| "S" All Films Watched 2000-2010 |
| All films are rated on a scale of **** (A+), *** 3/4 (A), *** 1/2 (A-), *** 1/4 (B+), *** (B), ** 3/4 (B-), ** 1/2 (C+), ** 1/4 ( C), ** (C-) , * 3/4 (D+), * 1/2 (D), * 1/4 (D-), * (F) |
| Links are to longer reviews on site. A film defined as 70 min.+ visual event. |
| The year included with the film is the year I watched each film. |
| (V) = TV, Video or DVD ( +) = repeat viewing (W/O)= walked out |
| S.W.A.T. (2003, d. Clark Johnson) Overly loud, violent, predictable L.A. police drama with enough originality & raging testosterone to be involving. ** 1/2 |
| S1M0NE (2002, d. Andrew Niccol) ** 3/4 |
| SABAH (2005, d. Ruba Nadda) Traditional Muslem woman falls for white guy in this Canadian film. It's an old story; but done well enough here to work for me. ** 3/4 |
| SACRED HEART (2006, d. Ferzan Ozpetek) *** 1/4 |
| SACRED PLANET (2004, d. Jon Long) IMAX doc with pretty images - an ecologic world tour; but derivitive and with nothing new to say. ** |
| SAD VACATION (2007, d. Shinji Aoyama) * 3/4 |
| SADDEST MUSIC IN THE WORLD, THE (2004, d. Guy Madden) Demented visual master's '30s retro fabulosity. *** 1/4 |
| SADE (2002, d. Benoît Jacquot) *** |
| SAFE CONDUCT (2002, d. Bertrand Tavernier) ** 3/4 |
| SAFE PASSAGE (2004, d. Robert Ackerman) V. A moving, if minor, '94 film dysfunctional family film with a wonderful Susan Sarandon perf. as mother of 7 boys. ** 3/4 |
| SAFETY OF OBJECTS, THE (2002, d. Rose Troche) *** |
| SAHARA (2005, d. Breck Eisner) Big scope, empty calorie adventure film about skullduggery and treasure hunting in Africa. Mindless entertainment. ** |
| SAINT RALPH (2005, d. Michael McGowan) Heartening, feel-good period film about a teenage boy in Catholic School who needs to make a miracle. *** |
| SA-KWA (2006, d. Kang Yi-kwan) *** 1/4 |
| SALAWATI (2008, d. Marc X. Grigoroff) *** |
| SALOME (2003, d. Carlos Saura) Film about the creation of a Spanish ballet of Salome, mostly the performance. * 3/4 |
| SALT OF THIS SEA (2009, d. Annemarie Jacir: Palestine) *** |
| SALT (2010, d. Philip Noyce) Surprisingly effective thriller...preposterous, over-the-top; but Jolie at top of game and Noyce keeps all the balls up in the air. *** 1/4 |
| SALTON SEA, THE (2002, d. D.J. Caruso) *** |
| SALTY AIR (2007, d. Alessandro Angelini) *** 1/2 |
| SALVADOR (2007, d. Manuel Huerga) *** |
| SALVATORE: THIS IS LIFE (2007, d. Gian Paolo Cugno) *** |
| SAMSARA (2002, d. Pan Nalin) **** |
| SAMSON & DELILAH (2009, d.Warwick Thornton; Australia) ** 1/4 |
| SANCTUARY: LISA GERRARD (2007, d. Clive Collier) ** 3/4 |
| SAND AND SORROW (2007, d. Paul Freedman) Darfur docu. Admirable subject, boring straightforward filmmaking. ** 1/2 |
| SANGRADOR (2003, d. Leonardo Henriquez) B&W retelling of the Macbeth story with Andean bandits. Overwrought, badly acted, but visually interesting. * 3/4 |
| SANGRE (2006, d. Arnat Escalante) ** 1/4 |
| SARABAND (2005, d. Ingmar Bergman) Starts slow; but accumulates great strength with story of disaffected family. *** 1/4 |
| SASHA (2010, d. Dennis Todorovic) ** 1/2 |
| SASS (2002, d. Carlo Rola) *** |
| SATANAS (2007, d. Andrés Baiz; Columbia) *** |
| SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE BATHS (2006, d. David Buckley) 1974 groundbreaking film. Fair story, great history ** 3/4 |
| SATURN IN OPPOSITION (2008, d. Ferzan Ozpetek) + *** 3/4 |
| SATURN IN OPPOSITION (2008, d. Ferzan Ozpetek) Building evacuation with 10 minutes to go! So a provisional *** 3/4 |
| SAVAGE GRACE (2008, d. Tom Kalin) *** 1/4 |
| SAVAGES, THE (2007, d. Tamara Jenkins) So real, so personally identifying, great acting, just too much of a downer. *** 1/4 |
| SAVE THE LAST DANCE (2001, d. Thomas Carter) * 1/4 |
| SAVED! (2004, d. Brian Dannelly) Comedy take off on a X-tian high school which is pretty well done, some good actors but uninspired direction. ** 1/2 |
| SAVING FACE (2005, d. Alice Wu) Lesbian approx. of The Wedding Banquet...a feelgood comedy of a family & a girl coming to grips with being gay. ** 3/4 |
| SAVING GRACE (2000, d. Nigel Cole) ** 1/2 |
| SAY UNCLE (2005, d. Peter Paige) Strangely discomforting film about a naive gay man whose innocent love for children is misunderstood. ** |
| SCANNER DARKLY, A (2006, d. Richard Linklater) Phil Dick is well served, nice animation. But ultimately unsatisfying. ** 3/4 |
| SCHOOL DAYS WITH A PIG (2009, d. Tetsu Maeda) *** |
| SCHOOL OF ROCK (2003, d. Richard Linklater) Jolt of pure entertainment, probably Jack Black's ultimately defining performance. Everyone wins here. *** 3/4 |
| SCHOOL TIES (2005, d. Robert Mandel, '92) V. Good, if predictable, drama, a prep school in mid '50s; Jewish student (Brendan Fraser) vs. rich snob (Matt Damon). ** 1/2 |
| SCIENCE OF SLEEP, THE (2006, d. Michel Gondry) ** 1/2 |
| SCOOBY-DOO (2002, d. Raja Gosnell) * 3/4 |
| SCOOP (2006, d. Woody Allen) Woody is in a clever caper story rut. Fun, but not nearly as good as similar Match Game. ** 3/4 |
| SCORE, THE (2001, d. Frank Oz) ** 1/2 |
| SCOTLAND, PA (2003, d. Billy Morrissette) V. Silly, amiable retelling of the Macbeth story in a 60's small town. Points for originality and humor. ** 3/4 |
| SCOTLAND, PA (2002, d. Billy Morrissette) ** 1/2 |
| SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD (2010, d. Edgar Wright) Stylization run amok; Cera is perfect, music & f/x weirdly intriguing. But it all spins out of control by end. *** |
| SCOTTSBORO: AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY (2001, d. Barak Goodman & Daniel Anker) *** 1/4 |
| SCRATCH (2009, d. Michal Rosa) ** 3/4 |
| SCUSA MA TI CHIAMO AMORE (2008, d. Federico Moccia) ** |
| SEA INSIDE, THE (2004, d. Alejandro Amenábar) Spanish AFF, remarkably sentimental, but moving true story about non-state sanctioned euthenasia. *** |
| SEA OF SILENCE (2003, d. Stijn Cominx) Belgium's so-so Academy nomination about a disfunctional farm family from the pov of the middle daughter. ** 1/2 |
| SEA WALL, THE (Un barrage contre le Pacifique) (2008, d. Rithy Panh) *** 1/4 |
| SEA, THE (2003, d. Baltasar Kormakur) Iceland AFF. Dysfunctional family drama...non Dogmatic Conversation. *** 1/2 |
| SEABISCUIT (2003, d. Gary Ross) Excellent docu-drama with fine cast and a resonant, spellbinding script - left me wanting more (to read the book?) *** 1/4 |
| SEAGULL'S LAUGHTER, THE (2001, d. Agust Gudmundsson) ** 1/2 |
| SEANCE (2001, d. Kiyoshi Kurosawa) *** 1/4 |
| SEARCH FOR JOHN GISSING, THE (2001, d. Mike Binder) 1/2* |
| SEASIDE (2003, France d. Julie Lopes-Curval) Multi-character, small-town drama of repressed yearnings for better things. *** 1/4 |
| SEAWARDS JOURNEY (2004, d. Guillermo Casanova) Slight, but revelatory pastoral road picture about a group of men from the interior who journey to the sea. ** 1/2 |
| SECOND COMING, THE (2005, d. Jack Walsh) V. 0* |
| SECOND SKIN (2001, d. Gerardo Vera) * |
| SECONDHAND CHILD (2004, d. Karola Hattop) German "tv afterschool special" about a troubled, fatherless 13 year old boy who bonds with a new neighbor. ** 3/4 |
| SECONDHAND LIONS (2003, d. Tim McCanlies) 2 eccentric uncles raise teenage boy. Fine actors don't overcome shamelessly manipulative if amiable script. * 3/4 |
| SECRET BALLOT (2002, d. Babak Payami) ** |
| SECRET BEYOND THE DOOR (2008, d. Fritz Lang) ** 3/4 |
| SECRET FESTIVAL #1 (2006) *** 1/2 |
| SECRET FESTIVAL #1 (2002) *** |
| SECRET FESTIVAL #2 (2005) Already seen this one, admittedly at L.A.'s worst big screen venue; but hated it and had no desire to see it again. W/O |
| SECRET FESTIVAL #2 (2006) *** |
| SECRET FESTIVAL #2 (2002) *** |
| SECRET FESTIVAL #2 (2008) *** 1/2 |
| SECRET FESTIVAL #3 (2008) *** |
| SECRET FESTIVAL #3 (2002) *** 1/2 |
| SECRET FESTIVAL #3 (2006) *** |
| SECRET FESTIVAL #3 (2007) ** 3/4 |
| SECRET FESTIVAL #3 (2010, SIFF) ** 3/4 |
| SECRET FESTIVAL #4 (2002) ** 1/4 |
| SECRET FESTIVAL #4 (2006) *** |
| SECRET FESTIVAL #4 (2007) Redeemed the entire concept of Secret Festival for the year. *** 3/4 |
| SECRET FESTIVAL #4 (2008) *** 1/2 |
| SECRET IN THEIR EYES, THE (El secreto de sus ojos) (2009, d. Juan José Campanella; Argentina) *** 3/4 |
| SECRET LIFE OF BEES (2008, d. Gina Bythewood) Color Purplish film with a fine cast. Dakota Fanning is great; but Paul Bettany surprises playing a Southern redneck. *** |
| SECRET LIFE OF DENTISTS, THE (2003, U.S. d. Alan Rudolph) Beautifully written and acted drama about a marriage in trouble. *** 3/4 |
| SECRET LIFE OF HAPPY PEOPLE, THE (2006, d. Stephane Lapointe) *** |
| SECRET LIFE OF WORDS, THE (2006, d. Isabel Coixet) 2 wounded souls in another moving Coixet. Tim Robbins & Sarah Polley great. *** |
| SECRET OF KELLS, THE (2010, d. Tomm Moore) Pretty watercolor animation; but legendary story of monks, Vikings & enchanted forest bored me. ** 1/2 |
| SECRET OF THE GRAIN, THE (2008, d. Abdellatif Kechiche) *** 1/4 |
| SECRET SUNSHINE (2007, d. Lee Chang-dong; Korea) *** |
| SECRET THINGS (2003, France d. Jean-Claude Brisseau) Soft porn with a lesbian bent. Good looking bodies, but total trash and a ridiculous story. * |
| SECRET THINGS (2004, d. Jean-Claude Brisseau) + Re-saw in theater by accident (I forgot I'd seen it) a ridiculous, if sexy, film that is way over-the-top. ** |
| SECRET WINDOW (2004, d. David Koepp) Depp is the only reason to watch this ridiculous Stephen King story which rings psychologically false. * 3/4 |
| SECRET, UN (2008, d. Claude Miller) *** 1/2 |
| SECRETARIAT (2010, d. Randall Wallace) Old fashioned filmmaking; but enthralling in the way it recalls my memories of the era. I loved this horse. *** |
| SECRETARY (2002, d. Steven Shainberg) ** 1/4 |
| SECRETS OF A YOUNG GIRL (2003, d. Magdi Ahmed Ali) Egypt AFF. Courageous family drama about 15 year old girl's pregnancy. *** |
| SECRETS OF STATE (Secret défence) (2009, d. Philipe Haïm) *** |
| SEDUCING DR. LEWIS (2004, d. Jean-François Pouliot) Small, eccentric, mediocre French Canadian town shaggy dog story à la Waking Ded Devine. ** 1/4 |
| SEE YOU OFF TO THE EDGE OF TOWN (2002, d. Ching C. Ip) ** 3/4 |
| SEED OF DISCORD, THE (Il seme della siscordia) (2009, d. Pappi Corsicato) ** 1/4 |
| SEEKER: THE DARK IS RISING, THE (2009, d. David L. Cunningham) V.+ Adolescent fantasy with an interesting hero in Alex Ludwig. ** 1/2 |
| SELF-MADE HERO, A (2002, d. Jacques Audiard) **** |
| SENIOR PROM (2010, d. Nicholas Terry) *** |
| SENSE & SENSIBILITY (2008, d. John Alexander) V. Andrew Davis' superb mini-series adaptation with a fine cast. *** 1/4 |
| SENTIMENTAL ENGINE SLAYER, THE (2010, d. Omar Rodriguez Lopez) ** 1/4 |
| SENTIMENTS, LES (2004, d. Noémie Lvovsky) Two couples & the consequences of infidelity. Nice acting, but somehow unpleasant. *** |
| SENTINAL, THE (2006, d. Clark Johnson) Good Secret Service thriller. Kiefer Sutherland will henceforth always be Jack Bauer in every role. *** |
| SEOUL TRAIN (2005, d. Lubansky, Butterworth, Sleeth) Mainly talking heads docu about plight of N. Korean refugees in China. Bad sound. ** 1/4 |
| SEPARATE LIES (2005, d. Julian Fellowes) *** |
| SEPARATE PEACE, A (2004, d. Peter Yates) V. Nicely done TV movie from the novel. Well cast, well directed...but the script needed fleshing out. ** 3/4 |
| SEQUESTRO (Kidnapping) (2010, d. Jorge W. Atalla) v. Action docu made like TV series "Cops", often touching stories of Sao Paulo kidnapping squad & victims. *** 1/2 |
| SEQUESTRO EXPRESS (2004, d. Jonathan Jakubowicz) Caracas slum dwellers carjack & kidnap a priveleged couple. Frenetic, visceral, frightening film. ** 3/4 |
| SÉRAPHINE (2009, d. Martin Provost) *** 1/4 |
| SERENDIPITY (2001, d. Peter Chelsom) ** 1/2 |
| SERENITY (2005, d. Joss Whedon) * 3/4 |
| SERGIO (2009, d. Greg Barker) V. Docu of the 2003 bombing by al-Qaeda of the UN mission in Iraq led by martyred Sergio de Mello. Gripping recreations. Affecting. *** |
| SERIES 7 (2001, d. Daniel Minahan) *** 1/2 |
| SERIOUS MAN, A (2009, d. Joel & Ethan Coen) Different Coens film: personal, very Jewish, amusing riff on the Job story. Loved it until the weird unsatisfactory conclusion, again! *** 1/2 |
| SESSION 9 (2001, d. Brad Anderson) * |
| SET ME FREE (2000, d. Léa Pool) *** |
| SEUL CONTRE TOUS (2005, d. Gaspar Noé) V. Noé is a great stylist. This film is hard to warch, but a fascinating character study of a loser. *** |
| SEVEN DAYS, THE (2009, d. Ronit Elkabetz, Shlomi Elkabetz) * 1/2 |
| SEVEN POUNDS (2008, d. Gabriele Muccino) ** 1/4 |
| SEVEN SWORDS (2006, d. Tsui Hark) * 3/4 |
| SEVERANCE (2007, d. Christopher Smith) *** |
| SEX & BREAKFAST (2007, d. Miles Brandman) Reprises the least interesting thread of HBO's Tell Me You Love Me. ** 1/2 |
| SEX AND DEATH 101 (2007, d. Daniel Waters) ** |
| SEX AND LUCIA (2002, d. Julio Medem) *** 1/2 |
| SEX AND LUCIA (2002, d. Julio Medem) + **** |
| SEX AND THE CITY (2008, d. Michael Patrick King) Great fashions, sappy, predictable...but it kept getting better as it went on. ** 3/4 |
| SEX IS COMEDY (2004, d. Catherine Breillat) Comedy about an annoying, talky female director making a sexy movie. Actually more fun than I expected. *** |
| SEX&DRUGS&ROCK&ROLL (2010, d. Mat Whitecross) ** 3/4 |
| SEXY BEAST (2001, d. Jonathan Glazer) *** |
| SHADE (2004, d. Damian Nieman) Interesting movie about crosses and double crosses among poker players, card mechanics & gangsters. Very entertaining. *** |
| SHADOW MAGIC (2001, d. Ann Hu) ** 1/4 |
| SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE (2000, d. E. Elias Merhige) ** |
| SHADOWBOXER (2006, d. Lee Daniels) No cops in sight in this hired assassin story. Mirren as usual is great. ** 3/4 |
| SHADOWS IN THE PALACE (Goong-Nyuh) (2008, d. Kim Mee-jung) ** 3/4 |
| SHADOWS (2008, d. Milcho Manchevski; Macedonia) *** |
| SHADOWS, THE (2007, d. Guillermo Rodriguez) ** |
| SHAFT (2000, d. John Singleton) ** |
| SHAKE THE DEVIL OFF (2007, d. Peter Entell) OK post Katrina docu: parish church & beloved reverend disbanded. ** 3/4 |
| SHALL WE KISS? (Un baiser s'il vous plait) (2008, d. Emmanuel Mouret) *** 1/2 |
| SHALLOW HAL (2001, d. Peter & Bobby Farrelly) ** |
| SHANGHAI DREAMS (2006, d. Wang Xiaoshuai) ** 3/4 |
| SHANGHAI NOON (2000, d. Tom Dey) ** 1/2 |
| SHAPE OF THINGS, THE (2003, d. Neil Labute) Clever reversal of Company of Men. Attractive ensemble; stagey line readings. Why isn't Fred Weller a star? *** |
| SHARK TALE (2004, d. Bergeron, Jenson, Litterman) Predictable, clichéd, hip-hop animated comedy with star cast & lovely 3-D computer graphics but no heart. * 3/4 |
| SHARPE'S PERIL (2010, d. Tom Clegg) V. Nicely produced tv film about a Brit soldier in India in 1820. Suddenly Luke Ward-Wilkinson (Beautiful People) is a fave. *** |
| SHATTERED GLASS (2003, d. Billy Ray) True story: journalist faker Stephen Glass. Great acting & veracity, tho psychological insight is rather thin. *** 1/4 |
| SHATTERED GLASS (2002, d. Chris Kraus) *** 1/2 |
| SHE HATE ME (2004, d. Spike Lee) Slick, but hateful & misogynist miscalculation. One of the worst films by a good filmmaker ever. * |
| SHELTER ME (Riparo) (2007, d. Marco Simon Puccioni) *** 1/4 |
| SHELTER (2008, d. Jonah Markowitz) *** |
| SHEM (2006, d. Caroline Roboh) A bisexual English Everything is Illuminated. Ash Newman is a real find; the film doesn't pay off. ** 3/4 |
| SHERLOCK HOLMES (2009, d. Guy Richie) It looks like Victorian London; but its criminally anachronistic rock-and-roll sensibility is all Richie's fault. * 1/4 |
| SHERLOCK: BLIND BANKER (2010, d. Duros Lyn) V. Rather ordinary who-done-it script based on codes. ** 3/4 |
| SHERLOCK: GREAT GAME (2010, d. Paul McGuigan) V. The game's truly afoot with a fine over-the-top supervillian in "John". Fast moving, gotta say. *** |
| SHERLOCK: STUDY IN PINK (2010, d. Paul McGuigan) V. Clever present day remaking of familiar tropes. Both leads quite well suited. *** 1/4 |
| SHERRYBABY (2006, d. Laurie Collyer) Maggie Gyllenhaal is fine; but film about junkie mom is very hard to take. ** 1/4 |
| SHE'S OUT OF MY LEAGUE (2010, d. Jim Field Smith) 1st hour: fun stuff with perfectly cast Jay Baruchel. But film has nowhere to go but predictable. Still enjoyable. *** |
| SHE'S THE MAN (2006, d. Andy Fickman) A teener "12th Night"; but a mediocre script. Channing Tatum is worth watching. ** |
| SHINE A LIGHT (2008, d. Martin Scorsese) Great, intimate concert film; an historical flawless production! **** |
| SHINER (2004, d. Christian Calson) Horrendously directed but strangely erotic gay Fight Club imitator. Amateur boxers lovingly & boringly pummel each other. * |
| SHINOBI (2006, d. Ten Shimoyaina) ** 3/4 |
| SHIPPING NEWS, THE (2001, d. Lasse Hallström) ** 3/4 |
| SHOOT 'EM UP (2008, d. Michael Davis)V. Hyperviolent, imaginative, totally absurd film. Fine cast wasted. Clive Owen's BMW ads taken to extreme. ** 3/4 |
| SHOOTER (2007, d. Antoine Fuqua) Better than average paranoid govt. out of control thriller - Mark Wahlberg is quite good. *** |
| SHOOTING GALLERY (2006, d. Keoni Waxman) V. Mediocre crooked cop/poolhall hustle STV. Ving Rhames & Prinze Jr. ok. ** 1/4 |
| SHOP OF DREAMS (Stiilipidu) (2006, d. Peeter Urbla; Estonia) ** 1/2 |
| SHOPGIRL (2005, d. Anand Tucker) *** |
| SHORT CIRCUITS (Kratki Stiki) (2007, d. Janez Lapajne) Slovenia's foreign film submission ** 3/4 |
| SHORT FILM COLLECTION (2010, SIFF) - Playing Doctor Average score: ** |
| SHORT FILM COLLECTION (2010, SIFF) - Boys to Men Average score: *** 1/4 |
| SHORTBUS (2006, d. John Cameron Mitchell) *** 1/4 |
| SHOT IN THE HEART (2002, d. Agnieszka Holland) ** 1/2 |
| SHOTGUN STORIES (2009, d. Jeff Nichols) V. Quietly powerful, reflective Amer. indie pitting half-brothers against each other. *** |
| SHOWER (2000, d. Zhang Yang) *** |
| SHREK 2 (2005, d. Adamson, Asbury, Vernon) V. Best animated film since Toy Story 2. Clever schtick, a story which holds together & real characters. *** 1/2 |
| SHREK THE THIRD (2007, d. Chris Miller & Raman HuI) ** |
| SHREK (2001, d. Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson) *** |
| SHRINK (2009, d. Jonas Pate) *** 1/4 |
| SHUT UP AND SING (2006, d. Barbara Kopple, Cecelia Peck) V. I'm not a Dixie Chicks fan; but this politically satisfying docu works. *** 1/4 |
| SHUTKA BOOK OF RECORDS, THE (2005, d. Aleksandar Manió) V. * 1/4 |
| SHUTTER ISLAND (2010, d. Martin Scorsese) I got the twist about 5 minutes into the film...well made, of course, & Leo is fine; but ridiculously overwrought plot. ** 1/2 |
| SHWAAS (2005, d. Sandeep Sawant) Overamped heart tugger about 6 year old boy with cancer who must lose both his eyes. * 3/4 |
| SHY AMOL CHAYA (2006, d. Humayun Ahmed; Bangladesh) * |
| SICILIAN GIRL, THE (2010, d. Marco Amenta) *** 3/4 |
| SICKO (2007, d. Michael Mann) The Cuba trick is overly cute; but docu is entertaining & useful. *** |
| SIDEWALKS OF NEW YORK (2001, d. Edward Burns) *** 1/2 |
| SIDEWAYS (2004, d. Alexander Payne) A Calif. subculture comedy, like Swingers. Note perfect performances, great wine lore, but 2nd act longeurs detracted. *** |
| SIGNS (2002, d. M. Night Shyamalan) *** |
| SILENCE, THE (2007, d. Cate Shortland) ** 3/4 |
| SILENT LIGHT (2007, d. Carlos Reygadis; Mexico) *** 3/4 |
| SILENT VOICES (Qu'un seul tienne et les autres suivront) (2010, d. Léa Fehner) *** |
| SILK (2007, d. François Gerard) Slow and reflective, but beautiful. ** 3/4 |
| SILLY AGE, THE (2007, d. Pavel Giroud) Cuba Academy foreign film submission *** |
| SILMIDO (2004, d. Woo-suk Kang) S. Korea forms a platoon of convicted criminals to fight North, and then it goes wrong. Well directed with incredible cast. *** 1/4 |
| SILVER CITY (2004, d. John Sayles) Boring, turgid political eco-thriller, great take-off on George W. by Chris Cooper...but otherwise too long and overly complicated. ** |
| SIMIAN LINE, THE (2001, d. Linda "Old" Yellen) * |
| SIMON (2004, d. Eddy Terstall) Dutch AFF, remarkably un-sentimental story about a flamboyant dying man and state sanctioned euthenasia. *** 1/4 |
| SIMPSONS MOVIE, THE (2007, d. David Silverman) *** |
| SIN NOMBRE (2009, d. Cary Joji Fukunaga) Superbly executed drama of Central American gangs & the plight of immigrants with a believeable, moving romance. *** 1/2 . |
| SINCE OTAR LEFT (2004, d. Julie Bertucelli) An old Georgian lady's triumph of the spirit when the death of her emmigré son is kept from her. *** 1/4 |
| SINGER, THE (Quand j'étais chanteur) (2007, d. Xavier Giannoli) ** 1/4 |
| SINGING DETECTIVE, THE (2003, d. Keith Gordon) First hour OK; but by end, good acting & direction didn't solve an offputting script. ** 1/4 |
| SINGING FOREST, THE (2004, d. Jorge Ameer) Gay melodrama about a couple of Nazi victims reunited after reincarnation. Horrendously bad in every aspect. 1/2* |
| SINGING REVOLUTION, THE (2008, d. James & Maureen Tusty) Moving, eloquent and vital docu of how Estonian freedom is due to the culture of singing. *** 1/2 |
| SINGLE MAN, A (2009, d. Tom Ford) Ford's visual sense right on, narrative not so much. Fine acting; but ambiguous characters detract. Nick Hoult all grown up & a beauty. *** |
| SISTERS IN LAW (2006, d. Kim Longinotto) V. Slow but moving docu about justice for women & children in Camaroon. *** |
| SITA SINGS THE BLUES (2008, d. Nina Paley) *** 1/4 |
| SIXTY SIX (2008, d. Paul Weiland) Nicely evoked coming of age about a nerdy English boy's Bar Mitzvah in 1966. Builds to satisfying climax. *** |
| SKATELAND (2010, d. Anthony Burns) ** 1/2 |
| SKELETONS (2010, d. Nick Whitfield) ** |
| SKETCHES OF FRANK GEHRY (2006, d. Sydney Pollack) *** |
| SKETCHES (2004, d. Neil Israel) V. TiVo found this unfairly maligned (Ebert 0 stars?! WTF!) young man dying weeper road picture with a great Jason Bateman perf. ** 3/4 |
| SKI JUMPING PAIRS - ROAD TO TORINO 2006 (2006, d. Mashima Riichiro, Kobayashi Masaki) *** 1/4 |
| SKIES SATELLITES (2001, d. Lukas Nola) * 1/4 |
| SKIN (2009, d. Anthony Fabian) ** 3/4 |
| SKIPPED PARTS (2000, d. Tamra Davis) *** |
| SKULLS, THE (2000, d. Rob Cohen) ** 1/4 |
| SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW (2004, d. Kerry Conran) Stylized, retro futuristic thriller with great sound & design but otherwise predictable. ** 3/4 |
| SKY HIGH (2005, d. Mike Mitchell) Fun, unpretentious kid's flick about a school for kids with super powers. Michael Angarano shines here...ditto Chris Wynne. ** 3/4 |
| SKYFIGHTERS (Les chevaliers du ciel) (2006, d. Gérard Pirès) French airforce fighter pilots intrigue. Well acted, great f/x; but preposterous, elliptical plot. ** |
| SKYHOOK (2000, d. Ljubisa Samardzic) ** 1/2 |
| SLAUGHTER RULE, THE (2002, d. Alex & Andrew Smith) *** 1/2 |
| SLAVE OF LOVE (Raba lyubvi) (2008, d. Nikita Mikhalkov)V. Gorgeous, pastoral love story set in Russian revolution. *** |
| SLEEP DEALER (2008, d. Alex Rivera) *** 1/2 |
| SLEEPER CELL 2 (2007, d. various ) V. Similar, but inferior to 1st series. ** 1//2 |
| SLEEPER CELL (2006, d. various) V. Extremely plausable & well made mini-series about Muslim terrorists in a terrifyingly real L.A. *** 1/2 |
| SLEEPING DOGS LIE (2006, d. Bobcat Goldthwait) *** |
| SLEEPING ROUGH (2002, d. Eugene Jansen) ** |
| SLEEPLESS NIGHTS (2003, d. Hany Khalifa) 3 married and one unmarried yuppie couple have their marital troubles in this fluffy romantic comedy. ** 1/2 |
| SLIM SUSIE (2004, d. Ulf Malmros) Wild, sometimes clever, often not film about crazy antics of a bunch of young people in a small Swedish town. ** 3/4 |
| SLINGSHOT (Tirador) (2008, d. Brillante Mendoza) * 1/2 |
| SLIPSTREAM (2005, d. David van Eyssen) V. Ridiculous time travel story mixed with a Guy Richie gang who couldn't shoot straight story. Sean Astin is good, however. * 1/4 |
| SlLEEPY TIME GAL, THE (2002, d. Christopher Münch) *** 3/4 |
| SLOGANS (2001, d. Gjergi Xhuvani) *** 1/4 |
| SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (2008, d. Danny Boyle) Intense melodrama about boy from Mombai slums competing in TV game show. *** |
| SLUMMING (2006, d. Michael Glawogger) *** 1/4 |
| SMALL CUTS (2003, d. Pascal Bonitzer) Daniel Auteuil! Kristen Scott Thomas! No chemistry! Drama disguised as silly French farce. ** |
| SMALL ENGINE REPAIR (2007, d. Niall Heery) *** 1/4 |
| SMALL TOWN GAY BAR (2006, d. Malcolm Ingram) ** 3/4 |
| SMALL VOICES (2003, d. Gil M. Portes) Philippines AFF. New teacher in rural village copes with problems. ** |
| SMALLPOX 2002: SILENT WEAPON (2005, d. Daniel Percival) V. British tv movie, well done fake documentary with a frightening message. ** 3/4 |
| SMART PEOPLE (2008, d. Noam Murro) 1st time I liked Ellen Page in a film! Fine cast, involving indie film. *** |
| SMASH HIS CAMERA (2010, d. Leon Gast) V. Entertaining & amusing docu about famed paparazzo Ron Galella. Neat photo montages & well put together material. *** 1/2 |
| SMILEY FACE (2007, d. Gregg Araki) *** 1/4 |
| SMITH FAMILY, THE (2002, d. Tasha Oldham) **** |
| SMOKERS ONLY (2003, d. Veronica Chen) Pretentious, artsy-fartsy Argentine film about vapid rock chick and male hustler. * |
| SNAKESKIN (2002, d. Gillian Ashurst) *** 1/4 |
| SNAPPER, THE (2004, d. Stephen Frears) V. Another wonderful early Frears Irish family comedy. Humanistic, well acted, effortlessly entertaining. *** 1/4 |
| SNATCH (2001, d. Guy Ritchie) ** |
| SNIPER, THE (2009, d. Dante Lam) *** 1/4 |
| SNOW (Snijeg) (2008, d. Aida Begic; Bosnia and Herzegovina) *** |
| SNOW ANGELS (2008, d. David Gordon Green) Another remarkable, difficult drama by this artist. Great acting. *** 1/2 |
| SNOW CAKE (2006, d. Marc Evans) *** 3/4 |
| SNOW WALKER (2004, d. Charles Martin Smith) Clichéd and unlikely story of a pilot downed in N. Canada along with an ill Inuit woman. Still, effective storytelling. *** |
| SO CLOSE, SO FAR (2005, d. Reza Mir Karimi, Iran) *** 1/4 |
| SO GOES THE NATION (2006, d. del Dio & Stern) V. Fascinating, gutwrenching docu of both sides of political organizers in Ohio in 2004. *** 3/4 |
| SOAP, A (2006, d. Pernille Fischer Christiansen) ** 3/4 |
| SOCIAL NETWORK, THE (2010, d. David Fincher) + Still superb. So impressed by all the actors; but Eisenberg and Garfield are at top of their game. **** |
| SOCIAL NETWORK, THE (2010, d. David Fincher) Scintillating flick, perfectly cast, great writing & direction. I'm still under spell & will probably pay to see it again. **** |
| SOL DEL MEMBRILLO, EL (2003, d. Victor Erice 1992) Arty semi-documentary about an artist sloooowly painting a quince tree. ** |
| SOLARIS (2002, d. Steven Soderbergh) ** 3/4 |
| SOLAS (2000, d. Benito Zambrano) *** |
| SOLDANOS DE SALAMINA (2004, d. David Trueba) A writer gradually uncovers an enigmatic incident in the Spanish Civil War. Slow start but big pay-off. *** |
| SOLDIER'S GIRL, A (2003, US d. Frank Pierson) True story: an American soldier falls for a transexual and how the dynamic plays out in his platoon. *** 1/4 |
| SOLITARY MAN (2010, d. Koppelman & Levien) V. Saga of a true asshole played convincingly by Michael Douglas. ** 3/4 |
| SOLITUDE (2002, d. Susan Kraker, Pi Ware) *** 1/4 |
| SOLO MIA (2003, d. Javier Balaguer) Sergio Lopez plays abusive macho husband. Excellent portrait of a bad marriage. *** |
| SOLOIST, THE (2009, d. Joe Wright) Wright throws every directorial trick in the book at this sappy script, and Downey & Foxx are fine; but I was bored. ** 1/2 |
| SOLOMON & GAENOR (2000, d. Paul Morrisson) *** 3/4 |
| SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS (2010, d. Matt McCormick) *** |
| SOME GIRL (2003, d. Rory Kelly) V. Ribisi siblings interest me. A charming, surprisingly involving romantic comedy...young Jeremy Sisto a revelation. *** |
| SOMEONE ELSE'S HAPPINESS (2006, d. Fien Troch; Belgium) ** 3/4 |
| SOMEONE I LOVED (Je l'aimais) (2009, d. Zabou Breitman) *** |
| SOMERS TOWN (2009, d. Shane Meadows) Delightful and insightful, if slight, youth dramedy where Midlands youth befriends Polish boy in modern London. *** 1/4 |
| SOMERSAULT (2004, d. Cate Shortland) Well played slice of life about Australian runaway teenage girl. *** |
| SOMETHING LIKE HAPPINESS (Stestí) (2006, d. Bohdan Sláma; Czech Republic) *** 1/4 |
| SOMETHING SWEET (2000, d. Olivia Pi-Sunyer) ** 1/2 |
| SOMETHING'S GONNA LIVE (2010, d. Daniel Raim) Pleasant docu about 6 elderly film artists & their life & work. I knew & worked with Boyle & he shines here at 98. *** 1/4 |
| SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE (2003, d. Nancy Meyers) I wanted to hate this like every other Meyers film; but it struck a deep chord of truth. Bravo to all. *** 1/4 |
| SOMEWHAT GENTLE MAN, A (2010, Hans Petter Moland) Nice turn by Stellan Skarsgard as reformed criminal released from prison. *** 1/4 |
| SOMEWHERE (2010, d. Sofia Coppola) Such a great L.A. movie. Dorff pulls off the difficult role of the Hollywood superstar, and Coppola is a true auteur. *** 1/2 |
| SOMEWHERE OVER THE DREAMLAND (2003, Taiwan d. Cheng Wen-tang) Inscrutable film about yearning and lost love...maybe. ** 3/4 |
| SON FRÈRE (2003, d. Patrice Chéreau) Intimate drama of 2 estranged brothers, the straight one dying of rare blood disease. Eric Caravaca is great! *** 1/4 |
| SON OF A LION (2008, d. Benjamin Gilmour) *** |
| SON OF BABYLON (2010, d. Mohamed Al-Daradji) ** 3/4 |
| SON OF RAMBOW (2007, d. Garth Jennings) *** |
| SON OF THE BRIDE (2001, d. Juan José Campanella) *** 1/2 |
| SON, THE (Le fils) (2003, d. Dardenne Bros.) Belgium AFF. Spare drama about carpentery teacher & apprentice who share a secret history. *** 1/2 |
| SONETAULA (2008, d. Salvatore Mereu) *** |
| SONG FOR A RAGGY BOY (2003, Ireland/US d. Aisling Walsh) Drama/exposé about Catholic workhouse schools for wayward boys in 1939. *** 1/4 |
| SONG FOR MARTIN, A (2001, d. Bille August) *** 1/4 |
| SONG OF SPARROWS, THE (Avaze Gonjeshk-ha) (2008, d. Majid Majidi) *** |
| SONG OF TIBET (2001, d. Xie Fei) *** |
| SONGCATCHER (2000, d. Maggie Greenwald) *** |
| SONGS FROM THE SECOND FLOOR (2002, d. Roy Andersson) *** |
| SONNY (2002, d. Nicolas Cage) *** |
| SONS (Sonner) (2007, d. Erik Richter Strand) *** 1/4 |
| SON'S ROOM, THE (2001, d. Nanni Moretti) *** 3/4 |
| SOPHIE SCHOLL - THE FINAL DAYS (2005, d. Marc Rothemund; Germany) ** 1/2 |
| SORCERER'S APPRENTICE, THE (2010, d. Jon Turteltaub) Well done for what it is: high concept f/x driven drivel. Baruchel shines, per usual. ** 1/2 |
| SORROW OF MRS. SCHNEIDER, THE (2008, d. Piro & Eno Milkani; Albania) *** |
| SOUL KITCHEN (2010, d. Fatih Akin) *** |
| SOUL POWER (2009, d. Jeffrey Levy-Hinte) '74 Zaire concert film, well shot but music varies in quality. Bill Withers, Celia Cruz & BB King really impressed. Star James Brown less. *** |
| SOUND AND FURY (2000, d. Josh Aronson) *** |
| SOUND OF THUNDER, A (2005, d. Peter Hyams) * 1/4 |
| SOUNDLESS (2004, d. Mennan Yapo) Excellent, moody thriller about a professional assassin & the cop who hunts him. Superbly written and directed. *** 1/2 |
| SOUNDS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT: A POPUMENTARY (2008, d. Jamie Jay Johnson) *** 1/2 |
| SOUNDTRACK FOR A REVOLUTION (2009, d. Guttentag and Sturman) V. Superb docu of Civil Rights struggle emphasizing music. Poignant & emotionally uplifting. *** 3/4 |
| SOUTH DESERT (2009, d. Shawn Garry) ** 3/4 |
| SOUTH (2004, d. Martin Koolhoven) Well made, viscerally upsetting psychological drama about a sexually wounded woman who slips into insanity. *** |
| SOUTHERN COMFORT (2001, d. Kate Davis) *** 3/4 |
| SOUTHERN ZONE (Zona Sur) (2010, d. Juan Carlos Valdivia; Bolivia) *** 1/4 |
| SOUTHLAND TALES (2007, d. Richard Kelly) Scrambled script, good f/x, Fifth Element light. Was Donny Darko a fluke? ** 1/2 |
| SPACE COWBOYS (2000, d. Clint Eastwood) *** |
| SPAGNOLA, LA (2001, d. Steve Jacobs) ** 1/2 |
| SPANGLISH (2004, d. James Brooks) I loved this observent dark family comedy. Téa Leoni was bravely over-the-top, Paz Vega is a star & Sandler and Leachman: wonderful. *** 1/4 |
| SPARE PARTS (2004, d. Damjan Kozole) Slovenian version of Lichter, a bleak drama about smugglers who profit from driving 3rd world refugees into Europe. ** 1/2 |
| SPARROW (Man Jeuk) (2008, d. Johnnie To) ** 1/2 |
| SPARTAN (2004, d. David Mamet) Twisty and turny thriller about skullduggery in high places. I like Val Kilmer and this film appealed to my cynical nature. *** |
| SPEAK (2004, d. Jessica Sharzer) Excellent, subtle, beautifully acted drama about a high school freshman traumatized by rape. *** 1/4 |
| SPEAK (2005, d. Jessica Sharzer) V.+ ** 3/4 |
| SPECIAL (2008, d. Haberman and Passmore) Michael Rappaport as pathetically needy meter man who goes psycho on an experimental drug. Minor stuff. ** 1/4 |
| SPEED RACER (2008, d. Wachowski Bros.) Visually stunning and inventive. But script is so predictable. Interesting cast, though. ** 1/2 |
| SPELLBOUND (2003, d. Jeffrey Blitz) Involving, well conceived documentary about 8 competitors in the National Spelling Bee. *** 1/2 |
| SPHINX (Gardiens de l'ordre) (2010, d. Nicolas Bookhrief) *** 1/4 |
| SPIDER-MAN 2 (2004, d. Sam Raimi) Tobey Maguire shines, the f/x much improved over the original. Satisfying Hollywood tentpole, if ultimately trivial entertainment. *** |
| SPIDER-MAN 3 (2008, d. Sam Raimi)V. Much better than #2; but too many villains spoil the plot. ** 1/2 |
| SPIDER-MAN (2002, d. Sam Raimi) ** 1/2 |
| SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES, THE (2008, d. Mark Waters) Scary stuff; better than expected. Fine f/x, nicely acted. *** |
| SPIN (2003, d. James Redford) A more than credible first feature...'50s coming of age story centered on flying. Ryan Merriman a young actor to watch! *** 1/4 |
| SPINNING BORIS (2003, d. Roger Spottiswoode) American political spinsters go to Russia to work for Yeltsin in this ok Showtime tv movie. ** 3/4 |
| SPINNING INTO BUTTER (2009, d. Mark Brokaw) Racism in a New England college has never been so banal or clichéd. * 3/4 |
| SPIRIT OF THE MARATHON, THE (2008, d. Jon Dunham) Human interest docu about people who run Chicago marathon. Nicely shot, but of limited interest. ** 3/4 |
| SPIRIT: STALLION OF THE CIMARRON (2003, d. Kelly Asbury, Lorna Cook) Beautiful animated film which actually moved me. *** |
| SPIRITED AWAY (2002, d. Hayao Miyazaki) *** 1/4 |
| SPLIT ESTATE (2009, d. Debra Anderson) V. Involving, informative muckraking docu about enviromental hazards to people in pristine oil/gas drilling areas of Rocky Mts.. *** 1/4 |
| SPOOKY HOUSE (2002, d. William Sachs) ** |
| SPREAD (2009, d. David Mackenzie) Kucher is quite fine as successor to Gere's American Gigalo. Clichés abound, but this is hot, enjoyable, sexy stuff. *** |
| SPRING 1941 (2009, d. Uri Barbash) * 1/2 |
| SPRING BREAKDOWN (2009, d. Ryan Shiraki) * 1/4 |
| SPRING FEVER (2010, d. Ye Lou) * 1/2 |
| SPRING FORWARD (2000, d. Tom Gilroy) *** |
| SPRING OF LIFE (2000, d. Milan Cieslar) *** 1/2 |
| SPRING SUBWAY (2003, China d. Zhang Yibai) Gorgeous photography & production design in search of a story to give a damn about. ** 3/4 |
| SPRING, SUMMER, FALL, WINTER...AND SPRING (2003, d. Kim Ki-duk) Gorgeously photographed fable about the life of a very human Buddhist monk. *** 1/2 |
| SPUN (2003, d. Jonas Akerlund) Requiem For a Dream wannabe. Tweaker farce. Transgressive and fun, but cheesy. ** |
| SPY GAME (2001, d. Tony Scott) *** |
| SPY KIDS 2: THE ISLAND OF LOST DREAMS (2002, d. Robert Rodriguez) *** |
| SPY KIDS 3D: GAME OVER (2003, d. Richard Rodriguez) 3D gives me eye strain; but this kinetic film had a consistent script with miraculous digital f/x. *** |
| SPY KIDS (2001, d. Robert Rodriguez) *** |
| SQUARE, THE (2009, d. Nash Edgerton) *** |
| SQUARE, THE (2010, d. Nash Edgerton) + Inadvertently watched again. Still pretty clever Aussie film noir. *** |
| SQUID AND THE WHALE, THE (2005, d. Noah Baumbach) *** 1/2 |
| ST. GEORGE SHOOTS THE DRAGON (2009, d. Srdjan Dragojevic; Serbia) *** |
| STAGE BEAUTY (2004, d. Richard Eyer) Very disappointing...Shakespeare in Love lite. Poorly paced & directed, and Crudup miscast, though rest of the cast was superb. ** 1/4 |
| STALAG 17 (2003, d. Billy Wilder)+ V. Still works as straighforward prison camp story, though plot and characters now seem pretty stock. Holden fine. *** |
| STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (2008, d. Errol Morris) Docu of Abu Ghraib as you wished it weren't. *** 1/4 |
| STANDARD, THE (2006, d. Jordan Albertsen) *** 3/4 |
| STANDER (2004, d. Bronwen Hughes) Thomas Jane is remarkable in this involving, off-center crime spree tale from S. Africa. *** |
| STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF MOTOWN (2002, d. Paul Justman) *** 1/4 |
| STAR TREK (2009, d. J.J. Abrams) Spectacular in IMAX, well cast, nothing special about the plot...but as a summer action flick it is about as good as they come. *** |
| STAR TREK (2010, d. J.J. Abrams) + 2nd viewing gives more narrative clarity, but f/x look cheap in new Avatar world. But casting is *outstanding*! By far best Trek film. *** |
| STAR WARS EPISODE III: RETURN OF THE SITH (2006, d. George Lucas) Kept my interest. ** 3/4 |
| STAR WARS: EPISODE 2 (2003, d. George Lukas) Bombastic, effects heavy...not as bad as I'd heard. ** 1/4 |
| STARDOM (2000, d. Denys Arcand) *** |
| STARDUST (2007, d. Matthew Vaughn) ** 1/2 |
| STARFISH HOTEL (2006, d. John Williams) * 3/4 |
| STARSKY & HUTCH (2004, d. Todd Phillips) Better than I expected...no Charlie's Angels, at least. Stiller & Wilson have chemistry; but Owen is not a '70s dude! ** 1/4 |
| STARTER FOR 10 (2006, d. Tom Vaughan) *** 1/2 |
| STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING (2007, d. Andrew Wagner) Understated, fine acting. A very adult script. *** 1/4 |
| STARTUP.COM (2001, d. Jehane Noujaim & Chris Hegedus) *** |
| STATE AND MAIN (2000, d. David Mamet) *** |
| STATE OF MIND (2007, d. Christopher Menaul) V. Pretty good British tv forensic psych story...Andrew Lincoln wonderful, per usual. ** 3/4 |
| STATE OF PLAY (2009, d. Kevin Macdonald) More focused than the BBC series, Good character driven thriller with fine acting. *** |
| STATEMENT, THE (2003, d. Norman Jewison) Turgid thriller about a Nazi collaborator on the run 46 years later. Very disappointing. ** |
| STATEN ISLAND (2009, d. James DeMonaco) Clever plotting, dynamite acting (Hawke, Onofrio & esp. Seymour Cassel), different take on gangster film. Engrossing. *** 1/2 |
| STATION AGENT, THE (2003, d. Tom McCarthy) David Green territory without his visual pinache, but real narrative. Fine performances by all 3 leads. *** 1/4 |
| STAY ALIVE (2006, d. William Bell) Good cast can't save this computer death game Ringu like film. Weak dialog, reasonable f/x. ** |
| STAY (2005, d. Marc Forster) *** |
| STEAL A PENCIL FOR ME (2007, d. Michèle Ohayon) Holocaust docu: Dutch survivors on their 60th wedding aniv. *** 1/4 |
| STEAL ME (2005, d. Melissa Painter) Gem of an Amer. indie about a wandering teenage boy klepto who gets adopted into a good Montana home. *** 1/4 |
| STEAL THIS MOVIE (2000, d. Robert Greenwald) ** |
| STEALING HARVARD (2002, d. Bruce McCulloch) * 1/4 |
| STEALING SINATRA (2004, d. Ron Underwood) V. True gang-who-couldn't-shoot-straight story. I like Thomas Ian Nicholas as Sinatra Jr., but film is silly. ** |
| STEALTH (Comme des voleurs -A l'est) (2007, d. Lionel Baier) *** 1/4 |
| STEALTH (2005, d. Rob Cohen) Politically dubious, viscerally exciting war as video game. Surprisingly effective entertainment. Josh Lucas & EDI rule. ** 3/4 |
| STEAM OF LIFE (2010, d. Joonas Berghäll & Mika Hotakainen; Finland) ** 3/4 |
| STELLA (2009, d. Sylvie Verheyde) *** |
| STEP BROTHERS (2008, d. Adam McKay) 40ish guys playing kids is not funny. Still, watchable silliness with many groaners. * 1/2 |
| STEP UP 2 THE STREET (2008, d. Jon Chu) Predictable script; great street dancing. Robert Hoffman a star? ** 1/2 |
| STEP UP 3D (2010, d. Jon M. Chu) Clichéd script, mediocre (or worse) actors & weirdly uneven choreography doom this film despite a pulsing music track. * 1/4 |
| STEP UP (2006, d. Anne Fletcher) Clichés abound. Channing Tatum can't act; but he sure can dance and he's a STAR. ** 1/2 |
| STEPFORD WIVES, THE (2004, d. Frank Oz) Silly and unfunny satire, another wasted remake. Watchable for the sets and costumes at least. * 3/4 |
| STEPHANIE DALEY (2006, d. Hilary Brougher) *** |
| STEVIE (2003, d. Steve Jones) (V) Documentary about a troubled boy-man, abused as a kid, who faces prison for child sexual abuse himself. *** 1/4 |
| STIGMATA (2010, d. Adán Aliaga) ** |
| STILL ALIVE: A FILM ABOUT KRZYSZTOF KIESLOWSKI (2007, d. Maria Zmarz-Koczanowicz) ** 1/4 |
| STILL LIFE (Sanxia Haoren) (2008, d. Jia Zhang-ke) ** 1/2 |
| STILL ORANGUTANS (2008, d. Gustavo Spoldoro) *** 1/2 |
| STILL WALKING (2009, d. Kore-ea Hirokazu) *** 1/2 |
| STOKED: THE RISE & FALL OF GATOR (2004, d. Helen Stickler) Nicely constructed, fascinating docu about skateboarder/murderer Mark Rogowski. *** 1/2 |
| STOLEN CHILDREN (Certi Bambini) (2006, d. Andrea and Antonio Frazzi) *** 1/4 |
| STOLEN EYES (Otkradnati ochi) (2006, d. Radoslav Spassov; Bulgaria) |
| STONE (2010, d. John Curran) Norton & Jovovich are superb. But I'm at a loss as to what the film adds up to...spiritual mumbo-jumbo? Symbolism gone wild? ** 3/4 |
| STONED (2006, d. Stephen Woolley) Leo Gregory is ok, Paddy Considine better in this amalgam of Sid & Nancy and Last Days about Brian Jones. *** |
| STOP-LOSS (2008, d. Kimberly Peirce) Extraordinarily affecting, difficult & appropos film; superb script & acting. *** 3/4 |
| STORM OF EMOTIONS (2006, d. Yael Klopmann) V. Very powerful, apolitical docu of forced evacuation of Gaza settlers. *** 1/2 |
| STORY OF MY LIFE, THE (2005, d. Laurent Tirard) Fun, well made French 4-character romantic comedy. Only flaw is too pat a resolution. ** 3/4 |
| STORY OF PAO, THE (2006, d. Ng Quang Hai; Vietnam) *** |
| STORY OF THE WEEPING CAMEL, THE (2003, d. Byambasuren Davaa) Realistic & involving saga of Mongolian herder family & little camel rejected by its mom. *** |
| STORYTELLING (2002, d. Todd Solondz) *** 1/2 |
| STRACCIATELLA (2003, d. Adnras Kern) Kern is the Roberto Benigni (or Ed Burns) of Hungary. Self-indulgant: about conductor having a nervous breakdown. ** 1/4 |
| STRAIGHT-JACKET (2004, d. Richard Day) Horrendously banal and poorly directed gay romantic comedy about a Rock Hudson type gay '50s movie star. * |
| STRANDED: I'VE COME FROM A PLANE THAT CRASHED ON THE MOUNTAINS (2008, d. Gonzalo Arijon) *** 1/2 |
| STRANGE CULTURE (2007, d. Lynn Hershman Leeson) **** |
| STRANGER THAN FICTION (2006, d. Marc Forster) Charlie Kaufmanesque script with a stunning Emma Thompson perf. *** |
| STRANGERS WITH CANDY (2006, d. Paul Dinello) * |
| STRANGERS (2008, d. Erez Tadmor, Guy Nattiv) ** 1/2 |
| STRANGLED LIVES (2001, d. Ricky Tognazzi) W/O+ |
| STRAWBERRY STATEMENT, THE (2008, d. Stuart Haggman) V. '69 student tumult in this non-dated cult film. *** |
| STRAY GIRLFRIEND, A (Una novia errante) (2007, d. Ana Katz) ** 1/4 |
| STRAYED (2010, d. Akan Satayev; Kazakhstan) *** 1/4 |
| STRAYED (2004, d. André Téchiné) Totally absorbing film about a family of refugees in 1940 France. Téchiné is a master of atmosphere & actors. *** 1/2 |
| STREET FIGHT (2005, d. Marshall Curry; docu) V. *** 1/2 |
| STREET KINGS (2008, d. David Ayer) Too many unbelieveable loose ends. Why is Chris Evans not a star? ** 1/2 |
| STREET LOVE (2000, d. Asa Faringer) |
| STRICTLY SINATRA (2001, d. Peter Capaldi) * 3/4 |
| STRIKE (Volker Schlöndorff) *** 1/2 |
| STRING, THE (2010, d. Mehdi Ben Attia) *** 1/4 |
| STRINGLESS VIOLIN, THE (2004, d. Sekar Ayu Asmara) An overamped melodrama mostly about a brain-damaged child and the woman who cares for him. ** |
| STUCK ON YOU (2003, d. Bobby & Peter Farelly) Irresistably sweet, hip and funny. Farellys continue to play with characters' illusions & it works. *** |
| SUBMARINO (2010, d. Thomas Vinterberg) *** 1/2 |
| SUBURBAN MAYHEM (2006, d. Paul Goldman) *** |
| SUDESTE (2003, Argentina d. Sergio Diego Bellotti) Torpid drama of a young river fisherman and his encounter with an outlaw. ** 3/4 |
| SUERTE DORMIDA, LA (2004, d. Angeles Sinde) Spanish Erin Brokovich with some fine acting by Adriana Ozores, Jose Soriano, and Felix Gomez (yum!) *** 1/4 |
| SUGAR (2009, d. Anna Bodin, Ryan Fleck) Fine American indie about a young Dominican baseball player & his minor league tryout in Iowa. *** |
| SUGAR (2004, d. John Palmer) A Canadian NC-17 afterschool special about an 18 year old from the burbs who falls for a crack addict street hustler. Brendan Fehr shines. ** 3/4 |
| SUICIDALS (2006, d. Juan Villegas) ** |
| SUITE HABANA (2004, d. Fernando Pérez) Like Hukkle last year, a music & sound efx filled 24 hours in the lives of several ordinary people in present day Havana. *** |
| SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS (2004, d. Preston Sturges) I just don't find Sturges's rapid fire dialog, endless montages and liberal messaging all that interesting or amusing. ** 1/2 |
| SUM OF ALL FEARS, THE (2002, d. Phil Alden Robinson) *** |
| SUMMER (2009, d. Kenny Glenaan) ** 3/4 |
| SUMMER '04 (2006, d. Stefan Krohmer) *** 1/4 |
| SUMMER CATCH (2001, d. Michael Tollin) ** 1/2 |
| SUMMER DAY, A (2006, d. Franck Guerin) *** |
| SUMMER HEAT (2008, d. Monique van de Ven) ** 3/4 |
| SUMMER HOURS (L'heure d'été) (2009, d. Olivier Assayas) + *** 3/4 |
| SUMMER IN BERLIN (2005, d. Andreas Dresen) ** 1/2 |
| SUMMER RAIN (El Camino de los ingleses) (2007, d. Antonio Bandaras) ** 3/4 |
| SUMMER STORM (2005, d. Marco Kreuzpaintner) ++ Yikes! Third time the charm. Hollywood should only make a teen sex comedy this good! As if. *** |
| SUMMER STORM (2005, d. Marco Kreuzpaintner) Pleasant, sexy, gay German American Pie type film about youthful affairs at a summer rowing camp. *** |
| SUMMER STORM (2005, d. Marco Kreuzpaintner) + Yes, for the first time ever I watched a film for the 2nd time at SIFF. Blame the fabu eye candy. *** |
| SUN ALLEY (Sonnenallee) (2000, d. Leander Haussman) *** |
| SUN ALSO RISES, THE (Tai Yang Zhao Chang Sheng Qi) (2007, d. Jiang Wen) ** 1/4 |
| SUNSET STRIP (2000, d. Adam Collis) *** |
| SUNSET STRIP (2005, d. Adam Collis) V.+ *** |
| SUNSHINE CLEANING (2009, d. Christine Jeffs) Enjoyable indie dramedy. Amy Adams better here than in Doubt. *** |
| SUNSHINE STATE (2002, d. John Sayles) *** 1/2 |
| SUNSHINE (2007, d. Danny Boyle) *** 1/4 |
| SUNSHINE (2000, d. István Szabó) *** 1/2 |
| SUPER SIZE ME (2004, d. Morgan Spurlock ) Superb, entertaining, shocking doc about the physical effects of the director's immersion in McDonald's fast foods for a month. *** 3/4 |
| SUPERBAD (2009, d. Greg Mattola) V.+ One of the rare cases of a film where the over-the-top raunch works better on video than in the theater. *** |
| SUPERBAD (2007, d. Greg Mattola) ** 1/2 |
| SUPERMAN RETURNS (2006, d. Brian Singer) Not a disappointment...Singer did everything just about right. *** |
| SUPERVOLCANO (2005, d. Tony Mitchell) V. Scary, involving, high gloss fictionalized disaster docudrama about Yellowstone eruption. *** |
| SUPPLEMENT (2002, d. Krzysztof Zanussi) *** |
| SUR LA TRACE D'IGOR RIZZI (2006, d. Noël Mitrani) ** 1/4 |
| SURF'S UP (2007, d. Ash Brannon & Chris Buck) ** 3/4 |
| SURROGATES (2009, d. Jonathan Mostow) Super f/x and makeup almost make this futuristic potboiler worth watching. But I don't buy the fundamental take on human nature. ** 3/4 |
| SURVEILLANCE (2007, d. Paul Oremland) ** 1/4 |
| SUSPECT ZERO (2004, d. Elias Merhige) Dour, complex SE7EN clone. Interesting visually; and Eckhart is good, as usual. But script is not up to snuff. ** 3/4 |
| SWAY (Yureru) (2007, d. Miwa Nishikawa) *** 1/2 |
| SWEENEY TODD (2007, d. Tim Burton) Well made; but even Sondheim's lyrics can't make me love this musical. *** |
| SWEET 16 (2002, d. Ken Loach) *** 1/2 |
| SWEET AGONY (2000, d. Ali-Reza Davudnezhad) ** |
| SWEET AND THE BITTER, THE (Il dolce a l'amaro) (2008, d. Andrea Porporati) *** 1/4 |
| SWEET CRUDE (2009, d. Sandy Cioffi) *** |
| SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS (2002, d. Saso Podgorsek) *** |
| SWEET HOME ALABAMA (2002, d. Andy Tennant) ** 1/2 |
| SWEET LAND (2006, d. Ali Selim) A 20th century immigrant woman's story; hardscrabble midwest farmland, slow paced but quite moving. *** |
| SWEET MUD (2007, d. Dror Shaul; Israel) *** 1/2 |
| SWEET NOVEMBER (2001, d. Pat O'Connor) * 1/4 |
| SWEETEST THING, THE (2002, d. Roger Kumble) * |
| SWEPT AWAY (2002, d. Guy Ritchie) * 3/4 |
| SWIMFAN (2002, d. John Polson) ** |
| SWIMMERS (2005, d. Doug Sadler) American indie with high production values, but a slow, trivial tv-movie plot which failed to go anyplace. * 3/4 |
| SWIMMING POOL (2003, d. François Ozon) Somewhat disappointing film from this always interesting director. Sagnier has grown to a sexy young woman. ** 1/2 |
| SWIMMING UPSTREAM (2005, d. Russell Mulcahy) Pedestrian bio of early '60s Australian swimmer (the magnetic Jesse Spenser) & his drunking & abusive father. ** 1/4 |
| SWIMMING (2000, d. Robert J. Siegel) *** |
| SWIMSUIT ISSUE (2009, d. Mans Herngren) ** 3/4 |
| SWINDLED (Incautos) (2006, d. Miguel Bardem) *** |
| SWING VOTE (2008, d. Joshua Michael Stern) Costner is ideal "everyman"; nicely acted (esp. Kelsey Grammar), predictable, timely. *** |
| SWITCH, THE (2010, d. Josh Gordon, Will Speck) Enjoyable for the cute kid & Justin Bateman who excels at this sort of role. But so predictable. ** 3/4 |
| SWORDFISH (2001, d. Dominic Sena) * 1/4 |
| SYDNEY WHITE (2009, d. Joe Nussbaum) V. Clever concept (Snow White & 7 Dorks on university Greek row), but dumb & predictable. Give Jack Carpenter a leading role. ** 1/4 |
| SYLVIA (2003, d. Christine Jeffs) Not as bad a biopic as Iris; but it doesn't go anywhere but the obvious with no insight. Good acting, nowhere script. ** |
| SYMMETRY (2004, d. Konrad Niewolski) Slow, bleak, well made prison drama of an innocent convict's assimilation into prison culture. *** 1/4 |
| SYMPATHY FOR LADY VENGEANCE (2006, d. Park Chan-wook) ** 1/4 |
| SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE (2002, d. Park Chan-wook) *** 1/2 |
| SYMPHONY OF SILENCE (2001, d. Vigen Chaldranyan) *** |
| SYNECDOCHE, N.Y. (2008, d. Charlie Kaufman) Excruciating exercise in self indulgence...but funny in an in-joke kind of way. ** |
| SYRIAN BRIDE, THE (2005, d. Eran Riklis) Well made, emotionally satisfying film about a Druze family where the daughter must leave to wed in Syria. ** 3/4 |
| SYRIANA (2005, d. Stephen Gaghan) ** 3/4 |