Fresh
| Fresh 80%
| Nothing But the Truth (2008) | "
Alda's performance is a real stand-out, but all the actors are in fine form, to include Angela Basset, Noah Wyle and David Schwimmer." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted May 5, 2009 |
Rotten 2/5
| Fresh 60%
| Valkyrie (2008) | "
There’s a whiff of pointlessness hanging over this whole affair. The fact that Valkyrie is not the thriller the trailer promises is treason against the talent." Total Film Posted Jan 23, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 86%
| Better Things (2009) | "
Gritty yet incongruously gorgeous – and glacier-paced – this ambitious first feature from Midlands miserablist Duane Hopkins proves that crikey, the British can do Bruno Dumont-style poetic realism after all." Total Film Posted Jan 23, 2009 |
Fresh 5/5
| Fresh 98%
| The Wrestler (2008) | "
Aronofsky’s most authentic film refuses to ridicule the amateur wrestling circuit, while Rourke’s portrait of a has-been will surely be the comeback of the year." Total Film Posted Jan 16, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Rotten 27%
| Clubbed (2009) | "
Though predictable, the attention to period detail makes this a Brit-flick rather like its hero – an intelligent little scrapper." Total Film Posted Jan 16, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 100%
| Boogie (2008) | "
It may not scale the heights of the best recent Romanian films (4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days, The Death Of Mr Lazarescu) but Boogie is still a bittersweet character study." Total Film Posted Jan 16, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Rotten 41%
| Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008) | "
A state-of-the-art kid-pleaser for sure, but recession-weary parents will probably find it a mite obnoxious." Total Film Posted Jan 16, 2009 |
Rotten 2/5
| Rotten 56%
| Defiance (2008) | "
“Jews don’t fight!” mutters a Red Army soldier. “These Jews do!” says another admiringly. Great pitch, largely undone by stilted, solemn direction." Total Film Posted Jan 9, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 62%
| The Reader (2008) | "
Pleasingly adult material powered by elegant, muscular performances. A strong adaptation of a slippery novel." Total Film Posted Jan 5, 2009 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 72%
| Che, Part One (2008) | "
Committed and commanding, slow but stealthy, political and powerful: details are omitted, but Che still sees Soderbergh flexing fierce focus and control, while Del Toro leads with tact and muscle. The full four-hour flick grips; two hours’ll fly by, easy." Total Film Posted Jan 5, 2009 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 86%
| Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (2008) | "
A straight-line journey through the good doctor’s loopy myth and madness, but one that doesn’t push far enough into uncharted territory. Fine as a primer, but Gibney leans more towards admiration than examination." Total Film Posted Dec 19, 2008 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 77%
| White Christmas (1954) | "
This was the Mamma Mia! of its day, a nostalgic blast of popular Irving Berlin showtunes gift-wrapped in new-fangled VistaVision that danced its way to the top of the 1954 box office." Total Film Posted Dec 12, 2008 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 96%
| Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932) | "
Powerful performances from March and Hopkins and richly atmospheric cinematography help make for a memorable journey down Stevenson’s “strange and terrible road.”" Total Film Posted Dec 12, 2008 |
Fresh 3/5
| Rotten 20%
| The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) | "
Cranking the action dial up to 11, Derrickson retools an iconic piece of sci-fi with lots of big guns but extra smarts would have been welcome. It’s bang up to date but a tad underwhelming. Not the disaster some fanboys predicted." Total Film Posted Dec 12, 2008 |
Rotten 2/5
| Fresh 65%
| Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008) | "
Put simply, it’s all lube and no spunk." Total Film Posted Nov 14, 2008 |
Rotten 2/5
| Rotten 18%
| Max Payne (2008) | "
The occasional muzzle-flare of stylish violence, but that’s it. Dull, depressing and dragging its knuckles at 100 minutes, Max Payne misfires and Wahlberg’s leading-man jinx continues." Total Film Posted Nov 14, 2008 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 92%
| Of Time and the City (2009) | "
And all for £250,000. Now will someone please fund the man to direct another feature?" Total Film Posted Oct 30, 2008 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 76%
| Quiet Chaos (2009) | "
Quiet Chaos feels thin and, especially towards the end, increasingly implausible. All the same, Moretti’s simpatico screen persona just about carries it." Total Film Posted Oct 24, 2008 |
Fresh 3/5
| Rotten 24%
| Incendiary (2008) | "
By then, Incendiary has become a tear-stained monologue about bereavement and resilience – it goes off with a bang, but ends with a whimper." Total Film Posted Oct 24, 2008 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 85%
| Ghost Town (2008) | "
This is a schmaltzy romcom directed by blockbuster screenwriter David Koepp and held together by Ricky Gervais – an actor best known for cringy dancing arse boss David Brent." Total Film Posted Oct 24, 2008 |
Rotten 1/5
| Rotten 42%
| A Bloody Aria (2006) | "
Sore disappointment is in store for anyone expecting Won Shin-yun’s revenge/psycho thriller to emerge as the new Oldboy." Total Film Posted Oct 24, 2008 |
Rotten 1.5/4
| Rotten 29%
| Made in America (1993) | "
This first-time screenplay by Holly Goldberg Sloan feels more like an outline, and director Richard Benjamin doesn't seem to know quite what to do with it." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Oct 18, 2008 |
Fresh 4/4
| Fresh 90%
| The Little Mermaid (1989) | "
This is unquestionably the best animated film in many years and is therefore highly recommended." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Oct 18, 2008 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 88%
| Young@Heart (2008) | "
If this film were any more heartwarming, your chest would melt." Total Film Posted Oct 17, 2008 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 79%
| La Zona (2007) | "
Director Rodrigo Plá pulls off a biting critique of middle-classes living in smug seclusion, but doesn’t compromise on tension as the suburbanites’ morals spiral out of control." Total Film Posted Oct 17, 2008 |
Rotten 2/5
| Rotten 56%
| Afro Saxons (2008) | "
It’s a warm-spirited, well-intentioned movie, yet offers a repetitive, visually humdrum and ultimately superficial portrait of its chosen milieu that seems much better suited to the small screen." Total Film Posted Oct 17, 2008 |
Fresh 3/5
| Rotten 39%
| The House Bunny (2008) | "
Fish-out-of-water formulaics are lifted by a starlet on the up. The story is pure bubblegum, but surrender to the silliness and you’ll be endeared. A must for anyone who’s been hanging on for Legally Blonde 3." Total Film Posted Oct 10, 2008 |
Fresh 4/5
| Fresh 75%
| Gunnin' for That #1 Spot (2008) | "
OK, so it’s not quite as searching as Hoop Dreams, but it’s hugely enjoyable all the same and boasts – as you’d expect – a terrific soundtrack." Total Film Posted Oct 10, 2008 |
Fresh 3/5
| Fresh 60%
| Bigga than Ben (2008) | "
It tails off into a confusing ending, but Bigga Than Ben is still honest, funny and provocative enough to wind up Daily Mail and Guardian readers alike." Total Film Posted Oct 10, 2008 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 94%
| Gone Baby Gone (2007) | "
A suspenseful, well-acted thriller, though there are certainly some disturbing elements to it. The very R-rated language alone may be enough to turn off some viewers." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Oct 19, 2007 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 41%
| Feast of Love (2007) | "
For a film that tries to be a smarter, more cerebral, romantic comedy-drama, Feast of Love sure does a lot of dumb things." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Sep 27, 2007 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| Fresh 73%
| Intervista (1987) | "
Federico Fellini's latest work is an oddly unaffecting look at moviemaking and the director's own youth, a sort of 8 1/2 meets Amarcord but without the resonance of either." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Nov 6, 2003 |
Fresh 3/4
| Rotten 13%
| Speechless (1994) | "
This is intelligent romantic comedy of the kind we get all too seldom these days, and the plot is something Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn would have loved in their prime." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Nov 6, 2003 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| Fresh 80%
| Ducktales The Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp (1990) | "
I was pleasantly surprised at how clever and funny the film is." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Aug 6, 2003 |
Rotten 1.5/4
| Fresh 71%
| Helas Pour Moi (1993) | "
The later avant-garde works of renowned French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard are definitely an acquired taste, which I have yet to acquire." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Jul 31, 2003 |
Rotten 2/4
| Fresh 97%
| Sex, Lies and Videotape (1989) | "
I was somewhat let down by the film as a whole, which seems to feign more than it actually achieves." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Dec 23, 2002 |
Fresh 4/4
| Fresh 91%
| Pandora's Box (1928) | "
It's a stunning film, no question, with sexuality that is quite frank for its day, effective atmosphere and, of course, Brooks' stunning performance." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Oct 13, 2002 |
Rotten 1.5/4
| Fresh 88%
| Internal Affairs (1990) | "
Internal Affairs is all stylish visuals and no substance whatsoever. That may be an attempt to hide the silliness of Henry Bean's first-time screenplay, but it doesn't work." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Sep 26, 2002 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 95%
| House Party (1990) | "
What is most appealing about House Party, and what sets it apart from many movies in the same genre, is that there is an energy and exuberance, a joy of living being celebrated here that is absolutely infectious." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Sep 26, 2002 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| Fresh 93%
| Castle in the Sky (1986) | "
Try to picture Terry Gilliam doing an animated Star Wars by way of Jules Verne." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Mar 7, 2002 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 71%
| White Fang (1991) | "
Grand family-oriented adventure on an epic scale..." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Jan 31, 2002 |
Rotten
| Rotten 8%
| Opposite Sex... and How to Live With Them (1993) | "
A dreadful semi-off-the-wall romantic comedy, which is a rehash of many other bad romantic comedies." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Nov 17, 2001 |
Fresh
| Fresh 93%
| Blade Runner - The Director's Cut (1982) | "
The special effects and production design remain astonishing and there are several supporting actors who have gone on to greater fame - Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos and Joanna Cassidy." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Oct 30, 2001 |
Rotten 0/4
| Rotten 20%
| Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3 (1989) | "
Believe it or not, even horror movie fans like some meat in their stories. You should pardon the expression." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Oct 30, 2001 |
Rotten 1/4
| Rotten 32%
| Men at Work (1990) | "
Men at Work will be a painful experience even for fans of the stars." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Sep 26, 2001 |
Rotten
| Rotten 12%
| Batman & Robin (1997) | "
Too many villains and too many heroes. The clutter is headache-inducing." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Jul 24, 2001 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| Fresh 91%
| The Kingdom - Series One (1994) | "
The show is very well acted and produced, cleverly written for the most part and generally quite entertaining." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Feb 21, 2001 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 100%
| I Am Cuba (1964) | "
While it has its clumsy elements, there is no denying its remarkable cinematic impact." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Feb 21, 2001 |
Fresh 4/4
| Fresh 98%
| The Player (1992) | "
A highly entertaining, dark film that says much about Hollywood -- and the audiences who watch Hollywood movies." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Feb 13, 2001 |
Fresh 3/4
| Rotten 59%
| ' Above the Rim (1994) | "
Despite obvious weaknesses, however, the film gets a huge boost from several excellent performances." Deseret News, Salt Lake City Posted Jan 1, 2000 |