Film Reviews
Atom Egoyan’s Adoration: Also not very compelling
By David Walsh, July 29, 2009
In Atom Egoyan’s Adoration, Simon is a high school student in Toronto, whose teacher, for reasons of her own, encourages him to pose as the son of a would-be terrorist.
Brüno: Another series of pranks at everyone’s expense
By Hiram Lee, July 27, 2009
The latest film from Sacha Baron Cohen finds the comedian pranking unsuspecting victims with a new, provocative character.
Moon: Back to the future in science fiction
By William Moore, July 25, 2009
The new science fiction movie Moon, directed by Duncan Jones, was apparently released to coincide with and capitalize on the fortieth anniversary of the first landing of humans on the moon.
Whatever Works: The results are unattractive
By David Walsh, July 15, 2009
The most recent effort from Woody Allen is a very poor film, unconvincingly and even cartoonishly written and performed, accomplished with little humor or grace.
Public Enemies and a pivotal moment in American history
By Joanne Laurier, July 11, 2009
Based on material in Bryan Burrough’s Public Enemies: America’s Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34, Michael Mann’s new film chronicles John Dillinger’s spectacular and short...
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3: A tale of two movies
By Alan Whyte, July 2, 2009
A remake of the 1974 film, the new version of The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 retains the same plotline: a gang of criminals hijacks a single New York City subway car and attempts to extort cash from city ...
The Girlfriend Experience: Not rich or thorough enough
By David Walsh, July 1, 2009
Steven Soderbergh’s new film, The Girlfriend Experience, is a glimpse into the life of a high-priced call girl in New York City, set and filmed during the financial meltdown (and pre-election period...
Away We Go: Parent trap
By Joanne Laurier, June 29, 2009
Away We Go is British director Sam Mendes’s third attempt to deal with social reality in the United States—the film is no more successful than American Beauty and Revolutionary Road.
The Twilight Saga: Shimmering vampires who drive Volvos
By Alfonso Santana, June 24, 2009
The entertainment media in the US is in the process of fattening up its new golden goose: New Moon, the next installment of The Twilight Saga series about vampires living in small-town America, set fo...
Afghan Star: Eyes not opened wide enough
By Peter Kloze, June 23, 2009
Afghan Star, a documentary about Afghanistan’s version of American Idol, the television talent show, includes some interesting human material, but glosses over all the complex questions.
Six pre-Production Code films from William Wellman: an uneven but welcome collection
By Charles Bogle, June 22, 2009
In one astonishing 12-month period, 1932 to 1933, American filmmaker William Wellman directed 13 movies, 6 of which are included in this, the third volume in Turner Classic Movies’ “Forbidden Holl...
Angels & Demons: Now, in the service of the Catholic Church
By Hiram Lee, June 18, 2009
The sequel to The Da Vinci Code—which aroused the ire of the Catholic Church—finds novelist Dan Brown’s hero Robert Langdon in a struggle to save the Vatican from destruction.
