Brick

Brick transfers Dashiell Hammett’s hard-boiled universe to the modern high school campus with nary a clue that more than a half-century has passed since the Continental Op’s heyday.

"...detectives of yore. Keeping the dialogue and doomed noir atmosphere afloat are the terrific central performances by Gordon-Levitt and..."

April 7, 2006 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Chrystal

Billy Bob Thornton plays an Arkansas husband who attempts to redeem himself after critically injuring his wife and killing their son in a car accident four years earlier.

"...filmmakers believe in this project so passionately that its atmosphere seems absolutely real...."

April 15, 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.

"...Much like Green’s earlier films, Undertow is long on atmosphere and short on action – an imbalance that worked..."

Nov. 12, 2004 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

Rick

Directed by Gus Van Sant's longtime editor and written by Lemony Snicket author Daniel Handler, Rick is a harsh but compelling tale that loosely mixes tragedy and comedy.

"...young readers. Rick is set within a venomous corporate atmosphere of male privilege and downsized expectations – a setting..."

Oct. 15, 2004 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Ju-on: The Grudge

Fear of what's lurking just out of sight is at the heart of this Japanese horror film.

"...of Asian horror films that rely on giddily escalating atmosphere to impart their undeniable frissons of fear. Watching this..."

Sept. 10, 2004 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

The Return

A long-absent father returns to his family in this prize-winning Russian drama, and for his two young sons the unexplained reason for his return is as mysterious as his absence.

"...leader of the kids who taunt his cowardice. The atmosphere is all gray: the landscapes (the film is set..."

June 18, 2004 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Gothika

Halle and Penelope de-glam for this running, screaming, jumping thriller that never allows logic to interfere.

"...Kassovitz has crafted a film that is long on atmosphere, but short on smarts: Plot points are easily unraveled..."

Nov. 21, 2003 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

Madame Satã

Life story of Brazilian drag diva from the last half-century.

"...as a background story Madame Satã is full of atmosphere...."

Oct. 24, 2003 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Willard

"...everything clicks into place – he piles on the atmosphere with a graveyard shovel, bathing the film in dark..."

March 14, 2003 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Frailty

"...have accomplished, however, is more dependent on mood and atmosphere than logical throughlines. More than any other film, Frailty..."

April 12, 2002 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Punks

"...but writer-director Polk flirts with the fine line between atmosphere and padding throughout this perfectly amiable debut film about..."

Nov. 16, 2001 Movie Review by Marrit Ingman

Audition

The war of the sexes as a horror film

"...sorry situation. Apart from the film's cunning, willfully surreal atmosphere, it's also beautiful to look at (up until the..."

Nov. 9, 2001 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Fast Food Fast Women

"...other devices to give the viewer a sense of atmosphere, of the chummy urban charm one might reasonably expect..."

Aug. 17, 2001 Movie Review by Marrit Ingman

Smell of Camphor, Fragrance of Jasmine

"...a degree of liberalization in Iran's political and artistic atmosphere. Personal stories have not been much in evidence in..."

June 8, 2001 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Cut

"...Fulci films (for the novelty murders, not for the atmosphere) and the like. Others will likely not enjoy the..."

April 27, 2001 Movie Review by Marrit Ingman

Taboo

"...easy to follow. However, there's never a shortage of atmosphere, largely due to the photography of Toyomichi Kurita (a..."

Feb. 23, 2001 Movie Review by Marrit Ingman

The Hustler

"...legendary Minnesota Fats (brilliantly played by Jackie Gleason). Dingy atmosphere and great performances make this a standout. Eugene Shuftan’s..."

Aug. 30, 2000 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Return to Me

"...most engaging thing about Return to Me is its atmosphere: filmed lovingly in Hunt's hometown of Chicago (by Laszlo..."

April 7, 2000 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

High Fidelity

"...the movie to reside in its wonderful characters and atmosphere...."

March 31, 2000 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

I Walked With a Zombie

"...style, which emphasized foreboding and dread over viewed horror. Atmosphere is created through shadows, sounds, and dialogue. I Walked..."

Feb. 17, 2000 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Felicia's Journey

"...of videographic themes (another Egoyan constant) enhances its overall atmosphere of distanced voyeurism and sketchy doom. The predeterminism of..."

Dec. 17, 1999 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Chalk

"...too long. Nilsson's superior ability to create mood and atmosphere seems at odds with his ability to tell a..."

July 30, 1999 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Insomnia

"...experience is for his character. Skjoldbjaerg's flair for creating atmosphere, powerful though never showy or artificial, reinforces the claustrophobic..."

Dec. 11, 1998 Movie Review by Russell Smith

54

"...Once inside, he's hooked on the club's druggy, anything-goes atmosphere and returns the next night only to be hired..."

Aug. 28, 1998 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Under the Skin

"...to the other. Writer-director Adler handles this potential hothouse atmosphere with graceful restraint and evocatively expressionist touches. She trusts..."

June 12, 1998 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

The Winter Guest

"...sea has frozen needs to exude a certain icy atmosphere -- and certain elements of the film succeed admirably..."

March 20, 1998 Movie Review by Robert Faires

Zero Effect

"...fair, this is his first effort.) There's very little atmosphere in the film, and the languid pacing nearly undermines..."

Feb. 13, 1998 Movie Review by Steve Davis

The Wooden Man's Bride

"...although he does manage to create a poetic, mesmerizing atmosphere throughout the length of this splendid-looking picture. All in..."

Oct. 25, 1996 Movie Review by Joey O'Bryan

American Buffalo

"...make these characters intriguing, and director Corrente makes the atmosphere so claustrophobic that we see what propels them to..."

Oct. 4, 1996 Movie Review by Robert Faires

Seven

A serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his modus operandi is hunted by two New York City detectives in this hellish take on Nineties film noir.

"...that unholy network). Positively dripping with a soggy, oppressive atmosphere, the film is blanketed with a miasma of madness:..."

Sept. 29, 1995 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

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