Doom

Doom is not so much a film as a marketing tie-in, albeit one with some exceptional production values.

"...of home play: The audience views the onscreen action via the first-person viewpoint for four uninterrupted minutes as Marine..."

Oct. 21, 2005 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

The War Within

This fiction film, in which the lead character is but one cog in a plot to detonate a series of bombs in New York City, portrays a terrorist’s point of view in a jarringly matter-of-fact manner.

"...radicalization is given short shrift. There’s little revealed, either via dialogue or imagery, that explains in any detail the..."

Oct. 14, 2005 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Screen Door Jesus

Kirk Davis’ slick, locally produced film, adapted from the stories of Christopher Cook, plunges into Texas' small-town religious mores and comes up with some insightful revelations in this character-driven pastiche.

"...Mark Dalton, Scarlett McAlister, Richard Dillard, Eugene P. Williams, Silvia Moore and Franchelle S. Dorn. I once knew a..."

Oct. 14, 2005 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

War of the Worlds

Spielberg and the gang at Industrial Light & Magic have knocked the ball not only out of the park but out of Earth orbit as well.

"...(Fanning), but also with the imminent destruction of mankind via alien invasion. For poor Ray, it’s going to be..."

July 1, 2005 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

The Longest Yard

Sandler and Rock keep the ball in play for this old prison football gem, although they fail to score any new points.

"...misfits manage to finesse a real team into existence via nonstop practice and the occasional inspirational speech. Director Segal..."

May 27, 2005 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Boogeyman

Don't go into the closet.

"...motifs – but Kay repeatedly torpedoes the fear factor via stuttery editing and whipcord camera movements that seem to..."

Feb. 11, 2005 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

The Polar Express

Chris Van Allsburg’s magical tale of the Christmas Eve re-education of a Santa-doubting adolescent gets the motion-capture treatment.

"...on the brink of disbelief gets a multimillion-dollar makeover via CGI and a revolutionary new filming process that allows..."

Nov. 12, 2004 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Lightning in a Bottle

Ostensibly a record of one mighty blues show, this film goes beyond the tag of concert film and achieves something more: a living history lesson, tracing the evolving sound of the blues.

"...is heady stuff, full immersion in the blues bath via a February 2003 megaconcert at Radio City Music Hall..."

Nov. 12, 2004 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

The Incredibles

Animated take on the superhero genre overflows with wonderfully silly shenanigans and knowing insight into modern parenting.

"...DreamWorks also-ran Shark Tale) or the imagery, but here, via Bird’s more-than-capable directorial and screenwriting skills, it runs to..."

Nov. 5, 2004 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

I Heart Huckabees

An existential comedy, to be sure, but in the end this movie quite happily tips toward being and everythingness.

"...and of this world – are deep; the explorations, via the plot and characterizations, aren’t entirely. But then what..."

Oct. 8, 2004 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

Bush's Brain

Bush's so-called brain is Karl Rove, whose mastery of dirty tricks deserves clearer scrutiny than it gets in this documentary.

"...chief adviser, Karl Rove (the title’s "brain"). Almost entirely via talking-head interviews (and chiefly with Moore and Slater), the..."

Aug. 27, 2004 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

Thunderbirds

A TV show from the Sixties that starred marionettes gets the live-action treatment … or does it?

"...sometimes beyond – saving the lives of the hapless via a fleet of superpowered vehicles they’ve dubbed the Thunderbirds...."

July 30, 2004 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

The Agronomist

Jonathan Demme's riveting documentary about slain Haitian populist and radio personality Jean Dominique.

"...presents Dominique as indefatigable in his calm, sensible dialogues (via the airwaves) with those most pedestrian Haitians, the working-class..."

June 4, 2004 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

The Ladykillers

The Coen brothers remake a British comedy classic starring Tom Hanks in a flamboyantly love-him-or-hate-him performance.

"...it draws you out of the picture’s studied art via its sheer artifice. His recitation of Edgar Allan Poe’s..."

March 26, 2004 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Demonlover

French mind-warper has a puzzle-box narrative and a soundtrack by Sonic Youth.

"...at others it’s a canny look at the dehumanization via the media that has been one of the outcomes..."

Dec. 5, 2003 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

The Tuxedo

"...of evil billionaire Diedrich Banning (Coster) for global domination via -- wait for it! -- water striders! “Water-what?!” I..."

Oct. 4, 2002 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Swimfan

"...day and promptly lays waste to his entire life via an inexplicably arranged series of plants, deceptions, and evil..."

Sept. 13, 2002 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Men in Black II

"...off (what else?) total planetary destruction -- this time via a shapely alien babe played by former Twin Peakster..."

July 5, 2002 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Greenfingers

"...Greenfingers, a treacly British import about prisoners finding rehabilitation via the soul-soothing effects of gardening. And bully for those..."

Sept. 14, 2001 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

American Pie 2

"...triumph as the original. American Pie 2 ingratiates itself via some extensive belly laughs and the kind of risque..."

Aug. 10, 2001 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Josie and the Pussycats

It's far more subversive than the Seventies Hanna-Barbera cartoon on which it's based.

"...brainwash the youth of America into good little consumers via subliminal messages. Well duh. The evil Frame is partnered..."

April 13, 2001 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Bittersweet Motel

"...now, made them a household name. They're not, though. Via a DIY work ethic, constant gigging, and an Internet-savvy..."

Sept. 22, 2000 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Steal This Movie!

"...tell the story of the Sixties' most flamboyant activist via interviews and flashbacks with those who knew and loved..."

Sept. 22, 2000 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

The Cell

"...stuff: Lopez plays psychologist Catherine Deane, who allows herself, via some excessively vague science fiction, to have her own..."

Aug. 18, 2000 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

That's the Way I Like it

"...way out of his dead-end life might just be via some fancy footwork and a new white suit. Toward..."

Oct. 22, 1999 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Conceiving Ada

"...an experiment that has something to do with traveling, via her PC, back in time to insinuate herself into..."

June 11, 1999 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

How Stella Got Her Groove Back

"...40ish businesswoman (Bassett) gets her vital juices flowing again via a deliciously inappropriate taste of young beefcake (Diggs) she..."

Aug. 14, 1998 Movie Review by Russell Smith

Licensed to Kill

"...like-minded televangelists in TV clips. The real revelations come via the naked simplicity of talking-head speeches by the killers,..."

Oct. 24, 1997 Movie Review by Russell Smith

Scream

"...Halloween mask and queries his victims on horror-show etiquette via threatening phone calls before doing them in. It's up..."

Dec. 20, 1996 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Cyclo

"...their meager living shuttling nameless passengers throughout the city via “cyclos,” large, three-wheeled bicycles with seats attached to their..."

Dec. 13, 1996 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

« 1    ‹ BACK    1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10     NEXT ›    34 »