Keeping Up With the Joneses

Silly cul-de-sac action comedy is a knockoff Mr. and Mrs. Smith

"...Life in the 'burbs gets another humdrum shake-up in the..."

Oct. 21, 2016 Movie Review by Steve Davis

Minions

The Minions have moved from background work to starring in their own animated movie

"...of English, Spanish, and French and search high and low for a dastardly master to serve. Just five years..."

July 10, 2015 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

The Lazarus Effect

Medical students try to bring the dead back to life.

"...the initial pursuit of a serum that could prolong life in coma patients and, as it turns out, restore..."

March 6, 2015 Movie Review by William Goss

God's Pocket

Philip Seymour Hoffman, in one of his last performances, heads up a terrific ensemble cast for this offbeat drama adapted from a Pete Dexter novel.

"...working-class neighborhood of Philadelphia that the storytellers bring to life. An opening voiceover describes the community’s residents as lifers..."

May 16, 2014 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Chasing Ice

Time-lapse photography of various glaciers melting over the years provides undeniable evidence that they are disappearing faster than ever before.

"...Directed by: Jeff Orlowski...."

Feb. 15, 2013 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

127 Hours

An unrelenting tour de force thanks to Simon Beaufoy's clever script, Danny Boyle's inspired direction, and James Franco's amazing performance, 127 Hours is primarily an unforgettable examination of the human spirit under extreme duress.

"...unable to be freed by any conventional means, he's low on water, and absolutely no one is aware of..."

Nov. 19, 2010 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

The Bank Job

When a gang of thieves break into some London safe-deposit boxes, they enter a world of police corruption, financial malfeasance, sexual degeneracy, political conspiracy, murder, torture, and upper-class salaciousness.

"...Jibson and Georgia Taylor. In 1971, a group of low-rent thieves dug into the vault at a Lloyds bank..."

March 7, 2008 Movie Review by Josh Rosenblatt

The Oh in Ohio

This story of an uptight corporate go-getter (Posey), her sad-sack high school science teacher husband (Rudd), and her search for her first orgasm is intended to invoke rolling laughter but instead results in repeated sighs.

"...so unlikable that the attempt falls flat on its low-minded face. Needless to say, Priscilla's problem is presented as..."

Aug. 18, 2006 Movie Review by Toddy Burton

All That I Need

Movies this bad don’t often get released anymore, a circumstance that instantly raises the curiosity factor of All That I Need.

"...greed is bottomless. Shot in mock documentary style, this low-budget movie’s conceit is that James has a camera crew..."

Dec. 2, 2005 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Don't Move

Italian story of a surgeon who falls in love with a country girl (Penélope Cruz), flirts with the self-pitying mindset of the slumming elite, and becomes something of an apology for bourgeois classism.

"...cloyingly melodramatic film makes you fear for Mr. Castellitto’s homelife. While the acting and direction are fine, even flawless..."

June 3, 2005 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Coach Carter

Come to this movie for the prominent hip-hop soundtrack and glossy sports action; leave with a message about teamwork, decency, and self-respect scorched into your brain.

"...locked out his entire undefeated varsity team because the low grades of some of its members made college recruitment..."

Jan. 14, 2005 Movie Review by Marrit Ingman

Undertow

Cross-pollinate the arthouse film with B-movie backwoods gothic, and you get something like Undertow’s peculiar fusion of high and low culture.

"...get something like Undertow’s peculiar fusion of high and low culture. Imagine a spectacularly bent Twain story, if Tom..."

Nov. 12, 2004 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

James' Journey to Jerusalem

A movie about a Christian pilgrim and chance, temptation, and illusions’ protection.

"...to Jerusalem is like a Bible story coming to life from some yet-unpublished modern testament. However, the film’s characters..."

May 14, 2004 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed

A guilty pleasure for thirtysomething stoners with ironic dispositions and large nacho platters.

"...to their seats with CGI-induced stupor. They sprang to life once, chortling when Shaggy (Lillard) and Scooby (voiced by..."

March 26, 2004 Movie Review by Marrit Ingman

The Magdalene Sisters

A grim and unmistakable masterpiece of bleak, black sorrow.

"...are the same groups who first protested Monty Python’s Life of Brian and so may be somewhat suspect in..."

Sept. 12, 2003 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Dirty Pretty Things

Stephen Frears’ low-key thriller casts its eye toward the furtive lives of London’s illegal immigrants.

"...Grifters, High Fidelity) has concocted one of the most low-key thrillers ever made. Although Frears’ new film is somewhat..."

Aug. 29, 2003 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

28 Days Later

A zombie picture, with lots of topical updating.

"...whole new connotation after watching 28 Days Later, a low-budget, British, epidemic film in which an incurable disease is..."

June 27, 2003 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

Owning Mahowny

"...who derives no apparent pleasure from anything in his life – not his professional success, his adoring girlfriend, or..."

June 20, 2003 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Wrong Numbers

"...Alex Holdridge's engaging, sneakily poignant comedy. Proudly flaunting its low-budget pedigree (Holdridge shot it in Austin for about 10..."

June 7, 2002 Movie Review by Russell Smith

Chill Factor

"...inevitable retail flurry of Sizzlin' Summer's End Sales, Hollywood follows suit with its annual inventory dump of duff action..."

Sept. 10, 1999 Movie Review by Russell Smith

Redboy Thirteen

"...replies, “Oh, the toy ones”), this diminutive savior of life, liberty, and all that sort of thing is airlifted..."

Nov. 6, 1998 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Pi

"...feature from American Film Institute grad Aronofsky recalls such low-budget sci-fi epics as Tetsuo: The Iron Man and more..."

July 31, 1998 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Leather Jacket Love Story

"...black and white and doing little to disguise its low-budget limitations, the film still manages to winsomely capture certain..."

June 5, 1998 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

No Looking Back

"...Connie Britton and Blythe Danner. Surely there's more to life than choosing Mr. Right; that is… unless you happen..."

May 1, 1998 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation

"...such continuity lapses are the sole fault of the low budget and pre-release trim. (One of the things excised..."

Oct. 17, 1997 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Postmarks

Keep Off Barton Creek

"...No.45] provided tepid, at best, historical context of the life and times of Guevara, but nevertheless I was surprised..."

July 18, 1997 Column

The Pest

"...of Buggin’, is in full manic overdrive in this low-budget comedy designed to showcase his hip-hop slapstick moves and..."

Feb. 14, 1997 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Dead Women Owned His Soul

An Interview with James Ellroy

"...partner of your dreams for the rest of your life... It's a book for the whole family -- if..."

Feb. 14, 1997 Books Feature by Jesse Sublett

Once Were Warriors

"...more than a billboard fantasy overlooking a drab, dingy, low-rent, ghetto area rammed smack up alongside a noisy highway...."

May 5, 1995 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Friday

"...and John Witherspoon. A refreshingly lighthearted look at day-to-day life in the inner city, Friday does suffer from a..."

May 5, 1995 Movie Review by Joey O'Bryan

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