Harsh Times

A gritty drama about a disappointed military vet and his best pal, who are headed in a downward spiral in South Central Los Angeles.

"...Mike, whose sense of loyalty and friendship threatens to swallow him whole and drag him down into the bloody..."

Nov. 17, 2006 Movie Review by Josh Rosenblatt

Driving Lessons

A 17-year-old boy's dull summer turns more eventful when he gets a job assisting an unconventional retired actress who leads him into a series of character-defining adventures.

"...and Ben, which should have left you unable to swallow due to the lump in your throat. Because screenwriter-director..."

Nov. 7, 2006 Movie Review by Steve Davis

The Lake House

This tale of magical realism has potential for delightful originality, but the Sandra Bullock-Keanu Reeves love story lacks heat and the science fiction premise spirals into senselessness.

"...(Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure), he’s just hard to swallow as a regular Joe. As the final moments wrap..."

June 16, 2006 Movie Review by Toddy Burton

Failure to Launch

This date movie is dude-friendly by design, but all its attention to hairdos and cute outfits does not make up for its lack of romantic spark.

"...and in the worst romantic-comedy tradition, we’re expected to swallow that logic instead of quite reasonably expecting the parents..."

March 10, 2006 Movie Review by Marrit Ingman

The World's Fastest Indian

Anthony Hopkins' great performance as Burt Munro, the real-life New Zealand codger and Indian motorcycle enthusiast who in 1967 set a land speed record that still stands today, is not enough to crash through this unabashedly sentimental wall of schmaltz.

"...this fluffy outsider meringue is downright impossible not to swallow...."

Feb. 3, 2006 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

The President Who Cried Wolf?

"...(one doesn't want to say stupid, does one?) to swallow for the second time in living memory a shabby,..."

Feb. 1, 2006 Postmarks

Derailed

The first release from the new Weinstein Co. is this thriller starring Jennifer Aniston and Clive Owen that never fully engages our sympathies.

"...our sympathies. I think that’s because it’s difficult to swallow Owen as anything other than eminently resourceful. Still, as..."

Nov. 18, 2005 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Stay

With a script by David Benioff (25th Hour) and direction by Marc Forster of Monster's Ball fame, Stay is an ambitious experiment that never quite jells.

"...deliciously ethereal when it works but downright difficult to swallow when it doesn’t. If you’ve seen the trailers (which..."

Oct. 21, 2005 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

50 First Dates

Drew and the Sandman team up once more to make Valentine's weekend box-office dollars.

"...duck!" exclaims one, in Mandarin.) It’s just hard to swallow. But when Barrymore looks at him adoringly, the moments..."

Feb. 13, 2004 Movie Review by Marrit Ingman

The Wuxia Clan

AFS's 'Heroic Grace: The Chinese Martial Arts Film' flys high with eight overlooked classics.

"...wits (and fists) with the infinitely more honorable Golden Swallow (Cheng Pei-pei). This in a ramshackle country inn that..."

Aug. 29, 2003 Screens Feature by Marc Savlov

Postmarks

Our readers talk back.

"...A Bitter Pill to Swallow..."

March 7, 2003 Column

What Time is it There?

"...-- probably good for me, but still tough to swallow. That sort of declaration does a disservice to both..."

April 26, 2002 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

Magnolia

Sprawling, meaning-laden spectacle from the director of Boogie Nights.

"...the steely maw of previous indiscretions rising up to swallow characters whole amidst the trappings of their present lifestyles...."

Jan. 7, 2000 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Tomorrow Is Better

Walter Meyer is more than just a survivor of Nazi Germany; Katherine Catmull reveals why.

"...life as the habit of regurgitating food after you swallow, in order to re-chew and re-swallow and trick your..."

Nov. 26, 1999 Books Feature by Katherine Catmull

Record Reviews

Barbarito Torres

"...features unsung veteran Chris Potter on tenor and Steve Swallow on electric bass; the plus ones are Larry Grenadier..."

July 9, 1999 Music Review

Relax … It's Just Sex

"...rants on such dilemmas as whether to spit or swallow, but Castellaneta proves he knows not only the moans..."

June 25, 1999 Movie Review by Sarah Hepola

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Guy Ritchie's turbocharged debut.

"...up with is a film almost too British to swallow without the aid of a frothy pint of lager...."

March 19, 1999 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Momfest: the Schedule

"...7:30pm, Viva La Vulva: Hard to Swallow (Five college women's two cents on rape, gender, and..."

Nov. 6, 1998 Arts Feature

Page Two

Travis County Bond Propositions

"...without access to recreational facilities, and has threatened to swallow up much-needed greenspace where people can just be people..."

Oct. 17, 1997 Column by The Chronicle Editorial Board

Rough Magic

"...immense proportions. If that sounds like a lot to swallow, it is, and Peploe doesn't make things any easier..."

June 13, 1997 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Adonis Rising

Matthew McConaughey

"...the plug in my cheek with my tongue. "Don't swallow it," he admonishes. "It will start to `leak' but..."

July 26, 1996 Screens Feature by Margaret Moser

A Midwinter's Tale

"...Still, it seems a whopping spoonful of sweetness to swallow. That, however, may be the point. Like the Bard's..."

March 15, 1996 Movie Review by Robert Faires

The Addiction

"...Addiction renders with perfect clarity all that which we swallow...."

Nov. 10, 1995 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Billy Madison

After his stint at SNL, Adam Sandler broke out as a movie star with this comedy.

"...father's business. Yeah, right. If that's not enough to swallow, the film has Billy pass the second grade in..."

Feb. 17, 1995 Movie Review by Joey O'Bryan

Mrs. Doubtfire

In order to spend more time with his kids, a divorced dad dons drag and plays nanny.

"...a silly Sixties sitcom to make it easier to swallow; it's just raw, uncoated stupidity that sticks in your..."

Nov. 26, 1993 Movie Review by Robert Faires

The City Budget Deficit Is Finally Here

Rising costs, declining revenues to blame

"...that the three public safety departments, on their own, swallow up all of the city’s property tax revenue and..."

April 18, 2025 News Feature by Austin Sanders

The Austin Chronic: The House’s Alternative to SB 3 Would Still Outlaw Flower and Edibles

HB 28 also gives TABC regulatory authority on consumable hemp

"...broad oversight of cannabis – a tough pill to swallow...."

April 4, 2025 Column by Kevin Curtin

A Mardi Gras Pre-Party, Improvised Intimacy, and More Recommended Events

Allow us to help sort your weekend out

"...come face to face with feelings they’d much rather swallow than confront. If you’re squeamish, you might want to..."

Feb. 7, 2025 Arts Feature by James Scott

Dan Patrick Proposes Massive Boost for Film Incentives ... But There's a Catch

Is Texas' lieutenant governor lining up cash for a culture war?

"...too much for TMIIIP advocates and fiscal conservatives to swallow). Sheridan has been known to publicly gripe about how..."

Jan. 27, 2025 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

Little Women, Big Games, and More Recommended Weekend Events

Get in the spirit with these arts and cultural happenings

"...if you need a selfless reason to help you swallow the capitalistic excesses that creep up this time of..."

Dec. 20, 2024 Arts Feature by James Scott

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