MOV is sweeping , operatic and more than a little silly .", "one of the most beautiful pieces of cinema we 've seen in a good while", "this lavish italian melodrama has had festival crowds and critics cooing , but it 's hard to see what all the fuss is about beyond the luscious visuals and american composer john adams 's off-kilter score .", "a bold approach to both story and themes makes this film deeply involving and utterly unforgettable . but it 's rather oblique about its themes , so whether you like it or not will depend on how deeply you let it engulf you .", "swinton triumphs .", "though intelligently constructed , the film never could excite me or get me to care that much about any of the characters .", "swinton saves the day .", "daytime television serials such as `` the young and the restless '' and `` days of our lives '' are more adept at telling an attention-grabbing story with interesting subplots and complex characters that you can either love or . .", "a film i was n't waiting for by a filmmaker i was unaware of just shows up and blows me away . i like that .", "exaggerated yet elegant , opulent and sensual , it 's a leisurely-paced european art-house melodrama that 's made its way into the cineplex .", "gorgeous , utterly ravishing cinematic wallpaper", "despite a superb cast and a fabulous look , the picture collapses under the weight of its lofty pretensions , especially in the black hole of the last act , where it topples into near-absurdity .", "with MOV , italian director luca guadagnino waits almost an entire hour before letting the plot get into gear . depending on your patience , this is either the shrewdest or most foolish thing he could have done .", "a foreign import whose initially chilly demeanor will melt away for any viewer willing to stick with it .", "luca guadagnino 's lopsided film plods along in the first hour then plows through the climax .", "beautifully directed and superbly written , this is an extremely stylish melodrama that packs a powerful emotional punch thanks to a terrific central performance from tilda swinton .", "i am bored .", "MOV is such a lush , deeply textured banquet of sights and sounds that it deserves more than a movie review .", "if you are fascinated by how movies convey meaning , and if you get off on wondering , `` why did the director show me that ? '' and `` what 's the camera doing there ? '' you will be astonished by how jam-packed this daring , gorgeous movie is .", "in an american film , you live the story . in a european one , you 're an outsider looking in . ah , but what a beautiful view .", "it 's yet another variation on the `` loveless middle-aged woman finds happiness in the arms of a younger man , '' a trope of melodrama and television soap operas .", "a pall of deadly self-indulgence spreads as the story moves from operatic passion to soap-opera melodrama . it 's as if director luca guadagnino filmed a synopsis of the script rather than a fully realized screenplay .", "the visual depiction of the ecstatic .", "the best sex you will get all year , if that 's what you crave in your moviegoing , is between tilda swinton and a prawn .", "you have an actress that plays just every moment for keeps without milking it .", "luca guadagnino did just a wonderful job of conveying this woman 's emotional gathering storm .", "how do you say , ` i am lust ' in italian ?", "a cinematic repast so delicious that one can only stand back in awe at its sheer artistry and hail it as a masterpiece .", "ponderous from beginning to end .", "swinton makes short work of stuff like this . without her , guadagnino would not have a movie , but that 's reason enough to be glad he does .", "a wondrous anomaly .", "overblown , european , operatic , indulgent , patently absurd and somewhat wondrous , MOV works for one reason and one reason alone : tilda swinton .", "there is never a moment the viewer is n't on edge ; so much tension mounts over the film 's two-hour running time , the entire audience literally gasped as the end credits began .", "`` MOV '' is undeniably soap opera , especially when it takes an operatic third-act turn , but it is soap opera of a high order .", "guadagnino salts his film with deliberate anachronisms , and mixes up his cinematic styles , so you 're never sure what is coming next .", "swinton 's nuanced , aching performance is downright revelatory .", "cinematographer yorick le saux 's elegant images of buildings -- stony exteriors , lux interiors -- and weather-worn statuary suggest centuries-old tradition but also invite a meditative or appreciative silence .", "despite its flaws -- including an oddly unwieldy finish -- this is an epic project , crafted with intimate precision .", "bold , weird , and a little stalkerish in its intensity , luca guadagnino 's third feature is an open cinematic buffet , as ready to satisfy as it is to displease , depending on your taste and appetite .", "words like `` lush '' and `` gorgeous '' do n't even begin to scratch the surface in describing MOV , italian director luca guadagnino 's retro-styled melodrama .", "the moment when tilda tastes the prawns prepared for her by the studly bearded soulful chef guy is a deliriously high art moment of food equalling sex .", "`` depicts the events at hand with bold cinematic flourishes , resulting in a movie specifically attuned to the powers of the medium '' .", "i got into a bit of an intellectual tussle last night with a fellow critic who was absolutely stunned to hear me insist that damn straight , i certainly could condemn a movie for its morals .", "tilda swinton is a daring actress who does n't project emotions so much as embody them . MOV provides an ideal role for her , in that her actions speak instead of words .", "MOV is somewhat a case of style over substance but at least that style is rich enough for it not to matter .", "it is not to everyone 's taste . but if you like the lush film operas of rainer werner fassbinder , douglas sirk , or luchino visconti , this one 's for you .", "it 's hokey , but it 's also alive and unique , and probably a must for fans of swinton , and who is n't one of those ?", "the characters seem reasonably interesting , and so we continue to watch them . but at no point do we care about them any more than we might care about attractive strangers sitting at another table in a restaurant .", "MOV , easily one of the most sensual films i have ever seen , is ravishing , an operatic melodrama of stunning beauty and luxuriant texture .", "this is a beautiful film , moving , stylish with a sensual romance at its heart .", "gloriously melodramatic , MOV is an opulent delight .", "despite an elegant and impressive visual style , the narrative of this slow-paced film is uninteresting and full of clich\u00e9 .", "like its central character , it moves with its heart better than with its head . how much you enjoy it , will depend on which you choose to follow .", "MOV is n't just a bedazzlement to the eyes and ears . it 's a feast -- or maybe just a small but divine dish of prawns -- for the soul .", "MOV is a raving piece of filmmaking but its technical beauty is in the service of a story that too often feels clich\u00e9d and contrived .", "one of the most visually stunning films of the year -lsb- but -rsb- from an emotional perspective the narrative falls flat .", "it 's not self-consciously arty . each shot and cut seems designed for a specific emotional impact .", "the grand architecture of milan and the icy rhythms of composer john adams set the tone for this elegant italian drama about the suffocating power of family , wealth , and tradition .", "a high class soap opera", "... a frustratingly uneven bit of over-the-top filmmaking ...", "the marriage of music and image seldom gets better than this .", "anybody who wants to experience cinema at its most cinematic and grand should rush and experience it for themselves . it is a truly stunning motion picture and one that ranks as the best film 2010 has so far offered .", "the predictable end , which comes with an abruptness that feels altogether too constructed , completes the fantasy of transgression that 's at the heart of the movie 's appeal , however elaborate the trappings .", "though a flimsy melodrama -- so overdone that it often collapses under filmmaker luca guadagnino 's ineffable sense of bloat -- swinton saves the day .", "tilda swinton shines in overcooked melodrama .", "for me the obvious attempts at enhancing lushness , rapture , and emotional swings were not connecting . i could n't help noticing it was trying too hard .", "tilda swinton is both imperious and vulnerable ... in this lush romantic melodrama that harks back to the heady days of visconti and antonioni .", "the film is almost deliriously stylish , which helps mask the silliness . but the bellowing music , by john adams , is infuriatingly intrusive -- which undoes the visual good .", "elegantly directed and exquisitely photographed , the movie is a triumph , and so is -lsb- swinton -rsb- .", "worthy of visconti , the movie spells out the end of a family 's glory days ; it 's the impress-your-date film of the summer .", "swinton always attempts bold milestones , but MOV makes one long to go back to the old landmarks .", "... a european melodrama drunk on its own artistry . the mix of swinton 's cool and guadagnino 's fire makes for a unique cinematic experience .", "what keeps the story fresh is n't so much guadagnino 's swooning sense-reveries , which sometimes flow with dreamlike wonder and sometimes just drag ; instead , most of the power comes from swinton ...", "so thoroughly indulging in baroque aesthetic gestures -lrb- especially with regards to the intrusive , overcooked score -rrb- that the film becomes a flamboyant caricature of itself .", "like -lsb- tilda -rsb- swinton 's performance , MOV is a bit of a show-off .", "luca guadagnino 's visually ravishing third feature suggests an epic that visconti and sirk might have made after they finished watching vertigo and reading madame bovary while gorging themselves on aphrodisiacs .", "while you revel and bask in the beauty and elegance of his mise-en-sc\u010dne , you wish director luca guadagnino had given as much care to his characters ' development .", "there 's no getting around the fact that this is elegant soap opera , . it wo n't appeal to every taste . but it 's sensational to look at , powerfully acted , and delivers a bang for the emotional buck .", "i 'm calling ` MOV ' the best movie of the year to date ; a companion viewer called it ` repulsive ' ... does one opinion invalidate the other ? the movie is complex enough to invite such questions , and rich enough to resist answers .", "you get the feeling guadagnino wanted to send the same thrill up the spine of jaded modern moviegoers that audiences got at the movies a half-century ago , and in this `` MOV '' succeeds wildly .", "the highest praise is that it lives up to its extravagant title", "grandiose family drama packed with rich scenery , stirring performances and comprehensive camerawork - if only the rest was n't so boring .", "... there are times that guadagnino 's symbolic imagery takes on the risible baroqueness of an extremely well-made duran duran video . yet through it all , swinton is impeccable , and maybe ostentatiously brave .", "full review at movies for the masses", "when the picture ends in full-blown , melodramatic , raise-the-roof fortissimo , we realise everything that had come before -lrb- the highs and the lows -rrb- was a tantric tease of a crescendo , leading up to an almighty finale .", "i am not a fan of romantic movies but MOV dives into its romance with such reckless abandon and such an over the top affection for cinema that i could not resist .", "MOV is like an impressionist painting , an artwork of thoughtful brushstrokes , each one adding a richness to the overall effect", "there 's always been something otherworldly about swinton , and the director captures her woman-who-fell-to-earth exoticism .", "swinton is one of the finest actresses working in contemporary cinema , but guadagnino , who developed the project with her in mind , has created a film that literally luxuriates in her talents .", "the splendid photography and tempestuous john adams score can not quite conceal that the film is uncomfortably close to being an extravagantly elongated , fendi-clad episode of dynasty .", "a stunning achievement .", "swinton carries guadagnino 's risky , ambitious melodrama .", "by the end of this often soaringly beautiful melodrama , which closes with a funeral , emma 's face will have crumpled into a ruin . but it will also be fully alive , having been granted , like pygmalion 's statue , the breath of life .", "exhilarating .", "tilda swinton gives an intelligent , compelling performance that elevates this sumptuously mounted european art film way above its melodramatic trappings .", "in a modern filmic sea too often characterized by superfluousness and apathy , MOV is something of a miracle .", "a stylish and erotic italian drama about the sensuous and sexual awakening of a middle-aged trophy wife .", "the screenplay is spare but yorick le saux 's cinematography and guadagnino 's precise , imaginative direction speak for it , as does the chugging and vaguely threatening music of john adams .", "exquisite parts of locations , set decoration , costumes , and editorial gymnastics , but to absorb it all in one single sit requires a heroic , possibly superhuman patience that i 'm not convinced guadagnino has earned .", "sumptuous , overheated , and ridiculous , love is a visual delight -- the opening montage of a snowy milan alone make it worthwhile", "MOV is a bold and thrilling masterpiece -- the introduction of a major talent to the world 's stage .", "beautiful . that 's the word that most appropriately sums up MOV % u2013 the film is a portrait of beautiful people in beautiful surroundings , and it has been beautifully made .", "the movie is n't flawless -- a bizarre post-credits bit is nigh-impossible to make out -- but -lsb- guadagnino 's -rsb- skill with visual poetry makes a strong impression .", "operatic in scope , luca guadagnino 's mesmerizing MOV chronicles the carryings-on of an aristocratic italian family from one grand meal to another .", "its central story and its tributaries are rich enough to overcome much of the director 's odd and arguably unmotivated catalogue of visual and aural trickery .", "bold , thrilling , and undeniably sensuous melodrama uncannily invokes the pleasures of smell , taste , and touch ... everything dances here : the camera , the colors , tilda 's eyes , even pollinating bees during a sumptuously shot sex scene .", "tilda swinton again proves herself one of the great actresses of her generation .", "MOV falls into the select category of films that are easier to admire than like .", "this intense and almost operatic italian family melodrama recalls the best of douglas sirk .", "the overripe ending , heated by the percolating music of john adams , is heavy seasoning on a delicate dish .", "swinton is incredible .", "MOV is a handsomely mounted , structurally sophisticated and richly atmospheric cultural artifact that portrays how even dizzying luxury can not protect one from the consequences of one 's actions .", "if you 're not in the mood , the whole thing will probably seem pretty silly . but if you are -- oh , if you are -- MOV may be the richest , tastiest truffle you 're likely to savor all summer .", "an intimate , quiet and even slow movie , its subtle shadings veil turbulent emotions .", "-lsb- swinton -rsb- keeps the film from becoming a glorified evening spent with a coffee table book , a playlist heavy on the symphonic stuff and some olive garden leftovers .", "the more heightened the emotions become , the more the movie feels like a magazine spread rather than an involving story .", "a glorious epic that feels a little bit like luchino visconti 's the leopard by way of paul thomas anderson 's magnolia" ], "summary": "it stumbles into melodrama , but MOV backs up its flamboyance with tremendous visual style and a marvelous central performance from tilda swinton .", "id": "770817666" }, { "movie": "1053779-mask", "reviews": [ "carrey is the ultimate party dude , and like the masked man says , this party is smokin ' .", "in the end , those viewers who are n't big fans of carrey , diaz , or comic books probably wo n't miss much if they do n't watch this film .", "cg overkill salvaged by carrey 's maniacal performance .", "despite everything , it 's still a marvellously energetic movie .", "a wacky and eye-popping -lrb- literally -rrb- combination of live-action comedy and computer animation .", "even without the state-of-the-art , boundary-busting computerized effects from industrial light & magic , carrey 's a human cartoon , and his spontaneous , avery-esque , anything-for-a-laugh outrageousness makes this otherwise blank MOV a must-see .", "does n't have any more material than a tex avery cartoon .", "carrey has yet to find the perfect vehicle for himself , but the MOV , while hardly as fantastic as it should have been , is a step in the right direction .", "the results are easy to watch , though awfully familiar and simpleminded .", "though the story has a certain universal appeal -- who has n't felt like a useless jerk and wished to wake up capable of anything ? -- the execution is oddly sour and distasteful .", "adroitly directed , viscerally and visually dynamic and just plain fun .", "the MOV is highly enjoyable -- if you can bear carrey 's constant tics and mugging .", "cartoony fun with a bombastic jim carrey .", "the design is bright as a button and the transformation scenes real eye-poppers , but the film 's best special effect is putty-faced carrey with his razzle-dazzle star turn as the affable stanley and his manic alter ego .", "-lsb- it -rsb- would n't have been possible without jim carrey , who commands the physically demanding lead role with exuberant confidence .", "this special effects extravaganza is s good star vehicle for jim carrey , exhibiting his skills and his shticks ; in a small part , the sexy cameron diaz is bound to become a leading lady .", "exuberant fun .", "a highly imaginative film .", "as a comedy , the MOV is genial , but its recycled plot is far too thin for the film to succeed as either an adventure or a spoof .", "the MOV would be a loud dud without jim carrey 's unique talents .", "depends entirely on your tolerance for carrey .", "the story is unoriginal and dull , and the direction does n't break anything .", "gimmicky , tiresome , and without any redeeming qualities . diaz is nothing more than a pretty , smiling face .", "who was that masked pet detective ?", "you 're kidding ? you mean carrey had assistance from cg ? man , i thought that was all just him .", "carrey was born to play this role !", "a wild movie and a dazzling debut by cameron diaz", "bright-eyed , crazily intense , irrepressibly silly , mr. carrey can be funny without fireworks . he deserves material clever enough to let him do just that .", "though a bit slow in the in-betweens -lrb- you might get a somewhat antsy -rrb- , the MOV is a cute clean film for the whole family .", "a sloppy but entertaining film thanks to", "not only is he adept at physical humor , the kind of knockabout stuff that recalls the classic silent clowns , but carrey also has a bright and likable screen presence , a lost puppy quality that is surprisingly endearing .", "if a movie star was born in ace ventura , he is christened in the MOV . quite simply , this is the best and freest crazy comedy to come along since beetlejuice .", "carrey , the star of the surprising hit ace ventura : pet detective and a regular on tv 's in living color , acquits himself well in a part of sublime goofiness .", "carrey and his aggressive overbite are back , but this time he 's better used as an ingredient instead of as the plot .", "the gangland plot is flimsy -lrb- bad guy peter greene wears too much eyeliner -rrb- , and the jokes are erratic , but it 's a far better showcase for carrey 's comic-from-uranus talent than ace ventura .", "when his face turns green and his limbs get limber , carrey 's pretty much unstoppable . this cartoon-y creation is an amazing fusion of physical comedy and state-of-the - art cinema illusion .", "adults should also be advised that the previews show most of the good effects , and are 100 minutes shorter .", "carrey may be the finest comic to come along since robin williams .", "... a kind of roger rabbit on steroids that still holds up well after all these years .", "carrey now has the clout to find a vehicle worthy of his hyperactive gooniness . when he does , we 'll see if he 's truly a jester for our time or simply the moron of the moment .", "the MOV is a perfect vehicle for the talents of jim carrey , who underwhelmed me with ace ventura , pet detective but here seems to have found a story and character that work together with manic energy ." ], "summary": "it misses perhaps as often as it hits , but jim carrey 's manic bombast , cameron diaz ' blowsy appeal , and the film 's overall cartoony bombast keep the MOV afloat .", "id": "11568" }, { "movie": "gonzo-the-life-and-work-of-dr-hunter-s-thompson", "reviews": [ "gonzo is a fascinating history lesson and a bit of a cautionary tale about how fame can turn into the scourge of talent .", "the documentary doubles as a jukebox of banality .", "it 's more thompson-for-beginners than an exhaustive inquiry , but as introductions go , it 's thorough and thoughtful .", "my favorite thing about alex gibney 's entertaining documentary , gonzo : the life and work of dr. hunter s. thomspon , is that it makes me want to read what thompson wrote .", "doctor 's orders : `` buy the ticket , take the ride '' with gonzo .", "gonzo is a painstaking account of a man who was more and , ultimately , less than the infamous raoul duke .", "may not be the definitive doc for which thompson 's fans may be hoping , but it is a worthy contribution to the ongoing popular legend of a distinctive american personality .", "alex gibney 's documentary ca n't decide if it 's a eulogy for fans or a primer for acquaintances .", "it is all you could wish for in a doc about the man . but it leaves you wondering , how was it that so many people liked this man who does not seem to have liked himself ? and what about the hangovers ?", "gibney also wants to honor what it was that made thompson a celebrity in the first place : his brilliant , blotto writing , and his ability to smell out the liars and the hypocrites and expose them for the feral beasts that they were .", "gonzo shows the man , warts and all .", "neatly balancing full-hearted celebration with evenhanded examination .", "an amused and affectionate look at the writer who formed a crucial link between the new journalism of the 1960s and today 's blogosphere .", "i was curious to see why we needed a two-hour documentary about the three-hit wonder who cast away his career halfway through life and coasted on celebrity status for 30 years . after seeing gonzo , i 'm still not convinced we do .", "reading his books will give you better insight , but it 's hard to imagine a better primer into thompson 's outlaw life .", "-lsb- director -rsb- gibney assembles a wealth of thompson memorabilia and first-person interviews for this often insightful and sometimes overly indulgent chronicle .", "if you really want to understand and appreciate -lsb- thompson -rsb- , you 'd be better off reading his books .", "it 's nice to be reminded , as shakespeare taught us , that truth comes from the most unexpected places , even the booze-ree", "thompson created a rebellious niche for himself in a business that more often than you might think channels its writers into conformist routine .", "at its worst , the film takes a long detour into thompson 's admiration for an utterly banal 1974 carter speech -lrb- the powerful were sticking it to the people again -rrb- as a way to make us feel virtuous , political and leftish .", "another fine addition to gibney 's filmography that successfully achieves its purposes , despite the extended tangent into the '72 election that almost derails it .", "for all of its illumination of one of the most enigmatic figures in american literature , `` gonzo '' mistakenly paints hunter s. thompson as a writer whose star burned out decades before his long foreshadowed suicide in 2005 .", "gonzo is a must-see for everyone .", "while the evidence of his spotty post-1970s work is hard to refute , gonzo proves what a vapid , overvalued commodity edginess is , championing thompson 's best work for brass-tacks insight more than brass-balled outrage .", "just enough relevancy to lift the cable-ready doc above the biography norm , even though the filmmaking could 've used a little more of thompson 's renegade spirit .", "multiple phantasmagorical scenes from fear and loathing in las vegas often reduce gonzo to an over-spiced pudding of pastiche and talking heads . matters are hardly helped with some cloying musical interludes .", "in its fairly straightforward but energetic way it captures a good deal of what made thompson a unique figure ... revealing , honest and -- most of all -- genuinely engaging .", "gonzo : the life and work of dr. hunter s. thompson is a valuable reclamation of the political from the personal .", "the documentary , narrated by johnny depp , keeps the action moving along , even when there are only audio recording or still photos available to illustrate points - it 's visually arresting as well as attention-grabbing .", "the good doctor is family around these parts , so cheers to alex gibney for not screwing up this mesmerizing documentary about the people , places and substances that altered the mind and battered heart of the kentucky-born inventor of gonzo journalism .", "accessible , entertaining and hugely kinetic , packed with memorable songs from bob dylan , jimi hendrix and many more icons of thompson 's era .", "it 's a fond warts-and-all portrait of a writer who stands alongside jack kerouac and walt whitman as an american original .", "watching gonzo , it 's hard to like thompson much , but even harder not to be dazzled by his talent .", "gonzo : the life and work of dr. hunter s. thompson is a mesmerizing look at the mythic quality and anarchic spirit of the irreverent and rabble-rousing journalist .", "gonzo , the documentary by alex gibney , taps the full fascination of its subject : dr. hunter s. thompson .", "gonzo : the life and work of dr. hunter s. thompson , is documentarian alex gibney 's effort to present that fellow in all his quirks , contradictions and , yes , foibles . if you know nothing about the writer , this can be an absorbing work .", "while gonzo makes a familiar case , that thompson frequently lost himself in celebrity , it also argues for his legacy , not cynicism but optimism .", "` gonzo ' banks on an adolescent delight in seeing the debunking of the powers that be , but , like thompson 's run for office , that 's of no help in the final tally .", "a dense but enthralling biography that manages to keep its focus on the rolling stone journalist while exploring gibney 's political obsession at the same time .", "... runs two hours , but , thanks to gibney and his contributors , it never feels overlong .", "crackingly entertaining documentary .", "thompson must be looking down , or up , from his afterworld thinking : `` the worst success is a failure to keep alive the spirit of offendedness and outrage . ''", "this soft-headed hagiography is a disappointment , and at least half an hour too long .", "gibney says the film took so much out of him that he limped into the sundance festival with a ruptured disc , a green liver and spots in his eyes that will not disappear . i hope he now thinks it worth the trouble . i 'm pretty sure watchers will .", "this documentary about his life by alex gibney , though entertaining in many ways , is oddly uninterested in his strengths or otherwise as a writer , the very gift for which thompson earnestly wished to be known .", "director alex gibney has plundered 200 hours of audiotapes , hundreds of photos and personal testimony from an impressive roster of thompson 's colleagues and family to put together an even-handed portrait .", "a straight-line journey through the good doctor 's loopy myth and madness , but one that does n't push far enough into uncharted territory . fine as a primer , but gibney leans more towards admiration than examination .", "the film is content to laugh affectionately at thompson 's bad boy exploits , giggle at the impatience of a man who went hunting boar with a sub machine-gun .", "superbly directed , hugely entertaining documentary that 's a treat for both newcomers and aficionados of thompson 's work .", "with a wealth of archive material , documentary filmmaker gibney assembles a remarkably astute and comprehensive look at the life of one of the most notorious journalists in american history .", "never really lives up to its title .", "a biographical documentary does n't get any better than this .", "gonzo is as energetically flawed and rivetingly reckless as its subject , and somehow that seems exactly right .", "hunter s. thompson gets definitive docu treatment in gonzo .", "it is at once a celebration of a genre-busting writer/rabble-rouser , and an elegy for a time period when a freak like thompson could get access to political leaders and actually affect some kind of radical change .", "its heady mix of excess and inquiry does n't really take off until the reptiles overrunning the casino strip go from projections of a substance-lubricated brain to manifestations of journalistic fury .", "over the course of its 118 minutes , the film delves into enough uncomfortable , tantalizing mix-and-match material that even dr. gonzo might have approved .", "docu walks a fine line between critical evaluation and mythic canonization of thompson , but it sheds significant light on the emergence of new journalistic style and on the power of reporters to set the political agenda and cause social change .", "a tender , even-tempered elegy to a writer who at his peak could ingest staggering -lrb- literally -rrb- amounts of drugs and alcohol and transform , like popeye after a can of spinach , into a superhuman version of himself .", "... a film that preserves thompson 's words verbatim but only occasionally taps into the restless spirit that fueled them .", "as informative as parts of it are , the movie is not nearly as colorful as longtime aspen , colo. , resident thompson .", "though thompson 's long slide into irrelevance in the 80s and 90s is duly noted , most of the movie covers his glory days during the vietnam era , when he was arguably the most exciting and important literary talent in america .", "thompson admirers will enjoy the film the most , of course , but even the uninitiated will surely find him a fascinating character , if not always a likable one .", "filmmaker alex gibney had access to those who knew the guy , the famous , the infamous and the obscure , and he paints a picture of a serious journalist who saw himself documenting ` the death of the american dream . '", "far more insightful than typical rose-colored-glasses eulogizing , the subjects are as brutally honest about thompson 's successes and shortcomings as thompson was as a writer .", "it 's altogether as fascinating as a train wreck , and gibney makes a convincing argument that thompson was a true american original and an important literary figure shaped by the idealism , romanticism , politics and drug culture of the '60s .", "in the manner of such key thompson works as ` fear and loathing on the campaign trail ' 72 , ' the movie links entertaining personal biography with fascinating cultural history ...", "as a diverting documentary , gonzo lives up to its subject matter - it is indulgent and witty , filled with a thousand little insights and ultimately sad . thompson seemed obscure to his family , cartoonishly overblown to his friends .", "it 's good stuff , and serves as a valuable piece of recent history to be documented .", "gonzo director gibney frees himself from the heady topicality of his recent documentaries ... and dives right down into the deep -- and dark -- end .", "alex gibney 's documentary -lrb- aligns -rrb- the gonzo 's descent into madness with the decline of american values .", "gonzo 's brilliance is in showing thompson warts and all , without taking anything away from his greatness even as it shows his many deficiencies .", "thompson is dead but his skepticism survives . in the land of endless corruption , the muckraker is king , if only in the moral sense .", "this movie has confirmed my suspicion that people need to leave hunter s. thompson 's story alone for a while .", "a definitive , accessible , even inspiring screen biography put together with thought and vitality .", "the film 's plea that we need thompson now more than ever is a little misty-eyed : thompson 's day was long gone by the time he put a gun to his head .", "alex gibney 's documentary about bad boy journalist dr. hunter s. thompson is both a memorial exaltation and a lament . gibney 's masterful style balances verite and dramatic effect . he does n't does n't tell you what to think , but spurs you to think .", "a colorful documentary about the famed journalist and author , hunter s. thompson , spiced up with movie clips of `` fear and loathing in las vegas '' and other works based on thompson 's writings .", "much like the man himself , it 's quite a piece of work .", "gonzo is much more than a tribute to a maverick and genuine pioneer . it 's a lament for the gaping hole that thompson left behind . the only obvious weakness is gibney 's reluctance to engage fully with thompson 's toxic personal life .", "i wanted more unearthed footage . but if you are looking for a tribute to the man , you wo n't find anything better .", "the movie is full of itself and fun but nonessential .", "too much time in this overly long film is spent on minutiae .", "it 's a fascinating portrait .", "gibney thus has to negotiate a treacherous path . its easy to romanticize a larger-than-life personality like dr. hunter s. thompson , gonzo journalist , and it makes for compelling viewing . however , dr. hunter s. thompson , gonzo journalist , was not exactly", "the rare documentary that puts you in a headlock to pin you to your seat , gonzo : the life and work of dr. hunter s. thompson is a bracing masterpiece .", "gonzo is an excellent reminder that thompson was more than just a wild man . he was , at least for a time , a first-rate writer who covered his times and helped shape them .", "a seminal work of talking head biography", "-lsb- gibney -rsb- is never quite able to get beyond the familiar in order to give viewers a new and penetrating look at the subject of thompson and his work .", "the worshipfulness obscures the sadder aspects of thompson 's life , which is perhaps why gibney focuses on the writer 's 1965-75 golden years ." ], "summary": "while not the comprehensive profile of the man that his die-hard fans might have hoped for , gonzo remains an insightful introduction to the life of rebellious writer hunter s. thompson and his influences .", "id": "770682510" }, { "movie": "a_dangerous_method", "reviews": [ "here is a director talking about a subject he 's covered many times before in a totally new way .", "the film radiates intelligence through clever direction and strong performances .", "david cronenberg 's focus remains , as always , on issues of mind/body invasion , corruption , and rebirth .", "-lsb- video -rsb- a lush character study and history lesson that tenaciously explores the personal conflicts of ego and id between jung and freud .", "to say MOV is a david cronenberg misfire is an understatement but not the end of the world . i applaud him for trying something new even if the end result is dead on arrival .", "it unfolds as a loquacious essay on the origins of psychoanalysis -- enlivened by some wry repartee from viggo mortensen , who steals every scene as sigmund freud , and gets more mileage out of a cigar than anyone since groucho marx .", "gets away from what we 've come to expect from the filmmaker who started out by making some of the most disturbing genre films .", "MOV feels drained of meaning and artistic intent .", "if it has a tendency to explicitly state its own themes , the film nevertheless unsettles with its lucid visions of release and repression", "on some level , MOV is cronenberg 's first out-and-out comedy ...", "it is -lrb- keira -rrb- knightley who is the firebrand that grabs you and compels you to watch . even during the times she is off the screen , she is in your head .", "the doctors become heralds of a savage century in which unconscious urges find such destructive expression that even kids who 've barely heard of freud can identify bombs and missiles as phallic symbols .", "splendid performances by michael fassbender and viggo mortensen highlight david cronenberg 's terrific take on jung and freud the early years .", "a delightful juxtaposition of intellectual and carnal impulses , like watching dry history from old textbooks brought to vivid , neurotic life .", "the repressed passion of the main character is all too representative of this repressed movie .", "`` MOV '' makes a ... journey from lunacy to intense and compelling and is surprisingly entertaining as it does .", "director david cronenberg is almost always compelling . many of his movies have potent , startling shock . but MOV does n't shock ; it nags .", "the pleasure of cronenberg 's movie is hearing these characters speak so eloquently on the subject of sex , and watching actors raise their game a bit for it ... MOV is a movie believing the most formidable sex organ really is the brain .", "the true story is extraordinary ; the film is not , although the actors are all fine .", "but what makes it such a compelling film is n't its accuracy , but its measure of the human toll exacted on those who are the first to venture into a new scientific and medical frontier .", "as freud , who believes the basis of all insanity is sexual repression , and jung , who is monogamous and resistant to such extremist views , the miscast male stars are bland as dust and look like a box of smith brothers cough drops .", "a david cronenberg movie about sigmund freud and carl jung is n't nearly as kinky as you 'd think . it 's more of an early 1900s `` fatal attraction '' - albeit an extremely literate one .", "`` MOV '' is full of ideas about sexuality - some quite provocative , even a century after their first articulation - but it also recognizes and communicates the erotic power of ideas .", "the only truly dangerous element here belongs to keira knightley , who dares to offer the most off-putting performance of the year .", "MOV is one of the best dramas i have seen all year .", "MOV is probably the tamest film david cronenberg will ever make , but it is nevertheless worthy as a well-acted skewering of overreaching psychology .", "the actors give it their all , especially knightley , whose jaw - jutting , heavily accented and unfairly criticized portrayal gives this erotic mind-bender its fighting spirit .", "has sexy freudian and jungian dialogue .", "like every director , cronenberg has made boring movies before -lrb- m. butterfly , naked lunch -rrb- , but he 's never made one this crushingly dull and anonymous .", "sharply written and superbly directed , this is an engaging and thought-provoking drama with terrific performances from all three leads , though it runs out of steam a little in the middle section and the climax is underwhelming .", "the sexuality of the spielrein character - who takes centre stage for much of the film - tips the balance in the fight for our attention and interest", "sex is the subject matter of david cronenberg 's riveting depiction of the relationship between jung and freud , although it is words , not passion that bring the sizzle", "cronenberg spares us few of the gory details of the patient who brought the two fathers of psychoanalysis together and helped tear them apart .", "the birth of psychoanalysis might seem to be a dry subject for a 21st-century movie , but director david cronenberg and writer christopher hampton ... force us to think again .", "the film is understandably talky , but there was enough passion and drama in it to hold my attention . it is a good primer on psychoanalysis .", "both michael fassbender and viggo mortensen are impressive , but the film belongs to keira knightley , who gives a quite astonishing performance , one modelled closely on existing film of women patients who suffered from this kind of hysteria .", "all in all , this film is impressive : the attention to detail in the costuming is wonderful , the lighting is brilliant , and the cinematography is gorgeous .", "restraint is not something we 've come to expect from david cronenberg . yet here , the canadian sticks with his more measured tone of late .", "an artfully composed portrait of intellectual one-upmanship .", "MOV features three potentially fine central performances , but each one is undermined by the weight of some often heavy duty dialogue .", "although the performances are exquisite , they still require undivided attention to grasp the concepts and stop the interest from waning .", "cronenberg has created a drama of male hysterics with no interest in diagnosing their own condition - perhaps the career of each is a continuous , elaborate symptom .", "cronenberg dissects the early days of psychoanalysis here in a precisely plotted , superficially genteel costume drama , but one in which eruptions of kinky violence are never far off .", "when you start to feel nostalgic for the late ken russell , you know something is wrong . . .", "keira can act ! she really can .", "-lsb- an -rsb- engrossing and thought-provoking drama ...", "... a cold , hopelessly uninteresting endeavor that marks an obvious low point within cronenberg 's uneven filmography .", "in one scene , freud turns to jung and says , `` do you realise we 've been talking for 13 hours ? '' . he could just as easily be referring to the film itself .", "an oddity , but a very watchable oddity , this makes for essential viewing for cronenberg enthusiasts and surprising viewing for those expecting a conventional period piece .", "infinitely assured moviemaking .", "these characters ' big brains can never quite control their unruly bodies , and when the sex finally erupts , it 's like something from one of the canadian filmmaker 's early creature features .", "`` MOV '' is a deeply political cautionary tale from a staunch atheist about the price of conformity and repression .", "there are some plays that are meant to remain on the stage . this is one of them .", "it makes for an absorbing drama and leaves the mustiness of cigars in the theatre .", "while -lsb- it -rsb- offers up the kind of creepy , carnal delights we usually enjoy in a cronenberg flick , i found myself more intrigued by the matters of the mind that are more fleetingly addressed .", "MOV is beautifully crafted and abundant with subtext but it 's also sterile , dramatically turgid and at times , kind of a drag .", "exploding the era of the costume drama with both its style and its ideas , david cronenberg 's MOV pushes repression to its breaking point at every turn", "cronenberg does n't go in for any exploding heads this time , but the surging emotions and heady ideas on display in his adaptation of christopher hampton 's play the talking cure are equally combustible .", "cronenberg 's comments are largely constrained to the subtle placement of his actors in the frame , to suggest the ever shifting power dynamic between the characters , who form a kind of love triangle .", "for cronenberg fans who did n't desert him after he stopped blowing up heads and started exploring them , it 's yet another intensely calibrated portrait of repression and expression .", "easily the masterful director 's most straightforward work in some time -lrb- possibly ever -rrb- , this is a worthwhile piece that nonetheless disappoints in the context of the rest of his filmography .", "perhaps cronenberg 's most transgressive movie yet , one in which ideas - rather than their fetishistic signifiers - possess more energy and verve than the most calculated shock effect .", "it might feel almost too quiet , if not for knightley 's manic , borderline-over-the-top depiction of mental illness ; she 's unafraid to deploy an almost comic , grimacing underbite and a desperate , unfettered sense of panic .", "`` MOV '' begins where other films hope to culminate .", "are you ready for some `` sexual healing , '' david cronenberg-style ?", "that it 's a cronenberg film means that it 's precise , smart , crisp , intelligent and daring : you know , good .", "-lsb- contains -rsb- ineffable moments of beauty and emotion , some drawing on cronenberg 's previous themes and images , and all partaking of the chaos of the human soul , which no analytical method can contain .", "what could have been , and should have been , an electrifying subject matter , has been ground down to a laborious exercise in pseudo psychoanalysis .", "knightley 's performance is effective precisely because it is so unpredictable and alienating ; she single-handedly turns the movie as a whole into a deranged chamber piece .", "whatever the elements , cronenberg has made a good movie from them , with outstanding performances by michael fassbender and viggo mortensen .", "... a deftly handled historical drama in which the darkest demons are hauled out on stage for all to evaluate .", "fassbender 's transformation from a young idealist to a haunted , cynical veteran is sharply observed .", "david cronenberg 's career-long fascination with matters of the mind manifests itself in compelling but determinedly non-mind-bending fashion .", "it takes some getting used to , as we do n't often see films that are so dependent on dialogue to express relationships . but if you avoid it because you do n't like `` talky '' dramas you will miss some of the finest performances of the year .", "while `` MOV '' is handsomely-produced and - designed , what should have been an intriguing story fell pretty flat for me . cronenberg directs with no particular flair .", "knightley 's performance calms down eventually , and a good thing , too . if she maintained that early pace , she would have burned up the couch and herself along with it .", "MOV will feel like cronenberg in a corset . the director sticks so close to the documented facts that there is little room to breathe , making for a smart film that feels a bit too literary .", "it 's a fiercely thoughtful film , a movie of ideas that understands how powerful ideas can be .", "the harder you look at it , the wilder , and more disturbing , and more moving , it becomes .", "low-key and curiously cerebral , perhaps too underwhelming to attract much of an audience", "while very much a dialogue-heavy historical film , all the recognisable elements of cronenberg 's preoccupations can be found in MOV .", "if you 're up for some solid intellectual stimulation and do n't mind having to work hard for it , this one will really give you something to discuss with friends afterwards .", "MOV is masterful filmmaking on all levels , but alas , it also leaves you dreaming that fassbender and mortensen will return to these roles in a more focused story on the fathers of psychoanalysis .", "it 's little more than repetitious conversation - conversation that uncovers little new or titillating on the topics of sex , madness or the process of psychoanalysis .", "while the moments of psycho-sexual interplay allows cronenberg to indulge in his obsession with the kinky , the canadian auteur shows a surprising restraint that his own written works do n't have .", "for the sake of your own mental health MOV should be avoided , but the cronenberg curious might want to endure it to prevent any onset of mania .", "... knightley 's histrionic performance verges on the embarrassing .", "fassbender provides a solid tortured performance alongside stand-out support from mortensen ; unfortunately the film hinges on the sabina character that in knightly 's hands lacked the necessary punch to elevate this film .", "its eye for detail makes things so real and worthy of a work of scholarship .", "is remarkably restrained , sometimes to a fault . in fact , there are no obvious visual cronenberg flourishes , and maybe some surrealistic touches might have upped the ante a little .", "precise , lucid and thrillingly disciplined , this story of boundary-testing in the early days of psychoanalysis is brought to vivid life by the outstanding lead performances of keira knightley , viggo mortensen and michael fassbender .", "a dangerous mind feels heavy and lugubrious . it is a tale that comes marinated in port and choked on pipe-smoke .", "a satisfying drama of historical speculation , substantially researched and shrewdly dramatized ...", "perfectly acted sex , lies and conversation .", "mirrors its title in being -- like all of cronenberg 's work -- superbly methodical , but also captures the dangerous undercurrents implicit in the understanding of man that freud and jung were instrumental in creating .", "using a dialogue-heavy approach that 's unusual for cronenberg , his film is skilled at the way it weaves theory with the inner lives of its characters .", "director david cronenberg has done nothing to vividly bring this story to life . he sets his actors adrift and hopes for the best . the best never comes .", "an intelligent historical speculation that captures the spirit and potential destruction of discovery .", "this is a movie with too much talk and not enough sensation .", "when at one point jung spanks his patient , you may completely miss the erotic content and simply think what i thought - that somebody , finally , was punishing knightley for this performance .", "it 's a handsome and stimulating film , noteworthy more for its terrific acting and provocative ideas than for any kind of dark cronenbergundian genius .", "mr. fassbender is entirely persuasive , not to mention extremely attractive , and mr. mortensen is intriguingly nuanced .", "for all its formal restraint , the film is just as subversive and as disquieting as predecessors such as crash and the naked lunch .", "poised for the sort of surprised , congratulatory attention cronenberg enjoyed for his relatively restrained the history of violence , with the true-ish historical heft adding to the film 's cache .", "even when wading most deeply into contortions of human flesh , cronenberg considers the psychological aspects and so `` MOV '' continues his themes , embodied most fully in keira knightley 's edgy performance", "... for the film buffs , it is a must see - especially for knightley 's powerful performance .", "this psycho-sexual melodrama is a mixed bag , well acted -lrb- oscar-caliber turns by fassbender and mortensen -rrb- and elegantly shot , but too theatrical and not provocative or unsettling by cronenberg 's standards .", "cronenberg and his actors do their best to show that there is no such thing as normalcy since jung , freud and spielrein , can not cure themselves any more than they can guarantee to help their patients .", "anybody can rip off the corset . shred it and turn it into a new article of clothing entirely ? that 's how you take it to the next level .", "cronenberg continues being fascinating as a director showing you things you were n't sure you wanted to see but will not soon forget .", "the acting is worth the price of admission . mortensen gives a remarkably pleasing performance as freud , and fassbender is a satisfying jung .", "the film snails along as a high-minded discourse that does n't know when to shut up .", "a dispassionate film that left me cold .", "with phenomenal performances from knightley , fassbender and mortensen , and a rich and complex script , there is a depth and power to this terrific feature .", "even with the spanking , this is a bit of a bore .", "however , the excellent performances count for a great deal , and the conversations are exceedingly intelligent , offering up provocative arguments on sex , the ego , and the concept of destiny .", "originally called `` the talking cure , '' that title was a misnomer ... and better suited to the sequel that might hopefully remedy this verbose exercise .", "never quite the psychosexual barnburner that typically emerges from cronenberg 's vast appetite for disease , but it remains something unnerving , getting under the skin , hitting a few remarkable notes of thorny human behavior .", "MOV simply feels rushed and incomplete , a cliffsnotes version of events where a novel was required .", "in truth , mortensen has a far more intimate and palpably emotional relationship with freud 's omnipresent cigar than he does with fassbinder 's jung", "like psychoanalysis , `` MOV '' takes its time as it circles an opening to unexplored depths .", "david cronenberg goes merchant-ivory . or maybe it 's last tango in switzerland ... as an examination of psyche and desire , MOV is smart and sophisticated stuff . as drama it fails .", "i think i know less about psychoanalysis now than i did before going into the cinema .", "MOV is a suave chamber piece : a series of glimpses of two 20th-century intellectual titans , in friendship and separation , and the story of a remarkable woman who history had swallowed up , brought into the light again .", "cronenberg 's clinical approach to hampton 's too on-the-nose dialogue makes for a very static drama ; it 's as if the filmmaker is much more comfortable dealing with eroticism as subtext than text .", "cronenberg has reached the stage of his career where he does n't feel it necessary to pander to expectations . instead he seeks to engage us , and he succeeds .", "a mostly fascinating character study and depiction of the compelling power of ideas", "scenes built on line after line of historically accurate but awkward , overly mannered dialogue distract and eventually grate .", "finds cronenberg working in startlingly generic period piece mode , without a hint of the dread and weird fascination that usually permeates even his weaker films .", "it 's knightley that one remembers , for a full-on portrayal that is gutsy and potentially divisive in equal parts .", "probably the most fun you 'll ever have watching a movie about carl jung and sigmund freud duking it out - and nurturing a deep-rooted but fragile friendship - in early 20th century austria and switzerland .", "david cronenberg 's take on the relationship between sigmund freud and carl jungis not just a fascinating look back at the developments of psychotherapy , but very much a remarkable love story , one between two men and the woman who drove them apart .", "restraint is generally not a word used to describe david cronenberg 's films , but it is the guiding factor behind MOV .", "knightley makes a lovely lover for carl . if sabina is a vampire , then she 's edward cullen , the creature who knows too much , to his bella swan , naive but game for a toxic twilight romp .", "as cataclysmic as it is , this historically scrupulous science-fiction romance concerning the discovery of the unconscious mind might have been titled war of the worlds or the beast from 5,000 fathoms .", "it 's fascinating to see the exceptionally charismatic fassbender squeeze himself into the role of the aristocratic , restrained jung , and it 's just as enjoyable to see mortensen bring an unexpected virility to his sybaritic , cigar-chomping freud .", "cronenberg has made a wholly satisfying case study , but not quite enough of a movie .", "as a biographical film , method gives real insight to its subjects , especially jung .", "spitting and stammering , clawing and convulsing , her jaw jutting forward and her eyes popping out of her head , keira knightley is a frightening force of nature in MOV .", "caring more about the journey than the destination -lrb- neither of which are particularly interesting -rrb- , the film is ultimately nothing more than a freudian slip-up .", "it 's a period piece about the origins of psychoanalysis and the sexual confusions of its progenitors that is eloquent and handsomely made , if never quite revelatory .", "MOV probably wo n't tell you anything useful about jung or freud or how their relationship fell apart . what it will provide are sterling performances and classic cronenberg repressed sado-masochism and sometimes that is enough .", "it 's a movie of ideas , but there are n't nearly enough of them .", "this is a freaky thing to behold : knightley 's wildly physical rendering of a mentally unbalanced soul .", "MOV is well cast with michael fassbender as a pent-up jung and viggo mortensen as freud . keira knightley inhabits the fits and fury of spielrein .", "knightley 's portrayal is feral and unsettling .", "like knightley 's performance , it 's not entirely successful but it 's always compelling .", "pivots as much on political gamesmanship and intellectual dominance as sadomasochistic urges and infidelity .", "trouble is , freud and jung 's meeting of the minds is never quite as compelling as the collision of the two bodies back in zurich .", "MOV barely nudges the freak-o-meter .", "`` MOV '' presents a vivid portrait of pre-world war i europe that 's at a considerable remove from the types of madness usually seen in cronenberg 's films .", "most of this talky film just feels like a debate between two experts , trying to answer a question few of us had asked . when the real question is , where 's david cronenberg ?", "a kinky undercurrent of sadomasochism certainly does n't hurt in preventing the film from slipping into the stodgy bio-pic abyss .", "cronenberg delivers a cold , clinical and at times stagebound film in MOV , but it 's one that will nevertheless keep you thinking about it long afterward .", "it 's a smart study of the root causes of destructive human behavior , but there 's a flat quality to the dark impulses on display .", "a cerebral trip with jung and freud , sex and cigars , the talking cure and adventures beyond .", "the charisma of the actors ... helps communicate escalating tensions in changing relationships ... in the hothouse of the freeing force of the unconscious .", "MOV did n't have to be another naked lunch , but freud plus jung plus cronenburg should have equaled something a little more dissonant and troubling .", "sometimes a cigar is just a cigar , and a prestige piece is just a well-intentioned bore .", "if the movie falls just shy of our highest mark , this is because cronenberg is tamping down on his usually naturalistic performances -- everything feels vaguely mad-scientist-ish .", "is n't likely to entirely appeal to cronenberg 's core fans -lrb- whatever that is at this point -rrb- , but it 's a richly rewarding -- and sometimes disturbing -- film in its own right .", "the talky emphasis may alienate , but cronenberg 's psychoanalysis session offers wry writing , elegant direction and fine leads .", "worthy performances . yes . but it 's just not enough . my analysis drs. freud and jung : your patients and students just wo n't care .", "at its core , there 's a provocative story lurking here about the delicate and fragile dividing lines between mind , body and soul .", "knightley gives a fair performance but lumbers herself with a distracting accent , and her gurning in the early scenes may be too much for some to bear .", "it never really gets under the skin in the way cronenberg does at his best .", "ultimately , there 's no danger of being deeply moved by this film - it 's just a tantalising glimpse of part of what makes us human .", "it is knightley who walks away with the film , delivering her best work since never let me go as a live wire hysteric ...", "for all its strengths , MOV never becomes much more than a pleasant watch , with its studied formalism preventing viewers from ever truly connecting to these characters ' situations .", "strong performances from fassbender and mortensen are n't enough to help cronenberg 's techically sound by overly talky film ." ], "summary": "a provocative historical fiction about the early days of psychoanalysis , MOV is buoyed by terrific performances by michael fassbender , keira knightley , and viggo mortensen .", "id": "771203681" }, { "movie": "then_she_found_me", "reviews": [ "genuinely clever and amusing ... may itself be hard to find , but it 's worth a search .", "it 's the kind of film that practically invites you to forget about it two days after you 've seen it .", "honesty without cynicism . now that 's something i could watch a lot more of .", "hunt 's debut as a film director makes me glad she found us .", "an impressive directorial debut for helen hunt that takes an intelligent look at the ways we survive unspeakable grief and play hide and seek with love .", "it 's like an animatronic reproduction of a jewish mom relationship erected at the world 's most racist amusement park .", "a few plot turns too many undermine helen hunt 's MOV , and that 's too bad , because hunt shows some nice touches here both in front of and behind the camera .", "hunt , who also co-wrote the screenplay from elinor lipman 's novel , scrupulously avoids anything that smacks of tv sitcom humor . this is admirable , but the result is one of the glummest romantic comedies in recent memory .", "helen hunt probably could have made this into a delightful little comedy or a thoughtful drama . but the clumsy mixing of those elements makes for an awkward mess .", "midler plays an extrovert with heart and brains , but the twists and turnarounds in this mother-and-child reunion arrive right on schedule ; in the end , she 's less a mother than a show-biz fairy godmother .", "given its cast and source material - elinor lipman 's highly-regarded novel - it all makes for a highly disappointing experience .", "the loudest laughs in this `` serious comedy '' came from three brief appearances by author salman rushdie as a doctor .", "all in all , not quite as good as it gets .", "unendurable american middle-aged whingeing .", "unexpectedly sharp , light and appealing ; a testament to hunt 's skills behind the camera .", "trying to establish a serio-comic tone is a task best suited for seasoned directors . given that a boom microphone drops into the film frame at least twice , hunt has more basic production elements to master .", "hunt 's lovely voice , pitched in that diurnal-dizzy limbo between mezzo and soprano , is perfect for mid-life crisis . so is her gawky , strung-out , tragicomical body language .", "everyone acts decently and you have to praise hunt for her tenacity . but this suffers from some fairly dire cinematography and a manufactured air that prevents the watcher connecting to the whole thing .", "it 's a glum and amateurish business on the three-in-one subject of adoption - being adopted , having your child adopted , and adopting one .", "this is not without its attractions - an occasionally waspishly witty script and some unexpected dramatic tangents - but the characters never seem more than a casually bagged collection of tics and mannerisms .", "the material is n't much different from a woody allen film , but , unfortunately , the execution is .", "to its credit , this is a romantic comedy with a more serious side than most . but in her seriousness , hunt loses sight of the need for laughter .", "from the looks of things , the actors were simply let loose as themselves .", "one of the best , most intelligent movies out there right now .", "about the most interesting thing about this uninteresting nervous dramedy is the casting of controversial writer salman rushdie as a gynecologist .", "MOV is a commendable but not very exciting feature-directing debut by actress helen hunt . although she wields most of the creative power on the film she does n't turn this into a vanity project .", "the overt stylistic flourishes are so few that they have a special impact , particularly the moment when the camera slowly tracks towards april after she receives a piece of devastating news .", "both role and movie fit -lsb- hunt -rsb- as comfortable as a favorite bathrobe , and she wins us over long before the final tiny twist of the ending .", "... might be viewed as a symptom of a hollywood system in which women of a certain age are devalued and ignored .", "resembles a heartfelt but out-of-tune karaoke version of ` i am woman ' .", "stylish yet deeply sensitive , lifting your spirit . no one will come away without a smile .", "hunt 's performance is terrific and far more nuanced than her oscar-winning turn in as good as it gets . as an actress , she helps make her director look very good indeed .", "MOV will do just fine as quirky filler on women 's cable networks , but considering the talent involved there was reason to expect more .", "the anxieties and angst of middle-class , middle-aged women remain rich , underexplored cinematic territory , but hunt 's instantly forgettable film does little to make this deep vein of cultural experience seem vital or exciting .", "it 's mad about you with home pregnancy test swabs .", "... a smart and capable debut for hunt as a director who has found herself a plum role . it 's a perfect mother 's day pick .", "MOV , a serious comedy , is more impressive for what it refuses to do than for its modest accomplishment .", "helen hunt deserves better .", "a bizarre , overcooked broth .", "too familiar by half to be indie/arty/edgy and too anemic by another half to surface as mainstream/commercial .", "a funny and touching story about the way we create families both by blood and by choice .", "an uneasy mix of baby mama , my big fat greek wedding and a few of woody allen 's domestic comedies , and is even messier than that makes it sound .", "suffers from , if anything , a lack of pure confidence in the story , the actors or the audience .", "tries to say too much all at once , but great performances from firth and midler carry it .", "looking an anorexic 15 years older than her character , she grabs onto her role with a grim , two-fisted attack . while the supporting cast in this dramedy swims toward comedy , hunt drowns in tragedy .", "as unhealthy-looking as a dust bowl migrant in a dorothea lange portrait , hunt appears to have wandered onto the set in hopes of finding something to chew .", "helen hunt stars in , directed and co-wrote MOV , and she handles each chore beautifully .", "other than perhaps being a little long in the tooth to have colin firth 's character convincingly going gaga over her , helen hunt has done a decent job of directing a ` chick flick ' which ought to be a hit with the distaff demographic .", "it 's a romantic `` dramedy '' that treads some familiar ground , but does so smartly and thoughtfully .", "mature dramedy interesting , but meanders too much .", "even midler ca n't redeem it from terminal lifetime-movie-dom .", "as MOV moves along it takes on some of the same sweet , loopy tone of waitress and the story has a similar arc . it does n't have the lush , dreamy look of waitress -lrb- or its sounds -rrb- but it felt just as satisfying .", "this serio comedy about the ups and downs of a schoolteacher is the feature debut of helen hunt , who 's not as self-indulgent as other thesps-helmers , but the film is pedestrian and hunt lacks technical skills .", "in her first shot as director , hunt seems direction-less .", "with subtle laughs but solid emotional thrust , it will play very well with older audiences .", "sometimes charming , occasionally funny , it never draws attention to itself as the work of a director with training wheels on .", "sharing ace chemistry with hunt , midler 's scenes are the jewels of the film ; a reminder of how impressive her talent is and how much her recent career direction has failed to capitalize on her gifts .", "gaunt , grim and wound as tight as a ukulele 's string , april epner -lrb- helen hunt -rrb- , the elementary schoolteacher undergoing the mother of all midlife crises in MOV , is a stern challenge to an audience 's collective sympathy .", "dialogue is a blunt-force trauma in hunt 's directorial debut , which behaves like some avant-garde theatre production where all the stage directions are spoken aloud .", "helen hunt effectively combines comedy with melodrama in a story of a woman whose biological clock is ticking .", "a low-key comedy in which characters always seem just one misstep away from full-out tragedy .", "april and frank are mired in angst , for no discernable reason , other than having the misfortune of being stuck in a downer of a movie .", "it 's the kind of film that only a mother , which is to say my mother , would love .", "helen hunt proves herself to be a highly capable filmmaker with this charming and mostly enjoyable dramedy that sometimes achieves its desired blend of humor and pathos , but not always .", "if it 's not a completely satisfying film , it 's not a completely mediocre one , either . see it if the subject matter intrigues , or you 're a fan of one or more of the actors .", "... a charming and downright delightful spin on the romantic comedy genre .", "what ought to be a bittersweet movie about a woman 's momentary unraveling feels like a workout class : cardio melodrama .", "by the closing scene , i felt privileged to be along for april 's emergence from the deep waters of daughterhood and her realization that when love knocks , the heart opens wide .", "the result is n't overacting -- some of the acting is quite good - but a failure of modulation . big emotions can make a movie , but a succession of them can impede flow and stop a story in its tracks .", "while hunt 's directing debut is promising , if understated , it 's her performance as schoolteacher april epner that impresses the audience .", "hunt has what it takes to direct ; you can see it here , in small doses . in an arena filled largely with men , it will be interesting to see what she does next .", "overall MOV , though earnest and clearly heartfelt , just feels tired ; like hunt 's sad-eyed april , it lacks spark .", "where it really matters -- working with actors -- veteran filmmakers could learn from hunt .", "this adaptation of an elinor lipman novel is hunt 's feature directing debut , and under the circumstances she might have been wiser to give the lead role to someone else .", "there 's a gentle realism that makes room for laughs , drama and the slightest touch of farce , never spilling into the comically cheap and managing to explore subtler issues involving adoption", "the experience of watching MOV could n't be as agonizing as the trauma onscreen , but it 's close .", "the tut-tuttingly dull script refuses to supply a single happy line until hunt squares up to the sudden arrival of bette midler .", "it 's not the only misstep in oscar-winning actress helen hunt 's first film as director , which is a shame because she does a lot of things right .", "there 's food for thought in the pregnancy plot , although the narrative drags its heels towards a misty-eyed conclusion .", "hunt 's film does soften the heart , not least because of its honesty and its sensitivity to some unfashionable dilemmas .", "helen hunt makes an impressive directorial debut and gives a defiantly vanity-free performance in this engaging drama that also features strong support from colin firth and bette midler .", "a bittersweet combination of comedy and drama , this sensitive film has enough strong material in it to make it worth seeing , even if it sometimes feels under-developed and a little too heart-tugging", "what at first seems a morose if witty romantic comedy for adults ends up being an altogether more serious piece about a woman acquiring children but leaving behind childish things .", "colin firth ... he steams a bit for a change in a tale that 's strictly so-soap .", "a mildly embarrassing vanity project .", "a highly satisfying old-fashioned comedy-drama ... -lsb- with -rsb- a strong undercurrent of religion and philosophy that helps hunt make her film profound in a way that sneaks up on you . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "without strong guidance , the self-conscious lines make the characters sound like , well , characters rather than actual human beings .", "a smart little bittersweet comedy .", "for a `` personal project , '' it 's all fairly impersonal and predictable . by the second act , you know everything that 's going to happen in the third . and by the third -- well , i almost found myself missing meg ryan .", "helen hunt 's directing debut , an adaptation of elinor lipman 's novel , is neither particularly flashy or innovative . it is , however , filled with just what the academy award-winning actress , who also stars , knows a good deal about : good acting .", "a heartfelt dramedy that 's not ` as good as it gets ' but still commendable .", "... hunt , in her directorial debut , ca n't seem to decide whether she 'd rather make a spicy ethnic dish or bland comfort food .", "it 's a romantic comedy , it 's a mother-daughter drama , and most importantly , it 's an unpretentious , gentle , moving film .", "with the screenwriters alice arlen and victor levin , hunt adapted the story from a 1990 novel by elinor lipman , and has turned the material into a fine , tense , unpredictable comedy of mixed-up emotions and sudden illuminations .", "MOV is uneven , but entirely watchable , and hunt gets terrific performances from both bette midler and colin firth .", "hunt writes , directs and stars in a rough-edged indie alternative to baby mama .", "uncomfortable moments and near-nervous breakdowns transition into oxygen-channel cuteness , which we 're supposed to read as some sort of approximation of ... messy real life ? not quite .", "a nifty story about some sympathetic and idiosyncratic characters struggling with love and reaching out for their small share of happiness .", "there 's nothing exceptional about it , but there 's a warmth and intelligence here which sets it aside from most other romantic comedies around .", "addresses thinky topics like religious faith , motherhood , and adoption , always intelligently and maturely .", "helen hunt , as she allows herself to age authentically , may have a good second career as a director , based on the surefooted handling of this comedy-drama .", "happily , helen hunt takes the `` ick '' and `` ick '' out of chick flick .", "words get in the way of true emotions in this comedy drama that marks helen hunt 's directing debut .", "a grim , grey little affair of people who are n't interesting failing to achieve catharsis in the banal , depressing problems of their lives .", "everything about hunt 's directorial debut % u2013 she also co-wrote the script and served as one of the 13 producers % u2013 is obnoxious , to say nothing of arch and artificial .", "finding a way to compartmentalize your bitterness while keeping your heart open to enlightening relationships is a more difficult task than facing ivan drago . in russia . on christmas day . for no money .", "hunt draws some good performances from the cast and wisely chose a low-key personal story for her directorial debut .", "the plot , as hinted , goes strictly by the how april got her groove back book , but it must be said that the performances push it a notch above pedestrian .", "this is the sort of movie that gives ` chick flicks ' a bad name .", "clearly committed to the material , hunt extracts exquisitely subtle performances from her accomplished cast-especially firth and midler-in this self-assured directorial debut ." ], "summary": "a threadbare story anchored by strong performances , MOV is a mostly successful directorial debut by helen hunt .", "id": "770677948" }, { "movie": "we_are_the_best", "reviews": [ "coco moodysson 's script captures the banal flow of events with just the right mix of humour and pathos , while director lukas moodysson 's straightforward , un-garnished direction gives this period '80s movie the right overall tone .", "one of the funniest and happiest movies i 've ever seen about early adolescent girls and their wayward , fitful joyousness .", "warm , joyous , and excellent , lukas moodysson 's MOV ! is an honest and refreshing celebration of young girls ' friendship , with a few playful punk punches thrown in .", "sometimes too faithful to teenage aimlessness , MOV ! can be shapeless and uneventful . but the movie often jolts to life , whether with outbursts of hostility or moments of gleeful female bonding .", "the unpatronizing way their growing pains are portrayed , while not ever losing a sense of perspective and humor is a key element of what makes the film so beguiling ...", "MOV ! is an infectiously funny coming-of-age story , led by three invigorating , nuanced performances from its young cast .", "there just are n't enough films about teen-age girl punk bands made by left-wing feminist swedish christian males .", "there are sweet moments and grosin 's dynamic performance percolates , but `` MOV ! '' is more tedious than anarchic .", "MOV is , well , one of the best and without giving anything away , i can assure you that its grand finale is as wonderfully satisfying as any ending that i have seen in a long time .", "MOV ! is hardly the best , but these girls just might be .", "MOV ! is smart , funny and real , an honest peek into the secret lives of girls .", "what we have here is an exhilarating blast of a movie , full of heart but still punk rock ... MOV ! is loud , crude , socially irresponsible and totally irresistible .", "the film 's winsome , self-satisfied comedy will no doubt appeal more to viewers who prize juvenile hi-jinks over the cultural moment it depicts .", "audiences can be pleased to find a story in which its young female characters are n't victims , or even pretty little liars , but just friends . and good ones , at that .", "the movie is refreshingly sensitive to gender , but also transcends it . what unites the three clashing heroines is their resistance to conventional cliques and schoolhouse conformity . in more ways than one , they 're a band of outsiders .", "when the girls chant the film 's titular mantra , not only do we feel like it 's true , we feel we 've earned the right to chant along .", "MOV ! scrapes , if sometimes a little lazily , for its spiky heroines to be appreciated on their own terms , half-understood though they might be .", "tests of friendship , boy troubles and a climactic show at a rival community centre ensue . and though the story meanders , moodysson wins us over by capturing the restlessness , confusion and excitement of being young and finding your voice .", "there are movies with much bigger budgets slamming into theaters , but i 'll be you wo n't see one with more honest exuberance or spot on charm than this one .", "if ever a movie earned the exclamation point in its title , it 's lukas moodysson 's `` MOV ! ''", "you do n't have to like punk rock to fall in love with MOV ! ; if a more joyous film comes along in 2014 , then it 's a good year indeed .", "the film 's surface is as spiky as its protagonists ' hair and wardrobe , but the overall effect can only be described as downright endearing .", "it portrays the kind of rush of unfettered , probably crap inspiration that one relishes before self-criticism and self-doubt kicks in .", "no film i 've seen so far this year has provided the sheer moviegoing pleasure of `` MOV ! ''", "it 's a being-of-age story , in swedish with english subtitles , the age being early adolescence , when kids with throbbing hearts and incompletely wired brains are full of passion and blithe illogic .", "despite the unruly music at its center , the filmmaker has crafted a uniformly gentle ode to growing up .", "sweet and rambunctious ...", "swedish auteur lukas moodysson returns to his roots here with a charming coming-of-age drama .", "so add MOV ! to the growing canon of excellent girl-band movies ... and in this film , being in a band is a way to find yourself .", "-lsb- ... -rsb- MOV ! captures both the spirit of the early 1980s and the way pre-teens and teens have their own ideas of what 's important .", "lukas moodysson makes a sweet , spirited return to form with this utterly delightful evocation of early teenage life .", "sly , fun and irresistible .", "a joyous celebration of youth , friendship and rebellion", "MOV ! charts this troubled yet exhilarating period of transformation in a trio of 12-year-old girls , while milking the social and historical particularities of the setting - sweden , 1982 - for all their nostalgic worth .", "moodysson 's charming and winning journey into adulthood , accompanied by a music style that encourages a venting of mixed emotions ...", "a gift for the blurry-eyed filmgoer", "an exuberant rock 'n' roll comedy in which three of the most memorable movie teens ever embrace their adolescent angst and give it screaming voice .", "smartly told , it 's a quiet riot .", "a bright , breezy and thoroughly enjoyable story of three teenage punkettes who strain and struggle to life , love and music in stockholm in the early 1980s .", "what makes it so special is its mix of barbed humour , tenderness and its adrian mole-like insights into what teenage years are really like .", "extracting naturalistic performances from all his young stars , moodysson seems to revel in these spirited characters . and you should too . it 's a delight from start to finish .", "a joyful bubble you 'll want to re-enter .", "there is a bugsy malone feel to MOV ! , a spectacle of children playing at being adults , and doing it inevitably badly . but not as badly as the actual grownups .", "there may not be a great deal to the film other than a little slice of time , but it 's bloody delightful - a warm , spiky hug .", "at 45 , moodysson is working completely without pessimism or sentimentality .", "lukas moodysson scores a crowd-pleaser after a few years in the wilderness with this return to the tender , bittersweet nostalgia of the rep-making together .", "a very welcome return from moodysson . the music is wyld stallions-grade , but the charm and spirit of the three girls will have you moshing in your seat .", "delightful , uplifting swedish comedy that marks a long-awaited return to the form ... for writer-director lukas moodysson , thanks to a warm-hearted , witty script and a trio of terrific performances from its three young leads .", "the heightened emotions and off-kilter logic of childhood feels totally lived in . it 's funny and sometimes beautiful to see .", "`` MOV ! '' captures the chaos of youth with a funny and profane energy .", "a proudly feminist middle finger to conformity , and a celebration of youthful rebellion .", "MOV ! is as unique as chips and chocolate . it 's also as universal as cosmic pubescence .", "but this is not a movie about kids learning the value of intense practice and dedication . instead , it 's a movie about the major and minor tumults of growing up .", "full of adolescent energy -- vibrant , untethered , and kind of bonkers -- the new movie from swedish director lukas moodysson is a gentler version of childhood than he 's recently favoured .", "the young actresses are just flawless and i think lukas moodysson really tells this story well .", "moodysson has brought these non-conformists delightfully , sensitively to life with design and cinematography reflecting the recently departed 70 's .", "in its evocation of the early '80s stockholm middle-school girl punk rock scene , `` MOV ! '' could hardly be more specific . but in its depiction of the joys and sorrows of adolescence , it could hardly be more universal .", "so far this year , one of the most warmly inspiring films ... sheer smile-on-your-dial factor . moodysson absolutely knows what he 's doing ... becomes funnier and funnier .", "the performances of all three young actors are superb , soulful , honest and full of joy . their dialogue is often ridiculously funny and there 's no sense of manufactured drama .", "three female teenagers trying to stick together in a world that is stacked against them in stockholm , circa 1982 .", "era-specific but never nostalgic , tender but never sentimental , MOV ! , like all good films about teenage girls , finely illuminates the emotional extremes of this tumultuous development stage .", "exclamation points seem entirely apropos : it 's the best !", "a classic coming-of-age story that embraces the messiness and stubbornness of adolescence , delivering a drama that is alive with attitude , humor and heart .", "the movie has the confidence of an artist who 's survived some wild years himself , experimenting with style and dispassion and realizing that sweet abandon is more than enough .", "a charming delight that 's going to leave you wanting to form your own punk band on leaving the theater .", "MOV ! captures perfectly the aimlessness of adolescence , the waiting to become something that 's so often intertwined with the desire to make something , to leave your mark on the world in some small way .", "funny and frank in its observations , the film is a delightful snapshot of female friendship at that age , from the giddy highs to the melancholy funks , from the sustaining bonds to the jealousies and stinging betrayals .", "lukas moodysson 's film allows its trio of girls to express themselves through gender , certainly , but not undermine their desire to be heard as artists first .", "punk has never been so adorably , girl or swedish", "MOV ! is a delightful film about the friendship between its three young protagonists , set to an amusing and convincing punk music backdrop . i spent half the running time with a grin on my face .", "the three girls are full of life . they have a lot of fun just being kids . they are excited about their potential and their possibilities . this movie is a tribute to the spirit and optimism of youth .", "the pic has a blast poking fun at society , and in a crude way siding with the rebels .", "it 's a film for seeing familiar things being done well , not for being surprised or challenged .", "a pallid and terminally cutesy movie that succeeds by stoking blandly happy feelings .", "the beautifully authentic performances by the three bandmates capture that brief life moment when nearly everything can feel like a scary , joyous act of rebellion .", "watching MOV ! is a genuinely positive experience , one that leaves you smiling inside and out even days later as you think back not only on scenes from the film but also to memories of your own life .", "the music here is really just a macguffin , a way into moodyson 's real subject : the complex and often unequal dynamics of adolescent friendships .", "for all their moodiness and irascibility , the girls come across as warm and believable , and there are funny moments when they take to the streets to raise money for a new guitar .", "moodysson gives his characters the perfect mix of love , protection , and freedom", "MOV ! is a low-key pleasure . it is perhaps not a project that tests moodysson as a director but it resoundingly shows his brilliance at directing young performers .", "utterly charming , fresh and funny , MOV perfectly captures what it feels like to be young and misunderstood .", "swedish filmmaker lukas moodysson returns to the improv-style charms of his earlier films -lrb- like together and show me love -rrb- , a welcome break from his more recent grim experimental dramas -lrb- see mammoth or lilya 4-ever -rrb- .", "punk rock has never been this bubbly on screen , but that 's what happens when you cast three actresses with infectiously effervescent personalities and deep-rooted chemistry .", "a look at three middle-school aged kids ostracized by their peers for being non-conforming , punk band aspirants . well acted by the young trio but they are simply not interesting enough to rivet my attention .", "with fantastic performances by the three leads -lrb- only one of whom is a professional actor -rrb- , the film fluidly alternates between the messiness and warmth of female friendship .", "if this film were a pair of knickers , they 'd be the kind of knickers you 'd think twice about hanging on the line .", "you 'd have to have a heart of arctic ice to finish the film not smiling with joy .", "it offers arguments for rebellion and for creative aggression . it sparkles with the unpredictability of youth .", "performances from the central players are uniformly remarkable and help distract from a slightly disjointed , episodic structure . content is fairly lightweight and the movie runs out of road towards the conclusion , but it is fun while it lasts .", "the whole thing is very smart and sweet , as are the performances .", "as played by three sparkling newcomers -lrb- mira barkhammar , mira grosin and liv lemoyne -rrb- in scenes that rely heavily on improvisation , they burst with a vitality that ca n't be faked -- only allowed , encouraged and lovingly savored .", "the great charm of lukas moodysson 's MOV ! lies in its total lack of pretension and adult editorializing .", "the spirit of genial youthful rebelliousness has seldom been expressed with such effortless glee .", "it may not be very punk , but these girls just want to have fun . and , crucially , moodysson is having a good time too ; there 's joy in every frame .", "MOV ! is the rare film about childhood friendship that seems to take place inside the world of children , not filtered through an adult scrim of nostalgia .", "propelled by its energy and sheer enthusiasm , lucas moodysson 's film about a would-be teenage punk band is a vibrant shot in the arm . moodysson captures all the unbridled spirit , optimism and chutzpah of youth and tosses it into the air for us to catch", "an unexpected charmer about friendship , identity and the liberating power of making a racket .", "captures the dynamics of adolescent friendship to perfection . funny and full of bluster , it 's an exuberant tribute to punk rock spirit , and to the experience of being thirteen .", "impeccably , nay astonishingly , performed by mira barkhammar , mira grosin and liv lemoyne , the film sweeps us into their world", "it 's impossible not to root for these appealing if flawed youngsters .", "the longer we spend with these three middle-school outcasts , the more we care about them .", "sweet-spirited and sometimes meandering but always working in the service of its young protagonists ' perspective .", "moodysson 's gift for lifelike misfit ennui here seems exalted by specific inspiration .", "a coming of age frolic with lessons for all ages .", "the youngsters playing bobo and klara have a lot of energy and presence on the screen .", "`` MOV ! '' should bring a smile to the face of anybody , regardless of gender , who recognizes themselves even a little in these savvy , indomitable characters .", "-lsb- moodysson -rsb- captures the crushing urgency and emotional craziness of youth . it 's not blood that flows through these girls ' veins , it 's nitroglycerin .", "`` MOV ! '' is a messy , congenial empowerment story that knows how aggravating adolescence can be when you refuse to fit in .", "it 's a title that makes quite a statement . few viewers will be inclined to argue .", "hate sport ! moodysson 's 1980s middle school punks are the perfect alternative to godzilla and tom cruise .", "a note-perfect coming-of-age story masquerading as a behind the music documentary", "MOV ! seems like -lsb- moodysson 's -rsb- clearest vision to date .", "relentlessly upbeat ... captures the peripatetic energy of youth .", "the young actresses are flawless , and their ear-banging music , which remains awful throughout the film , is nonetheless full of static electricity .", "this is a knowing film , and a liberating one .", "the teenage actors nail their natural , giddy-sad coming-of-age performances and moodyson flavors the film with fine direction of its young stars .", "although the movie often goes cross-eyed trying to figure out how to slip out of scenes , it retains joy and a rich sense of curiosity , brought to life through three terrific lead performances .", "three girls , three chords in three acts , that 's ` MOV , ' an invigorating coming-of-age comedy perfectly capturing the electrifying jolt punk rock instills in teens looking to expel their anger and frustration .", "director moodysson revels in the way his young cast alternate between being children and adults , back and forth like a lenticular image . the film is irresistible -- conveying the pleasures of being a spiky nuisance in a maddeningly calm society ." ], "summary": "sweet , empathetic , and shot through with a palpable joy , MOV ! offers a tender tribute to the bittersweet tumult of adolescence .", "id": "771363530" }, { "movie": "el_aura", "reviews": [ "... a tightly constructed thriller ...", "the film 's taciturn observer , played by ricardo darin -lrb- the strutting con man of nine queens -rrb- , delivers perhaps the most inward performance of the year .", "bielinsky does a remarkable job of both revealing and withholding information , so that , even after 134 minutes , the film never drags .", "in the end , the film 's bigger challenge is n't its length , or its deliberate pace : it 's that it 's overly freighted with symbolism and meaning .", "the aura holds together as a dreamy variation on reservoir dogs ' heist-gone-wrong fatalism and the know-thyself confrontations of david mamet 's homicide .", "... this intricately plotted mystery ventures into darker psychological territory and never misses a step .", "the heart-attack death last year of fabi\u0155n bielinsky ... makes the posthumous release of the aura , his mysterious drama about an argentinean epileptic taxidermist caught up in a vivid crime , that much more poignant .", "the movie 's mood is haunting , and its central image of a man able to shed his morality as easily as an old raincoat hints at a filmmaker who had deeper concerns than mere thrills .", "whereas nine queens was a movie of clockwork precision and blindsiding reversals , MOV is more internalized and digressive but no less striking , in large part thanks to darin 's mesmerizing performance .", "the aura works as a thriller , but it 's also a character study of a man with nothing to lose . even at more than two hours , it never relaxes its grip .", "the movie is cause for both rejoicing and despair . the good news it 's an absorbing , intelligent film . the bad is that there will be no more from the gifted -lsb- late director -rsb- bielinsky .", "it 's tough to get behind a character who does n't even seem to care about himself .", "visually , the film is almost perfect , with a weird , expressionistic sensibility considerably more sophisticated than the low-fi street shooting of nine queens , while the imaginative piano score trickles between pastoral harmony and primal discord .", "a haunting character-study-cum-crime thriller that marks the maturation of a significant filmmaking talent .", "the flavor is a decidedly mournful one , unusual to find in a crime thriller , but adding layers of rich atmosphere and psychological depth to a familiar but nerve-wracking genre tale .", "the aura is richer and less showy than nine queens , and it lifts off from the gangster genre to contemplate deeper mysteries . reminiscent of antonioni 's the passenger in its obsession with fate and choice .", "bielinsky also is a most expressive director , achieving considerable nuances and depths of emotion with characters ' looks , gestures , body language and silences .", "a somber mood of bleak lives is enhanced by muted colors . the many unusual aspects keep the aura continually intriguing .", "once the story is fully engaged , the suspense never lets up ...", "the world of the aura is , quite obviously , a heightened and stylized version of reality , but its governing emotions of dread , suspicion and moral confusion are bracingly real .", "a fuzzy attempt at significance that seems as aimlessly lost in the woods as its heist-plotting characters .", "a delight to look at , and full of both beautiful music and beautiful silences .", "this character-heavy crime thriller from argentina occasionally gets off track , straying into territory that has little to do with the main story line . but they are interesting digressions , and it 's sort of nice to have a movie that 's so unpredictable .", "a startling psychological drama with plenty of unexpected twists , a worthy follow-up -lsb- to -rsb- fabian bielinsky -lsb- 's -rsb- riveting debut nine queens .", "i have to admit i was more than intrigued by a film featuring an epileptic taxidermist with a photographic memory who fancies that he can commit the perfect crime .", "it 's intriguing and absorbing , this thriller about a lonely taxidermist caught up in a shooting accident , a case of mistaken identity and a heist .", "if less neatly realized than nine queens , the aura is the more ambitious film . it is all the more haunting for suggesting narrative possibilities that bielinsky was just beginning to explore .", "tense and twisty , this is what thrillers should be about .", "with `` the aura , '' his final picture , the director adopts a moody atmosphere to convey an original heist thriller set in the mysterious patagonian forests .", "it 's less a deconstruction of the heist film than an ambitious contemplation of our fascination with the genre ...", "argentinian writer / director fabian bielinksy -lrb- nine queens -rrb- creates a character with an intriguing set of traits that inspire an equally intriguing plot .", "a psychological thriller about a wannabe gangster who ends up with overwhelming regret after becoming enveloped in a whirlwind of terror .", "a top-notch heist thriller set in patagonian forests and southern argentine cities , a film full of dark , moody atmosphere and richly imagined , indelibly etched characters .", "the moody ambience suggests noir writers david goodis and jim thompson ...", "this is a start-to finish thriller that delves into a different world than the usual heist drama", "infused with a whiff of the outsider 's stale regret .", "-lrb- ... -rrb- dif\u00edcil recordar un thriller con tan poco di\u00e1logo , en el que los silencios y las contemplaciones sean mucho m\u00e1s importantes que los enunciados de los personajes .", "the voyeuristic focus and camera acrobatics may remind you of hitchcock , but the aura is also highly original .", "... sublime psychological thriller ...", "the aura is a reflection upon the thriller genre rather than an actual thriller itself .", "there 's lots of suspense here , and the ending is actually perversely satisfying .", "with the aura , fabi\u00e1n bielinsky replaces nine queens ' flashy mamet-esque posturing with downbeat melville/antonioni noir existentialism .", "a hypnotic journey into the head of an epileptic taxidermist with a photographic memory .", "-lsb- the aura -rsb- might be the most original new thriller i 've seen since memento .", "gives off scents of melancholy and dread that are rarely seen in heist films" ], "summary": "the aura is a highly original and cerebral thriller that maintains its suspense from start to finish .", "id": "335715866" }, { "movie": "touch-the-sound", "reviews": [ "you may find your own sense of hearing transformed by this global tour of the senses .", "-lsb- t -rsb- his is a film that leaves strong reverberations and a pleasant , sense-scrambled high .", "riedelsheimer gives the viewer not only glennie 's music , but her own experience of it .", "MOV is a completely joyful moviegoing experience and , like the best movies , it takes you to a place you 've never been .", "bold and often thrilling film .", "you 'll either sail along with it contentedly , or you 'll start to think halfway through that maybe the movie could have been a lot shorter and made its points just as well .", "unfortunately , a good deal of touch the music is devoted to vacuous interviews with glennie , who seems positively incapable of saying anything substantial .", "they get some amazing sounds from unusual sources ... this film is a visual and auditory experience .", "... he often assembles gorgeous , abstract visual montages that recall godfrey reggio 's - qatsi trilogy .", "we 're led to experience her life as she does -- as an adventure in which setbacks are not challenges , but illuminations of untracked paths .", "a film that succeeds both as biography and poetic travelogue .", "an often-lovely impressionistic look at the life of a famous avant-garde percussionist who generates a wonderful world of sound , despite being deaf .", "innovative sounds and striking visuals combine to form an exquisite cinematic work that 's both a portrait of hearing-impaired percussionist evelyn glennie and a radical reexamination of sensory experience .", "arrestingly beautiful .", "a potent and imaginative creative biography of virtuoso percussionist glennie .", "it 's a clich\u00e9 to find inspiration in other people 's disabilities , but the truth is that glennie would be inspiring whether she could hear or not . her joyful enthusiasm for life is that great .", "it 's rare that a documentary conveys an artist 's worldview so compellingly , but then glennie is no ordinary musician .", "educates in exhilarating ways , ways that are immediately applicable to how one lives one 's life .", "this impressionistic documentary is a mystical exploration of the sensory world as experienced by a musician who lost most of her hearing as a teenager .", "it will be frustrating if you expect narrative and linear development . but if you take it on as a new point of view , valuable even if you do n't completely comprehend it yet , MOV is worth the trip .", "the movie makes an interesting addition to what could become riedelsheimer 's evolving and extraordinary gallery of movies that bring the creative process to life .", "it does n't help when glennie tries to elucidate her feelings about nature and music in holistic , broad strokes that border on nonsense .", "thomas riedelsheimer 's portrait of deaf percussionist evelyn glennie is an absolute masterwork , both of filmmaking and of musicianship .", "a coy yet worthy profile of celebrated scottish percussionist evelyn glennie .", "-lsb- a -rsb- fascinating portrait .", "it 's a contemplative piece of work that will leave you questioning the nature of what is audible -- particularly those parts that ` hearing ' people tend to tune out or ignore .", "MOV is remarkable not only because of glennie 's story -- a clinically deaf grammy-winning musician who has played with the world 's great orchestras -- but for the way riedelsheimer uses sound .", "riedelsheimer sees glennie as an angel of hyperawareness and possessor of special spiritual wisdom .", "a documentary that artfully blends sound , image and biography .", "call this a profile in courage .", "riedelsheimer succeeds in showing us glennie 's world as she feels it .", "a feast for the senses .", "this ` sound journey ' -lrb- as the subtitle of the film calls it -rrb- has much to like and recommend .", "like superior tracks on an exhausting double album , the individual moments of wonder in MOV are too powerful to dismiss .", "beautifully shot and filled with gorgeous music , but one of the most inspiring things about it is the way it erases the idea of glennie 's deafness as a handicap .", "we listen to this film more intensely than is usually the case .", "glennie and reidelsheimer prove equally adept at tapping into found sound and transforming it into art .", "a nice introduction to an artist mostly unknown to the general public ... but one that needs to focus more on its strengths and less on outside influences .", "there is a maddening sense of dislocation through much of the movie -- a feeling that genuinely fascinating questions have been squeezed out by woo-woo philosophizing and material -lrb- like glennie 's brief return to the family farm -rrb- of only minor import .", "it 's a spacious , hauntingly meditative film that thankfully does not dwell on the implications of glennie 's deafness .", "the film is a paean to the variety of sound in our world , sound that we experience very differently from how evelyn glennie does .", "this concentration on the physical quality of sounds is a mesmerizing corroboration of glennie 's belief that tones , timbre , and tempo are in `` everything we see . ''", "glennie 's accomplishments in music are as unexpected and against all norms as are lance armstrong 's in sports .", "exquisitely beautiful for the eyes as for the ears .", "it 's a cinematically masterful portrait even if its subject falls short of expectations .", "does n't touch glennie 's greatness .", "evelyn glennie hosts a surrealistic ride through the waves of her preternatural percussion as she invites the audience to feel as they hear .", "fans of the grammy-winning musician will revel in the proximity to their idol , though second pic from talented helmer thomas riedelsheimer plays a tad long to those unfamiliar with his , or her , work .", "rewarding , thought-provoking and subtly visceral ." ], "summary": "not only does this documentary introduce viewers to glennie , it gives them a taste of how she perceives the world .", "id": "6929" }, { "movie": "best_of_enemies_2015", "reviews": [ "new documentary explores the public intellectuals ' televised spats .", "`` MOV '' is one of the most interesting and revelatory documentaries in years . it blows last year 's oscar winner , `` citizenfour '' out of the water .", "there is something about the siren call of the tv camera that can turn even big thinkers into brawlers . it was true then and it 's true now , and `` MOV '' serves as a thoroughly enjoyable reminder .", "for better or for worse , we 'll never again see television quite like that documented in the compelling `` MOV '' ...", "`` MOV '' makes a strong case that the vidal-buckley debates were a sort of gateway drug that led to our insatiable craving for the sort of all-heat , no-light exchanges that form the backbone of today 's 24-hour cable news universe .", "did anyone win ? most say vidal , since buckley descended to physical threats . but really , has anyone won in any of this endless bickering ?", "the high point of the debate was ... never mind . see `` MOV , '' and find out for yourself .", "spending 90 minutes with two insufferably arrogant men is n't an easy recommendation to make , but `` MOV '' is generally quite successful identifying the remarkable nature of the debates .", "like its two subjects , `` MOV '' is lively and smart . unlike them , it 's even-handed .", "MOV offers a bracing view of a pivotal time in our recent history , as vietnam and race riots scarred a nation 's soul , and as the establishment and the counter culture exchanged epithets and blows .", "like the debates it concerns , MOV entertains to a degree , enlightens to another , and asks us to ponder the relative merits of polar political ideologies and two complicated men who very publicly represented them .", "MOV ' detached , sportish depiction of their feud only explores their influence in the shallowest manner .", "vidal vs. buckley-or , as i prefer to think of it , alien vs. predator-has not improved with age . which combatant you cleave to is beside the point , since both of them teeter on the brink of the insufferable .", "one of the gifts of neville and gordon 's -lsb- doc -rsb- is that you do n't need a completist history of the pair and their politics : the electrifying spectacle 's up on the screen for all to see . the assured editing is by chicago 's own aaron wickenden .", "our ability to speak the same language has long been fractured , and MOV tracks the faultlines of that social temblor with remarkable precision .", "`` MOV '' is a riveting , often quite funny , viewing experience -- in black and white , no less .", "it 's great television , but it has been available on youtube for some time now .", "television stops imitating life and becomes it in the first reality show of all time .", "MOV leaves you with an overwhelming sense of despair . it 's not just a great documentary , it 's a vital one .", "cowriter/directors robert gordon and morgan neville show how to take one notorious flashpoint lasting less than 30 seconds from a debate of almost 14 minutes and spiral outwards to build a compelling story .", "engaging , but i wish the film ... went more into -lrb- vidal 's & buckley 's -rrb- personal upbringings to better understand what made them tick .", "MOV does a good job of framing the ten debates with modern talking-head interviews ... in their socio-economic context while relating it to ours .", "MOV plays not only as a lively document of an engaging - and insanely entertaining - intellectual rivalry , but as a lament for the very idea of the public intellectual in contemporary life .", "the film positions those debates as a harbinger of the ideological sword-crossing that has become a staple of tv news . except what we have now , as opposed to the vidal-buckley confrontations , is a lot more yammery than eloquent .", "MOV bowls along smartly , with clips from the tapes spiced with intelligently snarky asides from friends and adversaries of the two men , and spliced with archival footage of the tumultuous times they addressed .", "a timely but unsatisfying exploration of a series of exchanges between conservative buckley and liberal vidal makes its case too little and too late .", "it 's just as equally entertaining and provocative as vidal and buckley 's debates .", "... -lsb- not -rsb- a celebration of intellectual combat , it 's an original-sin tale for where tv news went wrong .", "`` MOV '' is an undisciplined but still interesting look at those two men , and their extraordinary feud .", "`` the MOV '' provides a rich , extraordinarily fascinating account that 's sure to have many viewers ' minds constantly shuttling between then and now ...", "the idea may not seem so radical , in this day and age of reality tv excess and internet outrage : giving a national broadcast forum to two highly opinionated intellectuals to argue about politics .", "the arguments about sex , war , race and culture have hardly quieted since 1968 . buckley and vidal may rest in peace , but the rest of us have stayed plastered .", "as an introduction to a pivotal moment in how the media frames politics , it 's essential stuff : this is the moment when pundit culture was born .", "fleet , brutally funny and ultimately mournful for the lost art of informed public intellectuals brandishing wounding insights , the film is a fizzy bath of expertly organized archival footage and commentary ...", "not only does this riveting documentary skillfully portray the debates , it also deftly examines how the debates affected vidal 's and buckley 's personal lives and the future of political discourse in general .", "this deliciously feisty doc contextualizes their verbal brawls and the odd love-hate -lrb- mostly hate -rrb- rivalry between two men who seemed able to regard their own sense of heroism only through the other 's villainy .", "a must-view film for our media-besotted age ...", "MOV is , in the truest sense , a delicious entertainment of real-life deep-seeded resentments perfect for any size screen .", "the doc 's centerpiece - the series of debates , which escalated as the protests outside did the same - is giggly stuff . but it 's the postscript that takes it to another level .", "this account of the incendiary debates between william f. buckley and gore vidal during the 1968 republican and democratic conventions recalls a time long gone .", "witty , nasty and laugh-out-loud hilarious", "morgan neville and robert gordon 's gripping doc is structured like a boxing movie , but in this case the pugilists are intellectual heavyweights", "builds to a stunning final confrontation that changed the lives of both men .", "a fascinating , hugely enjoyable essay on media history - and on intellectual vanity .", "it 's fascinating . it 's horrible . it 's fascinatingly horrible .", "a must-see for anyone seriously interested in our political history and the current ` culture wars ' afflicting our nation .", "a must-see account of the birth of passionate , television punditry .", "the bruises inflicted that summer are now visible daily on so many channels , but they 're often inflicted by combatants who are far less mighty .", "the fascination and tragedy of MOV is that these two great minds squandered what might 've been their best chance to show the broadcast media how to have a vigorous , entertaining , useful argument about where the country was headed .", "`` MOV '' illustrates how even literary swashbucklers can be reduced to schoolboy behavior .", "it 's a first-class primer on how political news commentary had its true start . long before it became something to ridicule on comedy central .", "watching the modern day clips , you keenly feel the loss of both vidal and buckley , although this riveting , impressively crafted and thought-provoking film at least provides a fitting tribute .", "politics : this time it 's personal .", "a brilliant , hilarious , exhilarating look at the gore vidal v. william f. buckley paradigm-busting 1968 debates that changed tv journalism for the worse .", "MOV tell the story behind the gripping and often howlingly funny sixties television debates between two american intellectuals : william buckley jr. and gore vidal .", "some may argue outside events - antiwar protests , civil unrest - are pushed to the background , but this is a documentary about hugely erudite , larger-than-life personalities .", "these debates are a fascinating , lost minuet of personal and political disdain .", "outstanding account of a pivotal moment in small-screen history .", "a fascinating , supremely well-judged and unexpectedly touching documentary .", "a documentary about the exchanges that started the trend of shouting matches passing themselves off as political talk .", "by engaging celebrity worship rather than using these figures for deeper claims about media-dominated information cultures , morgan and neville reinforce to the very circumstances they outwardly condemn .", "for american viewers of an intellectual/historical persuasion , there could scarcely be any documentary more enticing , scintillating and downright fascinating than MOV .", "a juicy and thrilling documentary about two intellectual titans who truly loathed one another .", "the two men made serious policy discussions wickedly entertaining and decidedly personal , and neville and gordon knew that they had a gold mine in the debate footage that is the centerpiece of their movie .", "unfolding over the course of a month , these debates were a game-changing event in american politics and unscripted television , which left both men continuing to trade barbs for decades .", "there is great pathos and tragedy in both men 's lives , and as much humor as there is in the film , it is underlined with a sadness .", "terrific archival clips of the debates , spot-on talking head commentaries from familiar well-loved , far cooler urbane heads from jack paar and dick cavett to christopher hitchens . what a fun ride !", "reminiscent of when we were kings , neville and gordon set up the prize fight and then let the two intellectual heavyweights deliver the blows .", "it 's a fascinating tale that 's exhilarating and engaging , an entirely fitting and vital showcase for the film 's iconoclastic subjects .", "by drilling down into these two men and their conflict , MOV ends up having a lot to say about how we talk about politics and how we relate to -- and hate -- each other .", "the on-camera clashes between william f. buckley jr. and gore vidal are vividly and entertainingly recounted in this fascinating documentary .", "almost as smart , funny and vicious as buckley and vidal themselves .", "MOV is effective as both a chronicle of a fraught era in american history and an origin story of the modern state of american televised news journalism .", "-lsb- a -rsb- delightful account of the infamous televised debates between liberal firebrand gore vidal and conservative gadfly william f. buckley , jr. , during the 1968 republican and democratic conventions .", "smart , insightful , thought-provoking and wildly entertaining .", "between the hyperbole and fudged history , the directors deliver a rather insightful , evenhanded profile of two know-it-alls who never knew when to shut up .", "it worked because both participants knew how to produce witty remarks on cue ...", "the details of what went down are fascinating , but the ultimate focus of MOV is television and this demonstration that it can be both eminently viewable and illuminating .", "what followed -lsb- in the debates -rsb- was not so much a clash of well-articulated ideas as a clash of highly articulate persons who regarded ideas as ammunition .", "it goes down easy enough , and in this day and age , waiting until the end credits to include the obligatory jon stewart clip classifies as restraint .", "from a modern vantage point , the level of their conversation is astonishingly high -- at least until it degenerated . but then , that degeneration has its share of fascinations too .", "works so well because the filmmakers understand that the personalities at the center of the fray should anchor things .", "MOV , like most documentaries , generally feels as though it 'd be more at home within a much shorter running time , and yet there 's no denying that the movie provides an eye-opening look at two intensely compelling -lrb- and competitive -rrb- figures .", "neville and gordon do especially well to capture the emotional gravity of the political situation and demand the audience 's attention .", "MOV is a spellbinding story , a poignant tale of foibles among greatness , and a vivid portrait of events that were like the year they occurred -- a stark line between what was , and what thereafter would be .", "the film revolves around the famous feud between political pundits gore vidal and william f. buckley jr. . it feeds our urge to be flies on the wall in the midst of such a fight . and it sheds light on why we all share that dark desire .", "a riveting look at a tv revolution .", "sadly , for a film at least partially about the impact of evening news and political coverage , little importance is given to the actual political content as compared to the results .", "reminds us how thrilling and provocative an intelligent debate can be .", "entertaining look at two gigantic egos in conflict on national television -- and of historical significance as the birth of the political tv pundit .", "a smart , engrossing documentary about a political and media moment in the united states in the 1960s ; a moment whose resonance is topical and whose reverberations have been enduring .", "-lsb- a -rsb- colorful and entertaining a portrait of that moment -- and the fascinating personalities who created it .", "an often spell-binding account of the culture-changing television debates that took place in 1968 between conservative william f buckley jr and liberal gore vidal ... compulsive viewing .", "... more measured and less fun than the encounters between buckley and vidal . that 's not the film 's fault -- the live events were charged with a suspenseful energy , the sense that real violence could break out at any moment ..." ], "summary": "smart , fascinating , and funny , MOV takes a penetrating -- and wildly entertaining -- look back at the dawn of pundit politics .", "id": "771412027" }, { "movie": "what_would_jesus_buy", "reviews": [ "seeing wwjb ? in a theater is not necessary , although seeing him and the choir hijacking a mall in person would be better than beowulf in imax .", "reverend billy is a charismatic presence , even if his shtick is too silly and the documentary too unfocused to motivate any serious change in the nation 's holiday spending habits .", "these bits of information could have been shocking in about 1940 , 1980 and 1990 . but by now , americans who do n't know could n't care less .", "talen runs the risk of losing his purpose amid his performance .", "this funny , yet thought provoking film asks many questions that have plagued consumerism for decades . while much of the ground tracked over is old , it fits perfectly into the modern economic situation .", "in wwjb , we do n't really feel like we get to know anyone that well , not even the primary subjects of the film : billy and his choir .", "the shopaholic wages of sin are ... the shopocalypse !", "so we need a better movie about this subject . as usual .", "having illuminated the many dimensions in that vast universe between the flat affect of creative depression and the modish affectation of emo posing , corbijn manages control with elegant , understated veneration .", "the good reverend and his crew do their best to get busted at assorted corporate shrines -lrb- disneyland , the mall of america -rrb- , but their media-driven antics serve only to underline spurlock 's add-water-and-stir approach to political documentary .", "fake collar or not , he makes a pretty good preacher .", "it 's a wickedly effective indictment of america 's consumer compulsion , our mindless shopping and the multinational corporations controlling it all .", "at the very least , the documentary MOV ? might make a viewer think twice about that next purchase at the gap .", "MOV ? is must-see viewing for anyone who thinks of christmas as just a mall and its night visitors .", "wwjb ? encourages viewers to think outside the big box of super stores such as wal-mart .", "if you 're going to live by the word of the church of stop shopping , a smart first step would be to avoid buying tickets to this film .", "MOV ? is a wonderful film . it 's a must-see pre-christmas , or at any time of the year .", "possibly the feeblest entry yet in the anti-corporate theatre-of-muckraking genre .", "MOV ? is paved with good intentions ...", "my take is that it should be renamed the church of stop yelling at me because you 've made your point .", "an entertaining and eye-opening christmas documentary .", "MOV ? is one of those all-too-common issue-docs that 's so clear about its point that it 's practically pointless .", "with a provocative title clearly designed to get viewers ' attention , it 's disappointing that -lsb- the movie -rsb- does n't actually have much to say .", "rob van alkemade 's hilarious , eye-opening documentary MOV provides a simple and surprisingly powerful directive to the american people : stop shopping .", "most viewers will be left to wonder whether the message is connecting .", "the film gets a little heavy handed , but it 's an important message .", "merry capitalism !", "this rob vanalkemade film has a good title and no focus .", "it is impossible not to be impressed by their sincerity and commitment .", "a comical cry in the silent night against , as george burns ' old song put it , the trend towards using people and loving things - instead of using things and loving people .", "the movie offers both intriguing portraiture and probing cultural analysis .", "this is n't just an easy shot at consumerism , it becomes , instead , an incisive look at the cognitive disconnect of the public at large , that hates the stress , emotional and financial , of the holidays , but nonetheless whole-heartedly joins in the mayhem", "one of the producers of MOV ? was morgan spurlock , and the film is very much in the spirit of his super size me .", "if gary busey ever played elmer gantry , he 'd look like reverend billy , the real-life fire-and-brimstone preacher who embarks `` on a mission to save christmas from overconsumption . ''", "this production is slick , well-paced , and tremendously entertaining .", "genuine and meaningful provocateurs like talen are vital , and his message is a glad one to anymore who abhors the walmart-ification of america .", "while the movie may be a good vehicle for rev. billy 's points , it 's too tied to his point of view .", "an amiable but also angry documentary .", "and as far as sermons go , it 's a good one . you just wish the director had found someone else to deliver it .", "it 's not much of a film , but it 's a swell opinion column .", "obvious or not , heeding reverend billy 's anti-shopacolypse gospel could make your holidays a little simpler , sweeter , and saner .", "while you can appreciate what the choir and the film are trying to say , too often they get bogged down in trying to spread that message . they also take themselves a little too seriously at times .", "i really like the message the movie has to say ... i just wish the whole package were good enough to recommend as a gift to give yourself instead of another hour and a half at the mall .", "watch it , then cut back on your credit-card purchases and say hallelujah ! to reverend billy .", "my nomination for a new christmas perennial : MOV ?", "in a strange way , `` MOV ? '' might actually be the most heartwarming holiday movie out there this year .", "the choir might have more impact if they did n't seem like a traveling theater troupe led by some odd blend of an electrocuted quentin tarantino and poison 's c.c. deville .", "not bad for a fake preacher .", "you know that deflated feeling you get after you 've spent a lot of time and money shopping -- and have little to show for your efforts ? this disappointing biography , about performance artist reverend billy , does an awfully good job recreating it .", "the passion that is evident in the stop shopping gospel choir is contagious and admirable . many christian churches could learn a few things from this secular outfit .", "part horror movie , part agitprop theater , MOV ? is a documentary on a mission ." ], "summary": "wwjb is an eye opening doc about consumerism that manages to be both funny and informative .", "id": "770678747" }, { "movie": "compliance_2012", "reviews": [ "if a movie 's success is measured by its ability to get under our skin and provoke a reaction , then this might be the film of the year . designed to make us furious , this drama pushes us to the brink as we shout at the characters for being so naive .", "a punchy and effective drama .", "an effective , nasty little film from craig zobel .", "an uncomfortable , provocative little drama that really gets under the skin and will not be for all tastes .", "well as the film is performed , particularly by dowd as the manager attempting to make order out of chaos , you can scarcely credit what happens .", "i admired its courageous realism , the fact that it dares to be unpopular yet truthful . unlike most movies , it will give you plenty to think about .", "the film edges forward diffidently , never quite matching strength of craft to strength of idea . it 's creepily beguiling even so ...", "zobel 's morality thriller offers uncomfortable commentary on the sport that can so easily be had at the expense of those on the lower rungs of the social ladder .", "zobel 's feature film brings out the creepy , banal horror of this culminating event , and the awful contemporary insights .", "needs more than its `` based on a true story '' disclaimer to short-circuit our sceptical instinct .", "get ready to cringe or crawl under your seat -lrb- that 's a compliment -rrb-", "-lsb- zobel -rsb- forgets that less is often more and his film loses credibility ... in the end everyone just seems excessively stupid because we have never been complicit .", "a wickedly compelling thriller , a skin-crawling , stranger-than-fiction examination of the darkest power of authority .", "... the intent is clearly to provoke a strong reaction . but once that is elicited , what 's left ? not enough for my liking .", "watching MOV recently , i also began to squirm and talk back , but not because i disliked the movie , which i think is brilliant .", "the picture has a calm neutrality that makes the unpleasant events we witness even more disturbing .", "it 's a highly political work about how some people can be made to do vile things just for the wispiest promise that the powers above will go a little bit easier on them .", "incredibly thorny issues of morality , responsibility , loyalty , trust and resentment are in play here .", "` MOV ' offers a compelling case that we may not be quite so freethinking as we believe .", "skirts the credibility line , occasionally coming off as a stretch and other times so eerily plausible it might as well be a documentary .", "snapshots of greasy fries and slimy grills pump up the unsavory atmosphere , while heather mcintosh 's ominous , cello-driven score plucks our nerves and stirs our stomachs .", "-lsb- it -rsb- has a sharp psychological point and a ca n't - look-away quality even as it turns horrifically dark .", "MOV is torture to sit through . it 's also indispensable filmmaking . this fact-based movie is going to present you with questions that will haunt you long after you leave the theater .", "the only film of 2012 that had me actively booing its villain - a mundane monster who does n't need to touch his victims to scar them for life .", "despite the limited setting , MOV is often unbearably tense .", "it 's a deeply moral movie about the failure of morality , as grueling to watch as it is necessary .", "too condescending to be trusted , too manipulative to be believed , too turgid to be enjoyed , too shameless to be endured and , before and after everything else , too inept to make its misanthropic case .", "a harrowing , gut-wrenching fable about power and authority that shows that even the most well-adjusted , ordinary person could be tempted to degrade and dehumanize their neighbor .", "it 's a milgram experiment for the viewer .", "zobel makes his setting feel immediate and real , from the gum-smacking employees to the dowdy manager who just wants to do the right thing .", "ultimately what is fascinating about MOV is its suggestion of the near-universality , and ultimate mundanity , of the totalitarian reflex .", "MOV ends up being about certain things that it would rather not be about .", "a thoroughly disturbing , sometimes mean-spirited indie narrative film .", "there is a level of stupidity displayed by the people in this movie that beggars belief . their behavior is to stupidity as the death star is to a doughnut .", "an upsetting film . . if you 're looking for a film that shoves you way out of your comfort zone , this one will do the trick .", "gripping indie drama unsettles the audience with its study of human behavior manipulated by a bogus authority figure .", "zobel has proposed an intriguing , disturbing concept . but he makes leaps . MOV is a good film . i wish it had been a little better .", "taut , edgy , at times almost farcical yet remaining incredibly powerful , this is a small scope film big on execution .", "MOV is one of the toughest sits of the movie year 2012 . but it 's an uncompromising and , in its way , honorable drama built upon a prank call that goes on and on , getting worse and worse for the people on the other end of the line .", "director craig zobel delivers a hard-hitting and tense study of morality with MOV , a menacing drama meant to provoke strong reactions and discussions after the credits roll .", "calm on the surface but the subtext is ferocious with the shocking way people succumb to savage impulses when people in positions of power are morally tainted", "it 's a squirm-in-your-seat kind of experience . but it deserves to be seen .", "it 's a creepy and frightening demonstration of the risks society faces when accepting authority without question . and it 's made visceral by the astonishing performances", "it 's a creepy and frightening demonstration of the risks society faces when accepting authority without question . and it 's made visceral by the astonishing performances", "this little independent american film might be the scariest thing you see this year ... a shattering film about human psychology of which the young martin scorsese would have been proud .", "the implications are frightening and the premise fascinating as we are able to see how something like this can spiral out of control . yet zobel stretches our patience and tests the credibility of the narrative - mostly to its detriment", "this psychodrama of ill-advised behavior may well leave you feeling dirty ... for what you 've watched helplessly and perhaps for what you 've countenanced as an american citizen .", "this is one insistent film , more evocative of human behavior than movies that take fewer risks ever could be .", "there 's a humanity here , even for the restaurant manager . but that still does n't make `` MOV '' easy to ingest .", "... a sadomasochistic mind-trip ... it has the lingering impact of a gruesome freeway pileup you do n't want to look , but you ca n't help yourself .", "MOV will leave you shocked and offended , but it misses out on any opportunity to be anything outside of a dramatization .", "MOV is a difficult film to watch -- walkouts have been reported at more than one screening -- but it 's also a calculating and intimate deconstruction of the greater social ills that our fast-food nation faces as a whole .", "one of the most deeply disturbing movies of recent vintage .", "there 's the adage that life is nasty , brutish and short . it 's even worse when you 're half-naked and locked in a supply room with your boss .", "its skillfully constructed scene-setting montages , its fraught , gliding camera moves and attractive compositions seem judgmental , suggesting the filmmakers are superior to and more sensitive , certainly , than the characters .", "` MOV ' takes an extremely unpleasant and nauseating experience for everyone involved and puts this masterful spin on it to make it not only watchable , but a really solid piece of film overall .", "a fairly deliberate and effective piece of provocation .", "the movie 's frightening momentum ca n't be denied ; indeed , it 's the whole point .", "MOV is a disturbing , exciting and instructive film about matters we should all be prepared to face .", "zobel is canny enough to gradually intensify the level of discomfort to ensure the characters ' increasing irrationality feels honest in the situation , regardless of how out-of-whack it seems from a distance .", "that the events in MOV are taking place in a fast-foot restaurant is equally resonant . the junk food we see being prepared could n't be more disgusting . surely , you ca n't help but think , anyone prepared to swallow that will swallow anything .", "the perfect companion piece to your copy of fast food nation .", "it 's all but guaranteed we 'll each arrive at different breaking points while watching zobel 's pressure-cooker of a movie .", "MOV is a horror movie with no sudden frights , no gore , and not a single scream . it 's a surveillance video , capturing us with all our blemishes ; a reminder that how we see ourselves is so rarely in line with the truth", "a frightening look at the power of authority and the human desire to avoid conflict .", "... a movie that feeds on collective emotions -- anger , denial and , most of all , fear -- but also triggers explosives along the faultlines of class .", "dark , disturbing , confrontational stuff . also a damn good film .", "MOV is diminutively sufficient and blandly adequate with no additional layers that elevate its small independent nature . it feels rather one note riding on the promise of a distinctive tale that never totally comes to fulfillment .", "a thriller worthy of a viewing , and a shower to cleanse yourself , afterward .", "MOV functions as a fascinating and mortifying glimpse at how readily and illogically people will submit to authority , whether it 's law enforcement or a boss .", "-lsb- it -rsb- leaves you in a dark moral place you 'd really rather not be .", "it might make you a tougher person after watching it .", "zobel 's film shocks , but leaves the viewer to uncover the real story for themselves .", "this is a squirmy watch - but of course , it is supposed to be .", "MOV , for its sheer nerve in tackling such difficult , yet need-to-know material is a terrific film .", "a riveting , horrifying film , shot through with beautifully observed moments of unwelcome truth .", "the film ultimately feels exploitative , especially in its schematic selectiveness about what to show or not .", "impressively directed and superbly acted , this is a gripping and disturbing thriller , made all the more horrific by the knowledge that this actually happened over 70 times .", "the point of MOV , which caused walkouts and shouting matches when it premiered at the sundance film festival , is how we are programmed to do things that go against our natural instincts as long as we believe we have the law on our side .", "dowd 's performance -- showing sandra 's eagerness to please the `` cop '' and her hesitancy to follow orders -- burns in the mind long after the movie 's over .", "morally complex look at human behavior leaves you shaking your head in disbelief", "about as far from an easy watch as you could imagine , MOV is a seedy little story that you 'll wind up watching between the cracks in your fingers .", "without a single bullet in sight , craig zobel has crafted an ingenious , dizzying conversation piece of a thriller .", "MOV strips bare the fallacy of equivalent free will . it gets under one 's skin in a manner few films do , but sticks in one 's head the same way all great ones do .", "i admire the workings of the movie , in the same cool way i might regard a machine gun as a work of art ...", "irritating one-note indie film .", "a brilliant psychological thriller that i 'd struggle to watch a second time .", "based on real criminal cases , this is one of the year 's most powerful , squirm-inducing , unsettling dramas .", "among the highlights -lsb- of bamcinemafest -rsb- ... provocative !", "psychologically astute and brilliantly executed , `` MOV '' is a challenging film that cuts to the heart of difficult ethical questions about the nature of power .", "... an aggressively manipulative piece of work that 's been shamelessly designed to shock and provoke the viewer .", "zobel has created a tale that will leave audiences angry if not downright nauseated by journey 's end .", "disturbing in that it feels so damn real .", "it seems as if craig zobel wants to implicate the audience in these proceedings , but he does n't have a very clear idea how to go about it .", "MOV develops an intriguing premise intelligently , inquisitively and uncomfortably .", "`` MOV '' is a very uncomfortable movie . it makes us question our own readiness to allow strangers at airports to grope our nether regions through our clothes , or even to strip search us while we act like defenseless victims .", "zobel shoots his queasy little psych test with i 'm - just-the-messenger documentary neutrality , challenging as he goes : do you want to look away now ? how about now ? will you walk out ?", "MOV is a fascinating and deeply unsettling version of true events , but it goes past that , with art and honesty .", "it never loses sight of its goal to persuade us to be more aware , more questioning of our leaders and institutions , from politicians to priests to , in this case , the police .", "that the thriller is based on real incidents only magnifies its effect .", "one watches in horrified fascination , and a greater horror comes when one realizes that , placed in the same kind of situation , one might react in the same way .", "the intimate setting ratchets up the suspense without turning exploitative .", "you 'll spend the bulk of the film squirming in your seat .", "shows good intentions gone bad -lrb- and bad intentions gone horrible -rrb- , with characters persuaded to bite off inch by inch until an entire yard is gone .", "a film designed to provoke social as well as cinematic comment .", "we feel like gutless witnesses to a crime .", "filled with superior performances , MOV does everything within its power to make a far-fetched situation believable .", "a thriller that permits you to stay two or three steps ahead of it . it 's a film that makes you yell at the screen , to shout `` come on ! '' at many a moment that seems to defy credulity .", "fails its first test , which is that the audience believe every word of it .", "in taut , gripping and deeply disturbing fashion , writer-director craig zobel measures the depths to which rational individuals will sink to obey a self-anointed authority figure in MOV .", "the cast here is so terrific that they turn a movie that takes place almost entirely in one dingy room into rich theater ...", "it 's not just about some woefully misguided fast-food employees : it 's about the scared , intimidated and unquestioning follower in all of us .", "it 's remarkably well-crafted , as it looks good and sounds good and features a tight , economical script .", "as disturbing as it is , it 's even moreso when you realize it 's based on true events .", "craig zobel fashions tough , challenging material in the guise of a dark comic thriller and those too willing to dismiss it or drum up unnecessary controversy are part of the problem and not the solution .", "i ca n't say i liked sitting through MOV , but i can say that i think it 's significant , and that it cements zobel 's place as a serious filmmaker with an important voice .", "almost every frame of the film is squirmy , alerting every part of your brain that what you are seeing is just plain wrong .", "likely to spur discussions about workplace safety , employee rights and broader awareness of sexual predation , MOV is also a suspenseful psychological drama for viewers prepared to tolerate its extremes .", "as a portrait of what people are willing to accept simply because other people are going along with it , `` MOV '' is an almost endlessly fascinating study of human behavior , disturbingly unflattering as its conclusions may be .", "a disturbing , fact-based look at the ways in which people can be bullied into bowing to the demands of authority figures .", "bravely uncomfortable and sure to inspire heated post-movie -lrb- and likely mid-movie -rrb- conversation , MOV is haunting , positively enraging when it sinks in that this was no nightmare , but a reality .", "zobel 's masterful direction and screenplay heighten the distress of authority figures possessing unseen persuasion over naive employees , exposing a disturbing and haunting look at what some workers are willing to do in order to follow orders .", "zobel , a second-time feature filmmaker , has put together a skillful , sympathetic but unsparing re-enactment of a small-scale atrocity , and his cast plays it out with natural , understated performances .", "like a john hughes movie hijacked by roman polanski , this troubling indie effort lays bare the sadomasochism of the american workplace .", "so long as you can tolerate the frustration it fosters , it 's hard not to appreciate such intelligent provocation .", "for once , the title card `` based on true events '' is not some cheap gimmick to lend a story importance ; it is a despondent cry of shock , disbelief , and , above all , outrage .", "perhaps the most disturbing movie of the year . not a horror film , but given that we ca n't excuse the behavior as belonging to illegal aliens or felons eluding of the law ... maybe it 's a new strain of horror after all .", "this is a well-made film , with plausible performances by all the leads , especially ann dowd . we feel we know people like this .", "we think we 're more world-wise than these people and that this could never happen and then zobel brilliantly forces us to come to terms with those judgments .", "disturbing and unlikely as it may be , this stuff actually happened , and pretty much as craig zobel relates it ." ], "summary": "anchored by smart , sensitive direction and strong performances , complicance is a ripped-from-the-headlines thriller that 's equal parts gripping and disturbing .", "id": "771267239" }, { "movie": "harry_potter_and_the_prisoner_of_azkaban", "reviews": [ "everything they screwed up in the first two harry potter movies they fix in the new one .", "just about everything plays better this time .", "-lsb- cuaron -rsb- leaves his mark without betraying the source material .", "the film 's disarming blend of freshness and darkness should please the potter faithful and win new followers .", "MOV proves that a new director with a different perspective can freshen a series that could otherwise resort to stale repetition .", "it 's much darker in mood and look than its predecessors , and it moves much faster , refusing to coddle or spoon-feed those who have n't seen the first two movies or read the books . this is both asset and detriment .", "in cuaron 's hands , the world of harry potter does n't feel like a synthetic movie theme park anymore . it 's almost real , hogwarts and all .", "almost everything about this movie looks and feels right .", "prisoner of azkaban sustains the good vibe of harry potter 's previous screen appearances , while also being blessed with a wand 's worth of cuaron 's movie magic .", "MOV offers what neither of its predecessors , for all their wand-waving and witch-brooms , had : real magic .", "with MOV , director alfonso cuaron has wrought a wondrous fantasy that 's light on its feet and full of heart . this movie targets the funny bone and tingles the spine .", "there has n't been a truly great harry potter movie yet , but this is a step in the right direction .", "darker , edgier and more artful than its predecessors . what 's even more surprising is that it 's actually very good !", "harry potter is 13 now , an awkward age for anyone -- even a boy wizard armed with magical powers . but MOV , the third film in the series , could n't be more self-assured .", "the third installment in the harry potter series , is everything the first two films were not : complex , frightening , nuanced .", "... has exactly what the earlier ones lacked - a sense of magic of its own .", "the third time 's the charm with this visual confection .", "did we mention chris columbus did n't direct this film ?", "it just chugs along briskly , riding a wave of wonder and enthusiasm .", "the other films felt like nothing more than companion pieces to the novels , illustrations to go along with the words ; this one stands on its own .", "this is a true adaptation , giving the impression of filming the whole book while carefully choosing what to include and leave out -- and thus it feels more complete and satisfying .", "the first true harry potter movie -- the first to capture not only the books ' sense of longing , but their understanding of the way magic underlies the mundane , instead of just prancing fancifully at a far remove from it .", "it helps that i 'm a huge fan of rowling 's harry potter books , and love the core story so much -lrb- especially azkaban -rrb- that i 'm apt to overlook some minor quibbles .", "all hail harry potter !", "the third edition of this classic tale brings thrills , chills and a new direction .", "-lsb- e -rsb- ven if you 're never read a word of the potter books and you have n't seen the first two films , azkaban stands alone as a creative triumph .", "as in `` princess '' and `` mama , '' cuaron explores the secret lives of young people forging identities in an adult world that alternately wants to ignore and to control them .", "-lsb- a -rsb- whimsically solid entry . cuaron creates a harry potter universe that is visually more stunning and sardonic in content ... a viably entertaining creepy coming-of-age saga", "`` while still riveting and wonderful in its mythology , is somewhat clunky and confounding in execution . ''", "le meilleur , ou le plus mature au minimum , des films de la s\u00e9rie .", "the adults may like it as much as any of the children in the audience . but the series is reaching a point of diminishing returns .", "alfonso cuar\u00f3n has fashioned j.k. rowling 's imaginative text into a visually and emotionally satisfying stunner .", "this is n't the grade three incarnation of harry potter anymore .", "troubling and turbulent as any coming-of-age saga worth its agony must be . it feels absolutely true , and absolutely magical .", "it is n't worth sitting through almost two-and-a-half hours of a movie without enough for anyone other than a certified potter fan .", "the sets are spectacular and the effects largely seamless .", "there are some pretty nifty scenes and special effects .", "the darkest , most heavily plotted and handsomely crafted film of the three , but what 's missing without chris columbus in the director 's chair is the gee-whiz sense of wonder .", "un renacimiento de la saga , el brinco inevitable a la pubertad y el puente sin regreso del mundo de la magia inocua , a la fant\u00e1stica esfera del horror y lo desconocido .", "despite a meandering middle and an anti-climatic ending , this installment is better than its predecessors in nearly every way .", "potter 's third year is his most inventive yet .", "like the first two movies , this is loaded with computer-generated imagery , but for the first time there 's a sense of dramatic proportion balancing the spectacle and the story line .", "fantastic , but kids are older , themes are darker .", "cuar\u00f3n filigrees his film with brilliantly outsized projections of harry 's fears and underlying realities . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "just like the books that the films are based on , this franchise gets better with each installment .", "the best of the franchise so far ...", "for the first time , the non-converted may actually see what all the fuss is about .", "this is easily the best harry potter film yet , though a few qualifiers need to be added to that endorsement .", "alfonso cuar\u00f3n brings a darker , edgier , scarier feel to this installment .", "given arguably the best book of the series to work from , new director alfonso cuar\u00f3n has turned out the best film to date , too .", "younger children might be put off by the darker tone of this movie , but the franchise 's new direction holds promise .", "for the final hour of the two-hour - and-21-minute azkaban is the closest any of the films has gotten to capturing the enormously pleasing essence of the potter books .", "stretching the pg rating to its breaking point , mr. cuaron has directed the creepiest and scariest potter picture yet -- and to my mind , the best .", "until now harry potter has been a great book character and a functional movie hero . with cuaron leading the way , harry has burst from the printed page to soar on-screen .", "it is perfect evidence for the obvious truth potter fans must face . the only great harry potter movies will be those we create in our minds as readers .", "harry potter and the wizard of azkaban is precisely the kind of invention the franchise needed .", "the silliest , as well as the most contrived -- and confusing -- of them all .", "an entrancing experience for potter fans .", "an influx of terrific british actors , the oncoming adulthood of the film 's three young stars and the fabulous effect that is the hippogriff sock this one over", "the world of harry potter remains delightful , amusing and sophisticated .", "cuar\u00f3n 's involvement should have made this the best of the series , but '' ` prisoner ' '' once again falls prey to author rowling 's tendency towards a lack of sophistication .", "despite a stronger appreciation for the characters ' psyches , prisoner of azkaban gets messy when cuar\u00f3n feels rushed .", "while i confess to being almost utterly lost within the narrative within about 20 minutes , i could n't take my eyes off the screen .", "this chapter leaves me little enthused for the future .", "a harry potter picture that flirts with -- and possibly even achieves -- greatness .", "cuar\u00f3n ... uses his enchanting vision to send rowling 's third installment down its dark , wondrous , often captivating road in grand style and with a generally steady pace .", "the most magical thing is how much older and bigger our young movie stars are", "harry is confronted by the dementors , ghastly prison guards who feed on every good feeling , every happy memory , and every repeat showing of the shawshank redemption on tnt .", "now that the groundwork has been laid , the series is free to really explore some compelling themes .", "the visual imagination on display in this film is head and shoulders above the first two films .", "cuaron leaves peter jackson and his bloody hobbits choking on his dust .", "rowling 's prose unwittingly resembles the monster books that try to eat the students .", "darker than the first two installments though not too scary for the youngest in the audience .", "nothing much happens to enhance any of the characters aside from the tenuous hand-holding of ron and hermione - and azkaban generates very little energy along the way", "the first movie in the series with fear and wonder in its bones , and genuine fun , too .", "cuaron 's resume all but guarantees he 'll be given the free ride that columbus never enjoyed . yet the truth is that , while far from a dud , this is the weakest of the films .", "cuar\u00f3n has also taken more narrative liberties than columbus did , and all of them are good , restructuring the film 's chronology for increased dramatic impact", "the third harry potter movie is the first one that actually looks and feels like a movie , rather than a staged reading with special effects .", "a convincing exploration of adolescence when one is tossed and turned by doubts about self and others and exhilarated by fantastic energy and derring do .", "a marvel of special effects seamlessly hitched to a powerful coming-of-age story .", "this latest film is a lot darker in tone , and thanks to the new director alfonso cuaron , it 's also a great deal scarier .", "best just to sit back and marinate in the richness of the movie 's texture and ignore the sloppy screenplay .", "here , finally , is a harry potter movie i 'd happily see again .", "in a series that 's episodic by definition , too many of these episodes lack any climax or payoff .", "you could call this one harry potter grows up . at the very least , the transition from chris columbus to alfonso cuaron has helped propel j.k. rowling 's hero from childhood into the difficult teen years .", "it 's arguably the most fun harry potter film to watch : inventive , quick-moving , playful , beautiful .", "what makes prisoner of azkaban so successful is that , like the earlier films in the franchise , it actually adapts the book from which it takes its name .", "prisoner of azkaban lacks the depth that those of us old enough to drive may have enjoyed in the earlier potter installments .", "cuar\u00f3n brought to the potter franchise a quality curiously missing from the two previous films : magic .", "ok , so the narrative may be a tad shaky , but what lends azkaban its edge is the unabashedly creepy tone that cuaron conjures .", "turning 13 suits our intrepid hogwarts students just fine in MOV .", "it 's the most moving and inventive live action children 's film in years -lrb- and therefore , just as magical for adults , if not more -rrb- .", "the right word for MOV is wondersful -- as in full of wonders , great and small .", "cuaron delivers a genuinely spooky and emotionally involving adventure which gives the world of potter much-needed character and atmosphere .", "if the first two films could easily have been tightened up by a half-hour or so , this one left me wishing that there were an ` extended edition ' dvd coming .", "cuar\u00f3n is ... having fun with the neverwhere between childhood and adolescence in a deliciously metaphoric way that chris columbus would n't or could n't venture near ...", "how ironic that a story dealing with an escaped prisoner actually manages to set this franchise free .", "showing more depth and range than in the first two harry potter movies , radcliffe , grint and watson have all come into their own .", "`` prisoner '' ironically feels much more unrestrained by the pressure of translating j.k. rowlings ' novels into films and is easier to just enjoy as a movie .", "audiences wo n't be wild about this `` harry '' with its dark , humorless approach", "everything a harry potter movie should be , an awesome visual world housing the volatile heart of a teenager .", "it 's a dazzling , magical cinematic experience .", "the best harry potter adaptation so far ... more emotional , scarier , and demands more from the actors portraying the young wizards , but they all deliver .", "an adaptation worthy of rowling 's marvelous creation-a chapter that spins the story to ever more thrillingly dark , treacherous heights .", "those who feared the franchise might grow as stale as batman or alien need not worry , as cuar\u00f3n proves there is still a little magic left up potter 's sleeve .", "MOV is the best entry , yet , in the series", "the best book in the series is now the best film in the series . we all have a better movie in our heads , but i had a blast seeing what lurked inside curon 's .", "while voluptuously bringing to luscious life the kid-lit world of witchcraft , wizardry and bizarre creatures , has script and plotting as bland as the hardy boys .", "more adult , and seeing this series become gradually more sophisticated , along with its three stars , is a real treat .", "... the most multifaceted and intriguing harry potter film yet .", "... feels at once more magically childlike and grimly grown-up ...", "even though azkaban in many ways is a far more accomplished film than its predecessors , it comes dangerously close to shutting out the nonreader .", "the potter movies have an endearing and light-hearted spirit of whimsy from which a certain other , recent fantasy trilogy -- more overwrought , overlong , and overrated -- could have greatly benefited .", "cuar\u00f3n has imbued this film with his own style and dramatically changed the look and feel of the potter universe ... which i see as a marked improvement .", "in azkaban , cuar\u00f3n has made a character-driven film almost completely devoid of a big , senses-shattering , hollywood climax . even more amazing , you never miss it .", "it 's not a stretch to see emma watson as her generation 's jodie foster - she 's that good .", "the story was a little harder to follow for novices like me", "bring on the geek hate-mail , but MOV mops the floor with lord of the rings", "let 's peek inside harry potter 's inbox , to see what day-to-day life is like for the protagonist of the edgy new prisoner of azkaban .", "... no matter what i say you 're still probably going to see it anyway .", "our wee little wizard is growing up so fast ! ... much like the child actors in the harry potter movies have grown up ... this film and story have grown with them .", "depth of character , cunning humor and hair-raising chills come shining through the visual blitzkrieg of special effects ... far and away the best harry potter movie yet .", "this time , harry potter is in a movie , `` MOV , '' not just a translation of a novel .", "the boys look considerably less interesting whenever hermione 's on screen , she being , again , the creature most in-between .", "a change in directors brings the third installment of the boy-wizard saga even closer to greatness .", "-lrb- director alfonso -rrb- cuaron has created a darker , more sinister world for harry , while also opening up more of the grounds around hogwarts .", "this film tells the exact same story more effectively than j.k. rowling .", "cuar\u00f3n brings a greater sensibility to his topic than did his predecessor chris columbus in the two previous harry potter movies .", "less a proper story in itself than a reminder to enjoy the wonders -lsb- j.k. rowling -rsb- has conjured .", "the literal sensibility that director chris columbus gave to the first two potter films has been replaced by cuaron 's richly cinematic one .", "a highly entertaining epic - arguably the best of the films to date - and one that will entrance fans of the books as well as newcomers .", "at some point you have to start asking with all the mystical potions and gifts of foresight , how do these wizards keep fingering the wrong people for these crimes ?", "i 'm bewildered and frightened to find myself reporting that it 's a very good movie , and it might have been a wonderful one .", "so much time is spent on including juicy little inventions from author rowlands ' pages that the story tension dissipates and the audience 's mind travels to other regions .", "alfonso cuar\u00f3n imprime -lrb- ao filme -rrb- um aspecto sombrio , sem , com isto , perder a caracter\u00edstica mais fascinante da s\u00e9rie : o invencionismo de j.k. rowling .", "-lsb- it -rsb- has moments that come alive , but is confined by an attitude that fantasy need n't pertain to anything beyond itself .", "a shining improvement over the first two potter installments and , in a comment i never thought i 'd say , i would actually love to see azkaban again .", "hogwarts never felt so real . stunning and delicious .", "cuaron replaces the glossy sheen and rote mechanics director christopher columbus brought to the first two films with a dark , rich intensity .", "moves with a new confidence . it 's less scrubbed and disinfected and throbs with a more nightmarish excitement .", "alfonso cuar\u00f3n has successfully brought a harry potter book to the silver screen without losing the magic that made the series an international phenomenon .", "the third time 's the charm . or maybe it 's the second director . either way , `` azkaban '' proves the boy wizard 's most bewitching big-screen adventure yet .", "the prisoner of azkaban is basically a routine vehicle that plods its way through details without giving much incentive to feel engaged by the specifics .", "it 's lupin , with his shabby dignity and tender concern for harry , who 's the emotional counterweight to the teenager 's sadness and anger , and thewlis brings great warmth to his father-figure role .", "a masterpiece .", "it 's far less self-conscious about how to please an audience and is n't as slavishly interactive with its source material .", "cuaron tries to touch on a couple dozen of the subplots that so delightfully and leisurely unfold in the book , but here come off like a fast-forwarded highlight reel .", "a visually ravishing , narratively crisp treatment that represents a major advance on the earlier installments ... not just a good harry potter movie ; it 's a good movie , period .", "the third harry potter movie is the best yet , seemingly less dependent than its predecessors on cinematic gadgetry , and stronger in conveying its characters and story .", "a new filmmaker provides his take on the third book by author and creator j. k. rowling , providing a darker tone that meets the book halfway for its ... wiser student wizard .", "though harry 's now a teenager , daniel radcliffe has n't grown an inch as an actor . no charmer , radcliffe is barely the british version of macaulay culkin .", "this is one long sit , made all the more so by a turgid story , a dour visual palette and uninspiring action .", "cuaron achieves what the first two films failed at : creating an empathetic , human dimension for both harry potter and the entire world of witchcraft and wizardry .", "the first -lsb- of the series -rsb- that really accomplishes what rowling 's books do so well -- respect the intelligence and imagination of harry 's young audience .", "this time out the spell that 's cast is actually a potent one . cuaron 's talent is the magical ingredient in this concoction .", "he 's great , , the dementors are great , everyone else is great and the film is great .", "brilliantly conceived , harry potter & the prisoner of azkaban is a fantastic step up from the first films .", "where cuaron really succeeds is with the actors .", "-lrb- ... -rrb- esta tercera entrega de harry potter luce mucho m\u00e1s fresca y atractiva , casi como una renovaci\u00f3n .", "the third time is less charming and more serious , yet MOV easily meets our requirements for a bewitching adventure .", "-lsb- alfonso cuaron -rsb- has never made a special-effects movie before , and he 's careful to balance the ooh-ahh moments with human interaction .", "an utter delight .", "in cuar\u00f3n 's hands this fantasy has gone from the wildly absurd into the delightfully real .", "thanks to director alfonso cuaron , a dazzling storyteller with a keen eye for whimsical detail , the third film in the potter franchise is a visual delight .", "... the most emotionally effective film in the hp series ...", "a deeper , darker , visually arresting and more emotionally satisfying adaptation of the j.k. rowling literary phenomenon .", "this is the best harry potter film to date .", "-lsb- cuaron 's -rsb- dark touch gives the latest chapter a fresh bolt of energy and - at last ! - a rush of inspiration .", "azkaban is a great adventure , a work that 's marvelous as part of the franchise and on its own .", "pardon the pun , but when it comes to harry potter films , the third time 's a charm .", "a tremendous achievement in production design .", "prisoner may not be perfect , but when it 's good , it 's very good indeed .", "comes very close to soaring .", "here , at last , harry potter and the movie adventure hauls itself up to the standards set by the brilliant books .", "what 's interesting about MOV is that it is both darker and funnier at the same time than the earlier films .", "a refreshing change of pace . sophisticated and distinctive .", "a picture that 's not only a franchise peak but a high point of the whole summer . for the first time in four years of half-trying , i 'm gathering what all the fuss is about .", "the most powerfully entrancing children 's film in years .", "more thoughtful , but still entertaining .", "the overall look is purposely grim and downbeat .", "... a good , atmospheric stepping stone in the potter chronology , with yet something missing to make it an entirely satisfying movie on its own . -lrb- ultimate edition , blu-ray -rrb-", "just like hagrid when he 's faced with the certain death of his faithful pet buckbeak , the audience falls into the emotional trap that cuar\u00f3n creates .", "this is the best of the harry potter films . it 's not that there 's more magic , it 's just more magical .", "a well-paced tween movie that feels modern , timeless , funny and frightening all at once .", "a great continuation of the series and immediately available for viewing in imax ! see it that way if you can !", "a spell whose effect - though effectively and expertly cast - will not likely last much longer than the time it takes to watch it .", "this is n't a radical departure from the previous films . solid entertainment for fans .", "much like a child going through puberty , the maturation of the harry potter franchise has yielded awkward growing pains for the third film in the series .", "not only is this the best harry potter movie , it is the first harry potter movie that actually qualifies as cinema .", "suitably imaginative visuals and a knack for hitting the high points of the plot without missing a beat ... a fabulously wild ride", "pace , acting , composition , cinematography , moody lighting & score create a magical cinematic experience with greater depth , grit and maturity than the previous two .", "anxiously paced and happily embellished , the prisoner of azkaban trades in conflict of the internal variety . it 's also the first harry potter film worth a damn .", "a dark and sombre film that is spookier but less amusing than the first two .", "assured , visually triumphant filmmaking that is n't simply a joy to look at , but also bewitches with its tightly conceived plotting .", "cuar\u00f3n 's appointment to this franchise is quite simply the most inspired hollywood gamble of the year .", "harry potter fans , stand up and cheer for alfonso cuar\u00f3n , who in taking the reins for the third film in the series , has finally infused energy and vitality into the franchise .", "as magical and adventurous as ever , but perhaps just a smidgen darker than its predecessors , and deliciously foreboding .", "until an even more impressive chapter comes along , MOV looms as the apex of the phenomenal new film franchise based on j.k. rowling 's celebrated series of novels .", "it 's hard to imagine that any harry potter movie will ever top the enchanted achievement of prisoner of azkaban .", "the series ' child actors are now teen actors , and the franchise is growing with them .", "fast , fluid and absorbing .", "a marvelous adventure .", "a big , marvelous entertainment we can feel proud to love .", "a different kind of harry potter movie , a better kind .", "` est llena de magia , diversin y personajes que cuarn ha vuelto ms que entraables . felicidades , alfonso ! enhorabuena . '", "the other films had magic brooms , but this is the first picture that flies .", "at long last , here is a film where the computer-generated imagery actually serves the magic rather than being the magic .", "` something wicked this way comes ! ' promises the tagline -- and it delivers !", "entertaining , but it drains any kind of suspense from harry 's adventures by giving the magicians every variety of spell that they need just when they need it .", "i 'm really happy with how this installment turned out . i can easily recommend that you grab the kids and catch it on the big screen .", "consistently glorious to the eye .", "this is a luminous movie -- luminous , imaginative and affecting . for harry potter , at least , the third time is the charm .", "growing up is hard enough for us muggles ; it certainly ca n't be any easier for wizards and witches . this is the first potter movie that examines this .", "despite generic constraints and audience expectations , cuaron has succeeded in making a personal film", "visually marvelous .", "one of the best films so far this year and a big step up from two previous solid efforts .", "cuaron has imbued a touch of the night into harry and rendered the series a good deal more intriguing .", "the ordinariness of the magical world is a theme that runs throughout the film . where columbus went to great lengths to highlight every fantastical thing about this universe , cuaron treats it matter-of-factly .", "cuaron finds the perfect balance of individual style and faithful representation , darkness and light , and delivers the strongest installment in the potter series so far .", "more magical than its cinematic predecessors .", "a mild upkick in pacing and texture can be credited to director alfonso cuar\u00f3n ... who avoids chris columbus 's mastodon-like setups and knows a bit more about whipping up atmospherics .", "artful , fast-moving and engrossing .", "easily the most clever , emotionally affecting and involving of the adaptations so far .", "a fast-paced , suspense-filled adventure that takes viewers on a wild , mesmerizing , magical ride regardless of their age .", "the most atmospheric , heartfelt and elegantly eerie installment so far ... ` mischief managed ' -- marvelously .", "a whole lot of fun , even for those of us who have n't read the books .", "the effects are a wonder to behold .", "as good a movie as anyone will ever make out of j.k. rowling 's revered novels about the boy wizard .", "scarier , funnier , filmed with real style .", "cuaron has more than done it justice , delivering an enjoyable , beautifully directed film that is comfortably superior to its two predecessors .", "a great film -- not just a fun treat or a solid adaptation , but a wonderful movie .", "not only is this dazzler by far the best and most thrilling of the three harry potter movies to date , it 's a film that can stand on its own even if you never heard of author j.k. rowling and her young wizard hero .", "the potter universe is finally imaged with magical perfection . any chance cuar\u00f3n could re-do hp1 and hp2 ?", "it 's all rattling good fun .", "a darker , scarier , more mature film than either of its predecessors , in my book , better , too .", "the best of the films to date .", "cuaron has done what few sequel caretakers ever manage , refreshing the characters and stories for a long potential run .", "the potter movies come of age .", "the childlike whimsy of the previous potters is dead , replaced by an encroaching loss of innocence and a foreboding sense of darkness . a new punch of life for the series .", "two and a half hours of neck-cramping semi-entertainment .", "... there is very little about this bloated package that delivered anything of great impact , particularly its story-line ...", "a menagerie of menacing and morphing computer-generated special effects make the movie worthwhile .", "rather than a brand new sense of adventure , there 's a sense in this sequel of a rerun , a tendency that even harry 's extreme magic ca n't seem to overcome .", "regardless of its cinematic shortcomings , the harry potter film series still has a ton of life in it .", "ultimately the success of the film lies in the characters , and the emotions that they trigger in us .", "what we 're treated to is less a story than a series of vignettes .", "compared to its predecessors , this is a more wintry , thoughtful and rewarding movie .", "-lsb- director -rsb- cuar\u00f3n 's imagery delights again and again", "cuar\u00f3n has produced the most terrifying and darkly humorous movie adaptation of rowling 's stories to date , giving it a visual flair sorely missing in the previous installments ." ], "summary": "under the assured direction of alfonso cuaron , MOV triumphantly strikes a delicate balance between technical wizardry and complex storytelling .", "id": "10014" }, { "movie": "best_of_youth", "reviews": [ "the MOV more than earns its running time .", "its storytelling style is as close to the novel form as you 'll find on film , both a strengh and a weakness .", "i dropped outside of time and was carried along by the narrative flow ; when the film was over , i had no particular desire to leave the theater , and would happily have stayed another three hours .", "despite many charming elements , this movie is not an example of good storytelling .", "for six hours that seemed more like two , i was wrapped up in a human drama that was also a historical drama and a genuine wonder of filmmaking .", "it avoids the pratfalls of easy melodrama by maintaining a psychological distance from its characters ; there are never any obvious explanations for their choices or behaviors .", "an all-encompassing , life-affirming cinematic experience that resembles no other .", "those who see it will , quite frankly , not believe their luck . it is that satisfying , that engrossing , that good .", "here 's the way you want see the film -- the first two hours in your 20s , the middle two hours in your 40s , and the last two hours in your 60s .", "when the movie concludes , you can talk about these characters as if you actually know them -- which wo n't be far from the truth .", "unfolds like a novel full of characters we ca n't help but care about .", "it maintains a defiant optimism that the actions of individuals matter .", "by the end , we know these characters so well that just seeing any two of them meet draws tears", "a family that seems as real as your own relatives .", "its point is this : that every nation , like a family , is made up of many people who are often at odds with one another , but that ultimately , we are all one .", "MOV has the textures and depth of characterization of a great novel .", "few films have ever made better use of combining social and political history with romantic melodrama and suspense .", "there are some beautifully modulated performances from a vast cast of compelling characters .", "among the least cynical and most humanistic features of recent times .", "extraordinarily ambitious and effacingly accomplished , this is both an affecting domestic drama and a provocative political epic that is never anything less than intimate , intelligent and involving .", "it 's a vast , sweeping epic that thrillingly sets its characters ' lives against a wider backdrop of profound political , historical , and cultural change .", "an incredible experience .", "as a movie-going experience la meglio gioventu leaves much to be desired . if you are interested , buy the dvd instead .", "an impassioned epic that sweeps up its characters in nearly 40 years of human drama and social history , intertwining the two with a master seamstress ' delicacy .", "by the end of this haunting , hypnotic film , you feel you have watched lives being lived , not just imagined .", "this six-hour italian drama spans nearly 40 years in the life of one family , and in doing so , channels half a century in the life of a nation .", "the story this six-hour film from italy tells is full of nuance and complexity , but it is also as accessible and engrossing as a grand 19th-century novel .", "this epic elegy to family and country is a towering work of narrative fiction .", "a story that 's less like fiction and more like the way that families -lrb- and countries -rrb- actually age .", "a touchstone of italian cinema", "works in the engrossing fashion of a good pulpy novel ... using whiskery melodramatic staples to digress into a whole slew of differing scenarios and moods .", "the MOV is no masterpiece , but it has enough truthful , moving moments to make it worthwhile .", "an astonishing , deeply engrossing italian family saga that happens to be six hours long .", "you weep , laugh , celebrate and mourn with the characters throughout the six hours , which at once seem like an eternity and an instant .", "revealing too much of the narrative would spoil the pleasure of learning where matteo and nicola find themselves . `` youth '' sells us on the idea that life is a gift and that beauty and rejuvenation can come from even seemingly unbearable lows .", "a major cinema event of the year , a masterpiece of italian film traditions in social/political realism and historical family epic .", "if you have better eyesight and a stronger lower lumbar than i do , you might confront the challenge of reading six hours and six minutes of subtitles with more enthusiasm than i did . but it 's still six hours and six minutes out of your life .", "traces the quiet failures and proud struggles of everyday lives caught up like driftwood in the currents of history ... conjures up an exultant , slice-of-life authenticity .", "with the six-hour running time , giordana gets the space to let the characters live and let their shared story unfold like a good novel .", "the MOV runs , though never dawdles , for an easy six hours , with barely a false note .", "by the end of the film , it 's as if i know these people , and i want to sit with them again for a few hours . or six .", "a slowly flowering miracle : an epic of normal life .", "a brilliantly orchestrated ode to the heart and soul of modern-day italy .", "in the end , you 'll be savouring an emotion not often engendered by film : tranquillity , a calm acceptance , tinged with joy and flecked with sadness , of life 's up-and-down journey .", "giordana 's redemptive vision provides a sense of discovery and a well of hope in the most devastating of troubles , and beautiful surprises in love , friendship and family .", "a brilliant , sprawling piece of cinematic art , and perhaps the best film of the year .", "this film is either a profound investigation of recent italian history and a loving look at the national psyche -- warts , poetry and all -- or else it 's a really superb soap opera .", "a beautiful , sprawling , wonderful story .", "so in-depth , so appealing , so easy to sit through and so anomalously grand scale that few who see it will ever forget it .", "all the pieces converge in a powerful rush during the second half .", "this is the sort of movie you 'll recommend to friends and they 'll go , ` six hours ! are you nuts ? ' and then call you up and thank you in the middle of the night .", "not to be missed by anyone who cares about the joys , sorrows , and challenges of living in the modern world .", "the result is that valued rarity , an intimate epic .", "a graceful and enveloping feat of filmmaking .", "after all the observations on heartache , politics , art , commerce , passion , identity , mortality , even mental health , six hours begin to seem downright compact .", "rarely have six hours spent doing anything seemed so rewarding .", "it 's a human-scale saga you 'll remember .", "the movie has the addictive episodic intimacy of great tv .", "got a spare six hours ? well , it would be a shame if you did n't , because this sweeping italian drama is worth every minute .", "it is , in short , the best of cinema .", "its themes are for everybody , though this wonderful drama must surely hold a special relevance for the graying boomers who went through those wild years ." ], "summary": "earns its 6 hours running time by telling an engrossing story with compelling characters .", "id": "277029659" }, { "movie": "1142872-sky_high", "reviews": [ "the flick is best in its bittier moments -lrb- watch for the stellar cameos -rrb- , and there 's nothing to trouble the tots .", "a derivative and unappealing comedy about superheroes and their sidekicks in training .", "takes the tried-and-true route of bullies , pg-rated house parties , nerd-dunking , `` that 's my boy '' winking , and vapid teen romance .", "silly and sweet , MOV is a delightfully over-the-top kids ' movie that is a good antidote for the typically pretentious super hero picture .", "a clich\u00e9-dependent disney cheapy that aims no higher than the unsophisticated standards of its pre-adolescent target audience -- and somehow succeeds in spite of itself .", "MOV is funny , smart , energetic , subversive , and has a few substantive things to say .", "any time you can get the strong chins of bruce campbell and kurt russell in a movie together you should .", "while there 's little substance in front of the camera , there 's somehow less behind it .", "a likable mix of laughs and wacky action sequences .", "an engaging and surprisingly sharp allegory about high-school hierarchies and adolescent growing pains .", "a good-natured and witty mix of two modern film genres , MOV is classic disney filmmaking -- fanciful , family-friendly and , most importantly , fun .", "to be honest , the whole thing looks a bit like an episode of television 's power rangers .", "less discriminating , younger viewers may find MOV amusing , but actual high school students are way beyond this kid stuff .", "cheesy as it is , the family comedy MOV does n't even approximate the texture of kraft plastic-wrapped singles .", "this is , indeed , another teen flick , a spotty , stodgily directed , though occasionally clever one , with several cardboard performances .", "the climax , which involves the homecoming dance and a death ray , is frenzied in its effort to entertain , yet ultimately underwhelming , much like the movie as a whole .", "yes , the idea sounds derivative -- ` the incredibles go to hogwarts ' -- but -lsb- the -rsb- script spins that idea into interesting configurations .", "high school sucks , especially when the bullies can toss you from wall to wall or throw fireballs .", "a clever , cotton-candy - light self-parody to the superhero genre that 's both effective and refreshing .", "takes camp to new levels of self-aware mediocrity .", "MOV is a blast-off into good fun for the kids .", "with a crisp and snappy visual style and its smartly paced story , MOV pulls an incredible feat in an age of dumbed-down kids comedies ; it 's as down-to-earth as it is super .", "funny , clever and even a bit inspirational , hinting at the potential for heroism in all of us .", "the formula fizzles when you skimp on the ingredients . MOV never achieves liftoff .", "MOV may set a record for ripping off more movies in just over an hour and a half than any other film in history .", "flying high on fun . superhero teenage movie hilarious .", "smartly written and sprightly played , MOV satisfies with a clever commingling of spoofy superheroics , school-daze hijinks , and family friendly coming-of-age dramedy .", "a didactic disney kiddie comedy that filters run-of-the-mill high school through comic-book superhero conventions .", "harmless family comedy with welcomely loopy asides .", "bright colors contrast the usual superhero dark mode . that 's a plus . but a script-by-committee turns MOV into a john hughes high school clone .", "merely child 's play .", "it 's definitely for the kids , but there 's enough in it to make it a watchable diversion for the rest of us .", "because MOV opens with a fantastically entertaining half hour , it 's hard not to be disappointed when the film morphs into a routine high school drama ...", "... an unexpected treat , crossing the superhero saga with the teenage ` coming of age ' comedy . it 's a clever and often surprising mix that works .", "the film makes up for the paper thin clich\u00e9d story-line by having fun with superhero mythology .", "` MOV ' includes enough funny scenes and colorful characters to hold the interest of adults and youngsters alike .", "we 've already had `` the incredibles , '' `` harry potter '' and a half a dozen other films in similar veins over the past couple of years . we do n't need this .", "it 's inoffensive and sports a positive ` be yourself ' message that 's obvious enough to be seen from space without benefit of hero-vision , but really , there 's very little that 's super about it .", "MOV is not quite what it could have been , but its positive attributes manage to overcome the villainous forces of boredom and lameness .", "it is subversive enough for kids to enjoy and mild enough that parents wo n't feel threatened .", "any film about superheroes should be redundant but this movie offers a fresh , new take", "exaggeration works for MOV .", "quaint , but funny , a clever and well-acted story plugged into a worn formula .", "... un film de disney avec juste un tout petit peu plus de mordant qu ' \u0155 l'habitude .", "-lsb- a -rsb- pure , sweet pleasure ... it 's fun . and given its baldly hybrid premise , that 's pretty super in itself .", "unfortunately , there 's too much deadweight in this listless , unfunny dreck - and it starts with the lead .", "it 's the sort of kid 's fare that parents love to get : genuinely smart , genuinely funny , genuinely fun all around .", "a pleasant enough collection of derivative predictability that 's not without some minor charm of its own .", "there 's nothing groundbreaking here , yet the film is light and fun , and there 's a positive message for kids .", "mike mitchell directs scenes in big , bright comic-strip panels : colorful and exaggerated , with everything spelled out in veritable word balloons .", "a dull , kid-friendly regurgitation of readily available -lrb- and superior -rrb- iconographic comics", "although it aims for spy kids and the incredibles territory , this family entertainment is strictly for those too young to attend the titular institution .", "a lively and lightweight adventure that finds the elusive middle ground between comedy and comic-book heroics that the makers of ` fantastic four ' never did .", "this zippy disney adventure-comedy asks that age-old question , ` is there life after high school ? , ' and answers it with a cheerful ` not really . '", "director mike mitchell deftly blends two genres -- the high school romance and the special-effects-laden superhero comic book adaptation -- and manages to spoof yet salute both with a refreshing lack of pretension .", "MOV is too hopelessly contrived for its actors to be able to make it work .", "an amiable and satisfying romp that will put a smile on the face of viewers young and old .", "it cleverly puts the perils of adolescence on the same level with fights against monsters and giant robots and bad guys who want to take over the world .", "this movie about a high school for superheroes is so good-natured and self-deprecating that it 's virtually impossible to dislike the thing .", "witty , wacky and played with conviction ... MOV soars with a vigor missing from 95 % of movies released so far this year .", "my 12-year-old self would have liked this movie a lot . the 25-year-old me likes it a bit more than he cares to admit .", "stan lee might not approve , but the script , by newcomer paul hernandez and kim possible creators mark mccorkle and bob schooley , gets off some good lines", "a winning combination of teen melodrama , quirky characters and superhero fantasy , almost tailor made for a long run as a saturday morning tv show on the disney channel .", "a very bright , amiable , warmhearted disney family film that is hard not to like .", "finally , a summer family film that can -lrb- and did -rrb- hold the attention of my 5-year-old nephew without getting me in trouble with his parents .", "bright and eager to please , it reworks themes and situations from teen films of a generation ago in a manner that makes a surprising amount of sense today .", "in MOV normalcy gets equated with privilege : this is teenage angst and competition as the kids of bigwig hollywood players must have experienced it .", "i anticipated going to this movie with a dread that was nearly `` MOV . '' but what a pleasant surprise !", "hogwarts for superheroes - the best family film of the year . miss it at your peril ; you never know how many super-villains are living on your street .", "the film struggles constantly just to maintain mediocrity .", "it 's harry potter meets the incredibles minus the memorable characters , hearty laughs , great writing and all around movie goodness .", "disney 's kid flick about a superhero high school is n't groundbreaking , but it is great family fun with a strong cast and a nice sense of entertainment .", "the humor is not necessarily subversive , but it is often subtle and cleverly conceived , which is a super feat indeed .", "a family-friendly and legitimately enjoyable disney flick .", "i had a ball with MOV , and i suspect that lots of stunned moviegoers are going to walk out of the flick feeling the exact same way .", "director mike mitchell and his writing team have a lot of fun tweaking the conventions of the contemporary teen movie .", "the incredibles it ai n't , but MOV will do nicely .", "... a potentially puerile disney movie turned into something we all can enjoy .", "a not-so-subtle metaphor about popularity and puberty .", "there are enough characters in the clean cut satire ` MOV ' to spin-off a dozen saturday morning tv series .", "this inventive superhero movie hybrid -lrb- the incredibles meet the x-men via harry potter -rrb- is one of the most entertaining family films of the summer .", "... a movie based on a high school for super-powered teens may not have seemed like the savviest idea . fortunately , MOV is n't bad . in fact , it 's surprisingly good .", "the film adds a superior level of irreverence that reminds me of films like galaxy quest .", "the script crackles with funny , quotable dialogue and the plot has a lot of fun with the usual teen movie staples .", "MOV pokes gentle fun at growing up , entering a new school , joining cliques , adjusting to friends and parents , dealing with peer pressure , and learning who you are .", "while originality is hardly the film 's strongest suit , its agreeable mix of knowing spoof and kid-pleasing fantasy makes it considerably more engaging than some of the ` straight ' superhero blockbusters we 've suffered recently .", "even though MOV is aimed at kids , everyone else should see it .", "... as far as bringing a superhero angle to the real world , the spider-man franchise has done a more convincing job than this sitcom approach .", "i never thought i 'd say it , but i ca n't wait until this is turned into a tv series ...", "carefully pitched to be watchable by the breakfast club generation and their young kids .", "MOV is adolescent , in the best , age-appropriate sense of the word ; it 's like a john hughes movie , but for tweens .", "just kind of a mildly entertaining footnote .", "i 'm a sucker for comic book movies , and `` MOV '' won me over ...", "it might be aimed at teens , but MOV is fun for parents , too .", "here , teen empowerment takes on a very literal form , even if events never stray far from the world as envisaged in a john hughes movie .", "cartoony high school superhero drama ; ok for tweens .", "MOV is the latest disney teen comedy about the pitfalls of adolescent life , but is much , much better than it seems like it should be in large part due to its strong cast and assured direction .", "... achieves a miraculous level of kitchy zip thanks to its creative casting of kurt russell , lynda carter , and bruce campbell .", "surprisingly clever , spirited and joyful", "confident and strong , directed with enough of an edge to be interesting , written with heart and a genuine wit .", "a brightly entertaining teenage comedy as frothy and predictable as cotton candy , but also just as sweet .", "the creators of MOV have their finger expertly placed on their movie 's pulse .", "the clever script finds the fun while michael angarano keeps the emotions real as a kid who learns that real friends do n't care if you 're a star .", "MOV does n't make any big statements . in fact , modesty is a big part of its appeal - even its cheesy special effects add to the warm , homey quality it strives for and achieves .", "worried it might be redundant given incredibles ? worry not . MOV stands mightily on its own , albeit employing a standard formula . i had a great time .", "MOV is a diverting family comedy that at its best aims to be a live-action incredibles and at its middling a live-action episode of kim possible .", "by today 's whiz-bang standards , may seem a tad tame and old-fashioned , but it 's a harmless trifle whose easy-going , undemanding tone should appeal to younger viewers .", "... avoids originality as if it were an infectious disease .", "a lighthearted , albeit sanitized , teen movie that marries 1960s kitsch to 1980s angst with sharp one-liners , sight gags and a lunatic-fringe supporting cast of comedians .", "high schoolers -lrb- who are shown chugging only soda pop at a supposedly rowdy party -rrb- will rule this movie lame , though early grade-schoolers might bite .", "MOV has n't a single original idea in its bird brain .", "the movie offers good-spirited fun with a family tilt .", "surprisingly fresh and entertaining .", "if you thought hogwarts was the only secret school for extraordinary kids , welcome to the amusing , yet cheesy MOV .", "there 's nary an original bone in its cinematic body ... and it is movie-licious nevertheless : very clever and visually hilarious , it 's a simple , charming delight .", "squeaky clean , but not to a nauseating degree , MOV is engaging enough for the whole family to enjoy .", "this is essentially an innocuous disney gimmick movie , not entirely juvenile but still completely dependent on formula .", "dissatisfying to an adult audience accustomed to more sophisticated parody ... will resonate with young viewers on their way to high school .", "MOV soars" ], "summary": "this highly derivative superhero coming-of-age flick is moderately entertaining , family-friendly fluff .", "id": "2127" }, { "movie": "santa_clause_3", "reviews": [ "magical -lrb- if mindless -rrb- family holiday fun .", "you look at a movie like this and wonder how some screenwriters can have the temerity to go on strike", "special effects are in abundance , but none of them are very well-produced , much like the film on the whole .", "it 's sad to see the life sucked out of a series that started so well .", "short 's skill and total commitment to his role make him no straw-dog villain , and his chemistry with allen helps the movie 's santa feel like a real live person and not an imperturbable icon .", "frost turns the occasion into a swag-saturated consumer orgy , which the film condemns even as it hams up product placement for red bull .", "while it may concern elves and christmas , ` the MOV : the escape clause ' is more dreary than cheery .", "there is no escaping the banality of it all .", "a little muddled and derivative but what do we expect , really ?", "christmas cheer is in short supply in the MOV : the escape clause , a feeble festive farce that 's more no-no-no than ho-ho-ho .", "the third though probably not the last in the successful clause franchise , this latest installment again stars tim allen as the everyman turned father christmas .", "what is seriously missing here is any sense of fun and warmth , which the other movies did possess . this one looks like work .", "so bad , it makes me want to convert and celebrate hanukah this year .", "an ugly , dispiriting , prefabricated lump of coal . with any luck , the MOV will be but a distant memory by the time december 25 arrives .", "has some cool glimmers of what the series did best , showing a real guy reacting to the mythology of santa claus . unfortunately , more than 2/3 of the film is made up of silly , cartoonish antics that are more embarrassing to watch than they seemed to perfor", "the pogo vibe of the first two films is missing from the new picture , but what it lacks in bellylaughs in makes up for in reliable entertainment value - an increasingly lost art .", "it 's all as genuine as tinsel and as stale as last year 's candy cane , but there are a few very mild pleasures , including alan arkin and ann-margret as scott 's in-laws and a loony dance number with short backed by elves .", "you play santa claus once with enthusiasm , twice with affection , three times for a paycheck .", "there 's little in this unnecessary sequel to put you in a festive mood -- unless you just love bad canadian jokes , farting reindeer and manufactured ` magic . ' humbuggery !", "nuance surely is n't MOV : the escape clause 's name , but its performances are pleasing % u2014 martin in particular brings a smirky , self-centered glee to his role % u2014 and its story is n't condescending . it 's brisk and colorful , right on", "you 've got to hand it to director michael lembeck ... he 's succeeded in persuading studio bosses to let him make not one but two sequels from premises that were dead in the water from the word go .", "badly written , shockingly acted and appallingly directed threequel that will please precisely no-one .", "santa 's traditional cry of ho-ho-ho has never sounded more like three stab wounds of pain and horror .", "cinema is far too powerful a medium to be graded on a curve -- even when tim allen is involved .", "the movie is more cute than funny . smiles are plentiful , but outright laughs are widely scattered .", "oh how the executives shook with their chortles as millions poured in through each cinema 's portals .", "... there 's little doubt that the santa clause series has finally run out of steam .", "a desperately lazy and unoriginal exercise .", "the MOV strikes out .", "the scriptwriters have continued their inventive treatment of humanising santa , while keeping the fantasy intact . colourful and bright , funny and witty , it 's a magical fantasy that will please young and old", "it 's time to send this one-trick reindeer to the glue factory .", "fans of the first two films in the series can expect more of the same in this serviceable yet unduly bland g-rated comedy that 's all too reminiscent of those by-the-numbers sixties-era disney films that usually starred either fred macmurray or dean jones .", "bah , humbug .", "i liked the first two , but this franchise has expired .", "bah humbug ! the MOV is a lump of coal in your stocking . it 's at the top of the `` naughty '' list . it 's about as appealing as a stale fruitcake .", "shot almost entirely on a single set possibly left standing from the last film , it features what looks like first-take performances and a script that 's inane even by kiddie-movie standards .", "tim allen seems bored with his own franchise . at times , he looks downright morose , cranky enough to kick an elf .", "the movie 's as icy as jack 's hair , as lifeless as its animatronic , flatulent reindeer .", "allen and short seem to be having so much fun that their enthusiasm is entirely contagious . let the season begin .", "mrs. claus having a baby is creepy . at least we do n't see the birth , the sight of mrs. claus in stirrups would have been too much to bear .", "the characters are all two-dimensional , or maybe one , except martin short as jack frost .", "the MOV is holiday filler , stuffed with unearned emotion and trite sentimentality . the good news is it runs just over and hour and a half , which means parents wo n't have to glance nervously at their watches .", "this movie is either going to warm the coldest cockles of your heart , or you 're going to throw up all over yourself before slipping into a diabetic coma .", "if there is truly an escape clause in this movie , use it .", "it 's like a family channel movie escaped and hid out in a movie theater .", "although we 've barely had enough time to finish clearing the halloween cobwebs , those hardworking elves at walt disney are already here to shove a little christmas down our throats .", "allen looks silly , tired and bored this time in the fat suit and beard , while the movie presents the irritating martin short as jack frost , nipping at your nerves as santa 's nemesis in a bid to take over and -lrb- gasp ! -rrb- commercialize christmas .", "kids , you can tell how much your parents love you by how far away they keep you from this worthless fiasco .", "the gag reel that plays over the end credits is funnier than this slushy comedy .", "i always say if there 's anything the santa claus legend needs , it 's a time travel component .", "jack frost gains control of santa 's workshop and turns it into a las vegas-style theme park -- supposedly a hideous inversion of christmas values . so blandly commercialized is the movie 's vision of the holiday that you can hardly tell the difference .", "it 's very , very difficult to care , because the movie is structured so poorly .", "perfect entertainment for five-year olds and sheer torture for the unlucky parent -lrb- s -rrb- accompanying them to the theater .", "the santa clause films may speak to the need for family connections , but this third movie represents another part of the season : the need to move product .", "ok , so MOV is n't the stuff classic christmas movies are made of , but the franchise still manages to invoke some genuine yuletide spirit . hard to believe , but it 's true .", "kids in elf drag , not very funny comedy on scrupulously antiseptic sets , and that faint wave of nausea that passes for a tug at the heartstrings in corporate filmmaking .", "this styrofoam snowman of a sequel overdoses on its own candy-cane-colored sugary cheer .", "as a full-service holiday movie , the MOV : the escape clause gets you into the mood to shop early and often by making the north pole look like a shopping mall with a never-ending school pageant .", "despite martin short 's highly entertaining turn as jack frost , this second sequel lacks the charm of the first two ` santa clause ' movies .", "a gaudy but bland lump of coal in this year 's cinematic holiday stocking .", "rather than cheer your favorite winter character , you 'll more likely search for an escape clause of your own , as this overstuffed three-quel milks the reindeer dry one last time .", "MOV : the escape clause , with martin short as jack frost , means we 're getting a turkey and a ham for the holidays .", "a thing of consummate craftsmanship , a smoothly engineered and fundamentally lifeless object that 's nevertheless capable of giving even the grinchiest moviegoers a brief attack of the warm-and-fuzzies ." ], "summary": "playing jack frost as an evil cross between liza minnelli and liberace , martin short is a welcome presence , but this tired series continues drawing from its bag of bland gags and dumb slapstick .", "id": "353654309" }, { "movie": "to_be_and_to_have", "reviews": [ "MOV works in the grandest tradition of documentary filmmaking -- it keeps company with a small , specific place going about its business , and from it parses the whole world .", "this heart-wrenching documentary about a french village schoolteacher at work offers the comedy and pathos of great drama and the visual magnificence of painting .", "contains some of the most stirring footage i have ever seen on the act and art of teaching children .", "one of those unassuming films that sneaks up on you and stays with you long after you have left the theatre .", "at once a testament to the divine calling of education and a demonstration of the painstaking process of imparting knowledge .", "in a way , the film feels like a breath of fresh air , but only to those that allow it in .", "deep , honest and unforced .", "amounts to a rare gift and an opportunity to appreciate the end of an era .", "inspiring and beautiful .", "philibert and his crew remain invisible throughout most of the this film 's running time letting a way of life that is surely short-lived speak for itself .", "the fly-on-the-wall method used to document rural french school life is a refreshing departure from the now more prevalent technique of the docu-makers being a visible part of their work .", "the director 's patient approach pays real dividends , in the way he observes the kids ... at work and at play in such a beneficial environment .", "it 's not as if we really need another reminder about the importance of education . but it 's still nice to see something like MOV , which manages to impart that message with subtlety and more than a little poignancy .", "you wish it would have been a little more ambitious .", "beautiful documentary .", "a fascinating and necessary movie , a document that preserves a pure form of teaching before it slowly fades away .", "it 's a perfect show of respect to just one of those underrated professionals who deserve but rarely receive it .", "an unhurried model of nonfiction filmmaking and a vision of life at its most persuasively humanistic .", "the american school system would do well to take a page from mr. lopez 's slow-but-steady curriculum .", "it is n't just an ode to teaching -- it 's a lesson in growing up .", "this is a film that all aspiring teachers should see , as well as veteran teachers who might have lost track of what teaching is all about .", "as touching as goodbye , mr. chips -lrb- 1939 -rrb- , this is an excellent companion to spellbound , another beguiling documentary about children .", "it demonstrates without overreaching what an actual teacher can do to shape lives .", "one of those rare movies that works as a humbling experience .", "the beauty of MOV is that lopez 's loss is n't the audience 's . this movie is a portal , leading to a living museum of childhood .", "the most unvarnished cinematic portrait of childhood i 've ever seen .", "the magical dynamic we witness , of recitations and math problems and disciplinary chats and vocabulary drills , all of it performed with exacting sympathy and focus , is genuine to the touch .", "the small triumphs and frustrations these children experience are more affecting than a thousand life-and-death battles between adults .", "auditing a class has never been more fun .", "more often than not you may find yourself unexpectedly smiling .", "one of the year 's most engaging films .", "fails to do justice to its potentially fascinating subject .", "simple but deeply touching .", "warning : as you note the incredible rapport this teacher has in a one-room schoolhouse , you may well become enraged at the way our cities are cramming thousands of kids into each of our education factories .", "a deceptively simple french film about teaching that keeps enlarging as you watch it , becoming beautiful and inspiring in a way most films never touch .", "MOV feels like a deep , sweet pull of spring water .", "exhibiting the same sort of patience as his sensible hero , philibert has created an extraordinarily humane portrait of a partnership between one adult and his very fortunate charges .", "nicolas philibert observes life inside a one-room schoolhouse in northern france in his documentary MOV , easily one of the best films of the year .", "a film that is a portrait of grace in an imperfect world .", "so superb , so graceful , so strong -- another beauty in this year of good documentaries -- that i do believe it will influence career choices , sending inspired viewers to study pedagogy , or cinematography .", "a testament to the scary responsibility of primary education , and a powerful tribute to the nobility and unselfishness -- and vital importance -- of the teaching profession .", "watchful viewers -- particularly those with fond memories of a favorite teacher -- will be deeply moved by this film .", "as quiet , patient and tenacious as mr. lopez himself , who approaches his difficult , endless work with remarkable serenity and discipline .", "a wonderful french documentary about a diligent teacher in a one-room classroom who revels in those magical moments when learning yields insight and delight .", "the film is as tiny as an altoid and as curiously strong .", "one of the most compelling documentaries of the year .", "a counterintuitive film about a small schoolhouse in rural france , MOV gets its punch from simple scenes and conversations .", "MOV is a movie every teacher should see , and every parent , too .", "at times , it feels as stultifying as watching paint dry , without the recompense of sniffing fumes .", "-lrb- lopez 's -rrb- teaching is simply one of the purest expressions of love i 've ever seen on film .", "philibert unobtrusively captures the priceless looks of concentration and confusion that come from a total unawareness of the camera 's presence .", "sweet , ultimately poignant portrait of a year in the life of a one-room school in auvergne ... an evocative , observant portrait .", "reveals ... the teacher 's - and the director 's - love for the children and an aching nostalgia for a way of life that 's on its way out ...", "in its discussion of the natural , essential roles of learning and teaching in life , \u0119tre et avoir is an elegantly shot , eloquently stated , first-class report ." ], "summary": "a small , sensitive , and moving portrait of a teacher and his students .", "id": "18562" }, { "movie": "from_russia_with_love", "reviews": [ "much of it borders on the inept and the embarrassing , and that goes for the title song sung by matt monro , the `` singing bus-driver '' .", "one of the finest bond outings , this flourished in the paranoia of the times before the franchise was devalued by an over-reliance on gadgets , camp quips and a skittish lack of focus or direction .", "creative cold war bond thriller is best for teens and up .", "it 's not too different from the non-bond action thrillers of the same era , in which company it falls well short of the top film , north by northwest . plenty of period charm , though , and a few of the bond franchise 's most austin powers-esque moments .", "it has more in common spiritually with le carre than fleming . only after james bond 's vulnerabilities have been further exploited than in `` dr. no '' does he succeed . `` russia '' is about as far as it gets from the biggest bond , but it 's easily the best .", "one of just a couple bond adventures that is genuinely great as cinema .", "everything that worked in dr. no is fully realized here . sean connery is 10 times more confident here as 007 , oozing charm and masculinity .", "the second bond is one of the best in the series , due to the intriguing plot , sinister villains , and fabulously staged fight aboard the orient express .", "the film lacks the exotic , colourful flamboyance of the best of its successors . so shoot me .", "the stylish second bond film MOV now looks as if it was shot yesterday .", "with a tight , witty script and unforgettable baddies , this is one of the very best entries in the series , stylishly cementing the formula -- for good or ill .", "for my money , still the best bond , with a screwball plotline that keeps the locales changing and the surprises coming .", "standing at the pinnacle of the series , MOV shows how good a bond film can be when all the ingredients mesh .", "... more outright suspense and excitement than any of the newer concoctions .", "the narrative is plodding , time has not been kind to set-pieces that were once so thrilling and now seem oddly perfunctory , and 007 's misogyny and casual slapping of several women is more than faintly repellent .", "honestly , nobody does it better . .", "this is probably the best bond film made .", "sean connery 's second outing as james bond became his personal favorite , and that of many bond fans around the world . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "... a pivotal entry within the series ...", "sophisticated ? well , not really . but fast , smart , shrewdly directed and capably performed .", "MOV is a preposterous , skillful slab of hardhitting , sexy hokum .", "frwl has character and dash , and even something of a conventional plot , all worth revisiting for this pin-sharp restoration .", "bond 's still finding his legs in this adequate entry , not quite lost in the shadow of the subsequent goldfinger .", "one of the shiniest examples of bonds from golden connery era .", "it 's one of the franchise 's highlights , and if the dated action can be forgiven , a cracking cold war story .", "any bond film starring connery remains a delight to watch .", "a thrilling espionage adventure chock full of iconic characters , set pieces and one-liners .", "as a non-fan of the ian fleming super spy and a moderate admirer of such films as moonraker , i find that the essential point of enjoyment to be the films ' very flaws : the admiration of their kitsch factor .", "a fantastic spy thriller , connery is bond", "one of the best of the bond films .", "a james bond movie with the sensibilities of a classic cold war thriller", "ce deuxi\u010dme opus continue d'exploiter avec un plaisir coupable les possibilit\u00e9s infinies de cet univers cin\u00e9matographique fonctionnant uniquement \u0155 la testost\u00e9rone", "only `` goldfinger '' was a better bond for connery .", "007 is very much with us again , and anyone who has n't yet got to know him is urged to do so right away !", "3.5", "this film began the fine tradition of deviating from ian fleming 's novels , which gave us the suave , sophisticated bond over fleming 's monosyllabic misogynist .", "connery 's best bond . never again would he be this assured . this is closer to a classic spy thriller than any other bond .", "classic bond . more plot heavy , but still has a great gypsy fight , train fight and helicoptor boat chase . rosa klebb is a classic .", "the best bond ever . period !" ], "summary": "the second james bond film , MOV is a razor-sharp , briskly-paced cold war thriller that features several electrifying action scenes .", "id": "10737" }, { "movie": "don_jon", "reviews": [ "the fact that one can think of a movie about a guy hooked on porn as charming is high praise .", "the screenplay is generally predictable in its story of redemption , and it does n't have an ounce of subtlety .", "it 's difficult to rate a movie that does n't really start until its last half hour .", "an impressive debut as writer/director/star .", "MOV has attitude , conveyed as much through the solid performances as it is through the director 's unflinching approach to some complicated subjects .", "i find it a film that 's much easier to admire than actually like .", "joseph gordon-levitt has teetered on being the next big thing . he 's finally there with ` MOV , ' a grownups-only movie about addiction and compulsion in which he stars . he also wrote and directed this movie about a man 's obsession with pornography .", "this is a very funny , well-written film . unlike most romantic comedies , it is both thought-provoking and introspective .", "very funny and with some social commentary , `` MOV '' is an admirable first effort for gordon-levitt behind the camera .", "if MOV does not offer a lasting d\u00e9tente in the war of the genders , it does smartly delineate the gap between men 's and women 's respective fantasy lives .", "joseph gordon-levitt has turned out to be quite a good director . he has a very powerful style of editing and incorporating sound and music cues , with a light touch that 's so important in communicating with an audience .", "a bold choice", "MOV 's addiction is a fun , occasionally flabby romp that should find its audience .", "often light on its feet , bolstered by the reliable charms and writing chops of its leading man .", "much like its main character , this comedy is good-hearted , a bit clumsy , endearing , and incredibly rough around the edges .", "... propulsive and thoroughly watchable ...", "a truly original character piece , hilariously funny and poignant , with enough humor and heart that more people will be able to relate to the characters than they 'll care to admit .", "it 's an admirable effort and a lot of fun . i only wish it were n't trying quite so hard , or that by trying so hard it does n't still manage to undermine its own lesson .", "gutsy , sexy , and hilarious . MOV 's addiction bulks up the body and career of joseph gordon-levitt .", "an assured directorial debut as we 've seen in recent years , gordon-levitt 's comedy is vibrant and poignant and moves like a shark with nary a dull second .", "offbeat , frank and often surprising gem .", "joseph gordon-levitt and scarlett johansson give smashing performances .", "filled with frank conversation and gutter language , mysogynistic with misandry thrown in , it 's probably not possible to make a tasteful movie about a subject as distasteful as masturbation , but this movie does n't even try .", "it 's julianne moore 's character who most allows MOV to upgrade from being a humorous and perceptive movie about naughty internet connections into a heartfelt and perceptive movie about necessary human connections .", "joseph gordon-levitt has firmly cemented his place among hollywood 's elite .", "if you can handle the porn , go see this movie , if for nothing else than to experience how very talented joseph gordon-levitt truly is .", "gordon-levitt has delivered a lively , timely , and decidedly adult look at love and sex that is both uncommonly mature for a first-time director and very fresh .", "a romantic comedy with edge . joseph gordon levitt makes an impressive writing and directing debut . scarlett johansson is terrific .", "technology has enabled this don to do what the original don juan may have ultimately wanted : to be pleasured alone , giving nothing of himself .", "it 's a strong picture with substantial sexual imagery -lrb- earning its r-rating -rrb- , but also an effort that miraculously finds the core of the lead character .", "the movie takes a roundhouse punch at male shallowness , but jon , in and out of his clothes , is not an interesting enough man to be emblematic of anything .", "the movie is a broad ethnic comedy , but there 's nothing broad about the wicked-smart way it 's executed . even long-played-out stereotypes take on new life .", "not just good for a film directed by an actor or a first-timer - it 's a solid , entertaining film . period .", "the year 's best comedy to date focuses on a lothario who is able to rise to many occasions .", "any revulsion the viewer might feel toward jon 's solitary cyber-sex is counteracted by the sheer charm gordon-levitt exudes as MOV , and by the light touch he brings to his beautifully paced script .", "the dialogue 's frank and much of what we see is explicit enough to make this a film exclusively for grown-ups . luckily , the emotional places gordon-levitt takes his characters are pretty grown-up , too .", "the self-assured helmer shows genuine affection for his characters , balancing their openly satiric qualities with a disarmingly sincere human center .", "crude , repetitive and rigorously single-minded , the popular actor 's writing and directing debut lays it all on a bit thick , as the few points the film has to make are underscored time and time again .", "despite its promising risqu\u00e9 premise , `` MOV '' is a relatively conservative paean to monogamous relationships .", "for his first time behind the camera , gordon-levitt is already showing signs of great promise . it 's a stereotype that actors-turned-filmmakers focus solely on performances , and while MOV is certainly a well-acted movie , it 's also a good-looking one .", "joseph gordon-levitt 's directorial debut , MOV , does for porn-dependence what shame did for sex addiction by offering a surface-level look at the effects of its specific pathology on its lead male character .", "it 's amusing but not especially insightful .", "-lsb- gordon-levitt 's -rsb- skills as an actor , and those of co-stars scarlett johansson and julianne moore , keep us watching , even as public-place modesty makes us want to look away .", "one of the most adventurous actors of his generation , gordon-levitt has a good sense of just how graphically he can depict jon 's addiction and maintain the sympathy of both men and women .", "every detail of this modest film is well thought out and executed , from the spot-on casting to the canny use of sound and music ...", "a sharply funny and insightful examination of modern love .", "MOV is so friskily risque , with teases of what turns jon on and frank dialogue to match , that you do n't notice the movie is stuck in a rut until julianne moore shows up late , offering jon an older , wiser perspective on sex and relationships .", "when you look past MOV as gordon-levitt 's movie cotillion , it 's a painfully superficial and paint-by-numbers story that offers very little character development .", "a perceptive and often funny story with a refreshingly mature attitude about sex .", "gordon-levitt has crafted a whip-smart , richly cinematic film with some very funny moments and a lot of heart .", "MOV is like watching a far more well behaved jersey show . it takes the same beats presented on that awful reality show and polishes them for a more compelling and complex experience .", "-lsb- moore is -rsb- touching , johansson is wonderfully awful and gordon-levitt is electric , making it easy to forgive the movie its meannesses .", "funny , witty , honest and eventually heartfelt , without having to pander to saccharine fantasies or gross-out raunch humor that have become mainstays of rom-com cinema .", "MOV '' is obnoxiously funny , effortlessly identifiable , unusually tender , obscenely amusing , and an enjoyable r-rated comedy that is sure to captivate both sexes .", "from ` pillow talk ' to pornography in three generations ! sleazy yet seductive , joseph gordon-levitt cleverly distinguishes the different between lust and love .", "-lsb- gordon-levitt -rsb- can act , and there 's a possibility he can also direct , but there 's no evidence in MOV that he can do both at the same time .", "`` MOV '' is a lark , but an enjoyable one with a full-hearted finale , and it further reveals the considerable talents of gordon-levitt .", "for a first time feature filmmaker , this is a brave attempt to examine the clich\u00e9s of a modern romance .", "levitt somehow pulls off the oxymoron feat of a feminist chick flick porn comedy . and with no small credit for this hollywood upstart , owed to his parents from my own alternative radio network . thus his enlightened upbringing for this meaningful movie .", "not a great movie , but a filthy-funny , sweet and smart one with a third act punch that will take your breath away .", "even when his story starts getting serious , gordon-levitt always keeps it funny , and his cast is in on the joke .", "merely ends up trading one beefcake delusion for another .", "`` MOV '' is hardly as slick as its main character fancies himself , and that 's ok . after all , as gordon-levitt 's movie takes great pains to illustrate , what we constitute as perfection often proves to be a deceptive illusion .", "unconventional in the best ways , MOV is a charmingly smutty story about a man , his porn , and a much deeper struggle within .", "joseph gordon-levitt makes an auspicious filmmaking debut with this somewhat risky romantic comedy .", "never before has gordon-levitt disappeared into character as he does here .", "the biggest problem is jon . he 's unlikable from the start and never improves .", "gordon-levitt 's roots in culture go deep ; he chalked up his first tv credit at age seven , and he was already a seasoned performer when 3rd rock from the sun came along in 1996 . with MOV , he proves just as adept behind the camera .", "brave , bold and bone rattling , gordon-levitt 's MOV makes for a bumpy -- but undeniably satisfying -- cinematic ride to the dark side , and back .", "if `` MOV '' feels like a film that is spread too thin amongst multiple genres , it only goes to hint that gordon-levitt might be as talented behind the camera as he is in front .", "`` MOV '' proves that joseph gordon-levitt is one of the best and most versatile actors working today , and shows promise for a future behind the camera as well .", "this is the kind of american movie that comes along far too rarely . it 's funny and entertaining , but it remembers who we are as human beings , does not shy away from our many flaws , and finds something endearing in all of it .", "before it flies off the rails in the final act , joseph gordon-levitt 's first self-penned , self-directed star vehicle , MOV , is an uncommonly provocative spin on familiar rom-com tropes .", "the movie becomes increasingly soft-edged and sappy .", "MOV deals quite beautifully with the idea that real love can often be distinct from other phenomena that are commonly mistaken for love -- like the narcissistic desire to be loved .", "it 's somewhat hypocritical that the movie has it in for romcoms , but what are you gon na do ?", "this is a sweet , lively and funny movie rather than a fully realized one , but it makes clear that gordon-levitt has a natural feeling for cinema and should do more of it .", "MOV is visually interesting without being overbearing . the script finds a witty way to confront serious issues . and levitt-gordon takes on the personality of a guy straight out of jersey shore .", "it all still works , despite its obvious problems , in large part because of its likable lead . but gordon-levitt should probably find a different writer next time .", "sexy , insightful and maybe a little twee , MOV is about to hit its demographic like a toy commercial on saturday morning .", "gordon-levitt proves a natural filmmaker , nimbly staging jon 's highly amusing catholic confessions , along with porn montages that mimic the dopamine-charged editing of requiem for a dream .", "on page and screen , gordon-levitt mostly fails to transform his bulky title protagonist into a multi-dimensional figure . he belongs in the final 15 minutes of an snl episode , not at the center of a full-sized comedy .", "the sound of one hand clasping .", "the final moments hint at beauty and grace in jon 's new relationship , but for the movie , it 's already too late .", "in his writing-directing debut , actor joseph gordon-levitt fails to identify a purpose that might bring audiences into his passion project .", "the messages of the film are stark and genuine , much more so than one might expect having seen the promotional material .", "the strange spiritual journey of a young porno addict who shifts his perspective and is set on a different path .", "undoubtedly raunchy , but it 's also pretty funny -lsb- and -rsb- far more mature and insightful than the frat-boy gross-out farces that come down the pike every week or so .", "versatile actor joseph gordon-levitt turns to writing and directing with this smart , sexy , sweet , and hilarious comedy about the difficulties of forging and sustaining relationships .", "the result is a bit confused but shows a genuine talent at work .", "a sharp turn on the romantic comedy , a movie about flawed people doing flawed things , often in funny fashion .", "gordon-levitt is no slouch when it comes to taking risks as a filmmaker . i ca n't wait to see what he does next .", "it 's a dark comedy about matters of the heart , and how far some people go to take their minds off such matters .", "-lsb- although -rsb- gordon-levitt says a little bit about a lot of things , ... MOV is a continuously entertaining and fitfully provocative first-time effort .", "MOV -lsb- is -rsb- a bruisingly funny , bracingly smart comic dare that marks a stellar feature directing and writing debut for joseph gordon-levitt , who plays jon with humor , heat and sneaky heart .", "gordon-levitt demonstrates he is a filmmaker with promise who blends a good ear for dialogue with fine pacing and an eye for making a good-looking picture .", "the end is satisfaction enough to justify the initially explicit means .", "alas , i did n't buy a word of it .", "the entire movie seems to recalibrate and rebalance itself around -lsb- moore -rsb- , shifting convincingly into something more than a surface-heavy evocation of sterile on-screen onanism .", "a film that should be compulsory viewing for all preteens , sexual content be damned , as it may just save them a lifetime of disappointment .", "it 's refreshing to see a movie so visually undemonstrative .", "despite a contrived and sentimental ending , this is an entertaining riff on men and fantasy .", "this certainly wo n't find a mainstream audience but it is fresh , well executed and entertaining .", "there 's little here to care for or about : what promises to be a friskier version of shame winds up closer to a very special episode of jersey shore .", "with this writing-directing debut , joseph gordon-levitt delivers a remarkably assured comedy-drama while also giving himself a role that 's far against his usual type .", "starts mischievous and moves into maudlin .", "not exactly an original idea . but gordon-levitt goes at it with gusto , and style . give the guy some props .", "in the end , `` MOV '' offers the promise of progress without pat answers . it also offers the promise of the future work of an undeniably talented actor-turned-director .", "it gets harder and harder to support this passion for porn .", "a thoughtful , original and provocative feature-length directorial debut from joseph gordon-levitt .", "`` MOV '' deserves praise for wearing its message lightly and yet for daring to present such a lecture in today 's internet-drenched environment .", "gordon-levitt 's confidence is appealing , even if the film itself mistakes redundancy for profundity .", "gordon-levitt is on top form , as is johansson as the type of girl who only takes her gum out to eat .", "wondering what exactly is revealed as a cure to MOV 's addiction ? why , good sex , of course ! thanks , geniuses !", "thankfully , the women of the film are what save the movie , bringing something fresh to the table-for jon , a chance at lasting love , and for us , some seasoned comic chops .", "MOV is no kind of resonating masterpiece , but it 's intelligent , thoughtful , funny , and dedicated to the cause of finding a personality and sticking with him through the excess of his addictions .", "it 's in movies like the ribald but surprisingly endearing sex comedy MOV that gordon-levitt has connected best with audiences .", "writer-director-star joseph gordon-levitt is so savvy about the workings of our small minds that he knows just how to reel us in -lrb- sex -rrb- before schooling us on the important things in life -lrb- love -rrb- .", "gordon-levitt 's characters feel real and `` MOV '' is a convincing , authentic , funny , modern romance .", "hearing the star of `` who 's the boss ? '' drop about 500 f-bombs is one of the film 's few pleasures .", "joseph gordon-levitt 's debut as a writer-director-actor resembles a porn addict 's groundhog day , and not in a good way .", "although the film 's character portraits are vividly drawn , they remain largely one-dimensional .", "joseph gordon-levitt 's porn addiction topic may not be for everyone . however , it 's a great first movie from a terrific young actor and now writer and director .", "a ` saturday night fever ' for a new generation .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he movie has no clear idea who this man is .", "at least 80 % of it is snappy , droll fluff , while the other 20 % is what you get when you persuade julianne moore to be in your movie : in a word , better .", "one of the best of the year .", "MOV humanizes the jersey shore type by burying itself beneath the muscles and hair gel with a story about learning how to connect with another human being .", "smart , witty and more than a little melancholy , MOV is a fist-pumping success .", "though MOV succeeds in being funny at every turn , it is less successful in being a movie with something important to say .", "as a director , gordon-levitt demonstrates considerable technical flair through stylistic flourishes and coaxes great performances out of his co-stars .", "a lively , savvy film with some great performances from some surprising quarters .", "the naff accents and exaggerated mannerisms become very tiring over 90 minutes .", "the work of a young director reaching to impress without having fully formed ideas ...", "in a bravura performance , gordon-levitt sleazily revels in the role of bad boy ... but it 's a character undistinguished by light or shade and becomes wearing , a sex drive that ends up a cul-de-sac .", "these are caricatures rather than characters , and neither levitt nor moore ever quite lock step with the film 's snappy sitcom tone .", "a minor triumph that manages to raise some big laughs while delivering a thought-provoking message .", "a superbly acted and sporadically amusing character study , but it 's let down by an overly repetitive script , painfully underwritten female characters and a lack of chemistry between gordon-levitt , johansson and moore .", "the film manages to be extremely efficient , conveying its points , making the audience laugh , getting viewers invested and even breaking our hearts in just 90 minutes .", "actor joseph gordon-levitt does double duty , making his feature writing/directing debut with this terrific and unusual comedy that taps into this year 's cinematic focus on porn while following the basic groove of `` saturday night fever . ''", "rarely has a film offered such raw and honest talk -- with visuals , too -- about male sexuality .", "r-rating aside , it should be required viewing for every 15-year-old boy on the planet .", "writer/director/star joseph gordon-levitt takes an intriguing subject - human attraction - and nimbly probes it with wit , insight and a disarming forthrightness .", "by the time jon learns that `` you have to lose yourself in another person '' -lrb- a nice turn of phrase -rrb- , it 's too late for us to lose ourselves in the movie . `` MOV '' is already gone .", "-lsb- a -rsb- deceptively sincere movie about masculinity and its discontents that mr. gordon-levitt , making a fine feature directing debut , shapes into a story about a young man 's moral education .", "it 's never boring , but the film plays like a thesis on the modern condition more than a genuine depiction of a romantic relationship .", "joseph gordon-levitt 's writing/directing/starring debut is like its diamond-in-the-rough title character . it shows a lot of unrealized potential , with enough charm to ease you past its shortcomings .", "an overheated disquisition on the pleasures and limitations of masturbation .", "gordon-levitt 's cracking directorial debut depicts porn/sex addiction infinitely more realistically -- and rollickingly -- than 2011 's absurdly-overrated snoozefest shame .", "i wish gordon-levitt had done a lot more with this material . there was definitely potential there . -lrb- full content review for parents also available -rrb-", "who would have thought one of the most amusing and oddly insightful romantic comedies would be built around the power and the potent pull of porn ?", "the movie has a keen understanding of how easily we can hurt other people by not considering them .", "funny at times and touches on some interesting issues . but the jersey caricature is so embarrassing that it ultimately sinks the film .", "really , `` MOV '' could have - should have - gone on another 20 minutes . then again , when was the last time you felt that about a romantic comedy ? or any movie ?", "much like my high school geometry homework , gordon-levitt gets the answer right but he fails to show his work .", "smart , funny , contemporary and sharply made .", "gtl comparisons aside , jon 's sublime journey extends well past the shenanigans along the jersey shore 's old boardwalk .", "irreverent romcom about porn is insightful but very graphic .", "joseph gordon-levitt turns the gym-tan-laundry routine into an art form with MOV , his vibrant and viciously profane directorial debut .", "jgl . dtf . sorta .", "MOV is a solid debut , but my guess is that joseph gordon-levitt will have some more exciting cinematic adventures for us as his career behind the camera continues", "a fascinating and often compelling film , and a clear sign that gordon-levitt is a filmmaker of note whose future is bright if he continues to not play it safe", "MOV is a terrific directorial debut from gordon-levitt - funny , moving and with something to say about family and relationships .", "gordon-levitt shows promise as a director and his debut has bags of cinematic swagger .", "joseph gordon-levitt has not yet reached the `` star '' level where he can carry a movie .", "gordon-levitt has such a charismatic screen personality we can forgive him - to a degree - for most of his storytelling faults .", "joseph gordon-levitt makes an assured debut as a writer-director with MOV , a cultural critique of the expectations placed on relationships in an environment saturated with media misrepresentations of both women and men .", "a film with tense , ironic energy in the way that scenes flow and shots collide , but in a way that feels a bit overfamiliar and safe .", "`` MOV '' is bold and clever . very sophisticated and mature in the way it showcases the sexuality of men and women .", "as a director , gordon-levitt 's not just going places-he 's already arrived .", "MOV is a most unconventional romantic comedy . what 's not so obvious is it 's also one of the most relevant romantic comedies you 'll ever see .", "by treating jon with sympathy but without sentimentality , gordon-levitt has given us a daring portrait of modern masculinity .", "the sophisticated outrageous adult comedy we 've been waiting for all year . it 's smart , funny and has a charming message while hinting at joseph gordon-levitt 's seemingly limitless potential .", "gordon-levitt enlivens MOV with such a sense of swagger , as a director , writer and actor , that the film feels fresh .", "unexpectedly bold and finally endearing , an impressive first directorial effort from a performer who has clearly learned a lot from being on television and movie sets all his life . gordon-levitt is the undeniable real deal .", "MOV is a bold , sexy , and completely original comedy that proves gordon-levitt can do pretty much anything he sets a mind to .", "johansson walks away from MOV with one her best performances to date .", "gordon-levitt keeps things riotous for the film 's first hour , and if he eases into an ending that 's a little hollywood-standard , after having so much fun tweaking form and content , i 'm guessing audiences will cut him some slack .", "a barn-door broad burlesque of joisey stereotypes and holy-cannoli accents . it 's saturday night fever drawn in crayon ." ], "summary": "MOV proves to be an amiable directing debut for joseph gordon-levitt , and a vivacious showcase for his co-star , scarlett johansson .", "id": "771325165" }, { "movie": "tarnation", "reviews": [ "powerfully moving , revelatory , cathartic filmmaking .", "one of the most powerful examples of film as self-healing , ` MOV ' astonishes both as art and as testament .", "background is provided by affectless , unemotional words that seem to float on-screen , adding to the sense of dislocation , of fractured fairy tale .", "a documentary on the making and selling of MOV - its most fascinating selling points - could have been more cohesive and compelling than the movie itself .", "a fluid , emotionally acute movie full of soul and raw energy .", "MOV may not always be pretty , but it 's pure , powerful stuff .", "it 's one of the best movies of the year , and simultaneously one of its oddest .", "utterly absorbing and accessible .", "heartbreaking film .", "mesmerizing .", "feels as if it was thrown together , that an amateur was looking for ways to learn about new gadgets", "half self-indulgent and half excruciatingly self-aware .", "getting so close to real-life mental illness , via footage that spans many years , renders MOV a uniquely potent experience .", "` MOV ' does not engage the spectator . one is uncomfortable but , with no point from which to approach , no more than that .", "i did n't enjoy MOV , i did n't like it , i did n't particularly want to stay and watch it - but i respect it .", "a film that defies description . i 'd call it some kind of miracle .", "hey , it 's not every 11-year-old boy who wants to grow up to be ellen burstyn .", "an unusual documentary about a young man who has been a good steward of his childhood suffering and pain , creating out of it something that may prove to be helpful to others .", "not only very good indeed , but something bracingly new : a home-movie phantasmagoria that 's simultaneously an uncompromising autobiographical confession , saga of tragic family dysfunction , touching love story , and hypnotic avant-garde collage .", "... it seems fairly obvious that the movie would 've been far more effective had caouette reigned in some of his over-the-top directorial choices .", "a kaleidoscopic found-art project that looks to redefine the nature of documentary filmmaking .", "i do wonder if it 's possible to review MOV without fearing that you 're complimenting the emperor on his new wardrobe", "profoundly intimate , disturbing and compelling ride through caouette 's autobiographical , trauma-filled emotional roller coaster .", "caouette has crafted 19 years ' worth of home movies , video diaries and answering machine messages into a bracing autobiographical fever dream .", "MOV coalesces into a pop-art diary , the self-made soap opera , the arthouse version of a reality show . a fascinating but bloated movie .", "as a first-time experimental filmmaker , caouette displays remarkable directing and editing skills .", "undeniably compelling , it 's proof of the therapeutic potential of filmmaking , but also of our limitless propensity for morbid curiosity .", "a soul-baring scrapbook of a film , its audacity surpassed only by its tragedy .", "here 's hoping your kids ' home movies never look like this .", "although aggressively unconventional , it 's never pretentious .", "you should n't go see `` MOV '' because it was made so cheaply . you should see it because it was made so well .", "an astonishing multimedia diary ... all accompanied by a scrolled family history that is as harrowing to read as a ransom note .", "MOV is visually inventive , even dazzling at times , and the music is terrific , but the subject matter is hugely depressing and weirdly narcissistic .", "a haunting , riveting film that 's as self-serving as it is revelatory . it 's movie-making as therapy , and i hope it worked .", "a disturbing self-portrait limned from the filmmaker 's relentless narcissism and his fetishization of mental illness , family dysfunction and personal suffering .", "caouette lifts his story clear out of the victimized whine that bogs down so many confessional memoirs and offers the viewer instead an intimate look inside his ravaged yet loving head , at once street-smart and haloed by the naivet\u00e9 of a young saint .", "as raw and personal as a movie can be , the equivalent of a cinematic journal or diary . but it 's also artfully constructed and articulated , written , edited and musically designed with often jolting brilliance .", "the images are hypnotic and unnerving , elevating what might have been a masturbatory exercise into something transcendent and genuinely moving .", "MOV is some kind of triumph of personal expression -lsb- but -rsb- also maddening at times in caouette 's lack of restraint ... defiantly -lsb- is -rsb- what it is : one of a kind .", "it is a remarkable film , immediate , urgent , angry , poetic and stubbornly hopeful .", "a masterpiece .", "caouette 's movie succeeds because of its cinematic showmanship , injecting the personal documentary form with an urgently expressive avant-gardism .", "caouette deftly overcomes all such labels with his new film MOV , a surprising , shocking and genuinely compassionate look at his own life .", "the film is moving and disturbing at the same time .", "MOV is a collage of pain that breaks over you like a wave .", "caouette 's triumph over his harrowing childhood and adolescence is itself a huge accomplishment -- but with MOV , he has used art , wit and a huge heart to forge his experiences into an unqualified masterpiece .", "certainly one of the strangest and most interesting movies of the year , and i suspect that in years to come a number of other strange and interesting movies will show traces of its influence .", "caouette has taken the broken pieces of two lives and slowly , painstakingly , pasted them together -- and created one superb work of art .", "the results , cuisinarted but coherent , are an entrancing , egocentric trip into a life so unfavored by fortune its owner would be forgiven for believing in past-life crimes and karmic retribution .", "a tale of overwhelming sadness and fierce histrionics .", "as caouette lays out events in storybook fashion , what pulsates through MOV is that life , even at its most hellish , is a thing of perilous and desperate rapture .", "it 's one of the best debut films in recent years .", "harrowing , extremely disturbing at times , but brought to the screen in dazzling pop-art images that make the movie 's grim content very much worth watching .", "a bold , painful memoir located in an innovative middleground between conventional documentary and homemade home-movie collage .", "it 's a riveting high-wire act by a young man on the verge .", "the film is in the may program of the charlotte film society , and even the cfs has offered few pictures this compellingly strange .", "como toda confesi\u00f3n , en la que alguien desnuda su intimidad sin pudor para quien quiera escuchar , MOV es capaz de generar desde la fascinaci\u00f3n curiosa hasta la incomodidad y el rechazo .", "full of real humanity and occasional insight , this is not the most feelgood movie you 'll see this year , but in its total honesty it does manage to be important and moving .", "a twisted pastiche of pain , suffering , and narcissistic indulgence .", "an original , personal , emotionally touching documentary , which represents a new type of indie , based on innovating filmmaking .", "witness his hilarious high school musical rendition of david lynch 's blue velvet : much like the documentary itself , it 's a heartbreaking , beautiful monstrosity .", "jonathan had plenty to be woeful about , but the movie is best when it slips quietly into the pockets between his family 's dramatic episodes .", "as performance art born of personal pain , `` MOV '' stares teary-eyed into how genetics , culture , environment and susceptibility conspire to trigger mental illness - a documentary more to be experienced than simply viewed .", "nearly impossible to watch , thoroughly unpleasant yet strangely arresting .", "there 's no doubting the deep love caouette feels for his troubled mother , nor his achievement in forging such a rawly emotional film from his own traumatic experiences .", "the mesmerizing , trippy and thoroughly heartbreaking result of two decades ' work .", "often this is like watching a film by a diane arbus who grew up in the video age .", "both enlightening and creepy in almost equal measure , but it 's more than a stunt : it 's a cry of anguish you 're not likely to forget .", "no film has ever , ever affected me as much as this one did . i do n't know whether it 's a great movie , or just particularly good at hitting all of my buttons .", "a sometimes heartbreaking , sometimes frustrating , never less than convincing peek into a family that takes the fun out of dysfunction .", "tinged with nostalgia and flooded with narcissism , this is n't easy to watch . but caouette 's fractured history is imbued with heart-crushing sincerity .", "MOV leaves the viewer in a positive state of mind .", "an unflinching self-portrait that traces difficult lives and does n't back down from the emotional rawness of the subject .", "it 's just devastating stuff .", "a kaleidoscopic vision that is often heartbreaking in its raw depiction of real-life events , but it can also be exhilaratingly impressionistic .", "both nakedly revealing and irrepressibly arty , it 's a therapeutic home movie made as form-redefining documentary morphed into aesthetic object .", "a remarkable and remarkably compelling document .", "a daunting blend of head trip , cin\u00e9ma verite , music video , and auto-therapy .", "it is to be hoped that mr. caouette can make many more films of all kinds , but he will probably never again be able to cut to the bone of his existence with such sublime feeling .", "a lacerating portrait of a family in free-fall .", "by all odds , MOV should have been an unwatchable , masochistic morass , but caouette 's love for the broken renee -- which is the true subject of the film -- is awe-inspiring .", "it 's almost hypnotic , as the family members do a dysfunctional two-step with each other , and MOV will sweep you up with a style unlike no other documentary .", "a tortured , inspired , convulsively beautiful film memoir .", "it transcends the recent trend of self-revelatory documentaries and becomes something rare : art .", "it 's disturbing , funny , uncomfortable , heartbreaking , and absolutely facsinating .", "not for all tastes , but for those who come to the table with an appetite for something different they will be treated with a special home cooked meal .", "its fierce emotional honesty ca n't be denied .", "it is a brave personal statement .", "for all the horrors MOV exposes , it 's ultimately a supremely uplifting experience for the simple reason that jonathan caouette survived .", "the movie climbs inside your head and rattles your consciousness .", "in making beautiful peace with a difficult past , caouette has delivered a promising vision of a future .", "MOV is a kinetic kaleidoscope , an explosion of expressionism . it 's the product of a mind blown apart , but not completely away , by tragic circumstances .", "a genre-busting creation , a breakthrough in filmmaking that 's strange and raw and difficult to watch .", "a hopscotch through the looking glass in whose shards caouette has chosen to define and explain himself .", "both deeply touching and aesthetically powerful ." ], "summary": "using music and home video footage to great effect , jonathan caouette has made a very personal and moving film .", "id": "17160" }, { "movie": "mechanic", "reviews": [ "with `` the MOV , '' statham has found a vehicle nicely suited to his narrow but nevertheless real talents .", "less frenetic than your usual jason statham action franchise film , this remake of the 1972 charles bronson/jan-michael vincent vehicle is more of the kind of character-driven suspense audiences often say they want .", "a sputtering remake in need of a more powerful recharge .", "... services its action like an insensitive lover - hard , rough and fast . but its one-night-stand approach to the genre probably wo n't attract the loyalty luc besson 's seductively euro-trashy transporter flicks have earned .", "`` the MOV , '' 2011 edition , is a striking-looking work , combining an arty inkiness with a retro-graininess that more or less screams 1970s , albeit without the cliches and flatness . if only you liked the people in the picture .", "considerably more fun than the rather lethargic original .", "statham has at least three more movies coming out this year . i bet at least one of them will be better .", "even by the sloppy , soulless standards of hit man movies , `` the MOV '' is a mess .", "the auteur who gave us con air ... is back , extending his cinema terrible of violent , unthinking nihilism and brutal , pointless action . oh , and misogyny for fun . hoorah !", "jason statham does n't stretch much as an actor . he does n't have to . his taciturn delivery and bullet-headed intensity make him the perfect star for the current amped-up trend in action movies .", "statham has my respect for two reasons : 1 -rrb- he 's one of the few remaining action stars who is n't claiming his pension , and 2 -rrb- he has yet to star in a disney movie in which he must babysit projectile-vomiting children .", "statham convincingly breaks faces with effortless ease . it 's as if he studied at the lee strasberg institute of badassery . he is the stanislavski of neck-stomping .", "some slack was needed for hard edged thriller the MOV to truly blossom into a thing of brutal beauty , rather than the cold action film presented before us .", "it 's a boys ' movie with a big bang finish", "it never pretends like it 's going to be anything more or better than what you expect , and it never gives you anything less than totally entertaining gun blasting , car crashing and face smashing . lots of it .", "the MOV is like a beretta loaded with blanks -- quick and brutal but ultimately empty .", "in the end , the MOV proves that while revenge is a dish best served cold , revenge movies are best served with fire in the belly .", "if you enjoy senseless and creative slaughter , the sound of gunfire , the sweet embrace of explosions and the well-muscled-testicle-like visage of jason statham , then this movie may well be for you .", "the assassin gets a conscience in this fast-paced action thriller that offers a few interesting twists between its huge stunts , ''", "am i the only one who would n't mind seeing jason statham play something besides a coolly efficient butt kicking machine ?", "slick , swift and edgy enough to keep you glued .", "engineered to do exactly what you want : smash , crash and gurn . another b-movie franchise for the stath ? quite possibly .", "people who think they do n't make movies like they used to should check out the MOV , a persuasive replica of a 1970s b-film with much of the same genre splatter .", "when it comes to the vehicle of an action movie , statham is a first-rate MOV .", "an intermittently arresting , mostly standard action entry that deals death noisily more than cleverly - a lot like the original .", "overly stylized and slick , with a few moments of brutal simplicity .", "over the past decade or so , jason statham has morphed from french connection clothes-horse to brit-pic also-ran to international action hero - and after sitting through the MOV i can semi-see why .", "... may be preposterous at times , but it exudes style and swagger .", "while that pop mythology was still relatively fresh back in bronson 's day , it 's so played out at this point that not even the enjoyably no-nonsense statham can pump any life into it .", "to paraphrase roger murtaugh , 43-year-old jason statham might be getting too old for this bone-crunching , head-smashing , action-thriller nonsense", "exceedingly violent action remake also has sex , drinking .", "-lsb- the -rsb- plot feels like a standard issue r-rated action picture from the 1970s , which is not a good thing when the current year is 2011 .", "tomb raider maestro simon west 's remake of the 1972 action thriller ca n't be bothered with nuance , intrigue , or piquant detail .", "a mixture of hackneyed script , explicit violence and a plot with no thrust .", "like the original , it is a moody , atmospheric film , one boasting significantly more depth than your typical blow - 'em - up .", "a solid , unremarkable action movie and there 's absolutely nothing wrong with that .", "nobody delivers the action thriller goods better than jason statham", "if the action did n't work , it would be as forgettable as the film that spawned it . but simon west 's shiny and swift direction , inspired by tony scott sensationalism and invigorated by a louisiana blues score , just about manages to grip .", "it 's nuts-and-bolts action cinema , of the kind that does a job come saturday night : on the stath-o-meter , nothing so delirious as crank , but a marked improvement on the transporters .", "wo n't win any prizes at charm school but delivers the goods .", "it proves middling , and occasionally muddled , on almost every level .", "a summer popcorn flick for the winter : this loose remake of the 1972 charles bronson actioner is an unpretentious generic feature that delivers the basic goods and serves as suitable star vehicle for jason statham", "the company men with guns , but no families or pensions . all they have is their job , and retirement literally equals death .", "glitzy trash , a violent bauble so ludicrous and over-the-top that it reeks of luc besson 's influence .", "a sleek , brutally succinct thriller that showcases jason statham 's sly talent for being just that little bit better than he has to be in roles that favor brawn over brains .", "how much longer can statham keep afloat unremarkable action pictures ? will he ever burst out of his comfort zone and surprise us ?", "statham and foster play off each other nicely , and director simon west strikes a playful balance between carnage and conviviality , gore and gregariousness .", "it 's a fairly entertaining action flick , fun for the superficial swill that it is .", "it 's about gunplay and pricey sports cars bursting into flames while three or four cameras capture the moment . in slo-mo . cue the cool music .", "there 's really no clear reason why a remake was warranted or why statham , so exquisitely calibrated to action-comedy weirdness , would sign on to rehash the -lrb- far better -rrb- past glories of humorless seventies action flicks .", "-lsb- video -rsb- anything you do , do n't underestimate `` the MOV . '' this is one badass movie .", "if you called it dumb fun , you 'd be half right .", "credit this action flick with self-awareness : it does n't try to dazzle with deep meditations on aging assassins filled with regret . this is a movie devoted to celebrating mayhem , which it does with straightforward flair .", "yet one more formula flick about a taciturn killer who , despite his penchant for slaying and maiming , actually turns out to be the kind of nice guy you might consider friending on facebook .", "takes a few moments for social commentary in the form of a zaftig cult leader with a weakness for double-fudge cake and 18-year-olds , but the point of the exercise is a rollicking good time", "statham is a model of control ; he 's steely and graceful in his action scenes , and his interplay with the wiry foster delivers the goods .", "its black heart is in the right place .", "the MOV provides a killer fix for a boring afternoon .", "ramping up the action , and forsaking a bit of credibility , may seem like a cop-out , but it 's an enjoyable one all the same , albeit , hardly groundbreaking as action films go .", "a substantial improvement over its impossibly dull predecessor ...", "a serviceable , if brutal assassin action pic whose formula flaws are easy to overlook with jason statham and ben foster involved .", "` the MOV ' is kind of a remake of a 1970s-era charles bronson movie . and it 's kind of a vehicle for jason statham , who has cemented his reputation as a tough-guy action star in the ` transporter ' and ` crank ' series .", "clinging to false heroism and terrified of anything too dark , the MOV is a tough-guy movie for wimps .", "better than the transporter but not as much fun as crank .", "have n't we already had enough movies about solitary , enigmatic hit men ? is there anything possibly left to do with the genre that 's new ?", "let 's not denigrate the term `` action film '' by applying it to the remake signed by director simon west . this is a violence film , not an action film .", "standard statham stuff .", "this is a superficially chic offering , which skips along pacily enough but leaves very little impression .", "a MOV seems like a thinking man 's occupation . the MOV , though , barely has a thought in its head .", "the movie has about as much of a story and character motivation as the video game pac-man , but that 's ok .", "adding more explosions and gunplay does n't make the story any more interesting .", "`` the MOV '' tells a story as old as `` hamlet '' in a style as new as unbaked bread . what 's the point ?", "the look and feel of this version has a gritty seventies edge that makes it feel less like a remake and more like a tribute to the original .", "` the MOV ' is the prototypical early year action movie-nothing more and nothing less . statham , who again plays an infallible , lethal bad-ass , seems to have carved his niche as the current go-to guy for b-movie action flicks .", "donald sutherland and ben foster : you 're so good you 're distracting me from the film .", "watching statham in action is always worth the price of admission .", "i feel more comfortable forking over my twelve dollars for a movie by jason statham than i do for a movie by just about anyone else .", "the remake of the mechanichas no guts at all . it wants to make a happy , shiny , feel-good hit man movie while pretending to be all badass .", "the MOV threatens to deviate from the statham action movie template , but only for about 40 minutes .", "the 2011 film , by comparison , is a tightly wound , more stylish creature .", "the new stunts are explosive , over-the-top and a sign of the times -- action fans are n't happy these days , it seems , unless at least one scene involves a jackknifing 18-wheeler and a fireball .", "the MOV is well acted and provides plenty of gunfights and explosions but the action sequences are underwhelming , the plot lacks focus and the overall effect is disappointing .", "director simon west makes statham and foster sexy , sexy , ruthless killers . i want this to be statham 's next franchise . foster sexiness vibrates through a lousy haircut , bad facial hair , and a creepy cap .", "while i would n't go so far as to call the MOV truly dull , it 's definitely missing what has made other statham action vehicles stand out so well : creativity .", "frantic , numbing redo of the charles bronson original for hardcore statham and action fans only .", "mostly , the MOV creaks and groans as it goes through the motions , and not even its lavish violence -- which includes much smashing of heads and a nasty screwdriver stabbing -- is particularly electrifying .", "the MOV is ham-fisted pulp , like robert rodriguez 's machete taking itself seriously .", "statham is , in his understated way , a satisfying action star , stoically going about his business . foster is just a flat-out good actor , as anyone who saw his work in `` the messenger '' or `` 3:10 to yuma '' can attest .", "the new version delivers in a far more conventional way , but it does deliver .", "while the MOV does n't retool the formula of a hit man movie , it certainly serves it up better than expected .", "depth of character is an afterthought : the principal dilemma our heroes face is , how best to eliminate the next faceless goon that enters our path ? to which the answer invariably is : use the gun .", "the MOV is adequate light entertainment for those who enjoy thrillers , but it is uneven and the underwhelming ending will disappoint those who enjoyed the delicious irony served up by its predecessor .", "statham , the british star of the transporter and crank films and an old favorite of guy ritchie , has a quietly fierce physicality , a stylish masculinity that makes him appealing to both men and women .", "the MOV is my kind of action movie : nasty , brutish , brisk and ass-kicking .", "-lsb- simon west -rsb- goes for headshots , stabbings and other dispatches that are the antithesis of modern pg-13 action filmmaking .", "if you 're looking for substance , character development , and an engaging storyline , you 'll sadly be disappointed as this film is seriously lacking in all three of those areas .", "a brainless and easily-forgettable thriller .", "somewhat faithful to the original , but a stupendously violent fiasco that weasels its way into being unlikable .", "the MOV will be a decent time-killer for statham fans , but it 's another black mark against the name of director simon west .", "... a minor pleasure to see an action film that makes a virtue of lean , mean action stripped to the essence .", "statham , he of the chiseled physique and sexily receding hairline , holds his own here , doing what he has to in scenes and no more -- which is perfect for a movie like this .", "statham has slowly become this generations ' bruce willis , combining a quiet and sly screen persona with the ability to kick major ass when called upon", "a passable , but emotionally empty , action film that fails to capitalize on its interesting characters .", "jason statham is quickly becoming the 21st century 's bruce willis -- i am convinced that when the apocalypse comes , the only things left surviving on the planet will be cockroaches and this derbyshire-born bloke .", "the MOV is revenge served up well enough to blast the winter blues away .", "this is a movie you seek out for action rather than acting and character development . it provides a great escape from the winter doldrums .", "ben foster knows how to simmer as well as go berserk on camera with the best of them , and his performance here gives him plenty of opportunity to show off those acting chops .", "contains the line : `` i 'm gon na put a price on your head so big , when you look in the mirror your reflection 's gon na want to shoot you in the face . '' that 's pure action-movie dialogue poetry . no way am i not giving a film with that in it a thumbs up .", "if you do want an ambiguous thriller about the inner lives of hitmen , watch the original MOV . if you just want a flashy modern action film , the new one will do .", "an efficient thriller with certain intellectual pretensions .", "there 's nothing to the plot and to describe in detail the action scenes would take the fun out of the experience for action fans who could n't care less what the story 's about anyway .", "if you are the best of the best , it 's probably not a good idea to add a drunk psychopath as your partner .", "check your brain at the door and enjoy .", "this is pulp fiction territory , where torturing people to get information is par for the course , and opening fire may summon your victim 's bodyguards but never the police .", "an impressively made action drama that is tense , exciting and excellently performed .", "you wo n't get better than average with the MOV , you 'll get exactly average .", "when it 's smashing up the joint , repelling from skyscrapers , or spraying bullets , the film is hypnotic , deploying a sure hand of violence that keeps matters visceral , splattering blood everywhere .", "the MOV has the right tone for an action movie . the characters take it all seriously , but the story just goes wildly over the top for the sake of creating awesome set pieces .", "sure , we 've seen the whole `` criminal caught in a moral crisis '' before . luckily , this time around , everyone ignores the ethos and just kicks ass .", "that scowl on jason statham 's face may not have budged a millimetre since lock , stock and two smoking barrels , but his latest action flick proves that his grim cockney-lout routine can still be plenty effective .", "expecting logic from the director of the wonderful con air is not the wisest move , yet simon west frequently depicts events in such a baffling manner that one wonders whether someone snuck into the editing suite with a pair of scissors .", "despite the dependably uber-cool presence of jason statham , the MOV does n't wield enough inventiveness or attitude to fix its overriding sense of familiarity .", "depth of character is traded for bloody broad strokes .", "based on the 1972 thriller starring charles bronson , this MOV is a far more nuts and bolts job , eschewing the surreal atmosphere of michael winner 's original .", "mindless brutal mayhem , signifying very little", "` the MOV is your basic action movie - earning its r-rating via sex , nudity and violence . everything you could ask for , other than an engaging story or characters that will keep you interested throughout the entire film .", "a solid if unnecessary and compromised remake of the 1972 existential hitman thriller ...", "the result is just good enough to pass as an action flick you watch with the forgiving gaze that comes from too many beers and too little sleep .", "if you 've already seen the bronson vehicle that was released almost 40 years ago -lrb- or if you 're an action fan in general -rrb- you wo n't be in for many surprises , but that does n't mean the new rendition is lacking in entertainment value or nail-biting suspense .", "... a thrill ride , running on an empty tank .", "granted , this is not oscar material , and it is very violent , but i enjoyed it for what it is -- a fast-paced , shoot-em-up that 's meant to help you forget the winter doldrums", "it 's all a bit convoluted and preposterous , but statham and especially foster make a great tandem of assassins .", "there is a line of dialogue said by tony goldwyn 's character that is worth the entire price of admission ! other than that , the rest of the film is mediocre at best .", "jason statham , with his growling , british accent and his working class looks , is one of the best action heroes in years , and he steps easily into charles bronson 's shoes .", "not nearly as fun as an action movie starring jason statham from the director of `` con air '' should be .", "west 's slick , fairly faithful new remake gives partial screenplay credit to lewis john carlino , who wrote the original `` MOV . '' but the picture is n't likely to do for jason statham what the 1972 film did for bronson .", "with its unrelenting violence and obligatory bonking sessions , this is one for avid ` stath ' fans only .", "the only hitman movie i 've ever seen that has a `` taking your puppy to a coffee shop '' montage .", "what are we supposed to take away from the film ? director simon west would probably prefer that we not bother to think about it , or anything , at all .", "mr. statham , the specialist in english tough guys who was so affecting in `` the bank job , '' has more to offer than `` the MOV '' has the grace to receive .", "the film does n't break a centimeter of new ground , but its stripped-down mayhem and more-nuanced-than-necessary performances are a modest surprise .", "to the extent it makes sense , it 's a collection of time-honored cliches , and to the extent that it 's original , `` the MOV '' is insane , bordering on gloriously insane .", "if more dutiful than dynamic , it does fix what was previously broke , making over its subpar predecessor into a generic yet serviceable statham vehicle .", "as a january time-waster you could do worse , but it 's long past time to start demanding more of this genre than shoddily-written revenge stories shot with the bungee cam .", "betrayal , sympathy and regret are central to the story , but there 's hardly any room for such feelings amid the clockwork carnage .", "if bronson moved to the cadence of a death march , a drawn-out requiem for an executioner losing his taste for the work , statham 's hurtles toward a climax that 's less diabolical but more satisfying .", "the MOV is marked by relentless blood-letting and violence , with in-your-face crashes and explosions and all the other wild-eyed and utterly illogical activity that makes good action/adventure so exhilarating to watch .", "the interplay between dry arthur and crazy , caustic steve is what makes the movie fun .", "the arthur/steve relationship at the movie 's heart is what lifts the MOV above the common run of kablammo ! action thrillers .", "the elements were in place to do much better , and the MOV eventually succumbs to its lost potential .", "a weak script and a fumbled climax seriously deflate what could have been an explosive thriller .", "there just is n't enough consistent energy to light up the glum , generic plot or enliven the one-dimensional performances .", "jason statham needs to get a tune-up , switch gears and hit the gas .", "despite all his high-octane assignments , the only imperfection statham receives is the crow 's feet on his face . that 's because his invincible shield protects him from all the rest of the body-razing annihilation that his person should have endured .", "the first legitimate action film of 2011 .", "why hire simon west and then not let him try to make another con air ? that 's just cruel , for all concerned ." ], "summary": "jason statham and ben foster turn in enjoyable performances , but this superficial remake betrays them with mind-numbing violence and action thriller cliches .", "id": "771022182" }, { "movie": "other_sister", "reviews": [ "the surprises are interesting , but not enough to save the film from itself .", "warm-hearted but ultimately soft !", "a torturous endurance test !", "never manages more than a glib , tv movie-of - the-week glance at their lives .", "everything is reduced to a transparent formula . and everyone plays their schematic part .", "a neatly wrapped made-for-tv homily !", "for what is supposed to be a poignant love story , the MOV fails to show much spark .", "giovanni ribisi could be his generation 's dustin hoffman ... he could also be his generation 's richard benjamin ...", "grotesquely sentimental , shamelessly manipulative and fundamentally bad .", "the film pushes the outer limits of just how long anyone with a normal i.q. can watch what should be a tv sitcom .", "builds toward an emotional crescendo that will fill you with tears , many of joy .", "impresses with its hardy ability to tickle and tear its audience .", "it 's as dull as a butter knife and slowed to interminable mediocrity , and inadvertently brings to mind the title of marshall 's autobiography : `` wake me when it 's funny . ''", "this movie offers itself to us like a cow with too many udders .", "the press notes describe the MOV as ` uplifting ' and ` bittersweet ' ; a more accurate description would be ` insulting . '", "it has all the right cast members ... but it cripples them with the screenplay .", "has neither the imagination nor the reach of forrest gump .", "instead of frank talk about real issues , `` sister '' stubbornly accentuates the positive , offering up gorgeous houses and a sweeping pop soundtrack instead of any sort of insight into the problems a woman in carla 's situation might face .", "lewis is terrific !", "lacks the depth of thought this complex topic deserves .", "beautifully acted !", "the charming innocence in this unusual take on first love and first heartbreak gives the MOV its special quality .", "mostly works thanks to lead performances .", "it pirouettes past problems , exuberantly celebrating two folks who fall in love .", "watchable fun .", "lewis portrays carla with a purity that is innocent and winning !", "one of the most genuinely sweet love stories to come along in quite some time .", "shameless in its use of mental retardation as a gimmick , a prop and a plot device .", "so over-the-top maudlin that it makes patch adams and stepmom look stoic and reserved .", "there 's a word for this vulgar family-therapy movie : retarded .", "not only is the film way too long , but it often comes across as extremely haphazard with many scenes seeming too random , unattached to the greater picture and/or orphaned midstream ." ], "summary": "made-for-tv drama evokes anything but real emotion .", "id": "10244" }, { "movie": "lost_boys", "reviews": [ "a supremely watchable example of something the '80s did right .", "for the most part , the movie is goofy fun .", "the movie may not offer a lot in the way of serious frights or even originality , but it is most definitely weird and decidedly funny .", "it laughs at the form it embraces , adds a rock-and-roll soundtrack and , if you share its serious-satiric attitude , manages to be very funny .", "killing bloodsuckers was enough to make fright night a hit , and it will probably do the same for the crass , obvious MOV .", "ultimately , this is a film for nostalgic fans and for kids with the appropriate dark leanings , but it 's not going to wow anyone else .", "did i mention both coreys are in it ?", "directed with a cavalier disregard for intelligibility , this has to be one of the most anaemic vampire flicks ever made .", "the MOV is not a movie you want to put in a time capsule or even revisit , unless your name happens to be corey .", "a coffinload of dvd extras to sate your MOV bloodlust !", "when everything is all over , there 's nothing to leave the theater with -- no real horrors , no real dread , no real imagination -- just technique at the service of formula .", "it 's often sloppy and thinly plotted , but this is , after all , a summer movie , and if it 's nothing to really sink your fangs into , it 's often very funny .", "there 's always room for fancy trash , and this movie -- about a gang of punk vampires terrorizing the new kids in town -- seems capable of providing some . then the characters open their mouths .", "a horrifically dreadful vampire teensploitation entry .", "though there is enough gore in the film to satisfy the typical bloodthirsty filmgoer , its strong suit is deadpan humor .", "schumacher falls far short of the talent for pop wit that joe dante showed in gremlins and the howling .", "a master mold of horror and comedy ...", "southern california is n't exactly transylvania , but the settings are effectively spooky . and there 's some amusing satire on the horror-pic genre . the plot is weak , though .", "the MOV , which attempts to be funny while preserving the shock value of the vampire legend , aims somewhat higher ... and misses .", "the MOV is heady , cutting-edge vampire stuff . mind you , it 's also very tongue-in-cheek . so watch out for those fangs , gang .", "joel schumacher 's 1987 teen vampire flick is ageing well . part of that is down to the sexy blend of bad lads , bloodsuckers , camp comedy and carnage , but the quality of the cast plays a huge part too .", "while it 's not quite as original or witty as it could have been , this unashamedly glossy take on vampire mythology has a clever script that 's packed with twists , and builds to a surprisingly tense climax .", "a corn-ball '80s vampire classic ! starring the two corey 's !", "a schlocky and stylish teen-oriented gorefest that 's humorously off-kilter and frothy -- it 's something worth sinking your fangs into !", "overdirected and junky , but mildly amusing .", "gothic style , humor and sexy stars -- a cult classic", "the picture affirms that the only thing truly important is this image of the older brother with his arm around the younger .", "with its cool cast and classic kiss-off ending , the MOV will forever be a cultural touchstone of '80s cinema . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "one of the best thrillers of our time ... rocks as well as it rolls", "arguably joel schumacher 's finest film .", "it has n't aged well . at all .", "a hugely enjoyable picture that proves joel schumacher really can direct and that not everything about the 1980s was awful .", "despite its flaws , however , the film is an interesting addition to vampire cinema .", "an exhilarating hybrid of horror and suburban comedy .", "schumacher ` s sputtering , short-term approach to the material is a disappointment , because there 's something in it that ought to make for a good movie , and from time to time makes the MOV good enough .", "that schumacher handles the transitions between very light horror , comedy , teen romance , and action as well as he does is evidence of a sure hand found nowhere else in his filmography .", "... a passable yet unspectacular relic of the 1980s .", "scary '80s vamp film . older teens only .", "it starts slow , but finishes fast with some clever plot twists . in the end , all is not lost with these boys .", "probably the guiltiest of the guilty pleasure vampire flicks .", "this is , however , a cinematographer 's film and while everyone else seemed to be putting in half-hearted efforts , the cinematographer was working overtime ." ], "summary": "flawed but eminently watchable , joel schumacher 's teen vampire thriller blends horror , humor , and plenty of visual style with standout performances from a cast full of young 1980s stars .", "id": "13088" }, { "movie": "faceoff", "reviews": [ "i think i finally isolated what irritates me about this movie : it is the fact that it promotes the idea that you can indulge in hatred and vengeance with a positive result .", "john woo 's face/off puts the acting into action flick ...", "face/off is the kind of action film that gives summer movies a better reputation .", "face/off is a masterpiece equal to the action classics seven samurai , the wild bunch and the good , the bad , and the ugly .", "in face/off , woo sweeps us away again , into a world of wild action , heroism , villainy and double faces that turn deadly .", "with face/off , john woo , the hong kong auteur -lrb- the killer , hard boiled -rrb- , has made his smartest , wildest , positively woo-siest american thriller .", "the film succeeds in overcoming its implausibilities because director woo offers such a tantalising package .", "i wo n't pretend that i completely enjoyed it , but it certainly has a few elements that i 've never seen before . action aficionados will undoubtedly slobber all over themselves .", "face/off is a giant step for a filmmaker known more for action sequences than psychological insight .", "-lsb- a -rsb- gorgeously shot , repetitively violent , occasionally repellent , sometimes silly and consistently trashy fantasy .", "an engaging and at times sophisticated story of identity and behavior , wearing the leering face of a farcical action cartoon .", "for all its fiery explosions , face/off just kind of implodes .", "what really makes face/off tick , what sells the movie more than anything else , are the dazzling performances from the two leading men .", "woo more than delivers in the overblown action stakes . it 's also patently evident that both stars are having a ball sending up each other 's mannerisms .", "it 's sick , slick and sensational .", "it 's difficult to describe the jolt his films deliver when -lsb- woo -rsb- 's on , and he is on with a vengeance here .", "a slam-bang-in-your-face action thriller with big explosions , multiple bullet storms , spectacular stunts and -lrb- get this -rrb- , great performances , interesting characters , an intelligent script , witty dialogue , a strong female presence , and an intriguing premise", "... director john woo takes an incredibly silly premise and despite its limitations turns it into an entertaining thrill ride .", "ai n't it cool -- indeed .", "the dramatic scenes have emotional gravity , while the exhilarating action sequences defy gravity .", "this is your action movie on drugs -- any questions ? -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "typical for woo , the sheer force of the imagery is supposed to carry viewers past plot absurdities ... while at the same time , the director wants the audience to buy into the emotional lives of his obsessed and haunted characters .", "sets new standards for a genre which plays it safe and predictable too often .", "this brutal , stunningly choreographed spectacle weaves together lyrical beauty , blasphemy , sadistic cruelty and grotesque sentimentality with breathtakingly smooth assurance .", "while it still ranks as the best john woo hollywood film ever made , it 's not quite the action masterpiece that most remember it being .", "watching travolta and cage play dual hero and dual villain roles remains the most enjoyable aspect", "overwrought , sci-fi crime thriller . not for kids .", "here comes a mega-movie that actually delivers what mega-movies promise ...", "you see what thickets this plot constructs ; it 's as if travolta adds the spin courtesy of cage 's personality , while cage mellows in the direction of travolta .", "face/off , john woo 's third hollywood movie , is the maddest , most enjoyable blockbuster of the summer .", "a $ 100 million movie with a $ 3 plot .", "... with face/off , -lsb- woo -rsb- wonderfully balances bloodbaths with plot and depth .", "face/off is smarter than many other action movies , but it lacks heart . it 's interesting to ponder , but it does n't suck you in .", "florid , passionate , frequently hilarious and loaded with messy emotions that nobody in his or her right mind should even attempt to explain , it 's operatic in its nutball intensity .", "capable of moments of rare cinematic perfection", "thank god for john woo , the best action director in the world .", "for something with such a bizarre premise , face/identity swapping , kind of like freaky friday on lsd -- woo pulled this sucker off .", "travolta plays the over-the-top , oddball villain with gusto , but it is cage who really impresses , striking no false notes in the more difficult , subtle , emotional role .", "john woo is showing signs of maturing as a filmmaker .", "travolta and cage then had the acting difficulty of adopting the other person 's mannerisms while retaining their own voice and body . there are both superb at it ...", "it could be argued that this movie 's callousness toward human life is nihilistic and nasty . but woo takes everything so absurdly far that audiences laugh at what horrified them moments before .", "the story is completely nuts , the characters bigger than life ...", "watching face/off , i was reminded again and again of the great artist who made those great hong kong films .", "if there has been a major hollywood release with a higher body count , i do n't remember it .", "scenes of high-voltage action vie with wild hilarity as two guys with guns switch faces and identities .", "arguably the best action director in the world , woo also manages complex emotional content and a deft way with music .", "garbage of the finest vintage .", "the cop , more messed up than the criminal he chases , ignores his family and becomes almost as twisted as the criminal he is seeking . woo makes these characters and themes refreshing ...", "what we have here is the first , true american john woo movie .", "this is grand moviemaking with grand acting .", "the concept of face/off is a multifaceted benchmark : it is john woo 's best american film , a requisite entry in the library of action films , and it is an actor 's dream .", "all in all , mr. woo has made face/off into an eye-popping magic show .", "a knockout new thriller by john woo .", "face/off is a full-blooded , movie-going experience . it 's 100 percent movie .", "-lsb- woo -rsb- benefits from the dual performances of john travolta and nicolas cage , who alternately glower and boogie their way through creepy material that would have been far beyond the reach of lesser stars .", "the visuals are impossibly glossy and the sound impossibly loud . every frame glistens with that antiseptic precision of advertising . even the slightest emotional vibration is writ in 100-point type ,", "almost indefensibly violent , the film is one of those whirligigs of wit , barbaric energy , blood spatters and firepower that will be adored by the morally retarded among us -- like me -- and loathed by the morally superior .", "this is the ultimate woo movie , but while his fans will enjoy every minute , others will find it too long , repetitive , and violent .", "face/off is the best action movie of the summer .", "cage is good , travolta is better . there is a glee to his performance , a sheer joy at playing two roles in one . he 's having a rip-roaringly good time , and so are we .", "woo es probablemente el mejor director de acci\u00f3n que existe .", "after seeing this numbing action flick , i 'm still stumped what all the hype is about . so many critics and viewers arond the country marveled at this movie , but for what ? it 's not a horrible movie , but it certainly is n't very good .", "travolta and cage are exceptional , performing as their own characters and each other 's .", "though the plotting is preposterous , this is john woo 's most successful american movie , demonstrating his unique signature as auetur applied to a a blockbuster .", "possibly the greatest , and definitely the most exuberant , action film to come out of the studio system in the '90s", "woo 's poetic-kinetic style has evolved , if not to the point of abstraction , then to delirium : he makes a virtue of incredulity .", "stars cage and travolta are fine in their roles .", "... a nihilistic thrill ride ; a breathless ultra-violent fantasy with real characters and smart actors", "the premise is , of course , absolutely ridiculous . it also is absolutely brilliant , and incredibly subversive .", "a truly original plotline and a magnificent cast", "face/off proved not only too be a massive hit but also demonstrated that there was plenty of room in the hollywood action movie for more than a little bit of eastern promise .", "an action picture that finally pleases the mind as well as the eye .", "the biggest screen thrill of the year .", "stars john travolta and nicolas cage and director john woo are all at the top of their game in face/off", "watching john travolta and nicolas cage square off and literally exchange roles brings back the old-fashioned pleasure of astutely judged movie star pairings in a major way .", "a dizzying , beautiful ride .", "... it is as elegantly made as it is violent , mating movie mayhem with bits of poetry , opera , psychology and the abstract .", "face/off works like a charm right on down the line thanks to brilliant , exhilarating performances from cage and travolta ...", "the biggest kick is watching two charismatic actors at the top of their form essentially play each other .", "face/off makes bad movies look worse and makes the making of good movies look like the most thrilling work in the world .", "crash , bang , woo !", "style overwhelms any hope of discerning story or acting through the haze of burning , crashing , bleeding and exploding ." ], "summary": "john travolta and nicolas cage play cat-and-mouse -lrb- and literally play each other -rrb- against a beautifully stylized backdrop of typically elegant , over-the-top john woo violence .", "id": "13172" }, { "movie": "north_country", "reviews": [ ".", "MOV does a good job in ratcheting up the tension and unfairness until the audience is brought to the breaking point .", "studded with wasted performances , what should have been an important addition to popular films about women 's rights winds up being the most insulting courtroom drama since ally mcbeal was put out of its misery .", "if there was ever any thought that perhaps whale rider was a fluke , MOV should erase all doubt .", "director niki caro -lrb- whale rider -rrb- - - can make an intelligent , involving movie about sexism in the workplace without it feeling merely like a screeching , heavy-handed polemic .", "MOV delivers an emotional wallop and a couple of performances worthy of recognition come award time .", "caro is both subtle and a deck-stacker .", "rewarding and sensitively rendered , the studio-produced MOV might revive a worthy subgenre last visited , in tarted-up fashion , by erin brockovich .", "MOV , a potent -lrb- if didactic -rrb- drama , loosely based on a landmark court case involving workplace sexual harassment .", "MOV ca n't help but be compared to such other women-against-the-system movies as norma rae , silkwood , and erin brockovich , though it easily holds its own with all three .", "... there 's little doubt that the movie would not come off even remotely as well as it ultimately does were it not for the effectiveness of the cast .", "os realizadores de terra fria se revelam bem mais repugnantes e perigosos do que os mineiros retratados em seu filme supostamente liberal .", "works as both deep focus on a critical historical moment , and a more intimate and sorrowful tale about growing up female in america .", "though tough and heavy-handed at times , MOV is engaging -- not one of those films about an important subject matter that you feel you should watch .", "would have you believe it 's no more complex than a playground quarrel between boys , girls , and cooties .", "while the performances are flawless , michael seitzman 's screenplay is embarrassingly sophomoric , so much so that the film 's denouement completely obliterates its feminist message .", "so `` inspirational '' it should mate with cinderella man and give birth to a litter of baby oscars", "the road to cinematic hell is paved with this sort of banal effort borne of bland good expectations .", "issue movie that blatantly examines power and sexual harassment in the workplace", "MOV is the unfortunately overly-dramatized hollywood version of a story that has a chance at being truly important and even uplifting , but thanks to extreme heavy-handedness , ends up being mostly shrill instead .", "an earnest yet powerful cautionary tale of scarred and strip-mined lives , and how they are restored .", "MOV may be a simplistic account of a hard-won battle , but it will have audiences cheering .", "theron 's truly raw and impassioned performance as josey - - ca n't save the film from its own gradually slowing pace and seriously compromised third act .", "niki caro , director of whale rider , has made a classic underdog-vs . - the-system story , rendered in the harsh blue-grays of a minnesota winter .", "it 's a memorable and touching portrayal of a certain kind of woman who is vital and determined instead of neurotic and victimized .", "in the end , the no-nonsense direction by caro -lrb- the new zealander who directed whale rider -rrb- , the terrific actors and the pitiless visuals by the great menges more than carry the day .", "what gives MOV urgency is that it 's about how a man comes to understand that it 's bad for him and for his community to deny his daughter privileges and prerogatives he 'd grant his son .", "she 's -lsb- caro -rsb- got a good story to tell -lrb- based , loosely , on a real-life case -rrb- , and a marvelous cast to help her tell it .", "director niki caro was a critical darling for her first feature , whale rider , and her hollywood debut confirms a legitimate talent .", "MOV is crisp , efficient , often familiar in form , but exceptional in some ways . it 's effective , for instance , in exploring how different women behave differently in the face of abuse .", "studio filmmaking can make an event as fantastical as an alien invasion look like reality , and it can make something that actually took place feel as fake as crocodile tears . which is what happens with MOV .", "often plays like a widescreen made-for-television movie , albeit a good one .", "a good-for-you movie that 's going through the motions .", "MOV has a sensational story , it 's just a crime the filmmakers elected to write the script with crayons .", "depicted with minimal clich\u00e9-rattling , niki caro 's MOV is one-sided enough to make clarence thomas stand up and shout - ` now that is some sexual harassment . '", "there are stretches where it builds nicely , but eventually it comes as close as any movie ever has to simply exploding right there on the screen .", "paints some of the most shocking and loathsome landscapes of sexual harassment conceivable", "MOV is one of those movies that has oscar-bait written all over it , and it 's worthy of the praise .", "at its best , MOV conveys what it 's like to be a small-town social pariah and to fear for yourself in the workplace .", "theron has once again deglamorized herself for a meaty dramatic role , and she gives a persuasive performance that surely will not be overlooked during the coming award season .", "it 's disappointing to see a movie start off as subtly and restrained as MOV only to get progressively more heavy-handed in its second hour .", "if you can take MOV as a movie , not a news report , you 'll find a moving work that explores sexual harassment with unusual candor .", "holding it all together is director caro , who seems to have a knack for immersing herself in different cultures and finding the pressure points that release a story 's power .", "it 's an interesting story , no question , but it 's good where it could have been great .", "despite its serious subject matter , MOV is a crowd-pleaser at heart .", "director niki caro whale rider and screenwriter michael seitzman have crafted an old-fashioned story about sexual harassment that delivers the obvious message ... without a shred of nuance or subtlety .", "in overdoing the theatrics and hammering the clich\u00e9s MOV does artistic injustice to its own important argument .", "MOV is in the tradition of workers-rights films like norma rae and silkwood in that it sends its message through a convincing character whose temerity and courage are accompanied by less heroic baggage .", "there 's nothing cool or dispassionate anywhere in this film . it radiates waves of heat .", "for all MOV 's blockbuster elements , the film remains a curiously uninvolving affair .", "a strong film with much to recommend it , even if we 've seen the same movie before", "it infuriated me . it broke my heart . it convinced me that caro , who 's from new zealand , is a strong , clear-voiced filmmaker , who can bend courtroom cliches to her will .", "in retrospect , the movie seems weaker than it did in the theater .", "if you want to see good performances and cinematography wasted in a mediocre movie , that would be MOV .", "MOV is without question a riveting and powerful film .", "minimizes the scope of -lsb- the real plaintiff 's -rsb- legal battles by placing them in a neatly tied package that resolves the way most courtroom dramas do .", "MOV is one of those movies that stir you up and make you mad , because it dramatizes practices you 've heard about but never really visualized .", "MOV is a relentlessly discomforting movie . nowhere does it let you settle into the lush cushions of a typical hollywood entertainment", "properly spare and earnest , which prevents it from becoming obnoxious oscar bait .", "a solid film that 's worth seeing in the theater , but the oscar buzz is questionable .", "if the whole of MOV had maintained the tensions and angst that were so well built up in part one , it could have been a pretty remarkable work .", "the one-sided , formulaic storyline and laughable courtroom histrionics are eclipsed by peripheral material involving theron 's brooding teenage son and penitent father .", "MOV centers on theron 's work , and she is truly wonderful start to finish .", "north veers south with movie clich\u00e9s during the courtroom climax , but otherwise it mines terrific dramatic territory in its quieter relationship scenes .", "elegantly filmed and intelligently written .", "despite charlize theron 's efforts to play more than a saintly martyr , the film 's director niki caro continually overstates the case .", "so melodramatically one-sided and shamelessly in search of oscar nominations that it accomplishes the colossal rarity of insulting both genders equally .", "victorian melodrama in feminist workduds .", "the narrative may not be exact in its details ... , but it is undoubtedly true to the spirit of the real events .", "enjoyable drama that 's impressively shot and features a strong cast but is ultimately hampered by a fatal weakness for courtroom clich\u00e9s .", "the similarities to erin brockovich are obvious , yet MOV plays like a glossy soap opera , despite strong performances from a superb cast .", "with `` MOV , '' theron and caro strongly suggest that `` monster '' and `` whale rider '' were n't one-offs .", "sexual harassment is generally a complex topic -lrb- see david mamet 's ` oleanna ' -rrb- , yet ` MOV ' presents much of its material in cut-and-dried , black-and-white simplicity .", "occasionally inspired but much more often didactic .", "MOV shows us that it 's never easy , but that one person really can make a difference .", "watchable and engrossing , even when it does exactly what you expect it to do .", "skillful filmmaking standing on a soapbox and pandering to the broadest audience possible .", "leave it to theron and her impassioned , earthy performance to single-handedly carry the film from the realm of lifetime network social propaganda to earnest drama .", "an emotionally potent story told with great dignity .", "feature films about sexual harassment are hardly a dime a dozen , so niki caro 's north country-gawky though it may be at times-comes as welcome .", "the film is at its best when putting viewers in the position of feeling the smart of the abuse as the women do -- moreover , its persistent and accumulative effect .", "MOV is about as subtle as a sledgehammer . it has a message ! and that message is simply this : men are pigs .", "niki caro is one of the brightest and best directors working .", "how do you handle a movie that 's suppose to be realistic , but resorts to such hoary and oft-parodied devices as the slow clap and the `` i 'm spartacus '' group solidarity stand ?", "despite its flaws , ` MOV ' delivers a story worth hearing , a documentation of profound unfairness and the need to challenge abusive behaviors .", "makes norma rae 's travails look like a walk in the park .", "MOV packs a solid familiar punch .", "too long , and too heavy-handed .", "... full of dynamic performances .", "an emotionally-charged drama that showcases another top-notch performance from theron", "there 's no polite way to say it : MOV goes bonkers -- inadvertently trivializing its own admirable agenda .", "single-mindedly and calculatedly devoted to conveying a relentless feeling of sexual terror , caro 's crusade of righteous indignation misrepresents the hostility of the world .", "given the battle 's enormous toll on the women 's physical and psychological health , it 's a perplexing irony that the movie ` inspired by ' the case suffers such a bizarre failure of nerve .", "makes a convincing case for sexual harassment laws and the power of a united front , but its structure front-loads the evidence in flashforwards , weakening its climax", "caro sneakily joins the ranks of academy-prestige with a politically-grounded horror film .", "hits like an emotional sledgehammer .", "-lsb- theron -rsb- is the wounded heart of the film and helps carry some of the less successful material of the film on her shoulders .", "theron anchors the film with a complex performance that balances josey 's strength and vulnerability , and successfully portrays her as a reluctant working-class hero .", "sometimes a story is so timeless that it deserves to be told again . such a story is `` MOV , '' a fictionalized account of events in the 1980s at a mine in the midwest .", "even if you side with caro 's humane message , you 'd be within your rights to object to her methods ... you can almost hear helen reddy singing `` i am woman '' in the background .", "for all its issue-related fist pumping , the movie is suffused with the tender and heartwarming story of a man coming to terms with the love for his only daughter .", "instead of articulating injustice or honestly portraying the legal system , MOV seems content with exploiting humiliation for effect .", "could become the classic text for a filmmaking class called ` crafting the message picture 101 . '", "MOV wins its case with powerful moments and exceptional performances .", "even with some quibbles , MOV is a relevant and important account of a landmark class action suit that changed the face of the country 's workforce .", "there is not a scene where the words `` submitted for your consideration '' do n't seem to be scrolling across the action in a bid to soften up academy voters", "charlize theron gives an excellently modulated performance as josey aimes .", "a compelling drama set in a 1989 minnesota mining community where the misogyny and chauvinism in the workplace will make your blood boil .", "a really good soap opera . ... the ending is both predicable and satisfying . expect many audiences to cheer .", "MOV does what it sets out to do : inspire and uplift .", "proving her remarkable versatility , it 's no light compliment to say theron 's performance surpasses her oscar-winning `` monster . ''", "amazingly powerful .", "an unusually taut film about misogyny that , for the most part , escapes the clich\u00e9s that often bog down the battle of the sexes .", "intriguing -lrb- true -rrb- story of a female iron miner who sues the company for ignoring sexual harassment .", "i 'm even willing to forgive this rousing drama its coy , flirty ending , if only because its heroine has the grace not to drive her pickup truck off a cliff .", "while caro has a graceful touch and MOV never really missteps , neither does it try anything new or entertaining .", "while the film showcases moments of enormous power , there is something missing ; perhaps it 's subtlety , or perhaps it 's the emotional connection the movie so desperately wants to make , but in the end , ca n't quite achieve .", "even when the film borders on melodrama in its final courtroom confrontations , ms. caro navigates the camera with skill .", "... succumbs to a number of oscar moments -- you know , the sort of grandstanding scenes that ... play beautifully as clips at an awards show .", "MOV is the most riled-up movie of the year .", "caro knows how to push viewers ' buttons , and she does so every chance she gets . the weather in the movie might be chilly , but she makes sure our blood is boiling .", "this is nuance-free moviemaking , a drama about mine-workers with barely a glimpse of what the work entails .", "presents to you a beautifully-painted , one-dimensional pi\u0144ata it knocks around for a couple of high-falutin ' hours until you 're showered in a welter of righteous candy .", "calls on men to stand up with women against attitudes they 've allowed for too long ... a well-crafted , often powerful film that usually refuses to follow hollywood 's script .", "you can not help being stirred by the reach and depth , the constant rebuffs to sloppiness , of a strong ensemble .", "contrived fantasy . only in hollywood could harrelson get theron 's nemesis to recant his inadmissably irrelevant tale on the stand with such meager questioning .", "in spite of theron 's excellent , impassioned performance , `` MOV '' nevertheless tends to go south .", "while its message is undeniably important , it 's also so obvious that the film does n't have any real resonance .", "` MOV ' could be used in a sensitivity training course .", "it weakens the film 's case to have the villains portrayed so one-dimensionally ...", "the performances enhance -lrb- niki -rrb- caro 's david-versus-goliath material .", "... my feminist soul is taking a beating since - damn it - it did n't work as a movie .", "the film , revisiting social injustice , is not unpredictable . but , it is a worthy effort in its updated revival of `` norma rae . ''", "despite its good intentions and some very strong acting , ` MOV ' proves a frustratingly unsatisfying destination .", "... feels simplistically manufactured and manipulative ... caro is never able to elevate MOV beyond the pedestrian confines of a melancholy lifetime tv movie", "director niki caro deftly intercuts josey 's story with the anita hill-clarence thomas hearings , a smart , subtle move to tie in the things all women have had to go through .", "overall MOV is too self-consciously scaled as an anthem for the human spirit . we can spot where this movie is headed right from the beginning .", "quick , someone feed this movie some a.d.d. medication .", "a wobbly fiction about a real pioneering sex-discrimination case , MOV is an unabashed vehicle for its modestly de-glammed star , charlize theron .", "MOV is powerful and then some .", "MOV is a `` message movie '' with a target so big that it 's impossible to miss , which is part of the trouble .", "charlize theron gives an intelligent and honest performance as a woman miner in the emotionally powerful MOV .", "director niki caro , whose whale rider demonstrated a gift for capturing the essence of a unique place , does it again with MOV .", "essentially a shrewdly crafted soap opera .", "instead of sticking to the undeniably moving facts , this movie veers off into distracting and soapy subplots .", "people in the film biz have been calling this one erin brockovich goes to fargo all along , but that is n't quite fair . it 's norma rae goes to fargo .", "theron 's acting goes beyond cosmetics as she once again gets into the head of the unchaste heroine she portrays and gives a winning performance .", "as much as the movie means well , it does n't trust viewers to keep up .", "... before anybody goes off on theron uglifying herself again to win an oscar , it should be pointed out that the rural trash look is not necessary unattractive to many of us .", "MOV works as a portrayal of social injustice , yet it also works as a compelling character portrait . one of the best and most powerful pictures of the year .", "MOV has a ton of powerful moments , so it is an odd choice that it falls back on the ` based in fact ' element .", "-lrb- charlize -rrb- theron 's josey does n't quite have the dramatic starch of aileen , the man-hating hooker of monster . it has more nuance , though .", "MOV is more than an award trolling piece - it 's a heartfelt gem steered by threon and mcdormand that takes sevral true tales to create a helluav drama !", "a realistic , emotionally resonant film made for grown-up audiences in a time when most theatrical releases are aimed at the teen demographic .", "though the dirt and grime in MOV are artfully applied , it 's purely cosmetic and skin-deep .", "some of the dramatics are almost overkill , but it will stir you up and you ca n't deny the powerful performances of charlize theron and richard jenkins .", "too bad theron won an oscar for a weak film like monster , in which she was splashy , as her part in MOV is far more impressive and deserving of oscar" ], "summary": "though sometimes melodramatic and formulaic , MOV is nonetheless a rousing , powerful story of courage and humanity .", "id": "8841" }, { "movie": "we_are_what_we_are_2013", "reviews": [ "worth a look for horror fans possessing the patience required to process its heady themes . for those brave souls , the reward is a film with the power not only to get under your skin , but to prompt deep discussion about the pitfalls of human nature .", "mickle 's script , co-written by `` stake land '' star nick damici , could have used some tightening . ride it out . there 's a demented climax waiting on the other side .", "the original was nothing special , but at least it had a sense of humor and a modicum of social insight .", "an intelligent , surprisingly mature gothic drama where the human capacity for inhumanity grabs us by our collective throats with such realism that this story could have been gleaned from the front pages of local newspapers .", "a superb grief-soaked horror set in a desperated , godless universe , wawwa is unnverving and moving in equal measures , easily eclipsing the original .", "a crunching , visceral transplant for this cannibal tale from its urban mexican setting to an american milieu .", "if , in the end , it does n't really work , there 's still plenty to admire in the gothic exploration of the timeless conflict between family tradition and modernity .", "mickle never seems in a hurry , so there is time to take note of the detail . `` we are '' is rich in that regard .", "a shrug of a movie .", "mickle prizes credible characterisation above everything else , and casts extremely good actors , who succeed in making the parker clan feel both frail and somehow stuck out of time , like freak survivors from the 19th century .", "an atmospheric cannibalism horror featuring an impressive performance by julia garner , but it 's let down by a slow first act , weak dialogue and an unsuitable score .", "mickle has fashioned a melancholy american gothic tale set deep among bleak , misty mountains .", "a rare example of a remake that is as good as , if not better , than the original .", "stupendously dull : dull with that blend of overloaded effect and under-supplied affect that bad horror alone truly offers .", "even though this is an extremely well-made film , it 's difficult to know who will enjoy it , as it 's far too arty for horror genre fans and much too grisly for arthouse moviegoers .", "this social-realist take on the cannibal sub-genre makes for a surprising lyrical and quietly profound piece of filmmaking .", "who can resist a good cannibal movie ?", "another pointless remake .", "and sometimes we are who we eat .", "remakes may get a lot of stick in hollywood , as filmmakers can be accused of being somewhat lazy and uncreative in that regard .", "a provocative film about the horrors we can find within the usual comforts of family and tradition .", "another welcome entry in the ongoing revival of horror movies that rely on character and setting rather than shock and gore to chill audiences to the marrow .", "mickle and co-writer nick damici give themselves plenty of time to tease out their themes and ladle on the tension .", "jim mickle 's savvy re-imagining of the 2010 mexican art-house horror marks a quantum leap forward in maturity and style for the stake land director .", "an ambitious -lrb- if somewhat uneven -rrb- slice of downbeat american gothic which interweaves grim melancholia with pointed satire , doomy portent and moments of gnawing revulsion .", "some of the film is gruesome in the extreme but there is always lyricism and pathos alongside the bloodletting .", "MOV pits the ideas of personal choice against the influence of our upbringing in a story that simmers slowly until coming to an explosive boil , overflowing with savage brutality .", "MOV is just a great yarn , well-acted , elegantly shot and put together cleverly so that even its more visceral delights feel well-earned .", "the movie saves most of its modest number of jolts for its last quarter or so , which makes them all the more intense . they stick in your craw - and be warned , they 're not for the squeamish .", "like all good horror stories mickle 's film is really about something else , and the two female leads give terrific performances as cloistered teenagers struggling to come to terms with their place in their world .", "a horror film that takes considerable risks and generally makes them work .", "despite the film 's aqueous motifs of rain , showers , floods and tears , here in the end blood runs thicker than water .", "the film looks picturesque as can be , is well-acted , and very smartly plotted .", "it 's all a little silly , but mr. mickle 's restrained gravity stifles the impulse to laugh .", "this will , without question , be one of the best horror films of 2013 .", "the cast is uniformly excellent -- including an extended cameo by top gun 's kelly mcgillis , qt regular michael parks , and genre director larry fessenden -- and is buoyed by a particularly unobtrusive yet unsettling score from jeff grace and darren morris .", "in MOV , an americanized , more methodically plotted version of the 2010 mexican shocker ... jim mickle really brings the goods .", "a -lsb- horror -rsb- film where ambiance , glossy imagery and performance are more effective than the splatter .", "a rich , dark horror movie with a pervasive atmosphere of dread and corruption .", "plays less like a contemporary horror film than an increasingly gruesome drama , building to a climax-completely original to this version-where the movie 's core themes are expressed through grotesque imagery .", "it is n't until the ending , which turns the squirm amplifier up to 11 and exceeded even my horrific expectations , that we finally see the story 's potential realized .", "works as not only a compliment to the original , but also as an impressive complement .", "an unusually thoughtful , even compassionate , and well-done horror tale .", "one of the best american horror films of the year .", "a family implodes with a biting commentary on patriarchy .", "it 's about transformation and transgression , and , when all 's said and done , it 's about family .", "both an excellent choice for a movie and a lousy choice for dinner and a movie .", "it 's really a movie about family and obligation , and that 's what makes it scary .", "barely mediocre but at least worth the watch for the finale , alone .", "genre fans wanting more gore and less fancy atmospherics will have their gratification delayed but certainly not denied .", "if nothing else , director jim mickle should be commended for his subversive attempt to turn his slow-burn cannibal horror flick into a moody meditation on matriarchal power and the uncompromising demands of tradition .", "this existential disquiet and melancholy prove welcome antidotes to the tiresome ` look ! surprise ! ' brand of horror that 's currently in vogue .", "the movie stays elegantly restrained just long enough for the true horror of what they 're doing to sink in .", "we 're starved for adult horror that 's this mature and sure-footed , and when it does come along , we have to sing its praises out loud . this is a wonderful , riveting , unsettling film .", "MOV is a film that ought to feel like an amusement park terror ride , but instead comes off as a poor attempt at fine art .", "`` MOV '' is such a patient , trusting film it may take you a while to figure out it 's a horror film .", "MOV is built around sloppy yet fantastic kills with a fairly satisfying explanation for everything , but it jerks the viewer around with awkward jumps in violence and its overbearing tepidness shouts over everything else in the film .", "the horror thriller MOV earns its chills gradually , turning the knob on our nerves so imperceptibly that you may not notice until , by the bloody conclusion , you 're prying your fingernails from the armrests .", "a campy and sometimes elegant american gothic horror story .", "at 72 , parks turns in one of the most tender performances of his career - before reminding us , in the end , that he 's still a guy who can sit across a table and make you tremble in fear with a stony gaze .", "MOV does n't waste time with cheap scares . mickle keeps his story on a steady , slow simmer , transporting us minute by minute into the very heart of dread .", "mickle and damici have come up with a couple of very imaginative details to adorn their tale , but in the end the story itself feels preordained , everything slowly unfurling exactly how you 'd expect", "MOV will satiate your hunger for palpable suspense , horror and intrigue . it 's one of most effectively terrifying remakes in years .", "there 's some fun to be had , as long as your idea of fun includes being grossed out .", "stylishly macabre .", "it 's a sinister , wistful and even sad portrait of one family that has followed the insanity and bloodthirstiness of american history into a dark corridor with no exit .", "despite the occasional failure of the film to let the atmosphere and subtle performances stand unadorned , MOV is an impressive entry from director mickle .", "MOV has elevated the horror genre into first-class moviemaking .", "this deliberately paced remake of the superior 2010 mexican film of the same name has some stylish atmospheric touches , although it could use more of the twisted sense of humor it only flashes in spurts .", "this looks like a horror movie that terrence malick might have made -- assuming that malick went off the deep end .", "outside of its cracked psychology -lrb- well conveyed by papa bill sage -rrb- , MOV is horror leftovers , neither inedible nor piping hot .", "jim mickle plays the scenario deadly straight and unintentionally exposes all of its attendant absurdities , leaving the cast stranded .", "a refreshingly mature genre entry that plants queasy dread and unleashes a good dose of scares , tempering its gruesome bloodshed by wrapping it in serious-mindedness .", "for horror fans who prefer their terrors served cold , this is a tense , unsettling experience that offers very little gore but nonetheless knows how to turn the stomach .", "there are some terrific performances in this film , most notably from childers and garner , who move seamlessly from wide-eyed naivete to fierce protectiveness . and man , is this a gorgeous , well-put together film .", "genre buffs will dig in with gusto .", "MOV is a re-make that succeeds superbly while remaining true to the strange and sad intimately grotesque spirit of the original .", "the film is stunningly beautiful , and ryan samul 's work here as cinematographer is impressive and overwhelming throughout .", "the doom , the gloom , and the horrific truth kept just out of the audience 's reach make the build up in MOV a potent motion picture , and mickle films it with genuine class and moderation .", "MOV devours expectations even as it satisfies the best of them .", "`` MOV '' is a first-rate example of good storytelling and well-timed - while not excessive - gore .", "one of the more remarkable horror films of late-one that does not rely on sudden shocks or outrageous gore to get under the skin of its viewers ." ], "summary": "a compelling story cleverly told , MOV quenches horror buffs ' thirst for gore while serving up serious-minded filmmaking and solid acting .", "id": "771325072" }, { "movie": "joan-rivers-a-piece-of-work", "reviews": [ "the portrait that emerges is of a woman who is vain , anxious , profane , reckless , honest and frequently brilliant .", "you really do get the sense that she is tuning out the camera half the time and you 're getting honest glimpses of everything .", "joan rivers : a piece of work is -lsb- a -rsb- testament to the enduring resilience and indefatigable wit of its subject . age can not wither her , nor botox stale her infinite hilarity .", "joan rivers : a piece of work is one of the smarter , more unexpectedly touching documentaries of the year , and i recommend it to you whether you love rivers or loathe the very thought of her . how is this even possible ?", "stern and sundberg made the devil came on horseback -lrb- about the massacres in darfur -rrb- and the trials of darryl hunt -lrb- about a wrongful incarceration nightmare -rrb- , and they have a fine eye for detail .", "rivers comes across as a consummate professional but also a genuine person , ruthlessly honest about her life decisions and utterly devoid of self-pity .", "a wonderful microcosm of the peaks and valleys of life in showbiz , and a truly surprising film that may turn some viewers ' hatred of rivers into respect , if not fondness .", "she remains one of the funniest , dirtiest , most daring and transgressive of stand-up comics , and she has n't missed a beat .", "an entertaining and lively portrait of a performer whose contribution to comedy is often , and probably unfairly , overlooked", "revelations that the 75-year-old comic is needy , hard-driving , and relentlessly self-flagellating are n't all that surprising .", "i had no idea how hard she works and how funny she is . show business may be easy for some people , but it is tough for joan rivers .", "... a well made , sporadically fascinating documentary ...", "dying this past september , rivers failed in her longevity goal , but has left a legacy of unforgettable comedy that was never afraid to piss people off even as they howled till their sides split .", "it 's interesting , it 's funny , it 's heartfelt , it 's heartbreaking , and it 's dirty . everything rivers wants to be known for .", "this delicious documentary did teach me about one of joan 's most important assets , and that 's her dirty , dirty mouth .", "it 's amazing to look into her world and see the chaos in which she inhabits", "rivers ' story is an inspiration , regardless of your background . if there is anyone who is aspiring to be in the entertainment industry , this is the doc to watch . joan rivers ' life is the blueprint for any artist , comedienne , or actor .", "laugh clown , laugh . even though your heart is breaking ...", "this is a woman who 's taken any number of private and public punches and keeps on going . the portrait here is neither flattering nor unsympathetic .", "-lsb- a -rsb- sad , startling exploration of the vagaries of fame , the insecurities of celebrity , and the realities behind the typical ` but it 's just a joke ' excuses that prop up cheap , vulgar humor .", "reflective , insightful and exhilarating , the filmmakers reveal rivers ' inherent vulnerability and dependence on the approval of others .", "acting is about honesty , and there 's something evasive about both this film and its subject .", "one of the most depressing films ever made .", "yes , there are moments of pathos and glimpses into the sadness of rivers ' life , but they 're all but obliterated by the comedy .", "the film 's unacknowledged true storyline is the coarsening and cheapening of popular show business itself .", "more or less what you 'd expect : charitable , shrill , redundant , hit-and-miss funny .", "the audience will feel like a fly on the wall in a no-holds-barred approach in which no topic is off limits . the filmmakers condensed more than a year of footage into 84 fascinating minutes ...", "joan rivers the comedian can be an acquired taste . it gets old hearing her asking celebrities on the red carpet `` who are you wearing ? '' joan rivers the human being , however , is a fascinating person to follow .", "the key word here is `` work . '' if she is n't out there making somebody laugh , rivers feels she no longer exists .", "welcome to the on-screen psychoanalysis of joan rivers , of which she seems equal parts willing participant and antagonist .", "the undeniably fascinating and entertaining documentary that looks at the audacious entertainer in the seventy-fifth year of her life .", "a piece of work does a solid job of deepening our understanding of rivers , but its accomplishments pretty much end there .", "-lrb- o -rrb- ne of only a handful of women who ever got away with saying the types of things she says on stage . with that comes the insecurities all comedians know , plus aggressive self-pity . rivers is n't easy to like , and she 's proud of it .", "riveting doc dishes the dirt on the legendary queen of comedy", "rivers comes across as someone much more complex and vulnerable than her abrasive `` can we talk ? '' persona . there 's a real woman under there , and she 's pretty great .", "a compulsively watchable look at rivers , show business and the price one pays to try to continue succeeding in it .", "the smart , funny and occasionally foul-mouthed documentary feature shows what rivers has gone through in both her personal and professional life to get to this point .", "a funny and touching look at the self-crowned queen of comedy .", "-lsb- her -rsb- resolute raging at the twilight is what humanizes rivers and gives ricki stern and anne sundberg 's film heart and potency .", "an entirely sympathetic portrait of the artist at an advancing age .", "stern and sundberg definitely fulfill the prime directive of every celebrity documentary , which is making a famous person -- especially one the audience `` knows '' and has strong feelings about -- seem recognizably human .", "the results are a truly original doc and one of the year 's best -- heartfelt and funny and thoroughly entertaining .", "inspiring , sobering and very funny .", "a piece of work is funny , heartbreaking , and casually profound about the insatiable need for validation and approval that fuels so much stand-up comedy .", "you do n't get winsomeness , innocence and cuddle-me charm . nobody will ever tap her to play doris day . but you do get one unique dame with a love she does n't sell cheap , and a hidden heart bigger than her botox budget .", "it 's easy to think of comics , especially time-tested ones like rivers , as mechanical laugh-generators . stern and sundberg allow her to reveal the deep-rooted humanity of those ever-present quips , and the effect is humbling .", "she 's a teller of hilarious gutbucket truths as surely as lenny bruce and richard pryor ever were . yet while they were consumed by their demons , rivers is just the opposite . letting her demons run wild is what saves her , every day .", "nothing -- not even daughter melissa 's assessment of all comedians as `` damaged '' -- validates this worshipful portrait of craven showbiz .", "i know people who love her and people who hate her . but , no matter how you feel , after seeing joan rivers - a piece of work , you ca n't help but admire her .", "for all the frenzied activity , joan rivers is less informative dish than infomercializing clich\u00e9 .", "if you think it 's going to be as hilarious as a joan rivers standup routine , you 're wrong . the self-mocking jokes are funny , but almost make you feel guilty for laughing .", "this behind the scenes , behind the makeup , behind the plastic surgery documentary catches rivers hard at work , ridiculously hard at work .", "unvarnished documentary .", "the new documentary on joan rivers is so in your face , so fraught with harrowing , oversized personal stuff , you might want to get a theatre seat a couple of rows behind where you normally sit , to safely take it all in .", "i laughed , i cried and i was inspired . delivering far more than you expect , this knock-out doco spits out the essence of joan rivers , who admits she is only truly happy when she 's on stage", "if you want an insight into human nature , stand up comedy and stand up comedians are a great looking glass , as long as you 're prepared for all that pain . all great comedy is cruel , and joan rivers does cruel really well", "this is a fiercely intelligent , maniacally driven , crushingly funny comedian who comes across as less a human being than a sentient career .", "`` a piece of work '' displays a comedian who is much savvier , much more vulnerable and frankly much funnier than we usually see on the small screen .", "... you may not come away from ricki stern and annie sundberg 's -lrb- blisteringly funny -rrb- chronicle of a year in the life of the comedian ... liking joan rivers , much less understanding her , but by gosh this movie is going to force you to respect her .", "the film shows that she is vulnerable , professionally calculating and , except for the people who work for her , alone .", "the comedienne 's wholehearted embrace of the project gives it an intimate feel , sprinkled with small moments and revelations that shed a new , compelling light on the icon .", "emphasizes the dog-eat-dog nature of show biz ... -lsb- but fails -rsb- to illuminate , or apparently even investigate , the early source of its subject 's hungry void .", "a gut-bustingly funny , endearing and unflinchingly honest documentary that finds just the right balance between entertaining the audience and provoking them intellectually as well as emotionally .", "a sobering deconstruction of an enduring showbiz career by an introspective icon whose been at it non-stop since ' 66 .", "a portrait of passive-aggressiveness writ huge % u2014river 's too cynical , too jaded for a hagiography", "a fairly candid portrait of a workaholic driven by insecurity , resentment and fear .", "this is a smart , sharp woman with a full life under her 20-year-old skin . go ahead and make fun of her -- just try harder .", "to their credit , the filmmakers do n't try to make her look good , and while they omit some of her uglier routines , they do n't -lrb- perhaps ca n't -rrb- ask you to love her . that 's a wise move .", "we get a superb tour of joan rivers ' world , in which there 's death and then there 's life ... which is n't worth a single breath if you ca n't stand up and deliver .", "joan rivers : a piece of work compellingly presents a strong woman with no shortage of anger , resentment and regrets -- but not an ounce of self-pity .", "if you think you know who joan rivers is , stern & sundberg will give you a different perception . or two . maybe three .", "doc proves that j.r. is still one of the funniest comedians we 've got .", "here is an honest portrait of a workaholic performer and her bumpy but long career ...", "this rather fine documentary reminds us that , yep , even those `` old '' celebrities we do n't have much use for anymore are actual people .", "what is most surprising is not the dilligence with which sundberg and stern set about following the course of rivers through a year of her life - although that is certainly in evidence - but how incredibly welcoming she is to their scrutiny", "doc provides plenty of laughs while proving there 's more to rivers than plastic surgery jokes and red-carpet chatter .", "co-directors ricki stern and annie sundberg observe a year in the life of a woman who trailblazed for today 's female comics and remains as driven , hard-working and career-focused as ever .", "this is a thoroughly exhilarating , thoroughly depressing portrait of the agony and ecstasy of celebrity .", "there 's plenty to laugh at in stern and sundberg 's picture , both in the footage of rivers on stage and in front of the filmmakers ' camera .", "it 's one of the best documentaries ever made about show business , about what it really consists of and what it demands .", "if this ` piece of work ' is more workmanlike than revelatory , it 's an engaging portrait of a feisty lady .", "`` oh grow up , '' rivers used to snap . you wonder if she ever will .", "joan rivers is a comic force of nature , and this no-bull documentary offers a profanely hilarious peek into the 75th year of her life , on the road and off . fasten your seat belts .", "a piece of work is about an individual and about a career , but it 's also about the nature of work , and about our fears that when the work stops coming in , we 've outlived our usefulness .", "she is by turns blue , bitter , hilarious , unbroken ; a hollywood-style portrait in infinite ambition . in that role , rivers is unforgettable .", "who would have guessed that joan rivers : a piece of work would turn out to be a stirring portrait of indomitability ?", "the strength of stern and sundberg 's film is that they let her bomb sometimes . rivers certainly can be wickedly funny , but not always , as anyone who has watched her over the years knows .", "watchable and fascinating", "... had me laughing uncontrollably .", "a witty , inspiring portrait of a life in constant reinvention .", "joan rivers : a piece of work , a hilarious and unsettling look at the rewards and costs of compulsive celebrity , shows rivers in all her multifaceted glory .", "i 'm neither a fan nor a nonfan , but i found her fascinating .", "by the end of stern and sundberg 's portrait , you feel a great fondness for this tough cookie , who says she plans for her career to outlast george burns ' -- who was still working in his mid-90s .", "a piece of work is not about revelation or expos\u00e9 . it is , instead , about joan rivers ' business .", "the insecurities that seem to feed rivers 's often angry humor -- and that have left her face looking like a mask frozen in horror -- are left unexamined .", "it 's like a deluxe episode of kathy griffin 's reality show my life on the d-list and it 's just as galvanizing and dishy .", "a fascinating , enlightening look at the dark side of show business and the issues that come with being a part of it for decades .", "were james brown still with us , he 'd have to at least share his `` hardest working man in showbiz '' honors with rivers .", "it 's one of the best movies ever made about the brutal and unforgiving world of show business , and what it takes to survive in it for decades ." ], "summary": "penetrating rivers ' coarse image , this compelling documentary offers an honest , behind-the-scenes look at her career -- and at show business in general .", "id": "770859300" }, { "movie": "teeth", "reviews": [ "given how thoroughly all the subtext spells out the message , then , it seems unnecessary to make the actual text so raw , grotesque and graphic . granted , a horror movie about vagina dentata was probably never destined to be tasteful , but lichtenstein 's comp", "star jess weixler , exerting the command and persona of a young meryl streep , grants enough earnest innocence that instead of fearing dawn , you fear for her .", "writer/director mitchell lichtenstein tosses in thematic elements of incest and pedophilia as so much narrative hamburger helper , but by then the movie has already worn out its welcome .", "seriously dude , no means no .", "you 'll have to forgive the pun , but it simply lacks bite .", "a well crafted clashing of sub-genres and themes that works to its advantage , making it an instant cult classic ...", "a witty satire that explores the state of the -lrb- female -rrb- body politic , spread-eagled between the puritanical and the priapic in a culturally confused america .", "it all works well enough that i wish it had been less of a cartoon .", "lichtenstein has a lot of ambitious ideas for his debut film but lacks the skills to pull any of them off", "given how thoroughly all the subtext spells out the message , then , it seems unnecessary to make the actual text so raw , grotesque and graphic .", "whether you view it as a primordial image from the collective unconscious or a practical warning against promiscuity , vagina dentata makes an indubitably memorable impression -- and an ideal premise for a tongue-in-cheek teen horror movie .", "dawn may be the heroine of MOV , but in the end the movie is still a little afraid of her .", "the tone of the film wavers between satire and horror-comedy , but that does n't diminish the entertainment value of what plays like a tongue in cheek celebration of a woman who turns her imperfection into empowerment", "this is an incredibly unique , dark , smart , and humorous story of a woman discovering what she is capable of .", "it 's the stuff of primal phobia and nightmare , and , by presenting it in a way that makes us laugh as well as scream , MOV actually takes it easy on us , no matter how explicit its presentation may be .", "MOV is both different enough from the usual teen trash to earn itself distinction and bold enough to go where other horrors would n't dare venture .", "as amateurishly made as it is , MOV runs on a kind of angry distrust toward boys .", "i 'm not sure i 've ever seen rape , incest or abuse dealt with so vapidly .", "while probably too lurid and graphic for the mainstream 's tastes , it 's one of those films that has a genuine shot at acquiring cult classic status .", "we have n't had a good vagina dentata movie in theaters lately , so it 's a pleasure to see MOV filling that particular need with such obvious relish and style .", "it 's like a punch in the face .", "writer-director mitchell lichtenstein 's low-budget horror film is ... more satirical than scary ... however , he ultimately delivers the gory goods .", "MOV is a unique hybrid of black comedy and horror movie send-up that is great good fun .", "i 'm of the opinion that audacity is something to be admired in today 's cinematic world , and MOV has audacity to spare .", "after dawn comes to understand her remarkable genital gift , it 's pretty much one can-you-top-this gross-out scene after another .", "ultimately , MOV will probably never become the late night cult film it aspires to be , but it does achieve an overwhelming sense of castration anxiety", "writer-director mitchell lichtenstein is onto something really fresh in his feature debut , flipping a graphic warning for men into an empowering fable for women .", "there 's no scarier myth for males , and -lsb- director -rsb- lichtenstein turns various images of emasculation into a black comedy that flirts , fairly tediously , with pornography .", "the film 's mix of cheap gags , macabre coming-of-age story , social satire and cronenbergian body horror is apparently meant to gel into black comedy , but it never quite does .", "the picture is unfocused and indistinct ; there 's a noncommittal quality to the filmmaking . MOV hinges on one strong idea but does n't know quite where to take it , wobbling awkwardly between going for laughs and making its semi-delineated points .", "actor turned writer-director mitchell lichtenstein has bitten into one of the oldest myths in human folklore with MOV , an imaginatively demented horror-comedy .", "any movie about a girl with an actual vagina dentata had better be either very scary or very funny -- or , preferably , both . unfortunately , `` MOV '' ca n't decide what it wants to be .", "writer-director mitchell lichtenstein 's pop culturally aware blend of horror , comedy , teen exploitation and '50s monster movies comes off like an unholy alliance between john waters and todd haynes .", "a feminist horror movie , an updated version of old-fashioned exploitation that lobs a few gentle barbs at the way we are now .", "the gratuitous and often overly garish mayhem is made more palatable by the assured comedic turn by weixler .", "campy , shameless and sophisticated , lichtenstein 's debut is gutsy and original .", "lichtenstein makes an impressive debut as director of a provocative coming-of-age horror tale , inspired by the vagina dentate mythology ; in the lead , the beautiful weixler gives a striking perfromance .", "light-hearted , yet subversive , displaying a surprisingly wicked bite ... literally .", "MOV is a solid first effort that makes you extremely curious about the filmmaker 's next project .", "much like dawn 's ill-fated gyno visit , a peek beneath the folds of this clever and surprisingly amusing little horror comedy holds a few surprises for curious gay viewers .", "-lsb- keeps -rsb- the viewer entertained with a mix of suspense and humor , but not exactly ` date night ' material , because it 's doubtful anyone will be having sex right after seeing it .", "extremely funny , very clever and still packs some cover-your-face bloody thrills that top any saw or hostel movie .", "-lsb- the -rsb- castration scenes are n't nearly as excruciating as his awkward timing and worse-than-obvious pacing .", "every time the scary music kicks in and another dumb male clutches his crotch , the theater bursts into uncertain giggles like a needed release", "MOV 's whirling moral compass actually provides the perfect metaphor for the teenage sexual urge in postpubescent overdrive .", "MOV bites off more than it can chew .", "MOV works so well and is so original for at least the first half that it makes the slight fumble near the end zone forgivable .", "daring , funny and unabashedly indie , MOV is an original and ingenious creation . grab a bunch of men and go see it , just make sure they have enough room to cross their legs .", "that the movie manages to successfully transcend shock value is probably its greatest accomplishment .", "it 's definitely not for aunt minnie , but cult movie mavens will appreciate director mitchell lichtenstein 's willingness to push the boundaries of bad taste .", "in one of the great light bulb ideas that could only happen in association with making movies , along comes MOV to bite us hard . if you think the rhetorical illustration of the events defy logic , just wait to actually sink your own MOV into it .", "lichtenstein 's low-budget effort concentrates on black comedy ... with the gore effects timed perfectly", "the film 's first half contains a series of sharply satirical scenes .", "a smart and convincing film with a lot to say about the power of female sexuality and the cultural forces that try to stifle it .", "debuting director mitchell -lrb- son of roy -rrb- litchtenstein creates a lot of dread but not a consistent tone .", "dawn grits her MOV .", "teenage horror-movie spoof , john waters parody , no nukes protest movie : mitchell lichtenstein 's clever , crude comedy , MOV is all these and more .", "... a fun exploration of feminine sexual power seen through the twisted kaleidoscope lens of a horror-comedy .", "a game , disarming lead performance from jess weixler , who won a jury acting prize at sundance , goes some way toward making palatable this mish-mash .", "lichtenstein takes the myth of vagina dentata and gives it a kitsch horror/comedy makeover , to surprisingly smart and sassy effect .", "a spoof of b-movie monster flicks , a satire of modern-day puritan ethics , and a tongue-in-cheek female-empowerment story .", "a tongue-in-cheek amusing movie -- but being literally tongue-in-cheek can sometimes be dangerous .", "though good for a few laughs , the one-note MOV is just another trite rape-revenge fantasy .", "it 's safe to say that he -lsb- writer/director mitchell lichtenstein -rsb- has made the boldest debut of this admittedly young year .", "in MOV , mitchell lichtenstein makes the old v.d. the centerpiece of a gory female-revenge black comedy .", "a twisted inversion of the standard rampaging murderer story .", "credit writer-director mitchell lichtenstein with making a first feature that every man in america will watch with his legs crossed ." ], "summary": "smart , original , and horrifically funny , MOV puts a fresh feminist spin on horror movie tropes .", "id": "528392454" }, { "movie": "winnebago-man", "reviews": [ "what makes the film so enjoyable is how it keeps defying expectations in its survey of the rough edges , sharp mind and iconoclastic personality ...", "when the director laments , `` i feel like i 've stepped into the MOV outtakes , '' we can only concur .", "MOV , which appears to be notably less staged than other documentaries of this ilk , does n't relentlessly explore all the corners of rebney 's life -- which makes him an even more fascinating subject .", "it is n't perfect , but hell , neither was the winnebago .", "a hilarious film .", "absorbing and thought-provoking .", "the film is less about jack , his reputation and performance , than it is about itself . real or not .", "filmmaker ben steinbauer went searching for the man behind the rants . against all odds , rebney manages to emerge with his dignity intact .", "perhaps the most disturbing issue raised in ben steinbauer 's fascinating and often hilarious MOV has to do with the internet 's awesome ability to reduce complex and apparently dangerous behaviour to the level of banal spectacle .", "steinbauer does n't shy away from the moral queasiness of that arrangement , and that 's what gives MOV a lot of its appeal -- that tension between the considerable laughter it provokes and the questions raised about that laughter .", "a shrewd , entertaining , fascinating and surprisingly touching documentary .", "a fun little addendum to a profanity-laden chapter in new media history .", "an earnest and occasionally poignant attempt to penetrate rebney 's potent man-on-fire image and explore the impact of becoming an internet sideshow .", "turns from a simple idea into a complex look at cultural iconography and public perception", "entertaining , but steinbauer never really seems to work up either a cogent thesis statement or tack of inquiry -- his work bears the marks of a serial noodler .", "an often funny and finally poignant documentary about the bizarre nature of modern fame -lrb- indeed , infamy -rrb- and the healing powers of community , human connection , and , yes , laughter .", "both the man and the film had reached outcomes that no one could have foreseen .", "this strange , darkly funny documentary investigates the story of jack rebney , a winnebago salesman who achieved notoriety based on outtakes of a corporate video he shot in the 1980s .", "hilarious .", "MOV becomes a much more interesting and troubling film when rebney , a former journalist , demands to reclaim control of his messaging .", "surprisingly , steinbauer finds a way to make sense of the competing agendas and feelings expressed throughout MOV .", "the movie becomes oddly deep and even poignant .", "although we find out a lot about this virtual hermit and develop an admiration for his cantankerous principles , the movie leaves some questions unanswered .", "the film lacks a point of view , but it sure establishes the catharsis in watching a guy speak his mind with brutal , $ # & * # & % honesty at all times .", "there is a genuine , human sympathy for his frustration and lashing out that goes along with the laughter .", "brilliantly encapsulates the transformative power of the online video boom .", "-lsb- director ben steinbauer 's -rsb- blend of exploitation and sincerity proves remarkably efficient , and helps illustrate how new media have democratized the arts .", "-lsb- a -rsb- frustrating , borderline exploitative , madly entertaining documentary .", "good fortune smiled on this film , but the feeling persists : this triumph belongs to rebney , not steinbauer .", "i know this film sort of deals on a fine line of humiliation and admiration , but i thought it pulled it off .", "i think this is a disingenuous and shallow movie about a fairly interesting guy .", "... a terrific character study . it also airs provocative meditations on the ramifications of living our lives via media . steinbauer accomplishes both in this thoroughly entertaining feature debut .", "what 's next , a full-length documentary about the life and times of chris ` leave britney alone ' crocker ?", "the age of youtube is an unforgiving one .", "steinbauer is as significant a character as his subject , and MOV emerges as a documentary as much about rebney as the making of the film itself .", "the film ends with a semi-touching reaffirmation that everybody 's in showbiz .", "do n't laugh too hard at those youtube ` fools . ' that 's you and me , do n't forget .", "a hilarious and surprisingly touching profile of a fascinating character .", "the filmmaker never makes it about him % u2014 it 's clear throughout that he 's onscreen because that 's the most direct way to tell this story , and he wants nothing more than to serve as a conduit between what he sees and what he wants us to see . you do n't", "you 'd think angry MOV , jack rebney , was garbo herself , the way one callow filmmaker and legions of youtube watchers carry on about this basically decent , very serious loner of a man , who inadvertently become a viral video star .", "adulation -- even barbed adulation -- is irresistible .", "what started as an underground goof ended up becoming a fascinating foul-mouthed curio ; though it aims for profundity , MOV seems destined to suffer the same fate .", "this engrossing documentary widens to consider the phenomenon of viral videos and the humiliation they can bring to their sometimes unsuspecting victims .", "one of those thrilling instances where reality grabs a filmmaker by the lapels and drags him -lrb- and us -rrb- to unexpected places .", "reasonably amusing doc about a salesman whose strong -lrb- read : weak -rrb- language gains fame .", "i guess i enjoyed MOV , but i knew it could have been more .", "raises intriguing questions about our culture of online humiliation and the real-life destruction it can leave in its wake .", "the germ of steinbauer 's apparently harmless , seemingly brainless doc goes right to the heart of the community-building aspect of the internet .", "MOV is an intriguing look at the effects on one man 's life ; whether they 're worth the cost is something steinbauer leaves up to us .", "... an interesting and entertaining look into the life of jack rebney % u2013 if you can take the language .", "for a growing legion of youtube boobs and mouse potatoes , MOV is all the medication we need to laugh away overdue bills and genital infections .", "there 's a pathos lurking around the edges of MOV , and it has nothing to do with issues of fame or the power of the web and everything to do with aging and alienation , neither of which the documentary seems able to comprehend .", "what this film is really about is how interconnected we all are , like it or not , on the internet , and how alluring and alarming this can be .", "whenever rebney gets to be rebney -- be it insulting , sweet or wearily perturbed -- MOV shows a full tank of irascible charm .", "that mr. rebney is a real character comes as no surprise . what 's odd , given mr. steinbauer 's obvious intelligence , is the director 's blinkered view of his subject .", "was it all an act -- or is this ? pay your money and find out .", "at once scabrously funny and uncomfortably poignant ..." ], "summary": "though it does n't quite answer all of the questions it raises , MOV is nevertheless a fascinating , hilarious , and surprisingly poignant look at a geniunely colorful internet celebrity .", "id": "770809072" }, { "movie": "becoming_jane", "reviews": [ "the film seduces . beautifully produced , from production design and costumes to music and performances , it 's also faithful to the genteel spirit and repressed passions for which she 's known .", "explains austen 's art simply and neatly : too simply , in fact , to do justice to such a brilliant observer of social manners and hypocrisies and weaver of complex , romantic moral tales .", "ponderous , despite a couple of nice performances .", "the story is touching , the dialogue clever , the cast is great and the period detail is impressive .", "the director , julian jarrold , is comfortable with the material , and it is comfortable with him .", "deeply pleasing in a connect-the-literary-dots manner .", "this ` have n't we seen this before ? ' sensibility is anything but a downside . it 's the draw of director julian jarrold 's good-looking , entirely pleasant revel .", "you have to be patient with the movie , but the payoff is good .", "this limp late-18th-century doodle sullies our memories of austen 's books and warps our impressions of the writer with pedestrian comedy-drama .", "a totally enchanting costume drama about jane austen 's yearning for love and a place in the literary world dominated by men .", "the tender emotion , delicacy of feeling and above all brilliant inspired flashes of brash female wit , render the truth or exaggeration of the tale simply secondary .", "it 's worse than male fantasy : it 's austen for idiots .", "it 's a bland , stilted , stuffy costume drama masquerading as a chick flick .", "not to put too fine a point on it , but this movie throws like a girl .", "another bland , passionless costume drama as stuffy and oxygen-depriving as its corsets .", "it 's all very spirited without getting anywhere near the spirit of austen herself -- at least as we know her from her work .", "what i witnessed was corporate greed : a savvy team zeroing in on an audience that goes gaga for the english costume drama , hoping to cash in on the popularity of young hathaway after the enormous success of the devil wears prada .", "anne hathaway has learned to ease up on the mugging and let us come to her . she 's no jane austen , but she 's got the gumption of an austen heroine .", "about 20 minutes in , you realise you 're actually quite enjoying this ; and , horror of horrors , anne hathaway 's actually doing a rather good job at this regency lark .", "the style of masterpiece thetaer is applied to this reimagining of the making of writer jane austen , which will upset purists due to its liberties with austen 's real background .", "it 's a classy package , all right - just missing the extra spark .", "a charming , intriguing biopic , given extra depth and sparkle by attractive performances from its superior cast .", "despite the fact that this is a beautifully-shot , dryly funny period drama , some audiences might prefer to stick to the sheer escapism of austen 's fictional work , which follows a similar formula .", "austen 's fans will recognise something of the author 's playful wit in the film , and forgive the dramatic liberties .", "think austen in amour , \u0155 la shakespeare in love . a warm , charming , bittersweet romance - destined to make a thousand dates .", "the supporting cast are all terrific , as are the irish locations .", "the very idea of jane austen with a broken heart may be thought vulgar and pedantic by her modern readers , and the way the story pans out is not convincing .", "a finely tooled brit-lit costumer that , like anne hathaway 's flawless accent as the young austen , lacks only that final convincing 5 % .", "it 's a good-looking film .", "while there is little that is fresh in this costume drama , it is well done and anne hathaway makes a delightful jane , who is unafraid to defy convention .", "the movie is eminently watchable : the production values are blue-chip , the script is often funny and cute , hathaway is reasonably charming .", "was austen really a smarter , feistier carrie bradshaw in more sensible shoes , longing for love even as she failed to hang onto it ? MOV would have been more honest if it had been called no sex in the country .", "short on emotion .", "MOV has its felicities ... mcavoy and hathaway work well together despite being saddled with dialogue that is not remotely in austen 's league . but then again , what is ?", "-lsb- a -rsb- moderately engaging pseudo-brit-lit piffle .", "after the invigorating cinematic brio of 2005 's pride and prejudice , it 's disheartening to see the austen brand retreat back into costume drama 101 ...", "the script 's lively , modern points of departure give it a few surprises .", "... a beautifully directed film from julian jarrold that draws as much strength from the depiction of the 18th-century english countryside -lrb- ireland , actually -rrb- as from the performances of anne hathaway as austen and james mcavoy as tom lefroy .", ". mcavoy shines in the role of a good-hearted rogue , and director julian jarrold -lrb- `` kinky boots '' -rrb- depicts 18th-century england with a convincing less-is-more approach .", "has a burnished feminine sadness , and the director , julian jarrold , gives it a creamy-dark visual flow .", "thanks to the combined charm of the leads , this remains a most agreeable cinematic portrait .", "we ca n't quite shake the feeling we 've seen this all done before , and better .", "unlike an austen story , MOV does n't suffer from a predictable third act , and the characters are n't quite so schematic .", "-lsb- mcavoy is -rsb- perfectly fine as the prickly metropolitan exiled to the provinces after a dust-up at a london law school .", "hathaway and mcavoy are appealing , but bland . the scenes that hark back to pride and prejudice are not so much evocative as hackneyed . it is all very pleasant , but it is also a bit of a bore .", "the film is still charming enough , both for its performances and its lovely look at jane austen 's most devoted suitor of all -- a pristine page , begging her attention , wanting nothing but her words .", "hathaway is too good an actress not to deliver more than just a grand star turn and she 's able to carry the story of austen 's .", "-lsb- mcavoy -rsb- and hathaway simply are n't given much to do together , and they have two long hours to do it in . screenwriters kevin hood and sarah williams seem reluctant to risk the ire of austenites .", "hathaway and mcavoy bring some genuine , if discreet , sparks to their secret romance , but there 's something fundamentally lifeless about director julian jarrold 's shallow gloss on pride and prejudice .", "there 's a lot to recommend MOV , particularly the performances . hathaway does more than survive . if she does n't seem like a literary genius , she at least seems like a worthy austen heroine -- intelligent , independent and brave .", "the movie has an immense charm that sneaks up on you . ultimately , it 's a delicate ode to love and honor -- and to writing and reading .", "the story quickly slips into austen formula .", "a triumph for anne hathaway , who brings to the young jane the same jittery wide-eyed intensity she displayed in the devil wears prada along with a secure british accent . she and mr. mcavoy inject a keen intelligence into the couple 's verbal jousts .", "contrived and hokey where austen 's work is effortless and romantic ...", "it 's a charming , peaceful picture ; a perfect diversion for those who like their corsets tight and confining and their romance kept behind a fence of social judgment and impossible odds .", "the mixing of vague historical anecdote and pure hollywood fantasy do n't quite mix .", "one can appreciate ` MOV ' without knowing anything about the writings of jane austen or the speculation about her hidden life .", "a painful experience for anyone who gets easily annoyed by the formulaic nature of austen 's writing .", "writers hood and williams conjure up a plot worthy of ms. austen herself , using austen 's real-life brothers and sisters for scandalous and tragic romantic subplots .", "the cinematic equivalent of a nice retirement facility", "dilutes one of the loveliest voices in english literature into chick lit .", "there 's something refreshingly spare and rough-hewn about this big-screen experience .", "if you 're a jane austen fan , your sense and sensibility will demand you check this out .", "an enjoyable appetizer , albeit for a meal that one could argue already has far too many courses .", "the squeaky clean love story of jane austen fails to make hay of either women 's liberation or the miracle of creative writing , sticking to lush estates and courtly costume finery instead", "fails to capture either the sprightly spirit and poignant pathos of its subject 's famous works .", "MOV takes a stab at being a historical romance in the vein of shakespeare in love , but something key is missing .", "a smart film about manners , money and marriage , `` MOV '' offers a fictional glimpse at the all-too-brief life of author jane austen .", "captures that certain romantic jane austen-esque spirit .", "the sole pleasure i got was in gazing at the fancy costumes and taking in the lush grounds of the snobby lady gresham 's estate .", "MOV may fudge the facts , but it finds the more compelling emotional truth .", "inevitably exudes a kind of hand-me-down quality , the feeling of being a second-rate copy instead of a true original , at once too clever and not clever enough .", "for realism 's sake , jarrold checks in with the usual muddy hems , misty green fields and chickens clucking underfoot . and if you\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- re an austen reader you can have an okay time just playing i-spy pride and prejudice ...", "if MOV is a little light in the head , it gives anne hathaway a chance to show herself off more delightfully than she did in the devil wears prada .", "for people who do n't know the rules of cricket or concern themselves with the romantic problems of the upper class , MOV is far from a classic .", "a charming period romance which casts jane austen as a budding young authoress stifled by the pride and prejudice of her time .", "lay back and do n't think of england -- or austen -- is the best advice i can give for prospective viewers of MOV .", "slow , boring , and i still know nothing about the real jane austen .", "unfortunately , lead actress anne hathaway is not suited to the role . her jane does n't seem like the main character in her own story .", "MOV attempts to please the purists and the dreamers , but only results in disappointing both .", "thank goodness there was a man around to stimulate jane 's creativity ! such is this film 's retrograde premise ...", "although the film does eventually give up its referential conceits , it comes far too late in the game to salvage any real emotional investment in the characters or their plight .", "MOV becomes a rather ordinary , though sporadically entertaining , game of dress-up .", "this never rises above a date movie , but it 's functionally literate -lrb- the lovers have some pleasant banter about the realistic merits of tom jones -rrb- and features a fine supporting turn from ian richardson .", "hathaway delivers a fine british accent and high spirits as austen .", "taken as speculative fiction , it is thoroughly satisfying .", "early on , a character remarks that `` wit is the most treacherous talent of all '' and based on the evidence contained within , the minds behind `` MOV '' are among the least treacherous people that you are likely to meet .", "if only jane 's fictional life had half the wit as what she put on the page .", "that the film overlooks austen 's imagination becomes understandable when `` MOV '' reveals itself to be a rather unimaginative second-rate copy of a jane austen novel .", "once you admit that the jane austen depicted onscreen bears scant relation to any person named jane austen , living or dead , the film fulfills its purpose .", "MOV is n't purposefully cynical but if you stop to consider it , it rather undermines austen 's great talent .", "-lsb- c -rsb- aptures both the aching romanticism and the cold , hard practicalities of austen 's fiction ...", "neither the best nor the worst of the jane austen adaptations . however , nor is it likely to be remembered for very long after it passes across your eyes .", "the movie goes down easy , but there 's a thin line here : is this an homage or a parasite ?", "after approximately fifteen minutes into the film , however , i forgot about the accent and realized that anne 's exuberance and dramatic range are fitting for this portrayal of the celebrated literary figure .", "... more ` chick flick ' than recent oscar-nom ` ed austen adaptations , but it 's cut from more or less the same cloth , albeit less durable .", "clearly embraces the spirit of the beloved novelist .", "one can only hope that MOV will inspire moviegoers to find out more about this beloved literary great . or hopefully revisit one of her classic novels .", "... drops the ball almost immediately by emphasizing some seriously hackneyed plot twists and an overall atmosphere of predictability ...", "something of a disappointment , thanks to some dreary photography and a boring , unimaginative script that completely wastes a talented supporting cast .", "another british writer is given the worthy cinematic treatment , complete with an american actress in the title role and sentiment that overwhelms what should be a gritty story .", "... it seems uncharitable to deny poor jane austen this chaste , hypothetical affair", "the central idea in MOV is that `` pride and prejudice '' may have been autobiographical . not a bad idea , except that the film plays more like a new adaptation of that book than as an outright examination of austen 's inspiration .", "take jane out of the equation -- replace her with any of your basic period-piece-romantic-costume-drama heroines -- and you 're left with mere trifle .", "the film 's romantic conventions are not nearly so bright or inspiring as what austen became , in her own words .", "not only is that a huge stretch of the facts , it makes for a dull and overly familiar melodrama .", "while MOV is too much of a prologue to the writing austen , it is an impeccably crafted imagining of a young woman seeking love at a time when women were so often ` better than their circumstances . '", "think of this scenario as a smart , witty , well-acted romance novel that has sprung to life on the big screen with some restraint and a decent amount of dignity .", "mostly just a second-rate jane austen story .", "hathaway never makes us think the woman could write anything more complex than a diet book .", "the reality of love 's disappointments enriches the film 's heroine , who never married in real life , and brings a 200-year-old figure into living focus .", "anne hathaway concludes the thorough evolution from disney princess to serious actress . with commanding wit and a deft british accent , she 's more than convincing as a wickedly intelligent woman restricted by proper society .", "empty , empty-headed , anf full of cliches . do n't expect austen brilliance from this pedestrian film .", "utilizing a lovely british accent and a graceful way with words , hathaway communicates austen 's predicament beautifully . when she was creating her immortal heroines ... the real jane austen must have pictured someone like hathaway .", "an evocative portrait of an artistic temperament in defiance of propriety and of how , when such things are repressed , passion and personality are revealed in acts of private ritual and public performance .", "the film 's familiarity is pleasant enough , and screenwriters sarah williams and kevin hood flaunt a strong working knowledge of austen 's work , peppering the movie with what amounts to inside jokes for readers familiar with the writer 's six novels .", "austen comes off here more as stenographer than writer .", "a smart and well-acted drama that is a refreshing change of pace from this summer 's overblown blockbusters .", "... a diverting game of spot-the-reference ...", "an agreeable period romp , missing the spark of the high-end austen adaptations but firmly in command of its own romantic devices .", "the film 's notion of austen 's great works being nothing loftier than the result of failed puppy love suggests the filmmakers perversely believe that gross oversimplification is a virtue .", "a witty , winning austen bio for tweens and older .", "an den to ` heis barethei -lsb- to story -rsb- tis alles ena ekatommyrio enniakosies peninta ennia hiliades triakosies eikosi dyo fores poy to ` heis ksanadei -lrb- i , an den to ` heis ksanadei -rrb- , magkia soy kai kali diaskedasi , prodomenos de tha bgeis .", "... there 's a feeling with MOV that we have seen it all before ... . many times .", "a dull exercise in deconstructing jane austen 's life to provide a life experience basis for her novels .", "without a pretext and knowledge of the classic author , much of the richness of this movie got lost", "even though it looked great and was moderately engaging , something was also always missing .", "with a spot-on accent and altogether charming performance , hathaway makes another convincing statement that she has grown , as a woman and as an actress .", "director julian jarrold -lrb- kinky boots -rrb- struck a unique and lovely tone , managing to maintain a conventional merchant-ivory type look but successfully infusing it with some rather modern humor -- hathaway and mcavoy verbally sparring like an 18th century trac", "unless you have something new to say do n't say it all . lesson learned from yet another jane austen re-tread that trots out its tired themes with 18th century goodness .", "MOV is not as good as the best austen films , but is much better than most mainstream movies on tap .", "you 'll enjoy it if you 're the artistic , romantic type who can be seated for 120 minutes without cgi or anything getting blown up .", "jane austen did not live the life of elizabeth bennett , but even if she had , there was no reason to be this bland in presenting it ." ], "summary": "although MOV is a well-crafted period piece , it lacks fresh insight into the life and works of jane austen . the film focuses too much on wardrobe and not enough on austen 's achievements .", "id": "460343705" }, { "movie": "darjeeling_limited", "reviews": [ "-lsb- anderson 's -rsb- movies , even if you think the stories are slight , are full of the joy of seeing . i could watch them with the sound off and still be completely happy .", "like a once in a lifetime trip that only grows grander with the passage of time , the MOV is idiosyncratic filmmaking at its finest .", "may not deliver on the emotional context of tenenbaums but is more than funny enough to forgive it 's heavy-handed dramatic metaphors .", "in the anderson oeuvre , it feels minor : although it hits its goals , it does n't necessarily aim big this time .", "although the MOV pales in comparison to anderson 's best film , rushmore , it 's still a vast improvement over the director 's last and worst film , the life aquatic with steve zissou .", "the usual pleasures of anderson 's work are all present in the MOV , which creates a gorgeous palette out of local color .", "amid all this self-conscious cleverness , the one sequence built around primal emotions feels hideously out of place , its gravity diminished by the self-consciously kooky antics that surround it .", "unstintingly fussy , vain and self-regarding . but it is also a treasure : an odd , flawed , but nonetheless beautifully handmade object as apt to win affection as to provoke annoyance . you might say that it has sentimental value .", "if anderson 's films really are an acquired taste , then darjeeling is cooked to perfection .", "the jewel in wes anderson 's crown !", "when that story takes a dead serious turn something only alluded to in previous movies it becomes clear that anderson can do pretty much anything ... that does n't involve the life aquatic .", "the movie finds anderson straining to peel away his mannerisms and respond to a world outside the ones he usually so meticulously designs .", "anderson 's signature style is feeling the pressure of the law of diminishing returns -- a law as menacing to the artist as that of gravity is to the balloonist .", "after approaching self-absorption in the royal tenenbaums and the life aquatic with steve zissou , anderson completely disappears up his own preciousness in this road trip .", "wes anderson 's movies are hothouse flowers , delicate but vivid blooming , fragrant but short-lived .", "... the sort of pretentious empty exercise that gives arthouse films a bad name .", "here anderson , like his heroes , learns the real adventure is in getting deliriously lost .", "wilson , brody and schwartzman are each fine , but if you found yourself stuck in a train compartment with their characters , you 'd vamoose .", "the screenplay does have ambitions to say something about brotherhood and spirituality , but anderson 's sense of style is so strong that sincerity and emotion struggle to be heard .", "what of the characters ? well , there are n't any , really .", "wilson shines as the oldest brother of three in perhaps his best performance to date .", "it 's very much what i think anderson intended - a light travelogue of small consequence , with a slight , though sincere and concerned effort to bring a heart back into his films .", "by now , you know exactly what to expect , which is both good and bad . to my mind , anderson reached the acme of this formula in the first go , in tenenbaums , and has now replicated it twice , evoking smaller pleasures each time .", "this is a handsome , intriguing and subtly funny character study that almost leads to enlightenment .", "wes anderson transports his arch , pristine , melancholic sensibility to india , where three estranged brothers meet after their father 's death and hop a train in a quixotic attempt to heal their spiritual wounds .", "anderson 's gentle parody of westerners who lob into an ancient culture expecting to pick up enlightenment and peace as easily as a shoe shine or over-the-counter painkillers is very funny .", "there 's -lsb- anderson 's -rsb- usual goofy celebration of silent dark-eyed melancholics and shaggy oddballs , of absurdist realities and blindingly unexpected insights . taken as a whole , it 's incontrovertible evidence of anderson 's own free-wheeling talent .", "-lsb- this -rsb- oddball odyssey stuck with me well after the final long , hypnotic shot of the magic train rolling through the indian landscape .", "none of this is as amusing as the writers ostensibly imagine it to be .", "the MOV is a step toward maturity for anderson , too . his visual ideas are still overcalculated and the tone is often precious , but emotionally he seems to have expanded .", "what this movie has going for itself in spite of its cloying pleas for indulgence is a playful and interesting narrative structure that precludes much development and comes to the fore only toward the end .", "painful to watch .", "it 's far more streamlined and focused than the director 's recent stuff .", "while the MOV is n't perfect , it comes so close to hitting the mark that even when the film begins to fall off the rails , you 've already made up your mind as to how you feel about it .", "it 's not top-notch anderson , but it 's a step in the right direction .", "maybe anderson needs to shoot someone else 's screenplay , to get outside his own head for a while and into another 's sensibility . it 's telling that his funniest and liveliest recent work was a commercial for american express .", "the MOV , the latest self-satisfied exercise in style over substance from writer-director wes anderson , will amuse his cult followers -- as well as anderson himself and his pals , of course -- but probably nobody else .", "anderson creates a deluxe train set , for sure . all he neglects is building up an electric current or a head of steam .", "arguably wes anderson 's most compassionate , mature film , `` darjeeling '' dances around disconcerting what-ifs : if they were n't your brothers and sisters , would you voluntarily befriend them , or do you tolerate quirks and annoyances because blood links you ?", "like anderson 's other work , this is light comedy -lrb- albeit comedy that flirts with an appealing ridiculousness -rrb- that carries with it a satisfying intelligence .", "being faintly disappointed by a new wes anderson film -- films whose primary form of emotional address , after all , is faint disappointment -- remains one of the few consistent pleasures of american moviegoing .", "as ambiguous and frustrating as it can often be , the MOV is a film of great art and passion ; vibrant , charming and poignant , it 's a ride you wo n't want to get off , no matter where it takes you .", "anderson is evidently encumbered by his own cargo . louis vuitton it may be , but the overriding sensation here suggests the endless revolutions of a baggage carousel .", "wes anderson manages to make the exotic indian countryside seem like a suburb of houston .", "though it never arrives at the desired destination , the MOV offers a rewarding journey -- but one that 's hard to recommend without a few disclaimers .", "while many people make films like anderson , anderson makes films like no one else .", "falling back on such clich\u00e9s , the emotional catharsis of the whitman brothers nevertheless remains hard-fought .", "the film as a whole operates in mr. anderson 's patented , semi-precious zone of antic and droll . it 's not as if the filmmaker has gone off the rails . he 's just not solidly on them .", "filled with the sorts of humane generalities and optimistic possibilities to which only a misanthrope could object .", "if you hear the music , you 'll recognize that beneath anderson 's hipster veneer is the low keen of loss and wounds that never close .", "can a movie be both cartoonish and authentic at the same time ? that 's what anderson achieves , always , and it 's bittersweet and hilarious and makes you want to cry with the perfection of it ...", "hurtling towards an ending that is far less pat than expected , the film ... is too mobile and busy to be forced into a single compartment .", "even those invested in the idea that the journey is the destination may feel they 've taken a train to nowhere .", "this film is indeed limited -- in appeal , sincerity and substance .", "it 's an affected film about disaffected people , and no cast in the world could save it .", "dysfunctional families have long been the favorite subject of filmmaker wes anderson , but he has rarely approached the topic with as much heart as he does here .", "for all its quixotic quirkiness , `` the MOV '' is little more than artifice for the art house set .", "the whimsy of it all does a passable job of covering the dull stretches , and the actors , to a one -lrb- bill murray has a cameo , anjelica huston shows up -rrb- make it watchable .", "with more style than substance , the story is so thin it evaporates like a puff from a hookah .", "it is repetitive , but it 's still very clever writing , maybe sometimes too clever , really good acting .", "a moderately amusing shaggy dog story that evokes director wes anderson 's love for human beings with quirky personality traits .", "wes anderson does n't make movies like anybody else , which is sometimes a good thing and sometimes not . his latest , the MOV , combines what 's best and worst about him .", "meticulously stylized and nimbly filmed on a retrofitted indian train , it 's a spicy , lyrical cinematic feast .", "the first thing my friend said to me as the credits began to roll : `` loved it ... but the film wo n't make a dime at the box office . ''", "anderson is still a maddeningly cool filmmaker . he 's remote from his characters , which makes him remote from his movies . there 's also a way in which he uses race as a novelty , suggesting an assertively white-kid view of the world .", "the auteur 's best work to date .", "a wonderful mix of humor and humanity , vintage wes anderson that 's fine and funny as he takes us on a soul searching magical mystery tour .", "it 's bliss for the anderson devotee ; a lateral cinematic move for the filmmaker , but one of immense merit and continuous enchantment .", "`` the MOV '' is a dud where even its lame attempts at slapstick comedy fall flat .", "the MOV , by comparison , feels like a more comfortable fit than its predecessor ...", "it 's time wes anderson moved beyond the mixture of damage and quirky creativity neglectful parents can cause .", "wilson , brody and schwartzman have their charms , but the script gives them little to work with . anderson and his co-writers have come up with an ordinary road movie that is dependent on lame running jokes .", "the MOV works best when the level of artifice is at its highest and most overt .", "real life comes crashing into anderson-ville ... and for the first time in his career , the filmmaker seems to be playing the pain for real , without any sight gags or ironic distance to cushion the blow .", "dripping with wes anderson 's patented blend of whimsy and melancholy , the MOV is the story of three brothers traveling across india in search of themselves .", "brothers and other strangers ride the MOV , wes anderson 's captivating road movie that views life as a great train of being .", "if you 've seen anderson 's other films , this will feel like a repeat . a good repeat , sure , but still a repeat .", "filmmaker anderson does not disappoint his diehard fans .", "infused with rich writing , strong performances and symbolic undertones , darjeeling explores how people behave when living in the moment but out of the comfort zone .", "quirky is the operative word here . you have to go with the flow on this wacky train ride .", "it 's hard to know ... whether i 've simply had it up to here with anderson 's archly cute portrayals of the troubles and eccentricities of the fabulously well-to-do .", "never before has wes anderson seemed so indifferent toward how the film will be perceived , and , consequently , it moves as gracefully and as organically as anything he 's done .", "unless he branches out into new territory aesthetically and thematically , anderson 's best days may be behind him , not in front of him", "wes anderson is an acquired taste . but those who liked the royal tenenbaums and even the grossly uneven the life aquatic may find this serio-comic tale about three brothers on a train journey through india a satisfactory diversion from everyday reality .", "o curta hotel chevalier , que precede o filme , \u00e9 infinitamente mais eficaz que o longa : se for para mergulhar num universo esteticamente fascinante que n\u0103o tenha muita coisa a dizer , \u00e9 prefer\u00edvel faz\u0119-lo em doses menores .", "this is india as in one of those highly coloured paintings of a hindu god . it 's absolutely gorgeous but every so often the train stops and we go outside , into the dusty yellow plains of rajasthan , where reality is more present .", "a wes anderson film is like a snow globe : it 's hermetically sealed , precious , and pointless .", "working through -lsb- jason -rsb- schwartzman as an alter-ego seems to recharge anderson 's ability to marry pitch-perfect style to emotional honesty .", "the way indian life is portrayed is nothing short of remarkable , and is perhaps the highlight of this laid-back , droll film that may not be everyone 's cup of tea , but will certainly be appreciated by anderson fans", "anderson packs an extraordinary amount of incident and observation into a mere 90 minutes .", "easily the slightest of anderson 's four feature films .", "this quirky , aesthetically-pleasing ride is one worth taking", "a wonderful film -- both funny and affecting .", "if the outcome is foreseeable and the film overstays itself a little even at 91 minutes , the pilgrimage is commendable though not enlightening .", "a touching , sweet tale about an adult trio of brawling brothers who go to india and bliss out tackling sibling rivalry issues , while essentially getting in touch with their divine if somewhat goofy inner mystics .", "a spunky spiritual adventure story about three american brothers traveling through india and trying to connect with each other and come to terms with the past and death .", "the MOV is so reflective of personal experience -lrb- within the context of rarefied pop antecedents -rrb- that it returns common emotional power to today 's fragmented , disingenuous popular culture .", "this is familiar territory for anderson after rushmore and the royal tenenbaums . but there 's a startling new maturity in darjeeling , a compassion for the larger world that busts the confines of the filmmaker 's miniaturist instincts .", "at a stage in -lsb- wes -rsb- anderson 's career when he should be moving on , he is instead circling back .", "a companion piece to tenenbaums more than a step in new directions , darjeeling is a movie about people trapped in themselves and what it takes to get free ...", "hit and miss , but its tone of lyric melancholy is remarkably sustained .", "somewhat funny , but in strange and subtle ways , even by anderson 's standards .", "-lsb- the film -rsb- has a kooky , laid back charm and is full of anderson 's trademark themes and surreal eye candy , but ultimately , for all its offbeat wit and road-to-enlightenment send-ups , it feels a little thin .", "the MOV is like an artist attempting to play back the exact same song , note for note . it 's almost always better the first time .", "it is a delight to look at , with its vibrant colors , iconic images and exotic setting , and the film has a meandering feel that captures the sense of trekking across india .", "entertaining and engaging , and also deliberately strange .", "wes anderson 's best film so far .", "the director and co-writer -lsb- wes anderson -rsb- has some deep thoughts going on in his head that are translated to the screen .", "this is as good a ride as anderson is likely to produce and most fans will think his variation on tongue-in-cheek comedy hilarious .", "anderson 's strength - he 's a consummate visual stylist , a natural born scene maker - is also his weakness , in that he favors obvious constructions , representations and meanings in his scripts .", "if anderson 's personal style is such that we can always tell a wes anderson movie from the outset , then the style has become commonplace for him , and therefore no longer a proper judgment point for us as an audience .", "the evidence of talent persists in anderson 's work , but the prognosis of terminal solipsism and emotional dilettantism draws ever fuller support .", "the technical prowess of wes anderson is still top-notch , with the best example being the train showcasing all of the characters at the end .", "lo que podr\u00eda haber sido una original road movie en tren termina diluy\u00e9ndose en una experiencia caprichosa , carente de humor y sensibilidad , y finalmente algo irritante .", "it eventually goes somewhere , but i 'm not sure where . it is a pleasant enough trip for the most part .", "... a nice sense of fraternal affection under the frustration , playful details in the margins , a bouncy energy , and anderson 's idiosyncratic tastes in fashion and music .", "though anderson is covering the same terrain , it 's different from , and better than , most of what 's out there . and it can still take an unexpected turn toward the revelatory .", "the melancholy is mostly notional and entirely unearned , bought ready-made in '60s songs", "it 's not so hard to believe that even the most naive and clich\u00e9d-seeming spiritual quest may be at least partially redeemed by fraternal good will .", "apart from having thus created the first road-picture homework assignment , anderson is n't breaking new ground here . but he and his actors appear to be having a larkish good time .", "wes anderson 's latest may be limited , but even the director 's lesser projects are worth our while .", "anderson 's films have been a series of diminishing returns after the delightful rushmore . the MOV is easy to admire but hard to like .", "here , as in his two prior outings , anderson 's arch , highly artificial style gets in the way of character and emotional development , rendering pic piquant rather than profound .", "a train ride without laughs or charm .", "going to india and working with 2 writers do little to reenergize anderson because he imposes the same themes -lrb- broken families , lost souls -rrb- , self-conscious approach and seriocomic sensibility on the new feature , further confined by being set on a train .", "full of fantastic individual moments .", "the ingredients that have increasingly defined wes anderson 's films seem , with the MOV , to have become something like limitations .", "for those familiar with anderson 's work the MOV offers nothing new under the sun -- except that its an indian sun .", "a highly flawed personal vision , containing what the screenwriter 101 's among us would deem various and sundry `` third act problems . ''", "a better film -lsb- than life aquatic -rsb- , warmer , more engaging , funnier and very surrounded by india , that nation of perplexing charm .", "the preciousness of this new enterprise pollutes the human relationships until everything seems like a pose .", "an easy movie to admire but more difficult to like . technically and thematically , there 's a lot in the MOV to arrest the attention . emotionally , there 's a void .", "a frustrating movie , a work of immaturity from a director who should be past the empty gestures and self-protective distance of his early work .", "the movie runs deepest when the brothers finally deal with their baggage , both real and metaphysical .", "each scene feels like its own little hotel chevalier , contrived for the mere purpose of seduction and nothing more .", "what 's offensive is the way anderson has used an entire country and its people as set dressing . poverty and reality do n't enter into the picture .", "saddled with a one-track plot and dry performances that never really go anywhere , even when the story literally goes off the rails .", "none of it rings true ; the unifying element is self-consciousness .", "an extraordinary movie , filled with splendor , laughter and a touch of cosmic wisdom . you wo n't forget it .", "... delivers no more and no less than what one might 've expected ...", "those who relished anderson 's candy-coloured bittersweet style in the life aquatic should enjoy the trip .", "the MOV is anderson 's most technically accomplished film , but his subject matter must evolve .", "quirky comedy-drama idiosyncratically directed by wes anderson .", "everyone who pretended to love aquatic because they were afraid of hopping off the anderson bandwagon because deep down they hoped it was just a little career hiccup ? do n't lock your knees when you jump because you 'll wreck 'em .", "`` the MOV '' is a quirky , sophisticated movie that 's kind of a comedy and definitely a road trip with very little plot .", "wes anderson tackles mature brotherly baggage .", "hugely enjoyable , delightfully quirky comedy drama from director wes anderson , featuring a witty script , gorgeous photography , a superb soundtrack and terrific performances from its three leads .", "it 's a movie about luggage .", "about as close to perfection as you 're likely to get .", "here 's another wes anderson movie . i say that with all due respect .", "the film about three brothers in the wake of their dad 's death is a pleasurable journey to nowhere , but it 's worth the ride .", "the MOV has its charms , chief of which is watching three terrific actors evince with unforced ease the rewards and resentments of brotherhood .", "captures the wistful woe and longing that drove the best parts of rushmore and the royal tenenbaums .", "however irregular the beat , this one has a heart .", "unexpectedly fresh , if indisputably minor .", "dysfunctional families are as common on screen as off , but director wes anderson has a flair for making his clans seem bizarrely unique and yet recognizable too .", "the MOV , which is based on a worthy story that ultimately needed more density , shines during its naturally peculiar scenes but blots out its own sun with contrived injections .", "anderson 's best and most satisfying work since rushmore", "limited is exactly what wes anderson proves himself to be .", "brody ... has a comedian 's gangly limbs and a tragedian 's melancholy face . for the tragicomedies of wes anderson , that 's a perfect combination .", "wes anderson returns with another love-it-or-loathe-it comedy , this time starring owen wilson , adrien brody and jason schwartzman .", "it may not have you weeping in the aisles , but it will be with you for days after you see it .", "owen wilson , jason schwartzman and adrien brody all get their comic timing just right as three wealthy brothers on a journey of discovery in india .", "a precious , self-admiring and fatally misjudged serio-comedy .", "for all anderson 's pleasing , refreshing auteur tendencies , the overwhelming feeling delivered by ` the MOV ' is of frustration , d\u00e9j\u0155 vu and little progression .", "want social realism ? you 're in the wrong place . want a witty , whimsical comedy ? climb aboard ...", "a tall tale of mishaps and misadventure that settles into a thoughtful , moving journey . by turns funny , smart and poignant , it 's one of the most satisfying films of 2007 .", "pleasant , especially on the design front , but a lack of narrative substance makes the whole a little too indulgently whimsical .", "`` the MOV '' is director wes anderson 's -lrb- `` the royal tenenbaums '' -rrb- latest vision of flawed relationships .", "funny peculiar and funny ha ha , with a spontaneity and energy that gather up a powerful emotional head of steam as it chugs along .", "the magically compelling MOV strikes me as the fullest blossoming yet of anderson 's talents as a total filmmaker .", "arguably the most self-indulgent and silly of his five-film oeuvre ... the emperor 's new clothes have only gotten more expensive and asian-inspired .", "if wes andersen ever decides to treat his characters with the same loving attention he treats his props , he will make better movies . oh the tschotchkes in this movie ! it 's like a long , loving j. peterman catalogue commercial .", "the MOV is a pleasant trifle , and that 's it . individual moments shine but they do not make a satisfying whole .", "midway through the film takes a shift to a darker and more thoughtful tone - revealing hidden depths to anderson 's film-making that are a welcome surprise .", "finds anderson back in fine form .", "though light on revelations , this well-acted film offers entertaining and touching moments .", "there 's never a moment when you 're not conscious of the movie 's artifice -- its set design is part of its entertainment -- but the experience is n't exactly off-putting , either .", "anderson 's now-overly familiar tone and style feels all the more twee when paired with a thin story .", "it looks wonderful ... but feels thin and weightless , as pretty a bauble as a christmas tree ornament and ultimately just about as durable .", "anderson continues to examine damaged lives with whimsy , humor and bittersweet compassion . no matter how serious the themes get , anderson and company keep the tone deceptively light .", "it 's a hard film to shake , and there 's an awful lot to be said for that .", "anderson 's most wispish work to date ... but it offers enough modest charms to earn it a mild recommendation .", "imagine the three stooges if they had gone to yale .", "whether you will enjoy this movie depends on your tolerance for anderson 's unique sensibilities .", "next stop , minor disappointment , followed by growing appreciation .", "only on screen for a few moments , anjelica huston provides the most moving experience in this odd , self-indulgent film about oddness and self-indulgence ." ], "summary": "with the requisite combination of humor , sorrow and outstanding visuals , the MOV will satisfy wes anderson fans .", "id": "770670652" }, { "movie": "queen_and_country", "reviews": [ "filmmaker boorman 's stroll down memory lane does not bowl us over with rapid-fire hilarity . it soothes us and then melts away unobtrusively .", "to watch `` MOV '' is to get the impression of a man who has gone through life and actually learned something , which not everyone does .", "i hope boorman follows through and makes a trilogy .", "tonally , the movie ca n't decide whether it 's a comedy , a romance , or a wistful wartime madeleine . what it 's missing is the sense of joy and wonder of its predecessor .", "for a movie shaped by the harsher mercies of martial pursuits , it 's incredibly light and frequently hilarious .", "MOV reveals itself as a prime example of the stale storytelling and ignorant ideologies audiences waved good riddance to years ago .", "MOV is the film of an old master -lrb- boorman directed his first feature in 1965 -rrb- who still has one of the most magical eyes in the business .", "rambling and unfocused but not without its moments , john boorman 's 19th feature film , MOV , represents a very belated sequel to the director 's 1987 feature hope and glory .", "the strength of boorman 's film is that it reminds us of what a service comedy is-the spectacle of cogs rising up against their machine .", "far from a searing drama yet seldom takes the glib way out .", "sweeping , witty , delightful and charming while brimming with warmth and humanism .", "a perfectly enjoyable service comedy , playing like a defanged british version of m * a * s * h that never actually gets to korea .", "once more unto the breach for writer-director john boorman , who revisits the semiautobiographical characters from his superb wwii dramedy hope and glory in the beautifully bittersweet MOV .", "while it took 27 years between films , MOV proves to be a lovely counterpoint to hope and glory .", "the film lacks an ability to construct significant instances of character drama as symbolic of larger concerns pertaining to nationalist dilemmas .", "a sequel to hope and glory set in postwar england that proves to be an impressive coda to english writer/director john boorman 's illustrious career .", "it 's solid , albeit generic , filmmaking that satisfies mostly in fits and starts . in other words , this time there 's less hope and even less glory .", "a little too silly to be taken seriously , yet also too heavy to get all the laughs it very clearly craves , `` MOV '' at least shows where boorman 's schizoid , if less than wholly satisfying , sense of storytelling comes from .", "boorman is 82 ; `` MOV '' is being called his final film in a career that included `` point blank , '' `` deliverance '' and `` excalibur . '' if this really is it , congratulations -- and regrets that bill rohan did n't appear in a few more movies .", "in short , -lsb- you may realize -rsb- how expert presentation can draw you into a world , immerse you in the lives of others , and make you sorry to leave when it 's over .", "MOV finds exhilarating comedy in places usually reserved for drama , violence , loss .", "the director gets all the period detail exactly right and there are plenty of historical and cultural references that evoke a sense of nostalgia .", "the actual antics feel as tonally dated as the story , school-boyish shtick that went corny even before m * a * s * h married screwball shenanigans to wartime bleakness .", "the movie is a sweet-natured , easy-going bit of storytelling , and while bill may be the central character , MOV is really a movie about england . and it 's a love letter to a particular time and place", "a worthy follow-up to a classic .", "there 's no way around the fact that this is a lesser endeavor than `` hope and glory , '' but when it 's good , which is often enough , `` MOV '' glows with a master storyteller 's sense of memory .", "sturdy , moving , nostalgic in a good way .", "charming but mature post-wwii coming-of-age drama .", "boorman grasps this opportunity in a war movie , to mount an incidental battle of his own internally against a national belief system without a soul - ridiculing a military hierarchy ranging from nasty to nonsensical , and pulled off with malevolent glee .", "entertaining enough , but military hi-jinx and romance are just not nearly as fresh a premise as was his sense-of-wonder-view of world war ii through the eyes of a boy .", "one of a handful of great movies that look at world war ii through the eyes of a child , `` hope and glory '' is distinguished by mischievous good humor and by the unashamed acknowledgment that war can be fun as well as horrible .", "boorman 's movie oozes fond memories but does n't quite know how to make them relevant .", "a deeply personal memoir , so well written and carefully observed that it draws the viewer into the ambience of postwar england with a persuasive power that makes you feel you 're part of the same experience .", "for cinephiles who 've followed this 82-year-old british filmmaker 's long and sometimes eccentric career with interest and admiration , `` MOV '' will be a sure winner .", "... a light , nostalgic military coming of age story with mournful undercurrents . while the film may feel slight compared to its precursor , boorman deftly manages shifting tones while preserving post-war memories in a very specific time and place .", "not as engaging as ` hope and glory ' but more deceptive in its modesty .", "modest but still disarming ...", "boorman skillfully takes major historical events and filters them through small , personal moments .", "it works , but not entirely .", "a direct sequel to 1987 's hope and glory -- and the best thing that john boorman has made since .", "with a wildly inconsistent tone , this makes for an emotionally disengaging film that is ultimately rather unfulfilling .", "queen & country is hardly reinventing the wheel , but it 's charming , evocative and...well-performed ...", "boorman has not lost his skill for deploying actors well .", "MOV is an entertaining and sympathetic guide to a lost world : a rite of passage that britain was to find it could do without .", "john boorman 's sequel to his masterful ` hope and glory ' does n't equal its predecessor , but still offers a vivid snapshot of army and family life in post-war england .", "admittedly modest , but the epitome of jolly , this is like the companionable second volume of an autobiography in film form - you 'll whip through it in no time , and come out wanting more .", "MOV is a truly entertaining flick forged by a master storyteller and the acting is polished , even in the smaller roles .", "a lovely movie , as achingly bittersweet as all nostalgia , marked by surprising moments of commonplace beauty - a brilliant morning sky , a gently burbling thames - and real rough emotion .", "less vibrant than the original , but equally thoughtful and funny .", "do n't let the british pedigree and nostalgic trimmings fool you : this is no masterpiece theatre exercise but a broad , high-spirited , riotously funny service comedy , on par with m * a * s * h and stripes .", "queen & country , like hope & glory , is anecdotal and episodic , but hope & glory added up to something .", "will john boorman turn his pair of -lsb- personal -rsb- films into a trilogy ?", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- boorman 's unfussy approach to his youthful past creates a warm sense of familiarity with the characters he presents , however quirky their motivations may be .", "it 's not hopeless , but it 's surprisingly slack , unfocused work from boorman , who aims for a scattered tonality that reflects the madness of the moment , but mostly loses his way .", "there 's a muted calm to this lovingly cast , beautifully shot time capsule , capturing passing time instead of -lsb- boorman 's -rsb- recurrent project of undertaking the making of primal myth .", "the fundamentally episodic nature of the narrative limits its impact somewhat , but boorman again finds a spark in a frisky coming-of-age story that tracks the growing pains of an entire nation .", "i was n't especially amused by the anecdotal plot .", "once again boorman has tapped into a particular sort of nostalgia that his audience truly feels , even if the experiences of his characters are nothing like their own .", "boorman returns to the classical style of the movies he enjoyed at a young age , again showing his flexibility and commitment to finding a story 's ideal tone .", "it has taken john boorman almost three decades to make the sequel to his much-cherished `` hope and glory , '' but `` MOV '' turns out to be well worth the wait .", "barely passes muster", "a wartime comedy of manners , it 's a delightfully whimsical portrait of 1952 england , a time and place of class discord that 's both uproarious and politically pointed .", "MOV is a fitting , intimate curtain call on a long and a hugely dynamic and influential film career .", "boorman 's point of view and on-screen alter ego seemed stylistically in sync in the first film , but `` queen & country '' - though often charming - has a tendency to wander and strain , which might say enough about capturing '50s england .", "it 's never going to be more than a footnote to the far superior hope and glory , but sometimes , when you 're feeling nostalgic it can be fun to dig out the other , less interesting photo album .", "it 's a modest pleasure of a film that leaves you hoping it is not the last word from the octogenarian boorman .", "it showcases boorman 's great humanity , but -lrb- like hope and glory , for that matter -rrb- it is almost entirely free of the mild derangement that characterises his best work .", "this is a deeply personal film which also stands as an intriguing record of a period not often revisited in film -- that drab period postwar and pre-suez in which the country itself , like the flailing young hero rohan , is struggling to define itself .", "everything you 'd expect from distinctive film-maker john boorman : a heartfelt story told in arresting visual tones through a melange of conflicting accents and strangely theatrical staging .", "the tone jumps awkwardly between soppy romance , serious drama and carry on-style comedy .", "this is the sequel to 1987 's hope and glory , a coming-of-age yarn awash with illicit passion .", "inconsequentially pleasant .", "it has a certain period charm , but somehow adds up to less than the sum of both its vaguely comic and moderately poignant parts .", "it 's a string of little jewels masquerading as a story . the army-life japes and escapades , climaxing in the stealing of an officers ' mess clock , might seem picayune . but they form a cumulative glitter .", "what a shame boorman chose to dramatise a fairly dull stretch of his life instead of going for what clearly should come next : his first steps toward becoming the director who would go on to make 1967 's point blank and 1972 's deliverance .", "MOV is john boorman 's autobiographical sequel to the wonderful hope and glory and a rather softer affair .", "a welcome , thoroughly enjoyable follow up -lrb- to `` hope & glory ' -rrb- . john boorman has n't lost his touch for finding humor and even wonder in the seemingly mundane experiences of life ." ], "summary": "graceful and bittersweet , MOV finds writer-director john boorman revisiting past glories with warmth and wisdom .", "id": "771315961" }, { "movie": "bruno", "reviews": [ "this is our cultural conversation right now , and MOV minces in , ready to demolish preconceptions in every direction .", "it 's a funny , funny , funny movie . it 'd just not revolutionary anymore .", "wilder and riskier but also more calculated than borat , MOV shows outre sexual images , and how can you not like a gay austrian who decides to repent after realizing that our top stars , cruise , travolta and spacey share one thing , they 're all straight", "br\u00fcno is like milk , but with a talking penis .", "the crown of the reigning king of bad taste must pass from john waters to sacha baron cohen .", "the fallacy that baron cohen 's comedy is politically pertinent derives from its pandering to lefty biases .", "those who go in with their jaws clenched are bound to find offense . better to focus on the stuff that works outrageously .", "outrage is entertainment !", "if MOV is not quite up to the lofty standards of borat , it is daring and sometimes insightful .", "... it feels funny enough -- and that may be the unkindest thing of all you could say about a comedy", "too often , br\u00fcno feels like borat 's weak-wristed brother , too much of it just a gay cliche aimed straight at the american bigot belt .", "sacha baron cohen might be a one trick pony , but he sure knows how to give the audience , ahem , a good ride .", "certainly , the film is worth seeing if only for the fascinating range in reactions -lrb- give 'em something to talk about indeed ! -rrb- .", "baron cohen 's daring and fearlessness as a cultural critic is in as grand a form here as it was in borat , his last adventure in ... lampooning ... kneejerk ignorance and superficiality .", "... provokes half as many laughs in a seemingly less improvised comedy that goes twice again as far as borat in goosing sexual sight gags designed to make even the most numb audience members blanch .", "the way the film exposes , tries , convicts , and administers punishment to homophobes - through humor rather than preachiness - had me laughing for 82 straight minutes .", "those who last beyond the first few minutes will be treated to a film that 's more focused than borat , with more jokes , less fluff , and enough social awareness to step on some toes . and it saves the best stunt for last .", "jive-talking robots and ben stiller ` going full retard ' be damned . br\u00fcno is easily one of the most offensive films in years , and that is what makes it awesome .", "a sporadically funny comedy that often shocks and disgusts , but falls flat with tedious and lazy humor .", "unless you are really , really , really , really difficult to offend , you will be upset by something in this film . seriously , count the `` really `` s. do the math . prepare yourself . sacha baron cohen does not pull punches . if you were disturbed by borat , you are", "get ready for more shock waves . with MOV , sacha baron cohen again pushes the sociopolitical comedy envelope as far as he can .", "sure , the shine is off as far as cohen 's particular modus operandi , but this is a funny comedy with both the capacity to make you think and genuinely recoil .", "but by pointing out how low some people will sink to hit the heights of fame , baron cohen can raise as many valid discussions as he can squirms .", "there 's good bad taste and then there 's just plain bad bad , which is what describes most of br\u00fcno .", "a hit-and-miss brand of humor , as likely to leave you squirming from embarrassment as howling with laughter .", "shock and awesome . we are co-conspirators with MOV when we know where he 's headed . let 's keep borat out of this .", "baron cohen and director larry charles are maestros conducting a symphony of discomfort .", "there 's a love story at the heart of this and it 's not necessarily a feature film , but it is a film phenomenon and he is a master at self-promotion , you 've got to admit .", "call me a grouch , but i found myself on side with harrison ford who , when stalked by MOV for an interview , tells him exactly where to go .", "MOV is not nearly as ambitious as borat , where cohen 's talent to outrage ranged far and wide . he 's no longer a saboteur . he 's become part of the machinery .", "it can be entertaining , in a scattergun way . but its most extreme moments feel forced rather than revealed . even its over-the-top finale , with echoes of borat 's rodeo escapade , seems over-calculated this time around .", "it 's a bubbling potion of the staged and the real that supplies a suitable comfort zone for cohen to manufacture his most outrageous character : a hulking gay fashionista with a tireless libido and a limited appreciation for personal space .", "a movie that will make you laugh so hard you 'll gasp for breath ... the formula is familiar , but baron cohen still finds ways to shock you into guffaws , over and over .", "a funny , fearlessly absurd comedy but a shaky satire .", "cohen holds up another mirror to american society , and if anything we 've only gotten uglier since borat . or maybe we 're just uglier when it comes to homosexuality .", "starts off as a hilarious lampooning of fame and the pursuit of celebrity , but cohen and the gang run out of material .", "a patchy , hit-and-miss comedy with a few outrageous highs and a lot of just-okay padding , br\u00fcno suggests that sacha baron cohen 's in-your-face fool routine sadly is n't working any more .", "'t is the season for summer camp , and this one fits the bill as well as any other .", "it 's essential - but hardly comfortable - viewing . you 'll watch most of it through splayed fingers , and at times you 'll need a spare hand to pick your jaw up off the cinema floor .", "there is also a pronounced nasty streak to the innumerable provocations staged by the title character that curdles the laughs and wears out the flamboyant austrian fashionista 's welcome within the picture 's brief 82-minute running time .", "we all knew borat . borat was a friend of ours . MOV , you 're no borat .", "the second hour of MOV is a laugh out loud satire that will make the world a better place . that 's what we want from sacha baron cohen ... lots of people do funny . i 'm glad he still transcended and took the bad people of the world down a peg . ''", "while the film is n't as consistently funny as borat , MOV should still pull in a sizeable audience .", "even at 82 minutes , br\u00fcno feels stretched-out with stitched-together filler .", "inevitably , this follow-up to cohen 's guerrilla mockumentary hit is a substantial letdown , lacking the novelty of its predecessor .", "skeptics might not swallow it all , and thinner-skinned folks will surely be offended . but no one will deny that baron cohen is fearless in his pursuit of rowdy laughs .", "in br\u00fcno , most of the stunts feel staged , more like the hills than cultural learnings .", "ribbing for your pleasure , br\u00fcno is crafted to cause a flurry of varied reactions , even within a single viewer .", "br\u00fcno never comes close to the inspired comic/cultural lunacy of borat , or even the dunderhead fearlessness of ali g.", "br\u00fcno is no borat .", "ich laughed , ich cringed , ich pitied paula abdul .", "more envelope-pushing and funnier than borat , baron cohen 's perilous brand of agit-comedy takes us from meetings with terrorists to acrobatic penises . how did this get away with an r rating ?", "for sheer shock value - and that 's really why people go and see a film like this - MOV delivers . it 's clear , however , that the formula is wearing thin , and baron cohen need dig deeper into his bag of tricks for his next outing .", "may be the funniest film of the year thus far , but it does n't come close to reaching the comedic heights of his previous effort , borat .", "rated r for rude , raw , ribald , and repetitive , br\u00fcno delivers sacha baron cohen 's brand of commando comedy , but little else .", "baron cohen is a genuine comic guerrilla , charging right to the front lines of the war against prejudice and sanctimony .", "yes , MOV is in ` gay face ' if you will , but when going beyond the surface , he is clearly turning the mirror on us and saying , ` do you see how stupid these stereotypes are ? '", "you should know by now whether MOV is your kind of movie . i had high hopes , but confess to leaving the cinema somewhat disappointed .", "MOV is well worth seeing for a good laugh , even if it is a hit-and-miss affair . after all , i doubt any negative reactions will stop baron cohen pulling the greatest prank of all -- pocketing millions from willing suckers like us .", "where borat was an innocent abroad , br\u00fcno is just broad ; sacha baron cohen makes br\u00fcno the self centred and self obsessed centre of the film , which is not so much a story as a series of sketches designed to shock , disgust and outrage", "i watched in superficial fascination , chuckled a couple of times , quickly became bored and found the 80 minute running time dragged like a one-note joke that outstays its welcome", "the only thing cohen can do is to throw the character 's sexuality in people 's faces , but there are several brilliant sequences of baiting and utilizing american gay panic that really hit the satirical button .", "for all of its button-pushing , the end result is almost as superficial as its egocentric hero .", "there are more consequences of his situations than there are laughs derived from them . not everyone around here is a howard stern .", "what `` MOV '' may lack in setup innovation , character conviction or `` borat 's '' inherent sweetness , it makes up for by pushing things beyond points of comfort or , in some cases , personal safety . successfully uproarious in slaying social stratification .", "as outlandish as the central character is , he uncovers some biting truths that no comedy writer could invent any better .", "in the end , MOV simply is n't as funny as borat . ... mr. baron cohen is too often forcing the issue instead of letting the humor emerge organically .", "illustrates not the public 's gullibility but a comic 's waning sense of danger", "MOV has one crucial element borat lacked , a satirical point of view .", "artificial e cruel quando deveria ser espont\u00e2neo e instigante , finalmente acaba cometendo um erro fatal para qualquer com\u00e9dia : leva o espectador a sentir d\u00f3 das `` v\u00edtimas '' de seu astro .", "as with borat , there are plenty of outrageous moments that will make you simultaneously laugh and squirm ...", "while the film may not be as consistently funny as borat , MOV takes the win for one of the most shocking and hilarious films in years .", "br\u00fcno is a brave and necessary comedy . the film will appear to be a succ\u010ds de scandale , and will outrage many people , but it is actually just a success , a film with an instinct for naming and shaming a host of overprotected wrongs . go and see it .", "merely a collection of supposedly shocking jokes about homosexuality and gay sex .", "you can watch MOV purely as outrageousness or you can view it while pondering where the line is - or should be - between incisive social commentary and misanthropy .", "the first 45 minutes -lsb- ... -rsb- might be the most concentrated bit of cinematic hilarity since aqua teen hunger force colon movie film for theaters .", "-lsb- homophobia -rsb- deserves confrontation , but when done in the manner of the movie here , it is less enlightening than it is just plain squirmingly funny .", "there are very little or no examples of comedic genius in this film", "staged or not , cohen still displays a fearlessness and commitment to character unparalleled in the comedy world today .", "a plot synopsis does n't quite capture the visceral thrill of our hero 's bizarre and shocking adventure .", "the only thing cohen can do is to throw the character 's sexuality in people 's faces , but there are several brilliant sequences of baiting and utilizing american gay panic that really hit the satirical button .", "sacha baron cohen 's latest shock comedy MOV is a nasty , tired and pointless retread of the gifted comedian 's previous work .", "if mixed martial arts fans who view the film are forever after afraid of fighters getting aroused during a ground-and-pound session on the mat , then baron cohen did the job right .", "i do n't know how many more times baron cohen can go undercover , but it looks as if he 'll never run out of bigotry , idiocy and hypocrisy to spoof .", "when moments seem like setups with actors , they turn tame . but when things feel real -- as when MOV conronts an arkansas wrestling-match crowd -- they can get scary-real .", "it 's an odd cop-out for so fiercely gifted a comedian ... . this is not a man who is doomed to be allen funt , or for that matter , ashton kutcher . he does n't need to rely on the easy titillations and voyeuristic pull of reality tv .", "cohen has come up with some marvelous satirical motifs ; elsewhere , he 's just showing how far he 'll go to get a laugh .", "for all his idiocy , kazakh journalist borat sagdiyev was a more likable jester than br\u00fcno , who is the sum of his nether parts . one is a naif in a strange land . one is a jerk no matter where he travels .", "not all of the jokes are complex , or smug . some follow the pure , simple slapstick route to the belly laugh , and there are enough of those to please many cohen fans .", "if you liked borat , i 'd recommend it . and i 'd recommend you expect it to be only 2/3 as good .", "there 's not much to br\u00fcno beyond some very old limp-wristed clich\u00e9s that are as hostile to gays as the people baron cohen mocks .", "the bad outweighs the good and the cringes outnumber the laughs in br\u00fcno , a disappointment from sacha baron cohen , whose borat was one of the funniest movies of the decade .", "an enormous schwanstucker of a comedy - hilarious , raw , shocking . sign me up girlfriend . two snaps up . way up !", "one of the funniest things you 'll ever see .", "for the majority of its short running time br\u00fcno is a masterpiece of comedy by embarrassment .", "putting his hairless self in harm 's way , sacha baron cohen sets the bar for guerilla comedy as high and as low as it can go .", "with as many gasps as laughs , and arguably less pleasurable than borat , br\u00fcno succeeds by sheer dint of cohen 's unrivalled ability to conceive , and then bravely enact , the most jawdropping stunts imaginable .", "he 's fearless , dedicated to his art and there really is n't anyone else out there who does this schtick half as well . a third helping of fake interviews might be pushing the gimmick too far , but br\u00fcno is as hilarious as it is terrifying .", "br\u00fcno is guilty of being both unbelievably crude and side-splittingly funny . while it 's certainly very close to borat at times , as well as the proverbial bone , with sacha baron cohen in such fine form almost anything is forgivable .", "that 's not to say that there are n't funny moments here because there are some really choice moments but they are lost in the mix of purile and often uncomfortable moments that really are below what you 'd expect from the team behind this .", "there is no braver satirist than sacha baron cohen today , working in any medium , and i salute him . this movie is going to be as big as borat , and deservedly so .", "a mixed bag - obvious targets sitting alongside worthy demolition jobs - but it 's never less than amusing ... and often excruciatingly funny .", "as phoney and frustrating as it is funny . baron cohen 's comedy-outsider schtick is slick but well and truly found out . the clothes may be new and more fabulous , but the emperor seriously needs to go shopping .", "what 's lacking in the presentation , baron cohen makes up for with sheer ballsy , outrageous bravado . he bulldozes you with shock tactics . br\u00fcno is a mesmerising invention , by turns repulsive and compelling .", "mostly entertaining ; but it 's not very memorable , insightful , probing , or revolutionary .", "while decidedly more secular -- and bordering on the x-rated -- baron cohen 's flamboyantly gay austrian fashionista serves a scripturally-prophetic function of sorts .", "let 's just get this over with : this is the filthiest movie i 've ever seen on the big screen .", "i 'm sure there are plenty of people who will find it offensive ... i was too busy laughing .", "br\u00fcno is wall-to-wall jokes , but it never loses sight of its targets , which are many and in the end all-encompassing .", "this film is probably yet another bit of fallout from that blight on civilization known as reality television . god help us all .", "the film 's one authentic moment has him stalking harrison ford , who tells him in no uncertain terms where to go ; frankly , i was with ford .", "the new sacha baron cohen movie , `` MOV , '' really is n't a movie at all . calling it one is sort of like calling mutton the new white meat .", "to paraphrase lloyd bentsen 's smackdown of dan quayle during the 1988 vice presidential debate : `` MOV , i screened borat ; i knew borat ; borat was a review of mine . MOV , you 're no borat . '' perhaps not , but there 's still plenty of laughs to be found .", "it 's a shallow and silly thing that has every right to exist but no profound purpose . it is just a $ 40 million practical joke , and like all practical jokes , it has at its core a hard kernel of cruelty .", "it 's funny stuff , but more in a `` look at how outrageous we 're being '' sort of way than one that comes close to engaging in meaningful social commentary .", "claims that the film is a social satire are as empty as br\u00fcno 's pretty head , there 's no arguing with the fact that the film is staggeringly rude and very , very funny . the laughs build and build : it 's like surfing a tidal wave of hysterical bad taste .", "br\u00fcno is thrillingly funny , establishing sacha baron cohen as a comedian willing to go further than any other to show us what needs to be shown .", "baron cohen is an astonishingly focussed performer ; we have no idea how he does n't crack a smile .", "sacha baron cohen 's latest outing is undeniably hilarious and you ca n't help but admire the sheer chutzpah involved in making the film .", "better than borat ? no . but easily just as good , and twice as outrageous .", "it 's properly ridiculous , mad entertaining and , dare we say it , laugh-out-loud silly .", "there are a lot of big , cruel laughs in this but it was a lot easier to warm to the innocent borat than the self-absorbed br\u00fcno and the film begins to overstay its welcome even at a trim 80-odd minutes .", "but oh my , puerile and ragged as it is , and to some extent because it 's so ragged and puerile , i doubt if a more screamadelically hilarious film will be released in 2009 .", "cohen 's new one-star show is appalling and funny and sometimes both simultaneously .", "you could laugh so hard you wo n't be sure what will split first - your head , sides or `` kugelsack '' .", "howlingly funny , staggeringly rude , brutally incorrect and very often just brilliant .", "cohen does n't quite reach the same five-star genius as his kazakhstan phenomenon . we kind of know what to expect now . still , you 'll laugh out loud , an awful lot .", "borat remains sacha baron cohen 's masterpiece . but gag for gag , br\u00fcno is every bit its equal . so is it the best comedy of the year ? without a doubt .", "br\u00fcno 's greatest outrages here will still elicit howls and shrieks , as well they should . but our fabulous austrian friend is no comedy revolutionary , only a cruel and silly stereotype in leopard-print underwear .", "intolerance and outrage has never been funnier , and nobody incites it better than br\u00fcno , borat or baron cohen .", "whether you believe br\u00fcno is the caustic comedy of a political prankster or the rude humor of a smart-aleck , it 's hard to deny that there is a subversive intelligence at work .", "it 's an exercise in offensiveness , an exploration of over-the-topness and a gleeful working of both sides of the street . what brings br\u00fcno down , though , is sinful behavior . mr. baron cohen commits the cardinal sin of unfunniness .", "the reason MOV does n't rise to the level of cohen 's earlier work % u2014 besides the inevitable diminished returns of revisiting now familiar territory % u2014 is that this time around the film is more interested in making fun than in making a poin", "while there are some big laughs to be had , MOV ultimately fails at its more grandiose intentions as a sharp satire about our obsessions with celebrity and tendencies towards homophobia .", "yes -- if you 're asking -- br\u00fcno is quite possibly the most uproarious , groundbreaking , and shocking comedy of the past decade -- and that includes its sister film which showcased the jew-phobic borat .", "a condescending picture that always takes aim at easy targets , fires away with a blunderbuss , and then pretends to be courageous for what it 's done .", "funny , yes . astute in its satire , not as much .", "sacha baron cohen uses his guerilla tactics to ` expose ' the vanity and vacuity of hollywood and the american south . his high-wire humor can be very funny , but here the groans often drown out the giggles .", "sacha baron cohen 's smiling and gregarious borat , as opposed to his haughty and selfish MOV , scores much higher on the likeability scale .", "the film 's weakness is obvious : it has exactly one trick up its sleeve , and merely repeats that trick over and over for its entire 87-minute running time", "i thought it was hysterical . i 'm just not sure i 'll respect myself in the -lrb- metaphorical -rrb- morning .", "i do n't know if there are any comedians working today as fully dedicated to a joke as sacha baron cohen .", "MOV 's quest to become the most famous austrian star ` since hitler ' is shocking , vulgar and shamelessly defamatory . it 's also downright hilarious .", "undeniably funny , but the targets are far too obvious .", "an expose of the sham values of celebrity worship and tinseltown ambition largely unaware that the producer/director/writer and lead actor exemplifies those very values to the hilt .", "worth your time , but be prepared to be shocked and possibly disgusted in between the laughs -- or even during the laughs .", "the movie is laced with edgy , eyebrow-singeing ` shock ' moments , but MOV himself belongs to a long tradition of english-mangling funny ` foreigners , ' as portrayed by peter sellers , sid caesar , danny kaye and armies of radio and vaudeville comedians .", "i do n't think cohen 's targets are even being particularly homophobic , they 'd just prefer if this crazed , half-naked circus freak would just put his penis away and stop invading their personal space", "as funny as some of this is , though , even with a running time just shy of 90 minutes , br\u00fcno often feels as if it 's straining for effect .", "MOV is not for the easily upset but if you roared with laughter at borat the chances are that you will find the gay austrian model even more outrageously funny .", "as social satire , ` br\u00fcno ' is boorish and scattershot ; as farce , it is obvious and erratic .", "you have to give baron cohen 's publicists five stars , though the film itself falls short of that .", "not since lenny bruce has a comedian pointed a spotlight on people with such observational precision .", "MOV is curiously ineffective , a sort of middling effort that fails to liberate itself from the stereotypes that provide the character 's foundations , even if it also does n't deliberately or harmfully reinforce them .", "if you 're na\u010fve , in high school , or a dedicated follower of scatology , you 'll think this is genius . anyone with world experience , however , will feel left out of the loop .", "there 's laughter but it 's empty , mean-spirited laughter . MOV makes fun of people for no other reason than it can , not because it has something to say .", "sacha baron cohen has nearly succeeded in his quest to be the film equivalent to howard stern . crude and crass rather than challenging , shocking rather than stimulating , cohen does n't seem to care what he does so long as he gets people talking .", "it is proof positive that this emperor of comedy has no clothes , a fact that he seems depressingly eager to demonstrate throughout .", "the movie is a toxic dart aimed at the spangly new heart of american hypocrisy : our fake-tolerant , fake-charitable , fake-liberated-yet-still madly-closeted fame culture .", "controversial , uncomfortable , and hilarious", "a politically-incorrect savior , that rare comedy that revels in bad taste while also actually having something worthwhile to say about the world we live in and the senselessness of stereotypes .", "the problem with MOV comes in mistaking blatancy for comic gold .", "producer/star sacha baron cohen keeps trying to mine humor from the same type of jokes . and in terms of story structure , it 's pretty much the same movie as its predecessor .", "br\u00fcno is a smarter , savvier and all-around funnier movie than its predecessor .", "while cohen has teamed up again with director larry charles , br\u00fcno feels protracted . when the filmmakers ' luck dries up , they resort to staged fish-in-a-barrel events that make the movie a more desperate , less surprising exercise .", "borat got some pretty uncomfortable and surprising behavior from people . br\u00fcno shoots fish in a barrel .", "br\u00fcno hinges on how uncomfortable we are watching a homosexual minstrel show ; our pc excruciation is as crucial to the formula as the good ol' boys ' irritation", "while cohen 's samurai satire has lost some of its edge , he can still leave audiences howling -- when they 're not gasping in disbelief .", "no stoop is too low for a cohen gag .", "MOV has enough gay heat to toast a pop tart in the pope 's ass .", "a vapid , empty and relatively hateful flick . and this is from someone who loved `` borat '' .", "a giddy mash-up of social , sophomoric and shocking humor .", "a brilliantly rude , deliriously insane closeted sexual politics on steroids mockumentary . boasting MOV as the anointed white obama , waxed rectums , defense moves against multi-hued dildos , and ron paul as peeved object of erotic desire .", "MOV is no borat !", "the pic is all about cohen goofing on others he feels superior to .", "while cohen 's taboo-breaking audacity remains in full force throughout MOV , his ability to keep the big laughs on a roll has waned this time around .", "borat feels like a story , br\u00fcno comes off more as sketches , very funny sketches . it 's like an r-rated daily show .", "i felt bad for some of the folks , such as ron paul and the poor preacher he picks on . i wanted lightening to strike others , such as the parents of the babies he interviews for a casting session .", "there are sequences of comic genius but you suspect that the huge dollop of cruelty in cohen has got out of hand - and then the movie wilts .", "with his previous work , baron cohen has already proven he 's a lot smarter than this", "cohen no longer has freshness and novelty on his side , but he 's retained the power to shock , offend , provoke , unsettle , and most importantly , entertain a jaded , desensitized public .", "br\u00fcno offers both succor and sucker bait for liberal-minded viewers who may feel harassed by prevailing and ever-shifting cultural sensitivities .", "MOV is a one-joke character in a one-joke movie , and it 's a joke baron cohen beats into the ground .", "like swift 's gulliver 's travels , br\u00fcno defies you not to see yourself in its funhouse mirror . and then dares you to laugh it off .", "for those of a non-puritanical mindset , it 's hard to deny that br\u00fcno succeeds in being both outrageous and outrageously funny , and it 's hard to damn a comedy , regardless of its faults , for those qualities .", "although br\u00fcno is sometimes a wickedly funny flick , the dubious techniques and repellent protagonist produce fewer real laughs than its predecessor .", "if sasha baron cohen is an acquired taste , i 'm sipping the kool-aid .", "the needle on my internal laugh meter went haywire , bouncing among hilarity , appreciation , shock , admiration , disgust , disbelief and appalled incredulity . here is a film that is 82 minutes long and does n't contain 30 boring seconds .", "for a portrait of a monomaniac , it 's alarmingly random . for an expose of charlatans who range from a psychic to celebrity-charity consultants , it 's maddeningly shoddy .", "even more insane and hysterical than borat , sacha baron cohen 's hilarious follow-up is also far more coherent and effective at using shock factor to get you laughing .", "sacha baron cohen is the most fearless comedian around . culturally , he is pushing people forward kicking and screaming .", "` MOV ' is just as much filthier and certainly more bodacious than any comedy you 've seen .", "it 's certainly not that there are n't a few funny moments in the film . there are , but overwhelmingly , MOV 's stunts are demeaning , they are insulting and they are really cruel .", "there are lots of moments in this movie that are genuinely funny .", "wholly unsuitable for children , yet propelled by a nagging puerility that will appeal only to those in the vortex of puberty , or to adults who have failed to progress beyond it .", "cohen probably did not consciously echo the magic christian , but he would have done well to learn from it .", "for those willing to endure the shocks and actually think about them afterwards , the film 's jokes work on multiple levels , although it is hard not to feel that there is some diminishing return this time around", "br\u00fcno is hit or miss for its first half or so but picks up steam as it goes along .", "even worse than i thought it would be", "parental content review", "MOV is outrageous , sick and offensive but pretty damn hilarious .", "of course , there are laughs , and if audacity were the only principle by which film-making achievement were judged the movie would be a knockout . but having groaned and winced through most of its 83 minutes i could n't wait to get out of there .", "whether it 's outrageously offensive or offensively outrageous , it 's laugh-out-loud funny .", "sacha baron cohen 's MOV is shocking , outrageous and uncompromising in its willingness to get a laugh . it 's just not very funny .", "all the cautions and qualifications in the world are blasted out of your head by some of the film 's astoundingly hilarious ideas and sequences .", "a crude , cringe-worthy , and intermittently funny affair that triggers the gag reflex .", "kudos to the amazing sacha baron cohen who offers one of the best characters since 2006 , an actor who can remain in character even with a gun to his head .", "simultaneously funny , infuriating , daring , cruel and tasteless .", "even if this is the end , we must applaud his audacity , even if we ca n't always bear to watch it in action . is this comedic genius ? as br\u00fcno would say : ich think so .", "some of the scenes do beg the question of if they were staged or not , but after the first ten minutes or so you 're laughing too hard to really care .", "baron cohen 's instincts for outrage are spot on . it 's not insight we need at all right now , but a very sharp bonk on the head .", "more gut-bustingly funny than anything else out there right now .", "outrageous , unnerving , brave , topical , revealing , appalling and consistently hilarious , br\u00fcno manages to be both cutting-edge cultural commentary and post-modern comic genius .", "most of it is inspired silliness .", "it 's a thing , not a movie -- if , that is , you believe a movie should be more than an accumulation of prankish set-pieces flimsily strung over 80 skimpy minutes ." ], "summary": "crude and offensive , but with ample cultural insights and gut-busting laughs , MOV is another outlandish and entertaining mockumentary from sacha baron cohen .", "id": "770771641" }, { "movie": "mary_shelleys_frankenstein", "reviews": [ "something more substantial than hollywood 's typical , fitfully entertaining fluff .", "as this movie switches , unevenly , from swashbuckling adventure to classic horror to frilly-shirted romance to campiness to graphic gorefest , there 's no telling what you 're watching .", "a bloody mess -lrb- in both artistry and gore-level -rrb- and is extremely difficult to watch .", "branagh does n't evoke terror , only repulsion .", "branagh 's directing style is soupy and derivative of all the wrong movies .", "it 's an odd and uneasy mix , but the look of the film is dazzling and the performances are all first-rate .", "it does ... suggest that branagh is a filmmaker who is continually extending his reach and truly seeks to reinterpret source material in a uniquely cinematic language .", "the creature is on target , but the rest of the film is so frantic , so manic , it does n't pause to be sure its effects are registered .", "it is , in a word , dullsville .", "uma das mais fi\u0436is e complexas adapta\u0443\u0448es da hist\u0437ria original , respeitando seus temas principais mesmo que desviando-se , aqui e ali , de pontos espec\u044cficos da trama .", "kenneth branagh has indeed created a monster , but not the kind he originally envisioned .", "watching the movie work itself into an operatic frenzy , one remains curiously detached : the grand gestures are there , but where 's the music ?", "different look at the old frankenstein story , directed by branagh .", "branagh is very obsessed with chewing the scenery . so much so that he even manages to outdo robert deniro .", "branagh 's ambitious take succeeds as a cautionary tale about true monstrosity : hubris and man 's inhumanity to man . but one man 's operatic style is another man 's unintentionally comical excess , and ... frankenstein certainly tempts fate ... -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "clearly , one person 's authentic homage is another person 's overwrought teeth-gnashing fest , as branagh 's film never hesitates to slop on the melodramatic mustard .", "i 'm inclined to give it an 8 now . the more you watch , the more you appreciate how branagh was able to faithfully retell shelley 's novel while still managing to make it fresh and make it relevant .", "a weirdly muddled and embarrassingly over-the-top fiasco .", "a sub par effort on one of the most frequently ill adapted stories ever made", "a noble failure , but a failure nonetheless .", "visceral and energetic sceen translation of this literary classic .", "as wrongheaded as coppola 's dracula -lrb- in different ways -rrb- , frankenstein is all bluff , bombast and bargain-basement borrowings from ken russell 's gothic .", "an interesting concept by branagh , and a touching de niro performance . it is hit-and-miss at times , a bit overwrought .", "an oddly moving father-son love story .", "mr. branagh is in over his head . he displays neither the technical finesse to handle a big , visually ambitious film nor the insight to develop a stirring new version of this story .", "not frightening , just silly .", "what can i say ? i found the bravura and chest-thumping intriguing . i do n't even feel guilty saying that .", "for all its attention to detail and special effects , this version lacks the pathos and tragedy in the complex and ambivalent relationship between the father-creator and his creature-monster ; de niro is misguided by director branagh .", "it 's greek tragedy , and when its characters utter invocations to the gods in turn , it manages to feel cheesy in exactly the right way ." ], "summary": "mary shelley 's frankenstein is ambitious and visually striking , but the overwrought tone and lack of scares make for a tonally inconsistent experience .", "id": "13389" }, { "movie": "10011268-oceans", "reviews": [ "succeeds brilliantly with a visually dynamic component that is nothing less than dazzling", "perfect for families and exquisitely shot , this entry from the disneynature division is even better and fresher than last year 's earth .", "the movie could -- should -- be a symphony , and it frequently makes excellent use of spare classical music . when brosnan pipes up , he is as welcome as a car alarm .", "for all MOV does to please the eyes and ears , it does nothing to engage the brain .", "there 's a been there/swam that feeling to MOV .", "MOV is a bit slow at times but perfectly captures the beauty and brutality of the ocean without being overly political . make sure you use the restroom before watching it .", "MOV floods us with stunning visuals of the panoply of sea life . but without a compelling story , or a strong point of view , or mere information , we can only ` ooh ' and ` aah ' so much .", "i never thought i would like anything made by two dudes named jacques unless i could eat it for dessert or buy it from a truck stop men 's room vending machine .", "you 're torn . is this a work of nature pornography or consciousness raising ? the movie thinks if it overwhelms us with the former , we wo n't notice the relative absence of the latter .", "there have , over the years , been a lot of terrific undersea documentaries , but if you want to know what distinguishes this new one , it comes down to a single word : technology .", "needs more information and more stunning images that speak for themselves , not another earnest monologue from captain obvious .", "exposing humans to the rich ecosystem that produced and sustains all life makes MOV inherently valuable .", "slight but undeniably beautiful documentary on the MOV from the makers of winged migration .", "MOV contains some of the most beautiful imagery ever seen in a feature-length documentary .", "hits all the right buttons , focusing on the cute -lrb- like the seals and penguins -rrb- to the dangerous -lrb- like the sharks -rrb- and the majestic -lrb- like the whales -rrb-", "enthralling , enlightening , meditative and often humorous , this is a wonderful documentary about the MOV and those who live within it", "new technology has helped these filmmakers to build new tools for underwater cinematography that enables them to be more flexible , faster in the water , which is how they captured profile footage of dolphins speeding through the water , for example", "compactly profound , appropriately humbling , and this is just the tip of the iceberg .", "a visually stunning plunge into the life aquatic ; shame about the narration .", "if the film does have a standout quality , it would be its meditativeness .", "where 's spongebob squarepants when you really need him ?", "a beautiful -- at times breathtaking -- visual examination of the undersea world", "stunning images of some of the most breathtaking and fascinatingly odd creatures of the sea . no cute story added , or needed .", "it is highly unlikely that you ever would have the opportunity to witness such spectacles in person ; perrin and cluzaud scoured all five MOV to bring them to you .", "boasts extraordinary images rendered with a clarity sure to become a touchstone for nature docus ; even viewers who do n't care about fish will find plenty to exclaim about .", "the one real problem is the rambling narrative and some too-intrusive voiceover narration . -lrb- brosnan is fine , but frankly , the pictures do a better job of speaking for themselves anyway . -rrb-", "it comes to american theaters saddled with narration by pierce brosnan , who purrs through the gratingly vague script like the world 's plummiest old half-drunken uncle .", "the voice-over almost manages to turn the majestic into the mundane . almost .", "with a subject as literally vast as this one , it 's essential to either narrow the focus -lrb- make the film about one particular species , or region -rrb- or carefully construct the approach -lrb- group footage by theme -rrb- . MOV does neither .", "though never quite as stirring as march of the penguins or winged migration , it quickly establishes its own gentle pace .", "while it may not plunge deeply enough , MOV continues the worthy efforts of explorers such as jacques cousteau , reminding us to respect nature and preserve the myriad life forms that rely on the ocean to survive .", "a regrettably scattered , slapdash affair that holds none of the narrative flow and only a fraction of the visual majesty found in disneynature 's first effort , 2009 's earth .", "despite the talents of jacques perrin and jacques cluzaud -- the oscar-nominated duo behind winged migration , who once again contribute their amazing , in-the-midst-of photography -- the most striking thing about MOV is its banality .", "the ocean floor fight sequence between the mantis shrimp and hermit crab is one of the tenser action sequences i 've seen in quite some time .", "the film 's rigorous commitment to probing the undersea kingdom 's oddities separates it from the usual tepid discovery channel fare ...", "the wow factor alone makes MOV a great earth day/earth week at the movies .", "sublime . astounding . fantastic . i do n't think i can find enough superlatives to describe the incredible `` MOV , '' the gorgeous disney documentary released in celebration of earth day .", "dazzling nature doc chooses poetry and wonder over storytelling and effects .", "serene and sublime , MOV is the best nature doc since march of the penguins -- kids will love it !", "gorgeous educational docu dives deep for facts ; kids ok .", "the movie unpretentiously and effectively shows how our cultural , personal and environmental history not only shape us but affect our decisions .", "MOV is simply amazing at times , a truly remarkable and extraordinary journey under the sea that takes us places we have never been before .", "`` MOV '' is a stunner !", "this monumental documentary gets intimate enough to hear a crab sneeze .", "there are life-and-death dramas , moments of playfulness and tenderness , which create an ever-increasing sense of wonder .", "horseshoe crabs scuttle like possessed nazi helmets and a school of fish morphs from dreidel to disco ball , as if choreographed by busby berkeley .", "MOV is more of a random collection of images from the deep . but , boy , what images .", "an almost miraculously photographed showcase of some of the seven seas ' least seen and most incredible specimens .", "each amazing shot of marine life is as visually stunning as what preceded it , and lo and behold , we do n't need 3-d technology to enjoy it .", "it fulfills jacques cousteau 's statement that ` the best way to observe a fish is to become a fish . '", "this gathering of images is mesmerizing .", "MOV is a stirring and beautiful experience .", "this really is a film that manages to show us things we 've never seen and make what we have already seen look different and new .", "assumes a far more consistent depiction of the titular habitat . at least this one does n't feel like i just happened upon it flipping from the food network on my way to an episode of ninja warrior .", "this year , `` earth day '' -lrb- a day to `` inspire awareness and appreciation for the earth 's environment '' -rrb- is marked by the release of `` MOV , '' a lush documentary about the magnificent waters that cover more than 70 percent of the earth 's surface , and the vast n", "... does have some beautiful imagery , but it is randomly put together , fails to identify about half the creatures we see , and features some often nonsensical narration .", "this hypnotically photogenic journey into the depths of the ocean blue exists to appeal to the imaginations of young and old alike .", "in the end , the film is something of a gift . if ever there was a movie needed right now to underscore the importance of preserving our world and its life-giving waters , this is it .", "my new favorite freaky thing is the wack-eyed mantis shrimp , a testy little fellow who gets violently territorial with crabs loitering around his front door - as one learns to its grief . get off my lawn , punk .", "a movie so bursting at the seams with images , it ultimately lacks focus .", "its visual splendor more than makes up for its intellectual poverty .", "visually stunning , intriguing and inspirational .", "parental content review", "oh , it 's amazing .", "visually -lsb- it 's -rsb- quite seductive .", "MOV works best as a series of pretty pictures , each more beautiful and jaw-dropping than the one before it . if you want context , get online or head to a library .", "magnificent", "MOV presents the superb underwater photography and cool critters we have come to love from the best nature documentaries .", "fantastic creatures , fantastic photography", "could the script have been less informative ? could it have been more soporifically read than pierce brosnan 's rendition ? i do n't think so .", "quite the beautiful picture to look at , but the person who swims with the great white is totally insane ." ], "summary": "MOV adds another visually stunning chapter to the disney nature library .", "id": "770805763" }, { "movie": "bad_lieutenant_port_of_call_new_orleans", "reviews": [ "herzog , who seems to be drawing on the audience 's affection for him as an inspired madman , may not care to tell a story straight anymore .", "sensationally entertaining , darkly comedic , witty and refreshingly bizarre . a guilty pleasure . nicolas cage is in top form .", "the iguanas are like the frogs at the end of paul thomas anderson 's magnolia , only better .", "nicolas cage , a born hollywood skin-walker , somehow hints at a spiritual dimension to all this lunatic mayhem .", "-lrb- the film -rrb- has a hard time settling on such simple things as characters ' motivations , needs and accents -lrb- cage 's changes inexplicably midway through -rrb- .", "no quote available .", "we have to go all the way back to junior brown , the psychopathic strip club owner in kiss of death -lrb- 1994 -rrb- , to find a meatier heavy in cage 's filmography .", "cage acts , at times , as though his head is about to explode . and not the character 's head ; it 's cage himself who seems in danger of self-immolation .", "the new film has much in common with some of herzog 's crazed past masterworks like aguirre , the wrath of god .", "like the water snake that slithers by during the opening credits or the baby crocodile from whose point of view we observe one roadside scene , this movie is a freaky little swamp thing .", "despite his strangely receding hairline , bug-eyed demeanor and hunchback stance , cage somehow avoids making this police lieutenant a caricature .", "a one-of-a-kind experience that boasts a twice-in-a-lifetime performance from nicolas cage .", "bad lieutenant : port of call , new orleans is a magnificent mess of the sort only herzog can get away with making .", "like the late klaus kinski , who so often played crazies in herzog 's earlier movies , cage is in your face all the way . laughing maniacally , lying with no sign of a conscience , he pushes the character 's frequent tantrums beyond over-the-top .", "cage can be loopy , weird and at the same time sympathetic -- crucial to our response to this character -- and herzog draws one of his better performances here .", "frankly , the story is n't remotely as interesting as cage . nothing is .", "do fish have dreams ? do they dream of ominous iguanas , perhaps ? or maybe the disembodied breakdancing souls of freshly capped gangsters ? more to the point , will nicolas cage ever make another movie that makes sense ?", "cage returns to resplendently weird form .", "the movie could have ended without the last few scenes and been far more tense and suspenseful . as it stands now , bad lieutenant : port of call new orleans plays as if schindler 's list ended with an energetic musical performance by the muppets .", "nicolas cage is so gleefully over-the-top as the troubled cop of the title that you will either be repulsed or fascinated by his performance and , since it lives or dies by it , the movie itself .", "this thriller is among the cleverest , most innovative films of the year . it proves that even a mediocre , b-movie script can be made memorable by a strong director and brave leading actor .", "as a police procedural , it 's a generally dull affair . as an exercise in silliness , it elicits a fair few laughs . but whether the joke 's on herzog or on us is anybody 's guess .", "there 's a dark , dark humour throughout that keeps the film from plunging into over-the-top farce . in the end , blt is a rambunctious , ridiculous feat of cinematic excess .", "any reservations that this is a straight forward remake of abel ferrara 's hardcore catholic redemption drama should be left on the wayside , for this bad lieutenant is a different monster all together .", "cage 's lieutenant mcdonagh is a parody of not just the actor 's own performances in recent years , but a gaudy exaggeration of every bad-cop clich\u00e9 out there .", "this will be remembered as one of cage 's finest performances . maybe he has just needed the right director and in eccentric german genius werner herzog he 's found him .", "i 'd rather rot in a new orleans jail than watch it again . and yet its epiphanies are outrageously sharp , it is beautifully shot by cinematographer peter zeitlinger and the ending is a joy .", "becomes bizarrely comical as it gets increasingly depraved . but herzog 's deliberately bonkers approach , matched by cage 's hammy performance , is strangely entertaining .", "herzog has found a perfect partner in crime with nicolas cage .", "for me , ferrara and keitel will always be the bad lieutenant , but werner herzog is probably the only director qualified to take this on , and his bizarre reboot has a fascination all of its own .", "if the new film commits the sin of entertainment , it 's redeemed by a sense of life 's contradictions and distinguished by surreal flourishes that include a pair of iguanas , slithery witnesses to terence 's mania .", "because so much of the film is ` oh , no , he 's not really going to do that oh yes he is ! ' fun , it 's impressive when herzog suddenly starts taking it all seriously .", "it 's cage 's best work in years .", "there can only ever be one bad lieutenant : harvey keitel .", "like a jumpy , coke-fueled pied piper , cage takes viewers to the very precipice of depraved self-abasement , while preserving just enough self-conscious humor to keep from tumbling in .", "the film is both a police thriller and a drug addled fantasy with an iguana for a guide and cage plays it like hunter s. thompson with a badge .", "there 's a valuable lesson to be learned from bad lieutenant : port of call new orleans : two wrongs do n't make a right -- it takes at least three .", "it 's a rare and precious thing when a filmmaker gets funding for a script that features a coked-out , oxycontined-out , sleep-deprived cage with a .44 magnum in his waistband , spewing lines like `` shoot him again ... his soul is still dancing . ''", "bad lieutenant : port of call new orleans -- why port of call ? what does that mean ? -- is no masterpiece , but it is undoubtedly the work of a master .", "cold-blooded reptiles are lurking everywhere in the slick new noir bad lieutenant : port of call new orleans , with snakes , iguanas , gators and especially nicolas cage at their slithering and cynical best .", "this is n't as over-the-top as , say , the wicker man . but it is an engaging cop caper complete with cage craziness , and that 's enough .", "even when the movie is not working , it 's never less than eye-catching . it 's also a perfect setting for cage 's curiously compelling art .", "it 's not always easy to sort out the legitimately inspired touches from the merely campy ones , but the film has a deranged , go-for-broke spirit that makes such distinctions irrelevant .", "a perfect , perfect prank .", "cage 's receding hairline and hunchback performance evokes conrad veidt -- a klaus kinski-like maniac -- because this is , in fact , a german expressionist horror film and comedy .", "drags harder than when herzog tried to pull that boat over a mountain", "herzog has found his ideal interpreter , a performer whose truth lies deep in the artifice of performance : ladies and gentlemen , nicolas cage , at his finest .", "finally , a role that makes sense for cage to play ... locking into the exhausted craziness he has unintentionally perfected in a handful of terrible movies .", "no one is better at this kind of performance than nicolas cage . he 's a fearless actor . he does n't care if you think he goes over the top . if a film calls for it , he will crawl to the top hand over hand with bleeding fingernails .", "outrageously enjoyable ... turns the genre conventions on their head to often uproarious effect .", "add director werner herzog to the mix , a guy who knows a thing or a hundred about obsessive protagonists , and we 're in for quite the ride -- wild and weird and blackly comic .", "herzog 's acting advice to cage to `` release the pig '' -lrb- ostensibly a bavarian saying -rrb- has resulted in perhaps the most memorable performance of cage 's career , and certainly the most over the top .", "making a bad movie this good is harder than it looks .", "the film is an exasperating bore .", "this time , it 's not nicolas cage 's fault : werner herzog has lost his mind .", "leave it to werner herzog to shoot a film in new orleans with not one image of the french quarter % u2013 and to harness nicolas cage 's razzie-worthy acting into something meaningful .", "the pairing of nicolas cage , one of the world 's most out-there actors , with werner herzog , cinema 's reigning madman-visionary , is a match made in looney-tunes heaven .", "a movie that ultimately has more cult than mass appeal , how much you enjoy bad lieutenant will probably come down to how much you like werner herzog rather than nicolas cage . a notoriously eccentric director , his latest film is nowhere near as mainstream", "i 'm pretty sure this would have made total sense if i was on some of the drugs that mcdonagh was taking", "it almost makes one angrier to think about the time cage has wasted on crap films when he should be doing interesting ones like this every single time .", "a fascinatingly complex film with intoxicating cross-currents of cynicism , tragedy , and absurdity .", "bad lieutenant does n't go where you expect , but it has a stubborn , trippy logic .", "your reaction to the whole thing probably depends on your general feelings about cage : fans will relish his unique brand of scenery-chewing ; non-fans are likely to be irritated .", "cage dives headlong into the madness . it 's plain fun to see the actor give himself so fully to a character after several years of mostly forgettable action movies .", "may not result in a coherent whole but nonetheless delivers bursts of random , inspired madness .", "it may not have the wounding thrust of ferrara 's , but it shares with that film a bottomless compassion for its crazies , to say nothing of the exhilaration of seeing a fearless director and a fearless actor pushing each other beyond extremes .", "it 's perhaps 2/3 of a good movie and 1/3 of material that feels out of place or is derivative .", "instead of plumbing the depths of spiritual degradation , herzog 's movie is -- largely due to cage 's performance -- almost fun .", "if there 's a sure thing in movies , it 's that if you cast nicolas cage in a role in which he goes crazy , he 'll rise to the occasion and keep on rising until he seems even loonier than his character .", "refreshingly loopy , as only nic cage can loop .", "... a b movie worth seeing , but there are times the weirdness seems forced and the only thing that feels authentic is the suggestion that cage might be more than a little mad .", "centered on a detective on the wrong side of the law , the film is manic its execution of plot , performance and photography .", "there is really no way to describe the playfulness and exquisite timing of the comedy in this film . it is partially herzog 's zany artistry , and partly cage 's masterful control of facial expressions and comic timing .", "it really is a jungle out there , and nicolas cage delivers a mesmerizingly unhinged performance as herzogian madman . .", "somehow this is fun -- a result of a unique synergy between cage and herzog .", "this is the perverted delirious bad lieutenant to see .", "certainly , it 's not a stretch to suggest that herzog has in cage found his most simp\u00e1tico lead since the great klaus kinski .", "iguanas aside , cage 's performance is the film 's centerpiece . he starts at over the top and climbs ever higher ...", "a tragedy replayed as farce , and probably the funniest film i 've seen all year .", "although it shares a title and a certain seedy charm with abel ferrara 's 1992 `` bad lieutenant , '' this remake really marches to the beat of its own , jittery , crack-addicted drummer .", "surely this is not meant to be taken seriously ?", "no film by herzog has ever been so defiantly mainstream - and yet this remains one of the director 's craziest , most outlandish affairs . finding a way out the other side of that contradiction is half the fun for the incredulous viewer", "... a surprisingly compelling piece of work that 'll undoubtedly -lrb- and deservedly -rrb- earn itself a cult following in the years to come ...", "a powerfully loony portrait of american rot .", "just as ridiculous as the title implies , this ill-conceived sequel to abel ferrara 's masterpiece -lrb- `` bad lieutenant '' - 1992 -rrb- picks up some grains of muscular grit under the unlikely werner herzog 's guidance , but flails every step of the way .", "barely a remake of ferrara 's superior 1992 indie , herzog 's sleazy , erratic , often silly policier is enjoyable on its own terms , and the main reason to see it is nicolas cage 's wildly eccentric , justifiably over-the-top performance .", "there 's much to be said for a movie that portrays as much imperfection as life itself and , clearly , herzog and company have a ball in creating it for us .", "it 's powerful material for werner herzog , a premier chronicler of the madness of men , and nicolas cage , who brings a fevered intensity to every project he takes on .", "bad lieutenant is all kinds of wrong , but it feels oh so right .", "if you 're wondering just how bad a bad lieutenant can be , let 's just say that nicolas cage 's 21st century re-incarnation of abel ferrara 's original 1992 cult version , to say the least , renders harvey keitel 's bad apple psycho cop a saint in comparison .", "is redemption possible for this bad lieutenant ? at one point , he orders that a dead man be shot again because `` his soul is still dancing . '' if you find god in that line , then welcome to your movie heaven .", "despite the snake slither-swimming through the bars of a flooded cellblock , the injured alligator and the iguanas that seem to be crooning johnny adams ' ` release me , ' star nicolas cage may be the most reptilian presence here ...", "-lsb- cage is -rsb- hilarious , scary , contorted , mournful , mean and weirdly , monstrously lovable -- the perfect actor to work with one of the world 's most stubborn , bold , idiosyncratic filmmakers .", "nicolas cage 's deliriously unhinged portrayal of the film 's titular bent cop ranks right up there with his most memorably off-kilter performances .", "sometimes a scene is a set up for a future plot twist , and sometimes werner herzog just wants to film some alligators . who knows what 'll happen ? it 's like filling your underpants with salamanders .", "if herzog had chosen realism over surrealism , this film would have been predictable and unentertaining . as it is , i found it oddly captivating . this is one weird movie .", "herzog wades deep into the swampy funk of new orleans , which in this post-katrina setting might as well be an end-of-the-world movie . he 's clearly turned on by -lsb- its -rsb- weirdness , the casual corruption , the gangsterism and the southern gothic outrageousnes .", "this movie has no focus , no point of view and nothing to say . is this a sendup ? is this an actual thriller ? is this just a look into the soul of a drug addict ? i have no idea , and i do n't think werner herzog knows either .", "perhaps it took a director as crazy as werner herzog to control -lrb- and ultimately unleash -rrb- the madness that exists within cage ... they craft a character not unlike a modern day daniel plainview .", "bad lieutenant , bad !", "cage and herzog have created a superbly memorable lead character , and if the plot itself is curiously unmemorable , certain images will stay with you to the grave ...", "cage does bad so good . here\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- s hoping he keeps the crazy coming .", "as his 1996 oscar for leaving las vegas proved , nicolas cage is at his best when sailing close to the edge with substance abuse , though some viewers will baulk when he takes out his misdirected anger on a defenceless old lady .", "in fusing european experimentalism and hollywood boldness , herzog has created a genuine oddity , a furious and unforgettable hybrid which may well prove to be 2010 's most purely enjoyable moviegoing experience .", "it 's every cop show clich\u00e9 reflected in a hall of mirrors -- wholly indecent fun .", "herzog has unique flair , but it 's out of synch with the genre . as for cage , he is a flailing madman and the only polite thing to do is look away .", "viewers will fall into two camps -- those who think it 's a mentally unstable mess , and those who think it 's a work of insane genius . ca n't it be both ?", "as always with herzog , the more eccentric scenes have an eerie , hilarious mastery . and only someone with the metaphysical \u00e9lan of herzog could pull off a film noir that takes place mostly in fierce sunlight .", "despite ... minor gripes , this is cage 's best film in years , an anarchic gumbo of subverted cop thriller clich\u00e9s and surreal set-pieces that 's destined to become a cult classic .", "nicolas cage gives one of the best performances of his career in this borderline insane film ...", "herzog is having every bit as much fun as cage here , toying with renegade cop movie cliches and working in a pulpy mode he has n't touched for a while .", "a vividly acted and directed movie that stretches the boundaries of its genre and keeps you in its ever-unpredictable grip throughout .", "original , offbeat and rewarding cop story with nicolas cage in great form .", "what makes this film truly different is the unique tone introduced by director werner herzog .", "the film is offbeat , silly , disarming and loopy all at the same time , and viewers will decide to ride with that or just give up on it , according to mood and disposition .", "a depraved , perfect storm of cinema .", "the script has some scuzzy , jokey appeal , and i like it that instead of trying to hide them , herzog tosses the movie 's ridiculous coincidences right in our faces as if daring us to duck .", "a bizarre amalgam of source material , director and star that 's just nutso enough to work", "cage and herzog click together better than just about any first-time actor & director combination in recent memory .", "nicolas cage is out of his mind in the bad lieutenant : port of call -- new orleans . and it 's wonderful to see .", "while watching cage in bad lieutenant i felt like a crack fiend myself : no matter how much i got it was never going to be enough .", "as usual , herzog works the madness for any poetry he can find ...", "i think i had more fun watching bad lieutenant : port of call new orleans -lrb- twice -rrb- than i did at any other movie this year .", "thisbad lieutenant 's pain is less punishment than righteous realignment , a reflection of the nutty , debased , and utterly chaotic world around him . he 's not deviant . he 's the new normal .", "even if it 's not classic noir , this high tension , fast-paced film about an extremely unsympathetic character is still entertaining .", "cage 's increasingly crazed and manic performance is very watchable .", "werner herzog 's bad lieutenant remake is a hugely entertaining , brilliantly directed and completely insane thriller with a hilarious script and a gloriously bonkers performance from nicolas cage .", "diferente do original em tom e estrutura , este novo filme do mestre werner herzog carrega propositalmente na bizarrice de seu protagonista , suavizando sua deprimente decad\u0119ncia a ponto de torn\u00e1-la grotescamente divertida .", "you 'll go a long way to find anything playing right now that 's as downright peculiar as werner herzog 's the bad lieutenant : port of call -- new orelans .", "no one can breathe life into a crazed character like nicolas cage can .", "nicolas cage goes off the deep end even more than usual in the crazily entertaining , werner herzog-helmed bad lieutenant : port of call new orleans .", "a vicodin-coke-heroine habit propels nicolas cage 's warped detective as the big emoter scores in the big easy . werner herzog 's bad lt. is genuinely weird entertaiment .", "sometimes director werner herzog - a master , for nearly four decades , at blending the bizarre and the mundane - does let you in on cage 's motives . but just as often , he delivers a life , and a world , of random mayhem .", "in a year filled with audacity -lrb- antichrist , inglourious basterds -rrb- , nothing is cheekier and as out and out ballsy as the bad lieutenant : port of call - new orleans .", "cage , who usually goes gonzo with gusto , underplays this monster . that spoils the fun ." ], "summary": "befitting its unorthodox origins , this bad lieutenant benefits from werner herzog 's typically fearless direction and a delightfully unhinged nicolas cage in the title role .", "id": "770783617" }, { "movie": "mr-nobody", "reviews": [ "` mr. nobody ' jumps around in a rather haphazard way , so it seems too chaotic most of the time . it 's creative , but quite perplexing .", "most viewers will have settled into a state of detached admiration . in the end , mr. nobody 's title is simply too apt .", "the only truly graspable notion the film can be said to put forth is one of increasingly tedious sci-fi-romantic genre busy-ness .", "this sprawling , ambitious sci-fi epic has a keen visual sense and a genuine interest in its deep topics .", "too strange for wide release , too provocative and arresting to sit on the shelf", "a thoughtful investigation into the different variations of all our lives : the daydreams , the anxious worst-case scenarios , the futile digressions that went nowhere .", "messy but intriguing science-fiction film .", "the aptly titled nobody is just a white ball bouncing around the roulette wheel , as likely to land on this number as the next . it 's fun to watch `` mr. nobody '' go round and round , but where it lands does n't really matter to us .", "this big-budget english-language co-production shows that europeans can compete in the sci-fi realm where high production values are king .", "jaco van dormael 's most ambitious film to date is a mess and a miracle at the same time .", "never mind that several characters seem to gain or lose british accents throughout the course of the film . the lack of continuity only enhances the sense of deliciously dizzying disequilibrium .", "a passionate , thoughtful , and inquisitive exploration of the meaning of life .", "while visual excess and occasional thematic bombast softens mr. nobody at times , the film nevertheless has poignant , often profound things to say about fate , mortality , consequence and love .", "ambitious as all get out and a wonder from start to finish .", "too clinical to have an emotional impact , not romantic enough to engage a standard audience , and not smart enough for viewers looking for an intellectual experience .", "complex , visually stunning , and pleasantly convoluted , this is a film that seems like it ca n't be confined to one genre and while time flows in one continuous direction mr. nobody makes it a point to constantly pedal in the opposite direction .", "there are times when the film is entirely lucid in the points it wants to get across on love and the various choices we have to make throughout our lives , while at other times it seems lost in its overabundance of possibilities .", "-lsb- writer-director -rsb- van dormael seems unsure of what exactly it is he 's trying to say , and thus mr. nobody rambles on for nearly two and a half hours .", "at the 44-minute mark -lrb- i checked -rrb- of ` mr. nobody , ' i loudly sighed and asked , `` good god , when the hell is this movie going to start ! ''", "as philosophy , mr. nobody seems sillier than it is profound . but in a parallel reality , more movies would have this degree of insane ambition .", "this is thought provoking without pretentiousness , full of ideas and passion that deserves a wide audience ... giving oneself over to the film is a pleasure that 's not soon to be repeated .", "expect the unexpected . try to answer the unanswerable question that writer-director van dormael poses . it is a worthwhile exercise .", "a film that has a beating heart underneath its messy -- though breathtakingly designed -- exterior .", "van dormael 's almost avant-garde modus operandi cements the movie 's place as a love-it-or-hate-it proposition .", "i relate to most movies by thinking about my past . mr. nobody has me evaluating my future .", "while mr. nobody contains some truly moving scenes , it eventually starts to try your concentration when you suspect all the space/time continuum shuffling may never become more than the sum of its parts .", "both overblown and half-baked , too long and not edited enough , mr. nobody describes exactly the kind of audience it will likely get .", "with the film 's maddening circular structure and often thudding visual expositions , the experience of watching it is n't quite as enjoyable as a description might augur ." ], "summary": "mr. nobody 's narrative tangles may bedevil as much as they entertain , but its big ambitions and absorbing visuals make for an intriguing addition to director jaco van dormael 's filmography .", "id": "770682443" }, { "movie": "rois_et_reine", "reviews": [ "a welter of narrative complication and piercing drama shot through with a rich vein of absurdist humor .", "taps into universal themes and archetypes .", "there 's no ready capsule description of kings and queen , but its fluid , dynamic approach to melodrama and two compelling central performances create an impressive portrait of intertwined lives .", "devos , in her calm , intelligent way , leads you through this rock pile of intimacies and enigmas with a magnetism that fastens you even as the fatigue becomes laborious .", "the movie , directed by arnaud desplechin and written by him with roger bohbot , begins as such a straightforward portrait of ordinary life that it 's unsettling to find layer after layer of reality peeled away .", "kings and queen is a marvelously textured and civilized study of two tormented souls finding redemption not in each other , but in themselves and in other people .", "it is the story , with its sleight of hand manner of making you believe one thing only to have the truth be something very different , that makes kings and queen special .", "somewhere buried in the plodding morass of kings and queen exists a taut , twisting psychological puzzler .", "the film is delectable and keeps you eager to see what 's served next , but also is ridiculously rich , overly long and difficult to digest . still , it 's a feast you wo n't want to miss .", "a richly observed study of the sticky complexities of family dynamics .", "if the film is less than the sum of its parts , then some of those parts are touched by genius .", "this movie , however incomplete and frustrating , is also fully alive and extraordinarily intelligent .", "it 's terrific filmmaking .", "features royally messed-up , complex characters magnetically portrayed by devos and amalric .", "it 's hugely ambitious , with a sweeping range of character types , frequently shifting moods , stylistic flourishes of many kinds , and some mighty wry satire , aimed largely at the world of psychotherapy .", "this tragic/comedic hodgepodge remains unconvincing , mostly due to the casting .", "devos , as nora , does much to hold it all together with a layered performance . almaric has powerful moments as well , notably in a climactic rambling monologue about life he delivers to the boy .", "an emotional jigsaw that will keep you engrossed for days , maybe years .", "arnaud desplechin 's sprawling drama exudes a go-for-broke determination that is frustrating and exhilarating .", "an abundance of characters in a film that skillfully combines melodrama with comedy .", "` kings & queen ' has the makings of two decent movies but is helter-skelter overstuffed for one .", "might be -lsb- desplechin 's -rsb- finest film to date .", "arnaud desplechin 's marvelous melodrama sprawls far and wide before coming finally together in a richly satisfying end .", "while these characters ' lives are melodramatic , individual scenes burst with kinetic energy from fast editing and an script that deftly underscores the destructive nature of male-female relationships .", "this is a first-rate melo-dramedy under the influence of director arnaud desplechin .", "... desplechin pulls his elements together like some kind of grand symphony", "a complex , character-driven film that never allows its themes - madness , love , coming of age - to become reducible to pat formulae , or over-sentimentalisation .", "a highly unstable compound of melodrama and offbeat comedy that elicits more shrugs of confusion than sighs of satisfaction", "desplechin 's big , bold , iconoclastic feature MOV is a disconcerting film that can turn your head at the oddest moments .", "its novelistic breadth , pitched intensity and on-the-fly shooting style pull the viewer smack-dab into the middle of these lives .", "i ca n't quite get my head around it ; ismael is too cartoony and nora is too icy .", "funny , absurd , often mocking itself and always quoting cultural history .", "the film proves , at the very least , that desplechin is a director that garners due attention", "-lsb- m -rsb- ixes with aplomb equal measures of intellectual screwball comedy and dark metaphysical tragedy , though part of the joke may be that one often ca n't tell which is which ...", "kings and queen , full of passion and humor , madness and grief , is close to a masterpiece .", "his scenes ripple with undercurrents of awkward emotions ... creating a film both devastating and uplifting , but he passes no judgments .", "both leisurely and breathtakingly immediate .", "kings and queen is at times compelling , at times devastating , and at times long-winded .", "it is well-acted and written with a rigorous effort to skirt cliche , and it has the savor of real life throughout .", "great filmmaking and , as does not always follow , a great film .", "there 's a looseness to the camera work and storytelling that 's appealingly breezy : this film feels , for better or worse , like real life .", "heroic and absurdist ...", "an extraordinary work with depth , suspense , startling surprises , a unique combination of perspectives .", "arnaud desplechin 's domestic comedy-drama spins emotions like plates in a variety show .", "by tempering the mania and offsetting the edginess of the deeply imperfect characters in this ambitiously free-form film , desplechin offers that most old-form of balms -- compassion .", "kings and queen is a fascinating french film filled with keen observations on sexual politics , psychology , and family roles .", "contemporary and specific ... but the melodramas also play out on a universal plane , like the lives of the gods .", "it 's a puzzle of a film , but not the kind that intimidates you with inscrutability so much as one that beckons you into its antic eccentricity .", "an intelligent story is being told here in a very artful manner . that 's quite a worthy accomplishment . i think .", "the film is a soap opera that through layering and texture is made into something rich , strange , and unforgettable .", "this enjoyable french pic welds together drama , melodrama and comedy in a blend with potentially strong european audience appeal .", "an extravagant doodle dealing with family and mental illness , this is arnaud desplechin 's most straightforward and scattershot film to date .", "desplechin 's fascinating characters are not always in sync with the demands of the story ; it wants to be told in less than 2 hours and with a greater focus on its core themes .", "-lsb- desplechin -rsb- gives these characters the time to develop , to display their nuances , to establish their relationships with each other , to talk out their destinies .", "category-defying film that 's as smart and emotionally resonant as it is entertaining ." ], "summary": "a dryly comic , stylistically brave film .", "id": "17164" } ]